Your Connection to the Spokane Valley City Council

This Council meeting opened with a Public Hearing on the City’s 2021 Proposed Budget, the second of three public hearings on the road to final adoption. The 2021 Budget features $97,968,784 in total appropriations including $32,524,699 in capital expenditures for such projects as rail crossing projects ($13,796,320), pavement preservation ($4,676,350), street capital projects ($8,876,315), among others. To partially offset the capital costs the City anticipates it will receive $21,079,702 (64.75%) in grant revenues from State and Federal sources.

Estimated General Fund recurring revenues are $45,426,419. Estimated recurring expenditures are $45,101,466. Revenues exceed expenditures by $324,953 or .72% of recurring revenues. Declining revenues impacting funds such as the Street Operation and Maintenance Fund will have to be augmented from the General Fund. Currently that augmentation is estimated to be nearly $1.9 million. There is ongoing discussion in Council about the need for a consistent, dependable source of funding for road preservation and maintenance other than from the General Fund which is subject to impacting fluctuations such as economic downturns or a Covid-like debacle.

The major expenditure is, of course, Public Safety at $28,086,615 (62.4% of the City’s total recurring operating budget). At times like these when a troubling trend across the country seems to be to de-fund law enforcement, this Council is firm in its resolve to not participate in such a nonsensical endeavor.

Second readings of Ordinance 20-013, adopting Nonconforming Use Code Text Amendment CTA-2020-0003 (clarifying and broadening nonconforming property uses), and Ordinance 20-014, adopting vacation of a section on Desmet Court (STV-2020-0001), were passed unanimously by Council.

Washington State law requires the City to pass an ordinance each year enabling it to establish the levy rate for property taxes. Using the City’s estimate approximately $12,724,226 will be generated based on a total preliminary assessed valuation of $11,505,109,472 at an applied estimated levy rate of $1.105963 per $1,000 of valuation.

That rate is almost $.12 per $1,000 less than last year’s rate. The rate calculation recognizes and includes property taxes on new construction. Although the County Assessor’s estimate of assessed valuation is $48,000 less than the City’s, it is an estimate that is subject to change. Therefore, Council opted to use the City’s estimate. Revenue from the property tax (Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)) represents 28.01% of the City’s General Fund revenues of $45,426,419.

Once again, for the 12th consecutive year, the City did not avail itself of the automatic 1% rate increase allowed by state law.
The City, in partnership with Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) and Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT), through an interlocal agreement, have been working on improving the existing Regional Decant Facility used by both DOT and the City. This facility is used to dump wastewater detritus on a concrete slab for later disposal after the material has dried, reducing the volume to be disposed.

To date, that facility has not had a roof which renders it of little value for about 40% of the year. This new addition to the interlocal agreement provides for a covering on the facility expanding its usefulness to 24 hours a day.

The total project cost is $585,000 of which DOE will pay $431,250, DOT-$137,500, and Spokane Valley-$16,250. Construction will be coordinated between WSDOT and the City with the City managing the project.

Council voted to close City Hall and CenterPlace at noon on Wednesday, November 25th, in preparation for Thanksgiving. City Hall will also be closed on Thursday, December 24th and Thursday December 31st for Christmas and New Year holidays.

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour this Saturday and be on the lookout for small to medium sized gremlins trick or treating on our City streets.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. Appointments may be made by calling 509-720-5000, or visiting www.spokanevalley.org. A voting station has been set up at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. Voting hours are October 16-31: 8:30am-4:00pm; November 1: 10:00am-4:00pm; November 2: 8:30am-4:00pm; November 3: 7:00am-8:00pm. For further information, call the County Elections Office at 509-477-2320. You can vote by using your mailed ballot or vote or in person at CenterPlace.

A vacancy on the Spokane Valley Planning Commission was created by the resignation of Commissioner Timothy Kelley. Mr. Kelley was appointed in January 2019 for a three year term ending December 31, 2021.

Members of the Planning Commission are nominated by the Mayor and approved by Council. Three citizens applied to fill the unexpired term, former mayor, Tom Towey, Jennifer Deline, and Karl Joseph Granrath. Mr. Granrath was nominated by the Mayor and approved unanimously by Council.

On September 15th, Council heard presentations from agencies wishing to participate in its Outside Agency Funding Requests Program. Through this process, the City contracts for services that it might not otherwise provide. Those services include economic development and support of the poor and infirm as permitted under state law. 25 applications were received.

The City’s 2021 Budget sets aside $244,000 for this purpose: $43,000 of that amount is committed to a contract with Greater Spokane Incorporated and $19,000 has been contractually pledged to the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce for business development services. The remaining $182,000 is available for allocation to applying agencies. The aggregate of all 25 applications was $671,420, far exceeding available funds.

Each applicant submitted a written application and presented a verbal proposal to Council. Based on these presentations, Councilmembers voted on who and how much each applicant should receive.

A successful applicant had to receive at least four votes. A participant that failed to receive four votes was dropped from consideration in this funding cycle. Agencies that received four or more votes were awarded the average of Council recommendations. Funds that would have gone to applicants receiving three or fewer votes were added back for reallocation.

The recommendation of each Councilperson was submitted to the Finance Director by October 9. The Director prepared a summary of Councilmembers’ votes for final Council allocations at this meeting.

Applicants and amounts awarded are: Christ Kitchen, $4,893; Elevations Children’s Therapy, $5,244; Feed Spokane, $3,225; Family Promise, $14,151; GSC Meals on Wheels, $15,722; HUB Sports Center, $4,222; JAKT, $10,765; Project Beauty Share, $850; Spokane Rapids, $1,937; Spokane Valley Arts Council, $15,365; Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, $11,008; Spokane Valley Partners, $39,508; Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, $9,008; Teen and Kid Closet, $7,965; Valleyfest, $20,179; Valleyfest-Multicultural Event $3,607; Widows Might, $12,437; and YWCA, $1,914.

In an amendment to its agenda, Council voted unanimously to vacate a portion of its recently completed Garland Avenue that runs between Flora Road and Barker Road to accommodate economic development near Flora. Resolution 20-015 accomplished that. Then, in a concurrent move Council voted to issue a license for grading in the Garland area to Panattoni Development, LLC, in support of a development project.

State law (RCW 58.17) provides the framework and procedures for processing preliminary and final subdivisions (long plats), subdivision alterations and plat vacations. Title 20 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code regulated the subdivision of land consistent with the requirements of RCW58.17.

Staff is proposing a municipal code amendment to conform Title 20, SVMC, into with RCW 58.17. The proposed changes would address procedural and submittal requirements, as well as grammatical and organizational structure updates. Council by consensus moved the proposed Code Text Amendment (CTA-2019-0005) to a First Reading.

The City’s state 2021 Legislative Agenda was once again discussed. Leading the is the Pines Road/BNSF Rail Crossing Project. In addition, Staff, at the direction of Council, approached the Board of Spokane County Commissioners to ascertain if there was interest in a joint capital request for a new facility at the Fairgrounds Exhibition Center.

The concept meets the need for something new while capitalizing on the popularity of the Fairgrounds and Stadium. It would also fill a need for a winter use facility. The new building would be built by the City using lodging tax funding, legislative money, and bonds. The County would supply the land and maintain and operate the site with revenues being shared by both. The idea was favorably received by Council for further discussion and exploration.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. Appointments may be made by calling 509-720-5000, or visiting www.spokanevalley.org. A voting station has been set up at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley. Voting hours are October 16-31: 8:30am-4:00pm; November 1: 10:00am-4:00pm; November 2: 8:30am-4:00pm; November 3: 7:00am-8:00pm. For further information, call the County Elections Office at 509-477-2320. You can vote by using your mailed ballot or vote or in person at CenterPlace.

At last week’s Council meeting, Council reached consensus to move Ordinance 20-012 forward for a vote. That proposed ordinance would allow Metrocom, LLC (TDS), a cable provider wishing to establish business in the Valley in competition with Comcast Cable the opportunity to do so.

In discussions with Comcast and TDS, a plan for a more open regulatory plan allowing for expanded competition and less regulatory oversight was proposed for Council action. Adoption of those new recommendations will not affect the 5% cable franchise fee which generates approximately $1 million annually. By unanimous vote, Council approved Ordinance 20-012.

With the pathway open for more than one cable provider in the City, Council, by unanimous vote, suspended the rules and approved Ordinance 20-015. This ordinance within five days grants a cable television franchise to TDS Metrocom, LLC, pursuant to the new ability allowed under Ordinance 20-012.

At last week’s meeting, Council discussed revisions to its noncomforming land use code. Nonconforming pertains to a land use that existed prior to adoption of a comprehensive land use plan that no longer permits that use. The existing operation is then designated as a ‘nonconforming’ use. Generally, that means the existing use is permitted so long as that property continues under that same ownership and use.

Code Text Amendment (CTA) 2020-003 clarifies conditions under which a non-conforming property owner could expand his or her operation on that property or an adjacent property as a legal nonconforming use so long as the ownership remains the same and was owned prior to the change in the zoning.

Another issue arises under current code where a nonconforming property is destroyed or damaged by fire, flood, or neglect. If that damage results in more than an 80% destruction of the market value, current code infers that the property may not be rebuilt, creating financing issues for restoring damaged or destroyed single family homes. CTA 2020-003 clarifies the language to affirm residential use as a permitted use not subject to nonconforming use regulations. Council voted unanimously to move CTA 2020-003 to a Second Reading.

Hanson Industries owns property adjacent to and along 250 feet of Desmet Court between Indiana Avenue (west) and Flora Road (east) including a cul-de-sac located there. On May 28, 2020, the owner applied for a street vacation of that area. The total area to be vacated for Desmet Court is about 12,847 square feet. A new cul-de-sac will replace the old one on the vacated right-of-way.

A Public Hearing before the Spokane Valley Planning Commission was held on August 27th, after which the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the application. Council voted unanimously to move the application to a Second Reading on October 27th.

On August 4th, Council was introduced to the City’s 2021 operating budget at its annual budget workshop. That workshop normally occurs in June but was delayed to August by the Coronavirus. Since then, Council has received an administrative report and listened to a public hearing (the 1st of 3) on revenues and expenditures.
At this meeting, City Manager Mark Calhoun, in keeping with state law, presented his view of the City’s 2021 Preliminary Budget. His presentation marks the fourth of eight opportunities for Council’s examination before finally adopting the budget.

In developing the budget, Mr. Calhoun considered: Council Goals (what the Council intends to achieve), Fiscal Policies (how the City conducts its financial affairs), Budget Highlights (what the City has accomplished), and Challenges (issues that must be addressed in the new year). Those goals are paired with the City’s stated priorities: 1) Public Safety, 2) Pavement Preservation, 3) Transportation and Infrastructure, and 4) Economic Development.

COVID-19 has presented multiple challenges. It has impacted Sales Tax revenue which accounts for a majority of City revenue. The 2020 budget was revised downward by approximately 10%, but current revenues don’t appear to be lessened to that extent. What is uncertain is the residual effect the federal contributions (CARES) to individuals and other entities will have when those funds have been exhausted. 2021 promises to be challenging.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 509-720-5000, or visiting www.spokanevalley.org. Stay safe, observe the mandated safety precautions, and, if applicable, blow out your sprinklers.

This Council meeting is a “Study Session.” By way of explanation, note that Council normally meets each Tuesday at 6:00 PM. Odd numbered Tuesdays are ‘Study Sessions’ where Council is apprised of issues that will be coming before it. Although ‘Action Items’ are occasionally dealt with at Study Sessions, they are usually handled at ‘Formal’ meetings. ‘Formal’ meetings take place on even numbered Tuesdays and are the normal business meetings for Council. Public Comment periods take place at Formal meetings if a citizen cares to participate. Information on how to comment is available from the City Clerk, 509-720-5102 or cbainbridge@spokanevalley.org.

On September 29, 2020, staff presented Council an administrative report asking Council’s consensus to amend the City’s code regarding regulation and oversight of cable providers and bring the modifications (Ordinance 20-012) forward for a First Reading. The request was prompted by an application by TDS Metrocom, LLC (TDS), a cable provider wishing to establish business in the Valley in competition with Comcast Cable.

In discussions with Comcast and TDS together with additional staff analysis, a plan for a more open regulatory plan allowing for more competition and less regulatory oversight is proposed for Council action. The new recommendations will not affect the 5% cable franchise fee which generates approximately $1 million annually. By unanimous vote, Council moved Ordinance 20-012 to a Second Reading.

The City has been considering purchase of 45.73 acres of land from Washington State Depart of Transportation (WSDOT) upon which the City intends to build a park. The price is $2,091,600. Council last week in a 4-3 vote, moved to complete the purchase as soon as possible. The funding will be diverted in part from money earmarked for development of Balfour Park.

Three dissenting votes, Woodard, Haley, and Higgins argued that while each is entirely in favor of the purchase there is no pressing need for speed while the impact of the Coronavirus on City finances is still uncertain. The motion to allow the City Manager to finalize and execute the purchase agreement with WSDOT with the proviso that new park funds will be re-directed to replenish the Balfour budget.

At its September 29th meeting, Council discussed revisions to the noncomforming land use code. Nonconforming pertains to a land use that existed prior to adoption of a comprehensive land use plan but is no longer permitted. The existing use is then designated as a ‘nonconforming’ use. That generally means that the existing purpose is permitted so long as that property continues under that same use.

Proposed Code Text Amendment (CTA) 2020-003 would clarify conditions where a non-conforming property owner could expand his or her operation on that property or an adjacent property as a legal nonconforming use so long as the ownership remains the same and was owned prior to the change in the zoning.

Another issue arises under current code where a nonconforming property is destroyed or damaged by fire, flood, or neglect. If that damage results in more than an 80% destruction of the market value, current code infers that the property may not be rebuilt. This has created financing issues for restoring damaged or destroyed single family homes. CTA 2020-003 clarifies the language to affirm residential use as a permitted use not subject to nonconforming use regulations. Council unanimously reached consensus to move CTA 2020-003 to a First Reading.

Staff conducted an in-depth discussion of Pavement Surface Treatment. Pavement management focuses on extending the life of streets by keeping ‘good’ roads in ‘good’ condition. The rationale that the cost to fix a good road in good condition is less expensive than having to restore a ‘bad’ road that has been left to deteriorate. One of the most cost-effective ways to keep a good road in good condition is to use surface treatments. Such treatments are low-cost preservation measures applied on top of existing street surfaces designed to extend the life of the pavement. Such treatments can extend the life while costing a fraction of reconstructing a ‘failed’ street.

The action mentioned above regarding cable franchise rules in the City pertained to how a company, in this case TDS, would operate under our rules. However, TDS needs a franchise to begin operations. Council reached unanimous consensus to place granting that franchise on a future agenda for a First Reading.

Council meetings are now broadcast with closed caption option.

City Hall remains closed except by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling 509-720-5000, or visiting www.spokanevalley.org. Stay safe and observe the mandated safety precautions. Remember, it’s never to early to buy Halloween treats.

View Past Spokane Valley City Council Highlights