Spokane7
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February 13, 2010 in City
Mayor cites innovation in face of deficit
Verner talks of collaboration with county in annual address
During her State of the City address Friday, Spokane Mayor Mary Verner applauds Nancy MacKerrow, who founded a tree planting program.
(Full-size photo)
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner said Friday her administration has “plans in place and work under way” to deal with another deficit facing the city.
“As we go about our business in 2010, we’re going to provide all the programs and services you’ve come to expect from us, while we push ahead with creativity and innovation,” Verner said in her annual State of the City address. “We’re going to be developing new ways of doing business. We’re going to maintain our financial strength, and we’re going to bolster our local economy.”
The 35-minute speech at the Spokane Convention Center was sponsored by Greater Spokane Inc., the region’s chamber of commerce.
Verner detailed many initiatives the city undertook last year to deal with a $7 million deficit, but there were few specifics Friday on how the mayor will handle the predicted $10 million hole in 2011. She pointed to her Six Sigma initiative, a corporate management program she brought to City Hall, which she said has improved service and resulted in major savings in cell phone bills and other costs.
Verner endorsed improving partnerships with Spokane County and other entities to end duplications in government. She said the city is working with county officials to create “a comprehensive approach to criminal justice, to minimize jail costs and provide alternatives to incarceration while remaining tough on crime.”
But while endorsing collaboration, she also touted the creation of the city’s Municipal Court, which ended a court partnership with Spokane County at the start of last year. The city argued a separate court was needed as the result of a state Supreme Court ruling. The county responded that the city pulled out of the partnership prematurely.
County Commissioner Mark Richard, who attended the speech, said despite his concerns about the court, Verner’s talk of collaboration wasn’t hollow.
“The creation of the court system established by the city represents a step back, but we are making progress in a number of areas,” Richard said. “Five years ago, we were talking through our attorneys. Today we’re sitting down, working things out.”
Among other work at City Hall, Verner noted the recent reopening of the downtown library on Mondays, the hiring of a police ombudsman, and the city’s new bike and pedestrian coordinator. She also praised several initiatives she said would aid the economy, including continued development of the University District and the International District along East Sprague Avenue.
Verner also embraced efforts to improve city streets through creation of a Transportation Benefit District, which would result in a tab tax, or a street utility fee, which would be included on monthly bills similar to sewage fees.
The utility fee concept, an idea championed in recent years by former City Councilman Al French, would need the approval of the state Legislature. Bills dealing with state utility fees have been introduced in the Legislature, but neither chamber has voted on them.
MAC faces angry crowd 
Ron_the_Cop on February 13 at 12:35 a.m.
Readers should be aware that there is quite a lively discussion thread under the earlier version of this story:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/12/verner-says-plans-place-deal-2011-deficit/?comments#c117637
BigE,
You and me both. Here’s my most recent complaint related leaving the City’s auditor position vacant and using salary savings of this position to fund the additional staff time for the Council assistants. Mind you they were just made permanent part time with benefits that no other part time staff in the City get.
This all has to do with the upcoming budget deficit. Perhaps they will dip into the “Bank of Hine” to bail them out. AKA Solid Waste Reserve Fund of $49M that is held off budget.
See my comment here re Mr. Brunt’s previous story on the Auditor position et al:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010…
Here’s another story that the S-R has as of yet to cover. My sources say there is a betting pool under way in “City Hell” AKA City Hall whether the S-R will devote any ink to this:-)
See my other comment:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010…
READ QUICKLY AS THIS IS LIKELY TO DISAPPEAR
Dear Mr. Adams,
You are quite correct re a complaint was filed by me with the WA State Board of Accountancy. This complaint alleges a violation of violation of RCW 18.04.345 by re Gavin Cooley, CFO of the City of Spokane - misuse of the letters “CPA” after his name on the City’s website. The cat’s now out of the bag as this web page has since been “scrubbed.”
I understand this blog thread is generating considerable interest with City Hall insiders watching from the bleachers. While Mr. Brunt may write a follow-up story, in the interest of full disclosure you can read my complaint below with supporting documents and screen prints and decide whether this was a mere oversight or something more:
Cover letter
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cooley-complaint-cover.doc
Complaint
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/wa-accountancy-complaint.pdf
Affiant’s Declaration
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cooley-cpa-complaint-1.doc
Table of Exhibits
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cooley-complaint-exhibits.doc
[New note in the other post]
City of Spokane PDR Request for Docs
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cooley-pdr-pdf.pdf
Det. Ron Wright (Retired)
AKA Ron the Cop
No_Guts_No_Glory on February 13 at 8:04 a.m.
It appear that Ms. Verner has not kept her promises to the people; I voted for her after hearing her speak at several of her straight talks.
While she is a very pleasant and kind lady, I have to wonder why she did not keep her promises.
Chief Bobby Williams?
Gavin Cooley?
She had made some good choices; but we need somone that doesn’t play by “the powers that be” rules.
We need a regular citizen with no ties to all the BS in this town.
Hey….where is that lady who stood up to Jim West????
Sharon Sullivan?? Let’s get her to call B*S* and rock this town.
We have had worse!!!
lewis8457 on February 13 at 8:49 a.m.
Jim west was a good man he would have done a good job for us, but he was unwilling to play the game and got set up. Proving that sure you can be good but if the corrupt powers in this town don’t like you , they will get you out of office,.
When the scam came out and it was found out that Jim was using his office computer for personal communication i wasn’t surprised they didn’t run the same scam on all city and county employees. I would bet good money 90 percent of all employees with a computer do email, blogs,and games when they should be working.
In fact there is state worker on the HB site that blogs all day long. says he can still blog every 10 minutes and still do his job.
lewis8457 on February 13 at 8:51 a.m.
I voted for Verner to, needless to say i wont make that mistake again.
She has given the police guild everything they have wanted. while telling us Ottos death was justified.
Piss poor excuse for a mayor
shanusmaximus on February 17 at 9:31 a.m.
@Lewis
“Jim west was a good man he would have done a good job for us, but he was unwilling to play the game and got set up.”
Jim set himself up…..with a one way ticket to Hell.