Your Connection to the City Council

Spokane Valley City Council is still meeting under the Governor’s edict for social distancing and meeting size which necessitates a ZOOM format. This was especially interesting since this meeting commenced with a Public Hearing as required by state law on the City’s 2021-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

That plan, which is updated annually, is designed to use an integrated approach to selecting projects and timing their execution to align with existing master plans, upcoming redevelopment projects, economic development efforts, land use changes, stormwater and water district plans, and capital projects with partnering agencies. Having an updated TIP is also a requirement for grant applications.

The list of pending projects includes Bridge and Grade Separations, Intersection Improvements, Reconstructions and Preservations, together with Sidewalk, Trail and Stormwater projects. A complete list can be found on the City website, www.spokanevalley.org.
The Public Hearing was immediately followed by discussion and voting on Resolution 20-009 Adopting the updated TIP. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

From the time of its construction, CenterPlace’s roof has been beset with problems. A succession of leaks has reached the point of requiring buckets placed at various locations to catch the water. After discovering that original plans for a metal replacement roof were impractical, a less expensive alternative of asphalt tile roofing similar to that used on City Hall was chosen. The estimated cost of that choice was $676,477. The project was advertised for bid on May 1st, receiving five responses. The low bidder at $661,550 was Cano Roofing, Inc. doing business as Signature Roofing. Total project cost including engineering and contingency is $815,000 which will be paid from the City’s General Fund. The motion to award the contract was unanimously approved.

The City has been allocated $75,065 by the Bureau of Justice (BOJ) Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding for the purpose of preventing, preparing for and responding to the coronavirus. Staff, after coordinating with the Valley Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Regional Emergency Operation Center, identified a list of items in which resource allocations could be made.

The majority of funds would be dedicated to support overtime costs of the Valley Police with residual funds used to provide sanitation and personal protective equipment needed for law enforcement and detention services. The motion to authorize the City Manager to apply for the BOJ grant was approved unanimously.

A vacancy on the Planning Commission was created when Matthew Walton resigned his position which was due to expire at the end of 2020. Mayor Wick appointed Walt Heneke with Council’s unanimous approval to fill the unexpired term.

An update on the proposed purchase of Washington State Department of Transportation land at the north end of Flora Road was presented by City Attorney Cary Driskell. Recent communications regarding the effects of the coronavirus and state funding shortfalls as well as similar conditions here in the Valley appear to indicate WSDOT is willing to adhere to an earlier agreement to not move on the property until September. Any action by the City will be deferred until then.

The topic of street operations and maintenance, pavement preservation and how those operations are to be funded was discussed for the 48th time since the City’s inception. In this iteration, Staff was seeking Council direction.

Between summer 2018 and spring 2019, Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE) was retained to evaluate the City Pavement Management Program (PMP). Those findings and recommendations were presented and have been systematically addressed and employed since. The major vulnerability highlighted by NCE was the funding gap between the $10 million need to maintain current levels of maintenance and the City’s present $6 million spending level.

Past discussions have included raising additional funds with a utility tax of some kind. Others have advocated funding the shortfall from the City’s general fund. In a year such as this where there promises to be a severe reduction in general fund revenue, that would mean the streets would likely go unattended. There is no painless way to fill the gap.

With a loosening of the virus restrictions, it shouldn’t be long before you are once again allowed in Council Chambers to voice your opinions. In the meantime, stay safe.

Council continues to meet in the ZOOM mode, meeting electronically in compliance with the Governor’s order limiting meeting size. This meeting, being a formal meeting, did re-introduce a public comment section. Public comments up to now have been limited to written comments on action items. Instructions for how to comment can be acquired by calling City Hall 509.720.5000.

At its April 28th meeting, Council instructed staff to proceed with an application to the Washington Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) for a grant to assist in covering the cost of the possible acquisition of a 45 acre parcel currently owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The property is located just north of the Spokane River and east of Flora Road and has been discussed by Council as a desirable site for a future park.

Proceeding with the application for a grant of up to $1,000,000 to apply to WSDOT’s asking price of $2,096,600 positions the City to take advantage of the financial assistance if/when current economic circumstances permit. The grant application does not obligate the City to purchase the property. A motion to approve Resolution 20-008, authorizing the RCO grant application was approved unanimously.

Last year, the County Assessor requested that his office work with the City to facilitate access to our building site plans. This interaction would enable his office to more quickly and accurately perform the necessary property appraisals to get them on the City tax rolls in a timely fashion. By the City’s Permit Center scanning and attaching the documents and notes to a SmartGov computer portal, the information is readily accessible to the Assessor’s Office. The motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Spokane County was approved unanimously.

State law provides several sections aimed at protecting the environment through clean air, trip reductions, reducing “Greenhouse Gas Emissions”, and carbon reduction. Council in 2010 adopted its Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) ordinance and plan. The plan was updated to be in effect through 2019. The plan is updated in concert with and approved by the local Regional Transportation Council and the State CTR Board.

This update, running from mid-year 2020 to mid-year 2024, updates the City’s plan to increase the use of commute alternatives by 6% while reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emission goals by 13% from the baseline survey conducted in 2007-2008. Employers with 100 or more employees are required to implement CTR programs and make good faith efforts to achieve their goals for reducing single-occupant vehicle trips. Spokane Valley has 19 qualifying employers.

Funding for support of the program is supplied by the state through Spokane County and is administered through an interlocal agreement. The CTR program update and approval of a new interlocal agreement with the County were made in separate motions, both of which were approved unanimously.

In an amendment to the agenda, action had to be taken on a time-sensitive agreement with BNSF on easements and other administrative details pertaining to the Barker Road/BNSF rail crossing construction. Through the agreement the City will pay nearly $1.1 million to BNSF. On the other side of the agreement, BNSF will pay an estimated $308,500 toward the project construction. Motion to finalize and approve the agreement passed unanimously.

The City of Spokane and Spokane County have been working on the creation of a Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Center for placement of individuals to stabilize their condition, get them treatment, manage their condition to reduce or prevent recidivism, reducing the demand on emergency responders and pressure on the jail and criminal justice system.

Often when police encounter an individual for an offense that might lead to incarceration, a choice is made to take the person to jail or to a health facility depending on the circumstances. Incarceration in such a situation might serve to exacerbate existing health problems and the lack of treatment increases the probability of continued offensive behaviour including criminal activity or endangerment of others.

The cost for such a center has not been clearly established but is estimated to be about $9 million. The level of participation by Spokane Valley is being negotiated. No action was taken.

There will be no Council meeting next week, May 19th. Be safe.

City Council has been working on the rail crossing at the intersection of Pines Road (State Hwy 27) and Trent Avenue (State Hwy 290). In its July 11, 2017 meeting, Council authorized the City Manager to complete the design a solution in two phases. Phase I was to analyze and compare two alternatives using cost, the right of way needed, impacts on surrounding properties, safety, and soundness of the program. In Phase II, the final engineering design and contract documents will be developed for the selected alternative. Thus far a total of $9,726,500 has been secured for the project. The City has committed $4,685,000 of that amount from its own funds.

At a June 2019 meeting, Council chose a roundabout design. With that selection, the City was now in the position of moving to Phase II. After receiving two proposals from engineering firms to complete the Phase II design, HDR Engineering was selected as the most qualified firm.

The scope of work and fee to provide engineering and right-of-way services is $2,062,000. Additional Phase II costs (surveying, environmental permitting, traffic engineering: $450,000) and the total of Phase I costs ($195,000) increase the total project engineering cost to $2,707,269.

The motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the contract with HDR for Phase II engineering was unanimously approved.

The City is required by state law to adopt a six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). That plan is updated annually including a public hearing to achieve citizen input. The TIP is designed to use an integrated approach to project selection and timing putting it in alignment with existing master plans, upcoming redevelopment projects, economic development efforts, land use changes, stormwater and water district plans, and capital projects with partnering agencies. Having a TIP is also a requirement for grant applications.

The list of pending projects outlining those planned and phased include Bridge and Grade Separations, Intersection Improvements, Reconstructions and Preservations, and Sidewalk, Trail and Stormwater projects. A complete list can be found on the City website, www. spokanevalley.org.

At its December 10, 2020 meeting Council voted to approve the Lodging Tax allocations recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). The money for those awards comes from 1) A 2% hotel/motel tax adopted by the City in 2003, and 2) A 1.3% additional lodging tax that is dedicated solely for capital costs on facilities that will increase hotel/motel usage. LTAC suggests the specific awards; Council reviews and approves.

With the coronavirus severely affecting lodging revenues, the amounts awarded to each applicant for LTAC funds are in question. The allocations and distributions are based on 2020 anticipated lodging tax collections. The City does not maintain an annual fund other than a small amount for administrative purposes. Each applicant receives any funds due it on a reimbursement basis, allowing the City to ensure the funds are used only for the purposes permitted in the grant agreement.

Based on City estimates at this time, staff believes the City could fully fund all grantees from 2020 collections but would be unable to fully pay the funds dedicated for capital improvements. Council reached consensus to proceed with its initial plan to fully fund the grant applications still in play.

Two grantees, JAKT Oktoberfest ($8,400), and JAKT CRAVE ($18,600 ) have already announced they will not be producing their events in 2020. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted the other planned events and activities.

The partial closure of City Hall continues until the governor rescinds his business closure order. In the meantime, citizens still have access to City Hall services by calling 509.720.5000 or visiting the City website at www.spokanevalley.org to connect with City staff.

View Past Spokane Valley City Council Highlights