Spokane Valley council approves in-house right-of-way agent to speed capital projects

The Spokane Valley City Council on Oct. 14 voted to reclassify a funded public liaison position into a full-time right-of-way acquisition agent and authorized the city manager to implement related organizational and budget changes for 2025–2026.

City Services Administrator Gloria Mance told the council the city lacks in-house staff qualified to manage federally required right-of-way acquisition for capital projects and currently relies on a small pool of consultants. “The city right now has a vacant funded position for a public liaison. We are proposing to reclassify this position to a right away agent,” Mance said. She told the council that the new position would be paid from a mix of the general fund, the stormwater fund and the capital improvements program fund, with grant reimbursements covering most CIP costs.

The move, Mance said, will not increase the city’s authorized headcount and is intended to reduce delays and contractor turnover that have stalled projects. She…