Native Plants May Be Used Along Indian Trail Road

The city is looking at the Indian Trail Road project as a way to get an entirely different look for both landscaping and drainage.

Instead of planting grass, which can require mowing and irrigation, and non-native trees, which also can need water, the city hopes to use hardier, drought-tolerant landscaping featuring ponderosa pines and other native plants.

The plan for Indian Trail Road, estimated to cost $4 million, would have the landscaping and drainage down the middle, boulevard-style. The roadway would be widened to four lanes between Kathleen and Ridgecrest, with left-turn bays and signals at Pacific Park Road, Barnes Road and Shawnee. Construction could begin next spring.

Residents sought an innovative design approach. Many feared it would cut the community in half or become another Country Homes Boulevard.

“As a landscape architect it’s an exciting opportunity,” said Tom Reese, an urban design specialist with the city. “Here’s a chance to build that old-style boulevard or parkway they used to build around Spokane, but using native plants.”

Parking permits for GU neighbors?

In response to complaints from people living around Gonzaga University, the city is drafting an ordinance that would permit the City Council to allow resident-only parking on certain streets.

Under the proposal, residents would pay a small fee for a permit or a decal, and only cars with that insignia could park during certain days or hours.

There may even need to be a small-scale study completed in each neighborhood before the restrictions can be applied, said Bud Vokoun of the city’s transportation department.

Logan, as well as neighborhoods around high schools and commercial areas, would be able to apply to the City Council for consideration.

A draft policy is so far circulating among city traffic planners and the legal counsel and may be ready for a presentation to the council by the end of the year, Vokoun said.

But the council would have to more than like the idea; it would have to pay for it. The new ordinance would require an additional enforcement officer and an administrator to make it work.

Cozza Drive newly striped

After being lobbied by residents for more than a year, the city has completed traffic striping along Cozza Drive from Division to Nevada. Cozza is a wide arterial where the speed limit was recently dropped to 25 mph.

Even though Cozza is supposed to be one lane in each direction, residents had said they’d seen cars pass each other. The striping provides one lane in each direction with marked parking lanes and a two-way left turn lane in the center.

“Initial observations are that drivers appear to be slowing down,” said Bruce Steele, city transportation director.

COPS volunteers having a ball

Volunteers at Spokane’s police substations are invited to a COPS masquerade ball Oct. 28 at the Masonic Temple downtown, 1108 W. Riverside.

The event is free to all volunteers and one guest, while others are being charged $6. It will run from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Marilyn Rice, administrative assistant for the program, said the event is a way to thank the community policing volunteers.

Door prizes will be given as well as awards for the most outrageous mask.

The event is non-alcoholic, but those under 16 are not encouraged to attend.

“I know our volunteers,” said Rice. “They’re such party animals it’s going to be a crazy night.”

Picnic shelter dedication

The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department will dedicate the new Franklin Park picnic shelter, at the southeast corner of Division and Queen, at 12:30 p.m. next Thursday.

, DataTimes