Spokane Valley City Council’s legislative agenda includes parental rights

Spokane Valley City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved its 2018 Legislative Agenda, which includes topics to be presented and discussed with 4th District legislators during the upcoming legislative session.

The City Council added to the agenda a request for state and federal transportation funding to go toward the Barker Road grade separation project, but decided to forgo funding for the Pines Road underpass grade separation project.

Earlier, the council debated a proposal that said the health district nor school district should be allowed to bar unvaccinated children from attending school during outbreaks. Critics said the city did not have the authority to make such a declaration. The approved legislative agenda only says the city “supports parental rights and changes in state law that strengthen parental rights and requests that future legislation not have the unintended consequence of eroding parental rights.”

City Attorney Cary Driskell said adding the parental rights language to the legislative agenda wouldn’t put the city in a position for a lawsuit because it’s not an ordinance, but rather, a platform to allow discussion with Legislature.

“It doesn’t propose any change to the law,” Driskell said at the meeting. “I believe it doesn’t propose any liability to the city.”

Councilwoman Pam Haley said she was against the proposed parental rights provision or “talking points” in the beginning.

“I am still slightly concerned it is on our agenda,” she said. “I am going to vote for it, but I’m doing it with a bit of hesitation.”

Councilman San Wood was in support of adding parental rights to the legislative agenda.

“We need to represent all the people in the Valley,” he said. “I’m happy to be voting for this.”

The legislative agenda also calls for reform of the state business and occupation tax as well as the current Labor and Industries program, both of which “make it burdensome for businesses to compete in neighboring states,” according to council documents.

City Council will meet with legislators to discuss the legislative agenda items in December.