2017, 12-12 Special Meeting w/Legislators AGENDA
CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, emsr12 2017 4:09 p.m.
SPOKANE VLLEY CITY HALL
10210 E Sprague Avenue
2nd mor Conference Room,Room N212
(Please Silence Your Cell Phones During the Meeting)
TO ORDER
ROLL CALL:
WELCOME: Mayor Higgins
DISCUSSION: Spokane Valley I zaislk&o Agenda
ADJOURN
Special Ask 2=�0% 27
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CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY 2018 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Adopted by Council November 14, 2017
.Transportation Fnndina Request: Brklgirag the Valley
The City of Spokane Valley continues to make headway on the multi-phase Bridging the Valley project
that replaces dangerous at-grade crossing throughout the City. As the City nears design on the Barker Road
Grade Separation Project, it hopes to pursue slate and federal funding to advance the project, as outlined
below, However, it is important to recogniirc that the Barker Road project is only the first phase, and in
future years,the City will also pursue funds for the Pines Road Underpass/BN\NSFF"Grade Separation Project,
and other elements of Bridging the Valley.
Phase 1: Barker Road!BNS14 Grade Separation Project
The City of Spokane Valley respectfully requests that the state ingest in Phase 1 of Bridging the
Valley by allocating funds to the Barker Road/1-1IVSP' Grade Separation project. The Barker
Road/RN:ST Grade Separation Project replaces an at-grade crossing with an overpass of INS F's
railroad tracks and Trent Avenue (SR 290). The project will eliminate two at-wade crossings,
eliminating train/vehicle crash risks. The project will improve tram travel through the Spokane
region, which is a bottleneck of the Ore-at Northern Corridor. The total project cost is currently
anticipated to be $20 million. The City has already secured partial finxneing for the project
including a$720,000 federal earmark,a Washington State Freight Mobility Investment Board grant
equivalent to 20% of the total project cost, $3.6 million of City-generated funds specifically
eannarked for this purpose,and$1.5 million that the City received in the 2017-2019 Transportation
Budget from the Washington State Legislature, which the City plans to spend on bridge design.
Once designed, the City hopes to continue its partnership with the state to fund right-of way
acquisition and construction.
Pass lezislaatiurt responding to Hirst and A 201719 Capital Budget: Minding for Applewav Trail Park
Amenities
'1'Fre City supports efforts to reach agreement on legislation addressing the recent What Supreme Court
decision regarding water availability in rural areas. The City of SpokaneValley also encourages the
Legislature to pass a 2017-2019 Capital Budget with an allocation of$540,000 for park amenities for the
first mile of the Apple way'frail.The most recent versions of the proposed 2017-19 Capital Budget include
this funding. These additional amenities include a restroom, topsoil,limited turf and dryland seeding,trees,
drinking fountain,and benches.The City previously funded,designed and constructed the paved portion or
the first m i[e with over$1 million without these amenities-The state has allocated funding for the remaining
3.25 miles(including amenities),scheduled over the next two years. This funding of$540,000 in the Capital
Hudget will bring amenities to the entire 4.25 mile trail, realizing the full conceptual plan and orienting
future economic development.
Protect the local State-Shared Revenues
The City of Spokane Valley requests that the Legislature preserve and restore local slate-shared revenues.
'1'Ficse finds include the Liquor Excise Tax Account ($442,294 in 2016), Liquor Board Profits ($804,057
in 2016),Municipal Criminal Justice Assistance Account($280,337 in 2016), and City-County Assistance
Account and Marijuana Revenues ($54,213 in 2016). Specifically, the City supports legislation that
removes the 2011 cap on Liquor Profit revenues,to restore the 50/50 revenue sharing relationship between
the state and local governments,
Spokane Valley is home to many warehouses and manufacturing facilities. As a result, the City receives
over$500,000 each year in streamlined sales tax.mitigation payments to compensate the Ci r{11- financial
losses when the state switched to a destination-based sales tax system.The 2017 Legislature indicated with
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the passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act, that the state intends to suspend streamlined sales tax (SST)
mitigation payments in the 2019-21 biennium_ Meanwhile, the Department of Revenue was directed to
analyze if and when expected revenue gains from implementation of the Marketplace t airncss Act equal or
exceed revenue losses to cities_ The City will be closely monilurinH the outcome of this and requests that
cities receiving SST mitigation arc made whole through this transition throughout the state.
Protect Businesses by Reforming State Regulatory Burden
The City of Spokane Valley strongly supports businesses small and large, in our City and across the state,
because they are the lifeblood of our economy, Unfortunately,these businesses are forced to compete in a
state regulatory environment that is increasingly burdensome, making it difficult to compete with
businesses in neighboring states. Of most urgent concern is the regressive state business&occupation tax,
with the current Labor& Industries program close behind, with both needing significant reform before they
do irreparable damage to commerce in Washington. Spokane Valley supports rebalancing the state-wide
regulatory framework to encourage and support business development and retention.
Abandoned/Foreclosed Homes
The City of Spokane Valley supports legislation to provide cities with the tools to address abandoned and
foreclosed homes. in 2016, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled in Jordan v. Nal oaslor, that
financial institutions cannot enter and secure horn es until the foreclosure process is complete.This leads to
many hotnes that are mid-foreclosure being abandoned. Abandoned homes throughout a community
become sites for criminal activity, squatters, and declining property values. '1'hc City encourages the
Legislature to adopt legislation in response to the.Tra'rdan v Na!'onstar case that provides cities with tools
to address abandoned and foreclosed homes.
indigent Defense Funding
The City of Spokane Valley supports full funding for municipal indigent defense services. In 2013, the
Washington Supreme Court set new caseload standards for the number of cases a public defender can
represent in a calendar year. This has increased the annual cost of providing indigent defense services by
.71,521 or 11.1%.The City supports policy and fiscal changes to mitigate this new obligation_
Support Continued Prohibition of Recreational Marijuana FFome Growing
The City of Spokane Valley supports the continued prohibition on home growing of recreational marijuana.
Allowing home gowing of recreational marijuana will unnecessarily increase youth access, illegal
diversion, and criminal activity related to marijuana. Neither the State nor local cities have sufficient
resources to adequately enforce home growing. Allowing home grrwing will place an additional and
unnecessary cost burden on local cities that primarily have to deal with the impacts from legalized
marijuana. Fly allowing home growing,the Slate will also weaken the still-growing commercial marijuana
market.
Protecting Parental Rights Rei ardin2 Decisions involving Their Children
The City of Spokane Valley recognizes as critically important the role parents play in al] facets of the lives
of their children. Over the years,the State of Washington has adopted various laws and agency rules which
encroach upon the decision-making rights of parents. Some of these laws and rules have significant impacts
on families, and infringe upon the traditional parental role. The City+ supports changes in state law that
strengthen parental rights, and requests that future legislation not have the unintended consequence of
eroding parental rights.
The City supports AWC legislative agenda items that serve the best in terests of Spokane Valley.
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