Candidates discuss growth, development at forum

Economic growth and development in Spokane Valley emerged as key concerns for residents and business owners at a forum Tuesday with the six candidates vying for City Council Position 6. At the event, sponsored by the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, candidates laid out their views on everything from how to improve transportation to how to create a viable city center. About 30 people attended.

The candidates had much to say about economic development on the Sprague Avenue corridor and the potential of extending the Sprague/Appleway couplet.

“The Sprague Avenue corridor … is about half full,” said John Kallas, 53, a former police detective and crime-analysis expert with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. “I believe that the couplet is working right now, but I also believe that some businesses on far-east Sprague are suffering.”

It is Kallas’ second run for City Council.

Candidate Ronald Dean Lippincott said the couplet had helped to ease traffic, but some changes were needed.

“Let’s return Sprague into a two-way and leave Appleway a one-way,” said the 34-year-old loan officer, who is running for political office for the first time. “If we listen to our business owners, they are really concerned about the one-way on Sprague.”

Candidate Dale Strom also suggested making Sprague a two-way again if feasible, adding that the street was not “pedestrian friendly.” Appleway could then be turned into an expressway that would be switched over at certain times of the day. Strom, 56, a city of Spokane planner and grant administrator, has never run for office.

“Our first priority is to protect our existing businesses, our jobs, our taxpayers, but we do need to move cars too,” Strom said. “In the morning (Appleway) could run into town and then at noon … it could run back into the Valley so you can make the best use of it as a people mover but then be able to put Sprague back into commission where it’s technically a good business and job center.”

Candidate Edward J. Mertens, 75, also proposed reversible express lanes, saying it had worked well for other cities, like Seattle. Mertens, a retired business owner, ran for City Council in the last election.

“(The couplet) was one of the things that hurt people down there terribly, there’s no two ways about that, but I honestly believe something can be done” Mertens said. “I think some engineers could come up with something that wouldn’t be too expensive.”

Candidate Chuck Parker instead suggested making changes to the intersection at 16th Avenue, which he said was one of the most accident-prone areas in the Valley. Parker, 56, is a substitute teacher.

“The purpose and need is not there right now to extend the couplet out to Sullivan and make a freeway through our city,” he said.

Some residents wanted to know specifically how the candidates would help suffering businesses on some stretches of Sprague.

“We have to sit down together and see how we can help business owners instead of hurting them and that means including them (in planning),” Lippincott said.

Candidate Bill Gothmann, currently a city planning commissioner, said he has been working on the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which has several suggestions to help rejuvenate business such as developing a city center at University City and the creation of a marketing plan to promote business. Gothmann, 67, said it is very likely that the Appleway couplet would be extended because many people seem to be in favor of it.

“This is not the only city in the United States that has had a decline in business a major throughfare,” Gothmann said, adding that in some cities, businesses are being moved closer to freeways or intersections.

He said a new center should have mixed development, amenities and art facilities among other things to attract people and increase accessibility.

Parker said the government’s role is to create a positive business environment.

“It’s not the government’s job to create jobs, but the government’s job to work with the city and the businessmen within the community to sell the community, to bring jobs here.”

Mertens had similar sentiments, stressing the need for greater collaboration between the citizenry, the Chamber of Commerce and the council, while Kallas said it is also necessary to tackle economic impediments at the state level, such as high taxation.

Some of the candidates suggested that the best way to boost the economy was to bring in attractions that neighboring cities could not offer. Kallas suggested gambling facilities, although he said he didn’t think gambling was good for society. Parker proposed an aquatic center or a regional sports center.

“It needs to be something unique, something competitive,” Parker said. “I want this city to lead the region, to raise the bar.”

Gothmann said the city’s comprehensive plan is designed to reinforce businesses that already exist in the area, redevelop Sprague Avenue and promote community events that will boost tourism.

The candidates also discussed the feasibility of introducing a light rail; all reiterated that costs were too prohibitive.

“Although I’d love to see a light rail system here and go from Liberty Lake to the airport, not just downtown … we cannot afford light rail at this time in this city,” said Kallas.

Lippincott said the money could be put to be better use in other areas such as the parks or the fire department.

However, Gothmann said the idea of light rail should not be completely discarded for the future and the city is exploring other options such as Bus Rapid Transit systems.

“We will not have light rail until people vote it in,” Gothmann said. “I would certainly be against taking it off the table now and 20 years from now saying ‘oh I should have had it.”

Strom said it is necessary to improve current public transportation because poor people need it to get to work.

“We need a stronger bus transportation system,” he said. “We don’t have enough routes covered.”

The primary election is on Sept. 20.