Snoqualmie councilors voted to extend the city’s class‑4 work‑crew agreement with the Washington State Department of Corrections through June 30, 2028.

Parks and Public Works staff and presenter Jason Battles explained the program's screening requirements, saying workers are within six years or less of release and must pass multidisciplinary screening; staff emphasized exclusions for individuals with violent misconduct or sex‑crime histories. The packet included a cost summary and a wage example discussed in the meeting.

During the public discussion Councilor Johnson raised concerns about the optics and ethics of low pay for participants; Jason Battles referenced the city's calculations and noted an example figure of $5.23 per hour cited in packet summary material for certain shift aggregates, though other packet pages showed per‑person hourly comparisons around $11 per hour depending on work classification. Proponents, including Councilors Benson and Christiansen, said the work provides outdoor employment, skills and reintegration benefits and argued the program pays comparatively high rates within institutional programs.

After debate, council approved the amendment to extend the master agreement by a recorded vote (five in favor, two opposed). Staff said the agreement provides valuable labor for stormwater and urban forestry operations and helps participating individuals gain job experience.