City Council renews fire-dispatch pact

Spokane City Council members on Monday approved a new “interlocal” agreement among the city Fire Department and 14 other public agencies to provide emergency fire dispatch and communication services throughout the county.

The agreement updates a 1996 arrangement in which the city became the central dispatch and communication service for fire agencies throughout the county in exchange for assurances that the service could not be interrupted at any time. The original agreement was for 10 years.

Participants in the agreement are Spokane County fire districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 and the cities of Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Cheney.

Stevens County Fire District No. 1 left the arrangement and transferred services to the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 because of problems receiving a strong enough signal as a result of federal communications changes.

The city would take in an estimated $1 million in revenue in exchange for the service. The new contract comes from a policy board and the city Fire Department, which reviewed the agreement and is recommending updated language.

Tax break for condos

In other business, the council approved a 10-year multifamily housing tax exemption for Cooke Development Corp., of Spokane, which has proposed a $1.7 million condominium project on two lots at 1630 W. Riverside Ave. Eight condominiums with an average of 1,075 square feet each are planned.

Street improvements

The council also set a series of hearings for street improvements before the city hearing examiner for Dec. 12.

They are for improvements to 19th Avenue from Rebecca to Cuba streets at 1:30 p.m.; for improvements to 23rd Avenue from Rebecca to Myrtle streets and 23rd Avenue from Cuba to Havana streets at 2:30 p.m.; and for improvements to Rebecca Street from Rich to Wellesley avenues, Myrtle Street from Rich to Wellesley avenues and Florida Street from Rich to Wellesley avenues at 3:30 p.m.