This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with an invocation, the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following meeting agenda. Councilmember Merkel was excused from the meeting.
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, payroll and minutes from the April 21, 2026, April 28, 2026, May 5, 2026, May 19, 2026, May 26, 2026, and June 2, 2026, Council meetings.
#2 – Resolution 26-007: School Zone Speed Limit Modifications
As part of a periodic review of school zone locations relative to state codes, school locations, and roadway characteristics, staff identified several existing school zones for revision or elimination and three school zones for new implementation. An administrative report on this topic was presented to the City Council at the May 19, 2026, meeting.
A motion to approve Resolution 26-007 repealing and replacing Resolution 24-010 and amending the Master Speed Limit Schedule passed unanimously.
#3 – Public Safety Director Position
The Council has discussed this item as part of the 2025 and 2026 budget development process in addition to discussions at the February 2026 Winter Workshop and June 2026 Budget Workshop.
In 2025, the City Council created a Public Safety Coordinator position, but due to revenue constraints and increasing personnel costs in other city services, the position was not funded in the 2026 Budget and the position remains unfilled. The City Council has stated that public safety is its top priority and 65% of the 2026 city budget is allocated to public safety services. At the June 2026 Budget Workshop, the Council gave consensus to bring this funding discussion back for Council consideration. Staff provided information on:
• Nine interlocal agreements that currently provide for all public safety services within Spokane Valley, including Animal Control, Detention Services, District Court, Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE), Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC), Pretrial Services, Prosecutor Services, Public Defender and Probation.
• Despite being the largest group of city services by cost, the City has no internal Public Safety Department or dedicated public safety city employees
• Increasing workload for public safety issues due to significant changes at the state and regional level
• The Council recently identified renegotiation of the Law Enforcement agreement and analysis of law enforcement alternatives within the existing budget as a top initiative, which will be extremely time-intensive
• Proposed Public Safety Director job description and responsibilities
• Proposed costs for salary, benefits and equipment for the Public Safety Director position
A motion to amend the 2026 Budget to approve the change of title to Public Safety Director and to use the savings from the timing of hiring of new officers and available fund balance to fund the Public Safety Director position and associated costs for the remainder of 2026 passed unanimously.
NON-ACTION ITEMS
#4 – Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington Update
Ms. Lynn Kimball, Executive Director for Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington, reviewed the 2025 service data for Spokane Valley and provided information on current services and resources available for senior residents in this area.
#5 – Master Parking Prohibition Schedule
In June 2022, Council approved Ordinance #22-009 adopting Chapter 9.40 SVMC, referencing the creation of a Master Parking Prohibition Schedule. Staff reviewed the current parking prohibition language within the City Code and reported on existing parking prohibition locations. The initial development of the Master Parking Prohibition Schedule is a snapshot or baseline of existing locations within the city and going forward, changes would be handled similarly to the Master Speed Limit Schedule.
The Council reached consensus for staff to return before the Council at a future meeting with a resolution to adopt a Master Parking Prohibition Schedule.
#6 – Housing and Urban Development Entitlement Fund – Urban Consortium
In 2023, the Council chose to enter into a three-year interlocal agreement and participate in the Spokane County Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) Urban Consortium. Spokane County is due to re-qualify for entitlement status for 2027 through 2029 and Spokane Valley must decide whether to renew its participation in the Consortium or pursue other options. Staff outlined four options:
1. Defer entitlement status and participate as part of the Urban Consortium with Spokane County
2. Accept entitlement status and receive CDBG funds directly from HUD
3. Accept entitlement status and enter into a joint agreement with Spokane County
4. Defer entitlement status and participate through the State CDBG program
Due to funding uncertainty, Option 4 is not recommended. Staff reviewed the financial impacts of the other three options. Staff recommend Option 1, which is a continuation of the participation in the Urban County Consortium.
Council reached consensus to selection Option 1 and defer entitlement status and negotiate a consortium agreement with Spokane County and return to the Council with an updated consortium agreement at a future meeting.
#8 – Grant Opportunity – Edgecliff Park|
Staff presented information about a grant opportunity from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) Planning for Recreation Access (PRA) Program. Eligible project types include site-specific recreation planning. Staff recommends applying for this grant to request funding for the development of a Renovation Master Plan for Edgecliff Park. This planning and design effort would position the City to seek funding for facility developments at this park in the future.
Council reached consensus for staff to return at a future meeting with a motion authorizing the submittal of an application for the RCO PRA grant.
INFORMATION ONLY (No presentations or discussion)
• Monthly Department Reports
• City of Spokane Valley: Community Development
• City of Spokane Valley: Nuisance Camping on Private Property 2026 Q1 Report
• Spokane Valley Fire Department: May 2026 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, 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. 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. Information is available online at SpokaneValleyWA.gov. Sign up to receive email updates about the topics that matter to you most at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/SignUp or follow the city on social media.