Safety Awareness Channel

The maps provided depict where citizens have reported Vehicle Thefts, Burglaries, Malicious Mischief and Thefts. The Spokane Valley Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s office analyze this data to determine high crime areas and where to allocate resources. Citizens who have been a victim of crime are encouraged to call 911, if the crime is in progress, or Crime Check at 4562233, if not in progress, to report a crime.

Safety Tip Of The Month

March Home Maintenance Checklist

Current news sources

1. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Hold the test button down until you hear a loud siren. If you don’t hear anything, replace the battery. We also recommend replacing your CO detectors and smoke alarms once every decade.

2. Update the outside

Inspect roofing

Look for leaks and missing, damaged, or loose shingles. Ice dams that formed over the winter can damage your roof and lead to expensive repairs down the road.

Test your garage door

Make sure the auto-reverse feature works by placing an object underneath the garage door. If the door doesn’t reverse when it encounters the obstacle, it requires too much force and should be repaired.

Check exterior damage

Look for leaves or vegetation and clear any debris to make sure water flows freely.

Get your air conditioning system serviced

This will ensure it’s working properly for the hot months to come.

Repair or replace damaged window screens

This will help protect your home from outside bugs and critters. Add door and window sensors for a little extra security.

Clean road salt from entrances

This is important to avoid damaging concrete, asphalt, and wood. Road salt can also damage pets’ feet, so be sure to keep your walkway clear once the snow and ice is gone.

3. Fix up living areas

Clean the fireplace

This helps prevent soot accumulation, which could fuel a chimney fire. It’s also smart to make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand to keep near your fireplace.

Check electrical outlets

Ensure they’re not overloaded to prevent an electrical shortage or power outage. Outlet safety covers are also a good step to take when babyproofing your home or keeping curious little fingers away from danger.

Check caulking

Fix caulking on weather stripping and windows to prevent drafts or water from getting in your home. Add a water leak detector under your sink or the hot water heater to prevent pooling and other water damage.

Change furnace filters

This will keep airflow unobstructed. If the furnace is clogged, it has to work harder, which will cause it to wear out faster.

Flush hot water heater

Remove sediment so your water heater keeps performing at its best. Sediment buildup makes it harder for the heater to heat the same amount of water.

Clean the washing machine and dryer

This helps remove odors and keeps the machines running smoothly.

Valley council approves construction funding, stormwater control

By John McCallum Current Contributor

This past month the Spokane Valley City Council adopted measures dealing with issues ranging from construction to stormwater discharge enforcement and closing city-owned property.

Construction

Spokane Valley is casting its net in search of some federal funding for upcoming road projects.

At the Feb. 21 study session, Council approved city staff’s request to apply for funding from the 2024 Congressionally Direct Spending request process. The city will apply for $3 million for each of the following projects:

Bigelow-Sullivan Corridor: Sullivan/Trent Interchange

South Barker Road Corridor

Argonne Bridge at I-90

Spokane Valley has already secured over $18.21 million funding in various amounts for each project, and would be required to provide a 13.5% non-federal match if awarded funding. Engineering Manager Adam Jackson said the city has been successful with receiving funding from this program in the past.

Also on Feb. 21, Council authorized staff to apply for a $10 million grant from the Federal Local Bridge Program for the Sullivan/ Trent Interchange. The program does not require a specific nonfederal match, and Jackson said the project “will compete well” for the funding.

At the Jan. 31 session, Council approved a funding application from the federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) Program for the Sullivan/Trent Interchange project. Spokane Valley will ask for just over $17.21 million of the project’s almost $42.63 million estimated cost.

Also at the Jan. 31 session, Council approved a $349,760 contract to NA Degerstrom for reconstruction of the Mission Avenue bridge deck over Evergreen Road.

The project is $133,654 over the engineering estimate of $216,106.50 — over half of which is due to differences in actual cost and estimates of the polymer overlay for the bridge. The bid is within the project budget, however, due to a $433,248 grant from the Federal Highway Bridge Program.

Finally, Council adopted an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) regarding the crossing on Barker Road at Euclid Avenue, allowing the estimated $3 million corridor improvement project to continue while the two parties resolve a federal lawsuit. The city is required to execute an at-grade crossing agreement with UPRR as part of the project, but a 2021 agreement draft contained UPRR language requiring the city pay $8,670 per year for maintenance of the crossing signal.

The city objected, noting it does not pay for maintenance at other signal crossings. In 2022, the Utilities and Transportation Commissioned ruled for the city, but UPRR has appealed the ruling’s validity to federal court.

The agreement also states the city will pay for signal improvements and right of way purchase, increasing the project cost by $678,658.84 total; an amount anticipated and included in secured federal and state funding.

At the Feb. 7 meeting, council approved two change orders for the Barker Road/BNSF grade separation project. One order for $12,897.11 involves costs for reviewing the contractor’s temporary erosion control plan while the other for $208,953 is for standby, rental and overhead costs associated with the delay with BNSF in reviewing bridge footing plans and work.

The changes bring the total project cost to over $13.29 million; $1,434,364 over the original bid of $11.637 million by Max J. Kuney Company in January 2021. The city has secured $26 million in funding for the project, but city engineer Gloria Mantz said that doesn’t mean there is $13 million left in funding.

Councilman Ben Wick noted there are two more grade-separation projects to be built, and wondered if future contract language could limit the number of change orders.

Ordinances

Council passed two ordinances at its Jan. 31 session. Ordinance 23-003 dealt with city-owned property not designated for public use.

The ordinance specified motor vehicles placed on these properties are subject to impoundment, deemed any non-park property acquired by the city closed and set up a $149 plus court costs, fees and assessments fine for any violation.

Ordinance 23-004, which amends Chapter 22.150 of the city’s code in order to install an implementation and enforcement program “to prevent, detect, trace and eliminate illicit connections and discharges” into the city’s system, was adopted after Council moved for adoption on the first reading. The implementation and enforcement program is required by the city’s Phase II Municipal Stormwater (MS4) Permit and the Department of Ecology.

New language requires the city manage increased stormwater and surface water runoff from private property, along with language for management standards, review process, conditions of approval and deviations and appeals. It lists water discharges exempt from the prohibitions as well as prohibited non-stormwater discharges.

It also spells out water treatment requirements for swimming pools, hot tub, spas and other uses that control dust or wash down facilities. Language allows the city to enter private property for enforcement purposes, and if necessary, require third-party annual inspection of uses to ensure compliance with standards.

At the Feb. 7 meeting, Council adopted on first reading Ordinance 23-005 which revises Chapter 19.300 by providing criteria used in considering privately-initiated, sitespecific land use map amendments and zoning map amendments. A review of the chapter indicated a lack of criteria could allow more intense zoning and land use designations to intrude into less dense uses.

Coming up…

The following items are tentatively scheduled for upcoming meetings. Items can be deleted or added as needed.

March 7 — Action item on closing Flora Road between Trent and Garland; non-action reports from the Sports Commission, potential airport expansion and alternates being considered by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and discussion of a compost procurement ordinance.

March 14 — Consider a motion on a potential grant opportunity with the Spokane Regional Transportation Council’s call for projects, first reading compost procurement ordinance.

March 21 – Update on STA’s new strategic plan, compost procurement ordinance, consideration of a local access preservation services contract bid award.

March 28 – Meeting cancelled.

Spokane Valley council deals with housing density, homelessness

ByJohn McCallum Current Contributor

For the Spokane Valley City Council, the word “home” is a knife cutting two ways.

One way involves what to do to help city of Spokane Valley residents who are homeless through services and other steps.

The other deals with physical homes and a bill rapidly making its way through the Washington State Legislature that would change practices for single-family zoning that could virtually eliminate the concept.

Single-family zoning changes

Proposed by 22nd District Democrat Rep. Jessica Bateman, House Bill 1110 would change R-1 zoning by requiring cities increase their lot densities through more units per lot, referred to as “middle housing,” than the current single home. The bill is supported by social justice and environmental groups along with builders and Realtor organizations.

With a population of more than 75,000 residents, Spokane Valley would be required to allow at least four units per lot in R-1 zones, at least six units per lot within a half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or community amenity and at six units per lot if at least two are affordable housing.

A substitute bill passed out of the Committee on Housing allows any type of middle housing — duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouses, etc. — as part of the lot requirements. It also specifies the square footage of affordable units be equal to the average square footage of market-rate units on the lot.

Standards for middle housing must not be more restrictive than those for single-family, detached homes. The bill also puts requirements on off-street parking, which must be allowed and requires a maximum of 1-2 off-street parking spaces per unit.

Both city staff and councilmembers expressed concerns about HB1110. Planning Manager Chaz Bates said it would require big changes in the city’s municipal code housing sections that include removing portions of that chapter, permitted uses matrix changes and modifications to offstreet parking requirements. It would also require regulations for singlefamily housing that are currently exempt from shoreline regulations.

City Manager John Hohman said if the proposed bill passes it would undo almost 20 years of work the city has done in planning.

“This is not smart growth,” Councilman Tim Hattenburg said.

“This is a slap in the face to our staff and what we’ve been doing in the city of Spokane Valley.”

Councilman Ben Wick noted the bill specifies units per lot while Spokane Valley uses units per acre, asking what the difference is. Bates said she hasn’t been able to identify the difference.

Councilman Arne Woodard, who testified about the bill during committee in Olympia, said he is worried about impacts the proposed density increases will have on the city’s infrastructure — including utilities and emergency services. These infrastructures, including traffic entry and egress from some subdivisions, are based upon singlefamily density, and could need to be resized and replaced in some cases.

“This severely impacts Spokane Valley,” Councilwoman Brandi Peetz said, calling the proposal an “unfunded mandate” from the state.

According to the bill’s fiscal note, the state has estimated implementing the measures would require a budget of just over $1.9 million in the 2023-2025 biennium, and around $1.56 million –$1.57 million from 2025 – 2029. The money would be used to fund 5.6 full-time equivalent employees in the Department of Commerce, and a .1 FTE employee in the Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office who would technically assist cities with implementing changes.

The bill does include language whereby cities could delay or modify the requirements with alternate criteria if they can show empirical evidence such changes are needed.

The substitute bill with amendments from public comment passed out of the Committee on Housing and was scheduled for an executive session in Appropriations on Feb. 23.

Considering a regional approach to homelessness

Spokane Valley has been working on its plan to address homelessness in the city, and was recently asked by the city of Spokane to join it and the Spokane County Commissioners on a work group that will come up with a regional approach to the issue. A volunteer group of three former city of Spokane officials is working to establish the work group consisting of elected officials and staff from each of the three municipalities to conduct a 90-day “due diligence” study of how such an agency might be created and organized.

The work group’s findings at the end of the 90 days would be presented to each entity for further discussion and consideration.

Originally presented at the Spokane Valley City Council’s Jan. 31 meeting, further discussion on joining in the process was pushed to the Feb. 7 meeting so staff could gather more information about what was being proposed, including a work group rollout announcement press release. At the Feb. 7 meeting, council still had reservations about what was being proposed and was to be said in the press release, noting that it should be about a regional rather than county approach and questioning the feasibility of proposed community forums and receiving and evaluating public comments within the 90-day period.

City staff forwarded the council’s comments to the volunteer group, who incorporated most of them into a revised press release, which the council reviewed at its Feb. 21 and was mostly pleased with the revision. A decision to join in the effort was postponed, however, until it was known whether the other two entities would take action on the joint statement.

The city is holding a public meeting to take input on its proposed Homeless Action Plan. The meeting takes place from 4 – 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Center Place Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Written comments on the plan are accepted through March 10 at erobison@spokanevalley. org.