NEWS Projects, land purchase and crime subjects at March SV council meetings

By John McCallum Current contributor

Feb. 28 regular meeting

Council approved a resolution adopting a special logo for the city’s 20th anniversary celebration. The logo will be a supplement to Spokane Valley’s existing logo, and will be used on most official correspondence through the rest of 2023.

Spokane Valley official incorporated on March 31, 2003.

Council awarded a $782,370.50 contract to Inland Asphalt for the city’s local street preservation project. Inland Asphalt was the lowest of three responsive bidders, the others being Poe Asphalt ($864,303) and Shamrock ($1,367,834).

The contract utilizes a new “unit price” bidding method like what the city now uses for its street and stormwater maintenance and repair contracts, providing various road treatment approaches for multiple locations. The contractor will be assigned work orders for various locations utilizing the unit rates and established quantities.

The contract with Inland Asphalt is not to exceed $1.5 million.

March 7 regular meeting

Council approved the purchase of property at 10303 E. Sprague Ave., across from City Hall and next door to Balfour Park, the new Spokane Valley Library branch and Spokane Valley Fire Station #1.

The 27,130 square foot parcel with a 4,800 square foot building that was formerly the home of the Leather Furniture Gallery was purchased for $790,000. Assistant City Manager Erik Lamb told the council the building would need minor repairs and updating before it could be used for city purposes — something that would be determined through a specific process.

Lamb said the money for the purchase would come out of the city’s general fund as a one-time expense, but that it would not impact funding already designated for other purposes as per the city’s 2023 budget. As such, it would require a budget amendment.

Council approved the Police

Department’s request to purchase a second camera trailer. The trailer — which has a camera mounted on a tall pole and a blue light — will be purchased with $79,840 of $117,848.22 left over from the $750,000 Buckeye Sewer Project.

Police Chief Dave Ellis said they have had great success with the first camera trailer, which was purchased in fall 2022 using American Rescue Plan Act funding, along with an additional $100,000 for emphasis patrols from the $842,857 ARP funding council allocated to the department. The trailer has been a crime deterrent when deployed for several weeks in defined “hot spot” areas and has met with a positive response from the public.

March 14 regular meeting

Council adopted an ordinance regulating the procurement of compost for use on city projects. Community and Public Works Director Bill Helbig said the ordinance is required by state law passed in 2022 with the goal of getting municipalities and governmental agencies to use more compost and finished organic waste product in projects.

The ordinance defines which types of projects will require consideration of compost, exemptions to the requirement due to certain conditions and a requirement to send a report every other year to the state Department of Ecology on the city’s efforts in using these materials.

Council approved closing a portion of Flora Road as part of the city’s obligations on the Barker Road/ BNSF Grade Separation project. Flora will be closed from Garland Avenue to Trent Avenue, with the left and right turn pockets on Trent closed and asphalt pavement from halfway on Flora to Trent removed. The lower portion of Flora remains open to local traffic.

Council approved a staff request to increase the amount of money the city is asking from the Federal Local Bridge Program for use on the Sullivan and Trent Interchange Project. The council approved asking for $10 million from the program at its Feb. 21 meeting, but due to rising construction costs for the Sullivan

Bridge, and a higher maximum limit of $15 million, agreed to increase the request to just over $13.85 million.

Council authorized city staff to apply for federal funding released through the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC). The city will apply for $1.5 million for each of four projects: Sullivan Road (Spokane River – Kiernan), Fancher Road (Broadway – Trent, Sprague – Broadway) and Sprague Avenue (Bowdish – McDonald).

There is $7.9 million in funding available. Awards are capped at $1.5 million per project, with each agency capped at $3 million. A non-federal match of 13.5% is required.

March 21 study session

Council awarded a $232,670.50 contract to Badger Daylighting Corp. for storm drain cleaning services. Badger, a national company with an office in Airway Heights, was the lowest of three responsive bidders, the other two being Big Sky Industrial Services ($243,340) and AAA Sweeping ($246,825.50).

City Engineer Gloria Mantz said the contract is for one year, but carries the option for three, one-year renewals.

Council approved participation in Settlement II of the Distributors Washington Settlement regarding opioids distribution. The city will receive $148,486.91 over 15 years, about $6,000 – $8,000/year, as its

Spokane Valley City share of the $217 million overall settlement with opioid distributors in the state.

Council meetings are moving to CenterPlace Regional Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place, beginning with the April 4 meeting. The meetings are moved due to upcoming repair work at City Hall, and could last the duration of 2023.

The city agreed to participate in the $517 million overall Settlement I in 2022, receiving $147,106.76 over 17 years — $5,000 – $7,000/year. Neither amount is negotiable as they are determined by a complicated, established formula.

Finally, council agreed to the appointment of Mayor Pam Haley and Councilman Tim Hattenburg to serve on a recently created regional homelessness work group. The group is meeting over the next 90 days to determine a regional approach to addressing homelessness, with the city not obligated to take part in any outcomes from the group.

“Participation is to really just to have a seat at the table,” Lamb said.