Spokane Valley City Council Regular Meeting – June 30, 2026

The Spokane Valley City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation for the 250th anniversary of Independence Day, received a public comment on ongoing litigation, confirmed a committee appointment, and heard three administrative reports: the Safe & Healthy Spokane Task Force final report, a Transportation Improvement Board grant application, and an update on The Course cross-country venue. The meeting closed with a contentious discussion regarding a recent court decision in the City’s lawsuit against Councilmember Merkel.

Proclamation

• The Council issued a proclamation declaring July 4, 2026 as Independence Day, commemorating the 250th anniversary (semi‑quincentennial) of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Council members joined for a group photo.

Public Comments

• A resident speaking during the general public comment opportunity criticized Councilmember Merkel, noting that three independent legal reviews and a hearing examiner had all upheld findings against him. The speaker stated that projected legal costs had approached $800,000 and asked, “How much more will this cost the citizens of Spokane Valley?”.

Action Items

• HCDAC Appointment: The Council unanimously (7‑0) confirmed Mayor’s reappointment of Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenberg and Councilmember Ben Wick to the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee for two‑year terms ending June 2028. Councilmember Kelly suggested rotating members in the future for broader experience.

Discussion Items

Safe & Healthy Spokane Task Force Final Report

• City Manager John Hohman introduced four guests: Chud Wendell (Hutton Settlement, task force member), Zeke Smith (Waters Meat Foundation, convener), Lance Beck (GSI, convener), and Matt Halbright (Providence, task force member).
• The task force, privately funded by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Spokane Partnership, Greater Spokane Incorporated, Waters Meat Foundation, and Avista Foundation, met 10 times over 9.5 months and engaged 120+ community members in an asset assessment led by the Lifeman Group.
• Key recommendations were organized into four categories:
  1. Cross‑sector implementation and accountability coordinating council – prioritized as #14 but re‑prioritized to #1.
  2. Cross‑system coordination – including warm handoffs, peer support, and coordinated re‑entry from jails and emergency departments.
  3. New/scaled programs and services – pretrial diversion, alternative crisis response models, workforce investment, and youth‑focused systems.
  4. Facilities investment – modern integrated justice facilities and a network of community‑based facilities, with criteria for siting and funding.
• Zeke Smith emphasized that “safety and health go together” and that regional cooperation is essential because jurisdictional boundaries are not recognized by the population.
• Matt Halbright reported that at Sacred Heart Medical Center, 14% of 60,000 adult emergency department visits were for behavioral health or substance use, and 32% of those returned within 30 days.
• Chud Wendell, who supported the 2023 jail measure, noted that the task force process changed his perspective: “We have to treat [mental health/addiction] – we can’t just put people in jail.”
• Councilmembers asked about data sharing, accountability metrics, workforce needs, and the timeline for a potential ballot measure. City Manager Hohman stated that a facilities needs assessment and essential public facilities siting process are underway, and that a ballot measure would be premature until those studies are complete.
• Councilmember Merkel questioned whether the first recommendation (a new coordinating council) added another layer of bureaucracy. The presenters responded that a neutral, durable body is needed to maintain accountability across jurisdictions.

Transportation Improvement Board Grant Applications

• Engineering Manager Adam Jackson and Senior Engineer Kristen Armstrong presented two TIB grant applications for the upcoming July 31 deadline.
• Since 2011, the city has received 23 awards totaling $29 million (average $1.2‑1.3 million per award). Last year the city received a large $3.8 million award for Barker Road, making a lower‑dollar request more competitive this year.
• Proposed projects:
  • Pines Road Preservation (32nd to 40th) – grind and overlay, bike lanes, parking on one side, speed reduction from 35 to 30 mph. Request: $880,000 (80% of construction cost).
  • Barker Road (Sprague to 8th) – continuing the corridor improvement with a roundabout at 4th and 8th. Request: $950,000.
• Council expressed strong support, noting that both projects are currently 100% city‑funded and grant dollars would offset local costs.

The Course Schedule Update

• Parks and Recreation Director John Bottelli reported on the cross‑country season at the new venue, which opened as a public park.
• The website (thecoursespokanevalley.com) is live with online reservations. A promotional video funded by the economic development department was shown.
• Major events scheduled:
  • August 15 – “The Opener” grand opening (organized by Spokane Sports) with youth 3K, women’s 5K, men’s 5K.
  • September 25‑26 – Nike Bob Furman Invitational (middle/high school, expected 5,000‑6,000 runners).
  • November 8‑9 – NWAC (community college) championships returning.
  • November 13‑14 – NCAA Division III men’s and women’s cross‑country regionals.
  • November 21‑22 – Nike Cross Northwest Regional Championships.
• Additional local events include a Bloomsday Runners Club invitational, Gonzaga meets, Central Valley and East Valley school district meets, and Idaho District 1&2 championships.
• Fee structure: flat daily rental ($1,500/day, 30% discount for K‑12/501c3) plus per‑athlete fees ranging from $2.50 (≤100 athletes) to $1.25 (≥500 athletes). Vendors pay $50 each. Estimated direct revenue for the season: $38,000‑$100,000; annual park maintenance costs are approximately $300,000.
• Council praised staff for hosting a tour during the AWC conference and noted the economic impact of out‑of‑town visitors.

City vs. Councilmember Merkel Court Decision Discussion

• City Manager Hohman and City Attorney Kelly Conkright provided an overview of the lawsuit and the court’s May 29 summary judgment ruling, which was announced the prior week.
• The court found that:
  • The governance manual’s social media policy is binding on council members.
  • Councilmember Merkel’s posts about city business on personal social media violate that policy.
  • Those posts constitute public records under the Public Records Act.
• The court granted the city’s motion for summary judgment; no trial is needed. The city will propose final orders requiring:
  • A declaratory judgment on the policy and public records status.
  • A writ of mandamus compelling compliance with the governance manual going forward.
  • An injunction requiring Merkel to obtain, preserve, and produce all social media posts about city business since becoming a council member, and to search for and produce records in response to future public records requests.
• City Manager Hohman reported total costs to date:
  • $100,000 for protecting city staff (early 2024).
  • $500,000 for litigation and lost productivity (total $600,000).
  • He noted that this amounts to $5.50 per resident and could have funded a police officer’s salary and equipment for three years.
• Councilmember Merkel attempted to respond but was interrupted by the Mayor, leading to a motion to adjourn. The meeting ended with a vote on the motion (2 opposed, others in favor). The transcript ends before final adjournment is confirmed.

Key Outcomes

• HCDAC appointment confirmed unanimously.
• TIB grant applications authorized to proceed for Pines Road and Barker Road projects, due July 31.
• The Course schedule received support; staff will continue marketing and event booking.
• Court decision upheld; final orders to be drafted within 10 days. Councilmember Merkel indicated intent to appeal. The city will proceed with enforcement.
• Meeting extended to 9:30 PM by unanimous vote.