This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance, an invocation, and approval of the meeting agenda.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Haley presented a proclamation for National Good Neighbor Day, which was accepted by Margie Manfred of Spokane Valley United Methodist Church.
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 and minutes from the Aug. 19, Aug. 26, Sep. 2 and Sep. 9, 2025, Council meetings.
#2 – Public Hearing: 2026 Budget Revenues – Including Property Tax
The 2026 budget is currently under development; this is the first of three public hearings and third of eight discussions by the Council before they are asked to approve the budget on Dec. 9, 2025. Staff shared information about updated sales tax estimates, capital expenditures, recurring and non-recurring expenditures, major revenues for the general fund and other funds, and funding challenges. Members of the public were invited to provide input.
#3 – Second Reading: Proposed Ordinance 25-014 Related to Business License Threshold
The Council last discussed this item at the Sept. 16, 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 and every four years, the threshold will have an automatic periodic increase based on inflation. These mandatory changes must be adopted by cities effective Jan. 1, 2026.
A motion to approve Ordinance 25-014 related to business license threshold passed unanimously.
#4 – Resolution 25-016 Establishing a Flag Policy.
Outside organizations occasionally 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; this puts the City at risk of creating a public forum and subjecting flag choice to scrutiny pursuant to the First Amendment Free Speech clause.
Resolution 25-016 reiterates that the City complies with state laws and national protocols for flag display/etiquette for the United States, State, City, and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flags. For instance, it specifically declares that the City will fly the United States flag at half-staff only upon order of the President or proclamation of the Governor, but may, upon declaration by the Mayor, fly the State and City flag at half-staff. The resolution also outlines what messaging the City Council desires to allow on city-owned flagpoles and a process for making that decision.
A motion to adopt Resolution 25-016 related to Establishing the city’s Flag Policy passed unanimously.
#5 – Set Public Hearing Date for the 2026 Budget.
A motion to set the next 2026 Budget public hearing date for October 21, 2025, passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#5 – Innovia Foundation Ice Facility Proposal
The Council received an administrative report on this topic at the Aug. 19, 2025, meeting; at that time, the Council requested additional information regarding the proposal project, proposed operation model, desired participation by the City, etc.
In early 2025, a local benefactor contacted the City with an idea to build a dual ice sheet facility to serve youth sports and enhance regional tourism. This sponsor is partnering with Innovia Foundation, which is taking the lead on the project on behalf of the benefactor. Property recently acquired by the City just north of Sullivan Park has been identified as a potential location.
Ms. Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation, stated that the vision for the Spokane Valley Ice Facility is to provide low-or no-cost opportunities for young people to participate in ice sports, as well as provide an economic impact to the community through sports tourism. She, along with a representative from Garco Construction, provided an overview of the facility, anticipated size, proposed uses, funding sources, charitable contributions, private financing, partnership with the City and the preliminary development timeline. Information about the proposed revenue structure, facility ownership and management, and operational framework for long-term fiscal sustainability was presented to the group.
The City will provide more details at the Sept. 30, Council meeting, and the community is invited to provide input at that meeting to help advise the Council’s decision about moving forward or not on this unique opportunity.
INFORMATION ONLY (No presentations or discussion)
#6 – Monthly Department Reports:
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.