Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting – October 28, 2025

The Spokane Valley City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting began with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a proclamation declaring November as National American Indian Heritage Month. The council addressed a consent agenda, a public hearing on a 2025 budget amendment, first readings of the 2025 budget amendment and the 2026 budget, a motion on the federal legislative agenda, and two non-action administrative reports. Discussions included bridge inspection concerns, the 2026 budget overview, a proposed amendment to fund 10 new police officers, the 2026 Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) budget proposal, and proposed permit fee adjustments. The meeting also featured public comments, council reports, and a city manager update on Flock cameras and police staffing.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: claim vouchers ($4,334,209.18), payroll for pay period ending October 15, 2025 ($695,133.37), and council meeting minutes of September 23, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ben Lund (37-year resident) submitted a formal opinion letter from attorney Austin Hatcher, arguing that his speech about council members' official behavior is protected by the First Amendment and Washington State Constitution. He asked for equal enforcement of decorum rules.
• Keith and Shelley Clark (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) invited the council to a ribbon-cutting event on December 12, 2025, for “giving machines” at the Valley Mall, which allow donations to local and global charities.
• Al Shrock apologized for his previous remarks, stating they were inflammatory and that he will strive for civility. He also urged using financial reserves for unforeseen infrastructure needs.
• Scott Battalion (Garco Construction project manager) thanked the council for the Swire Coca-Cola ribbon cutting and praised the city’s permitting process.
• In the public hearing for the 2025 budget amendment: Al Shrock again spoke, emphasizing the need for a financial cushion to cover unknown costs like bridge repairs.

Discussion Items

2025 Budget Amendment (Public Hearing & Ordinance 25-015)

• Finance Director Chelsie Walls and Public Works Director Robert Blagen presented two urgent bridge issues:
  • Sullivan River Bridge (southbound side): Radial cracking, settling sidewalk, and a large void under the approach slab. Monitoring and geotechnical instrumentation are needed, estimated to cost $80,000 additional (for a total of $100,000 for both bridges). The timeline for monitoring is 3–5 months through winter.
  • Steen Road timber bridge (Saltese Creek): Decayed timber stringers and a pile, leading to closure of the southbound lane. Evaluation of repairs is underway; the bridge serves five parcels. The $80,000 addition to the Street Fund 101 will cover both bridges.
• Councilmember Merkel asked for breakdown of $1.185 million in ARPA contract costs (not provided at meeting).
• The public hearing was closed at ~6:40 p.m. Ordinance 25-015 (amending the 2025 budget) was advanced to second reading (December 9, 2025) on a unanimous vote.

2026 Budget (Ordinance 25-017) & Councilmember Merkel’s Amendment

• Chelsea Walls gave a budget and finance overview presentation, explaining fund accounting, the 50% minimum ending fund balance policy, and the two-year lookback for excess fund balances.
• Councilmember Merkel moved to amend the 2026 budget by shifting approximately $2.5 million in recurring expenses to non-recurring status, freeing up recurring funds to authorize an additional 10 police officers (beyond the 10 already planned). The amendment lacked a second and failed.
• The first reading of the 2026 budget (Ordinance 25-017) then passed unanimously. The 2026 budget totals $148.4 million across 31 funds, with a general fund of $70.6 million. Recurring revenues ($68.6M) exceed recurring expenditures ($68.5M) by $119,000. The general fund ending balance is projected at $42.1 million (61.56% of recurring expenditures).

Federal Legislative Agenda (2026)

• Virginia Clough presented the final draft, incorporating earlier council feedback:
  • Added policy supporting secure data sharing among crisis response teams.
  • Strengthened language supporting increased capacity of the Lower Snake River Dams for energy grid reliability.
  • Clarified funding request for the regional stabilization center expansion.
  • Contacted Kaiser Aluminum; currently no federal initiatives, but support for the materials manufacturing tech hub will benefit Kaiser and 1,500 aerospace suppliers.
• The motion to approve passed unanimously.

2026 TPA Budget Proposal

• Leslie Brassfield (Tourism and Marketing Manager) presented the TPA budget of $1,775,000, funded by a $4-per-room-night fee on 16 hotels. Key components:
  • Opportunity Fund ($170,000): To support local venues and events that drive overnight hotel stays. Criteria were discussed; councilmembers suggested adding monitoring/evaluation plans and a 10% cost-share requirement. The TPA Commission would award funds administratively, with criteria codified in municipal code.
  • Technology Services (up to $30,000): Geolocation and visitor spending data subscription.
  • Destination Marketing ($875,000 to 116 & West): Year 4 of the 5-year marketing plan, shifting to paid media.
  • Sports Recruitment and Marketing ($700,000 to Spokane Sports): Focus on the cross‑country course, with four secured 2026 events projected to generate 5,255 hotel room nights and over 21,000 visitors.
• Council discussion raised concerns about ROI, venue vs. event organizer eligibility, and staff bandwidth for monitoring. Consensus was sought but not formally voted; the item will return on November 18, 2025, with more details.

Permit Fee Discussion

• Gloria Mantz (City Services Administrator) proposed restructuring engineering and planning permit fees to better reflect staff effort, potentially generating up to $400,000 in additional revenue. Key changes:
  • Eliminate grading fees based on excavation volume; replace with complexity-based categories.
  • Increase planning fees (SEPA, floodplain permits) and add new fees (temporary use permits for RVs, community services applications).
  • No increase to building permit fees. Add a $25 technology fee for standalone permits and raise the minimum standalone permit fee to $70.
• Developers and the Home Builders Association expressed understanding of the need for predictable fees and fast permitting. Council provided consensus to incorporate the modifications into the master fee schedule.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Public Hearing (2025 Budget Amendment): Closed; testimony received.
• Ordinance 25-015 (2025 Budget Amendment): First reading passed unanimously; second reading scheduled for December 9, 2025.
• Ordinance 25-017 (2026 Budget): First reading passed unanimously; Councilmember Merkel’s amendment to fund additional police officers failed for lack of a second. Second reading on December 9, 2025.
• Federal Legislative Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• TPA Budget Proposal: Consensus achieved to bring forward motions for the opportunity fund, technology services, and consultant contracts; formal vote expected at a later meeting.
• Permit Fee Adjustments: Council consensus to include proposed fee changes in the master fee schedule, with adoption by year-end.
• Advance Agenda: Councilmember Merkel requested a report on nighttime taco stands (consensus via show of hands) and a report on cold weather preparations for homelessness (consensus). Both items to be added to a future agenda.
• City Manager Report: Chief Ellis clarified that Spokane Valley PD never opted into the Flock national data-sharing program that included ICE and CBP; the department’s cameras are used only for stolen vehicle and investigative alerts. Deputy City Manager Lamb and Chief Ellis presented historical police staffing data to counter claims of defunding, noting that budgeted officer positions were not filled due to retirements and recruitment challenges, not council cuts.
• Meeting Adjourned: At approximately [time not specified]; next regular meeting will be a special meeting on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 (starting with executive session at 5:00 p.m., regular business at 6:00 p.m.) due to election day and Veterans Day.