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Call it a negative trifecta for the man promising “Positive Change.”
Dean Grafos’ first meeting as a Spokane Valley City Council member saw him on the losing end of three votes Tuesday. However, he did get the chance to reiterate some of his campaign promises and set the stage for what he has in mind for 2010.
Of course, Grafos will have just one vote on the council, but the Sprague Avenue businessman and vocal opponent of the arterial’s revitalization plan will be joined in January by fellow Positive Change colleagues Tom Towey, Brenda Grassel and Bob McCaslin.
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| Dean Grafos, elected to replace appointed Council Member Ian Robertson, was sworn in by new colleague Rose Dempsey on Tuesday night at Spokane Valley City Hall. Photo by: Mike Huffman |
Mayor Richard Munson and Council Member Diana Wilhite lost to McCaslin and Grassel, respectively, in the November general election. Towey and sitting Council Member Gary Schimmels, also aligned with Positive Change – a group that has sought to limit aspects of Sprague-Appleway revitalization efforts and curb city spending – ran unopposed.
After the initial swearing-in ceremony, Grafos took his seat next to Schimmels, and the pair then spent the remainder of the meeting with some extra space – literally and philosophically – from the others on the council.
After the first item on the agenda, the unanimous final approval of the franchise agreement with Comcast – which Council Member Bill Gothmann hailed as “a long time coming” – Grafos was granted permission by Munson to address those in attendance. He used his time to repeat several talking points of his campaign, including overturning the SARP, rolling back city zoning codes to those used in 2007 and freezing salaries for city employees.
“I serve in this office at the will of the citizens,” Grafos said, receiving cheers from some in attendance.
Munson briskly moved on to the second item on the agenda, the first reading of proposed code amendments that would limit the size and type of “nonconforming structures” that could be placed on residential property in the city. The new rules would also clarify the classification of businesses that can operate out of neighborhood homes.
Several council members said they wanted more clarity on the rules, with Grafos asking questions regarding the limits on cargo shipping containers and how property values are determined. While the matter will be picked up again at a future council meeting, Grafos cast the lone dissenting vote.
Grafos was joined by Schimmels, however, in voting against the approval of the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the union that represents just over half of its employees. Part of the contract, which will remain through the end of 2012, calls for a 2.5-percent salary increase and a one-time 3-percent raise for next year.
Grafos balked at the hike, saying city revenues are projected to be down for next year.
“I don’t see where the money is coming from,” he said.
John Whitehead, city human resource manager, said Spokane Valley lags behind similar-sized municipalities in pay by about 9 percent and that the pay increases are important not only for morale but staff retention.
Grassel then addressed the council and said, “In the private sector, no one is getting a 5-and-a-half-percent pay raise.”
Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny said the city cannot reward workers with bonuses or other perks, and that structured yearly pay increases is the norm for governments.
“It’s a very different structure,” he said. “It took me a while to get my head around that.”
Council Member Rose Dempsey said she supported “in good faith” the bargaining agreement, as it had already been approved by the union and had been worked on for months.
Schimmels and Grafos also did not vote in favor of retaining the city’s lobbyist firm, which will cost the city $38,500 in 2010. City Manager David Mercier said the efforts of Gordon Thomas Honeywell – Government Affairs has brought the city over $1.3 million in state funding for projects that include Discovery Playground at Mirabeau Point, land for new a Greenacres Park and adjoining property at Park Pool.
Schimmels, however, made a motion to table the matter until January, which was seconded by Grafos. The council voted down that idea, with Denenny saying the lobbying group has been “Johnny on the spot” for keeping the city informed as to what’s been happening in the state Legislature and proposed laws that could affect Spokane Valley.
After the approval of the contract with a 5-2 vote, Munson declared a 10-minute recess. Microphones off, the mayor whirled on Schimmels.
“During this entire contract process, you haven’t raised one word of concern,” Munson told him before leaving the room.
The remainder of the meeting, where nonaction items were discussed, continued uneventfully.
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By
Mike Huffman
