This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and approval of the meeting agenda.
General Public Comments
Each week, community members have an opportunity to address Councilmembers for up to three minutes during the General Public Comment period, either at the beginning or end of each meeting either in person or via Zoom.
ACTION ITEMS
#1 - Consent Agenda
The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included vouchers for paying city expenses and payroll and minutes from the Feb. 18, April 15, May 6, May 20, June 10, June 17, July 15, July 22, July 29 and Aug. 12, 2025, Council meetings.
#2 - Solid Waste Collection Contracts Extension
This topic was most recently discussed at the August 12, Council meeting. Staff reiterated the contractual relationships for solid waste services with WM (formerly Waste Management) and drop-box container services with Sunshine Disposal Inc. The contracts expire on March 31, 2028. The city engaged a consultant to review contract terms and provide a report on the pros and cons of contract extension versus new vendor procurement. The consultant recommended contract extensions, and at the August 12 meeting, Council gave consensus for staff to return with a motion as such.
A motion to authorize the city manager to provide notice to WM and Sunshine of the City’s desire to extend the collection contracts and to take such action necessary under such contracts to negotiate and execute a two-year extension on contracts: 17-089 “Waste Management: Garbage, Recycling & Compostables Collection, 17-187 “Waste Management Drop Box Container Collection”, and 17-188 Sunshine Disposal & Recycling: Drop Box Container Collection” in the form and subject to the terms as such extension is authorized within those contracts passed unanimously.
#3 - City LTAC Application
The Council reviewed and discussed this item on August 19. The Course Spokane Valley is currently under construction by the City and will be leased to organizations holding cross-country running and other events. The city’s consultant, The Sports Facilities Advisory, is developing a rental fee structure recommendation. When the course is open and operational, these rental fees are expected to fund part of the ongoing operations and maintenance costs. In the meantime, the estimated costs of approximately $257,000 will be paid from the city’s General Fund in the Parks and Recreation Department. As The Course is a tourism facility, it is eligible to receive lodging tax funds.
A motion to authorize staff to prepare and submit a city application for lodging tax funds for the operating and maintenance costs of The Course Spokane Valley for 2026, or action as deemed appropriate, passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 vote against.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#4 – Washington State Department of Commerce “Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program” (CHIP) – Potential Grant Opportunities
Earlier this year, Governor Ferguson signed the 2025 Capital Budget into law, which includes funds to be used solely for grants or deferred loans to local governments in coordination with developers of an affordable housing project for system development charges and utility improvements for new affordable housing projects serving low-income households. Staff reviewed the requirements to apply for the grant, amount of funding available and application deadline. There is no local match required for this grant program.
The City is requesting to partner with contracted service providers to submit grant applications for the 2025-2027 round of CHIP funding for two developments: Habitat for Humanity – Spokane” Homeownership at Carnahan and Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) Broadway Senior Housing Project. Each organization’s project details and estimated costs were reviewed. The Council reached consensus to return this item at a future meeting for motion consideration.
#5 - Compression Brakes
Over the years, the City has received multiple comments from residents regarding the noise of compression brakes near residential areas. Frequent complaint areas are Barker Road north of Mission and south of 8th Ave, Argonne Road near Valleyway and Trent Ave near Barker Road. Investigations by law enforcement staff revealed that trucks were operating with muffled compression brakes, which are legal under state law. Staff reviewed the existing state law, reported which adjacent jurisdictions have compression brake ordinances and which do not, and the challenges to enforcement. Council considered several options and came to a consensus to bring this item back to a future meeting with more information for additional discussion.
#6 - Interlocal Agreement with Spokane County Water District #3 (SCWD3)
In 2019, SCWD3 replaced water mains along several city streets which were in poor pavement condition. The City and SCWD3 came to an agreement to pay SCWD3 to repave the entire street width, instead of just the waterline trench area. This allowed for minimum disruption along the roadway.
In the next three years, SCWD3 plans to replace an approximately one-mile section of water main in the Heacox/Thierman/Broadway and 2nd Ave/Eastern area; pavement condition in this area warrant pavement rehabilitation and could be more efficiently delivered during the waterline project than doing the repaving separately. Therefore, the City would like to coordinate with SCWD3 on this project as well.
The Council reached a consensus to return at a future meeting with a motion consideration to proceed with the Interlocal Agreement as presented.
#7 - 2026 Budget Estimated Revenues and Expenditures
Staff provided a report on 2026 Budget estimated expenditures and revenues. The budget includes appropriations of $133.7 million, including $70,265,147 in general fund and $63,430,279 in all other funds, of which $35.4 million is capital expenditures offset by $24.5 million in grant revenue. The 2026 budget will keep the same full-time employee count of 118.25. The Council will discuss the 2026 Budget six more times, and there will be three public hearings before Council will be asked to adopt it on Dec. 9, 2025.
INFORMATION ONLY
(No discussion or presentations)
#8 Monthly Department Reports: Spokane Valley Police Department Report, Community Development Monthly Report, and Public Works Monthly Report
#9 Fire Department Monthly Report
About Spokane Valley City Council
City Council meetings occur most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, online via Zoom or Comcast channel 14. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. Email the Council at CityCouncil@SpokaneValleyWA.gov or learn more at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil.
Stay Connected
Spokane Valley City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find information at SpokaneValleyWA.gov, sign up to receive email updates at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp, or follow the City on social media.