Group’s First Vision For City: Involvement

Tue., March 11, 1997

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

If Spokane is to prosper as a community, everyone needs to be involved, says Latah Creek resident Lori Bertis.

That’s why she and at least 200 other residents are taking part in the Spokane Horizons planning process to write a long-range plan for the city.

“We need to learn how to be a community,” Bertis said. “We can learn how to solve our problems. I’m thrilled to be part of the process.”

City planners and Horizons members updated the City Council Monday about their progress toward writing the comprehensive plan, which guides planning and growth. The state Growth Management Act requires a new plan be written.

In the first phase of the six-phase process, residents identified 11 visions for Spokane, such as having a variety of transportation choices and managing growth to allow a mix of land uses.

The group just completed the second phase, where members identified 175 obstacles to the visions, such as poor maintenance of city streets and zoning laws that discourage mixed land uses.

The third phase calls for residents to find ways to make the visions reality. For example, if Spokane residents want to encourage people to walk more and drive less, city policies must require that sidewalks be maintained.

Several Horizons members told the council they worried their work might be tossed aside when the process is completed.

“Their concern is that, in the end, this process really won’t matter,” said member Laura Ackerman. “We want this to matter.”

“A lot of people are investing a lot of time in this process and want to see something real,” Bertis said. “I’d like to see a continuation of the inclusion of citizens in city planning.”

Chris Hugo, a city planner, said the GMA requires a citizen-based plan. “All decisions must be based on early and continuous citizen participation.”

The group hopes to present a draft comprehensive plan to the council by the end of the year.

Residents interested in taking part in Spokane Horizons or getting a copy of the values and issues packet should call the Planning Department at 625-6060.

Also Monday, the council voted unanimously to borrow $2.5 million from the city’s Solid Waste Department to buy the former Salty’s at the Falls restaurant and surrounding property.

Council members last week approved spending $2.78 million on the land. The balance will come from the city street fund.

City officials expect to get $2.2 million from the Federal Highway Administration next month to help cover the loan, along with $567,000 from the state Public Works Trust Fund.

, DataTimes

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