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2021, 03-02 Study Session MINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting Study Session Format Tuesday,March 2,2021 Mayor Wick called the meeting to order at approximately 6 pm. The meeting was held in City Hall with Council, staff and the public participating via Zoom meeting. Attendance: Councilmembers Staff Ben Wick,Mayor Mark Calhoun, City Manager Brandi Peetz,Deputy Mayor John Hohman,Deputy City Manager Pam Haley, Councilmember Dave Ellis,Police Chief Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Erik Lamb,Deputy City Attorney Rod Higgins, Councilmember Chaz Bates, Senior Planner Linda Thompson, Councilmember Morgan Koudelka, Senior Administrative Analyst Arne Woodard, Councilmember Cary Driskell, City Attorney Bill Helbig, City Engineer Carrie Koudelka,Deputy City Clerk ROLL CALL: Deputy City Clerk Koudelka called the roll; all Councilmembers were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the agenda. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY [11:None. ACTION ITEMS: 1. 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. a.Approval of Claim Vouchers on March 2, 2021,Request for Council Action Form: $2,839,785.76 b.Approval of Payroll for Pay Period Ending February 15, 2021 of$400,137.42 c.Approval of Minutes of February 9,2021 Council Meeting Regular Formal Format d.Approval of Minutes of February 16,2021 Council Meeting Study Session Format e.Approval of Minutes of February 23,2021 Special Council Meeting It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the consent agenda. 2.Motion Consideration: Regional Decant Facility Construction Bid Award—Bill Helbig It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz and seconded to award the Regional Decant Facility Canopy Construction CIP #0308 to TML Construction, Inc., in the amount of$491,356 plus applicable sales tax, and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the construction contract.City Engineer Helbig said that putting the canopy on the facility is the third phase for the regional decant facility operated by WSDOT.There were two responsive responsible bids received on February 19, 2021, and they were approximately $100,000 over the engineer's estimate due to a significant increase in steel prices. There were no registered public comments. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried. 3. Motion Consideration: Mayoral Appointment, Nomination of Student for the AWC Center for Quality Communities Grant Award—Mayor Wick It was moved by Councilmember Thompson and seconded to confirm the nomination of Riley Zielfelder for the AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship. Mayor Wick said the City received four applications, representing one from each high school,and the City can nominate one person for an AWC scholarship. Vote by acclamation: in favor: Councilmembers Haley, Hattenberg, Higgins, Thompson, Woodard and Mayor Wick. Opposed:Deputy Mayor Peetz. Motion carried Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:03-02-2021 Page 1 of 3 Approved by Council:03-23-2021 GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY 121: None. NON-ACTION ITEMS: 4. Shoreline Master Program Update—Chaz Bates Senior Planner Bates provided an update to Council on the Shoreline Master Program,and he said after a periodic review it was found to be consistent with state law.He said that on February 12,2021,the City started the formal review process for adopting the proposed amendments; on February 25,2021,the Planning Commission held a study session and a public hearing is scheduled for March 11, 2021, after which time the amendments will be sent to the Department of Ecology for determination. 5.Housing Action Plan Update—Chaz Bates Senior Planner Bates gave an overview of the Housing Action Plan (HAP) and he said E2SHB 1923 passed legislation in 2019 to increase housing supply including affordable housing. The HAP identifies strategies to promote housing diversity and affordability, and actions can be adopted at a future date. The plan includes a housing needs assessment, housing policy review, strategies and actions, and an implementation plan; and the planned adoption timeline for the HAP includes an administrative report to Council in May, and first and second readings of the ordinance in June,2021. 6. Spokane Valley Police Dept.Update—Chief Ellis Police Chief Ellis discussed the new Live911 software that provides livestream calls directly to officers going into effect in April;he discussed recruiting efforts and showed their new recruitment video;and he discussed the new speed deterrence trailers that will help to calm traffic and provide information to conduct traffic studies. 7. Crime Check Update—Chief Ellis Police Chief Ellis updated Council on Crime Check and discussed SREC, Spokane Regional Emergency Communications,which handles dispatching, 911 and Crime Check calls.He said that Crime Check is available 24 hours a day,every day,for non-emergency calls and he went through the slide show presentation that included the history and governance of SREC,Crime Check statistics and benefits,and the online crime reporting system that is scheduled to begin in March. 8.Amendments to SVMC 7.50 Camping Regulations—Erik Lamb,Morgan Koudelka Deputy City Attorney Lamb and Senior Administrative Analyst Koudelka discussed proposed amendments to the City's camping regulations, and Mr. Lamb discussed the Martin v. Boise case that places limitations on the City's ability to prohibit camping on City property and that to do so violates the constitution unless there are shelter beds available. He said staff believes the proposed amendments are consistent with Martin and that currently, as adopted by Council in 2019, we prohibit camping on public property and the storing of personal property on public property; we prohibit encampments of two or more people; we have to provide notice to remove personal property; and that our regulations are not enforced if shelter beds are not available but there three areas where camping is always prohibited: City Hall, Balfour Park and CenterPlace Mirabeau Meadows. Mr. Koudelka said we have identified areas for improvement and two main goals are to provide permanent housing and to demonstrate to citizens and business owners that we respond quickly to issues of the homeless in the community. Mr. Lamb said the proposed amendments will add Appleway Trail,the police precinct and the maintenance shop as areas where camping is always prohibited, as well as structures, facilities and fixtures at parks,and City rights-of-way;they clarify that the changes apply to camping on City property; and they identify and codify the process for outreach to communicate with the City and police those individuals they are working with to provide assistance and services so they can temporarily suspend enforcement of the no camping regulations. Mr. Lamb said staff is looking for Council consensus to bring the amendments back for a first reading. Consensus. 9.Advance Agenda—Mayor Wick None. 10. Information Only:Department Reports were not discussed. Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:03-02-2021 Page 2 of 3 Approved by Council:03-23-2021 11. Council Comments None. 12. City Manager Comments: Mr. Calhoun mentioned that next week's Council meeting will include the annual accomplishments report and a mid-session legislative update from Ms.Murray of Gordon Thomas Honeywell. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m. ' ) ak ATT Ben Wick,Mayor � c hristine Bainbrid , City Cler Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:03-02-2021 Page 3 of 3 Approved by Council:03-23-2021 February 26,2021 Governor Jay Inslee Office of the Governor P.O. Box 40002 Olympia,WA 98504-0002 Dear Governor Inslee, Thank you for your recent visit to Spokane,pledge to share our regional successes around the state, and for making your staff available for ongoing discussion and dialogue about how Eastern Washington can be part of the collective mission to protect public health and safely advance along our road to recovery. Those efforts go a long way in our ability to carry the joint message of resiliency, determination, and hope in support of the massive statewide effort. We appreciate the magnitude of the undertaking and immense pressure everyone is feeling to best represent all of the different voices, communities, and ideas involved in keeping Washington safe. However, as a region bordered by a state with much different public health guidance and economic opening,we have unique needs. The reality is many of our cities operate as a larger,joint community with our neighbors to the east driven by shared employment, primary and secondary housing base, and recreational,leisure, and shopping. Together, as the elected leaders of cities and towns in the East Region,we are writing to formally request your consideration for our local needs as the guidelines and metrics are developed for Phase 3 advancement and beyond. We have appreciated your leadership in moving our state safely and responsibly through the COVID-19 pandemic and were excited to hear you holdup our in-person learning models in schools as an example of the innovative, safe work happening on this side of the state.As we have begun sharing with you,there are numerous other community successes and leamings that others around the state would stand to benefit from as they similarly focus on a safe recovery. As we begin to move forward,it is important to hear ideas and concerns from those most impacted by the restrictions in place by your office and the Washington State Department of Health(DOH). After significant collaboration,we have determined areas in need of special consideration to best balance the health and economic needs of our collective communities. Our approach has been to begin by identifying needs and outcomes before working on the how. Starting with yes has helped us avoid prematurely dismissing any ideas that may be useful as a standalone or,more likely, as a jumping-off point in the ideation process. Outlined below are our recommendations: Eating and Drinking Establishments Small businesses and the hospitality industry are the backbones of our economy. They account for a significant percentage of employment and,by extension, also carry great impact on food and housing security for individuals and families,particularly among our underrepresented communities. Proposed strategy: Continue the gradual,measured, safe restoration of important economic drivers while leaning on the expertise of those who have a vested interest in protecting their customers, employees, and livelihoods. Proposed outcomes: • Allow 50% capacity with indoor dining, limit 2 households per table or max 6 individuals • Allow 75% capacity for outdoor or open-air dining • Allow 25% capacity for indoor establishments serving individuals 21+with no food Recreation and Fitness Establishments Mental health, especially during the East Region's cold, snowy winter months,is a challenge. Recreation and fitness are a reprieve from the stresses of the pandemic people have craved and embraced when afforded the opportunity. Studies and information shared by DOH have indicated collective and individual mental health is a major current and ongoing concern. Proposed strategy: Encourage activities that build general health,wellness, and resistance to illness as a relief from the heaviness of the pandemic. Proposed outcomes: • Allow 50% capacity for fitness facilities, gyms, and indoor training • Increase attendee entrances at outdoor and indoor event venues to limit gatherings • Allow indoor and outdoor regional athletic tournaments and meets to compete intra- Phase for low,moderate, and high-risk sports • Allow 25% capacity for spectator seating at indoor and outdoor sporting venues • Allow 50% capacity for indoor and outdoor aquatic centers and pools • Eliminate restrictions for spray/splash features/activity pools consistent with play structures • Lift cap on 50-person maximum capacity for aquatic centers and pools Indoor and Outdoor Entertainment In addition to the very real mental health need outlined above,people are craving a measure of reward and acknowledgement of the good,hard work they have done and hope for the future. Data and messaging, especially over the holidays, has asserted that in-home behaviors have been a large contributor to unfavorable case counts. That can undoubtedly be attributed to a lack of options and ability to enforce public health guidance in homes, fatigue, and other likely contributors. Proposed strategy: Restore options in controlled environments to build and grow continued resiliency and determination. Proposed outcomes: • Eliminate limits of 2 households per group for outdoor venues • Allow 50% capacity at controlled and ticketed outdoor events with no maximum limit of people • Allow 50% capacity,maximum of 500 people at uncontrolled outdoor event gatherings • Allow 25% capacity for indoor entertainment with no maximum cap per facility Personal and Professional Services Community health has many factors,notably physical,mental, and economic health. The three are inextricably linked and must be considered as a collective, especially over a longer horizon. With many different voices and perspectives comes a need to find balance to keep people focused on the important task at hand of continuing to drive down case counts and impacts to the healthcare system. Proposed strategy: Build public confidence and trust in the guidance as the groundwork is developed to continue the basic public health guidance and etiquette even after vaccine administration reaches critical mass,particularly at a time when the impact of variants is growing. Proposed outcomes: • Allow indoor 50% occupancy at retail stores • Open state and municipal buildings to allow for in-person customer service at 25% occupancy; appointments still strongly encouraged Since the release of the new Healthy Washington—Roadmap to Recovery, and the subsequent Phase modifications,the residents of the East Region continue to follow the science-based guidelines with growing success—our COVID-19 case counts continue to trend downward, our hospitals continue to have ample capacity, the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena mass vaccination site is helping thousands of residents get the life-saving vaccine, and people continue to wear masks and limit gatherings. That improvement has coincided with a recommitment by our region to work collaboratively, a renewed emphasis on the successes gained on the hard work of our community members, and continuous acknowledgement of the prolonged and severe impact the pandemic has had on everyone's lives. We all share the commitment and belief in putting public health first.We have learned so much over the past year as communities and as a state that will help us use the science and data as the framework for a collective, collaborative conversation to keep us safely advancing. Our input, experiences, and perspectives have been underrepresented in the process of developing reopening guidance that affects our local businesses,youth and collegiate sports, and hospitality services, and we are respectfully requesting a seat at the table, a voice in the conversation, and a greater presence in the statewide messaging and communication. Thank you for this opportunity for correspondence, and we welcome an opportunity to discuss these recommendations in more detail. Sincerely, [Mayors] Nadine Woodward Mayor, City of Spokane