Spokane council president says members are weighing a change to regular meeting day and time

Council President Betsy Wilkerson announced that the Spokane City Council is considering changing the day and time of its regular legislative meetings, which for decades have been held on Mondays at 6PM. She said the proposal is intended to improve process, transparency and accessibility for residents.

"For decades, city council has met on Mondays at 6PM," Wilkerson said, adding that the schedule was chosen to allow working residents to attend, participate and be heard. She said the council is looking at options to avoid Monday holidays, schedule meetings midweek and offer more flexibility for council members and staff.

Wilkerson outlined what she described as practical benefits from a schedule change: fewer conflicts with Monday holidays, more predictable midweek scheduling for staff, and potentially greater opportunities for parents, caregivers and community advocates to participate. She said those considerations are part of the reason the council is exploring a new day and time.

The council president said the change would require adjustments and that the council will spend the next several months preparing and educating the public. "We have created educational videos and social media posts with other materials to inform you about the new date and time for our legislative session," she said, and invited residents to share feedback by email or at upcoming legislative meetings.

Wilkerson emphasized that no decision has been made and that public engagement is a priority: "No decision has been made. Public engagement and sharing information remain a priority. We invite everyone to share their thoughts via email or at an upcoming legislative meeting." She said the council wants "the best for our residents and our city" and looks forward to hearing from the community.

Next steps: the council will conduct outreach and share educational materials over the coming months before any formal proposal or vote is scheduled.