Committee authorized to study wading pool issue

The future of the Millwood City Park wading pool is now in the hands of its citizens.

During the City Council meeting Monday night, resident Connie Berland proposed forming a citizen committee to research options for the pool; an idea the council unanimously approved.

“We heard from the people,” Councilman Richard Shoen said. “They definitely want to keep it.”

City Attorney Brian Werst advised the council to make a motion to authorize Mayor Dan Mork to appoint the members, and have council define the committee parameters, such as setting up a timeline and defining the number of members.

Approving Werst’s recommendations, the council decided the committee would be made up of no less than three and no more than seven members.

Mork hopes to have the new committee formed by the next regular meeting.

Cleve McCoul, city maintenance manager, reported he plans to get another estimate to have the pool repainted and resurfaced. The original bid was approximately $15,000.

The action was prompted by concerns raised by residents last month about the plan to have the pool demolished. The council had decided during a previous special budget session to remove the park’s 57-year-old landmark as a means to reduce its budget shortfall.

During the Youth Advisory Council report, member Jasmine Birch reported the group is working on drafting an ordinance prohibiting the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors.

The ordinance resulted from a resolution passed by the Spokane Regional Health District Board of Health last year requesting jurisdictions to adopt policies prohibiting sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. The cities of Spokane Valley and Spokane, and Spokane County have since adopted similar ordinances. 

Werst plans to review the ordinance prior to the group’s presentation at next month’s council meeting.

“I felt this would be a unique and interesting legislative project for the Youth Advisory Council,” Werst wrote in an e-mail following the meeting. “Because it touched on issues affecting their age group and was consistent with the city’s purpose in creating the Youth Advisory Council.”

The council also unanimously approved a resolution amending the land use application and permit fees. City Planner Tom Richardson recommended charging $50 for a residential building permit and $85 for commercial.

“It’s about half what (Spokane) County is charging for similar review of land use,” Richardson said.

 Additionally, Richardson recommended the city implement temporary use permits. These $50 permits apply to uses such as street food vendors at farmers markets.

The council further approved a resolution establishing policies for reimbursement of nontravel business expenses.

 During the maintenance report, McCoul reported the water chlorination would discontinue soon.  In the future, the city plans to chlorinate only when the tests come back positive for coliform bacteria.

Mork announced that Millwood’s annual Arbor Day celebration in the park is tentatively scheduled for April 16.