Your Connection to the Spokane Valley City Council

In its July 13th meeting, Council heard a proposed Code Text Amendment, (CTA) 2021-0001, which would:

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 CTA-2021-0001 and forward it to Council for consideration. CTA-2021-0001 is moved forward as Ordinance No. 21-010 for a first reading. Motion to advance Ordinance No. 21-010 to a Second Reading passed unanimously.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program has allocated $29,202 as part of its 2021 program. These funds are intended to support all components of the criminal justice system. The Police Chief and City Manager recommend spending the funds to support Officer Safety and Wellness, an area of emphasis in the JAG program.

Specific uses would be lighting, cameras, and access for the rear lot immediately south of the Police Precinct. Some of that work was started using the 2020 JAG but available funds were not sufficient to complete all the tasks. Motion to authorize application
for the JAG items listed above passed unanimously.

The City has had an interlocal agreement with Spokane County for Pretrial Services since 2006 with revisions dating from 2019. Periodic review has identified areas that warrant revision. Those areas are:
•  A new service entitled Misdemeanor Evaluations, and
•  Felony Monitoring, a service that was recognized previously but was unaccounted for. The Settle & Adjust process actually gained the City $35,838 when completed.

The Spokane County Office of Pretrial Services prepares first appearance evaluations of Misdemeanor defendants to provide impartial investigative information for the District Court Judge in arriving at an informed release or detain decision.

The addition to the interlocal agreement would adopt this new service with an effective date of 2011 which is when the City actually participated in that service. The motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the Addendum to the Pretrial Services Interlocal Agreement passed 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 planned to begin in 2022.

The City plans 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 retained to complete the design.

That design will be in two phases. The first phase will encompass park design to 30% including an events plaza, play areas, splash pad and amphitheater. Those plans include design of site grading, initial parking areas, lighting, multi-use plaza and open areas.

The second phase of park development, as funding is secured, will be for remaining portions of the park up to 90%. The consultant will update the cost estimate for full park construction to be used for future grant applications.

The public is invited to a community workshop that will be held in council chambers at City Hall from 4:30-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 5th.

The Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council (SRLJC) recently conducted an internal change commented on by a letter from the City regarding its representation on that council. The changes agreed to by the County Commissioners were:
•  A reduction from 25 to 18 members.
•  Three standing committees reduced to two: Racial Equity, and Legislative Policy (LPC). The LPC meets twice annually and is comprised of one Commissioner, Spo kane Mayor, Spokane Valley Mayor, small city representative, Sheriff, and County
Prosecutor.
•  A revised scope of duties per State Code pertaining to prison reform.
•  A revised Mission Statement.

The full details of the SRLJC reorganization are available at www.spokanevalley.org. 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.

There will not be a Council Meeting on August 3rd, in observance of election night as well as National Night Out.

In its last session, the State Legislature passed a bill (HB 1220) regarding affordable housing and homelessness. The bill also 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 is to move quickly to create regulations governing where and how such housing is to fit in Spokane Valley. The effective date of HB 1220 is July 25th, which is why Emergency Ordinance No. 21-009 adopting temporary interim regulations for reasonable occupancy, spacing, and intensity limits on transitional, permanent supportive and emergency housing, and emergency shelters was presented as an emergency measure. Motion to approve Ordinance 21-009 passed unanimously.  

On July 13th, Council approved Ordinance #21-008 which adopted traffic impact fees for the Mirabeau and North Pines subareas. The fees must be added to the City’s fee schedule in order to be legally collected. The amendment adds two tables of transportation impact fees to Schedule G of the City’s fee schedule. The changes to that schedule will be effective on August 1, 2021. The schedule of fees appears below.

Land Use Description    Mirabeau Subarea     N. Pines Rd. Subarea
Single Family Home/Duplex    $709 per dwelling        $2,788 per dwelling
Multi-Family            $401 per dwelling        $1,577 per dwelling
Hotel (3 or more levels)        $709 per dwelling        $2,788 per dwelling
Elementary School        $0.98 per sq. ft.        $3.86 per sq. ft.
Medical Clinic            $2.35 per sq. ft.        $9.24 per sq. ft.
General Office            $0.82 per sq. ft.        $3.24 per sq. ft.
Shopping Center            $1.80 per sq. ft.        $7.08 per sq. ft.

The schedule was developed from a rate study made by Fehr & Peers, a consulting firm hired by the City to calculate a ‘per trip’ impact fee generated based on peak-hour traffic. Detailed information on the study and fee formulation is available by contacting City Hall at 509-720-5000.

Resolution #21-004 repealing and replacing Resolution #20-016 and approving the Master Fee Schedule for 2021 passed unanimously.
Resolution 21-005 creates parking restrictions along the east side of Cherry Street north of its intersection with Mansfield Avenue. After complaints from the school district that school busses were having difficulty moving along Cherry Street because of congestion caused by parking on both sides of the street and subsequent complaints from residents, the issue is finally reaching resolution because of the inability of fire department vehicles to safely service the area.

At the request of Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD), parking will be restricted to one side of Cherry Street north of the Cherry/Mansfield intersection. Motion to adopt Resolution 21-005 implementing Cherry Street Parking Restrictions passed unanimously.

On June 1st, the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) issued a call for two of the programs it administers: the Urban Arterial Program (UAP) and its Sidewalk Program (SP). These programs make grants available statewide for local assistance for arterial and sidewalk repair and construction. In the awarding of grants, a minimum of 20% matching funds from the applicant is required. The higher the participant’s match, the better the chance of being awarded a UAP or SP grant. The City’s matching funds would come from its Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) account.
Staff originally proposed applying for two UAP grants:

Sullivan Road Preservation and Sidewalk, Sprague to 8th Avenue. (Street Preservation, Sidewalk, and Integrated Traffic Control System) Total Project Cost: $3,600,000; a $1,692,000 (47%) grant request with a $1,908,000 (53%) match. This application also includes a separate stormwater project.
Argonne Corridor Reconstruction, Indiana to Montgomery. (Concrete Reconstruction) Total Project Cost: $2,700,000; a grant request of $1,836,000 (68%), with an $864,000 (32%) match.

However, after consultation with the TIB Program Manager, the Argonne Corridor Reconstruction project was dropped because of its not scoring well enough to be considered.

Staff also proposed application for an SP grant:
Construction of sidewalks on 8th Avenue, Coleman to Park. Total Project Cost: $450,000; a grant request of $270,000 (60%), with a $180,000 (40%) match. That project will proceed to final application. Motion to approve the application for grants for the two designated projects passed unanimously.
In 2003, the City imposed a 2% lodging tax on hotels and motels. The 2021 City budget estimated that $346,000 would be collected. However, the effects of COVID-19 have not reduced the collected amount as much as anticipated, so that estimate may be low. In 2015, the City imposed an additional 1.3% lodging tax. That tax is budgeted to collect $213,000 but this estimate may be low as well. If revenues continue to improve beyond the budgeted estimates, staff will return with a budget amendment to accommodate the new numbers.

The 2% tax is used primarily for tourism marketing, and operation of special events and festivals. Proceeds from the 1.3% additional lodging tax are to be used solely for capital expenditures for acquiring, constructing, and improving large sporting venues or venues for tourism-related facilities that support lodging facilities.

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.  

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.

The Council meeting opened with the first opportunity in more than a year for public comment by persons physically in Council Chambers.
The Public Comment Opportunity was followed by a public hearing on Traffic Impact Fee Studies in the Mirabeau & North Pines Subareas. Immediately following the public hearing, Council suspended rules and moved directly to the Second Reading of Ordinance 21-008, adopting the Transportation Impact Rate Study.
The idea of transportation impact fees is not a new idea for the City. Previously Council approved action to establish Transportation Impact Fees, later including the South Barker Corridor to be covered.

Staff have now identified the Mirabeau Subarea and the North Pines Road/SR-27 Corridor as an area undergoing a significant amount of new development. This is leading to an escalating degradation in levels of traffic movement on Pines and adjacent arterials. Requirements for proportional fees to offset the impacts of development on the arterials are focused primarily on larger development projects and impacts leaving the City without the tools to address the impacts that smaller projects place on the system.
Transportation impact fees are allowed under state law to address the impacts from new development and are usually collected when a building permit application is submitted. Standardization of such fees provide a developer with certainty to plan for mitigation costs, ultimately saving time and money. The following schedule is proposed to meet the smaller development need.

Land Use Description    Mirabeau Subarea     N. Pines Rd. Subarea
Single Family Home/Duplex     $709 per dwelling     $2,788 per dwelling
Multi-Family     $401 per dwelling     $1,577 per dwelling
Hotel (3 or more levels)     $709 per dwelling     $2,788 per dwelling
Elementary School     $0.98 per sq. ft.     $3.86 per sq. ft.
Medical Clinic     $2.35 per sq. ft.     $9.24 per sq. ft.
General Office     $0.82 per sq. ft.     $3.24 per sq. ft.
Shopping Center     $1.80 per sq. ft.     $7.08 per sq. ft.

The schedule was developed from a rate study made by Fehr & Peers, a consulting firm hired by the City to calculate a ‘per trip’ impact fee generated based on peak-hour traffic. Detailed information on the study and fee formulation is available by contacting City Hall at 509-720-5000.

Motion to approve moving Ordinance No. 21-008 passed unanimously.

A proposed Code Text Amendment, (CTA) 2021-0001, was presented in an administrative report to Council. CTA 2021-0001 would:
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. 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 CTA-2021-0001. Council reached consensus to move CTA-2021-0001 to a First Reading.

Under the newly enacted American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City is slated to receive $16 million from a Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. The Department of the Treasury will distribute the funds in two increments, one coming this month, with the next payment scheduled in the summer of 2022. How the money can be spent is still not clear but preliminary indications are that the City will not be short of uses for those funds.

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.

This Council meeting held after Independence Day opened with a Proclamation recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month. Coincidentally, the first item of business on Council’s agenda was a Motion Consideration to retain the services of a consultant to complete the design for Balfour Park.

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. After a series of fits and starts including two failed bond votes and an extension of the interlocal agreement, SCLD had identified a funding source that doesn’t require a bond issue. Construction of the new library is planned to begin in 2022.

The City plans 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. 

Design of the project will be in two phases. The first phase will encompass park design to 30 percent including an events plaza, play areas, splash pad and amphitheater. Those plans will also include design of site grading, initial parking areas, lighting, multi-use plaza and open areas. The consultant will also update the cost estimate for full park construction to be used for grant applications.

The second phase of park development, as funding is secured, will be for remaining portions of the park. Preliminary Engineering is budgeted at $420,500. Funds earmarked for completion of the entire project are $1,875,023. The motion to approve the City Manager’s finalizing the contract with AHBL, Inc. in the amount of $326,173.04 for project design services was unanimously approved.

On June 1st, the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) issued a call for two of the programs it administers: the Urban Arterial Program (UAP) and its Sidewalk Program (SP). These programs make grants available statewide for local assistance for arterial and sidewalk repair and construction. In the awarding of grants, a minimum of 20% matching funds from the applicant is required. The higher the participant’s match, the better the chance of being awarded a UAP or SP grant. The City’s matching funds would come from its Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) account.

Staff has proposed applying for two UAP grants:
 •  Sullivan Road Preservation and Sidewalk, Sprague to 8th Avenue. (Street 
      Preservation, Sidewalk, and Integrated Traffic Control System) Total Project 
      Cost: $3,100,000; a $2,232,000 (72%) grant request with an $868,000 (28%) match. This application includes a separate $700,000                  stormwater project, bringing the total project cost to $3,800,000 with a $1,568,000 City match. The additional $700,000 match does            not come from REET funds. 
 •  Argonne Corridor Reconstruction, Indiana to Montgomery. (Concrete 
      Reconstruction) Total Project Cost: $2,700,000; a grant request of $1,836,000 (68%), with an $864,000 (32%) match. Staff has also                proposed application for an SP grant: Construction of sidewalks on 8th Avenue, Coleman to Park. Total Project Cost: $450,000; a grant        request of $288,000 (72%), with a $112,000 (28%) match.

Council Consensus was reached to proceed on the projects as outlined with actual grant application and matching amounts to be finalized by the July 13th Council meeting.

The Spokane Valley Arts Council (SVAC) has donated a number of sculptures to the City since its incorporation in 2003. In March 2019, Council approved an agreement with SVAC setting forth the terms of a long-term agreement to provide sculptures in agreement with the City on cost and placement. 

Seven pieces have been previously accepted and placed. Four, Heart of the Valley by Richard Warrington, The Ascent by Gary Lee Price, Indomitable Spirit by Jerry McKellar, and Huckleberry Daze also by Jerry McKellar are in storage awaiting placement. The City, in 2021, awarded an Outside Agency Funding grant of $15,000 toward a potential future sculpture: Soulmates by Joey Marcella.

This staff presentation was solely to update Council on the status of its art inventory.

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 for access instructions.

View Past Spokane Valley City Council Highlights