It looks like slow and steady will win the race at tonight's Spokane Valley City Council meeting. There are quite a few things on the agenda, but most are items the council has looked at before. There will be the second reading of an ordinance to amend the 2012 budget and the first reading of proposed ordinances that would chance the city's landscaping regulations and allow businesses to have more signs advertising alcohol.

There is one new item on the agenda that might generate some discussion. There will be a report on the second round of funding recommendations from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. There was some consternation earlier when the majority of the committee recommended not giving any funding to Valleyfest and they have made the same recommendation in the second round. Instead they want to give almost all the money available to the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

The proposed Spokane Valley Bike and Pedestrian Master Program is up before the Spokane Valley City Council tonight for for its final yes or no vote. The plan has been discussed frequently by the council and edited by council members but still faces some opposition. Public comment will be taken before the vote. If you want to have your say, head to City Hall at 11707 E. Sprague at 6 p.m. for the meeting.

Last week's council meeting lasted until 10:30 p.m. and this week's looks like it might be even longer. There is a ton of items on the agenda, including two public hearings, a final vote on the 2012 property tax levy, the first reading of the proposed 2012 budget, a proposed resolution setting the city's fees, a report on manufactured home zoning and much, much more. The Bike and Pedestrian plan is near the top of the agenda, though, so you won't have to wait around all night to see what happens with that issue.  

The city of Spokane Valley will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2012 budget at Tuesday's City Council meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague. If you want to have some input on next year's budget, now is your chance to have your voice heard. The council is also set to vote on allocating funds to outside social service and economic development agencies.

Those of us who gather for tonight's Spokane Valley City Council meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall are going to be there a while. There's a whopping seven administrative reports, which tend to be lengthy, on the agenda. The council will start off with votes on the first reading of a proposed ordinance to put one-way Sprague on the November ballot and a motion on a road project list to submit for grant funding.

The report topics include preliminary revenues and expenditures for the 2012 budget, road projects that may qualify for a safety grant program, an update on the regional solid waste issue and railroad quiet zones.

So come and join me at 11707 E. Sprague if you feel brave (or have had lots of coffee today).

The Freeman School District board of directors are having a study session tonight to talk about the district's 2012 budget. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the District Office conference room at 15001 S. Jackson Road. Since it's a work session there won't be any public comment, but people can still stop by and listen to the discussion.