2022, 09-13 Regular Formal MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Regular Formal Meeting
Tuesday, September 13,2022
Mayor Haley called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. The meeting was held in person by Council and staff in
Council Chambers, and also remotely via Zoom meeting.
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Pam Haley, Mayor Erik Lamb,Deputy City Manager
Rod Higgins,Deputy Mayor Cary DriskelI, City Attorney
Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Tony Beattie, Sr. Deputy City Attorney
Laura Padden, Councilmember Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Ben Wick, Councilmember Bill Helbig, Community&Public Works Dir.
Arne Woodard,Council member Mike Basinger, Economic Development Dir.
John Whitehead,Human Resources Director
Absent: John Bottelli, Parks, Rec & Facilities Director
Councilmenzber Peetz Dave Ellis, Police Chief
Virginia Clough,Legislative Policy Coordinator
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: Standing in for Pastor Dan Shields,Pastor Zak Sommers of Valley Real Life Church gave
the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council,staff and the audience stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Councilmembers were present except
Councilmember Peetz. It was moved by Councilmember Wick, seconded and unanimously agreed to excuse
Councilrnember Peetz. Mayor Haley announced that there will be an executive session at the end of
tonight's meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed
to approve the agenda.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS n/a
COMMITTEE,BOARD,LIAISON SUMMARY REPORTS
Councilmember Wick: said he was appointed to the MRSC (Municipal Research and Services Center)
Board of Directors; attended the Ela Tastes &Tea Market ribbon cutting and the Wal-Mart ribbon cutting
for their recent renovation;went to the Interstate Fair which started last Friday with the focus on youth,and
he thanked Les Schwab and Country Store for their donations and support; said the FMSIB (Freight
Mobility Strategic Investment Board) continues working on prioritization of projects and said the Board
will be meeting in Spokane Valley this Friday.
Councilmember Woodard: said he had meetings throughout the community and with businesses over the
last two weeks.
Councilmember Hattenburg: said he also attended the Wal-Mart ribbon cutting and mentioned their several
donations to nonprofit organizations; said the STA(Spokane Transit Authority)Planning and Development
Committee is wrapping up the design plans for the Division Connects, which will open once the
North/South Corridor is completed.
Councilmember Padden: reported that there will be several events upcoming through the Chamber of
Commerce, including a New Talent at Hiring Summit/workshop for businesses on how to find and keep
talent; mentioned a forum to talk about upcoming school programs and how to adjust to fulfill workplace
needs; said they do not support the Washington tax proposal on sweetened drinks; and said she went to the
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Associated Builders and Contractors event and said it was nice to see business members of the community
and hear their exchange of ideas.
Deputy Mayor Higgins: reported that he attended the Gonzaga School of Medicine's dedication of their
new building, said it establishes an important position for us in the medical field and is a beautiful facility.
He said that he participated in the SRTC (Spokane Regional Transportation Council) monthly meeting
where they discussed the Safe Streets for All Program which includes a grant opportunity which is a
discretionary program with over$5 billion in funds over the next five years, and to be eligible,the applicant
must have an adopted action plan, and said awards will be based on estimated costs with an expected
minimum $200,000 for all applicants, and an expected maximum of$5 million for Metropolitan Planning
Organizations such as SRTC; said if SRTC is awarded funds,the City of Spokane,City of Spokane Valley
and Spokane County have each agreed to contribute toward the required local match; and SRTC will use
their reserve funds to make up the remainder of any required match if there is still some after the three
entities put in their match; and if awarded funds, SRTC will serve as the project manager and work in
collaboration with the project team, and will develop a Request for Proposal for consultant support; said
that there is a unifonn list of transportation priorities over the past nine months, and SRTC staff have
conducted a transportation discussion series gathering input from its committees and the board to help
identify any new criteria that should be used to evaluate projects for inclusion in its 2023 unified list; the
staff has combined board and committee input to provide a draft to discuss at this and next month's SRTC
meetings; said there is a draft Transportation Improvement Program for 2023-2026, there was a first
discussion of that TIP by the Board and the Transportation Technical Committee and Transportation
Advisory Committee received a written copy in their August meeting packets, and on September 1, the
draft TIP document was released for a 30-day public comment period. Deputy Mayor Higgins said he also
attended a fundraiser for the Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations and said that tribal support is very
impressive;that they are dedicated to having their youth stay clean and off drugs and alcohol,and apparently
they are doing a fine job; and that he also attended the grand re-opening of the Spokane Valley Wal-Mart.
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Haley said she has no report, but said that she did throw out the first pitch at the Spokane Indians
game.
PROCLAMATION: Constitution Week
After Mayor Haley read the proclamation for Constitution Week, it was accepted with thanks from Janet
Ulbright and other members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY i11: After Mayor Haley explained the process, she
invited public comments.
Mr. Bruce Agnew, [via zoom]: said he is the director of Regional Infrastructure Accelerator for the Pacific
NW Economic Region, a consortium of five northwest states; said they were awarded a grant from the
USDOT to help accelerate important projects of national significance; said they hired two individuals,
retired from BNSF Railroad who met with our City's Grant Engineer Adam Jackson, and provided some
technical assistance as the City worked on the Pines Road Project; said he is here tonight to extend
congratulations on our City receiving the $22 million federal grant for this project; and offered his
continuing assistance as a liaison with the USDOT to see if there are way they can help facilitate and/or
expediate the project's construction.
Ms. Pam Marlow, Spokane Valley [via zoom]: said now that Hometown Suites has been cleaned up, that
she is wondering if the Police could do the same with Eagle Point Apartments; said Chief Ellis told her he
thought City Attorney Driskell was going to write a letter to the owners, but said that hasn't happened yet;
said a man was shooting up heroin on the sidewalk the other day, and someone stole mail out of her
neighbor's mailbox; said she wants someone from legal to contact her to try to get this cleaned up.
Mr. Dan Allison, Spokane Valley: suggested including a diagram in the next edition of the City's View,
about how to navigate through a round-about; also suggested including rules for who has the right-of-way
on four-way stops.
Ms. John Harding, Spokane Valley: said he has deep concerns about Council's lack of trust in our citizens;
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said this is the fifth week with no opportunity for general public comment; said actions items are fine but
sometimes people don't know what the item involves; thinks it would be good to have people give their
opinion on various issues, and said he wants citizens to be able to collaborate.
1.PUBLIC BLEARING: #1 -2023 Budget—Budget Revenues,Includes Property Taxes—Chelsie Taylor
Mayor Haley opened the public hearing at 6:26 p.m. Finance Director Taylor mentioned there were a few
changes since the August 30 presentation,with those changes in blue font in the accompanying documents;
she went through the PowerPoint discussing the estimated revenues and expenditures,FTE counts, general
fund revenues and expenditures, other funds such as motor vehicle fuel tax and Real Estate Excise tax
(REET), grant revenues, and funding challenges. Mayor Haley invited public comment.
Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley: said Council needs to listen to some of the chief economists around
this country and anything we are planning in the near future may be null and void; that it is time to wake
up and start planning about the minimum of things we need to get by.
Mr. Dan Allison, Spokane Valley: said he doesn't like the 1% property tax; that citizens elected Council
who said that forever they would say no to that;said it doesn't need to happen and the City should do what
it started out to do without a property tax increase. There were no further comments and Mayor Haley
closed the public hearing at 6:41 p.m.
2.PUBLIC HEARING: TPA (Tourism Promotion Area) Formation—Erik Lamb
Mayor Haley opened the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Deputy City Manager Lamb went over some of the
background leading up to tonight's agenda item, including Council's vote to terminate our City's.
participation in the Regional TPA, which takes effect December 31, 2022; he went over the per room
assessment, allowed uses, and processes as well as the proposed timeline should this pass, of January 1,
2023 for the beginning of fee collection for 2023 distribution. Mr. Lamb also mentioned the hiring of
Johnson Consulting to assist in how best to use the TPA funds towards marketing. Mayor Haley invited
public comment.
Dr. Marnie Rorholm with the Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center: she expressed her support of the
Spokane Valley TPA and mentioned the successful season she has experienced with the theater,with guests
coming in from over 50 miles away; said she feels they will have a large impact on tourism and in the
region; and said it would be wonderful to have the Spokane Valley TPA in place.
Mr. Grant Guinn, owner of Tru by Hilton Hotel: said he supports the petition to establish the Spokane
Valley TPA; of the 16 hotels, 11 supported the petition; said he worked for weeks to encourage fellow
hoteliers to sign the petition and that he is optimistic that the lodging community will work together to
support our city in special events, trade shows, etc.; said he encourages Council to listen to the lodging
community; and to create a well thought-out plan in the best interests of our area and not focus on any one
specific project. There were no other public comments and Mayor Haley closed the public hearing at 6:56
p.m.
3.First Readine Ordinance 22-016,TPA Formation—Erik Lamb
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded
to advance the ordinance to a second reading. As a public hearing on this was just held,no comments were
solicited. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed: none. Motion carried.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
4. Spokane County Property Tax Process—Erik Lamb; Chelsie Taylor; Spokane Co. Assessor Tom Konis
Deputy City Manager Lamb introduced Mr. Tom Konis, Spokane County Assessor, to talk about the
functions of this office and how those valuation assessments are set. Mr. Konis explained that everything
they do is dictated by laws and policies, and Washington State Constitution Article 7 stipulates that all
properties be treated the same; he mentioned some of the other things his office does such as property
segregations, combining or splitting lots and that they assign the parcel numbers; they handle senior and
disabled persons exemptions which limit is set by the legislature at$40,000;be said that amount is adjusted
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every five years and the next adjustment will be in 2025; said he is working with the legislatures to have
that figure increased; said they follow current market conditions but don't push the market; that it is based
on sales that have transpired, so if the market goes down,they will change values downward;he said things
have slowed down but prices are not dropping yet; he mentioned his office is responsible for 55 different
taxing districts with 183 tax code areas made up of property and all those things serviced by them; said the
biggest issue as taxpayers is how we are funding schools; that 55% goes to schools and 46% are toward
issues voted upon, and he reminded everyone of the McCleary decision on funding schools. A question
arose about taxes paid by apartments, and Mr. Konis said that apartments are taxed unless they qualify as
HUD or Section 8; said there is a larger percentage paid in multifamily then in single family houses and
added that the Department of Revenue dictates the level of tax exemption. To clarify, Councilmember
Woodard asked if it is possible to have,for example,a 200 unit low income or section 8 apartment complex
have a property tax rate a fraction of what other are paying, and Mr. Donis confirmed that is correct.
Finance Director Taylor then went over the TCA (tax code area) Analysis included in the Council packet,
with charts showing what taxes are paid to the County,that the largest contributors are East Valley School
District (voted) at 28%, Spokane Valley Fire District at 25%, and state school at 24%, with the City of
Spokane Valley's at 9% in one scenario, and 8% in another.
NEW BUSINESS:
5. 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.
Proposed Motion:I move to approve the Consent Agenda.
a. Approval of Claim Vouchers on September 13, 2022, Request for Council Action Form: $5,357,473.14
b. Approval of Payroll for Pay Period ending August 31,2022: $664,768.91
c. Approval of Motion to Set Budget Hearing for October 11, 2022
d.Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of August 23,2022, Formal Meeting
e. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of August 30, 2022, Study Session
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the Consent Agenda.
6. First Reading Ordinance 22-017 Amending SVMC 3.46—Cary Driskell
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded
to suspend the rules and adopt Ordinance 22-017. After Mr. Driskell gave a brief explanation of the
proposed changes, Mayor Haley invited public comments. No comments were offered. Vote by
acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed: none. Motion carried.
7. First Reading Ordinance 22-018 Amending SVMC 3.47—Cary Driskell
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded
to suspend the rules and adopt Ordinance 22-018. After Mr. Driskell gave a brief explanation of the
proposed changes, Mayor Haley invited public comments. No comments were offered. Vote by
acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed: none. Motion carried.
8.First Reading Ordinance 22-019 Amending SVMC 2.35.010—Cary Driskell
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded
to advance ordinance 22-019 to a second reading. Mr. Driskell explained the proposed change,which he
said is just a housekeeping amendment. Councilmember Woodard asked if there is any reason not to
suspend the rules and adopt tonight, and Mr. Driskell said that is up to Council's discretion. Mayor Haley
invited public comments. Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley: he commented about a previous Proposition
1 for an emergency preparedness communication plan which required citizen oversight, but did not have
any comments about the proposed changes to the ordinance. There were no other public comments. Vote
by acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed none. Motion carried.
9.Motion Consideration: Tyler Technologies Contract Approval—Chelsie Taylor
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute
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an Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Inc. in an amount of$678,363 plus applicable sales taxes for the
conversion, implementation, and software licensing services for financial management software. After
Finance Director Taylor went over the background of this item, Mayor Haley invited public comments.No
comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed: none. Motion carried.
10. Motion Consideration: Poe Contract Amendment—Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to approve Contract Amendment #2 to Poe Asphalt
Paving, Inc.for additional local street reconstruction, resulting in a total contract amount not to exceed
$1,951,707.70 and authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the amendment. After Mr. Helbig
gave an explanation of the background of this item, including the financial impact, Mayor Haley invited
public comments. No comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed: none.
Motion carried.
11. Motion Consideration: Barker GSP Change Order Bill Helbig
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute
Change Order Number 40 with Max J Kuney Company in the amount of$10,300.00. After Mr. Helbig
explained the background of this item,Mayor Haley invited public comments.No comments were offered.
Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous; opposed: none. Motion carried.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY 121: Mayor Haley invited public comments.
Ms.Barb Howard,Spokane Valley [via Zoom]: said she remembered Officer Pratt mentioning that we have
no shelters in the valley,but he didn't state how much money we give to the City and County to have shelter
beds; spoke of a woman over in Balfour Park who has been living in her vehicle for over two months, and
she asked if there is a way to find her help; said crime in Spokane Valley is getting worse, mostly around
neighborhoods;that there was another stand-off at the House of Charity today;said if we don't have enough
deputies maybe we need better scheduling; that if Hometown Suites can get cleaned up why not these
neighborhoods; and asked about any connection with crime and dumpster diving. There were no other
public comments.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
12. Gang Task Force Funding Chief Ellis,Erik Lamb
Mr. Lamb explained that staff is bringing this item back to determine if there is any desire from Council to
participate in a funding level to continue those enhancements, which Chief Ellis then discussed via his
PowerPoint. Mr. Lamb mentioned the $100,000 which could be handled as overtime under our agreement
with the County, and if there is Council consensus,this would come forward later as a budget amendment.
There was discussion about the effectiveness of the task force; that it is complex as it involves detention,
prosecution,etc.,with Chief Ellis mentioning that there have been no homicides since the task force started
so that is a positive sign. Councilmember Padden asked about the possibility of using ARPA funds and Mr.
Lamb said he will research that and come back to Council within the next few weeks.
13. Advance Agenda—Mayor Haley
There were no suggested changes to the Advance Agenda.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Deputy City Manager Lamb introduced the City's new Legislative Policy Coordinator, Ms. Virginia
Clough, formerly of Mt. Lake Terrace. Mr. Lamb also mentioned the Art Wraps for utility boxes and us
partnering with Spokane Arts and STCU,that there are two slots open and Mayor Haley and Deputy Mayor
Higgins have volunteered for those positions; and that he hopes to bring this item back to Council once all
wraps have been chosen.Mr. Lamb also announced that the stonnwater pilot project for reducing the section
of Sprague in front of City Hall, to three lanes,will start Monday, September 19, and the message boards
are already up.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn into executive
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session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss pending litigation, and that no action would be taken upon
return to open session. Council adjourned into executive session at 8:10 p.m. At 8:39 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.
(0111')
A Pam Haley,Mayor
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