Welcome to CIVICS, where we break down the week’s municipal meetings throughout the Inland Northwest, so you can get involved and speak out about the issues you care about.
Some things that stick out to us this week include:
- Make sure to VOTE and get your ballots in!
- After two deferrals and with four amendments, the Family Friendly beer garden ordinance could finally pass tonight.
- The Urban Experience Committee is getting an update on the city’s emergency cold snap crisis response earlier this year and how much it cost.
Important meetings this week:
- Spokane City Council (and Study Session)
- Urban Experience Committee
- Board of County Commissioners – Briefing Session and Regular Session
- Spokane Valley City Council Special Session
- Mead School District Board of Directors
- Central Valley School District Board of Directors
- Plan Commission
- Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors
Vote before Valentine’s Day
One cool way to show your love for your community is to vote. Those special election ballots are due by end of day February 13, and what’s a better early Valentine’s Day present than to turn them in on time?! For a detailed breakdown of what’s on your ballot, check out our city of Spokane-specific breakdown here, and our general county breakdown here. You have to postmark or put your ballot in an election drop box by 8 pm on the 13th in order for it to count. There are 27 ballot drop boxes around the county. Find the closest one to you here.
Presidents’ Day parking
Next Monday is Presidents’ Day, which means … free parking in city parking spaces! The city’s press release would also like us to remind you that “even when parking is free on holidays, all parking rules, including time limits, still apply.” The Spokane City Council meeting is canceled and the Spokane Public Library branches are closed, which means you can’t take advantage of those free spots to check out either of those local favorites. Most other city services are proceeding as normal, including garbage pickup.
Free gender affirming products
Spectrum Center’s Gender Affirming Products Program (GAPP) is open for applications again. This free, no-barrier program is available to all Transgender, Non-Binary, Two-Spirit, Genderqueer, Genderfluid, and Gender Expansive people living in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Folks who apply for GAPP are able to choose between filing a legal name change with all of the court fees covered, or $300 to spend on gender affirming items and services. Folks over 18 can apply here and folks under 18 can apply here.
Spokane City Council
There’s no delicate way to put it…
This week’s agenda is full of items relating to waste and water management. The first is an emergency ordinance to amend the rate for wholesale water services in a way that reflects the usage and the cost to the city. Spokane is a regional water provider, which means it sells water to other providers in large quantities who then sell it to their customers. The ordinance states that there was a need to create a new classification and rate. The ordinance may be related to a a state appeals court decision last week that said the city cannot charge out-of-the-city customers a much higher rate without showing their math — see in-depth reporting from The Spokesman on that here — as the ordinance also states the city has retained a consultant who will be analyzing the city’s actual costs to provide water.
Other waste management items include two resolutions. The first is a $300,000, three-year contract for disposal of “non-hazardous contaminated material from construction projects,” and the second is to accept a loan from the state Department of Ecology in the amount of $9,726,655 to pay for the construction of two gravity sanitary sewer line projects to eliminate maintenance-intensive pump stations.
Short-term rental, long-term problem
The city may have thought it put the short-term rental fee discussion to bed (and breakfast) back in July, but it’s back on the agenda as the city council seeks to fix an issue with the nightly fee structure. The previous ordinance, which went into effect mid-August, did a number of things, like requiring Airbnbs and VRBOs to register their short-term rentals with the city, so that the city could monitor and control how many units across the city were being used for short-term rental purposes.
It also charged a nightly fee of $4, which would be used exclusively for purposes authorized under the “Sales and Use Tax for Affordable Housing,” with at least 90% of the funds allocated to covering the direct, nonadministrative costs of programs serving the purposes of that program. Under the new ordinance, that language is all getting struck from the record because in order to protect the city from legal challenges around unlawful taxation, the money collected must be categorized as a fee, and must be directly tied to the administrative costs of running the program.
If the new ordinance is passed, the fee will go down to $2 per night, which the city estimates will offset the $173,000 cost of the program estimated in the 2024 Adopted Budget. In order to collect $173,000 from $2 nightly fees, short-term rentals would have to be used for 86,500 nights in one year, which would amount to about 237 units rented out every single night of the year.
There was also an amendment filed by Council Member Jonathan Bingle that specifies the city Chief Financial Officer can recommend changes to the fee, which would then have to be written into an ordinance and passed by the city council. There were also some tweaks to definitions in the ordinance, and the removal of the “emergency” classification, which would give council and city administration time to “fine-tune” the rule before it goes into effect.
Back to the beer gardens
The beer garden ordinance is back on the agenda after a couple of deferrals, this time with four amendments attached. The Family Friendly ordinance is substantively the same as it’s been the last few weeks, but the amendments, which will each have to be passed separately, make some small tweaks.
The first amendment is jointly sponsored by Council Members Zack Zappone and Paul Dillon, and seems to make the changes that sparked the deferrals, including editing language slightly to be in alignment with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). Besides the minor language changes, this amendment nixed the requirement that applications for the permit comply with other “unspecified regulations,” and gets rid of a city code loophole that could allow for the denial of permits for things that are otherwise allowed under the WSLCB special event license.
The second amendment was filed by Zappone, Dillon and Bingle, and would require the group applying for the permit to certify that anyone actually serving alcohol has received alcohol sales training from the WSLCB, or has a valid Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) permit. This seems pretty standard — essentially it just codifies that the groups hosting a beer garden are ensuring that everyone bartending their events is actually licensed and trained to do so. Sorry, Uncle Jimmy, no volunteering to pour drinks and check IDs based on vibes alone.
The third amendment was filed only by Dillon and Bingle. It would require wristbands or other non-transferrable markings on patrons 21 and over to enter the beer garden.
Bingle is the lone sponsor of the last amendment, which would preserve the Spokane Police Department’s ability to deny groups a permit based on past issues with alcohol service.
Tracking legislation in live-time at meetings with multiple amendments is always complicated — sometimes even for council members on the dais — but we’re going to do our best to follow which, if any, of these amendments make it into the final draft, which will also be voted on tonight.
Agenda here
Monday, February 12 at 6 pm
City Council Chambers – Lower Level of City Hall
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
The meeting is also live streamed here.
Urban Experience Committee (Spokane city)
Cold weather crisis update
Dawn Kinder, the new director of Neighborhood Housing and Homelessness Services (NHHS), will be providing the city council with an update on the city’s response to the extreme cold weather earlier this year. Documentation starting on page 408 of the agenda has $453,997 listed as the estimated amount for warming center contracts for winter of 2024, which is more than the city’s $250,000 budget for emergency sheltering — which was supposed to last the entire year and provide shelter during extreme heat and smoke conditions as well.
Besides the city’s emergency sheltering budget, $120,000 of American Rescue Act (ARPA) replacement funds are covering the costs of the emergency response, but according to this document, it looks like the city still needs to identify almost $84,000 in funding. It is worth noting that the original committee agenda sheet for the emergency declaration had a line stating short term expenses were not expected to pass $250,000.
The detailed breakdown of contract costs starts on page 411 for those interested. Some things we noted were an additional $30,000 to the Salvation Army, which already costs the city a hefty chunk of change monthly, and about $205,000 to Compassionate Addiction Treatment, the organization that stepped in to operate the Cannon Shelter, which was quickly reopened to create bed capacity during the extreme cold snap.
Besides budget inquiries, council members have also frequently asked questions about data transparency, the impacts of shelters on neighborhoods and efficiency rates of connecting sheltering folks with resources and other services, so we anticipate some of those answers may also be in Kinder’s update.
Housing and Homelessness update
There is no information provided in the agenda, but the committee will also receive an update from Nicolette Ocheltree, the Housing and Homelessness Initiative Manager for the city council.
Public parking shake-up
A new interim zoning ordinance drafted by Zappone and Dillon that could make adjustments to zoning code around “public parking lots,” is up for discussion. There’s a lot of complicated language and acronyms in this one, but essentially, city code refers to and makes zoning designations about “public parking lots” but does not clearly define them. This interim ordinance, which would be in effect until early August and will see a public hearing before it is passed, would set the definition as “A parking area that is not accessory to another use and that is owned, operated, or maintained by the City or some other public agency.” It’s also classified as an emergency, because of an immediate need for clarity on zoning, so the process to pass it will be accelerated.
Agenda here
Monday, February 12 at 1:15 p.m.
Council Briefing Center in the Lower Level of City Hall.
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
The meeting is also live streamed here.
Spokane City Council Study Sessions
Agenda here when available.
Thursday, November 9 at 11 am
City Council Chambers – Lower Level of City Hall
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
The meeting is also live streamed here.
Board of Spokane County Commissioners Briefing Session
County Grants Administrator Heather Arnold will present to the BOCC about a $830,000 grant from the Washington Department of Commerce to “stabilize” refugees who have come to Spokane County from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Agenda here
Tuesday, February 13 at 9 am
Public Works Building Lower Level, Commissioners’ Hearing Room
1026 W. Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260
The meeting is also live streamed here.
Board of Spokane County Commissioners Legislative Session
Staffing the boards
The BOCC will vote on five appointments to various public boards. It is considering:
- Dr. Monica Blykowski-May, a physician with the Veterans Administration; Patricia Kienholz, a local writer and caregiver; and Charlie A. Duranona, a Navy veteran, for the Spokane Regional Health District Board Board of Health
- Amanda Tran, who is currently unemployed, for the Trentwood Irrigation District No. 3 Board of Directors
Reappointments:
- Lee Cameron, a hotel manager; and Kary Gibbs, a bank manager, to the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center Advisory Board
Agenda here
Tuesday, February 13 at 2 pm
Public Works Building Lower Level, Commissioners’ Hearing Room
1026 W. Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260
The meeting is also live streamed here.
Spokane Valley City Council
The regular meeting of the Spokane Valley City Council is canceled, but they’re having a special session starting Tuesday at 9:45 am and running basically all day. The agenda doesn’t have a full packet attached but looking at the itinerary, it seems to be something of a council retreat. After repeated public conflict between council members (see reporting from us here and reporting from The Spokesman here), it could be a good opportunity for a council with a lot of friction to get on the same page. There doesn’t seem to be time allocated for public comment, but it is open for public attendance, for those curious about the SpoVal council’s hopes, dreams and goals for 2024.
Agenda here
Tuesday, February 13 at 9:45 am
City Hall
10210 E Sprague Ave
Spokane Valley, Washington 99206
Virtual attendance here.
Mead School District Board of Directors
Language access services policy
The school board will have a first reading of a policy that would provide a language access program for students whose family members have limited English proficiency, as required by state law. The policy is based on the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) sample policies and in line with state and federal law, according to the agenda packet. It includes how the district will provide oral interpretation and written translation services for vital information a parent would need in order to make decisions about their child’s education. The policy also states that the superintendent will designate a Language Access Coordinator to make sure the district is complying with the policy and laws.
Agenda here
Monday, February 12 at 6 p.m.
Union Event Center
12509 N. Market St. Bldg. D, Mead, WA 99021
Watch via Zoom here.
Central Valley School District Board of Directors
Tweaks on freedom of expression policy
The Central Valley school board will be reviewing changes to several policies, including the district’s freedom of expression policy. The draft policy mainly tweaks words in the policy having to do with stirring up trouble, specifically adding language about “incitement.”
Under the student publications section, it changes the part about what their materials may not do from “Cause a substantial disruption of the school;” to “Incite students so as to create a clear and present danger of the material and substantial disruption of the school.” It also adds that publications can’t “incite” the violation of state and federal laws, rather than just “advocate.”
Another change lies under the Distribution of Materials section, though it seems like another word choice change, where it clarifies that people who aren’t students or district staff can distribute materials on school grounds.
Agenda here
Monday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Learning and Teaching Center (district office)
Board Room at 2218 N Molter Rd, Liberty Lake
Watch via Zoom here.
Spokane Plan Commission
Six-year street plan kickoff
The Plan Commission will get an update on the city’s 2025-2030 six-year Comprehensive Street Program, which the city needs to maintain to stay in line with state law and to qualify for grants and low-interest loans. The street program also has to be consistent with the city’s six-year Comprehensive Plan (not to be confused with the six-year Comprehensive Street Program). This is just an information briefing and the commission will have a consistency review workshop tentatively scheduled for April 10.
Agenda here
Wednesday, February 14 at 2 pm
Council Briefing Center
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
The meeting is also live streamed here.
Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors
Service revisions and strategic planning
The Spokane Transit Authority (STA) Board of Directors has seen some drama between board members as the city and county jockey for votes, but this week it looks like the board is getting back to the important basics: improving transit access. There are a few big items on the agenda, two of which are presentations from Karl Otterstrom, the chief planning and development officer. The first is the final recommendation of service revisions for 2024, so folks interested in seeing if they’ll have easier access to a bus line can tune in for that, or check out the plan here. Otterstrom will also be presenting an update on phase 2 of the Connect 2035 Strategic Plan, the “strategic roadmap for bus, Paratransit, and Rideshare service through 2035.”
Susan Meyer, the CEO of STA, will also be presenting updates on transit legislative priorities and how those are moving through the legislative session, which is always worth keeping an eye on. One piece of legislation that we’re paying attention to is a bill that would require public transportation agency boards like STA to appoint two rider-representatives to their boards. It’s unclear where STA stands on this bill, but reporting by The Urbanist cited the news we broke about texts between Chair Al French, board member Pam Haley and Meyer as one reason this bill should pass – dedicated rider board members could provide an important counterforce to established power and backroom dealings.
Agenda here
Thursday, February 15 at 1:30 pm
STA Boardroom
1230 W Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201
The meeting is also live streamed here.
