Council approves consent agenda and multiple municipal code updates; bicycle advisory board slate confirmed

Spokane City Council approved its consent agenda and passed a series of ordinances and resolutions during the April 1, 2025 legislative meeting, enacting multiple code updates and confirming appointments to advisory boards.

The consent agenda passed by voice vote. Council members highlighted items including a Thorpe Tunnel study and funding for career-path services downtown as part of the clean and safe program. The council then proceeded through a list of resolutions and ordinances that updated municipal code chapters on animals, business licensing, purchasing and contracts, public ways and utility cost recovery, and advanced a plan commission work program for 2025–2026.

Bicycle Advisory Board appointments

Council considered four appointments to the Bicycle Advisory Board (appointees: Clark Tucker, Claudine Zinder, Daniel Powell and Jared Sweeney Demas). Public commenter Justin Holler raised concerns about the selection process and whether appointees have local riding experience; several councilmembers said they welcomed outside perspectives while others said they would vote against the slate because of the composition. After discussion the council took a voice vote; the slate passed.

Votes at a glance (items recorded in the meeting transcript)

- Resolution 2025-0021 — set hearing for April 28, 2025, to vacate Lataw Place between Inland Empire Way and Union Pacific Railroad: approved (voice). - Resolution 2025-2022 — Plan Commission work program for 2025–2026: approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-647 — recodify animal-related section, repealing SMC Chapter 10.24 and related sections and adopting new SMC 10.74.075: approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-648 — repeal of mechanical newspaper dispenser rules (SMC chapter 10.38): approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-649 — amendments to purchasing and contracts department code sections: approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-651 — consolidate general business license and regulatory license codes into a single section (adopt new SMC 8.01.321; repeal several sections): approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-652 — correcting municipal code references after licensing streamlining; repealing and amending numerous SMC sections: approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-653 — additions to public ways and property chapter 12 (new sections): approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-654 — relating to utility cost recovery methods; repealing and adding sections to chapters 13.03 and 13.08: approved (voice). - Ordinance C36-641 — mid-biennial review amendments to SMC 7.01 and related sections: approved (voice). - First reading: Ordinance C36-657 — relating to fees and charges (building code/development fee schedule/historic preservation fees); further action deferred on first reading.

Why it matters: The ordinances collectively recodify and streamline licensing and regulatory language, adjust purchasing and contracting sections, and update utility cost recovery and public-ways rules. These changes are largely technical and administrative but affect permitting, licensing, code enforcement and municipal procedures.

Public comments and council discussion

- Justin Holler and other speakers raised general concerns about city spending priorities and the selection process for advisory boards. Derek Azaro questioned a listed mayoral payment to Catholic Charities that appeared on the consent agenda, prompting public debate about non‑profit contracts (see separate public-comment coverage). Councilmembers responded that some operational oversight rests with boards (for example, the library board) and encouraged public engagement.

Implementation and next steps

- Most items were adopted by voice vote and are effective per the ordinance language (effective dates set in the respective ordinances where specified). The first-reading fees-and-charges ordinance will return for later action.

Details on appointments

- Appointees to the Bicycle Advisory Board were named on the record as Clark Tucker, Claudine Zinder, Daniel Powell and Jared Sweeney Demas; the transcript records objections from some members about the slate’s composition but records the appointment as passed by voice vote.