Millwood approves 1 percent levy increase
Millwood residents can expect their property taxes to increase by 1 percent next year. The Millwood City Council approved the annual levy increase at Monday’s regular meeting, following a special public hearing on the matter.
Mayor Dan Mork said if the city chose not to accept the increase, Spokane County could levy the 1 percent increase against Millwood residents.
“We want to keep the money in the city,” Mork said.
The city estimates the levy will raise $366,500 next year.
Following the property tax levy vote, the council reviewed a preliminary 2009 budget, featuring $1.5 million in expenses.
Councilman Kevin Freeman proposed the council consider drafting a more formal street improvement plan into next year’s budget.
“We need a vision on where we want to go with our streets,” Freeman said. “Get some things not strictly related to Argonne down on an actual plan.”
The council agreed to Freeman’s request for a special meeting to formalize his proposed plan. The meeting date is yet to be determined.
City planner Tom Richardson brought three issues to council. His issues included a moratorium on impact home business license permits, purchasing a photo license agreement for aerial photos commissioned by Avista and a planning consultant contract to review the Growth Management Act requirements.
Richardson proposed the home business moratorium after discovering the city’s existing ordinance “does not provide adequate limits on the kinds of activities associated with these businesses.” Impact home businesses are businesses allowed to “locate in a residential zone under certain conditions.”
Richardson first noticed the gap in the ordinance this past summer while researching the application of an impact home business.
The council approved the moratorium and requested the Planning Commission to hold a public meeting next month on the issue. The moratorium gives Richardson six months to research any changes he wants to make to the ordinance, such as limiting number of customers and employees, and adding commercial vehicle size restrictions.
His proposal to purchase an annual license agreement with Avista gives the city access to digital aerial photos of the Millwood area. Richardson said that Avista’s images are more detailed than any other map services on the Internet. The annual cost is $426, and the city will receive new photos every year.
“It is a good resource to have at City Hall,” Richardson said.
The council approved Richardson’s request to contract with the Spokane planning firm Studio Cascade Inc. Studio Cascade will perform a study to ensure the city is complying with the Growth Management Act. The city’s ability to fund this study comes from a $5,000 economic development grant. The act mandates a review every 10 years.
The council approved the appointment of new councilmember Shaun Culler. He begins his term next month and serves until January 2011. Doug Morton vacated the seat last month.