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:

• The Spokane City Council has a bunch of first readings on ordinances scheduled for tonight, including one that could soon allow for daycare and childcare facilities to be placed in all residential neighborhoods.

• We’re doubling up on Spokane City committees today to make up for Labor Day. At the Public Safety & Community Health Committee, they’ll be getting various public safety reports like overtime spending, red light camera ticketing and Office of Police Ombuds reports. At the Urban Experience Committee, a bunch of homelessness and public safety contracts are up for discussion.

• The BOCC will interview a slate of candidates for Spokane County Prosecutor — all recommended by the county’s Republican Party — including the former boss of far-right Spokane pastor Matt Shea.

• The regional school boards are keeping it chill this week with no scheduled debates on the rights of trans kids.

Important meetings this week:

• Spokane City Council (and Study Session)
• Public Safety & Community Health Committee
• Urban Experience Committee
• Spokane Plan Commission
• Board of County Commissioners – Briefing Session and Legislative Session
• Spokane Regional Transportation Council
• Spokane County Planning Commission
• Spokane Airport Board
• Mead School District Board of Directors
• Central Valley School District Board of Directors
• Spokane School District Board of Directors
• Spokane Valley City Council

Spokane City

Spokane City Council

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Safer signage

Council could pass a resolution that would allow the city to spend $6,000 or less on new signs for neighborhoods across the city, reminding drivers to slow down through residential streets. It isn’t clear how many signs $6,000 can buy in this economy, nor how the Office of Neighborhood Services, which is handling the sign purchases, plans to decide which neighborhoods get the new signs, but it could be yours!

A night of first reads

There aren’t any final votes tonight, but there are a few interesting first reads you can offer feedback on, like:

• An ordinance to extend the interim zoning ordinance that got rid of height limits for downtown buildings for another six months.

• An ordinance to start officially establishing the city of Spokane’s new emergency dispatch service, which is going to be called the Spokane United 911 Network.

• An interim zoning ordinance that — for at least the next year — would allow daycare and childcare centers to be permitted and placed in all residential and commercial zones across the city. That means your neighborhood could soon get more convenient childcare services!

Agenda hereMonday, September 8 at 6 pmCity Council Chambers – Lower Level of City Hall 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.The meeting is also live streamed here.

Council Committees

Public Safety & Community Health Committee

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Special meeting

Because last week’s Public Safety & Community Health Committee was canceled for Labor Day, the council is having it as a special meeting at 10:30 am today. We love this meeting, because a variety of departments present statistics and updates to the council. Here’s some of the takeaways from those reports:

• The Office of Police Ombuds will present on their June and July activities. One number that stood out — they received 17 complaints just about law enforcement response to the June 11 protest.

• Spokane Police Department’s briefing included an update on the status of deadly force incidents. There have been two police shootings this year: one from January is currently with the prosecutor to review if he wants to take action against the officers involved; and a second from February that’s still under investigation by Spokane Independent Investigative Response (SIIR), who will then send it to the prosecutor to review.

• There were zero speed camera violations for June through July! (School wasn’t in session.) In other news, the red light cameras have collected $330,873 more than expected from violations, and the speed cameras have collected over $600,000 less than expected this year so far. (Editor’s note: Though to be fair to the robots, two motorcycle cops were radaring on S. Washington this morning and they didn’t seem to be getting many speeders, either.)

• SPD is $478,505 under budget for overtime spending this year, while the Fire Department and EMS are $1,248,145 over budget. SPD did spend more than expected on extra duty costs though.

Agenda here Monday, September 8 at 10:30 amCouncil Chambers in the Lower Level of City Hall.808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201The meeting is also live streamed here.

Urban Experience Committee (Spokane city)

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Homelessness contracts

There are a lot of homelessness and public safety contracts up for discussion at today’s Urban Experience Committee. Here’s the TLDR:

• Waters Meet Foundation (formerly Empire Health Foundation) will be presenting an update on their housing navigation contract, the scattered site shelters and their upcoming tiny home pilot project.

• The council will be discussing multiple street medicine contracts, including with the Health Care Authority and one with CHAS street medicine.

• They’re also planning on discussing CHHS board recommendations for street outreach, navigation center and inclement weather shelter provider contracts.
• They’re talking about renewing a contract with the Washington State Department of Transportation for Right-of-Way renewal, which gives them funding to clean up homeless encampments on public right-of-way with robust case management.

Agenda hereMonday, September 8 at noonCity Council Chambers – Lower Level of City Hall 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.The meeting is also live streamed here.

MISC City

Spokane Plan Commission

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Agenda hereWednesday, September 10 at 2 pmCouncil Briefing Center 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201The meeting is also live streamed here.

Spokane County

Board of Spokane County Commissioners Briefing Session

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