Civic Leaders Mull Millennium Brainstorming Session Seeks Ways To Usher In The Big 2000

Trillions of colored balls of cornflakes could float over a nicely backlit Spokane Falls.

Or hundreds of volunteers could help build houses for the homeless.

Spokane officials agree they want to celebrate the arrival of a new millennium in a decidedly Spokane way. The question is: What does that mean?

About two dozen civic leaders gathered Thursday to kick around themes and concepts for a yearlong recognition of the city’s past and future.

“Unless there’s someone here who can really guarantee me I’ll be around for the next millennium … this is our first and last chance,” said Denny Nichols, with the Spokane Lilac Festival.

The meeting was essentially a brainstorming session, where representatives from government, business and community groups shouted out whatever came to mind.

Ideas ranged from opaque to amazingly clear.

Loren Mitchell, director of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, suggested something dramatic, like floating biodegradable balls made of corn flakes over the falls.

Another woman suggested “something to do with a smile.”

“What we’re talking about is making people happy,” she said. “And what’s the expression of happiness?”

The group agreed it wanted to leave some type of legacy.

Mayor John Talbott threw out a handful of ideas - build houses for Habitat for Humanity; have a theme centered around Father’s Day, which, he noted, has its roots in Spokane.

Others suggested setting goals for increased volunteerism, or picking one problem having to do with children that could be solved in a year or two.

But there was also talk about celebration.

One man said Spokane should consider following a program like that in Boston, where every conceivable civic event - concerts, sporting events, theater shows - was free.

“We’re going to have a party in the year 2000, and it’s going to be the biggest party Spokane’s ever seen,” Talbott said.

The group collected all its thoughts on a note pad and established a handful of subcommittees to tackle things such as fund-raising. The subcommittees will meet regularly in coming months.

“It sounds like (the millennium) is a long ways away, but we need to get organized and we need to get started,” said Ron Hardin, who will act as millennium chairman for the Lilac Festival.