Welcome to CIVICS, where we break down the week’s municipal meetings throughout the Inland Northwest, so you can get involved and speak out about the issues you care about.
It’s Labor Day, baby! Support your local unions, and enjoy a break from some of the normal weekly meetings. While it’s a light week with Spokane City Council canceled, some of the items that stick out to us this week from other meetings include:
- Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Golf is planning a new park in the West Hills
- Liberty Lake wants to collaborate with the company that provides cameras that read license plates
- Spokane, Spokane Valley and Spokane County will meet once again about the regional homeless authority
- Spokane Valley looks for a new marketing tagline
This week, these groups will be meeting:
- Spokane City Council will have a Study Session
- Spokane County Board of Commissioners
- Liberty Lake City Council
- Spokane Valley City Council
- Citizens Transportation Advisory Board
- Spokane Human Rights Commission
- Spokane School District Board of Directors
Second open house for new park
As part of the planning process for a new 10-acre park in the West Plains community, Spokane County Parks Recreation and Golf is hosting a second open house to discuss community survey results and design ideas. This meeting is open to all, and children are especially encouraged to attend and provide ideas for the new playground that will be included as part of the park. The park is being paid for with $6 million of ARPA funding, and will be located in Cheney across from the Fairways Golf Course.
Thursday, September 7 at 5 pm
Inland Power & Light Co Training Room, north entrance facing I-90
10110 W Hallett Rd, Spokane, WA 99224
Liberty Lake City Council
Street taxes: sharing is caring
Liberty Lake City Council is seeking input from the public about forming a new transportation benefit district to go along with a proposed 0.1% sales tax for street maintenance. The new tax would go towards “street maintenance, operations, preservation and improvements” and would replace an existing 3% utility tax which currently funds those areas. The transportation benefit district would cover Liberty Lake city limits, meaning the tax would fund street maintenance within those boundaries. Councilmembers hope the new sales tax will have less of an impact on residents since non-resident visitors or shoppers would contribute to it as well.
Keeping a watchful eye
At least 19 cameras that read license plates have been installed at intersections throughout Liberty Lake over the past two years. Looking for a way to curb car theft and other crime, the city was using the cameras on a trial basis before deciding to purchase them from the company Flock Safety earlier this year. The ACLU has raised concerns about Flock Safety cameras, saying they contribute to “a centralized mass surveillance system of Orwellian scope” and calling for more regulation. City council will be discussing “opportunities for collaboration” with Flock Safety at Tuesday’s meeting.
Agenda here
Tuesday, September 5 at 7 pm.
22710 E Country Vista Dr., Liberty Lake
Virtual attendance here
Spokane Valley City Council
Concerns about regional homelessness authority
The city of Spokane Valley, the city of Spokane, and Spokane County will meet on Friday, September 8 for another discussion about forming a regional homelessness authority. This time the cities and county plan to talk about their respective concerns with the current plan.
Spokane Valley City Council will devote part of Tuesday’s council meeting to generating a list of questions and concerns to bring to the discussion. Their current list of concerns includes the scope and the logistics of implementing the regional homeless authority, among other things.
Spokane Valley finds its brand
In a special meeting, the valley’s city council will consider options for a new tourism tagline for the city. Among the options are vaguely inspiring phrases like “Discover the valley” and “Adventure’s nearby.” Our own Valerie Osier was particularly jazzed to see “Discover SpoVal” on the list. If Spokane Valley doesn’t adopt the nickname, maybe Val will.
Agenda here
Tuesday, September 5 at 6 pm.
CenterPlace Regional Event Center Great Room
2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley
Virtual attendance here
Special Meeting Agenda here
Tuesday, September 5 at 9 am.
Spokane Valley City Hall
10210 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley
Virtual attendance here
Spokane County Board of Commissioners
Agenda here
Tuesday, September 5 at 2 pm.
Commissioners’ Hearing Room, Public Works Building lower level.
1026 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
View livestream here.
Spokane School District Board of Directors
Agenda here when available
Wednesday, September 6 at 6 pm.
Spokane Public Schools Administration Building
200 N. Bernard, Spokane
Citizens Transportation Advisory Board
Agenda here
Wednesday, September 6 at 5:30 pm.
901 N. Nelson St., Spokane
Virtual attendance here
City Council Study Session
Agenda here when available
Thursday, September 7 at 11 am.
City Council Chambers
808 Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane
Virtual attendance here
Spokane Human Rights Commission
Agenda here when available
Thursday, September 7 at 5:30 pm.
City Council Chambers
808 Spokane Falls Blvd., SpokaneVirtual attendance here
