2024, 06-18 Study SessionMINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Study Session Meeting
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Mayor Haley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in person in Council Chambers,
and also remotely via Zoom meeting.
Attendance:
Councilmembers
Pam Haley, Mayor
Rod Higgins, Councilmember
Laura Padden, Councilmember
Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember
Al Merkel, Councilmember
Absent
Tim Hattenburg, Deputy Mayor
Ben Wick, Councilmember
Staff
John Hohman, City Manager
Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager
Gloria Mantz, City Services Administrator
Kelly Konkright, City Attorney
Bill Helbig, Community & PW Director
Jill Smith, Communications Manager
Dave Ellis, Police Chief
John Whitehead, HR Director
Jerremy Clark, Traffic Engineering Manager
Virginia Clough, Legislative Policy Coordinator
John Bottelli, Parks & Rec Director
Mike Basinger, Economic Development Director
Adam Jackson, Engineering Manager
Henry Allen, Senior Engineer
Justan Kinsel, IT Specialist
Marei Patterson, City Clerk
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Patterson called roll; all Councilmembers were present except for Deputy Mayor
Hattenburg and Councilmember Wick. It was moved by Councilmember Higgins, seconded and unaninrozrsly
agreed to excuse Deputy Mayor Hattenburg and Councilmember Wickfrom this evening's meeting.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Councilmember Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed
to approve the agenda.
PROCLAMATION:
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: After Mayor Haley explained the process, she
invited public comment. Ms. Barb Howard, Spokane Valley (via Zoom), Mr. Mike Dolan, Spokane Valley,
Ms. Kim Pollari, Spokane Valley and Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley all provided comments on various
topics. A point of order was stated by Councilmember Merkel regarding the parliamentarian. City Attorney
Konkright stated that public comments should be addressed to the council as a whole and not individually.
Ms. Ragina Luedke, Spokane Valley and Mr. Chuck Simpson, Spokane Valley provided comments on
various topics as well.
ACTION ITEM:
1. Public Hearing: 6 Year Transportation Improvement Program - Adam Jackson
Mayor Haley opened the public hearing at 6:25 p.m. Mr. Jackson spoke about the current six -year
transportation improvement program. Mr. Jackson detailed the projects that would be included in the
program as well as the 2025 closeout projects. Mr. Jackson briefly spoke about each of the project topics
that included the bridge & grade separation projects, intersection improvement projects,
reconstruction/preservation projects, annual arterial preservation projects, safety, sidewalk, trail and
stormwater projects. Mayor Haley invited public comment. Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley and Mr.
Chuck Simpson, Spokane Valley provided comments. Council questioned the need for some of the projects
and costs associated with the projects. Mayor Haley closed the public hearing at 6:37 p.m.
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 06-18-2024 Page I of 3
Approved by Council: 08-13-2024
2. Resolution 24-011: 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program — Adam Jackson
It was moved by Councilmember Higgins and seconded to approve Resolution 24-011, adopting the 2025-
2030 Six -Year TIP as presented. Mr. Jackson noted that the information provided in the previous discussion
was everything that would be included in the approval of the six year TIP. Vote by acclamation: in favor:
Mayor Haley, Councilmembers Yaeger, Padden and Higgins. Opposed' Councilmember Merkel. Motion
carried.
3. Motion Consideration: Memorial Sign Program - Jerremy Clarlc
It was proved by Councilmember Higgins and seconded to approve the adoption of a Memorial Sign Policy
and accompanying fees to add to the Master Fee Schedide for the yearly update. Mr. Clark provided a
PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the criteria for the signs, the cost associated with the signs, the
program process and the updated information for the Master Fee Schedule, Mayor Haley invited public
comment. Mr. Mike Dolan, Spokane Valley provided comment. Vote by acclamation: in favor: unanimous.
Opposed: none. Motion carried
NON -ACTION ITEMS:
4. Admin Report: Potential Grant Opportunity -- Transportation Improvement Board — Adam Jackson
Mr. Jackson discussed a potential grant opportunity with the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). Mr.
Jackson explained the background of TIB, the TIB funding, and the recommended projects. Those projects
included the Urban Arterial Program (UAP) - Argonne Concrete (Indiana - Knox), Active Transportation
Program (ATP) - Sullivan sidewalks (8th-16th) & potential crossing near 12'�', and the Complete Streets
(CSP) - Barker/8th roundabout. Council discussed the funding for the projects and how the projects would
be submitted. A point of order was presented, the Mayor asked to state the point. Councilmember Merkel
stated that noting that he was running for office during a meeting was violating the governance manual.
Mayor Haley sought assistance from the city attorney and requested the Governance Manual to review.
Mayor Haley noted that she would take a 15-minute recess to confer with the city attorney.
Recess was called at 7:15pm for 15 minutes and that the meeting would resume at 7: 30prn.
Upon return from the recess, city attorney Konkright reviewed the governance manual and noted that
speaking about an election during a meeting is codified in RCW 42.17A.555 and that statute is incorporated
into the council conduct standards. That statute prevents the use of public resources from being used for
election purposes. Mr. Konkright also noted that Mayor Haley should recuse herself as she is also seeking
office. Mayor Haley recused herself from the decision of the point of order and requested a "Mayor Pro
Tom" to be chosen for the decision of the point of order.
It was moved by Councilmember Merkel and seconded to appoint Councilmember Padden as Mayor Pro
Tem for the ruling on the point oforder item. Vote by acclamation: in favor: Councilmember Yaeger, Higgins
and Merkel. Opposed: none. Motion carried.
Mayor Pro Tern Padden ruled that the statement made by Councihnernber° Higgins was not far or against
Councilmember Merkel and that the statement was neutral. It was simply stated that Councilmember Merkel
was running for office and without hearing the exact wording, that would he her ruling.
Councilmember Merkel requested an appeal and with no second, the appeal did not move forward.
Mayor Haley stepped back as the presiding officer for the meeting.
Mr. Jackson requested consensus to return at a later meeting with a motion to move forward with the grant
request. Council provided consensus for the grant item to come forward as a motion at a later meeting.
5. Admin Report: Solid Waste Program — Bill Helbig
Mr. Helbig opened the discussion with a review of the current contract for the solid waste program for
transfer, transport and disposal. Mr. Helbig detailed the history of solid waste disposal management within
the city and provided information on the plan that is currently in place for solid waste. Currently, there are
two providers, Sunshine Disposal and Spokane County that meet the criteria for the needs of the city. The
Ivey agreement considerations that were reviewed in the request for information were the current and future
rates, current and future waste handling capacity, solid waste program management, and the term of the
agreement. Staff provided all the details of the request for information to council and requested that council
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 06-18-2024 Page 2 of 3
Approved by Council: 08-13-2024
review the documents and return at a later date to speak with each of the providers and ask any pertinent
questions of the providers at that tune in order to determine the provider for the disposal contract. Mr. Helbig
noted that the important elements to consider included: contract type, proposed rates for each provider, flow
control issues, final garbage disposal location, transfer station capacity concerns, types of waste at the facility
customer service opportunities, and education and outreach efforts. Council discussed a number of the
considerations and looked forward to speaking with the providers at a future council meeting.
8. Advance Agenda — Mayor Haley
Councilmember Merkel stated he had received a number of complaints regarding smells along Sprague Ave
and requested a smell ordinance. City Manager Hohman suggested the complaints be submitted to staff for
fiirther review and that there may be something that can be done about it at a staff level.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Merkel spoke about SCRAPS and read a letter regarding a dog bite from an aggressive dog.
Mayor Haley provided clarification on the current copiers that the city uses and noted that we are on the
state contract and that our prices are very competitive for the copies and copiers. Mayor Haley also stated
that the city will not be closing the pools and that was only a brief conversation that took place during the
budget meeting last week.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
Mr. Hohman reminded council that city hall would be closed the next day for the observation of the
Juneteenth holiday.
It was moved by Coitneilmember- Higgins, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting was
adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
ATTEST:
MarA Patterson, City Clerk
Pam Haley, Mayor-)
Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 06-18-2024
Approved by Council: 08-13-2024
Page 3 of 3
PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN -IN SHEET
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
6:00 p.m.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY
Please sign up to speak for up to THREE minutes and the Mayor will afford the public the opportunity to
speak. The public comment opportunity is limited to a maximum of 45 minutes.
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