Happy Summer, North Bend Residents,
Every season has its unique characteristics, but there is something extra special about our mountain town summers; the blend of changing weather and local activity in North Bend brings us a renewed sense of community. In this way, we flourish.
It was on one of those days in June, when spring rain mingled with the annual open-air art festival, Art Off the Rails, that I was reminded of the positive impact community events have on North Bend. Surrounded by colorful art and live music, with rain dripping down our umbrellas onto happy dogs, I knew it. This very deep and very strong small-town sense of care for one another is what I believe keeps us connected, and it shows itself in many ways.
Our commitment to the livability and character of our small community continues, and I am pleased to share with you a positive look at these last three months along with future goals.
Community Engagement
With a community as active and engaged as North Bend, it is no surprise that summer is full to the brim with events, both new and historic. I invite you to join me in celebrating all of us, at:
- North Bend Farmers Market and Summer Concert Series with Si View Metro Parks, nearly every Thursday this summer at Si View Park
- Haystack Music Festival with JazzClubsNW, downtown, on July 12
- Downtown Block Party with the North Bend Downtown Foundation (NBDF) in the Historic District, on July 19
- North Bend Classic Car Show with the Early Ford V8 Club, downtown, on July 20
- Festival at Mt. Si with the North Bend Education and Cultural Association at Si View Park, August 8 through 10
- Sip Suds and Si with the NBDF, downtown, on September 13
Supporting our local events strengthens our connections with one another and it helps our local nonprofit organizations, farms and local businesses that nurture and strengthen our community.
Public Safety
Reliable, collaborative police and fire departments are crucial to our highly livable community. The Snoqualmie Police Department and Eastside Fire and Rescue serve a variety of roles here in town, as emergency management team members, problem-solvers, educators, and protectors.
In 2024, the North Bend City Council began work with city staff to obtain a new police services contract, as the current contract with the City of Snoqualmie was coming to an end. Focusing on long-term financial sustainability and predictability, transparency and quality policing services, the process was thorough and data-driven. At the March 18 City Council meeting, we were guided through a police services study provided by the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM). It analyzed three options: creating our own police department, starting a new contract with Snoqualmie, or contracting with the King County Sheriff’s Office. Following the study, the city released a Request for Proposals (RFP), a critical component to ensuring our next contract matches our community’s needs. On April 8, community joined the Council and staff for a Special Workstudy, where responders to the RFP presented their departments as potential fits for North Bend.
At the May 6 City Council meeting, councilmembers voted to approve a motion authorizing negotiations for an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the King County Sheriff’s Office. Increased involvement in administration, input on decisions that affect growing costs, and clear communication were a few of the reasons for the decision. Learn more about the process by visiting our Police Services webpage.
The Council and I are grateful for the work the Snoqualmie Police Department has provided our community for over a decade, serving us well and keeping us safe. The new contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office is tentatively set to begin in the fall of 2026. We look forward to welcoming new faces and access to a variety of emergency services that will provide added public safety for our community.
On the emergency management side of public safety, Eastside Fire and Rescue has sprung into collaborative action with regional and state organizations this summer. They are working hard to empower us to protect our homes and neighborhoods from the increasing threat of wildfire. On June 25, nearly 100 people showed up for Wildfire Movie Night at the North Bend Theatre! A panel of experts from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Eastside Fire and Rescue, Valley Regional Fire Authority, Kittitas County Emergency Management, King County and North Bend led discussion afterward.
Education is power, and your willingness to learn and participate in wildfire preparedness is another key component to our healthy community.
Parks and Trails
We are working hard to improve outdoor access and recreation. In June, we shared information about “Bike North Bend,” a plan to assess and evaluate our cycling landscape, and an opportunity to make recommendations to enhance rider confidence and safety. We are looking for community feedback and welcome you to participate in the plan by taking a brief survey – open through August 13. We are also in the process of launching an interactive cycling map in partnership with our Economic Development Commission, with funding from the Port of Seattle Partnership Grant.
Following a full Shoreline Public Access and Trail Plan workshop with residents this winter, staff took feedback from the community and the Community and Economic Development (CED) and Parks Commissions, preparing a final draft for the Council’s approval in July. Once complete, the plan will share a cohesive network of access points and trails, with the goal of enhancing recreation opportunities while protecting the shoreline from recreational use impacts and degradation.
Infrastructure & Transportation Improvements
Two significant investments in our infrastructure are sidewalk repairs and extensions (“gap closing”). North Bend residents can expect improved walkability this summer with four new Sidewalk Gap Removal projects. At the June 3 City Council meeting, councilmembers approved a resolution awarding bids and a construction contract, allowing work to officially begin! Projects this summer include:
- Portion of the north side SE 140th Street
- North side of North Bend Way, from Dahlgren Family Park to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail
- North side of North Bend Way, from Tanner Road to SE 140th Street
- East side of Thrasher Avenue, from NE 2nd Street to the Forest Service Ranger Station
We are working hard to modernize, and in some instances, transform our infrastructure to fit our community’s needs. Following two public hearings, the North Bend City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution adopting the 2026 through 2031 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) on June 17. The TIP lays out a short-range, six-year plan for improving and maintaining the city’s multi-modal transportation infrastructure and prioritizes projects by need and availability of funds. All cities, towns, and counties are required to develop and adopt a Six-Year TIP.
Another integral part of local infrastructure was addressed at the June 3 City Council meeting; councilmembers approved a resolution that will allow the Meadowbrook Sewer Utility Local Improvement District (ULID) to continue moving forward, bringing public sewer to the western portion of North Bend. This will provide property owners in the Meadowbrook area with development opportunities that align with city zoning, incorporating a mix of commercial and residential land uses. Currently, these properties rely on septic drain fields.
Construction of the ULID will occur in stages over a period of 12 to 14 months. By 2027, we anticipate residents and property owners will have the opportunity to install sewer connections and convert aging septic systems to this new, modern and environmentally sound system.
Water Conservation
Water conservation is an essential part of nurturing our infrastructure. We do this in a variety of ways: through ongoing distribution system leak reduction, customer conservation education, watermain replacement, and what began in 2020, the Water Conservation Ordinance (WCO). The WCO is a program built on education and awareness, with a simple set of water use guidelines for homeowners, business owners, and property owners to practice during summer months. Our actions benefit not only our neighbors, but the Snoqualmie Valley as a whole. Beginning August 15, Stage 1 of the City’s WCO will go into effect.
Housing
Also important to our environmentally conscious community are diverse housing options that serve people of all income levels. With the city’s purchase of 230 Main Avenue, we are doing exactly that. The property will provide 40 apartment units for local workers, affordable to families making not more than 60 percent of King County Average Median Income (AMI). Following a pre-application meeting with Related NW, the developer for the project, the city will hold an open house later this summer to provide community members the opportunity to view architectural renderings and share feedback. I hope you will join us for this important discussion.
Community Development Projects
In addition to multi-family housing, several light industrial and commercial business projects made forward momentum this quarter. Knowing that new projects will bring with them living wage jobs, enhanced services and amenities, is both a local achievement and an expectation of your elected officials.
- The Si View Administration Building will house full-time staff while also providing community meeting space.
- The Wyndham Hotel will bring much-needed lodging opportunities to North Bend. Right now, we are awaiting a resubmittal of plans. The applicant is revising the proposal to be a four-story hotel, removing the originally proposed fifth floor.
- 302 W North Bend Way is located at a unique gateway entry point in Downtown North Bend. Residents and the Council recognize that what is currently an unused 1,400 square foot building surrounded by asphalt, could be so much more. Last summer, nearly 800 residents participated in a survey to share feedback on potential uses for this property, and this year, the city was awarded a US Environmental Protection Agency grant through the Washington State Department of Ecology. The funds will be used to test for soil and groundwater contaminants on the site to determine what, if any, remediation needs to take place to make the site ready for redevelopment.
Our interactive Development Map webpage is a great way to keep up with other local projects. If you have not yet had a chance to check it out, please do so!
Government Organization Update
Following an in-depth recruitment and interview process, I was thrilled to welcome our new city administrator, Amber Emery at the June 17 City Council meeting. Currently the Deputy County Manager for Clark County, Amber has also served as the Criminal Court Operations Manager for Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, Oregon. She holds a Master of Advanced Study in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences, Criminal Justice and Sociology from Washington State University, Vancouver. She is also a member of the International City and County Management Association and the League of Women in Government.
Amber had the opportunity to join me for a Farmers Market stroll recently. She appreciated our small town, North Bend welcome, complete with warm greetings from many community members and of course, their dogs! Her first day on the job will be July 21. Amber loves North Bend, and I think you will appreciate the dedication, experience and passion she brings with her to this position.
As always, thank you for being an active part of North Bend. When we gather – whether it is at a City Council meeting, a local park or one of our cherished festivals – we strengthen our community.
Warmly,
Mayor Mary