Spokane Transit Authority briefs council on route changes

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The city of Airway Heights moved the regular Monday night council meeting to Tuesday, Feb. 18, due to the President’s Day holiday.

The Spokane Transit Authority (STA) made a presentation on significant route changes under consideration for the Airway Heights area including: discontinuing service on Fairchild Air Force Base with the bus stopping outside the gate only, citing low ridership and difficulty for drivers to get on base; shrinking the paratransit service area, increasing frequency to the airport, and extending service to the apartments on 6th Avenue and Craig Road. They are asking public input on their plan options by taking a survey at http://www.spokanetransit.com/survey by March 2. Final STA changes will not go into effect until May, 2020.

Mayor Kevin Richey and council members expressed concern with the proposed changes and sought assurances that the Airway Heights area has adequate routes and service to assure access and transportation to lower income families. They also asked consideration for service further north to the new Recreation Center on West Deno Road, instead of the terminus of the route being at Northern Quest Casino.

A $5,000 sponsorship for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians 2020 Salish Conference being held March 11-13 at Northern Quest Casino was unanimously approved as a partnership opportunity to celebrate tribal culture and language.

The purchase of $3,500 of computer equipment, with a three-year warranty, providing funding to replace six computers for the City Council to conduct city business on laptops was unanimously approved.

The Spokane County Urban Consortium Agreement for community development block grant and related funds between Spokane County and the city of Airway Heights was unanimously approved for federal fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The request to pursue consultant selection for a 6th/12th Avenue corridor preliminary design in collaboration with the city of Spokane and the West Plains/Airport Area Public Development Authority was unanimously approved.

The request for authorization to pre-purchase traffic signal materials with long lead times for Hayford/US-2 intersection improvements was unanimously approved.

Resolution 2020-002 for Airway Heights Church Conditional Use Permit for a church and public assembly was unanimously approved.

In the council’s study session Monday, Feb. 24, councilwoman Veronica Messing shared about her visit to the STA board meeting where she learned of potential opportunities to respond to the transportation needs of Airway Heights.

City Manager Albert Tripp discussed the reassignment of capital budget appropriation to nonprofits. Community Frameworks Housing Developer John Chatburn addressed the council and answered their questions about the progress of the $5.5 million new affordable housing project they and Habitat for Humanity are working on in Airway Heights.

Consideration of the employment agreement for the Public Works Principal Planner position was discussed.

The resolution for the release of restricted police funds was voted on and approved unanimously due to the time sensitivity of the equipment price, for the purchase of computers and technology for law enforcement needs.