Spokane council approves pay-range adjustments and several sole‑source equipment and service contracts

Spokane City Council on Feb. 24 approved an ordinance amending the biannual budget to adjust 2025 pay ranges and authorized several five‑year sole‑source contracts for equipment service and parts, while deferring a municipal code amendment to March 10, 2025.

The pay‑range adjustment ordinance (listed in the agenda as ordinance C 36 6 26) was described in the reading as arising "from the need to adjust pay ranges to align with salary analysis for the first quarter of 2025." Council member Dylan said the change was a routine review: "I'm pretty pro forma for an annual review. There's not additional expenses in this ordinance ... it is an annual practice for our pay parity for compensation and an analysis was done to make sure that we remain a competitive and fair and equitable place to work."

The council also approved multiple procurement resolutions that the agenda described as "sole source" awards, all for multi‑year service and parts agreements without public bidding. Key items approved by the council were:

• Resolution 2025‑8 (listed in the agenda as "Resolution 20 20 five‑eight"): declares Transport Equipment Spokane a sole‑source provider to service Mack trucks and equipment, authorizing a city contract and a five‑year blanket order for parts and service at approximately $50,000 annually. There was no public comment and the council proceeded to vote.

• Resolution 2025‑9 ("Resolution 20 20 five‑nine"): declares Western States Equipment Spokane a sole‑source provider for Caterpillar trucks and equipment, authorizing a five‑year service contract and a parts blanket order at approximately $50,000 annually. No public comment was recorded before the vote.

• Resolution 2025‑11 ("Resolution 20 25 dash 11"): declares Pape Machinery of Spokane a sole‑source provider for John Deere equipment service under a five‑year agreement, listed at approximately $200,000 annually for service and an additional parts blanket order of about $50,000 annually. The council recorded approval after no public comment.

• Resolution 2025‑12 ("Resolution 20 20 five‑twelve"): declares Ready Rebound (Milwaukee, Wis.) a sole‑source provider for a personalized health and performance program for public safety staff for one year, at approximately $182,000. No public comment was recorded and the council voted to approve.

Council members repeatedly noted there was no public comment on these items before calling for votes. The meeting minutes as read indicate each item was presented, members were given the opportunity to comment and the council recorded aye votes; the transcript records individual verbal "Aye" responses but does not print a full roll‑call tally for every vote.

On other agenda business, the council read Ordinance C 36 6 41 (relating to the mid‑biennial review and amendments to several Spokane Municipal Code sections, including sections listed as 7.01 0.0207 0.14 0.01 and 7.14 0.03) and deferred final action. The clerk announced that first reading of C 36 6 41 was deferred to the March 10, 2025 agenda; the ordinance text was read and public testimony signups were opened for that future hearing.

The consent agenda — which included contracts and funding items referenced during public comment (including a YWCA contract noted by speakers) — was approved earlier in the meeting after the chair called for and received vocal assent.

What the council approved affects routine city operations (equipment maintenance, parts procurement and employee pay ranges) and uses sole‑source procurement for specific manufacturers and service providers, as described in the agenda notes. The council did not receive extended public testimony on the sole‑source awards during the meeting.

The council adjourned the meeting and noted its next regular meeting date.