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[00:02:24]
Good evening everyone and welcome to Spokane City Council's legislative agenda tonight we just returned back from a two week hiatus. It was a challenging two weeks but we're back to do the work of the City and glad that you all here with us this evening. I'll start with the land acknowledgment. We acknowledge that we're on the unceded land in Spokane people and that these lands were once the major trading center for the Spokane's as they shared this place and welcomed other area tribes through their relations history trade and ceremony. We also want to acknowledge that the land holds the spirit of the place through its knowledge, culture and all the original people since time immemorial. As we take a moment to consider the impacts of colonization, maybe we also may also acknowledge the strength and resiliency of the Spokane's and their relatives. As we work together making decisions that benefit all, may we do so as one heart, one mind and one spirit. We are grateful to be on the lands of Spokane people and ask for the support of their ancestors in our relations. We ask that you recognize these injustices that forever changed the lives of the Spokane people and all their relatives. We agree to work together to stop all acts of continued injustices toward native americans and all our relatives. It is time for reconciliation. We must act upon the truth and take actions that will create restorative justice for all people. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[00:04:08]
United states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Byrd. Call the roll Council President Wilkerson. President present councilmember cliff president Council Member Cathcart president Council member Dillon here Council member tell us Council member dixit. Let the record reflect that Council member Zappone is currently absent. Thank you. We have no poetry that is just walked in the room. We have spared are portrayed the podium for a time. There are no proclamation hours of salutations. No community reports and no administrative reports. So we're going to go directly into express testimony. And this is under our new structure. We will now take express testimony. You have three minutes to speak to any other items on the legislative agenda this evening. So express testimony is not open forum.
[00:05:12]
Residents who testify at this time may not speak again until open forum at the end of the meeting. So if you have something on the agenda we will call you. But is not open forum has to be on the agenda. Okay. First time open forum will. First I have robert bingham and then will you'll be next. Welcome. You have three minutes. Thank you. Council President Wilkerson and members of the Council my name is robert bingham. I'm speaking to ordinance see 36924. First and foremost I want to say thank you for reducing the demolition permit to 28 50 waiving the processing and technology fees following demolition of the building permit for same footprint rebuilds was the right call and you made it fast and I appreciate the effort and energy that you put into it. Additionally I would like to also thank Council member clyde ski. Your name is on that ordinance and I appreciate your time in moving forward with that. And on the welfare housing assistance fund contract and emergency declaration ratification. So thank you and the support is noticed and greatly appreciated. I'd ask the Council to consider two things before final action that you take on the 26th. Last night I ran the City's 2026 development fee schedule an 1800 square foot rebuild cost a family somewhere between 4300 and 5
[00:06:49]
Grand in development fees. The building permit alone is $2,200 and the plan review is half of that. The demolition relief that's in c36924 saves the family approximately $85 but not the additional costs that are coming for them. The $85 savings is again very helpful and very appreciated. I'm asking whether c36924 can be brought in before the 26th to reach the building permit and plan review fees for like rebuild or whether companion ordinance can be introduced to it. There is however a question that I could not answer from the packet and maybe it can be answered in the coming weeks. Does a family rebuilding the same house on a lot that already had active water and sewer service pay a general facilities charge? Resolution 2020 6-00 53 defines those as charges for new connections or significantly increased usage. A rebuild is neither of those and I don't know that's been considered or taken into account. I'd ask for someone to say so publicly if so tonight if possible. If not I understand. But because 800 families don't know if the answer is yes or no, they're about to find out. The governor has given State agencies 30 days to identified code provisions that can be waived for rebuilding with a report due around September 9th. I just ask whether there's anything the fee schedule the City could look into in the meantime. And since that one year and y'all own it my numbers I've already sent to the clerk and I'm glad to walk anyone through them and bring any families necessary to hear
[00:08:26]
Their strife. Thank you for your time. Thank you. I'll have kathryn felice know have over the oh, hi. I'm catherine felice. I am a resident of Spokane. I was born and raised in Spokane. Moved away for 25 years and lived in southern california. And always knowing that when I retired I would be moving back home. I've been in Spokane for about three years. And since I've been here I have been shocked and appalled by the homeless or unhoused epidemic in our community. I work at a very high end store part time in river park square. Every day that I'm downtown I see them openly selling and distributing narcotics on the street. I see them defecating publicly. I don't think the residents of Spokane should be should have to be exposed to that nor the visitors of Spokane.
[00:09:45]
Catherine my assistant just told me that he messed up but it has to be on the current Council agenda. So are you speaking to an audience or something? Legislative. Your testimony now will be received in open forum. However, I will let you complete what you were just saying so our mistake. Thank you. Thank you. The we have had multiple fires started by the unhoused or the homeless because of their campsites. Recently there was a fire in our off argonne because it was a squatter that was in a vacant home. And I just am curious to what the City Council intends to do to address this very serious problem our City has is we're becoming a cesspool.
[00:10:37]
Thank you. Thank you. Next I have andrew hill calling in. Andrew, if you're on line where you push star three to raise your hand and I'll meet you all right. Your immunity can start whenever you're ready. If anything, president Wilkerson and Council members my name is andrew hill and I serve as ceo for both your local for more than three years the culture one that has worked alongside City Staff elected official neighborhood representative and community members to develop a development agreement for our Indian Trail campus. The agreement addresses many of the issues being discussed today including emergency access and egress, circulation, transportation planning, preservation of the five Mile pictographs and heritage area environmental stewardship and clear limitations on future use of the property. I believe that context is important because the development agreement is not a document that removes restriction at the document that creates them. In fact excelsior wireless initiated the process because we wanted accountability in perpetuity. We wanted clear boundaries and protections that would remain in place not only for culture wellness but for any future owner of this property. The agreement helps protect open space and culturally significant heritage area establishes expectations for future use and help ensure that campus remains the community for
[00:12:17]
Generations to come. In many ways the development agreement is part of the solution to concerns being discussed today because it creates a framework for responsive development rather than uncertainty. Recent events have rightly focused attention on wildfire resilient evacuation planning and public safety. Both considerations have been part of this process for years. During that time it fills your wallet invested in wildfire mitigation efforts across the property including thinning trees, removing hazardous fuel and constructing portions of the fire active planning and related infrastructure along the old Trail fire. Those intact will help the firefighting operation and efforts to stop the fire from spreading further south. The agreement also creates a pathway for community assets that Northwest Spokane has needed for a long time including child care and health care services in an area widely recognized as both a child care and primary care desert. A culture of wellness remained committed to responsible stewardship of the property.
[00:13:23]
Continued partnership with our neighbors and being part of the solution as our community works to improve safety, resilience and quality of life. We don't just work in the neighborhood. We're part of the neighborhood. Our employees live here. Our clients live here and families rely on our campus every day. We share the same concern, the same road and the same commitment to ensuring this community remains safe, resilient and strong for future generations. Thank you. Thank you. Next I have nicolette arkell tree and then ricky walters. Good evening Council. First I'd like to address ordinance c 36 922 other sections of the code being amended in this proposed ordinance were originally passed via ordinance c36366 on February 27th 2023.
[00:14:23]
The intent of these sections were to stand up legal services and relocation program and a corresponding fund to allow the City to contract with another entity to provide attorney services for landlords and tenants with a focus on how to have it to have ability habitability violations of the residential landlord tenant act. The funding source for the program is identified a superset of 1590 from 20 23 to 2027. So the first question I would ask is how much money is in there and how much has already been spent and on what the intent of this initial funding is very clearly stated in the current Assembly which is now being proposed to be struck out in the current proposed ordinance. That section ten.57. 100 a quote the City investment would provide seed money for the first year of salary and benefits for an attorney and reasonable litigation costs including mediation fees. Legal fees from successful representation would be used to sustain the attorneys and associated costs for the long term, end quote.
[00:15:22]
This was intended to provide a sustainable funding source to continue to provide these legal services beyond the life of the 1590 seed money as identified in the first of the four minimum requirements of the program. The program was intended to quote focus on pursuing legal remedies for rental housing units that clearly fall below standard habitat habitability end quote. To the best of my knowledge the City has not implemented this program as intended and has not contracted with an entity to provide these legal services. It's a great and noble thing to add expanded eligibility to this fund for cooling heating and weather weatherization services especially in light of the passage of your recent rights cooling ordinance. But one should also take the opportunity as you are amending the code to ask the administration if they intend to implement the legal services component of the program and if not, why not? And if so I'd ask for a report out on the program if it had been implemented when first dealing with the wall street apartments perhaps appeared. 2020 4-0021 would have been prevented in the first place. Now with my last remaining few seconds, there's a mistake in the resolutions pending with resolution 2020 6-0058 the Council operations guide that was the one that was actually deferred to September 16th, 2026 unlike it appears on the agenda incorrectly resolution 2020 6-0059 is the one that appears to be deferred and that was not the case in your agenda review meeting.
[00:16:43]
Good to be back. Thank you. We're aware of the error. Thank you, miss rae walters and then joe shogun. I don't know how to follow up with that one. Again, my name is ricky walters. Welcome back from hiatus. Just wanted to remind people that we're talking about City contracts and the underbid of helping hands by 10,000. I believe my firm can do a better job with the navigation center in Spokane and I had a very life changing experience last night. I was assaulted in my front yard and pistol whipped because of the homeless crisis in Spokane. It's not a crisis. It's an employment and we're overpolicing our homeless people and when we overpoliced our homeless people it makes a bicycle a valuable commodity that somebody was willing to shoot me in the forehead over.
[00:17:48]
Do I have your attention? I can't do this by myself. I need some help. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Joe shogun. Good evening, Council members. I was sitting where you sit and one time I'm here and a matter of public safety in many resolution 2026 0060 regarding our latest old trails fire and the outstanding performance by all our first responders City County region State nation international, canada and australia at least in that regard nobody so far has died in that fire. But related to public safety we've had two motorcyclists and a pedestrian killed on television more than the fires. There is a total lack of any concept of speed limit observance and obedience in this City. Total and we're talking about people starting at the south and division and going not 40 miles an hour, 50, 60, maybe 65 all the way to france's division monroe maple ash Northwest boulevard. I've seen one motorcycle cop on division during the day and the last year. Whatever allocation of resources we have for public
[00:19:26]
Safety, we're missing the beat. We have a City that cares for each other with a fire but doesn't give a about each other on speeding on our streets and byways. So I would like tonight to remind Council member tell us that I want to sit down with her and see if we can figure out a way for an allocation of resources to get some semblance of public safety traffic control in the City. Thank you very much. Thank you. That completes our express testimony this evening. We will now take public comment on the proposed items. Mr. Bird. Mr.. This doesn't appear that there's anybody signed up to speak to proposed items tonight. Council President I'll proceed. Reading the pending legislative agenda ordinances and resolutions under pending emergency ordinances ordinance c3692 for reducing demolition permits for structures damaged in the Spokane complex fires amending the development fee schedule as referenced in chapter zero 8.02 of the Spokane municipal code and declaring an emergency. Mr.. I does want to speak and Mr. Zero wants to speak to a resolution so okay thank you.
[00:21:03]
Sorry. In a second derek once jacoby reads it. Continuance very special budget ordinances and the pending section of tonight's agenda ordinance c 36 Nine one eight amending ordinance number c 36 794 entitled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennial modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to modernize three elevators at the intermodal facility and declaring an emergency. There was no public comment on that ordinance c 36 919 amending ordinance number c 36 794 and titled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennial modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to appropriate funding from various sources to increase budget authority in an amount sufficient to reflect the increased cost of the new interlocal agreement with Spokane County Scraps for a provision for the provision of animal care and control services and declaring an emergency. There is no public testimony resolutions in the pending section of tonight's agenda resolution 2026 0056 approving a development agreement for five parcels in the balboa south Indian Trail neighborhood owned by excelsior wellness located on west Indian Trail road. This resolution approves the development agreement required by ordinance c 36 613 as a condition of approval for a comprehensive plan amendment file z 20 3-4 seven Nine comp and there's no public comment for that resolution 2026 0057 approving the appointment of megan duvall as the director of arts culture and historic preservation department for the City of Spokane. There's no comment. Resolution 2026 0058 adopting
[00:22:39]
A Council operations guide pursuant to section Nine of the Spokane City charter and chapter zero 2.005 of the Spokane municipal code it's my understanding that it was the intent of the Council to defer this item instead of the following item to the pending agenda on September 16th 2026. So we will consider that item deferred the item that is available to speak to on tonight's agenda is resolution 2026 0059 directing transfer of City Council funds to finance Council operations in 2026. There is no public comment resolution 2026 0063 approving contract with the Washington State department of commerce for the wildfire housing assistance fund without further City Council review and action.
[00:23:34]
Derek azaro derek bizzarro speaking to the one part of City Council looking at this reducing the demolition permits these people are all victims of a crime not necessarily a fault of utility. They should be looked at like that. There's like 12 pages of permit fees and others that pertain to these properties being rebuilt. Not everybody is covered by insurance they're facing with their children because I've always been here for the for you and for the kids. All the children are affected by this because of a criminal. It's my proposal that you not only reduce these fees, don't reduce them, eliminate it, freeze their property taxes until they rebuild and go down the full list of any permits that they're required to do including the asbestos and related they should be exonerated from paying those if at all possible. Like I said, these are defined victims of a
[00:25:14]
Criminal, a murderer and they should not be held responsible to the obligations of paying all these permit fees that they would not have had to pay if he did not do what he did. There is no excuse at all that this Council, this Mayor and its administration can't find a way to bypass these people paying all these fees. There's a lot that's going to happen the next year. This criminal will not even see the court system probably for a couple of years. The way the system works. So I think until then you need to give these victims I say victims some reprieve from what they're going through on this experience with their families and their children. There is no excuse for this Council to go any further in this community to allow crime to run rampant in the streets.
[00:26:17]
And thank you. Thank you. Time is up. Ordinances in the pending section of tonight's agenda ordinance c 36 914 relating to adopted ordinance c 36 613 concerning a required development agreement for the comprehensive plan amendment file z 20 3-479 comp extending a deadline for approval of the development agreement by two years and instructing staff to include the land use designations called for in that ordinance in the draft future land use map under development for the periodic comprehensive plan update due later this year or ordinance c 36 915 to extend the duration of interim zoning ordinance c 36 742 concerning child care centers setting a public hearing for August 26th, 2026 and reiterating a work program and then finally ordinance number c 36 916 to adopt an overlay zone for property located approximately at 3929 west Grandview road and the City and County of Spokane State of Washington by amending the official zoning map to show a planned unit development overlay zone for said property beared. In addition, further action is deferred on pending legislative items.
[00:27:33]
That concludes that we will now go into our final legislative items, board and commission appointments with no public comment on board and commissions Council members any commentary? All those in favor please indicate by saying I any nos abstentions could you read those two names that are being appointed? Mr. Byrd yes. The bicycle advisory board has to reappointment santiago cruz youth member and breean fall to seek. Okay thank you. Let's continue reports and reports contracts and claims in the final section of tonight's agenda I have derek zero for reports contracts and claims directors are again speaking before the one party Council under the Mayor's budget. I took a look today at the fund available monies.
[00:28:50]
All these people are going to have code enforcement come out and inspect their properties. But just up today I reviewed the fund and there's $127 and $0.60 in the account code enforcement is a absolute necessity for this any City and you only have roughly what seven this administration has not made a priority in the Mayor to beef up that department in any form. There's no way seven code inspectors are going to be able to go out and look at 800 properties let alone all their other daily duties. Again, it should be the priority of this Council, the priority of this Mayor and administration to start focusing on running the City the way it should be run conservatively to some degree not just an agenda that is your own. Again, these people are going to go through a lot in the next few years so I would think that you would start making a priority to get all your ducks in a row for them.
[00:30:08]
Beef up your code enforcement department so they can enforce the codes that are going to be out there. Don't expect these people to do their job by themselves and I don't see any reason why that shouldn't happen again. It is your responsibility to make sure all these departments have the money responsible, the Mayor to allocate the money and the departments they need to be. But in this case code enforcement is definitely one that does not have enough and thank you derek. Your time is up. Any calls contrary? Yes. Yeah. Can we take the pay raise contracts three, four and five separately. I'm sorry. Three, four and five. All right, let's start each one separately or as a group. Okay, so we'll be voting on the contract opr five zero 559 opr 0560 and opa 0561. There is no customer that come in the country. Prepare to vote e
[00:31:45]
Three passed 621. If you go back to the balance of the contracts, are there any Council commentary on those? See none. Prepare to vote in those pass seven zero Mr. Burr there are no emergency ordinances on tonight's agenda special budget ordinances ordinance c 36 913 amending ordinance number c 36 794 entitled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennium modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to adjust pay ranges to align with salary analysis for public safety answering point job classifications p sap July 20th, 26 and declaring an emergency ordinance number of c 36 917 amending ordinance number c 36 794 entitled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennium modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to authorize emergency communications call tracker and report specialist positions to support the Spokane united 911 network and declaring an emergency will take ordinance 36913 any Council commentary seeing none prepare to vote thank you that passes seven zero and we will take on as 36917 no commentary prepared vote thank you that passes seven zero as well.
[00:33:28]
Resolutions and the final section of tonight's agenda resolution 2026 0053 regarding amendment of the City of Spokane's public rule for wastewater and water general facilities charges and incentives resolution 2026 005 four in the matter of authorizing the airport board to purchase property identified as Spokane County assessor parcel 14011.1316 that is 10909 west 53rd avenue resolution 2026 0055 in the matter of authorizing the airport board to purchase property identified as Spokane County assessor parcel two four 062.0125 that's 500 seven south hayford road resolution 2026 006 zero relating to the Mayor's executive order 2026 0004 titled executive order four for declaration of emergency in response to the old trails fire and dated August first, 2026 and the Mayor's executive order 2026 000 five titled executive order for declaration of emergency in response to the Spokane complex fires and dated August 4th, 2026 any Council commentary I am Mr. Byrd so we'll be taking these vote separately on each resolution so we'll start resolution 0053 the public room for wastewater for and zero for
[00:35:09]
Facility charges. All those in favor please indicate by saying please vote a yes and councilmembers I well no I think it's six one because I am in the affirmative. Okay. Resolution 005 for the matter authorizing the airport board to purchase property identified by Spokane County assessor and Council come to prepare to vote. Thank you that passes seven zero resolution 0055 again in the matter authorizing the airport to purchase property identified as Spokane County as this person in commentary prepared to vote thank you that passes seven zero resolution 0060 any Council commentary on the executive order councilmember christy I'll just go ahead and say thank you to the administration and to our first responders for all their hard work on this. Everyone knows this was a regional effort as well as we received a lot of help from national and international crews and to thank the community for all
[00:36:45]
That they've done to support those crews. We had feedback at our community meeting and as shadle park high school some of the representatives of the command center, the national command center said that no one treats first responders and crews better than Spokane does and I think that really speaks well to our community. I want to thank all the volunteers that are trying to do so much on this and yeah, just say we'll we'll continue this is going be a long term recovery effort and we really appreciate everyone leaning into this in your commentary councilmember Dillon has yeah second and I would urge everyone to watch yesterday's urban experience committee meeting there was a presentation from the administration by a different department heads about the multifaceted response from police, fire, public works, communications all the different hands that came together and it really does help to tell the story of the response and a lot of heroism that happened that day and the following days as now we pivot to recovery. So there's definitely a lot more to come on that front and I appreciate a lot of the feedback and suggestions that we've had.
[00:38:06]
I'll just say we will never be able to say thank you enough. We keep saying thank you from now till whenever and it will never be enough for the first responders and the community. The community. A call was put out in the community stepped up and I almost started crying the night the first night at the shelter the response so thank you, Spokane. Thank you. Spokane County. And I would say everyone really in their own way has been a first responder prepared to vote for us because motels is a personal point of and you say what your shirt says and where you got it tonight. Thank you for asking. I am modeling the stroke Spokane strong t shirt is being sold at atticus. All the funds will raise will be going directly to the home fund at the City to help in funding all the services needed to help our citizens get through this. So if you got time go over there and pick it up. It's really pretty cool. I feel kind of special where it today. So one more thing that we can do all together to help. Thank you councilor john prepare to vote.
[00:39:29]
Thank you. That passes seven zero. That completes our legislative agenda for this evening. We will now transition into open forum. You have two minutes for open form please direct all your comments to the chair first to have Kirsten Angell and then we'll have Craig Hemmens and then Mary Stohr hello. Thank you for letting me speak and thank you to our first responders and to Spokane. I'm actually here to speak on behalf of Spokane Urban Nature and speaking about PlanSpokane SUN supports infill housing where appropriate and with a focus on providing much needed low income housing. But we do not support excessive development at the expense of the valuable natural systems that can enable our community to adapt to this climate crisis we're currently experiencing and which is guaranteed need to get more intense.
[00:40:34]
I'd like to highlight a concern with recent comprehensive plan changes that removed important language prioritizing open space for conservation purposes. They also remove removed the entire policy natural features and habitat protection from the land use chapter now growth strategy terrible name which read ensure development is accomplished in a manner that protects significant natural features and wildlife habitat just gone SUN has made clear requests in our public comments were important policy language to be replaced but these changes have been ignored and we are very concerned that this leaves our natural areas too vulnerable to development. SUN continues to follow the City's movements around the removal of environmental protections and we've noticed a lack of enforcement of State regulations on habitat, wetlands, forests and other critical areas. We have evidence that there have been multiple offenses with regards to development practices that have gone unchecked and we are very concerned that this pattern will continue and only intensify natural lands and overall natural infrastructure such as critical areas and open spaces need to be prioritized as much as the development of housing and this update process needs to be more transparent and based in best available science.
[00:41:55]
We're glad to hear there has been a pause and that a request has been sent to the governor for an extension. You should slow this process down and get in touch with your constituents. Thank you. Your time is up. Craig Hemmens and the next will be Mary Stohr and then Linda Carroll. Good evening Council members thank you for your time. My name is Craig Hemmens. I'm a Spokane resident. I live in rockford. I just wanted to ask that the Council request I brief already has requested the governor delay in submitting the comprehensive plan and I'd like to find out how long that delay was going to be and encourage you to ask for if you haven't already at least six months. I think we need time especially given what's happened with the fires to kind of recalibrate and look at it more closely. I'd also like to suggest that after having reviewed the comprehensive plan myself I'm really quite concerned about it and I think some more time to look at it. I feel we're moving a little bit too fast. I see a number of maps that indicate a great deal of change to some of the residential areas that would allow higher density in what are now I guess you would describe as single family areas and I'm afraid we're moving too fast without recognizing the implications of these changes.
[00:43:27]
I kind of compare it to the change that was made a couple of years ago with the density and the infill law. I currently live right next to part of that unfortunately consequences of that where once there was one house on one lot we now will be living next to six skinny houses. I think that density is a great idea but the way it's being allowed to proceed doesn't really work I think and I'm afraid the same problem of moving too fast is happening with the comprehensive plan. Thank you. Thank you Mary Stohr and then Linda Carroll and then Mary Winkes hello my name is Mary Stohr. I'm a retired WSU criminal justice professor chair of the group Friends of Spokane Trees member of the group Spokane 2046 and an avowed tree hugger neighborhood lover and a resident of Rockwood neighborhood. I want to thank those of you who responded to my and several others emails indicating their request for an extension on the comp plan and I would just like to know what's been asked for and we would really recommend a six month extension minimum.
[00:44:49]
Secondly, I wanted to raise another serious concern about the comp plan among the many that have been raised for months now by numerous citizens and by neighborhoods via the community Assembly. Did you know that 140 eight of the 149 comments on the comp plan this were critical of the plan or had serious concerns about it? Did you know that most of those 148 comments raised concerns about the effect on tree canopy and natural areas and analysis of the plan postings would indicate that very few changes have been made and those changes have been superficial and do not address the protection of trees or natural areas. In fact the complaint comp plan calls for less or no environmental review of development projects yet there is widespread concern about the plan and its effects on trees and natural areas from your constituents.
[00:45:48]
I would also note that the tragic loss of homes from the fires also led to the loss of hundreds if not thousands of trees. However, the infill law and the parking laws as reified in the comp plan that were passed by this City Council have resulted in loss of hundreds of trees and acres of greenspace. I'm asking you to reconsider your vote in favor of the version of this version of the comp plan and to take a serious look at all the issues raised by your constituents and the impact and tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Linda Carroll. And then Mary Winkes and then Brian Muegge g Council members. Thank you for your time. My name is Linda Carroll. I live on Waverly Place. My family moved to Spokane in 1955 and my dad taught chemistry at rogers high school for about three decades.
[00:46:51]
And I guess the first large parts of our City were severely damaged by wildfires. On August the 5th, a new draft of the comprehensive plan and future land use map were released apparently without updates taking into account various aspects of the fire including evacuation mitigation, mass measures or the possibility that it would reduce the City's population or in-migration. It will be impossible to complete the plan with sufficient updated information and public input by the December 31st deadline established by the State. Rushing to do so would deprive residents of devastated areas of their ability to contribute to the planning of their future just as the fire has deprive them of their present and their past. I therefore urge the City Council and the Mayor to ask the governor to extend the deadline by a minimum of six months. I also ask the Council to increase the consideration given in the comp plan and future land use map to the neighborhoods that are a vital aspect of life in Spokane. I cite mine Emerson-Garfield as an example its status as a historic district has been ignored in the flume which invades it with a division in monroe residential high zones so broadly drawn that they leave only 3 to 5 blocks between them. Moreover, the native burial ground north of Alice avenue which is exempt from building is not marked as such in the flume. Thank you for considering my views. Thank you.
[00:48:20]
Mary Winkes then we'll have Brian Muegge and then Sam Mace. Good evening Council President Wilkerson and Council members. A statement here is as the draft comp plan began to unfold, I and many others became more and more concerned. Many comments and letters have been sent to the planning department as well as to the Mayor and to you folks and to some but not nearly enough has been done to revise the plan. The community Assembly has written letter after letter asking for changes. And among the asks has been a desire to approach the flume in the same way as planning for the east central area. Not only has this request not been answered, the flume was released at least just a day or so after the Spokane complex fires. In the midst of such devastation and trauma. The planning department didn't skip a beat.
[00:49:25]
And if these fires didn't make that clear enough, nothing will. We need a growth strategy as to the land use chapter that is renamed. We don't need to call it growth strategy. We need to call it land use because there are other reasons for use of land. And we need thoughtful decisions as to how this is done. Yes there is growth but not so much that we have to upend the entire City neighborhood Council participation in the firm is vital. And the entire chapter for and there needs to be an entire chapter for climate sustainability and resiliency. Not to put a little bit here and a little bit there in the document is to put it nowhere if the fires that we just had happen here weren't evidence enough. Nothing will be we are not prepared. The draft comp plan does little if anything to do that. As someone who was on the Mayor's burners task force on sustainability years ago, this is not a new issue. But little has been done to address the problem. And thank you, Mary.
[00:50:34]
Your time is up. Okay. Brian Muegge. And then we'll have Sam Mace and then johnny wicks. All right. Good evening, Council. Thank you for every single one of you who helped out the past couple weeks with fire resources and I really appreciate it. Similarly, I want to speak to the comp plan tonight. I think that the City should absolutely have additional time with the planning process to evaluate blind spots and loopholes as well as strengthen the protection of existing natural areas particularly underdeveloped lands in the Grandview-Thorpe neighborhood particularly the DNR for parcel. I reviewed the maps as well that recently came out on the comp plan and I was concerned with this new low residential designation. Looking into it a little bit it looks like it combines our one and our two together and it was my understanding that the Thorpe area and the surrounding lands from that 200 acre parcel would be zoned differently and I have some concerns that this low residential zone still incentivizes development there from our planning department which if anyone was around and had a pulse during last year's DNR for a road swap issue definitely you heard from the community that is not what's wanted is more development in that corridor.
[00:51:56]
What is wanted is more wild land protections, fire safety, infrastructure improvements etc. So I think that to me is a big concern. So I would echo the support of others that have said that we need to have a plan, an extension plan and also just expressing a concern that we've seen a couple other examples of our planning department not necessarily adhering to smokey critical area ordinances etc. From the ruby hotel dock that we recently saw where there was a clear Assembly violations that planning admitted and kept going with to the later glenn example where there was a 22 acre development in this same valley that got clear cut without any sort of adherence to critical area ordinance. So that is to say my ask is the same to what the others have requested is a delay to get this PlanSpokane correct. So thank you. Thank you, sam.
[00:52:48]
Ms.. Sam is going twice. Johnny wicks. Johnny wicks going twice. Chris Coppen. Good evening. Thank you for your time. I do have some comments about the proposed comp plan but from a slightly different angle and that is about public safety. I am a social worker. I'm a Spokane resident homeowner in the Northwest Terrace neighborhood which was which is adjacent to the rifle club. I had area that was devastated and I and all my neighbors were evacuated that saturday afternoon. I and law enforcement were absolutely spectacular in protecting public safety, diverting traffic and directing traffic in what was clearly a high stressful and tense and terrifying moment for a lot of people. All the traffic from Nine Mile road was diverted east along frances. The other way to get into the City is south along Assembly passed dwight miracle in the va but that route was blocked because of fire activity in dwight miracle. So all the traffic
[00:54:23]
From Nine Mile went east along frances. And it was joined with traffic coming up north and then from Assembly there an Indian Trail and that devastated area and then five Mile prairie all going down two lanes on east Francis and again highway lee's stressful tense time and some folks went down the wrong way probably out of fear. My concern is that the comp plan seems to look for increased density and housing on Assembly and in a time of public safety with greater congestion that could risk lives. My time's about turn out and what I'm saying about that neighborhood could apply to other areas of the City where density could increase so public safety related to density. Thank you for your time, Christopher Savage. And we'll have derrick azaro and then ricky walters.
[00:55:35]
Good evening City Council. My name is Christopher Savage and I live somewhere in district three. I'm one of the 700 households heavily inspected by the fire. What you see in front of you the clothes on my back just this photo album is one of the few possessions I left have. It is solely disheartening and disappointing to see the lack of response of the government and what's been going on. I bring examples of last week's meetings several meetings that I went to. I should have seen many of you there. Some I did, some I heard about. And I very thank you for the ones who attended. But for instance, let me bring up the Monday meeting that was at the meeting events center. It is laughable and ridiculous when marcus vitale, the senator of our State goes up and says all levels of government are here. And you look over to see where the special you know, a place for all the elected officials sitting. You see County, you see State. You don't see anything from the City. You don't see anyone from the Mayor's office. Do they even care? Do you guys care?
[00:56:48]
Because it doesn't look like you are. And then following up with that is there was a Thursday meeting. This was for the old Trail fires for district ten canceled. No information. Nothing was talked about. Nothing was updated. I'm there along with 20 other people and we're all just wondering what's going on. No one's there that saying hey, meeting was change, whatever. I this is devastating and I'm not the only one with the facts. So when people on this Council say we need to lean into this I agree we need to lean into this hard. I'll just leave you with this. Many of you get to go home tonight. I don't thank you. Derek azaro then ricky walters and then anton valone take that to heart again. Cliff you're laughing. Derek. Derek, could you address the chair, please? Thank you. Okay.
[00:58:03]
Council President again. She's laughing. Derek bizzaro speaking before the one party. City Council. I came here tonight to give accolades to councilmember Cathcart for all his efforts for years in helping me get sidewalks installed on marietta avenue and also logan mentary school which as of today is now being installed. Thank you very much. If it wasn't for him and his delayed due diligence in his district it wouldn't have taken place. I'd also like to say congratulate the family that made the phone call to relate to the arrest of this criminal and to the sheriff's office for their handling of the case. The whole school law enforcement resident makes a call officer shows up. Investigation done.
[00:59:09]
Criminal arrested not phone calls ignored not 311. None of that old school. You need to go back to what you've been doing in the past. This criminal everybody knows how it happened. Why it happened is because of the absolute fault of the judicial system in the City. The State and the State of arizona as well. Where he came from I don't know all the facts of the case. I can only assume he was here on a State to State compact that allowed him to come here and be put under the probation department of this State. And thank you, derrick.
[01:00:01]
Your time is up. He violated many times and he was able to walk loose. Thank you, ricky walters. Then we'll have anton valone and then sunshine wiggin. Thanks again for letting me address the Council. I would like to we have sunshine coming up. Sunshine is an amazing casework worker and she's a huge asset to the community. She taught me everything that I know about case management and I owe her a huge debt. So does the City of Spokane. In addition to being pistol whipped, I've also been assaulted in my home and taking out in handcuffs from my kitchen for an assault from the Spokane police department. Again, it speaks to the over policing of the homeless crisis and I need some assistance and then would be happy to take any questions from Council after the meeting. Anton valone.
[01:01:11]
Hi everybody. I just want to say if we could all just work together, you know and a lot of times I sit back there and I listen to people and all they do is like complain and we shouldn't have that, you know? And like I feel sorry for the people that had lost their homes, you know, but I'm pretty sure they have insurance and coverage and everything that they carried you up the you know, and they you know. But how about I say you need to get onto the insurance companies to do their part rather than you forking out the money for them, you know? You know, I understand because we need people even just homeless people there's a lot of homeless people here and I mean to work together and about the data centers is nothing more than a private ization and if you allow that and all that standing up and saluting the flag kissing goodbye is privatization is different big difference between privatizing and democracy and the constitution for the people the republic not democrat or republicans.
[01:02:40]
Okay. I just want to say that thank you. Thank you, sunshine. And then we'll have josh hogan center and wig in Spokane. Hello sir a bunch of messages and I'm asking that every single one of you listen to them please so that you don't become a victim of what happened to me. Something really awful happened to me and so that you guys can learn from it is my goal anyways. And then I just want to in 2017 of 2000. Sorry I'm so screwed up right now. In August of 2023 I started submitting papers to you guys which are public for anyone to read. They're submitted into the City hall and anyone who wants to hear my story I want them to know is there. I have never supported jules helping hands since the day I started coming here. I've served papers against them and I just want to make that public. I am not associated in any way with nate's place or ricky walters and I just want to make that public also. But that's not why I came here today. I will be losing everything tomorrow and be walking around with a walker and flying a sign from here out and to be gentle is to be
[01:04:19]
Strong and to have strength is to be gentle and that has always been my goal in life when I'm dealing with people I have a mental illness that sometimes hinders me but my goal has always to be that and to help others and I have been going through quite a lot and I never ever talk about what I'm going through until it's gone and I lost everything. I need a guitar and I'll be hanging out at the central library for anyone who wants to come and support me I need a guitar and a blanket to be okay and thank you sunshine stand for me. You destroyed my life joe shogun still here doesn't look like it. Yeah. Okay. Mr.
[01:05:29]
Chauvin has left the building. That concludes our open forum for this evening. I will entertain a motion for adjournment so move moved second and second. All those in favor please indicate by saying I. I opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you and have a good night
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m5SLlnzB7Q
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[00:02:24]
Good evening everyone and welcome to Spokane City Council's legislative agenda tonight we just returned back from a two week hiatus. It was a challenging two weeks but we're back to do the work of the City and glad that you all here with us this evening. I'll start with the land acknowledgment. We acknowledge that we're on the unceded land in Spokane people and that these lands were once the major trading center for the Spokane's as they shared this place and welcomed other area tribes through their relations history trade and ceremony. We also want to acknowledge that the land holds the spirit of the place through its knowledge, culture and all the original people since time immemorial. As we take a moment to consider the impacts of colonization, maybe we also may also acknowledge the strength and resiliency of the Spokane's and their relatives. As we work together making decisions that benefit all, may we do so as one heart, one mind and one spirit. We are grateful to be on the lands of Spokane people and ask for the support of their ancestors in our relations. We ask that you recognize these injustices that forever changed the lives of the Spokane people and all their relatives. We agree to work together to stop all acts of continued injustices toward native americans and all our relatives. It is time for reconciliation. We must act upon the truth and take actions that will create restorative justice for all people. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[00:04:08]
United states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Byrd. Call the roll Council President Wilkerson. President present councilmember cliff president Council Member Cathcart president Council member Dillon here Council member tell us Council member dixit. Let the record reflect that Council member Zappone is currently absent. Thank you. We have no poetry that is just walked in the room. We have spared are portrayed the podium for a time. There are no proclamation hours of salutations. No community reports and no administrative reports. So we're going to go directly into express testimony. And this is under our new structure. We will now take express testimony. You have three minutes to speak to any other items on the legislative agenda this evening. So express testimony is not open forum.
[00:05:12]
Residents who testify at this time may not speak again until open forum at the end of the meeting. So if you have something on the agenda we will call you. But is not open forum has to be on the agenda. Okay. First time open forum will. First I have robert bingham and then will you'll be next. Welcome. You have three minutes. Thank you. Council President Wilkerson and members of the Council my name is robert bingham. I'm speaking to ordinance see 36924. First and foremost I want to say thank you for reducing the demolition permit to 28 50 waiving the processing and technology fees following demolition of the building permit for same footprint rebuilds was the right call and you made it fast and I appreciate the effort and energy that you put into it. Additionally I would like to also thank Council member clyde ski. Your name is on that ordinance and I appreciate your time in moving forward with that. And on the welfare housing assistance fund contract and emergency declaration ratification. So thank you and the support is noticed and greatly appreciated. I'd ask the Council to consider two things before final action that you take on the 26th. Last night I ran the City's 2026 development fee schedule an 1800 square foot rebuild cost a family somewhere between 4300 and 5
[00:06:49]
Grand in development fees. The building permit alone is $2,200 and the plan review is half of that. The demolition relief that's in c36924 saves the family approximately $85 but not the additional costs that are coming for them. The $85 savings is again very helpful and very appreciated. I'm asking whether c36924 can be brought in before the 26th to reach the building permit and plan review fees for like rebuild or whether companion ordinance can be introduced to it. There is however a question that I could not answer from the packet and maybe it can be answered in the coming weeks. Does a family rebuilding the same house on a lot that already had active water and sewer service pay a general facilities charge? Resolution 2020 6-00 53 defines those as charges for new connections or significantly increased usage. A rebuild is neither of those and I don't know that's been considered or taken into account. I'd ask for someone to say so publicly if so tonight if possible. If not I understand. But because 800 families don't know if the answer is yes or no, they're about to find out. The governor has given State agencies 30 days to identified code provisions that can be waived for rebuilding with a report due around September 9th. I just ask whether there's anything the fee schedule the City could look into in the meantime. And since that one year and y'all own it my numbers I've already sent to the clerk and I'm glad to walk anyone through them and bring any families necessary to hear
[00:08:26]
Their strife. Thank you for your time. Thank you. I'll have kathryn felice know have over the oh, hi. I'm catherine felice. I am a resident of Spokane. I was born and raised in Spokane. Moved away for 25 years and lived in southern california. And always knowing that when I retired I would be moving back home. I've been in Spokane for about three years. And since I've been here I have been shocked and appalled by the homeless or unhoused epidemic in our community. I work at a very high end store part time in river park square. Every day that I'm downtown I see them openly selling and distributing narcotics on the street. I see them defecating publicly. I don't think the residents of Spokane should be should have to be exposed to that nor the visitors of Spokane.
[00:09:45]
Catherine my assistant just told me that he messed up but it has to be on the current Council agenda. So are you speaking to an audience or something? Legislative. Your testimony now will be received in open forum. However, I will let you complete what you were just saying so our mistake. Thank you. Thank you. The we have had multiple fires started by the unhoused or the homeless because of their campsites. Recently there was a fire in our off argonne because it was a squatter that was in a vacant home. And I just am curious to what the City Council intends to do to address this very serious problem our City has is we're becoming a cesspool.
[00:10:37]
Thank you. Thank you. Next I have andrew hill calling in. Andrew, if you're on line where you push star three to raise your hand and I'll meet you all right. Your immunity can start whenever you're ready. If anything, president Wilkerson and Council members my name is andrew hill and I serve as ceo for both your local for more than three years the culture one that has worked alongside City Staff elected official neighborhood representative and community members to develop a development agreement for our Indian Trail campus. The agreement addresses many of the issues being discussed today including emergency access and egress, circulation, transportation planning, preservation of the five Mile pictographs and heritage area environmental stewardship and clear limitations on future use of the property. I believe that context is important because the development agreement is not a document that removes restriction at the document that creates them. In fact excelsior wireless initiated the process because we wanted accountability in perpetuity. We wanted clear boundaries and protections that would remain in place not only for culture wellness but for any future owner of this property. The agreement helps protect open space and culturally significant heritage area establishes expectations for future use and help ensure that campus remains the community for
[00:12:17]
Generations to come. In many ways the development agreement is part of the solution to concerns being discussed today because it creates a framework for responsive development rather than uncertainty. Recent events have rightly focused attention on wildfire resilient evacuation planning and public safety. Both considerations have been part of this process for years. During that time it fills your wallet invested in wildfire mitigation efforts across the property including thinning trees, removing hazardous fuel and constructing portions of the fire active planning and related infrastructure along the old Trail fire. Those intact will help the firefighting operation and efforts to stop the fire from spreading further south. The agreement also creates a pathway for community assets that Northwest Spokane has needed for a long time including child care and health care services in an area widely recognized as both a child care and primary care desert. A culture of wellness remained committed to responsible stewardship of the property.
[00:13:23]
Continued partnership with our neighbors and being part of the solution as our community works to improve safety, resilience and quality of life. We don't just work in the neighborhood. We're part of the neighborhood. Our employees live here. Our clients live here and families rely on our campus every day. We share the same concern, the same road and the same commitment to ensuring this community remains safe, resilient and strong for future generations. Thank you. Thank you. Next I have nicolette arkell tree and then ricky walters. Good evening Council. First I'd like to address ordinance c 36 922 other sections of the code being amended in this proposed ordinance were originally passed via ordinance c36366 on February 27th 2023.
[00:14:23]
The intent of these sections were to stand up legal services and relocation program and a corresponding fund to allow the City to contract with another entity to provide attorney services for landlords and tenants with a focus on how to have it to have ability habitability violations of the residential landlord tenant act. The funding source for the program is identified a superset of 1590 from 20 23 to 2027. So the first question I would ask is how much money is in there and how much has already been spent and on what the intent of this initial funding is very clearly stated in the current Assembly which is now being proposed to be struck out in the current proposed ordinance. That section ten.57. 100 a quote the City investment would provide seed money for the first year of salary and benefits for an attorney and reasonable litigation costs including mediation fees. Legal fees from successful representation would be used to sustain the attorneys and associated costs for the long term, end quote.
[00:15:22]
This was intended to provide a sustainable funding source to continue to provide these legal services beyond the life of the 1590 seed money as identified in the first of the four minimum requirements of the program. The program was intended to quote focus on pursuing legal remedies for rental housing units that clearly fall below standard habitat habitability end quote. To the best of my knowledge the City has not implemented this program as intended and has not contracted with an entity to provide these legal services. It's a great and noble thing to add expanded eligibility to this fund for cooling heating and weather weatherization services especially in light of the passage of your recent rights cooling ordinance. But one should also take the opportunity as you are amending the code to ask the administration if they intend to implement the legal services component of the program and if not, why not? And if so I'd ask for a report out on the program if it had been implemented when first dealing with the wall street apartments perhaps appeared. 2020 4-0021 would have been prevented in the first place. Now with my last remaining few seconds, there's a mistake in the resolutions pending with resolution 2020 6-0058 the Council operations guide that was the one that was actually deferred to September 16th, 2026 unlike it appears on the agenda incorrectly resolution 2020 6-0059 is the one that appears to be deferred and that was not the case in your agenda review meeting.
[00:16:43]
Good to be back. Thank you. We're aware of the error. Thank you, miss rae walters and then joe shogun. I don't know how to follow up with that one. Again, my name is ricky walters. Welcome back from hiatus. Just wanted to remind people that we're talking about City contracts and the underbid of helping hands by 10,000. I believe my firm can do a better job with the navigation center in Spokane and I had a very life changing experience last night. I was assaulted in my front yard and pistol whipped because of the homeless crisis in Spokane. It's not a crisis. It's an employment and we're overpolicing our homeless people and when we overpoliced our homeless people it makes a bicycle a valuable commodity that somebody was willing to shoot me in the forehead over.
[00:17:48]
Do I have your attention? I can't do this by myself. I need some help. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Joe shogun. Good evening, Council members. I was sitting where you sit and one time I'm here and a matter of public safety in many resolution 2026 0060 regarding our latest old trails fire and the outstanding performance by all our first responders City County region State nation international, canada and australia at least in that regard nobody so far has died in that fire. But related to public safety we've had two motorcyclists and a pedestrian killed on television more than the fires. There is a total lack of any concept of speed limit observance and obedience in this City. Total and we're talking about people starting at the south and division and going not 40 miles an hour, 50, 60, maybe 65 all the way to france's division monroe maple ash Northwest boulevard. I've seen one motorcycle cop on division during the day and the last year. Whatever allocation of resources we have for public
[00:19:26]
Safety, we're missing the beat. We have a City that cares for each other with a fire but doesn't give a about each other on speeding on our streets and byways. So I would like tonight to remind Council member tell us that I want to sit down with her and see if we can figure out a way for an allocation of resources to get some semblance of public safety traffic control in the City. Thank you very much. Thank you. That completes our express testimony this evening. We will now take public comment on the proposed items. Mr. Bird. Mr.. This doesn't appear that there's anybody signed up to speak to proposed items tonight. Council President I'll proceed. Reading the pending legislative agenda ordinances and resolutions under pending emergency ordinances ordinance c3692 for reducing demolition permits for structures damaged in the Spokane complex fires amending the development fee schedule as referenced in chapter zero 8.02 of the Spokane municipal code and declaring an emergency. Mr.. I does want to speak and Mr. Zero wants to speak to a resolution so okay thank you.
[00:21:03]
Sorry. In a second derek once jacoby reads it. Continuance very special budget ordinances and the pending section of tonight's agenda ordinance c 36 Nine one eight amending ordinance number c 36 794 entitled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennial modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to modernize three elevators at the intermodal facility and declaring an emergency. There was no public comment on that ordinance c 36 919 amending ordinance number c 36 794 and titled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennial modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to appropriate funding from various sources to increase budget authority in an amount sufficient to reflect the increased cost of the new interlocal agreement with Spokane County Scraps for a provision for the provision of animal care and control services and declaring an emergency. There is no public testimony resolutions in the pending section of tonight's agenda resolution 2026 0056 approving a development agreement for five parcels in the balboa south Indian Trail neighborhood owned by excelsior wellness located on west Indian Trail road. This resolution approves the development agreement required by ordinance c 36 613 as a condition of approval for a comprehensive plan amendment file z 20 3-4 seven Nine comp and there's no public comment for that resolution 2026 0057 approving the appointment of megan duvall as the director of arts culture and historic preservation department for the City of Spokane. There's no comment. Resolution 2026 0058 adopting
[00:22:39]
A Council operations guide pursuant to section Nine of the Spokane City charter and chapter zero 2.005 of the Spokane municipal code it's my understanding that it was the intent of the Council to defer this item instead of the following item to the pending agenda on September 16th 2026. So we will consider that item deferred the item that is available to speak to on tonight's agenda is resolution 2026 0059 directing transfer of City Council funds to finance Council operations in 2026. There is no public comment resolution 2026 0063 approving contract with the Washington State department of commerce for the wildfire housing assistance fund without further City Council review and action.
[00:23:34]
Derek azaro derek bizzarro speaking to the one part of City Council looking at this reducing the demolition permits these people are all victims of a crime not necessarily a fault of utility. They should be looked at like that. There's like 12 pages of permit fees and others that pertain to these properties being rebuilt. Not everybody is covered by insurance they're facing with their children because I've always been here for the for you and for the kids. All the children are affected by this because of a criminal. It's my proposal that you not only reduce these fees, don't reduce them, eliminate it, freeze their property taxes until they rebuild and go down the full list of any permits that they're required to do including the asbestos and related they should be exonerated from paying those if at all possible. Like I said, these are defined victims of a
[00:25:14]
Criminal, a murderer and they should not be held responsible to the obligations of paying all these permit fees that they would not have had to pay if he did not do what he did. There is no excuse at all that this Council, this Mayor and its administration can't find a way to bypass these people paying all these fees. There's a lot that's going to happen the next year. This criminal will not even see the court system probably for a couple of years. The way the system works. So I think until then you need to give these victims I say victims some reprieve from what they're going through on this experience with their families and their children. There is no excuse for this Council to go any further in this community to allow crime to run rampant in the streets.
[00:26:17]
And thank you. Thank you. Time is up. Ordinances in the pending section of tonight's agenda ordinance c 36 914 relating to adopted ordinance c 36 613 concerning a required development agreement for the comprehensive plan amendment file z 20 3-479 comp extending a deadline for approval of the development agreement by two years and instructing staff to include the land use designations called for in that ordinance in the draft future land use map under development for the periodic comprehensive plan update due later this year or ordinance c 36 915 to extend the duration of interim zoning ordinance c 36 742 concerning child care centers setting a public hearing for August 26th, 2026 and reiterating a work program and then finally ordinance number c 36 916 to adopt an overlay zone for property located approximately at 3929 west Grandview road and the City and County of Spokane State of Washington by amending the official zoning map to show a planned unit development overlay zone for said property beared. In addition, further action is deferred on pending legislative items.
[00:27:33]
That concludes that we will now go into our final legislative items, board and commission appointments with no public comment on board and commissions Council members any commentary? All those in favor please indicate by saying I any nos abstentions could you read those two names that are being appointed? Mr. Byrd yes. The bicycle advisory board has to reappointment santiago cruz youth member and breean fall to seek. Okay thank you. Let's continue reports and reports contracts and claims in the final section of tonight's agenda I have derek zero for reports contracts and claims directors are again speaking before the one party Council under the Mayor's budget. I took a look today at the fund available monies.
[00:28:50]
All these people are going to have code enforcement come out and inspect their properties. But just up today I reviewed the fund and there's $127 and $0.60 in the account code enforcement is a absolute necessity for this any City and you only have roughly what seven this administration has not made a priority in the Mayor to beef up that department in any form. There's no way seven code inspectors are going to be able to go out and look at 800 properties let alone all their other daily duties. Again, it should be the priority of this Council, the priority of this Mayor and administration to start focusing on running the City the way it should be run conservatively to some degree not just an agenda that is your own. Again, these people are going to go through a lot in the next few years so I would think that you would start making a priority to get all your ducks in a row for them.
[00:30:08]
Beef up your code enforcement department so they can enforce the codes that are going to be out there. Don't expect these people to do their job by themselves and I don't see any reason why that shouldn't happen again. It is your responsibility to make sure all these departments have the money responsible, the Mayor to allocate the money and the departments they need to be. But in this case code enforcement is definitely one that does not have enough and thank you derek. Your time is up. Any calls contrary? Yes. Yeah. Can we take the pay raise contracts three, four and five separately. I'm sorry. Three, four and five. All right, let's start each one separately or as a group. Okay, so we'll be voting on the contract opr five zero 559 opr 0560 and opa 0561. There is no customer that come in the country. Prepare to vote e
[00:31:45]
Three passed 621. If you go back to the balance of the contracts, are there any Council commentary on those? See none. Prepare to vote in those pass seven zero Mr. Burr there are no emergency ordinances on tonight's agenda special budget ordinances ordinance c 36 913 amending ordinance number c 36 794 entitled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennium modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to adjust pay ranges to align with salary analysis for public safety answering point job classifications p sap July 20th, 26 and declaring an emergency ordinance number of c 36 917 amending ordinance number c 36 794 entitled in part an ordinance adopting a mid biennium modification budget for the City of Spokane and amending it to authorize emergency communications call tracker and report specialist positions to support the Spokane united 911 network and declaring an emergency will take ordinance 36913 any Council commentary seeing none prepare to vote thank you that passes seven zero and we will take on as 36917 no commentary prepared vote thank you that passes seven zero as well.
[00:33:28]
Resolutions and the final section of tonight's agenda resolution 2026 0053 regarding amendment of the City of Spokane's public rule for wastewater and water general facilities charges and incentives resolution 2026 005 four in the matter of authorizing the airport board to purchase property identified as Spokane County assessor parcel 14011.1316 that is 10909 west 53rd avenue resolution 2026 0055 in the matter of authorizing the airport board to purchase property identified as Spokane County assessor parcel two four 062.0125 that's 500 seven south hayford road resolution 2026 006 zero relating to the Mayor's executive order 2026 0004 titled executive order four for declaration of emergency in response to the old trails fire and dated August first, 2026 and the Mayor's executive order 2026 000 five titled executive order for declaration of emergency in response to the Spokane complex fires and dated August 4th, 2026 any Council commentary I am Mr. Byrd so we'll be taking these vote separately on each resolution so we'll start resolution 0053 the public room for wastewater for and zero for
[00:35:09]
Facility charges. All those in favor please indicate by saying please vote a yes and councilmembers I well no I think it's six one because I am in the affirmative. Okay. Resolution 005 for the matter authorizing the airport board to purchase property identified by Spokane County assessor and Council come to prepare to vote. Thank you that passes seven zero resolution 0055 again in the matter authorizing the airport to purchase property identified as Spokane County as this person in commentary prepared to vote thank you that passes seven zero resolution 0060 any Council commentary on the executive order councilmember christy I'll just go ahead and say thank you to the administration and to our first responders for all their hard work on this. Everyone knows this was a regional effort as well as we received a lot of help from national and international crews and to thank the community for all
[00:36:45]
That they've done to support those crews. We had feedback at our community meeting and as shadle park high school some of the representatives of the command center, the national command center said that no one treats first responders and crews better than Spokane does and I think that really speaks well to our community. I want to thank all the volunteers that are trying to do so much on this and yeah, just say we'll we'll continue this is going be a long term recovery effort and we really appreciate everyone leaning into this in your commentary councilmember Dillon has yeah second and I would urge everyone to watch yesterday's urban experience committee meeting there was a presentation from the administration by a different department heads about the multifaceted response from police, fire, public works, communications all the different hands that came together and it really does help to tell the story of the response and a lot of heroism that happened that day and the following days as now we pivot to recovery. So there's definitely a lot more to come on that front and I appreciate a lot of the feedback and suggestions that we've had.
[00:38:06]
I'll just say we will never be able to say thank you enough. We keep saying thank you from now till whenever and it will never be enough for the first responders and the community. The community. A call was put out in the community stepped up and I almost started crying the night the first night at the shelter the response so thank you, Spokane. Thank you. Spokane County. And I would say everyone really in their own way has been a first responder prepared to vote for us because motels is a personal point of and you say what your shirt says and where you got it tonight. Thank you for asking. I am modeling the stroke Spokane strong t shirt is being sold at atticus. All the funds will raise will be going directly to the home fund at the City to help in funding all the services needed to help our citizens get through this. So if you got time go over there and pick it up. It's really pretty cool. I feel kind of special where it today. So one more thing that we can do all together to help. Thank you councilor john prepare to vote.
[00:39:29]
Thank you. That passes seven zero. That completes our legislative agenda for this evening. We will now transition into open forum. You have two minutes for open form please direct all your comments to the chair first to have Kirsten Angell and then we'll have Craig Hemmens and then Mary Stohr hello. Thank you for letting me speak and thank you to our first responders and to Spokane. I'm actually here to speak on behalf of Spokane Urban Nature and speaking about PlanSpokane SUN supports infill housing where appropriate and with a focus on providing much needed low income housing. But we do not support excessive development at the expense of the valuable natural systems that can enable our community to adapt to this climate crisis we're currently experiencing and which is guaranteed need to get more intense.
[00:40:34]
I'd like to highlight a concern with recent comprehensive plan changes that removed important language prioritizing open space for conservation purposes. They also remove removed the entire policy natural features and habitat protection from the land use chapter now growth strategy terrible name which read ensure development is accomplished in a manner that protects significant natural features and wildlife habitat just gone SUN has made clear requests in our public comments were important policy language to be replaced but these changes have been ignored and we are very concerned that this leaves our natural areas too vulnerable to development. SUN continues to follow the City's movements around the removal of environmental protections and we've noticed a lack of enforcement of State regulations on habitat, wetlands, forests and other critical areas. We have evidence that there have been multiple offenses with regards to development practices that have gone unchecked and we are very concerned that this pattern will continue and only intensify natural lands and overall natural infrastructure such as critical areas and open spaces need to be prioritized as much as the development of housing and this update process needs to be more transparent and based in best available science.
[00:41:55]
We're glad to hear there has been a pause and that a request has been sent to the governor for an extension. You should slow this process down and get in touch with your constituents. Thank you. Your time is up. Craig Hemmens and the next will be Mary Stohr and then Linda Carroll. Good evening Council members thank you for your time. My name is Craig Hemmens. I'm a Spokane resident. I live in rockford. I just wanted to ask that the Council request I brief already has requested the governor delay in submitting the comprehensive plan and I'd like to find out how long that delay was going to be and encourage you to ask for if you haven't already at least six months. I think we need time especially given what's happened with the fires to kind of recalibrate and look at it more closely. I'd also like to suggest that after having reviewed the comprehensive plan myself I'm really quite concerned about it and I think some more time to look at it. I feel we're moving a little bit too fast. I see a number of maps that indicate a great deal of change to some of the residential areas that would allow higher density in what are now I guess you would describe as single family areas and I'm afraid we're moving too fast without recognizing the implications of these changes.
[00:43:27]
I kind of compare it to the change that was made a couple of years ago with the density and the infill law. I currently live right next to part of that unfortunately consequences of that where once there was one house on one lot we now will be living next to six skinny houses. I think that density is a great idea but the way it's being allowed to proceed doesn't really work I think and I'm afraid the same problem of moving too fast is happening with the comprehensive plan. Thank you. Thank you Mary Stohr and then Linda Carroll and then Mary Winkes hello my name is Mary Stohr. I'm a retired WSU criminal justice professor chair of the group Friends of Spokane Trees member of the group Spokane 2046 and an avowed tree hugger neighborhood lover and a resident of Rockwood neighborhood. I want to thank those of you who responded to my and several others emails indicating their request for an extension on the comp plan and I would just like to know what's been asked for and we would really recommend a six month extension minimum.
[00:44:49]
Secondly, I wanted to raise another serious concern about the comp plan among the many that have been raised for months now by numerous citizens and by neighborhoods via the community Assembly. Did you know that 140 eight of the 149 comments on the comp plan this were critical of the plan or had serious concerns about it? Did you know that most of those 148 comments raised concerns about the effect on tree canopy and natural areas and analysis of the plan postings would indicate that very few changes have been made and those changes have been superficial and do not address the protection of trees or natural areas. In fact the complaint comp plan calls for less or no environmental review of development projects yet there is widespread concern about the plan and its effects on trees and natural areas from your constituents.
[00:45:48]
I would also note that the tragic loss of homes from the fires also led to the loss of hundreds if not thousands of trees. However, the infill law and the parking laws as reified in the comp plan that were passed by this City Council have resulted in loss of hundreds of trees and acres of greenspace. I'm asking you to reconsider your vote in favor of the version of this version of the comp plan and to take a serious look at all the issues raised by your constituents and the impact and tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Linda Carroll. And then Mary Winkes and then Brian Muegge g Council members. Thank you for your time. My name is Linda Carroll. I live on Waverly Place. My family moved to Spokane in 1955 and my dad taught chemistry at rogers high school for about three decades.
[00:46:51]
And I guess the first large parts of our City were severely damaged by wildfires. On August the 5th, a new draft of the comprehensive plan and future land use map were released apparently without updates taking into account various aspects of the fire including evacuation mitigation, mass measures or the possibility that it would reduce the City's population or in-migration. It will be impossible to complete the plan with sufficient updated information and public input by the December 31st deadline established by the State. Rushing to do so would deprive residents of devastated areas of their ability to contribute to the planning of their future just as the fire has deprive them of their present and their past. I therefore urge the City Council and the Mayor to ask the governor to extend the deadline by a minimum of six months. I also ask the Council to increase the consideration given in the comp plan and future land use map to the neighborhoods that are a vital aspect of life in Spokane. I cite mine Emerson-Garfield as an example its status as a historic district has been ignored in the flume which invades it with a division in monroe residential high zones so broadly drawn that they leave only 3 to 5 blocks between them. Moreover, the native burial ground north of Alice avenue which is exempt from building is not marked as such in the flume. Thank you for considering my views. Thank you.
[00:48:20]
Mary Winkes then we'll have Brian Muegge and then Sam Mace. Good evening Council President Wilkerson and Council members. A statement here is as the draft comp plan began to unfold, I and many others became more and more concerned. Many comments and letters have been sent to the planning department as well as to the Mayor and to you folks and to some but not nearly enough has been done to revise the plan. The community Assembly has written letter after letter asking for changes. And among the asks has been a desire to approach the flume in the same way as planning for the east central area. Not only has this request not been answered, the flume was released at least just a day or so after the Spokane complex fires. In the midst of such devastation and trauma. The planning department didn't skip a beat.
[00:49:25]
And if these fires didn't make that clear enough, nothing will. We need a growth strategy as to the land use chapter that is renamed. We don't need to call it growth strategy. We need to call it land use because there are other reasons for use of land. And we need thoughtful decisions as to how this is done. Yes there is growth but not so much that we have to upend the entire City neighborhood Council participation in the firm is vital. And the entire chapter for and there needs to be an entire chapter for climate sustainability and resiliency. Not to put a little bit here and a little bit there in the document is to put it nowhere if the fires that we just had happen here weren't evidence enough. Nothing will be we are not prepared. The draft comp plan does little if anything to do that. As someone who was on the Mayor's burners task force on sustainability years ago, this is not a new issue. But little has been done to address the problem. And thank you, Mary.
[00:50:34]
Your time is up. Okay. Brian Muegge. And then we'll have Sam Mace and then johnny wicks. All right. Good evening, Council. Thank you for every single one of you who helped out the past couple weeks with fire resources and I really appreciate it. Similarly, I want to speak to the comp plan tonight. I think that the City should absolutely have additional time with the planning process to evaluate blind spots and loopholes as well as strengthen the protection of existing natural areas particularly underdeveloped lands in the Grandview-Thorpe neighborhood particularly the DNR for parcel. I reviewed the maps as well that recently came out on the comp plan and I was concerned with this new low residential designation. Looking into it a little bit it looks like it combines our one and our two together and it was my understanding that the Thorpe area and the surrounding lands from that 200 acre parcel would be zoned differently and I have some concerns that this low residential zone still incentivizes development there from our planning department which if anyone was around and had a pulse during last year's DNR for a road swap issue definitely you heard from the community that is not what's wanted is more development in that corridor.
[00:51:56]
What is wanted is more wild land protections, fire safety, infrastructure improvements etc. So I think that to me is a big concern. So I would echo the support of others that have said that we need to have a plan, an extension plan and also just expressing a concern that we've seen a couple other examples of our planning department not necessarily adhering to smokey critical area ordinances etc. From the ruby hotel dock that we recently saw where there was a clear Assembly violations that planning admitted and kept going with to the later glenn example where there was a 22 acre development in this same valley that got clear cut without any sort of adherence to critical area ordinance. So that is to say my ask is the same to what the others have requested is a delay to get this PlanSpokane correct. So thank you. Thank you, sam.
[00:52:48]
Ms.. Sam is going twice. Johnny wicks. Johnny wicks going twice. Chris Coppen. Good evening. Thank you for your time. I do have some comments about the proposed comp plan but from a slightly different angle and that is about public safety. I am a social worker. I'm a Spokane resident homeowner in the Northwest Terrace neighborhood which was which is adjacent to the rifle club. I had area that was devastated and I and all my neighbors were evacuated that saturday afternoon. I and law enforcement were absolutely spectacular in protecting public safety, diverting traffic and directing traffic in what was clearly a high stressful and tense and terrifying moment for a lot of people. All the traffic from Nine Mile road was diverted east along frances. The other way to get into the City is south along Assembly passed dwight miracle in the va but that route was blocked because of fire activity in dwight miracle. So all the traffic
[00:54:23]
From Nine Mile went east along frances. And it was joined with traffic coming up north and then from Assembly there an Indian Trail and that devastated area and then five Mile prairie all going down two lanes on east Francis and again highway lee's stressful tense time and some folks went down the wrong way probably out of fear. My concern is that the comp plan seems to look for increased density and housing on Assembly and in a time of public safety with greater congestion that could risk lives. My time's about turn out and what I'm saying about that neighborhood could apply to other areas of the City where density could increase so public safety related to density. Thank you for your time, Christopher Savage. And we'll have derrick azaro and then ricky walters.
[00:55:35]
Good evening City Council. My name is Christopher Savage and I live somewhere in district three. I'm one of the 700 households heavily inspected by the fire. What you see in front of you the clothes on my back just this photo album is one of the few possessions I left have. It is solely disheartening and disappointing to see the lack of response of the government and what's been going on. I bring examples of last week's meetings several meetings that I went to. I should have seen many of you there. Some I did, some I heard about. And I very thank you for the ones who attended. But for instance, let me bring up the Monday meeting that was at the meeting events center. It is laughable and ridiculous when marcus vitale, the senator of our State goes up and says all levels of government are here. And you look over to see where the special you know, a place for all the elected officials sitting. You see County, you see State. You don't see anything from the City. You don't see anyone from the Mayor's office. Do they even care? Do you guys care?
[00:56:48]
Because it doesn't look like you are. And then following up with that is there was a Thursday meeting. This was for the old Trail fires for district ten canceled. No information. Nothing was talked about. Nothing was updated. I'm there along with 20 other people and we're all just wondering what's going on. No one's there that saying hey, meeting was change, whatever. I this is devastating and I'm not the only one with the facts. So when people on this Council say we need to lean into this I agree we need to lean into this hard. I'll just leave you with this. Many of you get to go home tonight. I don't thank you. Derek azaro then ricky walters and then anton valone take that to heart again. Cliff you're laughing. Derek. Derek, could you address the chair, please? Thank you. Okay.
[00:58:03]
Council President again. She's laughing. Derek bizzaro speaking before the one party. City Council. I came here tonight to give accolades to councilmember Cathcart for all his efforts for years in helping me get sidewalks installed on marietta avenue and also logan mentary school which as of today is now being installed. Thank you very much. If it wasn't for him and his delayed due diligence in his district it wouldn't have taken place. I'd also like to say congratulate the family that made the phone call to relate to the arrest of this criminal and to the sheriff's office for their handling of the case. The whole school law enforcement resident makes a call officer shows up. Investigation done.
[00:59:09]
Criminal arrested not phone calls ignored not 311. None of that old school. You need to go back to what you've been doing in the past. This criminal everybody knows how it happened. Why it happened is because of the absolute fault of the judicial system in the City. The State and the State of arizona as well. Where he came from I don't know all the facts of the case. I can only assume he was here on a State to State compact that allowed him to come here and be put under the probation department of this State. And thank you, derrick.
[01:00:01]
Your time is up. He violated many times and he was able to walk loose. Thank you, ricky walters. Then we'll have anton valone and then sunshine wiggin. Thanks again for letting me address the Council. I would like to we have sunshine coming up. Sunshine is an amazing casework worker and she's a huge asset to the community. She taught me everything that I know about case management and I owe her a huge debt. So does the City of Spokane. In addition to being pistol whipped, I've also been assaulted in my home and taking out in handcuffs from my kitchen for an assault from the Spokane police department. Again, it speaks to the over policing of the homeless crisis and I need some assistance and then would be happy to take any questions from Council after the meeting. Anton valone.
[01:01:11]
Hi everybody. I just want to say if we could all just work together, you know and a lot of times I sit back there and I listen to people and all they do is like complain and we shouldn't have that, you know? And like I feel sorry for the people that had lost their homes, you know, but I'm pretty sure they have insurance and coverage and everything that they carried you up the you know, and they you know. But how about I say you need to get onto the insurance companies to do their part rather than you forking out the money for them, you know? You know, I understand because we need people even just homeless people there's a lot of homeless people here and I mean to work together and about the data centers is nothing more than a private ization and if you allow that and all that standing up and saluting the flag kissing goodbye is privatization is different big difference between privatizing and democracy and the constitution for the people the republic not democrat or republicans.
[01:02:40]
Okay. I just want to say that thank you. Thank you, sunshine. And then we'll have josh hogan center and wig in Spokane. Hello sir a bunch of messages and I'm asking that every single one of you listen to them please so that you don't become a victim of what happened to me. Something really awful happened to me and so that you guys can learn from it is my goal anyways. And then I just want to in 2017 of 2000. Sorry I'm so screwed up right now. In August of 2023 I started submitting papers to you guys which are public for anyone to read. They're submitted into the City hall and anyone who wants to hear my story I want them to know is there. I have never supported jules helping hands since the day I started coming here. I've served papers against them and I just want to make that public. I am not associated in any way with nate's place or ricky walters and I just want to make that public also. But that's not why I came here today. I will be losing everything tomorrow and be walking around with a walker and flying a sign from here out and to be gentle is to be
[01:04:19]
Strong and to have strength is to be gentle and that has always been my goal in life when I'm dealing with people I have a mental illness that sometimes hinders me but my goal has always to be that and to help others and I have been going through quite a lot and I never ever talk about what I'm going through until it's gone and I lost everything. I need a guitar and I'll be hanging out at the central library for anyone who wants to come and support me I need a guitar and a blanket to be okay and thank you sunshine stand for me. You destroyed my life joe shogun still here doesn't look like it. Yeah. Okay. Mr.
[01:05:29]
Chauvin has left the building. That concludes our open forum for this evening. I will entertain a motion for adjournment so move moved second and second. All those in favor please indicate by saying I. I opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you and have a good night