As the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic continues, the City of Snoqualmie Department of Emergency Management, Mayor Matt Larson, City Council Members, and city employees are actively maintaining government operations and services while focusing on the safety of the public and city staff.
To stay fully informed of local, county, state, and federal developments, city leadership and staff are participating in meetings with the King County Office of Emergency Management; Sound Cities Association; SnoValley Chamber of Commerce; and our district and state legislators. These meetings provide information to support residents and businesses and anticipate developments that will affect Snoqualmie. They also provide the opportunity to advocate for county and state resources needed for the city’s health and economic stability.
Following is information to assist residents and businesses in Snoqualmie as they face the many challenges caused by COVID-19.
Sunshine and Social Distancing: Parks & Trails
Snoqualmie parks remain open for people to get fresh air and exercise, but only a few people should be in the parks at a time, not groups. Social distancing needs to be maintained. It’s very difficult to stay inside with the warm weather, but please remind children and teens how important it is to protect themselves and others.
Snoqualmie playgrounds, sport courts, and the skatepark are closed. City parks crews are unable to disinfect playground equipment. The park restrooms remain open for equitable accessibility, but parks crews do not have enough personal protective equipment to clean them; restrooms are to be used at each person’s risk.
All King County parks and trails are closed, including regional and backcountry trails. The county website states that it does not have the resources to actively enforce park closures and is relying on the public to respect the county’s efforts to protect public health. King County urges residents not to park illegally on roadways near parks and trails or block parking lot and trailhead gates.
City Services: Utility Billing, Business Licensing, Permitting
All city departments are open and operating under social distancing guidelines. City Hall is temporarily closed, but services are available such as utility billing, business licensing, permitting, and others. Hours are limited. Staff email addresses and phone numbers are in the city website staff directory.
City Meetings
City Hall is closed for social distancing. City council and committee meetings are being held remotely.
- City council meetings are held via a virtual meeting service available for the general public to see and hear the meetings. The public will be muted except during the public comment period. The virtual meeting login information changes with each meeting; to receive the most recent information, please email info@snoqualmiewa.gov to be on the notification list.
- For those who would prefer to dial-in, please email info@snoqualmiewa.gov to be on the notification list to receive the dial-in number and access code.
- Livestreaming has been temporarily suspended because city council members do not attend the meetings in person.
- Audio recording of council and committee meetings are posted to the city website.
Snoqualmie Resident Assistance
- The City of Snoqualmie has suspended water service shutoffs for customers unable to make payments at this time or who have outstanding balances.
- PSE offers financial assistance and will not disconnect customers who are affected by the pandemic.
- Comcast offers free internet access through its Internet Essentials program, free WiFi hot spots, no disconnects, and no late fees.
- The Snoqualmie Valley School District has partnered with the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA and Si View Metropolitan Parks to provide a no cost School-Aged Child Care program for the children of healthcare professionals and first responders.
Give Help, Get Help in the Snoqualmie Valley
Each week, the City of Snoqualmie and organizations throughout the valley, such as the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, Mt. Si Senior Center, and Snoqualmie Valley Shelter Services, meet to discuss the various needs the organizations have to serve Snoqualmie residents and vulnerable populations and how they can connect the dots. The needs are then added to the Love Snoqualmie Valley website, which serves as a central clearinghouse for finding information to get help locally and give help locally.
Regional services, donations, and volunteering information is available through the King County Regional Donations Connector and United Way of King County.
Snoqualmie Business Assistance
- The City of Snoqualmie is temporarily deferring or extending payment for business and occupation (B&O) licenses and taxes for those businesses affected by the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order.
- Business resources are posted on the city website.
- Local business owners who need information about assistance are encouraged to contact Kelly Coughlin, SnoValley Chamber of Commerce, at info@snovalley.org or 425-888-6362, or Nicole Wiebe, City of Snoqualmie, at nwiebe@snoqualmiewa.gov or 425-416-9678.
Transportation
As Metro bus ridership in King County continues to decline due to COVID-19 and the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, Metro is further reducing services, both to protect its workforce and preserve networks that serve the greatest number of people. Unfortunately, that means Route 208 will discontinue completely, including Saturdays. Here are the current transportation services in the Snoqualmie Valley.
- King County Metro Route 628 Community Shuttle, North Bend to the Issaquah Highlands via Snoqualmie, Weekdays and now on Saturdays as well.
- Snoqualmie Valley Transportation services: Valley Shuttle (North Bend to Duvall), Downtown Loop Route, Snoqualmie Ridge Loop Route, and Demand Response.
Data and Statistics
Data for the number of new COVID-19 cases in King County are updated daily and posted on the King County COVID-19 Data Dashboard. Data includes a summary of counts, rate of positive results by ZIP code or city, cumulative counts, counts on a logarithmic scale, and demographics.
Stay Home
Please follow Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. When you do go out for exercise, shopping, or other necessities, please maintain social distancing of at least six feet. If you are going to be within six feet of others, please wear a mask.
Stay Healthy
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states that you can become infected from the respiratory droplets of someone infected with the virus or by touching surfaces and objects that have the virus and then touching our mouth, nose, or eyes. Remember to wash your hands often and don’t touch your face.
coronavirus.wa.gov
Washington State has a centralized online location – coronavirus.wa.gov – with comprehensive, multilingual coronavirus and COVID-19 information for workers, businesses, individuals, families, children, homeowners, renters, and homeless or displaced people. It has an abundance of resources such as finding healthcare and mental health providers, accessing legal aid, getting help for immigrants, making facemasks, and much more.
More Information
King County COVID-19
King County Emergency Management
King County Metro
King County Regional Donations Connector
Public Health – Seattle & King County
United Way of King County
YMCA of Greater Seattle
Washington State Department of Health
Washington State Department of Revenue
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Contact:
Joan Pliego
City of Snoqualmie
jpliego@snoqualmiewa.gov
425-281-3317