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Council briefed on updates to water and wastewater GFC rules and a proposed habitability covenant amendment
Summary
Staff described draft public-rule updates to water and wastewater general facility charges (GFCs) that implement a state-authorized waiver for low-income housing; a council amendment (Cathcart) to add a habitability requirement for recorded covenants was circulated and added to the agenda for consideration.
City staff briefed the Spokane City Council on three draft public-rule actions updating water and wastewater general facility charge (GFC) rules and side-sewer installation handbooks.
Marlene Feist (staff) summarized the changes as implementing state legislation — referenced in the briefing as “35 92 3 8 5” — that allows a potential waiver of GFC charges for low-income housing when a covenant is recorded. The briefing noted a circulated amendment by Council member Cathcart to add a habitability and maintenance requirement to any covenant attached to a GFC waiver.
Council members did not object to briefing the amendment; legal staff and administration reviewed the altered amendment and circulated a revised version the same day (noted in the transcript as circulated at 02:44). The council voted to add the Cathcart amendment to the agenda; the motion to add the amendment passed on a voice vote and the amendment was added for consideration.
City staff described these items as public-rule updates to clarify connection standards and to bring water and wastewater installation rules into the city’s public-rule process for transparency. Staff said the draft rules have been briefed previously in committee.
No final ordinance vote on the rules occurred at the briefing. Staff will return the public-rule packages and the Cathcart amendment for formal consideration through the council’s rule-adoption process.
