In Woodward's Words

Celebrate family time, music and become part of our alliance to take a stance about fentanyl at the S.A.F.E. Fall Family Fest. Country star Chris Young will be headlining! Get your free tickets now. 

CHHS Community Affordable Housing Workshop

The City’s Community, Housing and Human Services Department seeks community feedback regarding funding priorities for the distribution of about $10 million to support affordable housing activities. A workshop will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20, 4 - 5:30 p.m. at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St. 

Tell Us What You Know About Stormwater Runoff!

The City's Wastewater Department needs your help! Complete this survey by Monday, Oct. 31 to help contribute to community education about stormwater management.

Phase 2 Installation of Updated Parking Meters Underway

City of Spokane Parking Services is installing the second phase of new single and dual space on-street parking meters in the downtown paid parking area. In addition, ParkMobile is now the exclusive mobile app payment provider. Customers who have remaining monies in their Passport app wallets can learn about refunds on the City’s website.

South Logan Transit-Oriented Development StoryMap

The South Logan TOD StoryMap was just launched online, and the community is invited to learn more! The StoryMap provides information about the project study area through a variety of mediums to provide readers with a new experience on your own time. Scrolling through the online StoryMap, you will see maps, videos, and images along with narrative text allowing you to explore the South Logan TOD Project, as well as the history of the Logan Neighborhood, the Spokane Tranist Authority City Line route, and how to share your feedback.

Council Recap

Council Member Zack Zappone recaps the Monday, Oct. 17, Spokane City Council meeting.

Riverside Avenue Reconstruction Enters Phase III 

Phase III of the Riverside Avenue reconstruction started yesterday! 

• Riverside Avenue is closed from Stevens to Wall Street.
• Stevens Street is restricted to one lane starting at Spokane Falls Boulevard.
• Washington Street has a single lane closure starting at Riverside Avenue.

Disposal Pass Program Update

The 2022 Disposal Pass Program has expended available funding, and passes are no longer available this year. The program will resume in February 2023. City residents will be able to access the digital disposal pass form, instructions, disposal fees and more information via the program’s webpage. Any pass that residents currently have is still redeemable within the dates that it is valid. Digital passes must be redeemed within 30 days of being requested. Physical passes have expiration dates listed on them.

Spokane Fire Marshal Lifts Burn Restrictions

Outdoor recreational fire restrictions have been lifted. Due to the current and forecasted cooler and wetter conditions, restrictions for specified outdoor recreational fires (campfires, fire bowls, and fire pits) have been lifted for the Spokane County and Spokane Metro Area. Learn more on our website.

City of Spokane Jobs

The City of Spokane is hiring! The classifications opening for recruitment this week are:

• Information Systems Specialist II
• Laborer I

For a full list of job openings with the City of Spokane click here.

Coronavirus Information

COVID-19 Vaccines

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
• Everyone 6 months and older are now eligible to get a free COVID-19 vaccination.
• Everyone 5 years and older is eligible for boosters.
• Learn about the different vaccines available.

COVID-19 Testing Sites

Drive-up and walk-up COVID-19 testing sites are open to the community. These testing sites offer free testing and are open to anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Need Mental Health Help?

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 9-8-8

Contact 24/7: Frontier Crisis Line (877) 266-1818

Contact or Walk-In: Inland Northwest Behavioral Health (509) 992-1888

CHAS Health: (509) 444-8200

Excelsior Wellness Center: (509) 559-3100

Request Online Appointment

Help for children, adults and families is available via telehealth.

Teen Text and Chat Line: 844-814-TEEN (8336)

Free confidential safe place service available to any teen or young adult.

Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255

Need Resources? 

Call Washington 211 at 2-1-1 or (877) 211-9274 to speak to a local agent

Text your Zip Code to 898211 or email ew211@incontactmail.com

Apply for basic food assistance over the phone!

Access to resources online at: wa211.org

Sign up for their Newsletter!

Domestic Violence and

Child Abuse Prevention Resources

Prevention at Home Video Series

Trauma Recovery Services

Lutheran Community Services: (509) 747-8224

Intensive Behavioral Health, Victim Advocacy and Foster Care, are available.

Resident Assistance

The impacts of COVID have created hardships for people in many ways. The City continues to connect residents with available and eligible resources.

Utility Assistance

There are Resident Assistance programs for emergency help to pay for City utility bills, which include charges for water, wastewater, stormwater and garbage collection. Interest-free payment plans are also available for residential and commercial customers.

Rent Assistance

Due to a large volume of applications, emergency rent assistance application portals have paused accepting applications from city residents seeking rental assistance who do not have a current eviction notice.

The City continues to work with the Washington State Department of Commerce to identify potential new sources of emergency rent assistance funds for Spokane City tenants and landlords, but a timeline for re-opening the portals for members of the general public (LiveStories), households with children (Family Promise of Spokane), and members of the African-American and BIPOC community (Carl Maxey Center) is unclear.

City of Spokane residents with a current eviction notice still may receive assistance through the ERAP 2.0 program. In order to determine eligibility and the process for doing so, reach out to one of the City’s two Dispute Resolution Centers that are managing the local Eviction Resolution Pilot Program.

• Last name begins with A-M: Northwest Mediation, 509-456-0103, ext. 1
• Last name begins with N-Z: Fulcrum Dispute Resolution Clinic, 509-838-2799
• Volunteer Lawyers Program, 509-477-2674

Overall, the two-year emergency rent assistance program has distributed about $33 million to more than 6,000 households. 

Spokane Rewards. Spokane Solves. Spokane Gives

The City of Spokane is a great place to combine community support with expertise. There are more than 30 boards, commissions and committees made up of volunteers who help shape our community. If you have one day a year, or one day a week, there is an opportunity for you. Pick your passion and get involved!

Salary Review Commission

The Salary Review Commission is accepting applications for two vacancies. The selected applicants will be appointed to a two-year term to expire on Dec. 31, 2023. The applicants must have at least one of the following qualifications: experience in the field of personnel management, a demonstrated knowledge in the administration of compensation and benefits OR experience in finance, business management, or other related fields that demonstrate experience beneficial to the review of total compensation and establishment of salary.

The commission is charged with reviewing and establishing the salaries of the Spokane Mayor, Council President, and City Council Members pursuant to Chapter 2.05 of the Spokane Municipal Code. The SRC’s goal is to base salaries on realistic standards according to the duties of the elected office to attract citizens of the highest quality to public service.

Applicants for this commission must submit applications to the Mayor's Office. The positions will remain open until filled.

Autumn Adventures: Fall Leaf Festival

The Fall Leaf Festival is Saturday, Oct. 22! At the festival you can:

• Learn how to compost and take home a free bin.
• Take your family photo in our huge pile of leaves or with the scarecrow and straw bales.
• Grab a warm beverage from Surge Coffee Truck.
• Listen to live music from Dario Ré.
• Check out vendors.
• Explore Finch Arboretum.



Click here for more info.

On the Bright Side

Get the Unlimited Ice Pass for the 2022-2023 Numerica Skate Ribbon season! 

15% Pre-Season Discount through Nov. 18

• Adult (ages 13+): $33.11
• Youth (ages 3-12): $23.76
• Skate Rental Add-On: $16.11 (only available with purchase of the Unlimited Ice Pass)

Unlimited Ice Pass Benefits

• 15% discount at Sky Ribbon Café
• 15% discount at Riverfront Gifts
• Four complimentary Looff Carrousel tickets
• One complimentary buddy single-use admission ticket with skate rental

Click here to purchase the Unlimited Ice Pass.