Drawing money from funds set aside five years ago to build a pedestrian bridge across the Snoqualmie River has put the city of Snoqualmie in hot water with King County Parks and Recreation Department and the Cascade Land Conservancy.

Snoqualmie is using about $500,000 from a pedestrian bridge fund to pay for part of its downtown redevelopment project. The Snoqualmie City Council approved an interfund loan at its Monday, Sept. 14, regular meeting.

The bridge fund was set up as part of a four-way deal between the county, CLC, the city and Quadrant Homes. The county and the CLC objected to the city’s use of bridge funds for a new and different purpose.

The bridge was never built, in part because of escalating costs — according to Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, the minimum cost to build it was three times the total of the fund.

Funds from the interfund loan will pay for design work on the downtown renewal effort, slated to start next year.

Preliminary work on the downtown modernization project, which includes new downtown parking layouts and undergrounded power lines, was shut down by the city after word came of the disagreement. Construction work must begin next spring for the city to keep within the terms of the federal grant paying for much of the project.

The council’s decision Monday was touted as a way to get the project back on track.

“Do we proceed with the EDA activity or not?” asked councilman Bryan Holloway, calling the issue to question. Council approval of the transfer was unanimous.

“To me, it seems logical to put this money to work,” Larson said.

To settle the disagreement, Larson said that options are being discussed including a city commitment to use the remaining $700,000 in the bridge fund for more local trails.