2019, 12-12 Special MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
Special Council Meeting
Thursday, December 12, 2019
1:00 p.m.
Spokane City Hall Council Chambers Briefing Room
808 West Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA
Attendance:
Spokane Valley Council Staff
Mayor Higgins Mark Calhoun, City Manager
Deputy Mayor Haley Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Councilmember Peetz Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Councilmember Thompson
Councilmember Wick
City of Spokane Council:
Breean Beggs, Spokane City Council President Elect
Kate Burke, City Council Member District 1
Lori Kinnear, City Council Member District 2
Candace Mumm, City Council Member, District 3
Karen Stratton, City Council Member, District 3
Nadine Woodard, Spokane City Mayor Elect
Legislators:Senator Andy Billig, Representative Marcus Riccelli
Representative Jacquelin Maycumber, 7th Legislative District
Spokane Valley Councilmember EIect Tim Hattenburg
Chris Grover, City of Cheney Mayor
Mark Schueller, City of Cheney City Administrator
Various other elected officials, staff members,and members of the public.
The meeting was called to order at approximately 1:05 p.m. and then turned over to Spokane City Council
Member Candace Mumm who welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited everyone sitting around the
table to make introductions, after which the meeting was also called to order by Spokane Valley Mayor
Higgins. Spokane Valley City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll and all Councilmembers were present except
Councilmembers Wood and Woodard. It was moved by Councilmember Thompson, seconded and
unanimously agreed to excuse Councilmembers Wood and Woodard from the meeting.
Ms. Mumm then led discussion on the City of Spokane's legislative priorities, including (I) housing and
homelessness, (2) law enforcement/smart justice, and (3) transportation; discussion included their goal to
secure $2 million for capital expenses related to establishing a shelter for youth and young adults,
specifically 18 to 24 year olds as people in those age groups often do not want to go to the regular shelters
as they feel uncomfortable; there was mention of Snohomish County's Youth Homeless Demonstration
Program, which is a federally funded program that supports the creation of innovative projects to prevent
and end youth and young adult homelessness. Also mentioned was SHB 1590 which allows the local sales
and use tax for affordable housing to be imposed by a councilmanic authority,and it was stated that Tacoma
and some of the other large cities support that bill. Concerning affordable housing and homelessness for
youth, Deputy Mayor Haley asked if the plan is to have mixed incomes and Ms. Munn replied it is as the
goal is to have permanent, affordable housing.
Special Council Meeting with City of Spokane 12/12/2019 Page 1 of 2
Approved by Council: 01/14/2020
Concerning Smart Justice, it was noted that the idea is to establish a pilot program to allow our region to
share in the cost savings created by using accelerated rehabilitation and community safety(ARCS)services
as opposed to the more expensive option of incarceration, and Snohomish County's Pioneer Human
Services transitional housing partnership was mentioned as a model. Further discussion included funding
of alternative programs to help lessen recidivism. Councilmember Thompson mentioned that treatment is
critical, and that the Washington State Crime Lab works with about a nine-month lag so that is a problem
as well.
Traffic Safety was discussed next including HB 1793/SB 5789 which would allow Spokane to create a
public safety pilot program using automated traffic safety cameras near schools and parks as well as other
locations restricted for emergency vehicles. In connection with traffic safety, Council Member Mumm
mentioned that about 60%-75% of the City does not have sidewalks, and some of the existing sidewalks
are about one-hundred years old; she said that sidewalks are also lacking near some of the schools, and
there are areas where the sidewalks start and stop; and she said the City of Spokane supports this House
Bill. There was discussion about the idea of AWC (Association of Washington Cities) adding this to their
priorities, and Councihnember Thompson noted this could also be an issue for the NLC (National League
of Cities)to add to their safety issues.
Members of the Spokane Valley City Council then discussed their City's legislative items, including the
over-arching project of Bridging the Valley;potential problems associated with Initiative 976 and our grade
separation projects, that Pines Road is the number one unfunded grade separation project in the state and
that the City is asking for$7.8 million in state funds to add to other funds acquired or allocated; there was
also mention of the high train traffic at Pines and Trent,and of the associated safety issues.
Cheney Mayor Grover mentioned some of the issues facing Cheney, including their top priority of water
resources; and to protect the funding of transportation projects; he mentioned the idea of having double-
decker buses and of the congested areas of State Route 904 that serve Cheney before ending at 1-90 and US
395 in Four Lakes. Speaking of congestion, it was noted that Airway Heights will likely be facing a 40%
growth in housing with the inclusion of Amazon, and that along with housing, there will likely be water
issues.
Discussion of other legislative issues of regional interest included the Community Eligibility Provision
which is one option for providing all students,regardless of income,with free school breakfast and lunch;
the nursing licensing reciprocity program for people coming in working at Fairchild Air Force Base; the
need for a state dental director; and victims of domestic violence getting their deposit back and having the
landlord make necessary repairs to their apartment as a result of domestic violence/abuse. Minimum wage,
and wages associated with daycares and the increasing expense to operate a day care,as well as the expense
of having one's child in a daycare and of the need for more standardization were also mentioned.
There being no further discussion,the meeting was adjourned. It was also moved by Deputy Mayor Haley,
seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn for the City of Spokane Valley. The meeting adjourned at
2:26 p.m.
ATT — UJ
j22r04.4-41V.H.- Ben Wick, Mayor
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Special Council Meeting with City of Spokane 12/12/2019 Page 2 of 2
Approved by Council: 01/14/2020