Your Connection to the Spokane Valley City Council

In the current climate of civil unrest and uncertainty, a movement toward reducing the presence and authority of law enforcement appears to be in motion across the country. In a move to clearly define where the City of Spokane Valley stands regarding its police department, Councilmember Rod Higgins requested a proclamation from Council stating its position. That position is summed up with: “….we believe law enforcement is essential to maintaining our freedom, and we firmly support our officers who put their lives at risk every day to serve and protect our citizens.”

That proclamation was read by Mayor Ben Wick immediately after Spokane Valley’s new Chief of Police, Dave Ellis, was sworn in.
In April of this year, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a call for projects that aim to improve safety and increase the number of people walking or bicycling, and to enhance safe routes to school. On June 9th, Council chose three projects from a list of six brought forward by staff. The projects are:

1. Appleway Trail Crossing at Sprague Avenue, City Hall to Balfour Park. Estimated total cost, $550,000. Requested grant: $440,000, City match: $110,000.

2. Sidewalk Improvements, Bowdish Rd. from 12th to 16th. Estimated total cost, $700,000. Requested grant: $560,000. City match: $140,000.

3. Sidewalk & Crossing Improvements, Bowdish Rd., from 16th to 22nd.

The motion to authorize the City Manager to apply for the grants was approved.

The continuing discussions about local responsibilities regarding the Covid-19 pandemic were reported to Council in the form of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which would provide for the formation of a work group to address joint issues. The motion to approve the proposed MOU was changed to a staff report for further consideration.

Construction of the Barker Road/BNSF Rail Crossing Project is the subject of focused City action. Property acquisition for right-of-way, engineering design, consideration of local impacts, and traffic safety are among the many issues garnering attention on the project.
An integral partner in all of this had been WSDOT (the Washington State Department of Transportation) since Trent Avenue (State Route 290) is involved. As the project moves toward actual construction, the City and WSDOT have recognized the benefits for WSDOT to manage the project’s construction and contract administration. The interlocal agreement agreed to by both parties set forth the conditions for administration of the construction contract. They are:

The City is responsible for preparation of the Construction Documents, following WSDOT guidelines.

WSDOT will Bid, Award, and Execute the Construction Contract.

WSDOT will award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, unless that bid exceeds the Engineer’s Estimate for construction by more than 10%, in which case the bid award will require City approval.

WSDOT will be the lead agency in the administration of the Construction Contract.
Change Orders during construction in excess of $100,000, and when cumulative change orders exceed $350,000, will require City review and approval.

The City will be part of WSDOT’s Final Inspection and Project Acceptance procedures.

The City will have the sole discretion to issue a Letter of Acceptance to WSDOT at the final project closeout provided it is fully satisfied with the project.

The City will reimburse WSDOT for all costs associated with project construction and administration.

Although the City secured the $24,000,000+ to fund the project, it lacks the staff and the overall capability to fully manage a project of this size. WSDOT does have that ability and, since the project directly involves a state highway, it appears logical that WSDOT would take the lead. The motion to approve the interlocal agreement with WSDOT was unanimously approved.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. To make an appointment, please call 509-720-5000 or access the City website: www.spokanevalley.org. Stay well and have a happy 4th of July. We will get through this.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had far reaching effects on the lives of Americans as a nation and residents of Washington, especially here on the east side of the state. 2.1 million pandemic cases have occurred nationwide leading to 110,000 deaths. In Washington, those corresponding numbers are 27,000 reported cases with 1,200 deaths. Spokane County has recorded nearly 900 cases resulting in 37 deaths.

In an effort to slow the advance of the virus, a number of executive orders both nationally and state-wide have been issued. They include mandates for social distancing and temporary business closures with considerable harm to the economy.

In attempting to mitigate the dramatic and devastating economic and social damage those measures have wreaked on the country, Congress, in late March, approved the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, more commonly known as the CARES Act. Included in the many relief features of CARES is a provision for $150 billion to individual states to address their COVID-19 related expenses. Of that amount, Washington State received $2.95 billion.

The formula for the State’s sharing of its $2.95 billion is unknown, but Spokane Valley’s allocation is $2,901,600. A quick calculation indicates a 0.00098% participation rate.

The proceeds of this grant may only be used for expenses incurred in addressing COVID-19 programs and problems. The grant funds are only available for reimbursing the money the City has already spent, not for direct application to problems the City is encountering. This translates into the City having to front money to solve problems not of its making at a time when it, too, is financially weakened. Simply put, this means the City must first expend money for ‘approved’ expenditures, then seek reimbursement after the fact. And, the money has to be spent before October 31st of this year.

This Council meeting was devoted to exploring the programs and expenditures to which the CARES funds may be applied. In order to reach a more informed decision, organizations who are on the front line in addressing the collateral damage from COVID-19 were invited to give Council first-hand assessments of the ongoing needs such as housing: rents, mortgages, utilities assistance; individual needs: food, security; and support for impaired businesses.

The list of invitees included: Spokane House Authority, SNAP, Spokane Valley Partners, Greater Spokane Meals on Wheels, Feed Spokane, Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley’s school district superintendents.

Staff will update Council in an Administrative Report delivered at its July 7th meeting.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. To make an appointment, please call 509-720-5000 or access the website: www.spokanevalley.org. Be patient and stay well.

The persistent and growing number of homeless individuals is a vexing problem that our region has been attempting to address. Homelessness has always been a problem for Spokane Valley, but the visibility and effects have been increasing. In the past, the City has relied upon its participation in several regional authorities and committees to find solutions. Lately Staff and Council have taken a more active role in collaborating with other jurisdictions and agencies to assess its homeless related issues and how best to address them.

In a move toward that goal, a joint presentation to Council was made by Spokane Mayor, Nadine Woodward, together with County Commissioner Mary Kuney and Spokane Valley Mayor, Ben Wick. The focus was an overview of a “Bridge Housing Proposal.” Under the heading: The SITUATION, an analysis of the sizing of the resources necessary to adequately deal with the homeless problem recognizes that the problem is larger than any one government entity can alone effectively combat.

The GOAL: To maintain single night shelters in City of Spokane facilities while creating new space for those ready to move towards independent housing. This includes finding a pathway to enact municipal codes for all jurisdictions.

The CONCEPT: To find common ground and agreement for shared resources, shared solutions, and shared access. To that end a Regional Project Charter has been proposed for consideration by all parties. This evening’s discussion marked a preliminary outline and initial search into the needs and expectations of each participating municipality.

Lynn Kimball, Executive Director of Eastern Washington Aging & Long-Term Care (ALTC), presented Council with an update on her agency. ALTC serves Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Whitman Counties providing services to help older adults and people living with disabilities to remain in their homes. ALTC assists them and their family members in connecting them to available public resources in the community and how to navigate the process to receive them.

Those services include general information, reassurance calls, adult day care, fall prevention classes, group meal sites, home delivered meals, legal assistance, minor home repairs, family caregiver support, Medicare and Public Insurance counseling, veteran’s directed home care, and the assistance of a long term care ombudsman if needed.

ALTC’s partners include Meals on Wheels, Frontier Behavioral Health Elder Services, Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP), Catholic Charities, University Legal Assistance, Family Resource Home Care, Providence Adult Day Health, and various Medicaid support services. ALTC’s website is: www.altcew.org; their Senior Helpline is: (509) 960-7281; or email them at action@altcew.org.  

The Coronavirus has had and is having a profound impact on the City’s parks and park facilities. Currently the Parks and Recreation Department is facing difficult decisions regarding its swimming pools and associated recreation programs. The limitations have been slightly lifted permitting opening of playgrounds for use of that equipment. The City is awaiting implementation of Phase 3 which would allow outdoor group activities for groups of up to 50 people. Discussion this evening was aimed at reaching Council consensus to proceed with a modified swimming pool season and a replacement program for its Summer Day Camp program. Consensus was unanimous to proceed with the maximum program allowable under the Coronavirus lockdown.

In October 2018, the Sheriff’s office and, through that facility, the Spokane Valley Police Department (SVPD) created a Behavioral Health team consisting of a specially trained deputy and a mental health professional operating together on specific calls. The purpose was to channel individuals needing community services away from the criminal justice system when appropriate, connecting non-criminal individuals with services that would assist in moving them away from jail to facilities more suited to addressing their needs. The SVPD behavioral health team participates in a combined unit consisting of four teams: SVPD, the Spokane Police Department, and the County Sheriff. All four units respond as needed throughout the County.

As it has for these past weeks, City Hall remains closed except by appointment. To make an appointment, please call 509-720-5000 or access the website: www.spokanevalley.org. Be patient and stay well.

The City of Spokane Valley participates in the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) receiving federal funds for its capital projects.

At its April 28th meeting, Council instructed staff to meet with Spokane County to discuss two options:
1. Enter into a joint agreement with Spokane County but become its own administrator of CDBG funds.
2.    Participate as part of the urban county with Spokane County.

The current agreement with the County continues the City’s acceptance of its entitlement status under federal guidelines and cedes administration of the program to the County. Some councilmembers expressed a desire for the City to administer its own program. However, the allowance for administration of the program from allocated funds does not cover the expenses of administration.

At a previous meeting, Council instructed staff to negotiate with the County to increase the City’s share of allocated funds, increase its membership on the controlling board, and gain greater recognition for the involvement of the City. Staff was very successful in negotiating a package increasing its funding participation from 20% to 39% starting in 2022. Staff also was able to increase the City’s representation from 3 to 4 members and ensure that the City’s logo appeared on all communications including the CDBG website.

An attempt, led by the Mayor, tried to withdraw from that agreement citing the need for more local control as the reason. An unofficial consensus at the last meeting brought the issue forward at this meeting for a formal vote.

After a lengthy discussion, the need to add qualified staff and cut services and/or staffing was pointed out to Council. Too, it was reiterated that a prior agreement with the County to co-fund a plan for sewers at properties north of the Spokane River just east of Barker Road would consume all the funding through 2021. That provided the basis for the argument to renew the agreement with the County for another three years rather than sever that relationship at this time. The motion to maintain the current administrative agreement with Spokane County passed 6-1 with Mayor Wick dissenting.

In April, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), issued a call for projects under its Pedestrian & Bicycle Program (PBP) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs. In the City’s Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program, it has identified four projects providing likely candidates for grant funding under WSDOT’s program. The candidates are:
1. PBP-1: Appleway Trail Crossing at Sprague
    Avenue, City Hall to Balfour Park; Project total: $550k; Grant Request: $440k; City Match: $110k
2. PBP-2: Appleway Trail west extension, University to Dishman-Mica and City Hall; Project total: $2.5 million; Grant Request: $2 million; City Match: $500k
3. SRTS-1: Sidewalk improvement on Bowdish from 12th to 16th, Project total: $700k; Grant Request: $560k; City Match: $140k
4. SRTS-2: Sidewalk & Crossing Improvements on Bowdish from 16th to 22nd; Project total: $950k; Grant Request: $760k; City Match: $190k

Staff was seeking consensus to proceed with applying for the grants. Discussion centered around a) In light of the State’s current financial condition, does WSDOT still have grant money available? b) If the City got a grant, does it have the money available for a match? c) Are the project priorities right? Consensus was reached to apply for items 1, 3, and 4.

The City remains in Coronavirus closure until the Governor lifts his restrictions on gatherings of size. Until then, stay well.

As the City enters Phase 2 of the Coronavirus epidemic, Staff prepared an update for Council as it met in its Study Session format. Spokane Valley businesses, particularly restaurants, have been severely impacted by the restrictions imposed by state and local leaders. Phase 2 begins a gradual re-opening of businesses with reduced capacity to accommodate social distancing standards.

Those standards address issues such as Building Permits where restaurants that ordinarily sell meals to sit-down customers were required to change the character of their businesses to from one where customers assemble for service and product to one where the product is picked up by the consumer. Such a switch might ordinarily trigger an occupancy classification change. But as we enter Phase 2, the need for such regulation declines.

The modified regulations also include consideration of parking changes and signage. Parking under the reduced occupancy rules also addresses the fact that customers are using pick-up rather than sit down, thus needing clarification. Too, signage changed because businesses had to let customers know how to access their products and/or services which required differing modes of signs.

City revenues are also being impacted heavily by the virus.

• Sales tax represents the majority of City revenue. The City’s 2020 Budget is predicated on collecting just under $28 million. Staff has estimated that the virus will reduce that amount by around $6 million to $22 million.

• Community and Public Works Fees that cover building and right-of-way permits and plan review fees were  budgeted to bring in $2.13 million but could drop by $220,000 to $1.9 million.

• Parks and Recreation Revenue is estimated to drop to $115,000, a reduction of $544,000 from the budgeted amount.

• Gambling Taxes will drop from $366,000 to $276,000, a reduction of $90,000.

• Motor Vehicle Fuel Taxes and multimodal Transportation Funds are estimated to decline by $350,000 from the budgeted $2.18 million.

• Lodging Taxes, where hoteliers have been particularly hard-hit, will produce an estimated combined total of $559,000 which is $511,000 less than the $1.07 million that was budgeted.

• Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET), more commonly referred to as property taxes, used for capital projects are estimated to decline 37% from $2 million to $1.25 million.
 

   City revenue from all sources appears from initial calculations to be reduced about 23% or $8.4 million. That number may be further impacted by other revenues from governmental entities also experiencing similar impacts and a continuance of the problems created by the Coronavirus.

A report from the Governance Manual Committee briefed Council on the minor changes made to the document that governs meetings and actions by Council. Noted was a suggestion that the Core Beliefs Appendix be revisited with an eye to a resolution updating it. The last update was in 2007.

The City of Spokane Valley participates in the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), receiving federal funds for its capital projects.

At its April 28th meeting, Council instructed staff to meet with Spokane County to discuss two options:

1. Enter into a joint agreement with Spokane County.

2. Participate as part of the urban county with Spokane County.

A joint agreement with the County continues the City’s acceptance of its entitlement status under federal guidelines and cedes administration of the program to the County. However, the allowance for the County to administer the City controlled plan under option #1 would not cover the County’s administrative costs.

Council further instructed staff to negotiate with the County to increase the City’s share of allocated funds, increase its membership on the controlling board and gain greater recognition for the involvement of the City. Staff was able to negotiate an increase in funding participation from 20% to 39% starting in 2022. Staff also was able to increase the City’s representation from 3 to 4 members and ensure that the City’s logo appeared on all communications including the CDBG website.

However, it appears that Council intends to withdraw from that agreement citing the need for more local control as the reason. An unofficial consensus, led by the Mayor, was to bring the issue forward for a formal vote next week.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. To make an appointment, please call 509-720-5000 or go to
www.spokanevalley.org. The grip is loosening; stay well.

View Past Spokane Valley City Council Highlights