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City of Spokane
Community Update
December 17, 2024
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Message from the Mayor
Happy holidays from the City of Spokane! We wish you a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones. This will be our last Community Update newsletter for 2024. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
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City Closures Planned For the Holidays
The City of Spokane will have several closures related to the holidays.
- Spokane City Hall will be closed on Wednesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
- Solid Waste Services will be a day late following the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
- The Waste-to-Energy facility will be closed on Wednesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
- Spokane City Council is not scheduled to meet on Mondays, Dec. 23 and 30.
- On-street parking meters and kiosks will not require payment on Wednesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1; remember all parking rules, including time limits, still apply.
- Spokane Municipal Court and Community Justice Services will be closed on Wednesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
- Spokane 311 employees will not be available on Wednesdays Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
- All Spokane Public Library branches will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
- The Numerica Skate Ribbon and Loof Carrousel will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25.
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Buy Battery Smart for the Holidays!
Be safe, and buy smart this holiday season! Look for tested and certified devices and accessories. Learn more at BatterySmartSpokane.com!
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Riverfront Gift Guide
Give the gift of unforgettable memories at Riverfront! Choose from a range of options, including our All-Access Annual Pass, Riverfront Gift Card, Unlimited Ice Pass, or individual admission tickets. Combine them to create the perfect present and let your loved ones enjoy experiences they’ll cherish forever. Click here to view the guide.
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New Year’s Eve Fireworks Presented by Coca-Cola
Celebrate the New Year with friends and family at Riverfront Park on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Enjoy a family-friendly New Year’s Eve as fireworks light up the sky at 9 p.m. Visit our website for all the details.
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Holiday Travel Information
The Washington State Department of Transportation will help you plan your statewide travel with their holiday travel charts. Find out areas that are expected to be the most congested. Click here to view the charts.
If you're getting around with STA, be sure to check spokanetransit.com for holiday schedules and winter weather alerts!
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Manito Holiday Lights Walk-Thru
The Manito Holiday Lights are back and better than ever! This year's celebration will be in the Duncan Garden and walk-thru only. Grab a hot beverage or snack from one of the vendors and explore twinkling, festive lights in one of our city’s most historic parks!
Event: Dec. 14 - 22, 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Walk-Thru Only (wheelchair accessible)
FREE
More info on the Friends of Manito website.
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Holiday Fire Safety
The Spokane Fire Department reminds you to keep your Christmas tree watered or they will have to water it for you!
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle this Holiday Season
It's that time of year when boxes and packages start arriving on doorsteps with packing materials and gift-wrapping stations are littered with pretty holiday paper, ribbons, and bows. Cards are arriving in mailboxes with season's greetings and joy is in the air. What's on the recycling "Naughty and Nice List"? Learn more.
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City Offers Curbside Tree Recycling
The City will offer free curbside tree pickup for its customers for two weeks, Dec. 30 - Jan. 10. Once the decorations are removed, residents can place their fresh-cut trees at least three feet away from the refuse and recycling carts on their regularly scheduled garbage pickup days. No artificial or flocked trees are accepted through this service.
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‘Tis the Season to Drive Sober: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Celebrate the season safely. Even one drink can cause impairment. If you’ve been drinking, call a sober friend, ride share, or taxi to get you home safely. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
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Join ‘Adopt A Neighbor'
Aging & Long Term Care of Eastern Washington's Adopt A Neighbor initiative is looking for compassionate groups in Spokane County willing to assist seniors and individuals with disabilities during the snowy season. The initiative seeks groups such as clubs, organizations, businesses, churches, community centers, and schools. Individuals interested in participating will be paired with a group. To sign up, contact Adopt A Neighbor at action@altcew.org or via phone. Click here to learn more.
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Ready for Winter!
The Street Department is prepared for snow season and encourages the community to do the same. Here is how the community can help:
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Move your recreational vehicle, boat or trailer, and basketball hoops off the street and to a winter storage location for the snow season.
- Make sure you have adequate snow shovels or a working snow blower. Consider buying some salt or sand for traction.
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Plan where to park throughout the snow season to make room for large equipment to clear the street. Residents are asked to park on the odd-numbered side of the street during snow season to leave room for plows and first responders.
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Know what residential snow-plow route you live in to make it easier to track the progress of plows, during full-city plow operations.
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Talk to your neighbors. Make sure you know who in your neighborhood might need help with shoveling and offer to help.
Click here for more information.
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Understanding Your 2025 City Utility Bill
The City of Spokane is committed to providing excellent utility services for a reasonable cost. Each day, residents and businesses in our community rely on the City of Spokane to provide clean drinking water, process wastewater, and pick up and dispose of garbage, recyclables and organic material.
City Council approved updated rates for 2025 and 2026 for these critical utility services based on current costs and needs. Here is the background about the process and the priorities of these changes.
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January Yard Waste Collection
City customers with clean green food and yard waste service now have pick-up the first full weeks of January, February, and December. Green carts will be collected January 6 – 10 on your regularly scheduled garbage day; please have your carts to the curb by 6 a.m. Visit our website for more information.
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How Are You Impacted By Climate Hazards?
The City of Spokane wants to hear from you! A survey has been launched asking about your lived experience with climate hazards and weather events. Early respondents will be eligible to receive a gift card. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Marshallese. Click here to learn more.
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Tree Equity Spokane Program
This month marks the launch of Tree Equity Spokane, a grant project aimed to increase tree canopy cover and to provide urgent care for trees in disadvantaged Spokane communities. The five-year, $6 million community investment grant project will plant and care for trees in Spokane neighborhoods where they are most needed. Funding is provided by Urban and Community Forestry grants, authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act as part of a national $1 billion investment by the USDA to expand access to trees and green spaces.
About 500 new street trees will be planted each year in public rights-of-way, and thousands of tree seedlings will be given away to residents. Plus, grant funds will cover the removal of hundreds of dead street trees. Learn more on the City's website.
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Vehicle Anti-Theft Devices Available
Free vehicle anti-theft devices are available through the Crime Victim Advocate’s Office. The club devices were purchased thanks to a grant from the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority. The club is an effective theft deterrent that simply attaches to the steering wheel. If you are interested in receiving a free club anti-theft device, please contact the Victim Advocate’s Office at 509-625-4124. More info on SPD's website.
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Exciting Partnership Opportunity!
Riverfront is looking for a food & beverage partner to handle concession services at the Numerica Skate Ribbon and Numerica SkyRide. This is a great opportunity to help us enhance the visitor experience at Riverfront Park and become a key part of the Spokane community. Interested? Submit your proposal online through the City of Spokane’s ProcureWare platform. Bid Number: IRFP 6292-25. Proposals are due Friday, Jan. 24, by 1 p.m.
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Council Update
The legislative City Council meeting for Dec. 16 was canceled and the Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 meetings will not be held. Council meetings will resume on Monday, Jan. 6.
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Home Repair Assistance Programs Available as Winter Weather Approaches
As colder weather moves in, the City of Spokane and SNAP want to remind the public of three home repair assistance programs. The Essential Home Repair, Single Family Home Rehabilitation, and Utility Pipe Rehabilitation programs are intended to help low-income homeowners with both minor and large repair projects. For more information visit the City's website.
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Long-term Rental Property Registry
The Long-Term Rental Registry is focused on preserving housing stock, maintaining safe living spaces, and creating and maintaining a database to track rental units in our community. For those already registered, the renewal window for 2025 is open. Any property registration submitted between now and Tuesday, Dec. 31 will be for the 2025 calendar year. For those registered, automated communications from the Accela Citizen Access system will be delivered to the email addresses listed on each registration. Click here for more information.
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Business Licensing and Property Registration Open House
The Washington State Department of Revenue and City of Spokane are hosting an open house, specifically focused on the long-term property registration program. The primary goal of this open house will be providing customer service and assistance in efforts to comply with business licensing, property registration, and inspection regulations in the new program. Visit our website for more information.
Where: Washington State Department of Revenue, 1330 N. Washington St., Suite 5600
When: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.– 4:30 p.m.
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Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy
If you desire skills to equip you with becoming a leader in your neighborhood, consider the free, five-month Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy. This partnership between the City’s Office of Neighborhood Services and Gonzaga University is a great opportunity! Applications are due Friday, Jan. 3 for the upcoming session starting in late January. For more information visit Gonzaga.edu/SNLA.
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Apply for the Working Families Tax Credit
Nearly 30,000 Spokane County families are eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit, but more than 17,000 haven’t taken advantage of the program. Check your eligibility and apply at workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov.
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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 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!
Volunteer for the Point-in-Time Count
The Point-In-Time (PIT) Count is a nationwide event that seeks to identify and better serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Data collected during the PIT Count helps us understand community needs, inform policy, and direct resources to address homelessness most effectively and compassionately. The count is conducted by volunteers who survey people experiencing homelessness throughout Spokane County. The PIT Count will take place Jan. 21 – 29, 2025. Sign up to be a volunteer!
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Autumn Adventures: Coaches Corner
On select Saturdays, the skilled coaches from Spokane Figure Skating Club will be at the Numerica Skate Ribbon offering valuable tips and guidance to emerging skaters. Regular skate admission is required. Visit our website for more information.
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On The Bright Side
SPD was honored to be part of the Salvation Army “Shop with a Cop” at the Airway Heights Walmart. Along with our friends from Airway Heights Police Department and Fire and Department of Corrections, SPD staff and volunteers helped kids shop for clothes and shoes. Salvation Army and Walmart pulled out all the stops for a fantastic experience, providing pizza and hot chocolate, and crafts and decorating cupcakes! We are so grateful for the relationships we have with these valued partners!
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