On June 26, 2025, the City of Snoqualmie filed a Complaint for Declaratory Relief and Damages in King County Superior Court. The lawsuit arises from a dispute regarding the Police Services Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the City of Snoqualmie and the City of North Bend. The Snoqualmie City Council authorized litigation related to the Police Services ILA on May 22, 2025.
The City of Snoqualmie maintains that North Bend breached the 2025 Renewal ILA by failing to continue good faith discussions toward entering a new interlocal agreement for police services and that Snoqualmie’s obligation to provide police services ended on May 31, 2025.
To ensure public safety for North Bend residents and businesses past May 31, the Snoqualmie City Council approved an Interim Police Services Agreement with the City of North Bend that conferred law enforcement authority to the Snoqualmie Police Department while the dispute is resolved.
Under the Interim Police Services Agreement, North Bend is paying Snoqualmie a fee for police services which is significantly less than the totality of costs incurred, requiring Snoqualmie residents and businesses to financially subsidize and bear the service burden of policing North Bend.
“After going to great lengths to find common ground with North Bend, and despite our sincere wish to avoid this outcome, we must file this lawsuit,” said Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross. "It is my duty as Mayor to protect Snoqualmie residents, businesses, and the ‘no call too small’ police service we know and love. I thank the police officers for their continued service throughout this difficult situation resulting from North Bend city council decisions.”