After two jam-packed weeks of CIVICS, we’re here with a blessedly chill week. Spokane City Council and its usual third week committee, the Finance and Administration Committee, didn’t meet this week because of the Juneteenth holiday on Monday.
Another thing you may want to know is that the Spokane County and city pools are now open as of this week! You can now cool off from this *checks notes* 60 degree June weather?
Some of the biggest items in the city meetings that stand out to us this week are:
- Pedestrian and bike improvements next to the arena
- Ziply Fiber internet coming to Liberty Lake
- A preliminary budget for the Spokane School District
This week, these groups are meeting:
- Spokane Board of County Commissioners
- Liberty Lake City Council
- Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees
- Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board
- Spokane School District Board of Directors
AND some of the RANGE team will be at the Spokane Queer Block Party at Golden Handle Brewery on Sunday, June 25 at 3 p.m.! Don’t miss this fun, all ages end to Pride month! RSVP free here.
Holiday week notes: weekly trash pick up is on a normal schedule despite the holiday, so put your trash cans out at your regularly scheduled time!
Board of County Commissioners
Solar and students at new county learning center
The county is putting finishing touches on the Doris Morrison Learning Center at Saltese Flats near Liberty Lake. That includes signing an agreement with Avista to credit the county for the solar power generated by the facility and accepting a $75,000 grant to provide outdoor education for local schools.
Whitworth surveillance agreement
The county commission is considering an agreement that would give the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department access to Whitworth University’s surveillance cameras through the 2028-2029 school year. According to the meeting documents, the university requested the arrangement for campus security. Camera access is limited to emergency and training situations under the agreement, which has specific language protecting student records.
Agenda here
Tuesday, June 20 at 2 p.m.
Public Works Building
1116 W Broadway, Spokane, WA
Commissioner’s Conference Room, First Floor
Liberty Lake City Council
New rides, new roads
The city council is being asked to approve the purchase of two brand new SUVs for the Planning, Engineering & Building Department for a grand total of $87,000. Along with the new rides, the city is set to approve plans for future road construction as it updates the six-year Transportation Impact Plan — a planning document that lays out infrastructure priorities and is required for state and federal funding.
Fiber franchise
The city council is considering signing a franchise agreement with Ziply Fiber to construct fiber optic telecommunications (internet) in the city. Franchise agreements are a common type of municipal agreement that give broad authority for private companies to operate in the public right-of-way without having to do certain tasks, like filing for permits, every time the company builds or fixes infrastructure.
Agenda here
Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m.
In person at Liberty Lake City Hall or Zoom link here.
22710 E Country Vista Dr, Liberty Lake, WA
Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees
Agenda here
Tuesday, June 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Central Library
906 W. Main Ave, Spokane
Bicycle Advisory Board
Pedestrian and bike improvements next to the arena
The Bicycle Advisory Board (BAB) will be presented with three options for bicycle and pedestrian improvements to Howard Street and Dean Avenue, which is between the Spokane Arena and Riverfront Park. Of the options, two are considered temporary, while the third is permanent.
The first option (temporary) puts bike lanes on either side of the road, going with the flow of traffic, outside of the parking lanes. The second option (also temporary) puts both directions of bike lanes on the side further from the arena, with a bike crossing back to the normal flow of traffic at Dean and Howard. The third option (permanent) appears to be similar to the first option, but turns the parking lane outside the Papillion Building into a sidewalk cafe in the summer. See the diagrams in the agenda for a visual.
Proposed bike lane feedback for Maple and Ash streets
City staff will also be giving the BAB a presentation on the bike lanes on Maple and Ash streets in the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood. There’s not much detail in the agenda packet, but it looks like the preferred option according to the Bicycle Master Plan is to put in neighborhood greenways in these areas.
Agenda here
Tuesday, June 20 at 6 p.m.
Council Briefing Center, City Hall.
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201
To join virtually click here.
Spokane School District Board of Directors
Highly Capable Programs overview
If you’re curious about how the district deals with high performing students, the school board will be getting a presentation on the district’s Highly Capable Programs. The presentation will cover the programming available for different grade levels, the goals of the programs and more. See the presentation here.
Budget time
The school board will consider the superintendent’s 2023-2024 preliminary budget. This budget includes how the district will spend approximately $549.2 million in levy money, COVID-19 emergency relief money, state money and more.
The final budget will be voted on by the board on August 23 and there will be a public hearing beforehand for public comment.
Vacancy on the board
Since board member Riley Smith resigned last week because of a new job opportunity, the school board will be discussing the vacancy. The board has 90 days from his resignation date to appoint a replacement, according to the Spokesman-Review.
Agenda here
Wednesday, June 21 at 6 p.m.
Boardroom, SPS Administration Building
200 N. Bernard Watch virtually here.
FUN Stuff
Spokane Queer Block Party
A group of queer Spokanites are throwing a Queer Block Party at Golden Handle Brewing on Sunday, June 25 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. This all-ages, free event will have activities like tie dyeing, yard games, face painting and coloring. Some of the RANGE team will even be there! RSVP free here.
RANGE Office Hours
Office Hours are back! We’ll be at Golden Handle Brewing on Thursday, July 13, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Please come talk to us, ask questions, tell us what we’re missing in our coverage and hang out!
