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2006, 07-18 Study Session MinutesMINUTES CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION Tuesday, July 18, 2006 Mayor Wilhite called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m., and welcomed everyone to the meeting. Present: Councilmembers: Diana Wilhite, Mayor Steve Taylor, Deputy Mayor Mike DeVleming, Councilmember Bill Gothmann, Councilmember Rich Munson, Councilmember Gary Schimmels, Councilmember Dick Denenny, Councilmember Staff: Dave Mercier, City Manager Nina Regor, Deputy City Manager Mike Connelly, City Attorney Ken Thompson, Finance Director Cal Walker, Police Chief Steve Worley, Senior Engineer - Capital Projects Neil Kersten, Public Works Director Mike Thompson, Fire Chief Tom Scholtens, Building Official Mike Jackson, Parks & Recreation Director Marina Sukup, Community Development Dir John Hohman, Senior Engineer Carolbelle Branch, Public Information Officer Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk Carrie Acosta, Deputy City Clerk Employee Introductions: City Clerk Bainbridge introduced Deputy City Clerk/Human Resources Assistant Carrie Acosta. Building Official Scholtens then introduced Right -of -way Inspector Scott Wallace. Councilmembers greeted and welcomed all the new employees. 1. Roundabouts — Steve Worley and Brian Walsh of Washington State Department of Transportation Senior Engineer Worley introduced Brian Walsh who discussed using roundabouts for intersection control. In the 1950's the traffic circle was essentially done away with, but recently cities are starting to bring them back. By yielding to circulating traffic upon entry the roundabout creates better traffic flow and higher safety - 8 conflict points at the intersection versus 32 conflict points at stop sign controlled intersections. Roundabouts can go into any intersection, providing greater safety due to lower speeds. The intersection of Mansfield and Montgomery is to be the first roundabout for Spokane Valley. Mayor Wilhite thanked Mr. Walsh for the information and his presentation. 2. EDC 2nd Quarter Report — Jim Huttenmaier, Economic Development Council Mr. Huttenmaier reported that Healthcare Resource Group is moving into the City boundaries and Guardsmart has also located in the Spokane Valley. The Spokane area continues to be attractive to businesses looking to locate here. Robin Toth discussed the business tax incentive and the Community Empowerment Zone. They are currently working on a regional website — Site Selector — and would like to see Spokane Valley partner with them along with City of Spokane, Spokane County, and Avista. Councilmember DeVleming asked how the positive and negative activities in Spokane effects recruitment of businesses. Mr. Huttenmaier expressed that any publicity is good publicity, just by getting people to talk about Spokane; however it doesn't effect the recruitments. Businesses want to locate where they will be profitable and where it is easy for them to conduct business. Meeting Minutes: 07 -18 -06 Page 1 of 4 Approved by Council: 08 -22 -06 3. Right -of -way Ad Hoc Committee — Tom Scholtens During a Council meeting on April 1 lth, staff was directed by Council to develop an ad hoc committee to discuss construction and activity in the Right -of -way. City staff is currently reviewing the requirements of state law and the City's insurance carrier concerning non -cut aspects of permitting and Right -of -way construction. Mr. Scholtens introduced three of the committee members: Patty Shea — Avista, Dave Johnson — Qwest, Norm Laughton — Fire Dept. Ms. Shea thanked Mr. Scholtens and council for inviting the committee to participate in the meeting and complimented him on a job well done. The members discussed the different permitting requirements and the consensus of the committee with regard to determining the different factors that come into play. The committee will be meeting with city staff to decide what policy will need to bring forward and will report back to Council on August 8th to continue the discussion. 4. Revision of Sign Code Committee — Marina Sukup Community Development Director Sukup would like to get direction from council as to how they would like to modify the composition of the sign code committee. The Planning Commission expressed interest in having two members of the Planning Commission serve on the committee if it is expanded. Ms. Sukup asked council to specify interest groups and proportion of representation on the committee and to define a scope of review. Councilmember Munson suggested reopening the committee for reapplication to appointment to open the doors to anyone interested. Deputy Mayor Taylor stated he believed that would be disruptive to the process. He indicated any suggested changes should be taken to the committee to have them address the issues and move forward. Councilmember DeVleming would like to expand the committee by adding two people: one representative from the automotive retail and one from a small restaurant /retail business owner. Consensus from Council is to expand the committee by two as indicated and have the committee address the clarification of terms looking at pennants, streamers and flags as well as looking at portable signs. Staff will request a Public Service Announcement and place an advertisement to solicit the public to apply. Mayor Wilhite called for a break at 7 :30 p.m. The study session was reconvened at 7 :40 p.m. 5. Impact Fees — Mike Connelly City Attorney Connelly outlined some of the different impact fees that can be set up that will address the immediate impacts of development. He explained that right now there is nothing in place that will address the remote or long -term impacts of development. An impact fee scheme allows the city to define regions and identify improvements necessary in that region assuming that it builds out according to the comprehensive plan. This satisfies the state requirement for concurrency, taking away the problem of whether the traffic standards and LOS (level of service) are the same and the problem of the remote infrastructure needs not being funded. Concurrency regulation stipulates that if concurrency is not met, no development can take place unless improvements are made to keep the levels of service that meet the impacts of development. The City can choose which impact fees it wants to impose and does not need approval from the County. Impact fees make the comprehensive plan real by identifying where the City will be in 20 years, figuring out what it will cost and divide the cost amongst the growth anticipated to occur. It also provides absolute certainty for the developer and consistency in funding transportation and park needs. The costs to the City for analysis for impact fees: Parks: $50,000; Schools: None; Traffic: $250,000 plus or minus City Manager Mercier stated that in the 2006 budget financial provisions were made to undertake at least one study, $40,000 - $50,000, suitable for a parks impact fee analysis. Provisions will be made in the 2007 budget awaiting council direction as to what, if anything, they may want to pursue. Councilmember Munson commended staff for the information and hard work. 6. Annexation Planning Considerations — Mike Connelly City Attorney Connelly explained that in order for the City to be in a position to annex properties adjacent to the boundaries of Spokane Valley, first it needs to identify urban growth areas (UGAs) outside of the Meeting Minutes: 07 -18 -06 Page 2 of 4 Approved by Council: 08 -22 -06 boundaries that would accommodate growth. To do this, modifications need to be made to the comprehensive plan in both the capital facilities portion and the language with respect to UGAs and indicating the City's desire to claim these areas as urban growth areas. The City needs to come up with a time and place to determine specific goals and policies in regard to annexation. The comprehensive plan needs to be updated on an annual calendar and this process should be finished the end of March or early April 2007 at which point an amendment could be adopted to the plan. The process has been started and an ordinance amending the plan was sent out to be posted for Planning Commission consideration. Spokane County is going to adopt UGAs by the end of 2006 and the City should have their recommendations to them by the end of October 2006. Mr. Connelly will draft some selling points and suggestions for annexation and will work with the Planning Commission. City Manager Mercier would like staff to come back to council with suggestions prior to seeking Planning Commission for their consideration. 7. Zoning: 3.5 — UR7* Situations /Options — Mike Connelly City Attorney Connelly explained that the distinction has to be made between the comprehensive plan and development regulations. The comprehensive plan is a guideline for the development regulations and the development regulations specify what you can do on your land. In February 2003 Spokane Valley re- zoned the area in Greenacres from UR7* to 3.5. The interim Spokane Valley Comprehensive Plan designation in existence at that time called this "Low Density Residential" with no description or criteria to determine if UR7* or 3.5 were preferred. In April 2006 the new Comprehensive Plan was passed with a low density residential designation definition. In looking at new proposals for development, the Hearing Examiner takes into consideration the comprehensive plan and looks to see if the proposal meets the requirements of the plan and the existing neighborhood. Depending on whether council wants to preserve low density or not, we will need to modify the comprehensive plan and write development regulations that are very strict and would prevent the change from 3.5 to UR7 *. 8. 2007 Council Goals — Dave Mercier City Manager Mercier presented the council with the notes from their retreat which outlined the goals they set for 2007. 9. Advance Agenda Additions — Mayor Wilhite No changes were offered. 10. Council Check in — Mayor Wilhite — no report 11. City Manager Comments — Dave Mercier. City Manager Mercier reported on the BRAC decommissioning of the Walker Reserve Center. If cities don't form a Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA), it goes to the state and if they elect not to form an LRA it goes to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Four communities have now elected to form an LRA so as not to have HUD become the arbiter. Mr. Mercier will be attending a meeting next week of the Association of Defense Committees and will bring information back to council for consideration in developing an LRA. EXECUTIVE SESSION It was moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor and seconded to adjourn to executive session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss with legal council potential litigation pursuant to 42.30.110(i), and that no decisions will be made. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion passed; the meeting adjourned to executive session at 9:00 p.m. Meeting Minutes: 07 -18 -06 Page 3 of 4 Approved by Council: 08 -22 -06 Mayor Wilhite declared Council out of executive session at 9:15 p.m. It was moved by Councilmember Munson, seconded by Councilmember Denenny, and unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk/Deputy City Clerk Meeting Minutes: 07 -18 -06 Approved by Council: 08 -22 -06 0-acCet w suL Diana Wilhite, Mayor Pagc4of4