2018, 10-16 Study Session MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 16,2018
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Rod Higgins, Mayor Mark Calhoun, City Manager
Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor John Hohman,Deputy City Manager
Brandi Peetz, Councilmember Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Linda Thompson, Councilmember Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Ben Wick, Councilmember Bill Helbig, City Engineer
Sam Wood, Councilmember Chelsie Taylor,Finance Director
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Mike Stone,Parks &Recreation Director
Morgan Koudelka, Sr. Administrative Analyst
Chaz Bates,Economic Dev. Specialist
Mike Basinger,Economic Development Mgr.
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.
1. Appleway Trail, University to Pines Park Amenities—Mike Stone
Parks and Recreation Director Stone introduced Ms. Julia Culp, landscape architect with Bernardo Wills,
who has been working on the design and preparation of the plans and specifications in anticipation of this
project going out to bid later this year.As noted in his October 16,2018 Request for Council Action form,
Mr. Stone noted the City received a 2018 Legislative Direct Appropriation Grant of$539,320;he said this
project will provide park amenities for the first mile of the Appleway Trail from University Road to Pines
Road;that the park amenities will include, among other things, a restroom,topsoil, limited turf and dryland
seeding,trees,drinking fountain,benches, and if budget allows,wayfinding and interpretative signage. Mr.
Stone noted that in 2015, the City designed and constructed the paved portion of the first mile with over
$1.6 million in City funds. Mr. Stone said with Council consensus, this project will be put out to bid next
month with construction taking place in 2019,and a hopeful completion by the end of June,2019.
Ms. Culp went over the project schedule as noted in the PowerPoint, along with slides showing project
location, amenities, proposed restroom, and photos of other possible amenities such as benches and trash
receptacles. Mr. Stone then went over the budget and the four alternatives, adding that alternative 1 of
additional topsoil would be the least likely added; he stated that the intent is to bid all four alternates which
should give us a good chance to pick up several; said the change in prevailing wage for landscape laborers
is having a large impact on this project as the cost of a Iaborer goes from $11.50 to $37.19 an hour. Mr.
Stone said we will also make sure that we fulfill all the grant requirements as the legislators worked long
and hard to get this funding for us, which he said is critical for our trail.
There was discussion about the change in prevailing wage and whether the Iegislators might be working on
that issue,with Mr. Stone noting although there has been discussion, he is not aware of anything definitive
concerning a legislative fix. City Manager Calhoun stated that he and others attended an AWC(Association
of Washington Cities)meeting where he asked how cities are supposed to deal with a 320% increase, and
the response he got was perhaps there would be a legislative fix; he said we have added that item on our
legislative agenda when it comes before Council next month. Concerning this project, Mr. Calhoun stated
that we have to fully expend these funds by June 30, 2019, and the only way to do that is to get the project
Council Study Session: 10-I6-2018 Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council: 11-13-2018
out to bid as soon as possible It was noted that the bid base estimate covers the grant requirements.
Councilmember Woodard said he thinks what was presented to the legislators included some trees and some
furnishings and that at least those two items were part of the basis for the funding from the legislators. Mr.
Stone agreed and said that there are trees in the intersection area and site furniture not included in the base
bid, and said he believes there may be some internal funding in 2019 where we can accomplish that; and
said we would obviously not move forward until we are sure we will meet the criteria. Mr. Calhoun noted
that the internal funding that will also come into play would be from Mr. Stone's operating 2019 budget.
Mr. Stone explained that he felt staff should come to Council with at least a figure close to the funding we
have, and then go from there, and putting this out to bid will assure us we will get hydroseeding at the
proper time of the year. Mr. Calhoun mentioned concerning the$539,000 grant; said when we heard about
the increase in the prevailing wage, he and Mr. Stone and Ms. Taylor met and identified that $125,000 in
reserves in the park capital project fund 309, and said that is not currently included in the 2019 budget, but
could be amended in the future.There was Council consensus to move this forward to get it out to bid.
2.Browns Park Master Plan--Mike Stone
Parks and Recreation Director Stone gave some background on Browns Park and approval of that park's
master plan in 2014; that since 2014 seven sand volleyball courts, one championship sand volleyball court,
a basketball court and a splash pad have been added, and plans are underway to add eight additional
volleyball courts in the remaining months of 2018.Mr.Stone said that tonight staff seeks guidance on which
elements of the plan Council would like to pursue in 2019, which to pursue beyond 2019,which should be
pursued as part of the City's 2019 legislative agenda, and which elements Council feels should not be
pursued; he noted that the currently proposed 2019 budget includes a$1.16 million appropriation for park
improvements, although the total estimated cost of all elements is about $2.5 million. As shown on the
PowerPoint slides, Mr. Stone noted the improvements for 2019 and the associated estimated cost, which
include (1) a loop trail and perimeter lighting, (2) large restroom, (3) large picnic shelter, (4) stormwater
drainage swale, and (5) northwest parking lot expansion; and the listed twelve future improvements and
their associated estimated cost.
There was considerable discussion on the various improvements, including whether an expanded parking
Iot was critical as it was mentioned that Central Valley School District would not have a problem with park
patrons using their parking lot for overflow parking, and without an expanded parking lot there would be
no need for a stormwater drainage swale;the idea came up of applying for ADA (American with Disability
Act)grants for path and lighting funding;trees were discussed as well as the shade they would provide,but
the maintenance they would also require; the idea of signage concerning overflow parking was also
mentioned, as well as the prevailing wage issue addressed during the previous agenda item.
Councilmember Woodard suggested putting up a Hawk light on 32'd to help pedestrians cross the road; and
he proposed an adjustment to the legislative agenda to include a half million for the park, and that he feels
the legislature would want benches, and trail lighting, but doubts they would encourage increasing the
parking lot. City Manager Calhoun noted that we won't know what to include in the upcoming legislative
agenda until this issue gets resolved and the sooner we decide which amenities, the sooner we can get this
out to bid and get a better bid in 2019.
In summary,Mr. Stone said it is his understanding that Council desires to move forward for 2019 as shown,
but don't include the northwest parking, or internal trees or swale associated with the northwest parking
lot, and to seek ADA grants for lighting and the path, and as well to consider an agreement with U-High
for overflow parking,and to get appropriate signage.Concerning the idea of including a half million request
in the legislative agenda, Mr. Stone said he will put together some options for that and based on further
discussion of the amount to include in that agenda, Mr. Calhoun said he will bring forward options from
half a million to one million to show Council real figures of what that could buy, and Council agreed.
3. Community Development Block Grant Projects—Chaz Bates
Economic Development Specialist Bates explained the process for applying for Community Development
Block Grants (CDBG) as noted on his October 16, 2018 Request for Council Action form; and described
the three potential sidewalk projects of Conklin Road,Farr Road, and Ella Road, and asked which projects
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Approved by Council: 11-13-2018
Council preferred to move through the CDBG application process,adding that there will be a public hearing
on these projects at next week's Council meeting.After brief Council discussion, it was determined to bring
all three projects to the public hearing and the prioritization can be addressed at that time.
4. Police Precinct Lease Renewal—Morgan Koudelka
Senior Administrative Analyst Koudelka gave a brief history of the Police Precinct building, which we
acquired from the County in 2006,as noted in his October 16,2018 Request for Council Action form. Mr.
Koudelka explained that he believes Council is interested in agreements where we get services from an
outside provider, like the courts or law enforcement, but in this instance,we are not receiving a service but
we provide a service to the County since we own the building, and we lease a portion to the County for
their use, which includes the District Court; and that since we go over these costs as part of the annual
budget process, he asked if Council would like him to come back for a review of this automatic annual
agreement renewal,or just discuss it through the budget process. Council agreed unless the lease agreement
were to change substantially,they don't need to see this contract when it automatically renews, or is about
to renew.
5. Spokane Valley Resolution 17-008,Non-discrimination—Councilmember Thompson
Councilmember Thompson explained that this is a reaffirmation of Resolution 17-008; that Council has
heard several comments from citizens on this topic; she explained that we have done great things such as
appointing a citizen to the Human Rights Task Force; said she wanted to stress that it is important that the
public knows that each Councilmember loves this City and they work hard for it; and after she read the
resolution in its entirety, stated that tonight this resolution is reaffirmed by Mayor Higgins, Deputy Mayor
Haley, and Councilmembers Peetz, Thompson, Wick, Wood, and Woodard; and she asked Council to
pledge the reaffirmation of this Resolution. Mayor Higgins asked Councilmembers to reaffirm the
resolution by raising their hand, and each Councilmember did so.
6.Advance Agenda—Mayor Higgins
Councilmernber Woodard said he would like to include the topic of studded snow tires on an upcoming
agenda as it is his understanding that the Washington State Department of Transportation will not fund any
projects in cities that do not ban studded tires within three years; said we need to look at the law, and also
see some of the advancements in the tires. He also mentioned that some work is needed in Mirabeau Park,
maybe some forest management that might help in making it so we do not have a wildfire totally devastate
that park. Mayor Higgins asked for consensus on adding these two items to the advance agenda, and all
Councilmembers except Councilmember Wick raised their hand to have the items included.
7. Council Comments—Mayor Higgins
There were no additional Council comments.
8. City Manager Comments—Mark Calhoun
Mr. Calhoun again mentioned our marketing agreement with KREM and the six commercials they are
working on, which will be shown through December 31 across the three local major networks, and he
showed the video of the fourth commercial.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
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ATTEST. L.R. Higgins, 1, _ „.......------„,
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Christine Bainbridge, City Clerki.------
Council Study Session: 10-I6-2018 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council: 11-13-2018