2013, 10-22 BoCC Ltr p `.
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S P O K A N )E ;, C O U N T Y
OFFICE OF CO urn'COMMISSIONERS
TODD MIELKE,1ST DISflUCr•SHELLY Q'QUINN,2ND DISTRICT•AL FRENCEI,3RD DISTRICT
October 22, 2013
City of Spokane Valley
11707 E. Sprague Ave.,Suite 106
Spokane Valley,WA 99206
Subject: Regional Solid Waste Management
Dear Mayor Towey and City Council Members:
The Board of County Commissioners received your letter dated October 4, 2013 regarding the
reorganization of regional solid waste management. It was included in the record of the Board's
public hearing held October 8th to receive input on this subject from concerned stakeholders. In
addition to your letter the Board received verbal and written comments from about a dozen
stakeholders
After consideration of the staff's recommendations and the input from stakeholders, the Board
voted to proceed with a modified version of Alternative 2 as identified within the UDR Solid
Waste Transfer/Disposal Alternatives Analysis (August 2013). In addition, the Board directed
staff to negotiate an InterlocaI Agreement ("Agreement") with the City of Spokane to pursue the
inclusion of the following items:
1. The Agreement will provide for the transfer of ownership of the Northside and Valley
Transfer Stations ("Transfer Stations") from the City of Spokane to Spokane County.
2. The Agreement will be for a maximum term of 7 years.
3. The County will agree to transfer all of the solid waste collected at the Transfer Stations
to the City of Spokane Waste to Energy Facility for up to 7 years in exchange for the City
of Spokane transferring ownership of the Transfer Stations to the County for$10.
4. The Agreement will include an early buyout clause after 3 years.
5. The early buyout clause will be based on an appropriate equitable amortization
methodology.
6. The Agreement will address the potential for the joint development of future RFPs for
long haul options which would include the City of Spokane's bypass municipal waste as
well as ash flows, and be available for consideration by the City of Spokane.
7. The Agreement will include language addressing the potential for developing an
additional rail loading site.
1 1 16 WEST BROADWAY AVENUE • SPOKANE,WASHINGTON 99260-0100 • (509)477-2265
Mayor Towey and City Council Members
October 22,2013
Page 2
8. The Agreement will include language addressing the long-term needs for a West Plains
transfer station.
We believe that this decision is in the best interests of all citizens and businesses in Spokane
County who rely on a well-functioning regional solid waste system. It allows a transition from
City of Spokane management of the regional system to County management during the very
short time between now and November 2014 as well as maintains the high level of service
available to all of the customers of the system on a uniform basis.
Lastly, this is a very flexible approach that will allow the Board to evaluate and consider
alternatives for solid waste disposal over the term of the Agreement and to switch from burning
garbage to landfill disposal when it makes the best sense for the customers of the regional solid
waste system.
We believe that the approach described above is in the best interests of the City of Spokane
Valley. We invite the City of Spokane Valley to participate in the new County Regional Solid
Waste Management System and we hope that you choose this path forward on behalf of your
citizens.
Our goal is to have an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Spokane by November 16, 2013 to
help them meet their one-year obligation for written notices to their vendors and contractors.
In the near future, Spokane County will send notices to all of the municipalities in Spokane
County inviting them to formally join the new regional system. Spokane County will be
commencing the preparation of a revised/updated County Comprehensive Solid Waste
Management Plan as required by state statutes. The revised/updated Comprehensive Plan will
include only those municipalities that have formally joined the new system. All other
municipalities in the County will be required to write their own Comprehensive Plan and to meet
any other state statutory requirements for solid waste management, on their own.
If you have any questions on the progress of the Interlocal Agreement, please contact Bill
Wedlake at 477-7285.
If you have additional questions for the Commissioners, please contact us at 477-2265.
Sincerely,
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ally O'!1'nn, Chair Al Fr en ,Vice Chair To d Mielke, Commissioner