This last Council meeting for January 2020 opened with a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to the City’s 2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The City uses a TIP to prioritize its path forward for accomplishing its transportation needs. Last June Council adopted the 2020 TIP in Resolution 19-008. The City uses Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) money as matching funds in grant applications but can only use those funds for projects that have been identified in an adopted TIP. Thus, it is imperative that the City not only have a TIP, but that it is up to date.

After Council conducted its Public Hearing on the proposed updates to the 2020 TIP adding two new projects: 1) Argonne/Montgomery Intersection Improvement Project; and 2) Park Road Sidewalk Improvement Project, it unanimously passed Resolution 20-002 amending the 2020 TIP.

In January of 2019, Staff discussed with Council a potential project application to US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program for rebuilding America’s aging infrastructure. USDOT issued a call for projects on January 13th for Fiscal Year 2020 projects. Approximately $900 million is available for qualifying transportation projects.

Projects are classified as “Large” or “Small” with awards between $25 million and $5 million respectively. INFRA funds are limited to 60% of a project’s total cost, while cumulative federal funding cannot exceed 80%. Priority is given to projects that minimize the need for federal funding.

This proposal is for a shared INFRA application for the Sullivan Road and Bigelow Gulch/Forker Road Improvement Projects. By joining with Spokane County and combining the connecting projects, the remaining costs of the County’s Bigelow-Gulch/Forker project and the City’s North Sullivan corridor improvements would be captured as a single project with consolidated costs.

The City’s North Sullivan corridor improvements include the reconstruction of the Sullivan Road/Trent Avenue (SR-290) interchange including the Sullivan bridge over SR-20, various updating intersection improvements, and continuous lighting improvements along the corridor. The County’s portion of the proposed project is estimated to cost $15-20 million. The City’s share is estimated at $35 million, for a total project cost of $50-55 million.

Those funds would be from a combination of an INFRA grant up to 60%, with other federal funds up to 20% ($7 million) from other yet to be identified sources. Matching non-federal funds required of the City would also amount to $7 million. Sources for those funds might be Transportation Improvement Board, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, Washington Legislature appropriations, private contributions and/or City funds. The City will retain a consultant to prepare the INFRA application, with reimbursement for the County’s proportionate share. Estimated cost for the consultant is $80,000 split $24,000 for the County’s share and $56,000 to the City.

The City will manage the consultant contract and be the lead applicant for the INFRA application. Motion to proceed with finalizing a memorandum of understanding between the City and County for preparation and submittal of the joint application for the INFRA grant for the Sullivan Road and Bigelow Gulch/Forker Road Improvement Projects passed unanimously.

A motion to approve an agreement with Valleyfest to memorialize the informal ongoing agreement for the use of CenterPlace and other City facilities without attempting to change the non-written agreement was unanimously approved.

When the City was incorporated in 2003, it adopted the County’s regulations for signage within the City. In 2007 the City adopted its Uniform Development Code, attempting to define aesthetic corridors where specific signage such as monument signs were permitted, while restricting usage of wall signs. The City’s Planning Commission has been reviewing the situation, conducting a Public Hearing on a proposed Code amendment on October 10th, 2019. At that meeting, the Commission voted 4-0 to recommend that Code Text Amendment (CTA) 2019-0003 be approved. Council, by consensus placed consideration of the CTA of a future agenda for a first reading.

There will be no Council meeting on January 28th.

The meeting opened with a proclamation honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King.

One of the first items of business prompted by the installation of new City officers is the transfer of authority for signing checks. Resolution 20-001, the first resolution of the new decade amending that authority from Rod Higgins to Ben Wick was passed unanimously.

Over the past two years, the City has been working with David Evans & Associates (DEA) to develop and prepare the Barker Road/BNSF Rail Crossing (Project). In 2017, the first phase of the Project, DEA analyzed and compared six alternatives in terms of cost, right-of-way requirements, impacts to existing properties, safety, and other elements pertaining to the construction. On April 10, 2018, Council authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement with DEA for the final design, using Alternative 5.

Project milestones that have been completed or are currently ongoing are:  NEPA approval—November 2018 (National, Environmental Approval), SEPA approval—January 2019 (State Environmental Approval), TIGER IX Agreement (Phase I) Executed 4/2019 (Federal Grant), ROW Phase Authorization—May 2019 (Right of Way acquisition), ROW Negotiations initiated—July 2019 (Right of Way acquisition), 60% Plans Developed—July 2019 (Checkpoint on way to final plan), 100% Plans currently under development.

As the Project has moved forward over the past 18 months the anticipated effort required in the level of design and ROW acquisition has increased. Such changes on a project of this size is not unexpected, thus the necessity for a supplemental budget agreement. Reasons for the increase include having to negotiate ROW and easement acquisitions dealing with 17 separate property owners. While most were/are agreeable to the City’s overtures, others chose to adopt a less conciliatory path, requiring legal action.

In the fall of 2019, the City agreed to have Washington State Department of Transportation assist with the construction administration of the Project. WSDOT has requested that DEA prepare an additional review submittal, which wasn’t in the original scope of work.
During the review of the 60% development plans, a need for an additional detour route was discovered to accommodate several parcels east of Barker Road during construction because Barker will be raised approximately 12 feet at the intersection of their access road. This requires additional surveying, preparing bid solicitations, plus additional planning. Continuing problems with ROW acquisition have set back the Project schedule by about five months, necessitating updates to federal environmental documents.

A motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Supplemental Agreement with DEA, amending the scope of work and fee, with the contract amount not to exceed $2,796,891.04 passed unanimously.
Each term, the Mayor, with Council approval, appoints individual Council members to various City and regional committee assignments. Those appointments for this term are:                          
     
P=Primary Representative; A=Alternate   
• Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington— P:Higgins; A:Haley
• Chamber of Commerce—Peetz
• Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency—P:Higgins; A:Woodard
• County Continuum of Care for Homeless—Haley
• Finance Committee—(City) Wick, Peetz, Thompson
• Growth Management Steering Committee (2)—Wick, Hattenburg
• Governance Manual Committee—(City) Higgins, Hattenburg, Thompson
• Greater Spokane Incorporated—Wick
• Health District Board (2)—Wick, Thompson
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee—Wick
• Mayors’ Association of Northeast Washington—Wick
• Spokane Regional Transportation Council—Wick
• Spokane Transit Authority (2)—P:Haley; P:Hattenburg; A:Wick
• Visit Spokane—P:Peetz; A:Haley

The motion to approve the Mayoral appointments to the positions listed above passed unanimously.

The January 28th Council Meeting is cancelled. Council will be attending the Association of Washington Action Days in Olympia.

In Spokane Valley’s Council/Manager form of municipal government, a Mayor and Deputy Mayor is elected every two years. Those officers are elected by the Council from its membership for the ensuing term. This evening Council elected Ben Wick as Mayor and Brandi Peetz as Deputy Mayor. Those terms started immediately upon election and will continue through December 31, 2021.

In December 2019 Council approved Phase I of a master plan for the improvement of the West Lawn and North Lawn at CenterPlace. CenterPlace has been the longtime home of Valleyfest and in recent years has become the venue for CRAVE, Oktoberfest and a farmers’ market. The completion of Phase I has attracted attention and new engagements enhancing the community appeal.

Phase II of the master plan calls for a new plaza and additional landscaping improvements plus new structures, lighting, and electrical siting together with a new cul-de-sac at the end of North Discovery Place. The Engineer’s estimate for construction was $1,462,599.40. Six bids were entered with the lowest bid of $1,348,734.02 submitted by Wm. Winkler Company. The motion to award the CenterPlace West Lawn Phase II Project bid was unanimously approved.

The City employs a Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) to prioritize its path forward for accomplishing its transportation needs. Last June Council adopted the 2020 TIP in Resolution 19-008. The City uses Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) money as matching funds in grant applications but can only use those funds for projects that have been identified in an adopted TIP. Thus, it is imperative that the City not only have a TIP but that it is up to date.

Council this evening considered updates to the 2020 TIP by adding two new projects: 1) Argonne/Montgomery Intersection Improvement Project; and 2) Park Road Sidewalk Improvement Project. A Public Hearing and action on a resolution amending the 2020 TIP is scheduled for the January 21 Council meeting.
When Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003, it inherited from the County a horse arena at Valley Mission Park. The arena consists of a riding arena, an A-Frame press box and several covered stables. In February 2006, a fire destroyed 31 horse stables and damaged the existing restroom.

From 2003 through 2009, riding groups rented the arena five to ten times per year. Rental income failed to cover maintenance costs. In 2010, rentals dropped off significantly with no rentals in the past six years. This presents the opportunity to consider repurposing this asset. The 2019 Park Master Plan contained a recommendation to replace the horse arena with a bicycle pump track and/or a skate park.

By using City and Geiger crews for removing remnants of the arena, staff has the opportunity to prepare the arena area for a new direction. Use of City and Geiger crews will substantially reduce the cost of readying this prime recreational area for a new use. Council reached consensus to proceed with the removal and renovation as outlined by staff.

On January 14th, Mayoral appointments to the City Planning Commission, Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and various other committees and boards will be made.

The City Council holds more formal meetings the second and fourth Tuesday of each month and holds Study Sessions on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Agendas, minutes and background materials can be found on the City’s website: www.SpokaneValley.org by 5pm the Friday before each meeting.

Contact City of Spokane Valley:

10210 E. Sprague Ave.
509-921-1000
www.SpokaneValley.org