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Spokane County commissioners unanimously approve multiple proclamations and approve consent and two public-hearing items
Summary
On April 29 the Board of County Commissioners adopted proclamations recognizing Therapeutic Court Month, National Therapy Animal Day, National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, and Behavioral Health Awareness Month; the board also approved consent agenda items 4–6 and two public hearings (a road rename and surplus-property auction).
Spokane County’s Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously April 29 to adopt four proclamations honoring local and national observances, approved the consent agenda and approved two public-hearing items: a county road renaming and the disposal of surplus county property by auction.
The board proclaimed May 2025 as Therapeutic Court Month, calling out Spokane County’s role in operating specialty courts including felony therapeutic drug court, co-occurring disorders court, felony mental health court, the Spokane Regional Mental Health Court, Veterans Enhanced Regional Treatment Court, and DUI therapeutic court. Presiding Superior Court Judge Shelley Zamplin thanked the board “on behalf of Spokane Superior Court and our therapeutic team” and said Spokane established one of the first drug courts in Washington nearly 30 years ago.
District Court Presiding Judge Jeff Smith described recent graduations and read an excerpt from a DUI-court graduate: “my journey before and during my time in DUI court was not the most pleasant in my life. ... Most importantly, I learned that no matter how much the DUI courts team and members were there to encourage and support me, real change was up to me.” County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald also emphasized data used to track outcomes, saying the national recidivism rate in criminal courts is “72 percent to 75 percent” while Spokane’s veterans court recidivism “is 5.7” (as spoken at the meeting).
Other proclamations approved unanimously included April 30 as National Therapy Animal Day; May 2025 as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, which recognized detention services staff and their awards and supports; and May 2025 as Behavioral Health Awareness Month, with remarks from Justin Johnson, director of Community Services, Chantal Lisky of NAMI Spokane and Kim Taylor, chair of the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
The board also moved, seconded and passed the consent agenda items 4, 5 and 6 (including subitems) by voice vote. In public hearings, the board approved a county road name change (Old PSH 11 to Third Avenue/Third Street; County Engineer file 1628) and declared specified county personal property surplus for disposition by auction, recycling or destruction (project 25-15). Each motion carried by unanimous voice vote with five commissioners present.
Votes at a glance
- Proclaim May 2025 as Therapeutic Court Month — motion read by Commissioner Jordan; passed unanimously (5-0). - Proclaim April 30, 2025 as National Therapy Animal Day — passed unanimously (5-0). - Proclaim May 2025 as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week — passed unanimously (5-0). - Proclaim May 2025 as Behavioral Health Awareness Month — passed unanimously (5-0). - Approve consent agenda items 4–6, with all subitems — passed unanimously (5-0). - Approve road name change Old PSH 11 to Third Avenue (County Engineer file 1628) — passed unanimously (5-0). - Declare county-owned personal property surplus for disposition (project 25-15) — passed unanimously (5-0).
Why it matters: The proclamations recognize county programs (therapeutic courts, behavioral health, corrections, therapy-animal volunteers) and highlight local partners and volunteers. The road rename and surplus-property disposal are routine administrative actions but change public records and address signage in a portion of the county.
What to expect next: Proclamation recipients and department staff took photos at the meeting; items requiring execution (for example, signage following the road rename and auction scheduling for surplused items) will be handled by county staff and relevant departments.
