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Spokane council adopts CIP, Cannon Hill Park historic district and several budget amendments; other measures advanced
Summary
The Spokane City Council approved the city’s 2026–2031 capital improvement program, established the Cannon Hill Park Local Historic District, and passed several budget amendments and grant acceptances; the council continued an alley-vacation hearing and took substantial public testimony on a proposed commercial parking tax.
The Spokane City Council on Monday approved its six-year capital improvement plan for 2026–2031, adopted a local historic-district overlay for Cannon Hill Park, and passed a series of budget amendments that included an emergency ordinance increasing fire overtime and accepting multiple mental-health-related grants.
Council president Wilkerson presided over voice votes on multiple items after public hearings and staff presentations. The six-year capital improvement program ordinance was approved following a public hearing with no speakers. The Cannon Hill Park Local Historic District ordinance, recommended by both the Landmarks Commission and the Plan Commission, passed after a presentation by historic preservation officer Megan Duvall and supportive neighborhood testimony. Duvall said 135 ballots were returned in favor of forming the district and that 179 of the 191 properties are contributing.
On budget matters, the council approved a special ordinance to increase the fire department’s overtime budget and declared an emergency; the motion carried 6–1 with Councilmember Katcart recorded in opposition. Separate budget ordinances were approved to realize wildfire mobilization reimbursements and to accept state grants for law-enforcement mental-health and mental-health field response programs; recorded roll-call and voice votes on those items were passed as reflected in the meeting record.
Council also approved Resolution 2025-98 authorizing the sale of surplus city property after public comment suggested reserving an existing building for use as a warming/cooling shelter. Resolution 2025-95, committing the council to regularly host community days and develop an engagement strategy, was also adopted by voice vote.
Several items remain active: the council continued a public hearing on a proposed alley vacation in the Lower Northwest to December 8 for additional site review and follow-up on access and sewer rerouting concerns. A package of first-reading ordinances, including a local option transportation tax on commercial parking, was advanced to first reading with final action deferred (the local option transportation tax final action was deferred as part of the first-reading process).
