Public asked for input on city hall

Spokane Valley announced at the City Council meeting Tuesday evening that the first public meeting about the new city hall will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at CenterPlace.

Mayor Dean Grafos said he’s excited to begin the design of the new city hall, which will be located in the west end of the University City parking lot.

“It will be a key piece of a new civic center located within a growing and repurposed mix of commercial, educational and multifamily opportunities in this vital area,” Grafos said in a written statement that was released during the council meeting.

Representatives from Architects West – the company that’s designing and building city hall – will be at Wednesday’s meeting, as will council members and city staff.

Spokane Valley residents are invited to provide input on specific design elements and also general comments on the project which is expected to be finished by June 2017.

Other agenda

In other news, the proposed reduction of gambling tax from 10 percent to 6 percent was moved ahead to a final reading. The tax cut will cost the city $178,400 in annual revenue – which may or may not be recovered from new gambling businesses moving to Spokane Valley or from increased business at existing gambling establishments.

The proposed mining moratorium also moved one step closer to approval, over some opposition from Central Pre-Mix. Mayor Dean Grafos said Spokane Valley must address the gravel pits which take up 1 square mile of land within city limits. Deputy City Attorney Erik Lamb reassured representatives from Central Pre-Mix that the moratorium will not impact that company’s continued operation of gravel pits.

The council meetings on May 19 and May 26 were canceled because there weren’t enough agenda items to justify gathering the council.