Council to ratify and then terminate mayor’s emergency declaration and curfew; members debate end timing

The Spokane Mayor issued a declaration of emergency and imposed a curfew from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.; city staff told a council subcommittee on June 15 that council is required by code to respond to the mayor’s declaration and that a proposed resolution would both ratify the declaration and terminate it effective the following day at 5 a.m.

Attorney staff explained the resolution’s standard language also limits the mayor’s emergency procurement authority above the minor contract threshold unless council approves such expenditures. Councilmembers debated whether the resolution should terminate the declaration immediately upon council approval rather than allow it to continue until the next morning. One member said, “Declarations of emergency should be for an actual emergency, not … a prospective emergency,” and planned an amendment to end the declaration as soon as council votes.

Why it matters: Ratifying declarations is a legal and procedural step that affects procurement authority and the mayor’s emergency powers. Councilmembers said they had discussed the matter with law enforcement and the mayor and that some had supported keeping the declaration open through the weekend because of anticipated risks; others argued the declaration should end as soon as council acts.

Next steps: Council will consider a resolution to ratify and terminate the mayor’s declaration; some members planned amendments to change the termination timing. Staff said they include the procurement-limitation language as routine but would consult further if the council wants code changes to clarify emergency durations.

Ending: Councilmembers suggested the city review code language to clarify how and when declarations and curfews should be opened, extended or closed to reduce repeated council responses to short-term events.