City To Fight Court Ruling On River Land Decision To Seek Lower Price A High-Stakes Gamble For Council

The city of Spokane is taking Steve and Leslie Ronald back to court for another try at acquiring the couple’s riverfront land.

City Council members voted 5-2 Monday night to appeal last month’s ruling by a Superior Court jury that the Ronalds’ land just north of the downtown library is worth $2.18 million.

If the city loses, the appeal could cost taxpayers more than $250,000 in interest.

But city attorneys are convinced crucial evidence regarding the high cost of building luxury condominiums on the steep site was wrongly excluded from the trial, said Mayor Jack Geraghty.

“They’ve advised us they feel an appeal is a reasonable course of action,” he said. “As trustees of taxpayer dollars, they feel we should pursue the case at least to that extent.”

Councilman Jeff Colliton, who wants the city to back out of the condemnation, disagreed. The council owes the Ronalds a decision - now, he said.

“We just simply need to quit stringing them along,” he said.

Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers urged the council to pay the price set by the jury.

“We should honor that agreement and work out a payment plan,” she said. “The Ronalds have a civil suit, and we could pay a lot more in the end. In fact, I would guarantee it.”

The Ronalds sued the city two years ago, alleging officials have conspired to keep them from building their project. That case is schedule for trial in December.

The couple has been making money off the land since the April 17 jury decision. State law requires taxpayers to pay interest until it buys the land or withdraws from condemnation. That rate, based on the value set by the jury, is $719 a day.

An appeal could take anywhere from three months to a year. If the city loses, they’ll have to pay the interest for the entire time. If it wins, the interest payments stop on the date the appeal is filed.

Mike Maurer, the Ronalds’ attorney, said he wasn’t surprised by the council’s decision.

“It’s just one more example of governmental abuse,” he said. “They had a fair trial. They’re simply trying to string (the Ronalds) along.”

“Nothing surprises me anymore,” said Steve Ronald.

The Ronalds planned to build a seven-story condominium complex on the 1.34-acre property, but the council voted to condemn the site in 1995 to save the view of Spokane Falls from the library.

Also Monday, the council approved a franchise that allows Electric Lightwave Inc., of Vancouver, Wash., to lay conduit for fiber-optic cable in the public right of way. The company offers computer and telephone services.

That means drivers can expect torn-up streets throughout downtown for most of the summer. Last summer, two companies laid cable downtown.

Cathy Pizzini of Electric Lightwave said crews will begin work in July and continue through at least September.

Geraghty said the federal law that deregulated the telecommunications industry made it impossible for the city to deny the company use of the right of way.

“We can’t tell you that you can’t come, but we can certainly insist on standards that you put our streets back the way you found them,” Geraghty said.

“We’re going to be all over this one like a glove.”

, DataTimes