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From sewage treatment to Sprague revitalization, Spokane Valley Mayor Richard Munson covered it all during last week’s state of the city address. A standing-room-only crowd attended the free event held at CenterPlace on March 4.
For nearly an hour, Munson – per his usual, nonscripted style but aided by PowerPoint – listed the good, the bad and generally positive aspects of the city over the past year and what to expect for the remainder of 2009.
By the time it was over, Munson only made one and hard promise: “We will have a snow-removal contract this winter.”
The mayor was referring to Spokane County’s decision to cancel its plowing services with the city, effective Oct. 15. Munson said city leaders are attempting to get a new provider in place – possibly one or more private contractors. In the meantime, the city will attempt to broker a one-year extension of the existing contract.
While snow is still at the forefront of most citizens’ minds, Munson began his address with a subject that he described as “not sexy,” but an issue that needs to be resolved: the impending construction of the county’s $170 million wastewater treatment plant.
“We know that not everyone likes the idea,” he said, adding that the environmental activist Sierra Club is applying intense political pressure to stop all treated wastewater discharge into the Spokane River. If that were to happen, he said, it’s likely the city could face a building moratorium if an alternate solution isn’t found.
“We have to make (the Sierra Club) understand what a devastating effect that would have on our city,” he said.
When it came time to address one of the city’s biggest hot-button issues – the Sprague-Appleway Revitalization Plan – Munson said he hopes citizens, even those who don’t currently agree with city’s direction, give SARP a chance.
“It’s a dynamic plan that recognizes that change is not bad,” he said.
Those changes, which will include different zoning applications and new building requirements on the busiest sections of the corridor, won’t happen overnight, he added. The state Supreme Court recently decided not to hear Spokane Valley’s appeal to have the Appleway right-of-way east of University Road turned over to the city from the county.
“We lost, but at least we tried,” he said, adding that even if the city got the right-of-way “today” it would still take years to move forward with road construction from University to Evergreen.
Munson also had choice words on the following topics:
- Future annexations by Spokane Valley -- “Whatever we annex is likely to be small.”
- The city’s newest council member, Rose Dempsey – “As I suspected, she has developed into a real asset. She’s been positive and helpful.”
- Not losing more property or any lives during July’s fire – “I believe God intervened. The wind changed.”
- Citizen participation – “We like to have as much input as we can from our citizens.”
- The rift between the city and county over public safety costs: “We will mediate, and we will settle it hopefully by the end of the year.”
- The number of city employees (89 full time, 22 part time) – “It means we’re lean and mean, and we won’t be laying off any of our staff.”
- City budget departmental allocations – “We don’t punish them if they don’t spend all their money. We give them an attaboy.”
- The continuing left turns onto Indiana from Argonne – “We’ve got barrels up and signs up and people are still making left turns – go figure.”
- Spokane Valley construction – “We’re in pretty good shape in comparison to the rest of the country.”
- Developing a streets master plan – “We didn’t know where all our streets were. Now we do – and we know what kind of shape they’re in.”
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By
Mike Huffman
