2021, 04-20 Study Session MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Study Session Meeting
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Mayor Wick called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held remotely 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 Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Tim Hattenburg Councilmember Bill Ilelbig, City Engineer
Rod Higgins, Councilmember Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Linda Thompson, Councilmember Morgan Koudelka, Sr. Admin. Analyst
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge 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.
PROCLAMATION nla
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Motion Consideration: Bid Award,Balfour Park Frontage Improvements—Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz and seconded to award the Balfour Park Frontage Improvement CIP
#0314 construction contract to Selland Construction in the amount of$6I7,770 and authorize the City
Manager to finalize and execute the construction contract. City Engineer Helbig briefly explained the
project,the bid opening,and ultimate recommended award to the lowest,responsive and responsible bidder
of the five bidders, that of Selland Construction, Inc. He also went over the project cots/budget financial
impacts, all as noted on the Request for Council Action form (RCA). Mayor Wick asked if there were any
public comments and City Clerk Bainbridge noted we received a comment request from Ms. Barb Howard.
Ms. Barb Howard, Spokane Valley: said that according to law, we must take the lowest bid, and asked if
this is going to end up like CenterPlace where we spend funds on a roof again because of cheap items on
the bid, and she sked if anything can be done to stop this on the low bids; she also asked who will keep an
eye on the project to make sure it is done right; said she was not in favor of the library and voted against it.
There were no other public comments. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion
carried.
NON-ACTION ITEMS:
2. Spokane Valley Partners—Jason Clark, Cal Coblentz
Mr. Coblentz explained that they were not prepared for 2020, but think they can learn from it, and one of
the things learned is there is a need to continue to prepare for this decade of ripple effects; said 2nd Harvest
is the biggest food supplier in our region; said he feels there is no competition from other food suppliers as
there is enough need to go around;projecting forward,said he has seen an 821%increase in new households
served from first quarter last year to first quarter this year; that he feels it is possible they may be moving
three to four million pounds of food in the future, hence they do not want to be caught off-guard; he also
mentioned the importance of the mobile units to take food to those who couldn't come to the food banks;
said their first priority are the residents in Spokane Valley, and the second priority includes the outlying
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 04-20-2021 Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council: 05-11-2021
areas in Spokane County such as Rockford and Otis Orchards and others. Mr. Coblentz also mentioned
their partnering with the schools.
Mr. Clark went through his PowerPoint addressing the topic of food insecurity one year post Covid,
including their mission during the crisis; same priorities of supporting their partners and the use of the
mobile markets, distribution with partners, and ad hoc community point of distribution including
coordination of volunteers and the National Guard support for rapid push distribution; he mentioned the
spike in unemployment in 2020 which led to increased need, noting that recovery takes time; he said that
the mobile markets were also increased from 141 during 2019, to 463 during 2020; that in 2020 they and
their partners distributed more than 52.9 million pounds of food which equates to a 58%increase over 2019
of 33.6 million pounds; said that the increased need continues; and he again noted the National Guard's
help during the pandemic, as their deployment at Second Harvest was between 40 and 150 during the
Guard's eleven-month food security mission. Mr. Clark said that in terms of planning for future growth,
they will need more refrigeration and/or a bigger and better facility. Council extended their appreciation for
all the Valley Partners and Food Bank have done.
3.PubIic Safety Contracts Update-Morgan Koudelka
Mr.Koudelka provided a summary update on detention services, district court,public defender, prosecutor,
pre-trial,emergency management,and animal control showing the five-year trends for City cost,percentage
change, and City usage, as well as history, challenges, and cost control measures; he also noted the
probation services agreement of 2005 allows the County to retain all probation fees in return for providing
the service. There was brief discussion about animal control and SCRAPS with Deputy Mayor Peetz stating
that she hears that some people feel frustrated because if they complain or make comments, it seems as
though nothing happens. Mr. Koudelka said he has experienced that as well, adding that during the Covid
restrictions, SCRAPS was experiencing staffing challenges;said he is uncertain if the issues are just due to
Covid restrictions or if other factors are involved.
Mr. Koudelka also discussed the draft public safety contracts quarterly template and mentioned trends such
as costs going up based on our usage; said for the courts, this is not necessarily a result of more cases but a
reduction of cases in other areas; said some of the reasons are related to the suspension of drug cases which
drives our percentage up; said the state is looking at options for making some felonies misdemeanors which
would drive our parentage up even higher. Deputy Mayor Peetz asked that with people being arrested and
crime going up,but the criminals being let go,why are costs so expensive.Mr.Koudelka said for 2020 and
Covid, budgets were not reduced and people were not laid off or services reduced; said he does not know
when things will change but that doesn't mean we won't pursue charges;said many times cases are deferred
or there is a backlog which affects potential charges in the future; that we hear about the `revolving door of
arrest and release' with some re-offending, and said that does not mean they are not being prosecuted, but
this is something we need to evaluate. Mayor Wick asked which trend should we focus on; that with the
diversion driving while license suspended being terminated,are other jurisdictions' cases going down; said
the estimated usage and projected costs figures appear to be contradictory. Mr.Koudelka said costs are low
for prosecution services, but they would probably like more staffing to provide more services. In response
to Deputy Mayor Peetz' comment about jail alternatives, Mr. Koudelka said that issue was looked into a
few years go, but that each category has its own alternatives and it can seem disjointed; and said he will try
to get more information on the topic of alternatives to jail.
4.Advance Agenda—Mayor Wick
It was suggested asking Mr. Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director of the Union Gospel Mission to give a
presentation regarding his view and programs regarding homelessness. There were no objections from
Council. It was also suggested to hear from the Boys and Girls Club, and again there were no objections.
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 04-20-2021 Page 2 of 3
Approved by Council: 05-11-2021
5. Council Comments—Mayor Wick
There were no additional Council comments.
6. City Manager Comments—Mark Calhoun
City Manager Calhoun stated that the Farmers Market will return in 2021 for the third consecutive year;
said we hosted a booth in 2019 but due to Covid the 2020 market could only have food products; said we
can have a booth in 2021 and asked Councilmembers interested in hosting the booth to please contact his
Executive Assistant Marci Patterson as she will prepare a sign-up sheet; said the market will run for 16
Fridays, June 4 through September 17,from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
It was moved by Councilmember Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
6__ LLP
AT
Ben Wick,Mayor
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Christine Bainbridge, City Cl
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 04-20-2021 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council: 05-11-2021