2021, 12-07 study session MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Study Session Meeting
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Mayor Wick called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in person in Council Chambers,
and also remotely via Zoom meeting.
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Ben Wick,Mayor John Hohman, Deputy City Manager
Brandi Peetz,Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Pam Haley, Councilmember Erik Lamb,Deputy City Attorney
Tim Hattenburg Councilmember Bill Helbig, City Engineer
Rod Higgins, Councilmember John Bottelli,Parks,Rec&Facilities Director
Linda Thompson, Councihmember Mike Basinger, Economic Dev. Manager
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Jenny Nickerson, Building Official
Greg Baldwin, Development Svs. Coordinator
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called roll; all Councilmembers were present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz, seconded and unanimously agreed to
approve the agenda.
PROCLAMATIONS: National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
After Mayor Wick read the proclamation for National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, it was received
with thanks from Ms. Savanna Smith who lost her brother to a drunk driver in 2017.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Motion Consideration: Street Sweeping Contract—Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz and seconded to approve the 2022 contract renewal to AAA Sweeping
in an amount not to exceed$584,875.20 for street sweeping, and authorize the City Manager to finalize
and execute the contract. Mr. Helbig gave a brief explanation. There were no public comments. Vote by
acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
2._Motion Consideration: Street Maintenance Contract—Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz and seconded to approve the 2022 contract renewal to Poe Asphalt
Paving, Inc. in an amount not to exceed$1,533,307.70 for street and storrnwater maintenance and repair
service and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the contract. Councilmember Woodard
asked for clarification of the amount, and Deputy Mayor Peetz clarified the amount of$1,530.307.70. Mr.
Helbig gave a brief explanation. There were no public comments. Vote by acclamation: in favor:
unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
3. Motion Consideration: Expo Expansion Project Grant Opportunity Chaz Bates,Mike Basinger
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz and seconded to authorize the City Manager or designee to apply for
$4.25 million from the ARPA Tourism grant for the Expo Center Expansion Center project in conjunction
with Spokane County. Mr. Basinger gave a brief explanation. There were no public comments. Vote by
acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
4. Motion Consideration: Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council Policy Direction—Cary Driskell
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Peetz and seconded to recommend items numbered 1-3 listed above,for
Deputy Mayor Peetz to forward to the SRLJC as Spokane Valley's most preferred general topic areas for
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session: 12-07-202I Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council: 12-21-2021
work by that committee in 2022. After brief discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Higgins and
seconded to amend the motion to include item#4—enhanced victim advocacy. Vote by acclamation on the
amendment: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried to amend the motion. Regarding item
#3, the construction of a new jail facility, City Attorney Driskell noted that including that item as a
discussion point does not mean that the City is in favor or opposed to a new facility,but that it is intended
as a discussion point; and said he could draft a letter stating that clarification. Councilmember Woodard
suggested staff bring a draft letter to Council next week for approval of the entire Council. Mr. Driskell
agreed. Vote by acclamation on the fully amended motion to include items 1-4: in favor: unanimous.
Opposed: None. Motion carried. [The four items include (1) an FTA reduction program that seeks to
substantially reduce the number of FTAs bogging down the system; (2) pursuing evidence-based/data-
driven solutions; (3) construction of a new jail facility that includes appropriate space to accommodate
programming for such things as drug treatment,mental health-related issues that intersect with the criminal
justice system, anger management, etc.; and(4)enhanced victim advocacy.]
NON-ACTION ITEMS:
5.2022 Fee Resolution—Chelsie Taylor
Building Official Nickerson explained that one of the biggest proposed changes in the master fee schedule
is in conjunction with the decision made last year to add automatic increases calculated in conjunction with
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), and in that way it would not necessitate
drastic changes every ten or so years. Mr. Baldwin mentioned some of our fees in comparison with cities
of our similar size. Director Bottelli then spoke about the proposed changes to the Parks and Recreation
fees, which he said were mostly to clarify, or add in fees that were already being charged. There was no
objection from Council to moving this forward as planned.
6. Federal Lobbyist Contract—Cary Driskell
After City Attorney Driskell went over the main points of the contract renewal and background of the
contract, there were comments from some Councilmembers regarding their perception of the performance
from Cardinal Infrastructure, especially compared with the outstanding performance by our Olympia
lobbyist company. Some Councilmembers said they were disappointed in Cardinal's work and felt they
weren't well prepared or organized,while others mentioned they feel we have had a good experience, and
that the company has consistently high ratings in Washington,D.C. Costs included in the contract for travel
were also discussed with mention of the appreciation for Cardinal reducing the 2021 contract, but
disappointment in their lack of reducing those same fees for the coining year. It was noted that because
Covid-19 had such an impact, that Council would like to see an option to reduce the costs if there is no
travel. Mr. Driskell said the issue of reducing travel fees could be discussed about mid-year and there were
no objections from Council. It was also noted that Mr. Bennett Resnick from Cardinal Infrastructure will
be attending next week's Council meeting via zoom.
7.Advance Agenda-Mayor Wick
There were no suggested changes to the Advance Agenda.
8. Information Only (will not be reported or discussed):Finance Monthly Report
This item was for information only and was not reported or discussed.
9. Council Comments - Mayor Wick
Mayor Wick mentioned he received notification from the Transportation Improvement Board that our
Sullivan Road Sprague to 8th Avenue project was awarded$1.6 million for construction,and the 8t11 Avenue
Coleman to Park project was awarded $267,000.
10. City Manager Comments—Mark Calhoun
Mr. Hohman added that the Sullivan project cost is in the vicinity of$3.5 million so with the additional
million dollar grant,that will get us to within about $400,000 to $600,000 for that project, which is great
for us as that is a much needed project.
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 12-07-2021 Page 2 of 3
Approved by Council: 12-21-2021
It was moved by Councilmember Woodard, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
(
J./
A S • Ben Wick, Mayor
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Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session: 12-07-2021 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council: 12-21-2021