Valley council moves code amendments to second reading

The Spokane Valley City Council moved efficiently through several routine items Tuesday, including a city code amendment that will make a variety of changes.

The council voted unanimously with Mayor Tom Towey absent to advance the ordinance containing the amendments to a second reading. The changes would allow the placement of used manufactured homes in manufactured home subdivisions. They are different from manufactured home parks in that the land is owned by the person living on it, not leased.

The other changes would allow home occupancy in all legally permitted homes, not just those in residential zones, and allow accessory dwelling units in all zones that allow single-family homes. Residential standards would also be added for homes in commercial mixed use and mixed use-commercial zones. Guest use of RVs would be allowed up to 30 days each year at a residence in any zone.

“I think this is a very good job,” said Councilman Chuck Hafner. “It’s understandable and it’s needed.”

In other business, the council approved an agreement with the city of Spokane and Spokane County to put out request for proposals for a study on regional solid waste management. Currently Spokane Valley and Spokane County contract with Spokane for the use of the Waste to Energy Plant and the regional transfer stations. Spokane Valley’s contract expires in November 2014.

The study would look at the cost of continuing with a regional model, using trucks to haul waste to a dump or having each jurisdiction go their separate way. Each of the three jurisdictions will pay a portion of the study cost with the city’s share estimated to be $14,500.

The future of regional solid waste has been under discussion for years, said City Manager Mike Jackson. “Time is very short to accomplish this,” he said.

Jackson hopes to have a completed report detailing solid waste alternatives by this summer.

Solid waste will be the topic of discussion at a joint meeting with the Spokane Valley City Council and the Spokane County Commissioners on Feb. 6.