Snoqualmie council holds first readings on noise and tax code changes, debates stormwater rules for Snoqualmie Mill and approves extra legal spending

The Snoqualmie City Council held first readings April 13 on a set of ordinances ranging from noise-control updates to tax‑code alignment and considered a targeted stormwater utility change affecting parcels at Snoqualmie Mill.

Interim Police Chief Gary Haracci presented a first reading of an ordinance that would clarify the city’s existing prohibition on compression brakes, add definitions, identify signage locations and raise the penalty from $50 (1986 language) to $250. The item was informational (first reading) and no council action was taken beyond the reading.

Finance Director Drew Boutet presented a first reading to amend the city’s business & occupation (B&O) tax code to align with state changes that reclassify several business activities from services to retail sales. Boutet said the short‑term fiscal impact to Snoqualmie is expected to be minimal because retail and service activities are taxed at the same rate at the city level; the second reading was set for the April 27 council meeting.

Boutet then explained a more complex proposed revision to the stormwater utility code that would allow some "previously disturbed" parcels — specifically parts of property owned by Snoqualmie Mill Ventures in Planning Areas identified in staff materials — to be treated as "undeveloped" for stormwater fee purposes if they meet conditions such as lacking city‑owned stormwater infrastructure and having a council‑approved development agreement. That classification would suspend stormwater fees for the affected parcel or portion until stormwater infrastructure is installed and accepted by the city, the presenter said. Staff showed a six‑year financial analysis indicating modest net impacts to the stormwater utility when weighed against earlier assumptions about general facility charges (GFCs) tied to eventual development.

Council members sought technical follow‑up from Parks & Public Works staff on watershed, runoff and public‑works burdens. Several members said they want more time and staff analysis before acting; Director Boutet and staff agreed to put the item on a Parks & Public Works agenda for deeper technical review.

Separately, City Attorney Dina Burke and finance staff briefed the council on legal‑department workload and outside‑counsel spending. Burke said recent staffing changes and heavy project demands have made outside counsel necessary for specialized and emergent matters; staff requested an increase in outside‑counsel funding (an initial $383,000 plus a $50,000 emergent item) and proposed shifting recurring portions of utility tax and construction‑sales tax from the capital fund back into the general fund to cover the ongoing need.

Council voted on related measures to waive second readings and adopt budget adjustments to increase legal services funding and amend the biennial budget; after procedural readbacks and motions, the council approved the ordinance amendments and the budget motion on the record. The body also approved a resolution updating the city’s financial‑management policy to clarify where certain utility tax revenues are recorded.

Next steps: staff will bring the stormwater code amendment to Parks & Public Works for technical discussion and return with refined language and impact estimates before any final vote; the legal funding changes take immediate effect under the adopted budget amendment.