Council holds hearing but takes no changes on interim rule limiting off-premise alcohol outlets near public assets

The Spokane City Council held a public hearing June 23 on an interim zoning ordinance (Ordinance C36680) that bars new off-premises alcohol outlets within 500 feet of public assets including parks, schools, libraries, transit centers and community centers.

The hearing included public testimony from Larry Andrews, who said the city already has "enough" alcohol outlets and asked the council to consider impacts on youth and community safety. Andrews said increased visibility of alcohol sales could normalize use among teenagers and contribute to public-safety harms.

Council discussion clarified procedural points: the recitals in the April ordinance were adopted as findings of fact and, per staff, no additional findings of fact resulting from the interim implementation period had been prepared for the June 23 hearing. City staff explained the council was required by state law to hold the hearing; if the council was content with the findings from April it could close the hearing and take no change. Councilor Bingle and others said they supported the interim restriction because it protects vulnerable populations and prevents predatory siting of liquor stores near shelters and other public supports.

Councilors closed the hearing and took no additional legislative action that night; the interim ordinance therefore remained in effect under its original recitals and findings adopted in April. Council members who spoke described the ordinance as a targeted protection for vulnerable populations and said staff will prepare any further findings or amendments if the council later chooses to modify the ordinance.

No vote to repeal or amend the interim ordinance occurred at the June 23 meeting. The council did not set a review date for new findings during the hearing; councilors said action would follow only if they sought to change the ordinance's recitals or findings.