This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following meeting agenda.
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.
#2 Public Hearing on Proposed 2025 Budget Amendment
The Council previously discussed this topic on April 29, 2025. A number of changes in revenues and expenditures have occurred since the 2025 Budget was adopted in November 2024, which creates the need for a budget amendment. Staff provided an overview of the changes in 14 funds, which include purchasing 10 new vehicles for the Spokane Valley Police Department. The proposed amendment will reflect a $5,435,686 revenue increase and $13,984,784 expenditure increase. The public was invited to provide comments on the proposed budget amendment.
#3 Proposed Ordinance #25-006 Amending the 2025 Budget - First Reading
A motion to advance Ordinance #25-006 Amending the 2025 Budget to a second reading passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 vote against.
#4 Proposed Ordinance #25-005 Street Vacation STV-2025-0001 – Second Reading
This item was presented to the Council on April 29, 2025, and May 6, 2025. The adjacent property owner requested the vacation of a 20’x185’ segment of an unnamed alley extending north from Appleway Avenue, lying east of Long Road and west of Greenacres Road. The estimated fee for the vacated ROW is $17,683.75
A motion to approve Ordinance #25-005 passed 6 to 0 (one Councilmember recused themself).
#5 Regional Homeless Coordination Interlocal Agreement (ILA)
The Council received an informational report on this item in the April 22, 2025 Council meeting packet. Staff shared a background of the Regional Five-Year Plan to End Homelessness, outlined the plan’s objectives, described the responsibilities of each participating agency and noted that the agreement does not commit any agency funds or contract execution on behalf of an agency which uses public funds without the approval of the agency’s legislative body to the extent that such approval is required under local code or procurement policies.
A motion to approve the Regional Homeless Coordination Interlocal Agreement passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 vote against.
#6 Resolution 25-005 Repealing and Replacing Governance Manual
The Council reviewed this item on April 8, 2025. This document, developed by a Governance Manual Committee consisting of three Councilmembers, contains the rules of procedure, policies and standards of conduct for the Council and is updated periodically. The Governance Manual committee has met four times since the adoption of the last manual update in August 2024 and has developed a list of proposed updates to the document. Staff outlined the proposed changes to Chapter 1, Chapter 5 and Appendix H.
A motion to approve Resolution 25-005, repealing and replacing the Governance Manual passed with 5 votes in favor and 2 votes against.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#7 Recap of 2025 State Legislative Session
Staff and the city’s state lobbyist provided an overview of the 2025 legislative session and the Legislature’s key actions related to the Spokane Valley’s 2025 legislative priorities, which included:
- Passage of HB 1260 (Clarifying State’s Document Recording Fees for city’s Housing and Homeless Program)
- $415,000 appropriated for Balfour Park Sport Courts
- $2 million and $500,000 state awards for Balfour Park Playground Spray Park
Other budget appropriations for capital and transportation investments within Spokane Valley were also reviewed. The Council was asked for input to begin preparation of the legislative priorities for the 2026 session.
#8 Construction/Development Project Update
City staff provided an overview of current and upcoming commercial projects and private developments, multifamily apartments and new businesses that have recently opened in Spokane Valley.
#9 Safe and Healthy Spokane Regional Task Force Discussion
Earlier this year, Mayor Haley and City Manager Hohman were invited to participate in a regional planning team made up of representatives from the City of Spokane, Spokane County, local Chambers of Commerce and others. This team has recommended the development of a regional Safe and Healthy Spokane Task Force. The Task Force would create a regional vision and action plan to coordinate existing resources and recommend improvements to programs and infrastructure; additionally, it would review the need for a potential countywide ballot measure for an additional public safety sales tax. A draft letters of support were reviewed and discussed.
#10 Amending SVMC 22.110.060 to Prohibit Signs on Traffic Devices
The draft ordinance to amend the city sign code was presented for Council review and feedback on Jan. 21 and Feb. 11, 2025. A public hearing was held on March 11, 2025. The current code prohibits the placement of signs within the rights-of-way “except official signs and except bus benches”. For non-commercial signs, the city’s practice has been to enforce this prohibition only when the sign creates an impediment to safe right-of-way use. The proposed code text amendments allow non-commercial signs to be placed along traveled portions of the right-of-way, subject to time, place and manner restrictions to protect the safety of the traveling public. These amendments will align the code with the city’s past practice and help ensure consistent content-neutral enforcement.
As a result of public comments at the public hearing and at the March 18 second reading, the Council indicated it would like to consider amendments that do not alter the city’s current code relating to open house or garage sale-type signage within the rights-of-way. City legal staff outlined an amended code that will not regulate signs within rights-of-way to the extent such signs are not placed on or within traffic devices or structures.
The Council reached consensus to bring the code text amendment back for a first reading at a future meeting.
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.