2015, 02-10 Formal Format Meeting MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Regular Meeting
Formal Meeting Format
Tuesday, February 10,2015
Mayor Grafos called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Attendance: City Staff:
Dean Grafos,Mayor Mike Jackson, City Manager
Arne Woodard, Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Chuck Hafner, Councilmember John Hohman, Community Development Dir.
Rod Higgins, Councilmember Mike Stone, Parks & Rec Director
Ed Pace, Councilmember Eric Guth, Public Works Director
Ben Wick, Councilmember Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Karen Kendall, Planner
ABSENT: Rick VanLeuven, Police Chief
Bill Bates, Councilmember Carolbelle Branch, Public Information Officer
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: In the absence of a pastor, a few moments of silence were observed.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council, Staff, and audience rose for the Pledge of Allegiance
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Councilmembers were present except
Councilmember Bates. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to
excuse Councilmembers Bates from tonight's meeting. Mayor Grafos explained that Councilmember
Bates has been ill and in the hospital and is recovering, and would like to participate via phone in next
week's Council meeting/workshop, and that as provided in the Council's Governance Manual, requests to
use telephone conference participation shall be approved by the Council by motion. It was moved by
Deputy Mayor Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve Councilmember Bates'request to
participate by telephone in next week's Council meeting/workshop.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard, seconded and unanimously
agreed to approve the agenda.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS: n/a
COMMITTEE,BOARD, LIAISON SUMMARY REPORTS:
Deputy Mayor Woodard: said he attended the morning meeting for the City's visioning process for our
comprehensive plan; said it was well attended with lots of public input.
Councilmember Wick: reported that he has been invited to join the Safe Energy Leadership Alliance,
which is a coalition of local state and tribal leaders from across the Pacific Northwest, Montana and
Canada who are working to raise awareness of the safety risks of oil and coal trains and their economic,
cultural, environmental and health impacts; and said through that process, he will continue to try to
advance our Bridging the Valley concept and the safety issues for our side of the state, and said the next
meeting will be in Portland; reported that the SRTC (Spokane Regional Transportation Council)
upcoming grants will be more geared toward air quality, and that because we have a lot of sidewalks and
bike and trails, it will be difficult to compete against air quality, and that he would like to recommend use
of 50% of those funds for bike/pedestrian uses, and Council appeared to nod in agreement.
Minutes Regular Council Meeting:02-10-2015 Page I of 4
Approved by Council:02-24-2015
Councilmember Hafner: spoke about the medical marijuana tax and revenues and said cities should
continue putting pressure on the legislators that cities receive a portion of those revenues; as the Chair of
the Health District Board, reported that there have been twelve confirmed influenza related deaths in our
county out of the ninety-two reported throughout the state, and said the Board works hard to keep people
informed; and mentioned yesterday's City Council and County Commissioners joint meeting.
Councilmember Pace: said that the STA (Spokane Transit Authority) meeting included a request from
members of the Greater Valley Support Network to examine bus stops and routes; said he went to the
Spokane Valley Tech school to help judge student projects and met with his four interns who are acting as
legislative aids; attended yesterday's City/County meeting; went to the Chamber of Commerce
Government Action meeting; and attended both sessions of the Comprehensive Plan Community
Visioning forums.
Councilmember Higgins: reported that he attended last Thursday's Spokane Regional Clean Air meeting
where the major problem was a leak in the roof and no money to pay for it, but they had a coloring and
game book, which he said is not the usual biased propaganda for an agency of that type; and that he went
to Olympia yesterday and extended thanks to Senator Padden for sponsoring our lien authority bill.
MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Grafos said he also attended both comprehensive plan community
visioning meetings; attended the City's finance committee meeting; went to the Chamber's annual Gala
event at Mirabeau; attended the awards banquet for Fire District 8; and also participated in yesterday's
joint meeting with the County where elected officials talked about economic development, and that we
would like to see extended sewer lines in our industrial park, and he mentioned the controversial sports
field house project, and that the City of Spokane wants that facility downtown, and said we don't
necessarily agree.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Grafos invited public comment.
Michele Yarborough: said she lives at the bottom of a steep hill on 8`1'and Carnahan; that the person who
bought the field across the street from her has been a problem; that her driveway is 12' from the stop sign
and with a 6' wooden fence, you can't see traffic; said she asked her neighborhood not to park in such a
manner as to block her driveway, but that continues to be a problem; said she called the police who said it
is a public street and there is nothing they can do about it; she said it is a very dangerous corner and
people have come down and run into their fence about seven times and she would like some kind of a
barrier to keep her and her property safe; and that she was told she cannot put rocks or barriers outside her
fence.
Chuck Simpson: said he lives in the Broadway Argonne area; spoke about a duplex that burnt down about
two years ago; and that the area is a big problem; to the north and back property line there is a mess with
building materials, and it is a health hazard, and he asked if there is any way to get that area cleaned up;
and he gave some photos to the Clerk to share with Council.
1. CONSENT AGENDA: Consists of items considered routine which are approved as a group. Any
member of Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered
separately.
Proposed Motion:I move to approve the Consent Aj'enda.
a. Approval of claim vouchers on Feb 10, 2015 Request for Council Action Form,Totaling:S2,213,740.66
b. Approval of Payroll for Pay Period Ending January 31,2015: $427,002.09
c. Approval of January 27,2015 Council Formal Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the Consent
Agenda.
Minutes Regular Council Meeting:02-10-2015 Page 2 of 4
Approved by Council:02-24-2015
NEW BUSINESS:
2. First Reading Proposed Ordinance 15-002 Adopting Moratorium Findings of Fact—Erik Lamb
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard and
seconded to advance Ordinance 15-002 adopting findings of fact for Ordinance 14-021 and the
establishment of a moratorium on unlicensed marijuana uses, to a second reading. After Deputy City
Attorney Lamb gave an overview of the ordinance, Mayor Grafos invited public comment. No comments
were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Motion carried.
3. First Reading Proposed Ordinance 15-003 for Plat Time Extension—John Hohman/Micki Harnois
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard and
seconded to advance Ordinance 15-003, changing the regulations regarding preliminary plat time
extensions, to a second reading. After Director Hohman gave an overview of the ordinance, Mayor
Grafos invited public comment. Chuck Simpson: said due to the economy, he thinks it should be extended
about as long as it can,that the initial three-year extension is ok, but would favor four or five years. There
were no other comments. Vote by Acclamation:In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Motion carried.
4. Motion Consideration: Street Sweeping Contract—Eric Guth
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard and seconded to award the 2015 Street Sweeping Services to
AAA Sweeping, LLC for an initial contract amount not to exceed $490,200 and authorize the City
Manager to finalize and execute a contract for the services. Director Guth gave a brief overview of the
contract being proposed as noted in his February 10, 2015 Request for Council Action. Mayor Grafos
invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
5. Old Mission Avenue Street Vacation(STV 2014-0001)—Karen Kendall
Via her PowerPoint presentation, PIanner Kendall explained the proposed street vacation request of 3,688
square feet and showed the property on the aerial map. Ms. Kendall noted that the Planning Commission
recommends approval with conditions, all as noted on her PowerPoint slides; and said that staff feels
compensation is not justified, with Mr. Jackson adding although that is staffs recommendation, and that
the decision is within Council's discretion. There were no objections from Council to move this forward
to a first reading.
6. Advance Agenda—Mayor Grafos There were no proposed changes to the Advance Agenda.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Mr. Jackson noted next week's workshop draft agenda which he placed at the Council dais, and asked if
Council has any comments,to please let him know by tomorrow. Mr. Jackson then asked Mr. Driskell to
give a brief update on his visit to Olympia yesterday. Concerning SB 5694, Mr. Driskell said he and
Councilmember Higgins testified at a hearing before the governing operations committee, and then with
eight individual legislators, and said Lobbyist Briahna Taylor kept them busy; he said he feels the
discussions were productive and putting a cap in the bill along with including language that such lien has
to be based on health or safety risks were very persuasive arguments; said the bill must be out of
committee by February 20. Mr. Driskell said they also spoke to individual legislators about our concerns
with the marijuana legislation, and he feels they were successful and the legislators will be working on
some of the issues identified and said he hopes to see some progress in the near future, adding that several
bills are moving between the House and Senate.
Mr. Jackson noted that they have been very involved in the legislative session so far, and that they have
scheduled several appointments for next week. Mr. Jackson asked, and Council confirmed their desire on
whether or not to support the following proposed bills: (1) SB 5628 regarding stormwater flood control
Minutes Regular Council Meeting:02-10-2015 Page 3 of 4
Approved by Council:02-24-2015
and water supply infrastructure fees: does not support; (2) SB 5866 regarding counties imposing sales tax
up to .3%: does not support; and (3) HB 1133 to allow counties to impose a utility tax up to 6% and if a
city doesn't have one, the County could charge it—like solid waste: does not support. Mr. Jackson noted
that Council will continue to get periodic updates on the bills as the issues evolve.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
ATTES D-a►t1 rafos,Mayor
A
Aon
ristine Bainbridge, City Clerk 1
Minutes Regular Council Meeting:02-10-2015 Page 4 of 4
Approved by Council: 02-24-2015