[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74],{"_32":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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6453850,"mediaKeyId","5874414-20f9b01ffdf3d732e7bfc910734c0e0f","parentId",5874414,"title","Spokane Valley council agrees to negotiate lease for donor-backed two-sheet ice arena","audioSeconds",5402,"startMs",1434000,"endMs",6836000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5874414-20f9b01ffdf3d732e7bfc910734c0e0f&start=1434&end=6836","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5874414-20f9b01ffdf3d732e7bfc910734c0e0f/thumbnail_1434000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6453850/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Valley-council-agrees-to-negotiate-lease-for-donor-backed-two-sheet-ice-arena","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6453850-1648a1063b20715d90d63a0a5f15a49f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770174256&Signature=inOIfR36sSm~GlDwQ6eDfGXPCvaYDRUcBb7vVeKFfZ0A1IFzaoWooCQAW7NHN~UEY-MpdCV9OceVafr8PFRK0KTuHe6zBpmFEIBIWXfrEgZukeNpJz4HzVqoYsAykeTyE4aVpBd8DwCk5oGj3CM5v9qSJ2nnXlq7WZT~wOKT8Wu-FNXZ6S8CvoMCCIE7YP3iKCW6v8ZtLseahwV2oywzrOnOffefxhuswxVpbzt-qfN5mFEhtPIFyHz3zW8J1T6GaKlqFkHTBI4p0qxhSga41bYNvRIqyczbKkYo~EA58v6f3ZQH9ujDNWm8cvosQ-Yga671kU3M7O420rmdQ3uU8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane Valley","date","2025-09-30T00:00:00Z","article","Spokane Valley — The City Council on Sept. 30 authorized staff to continue negotiations over a proposed two-sheet ice arena on an 11-acre parcel north of Sullivan Park after a lengthy public input session and technical presentation from city staff and Innovia Foundation.

City Manager John Homan and Innovia representative Shelly O'Quinn described the project as a donor-funded proposal to build two NHL‑size rinks, spectator seating and a conditioned mezzanine. Innovia and a private benefactor would finance and construct the facility with GARCO as a design/construction partner; Innovia proposes operating the arena or creating an operating entity. Council members were asked to direct staff to work out the details of a 99‑year ground lease and potential city infrastructure contributions.

Why it matters: Council members and dozens of residents said the facility would expand low- and no-cost ice access for youth hockey, figure skating, sled hockey and other programs at a time when demand outstrips available ice time in the region. Staff and consultants said the proposal could generate an estimated 6,000–9,600 hotel room nights by year five and $4 million–$6.9 million in annual economic impact if the pro forma holds.

Key details and city costs
- Project footprint: the arena and immediate site are planned to occupy roughly 11 acres north of Sullivan Park; renderings presented show two regulation rinks and space for a potential hotel and commercial pad. The city acquired the parcel from the Washington State Department of Transportation years ago and has been planning park and utility service for it.
- Construction estimate: Innovia’s materials and the consultant pro forma cite construction ranges between about $42 million and $51 million for the ice facility (private construction, per Innovia/GARCO estimates). The donor would finance construction; Innovia requested a city ground-lease arrangement rather than city-funded construction.
- City infrastructure estimate: city staff estimated roadway, signal modifications and two entrance drives at roughly $1.8 million and sewer (including a required lift station and hookup fees) at about $1.25 million, for a round‑figure total of approximately $3.0 million in infrastructure costs the benefactor has asked the city to help fund. Separately, the city is completing a waterline project to serve the site; staff estimated the city share at about $1.5 million (the city noted a Washington State Department of Commerce grant of about $126,000 and a benefactor contribution toward part of the water line).
- Purchase option: Innovia’s proposal includes a city option to purchase the ice facility for $9.4 million at some future date. Staff said that sum reflects the donor’s charitable gift conversion under IRS rules and would be applied to charitable purposes aligned with the rink if exercised; details depend on timing and agreement language.
- Operations: Innovia proposed that it or an Innovia-created entity would operate the facility and that commercial development (hotel or other pad uses) could generate revenue to offset operations and maintenance. Staff said the pro forma assumes the city owning the facility for operating-cost modeling but that the donor intends to operate the venue initially.

Financial forecast presented
- Operational forecast: a consultant pro forma projected an operating shortfall in early years (staff cited about $445,000 in year one under the pro forma) and an expectation that the facility would approach break-even by year five assuming the modeled revenues and complementary development occur.
- Tourism and visitation: the pro forma projected nearly 25,000 “nonlocal days” in year one rising to roughly 38,000 by year five, and 6,000–9,600 room nights by year five. Staff and Spokane Sports said tournaments and youth events would be primary drivers of out-of-area visitation.

Public comments and stakeholder support
A large turnout of parents, youth hockey leaders and athletic officials spoke in favor of the facility. The Spokane Chiefs hockey club’s president, Mark Miles, said the Chiefs would use the rink as a practice site and join operational and program planning; Spokane Sports CEO Ashley Blake said the commission would help with event prospectuses and tournament recruiting. Youth‑program leaders and several speakers cited long practice hours, late‑night ice slots and unmet demand as key reasons for supporting new sheets of ice. Several speakers asked council to retain the radio-control track and the Western Dance Hall uses on the existing park site; staff said the design team would work with those groups.

Council action and next steps
Council voted unanimously to authorize staff to continue discussions with Innovia and the benefactor and to refine potential ground‑lease terms, operational agreements and possible city funding sources for infrastructure. The motion explicitly left final approval and appropriation to future council votes; staff and the proposer will return with negotiated terms for further public review and council consideration.

Quotes from the meeting
- “This is a unique opportunity ... a generational opportunity,” Shelly O'Quinn, Innovia Foundation, said during the presentation. “At the end of the day, this is about the kids.”
- “We do everything with a plan. We're very careful about moving forward with any proposals unless we look through all the details,” City Manager John Homan said, noting prior tourism planning in 2016 and 2023 that identified sports facilities as a gap.

Outstanding questions and council concerns
Council members repeatedly pressed for specificity on the donor amount (the benefactor asked to remain anonymous), long‑term risks to the city if the private partner fails, exact maintenance responsibilities for new infrastructure (signals, lift station, snow removal) and contingency plans if complementary development (hotel or commercial pads) does not materialize. Staff said those are negotiation items to be resolved in the ground-lease and other agreements and would return to council for final approval. Several residents asked the council to consider a shorter ground-lease than the proposed 99 years or to include specific public-access and termination provisions in any lease.

What the vote did and did not do
The council’s vote authorized staff to continue negotiations and develop lease and infrastructure proposals; it did not commit the city to purchase construction, fund operations, or appropriate the estimated infrastructure dollars. Any expenditure or final agreement will return to council for a future public vote.

Ending note
Staff said they will work with Innovia, GARCO and local stakeholders (Spokane Chiefs, Spokane Sports, youth hockey, radio‑control club and Western Dance Hall representatives) to refine designs, access and parking plans and to return with a draft ground-lease and funding plan for public review and council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City council voted unanimously Sept. 30 to let staff enter detailed negotiations with Innovia Foundation and a benefactor on a proposed two-sheet ice arena and related commercial pads, while reserving final approval and appropriation of any city funding.","taxTitle","Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2645,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6453846,"Spokane Valley holds public hearing on updated Solid Waste Management Plan; consultants, staff urge targeted outreach and phased implementation",1783,8330000,10113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5874414-20f9b01ffdf3d732e7bfc910734c0e0f&start=8330&end=10113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5874414-20f9b01ffdf3d732e7bfc910734c0e0f/thumbnail_8330000.jpg","/articles/6453846/Spokane-Valley/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-Valley-holds-public-hearing-on-updated-Solid-Waste-Management-Plan-consultants-staff-urge-targeted-outreach-and-phased-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6453846-c7262d57df4a20ae1b16b4954fda41c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770174256&Signature=Ca4XK9NG6d4O7q2X5xFU94rTbslE6Jx6rLam1kF~gfet0H4OBTNhJlq2yok0CSTMA9nOXU-B0OB8o4LVRF7WVkbgTzk8Uok1Uy2AotkAZAMatd96RVprGVuBsaGmopMqrOjMwDhSrLyHuxqA-bR1Yv7rkjZQWp9UJe14YAjsIcHgBCmtbXuNd4fALxLsnCFHoXmxcyu7gHk~5i2SAqoaL95yCs9w1cQ~f-85b6xh0b-rsCF~monCeeia8KSR7h4bCpj~r2YvEmz~nxT4zwDNcSGLeFmXYXy-i~XfPn18pC7-pWha8aaFer8HBQD0junyETKbC-XPsEwhEz84MLic5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spokane Valley — City staff and consultants presented an updated Solid Waste Management Plan during a public hearing Sept. 30, outlining data collection, revised goals and an implementation framework required under state rules and the Department of Ecology.

Deputy City Manager Eric Gland and consultants from Great West (Michelle Langdon and Addison Cofot) told council the plan was restructured to be actionable, to reflect changes in state law since the city’s 2014 plan and to include measurable implementation steps for the next five years.

Why it matters: Washington’s recent recycling and organics laws and evolving regulations require local governments to plan for expanded recycling and source‑separated organics collection. The plan is the city’s tool for meeting legal requirements while addressing affordability, reliability of service and resident education.

Key findings and data presented
- Waste flows and contracts: Staff summarized the local system: curbside collection is contracted (disposal via the university transfer station), while roughly 45% of households self‑haul rather than subscribe to curbside garbage service. Total tonnage to the transfer station in 2024 was reported just under 100,000 tons.
- Recycling sort: Consultants conducted a multi‑season curbside recycling sort in 2023 and found consistent recycling habits by neighborhood, widespread contamination in carts (food residue, bagged waste, diapers and cigarette butts), and material streams that are not accepted at the regional processing center. The sort data will guide targeted education campaigns.
- Recycling and organics tonnages: Staff reported roughly 5,500 tons of curbside recyclables diverted in 2024 and nearly 10,000 tons of green/organic curbside materials. The plan recommends prioritizing specific recyclable categories and noted it does not recommend maintaining curbside glass collection as a top priority given local processing constraints and competing needs.
- Regulatory horizon: The consultants summarized that the state’s Recycling Reform Act and organics laws will phase in mandatory recycling if a household has garbage service and commercial organics rules; organics implementation deadlines run through 2030. Staff said Spokane Valley will likely apply for an interim exemption (waiver) for organics acceptance during the next five‑year period while facility capacity and regional options are evaluated.

Implementation actions and staffing
Great West and staff framed the plan around goals (affordability, reliability, health/environment, and education/outreach) and a recommended action matrix. The city plans to hire a full‑time solid‑waste manager, increase communication and targeted outreach, work with regional partners on recycling markets and producer responsibility rules, and prioritize capital decisions for transfer/processing capacity if tonnage growth continues.

Public hearing and next steps
The plan is a required draft under state law. Staff will accept public comment through Oct. 6, incorporate comments, and then submit the draft to Ecology for an initial 120‑day review; Ecology’s feedback and final review are expected to push formal adoption into the following year (staff estimated early summer 2026, depending on Ecology’s schedule). Major contract or rate changes would return to council for public hearings and formal approvals.

Quotes from the hearing
- “This plan is required by law … it documents what’s occurring in the city and identifies goals for the next five years,” Deputy City Manager Eric Gland said.
- “The recycling sort gave us data that shows contamination and neighborhood‑level differences — that will help direct outreach,” consultant Michelle Langdon said.

Public comments at the hearing
Residents and stakeholders used the public hearing to ask about costs for roll‑off bins, affordability for seniors and fixed‑income residents, and the likely effect on self‑haulers if curbside recycling and organics mandates change. Several speakers said they were satisfied with current curbside collection but expressed concern about potential added costs for mandatory recycling or organics carts and the administrative fees sometimes associated with bulky‑waste roll‑offs.

What the hearing did and did not do
The hearing satisfied the statutory public‑participation requirement for the draft plan; no council vote to adopt the plan occurred at this meeting. Staff will revise the draft as appropriate, submit to Ecology, respond to Ecology’s comments, and return to council for formal adoption after Ecology’s review period.

Ending note
The plan places heavy emphasis on education and targeted outreach to reduce contamination, regional coordination for processing capacity and a phased implementation approach to comply with state law while attempting to limit immediate cost shocks to residents.","City staff and consultants presented a substantially revised Solid Waste Management Plan required by state law, including results from a curbside recycling sort, organics projections and an implementation roadmap; council held the required public hearing and staff will submit the draft to the Washington State Department of Ecology for review.","actionData","errors"]

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Spokane Valley council agrees to negotiate lease for donor-backed two-sheet ice arena

Spokane Valley holds public hearing on updated Solid Waste Management Plan; consultants, staff urge targeted outreach and phased implementation