On being mayor
In an open letter to the residents of Spokane Valley, outgoing Mayor Mike DeVleming looks back at his two years of helping create a new city, and offers some advice for his successors. DeVleming, who will be replaced by Deputy Mayor Diana Wilhite, will stay on the council for at least the remainder of his term.
From the first council meeting two years ago to the Travis Knowles Eagle Scout ceremony last week, I have had the honor of serving as Spokane Valley’s first mayor. As I reflect on these last two years, I would like to share some of these experiences with all of Spokane Valley.
Let me take you back to Nov. 26, 2002. The newly elected City Council sat at the edge of the stage at Trent Elementary School Auditorium. The lighting was poor and the PA system was borrowed. Regardless, we made do because it was the first official Spokane Valley City Council meeting. The first responsibility of the newly elected council was to select the mayor and deputy mayor. When the votes were counted and the dust settled, I was named the new mayor.
Paramount in importance was establishing the new city’s presence and identity. One of the first official city events was the creation of a Mayor’s Ball, as part of the new city’s weeklong inauguration. Everyone would be invited to celebrate the months of preparation necessary to open the doors of the new city on March 31, 2003.
When presented with an expensive plan from a local promoter or the challenge of “doing-it-ourselves,” a small handful of council members’ spouses and other volunteers banded together to make it so. The self-named Valley Elves were born. Thanks to their creativity and ingenuity, the Mayor’s Ball was a dazzling celebration at a modest cost.
Our focus on the establishment of our community identity continued. In October 2003, we had the chance to purchase a 30-foot artificial Christmas tree. In a matter of weeks, the business community and many of the citizens stepped forward and raised more than $14,000 for the purchase of the first official community Christmas tree (without any city funds).
The tree was ordered on Oct. 31 with a promise that it would arrive just two days before we were scheduled to set it up. I had many a sleepless night waiting for that tree to arrive. Prior to its arrival, I sweet-talked everyone I knew into helping build the tree. Fortunately, the members of SCOPE stepped forward as well as many community volunteers and of course the Elves. On Dec. 2 our tree was up. The sleepless nights didn’t end there. I must have stopped by the tree and “tested” the lights a half a dozen times over the next 48 hours.
On Dec. 4 the Celebration of Lights ceremony was held. Standing on the stage in the old University City parking lot moments before we were going to throw the switch was one of the most special moments in my life. From that vantage point on the makeshift stage I could see all the grade-school children and their parents preparing to sing in the all-school choir. I could see hundreds of folks huddled together talking to their friends and neighbors, trying to stay warm. Beyond these people were countless cars pouring into the parking lot from all directions. Everyone was ready to be a part of something special. After the tree was lighted there were many smiles and much anticipation for next year.
Of course there were the usual glitches as with any new endeavor and all of us understood when Santa was busy fighting a fire and couldn’t attend. We are looking forward to a visit from the bearded one this year.
Involving the community
The last 24 months have been more than just community events. We were building this first city government and we understood the importance of setting the tone early. One of our first priorities was to establish our core beliefs, which helped define the personality of our city government. From the beginning, we wanted to be business-friendly with a strong emphasis on customer service. To do this, we established our own planning and permit center within the walls of City Hall.
With the input from many citizens, Spokane Valley is in the home stretch of creating our first comprehensive plan. The Planning Department and Planning Commission have corrected dozens of zoning abnormalities left to us as a legacy of being part of a larger county. The most notable zoning change is the recent reversal of a 2002 zoning change imposed on the Ponderosa and Rotchford neighborhoods. The original Spokane County zoning change would have allowed a much higher density of homes than what you would typically find in these well-established neighborhoods today. This change was possible because we have local control.
The most visible responsibility for the mayor is presiding over the City Council meetings and study sessions. Respect and civility for each other, the staff and the public were adopted as early ground rules for conducting city business.
Our early meeting agendas were full as we discussed, modified and approved the many ordinances, resolutions, contracts and service agreements our new city would need to be in place before we opened our doors for business on March 31, 2003.
Yet to my amazement, much of the early focus by the media was on the name of the city and if we would change it. We were already deep in negotiations on the police contract and hiring staff, yet the first three interviews I had focused on the name of the city. Eventually, we were able to agree on a police contract and hire a very good staff. The city name issue faded over time. That goes to show you that the perception of the city as a whole is as important to the citizens as the nuts and bolts are to those who must make the well-oiled machine work.
Shaping the direction for the city required input from our citizens, at more than just the Tuesday council meetings. We started planning the “Conversation with the Community,” our version of a town hall-style meeting. These meetings are being held quarterly in a variety of locations.
I also wanted to give the youth an opportunity to help shape this new city. Early in 2003 we took our first step in creating the student advisory council. However, before I could make that happen, I had to sell the idea to the students. I wanted to understand what their vision of a student advisory council might be.
It seemed that the best way to accomplish this was to schedule a town hall type of meeting at each of the major high schools in the city. After months of meeting with teachers and students, “Pizza with the Mayor” started to take shape. At each of the high schools, the council and I talked about ideas for the proposed student Valley advisory council. We discussed issues important to these students and we ate a lot of pizza. Now today, the Spokane Valley student advisory council is a permanent part of city government.
There remains a very passionate group of citizens that desperately clings to the hope that we can somehow turn back the clock. They would have us return to a time when apple orchards and cantaloupe fields dominated the Valley landscape, a time when we just accepted the abandoned cars and farm animals in our neighbors’ yards because there wasn’t a darn thing anybody was going to do about it. Becoming a city didn’t create the change in our community; the city is here as a result of the change that has happened before our eyes.
For its supporters, becoming a city was inevitable. Since 1980 we have seen thousands of new homes built, we have welcomed new businesses such as Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer and the Valley Mall. We have seen our neighborhoods increase by more than 10,000 citizens. These kinds of changes have created special needs that only local control can adequately satisfy. The perception was that 84,000 citizens in this Valley did not have a voice in the decisions that were affecting them.
As a result of incorporation, today our elected officials not only come from the same neighborhoods you and I live in, they sit on more than 25 boards and commissions focused on the needs of exactly where you live, Spokane Valley. This is easily the greatest benefit of self-government.
When I reflect on the last two years my thoughts are flooded with great memories of special moments and unique experiences, such as seeing the joy in my daughter’s eyes when she rode with me in the Lilac Parade. Or the humbling experience of strangers stopping me in the grocery store and in church telling me that they are thankful of the job we are doing. Or the day I was told that the members of dozens of churches had joined together to pray for me and my family and the council.
Moving forward into the future
There have also been some challenges and disappointments. For example, the day last spring when one of the postal employees who works the front counter took the opportunity to lecture me. The employee was upset that I was using Spokane Valley on the return address for my Veradale post office box. She insisted that it was “creating complications” for the local postal system. This experience was magnified by the fact that there were a dozen or so postal customers viewing the scolding. I realized that we still had a way to go to be accepted as a city.
The Post Office experience is a good example of how hard it is for some to accept change. Yet change is happening. Helping those having difficulty with change is just one of the challenges that face this council and the next mayor.
Others are solving the wastewater issue and reaching equitable agreements on the many service contracts we have with Spokane County. Also, managed competition will remain an active part of the contract process. And of course the City Council and staff will continue to find additional ways of getting our story out to all of the citizens.
Like many other cities and counties in the state, we will continue to struggle with revenues. We have seen the deep cuts that many of the cities around us are making. However, these problems didn’t happen overnight. Likewise, they won’t be solved overnight.
Which brings me to my first bit of advice to the future mayors and councils of Spokane Valley: Maintain the six-ear financial forecast. Use it as a tool to help give a bird’s eye view of the city’s financial health. The forecast also will help to encourage citizen involvement at the beginning of the budget process. I would also encourage the next mayor and council to do what they can to continue to build on the identity of this community.
Despite what you may read, not all is doom and gloom.
As a new city we have the opportunity to decide what we are going to be. How do we make that happen? Most of that question will be answered by future officials. In the meantime, look forward to a completed street and park master plan. These plans will help to give a vision to our most important capital investments.
In addition, the completion of Center Place, our first large capital project, will give the community a gathering place for all of its citizens. These are some of the pieces that will contribute to a strong and healthy community. But until those days arrive, I ask you to be patient and give this young city a chance.
From Nov. 26, 2002, until Friday I have been your mayor. I have presided over 55 official council meetings, countless study sessions and most of the additional city business meetings. I’ve been responsible for the dozens of ribbon cuttings, classroom visits, Eagle Scout ceremonies and groundbreakings. I’ve attended many annual meetings, church christenings and numerous community events. I have enjoyed all of it. As I look back, I am very proud of what has been accomplished in the two years of my term as mayor.