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Spokane council approves park hires, HUD grant and TIF reimbursements; adopts sidewalk rules
Summary
The Spokane City Council approved supplemental budget ordinances to fund parks hires and green-area maintenance, accepted state and federal grants including $4,475,000 from HUD for CDBG/HOME/ESG programs, authorized West Quadrant TIF reimbursements and a Habitat for Humanity allocation, and advanced a comprehensive-plan map on first reading.
Spokane City Council member Michael Cathcart said the council approved multiple supplemental budget ordinances at its most recent meeting, authorizing Parks Department hires tied to a recently approved levy and funding for green-area maintenance around city infrastructure.
The moves also included adoption of an SBO to accept state grant funds for a "chip program" described in the transcript as offsetting infrastructure costs for certain development projects, and adoption of the Community Development Block Grant allocations and the city's 2026 annual action plan covering CDBG, HOME and ESG funds. "The total awarded from HUD is $4,475,000," Cathcart said.
Cathcart said the council approved reimbursements to cover additional infrastructure installed by a private development in the West Quadrant tax-increment financing (TIF) area and allowed some West Quadrant TIF dollars to be used by Habitat for Humanity to support housing work.
The council also adopted new public rules governing sidewalk maintenance and minor repairs and streamlined processes for activation of public spaces; according to Cathcart the intent is to reduce cost and administrative burden when replacing missing sidewalks.
There were no final-reading ordinances, Cathcart said, but the council held a first reading of an ordinance adopting an alternative map for the comprehensive-plan update. Council amendments included additions mostly around Francis Avenue to allow increased intensities and reductions in intensity on North Indian Trail.
The transcript did not include motion text, the names of who moved or seconded motions, or vote tallies for the items; those procedural details were not provided in the recorded update. Cathcart closed by noting there will be no meeting May 25 for Memorial Day and that the next meeting is May 18 at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, and invited the public to attend.
Details not specified in the transcript include exact dollar amounts for the SBOs, the motion language and vote counts for each approval, and program specifics for the state-funded "chip program."
