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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Kristina Johnson

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News >  Spokane

Board Oks Preliminary Pavilion Study

Without a Pacific Science Center on its horizon, Riverfront Park's dilapidated Pavilion's future is in question. But Spokane Park Board members hope a study of the tent-shaped building's condition will offer at least a few answers. Board members voted unanimously Thursday to spend up to $2,500 on a consultant who would determine the scope of such a study.
News >  Spokane

Funds For Plowing Have Melted Away

The city is almost out of money to clear snow from streets after January storms kept plows like this one busy. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review
News >  Spokane

City Must Negotiate With Six Of Eight Unions This Year

Firefighters for the city of Spokane will get a 3.25 percent salary increase under a recently negotiated contract. The pay hike means a firefighter trainee's salary goes from about $27,366 to $28,255. A fire captain's salary goes from about $55,956 to $57,775. The one-year agreement calls for no work-rule changes and leaves negotiators heading back to the bargaining table this spring.
News >  Spokane

Lincoln Bridge Project Can Now Go Forward

Legal challenges to the proposed Lincoln Street bridge ended in a truce Tuesday, clearing the way for major downtown revitalization. The city and attorney Steve Eugster reached a settlement that resolves the "funding, design and construction" of the bridge, said a statement released jointly.
News >  Spokane

City Council Pulls Plug On TV At Forum

Despite cries of censorship, the Spokane City Council narrowly voted Monday to take its public forum off the air. Council members voted 4-3 to keep the half-hour, free-form discussion at the beginning of meetings but remove TV cameras. "We are not abridging anyone's free speech. ... We are not changing the democratic process," said Councilwoman Roberta Greene.
News >  Nation/World

Fate Of Public Forums Again Before Council Critics Unhappy With Proposal That Would Take Forums Off The Air

Weeks of debate over the fate of the Spokane City Council's public forum may be laid to rest tonight when the council again takes up the contentious topic. Council members are proposing keeping the half-hour free-form discussion at the beginning of meetings but taking it off the air. They also will consider holding four televised "town hall" meetings each year.
News >  Nation/World

Council To Debate Fate Of Public Forum Members May Push Citizen Comment To End Of Their Regular Meetings

Two new Spokane City Council members leap into the middle of an old controversy tonight when they join their colleagues for a debate on the fate of the public forum. Last month, the council put off plans to move the forum so new members Roberta Greene and Jeff Colliton could take part in the discussion. Most members hope to take the forum off cable television and move it back to the end of meetings where it had been for years.
News >  Spokane

Library Workers To Take Leave Without Pay

In the spirit of Christmas, everyone is giving. Spokane Public Libraries avoided layoffs Wednesday, reaching an agreement with the union that has all employees taking 96 hours of leave without pay in 1996. The agreement unanimously approved by the trustees covers all the library's 110 full-time staff members, including those not in the union. "Every library employee is included in this, including the director," said Interim Director Aubrey George.
News >  Spokane

Library Considers Employee Layoffs Board Also Proposes $1 Mailing Fee To Help Balance ‘96 Budget

Money woes may cause the Spokane public libraries to lay off employees to balance the 1996 budget. The board of trustees will meet today at 4:30 p.m. to discuss next year's $6.5 million spending plan. Board members also propose charging library users $1 to mail books to their homes, a free service now. Discussion about possible layoffs will take place in a closed-door session, said interim library director Aubrey George. "They involve ongoing labor negotiations," he said.
News >  Spokane

Council’s Budget Hearing On Dare Emotion-Charged

Twelve-year-old Mike Bush couldn't finish his sentence. He'd already told Spokane City Council members Monday they shouldn't dump DARE to balance the city's budget. He told them it was silly to spend $97,000 for a spay-and-neuter program when his peers are at risk to abuse drugs and alcohol. But when he tried to tell them about his older brother, he broke down in tears, the words tangling in his mouth.
News >  Spokane

Proposal Would Change City Government Strong Mayor Would Be President To Council’s Congress

The city-county charter died at the polls, but a second move to change the face of Spokane city government is alive and well. Attorney Steve Eugster is pushing a strong-mayor initiative that asks residents to toss out the city manager in favor of a mayor who serves as the city's top administrator. "I really want to have a strong mayor in this town because somebody has to be the focal point for the political will of the people," Eugster said.