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Council closing in on budget approval
12/3/2014 4:42:39 PM
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
"MBQ." The term has become a new holiday tradition at Liberty Lake City Hall, right alongside festive decorations and cheerful edicts to disperse sand on local roadways.
In response to the preliminary budget crafted by Mayor Steve Peterson, the City Council has the opportunity to submit mayor's budget questions, or MBQs, a series of inquiries that shed light on expenditures proposed – and even offer some of their own – for the upcoming year. At Tuesday's council meeting, Finance Director R.J. Stevenson led the governing board through each of the 32 MBQs that have emerged over the past several weeks.
By the end of the discussion, the 2015 budget had a slightly different look.
A few changes had already made the list before Tuesday, including the reduction of the wage for a part-time city planner by $12,000 and the transfer of $60,000 from a building/planning fund to the administrative/facilities account in anticipation of projects that might include a community center, aquatic facility or an upgrade to the aging building on the grounds of Trailhead Golf Course. The final budget shift included the addition of another $85,000 to fund a restroom/storage facility at the Liberty Lake Ballfields, a project with an overall pricetag of $245,000.
Last night, Council Member Keith Kopelson proposed that the city set aside $10,000 in the budget for causes that would benefit the community. Kopelson's campaign began with a request for $2,500 toward the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, a nonprofit founded in 1982 that facilitates programs to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse, impaired driving and other issues.
Ultimately, council moved ahead with the $10,000 inclusion with the understanding that criteria would be clearly defined for groups and causes who wished to apply for the funds.
By a vote of 4-3, council voted to retain a different $10,000 for an electric car charging station, despite concerns by Council Member Odin Langford that the idea "was not going to benefit the majority of the community." Funding for a new backlit sign at Liberty Lake Library also made the cut.
The notion of constructing a permanent concession stand at Pavillion Park failed to muster sufficient support around the dais, however. The decision to delete the $85,000 project drew sharp criticism from those in attendance on Tuesday, including Charmaine Peterson and Mike Kennedy who both urged council to reconsider the idea before the final budget is approved.
Another building project at a different greenspace was more fortunate on Tuesday. Council gave its blessing to a shade and seating structure at newly constructed Town Square Park. The project will run $45,000 and resemble a scaled down version of the picnic structure at Rocky Hill Park.
It appears the city will keep funds on hand next year for the possible addition of a full-time employee who would help facilitate the new waste management plan, among other duties. Council also approved the appropriation of $125,000 in a contingency fund for issues that arise such as roof repair at the library earlier this year.
It seems the addition of a pair of police vehicles will be included in the expenditures for 2015. Also earning council endorsement on Tuesday was $30,000 for a staff vehicle. It appears the summer celebration known as Liberty Lake Days will make a triumphant return next year after a hiatus in 2014. Council unanimously supported funding in the amount of $30,000 for the event that could be expanded from two days to three.
Municipal staff will bring back the revised 2015 budget for council review and a possible vote on Dec. 16. The city has until Dec. 31 to approve the document.
Fallen Heroes update
Members of the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course committee provided an update to council on Tuesday. Bob Wiese, the former Marine who has led the group, expressed appreciation to the city for stepping up with funding for the first three installments at Rocky Hill, Pavillion Park and Town Square.
"We're thankful for the leadership of the council, your vote for these dollars and your support of this," Wiese said.
The latest Fallen Heroes site was dedicated on Veterans Day in honor of Navy Corpsman Greg Vercruysse who lost his life in the Vietnam War. Peterson read a note of appreciation from Greg's brother and mother on Tuesday.
"The direct reward we've received as a committee is getting to know these families," Wiese said.
The final two stations will honor Fallen Heroes from the Army and Coast Guard. The Army site will be located at the trail channel outlet near the Trailhead golf course with a target completion date of Memorial Day 2015. The Coast Guard location will be at the arboretum near City Hall and should be finished by fall of next year.
In addition to financial support from the city, FHCCC has raised nearly $14,000 for the project. A total of 28 corporate sponsors have contributed donations. When all five stations are done, the course will cover a distance of 5.58 miles and include 35 pieces of exercise equipment.
Wiese said the completed course will mean the opportunity to host organized events throughout the year. The city has also applied to be included on national list of outdoor fitness demonstration sites.
Sign code update
The community development committee reported on Tuesday that it has reviewed recommendations from Studio Cascade regarding changes to the city's sign code. City Administrator Katy Allen said the proposed shifts would include allowing electronic changeable message signs in certain areas such as along Interstate 90. Signage along the Appleway and Country Vista business corridors could also utilize electronic messaging. A community-oriented sign of the same ilk has also been recommended as has a clarification of the policies for wall signage.
The document will go to the planning commission next for review. It will then be forwarded to council for final approval. The city has until next April to make any changes to the signage portion of the comprehensive plan.
"I want this change to be thorough and thoughtful," Allen said.
In other city news:
• Council authorized the mayor to move ahead with a three-year agreement for snow removal with longtime city contractor Peplinski Construction. Several council members had expressed concern at the Nov. 18 meeting with the lack of a competitive bid process. City Engineer Andrew Staples reported on Tuesday that Peplinski's prices for sanding and de-icing are lower that the rates charged by Spokane County. The city did reach an understanding with the Newman Lake company on a contract that will be 5 percent higher, as opposed the 10 percent that was originally proposed. "This is why I and other members of the council brought this up," said Kopelson.
• Allen reported on a pre-construction meeting held earlier in the day on the Appleway Avenue reconstruction project set for next year. The $1.85 million agenda will include pavement overlay as well as the addition of medians and vegetation. The city will be responsible for 35 percent of the overall cost following a grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). Allen said bids for the work should be announced by Dec. 9.
• In other street improvement news, the city received approval of its application to TIB for a grant that will support repaving, new signals, lighting improvements and landscaping on Liberty Lake Road from Appleway to Country Vista scheduled for 2016. The grant will cover $1.4 million of the $1.8 million cost.
• Allen said the Department of Ecology has given the OK stamp to the city's solid waste management plan. Liberty Lake is now one of only three cities in Washington to have its own plan in place. Allen gave credit to City Clerk Ann Swenson "for leading the charge" on the process.
• Linda Thompson, executive director of the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, gave council an overview of the agency's mission on Tuesday. GSSAC was founded in 1982 and facilitates programs such as the DUI Victims Panel and Washington Drug Free Youth. Thompson thanked the city for its "thoughtfulness in looking very effectively" at the impacts of Initiative 502.
• Council heard a report from Jim Nelson with DA Davidson on municipal bond financing. Allen said the information would be helpful as the city "looks at some of the projects we have and some of the financing options that exist."
• The Liberty Lake Winter Festival will begin at 5:30 p.m. this Friday at City Hall.
• The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 16.
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