2003, 07-10 Special Joint Council/BOCC Meeting Minutes- a'
Mayor Michael DeVleming called the special joint meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Attendance:
Spokane Valley
Michael DeVleming, Mayor
Diana Wilhite, Deputy Mayor
Dick Denenny, Councilmember
Mike Flanigan, Councilmember
Rich Munson, Councilmember
Gary Schimmels, Councilmember
Dave Mercier, City Manager
Nina Regor, Deputy City Manager
Stanley Schwartz, City Attorney
Marina Sukup, Comm. Dev. Dir
Dick Warren, interim Public Works
Neil Kersten, Public Works Dir.
Steve Worley, Sr. Engineer
Dick Thiel, City Engineer
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
SPOKANE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
And
SPOKANE VALLEY CiTY COUNCIL
July 10, 2003
Phillip Harris, Commissioner Chair
Kate McCaslin, Commissioner
John Roskelley, Commissioner
James Emacio, Attorney
Bruce Rawls, Utilities Director
Kevin Cook
Dir.
Agenda:
I. Sewer fund reserves
2. Financial modeling for wastewater improvements
3. Subsidies for sewer rates and charges
4. Options for adjusting future rates and charges
Spokane County Others
Tracey Dunlap, Financial Consul.
Bill Gothmann, Planning Comm
Bruce Rawls explained his PowerPoint presentation on "Wastewater Financing" (see attached).
Interspersed through and after the presentation, there ensued much discussion about the topic including
current and future rate calculations, projected expenditures to finish the septic elimination program and
overall expenditures, debt service and rate of re- payment, new developments, cash to be used toward
improvements, and reserves. Commissioner McCaslin discussed some of the options and said the county
would like to get feedback on the City's preferences: charge the new customers and increase the GFC's
by 55.00 and have the new customers bare the brunt of plant construction; or charge everyone for it, or
have some type of blend. She stated from a policy standpoint that is what needs to be decided in the
future. Commissioner McCaslin said she favors a blend of those alternatives, although she is not sure
what that blend would precisely be; she also stated she has difficulty in raising monthly rates from $4.00
to 57.70 and is confident that were to occur, all those concerned with the policy making would get calls
from numerous irate customers. Commissioner Roskelley stated he too prefers a blend and is also not
sure what percentage to assign to whom. Commissioner Harris said the reason why we are all here is to
work hard to protect and preserve the quality of the water, and that he hopes Spokane Valley and the
County can have a plant together. Rawls said the decision needs to be made on how best to proceed and
suggested the City deliberate and then send the County a letter of intention, or schedule another time to
jointly meet again. Mayor DeVleming stated it is too early to make a decision on how best to deal with
Council Minutes 07 -10 -03 Page 1 oft
Approved by Council; 07- 22-03
this issue, and that there is a significant amount of information to digest, analyze, and then determine the
next step. City Manager Mercier added that the City seeks clarity on proportionally issues on the sales
tax and needs to understand that better, and that it would be helpful to have comparative scenarios that
reflects lower cost, such as the 1.5% versus the 5.7% rate scenario, and that might help suggest which
gaps need to be closed and how to balance a blend.
Mayor DeVleming thanked all those for attending and thanked the County for their presentation. The
meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
'Ii istine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Michael DeVleming, May 6r
Council Minutes 07 -I0 -03 Pagc 2 of 2
Approved by Council: 07 -22 -03