Tonight's the night. After the Spokane Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the complete streets ordinance, Spokane City Council will vote at 6pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard.

 

The grassroots support of this ordinance is amazing with a wide variety of groups stepping up in the last several years to get us here - and support from people like you.

Couple rules if you're attending: The meeting starts at 6pm sharp and the sign-in sheet for testimony is turned over to the Council President around 6:3pm0. If you're there, be courteous. No hats or signs. No hand clapping. If you're testifying, try not to repeat what others have said - bring your own information and perspectives.

What's great about Complete Streets is that it lends itself to many postive perspectives. In the run-up to tonight, Futurewise sent around a petition in support of Complete Streets. Here's my perspective and what I submitted in the comments section:

Spokane has a tradition of having big holes to fill between our street standards and the Comprehensive Plan but now is the opportunity to close the gap. We need to make sure our streets offer connectivity for all users. hat's what a Complete Streets ordinance will accomplish.

Critics talks about cost but it's nothing compared to the financial burden of building new streets and then having to go back and put it in enhancements later. And remember, there is no singular design prescription for Complete Streets; each one is unique and responds to its community context.

There are so many benefits: Healthy citizens, less dependence on foreign oil, increase visibility for small businesses, safer routes to school, better walking options for seniors and the disabled, and, again, fewer repair costs for streets. We need better transit options since we live in one of the poorest areas in the state and transportation is the second largest household expense for Americans.

Also, there will be more matching funds for our streets, especially since the legislature passed HB 1071, that creates a Complete Streets Grant Program for cities that have passed an ordinance. Why miss out on this opportunity?

This is why I ask the Spokane City Council to pass the Complete Streets Ordinance as this road leads to a rewarding future.

Thank you.

Paul Dillon

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