Committee advances one-year Echo Glenn EMS amendment with CPI increase and per-call penalty

The Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee reviewed an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Echo Glenn Children’s Center that would extend fire and emergency medical services for one year, from July 2026 to July 2027, with a CPI-based 3.07% rate increase and a new penalty for unusually high call volumes.

Haley, who presented the agenda bill, told the committee the city has contracted with Echo Glenn since 2003 and that recent years showed higher call volumes: about 35 calls in 2023, 66 in 2024, 38 in 2025 and nine through June 1, 2026. The amendment proposes keeping the one-year contract length to continue monitoring and working with Echo Glenn on operational changes to reduce unnecessary calls.

Haley outlined the contract terms, including the CPI adjustment, and described a new protective clause: “if during the period of the contract the call volume goes above 40, then Echo Glenn would pay a penalty of $750 per call above 40,” language she said was intended to protect the city from sudden spikes in service costs.

Council Member Cotton noted Echo Glenn is outside the city limits and explained that, while the agency is technically an Eastside provider, Snoqualmie has historically been the closest responder and would likely respond under mutual-aid arrangements even if the contract ended. Council Member Tesman asked for clarification about the 2024 spike; Haley said about 40 of those calls were automatic fire alarms tied to an aging alarm system that has since been replaced, and that administrative practices at the facility previously prompted staff to call for many medical responses.

Committee members signaled little objection to the amendment and agreed to place the item on the consent agenda for the upcoming council meeting.

Next steps: the amendment will be on the consent calendar at the next council meeting. If the council approves the consent agenda, the one-year amendment and its penalty clause will take effect for the July 2026–July 2027 term.