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Council moves on street-racing penalties; parks staff highlight e-bike safety outreach and recognize ranger for life-saving actions
Summary
Councilmember Paul told the Park Board the city unanimously passed an ordinance tightening penalties for street racing; parks staff described summertime outreach on e-bike/emotorcycle safety and recognized a ranger for life-saving efforts in Riverfront Park.
Council and staff updates at the June 11 Spokane Park Board meeting covered public-safety lawmaking, regulatory scoping and operational recognition.
Paul reported that the city council “unanimously passed a street racing aggressive speeding ordinance, to create a new staggered set of penalties” aimed at addressing street racing, aggressive speeding and related noise. He said the ordinance provides police with an additional enforcement tool.
Paul also said the council will consider policy on HEART fund allocations (affordable housing and behavioral health) and is “dipping our toes into data center policy,” discussing a possible one-year moratorium to allow the city to develop a regulatory framework for data centers and their utility impacts.
Separately, parks staff highlighted outreach and safety efforts tied to recent state law changes about e-bikes and e-motorcycles. Garrett said the parks department is partnering with Spokane Police Department and Spokane Public Schools to educate youth and other park users about registration and licensing thresholds and to emphasize safety enforcement on trails.
Garrett also recognized park ranger Nate Othram for “exceptional professionalism, composure, and life saving actions” during a recent multi-agency response in Riverfront Park; staff presented Nate with a park coin in appreciation.
Next steps: city committees will continue work on HEART fund allocation and data-center policy; parks staff will continue safety outreach through the summer and will participate in two July groundbreakings for Meadow Glen and Shadle projects.
