Council narrows applicant field to 3

Wed., July 13, 2016

By Pia Hallenberg piah@spokesman.com (509) 459-5427

Council seat candidates

David Nathan Starr is a retired firefighter who worked for the U.S. Department of Defense until April. He also applied for a vacant council seat in 2015. He lists the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Templaris International as groups he is associated with. Starr writes that now that he’s retired, he can finally get involved in the community he lives in. His highest priority is law enforcement, as he’s been burglarized twice in the last year. Starr writes that he is “concerned about the sheriff’s contract and the control the county has over our city.” He also wants to alleviate the negative impact train traffic has on Spokane Valley. Starr lists Matt Shea as one of his references.

Michelle Rene Rasmussen is the director of parking and transportation at Eastern Washington University in Cheney but has lived in Spokane Valley for 18 years. She worked as an administrative assistant for the city of Spokane Valley from 2008 to 2015. Her three top priorities are to continue economic development, crack down on property crime and find funding to bridge the Valley.

Michael J. Munch, president of Able Construction LLC, lists 20 years of construction work as his occupation. He was treasurer of the Stevens County Republican Party for two years. Munch’s first priority is protecting private property rights, followed by “continuing to get government out of the way of business and residents,” and finally, working on a better disaster preparedness plan. Munch lists state Rep. Matt Shea, Spokane County Treasurer Rob Chase and former council member Brenda Grassel as his references.

The Spokane Valley City Council picked three applicants to interview for the last open seat on the council.

David Starr, Michelle Rasmussen and Michael Munch will be interviewed at the City Council meeting on Tuesday.

The selection procedure Tuesday evening was quick without any discussion of the applicants among council members. The applicants will be interviewed at the council meeting Tuesday.

The City Council also discussed a proposed ordinance that will regulate marijuana businesses in Spokane Valley.

Last week, the council toured a marijuana growing operation and a retail store both located within city limits.

Spokane Valley is home to one of the largest commercial growth operations in the state, yet it adopted a temporary moratorium on all new marijuana businesses last year.

The City Council is extending the temporary moratorium for another six months because the Spokane Valley’s comprehensive plan will not be done before the current temporary moratorium expires at the end of August.

Had the comprehensive plan been completed, it would have regulated where potential marijuana businesses can locate.

Councilman Sam Wood asked that hospitals and day cares be added to the list of businesses that require a 1,000 foot buffer zone.

Deputy City Attorney Erik Lamb said that day care centers are covered by state law but hospitals are not.

John Harding, a Spokane Valley resident, suggested that churches should be added to the list as well. Lamb said that would be considered a substantial change to the proposed ordinance and therefore would require a second public hearing.

The council voted 4 to 1 to pass the ordinance as written – without including churches on the 1,000 foot buffer zone list. Wood was the only opponent. Newly appointed councilwoman Pam Haley was absent and excused.

The City Council will have an opportunity to revisit the ordinance when the comprehensive plan is being finalized.

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