City Invites Public To Hear Spending Plan

The Spokane City Council will conduct the third of five public hearings on the city’s proposed 1998 spending plan tonight.

City Manager Bill Pupo has proposed a $101.7 million general government budget that includes proposals to place a new tax on cable television and add a public information coordinator to the payroll.

Directors of the city’s three utilities propose raising rates for water, garbage collection and sewage disposal, increasing the average customer’s bill by $2.87 a month.

Council members plan to have at least one more hearing Dec. 1 before adopting the spending plan Dec. 8.

Also tonight, the council will consider establishing a sister city relationship with Chechon, Korea.

During Monday’s afternoon briefing session, council members will discuss amending a contract with ALSC Architects. The city wants the architectural firm to study whether the Long Lake Lumber site would be suitable for a city fleet maintenance center.

The amendment will add $129,189 to the current $353,858 contract with ALSC to study the maintenance center proposals.

Last month, the council put $50,000 down on the $5 million Long Lake site at 2306 E. Mallon.

A briefing for the council begins at 3:30 p.m. in the lower-level conference room of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.

, DataTimes