Your Connection to the Spokane Valley City Council

This formal meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened under the edict from the Governor that masks were to be worn indoors. As the meeting reached the Board Summary Reports item on the agenda, Councilman Rod Higgins made a statement protesting the mask mandate. He said, “The Governor has issued mandates once again threatening businesses and individuals for non-compliance under an emergency declaration that has extended for more than 18 months. His actions are destroying our city and making a mockery of representative democracy. Unfortunately, we here on the dais are powerless to do anything about it. Perhaps it’s time for civil disobedience.”

The meeting continued with a proclamation celebrating the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Centennial, proclaiming August 25th as Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Day.

In its last session, the State Legislature passed a bill (HB 1220) regarding affordable housing and homelessness. The bill preempts cities from prohibiting transitional housing and permanent supportive housing in any residential zones or zones where hotels are permitted effectively removing local control of where homeless people can be placed.

The City’s only recourse was to create regulations governing where and how such housing is to fit in Spokane Valley. The effective date of the directives in HB 1220 was July 25th. The City’s Emergency Ordinance No. 21-009, approved unanimously by Council on July 20th, adopted temporary interim regulations for reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity limits on transitional, permanent supportive and emergency housing, and emergency shelters. Those temporary measures adopted by the City are slated to become permanent on September 30th.
One of the requirements of HB 1220 was that a public hearing be held. That requirement was met by the Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 21-009 held this evening.

On June 1st, 2021, Council adopted Resolution 21-001, implementing a Housing Action Plan. In 2019 the State Legislature passed legislation requiring cities to create and adopt a Housing Action Plan (HAP) to define strategies and implementation that promote greater housing diversity and affordability for residents of all income levels.

The City’s HAP includes four main components:
• A Housing Needs Assessment
• A review of policies and regulations affecting housing development
• Strategies to increase housing based on needs
• An Implementation Plan

The City hired consultants to design and develop its plan. In addition, the City hired a Housing and Homeless Coordinator to assist in the organization of its programs for affordable housing and location of homeless accommodations required by HB 1220 and the accompanying efforts under Ordinance No. 21-009.

Staff is recommending the City make application for an $85,000 grant from Spokane County Homeless Housing Assistance Act (HHAA) for funding to assist with homeless individual outreach within the City. If received, the money would be administered by the Spokane County Community Services, Housing and Community Development Department. Applications have to be made by September 10th. Council reached consensus to proceed with the application.
As the next step moving toward budget adoption in November, Council received an administrative report on estimated revenues and expenditures. The 2022 Budget currently includes appropriations of $89,711,697 which includes $20,704,214 in capital expenditures. That $20,704,214 will be partially offset by $8,497,612 of grant revenues from State and Federal money.

In the General Fund, recurring revenue is estimated to be $51,997,700, an increase of 6.80% over the 2021 amended budget of $48,689,219. Recurring expenditures are estimated to be $48,194,350, an increase of 7.16% over the amended 2021 budget’s $44,972,827. The next budget report will be on September 14. The number of employees will increase from 96.25 to 100.25. The City will once again forgo the automatic 1% property tax increase.
The City Finance Director also presented a review of the list of Potential and Pending Projects from which money in the Capital Reserve Fund might be used. Of the $12,143,043 in the account, $4,630,911 has already been allocated for such items as parkland purchases and improvements, leaving $7,512,132 available for items such as police vehicles and school zone beacons. Two million dollars will be allocated to Balfour Park improvements.
Last week Council discussed the Complete Streets program. A ‘Complete Streets’ program requires an ordinance that formally recognizes the City’s commitment to provide safe, practical, and equitable transportation improvements for all its users. It also serves as a tool to enhance eligibility for state and federal funding programs that enable the City to expand its capabilities for improving its transportation facilities. The requirements in an ordinance are that the City consider but not necessarily implement complete street elements in all its road projects.

Staff returned to Council with an administrative report covering the draft ordinance, potential funding opportunities, and requesting consensus to proceed with drafting a complete streets ordinance. That consensus was reached.

The August 31st Council meeting is canceled.

City Hall is open for business. Under the Governor’s latest edict, masks must be worn in the building. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. Public participation on action items or public comment periods can be in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions.

This Study Session of the Spokane Valley City Council began with a motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute an interlocal agreement with Fire District 8 (FD 8) for its acquisition of a site at the corner of 44th Avenue and Bates Road for a new fire station.

On June 16th, the City completed acquisition of 17.7 acres from Central Valley School District adjacent to the corner of 44th Avenue and Bates Road in the Ponderosa area. Under this agreement, FD 8 will buy three acres for $266,950 plus costs subject to adjustment based on actual property needs and accommodations.

The agreement allows time for FD 8 to acquire funding for construction. If FD 8 doesn’t begin construction within the agreed time, the City can buy the land back at the same price or the parties can mutually agree to extend the agreement. The motion was approved unanimously.

In 2012 the City purchased 8.4 acres adjacent to the already existing Balfour Park. It then entered into an interlocal agreement to sell 2.82 acres to the Spokane County Library District (SCLD) for placement of a future library. Construction of the new library is slated to begin in 2022.

The City is working to complete construction of frontage improvements adjacent to the library this summer. Those improvements will widen the pavement, install curbs, and relocate utilities as needed. Sidewalks will be constructed by the SCLD. A consultant, AHBL, Inc., is completing the design.

That design will be in two phases. Phase 1 will encompass park design to 30% including an events plaza, play areas, splash pad, restroom, picnic shelter, veterans’ memorial, and amphitheater. The plans encompass design of site grading, initial parking areas, lighting, multi-use plaza and open areas.

The second phase of development, as funding is secured, will be for remaining portions of the park up to 90% of completed design. Phase 1 park infrastructure is estimated to cost $3.5 million, with current available money at $1.5 million. If funding is obtainable, bidding will start in February 2022. The consultant will update the cost estimate for full park construction to be used for future grant applications.
A ‘Complete Streets’ program requires an ordinance that formally recognizes the City’s commitment to provide safe, practical, and equitable transportation improvements for all its users. It also serves as a tool to enhance eligibility for state and federal funding programs that enable the City to expand its capabilities for improving its transportation facilities.

Council reached unanimous consensus for staff to develop a draft Complete Streets Ordinance and to evaluate applications for funding through the program. Staff will return to Council with an administrative report covering the draft ordinance and potential funding opportunities.

City Police Chief Dave Ellis presented how a series of bills at the last legislative session are affecting the Spokane Valley Police
Department (SVPD) law enforcement practices and capabilities. By categories, those changes are:

1. TACTICS
     • Bans use of “military equipment” (shotguns have been removed from vehicles)
     • Prohibits use of tear gas, with limited exceptions
     • Prohibits chokeholds or neck restraints in any circumstances (SVPD has never authorized chokeholds)
     • Prohibits no-knock warrants (SVPD has used once for victim safety)
     • Restricts vehicle pursuits

2. USE of FORCE: Establishes new standards for use of physical force unless there is probable cause to make and arrest or prevent escape.
     • States that a higher threshold must be used when addressing mental subjects
     • Requires an officer to “exhaust available and appropriate de-escalation tactics prior to using any physical force

3. DECERTIFICATION: Sets up a Criminal Justice Training Commission to hear cases for de- certification of peace officers
     • May conduct investigations outside of the employing agency
     • Requires personnel records to be kept for the duration of officer’s employment plus 10 years
     • Requires that law enforcement employees consent to and facilitate a review of personal social media accounts

The laws continue into the realm of leading one to wonder why anyone in the state would work in law enforcement. The net effect of this series of laws is to 1) Reduce the ability of an officer to do his or her job, 2) Create hazardous situations where none should exist, and 3) Cause unnecessary dangerous situations where citizens are involved.  SVPD is working to digest and implement the changes.

City Hall is open for business. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. Public participation on action items or public comment periods can be in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions.

After taking the week off for National Night Out in support of First Responders and the County local elections, Council began the business of its August 10th meeting by amending its agenda to accommodate a motion to purchase of the White Elephant property on Sprague Avenue, adjacent to the City’s precinct. The purchase price is $2,250,000 plus closing costs. Motion passed unanimously. 

Council then took up the Second Reading of Ordinance 21-010, Batch Text Amendments. Those amendments will:

1) Clarify where cargo shipping containers and their use can be found in the City Code. Previously, it was ‘out of place’ in the accessory dwelling section. The proposed amendment moves the provision to the Accessory Structures section. However, regardless of the placement in the code, shipping containers are not permitted as an accessory structure to a residential use in residential zones.

2) R-4 Zone: The City adopted comprehensive plan amendment CPA-2020-0007, creating a new R-4 zone and adding two policies to guide the development of alternative housing types along with implementing zoning code amendments. Subsequently, it was discovered that several sections relevant to all residential zones were overlooked in the amendment process. This amendment will include the R-4 zone in sections related to battery charging stations, transitional regulations, adult uses, and marijuana uses.

The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing and after deliberations voted 7-0 to adopt the proposal and forward it to Council for consideration. moving forward as Ordinance No. 21-010. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 21-010 passed unanimously.

In 2013 the City adopted goals and priorities for how it would use lodging tax revenues and encouraged the Lodging Tax Committee to consider those when making award recommendations. In summary, those goals and priorities are: 

1. To direct awards toward funding projects, activities, events or festivals that will highlight Spokane Valley as a tourism destination. Lodging taxes will be used for purposes allowed by State law including:
     a. Tourism marketing
     b. Marketing and operation of special events and festivals
     c. Operation and capital expenditures for tourism related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district
     d. Operation of tourism related facilities owned or operated by non-profit organizations

2. Emphasize use of funds for capital expenditures to develop tourism destination facilities or venues within the City to draw visitors.

3. Priority consideration will be given to projects with a history of increasing overnight stays and the shopping, dining, and overnight visit components in that category.

4. Recognition is given to revenues generated by other lodging sources outside the City for promoting Spokane Valley facilities.
An award to a Lodging Tax applicant cannot be greater than the amount requested in the applicant’s application.
A pending joint project for a new building at the Fairgrounds will require applying nearly $3 million from accumulated Lodging Tax funds to that undertaking. 

Applications for grants are due to the City by 4pm, Friday, October 1st. Candidates will present their applications to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) on Thursday, October 14th. LTAC will make its recommendations for awards to Council at its November 9th meeting, and Council will approve the final awards on December 14th.

Motions to:

1. Approve the Council goals and priorities for use of lodging tax revenues passed unanimously. 

2. Authorize submittal of application to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for the new Fairgrounds building using Hotel/Motel Tax revenue passed unanimously.

The Spokane County Jail is not equipped to treat mentally ill individuals or addicts. Incarceration often exacerbates those conditions and doesn’t address recurrences. For several years, Spokane Valley, Spokane, and Spokane County have been collaborating on the creation of a Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Center to provide an opportunity for qualifying individuals to stabilize and treat their condition rather than be jailed.

A report by consultant Ariane Schmidt and Dan Sigler from Pioneer Human Services updated Council on the current status and anticipated timeline for opening the Center in October.

On June 16th, the City completed acquisition of 17.7 acres from Central Valley School District adjacent to the corner of 44th Avenue and Bates Road in the Ponderosa area. In a prior report the possibility of Fire District 8 (FD 8) purchasing approximately three acres for a new fire station across Bates Road from its current one was discussed. In a proposed agreement, FD 8 would buy three acres for $266,950 plus costs subject to adjustment based on actual property needs and accommodations. Council is slated to consider the agreement at its August 17th meeting.

Council also received an update on the Argonne Road/Montgomery Avenue intersection improvement project where that intersection is being reconstructed with concrete paving. The construction which began on July 10th is slated to last 10 weeks.

In April 2019, Council heard a proposal for a joint sports complex with Spokane County at Plante’s Ferry. That discussion is continuing, awaiting Council direction.

Council also reached consensus on acquiring a Ford F150 truck for fleet replacement, budgeted at $47,500. Formal action to follow.
City Hall is open for business. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. Public participation on action items or public comment periods can be in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions.  

View Past Spokane Valley City Council Highlights