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Appleway wraps up well below budget
6/17/2015 2:01:02 PM
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
There is typically a chorus of celebration at Liberty Lake City Hall when a major street project draws to completion. When that work chimes in far below the anticipated budget, the refrain is even more joyous.
Such is the case with a massive upgrade of Appleway Avenue that began in late March and is now finished other than the addition of street lighting and pedestrian crossings. At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, City Administrator Katy Allen reported that renovation of the east/west thoroughfare will come in 12.5 percent or $271,000 under budget, numbers that weren't lost on those around the dais, including Council Member Bob Moore.
"I know I've been critical of budget amendments and capital projects going over budget, but I want to congratulate city staff on being under budget for the Appleway project," Moore said.
Initially tabulated at $2.16 million, the overhaul of Appleway will emerge with a final price tag of $1.89 million. The work included repaving from Liberty Lake Road to Fairway Lane along with landscaping, lighting, pedestrian safety improvements and medians. City Engineer Andrew Staples served as the project manager with Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. handling contractor duties.
The project budget featured a blend of $974,223 from the state Transportation Improvement Board and $916,819 from the city's 3 percent utility tax on cable, gas, electric, phone and waste collection services. Allen said the savings will be reflected both on the TIB side and in city coffers.
Also on Tuesday, Jen Camp, Parks and Open Space superintendent, told council that the landscaping improvements along Appleway will require less maintenance and lower costs than some might speculate. Camp said that while it would take a year to determine the specific budget, care was taken to install a cost-efficient irrigation system and low-maintenance foliage along the street.
"We worked with the landscape architect before the project to make sure of that," Camp said.
A dedication ceremony for the refurbished rendition of Appleway is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. July 11.
Library annual report
Half of the crowd at Tuesday's council meeting consisted of volunteers and board members associated with the Liberty Lake Municipal Library. Carol Johns, representing the library's board of trustees, provided a detailed annual report that featured no shortage of good news from the city's bastion of literature.
The library had 59,224 patron visits in 2014 and a total of 131,220 check-outs. Attendance for a myriad of programs checked in at 5,871, with 756 enrolled in summer reading. The shift away from paper continues at the library with 63 percent of the collection now digital.
To illustrate the diversity of programming, Johns told council that, this week alone, the library would host meetings of the Needlework Society, the Spokane Valley Writers Group, the Sandy Beach Homeowners' Association and the Tweens Book Club as well as three story times for kids. A gathering of the Lego Club, a superhero training academy and a Dads and Donuts event observing Father's Day is also on this week's schedule.
The number of annual visits to the library has nearly tripled since 2005. Johns said library staff and supporters realize the current site will need to be re-evaluated as the city continues to grow. Work continues on a strategic plan that Johns said is focused on "answering some of the questions the library has going into the future."
"We think this library is a wonderful space, but we do have concerns about the future and meeting the needs of the community," she said.
A few of the highlights from last year included a display of historical collages showcasing local history, the development of a cybersmart program for teens and a sold-out Friends of the Library annual tea event.
"We'd like to thank the city for dedicating the resources we need for the library and for your continued support," Johns said.
In other city news:
• A date and time have been confirmed for the annual City Council retreat. The governing board will convene at 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at City Hall to discuss an agenda that includes the comprehensive plan, the sign code, direction on an aquatic center, community center and new library as well as an update of council priorities.
• Allen said the city has put a burn ban in place based on a recommendation from the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Hot, dry conditions mean a sanction against outside burning.
• Camp said that a gingko tree damaged by vandalism last month at Town Square Park may not be replaced until this fall or even next spring. The city needs to find a suitable replacement that fits the site where the original tree stood, Camp said, at a cost of around $300. Several other trees were also bent in the incident. Camp reminded residents that any destruction of property should be reported immediately by calling 911.
• Tami Yager of Waste Management Inc. presented contributions of $2,000 to Jeff Duncan of Liberty Lake Rotary and $1,000 to Joe Frank of Friends of Pavillion Park. Duncan proceeded to donate the Rotary funds to the Fallen Heroes committee, Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library and Honor Flight.
• Mayor Steve Peterson reminded property owners in the city to return the reimbursement notices recently mailed out by Spokane County in a settlement involving noxious weed enforcement. The city initiated a class action suit against the county for fees paid by local property owners from 2011 to 2013. The suit resulted in a decision to reimburse property owners in Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley and unincorporated Spokane County property owners as well as a revised approach to collection of the fees that will be equitable countywide. Although the amount of $4.68 is minimal, Peterson said, "This is to ensure that the funds are returned to those who paid them," Peterson said.
• Council voted unanimously to side with the county hearing examiner on a decision to remand the Trutina preliminary plat for an additional public hearing. Concern arose that a notice regarding the property had not been posted for the required 14 days. The plot of just over 137 acres sits north of Indiana and east of Harvard and is slated for 400 lots, 363 of which would be residential. The next public hearing will take place 2 p.m. June 24 at City Hall.
• Mayor Pro Tem Cris Kaminskas gave a finance committee report noting the city's debt on Trailhead Golf Course will be paid off in two years. Overall, the city's debt stands at $1.2 million. Kaminskas said the city continues to keep an eye on budget talks in Olympia with the state legislature in extended session. Decisions on the state liquor tax and the transportation budget will have a particular impact on the city.
• The next meeting of a citizen-based steering committee/task force on capital projects will take place 6 p.m. today (June 17) at City Hall, with local architect Gary Bernardo providing an overview of options for the 6.4 acres owned by the city along Meadowwood Lane. Allen noted that most major capital projects like an aquatic center or community center eventually go to voters for a decision on bond funding.
• Due to an unusually light agenda, the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on July 6 has been cancelled. Council will meet again on at 7 p.m. July 21 at City Hall.
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