Millwood to negotiate parking with Union Pacific

Sat., Aug. 16, 2014

Valerie Putnam

Coming up

The next regular City Council meeting is Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. in Millwood City Hall, 9103 E. Frederick Ave.

Millwood Daze

The 6th Annual Millwood Daze is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Saturday. Activities include a dachshund race, the world’s largest wagon parade, vendors, games and entertainment. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. with a country breakfast followed at 9 a.m. with a 5K fun run starting at the intersection of Dalton Avenue and Marguerite Road. Late registration is $25 for individuals and $40 for families. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels. The day ends with a baseball game and picnic at Millwood Park. For more information visit www.mow spokane.org or find them on Facebook.

The city of Millwood business district may soon have its parking back.

In June, Union Pacific Railroad posted no parking signs along its right of way citing safety concerns, effectively removing the available parking for the district.

The city responded by submitting a conceptual plan to Union Pacific proposing, among other improvements, to install a fence along the existing curb line to deter anyone from walking on the tracks.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, the council granted Mayor Kevin Freeman the authority to negotiate with Union Pacific Railroad the terms of a lease granting the city permission to install parking spaces along the railroad right of way.

Outlined in a letter dated July 25, Union Pacific requests an annual rent of $6,440 for the 17,760-square-foot area. In the letter, the railroad’s real estate manager Peter Kenney said the price is based on the property’s fair market value.

“What we are getting for that annual rent, we are getting as much control as we can possibly hope for along the Union Pacific right of way,” Freeman said. “What it comes down to is by entering into the lease agreement, we afford Union Pacific the indemnification for people to park there. We remove them from the liability.”

As part of the proposed agreement, the city will have the authority to beautify the right of way as well as stripe and maintain the property. Freeman estimates the proposal will give the city 55 parking spaces along the right of way from Argonne to Marguerite Road, with the potential of additional spaces west of Marguerite.

The council also approved an interlocal agreement with Spokane County for the city to use a portion of the former Great Northern right of way located on the south side of the tracks for a multiuse trail.

“We have been attempting for several years now to grant Millwood the rights to not only clean up and maintain but eventually develop a pedestrian trail,” said attorney Brian Werst, who began work on negotiating the agreement in 2008. “The county has approved the interlocal agreement that’s before you tonight.”

In the agreement Spokane County grants the city a 40-year agreement with continuing renewals to use and occupy the Great Northern Railway right of way.

The city eventually plans to secure grant funding to construct a trail on the site as part of its city corridor. The project is included in the city’s six-year street plan.

In other news, the council:

• Hired Welch Comer and Associates to conduct a sewer rate analysis of the city’s rates. The scope of work includes evaluating financial data, conducting a workshop with the council, city staff and the public as well as developing three alternatives to modify sewer rates. The approved cost of the project is $6,810 with any additional public meetings billed hourly to not exceed $1,300. Council asked for the project to be completed by October.

• Passed an ordinance designating the city as a Certified Local Government and the establishing a Millwood Preservation Commission. The program provides tax incentives for historic properties. It also provides special grants, technical assistance and training from the State Historic Preservation Officer.