This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance, an invocation and approval of the following meeting agenda. Councilmember Yaeger was excused from the meeting.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Haley read a proclamation for National American Indian Heritage Month, which was accepted by representatives of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
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 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 Sept. 23, 2025, Council meeting.
#2 - Public Hearing: 2025 Budget Amendment
Since the 2025 Budget amendment approved by Council on May 27, 2025, multiple things have occurred during normal city operations that require a second amendment to the budget. Staff provided details of the changes to the 14 funds affected. The result is a total revenue decrease of $13,328,799 and total expenditure decrease of $23,499,260. The majority of this adjustment is due to some expenses and revenues related to capital improvement projects moving from 2025 to 2026. Public Works Director Blegen briefed the Council on the need for an additional $80,000 this year for bridge work. Members of the public were invited to comment on the proposed amendment.
#3 - Ordinance 25-015 First Reading: 2025 Budget Amendment
A motion to advance proposed Ordinance 25-015 to a second reading passed unanimously.
#4 - Ordinance 25-017 First Reading: 2026 Budget
To date, the Council has received presentations about and discussed the 2026 draft budget on five occasions, including two public hearings. No action has been taken on the draft 2026 budget so far. The third and final public hearing on the budget will be held at the Nov. 25, 2025, Council meeting; the Council will be asked to adopt the budget on Dec. 9, 2025.
The draft 2026 budget currently includes appropriations of $148,412,354, which includes $74,091,618 in capital expenditures, compromised in-part of:
Street Capital Projects: $8,795,855
Park Capital Projects: $83,634
Pavement Preservation: $13,865,875
Railroad Grade Separation: $18,264,754
Stormwater Management and Aquifer Projection: $4,500,000
The City anticipates $34,130,366 in grant revenues, which will partially offset the $47,091,618 of capital costs. Thus, 71.25% of capital expenditures will be paid with State and Federal funds.
A motion to advance proposed Ordinance 25-017 adopting the 2026 budget to a second reading passed 5 votes in favor and 1 against.
#5 - Federal Legislative Agenda
The Council discussed this item at the Oct. 14, 2025, meeting. Staff presented an updated draft that incorporated the Council’s feedback. Additions to the draft agenda include a public health and safety policy to support secure data sharing to streamline intake and crisis assessment, strengthening the Value of Hydropower statement and clarifying the support statement for the Regional Stabilization Center.
A motion to approve the 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda as presented passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#6 - 2026 Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Budget Proposal – Expenditure Proposals
On Sept. 16, 2025, the Council approved the 2026 TPA budget and work plan, which included (1) utilizing currently contracted consultants for destination marketing, sports marketing and recruitment, (2) developing an Opportunity Fund to help market events and venues within Spokane Valley and (3) purchasing technology services to support tourism initiatives in 2026. Staff provided details about the three work plan focus areas and noted that on Oct. 16, 2025, the TPA Commission met and unanimously approved recommendations of the following expenditures of 2026 TPA revenue to the City Council:
• Recommend that the City Council invest $170,000 in an Opportunity Fund to distribute funding to destination events and venues based on the recommended criteria and grant the Hotel Commission administrative authority to review applications and award funding.
• Approve $30,000 to purchase technology services to assess tourism initiatives as presented.
• Authorize the city manager, or designee, to execute a contract amendment up to $700,000 with Spokane Sports for sports recruitment and marketing services, and a contract amendment up to $875,000 with 116 and West for destination marketing services.
The Council reached consensus for staff to bring forth a motion as outlined above for Council consideration at a future meeting.
#7 - Permit Fee Discussion
This topic was discussed by Council at the March 4, 2025 budget workshop. It was emphasized that no changes are proposed to Building Permit fees or Building Plan Review fees. In 2025, staff summarized the permit fee evaluation process and public outreach completed with community stakeholders. The following changes are proposed:
Modified permit structure for the following types of permits: engineering grading, engineering plan review, traffic review, environmental review and floodplain permits. This aims to provide greater fee predictability for developers and are comparable to nearby jurisdictions.
Increases to other planning fees to cover processing costs, which are comparable to nearby jurisdictions.
Adding fees for permits not currently in the Master Fee Schedule, including Community Services, Temporary Use Permit for RV usage over 30 days and Memorial Sign permits.
Adding fees for applications that require additional or more than three reviews, reinspections or after hour inspections.
Assessing a technology fee for stand-alone permits to recover to annual subscription and maintenance cost of the city’s permitting software
Adding language to Schedule A stating that plan review fees are collected at the time of application.
If adopted, the proposed changes could possibly generate an additional $403,000 of revenue, depending on the number of permit applications.
The Council reached consensus to incorporate the proposed fee modifications into the Master Fee schedule. The Council will be asked to approve the revised Master Fee schedule at a later date.
INFORMATION ONLY
(No presentations or discussions)
#9 - Monthly Department Reports:
• Public Works Department Monthly Report
• Community Development Report
• Spokane Valley Police Department Report
• Spokane Valley Fire Department Report
About Spokane Valley City Council
City Council meetings occur most Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall, 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, online via Zoom or Comcast channel 14. Meeting agendas and minutes are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Agendas. 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. Find information at SpokaneValleyWA.gov, sign up to receive email updates at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp, or follow the City on social media.