This month, Heather takes you to Spokane’s Comstock neighborhood, known for its rich history, tree-lined streets, beautiful parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities. We also share important updates about the transition to Spokane 311 for non-emergency reporting and invite residents to the November 7 Spokane Neighborhood Summit at Gonzaga University. Finally, as construction season continues, we remind everyone to plan ahead, drive safely, and support local businesses impacted by road projects.

Summit Registration is Open Now. RSVP today! Connect, learn, and grow with your Spokane neighbors at this exciting FREE event designed to empower and inspire neighborhood councils across the city.

Discover valuable resources and insights from local leaders through interactive workshops tailored to the unique needs of Spokane neighborhoods. Whether you’re passionate about learning new skills, sharing best practices, meeting like-minded community members, or sparking positive change, this Summit is for you! Secure your place today and be part of the movement to create thriving neighborhoods across Spokane!

• Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Hemmingson Center, Gonzaga Campus (702 E Desmet Ave.)
• Cost: FREE
• Who Should Attend? Anyone currently involved in or interested in joining a Spokane neighborhood council.

Don’t Miss Out! Space is limited to 130 participants—reserve your spot early! There’s no limit on how many members from your neighborhood council can join, so invite your fellow neighbors to come together and strengthen your community. Plus, enjoy a delicious catered lunch on us.

Register for the Summit (registration closes Friday, Oct. 23)

Visit the 2026 Spokane Neighborhood Summit Event Guide to see this year’s workshop options or view the Spokane Neighborhood Summit Webpage for more information. 

Spokane Works Tour- Want to dig even deeper into City of Spokane departments and facilities? Peek behind the curtain of some of Spokane’s most important municipal entities and join us on a Spokane Works Tour. This year’s tour is at the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Tank:

• Thursday, Oct. 29
• 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
• 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd.
• Register for the Spokane Works Tour (separate registration from Spokane Neighborhood Summit is required. Spots are limited.)

NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT

PlanSpokane Next Steps: The Plan Commission public hearing is scheduled for November 9 starting at 4 p.m. The date was previously November 4.

Updated materials are scheduled to be published October 26, two weeks before the hearing. Once materials are online, Planning Dept will email all Neighborhood Councils. Watch for a special edition PlanSpokane newsletter going out October 27. Signup for newsletter below.



Community Assembly (CA) Awards recognize community members’ outstanding efforts to help improve the community through their neighborhood council and CA! Award nominations are due Friday, November 13.

Award categories include: Good Neighbor (Individual), Good Neighbor (Organization), Spirit of CA, Jeanette Harras, and Lifetime Achievement Award. 



Nominate your neighbors today at: https://tinyurl.com/NeighborhoodAwards26

Applications to be a part of the 2027 Spokane Neighborhood Leadership cohort are now open! Apply before December 31.

Develop essential leadership skills including effective communication, facilitating meetings, resolving conflict, and positively impacting neighborhood priorities. Learn more and apply at Gonzaga.edu/SNLA

Take the BUILDSpokane Survey to Help Shape Our City: Help influence the future of the City of Spokane’s built environment by taking the BUILDSpokane Community Survey. The BUILDSpokane code modernization project seeks to align the Spokane Development Code with current policy objectives and community feedback while supporting and streamlining desired development and redevelopment. 

The BUILDSpokane Community Survey is open until Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. Results from this survey will influence future amendments to the Development Code, impacting the City of Spokane’s future built environment. 

Envisioning the Built Environment 

In addition to the community survey, BUILDSpokane is asking the community to provide photos of types of development and design you envision in our neighborhoods. Visit Engage Spokane to provide feedback on neighborhood-serving commercial, housing, and the public realm. Your input will help shape future regulations. 

Halloween Health Fair at Shadle Park Library on October 31: Celebrate Halloween with a unique hands-on experience at the free Fall Health Fair, hosted by ASWSU Health Sciences on October 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shadle Park Library! Explore free health screenings, diabetes and hearing testing, wellness resources, and even the chance to hold a real human brain with Gonzaga Neuroscience. Kids and families can visit five booths to earn prizes and a free lunch. All ages are welcome!

Grandview/Thorpe Neighborhood Council presented at a recent City Council legislative session and so can you! Prepare a presentation that is 5-7 minutes in length. Think about your neighborhood's recent highlights, resident gatherings and future plans. This is your time to shine! Email Jackson Deese at jdeese@spokanecity.org to see what dates work best for your presentation.

CITY UPDATES

Statement of Conditions and Affairs: Earlier this month, Mayor Lisa Brown gave the annual Statement of Conditions and Affairs, highlighting the City of Spokane's response to the Old Trails Fires, homelessness, and the shift to using Spokane 311 for Crime Check calls.

https://vimeo.com/1233886045

Call 311 for Crime Check Calls: Crime Check is changing at the end of October. Soon, people in Spokane city limits will call 311 for all city services and non-emergency reports. Learn more: https://vimeo.com/1231462043

Whether it’s suspicious activity, and abandoned vehicle, a pothole, or another city concern, Spokane 311 will connect you to the help you need. Remember, 311 is for non-emergency help. If there is an emergency or a crime in progress, always call 911. Visit my.spoaknecity.org to learn more. Date of anticipated transition: October 27, 2026

Help Protect Spokane’s Waterways—Adopt a Drain! The City of Spokane and Spokane County have teamed up to launch the Adopt-A-Drain program, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to help keep storm drains clear of leaves, trash, and debris. Just 15 minutes twice a month can help prevent flooding, reduce pollution, and protect the Spokane River and our region’s drinking water aquifer.

Ready to make a difference? Visit WA.adopt-a-drain.org to find a drain near you, give it a fun name, and start making an impact in your neighborhood!

Seven census tracts nominated by the City of Spokane were selected by Governor Bob Ferguson for the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program. Opportunity Zones (OZs) are a federal economic development initiative meant to spur investment in low-income communities by providing capital gains tax benefits for investors in projects located in designated census tracts. 

The City of Spokane nominated nine census tracts with a focus to leverage recent public investments in infrastructure and planning with market investment and development potential in North Monroe, the North Bank, downtown, South Logan, the University District and East Central. Seven census tracts were selected, which include: 

Neighborhood Council & District 

Emerson/Garfield, West Central 3 

Emerson/Garfield, West Central, Downtown (Riverside) 1, 3 

Logan, East Central 1, 2 

East Central 2 

East Central, Cliff-Cannon 2 

Downtown (Riverside) 1, 3 

Chief Garry Park, East Central 1, 2 

An additional census tract in the West Plains, which is shared by the City of Spokane and City of Airway Heights, was also selected. 

RESOURCES & MORE

Spokane Police Dashboard: Data displayed on the dashboard comes from the Spokane Police Department's records and reporting systems, including the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Some variations in data may occur due to updates, case reclassifications, or reporting timelines. These dashboards are intended to increase transparency and community understanding—not to compare neighborhoods or draw conclusions about crime trends without context.

Spokane Fire Department: They don't just fight fires, they prevent them, too. The City of Spokane Fire Department provides and installs smoke alarms for free in qualifying homes. Smoke alarms don't last forever. If your smoke alarms are 10 years old or older you need new alarms. Don't leave your family unprotected. There are several ways to connect with our program. Call 509.625.7149, email SFDSmokeAlarms@SpokaneCity.org or fill out the online application.

Most Recent City Commission/Board Meetings:

Transportation Commission Recording from October 15, 2026

Plan Commission Hearing from October 14, 2026

Climate Resilience Sustainability Board from October 8, 2026

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