Spokane Proposition 7
Election Results
| Option | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| No | 17,952 | 58.07% |
| Yes | 12,963 | 41.93% |
* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.
About The Measure
Proposition 7 would amend the City Charter to strip the Spokane Park Board of its power to condemn property. The City Charter currently requires the City Council to condemn land for park acquisition if requested by the Park Board. This proposal would give the City Council the power to turn down the Park Board’s condemnation requests.
Park leaders say the action is a move against the Park Board’s independent authority granted to them by voters more than a century ago. They add that the board has rarely, if ever, used its condemnation powers.
But City Council members say they should not be forced to condemn land by unelected officials.
Complete Coverage
Ballot questions clarify, change City Charter
When Spokane ballots arrive in the mail this week, the largest chunk of paper will be filled with a series of questions that have received little attention. In May, the Spokane City Council voted to place 11 amendments to the City Charter before voters.
City puts charter changes on ballot
City voters soon will have 11 choices to make about the future of municipal governing. The Spokane City Council decided Monday to place proposed changes to the City Charter on the Aug. 16 ballot.