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Council approves amendment narrowing parks language and extending nonpublic-area rules to right-of-way
Summary
Council voted to amend an ordinance to remove parks from a proposed parks ordinance and instead extend a nonpublic-areas rule to city right-of-way and certain ticketed event areas, converting the change into an emergency ordinance for later final consideration.
The Spokane City Council approved an amendment to ordinance 36700 that removes parks from the proposed parks restrictions and instead extends a 2018-style nonpublic-area code to selected city right-of-way and ticketed event areas.
The amendment, circulated earlier in the day, was approved after council suspended rules to consider the change on an expedited basis. Council member Dylan described the revision as converting the ordinance into an emergency ordinance and said it focuses on nonpublic areas in city right-of-way — for example, portions of street festivals or ticketed sections — rather than blanket park restrictions.
Council members asked for clarification about implementation, including how the city would identify which street festivals or events (examples discussed included Tacos and Tequila and Hoopfest) would be treated as nonpublic areas and how event permitting would interact with the change. Staff said event permitting processes and additional legal analysis could clarify which events would be included. Council member Katcart raised concerns about striking a substantial portion of an ordinance by amendment and warned about the “slippery slope” of major textual changes without broader public review.
The council approved the amendment by voice vote; the amendment passed and, under the council’s rules for emergency ordinances, will change the ordinance’s consideration schedule. No final adoption occurred at the meeting; final reading and timing will follow council rules for emergency measures and further committee or council actions.
Council members asked staff to seek additional legal analysis and implementation guidance concerning event permitting, definitions of ‘‘nonpublic areas,’’ and how the change would apply to large city events.
The amendment narrows the ordinance’s geographic scope while adding an emergency clause intended to accelerate consideration and possible implementation if adopted at final reading.
