MEDICAL LAKE — The City Council got to work at its first meeting of the new decade with some newly elected members, and approving a slew of contracts and a tax credit resolution for future consideration.
The biggest issue on the council’s agenda was the approval of a non-binding resolution of intent related to a tax credit earmarked specifically for affordable and supportive housing assistance.
The credit is the outcome of a 2019 legislative bill created to address the issue of affordable housing across the state.
Funding comes from existing sales taxes already collected, and doesn’t involve any new taxes. A portion of those taxes — 0.0146 percent — would be credited back to participating municipalities as an “additional source of funding to address housing needs in the city,” according to resolution language.
An incentive to participate was built into the legislative bill, however: the money collected would go elsewhere if a city chose to opted-out of the program.
“If the city participates, it can use the money it receives for qualifying uses within the city,” according to a clarifying memo written by City Attorney Cynthia McMullen.
For Medical Lake, those funds would go to Spokane County if the city chose not to participate.
Passage of the resolution was required before Jan. 28 for the city to maintain the option of participating in the program. A city ordinance must be passed by July 27 for that to happen.
In other business, the council also approved several professional service contracts.
The first is a $200-per-hour, one-year renewable contract with Spokane’s McAloon Law for legal representation as the city’s new attorney.
Laura McAloon will be taking the reigns from McMullen who is leaving at the end of the month.
A 2000 graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law, McAloon provides similar legal services to several cities including Spokane and Pullman, to Spokane Transit Authority, and a variety of utility districts and councils, according to her resume.
A $30,000 contract with the planning firm SCJ Alliance Consulting Services was also approved by the council to produce a required update of the city’s Shoreline Master Program. The cost will be partially offset by a $16,800 Department of Ecology grant, according to City Administrator Doug Ross.
The Shoreline Master Program must be updated every seven years, and includes public outreach and public hearing elements.
The council also approved a $20,910 contract with Seattle firm EDX to update faded interpretive trail signs around Medical Lake. The contract is for design services only, according to Ross, who noted another company would be responsible for manufacturing and installation.
“The total cost of this project will be around $42,000,” he said.
Ross also gave a brief update on the city’s recent spat of vehicle prowls.
According to Spokane County Sheriff’s Office monthly crime statistics, vehicle prowls were up 336 percent year-over-year in December compared to 2018, with 48 vehicle prowls reported compared to 11 the same time last year.
Ross noted prowls had dropped recently, based on daily Spokane County Sheriff reports.
“I haven’t seen anything on there in two weeks,” he said of the reports.
Based on those daily reports, deputies have focused their efforts on vehicle prowls, making self-initiated prowl checks in prowl-prone neighborhoods.
Newly elected Councilwoman Heather Starr took a seat at her first council session, being sworn before the meeting. New Councilman Art Kulibert was absent to his first meeting due to an excused vacation, according to an absence request form.
Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.
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