Council defers procurement equity resolution and community workforce agreement for more review

Spokane City Council heard July 21 briefings on a procurement equity resolution and a proposed community workforce agreement, then voted to defer action on both measures to allow more review and amendment. Alex Chibolisco, manager of equity and inclusion initiatives, described Resolution 2025-551 as an item to create a more inclusive, data-driven procurement process to increase participation by small minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses. Jason O'Connoskey, director of Purchasing and Contracts, joined him to answer questions. Separately, Council member Dylan described a community workforce agreement proposal that would apply to public-works projects over $5,000,000 and prioritize hiring from distressed ZIP codes and change bidding criteria. Dylan said he was circulating amendments after meetings with the Spokane Alliance and the Association of General Contractors and planned to defer the ordinance for more time to process feedback. Councilors moved to defer Resolution 2025-551 to July 28 for further consideration and also deferred first reading/final consideration of the community workforce ordinance to later August dates so sponsors could circulate amendments and allow more time for review. Council members said the measures are related to procurement and an equity scorecard and that more time would allow improved alignment between the resolution and any pilot or procurement changes. Why it matters: both items concern city contracting, local hiring, and how public dollars are used; changes could affect bidding processes and contractor participation on large public works projects. Next steps: staff and council sponsors will circulate amendments; Resolution 2025-551 was deferred to July 28 and the community workforce agreement ordinance was deferred to a later August meeting for additional vetting.