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.
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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
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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
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Approved by Council: 12/13/2016