New City Office Focuses On Neighborhood Services

Despite city service cutbacks, a program that could get neighborhoods more involved with city government will go forward.

The Office of Neighborhood Services will bring together several city functions under one roof and add a new position of neighborhood liaison.

Heading the office will be Molly Myers, now assistant to City Manager Roger Crum. Several functions will come under her guise, including historic preservation, youth services, gang and drug prevention, Block Watch and the community centers.

Myers said the office also will have a closer relationship with code enforcement and the city’s community policing operation. Myers spent three years researching neighborhood organizations and the new structure at City Hall links policy with organization, she said.

In essence, it creates a one-stop office that’s accountable to neighborhoods.

Myers plans a way for each neighborhood to find out everything going on, from crime statistics and code violations to zoning changes and gang activity.

The office budget is set at $126,686, with much of that coming from other operations being transferred. The office will move into the sixth floor area now occupied by international development.

COPS Logan substation

COPS Logan is moving forward with its police substation, reports president Myrna O’Leary.

Renovation of the building at 1030 N. Hamilton is almost complete and she expects a formal grand opening in early February. The building was donated by Gonzaga University.

Logan neighbors and merchants will hold a fund-raiser for the COPS operation from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Taco Time, 1604 N. Hamilton. All profits during those hours will be shared with COPS Logan, which will be a base for neighborhood policing efforts around Gonzaga.

New building plans have also been submitted to the city for the much-delayed substation in the Nevada-Lidgerwood neighborhood. They are now waiting to see if those plans gain the approval of the city building department.

‘Tis the season to be caroling

The West Central neighborhood will hold a caroling party and potluck chili feed starting at 6 p.m. Friday at the West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt.

There will be a brass band, entertainment for children and a visit from Santa.

Officer Tom Conley, who is finishing his tenure as community resource officer, will lead the neighborhood caroling.

The event is sponsored by the West Central Neighborhood Coalition.

A sleepy shift?

During the city council debate on the Indian Trail Specific Plan, the issue of fire protection came up.

Residents were noting that quick response to their homes could be a problem if Indian Trail Road was, for any reason, blocked.

But Councilman Joel Crosby apparently didn’t understand the concern and instead noted how few calls actually come into the Indian Trail fire station.

“Boy, if I were a firefighter the shift I would like to have is that station,” he said, “kind of like the Maytag man.”

Saucy jump-rope routine

A routine fund-raiser for the Neva-Wood jump-roping team got a little saucy Saturday.

Upon a challenge from a newpaper reporter, Deborah Wittwer arranged for a 12-foot piece of pasta, as thick as a nickel, to be cooked by the Spokane Skill Center.

Police officer Wil Wilmschuen, who helps Wittwer run the Neva-Wood COPS organization, jumped the pasta rope twice. Because of the weather, Wilschuen jumped inside the Spaghetti Station restaurant.

Now that’s using your noodle.

Fire district Santa

Fire District No. 9 will be transporting Santa around some North suburban areas in coming days.

Santa will be dispensing holiday cheer and collecting donations for the Spokane Food Bank.

Santa will be out between 6:30 and 8 p.m. nightly. Here’s his schedule:

Tonight: East of the railroad tracks in Mead, including Peone Prairie Estates and Parksmith, and in the Five Mile area.

Friday: Mead Royale Mobile Home Park, Upper Linwood, Nine Mile Falls.

Saturday: Upper Linwood, Forker Road area (starts at 6 p.m.)

Sunday: Whitworth Terrace.

Tuesday: Lower Linwood, north of Wedgewood

Wednesday: Pine River Park and lower Gleneden

Dec. 21: Old Station 91 (26 E. Hawthorne Road).

Dec. 22: Whitworth area, Nine Mile area.

Dec. 23: Seven Mile Area.

For more information call 466-4602.

, DataTimes