Neighbors raise a stink

A group of neighbors descended on Spokane Valley City Hall Tuesday night to ask for help with a problem neighbor they say they have been dealing with for 20 years.

The group’s spokeswoman, Maureen Ramos, told the council that a house in the 12900 block of East 26th is unsightly. The house, yard and garage are filled with years of trash and the hulks of junk cars and boats. Neighbors have complained frequently over the years, dating back to when the area was under the jurisdiction of Spokane County. “It’s a safety hazard,” Ramos said. “It’s a fire hazard.”

Ramos said she recently called police because of smells coming from the home, which turned out to be rotting garbage. “We are begging you to help us,” she said. “It has been a nightmare.”

Mayor Rich Munson promised to have city staff investigate the situation and take steps to fix it. “This will not be forgotten.”

The group of neighbors broke out into applause at his words. “Bless you,” Ramos said.

Budget includes snowplowing funds

Also on Tuesday the council heard the first presentation on the proposed 2010 budget.

The $101.7 million budget factors in a $3.4 million drop in sales tax revenue, $1.2 million less in real estate excise taxes and nearly $400,000 less in planning and building revenues.

New in the budget is $250,000 to purchase five used snowplows from the state, $270,000 to lease a street maintenance facility and $120,000 for two part-time employees for snow removal. The city also anticipates contracting with Poe Asphalt to provide manpower to run the newly purchased snowplows. It’s not clear whether the money set aside will be enough. “There are a number of costs that are uncertain,” said City Manager Dave Mercier.

The city plans to hire two more people in the financial department, while some funded positions in other departments will go dark, said Mercier.

What isn’t in the budget is money for full-width street repaving after sewer construction. There is only $300,000 left in the fund and there’s no more money on the horizon, Mercier said. The issue has been debated for years, with council members voting to fully repair streets rather than just patching the holes left by construction.

Councilmember Dick Denenny said the council will have to look at taking money from other funds to maintain the paving program.

Panhandling ordinance appears dead

In other business, the city’s long-discussed panhandling ordinance seems to be dead. A new decision passed down by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals calls into question the legality of several parts of the proposed ordinance, said Deputy City Attorney Cary Driskell. The city will have to use its current prohibitions against aggressive panhandling as well as a law that states panhandlers can’t obstruct traffic, he said.

Munson suggested forming a citizen’s group to spearhead education efforts to address the issue. “We need to get off the dime and get it started,” he said. “We do have some alternatives.”

The council also passed an ordinance allowing development agreements and voted to endorse renewal of the public safety sales tax on the Aug. 18 ballot. Each council member spoke in favor of the ballot measure, calling the money “essential.”