[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6390663,"mediaKeyId","2112185-af7cde6de2f2f981563c9184440eca19","parentId",2112185,"title","Council holds first readings of housing code fixes, language-access rules and preservation changes; public comment questions preservation limits","audioSeconds",303,"startMs",1503000,"endMs",1806000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112185-af7cde6de2f2f981563c9184440eca19&start=1503&end=1806","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112185-af7cde6de2f2f981563c9184440eca19/thumbnail_1503000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6390663/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Council-holds-first-readings-of-housing-code-fixes-language-access-rules-and-preservation-changes-public-comment-questions-preservation-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390663-924bc12eb0744f6554f20f9227b7fc8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183901&Signature=EkqO6kvsHq9p2nlNxZrrhOgXkITCZW0cbojY8SWkIWdegxT1P~dYdZk3POGvc7-I3dP6l0jqVGmMsJTLIqb4JdNFugg6gGi7QiFnPt37GUMNhPXheeFZF1QZqRNzLxCeMhY4dm4VcfilskPRzaXgy5S9oDH0Rzu2WAQj2Iz-U0R~42NMLZC9FfRx~eEboSwTdHTmYVCTS-t-qWUieSpnngw2bpuOhJ5s403iu-OZy35UPQEqaoQ9m4Q-pRy7qmGgphtANUdCytCdJlUWh-6S4B1g8nTsihN1m-LCroH8daO8S89XK0GkBQERUKLQMgMHZMDKkDaNNG-2mXEHAFNw6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-01-14T03:19:02Z","article","Spokane City Council held first readings on three ordinances that would amend local development and preservation rules and add language-access recruiting measures.

The council introduced Ordinance C36629, which would make follow-up code fixes tied to the Building Opportunity for Housing (BOH) package and amend multiple sections of the Spokane Municipal Code addressing definitions, density, setbacks, open space, parking and other development standards. The clerk read the ordinance text as presented and noted it had been amended during an Jan. 6 agenda review session.

Council members also heard Ordinance C36630, intended to improve language access and the recruitment of bilingual and multilingual applicants to the city, and Ordinance C36633, which would amend preservation review procedures to add “centers and corridors” to historic-preservation review and bring local review into compliance with Washington House Bill 1293 (2023) by implementing clear and objective design standards. During the meeting, the council deferred further action on C36633.

Matthew Hurd, a member of the public who identified himself during the hearing, supported historic preservation generally but urged that replacement development should be governed by the site’s underlying zoning rather than being constrained by the height or form of a demolished historic structure. Hurd said: “I believe that it's bad policy to hold hostage new developments to the ghosts of the past when the city needs to look to the future,” and used the Inland Auto Freight Depot and the Jensen Bird building as examples when urging flexibility.

The ordinances were presented for first reading; no final votes on the ordinances were taken during the meeting. The council noted that further action, detailed amendments and additional public review could follow at later meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 13th, 2025 Spokane City Council Legislative Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors heard first readings of three ordinances to implement BOH code fixes, language-access recruitment and historic-preservation review changes, and heard public comment warning that demolition-replacement rules could unduly limit redevelopment.","taxTitle","Spokane, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2644,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6390668,"Council approves $2 million in homeless-services grants amid debate over shelter transparency and population mixes",698,751000,1449000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112185-af7cde6de2f2f981563c9184440eca19&start=751&end=1449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112185-af7cde6de2f2f981563c9184440eca19/thumbnail_751000.jpg","/articles/6390668/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Council-approves-2-million-in-homeless-services-grants-amid-debate-over-shelter-transparency-and-population-mixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390668-c16d84a896638dc6b83f376fb20c9618/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183901&Signature=bdSDxfZ6msGfJxgtVxgM4dpjZEGec0KWuPZMLUKYkd-re2-xMCLvKhuIluiDrjJkFoSsPvA2r~-VL1nz~QZO1SgsFSWTcC0HmqaF4a6K4YWK6Vhs9~eZYEAPCkM5gxdQDOgOFSGXEIEdm786Lt9GqHT7Ln4N6wY~AyskGo5XTlDaqHsax43Su0VDstBakwiOejgBseNBJlpTsqzJNu1y3q4~h3NPebgZPgkW6J1AB4Jjfs4l1vxf2GDoLICf-WCZYHFYFz6dArhO3girCpZQjZQqbVdOB~RbiMxGd5RFYX~iftBwE-4czZIhDq3Y~VfTKROl-hbGQRveiOMaNnE48A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane City Council approved one-time awards totaling $2 million to local homeless-service providers after discussion about shelter operations and transparency.

Council members voted, by voice, to fund the Way Out Shelter ($500,000), Catholic Charities ($500,000), Volunteers of America Hope House ($500,000) and to provide inclement-weather funding to Revive Counseling ($500,000). The items were on the consent agenda and were approved after separate discussion and voice votes.

Council members and public commenters said the grants address urgent needs but raised concerns about provider accountability and the public’s ability to review shelter locations and operating plans. Council member CatCard said of the Way Out Shelter plan: “I am, strongly going to oppose this.” Council member Caccard echoed that mixing certain populations in a single facility is inappropriate: “somebody who is addicted and in a bad situation should not be bringing that into the same space as somebody who is desperately trying to get away from it.”

By contrast, one council member who said they had spoken with the Salvation Army reported the provider supported combining services on separate floors and said the arrangement had helped create a pathway to stability. That council member said the facility “has the populations on 2 different floors” and that the arrangement had been “a great opportunity to bring people in and move them on a pathway a more stable pathway.”

Council member McAdcar (spelling per transcript) pressed for transparency about the locations used for inclement-weather sheltering, saying he had tried for data and site information without success. McAdcar said: “if you’re using government money, you should be transparent. It should be a mandate upon you to act in such a manner.” Council member Bingo (transcript spelling) and others described a NOFA selection process run through CHHS and said the city had received information about surge capacity and provider selection.

Public commenters repeatedly urged accountability for grant spending. Derek Cazaro, a former Logan Neighborhood resident who testified during the consent-agenda public comment period, asked: “All this money, is there any accountability at all?” and pressed the council to require receipts, head counts and financial records from grantees. In open forum, a speaker using a variant spelling, Derek Izzaro, repeated concerns about how much funding reaches local people and whether large provider organizations were “making all the money.”

Other public remarks ranged from gratitude for shelter openings to calls for a regional approach. HD Higgins, speaking at open forum, urged a regional collaborative to coordinate “time, talent, and treasure of local jurisdictions, nonprofit service providers, philanthropic institutions, faith communities, and the business community under 1 entity.” Several speakers, including Sunshine Wigan and Earl Moore, offered personal perspectives about service delivery and public safety.

Council members moved to add a previously pulled claim (the Larry Stone property item) back onto the consent agenda; the motion to add the item (referred to in the meeting as item 9) passed by voice vote and the overall consent agenda passed as amended.

The council’s adopting of the funding awards was taken as part of the consent agenda; the awards were approved by voice vote with no recorded roll-call “no” votes on those items during the meeting.

The council noted that the inclement-weather awards and other contracts were selected through a NOFA process administered by CHHS and that some providers cited safety or community relations reasons for keeping specific operating locations confidential. Several council members said they wanted clearer data from providers about outcomes and spending before future awards.

The council adjourned with a reminder that it will not meet on Jan. 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and will reconvene on Jan. 27.","Spokane City Council approved four one-time awards of $500,000 each to local shelter and service providers but several council members and public commenters pressed for more transparency about shelter locations, accountability on spending and concerns about mixing low-barrier and transitional populations.","actionData","errors"]

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Council holds first readings of housing code fixes, language-access rules and preservation changes; public comment questions preservation limits

Council approves $2 million in homeless-services grants amid debate over shelter transparency and population mixes