Loading...
2007, 12-18 Study Session MinutesMINUTES CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Mayor Wilhite called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and welcomed everyone to the meeting. Present: Councilmembers: Diana Wilhite, Mayor Steve Taylor, Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny, Councilmember Mike DeVleming, Councilmember Bill Gothmann, Councilmember Rich Munson, Councilmember Gary Schimmels, Councilmember Staff: Dave Mercier, City Manager Mike Jackson, Deputy City Manager Cary Driskell, Deputy City Attorney Kathy McClung, Community Development Dir. Ken Thompson, Finance Director Rick VanLeuven, Police Chief Greg McCormick, Planning Manager Mike Basinger, Associate Planner Morgan Koudelka, Senior Administrative Analyst Greg Bingaman, IT Specialist Carolbelle Branch, Public Information Officer Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk Special Employee Introduction: Mayor Wilhite stated that this is not really an opportunity for special employee introductions, but is an opportunity to say our fond farewells to outgoing Councilmember DeVleming, and she then thanked Mr. DeVleming for his dedication and work and for all he accomplished and worked toward, and in helping for this new City to gain recognition; and she presented Councilmember DeVleming a plaque commemorating his service from 2002 through 2007. Mayor Wilhite also presented Councilmember DeVleming with a caricature of all the Councilmembers. Members of the public, staff and council then rose to give Councilmember DeVleming a standing applause for all his contributions. Councilmember DeVleming, in his outgoing remarks, stated his appreciation to his family, to fellow Councilmembers, and to staff, and lauded staff for the outstanding work accomplished with so little resources, and he thanked Council again for the honor and respect they have all shown to him and each other, and said he will remember this group forever. Roll Call: At the request of Mayor Wilhite, City Clerk Bainbridge called roll; all Councilmembers were present. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Second Reading Ordinance 07 -026 Comprehensive Plan Amendments- Greg McCormick and Mike Basinger After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Councilmember Gothmann and seconded, to approve ordinance 07 -026. Planning Manager McCormick briefly re- explained the process for this ordinance. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment; no comments were offered. There was no Council discussion and councilmembers voted by acclamation to approve the ordinance: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 2. Second Reading Ordinance 07 -027 Official Zoning Map Amendments — Greg McCormick and Mike Basinger After City Clerk Bainbridge, read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor and seconded to approve ordinance 07 -027. Planning Manager McCormick explained that these changes would amend the official zoning map which implements the changes to the comp plan text; and he brought up CPA 10- 07 on the overhead screen for further discussion. Mr. McCormick said that the "blue box" area was excluded from the regional commercial designation and redesigned to low density residential. After brief Study Session Meeting Minutes: 12 -18 -07 Page 1 of 5 Approved by Council: 01 -08 -08 Council questions and comments concerning the County's original designation as U2, and of the County's designation at the time Spokane Valley incorporated, i.e., much was regional commercial and not rezoned as mixed use, Mayor Wilhite invited public comment. Diane Stavish, N 511 Greenacres: mentioned that she thought her area was totally residential all along; and that she was never notified of any change to mixed use. Councilmember Munson mentioned that the meetings were all listed in the Valley News Herald, on the City's website, and that the Planning Commission met for quite some time on these issues, to which Ms. Stavish responded that her area has no sidewalks or sewers, and while she understands that change and progress occurs, all that means to her and her little neighborhood is higher property taxes and that people in the neighborhood won't be able to sell unless they are right on the edge of Barker Road or the freeway. Dan Lyebert, 18310 E Broadway: voiced his opposition to this proposed change. Huge Dyche, 313 N Burns Road: said he owns 707 N Greenacres and his complaint is similar to the previous woman's complaint; that there is no excuse for them not knowing about this, and that regarding posting this is the Valley News Herald, that no one reads newspapers anymore. He stated that the City has access and the ability to know who the landowners are and have methods and ways to send that information out so people can be informed; and that he is going to propose that they might want to go back to Greenacres; that they want their land back and don't want commercial surrounding; that he wants to live in a residential area and he wants to retire there without commercial property around him Further Council discussion ensued regarding the area in question, and Mayor Wilhite proposed moving the area (the arc area around the blue arrow) back to residential; she said that there are some newer houses in that area which should remain residential, but that any new development will have the new designation. It was moved by Mayor Wilhite and seconded to amend the motion to approve the ordinance with the area above the blue box to revert to low density residential. Discussion ensued regarding whether Council has authority to change or deny Planning Commission recommendations, if the matter should be remanded back to the Planning Commission, what is the highest and best use of the area; and whether to have the area remain as originally designated and include this proposed change with the following year's recommended changes. Vote by acclamation to amend the motion: In Favor: Mayor Wilhite; Opposed: Deputy Mayor Taylor, and Councilmembers Schimmels, Denenny, Gothmann, Munson and DeVleming. Abstentions: None. Motion failed. It was then moved by Councilmember DeVleming and seconded, to amend the ordinance to leave the northern section designated as is and only approve the recommendation within the box. To clarify the amended motion, this means have the area designated north of Broadway remain as mixed corridor use. Further Council discussion included whether this would still be amending the Planning Commission recommendation without any findings; that staff informed Council that stand alone housing is not allowed in regional commercial but would be allowed in corridor mixed use, and the major differences between the two would be removing apartment complexes which won't be put there; and whether the Planning Commission should examine this piece in more depth and hear more property owner input. Deputy Mayor Taylor mentioned that this is not a rezone but is a comp plan amendment which can only be done once a year. Vote to amend the motion: In Favor: Mayor Wilhite, and Councilmembers Schimmels, Munson, and Gothmann. Opposed: Deputy Mayor Taylor and Councilmembers Denenny and Schimmels. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. Vote on the motion to approve the ordinance as amended: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. City Manager Mercier stated that staff will be bringing Council quarterly updates on the comp plan. 3. Proposed Resolution 07 -022 Creating Human Resources manager Position — Mike Jackson It was moved by Councilmember Munson and seconded to approve resolution 07 -022 creating a human resources manager classification and position description. Deputy City Manager Jackson explained that with over 95 regular full and part-time employees, a full -time dedicated Human Resources Manager is Study Session Meeting Minutes: 12 -18 -07 Page 2 of 5 Approved by Council: 01 -08 -08 needed. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 4. Acceptance of Real Property Acquisition — Cary Driskell It was moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor and seconded to accept the new quitclaim deed from Spokane County with the corrected legal description of the Department of Transportation turnback property. Deputy City Attorney Driskell explained that this "sliver" of property runs along property Spokane County already owns, and that the County has a prospective purchaser for the entire property. Mayor Wilhite invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 5. Confirmation of Mayoral Committee Appointments — Mayor Wilhite It was moved by Councilmember Munson, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the following Mayoral nominations: Chamber of Commerce Board: Steve Taylor Convention Center & Visitor's Bureau: Rose Dempsey Greater Spokane, Inc. (formerly EDC): Mayor [it was mentioned that the new format calls for the Mayor as delegate) Emergency Communication Board 911: Rich Munson Finance Committee, Spokane Valley: Rich Munson, Steve Taylor, and Diana Wilhite Governance Manual: Dick Denenny, Bill Gothmann, and Rose Dempsey Growth Management Steering Committee of Elected Officials: Rich Munson and Diana Wilhite Health District Board (Spokane Regional Health District Board): Dick Denenny and Bill Gothmann International Trade Alliance: Rose Dempsey SCRAPS: Gary Schimmels [it was mentioned that this committee has not met for approximately three years and perhaps staff could research that issue.] Solid Waste Advisory Board: Gary Schimmels delegate, Rose Dempsey alternate Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC): Diana Wilhite delegate, Gary Schimmels alternate Spokane Transit Authority (STA): Dick Denenny and Rich Munson TPA (Hotel Advisory Committee) Tourism Promotion Area: Bill Gothmann (re- appoint Jody Sander and Liz Beck) It was also noted that any Councilmember could act as an alternate delegate to attend a meeting for any primary appointee when necessary. Mayor Wilhite called for a recess at 7:13 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 7:20 p.m. REGULAR STUDY SESSION ITEMS 6. Comcast Cable Franchise Update — Morgan Koudelka and Cary Driskell Administrative Analyst Koudelka gave Council an update on the Cable Franchise issue per his PowerPoint, noting the renewal information, and that Comcast has invoked the formal process while concurrently negotiating via the informal process, and added that the negotiation process stalled but he and Comcast representatives are set to meet again mid January to work through outstanding concerns, noting that for the PEG Capital Funding Comcast proposal is only 200 lower than the City's need, and that it also requires an operating match from the City. Mr. Koudelka said that while 200 appears small, it represents a significant difference overall, and said that Spokane passed along 500 per customer per month; that we are asking for 50¢, Comcast offered 300, and we are negotiating for a place holder language. Mr. Mercier added that tonight we are bringing Council up to date on the negotiations, and that staff will try to continue negotiations and render a franchise agreement that makes sense. It was noted that ideally this is a three -year process according to Cable, but that Comcast's latest proposal is a four - year term with four -year renewals; and prior to that if was a flat five years. Mayor Wilhite mentioned she would like Spokane Valley to be treated the same as other cities; and in response to Councilmember Study Session Meeting Minutes: 12 -18 -07 Page 3 of 5 Approved by Council: 01 -08 -08 Denenny's question of number of subscribers, Mr. Koudelka said there are approximately 23,000, which amounts to an estimated $100,000 annual contribution. 7. Paperless Agendas — Chris Bainbridge and Greg Bingaman City Clerk Bainbridge explained that the estimated cost to purchase computer tablets would be $1,700 each, that the computers have a three to four -year life expectancy, and that the current laptops are past prime. There was Council consensus to place this matter on the next Council consent agenda for approval for staff to purchase a minimum of twelve computer tablets, along with necessary cables, accessories, and maintenance. 8. Advance Agenda Additions — Mayor Wilhite Deputy Mayor Taylor mentioned that he attended a Spokane Affordable Homeowners Task Force meeting at the Convention Center last week, and that he would like to schedule a future presentation on that Task Force's findings and work. There was council consensus to place that item on the advance agenda. Councilmember Munson mentioned he would like to get a briefing from staff on what is needed to get joint planning approved; and said that the goal is to get the UGA's updated by the end of March, and then address the overall discussion on how to update the joint planning area, adding that it is hopeful Turtle Creek will be complete by then as well. Councilmember Denenny mentioned he anticipates another report will be ready on the wastewater issue by mid March, and that the committee is working to set up a meeting with the Governor for some time in January when Council is in Olympia. 9. Information Only Items (not discussed or reported) It was moved by Councilmember Denenny, seconded and unanimously agreed to amend the agenda to remove item 9b, "Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act" off the "information only" items to allow discussion.. Mayor Wilhite explained that the Board of County Commissioners needs consensus from this Council on support of the Homelessness Housing and Assistance recommendations concerning supporting the Task Force recommendations as explained in the "briefing paper." After mention of Councilmember Gothmann's and Planning Commissioner Kogel's participation in this process, there was Council consensus to move this forward to the Board of County Commissioners. Ms. Kogle thanked Council for their support in endorsing their recommendation to continue this great work. Information only items 9a and c, Pines Mansfield Project Status and Department Reports, were not discussed or reported. 10. Council Check - in — Mayor Wilhite Councilmember Munson mentioned that the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is moving forward with some proposed legislation on climate control, and that he responded there is no mechanism to implement this; and that we wants to make sure that the legislature is not mandating things that Cities cannot afford; and that there will likely be further information on this issue after the first of the year. Mayor Wilhite said that she is aware of the concern with this issue on the part of several utility companies and she will try to get Council additional information in that regard. Councilmembers again each expressed thanks and farewell to Councilmember DeVleming. 11. City Manager Comments: There were no additional comments. 12. Swearing in of Councilmembers Dempsey, Gothmann, and Taylor — Chris Bainbridge City Clerk Bainbridge administered the oath of office to Councilmembers Dempsey, Gothmann and Taylor. Study Session Meeting Minutes: 12 -18 -07 Page 4 of 5 Approved by Council: 01 -08 -08 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20 p.m. ATTEST: Christine ainbridge, Ci y Clerk I A , 4ichard s6n, Mayor Study Session Meeting Minutes: 12 -18 -07 Page 5 of 5 Approved by Council: 01 -08 -08