Council approves amendment to regional GMA interlocal agreement to add tribal representation

Spokane Valley City Council voted July 29 to approve an amendment to the joint planning interlocal agreement used for Growth Management Act (GMA) coordination, adding the Spokane and Kalispel tribes as members of the steering committee of elected officials.

Steve Roberge, the city’s planning manager, told council the amendment adds one elected position for each tribe and is consistent with state legislation requiring tribal participation in certain regional planning functions. "The proposed amendments ... adds the Spokane and Kalispel tribes as members of the steering committee of elected officials," Roberge said.

Roberge said jurisdictions across the county are taking the amendment to their councils; he expected the remaining jurisdictions to consider it in the next month and said the steering committee provides recommendations on population projections, urban growth boundary matters and other GMA‑related topics. Council members asked whether the amendment was likely to affect timing for ongoing GMA updates; Roberge said he expected the amendment to be in place before the next steering committee meeting and that jurisdictions would continue scheduled comprehensive plan work.

Council approved the motion to authorize the city to execute the amended interlocal agreement. Staff said the amendment is intended to ensure compliance with state law and to reduce legal risk to county and city decisions on urban growth boundaries by including tribal representation in the formal coordination structure.

The amendment will be forwarded to other participating jurisdictions for signature and will take effect as jurisdictions ratify the change.