Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson has appointed former Sammamish city manager Rick Rudometkin as Snoqualmie interim city administrator. He takes the position left by longterm Snoqualmie city administrator Bob Larson, who is now the city administrator in Gig Harbor.
The appointment was scheduled for confirmation from the city council at its Jan. 13 meeting, but that meeting has been rescheduled to Jan. 15 due to snow. Rudometkin’s name has appeared on recent city meeting agendas, including for the Jan. 7 parks and public works council committee meeting, where he is listed among present staff.
The city of Snoqualmie put out a news release Jan. 10, announcing his appointment.
“I am excited to work with Rick, who comes to Snoqualmie with an impressive depth and breadth of municipal governance experience that will benefit our community,” Mayor Larson said in the release.
The Sammamish City Council at its Nov. 19, 2019 meeting authorized the mayor to enter into a separation agreement with Rudometkin. He had started that position in May of 2019. He is just one of several city managers Sammamish has gone through in recent years.
Rudometkin was given the nine months of severance pay owed him, as per Sammamish’s employment agreement with him, plus three additional months of severance pay in exchange for release of all claims and assistance with a smooth transition. That motion passed 6 to 1 with Sammamish Councilmember Ramiro Valderrama against extending the severance pay.
Rudometkin’s resume of government experience goes back to 2003. Before he worked for Sammamish, he held other positions including for the County of Eddy in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where he worked as public works director and then county manager for about 6 years. He also worked for the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as streets division manager, and for the county of Modoc, California, as chief administrative officer.
Rudometkin is a manager with ICMA (International City-County Management Association) and also holds a Woodbury University business degree as well as several public services certifications.
“I am pleased for the opportunity to serve this beautiful and vibrant community and look forward to working with the mayor, city council and residents,” Rudometkin said in the Snoqualmie news release.
