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2 weeks ago

Spokane council approves appointments, amends rules and names Riverkeeper sole-source for cleanups Council President Betsy Wilkerson said the Spokane City Council approved appointments to two commissions, adopted amendments to council rules of procedure and approved Spokane Riverkeeper as the sole-source organizer for river shoreline and park cleanup events; the council also held a hearing on street-vacation ordinances for Astor and Sharp.

The Spokane City Council is making waves with new appointments, rule changes, and a commitment to cleaning up the Spokane River!

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3 weeks ago

Spokane library warns of 2027 shortfall, says levy increase likely to avoid service cuts Spokane Public Library officials told the City Council they face a structural funding gap and may seek a substantially larger levy next year or risk service reductions, layoffs and deferred maintenance beginning in 2027.

Spokane Public Library is facing a critical funding shortfall that could lead to service cuts and layoffs by 2027 if a significant levy increase isn't approved.

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3 weeks ago

Spokane council adopts overhaul of public‑comment rules, adds opt‑in “express lane” The Spokane City Council voted to adopt a sweeping amendment changing how and when the public can comment on legislation, including an opt‑in “express lane” for early comment, shortened grouped comment windows for some agenda sections and an effective date of July 9 for testimony timeline changes.

The Spokane City Council has just adopted a major overhaul of public-comment rules, introducing an "express lane" for early speakers that promises to transform how citizens engage with legislation!

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4 weeks ago

Commission hears transport project updates including $47M tunnel estimate for Thorpe Road study Staff told the Plan Commission that WSDOT is moving the Liberty Park land bridge into the design phase and that a Thorpe Road tunnel option was studied; a tunnel option was estimated at about $47,000,000 and would require long closures if the existing tunnel were enlarged. Commissioners asked for more detail on alternatives and project sequencing.

WSDOT is moving forward with a $47 million tunnel option for the Thorpe Road study, but could the existing tunnel expansion lead to longer closures?

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4 weeks ago

Plan Spokane 2046: commission reviews blended preferred alternative, DEIS comment period extended to March 5 At a Feb. 25 Plan Commission workshop, staff presented a draft preferred alternative for Plan Spokane 2046 (a blend of Alternatives 2 and 3) and reiterated that the draft environmental impact statement comment period is open through March 5, 2026. Commissioners and community representatives pressed staff on housing targets, transit alignment and displacement risks.

Spokane's future is taking shape with a new draft plan aiming to balance growth and housing needs, but concerns over displacement and zoning still linger.

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1 month ago

Council selects East Central as preferred focus for participatory budgeting effort After competing amendments from Council members Dixit and Wilkerson, the council adopted language preferring East Central for an initial participatory budgeting focus rather than Hilliard; councilors cited environmental justice, prior commitments and capacity as factors.

In a heated debate, Spokane City Council has chosen East Central as the focus for a groundbreaking participatory budgeting pilot amidst competing interests from Hilliard—find out what led to this pivotal decision!

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1 month ago

Spokane City Council adopts package of rule changes after weeklong revisions The Spokane City Council adopted a modified set of council‑rules amendments after a day of debate and several Cathcart changes that preserved public testimony and added procedural safeguards; some proposed controls on council spending and overtime failed.

The Spokane City Council has adopted a major overhaul of its internal rules, promising increased transparency and public input amidst a heated debate and significant revisions.

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1 month ago

Spokane Council narrows proposed kratom ban, adopts restrictions on certain products After emotional testimony and extended debate on enforcement limits, the council adopted an amendment that prohibits sale or distribution of kratom products containing synthesized alkaloids, those with 7‑hydroxymitragynine above 2%, or products attractive to children.

Spokane City Council has taken a significant step by adopting new restrictions on kratom sales, aiming to protect public health without criminalizing users.

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1 month ago

City details $90 million in downtown street work, timelines and expected closures Principal engineer Mark Allen outlined about 35 city projects totaling roughly $90 million, detailed downtown grind-and-overlay work, a full-depth rebuild on Sprague and a Pacific Avenue Greenway; staff gave tentative start windows and impact expectations.

Get ready, Spokane! This year, the city is investing $90 million into 35 major downtown projects that will transform our streets and traffic flow.

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #UrbanPlanning #InfrastructureDevelopment #SpokaneDowntown

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1 month ago

Spokane council approves $100,000 for immigrant relief, advances PSAP and adds 10 firefighter positions The Spokane City Council approved a $100,000 allocation for immigrant relief, advanced administrative steps to establish a public safety answering point (PSAP) and hired Stephen Williams as its director, and added 10 firefighter positions to support a new academy class, Council Member Kitty Klitsky said.

Spokane City Council takes bold steps by approving $100,000 for immigrant relief, enhancing public safety, and adding 10 new firefighter positions!

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1 month ago

Council unanimously adopts emergency public-safety budget changes and appoints emergency communications director Spokane City Council approved multiple emergency budget ordinances (public-safety answering point equipment, firefighter positions, behavioral-health response services, communications equipment) and confirmed appointments including Stephen Williams as director of emergency communications and Jacob Miller as director of management and budget.

Spokane City Council has taken bold steps to enhance public safety by approving emergency budget measures and key leadership appointments.

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #BehavioralHealth #CitizenPortal #SpokanePublicSafety #PublicSafety #EmergencyBudget

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1 month ago

Spokane council hears split testimony on proposed kratom sales ban during first reading On first reading of ordinance C36820, the council heard hours of public comment split between grieving family members who urged a full ban on kratom products and users, health advocates and scientists who urged regulation and age restrictions rather than an outright prohibition.

The Spokane City Council is caught in a heated debate over kratom, with heart-wrenching testimonies revealing both tragic losses and life-changing benefits.

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1 month ago

Spokane City Council approves $100,000 emergency aid contract for immigrant families after hours of testimony After more than an hour of public testimony, Spokane City Council voted 6–1 to approve a $100,000 personal-services agreement (OPR20260127) with the Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition to fund emergency aid for immigrant and refugee households; council members called it a pilot that will be closely monitored.

The Spokane City Council just approved a $100,000 emergency fund aimed at supporting immigrant and refugee families in crisis, igniting a passionate debate on community needs and transparency.

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #CommunityJustice #CivicEngagement

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1 month ago

Council hears broad public support for ‘immigration enforcement free zones’ ordinance at first reading In first reading of ordinance C36846, Spokane City Council heard widespread public comments urging the city to restrict use of city-owned property for immigration enforcement activities without a judicial warrant; supporters framed it as trust-building, while opponents raised federal-preemption and enforcement concerns.

The Spokane City Council is considering a bold ordinance to create "immigration enforcement-free zones" on city-owned property, igniting a passionate debate about trust and civil liberties.

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1 month ago

City presents preliminary Thorpe Road tunnel options; consultant favors a parallel south tunnel KPFF and city staff updated the commission on the Thorpe Road tunnel study, outlining parallel‑north, parallel‑south and enlargement options; preliminary preference is for a parallel south tunnel and the team flagged railroad coordination, geotechnical work and large cost differentials as next steps.

Exciting developments are underway as city staff unveil preliminary options for the Thorpe Road tunnel, with a favored parallel south tunnel emerging as a key contender!

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #UrbanPlanning #TransportationSafety #InfrastructureDevelopment

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1 month ago

Spokane commission recommends three‑lane ‘road diet’ for Grand Boulevard to boost pedestrian safety The Spokane Transportation Commission voted unanimously to recommend Option 1 — a three‑lane configuration with a center two‑way left‑turn lane and pedestrian refuge islands — citing crash‑reduction potential despite small increases in corridor travel time.

The Spokane Transportation Commission just approved a game-changing three-lane plan for Grand Boulevard aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and cutting crashes by nearly 24%!

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #UrbanPlanning #PublicSafety #PedestrianSafety

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1 month ago

Staff flags two state bills affecting Complete Streets and e-mobility City staff told the commission about two state bills: one directing WSDOT to consider Complete Streets for projects over $1,000,000 and consult local plans; another would direct the Department of Licensing to define 'eMotos' and explore licensure, potentially changing rules for e-bikes.

Two new state bills could reshape how Spokane implements Complete Streets and defines e-mobility, potentially impacting everything from local planning to licensing for electric bikes.

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1 month ago

Spokane advisors favor 3-lane Grand Boulevard design ahead of commission vote After a detailed design update on Grand Boulevard, Spokane transportation advisors said the 3-lane configuration (one travel lane each direction plus center turn lane) best balances safety and predictability; Phase 1 is roughly 95% designed and funded, Phase 2 is at 30% and still needs grants.

Spokane transportation advisors are leaning towards a 3-lane design for Grand Boulevard that promises to enhance safety and pedestrian accessibility, but will it slow down traffic too much?

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1 month ago

New Spokane council members prioritize accessibility, equity and clearer agendas On the City of Spokane's Council Connection program, Council President Betsy Wilkerson interviewed newly elected council members Sarah Dixon (District 1) and Kate Tellis (District 2). Both emphasized outreach, clearer meeting materials and an ordinance proposal to relabel the consent agenda to make council business easier for the public to follow.

Newly elected Spokane council members are shaking things up with bold plans for accessibility and transparency, aiming to make city government more approachable for everyone.

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #PublicEngagement #EquityAccessibility #SpokaneCityCouncil

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1 month ago

Spokane ombuds commission recommends treating intentional vehicle strikes as deadly force The Spokane Police Ombuds Commission voted Feb. 17, 2026, to recommend that Seattle Police Department policy classify intentional vehicle-to-person contact (including attempted contact) as deadly force and to operationalize that definition across pursuit and collision-review policies following a July 20, 2025 use-of-force case.

The Spokane Police Ombuds Commission has taken a bold step, recommending that intentional vehicle strikes against pedestrians be classified as deadly force—a move that could reshape police pursuit policies.

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CivicAccountability #SpokaneOmbuds

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1 month ago

Spokane wins $200,000 US Conference of Mayors grant to expand youth wellness zone at OnTrack Academy The city received a $200,000 Healthy and Sustainable Communities award (mid-size cities category) to expand a youth wellness zone: funding will support composting pilots, greenhouse construction, fresh-food distribution and staffing tied to OnTrack Academy and northeast community programming.

Spokane just scored a $200,000 grant to transform youth wellness with greenhouses, composting, and fresh food access at OnTrack Academy!

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1 month ago

City staff outline $650,000 participatory budgeting program tied to $1.6M capital pot for overburdened neighborhoods City staff described a $650,000 Commerce-funded participatory budgeting effort to design community-led capital projects for overburdened neighborhoods; staff said $1.6 million in capital funding would be available for community-selected projects pending reappropriation and feasibility work.

Spokane is launching a groundbreaking $650,000 participatory budgeting initiative, empowering overburdened communities to directly influence how $1.6 million in capital funding is spent on projects that promote decarbonization and resilience.

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1 month ago

Spokane to accept PET and polypropylene in curbside recycling; city and regional upgrades cited The solid-waste director told the board the city will add PET (#1), polypropylene (#5) and certain single-use paper cups with polyethylene lining to the recycling stream, enabled by regional investments in near‑infrared optical sorting at the Smart Center; staff emphasized outreach to residents and businesses.

Spokane is revolutionizing recycling by adding PET, polypropylene, and single-use paper cups to the curbside list, thanks to a game-changing $18 million Smart Center upgrade!

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#SpokaneSpokaneCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #SpokaneRecycling #SustainabilityInitiatives #CommunityOutreach

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1 month ago

New Spokane council members emphasize accessibility and plan consent‑agenda overhaul In a Council Connection interview, Council President Betsy Wilkerson and newly elected Council Members Sarah Dixon (D1) and Kate Tellis (D2) said increasing access and clarity in city government is a priority; Dixon said she will introduce an ordinance to change how the consent agenda is labeled and organized.

New Spokane council members are shaking things up by prioritizing accessibility and clarity in city government, starting with a bold plan to overhaul the confusing consent agenda!

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1 month ago

Plan Commission reviews Spokane 2046 land‑use strategy and 'urban hubs' concept; council dissolves Design Review Commission City staff presented the draft Spokane 2046 land use chapter, proposing five strategic focus areas including new "urban hubs" (mixed‑use nodes) and highlighted coordination with Build Spokane; staff also noted the city council recently dissolved the Design Review Commission and transferred its duties to the Plan Commission.

Spokane is reimagining its future with a bold new land use strategy that features innovative urban hubs designed for mixed-use growth and vibrant neighborhoods.

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1 month ago

Spokane climate advisory board forwards draft climate policies to Plan Commission, asks for added habitat-inventory consideration The Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board voted unanimously to recommend final climate policies (CRSB recommendation 2026-001) to the Plan Commission and asked that the Plan Commission consider an additional public-comment proposal for a natural-lands and habitat-connectivity inventory.

Spokane's Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board has taken a monumental step by unanimously recommending new climate policies to the Plan Commission, aiming for a greener future!

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1 month ago

West Plains PDA outlines 2026 business‑development push and site‑readiness effort The West Plains Public Development Authority told the joint session it has refreshed branding, created targeted industry profiles, executed more than 20 outbound business development efforts since 2024 and will prioritize preparing development‑ready sites in 2026 for aerospace, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and logistics.

The West Plains PDA is gearing up for an ambitious 2026 with a refreshed brand and a targeted approach to attract aerospace and advanced manufacturing businesses to Spokane’s prime development sites.

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1 month ago

Spokane International Airport reports record traffic, lays out terminal expansion and PFAS investigation Airport CEO Dave Hardy and staff reported another record year—about 4.3 million passengers in 2025—outlined a terminal expansion (Central Hall and nine‑gate Concourse C buildout) and described an ongoing PFAS investigation under a Washington State Department of Ecology enforcement order; city, county and airport officials are meeting with Ecology after issuance of an interim action.

Spokane International Airport is soaring to new heights with record passenger numbers and an ambitious terminal expansion, all while tackling environmental challenges head-on.

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1 month ago

Parks board hears year-end recreation reports; senior centers report sharp growth The Spokane Parks Board received year-end summaries showing expanded programming and heavy volunteer support across senior centers and recreation services; a public commenter asked the board to include Logan Peace Park in upcoming park upgrades.

Spokane's parks and senior centers are thriving, with membership nearly doubling and thousands of volunteers contributing invaluable support!

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1 month ago

Council President Wilkerson: joint meeting addressed West Plains economic development and PFAS challenges Council President Betsy Wilkerson said city, county and airport leaders held a joint meeting on West Plains economic development and the challenges posed by PFAS; she said officials plan to reconvene in three months to continue collaboration.

Council President Betsy Wilkerson announced a collaborative meeting focusing on boosting West Plains' economy and tackling PFAS challenges, highlighting the airport’s vital role in regional growth.

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