Spokane Valley City Council Notes - June 24, 2025

This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following meeting agenda. A motion to excuse Mayor Pam Haley passed unanimously.

General Public Comments
Each week, community members can address Councilmembers for up to three minutes during the General Public Comment period, either at the beginning or end of each meeting, 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 Nov. 26, 2024, Dec. 10, 2024, Dec. 17, 2024, March 11, 2025, April 22, 2025, April 29, 2025, May 13, 2025, and June 24, 2025, Council meetings.

2. Ordinance 25-011 Reckless Endangerment with a Controlled Substance
This item had its second reading on June 24, 2025; at that time a motion was made, but was tabled until this meeting. A motion to take the item off the table passed unanimously. Staff reviewed draft Ordinance 25-011 with edits showing changes discussed by the Council on June 3 and June 24, 2025.
A motion to amend the motion to adopt Ordinance 25-011 related to Endangerment with a Controlled Substance to include the changes as described in the Proposed Ordinance included in the July 8, 2025, agenda packet, passed unanimously. The underlying motion as amended to adopt Ordinance 25-011 passed unanimously.

3. Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance (LSWFA) Grant, 2025-2027 Biennium
The Council discussed this grant at the Feb. 4, Feb. 11 and June 17, 2025, meetings. The State of Washington, via the Department of Ecology, provides grants to jurisdictions to help offset solid waste management costs. The LSWFA grant is non-competitive, reimbursement-based based and requires a 25% local match. Matching funds are paid from the city’s Solid Waste Fund 106, a restricted fund which may only be used for solid waste-related purposes. For the 2025-2027 biennium, Spokane Valley’s share allocation is $158,576 and when combined with matching funds, the available budget will total $211,435. Staff described the recommended projects to be funded by the grant in a phased approach in year one as:
Homeless Encampment Response (estimated $40,000-$60,000 annually)
Lithium Battery Fire Safety Storage Cabinet (approximately $30,000-$40,000 total)
A motion to authorize the city manager to submit all necessary and/or related documents for the 2025-2027 Biennium Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance Grant and carry out the programs identified and discussed above, including a Homeless Encampment Response program and lithium-ion battery storage project passed with 5 votes in favor and 1 vote against.

4. Spokane Transit Authority (STA) Board Alternate Appointment
Each year, the Mayor makes recommendations for Councilmember’s participation on various regional and in-house boards and committees. Currently, there are two standing members to the Spokane Transit Authority Board (Mayor Haley and Deputy Mayor Hattenburg), but only one alternate (Rod Higgins), so there is a need to add one alternate member. The Mayor’s recommendation for STA Board Alternates are Councilmember Rod Higgins and Councilmember Laura Padden
A motion to confirm the Mayoral appointment of Councilmembers Higgins and Padden to the STA Board to serve as alternates passed with unanimously.

NON-ACTION ITEMS

5. Wildfire Preparedness
Spokane Valley Fire Department Division Chief of Prevention Ken Johnson, Spokane County Fire District 8 Division Chief Mary Long and Spokane County Emergency Management Planning Director Mark Conrad presented an overview of regional wildfire preparedness plans, agency coordination and incident response. They discussed recommended preparations by property owners and sources of official information that community members can access during active wildfire incidents.

6. NCAA Venue Lease Agreement with Agreement with Spokane Sports for the 2027 Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country West Regional Championships
Last year, the NCAA awarded a bid to host the 2027 Division I Cross Country West Championships to Spokane Sports and Gonzaga University. The event will be held at The Course Spokane Valley, currently under construction at the city-owned property at 2520 N. Flora Road and Spokane Sports will serve as the host/local organizing committee. To finalize the event, the NCAA requires a signed venue lease agreement. Staff is working with Spokane Sports to finalize this agreement and a corresponding operation agreement that lays out each entity’s responsibilities for the event. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back to a future meeting for action consideration.

7. Council Goals and Priorities for Lodging Tax Funds
Per SVMC 3.20.010, the City collects a 3.3% tax on lodging (hotel/motel room rentals) within Spokane Valley. Staff outlined the state rules for the use of the lodging tax. Staff reviewed the 3.3% tax collected on hotel/motel lodging in Spokane Valley, outlined the state rules regarding use of the lodging tax, and the types of organizations/projects that may be awarded funds from the tax revenue. While the city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) evaluates and recommends which organizations/projects receive the tax proceeds, the City Council makes the final decision. The Council reviewed and discussed potential recommendations to update the suggested 2026 goals. Staff asked the Council for consensus to return with minor revisions to the suggested goals and priorities the LTAC should consider when evaluating applications. Council will be asked to review the goals and take action at the July 22 meeting.

8. Resolution 25-014 Surplus Real Property
On April 22, 2025, the Council approved the Affordable and Market Rate Housing RFP for two city-owned parcels (located at the corner of 5008 E 2nd Ave and 228 S Carnahan Road and a parcel at 4908 E 1st Ave) to Habitat for Humanity of Spokane. To finalize the award and transfer the properties to Habitat for Humanity of Spokane, the properties must be declared surplus. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back for a motion consideration at a future meeting.

9. Spokane Regional Health Department (SRHD) Interlocal Agreement (ILA)
In the past three years, the State of Washington and numerous local jurisdictions have received settlements against various companies involved in opioid production, sale, and distribution. Spokane Valley has received approximately $105,000 from the settlements so far. In Sept. 2024, the Council agreed to apply some of the funds to SRHD for the expansion of their opioid dashboard and for SRHD to conduct a Spokane Valley-specific Needs Assessment regarding opioid use and overdose fatalities. SRHD and Spokane Valley must enter into an ILA before these projects can begin. A draft agreement was provided for the Council to review. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back for a motion consideration at a future meeting.

10. Solid Waste Collection Update
Staff provided a background of the city’s solid waste program and collection contract history from city incorporation to the present. The City currently has three solid waste contracts:
1. Residential and commercial garbage, recycling and organics collection with WM (formerly called Waste Management)
2. Drop-box container solid waste collection with WM
3. Drop-box container solid waste collection with Sunshine Disposal, Inc.
All three contracts have a term of 2018-2028. With all three contracts subject set to expire in 2028, staff are seeking Council direction on whether to pursue contract extension options or begin a new separate procurement process. A full procurement would take approximately 24 to 30 months, so this decision must be made in 2025.
In order to fully inform the Council’s decision, staff have launched a public outreach survey (open until July 31) to obtain resident and customer input about WM curbside services. Additionally, a consulting firm has been engaged to review contract terms and provide a report on the pros and cons of contract extension versus new vendor procurement. Survey results and the consultant’s report will be provided to Council in August.

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.