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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

City Council approves new rates and fees for downtown businesses

Spokane City Council approved fee changes for businesses and property owners living inside the downtown Business Improvement District Monday.

Businesses, who are charged a few cents per square foot they occupy, would have their fees raised. Most property owners, with the exception of condo owners, will not see significant changes in their fees.

Janelle Lee, Home Owners Association President for the West Main Condominium building, said she paid around $700 in fees to the district and some of her neighbors paid more than $1,000. Under the new system, condo owners would pay no more than $215.

The fees are overseen by the Downtown Spokane Partnership which pays for clean teams to maintain downtown and Safe teams for security.

Downtown Spokane Partnership President Mark Richard said there are at least 1,000 ratepayers inside the district, which includes the property between First Avenue and Broadway Avenue and sections of property between Walnut Street and Division Street.

The council also approved redistricting and expanding the district to eventually include the Wonder Bread building north of the Spokane River. However, tenants and property owners, who are assessed and pay fees separately, would not officially join the district until 2020.