Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp presented the preliminary budget for 2015 to the City Council at its Nov. 3 meeting.
One of the focuses for next year’s budget is maintaining and increasing city services. Tripp said the budget uses existing revenues and makes investments to several targeted areas to provide great service to the community.
The budget also addresses financial planning for equipment needs for city departments by splitting $45,000 into two different reserve accounts to use for equipment replacement.
“This investment is to ensure that each department is able to continue operating daily without down time and respond to calls for service when requested,” Tripp said.
The proposed budget also provides funding for community programs, one being the new Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. Tripp said the budget includes $2,000 for senior program expenses and $7,480 for support staff to implement programs.
Tripp said there will be further adjustments to the proposed budget before Dec. 1.
After Tripp’s presentation, the council opened the second public hearing for the 2015 budget. Clerk-Treasurer Richard Cook said the city is waiting on some final assessment values.
During the public hearing, Paul Freeman asked the council to consider installing a small park in the area behind South Quamash Court and 10th Avenue.
“We’re not looking for anything fancy,” Freeman said.
Merlene Olmstead of the Senior Advisory Committee thanked the city for setting aside funds in the budget for the committee.
“We’re loving what is happening and we appreciate your consideration,” Olmstead said.
The council also held a public hearing for the development agreement between Defender Development and the city for the Aspen Craig Subdivision, northeast of Craig Road and 12th Avenue.
Development Services Director Derrick Braaten explained that the developer proposed a mix of single-family duplexes and fourplexes. The city rezoned the property from R-2 (duplex residential) and RM (residential manufactured) to R-3 (multi-family residential) through an ordinance in 2013.
Braaten said there were conditions that came from the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). These include a cap of 15 units per acre and proper sound mitigation installed in the units. The fourplexes will have one-inch water meters based on a specific structure fixture count.
Braaten added that the listed property owner is responsible for utility bills associated with the building.
After the public hearing, the council approved a developer agreement between the city and Defender Development regarding the subdivision.
The City Council also approved an interlocal agreement between the city and Spokane County for solid waste services. Tripp explained that the agreement is until 2021, however the city can terminate the contract after three years with a one-year notice.
Mayor Patrick Rushing said the county has no jurisdiction of determining disposal costs disposal for Airway Heights because the city has a separate interlocal agreement for disposal services.
“This is a good thing,” Rushing said. “Perseverance pays off.”
The council had the first reading of an ordinance to set the regular property tax levy and bond levy. Cook said the ordinance recommends a zero percent property tax increase, excluding recent construction and state-assessed property adjustments. The ordinance includes an existing $125,000 bond levy.
There is an EMS levy on the Nov. 4 ballot, which will raise property taxes 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Cook said if that levy passes, staff will make adjustments to the ordinance.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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