[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6518103,"mediaKeyId","5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6","parentId",5399249,"title","Council gives consensus to place interlocal amendment adding Spokane and Kalispel tribes on future agenda","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",2542000,"endMs",2629000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6&start=2542&end=2629","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6/thumbnail_2542000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518103/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Council-gives-consensus-to-place-interlocal-amendment-adding-Spokane-and-Kalispel-tribes-on-future-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518103-96964e48080a974c6769982e44f58f6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931949&Signature=XJWD4txP-sfjzFNOAHNEWwx~tMrUYWoFlpmOdVRnyI7tJIhRDw0O-3-n59WBMvUZr1zySA0t8CAbmJTQGupe5VlvJv2S7AW0H1iKGGS8HxuK~okE4pW4bLDo0GbtO2KWGTG32ATD5ZQK1t39bSXmrLB-ik3HVPf2HOCfiy1DMIpj543lr4zfzBVEiZaSZrNsn28yJTk5N1ldyCp7Niu1PH8JyXgrCfxaiRBz9iJ-bkvXVMEfyHkzPDsgX-8Gct6ysUlqP-7yH~iYiyz-RV9N1vcNYgfSAFQpeHpB79ODcES3VCDmchCvyuXoH8U2yZ~BVqhIgavnOMfgCYep-w9L4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane Valley","date","2025-07-15T00:00:00Z","article","Spokane Valley councilmembers gave consensus to place on a future agenda a proposed amendment to the countywide steering committee of elected officials interlocal agreement that adds the Spokane and Kalispel tribes as formal participants, city staff said.

Steve Roberge, planning manager, explained the Growth Management Act requires coordination among local jurisdictions and the steering committee makes recommendations on specified GMA matters. The committee recommended the amendment after the Legislature revised tribal participation rules in 2021–22; Spokane County adopted the recommended changes and jurisdictions must ratify modifications to the interlocal agreement.

Roberge told the council the amendment adds the Spokane and Kalispel tribes as committee members and that each tribe would be represented by one voting representative on the steering committee. Councilmembers asked how the two tribes were selected; Roberge said they are federally recognized tribes, which is the reason for their inclusion.

The council gave consensus to place the proposed interlocal agreement amendment on a future agenda for formal motion and vote; no formal vote occurred at Tuesday’s meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Spokane Valley - Council Meeting - Jul 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff requested council consensus to place on a future agenda ratification of county amendments to the Growth Management Act steering‑committee interlocal agreement adding the Spokane and Kalispel tribes; council granted consensus.","taxTitle","Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2645,"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},6518108,"Aging and Long Term Care presents services snapshot; WA Cares pilot included in planning",611,1707000,2318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6&start=1707&end=2318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6/thumbnail_1707000.jpg","/articles/6518108/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Aging-and-Long-Term-Care-presents-services-snapshot-WA-Cares-pilot-included-in-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518108-83bb9fea017f7d8f67f86daa44696a1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931949&Signature=bo5SmwQKl9csaLHdATtonS3JenVASX-DqBy7LSr6e7~cRanqiEMzklD2dHmFAmSfSb-faUig-ewskviYnwxFsTFLLXo69-n6S22sVRgMMyY17bb6ISw81NT7q89CYQaFSyPiCByGpOwzEoYt8hIe-qgjKGWKNSo7TIEJiD5O8DB5N0Jix91HhXBDnoJGbGWqZRsJrROngNPQBtoxMKjRgH3Ai7go6vY4fAw4O69m46wGG5N8f44JIxCxG-A3Bt0wzAlWD3e9Q8Puu0cRPA1TO~tB9Am~ySAPB9sEMBLmEQ6RKfLuHWTnBMcwknC2NTxpHkp-lFFE29IPOYNleI5GuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington briefed the Spokane Valley City Council Tuesday on the agency’s programs, caseload and upcoming work supporting the state’s WA Cares long‑term care benefit.

Lynn Kimball, executive director, said the area agency on aging serves five counties and is the local access point for Community Living Connections. Kimball provided 2024 service metrics for Spokane Valley:

- Information and assistance: more than 1,000 people;
- Medicaid and home‑care (paid caregivers assisting with personal care): over 1,300 people;
- Meals: 811 seniors and about 56,000 meals delivered;
- Intensive care coordination for roughly 200 high‑risk clients;
- Hospital‑to‑home program: 155 Spokane Valley residents assisted;
- Dementia training: 933 community members trained in the Valley.

Kimball said many clients receive more than one service during the year and that services include in‑person and phone support, case management and home visits when needed. She identified Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) as the current contractor for minor home repair services funded primarily through Older Americans Act dollars and noted some programs use income‑based sliding scales.

Kimball also described the agency’s role preparing for WA Cares, the state long‑term care payroll‑tax benefit scheduled to go live in 2026. Spokane County — with Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties — will pilot WA Cares starting January 2026 with up to 400 people to test systems, provider contracting and beneficiary navigation before the full July 1, 2026 rollout. The agency anticipates beginning provider contracting in October and assisting with beneficiary navigation and outreach.

Councilmembers asked about eligibility and service qualification for minor home repair and about the likely size of WA Cares enrollments in the pilot. Kimball said eligibility depends on age and income for specific funds, and that pilot participants will mostly be people who have contributed (payroll tax) and later meet the benefit eligibility criteria.

The presentation was informational; no council action was requested or taken.","Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington briefed the Spokane Valley council on services in 2024, including meals, Medicaid home‑care, dementia supports and the agency's role in the WA Cares long‑term care program pilot beginning January 2026.",{"_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},6518113,"Spokane Valley authorizes interlocal with SRHD for opioid dashboard expansion, local needs assessment",161,1525000,1686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6&start=1525&end=1686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6/thumbnail_1525000.jpg","/articles/6518113/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Valley-authorizes-interlocal-with-SRHD-for-opioid-dashboard-expansion-local-needs-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518113-a215ee010ee7327e3b85541d850cd399/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931949&Signature=cqlkG97CJ14BExseFFGFdDeee5Wb8g7flJ2rGK8R7iI5zSMRes63huq5HKuOyojVAar-iQqkhPrJeMmS5Jjbc3wTu-6LxpALjG4L1i304-a0wnO~KdiGBtjDy89D~PQbqrDTyT22d9vTTM0kOAPkahUm5hEjvF88KSMRH6-AVHrg05Yzwylsop8zIevHOR39PmNRHo06QoSVyOhjgWlp4ExFSbVlLOTxa4TidjMT1zcey2hb6LpbPfv7Z63~c08XR3i9PHYsWhKBf5Y7xYvIxyvBeBA1leegtNLMCBwkn5hSGLpWEJ7Ani5Cat9NzNDzCO0eEx~FzZ8JJXwfwMGmVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Valley City Council unanimously authorized the city manager Tuesday to execute an interlocal agreement with the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) to expand the countywide opioid dashboard and conduct a Spokane Valley needs assessment.

Gloria Mintz, city services administrator, told the council the city will use a portion of its opioid settlement proceeds—approximately $337,000 was received across five settlements—to fund several responses. The SRHD agreement itself is for roughly $47,000, Mintz said.

“This interlocal agreement will provide for the health district to expand their opioid dashboard and to conduct a needs assessment for Spokane Valley in regards to the opioid crisis,” Mintz said. She told the council Spokane Valley is currently the only jurisdiction pursuing the needs assessment under this agreement.

Councilmember Merkel pressed to add actionable items and an action plan to the needs‑assessment scope, asking whether council had directed staff to require “actionable needs identified, along with an action plan.” Mintz and city staff said they had not received direction to expand the scope from the prior meeting; a motion to add those items failed for lack of second.

After discussion, the council voted 6‑0 to authorize the city manager to execute the interlocal agreement. The agreement funds SRHD work on dashboard expansion and a needs assessment; staff will carry forward negotiated scope and return for any material changes.

No implementation schedule or deliverable dates were provided in the meeting discussion beyond staff assurance that staff negotiated the terms after earlier council consensus.","Council authorized the city manager to execute an interlocal agreement with the Spokane Regional Health District to expand an opioid dashboard and perform a needs assessment; Spokane Valley will pay about $47,000 from opioid settlement funds—vote 6‑0.",{"_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},6518118,"Spokane Valley council declares surplus property, clears way for Habitat for Humanity development",119,1395000,1514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6&start=1395&end=1514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6/thumbnail_1395000.jpg","/articles/6518118/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Valley-council-declares-surplus-property-clears-way-for-Habitat-for-Humanity-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518118-7b714139a88f2c05a32647e4a2872a5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931949&Signature=BcFQanaWDOdgDQcS~KHJnRSJX0ThNhWstmjlne4sI~wnEOC7hMa3EKgfXKw-uDIE0b6Ddcc9FvNZTmc46OsKoPN59nZ3FWIXo9n8xLPOzqFUJJKYJBWqDYeFSWfDbApKLo7HLZiOaJVTKnpIkUY8~tWncZigypaNCfUG27XdEocEoK3zr35HIKDjv4I8O5uUTIM11UoEQq1AkGO5RngpojOQ9ZAzHFwSaZ-yzJA5vX9cIJu0HPpU7uikR~H0709eb5PMJnUA07aM4uxXYo9o7oaizzmLaqmfAwYQHVL~1R4aPAO7hGp0nD4-3~O1~KRFnjTR-K2W1Sc6BFcBUS31tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Valley City Council voted 5-1 to declare specified city-owned parcels surplus and proceed with the conveyance needed for Habitat for Humanity to develop affordable housing, officials said.

Tony Beatty, senior deputy city attorney, told the council the resolution is the “final logistical step” before the city can complete the award to Habitat for Humanity in Spokane. Council previously awarded the grant opportunity earlier this year, Beatty said.

Councilmember Werkle said she would oppose the measure because she views the city as “acting like real estate developers” and questioned whether the project was the right use for the parcels. Councilmember Yeager spoke in favor, describing Habitat’s model as producing “generational, lifetime ownership by low income families” and noting Habitat’s practice of working with a waiting list of eligible buyers.

After discussion, the council approved Resolution 25‑014. The resolution places the identified parcels into surplus status to enable transfer and development by Habitat for Humanity as part of an affordable housing initiative.

Beatty said the action is procedural and follows prior council direction and grant award; he answered council questions on the record. No dollar amounts for the parcels or the development budget were provided at the meeting. Councilmembers did not amend the resolution beyond the motion on the floor.

The resolution passed 5‑1; individual roll‑call votes were not read into the audio record.","Council approved Resolution 25‑014 declaring certain city property surplus, a final step to transfer sites to Habitat for Humanity for affordable homeownership; vote passed 5‑1 after brief debate.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518122,"Spokane Valley council rejects all bids for Pines Road BNSF grade‑separation project, orders re-bid",324,1030000,1354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6&start=1030&end=1354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399249-65e5f6ff60629dc9bff1a82cd32654d6/thumbnail_1030000.jpg","/articles/6518122/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Valley-council-rejects-all-bids-for-Pines-Road-BNSF-gradeseparation-project-orders-re-bid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518122-bbe2e9c8e1f02b0ac42f0efe8a9711c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931949&Signature=oSOEF3tk8A-ZfpFNGsT2jy30TXoBtBqaZTVNAqPYSi5Gx1URemd5HiX55~UZ4jbK~~VT9A8jHws2qlb~Q0sHoJJdxJ8dFHfokoE5TRA5SGy~XIBibTaB~GFZBt7mMW3SiAXZDQHYdFnDo~ZUpjjFia70UeYqzJrSpFA5qe7gPntaY6sIajmZCFDRQWrEZzWc0J9QedSxGAtT1ZTBiFPIvX28XYdhFo2TdoCCxjqdmVQ5BTYOOJZhhPso9z7o8eveCH5adh68FdEMGRNvkuiq-UBl0lkjSNquIJQYjYe4bBmqRut-ZpQqpkFON4rOmhaURR~n0AXjA8II7eLxyi3vmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Valley City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday to reject all bids for the Pines Road BNSF grade‑separation project and authorize a new call for bids, city staff said.

The move comes after review of four submitted bids found “irregularities” and the city received multiple bid protests, Robert Blagan, Spokane Valley public works director, told the council. At least one bidder has signaled intent to seek redress in court, which staff said could delay the project beyond this construction season and increase cost and public inconvenience.

“If council approves rejection of all bids, staff plans to publish the bid notification in the paper tomorrow morning and advertise the project on Friday, July 18,” Blagan said, adding that the city would open bids on Friday, Aug. 8, and target award at the Aug. 19 council meeting. He said a successful award would shift groundbreaking into September.

Members of the public asked for more detail before the vote. “It would really be nice as part of the citizenry here just to know what these irregularities might have been,” Mike Dolan said during public comment. City Manager John Homan told the council the project is “well along in the process,” and that there is no risk to project funding.

The council approved the rejection motion 5-1. Councilmembers did not read individual roll‑call votes into the record; the council clerk recorded the 5‑1 tally.

Because of the protests and at least one stated intent to pursue legal options, staff recommended re‑advertising rather than proceeding with award and risking litigation that could delay construction and raise costs. The resolution authorizing rejection and re‑advertisement directs staff to relaunch the bidding process and return to council for award.

The project is intended to provide a rail grade separation on Pines Road at the BNSF crossing; council and staff said the work would also eliminate the existing highway signal at that crossing once completed. The council did not set a new construction start date beyond the schedule laid out by staff.

Council discussion was limited; the motion passed after public comment and staff explanation. Councilmembers did not attach additional conditions to the re‑bid schedule.","Council voted 5-1 to reject all bids for the Pines Road BNSF grade separation after staff flagged multiple bid irregularities and a pending protest; staff plans to re-advertise with a target award in August and a September groundbreaking.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council gives consensus to place interlocal amendment adding Spokane and Kalispel tribes on future agenda

Aging and Long Term Care presents services snapshot; WA Cares pilot included in planning

Spokane Valley authorizes interlocal with SRHD for opioid dashboard expansion, local needs assessment

Spokane Valley council declares surplus property, clears way for Habitat for Humanity development

Spokane Valley council rejects all bids for Pines Road BNSF grade‑separation project, orders re-bid