This Spokane Valley City Council meeting (Study Session format) commenced with the Second Reading of Ordinance #22-008, which amends the 2022 City Budget adopted on November 9, 2021.
 

In summary, that amendment affects six accounts resulting in Revenue Increases of $5,222,805 and Revenue Decreases of $7,839,111. The changes include Employee Position Classification Monthly Salary Schedule incorporating changes in the City’s organization, various capital account adjustments, and winter expenses.
 

A public hearing, at which there was no public comment made, followed by the First Reading of Ordinance #22-008 moved it to tonight’s Second Reading. The motion to adopt Ordinance #22-008 passed unanimously.
 

On April 19 Council approved moving Resolution 22-004 to its Consent Agenda for action at the April 26th meeting. Resolution 22-004 set a public hearing date before the Planning Commission on June 9, 2022, for Street Vacation 2022-001. An error occurred in issuing proper notice as required by law for a public hearing making it necessary to reschedule a new public hearing date to July 14th, 2022. Resolution 22-008 accomplishes that by amending Resolution 22-004 and re-setting the hearing date for July 14th. Motion to approve Resolution 22-008 passed unanimously.
 

The South Barker Corridor has been significantly impacted by the growth in Spokane Valley, Spokane County, and Liberty Lake. The Sprague Avenue/Barker Road intersection is currently operating at a failing level of service. In early 2020, the City completed an analysis of intersection alternatives and public outreach, settling upon a roundabout design in March of that year. 
 

The project will reconstruct the intersection with a single land roundabout, upgrade pedestrian crossings, provide lighting for the intersection, and upgrade the stormwater system with adequate treatment. The Engineer’s Estimate for construction was $1,677,033. The project was advertised on April 29th, 2022, producing two bids. The lowest bid was submitted by Inland Asphalt at $1,873,378, approximately 11% over the Engineer’s Estimate.
 

After discussion about the bid overage and current inflationary conditions, Council unanimously approved accepting and awarding of the bid to Inland Asphalt. There are adequate funds in the budget to accommodate the project per the table below. 

 

Preliminary Engineering $283,000

Right of Way $219,000

Construction $1,989,210

Total Estimated Costs $2,491,310

Project Budget

CMAQ Grant $349,000

City Safety Grant $1,973,973

Developer Funds $168,537

Total Budget $2,491,310

 

Council is making progress on a plan for distribution of the $16 million ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) allocation made to Spokane Valley. Thus far, $1 million has been identified and approved for distribution: $250,000 for internal city costs, and $750,000 for the Buckeye Sewer Project. An additional $1 million was by consensus approved by Council to be allocated to the Innovia Foundation for its LaunchNW initiative for education options. Other potential allocation categories are:

• Revenue Replacement: Funds may be used for replacing revenues lost to COVID causes. ($10.8 million overall)

• Affordable Housing 

• Mental Health 

• Law Enforcement 

• Water Infrastructure 

• Sewer/Stormwater 
 

Council members individually suggested allocations for each category with the averaged amounts allocated for categories to be put out for RFPs (Requests for Proposal) which will then be used for final distribution. Motion to approve the procedure passed unanimously.
 

Another minor correction needed a resolution, Resolution 22-003, approved on March 29th, 2022, established a new 2022 Master Fee Schedule for the City. A scrivener’s error was subsequently discovered necessitating a correction. Resolution 22-009, amending the Master Fee Schedule was unanimously adopted by Council to make the correction.
 

Mirabeau Meadows Park has, since the City’s inception, needed additional parking. The City owns a 1.3-acre parcel across from the park which was the object of discussion on a proposal to develop the parcel into additional parking. That proposal calls for an additional 81 spaces with access to Mirabeau Parkway and a reduction in the speed limit approaching the new parking area from 35mph to 25mph. No action was taken.
 

In another ‘discussion only’ item, Council was informed by the Economic Development Division to develop an agreement with Spokane Arts to coordinate and manage the design and implementation of installing 12 vinyl art wraps on signal boxes in the City. The project will be funded by Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU). Spokane Arts and STCU have a five-year history of developing and installing art wraps on utility boxes in the region.
 

City Hall is open for business during normal business hours. Masks are no longer required in the building. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. The Public is invited to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions.

After a one-week hiatus, Spokane Valley City Council resumed its schedule with a regular formal session. The first item of business was a public hearing on Ordinance #22-008, which is an amendment to the City’s 2022 budget adopted on November 9, 2021.
 

In summary, that amendment affects six accounts resulting in Revenue Increases of $5,222,805 and Decreases of $7,839,111. The changes include Employee Position Classification Monthly Salary Schedule incorporating changes in the City’s organization, various capital account adjustments, and winter expenses.
 

The hearing, at which there was no public comment, moved on to the First Reading of Ordinance #22-008. The motion to advance Ordinance #22-008 to a Second Reading passed unanimously.
 

Each year, pursuant to the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) the City is allowed to amend its comprehensive plan. On November 23, 2021, Council approved the 2022 docket of offered amendments which were then sent to the Planning Commission for its deliberation. On February 22, 2022, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the following:

At its May 10th meeting, Council reached consensus to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendations and adopt Ordinance No. 22-006, Comprehensive Plan Amendments. The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 22-006 passed unanimously. 
 

Concurrent with the changes to the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Ordinance 22-007 makes the accommodative changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan Zoning maps. The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 22-007 passed unanimously.
 

In response to complaints about public parking violations and what constitutes permitted parking areas, draft ordinance 22-009 was presented to Council for its discussion and consideration. The proposed ordinance identifies the areas of responsibility for Council and City Staff. It also clarifies and defines specific points of regulation such as ‘junk’ vehicles, vehicles blocking mailboxes, site specific prohibitions, vehicles parked with expired licenses, and the number of allowable vehicles on a property. Appropriate fines were also discussed and are incorporated in the ordinance. The specifics on those issues were discussed and Ordinance 22-009 was unanimously approved to move to a Second Reading.
 

The Barker Road/BNSF Rail Crossing project was awarded for construction to the Max J. Kuney Company (Kuney) on January 28, 2021, by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the project manager. Although the City assembled the funding and remains responsible for accounting for those funds, it has ceded project management to WSDOT for the construction since the project is primarily on a state road. 
 

The City and WSDOT coordinate on all change orders for the project with Kuney regardless of the amount. A cumulative limit of $350,000 in change orders is in place requiring Council approval for anything beyond that amount. To date the total of those change orders is well beyond the $350,000 threshold.
 

The Contractor’s successful low bid was $2,000,000 below the next lowest bidder under the rules for selecting the successful bidder. A low bid can often be expanded by the change order process. The project cannot move forward without approval of the change orders. A motion to authorize the City Manager to approve Change Orders #3 and #7 for $1,031,700 and $37,883 respectively with Max J. Kuney Company was approved with unanimous reluctance.
 

Spokane Valley Fire Chief reported on Valley Fire Department activities for the month, emphasizing grain storage silo fires on April 20th (North Park Road) and 29th (East Alki). Such fires are particularly hazardous because of dust which can be explosive. The Chief also noted May is Wildfire Awareness Month.

City Manager, John Hohman, presented a recap of 2021 accomplishments including: 
 

• Progress on Council Goals

• City Council Committees and representation (14) 

• Council meetings (50 total)

• Public Records Requests (406)

• Homeless Addressment

• Contract Administration (Public Safety)

• Human Resources (New Labor Agreement, sur- vived COVID)

• Finance (Managed City finances to a Moody’s Aa-1 

credit rating)

• Community & Public Works Capital Improvement 

(Barker/BNSF continuation, Pines BNSF design 

progress, numerous road improvement projects)

• Economic Development (Continued growth of NE 

Industrial Business Park,10,000 Business licenses in 

the City, renewal of Shoreline Master Plan, con-

ducted successful public relations on behalf of the City)
 

City Hall is open for business during normal business hours. Masks are no longer required in the building. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. The Public is invited to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions.

After a proclamation announcing the return of Lemonade Day, a Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce program established to teach young entrepreneurs the basics of capitalism, and a second proclamation recognizing National Police Week, the Spokane Valley City Council got down to business with a First Reading of Ordinance 22-006 dealing with Comprehensive Plan Amendments.

Each year, pursuant to the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) the City is allowed to amend its comprehensive plan. On November 23, 2021, Council approved the 2022 docket of offered amendments which were then sent to the Planning Commission for its deliberation. On February 22, 2022, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the following:

At last week’s meeting, Council reached consensus to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendations and move the docket to tonight’s First Reading. The motion to advance Ordinance No. 22-006, Comprehensive Plan Amendments to a second reading passed unanimously.

Concurrent with the changes to the Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Ordinance 22-007 makes the accommodative changes to the Comprehensive Plan Zoning maps. The motion to advance Ordinance No. 22-007 to a second reading passed unanimously.

In March 2022, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a call for projects for the Pedestrian & Bicycle Program (PBP) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) aiming to improve safety and increase the number of people walking or bicycling. The total available funding in the PBP is $56.7 million, and $59.0 million in the SRTS program. While no City match is required, preference is given to projects when requests exceed $800,000. Recommendations must be to the Governor by December 2022; funds will be awarded in June 2023 in the state biennium budget. Staff has developed a chart with two recommended funding requests:

The motion to authorize the City Manager to apply to the Pedestrian & Bicycle Program and Safe Routes to School Program grants listed above passed unanimously.

In 2021, the City was awarded a federal grant of $1,824,519 for funding a preservation project on Sprague Avenue between Havana and Fancher. The project will grind and overlay the street pavement, upgrade ADA ramps, upgrade failing stormwater structures, and install ITS conduit for future signal connectivity.

The engineer’s estimate for the project cost was $2,340,069. The lowest bid was by Inland Asphalt at $2,639,999, 12% above the engineer’s estimate. Council chose to accept that bid and move to construction. The total budgeted project cost is $2,983,539. The $1,159,020 differential will be covered from various City funds.

Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City has received $16 million from a Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFR). Mayor Haley appointed a CLFR sub-committee of herself, Deputy Mayor Higgins, and Councilman Hattenburg, to screen applicable uses for those funds. Thus far, Council has approved $750,000 for an extension of the Buckeye Sewer Project and $250,000 to cover internal City costs, totaling $1 million.
Other CLFR funds will be used for various projects such as revenue replacement for money lost to the City due to COVID. That figure for 2020 is calculated to be $10.8 million. The CLFR subcommittee has recommended that the City use the maximum amount of lost revenue replacement to provide necessary services. The issue before Council this evening is the CLFR subcommittee’s recommendation that $500,000 be allocated to the Innovia foundation subject to it meeting the ARPA requirements for receiving such funding. Consensus was reached to authorize staff to finalize and distribute the funds.

In addition to the discussion on Innovia funding, the Valley Police Department also made a request for $1,096,903 for a variety of equipment needs. It also made a supplemental request for an additional $825,000, if funds are available, for other ancillary needs. Discussion only.

In continuing efforts to find a solution to the City’s Pavement Improvement Program problem, Council heard a lengthy report from its Public Works Department on avenues to be discussed in addressing the situation on an ongoing basis. One point of discussion was the difference between Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and a standard Road Maintenance Contract, and the difference in costs. Maintenance Contracts are part of the ongoing street maintenance necessary to keep City streets at acceptable levels of service. 

The entire program discussion is too lengthy to relate here. For complete information please visit www.spokanevalley.org and lookup the Council Agenda for May 10th.

CenterPlace, the City’s regional event center, covers 54,000 square feet that includes a great room, meeting rooms, kitchen, fireside lounge, auditorium, and the Senior Center. Historically, CenterPlace has been supported by rental and catering fees, with shortfalls made up by the City. Council has been asked to consider the possibility of contracting out the management of CenterPlace to a third-party operator. If the idea moves forward, such questions as maintaining its tax-exempt status would have to be addressed, together with the effect of such a move might have on the Senior Citizens Center which occupies the east wing of the building.

City Hall is open for business during normal business hours. Masks are no longer required in the building. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. The Public is invited to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. There will be no Council Meeting next week, May 17th.

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council commenced with a proclamation recognizing Child Care Providers. The proclamation calls attention to the fact that over half of our children under the age of six spend some time in a nonparental care arrangement and calls attention to the effects of the COVID pandemic on children. The second proclamation takes note of Older Americans Month, acknowledging the value of our older citizens.
 

In its first order of business, Council addressed a continuation of an action that began on April 26th. The City, pursuant to various laws and regulations, manages its Stormwater Utility Program. That program is funded through the collection of 1) Storm and Surface Utility (Utility) fees from developed parcels located within the City, and 2) the Spokane County Aquifer Protection Area (APA) fee.
 

The Utility fee is $21 per year on single family residences, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. All other developed property is charged $21 for every 3,160 square feet of measured impervious surface area. The Utility fee will generate about $1.9 million in 2022 to the City. That fee has not increased since the City’s incorporation in 2003.
 

The APA fee is imposed on each water meter within the City by meter size. That fee is collected by the County and reapportioned among the various participating municipalities. The revenue from the fee is expected to generate $450,000 to the City in 2022.
 

The City will need to develop a comprehensive stormwater plan to establish the long-term goals of the Utility, identify solutions to address flooding, water quality issues, and strategies for applying sustainable rates and compliance with pertinent laws and regulations. To that end, Osborn Consulting, has been selected, pending negotiations on the final scope and fee for services. The motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute an agreement for services not to exceed $282,612 passed unanimously.
 

In July 2020, the City applied to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program for funding a pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing on Sprague Avenue between City Hall and Balfour Park. The request was denied because the state program ran out of funds. 
 

Earlier this year, the State Legislature provided an additional $10 million to the SRTS program enabling it to award money to the 2020 application list. With the additional funding, the project is eligible for an award. In staff coordination with WSDOT, the 2022 proposal has been updated in both cost and scheduling. The updated authorized cost has risen from $550,000 to $652,600. Design is scheduled for 2023 with construction to be done in 2024. Since this award is nearly two years old, Council was asked to confirm acceptance of the award. Motion to authorize the City Manager to accept the SRSP award passed unanimously.
 

In September 2017, the City Hall was completed and occupied. Since that time, many significant construction and design defects have been discovered. 

 

The City filed suit in Spokane County Superior Court on April 27, 2020, to recover damages naming the prime contractor, Meridian Construction; Architects West, the architect and project manager; Allwest Testing & Engineering, materials tester; and Eight31 Consulting, the representative hired to assist in overseeing the project.
 

Since the suit was filed, the parties have been engaged in discovery, including extensive testing of various systems and areas in the building. A first mediation session occurred on March 17th, 2022, with all parties participating. Additional mediation sessions are scheduled for late fall 2022, while efforts to work toward resolution continue. If those efforts fail, trial is set for March 6, 2023.
 

The City, however, is not waiting for conclusion of litigation to start necessary repairs. Subsidence in the building’s front has already been addressed in addition to other recognized defects requiring immediate attention. The City initially set aside a $500,000 fund in both 2019 and 2020 for litigation-related expenses including construction, attorney fees, and expert witness fees. Those costs are expected to be fully reimbursed. An additional $700,000 (for a total of $1,700,000) was, by consensus, approved for placement in the 2023 budget.
 

Council reached consensus to move forward with an amendment to its 2020 Budget. That amendment affects seven accounts resulting in Revenue Increases of $4,522,805 and Decreases of $6,439,111. The changes include Employee Position Classification Monthly Salary Schedule incorporating various changes in the City’s reorganization.
 

In March 2022, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a call for projects for the Pedestrian & Bicycle Program (PBP) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) aiming to improve safety and increase the number of people walking or bicycling. The total available funding in the PBP is $56.7 million, and $59.0 million in the SRTS program. There is no City match required. Recommendations must be to the Governor by December 2022; funds will be awarded in June 2023 in the state biennium budget. Consensus was reached to have staff develop a recommended project list and return to Council on May 10th for a motion consideration to apply for the grant.
 

Unwanted parking on private property has been a long-standing concern of Council. This evening, staff has brought forward language to amend the city code to focus on junk vehicles, vehicle parking/storage on private property, camping (homeless) on private property, and multifamily development parking. 

The draft language is intended to begin discussion on where Council wants to direct the final product of the code changes to go. Items to be discussed are:

• Junk/inoperable vehicle storage

• Vehicle (including RV) parking and storage on private property

• RV and tent camping on private prorerty

• Multifamily parking issues

Each year, pursuant to the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) the City is allowed to amend its comprehensive plan. On November 23, 2021, Council approved the 2022 docket of offered amendments which were then sent to the Planning Commission for its deliberation. On February 22, 2022, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the following:
 

 

Council reached consensus to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendations and move the docket to a First Reading.

The current interlocal agreement with Spokane County for providing law enforcement services was adopted by Council in July 2017 for a five-year period beginning January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2022. Periodic amendments have been applied and a new set is presented for Council consideration.

Significant among those suggested are:

• Ownership of dedicated City vehicles that are fully paid for will transfer to City ownership upon termination of the agreement.

• Clarification on allowing temporary movement of dedicated officers to a shared unit with city Manager and Police Chief approval.

• Clarification that performance measures and work load indicators will be provided subject to availability of data.

• Language added to prevent unspent City funds from being diverted to other purposes without prior authorization.

• Language added to allow City to pay up front for dedicated vehicles and have authorization authority over purchases and location of vehicles.

• Language added to the Domestic Violence detective to work in a shared unit.

• Behavioral Health indicators and measures added. Refined performance measures and included cost and budget data.

• Homeless Services Deputy and Behavioral Health Deputy added.

• Added two Major Crimes Detectives.
 

No action was taken at this time. The 2022 Budget for Law Enforcement is $24,958,601. Renewal is pending at the end of 2022.
 

City Hall is open for business during normal business hours. Masks are no longer required in the building. Council meetings begin at 6:00pm. The Public is invited to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or www.spokanevalley.org prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions.