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2003, 03-13 Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY City Council Minutes Regular Meeting March 13, 2003 Mayor Michael DeVleming called the regular meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council to order at 6:03 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Michael DeVleming, Deputy Mayor Diana Wilhite, Councilmembers Dick Denenny, Mike Flanigan, Richard Munson, Gary Schimmels, and Steve Taylor. Staff present: Interim City Manager Lee Walton, Interim City Attorney Stanley Schwartz, Interim Deputy Manager Stan McNutt, Interim Finance Director Robert Noack, Interim Building Official Bob Ely, Interim Human Resources Manager Don Morrison, Interim City Clerk Ruth Muller, and Interim Administrative Assistant Karin Bosworth. Invocation: Councilmember Munson gave the invocation. Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor DeVleming led the pledge of allegiance. Roll Call: Interim City Clerk called roll. Approval of Agenda: Deputy Mayor Wilhite moved and Councilmember Flanigan seconded that the Agenda be approved as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Council Reports: Councilmember Flanigan reported that the incorporation celebration is fully funded and tickets for the Mayor's Ball will be on sale beginning March 14, 2003.. Councilmember Flanigan reported on legislation under consideration in Olympia. Senate Bill 6026 and its companion House Bill 1581 would grant Counties the ability to form Parking and Business Improvement Districts within the corporate boundaries of cities. An amendment is being submitted by Representative Lynn Schindler that would limit the legislative authority for Counties to the unincorporated areas. There was brief discussion of this legislation and the proposed amendment. Mayor DeVleming opened the meeting for comments from the public either for or against such legislation. There were no public comments. Council concurred that a letter be sent to appropriate legislators from the Council indicating support of the amendment proposed by Representative Schindler on this legislation. Councilmember Schimmels reported that he attended the Regional Transportation Committee meeting and submittal of a federal funding request for Bridging the Valley project was discussed. Council Minutes March 13,2003 Approved by Council April 22,2003 Page 1 of 5 Councilmember Munson and Deputy Mayor Wilhite expressed appreciation to Councilmember Flanigan for the diligent work and the time that he has been expending in coordinating the City's incorporation celebration events. Councilmember Denenny and Deputy Mayor Wilhite reported that they will be traveling to Washington D.C. later this month to attend a legislative conference with the regional Chambers of Commerce and plan to meet with area congressional leaders to let them know that Spokane Valley is a new constituency. Since there will be contact on behalf of the City and legislation reviewed that is of interest to citizens of Spokane Valley, they request that the Council consider authorizing reimbursement for a portion of the cost for this trip. There was discussion among councilmembers as to appropriateness of authorizing expenditures when the travel is not on behalf of the City; the need to make the City's presence known to the federal legislative body so that as issues arise affecting Spokane Valley, there can be good communication; the need to have a review of the Bridge the Valley project status; how to evaluate whether and when reimbursement for such travel can be authorized; and if the budget includes money for such reimbursement. Councilmember Schimmels moved that no reimbursement be authorized for the proposed travel to Washington D.C. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilmember Flanigan moved and Mayor DeVleming seconded that Council authorize a total of$1500.00 to help defray expenses of Councilmember Denenny and Deputy Mayor Wilhite for the regional Chambers of Commerce legislative conference in Washington D.C. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor DeVleming suggested that a representative of Bridging the Valley project be contacted for a presentation to the Council at the March 18, 2003 study session, and all Council concurred. Agenda Bill No. 2003-041 (Employee Personnel Policies and Benefits): Interim City Clerk introduced Ordinance No. 44 by reading the title. Councilmember Flanigan moved and Mayor DeVleming seconded that the rules be suspended for two readings of this ordinance, advance to second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 44 Establishing a Human Resources System for the City and Outlining the Basic Personnel Policies and Employee Benefits of City Employees. Interim Attorney Schwartz said that this ordinance has been reworked as directed by Council and reviewed provisions included in the ordinance, suggesting that there could be a friendly amendment to Section l.C. providing that personnel policies relating to wages, benefits and conditions of employment shall be submitted to the Council. There was discussion about the need to thoroughly review this reworked ordinance; the benefits package that will be presented in resolution form at a future meeting; the changes made to Section 6, drug testing and Section 9, compensatory time as directed by Council; and the need to have this ordinance adopted to allow staff ability to provide information to newly hired personnel. Council Minutes March 13,2003 Approved by Council April 22,2003 Page 2 of 5 Councilmember Flanigan withdrew his motion to suspend the rules and adopt this ordinance and Mayor DeVleming withdrew his second. Councilmember Flanigan moved and Councilmember Munson seconded that Ordinance No. 44 be advanced to second reading including the friendly amendment to Section 1.C. suggested by the Interim Attorney. The motion carried by majority vote with four aye votes—Mayor DeVleming, Deputy Mayor Wilhite, Councilmembers Flanigan and Munson; and three nay votes - Councilmembers Denenny, Schimmels and Taylor. Agenda Bill No. 2003-062 (Municipal Court Services, Interlocal Agreement No. CO3- 10): Interim Attorney Schwartz advised that he and Interim Deputy Manager McNutt have reviewed this proposed agreement that reflects all changes agreed to in meetings with the County, but suggests some minor language changes. Interim Deputy Manager McNutt requested Council consider adding one section providing an assurance clause that is included in some of our other agreements, guaranteeing that if the contracting agency furnishes the same services in the same manner to some other entity at a lesser cost, that this will also apply to Spokane Valley. McNutt suggested some minor language changes to Section 3., Section 3.B. and Section 3.C. in this document that was prepared by the County, and these proposed changes were reviewed and discussed by the Council. Councilmembers expressed a desire that the County be encouraged to devise a system to show actual costs on a case by case basis, as well as a billing system for actual time a judge spends so that these costs can be allocated to contracting agencies. There was further discussion as to the need for an accounting of costs by the County before payment is made under this contract. Councilmember Taylor moved and Deputy Mayor Wilhite seconded that the Interim City Manager be authorized to execute, with the modifications discussed, Contract No. CO3-10 with Spokane County providing court services and subject to City Attorney approval. The motion carried unanimously. Agenda Bill No. 2003-063 (Prosecutor Services, Interlocal Agreement CO3-11). Interim Attorney Schwartz advised that this agreement also includes language agreed to between the City and County and noted some provisions included in the agreement. Interim Deputy Manager McNutt suggested similar modifications to this agreement that were approved in the court services agreement. Deputy Mayor Wilhite moved and Councilmember Schimmels seconded that the Interim City Manager be authorized to execute, with modifications suggested, Contract No. CO3- 11 with Spokane County providing prosecution services and subject to City Attorney approval. The motion carried unanimously. Agenda Bill No. 2003-064 (Public Defender Services, Interlocal Agreement CO3-12). Interim Attorney Schwartz said this agreement was also changed as agreed to by the City and County. Interim Deputy Manager McNutt recommends including the same Council Minutes March 13,2003 Approved by Council April 22,2003 Page 3 of 5 modifications in this agreement as in the previous agreements for court and prosecution services. Councilmember Munson moved and Councilmember Flanigan seconded that the Interim City Manager be authorized to execute, with modifications suggested, Contract No. CO3- 1 2 with Spokane County providing public defender services and subject to City Attorney approval. The motion carried unanimously. Agenda Bill No. 2003-065 (Jury Management Services, Interlocal Agreement No. CO3-13): Interim Attorney Schwartz advised that jury services are provided by Superior Court, but an agreement for this service is with Spokane County. Interim Deputy Manager McNutt suggested correcting the language in this agreement to make it consistent with the other agreements. Deputy Mayor Wilhite moved and Councilmember Taylor seconded that the Interim City Manager be authorized to execute, with modifications suggested, Contract No. CO3-13 with Spokane County providing jury services and subject to City Attorney approval.. The motion carried unanimously. Public Comments: Jeff Goodman, 14211 East Broadway, said that he is aware of businesses outside the Spokane Valley boundaries that have received information from Department of.Revenue for coding sales tax revenue. Goodman again urges the Council to consider doing electrical inspections in-house, and expressed concern about the City's ability to have inspections done in a timely manner as these are crucial to doing business. Interim Manager Walton replied that information from the State is sometimes mailed to businesses not within the boundaries of a new City, as the State is working from a small map, but that individuals should advise Department of Revenue that they are not within Spokane Valley. Walton also advised that staff will monitor the flow of business and are prepared to hire additional staff if the workload increases to the extent that more inspectors are needed. Adjournment: Councilmember Flanigan moved and Councilmember Taylor seconded that the meeting adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned to a study session at 7:26 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: LX/6..dict..) Interim City Clerk Mayor Michael DeVlem' g kb Council Minutes March 13.2003 Approved by Council April 22,2003 Page 4 of 5