Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPOKANE COUNTY,WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO.21-012
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY, SPOKANE COUNTY,
WASHINGTON ADOPTING THE CITY'S COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, AND
OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO.
WHEREAS,the City of Spokane Valley(City)has an inventory of existing pedestrian and bicycle
facilities, including sidewalks,bicycle lanes, and shared-use paths; and
WHEREAS, the City periodically coordinates with school districts within the City limits and the
Spokane Regional Health District to designate Safe Routes to Schools; and
WHEREAS,the City has adopted a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Program (BPMP), establishing
a citywide bicycle and pedestrian network; and
WHEREAS,the City is a member of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council(SRTC),which
is responsible for transportation planning and programming in Spokane County, and which approved the
SRTC Safe and Complete Streets Policy on September 13, 2012; and
WHEREAS, SRTC encourages local jurisdictions to adopt and implement Safe and Complete
Streets policies; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan incorporates the BPMP and establishes Transportation
Goals,Policies,and Strategies to provide and maintain a multimodal transportation system,as listed below:
T-G5 Maintain and enhance a comprehensive rultimodal transportation system that
promotes, supports and improves the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of people,
vehicles, and goods.
T-P6 Work collaboratively with developers to ensure that areas experiencing new
development are well served by motorized and non-motorized transportation options.
T-P9 Provide and maintain quality street, sidewalk and shared use path surfaces that provide
a safe environment for all users.
T-P•13 Evaluate opportunities to improve multimodal connectivity in all transportation
planning projects.
Strategy Evaluate and consider amendments to the municipal code that enhance grant eligibility
for projects that improve safety and accessibility; and
WHEREAS, the City Council agrees that the Comprehensive Plan creates an existing framework
for a safe and complete street policy through planning and implementation practices; and
WHEREAS, the City's Community and Public Works Department will implement Complete
Streets goals, policies, and practices with the construction, reconstruction, rechannelization, and other
changes to transportation facilities,with the exception of regular maintenance and repair,which recognizes
that all streets are unique and in each case transportation user needs must be considered; and
WHEREAS,the Washington State legislature has adopted RCW 47.04.320 to provide requirements
and encourage local governments to adopt complete streets policies and regulations to provide safe access
to all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and public transportation users, and established
funding through the Washington Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) Complete Streets Program for
Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy Page 1 of 2
cities that have incorporated complete streets principles throughout their transportation goals,policies, and
regulations; and
WHEREAS,the adoption of a Complete Streets Policy will enable the City to increase its eligibility
and scoring potential for various other funding programs that seek to provide a safe and complete street
improvements; and
WHEREAS,the adoption of the Complete Streets Policy set forth is consistent with the goals and
policies of the City's Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE,the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley do ordain as follows:
Section 1. Adoption. The City Council hereby adopts the City of Spokane Valley Complete
Streets Policy as provided in Exhibit A attached hereto. The Complete Streets Policy as set forth
implements a complete street concept in the planning and design of street projects in the City of Spokane
Valley.
Section 2. Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority set forth herein and prior to the
effective date of this Ordinance is hereby ratified and affirmed.
Section 3. Severability. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall be
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section,sentence, clause, or
phrase of this Ordinance.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect five days after
publication of this Ordinance or a summary thereof in the official newspaper of the City of Spokane Valley
as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council this 14'11 day of September,2021.
Ld
Ben Wick, Mayor
ATTES
rtstme Bainbridge, City Clerk
Approved As To Form:
Office f the Cityrney
Date of Publication: 9f'-,9 p o�
Effective Date: 7— - d a(/
Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy Page 2 of 2
Exhibit A
Section 1. Vision and Intent
The purpose of this Ordinance is to adopt the City's Complete Streets Policy. The Complete Streets Policy
as set forth implements a complete street concept in the planning and design of street projects in the City
of Spokane Valley. The purpose of the Complete Streets Policy is to:
1. Promote healthy communities by encouraging walking, bicycling, and using public
transportation for all ages, abilities, and economic levels, which benefits not only each user
but also the vitality of the local economy.
2. Consider multimodal transportation infrastructure, for all users including: pedestrians,
bicyclists, public transit, automobiles, freight, and emergency services.
3. Improve public safety by constructing sidewalks, dedicated bicycle facilities, medians, and
pedestrian streetscape features.
4. Protect the environment and reduce congestion by providing safe alternatives to single-
occupancy driving.
5. Preserve community character by involving local citizens and stakeholders to participate in
planning and design decisions.
6. Improve the quality and safety of City streets that do not meet the current City Street
Standards for right-of-way width by promoting multimodal transportation infrastructure
through the use of acceptable design deviations.
7. Promote the use of multimodal transportation to reduce traffic congestion and foster lower
vehicular emissions by providing more effective use of public rights-of-way with expanded
opportunities to use alternate transportation methods.
Section 2. Diverse Users
As feasible, the City shall incorporate complete streets infrastructure into existing public streets to create
a comprehensive, integrated, connected transportation network that balances access, mobility, and
health and safety needs of all users regardless of age, physical ability, or preferred mode of travel,
including, but not limited to, bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, emergency responders, passenger
vehicles, and freight traffic. Complete streets infrastructure includes design features that contribute to a
safe, convenient travel experience for all users, including but not limited to:
1. Sidewalks and crosswalks;
2. Lighting;
3. Transit shelters/stops;
4. Bicycle accommodation;
5. Landscaping;
6. Use of raised medians for traffic safety,traffic flow and pedestrian refuge;
7. Adequate buffer areas for pedestrian safety, drainage and landscaping;
S. Lane widths sized for use and context of surrounding land uses;
9. On-street parking where appropriate for surrounding land uses;
10. Signage;
11. Level of connectivity to the existing transportation network.
Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy—Exhibit A Page 1 of 4
Exhibit A
Section 3. Applicable Projects
The City of Spokane Valley will plan for, design and construct all new transportation systems to provide
appropriate accommodation for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, and persons of all abilities
to accommodate the ease of movement for all users across the City's urban landscape regardless of age,
ability, or economic standing. Complete streets principles will be incorporated into City plans, rules,
regulations and programs as appropriate to produce accessible streets, The City will integrate the
complete street concept throughout all phases including design, planning, and rehabilitation of
transportation facilities providing a fully connected network for all users. Complete streets design
recommendations will be incorporated into all publicly funded projects as appropriate, including new
construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair, repaving, major maintenance, and operations.
Section 4. Exceptions
The City shall incorporate complete streets principles into the early planning and design of transportation
projects. However, not all roadways are suitable for all complete streets components; in some cases, a
limited range of modal choices may be appropriate. Such circumstances may include the following:
1. Where the establishment of such facilities would be detrimental to public health or safety;
2. Where there is no documented current or anticipated need for accommodation for non-
motorized roadway users or the street is not a current or planned transit route;
3. Where the project involves a roadway on which nonmotorized use is prohibited by law;
4. Where the cost for a particular complete street design recommendation would be excessively
disproportionate to the need of that particular improvement, with due consideration given
to future users;
5. Where there would be significant adverse environmental impacts to streams,wetlands,steep
slopes, or other critical areas;
6. Where the inclusion in a small, isolated project would create a very short section of
improvements with problematic transitions on either end or that are in an isolated area
unlikely to be followed by similar improvements at either end resulting in a facility that would
have no connectivity for users;
7. Where the project is routine maintenance of the transportation network that does not change
the geometry or operations, such as striping, cleaning, sweeping, crack sealing,spot repair or
other similar interim surface preservation measures; and/or
8. Where there is not sufficient existing right-of-way width available to accommodate complete
street design recommendations or design deviations developed as part of Section 10(1).
The exceptions in subsections (1) through (8) of this section require documentation and supporting data
to be approved by the City Engineer upon review and recommendation from City staff.
Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy--Exhibit A Page 2 of4
Exhibit A
Section 5. Interagency Coordination
The City will cooperate and foster partnerships with other planning and funding agencies including but
not limited to: the Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation,
Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, the
Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Spokane County, Central Valley School District, East Valley
School District, West Valley School District, residents, businesses, interest groups, and neighborhoods to
ensure the needs of all agencies and groups are considered and that the principles and practices of
complete streets are communicated and considered in their scoping, planning, design, construction, and
maintenance activities. The City will specifically cooperate to ensure the transportation network flows
between jurisdictions in accordance with local and regional road,transit, bicycle, and pedestrian plans.
Section 6. Design Criteria
The City Engineer or designated professional, along with assistance from other City staff, shall interpret,
evaluate, and review design standards and guideline criteria for proposed transportation infrastructure.
The City Engineer or designated professional shall gauge these standards with the industry's best practices
including the exceptions of this policy,to incorporate the complete street concept of accommodating all
users.
Street Standards are listed in Title 22 SVMC. Stormwater standards are listed in the Spokane Regional
Stormwater Manual. The City will also use the best practices and design solutions developed by other
agencies and resources as related to each complete street element.
Situations may present themselves where alternatives may be preferred to allow conformance with
existing conditions, to overcome adverse topography, or to allow for more affordable solutions without
adversely affecting safety, maintainability or aesthetics. Provisions will be made for design deviations to
implement the complete streets policy.
Section 7. Context
Implementation of this policy shall reflect the context and character of the community's overall
surroundings including the natural environment, current and planned buildings and land uses,
demographics, street functions and current and expected transportation needs. Understanding of the
localized surrounding built and natural environments allows roadway design decisions to be more flexible
and sensitive to community values and to better balance economic, social and environmental objectives.
Section 8. Performance Measures
The application of the complete streets policy shall be continuously evaluated,to determine progress and
effectiveness, as well as opportunity for improvement.The City should measure the success of this policy
on an annual basis based on the frequency of projects that both consider and implement complete street
elements. This may be tracked by the quantity of design deviations or documented complete street
considerations.Additional performance measurements may include the quantity of additional facilities or
facility-miles for non-passenger vehicle modes,such as xx curb ramps,xx bus stop shelter pads,or xx miles
of bicycle lane, shared use path, or sidewalk. The annual summary should include qualitative and
quantitative data categorized by mode to provide performance measurements. Specific performance
metrics will be determined through further public engagement to determine community priorities.
Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy—Exhibit A Page 3 of 4
Exhibit A
Section 9. Project Selection Criteria
The Community and Public Works Department shall incorporate Complete Streets elements as criteria in
project prioritization for funding. All transportation projects are to document its consideration of all
modes for all users and how or why they were or were not implemented with a project. Projects that
better satisfy the intent of this Complete Street Policy may be more favorably supported during the
project prioritization process. Any project that does not accommodate multiple modes will be required to
provide documentation of exceptions as detailed in Section 4.
Section l0. Implementation
The City views the principles of this Complete Streets Policy as an essential component influencing
decision-making in the planning and design of transportation facilities and improvements. To that end,
the following actions are intended to implement this Complete Streets Policy.The list in this section should
not be considered as a limiting factor in meeting the transportation needs of the community.
1. Develop generally acceptable design deviations to the existing street standards to ensure that
they facilitate consideration of the design recommendations in this policy.
2. Consider the Spokane Valley Bike and Pedestrian Master Program and subsequent
Comprehensive Plan recommendations for improving facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians.
3. Coordinate with STA in route and stop planning.
4. Support and encourage Community and Public Works staff, and appointed and elected
officials to attend trainings, workshops, and webinars to improve the understanding and
implementation of complete streets principles.
Ordinance 21-012 Complete Streets Policy—Exhibit A Page 4 of 4