AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Airway Heights City Council gave City Manager Albert Tripp their unanimous approval to carry out an interagency agreement for coronavirus relief funding at its July 6 meeting.
The funding, which totaled $286,350 per a population-based allocation from the state, can be used only for costs that are related to the COVID-19 fallout, such as medical expenses or business/economic shortfalls directly correlated to the coronavirus. The funding will be provided to the city through reimbursement.
Tripp presented resolution 2020-014, which would declare a financial emergency for the current 2020 expense fund budget due to financial hardships created by COVID-19.
The expense fund budget is the main operating budget for general governmental services such as police and parks and recreation.
Tripp said the city is projecting a $1.5 million or 15% budget shortfall, which he said is somewhat fixed. One of the main contributors for the shortfall is the complete lack of revenue coming through the recreation center.
Tripp said his hope for the July 6 meeting was to increase awareness of the financial impact COVID-19 is having on the expense fund budget and will bring an update to council’s July 13 study session and hopes for final approval at council’s July 20 regular meeting.
Council also unanimously approved Ordinance C-939, which authorized the “maximum capacity of a local sales and use tax to fund investments in affordable and supportive housing as authorized by RCW 82.14.540,” according to meeting documentation.
Public Works Director Kevin Anderson said the Department of Health has requested an update on the city’s water plan “soon.” He promised further details at council’s July 13 study session.
Anderson also mentioned that the city is working on two grants for funding from the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) due at the end of the month. One is the “Safe Route to School” grant, which Anderson said would be used to improve the sidewalk on 10th Avenue west-bound toward Aspen Street. The other grant, the “Ped-Bike Grant,” is still being considered as to how the city could use it, but Anderson said possibilities include pedestrian and bike facilities around the Craig and U.S. 2 intersection.
Councilman Doyle Inman noted at the beginning of the meeting that he didn’t notice much enforcement of the city’s no fireworks ordinance after midnight on July 2 and 3. Tripp said he only discussed July 4 in his conversations with the Airway Heights Police Department, and offered to follow up.
Deputy Mayor Sonny Weathers said 2020 census returns are up to 52% in Airway Heights. He also said Airway Heights’ official population is over 10,000, making it the fastest growing city in Spokane County and the 13th fastest growing city in the state of Washington.
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)