A new grant will allow the city of Medical Lake to undertake a project improving nonvehicle access and safety along Lefevre Street.
At its April 2 meeting, the council unanimously approved receipt of a $1.586 million grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board’s Complete Streets project for pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Lefevre from Hancock Street to Brooks Road. The project will provide new sidewalks and lighting, and must be completed by December 2024, with the city providing $101,280 in matching funds.
The Complete Streets project is funded through the state’s Climate Commitment Act. Passed into law in 2021 and taking effect in January, 2023, the Act generated $2.3 billion last year for greenhouse gas reduction projects through the sale of pollution permits “allowances” in quarterly auctions to the state’s major polluters to cover emitted metric tons of carbon.
The ACT has funded a number of statewide projects, some of which are on hold pending outcome of a ballot measure this fall where voters will choose between retaining the funding mechanism or terminating it.
Preserving history; new right of way codes
Council also approved the first read of two ordinances on April 2, one adopting new codes regarding historic preservation of buildings and another to adopt new project right-of-way standards.
Ordinance 1122 would incorporate Spokane County standards and requirements for historic preservation into Medical Lake’s municipal codes under Chapter 2.40 “by reference.” According to a memo to the council and mayor from City Administrator Sonny Weathers, passage of the ordinance would address the city’s vision of including “meaningful connections to our history, and strategic objectives include protecting the historical and cultural character, managing the image, and enhancing the appearance of our City.”
Residents or businessowners who voluntarily wished to participate in the program would receive a “special valuation” credit towards property taxes for 10 years after completion of historically appropriate improvements to their property.
The ordinance also requires an interlocal agreement between Medical Lake and the Spokane County Historical Preservation Office for preservation services. There is no cost to residents “as long as county funding remains stable.”
Ordinance 1123 sets new standards for contractors seeking right-of-way permits in the city. Weathers told the council the need to replace the standards stemmed from a 2022 review by the city’s insurer, the Washington Cities Insurance Association, found the existing code language was old, stemming from the 1970s, and addressed only underground work.
Council discussed the new codes at length at their March 19 meeting, expressing concerns about requirements such as liability insurance and applicability to smaller, resident-based projects. Those concerns were addressed to council satisfaction, with Weathers noting “not all activities are equal” and would fall under the new requirements.
Water issues, emergency response
Council approved three resolutions at its March 19 meeting dealing with water and climate issues.
The first was an amendment to the $450,000 Department of Ecology grant Medical Lake received in April 2023 to administer an extensive study of chemical contamination and water flow of the West Plains Aquifer. The amendment provide for additional public outreach measures to be conducted that include public meetings and a technical advisory group to solicit feedback on aspects of the project now underway.
Councilman Chad Pritchard abstained from voting since he is currently conducting the study in his role as geosciences professor at Eastern Washington University.
Council then approved receipt of a $100,000 Department of Commerce 2023 – 2025 Climate Planning Grant to develop a plan for mitigation of potential climate hazards, including wildland fires. Through meetings and research, the city will develop a plan understanding potential climate hazards, the city’s vulnerability to these, plans and policies providing solutions and creation of mitigation strategies.
Weathers said the resulting documents will be included in the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and include a communications plan for informing the public should a climate disaster strike – such as another wildland fire.
“In the midst of a crisis, we’ve learned communication is a challenge,” Weathers said, referencing the August 2023 Gray Road Fire that decimated the southern portion of the city.
“So, when it strikes, we can pick up a book and know what steps to take,” he added.
“It’s a playbook we can share with other small cities,” Mayor Terri Cooper said.
Council approved receiving the grant 6-1, with Councilman Don Kennedy opposed.
Finally, council unanimously approved awarding the Jefferson Street Water Main Project to Colville Construction. The city received eight bids for the work, with the lowest bid coming from Lowe Excavating at $378,957.
After evaluating the bids, the city’s engineer, Haggarty Engineering, found three areas of irregularities in Lowe’s bid and deemed it nonresponsive, giving the contract to the next lowest bidder, Colville Construction at $401,890. The engineering estimate for the work was $405,440.
