At an agenda-setting meeting, Spokane City Council members voted to amend contracts for a street overlay project, add a development agreement to a pump-station resolution, approve a pilot for neighborhood speed-signage funded by the Safe Streets for All Fund, and adopt the Oct. 6 meeting agenda.

The actions affect a grind-and-overlay contract described in the meeting as OPR 20250436 (consent item No. 24 on the Oct. 6 agenda), a pump-station development agreement tied to resolution 20250082 at Lower Terrace/7 Mile, and a design clarification for a pilot purchase of neighborhood speed signage under the Safe Streets for All Fund. Staff said the contract amendment for the Sprague/Alkey/Broadway grind-and-overlay adds the finalized contracts and an adjusted purchase price that reduced costs; the council moved to amend and the motion passed.

Council member Bingle objected to the proposed signage artwork, saying the design “is an obvious play on a swear word” and that the city should not be spending money on that approach. Council member Cathcart said she expected public comment and raised a design concern: “my bigger issue is I just don't think that in the design, the words are big enough.” Council member Zappone said her neighborhood had an overwhelmingly positive reception and she would support testing the signs. Council member Lambden (listed in the meeting transcript also as Landon) suggested neighborhood-specific designs and exploring a school contest for future rounds. The motion to amend the Safe Streets signage item to clarify funded design options was moved, seconded and approved.

The council also approved an amendment that adds a development agreement and a covering resolution for the Lower Terrace pump station; that amendment was moved, seconded and approved. Finally, the council moved, seconded and approved the Oct. 6 agenda as the final agenda for next week.

The meeting entered an executive session to discuss pending litigation and labor negotiations for approximately 30 minutes; the session was later extended five minutes and the council announced it had completed the executive session with no action taken. Council staff reminded attendees that the council would convene a town hall at the West Central Community Center at 6 p.m. that evening.

Votes at a glance

- Amend OPR 20250436 (Sprague/Alkey/Broadway grind and overlay; consent item No. 24 on Oct. 6 agenda): Motion to amend added finalized contracts and adjusted purchase price; moved and seconded; outcome: approved (record: “ayes have it”).

- Amend Resolution 20250082 (Lower Terrace/7 Mile pump station): Amendment adds latest development agreement approved by legal and a covering resolution; moved and seconded; outcome: approved (record: “ayes have it”).

- Amend purchase of neighborhood "Safe Speeds" signage (Safe Streets for All Fund): Amendment clarifies design options to be funded; moved and seconded; outcome: approved (record: “ayes have it”).

- Approve Oct. 6 agenda as final: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (record: “ayes have it”).