2019, 12-09 Special with Legislators MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
Special Council Meeting
Monday, December 9,2019
2:00 p.m.
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
10210 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley, Washington
Attendance:
Spokane Valley Council Staff
Mayor Higgins Mark Calhoun, City Manager
Deputy Mayor Haley John Hohman, Deputy City Manager
Councilmember Peetz Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Councilmember Thompson Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney
Councilmember Wick Mike Stone, Parks &Recreation Director
Councilmember Woodard John Whitehead, Human Resources Manager
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
ABSENT:
Cotrncilmember Wood
Others in Attendance:
Legislators: Senator Mike Padden, Representative Bob McCaslin
Lobbyist Briahna Murray of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs
Approximately fifteen members from the public
Mayor Higgins called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Councilmembers were present except Councilmember Wood. It
was moved by Councilmember Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to excuse Councilmember
Wood from the meeting.
Mayor Higgins again thanked everyone for coming, and turned the meeting over to City Manager Calhoun.
Spokane Valley Legislative Agenda
City Manager Calhoun explained that he, City Attorney Driskell, and Ms. Briahna Murray, Lobbyist with
Gordon Thomas Honeywell, will be leading the discussion on the City's legislative agenda;and he brought
attention to the distributed copies of the flyers concerning the Pines Road project,and Initiative 976. After
Mr. Calhoun gave a brief summary of the Bridging the Valley Transportation Funding Request,
Councilmember Wick explained about some of the funding issues associated with the project, as well as
possible impacts on the project due to the passing of Initiative 976, with Senator Padden noting he is very
aware of those issues, and that he believes it is a good idea to keep that project front and center as it is the
number one unfunded priority project, and said he will keep pushing it through the respective leaders.
Councilmember Wick talked about other funds for this project,noting that we don't have any state funding
yet for this project. Senator Padden indicated with new development from the feds, there are more
possibilities;and he suggested reaching out to and working with Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative
Cathy McMorris Rodgers in working on additional suggestions for funding. Senator Padden said he would
also be happy to write letters of support to help eliminate or reduce some of the federal regulations
concerning projects and project funding. Representative McCaslin noted that Representative Frey,Chair of
the Transportation Committee, also has this project as#1 on his list.
Ms. Murray then spoke about the previous year's House transportation proposal and what is expected in
the next round, including that it is her understanding that the House will put together a project list but not
Special Council Meeting, State Legislators 12/09/2019 Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council: 12/I7/2019
identify a revenue source;she said the goal is to make sure the Pines project is included in the conversations
for the next package, and said it is not likely something will pass for this session. Conversation went back
to mention of Representative Frye with Councilmember Wick asking how we could solicit Mr. Frye's
assistance. Senator Padden suggested making an appointment with Mr.Frye and to include himself as well
as Representative McCaslin. Councilmember Woodard further suggested this should be one of the
appointments set for the City Action days; and he stressed the importance of the project and of not losing
any funding on this or the Barker project. Senator Padden stated he will work closely with the leadership
of both transportation committees as well as with Ms.Murray,adding that sometimes it takes being awarded
multiple times before a project actually gets funding.
In moving back to the Legislative Agenda, City Manager Calhoun brought attention to the final paragraph
on the first page dealing with the 1-90 Barker-to-Harvard Project Cost Overruns; he summarized the
paragraph, adding that this supports language we believe Senator Padden will be introducing in the next
legislative session. Senator Padden replied that it will be a proviso; that it has already been drafted and at
this point we have the support of the Chair and ranking members, and said he hopes it will go smoothly.
Mr. Calhoun told Senator Padden if he needs a letter from Spokane Valley,we'd be happy to oblige.
Mr. Calhoun then discussed the Sullivan Park Water Line request,after which Senator Padden said it sounds
like a worthy project, but this is the first he has heard of it and he that he has already committed on some
other capital projects;said funding is possible but it is limited on the supplemental on what you can do; said
sometimes the Senate does one request and the House does another,but said we can work at it. Mr.Calhoun
explained that this is a new request even though we have talked about this for several years,but the situation
is now different since we own the park, and currently there is a blank slate as we look forward for
development ideas. Councilmember Woodard also noted we can't develop that park without water, with
Mr. Calhoun noting that it is north of the UP Rail line so it is a fair distance. Councilmember Wick added
that having to go under the UP tracks is what makes it expensive; and agreed that regardless of the project
for that property, it will need water. Senator Padden mentioned Attorney Carroll, whom City Attorney
Driskell said he is familiar with, and that they can discuss this issue as well. Mr. Calhoun noted staff will
also draft a one-page flyer on this project as well. Senator Padden stated that the capital budget leadership
has communicated that they are looking for requests under$500,000 as they all recognize there is a lot of
competition and demand for those funds; and he suggested adding into the request the reasons why this is
necessary, as well as looking at other alternatives to reduce the cost.
City Attorney Driskell then discussed the `Economic Development Tools' item, and further explained that
Washington and Idaho have different regulations,with Washington's more difficult;and suggested working
to make it easier for businesses to locate here and be more successful. Senator Padden added that we also
want to make sure there aren't many negative or unusual impacts on growth, and he referenced the past
Condo Reform effort. Ms. Murray mentioned the idea of extending the .09 sales tax credit for economic
development to Spokane County, and that the legislature will be re-visiting that; she said Spokane County
was left out as one of the eligible counties when the tax credit was originally created, and said this fund can
be beneficial; and having a county located next to Idaho makes good sense to extend the credit to Spokane
County.
Mr. Driskell then explained the `Defend Local Control' item, in particular,to have local zoning control for
recreational marijuana; he also noted that there was a bill last year related to mandatory regulations on
allowing accessory dwelling units, and said we fought against that as we feel we should be able to identify
where those units can be located. Senator Padden noted another local control item is zoning density; said
there is scientific evidence showing how unhealthy a pack'em and stack'em idea is with bigger buildings
and lots of housing; said our growth has been purposeful and organic and encourages people to move here.
Councilmember Thompson added that concerning economic development,we have to have enough housing
when businesses do locate here.
Special Council Meeting, State Legislators 12/09/2019 Page 2 of 3
Approved by Council: 12/17/2019
Concerning the Protect and Restore Local State Shared Revenues item, City Manager Calhoun said this is
one of our annual requests; he said we get about $2.1 million in state revenue sharing and that we are
interested in protecting that, and as well, we want to restore the part concerning the Liquor Board profits
which were frozen in 2011. Representative McCaslin said it is his understanding that the Liquor and
Cannabis Board has been telling enforcement officers not to investigate any kind of money laundering; said
that is a huge source of revenue and said he knows personally of people seeing double bags of cash going
back and forth untagged; said we are missing accountability about the money coming in and where it is
going,and in the future we would need a bill to have the Board investigate and confiscate laundered money.
Concerning restoring that approximate $800,000, Ms. Murray said the proposal is to restore it gradually.
She also noted House Bill 1406 provided jurisdictions with a credit against the state sales tax for affordable
housing; and she spoke of a technical clarification in that bill concerning population and which population
figure should be used in the calculation: the figure from the census or from the Office of Financial
Management.
Concerning the item "Protect Businesses," City Attorney Driskell said, for example, a B&O tax is
regressive and harmful to businesses; he mentioned that there are some other state agencies like the
Department of Youth and Family Oversight program which changed regulations that were not helpful to
daycares. Senator Padden remarked that we are seeing more daycares close due to these regulations, and
Deputy Mayor Haley agreed that the regulations mean additional cost of trying to run a business, which
means the cost of daycare also increases. Representative McCaslin noted there is a huge cry for competitive
wages within the private child care businesses, and suggested there is no way for the private sector to keep
up with competitive wages,and said they are looking for ways to address that;said we have lost over 3,000
daycares state-wide in the Iast four years. Councilmember Peetz added that the minimum wage is also an
issue for small businesses.
There was also brief discussion about the statement on the legislative agenda that the 'City supports AWC
legislative agenda items' and City Manager Calhoun noting that we do so only when they serve the best
interests of Spokane Valley.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Haley, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 3:11 p.m.
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Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Special Council Meeting, State Legislators 12/09/2019 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council: 12/17/2019
Pines Road/BNSF RailwayCITY OF
Spokane
Grade Separation Project Walley®
A Bridging the ValleyProject
509-720-5000www.spokanevalley.org
� www.spokanevalley.org
' ' ' Project focus
ti" ° .. `• 1`b• The Pines Road/BNSF Railway Grade Separation Project is
`°•„`;} •-# "!4,'' • • located in Spokane Valley,Wash.,a city of nearly 100,000
• 'fir`' „ % 4 .*aj t it residents.The city is situated in the largest Metropolitan
' r d `-° �'t, ' ^ '_ ie) Statistical Area between Seattle and Minneapolis,and home to
rrt rt. ' ► t ' ”{
1 k` several large industrial parks.
4.
} . 5` t�, ''4 �t41 The project will remove a BNSF transcontinental rail line
�4, •
r q , �+� at-grade crossing at Pines Road (SR 27), one of Spokane
�, ' ' , �w ;� Valley's busiest arterial streets. In 2018,the Freight Mobility
r,.a+� " ... ,
n t' , Strategic Investment Board (FMS1B)rated the Pines Road/BNSF
f .. . ' - :' // e, •` -000,
crossing as the highest ranked unfunded Tier 1 rail crossing in
, the state out of 4,171 total crossings based on freight mobility
1 ' , .
.,l„ ',"-7--;---"' ;- , and safety. Eliminating the crossing is critical to improving
, ry
- ` vehicle and pedestrian safety, increasing freight mobility and
#' + �`F �.- enhancing economic vitality across the region.
,y�Syr - �...
'f ..,.\
�^7P�rl t 15�
�x ' The crossing is adjacent to the intersection of Pines Road and
t,.,, 'A, _ Trent Avenue (SR 290),which serves 34,000 vehicles per day,
—- i i i ' including freight trucks traveling from Canada and northern
ritT , �t • • _ ,wIdahothatconnectto Interstate90"Aroundaboutwillbe..� c_ � ^•s }' "fi constructed at this intersection as part of the project.
�_ Key improvements
pd. -� ,o ,--�`�-R' '',',�'` illri i7!* Et '" �,
m�_ . + • The grade separation project will replace the Pines
''E., e _ . it. � ' 3` _ Road/BNSF crossing with an underpass and redesign the
• r adjacent signalized intersection of Pines and Trent. In
conjunction with a grade separation project underway at
Funding the nearby Barker Road/BNSF crossing,this project will
eliminate three of the city's at-grade crossings (Barker, Flora
2023 construction
and Pines).
Total cost: $29 million
Funding request: $7.8 million to match ■ The crossing is located 200 yards north of Trent
secured funding Elementary.The new underpass will reduce congestion and
Secured(ending $7.85 million improve safety for students, staff and parents.
• $4.7 million set aside by the city ■ The existing intersection and BNSF crossing limits
■ $1.9 million Surface Transportation Block
Grant development of 170 acres of mixed-use or commercially-
• $1.25 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure zoned property,and 56 acres of prime industrial-zoned
and Safety Improvements Grant property.The project will increase access to this property
and generate additional economic development.
Project details
r •
On average,58 BNSF freight trains and two Amtrak passenger ,_ __ _ _ _
trains travel through the Pines Road/BNSF at-grade crossing
each day, This results in nearly 26,200 vehicle hours of delay -„ '11e1511111
1
each year,and at least seven vehicle collisions from 2014 to �; -
2018. BNSF plans to add a second main track to the existing rsi
i, I 11
rail line,possibly as early as 2020.A second track will likely �'` r
increase train traffic and vehicle delays.
The grade separation project also includes construction of -. _ Y
a new roundabout at the adjacent intersection of Pines and .* we ``'" -igi -
Trent.There were 46 collisions in or near this intersection from
2014 to 2018.
lir
Pines Rood/BNSF crossing
The project supports the"Bridging the Valley"initiative to
improve safety, create more effective freight routes and Public safety and livability
spur economic development in Spokane Valley.
Economic benefits enhancements
The project will significantly enhance vehicle and pedestrian
Completion of the Pines Road/BNSF project will improve safety, likely saving lives, In addition, it will greatly improve
access to 170 acres of nearby mixed-use or commercially- neighborhood livability.Overall the project:
zoned property, and 56 acres of prime industrial-zoned ■ Eliminates the Pines Road/BNSF crossing—saving
property that is currently undeveloped (see graphic below), three hours per day(average gate-down time) in
Over time,the projected economic and tax impacts of this vehicle wait time.
development include: • Improves commercial and residential traffic flow.
• $1.3 billion in total economic output in Spokane • Enhances access to l-90 and other main arterials in
County($686 million in direct spending) the Spokane Valley transportation network.
• 8,719 new jobs supported in Spokane County(4,312 • Increases access to key emergency services located
direct job impacts) on the south side of the city.
• $8.2 million in new general fund taxes to Spokane ■ Enhances access to Trent Elementary for school
Valley(25 years at 4 percent) buses,as well as students and families traveling to
• $101.9 million in new general fund taxes to and from surrounding neighborhoods.
Washington State(25 years at 4 percent) • Eliminates 15 minutes of train horn noise per day
at the crossing(based on 58 freight trains and two
Amtrak passenger trains per day).
i • Undeveloped 1 k:r m'
• Commercial + t " `
Y� t t' , 1�`. Streamlining the approval process for federally-funded transportation
�� Undeveloped �' �,•r+,
l t■ ri , ". + L■ projects would make this(and other projects)easier to administer,
Residential � � .� k _ p f
" O Project Site a >6 P '''''.,e'.. ,'x- .., saving time and money.Federally-funded projects can cost up to 50
percent more and take 50 to 100 percent longer to deliver because of
, constant and extensive changes to the federal requirements. Initiatives
.* 0 -' - , to streamline review and approval processes for transportation projects
t •.: y ay, . °,k I --=1,-, mr ip should be a top congressional priority.
,rie
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�, A • i...1: City of Spokane Valley
10214 E.Sprague Avenue ,
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` *Spokane Valley,WA 99206
•'1 1 ,. % it; ' ' ' Washington State
i" I r
_ - , f •,.x` . r .,i?,, 509-720-5000
Undeveloped Properties www.spokanevalley.org
12.3 19
Initiative 976 Impacts top -----\.......S akane
Barker Road Projects Valley
Delaying or canceling awarded state funding eliminates h
three key transportation projects in 2020 in the Barker Road T_i���Y �
A—�E '�
corridor from Interstate 90 north to Trent Avenue (SR 290). I
1
I
E GadandIn
cjBarker Road/BNSF Railway Grade Separation 1
A state match of$5 million is required to receive $15 million of 1
federal funds to grade separate Barker Road at the BNSF Railway I
tracks and construct a roundabout at the Trent Avenue (SR
290) intersection. Without state funding,the project loses all EUCLID AVE EUCLID AVE I
construction funds equal to $20 million. f
Total cost: $25 million
$9 million —Federal USDOT TIGER Grant ESE0
$6 million— Federal USDOT NHFP Grant rfv�
N01N°
$5 million--State FMSIB Grant
$2.78 million —City of Spokane Valley (partially expended)
E HM.nry Ave Q
$1.5 million—State Legislature (expended) E,n,ana"ve re re ENIS amAra
$720,000—Federal Earmark (expended) T
m
MISSION AVE
Barker Road Corridor EMan..efAv.
ESOlo Are
State funds in the amount of$1.2 million are leveraged against ESharp Ara
14.
$4.9 million of local and federal funds to widen and reconstruct a"° _ I
IntereIR go ( EGia7duJlva
Barker Road to a three-lane urban section from Spokane River I° Inlerslale90
north to Euclid Avenue. BROADWAY AVE
Total cost: $6.1 million EAWAve
$2.3 million —Federal STBG + HSIP Grants PIR ''. ECmd.)Arm P9?Lel 4 Avg 1I
$1.2 million—State FMSIB Grant PR ''. MG
$2.6 million—City of Spokane Valley
SPRAGUE AVE
, Barker Road/I-90 Interchange
State funds in the amount of$3-5 million are required for the Barker Road is located near the
new construction of two intersection roundabouts at the failing eastern boundary of Spokane Valley
interchange of 1-90 and Barker Road. This is a WSDOT project and provides access to more than
scheduled for construction in 2020. 800 acres of industrial property and
Total cost: $3-5 million 220 acres of homes. The area is
Eastbound Ramps $1-2 million QRESEv� experiencing both rapid industrial
D1NG growth and significant residential
Westbound Ramps $2-3 million NIA expansion.
' ,, _ CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
Y 10210 E. Sprague Avenue
Yr.- i u':1 g,yid y'.: ,,
- ,„1,,..;ix i� - Spokane Valley, Wash. 99206
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i5� www.SpakaneValley.arg
I -- �I l`ll IBNSF Railway ti s,, ..U I Barker Read
g# r .. 112.1i1.' 1 ,—tilli:. ; ; Grade Separation Project 12.9.19
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