City maps out priorities for streets, capital facilities By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
As a veteran of municipal public works, Katy Allen knows that proper infrastructure construction requires an efficient blueprint blended with an equally insightful funding strategy.
Now in her fourth year as city administrator of Liberty Lake, Allen helps coordinate a trio of documents that form the outline for road, trail and facility improvements throughout Spokane County's easternmost jurisdiction. At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Allen introduced the latest developments with the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
"These plans need to be current and relevant," Allen told council. "They can get redundant, but our goal is that the plans are consistent and work together."
City Engineer Andrew Staples ran through a list of TIP projects beginning in 2016 and covering a six-year span. The anticipated work falls into three categories – safety, condition of roads and capacity issues. The intersection of Mission and Molter, Staples said, is one example of a junction that will eventually need to be addressed due to future congestion.
One line item on the TIP includes $100,000 for street and pathway upgrades that could emerge based on observations of those who use the routes regularly, Staples pointed out.
"Residents are seeing the need for safety improvements that we haven't necessarily seen ourselves," he said.
When Council Member Shane Brickner pointed out concerns with sight lines at Signal and Appleway, specifically for motorists making a left-hand turn on Appleway, Staples said the city had addressed the issue by ruling out trees and vegetation that had been slated for the site.
While TIP cost estimates are still in the very abstract phase, the total for 18 projects is tabbed at nearly $16 million. The total does not include a price on the proposed Henry Road interchange, a project still being considered for funding by the state legislature.
Street preservation accounts for the largest portion of the TIP budget, weighing in at $2.39 million. Improvements on Country Vista, from Broadway to Liberty Lake Road, have been projected at $1.862 million while a two-phase reconstruction of Liberty Lake Road, from Sprague to Country Vista and from Country Vista to Appleway, carries a price tag of $2.626 million.
Some projects, such as upgrades to Mission Avenue on the north side of the freeway, will be completed by developers, Staples added. The city is in a unique position thanks to a funding mechanism known as the Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT) to have such projects reimbursed.
The TIP is updated annually and is required for the city to qualify for critical state and federal funding support. Staples said the plan would surface again at the second council meeting in June for approval by the governing board.
"This is a schedule of where we expect our transportation projects to be," said Council Member Dan Dunne.
Planning and Building Services Manager Amanda Tainio provided an overview of the CFP on Tuesday, a layered document that includes proposed improvements for parks, utilities, roads, buildings and facilities. Tainio referred to the roof at City Hall as an example of "trying to be proactive about generating project lists."
"Give us feedback," Tainio told council. "If there's something missing, let us know."
The city will also collect input from a new citizen-based steering committee/task force that will recommend ideas for major capital projects like an aquatic facility and community center. The goal is to have the group report their findings in time for the council retreat in August.
"This is our way to get different opinions from all over the city," Allen said. "We don't want this group to make decisions for the planning commission or council, just to identify different options."
Among the major CFP projects over the next six years include a long-discussed upgrade of the flagship building at the Trailhead at Liberty Lake Golf Course. A replacement of the antiquated irrigation system at Trailhead is also on the horizon with a price tag in the neighborhood of $1 million.
Council Member Hugh Severs added his thoughts regarding another future project at Trailhead – safety improvements at the driving range. While council has discussed extending nets and fences to protect passersby from stray golf balls, Severs said the city should also look at limited-distance balls at the practice facility.
Tainio said there has been discussion about adding two more stations to the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course, bringing the total to seven. The sites would be on the north side of the city and honor a fallen police officer and firefighter. Other CFP projects in the potential mix include expansion of the parking lot at the Liberty Lake Ballfields, a pair of community parks in the River District area, improvements to the Nature's Place at Meadowwood arboretum and a community garden at Pavillion Park.
Tainio said a CFP workshop will take place sometime in late July or early August, with approval by council sought by September.
"This is still a very preliminary list," Tainio said. "There will continue to be additions."
In other city news:
• Allen said the city has been working on a wayfinding sign program along with other jurisdictions in Spokane County. The goal is to have a uniform directional approach to public sites like parks, hospitals and libraries.
• A ribbon cutting for a sensory garden at the arboretum will take place at noon May 13. The Liberty Lake Lions Club has been the catalyst for the project.
• The filing deadline for City Council and mayoral candidates in the November general election is May 15. Positions currently held by Mayor Steve Peterson, Mayor Pro Tem Cris Kaminskas and Council Members Bob Moore, Shane Brickner and Dan Dunne will be on the fall ballot.
• Allen said Greg Dohrn, a consultant hired by the city to help with an update of the comprehensive plan, could be brought in as a facilitator for upcoming discussions on proposed changes to the city sign code.
• Paving on Appleway will begin next week with the work expected to take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Allen said the project is running ahead of schedule and could be done by as early as the end of this month.
• The city is considering adding safety improvements such as an illuminated crosswalk at the intersection of Molter and Country Vista.
• The inaugural spring bulky waste cleanup day will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday (May 9) at Town Square Park, 1420 N. Meadowwood Lane. Electronic items will be accepted and Goodwill will be collecting goods like clothing that can be recycled or reused.
• City Hall will host an open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 14.
• Police Chief Brian Asmus swore in the newest LLPD officer, Matthew McKay.
• Allen said the city will close a portion of Liberty Lake Road from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on May 25 as part of the Fallen Heroes ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. The latest addition to the circuit course will honor Army Cpl. Kelly Grothe, a 2007 graduate of Central Valley High School.
• The next City Council meeting will take place 7 p.m. May 19 at City Hall.
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