Public Periscope

Best plan money can buy

It’s becoming clear that Spokane-area developers see this fall’s local elections as a watershed for them.

Both the city and county are in the process of adopting new comprehensive land-use plans that will set guidelines for growth and development over the next two decades.

City Council members, county commissioners and Spokane’s new strong mayor then will adopt new zoning codes that will implement those plans.

The building industry is angling to get people sympathetic to its cause elected. And they’re not being shy about it.

Take this from the latest Spokane Home Builders Association newsletter:

“We are all going to have to learn that those who have the loudest voices and the most money win,” SHBA president Jenni Stack wrote in the newsletter. “It’s time we became the loudest voices and had the most money! If we as a huge group don’t start making our voices heard, louder and louder, we will be stuck with the comprehensive plan, no matter how hard our staff works at changing some of the asinine ideas in this plan.

“You can bet your boopy, I’ll be yelling louder and louder.”

The association also is putting its money where its yeller is. It has already pumped more than $10,000 into the campaign coffers of Karl Wilkinson, a Republican running for Democrat John Roskelley’s seat on the County Commission.

Miscasting aspersions

At last Monday’s rancorous Spokane City Council meeting there was one brief note of levity.

Councilman Steve Eugster was decrying the willingness of some council members to settle the River Park Park Square garage mess when he mentioned figures about garage revenue cited earlier by Roberta Greene.

Except it had been Phyllis Holmes who had brought up the parking figures, as Greene quickly pointed out to Eugster.

“You guys are so accustomed to using my name, you forget there is a difference between Phyllis and Roberta,” Greene said.

“Well, we look alike,” noted Holmes.

Reaching for profits

Someone already has found a way to cash in on President Clinton’s decision to create the Hanford Reach National Monument.

John Happy reports that he owns the Internet addresses hanfordreach.com and hanfordreach.net.

He’s considering selling the names rather than developing the sites, and said at least one Eastern Washington newspaper is interested in buying, on the assumption that the monument will become a popular attraction.

With Hanford’s reputation, that may be a reach.

Getting involved

Both Spokane city and county governments are looking to fill positions on various advisory boards and commissions.

In the city, there are openings on the Design Review Commission, the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Sister Cities Association.

Call 625-6250 for more information.

The county is seeking volunteers for the Library District Board, Water Conservancy Board, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Board, Community Development Board, Open Space Advisory Board and the Boating Advisory Board.

For more information, call Demeris Skaggs at 477-2265.