DeVleming sent off with gratitude
The Spokane Valley City Council bid adieu to one of its founding fathers at its meeting on Tuesday, council member and former mayor Mike DeVleming’s last.
“Mike, thank you for everything you did,” said Mayor Diana Wilhite, noting in particular his valuable advice, counsel and background over his five years of service. “Having followed in your footsteps as mayor, I know how much above and beyond that you did for this city in your years of introducing us to the citizens and making it known to the rest of the world that we were a city.”
Wilhite presented DeVleming with a plaque and framed print caricature of him and fellow council members in a show of gratitude for his service.
In his valedictory remarks, DeVleming specifically thanked his family and also the city staff, who he said have done an “outstanding job” in Spokane Valley’s first years as a city. Speaking to staff, he remarked, “You’ve worked so hard with so little resources and so much to do on building this city. … This council may have turned over the first spadeful of dirt, but the staff has built this city. The staff has set the foundation.”
DeVleming served as the city of Spokane Valley’s inaugural mayor from 2002-04, and as a City Council member until this year, when he announced he was not to going to run again. He plans to pursue new job responsibilities and volunteer opportunities.
Council members subsequently voted on a few action items at their study session meeting. Notably, the council adopted zoning ordinances proposed by the Planning Commission, however, amended the commission’s recommendation for the contested rezone of the area surrounding the Interstate 90 and Barker Road interchange.
While the proposed rezone on the table provided for a small corner from the east of Greenacres Road and between Alki and Broadway to be rezoned from corridor mixed-use to low-density residential, council members addressed the idea that the small area roughly north from Broadway to the freeway exit ramp might be better suited as residential as well, and not as regional commercial, as the proposal stood.
“I did go out and drive the neighborhood and take a look,” said Wilhite, mentioning that she also talked with residents there. While she said that eventually the area will likely develop into a commercial area, to rezone it to a regional commercial designation at this time did not seem necessary.
Council members, however, agreed that while the proposal to change it to residential would have to go through the Planning Commission’s public hearing process, they did have the option to not approve the Commission’s current recommendation that it be changed to regional commercial.
DeVleming said he’d like to see more resident input on the matter. “I think it really makes sense to allow the Planning Commission to go in and examine this particular piece of property more in depth and make sure that property owners get their chance to weigh in.” He continued, “I also agree that eventually some day that’s probably going to be commercial, but it doesn’t need to happen today.”
The amendment to not re-zone the small area north of Broadway to regional commercial at this time passed, with DeVleming, Richard Munson, Bill Gothmann and Wilhite voting in favor. Steve Taylor, Dick Denenny and Gary Schimmels voted against the amendment. The area will remain corridor mixed-use, with the intention that an amendment be made next year to rezone the area to low-density residential.
The Planning Commission’s proposed zoning ordinances on the whole were adopted, as amended, unanimously.
The council also confirmed Mayor Wilhite’s appointments of individual councilmembers to over a dozen area and city committees.
Rose Dempsey, who won the election in November for the council seat vacated by DeVleming, was sworn in Tuesday evening to a four-year term, as were re-elected Deputy Mayor Steve Taylor and council member Bill Gothmann.
At the council’s next meeting on Jan. 8, council members will elect the city’s mayor and deputy mayor for 2008-2009 from among themselves.