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Spokane County approves consent agenda, backs expansion of City of Spokane behavioral response unit
Summary
On June 17, 2025, the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved its consent agenda, including an agreement with the City of Spokane to expand the fire departmentbehavioral response unit. Commissioners described the move as building on prior opioid-crisis investments and intended to add resources for first responders.
Spokane County commissioners on June 17 unanimously approved their consent agenda, including an agreement with the City of Spokane to expand the cityfire departmentbehavioral response unit, commissioners said at a 2 p.m. consent meeting.
Commissioners said the agreement is intended to give first responders more resources and expertise when responding to behavioral health crises. "This is an agreement with the city of Spokane to expand and build upon their behavioral response unit in the fire department, serving the city," Commissioner Jordan said. "In my opinion, it is a win for a safer, healthier community."
The item was included on the consent calendar as part of items 3a through 3k. A commissioner moved to approve items 3a through 3k and another seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The meeting record shows all five commissioners were present at the start of the session.
Commissioner Jordan framed the agreement as building on the board's prior investments to address the opioid crisis and said the unit could help connect people in crisis with services. A separate commissioner added that the county is providing funds to the city in addition to other opioid-related dollars the city receives: "It's just one more way that Spokane County is providing funds. The city receives our own opioid dollar funds that, you know, that they could be using as well so this is, again another way that Spokane County is leading the way and helping everyone in our community."
Discussion on the consent item was brief; the board took formal action via the consent motion and did not record separate votes on individual consent items. The county did not announce further implementation steps or specific dollar amounts for the agreement during the public portion of the meeting.
The approval came during a regularly scheduled consent agenda meeting; commissioners said the county will continue related work in partnership with the City of Spokane and the countyCommunity Services Department.
