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2003, 08-19 Study Session MinutesAttendance: Councilmembers: Michael DeVleming, Mayor Dick Denenny, Councilmember Mike Flanigan, Councilmember Richard Munson, Councilmember Gary Schimmels, Councilmember Steve Taylor, Councilmember Absent: Deputy Mayor Diana Wilhite, Excused MINUTES City of Spokane Valley City Council Study Session August 19, 2003, 6:00 p.m. Staff: David Mercier, City Manager Nina Regor, Deputy City Manager Cary Driskell, Deputy City Attorney Ken Thompson, Finance Director Mike Jackson, Parks & Recreation Dir. Cal Walker, Police Chief Marina Sukup, Comm Development Dir. Tom Scholtens, Building Official Neal Kersten, Public Works Director Steve Worley, Senior Engineer Finance Department Staff Kathy Cummings, Permit Specialist Sue Pearson, Deputy City Clerk Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk Mayor DeVleming opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m., welcomed all in attendance, reminded everyone that this is a study session and there will be no public comments, and requested that all electronic devices be turned off for the duration of the meeting. Employee Introductions: City Manager Mercier introduced Finance Director Ken Thompson, who introduced his staff: Courtney Moore, graduate of Eastern Washington University; Dan Cenis, who has an accounting degree and is a CPA, was a member of the interim team and agreed to stay; and Accounting Technician Ellen Avery (who could not attend tonight) who was also an interim team member staying on. Tom Scholtens then introduced new building permit specialist Kathy Cummings, who formerly worked for Spokane County. NW Christian Schools: Foundation Chair Steven Trefts and School Headmaster Jack Hancock explained that they are the management section of the school and manage this and other properties. They explained that our rent goes directly to offset student tuition at the schools. They said they also act as the Board of Directors for their Thrift Store, and are involved with the actual foundation investments to invest the assets they manage, and most important they are involved in planned giving, which is the encouragement of people to remember NW Christian Schools through their estate planning. They concluded with a message of thanks and encouraged others to name the charity of their choice through estate planning. Housekeeping Item: It was moved by Mayor DeVleming and seconded by Councilmember Munson to excuse Deputy Mayor Wilhite from tonight's meeting. Vote by Acclamation: Unanimous. Motion carried. 1. D.A.R.E. Status Report: Chief Walker gave some historical background information on the D.A.R.E. Program and then highlighted his August 8, 2003 memo. Chief Walker explained that he examined the D.A.R.E. Program and traffic issues, and moved those manpowers back into the patrol level service position; that he hears continued positive comments from the community; crime is down with a Study Session Minutes 08 -19 -03 Page 1 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 08 -26 -03 tremendous drop in robbery, and that is a result of the new presence of officers. Chief Walker went over funds needed to teach D.A.R.E. in the schools, and discussed other financial issues and alternatives, including the option of developing community resource officers. Chief Walker said he believes there are three choices: (1) add two people and continue the program at a cost of over $200,000; (2) remove existing personnel off the street and lose the impact at that level; or (3) look at alternatives to see if there are other solutions. Chief Walker said he feels with the decrease in crime and the community noticing the positive affects of the police presence, he can't justify moving anyone into a D.A.R.E. program. Chief Walker asked for council direction. Chief Walker said there are school resource officials, and the difference is the resource officers do not go into grade schools whereas D.A.R.E. officers do; and that school resource officers are assigned to a school district. Chief Walker mentioned there will be three resource officers coming on this school season, he said there are a number of districts which do not use D.A.R.E and he believes there is no law mandating such; that the program is more than drug awareness as it also strives to teach life and decision making skills. It was the consensus of Council that staff contact the school districts and have them give us a presentation concerning D.A.R.E. needs and the State requirements for drug education, and what would happen if there were no D.A.R.E. program; and to also have staff and the police department explore training and funding options. 2. Proposed Resolution Vacating Old and Granting New Easement: Deputy City Attorney Driskell explained that the property at 3715 South Woodruff was recently sold and in the process, it was discovered that there is an access easement along the north 15 feet of the property to allow the City access to a storm drainage. The storm drainage runs behind several properties and when the residence was constructed, it was built within approximately seven feet of the property line, blocking the access easement. The new owners wanted to make sure the City still has access to the storm drainage and offered to vacate the existing 15 -foot easement and grant a new 15 -foot easement on the south property line. Deputy Attorney Driskell added that he will be drafting a general resolution to provide authority to the City Manager in cases such as these, so these issues will not come to Council on a regular basis. It was Council consensus to put this item on the next Council agenda. 3. Proposed Zoning Code Compliance Ordinance: Deputy City Attorney Driskell explained the proposal as stated in his August 19, 2003 cover memo; adding that this has been presented to the Planning Commission and that Commission recommendation adoption. The Planning Commission recommended getting a judicial abatement order prior to entry onto private property if there would be no voluntary abatement; WCIA and MRSC also recommended that change and that is incorporated into this ordinance. Councilmember Munson mentioned a discrepancy in amounts on the table on page 3 (monetary penalties up to $1,000) and the table in the Planning Commission (penalties up to $5,000). Driskell said the amount should be $5,000. Discussion turned to receipt of written or telephone complaints, and City Manager Mercier said staff will work on the language to make clear they (staff) can exercise discretion on similar problems and provide latitude on how best to respond. It was also mentioned that currently staff responds to all complaints. Councilmember Schimmels also brought up protection of the person complaining and not disclosing names. Driskell said if a matter were to be brought before a hearing, they have the option of having the name concealed. It was consensus of Council to place this matter on the next council meeting. Mayor DeVleming called for a recess at 7:05 p.m.; he reconvened the meeting at 7:12 p.m. 4. Citizen Participation Plan: Community Development Director Sukup explained that a Public Participation Program is a necessary first step in initiating the City's Comprehensive Plan; that the intent is to integrate and adopt the proposed program within the Plan. Director Sukup said the proposals meet or exceed statute requirements. She also mentioned the need for a statistically balanced survey rather than a survey of every household in the Valley, and will later ask council what type of survey they prefer, and to Study Session Minutes 08 -19 -03 Page 2 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 08 -26 -03 determine what questions to ask. She added that statute requires early and continued public involvement and staff will keep a log of all intended work; that she would like to have the survey distributed before the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Director Sukup also mentioned she recommends use of an outside firm to do the survey and that the State Department of Procurement has a list of prequalified survey firms that we can use at specific rates. City Manager Mercier suggested Council focus on identifying what they want to learn from the community, and then the professional survey firm will draft the questions. It was Council consensus to place this on the September 9 council agenda for adoption. 5. Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element: Community Development Director Sukup went through her PowerPoint presentation discussing the Transportation Element of the Plan and RCW 36.70A, Growth Management Act. She stated that the city will be developing its Plan under the provisions of the Growth Management Act and the Countywide Planning policies. She mentioned the transportation element is tied closely to the Land Use element. Also presented was the history of traffic counts performed by the Spokane County at high volume locations, which counts actually showed a decrease in use in several locations. Councilmember Munson stated it would be helpful to have a repository of information that council can refer to, and Director Sukup stated she will start to put such a library together. Economic impact of the transportation element was also discussed and City Manager Mercier said staff will continue to add to this plan as we review all elements, and dealing with economic issues will be a part of those continuing discussions. 6. Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) Applications: Public Works Director Neil Kersten and Senior Engineer Steve Worley gave an overview of the applications and mentioned that applications process is due to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) by August 29, 2003. Director Kersten mentioned that the Barker Road Bridge project was submitted by the county last fall prior to incorporation; and the Barker Road Reconstruction Project from Boone Avenue to the Spokane River is the remaining unfunded project to be submitted this year. Public Works is also working with the County to consider an application for a Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Program grant for the 24 Avenue Sidewalk Project, which consists of sidewalk construction along Bowdish Road between 22 Avenue and 24 Avenue, and along the north side of 24 Avenue between Bowdish and Pines Road. It was also mentioned that today's presentation is informational only and if a grant is awarded, both the grant acceptance and the local match funding proposal will come before Council for consideration. 7. Wastewater Issues: Discussion ensued regarding wastewater issues and the recently held Department of Ecology Meeting. City Manager Mercier mentioned that City of Spokane Councilmember Rob Higgins indicated he felt the reason the meeting was not well attended by their councilmembers was that the meeting notice was not circulated to them with enough advance notice so as not to interfere with other plans already set, and that Mr. Higgins asked City Manager Mercier to convey that message to Council. City Manager Mercier reported that after that DOE meeting, the technical staff of the three organizations will continue to meet and sort through the technical options available. It was also consensus at the DOE meeting to have DOE follow -up meetings in about two weeks, although no word has yet been received on a meeting date. Several constraints were identified by those in attendance, and they were going to go back to their governments and sort them out; the DOE would also try to determine if there will be a different standard of monitoring discharge if there is evidence that a regional partnership could best manage the discharge to the river. Public Works Director Kersten added that the technical meeting is set for Thursday and at that meeting site concerns will be addressed. City Manager Mercier said we are looking at capacity issues as opposed to other governance issues, and that it might be in everyone's best interest to have another session facilitated by DOE. The pros and cons of joint ownership and of reasons (or not) to explore that issue were then discussed in length; also discussed was making a decision whether to move forward with the project, project site, participation by the City of Spokane, permitting availability if no regional approach (and of perhaps pressing DOE for better response), data on the river and river analysis, and of setting a time limit for a response from Spokane City. It was determined that the Study Session Minutes 08 -19 -03 Page 3 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 08 -26 -03 1 technical staff will contact DOE this week to determine if a date can be set for a meeting next week, and after the meeting, a letter can be sent to the City of Spokane to ascertain their interest in the project. 8. Advance Agenda Additions: Councilmember Munson stated he received e-mail suggesting postponement of the discussion on the parks issue until after the County's next meeting; but that he feels postponement is not in the best interest of the City. City Manager Mercier summarized a conversation he had with Francine Boxer regarding clarifying the comp plan for construction management and design oversight on Centerplace project and Mirabeau Park, and that these matters will be considered by the County at their Tuesday meeting; and that he feels it might be premature to list these items on our agenda before the County's determination. After further brief discussion, it was determined to remove the items from next week's agenda, but to add to that agenda a briefing on the outcome of the County's meeting. 9. City Manager Comments: City Manager Mercier discussed his upcoming meetings with the Washington Association of City Managers in Winthrop; and of upcoming State Agency Public Works Trust Fund Board possible grants for our city for next year. Mr. Mercier also asked for policy clarification on medical coverage on a pro -rata basis for a permanent half -time position. It was council consensus that if the plan provides the opportunity and it doesn't violate any previous provision, the offer should be extended to cover half of the medical premium. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m. ATTEST: ..- ristine Bainbridge, lristine City Clerk Q-a, ., 1..._.) Michael DeVleming Mayor Michael DeVleming, Mayor Study Session Minutes 08 -19 -03 Page 4 of 4 Date Approved by Council: 08 -26 -03