Council creates streets panel

The Spokane City Council on Monday voted 5-1 to create a seven-member Citizens’ Streets Advisory Commission to oversee street spending.

The action comes midway through a campaign to win a $117 million property tax measure to repair city streets. Voters will decide the bond issue on Nov. 2.

Mayor Jim West proposed the panel add new oversight to city street spending. “It’s real important for accountability purposes,” West told the council.

The new panel would have responsibility not only for overseeing the bond issue, should it pass, but also in keeping an eye on regular street department spending and plans for street work in the future. West said he intended the citizens’ commission to become a permanent addition to city government.

The commission will be composed of two members from each of the city’s three council districts with a seventh member appointed at large. West noted it would be the first city panel to have representation by council district, which ensures geographic balance.

Duties of the commission will include making an annual report on the status of road projects as well as recommendations for the street department budget and street policies. The commission will also be charged with gathering public comment.

Councilman Bob Apple, who has opposed the street ballot measure, cast the only vote against the commission. Councilwoman Mary Verner was absent.

The panel is being formed in part to answer critics who have said the city isn’t doing a good job of spending the street money it already receives, and does not need new tax money to pay for repairs.

The ballot measure calls for fixing 37 miles of arterial streets, 52 miles of residential streets and a portion of the cost of paving up to 14 miles of gravel residential streets. Residents living along gravel streets would have to form local improvement districts to become eligible for a subsidy from the street bond measure. The measure would also combine a limited amount of street bond money with utility installations to provide for full-width street improvements when utilities dig up streets.

Cost to property owners is estimated at $68 a year on a $100,000 home, or 68 cents for every $1,000 of assessed valuation over the 20-year repayment period. Bonds would be sold in four separate issues while the work is spread over 10 years. A 60 percent “yes” vote is needed for approval.

During Monday’s council meeting, one neighborhood leader suggested using a pay-as-you-go method for financing street work. Mickey Thompson of the Nevada-Lidgerwood Neighborhood Council said that by not selling bonds to raise the repair money, the city would save $41 million in interest payments, money that could be used to improve curbs, sidewalks and other street features.

West on Monday gave the mayor’s annual report on the state of the city. He said street improvements are one of the top-three issues facing the city. The others are economic development and balancing the 2005 budget in the face of sluggish tax revenue.

Crumbling city streets have been a problem for years, West said.

The mayor said he expects to recommend cuts in the city’s $116 million general fund budget by Nov. 1. Nearly $10 million will have to be trimmed from current expenditures to balance the budget, city officials have said.

Representatives of the Southside Senior Activity and Community Center appeared during the council’s public forum session to criticize proposed cuts in senior center funding through the parks department and Park Board. As much as $124,000 could be cut from the Southside center’s budget. Janice Dixon, a member of the Southside center board, said, “We all know this will absolutely hobble our center.”

In other business, the council postponed until Oct. 25 a vote on an ordinance regulating motorized foot scooters, motorized skateboards and similar devices. The ordinance would set a minimum age of 16 for riding the devices, which have grown in popularity in recent years.