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Council makes concession on stand, passes budget
12/17/2014 5:08:58 PM
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
Light refreshments were served at City Hall prior to the Liberty Lake City Council meeting on Tuesday night as part of a holiday reception.
Later, a discussion concerning a permanent refreshment stand just to the east rang with little hint of seasonal cheer.
By the end of the evening, council emerged with a budget for 2015, but not before a chippy interchange over proposed funding for a concession stand at Pavillion Park, an idea that was rejected by the governing board at its Dec. 2 meeting.
Ultimately, council voted 5-2 to set aside $5,000 in next year's budget for a consultant to offer insight on the project. The amount joined several last-minute additions for 2015, including $3,000 for the lodging tax fund; $10,000 for public health services and another $5,000 for the return of Liberty Lake Days, bringing the total budget for next year's community celebration to $30,000.
Also on Tuesday, council approved a budget amendment to move $430,000 from the general fund to the Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT), a funding mechanism for public infrastructure improvements in the River District development on the north side of the city. An increase in sales tax and permitting revenue accounted for the shift.
Along with $61,000 from the stormwater fund and aquifer protection fund and $100,000 already budgeted in 2014 from the general fund, the city will write a check to the LIFT fund, facilitated by Spokane County, for $591,000. Add in another $409,000 from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund and the city will reach the $1 million plateau that qualifies for a match from the state.
City Administrator Katy Allen reintroduced the concession stand concept on Tuesday, apologizing for not providing more details on the $85,000 project when it came before council earlier this month. Allen and Police Chief Brian Asmus met with several council members in the days after the decision on Dec. 2.
"We realized that we, as a staff, needed to do more work and bring something back to council for consideration," Allen said. "We haven't done a great job of providing information."
Allen said the revised plan could include additions like a storage facility and increased restroom space, additions that Council Member Odin Langford found problematic.
"It's amazing that this can happen," Langford said. "Now we have all these add-ons. I'm very sure we'll get something back that is much more expensive than what was originally proposed."
Council Member Keith Kopelson, who spoke out firmly against the capital expenditure on Dec. 2, asked Allen who had brought the topic back for discussion and why.
"I'll take responsibility for that," Allen said. "I don't think we developed enough of a project for what was being proposed."
Mayor Pro Tem Cris Kaminskas said she was aware of the need for improved facilities at the park, adding that her vote against the project on Dec. 2 was "based on a lack of information and a lack of previous meetings on the project."
Council Member Hugh Severs said he had heard a considerable amount of support from residents over the past two weeks.
"Since that came up at the last meeting, there has been a lot of community involvement," Severs said.
Questioning the way the project was organized and presented, Langford said he was disappointed in the lack of transparency from city staff.
"There was no openness," Langford said. "Not once, if this was such an important project, did anyone do the research on how it was going to be built."
Mayor Steve Peterson, who included the project in his original budget, said council could have raised more questions going back to the time he submitted his outline for 2015 spending on Oct. 21.
Council Member Shane Brickner referred to the example of Town Square Park in his perspective on the concession stand. After originally opposing the park idea, Brickner said his opinion changed after talking with residents at a city booth set up at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market.
"I think the main reason we voted no on this one is lack of information," Brickner said.
Allen said staff would return with a more detailed proposal on the concession stand at a meeting in January.
In other city news:
* The city distributed its annual awards to staff on Tuesday. City Horticulturist Joice Cary was honored with the Mayor's Recognition Award. "If you look around, you see her work everywhere," Peterson said. "She is very deserving of this award." Trevor Ragan was recognized for five years of service with the city on the grounds maintenance side. Georgette Rogers of the Liberty Lake Library earned her 10-year recognition.
* The Liberty Lake Police Department also handed out accolades for 2014 on Dec. 2 with Officer Jeff Jones earning both the Sergeant's Award and Officer of the Year. LLPD Chaplain John Thompson was named Volunteer of the Year and Sgt. Darin Morgan emerged with the Chief's Award. Brickner, who serves on a part-time basis with LLPD in addition to his council duties, was named Reserve Officer of the Year.
* Council voted unanimously to accept a $1.4 million grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board for a massive upgrade of Liberty Lake Road. The $1.8 million project is slated for 2016.
* Council awarded the contract for the renovation of Appleway Avenue – set for next year – to Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. in the amount of $1,660,761.57.
* Council authorized staff to purchase bleachers to be installed at Liberty Lake Ballfields next year. The set of half-a-dozen stands – three for each field – will run $12,600.
* Allen provided an update on potential revisions to the municipal sign code, telling council that the planning commission met on Dec. 10 to discuss the proposed changes but would likely not reach a decision until its next meeting on Jan. 14. Council will then have an opportunity to evaluate the recommendations and make its own decision, which will be binding.
* The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at City Hall.
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