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2024, 06-25 Formal MeetingMINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting Formal Format Tuesday, June 25, 2024 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 Pam Haley, Mayor Laura Padden, Councilmember Tim Hattenburg, Deputy Mayor Rod Higgins, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember AI Merkel, Councilmember Ben Wick, Councilmember Staff John Hohman, City Manager Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager Gloria Mantz, City Services Administrator Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director John Bottelli, Parks & Rec Director Kelly Konkright, City Attorney Jill Smith, Communications Manager Tony Beattie, Sr. Deputy City Attorney Sean Walter, Assistant Police Chief Mike Basinger, Economic Development Director John Whitehead, HR Director Virginia Clough, Legislative Policy Coordinator Kendall May, Recreation Coordinator Christa Crago, Parks & Rec Specialist Chad Knodel, IT Manager Marei Patterson, City Clerk INVOCATION: Zack Reiber with United Methodist Church gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, staff and the audience stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL City Clerk Patterson called the roll; all Councilmembers were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg to approve the amended agenda, seconded and agreed unanimously. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS n/a COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Councilmember Yae er: attended the Coffee with a Cop event, the AWC business meeting virtually and attend the Felts Field neighbor day event. Councilmember Padden: attended the Felts Field neighbor day event and provided a chamber board meeting update. Councilmember Higgins: stated he attended the Clean Air meeting and they are currently looking for a new Executive Director. Councilmember Wick: attended the AWC annual conference and provided details on the conference. Councilmember Merkel: stated he had an Opioid Abatement Council meeting and an OAC round table meeting as well. Deputy Mayor Hattenburg: attended the AWC annual conference and the Fairy Festival located at 4"' and Dishman Mica. MAYOR'S REPORT Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 06-25-2024 Pagel of 3 Approved by Council: 08-I3-2024 The Mayor attended F1yFest, and STA Board meeting, a transit planning public meeting and spoke at a VFW convention. PROCLAMATIONS: July Parks and Recreation Month Mayor Haley read the Proclamation for July Parks and Recreation Month. Christa Crago, Parks and Recreation Specialist accepted the proclamation and provided an update on the Go Play Campaign that was running for the summer. Ms. Crago also provided details on the parks passports that would be handed out as part of the campaign. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: After Mayor Haley explained the process, she invited comments from the public. Mr. Mike Dolan, Spokane Valley; Mr. Dan Allison, Spokane Valley; and Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley all provided general 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 A, -en . a. Approval of Claim Vouchers, June 25, 2024, Request for Council Action Form: $3,584,534.52. b. Approval of Payroll for Pay Period ending May 31, 2024: $794,936.21. c. Approval of Payroll for Pay Period ending June 15, 2024: $553,228,56. d. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of February 6, 2024 e. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2024 f. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of February 20, 2024 g. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2024 h. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of May 14, 2024 i. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2024 j. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of May 28, 2024 k. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes of June 11, 2024 It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the Consent Agenda. Deputy Mayor H.attenburg requested to add July 5` as a holiday for all employees. Council noted that it would be a one time holiday addition. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg, seconded and unanimously agreed to add July 5"' as a holiday for all employees. ADMINISTRATIVE 1 EPORTS: 2. Admin Report: Continuity of Operations PIan COOP Review - Virginia Clough Mark Conrad Ms. Clough provided a PowerPoint presentation that detailed the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). Ms. Clough reviewed the current interlocal agreement with Spokane County that was renewed for three years in May of 2023. Mr. Mark Conrad, Planning Coordinator with Spokane County Emergency Management provided additional details on the interlocal agreement. Ms. Clough then went into details on the background, the objectives of the COOP, the purpose of having a COOP and the next steps that the city may take to approve the COOP document. Ms. Clough reviewed the overview of the emergency plans and where the COOP lands within the family of all the plans. Ms. Clough also provided examples of the COOP incidents and then reviewed the objectives of our specific plan, the purpose of our plan, and detailed the next steps for adopting the plan. Council questioned the role that they would have in the COOP and when the COOP would be available for review. 3. Admin Report: Restricted Revenues - Capi#al Projects Discussion - Chelsie Taylor Chelsic Taylor, Finance Director provided a PowerPoint presentation that included a definition of what is a restriction. She detailed the current restricted revenue sources, capital projects to include, Real Estate Excise Taxes (REST), Stormwater Fees, Aquifer Protection Area Fees, Lodging Taxes, and Grants and Matching Funds. Ms. Taylor reviewed the examples of sources of restrictions and noted that the use of Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 06-25-2024 Page 2 of 3 Approved by Council: 08-13-2024 restricted funds is audited by the State Auditor's Office annually. Ms. Taylor provided details on the BEET funds and how the funds are assessed and calculated for the city and that the city generally uses the funds for match on grant funded street projects and for city Rinded preservation projects. Funds for BEET 2 are only available to jurisdictions planning under the GMA and REET 2 is generally more restrictive than BEET 1 and are typically more specifically directed to infi-astructure and parks capital projects. Ms. Taylor reviewed the Stormwater Utility bees and stated that the rates are adopted as part of the fee resolution and went over the aquifer protection area fees. There was also a review of the lodging taxes and how they are assessed and what the funding is used for. Ms. Taylor reviewed the grants and matching funds as well. City Manager Hohman stated that there appeared to be some misinformation as there is a lot in the community to be cleared up and that this is a much deeper dive on the restricted funds for public information. 4. Advance Agenda -- Mayor Haley Councihnember Merkel requested that Avista come present and clear up issues regarding any rolling blackouts as he noted were reported in the newspaper. There was not consensus to move the item forward. Councilmember Merkel requested a discussion on the opioid funding options and that council should move forward with presentation options. City Manager Hohman stated that there was currently a discussion item coming forward on the advance agenda within the next few meetings. INFORMATION ONLY (will not be reported or discussed) 5. Department Monthly Reports 6. Fire Dept Monthly Report COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Merkel stated that this was a waste of a meeting and that there are very important topics such as policing, SCRAPS, very important topics. He stated he does not just wait and have wasted meetings. Councilmember Higgins commented on the investigation of Councilmember Merkel and that he has a letter to the US Attorney and the FBI and invited any other councilmembers to sign the letter if they so choose. Councilmember Yaeger stated that she did not believe that the meeting was a waste of time and noted that there were many items on the advance agenda that were being moved forward. Mayor Haley stated that she agreed there are new challenges bringing items forward and noted that she has always believed that police, public safety, police pay and vehicles have been a priority with her and the rest of council. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS City Manager Hohman stated that he spent the day in Bellingham with the representatives of our region to review Measure One previously on the ballot. Whatcom County stated it was their 3rd attempt as well to put forward the jail issue on their ballot. There was a discussion regarding the plan to get the ballot measure passed and if council would like, staff can add a presentation to a future agenda. Consensus was provided to add that item to the future agenda. City Manager Hohman also noted that there would be no meeting next week due to the holiday. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. ATTEST: Marci katterson, City Clerk QoNN— Pam Haley, May r Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 06-25-2024 Approved by Council: 08-13-2024 Page 3 of 3 PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN -IN SHEET SPOI(ANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, June 25, 2024 6: QO p.m. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY Please sign up to spear 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. NAME PLEASE PRINT TOPIC YOU WILL SPEAK ABOUT YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE po v L,�:P� Aww �a?VA) r' A ZI/AJ �F n Please note that once information is uttered on this fornt, it becomes a public recordsubject to public disclosure. "TY®kane Sl� ,,;ooO Valley- J)rorfalnattfon City of Spokane vaffey, Washington 'arks and Wscreation 912onth WHEREAS, Parks and recreation activities provide opportunities for citizens of all ages to grow and develop into contributing members of their communities; and WHEREAS, Parks and recreation programs strengthen the community, foster individual growth, and increase cultural diversity; and WHEREAS, Parks and recreation programs provide outlets for physical activities, socialization and stress -reducing experiences; and WHEREAS, Parks, playgrounds, nature trails, open spaces, aquatic facilities, senior and event centers make our community an attractive and desirable place to live, work, play and visit which contributes to our economic vitality; and WHEREAS, Parks, greenways and open spaces provide a welcome respite from our fast - paced, high-tech lifestyles while protecting and preserving our natural environment; and WHEREAS, Thousands of Spokane valley children, adults and seniors benefit from the wide range of services, facilities, and programs provided by the Spokane valley Parks and Recreation Department. NOW, THEREFORE, I Pam Haley, Mayor of the City of Spokane Valley, on behalf of the Spokane Valley City Council and the citizens of the City of Spokane Valley, do hereby proclaim the month of July, 2024 as Parks and Recreation Month and I encourage all citizens to participate in and support the many recreational programs and facilities provided by public and private agencies. Dated this 251h day of June, 2024. Pam Haley, Mayor_ Ms. Vanessa R. Waldref United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington 920 W. Riverside Ave, Ste. 340 Spokane, WA 99201 Agent Christian Parker SAC Federal Bureau of Investigation 601 W. Riverside Ave., #200 Spokane, WA 99201 June 25, 2024 Dear Ms. Waldref and Agent Parker, On June 4, 2024, Private Investigator Ted Pulver, in the Public Comment segment of Spokane Valley's City Council meeting, made public the findings of his investigation into the background of Spokane Valley City Councilman Albert Merkel. A partial list of his results as published follows: A review of Mr. Merkel's published employment resume shows false/ misleading background/employment statements confirmed by taped interviews with business and supposed colleagues. Past and present female coworkers have complained of Merkel's behavior and filed workplace complaints or sued. Others are preparing to file suits against Merkel's current and past employers. The Washington Human Rights Commission has been investigating Mr. Merkel and his past employer, Sequoia Detox Center, for 3 years! r Merkel's last employer, Sequia Detox Center, in the last month, settled a harassment suit in Spokane Superior Court brought by a female co- worker for approximately $100,000. Merkel was fired from Sequoia after an audit discovered a substantial six figure shortage. Merkel has been accused by the current CEO of Spokane Valley's Sequoia Detox Center of fraud, extortion, female abuse, and theft of funds paid to the business from the Federal Government. These charges are confirmed by interviews with � government authorities and taped interviews conducted by Mr. Pulver. Merkel's business associates have claimed they were "fooled" by him to take and benefit from theft of federal and business funds and have confessed to those actions on tape to Mr. Pulver. Mr. Merkel is accused of verbally, and by physical action, attempting to extort a Spokane Valley small business (Sequoia) for money and employment by claiming that through his position as a community leader he can/will close down the business. This information has been or is being communicated to federal, state, and local authorities. Ted Pulver is reputed to be an extremely competent private investigator. As such, his report must be taken seriously. The City of Spokane Valley does not have law enforcement powers or resources to pursue an investigation into all of these very serious allegations. However, it is extremely important that they be conclusively investigated to ensure that the employees, citizens, and businesses in the City of Spokane Valley are protected. Therefore, the City of Spokane Valley is requesting that the U.S. Attorneys office, through the FBI, continue this investigation to its conclusion. Respectfully, Rod Higgins Tim Hattenberg Laura Padden Jessica Yeager Councilman Deputy Mayor Councilwoman Councilwoman Cc: Office of the Washington State Attorney General Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney