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2024, 11-05 Formal B MeetingMINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting Formal B Format Tuesday, November 5, 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 Tim Hattenburg, Deputy Mayor Rod Higgins, Councilmember Laura Padden, Councilmember Ben Wick, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember Al Merkel, Councilmember Staff John Hohman, City Manager Erik Lamb, Deputy City Manager Kelly Konkright, City Attorney Chelsie Walls, Finance Director Tony Beattie, Sr. Deputy City Attorney Mike Basinger, Economic Development Director John Whitehead, Human Resources Director John Bottelli, Parks & Rec Director Virginia Clough, Legislative Policy Coordinator Dave Ellis, Police Chief Jill Smith, Communications Manager Matt Reeves, GIS Analyst Chad Knodel, IT Manager Marci Patterson, City Clerk INVOCATION: In the absence of a pastor, Mayor Haley asked for a moment of silence to recognize the hurricane victims. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council, staff and the audience stood for the Pledge of Allegiance with assistance from the Spokane Area Veterans Honor Guard and the VFW Post 1435. ROLL CALL: City Clerk Patterson called roll; all Councilmembers were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the agenda. SPECIAL GUESTS/PRESENTATIONS: PROCLAMATIONS: The Veterans Day Recognition proclamation was read by Mayor Haley and accepted by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Spokane Area Veterans Honor Guard Commander Rick Mattausch and Captain James R. Shively VFW Post 1435 Commander Jim Devaney. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: After Councilmember Higgins explained the process, he invited public comment. Mr. Dan Buehler, Spokane Valley provided comment. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Motion Consideration: STA Interlocal Agreement for fiber use - Kelm Konkrig_ht It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg and seconded to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Interlocal agreement authorizing the Spokane Transit Authority to use I pair of the City's dark fiber as identified in the agreement. Mr. Konkright provided an overview of the ILA and noted that he had spoken with our IT Manager and felt that allowing STA to use the fiber would not interfere with the potential Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 11-05-2024 Pagel of 3 Approved by Council: 01-28-2025 need for fiber with upcoming cameras. Mayor Haley called for public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by acclamation on the motion: in favor: Unanimous. Opposed.• None. Motion Carried. NON -ACTION ITEMS: 2. Admin Report: Valley Viewer Application Demonstration — Mike Basinger Matt Reeves Mr. Basinger provided an introduction to the program and explained the need for the application and the services it would provide to the users. Mr. Reeves provided details on how the program works and provided a demonstration video. He also explained that The Valley Viewer is an external mapping application for the public to use as a GIS program at no cost to the citizens to use and that the program is available at any time online. Council discussed the links on the program, where and when the information is updated. 3. Admin Report: Public PropeM Camping Regulations Update - John Bottelli Kelly Konkright Mr. Bottelli and Mr. Konkright provided an update to the public property camping regulations and reviewed the need to update the SVMC chapters on park regulations and regulating public camping. Mr. Konkright explained the changes in the definition to "camping" and how it was explained in the code. Council discussed where park parking lots fall within the code and what the violations would be. Consensus was provided to bring back the item as an Ordinance first reading at a later date. 4. Admin Report: Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Update — Virginia Clough Ms. Clough introduced Mark Conrad with Spokane County Emergency Management and noted that she met with council about a month ago and went over the changes that were made to the plan at the request of council. Ms. Clough explained that with the changes were implemented to the COOP and that beginning next year she would start on a more comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to address some of the additional details that were not part of the COOP. Council discussed the changes and provided consensus to return at a later date with a motion consideration. IINFORMATION ONLY: 5. Expenditures Related to Councilmember Merkel GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: General public comment rules apply. After Mayor Haley explained the process once more, she invited public comment; no comments were offered. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Merkel commented on the report regarding the expenses the city has paid relating Councilmember Merkel and that he believes it was nothing less than a tax payer reduced hit job on him and that it just lists how much money was spent was just trying to attack him. Councilmember Wick spoke about the NLC City Summit event that he will be attending. Councilmember Higgins commented that the LTAC met the previous day and that they are recommending the approval of $2.5 million for the cross course at Flora Park. Councilmember Padden spoke about the appeal hearing that Councilmember Merkel requested and she spoke about clearing the air for Councilmember Merkel claiming to be a victim. She provided details of the hearing and that the hearing was at the request of Councilmember Merkel. Councilmember Yaeger spoke about Councilmember Merkel's expenses that have been spent and could have gone to other resources within our community. Deputy Mayor Hattenburg noted that he had comments but will just agree with Councilmembers Padden and Yaeger and added that this all could have avoided if Councilmember Merkel would have acted appropriately. Mayor Haley spoke about public records requested and that by not providing them to the requestor, it is putting the city at risk for potential litigation and large fines associated with records that are not provided. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: City Manager Hohman addressed some of the public comments from earlier in the meeting and noted that the city attorney is a representative of the city and the entity of the city and does not represent individual city council members. He is to represent the city as a whole and assist with reducing the risk to the city. Mr. Hohman Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 11-05-2024 Page 2 of 3 Approved by Council: 01-28-2025 spoke more about the risk the city is facing due to the pattern of behavior by Councilmember Merkel and his incivility and continuing the risk by not following the Governance Manual or State Law. Mr. Hohman spoke about the lost productivity of the city employees and the additional costs incurred due to the risks and issues Councilmember Merkel has caused. Mr. Hohman highlighted the fact that this could all be changed immediately by complying with the law and producing the records requested. Mr. Hohman closed with a highlight and noted that the city was awarded a grant from the Department of Commerce for nearly $260,000 for the retrofits at CenterPlace. It was moved by Deputy Mayor Hattenburg, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 00 p.m. ATTEST: �� J� ft'� I i pot4m Marcl Patterson, City Clerk Pam Haley, Mayce Council Meeting Minutes, Formal: 11-05-2024 Approved by Council: 01-28-2025 Page 3 of 3 Spokane PROCLAMATION Valle.,;Oo® City of Spokane Valley, Washington Y Veterans Day Recognition WHEREAS, The 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th month of 1918, known as Armistice Day, was when major hostilities of World War I formally ended cis the Armistice with Germany went into effect, and WHEREAS, The originally observed Armistice Day evolved in 1954 into the current Veterans Day observance; and WHEREAS, Americans across our nation recognize November 11 th as Veterans Day for the special remembrance of and to honor the men and women who served and continue to serve to protect our freedom; and WHEREAS, Tens of millions ofAmericans have served and hundreds of thousands have given their lives while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during the past century, and WHEREAS, Citizens across our nation owe a great debt to those who served in defense of this nation and that throughout the generations, their sacrifices have preserved our form of government, even though for many that sacrifice ended in permanent injury or death; and WHEREAS, It is right, fitting and proper to recognize the contributions our service men and women have made and continue to make in defense of America and for what they have done and continue to do to support our great nation, and for their continued efforts to preserve and promote enduring peace around the world. WHEREAS, The new Veterans Memorial at Balfour Park was dedicated in May 2024, offering a place in our community to pause, reflect, remember and honor of all veterans. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Pam Haley, Mayor of the City of Spokane Valley, Washington, on behalf of the Spokane Valley City Councilmembers, do hereby call upon all to honor VETERANS DA Y and I urge Spokane Valley citizens to join me in thanking all veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country. Dated this 5th day of November 2024. Pam Haley, Mayor PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN -IN SHEET SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, November 5, 2024 6:00 p.m. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY #2 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. You may only speak at one of the comment opportunities, not at both public comment opportunities. NAME TOPIC YOU WILL SPEAK PLEASE PRINT ABOUT YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE O nd R l a 1G �- Z 12_, a-/ Please note that once information is entered on this form, it becomes a public record subject to public disclosure.