2022, 04-19 Study Session MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Study Session Meeting
Tuesday,April 19,2022
Mayor Haley called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. The meeting was held in person in Council Chambers,
and also remotely via Zoom meeting.
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Pam Haley,Mayor John Hohman, City Manager
Rod Higgins,Deputy Mayor Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager
Tim Hattenburg,Councilmember Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Laura Padden, Councilmember Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Brandi Peetz, Councilmember Bill Helbig, Community&Public Works Director
Ben Wick,Councilmember John Bottelli, Parks, Recreation&Facilities Director
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Dave Ellis, Police Chief
Gloria Mantz, City Engineer
Chaz Bates,Planning Manager
Adam Jackson,Planning Grants Engineer
Mike Basinger, Economic Development Director
John Whitehead,Human Resources Director
Carrie Koudelka, Deputy City Clerk
ROLL CALL:Deputy City Clerk Koudelka called roll;all Councilmembers were present,Councilmember
Peetz attended via Zoom.
APPROVAL OF AMENDED AGENDA It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and
unanimously agreed to approve the amended agenda.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Motion Consideration: Buckeye Sewer Project Bid Award Gloria Mantz
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to allocate an additional$250,000 of Coronavirus
Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to the Buckeye Avenue Sewer Extension Project and award the Buckeye
Avenue Sewer Extension Project CIP #343 to Inland Infrastructure, LLC in the amount of$636,823.73,
and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the construction contract. Senior Engineer Mantz
said that in February 2022 Council allocated$500,000 of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for this
project and the City received two bids with the low bid coming in a 62 percent higher than the engineer's
estimate, the roadway elements were 43 percent higher, and the sewer improvements were 215 percent
higher.Ms.Mantz said that if Council wants to award the contract to the low bid,they will need to authorize
an additional $250,000. Mayor Haley invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by
acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed• none. Motion carried.
2. Motion Consideration: Grant Award, Safe Routes to School—Adam Jackson
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to authorize the City Manager or designee to accept
the Safe Routes to School Program award for the S. Bowdish Rd. Sidewalk project and finalize and execute
the grant agreement. Planning and Grants Engineer Jackson said that in 2020 we applied to the Safe Routes
to School grant and were unsuccessful. This spring the state legislature added $10 million to the program
and we became eligible for the grant. He said that the costs have escalated since our original application
and WSDOT will increase the award to make up for the escalated costs; however, because of increased
costs, staff is asking Council again if they want to pursue the grant. Mayor Haley invited public comment;
no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed:none. Motion carried.
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:04-19-2022 Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council:04-26-2022
NON-ACTION ITEM&
3. Avista Stadium Update—John Hohman, Spokane Indians President Chris Duff
City Manager Hohman introduced Spokane Indians Organization President Chris Duff to discuss Avista
Stadium and new requirements by Major League Baseball(MLB).Mr.Duff said the baseball season started
last week and he discussed the history of the team,their community partnerships,the restructuring of MLB
and its focus on player development and facility standards. He said that the Indians changed from a short-
season baseball league to High A league so they will have a higher level of players, a longer season, and a
new MLB affiliate with the Colorado Rockies. He said that they did a facility assessment and determined
they will invest in current location improvements rather than relocating, and he said they need to meet the
MLB facility requirements by 2025.He discussed the phases for the improvements and said they are looking
at funding sources; no funds will come from MLB. Brett Sports will partner and contribute funds to the
project. Councihnember Woodard asked if Brett sports would entertain a tax on admissions and Mr. Duff
said that everything is on the table. He is not asking for funds from the City at this time, but he is looking
to establish a better relationship with Spokane Valley.
4. Fire Department Response Statistics—Chief Soto, Spokane Valley Fire Department
Chief Soto introduced himself as the new fire chief for Spokane Valley and updated Council on where they
are responding to calls in Spokane Valley and the types of incidents for which they are responding.
5. Mission and Park Street Vacation—Chaz Bates
Planning Manager Bates said that the street vacation proposal is between Mission and Park roads on land
that has been unused and unimproved since it was platted in 1949,and it does not serve any public purpose.
He outlined the process for the vacation and noted that the date for the public hearing will change from
what was provided in the materials to June 9,2022.It was Council consensus to bring the topic forward on
the April 26, 2022 Consent Agenda.
6. Pavement Preservation Program—Bill Helbig,Adam Jackson
Community and Public Works Director Helbig explained this is an update on the Pavement Management
Program and potential next steps in moving forward.Planning and Grants Engineer Jackson said that a goal
of Council since 2014 has been to determine how to sustain this program. He said in 2021, staff included
public outreach to evaluate the program, identify the streets and investigate funding sources. He informed
Council of the findings from the survey responses received, as identified in the presentation materials, and
he said next steps include local access priority, surface treatments, delivery options and funding options.
Mr. Jackson said staff would like to come back before Council in May to discuss delivery options and the
cost difference between using our maintenance contract versus capital improvement project funds or bid
project funds. It was Council consensus to bring the topic back before Council at a fixture meeting.
7.Potential Grant Opportunity: INFRA FY22—Adam Jackson
Planning and Grants Engineer Jackson discussed the INFRA grant program and said that this year we did
not partner with Spokane County for a project to submit for the grant and that the City could pursue an
INFRA grant for the Sullivan Trent Interchange Reconstruction project or the Pines RdBNSF project, but
neither are optimal projects for us to pursue this particular grant. He said there are federal grants that
potentially work better with our projects, and he said staff is recommending that we do not apply for the
INFRA grant. It was Council consensus to not apply for the INFRA FY22 grant.
8. Advance Agenda—Mayor Haley
It was Council consensus to add an update from the SCRAPS director to the Advance Agenda at the request
of Councilmember Woodard.
9. Department Reports
The Department Reports were for information only and were not reported or discussed.
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:04-I9-2022. Page 2 of 3
Approved by Council:04-26-2022
10. Council Comments—Mayor Haley
Councilmember Woodard gave a glowing review of The Outlaw restaurant and encouraged others to try it.
11. City Manager Comments—John Hallman
Mr. Hohman congratulated Councilmember Wick on his appointment to AWC's Large City Advisory
Committee for 2022-2023, and he said that the new salaries for Mayor and Councilmembers are effective
as of today and the finance department will ensure those changes are made.
12.Executive Session: [RCW 42.30.110(1)(0j Review Performance of a Public Employee
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn into executive
session for approximately 45 minutes to review the performance of a public employee, and that no action
will be taken upon return to open session. Council adjourned into executive session at 7:12 p.m. At 7:44
p.m. Mayor Haley declared Council out of executive session at which time it was moved by Deputy
Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn.
GM\
Al- EST Pam Haley, Mayor
/ s ;
hristine Bainbridge, ity Clerk
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:04-19-2022 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council:04-26-2022