Council hears staff list of potential projects for on‑call public engagement contracts

City staff briefed the Spokane City Council on proposed on‑call public engagement contracts and a partial list of potential projects that could use outside engagement help.

Kevin Picasso, identified in the briefing, said the list is illustrative and not a set of commitments: “This is just frankly a partial list of potential projects,” he told the council, and then enumerated several near‑term studies and capital projects including Boone protected bike lanes, a Centennial Veil study, Division BRT, a Haven Market two‑way conversion and a riverside sewer project on East Monroe. He added that the contracts could also be used for utility and long‑term facility studies, like lift‑station or wastewater treatment plant planning.

Council members pressed staff for clarity on whether approving the on‑call contract would increase the budget authority for any listed project. Picasso said task orders would be applied to the CIP or operating line for the specific project and “it’s not adding to it. It’s coming out of that same, budgeted line item.”

Several council members asked for a narrowed list and more cost detail before the next meeting. Council member Zippone said she wanted staff to identify the projects they “will likely need assistance on” and asked staff to provide associated cost estimates for consultant work at the August 19 meeting. Kevin Picasso said staffing shortages were a driver for using on‑call contracts and that studies were planned to start in late this year or early next year, but that on‑the‑ground construction dates are not yet set.

Looking ahead, the council asked staff to return with a tighter scope and clearer cost implications before moving forward with contract approval.