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.
This week, most Spokane City Council meetings are cancelled, but the county, school districts and a couple of other cities are still meeting. Some things that stick out to us this week include:
- Many of the governing bodies this week are selecting leadership, most often chairs and vice chair, and appointing members to boards and commissions for 2026. Pay attention to these positions so you know who to bug when you want something done!
- The second phase of SpoVal’s years-long police expansion — which proposes 11 new officers — is coming before the Spokane County Board of Commissioners for approval.
- Liberty Lake is set to renew its subscription with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers.
- The advocacy group Washington Coalition for Police Accountability will announce its legislative priorities.
Important meetings this week:
- Spokane Park Board
- Board of County Commissioners – Briefing Session and Legislative Session
- Spokane Regional Transportation Council
- Spokane Airport Board
- East Valley School District Board of Directors
- Spokane School District Board of Directors
- Spokane Valley City Council
- Liberty Lake City Council
Police accountability group to announce leg. agenda
The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, which advocates for laws that govern how law enforcement can police communities and how abuses of power can be prosecuted, will announce its legislative priorities for the 2026 state legislative session today. The slate of laws it’s advocating for include:
- A law creating a state-level agency that prosecutes police who kill civilians: Senate Bill 5584 and House Bill 1740
- A law expanding the Attorney General’s authority to investigate local police: Senate Bill 5925 and House Bill 2061
- A law regulating the use of automated license plate readers (aka Flock cameras)
- A law banning law enforcement officers from masking their faces
Several people whose loved ones were killed by police will give remarks. The event will take place at 1 pm on Monday, January 5 on the third floor of the Central Library.
Spokane Park Board
Agenda here when availableThursday, January 8 at 3:30 pmCouncil Chambers in the Lower Level of City Hall.808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201The meeting is also live streamed via WebEx, Call in: 408-418-9388 Access code: 2491 764 3350
Spokane County
Board of Spokane County Commissioners Briefing Session
/5 peppers
New SpoVal police up for approval
The Spokane Valley City Council is asking the BOCC to bless its second large expansion of the city’s police force, which is organized under the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Spokane Valley plans to hire four detectives, three new patrol deputies, a traffic detective, a behavioral health deputy, a school resource officer and a sex crimes detective, for a total of 11 new hires. The expansion is paid for by a property tax hike the city’s voters approved last year, and the resolution before the BOCC is largely a formality..
Agenda here Tuesday, January 6 at 9 amPublic Works Building Lower Level, Commissioners’ Hearing Room1026 W. Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260The meeting is also live streamed here.
Board of Spokane County Commissioners Legislative Session
/5 peppers
BOCC to select leadership for 2026
Every year, the board selects a chairperson and vice chairperson from the slate of five commissioners. The chair presides over BOCC meetings and has the power to represent the entire board through their signature on legislation. The vice chair acts on behalf of the chair when the chair is absent. Last year, county commissioners Mary Kuney and Josh Kerns were reselected for the third consecutive year as chair and vice chair respectively.
$1M to Inland Asphalt for Market Street project
The BOCC is set to approve a $1,098,765.43 contract to Inland Asphalt Company to repave and reinstall signs for about a mile on Market Street between Freya Street and mile point 2.45. It’s part of a $2.5 million improvement project, mostly funded by federal grants.
Board appointments
The BOCC is set to appoint the following people to boards in the county:
- Douglas Hughes to position 2 on the Moab Irrigation District Number 20 Board of Directors
- Ken Henson to the District 1 seat on the Spokane County Noxious Weed Control Board
Agenda here Tuesday, January 6 at 2 pmPublic Works Building Lower Level, Commissioners’ Hearing Room1026 W. Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260The meeting is also live streamed here.
Spokane Regional Transportation Council
/5 peppers
Leadership selection
SRTC will select a chair and vice chair to preside over meetings in 2026. Chairperson Rod Higgins is retiring from the Spokane Valley City Council, so his position will be open.
Reducing driving miles
Washington state has asked counties to adopt long-term planning strategies to monitor and eventually create policies to reduce the number of miles the average car owner drives. Late last year, SRTC introduced its Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction Framework, and the board will take action on it this week. It’s part of a broader effort to reduce carbon emissions in local comprehensive planning…