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:
- Spokane City Council could finally pass a toothier version of the ban on algorithmic price-fixing software for rental housing which would strip violators of their business licenses. They’re also saying hello to new Council Member Kate Telis, voting on a state legislative lobbying agenda and potentially passing a settlement for an eight-year-old lawsuit.
- Spokane’s Public Safety & Community Health Committee is set to discuss a ban on kratom, and a slate of reports that show both an increase in speeding and in arrests of unhoused people for public camping.
- The Spokane Human Rights Commission has no agenda up yet, but they do have a vacancy you can apply for if you want to impact social change in the city!
- The Spokane School District may finally get its own fleet of school buses and end its 50-year reliance on contract bus services. Plus, The Community School might get a new name! Send us your best suggestions.
Important meetings this week:
- Spokane City Council (and Study Session)
- Public Safety & Community Health Committee
- Community, Housing, and Human Services Board
- Spokane Human Rights Commission
- Board of County Commissioners – Briefing Session and Legislative Session
- Liberty Lake City Council
- Spokane School District Board of Directors
Spokane City
Spokane City Council
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New face on the dais
Because the seat was previously filled by an appointed member (Council Member Shelby Lambdin), Council Member Kate Telis was sworn in immediately following the certification of the 2025 election results and has replaced Lambdin as one of the two representatives for council district 2. Tonight is her first legislative meeting!
Legislative session is coming…
In just over a month, the Washington State Legislature will convene in Olympia to pass laws. So tonight, the Spokane City Council could adopt their own legislative agenda, laying out the city’s goals they plan to lobby the state for.
At the top of the list is seeking a Climate Commitment Act (CCA) exemption for Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant, which is the only solid waste disposal system in the state currently slated to have to pay fees under the CCA — despite producing less greenhouse gasses than landfills, which received an exemption. If city lobbyists and local legislators can secure an exemption, it could save Spokane residents from up to $8 million in penalties, which will start in 2027 if no exemption is granted…