North Bend's Bond Rating Upgraded

City Receives “A” Bond Rating

North Bend, WA – The City of North Bend has received an updated Bond Rating evaluation and analysis from Standard & Poor’s, a nationally recognized rating organization. Bond ratings help determine the amount of interest municipalities will pay when they issue bonds to raise capital. North Bend’s previous bond rating was an “A-” and was elevated to “A” on April 2, 2009. North Bend remains in the “Upper Medium” investment grade but has been elevated within that grade.

“We expect that this will result in cost savings to the taxpayer’s in the future” said North Bend Finance Director Elena Montgomery. “This is especially beneficial on long-term bond issues of 20 years or more”. North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing welcomed the news. “I love it when we can find a way to reduce the obligation on the taxpayers. I appreciate the hard work of the Finance Department which provides the backbone for this rating”.

The City hopes that the new bond rating will positively impact the upcoming issuance of the sewer ULID bonds scheduled for 2011 and lower the interest rate paid by ULID participants.

Yardwaste Recycling program dates

2009 YARDWASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM DATES ANNOUNCED

Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
North Bend Public Works, 1155 E. North Bend Way

The Yardwaste Program will be open on Saturdays beginning April 18th.
It will not be available every Saturday so please check the schedule which will be as follows:

April 18, 25
May 2, 9, 16, 30
June 6, 13, 20, 27
July 11, 18, 25

August 1, 15, 22, 29
September 12, 19, 26
October 3, 10, 17, 24

A copy of your North Bend Utility Bill is required.

ACCEPTED YARD WASTE: +Grass
+Leaves
+Weeds
+Branches and limbs up to 3 inches in diameter and 3 feet long

NOT ACCEPTED: - Large branches
-Sod or Dirt
-Rocks or Concrete or Asphalt
-Wood or Stumps
-Trash or Construction Debris
-Manure
-Plastic Bags

REQUIREMENTS: Resident of the City of North Bend
Show your North Bend Utility/Garbage Bill Stub
Bring Yardwaste in a Reusable container/Paper Bag or Cardboard Box that can be Recycled


There will be no Yardwaste Program on the following Saturdays: Memorial Weekend, 5/23, Fourth of July, 7/4, Festival at Mt Si, 8/8, Labor Day Weekend, 9/5. The 2009 program will end on 10/24.

For more information call: Public Works (425) 888-0486

TO SIGN UP FOR CURBSIDE COLLECTION CALL ALLIED WASTE 206-682-9730

Annexation Petitioners Reach Goal

On Thursday March 26th, North Bend Public Works Director Ron Garrow delivered petitions from property owners favoring the proposed Tanner Annexation area, to the King County Assessor's Office. Petition organizers collected more than the necessary 60% of the signatures of owners by assessed valuation, reaching 64% as of Thursday morning.

The Assessor will now verify the signatures on the petitions and will certify the petitions if all is in order. The City Council will consider a motion to set a public hearing this Tuesday at their regular meeting (April 7). If the Council acts, a public hearing will be held on April 21st to decide whether to issue a Declaration of Intent to Annex.

If the Council does issue the Declaration, the annexation issue will then be transfered to the King County Boundry Review Board. That Board must decide within 45 days whether they intend to exercize jurisdiction, a move which would be unusual.

Editors Note: Congratulations to the Annexation Petitioners who, in about 8 weeks, gathered signatures representing about $115 million dollars in assessed property valuation. A lot of hard work went into this drive.

Council Names Climbing Rock Contractor

The City Council authorized a contract for design and construction of the Centennial Climbing Rock at their meeting of March 17th. The contractor, Rockwerx, from Massachusetts will be working with city staff to finalize the design and start the construction process. The climbing rock is scheduled to be completed in time for a public dedication on August 8th during the Festival at Mt. Si just prior to the evening fireworks.

Become a Part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Would you like to be prepared to help your family, your neighbors, and your community during an emergency or disaster? You can learn hands-on skills by taking the FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course and becoming certified to serve in times of need. Anyone of any physical ability can take the course and it is open to people from any city.

Through CERT training, you will learn techniques in fire suppression, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and disaster medical operations including triage techniques, patient assessment, and treating life-threatening injuries. The course concludes with a disaster simulation and drill. For a detailed schedule of session topics, please visit the City of Snoqualmie website at www.ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.

Session Dates and Location
Saturday, May 9, 9:00am-3:00pm
Saturday, May 16, 9:00am-3:00pm
Saturday, May 30, 9:00am-3:00pm
Saturday, June 6, 9:00am-3:00pm (drill)

All sessions are located at the Snoqualmie Fire Department, 37600 SE Snoqualmie Parkway in Snoqualmie.

Course FeeThis four-day course fee is $25 per person and includes all training, student materials and equipment including a student manual and CERT kit (Field Operation Guide, hardhat, safety vest, backpack, goggles, gloves, flashlight, whistle, triage tape, and hand-sanitizing gel). The course fee is fully refundable upon completion of all four classes and certification.

Tanner Annexation petition drive nears completion

North Bend Public Works Director Ron Garrow announced receipt of new petition packages for annexation of the area refered to as the Tanner Annexation, bringing the signature drive to over 80% of its intended goal. This annexation would expand the geographical boundaries of North Bend by approximately 33% and would bring the Urban Growth Area north of Interstate 90 into the corporate limits all the way to Truck Town. Signature gatherers continue their efforts and have set a goal of obtaining authorization from owners of 60% of the assessed valuation with the area before the end of April, 2009.

If the proponents are sucessful in obtaining the signatures, the City Council will then conduct a public hearing and make a determination as to whether to authorize the expansion of the City.

North Bend Publishes 2009 Centennial Budget

The City of North Bend is proud to announce the release of its 2009 “Centennial” Budget document. Mayor Hearing congratulated the finance staff on “the hard work that went into producing this exceptional budget document. The finance staff has won many awards for their budget documents over the years, and I believe this one will be a wonderful tribute to our 100 year anniversary”.

You may stop by City Hall to review the 2009 Budget or it may be accessed on the City’s Website at www.ci.north-bend.wa.us on the homepage, or under City Departments/Finance-Technology. In honor of the City’s Centennial year many historic photos have been included courtesy of the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum. We believe you will enjoy viewing this historic budget. Please allow several minutes for this very large .pdf document to download onto your computer.