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Council approves 2015 budget with no shortage of debate
12/29/2014 2:57:28 PM
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
The proposed 2015 budget that entered December looked a bit different than the version that eventually was approved Dec. 16. A pair of City Council meetings full of debate and discussion made sure of that.
Perhaps no line item received as much whiplash as a proposal to construct a permanent concession stand at Pavillion Park, which was voted out of the budget Dec. 2 only to receive a bit of a lifeline Dec. 16.
The decision to delete the $85,000 project drew sharp criticism from several citizens on Dec. 2, including Charmaine Peterson and Mike Kennedy, who both urged council to reconsider the idea. Reconsider it the Council did on Dec. 16, but not without a chippy interchange and split vote on a compromise measure. Ultimately, council voted 5-2 to set aside $5,000 in the 2015 budget for a consultant to offer insight on the project.
City Administrator Katy Allen reintroduced the concession stand concept on Dec. 16, apologizing for not providing more details on the $85,000 project when it came before council earlier in the 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 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."
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."
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.
Of course, the concession stand wasn't the season's only budget deliberation. A few changes had already made the list prior to December, 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.
Kopelson proposed 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 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.
Another building project at a different greenspace was more fortunate on Dec. 2. 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.
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.
The addition of a pair of police vehicles was also included in the expenditures for 2015. Also earning council endorsement on Dec. 2 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.
Several last-minute additions made the 2015 budget at the Dec. 16 meeting, including $3,000 for the lodging tax fund and $10,000 for public health services.
Council also 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.
Sign code deliberation
The community development committee reported at the Dec. 2 meeting 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 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.
At the Dec. 16 council meeting, Allen provided an update on potential revisions to the 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. A workshop on the city sign code is scheduled for Jan. 20 with Studio Cascade. Council will then have an opportunity to evaluate the recommendations and make its own decision, which will be binding.
"I want this change to be thorough and thoughtful," Allen said.
• • •
In the Books, On the Docket
A look back and ahead at news from City Hall
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
IN THE BOOKS (DECEMBER)
• City 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 Dec. 2 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 to the 10 percent increase that was originally proposed. "This is why I and other members of the council brought this up," Council Member Keith Kopelson said.
• City Administrator Katy Allen reported on a pre-construction meeting held Dec. 2 regarding the 2015 Appleway Avenue reconstruction project. 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).
• 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, a project 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 Dec 2. 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.
• Members of the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course committee provided an update to council on Dec. 2. 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. 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.
• The city distributed its annual awards to staff on Dec. 16. 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. 16, 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. Shane Brickner, who serves on a part-time basis with LLPD in addition to his City Council duties, was named Reserve Officer of the Year.
• Dan Wilson, formerly of the Spokane Police Department, was sworn in as a reserve officer with LLPD.
• Council awarded a $1.66 million contract for the renovation of Appleway Avenue to Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. on Dec. 16.
• Council authorized staff to purchase bleachers to be installed at Liberty Lake Ballfields in 2015. The set of half-a-dozen stands - three for each field - will run $12,600.
• Council unanimously adopted a solid waste management plan related to the contract with Waste Management Inc.
ON THE DOCKET (JANUARY)
• Council will discuss a resolution on Jan. 6 to take an affirmative stand on the Central Valley School District capital bond initiative scheduled for the Feb. 6 ballot.
• Council will vote on an agreement with Gregg Dorhn and Associates to assist in updating the city's comprehensive plan and authorizing Mayor Peterson to finalize the agreement.
• The council agenda on Jan. 6 includes a first-read ordinance implementing additional buffer zones banning the processing, producing and retailing of marijuana related to I-502.
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