Loading...
2024, 07-30 Study SessionMINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Study Session Meeting Tuesday, July 30, 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. Atte►rdattce: Councilrnernbers Pam Haley, Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Deputy Mayor Rod Higgins, Councilmember Laura Padden, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember Al Merkel, Councilmember Ben Wick, Councilmember Staff Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director Gloria Mantz, City Services Administrator Kelly Konkright, City Attorney Tony Beattie, Sr. Deputy City Attorney Bill Helbig, Community & PW Director Jill Smith, Communications Manager John Bottelli, Parks & Rec Director Scan Walter, Assistant Police Chief Mike Basinger, Economic Dev. Director John Whitehead, Human Resources Director Jenny Nickerson, Building Official Virginia Clough, Legislative Policy Coordinator Lori Barlow, Senior Planner Eric Robison, Housing & Homeless Coordinator Saran Farr, Accounting & Finance Program Mngr Patricia Rhoades, Deputy City Clerk Miguel Aguirre, IT Specialist Chad Knodel, IT Manager Marci Patterson, City Clerk ROLL CALL: City Clerk Patterson called roll; all Councilmembers were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was moved by Deputy 11ayor Hatteuburg, seeo►tcled and townimously agreed to approve the agenda. PROCLAMATION: National Aright Out, Spokane Valley NH0V1,4►rniversmy, Purple Heart City Mayor Haley read the Proclamation for National Night Out and Ms. Griffin with SCOPE accepted the proclamation. Councilmember Yaeger read the Proclamation for Spokane Valley NHCW/Anniversary and Ms. Shockley French with CHAS accepted the proclamation and spoke about the community health centers in our area. Deputy Mayor Hattenburg read the Proclamation for the Purple Heart City and gentlemen with the VFW Post 1435 accepted the proclamation and explained the purple heart medals. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: After Mayor Haley explained the process, she invited public comment. Ms. Barb Howard, Spokane Valley (via Zoom), Mr. Greg Jeffreys, Spokane Valley, Mr. John Harding, Spokane Valley, Mr. Erik Lowe, Spokane Valley and Mr. Rick Freier, Spokane Valley all provided comments on various topics. ACTION ITEM: I. Ordinance 24-011: Second Reading - Street Vacation STV-2024-0002 -- Lori Barlow After- City Clerk Patterson read the Ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy rllayor Hatle►tburg a►rd seco►tded to approve Ordinance #.24-011, Ms. Barlow briefly reviewed the street vacation request and noted that there had not been any changes or comments since the previous meeting. Vote by acclamallon. in favor: unanimous. Opposed.- none. 1116tton carried. Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 07-30-2024 Page ( of 4 Approved by Council: 09-24-2024 NON -ACTION ITEMS: 2. Admin Report: Lithitnu-Ion Battery Discussion - Erik Lamb, Jenny Nickerson, Ken Johnson Ms. Nickerson opened the discussion with brief introduction of Deputy Fire Marshall Johnson, from the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Mr. Johnson presented a PowerPoint that included the non -biased analysis, understanding the batteries and telly the fires start, what the environmental impacts are (chernical release, water contamination, and long-term effects), community impacts (safety hazards, liealth risks, economic impact), examples of incidents (Coeur d'Alene police department equipment storage building fire 6/9/2024 & West side I-90 semi fire 7/9/2024), showed video of a damaged battery and how fast it caught fire, challenges for firefighting (extinguishing EV fires, specialized training/equipment), mitigation and safety nicasures (vehicle design/engineering, regulatory standards, public awareness/training), regulatory standards (NFPA 800 Battery Safety Code, WA State Fire Marshall's Office), advances in technology (battery innovations, emergency response tools), and Battery Smart Spokane (buy smart, charge smart, store smart, dispose smart). Council offered numerous questions that included resources for agencies, opportunities to work with other agencies for safety and education of the batteries, hots to properly dispose of such batteries, and an overview of the disposal sites in our community. 3. Admin Report.- Family Promise Update — Sarali Farr Eric Robison Joe Ader Ms. Farr introduced Mr. Ader, Executive Director of Family Promise. Mr. Ader discussed a detailed PowerPoint presentation that included FLASH program (Fast Leasing and Sustainable Housing), School based Dousing, flow fast can Family Promise get families moused, timeline, funding, Best Practice Intervention Chart, projections and actualities (25 projected families, actual families 52 families). Mr. Ader also discussed the success of the FLASH program in comparison with shelter as it is more cost effective, more trauma informed, ftmding attached to family and not the program, flexible funding, and early id/intervention means sheltering is greatly reduced. Council discussed the need for finding housing quickly, the funding for programs, keeping families housed, who lobbies for the funding, and fundraising efforts. 4. Admin Report: Reclaim Update --- Gloria Mantz, Sarah Farr, Kenny Carlson Ms. Farr introduced Mr. Carlson, Executive Director of Reclaim. Mr. Carlson opened the conversation with some background oil Reclaims and a PowerPoint presentation that included information on the hone -base facility and programs, the Fiddy CIub thrift store that has created 13 jobs with long -terns sustainability, workforce development, and current activities. Mr. Carlson also provided details on the property acquired on Trent and anticipate first occupancy in January 2025. Council also discussed the ability to enforce the proposed fees and regulations. Council discussed the collaboration with the city oil contracts for services, the need for the work programs and the success of the programs. It was moved by Alayor Haley and seconded to take a bivakftom 8: 00 p. tut. to 8:11 p. m. Vote ley acclamation: in favor: unaidnious. Opposed: none. 1fol on ca1•r•ied. 5. Admin Re ort: Partners Inland Northwest Update — Gloria Mantz Sarah Farr Cal Coblentz Ms. Farr introduced Mr. Coblentz, Chief Executive Officer for Partners Inland Northwest. Mr. Coblentz gave an update oil the current facility and the success of their programs. He also provided details oil the new facility that is currently being used for storage as they navigate the new layout and updates that need to be done to the building before they call move into it. Mr. Coblentz also noted the rise in need in our local community for the Partners Inland Northwest services. Council discussed the new facility and costs associated with the new location, 6. Admin Report: Performing Arts Center U )date -- Sarah Farr Marnie Rorholm Ms. Farr introduced Dr. Rorholm, Director of Development for the Spokane Valley Sumner Theatre. Dr. Rorholm spoke about what they are currently doing, a construction project update, information oil the conservatory, and an update on patron spending statistics. Dr. Rorholm stated that the construction is in progress, 17% of construction has been completed, steel beans are coming next, many of the materials are being store oil site and they are working with a new contractor. They are currently set to occupy ill the Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 07-30-2024 Page 2 of 4 Approved by Council: 09-24-2024 summer of 2025 with a grand opening in fall of 2025. Council discussed the current construction and when it will resume and what phase one would include. It was moved hj� Councilmember Yaeger aitd seconded to extend the cotaicil meeling by 40 minutes. Dote by acclamation: in favor: unclnimous. Opposed.' Hone. Motion carried. 7. Admin. Report: Council pals & riorities for use of Lod in Tax -- Sarah Farr Ms. Farr and Ms. Taylor provided an update on the current funding for the lodging tax and the 2% portion (fiend 105) and a 1.3% portion (fund 104). Currently the 2025 budget show about $900,000 for the 2% portion and the estimate for the 1.3% portion is $600,000. Three options for City Council: 1. Approving all, 2. Not approving any, 3. Make suggested changes to the plan (LTAC has 45 days to review the changes). Ms. Farr noted the suggested use for 2025 awards to include capital expenditures for tourism ($2.5 mil), Marketing and operation of special events and festivals ($178,000), and marketing and operation of tourism facilities (owned/operated by non-profit/niunicipalities) ($161,000). Council spoke about concerns with frilly finding each project versus partially finding projects, the funding for CenterPlace, the application process for the applicants and the overall process for the funding for the applicants. Ms. Taylor noted that she and her staff have enough information to make some changes and come back on the 13th of August with another admin report. 8. Admin Report: Potential Grant Opportunity - Energy Efficiency Retrofit - Gloria Mantz Ms. Mantz opened the discussion with a PowerPoint presentation that included background information on the new clean building laws, the clean building requirements, budget impacts regarding the requirements, the State Department of Commerce grant opportunity and funding. Ms. Mantz spoke about the city buildings that qualify for the clean building laws and that CenterPlace is in need of updates and repairs that may qualify for the grant funding opporttnity. Grant applications are due September 25, 2024 and the potential award is between $100,000 up to $1 million. Ms. Mantz did note that there is a minimum match of 15%, but CenterPlace qualifies for a 5% match if awarded any funding. Council discussed the requirements to meet the new standards. Consensus was provided to allow Ms. Mantz to return at a later date with a motion to apply for the grant funds. It was moved by Councilmember Yaeger and seconded to extend the council meeting by 30 iiiimaes. Vote by cicclaincition: infavor: unaninious. Opposed.' noire. 11folion carried 9. Advance Agenda — Moor Haley Councilmember Padden requested looking into having staff develop standards or policies around the lithium - ion batteries. There was consensus to add that item to the advance agenda. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember Merkel expressed his frustration with tonight's reports. Mayor Haley noted that the funding for the projects reported on this evening were one time money and the city wanted to highlight opportunities that would be beneficial to the citizens of our city and felt that Nvas accomplished with the funding that was provided to the entities that presented. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS Mr. Lamb, Deputy City Manager noted that there would not be a council meeting the next week due to National Night Out events and that council members would be attending those events. Mr. Lamb also stated that the Pines and Mission project was slated to be completed August 1. Mr. Lamb requested that they adjourn into Executive Session for 10 minutes for pending litigation. Executive Session: It uws moved by Deputy 11layor Hattenburg, seconded and to adjourn into executive session for IO minutes to discuss pending litigation, cind that no action aril/ be taken upon return to open session. Vote by acclamation: ni,favor: 1llayoi- Haley, Deputy 1 1aj�or Hattenburg, Councllmenihers Higgins, Yaeger, TVick and Padded. Opposed: Councilmember Alerkel. 1 16tion carried Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 07-30-2024 Page 3 of 4 Approved by Council: 09-24-2024 Mayor Haley stated that Executive Sessions do not need to be on the agenda and can be called during the meetings.. Council adjourned into executive session at 9: 1 p.m. At 9:50p.m. Deputy AlayOr Hatlellburg requested all additional 5 luiuutes of Executive Session, Al 9: 55 p. in. Deputy llfTvr Hatteuburg declared Council oilt of executive .session, at which Bute it was moved by Deputy-1layor .1lattenburg, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. ATTEST: q� Pam Haley, Mayor Mar* tterson, City Cleric Council Meeting Minutes, Study Session: 07-30-2024 Page 4 of 4 Approved by Council: 09-24-2024 CIT Spiokane toll .;oOValle ° VvOttamat' City of Spokane V affey, Washington Nattona0l'eafth Center Week WHEREAS, Community Health Centers provide high -duality, affordable, comprehensive healthcare in our nation's medically underserved communities, having a significant impact on America's healthcare system; and WHEREAS, Every day, Community Health Centers develop new approaches to integrating a wide range of services beyond primm y care, including oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and mobile services, to provide comprehensive care, allowing each community rnernber to thrive; and WHEREAS, One in every eleven people in the United States gets their care at a Community Health Center; and WHEREAS, This year, CHAS Health is celebrating 30 years as a Community Health Center serving Spokane County and beyond, growing f{om a two -exam -room clinic in downtown Spokane to serving over I11, 000 patients in 2023; and WHEREAS, CHAS Health employs over 1,800 people including providers, clinical support staff, community health workers, apprentices, administrative staff, and more; and WHEREAS, The Community Health Center model continues to prove effective as a means of overcoming barriers to healthcare access, including geography, income, and insurance status -- improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare system costs; and WHEREAS, National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to celebrate America's more than 1,400 Community Health Center organizations like CHAS Health. We honor their dedicated staff and board members for their vital role in shaping the past, present, and future ofArnerica's healthcare system. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Pain Haley, Allayor of the City of Spokane Malley, on behalf of the Spokane Malley City Council and the citizens of the City of Spokane Valley, do hereby proclaim August 4-10, 2024, as National Health Center Week and I encourage all citizens to participate in this week by visiting a Community Health Center near them and celebrating this vital partnership between CHAS Health and the City of Spokane Malley. Dated this 30'h day of July, 2024. Pain Haley, Mayor Spokane �OValley$ Procfamation NationaCNzght Out Against Crime City of Spokane Val%y Washington WHEREAS: National Night Out was founded in 1981 by Matt Peskin, Executive Director of the National Association of Town Watch; and was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice as a crime prevention program that emphasizes building a partnership between the police and the community; and WHEREAS: Matt Peskin's dedication to the development, maintenance, and promotion of community watch programs led to the creation of the highly successful National Night Out, which takes place annually on the first Tuesday of August; and WHEREAS: The National Night Out campaign provides an opportunity for city neighbors to take part in National Night Out along with over 38 million other neighbors across 16 thousand communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide; and WHEREAS: National Night Out is a community -building campaign that promotes police - community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work; and WHEREAS: Neighbors in our city will be assisting the local law enforcement agency through community -building efforts as they join to support National Night Out; and WHEREAS: We support, applaud, and look forward to this annual event where neighbors can come together with police and work together to build a safer; more caring community. NOW, THEREFORE, IT, Pam Daley, 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 Tuesday, August 6, 2024, as NATIONAL NIGHT OUT in the City of Spokane Valley, and I urge our citizens to join in the celebration of and support for National Night Out. Signed this 30rh day of July 2024. Pam Haley, Mayor PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN -IN SHEET SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, July 30, 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. NAME PLEASE PRINT TOPIC YOU WILL ,SPEAK ABOUT YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE )(2 "ac Li Please mole that once information is entered on this form, it becomes a public record subject to public disclosure. Mard Patterson From: Patrick Miranne <patrickmiranne@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2024 4:29 PM To, Council Meeting Public Comment Subject: City Council Meeting [EXTERNAL] This email originated outside the City of Spokane Valley. Always use caution when opening attachments or clicking links. Proposal for multi -use zoning, and improved biking infrastructure. Dear City Hall Board Members, I have been a resident of Spokane Valley for 27 years. I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention two crucial initiatives that, if implemented, could significantly enhance our city`s livability and sustainability: multi -use zoning and improved biking infrastructure. Firstly, adopting multi -use zoning policies would revolutionize how our city develops and functions. By integrating residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within the same area, we can create vibrant neighborhoods where residents can live, work, and play in close proximity. This not only reduces commuting times and traffic congestion but also fosters a stronger sense of community and local economy. Secondly, enhancing our biking infrastructure is essential for promoting sustainable transportation and improving public health. Investing in dedicated bike lanes, secure bike parking facilities, and interconnected biking routes would encourage more residents to choose cycling as a viable alternative to driving. This not only reduces carbon emissions but also alleviates parking pressures and promotes a healthier lifestyle among our citizens. Together, these initiatives have the potential to transform our city into a more inclusive, environmentally friendly, and economically vibrant place to live. By prioritizing multi -use zoning and biking infrastructure improvements, we can attract new businesses, retain young professionals, and enhance overall quality of life for all residents. urge you to consider these proposals seriously and allocate resources towards their implementation. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these ideas furtherwith you at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Bets regarding, Patrick Miranne Marci Patterson From: Sherri Robinson <ionaceltic@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 5:19 PM To: City Council Subject: Public Safety and Vision - Please read for Public Comments [EXTERNAL] This email originated outside the City of Spokane Valley. Always use caution when opening attachments or clicking links. Dear Members of the City Council, First of all, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Planning Commission for 3 years. As a member of the Planning Commission, I had the opportunity to work with the staff and experience the goals for better lives for all residents of the City of Spokane Valley. The process is long and never ending. I have seen the completion of the Appleway Trail, the Sensory Park at Center Place, the remodel of Brown's Park, and the completion of the Main Library and Balfour Park Complex. Outstanding work! Public safety and the pursuit of happiness is not just crime reduction. Pedestrian deaths have dramatically increased since the pandemic. Public safety is being able to cross a road to attend an event sponsored by the Main library on Sprague. Public safety is children riding their bikes to school and not be in traffic. Safety is families pushing strollers in the evening on sidewalks and veterans in wheelchairs getting on accessible bus stops by the grocery stores. Citizens want clean drinking water and streets that don't flood in winter. 43,000 people die in automobile accidents per year. Citizens want to get in the car and return home. Sidewalks with access, stormwater mitigation, traffic calming measures like reduced traffic lanes with lights in the crosswalk, pedestrian islands, bike lanes with signage, and traffic circles are things that make life safer for all citizens. Increased access to parks and paths promotes healthier citizens. Events Like farmer's markets, concerts, sports competitions, summer reading programs in the park, splash pads, dog parks, picnic tables for groups all promote community health and happiness by reducing social isolationand sedentary behavior. Thank you for servant leadership giving up every Tuesday night and multiple days to attend meetings and events to represent the citizens of the City of Spokane Valley. Most Sincerely, Sherri Robinson 3416 S. Fox Court Spokane Valley, WA 99206 509-927-4931 City of Spokane Valley Meeting 7-30-2024 Subject; Purple Heart Proclamation My name is Darren Hughes, I am a born and raised Spokane Valley Resident. Did I know as a child of the sixties, watching film clips on the news of the Vietnam War, that I one day would be a 26 year 7 month and 13 day retired U. S. Army Veteran? No I did not. I thank the City of Spokane Valley for the Awesome Military Area Dedicated this passed May just across the Street and am here to give a brief Statement. The Purple Heart Medal is the oldest medal for Meritorious and Valorous Service. Established by General George Washington on 7 August 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit. Only 3 where known to be awarded. The Award was forgotten for 150 years, when U. S. Army Chief of Staff, Douglas Mc Aurther dusted off the aged award proclamation and issued General Order #3 renaming the Badge of Military Merit to be forever known as the Purple Heart Medal for Meritorious and Valorous Service with the a new criteria for Wounds Received in Action with Enemy Forces of the United States. This was a U. S. Army Award at that time. Before WWII 78,000 Purple Heart Medals were awarded going back as far as the Civil War. In 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt Authorized the U. S. Navy to Award the Medal to any Navy, Marine or Coast Guardsman retroactive to December 7th 1941, and we all know what happened on this date. Good Evening, My name is Erik Lowe and I'm a stay-at-home dad residing in Spokane Valley. Last week, I attended the Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors meeting. At that meeting, there was a brief presentation on ridership and sales tax revenue from various jurisdictions. Mayor Haley, you spoke at length about how it was unfair that Spokane Valley residents pay so much into the PTBA and get so little out of it. I agree. It is unfair that Spokane Valley residents don't have better access to transit. Where Mayor Haley and I would differ is who is responsible for that lack of access. A month or two ago, I was here to plead with this body to pay just a potion of the costs associated with a pedestrian -focused redesign of Flora, a redesign that this body acknowledged will have to happen sooner or later anyway. This body declined to seek grant funding because they wanted more money for "public safety". Great. Now we don't have a study and you still don't have enough police. The reason STA doesn't provide more service to Spokane Valley is because it's not an efficient use of transit resources. Spokane Valley was constructed after the advent of the automobile, it's got wide, sprawling streets and extremely low housing densities. If you want more transit, you need to have more people near the bus lines. To give you a concrete example, I've also provided the comments I provided to STA's board at their June meeting. Spokane Valley's land use and transportation policies are directly responsible for why it does not have sufficient bus service. You cannot get frequent transit with low cost and low densities, it's logistically impossible. The lack of service is a failure of Spokane Valley's leadership, not Spokane Transit's. Good Afternoon, My name is Erik Lowe, and I am a stay-at-home dad residing in Spokane Valley. Last month, STA staff sent you home with some assigned reading, Human Ransit, by Jarrett Walker. Walker lays a compelling case for many of the improvements and practices already utilized by this agency. The importance of service frequency and networks is well established in STA's current practices and, more importantly, in its future plans. Spokane County has begun its comprehensive plan update process and with it, an opportunity for all of us to think bigger in how we plan the future of our region. Economic development has the opportunity to boom along transit corridors, provided your zoning allows for densification and mixed uses. For example, my primary bus line is the 74, soon to become the 7. In Liberty Lake, the 7 will pass the southern portion of the mixed -use River District, and what remains along Mission is zoned commercial, mixed -use, or multifamily. In Spokane Valley, on the other hand, almost all the land along Mission is zoned single-family. It's not until Flora that there's any density. I'm no economics major, but I'd imagine the city brings in substantially more in both property taxes from the apartments themselves than the equivalent land area of single-family homes to the east of Flora. Actually, let's do the math a bit! Bella Tess Phase 1, Corner of Indiana Parkway and Flora — 9.55 Acres, Brought in over $350,000 in property taxes last year. Directly across Flora, there's a collection of 6 2022-built duplexes all owned by Urbanite Properties — 1.76 Acres (18% of Bella Tess), Brought in about $33,000 in property taxes last year. 5.55*$33,000 = $183,150 This one zoning difference results in over $160,000 in unrealized property tax revenue, annually. Mission Avenue is getting developed, but with car -centric, low -density uses that cost the city more on a per unit basis, return substantially less in property taxes, and accomplish less in addressing our housing crisis. I encourage all of you to follow the City of Spokane's lead to upzone your respective jurisdictions and remove parking requirements along transit corridors. These corridors are already high traffic areas, upzoning provides the density necessary to allow STA to provide the frequency necessary to encourage people out of their cars and into buses. CERT BASIC COURSE November 19-21, 2024 8AM—SPM Seventh-Day Adventist Church Fellowship Hall 1601 S Sullivan Rd in Spokane Valley CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Teams. CERT members are all volunteers. CERT teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that can happen in their communities. When you join CERT, you help play an important role before, during and after an emergency or disaster. CERT volunteers learn basic disaster response skills, team organization, fire safety protocol and light search and rescue. Your skills can aid community members when professional first responders may not be immediately available. It also frees up professional first responders to focus on complex and critical tasks. This course is FREE, but class size is limited to the first 50 people, It is open to anyone from the age of 11 to 100. It is a great way to serve the community, or just learn the skills to help yourself and family members. TO REGISTER: contact the WA State CERT Coordinator, Celso Rangel before the closing date of October 31, 2024 by emailing Celso: celso.rangel@ofm.wa.gov Some of what you will learn: Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness Unit 2: CERT Organization Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations 1 Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations 2 Unit 5: Disaster Psychology Unit 5: Fire Safety and Utility Controls Unit 7: Light Search and Rescue Unit 8: Terrorism and CERT Unit 9: Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation Exercise DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) What is DART? DART stands for Disaster Assistance Response Team and was started to encourage more volunteer participation during major emergencies and disasters. If you sign up for DART, you will be contacted in advance of a potential emergency or disaster (i.e: to be on standby during an event that has the potential to result in a disaster), or following a major emergency or disaster when volunteers are needed. You will also be notified of trainings. What is the goal of DART? The more people who have diverse skills and are signed up to volunteer, the easier it will be to reach out and request assistance in times of need. NOTE: if you sign up for DART; you are not require to assist in a disaster —it just makes it easier for us to contact you to see whether you are interested and available. Why is DART needed? When disaster strikes, we need to know what volunteers are available and what they are capable of doing. By connecting with volunteers in advance, we learn about their qualifications, as well as other skills and interests. In addition, it enables us to do a background check in advance, which expedites the volunteer check -in process during an incident. NOTE. Volunteers can only porforn? limited tasks during an incident if they have not had a background check. Who is eligible to be a member of DART? Any individual who is 18 years of age or older (individuals age 12-17 must have signed approval by a parent or legal guardian). All applicants must fill out an application, possess a valid driver's license or slate issued ID, and pass a background check by the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. What are the training requirements? Volunteers, once approved, are asked to complete the following training to understand how incidence response is handled locally and nationally FEMA IS 100 and 700 (free online training) FEMA IS 200 and 800 (free online training) —recommended Introduction to Emergency Management and being air Emergency Worker (classroom training). Note: if necessary, this training might be on the job training" at the volunteer check -in location during an incident. IMPORTANT: once you have passed the background check, you are an official emergency worker. You will receive a vest and ID at your first incident check -in. Please note: per federal regulations, emergency workers are not allowed to volunteer in any area that is beyond their level of training or experience. For Current Volunteers: 1) SAR, MLST, ARES, ACS, HEART, and MRC volunteers, as well as SCSO Chaplains, are all pre -qualified for DART. Team leads will be contacted if there is a need. 2) SCOPE volunteers (including SIRT) are also pre -qualified pending approval by the Director of SCOPE; however, completion of the FEMA online training is encouraged. Training Opportunities Diverse trainings will be made available to DART volunteers and volunteers will be notified via email about the details. Online Application If you have questions; Call Simone Ramel-Mckay at (500) 417-3006 or via entail-