2013, 04-23 Minutes Regular Meeting MINUTES
City of Spokane Valley
City Council Regular Meeting
Formal Meeting Format
Tuesday, April 23,2013
Mayor Towey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Attendance: City Staff:
Tom Towey, Mayor Mike Jackson, City Manager
Gary Schimmels,Deputy Mayor Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Dean Grafos, Councilmember Mark Calhoun, Finance Director
Chuck Hafner, Councihnember Erik Lamb,Deputy City Attorney
Rod Higgins, CounciImember Mike Stone,Parks &Rec Director
Ben Wick, Councilmember John Holtman, Community Development Dir.
Arne Woodard, Councilmember Eric Guth,Public Works Director
Lori Barlow, Senior Planner
Scott Kuhta,Planning Manager
Rick VanLeuven,Police Chief
Carolbelle Branch,Public Information Officer
Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
INVOCATION: Pastor Bill Dropko of Greenacres Christian Fellowship Church gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Members from Boy Scout Troops 417 and 400 led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: City Clerk Bainbridge called the roll; all Couneilmembers were present.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously
agreed to approve the agenda.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
April Community Recognition, Presentation of Key and Certificate—Mayor Towey
Mayor Towey announced that this month's recipient of the Community Recognition Key and Certificate
goes to Jim Custer Enterprises.Mayor Towey briefly summarized the background of the company, which
has been holding consumer shows since 1976; he said Jim and Jennifer Custer were founders of the
business; they have created an impeccable name for themselves in the consumer show industry; and their
daughter and her husband, Cheryl Custer-Branz and Clint Branz, began working in the business full time
in 1994; and they took over the daily operations are now the proud second generation owners of the
family business. Ms. Cheryl Custer-Branz accepted the key and certificate with thanks, and explained
that her parents were unable to be here tonight as they are retired and living in a warmer part of the
country; she said she and Clint are honored to continue the tradition of shows that her father started and
mentioned that this weekend marks the 38th anniversary of the antique and collector sale.
COMMITTEE,BOARD,LIAISON SUMMARY REPORTS:
CounciImember Woodard: reported that he went to the Regional Mayor's Conference; participated in the
HCDAC (Spokane Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee) as they worked to
allocate funds to 15 applicants.
Councilmember Wick: said he attended the Valleyfest Benefit Auction and said this is a great community
activity.
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Councilmember Grafos: said he went to the I-90 overpass study meeting last week; the ITA(International
Trade Association) meeting where they discussed ITA merging with GSI (Greater Spokane, Inc.); and
went to the Iibraiy/Balfour Park meeting yesterday.
Deputy Mayor Schimmels: said he attended an SRTC (Spokane Regional Transportation Council)
meeting as well as an STA (Spokane Transit Authority) Board Meeting; and went to the I-90 overpass
meeting,which he said was well attended.
Councilmember Higgins: reported he also went to the 1-90 Overpass meeting; the ITA meeting, the
library/park meeting, and the highlight of his week was an invitation to address a scout troop regarding
Constitutional Rights.
Councilmember Hafner: stated that he attended the STA Operations Committee as well as the STA Board
meeting; went to the SCOPE Meeting; the Regional Health District staff awards meeting; and said the
STA Awards staff dinner was very well attended and people were pleased to receive recognition; that he
also went to the library meeting, and today met with two high school students from Central Valley who
spoke with him about setting up a student commission related to our city and the area high schools.
MAYOR'S REPORT:
Mayor Towey reported that he attended the Washington Policy Center meeting at the Valley Hospital and
spoke with several Senators who gave an update on what they have been doing; said he participated on a
panel of three mayors hosted by GSI, which went very well and was well attended; attended the NE
Washington Mayor's Association meeting in Newport, which is the mayors' quarterly meeting; said GSI
asked him and the Mayor of Cheney to give a short version of their respective State of the City Addresses,
which he said is difficult to condense, adding that he enjoys getting out in the community and telling our
story, especially telling about our 10th anniversary; said he went to the Health District annual awards;
entertained a Northwest Christian Leadership Class of about 30 students where they talked about
leadership qualities; participated in part of the opening ceremonies for Japanese Week; went to the Park
meeting yesterday; and today visited with Central Valley School Superintendent Ben Small and Liberty
Lake Mayor Peterson for their monthly meeting.
Mayor Towey then read two separate proclamations: Workers'Memorial Day, which was received with
thanks from Beth. Thew who works for the Spokane Regional Labor Council; and Drug Endangered
Children's Awareness Day which was accepted with thanks from Esther Larsen, of the National Alliance
for Drug Endangered Children; and from Linda Thompson, Greater Spokane Substance Council
Executive Director.
Mayor Towey reminded everyone that the Spokane Valley Video Contest started yesterday and will run
through July 31; and said we are looking for videos highlighting what makes our City a unique place to
work, shop and play.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Towey invited public comment.
Linda Thompson, 10913 E 46th Avenue: she explained that this Saturday, from 10 a.tn. to 2 p.m. is the
Prescription Drug Take-Back and Shred Event, hosted by the Sheriff's Office and Spokane Valley Police
Department; with two locations to choose from, either 44 E. Hawthorne, or the Valley Police Precinct at
12710 E Sprague; and she mentioned that she would leave several flyers on the counter in the Council
Chambers for those interested.
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.
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a.Approval of the following claim vouchers:
VOUCHER LIST DATE VOUCHER NUMBERS: TOTAL AMOUNT
04/04/2013 4278-4281; 4293; 28754-28759 $267,739.86
04/05/2013 28760-28825; 328130237; 329130018 $1,720,781.67
04/08/2013 28826 $95.50
04/12/2013 28827-28853 $101,622.46
04/12/2013 28854-28907; 404130026 $425,254.66
GRAND TOTAL $2,515,494.15
b. Approval of Payroll for period ending April 15,2013: $289,240.66
c.Approval of Resolution 13-004 Sponsoring the Library for AWC Membership
d. Approval of April 2, 2013 Council Study Session Meeting Minutes
e.Approval of April 4, 2013 Council Special Meeting Minutes
f.Approval of April 9, 2013 Council Formal Meeting Minutes
g. Approval of April 16, 2013 Council Study Session Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously agreed to approve the Consent
Agenda.
NEW BUSINESS:
2.First Reading Ordinance 13-004, SEPA Regulations—Lori Barlow
After City Clerk Bainbridge read the ordinance title, it was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and
seconded to advance Ordinance 13-004 to a second reading. Senior Planner Barlow explained that this
has been before Council several times; that it is important for us to eliminate any redundancies in our
permitting process and by increasing the thresholds as proposed, this would allow us to establish a
category of projects that would not require an environmental review, thereby making approval of those
permits a shorter process by about four to six weeks. Ms. Barlow also noted the clarifying language "if
required" added to section 24.50 under SEPA checklist. In response to Councilmember Woodard's
question about other requirements concerning protection of the environment. Ms. Barlow explained staff
would still need to go through the exercise to show that we have regulations in place to ensure there
would be no adverse environmental impacts; and she noted the Findings of Fact which is included in
tonight's council packet materials and which is part of the record,having been taken through the Planning
Commission process. Mayor Towey invited public comment; no comments were offered. Vote by
Acclamation:In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Motion carried.
3.Proposed Resolution 13-005 Amending Governance Manual—Chris Bainbridge
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels and seconded to approve Resolution 13-005 Amending the
Governance Manual as presented. City Clerk Bainbridge explained that Council has also seen this several
times, and asked if there were any other suggested edits. There were no suggestions for further
modifications. Mayor Towey invited public comment;no comments were offered. Vote by Acclamation:
In Favor: Unanimous. Opposed:None. Motion carried
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mayor Towey invited public comment; no comments were offered.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
4. Code Revision Concerning Dangerous Dogs—Cary Driskell
City Attorney DriskelI explained that the City contracts for animal control services with SCRAPS; and a
provision of that agreement requires us to have similar code regulations regarding animal control; and
said the City's section dealing with appeals arising from dogs declared as "dangerous" and the
registration requirements, are not identical to the County's regulations; and the proposed changes will
make our provisions more consistent with those of Spokane County's. Mr. Driskell also noted that
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SCRAPS Director Nancy Hill reviewed the proposed changes and agrees with their appropriateness.
After Mr. Driskell went over the proposed changes, there were no further suggestions for modifications,
and Council concurred that staff bring this item forward for a first reading at a future council meeting.
5.Advance Agenda—Mayor Towey
Concerning the recently approved marijuana laws, CounciImember Woodard asked about zoning of
medical marijuana; and Councilmember Grafos said he would also like Council to examine the zoning
regulations to prevent grow operations. Mr. Jackson said this can be scheduled for a future council
meeting for further discussion. Mayor Towey reminded everyone that there is no council meeting next
week.
INFORMATION ONLY The following items were for information only and were not reported or
discussed: (6). Planning Commission Minutes (February 14 and 28; March 13, 2013); (7) Spokane Valley
Fire Department Quarterly Report; and(8) Department Monthly Reports.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
In advance of the 2013 budget amendments coming up in the near future,Mr. Jackson said he is working
to schedule a Finance Committee meeting for next Thursday, and added that staff is already moving into
preparing the 2014 budget, and that budget worksheets should be available for Council in advance of the
Council's June budget workshop.
It was moved by Deputy Mayor Schimmels, seconded and unanimously agreed to adjourn. The meeting
adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
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