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2020, 12-15 Special Meeting 4th District LegislatorsAGENDA CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, December 15, 2020 5:00 p.m. SPOKANE VALLEY CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10210 E Sprague Avenue Meeting will be held via ZOOM NOTE: In response to Governor Inslee's March 24, 2020 Proclamation concerning the COVID-19 Emergency, which waives and suspends the requirement to hold in -person meetings and provides options for the public to attend remotely, physical public attendance at Spokane Valley Council meetings are suspended until the Governor's order has been rescinded or amended. Therefore, until further notice, a live feed of the meeting will be available on our web site. • NEW: Join the Zoom WEB Meeting CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL WELCOME: Mayor Wick DISCUSSION: Spokane Valley's 2021 State Legislative Agenda ADJOURN Special Meeting Agenda: 10-22-2020 Spokane ,Valley 10210 East Sprague Avenue • Spokane Valley WA 99206 Phone: (509) 720-5000 • Fax: (509) 720-5075 • www.spokanevalley.org City of Spokane Valley 2021 Legislative Agenda FUNDING REQUESTS Pines Road Grade Separation Project The City requests $19.3 million to construct the Pines Road Grade Separation project. Pines Road is one of the region's key transportation corridors, carrying residential, commercial, and industrial traffic from Trent Avenue (SR 290) across the Spokane River to I-90. This project will provide grade separation at a crossing that 60 trains travel through each day, blocking traffic movements for nearly four hours. The project also improves the intersection of two state highways, Pines Road (SR 27) and Trent Avenue (SR 290). Pines Road is the primary access to almost 230 acres of undeveloped mixed - use, commercial and industrial land. Total project cost is estimated at $29 million. Thus far, the City has secured $9.7 million and project design and right-of-way acquisition are underway. The project will be shovel ready in 2022. The City requests $19.3 million to construct this ready -to -go project. Fairgrounds Exhibition Center The City requests $4 million to construct an Exhibition Center at the Spokane County Fairgrounds, located in the City of Spokane Valley, to spur the local tourism economy. The Exhibition Center would increase the capacity of the Fairgrounds to host regional events and capitalize on existing visitors to the Fairgrounds and Avista Stadium. The building would include space for a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating options. This would provide additional opportunities for destination visits to the site while providing a convenient space for existing patrons to extend their visit. This space could also be used in a variety of ways in future public health or emergency crises from administering tests or inoculations, to storing and distributing personal protective equipment. The building is estimated to cost $10 million. The City has approximately $3 million in lodging tax money set aside. Spokane County would own, maintain, and operate the new facility. Support for the WWRP Program: Flora Road Park/North Bank River Trail Project The City supports funding the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Grant program. In the WWRP local parks grant program, the City is ranked 23 out of 80 to receive a $1 million grant for the Flora Road Park/North Bank River Trail Project to reimburse the City for a portion of the purchase costs. Economic Development Tools The City encourages the Legislature to adopt mechanisms that promote increased economic development within our communities, including local increment financing tools like those that exist in other states and limiting unduly restrictive regulatory burdens on businesses, most importantly on small businesses. Defend Local Control A foundational belief of the Spokane Valley City Council and the citizens they represent is that the most effective level of government is the one closest to the people. As such, the Council urges the Legislature to respect local decision -making Protect and Restore Local State -Shared Revenues The City requests that the Legislature protect and enhance local state -shared revenues to allow the City to deliver vital services to its residents. These funds include the Liquor Excise Tax Account, Liquor Board Profits, Municipal Criminal Justice Assistance Account, City -County Assistance Account, and Marijuana Revenues. The City supports AWC legislative agenda items that serve the best interests of Spokane Valley. Adopted by City Council November 17, 2020 Pines Road/BNSF Railway 5 tiok Grade Separation Project jValley A Bridging the Valley Project Funding Funding need: $19.3 million Other federal funds: $ 5.0 million City funds: $ 4.7 million Total cost: $29.0 million USDOT total benefits: $40.2 million 2023 construction Project focus The Pines Road/BNSF Railway Grade Separation Project is located in Spokane Valley, Wash., a city of nearly 100,000 residents. The city is situated in the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area between Seattle and Minneapolis, and home to several large industrial parks. The project will remove a BNSF transcontinental rail line at -grade crossing at Pines Road (SR 27), one of Spokane Valley's busiest arterial streets. In 2018, the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) rated the Pines Road/BNSF crossing as the highest ranked unfunded Tier 1 rail crossing in the state out of 4,171 total crossings based on freight mobility and safety. Eliminating the crossing is critical to improving vehicle and pedestrian safety, increasing freight mobility and enhancing economic vitality across the region. The crossing is adjacent to the intersection of Pines Road and Trent Avenue (SR 290), which serves 35,000 vehicles per day, including freight trucks traveling from Canada and northern Idaho that connect to Interstate 90. A roundabout will be constructed at this intersection as part of the project. Key improvements • The grade separation project will replace the Pines Road/BNSF crossing with an underpass and redesign the adjacent signalized intersection of Pines and Trent. In conjunction with a grade separation project underway at the nearby Barker Road/BNSF crossing, this project will eliminate three of the city's at -grade crossings (Barker, Flora and Pines). • The crossing is located 200 yards north of Trent Elementary. The new underpass will reduce congestion and improve safety for students, staff and parents. • The existing intersection and BNSF crossing limits development of 170 acres of mixed -use or commercially - zoned property, and 56 acres of prime industrial -zoned property. The project will increase access to this property and generate additional economic development. Project details On average, 60 BNSF freight trains and two Amtrak passenger trains travel through the Pines Road/BNSF at -grade crossing each day. This results in nearly 28,000 vehicle hours of delay each year, and at least seven vehicle collisions from 2015 to 2019. BNSF plans to add a second main track to the existing rail line, possibly as early as 2021. A second track will likely increase train traffic and vehicle delays. The grade separation project also includes construction of a new roundabout at the adjacent intersection of Pines and Trent. There were 46 collisions in or near this intersection from 2015 to 2019. The project supports the "Bridging the Valley" initiative to improve safety, create more effective freight routes and spur economic development in Spokane Valley. Economic benefits Completion of the Pines Road/BNSF project will improve access to 170 acres of nearby mixed -use or commercially - zoned property, and 56 acres of prime industrial -zoned property that is currently undeveloped (see graphic below). The city teamed with ECONorthwest to develop an economic impact analysis that quantified the projected economic and tax impacts of the project: • $1.3 billion in total economic output in Spokane County ($686 million in direct spending) • 8,719 new jobs supported in Spokane County (4,312 direct job impacts) • $8.2 million in new general fund taxes to Spokane Valley (25 years at 4 percent) • $101.9 million in new general fund taxes to Washington State (25 years at 4 percent) Undeveloped Commercial Undeveloped Residential 0 Project Site Undeveloped Properties Pines Road/BNSF crossing Public safety and livability enhancements The project will significantly enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety, likely saving lives. In addition, it will greatly improve neighborhood livability. Overall the project: • Eliminates the Pines Road/BNSF crossing — saving four hours per day (average gate -down time) in vehicle wait time. • Improves commercial and residential traffic flow. • Enhances access to 1-90 and other main arterials in the Spokane Valley transportation network. • Increases access to key emergency services located on the south side of the city. • Enhances access to Trent Elementary for school buses, as well as students and families traveling to and from surrounding neighborhoods. • Eliminates 15 minutes of train horn noise per day at the crossing (based on 60 freight trains and two Amtrak passenger trains per day). Streamlining the approval process for federally -funded transportation projects would make this (and other projects) easier to administer, saving time and money. Federally -funded projects can cost up to 50 percent more and take 50 to 100 percent longer to deliver because of constant and extensive changes to the federal requirements. Initiatives to streamline review and approval processes for transportation projects should be a top congressional priority. City of Spokane Valley 10210 E. Sprague Avenue Spokane Valley, WA 99206 509-720-5000 www.spokanevalley.org/pinesBNSF Washington State 112320 Spokane � Spokane County >�w,FAIR&EXPO Regional Expo Expansion The City of Spokane Valley and Spokane County are proposing to construct a new 32,300-square-foot conference building at the Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana Street, in Spokane Valley. The building will create additional space and versatility at the center, increasing its ability to attract and support multiple conferences and special events. It is estimated the expanded facility would generate $3.9 million in new visitor spending annually. In addition to boosting the economy, the building will provide a new and exciting showpiece for the Fair and Expo Center, which has not experienced any significant investment in more than 15 years. The Fair and Expo Center sits on 97 acres along Spokane Valley's western boundary. Spokane County will provide the land for the new building; Fair and Expo staff will maintain, manage and market it. The building is envisioned to be attached to the northwest corner of the existing facility. It will include new conferencing space, a full -service restaurant, administrative and ticket sales offices, and a stylish entry that welcomes visitors. A northwest view of the new building. Visitors will use the front entry to access conference events, but an adjacent outside entrance will remain for entry into the fair. Main Entry W Y4 E. Broadway Ave. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ©o o u Secondary -- Entry /II/ / I: Fence and Fairgrounds Access Gate ley T- Exh ,it Loading The new building will be attached to the northwest corner of the existing expo building. Projected cost and funding The city estimates the building would cost about $10 million to construct on land currently owned by the county. To date, the city has set aside $2.9 million in lodging tax proceeds to utilize for construction. The city is requesting a $4 million capital appropriation from the state. If approved, the city would bond the remaining balance of the required construction funds. Fair and Expo Center expansion Lodging Tax proceeds City bonds Capital budget request $ 2.9 million $ 3.1 million $ 4.0 million Total cost: $10.0 million ') ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ,♦ SECOND FLOOR ♦ J Outdoor Seating Restaurant 4,000 sf Meeting Room #1 4,000 sf 2-Sto Lobby Exhibit Hall Below C Lobby 2,000 sf Exhibit Hall 16,000 sf 1 Meeting Room #5 800 sf • ♦ Meeting Room #4 1,000 sf Meeting Room #2 1,000sf Meeting Room #3 1,000 sf - Facility history Operated by the county, the Fair and Expo Center has a long and successful history of hosting events in Spokane Valley, including RV, auto and boat shows; equestrian events; and hobby, craft and vintage shows. The facility boasts 140,000-square-feet of indoor exhibit space, a 5,200-seat grandstand arena, and livestock facilities for the fair, which will celebrate its 70th year in 2021. An expansion of the Fair and Expo Center aligns with the City of Spokane Valley's economic and tourism strategy. In 2015, a formal study completed by the city's consultant, Community Attributes Inc., identified a strong connection between retail and tourism development. An analysis of retail sectors showed the city lagged behind in retail sales per capita in tourism -related sectors, including accommodations (lodging establishments), food services and drinking places, and performing arts/spectator sports. In partnership with the county, the city began exploring the concept of expanding the center in 2017. New spaces A preliminary footprint of the floor plan for the 32,300-square-foot expansion includes: • An additional 16,000-square-foot exhibit hall for trade shows and large events, and 7,800 square feet in smaller conference rooms (2nd floor). • A 4,000-square-foot, full -service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. • An office for administration, 2,500 square foot. • A 2,000-square-foot lobby that welcomes guests and conference attendees. The building entrance will face E. Broadway Avenue. Building benefits The existing Fair and Expo Center is primarily limited to hosting trade show events and lacks the versatility to provide smaller rooms for meetings and conferences. The expansion would create a multi -use facility designed to: • host single events that require both trade show space and small conference rooms. • host multiple groups/events at one time through improved flexibility in dividing and using space. • provide on -site restaurant service to conference attendees or ball park visitors. Currently, the area is generally limited to fast food establishments. • provide on -site catering for corporate events, fundraising events, small private parties and celebrations. • host regional distribution/health testing/inoculation events to meet future public health needs. The expansion will positively impact the local economy. In addition to the increased visitor spending noted earlier, it is estimated the new building would operate at a profit. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center 404 N. Havana Street Spokane Valley, WA 99202 509-477-1766 Spokane jValley City of Spokane Valley 10210 E. Sprague Avenue Spokane Valley, WA 99206 spokanevalley.org 509-720-5000 11.18.20