2018, 02-20 Study SessionAttendance:
Councilmembers
MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 20, 2018
Staff
Rod Higgins, Mayor
Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor
Brandi Peetz, Councilmember
Linda Thompson, Councilmember
Ben Wick, Councilmember
Sam Wood, Councilmember
Arne Woodard, Councilmember
Mark Calhoun City Manager
Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Mike Stone, Parks & Rec Director
Bill Helbing, City Engineer
Gloria Mantz, Engineering Manager
John Hohman, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Koudelka, Sr. Admin. Analyst
Henry Allen, Senior Engineer
Rob Lochmiller, Sr. Engineer Project Mgr.
Mike Basinger, Economic Dev. Mgr.
Deanna Horton, Administrative Assistant
Colin Quinn -Hurst, Sr. Transportation Planner
Erica Amsden, Engineer
Mark Werner, Police Chief
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Mayor Higgins called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll, all Councilmembers were present.
Mayor Higgins announced that Myrna Gothmann, wife of former Councilmember Bill Gothmann, passed
away this weekend, and he asked for a few moments of silence.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. First Reading Ordinance 18-005, Spokane Housing Authority Reauthorization — Erik Lamb
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded
to advance ordinance No. 18-005 reauthorizing the joint Spokane Housing Authority, to a second reading.
Deputy City Attorney Lamb said this item carne before Council as an administrative report at the February
6 meeting, at which time SHA Director Pamela Tietz was in attendance and explained the need for the
ordinance, and gave a brief background of some of the functions of the SHA. Mr. Lamb also stated that
this ordinance represents no financial obligation for our City. Councilmember Wick asked if a future
council wanted to go in a different direction, could they, and Mr. Lamb said yes they could; that the
Authority operates under state law but we could set up our own, although it would be somewhat challenging
as the SHA has significant assets in the valley. Mr. Lamb mentioned we have two Spokane Valley
representatives on the board which were appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by our Council. Mayor
Higgins invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous.
Opposed: None. Motion carried.
Council Study Session: 02-20-2018 Page 1 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-13-2018
2. Mayoral Appointment: Councilmember to Board of Health — Mayor Higgins
Mayor Higgins explained that Councilmember Peetz was previously appointed to the Board of Health, but
her schedule prevents her from attending the meetings, and he is therefore recommending Councilmember
Arne Woodard be appointed in her place. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to confirm
the Mayoral appointment of Councilmember Arne Woodard to the Health District Board for the remainder
of 2018. Mayor Higgins invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In
Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Motion carried.
NON -ACTION ITEMS:
3. Saltese Floodplain Update — Henry Allen, Deanna Horton, Spokane co. Engineer Ben Brattebo
Senior Engineer Allen explained that the purpose of this agenda item is to give Council an update on the
Saltese Creek/Shelley Lake floodplain study that has been going on for the last six years; he briefly outlined
the information contained in his February 20, 2018 Request for Council Action, and said there is obviously
a lot involved in redoing a floodplain study. Mr. Allen then introduced Spokane County Water Reclamation
Engineer Mr. Ben Brattebo, and Spokane Valley Administrative Assistant Ms. Deanna Horton who is also
a certified floodplain manager.
Mr. Brattebo discussed the Saltese flats wetland restoration project, reasons for the flood hazard restudy,
and the study's results, including an overview of the watershed, that the project included restoration of 580
acres within an historic lake area; he also noted the current mapped flood area doesn't match the actual
topography. Mr. Brattebo noted the flood hazard analysis, conducted by the County Environmental Services
in coordination with the County Public Works and City of Spokane Valley, has completed a draft restudy
of the existing flood hazards in the watershed, and that the County intends to notify property owners near
or inside the special flood hazard areas, and will submit the draft analysis for FEMA review, and noted the
community appeal period will occur after the FEMA review. Mr. Brattebo showed a map of the proposed
flood hazard within Spokane Valley. Ms. Horton then went over the maps showing affected parcels, and
where the floodplain narrowed in some places and increased in others. There was brief discussion about the
parcels and whether there is a need to have flood insurance; mention from Councilmember Woodard that it
is sometimes necessary to prove that one is outside the floodplain, and flood insurance is very expensive.
Ms. Horton noted that if a property owner is not in a risk situation, it is important to be able to remove that
from their structure, adding that the longer one continues without an elevation certificate, the higher the
FEMA rate.
4. Functional Classification of City Streets — Mike Basinger, Colin Quinn -Hurst
Mr. Basinger introduced the City's Senior Transportation Planner Colin Quinn -Hurst, who will be
coordinating several transportation planning projects, including the six-year Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP). Via his PowerPoint, Mr. Hurst explained about principal and minor arterials, collectors,
and local access streets; the purpose for classifications, the federal classification of categories compared
with our classification of categories; he mentioned the composition breakdown of streets in our City, with
local access streets making up the greatest percentage of streets at 68%; he briefly mentioned funding
eligibility, and showed examples of our street standards for local access streets, collectors, and principal
and minor arterials. Mr. Hurst also explained a little of the classification history since our City's
incorporation, as well as the classification process through the various state agencies, and showed a map
depicting the reclassifications since incorporation. There was brief Council discussion about this process,
and Mr. Basinger noted we are not moving toward reclassification streets at this point; he said our consultant
looks at our streets keeping in mind we must adhere to certain standards. There was also brief discussion
about speed limits on various streets, mention that lanes are private streets; and that streets must have a
minimum pavement width for fire vehicle access, and if that width is not adhered to, we would post "no -
parking" signs.
Council Study Session: 02-20-2018 Page 2 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-13-2018
5. Sprague Avenue Preservation Project: Sullivan to Corbin — Erica Amsden, Gloria Mantz
Ms. Mantz introduced Ms. Erica Amsden, PE Project Manager, who then went through the background of
this preservation project as noted on her Request for Council Action form and the accompanying
PowerPoint; explaining the project location, existing conditions, project design, temporary traffic control,
project cost and funding, as well as the tentative schedule for bid advertising and Council's award of the
bid contract.
6. Wellesley Sidewalk Project Update — Gloria Mantz, Rob Lochmiller
Ms. Mantz explained about this project, including the project location, scope, history, and existing
conditions, followed by Mr. Lochmiller going over the several alternatives shown in the PowerPoint
presentation. As noted in the material, Ms. Mantz gave some pros and cons for each alternative, and the
reason why staff is not recommending option 1 or 2, which is due to lack of funds; she said staff
recommends alternative 3 but at this point we do not know how neighbors will react to not parking on the
roadway, but that this alternative would allow pedestrian improvements to Wellesley without having to
remove curb and gutter. Discussion included mention from Mayor Higgins that since alternative 3 would
put is in the hole, he recommends alternative 4. Councilmember Woodard said that we need to meet our
own standards, and he would like to discuss how to come up with the $129,000 shortfall; that he feels the
projects warrants being done, but if we are not going to do it, we should give the money back; adding that
he feels the projects needs more research.
City Manager Calhoun said it is frustrating to have this come up; that engineers have struggled how to move
this forward as it is favorable to have sidewalks for the kids; said if we go with alternative 1, he would
speak with our Finance Director as perhaps the $129,000 shortfall could come from REET (real estate
excise taxes) or from the capital reserve fund 312, adding that that topic will be discussed with Council as
we move into April. Ms. Mantz said there is enough right-of-way with alternative 1; that the width is
sufficient for travel but not for separated sidewalks; and that we don't have an estimate on how much it
would cost to acquire the right-of-way, which would be extremely expensive. Councilmember Wood said
he likes alternative 2 as it would give a place for putting snow. As a matter of disclosure, Councilmember
Wick said his family has property along that area, but he does not personally; but he would like to make a
case to preserve the rest of the asphalt, and perhaps look at the ending fund balance to complete alternative
1. It appeared that there was consensus to move forward with option 1 but would appreciate staff coming
back with some specifics of options to fund that shortfall.
7. False Alarm Code Amendment — Morgan Koudelka
Senior Administrative Analyst Koudelka explained that the City started a false alarm program to reduce the
number of false alarms, improve police response times, increase officer safety and create more time for
proactive policing; that in October of 2016, Council approved a new in-house false alarm reduction program
that reduced costs, simplified administration, and reduced government regulation and intrusion; he said this
new program does not require registration of an alarm system and makes police response voluntary for the
alarm system owner, and that the customer has the option of not participating in that service with the alarm
monitoring company. Mr. Koudelka said the draft code revision will clarify the duties of the alarm
administrator, including the ability to mitigate a cost recovery fee up to 25% if the administrator believes
the facts and circumstances warrant it. After brief discussion on the system, including mention that the fees
associated with the program are included in the City's Fee resolution, there was Council consensus that
staff move this forward for a code amendment as explained.
8. Advance Agenda — Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Thompson said that based on the recent shooting event, she would like to see if perhaps
the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) representative Micki Harnois who represents Rockford,
and/or perhaps Councilmember Woodard, as part of their legislative agenda, would advocate for mental
health services to help deal with some of these criminal issues, and Councilmember Woodard said he would
Council Study Session: 02-20-2018 Page 3 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-13-2018
be happy to do that, and will bring that up at their first quarter meeting to see what others are doing in that
regard.
9. Council Check-in — Mayor Higgins
There were no comments from Council.
10. City Manager Comments — Mark Calhoun
City Manager Calhoun said Council heard a report at the January 16 Council meeting regarding the ITS in-
fill project; and at that meeting it was estimated to cost $328,000 for the project, but in the area where the
loop would go under the railroad, the cost would be significantly greater; he explained that the choices then
were to stop the project and repay the $50,000 grant, or pay that toward the project and ask for another
$100,000 from the SRTC, or ask that the SRTC permit us to scope back the project. Mr. Calhoun said a
new option has come up as the Washington State Department of Transportation said they would handle that
$100,000; he said we will pull the $50,000 from REET; that the project is on the TIP (Transportation
Improvement Program), and at this point, there is nothing Council needs to do, and once this goes out to
bid, this will come back to Council for a bid award consideration.
Mr. Calhoun noted that SB 6414 concerns population -based representation on the governing body of public
transportation benefit areas; and of how that would affect counties with a population of more than 400,000;
he explained that this would require proportional representation to the cities based on ridership; which
means the City of Spokane would have four representatives compared with our City having two, thereby
giving the City of Spokane disproportionate control to the STA board; and he asked if Council would like
to support or oppose this bill; he said staff is leaning toward opposing, and if Council agrees, he will ask
Mr. Driskell to draft a letter for the Mayor's signature to send to the delegation. Councilmember Wick
asked how the STA was created and Mr. Driskell said he would have to research that question, but it was
likely created by ballot vote. There was consensus to oppose this legislation. On another legislation issue,
Mr. Driskell said he learned that the abandoned homes bill, dealing with "zombie" homes, passed out of
committee unanimously.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
*Ski
ATTEST: L.R. Higgi"
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
r
Council Study Session: 02-20-2018 Page 4 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-13-2018