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City of Spokane
Community Update
Aug. 30, 2022
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In Woodward's Words
City ready to move individuals into substantially better environments.
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Libraries Offer Space to Cool Off During Predicted Hot Temperatures
Spokane Public Library branches are available to provide indoor cooling areas for people seeking relief from hot daytime temperatures being forecast by the National Weather Service from Tuesday, Aug. 30, to Friday, Sept. 2.
Central (906 W. Main St.), Shadle (2111 W. Wellesley Ave.), Liberty Park (402 S. Pittsburg St.), and Hillyard (4110 N. Cook St.) branches will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.
The City’s cooling plan is tapped when temperatures are forecast to reach 95 degrees or higher for two or more days. Activations have spanned a total of 16 days thus far in July and August.
Air conditioning, drinking fountains and filling stations, restrooms, access to books, interactive play areas, and wi-fi connectivity are available at all branches.
For more information visit our website.
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City Closures Planned for Labor Day
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 5. Here are the City closures and cancellations:
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Garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickup will be a day late all week.
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City facilities, including the Waste to Energy facility will be closed.
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Parking meters will not require payments.
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All Spokane Public Library branches will be closed.
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The Spokane Municipal Court will be closed.
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My Spokane 311 employees will not be available.
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Development Service Center employees will not be available.
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Spokane City Council has cancelled its meetings for the week of Monday, Sept. 5.
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Trent Resource and Assistance Center Set To Open
The Trent Resource and Assistance Center that will have separated spaces for different demographics to stay indoors out of the elements with access to showers, restrooms, and three meals daily is expected to open next week. Initial capacity is expected to be 150 individuals with separate spaces for men, women, couples, employed and LGBTQ+.
The Guardians and the City will jointly host an open house on Thursday, Sept. 1, 4 - 6 p.m. to give neighbors a chance to tour the center and meet its staff. For more info visit our website.
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Pig Out in the Park is Back!
Pig Out in the Park, featuring great food and live music, is scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 5 in Riverfront Spokane. For more info visit the Pig Out in the Park website.
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City Seeking Proposals for Pandemic Relief Funds
The City is seeking proposals to use federal pandemic relief funding to operate programs that offer assistance with eviction defense and enhance pre-apprenticeship opportunities for the construction fields.
Funding will be awarded through a public request for proposals process that requires submission, review, and evaluation of application materials for alignment to eligibility requirements and competitiveness through the City’s online portal. Information about each of the funding opportunities, including how to apply, can be found at My.SpokaneCity.org/ARPA. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Sept. 26.
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City Hall Skywalk Closing to Public
The skywalk connecting City Hall to the River Park Square parking garage will be closing to the public starting Thursday, Sept. 1. Visitors can continue to access City Hall from the main entrances on Spokane Falls Boulevard and Post Street.
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Council Recap
Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs recaps the Monday, Aug. 29, City Council meeting.
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Monroe Street Grind & Overlay
Grind and overlay pavement maintenance work on north Monroe St. between Summit Ave. and Boone Ave. started Monday. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays and follow all detours in place for worker and public safety. The project will be done in two phases and is expected to be complete in late October. Visit our website for more information.
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City Proposes Suspending Comprehensive Plan Amendments For 1 Year
Spokane City Council will consider an ordinance that would suspend the annual Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle in 2023 on Monday, Sept. 19. The temporary suspension of the program would allow City planning staff, Plan Commission, and Council to focus on a range of amendments addressing the housing crisis. To learn more visit our website.
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SpokaneScape Photo Contest
Don't forget to enter the SpokaneScape Photo Contest! One month remains to submit a photo of your existing water-smart yard for your chance to win utility bill credit prizes!
Simply publicly post your photo to Facebook using the hashtag #SpokaneScapecContest or submit your entry online.
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City of Spokane Jobs
The City of Spokane is hiring! The classifications opening for recruitment this week are:
For a full list of job openings with the City of Spokane click here.
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Coronavirus Information
COVID-19 Vaccines
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
Overall, the two-year emergency rent assistance program has distributed about $33 million to more than 6,000 households.
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Spokane Rewards. Spokane Solves. Spokane Gives | |
The City of Spokane is a great place to combine community support with expertise. There are over 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! | |
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Spokane River Clean-Up
The 19th annual Spokane River Clean-Up on Saturday, Sept. 17!
The clean-up takes place anytime between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Unlike previous years, this is a self-guided event and there will not be a large-scale gathering or a kickoff event that Saturday morning. After you sign up with The Lands Council, you will receive direction on when and where to pick up trash bags. Trash bags will also not be distributed on site.
Trash will only be collected from designated locations, marked by a cone. Bags left at unmarked locations could likely end up back in the river.
Click here to sign up!
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Summer Fun: Kids Junior Fire Academy
The Spokane Fire Department, SAFE Kids, Downtown Spokane Partnership and River Park Square are partnering for the 4th annual Kids Junior Fire Academy. This free, family event will be held at River Park Square and on Wall Street on Sunday, Sept. 11, 12 - 2 p.m. For more information click here.
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On the Bright Side
Spokane just became the third city in Washington to be certified as a Pet-Friendly City! To celebrate Mayor Nadine Woodward's dog Otis shares his favorite pet-friendly places in this blog post.
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