Tree falls, closing Grand Boulevard

Wind gusts Monday toppled a large Norway maple tree across Grand Boulevard at Manito Park during rush-hour traffic, but no one was injured.

Officials said the tree fell about 4:45 p.m. during a break in traffic created by stoplights.

Park and street crews worked about two hours to clear the tree, which closed all four lanes of Grand, near 18th Avenue.

Tom Higgins, park facilities foreman, estimated the wind gusts that felled the tree “had to be pretty close to 50 mph.”

City arborist Jeff Perry said the tree, whose trunk core had rotted away, had vertical stress cracks on two sides that apparently allowed the trunk to snap when wind gusts twisted the tree. Also, a “pretty substantial lean” contributed to the incident, Perry said.

He estimated the tree was more than 100 years old. Perry said city staff members wanted to replace the trees in the late 1990s, but administrators – citing public opinion – decided to leave the trees but plant a row of replacement trees at the edge of Manito Park.

– John Craig

Council OKs push to cut water use

The Spokane City Council on Monday approved a new water stewardship program aimed at reducing water consumption over the next 10 years.

The program seeks to cut indoor water use by 5 percent and outdoor water use by 20 percent through a series of measures, including public education and a rate structure that charges more for heavier consumption.

“These are ambitious goals, but I think they are achievable,” said Brad Blegen, director of the city’s water department. He noted that the region’s aquifer serves a population of 500,000 and that the water supply will have to be conserved to accommodate expected growth.

The Washington Department of Health is implementing new rules for water use efficiency that will require public water systems to find ways to conserve.

The council postponed until next Monday action on a sweeping revision of the city’s 48-year-old residential zoning code.

– Mike Prager

Cars to be towed from Bloomsday route

In case you missed the news, Bloomsday is coming.

And no-parking signs are popping up along the race course.

Ignore them at your own risk. The city is sweeping the route this week and will tow cars still on the streets.

– Amy Cannata

Signal testing will change traffic flow

Early morning drivers will notice a different glow downtown this morning and Wednesday – no flashing yellow lights.

The city is testing a new signal timing pattern on downtown traffic lights from 4 to 6 a.m. in anticipation of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s upcoming Interstate 90 viaduct repair project.

The new signal timing is designed to move traffic more efficiently through downtown when that project begins May 15.

Testing means that drivers used to breezing through downtown streets on flashing yellow lights will have to slow down at yellow, stop at red and go on green during the two-hour test period. Regular patterns will resume at 6 a.m. both days.

– Amy Cannata