2014, 01-07 Minutes Study session MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
STUDY SESSION FORMAT
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley,Washington
January 7,2014 6:00 p.m.
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Dean Grafos,Mayor Mike Jackson,City Manager
Arne Woodard,Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Bill Bates, Councilmember Mark Calhoun,Finance Director
Chuck Hafner, Councilmember Mike Stone,Parks &Recreation Director
Rod Higgins, Councilmember John Hohrnan, Community Development Dir.
Ed Pace, Councilmember Scott Kuhta, Planning Manager
Ben Wick, Councilmember Eric Guth,Public Works Director
Rick VanLeuven,Police Chief
Carolbelle Branch,Public Information Officer
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
In the absence of a Mayor, City Clerk Bainbridge called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll;all Councilmembers were present.
Also in the absence of a Mayor, City Manager Jackson announced that at the end of tonight's meeting,
Council will adjourn into Executive Session to discuss potential litigation.
1. Council Officer Elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor—Chris Bainbridge
City Clerk Bainbridge explained the procedure for the selection of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and opened
the floor for nominations for Mayor. Councilmember Pace nominated Councilmember Dean Grafos.
Councilmember Bates nominated Councilmember Chuck Hafner. There were no further nominations and
the nominations for Mayor were closed. Ballots were distributed to each Councilmember for voting
purposes, with the following results for Mayor: voting for Councilmember Grafos for Mayor included
Councihnembers Grafos, Higgins, Pace, and Woodard; voting for Councilmember Hafner included
Councilmembers Bates, Hafner, and Wick. By majority of those Councilmembers present,
Councilmember Grafos was selected as Mayor. Mayor Grafos opened the floor for nominations for
Deputy Mayor. Councilmember Higgins nominated Councilmember Woodard. Councilmember Wick
nominated Councilmember Wick. There were no further nominations and the nominations for Deputy
Mayor were closed. Ballots were distributed to each councilnember for voting purposes, with the
following results for Deputy Mayor: voting for Councilmember Woodard for Deputy Mayor included
Councilmembers Pace, Hafirer, Higgins, Woodard, and Mayor Grafos. Voting for Councilmember Wick
included Councilmembers Bates and Wick. By majority of those Councilmembers present,
Councilmember Woodard was selected as Deputy Mayor.
2. Alki Street Vacation(13400 Block of Alki)—Christina Janssen
Councilmember Bates stated that when he was on the Planning Commission, a request to vacate this
portion of the right-of-way was considered and the Commission recommended to Council that it be
granted; he said because the was involved in making a recommendation, he feels it is appropriate to recuse
himself from the discussion and decision on this matter, and he left the dais and the room at 6:12 p.ni.
Planner Janssen explained the proposed vacation per her PowerPoint presentation. In response to
Council's question, she explained that if the area were not vacated, it would result in one less unit. After
Ms. Janssen explained the Findings associated with this proposed vacation, Councilmember Wick asked
Council Study Session 01-07-2014 Page I of 2
Approved by Council:01-14-2014
about the parcel 1#45154.0605 that appears wouldn't have access to Broadway or Valleyway, and said it
appears to be landlocked if Alki doesn't go through. Ms. Janssen said she will look into that and see if
that lot is large enough for subdivision, and that she'll bring back information at the first reading. There
was Council consensus to bring this forward for Council's first reading at an upcoming meeting.
Councilmember Bates returned to the meeting at 6:21 p.m.
3.Light Industrial Uses—John Hohman, Scott Kuhta
Community Development Director Holtman explained that the purpose of this agenda item is to review
the goals, policies, and text in the comprehensive plan related to light industrial. Planning Manager
Kuhta went over the materials contained in the council packet including the memorandum explaining
Spokane Valley's light industrial policies and zoning; as well as a brief comparison of our City's policies
with those of Spokane County and Spokane City. Director Holtman mentioned that we want to protect
industrial areas, and said one of the benefits is our very diverse economy; and goal and policies are set to
protect certain areas like industrial, and said we don't want to mix retail and other things in there as it
would take away from industrial uses or manufacturing and processing where more internal space is
needed; he said we have a lot of retail and commercial available areas within our corridors; that we
previously had a request for a gymnastics training facility to locate in the light industrial, but that is no
longer an issue. Mayor Grafos indicated his agreement with Mr. Hohman and said there are many
permitted uses in the light industrial zone and he feels we are getting close to the right balance of
industrial and retail, and said there is a big benefit to having the industrial area. Although Councilmember
Woodard was hesitant to give his consensus, the remaining Councilmembers agreed not to pursue this at
this time; and if something develops in the future,that can be addressed then.
4. Information Only The Department Monthly Reports, and University Overpass Study Update were for
information only and were not reported or discussed.
5. Advance Agenda---Mayor Grafos
City Manager Jackson said that Mayoral appointments of Councilmembers to various committees is
scheduled for next week, and that each Councilmember has a list of current committees at the dais. After
brief discussion, it was determined that the appointments will be made at the January 21 meeting instead
of the January 14 meeting, thus giving Councilmembers time to review possible committee appointments.
6. Council Check-in—Mayor Grafos
Deputy Mayor Woodard mentioned a newspaper article about increased permitting in Spokane Valley;
and Councilmember Wick asked about the possibility of not holding the January 28 Council meeting as
he and another councilmember will be unavailable due to attending the legislative conference in Olympia.
7. City Manager Comments—Mike Jackson
Mr. Jackson extended congratulations to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and welcomed the new
Councilmembers.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: It was moved by Councilmember Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed
to adjourn into executive session for approximately forty-five minutes to discuss potential litigation, and
that no action will be taken upon return to open session. Council adjourned into Executive Session at
6:51 p.m. At 7:10 p.m., Mayor Grafos declared Council out of executive session; at which time it was
moved by Councilmember Higgins, seconded, and unanimously agreed to adjourn.
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Kristine Bainbridge, 'amity Clerk
Council Study Session 01-07-2014 Page 2 of 2
Approved by Council:0I-14-2014
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