PEACEFUL VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 12,

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: meeting called to order at 7 pm at Peaceful Valley Community Center. Chair Jan Loux

Attendance: Carol Bryan, Susan Burns, Raynell Cook, Bill Forman, MaryJo Faulhaber,  Charlie Greenwood, John Lawson, Karena Lawson, John Lenhart, Jan Loux, Barbara Morrissey, Paula Richards. Guests: Boris Borisov, ONS, Blaine Stum, City of Spokane, Adam McDaniel (Councilman Jon Snyder's administrative assistant)), Ben Stuckhart, President Spokane City Council

Reports:

Officer…….SPD  Crime Check received two calls from the Peaceful Valley Area in January, both resolved. Peaceful Valley has a very low crime rate according to  January records

City Council: No report from Councilman Snyder who was attending another meeting. Reports on specific projects will be given by McDaniel and Stuckhart

Community Assembly: Susan Burns: Highlights. The City Council is working on the safety issues associated with Oil Train traffic;Bill in WA senate to require more info about what is in tankers going through Spokane failed to pass.  The EIS for coal train ports will include comments from all the communities along the route.  Nothing new about the police contract and ombudsman; check out the City of Spokane new website to contact city departments; Planning is still working on updating the 2001 comp plan; 

Traffic Calming on west Clarke S curve and other:  ( Siusan and Jan) City officials……. Garret from Parks and Rec and Brandon Blankangel from city street engineering met with the traffic calming sub committee. Discussion still at the concept stage. Blankangel  e mailed Jan that a "conversation" about the trail will be "ongoing". Three maps of the proposed trail location were passed out.(Jan will e mail these as an attachment to NC members.) The project to improve the safety on lower Clarke for pedestrians and cyclists is likely to be incorporated in a City Hall proposal to have a circle  trail from Downtown along the river. Some possibly controversial aspects: removing the south rock wall holding back a hillside in the area of the S curve if it is not a historic structure; changing the character and purpose of the walking trails in Riverwalk, which are as designed in the original charrette, parking area on City Property on north side of Clarke between Ash and Elm for river users to take pressure off Water street.  The trail needs to be a minimum of 8 feet, possibly as wide as 12 feet, for multiple use, mainly cyclist and pedestrians. An unanswered question is how Busses, and garbage trucks will also fit, as well as motor vehicles. ( Barbara adds" not to mention deer"). City engineering is nixing signage, says it "does no good". Susan will coordinate the grant application for a traffic calming project by March 6. The trail will be further discussed at the March NC Meeting. 
 
Tennis court Futsal proposal: Blaine Sturm, Jon Snyder's administrative assistant,reported Jon Snyder is soliciting the neighborhood's opinion  on his proposal to create a "FUTSAL  Court." on the tennis court since there are better tennis courts in Browns addition. If the Neighborhood approves Jon will bring the proposal to Parks and Rec. Futsal  is a form of "mini" soccer, with regulations to restrict aggressiveness and kicking balls out of the court.  Blaine said there is a Futsal league in Spokane. Raynell pointed out that skateboarding is still being done and is popular. Since the major improvements would be resurfacing the court and painting zones, it could be used for beginning skateboarding with portable ramps. How this would be paid for is not identified. More discussion will be at March meriting.This could be a Steering Committee item if CDBG funds are requested. Most members were "okay" with Jon presenting the proposal to Parks and Rec.

OLD BUSINESS

Jan's reports: (1) CSO project    Spokane tribe will be doing more archeological studies. City still talking with the tribe. Possibly a Native American cultural center might be developed in the area.  Possibly the center might include rooms for community meetings.(2) letter to property owners to clean up their sidewalks. Some success with the letter to the City, which last week removed the snow from the sidewalks on Clarke between Ash and Elm. No response from a large property owner on Main. John  Lenhart accepted Jan's request to take over the project.(3) neighborhood cleanup: choice is now up to the neighborhood. Jan reported we have $6500 this year, which could be enough for two clean green, a curbside, and a furniture., based on last years expenditures. Everyone approved. (4) LFCC after school program contract for church building remodel has to be rebid. Possibly work could begin in April.

Ben Stuckhart :ordinance changes to allow urban agriculture:  Ben gave a detailed report on the proposed ordinance changes which will allow small commercial agricultural enterprises ( aka "market gardens") to be developed  in the city. These could include growing flowers, produce and herbs for sale, raising chickens for eggs and having small livestock. There are basic lot size requirements. There are restrictions on the number and kind of animals over and above household pets. There are requirements to be licensed and certified,, including taking WSU extension courses,as well as getting a small business license, and ( in the case of animals) not creating odor or nuisance sounds, or increased commercial traffic. No roosters. Ben reports he has had good feedback from other neighborhoods on this and believes it could  be an economic benefit for low income neighborhoods. Interested persons can attend the Planning Dept meeting , and attend the City Council meetings at which this will be debated. Check the city's website for times.

NEW BUSINESS

KYRS request to use neighborhood's park pass for summer fund raising festival In the discussion Barbara voiced her objection to a Neighborhood Council being listed as a "Sponsor" in KYRS' advertisements, as the festival was a fund raiser for a radio station with a political agenda. She pointed out that the NC "represents" a politically diverse neighborhood, some of whom don't listen to KYRS or agree with John Hightower or Amy Goodman. She asked how the NC would react if this was a Christian station making a request. She also objected to the implied criticism of NC members in attendance at a meeting last year with KYRS for "not volunteering." Other NC members said the festival was great, problem free, a peaceful family event, and the station as far as they knew had no political agenda, and some neighborhood residents(ie Charlie and the Bike Corrall) had volunteered.  Raynell suggested making this a two motion vote. The NC approved  the  first motion unanimously that Parks be advised  that KYRS can use the pass for the festival. Barbara made the second motion that KYRS not list the PVNC as a sponsor of it's festival. Motion seconded by John. Motion was defeated by a vote of 4 in favor and 6 opposed. 

Expense account Jan requested the council consider  a small count for printing the flyers. She has been willing to do this but in the future another leader might not have the income.  Several projects were discussed, no conclusions. Bill suggested that donations for printing the flyer be made in the next distribution.

NC Meeting adjourned at 8 pm

STEERING COMMITTEE   In Matt's absence,  Jan reported the balance on our CDBG account is 113000. Much of this money is for projects already agreed to in Riverwalk, or for already ordered playground equipment and already ordered trash receptacles. 15000 remains for traffic calming, no identified project..  Meeting adjourned 8:30 pm.

respectfully submitted, Barbara Morrissey, secretary.