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2004, 04-06 Study Session MinutesAttendance: Councilmembers: Michael DeVleming, Mayor Diana Wilhite, Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny, Councilmember Mike Flanigan, Councilmember Gary Schimmels, Councilmember Absent: Rich Munson, Councilmember - Excused Steve Taylor, Councilmember - Excused MINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Study Session April 6, 2004, 6:00 p.m. Staff: Dave Mercier City Manager Nina Regor, Deputy City Manager Ken Thompson, Finance Director Neil Kersten, Public Works Director Mike Jackson, Parks & Recreation Director Marina Sukup, Community Development Director Cary Driskell, Deputy City Attorney Kevin Snyder, Current Planning Manager John Hohman, Sr. Development Engineer Steve Worley, Sr. Engineer for CIP Sue Pearson, Deputy City Clerk Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk Mayor DeVleming opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m., welcomed all in attendance, reminded everyone that this is a study session and requested that all electronic devices be turned off for the duration of the meeting. Mayor DeVleming then read the Proclamation announcing April 5 —11 as Public Health Week. Employee Introductions: Parks and Recreation Director Jackson introduced Carol Carter, new Administrative Assistant for Parks and Recreation; and Deputy City Attorney Driskell introduced Josh Leonard, intern, and second year law student at Gonzaga. 1. Letter of Support for Washington Economic Development Finance Authority (WEDFA) Industrial Revenue Bonds — Dave Mercier City Manager Mercier explained that the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority (WEDFA) is a source of tax - exempt economic development revenue bonds for qualifying private sector investments; that they are a self - supporting state agency which serves as the conduit for certain revenue bond lending for business activities and that WEDFA has requested City Council consideration of their intended issuance of tax - exempt non - recourse economic development revenue bonds to the Lawrence B Stone Properties #11, LLC Project, which would provide financing for the renovation and construction of buildings to be leased to SCAFCO, Inc. City Manager Mercier also mentioned the accompanying "Frequently Asked Questions" and spreadsheet indicating their recent loan activity. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Wilhite and seconded by Mayor DeVleming to approve the letter of support. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 2. Motion Consideration: Authorizing Formation of Ad Hoc Committee to Review Sign Regulations — Marina Sukup As background, Community Development Director Sukup mentioned that Council was briefed on the interim sign regulations March 30, 2004, and as a result, Council proposed that an ad hoc committee be formed to review safety, definitions, and permit requirements. Director Sukup suggested membership be balanced between the sign industry, and the business and residential communities, and added that several people have volunteered for consideration. Mayor DeVleming stated he would like to see a defined Study Session Minutes 04 -06 -04 Page 1 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 04 -13 -04 objective for this committee. It was moved by Councilmember Denenny and seconded by Councilmember Flanigan to establish an ad hoc sign committee with responsibility of reviewing regulations and enforcement within Spokane Valley. Mayor DeVleming invited public comment; none was offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: none. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. Director Sukup said she will advertise for committee members via the newspaper and anticipates the committee initially meeting weekly. 3. Motion Consideration: Establishing Priorities for the Enforcement of Sign Regulations — Marina Sukup Community Director Sukup said that at the March 30, 2004 meeting, Council directed staff to work on clean up of the illegal signs, and to address right -of -way and safety issues; and that the primary areas of focus were to include safety, encroachment on the right -of -way, and cases which might involve signs that are not legal, adding that maintenance appeared to remain a lower priority. Councilmember Denenny suggested adding obviously abandoned signs, and Deputy Mayor Wilhite stressed that sign owners be given adequate notification concerning sign regulations. City Manager Mercier said that staff will request the Valley Chamber of Commerce to send out a valley flash to alert sign owners of the sign regulations which will be addressed. It was moved by Councilmember Denenny and seconded by Deputy Mayor Wilhite to approve a phased enforcement of the sign code ordinance as outlined in the staff report, including removal of abandoned signs. Mayor DeVleming invited public comment; none was offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 4. Proposed Resolution Setting Public Hearing Date for Planning Commission Re Street Vacation 0104 — Kevin Snyder Current Planning Manager Snyder explained that a street vacation request was received from Kurt and Mandee Vigessa requesting the City vacate a portion of 15 Avenue, a public street; and that state statute specifies that the legislative authority establish by resolution, the time such application will be considered. It was moved by Councilmember Denenny and seconded by Deputy Mayor Wilhite to approve Resolution 04 -008. Mayor DeVleming invited public comment; none was offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 5. Proposed 2004 Budget Amendments — Ken Thompson Finance Director Thompson said that this will be the first amendment to the 2004 budget, and directed Council attention to and discussed the accompanying spreadsheet. Director Thompson added that the $500.00 for student Advisory Council is also included in these figures; that this amendment will also provide authorization to proceed with the remaining tourism promotion expenditures and street capital projects carried over from 2003, and that the sewer fund is no longer necessary so funds will be transferred back out into street capital fund or street operating fund. City Manager Mercier added that staff anticipates at least two future budget amendments as we have not yet experienced a full twelve months of sales tax distribution. It was Council consensus to move forward with the public hearing scheduled for April 13, 2004. 6. Utility Franchise Policy Points — Cary Driskell Deputy City Attorney Driskell said that Avista contacted staff a few months ago concerning an agreement on a new franchise; and that Avista's proposed agreement contained some issues not previously addressed by council. In this endeavor, Attorney Driskell said that two main issues he would like to discuss are vegetation, and undergrounding wires; that Avista proposes trimming the vegetation within our right -of- way, at their discretion. Attorney Driskell added that granting that type of discretion could have some legal liability implications concerning power lines. Mayor DeVleming said that Vera has hired an arborist and he feels that Inland and perhaps Modern have also, and that using arborists generally results in healthy cuts and also longer times between cuts; that he likes the idea of burying lines but that it is generally very costly as it also entails digging up the asphalt. After further discussion on undergrounding Study Session Minutes 04 -06 -04 Page 2 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 04 -13 -04 lines, Attorney Driskell said he will continue to collect information and explore the possibility of conducting a feasibility study to determine costs. Mayor DeVleming called for a recess at 6:55 p.m.; he reconvened the meeting at 7:10 p.m. 7. Couplet Option 2A — Neil Kersten Public Works Director Kersten and Senior Engineer Worley went over their PowerPoint presentation concerning the pros and cons of considering this option for the couplet. Director Kersten asked Council direction to continue to consider this option, or focus efforts on more cross - street access between Sprague and Appleway. Discussion continued concerning this option, including eliminating bike lanes, narrowing the landscape areas, frontage streets and limited access, and allowing only right -turns. Councilmember Denenny mentioned given the information presented, this option does not appear feasible. Mayor DeVleming said that although Option 2A was not the most favorite option, it did appear to be a compromise, and therefore, he suggests having an open public comment session April 27 to discuss this particular option and the three listed suggestions of (1) revise option 2A, (2) drop option 2A from further consideration, or (3) focus effort on more cross - street access between Sprague /Appleway. Further, Mayor DeVleming stated that by having this discussion April 27, it might give staff more time to review the cross - street access issue. 8. Capital Facilities Funding 2005, 2006, 2007 — Neil Kersten Public Works Director Kersten reviewed his spreadsheets indicating our current funding levels and savings, adding that we have saved over $500,000 to date this year; he added that by the end of June the six -year Transportation Improvement Program will be completed and staff will have that information to Council in June. City Manager Mercier stated that in the 2004 approved budget, we show street fund revenues slightly over two million and expenses 3.7 million, and said this will be the area of greatest challenge along with how to capitalize on each project and stay within the affordability range for the community. 9. Development Related Policy Issues — Marina Sukup/Neil Kersten Public Works Director Kersten and Senior Development Engineer Hohman gave their PowerPoint presentation on development related road standards issues which briefed council on possible amendments to the adopted County Road Standards that should be considered prior to the completion of the comprehensive plan. They ended their presentation with the summary of proposed amendments, including street designations — public versus private; residential street design standards; neighborhood connectivity; and frontage improvements. Discussion then ensued regarding connectivity, public versus private streets, roadway conditions, and standards in general. It was Council consensus to move forward with further discussion. Community Development Director Sukup then went over her PowerPoint presentation on Planning Development Related Policy issues, with a purpose of briefing council on certain development regulations which should be considered prior to completion of the Comprehensive Plan. Discussion ensued regarding variances and exceptions, landscaping, enforcement, and concurrency which is required by GMA. It was moved by Mayor DeVleming and seconded by Councilmember Denenny to extend the meeting thirty minutes. Vote by acclamation: In Favor: Mayor DeVleming, Deputy Mayor Wilhite, Councilmembers Flanigan and Denenny; Opposed: Councilmember Schimmels. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 10. Economic Analysis — Scope of Work — Marina Sukup Community Development Director Sukup explained that Council directed staff to proceed with an economic analysis on the Sprague /Appleway extension; that a draft scope of work was sent to the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Spokane Valley Business Association, and interested Study Session Minutes 04 -06 -04 Page 3 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 04 -13 -04 citizens, soliciting suggestions and comments by April 5, 2004; and that a similar request was posted on the City's website. Director Sukup went over the responses received as noted on the March 30, 2004 Request for Council Action form. In response to a question concerning the goal, Director Sukup said the goal is to do what is best for the community; that she understands Council desires an objective analysis of the impacts of changing the circulation on Sprague, whether to extend the couplet, change one -way, and /or to consider other elements such as traffic generated at the mall, the new proposed interstate, and other traffic improvements. Director Sukup said that Eastern Washington University has expressed an interested in performing the analysis, but that the Professor from Whitworth College has declined as he feels he Tacks the expertise and time commitment necessary. Councilmember Flanigan said he would be comfortable with issuing an RFP and allowing EWU to bid on the project, and by issuing an RFP, we would be able to determine an estimated cost. Director Sukup indicated staff would draft an RFP. 11. Advance Agenda Additions — Mayor DeVleming Mayor DeVleming mentioned the April 20 open house at Central Valley School District on Cataldo. 12. Council Check -in /City Manager Comments — Dave Mercier City Manager Mercier said he received material from the Association of Washington Cities concerning seats on that Board of Directors that are up for renewal, and said there is only one potential seat possible for this Council, even though the incumbent from Pasco indicated they want to remain for another term. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m. hristine Bainbridge, City Clerk Michael DeVleming, Mayor Study Session Minutes 04 -06 -04 Page 4 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 04 -13 -04 Couplet Option ZA Should it stay or should it go7 Previously P.Councll/Planning Commission 2/23/2004 e 5 Couplet Options Presented e 1 Couplet OotiorrAdded (Opticm )A) "3 Selected for further study .1 t• • ... • twit to Sprague Couplet 0 tion r Extend exstamo Coppl Sprague -my:Ws:mind ti 5 tittend APPtcwaY 1-Way caft. to existing coupkil and SlHau e a5•11 /A Extend Appleway 1 way etra to Sullivan, Sprague 1-way west w/ frontage road east 1 Spragt.0 One-V w/ Frontage Roo() East e mot (toes that look like? P•One lane nr t wo lane hunt rciait? 0 does it work? C.un it be done safely? • W tl»n exiting Right -of -Wily? i • M imps sumirr awn' Mill l x Vr k Ts a `I'" 4 _11 T ..M 44••• 110.1414 raw I A Two-way f=rontage Read 2 Frontage Roo allenae • Right turns only at ;ri,r)ur intetset tioris u • • Stop5 rfguired at mitt- hlocr. inter ctioni e Turning tontlict5 at mid bloc I. Intersections - safety c_o ncern5 • Limited room for mid-block U -tur i is (Truc}c U-turns not allowed) • Limited access for large tr ricks 3 C - lock Intersect) c1 taii • Not pedestrian friendly r ;s • May restrict a businesses • Addrtionat RJW rn:iy be flee turnl/1tgr dins 'No room for landscalrrnrt on north side Suggestions • Revise Option 2A • Drop Option 2A front furl her consideration Focus effort on more cross street access between Sprague /Appleway 4 fI t tll [[''••t•ew•r —.51921010 6c I or i c 1Pnr 4 r •,:, Caitl'I Jlt'fttt'y+ • 44,31.117‘ J r.r, • nn r •• i•.•.• 1111%h CO1111711.nt Guuldtth Erlvrrtmm rd .$ a34r • ' 1. 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