2013, 09-06 Council of Gov'ts• MINUTES
Special Regional Council of Governments Meeting
Hosted by Spokane County Board of County Commissioners
Friday, September 6,2013
10:00 a.m.—12:30 a.m.
Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Conference Facility
404 N Havana Street, Spokane Valley, Washington
Attendance:
Spokane Valley Council Staff
Mayor Tom Towey Mike Jackson, City Manager
Councilmember Chuck Haf ter any Driskell, City Attorney
Cotmcilmember Rod Higgins Chris Bainbridge, City Clerk
Councilmember Arne Woodard
Councilmember Ben Wick
Absent Councilmembers:
Deputy Mayor Schirmnels
Councihnerrtber Dean Grafos
Others in Attendance: Various elected officials and staff members
1. Welcome&Review of Meeting Agenda—Spokane Co. Commissioner Shelly O'Quinn
Commission Chair O'Quinn welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave those in attendance the
opportunity for self-introductions.
2. Relationship between Fairchild AFB and Spokane Regional Governments — 92°d ARW Commander
Col.Brian Newberry
Colonel Newberry explained that there is a strong relationship with Fairchild AFB and the community,
and that his job over the next year is to work to deepen the relationship between Fairchild AFB and
Spokane Regional Governments. Via his PowerPoint presentation, he discussed such issues as sequester,
Shell 77 accident investigation, Fairchild 2020 which includes working with Spokane County for a
possible small arms range; and the mentioned their motto of"Two Fold Security"which includes the 92nd
Airborne survival teams.
3. Public Facilities District(PFD)Update—Mike McDowell, Spokane PFD Board Member
Mr. McDowell said they have chosen the design-build team to add 100,000 square feet to the exhibit hall
in the Spokane Convention Center and that the establishment Shenanigans is now completely gone; he
said 90% of their Shoreline Master Plan and Centennial Plan approval process is complete; mentioned the
upcoming new Walt Worthy hotel with 719 rooms and 900+ parking on the lot near the Convention
Center,with an estimated completion date of spring 2015; and said with the completion of that hotel they
anticipate eight to ten more major conventions than normal.
4. Transportation Update--Wayne Brokaw, Executive Director,Inland Northwest AGC
Mr.Brokaw mentioned the receipt of two TIGER fund grants;mentioned our regional projects separate us
from those in western Washington as ours create lasting jobs in manufacturing, trade, tourism, and are all
key to the state's economic growth; he mentioned the"Informational Face Sheet"which discusses the gas
tax, the North Spokane Corridor mega project,which has not been funded for completion in spite of being
over 50% complete; and other regional economic development projects such as Bridging the Valley, that
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will provide an economic return to the State. He said that October 2nd GSI will have its first open forum
and they want to deliver a message to the legislators as they travel around the state, that we are the part of
Washington that is growing jobs.
5. Economic Growth in Spokane---Rich Hadley, Greater Spokane Incorporated President&CEO
Via his PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Hadley explained that we are a substantial region and have an
important partnership in the region; mentioned our cost of living is 6% lower than the national average;
said the median home price is $171,300; we have the 6th best commute time; are the 6th lowest for natural
disasters, and we rank 149 out of 392 for metro areas for graduating over 70,000 students studying within
a 75 mile radius; said we have a diverse economy and he listed some of the top private employers; said
our region is a health care and research hub with the largest concentration of medical services between
Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Calgary, Canada. In connection with heath issues, Mr. Hadley
mentioned the various medical school facilities for nursing, pharmacy and other health care areas, and
estimated by 2030 the region would employ about 9,000. He mentioned aerospace companies in the West
Plains area; said he sees huge opportunities for our area to be a freight corridor from Canada to Mexico;
and by spring they expect to have more information on the idea of Port Districts.
6. Fairchild AFB—Accident Potential Zone(APZ)Update--Spokane County Commissioner Al French
Commissioner French talked about the "Accident Potential Zone" and encroachment issues concerning
Fairchild Air Force Base; said the encroachment is expected to be used as a reason to recommend closure
of the Base and the area of concern is about a ten-block section of mobile home parks and apartments in
Airway Heights; said several hundred people live in that identified APZ or crash zone. Commissioner
French said they are moving forward for a bond measure in November; and he showed a map of the
overlay areas; said the land use is mostly light industrial, Commissioner French said the idea is to
purchase mobile homes parks and individually owned mobile homes as that is a residential zone; said they
will acquire these properties subject to the successful bond issue in November with the goal to retire the
bond in nine or less years; said they are working with property owners of facilities to begin the purchase;
said that the estimated cost to purchase is $6.4 million, then added to that is demolition costs, relocation
costs, miscellaneous cost and a contingency for a total of$18.1 million. Commissioner French said to
repay the debt would require a levy resulting in an estimated cost to the home owner of about$6.31; said
they would put deed restrictions on the land to run with the land in perpetuity; said they would have to
give twelve month's notice to purchase and would need to work with each resident; and said he will soon
be asking for support of the initiative.
7.LEAN Concepts in Spokane County—John Dickson, Spokane Co. Chief Operations Officer
Mr. Dickson said he looks at government systems which includes politics, policy, performance, and
people; said the performance part has lots of twists and restrictions with the idea to streamline the
operations concerning how quickly they do what citizens need, with the goal of reducing or eliminating
the non-value wait activities; said the issue is there is not enough focus on the work time and the goal is
improvement of the process, to actually slow down the wait activities; he discussed the lean leadership
course and gave as an example the goal to have a more efficient criminal justice system and to reduce
recidivism; and he again stressed the real process problems; and in summary said government leaders
should work even closer together and leverage all the resources and talents available to increase the
capacity to provide great services.
8.Regional Animal Control for Small Cities—County Commissioner Todd Mielke and SCRAPS Director
Nancy Hill
Commissioner Mielke and Ms. Hill gave a brief update on Regional Animal Control; said they are on
target to open the new shelter spring 2014; mentioned some of the regional benefits such as all strays and
lost animals housed at one location; and to have a full service animal shelter; said some of the services
they provide include enforcing animal laws regarding nuisance complaints; helping injured and sick
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animals, and investigating animal cruelty; and mentioned the assistance of law enforcement in emergency
calls.
9. Roundtable Discussion of Topics of Regional Importance—Spokane Commissioner Shelly O'Quinn
Some of the topics briefly discussed included the Sullivan Road Bridge and funding, the Bigelow Gulch
Project and the rationale for moving traffic through the north Spokane corridor, and federal regulations
and the documenting process as a function of funding; that the Veterans' Court is alive and well and is
just one of the therapeutic courts that has substantially reduced recidivism; and there was very brief
mention of the solid waste issue meeting with all the jurisdictions, and that the topic will continue to be
discussed.
Commission Chair O'Quinn adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.
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