Council adopts updated commute trip reduction plan and waives second-reading requirement

The Spokane Valley City Council voted on May 27 to adopt an updated Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Plan covering 2025'2029 by ordinance amending Spokane Valley Municipal Code Chapter 10.2. The council twice voted to expedite the matter, adopting the ordinance in one meeting after a motion to waive the usual multi-meeting "three-touch" process.

Engineering Manager Adam Jackson told the council the plan is a state-mandated five-year rolling update passed from the state through the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) and Spokane County'level partners. "The intent of the CTR plan is to mitigate or reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and fuel consumption by reducing drive-alone trips," Jackson said. He added that Spokane Valley has participated in these plans since about 2010.

Council debate centered on the procedural question of suspending the "three-touch" review normally used for non-emergency ordinance adoptions. Council Member Merkel said he would vote against the motion to waive the rule, calling the bypass of the governance manual's usual process inappropriate for non-emergency items. Council Member Higgins, who moved to waive the rules and adopt the ordinance in a single meeting, said the step would "speed things along" and save a future agenda item.

The council approved the motion to waive the rules and then adopted the ordinance. Council Member Merkel recorded a dissent on the procedural waiver but indicated he intended to support the underlying plan on its merits.

Why it matters: the CTR plan sets the city's adopted targets and strategies to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips in accordance with state requirements; it is the basis for coordination with regional agencies when seeking transportation funds and planning multimodal projects.

The council advanced the ordinance as amended and closed the item for this meeting.