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Spokane City Council approves airport land purchase and $2.46 million in housing contracts, passes several ordinances
Summary
The Spokane City Council unanimously approved a land purchase authorization for the airport, endorsed $2,456,950 in HOME program contracts for housing and homelessness services, and passed multiple municipal code changes, while a public commenter objected to a planned EV pickup purchase.
Spokane — The Spokane City Council on Tuesday endorsed an airport land purchase, authorized more than $2.45 million in housing and homelessness contracts and adopted several municipal-code amendments, voting largely unanimously on the package of legislative items.
Councilors voted 7-0 to approve Resolution 2026-22 authorizing the Spokane Airport Board to purchase specified residential parcels and to acquire a right of first refusal on adjoining properties, a measure councilors said supports potential airport expansion. The council also approved Resolution 2026-23, endorsing HOME Investment Partnership Program funding and authorizing execution of the applicable contracts totaling $2,456,950 for housing and homeless services.
"I'm just really excited about supporting these projects," Council Member Dillon said during council commentary, noting one project will produce more than 50 affordable units in Lincoln Heights and another involves a redevelopment effort with Bethany Presbyterian Church after a site fire.
Council members also finalized a reappointment to the Spokane Public Library Board (Shelby Lambton) and passed multiple ordinances across personnel and licensing areas, including amendments related to the Salary Review Commission and updates to contractor and apprentice licensing in the Spokane Municipal Code. An ordinance adjusting Arts Commission appointment and governance processes passed after a public commenter expressed concern about perceived appointment bias; councilors said the changes align the Arts Commission with other city commissions and add work-plan and district-representation provisions.
A consent-agenda item was recorded as passing 6-1 after a public commenter opposed a planned purchase of Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup trucks as too costly. The commenter asserted an individual vehicle would cost "over one hundred sixteen thousand" and compared EV-and-gas model base prices; councilors proceeded with the consent agenda vote.
The first reading of an ordinance designating festival streets was deferred. Council members also reported a negotiated savings of $313,000 on a revised item and thanked staff (naming Stephen Williams) for cost reductions.
The council closed its legislative agenda and moved to open forum, heard several public commenters on topics including traffic safety and homelessness, and adjourned. The council announced there will be no meeting on April 6 and invited the public to Spokane Community Days on April 13.
What happens next: Ordinances adopted at final reading take effect according to their stated schedules in municipal code; the first-reading ordinance on festival streets will return at a later meeting. Contract execution authorized under Resolution 2026-23 may proceed without further council action once formalized.
