Spokane City Council members voted Dec. 1 to adopt an amended city legislative agenda for the upcoming state session that broadens the city’s language on waste‑to‑energy policy to avoid endorsing carbon capture as the exclusive mitigation strategy.

Eric Paulson, who briefed the measure, said the amended language asks for "more time and state support to implement technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including but not limited to carbon capture and improve reuse, recycle, diversion, and reduction systems." Paulson told the council the change was intended to keep the city’s options open for reducing penalties under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) while protecting ratepayers.

Councilor O'Dill said the initial wording "might have boxed us in a little too much," and described the amendment as "building a bridge to stakeholders" that have not supported prior proposals. The council adopted the amendment on a voice vote reported as 5 to 2; council members McCracken and Bingle were identified in the meeting as opposing votes.

The amendment was circulated in advance and staff said it reframes the city’s ask in Olympia to include multiple mitigation pathways — ranging from reuse and recycling improvements to technological interventions such as carbon capture — so the city is not restricted to a single approach.

The council’s legislative agenda also lists other priorities, including expansion of parking tax incentives, land‑value tax items and pursuit of state funding for a long‑sought police training center.

The action was taken as part of the meeting’s agenda‑setting session; staff cautioned that adoption without a rule suspension would have resulted in an automatic one‑week deferral, but the council moved forward and voted on the amendment during the meeting.

Next steps: the adopted legislative agenda will guide the city’s advocacy in the 2026 state session and staff said they will continue to brief council as proposals in Olympia develop.