Public involved in comprehensive plan update

During a brief Spokane Valley City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Director of Community Development John Hohman briefed the council on the comprehensive plan update.

Spokane Valley is working with a contractor on this update, which began in fall and has included four public “community visioning” meetings.

“We have been getting a lot of people involved in the process – we’ve been very successful at that,” Hohman told the council.

He said staff is working on an inventory of land that’s available to be developed within the city limits and also on a market analysis trying to establish what type of land will be in highest demand the next 10 to 12 years.

Hohman also told the council that staff has received 26 citizen amendment requests – or rezoning requests – and they will start processing those at the May 16 planning commission meeting.

“We are working hard to bring these amendments to you in early June,” Hohman said.

And finally, the consultant has recommended a “comprehensive plan diet” for Spokane Valley which, Hohman said, consists mostly of cleaning up the language of the comprehensive plan and making it more accessible for residents and staff.

In other news:

• Deputy city attorney Erik Lamb provided the council with information about a possible admissions tax of 5 percent which, if adopted, could be added to the admission price at a variety of amusement facilities.

Lamb said it’s not clear exactly how much revenue the tax would bring in. He explained that it could be spent on any general fund expenditures or earmarked for specific purposes.

In Liberty Lake, the admission tax on golf courses and mini golf goes toward golf courses, parks and green spaces, Lamb said.

It’s up to Spokane Valley to structure the tax and make exemptions where needed.

“Spokane does have an admission tax with certain exemptions for small events and nonprofit organizations,” Lamb said, adding that Spokane has an agreement with the Public Facilities District that admission tax collected at PFD operated venues goes back to the PFD.

The council asked Lamb to find out how surrounding cities collect the tax, who they exempt and how much revenue it brings in.

• At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard announced that he will be participating in next week’s meeting over the phone because he’s out of town. That’s an option available to all council members, if they present it at a prior meeting and gain the approval of the council. Everyone voted yes.