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Spokane Valley staff propose business-license hike to fund public-safety director; council weighs event support
Summary
Staff proposed creating a public‑safety coordinator/director to manage nine public-safety interlocals and suggested phased business-license increases (to $60→$75→$95) dedicated to public safety; council members differed on timing and whether third-party partners should run major festivals.
At the Feb. 24 workshop, staff proposed a new public-safety coordinator (described by staff as a director-level position) to centralize oversight of nine public-safety interlocal agreements and to assist with budgeting, contract negotiations and regional coordination. Deputy manager Eric Lam and administrative staff said the role would cost about $230,000–$270,000 all‑in the first year and that a vehicle (roughly $36,000) would likely be necessary.
City services administrator Gloria Vance presented a revenue option: increase the flat business-license fee (currently $25) in three phases — to $60 in 2026, $75 in 2027 and $95 in 2028 — with projected revenue of about $333,000 in the first year and roughly $670,000 at the $95 level (staff assumed a 15% reduction in nonresident payers driven by a larger state exemption threshold). The staff recommendation tied the additional proceeds explicitly to public-safety needs and related consultants.
Council reaction was mixed. Some members argued contract clarifications and improved county reporting should come before adding staff; others said a full-time director could pay for itself by pushing for timely reconciliations, recovering misallocated charges, and proactively managing upcoming capital costs (RMS software, training center depreciation and real‑time crime center transition). Several council members preferred third‑party operators or non‑profit partners to run large festivals rather than the city assuming full operational responsibility.
On events, staff asked whether the council wants the city to assume operations of ValleyFest and other growing activities. Staff reported Celebration of Lights and a Cops & Kids car show had become large operations requiring roughly 200 staff-hours (planning and execution) and about $20,000 of annual recurring event support; one‑time equipment and storage needs were estimated at ~$26,500. Staff recommended continuing a limited set of city‑led events and seeking third‑party partnerships for major festivals, while preparing balanced budget options for council review.
Next steps: staff will prepare a staffing-level and budget analysis for the proposed director role (including alternative funding paths), follow up with the ValleyFest organization on its letter of intent, and prepare event budget items for the June budget workshop.
