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2020, 10-22 Special Meeting with Rep McMorris-Rodgers AGENDA CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Thursday,October 22, 2020 1:30 p.m. SPOKANE VALLEY CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10210 E Sprague Avenue Meeting will be held via ZOOM NOTE: In response to Governor Inslee's March 24, 2020 Proclamation concerning the COVID-19 Emergency, which waives and suspends the requirement to hold in-person meetings and provides options for the public to attend remotely, physical public attendance at Spokane Valley Council meetings are suspended until the Governor's order has been rescinded or amended. Therefore, until further notice, a live feed of the meeting will be available on our website. • NEW: Join the Zoom WEB Meeting CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL WELCOME: Mayor Wick Welcome to Cathy McMorris-Rodgers,U.S. Representative for Washington's 5tn Congressional District, serving since 2005. The district,based in Spokane,includes most of the eastern third of the state. POTENTIAL AGENDA TOPICS: 1. Representative McMorris-Rodgers Comments 2. Spokane Valley's Federal Legislative Agenda 3. Distribution of CARES Act Funds 4. Other Items of Mutual Interest: 5. Closing Comments: ADJOURN Special Meeting Agenda:10-22-2020 CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY Request for Council Action Meeting Date: October 22, 2020 Department Director Approval: Check all that apply: ❑ consent ❑ old business ❑ new business ❑public hearing ❑ information ® admin. report ❑ pending legislation ❑ executive session AGENDA ITEM TITLE: Federal Legislative Agenda. GOVERNING LEGISLATION: Not applicable. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: Council adopted Spokane Valley's first Federal Legislative Agenda in April 2019 and updated it in March 2020. BACKGROUND: The purpose of this report is to communicate to Rep. McMorris Rodgers the City of Spokane Valley's Federal Legislative priorities. ATTACHMENTS: • Federal Legislative Agenda 1 Spokane 2020 Legislative Agenda Valle y ey The City of Spokane Valley has three legislative priorities: Please see attachments for detailed information One Legislative Policy Streamline process for federally funded transportation projects to achieve project delivery more economically and efficiently. Two Transportation Projects t\ To Bigelow Gulch Road +• Trent Avenue(SR 290) \1\5,,,,_ col 0 re 0 0 a ce jr----- Interstate 90 5i_ I a ti`� Interstate 90 1 Pines Road/BNSF 2 Bigelow-Sullivan Grade Separation Project Corridor Funding need: $19.3 million INFRA request: $33.2 million Other federal funds: $ 5.0 million Other federal funds: $ 8.3 million City funds: $ 4,7 million Non-federal funds: $24.1 million Total cost: $29.0 million Total cost: $65.6 million USDOT total benefits: $38.5 million USDOT total benefits: $83.9 million 2023 construction 2022-2025 construction *USDOT total benefits are discounted 7 percent and taken from most recent USDOT funding applications. CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY - 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA 99206 * 5099.720.500.0 to SpokaneValley.org 4 Washington State 3-3.20 Streamline Process for Sibkane Federally Funded Valley Transportation Projects Federally funded projects can cost up to 50%more and take up to twice as long to complete than non- federally funded projects.The implementation and interpretation of requirements from federal transportation agencies often changes and requires excessive documentation that severely hinders a local agency's ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.There is an opportunity to streamline the federal process by changing the thresholds that trigger time consuming and costly processes. 10 US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Program Requirements Policy change ■ Require all USDOT administrations to enforce program requirements Request consistently. USDOT programs enforce requirements differently.This is an issue especially when projects have different USDOT funding sources.Some examples are provided below: ✓Buy America Implementation:Although the Buy America provisions appear similar,there are significant differences in the way they are interpreted and administered by different federal grant programs. For projects with multiple federal funding sources(such as FRA,FHWA or FTA),each funding program retains authority over implementation. These projects may have to satisfy multiple Buy America provisions or obtain waivers from multiple agencies. These differences among funding programs can be so difficult to navigate that the National Academies of Science& Engineering issued a 75 page guide titled"Buy America Requirement"for Federally Funded Rail Projects in 2015 to document the differences in each program. ✓ NEPA Implementation:A categorical exclusion(CE)Is a class of actions that a federal agency has determined do not have a significant effect on the human environment and therefore neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.The use of categorical exclusions can reduce paperwork and save time and resources.FRA and FHWA have different CE criteria which could trigger a CE class action under a program and an environmental assessment under a different program for the same transportation project. Providing consistent guidance by all USDOT programs to local agencies would greatly improve the timely delivery of projects and help projects to stay within budget. 0 Buy America Poi' change R a Establish an allowance(not subject to Buy America tracking requirements) equest for small parts such as bolts,nuts,and irrigation parts as long as their retail price does not exceed $2,500 or 0.1%of the contract amount whichever is greater. Buy America Act requirements apply to iron and steel products and their coatings that are purchased for the federal-aid highway construction program. Federal-aid funds may not be used unless iron and steel products used in such projects are manufactured in the United States. While we support the intent of the requirements,agencies must track the dollar value and the origin of all of the steel and iron incorporated in the project by obtaining certificates of material origin to comply with Buy America.Agencies spend significant time and resources trying to obtain documentation to demonstrate compliance with Buy America,often delaying project close out for months or years. spokanevalley.org CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY 509.720.5000 0 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Policy Change • The DBE program should focus on training and providing resources to ensure DBEs RBqueS1 can bid more accurately and competitively rather than require mandatory DBE inclusion goals in construction contracts.Without improvement,existing DBEs unnecessarily increase project costs and documentation requirements, n Waive DBE requirements for consultant contracts in all project phases(i.e.design,right-of-way or construction)under$250,000,or for consultant contracts without subconsultants. This DBE program is well intentioned but its implementation drives projects costs up and creates enforcement issues. Examples of concerns related to DBE are: ✓The City of Spokane Valley has experienced inflated bid prices on DBE work items in order for prime contractors to meet their DBE goals in their bids, ✓In the Spokane region,contractors have difficulty finding available DBEs.Often, DBEs travel up to 400 miles to perform work. Because the DBEs are not local,the project suffers because issues are not addressed expediently. If changes need to be made,the project has to pay for travel expenses because only the DBE can do this work. ✓To document that the DBE is performing a commercially useful function,the agency has to interview the DBEs who often show up to the projects unexpectedly.Agencies have to document that they own or lease the vehicles and equipment used.This requires review of lease agreements,vehicle registrations,etc.To comply,the agency has to essentially"seek out"the DBE to conduct the required interview to avoid an audit finding. ✓ DBEs cannot be removed easily from a project if they are doing a substandard job because their work Is a condition of award,so agencies spend a lot of effort to document and obtain approval for their removal. /DBE(Utilization)plans are required for all consultant contracts regardless of the contract amount and if sub- consultants are needed. Enforcement of DBE requirements add unnecessary time for project management and expense to the project budget. 0 Uniform Relocation Act and Appraisal Requirements Policy Change 1 • Increase appraisal waiver thresholds from$25,000 to $50,000 Request The acquisition of property for federally funded projects must $45,000 adhere to the requirements of the Uniform Relocation Act $40,000 (URA)which requires that agencies pay fair market value for all cs o $35,000 . acquisitions.An agency must establish fair market value with a an appraisal.An appraisal waiver is allowed for non-complex Q $30,000 acquisitions valued at$10,000 or less.Agencies also may waive = $25,000 v ° the appraisal for acquisitions up to$25,000 if the owner is given 5 o o t the option of having the Agency appraise the acquisition. $20,000 .- e $15,000 a When an appraisal is required or requested by the property owner, ° $10,000 it must be reviewed by a qualified appraiser.These thresholds for appraisals were established in 1989,then amended in 2005,but $5,000 have not been increased for the inflated costs that exist today. $0 $10,000 $15,000 $25,000 in 2020,an appraisal and review appraisal in Washington State can cost up to$6,000 depending on the complexity of the Property Value acquisition and can take two to three months to complete. U ROW Property Cost hi Appraisal r r Negotiation Property acquisition consultant fees can be as high as$10,000 per property acquisition.For lower value acquisitions,appraisals and negotiation fees may increase the net acquisition cost up to 2.5 times the actual price paid to the owner. To be good stewards of federal dollars and to streamline the acquisition process,the appraisal waiver threshold must increase to$50,000. 2.6.20 Pines Road/BNSF Railway CM OF Spokane Grade Separation Project y A Bridging the Valley Project l Project focus N. ,/ . r` e � , f'r1;.I The Pines Road/BNSF Railway Grade Separation Project is Ig ii ;r ,,i located in Spokane Valley,Wash.,a city of nearly 100,000 �•. residents.The city is situated in the largest Metropolitan it ++ } '� ' Statistical Area between Seattle and Minneapolis,and home to Iii\ several large industrial parks. ..,phi k 1 '`' 14°• The project will remove a BNSF transcontinental rail line ":i. =, .:,{ .r" `--`, `f yam) at-grade crossing at Pines Road (SR 27),one of Spokane '' - 1 ' 1 ' '• ' Valley's busiest arterial streets, In 2018,the Freight Mobility `" C'' ' = - �� _ Strategic Investment Board(FMSIB)rated the Pines Road/BNSF iiiiiil �4w r , •,-i* b� crossing as the highest ranked unfunded Tier 1 rail crossing in ' '1 - -_-- rV ,� " t• •,, the state out of 4,171 total crossings based on freight mobility -( : , ''�' t ?_� # , ,. +,k..- " ' = i and safety. Eliminating the crossing is critical to improving „;: r 'i ,..� . ' . , vehicle and pedestrian safety,increasing freight mobility and ` 4 �-'1 ' enhancing economic vitality across the region. J 44 l 1 ' ' 4 ' The crossing is adjacent to the intersection of Pines Road and Ili, .� '. ,,,- Trent Avenue (SR 290),which serves 34,000 vehicles per day, r ''';1ri i , including freight trucks traveling from Canada and northern ;I ^ "°i y` {`' '"'""1 Idaho that connect to Interstate 90.A roundabout will be •Y.�f. - 1 y f ' _ 'j ry , #F� constructed at this intersection as part of the project. `—aR'- - Key improvements I ram' -• : ' i ' ' "' j' ■ The grade separation project will replace the Pines y V , x � Road/BNSF crossing with an underpass and redesign the s ^ ^' 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 Funding need: $19.3 million and Pines). Other federal funds: $ 5.0 million ■ The crossing is located 200 yards north of Trent City funds: $ 4.7 million Elementary.The new underpass will reduce congestion and Total cost: $29.0 million improve safety for students,staff and parents. • The existing intersection and BNSF crossing limits USDOT total benefits: $38.5 million development of 170 acres of mixed-use or commercially- 2023 construction zoned property,and 56 acres of prime industrial-zoned property.The project will increase access to this property and generate additional economic development. Project details On average,58 BNSF freight trains and two Amtrak passenger —-"t - _ - _ - + trains travel through the Pines Road/BNSF at-grade crossing _ each day. This results in nearly26,200 vehicle hours of delay 3,„ , -;,, M it, .1_ I is 1 each year,and at least seven vehicle collisions from 2014 to 2018.BNSF plans to add a second main track to the existing r ' rail line,possibly as early as 2020.A second track will likely increase train traffic and vehicle delays. - _ -- _ _i The grade separation project also includes construction of - _ "4a - --- a new roundabout at the adjacent intersection of Pines and ram-, - — .quar.._ ' 'male.— Trent.There were 46 collisions in or near this intersection from 2014 to 2018.The project supports the"Bridging the Valley" initiative to improve safety,create more effective freight Pines RoadBNSFcrossing routes and spur economic development in Spokane Valley. Public safety and livability Economic benefits enhancements Completion of the Pines Road/BNSF project will improve The project will significantly enhance vehicle and pedestrian access to 170 acres of nearby mixed-use or commercially- safety, likely saving lives. In addition, it will greatly improve zoned property,and 56 acres of prime industrial-zoned neighborhood livability.Overall the project: property that is currently undeveloped(see graphic • Eliminates the Pines Road/BNSF crossing-saving below).The city teamed with ECONorthwest to develop an economic impact analysis that quantified the projected three hours per day(average gate-down time)in economic and tax impacts of the project: vehicle wait time. • Improves commercial and residential traffic flow. • $1.3 billion in total economic output in Spokane • Enhances access to 1-90 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). Undeveloped WI; • Commercial 1" Undeveloped i #: i .,, ' 1 1 ` Streamlining the approval process for federally-funded transportation Residential ,rf■ u. 5., projects would make this(and other projects)easier to administer, �it savingtime and money.Federally-funded ro ects can cost upto 50 © Project Site y"'PI"" 3. Y• projects • percent more and take 50 to 100 percent longer to deliver because of id . , ' constant and extensive changes to the federal requirements.Initiatives �,ti. -1- , to streamline review and approval processes for transportation projects t,.y • - ?,it should be a top congressional priority. 1. - l 9'r City of Spokane Valley � F �_ ;-�,,. •i •• •,y 10210 E.Sprague Avenue * 2 1 , --y r , 1 ✓*' e Spokane Valley,WA 99206 0 n 1r.'meitiry ' Washington Stale Ili Z. - 509-720-5000 Undeveloped Properties www.spokanevalley.org/pinesBNSF 3,4.20 Bigelow- SullivanSpokane Corridor Projects ....Valley Sullivan Road (I- 90 to Bigelow Gulch Road) The Bigelow-Sullivan Corridor serves local, regional and interstate transportation networks. Sullivan Road is the terminus of Spokane County's Bigelow Gulch Road Project expected to be constructed by 2022. The Bigelow Gulch Project will link freight and commuter traffic from north Spokane County to Interstate 90 (1- 90) through Spokane Valley and will nearly double the peak-hour traffic volumes on Sullivan Road at the Trent Avenue (SR 290) interchange. This corridor is a vital arterial link providing service to a robust commercial district on Indiana Ave., including the Spokane Valley Mall, Spokane Industrial Park, Central Pre-Mix, Inland Asphalt, Inland Empire Distribution Systems and many other industrial, freight and commercial businesses. Wlda,ed SPOKANE COUNTY , 395 In 2ft1 i WniwNd Idaf-r--AIcnIrnprov.d Roalnaywliti in241? g in 2 0S n 2(.1i r� #tealignc�d,w3dened and r z w� BIGELOW GULCHRD\ 2 y Inlsectkns#mptrIfn20T i I I \ , r', RaadwiyRerartsbtxto.and Upgrades -Imprrnedhorizontalandverticalalignment p Widen fran two tot lanes npl median and paved shoulders ! -Roadsidr and intersection safety improvements `l EIl 1 6rtasecdarlmprawrnieltb wcu.BSLFy CITY OF I a� .���,',,1�a;. •s(R,tIaG[xtbnaldre[afigw�liotL '! _ r: Irrtb SPOKANElit P ���� r_ nge z � o a GradparaLor�1)L; k t Oti..3AAi,i,_diri.20I-, CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY F l le,:. Difal��� .r.�eIndusSrialLands �>—Acti��zRailLir:es .� T'".3i it�''*BMW- ., Commercial Lands Municipal Boundaries R Funding Project Partners INFRA request: $33.2 million • BNSF Railway • East Valley School District#361 Other federal funds: $ 8.3 million • Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board Non-federal funds: $24.1 million ■ Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce Total cost: $65.6 million • Spokane County • Spokane Regional Transportation Council USD0T total benefits: $83.9 million ■ Spokane Transit Authority 2022-2025 construction •Transportation Improvement Board ■Washington State Department of Transportation Spokane Valley project details . 1 We have had made significant ' investments in the Sullivan F 40` I\To Bigelow Gulch Road a f Spokane County need:$10.6 million(county share) rµ Corridor and continue to make `� Washington State improvements to accomodate growth.Area projects include: ll Wee^ t I a — — 0 RECONSTRUCTION -Funded-Wellesley to Forker O1ynp1a I Wit° Project cost:$8.7 million I Construction year:2020 E — 4vailerssreel @ Broad d Ees4LL I — 0 INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION -Funded-At Wellesley ' --a--- a '2°An l d - Project cost:$1.4 million I Construction year:2020 Hier Hert. u,.aad . Lore ow 3 " _ NI0r O RECONSTRUCTION&STREET LIGHTING-Unfunded- m Rai E Wellesley to SR 290 :kwc�i Rakwdl Rockwel Trent Project cost:$5 million I Construction year:pending _ �crease a: FUNDING REQUEST- City elements only g "dus=al PaAA x C SR 290 INTERCHANGE RECONSTRUCTION _Unfunded FUNDING aa - -m "dustra!Park B Project cost:$26.6 million I Construction year:pending 0 m a Ind"str"I Park C INFRA request:$22.6 million(city share) 5 Lt t,44al Pads O O INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM-Funded- Indiana to SR 290 cg>��JJ}}�iII InEU sbial Park E a 1 Project cost:$1 million I Construction year:2020 z E Fadr4aw ge Et:uciid Ave O INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION - Unfunded-At Kiernan Project cost:$2 million I Construction year:pending LC)P4rfalta 0 INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION -Completed-At Euclid Project cost:$1.7 million I Construction year:2017 F,CIe o INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION-Unfunded-At Marietta Project cost:$2 million I Construction year:pending Indene d BRIDGE REPLACEMENT-Completed-At Spokane River Project cost:$15.5 million I Construction year:2015 `1/4 ED INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION-Completed-At Indiana Project cost:$1.4 million I Construction year:2011 _ J -7 fir,,,,' INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION -Completed-At Broadway �� "'46,4% --�A`� none Project cost:$0.8 million I Construction year:2010 1 a 1 c. .,__ 0INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION -Completed-At Sprague t e a Project cost:$1 million Constructionyear:2010 o�d�yA"' 1 *Wald sr*,to 6 - 1 C a)BUS,BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN UPGRADES-Unfunded . ' 4 g , Project cost:$1 million I Construction year:pending = N e valierwa F "" Nixxx e ♦htieBids C _ Nixon [ ""*ven48a 0 Main 2 . SULLIVAN ROAD 0 Riverside FUNDING STATUS E Sprague Ave Funded �c.',CV� (in millions) Si IAM2na 1s1 16% $ and au Id a d Ruch Total: $66.1M Unfunded Funded/Complete: $31.5M $36.6m City of Spokane Valley 54% Complete 10210 E.5 Sprague r4n�aro Shortfall(Unfunded): $36.6M p gueAvenue Spkane Request: $26.6M 5 Sag M Spokane Valley,WA 99206 Val ley. 509-720-5000 www.spokanevalley.org/sullivancorridor 3.4.20 CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY Request for Council Action Meeting Date: October 22, 2020 Department Director Approval: AGENDA ITEM TITLE: Distribution of CARES Act Funds GOVERNING LEGISLATION: Section 601(a) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (42 U.S.C. § 801) PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Through eight City Council meetings from June through September, the City has allocated all available CARES funds as identified in detail below. BACKGROUND: As part of the award of nearly $300 million of the state's allocation of CARES Act funding to cities and counties, the City of Spokane Valley was allocated a total of$4,352,400, comprised of an original $2,901,600 in June 2020 and an additional $1,450,800 in September 2020. The City must spend all CARES funds by November 30, 2020. After extensive public input and City Council deliberation, the Council has allocated the CRF dollars as follows: Program/Purpose Service Provider Amount Rental/Mortgage assistance SNAP $ 733,995 Utility assistance SNAP 259,429 Food security/insecurity, clothing, diapers, Spokane Valley Partners 536,640 toiletries, etc. Small business and non-profit grants Spokane Valley Chamber 2,253,535 Phase 4/Hospitality- media campaign City Staff, KREM 75,000 School districts CVSD, EVSD, WVSD 415,603 Total allocations $ 4,274,202 City operational needs 78,198 Total CRF award to the City $ 4,352,400 Small business and non-profit organization grants awarded up to$7,158. The first round of applications awarded$1,347,546 to small businesses and$201,824 to non-profits.A second round is in process. The service providers listed above have been asked to submit all invoices for reimbursement to the City by November 18th so that all payments can be processed prior to the November 30th deadline. The City must submit all reimbursement requests to the Washington State Department of Commerce by December 15tn STAFF CONTACT: Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director, and Erik Lamb, Deputy City Attorney