North Bend council waives up to $10,000 in permit fees to help Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank relocate

The North Bend City Council on April 7 approved a permit fee waiver of up to $10,000 to help the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank move to a larger facility at 43530 Southeast North Bend Way.

City staff presented AB26-031, saying the food bank distributed roughly 513,000 pounds of food in 2024 and served more than 2,800 people that year. The permit fees for the new location were estimated at $17,000; a waiver would reduce the food bank’s out‑of‑pocket cost to about $7,000.

Terry Popmire, the food bank board chair, told council the campaign for the new facility has a $5 million goal and that the organization had raised about 92% of that total. “We need to raise about $400,000 additional dollars,” Popmire said, and identified state, county, foundation and private donations among the funding sources. She told council the food bank hopes to open in January 2027.

Council member Susan Torgerson moved approval of the waiver; Council member Christina Rustick seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Council members and staff framed the waiver as a targeted way to support a social‑service provider during a relocation. Finance staff noted the city’s ordinance (Ordinance 18-36, adopted July 25, 2025) authorizes permit fee waivers up to $10,000 per incident when necessary to support the poor and infirm.

The council did not attach special conditions to the waiver. Staff said the city will continue to process permits and work with the food bank on a timely permitting schedule to support the planned move.

The waiver was motioned and adopted during the April 7 council meeting; council voted in favor and declared the motion carried without opposition.