Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 1:37 p.m.
The City of Spokane has secured a funding agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for city gateway cleanup.
Spokane’s Code Enforcement department regularly conducts litter and graffiti abatements throughout the city, which frequently involve encampment cleanup efforts on WSDOT-owned land. Previously, the City bore the costs of these cleanups.
Under the new agreement, Spokane’s Code Enforcement crews will continue their cleanup operations, and WSDOT will reimburse the City for the associated costs. The contract is set to continue through 2025 and includes an initial reimbursement of $440,000. WSDOT is seeking an additional $400,000 of reimbursement potential.
“WSDOT is grateful for the continued partnership with the City in our work to address challenges presented by the unhoused on WSDOT right of ways. Through this new agreement, we now have a means to partially reimburse the City for costs associated with this work,” said Mike Frucci, Interim Regional Administrator for WSDOT Eastern Region.
“Our gateways are the front porch of our city. This partnership will help us keep them clean, safe, and inviting,” Mayor Lisa Brown said.
