OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting - February 11, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, February 11, 2026
BodySpokane Valley, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, February 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:42

Thank you.

0:43

Good evening.

0:44

This is the Spokane Valley City Council regular meeting, formal A format for Tuesday, February 10th, 2026.

0:52

It's now called to order.

0:55

First, we have an invitation from Pastor Kevin Lind with Opportunity Presbyterian.

1:01

So if you will stand with me.

1:12

God, we ask your uh presence over this meeting tonight, and we thank you for all those gathered, and God we uh pray for our city and for each and every person that you've made in the that lives here and works here, and God, we pray for uh your safety and provision for all of us.

1:36

Lord, we especially think of those who are struggling, and uh and God we uh pray for your justice and your mercy and your humility to fill all of us.

1:49

Uh God we lift up our schools and our public servants, we lift up our businesses and uh just all the members of our city to you.

2:02

Amen.

2:07

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

2:27

The clerk can call the roll.

2:29

Certainly.

2:30

Mayor Padding?

2:32

Deputy Mayor Hattenberg?

2:33

Here.

2:34

Councilmember Haley, Councilmember Yeager, here.

2:38

Councilmember Kelly, President.

2:39

Councilmember Wick?

2:40

Here.

2:41

Councilmember Merkel.

2:42

Here.

2:43

Thank you.

2:46

Move to approve the agenda.

2:48

Second.

2:49

All those in favor?

2:50

Aye.

2:51

Aye.

2:51

Opposed.

2:52

Agenda has been approved.

2:55

There are no special guests presentations.

2:58

We do have a proclamation.

3:02

So this is the proclamation for the city of Spokane Valley, Washington for President's Day.

3:07

Whereas February 16th is officially President's Day, where we honor the leadership and achievements of all those who have held America's highest elected office, and whereas we also celebrate with special pride the rich legacies of Presidents Washington and Lincoln.

3:25

And whereas Abraham Lincoln sought to bring Americans together around core values.

3:44

And whereas each president has left his mark on the history of our nation, each has brought a unique and lasting influence on this 250th year of existence.

3:57

And whereas on President's Day, February 16th, 2026, we express our gratitude to the presidents of the United States of America.

4:07

Now therefore, I, Laura Paddon, mayor of the City of Spokane Valley, on behalf of the Spokane Valley City Council and the citizens of Spokane Valley, do hereby proclaim February 16th, 2026 as President's Day in the City of Spokane Valley, and I encourage Americans to reflect on the values of liberty, justice, and democracy that guided these leaders.

4:34

Dated this 10th day of February, 2026.

4:39

We have someone to come up.

5:01

We would not be here today without the leadership of Presidents Washington and Lincoln.

5:06

Thank you for your leadership.

5:08

We hope all of you will join us for the picnic in the park later this spring.

5:13

Thank you.

5:18

Thank you.

5:24

This brings us to the general public comment opportunity, our first one.

5:28

This is an opportunity for the public to speak on any subject except agenda action items as public comments will be taken on those items when indicated.

5:39

Please keep comments to matters within the jurisdiction of city government.

5:44

This is not an opportunity for questions or discussion.

5:48

Diverse points of view are welcome, but please keep remarks civil.

5:54

Remarks will be limited to three minutes per person.

5:57

If a person engages in disruptive behavior or makes individual personal attacks regarding matters unrelated to city business, then the council andor mayor may end that person's public comment time before the three minute limit.

6:16

Is there anyone on Zoom?

6:18

Not for the public comment period.

6:20

Okay, thank you.

7:07

And uh best of luck in 2026.

7:10

Uh I realized they may be under the new vaccinations.

7:14

Uh some of them this morning seemed uh quite strong as they were uh doing the patrols uh downtown.

7:22

Uh I believe they may have been uh directed towards the Spokane Valley, and all honesty, and to perhaps speak about uh perhaps the uh efficacy rate or the strength of the uh vaccine that they had received.

7:34

I hear it's a common one that the president would recame.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Cannabis Regulation████████████████████████████████32%
Public Safety████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████10%
Public Engagement██████6%
Public Health████4%
Environmental Protection████4%
Economic Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting - February 11, 2026

The Spokane Valley City Council held a formal meeting on February 11, 2026, to address a wide-ranging agenda including a proclamation, consent agenda, two action items, a grant application, and several administrative reports. The council approved a telecommunications franchise, advanced a Kratom sales ban ordinance to a second reading, and authorized a grant application for housing and community development programs.

Proclamation

  • Mayor Paddon proclaimed February 16, 2026 as President's Day in Spokane Valley, encouraging reflection on liberty, justice, and democracy.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda and consent agenda were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General comment: A community member spoke about police and vaccines, expressing hope for the police and fire departments in 2026. No other general public comments were made.
  • Kratom ordinance testimony (during action item):
    • Ben Lund, a 36-year resident and business owner, supported a total ban, stating the city lacks sufficient data and should choose the most enforceable option.
    • Spencer Coffin, a Spokane resident, opposed a blanket ban, advocating for a Kratom Consumer Protection Act model with age limits, labeling, testing, and restrictions on high-potency 7OH extracts.
    • Jennifer Gillis, a chronic pain patient, opposed the ban and supported sensible regulation to preserve access to whole-leaf Kratom while restricting synthetic 7OH.
    • Misty Brown (Thornton, CO), a former pain-pill user, opposed the ban, crediting Kratom with saving her life and urging regulation instead.
    • Melody Wolf (Kalamazoo, MI), a 12-year Kratom consumer and chronic pain patient, asked the council to follow FDA/HHS trajectory and distinguish Kratom from 7OH.
    • Alison Smith (Washington, DC), Director of Government Affairs for the Global Kratom Coalition, opposed the ban, recommending 21+ sales regulations, a 2% limit on 7OH, and labeling/testing requirements.
    • John Shenholser (Ashland, VA), National Advocacy Director for American Veterans for Kratom, opposed the ban, stating natural Kratom is safe and only synthetics should be banned.
    • Jordan Richard (California), with family in Spokane Valley, opposed the ban, calling Kratom a "life-saving plant" and urging the council to ban synthetic products only.

Action Items

  • Forge Fiber 37 LLC Franchise (Ordinance 26-001): Approved a 10-year non-exclusive telecommunications franchise. The performance bond was increased to $100,000, and language was added regarding potential future franchise fees. Passed unanimously.
  • Kratom Sales Ban (Ordinance 26-003, First Reading): Police Chief Dave Ellis and Assistant City Attorney Caitlin Prunty presented the ordinance, which would prohibit the sale and distribution of any Kratom product in Spokane Valley. They noted Kratom's psychoactive effects, lack of regulation, contamination risks, and FDA-reported deaths. Staff highlighted enforcement challenges and sought council guidance on fines and business license revocation. Councilmembers debated a total ban vs. regulations, and Councilmember Yeager moved to table the ordinance for three months for additional research; the motion failed. The council then voted to forward the ordinance to a second reading, with two dissenting votes.
  • Grant Application (Spokane County Housing and Community Development): Approved submitting applications for 2026 RFP for the homeless outreach program and CDBG capital funds for side sewer installations and utility connection fees for low- to moderate-income households in the Greece Sewer Project area. Passed unanimously.

Administrative Reports & Presentations

  • Surplus Items: City Manager Dan Domeris presented a draft resolution declaring IT, parks, recreation, and street department items surplus. Council gave consensus to bring it forward for final approval on February 17, 2026.
  • Capital Improvement Projects: CIP Engineering Managers Erica Amston and Rod Lockmiller presented nine 2026 construction projects, including the Pines Road BNSF grade separation, Sprague Avenue Preservation, South Barker Corridor, Sullivan Avenue Preservation, local access preservation, Sullivan Road North, 32nd Avenue Preservation, arterial school crossings, and Belfort Park pickleball/basketball courts. Discussions covered pavement condition indexes, traffic-calming striping, and school coordination.
  • Clean Air / Department of Ecology Comment Letter: City Manager John Holman and Senior Deputy City Attorney Tony Beattie presented a draft comment letter on Ecology's proposed regulations for criteria pollutants in overburdened communities. The letter argues that wildfires, wood smoke, and agriculture are the major pollutant sources, not businesses, and requests that enforcement require third-party assessments and a state-funded grant program to cover implementation costs. Council gave consensus to send the letter.
  • Budget 101: Finance Director Chelsea Walls provided an annual overview of governmental accounting and budgeting, covering GAAP, BARS, fund accounting (31 funds), the 2027 budget calendar, the city's 50% fund balance policy (current at 49.04%), and the upcoming budget workshops on February 24 and June 9.

Council Reports

  • Councilmember Kelly reported on the SCRAPS advisory board meeting, noting goals for pet license compliance and agency relationships.
  • Councilmember Yeager reported on the Valley Chamber health care panel, a Citizens Alliance for Property Rights presentation, police precinct upgrades, and a school visit; she also mentioned upcoming opioid and DSHS meetings.
  • Councilmember Haley reported on Olympia trip and SRTC funding recommendations.
  • Deputy Mayor Hattenberg reported on a ribbon cutting, police precinct completion, commute smart awards, and STA updates (including an $82 million federal grant for Division Street BRT, a community van pilot, and ridership survey results showing 67% of riders have no car).
  • Mayor Paddon reported on similar events and highlighted the commute trip reduction awards.

Advanced Agenda / Future Items

  • Councilmember Yeager requested an administrative report on noise ordinances after complaints about a nightclub (Shogun).
  • Councilmember Merkel requested further discussion on options for addressing "zombie properties," including potential vacant property registration.
  • A report was requested on the pavement preservation pilot program near U-High.

City Manager Comments

  • John Holman announced community conversation sessions (next Tuesday with Councilmember Kelly as theme, March on capital improvements), coordination with WSDOT on the North Spokane Corridor, and the February 24 budget workshop.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda and consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 26-001 (Forge Fiber franchise) approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 26-003 (Kratom ban) forwarded to second reading; motion to table failed.
  • Grant application approved unanimously.
  • Consensus to bring surplus declaration forward on Feb 17.
  • Consensus to send clean air comment letter to Ecology.
  • Council directed staff to prepare reports on noise ordinances, zombie properties, and pavement preservation pilot.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Good evening. This is the Spokane Valley City Council regular meeting, formal A format for Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. It's now called to order. First, we have an invitation from Pastor Kevin Lind with Opportunity Presbyterian. So if you will stand with me. God, we ask your uh presence over this meeting tonight, and we thank you for all those gathered, and God we uh pray for our city and for each and every person that you've made in the that lives here and works here, and God, we pray for uh your safety and provision for all of us. Lord, we especially think of those who are struggling, and uh and God we uh pray for your justice and your mercy and your humility to fill all of us. Uh God we lift up our schools and our public servants, we lift up our businesses and uh just all the members of our city to you. Amen. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. The clerk can call the roll. Certainly. Mayor Padding? Deputy Mayor Hattenberg? Here. Councilmember Haley, Councilmember Yeager, here. Councilmember Kelly, President. Councilmember Wick? Here. Councilmember Merkel. Here. Thank you. Move to approve the agenda. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed. Agenda has been approved. There are no special guests presentations. We do have a proclamation. So this is the proclamation for the city of Spokane Valley, Washington for President's Day. Whereas February 16th is officially President's Day, where we honor the leadership and achievements of all those who have held America's highest elected office, and whereas we also celebrate with special pride the rich legacies of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. And whereas Abraham Lincoln sought to bring Americans together around core values. And whereas each president has left his mark on the history of our nation, each has brought a unique and lasting influence on this 250th year of existence. And whereas on President's Day, February 16th, 2026, we express our gratitude to the presidents of the United States of America. Now therefore, I, Laura Paddon, mayor of the City of Spokane Valley, on behalf of the Spokane Valley City Council and the citizens of Spokane Valley, do hereby proclaim February 16th, 2026 as President's Day in the City of Spokane Valley, and I encourage Americans to reflect on the values of liberty, justice, and democracy that guided these leaders. Dated this 10th day of February, 2026. We have someone to come up. We would not be here today without the leadership of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. Thank you for your leadership. We hope all of you will join us for the picnic in the park later this spring. Thank you. Thank you. This brings us to the general public comment opportunity, our first one. This is an opportunity for the public to speak on any subject except agenda action items as public comments will be taken on those items when indicated. Please keep comments to matters within the jurisdiction of city government. This is not an opportunity for questions or discussion. Diverse points of view are welcome, but please keep remarks civil.

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