[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6096721,"mediaKeyId","2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af","parentId",2830861,"title","Municipal court to contract for DOJ-funded domestic-violence treatment after local providers decline RFP","audioSeconds",250,"startMs",2651200,"endMs",2902140,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af&start=2651&end=2902","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af/thumbnail_2651200.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096721/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Municipal-court-to-contract-for-DOJ-funded-domestic-violence-treatment-after-local-providers-decline-RFP","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096721-0cdcec9e66a343f7ccba2dc8407113f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776364487&Signature=mCyN9ijkxo0PORcSpCPxIicVzviNEOuCuWGDXlC4JT4mSAqUa5D6AC7Au8vtIvTEWzfRd5Td0-7AQGn3jwEc9rLOs4VmLPyHvwnM1XWc4NgL~fHl7Rr27Q2LYut3fizE1-TwZ-F3~V1DD6t7KdR370ThDAMckZRQldSTya2LH8Y7EiRfiD6XoYpY46P05OWI~THq~aYzPdrQL9cMqjgJB8Wg5SgLdxroZs~hB0G5JKQGDgaqe3H~5N6uhaLRW~NEk5o7XWx0ClClir1Np-gd731sk1YrINXQt6BjtAWBPDzFZ3mgRy1rHvFJa0Pflovs7I6~eloRe4Ik1gLdOrsTLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-04-01T10:11:14.583Z","article","Michael Diamond of Spokane Municipal Court told the committee that the court secured a 2023 DOJ Office for Victims of Crime grant for $500,000 to fund domestic-violence intervention treatment for defendants who cannot pay or who lack coverage.

Diamond said the city issued an RFP in September but neither of the two local domestic-violence treatment providers applied — one is contracted with Superior Court and the other is at capacity through the treatment court. As a result, the court proposes contracting with Northwest Behavior Modification Clinic from Yakima. Under the contract the Yakima provider will lease space in downtown Spokane and provide in-person evaluations and up to three days a week of in-person services; the contract permits up to 50% of ongoing group treatment to be delivered by telehealth.

Nut graf: The grant-funded contract is intended to remove a common barrier to sentencing conditions that require treatment: inability to pay. Diamond said the need is substantial because around 90% of municipal-court defendants fall at or below 125% of the poverty threshold and roughly one-third of supervised defendants have a domestic-violence charge.

Committee members asked why local providers did not apply and whether telehealth is effective for this kind of treatment. Diamond said one local provider is under a Superior Court contract and the other serves the specialized domestic-violence intervention treatment court and is at capacity. He said Washington state has recently allowed telehealth for these services under WAC updates but that systematic outcome data on telehealth effectiveness is not yet available.

Ending: The committee received the contract briefing; Diamond said funds cover the grant period (through February) and the court can apply for a one-year grant extension. The contract will be presented in the city packet; no committee vote was recorded at the briefing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 31st, 2025 Public Safety & Health Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Spokane municipal court will use a $500,000 DOJ Office for Victims of Crime grant to pay for domestic-violence treatment for defendants who lack insurance or ability to pay; the selected contractor is a Yakima provider that will offer in-person and telehealth sessions.","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},6096726,"Committee reopens sit-and-lie amendment; councilmembers debate enforceability and overlap with pedestrian-interference law",315,1931525,2246925,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af&start=1931&end=2246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af/thumbnail_1931525.jpg","/articles/6096726/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Committee-reopens-sit-and-lie-amendment-councilmembers-debate-enforceability-and-overlap-with-pedestrian-interference-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096726-bf0e72de9e77ca38363b0b92d79389aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1776364487&Signature=XWol~ZWV7Gl69XFziw6quNH4RBUJTSnCzLgl5B8u~3LzGpp10lBdYz2YUGW3--w3KUuJ8IxaxZpQa-gmWuC8ay4f739aPF-XQ18upghjdKez1LrZPwt6IX~w7fw7h~-qKxkmei5T~83vJ6lo3MIWkqz1amKpHkImRKNf3-GP~--5msOcQZlgz8bPGeNJTW4Vwm5KCWtP1ClqZkyRiDAB2ngIMsoGiOKebQmbshWvMqp2RMD41LWgP8cH8vJLN5flFh1UcYyEZf3Gy8cTMHUaDmCPTqA1XH8wVcEnrmk1pX7HCF5gUwHKA9cG4xTxjMNsgKaUoV8-SXrFYl0hPYiisQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Bingle introduced a proposed amendment to the city’s sit-and-lie ordinance that would expand the prohibition citywide, remove time-of-day provisions and eliminate references to housing status and shelter-bed availability.

Bingle told the Public Safety and Community Health Committee the change is intended to make the law generally applicable and to remove implementation barriers officers have cited. “This removes a lot of those restrictions,” Bingle said, framing the amendment as an effort to give officers an additional enforcement tool when necessary.

Nut graf: The proposal generated debate about enforceability, overlap with existing pedestrian-interference and camping rules, and possible legal exposure. Committee members asked whether the city already effectively enforces similar behavior under pedestrian-interference language and whether expanding sit-and-lie citywide would create unfunded enforcement obligations.

Several councilmembers noted that Spokane Police Department uses pedestrian-interference enforcement primarily downtown and that sit-and-lie has not been widely used because of statutory restrictions tied to shelter availability. One committee member cited previous roundtable feedback that a majority of participants supported a citywide sit-and-lie rule, while others warned of active litigation challenging related camping ordinances and said legal outcomes remain uncertain.

Members also discussed whether enforcement would incur additional costs if the city attempted to apply sit-and-lie everywhere at every instance, and whether the change would meaningfully alter current enforcement practice. The committee received the briefing and exchanged views; no vote was recorded during the meeting.

Ending: Staff and members signaled interest in further briefings with SPD and legal staff to clarify enforceability, likely costs and overlap with state and federal case law before advancing the ordinance.","Councilmember Bingle presented an amended sit-and-lie ordinance that would remove shelter-bed and housing-status references and expand the prohibition citywide. Members debated enforcement overlap with pedestrian-interference provisions and noted ongoing legal challenges to related ordinances.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096731,"Staff recommend two-year extension of ambulance contract as Spokane grapples with paramedic shortages and low reimbursement",197,1811405,2009269,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af&start=1811&end=2009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af/thumbnail_1811405.jpg","/articles/6096731/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Staff-recommend-two-year-extension-of-ambulance-contract-as-Spokane-grapples-with-paramedic-shortages-and-low-reimbursement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096731-137a9185d765cdca3d2c19b1e413d75c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776364487&Signature=intAxbQQakn1XtNfHB1WZapd9yiQJIUdcypQH2UcJn4vAZ8I1nm4gO9GjIOxU0GMK8ksqRgFXsNjDpl-Kw6WhKpbQCUDxzsB07s5Njy71T5PJZ6hGhgV~mSapXKL0i5KqJCRTkfUEJ4nLXiKQfQn4YwNHZNkSu2PnN01l1BnWqhXxjU-r52~axOsZSI7zg7SXHnb33iyhXkSGz6oBlmqSigAszELn4aAEN78Pj9jN~ngSXqzSRJYDTvYS~lHjkzA9uQkV37LWouyfYdYYx~aHims~97-w7dqTh6qlt78xs4AH3FYwbFmGCvmmXmvBSmQe1y7fal97yWoPHmvToi-PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spokane Fire Chief Obert and city staff recommended the City of Spokane extend its ambulance-transport contract for two years rather than pursue an immediate new procurement, citing staffing shortages for paramedics and economic pressure on private providers.

Chief Obert told the Public Safety and Community Health Committee that a two-year extension would ensure continuity of service while staff, council and the vendor study system-level reforms. He cited national staffing and economic challenges and said the city’s current partner has been compliant on response-time performance.

Nut graf: The recommendation is driven by two linked problems: provider staffing shortages that threaten response capacity, and limited reimbursement that restricts providers’ ability to absorb rising labor costs. Council members pressed for details on rate impacts and alternatives the city might pursue.

Paul Priest, associate vice president for American Medical Response (AMR), told the committee the Spokane market has an 81% Medicare/Medicaid payer mix and only about 4.8% commercial insurance. “We can’t solve yesterday’s problems with the same solutions that we once did,” he said, urging work on system redesign and alternative funding sources. Priest suggested exploring programs such as the Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) reimbursement mechanism to increase the share of market revenue that would respond to rate changes.

City and fire staff reviewed operational data that underlies EMS decisions. Fire leadership reported March dispatch statistics on overdoses: dispatchers sent responders to 164 overdose calls in March; crews reported 127 incidents that officers classified as overdoses, transported 78 patients, administered Naloxone (Narcan) on 123 occasions, and found five patients dead on arrival.

Chief Obert described the city’s nurse-navigation and CARES social-work programs as tools to reduce low-acuity ambulance transports and help route people to alternate care. He said an existing tiered response model — sending the appropriate level of medical resource to each call — has helped preserve ambulance availability.

Council members asked whether an extension would include the current rates and how the city would handle a longer procurement timeline. City and AMR representatives said rate adjustments are likely but have limited pass-through effect because Medicare and Medicaid form the large majority of the payer mix. The city will provide rate details to the committee following the meeting.

Ending: The committee received the briefing and asked staff to return with contract rate information and options for system-level funding strategies; no formal vote on the extension was recorded during the meeting.","Fire and EMS leaders recommended a two-year extension to the city's ambulance contract to preserve continuity as staffing shortages, rising labor costs and constrained reimbursement complicate transport operations. AMR officials outlined payer-mix challenges and offered to explore alternate funding paths.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096736,"Spokane police report: calls for service down year-to-date; vehicle-registration citations and downtown camping enforcement rise",200,131045,331810,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af&start=131&end=331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830861-4ddf1180e21bca3f83c7d23723baa9af/thumbnail_131045.jpg","/articles/6096736/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-police-report-calls-for-service-down-year-to-date-vehicle-registration-citations-and-downtown-camping-enforcement-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096736-d07755a74228ac9680dfdbf3a0a7dcae/orig.mp4?Expires=1776364487&Signature=LeAS4CiGCKXj5koAeW3j16jPwobRNTt8Gf~-eqWOp73rlq1RjfWS9fcg1wTisMxTNsNSC5vytxk1LSrg58cYptoxALmJikfDlYyrIi7c78ME8bpZKH9KaXFvKdqtUhBJHliTQTrPAyHic-ex8HL~6jk8DdsKV4WtkmUW~JIHJbxw5VMWTHlRE6WHKWlRCvdCKYkGsBC6LeAn2-riTOx1m5zbwaF-4UEzt3NaRYzp6pwgHbIWODllf8izyhl3mk8PbIukxykJAeHmYfB3SSxB~a-L0ZxVAeJ5V7IeGFyow9cDpKIfu3urTQHfZaqvDMXgfb8oEiqAOV4daIOp7XgWdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spokane Police Chief Hall told the Public Safety and Community Health Committee that overall calls for service are down year-to-date compared with the past two years, but the department has increased enforcement of vehicle-registration violations and downtown pedestrian-interference and unlawful-camping infractions.

Chief Hall said the department does not yet know why total calls are declining. “We don't know why,” he said, adding the department can only offer hypotheses. The chief also said SPD recorded an increase in vehicle-registration citations and that those citations can be parsed into different categories on request.

The uptick in citations and in enforcement of pedestrian interference and unlawful camping is concentrated in the downtown corridor, Chief Hall said. He told the committee the department will provide a breakdown of citation types — for example, expired registrations versus no license plate displayed — at the council’s request.

Nut graf: The data the chief presented matters because it shapes enforcement and outreach priorities downtown and informs council requests for more detailed reporting. Members pressed the department on two areas that affect operations and community trust: federal task-force partnerships on drug investigations and how the department uses existing enforcement codes.

On federal partnerships, Chief Hall said most Spokane PD officers previously assigned to federal task forces were pulled back before his arrival. “All of our task force officers were pulled back with the exception of one,” he said. He attributed the pullback to staffing losses tied to salary savings, noting the department lost staff and is only now approaching the point where it can consider reengaging with task forces. Hall said SPD still shares investigations with DEA, ATF and the FBI.

Committee members raised concerns about youth-involved crime and reporting rates. Several members urged a public campaign to increase reporting, referencing national surveys and a downtown Spokane Partnership survey that suggested many businesses do not report incidents. Chief Hall urged residents and businesses to “report, report, report,” saying improved reporting helps map where crimes occur and informs policing decisions.

The chief also walked the committee through offense categories tracked by SPD. He said crimes against persons and aggravated and simple assaults have trended downward in the recent three-year window, while calls related to mental health, drug incidents and vehicle-related offenses show different short- and longer-term trends depending on the time frame examined.

Ending: The committee asked for additional data slices (for example, separating expired tabs from missing plates and isolating downtown locations) and indicated it would review those details next month as the police department refines its presentation and follows up on requested breakdowns.","Spokane Police Chief Hall told the Public Safety and Community Health Committee that calls for service are down year-to-date compared with the prior two years, while vehicle-registration citations and enforcement of unlawful camping and pedestrian interference remain concentrated downtown.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Municipal court to contract for DOJ-funded domestic-violence treatment after local providers decline RFP

Committee reopens sit-and-lie amendment; councilmembers debate enforceability and overlap with pedestrian-interference law

Staff recommend two-year extension of ambulance contract as Spokane grapples with paramedic shortages and low reimbursement

Spokane police report: calls for service down year-to-date; vehicle-registration citations and downtown camping enforcement rise