Council To Hear Plans Tonight To Raise Utility Rates, Greens Fees

The price of golf, garbage, waste and water could be going up.

During tonight’s Spokane City Council meeting, department heads plan to detail proposals to raise utility rates and greens fees.

The presentation is the second in a three-part series on the proposed 1996 budget.

Last week, City Manager Roger Crum detailed spending plans for the general fund budget, which pays for the police and fire departments, public works and other City Hall services.

City utility departments and the Parks and Recreation Department are asking to raise rates about 3.25 percent.

Hearings on the proposed budgets will begin Dec. 4.

Also tonight, the council will:

Hear a report from Planning Services Director Irv Reed about a plan to impose impact fees on developers.

The fees approved by the council a year ago must be used to improve growth-stressed infrastructure such as streets.

Hear an appeal of the hearing examiner’s denial of a mini-mall project proposed for southwest Spokane.

George and Margaret Chica want to build a mini-mall at Meadowland Road and U.S. Highway 195. The Spokane couple has proposed a mini-mall with a bank, convenience store and home-and-garden center.

Hearing Examiner Greg Smith turned down the Chicas’ proposal in August in favor of plans for Latah Creek Plaza, a $10 million strip mall which would include a Tidyman’s grocery store, a video store and small retailers.

The Latah Creek neighborhood plan allows only one commercial development in the area.

, DataTimes