The meeting agenda of Spokane Valley’s City Council began with a presentation by Matt Albright, Executive Director of Service Lines, and Dr. Dan Getz, Chief Medical Officer with Providence Health Care, regarding the current status of COVID. They mentioned a steady decline in in-patient COVID cases, but they are preparing for a potential increase due to the holidays and the Omicron variant. They encouraged getting vaccinated and wearing masks.

The Wolff Company has a long history of conducting real estate operations of various kinds and types in Spokane Valley. One of the latest, Riverhouse II, a multifamily project constructed along the Spokane River north of Mission Avenue. In a joint project with the City, the Old Mission Trailhead was created to improve parking and access to the Centennial Trail. A new cul-de-sac at the end of Mission Avenue was part of that improvement. The Wolff Company has commissioned a sculpture by Bill and Karma Simmons entitled “Dragonflies” to be donated to the City for placement in the center of the cul-de-sac. Completion of the sculpture is scheduled for spring 2022. The motion to accept the Dragonflies sculpture was approved unanimously.

In a surprise late addition to the agenda, Five Fifty LLC, a local residential real estate development company donated 24.5 acres to the City. The property is located near the Summerfield development at the intersection of Progress Road and Forker Road. Ken Tupper, one of the principals in Five Fifty LLC made the presentation. Motion to accept the property passed unanimously. The City collects a 2% lodging tax on hotels and motels. That tax is used primarily for tourism marketing and operation of dedicated events and festivals. Later, Council adopted an additional 1.3% lodging tax to be used solely for capital expenditures to acquire, construct, and improve large sporting venues or venues for tourism-related facilities that support lodging facilities. Suggestions for distribution of the Lodging Tax money is made by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) which is made up of:
• Representatives (2) of businesses that are required to collect the tax
• People involved (2) in activities funded by the tax
• One elected city official who serves as chair of LTAC

On November 16th, Council heard an administrative report on recommendations for 2022 Lodging Tax grants. They were:
Applicant                                        Request                                               Recommended
• HUB................................................................$55,000............$55,000
• JAKT Brews, Beats & Eats.....................$15,000............$6,500
• JAKT Craft Beer........................................$15,000............$6,000
• JAKT Crave!................................................$50,000............$30,000
• JAKT Farmer’s Market...........................$25,000............$17,000
• JAKT Valley Events..................................$400,000..........$-0-
• Northwest Winterfest............................$45,000............$45,000
• Spokane Fair & Expo Center.................$75,000............$64,000
• Spokane Valley Heritage Museum.....$40,000............$27,000
• Spokane Valley Summer Theater........$20,000............$20,000
• Valleyfest......................................................$30,000...........$24,000
• Valleyfest Cycle Celebration................$5,000..............$3,500
Transfer to 1.3% Tax Capital Account...$273,000
Total....................................................................$775,000.....$571,000

In addition, the City requested funds from the 1.3% Tax fund account to apply to a new Expo Building at the Fairgrounds and all future revenues from that fund until the building is completed. LTAC recommended $3,500,000. In two motions, Council 1) Approved the grants to applicants as presented above by a vote of 6-1, and 2) Approved unanimously the allocation of $3.5 million from the 1.3% Lodging Tax account for the design, construction, and other costs associated with building the expansion of the Fairgrounds Expo Center Project as presented in the City’s application.

Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council (SRLJC) was created in 2014 to function as a focal point for discussions on the function of the regional criminal justice system, changes needed in the system, and how those changes might be accomplished. Public safety is the largest expenditure for most local jurisdictions, including Spokane Valley.

In June, the County Commissioners changed SRLJC’s structure, composition, and duties. The City/town representation was combined into one position and assigned a two-year term. A small work committee was appointed to refine a list of priorities  to bring before Council. Those priorities are:
• Adopt a program to effectively reduce failures to appear (FTA) throughout the court system
• Pursuit and adoption of evidence-based/data-driven solutions to problems facing the system
• Assess the need for a new main detention facility and whether that includes appropriate space to accommodate programming for such things as drug treatment, mental health-related issues that intersect with the criminal justice system, and anger management
• Enhanced victim advocacy

The City’s recommendations, in a letter from the Mayor, specifically noted that the City “….is not intending to direct a particular outcome or render and opinion of support or opposition…”

A motion to recommend those items be forwarded for consideration by the entire Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council passed unanimously. Mr. Bennet Resnick from Cardinal Infrastructure, the City’s D.C. lobbyist, presented an update of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which became law on November 15th. The overall effect on the City is still to be determined.

The City has been working with the Spokane County Library District (Library) toward jointly approaching the construction of the library and Balfour Park improvement to possibly reduce construction costs by combining their construction proposals for bid. The Library has since notified the City that they do not intend to continue with that arrangement. Council reached consensus to continue with the City’s plan to finalize construction documents and advertise the project to get underway in early 2022. The cost is estimated to be $3 million.

The City intends to replace its contracted janitorial service with a full-time employee. The replacement will be an addition of one employee, but the budgetary impact will be nil. City Hall is open for business. 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. 

 

As 2021 winds down, this meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened with a proclamation by the Mayor recognizing December as Impaired Driving Prevention Month. This was followed by the first of four Motion Considerations.
 

1. Street Sweeping Contract: In 2019, Council awarded AAA Sweeping, LLC a contract with options for up to four one-year renewals if mutually agreed by both parties. This is the second of four renewals. The 2022 option year contract amount will be $584,875.20. Contract specifications note that the parties may negotiate a rate increase for each option year, but it shall not be increased or decreased by more than the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) or 3% whichever is less. 
 

The CPI-U increased 6.2% for the contract period. Prevailing wage rates increased from 2.74% to 4.36%, and health insurance rates are projected to increase by 10% prompting the contractor to request a 3.0% hourly rate increase. Motion to approve the 2022 contract renewal passed unanimously.

2. Street Maintenance Contract: This contract consists of asphalt repair, roadway shoulder repair and grading, gravel road grading, crack sealing, sidewalk and path repair, guardrail repair, fencing repair, drainage structure repair and installation, curb, gutter and inlet repair plus installation and other related work.
 

Poe Asphalt was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The 2022 option year contract is the second of four option years available to the City. The contract including all applicable increases will be for $1,530,307.70. The motion to approve the contract renewal to Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. was approved unanimously.
 

3. Expo Expansion Project Grant Opportunity: The City has embarked on a project for expansion of the Expo Center building at Spokane County Fairgrounds. Funds raised to date:

a. City Capital Reserve Fund $1,000,000

b. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee $3,500,000

c. State Legislature Appropriation $   750,000

Total $5,250,000

 

The City has identified a possible grant opportunity from the American Rescue Plan Act-Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation grant program (ARPA Tourism). The City intends to apply for a Tourism grant in the amount of $4.25 million which, if awarded, would bring the total funds available to $9.5 million of the estimated $10 million to complete the project. A 20% match is required for the grant and any amount above that amount increases the chances of success.  Motion to authorize the City Manager to apply for the $4.25 million ARPA Tourism grant passed unanimously.

 

4. Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council (SRLJC) Policy Direction: The SRLJC was created in 2014 to function as a focal point for discussions on the function of the regional criminal justice system, changes needed in the system, and how those changes might be accomplished since public safety is the largest budgetary expenditure for most local jurisdictions, including Spokane Valley.

 

In June, the County Commissioners changed the structure, composition, and duties of SRLJC. The City/town representation was combined into one position and assigned a two-year term. Currently, Deputy Mayor Brandi Peetz is that representative. A small work committee has been charged with composing a list of priorities to bring before the whole Council. Those priorities, in no specific order, are:

a. An FTA (failure to appear) reduction program to minimize the considerable number of FTAs clogging the system

b. Pursuing evidence-based/data-driven solutions

c. Construction of a new main jail facility that includes drug treatment, mental health-related issues, anger management, and similar issues. (The City is not advocating for a new jail, just the study of the need.)

d. Enhanced victim advocacy 
 

A motion to recommend those items be forwarded for consideration by the entire Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council passed unanimously.

 

On July 20th, 2021, Council adopted Resolution #21-004 updating the City’s schedule of fees charged for services, rentals, and permits. Those fees account for $3,317,500 or 6.36% of General Fund revenues and $1,910,000 in Stormwater Management fund revenues (99.9%). Although the fee schedule was updated earlier, the actual process for regularly updating the fee schedule was not addressed. Resolution #21-009 accomplishes that in the areas of Planning, Building (permits), and Parks and Recreation. Consensus to place Resolution 21-004 on Council’s December 14th agenda was unanimous.

 

In 2018 the City retained the services of Cardinal Infrastructure, LLC as its Washington, D.C. lobbyist. Under the contract, 2021 is a renewal year. The annual fee is $78,000 although the fee was adjusted to $58,500 in 2020 due to COVID. The City has requested a similar adjustment for 2021. At this time, that adjustment request had not been answered. Council will discuss the issue further at its next meeting.

 

City Hall is open for business. 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.