Without sufficient oxygen, fish in lakes and rivers cannot survive. The Washington state Department of Ecology has drafted a plan intended to help both the lake and the river meet state and federal water-quality standards for dissolved oxygen.

This has become a controversial issue because the standards might preclude building a new Spokane County wastewater treatment plant in the Spokane Valley. The public is invited to comment on the proposed plan by Dec. 31.

On Tuesday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Spokane Community College’s Lair Sasquatch Room, 1810 N. Greene St., ecology officials will give a short presentation on the plan, answer questions and then listen to input from citizens.

For more information, go to www.ecy.wa.gov and click on “Spokane TMDL Public Hearing.” Or call (509) 329-3515.

Tax increment financing. The first proposal to use tax-increment financing in Spokane will go before the Spokane City Council on Monday at 6 p.m. The intent is to improve the iron railroad bridge that crosses the Spokane River near Hamilton and Trent and develop a business park in the area.

People who want to present objections at a hearing that evening can do so if they put their concerns in writing and submit them to the city clerk ahead of time.

Under tax-increment financing, the city would issue bonds to upgrade the area – from curbing and paving, to riverbank cleanup, to decking and railing for the bridge. The improvements would set the stage for developer Kent Hull and his investors to develop the property for commercial and recreational uses.

As property values increase, the added property tax revenues would be used to pay off the bonds. Once the debt was retired, the full property tax collection would be diverted to the city treasury.

The hearing on Monday is to be the only one held on the proposal.