Downtown Tax District Ok’d Council Also Approves Changing The Way It Handles Agenda

Downtown Spokane - saved from the “doughnut of decay.”

From one resident’s perspective, that’s what the City Council did Monday when it unanimously approved a taxing district hailed as a way to revitalize downtown.

Cities die when they resemble doughnuts - “empty in the middle,” with shopping centers moved to the outside, said Bob Dellwo, a former city councilman, who urged the council not to let downtown Spokane die.

Mayor Jack Geraghty described the plan as a private-public partnership that “will pay extra to get extra amenities that will go to a vital and vibrant downtown area.”

Several residents said they supported the district but just didn’t think taxpayer money should be involved.

“I don’t think that it is right … to ask citizen taxpayers to prop up downtown businesses for their own gain at the expense of people who can’t afford to come downtown,” said George McGrath, who frequently criticizes city spending.

Similar to taxing districts used to build sewers or pave roads, the Parking and Business Improvement Area would raise $675,000 by taxing downtown businesses, organizations, buildings and properties.

The money is slated for improvements to make downtown safer, more convenient, attractive and accessible.

Foes of the plan proposed by the Downtown Spokane Partnership say it would benefit a few big businesses and drive others to the suburbs.

Assessments within the district would be no less than $120 a year and no more than $38,000, depending on a number of factors, including business size.

The city of Spokane would pay about $200,000 a year to the district and about $20,000 in assessments on two buildings - City Hall and the library. The city also would spend about $90,000 for staff and supplies to handle assessment billings.

All the money would come from reinstalling parking meters, which the council will consider next month.

Karen Valvano, the improvement district’s consultant, called the council’s vote a “hard-fought process” and a “sweet victory.”

“I left feeling positive about the process, positive about the project,” Valvano said. “There were no hard feelings with this one.”

Also Monday, the council approved a plan to revamp the way it does business, allowing more time for public and council review of weekly agenda items.

Passage of the plan means that:

Thursday briefings will be out. Instead, the council twice a month will have a Thursday study session devoted to one topic.

An hotline will allow residents to call in on Mondays with questions and concerns about meeting issues.

Agendas will be available 10 days in advance instead of four days.

The public can sit down with a council member and staff person on Mondays at 3 p.m. to talk about issues on that night’s agenda.

The forum - where residents can ask about issues not on the agenda - will take place at the start of the meeting and be televised.

Consent agenda items - routine things such as contracts and claims - will be voted on during the Monday briefing, which will start at 3:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

The new meeting schedule takes effect July 10.

, DataTimes