2018, 11-06 Study Session MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
Spokane Valley City hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 6, 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 Mark Werner,Police Chief
Gloria Mentz,Engineering Manager
John Whitehead, Human Resources Manager
Jenny Nickerson, Building Official
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.
Proclamation: Armistice Remembrance
Mayor Higgins read the proclamation honoring Veterans day, and mentioned that this year commemorates
the 100th year since the signing of the armistice.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Motion Consideration: Bid Award, Argonne Road Preservation Project, Broadway to Mission— Gloria
Mantz
After Engineering Manager Mantz explained the project, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and
seconded to award the Argonne Road Preservation Project, CUP 0252, to Inland Asphalt Paving Company
in the amount of$674,000 and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the construction contract.
Mayor Higgins invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In favor:
unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
2. Motion Consideration: Mayoral Appointments to Salary Commission—Mayor Higgins
After Mayor Higgins explained the background leading up to these appointments, he said he intends to
appoint Bill Gothmann, Steve Robertson, Chuck Simpson, Tes Sturges, and Kathe Williams; and Michael
Moore as alternate. It was then moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to confirm the Mayor's
appointments to the Salary Commission of the following individuals: Bill Gothmann, Steve Robertson,
Chuck Simpson, Tes Sturges, and Kathe Williams, and Michael Moore as alternate; each for a term of not
more than one year from date of appointment. Mayor Higgins invited public comment.Ms.Diana Wilhite,
Spokane Valley: said she knows the hours and time put in by councilmembers, and that sometimes it is
difficult to find people who want to run, and said she feels this is a good idea to give a fair compensation
for council work. There were no further public comments. Vote by acclamation: In favor: unanimous.
Opposed: none. Motion carried.
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Approved by Council: 12-11-2018
3. Motion Consideration: Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement—John Whitehead
Mr.Whitehead gave a brief synopsis of the agreement and the ratifying process,and said that the 2%general
increase responds to some of the state and federal labor Iaw changes that have recently occurred and will
help us attract and retain a high quality workforce, and that this is a three-year agreement. It was moved by
Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to rates the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of
Spokane Valley and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees Local 270V, American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME),for the term of January 1, 2019 through
December 31, 2021, and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the Agreement. Mayor Higgins
invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In favor: unanimous. Opposed:
none. Motion carried.
NON-ACTION ITEMS:
4. Woodstove Change-out Program—Jenny Nickerson; Clean Air Agency Director Julie Oliver
Building Official Nickerson introduced Clean Air Agency Executive Director Julie Oliver. Ms. Oliver
extended thanks to Council for inviting her tonight; said she is here to talk about the Woodstove Change-
out Program; and via her PowerPoint, she gave some background about residential wood heating and
unhealthy levels of wood smoke that can result in that use; she mentioned some of the toxins contained in
wood smoke, and the eight top sources of those; she explained the change-out program and how it provides
grants as funding incentives for citizens to replace outdated and/or unusable stoves. Council thanked Ms.
Oliver for her informative report.
5.Police Department Quarterly Report—Chief Werner
Chief Werner went over the highlights of his department's quarterly report, including statistics on patrol,
on the Spokane Valley Investigative Unit which includes controlled substance seizures and property crimes;
and he gave some data on major crimes such as runaways and death investigations;and went over the sexual
assault unit statistics.
6. Federal Lobbyist Contract Cary Driskell
As noted on his November 6, 2018 Request for Council Action form, City Attorney Driskell explained the
background of contracting for a federal lobbyist; and said if Council agrees, he would like to include this
contract on next week's Consent Agenda. Councilmember Wick asked about any possible conflict with that
company assisting STA(Spokane Transit Authority),and Mr.Driskell said funds for us and funds for STA
would come from different `pockets' and that they had represented STA on a large project and were very
successful,and that the potential conflict of interest issue was addressed and staff is satisfied we would not
get into that kind of a conflict. Council had no objection to placing this on next week's Consent Agenda.
7. Hearing Examiner Interlocal Agreement—Cary Driskell
As noted on his November 6, 2018 Request for Council Action form, City Attorney Driskell explained the
background of our City's use of a hearing examiner; and that if Council agrees, he would like to include
this on next week's Consent Agenda. Council had no objection to placing this on next week's Consent
Agenda.
8. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee 2019 Recommended Grant Allocations—Chelsie Taylor
Finance Director Taylor mentioned that tonight's item is for discussion, and that the motion for this item.
will be on the December 11 Council agenda. After briefly going over the background, Councilmember
Peetz asked for clarification about Crave was only asking $10,000 more, as noted in the minutes of that
meeting; and Ms. Taylor confirmed that was $10,000 more than the previous time where they asked for
$50,000,and this time they were asking for$60,000. Councilmember Peetz said she wasn't sure she would
recommend that amount of funding given what they have already received; and noted that the Sports
Commission mentioned events that are not in the Valley, such as events at the HUB or Plantes Ferry.
Councilmember Wood asked about the Spokane County Parks&Recreation and Golf and that if they don't
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Approved by Council: 12-11-2018
use that $35,000, would those funds come back to us. Ms. Taylor said there was discussion at the Lodging
Tax Advisory Committee meeting about whether $35,000 would be sufficient for their purposes; and she
said if they determine they can't do the proposed project for the$35,000,and they choose to decline entering
into a contract, those funds would go toward the next funding cycle. Deputy Mayor Haley also expressed
concern and commented that very little money is actually staying in Spokane Valley for Spokane Valley
events, as most of the funds are going downtown.
9. 2019 Legislative Agenda—Mark Calhoun, Cary Driskell
After City Manager Calhoun explained the proposed, redline changes in the Legislative Agenda, Deputy
Mayor Haley suggested adding some verbiage to focus on the Spokane Valley police training as apparently
a lot of money goes to Seattle, and Mr. Calhoun said he will refine that section, adding that we would like
to see the academy over here in Spokane; that typically we had two but the last few years the funding to
Spokane was reduced so now there is only one, and we have to compete to get into the west side in Burien,
often after short notice. Councilmember Wick noted the Freight Management should be Freight Mobility.
Mr. Wick also mentioned the idea of trying to edit this agenda so it fits on one page, front and back as
legislators' time is tight to review these items. After brief discussion on how that might be accomplished,
Mr. Calhoun said staff will work on that and return either next week or perhaps November 20,for a motion
consideration; and hopefully in early December,we will set up a meeting with Council and the 4th District
Legislators.
10. Governance Manual—Chris Bainbridge
City Clerk Bainbridge briefly went over the few changes that were suggested at the October 2 meeting,and
there was agreement to move this forward to the next meeting to bring forth a resolution adopting the
manual.Ms.Bainbridge mentioned concerning allocating travel funds to Council,that perhaps an additional
amount could be added for the mayor's travel, and Mr. Calhoun said rather than have an arbitrary amount
or percentage, staff will work on that verbiage for next week's Council consideration.
11. Advance Agenda—Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Wood said he would like to have an amendment to our marijuana code, 19.85.040 to have
licensed transportation of marijuana as an allowed use.To further explain,Deputy City Attorney Lamb said
that some Councilmembers were contacted by an individual proposing a marijuana transportation business
here, and when Council adopted the current code, it wasn't clear what would be allowed by the state; that
currently our code only allows production, processing and retail stores, and said it would be up to Council
if they would like to consider that amendment. It appeared there was consensus among five
Councilmernbers to proceed.
12.Information Only Items
12a Council Election Night Meeting History, and 12b Finance Department Monthly Report, were for
information only and were not reported or discussed.
13. Council Check-in—Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Thompson said she went to a local synagogue to honor the victims of the Tree of Life
Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh; said there was standing room only as the community came together in time
of tragedy and to support one another; and that it would be nice to do that at other times, not just in times
of tragedy.
14. City Manager Comments—Mark Calhoun
City Manager Calhoun mentioned that Council heard a presentation this past summer concerning the Aging
&Long Term Care of Eastern Washington,and Council expressed interest in participating;that their Board
recently approved new language to include a Spokane Valley seat on the board, so the interlocal will come
before Council at the December 11 meeting, and once the interlocal has been approved, the Board
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Approved by Council: 12-11-2018
appointment will occur early January since that board won't meet again until the first quarter of 2019. Mr.
Calhoun also announced that November 29, at 5:30 p.m. in front of City Hall, the annual Christmas tree
lighting will take place, with thanks to the Rotary Club; that the tree will be lit and City Hall will be
decorated, and the Councilmembers will recite Twas the Night Before Christmas.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
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Council Study Session: 11-06-2018 Page 4 of 4
Approved by Council: 12-11-20I8