2019, 10-22 Regular Formal MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
FORMAL FORMAT
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 22, 2019
Mayor Higgins called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
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 Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Ben Wick, Councilmember Mike Stone,Parks &Recreation Director
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Caitlin Prunty,Attorney
Sam Wood, Councilmember Bill Helbig, City Engineer
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: Pastor Al Hulten of Valley Assembly Church gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, staff, and the audience stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
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.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS n/a
COMMITTEE,BOARD,LIAISON SUJMIVIARY REPORTS
Couneilmember Wood: said he chaired the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting last Thursday where
ten applicants discussed their funding request, and said that committee's funding allocation
recommendations will be coming to Council later; said he attended an STA (Spokane Transit Authority)
meeting there they continued discussions about declining ridership; and he mentioned a new Park and Ride
at Glenrose and 57a'.
Councilmember Peetz:said she attended the Chamber's Manufacturing Matters Dinner held at CenterPlace,
where they spotlighted Hotstart, a family owned business with about 200 employees; and she mentioned
the Police Department's upcoming free `Trunk or Treat' event October 31, from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at Sun
City Church in Spokane Valley.
Councilmember Woodard: mentioned the Family Promise ribbon cutting today, mentioned their great
programs and beautifully remodeled building at the corner of Napa and Mission, and said they sheltered 70
people last night and once the basement is completed, they will be able to handle 120 families; said he
attended the Avista Homelessness group meeting last week and they will meet again Friday,and said Avista
is trying to pull private businesses together to see what they can do to help with programs to get people
immediate help in getting off the streets; said he attended the usual Chamber meetings; went to the SRTC
(Spokane Regional Transportation Council)meeting and said he asked about having a representative come
here to talk about the Census Count report, and he asked if staff could check with SRTC about potential
dates to have a report to Council;mentioned the HCDAC(Spokane Housing and Community Development
Advisory Committee)meeting and upcoming CDBG(Community Development Block.Grant)applications;
Regular Formal Council Meeting: 10-22-2019 Page 1 of 5
Approved by Council: 11-12-2019
and he mentioned the Feed Spokane open house,which is an organization that rescues food from restaurants
and other organizations to help those in need.
Councilmember Thompson: reported that she met with the Regional Health Board and said the new
administrator is very open to ideas that will support preventive health, and treatment and recovery from
various diseases; said she also attended the Manufacturing Matters dinner and sat at a table with people
representing Eastern Washington university; mentioned her interaction with Cathy McMorris Rodgers'
assistant to discuss the opioid problem; said next Monday the Youth Voice will reconvene and said there
are informational flyers on the counter in Council chambers.
Councilmember Wick: said that the new executive director of Visit Spokane is on board and they are re-
evaluating their positions and looking at cost savings; said they discussed launching a major tourism
promotion and are focusing on how to do more marketing for the region,and that one way to help with their
funding is to look at the hotel lodging tax, which he said hasn't been increased from the current$2.00 for a
long time and they are working to ask the legislature for an increase, or to perhaps control the amount
collected through an interlocal agreement;he mentioned the FMSIB (Freight Mobility Strategic Investment
Board) and their new requirements about grant funding as well as their desire to make the project delivery
timeline faster.
Deputy Mayor Haley: said she also attended the STA meeting and that ridership is down, but they are
starting to put in some new lines to hook up with the central city line; said as part of the STA Board, she
went to New York and met with the Federal Transit Acting Director who gave a tour of the New York
transit system, which she said has about 80,000 employees; said she had some good conversations with
Spokane County Commissioner Al French, Spokane City Council Member Candace Mumm, and Cheney
Mayor Chris Grover about working together on issues;which she said will be further discussed in the future.
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Higgins mentioned the Hotstart program and said they are international; said he went to.the GSI
(Greater Spokane, Inc.) meeting and that they had a recent change in top administration, so most of the
meeting was an executive session; but said there is some apparent turmoil and it will be interesting to see
how it all transpires.
PROCLAMATION: Bicentenary of the Birth of the BAB (Bahai)
Mayor Higgins reads the proclamation, which was accepted with thanks from Mr. Vic Bertis, who shared
a story about the founding of the religion.
1.PUBLIC HEARING: 2019 Proposed Budget Amendment—Chelsie Taylor
Mayor Higgins explained the process for public comments, and opened the public hearing at 6:27 p.m.
After Finance Director Taylor went over the proposed changes to the 2019 budget,Mayor Higgins invited
public comment. No comments were offered and Mayor Higgins closed the public hearing at 6:35 p.m.
2. First Reading Ordinance 19-016 Budget Amendment for 2019—Chelsie Taylor
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded
to advance Ordinance 19-016 amending the 2019 Budget, to a second reading. Finance Director Taylor
briefly mentioned the amendments to the 2019 budget, which she said were just explained under the
previous agenda item. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
3. 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 Oct. 22, 2019, Request for Council Action Form Total: $2,906,148.40
b.Approval of Payroll for Pay Period Ending October 15, 2019: $373,921.33
c. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of October 1, 2019, Study Session Format
d. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of October 8, 2019, Formal Meeting Format
Regular Formal Council Meeting: 10-22-2019 Page 2 of 5
Approved by Council: 11-12-2019
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the consent agenda.
NEW BUSINESS:
4. Second Reading Ordinance 19-015, 2020 Property Tax Chelsie Taylor
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded
to approve Ordinance 19-015 levying regular property taxes for 2020.After a brief explanation by Director
Taylor,Mayor Higgins invited public comment.No comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor:
unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
5.First Reading Ordinance 19-017,2020 Budget—Chelsie Taylor
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded
to advance Ordinance 19-017, adopting the 2020 Budget, to a second reading. Finance Director Taylor
explained the purpose of the ordinance and went over some of the budget's highlights; she also explained
that there is one change from the last presentation, which is an added employee position as shown on the
last page of the budget, where there is a line added for an IT Manager, a current vacant position; she said
this position has been discussed for years, but we have finally reached a point where our systems are
complex enough to warrant this position; she also noted the funds are already included in the expenditures.
Mayor Higgins invited public comment. No comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor:
unanimous. Opposed.' none. Motion carried
6. Motion Consideration: Outside Agency Grant Awards—Chelsie Taylor
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley and seconded to award 2020 Outside Agency finding as follows:
Elevations; a Children's Therapy Resource Foundation- $3,929; Family Promise of Spokane- $9.071
Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels - $12,969; JAKT Foundation - $14,862; NAOMI - $7,254;
Spokane Center for Independent living--45,071; Spokane Valley Arts Council- $25,548; Spokane Valley
Heritage Museum-$9,326;Spokane Valley Partners-$39,780;Spokane Valley Summer Theatre-$4,183;
Teen&Kid Closet-$6,500; Valleyfest-$28,146; and Widows Might—$15,361. Director Taylor explained
about the process adopted by Council for making the allocations,which resulted in the figures she included
in the spreadsheet. Mayor Higgins invited public comment; no comments were offered. Councilmember
Thompson asked about organizations that do and don't pay rent at CenterPlace and Mr. Calhoun suggested
she bring that up during the Advance Agenda discussion. Councilmember Wick stated that this is always a
challenging exercise and unfortunately the City can't fully fund everything, and he thanked all those who
applied. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: After Mayor Higgins explained the process,he invited public comment.
Ms. Barb Howard, Spokane Valley: concerning the Spokesman review, said it seems she can't get any
letters to the editor published; said she submitted four and none were published; and she suggested Council
think about just using the Valley News Herald and the Exchange.
Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley: said he thinks someone needs to address this; said he attended the
Sheriff's presentation at CenterPlace about a month ago and was appalled that a county sheriff was attacking
a duly elected representative; said this been going on for years and is shameful; said that Mr. Shea is a
Christian and has done a credible job.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
7. 2020 State Legislative Agenda—Mark Calhoun, Cary Driskell
City Manager Calhoun said that each Council adopts a legislative agenda for our legislators to pursue on
our behalf, and that this is the second time to discuss this 2020 agenda; said this agenda reflects the next
evolution and includes changes suggested by Council during the September 10 council meeting. Mr.
Calhoun highlighted the changes shown in the Pines Road item; he went over the 1-90 Barker-to-Harvard
Project Cost Overruns item which supports Senator Padden's proposed language to include that Liberty
Regular Formal Council Meeting: 10-22-2019 Page 3 of 5
Approved by Council: 11-12-2019
Lake would be responsible for their cost overruns, and WSDOT would be responsible for theirs. Mr.
Calhoun mentioned the new Capital Project Request and said staff will refine the language, but staff is
seeking guidance from Council on which funding item to include: either the Sullivan Park water line or
paving the additional property associated with the City's Police Precinct Building. Mr. Calhoun said that
our lobbyist Gordon Thomas Honeywell suggested we have just one request, and staff is looking for
Council's decision to do one or the other of the mentioned requests,or even something different. After Mr.
Calhoun and Mr. Driskell finished going over the remaining agenda items, Councilmember Woodard
suggested staff come back with solid numbers on the two alternative capital project requests, particularly
the one about the water line as he feels the figure is substantially higher than what has been thought in the
past.Mr. Calhoun said staff will determine those figures and have that information when this is presented
again to Council for a motion consideration November 19.
8. Initiative 976—Erik Lamb, Chelsie Taylor
Deputy City Attorney Lamb said that he and Finance Director Taylor are here to provide some information
about the Initiative; said this was brought up as part of an Advance Agenda request; said he wants to be
clear that we are not talking about support or opposition of the ballot measure as Washington state law
prohibits the City from using public facilities to support or oppose any ballot proposition; said there are
some exceptions and items such as tonight's informational report,are permitted; said the Council as a body
could also vote on a resolution to oppose or support a ballot measure,but only after providing appropriate
notice and providing the public an opportunity to comment,from people in support and in opposition to the
issue;he said the Council's Governance Manual also states that Council has chosen not to support or oppose
any ballot issues as they are left to the will of the people voting.
Mr. Lamb said his information is mostly compiled from the voter's pamphlet, and some from the AWC
(Association of Washington Cities) fiscal impacts. Mr. Lamb explained some of the components of the
Initiative, as noted in his Request for Council Action form, along with a chart showing the fiscal impacts,
what it pays for,and what Spokane Valley receives. There was some brief discussion about STA(Spokane
Transit Authority)and regional transit authorities;and Councilmember Wood said that at the STA meeting,
STA did not take a position on this initiative.
9. Advance Agenda—Mayor Higgins
Councilmember Thompson said she would like some information about which events at CenterPlace pay
rent and which don't and how that is determined. There was general Council consensus to put that on the
Advance Agenda.Councilmember Thompson also mentioned the mobile home park west of pines and north
of the railroad tracks, and said they haven't had good water for a long time as their well is contaminated;
said she heard the people there are getting bottled water but that it gets left out in the sun; said she knows
our City doesn't regulate water but it is important to watch over the citizens and she would like to figure
out how to help them move forward, or to get an update to find out what we can do; that she'd like to
advocate that people should be able to stay in their homes, and said she would appreciate a report. There
was general Council consensus to include that on the Advance Agenda.
Deputy Mayor Haley said she supports our law enforcement contract and officers, and that she feels there
are misunderstandings or misinformation and she'd like to get a report on officer staffing and the vacancy
rate for our City and for the County,and whether we are fully staffed,and that she'd like to know the impact
of vacant positions.There was general Council consensus to include that on the Advance Agenda.
10. Department Reports
The Department Reports were for information only and were not reported or discussed.
Regular Formal Council Meeting: 10-22-2019 Page 4 of 5
Approved by Council: 11-12-2019
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
City Manager Calhoun mentioned the draft letter to Speaker Designate Jinkins, and said he seeks Council
consensus to have the letter signed and mailed. Councilmember Thompson said she would prefer the
language in the second paragraph concerning collaborative struggles, to be re-stated more positively, and
Mr. Calhoun agreed. There was Council consensus to make the noted change and have the Mayor sign and
have it mailed. Mr. Calhoun said that the Midilome neighborhood is the first project using funds from our
street road wear fee,and that there will be a small ribbon cutting tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at the corner of 37th
and Bates. Mr. Calhoun mentioned that WSDOT(Washington State Department of Transportation)will be
holding a meeting to give an update on the 1-90 Barker Road Interchange Project;and that the meeting will
be held this Wednesday night, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Riverbend Elementary School, and that the
following week Council will hear an administrative report on the subject.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
(::::4
ATT- ► L.R.Higgins, a 0
r
Kristine Bainbri+ge, City Clerk
Regular Formal Council Meeting: 10-22-2019 Page 5 of 5
Approved by Council: 11-12-2019