Boundaries Changed For Proposed City Of Mead

Boundaries for the proposed city of Mead have been changed to exclude some rural residents, while two urban areas were added.

The Linwood neighborhood has been included to avoid creating an island of unincorporated land sandwiched between two cities. The boundary has also been stretched north of Ballard Road. Out is the new Mount Spokane High School and the rest of Peone Prairie.

The boundary changes reduce the physical size of the proposed city, but probably won’t change the estimated population of 20,000.

Jack and Julie Dein, the North Side real estate brokers who formally filed the incorporation of the city of Mead last month, described the new boundaries Monday during a public meeting with the state Boundary Review Board. About 50 people attended the meeting.

Most of the early opposition to the proposal came from rural residents who didn’t want to pay for city services.

The next step is to collect signatures from 10 percent of the registered voters within the proposed boundaries. Proponents will begin circulating petitions in a few weeks.

Supporters view forming the new city as a way of keeping tax money on the North Side, for local improvements and development. They also want to protect their rights to develop their property.

Opponents say incorporation will mean higher taxes, reduced services, and overdevelopment.

Major industries, including Kaiser Aluminum, are outside the proposed boundaries. Opponents say that without a solid commercial and industrial tax base, residents will face a staggering tax burden.

“You are going to have a credit-card city, and you are going to pay and pay and pay,” said Elsie Cadena, a Peone Prairie resident.

Dan Hultquist, who lives inside the proposed city, disagreed.

“Give it a chance instead of shooting it down,” he said. “We can have a good commercial base if we get together and work on it.”

North Side developer Jim Markley supports the incorporation plan. He said the county’s urban growth boundaries will take away his rights to develop his property.

John Mercer, county growth management planner, said the new city would be required to put together its own urban growth plan, and a plan for providing urban services within its boundaries.

William Sargent, business manager for the Spokane County Library, said the new city could receive library services either by annexing to the library district, like Millwood, or with a service contract, like Deer Park.

There is one library branch within the proposed city’s boundaries.

Fire District 9 Chief Robert Anderson said the city could have a similar agreement for fire services.

“We are concerned about the effect on us fiscally, and on our ability to provide services,” he said.

He noted that the proposed city’s boundaries split the fire district. Fire District 4 also serves part of the proposed city.

If the necessary signatures are collected on the petition, the state Boundary Review Board will hold a public hearing. The board can then approve the proposal, modify it, or recommend against it.

If the proposal moves forward, it is scheduled for general election at least 60 days after the board’s decision.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Proposed city of Mead