2012, 11-13 Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Regular Meeting
Formal Meeting Format
Tuesday, November 13,2012
Mayor Towey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Attendance: CM,Staff
Tom Towey,Mayor Mark Calhoun,Finance Director
Gary Schimmels,Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell,City Attorney
Dean Grafos, Councilmember John Holtman, Community Development Dir.
Brenda GrasseI, Councilmember Mike Stone,Parks &Rec Director
Chuck Hafner, Councilmember Steve Worley, Senior Engineer
Ben Wick, Councilmember Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Mike Basinger, Senior Planner
Gabe Gallinger,Development Sere, Sr.Engineer
Inga Note, Traffic Engineer
Carolbelle Branch,Public Information Officer
Christine Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: hi the absence of a Pastor, Mr. Joe Dumlao of the Spokane Vet Center gave the
invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mr. Joe Dumlao,USAF Retired, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Gouncilmembers were present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was ',roved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously
agreed to approve the agenda.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATION'S: nla
COMMITTEE,BOARD,LIAISON SUMMARY REPORTS:
Councilmember Helier: reported he attended the November 2 meeting with the Lobbyist regarding the
Sullivan Bridge; went to the Greater Spokane,Inc. breakfast where Drs. John Mitchell and Grant Forsyth
spoke concerning the economy; attended an STA (Spokane Transit Authority) Operation Committee
meeting where budget discussion continued; went to the Urban Transportation Council Workshop and
heard a discussion concerning transportation corridors looking toward the year 2040; went to a SCOPE
Awards Dinner; attended a Regional Health Board meeting and mentioned that Board's process of
becoming accredited.
Councilmember Grassel: said she went to the Urban planning meeting presented by the City of Spokane;
attended the Economic Development Committee meeting with Councilmember Wick and Community
Development Director Holtman, and said the final report will be coming to Council in December.
Deputy Mayor Schimmels: said he attended a couple meetings with the SRTC (Spokane Regional
Transportation Council) group, and mentioned that all the projects rated within the last sixty days now
have a zero rating, and said it will be interesting to see what happens; said he attended the Urban
Transportation Meeting; and went to a Liaison Board meeting concerning solid waste.
Councilmember Grafos: stated that he went to the annual Economic Forecast Meeting at the Spokane
Convention Center as Councilmember Hafner reported, with Drs. Mitchell and Forsyth, and reported on
some of the mentioned statistics of the current economy; said he met today with Mayor Towey, Mr.
Council Regular Meeting 11-13-2012 Page 1 of 7
Approved by Council: 12-11-2012
Hohman and a potential large employer for Spokane Valley, and said they plan to decide where to locate
by the end of this year.
Councilmember Wick: stated that he went to the legislative meeting concerning the Sullivan Bridge, and
then took a tour of the bridge to see the repairs made; attended the last meeting of the Economic
Development Committee and said they are working to put the report together for the presentation to
Council; said he extended a personal letter of support recommending the Central Valley High School
Marching Band to represent our community in the upcoming Inaugural parade.
Councilmember Woodard: said he also attended the economic conference with Drs.Mitchell and Forsyth;
went to a public workshop regarding the new detention facility and said he testified as an individual about
the jail and the detention center;went to the legislative briefing with our Lobbyist Ms. Taylor concerning
the Sullivan Bridge; attended the Transportation Corridors downtown meeting concerning the future of
our corridors; went to the grand opening of the new Maverick Gas Station; and said the attended three
functions honoring our veterans;and in appreciation of Veterans' Day, Council, staff and members of the
audience applauded our veterans.
MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Towey reported that he attended most of the meetings already mentioned;
he also went to the Community Health Association on South Pines, and said that 50% of their patients last
year were either under-insured or had no insurance; went to the Economic Forecast meeting; the Urban
Transportation Corridor Meeting; reported that the West Valley City School is a unique school where
students have a lot of control, that they have a Mayor and Council, Judge and Jury; went to the ribbon
cutting at Dick's Sporting Goods at the Spokane Valley Mall; and today in two separate sessions here in
the Council Chambers, said he was "drilled"by Summit Elementary School Children as members of our
staff gave them a presentation on some functions of a City, including information about stormwater,parks
and recreation, and bike safety.Mayor Towey then read a National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness
Week Proclamation,which was accepted with thanks from a member of the Spokane Valley Partners.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Towey invited general public comments; no comments were offered,
1. CONSENT AGENDA: Consists of items considered routine which are approved as a group. Any
member of Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered
separately.
a.Approval of the following claim vouchers:
VOUCHER LIST DATE VOUCHER NUMBERS; TOTAL AMOUNT
10/16/2012 27291-27319 $343,997,03
10/1912012 4111-4114;27320 $63,170.22
10/19/2012 5521-5530 $1,536.00
10/19/2012 27321-37371; 1017120027 $910,121.55
10/2612012 27372-27422; 10131397 $166,275.60
10/29/2012 27423-27443 $37,916.10
11/02/2012 27445-27493; 1030120025, 1031120002 $4,611,480.05
11/02/2012 4127-4130; 4141; 27494-27498 $242,968.29
GRAND TOTAL 56,377,464.84
b. Approval of Payroll for period ending October 31, 2012: $397,131.39
c.Approval of Minutes of October 23,2012 Council Formal Format Meeting
d. Approval of Minutes of October 30, 2012 Council Study Session Meeting
e. Approval of Extension for Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee Report Deadline
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schirmrrels, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the consent
agenda.
Council Regular Meeting 11-13-2012 Page 2 of 7
Approved by Council: 12-11-2012
NEW BUSINESS:
2.First Reading Proposed Ordinance 12-028 Multi-Family Regulations—Mike Basinger
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and
seconded to advance Ordinance 12-028 to a second reading at the December 11, 2012 Council meeting.
Senior Planner Basinger explained the proposal as provided in his previous administrative report, and
explained that the changes deal with standards for multi-family development when adjacent to single-
family development. Mayor Towey invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by
Acclamation:In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed: None. Motion carried.
3.First Reading Proposed Ordinance 12-029 Commercial Vehicles(Trucks)—Cary Driskell
After City Clerk Bainbridge mad the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and
seconded to advance Ordinance 12-029 to a second reading at the December 11, 2012 Council meeting.
City Attorney Driskell explained the proposed ordinance, and said that the signs would include "no
trucks" and "local delivery only." Mr. Driskell mentioned that a resolution adopting a master truck
schedule will be brought to Council separately later. It was noted that for the second reading, Section 7
will reference refrigeration units rather than idling. Mayor Towey invited public comment; no comments
were offered. Vote by Acclamation:In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Motion carried
4.Proposed Resolution 12-007 Accepting Environment Designations Shoreline Master Plan— Lori
Barlow
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and seconded to approve Resolution 12-007 informally
accepting the City Council Draft Environment Designations. Senior Planner Barlow briefly explained that
the purpose of this resolution is to informally accept the draft environment designations, which would
then be referred to as "Council Draft;" and afterwards, we would wait for the remaining elements to be
completed, and then all would brought forward together for a final and formal review process as a
complete Shoreline Master Plan.Mayor Towey invited public comment;no comments were offered. Vote
by Acclamation:in Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Motion carried
5.Proposed Resolution 12-008 Business Route Signage—Inga Note,Eric Guth
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and seconded to approve Resolution 12-008 supporting the
establishment of an interstate business route. Traffic Engineer Note explained that this resolution is in
response to the recommendation from Council to establish a business route; she said this route would be
between I-90 Exit 185 and Exit 293, and would include sections of Sprague Avenue, Appleway
Boulevard, Appleway Avenue, and Barker Road. Mayor Towey invited public comment. Mike King,
Commercial Realtor with NAI Black, 17 S Howard, spoke in favor of the motion and said this business
recognition will have a direct impact and benefit to the business community. There were no further
public comments. There was brief discussion concerning whether the Chamber of Commerce submitted
any comments on this proposal,with Ms.Note explaining that she is not aware of any comments; mention
from Councihnetnber Wick of the cost involved, and Councilmember Grassel adding that this topic has
been ongoing for several years, and she feels anything we can do to support the citizens and be more
business friendly is a good use of our funds. Vote by Acclamation: In Favor: Mayor Towey, Deputy
Mayor Schimmels, and Councihmembers Hafiaer•, Grassel, Grafos and Woodard. Opposed:
Councilmerrrber Wick. Motion carried.
6. Motion Consideration: Approval of Comprehensive Plan Docket—John Hallman
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and seconded to approve the 2013 Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Docket. Community Development Director Holman explained the amendments, which
include two privately initiated comprehensive plan amendments which were received prior to the
deadline; and he re-capped the City-initiated amendments as explained previously. Mayor Towey invited
public comment; no comments were offered. Vole by Acclamation: In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed.
None. Motion carried.
Council Regular Meeting 11-13-2012 Page 3 of 7
Approved by Council: 12-I 1-2012
7.Motion Consideration:Approval of University Road Overpass Study—Inga Note
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and seconded to authorize the City Manager to finalize and
execute the contract with Fehr and Peers in an amount not to exceed$229.802 for the University Road
Overpass Study. Traffic Engineer Note explained that this study came about from a couple different
ideas, one of which was a suggestion in connection with the bicycle plan, to have better nomnotorized
access off the freeways, and to have some type of improvement to allow cyclists and pedestrians a safer
plan to go back and forth; she said this topic was studied by WSDOT (Washington State Department of
Transportation) in the late 1990's in terms of a full interchange, but this current study is of the industrial
area. Mayor Towey invited public comments; no comments were offered. Councilmember Woodard
spoke concerning so many unfunded projects, and said he feels this project may be premature, or that
perhaps the timing is not good; while Councilmember Wick mentioned the City's match is $33,711
compared with the grant of$216,000; and said in order to move forward, we must have a plan; that the
plan doesn't bind us, but gives us more data. Vote by Acclamation. in Favor: Mayor Towey, Deputy
Mayor Schimmels, and Councilmembers Hafner, Grasse!, Grafos, and Wick. Opposed. Councilmember
Woodard. Motion carried.
8. Motion Consideration: Sullivan Rd W Bridge Project,Request to use De minimus Exemption—
Steve Worley
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimrnels and seconded that Council agree that permanent and
temporary impacts to Sullivan Park and adjacent state-owned recreational properties resulting from the
Sullivan Road West Bridge Replacement Project are "de minims." Senior Engineer Worley said the
purpose of this motion is to get agreement from Council and the public that the impacts to Sullivan Park
and other state parks related to the Sullivan Road projects are de minimus, which means it will have
minimum impacts to the park properties; and he acknowledged City Project Manager Engineer Aldsvorth,
and CH2M Hill Project Manager Mr. Dingfield. Mr. Worley said we also now have signed letters from
various entities stating that the proposed project will have no adverse affect to their activities. Mr.
Worley noted that we must go through the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) procedures, and
Section 4(f) to determine if the impacts are significant; and afterwards, will go through the State EPA
(Environmental Protection Act) Process, then through our own shoreline permitting process, Mayor
Towey invited public comment;no comments were offered. Vote by Acciamalion:Ire Favor: Unanimous.
Opposed.None.Motion carried
Mayor Towey called for a recess at 7:20 p.m., and reconvened the meeting at 7:34 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Towey invited general public comments,
Jodi Sanders, Sterling Hospitality, Argonne Exit: said that August was a revenue record month; spoke
positively of the activities in connection with the HUB and Visit Spokane, and said those organizations
need to be funded as it makes a big difference with the hotels, and she asked Council to consider
allocating fiords to the organizations which give returns on investments.
Liz Beck, Vice President and General Manager of the Spokane Valley Super 8, 2020 N Argonne: said her
hotel is unique in that it can accommodate 180 guests and is one of the largest Super 8's in the nation;
said Visit Spokane the Fair& Expo Center perform better each year with funds given, and said the HUB
and Visit Spokane are a huge factor in funding;and she thanked Council for funding the organizations.
Andy Rooney, General Manager Mirabeau Park Hotel: said his business represents over 80,000 room
nights a year and is the largest in the valley, that he works hard along with the Sports Commission, the
HUB, and the Visitor's Bureau to bring tourism dollars to Spokane Valley and the region, and said he had
more sell-out nights this year than since 2005.
Council Regular Meeling 11-13-2012 Page 4 of 7
Approved by Council: 12-11-2012
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
9. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Recommendation to Council—Mark Calhoun
Finance Director Calhoun explained that the purpose of tonight's report is to share information and the
non-binding recommendations from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, for allocations for 2013; and
he went over the discussions of this topic from three previous council meetings, including the September
25 meeting when Council by consensus, decided to set aside $80,000 of those estimated $460,000
proceeds for 2013, with $30,000 for CenterPlace advertising costs, and $50,000 to be used for yet
undetermined City marketing efforts, leaving $380,000, plus interest, for allocation consideration. Mr.
Calhoun reminded everyone that those funds can only be used for activities that promote convention and
tourist travel for Spokane Valley, and that the ultimate allocation decisions rests with Council. Mr.
Calhoun also noted that the notebook containing each applicant's grant request materials was distributed
to Council earlier. As noted in Mr. Calhoun's Request for Council Action(RCA) form, those applicants
included the HUB Sports Center, Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, Spokane Regional Sports
Commission, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, Valleyfest, and Visit Spokane, formerly the Spokane
Regional Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Mr. Calhoun further explained that those applicants gave a
presentation to the Committee on October 17, 2012. Mr. Calhoun said the Committee felt that
CenterPlace should be required to make a presentation as the other applicants did; and that Valleyfest is a
community event that should be funded by the City through the economic development funding process
instead of through the Lodging Tax Funding process; he said Committee members discussed the merits of
each application and how the funds should be distributed, and whether they (the Committee) should re-
allocate that set aside $80,000. Ultimately, the majority of the Committee members recommended that
the funds be made in two tiers: one including the previously allocated$80,000 for City purposes, and the
second showing recommendations of ways to use those $80,000 funds; he explained that the chart on the
RCA shows one tier allocating $380,500 to the applicants, and the second tier allocating $444,500 to
those applicants; and that the data included an average recommended allocation to CenterPlace of$8,000.
Finance Director Calhoun explained that each committee member gave their recommendations for each
applicant, but did not ultimately vote on the final allocations.
Councilmember Hafner said he noted, as included on the RCA, that some of these organizations received
funding from the Outside Agency funding process; and that for this current process, committee members
Doug Kelley, Lee Cameron, and Jeff Fiman recommended no funds for the Museum and for Valleyfest,
and he asked if there were some rationale for those decisions. Mr. Calhoun said he didn't recall any
conversation concerning not funding the museum, but that the three felt strongly that Valleyfest should
not be funded through lodging tax, but rather though the outside agency process of this city.
Councilmember Grassel added that for those agencies which were not recommended for funding, it was
because the committee members felt these funds should be directly related to hotel nights; she said they
acknowledged that the verbiage in the state statute does not require that but if the fund wants to be
replenished each year, it should be given to those agencies that create that opportunity for hotel nights;
and also recognizing that two of the three had received funding from this City's outside agency funding
process. Councilmember Hafner added that it is should be clear that Valleyfest is not a City activity, but is
a separate nonprofit organization.
Mayor Towey said the allocation decision is set for the December 11 council meeting; and at a previous
meeting, Council concurred to set aside a certain amount of money to facilitate some of our own tourism;
and said he realizes that those who applied for these funds, do a tremendous amount for our community
but he feels it was wise that Council determined to set aside discretionary funds as many things occur
through the year related to tourism; and he mentioned Visit Spokane's regional visitor's guide and the
extra cost for this City to advertise in the guide and be included on their map, including things like
Discovery Playground and CenterPlace; or for banners through Visit Spokane, Councilmember Grassel
stated that over the years, there was a frustration by the committee as they feel there wasn't a connection
between their time-consuming work of going through the applications and hearing the presentations; that
Council Regular Meeting 11-13-2012 Page 5 of 7
Approved by Council: 12-11-2012
they requested in future that CenterPlace also come before the committee and make a presentation to
clearly specify how they will use the funding and to help identify if there are times they may be marketing
the same way as Visit Spokane, or how they might partner with the Sports Commission in order to have a
better use of the funds and identify where they could do some joint marketing. Regarding the funds
Council set aside, Councilmember Grasses said we need to be cautious so as not to duplicate efforts, but
to involve the Sports Commission, and Visit Spokane as we heard from the hoteliers tonight, they do see
a return on those investments, and they want us to use those funds in a way that will help those groups
that work together to bring in events into our city that bring in those hotel nights. Further,
Councilmember Grassel said her bigger concern is we are seeing a reduced amount of funding this year,
and we also lost the tourism funding from Washington State; and we need to be careful on how we spend
the funds; and that concerning Valleyfest, we have worked to try to move some of the funding because
Valleyfest does not generate hotel nights, which is a concern of the committee; that Council has tried to
move funding used for Valleyfest from the outside agency grant; and said she designated we could give
some additional funds for a total of$25,000 this year. Councilmember Grassel said at the meeting, she
asked what Valleyfest was doing with the $19,000 they received from the outside agency grant, and said
it was stated that they were using it for economic development, and yet the application for outside agency
funding said "the specific element for which we request funding is the marketing and advertising of
Valleyfest for the Pacific Northwest Region; in order to accomplish this objective, this marketing
message must be carried to the regional audience in the northwest and beyond;" and Councilmember
Grassel said this is why she believes this Council granted those funds; and when she asked the director
that day how the funds were being used, Councilmember Grasse] said the answer was economic
development, and in explaining that, the director told Councilmember Grasse) that they were going to use
those dollars they already received, to entice businesses along the Sprague corridor to participate in
Valleyfest, through a banner/flag program. Councilmember Grassel said her concern with that is, she
doesn't think that is what this Council's intention was for those dollars; that Council gave them
specifically to use for marketing Valleyfest; and said it wasn't her intention for Valleyfest to use the funds
for economic development of Sprague businesses,but was supposed to be used for marketing Valleyfest.
Councilmember Wick remarked that although Valleyfest is not owned or operated by the City of Spokane
Valley, it is the feeling of many that the festival is the community event; and said he takes ownership in
the event feeling that it is a city-type event, and very centered on the valley, and is synonymous with our
City; and that regardless of where the funds come from, it is a festival that celebrates and symbolizes our
City and our community; and said he would like to make sure people realize we don't operate it, but feels
we should be a major sponsor and that there are so very few of those opportunities, that he would hate to
jeopardize this event. Councilmember Grassel said she agrees with that which is why she supported
allocating funds to them from the outside agency funds.
10. Drainage Easements:a.Beach House Apts; b. Cancer Center—Gabe Gallinger
Engineer Gallinger gave the background on these two drainage easements, as noted in his November 13,
2012 Request for Council Action form, and that in the one case, the current property owner requested the
City extinguish the existing easement and accept the dedication of a new drainage easement for the
relocated bio-infiltration swale; and in the second case, that of Mission Avenue, that the developer would
like to reconfigure the easement, therefore the current easement would need to be extinguished. Should
Council agree, Mr. Gallinger explained, these issues would come before Council at the December 4
meeting for consideration of a resolution approval to extinguish each easement. There were no objections
from Council.
11, Advance Agenda—Mayor Towey
Mayor Towey mentioned that there will be no meeting for the next two weeks, and that he will miss the
December 4 meeting as he will be in Olympia attending a Mayor's Conference. Mayor Towey also noted
that the Spokane Valley Tech, in collaborating with the East Valley School District and other area
Council Regular Meeting 11-13-2012 Page 6 of7
Approved by Council: 12-11-2012
schools, has asked for a letter of support as they are applying for a grant to help with the NEWTECH
Skill Center in Spokane Valley. There were no objections from Council.
INFORMATION ONLY The following items were for information only and were not reported or
discussed: (12) Street Maintenance Contract Renewal; (13) Street Sweeping Contract Renewal; (14)
Mailing Inserts; (15) Community Minded Television Report; and (16) Greater Spokane, Inc 3rd Quarter
Report.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS none
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schinunels, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 8:11 p.in.
ATTES : `Thomas E.Towey, Mayor c�
f.
Chris ine Bainbridge, City Clerk
Council Regular Meeting 11-13-2012 Page 7 of 7
Approved by Council: 12-11-2012
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