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June Council Recap: Council talks road projects future and present
6/30/2015 11:59:31 AM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

If the Liberty Lake City Council were to name a theme song for its  two June meetings, a likely candidate would be "Takin' It To The Streets." 

The thoroughfare theme dominated the month, with discussion of a six-year road map for road projects discussed June 2 and an update on this spring's just-completed Appleway makeover highlighting the June 16 meeting. 

June 2: A city's roadmap
By the time City Engineer Andrew Staples finalized the list of proposed road projects in Liberty Lake over the next six years, the document resembled a cross between a very circuitous tour map and a multi-layered tropical dessert.

The Transportation Improvement Plan, distinguished by its color-coded breakdown of funding sources, will guide Liberty Lake's agenda for road upgrades from 2016 to 2021. City Council unanimously approved an update of the plan June 2, with an overall cost of just over $15 million.

"If you don't have these projects on there, you can't get grants, you can't move forward," said Mayor Steve Peterson following the vote. 

Cities must organize and update their respective street maintenance strategies to qualify for government funding. While Liberty Lake sets aside revenue from a 3 percent tax on cable, phone, electric, gas and garbage bills for road preservation, major work like the Appleway Avenue renovation this year and a similar project scheduled for Liberty Lake Road in 2016 both lean heavily on state dollars.

"I think everyone should realize that this is mandated by state law," said Council Member Bob Moore.

Next year's project list will be headlined by improvements on Liberty Lake Road from Country Vista to Appleway at a cost of just over $1.5 million. Also on the agenda are street, pathway and pedestrian upgrades and improvements at a pair of intersections - Mission and Molter and Harvard and Wellington. 

Staples said the recommendation at Mission and Molter "would most likely be a roundabout." He added that positive reviews of the Harvard Road roundabout, completed in the fall of 2013, have bolstered support for the traffic-calming feature.

"We know that roundabouts can be successful if they are designed and constructed correctly," Staples said. 

Staples added that the city is also looking at ways to improve pedestrian safety, including the completion of a sidewalk on Sharp Avenue by Liberty Lake Elementary and illuminated crossings at two more intersections - Boone and Molter and Country Vista and Molter.  

Staples added that the city would look to "tack the Mission/Molter project onto the Liberty Lake Road work" as a way to save money.

"If we have a contractor who is already here building, we'll save a significant cost," he said. 

Moore called the overall plan for roads "aggressive" and said the city "would face a challenge over the next six years to raise that kind of money." 

The TIP includes nearly $2.4 million for street preservation over the next six years. City Administrator Katy Allen said that after projects like the Harvard Road roundabout and the overhaul of Appleway, the city should be focusing on restoring funds for future construction.  

"We really need to build up our reserves again," she said. 

Staples indicated that all intersection revisions in the TIP - including the possible addition of a traffic light at Appleway and Signal - would be funded through the Harvard Road Mitigation Fund, established in 2002 to collect funds from developers whose projects add to the traffic volume.

In a related transportation discussion, Peterson asked Staples to set up a meeting between city officials and representatives from Whitewater Creek and Greenstone Homes to address high-speed traffic along Country Vista Drive not far from Whitewater Creek's Lakemore development on the east end of the city. Both companies own property in the vicinity, where the entire road has yet to be paved. 

"I want people to know that we're working to mitigate speeding in that area," Peterson said.

June 16: Appleway under budget 
At the June 16 City Council meeting, Allen reported that renovation of Appleway Avenue will come in 12.5 percent, or $271,000, under budget, numbers that weren't lost on those around the dais, including Council Member Moore.

"I know I've been critical of budget amendments and capital projects going over budget, but I want to congratulate city staff on being under budget for the Appleway project," Moore said.

Initially tabulated at $2.16 million, the overhaul of the east/west thoroughfare will emerge with a final price tag of $1.89 million. The work included repaving from Liberty Lake Road to Fairway Lane along with landscaping, lighting, pedestrian safety improvements and medians. Staples served as the project manager with Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. handling contractor duties.

The project budget featured a blend of $974,223 from the state Transportation Improvement Board and $916,819 from the city's 3 percent utility tax on cable, gas, electric, phone and waste collection services. Allen said the savings will be reflected both on the TIB side and in city coffers. 

Jen Camp, parks and open space superintendent, told council that the landscaping improvements along Appleway will require less maintenance and lower costs than some might speculate. Camp said that while it would take a year to determine the specific budget, care was taken to install a cost-efficient irrigation system and low-maintenance foliage along the street. 

"We worked with the landscape architect before the project to make sure of that," Camp said. 

A dedication ceremony for the refurbished rendition of Appleway is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.  July 11. 

Library annual report
Half of the crowd at the June 16 council meeting consisted of volunteers, board members and other proponents of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library. Carol Johns, representing the library's board of trustees, provided a detailed annual report that featured no shortage of good news from the city's bastion of literature.

The library had 59,224 patron visits in 2014 and a total of 131,220 check-outs. Attendance for a myriad of programs checked in at 5,871, with 756 enrolled in summer reading. The shift away from paper continues at the library, with 63 percent of the collection now digital. 

To illustrate the diversity of programming, Johns provided the schedule for one week in June when the library hosted meetings of the Needlework Society, the Spokane Valley Writers Group, the Sandy Beach Homeowners Association and the Tweens Book Club as well as three story times for kids. A gathering of the Lego Club, a superhero training academy and a Dads and Donuts event observing Father's Day was also on schedule that week.

The number of annual visits to the library has nearly tripled since 2005. Johns said library staff and supporters realize that the current site will need to be re-evaluated as the city continues to grow. Work continues on a strategic plan that Johns said is focused on "answering some of the questions the library has going into the future."

"We think this library is a wonderful space, but we do have concerns about the future and meeting the needs of the community," she said. 

A few of the highlights from last year included a display of historical collages showcasing local history, the development of a cybersmart program for teens and a sold-out Friends of the Library annual tea event. 

"We'd like to thank the city for dedicating the resources we need for the library and for your continued support," Johns said.

 

In the Books, On the Docket
A look back and ahead at news from City Hall

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

In the Books (June)
A citizen-based task force/steering committee has been meeting with city representatives to discuss future capital projects. City Administrator Katy Allen said the group will focus on ideas for an aquatic center, library and community center. Allen noted that similar capital projects in other cities typically go to voters for a decision on bond funding.   

Sales tax revenue is up $15,000 over this time last year due in large part to an increase in auto sales, according to Council Member Shane Brickner, who sits on the finance committee.

The city has reported that the gingko tree damaged by vandalism in May at Town Square Park may not be replaced until this fall or even next spring. The city needs to find a suitable replacement that fits the site where the original tree stood at a cost of around $300. Several other trees were also bent in the incident. City officials have reminded residents that any destruction of property should be reported immediately by calling 911.

Allen said the city has put a burn ban in place based on a recommendation from the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Hot, dry conditions mean a sanction against outside burning.  

Tami Yager of Waste Management Inc. presented contributions of $2,000 to Jeff Duncan of Liberty Lake Rotary and $1,000 to Joe Frank of Friends of Pavillion Park. Duncan proceeded to donate the Rotary funds to the Fallen Heroes committee, Friends of the Liberty Lake Library and Honor Flight.

Council voted unanimously to side with the county hearing examiner on a decision to remand the Trutina preliminary plat for an additional public hearing. Concern arose that a notice regarding the property had not been posted for the required 14 days. The plot of just over 137 acres sits north of Indiana and east of Harvard and is slated for 400 lots, 363 of which would be residential. 

Mayor Pro Tem Cris Kaminskas gave a finance committee report noting the city's debt on Trailhead Golf Course will be paid off in two years. Overall, the city's debt stands at $1.2 million. Kaminskas said the city continues to keep an eye on budget talks in Olympia with the state legislature in extended session. Decisions on the state liquor tax and the transportation budget will have a particular impact on the city. 

On the Docket (July)
Due to an unusually light agenda, the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on July 7 has been cancelled. Council will meet again at 7 p.m. July 21 at City Hall.

Finance Director R.J. Stevenson will give a report on the city's budget for the second quarter of 2015 at the July 21 council meeting. Stevenson's presentation will also include a financial forecast.

The first public hearing on the 2016 municipal budget will take place at the July 21 council meeting.  

A date and time have been confirmed for the annual City Council retreat. The governing board will convene at 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at City Hall to discuss an agenda that includes the comprehensive plan, the sign code, direction on an aquatic center, community center and new library as well as an update of council priorities. 

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