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North Bend mayor touts new police partnership, food bank home and infrastructure plans in State of the City
Summary
Mayor Mary Miller used the 2026 State of the City address to highlight a new police services partnership and appointment of Chief Ed Hall, progress on a $5 million Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank campaign, infrastructure projects including a truck‑parking feasibility study, and flood‑recovery efforts.
Mayor Mary Miller delivered North Bend’s 2026 State of the City address at the downtown theater, praising volunteers and staff, unveiling near‑term project timelines and highlighting partnerships to address public safety, housing, transportation and emergency preparedness.
Miller announced that North Bend’s contract with the City of Snoqualmie for police services ended in April and that the city is now partnering with the King County Sheriff’s Office. She introduced Ed Hall as the community’s new police chief and said the change followed a community open house and interview panels. “I selected the Valley’s own Ed Hall as Chief of Police,” Miller said, and she praised council and staff for their work on the transition.
The mayor also spotlighted the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank’s new facility, which will expand refrigeration, include an accessible grocery‑style pantry and provide space for resource connections and a community garden. Terri Popmeier of the food bank told the audience the nonprofit has a $5,000,000 capital campaign and is about 93% of the way to that goal.
On infrastructure, Miller said North Bend received $200,000 from the state to study whether an East North Bend parcel outside the urban growth area can host expanded truck parking and a Washington State Patrol office to address safety and overflow at Exit 34. She said the feasibility study is due to the Washington State Legislature by June 30, 2027. Miller gave updates on local projects including permitting activity for the Wyndham Hotel, approval of the 35‑acre Middle Fork Master Site Plan, Panatonia’s light‑industrial permit activity, and the Mount Sinai Industrial Park, a 350,000‑square‑foot project.
Miller recounted North Bend’s response to a severe December flooding event — activating an Emergency Operations Center and running an overnight shelter — and said the city will develop citizen emergency‑response (CERT‑style) training. She praised hundreds of volunteers and staff for sandbagging and response efforts.
The mayor also highlighted environmental and budget recognitions: North Bend’s 15th consecutive Tree City USA recognition, an outstanding performance award for the wastewater plant from the Washington State Department of Ecology, and a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the 2025–26 budget.
In a moderated Q&A, Chief Ed Hall said the King County Sheriff’s Office brings continuing DEI and trauma‑informed training and described an “open door” approach to community engagement: “Our doors are open.” City staff and directors responded to audience questions about youth programming, affordable housing strategies (moving toward more townhomes and apartments), annexation implications and emergency preparedness.
Next steps noted in the address include completion of the truck‑parking feasibility study (state deadline June 30, 2027), expected permitting work for the Wyndham Hotel before June, and design‑to‑construction sequencing for the Starfish Roundabout planned for 2027. The city encouraged residents to engage through council meetings and offered staff follow‑up appointments for questions raised during the session.
