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City staff propose trimming newspaper notices and adding e‑notice in Title 17 cleanup
Summary
Spencer presented proposed amendments to Title 17 to remove some newspaper notice requirements, reduce plat newspaper notice to the state standard, add signage guidance and codify neighborhood council and email/social media notice.
City planner Spencer told the Spokane City Council that proposed amendments to Title 17 would reorganize and simplify how the city provides public notice for land‑use and planning actions.
The proposal would remove newspaper notice requirements for certain project permits, including demolition and grading, while retaining on‑site signage and posting for projects so neighbors can see what is happening. For plats, the code currently requires two consecutive weeks of newspaper notice; Spencer said the proposal would align city code with state law by requiring one newspaper notice at least 10 days before a hearing. "We're proposing to remove newspaper notice and codify best practices," Spencer said, adding that the code would add a summary table and clearer definitions so people know what notice applies and when.
Spencer said the code also lacks guidance on sign placement for large sites and on how to proceed when signage is vandalized or destroyed; the draft adds direction for those situations. The proposal would define neighborhood council notice and include email notice for plan commission mailing lists or project‑specific email lists, and staff said they plan to start posting plan commission hearings on official city social media channels.
Spencer said portions of the cleanup reflect differences between current city practice and state law; the Title 17 modernization contract approved last week will allow staff to reconsider or refine these noticing changes during the broader code update. Councilors asked whether neighborhood council chairs receive direct notification for SEPA projects; Spencer confirmed neighborhood councils are treated as an agency for SEPA purposes and receive direct notice to their listed contacts.
