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Public commenters ask for expanded workers memorial and local-hire agreement; board approves consent items and committee assignments
Summary
Rick Olsen (Spokane Regional Labor Council) urged expansion of a workers memorial (noting names haven't been added since 2019 and citing work-related death counts); Kathy Gunderson urged a community workforce agreement tied to the parks levy; the board approved a six-item consent agenda (including a reroofing project) and accepted 2026 committee assignments unanimously.
Two members of the public addressed the Park Board during the public-comment period.
Rick Olsen, representing the Spokane Regional Labor Council, asked the board to help expand a workers memorial currently located at Mission Park and said the memorial "hasn't had any names added to it since 2019." Olsen told the board that, "on average, there's 100 people that die a year in the state of Washington that are work related deaths," and that the memorial site has limited parking which prevents some attendees from listening to readings of loved ones' names. He invited board members to a workers memorial event on April 25 at 11:00.
Board staff clarified the memorial referenced is at Mission Park (not Chief Gary Park), and staff said they and the mayor have met with the group and are exploring alternate locations and design solutions.
Kathy Gunderson spoke in favor of a community workforce agreement tied to levy projects, saying it would "get local people working on the projects that are coming up with this bond levy passage" and help disadvantaged neighborhoods, including the Chief Gary Park neighborhood, gain jobs and higher incomes; she offered copies of the proposal to board members.
Following public comment, the board handled routine business. The board moved to approve the consent agenda (six action items) and approved it by voice vote; President Anderson moved, Greta seconded, and the chair stated the motion "passed unanimously." Items on the consent agenda included a reroofing project covering a restroom at Manto and a shelter at Liberty Park that had been recommended by the land committee. Later, President Anderson moved to accept the 2026 committee assignments and chairs (provided by staff); a board member seconded and that motion also passed unanimously. The chair said assignments can be revised during the year and noted two vacant board positions will be filled through the nominating committee and mayoral appointment process.
