Over 300 community members provided insightful feedback for the City of Spokane’s future vision! During the visioning and scoping process of the PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic Update, the City of Spokane sought public feedback through a Vision Board, Community Visioning Workshop Series, Community Visioning Survey, and tabling events. A summary of the visioning engagement is now available, highlighting common themes and shared goals for Spokane’s future. | This feedback, along with prior feedback from past projects and engagement efforts, will help shape potential ways the City of Spokane can grow to meet its envisioned future. Later this year, we will bring those growth alternatives to the public to help identify our preferred path forward. Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved as we continue this important journey together! | | | | |
Thank you to everyone who attended the Earth Day Community Workshop to help support climate and resiliency actions right here in the City of Spokane. This in-person drop-in event providing an opportunity for great community discussion and feedback on future climate policies. Thanks to Feast World Kitchen for catering the event!
Feedback from the Earth Day Community Workshop, Community Climate Planning Survey, and Climate Vulnerability Index will all help inform future goals and policies that will be incorporated into the PlanSpokane 2046 Comprehensive Plan update. Be on the lookout for engagement opportunities for those goals and policies later this year.
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Tracking Climate Pollution
Greenhouse gas emissions are a type of climate pollution that represents the release of heat-trapping gases. A newly available report tracks emissions here in the City of Spokane and helps provide a foundation for future work toward supporting a more resilient future.
Based on the most recent data available, in the City of Spokane, 48% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy we use to heat and cool our homes and buildings. 41% of the emissions come from transportation and vehicles like cars and delivery trucks, airplanes, trains, and lawnmowers. The remaining 11% comes from our solid and liquid wastes, as well as the refrigerants that are inadvertently leaked from cooling systems. Since 2016, emissions have increased 5% due to increased population (+7%) and increased natural gas use (+30%) due to 2022 being much colder than 2016.
You can learn more about the greenhouse gas emissions report on the City of Spokane’s webpage:
Read more about the importance of tracking climate pollution.
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Climate Planning Team Out in the Community
The Climate Planning team was out and about in Spokane this April, talking with community members about ways to make our city more resilient to extreme weather and climate impacts. At Arbor Day at Finch Arboretum, we wanted to get a better understanding of how Spokane’s community members are already practicing climate resiliency. We asked people how they lower their environmental impact – through food, travel, or at home?
- Home and Food tied with 82 votes each
- Travel received 73 votes
Many members of our community said they recycle or use a programmable thermostat at home, while they garden and go to farmer markets to support local food production. While biking was a favored mode of transportation, some people said they did not have access to a safe bikeable route. These insights will help the City identify potential goals and policies for further support Spokane’s future climate resiliency.
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Learn about climate vulnerability here in Spokane
The Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) helps navigate climate risks and vulnerabilities within Spokane’s unique community. The tool uses local, state, and national sources to help pinpoint vulnerability “hot spots”, providing a greater understanding of why some areas of our community are more at risk than others. The mapping tools also allows community members to submit comments to improve our understanding of how existing and future climate hazards affect you personally.
Learn more about the Climate Vulnerability Index.
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Plan Commission Subcommittee Begins Review of Comprehensive Plan
As we work to establish a clear vision for the City of Spokane’s future through PlanSpokane 2046, we’re also beginning to make targeted updates to the City’s existing Comprehensive Plan. These early efforts include streamlining language, removing outdated or redundant content, and clarifying policies to better reflect current needs. To help guide these refinements, the Spokane Plan Commission has formed a Chapter Review Subcommittee focused on reviewing minor changes—excluding the Land Use, Transportation, and Capital Facilities chapters, which are more dependent on ongoing analysis. Over the next three months, this subcommittee will meet six times to review updates across three thematic groups: Community, Environment, and How We Grow. Once their work is complete, the updated chapters will be brought to the full Plan Commission for further consideration and discussion.
For more information about the subcommittee, see their website.
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Mayor. City Council Announce New Traffic Safety Improvements
Mayor Lisa Brown, Council President Wilkerson, and members of the Spokane City Council on Wednesday announced a comprehensive package of new initiatives aimed at improving traffic safety throughout downtown and across Spokane. This multi-pronged effort includes new policy proposals, data-driven enforcement strategies, and infrastructure improvements to create safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
Read more about the proposed improvements.
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What Happened?
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April 9 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission and the Spokane Transportation Commission held a joint meeting to discuss an update to the Six-Year Streets Capital Improvement Plan. [watch 4.9.25 recording]
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April 23 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission discussed a Development Agreement related to the Excelsior Wellness Comprehensive Plan Amendment, PlanSpokane 2046 Chapter Reviews, and topics of interest during the PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic Update, before hearing a presentation on Accessory Dwelling Unit code updates. [watch 4.23.25 recording]
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What's Next?
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Wednesday, May 14 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission will hear presentations on the PlanSpokane 2046 Visioning Engagement Summary and Complete Streets Ordinance.
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Wednesday, May 14 Public Hearing: The Spokane Plan Commission will hold hearings on the Six-Year Streets Capital Improvement Plan update, as well as Accessory Dwelling Unit code amendments.
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Wednesday, May 28 Public Workshop: The Spokane Plan Commission will further discuss PlanSpokane 2046 Chapter Reviews and wrap up the discussion on the Excelsior Development Agreement.
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Development Services Center is Open to Serve You!
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday | 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- In person - 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd - 3rd Floor of City Hall (Office closed Wednesday mornings from 8-11 a.m. through the near future to allow staff to focus on permit load and reduce wait times. Calls will be forwarded to voice mail during this time.)
- Online - Skip a trip to City Hall with online permitting, an email to permitteam@spokanecity.org or Electronic Document Review
- Phone - A representative can assist you at 509.625.6300
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Provide written comment in email to PlanSpokane@spokanecity.org
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