The city of North Bend unanimously voted to renew its police services agreement with the Snoqualmie Police Department for a six-year term.

At the April 16 city council meeting, the North Bend council received an update on efforts to renew the interlocal agreement with Snoqualmie. City administrator Londi Lindell recapped the negotiations behind the agreement, as well as the differences in the renewed term.

The two cities began the agreement for police services in 2012 after North Bend ended its police services from the King County Sheriff’s office. The original agreement and further amendments provided the city with eight police officers.

The 2019 agreement adds some additional elements in negotiation efforts to balance the costs associated with services between the two cities. Of the four sergeants employed by the Snoqualmie Police Department, two will be paid for by North Bend as they perform oversight, supervision and patrol work in the city.

North Bend will also pay for half of the the department’s transportation officer, a role that drives individuals to the Issaquah Jail or King County Jail. North Bend will continue to pay for part of the role as long as their services continue to account for about 50 percent of the work generated for that officer.

The agreement also creates an equipment replacement fund that the city will contribute to annually. The first payment of $157,000 into the fund will occur in 2020, after which contributions will be set at about $70,000 a year.

The total cost for services will come to $1.86 million in 2019 and $1.96 million in 2020. Those costs fit within North Bend’s 2019-2020 biennial budget for police service compensation.

The agreement also provides financial flexibility for the city of North Bend. The city can adjust down to the original agreement of six officers in the case of a significant economic downturn or some other budget constraining event.

The council was supportive of the agreement and thanked officers for the service they have provided to the city.