Airway Heights will soon see a new fire station being constructed along with a new fire engine for the department. Council also approved a memorandum of understanding with a local manufactured home park to supply water to the facility, creation of a climate section for its Comprehensive Plan and steps to begin work on improving pedestrian access along Craig Road.
Fire station funds created, bids awarded, new engine enroute
Council approved ordinances creating a pair of funds at its April 15 meeting to handle bond sales proceeds used in the acquisition, renovation, construction, improvement and equipping of new public safety facilities. The $8 million in bonds were approved by almost 76% of voters in an Aug. 1, 2023 ballot measure.
Ordinance C-1027 created a new Capital Projects Fund entitled “Public Safety Building Purchase and Remodel Fund 2023” while Ordinance C-1028 created a Debt Service Fund entitled “Public Safety Building Debt Service Fund, 2023.” Finance Director Stanley Schubert said the separate accounts are required to monitor and manager the public safety building funding accurately and transparently.
“Once those proceeds (from bond sales) are received, they would go directly into it,” City Manager Albert Tripp added.
At its May 6 regular session, council approved transfer of $429,980.81 from its Fire Equipment Reserve fund to the General Expense fund to pay the balance on its new fire engine. The engine’s total cost is $649,995, and it has been in production for the past one-and-a-years.
Fire Chief Brad Metzger said they visited South Dakota production facility for some field tests on the engine, and after small performance issues are addressed, indicated the vehicle should be enroute to Airway Heights the end of the week of May 13 – 17. Metzger noted the city’s plans to purchase a new engine began in 2019.
“Yeah, it’s been five years,” Council President Larry Bowman said. “That’s crazy.”
Finally, council approved a notice to proceed with construction of the new fire station. Metzger said they opened seven bids on April 30, and have chosen low bidder Meridian Construction for the project. The total overall cost for the project is over $5.83 million.
Craig Road properties vacated
Council approved an ordinance at its April 15 meeting vacating two city-owned parcels on the east side of Craig Road for use as right-of-way in the city’s shared-use path project proposed for the west side of the road. The project includes pedestrian crossings and Spokane Transit Authority bus stops.
The quit claim deeds are for parcels on the north and south sides of West Bergen Drive at its intersection with Craig Road.
At the April 22 study session, Principal Planner Heather Trautman told council 90% of the design work on the estimated $1.19 million project had been completed by the city and consultant Ardurra. The project, to be built from the roundabout at U.S. Highway 2 north to 6th Avenue will feature a 10-foot wide bike/pedestrian path, stormwater facilities and new driveway approaches at RLP Enterprises and the Spokane Tribe Casino.
Funding will be provided by a $950,000 Bike and Pedestrian Grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation and $240,000 in city money.
Climate plan underway, water study proposed
Council approved awarding Department of Commerce grant funding to Sustainability Solutions Group, USA (SSG) to create a Climate Action Element for the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The new chapter is required by state law, and must contain two elements dealing with sustainability strategies and reduction of greenhouse gases.
The state Legislature has provided funding to help municipalities develop these elements, and Airway Heights was successful in securing a $400,000 grant for this purpose over the next two and a half years. Trautman said SSG is actually a Canadian company with a U.S. subsidiary, and will partner with Seattle firm Makers and Eastern Washington firm Sage Step on the project.
“They have extensive experience working in both of these (climate) areas across Northern Canada as well as some experience in the United States,” she added.
The work is broken into two funding cycles, with the first $100,000, including public input, beginning soon while the second phase from 2025 – 2026 involves completion of the work.
Council also approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with West Prairie Village Mobile Home Park, LLC to explore the possibility of extending city water service to the park. Park representative Christa Connolly approached council in late February about the possibility of supplying the park — located on Craig Road just northwest of the city — with water as its two wells have decreased in production dramatically over the past two years.
Council agreed to look into options to assist the park. Public Works Director Kevin Anderson said at the May 6 meeting the MOU was needed so staff could apply for a $50,000 Consolidation Feasibility Study grant to look at extension issues.
The MOU spells out the city will administer the grant and that it is not obligated to extending service.
“The key points there is that if there are any costs that we incur that the grant won’t cover that West Prairie would cover us,” Anderson added.
Parks and Recreation pursues grant for Sunset pathway
At the April 15 meeting, council approved a resolution authorizing the city’s Parks & Recreation Department to apply for a state Wildlife & Recreation Program Local Parks Grant from the Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) to be used to help fund renovate of the pathway at Sunset Park. RCO is making $15.5 million available for projects through the Local Parks Grant program.
Parks & Recreation Director JC Kennedy said the funding would be used to replace portions of the current Sunset Park pathway as well as relocating other areas due to “tree root heaving.” The project would also install permanent electrical power panels at areas in the park in order to reduce the need to use portable generators for events.
Project design work by SPVV Architects puts the project estimated cost at $465,000.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee restarted
Council also approved four appointments to the city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, a committee that has been dormant since January 2021.
By law, the committee must have at least five members, two who are from businesses required to collect the lodging tax, two from entities authorized to be funded by the tax and one from the city’s governing body. Deputy Mayor Veronica Messing serves as the council’s representative to the committee. Appointments approved at the April 15 meeting are JC Kennedy, Airway Heights Parks and Recreation Department; Jacob Powers, Airway Heights Kiwanis Club; Steve Vreeken, General Manager, Stafford Inn & Suites and Mayu “Mike” Patel, owner, Days Inn & Suites.
