Spokane Valley: A look back at 2005
■The City of Spokane Valley has accomplished half of the goals it set for itself in 2005. Although some projects are continuing this year, the city is growing, its long-term planning is moving forward and city leaders say they are proud of what Spokane Valley achieved last year. “I’m real pleased how we came out financially,” said Mayor Diana Wilhite. This year’s budget includes more accurate revenue predictions, officials have said, and a projected 12 percent increase in sales tax receipts over 2005. Each spring the City Council makes a list of goals for the next year. City employees then use that list to help prioritize projects and spending while they put the budget together. At a recent meeting, the heads of city departments briefed the council on how the city did in 2005.
Goal 1: Adopt a Comprehensive Plan
In what Wilhite described as an aggressive schedule, the City Council had originally hoped to approve a comprehensive land use plan by now.
Required by state law, the Comprehensive Plan encompasses housing, transportation, utilities and other needs of the city’s population as it grows in the next 20 years. A new city is allowed three years to develop one, though, and members of the City Council did not appear too concerned when they moved the deadline to March of this year.
Goal 2: Enact a uniform development code
The Planning Commission took up this task after it finished its deliberations on the Comprehensive Plan, and discussions on what should be allowed and where are ongoing.
“We were just better off saying ‘let’s start with it clean,’ ” said Community Development Director Marina Sukup.
Spokane Valley adopted Spokane County’s development regulations on an interim basis when it incorporated. Planners, builders, neighborhood groups and others have found many parts of the code confusing or even contradictory, prompting the city to write a new one.
It will bring together things like the requirements for building a new subdivision, engineering standards and what people or businesses are allowed to do in different zones.
Goal 3: Lengthen the city’s financial plan
Spokane Valley’s financial experts extended the city’s plan from five years to six in early 2005, said Deputy City Manager Nina Regor.
Forecasting city finances in six year increments will bring it in line with six-year plans for capital improvements and parts of the Comprehensive Plan.
Goal 4: Effective external relations
The city hired Carolbelle Branch, its first public information officer, in the summer to work on city public relations and promotional efforts.
Council members also cite their participation in 21 regional boards on topics ranging from public health to light rail. The city also held several community meetings on the comprehensive plan and parks and other topics.
Goal 5: Look into taking over the sewer system
This goal was put on hold until bigger issues surrounding sewer plants and businesses that discharge into the Spokane River are resolved.
“The reason for it is it means absolutely nothing if we don’t get these permits,” said Councilman Dick Denenny, who has been involved in river negotiations that began early last year.
The city’s purchase of the sewer pipes that run beneath it was a big part of Howard Herman’s unsuccessful bid for Mike DeVleming’s council seat. But those sitting on the council maintained that it would be pointless to evaluate sewer acquisition before the outcome of the negotiations.
Goal 6: Establish a formal, citywide customer-service program
A draft of the program includes new-employee orientations and training to make the city more user-friendly, Regor said.
The city staff grew by about 10 positions in 2005, bringing the total number of city workers to the full-time equivalent of about 60 people.
Other big changes in Spokane Valley in 2005:
CenterPlace, a $10 million community center at Mirabeau Point Park, opened in August. Community Colleges of Spokane signed a five-year lease to hold classes there, and the senior center moved into one wing.
“I’m optimistic that we will meet our pro forma,” said Parks Director Mike Jackson, referring to their revenue forecasts.
Since its opening, the center has brought in 33 percent more revenue than expected, and city officials are optimistic that cash from room rentals will continue to meet or exceed expectations.
Another fiscal high note from the Parks Department was its contract with Senske for parks maintenance, which cost 20 percent less than what Spokane Valley paid the county for the work in 2004.
At meetings, council members have touted the contract as a success in its quest to save money by contracting city services to private companies.
The council’s consideration of a similar approach to library services resulted in another significant change in 2005. In May, voters annexed the Spokane Valley Library to the county library district after a public outcry when the council raised the possibility of contracting library services to a private company the year before.
The city’s detractors also rallied last year, successfully defeating a City Council salary increase proposed in 2004 that they placed on the ballot. But they fell 10,000 signatures short of what it would take to place the question of Valley disincorporation before voters again.