Council approves interim tower rules, advances business-license change and accepts opioid settlements

The Spokane Valley City Council on Sept. 16 unanimously approved a series of procedural and financial measures, including emergency interim regulations to allow taller first-responder communications towers, advancement of a business-license ordinance to a second reading, approval of the 2026 Tourism Promotion Area budget, and participation in opioid settlement distributions from the Purdue reorganization and secondary manufacturer settlements.

The most time-sensitive action reaffirmed facts supporting interim ordinance 25-013 and adopted resolution 25-017, which permit wireless communication towers up to 100 feet, and up to 120 feet including antenna arrays, when those towers are used by regional emergency communications facilities. The vote followed a required public hearing and was passed unanimously.

Council also moved ordinance 20514 to a second reading. The ordinance would raise the business-license threshold for out-of-city businesses from $2,000 to $4,000, effectively exempting qualifying low-earning businesses from the city business-license fee. Council received a brief staff presentation and advanced the ordinance without opposition.

On budgeting, the council approved the 2026 Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) budget and work plan at $1,775,000. Staff said that figure is based on projected 2026 revenue of $1,300,000, $25,000 in interest and a carryover of $450,000 from 2025. The work plan includes renewing consultant agreements for destination marketing and sports recruitment, creating an opportunity fund to attract overnight visitors and purchasing limited technology services.

Finally, the council authorized the city manager to finalize documents to participate in the Purdue bankruptcy reorganization and related secondary-manufacturer settlements. Staff estimated Spokane Valley’s share of the Purdue/Sackler settlement at approximately $34,000 paid over 15 years and about $5,000 from secondary manufacturer settlements paid over 10 years; the council approved both motions unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25-017 (reaffirming Ordinance 25-013; emergency interim regulations for wireless emergency communication tower heights): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved unanimously. - Ordinance 20514 (code text amendment to raise business-license exemption threshold from $2,000 to $4,000): Motion to advance to second reading moved and seconded; outcome: advanced unanimously. - 2026 TPA budget and work plan ($1,775,000): Motion to approve moved and seconded; outcome: approved unanimously. - Participation in Purdue bankruptcy reorganization and Sackler settlement (authorize city manager to execute documents): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved unanimously. - Participation in secondary manufacturer settlements (authorize city manager to execute documents): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved unanimously.

Council did not record individual roll-call vote names during the approvals; the meeting had the mayor and six council members present and one council member excused.