City staff brief Plan Commission on racially disparate impacts, presents displacement‑risk map

City staff presented an interim racially disparate impacts (RDI) analysis and displacement‑risk mapping to the Spokane Plan Commission on July 23, saying a draft report would be circulated for review in early August.

Martin Murphy, city staff, opened the presentation by saying, “We are working on a draft report,” and outlined the project’s scope: identify policies and regulations that cause disparate racial impacts, assess displacement risk, and recommend policy revisions consistent with House Bill 1220 and Washington State Department of Commerce guidance.

Why it matters: Under the state’s guidance, jurisdictions must examine how zoning, land‑use rules and other policies produce disproportionate impacts on Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) households, evaluate displacement risk, and propose anti‑displacement measures. Murphy said the city will integrate the RDI analysis into the comprehensive‑plan EIS and housing‑element revisions.

Key findings and data discussed - Homeownership gaps: City‑level analysis groups BIPOC homeownership at 42% versus 61% for white non‑Hispanic households, a 19‑percentage‑point gap; Black and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander households show the largest individual gaps. - Income disparities: Murphy noted the 2023 city median household income is about $65,000 and said median incomes are substantially lower for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native and Pacific Islander households. - Displacement risk map: Staff presented a 2025 displacement‑risk map that combines social vulnerability, eviction concentrations, demolition and permit activity, and market indicators. Murphy said indicators point to higher displacement risk in Central and Northeast Spokane and in neighborhoods north of I‑90 and east of Division. - Physical change data: Staff reported 154 residential units were lost to demolition citywide between 2022 and 2024 and noted clusters of new residential permits and demolition activity in East Central, Logan and West Central; staff cautioned new units can still produce displacement if replacement housing rents higher than units removed. - Evictions: The eviction analysis (2018–2022) showed the highest concentrations in Central and Northeast neighborhoods; staff noted the underlying data came from Eastern Washington University work and local datasets.

Policy work and next steps: Murphy said staff are evaluating existing housing policies using Commerce’s categories (supportive, approaching, challenging, not applicable). He gave examples of potentially supportive edits — adding language on language access and partnerships with community‑based organizations for housing information, and strengthening anti‑displacement language in policies on senior housing and accessible design. Staff aim to release a draft RDI report by the end of July or in early August and hold a community workshop in August or September before integrating recommendations into the preferred alternative for the comprehensive plan.

Questions from commissioners focused on data details and balancing competing goals: several commissioners and staff discussed the tension between accommodating growth (adding housing capacity) and protecting residents from displacement in areas likely to redevelop. Murphy and other staff said the RDI work will inform EIS alternatives and a proposed anti‑displacement package.

Ending: Staff asked the commission to review the forthcoming draft report and suggested returning in August for a fuller discussion; the RDI report will be appended to the comprehensive‑plan documents and inform later code updates.