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2016, 11-22 Special Legislative Mtg MINUTES Special Legislative Meeting Tuesday,November 22,2016 3:30 p.m.—5:00 p.m. City of Spokane Valley City Hall, Second Floor Conference Room 11707 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, Washington Attendance: Spokane Valley Council Staff Mayor Higgins John Holman, CED Director Deputy Mayor Woodard Cary Driskell, City Attorney Councilnrember Haley Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director Councilnrember Pace Eric Guth, Public Works Director Mike Stone, Parks &Recreation Director Absent: Steve Worley, Senior Engineer, CIP Councilnrember Collier Carrie Koudelka, Deputy City Clerk Counci men:her Munch Councrhnember Wood Other's in Attendance: Senator Mike Padden, Representatives Bob McCaslin and Matt Shea, Lobbyist Briahna Murray and others. Mayor Higgins called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Deputy City Clerk Koudelka call the roll. All Councilmembers were present except for Councilmembers Collier,Munch and Wood.It was moved by Deputy Mayor Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to excuse Councilmen:hers Collier; Munch, and Wood. Mayor Higgins welcomed the group to the meeting and Community and Economic Development (CED) Director Hohtnan introduced the topics on the agenda. 1. Support Legislation Clarifying Valley Water Providers' Water Rights—Cary Driskell City Attorney Driskell gave a brief overview of Senator Padden's Water Rights Bill and Senator Padden said that Representatives Shea and McCaslin will both introduce essentially the same bills.Ms.Murray said she has been holding meetings with other legislators in bringing the bill forward and they hope the Department of Ecology will sign on as well. She said overall it has been a great team effort. 2. Transportation Funding Request—Barker Road/BNSF Grade Separation Project—Eric Guth Public Works Director Guth referred everyone to the brochure in the packet materials for the Bridging the Valley project which, he said, we have seen difficulty in funding in the past. He said the railroads are no longer interested in doing the project but it continues to be one of Council's highest priorities for moving transportation. Mr.Guth said that fifty-five trains a day go through the Barker crossing, including nineteen oil trains, and currently that railroad intersection receives a failing grade. He said there are five-hundred acres of undeveloped industrial properties around the intersection making the project important from an economic development aspect as well as a safety aspect.He said that with the expected increase in unit oil trains,the number of trains through that intersection could exceed one-hundred trains per day. He said that with a grade separation and bridge over Trent and the BNSF railroad, we would be able to close two at- grade crossings. Special Council Meeting,State Legislators 11/22/2016 Page 1 of 3 Approved by Council: 12/13/2016 He said another aspect to the project is the realignment of Wellesley, which involves some right-of-way requirements that he said we are waiting for further design to identify.He said he does not think the project will affect the cemetery and we are seeking partnership from Spokane County on the project. Senator Padden asked to be kept informed of the infrastructure plan to see if we may be able to get more federal funds. He said legislators are not necessarily looking at new projects but instead are looking at moving existing projects up on the time line. Rep. Shea asked if other options were considered for the Barker railroad crossing. Mr. Guth said the study found that due to the grade differences of Trent, Barker, and the railroad tracks,an overpass was the preferred option.Rep. Shea asked why we are not addressing the Pines crossing first and what determined the priorities because he said he thinks lie would want to look at addressing the Pines crossing first. Mr. Guth said the original idea with moving forward on the Barker crossing was due to the significant amount of undeveloped land in that area,the need to address the safety issue of the current crossing, and the amount of freight movement through that intersection. He said that partnering with FMSIB (Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board) allows us to get more funding for this project.Additionally, he said the Pines crossing does not have as much of a freight component, which could limit our funding options, although he said there is some opportunity for development in that area. Mr. Guth said the City has applied for and been denied TIGER grants for the Barker crossing the past three years now and he is hopeful our next application will be successfully awarded. He said they have incorporated the Pines crossing into the grant application for new FASTLANE federal funds and added that our Council feels both projects are very important. Sen. Padden said there are so many needs with other projects in Spokane County, including future development and construction of a new high school which will increase traffic. CED Director Hohman said another thing putting pressure on the City to improve the Trent and Barker crossing is a large manufacturing company we are trying to recruit that would bring one- hundred fifty jobs to the area and increase our tax revenue. 3. Funding Appleway Trail Park Amenities—Mike Stone Parks and Recreation Director Stone said the City has allocated funds for the remaining 3.25 miles of the trail, but initially to get the project started, the City funded in full the first mile of the 4.25 mile trail. He said the first mile has limited amenities and we have heard from the public that it does not look like what they were expecting. He said it is not landscaped or irrigated and Council has added this project to its legislative agenda to make improvements to the first mile of trail. Mr. Stone said in previous discussions with Sen.Padden,the senator said he was concerned with the price tag of the amenities and he did not think a linear park was where the state should spend its money. Mr. Stone referred the group to the list of improvements in the packet to show the different elements of the improvements and asked for the input of the Senator and Representatives to pare down the list and to help the City come up with a number that can be supported by Council,the Senator and our Representatives. Rep.McCaslin said there are a lot of weeds on the trail and the trees appear to be one species which could be problematic because if one were to get diseased,he said it could destroy them all. He said lie would encourage development of the trail because he would also like to encourage businesses to locate along the trail and he said if the City can overcome some of those problems lie would be happy to support the project.CED Director Hohman said the Comprehensive Plan scheduled for adoption on December 13,2016,will hopefully include a change in that area providing for a higher density use that would in turn increase the use of the trail. Ms. Murray said capital funding is highly competitive and recommended that projects have support from the City and its legislators in order to compete well for those finds. Rep. McCaslin said he thinks if a project draws business it will compete well.Rep. Shea said he would support more trees, benches,and some landscaping but not wall-to-wall turf and requested the proposal be revised to include only the top landscaping items from the current list for reconsideration. Director Stone said he will revise the proposal for reconsideration. 4. Protect Local State-Shared Revenues—Chelsie Taylor Finance Director Taylor said the City is requesting the cap on liquor revenue be restored to the 50/50 shared relationship between the state and local governments and added that we appreciate the efforts being made in this area. Ms. Murray said the bill essentially took an account that was previously split 50/50 between Special Council Meeting, State Legislators 11/22/2016 Page 2 of 3 Approved by Council: 12/13/2016 the local governments and the state to an approximate split of 30/70 respectively, and local agencies will receive diminishing returns. She said the bill that has been drafted for the next session increases the revenue split back to the previous 50/50 shared relationship,but does so slowly over time so as not to have as much impact to the state as it would if it were reinstated all at once. She said we recognize the challenge the state is faced with balancing its budget,but she said this has historically been a shared account. Sen.Padden said that with the growth experienced and new spending, there is not enough money to meet the needs and balance the budget. Rep. Shea said there appears to be significant revenue coming from the marijuana industry but he does not think the revenue is seen in the community. Ms. Murray said that when the initial distribution levels were set up,very little was set for the local level. Rep. Shea asked if anyone is looking at this and Ms. Murray stated that currently she knows of two Representatives and said she would be happy to work with them to bring something forward. 5.Protect Businesses by Reforming State Regulatory Burden—Cary Driskell City Attorney Driskell said addressing the regulatory burdens of the Labor and Industries program and the Business and Occupation tax is another priority of our Council. He said this legislative item would recur on our Legislative Agenda year to year and on-going into the future so as to offer continued Council support to the legislators. Sen. Padden said testimonials from local businesses would make a difference in their ability to sell the changes to other legislators. He said Spokane Valley has a good attitude about being business friendly, but it would be helpful if the City would provide specific examples of how these taxes impact businesses. Ms. Murray said it is challenging to pass regulatory reform measures so we would Iike to look at bite-size pieces of reform that we can get signed and focus our efforts in achieving tangible successes. It was moved by Deputy Mayor WOodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting, adjourned at 4:55 p.m. ATTESy L.R. Higgins, + :Tor 1 : ) Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk 1 Special Council Meeting,State Legislators 11/22/2016 Page 3 of 3 Approved by Council: 12/13/2016