This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following meeting agenda. Councilmember Merkel was excused from the meeting.
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 – Second Reading: Ordinance 26-005 Virtual Currency Kiosks
Council discussed this topic previously on Jan. 20, 2026 and April 7, 2026. City staff and Spokane Valley Police Department (SVPD) Chief Dave Ellis spoke about cryptocurrency automated teller machines (ATMs), which allow peer-to-peer electronic cash transfers that bypass traditional financial institutions. Due to the rise in the use of virtual currency kiosks to commit fraudulent financial activity, both the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network have issued consumer alerts about virtual currency ATMs or kiosks. In June 2025, the City of Spokane unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting these devices within its city limits.
A motion to approve Ordinance 26-005, adopting chapter 7.60 SVMC prohibiting Virtual Currency Kiosks in the City of Spokane Valley passed unanimously.
#2 – Second Reading: Ordinance 26-006 Opportunity Fund Code Text Amendment (CTA)
The Council discussed this topic on Oct. 28, 2025, Nov. 18, 2025 and April 28, 2026. The proposed code text amendments will permit utilization of Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) revenue for a “Tourism Opportunity Fund” and grant 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’s approval.
A motion to approve Ordinance 26-006 adopting amendments to Chapter 3.21 SVMC passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#3 – Recap of 2026 State Legislative Session
The city’s State Lobbyist, Briahna Murray, of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Government Relations, provided an overview of the 2026 legislative session and the Legislature’s actions related to the Spokane Valley’s 2026 budget requests, which included:
• Balfour Park Accessibility Amenities: Request $250,000/Appropriated $258,000
• Regional Request for Traffic Management Center: Request $1 million/Appropriated $1 million (one-time)
• Barker/I-90 Sullivan Trent: Continued advocacy to elevate visibility of projects and support FMSIB.
Ms. Murray noted that major themes of this session were response to federal actions, affordability and tax/budget reform. She said there is a legal challenge to the Millionaire Tax bill (SB 6346) which should be monitored as the bill could impact city sales tax revenue. Other outcomes of the city’s policy priorities were reviewed, including housing affordability, local decision-making and fiscal management. SVPD Chief Dave Ellis reported on the impacts of two public safety bills that passed this session: SB 6002-Automated License Plate Readers and SB 5974-Law Enforcement Qualifications. The Council was asked to begin considering city legislative priorities for the upcoming 2027 session.
#5 – Parks and Recreation Summer Season Preview
Staff shared information about the Parks and Recreation Department’s events and upcoming programs, including the park and meal program, youth summer camps, youth archery program, adult dance lessons, outdoor recreation events, outdoor recreation, therapeutic recreation services and outdoor movies at the park. Staff also previewed the pool operation schedule, summer aquatics programs and announced that, thanks to a continuing sponsorship by Numerica Credit Union, admission for open swim is free every Friday throughout the swim season once again this year, and Pool World is now sponsoring free swim on Sundays. Staff shared information about parks, specifically special events, park shelter reservations, sand volleyball and baseball field rentals, the Greenacres Community Garden and more.
#6 – 2026 Budget Amendment
The Council adopted the 2026 Budget on Dec. 9, 2025. Since that time, a number of events have occurred leading to the need for a budget amendment. Staff provided details of the changes to the nine funds affected. The result is a total revenue increase of $5,348,800 and total expenditure increase of $6,960,167. Of these increases, $1,950,000 reflects transfers between city funds. The Council reached consensus to move this forward to a motion at a future Council 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, 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.