Walking with Woodward

Mayor Nadine Woodward meets the 2022 Lilac Court and they share why they are involved in the Spokane Lilac Festival.

Emergency Interim Zoning Change

Yesterday City Council suspended the rules to pass an emergency interim zoning change to allow shelters to operate in heavy industrial zones citywide. The change is one of three steps needed to open a new shelter on East Trent Avenue. A lease is close to being finalized with the property owner to open a shelter that includes supportive services. Read Mayor Nadine Woodward's statement online. 

84th Annual Spokane Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade

After a two year pause, the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade is back! The Spokane Lilac Festival Torchlight Parade will begin at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 and follow the traditional parade route. Street closures for Spokane Lilac Festival events will begin as early as 9 a.m. Information on the parade and all the festival events can be found at spokanelilacfestival.org.

New Parking Meters Being Installed

Crews are out replacing meters in downtown Spokane this week. New purple meters that say “out of service” will not require payment until system is activated. For more information visit our website.

Laying the Foundation for Growth

City of Spokane funds construction projects that create jobs and help bankroll economic recovery.

Woodward, Cathcart Propose Police, Behavior Health Partnership in East Central

Mayor Nadine Woodward and Council Member Michael Cathcart are proposing to co-locate police and behavioral health services in the former East Central Library location as an extension of similar programs in other neighborhoods. Details on our website.

Council Recap

Spokane City Council Member Lori Kinnear recaps the Monday, May 16, Spokane City Council meeting.

Construction Zone

Work on the Hatch Road Bridge deck replacement is going smoothly. Crews are currently on schedule with an estimated completion date of Sunday, July 31. 

Have You *Herd* the News?

The Healing Hooves goats from Cloverdale Ranch, Inc. are back on the job in three Spokane parks to help reduce fire risk. The program is intended to reduce fire risk in natural areas by reducing brush and tree sapling density.

The 200 goats will be employed at High Drive Park May 17 – 24. Please note, dates are approximate and subject to change. More info on our website.

Traffic Calming Kick-Off!

Join us at an upcoming traffic calming workshop! Learn about the new Traffic Calming program and share your ideas on how our neighborhoods can be safer, better connected and more livable for everyone. To find your district's workshop visit our website.

Rent Assistance

City of Spokane residents will soon be able to apply for $5.59 million in new Emergency Rent Assistance Program funds awarded by the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The application process for the funds will be announced in the near future on the City’s website after details such as a sub-recipient provider to distribute the funds to the community are finalized.

More than 2,470 households in the City have benefitted from the program that started June 1, 2021.

West Quadrant Tax Increment Financing Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee

The City of Spokane is seeking residents of the Emerson/Garfield neighborhood that would be willing to help the City determine how best to apply funds for public improvements within the West Quadrant Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. As an alternate on the Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee, the successful appointee would be responsible for attending monthly meetings of the Committee, often to consider the application of TIF funds to public projects in the district, including various streetscape, sidewalk, utility, infrastructure, and affordable housing projects. Additionally, the alternate representative would vote in the absence of the primary representative and would be able to lend their voice and experience to discussions throughout the year on the TIF and the use of TIF funds.

Interested persons are asked to complete the City’s boards and commissions application form and submit it to the Mayor’s Office for consideration. Applications should be delivered or postmarked no later than Wednesday, May 25.

Spring Dreams: Story Time at the Carrousel

Join us in the Looff Carrousel party room Friday, May 20, 11 a.m. for Story Time. This early literacy activity is designed to spark and engage the young imagination with stories, songs and preschool activities. $1 carrousel rides are offered to those who attend. 

Story Time is a free program provided by Spokane Riverfront Park every third Friday (May though December). Recommended for ages 2 – 5. 

On the Bright Side

Smoke alarms save lives! On Saturday, May 7, 24 Red Cross volunteers and eleven Spokane Fire Department personnel helped install 206 smoke alarms in 80 Nevada Heights Neighborhood homes. 

Free smoke alarms are available at SoundTheAlarm.org.