This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance, an invocation and approval of the following meeting agenda.
Special Presentation
Mayor Haley presented the September You Rock! Community Recognition award to Mr. Blake McCracken, recognizing his initiative and significant contributions to bringing the first Cops and Kids Car Show to Spokane Valley. Nominate someone for the You Rock! program at www.SpokaneValleyWA.gov/YouRock.
PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Haley presented a proclamation to Valleyfest, which was accepted by Peggy Doering of Valleyfest, and a proclamation for National Constitution Week, which was accepted by RaeAnna Victor, of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Watch the presentation.
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.
PUBLIC HEARING
#1 – Interim Ordinance 25-013: Emergency Interim Ordinance Adopting Height Restrictions for Communications Tower used by Regional Facilities for First Responder Communication
On July 29, 2025, the Council adopted Interim Ordinance 25-013, which included a list of findings of fact supporting the interim ordinance. Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) operates the regional 911 call center serving Spokane County and owns a 4+ acre parcel at 12809 E Mirabeau Parkway, where they plan to build a new call center. The current city code prohibits tower heights in excess of 60 feet with 20 feet of antenna. However, for reliable continuous emergency communications services throughout the region, the communications tower must be at least 100 feet high with up to 20 feet of antenna. Members of the public were invited to provide their comments.
ACTION ITEMS
#2 – Interim Ordinance 25-013: Communications Tower Height Restrictions
Resolution 25-017 is the final step to authorize Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) to proceed with plans to build an emergency communications tower. A motion to approve Resolution 25-017 passed unanimously.
#3 – First Reading: Ordinance 25-014: Business License Threshold
The City Council heard an administrative report on this topic at the Sept. 9, 2025, meeting. In 2017, the State Legislature passed a law requiring all cities to adopt a business model license ordinance. In 2018, the Council adopted Ordinance 18-020 that amended the existing business license code and also provided an exemption for out-of-city businesses whose annual value of products, gross sales/income of the business conducted within the city is $2,000 or less. In 2024, a collaboration of Washington cities reviewed the model threshold and raised the minimum exemption to $4,000 for out-of-city businesses. A motion to advance this item to a second reading passed unanimously.
#4 – Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) 2026 Budget and Work Plan
The TPA Summary Report for July 2024-June 2025 was provided to the Council in the Sept. 2, 2025, meeting packet. It summarized revenues, expenditures and marketing initiatives during that period. The proposed 2026 TPA Budget and Work Plan was reviewed and discussed by the TPA Hotel Commission at its Aug. 21, 2025, meeting; they unanimously recommended Council approval of the plan. If the plan is approved, the next steps are:
Staff coordination with the TPA Commission at its Sept. 25 meeting regarding anticipated scope and fee proposals for 2026 TPA funds, including the proposed Opportunity Fund.
Development of a detailed scope of work and fee proposals for 2026 TPA funds from 116 & West, Spokane Sports, and from city staff for an Opportunity Fund and technology services. This will be presented to the TPA Commission for consideration on Oct. 16.
Provide scope and fee proposals for 2026 TPA funds to City Council in an administrative presentation in late October or early November.
A motion to approve the 2026 TPA budget of $1,775,000 and Work Plan as presented passed unanimously.
#5 – Perdue and Secondary Manufacturer Opioid Settlements
This item was discussed by the Council on Sept. 9, 2025. Since 2022, the City Council has discussed and taken action on multiple opioid settlements. The newest Purdue Pharmaceuticals and Sackler Family settlement will include payments to municipalities and counties throughout Washington State of approximately $105.6 million over the next 15 years. Spokane Valley’s share of this settlement is expected to be about $33,958. Another new settlement has been made with eight other opioid manufacturers, and the City could receive roughly $5,338. To date, the City has received approximately $121,148 from various opioid settlements; settlement funds can only be used for opioid remediation.
A motion to approve the Purdue bankruptcy Plan or Reorganization, participate in the Purdue and Sackler Settlement, and authorize the city manager, or designee, to finalize and execute all necessary documents regarding the same passed unanimously.
A motion to participate in the Secondary Manufacturers Settlements and authorize the city manager, or designee, to finalize and execute all the documents regarding the same passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#6 – Resolution 25-016 Establishing a Flag Policy
Periodically, groups contact the City requesting to fly a flag for special occasions on city-owned flagpoles. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that cities may adopt policies which (1) restrict the flags to be displayed on city property to those flags that reflect the views, values and goals of the city and (2) designate city-owned flagpoles as forums only for government expression, as opposed to public forums for private speech. The City does not currently have a policy to guide the selection of flags allowed to be displayed on city-owned flagpoles. Staff and Council reviewed the terms of proposed Resolution 25-016, which would institute a city flag policy. The Council reached a consensus to place Resolution 25-016 related to the city’s flag display policy on a future agenda.
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.