Tuesday’s Council meeting commenced with a public hearing on Ordinance 19-006 which amends the 2019 Budget, followed by the first reading of the ordinance. This amendment was necessary to accommodate the purchase of generators at both City Hall and City Precinct. The total purchase for both is $403,000, with $203,000 for the purchase and installation of the City Hall generator which was already place-marked in the budget at $200,000, and $200,000 for purchase and installation of the Precinct Generator.  That generator was place-marked in the budget at $100,000.  Also included in this amendment is $68,000 for the purchase of spare traffic signal equipment. Those parts often have long lead times when ordered which necessitates keeping repair parts in inventory.  Motion to move Ordinance 19-006 to a second reading passed unanimously.

Next on the agenda was the second reading Ordinance 19-004. That ordinance contains several amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The first four are privately initiated and Council in agreeing with the Planning Commission’s recommendations did not approve CPA 2019-001, they did approve CPA 2019-002, and also CPA 2019-009. CPA-2019-003, however, was denied. Ordinance 19-004 was approved as presented.

Ordinance 19-005, the Comprehensive Plan Zoning Map which accompanies and augments the changes made in Ordinance 19-0004, was also approved.

The first reading of Ordinance 19-008, a privately initiated code text amendment to Spokane Valley’s Municipal Code, would add language to the code to limit duplexes to one duplex unit per acre and restrict the location of duplex units in proximity to other duplexes. Additional language would preclude single ownership of cottage developments.

The Planning Commission, after conducting a Study Session and Public Hearing on the proposed amendment, voted 5-0 to deny. Council voted not to forward Ordinance 19-008 to a second reading, but did add to its advanced agenda a discussion of the high percentage of duplexes being built.

The State Department of Ecology (DOE) in 2015 selected a proposed City project to improve its Decant facility by adding a canopy as originally designed. That improvement will enable the facility to be used year-round. However, because of funding shortfalls in that biennium, the project was delayed until now. Funding is now available to proceed with the original application plan. The total estimated cost of the project is $741,650. Council, by motion consideration, approved the agreement.

In a second DOE agreement previously committed, but not funded by the legislature, the City approved a project to address stormwater runoff to reduce the volume of pollutants entering the groundwater. This was funded by the legislature. The project, located along two miles of Sprague Avenue between University and Park Roads, will cost $2.57 million. Council by motion consideration, approved finalization and execution of the agreement.

In a third project previously approved, now funded, are stormwater improvements along Appleway Boulevard from Farr Road to University Road. The project will include separated sidewalks where possible, replacing irrigation in previously non-irrigated facilities, installation of new irrigated swales, and improvement of adjacent landscape where practical. Total project cost is estimated to be $969,400. Council, by motion consideration, authorized the City Manager to finalize and execute that agreement.

All three of the above projects are funded 75% by DOE with varying amounts of participation by the City and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Spokane County Regional Veterans Services Center Operations Manager Heather Drake presented a detailed outline of the services provided by that Center.  The Center recently moved from the Public Health building downtown to Spokane Valley.  It is located at 1117 N. Evergreen, Suite 2, Spokane Valley, WA 99216. Their phone is (509) 477-3690, and it is open from 8:00AM to 4:00PM Monday – Friday.

In addition to emergency financial aid, the Center offers information and referral services on a variety of Veteran’s benefits, housing, burial assistance, transportation, utilities and training assistance.

The Council Agenda for June 4th will include a report on homeless and rehousing. On June 11, Council will be attending the 2020 Budget Workshop from 8:30am to 3:30pm.  That evening’s Council meeting is cancelled.

Spokane Valley’s City Council Meeting was for the most part a study session addressing a list of housekeeping items ranging from standardizing addressing in the Valley to revisiting unfunded grants from several years ago.

The first item, Street Addressing Standards, is a proposal to amend the City’s Municipal Code to conform with the County and City of Spokane’s standards. Spokane Valley has been in conformance with its neighbors on the issue, but this amendment will codify and formalize the matter. Council, by consensus, moved the proposal to a first reading.

Adam Jackson, the City’s Planning and Grants Engineer, presented a draft 2020-2025 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Council’s study prior to possible adoption. The TIP is a list of transportation projects intended to be implemented in the next six years that address the transportation needs within the City of Spokane Valley. The TIP must accurately reflect the City’s short-term transportation needs and provide a prioritized path to accomplishment.

The City is required by state law to prepare and, after holding a public hearing, adopt a comprehensive transportation program for the ensuing six calendar years. That updated plan must then be submitted to the Washington State Department of Transportation by June 30th of each year.

The U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in April, issued a call for projects under its BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) FY 2019 program. BUILD applications are due by July 15, 2019. The BUILD program can provide grants for up to 80% of a total project cost. The remaining 20% must come from local funding.

The City intends to apply for a BUILD grant for the Pines/Trent rail crossing which is estimated to be in the $29 million range. The $5.8 million required match not covered by BUILD would be met by $3.2 million from City funds, with the remainder coming from other sources such as State Legislative appropriations, Transportation Improvement Board grants, etc. By consensus, Council moved the application forward for a motion consideration.

Included in the City’s 2019 budged is $1,160,000 for continuing improvement of Browns Park. The planned project includes a loop trail and lighting, large restroom and utilities, large picnic shelter, new perimeter fencing, renovated storage building, and a skate dot and small shelter. Approval of the bid award to construct the project is tentatively scheduled for the May 28th Council meeting.

The State Department of Ecology (DOE) in 2015 selected a proposed City project to improve its Decant facility by adding a canopy as originally designed. That improvement will enable the facility to be used year-round. However, because of funding shortfalls in that biennium, the project was delayed until now. The City has received word that funding is now available to proceed with the original application plan. The total estimated cost of the project is $741,650. Council, by consensus, moved the plan forward for motion consideration.

In a second instance of the DOE coming into money previously promised, but not funded by the legislature, the City was notified by DOE that its project to address stormwater runoff to reduce the volume of pollutants entering the groundwater was funded by the legislature. The project is located along two miles of Sprague Avenue between University and Park Roads. Total project cost is $2.57 million. Council reached consensus to move the plan forward for motion consideration.

In another project, previously approved, but just now receiving funding, stormwater improvements along Appleway Boulevard from Farr Road to University Road has received a designation for funding from DOE. The project will include separated sidewalks where possible, replacing irrigation in previously non-irrigated facilities, install new irrigated bioinfiltration swales, and generally improve the adjacent landscape where practical. Total project cost is estimated to be $969,400. Council reached consensus to forward the project for motion consideration.

All three of the above projects are funded 75% by DOE with varying amounts of participation by the City and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Council’s May 28th meeting will address a number of pending action items such as Comp Plan amendments, Duplex Density, and Browns Park improvements. On June 11, Council will be attending the 2020 Budget Workshop from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The evening Council meeting is cancelled.

There was no City Council meeting last week because Mayor Rod Higgins, Deputy Pam Mayor Haley and Councilman Arne Woodard, together with City Manager Mark Calhoun, Deputy City Manager John Hohman and Engineering Manager Gloria Mantz (City Group) traveled to Washington D. C. to meet with Senators Murray and Cantwell and Congresswoman McMorris-Rodgers. The purpose of the visit was to present the City’s Federal Legislative Agenda which was headed by the Pines rail crossing project.

That Agenda Includes:

1. Pines Road/BNSF Rail Crossing Project ($29 million total, $23.9 million still needed);

2. Sullivan Road Corridor, Interstate 90 to Wellesley Avenue ($70.0 million total, $25 million needed for Trent interchange reconstruct);

3. Barker Road Corridor Projects, Appleway to Mission ($90 million total, $9 million needed for Sprague to I-90 reconstruct);

4. Argonne Road Corridor Projects, Interstate 90 to Trent Avenue ($20 million total, $15 million needed for I-90 bridge replacement); and

5. General Policy, working to streamline the federal aid for transportation projects process.

The Congressional delegation is very supportive of the City’s efforts to find solutions to its rail crossings, promising to help however they can. In addition, the City Group met with various sections in the U. S. Department of Transportation. Those visits garnered valuable information on applying for federal grants to achieve our agenda items.

The City’s D.C. Lobbyists, Cardinal Infrastructure, also arranged an impromptu meeting with the chief of property acquisition for Amazon. In a meeting lasting nearly an hour, the City Group was able to gain insight into Amazon’s requirements for a Fulfillment Center and satellite facilities. Based on that information, the Group was able to present the Valley’s ability and capabilities to support an Amazon site in addition to its one under construction on Spokane’s west plains.

Tuesday’s Council meeting commenced with a proclamation commemorating the Spokane Clean Air Agency’s 50th anniversary and proclaiming May as Clean Air Month.

Under New Business, Council moved Ordinance 19-004 to a second reading. That ordinance contains several amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The first four are privately initiated and Council generally agreed with the City’s Planning Commission’s recommendations which was to not approve CPA 2019-001, approve CPA 2019-002, and approve CPA 2019-009. CPA-2019-003 was also considered by the Planning Commission, but the Commission was tied at 3-3 in its vote to approve. This meant that section was forwarded without recommendation. Council, after lengthy deliberation, moved the Ordinance forward with CPA-2019-003 not approved.

Ordinance 19-005, the Comprehensive Plan Zoning Map which accompanies and augments the changes made in Ordinance 19-0004, was also moved to a second reading.

In a separate action, the Mayor appointed Andy Rooney as one of two Valley representatives on the Spokane Hotel and Motel Commission which advises the Board of County Commissioners on the expenditures of funds for tourism in Spokane County.

By consensus, Council moved a proposed Duplex Density Code Text Amendment 2018-005 to a first reading.

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