In brief: Eugster tax bid needs signatures

Former Spokane City Councilman Steve Eugster will have to gather almost 2,800 signatures to give voters a say on the city’s utility tax.

The City Council voted Monday to require Eugster to gather the necessary signatures rather than putting the matter on the ballot themselves. Eugster will have a year to collect the signatures from city’s registered voters.

Last year Eugster filed an initiative with the city that would lower Spokane’s utility tax to whichever is higher: 6 percent or the average rate charged by other first-class cities in Washington – 11 percent.

Spokane’s utility tax now equals 20 percent of garbage, sewer and water bills. Although officials call it a 20 percent-tax, it works out to be 25 percent of taxable charges of a bill.

Eugster argues that the tax is a burden on seniors and the poor. City officials argue that they need the revenue to provide essential services.

– Jonathan Brunt

Post Falls

Police cars hit before arrest

A 28-year-old man was arrested early Monday after leading police on a chase that ended in a residential cul-de-sac in Post Falls where he allegedly rammed a stolen van into two patrol vehicles. The suspect, Jose Soto, then fled on foot and was arrested in the backyard of a residence, police said.

The incident began at 12:30 a.m. when police received a report that someone had stolen a van in the 200 block of East Seltice Way in Post Falls.

Officers responded, found the vehicle traveling eastbound on Seltice and followed it, according to a press release. The driver eventually turned onto a residential street, which ended in a cul-de-sac.

The driver tried to escape by ramming police cars. He hit one patrol car on the driver’s side bumper and a second one in a head-on collision, Sgt. Mark Brantl wrote.

The suspect, later identified as Soto, was arrested after a short foot chase.

He was taken to the Kootenai County Jail, where he was booked for felony eluding, aggravated assault, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence and driving without privileges.

– Thomas Clouse

Spokane

Loan to speed up parks projects

Construction of pools, splash pads and parks could get a quicker start thanks to a loan approved Monday.

The Spokane City Council unanimously approved a $3 million loan to the city’s parks department that will allow the design and construction on some projects included in the $42.9 million bond approved by voters in November to get started early.

Interim Parks Director Roger Crum said the department likely won’t get money from the upcoming bond sale until May. The loan will be paid back with interest when the money is received.

Spokane’s city charter creates a firm separation between park money, which is controlled by the Park Board, and most other city spending.

Crum said the parks department plans to construct six of the 10 splash pads that are part of the bond this summer. He said the construction could start on all six pools after the swim season ends this year. Work also is expected to start on a new sports complex adjacent to Joe Albi Stadium in the coming months.

– Jonathan Brunt