Council meeting packed for two hearings also passes budget, transportation membership

The Spokane Valley City Council chambers was packed on election night because there were two public hearings on the agenda: one about the proposed utility tax and another about the revised comprehensive plan.

The crowd spilled into the hallway as people waited and frequently checked their phones for election results.

Here are some highlights:

Spokane Valley approved its 2017 budget, which has grown less than 1 percent compared to last year.

The council also approved Spokane Valley’s continued membership in the Spokane Regional Transportation Management Center – a regional entity that monitors and directs traffic across jurisdictions in Spokane County.

Councilman Caleb Collier voted against the membership because he’s concerned that traffic video violates privacy rights.

“Violation of the Fourth Amendment causes me great concern,” Collier said.

Traffic Engineer Sean Messner said that traffic counts and related data is stored, but traffic video is not.

The SRTMC membership doesn’t cost Spokane Valley anything this year or next, but in 2018 there will be a $5,000 software fee.

Councilman Ed Pace also voted against SRTMC calling it “another regional entanglement” the city had the power to get out of.

Mayor Rod Higgins said there’s lots to gain from being part of SRTMC, including extra points when the city applies for state and federal transportation grants which are needed to pay for possible railroad overpasses.

The rest of the council voted with Higgins for the membership.

City Manager Mark Calhoun took the oath of office and formally accepted his new job. His salary will be $170,000 plus benefits, an increase from the $144,000 he earned as interim city manager.

The City Council praised his contract as being much better than that of former city manager Mike Jackson, especially because it includes more stringent performance measures.