While construction projected related measures dominated sessions in late December through early February, Airway Heights’ City Council also dealt with issues such as water, mining and zoning.
Council buys street sweeper, upgrades lighting
During its final study session of 2023 on Dec. 27, City Council approved a pair of upcoming street expenses: a residential lighting project and a street sweeper.
The lighting project will provide new illumination for a portion of 6th Avenue between Aspen Street and West Whitetip Avenue. There is currently no lighting on this stretch and the Cheney School District expressed concern about the dangers to students who might be in the area under low light situations.
Engineering developed an estimated $65,000 plan to install lighting on both sides of the street. Instead, the council approved a phased plan to put in lighting at the entrances to the apartment complexes, costing between $48,000 – $49,000.
Council also approved the purchase of a used street sweeper from Owen Equipment, a company the city does regular business with when needed. The 2005 Elgin Crosswind sweeper has 3,489 hours and roughly 24,000 miles of usage, and has recently been renovated.
The city purchased the sweeper for $90,000 using $40,000 from the Street Fund that was part of a 2022 grant from the Spokane Tribe of Indians, with the balance and interfund loan from the Utility Fund.
Council Chair, Vice Chair selected
Council voted at its first meeting in 2024 to select Councilman Larry Bowman and Councilwoman Veronica Messing as Council Chair and Vice Chair respectively.
Street grants, mining expansion approved
Council unanimously approved a pair of items dealing with road construction in the city. The first was to accept a pair of state grants totaling just over $3.17 million for the estimated $16.8 million 6th Avenue Development Project from Craig to Deer Heights Road. Once completed, the project will offer an alternative route through the city in order to relieve congestion on U.S. Highway 2.
The city received a $2 million Spokane Transit Authority grant in November 2021 to construct a missing portion of 6th Avenue between Craig Road and Ketchum Street. The new grants, $754,341 from Washington’s Transportation Improvement Board and $2.42 million from the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, will enable the city to begin widening and improving the roadway between Craig Road and Russell Street to arterial standards.
The second item approved was a draft work order for construction management services not to exceed $349,000 from Ardurra for the city’s 10th Avenue Extension project, which was awarded to Shamrock Paving on Dec. 4, 2023. The project will extend 10th from Garfield Street to Hayford Road, with Ardurra providing project administration, inspection, closeout and record drawing preparation services.
The project is anticipated to begin as soon as March, 2024.
Council also unanimously approved Resolution 2023-031, a conditional use permit to allow expansion of CPM Development Corporation’s aggregate mining pit north of the city.
CPM’s current operation takes place between the Spokane County ORV Park to the west and Spokane Raceway Park to the east, accessed by West Sprague Avenue. The expansion is on a 20-acre parcel northwest of this and northeast of the ORV Park, and is zoned I-2 (Heavy Industrial).
The CUP application was approved by the Spokane Hearing Examiner prior to council consideration, with the Examiner disagreeing with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians contention that the project should include additional mitigation measures to avert possible impacts to its Northern Quest Resort and Casino, located to the east of the current mining site.
The Examiner did approve additional conditions proposed by Airway Heights and others commenting on the Determination of Non-Significance, including complying with all existing local and state water quality monitoring regulations, submission of a geotechnical/hydrological report and proper fencing and site separation requirements.
According to Spokane County’s SCOUT property system, CPM purchased the property in December, 2022 for $450,000 from Washington Motorsports Limited Partnership.
Casino impacts, water and climate
Council had a busy evening, passing five action items, a first reading of an ordinance and a pair of resolutions, one that requires a public hearing to be conducted at the Feb. 19 meeting.
Two action items dealt with existing contracts the city maintains, one with the Spokane Tribe of Indians regarding its casino and the other with the city of Spokane for water supply.
The city and the Spokane Tribe originally entered into an impact mitigation agreement for the Tribe’s class 3 gaming facility, with the stipulation that the city would forward 20% of the fee to Spokane County. The agreement between Airway Heights and the county was terminated in 2013, but with the Spokane Tribe’s opening of its casino in 2017, it asked the city to reach a new impact mitigation agreement with the county, asking the city to set aside 20% of its mitigation fee in escrow until an agreement could be reached or failed.
City Manager Albert Tripp told the council they had sent a final offer to the county in December, 2023, and the county had agreed to the terms, which require the city to pay the county 20% of what it receives from the Tribe. Airway Heights and the county will also split the $595,000 being held in escrow.
Council also approved an amendment to the city’s agreement with the city of Spokane for receiving water. The amendment makes available another 250 gallons a minute for Airway Heights’ use.
Council also approved a 2023-2025 Climate Planning grant from the state Department of Commerce. The grant is to be used for developing and implementing new chapters in the city’s comprehensive plan for greenhouse gas reduction as now required by state law. Airway Heights is scheduled to begin its six-year review and revision to its comprehensive plan this year.
According to Commerce grant information, Airway Heights has been awarded up to $230,000 to assist with this process. The funding is released in two grant cycles, the first approved by the council for $100,000.
“It isn’t the full amount year one,” Tripp said. “Rather this is like a staggered source of funds over a period of 3-4 years.”
Council also approved the first reading of Ordinance C-1015, adopting the 2023 zoning map that was approved by the Planning Commission after a public hearing at its Jan. 10 meeting.
Finally, council voted to move a resolution establishing a revocable license and permit with Dealers Business Park, LLC to allow an electric fence on the city’s right of way near the businesses’ Hayford Road location. The resolution requires a public hearing on the issue, which will be held on Feb. 19.
