This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and approval of the meeting agenda.
Proclamation
Mayor Haley read a proclamation for Fire Prevention Week.
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 – HCDAC Mayoral Appointment
The Housing Community Development Advisory Committee (HCDAC) is a multi-jurisdictional advisory committee to the Spokane County Housing, and Community Development Division and Board of County Commissioners. The HCDAC bylaws provide for up to four city representatives on the committee based on the city’s population. Currently, the city representatives include two Councilmembers, the city services administrator and there is one vacancy. The Mayor recommends Eric Robison, Spokane Valley Housing and Homeless Coordinator, to fill the vacancy.
A motion to confirm the Mayor’s recommendation for appointment passed with 5 votes in favor and 2 votes opposed.
#2 – 2026 State Legislative Agenda
The Council discussed this topic at the Sept. 9, 2025, meeting. Staff presented a final draft that incorporates the Council’s feedback. draft agenda includes funding requests and policy statements for the topics of Public Safety and Behavioral Health, Housing Affordability, Local Decision-Making Authority, Reducing Costs Through Reform and Fiscal Management. Next steps include a special meeting on Nov. 17 to review and discuss the adopted legislative agenda with the 4th District delegation and preparing for the city’s trip to Olympia after the session starts in January.
A motion to adopt the 2026 State Legislative Agenda passed 6 votes in favor and 1 vote opposed.
#3 – Holiday City Hall Closures
The regularly scheduled Christmas Day holiday is on Thursday, December 25. The following proposed closures were discussed and will not affect snow plowing, police operations, or pre-planned events at CenterPlace. Only normal administrative functions of the City are affected.
A motion to authorize the closure of City Hall and CenterPlace at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, 12:00 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, and the entire day on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, to allow staff time to prepare and travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#4 – Retail Recruitment Update
Each year, the Council receives a report on retail recruitment and market trends. Staff from Retail Strategies, a city-contracted consultant, provided an update on their recent in-market analysis, retail recruitment successes, in-process and future retail pursuits, retail trends, and regional retail expansions.
#5 – Automated School Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras
At the March 4, 2025, Budget Workshop, the Council received a report discussing a potential speed safety camera (SSC) program. The primary goal and benefit of a SSC program is reduction of speeding in school zones and other similar areas. According to State law, revenues from SSC programs may only be used for:
Construction, maintenance and operations of traffic safety projects
Costs to install, operate and administer the SSC program. Additional funding requirements include:
Traffic safety projects in census tracts with household incomes in the lowest quartile areas and areas with above-average injury crashes
After four years of operation, cities are required to deposit 25% of the net revenue into a State transportation safety account.
Staff presented information about privacy issues, the implementation process, results of other cities in Washington that have implemented SSC programs, high priority areas identified by Spokane Valley Police Department, traffic unit, and citation and revenue estimates. A typical timeline is at least six months from ordinance adoption to system implementation. The group discussed potential next steps, including the adoption of an ordinance to establish the program and the need to add one full time employee for citation review and program management if the program is established.
Council reached a consensus to bring forward an ordinance at a future meeting establishing the SCC program and take the necessary steps to implement the SSC program.
#5 – Right-of-Way (ROW) Program Update
Acquiring property rights for a project funded in any part using federal funds requires compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act; this involves following very specific procedures and processes. Non-compliance can lead to losing future funding or having to repay already spent federal funds. Additionally, the ROW acquisition process can introduce significant risk of project delays due to landowner disputes, legal fees, etc. The City does not currently have a qualified staff member for property rights acquisition and instead utilizes consultants to do this work. This has not proven to be particularly efficient or cost-effective.
There is currently a vacant unfunded position for a CPW Project Liaison in the 2025 budget and draft 2026 budget. It is recommended to convert this vacant position to a ROW Agent. The group discussed funding this position and budget impacts.
Council reached a consensus to return at a later date with a motion consideration to authorize the city manager to hire one ROW agent, make proposed organizational changes, and amend the 2025 and 2026 budget as necessary.
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. Councilmembers are Mayor Pam Haley, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, Councilmember Rod Higgins, Councilmember Jessica Yaeger, Councilmember Al Merkel, Councilmember Ben Wick and Councilmember Laura Padden. Email the Council at CityCouncil@SpokaneValleyWA.gov or learn more at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/CityCouncil.
Stay Connected
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