Spokane Valley City Council Highlights

Your Connection to the Spokane Valley City Council

October 1,  2024

 

 

This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following meeting agenda. Mayor Haley and Deputy Mayor Hattenburg were absent due to attending a transit conference.  Councilmember Higgins served as acting Mayor. 

Proclamation 
Councilmember Padden presented a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week received by Spokane Valley Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshall Ken Johnson, and Acting Mayor Higgins presented a proclamation for Cybersecurity Awareness Month received by City of Spokane Valley Information Technology Manager Chad Knodel.

General Public Comments
Each week, community members have an opportunity to address Councilmembers for up to three minutes during the General Public Comment period, either at the beginning or end of each meeting in person or via Zoom. 

ACTION ITEMS

#1 2025 State Legislative Agenda
Council reviewed the draft legislative agenda at the Sept. 17 meeting. Staff reviewed the changes made per direction from the Council. The draft agenda for the 2025 state legislative session includes:

  • $800,000 request for construction of sports courts at Balfour Park
  • $1 million for Barker/I-90 interchange improvements
  • Support for funding the Recreation and Conservation Office’s grant programs for the Balfour Park playground and spray park
  • Request for clarification regarding the administrative fees collected on document recording fee revenues
  • Request to increase the percentage of cannabis tax revenues to cities

The agenda also includes outlining support for several regional items of importance and policy issues. A motion was made to approve the proposed 2025 State Legislative Agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

#2 Washington Department of Commerce Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) Grant Opportunity
This item was discussed at the Sept. 24 meeting. This grant pays for the upfront costs of connecting and installing utility infrastructure to encourage the development of affordable housing projects. Spokane Housing Authority (SHA) will partner with the City on this project; Spokane Valley will be the primary applicant and if awarded, funding will be provided as a pass-through grant for the proposed Appleway Development housing project. A motion was made to authorize the city manager to apply for the CHIP grant in partnership with SHA. The motion passed with four votes in favor and one vote against.

NON-ACTION ITEMS

#3 East Valley School District Pedestrian Undercrossing Agreement
As part of the Spokane County-Spokane Valley collaboration for Sullivan Road/Wellesley Avenue intersection improvements and the Bigelow Gulch Corridor project, a pedestrian undercrossing was constructed between East Valley Middle School and East Valley High School to make it safe for students and district personnel crossing Sullivan Road from one campus to the other. An interlocal agreement is necessary in order for the district to have exclusive use of the undercrossing. Staff reviewed the provisions of the agreement and outlined which maintenance responsibilities will be assigned to the City and which to the school district. Council reached consensus to bring a motion consideration at a future meeting for implementation of the interlocal agreement with the East Valley School District. 

#4 Balfour Building Potential Options
On March 7, 2023, the Council approved the purchase of the 0.62-acre property and two-story building located at 10303 E Sprague, adjacent to Balfour Park. This acquisition was to integrate the property into park improvements and provide additional parking. Consultants were hired to assess the building upgrades that might be required to bring the facility, which was built in 1968, up to modern standards. Staff outlined the identified building deficiencies and presented four potential options: (1) renovation of the existing structure, (2) construction of a new similar structure with an elevator for accessibility, (3) construction of a new single-story structure, or (4) demolishing the existing structure and installing a grade pad for future development. Estimates of costs were discussed. The Council discussed and reached a consensus to proceed with option four.

About Spokane Valley City Council 
City Council meetings occur on most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, and online via Zoom. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. Community members are invited to attend Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in-person or online. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. Councilmembers are Mayor Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Rod Higgins, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember Al Merkel, Councilmember Ben Wick and Councilmember Laura Padden. Email the Council at CityCouncil@SpokaneValleyWA.gov or learn more at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil.

Stay Connected
Spokane Valley City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available online at SpokaneValleyWA.gov. You can also sign up to receive email updates about the topics that matter to you most at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp, or follow the city on social media. 

September 24,  2024

 

 

This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, pledge of allegiance and approval of the following amended meeting agenda. 

Council Reports
Councilmembers shared brief updates on their recent involvement in various activities, meetings, events, etc. 

General Public Comments
Each week, community members have an opportunity to address Councilmembers for up to three minutes during the General Public Comment period, either at the beginning or end of each meeting in person or via Zoom. There is also an opportunity to present any comments related to action items on the agenda during that topic. 

ACTION ITEMS

#1 Consent Agenda
The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included vouchers for paying city expenses, payroll, Council meeting minutes from July 23 and July 30, 2024, and a request to hold a 2025 Budget Hearing on Oct. 15, 2024. 

#2 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)/ Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFR) Allocation Update
This federal program started in March 2021, and Spokane Valley received approximately $16 million in ARPA/CLFR funding. The City has used the majority of CLFR funds through the revenue replacement program towards ongoing law enforcement contract costs, spending approximately $15 million to date. Staff have identified $116,270 of available funds not anticipated to be spent in the originally allocated category and recommended the funds be reallocated to the Law Enforcement Assistance category. A motion was made to approve reallocating the $116,270 remaining in the Internal City Costs Category of the ARPA/CLFR funding to the Law Enforcement Assistance category, added to the line item for Other Law Enforcement Assistance. The motion passed unanimously.

#2A Pines Road/BNSF Grade Separation Project, Construction and Maintenance Agreement
The City has been working on this project since 2017, which will separate Pines Road from the railroad tracks by constructing an underpass. The project has secured full funding from multiple State and Federal programs. City staff has worked extensively with BNSF on a Roadway Underpass Construction and Maintenance (C&M) agreement, which includes the construction of the bridges by BNSF, as they are able to construct railroad bridges more efficiently than a contractor could. The proposed C&M agreement will secure the necessary property rights from BNSF, allow BNSF to move forward with bridge construction, and provide for BNSF project monitoring during the roadway construction. If approved, BNSF will be able to begin construction on the bridges this winter. A motion was made to allow the city manager to finalize and execute the BNSF Roadway Underpass Construction and Maintenance Agreement in the approximate amount of $8,615,850, in substantially the form of the attached agreement. The motion passed unanimously. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Council adjourned into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation. When the meeting returned to open session, the Council unanimously approved a motion to authorize the city manager to execute a settlement agreement with Architects West. 

#2B Approve or Deny City-Funded Legal Representation to Councilmember Merkel for His Appeal to the City Hearing Examiner
A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 24, 2024, in response to an appeal filed by Spokane Valley Councilmember Al Merkel on Sept. 10, after a recent investigation found him in violation of the Spokane Valley Governance Manual and likely in violation of the Washington State Public Records Act. Per Spokane Valley Municipal Code 2.70.040, whether a Councilmember is to be provided legal representation for claims against the Councilmember is determined by the City Council. Councilmembers discussed Chapter 2.70 SVMC, which details when the City can and cannot provide legal representation to Councilmembers. Pursuant to the city municipal code and state law, Councilmember Merkel was not allowed to participate in the discussion or vote due to a conflict of interest. The remaining six Councilmembers voted unanimously that Councilmember Merkel is not entitled to city-funded legal representation because SVMC 2.70.030 prevents the City from doing so for claims that Councilmembers violated city policy.
Non-Action Items

#5 WA State Dept. of Commerce Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program – Potential Grant Opportunity
Staff presented a grant program that covers the upfront costs of connecting and installing utility infrastructure to encourage the development and construction of affordable housing projects and make them more viable. The City would partner with the Spokane Housing Authority. The City would be the primary applicant, and funding would be provided by Commerce as a pass-through grant.  City obligations and eligible development costs were reviewed. The maximum award is $1 million per project. Staff shared information about the Spokane Housing Authority Appleway development, which is the proposed project to be funded if the grant is awarded. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back before the Council for a motion consideration. 

#6 Proposed Property Tax Ordinance 
Staff gave an overview of taxing jurisdictions and tax code areas. While there are many different tax code areas (TCAs) depending on the location of a property parcel, TCA-144 covers the largest area within Spokane Valley. Within TCA-144, property taxes are currently divided as follows: Central Valley School District – 31%, Spokane Valley Fire District No. 01 – 26%, State School – 23%, City of Spokane Valley – 8%, Spokane County – 8%, and Spokane County Library District – 4%. State law requires that the City pass an ordinance that establishes a property tax levy, which is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2024. The proposed 2025 property tax levy does not include the 1% increase allowed by State law, which is equal to $138,060 and will include property taxes for new construction. If the Council passes the ordinance, the City will collect approximately $14 million (based on the Spokane County Assessor’s preliminary estimate of assessed property values). The proposed Property Tax Ordinance will be discussed by the Council again on Oct. 8 and Oct. 22. 

#7 City LTAC Application for a $2.5 Million Lodging Tax Grant Award from Facilities Fund #104 to Further the Construction of the Cross Country Course
Details about the Spokane Valley Cross Country Course project and prior actions taken by the Council for project funding were presented. Construction is underway and expected to be complete by August 2025. The consultant estimates the total project cost at approximately $7 million. In 2024, the project was awarded $4.4 million from LTAC Fund #104, $150,000 from the State Legislature and a $26,000 Union Pacific Railroad grant. To bridge the $2.6 million funding gap, the staff is requesting authorization from the Council to submit a 2025 Lodging Tax Grant Application. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back for a motion at an upcoming meeting. 

#8 Opioid Settlement – Project Options
At numerous meetings in the past 24 months, the Council has discussed legal settlements with opioid distributors, pharmacies and manufacturers, Johnson & Johnson and Kroger. The City has received $102,122 from the settlements to date; all money received from these settlements must be spent on opioid abatement-related programs or projects. A total of $336,785 of settlement funds are anticipated through 2038. The Council was asked to discuss into which program(s) they would like the funds directed. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back to the Council for action at a later date.

Information Only (no presentation or discussion)
Updates from Public Works, Community Development and Spokane Valley Fire District were provided in the meeting packet. 

About Spokane Valley City Council 
City Council meetings occur on most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, and online via Zoom. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. Community members are invited to attend Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in-person or online. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. Councilmembers are Mayor Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Rod Higgins, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember Al Merkel, Councilmember Ben Wick and Councilmember Laura Padden. Email the Council at CityCouncil@SpokaneValleyWA.gov or learn more at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil.

Stay Connected
Spokane Valley City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available online at SpokaneValleyWA.gov. You can also sign up to receive email updates about the topics that matter to you most at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp, or follow the city on social media. 

September 17,  2024

 

 

This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, pledge of allegiance and approval of the following meeting agenda. 
Proclamations 
Mayor Haley presented a proclamation for National Diaper Need Awareness Week 2024, received by Terri Fortner with Partners Inland NW and Constitution Week, received by Janet Ulbright with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
General Public Comments
Each week, community members have an opportunity to address Councilmembers for up to three minutes during the General Public Comment period either at the beginning or end of each meeting in-person or via Zoom. There is also an opportunity to present any comments related to action items on the agenda during that topic. 
public hearing
#1 Public Hearing #1: 2025 Revenues Including Property Taxes
The Council had the third of eight 2025 budget discussions and the first of three public hearings. The 2025 budget summary for all funds represents total appropriations of $149 million, including 116.25 funded full-time employees (FTE), a decrease of two FTE from 2024. A few highlights of the presentation include:
•  2025 estimated revenues for the General Fund are $63.2 million, an increase of 1.17%.
• General Fund revenues come from sales tax (59%), property tax (22%) and other recurring revenues (19%).
• 2025 estimated expenditures from the General Fund for 2025 are $63.2 million for recurring expenses, an increase of 6.35% and $1.5 million for nonrecurring expenses.
• Of General Fund expenditures, 63.52% is allocated to public safety and 36.48% for all other city expenses.
 • $1.5 million of non-recurring expenses are for information technology, police vehicle replacements, facility improvements at the precinct and CenterPlace Regional Event Center. 
There was discussion about budget challenges, including revenue growth not keeping pace with growing expenditures, the need for funding for additional law enforcement positions, streets and the city’s homeless and housing program. A second public hearing will be held at the Council meeting on Oct. 8.  The Council will be asked to approve the 2025 budget at the Nov. 12, 2024, meeting. 
Action Items
#2 Potential Grant Opportunity: Energy Efficiency Retrofit

New Washington State Clean Building laws and requirements apply to certain types of non-residential buildings over 20,000 square feet. For city buildings, the requirements apply to City Hall, CenterPlace and the Police Precinct. To adhere to the state regulations, a facility audit, an Operations and Maintenance Program and an Energy Management Plan must be completed to identify ongoing costs and keep city facilities in compliance. The Washington State Department of Commerce has released a grant program called the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Grant to help pay for the costs of work needed to comply with the new laws. The City would like to apply for $275,000 of grant funding, which includes a $14,500 city match. A motion was made to authorize the city manager to apply for the Energy Retrofit Grant Program. The motion passed with six votes in favor and one vote against.
Non-Action Items
#3 2025 State Legislative Agenda
The city’s state legislative lobbyist reviewed the current political climate in the Legislature, possible implications of the November elections and the legislative appointments and committee assignments that will occur after the election. An overview of expectations for the state’s anticipated operating, transportation and capital budget was provided. City staff and the state legislative lobbyist presented the draft 2025 Legislative Agenda and asked for feedback from the City Council key items included:
• Proactive city-specific requests
• Capital budget request for Plantes Ferry Sports Complex or Spokane Valley sport courts
• Transportation budget request for Barker Road/I-90 interchange 
• Support for Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grants for Balfour playground and spray park funding
• Clarify administrative fees collected on document recording fees
• Increase cannabis tax revenues distributed to cities
• Regional items of importance 
• Support for helicopter units for regional law enforcement
• Support for the county’s expansion of the Stabilization Center for 23-hour crisis relief
• Staff asked Council for additional regional ideas to support
• Policy issues
• Public safety and behavioral health
• Housing affordability
• Local decision-making authority
• Fiscal management
• Reducing costs through reform
#4 City Hall Update
The City Hall building was completed in September 2017, and upon occupation, significant construction and potential design defects were discovered. Multiple consultants were hired to identify the nature and extent of the defects. In January 2023, the Council awarded a $4 million contract to Garco Construction to remediate some of the building’s deficiencies and defects; their work was completed in August 2024. In April 2020, the City filed a lawsuit against four companies involved in the construction of the building. The City is seeking a judgment to (1) determine the defendants’ responsibility for construction defects and (2) order the responsible parties to compensate the City for all monetary damages incurred to repair the defects. The trial is scheduled to begin July 7, 2025, but parties have agreed to engage in settlement discussions through formal mediation, which will occur in late October to early November 2024. 
#5 Review of Potential and Pending Projects Worksheet and Allocation of Capital Reserve Fund #312 Reserves
As part of the draft city budget review process each year, the Council discusses the potential and pending projects worksheet to prioritize the allocation of funds in Capital Reserve Fund #312. The total amount in Fund #312 is $4,422,077. Potential allocations to be discussed are:
• $300,000 - City Hall repairs
• $1.03 million - Pavement Preservation Fund
• $1.75 million - Local Access Street Program Fund
This leaves $1.34 million remaining to be allocated to other projects. The Council was asked to discuss the options and reach a consensus on how to allocate Capital Reserve Fund #312. The final decision will be made as part of the budget adoption process.
#7 Group Home Discussion
Earlier this year, the Council requested information about group home regulations, legal considerations and impacts on the City. Staff reviewed the type and scale of community residential facilities permitted by the Spokane Valley Municipal Code. There was discussion about occupancy limitations, regulations of the Washington Housing Policy Act and Fair Housing Amendment Act preventing discrimination in housing and recent litigation cases in other communities. Staff summarized city code enforcement responses to group homes and criteria used to identify the cases. There have been six cases; two related to unpermitted construction, one nuisance complaint about trash, two property code violation complaints, and one related to a business operating in a residential zone. All six cases were closed without finding a violation. As part of the report, staff researched the impact of community residential facilities within Spokane Valley city limits, which are (1) licensed by the State and (2) have a city-endorsed business license. Since 2019 there have been 11,142 calls for service and 2,552 police reports filed.
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About Spokane Valley City Council 
City Council meetings occur on most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, and online via Zoom. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. Community members are invited to attend Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in-person or online. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. Councilmembers are Mayor Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Rod Higgins, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember Al Merkel, Councilmember Ben Wick and Councilmember Laura Padden. Email the Council at CityCouncil@SpokaneValleyWA.gov or learn more at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil.
Stay Connected
Spokane Valley City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information is available online at SpokaneValleyWA.gov. Sign up to receive email updates about the topics that matter to you most at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp or follow the city on social media.  n

September 10,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened in its Formal A format with a proclamation recognizing 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. “Whereas, on September 11, 2001, the United States suffered nearly 3,000 civilian deaths as a result of heinous terrorist attacks around the country; and ….” September 11 is proclaimed National Day of Service and Remembrance.

In the normal course of adopting the 2025 City Budget, there are eight opportunities to view and discuss the various parts of the budget. Two of those occasions are public hearings. The first of those hearings will occur next week on September 17th where comments on revenues and expenditures will be open for public comment. The next opportunity will be on October 8th when Public Hearing #2 will be open for public comment on the entirety of the 2025 Budget that was presented by the City Manager on October 1st.

Spokane Valley Municipal Code requires that the Tourism and Promotion Area (TPA) Hotel Commission (a body that recommends to Council how expenditures of TPA revenue be spent) provide a Budget and Work Plan report to Council prior to adoption of its City Budget. This must be done and approved by Council by September 30 annually for timely inclusion in the City Budget.

The recommended budget for 2025 is $1,275,000 focused on projected tourism to the Valley and historical revenue generation. City staff is recommending that the 2025 work plan continue to use contracted services with 116 & West for destination marketing and Spokane Sports for sports recruitment/programming. The motion to approve the 2025 TPA Budget of $1,275,000 and proposed Work Plan passed unanimously.

The City participates in the Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs) which guides interaction between cities, towns, and county government. CPPs provide a framework for the management of Urban Growth Areas (UGAs). As part of tonight’s Annexation Analysis, the City has hired Berk Consulting to assess the adjacent UGAs buildable capacity and potential land use options to meet future growth needs. Spokane Valley is unique because its utilities such as water, sewer, power, and gas are provided by private sources. Other services such as street maintenance and preservation, and public safety are provided through contract.

This discussion on annexation is timely because the City is rapidly testing the limits of its boundaries. 
The reasons for annexation include:

  • Extension of urban services provided by a city but are otherwise unavailable to adjacent unincorporated areas.
  • Representation in an existing local government by adjacent residents.
  • The advantages of increasing the City’s tax base and population. 
  • Extending city zoning and development regulations to buildable areas.
  • Fulfilling the original intent of the GMA.
  • Reasons for not annexing might be:
  • The costs of the annexed area would be greater than the revenue or benefits.
  • It would be infeasible to extend services to the annexed area.
  • Providing infrastructure upgrades to meet city standards is economically prohibitive.
  • Annexed area residents don’t wish to be under city standards.
  • Those residents may perceive that total taxes/services/other costs may increase.


All of the above are evaluated in a possible annexation. Plus, compliance with the UGA in planning available buildable capacity, area planning, and fiscal sustainability implications are considered. Also included in the discussion along with the why and why nots of annexation are the how and where do we start. No action was taken, but annexation is a pressing topic for future action.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

September 3,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened in the new Regular B Format. That format calls for an invocation, pledge of allegiance, and two public comment sections. Format B eliminates the Council review of recent Council member activities which now takes place on alternate weeks.

The first and only item of business was a motion consideration to amend the existing Stormwater Services Contract with Cameron Reilly, LLC. This is the second amendment to that contract. The original contract for $350,000 was executed September 11, 2023, which is rather late in the year and the weather limited the time window for initiating or completing any work. This timing problem prompted the first amendment to the contract.

The second amendment increases the contract amount to $550,000 to install approximately 75 pervious gravel shoulders along non-curbed streets that have experienced ponding and/or flooding into the roadway travel lanes, gravel shoulders, front lawns, and driveways of adjacent properties. This work will be completed this fall.

The motion to approve Contract Amendment #2 to the existing contract resulting in a total contract amount not to exceed $550,000 passed 5-1 (Merkel-no).

The 6-Year Stormwater Improvement Program (SIP) is a required part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Program collects and channels stormwater to stormwater treatment facilities to reduce the volume of pollutants that enter the groundwater that eventually reaches the aquifer. Last May, Council approved the Sprague Avenue Stormwater and Multi-Modal Improvements project located between University Road and Herald Road. This project is replacing portions of the outside travel lanes with biofiltration swales and adds a pedestrian crossing between City Hall and the Valley Library. In 2022, when this issue was first addressed, it was made clear that DOE’s regulations for stormwater management were going to be progressively stringent. A Council determination was made then that it was advantageous to not be put in a position of retrofitting our stormwater system at a substantially greater cost.

The SIP 2025-2030 includes an outline of the next six years of projects for the City. Improvement projects included in the SIP range from spot drainage and retrofit to replacement of failing and aging stormwater facilities. For a detailed description of projects and expenses please go to www.Spokanevalleywa.gov/129/Agendas-minutes-videos on the City website.

Revenues to fund the plan are expected to be $6.2 million from utility taxes in 2025 versus a projected $5-8 million in annual expenses. The account maintains a minimum fund balance of $2 million. Total estimated program expenses for the six years, 2025-2030 are $13.4 million.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is offering a potential grant opportunity for participation in its Video Analytics program. The program is designed to implement a network of traffic conflict screening using video analytics (cameras) at controlled intersections, such as signalized intersections, where disproportionate numbers of traffic violations and injuries occur. Staff is requesting Council consensus to apply for a grant of $102,000 for data collection and processing through a vendor with subsequent review and classification. Consensus, after a lengthy discussion, was reached to pursue the grant.

A local hotelier, a Washington State Hospitality Association representative, City staff, and a Granicus (a demographics vendor) representative met to identify, and discuss monitoring short-term rentals such as B&Bs in Spokane Valley that may be subject to the same or potential regulation as standard hotels. From that, staff prepared a summary of information for Council consideration. A more detailed report will be made at a future meeting where participants from both traditional hotels and short-term rentals will present their points of view.

Spokane Valley Municipal Code requires that the Tourism and Promotion Area (TPA) Hotel Commission (a body that recommends to Council how expenditures of TPA revenue be spent) provide a Budget and Work Plan report to Council prior to adoption of its City Budget. This must be done and approved by Council by September 30 annually for timely inclusion in the City Budget.

The recommended budget for 2025 is $1,275,000 aimed at projected tourism to the Valley and historical revenue generation. City staff is also recommending that the 2025 work plan use contracted services with 116 & West for destination marketing and Spokane Sports for sports recruitment/programming. Council reached consensus to bring forth a motion at a future meeting to approve the 2025 TPA Budget and Work Plan.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

August 27,  2024

 

 

The Spokane Valley City Council met in its formal format to close out August 2024. The first item of business was Mayor Haley’s appointments to the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. That committee, per state law, consists of five members. There are two representatives of businesses required to collect the tax, two members involved in activities authorized to be funded by the tax, and one City Councilmember who serves as the chair.

Two appointed positions expired as of December 31, 2023: one to collect the tax, one funded by the tax. Ads soliciting applicants for the positions garnered one for each. Amanda Alcamo, representing Oxford Suites, for collectors, and Rustin Hall, representing Spokane Sports, for those funded.

The motion to confirm the Mayor’s appointments passed unanimously.

In April, the City received notice that it would receive a grant of $325,000 from the Department of Commerce (DOC) to assist with the update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The City is mandated by state law to review and revise its Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations every 10 years (Periodic Update). The purpose of the Periodic Updates is to ensure that the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Regulations are in compliance with state law.

A separate grant is available to assist in the state directed requirement for local jurisdictions to develop and adopt a new Climate Element to address ‘climate resilience’ and greenhouse gas emissions. It should be noted that the legislature has essentially created a top-down approach to local comprehensive planning where the State is dictating policy and development regulations local governments shall adopt. Prior to those recent changes, broad goals allowing local governments the flexibility to mold their comprehensive plans and development regulations specific to the local community’s needs were the norm. Unfortunately, there are many requirements that must be adhered to for the City to have a compliant Comprehensive Plan and supporting regulations.

Staff requested consensus to authorize the Mayor to sign two letters needed to apply for the grants. The motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the letter of commitment to apply for the Periodic Update grant and the Climate grant passed unanimously.

Council was presented with a Wildfire Incident Preparedness report prepared by the Spokane Valley Fire Department, Spokane County Fire District 8, and Spokane County Emergency Management. A wildland urban interface (WUI) is an area where homes are built near or among lands prone to wildland fires. Such an area is any developed place where conditions affecting the combustibility of vegetation, structures, or infrastructure (build fuels), allow for the ignition and spread of fire through the combined fuels.

The response to a wildfire emergency starts with a coordinated effort of emergency agencies such as emergency alerts, shelter set up, animal shelters and evacuation. Such items as unified command, identified evacuation levels, and incident management are critical. However, preparedness starts with each individual. Websites to visit for more information: DNR Wildfire Ready Neighbors, Spokane County Community resilience website, and Spokane County Preparedness folder guide.

City Finance Director, Chelsie Taylor, presented the 2025 Budget Estimated Revenue and Expense forecast. This is the second of eight occasions where Council will discuss items in the budget adoption process. State law requires the City to hold a public hearing on revenue sources and expenditures to gather and consider public input. That hearing is scheduled to take place at the September 17th Council meeting.

In summary, the 2025 recurring revenue estimate is $63,238,300 which is 1.17% greater than the 2024 budget. The recurring expenditure estimate of $63,236,092 is 6.35% more than the 2024 budget of $59,461,707. Estimated 2025 budgeted recurring revenues currently exceed recurring expenditures by $2,208. The number of full-time employee will decline to 116.25, a decrease of three employees. That reduction is accomplished by not funding three staff positions but adding a public safety manager.

The target date for Council’s adoption of the 2025 budget is November 12th, following the final public hearing.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

August 20,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council took place under the “Study Session” format. In the first item of business on the agenda, Council took up Resolution 24-012 which significantly amends its Governance Manual. 

City Council has the authority to establish its own rules of procedure, policies, and standards of conduct. Such policies and procedures are identified in its Governance Manual. As times, rules and procedures change, the manual is periodically updated. The proposed changes brought forward by the Governance Manual Committee address in part the following:
• Addition of policy that states that costs for social media archiving platform shall be deducted from each Councilmember’s individual annual budget.
• Addition of policies regarding posting false information to social media.
• Addition of new policies for conduct of meetings, i.e., all meetings, will begin with an invocation and flag salute and include two public comment sections.
• A revised section H to address electronic accounts use by Council members.
The motion to adopt Resolution 24-012 which encompasses these modifications passed unanimously.

In June 2023, Council elected to participate in a three-year interlocal agreement with the Spokane County CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Consortium. The City has been working with the County Housing and Community Development for periodic updates on the overall five-year plan required by federal law. The Housing Community Development Advisory Committee (HCDAC) serves as an advisory committee to the Board of County Commissioners. The City of Spokane Valley has four seats on that committee. Currently, one seat is vacant, and Mayor Haley is nominating Gloria Mantz, the City’s Services Administrator, to fill the vacancy. The motion to approve the appointment passed 6-1, (Merkel-no).

Council annually reviews its adopted goals and priorities for how it uses lodging tax revenues, encouraging the Lodging Tax Committee to consider those when making award recommendations. In summary, those goals and priorities are: 
1. To direct awards toward funding projects, activities, events, or festivals that will highlight Spokane Valley as a tourism destination. Lodging taxes will be used for purposes allowed by State law including:
a. Tourism marketing
b. Marketing and operation of special events and festivals
c. Operation and capital expenditures for tourism related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district
d. Operation of tourism related facilities owned or operated by non-profit organizations
2. Prioritize funding for destination marketing projects that promote the City as a tourist destination and for capital expenditures to develop tourism destination facilities or venues within Spokane Valley as a means of drawing additional visitors to the City. 
3. Priority consideration will be given to projects with a history of increasing overnight stays and shopping, dining, and overnight visit components in that category.
4. Council will take into consideration revenues received by applicants that were derived from other sources within Spokane Valley and other municipal entities and agencies such as any standing Tourism Promotion Authority and the Spokane Public Facilities District.
5. The City will now accept applications from applicants other than non-profit entities for tourism promotion projects.
Goals and Priorities for use of the Lodging Tax are set annually by Council. Those goals for 2025 are for funding to be in these award categories. 
a. Capital expenditures funding will be available up to $2,554,000
b. Tourism marketing and operations for special events and festivals will be up to $339,000 for 2025.

Priority is given to projects with the greatest tourism potential to produce overnight room lodging, shipping, and dining. In order to avoid partially funding projects Council will prioritize the awards by use of a priority ranking system to allocate available funds based on Council voting. The motion to approve Council goals and priorities for the use of lodging tax revenues passed 6-1 (Merkel, no).

Broadlinc (Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority) was established by the Board of County Commissioners in 2022 to promote the development of broadband infrastructure to underserved areas of the County. Currently the only eligible board member from cities is filled by Spokane. Discussion suggested that Spokane Valley request a seat since it qualifies. Consensus was reached to bring an administrative report at a future meeting detailing a proposed interlocal agreement with Broadlinc.

The Spokane Valley City Council was awarded $16 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery fund (CLFR); CLFR money must be used to cover the negative impacts of COVID-19. 

To determine eligibility the City had to identify a need or negative impact created by the pandemic and how the City’s use addressed that need. The expense had to have been incurred by the City between March 3, 2020, and December 31, 2021. An expense is considered incurred if it is obligated by December 31, 2024. All obligated funds must be spent by December 31, 2026.

Staff have identified $115,270 that is not going to be used in prior allocations. The recommendation is to reallocate that amount to the $1,860,705 already dedicated to Law Enforcement to bring the total that will be distributed to Law Enforcement to $1,976,976. Action on that item will be brought forward at a future Council meeting.

In 2016, during the annual budget meeting, staff communicated that increasing reliance on real estate excise taxes which the City uses for matching grant funds on pavement preservation projects (fund 311), would be decreasing to the point of limiting transportation construction projects that depend on grant funding and necessary for city transportation survival.

Proposed solutions to the funding deficit problem have been:
• A Transportation Benefit District sales tax (0.1%) which would generate an estimated $3.8 million.
• A  property tax increase employing past unused property taxes.
• A utility tax.

A Public Safety sales tax. This would be by a vote of the people and would be restricted to public safety. This would free up funds for pavement preservation.

Consensus was reached to find a funding solution before the problem reaches a point of irreversible damage.

In April of this year, the City received notice that it would receive a grant of $325,000 from the Department of Commerce to assist with updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of this periodic update is to ensure that the Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations are in compliance with state law relating to land use and planning. State law requires local jurisdictions to develop and adopt a new “Climate Element.” This new element includes sub-elements to address climate resilience and greenhouse gas emissions. A separate grant of up to $700,000 is available to cities whose periodic updates are due in 2025/26. Consensus was reached to authorize Mayor Haley to sign a letter of commitment to apply for the periodic Update Grant.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

August 13,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened in its formal format with an invocation by Pastor Brad Bruszer of the Genesis Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. There were no proclamations.

On June 20th, 2023, Council adopted Resolution 23-007, its six-year  Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Included in that plan was the Trent Avenue Access Control Safety Improvements Project for completion in 2024. In developing the Spokane Valley Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP), crash trends were identified along Trent Avenue (SR-290) and similar arterials, including T-bone and left-turn crashes related to driveway and side street access. 

This project includes left turn channelization for turning off and onto Trent at Dale Lane, McDonald Road, and Evergreen Road. The project is fully funded by a grant from the Highway Safety Improvement Program. The engineer’s estimate for the project cost was $264,482. The successful bidder for construction was Liberty Concrete with a bid of $264,290. The motion to award the bid to Liberty Concrete passed unanimously.

The second action item on Council’s agenda was awarding the bid for the Indiana Avenue Preservation Project, Phase 1, to Cameron Reilly, LLC. That project was also on the six-year TIP adopted in Resolution 23-007. The successful bid was $1,220,901 for the construction phase of the project. That bid was 11.7% less than the engineer’s estimate of the cost at $1,381,896. The project will reconstruct the roadway between Sullivan Road and the I-90 westbound off-ramp with concrete pavement. The motion to award the contract to Cameron Reilly, LLC passed unanimously. 

Recently, from June 23rd-25th, a delegation from Spokane region visited Whatcom County to learn how the County and surrounding cities have successfully worked together to pass a public safety sales tax ballot measure last year. City Manager John Hohman and Chamber President Lance Beck attended on behalf of Spokane Valley. The visit was intended to initiate discussions on public health, safety, and justice in the Spokane region. Ideas for collaboration, and cooperation of the several participants to pass the region’s own funding for public safety are under discussion.

In June 2023, Council elected to participate in a three-year interlocal agreement with the Spokane County CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Consortium. The City has been working with the County Housing and Community Development for periodic updates on the overall five-year plan required by federal law. Per the prior agreement with Spokane County, $780,596 was set aside for 2023. Although the plan is county-wide, the process for the City’s allocation from the finalized consolidated plan will determine how future City set asides will be prioritized and awarded.

The City has been a participant in four negotiations and payments from opioid manufacturers and vendors legal settlements. Thus far, the City has received $99,226 with a possible $333,889 yet to be received through 2038. A possible fifth settlement amount may be forthcoming from a remaining litigant (Purdue). This evening’s discussion focused on possible uses for those funds. Because the annual received amounts are rather small in meeting the overall needs of an opioid mitigation program, the discussion was directed toward a regional funding consolidation plan for a more effective use of the funds.

Council annually reviews its adopted goals and priorities for how it uses lodging tax revenues, encouraging the Lodging Tax Committee to consider those when making award recommendations. In summary, those goals and priorities are: 
1. To direct awards toward funding projects, activities, events, or festivals that will highlight Spokane Valley as a tourism destination. Lodging taxes will be used for purposes allowed by State law including:
   a. Tourism marketing
   b. Marketing and operation of special events and festivals
   c. Operation and capital expenditures for tourism related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district
   d. Operation of tourism related facilities owned or operated by non-profit organizations
2. Prioritize funding for destination marketing projects that promote the City as a tourist destination and for capital expenditures to develop tourism destination facilities or venues within Spokane Valley as a means of drawing additional visitors to the City. 
3. Priority consideration will be given to projects with a history of increasing overnight stays and the shopping, dining, and overnight visit components in that category.
4. Council will take into consideration revenues received by applicants that were derived from other sources within Spokane Valley and other municipal entities and agencies such as any standing Tourism Promotion Authority and the Spokane Public Facilities District.
5. The City will now accept applications from applicants other than non-profit entities for tourism promotion projects.

Goals and Priorities for use of the Lodging Tax are set annually by Council. Those goals for 2025 are for funding to be in these award categories. 
    a. Capital expenditures funding will be available up to $2,554,000
    b. Tourism marketing and operations for special events and festivals will be up to $339,000 for 2025.

Priority is given to projects with the greatest tourism potential to produce overnight room lodging, shipping, and dining. In order to avoid partially funding projects Council will prioritize the awards by use of a priority ranking system to allocate available funds based on Council voting. This process is scheduled to come before Council for a Motion Consideration on August 20th.

Spokane County’s Housing Community Development Advisory Committee (HCDAC) serves as an advisory committee to the board of County Commissioners. It reviews all of the funding proposals for housing, homeless, and community development administered by Spokane County including federal entitlement funds. Spokane Valley, based on population, is entitled to four representatives. Currently, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Councilman Ben Wick, and Tom Hormel (citizen representative), sit on the committee for the City. The fourth position is currently vacant. Mayor Haley intends to appoint Gloria Mantz, City Services Administrator, to the position. Consensus was reached to bring the appointment to a future meeting.

Council, during a past meeting, requested a presentation regarding “squatters’ rights.” A “squatter” is someone “who settles on property without any legal claim or title” as opposed to a “holdover tenant” who moves onto property with a legal right. Property owners are largely prohibited from self-help means to removing a squatter. Under Washington law, squatters may be removed through 1) legal action by the property owner, or 2) by law enforcement for trespassing. Option 1 (unlawful detainer process) requires the property owner to proceed through the court system to acquire a court order that law enforcement can enforce against the squatter. Option 2 (removal by law enforcement for trespass) enables a property owner to seek assistance from law enforcement to remove a person who enters their property without permission. The report was prompted by the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding homeless rights on public and private property.

City Council has the authority to establish its own rules of procedure, policies, and standards of conduct. Such policies and procedures are identified in its Governance Manual. As times, rules and procedures change, the manual is periodically updated. The proposed changes brought forward by the Governance Manual Committee address in part the following:

• Addition of policy that costs for social media archiving platform shall be deducted from each Councilmember’s individual annual budget.
• Addition of policies regarding posting false information to social media.
• Addition of new policies for conduct of meetings, i.e., all meetings, both formal and study sessions will begin with an invocation and flag salute.
• A revised section H to address electronic accounts use by Council members.

Council reached consensus to bring back the modifications for a motion consideration at a future meeting.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

July 30,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council commenced with three proclamations. The first recognized Community Health Centers, during National Health Center Week (August 4-10), that provide health care to medically underserved communities. CHAS is such a center celebrating its 30th year and 111,000 patients in the Spokane area.

The second proclamation designates August 7th as Purple Heart Day in recognition of the sacrifices of our men and women serving in the United States armed forcers in the defense of our freedom. The proclamation is integral with Spokane Valley becoming a “Purple Heart City.”
The National Night Out designation provides an opportunity for city neighbors to join with 38 million neighbors across the country in promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer. This annual event, National Night Out, is celebrated on Tuesday, August 6th. Please note: There will be no City Council meeting that evening.

The first action item of business was Ordinance 24-011. That ordinance addresses an application for a street vacation by Macpherson Holdings, LLC and CANUSA Land Holds Corp. who have requested vacation of a 60’ X 130’ segment of Hutchinson Road and a 40’ X 270’ segment of Riverside Avenue located north of Sprague Avenue and east of Argonne Road. The total requested area to be vacated is estimated to be 19,092 square feet. A public hearing before the Spokane Valley Planning Commission on June 13th resulted in a unanimous vote to recommend approval to Council. 

The applicant’s fee for the vacation is $41,124 based on the property value established by the County Assessor. The motion to approve Ordinance 24-011 passed unanimously.

The single action item was followed by seven non-action items (administrative reports), updating Council on activities of various entities receiving funds from the City, items of current interest, and potential grant opportunities. 

Item #1: A discussion on Lithium-Ion Batteries presented by the Spokane Valley Fire Department. With governmental emphasis on electric vehicles, safety concerns about lithium-ion batteries has gained national attention. Ken Johnson, Spokane Valley Fire Department Division Chief presented an overview of the dangers of electric vehicle fires for the environment and community. Causes of lithium battery fires can be battery damage (penetration), manufacturing defects (think Chinese made), overcharging, extreme heat, and faulty charging equipment among others. Environmental impacts can be toxic gases and particulate matter, water and soil contamination, and residual runoff from fire fighting chemicals. Suffice it to say, electric vehicle batteries present their own set of hazards. Users should take time to inform themselves of potential and current problems and programs available to avoid them.

Item #2: In May 2023, allocated a $1,095,078 federal grant to Family Promise for its School Based Housing Case Management program and for Direct client Assistance. Also included was $75,000 for paving at its Emergency Housing facility. As of this date, Family Promise has expended approximately $537,000 of its $1.1 million grant. Families served were projected to be 25. Actual families served are 52 covering 205 people. Lessons learned from this experience are that flexible funding attached to the family is more effective in meeting individual needs and that early identification and rapid intervention greatly reduces the need for shelter.

Item #3: In that same May 2023 federal funds allocation, the City awarded $1.46 million to Reclaim Project Recovery (Reclaim) for a) establishment of a home base, multi-purpose facility including a thrift store; b) operational start up funding; and c) acquisition of and improvement for a transitional/sober living facility. Reclaim has spent approximately $500,000 for its mission to provide a facility and base platform for men transitioning away from addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. Reclaim provides opportunities for life affirming activities and growth to strengthen emotional, spiritual, physical, and social lives. The partnership with the City has thus far proven to be mutually beneficial.

Item #4: In May 2022, Council allocated $4 million of its COVID federal money in support of Partners Inland Northwest (formerly Valley Partners) for acquisition of larger operational quarters. That agreement includes annual reports to Council on progress in meeting and serving the needs of community needs. Partners serves a variety of individual needs from food to personal supplies. Expanding services requires larger operating space which is where the funding is intended to go.

Item #5: ln May 2022, Council allocated $785,714 of its federal funds to support the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center’s (ICSVPAC) construction of its new Performing Arts building. In this evening’s update, principals from the Center explained the phases of fund raising and construction. A new general contractor has been retained who has initiated a rebid of subcontracts. The Theater will  seat 465, with all of the facilities normally associated with major stage productions. A grand opening of the facility is planned for fall of 2025.
Item #6:  Council annually reviews its adopted goals and priorities for how it uses lodging tax revenues, encouraging the Lodging Tax Committee to consider those when making award recommendations. In summary, those goals and priorities are: 

1. To direct awards toward funding projects, activities, events, or festivals that will highlight Spokane Valley as a tourism destination. Lodging taxes will be used for purposes allowed by State law including:
a. Tourism marketing
b. Marketing and operation of special events and festivals
c. Operation and capital expenditures for tourism related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or public facilities district
d. Operation of tourism related facilities owned or operated by non-profit organizations

2. Prioritize funding for destination marketing projects that promote the City as a tourist destination and for capital expenditures to develop tourism destination facilities or venues within Spokane Valley as a means of drawing additional visitors to the City. 

3. Priority consideration will be given to projects with a history of increasing overnight stays and the shopping, dining, and overnight visit components in that category.

4. Council will take into consideration revenues received by applicants that were derived from other sources within Spokane Valley and other municipal entities and agencies such as any standing Tourism Promotion Authority and the Spokane Public Facilities District.

5. The City will now accept applications from applicants other than non-profit entities for tourism promotion projects.
Goals and Priorities for use of the Lodging Tax are set annually by Council. Those goals for 2025 are for the funding to be in three award categories with set funding levels for each category. 
a. Capital expenditures funding will be available up to $2,554,000
b. Tourism marketing and operations for special events and festivals will be up to $178,000 for 2025.
c. Operations and marketing of tourism related facilities opened and operated by non-profit organizations or municipalities will be funded for up to $161,000 for 2025.
Priority is given to projects with the greatest tourism potential to produce overnight room lodging, shipping and dining. In order to avoid partially funding projects Council wishes to prioritize the awards by use of a priority ranking system which will allocate available funds based on Council voting.

Washington State’s Clean Building Law was passed in the State Legislature in 2022. The Department of Commerce has developed energy performance measuring categories designated as Tier 1: Buildings having a gross area between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet; and Tier 2: Buildings having a gross area exceeding 50,000 square feet. 

Compliance steps include processes for measuring and tracking energy use using at least 12 consecutive months of data per building. City buildings affected are CenterPlace (56,055 sq ft), City Hall (65,299 sq ft), and the Police Precinct (22,020 sq ft). Benchmark measurements for City Hall and CenterPlace have been completed. While City Hall meets the requirements, CenterPlace does not. An energy audit will be required to determine the most cost-effective measures to achieve the mandated standards. Such an audit is estimated to cost $40,000.

Consensus was reached to further develop the recommended energy retrofits and return to Council on August 13th with a motion consideration authorizing the City Manager to submit the recommended application to Department of Commerce.
In observance of National Night Out, there will be no City Council meeting next week, August 6th.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

July 23,  2024

 

 

The July 23rd Spokane Valley City Council opened its meeting in the Formal Format with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. There were no proclamations. The first item of business was to move Ordinance 24-011 to a second reading. That ordinance addresses an application for a street vacation by Macpherson Holdings, LLC and CANUSA Land Holds Corp. who have requested vacation of a 60’ X 130’ segment of Hutchinson Road and a 40’ X 270’ segment of Riverside Avenue located north of Sprague Avenue and east of Argonne Road. The total requested area to be vacated is estimated to be 19,092 square feet. A public hearing before the Spokane Valley Planning Commission on June 13th resulted in a unanimous vote to recommend approval to Council. 

The applicant’s fee for the vacation is $41,124 based on the property value established by the County Assessor. The motion to move Ordinance 24-011 to a second reading passed unanimously.

In the ongoing discussion of which solid waste transfer station the City intends to contract with, this evening’s meeting generated a vote on final disposition. 

The City executed a 10-year Solid Waste Disposal Contract with Sunshine Recycling and Disposal, Inc in 2014 to provide a transfer station for deposit and processing of diverse types of solid waste enroute to final disposition at a landfill. In keeping with the terms of the agreement, Sunshine built a transfer station to accommodate the City’s needs. 

That contract with Sunshine expires at the end of this year and must either be renewed or another transfer station vendor selected. In the meantime, Sunshine has determined that it will need to expand capacity at its current location to meet the anticipated growth of the City, the cost of which is included in its proposal for renewing the contract. 

Spokane County has also submitted a proposal to regain the City’s business. Prior to the City’s 2014 contract with Sunshine, Spokane Valley used the County transfer station at 3941 N. Sullivan Road. The County will also have to expand its receiving capacity to receive Valley solid waste.

Discussion at the last Council meeting centered on the fee differences and service fee collected for public education. It also covered the length of time for any new contract. The current contract with Sunshine allows for a three-year extension (Option 1). Or a new contract could be negotiated with an extension for as long as 20 years under “…terms substantially the same as the RFI (request for information) provided by Sunshine Disposal and Recycling” (Option 2). Option 3 provides for returning to the Spokane County program. 

A motion to negotiate a new contract with Sunshine Disposal and Recycling for a period of 10 years with a 10 year renewal passed 5-2 (Merkel, Wick--no).

Spokane Valley has been a member of the National League of Cities since its inception in 2003. Membership of NLC is mostly larger cities whose politics and ideas don’t always coincide with Spokane Valley’s. Over the five years from 2019-2023, the City has paid dues averaging $7,120 per year. The anticipated dues for 2024 are $9,988. Mr. Kirk Ross, West Regional Manager for NLC Member Services and Engagement presented an overview of what an NLC membership includes.

The City has acquired 1.35 acres of property at the intersection of Carnahan Road and 3rd Avenue for the possible addition of low-cost housing using funds received from the Federal Government to replace lost revenue from COVID. The Carnahan property is zoned corridor mixed use (CMU) which provides a wide range of potential development opportunities such as senior housing, youth housing, mental health and use treatment facilities among others. 

The City also collects a sales tax allowed by state legislation which is an offset against the State’s 6.5% portion of collectible sales tax to be used to further assist in funding low-cost housing and rental assistance. Discussion centered on how to compose a request for proposal to solicit what should be included in such an RFP.

The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States who are wounded in war at the hands of the enemy or posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action. Washington State has 30 cities, four counties and other entities, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts, designated as Purple Heart entities. The State VFW’s goal is to have every city participate in becoming a Purple Heart City.

Spokane Valley VFW Post 1435 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart has requested that the City:
1. Designate the City of Spokane Valley as a Purple Heart City via Proclamation.
2. Install one “Purple Heart City” sign at the new Veterans Memorial site at Balfour Park. The VFW will donate a 24”x30” sign.
3. Fly a Purple Heart flag at the City’s Veterans Memorial from August 6-8 in recognition of National Purple Heart Day on August 7th. 
Consensus was reached to bring the Proclamation for a motion consideration on July 30th.

Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) is a public development authority formed by Spokane County in 2018 to serve as the regional emergency service communications agency. It provides 911 and Crime Check emergency call response and dispatch to almost all agencies within the County. The agency is funded by 1) a voter-approved 0.01 sales tax, 2) a voter-approved excise tax ($0.70 for each landline, wireless, and VolP service line number, and 3) user fees from participating partner agencies.

Spokane Valley is not a direct member of SREC and thus does not have a service agreement with them. Even though the City isn’t a direct SREC member, it does pay through its Law Enforcement contract with the County. In 2023, the City paid $1,321,089. 

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

July 16,  2024

 


The Spokane Valley City Council met on Tuesday to act on, among other items of business, the Kroger opioid proposal to settle the legal actions brought against it by multiple jurisdictions in a class action suit. In opioid settlements (3) from various makers and distributors of opioids, the City has received $86,333.20 to date from those previous settlements. According to figures from the State Attorney General, the City is thus far projected to be paid an estimated $354,164 through 2038. That works out to a little over $25,000 per year to address a problem costing the City considerably more to address the damage done by opioids. 

Now, a new settlement with Kroger (Fred Meyer, Albertson’s, Safeway) will pay the City approximately $12,000 per year until about 2028 provided the City joins the settlement by August 12th. The motion to participate in the Kroger settlement passed unanimously.

In 2014, the City executed a 10-year Solid Waste Disposal Contract with Sunshine Recycling and Disposal, Inc. to provide a transfer station for deposit and processing of diverse types of solid waste enroute to final disposition at a landfill. In keeping with the terms of the agreement, Sunshine built a transfer station to accommodate the City’s needs. 

The contract with Sunshine expires at the end of this year and must be renewed or another transfer station vendor selected. In the meantime, Sunshine has determined that it will need to expand capacity at its current location, the cost of which is included in its proposal for renewing the contract. 

Spokane County has also submitted a proposal to regain the City’s business. Spokane Valley used the County transfer station at 3941 N. Sullivan Road prior to the 2014 agreement with Sunshine. The County will also have to expand its receiving capacity to receive Valley solid waste.

City staff and Council, after presentations from both Sunshine and the County, are currently analyzing the contracts proposed by both to determine the most advantageous for Valley citizens.

Macpherson Holdings, LLC and CANUSA Land Holds Corp. has requested vacation of a 60’ X 130’ segment of Hutchinson Road and a 40’ X 270’ segment of Riverside Avenue located north of Sprague Avenue and east of Argonne Road. The total requested area to be vacated is estimated to be 19,092 square feet. The June 13th public hearing before the Spokane Valley Planning Commission resulted in a unanimous vote to recommend approval to Council. 

The applicant’s fee for the vacation is $41,124 based on the property value established by the County Assessor. Consensus was reached to proceed with a first ordinance reading at the July 23rd Council meeting.

The City has maintained an Oversize Load Permit Fee ($84) since December 2021. Reviews associated with oversize loads are completed as a form of Right-of-Way Permit.

Reviews are usually conducted for route approval and require that any oversize loads on state highways have a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) permit. In addition to the normal road restriction evaluations, an assessment of structural engineering to check bridge loading capabilities is required for overweight loads. The costs of such evaluations are passed on to the applicant.

Consensus was reached to bring forward an amendment to Spokane Valley Code Text to codify and implement a formal Oversize Load Permit Process.

In the recent flurry of U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the Grants Pass v. Johnson challenged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent which held that the 8th Amendment in the Bill of Rights prevents enforcement of public property camping bans in jurisdictions not having enough available shelter beds for all homeless individuals. 

Central to the Supreme Court’s decision was that the 8th Amendment’s ban on “cruel and unusual punishment” applies to criminal behavior and does not extend to criminalizing being homeless, the Court held that the Oregon city’s anti-camping ordinance did not violate the 8th Amendment.

A variety of City codes apply to avenues of enforcement now available to the City to control the violations of public property laws heretofore unavailable under the Ninth Circuit’s “Boise” decision which took a position that was struck down by the Grant’s Pass decision. The entire issue is now under re-consideration. While conformance with laws already on the books may appear to be a workable solution, whether they can be effectively enforced remains to be seen. 

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

July 9,  2024

 


After taking the July 4th holiday off, the Spokane Valley City Council opened its July business with a motion consideration to apply for a Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) Grant.

On May 17th, 2024, TIB issued a Call for Projects for its Urban Arterial Program (UAP), the Active Transportation Program (ATP), and Complete Streets. The UAP has historically funded City street related projects. The ATP delivers multi-modal transportation projects for non-motorized users. The Complete Streets (CS) program is newly formatted in 2024. In the past, CS was a standalone call for projects with its own call for projects. However, this year applications will be consistent with other TIB programs. Agencies must have a complete streets ordinance to be eligible and funds must be applied towards projects that align with that agency’s complete streets ordinance.

TIB applications must be submitted by August 9th with awards announced November 22nd. After analysis of City needs, staff is proposing that applications be made in the following categories:

UAP: Argonne Concrete Reconstruction (Indiana to Knox), $4.5 million estimated cost, $3.05 million requested, City Match: $1.45 million.

ATP: Sullivan Sidewalk (8th-16th) & Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon near 12th, $700,000 estimated cost, $560,000 requested, City Match: $140,000.

CS: Barker Roundabout at 8th Ave., $3.2 million estimated cost, $2.56 million grant request, $640,000 City Match.

The motion to authorize the City Manager to apply for the proposed TIB Grants passed 6-1 (Merkel, no).

At its May 14, 2024 meeting, Council discussed and provided feedback on items of interest on its state legislative workplan including new issues that have surfaced.

Briahna Murray, the City’s State Legislative Lobbyist, in reviewing the Legislature’s actions that affecting the City suggested that even though the Legislature is overwhelmingly controlled by one party, progress in areas affecting law enforcement and taxation among others important to the City are still in play. The initiative process forced action on a prohibition of a state income tax, increased parental rights affecting K-12 education, and once again allowing officers to engage in vehicular pursuits.

The legislature did not act on another three initiatives that will now appear on the November ballot. Those are: I-2117, repealing the Climate Commitment Act, I-2109 repealing the capital gains tax, and I-2124, allowing individuals to opt out of the Washington long-term care retirement program. The City did receive a $150,000 appropriation for its Cross-Country Complex.

Potential funding requests include further funding for the City’s Cross Country/Cyclo Course at Flora Park and Transportation funding for the Sullivan/Trent and Barker/I-90 Interchanges. Policy issues Council intends to push for include Public Safety in the areas of habitual property theft offenders, fentanyl and opiate endangerment to children, and public defender caseloads and standards.

Other Public Safety issues include enhanced penalties for drug possession, increased funding for behavioral health, increased funding for resources needed to hire and train police officers, and attention to policies that reduce traffic fatalities.

Reduction in the costs of legislation requiring unfunded mandates such as the reduction of caseload requirements for public defenders and energy code requirements placed upon citizens that increase costs of home ownership. Other areas of assistance include capping sewer utility taxes imposed by neighboring municipalities, i.e. the sewer tax that the City of Spokane threatens to impose on County and Valley citizens for the sewer processing plant located in Spokane. This corresponds to a constant wish for the state to remove barriers to housing construction that negatively impact affordability. And, as always on the City wish list, is a plea for state legislators to get out of the management of city governments. 

In opioid settlements (3) from various makers and distributors of opioids, the City has received $86,333.20 to date. According to figures from the State Attorney General, the City is thus far projected to be paid an estimated $354,164 through 2038. That works out to a little over $25,000 per year to address a problem costing the City vastly more to address the damage done by opioids. Now, a new settlement with Kroger (Fred Meyer, Albertson’s, Safeway) will pay the City approximately $12,000 provided the City joins the settlement by August 12th. Consensus was reached to join the settlement. 

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

June 25,  2024

 


This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council commenced with a proclamation recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month. The agenda for this meeting was quite different from Council’s usual meetings in that there were no action items except the Consent Agenda which is the place where City bills are paid and minutes of past meetings are approved along with other administrative items.

Two discussion items, however, were on the Administrative Agenda section. The first was an administrative report on the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) which, as the name indicates, speaks to the City’s plan(s) for dealing with major emergencies. 

The City has agreements with Spokane County (SCEM) for its Emergency Management Services. Those services include administering and coordinating the region’s and City’s emergency management programs in the event of catastrophic events. Under state law, each political subdivision must establish or be a member of a joint local organization for emergency management and prepare and submit an emergency plan, including a communications plan. 

This discussion on COOP listed an alphabet of other agencies with which the City coordinates in fulfilling the intended purpose of COOP. Suffice it to say, the proposed COOP is intended to address a wide variety of emergencies. The interlocal agreement with SCEM identifies major storm events, wildfires, hazardous material spills, human-caused disaster, and pandemic or epidemic as the most likely events to cause a COOP incident in our region.

The succession part of the plan identifies essential services, chain of command for decision-makers or multiple staff members to ensure essential services leadership continuity. Training and rehearsals are other essential parts of the plan. The ultimate goal of COOP is to achieve a timely and orderly recovery from a COOP situation with resumption of full services to the city.

The second agenda discussion item was an administrative report on Restricted Revenues in the City Budget. The report provided an overview of the restricted revenue sources utilized by the City for capital project purposes. The process provides the context for each of the 2025 capital project budgets that will be developed over the summer.

A Restriction is a limit placed on the use of a revenue source. The restriction can be placed by an outside agency such as a grant source or by state or local law or by the city itself. Examples are contractual obligations, grant fund usage (for specific purposes), state or federal law as they apply to Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET). The City generally uses these specific funds for matches on grant funded street projects and for City funded preservation projects.

Stormwater Utility Fees have lately been misconstrued as usable for general purposes. That is not so. Those funds are collected by Spokane County as part of the property tax bill to be used for the development, maintenance, and control of storm drainage and surface water within the City. Aquifer Protection Area Fees are also dedicated specifically to uses for protecting the aquifer. Since all restricted funds are carefully scrutinized annually by state auditors, and the penalties for violation of their rules is severe, it is comforting to know that the City Finance Department guards the City’s interests very carefully.

Please note: There will be no Council meeting next week, July 2nd in observance of the Fourth of July holiday and City Hall will be closed on July 4th and 5th.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

June 25,  2024

 


This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council commenced with a proclamation recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month. The agenda for this meeting was quite different from Council’s usual meetings in that there were no action items except the Consent Agenda which is the place where City bills are paid and minutes of past meetings are approved along with other administrative items.

Two discussion items, however, were on the Administrative Agenda section. The first was an administrative report on the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) which, as the name indicates, speaks to the City’s plan(s) for dealing with major emergencies. 

The City has agreements with Spokane County (SCEM) for its Emergency Management Services. Those services include administering and coordinating the region’s and City’s emergency management programs in the event of catastrophic events. Under state law, each political subdivision must establish or be a member of a joint local organization for emergency management and prepare and submit an emergency plan, including a communications plan. 

This discussion on COOP listed an alphabet of other agencies with which the City coordinates in fulfilling the intended purpose of COOP. Suffice it to say, the proposed COOP is intended to address a wide variety of emergencies. The interlocal agreement with SCEM identifies major storm events, wildfires, hazardous material spills, human-caused disaster, and pandemic or epidemic as the most likely events to cause a COOP incident in our region.

The succession part of the plan identifies essential services, chain of command for decision-makers or multiple staff members to ensure essential services leadership continuity. Training and rehearsals are other essential parts of the plan. The ultimate goal of COOP is to achieve a timely and orderly recovery from a COOP situation with resumption of full services to the city.

The second agenda discussion item was an administrative report on Restricted Revenues in the City Budget. The report provided an overview of the restricted revenue sources utilized by the City for capital project purposes. The process provides the context for each of the 2025 capital project budgets that will be developed over the summer.

A Restriction is a limit placed on the use of a revenue source. The restriction can be placed by an outside agency such as a grant source or by state or local law or by the city itself. Examples are contractual obligations, grant fund usage (for specific purposes), state or federal law as they apply to Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET). The City generally uses these specific funds for matches on grant funded street projects and for City funded preservation projects.

Stormwater Utility Fees have lately been misconstrued as usable for general purposes. That is not so. Those funds are collected by Spokane County as part of the property tax bill to be used for the development, maintenance, and control of storm drainage and surface water within the City. Aquifer Protection Area Fees are also dedicated specifically to uses for protecting the aquifer. Since all restricted funds are carefully scrutinized annually by state auditors, and the penalties for violation of their rules is severe, it is comforting to know that the City Finance Department guards the City’s interests very carefully.

Please note: There will be no Council meeting next week, July 2nd in observance of the Fourth of July holiday and City Hall will be closed on July 4th and 5th.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

June 18,  2024

 


This Study Session of the Spokane Valley City Council opened with a public hearing on the City’s Draft 2025-2030 Six -Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is composed of transportation projects intended to be implemented in the next six years that address the transportation needs within the City.

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. The plan, once adopted, must be submitted to the Washington State Department of Transportation by June 30th of each year. 

This year’s Program includes all 2025 closeout projects, bridge and grade separation projects, intersection improvements projects, reconstruction/preservation projects, arterial preservation projects, and safety, sidewalk, trail, and stormwater projects.

The Public Hearing was immediately followed by action on Resolution 24-011 which is the enabling legislation on the 2025-2030 Six Year TIP. The motion to approve Resolution 24-011 passed 4-1 (Merkel-no; Wick and Hattenberg at AWC Convention).

The City, having received periodic requests for memorial signs for loved ones killed by vehicular crashes, has reviewed other municipalities actions on the subject. The result is presented in this proposed Spokane Valley Memorial Sign Program for the City. Under the plan, applicants would be able to request a memorial sign based on specified and verified criteria and would pay for the program’s administration, fabrication, and installation of each individual sign. A marker would be installed as close to the fatality as feasible with a limit on the number of signs in proximity to each other. After a ten-year period, the applicant would be able to keep the sign when it was removed. Initial estimates indicate that such a sign placement would cost $600 for the sign, placard, and installation. Costs are currently under review with Spokane County which develops sign proofs. Once pricing is established, it will be included in the Master Fee Schedule. The motion to approve the Memorial Sign Placement Program passed unanimously.

The Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) is a state agency that distributes and manages street construction and maintenance grants for Washington cities. Their funding comes from a three-cent statewide gas tax. On May 17th, 2024, TIB issued a Call for Projects for its Urban Arterial Program (UAP), the Active Transportation Program (ATP), and Complete Streets. The UAP has historically funded City street related projects. The ATP delivers multi-modal transportation projects for non-motorized users. The Complete Streets (CS) program is newly formatted in 2024. In the past, CS was a standalone call for projects with its own call for projects. However, this year applications will be consistent with other TIB programs. Agencies must have a complete streets ordinance to be eligible and funds must be applied towards projects that align with that agency’s complete streets ordinance.

TIB applications must be submitted by August 9th with awards announced November 22nd. After analysis of City needs, staff is proposing that applications be made in the following categories:
UAP: Argonne Concrete Reconstruction (Indiana to Knox), $4.5 million estimated cost, $3.05 million requested, City Match: $1.45 million.
ATP: Sullivan Sidewalk (8th-16th) & Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon near 12th, $700,000 estimated cost, $560,000 requested, City Match: $140,000.

CS: Barker Roundabout at 8th Ave., $3.2 million estimated cost, $2.56 million grant request, $640,000 City Match.
Council reached consensus to proceed with the grant applications.

In 2014, the City executed a 10-year Solid Waste Disposal Contract with Sunshine Recycling and Disposal, Inc. to provide a transfer station for deposit and processing of various types of solid waste enroute to final disposition at a landfill. The contract with Sunshine expires at the end of this year and must be renewed or another transfer station vendor selected. City staff is currently analyzing the contracts proposed by Sunshine and Spokane County to determine the most advantageous for Valley citizens. 

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

June 11,  2024

 

This report is a departure from the usual weekly synopsis of the Spokane Valley City Council meetings. Instead of the Council meeting that would have taken place on Tuesday evening, Council held a Budget Workshop to learn about the 2025 City Budget. Next year, 2025, is shaping up to be a financially trying one. 
 
Recurring Revenues from major sources such as sales tax and property tax are showing signs of leveling out or decreasing. Other included recurring revenue sources combine to project a total of $62,953,000, a $347,000 (0.55%) increase over 2024. 
 
On the Recurring Expenditure side of the ledger, Public Safety far and away is the largest number, increasing more than $2,500,000 largely to pay for wage increases and new hires at the Spokane County Sheriff’s office where we contract for our City police. Estimated recurring expenses for 2025 are $62,940,135, a $3,478,428 (5.85%) increase over 2024.
 
The proposed budget cuts from City street operations to reach the above numbers are:
 Eliminate the Street Maintenance Funding ($1,674,454)
 Reduce Winter Operations
• Sidewalk snow removal from $75,000 to $40,000
• Winter Snow Services from $735,000 to $425,000
Total reduction $2,019,454

The proposed budget cuts from other City operations are:

Parks and Recreation (swimming pools) $476,850
General Government
• Outside Agency Awards $200,000
• Parks Capital Projects $160,000
• Pavement Preservation $1,032,119
• Public Safety Equipment $473,722
Estimated saving and supplement $2,342,691

This picture is playing out against the backdrop of the six goals selected by City Council on May 21st.
1. Increase public safety response to ensure the safety of Spokane Valley citizens.
2. Prioritize infrastructure maintenance and preservation and advance strategic capital projects through grant awards.
3. Continue economic development efforts to maximize business growth and develop tourism destinations.
4. Maintain our strong financial position.
5. Utilize strategic partnerships to aggressively reduce and prevent Spokane Valley homelessness.
Expand homeownership opportunities so more local people own homes.
 
The strong financial standing of the City lends itself to enabling continuing operations with a minimum reduction in services. The current signs of economic slowdown in both state and national economics indicates that Spokane Valley may be more forward in its conservative view of the future. In the meantime, economy and restraint are the direction for 2025.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

June 4,  2024




This Study Session of the Spokane Valley City Council commenced with a proclamation commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day where 73,000 American soldiers saw action in the June 6th, 1944, landing in Normandy.

The proclamation was followed by action on the second reading of Ordinance 24-010. Since the adoption of the 2024 budget on November 23rd, 2023, events have transpired necessitating a 2024 Budget amendment. That amendment posts General Fund revenue increases of $8,448,797 and expenditure increases of $17,214,840. Major expenses such as the Cross-Country Course Project account for $4,400,000 of the expenditure increase. The Budget Amendment is memorialized in Ordinance 24-010. The motion to approve Ordinance 24-010 passed unanimously.

Spokane Transit Authority (STA) provides public transportation facilities and services to the citizens of Spokane Valley. As part of its annual adoption of its Capital Improvement Plan, STA coordinates with the City to maximize the synchronization of each other’s projects to reduce costs and inconvenience. The agreement provides the mechanism for either agency to include their improvements with the other party’s planned improvements and establishes a process for reimbursement of costs related to the completion of such improvements by each party. It’s anticipated that STA will use the agreement to construct and fund their transit improvements as part of the City’s capital improvement projects. The motion to finalize the Master Design and Construction Agreement between STA and the City passed 5-1 (Merkel-no, Wick excused).

On February 20th, 2024, Council received an administrative report on 2024 construction projects. Included in that report was the Broadway Avenue resurfacing Project from Fancher Road to Park Road. Phase 1 of that project, from Fancher to I-90 has been completed. Phase 2 will continue the preservation work from I-90 to Park Road including installation of ADA curb ramps and stormwater enhancement facilities. Spokane County Water District No. 3 plans to install a new water main inside that project and requested that their project be included in the City’s. In order for that to happen, an interlocal agreement must be executed between the parties. District 3 will pay for installation of the new main plus a portion of the construction management and material testing costs. The motion to finalize and execute the interlocal agreement for Phase 2 passed unanimously.

Once the interlocal agreement is approved and executed, construction can begin. Bids were solicited on the construction part of the project, with Halme Construction, Inc. submitting the lowest bid at $2,080,000. That bid was 5% below the engineer’s estimate of $2,189,710. The motion to award the Broadway at I-90 Preservation Project-Phase 2 to Halme Construction, Inc. passed unanimously.

As part of its ongoing emphasis on public safety and its commitment to hire 10 additional officers, the City through Chief Dave Ellis and staff has identified the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program (CHP) grant program as a possible augmentation to the direct expense of hiring those officers. If the grant is awarded in full, it would provide $125,000 per new officer spread over a three-year period (about $41,700 per year). There is a minimum local match of 25%. The City must retain each position hired under this grant for an additional 12 months following the end of the grant period. While the City doesn’t normally make ongoing commitments with non-recurring funds, in this circumstance, the funding and City needs align. The motion to apply for the COPS-CHP grant passed unanimously.

Lynn Kimball, Executive Director for Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington (ALTCEW) presented a review of the service data for Spokane Valley and provided information on the current services and resources available for the City’s senior residents. A complete display of all the services ALTCEW provides can be found at ALTCEW.ORG.

In the City’s continuing efforts to work toward implementation of the recommendations of the recent Matrix (a consultant) police staffing synopsis, it hosted five opportunities in April for citizens to learn more about “Right Sizing Police Services Community Outreach.” Opportunities to provide input through both paper and online surveys which were open for two months. More women than men participated; 92% of respondents live in the City; 34% work in the City; 641 responded. Nearly half of the respondents were born between 1950-1969 (55-74 years old). Most (87%) favored hiring some, but not all immediately, of the 31 positions recommended by Matrix.

For the question of how to fund the additional officers, a public safety sales tax was most agreeable, garnering 53% support. A utility tax was the least popular option at 61% unfavorable. Generally, Valley citizens feel rather safe in their residential neighborhoods (63%) but not so much in commercial/business areas (39%). Parks scored very low, only (28%) favorable. Daytime is a favorable time (59%) but drops to 21% at night.

Generally, the takeaways from the surveys were supportive of:
• More police officers
• Quicker response times
• More property and drug investigations
• Reduced reckless/impaired driving
• Consideration of a public safety sales tax measure to fund additional police officers.

The Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) was formed in 2018 to serve as the regional emergency service communications agency. SREC provides a variety of services focusing primarily on providing 911 and Crime Check call response and dispatch to almost all agencies within Spokane County. Lately there has been confusion on whether the City of Spokane and its police and fire departments are going to participate or go their separate ways. The uncertainty appears to rest on representation on the governing board.

Special Note: There will not be a Council meeting next week, June 11. Instead, there will be a 2025 Budget Workshop in Council Chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The public is invited.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

May 28,  2024




This Formal Session of the Spokane Valley City Council opened with action on Resolution 24-010. The school zone along Bowdish Road between 10th and 12th Avenues is being modified to accommodate the installation of sidewalks along Bowdish from 8th to 22nd Avenues. Those modifications also include a relocation of a crosswalk between 11th and 12th Avenues. That zone hasn’t been adjusted since its inception in 2010. The resolution to update the City’s Master Speed Limit Schedule to embrace recent modifications to the School Zone will correct that situation. The move to approve Resolution #24-010 adopting the updated Master Speed Limit Schedule passed unanimously.

On July 25th, 2023, Council approved Resolution 23-009 which declared its intention to assume responsibility for and establishment of a homeless housing program within Spokane Valley. The resolution further authorized the City to assume administration of recording fees related to housing and homeless services. In doing so, the City complied with the state and county requirements for forming a homeless task force triggering the necessary five-year plan to put the program in place. 

In March of this year, as part of that plan, a request for proposals was solicited through the normal outreach channels for a provider of qualified staff to ride along with Spokane Valley Police Officers to offer case management for homeless individuals when encountered in policing situations. Responses were received from Frontier Behavioral Health (Frontier) and the Salvation Army. Staff has recommended selection of Frontier with a 12-month contract running from July 2024 through June 2025 at a cost of $200,419. The motion to approve the recommendation to award the Outreach Services contract to Frontier Behavioral Health Services passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).

The City has received periodic requests for memorial signs for loved ones killed by vehicular crashes. A staff review of other municipalities has resulted in a proposed Memorial Sign Program for the City. Under the plan, applicants would be able to request a memorial sign based on specified and verified criteria and would pay for the program’s administration, fabrication, and installation of each individual sign. If approved, a marker would be installed as close to the fatality as feasible with a limit on the number of signs in proximity to each other. After a two-year period, the applicant would be able to keep the sign when it was removed. Initial estimates indicate that a such a sign placement would cost $600 for the sign, placard, and installation. Consensus was reached to bring a Memorial Sign Policy forward for action.

Spokane Transit Authority (STA) provides public transportation facilities and services to the citizens of Spokane Valley. As part of its annual adoption of its Capital Improvement Plan, STA coordinates with the City to maximize the synchronization of each other’s projects to reduce costs and inconvenience. The agreement provides the mechanism for either agency to include their improvements with the other party’s planned improvements and establishes a process for reimbursement of costs related to the completion of such improvements by each party. It’s anticipated that STA will use the agreement to construct and fund their transit improvements as part of the City’s capital improvement projects. Consensus was reached to bring the Master Design and Construction Agreement to a future Council meeting.

Governmental Accounting is controlled by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting System (BARS). These are the common standards and procedures used to record and report accounting information and to compile the City financial statements. They are the standards under which the City is audited but which also require Fund Accounting for governmental entities. Fund accounting is a set of self-balancing accounts that represent the building blocks of governmental accounting. Each fund covers a separate revenue source and allowable expenditures. The City has 29 such funds. Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting are directed by the BARS Manual in accordance with state law. 

This second of two reports on City financial reporting was presented to explain the City’s major revenues, recurring vs. nonrecurring activity, fund balances, reserve funds, and the City’s outstanding debt.

The City’s primary revenues come from: Sales taxes which tax provides 54% of the General Fund revenue; Property Taxes, Service Charges (Permitting, Parks and Recreation/Center Place), Fuel Taxes, Utility Tax (Telephone), Real Estate Excise Taxes, Lodging Taxes and Tourism Promotion Area Fees.
Of the 8.9% sales tax collected, 6.5% goes to the State of Washington and only 0.85% is allocated to Spokane Valley. Spokane County gets 0.15%, STA 0.80%, while Public Facilities District, Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Juvenile Jail, Mental Health, Law Enforcement Communication each get 0.10%.
Property Taxes are the second largest City revenue source, accounting for 22% of General Fund Revenues. When you next receive a property tax statement, notice that of the total amount, only 8% goes to the City. Other participants in that bill are Spokane County (8%), Valley Fire District (26%), County Library District (4%), State Schools (23%), and Central Valley School District (31%).*West and East Valley School Districts will be different but close.
Recurring revenues are money expected to be received annually or at regular intervals; Nonrecurring revenues are one-time or short duration funds. The two categories are separated to differentiate sources for budget and accounting tracking. Reserve Funds are funds set aside for future planned large costs or in consideration of emergencies, economic downturns, or other unforeseen events causing fiscal hardship.

The City uses a “pay as you go” philosophy as it strives to minimize debt. At the end of 2023, there was $9,085,000 of outstanding debt. That was divided between CenterPlace ($3,040,000) and City Hall ($6,045,000). Otherwise, debt has been kept low in part by using Capital Fund Reserve Fund Revenue (derived from budget savings) to fund large one-time capital projects.

The Budget has eight touches beginning in April and May with each department preparing its separate budget in time for the Budget Workshop on June 11th. The first public hearing follows in September. On October 1st, the City Manager presents the Budget, at least 60 days before the next fiscal year (January 1).

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

May 21,  2024




This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened with a Public Hearing on the 2024 Budget Amendment presented at the May 7th meeting. Since the adoption of the 2024 budget on November 23rd, 2023, a number of events have transpired necessitating a 2024 Budget amendment. Those amendments reflect General Fund revenue increases of $8,448,797 and expenditure increases of $17,214,840. Major expenses such as the Cross-Country Course Project account for $4,400,000 of the expenditure increase. The Budget Amendment is memorialized in Ordinance 24-010.

The public hearing was followed by action on Ordinance 24-010. The motion to move Ordinance 24-010 to a second reading passed unanimously.
In a street vacation action, Daniel Bruzas, representing James Boone, LLC. is requesting vacation of the south 60’ X 80’ of Girard Road, and the south 60’ X 95’ of Lily Road lying north of I-90 and south of Boone Avenue. The total requested area is 10,502 square feet. The Public Works Department has no concerns with the application and the fire department had only minor comments which were addressed. On March 28th, the Planning commission conducted a public hearing after which they voted unanimously to recommend that Council act favorably on the vacation. 

This action, contained in Ordinance #24-009, requires the requesting parties to pay $1,092.00 for the vacated property. The compensated value is arrived at by a standardized formula for calculating such transactions. The motion to approve Ordinance #24-009 passed unanimously.

The Federal Highways Administration has $45 million available for its Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP). Applications are due June 17th. Awarded funds must be obligated by September 30, 2026. Staff proposed that application be made for a project connecting Floria Road Trail with the Appleway Trail and Centennial Trail and Flora Park. This would include bridges over Interstate 90 and the Spokane River. The estimated total would be $2 million. One Councilmember was not present resulting in a tied vote, so the issue died at that meeting. It was resurrected at this meeting with the full Council present, however, the motion to approve failed 2-5 (Padden, Higgins, Haley, Hattenberg and Yeager-no).

On February 13 and April 9th, Council conducted strategic planning sessions to develop 1) Priorities for the 2024 Budget Goals, and 2) Priority goals for 2025/26. Using the two-year window for goals looking forward to 2026, these goals will be incorporated into the 2025 Budget development process. A later goal related to transportation was added bringing the list to these six priorities:

1. Increase public safety response to ensure everyone feels safe in our City.
2. Continue to ensure City roads are maintained and improved.
3. Expand homeownership opportunities so more local people own homes.
4. Continue economic development efforts to maximize business growth and improve the City’s efforts to promote itself as a tourist destination.
5. Maintain our strong financial position.
6. Utilize strategic partnerships to aggressively reduce and prevent homelessness.

No further action was taken.

The school zone along Bowdish Road between 10th and 12th Avenues will have to be modified to accommodate the installation of sidewalks along Bowdish from 8th to 22nd Avenues. That zone hasn’t been adjusted since its inception in 2010. Staff sought consensus to return with a resolution to update the City’s Master Speed Limit Schedule to include recent modifications to the School Zone. Consensus was unanimous.

On July 25th, 2003, Council approved Resolution 23-009, which declared its intention to assume responsibility for and establishment of a homeless housing program within Spokane Valley. The resolution further authorized the City to take over administration of recording fees related to housing and homeless services. The City has complied with the state and county requirements for forming a homeless task force and the necessary five-year plans to enable action. 

A request for proposals was solicited through the normal outreach channels in March of this year for a provider of qualified staff to ride along with Spokane Valley Police Officers to provide case management for homeless individuals when encountered in policing situations. Responses were received from Frontier Behavioral Health (Frontier) and the Salvation Army. Staff has recommended selection of Frontier with a 12-month contract running from July 2024 through June 2025 at a cost of $200,419. Consensus was reached to bring the item forward for action on May 28, 2024.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

May 14,  2024



The Spokane Valley City Council met in its Formal Meeting format. It conducts its formal meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays, and study sessions on the odd numbered Tuesdays. The meeting opened with action on setting a public hearing date for the Spokane Valley Planning Commission to consider a street vacation application. 

Macpherson Holdings, LLC and CANUSA Land Holds Corp. has requested vacation of a 60’ X 130’ segment of Hutchinson Road and a 40’ X 270’ segment of Riverside Avenue located north of Sprague Avenue and east of Argonne Road. The total requested area to be vacated is estimated to be 19,092 square feet. The motion to approve Resolution No. 24-008 setting June 13th as the date for a public hearing on the vacation before the Planning Commission was approved unanimously.

In a separate street vacation action, Daniel Bruzas, representing James Boone, LLC. is requesting vacation of the south 60’ X 80’ of Girard Road, and the south 60’ X 95’ of Lily Road lying north of I-90 and south of Boone Avenue. The total requested area is 10,502 square feet. The Public Works Department has no concerns with the application and the fire department had only minor comments. On March 28th, the Planning commission conducted a public hearing, after which they voted unanimously to recommend that Council act favorably on the vacation. 

This action, contained in Ordinance #24-009, if approved, will result in the requesting parties paying $1,092.00 for the vacated property. The compensated value is arrived at by a standardized formula for calculating such transactions. The motion to move Ordinance #24-009 to a second reading passed unanimously.

In March 2024, 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 $23.2 million, and $25.6 million in the SRTS program. No City match is required. Weighted evaluation scores safety (40%), Equity (25%), Mobility (10%), Deliverability (10%), value (10%), and geographic diversity (5%). Recommendations must be submitted by May 31st for PBP and June 7th for SRTS; funds will be available June 2025 in the state biennium budget. Staff has developed a chart with two recommended funding requests:

SRTS: Arterial School Crossing Upgrades
1. 32nd Ave. & S Pines Rd.; Project cost: $1,000,000; Applied for: $1,000,000.
2. Sullivan Sidewalk Infill (8th Ave. to 16th Ave.) Project cost: $700,000; Applied for: $700,000.
3. 4th Ave. Sidewalk Infill (Long Rd. to Barker Rd.) Project cost: $1,300,000; Applied for: $1,300,000.

PBP: Arterial Crossing upgrades
1. Mansfield Ave, Perrine Rd., Trillium apartments, and Appleway at Greenacres Rd.; Project cost: $400,000; Applied for: $400,000.
2. Barker Roundabout at 8th Ave.; Project cost: $3,800,000; Applied for: $3,200,000.*
* This project is the only one requiring a local match. That match is $600,000. 
The motion to authorize the City to apply for the above grants passed unanimously.

Briahna Murray, the City’s State Legislative Lobbyist, reviewed the Legislature’s actions that pertained to the City. Even though the Legislature is overwhelmingly controlled by one party, noteworthy progress was made in areas affecting law enforcement and taxation. The initiative process forced action on a prohibition of a state income tax, increasing parental rights affecting K-12 education, and once again allowing officers to engage in vehicular pursuits.

The legislature did not act on another three initiatives that will now appear on the November ballot. Those are: I-2117, repealing the Climate Commitment Act, I-2109 repealing the capital gains tax, and I-2124, allowing individuals to opt out of the Washington long-term care retirement program. The City did receive a $150,000 appropriation for its Cross-Country Complex.

The City is required by state law to prepare and hold a public hearing on a comprehensive transportation program for the ensuing six calendar years. The plan must be submitted to the Washington State Department of Transportation by June 30th of each year. The City has identified 39 projects in the ensuing 6 years. The first seven are:

1. Pines Rd/Mission Ave Intersection Improvement, including signal and channelization. Upgrades to improve capacity and an additional turn lane on southbound Pines.

2. Broadway Preservation-Fancher to Park. This is a two-year phased pavement preservation project with a concrete intersection upgrade at Park Rd. 

3. Trent Avenue Access Control Improvements, including median installations near Dale, McDonald, and Evergreen Roads.

4. South Bowdish Improvements (12th to 22nd). Install new sidewalk on the east side, including crosswalk, signage, and ADA ramp improvements. 

5. Citywide Retroreflective Signal Backplates. An ongoing project to install reflective backplates at selected signals.

6. Sprague Stormwater & Multi-Modal Improvements. Phased stormwater improvements between University & Park Roads. Signalized crossing improvements at City Hall and other locations as warranted.

7. 16th Avenue Preservation (Evergreen to Adams). Normal roadway preservation.
These are projects that will be undertaken within the next year. 

An administrative report, the first of two, is in preparation for the June 11th Budget Workshop. Together, they will present an overview of city budgeting and finance process. This first report covers the basics of Governmental Accounting and Governmental Budgeting. Part two, on May 28th, will discuss revenues, reserve funds, and fund balances.

Governmental Accounting is controlled by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting System (BARS). These are the common standards and procedures used to record and report accounting information and to compile the City financial statements. They are the standards under which the City is audited but which also require Fund Accounting for governmental entities. Fund accounting is a set of self-balancing accounts that represent the building blocks of governmental accounting. Each fund covers a separate revenue source and allowable expenditures. The City has 29 such funds.

Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting are directed by the BARS Manual in accordance with state law. The Budget has eight touches beginning in April and May with each department preparing its separate budget in time for the Budget Workshop on June 11th. The first public hearing follows in September. On October 1st, the City Manager presents the Budget, at least 60 days before the next fiscal year (January 1). 
On October 8th, the second public hearing is conducted. The first reading of the Budget Ordinance will be on October 22nd, followed by the final public hearing and Council’s second reading (adoption) on November 12th. 

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

May 7,  2024

 


In case you hadn’t noticed, Spokane Valley City Council holds ‘Study Sessions’ on odd numbered weeks and ‘Formal Format’ meetings on even numbered weeks. Study Sessions are more informal meetings designed to promote discussion and introduction of new items of business that will be action items on future Council agendas. Formal meetings open with a prayer and pledge of allegiance in keeping with the more formal conduct of the meeting. Study Sessions dispense with the formality and proceed with the agenda. 

This evening’s agenda opened with the Second Reading of Ordinance 24-007. Each year amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan are proposed for addition to the Comprehensive Plan Docket. Two such amendments were proposed for 2024, both by the City, and both were map amendments. Only one advanced to further action. That one is for property owned by Spokane Conservation District located at 4418 East 8th Avenue and would change 44 acres from Multi-Family Residential (MFR) to Mixed Use. An additional piece would change 5.2 acres from MFR to Single-Family residential (SFR). The motion to adopt Ordinance 24-007 passed unanimously.

Concurrent with Ordinance 24-007 is Ordinance 24-008 which identifies the findings the Planning Commission and Council, consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan goals and Policies. The State’s Growth Management Act and City Code enables the City to amend its Official Zoning Map to accommodate the changes made by the adoption of Ordinance 24-007. The motion to approve Ordinance 24-008 passed unanimously.

On September 20th, 2022, Spokane Valley City Council established the Spokane Valley Tourism Promotion Area (TPA). Pursuant to the TPA, the Spokane Valley Hotel Commission (Commission) was formed. The Commission hired 116 & West as their marketing consultant. Spokane Sports, by request from the Commission, submitted a proposal to work with 116 & West to round out the package to brand the City as a “host city” for future sports events. That relationship continues through 2024 with the cost for 2024 increasing to $400,000 from 2023’s $300,000. 

At the request of the TPA Commission, 116 & West brought forward a proposal to expand the current marketing contract with additional paid media campaigns and social media initiatives. The Commission recommended that Council authorize a $466,000 contract amendment with 116 & West to provide additional tourism marketing services through December 2024. The motion to authorize and approve the contract amendment with 116 & West for additional marketing through December 2024 passed unanimously.

The Sprague Avenue Stormwater and Multi-Modal Improvements project is located on Sprague Avenue between University Road and Herald Road. This project will replace portions of the outside travel lanes with biofiltration swales, add a pedestrian crossing between City Hall and the Valley Library and improved bus stop on the north side of Sprague, upgrade sidewalk and curb ramps, provide a bike lane, update the left-turn signal timing at the Sprague/University intersection, and provide a grind/inlay of the asphalt pavement along the section.

The scope of the project has been expanded to include improvements called for since the project’s inception in 2022. Additionally, there has been claims made that the City is incurring the entire project cost. In fact, of the total $4,584,500 cost, the City will be putting up $2,199,204 (48%). Also not considered is the Department of Ecology’s increasing requirements for stormwater management. 

In 2022, when this issue was first addressed, it was made clear that DOE’s regulations were going to be progressively stringent. A Council determination was made then that it was advantageous to not be put in a position of retrofitting our stormwater system at a substantially greater cost. The motion to award the Sprague Avenue Stormwater Project construction contract to Halme Construction, Inc. in the amount of $3,000,000 passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).
In recognizing the ongoing opioid and substance abuse crisis in Spokane County, Council had passed legislation to participate in the opioid settlements with the various pharmaceutical companies together with adopting legislative agendas in support of abatement programs at the state and federal levels.

Marsha Malsam, CEO of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation presented a program on the activities of that Foundation that work in concert with City efforts to educate and prevent further opioid abuse and addiction. Those activities include the “Addiction Help Finder” website which the City links to its website, Narcan training at local schools, businesses, and other like agencies. The City plans to coordinate with the Foundation on future efforts.

In March 2024, 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 $23.2 million, and $25.6 million in the SRTS program. No City match is required. Weighted evaluation scores safety (40%), Equity (25%), Mobility (10%), Deliverability (10%), value (10%), and geographic diversity (5%). Recommendations must be submitted by May 31st for PBP and June 7th for SRTS; funds will be June 2025 in the state biennium budget. Staff has developed a chart with two recommended funding requests:

SRTS:
• Arterial School Crossing Upgrades at 32nd Ave. & S Pines Rd.; Broadway Ave. near University High School, Chester Elementary School, Horizon Middle • • School, Broadway Elementary School, Summit School, and Progress Elementary School.
• Sullivan Sidewalk Infill (8th Ave. to 16th Ave.) with a potential crossing near 12th Ave.
• 4th Ave. Sidewalk Infill (Long Rd. to Barker Rd.)

PBP:
• Arterial Crossings at Mansfield Ave, Perrine Rd., and Trillium apartments, and Appleway at Greenacres Rd.
• Barker Roundabout at 8th Ave.

Consensus was reached to further develop the recommended project list and return to Council on May 14th for authority to submit the recommended application to WSDOT.

The Federal Highways Administration has $45 million available for its Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP). Applications are due June 17th. Awarded funds must be obligated by September 30, 2026. The same rating criteria as the grant above applies to this grant opportunity. Staff proposes that application be made for a project connecting Floria Road Trail with the Appleway Trail and Centennial Trail and Flora Park. This would include bridges over Interstate 90 and the Spokane River. The estimated total would be $2 million. Consensus was not reached, so the issue died.

Daniel Bruzas, representing James Boone, LLC. is requesting vacation of the south 60’ X 80’ of Girard Road, and the south 60’ X 95’ of Lily Road lying north of I-90 and south of Boone Avenue. The total requested area is 10,502 square feet. The Public Works Department had no concerns with the application and the fire department had only minor comments. On March 28th, the Planning commission conducted a public hearing, after which they voted unanimously to recommend that Council act favorably on the vacation. Council reached consensus to move the vacation (STV-2024-001) to a first reading.

In a second street vacation application, Macpherson Holdings, LLC and CANUSA Land Holds Corp. has requested vacation of a 60’ X 130’ segment of Hutchinson Road and a 40’ X 270’ segment of Riverside Avenue located north of Sprague Avenue and east of Argonne Road. The total requested area to be vacated is estimated to be 19,092 square feet. Council reached consensus to schedule Resolution No. 24-008 on its May 14th consent agenda setting the date for a public hearing before the Planning Commission.

Since the adoption of the 2024 budget on November 23rd, 2023, a number of events have transpired necessitating a 2024 Budget amendment. Those amendments reflect General Fund revenue increases of $12,846,629 and expenditure increases of $21,612,672. Major expenses such as the Cross-Country Course Project account for $4,400,000 of the increase. Consensus was reached to place a May 21st public hearing on the Budget Amendment. 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

April 30,  2024

 

 

After a grueling meeting on April 23rd, Council returned to another long agenda on Tuesday’s meeting. That Study Session commenced with a proclamation recognizing Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The first item of business was moving Ordinance 24-007 to a second reading. Each year amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan are proposed for addition to the Comprehensive Plan Docket. Two such amendments were proposed for 2024, both by the City, and both were map amendments. The first is for property owned by Spokane Conservation District located at 4418 East 8th Avenue and would change 44 acres from Multi-Family Residential (MFR) to Mixed Use. An additional piece would change 5.2 acres from MFR to Single-Family residential (SFR). 

The second proposed plan amendment would have changed 0.83 acres owned by Family Promise of Spokane at 17103 E. Main Avenue from SFR to Corridor Mixed Use. However, that amendment was withdrawn. The Planning Commission held study sessions on the proposed amendments and recommended passage of the first amendment but denied the second, and it was withdrawn. The motion to move Ordinance 24-007 to a second reading passed unanimously.

Concurrent with Ordinance 24-007 is Ordinance 24-008 which identifies the findings the Planning Commission and Council consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies, the State’s Growth Management Act, and City Code and enables the City to amend its Official Zoning Map. The motion to approve Ordinance 24-008 passed unanimously.

Also at its last meeting, Council approved moving Ordinance 24-005 to a first reading. The addition of Chapter 5 of the Governance Manual provides the City’s Hearing Examiner (Examiner) with authority to preside over hearings contesting an investigator’s findings and conclusions of misconduct pertaining to Council members. Traditionally, the Examiner only heard matters concerning land use issues. The inclusion of Chapter 5 necessitates additional rules to set the rules and procedures for the Examiner to perform his new assignment in determining decisions whether Councilmembers engaged in misconduct. The addition of Chapter 5 to the Governance Manual requires that the City’s Municipal Code be amended to accommodate the adopted changes. The motion to adopt Ordinance 24-005 passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).

At its March 5th, 2024, meeting, Council reached consensus to apply for two Washington State Recreation & Conservation office (RCO) grants to advance Phase 2 of Balfour Park. RCO operates on a two-year granting cycle timeline, meaning that if funds were awarded this year, they would not be available until 2025 and would have to be used by the end of 2026. With available City matching funds, it could apply for up to $2.5 million for completion of Phase 2 of Balfour Park. The motion to approve Resolution 24-009 authorizing the application for two grants from RCO for Balfour Park Phase 2 passed unanimously.

The City has joined in participating in Settlements I & II of opioid settlements with pharmaceutical companies from litigation stemming from overprescription of opioids. In addition, after the first two settlements, a third settlement has been reached with Johnson & Johnson. In order for the City to participate in that settlement, it’s necessary to take action to join the suit. The motion to participate in the settlement of the Johnson & Johnson Opioid Settlement passed unanimously.

In the City’s Tourism Strategy efforts, the cross-country complex that has been identified is moving forward. Engineering and planning for design of the course and facilities are proceeding using the Design Build (PBD) process. That process provides for both the design and construction to be done by a single qualified entity. Staff has determined, through its selection process, to award the contract to Walker Construction and SPVV Landscape Architecture to further define the scope of work prior to construction commencement to eliminate or minimize obstacles.

Staff presented an explanation of the construction phase of a City project. The presentation covered performance measures and quality control checkpoints during construction, including project documentation, project inspection, and project closeout. The motion to award the Progressive Design Build project to Walker Construction and SPVV Landscape Architecture for a total not to exceed $3.2 million passed unanimously.

In its February 20th, 2024, presentation of the City’s 6-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) staff outlined the Bowdish Road Sidewalk and Bike Lane Project. That project will construct a sidewalk on the east side of Bowdish Road from 12th to 22nd Avenues, add a bike lane from 16th to 23rd Avenues, install a roundabout at the intersection of Bowdish and 16th Avenues, add stormwater structures with treatment, replace existing failing stormwater structures, and resurface the roadway with the project limits. The total budget is $4,122,265. The construction costs are $3,024,665. The Engineer’s estimate for construction was $3,559,362; the lowest responsible bidder was Liberty Concrete LLC with a bid of $3,046,112.70. Six bids were received. The motion to award the Bowdish Road Sidewalk and Bike Lane Project contract to Liberty Concrete LLC in the amount of $3,046,112.70 passed unanimously.

The U.S. Constitution guarantees ...”the poor not just an appointment of counsel, but also effective assistance of counsel.” The Washington State Supreme Court has adopted enforceable standards for the provision of indigent defense such as: An attorney representing misdemeanor defendants may not take more than 400 cases per 12-month period. This translates into a substantial increase in legal costs to the City under its contract with the County in its Public Safety agreement for services.

The new requirement will not only add attorneys (up to 23 more) but will include ‘Misdemeanor Investigators’ (an additional 12.5 more), and a new category; Mitigation Specialist, (14 more). That will necessitate 8.5 more Misdemeanor Paralegals. The estimated cost is somewhere between $2,743,388 and $3,664,793 to the City. And this doesn’t include the additional costs of housing all those people at the County Courthouse. Council reached consensus to join the efforts of the Association of Washington Cities to try to reign in these expenses.

On September 20th, 2022, Spokane Valley City Council established the Spokane Valley Tourism Promotion Area (TPA). Pursuant to the TPA, the Spokane Valley Hotel Commission (Commission) was formed. The Commission hired 116 & West as their marketing consultant. Spokane Sports, by request from the Commission, submitted a proposal to work with 116 & West to round out the package to brand the City as a “host city” for future sports events. That relationship continues through 2024 with the cost for 2024 increasing to $400,000 from 2023’s $300,000. 

At the request of the TPA Commission, 116 & West brought forward a proposal to expand the current marketing contract with additional paid media campaigns and social media initiatives. The Commission recommended that Council authorize a $466,000 contract amendment with 116 & West to provide additional tourism marketing services through December 2024. Council reached consensus to bring a motion to authorize the addition.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

April 23,  2024

 

 

The Spokane Valley City Council convened to address three action items and hear administrative reports on six more. The first business item was an expansion of the City’s municipal code, Ordinance 24-005. The recent passage of Chapter 5 of the Governance Manual provides the City’s Hearing Examiner (Examiner) with authority to preside over hearings contesting an investigator’s findings and conclusions of misconduct. Traditionally, the Examiner only heard matters concerning land use issues. The inclusion of Chapter 5 necessitates additional rules to set the rules and procedures for the Examiner to perform his new assignment in determining decisions whether Councilmembers engaged in misconduct. The motion to move Ordinance 24-005 to a second reading passed 6-1 (Merkel, no).

The Clean Building Law was passed in the State Legislature in 2022. The Department of Commerce has developed energy performance standards for non-residential buildings. For performance measuring purposes, the categories have been designated as Tier 1: Buildings having a gross area between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet; and Tier 2: Buildings having a gross area exceeding 50,000 square feet. 

Compliance steps include processes for measuring and tracking energy use using at least 12 consecutive months of data per building. Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings must establish and implement an operation and maintenance program 12 months prior to the compliance date.

City buildings affected are CenterPlace (56,055 sq ft), City Hall (65,299 sq ft), and the Police Precinct (22,020 sq ft). Benchmark measurements for City Hall and CenterPlace have been completed. While City Hall meets the requirements, CenterPlace does not. An energy audit will be required to determine the most cost-effective measures to achieve the mandated standards. The audit is estimated to cost $40,000.

There are two funding opportunities to help offset the cost of the audit and other plan requirements. The first is an Energy Efficiency Revolving and Conservation Formula (EERCF). The second is a State Department of Commerce (Commerce) Clean Building Audit Incentive Program. EERCF applications are due by April 30th, 2024. Commerce applications are accepted up to April 20th, 2025. The move to authorize the City Manager to apply for both programs as proposed by staff passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).

In August of 2023 Council provided consensus to utilize a “multiple contractor” approach for Park Maintenance services beginning in 2024. The new model separates needed park services such as janitorial and event services to enable more competition and opportunity. On March 19, 2024, a request for proposal was issued for Janitorial and Event Services across all the City’s Parks and Trail facilities during the Mid-April to mid-October season. 
The services to be provided include daily cleaning and re-stocking of 34 park restrooms and 20 picnic shelters seven days a week. This also includes posting, preparing, and cleaning for approximately 450 park reservations and special events. The motion to award the Contract for janitorial and Event Services, Parks, and Trails to Senske Services in an amount not to exceed $325,002.71 in the first year passed unanimously.

Spokane Valley Chief of Police Dave Ellis presented an overview of the Department’s current activity. Including the heightening of bike patrols, community outreach, aircraft usage and modernization, and the fact that the City Police Force is accredited by the Washington State Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs. The accreditation is accomplished through a rigorous process involving 18 administrative standards ranging from goals and standards to internal affairs.

After the State Supreme Court’s Blake decision, which largely decriminalized drug possession, had been rendered, the legislature enacted Senate Bill 5536 which made those offenses a gross misdemeanor. There have been discussions about strengthening the City’s drug laws beyond the state law. However, that process is made more complex by the City’s contracts for law public safety services with the County which operates under different standards of enforcement. The discussion continues.

In the City’s Tourism Strategy efforts, a cross country complex has been identified and is moving forward. Engineering and planning for design of the course and facilities are proceeding using the Design Build (PBD) process. That process provides for both the design and construction to be done by a single qualified entity. Staff has scheduled a Motion Consideration for Council’s next meeting to award the contract to Walker Construction and SPVV Landscape Architecture to further define the scope of work.

Staff presented an explanation of the construction phase of a City project. The presentation covered performance measures and quality control metrics during construction, including project documentation control, project inspection, and project closeout.

The contract with Sunshine Disposal for disposal operation at the university Road Solid Waste Transfer Station expires at the end of 2024. That contract requires the City to provide notice to Sunshine of its intent to renew, terminate, or otherwise modify the agreement by July 1, 2024. Two alternatives exist: Continuing with Sunshine or returning to the Spokane County (Sullivan Road Transfer Station). Considerations moving forward are future rates, current and future waste handling capacity, education and planning requirements, and length of term for any new agreement. Further discussion will occur at future meetings.

After last year’s recovery from COVID, the City Parks Department is pleased to be offering a full array of services. The schedule and menu of events can be found online at www.spokanevalleywa.gov or in pick up publications like the Inlander.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

April 16,  2024

 

 

Last week the Spokane Valley City Council attended a retreat in chambers to discuss and set policy goals through 2025. Although the public was invited to attend, no public comment was taken. 

The first item of business on the agenda was the First Reading of Ordinance 24-006, the Yellowstone Pipe Line (YPL) Franchise. In November 2021, the City, through Ordinance 21-022, granted YPL Company an extension of its franchise to construct, maintain, and operate its petroleum products pipeline in the City’s rights-of-way. In finalizing the design for the City’s Pines Road/BNSF rail crossing it became clear that the location of the underpass would materially interfere with the current location of Yellowstone’s facilities, which have existed since 1952. Changing the route of that pipeline will be accomplished by rerouting it through property purchased by the City but the change requires amending the existing franchise agreement. This evening, by waiving the rules to speed the process, the amended agreement (Ordinance 24-006) was approved unanimously.

Required facilities moves for the Pines/BNSF project has generated expenses for several purveyors of product and services which involve reimbursement. The Yellowstone Pipeline, which is jointly owned by Phillips 66 and Yellowstone (P66/YPL), has reached agreement with the City on associated pipeline route expenses of $1,331,304. The motion to approve the reimbursement agreement in that amount passed unanimously.

City Council has the authority to establish its own rules of procedure, policies, and standards of conduct. Such policies and procedures are identified in its Governance Manual. As times, rules and procedures change, the manual is periodically updated. The proposed changes brought forward by the Governance Manual Committee address in part the following:

Unacceptable Councilmember behavior, leaving a meeting unexcused, engaging in, or encouraging disruptive behavior from the public seating area. 
Removal of per diem for travel expenses, change of policy for reimbursement for meals/lodging costs related to travel for city business. Removal of monthly mileage stipend. 

Addition of mileage reimbursement according to current IRS mileage rates.
Addition of a description of the Public Safety Committee.
Addition of policies to address compliance requirements and enforcement procedures.
Addition of policies regarding photocopies, out of state travel, dress code and volunteer/legislative assistants.
Addition of a policy that tracks costs for a social media archiving platform shall be deducted from each Councilmember’s individual annual budget. 
Addition of policies and penalties for posting false information to social media.

A new Chapter 5 defining standards of conduct for Council members and providing procedures for alleged violations to be investigated and presented to Council for action is included. These procedures gives an accused Councilmember the opportunity to request a hearing before the City Hearing Examiner to contest an investigator’s findings and conclusions that violations occurred. 

The City Municipal Code must be amended to provide the Hearing Examiner with authority to preside over hearings contesting an investigator’s findings and conclusions of misconduct as well as procedural rules for such hearings.

The motion to approve Resolution 24-006, repealing the existing manual and replacing it with the revised one passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).
The Clean Building Law was passed in the State Legislature in 2022. The Department of Commerce has developed energy performance standards for non-residential buildings. For performance measuring purposes, the categories have been designated as Tier 1: Buildings having a gross area between 20,000 and 50,000 square feet; and Tier 2: Buildings having a gross area exceeding 50,000 square feet. 

The law is aimed at reducing carbon pollution by establishing energy use intensity targets specific to Washington. Compliance steps include processes for measuring and tracking energy use using at least 12 consecutive months of data per building. 

City buildings affected are CenterPlace (56,055 sq ft), City Hall (65,299 sq ft), and the Police Precinct (22,020 sq ft). Benchmark measurements for City Hall and CenterPlace have been completed. While City Hall meets the requirements, CenterPlace does not. An energy audit will be required to determine the most cost-effective measures to achieve the mandated standards. The audit is estimated to cost $40,000.

Staff is exploring two potential funding opportunities to help offset the cost of the audit and other plan requirements. The first is an Energy Efficiency Revolving and Conservation Formula (EERCF). The second is a State Department of Commerce (Commerce) Clean Building Audit Incentive Program. EERCF applications are due by April 30th, 2024. Commerce applications are accepted up to April 20th, 2025. Council reached consensus to authorize applying for both.

Each year amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan are proposed for addition to the Comprehensive Plan Docket. Two such amendments were proposed for 2024, both by the City, and both were map amendments. The first, (CPA-2024-01) is for property owned by Spokane Conservation District located at 4418 East 8th Avenue and would change 44 acres from Multi-Family Residential (MFR) to Mixed Use. An additional piece would change 5.2 acres from MFR to Single-Family residential (SFR). 

The second proposed plan amendment (CPA-2024-02) would change 0.83 acres owned by Family Promise of Spokane at 17103 E. Main Avenue from SFR to Corridor Mixed Use. The Planning Commission held study sessions on the proposed amendments and recommended passage of the first amendment but denied the second. Council reached consensus to move CPA-2024-1 to a first reading and withdraw the application for CPA-2024-02.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

April 2,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council opened with Mayor Haley proclaiming April 1 through April 5 as National Public Health Week in recognition of contributions made in achieving public health improvements.

That proclamation was followed by three motion considerations pertaining to City business. The first of those was the awarding of the bid for the 16th Avenue Preservation project. That project extends from Evergreen Road to Adams Road, providing curb extensions to reduce pedestrian crossing distances near a school, upgrading existing curb ramps to current ADA standards, installing an ITS (Internet telecommunications system) infrastructure, and a complete grind and overlay of the asphalt pavement.

The Engineer’s Estimate for the construction was $1,217,979. The lowest of the three submitted bids was $1,115,000 made by Shamrock Paving, Inc. The total budget for the construction plus ancillary charges is $1,475,250. The motion to award the 16th Avenue Preservation Project to Shamrock Paving, Inc. in the amount of $1,115,000 passed unanimously. Councilmember Padden was excused for the evening.

The Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) was enacted by the State Legislature in 1991 to address traffic congestion, air pollution, and petroleum fuel consumption. It requires employers with 100 or more employees to develop incentives for carpooling. The act also requires local governments in urban areas with traffic congestion to develop programs that reduce drive-alone trips and vehicle miles travelled per capita. 

The City and Spokane County have operated since 2003 under an interlocal agreement that provides for the County to retain the City’s state issued CTR funds in return for the County’s development of an overall CTR program. The existing agreement expires every two years. This agreement once again extends the agreement for another two years. The motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the 2023-2025 Interlocal Agreement for Spokane County Commute Trip Reduction Services passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).

The 2022 South Barker Corridor Study recommended several traffic and multi-modal improvements on South Barker Road from the south city limits to Mission Avenue. Engineering has completed the preliminary engineering and environmental work associated with those improvements south of Appleway Boulevard. The improvements will provide for widening Barker Road from two to three lanes for center turn lanes, installation of bike lanes, stormwater improvements, curbs, and sidewalks. Also included are conversions from stop sign-controlled intersections at 4th and 8th Avenues to single lane roundabouts. A similar interchange was completed at Sprague and Barker in 2022.

To complete the plan, an additional right of way (ROW) will be needed. Existing ROW varies between 60-65 feet in width. A 70-foot ROW is needed to accommodate the proposed sidewalk, storm water, and road improvements. All of this land acquisition must be done in compliance with the federal Uniform Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 as amended which requires certification for each separate project. To achieve compliance with the requirements, the City is hiring Epic Land Solutions, Inc. The commensurate fee is $675,572. The motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the agreement passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).

Spokane County has accepted requests for proposals for the use of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) entitlement funds for program year 2024. In 2023, the City entered into a cooperation agreement to increase the City’s set-aside for available funds based on its share of the agreement’s consortium population. This evening’s presentation is to identify projects that the City could apply for to support providers serving Spokane Valley. The County has received total requests of $21.5 million. Discussion to arrive at recommendation to the County Commissioners for their formal action will be made at Council’s April 11th meeting.

In November 2021, the City, through Ordinance 21-022, granted Yellowstone Pipe Line Company a 25-year franchise to construct, maintain and, and operate its petroleum products pipeline in the City’s rights-of-way. In finalizing the design for the Pines Road/BNSF rail crossing it became clear that the location of the underpass would materially interfere with the current location of Yellowstone’s facilities, which have existed since 1952. Changing the route of that pipeline can be accomplished by rerouting through property purchased by the City but the change requires amending the existing franchise agreement. Consensus was reached to bring the amended agreement (Ordinance 24-006) to a first reading at a future Council meeting. 

The City contracts for many of the services requiring specialized departments and/or large staffs such as its police force which it contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff. In its latest agreement (2023) with the Sheriff’s Office, the City has 91 dedicated officers together with 37 commissioned officers that are shared with the County. There are other positions included in supervision that may cause that number to fluctuate. 

There are six patrol districts in the City, and the police are required to provide a minimum of one patrol officer per district on duty at all times. That number has, in current circumstances, been difficult and, at times, impossible to achieve. Calls for service remained relatively stable between 2004 and 2011. However, since 2011, calls for service have increased 63% resulting in longer response times. 

A 2023 study completed by Matrix, a consultant hired by the City, has recommended that 25 dedicated commissioned officers be added to the City police force, plus three shared commissioned officers and two civilian administrative positions.

Realizing that the recommendation is impractical to achieve immediately,  Police Chief Dave Ellis advises that the additional officers be added in increments of 8-12 positions starting in 2024 and moving through 2026. The total estimated cost to reach full staffing is $6.2 million. That figure does not include expenses that will be incurred in improving facilities to accommodate the increased staff. Realistically, an initial hire of 10 officers is the goal. Ideally, five of those officers would be new hires and five would be lateral transfers. Even with the limited number of new hires, a likely increase in arrests will result in increased costs in courts, public defenders, prosecutor, and jail services. 

The City has budgeted $35,250,000 for public safety in 2024. Law Enforcement is the direct recipient of $29,627,000 of that amount. Adding to the financial shock of such a dramatic personnel and equipment increase, in 2023, the deputies’ union reached agreement on a new contract to ‘catch up’ on past wages with increases over the next few years to bring wages on par with surrounding jurisdictions. That change is a rising cost not currently addressed with any dedicated funding source from the City. While recognition is given to the critical need for additional law enforcement personnel and facilities, funding must be found in order to make any substantive changes possible.

Simply put, the City does not have in its current budget the estimated $4.34 million needed to fund ongoing costs for the remaining 19 positions either now or beyond. 

Discussions on suggested funding measures have included a property tax increase or a utility tax. Neither met with Council support. What did garner interest was an increase of 0.1% in the sales tax. Such a tax could produce an estimated $2.8 million based on 2023 sales tax collections. A sales tax increase would also collect funds from non-Valley citizens who shop here. Council deferred action to ascertain citizen input. 

This issue is vitally important and is the focus of the City’s newly created Public Safety Committee. That committee has been reviewing the available information to develop a strategy to guide Council and the Valley citizens for moving forward. One aspect of the committee’s work has been to establish ‘listening sessions’ in the community to gather citizen input. The problem requires your input. Please stop by Tuesday, April 9th, from 11AM to 12:30PM in the CenterPlace 2nd floor lounge; or Wednesday, April 17th, from 1 to 2:30PM at the Spokane Valley Library.

There are also Community Conversations for Q & As. Those are: Thursday, April 11 from 8-9:30AM at CenterPlace or via ZOOM. You can register through the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce for this date only. Or you can attend on Monday, April 15 from 5 to 7PM at the Centennial Middle School gym. 

By now, you should have received a mailed notice with information on how to participate in voicing your opinion on shaping Spokane Valley’s police through either taking the survey or attending one of the listed meetings. This is your opportunity to make your thoughts known. 

Should Council decide to place a ballot measure on the August 6 election, it will need to approve the required election ordinance by Apil 23rd. If you haven’t received a mailed notice and wish to participate, please go to the City website, www.spokanevalleywas.gov, for more information.
Please note: There will be a special Council meeting next Tuesday, April 9, starting at 5:00pm at City Hall.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are usually held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

March 22,  2024

 

 

After a week off while City officials journeyed to Washington D.C. to confer with our legislators, regulators, and lobbyists to further City initiatives, the Spokane Valley City Council resumed business. Its agenda led with a resolution.
 
Resolution 24-007, sponsored by Councilwoman Jessica Yeager, declares the city’s commitment to being “…a safe community and eliminating activities that contribute to the influx of fentanyl, opioids and other illegal activities.” Resolution 24-007 passed unanimously.
 
The last remaining vacancy on the Spokane Valley Planning Commission was filled with Mayor Haley’s appointment of Michael Kelly. That appointment fills the vacancy created by a resignation earlier this year. The motion to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Mr. Kelly for a term beginning immediately and ending December 31, 2025, passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).
 
Currently, the City contracts with Spokane County for traffic signal, sign, and pavement marking maintenance. The County has up to now been able to meet the needs of the City. However, due to escalating costs and labor shortages, the County is now unable to meet our needs necessitating action by the City to address the problem. 
 
The remaining areas of mutual assistance require a new interlocal agreement to align the services provided by each. Under this new agreement, the County will provide traffic sign maintenance and pavement markings. Traffic signal maintenance, street light maintenance, crosswalk/flasher maintenance, road maintenance, and miscellaneous services as well as emergency assistance will be the City’s responsibility or shared with the County on an as needed basis. Those shared services are defined for emergency needs. The motion to authorize the City to finalize and execute the Interlocal Agreement for Road and Traffic Maintenance and Miscellaneous Services Between Spokane County and the City passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).
 
On March 6, 2024, the Washington State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) issued a call for projects that are designed to improve the movement of freight and/or mitigate the movement of freight through local communities. This call for projects enables FMSIB to create a Six-Year Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Program that includes the highest priority freight projects for legislative consideration. Applications for FMSIB grants under this program are due April 19, 2024.
 
The City’s top three recommendations are:
PROJECT; REQUEST; TOTAL Project COST
Sullivan/Trent Interchange ; $10.0 million; $46.8 million
South Barker Corridor; $3.5 million; $41.0 million
Barker/I-90 Interchange; $2.0 million; $40.0 million
 
The motion to authorize the City Manager to apply for the FMSIB call for project grants identified above passed 5-1 (Merkel-no). Councilman Wick recused himself since he sits on FMSIB’s Board of Directors.
 
 In 2021, Spokane County opened the Spokane Regional Stabilization Center (SRSC) with 45 beds to provide a pre-booking jail diversion option where someone who is in crisis (mental or opioid) may be taken for treatment rather than jail. Initially, only first responders could take individuals to SRSC. However, other providers may now direct crisis candidates there. 
 
Spokane County has applied for government assistance from Senators Murray and Cantwell and Representative McMorris-Rodgers. They are requesting support in those requests from the City. Council consensus was reached to provide letters of support for the County’s funding requests.
 
The Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) was enacted by the State Legislature in 1991 to address traffic congestion, air pollution, and petroleum fuel consumption. It requires employers with 100 or more employees to develop incentives for carpooling. The act also requires local governments in urban areas with traffic congestion to develop programs that reduce drive-alone trips and vehicle miles travelled per capita. 
 
The City and Spokane County have operated since 2003 under an interlocal agreement that provides for the County to retain the City’s state issued CTR funds in return for the County’s development of an overall CTR program. Consensus was reached to bring a renewal of the CTR interlocal agreement to Council.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

March 12,  2024

 

 

This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council was conducted in the Formal Format which means that protocols not otherwise observed in the Study Session format were taken up such as an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
 
The first item of business was to address the Mayor’s appointment recommendation of Council member Jessica Yeager to be the City’s alternate representative on the Spokane Transit Authority’s Board of Directors. Annually, the Mayor makes appointment recommendations to place Councilmembers on various regional and in-house boards and committees as was just done at Council’s January 9th meeting. A need for an alternate member from Spokane Valley to STA’s Board has necessitated Councilwoman Yeager’s appointment. The motion to affirm Mayor Haley’s appointment of Councilwoman Yeager to the STA Board passed unanimously.
 
In 2014, Council approved a franchise agreement with Noel Communications, Inc. a predecessor company to Wholesail Network LLC (Wholesail) dba Ziply Fiber. In an application almost identical to the franchise application presented last week, Ziply is requesting a franchise for installation of fiber optics telecommunications facilities in the City of Spokane Valley under the same or similar terms as Wholesail’s. With minor changes regarding monthly charges, insurance (from $1 million to $2 million per occurrence), and removal of all abandoned equipment upon cessation of business, those terms have been met. The detailed terms of the agreement are contained in Ordinance 24-004. Motion to waive the rules and approve Ordinance 24-004 passed unanimously.
In 2014, Council approved a franchise agreement with Noel Communications, Inc. a predecessor company to Wholesail Network LLC (Wholesail) dba Ziply Fiber. Ziply is requesting a franchise for installation of fiber optics telecommunications facilities in the City of Spokane Valley under the same or similar terms as Wholesail. With the same minor changes regarding monthly charges, insurance (from $1 million to $2 million per occurrence), and removal of all abandoned equipment upon cessation of business, those terms have been met. The motion to waive the rules and adopt Ordinance 24-003 passed unanimously.
 
In May 2022, Council reached consensus to allocate a portion of its Solid Waste Fund to a new unit-price bid contract for pavement preservation. This unit-priced contract provides various roadway preservation treatments for multiple local access street locations throughout the City. With this contract, work will be assigned to the contractor by work orders for each individual location using its contract unit rated and determined quantities for each project location but not to exceed $1,124,000 in total.
 
In the solicitation of bids, Inland Asphalt Company was the successful bidder. The motion to award the Local Access Street Preservation Services Contract to Inland Asphalt Company in the amount of $1,124,000 passed unanimously. 
 
In 2013, the City contracted with Spokane County Regional Animal Protections Service (SCRAPS) to provide required animal control services for its entire existence. Recently Council has received a number of public comments regarding SCRAPS and has requested an update on the status of interlocal agreement between the City and SCRAPS. Staff has been working with SCRAPS regarding several of the identified issues. In order to provide timely information and to allow Council an opportunity to receive direct information, Spokane County CEO Scott Simmons, SCRAPS Director Jess Ferrari, and other involved individuals will answer questions that Council may have.
 
At the time the City entered into its agreement with SCRAPS, there were only two entities in the animal control business. Council at that time chose SCRAPS for its higher level of customer service, having a facility in Spokane Valley, and better trained and paid officers. Having the financial backing of the County and a higher live release rate also were favorable considerations. Current 2024 costs under the contract are $367,405. That figure is still lower than City’s 2007 expenses for the service.
 
Staff is reviewing current services under the interlocal agreement and will return at a subsequent Council meeting for discussion on potential compliance issues and desired levels of service for SCRAPS.
 
Currently, the City contracts with Spokane County for traffic signal, sign, and pavement marking maintenance. The County has up to now been able to meet the needs of the City. However, due to escalating costs and labor shortages, the County is unable to meet our needs necessitating action by the City to address the problem. The remaining areas of mutual assistance will require a new interlocal agreement to align the services provided by each. The County will provide traffic sign maintenance and pavement markings, traffic signal maintenance, street light maintenance, crosswalk/flasher maintenance, road maintenance, and miscellaneous services as well as emergency assistance. Consensus was reached to bring back an interlocal agreement for Council consideration.
 
City Council has the authority to establish its own rules of procedure, policies, and standards of conduct. Such policies and procedures are identified in its Governance Manual. As times, rules and procedures change, the manual is periodically updated. The proposed changes brought forward by the Governance Manual Committee address in part the following:
 
Acceptable Councilmember behavior, leaving a meeting unexcused, engaging in, or encouraging disruptive behavior from the public seating area. 
Removal of per diem for travel expenses, change of policy for reimbursement for meals/lodging costs related to travel for city business. Removal of monthly mileage stipend. 
 
• Addition of mileage reimbursement according to current IRS mileage rates.
• Addition of description of the Public Safety Committee.
• Addition of policies to address compliance requirements and enforcement procedures.
• Addition of policies regarding photocopies, out of state travel, dress code and volunteer/legislative assistants.
• Addition of policy that costs for social media archiving platform shall be deducted from each Councilmember’s individual annual budget.
• Addition of policies regarding posting false information to social 
media.
 
Council reached consensus to move Resolution 24-006 which adopts the above changes to a first reading. 
 
In Council’s adoption of Resolution 24-006, the new Chapter 5 defining standards of conduct for Council members and providing procedures for alleged violations to be investigated and presented to Council for action was also included. These procedures include providing an accused Councilmember the opportunity to request a hearing before the City Hearing Examiner to contest an investigator’s findings and conclusions that violations occurred. 
 
Since Council approved Resolution 24-006, the City Municipal Code must be amended to provide the Hearing Examiner with authority to preside over hearings contesting an investigator’s findings and conclusions of misconduct as well as procedural rules for such hearings. Council reached consensus to move Ordinance 24-005 amending the City’s Municipal Code to a first reading.
 
Please note: There will not be a City Council meeting next Tuesday, March 19th. City officials will be traveling to Washington, D. C. to confer with our congressional delegates.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in person or via ZOOM. Call 509-720-5000 or prior to 4:00 p.m. for access instructions. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.••

March 5,  2024

 

 

The first item of business before the Spokane Valley City Council at its regular Study Session was a motion to amend the agenda to address of an alleged breach of executive session confidentiality by Councilman Al Merkel. After a discussion, Council voted 5-2 to reprimand him for the violation. (Merkel and Wick-no)
 
The next agenda item was the disposal of property no longer needed or used by the City. Resolution 24-005 places a piece of real property located at 4216 Best Road that was acquired in a judgment from a code enforcement action. The total acquisition price was $186,000 of which $173,608.06 was awarded to the City in the judgment. City Code requirements have been met to place the property for sale. 
 
In addition, the following vehicles are also being surplused: a 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup; a 2004 Ford Taurus sedan; a 2014 Ford Escape SE; a 2007 Ford F-250 pickup; a 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup; and an International 254/CC FB truck. The items will be placed for auction. Contact the City’s Finance Director, Chelsea Taylor, for information (509-720-5000). The motion to approve Resolution24-005 declaring the real property and vehicles surplus passed unanimously.  
 
In 2021, Congress implemented its ‘Congressionally Directed Spending’ (CDS) process. Basically, the CDS program is a re-introduction of the old earmark system from former years. In the past, the City has received CDS funds for its Sullivan/Trent Interchange and Pines Road/BNSF Rail Crossing. The 2023 awards have not yet been announced; however, the application list included $3 million for the Sullivan/Trent Interchange sponsored by Representative McMorris Rodgers. Staff anticipates this year will be like the last two years and propose submitting CDS requests for each of the City’s 2024 federal agenda projects identified in the table below.
 
PROJECT; REQUEST;  TOTAL COST;  NEEDED       
Sullivan/Trent Interchange;  $5 million;  $46.4 million;  $38.8 million
South Barker Corridor;  $3 million;  $40.9 million;  $27.6 million
Argonne Bridge @ I-90 $3 million;  $28.2 million;  $26.7 million 
Barker/I-90 Interchange $4 million;  $40.0 million;  $40.0 million
 
The motion to apply for CDS funding for all four projects identified above passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).
 
At past Council meetings, a councilmember has posed questions about the grants the City has applied for, implying that the effort hasn’t been productive and that the staff time spent on preparing those applications has been wasted. The City relies heavily on grants to fund its capital projects and its success rate in acquiring grants has been quite enviable in comparison with surrounding municipalities.
 
To demonstrate the point, between 2011 and 2013 the City applied for 246 grants of various types and sizes. It was successful in 111 applications: not successful in 135, for a success rate of 45%. Those 111 successes resulted in $147.7 million awarded to the City for use on its roads, rail crossings, parks, and infrastructure of all kinds. Each application must be approved by Council action and withstand the scrutiny of cost effectiveness. The system, while not perfect, is not broken and doesn’t warrant the criticism of late. 
 
Staff is seeking consensus to move forward with a grant application to Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) to complete Phase 2 of Balfour Park. RCO operates on a two-year granting cycle timeline, meaning that if funds were awarded this year, they would not be available until 2025 and would have to be used by the end of 2026. With available City matching funds, it could apply for up to $2.5 million for completion of Phase 2 of Balfour Park. Council reached consensus to proceed with the application.
 
In 2014, Council approved a franchise agreement with Noel Communications, Inc. a predecessor company to Wholesail Network LLC (Wholesail) dba Ziply Fiber. In an application almost identical to the franchise application presented last week, Ziply is requesting a franchise for installation of fiber optics telecommunications facilities in the City of Spokane Vallely under the same or similar terms as Wholesail. With minor changes regarding monthly charges, insurance (from $1million to $2 million per occurrence), and removal of all abandoned equipment upon cessation of business, those terms have been met. The detailed terms of the agreement are contained in Ordinance 24-004. Staff recommends approval; Council reached consensus to place approval of the ordinance on a future agenda.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

February 27,  2024

 

 

The Spokane Valley City Council, returning to a formal format after a four-week hiatus, opened the business session with a review of its police services status. Spokane Valley is a ‘Contract City.’ The City contracts out many of the services requiring specialized departments and/or large staffs such as its police force which it contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff. In its latest agreement (2023) with the Sheriff’s Office, the City has 91 dedicated officers together with 37 commissioned officers that are shared with the County. There are other positions included in supervision that may cause that number to fluctuate. 
 
There are six patrol districts in the City, and the police are required to provide a minimum of one patrol officer per district on duty at all times. That number has, in current circumstances, been difficult and, at times, impossible to achieve. A 2023 study completed by Matrix, a consultant hired by the City, has recommended that 25 dedicated commissioned officers be added to the City police force, plus three shared commissioned officers and two civilian administrative positions.
 
Police Chief Dave Ellis recommends the additional officers be added in increments of 8-12 positions starting in 2024 and moving through 2026. The total estimated cost to reach full staffing is $6.2 million. That figure does not include expenses that will be incurred in improving facilities to accommodate the increased staff. Realistically, an initial hire of 10 officers is the goal. Ideally, five of those officers would be new hires and five would be lateral transfers. 
Equipping and placement of those new officers calls for one-time costs that might be met with unused money from the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. 
 
The City has budgeted $35,250,000 for public safety in 2024. Law Enforcement is the direct recipient of $29,627,000 of that amount. Adding to the financial shock of such a dramatic personnel and equipment increase, in 2023, the deputies’ union reached agreement on a new contract to ‘catch up’ on past wages with increases over the next few years to bring wages on par with surrounding jurisdictions. That change is a rising cost not currently addressed with any dedicated funding source from the City. While recognition is given to the critical need for additional law enforcement personnel and facilities, funding must be found in order to make any substantive changes possible.
 
Discussions on suggested funding measures have included a property tax increase and a utility tax. Neither met with Council support. What did garner interest was an increase of 0.1% in the sales tax. Such a tax could produce an estimated $2.8 million based on 2023 sales tax collections. A sales tax increase would also collect funds from non-Valley citizens who shop here. 
 
This issue is vitally important and is the focus of the City’s newly created Public Safety Committee. That committee is reviewing the available information and issues related to developing a strategy to guide Council for moving forward. One aspect of the committee’s work will be establishing ‘listening sessions’ in the community to gather citizen input. The problem requires a multifaceted solution involving all affected parties and individuals. Anyone wishing to participate should be watching the City website, www.SpokaneValleyWas.gov, for more information.
 
The motion to approve adjusting the number of dedicated police personnel to add ten additional dedicated new positions and to authorize the City Manager to take such action as necessary to implement this action pursuant to the Interlocal Agreement with Spokane County and the Sheriff’s Office passed unanimously. 
 
On January 26th, 2024, the City advertised for its Storm Drain Cleaning contract. Three bids were received. Bids were opened on February 9th with AAA Sweeping being the lowest bidder at $219,549.50. The contract may be extended for up to three additional one-year terms if mutually agreed. The motion to award the Storm Drain Cleaning Service Contract to AAA Sweeping in an amount not to exceed $219,549.50 passed 6-1 (Merkel-no).
 
After last week’s presentation on the benefits of preserving the Columbia River System and Lower Snake River Dams, Council reached consensus to amend its federal legislative agenda to add its support for this item. It also took the opportunity to update its cost estimate for the Sullivan/Trent Interchange from $42 million to $46 million. The motion to approve the amended 2024 Federal Legislative Agenda as presented passed unanimously.
 
In keeping with Council’s recognition for increased communications and community involvement opportunities, Staff provided an administrative report on the Communications and Community Involvement Plan for the police staffing project. Elements of the plan include Project background, Key messages, Goals and strategies, Communication channels, Schedule, and Performance measures. There are several involvement opportunities for community members to learn about the project and give feedback. Those are identified as planned listening sessions, reception style open house hours, and surveys.
 
In 2021, Congress implemented its ‘Congressionally Directed Spending’ (CDS) process. Basically, the CDS program is a re-introduction of the old earmark system from former years. In the past, the City has received CDS funds for its Sullivan/Trent Interchange, and Pines Road/BNSF Rail Crossing. The 2023 awards have not yet been announced; however, the application list included $3 million for the Sullivan/Trent Interchange sponsored by Representative McMorris Rodgers. Staff anticipates this year will be like the last two years and propose submitting CDS requests for each of the City’s 2024 federal agenda projects identified in the table below.
 
PROJECT; REQUEST;  TOTAL COST;  NEEDED       
Sullivan/Trent Interchange;  $5 million;  $46.4 million;  $38.8 million
South Barker Corridor;  $3 million;  $40.9 million;  $27.6 million
Argonne Bridge @ I-90 $3 million;  $28.2 million;  $26.7 million 
Barker/I-90 Interchange $4 million;  $40.0 million;  $40.0 million
 
Council reached consensus to develop applications for CDS funding requests for all four projects.
 
In 2014, Council approved a franchise agreement with Noel Communications, Inc. a predecessor company to Wholesail Network LLC (Wholesail) dba Ziply Fiber. Ziply is requesting a franchise for installation of fiber optics telecommunications facilities in the City of Spokane Vallely under the same or similar terms as Wholesail. With minor changes regarding monthly charges, insurance (from $1million to $2 million per occurrence), and removal of all abandoned equipment upon cessation of business, those terms have been met. Staff recommends approval.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 
 

February 20,  2024

 

 

After last week’s Planning Retreat, Spokane Valley City Council returned to its regular Study Session format starting with a presentation on Spokane Valley’s joining other regional partners such as Greater Spokane, Inc. in submitting testimony to US Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and the US House Energy and Commerce Committee in support of maintaining the Columbia River System including the Lower Snake River Dams. The presenters were Chelsea Martin, Government Relations and Communications Coordinator at Modern Electric and Dan Wilson, Legislative Affairs for Local 338 of the United Steelworkers at Kaiser Aluminum.

For some time, there has been a movement to breach the four lower dams on the Snake River. Although a US Government final Record of Decision (Oct.8. 2020) concluded that such a breach is not an option, the Biden Administration has been secretly meeting with tribes to circumvent that decision. The letter to Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers is to ensure the City’s firm stand against breaching is communicated.

The first business item on Council’s regular agenda was action on Ordinance 24-001, a City-initiated code change, revising City Code to provide flexibility in the number of required Planning Commission meetings. Currently, City Code requires the Commission to hold at least one regular meeting each month, for not less than nine months each year. Further, it would ensure that there are not two consecutive months without a meeting. The change also includes a provision that the first Planning Commission meeting in election years be canceled to enable new commission members to be appointed. The Planning Commission in 2023, after a public hearing, recommended Council adopt Ordinance 24-001. The motion to approve Ordinance 24-001 passed unanimously.

When City Hall remediation work was being done, it was necessary to notice that Planning Commission meetings were then held regularly, by rule, at Center Place. Now that City Hall is once again usable, it is necessary to adopt a resolution moving the regular Commission meetings back to City Hall. Resolution 24-003 does that. The motion to adopt resolution 24-003 passed unanimously.

In February 2021, the City purchased from Washington State Department of Transportation 45.63 acres of land off Flora Road for $2,091,600.00. Concurrently, the City applied for (and received) a $1,000,000 grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to apply toward that purchase. In the final purchase documents, the City excluded 2.7 acres to allow the City more flexibility in recreational uses on the site. Subsequently, the opportunity to develop a cross-country track facility on the Flora Property became a reality.

A master plan for development of the complex includes plans for the cross-country course, a permanent club house including offices, restrooms for drug testing, and possible concessions. As a final condition for the grant, the City is obligated to convey to …”the people of the State of Washington….” the right to use the property for public purposes. That action was completed in 2020. Plans for completion of the cross-country course in time for use in 2025 are under way.

The City’s six-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) that was approved in June 2023, calls for these projects to be undertaken in 2024.

  1. North Pines Road/BNSF Rail Crossing. Project details and coordination should be completed to allow construction to begin in late summer.
  2. South Bowdish Road Improvements. Sidewalk installation between E. 12th and E. 22nd. Roundabout at E. 16th. Grind and overlay.
  3. East 16th Avenue Preservation. Grind and inlay, ITS conduit, curb ramp revisions between S. Evergreen and S. Adams.
  4. Trent Avenue Access Control Safety Improvements. Construct concrete islands to protect turning movements.
  5. Reflective Traffic Light Backplates. Install 16 signalized intersection backplates.
  6. Balfour Park Improvements-Phase I. Complete main park infrastructure, parking lot, events plaza and veteran’s memorial, and multipurpose park building.
  7. North Pines Road and East Mission Avenue Intersection Improvement. Add left turn lanes for eastbound Mission Ave., right turn lane for southbound Pines Road, and reconfigures signal operations.
  8. Local access Pavement Preservation and Cape Seal Projects. As determined.
  9. East Sprague Avenue Stormwater Project. Reduces E. Sprague Ave. to three lanes from N. Herald to N. University. Creates new storm water system, swales, crosswalk signal at Balfour Park, and landscaping.
  10. East Indiana Avenue Preservation-Phase 1. Replaces asphalt pavement with concrete.
  11. Sullivan Park Waterline. Construct a waterline from Sullivan Park north of Union Pacific tracks.

Daniel Bruzas, representing James Boone, LLC. is requesting vacation of the south 60’ X 80’ of Girard Road, and the south 60’ X 95’ of Lily Road lying north of I-90 and south of Boone Avenue. The total requested area is 10,502 square feet. The Public Works Department had no major concerns with the application and the fire department had only minor comments. Council reached consensus to set the public hearing for the street


Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 

February 13,  2024

 

 

In a departure from the normal schedule of Spokane Valley City Council weekly meetings, this meeting was in the form of a planning retreat. It commenced at 9:45am and ran through 3:45pm, starting with a discussion of Council’s vision for the City.

After opening remarks by Mayor Haley, the discussion, led by Marketing Solutions, a meeting facilitator, delved into SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis for guiding the direction of the meeting. SWOT analysis is an outline for strategic planning, where consideration of internal strengths and weaknesses as well as perceived operational advantages and contemplating internal and external threats are explored.

In the ensuing discussion employing the SWOT format, the following topics were considered and summarized as Council and Staff agreed they applied.

Strengths: Fiscally responsible and financially solvent; uncomplicated permitting process; small, talented staff; comfortable place to live; attentive to citizen needs.

Weaknesses: Limited revenue base; understaffed police force; underfunded infrastructure maintenance; limited ability to communicate with citizens.

Opportunities: Great location; transitioning economy; available land for annexation; transportation hub; favorable business environment; expandable urban growth area.

Threats: Legislative preemption of local control; Growth Management Act restrictions on ability to grow; national economic downturn; lack of affordable housing; growing homelessness problem; drug and mental health problems; lack of detention facilities; technology concerns: cyber attacks, artificial intelligence. 

The discussion then turned to the six Council Budget Goals and Fiscal Policies that rank highest in importance for our citizens. 

1. Public Safety: 
• Public safety is the City’s highest priority which begins with providing superior police services to protect lives, property, and maintaining a safe and welcoming community. The City shall also strive to ensure that the Police Precinct is improved and maintained to meet the needs of our police department.
• In addition to providing robust police services, the City will prioritize all stages of the criminal justice process to provide for the safety of our residents including booking, prosecution services, court services, detention services, and post-detention services.

2. Economic Development:
• Actively support our existing businesses and industries by identifying retention and expansion opportunities to facilitate employment growth and a stable tax base. Collaborate with local, state, and national partners to identify resources to support the City’s economic development initiatives.
• Grow local tourism through asset development and targeted destination marketing to support hotels and retail establishments.

3. Pavement Preservation:
• Maintain and sustain a safe and resilient transportation infrastructure using cost effective means and methods that consider the long-term needs of the network. The City shall strive to provide sufficient funding to ensure the preservation of our infrastructure.

4. Transportation and Infrastructure:
• Strengthen and improve transportation infrastructure to safely connect the community by incorporating new and innovative technologies to improve the quality of life for all users while supporting a diverse and robust economy. 

5. Homeless and Housing:
• Develop a housing and homeless program that integrates the activities of service providers to retain residents in housing, provide a path forward for those experiencing homelessness, and support the creation of additional affordable workforce housing units within the City.

6. Communications:
• Increase community interactions, share information, and obtain feedback and provide awareness on all the aspects that make Spokane Valley a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

As a wrap-up, Council discussed Public Safety Priorities which were focused primarily on increasing the law enforcement staffing and accommodations. Also in the discussion were courts, incarceration, pre- and post-incarceration, and the ability to process detainees more efficiently. All of these subjects will be topics on the next retreat.

City Hall will be closed Monday, February 19th in observance of President’s Day.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 

February 6,  2024

 

 

This regularly scheduled study session of the Spokane Valley City Council commenced with action on Ordinance 24-001 which is a City-initiated code change revising City Code to provide flexibility in the number of required Planning Commission meetings. Currently, City Code requires the Commission to hold at least one regular meeting each month, for not less than nine months each year. Further, it would ensure that there are not two consecutive months without a meeting. The change also includes a provision that the first Planning Commission meeting in election years be canceled to enable new commission members to be appointed. The Planning Commission in 2023, after a public hearing, recommended Council adopt Ordinance 24-001. The motion to advance Ordinance 24-001 to a reading passed unanimously.

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a call for projects in December 2023 for its Bridge Investment Program (BIP). The program is designed for bridge rehabilitation, preservation, and protection projects. Funding is on a competitive basis with emphasis on safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight over these bridges. Scoring also includes project readiness and cost effectiveness.

City Staff recommend submitting the Sullivan & Trent Interchange Project to this call for projects. The request will be for $33,587,992. To date the city has secured roughly $6.6 million for the project and has set aside $1 million of its own funds. Applications are due by March 19, 2024. The motion to authorize the City Manager to apply for the BIP grant in the amount of $33,587,992 passed unanimously.

Members of the Spokane Valley Planning Commission are appointed by the Mayor with the approval of Council. At last week’s meeting, the Mayor appointed three new members but learned at the time of the meeting of the resignation of Mr. Val Dimitrov. Mayor Haley appointed Matthew Hurd for the remainder of Mr. Dimitrov’s term (2 years). The motion for Council to approve Mr. Hurd’s appointment did not receive a second and died. The vacant position will shortly be open for applications; check the City web page for details: www.spokanevalleywa.gov.

Spokane Valley Police Chief, Dave Ellis, presented the department’s recruiting and retention plan for 2024-2027. The report opened with a summary of these national trends from the Police Executive Research Forum:

• In 2023, police staffing nationally has dropped 4.8% since 2020.

• A 47% increase in resignations in 2022 over 2019.

• A 19% increase in retirements in 2022 over 2019.

Locally, the Sheriff’s Office, with whom the City contracts for its law enforcement has averaged losing 25 deputies per year due to retirements, resignations, terminations, change in carers, and other reasons. This does not factor in new hires who failed to complete the year-long probationary period. Currently the Sheriff’s Office is offering a $25,000 signing bonus for lateral transfers and a $10,000 signing bonus for new recruits.

An aggressive recruiting strategy includes more funding for recruiting events, and a change in County policy to allow bonuses for interagency transfers. That is not currently the County policy, but the City of Spokane does allow payment of the bonus. Also included in the strategy is consideration on how to make hiring easier, faster, and more efficient by making applications easier, move to virtual interviews, change the entry level physical agility test, and allowing fingerprinting to be conducted at a venue close to the applicant’s residence.

In employee retention, compensation packages are reviewed to ensure that Spokane County remains competitive. The recent collective bargaining agreement is making a difference. Retention also includes a tuition reimbursement program, wellness program, and is state legislation permits, a program enabling retired officers to re-enter the force for up to 1040 hours annually. The expectations (goals) for hiring are:

Year               Applications          Actual Hires

2024....................1300..........................65

2025....................1500..........................75

2026................... 1800..........................90

2027....................1950.........................100

The City is currently engaged in consideration of police force increases and funding to accomplish those increases. Manpower and facilities are foremost among those considerations.

As the commencement of construction on the Pines/BNSF Rail Crossing approaches this year, all of the elements necessary to actually begin construction are coming into place. Foremost among those considerations is finalization of acquisition and consolidation of all the necessary rights-of-way. Staff has coordinated with and is negotiating an agreement which will include construction of the BNSF’s parallel bridges, property rights, and a permanent easement for the project.

All properties with the exception of one have been acquired, including three donated by Avista. However, one owner continues to refuse to reach agreement and condemnation proceedings have been filed.

The necessary funding is secured and what remains is the coordination of participating agencies to bring the plan into working fruition. As all pieces come together, the schedule to begin construction is slated for mid-year 2024.

Spokane County is currently accepting requests for proposals for the use of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) entitlement funds for program year 2024. In 2023, the City entered into a cooperation agreement to increase the City’s set-aside for available funds based on its share of the agreement’s consortium population. The presentation tonight is to identify projects that the City could apply for to support providers serving Spokane Valley. Specific action will be taken at a future Council meeting.

Next week, on February 13th, Council will be holding its Strategic Planning Workshop starting at 9:45am. The meeting will be in Council Chambers, is open to the public, and is expected to last to 2:45pm. There will not be a Council meeting at the 6:00pm hour.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are once again held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

January 30,  2024

 
 

The single action item on the Spokane Valley City Council agenda was the appointment of new members to the Spokane Valley City Planning Commission. City code directs that “…members of the Planning Commission shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority vote of at least four members of the City Council.” Commission members serve without compensation for three-year terms. Earlier this year, a commission member resigned leaving an unexpired term of approximately one year.

The motion to confirm the appointments of John Robertson and Justin Weathermon to three-year terms beginning January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2027, and Vadim Smelik to a one-year term beginning January 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2024, passed 5-2 (Merkel, Wick-no).
Spokane Valley contracts with Spokane County for its Public Safety. That broad category includes its police, prosecutor, judges, and public defenders, among other services. This evening, Larry Haskell, Spokane County Prosecutor, presented a summary and analysis of what the $400,000 the City pays to the County for prosecutorial services in the public safety contract actually buys.
 
Spokane Valley is a ‘Contract City.’ The City contracts out many of the services requiring specialized departments and/or large staffs such as its police force which it contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff. In its latest agreement (2023) with the Sheriff’s Office, the City has 91 dedicated officers together with 37 commissioned officers shared with the County. There are other positions included in supervision that may cause that number to fluctuate. 

There are six patrol districts in the City, and the police are required to provide a minimum of one patrol officer per district on duty at all times. That number has, in current circumstances, been difficult, and at times impossible, to achieve. A recent study completed by a consultant hired by the City has recommended that 25 dedicated commissioned officers be added to the City police force, plus three shared commissioned officers and two civilian administrative positions.

Police Chief Dave Ellis recommends that the additional officers be added in increments of 8-12 positions starting in 2024 and moving through 2026. The total estimated cost to reach full staffing is $6.2 million. That figure does not include expenses that will be incurred in improving facilities to accommodate the increased staff. 

The City has budgeted $35,250,000 for public safety in 2024. Law Enforcement is designated for $29,627,000 of that amount. In 2023 the deputies’ union reached agreement on a new contract to steadily ‘catch up’ on past wages and increases over the next few years to bring wages on par with surrounding jurisdictions. That change signals a rising cost, not currently addressed with any dedicated funding source from the City. While recognition is given to the critical need for additional law enforcement personnel and facilities, a new source of funding must be found in order to make any substantive changes possible.

Discussion on suggested funding measures included a property tax levy lid lift which had no support from Council. A utility tax also found no interest among Council members. What did garner interest was an increase of 0.1% in the sales tax. Such a tax would result in an estimated $2.8 million based on 2023 sales tax collections. A sales tax increase would also gather funds from non-Valley citizens who shop here. 

Other outside factors such as rising homelessness and drug-related crimes add to a pressing need for additional officers. A national ‘defund the police’ movement has caused the attraction to law enforcement as a career to decline. That movement has served to not only make a career in law enforcement less desirable but has also increased the danger to individuals in the profession. 

This issue is vitally important and will be the focus of the City’s newly created Public Safety Committee. That committee will be reviewing the available information and issues related to developing a strategy to guide Council for moving forward. One aspect of the committee’s work will be establishing ‘listening sessions’ in the community to gather citizen input. The problem requires a multifaceted solution involving all affected parties and individuals. Anyone wishing to participate should be watching the City website, www.spokanevalleywas.gov, for more information.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are once again held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

January 23,  2024

 
 
AAfter taking last week off to journey to Olympia to commune with the fourth district legislators, Council reconvened in regular session on Tuesday among the continuing restoration of council chambers. 

In another application situation, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a Call for Projects to help mitigate fatal and severe injury crashes through the City Safety Program (CSP). The Federal Highway Administration administers the program to the states under its Highway Safety Improvement Program. In some instances, there is no match requirement. Applicants are required to provide a Local Road Safety Plan that addresses fatal or significant injury crashes and systemic safety needs. Spokane Valley’s most prominent crash types are Angle (T) and Hit  Pedestrians, most typically occurring on arterial streets or state highways. 

The projects under consideration are: 

The motion to apply for the grant in the order of priority above passed unanimously.
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a call for projects in November 2023 for the RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) discretionary grant program. The City has previously applied for grants in this program under different acronyms (BUILD and TIGER). The Barker/BNSF project grant was awarded under TIGER.

The application due date is February 28th, 2024. The application award date is June 27th, 2024. If awarded, funds must be obligated by September 30, 2028. Staff recommend submitting the Sullivan & Trent Interchange Project for consideration. To date, the City has secured $6.6 million of grant funds and has set aside an additional one million dollars of local funds. That funding covers the engineering and right-of-way phases leaving the construction phase of the project still to be funded. The City’s grant request to the RAISE program will be $25 million as partial funding for the total estimated project cost of $42,340,000. The motion to apply for $25 million under the RAISE Program for the Sullivan and Trent Interchange Project passed 5-1 (Merkel-no).
After the items requiring action were addressed, Council heard Dr. Grant Forsyth, chief economist for Avista Corporation, present his thoughts on the economic future of the country and how that might play into City finances. Generally speaking, he was optimistic about the economy but still had reservations about inflation continuing to affect various segments including energy.

The USDOT (US Department of Transportation) issued a call for projects in December of last year for the Bridge Investment Program (BIP) discretionary grant program. Bridge rehabilitation, preservation and protection projects will be funded on a competitive basis under the following criteria: Improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement and freight over bridges. Projects are scored based on their merits with respect for environmental sustainability, equity, and proportional impacts that improve quality of life, workforce development and economic development.
Staff recommend submitting the Sullivan & Trent Interchange Project to this call for projects. Application requests can only seek funds for “future eligible expenses” and awards cannot be used to reimburse applicants for funds/phases already obligated. Consensus was reached to develop the Sullivan/Trent Interchange project application for the BIP program. 

On February 7th, 2023, Council supported a recommendation to update the City’s logo. After pauses created by personnel turnover, the issue is back. The new suggested logo is “…..more sophisticated modern, cleaner, and crisper.” Consensus was reached to share the logo on social media and return at a future council meeting with any community feedback and a resolution to adopt the new logo.

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are once again held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 
 

January 9,  2024

 
 

Each year the Mayor appoints members to the various committees which serve the City, or where the City holds board positions, and/or where the City is, by its community standing, represented. One such committee is the Tourism Promotion Area Committee (TPA).
 
In 2022, City staff and hoteliers reached agreement on petitioning Council to create a TPA. City Resolution 22-017 formally accepted that petition followed by adoption of Ordinance 22-016, establishing a City-wide Tourism Promotion Area. The ordinance provides the implementation procedures and policies for the new TPA. 
 
The first Spokane Valley City Council meeting for 2023 opened with Council’s confirming Mayor Pam Haley’s appointments of Sara Fesler, Amanda Alcamo, Grant Guinn, Bernadette Crain, and Lee Cameron to the City’s then newly created Tourism Promotion Area Board. The appointment of the TPA Board completed the TPA establishment process. 
 
Late last year, a TPA Commissioner resigned creating a vacancy for calendar year 2024. Mayor Haley appointed Jessica Glasson from Holiday Inn Express to fill the vacancy. The motion to approve that appointment passed unanimously.
 
Annually, the Mayor also makes appointment recommendations to place Councilmembers on the various regional and in-house boards and committees. The following are the Mayor’s recommendations for each Councilmember’s committee assignments.
 
1. Aging & Long-Term Care of eastern Washington-Jessica Yaeger; Rod Higgins Alt.
2. Chamber of Commerce Board-Laura Padden
3. Spokane Area Clean Air Agency-Rod Higgins; Tim Hattenburg Alt.
4. Continuum of Care for the Homeless, Spokane County-Gloria Mantz; Eric Robison Alt
5. Finance Committee, City-Laura Padden, Rod Higgins, Ben Wick
6. Growth Mgmt Steering Committee (County)-Rod Higgins, Tim Hattenburg
7. Governance Manual Committee (City)-Pam Haley, Rod Higgins, Jessica Yaeger
8. Greater Spokane Inc. Board of Directors-Pam Haley
9. Housing & Community Development Advisory Committee-Tim Hattenburg, Ben Wick
10. Human Rights Task Force-Ben Wick, Al Merkel Alt.
11. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee-Rod Higgins
12. Mayors Association of Northeast Washington-Pam Haley
13. Opioid Abatement Council (new)-Al Merkel
14. Public Safety Committee (new)-Tim Hattenburg, Laura Padden, Ben Wick
15. Spokane Regional Transportation Council-Pam Haley, Rod Higgins, Tim Hattenburg Alt.
16. Strategic Planning Committee (new)-Pam Haley, Tim Hattenburg, Rod Higgins
17. Spokane Transit Authority-Pam Haley, Tim Hattenburg
18. Wastewater Policy Advisory Board-Rod Higgins, Jessica Yaeger
The motion to approve the Mayoral assignments passed unanimously.
 
At its January 2nd meeting, Council requested a review of the City Logo Policy and Governance Manual related social media guidelines. In a discussion of those guidelines and policies, Kelly Konkright, the City Attorney, explained in detail the rules for Councilmembers’ use of the City logo and using or implying City sponsorship of the Councilmember’s use of social media sites. This presentation was necessitated by the improper use of social media involving the City by a Council member.
 
Ordinance 24-001 is a city-initiated code text amendment revising City Code to provide flexibility in the number of required Planning Commission meetings. Currently, City Code requires the Commission to hold at least one regular meeting each month, in not less than nine months each year. Further, it would ensure that there are not two consecutive months without a meeting. The Planning Commission, after a public hearing, recommended Council adopt Ordinance 24-001.
 
In 2013, Council approved a franchise with Zayo Group, LLC for installation and maintenance of fiber optics telecommunications facilities within the City. The ten-year franchise has expired, and the Zayo Group has requested a ten-year renewal substantially along the same lines. With a few minor changes, and the Zayo Group concurrence, Council reached consensus to bring the renewal forward for a first reading.
 
The annual training required for Council members on the Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Request Training was conducted by City Attorney Konkright.
 
Several Council members will be traveling to Olympia to meet with legislators next week, thus, there will not be a Council meeting next Tuesday, January 16th.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are once again held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, on Tuesdays, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 

January 2,  2024

 
 

After the swearing in ceremony for re-elected Tim Hattenberg and newly elected Council Members Jessica Yaeger and Al Merkel in the renovated Council Chambers, the inaugural Council meeting of 2024 was opened by City Clerk, Marci Patterson, for the purpose of electing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the ensuing two years. Pam Haley was once again elected Mayor and Tim Hattenberg was elected as her deputy. In Spokane Valley’s Council-Manager form of government, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the City Council from within the sitting Council members. Mr. Hattenberg was just re-elected to a four-year term on City Council. 
 
Having completed the immediate business of the evening, Council took up a Staff recommendation to participate in applying for a state grant for inventorying City-owned trees located in developed parks and roadway landscaping areas. Records indicate that there are 2,200 such trees varying in size and condition. The grant funds would pay for tree maintenance work and tree planting over a three-year period. The resulting inventory would help position the City to meet the proposed requirements under the upcoming 2024-29 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coming in July 2024.
 
Staff recommends submitting a request for $225,000. The short time span for applications (January 8th) necessitates hiring a consultant to assist with the application. The motion to authorize the application for the Community Forestry Assistance Grant for $225,000 passed 6-1

In another application situation, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued a Call for Projects to help mitigate fatal and serious injury crashes through the City Safety Program (CSP). The Federal Highway Administration administers the program to the states under its Highway Safety Improvement Program. There is no match requirement. Applicants are required to provide a Local Road Safety Plan that addresses fatal or serious injury crashes and systemic safety needs. Spokane Valley’s most prominent crash types are Angle (T) and Hit  Pedestrian crashes, most typically occurring on arterial streets or state highways. Staff were seeking consensus on applying for such a grant.
 
The projects under consideration include the following proposals to mitigate angle (T) and Hit Pedestrian crashes:

ANGLE (T) Crashes  
1. Install roundabouts at:
a. South Barker Road & East 8th Avenue
b. South Barker Road * East 4th Avenue
c. SR-27 at East 16th Avenue, South Pines Road
d. East Mirabeau Parkway & East Mansfield Avenue

2. Video Analytics for Crash Analysis:
a. East Sprague Avenue at Sullivan Road
b. North Pines Road (SR-27) at East Mansfield Avenue
c. North Argonne Road at East Trent Avenue (SR-290)
d. South Pines Road (SR-27) at East 8th Avenue
e. East Sprague Avenue at Pines Road (SR-27)
f. North Sullivan Road Corridor, East Sprague Avenue to East Broadway to East Mission Avenue Hit Pedestrian Crashes

3. University High School Pedestrian Crossing Improvements
4. Sprague Avenue Pedestrian Crossing Improvements (SR-27 to Sullivan Road)
 
Council reached unanimous consensus to proceed with applying for the grant pending motion consideration at a future meeting.
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a call for projects in November 2023 for the RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) discretionary grant program. The City has previously applied for grants in this program under different acronyms (BUILD and TIGER). The Barker/BNSF project grant was awarded under TIGER.
 
The application due date is February 28th, 2024. The application award date is June 27th, 2024. If awarded, funds must be obligated by September 30, 2028. Staff recommend submitting the Sullivan & Trent Interchange Project for consideration. To date, the City has secured $6.6 million of grant funds and has set aside an additional One million dollars of local funds. That funding covers the engineering and right-of-way phases leaving the construction phase of the project still to be funded. The City’s grant request to the RAISE program will be $25 million as partial funding for the total estimated project cost of $42,340,000. Council reached consensus for staff to proceed with the RAISE application.
 
Spokane Valley City Council meetings are once again held in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, commencing at 6:00pm. City Hall is open for regular business during normal business hours (8:00am to 5:00pm). The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14
 

December 28,  2023

 
 
 

City Council Meetings Return to Spokane Valley City Hall

Spokane Valley, WA – Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, Spokane Valley City Council meetings will return to Council Chambers at City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue. Meetings have been temporarily held at the CenterPlace Regional Event Center since April 2023 due to construction at City Hall. 

New Councilmembers Jessica Yaeger and Al Merkel and returning Councilmember Tim Hattenburg will be sworn in just before this first Council meeting of the new year. 

City Council meetings happen every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Community members are encouraged to share their ideas and thoughts with the Council by attending meetings and speaking for up to three minutes during the public comment portions of the meeting. Citizens can participate in person or during meetings streamed online via Zoom. Meetings can also be watched live stream from the city’s website or broadcast on Comcast Channel 14. Meeting agendas, minutes and previously recorded meetings can be viewed at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas.

To learn more about City Council meetings and how to watch or participate, visit SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil. 

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                    
Jill Smith, Communications Manager
jsmith@SpokaneValleyWA.gov
d: 509-720-5411, c: 509-953-6695

December 19,  2023

 
 
 
The last meeting of 2023 for the Spokane Valley City Council was Tuesday, December 19th. It marks the end of a 13-year tenure on Council for Arne Woodard and six years for Brandi Peetz. On January 2nd, 2024, Council will resume business with the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor and swearing in of newly elected members.

However, the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting commenced with consideration of Resolution 23-013, adoption of a new Master Fee Schedule, repealing and replacing Resolution 22-023. The City’s Master Fee Schedule was established in December 2022. Implicit in that schedule was automatic inflation adjusted increases to reflect the escalating cost of doing business in these inflationary times. Thus far, departmental increases for 2024 are: Planning-3.12%, Building-3.90%, Parks & Recreation-(Swim lessons, $40 to $48), CenterPlace-various. For a more complete schedule of all fees, please see www.spokanevalleywa.gov. The motion to approve Resolution 23-013 passed unanimously.

The movement of City Council meetings to CenterPlace created administrative problems. Pursuant to state law, the City is required to identify and fix the date, time, and location of its regular meetings. That information has been included in the Council’s Governance Manual. The current situation necessitated that the Governance Manual be amended temporarily to reflect that Council meetings are held at CenterPlace on Tuesdays beginning at 6:00 PM.
Without that change in location being formally made, each meeting must be noticed as a ‘Special Meeting’ to comply with legal noticing regulations. Now, with Council meetings returning to City Hall on January 2nd, Council must formally approve that change.
Other Governance Manual changes relate to:
 Committee assignments. Delineating whose interests the Councilmember is representing when sitting on a committee,board, or commission.
Revisions to the State of Ethics. (See new appendix of the Governance Manual).
Time limits on individual Councilmember reports during City Council meetings.
City Council Media Policy. Providing clear guidelines to prevent Councilmembers from unintentionally violating the Open Public Meetings
Act and/or the Public Records Act.

Staff are preparing the draft Ethics Code which will include a process to address potential violations of the Governance manual where or when appropriate. The motion to approve the Governance Manual as presented passed 4-3. (Wick, Hattenberg, and Peetz, no) 
Each year amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan can be proposed for addition to the Comprehensive Plan Docket. Two such amendments were proposed, both by the City, and both were map amendments. The first, owned by Spokane Conservation District, is located at 4418 East 8th Avenue, and would change 44 acres from Multi-Family Residential (MFR) to Mixed Use. An additional piece would change 5.2 acres from MFR to Single-Family residential (SFR). The second plan amendment would change 0.83 acres owned by Family Promise of Spokane at 17103 E. Main Avenue from SFR to Corridor Mixed Use. The motion to approve the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Docket passed unanimously.

In the finalization of the Barker Road/BNSF rail crossing project and subsequent acquisitions of property, there has arisen the possible necessity for condemnation proceedings to continue acquiring required property. To accomplish this, the existing contract with the City’s consultant, David Evans and Associates, needs to be expanded by $25,000 from $3,171,274.69 to cover the possibility of needing expert testimony on probable court action. Any such requirement would be on-call as needed and paid for on a time and material basis. The motion to finalize and execute a supplemental agreement with the consultant passed unanimously.

Council considered and passed a 3% employee compensation adjustment and amended City Employee Pay Matrix. The motion to approve passed 5-2. (Wick and Padden, no) 

The City has envisioned a new 10-foot asphalt trail (the River Loop Trail) on the north side of the Spokane River mirroring the Centennial Trail on the south side. The proposed trail would be in two phases over 4.7 miles in length beginning at Plante’s ferry on the west and ending at Flora Road at the planned future Flora Park. However, funding and problems with properties that the trail would pass through have caused staff to recommend deferral of the project (both phases) until property rights and other matters can be resolved. Consensus was reached to do so.

A discussion on how to prioritize the spending of money in the Capital
Reserve Fund was the last item on the agenda. Consensus was reached to place funds in these accounts consideration of possible financial needs.
1. $600,000 for contingent City Hall repairs
2. $200,000 for planning for Barker/I-90 Interchange
3. $412,000 Replenish Service Level Stabilization Reserve Fund
4. The remainder, as yet undetermined, will be allocated to the City’s
Public Safety Campus
Consensus was reached to accept the tentative allocations.

This being our last opportunity, here’s wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a most Joyous and Prosperous New Year!
Barring unexpected difficulties, the January Spokane Valley City Council meeting will be in City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, commencing at 6:00pm on January 2nd, 2024.

City Hall, however, is otherwise open for regular business during normal business hours.
The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

December 12,  2023

 
 
 
As previously mentioned in this column, lots of business gets packed into the waning days of the year. This and next week are no exceptions. The business resumed with the second reading of Ordinance 23-024 establishing the Transportation Benefit District Tab Fee.

On October 24th, Council adopted Ordinance 23-018 forming a Transportation Benefit District (TBD). The TBD authorizes the City, under state law, to establish annual vehicle fees, taxes, and other revenue sources. Allowable uses for TBD funds are transportation improvements that construct, preserve, maintain and operate the existing and future transportation infrastructure of the City.

The newly created TBD is a separate legal entity. At its last meeting, Council adopted Ordinance 23-022, under which the City assumes the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the TBD. A complete copy of the ordinance can be found on the City website: www.spokanevalleywa.gov.

After Council discussion on funding the TBD to perform its intended use of maintaining City roads, consensus was reached to draft an Ordinance (23-024) establishing an annual vehicle license fee of $20 and the allowable uses for the funds collected. The motion to adopt Ordinance 23-024 passed 4-3 (Padden/Wick/Peetz-no).

On November 14, 2023, Council reached consensus to expand the use of its available CLFR (Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds) to include non-profits that provide human trafficking prevention. To that end, RFPs (Requests for Proposal) were solicited, with two responses: Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and the Jonah Project. Consideration of those proposals followed the presentation to Council by each entity using the same scoring system as the City’s Outside Agency Grants Program. The motion to not award any funds because neither applicant garnered sufficient Council votes to receive an award. The CLFR funds will remain for distribution at Council discretion.

On September 20th, 2022, Spokane Valley City Council established the Spokane Valley Tourism Promotion Area (TPA). Pursuant to the TPA, the Spokane Valley Hotel Commission (Commission) was formed. The Commission hired 116 & West as their marketing consultant. However, 116 & West did not have the qualifications to provide sporting events recruitment and marketing services for the City. Recognizing that, the Commission selected Spokane Sports to provide sports recruitment services. Spokane Sports, by request from the Commission, submitted a proposal to work with 116 & West to round out the package to brand the City as a “host city” for future sports events. That relationship continues through 2024 with the cost for 2024 increasing to $400,000 from 2023’s $300,000. The motion to approve the new contract passed unanimously.

On October 26th, the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) met to receive proposals from applicants and make suggestions for allocations of lodging tax revenues collected for the purpose of promoting conventions and tourist travel to the City. In addition to the usual applications, this year the City of Spokane Valley applied for $4.4 million to help fund a proposed cross-country track. The allocations made were: 
Applicant;  Amount Requested;  Amount Granted
Cody Productions;  $10,000;  $8,250
CNC Productions;  $10,000;  $7,000
Family Guide ; $15,000;  $12,000
JAKT—CRAVE;  $60,000 ; $48,750
JAKT—Farmer’s Market ; $20,000 ; $12,250
Northwest Winterfest; $45,000; $36,250
Spokane Conservation District;  $101,860;  $20,750
Spokane Fair & Expo Center;  $75,000;  $55,250
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum;  $37,500 $26,125
Spokane Valley HUB; $147,000; $147,000
Spokane Valley Summer Theatre; $25,000; $25,000
Victory Media; $50,000 $38,750
Washington State Quilters Spokane Chapter; $25,000; $17,500
WinterGlow Spectacular; $20,000; $3,750
Total; $641,360; $458,625
City of Spokane Valley/Spokane Sports; $4,400,000; $4,400,000


The two categories required two separate motions. Motion #1 was for the approval of the non-City allocations as presented, which passed unanimously. Motion #2 was for the allocation to the Cross-Country track for $4.4 million. This, too, passed unanimously.

In discussing the City’s 2024 Federal Legislative Agenda, the following Capital Projects are:
1. The Sullivan/Trent Interchange
2. South Barker Road Corridor Projects
3. Argonne Bridge at I-90
4. Barker/I-90 Interchange
Accompanying the Capital Projects are the following Policy Statements:
1. Concern over the unhoused and growing epidemic of substance abuse
2. Elimination of obstacles to efficient implementation of federal transportation 
      projects
3. Continuation of federal infrastructure partnerships

The motion to approve the 2024 Federal Legislative Agenda as presented passed unanimously.

In a housekeeping vote, Council unanimously approved a new presentation of its previously approved state legislative agenda. The amended presentation is with a different font allowing the entire arrangement to now be on one page front and back. The motion to approve the new form passed unanimously.
The contract for maintaining our parks is up for renewal. With the increase in the size and number of parks together with inflation driven costs for labor and supplies, Council chose to split the single contract into three pieces. When the request for proposals went out, there were three respondents. One eventually dropped out because of the uncertainty of the future cost increases. The other two, Senske Services, who is our current contractor, and Clearwater Summit Group, a Spokane Valley business, both submitted proposals.

The contract for maintaining our linear parks was awarded to Senske Services. The contract for maintaining our “signature” parks (Balfour, Mirabeau) was awarded to Clearwater Summit Group who is also currently involved in the construction of Balfour Park. The third piece, maintenance of the City’s “designated” parks, was awarded to Senske. The motion to approve those contract awards passed unanimously.

Each year amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan can be proposed for addition to the Comprehensive Plan Docket. This year, any such amendment had to be submitted prior to November 14th. Two such amendments were proposed, both by the City, and both were map amendments. The first, owned by Spokane Conservation District, is located at 4418 East 8th Avenue and would change 44 acres from Multi-Family Residential to Mixed Use. An additional piece would change 5.2 acres from MFR to Single-Family residential. The second plan amendment would change 0.83 acres owned by Family Promise of Spokane at 17103 E. Main Avenue from SFR to Corridor Mixed Use. A motion consideration is set for December 19th.

Currently, the City contracts with Spokane County for traffic signal, sign, and pavement marking maintenance. The County has up to now been able to meet the needs of the City. However, due to escalating costs and labor shortages, the County will be unable to meet our needs necessitating action by the City to address the problem. Doing so will require, from our assessment of needs, two signal technicians, additional tools and signal equipment, a bucket truck capable of reaching 35’ height for year-round use, an additional fleet service vehicle, and an external support contractor for after hours emergency response. The overall additional cost is estimated to be $5,100. Council reached consensus to continue negotiating a revised interlocal agreement and planning for absorbing the responsibilities of maintaining our own traffic signals.

City Council meetings are held in the Great Room at CenterPlace until further notice. City Hall, however, is open for business during normal business hours. The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.

December 5,  2023

 
 
 
As the year winds down, only three meetings, including this one, remain to finish City business. The push is to fit all of it into the remaining meetings. This meeting, in the Study Session format, opened with adoption of Ordinance 23-023, clarifying application of ‘clear view triangles.’ Clearview triangles deal with the visibility a motorist has when emerging from a street onto another residential street or arterial. If a clear view triangle doesn’t provide adequate sight lines to ensure safe access, then the situation is dealt with through the City Municipal Code. The City Planning Commission, in its deliberations, discovered a weakness; how to treat alleyways. Based on a Planning Commission recommendation, staff advised the City Code be amended to adopt the commission’s proposed changes. The motion to waive the rules and adopt Ordinance 23-023, amending City Code to include the proposed changes, passed 6-1, Wick-no.
 
On October 24th, Council adopted Ordinance 23-018 creating a new chapter, 3.85 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code, forming a Transportation Benefit District (TBD). The TBD authorizes the City, under state law, to establish annual vehicle fees, taxes, and other revenue sources. Allowable uses for TBD funds are transportation improvements that construct, preserve, maintain, and operate the existing and future transportation infrastructure of the City.
The newly created TBD is a separate legal entity. At its last meeting, Council adopted Ordinance 23-022, under which the City assumes the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the TBD. A complete copy of the ordinance can be found on the City website: www.spokanevalleywa.gov.
After Council discussion on funding of the TBD to perform its intended use of maintaining City roads, consensus was reached to draft an Ordinance (23-024) establishing an annual vehicle license fee of $20 and the allowable uses for the funds collected. The motion to move Ordinance 23-024 to a second reading passed 4-3 (Padden/Wick/Peetz-no).
 
Next was a motion consideration to adopt a Homeless Action Plan (Plan). The Plan is a high-level plan that provides a roadmap to address, reduce, and prevent homelessness in the City. Leading up to this action, Council has committed to operate its own homeless housing program and to meet all applicable legal and regulatory requirements set forth under state law. 
 
The plan has three primary objectives: 
To prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place whenever possible
To reduce existing levels of homelessness
To improve the quality of life for all Spokane Valley residents
 
The first half of the Plan provides possible strategies for Council to achieve these objectives as funding becomes available. It also provides information on funding sources and crisis/response systems. In committing to its own homeless plan, Council will also need to create a five-year plan before the end of 2024. The motion to adopt the Spokane Valley Homeless Action Plan passed unanimously.
 
Since 2020, Poe Asphalt has provided asphalt repair, roadway shoulder repair and grading, gravel road grading, crack sealing sidewalk and path repair, guardrail repair, fencing repair, drainage structure repair and installation, curb, gutter and inlet repair and installation and other related work as requested. The contract allows 2024 to be the final option year. Poe has provided a good level of service throughout the 2023 contract year and staff recommends exercising the 2024 option year on the contract. The motion to approve the 2024 contract renewal to Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. in an amount not to exceed $1,585,120 for street and stormwater maintenance passed unanimously.
 
In 2019, Council awarded AAA Sweeping, LLC a contract with options for up to four one-year renewals if mutually agreed by both parties. This is the fourth of four renewals. The 2024 option year contract amount will be $620,495.00. Contract specifications note that the parties may negotiate a rate increase for each option year, but it shall not be increased or decreased by more than the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) or 3% whichever is less. The CPI-U increased 7.7% for the contract period. Prevailing wage rates increased from 7.99% to 11.78%, and increased fuel prices. Those rates are capped at the 3% CPI rate noted above. Motion to approve the 2024 contract renewal passed unanimously.
 
The City’s Master Fee Schedule was established in December 2022. Implicit in that schedule was automatic inflation adjusted increases to reflect the escalating cost of doing business in these inflationary times. Thus far, departmental increases are: Planning-3.12%, Building-3.90%, Parks & Recreation-(Swim lessons, $40 to $48), CenterPlace-various. For specific fees, please see www.spokanevalleywa.gov. 
 
On September 20th, 2022, Spokane Valley City Council established the Spokane Valley Tourism Promotion Area (TPA). Pursuant to the TPA, the Spokane Valley Hotel Commission (Commission) was formed. The Commission hired 116 & West as their marketing consultant. However, 116 & West did not have the qualifications to provide sporting events recruitment and marketing services for the City. Recognizing that, the Commission selected Spokane Sports to provide sports recruitment services. Spokane Sports, by request from the Commission, submitted a proposal to work with 116 & West to round out the package to brand the City as a “host city” for future sports events. That relationship continues through 2024 with the cost for 2024 increasing to $400,000 from 2023’s $300,000. Consensus was reached to have execution of a contract addressed at an upcoming Council meeting.
 
An overview of 12 projects completed in 2023 was presented by Bill Helbig, Community & Public Works Director. The cost of those improvements was $27.5 million. A brief summary of those projects include:
• Barker Road/UPRR-Phase 2 Summerfield Local Access
• Hillview Estates Neighborhood University Place Neighborhood
• Balfour Park-Phase 1 Broadway Avenue Preservation
• Broadway and Park Intersection Park Road Sidewalk, Nora to Baldwin
• Sullivan Road Improvements Citywide Reflective Signpost Panels
• Mission Avenue Bridge-Evergreen Deck 8th Avenue Improvements Citywide
 
City Council meetings are held in the Great Room at CenterPlace until further notice. City Hall, however, is open for business during normal business hours. The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 
 

November 21,  2023

 
 
 
This meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council addressed an aggressive agenda containing business items that finalizes the City schedule for year-end completion. The meeting commenced with a public hearing on the proposed 2024 Budget. This was the third such public hearing and the 7th discussion point enroute to adoption.
 
The 2024 Budget’s recurring revenue estimate is $62,316,100 which is 10.45% ($5,897,200) greater than the 2023 budget. The recurring expenditure estimate of $57,976,579 is 7.83% ($4,210,099) more than the 2023 budget of $53,766,480. Estimated budgeted recurring revenues currently exceed recurring expenditures by $4,339,521 or 6.96% of recurring revenues. 
 
The full-time employee count will rise to 116.25, an increase of four employees. Three of those employees will be utilized in administering the Stormwater commitments authorized by Council earlier this year. The fourth will assume additional duties in the accounting department and our recording fee administration program.
 
Following the public hearing on Ordinance #23-021, which adopts the 2024 Budget, Council considered the ordinance and voted 6-1 (Woodard/no) to approve it. That completed the eight discussion points enroute to final adoption of the 2024 City Budget.
Since the last amendment to the City’s 2023 budget on May 30, 2023, a number of events have transpired necessitating a second 2023 Budget Amendment. Those changes resulted in revenue increases of $19,776,029 and expenditure increases of $17,132,199. 
A motion to advance Ordinance 23-020 to a Second Reading passed unanimously.
 
On October 24th, Council adopted Ordinance 23-018 creating a new chapter, 3.85 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code, forming a Transportation Benefit District (TBD). The new chapter:
a. Establishes a TBD with the same boundaries as the City.
b. The TBD governing board would be City Council.
c. The City is granted all authority allowed under state law (RCW 36.73) to:
i. Establish fees, taxes, and other revenue sources.
ii. Authorize annual vehicle fees.
iii. Submit fees, taxes, and other revenue sources to voters.
d. Identifies allowable uses for TBD funds.
i. Transportation improvements that construct, preserve, maintain, and 
    operate the existing and future transportation infrastructure of the City.
e. Identifies when the TBD is dissolved.
 
The newly created TBD is a separate legal entity. The law allows the City to assume the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the TBD. However, in order to do so, Council must adopt a resolution declaring its intention to consider assumption of the powers of the TBD and conduct a public hearing on the assumption of powers of the TBD. Then it must adopt an ordinance assuming the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the TBD.
 
A public hearing on November 14th was immediately followed by the first reading of Proposed Ordinance No. 23-022 which allows Council to assume the TBD powers. The motion to adopt Ordinance 23-022 passed 6-1 (Padden/no). A complete copy of the ordinance can be found on the City website: www.spokanevalleywa.gov.
 
Since 2005, the YMCA has operated the City’s three outdoor pools. The current contract with the ‘Y’ expires December 31st. The City will be updating its 6-year Parks & Recreation Master Plan in 2024 and 2025 and desires to extend the current contract for another 4-year term starting January 1, 2024, with two consecutive 3-year renewals. Motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the agreement for Operations and Maintenance of Vallely Pool Facilities passed unanimously.
 
Clearview triangles deal with the visibility a motorist has when emerging from a street onto another residential street or arterial. If a clear view triangle doesn’t provide adequate sight lines to ensure safe access, then the situation is usually dealt with through the City Municipal Code. The City Planning Commission has considered one such weakness; that is alleyways. Based on a Planning Commission recommendation, staff advises the City Code be changed to adopt the commission’s proposed changes. Consensus was reached to bring forward an ordinance to accomplish that.
 
Within Urban Growth Areas (UGAs), it has been agreed in inter-municipality discussions that “Within UGAs, it is most appropriate that urban government services be provided by cites and towns.” The City of Spokane Valley provides public safety, street related services such as plowing, stormwater, and sweeping. The City has retained the services of BERK Consulting to assess the areas adjacent to the City that might be suitable for annexation. BERK has provided a map in preparation for a report for presentation at a future Council meeting. A final report and analysis are expected before the end of the year.
 
The next meeting will be on December 5th.
 
City Council meetings are held in the Great Room at CenterPlace until further notice. City Hall, however, is open for business during normal business hours. The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 

November 14,  2023

 
 
 
Last Tuesday’s elections have significantly changed the makeup of the Spokane Valley City Council beginning January 2, 2024. What the ramifications of the change mean will be tested at the very first meeting on January 2nd. In the meantime, in the remaining five Council meetings in 2023, the agenda to finalize action on a variety of issues will be rapidly moving forward.
 
On October 24th, Council adopted Ordinance 23-018 creating a new chapter, 3.85 of the Spokane Valley Municipal Code, forming a Transportation Benefit District (TBD). The new chapter:
Establishes a TBD with the same boundaries as the City.
The TBD governing board would be City Council.
Grants to the City all authority allowed under state law (RCW 36.73)
May establish fees, taxes, and other revenue sources.
May authorize annual vehicle fees.
May submit fees, taxes, and other revenue sources to voters.
Identifies allowable uses for TBD funds.
Transportation improvements that construct, preserve, maintain, and operate the existing and future transportation infrastructure of the City.
Identifies when the TBD is dissolved.
 
The newly created TBD is a separate legal entity. The law allows the City to assume the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the TBD. However, in order to do so, Council must adopt a resolution declaring its intention to consider assumption of the powers of the TBD and conduct a public hearing on the assumption of powers of the TBD. Then it must adopt an ordinance assuming the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the TBD.
 
Resolution 12-012 set this meeting for the public hearing. The public hearing was immediately followed by the first reading of Proposed Ordinance No. 23-022 allowing the Council to assume the TBD powers. The motion to advance Ordinance 23-022 to a second reading passed 6-1 (Padden/no).   A complete copy of the ordinance can be found on the City website: www.spokanevalleywa.gov.
 
Reduction of nuisance properties is an issue that has prompted Council to deal with “junk vehicles” and parking on private property. The  issue has been the basis for several discussions and is once again up for consideration. In prior Council discussions, Council voiced concerns about definitions used to determine actionable offenses. That question is clarified by Ordinance 23-019 which defines the terms applying to the offensive action. “Chronic nuisance property,” “junk vehicle,” “nuisance/nuisance activities,” and “ongoing criminal activity” are all defined. The ordinance goes into much greater detail and can be found in its entirety at www.spokanevalleywa.gov. The motion to adopt Ordinance 23-019 passed unanimously.
 
The ongoing saga of change orders for the Barker Road/BNSF interchange with the Max J. Kuney Company has moved to approval of payment for Change Order Number 69 for $72,134.00. That brings the total of change order payments thus far to $2,076,184.63. The motion to approve Change Order Number 69 in the amount of $72,134.00 passed unanimously.
 
Having created a Transportation Benefit District, it now is incumbent upon its governing board (Council) to produce an acceptable method of funding. Since 2018, the City has reliably provided an annual average allocation of $8 million to the local street wear fee from available funds. Those funds, such as the telephone tax, have been in decline since its inception causing the need to increase the transfer of general operating funds to cover the increasing shortfall in road maintenance and preservation. Currently that transfer is just short of $5 million. 
 
Those transfers result in a reduction of available general funds for other priority purposes such as public safety, economic development, parks, homeless, and affordable housing services. The 2019-2020 Street Sustainability Committee suggested a TBD to address the problem with two suggestions for adequately funding the problem: 1) A vehicle license fee. Such a fee at the $20 level could raise an estimated $2.8 million and/or 2) A TBD sales tax. A 0.1% sales tax (based on 2022 sales tax collections) could produce an estimated $3,800,000. An attractive feature of this option is that approximately 48% of sales tax collections come from non-Valley residents. Council reached consensus for staff to create a plan for ascertaining the effect of a $20 tab fee.

In discussing the City’s 2024 Federal Legislative Agenda, the following Capital Projects are:
The Sullivan/Trent Interchange
South Barker Road Corridor Projects
Argonne Bridge at I-90
Barker/I-90 Interchange
Accompanying the Capital Projects are the following Policy Statements: 
Concern over the unhoused and growing epidemic of substance abuse
Elimination of obstacles to efficient implementation of federal transportation projects
Continuation of federal infrastructure partnerships
 
At its August 29th meeting, Council collected information about a partnership with Spokane County Behavioral Health and East Vallely School District for a student wellness program. Subsequently, the County opted to fully fund that program, releasing the City funds that had been identified as available if needed. Tonight’s discussion centered on other uses for those funds using an RFP (Request for Proposal) system for applications. The available funds are approximately $1,000,000.
 
Since 2005, the YMCA has operated the City’s three outdoor pools. The current contract with the ‘Y’ expires December 31st. The City will be updating its 6-year Parks & Recreation Master Plan in 2024 and 2025 and wants to extend the current contract for another 4-year term starting January 1, 2024, with minor revisions. Consensus was reached to proceed.
 
On October 26th, the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) met to receive proposals from applicants and make suggestions for allocations of lodging tax revenues collected for the purpose of promoting conventions and tourist travel to the City. In addition to the usual applications, this year the City of Spokane Valley applied for $4.4 million to help fund a proposed cross-country track. The allocations made were:
Amount    Amount 
APPLICANT; Amount Requested; Amount Granted
Cody Productions; $10,000; $8,250
CNC Productions; $10,000; $7,000
Family Guide; $15,000; $12,000
JAKT—CRAVE; $60,000; $48,750
JAKT—Farmer’s Market; $ 20,000; $12,250
Northwest Winterfest; $45,000; $36,250
Spokane Conservation District; $101,860; $20,750
Spokane Fair & Expo Center; $75,000; $55,250
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum; $37,500; $26,125
Spokane Valley HUB; $147,000; $147,000
Spokane Valley Summer Theatre; $25,000; $25,000
Victory Media; $50,000; $38,750
Washington State Quilters-Spokane Chapter; $25,000; $17,500
WinterGlow Spectacular; $20,000; $3,750
Total; $641,360; $458,625
City of Spokane Valley/Spokane Sports; $4,400,000; $4,400,000
 
City Council meetings are held in the Great Room at CenterPlace until further notice. City Hall, however, is open for business during normal business hours. The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 
 

November 7,  2023

 
 
 
The Spokane Valley City Council met in a special session on Monday to hear a presentation by Richard Brady, President of Matrix Consulting Group, retained to evaluate the City’s law enforcement condition and make recommendations for improvement. The meeting took place a day earlier because Council traditionally does not meet on election day.
 
The report, being very lengthy and, at this time, of extreme importance to the City, can be viewed in its entirety at www.spokanevalleywa.gov.
The objectives of the study were fourfold:
1. Analyze police workloads and service levels.
2. Compare police services in Spokane Valley to best practices.
3. Evaluate staffing levels and operations.
4. Evaluate opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of police services.

With those objectives in mind, the findings and recommendations were made in the following areas:
1. Administration 2. Shared Services 3. Patrol Operations 4. Property and Drug Crimes
These areas were studied using extensive interviews with Sheriff’s Office personnel serving the City and collection of data to support the complete analysis of all police functions in the City. A comparison of operations management practices against best practices in law enforcement together with an extensive review with the City and Sheriff’s Office.

Recommendations for Patrol:
1. Increase patrol staffing by 9 officers (to 58). Also add one patrol sergeant. Not unexpected since the Valley patrol ranks have been habitually understaffed.
2. The increased number would make service capabilities throughout the day consistent while providing for proactive response enhancements.
3. Adding officers also increases the span of control for field supervisors (sergeants).
4. Achieving the productivity level expected from the suggested numbers should deliver a high level of service.
 
Recommendation for Traffic Enforcement and Investigations:
1. Increase the traffic enforcement staff by two deputies.
2. Deploying traffic deputies to better cover evenings would provide more visibility at important times.
3. Traffic accident investigations are often handled by non-specialized staff. Increasing investigative staff by one would provide more expertise for this type of investigation.
 
Homeless Outreach and Behavioral Health would be better served by an additional deputy. The addition would provide better coverage throughout the week. The consultant also recommends two civilian mental health staff for the co-responsive team for the City.

Currently, a sergeant and 10 detectives handle City only cases not otherwise addressed by the Major Crimes Unit in a ‘shared’ capacity. The consultant recommends an additional sergeant and 6 more detectives to provide the necessary resources for more effective coverage.
 
In summary, the consultant recommends 118 officers dedicated exclusively to the City. This is an increase of 26 from the current 92. In the Shared Resources (between the County and the City), the consultant suggests a new total of 42 deputies, an increase of three over the current 39.
 
The City is confronted with a sizeable increase in law enforcement personnel (29) at a cost per person of between $150,000 and $200,000. At a time when inflation and other current events are placing severe stress on the City’s resources and the law enforcement profession, this poses a most vexing problem.
In other events on this week’s calendar, election of three Spokane Valley City Council positions were on the ballot:
Spokane Valley City Council:
Position #2: Jessica Yeager vs. Rachel Briscoe.  
Position #3: Arne Woodard vs. Al Merkel
Position #6: Rob Chase vs. Tim Hattenberg.
 
As this goes to press (11/07/23) the initial results are:
Yeager defeating Briscoe 63%--35%
Woodard losing to Merkel 34%--65%
Chase losing to Hattenberg 46%--54%
 
City Council meetings are held in the Great Room at CenterPlace until further notice. City Hall, however, is open for business during normal business hours. The Public is invited to Council meetings 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. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14.
 

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