This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, the pledge of allegiance and approval of an amended meeting agenda to allow for Council comments.
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 – Second Reading: Ordinance 25-018 Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
The first reading of this proposed ordinance was held on Nov. 18, 2025. The primary goal of a Speed Safety Camera program is to increase safety. The National Transportation Safety Board recommends SSC to reduce the number and severity of speed-related crashes. By state law, revenue derived from this program may only be used for:
- Construction, maintenance and operations of traffic safety projects
- Costs to install, operate and administer the SSC program
- 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 operations, cities are required to share 25% of net revenue to the State Transportation Safety Fund
State law permits trained and certified civilian employees of a law enforcement agency or a Public Works Department to review infractions detected using a SSC. To administer the program, one full-time employee is necessary to manage the program, review citations, provide court support, prioritize and allocate funds for the city’s Public Works Department to implement.
A motion to approve Ordinance 25-018 adopting chapter 9.60 SVMC Automated Traffic Safety Camera Program and authorize adding one FTE (Grade 16) to the 2026 Budget and amend the 2026 Budget as necessary passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 opposed.
#2 – First Reading: Ordinance 25-019 Wireless Communication Tower Height Regulations Amendment
This item was last discussed at the Dec. 9, 2025, Council meeting. On July 29, 2025, the Council adopted Ordinance 25-013 as an emergency interim ordinance increasing height limits for communication towers used by regional agencies for first responder communication. On Oct. 21, 2025, Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) applied to build a communications tower at its new facility in Spokane Valley. The Planning Commission assessed proposed amendments to the municipal code to make the interim regulations permanent, but the group did not find a permanent amendment necessary, as SREC secured vested rights under the interim ordinance. Staff evaluated the potential land use-related risks that could lead to future emergency communication service interruptions and recommended a permanent code text amendment.
A motion to waive the rules and adopt Ordinance 25-019 with a single reading passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 opposed.
#3 – Resolution 25-018 Designating the Spokesman-Review as the Official Newspaper for the City of Spokane Valley
The Council discussed this topic on Nov. 5, 2025. At that time, the Council directed staff to draft a resolution assigning the Spokesman-Review as the city’s official newspaper for legal notices, meeting notices and other official announcements.
A motion to adopt Resolution 25-018 designating the Spokesman-Review as the official newspaper of the City of Spokane Valley passed with 5 votes in favor and 2 opposed.
#4 – Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Recommendations
This item was last discussed at the Dec. 9, 2025, Council meeting. Three separate motions were made:
Motion #1: To allocate 2026 Lodging Tax funds from Fund #105 from the 2% tax as follows:
- City of Spokane Valley: The Course Operations and Maintenance – up to $260,811
- Spokane Valley HUB: Events and Tourism – up to $145,000
- Washington State Quilters, Spokane Chapter – 2026 Quilt Show – up to $50,000
- Spokane County Fair & Expo Center: Interstate Fair Marketing and Safety - $27,189
And to transfer the remainder of actual lodging tax collections in the amount of $477,000 into the 1.3% Lodging Tax Fund #104. The motion passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 opposed.
Amended Motion #2: To allocate up to $2,000,000 of Lodging Tax funds from Fund #104 from the 1.3% tax to the design and construction of infrastructure improvements as identified in the city’s application. The recommendation is contingent and conditioned upon the City executing a ground lease or similar lease with Innovia for the construction of an ice sports facility in substantially the form as identified in Innovia’s lodging tax application and that the conditions of the LTAC’s recommended operational support for Innovia are met. The motion passed with 5 votes in favor and 2 opposed.
Motion #3: To allocate Lodging Tax funds from Fund #105 starting in calendar year 2027 up to $600,000 annually in 2027 and 2028, and up to $550,000 annually in 2029, 2030 and 2031. The funding is contingent and conditioned upon agreement that no lodging facilities be developed on the site over the course of the ground lease while lodging tax funds are provided to support operations, and also contingent and conditioned upon agreement for Innovia to provide a review in 2031 with the LTAC of further operational support needs of the facility and the tourism generation that occurred during the initial period of lodging tax funding. The motion passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 opposed.
#5 – Adoption of a Five Year Plan to Prevent and Address Homelessness
The Council received an administrative report on this topic on July 22, 2025. The Washington Department of Commerce requires cities to adopt a homeless housing plan to administer local document recording fees for homeless and housing purposes. In 2023, the Council adopted the plan developed by the Continuum of Care (CoC). Updates to plan requirements were released by the State in late 2024. The CoC, city staff and other regional partners developed an updated plan. Staff reviewed the plan objectives required by the Department of Commerce, plan metrics, public outreach, and community feedback. Objectives for the 2025-2030 are:
- Promote an equitable, accountable and transparent homeless crisis response system
- Prioritize those with the greatest barrier to housing stability and the greatest risk of harm
- Prevent episodes of homelessness whenever possible
- House everyone in a stable setting that meets their needs
- Strengthen the homeless service provider workforce
On Nov. 20, 2025, the Spokane Valley Homeless Housing Task Force unanimously recommended adoption of the CoC plan.
A motion to adopt the 2025-2030 CoC 5-Year Plan passed 6 votes in favor and 1 opposed.
#6 – Interlocal Agreement with Spokane County and Spokane Sheriff’s Office: K-9 Patrol Deputy
SVPD Chief Dave Ellis spoke about enhancements to the K9 Program. He explained the current K9 deployment model and the proposed update, which will add one additional K9 (for a total of four), assign one K9 to each platoon (two dayshift and two nightshift platoons) and provide 24/7 coverage. The group reviewed the budgetary impacts, which will be an estimated $9,000 in 2026 and approximately $5,200 in subsequent years. The 2026 cost would be covered by a recently received COPS grant.
A motion to approve conversion of a patrol position to a K9 position and for the city manager to execute such amendments as are necessary to incorporate into the current Law Enforcement Interlocal Agreement passed unanimously.
#7 – Sullivan/Trent Interchange Preferred Alternative
Staff provided background for the Sullivan Road/Trent (SR290) interchange project, outlining its purpose and current status. In 2021, city staff and a consulting engineering firm evaluated four alternative interchange designs. After a public input process in October of 2022, the City Council passed a formal motion in December of 2022, identifying the “Diamond Interchange with Peanut Roundabout” as the preferred alternative for advancing the project into design and construction. During the subsequent preliminary design, several impactful issues with the current interchange design (Diamond Interchange with Peanut Roundabout) have recently been identified. Due to these disadvantages, staff recommends moving forward with a revised “Jug Handle with Roundabout” design of the second preferred alternative, instead. Staff explained how the revised design addresses the issues of the original design and will be more cost-effective, have a substantially shorter construction schedule and a considerable reduction in the impact on Sullivan traffic during construction. In addition, Progress Road can remain open at Trent in the “Jug Handle with Roundabout” design. The City will conduct additional public outreach, including a public open house, to inform the public of the revised preferred alternative,, and staff will report back to the Council.
A motion to advance the “Revised Jug Handle” concept to final design and authorize the city manager to finalize and execute the consultant agreement with KPFF Consulting Engineers, Inc. with a new contract amount not to exceed $4,100,000 for the Sullivan/Trent Interchange Reconstruction Project passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 opposed.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#8 – Signal Cabinet Wrap Discussion
In May 2022, the Council approved a partnership with Sports Arts and Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU) to participate in a program to design and install vinyl art wraps on several traffic signal boxes in the city, which were installed in 2023. Spokane Arts was recently awarded another STCU grant to wrap 12 additional boxes. Staff discussed the benefits of this program and said Spokane Arts wishes to form a nine-member selection committee for identifying and choosing the new wraps. The Council reached consensus to participate in the program and appoint the 2026 Mayor and Deputy Mayor to serve on the selection committee.
#9 – Comprehensive Plan – Land Use Scenarios
The State’s Growth Management Act requires the City to update its Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations by December 2026. The update is intended to plan for new housing allocation, support responsible growth, plan for infrastructure development, environmental protection, and community needs. The State and County have allocated 16,661 housing units to the City for the 20-year growth period ending in 2046. The State has categorized different housing types as serving different economic levels. In response to the housing allocation, three future land use scenarios were developed: No Action Alternative, Scenario A-Limited Rezone + Upzone and Scenario B-No Rezone + Stronger Upzone. Staff explained the three alternatives.
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.
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