STA proposal concerns Millwood council
The Millwood City Council, absent its mayor and a councilor, rejected a resolution supporting the upcoming Spokane Transit Authority proposition Monday night.
The resolution endorsing STA’s May 20 ballot proposal to continue the existing 0.3 percent sales tax for public transportation, failed in a tie vote. Mayor Dan Mork and Councilman Brian Ellingson were absent.
“We have to be careful to be consistent in what we do,” Councilman Glenn Bailey said. “If we put a formal motion to support it, then the next one that comes along we better have a good reason why we’re not going to support it.
“I support the issue individually, but I am concerned about us getting into that ball game.”
Councilman Doug Morton supported Bailey’s action. “I agree with Glenn and Doug’s concerns, but I do think as council members for the city of Millwood we have a responsibility to support items or resolutions that directly benefit the town,” Councilman Kevin Freeman said. “The city would lose a lot of service for their citizens.”
The resolution came after last month’s presentation by STA officials.
In other council developments, Tom Brattebo, AmeriCorps volunteer with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, made a presentation on “No-Idle Zone” program.
The program seeks to reduce the amount of unnecessary vehicle idling in areas where children are exposed to unhealthy amounts of exhaust, such as school drop-off and pick-up areas, drive-through lanes and railroad tracks. The recommendation is to turn off vehicles idling more than 30 seconds, other than in traffic.
According to Brattebo, the Washington State Department of Ecology identified unnecessary vehicle idling as a contributor to air pollution and increased health risk in our state. Moreover, Brattebo recited the American Lung Associations assertion that asthma affects 10 percent of children in Washington and vehicle exhaust increases asthmatic symptoms.
Brattebo asked the council to establish a resolution supporting the program, making the city a “No-Idle Zone.” The council agreed to put the resolution on the June agenda.
Bobbie Beese was reappointed to the Millwood Planning Commission. Beese began serving on the commission in March 2006 to finish the term of a previous commissioner.
During the maintenance report, Councilman Kevin Freeman requested a special meeting with Welch, Comer and Associates. Freeman wants to determine to what extent the scope of Comer’s design for the Argonne Corridor incorporates the recommended improvements from W&H Pacific’s 2007 Corridor Study.
W&H Pacific’s 2007 Corridor Study initially recommended improvements in addition to those funded by the grant. Sidewalks, curb extensions and laying conduit for the signal coordination are some of the solutions outlined.
Mark Brower, W&H Pacific project manager, spoke Monday about incorporating those improvements using the $1.3 million grant Millwood received for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Argonne road. The grant currently does not cover any additional improvements beyond the scope of the project.
“With SRTC (Spokane Regional Transportation Council) they are often open to dialogue as a project is coming to fruition,” Brower said. “Things change, priorities change.”