This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, the pledge of allegiance, and approval of the following amended 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, both in person or online.
ACTION ITEMS
#1A – Consent Agenda
A motion to approve the consent agenda, which included vouchers for paying City expenses, payroll, and minutes from the August 11, 2026 and August 18, 2026, Council meetings, passed with unanimously.
#2 – Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Determining Employee Wages for 2027
In 2024, the City bargained with the Union that represents most City employees to implement a successor contract for the three-year period beginning in 2025. At that time, the City faced budget challenges, including funding additional law enforcement positions. When presented with these challenges during bargaining, City employees agreed not to have cost-of-living adjustments in either of the first two years of the labor agreement, but the City committed to bargaining in 2026 for any potential changes to employee compensation for 2027. The MOU would provide a 4% general increase to employees on January 1, 2027, and provide a 2% increase to the City’s pay Grades to support our merit system.
A motion to authorize the City Manager to finalize and execute the MOU between the City of Spokane Valley and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Local 270V, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), determining employee wages effective January 1, 2027, passed unanimously.
#2a – Public Hearing #2: 2027 Budget
The 2027 budget is currently under development; this is the second of three public hearings and the fifth of eight discussions by the Council before the Council is asked to approve the budget on November 17, 2026. The documentation included an overview of the draft 2027 budget, reported details specific to the General Fund, and highlighted expenditures across 31 other funds. The Council will next discuss the 2027 budget at the October 27, 2026, Council meeting, and the third public hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2026. Members of the public were invited to share their thoughts and comments about the proposed budget.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#3 – 2027 Federal Legislative Agenda
Mike Pieper, Senior Advisor of Cardinal Infrastructure, the City’s federal lobbyist, provided a summary of 2026 federal legislative efforts and presented the first draft of the 2027 Federal Legislative Agenda. The preliminary 2027 Federal Legislative Agenda, which includes three transportation projects carried over from the 2025 and 2026 agendas: Argonne Bridge at I-90, Sullivan/Trent Interchange and Barker/I-90 Interchange. The draft agenda also includes the continued policy priorities of:
• Public Health and Safety
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Housing and Homelessness
• Economic Development and Workforce
• Value of Hydropower
• Support for Local and Regional Initiatives
The Council will be asked to approve the 2027 Federal Legislative Agenda at a future meeting.
#4 – Wildfire Preparedness Discussion
City staff presented an overview of wildfire preparedness information, including:
• Applicable current regulations
State Building Code Council (SBCC) regulates building and fire code adoption in Washington, but does not include prescribed fire access or evacuation regulations.
Spokane Valley Municipal Code (SVMC) includes adoption of International Fire Code Appendices and addresses fire flow, hydrant and fire access requirements.
Development in the Ponderosa area: Spokane Valley Fire Department and Spokane County Fire District #8 have adopted resolutions which include criteria for new housing developments for emergency access, automatic fire sprinklers, ignition-resistant materials and vegetation.
• Upcoming State regulations
-Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildfire hazard risk maps are under development.
-It is expected that in May 2027, the State will adopt International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
• City parks wildfire fuel reduction work
-Ponderosa Park property: Completed spring 2026
Flora Park: Spring 2027
- Mirabeau Natural Area: Fall 2026 through spring 2027
- Myrtle Point Natural Area: To be determined by Spokane Valley Fire Department.
- Centennial Trail Corridor: To be determined by Spokane Valley Fire Department and State Parks
• City emergency management planning
- Continuity of Operations Plan: Adopted by Council in November 2024, updated August 2026
- Hazard Mitigation Plan: Adopted by Council July 2026
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan: Anticipated review/adoption in 2027
• Recent City emergency management training efforts
• Community resources
#5 – City Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Application Discussion
The Course Spokane Valley (The Course) is a public park at 2520 N Flora Road, designed to host cross country running events at the local, regional, and national levels. The Course opened earlier this year and for 2026, the City and its partner, Spokane Sports, booked 14 events during the cross country season, which runs from mid-August through November. Operating and maintenance (O&M) costs for 2027 are expected to be approximately $288,400 for turf maintenance. Estimated rental fees of $70,000 will cover a portion of O&M costs in 2027, though there is a $218,400 gap.
While 14 events were booked in 2026, the facility has not yet reached full capacity. It takes several years for a sports facility, such as this one, to become well-known and secure additional revenue sources such as sponsorships and naming rights. To attract national and elite-level running events, it is important to maintain the turf to the highest standards, going beyond standard park maintenance.
Considering anticipated 2027 rental fees, the short time The Course has been open, and required O&M standards, staff recommend applying to the LTAC for $125,000 of lodging tax funds to offset a portion of the 2027 O&M costs.
The Council reached consensus for this item to return for a motion consideration for the City to apply for $125,000 in lodging tax funds for a portion of the 2027 operating and maintenance costs of the Course.
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 Spokane ValleyWA.gov.Agendas.
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