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December Council Recap: 2016 budget finalized
12/29/2015 9:43:08 AM
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
New Year. New budget.
On a festive night at City Hall that included holiday treats, sparkling lights and plenty of accolades for municipal employees, the City Council rang in a financial gameplan for 2016 that featured very few changes from the initial budget Mayor Steve Peterson introduced back in October.
The budget - all $11.6 million of it - was unanimously approved 4-0 on Dec. 15 by a governing board missing three representatives with excused absences. Finance Director R.J. Stevenson wound up fielding 31 "mayor's budget questions" from council addressing the document Peterson first revealed on Oct. 20. Before the final vote was cast, $9,500 had been added for Liberty Lake Days along with a $6,000 increase in the city attorney contract.
The final budget also reflects no change in the property tax despite a recommendation by Stevenson to raise the rate by the allowable 1 percent. Council originally voted on Nov. 24 to bypass the hike and "bank" the increase for a future year. On Nov. 30, the board convened for a special meeting to reconsider the vote, with Council Members Dan Dunne and Hugh Severs supporting an amendment to reverse the resolution and install the 1 percent upturn. Ultimately, the change failed to gather enough momentum to earn approval.
In his brief summary of the budget prior to the Dec. 15 vote, Stevenson told council that revenues for 2015 are surging ahead of projections to the tune of $200,000. The surplus has been driven by a banner revenue year from sales tax, utility tax and building permits.
"The news is good," Stevenson said.
The city has just a pair of ongoing capital projects that will impact the 2016 budget, Stevenson added. The renovation of Liberty Lake Road is slated to break ground in the spring while ongoing pedestrian safety improvements are also in the cue. The city earmarked $200,000 for the design portion of Liberty Lake Road in the 2015 budget.
The city has set aside nearly $2.4 million for 2016 in the street capital projects fund. The municipal budget will end the year on a healthy note with a fund balance of just over $2 million.
When asked by Council Member Bob Moore how the restructuring of the parks and recreation department would be reflected in municipal expenditures for 2016, Peterson said the transition would save the city $140,000.
Stevenson presented council with the idea of creating dedicated capital funds for three specific areas in 2016, beginning with $100,000 for community messaging brought about by the new changes to the sign code that will soon take effect. A total of $100,000 is already included in the budget for the project. Stevenson also raised the possibility of an underground utility fund ($25,000 for 2016) and a building contingency fund ($125,000). Council Member Odin Langford echoed his council colleagues in attendance in asking that the actual vote on the new capital funds be tabled until a larger quorum could discuss the transition.
Tie voids planning commission change
Council considered an ordinance on Dec. 15 that proposed to change the residency requirement of planning commission members. Moore, who once served on the planning commission, brought the idea up in the fall, asserting that commission delegates should be required to live within city limits just as members of the City Council.
Since the city incorporated in 2001, the planning commission has allowed for two of seven seats to be occupied by non-residents. Peterson said the contingency was a way to include representation from south of Sprague Avenue while permitting non-residents who owned property in Liberty Lake to have a voice in the city's approach to development.
In his written response to Moore's proposal, Planning Commission Member Larry Laux said "the existing ordinance allows for diversity and broadens the scope for those who have an interest in our community to serve on the planning commission."
In gauging opinion on the suggested changes at its last meeting, the majority of the planning commission weighed in to keep the requirements the same. Currently, Stan Jochim is the only member who resides outside city limits.
On Tuesday, Dunne - who also spent time on the planning commission - said he opposed the new ordinance since council already had the final say on who is named to the group. When votes were cast, Dunne and Council Member Keith Kopelson opposed the ordinance while Moore and Langford supported it. The 2-2 tie negated passage.
Council addresses property tax hike on Nov. 24
The first vote on the property tax increase for 2016 took place on Nov. 24 at a meeting that was originally scheduled for the previous week but canceled due to the windstorm. Each year, the city has the option of adding 1 percent to the rate.
Stevenson reminded council members that the overall uptick in assessed property value would mean a lower rate even with an additional 1 percent. In 2015, Liberty Lake checked in with $1.196 billion in estimated property value, while the number is charted at $1.259 for 2016. The rate stood at just over $1.76 per $1,000 in 2015.
The numbers were not sold on Mayor Pro Tem Cris Kaminskas, who opposed the 1 percent change mainly due to the city's robust reserves.
"I cannot in good conscience support this increase when I consider our ending fund balance of over $2 million," she said.
Dunne countered, saying the hike was "more about sustaining the property tax rate from the previous years as opposed to increasing it."
In referring to the importance of property tax in funding the police department and library, Dunne added that revenue has historically been "inelastic" when compared to the volatility of sales tax. Moore, who spoke out against the 1-percent proposal, said property tax has not been without its own elastic features related to the upsurge in assessed value.
When the vote was finally called on the resolution, Dunne and Kopelson cast their support for the increase. Kaminskas and Moore were in opposition. The 2-2 tie - Langford, Severs and Shane Brickner missed the meeting with excused absences - meant the rate will not change for 2016. By statute, Peterson is not permitted to break a council draw in financial-related matters.
On the average, a 1 percent transition for 2016 would have meant $4 more on property valued at $250,000. The change would have netted the city around $21,000 in additional revenue. Liberty Lake's rate of $1.74 for 2016 will be lower than the neighboring jurisdictions of Spokane Valley, Millwood and Spokane. Adding in property tax from the Spokane Valley Fire District, Central Valley School District and five other entities, Liberty Lake property owners will pay $14.08 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2016.
Council hears plans for Orchard Park
At the Dec. 1 council meeting, the governing board heard an overview of plans for Orchard Park, a sprawling greenspace in the River District that would complement the city's existing inventory of large-scale recreational sites headlined by Pavillion Park and Rocky Hill Park.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy a park in our own area," said John Harris, a resident of the River District at the meeting. "It will be refreshing."
Like many citizens who call the north side of Liberty Lake home, Harris and his family face a trek when accessing larger parks in the more developed portion of the city. While the River District is known for its smaller "pocket" parks, the burgeoning area still lacks a site featuring amenities like tennis courts and multi-use fields.
Harris has been joined by fellow residents of the River District in providing feedback on how Orchard Park might take shape. The city held its first public meeting on Oct. 8 and followed it up with another workshop on Nov. 19. On Dec. 1, Amanda Tainio, the city's planning and building services manager, said combined attendance for the meetings checked in at around 50 people.
"We want to make the park a fit for this part of the community," said Tainio as part of her "Envision Orchard Park" presentation. "It will be a walkable, bikeable park centrally located in the western part of the River District and on the same scale as Rocky Hill and Pavillion parks."
The city has earmarked $2.5 million for the first phase of the project. Tainio told council that the plan is to have an application to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) ready by May 1. The city is eligible for up to $500,000 in RCO matching funds, a funding approach that behooved both Pavillion and Rocky Hill parks.
At the public meetings, residents have chimed in on various features they see as priorities for Orchard Park, including multi-use fields, a play structure, shade trees, a splash pad and picnic shelter. There has also been talk of an amphitheater while the grounds will likely include pathways linked to the existing trail system.
Referring to landmarks like the old dance pavilion at the lake that was replicated at Pavillion Park and the rustic barn that sits on the perimeter of Rocky Hill, Tainio said the city is considering a combined theme at Orchard Park that would pay homage to the area's rich railroad history and the fruit orchards that once flourished in the rural surroundings.
Despite the recent activity surrounding Orchard Park, the wait will be considerable according to the timetable provided by Tainio on Dec. 1. They city won't hear an answer on the RCO grant until 2017 and, if all goes as scheduled, the park would celebrate grand opening of the first phase in 2018.
The city is in the process of selecting a consultant for the park design and will update council at the first meeting in January.
City honors DiCicco
Open chairs were scarce at the start of the Dec. 1 meeting as the city honored longtime grocery manager Dan DiCicco, now nearing the end of a long career. Employees, family and friends were in attendance to honor the man known by many as "Safeway Dan."
Hired by Safeway in 1970, DiCicco moved to Liberty Lake 15 years ago from Sandpoint when the company opened a store on Liberty Lake Road. Known for his friendly nature and commitment to a variety of civic causes, DiCicco was described by Mayor Peterson as "someone who is always looking out for our community."
"I think I speak on behalf of the entire city when I say how much we appreciate Dan," Peterson said. "He's a person I consider a mentor."
DiCicco remained manager when the store changed hands from Safeway to Haggen earlier this year. As the result of a decision in bankruptcy court, Haggen announced closure of the site in September. DiCicco said on Tuesday that Yoke's would be taking over the location and opening sometime in February.
"Hopefully, everyone will be back," DiCicco said, referring to his staff, many of whom have been employed at the store for a decade or more.
• • •
In the Books, On the Docket
A look back and ahead at news from City Hall
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
IN THE BOOKS (DECEMBER)
• Council approved a contract with Gregg Dohrn of G.R. and Associates for work on the city's development regulations in 2016.
• Mayor Steve Peterson acknowledged Jeff Nelson for reaching the decade mark as an employee in the city's maintenance department. Jennifer Camp, parks and open space superintendent, and Trevor Ragan, maintenance worker, were co-recipients of the Mayor's Recognition award.
• Police Chief Brian Asmus honored Officer Jeff Jones with the Chief's Award, Officer Austin Brantingham with the Sergeant's Award and Officer Mike Bogenreif with the Officer of the Year Award.
• Steve Skipworth, commissioner with the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, told council that LLSWD is looking at the prospect of installing pipes for reclaimed water when the city renovates Liberty Lake Road next year.
• Peterson presented Phil Champlin, executive director of the HUB Sports Center, with a proclamation acknowledging Nov. 21, 2015, as "Hooray for the HUB Day." The Liberty Lake-based facility celebrated its one millionth visitor in October.
• Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Commissioner Kottayam V. Natarajan Jr. told council that the annual beach and leaf cleanup generated 12,433 pounds of refuse, including 560 pounds of phosphorous removed from the watershed.
• In early December, City Administrator Katy Allen and City Engineer Andrew Staples visited Seattle to pitch a progressive design-build concept for the Town Square project that is slated to include a community center and pool. Later in the month, the city received news that the state Project Review Committee had given its stamp of approval to the Liberty Lake project.
• City officials met with the Town Square project steering committee on Dec. 8. The city is targeting a bond vote in August to generate funds for construction.
• The city received good news from the state Transportation Improvement Board in the form of a $560,000 grant for the proposed traffic roundabout at Mission and Molter. City Engineer Andrew Staples said the funds represent around 70 percent of the overall cost of the project, scheduled for construction in 2016.
• Police Chief Brian Asmus told council he was "proud of how the city worked together" in response to the Nov. 17 windstorm. Asmus said a small number of trees fell in Liberty Lake while power outages were limited to parts of the River District and areas in the far eastern portion of the city. The library and City Hall were opened as warming shelters in response to the storm.
ON THE DOCKET (JANUARY)
• A workshop to discuss Spokane Transit Authority services in the city and select a representative to the STA board is scheduled for the Jan. 5 council meeting.
• A presentation and update will be given on the Orchard Park project.
• Council will discuss and approve an on-call agreement and authorize the mayor to enter into the agreement.
• Reconfirmation of planning commission members is scheduled for the Jan. 5 council meeting.
• Council is expected to award the contract for Liberty Lake Road improvements and the Mission/Molter Road roundabout.
• A second read ordinance, adopting a lodging tax increase, is on the agenda for the Jan. 19 council meeting.
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