2013, 10-22 Regular Meeting MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Regular Meeting
Formal Meeting Format
Tuesday, October 22,2013
Mayor Towey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Attendance: City Staff:
Tom Towey,Mayor Mike Jackson,City Manager
Gary Schimmels, Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell,City Attorney
Dean Grafos, Councilmember Mark Calhoun,Finance Director
Chuck Hafner, Councilmember Erik Lamb,Deputy City Attorney
Rod Higgins,Councilmember John Hohman, Community Dev Director
Ben Wick, Councilmember Eric Guth,Public Works Director
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Mike Stone,Parks&Rec Director
Marty Palaniuk, Planner
Morgan Koudelka, Sr.Administrative Analyst
Rick VanLeuven,Police Chief
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: Pastor Isaac Hebden of The Intersection Church gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Towey led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Councilmembers were present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously
agreed to approve the agenda.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
October Community Recognition, Presentation of Key and Certificate Mayor Towey
As part of the continuing monthly Community Recognition Program, Mayor Towey presented the Valley
Heritage Museum with the Certificate of Appreciation and key to the City, and thanked all those who
work and volunteer at the museum, for preserving and presenting this city's history. Museum Director
Jayne Singleton accepted the certificate and key, and thanked the Mayor and Council for this recognition;
after which she introduced some of the museum volunteers, and extended thanks to them as well, and said
she is here tonight accepting this key and certificate because over nine years ago, she and others asked if
the Opportunity Township Hall could be used for the purpose of establishing a museum for the newly
incorporated city.
COMMITTEE,BOARD,LIAISON SUMMARY REPORTS:
Councilmember Hafner: reported that he attended an STA (Spokane Transit Authority) meeting where
they discussed future funding issues; said he went to a freight mobility conference where he heard that
40% of all jobs in Washington are somehow tied to trade; went to the domestic violence workshop;
attended the Regional Health Board Executive Committee meeting; went to the AWC (Association of
Washington Cities) workshop where they discussed 2014 Iegislative priorities,which included discussion
on restoring local liquor revenue sharing; and attended the crime prevention workshop at CenterPlace.
Councilmember Higgins: said he attended a SCOPE Crime prevention seminar where they discussed the
legalities of concealed carry permits and firearm safety.
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Deputy Mayor Schimmels: said he attended an STA Committee meeting; went to an SRTC (Spokane
Regional Transportation Council) meeting; at the Mayor's behest, attended the NE Mayors' Quarterly
meeting in Republic; attended the freight mobility convention last week; and went to the AWC Regional
meeting.
Councilmember Grafos: said he was out of the area over the last few weeks and therefore had no report.
Councilmember Wick: reported that he participated in the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting
concerning funding allocations, and said that topic will be coming to Council next week.
Councilmember Woodard: said the attended a "state of the green economy" meeting downtown with the
Governor and other panelists; participated in the HCDAC (Housing and Community Development
Advisory Committee) meeting regarding available funds; mentioned Visit Spokane's annual booking
visitor nights in the Valley resulted in about $42 million in revenue; and said he attended several
Chamber of Commerce events.
MAYOR'S REPORT:
Mayor Towey reported that he attended the grand opening of the NW Cancer Care Facility; went to the
"Hire-ability" luncheon; attended the Governor's presentation on the state of clean economy with the
focus on clean future technology, climate change, and job creation; attended the domestic violence
leadership meeting at the Courthouse; was invited to the United Health Credit Union groundbreaking for
their new facility; participated in the AWC Regional conference; had his monthly meeting with
Superintendent Small, Mayor Peterson and Commissioner O'Quinn; went to the grand opening of the
Buffalo Wings; and today attended the crime prevention conference.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Towey invited public comments. Juli Cough, 106 N Banner Road,
spoke concerning her desire to have Iaw enforcement officers wear body cameras; said it makes officers
more effective and wastes less time in court and said she hopes there will be funds to get that technology
for our law enforcement officers.
1. CONSENT AGENDA: Consists of items considered routine which are approved as a group. Any
member of Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered
separately.
a.Approval of the following claim vouchers:
VOUCHER LIST VOUCHER NUMBERS TOTAL AMOUNT
10-04-2013 30388-30423 $51,025.12
10-07-2013 30424-30475; 930130037; 1002130158 $2,105,777.47
10-14-2013 30481-30537; 1003130028 $1,183,540.22
GRAND TOTAL $3,340,342.81
b.Approval of Payroll for Pay Period Ending October 15,2013: $$226,839,28
c.Approval of October 3, 2013, Special Council Meeting Minutes
d.Approval of October 8,2013, Council Formal Format Meeting Minutes
e.Approval of October 15,2013 Council Meeting, Study Session Format
f.Approval of Resolution 13-009, Setting Planning Commission Public Hearing for Street Vacation
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the Consent
Agenda.
NEW BUSINESS:
2. Second Reading Proposed Property Tax Ordinance 13-014 —Mark Calhoun
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and
seconded to approve Ordinance 13-014 levying regular property taxes for 2014. Finance Director
Calhoun explained about the 1%allowed increase in property tax, and that this ordinance does not include
a 1% increase. In response to a question from Council, Mr. Calhoun said if we implemented the 1%tax
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Approved by Council: 11-12-2013
increase, it would amount to about $109,000 for the calendar year. Councilmember Wick said he is
amazed how much of our budget goes to public safety, which is a high priority; said whether Council
takes the 1% increase or not that if we don't maintain levels and the cost keeps increasing at 5%,
eventually we will have to cut something or hope the economy improves; and said that the approximate
$110,000 gives a little more flexibility, and would amount to about $1 or$2 annually per citizen. Mayor
Towey invited public comment; no comments were offered. After other brief council discussion
concerning the pros of not taking the tax increase, Councilmember Wick said he would hope Council
would re-consider use of some of those REET (real estate excise tax) funds to offset some general fund
street preservation. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Mayor Towey, Deputy Mayor Schimmels, and
Councilmembers Hafner, Higgins, Grafos and Woodard. Opposed: Councilmember Wick. Motion
carried
3. Second Reading Proposed Ordinance 13-015 Amending 2013 Budget—Mark Calhoun
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schinunels and
seconded to approve Ordinance 13-015 amending Ordinance 12-024 adopting a budget for the period
Janua,y 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 as subsequently amended by Ordinance 13-006. Finance
Director Calhoun gave a brief explanation of the proposed changes to the budget. Mayor Towey invited
public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unafriurous. Opposed.
None. Motion carried.
4. Second Reading Proposed Ordinance 13-016 Adopting 2014 Budget—Mark Calhoun
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and
seconded to approve Ordinance 13-016 adopting the 2014 budget. Finance Director Calhoun explained
some of the reasons for the $1.5 million increase in public safety, which he said is partly due to the
communications budget folded into law enforcement, along with escalators for labor costs in as yet-to-be-
settled law enforcement labor contract, along with anticipated inflationary increases; he also noted the
budget is balanced with $490.00 in revenues over expenditures, and said we will spend $568,000 of
reserves for some one-time items, which will give us an ending 2014 general fund balance of $20.5
million, and a 54.7% reserve which is just slightly over the 50% reserve goal amount, Mayor Towey
invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous.
Opposed:None. Motion carried
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Towey invited public comment; no comments were offered.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
5.Proposed Street Vacation(STY 2013-0001 Alki)—Marty Palaniuk
Planner Palaniuk explained the background of this proposed street vacation, and said that after their
public hearing, the PIanning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the proposal; he
said the applicant seeks the vacation of an unimproved, half-width, right-of-way section of Alki
approximately 111 feet long by 19 feet wide with a 50-foot radius cul-de-sac; and that the vacated cul-de-
sac would be replaced through the dedication of an emergency access turnaround. Mayor Towey asked
Council if there were any objections to proceed with a first ordinance reading November 12, and no
objections were expressed.
6,Balfour Park/Library Conceptual Plan--Mike Stone
Parks and Recreation Director Stone said that this is the final update for the preferred plan as part of the
process followed this past year for the conceptual site plan; he said the process is and has been exciting
and has gone extremely quickly since Council approved the property purchase and interlocal agreement;
and he went over some of the processes Council, staff, and the design consultant team have gone through
over the last year, Mr. Stone said that the Library initially purchased 2.5 acres of this site and will be
purchasing an additional .32 acres; and he thanked Council, City Manager Jackson, and City Attorney
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Approved by Council: 11-12-2013
Driskell for their support and willingness to improve our City's quality of life; and he also extended
thanks to Library Board Executive Director Nancy Ledeboer, members of the Board, Library Public
Services Manager Doug Stumbough, City Engineer Steve Worley, and the members of the steering
committee including Mindy Rowe, Denise Sutton, and Linda Thompson, and he extended thanks as well
to his Parks and.Recreation Staff and particularly to Patty Bischoff, and to the City's Public Information
Officer Carolbelle Branch for keeping the public informed and for updating the information on our
website. After Mr. Stone went through his PowerPoint presentation, he asked if there was Council
consensus to bring Council a motion consideration at next week's council meeting to accept the Plan; and
there were no objections from Council to moving forward.
Mayor Towey called for a short recess at 7:25 p.m.; he reconvened the meeting at 7:37 p.m.
7.Library Capital Facility Area—Cary Driskell
City Attorney Driskell explained that in order for the Library District to put the bond issue on the ballot,
elected officials of each affected jurisdiction are required to pass a resolution authorizing creation of the
capital facility area that includes their city or county; that if approved, this Resolution would not
constitute a statement for or against the proposed ballot measure, but would only authorize Spokane
County to include Spokane Valley in the capital facility area. There were no objections to staff bringing
this back for a motion consideration next week.
8. Traffic School Amended Interlocal Agreement—Morgan Koudelka
Senior Administrative Analyst Koudelka explained that Council approved the Traffic School Interlocal
Agreement on January 10, 2012; that the County had agreed to a one-year agreement to ensure there were
no cost overruns, as at that time we agreed only to find the school through participant fees. Mr.
Koudelka said in 2012 there was over $100,000 in traffic school revenues from Spokane Valley
infractions so the school appears to be running well, and mentioned our net loss of about $60,000 in our
general revenue. There were no objections to staff bringing this back for a motion consideration next
week.
9.Advance Agenda—Mayor Towey
Councilmember Grafos asked about adding an historic site/building program as part of our economic
development and/or to determine our inventory of historic buildings. There were no objections from
Council to have this as a future topic and Mr. Jackson said the topic will be added to the pending items on
the Advance Agenda.
INFORMATION ONLY (will not be reported or discussed):
The (10) Approved Planning Commission Minutes of September 12, 2013; and (11) Department Reports
were for information only and were not reported or discussed.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
City Manager Jackson mentioned that lobbyist Briahna Taylor will be here next week to discuss
legislative issues, said she will have a PowerPoint presentation on the transportation revenue packet; will
discuss the upcoming 2014 legislation session and what occurs in even numbered sessions, and said we
will discuss our capital funding request for such items as the Appleway Trail and joint park and library
site, and that we will formulate our legislative agenda at a later date. Mr. Jackson said we will also go
over the AWC agenda and decide what is critical to our council; and he asked if Council has any other
legislative concerns,to please let him know.
12.EXECUTIVE SESSION: [RCW 42.30.110(1)(g}] Review the Performance of a Public employee
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schinrmels, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn into executive
session for approximately one horn' to review the performance of a public employee and to discuss
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Approved by Council: 11-12-2013
potential litigation, and that no action will be taken upon return to open session. Council adjourned into
Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. At approximately 8:55 p.m., Mr. Jackson announced in open council
chambers,that the Executive Session would be extended for an hour. At approximately 9:47 p.m.,Mayor
Towey declared Council out of Executive Session, and immediately thereafter it was moved by Deputy
Mayor Schirmnels, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn.
7:)/7-
AT TES ' homas E, owey,Mayor
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk 1
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Approved by Council: 11-12-2013
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