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2007, 05-29 Special Study Session MinutesMINUTES Special Study Session Meeting City Council Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6:00 p.m. Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers 11707 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA. Attendance. City of Spokane Valley Mayor Wilhite Deputy Mayor Taylor Councilmember DeVleming Councilmember Gothmann Councilmember Munson Councilmember Schimmels Absent: Councilmember Denenny Mayor Wilhite called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. City Staff City Manager Dave Mercier Deputy City Manager Nina Regor City Attorney Mike Connelly Police Chief Rick VanLeuven Parks & Rec Director Mike Jackson Senior Planner Scott Kuhta Senior Engineer Steve Worley Planning Manager Greg McCormick Public Information Officer Carolbelle Branch Public Works Director Neil Kersten Finance Director Ken Thompson City Clerk Chris Bainbridge ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called roll. All Councilmembers were present except Councilmember Denenny. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor, seconded and unanimously agreed to excuse Councilmember Denenny from tonight's meeting. Agenda Item: 1. Sprague - Appleway Revitalization Plan Senior Planner Kuhta gave an overview of discussion points of the Revitalization Plan, including the Plan adoption schedule; public hearing information; City Center options and consultants; City Hall space needs, timing, cost, and the idea of shared use with the Library and /or Fire District; possible development incentives such as tax increment financing, multi - family tax abatement zones, or SEPA /EIS planned action ordinance, which is a tool for communities to attract development at a specific area by enacting development incentives; extra consultant services and associated cost estimates, and auto row issues such as implementation of the plan with the dealers' participation; and he mentioned that he presents this information now to provide the setting for Council's upcoming retreat this Saturday where more detailed discussion can take place. Mr. Kuhta said that Freedman, Tung and Bottomley (FTB) are working on getting the plan ready for distribution, that the plan will come to us in an administrative draft form which staff will review to ensure correct nomenclature, and that staff will schedule the Plan for public review and hearings, including orientation sessions from FTB as they take staff and the public through the document. Afterwards, Mr. Kuhta explained, Council will need to decide how to move forward with the project. Mr. Kuhta said that the public hearings will likely be held before the Planning Commission some time during late summer; then the Plan will get to Council with the intent of adopting the Plan by the end of the year; and that FTB normally won't merely drop off the Plan, but they will propose some optional plans for consideration depending on what we need; that FTB could also make further presentations to Council and if changes were made, FTB would edit the changes per Council direction. Mr. Kuhta said he feels that would be an invaluable service and worthy of Council consideration, and that he estimates the Special Council Study Session Meeting May 29, 2007 Page 1 of 4 Approved by City Council: 06 -26 -07 cost of such would be between $35,000 and $45,000; but any changes could be tailored as Council directs. Councilmember Munson said that he would like to find out what it would cost to develop a two -page insert in the local newspapers, of what the City could look like. Mr. Kuhta responded that FTB has all the graphics, and he would find out what FTB would charge and if Council deemed appropriate, he feels inserts in the newspaper would be very effective. Councilmember Gothmann added that it might be good for FTB to see what media method would be most effective as we work to keep the public informed. Mr. Kuhta also mentioned that Studio Cascade would also be a good source of assistance in such endeavor. Additional issues were discussed including travel costs for FTB to do presentations, changes in text and graphics; whether to have FTB or a local group such as Studio Cascade do such presentation; that the idea of having a newspaper insert should be explored; perhaps Studio Cascade could do some work, FTB could do some, and staff could do some; that this project is now the responsibility of Council to promote to the public. Mr. Kuhta said that last October when the Planning Consultant made a presentation, we were given three options: (1) identify the site, zone for a city center; or (2) zone it then do some public improvements like street scapes, parks and wait for the market to react; or (3) the home run approach to do all that, attempt to assemble the land, then issue a developer request for proposal (RFP) and get a developer capable of doing a new town center all at once; and Mr. Kuhta said that when Freedman asked Council which direction they preferred, they were directed to explore option 3; and therefore we hired ClearPath as real estate advisor. Mr. Kuhta also said that Mr. Freeman suggested we hire a second consultant so staff contacted Bob Gibbs, a town center planning consultant who will help determine the viability of developing a mixed -use City center; that Mr. Gibbs is reviewing reports prepared by ECONorthwest, including a pro -forma for the City Center, which was included with this council packet information. Mr. Kuhta said that report should be completed after this week; and in talking with ClearPath, they believe we need to get "in- step" with the Library District. Several Councilmembers expressed a desire not to lose the Library District and to do what we can to ensure that district is a part of the City Center; but it was mentioned that the Library District needs a site, and therefore, we must determine how to get them a site by September. Mr. Kuhta mentioned that Fire Chief Thompson has expressed some interest in the possibility of locating their administrative offices in the City Center; but that the Fire District Board has not decided on that issue. Mr. Kuhta stated that when the project moves forward, there will be a significant impact on staff and he wants council to be aware it will take one or two dedicated staff for such an endeavor. Mr. Mercier added that a section of next Saturday's agenda deals with the business plan, which is an ideas list but doesn't include any legislative decisions as we don't know what expense might be associated with that yet. Further discussion included issues associated with capital improvements, such as city parks, public spaces; the need to understand the retail environment; market study on shopping habits; that we don't want just a retail operation and don't want another mall; the idea of having regional retail to draw in local people such as local coffee shops; that it is not Council's role to determine which stores to include in the Center; the idea of including residential; to include the historical and /or artistic community, perhaps a performing arts center; how to structure such a center for a developer, financing, bonding, and other financial commitments to consider such as tax increment financing; the City putting in the infrastructure; development costs; civic goals; and the mention that development along the corridor comply with existing regulations. Mayor Wilhite called for a recess at 7:05 p.m., and reconvened the meeting at 7:14 p.m. Special Council Study Session Meeting May 29, 2007 Page 2 of 4 Approved by City Council: 06 -26 -07 Engineer Worley then brought Council attention to Mr. Worley's May 25, 2007 Informational Memo as an aid to explain some of the transportation issues to consider in conjunction with this project. After going over his memorandum, further discussion was held concerning conversion of the existing one -way couplet between Argonne Road /Dishman -Mica Road and University Road to two, two -way streets; the extension of Appleway Avenue from University Road to beyond Sullivan as a two -lane, two -way residential boulevard; reducing Sprague Avenue from seven lanes to five lanes east of University Road and the timing of each aspect. Mr. Worley said that the request on the MTP is the entire corridor; and construction can be done in phases. Mr. Worley also mentioned that if Council desires to change the proposal as noted in the memorandum, staff would need that decision by June 15 to give SRTC time to do an air quality analysis on the proposal and have the results ready to be included in that Board's packets by July 2. The regional traffic model was also discussed, and Mr. Worley said that the transportation modeling for the Plan was based on the "interim" regional traffic model completed in late 2005. The issue of intersections and capacity was also discussed, as well as projected growth, bike lanes, sidewalks; speed limits to gain the highest number of traffic passing through and /or slowing traffic through the City Center; rapid transit or light rail potential; acquiring additional right -of -way on Appleway; whether there has been ample public input or if there is need for further public input, and if further public hearings should be scheduled, and if so, when those should take place. The idea of further presentations to Council was also brought up, and it was suggested that Council should have a list of the pros and cons of keeping the road as is, or reversing back to two -ways. Mr. Kuhta mentioned that if further public hearings will be held, he suggests educating the public prior to such hearings, to unveil the Plan and go out to the community to explain what it means; then schedule any public hearing. The motion made at the Council's previous meeting concerning the Spokane Regional Metropolitan Transportation Plan, was discussed and there was some disagreement on what exactly that motion was. Staff will research that and have the answer by the next Council meeting. Mr. Worley recommended that Gladding Jackson perform another analysis, and as soon as we get the regional model, to give them the results, then they can go through and re- evaluate and compare that to what we are recommending now; but that no scope has been developed for that work yet, but such could be done between now and time the model is received. Council concurred and said they want to know costs. Mayor Wilhite recommend moving forward with the three bulleted items in the proposal for the MTP and the TIB while we wait to see how long it takes for SRTC to come up with the new model, and to have staff report back as to what progress has been made. 2. Executive Session: Pending Litigation — Land Acquisition It was moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor and seconded to adjourn into Executive Session for forty minutes regarding pending litigation and land acquisition, and that there may be a decision made regarding land acquisition upon return to regular open session. Mayor Wilhite announced that Council will take a five - minute break prior to convening the Executive Session; and Council left open session at 8:15 p.m. Mayor Wilhite declared Council out of Executive Session at 8:39 p.m. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor, seconded, and unanimously agreed to authorize the City Manager or designee to continue negotiations and make an offer to purchase for park purposes, property located at 17721 East Boone, Spokane Valley, as is set forth in the attached offer dated May 29, 2007; subject to the approval of final documents by the City Council. Special Council Study Session Meeting May 29, 2007 Page 3 of 4 Approved by City Council: 06 -26 -07 It was then moved by Deputy Mayor Taylor, seconded, and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. ATTES Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk Dt_ct W d(i Diana Wilhite, Mayor Special Council Study Session Meeting May 29, 2007 Page 4 of 4 Approved by City Council: 06 -26 -07 Spokane Valley May 29, 2007 Joe and Karla Ruddach 17721 East Boone Avenue Spokane Valley, WA 99016 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ruddach: DRAFT Re: Potential ierrns of sale of your property to Spokane Valley 11707 E Sprague Ave Suite 106 • Spokane Valley WA 99206 509.921.1000 • Fax: 509.921.1008 • cityhaU @spokanevalley.org I have appreciated the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the potential for the City of Spokane Valley to purchase the 4.26 acres of property adjacent to your home. I have attached a line drawing identifying the property as it would look following the transaction, if we find mutually agreeable terms. The City previously offered you the appraised value of the land only, which was $55,000 per acre. You rejected that offer, and we discussed various options that might be considered by the parties. Based on our discussions, the City would like to extend the following tentative offer for this property, which .must be approved by the City Council before it can become binding. The primary terms would be as follows: - A sales price for the 4.23 acres of $310,000; - You would keep the manufactured home and pole barn on the property, which would both have lb be removed no later than June 1, 2009; - You would lease the south 135 feet of the property from the City for $100.00 per year, and your father, Mr. Ed Lehman, would continue to live on that portion of the property until no later than June 1, 2009. As the leaseholder, you would be required to maintain property liability insurance policy in the amount of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate minimum coverage. Generally this takes the form of an umbrella policy, and the City's insurer advises that this costs around $200 per year for the additional coverage; and • - The City will complete a boundary line adjustment that would reduce the lot size from its current size of 4.47 acres to 4.26, with that portion being reduced being added to parcel number 55182.1 520 (your residence), bringing that property from .21 acres to .42 acres. If you find this offer acceptable, please sign below and return by Friday, June 1, 2007. 1 would then seek final approval by the City Council. If you have any questions, please call me at 688- 0040. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Mike Jackson • Spokane Valley Parks and Recreations Director ivlJ /pd Enc. c: Dave Mercier, City Manager Cary P. Driskcll, Deputy City Attorney Acceptance of Tentative Offer. Karla Ruddach