Neighborhood Council Concerns Expressed
A dozen Indian Trail and Five Mile Prairie residents took cautious first steps last Wednesday toward creating neighborhood councils.
Despite offers of more access, more information and a stronger voice when they come before city council, neighbors are doubtful they stand a chance against special interest groups or “big money.”
“Is this a boat drill or the real thing?” asked Indian Trail resident Lori Peckham. “We have been together as a neighborhood for a long time. Is this really going to make a difference?”
“Why should we spend our time, our money and get riled up when the big money people always get their way?” asked John Monteith.
Molly Myers, director of Spokane’s Office of Neighborhood Services, said their concerns are expected. “This isn’t the first time I’ve heard these concerns,” she said. “The council is very serious about this.”
But she warned that the program is new and not the answer to every neighborhood problem.
“Having a neighborhood council is not a panacea; not all of your wishes are going to come true,” she admitted. “But it will make your group more credible when you come before the City Council. You’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some,” she said.
One of the first steps in organizing the council is deciding on the boundaries of the neighborhood.
Indian Trail is considering breaking into two separate councils - north and south of the landfill.
Five Mile may also break into two councils - one on the prairie, the other around Five Mile shopping center.
Dennis Horlacher, from Five Mile Prairie, said he’s optimistic. “I’m excited about the neighborhood council process,” he said. “To me it’s a form of representative government; we will have a unified voice.”
Improving communication between the city and neighborhoods is the goal of the council program.
Residents at the meeting said they have trouble learning about the city’s plans for their neighborhood until it’s too late to have much involvement or impact.
Myers said part of the process includes providing neighborhoods with relevant information as soon as it’s available, making staff more accessible and encouraging meetings with developers in the early stages of planning.
“In the long run, it’s in the interest of developers to work with the neighborhood councils,” said Myers.
There are already five neighborhood councils: NevadaLidgerwood, Emerson-Garfield, Historic Cannon’s Addition, East Central and West Central.
The first community assembly is scheduled to meet today in the council briefing center, lower level of City Hall. Neighborhood council representatives will meet with Mayor Jack Geraghty and councilwomen Roberta Greene and Phyllis Holmes.
, DataTimes