2002, 12-17 Study Session Minutes i
• INFORMATION ONLY—Ne-r., ION REQUIRED
City of Spokane Valley
City Council
Study Session Notes
December 17, 2002
Mayor Mike DeVleming opened the Study Session at 7:36 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Mike DeVlcming, Deputy Mayor Diana Wilhite,
Councilmembers Dick Denenny, Mike Flanigan, Rich Munson, Gary Schimmels, and
Steve Taylor.
Staff present: interim City Manager Lee Walton, interim Deputy City Manager Stan
McNutt, Interim Finance Director Robert Noack, Interim Community Development
Director Jim Harris, Interim Public Works Director Dick Warren, Interim Administrative
Assistant Karin Bosworth, and Interim City Clerk Ruth Muller.
Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA): interim Manager Walton introduced
Lewis Leigh, Executive Director of WCIA. Mr. Leigh provided Council with a
prospective member manual for Spokane Valley. Leigh reviewed various points that
Council should consider in evaluating services of insurance providers including financial,
membership mix, insuring agency attention to the principles of a city, toughest exposures
covered, contingency plans for hard markets, and pricing policy (should be simple).
Leigh said that WCIA will provide trainers, consultants, and attorneys for Spokane
Valley and indicated that the agency does have six employees from Eastern Washington,
so are familiar with needs of this area. Responding to questions from councilmembers,
Leigh said that WCiA has decided to cover terrorism exposures at no premium increase
since there have been no losses to gauge premium costs, and that Spokane Valley's
premium for police exposure should be quite low if a decision is made to contract for this
service.
Cities Insurance Association of Washington (CLAW): Interim Manager Walton
introduced David Canfield, President of Canfield & Associates, Inc., Administrator for
the CIA NV program. Mr. Canfield reviewed the membership makeup of CIA«, services
provided to cities, training provided, management of claims, coverages included with
premium cost, philosophy of CLAW for coverage of issues, and rates. Responding to
questions from councilmembers, Canfield said that CLAW is selective about membership
approval since some larger cities do have losses that C1AW does not wish to cover, that
CLAW is capable of dealing with problems presented by a city with a large population as
they have many large school and special purpose districts included in the pool, and
reviewed the breakdown of self-insurance and purchased additional coverage.
Law Enforcement Transition Committee: Terry Lynch, 4412 East Sprague Avenue,
Chair of the Public Safety Transition Committee,reported that this committee consisted
of two sub-committees. Contracting for police services was addressed by one sub-
Council Study Session Notes,Dec. 17,2002
committee and developing the City's own municipal police department was addressed by
the other sub-committee.
Fred Burns, chair of the sub-committee for in-house police services introduced committee
members. Burns reported that after thorough review of what is involved in operating and
staffing a police department, it is the sub-committee's recommendation that Spokane
Valley not establish its own police department at this time.
Patty Potszki, co-chair of the sub-committee for contracting police services reported that
this sub-committee reviewed guidelines for each subject addressed in the County
Sheriffs proposal. The sub-committee recommends that the City negotiate with the
County Sheriff's department for police services for Spokane Valley. Potszki responded
to questions from the Council.•
Raymond Seeley, 11012 East 22nd, said that he thinks that Spokane Valley should
eventually establish its own, professional police department.
The mayor commended all committee members for taking on this very difficult task to
provide information and give options so that the Council can make an informed decision.
Spokane County Sheriff Department: Bill Crawford, 15209 East Callis Court, and co-
chair of the sub-committee for contracting police services introduced Cal Walker from
the Spokane County Sheriff Department. Walker reviewed a presentation of the services
that could be provided to Spokane Valley based upon the contract that may be negotiated
with Spokane County Sheriff's Department for providing police services.
Joint Spokane Valley City Council and Spokane County Commissioners Meeting:
A meeting notice including agenda items was provided to councilmembers for the joint
meeting with County commissioners on December 18, 2002, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. at
the Spokane County Cooperative Extension Building, 222 North Havana.
There being no further items for discussion, Mayor DeVleming closed the study session
at 9:35 p.m.
Interim City Clerk
NOTE: It is our practice to provide Study Session Notes for information, but these
are not included as action items on Council agendas.
Council Study Session Notes,Dec, 17,2002 2