2023, 02-21 study session minutes MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Study Session Meeting
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
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 John Hohman, City Manager
Rod Higgins, Deputy Mayor Tony Beattie, Sr.Deputy City Attorney
Tom Hattenburg, Councilmember Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Brandi Peetz, Councilmember John Bottelli,Parks &Rec..Director
Laura Padden, Councilmember Dave Ellis,Police Chief
Ben Wick, Councilmember Gloria Mantz, City Engineer
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Bill Helbig, Community&Public Works Dir.
Adam Jackson, Engineering Manager
Robert Lochmiller, CIP Engineering Manager
John Whitehead, Human Resources Director
Emily Estes-Cross, Public Information Officer
Greg Bingaman, IT Specialist
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called roll; all Councilmembers were present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins,seconded, and unanimously agreed
to approve the agenda.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: After explaining the process,Mayor Haley invited
public comment. Ms. Barb Howard, Spokane Valley (via Zoom): questioned the definition of low income
housing and what it entails,how much does a tenant pay and how much do citizens pay for them; said there
is a lot of misconception; also would like to see if we can do something different other than SCRAPS; said
there are a lot of lost animals but when she went to the SCRAPS facility,there was no one who could take
a complaint; said with the $55 million cost for an ice rink, she hopes Council might look into getting our
own police department instead. Mr. Dan Allison, Spokane Valley: said he spoke a few weeks ago about
getting a copy of the rendering of the new restroom that will be at Balfour Park; said he never received a
copy,and complained about the process he had to go through by signing a form to get a copy of a document
that was apparently hidden and even difficult for staff to locate.
ACTION ITEMS:
I.Motion Consideration: Congressionally Directed Spending Request—Adam Jackson
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to authorize the City Manager or designee to submit
CDSftrnding requests for all three projects as identified by staff in Table 1 (i.e.Bigelow-Sullivan Corridor:
Sullivan/Trent Interchange; South Barker Corridor; and Argonne Bridge at I-90). After Mr. Jackson went
over the information contained in his Request for Council Action,including mention of those three projects,
Mayor Haley invited public comment. No comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor:
unanimous. Opposed:none. Motion carried.
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:02-21-2023 Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council:02-28-2023
2.Motion Consideration: Potential Grant Opportunity Local Bridge Program (Sullivan/Trent Interchange)
—Adam Jackson
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to authorize the City Manager or designee to apply
for the Federal Local Bridge Program grant requesting$10 million for the Sullivan & Trent Interchange
Project. After Mr. Jackson went over the information contained in his Request for Council Action,
including federal and non-federal funding, Mayor Haley invited public comment. No comments were
offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
NON-ACTION ITEMS:
3. Centennial Trail Update—John Bottelli;Loreen McFaul with Friends of Centennial Trail
After Director Bottelli introduced Ms. Loreen McFaul, Centennial Trail Executive Director, Mr. Bottelli
gave a brief update of the Centennial Trail, including mention that the trail now consists of 40 miles as it
runs from the Idaho state line to Nine Mile Falls; that it is fully paved and has over two million users
annually; he mentioned the several trailheads and parking areas; said the Trail is maintained by an
interagency agreement including the Washington State Parks, City of Spokane, City of Spokane Valley,
City of Liberty Lake, and Spokane County, with each jurisdiction contributing $20,000 annually; and he
mentioned the 2023 Asphalt Overlay Project with a $2 million funding award from the RCO grant. Ms.
McFaul then went over the Board's priorities, one of which is the Mile Marker Project, which is now
completed with new mile markers and signs. Council thanked Ms. McFaul and Director Bottelli for the
update.
4.Potential Grant Opportunity: SRTC Preservation Call for Projects---Adam Jackson
Mr. Jackson went over the information concerning the SRTC (Spokane Regional Transportation Council)
call for projects, and that after careful evaluation of the program requirements, said staff selected three
projects that are expected to be the most competitive, which includes the Sullivan Road River to Euclid,
Fancher Road Sprague to Trent,and Sprague Avenue at State Route 27 Bowdish to McDonald.Mr.Jackson
said staff is requesting Council consensus that staff proceed with finalizing all three projects and return in
March with a motion consideration to apply for funding for the three projects. There was unanimous
Council consensus.
5. 2023 Capital Improvement Projects Update—Erica Amsden,Rob Lochmiller
Standing in for Ms. Amsden, City Engineer Mantz, and CIP Engineering Manger Lochmiller went over the
2023 capital improvement projects, some of which include the Pines Road and Mission Avenue
Intersection, Barker Road at Union Pacific Railroad Crossing, Balfour Park Improvements Phase 1,
Broadway Avenue Presentation,I-90 to Fancher, Summerfield East,and the Sullivan Park Waterline. City
Engineer Mantz gave a briefing of the Pines Road/BNSF Grade Separation project, that the project is now
fully funded, and staff is coordinating with utilities for relocations; she said the project's proposed
construction is spring of 2024.
6. Regional Homeless Update—Erik Lamb
Sitting in for Mr. Lamb, City Manager Hohman explained that before Council is the latest version of the
regional Joint Statement Collaborating for our Community;that it is his understanding that Spokane County
and the City of Spokane are fairly comfortable with the language as proposed; and Mr, Lamb incorporated
Council's comments into the draft and sent it to the individuals who have been coordinating these
discussions with the exception of the 90-day window as others feel it is important to include that to ensure
this moves forward.Mr.Hohman said each jurisdiction is satisfied with the language but no action has been
taken on this yet; he said the City of Spokane as well as the Board of County Commissioners are scheduled
to discuss this next week. Mr. Hohman recommended Council wait to see what happens at those two
meetings,and that staff will report back next week about the possibility of taking action on this issue.There
were no objections from Council.
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:02-21-2023 Page 2 of 3
Approved by Council:02-28-2023
7.Advance Agenda—Mayor Haley
Councilmember Wick suggested discussing the idea of using CenterPlace more as a community service,
and to perhaps have a different policy about its use for such things as legislative town hall meetings, with
Councilmembers Peetz and Hattenburg agreeing. Mayor Haley mentioned that some of those town hall
meetings could also be close to campaigning; and that if permitted use of the room for no cost to some, it
could be taken as showing a preference. Before and after further brief discussion, Mayor Haley asked for
consensus to place this issue on the advance agenda,and both times there were only three Councilmembers
who wished to do so,so the item will not be added.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
There were no further Council comments.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
City Manager Hohman explained that the reason there was no Council meeting last week was that several
Councilmembers and staff went to Olympia for the lobbying legislature; said there were several meetings
during that trip with Senator Padden, and others as Councilmembers and staff discussed concerns on our
legislative agenda as well as addressing the lack of funding for the North/South corridor. Mr. Hohman
thanked our Lobbyist Briahna Murray for setting up many meetings and for being the group's tour guide;
and he also extended thanks for everyone's participation and putting in long hours. Mr. Hohman said that
he received a request from Mr. Karl Otterstrom, Chief Planning and Development Officer with STA
(Spokane Transit Authority), about a letter of support for STA's Appleway Park&Ride,which will be just
east of Barker in the City of Liberty Lake. Mr. Hohman said he will get more details of the project and
exact location, that it is on STA's agenda as a Congressionally Directed Spending request, and the entire
project is likely to cost approximately $50 million; that there are many details to be worked through, and
he asked if there is any objection from Council on moving forward with such a letter. There were no
objections,however,Councilmember Wick said he would like to know more about the project.Mr.Hohman
added that the letter is due next Tuesday. Mayor Haley and Councilmember Hattenburg said that STA is
ready to get on board with the project. There were no objections from Council to send a letter of support.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
AT QQYL
Pam Haley,till
hristine Bain ridge,City Clerk
Council Meeting Minutes,Study Session:02-21-2023 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council:02-28-2023