Council Again To Consider Using Reserves For Lost Meter Revenue

The Spokane City Council today will once again consider transferring $1 million from the city’s reserves to the transportation department to make up for lost parking meter revenue.

The transfer, which the council failed to pass several weeks ago, is necessary to ensure basic city services and prevent layoffs, Assistant City Manager Roger Flint said.

The city is expected to lose about $1.6 million in parking meter money that is being deposited in an escrow account as the city awaits the results of the state Supreme Court’s decision regarding the River Park Square garage dispute.

The city is in a lawsuit over whether it is obligated to loan the money to support the struggling garage. The money would otherwise be used by the transportation department for basic street repair and snow removal.

The council was asked by City Manager Hank Miggins to transfer the money at its Sept. 25 meeting. The motion got four votes, with Mayor John Talbott joining the council minority, but the motion failed because emergency budget ordinances need five votes.

Also today, the council is scheduled to vote on downtown zoning and design guidelines. The vote was deferred two weeks at the request of Councilman Steve Eugster.

The council holds a briefing session at 3:30 p.m. and its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Both are shown live on CityCable 5.