Just the Facts: Council Meeting Recaps

SPOKANE VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING RECAP FOR TUESDAY, JAN. 13, 2026 

This week’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and approval of the following amended meeting agenda. 

PROCLAMATION 

Mayor Padden read a proclamation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was accepted by RaeAnna Victor and Cindy Lundberg of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Watch the presentation.  

General Public Comments

Each week, community members have an opportunity to address Councilmembers for up to three minutes during the General Public Comment period, either at the beginning or end of each meeting, either in person or via Zoom.  

ACTION ITEMS

#1 – Consent Agenda

The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included vouchers for paying city expenses and payroll, and minutes from the following Council meetings: Feb. 4, 2025, Feb. 25, 2025, May 27, 2025, June 3, 2025, July 8, 2025, Nov. 18, 2025, Dec. 9, 2025, Dec. 16, 2025, Dec. 23, 2025, and Jan. 6, 2026. 

#2 – Proposed Resolution #26-001: Authorization of qualified public depositories the City may conduct financial transactions with, and Councilmembers and City officers with signing authority

Every two years, or as needed to reflect changes in Mayor, Deputy Mayor and longest serving Councilmember, a resolution comes forward to approve who is authorized to sign checks for the City. This resolution will not change the city officers with authority to sign, which are the City Manager, Finance Director and Accounting Manager. 

This resolution will give signing authority on behalf of the City to make payments on claims or obligations of the City to Mayor Laura Padden, Deputy Mayor Tim Hattenburg, and Councilmember Ben Wick.  

A motion to approve resolution #26-001 passed unanimously. 

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents.  

#3 – Mayoral Appointments: Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) Commission and Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) 

Per city code, RCW and Bylaws of both committees, members are nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by majority vote of the Council. Staff recapped the process of announcing the vacant positions to the public and the application process.  

A motion to confirm the Mayor’s nominations of Rustin Hall, Amanda Hoffert to the LTAC for two-year terms and Grant Guinn, Lee Cameron, and Bernadette Crain to the TPA Commission for two-year terms, with all terms to begin Jan. 1, 2026, passed unanimously.  

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents.  

#3a – Mayoral Appointments: Planning Commission

Per city code, RCW and Bylaws of the committees, members are nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by majority vote of the Council. Staff recapped the process of announcing the vacant positions to the public and the application process.  

A motion to confirm the Mayor’s nominations of Thomas Dingus and Kristopher Pockell to the Planning Commission for three-year terms to begin Jan. 1, 2026, passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 vote against.  

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents.  

#4 – Confirmations of Mayoral Appointments of Councilmembers to Boards and Commissions

Each January, the Mayor makes appointment recommendations for Councilmember participation on various regional and in-house boards and committees. The list of the groups and proposed assignments was presented.  

A motion to confirm the Mayoral appointments of Councilmembers to the committees and boards, as listed, passed with 6 votes in favor and 1 vote against. 

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents.  

NON-ACTION ITEMS

#5 – Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for Commute Trip Reduction (CTR)

Per the Washington State CTR law, employers with one hundred or more full-time employees are required to implement a CTR program. The agreement between Spokane County and Spokane Valley allows the CTR program to retain the city’s state-issued CTR funds in return for developing, implementing and administering the CTR ordinance and plan for all affected employers within the City of Spokane Valley. There are 17 employers within the city with over 100 full-time employees.  

The Council reached consensus to return this item to a future agenda for motion consideration. 

 Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents 

#6 – Interlocal Agreement for Broadlinc Public Development Authority (PDA)

The Spokane Regional Broadband Development Authority, Broadlinc, was established in 2022 by the Spokane County Commissioners for the purpose of coordinating with local governments, tribes, public and private organizations, non-profit organizations and utilities to develop strategies and plans for promoting the development of broadband infrastructure to underserved areas of the County. Broadlinc Executive Director Ariane Schmidt spoke about the organization’s membership, governance, and the BEAD (Broadband Equity Access and Deployment) program. The Broadlinc is seeking to add representation from Spokane Valley on its Board. 

The Council reached consensus to return this item to a future agenda with additional information and for potential motion consideration to approve the draft ILA with Broadlinc.  

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents. 

#7 – Capital Project Grants Review

Staff provided a report on the city’s grant applications submitted between 2011 and 2025. Staff outlined the different types of grant funding used for different types of capital projects, and then summarized the city’s grant applications success rate, top grant awards, top project awards, and awards by grant program. Since 2011, the City has received $174.8 million in state and federal funding for capital projects.  

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents. 

#8 – Potential Grant Opportunity: BUILD FY26

BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) is a program for the U.S. Department of Transportation for various transportation and stormwater projects. Staff reviewed the critical program details such as match amount required, award range, application/award date and obligation date. Staff recommend submitting the Sullivan/Trent Interchange to this call for projects. The engineering and right-of-way phases are fully funded, and construction is planned for 2027-2029, pending funding. The city’s request for the BUILD FY26 grant will be $24,959,696.  

The Council reached consensus to develop the Sullivan/Trent Interchange application for the BUILD program and return to the Council on Jan. 20, 2026, for a motion consideration authorizing the City Manager to submit the project to BUILD FY26. 

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents 

#9 – Potential Grant Opportunity: Washington State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB)

Staff provided a background of FMSIB goals, program details and funding available. A call for projects was issued late last year with applications due March 6, 2026. To be eligible for funding, a project must be located on or directly to a designated strategic freight corridor. It was noted that FMSIB funds do not require a local match.
Staff recommended the following projects and requested funding amounts:

• Sullivan/Trent Interchange: $8 million
• Barker/I-90 Interchange: $2 million for engineering, $1 million for right-of-way and $7 million for construction
• Argonne/I-90 Interchange: $10 million

The Council reached a consensus to develop the requests in Table 1 and return on Jan. 20, 2026 for a motion consideration authorizing the City Manager to apply for the FMSIB funding opportunity. 

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents.

 #10 – Potential Grant Opportunity: National Highway Freight Program (NHFP)

In November 2025, the Washington State Department of Transportation issued a request for regional priority freight projects for potential funding through the NHFP. This program is for projects that support and strengthen freight movement across the National Highway Freight Network. This program requires a 13.5% local match. Applications must be submitted through Spokane Regional Transportation Council. Staff recommend formal applications for the following projects:

• Sullivan/Trent Interchange: $3 million
• Barker/I-90 Interchange: $2 million

The Council reached a consensus to develop applications Sullivan/Trent Interchange and Barker/I-90 Interchange projects and return on Jan. 20, 2026, with a motion consideration to submit the two staff recommended applications. 

Watch the presentation and view the memo and supporting documents.