2023, 02-28 formal meeting minutes MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Regular Formal Meeting
Tuesday, February 28, 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 Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager
Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Bill Helbig, Community&Public Works Dir.
Laura Padden, Councilmember John Bottelli,Parks &Recreation Director
Brandi Peetz, Councilmember Tony Beattie, Sr. Deputy City Attorney
Ben Wick, Councilmember Chelsie Taylor,Finance Director
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Dave Ellis, Police Chief
Gloria Mantz, City Engineer
Robert Lochmiller, CIP Engineering Mgr.
Mike Basinger, Economic Dev. Director
John Whitehead,Human Resources Director
Emily Estes-Cross, Public Information Officer
Virginia CIough,Legislative Policy Coordinator
Nikki Kole,IT Specialist
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: Pastor Dan Shields 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 roll; all Councilmembers were present. Mayor Haley then
announced that there will be an executive session at the end of tonight's meeting to discuss potential
acquisition of real estate.
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
COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Councilmember Peetz: reported that she attended Spokane City's State of the City, which theme was
collaboration; attended the AWC (Association of Washington Cities) Action days a few weeks ago; said
there are many proposed bills which could affect our community; went to the Mental Health Task Force
meeting, said their focus is on youth and they are trying to find students in order to get some input about
local services; and she went to the Outdoor Show at Spokane.
Councilmember Padden: stated that she attended two Chamber of Commerce meetings, one was about
membership, which is doing well, however the Chamber will be losing two employees: Office Manager
Ms. Sue Rusnak who will be retiring soon, and Community Engagement and Policy Director Ms. Licett
Figueroa-Garbe;mentioned the Board of Directors retreat,which was an all-day event at CenterPlace where
they had general discussions about how to better define the Chamber to make it as helpful as possible to
local businesses.
Council Meeting Minutes,Formal: 02-28-2023 Page 1 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-14-2023
Councilmember Wick: said he also attended Spokane City's State of the City; as an 1-Ionorary Commander
at Fairchild,he attended a briefing on China,and went on a re-fueling flight; said he also attended the AWC
City Action Days with several board meetings discussing various bills; mentioned the Freight Mobility
Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) where they discussed a changed process for allocation of funds, and
that the Board met with planning organizations around the state concerning prioritizing projects,that they
will be selected as opposed to the Board issuing a call for projects.
Councilmember Woodard: mentioned the biggest concern of the COG (Continuum of Care) is how to
integrate into the regional plan and who then will be the primary person to submit to HUD; said their new
five-year plan will start in 2024; reported that the HCDAC (Housing and Community Development
Advisory Committee) has allocated $1.6 million, although there were no funds allocated to the Valley
Partners nor to the Meals on Wheels, which he said leads him to believe at some point the Valley Partners
will be asking for assistance; said he also attended the AWC Legislation Action Days, and spent a lot of
time here waiting to testify for one minute on several proposed bills.
Councilmember Hattenburg: said he also attended the State of the City as well as other events already
mentioned; said the new City Line will open July 15, although is not fully staffed, but it will serve the
Community College, downtown, and the U-District, among other areas, so it is expected there will be a lot
of student ridership; and that STA hopes to be fully staffed by May 2024.
Deputy Mayor Higgins: also noted many of the events he attended have already been discussed; said he
attended the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency where he Iearned that the EPA has lowered the threshold
for complying with PM2.5 (particulate matter)levels in the area;that the 2.5 figure is the smallest size,and
that it also relates to visibility, and the argument continues on whether to include area burning in the
calculation.
MAYOR'S REPORT
Mayor Haley said she also attended the events mentioned by other Councilmembers; regarding STA, that
when the Central City line opens,there will be service every 10 minutes up until 10:00 p.m.,and once fully
staffed,that service will continue until 11:00 p.m.
PROCLAMATIONS: nla
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: After Mayor Haley explained the process, she
invited public comments. John Harding, Spokane Valley: spoke about the incident that happened in Ohio
and that it might be an opportunity for us to learn in light of some missteps;suggests first responders should
put a plan in place if they haven't done so already. There were no other public comments.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. 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 February 28,2023,Request for Council Action Form:$3,450,078.15
b. Approval of Payroll for Pay Period ending February 15, 2023: $507,954.60
c. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of January 31, 2023 Study Session Format
d. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of February 7, 2023 Study Session Format
e. Approval of Council meeting Minutes of February 21, 2023, Study Session Format
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the Consent Agenda.
2. Resolution 23-003,20111 Anniversary Logo—Tony Beattie
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to adopt Resolution 23-003, adopting the City's
Official 20t Anniversary Logo as drafted. Standing in for Mr. Beattie, Public Information Officer Estes-
Cross explained about the City's proposed 20th Anniversary Logo. Mayor Haley invited public comment;
no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous. Opposed: none. Motion carried
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Approved by Council: 03-14-2023
3. Motion Consideration: Bid Award, Local Access Preservation Services Contract—Gloria Mantz
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins and seconded to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute
a contract with Inland Asphalt Company in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.00 for local access
preservation services. Standing in for Ms. Mantz, Mr. Lochmiller went over the information contained in
the Request for Council Action. Mayor Haley invited public comments.Mr.John Harding,Spokane Valley:
suggested the public hear more of an explanation on how this is done in order to better understand the
process.Councilmember Wick explained that this process came about from the local street program on how
to fund preservation and maintenance;that this process identifies a better savings for us as the rate is more
competitive and saves staff time as well. Vote by acclamation: in favor:unanimous. Opposed.'none. Motion
carried.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
4.Regional Homeless Update—Erik Lamb
To briefly update,Deputy City Manager Lamb explained that he learned today that it sounds like Spokane
City Council wants to participate and have each council member sign the Joint Statement; and that the
Board of County Commissioners will also participate and sign individually; he noted that we usually don't
have each member of council sign since the Council is a group, but that is up to Council's discretion. Mr.
Lamb noted that if this Joint Statement is approved, all three entities will begin work on what a regional
collaboration could look like; how to participate, and how to further identify the regional collaboration.
Councilmember Peetz asked about the mention of a public forum in the Statement, as it was her
understanding that would not be included.Mr.Lamb explained that his recollection was there was a concern
about how to have public forums within the 90-day period as providing comments limited to 90 days would
not be feasible;he said the group wanted to keep that in there;that the 90 days is more of a goal or check-
in date, and they realize not everything will likely occur in 90 days,but the intent is to have public forums.
Councilmembers agreed to be part of the Regional collaboration, all while continuing with the progress on
our own Plan, and that the Mayor will sign the Statement on behalf of Council as per the usual process.
Mr.Lamb said he will prepare the Statement for the Mayor's signature.
5. Spokane County Library District Memorandum of Understanding—Erik Lamb
Deputy City Manager Lamb went over the history leading up to this Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the Library District, including certain sections of the original and amended agreement
outlining the contributions of the City,joint use improvements, and other financial aspects of this project.
Mr. Lamb explained that the purpose of this MOU is for the parties to clearly identify the amount of the
City's monetary contribution towards the agreed-upon frontage improvements and joint site improvements
constructed by the Library District, and when that contribution will be paid. There was Council consensus
to place the MOU on a future Council agenda for motion consideration.
6.Advance Agenda—Mayor Haley
There were no suggested changes to the Advance Agenda.
7. Department Reports
The Department Reports were for information only and were not reported or discussed.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
There were no further Council comments.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
City Manager Hohman mentioned the letter of support for STA is only seeking support for its Park&Ride
on Appleway in Liberty Lake,that the STA would not be Iooking for any City contributions; he also stated
that there is another STA Park & Ride Project which will be coming in our City on the south side of I-90
Council Meeting Minutes,Formal: 02-28-2023 Page 3 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-14-2023
between Mullan and Argonne, which project, he said would work well for our project to expand the
Argonne Bridge from two to three lanes.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to
adjourn into executive session for approximately 20 minutes to discuss potential acquisition of real estate,
and that no action will be taken upon return to open session. Council adjourned into executive session at
6:55 p.m. At 7:11 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.
A f �--
rr Pam Haley,M
11
hristine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 02-28-2023 Page 4 of 4
Approved by Council: 03-14-2023