2018, 12-18 Study Session MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 18, 2018
Attendance:
Cnuncilmembers 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 &Rec Director
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.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded, and unanimously agreed
to approve the agenda.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. CONSENT AGENDA: consists of items considered routine which are approved as a group. Any
member of Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately.
Proposed Motion:I move to approve The Consent Agenda.
a.Approval of claim vouchers on Dec 18, 2018 Request for Council Action Form Total: $3,369,942.67
b. Approval of December 4,2018 Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session Format
Councilmember Wick asked that claim voucher #46293 be removed from the Consent Agenda to be
discussed separately. It was then moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to
approve the Consent Agenda minus claim voucher #46293. Councilmember Wick explained that this
voucher is payment for the City advertising with Wick Enterprises, and due to a conflict of interest, he
recused himself from discussion on that voucher and he left the room. It was moved by Councilmember
Thompson, seconded and unanimously agreed to pay voucher#46293 made payable to Wick Enterprises.
City Attorney Driskell said this came up once before and at that point, Mr. Wick offered to donate the
advertising space.Mr.Driskell suggested he might draft a motion for the next meeting to cover this type of
circumstance; or that we could proceed as just done, for any future similar circumstances. There were no
objections from Council. Councilmember Wick returned to the meeting.
2. First Reading Ordinance 18-027,Level 3 Franchise—Cary Driskell
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded
to suspend the rules and adopt Ordinance 18-027 granting a franchise to Level 3 Telecom of Washington,
LLC. City Attorney Driskell explained that this ten-year franchise is similar to those franchises granted
earlier this year.Mayor Higgins invited public comment. Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley: asked about
this franchise and whether it had anything to do with cell towers, or whether this is just for cable. There
were no other public comments. Councilmember Wick asked Mr. Driskell whether this could be used for
other purposes, and Mr. Driskell confirmed that it could be used for any data transmission. Vote by
acclamation:In favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
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3.First Reading Ordinance 19 001 18-028 Amending Purchasing Regulations—Cary Driskell
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded
to suspend the rules and adopt Ordinance 18-028 amending chapter 3.40 and 3.41 SVMC relating to
purchasing requirements. City Attorney Driskell noted the re-numbering of this ordinance since the vote is
to approve this ordinance this year, rather than in January, and he explained that this amends our code
concerning putting items out for bids and not receiving any bid, and would allow us to negotiate. Mayor
Higgins invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In favor: unanimous.
Opposed: none. Motion carried.
4.Resolution 18-011 Amending Governance Manual—Chris Bainbridge
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to approve Resolution 18-011 amending the
governance Manual as shown. City Clerk Bainbridge explained that this change was brought up as a result
of previous council discussion, about moving the public comments section from its current position near
the beginning of the meeting, to further down the agenda to come right before the administrative reports.
Councilmember Peetz asked if the public comment section could be split into two equal periods with one
toward the front of the agenda, and the other toward the end, and Ms. Bainbridge replied that it could not
base on the current motion. Mayor Higgins invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by
acclamation: In favor: Mayor Higgins, Deputy Mayor Haley, and Councilmennbers Thompson, Wick,
Woodard, and Wood. Opposed: Councilmember Peetz. Motion carried.
5. Motion Consideration:Arts Council 2019 Outside Agency Award Scope Modification Chelsie Taylor
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to reallocate the$24,105 awarded through the outside
Agency process to the Spokane Valley Arts Council from 'Rock Star'sculpture to the 'If I Could But Fly'
sculpture. Finance Director Taylor went over the background of the purpose of the modification of the
scope for the Arts Council outside agency award for 2019, and she then introduced Dr. Harken of the
Spokane Valley Arts Council, Dr. Harkin explained that the reason for the change in sculptures is mostly
due to funding; he also explained somewhat about how the Arts Council negotiates prices with the artists,
manner of payment, delivery, etc., and said that the way we have things set up for the grants award, is that
the recipient must use that money in one year; said he understands the rationale behind that process; and
that he appreciates Council working with the Arts Council to make this work for the new sculpture.
Discussion ensued among Councilmembers concerning how much we are funding; and the grant process
and procedures, and of the use of the funds for the Arts Council's operating costs. Dr. Harken stated that
he wants to keep this on a fiscal basis and within the confines of the process, and not use the funding for
other than the current year or pay toward their operating costs. Ms. Taylor added that there were some
operating costs included in the original proposal so the only change from the original proposal, is this piece
substituting for the original. Deputy Mayor Haley mentioned that the Arts Council is not asking us to help
run their organization, and Mayor Higgins added that the motion is to move money from one project to
another and the motion makes it clear we are not concerned with future years. Mayor Higgins invited public
comment;no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion
carried.
6. Motion Consideration: Acceptance of Art Pieces--Mike Stone
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to authorize the City Manager to accept the five SVAC
donated sculptures on behalf of the City of Spokane Valley as listed above. [Those five included (1) Berry
Picker;(2)Dance of Sun and Moon;(3)Coup Ponies,(4)Woman with Howse,and(5)Heart of the Valley.]
Parks and Recreation Director Stone went through his PowerPoint presentation showing photos of the
various art pieces. Mayor Higgins invited public comment. Dr. Harken said the Heart of the Valley
sculpture was originally aluminum, and mid-way through it was changed by the artist and approved by the
Arts Council,to steel because with the coloring, aluminum isn't stable but steel is which means with steel,
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it would not have be to be periodically recolored. Vote by acclamation: In favor: unanimous. Opposed:
none. Motion carried.
7.Motion Consideration: AAA Street Sweeping Contract Renewal--Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to approve the 2019 contract renewal to AAA Sweeping
in an amount not to exceed$190,200 for street sweeping, and authorize the City Manager to finalize and
execute the contract. City Engineer Helbig stated that this is the last renewal option for this contract, so it
will be re-bid in late 2019;he also mentioned that for the future, staff will want to look at cost data as costs
increase so in order to keep it at the same price as in previous years, we have decreased the service on this
and other similar contracts.Councihnember Wick asked if staff spends the entire amount each year and Mr.
Helbig replied that we average about 99% expenditures. Mr. Helbig also noted staff will be evaluating the
level of service to determine what the true cost will be but staff is comfortable with the current contract
since this is the last year of the renewal.Mayor Higgins invited public comment;no comments were offered.
Vote by acclamation:In favor: unanimous. Opposed.' none. Motion carried.
8. Motion Consideration: Storm Drain Cleaning Services—Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to approve the 2019 contract renewal to AAA Sweeping
in an amount not to exceed$202,587.50 for storm drain cleaning services, and authorize the City Manager
to finalize and execute the contract. Mr. Helbig explained that this is the first renewal for this contract;that
this includes a 2.3% increase in services but the contract amount stays the same. Mayor Higgins invited
public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: In favor: unanimous. Opposed: none.
Motion carried.
9. Motion Consideration: Street& stormwater Maintenance Repair Contract Renewal—Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to approve the 2019 contract renewal to Poe Asphalt
Paving, Inc. in an amount not to exceed$1,366,663.00 for street and stormwater maintenance and repair
service, and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the contract. After Mr. Helbig briefly
explained this contract renewal, Mayor Higgins invited public comment.No comments were offered. Vote
by acclamation:In favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: After explaining the process, Mayor Higgins invited public comments.
Ms. Nina Fluegal, Spokane Valley: said she has been trying to get something done through the City's
stormwater department as a friend contacted her regarding her house on the southeast corner of ValIeyway
and McDonald; her friend said her driveway has been filling up with water, and that she didn't have this
problem before they changed McDonald;said she[Ms,Fieugal] contacted city staff but no one has returned
her call; said her neighbor tells that she has to wear waterproof boots just to get to her car, and she said it
is imperative that staff get back to her. She said her friend's name is Brandi Weaver. City Manager Calhoun
asked Ms. Fluegal to leave Ms. Weaver's contact information and address and staff will get back to her
tomorrow.
Ms.John Harding, Spokane Valley: regarding Hydro One, said the Utilities Commission denied the merger
but there is a twenty-day appeal process;said this is an issue of national security as the distribution company
is in Canada which is a socialist nation and that they will have control over five states distribution-wise;
again said this is an obvious threat to our national security on the power grid; said he is aware of at least
one federal investigative service looking into this; he suggested Council agree this is important on behalf
of our citizens, that someone send a letter to the Washington Utilities Commission and look into these
investigations before making a final decision.
NON-ACTION ITEMS:
10. Water District Memorandum of Understanding—Bill Helbig
City Engineer Helbig went over the background of the Memorandum of Understanding, as noted in his
December 18, 2018 Request for Council Action Form; that the Spokane County water District #3 is
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planning to advertise for construction of a three-mile long water transmission line project in January and
intends to construct the project through the 2019 construction season; he said staff believes this is an
opportune time to preserve the identified streets while minimizing the impact to the travelling public. Mr.
Helbig said the estimated total pavement preservation cost is $350,000. There was discussion about the
ratings on those roads; restrictions on the process as per the regionally adopted Pavement Cut Policy ; and
that some of these roads are in bad shape and will fall apart without some maintenance, adding that these
are primarily residential roads. There was also brief mention of sidewalks and Mr. Helbig said there are
none on these routes and we are not doing anything with sidewalks, as we want to get the pavement
preserved. There was Council consensus to move this to the January 8 meeting for motion approval
consideration.
11. Advance Agenda--Mayor Higgins
There were no suggested changes to the Advance Agenda.
12. Department Monthly Reports were for information only and were not discussed or reported.
13. Council Check-in Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Thompson said there was an article in the Seattle newspaper stating we were going to vote
on succeeding from the State of Washington; she said that is not on our agenda and it is not something we
are going to do; said she wanted to thank City Manager Calhoun as well as our Public Information Officer
for issuing the press release that this is not something this Council is discussing or planning to discuss and
they are trying to find out how the story originated as it did not originate as the story stated, with the
Spokesman Review. Councilmember Thompson also mentioned that she has been appointed to the 2019
National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee and that she
is the only one appointed from our state; and said this is another great opportunity to advocate for the need
for law enforcement to help with such things as the opioid crisis. Councilmember Wood reported that he
attended an STA (Spokane Transit Authority) meeting, and their fixed routes are down 3.4% from
November 2017 to November 2018, with the overall fixed route ridership down about 1.8%; said 95% of
their buses run on time;he mentioned sales tax revenue is up 4.4% in November 2018, and overall revenue
is up 13.4% and they are worlcing hard to design programs to increase ridership. Mayor Higgins wished
everyone a very merry Christmas and a joyous new year.
14. City Manager Comments-Mark Calhoun
City Manager Calhoun noted that there will be no meeting December 25 and no meeting January 1;that we
had talked about having a meeting on Wednesday January 2 but after meeting with the agenda committee,
we have decided not to meet January 2 either; keeping in mind that if something pressing did come up,we
could always call a special meeting, but barring anything unforeseen, the next meeting will be January 8.
Mr. Calhoun noted that tonight is the last meeting of the year,that we will have an accomplishments report
in March, but he briefly listed many of the accomplishments for the year 2018; and said there has been a
good team effort between Council and staff, and he thanked everyone.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
/
L.R. Hrgt. ayo
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
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Approved by Council:01-08-2019