2019, 12-09 Special Meeting. Legislative AgendaAGENDA
CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, December 9, 2019 2:00 p.m.
SPOKANE VALLEY CITY HALL
10210 E Sprague Avenue
City Hall Council Chambers
(Please Silence Your Cell Phones During the Meeting)
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL:
WELCOME: Mayor Higgins
DISCUSSION: Spokane Valley Legislative Agenda
ADJOURN
Special Agenda, December 09, 2019
Spokane
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2020 Le2isiative Agenda
The following is the City of Spokane Valley's 2020 legislative agenda adopted by Council at their
November 19, 2019 Council meeting:
Transportation Funding Request:
Bridging the Valley
The City continues to make headway on the multi -phase Bridging the Valley project to replace three at -
grade crossings that bisect north/south commerce in the City. With the State's assistance on the Phase 1
Barker Road Grade Separation Project in the 2017-2019 budget, the City is making significant progress
to improve the safety and economic competitiveness of our community. The City successfully secured
the only 2017 federal TIGER grant in the State, and those grant funds were applied to the Barker Road
Grade Separation Project. This project is fully funded, engineering design and right-of-way acquisition
is underway, and construction is programmed for 2020.
Phase 2: Pines Road/BNSF Grade Separation Project
The City respectfully requests that the State make an investment in the safety of the Spokane Valley
region through the Bridging the Valley project by allocating an additional $2.9 million to the Pines
Road/BNSF Grade Separation project. Pines Road is one of the region's key transportation corridors,
carrying both private and commercial/industrial traffic from Trent Avenue (SR 290) across the Spokane
River to I-90 and commercial areas south of the I-90 freeway. In 2018, the Freight Mobility Strategic
Investment Board (FMSIB) rated this at -grade crossing as the highest ranked unfunded Tier 1 rail
crossing in the State out of 4,171 at -grade crossings based upon freight mobility and safety. The project
will also improve the intersection of two state highways, Pines Road (SR 27) and Trent Avenue (SR
290).
On average, 60 trains travel through the Pines/BNSF crossing each day, blocking traffic movements for
nearly 3.5 hours. Vehicle delay is expected to increase with the addition of a second mainline BNSF
track at Pines Road in 2020. In addition, about 34,000 vehicles pass through the adjacent Pines/Trent
intersection, including freight from Canada and northern Idaho. The average daily traffic volume on
Pines Road is more than double the vehicles of the funded Barker Road project. Pines Road is also the
primary access to almost 230 acres of undeveloped mixed-use, commercial and industrial land.
Total project cost is estimated at $29 million, and the City has thus far secured $7.8 million, including
$4.7 million in City funds, $1.9 million from our regional metropolitan planning organization (MPO),
and a $1.25 million CRISI grant. We have yet to receive any State contributions toward improving this
intersection of two State highways and request $7.8 million of State dollars that could be inclusive of
TIB, FMSIB or a direct legislative appropriation. With this State commitment we believe we can be
successful obtaining the balance of the project through Federal sources.
1-90 Barker -to -Harvard Project Cost Overruns
The City of Spokane Valley supports WSDOT in its continuing efforts to achieve state and local
transportation purposes, including connectivity and safety. In doing so, the City seeks to continue
advocating its position that WSDOT projects need to remain the financial responsibility of the State of
Washington. Projects by local agencies generally have a beneficial effect on regional and state facilities
as well, and state and regional projects generally have a beneficial effect on the local transportation
network. However, this does not imply that a financial responsibility should exist between the agencies
since there is no policy or operational control of another agency's project absent an agreement to do so.
For example, the City supports its neighboring jurisdiction, the City of Liberty Lake, in supporting
budget proviso language stating that WSDOT is responsible for any cost overruns on the Harvard to
Barker project, except for those components of the project within the City of Liberty Lake. The City of
Liberty Lake has agreed to fund any cost overruns on the components of the project located within its
boundaries.
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Capital Project Request: Sullivan Park Water Line
The City of Spokane Valley respectfully requests that the Legislature allocate $413,000 from the Capital
Budget to pay for installation of a water line to Sullivan Park. The City owns property adjacent to the
Spokane River that it uses as Sullivan Park. The City is purchasing approximately 14 additional acres from
the Washington State Department of Transportation to expand the park. Both parcels sit in an area unserved
by a water district, and which require installation of a water line by Trentwood Irrigation District under the
Union Pacific rail line. Trentwood's engineering estimate for the project is $413,000. Sullivan Park is
currently served by an underperforming well that will be insufficient to service the expanded park.
Economic Development Tools
The City of Spokane Valley supports legislative efforts to adopt and enhance statutory mechanisms and
state programs that encourage economic development, including border communities that experience the
loss of sales to other communities in neighboring states. As such, we encourage the Legislature to adopt
mechanisms that promote increased economic development within our communities, including increasing
funding to the Public Works Assistance Account, expanding the Rural County Sales & Use Tax Credit for
Public Facilities to border counties, and reinvesting in the Local Revitalization Program.
Defend Local Control
The City of Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003 as a direct result of the desire of our citizens to have
substantial local control of decision-making. A foundational belief for the Council and the citizens they
represent is that the most effective level of government is the one closest to the people, which is the city
form of government. As such, the Council urges the Legislature to respect local decision-making wherever
appropriate, and not infringe into those areas that have traditionally been regulated by elected City officials.
Examples of appropriate local decision-making include the determination of whether to allow recreational
marijuana home growing, and local control regarding zoning density, including flexibility relating to
accessory dwelling units.
Protect and Restore Local State -Shared Revenues
The City requests that the Legislature protect and restore local state -shared revenues. These funds include
the Liquor Excise Tax Account ($487,739 in 2018), Liquor Board Profits ($786,251 in 2018), Municipal
Criminal Justice Assistance Account ($567,445 in 2018), City -County Assistance Account ($27,311 in
2018) and Marijuana Revenues ($259,242 in 2018). Specifically, the City supports legislation that removes
the 2011 cap on Liquor Profit revenues to restore the historical 50/50 revenue sharing relationship between
the State and local governments.
Protect Businesses by Reforming State Regulatory Burden
The City strongly supports businesses small and large in our City and across the state, because they are the
lifeblood of our economy. Unfortunately, these businesses are forced to compete in a state regulatory
environment that is increasingly burdensome, making it difficult to compete with businesses in neighboring
states. Of most urgent concern is the regressive state business & occupation tax, as well as reforming the
Department of Children, Youth and Families oversight program. The City supports rebalancing the state-
wide regulatory framework to encourage and support business development and retention.
The City supports AWC legislative agenda items that serve the best interests of Spokane Valley.
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