This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following 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 following Council meetings: Feb. 10, 2026, Feb. 24, 2026, March 3, 2026, March 10, 2026, March 17, 2026, and March 31, 2026.
#2 – Ice Sports Facility Ground Lease
This topic was discussed by the Council at the August 19, 2025, September 23, 2025 and September 30, 2025, and April 21, 2026 meetings. At the Council’s direction, staff have been negotiating ground lease terms since fall 2025.
City Manager John Hohman, City Attorney Kelly Konkright and Innovia Foundation CEO Shelly O’Quinn reviewed the timeline to date of the project to construct and operate an ice sports facility with two NHL-sized dual ice sheets on city-owned property. They presented information about the ground lease.
Under the agreement, the City would lease approximately 12 acres of the city-owned property north of Sullivan Park to Ignite Youth Ice, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of non-profit Innovia Ignite Foundation) and Spokane Youth Ice, LLC for up to 99 years for $1 per year. In return, at their expense, the lessees will construct, operate and maintain an indoor ice sports complex with two NHL-size sheets of ice and other amenities on approximately six acres, (2) ensure the ice sports complex is made available for use by the general public; and (3) provide at least 500 hours of public use at free or discounted rates every year after completing construction. The lease also allows the Lessee to develop at least two commercial uses on the remaining portions of the leased property and devote certain revenues from the commercial sites to the operational, programming, maintenance and capital improvement expenses of the ice sports complex. The commitment of certain revenues from the commercial sites will ensure long-term sustainability of the ice sports facility and that free and discounted skating opportunities will continue into the future.
The City’s commitment is to (a) install road improvements and a sewer lift station on city property, and (b) maintain the sewer lift station. The city’s capital reserves will fund $1.1 million of the $3.1 million cost for the infrastructure improvements. The remaining $2 million will be paid using lodging tax dollars—a tax paid by hotel guests and visitors, not by residents. Lodging tax revenue via a reimbursable grant will also contribute $550,000-$600,000 per year toward operating costs for the first five years.
A motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the ground lease agreement in substantially the same form as attached and include the improvements to Sullivan Park with the city infrastructure project passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 vote against.
#3 – First Reading: Ordinance 26-006 Code Text Amendment (CTA) – Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Opportunity
The Council discussed this topic on Oct. 28, 2025, and Nov. 18, 2025. These code text amendments will allow TPA revenue to be used for a “Tourism Opportunity Fund” and grants the TPA Commission administrative authority to review applications and award funding, pending City Council oversight by placing the funding award on the next regularly scheduled consent agenda of City Council, or on the next available non-consent agenda if the funding award is time sensitive. At their Feb. 19, 2026, meeting, the TPA Commission reviewed the draft ordinance and unanimously recommended City Council approval.
A motion to advance proposed Ordinance 26-006 adopting amendments to Chapter 3.21 SVMC to a second reading passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#4 – Resolution 26-006 to authorize Opportunity Zone Designation Application and Letter of Support
Staff provided background on the federal legislation passed in 2025 regarding Opportunity Zones (OZs), the financial impact of OZs and the difference between OZs and funds. The group reviewed benefits to investors in OZs and the city’s role in the process. Staff described the qualifying criteria and reported that the five eligible census tracts within the city have been identified. Staff determined that Tract 123 demonstrates the strongest need for investment and also contains properly zoned land available for development.
The Council reached consensus to bring forth a motion to approve proposed Resolution 26-006 authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to submit an Opportunity Zone designation application and Letter of Support to the Department of Commerce for Tract 123.
INFORMATION ONLY (No presentations or discussion)
Monthly Department Reports:
• Community Development (Jan, Feb, Mar)
• Spokane Valley Police Department (Jan, Feb)
• Spokane Valley Fire Department Monthly Reports (Feb, Mar)
About Spokane Valley City Council
City Council meetings occur most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, and online via Zoom. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. Community members are invited to attend Council meetings to participate in action items or public comment periods in-person or online. Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 14. 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. Information is available online at SpokaneValleyWA.gov. Sign up to receive email updates about the topics that matter to you most at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp or follow the city on social media.