Spokane City Council to Consider Changes to Neighborhood Council Ordinance

Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, 509.625.6226

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 10:03 a.m.

During the September Public Infrastructure, Environment, and Sustainability Committee Meeting (PIES), Spokane City Council was briefed on a proposed ordinance from the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) amending the Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) to ordain that the Neighborhood Councils be more inclusive and more transparent in their leadership. 

“Our Neighborhood Councils have been in effect since the 1990s and gradually increased their participation in City government, most directly with ONS and the City Council,” said Council President Lori Kinnear. “It’s vital that Neighborhood Councils stay inclusive and continue to attract new members and leadership to continue to be successful. The process of drafting this ordinance is far from over. ONS and the Council office will continue to work with all stakeholders on a mutually agreeable path forward. It is time for a new approach to Neighborhood Council leadership.”

The "Inclusive and Transparent Neighborhood Volunteering Ordinance" amends Title 4.27 of the Spokane Municipal Code for neighborhood councils. Its stated purposes are the following:

  • To promote diversity and inclusion for leadership in Neighborhood Councils and Community Assemblies.
  • To ensure that any resolution or statement from a Neighborhood Council or the Community Assembly is official and reflects the will of that body.
  • The Community Assembly shall have its administrative chair preside over its meetings, and the vice-chair shall preside in the chair's absence. 
  • The ONS Director shall have a final determination on questions of compliance with this section of Chapter 4.27. He shall report this determination to the City Council. 
  • Any Neighborhood Council or its Community Assembly representative not in compliance with this section, as determined in writing by the ONS Director, will not have a recognized Community Assembly vote or receive city funding from the neighborhood council until the Director has determined compliance.

The ordinance will also set term limits on Community Assembly representatives, City Boards, and commission officers.  The term limit would be up to two two-year terms, then requiring a term off before coming back into leadership. The ordinance does also allow for a waiver from the ONS Director if a neighborhood does not have enough members to fill leadership positions. ONS will help train new leadership and work with members of the City Council to provide institutional knowledge to those new to their Neighborhood Councils. 

“Neighborhoods are the backbone of Spokane, and we want to make sure that everyone is included and being heard and that they represent their neighborhood,” said ONS Director Patrick Striker. “The ordinance is a starting point and is open to input and change from the community. The goal is to gather ideas and engagement on being more impactful and inclusive in our councils and community assembly.”

Striker plans to engage with community members with an opportunity for neighbors to ask questions and provide input regarding the proposed ordinance.

  • October 16th, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Hillyard Library, District 1
  • October 17th, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at West Central Community Center, District 3
  • October 19th, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Liberty Park Library, District 2

The ordinance is still undergoing review by City Council and legal staff and may be revised further to ensure it is consistent with the City Charter. 

A date has yet to be set for when City Council will hear a first reading of this ordinance.

There are 29 Neighborhood Councils in Spokane. ONS collaborates with the councils by providing liaisons to the City and leads several programs, including Traffic Calming, Mobile Speed Feedback, Community Engagement Grants, Neighborhood Clean-Up, Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy, and Town Halls. The Community Assembly is a coalition of independent Neighborhood Councils and is a forum for discussing issues of broad interest.