Lefevre Street Restriping Project
The city’s engineering team walked the council through the long‑planned redesign of SR 902 (Lefevre Street) aimed at slowing traffic, improving safety, and supporting pedestrians and cyclists. The project has been in development for several years and is now entering its final design phase after extended coordination with WSDOT.
The redesign introduces a center turn lane, parking‑protected bike lanes, narrower travel lanes, slower speed limit, radar feedback signs, and durable striping materials that reduce long‑term maintenance. Several adjustments were required by WSDOT since the last presentation, including a wider turn lane and the use of grooved‑plastic striping at intersections. The team also explained how snow removal, visibility, and long‑term upkeep shaped the final layout.
The construction is scheduled for this summer and is primarily funded by a grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) with a total estimated cost of $853,000. 90% of the cost being covered by the TIB and $85,300 coming from the city.
Grant Applications Update
Working with the Cities new grant writer, Positive Impact Grant Writing, the staff have authorized the grant writer to apply for three major grant applications: an application to the US Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant for $5 to $7 million supporting the State Route 902 safety, connectivity, and intersection upgrades, to the Federal Economic Development Administration’s Disaster Supplemental grant program for $7 – $7.5 million towards waterfront park infrastructure, stormwater mitigation, and sewer improvements; and to the cities insurance agency, Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA), liability‑reduction grant for ADA trail access on the Fox Hollow Trail behind to Shepard Field.
“Additional opportunities, including park master planning funds, through the State Recreation and Conservation Office are under review,” said City Administrator Sonny Weathers. Weathers emphasize the importance of persistence “You can’t get it if you don’t ask.”
2025 Budget Recap
City Finance Director Koss Ronholt, shared the 4th Quarter Budget results with the Council, noting that almost all of the operational revenue funds came in higher than expected except Tourism which came in at 96% of the budgeted amount or $116,150 vs the budgeted amount of $121,500 and Broadband which came in at 74% or $2,960 vs the budgeted amount of $4,000.
Similarly on the expenditure side all operational funds came in at or lower than expected with Tourism and Broadband significantly lower at 45% and 43% respectively or $54,430 vs the budget of $120,500 and $44,546 vs the budget of $104,000.
“Broadband fund was planning to construct the fiber optic link to City Hall” explained Ronholt. “However that project was awaiting BroadLink to complete their project” of getting high speed internet to Medical Lake.
On the Tourism budget, Ronholt reminded Council that “we did budget for increased communications and while we have been working with Big Sky Communications on communications plans we haven’t done the actual communications.” Koss continued that this is still a council goal and that those funds will continue to roll over into the new year.
Looking at the Project-based Funds, Ronholt highlighted both the ‘Streets – Restricted’ and ‘Contingency’ funds as they showed a current negative balance however Koss explained that they were both negative because of the reimbursement process. “The Streets – Restricted Fund is negative due to the large Lefevre St project construction which was funded by the Transportation Improvement Board and is waiting the reimbursement.” The Contingency fund was also negative due to the FEMA reimbursed road repair project and will be reimbursed after the project is complete.
STA Moving Forward Update
Emily Poole the Chief Planning and Development Officer for Spokane Transit Authority (STA) outlined the results of STA’s 10‑year strategic plan titled “Moving Forward” and introduced the newly adopted 10-year strategic plan titled “Connect 2035.”
Mrs. Poole highlighted the Moving Forward investments including major service expansions, 35% increase in service hours, new high‑performance transit lines, and the success of the West Plains Transit Center which allowed STA to increase the frequency of bus service to Medical lake from every 90 minutes to every 60 minutes. This play was funded by a voter approved 0.2% sales tax increase which is scheduled to sunset in Dec of 2028
Included in the Connect 2035 plan is initiatives including: introducing a series of mobility‑on‑demand pilot zones where smaller STA vehicles would pickup riders outside of the existing fixed route bus service areas and take the riders to the closest bus service stop. Expand high performance transit lines including a new high performance transit line along STA’s current route 61 which services Highway 2 to Fairchild Airforce Base.
The Connect 2035 plan and maintaining the Moving Forward investments would be funded by a renewal of the voter approved 0.2% sales‑tax authority.
Cash Management Policy
In 2025 the State Auditor’s Office conducted an Accountability audit of the Cities internal controls and while they found no material deficiencies a management letter was issued noting that the Cities Cash management Policy didn’t define expectations for timely deposits of cash and checks.
City staff brought forward a revised Cash Management Policy that included a section addressing Deposit Timeliness identifying that they city is to deposit cash and checks “by the next business day” unless there are extenuating circumstances in which “the Finance Director must submit a written memo to the City Manager documenting the reason for the delay”
Animal Control Services
The City Council approved a new agreement with Spokane County for Animal Control services through the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services (SCRAPS). The agreement is a 5 year agreement beginning on January 1st, 2026, and expiring on December 31st 2030.
The cost of the service will be based upon the actual expenses incurred by the SCRAPS program multiplied by the Percentage of the activity related back to the City of Medical Lake with the pet licensing revenues generated within the city subtracted from the amount due.
Based upon the 2024 Activity Study it was identified that Medical Lake had 60 requests for services and 39 impounds for a total of 99 calls which represented 0.76% of all of the calls processed by the regional entity.
In 2025, the city paid $21,804 for Animal Control Services and with the new agreement it is anticipated to raise to $30,000.
In Brief
Councilmember Lance Spiers was elected chair of the Spokane Transit Authority (STA).
Councilmember Don Kennedy was selected by his peers to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore for 2026.
Mayor Cooper and City Administrator Sonny Weathers attended the Association of Washington Cities, City Action Days Conference in Olympia advocating for the Cities Legislative Priorities.
Mayor Cooper and Councilmember Chad Pritchard attended the Joint Chambers Olympia Fly-in continuing to advocate for the cities priorities.
On January 20th, the City Council amended their policies and procedures to remove the references to the Cities Parks and Recreation Committee noting that it was no longer necessary given the establishment of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board in January of 2025.
On January 20th the City Council approved an amendment to the agreement with the Four Lakes Water District No 10, where the City of Medical Lake provides water purveyor services for the water district, increasing the monthly charge by $250 per month making the new total $2,750 per month. All services remained the same.
On February 3rd the City Council established the job description for a Senior Planner position. It was noted that this job description is more comparable with the current duties and responsibilities that are being performed by the current City Planner.
