2019, 01-15 Study Session MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL MEETING
STUDY SESSION
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
January 15, 2019
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Rod Higgins,Mayor John Hohman, Deputy City Manager
Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Brandi Peetz, Councilmember Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Linda Thompson, Councilmember Erik Lamb,Deputy City Attorney
Ben Wick, Councilmember Mike Stone,Parks &Rec Director
Sam Wood, Councilmember Mark Werner, Police Chief
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Colin Quinn-Hurst, Sr. Transportation Planner
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.Amended 2019 Transportation Improvement Program(TIP)—Colin Quinn-Hurst
Via his PowerPoint presentation, Senior Transportation Planner Quinn-Hurst gave a brief explanation of
the TIP; he noted which projects have not changed, such as the Pines Grade Separation Project; the close
out projects such as the Broadway Avenue, Mission Avenue, Euclid Avenue and Appleway Trail; he
showed the list of updated and carryover projects as well as the list of 2019 street preservation projects,
which includes the newly awarded TIB University Road Preservation 16"' to Dishman Mica project; and
the list of added projects which includes several newly grant awards. Councilmember Woodard asked about
the street wear process and whether we are just looking at the Midilome area this year.Deputy City Manager
Hohman explained that staff is following Council's direction to apply street wear fees to local access streets
only, adding that the Midilome project will be back to Council in a few weeks for further discussion; and
said we weren't going to use any street wear fees on an arterial road at this time. There were no further
questions or comments, and it was noted this will come before Council again January 29,2019 for a public
hearing on the amended TIP, as well as a proposed resolution for approval consideration.
2. Gambling Tax Chelsie Taylor
Finance Director Taylor explained the background of our gambling taxes, the proceeds of which are used
to partially offset law enforcement costs; she mentioned our tax rate for card games was decreased from
10% to 6% effective July 1, 2015 through the adoption of ordinance 15-012; and she referenced the chart
included on her Request for Council Action form showing the type of gambling activity, and the tax rates
allowed by Washington State, and what we charge and what the City of Spokane charges. Director Taylor
also explained how the decrease in gambling tax affected our revenues. Director Taylor mentioned that at
the November 13,2018 meeting,Council heard public comment from the legal representative of a business
owner who operates a local gambling establishment,and said that the gambling taxes on social card playing
are a significant expense to his client's business and believes that puts his client at an unfair disadvantage
to similar businesses that operate in the City of Spokane due to the tax rate differences between the two
cities, and he requested our Council consider reducing the gambling tax rates on card games from 6% to
2%. Ms. Taylor said as a result of that November 20, meeting, Council requested an administrative report
on gambling taxes.
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Approved by Council: 02-05-19
Of particular note,Director Taylor showed a chart of the type of tax or fee imposed by Spokane Valley as
compared to the City of Spokane, as well as the admissions tax, property tax rates, and cost of acquiring a
business license. Director Taylor showed that utility taxes for the City of Spokane were much greater and
there were more of them,as compared to Spokane Valley,with Spokane Valley only having a 6%telephone
tax, as compared to the City of Spokane's electricity, natural gas, telephone, cable TV, solid waste, water
and sewer taxes;and noted Spokane Valley's property tax 2018 levy rate is$12.78 compared to the City of
Spokane's at $13.88; and that Spokane Valley's business license cost is $13.00 compared to the City of
Spokane's $117.00; and that the City of Spokane charges a 5% admissions tax, and Spokane Valley has
none. Director Taylor noted that under the budget/financial impacts section of the Request for Council
Action form, the sentence about the 10% tax on card games, should have been 6%; and said the math is
correct, but the percentage should have been 6%. Ms. Taylor said tonight's presentation is just
informational. Mayor Higgins said he thought the argument that was put forward, was that we were
significantly above Spokane; and said on that single issue,we have 6% compared to Spokane's 2%; but if
you look at pull tabs for Spokane,they are a lucrative source of revenue;and when you look at all the other
sources of revenue from utilities,there were zeros in our column, and a high of 20% for at least three items
for the City of Spokane.
3. Browns Park Scope of Work—Mike Stone
Parks and Recreation Director Stone said staff is seeking consensus regarding items Council wishes to
construct in the park in 2019; and as he went through his PowerPoint presentation, he mentioned that the
currently adopted 2019 budget includes$1,160,000 for improvements at Browns Park; said back in.October
Council gave him some feedback and guidance on what they felt would be appropriate mater plan amenities
to consider for the 2019 construction; said that a summary of what he heard in October is that Council felt
the parking lot expansion and improvement projects were not needed at this time; staff was encouraged to
develop a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Valley High School to use overflow parking at
University High School,and said since then he and Mr. Driskell have been working on that document; said
since we would be eliminating any work on the parking lots we would not be needing to do any of the
drainage work that was previously outlined; said staff was also asked to try to find a grant for the perimeter
path. Mr. Stone said he has researched this but there doesn't appear to be anything that would be appropriate
for this type of path and that would fit within the timeframe; other considerations discussed for the park to
not include in this phase were the additional landscaping shown in the master plan, and the additional site
furnishings; he said also discussed a little was the perimeter fence. Director Stone said staff has looked at
that and it is in poor condition so staff will propose improving a portion of that fence for 2019.
As noted on the PowerPoint slide, Mr. Stone said the amenities we are proposing to construct in 2019
include the perimeter path and lighting, a new Iarge restroom and its utilities, a large picnic shelter with
storage; also 50%of the fence replacement,which he said would be the small fence that is on the south and
the west sides of the park and that we are not talking about the north and the east; said the fence is in poor
shape and it has been hit several times over the years by a variety of vehicles so fixing that would be a good
visual improvement. Further, Mr. Stone said they will renovate the storage building which is also known
as the pump house that we inherited several years ago;that we are going to construct a skate dot in the south
part that would fit between the basketball court and the existing volleyball court; said they had originally
talked about a slack line, but in further discussion and feedback from the public,he would suggest that the
skate park would be very popular,and said a skate dot would fit on the same size footprint as the basketball
court,so it won't be any larger than that; and said if Council is familiar with Pavilion Park in Liberty Lake,
they have a skate dot which is used constantly. Mr. Stone also suggested moving one small shelter down to
that location which would allow us to create an activity node, with the basketball, skate park, volleyball,
and a shelter they can use so it brings some new elements into the park that fit the master plan but it also
allows us to perhaps re-distribute some of the activity to a more positive location; he mentioned the slide
showing the projects listed in the 2019 legislative agenda and how that fits in with the overall master plan;
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Approved by Council:02-05-19
said that would be a new restroom and a new shelter, and said primarily that area is for the neighborhood
focus of the park so activity could be going on in the volleyball court and also have such things as a family
reunion going on;said it also includes a new playground for a 5-12 age-bracket,a tot-lot,swings,and safety
surfacing. Mr. Stone said the cost estimate is for the items just mentioned and we also have a 15%
contingency. There was Council consensus to move forward.
4. Salary Commission Report—Cary Driskell
Mayor Higgins extended thanks to Salary Commission Members Chair Bill Gothtnann, Vice-Chair Tes
Sturges,and Steve Robertson,Chuck Simpson,Kathe Williams,and alternate Michael Moore; and thanked
staff members for their work as well. City Attorney Driskell gave a brief recap of the process to change a
council member's salary, and how the Committee arrived at the salary figures they did which he explained
is all included in the final report. Mr. DriskelI noted the salaries had not been adjusted for twelve years. He
explained that we are required by law to publish that salary schedule twice in the City's newspaper of
record, and the second publication is considered the official publication,which will occur January 25,with
the first publication being January 18, and that the January 25 date starts the clock concerning any
referendum; adding that nothing needs to be done by Council; and he thanked staff and the Commission
members and said they were engaged with good, lively discussions.
5. Training: Public Records Act and Open Public Meeting Act—Cary Driskell,Erik Lamb
Deputy City Attorney Lamb explained that the following training is in keeping with the City's obligations
under the Washington Public Records Act in chapter 42.56 RCW, as well Washington's Open Public
Meetings Act under chapter 42.30 RCW; and he went through his PowerPoint slides for the training the
City is obligated to have; which included the basics and purpose of those Acts, as well as the Appearance
of Fairness Doctrine which applies only to quasi-judicial matters and not to legislative ones, per RCW
42.36.010.
6.Advance Agenda—Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Wood said he sits on the Carnhope Water District Board and they have been having
discussions about open spaces and the water districts' grassy areas around their pump houses, and that a
way to use those spaces might include pocket parks; said the water districts are scattered through the valley
and he is not sure how to pursue that, perhaps having an agreement, and that we could put in swings and
other amenities in some of those green spaces, and the City could do the maintained of those areas. City
Attorney Driskell said that if Council determines an interest, staff could do some analysis, but there are
several issues to consider including potential City costs and liability. Councilmember Woodard said he
spoke with Modern Electric and they'd like to discuss that idea as well, particularly for the west end of the
City where we have no parks, and he mentioned it would be another way to build partnerships. Four
Councilmembers raised their hands to indicate they would like this pursued further.
7. Council Comments—Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Wood reported that STA (Spokane Transit Authority) has ten excess vans they will be
giving away, and people can submit an application until February 22; said all service organizations who
serve people with a disability and are located in the public transportation benefit district are eligible to
apply,which includes Spokane Valley, Spokane, Cheney, Medical Lake, Liberty Lake, and Millwood, and
he encouraged any organization to contact STA to take advantage of this opportunity.Councilmember Peetz
said she wanted to recognize and congratulate Councilmember Thompson for being nominated for an award
in connection with this Friday's Gem of the Valley gala. Councilmember Woodard said the (Housing and
Community Development Advisory) Committee met concerning the Community Development Block
Grants; that they went through the allocations, and our City's number one priority project, Ella Road
Sidewalks, was approved for full funding with a unanimous vote by the Board.
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Approved by Council:02-05-19
8. City Manager Comments—John Hohman,Deputy City Manager
Deputy City Manager Hohman had no additional comments.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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ATTEST. L.R. Higgins, \ . o
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Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
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Approved by Council:02-05-19