This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance, an invocation, and approval of the meeting agenda. Councilmember Merkel was excused from the meeting.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Mayor Haley, Councilmembers, Senator Mike Padden and Chief Ellis recognized Spokane Valley Police Department Sergeant Patrick Bloomer and Acting Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Carson Taylor for their work on Operation Rolling Thunder. This multi-agency law enforcement effort from Aug. 11-15 led to the arrest of 55 fugitives in Spokane County and Spokane Valley, including 51 felonies and 38 misdemeanors.
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.
#2 - Potential Grant Opportunity – Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program (SWCCP) Grant
This item was discussed at the Sept. 2, 2025 Council meeting. SWCCP is a new grant program designed to improve active transportation connectivity. The SWCCP recently issued a call for projects; funds are offered at 100% award with zero local match required. The program funding priorities and applicable city projects were reviewed at the last meeting. The City recommends submitting a planning-only grant for the development of planning documents to extend the Appleway Trail between Havana and Dishman Mica.
A motion to authorize the city manager, or designee, to apply to the Sandy Williams Connecting Communities Program for the Appleway Trail planning-only project passed with 4 votes in favor and 2 votes against.
#3 - Washington State Department of Commerce “Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program” (CHIP) – Potential Grant Opportunities
An administrative report on this topic was presented to Council on Aug. 26, 2025. The Governor signed the 2025 Capital Budget into law earlier this year, and it includes funds to be used solely for grants or deferred loans to local governments in coordination with developers of an affordable housing project for system development charges and utility improvements for new affordable housing projects serving low-income households. Staff reviewed the requirements to apply for the grant, amount of funding available and application deadline. There is no local match required for this grant program.
The City would like to partner with contracted service providers to submit grant applications for the 2025-2027 round of CHIP funding for two developments: Habitat for Humanity – Spokane Homeownership at Carnahan and Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) Broadway Senior Housing Project. Both organization’s project details and estimated costs were reviewed at the last meeting.
A motion to approve the city manager to partner with Habitat for Humanity and Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners to submit the recommended applications for CHIP funding from the Department of Commerce passed unanimously.
#4 – Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between City of Spokane Valley and Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for use of Parking Facilities as Mirabeau Point Park.
The Council received an update on this topic on April 15, 2025. The Pinecroft Natural Preserve (NAP) is a 100-acre natural area owned and managed by DNR and adjacent to Mirabeau Point Park. Staff provided a background of the NAP and challenges to management. Staff have negotiated an ILA between the City and DNR to develop access to the NAP trail system from Mirabeau Point Park. The ILA allows trail users to park in the Mirabeau Point Park parking lot. The DNR is responsible for the ongoing management of the Pinecroft NAP.
A motion to authorize the city manager to execute the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Spokane Valley and the Washington State Department of
Natural Resources for Use of Parking Facilities at Mirabeau Point Park passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#5 – 2026 State Legislative Agenda
The city’s state lobbyist provided a 2026 legislative session preview and presented the initial draft of the 2026 State Legislative Agenda. The Council reviewed the draft agenda and provided input on funding requests, support items and policy statements under the categories of Public Safety and Behavioral Health, Housing Affordability, Local Decision-Making Authority, Fiscal Management and Reducing Costs Through Reform. The final draft is tentatively scheduled to be presented on Oct. 7.
#6 – 2026 Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) 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; the commission unanimously recommended that the plan as presented be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.
If the plan is approved, city staff will:
• Coordinate with the TPA Commission at its Sept. 25 meeting regarding anticipated scope and fee proposals for 2026 TPA funds, including the proposed Opportunity Fund.
• Develop detailed scope and fee proposals for 2026 TPA funds from 116 & West, Spokane Sports, and from city staff for an Opportunity Fund and Technology Services, 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
The Council reached consensus to bring forth a motion to approve the 2026 TPA Budget and Workplan at a future meeting.
#7 – Business License Threshold Ordinance Update
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 included an exemption for out-of-city businesses whose annual value of products, gross sales/income of the business in the city is $2,000 or less. Last year, a work group of Washington cities reviewed the model threshold and revised the minimum to $4,000 for out-of-city businesses. The Council reached a consensus to bring this item back at a later meeting for a first reading.
#8 – Perdue and Secondary Manufacturer Opioid Settlements
The City Council has discussed and taken action on various opioid settlements since 2022. The newest Purdue Pharmaceuticals and Sackler Family settlement will include payments to the State of Washington of approximately $105.6 million over the next 15 years. Spokane Valley’s share of this settlement is expected to be approximately $33,958. Another new settlement has been made with eight other opioid manufacturers, and the City could receive roughly $5,338. Staff discussed previous settlements and acceptance deadlines. To date, the City has received approximately $121,148 from various opioid settlements; all funds received must be used for opioid remediation purposes. Councilmembers reached a consensus to place this item on a future agenda for motion consideration.
INFORMATION ONLY (No presentations or discussion)
#9 - Hazard Mitigation Plan Update