Grocery Store On City Agenda Council To Consider East Central Project

The Spokane City Council will consider a proposed East Central neighborhood grocery store when it meets tonight.

Council members will hold a final public hearing on whether to change the neighborhood’s land-use plan to allow the store. The city Plan Commission approved the proposal last month.

Judy Hart wants to build a store between Third and Fourth avenues and Thor and Ray streets and lease it to an as-yet-unnamed grocery chain.

The project calls for changing the land-use designation for the lot from residential to business and vacating an unpaved stretch of Ralph between Third and Fourth.

Unlike a proposal for a Tidyman’s store, Hart’s proposal has raised few concerns from neighbors.

Tidyman’s withdrew plans in 1994 after haggling with residents about the project for more than two years.

While the Tidyman’s project would have replaced at least 37 homes, Hart’s proposal involves only nine homes - and she and her family own them all.

Hart’s plan is for a 48,000-square-foot store compared with Tidyman’s original plans for a 107,000-square-foot store.

Also tonight, the council plans to:

Consider raising Planning Department fees. The fee for a special permit would go from $625 to $645, and the fee for a temporary use permit would go from $250 to $258.

Set a hearing for next Monday on a ballot initiative that proposes to change the city to a strong mayor form of government.

Attorney Steve Eugster is pushing the measure which asks voters to toss out the city manager in favor of a mayor who serves as the city’s top administrator.

Consider ratifying a contract for city firefighters which allows for a 3.25 percent salary increase.

The pay hike means a firefighter trainee’s salary would go from about $27,366 to $28,255. A fire captain’s salary would go from $55,956 to $57,775.

Including benefits, the increase would cost taxpayers an additional $565,164 this year.

Renew its $60,000 contract with Spokane COPS, the non-profit organization that took over the city’s community policing program last year.

A briefing for residents will begin at 3 p.m. in the lower-level conference room of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The council’s briefing will start at 3:30 p.m.

The public forum will begin at 6 p.m. in council chambers, and the regular meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.

, DataTimes