2012, 07-17 Study Session Minutes MINUTES
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
STUDY SESSION FORMAT
Spokane Valley City Hall Council Chambers
Spokane Valley,Washington
July 17,2012 6:00 p.m.
Attendance:
Councilmembers Staff
Torn Towey, Mayor Mike Jackson, City Manager
Gary Schimmels,Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Dean Grafos, Councilmember Mike Stone, Parks& Recreation Director
Brenda Grasse], Councilmember John Hohman, Community Development Dir
Chuck Hafner, Councilmember Scott Kuhta,Planning Manager
Ben Wick, Councilmember Mike Basinger, Senior Planner
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Steve Worley, Senior Engineer
Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Henry Allen,Development Engineer
Carolbelle Branch,Public Information Officer
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Mayor Towey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Councilmembers were present.
1. Draft Development Agreement for Comprehensive Plan Amendment CPA 05-12—Mike Basinger
Senior Planner Basinger briefly explained the proposal and the negotiated terms of the draft development
agreement; said he met with a neighbor who lives on a parcel above the area who expressed concern
about not having a buffer between his property and the proposed area. Mr. Basinger said he spoke to the
developer about adding a 40' buffer in the area in question and the developer agreed, and said that will be
included in the development agreement; and said staff and the applicant feel the development agreement
mitigates any concerns. There was mention of the main access off Broadway and Mr. Basinger explained
that the developer intends to make it his focal point, although one cannot guarantee which access people
will use. It was also noted that there would not be a locked emergency fire access gate. There were no
objections to bringing this forward next week for the public hearing as scheduled.
2. Transportation Improvement board Call for Projects--Steve Worley
Senior Engineer Worley explained that this is the latest call for projects and applications are due the end
of August. He said the program has changed a little, that criteria used for the two different programs will
be combined into a single application and each project will be evaluated based on two categories: safety
and economic development. Mr. Worley said they examined several different recommendations and
determined to submit just one application, for additional funding for the Sullivan Bridge; and said this
decision was based on Council's priorities, and that the project is the most logical; he said any award
would not cover the entire remaining needed funds as the grants are likely between one and two million
dollars; and said we could use the already awarded federal funds as a match. There were no objections to
staff bringing this back as a motion consideration.
3. Graffiti Update—Cary Driskell
City Attorney Driskell gave a history on how graffiti is abated, and of the City's process, including the
involvement of SCOPE volunteers; he stressed in an effort not to re-victimize citizens, if someone is
unable to remove the graffiti, that work could be accomplished via the Juvenile Court's community
service provisions. Mr. Driskell said the graffiti program appears to be successful and is working well. It
Council Study Session Minutes 07-17-12 Page 1 of 3
Approved by Council:07-24-12
was also noted that the "Be Graffiti Free" brochure is available through a link on the City's website.
Mayor Towey and Council thanked Mr. Driskell for the information, and extended thanks to the SCOPE
volunteers for their work,
4. Shoreline Master Program(SMP)Goals and Policies--Lori Barlow
Community Development Director Hohman stated that due to the volume of information, this topic will
be split into two meetings; he said the Planning Commission addressed this topic for six meetings, and
tonight is just an introduction to the goals and policies. Senior Planner Barlow noted that tonight's focus
will be on the process in preparation for the next discussion; and via her PowerPoint presentation,
explained the steps taken and those which will be taken in the future as Council reviews the documents;
she said development of these goals and policies have been underway for a considerable time; and that
staff and Attorney Tadas Kisielius feel they adequately protect the citizens. Ms. Barlow noted that the
goals and policies have been modified to reflect the latest guidance from the Department of Ecology.
Senior Planner Barlow discussed mining,the policy for docks,how some sections of the river are flowing
while others are more lake-like so therefore some areas would be more conducive to docks while others
more conducive to observation platforms; she said the Planning Commission ended their review by
recommending council approval of the policies as amended; and said the goals and policies were
developed by looking at our specific conditions, based on law, discussed with the Shoreline advisory
Group, reviewed by the Planning Commission, and reviewed by staff; and said Council will also have the
opportunity to modify,those goals and policies. Planner Barlow stressed that it is not staff's intent to go
into the goals and policies detail tonight, that staff realizes there is a large amount of information, and
staff asks Council to keep in mind that the program must be consistent with these policies and standards
in order to be approved by the Department of Ecology.
Senior Planner Barlow's PowerPoint presentation also included the three basic policies of the SMA
(Shoreline Management Act); she stressed that the area regulated by the SMP is different from a setback
or buffer but simply identifies that there is another layer of regulations that apply; that there is no 200'
setback, but there are things that can or cannot occur within those 200'; she went over the relationship
between goals, policies and regulations, discussed elements of the goals and policies including the three
added elements of utilities,restoration, and critical areas and said staff felt it would be best to identify the
specific elements to help identify those regulations and to include utilities so that it would be consistent
with our comprehensive plan. Ms. Barlow explained that the Shoreline use element is broken into two
more specific categories of use and modification activities; she explained the "Attachments" matrix and
the comment table, and said the table will help explain the chart and references specific comments made
through the course of the public review, including legal counsel's opinion and response to those
comments; and said ultimately another column will be added to indicate the Planning Commission's final
action in regard to that particular goal or policy. Councilmember Woodard asked if any of the goals or
policies are stricter than what is required by law, and Ms. Barlow said that Attorney Kisielius identified
which ones he felt were more restrictive and she said in most cases, the Planning Commission directed
staff to go back and re-work those issues. Councilmember Woodard asked if these policies will affect the
entire City or just those critical areas associated with the river, and Ms.Barlow said they would not affect
the entire city; and said staff is reviewing the critical areas to see how it matches up with the"no net loss"
directive.
Ms. Barlow explained the next steps, and said we will take as much time as needed; that the grants
agreements were finalized last January and we are now carrying out some of those key pieces, one of
which is a public access plan, which she explained, will come before Council as a separate piece for
review; and said she hopes to have the initial draft by the end of July, but before it gets to Council it will
be taken through the technical review group, then the public for an open house, then the Planning
Commission,and then Council.
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Approved by Council:07-24-12
Staff was commended for their work on this project, and for including all the information in an easy-to-
read format; and Mayor Towey said the minutes of the Planning Commission are especially helpful as he
reads the Commission's questions and staff's answers.
5.Advance Agenda—Mayor Towey
Mayor Towey asked if there were any suggestions for changing the advance agenda, and none were
given.
6. Council Check-in—Mayor Towey
Mayor Towey said that he is involved with a multi jurisdictional meeting with representatives from
Washington State Department of Transportation, the City of Spokane, City of Liberty Lake, Spokane
County, the Downtown Spokane Partnership, and our City, and said that Community Development
Director Hohman was also in attendance; and that the focus of the meetings was a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) concerning a community enhancement area or gateway for Interstate 90 from the
Airport to the State Line, with a common theme of welcoming visitors to our areas; he said this is just in
the planning stage, but aligns with what we are trying to do in our own gateway theme; that each
jurisdiction would have their own identity in attempts to attract people off I-90 and into their city; and
said as soon as he receives a final draft, he will share that with members of the Council so that Council
can discuss this idea and determine if we want to participate; and said there are some grants that might be
used for this purpose as well.
7. City Manager Comments—Mike Jackson
City Manager Jackson reminded Council that the Request for Proposals for animal control is due this
Friday; and that next Monday a team of staff members will begin reviewing the proposals. Mr. Jackson
also confirmed that the graffiti brochure is available on the City's website under the Police Department;
and explained that Mr. Worley informed him that there will be a delay on the north segment of the
Evergreen Project due to a water line problem; and that staff and the contractor decided to move on the
south half so that the entire segment will be underway at once, because if they wait for the testing of the
water line, it will delay the entire project. Mr.Jackson said people will still be able to access the area, and
staff is informing the neighborhood.
There being no further business, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously
agreed to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
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hristine Bainbri ge, ity Clerk
Council Study Session Minutes 07-17-12 Page 3 of 3
Approved by Council:07-24-12