Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17G Administration and Procedures

Chapter 17G.020 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Procedure

Section 17G.020.080 Public Participation Program

1. Roles

All complete applications for amendment to the comprehensive plan are considered and reviewed by the plan commission and city council. Depending on the content, scope or potential impact of a proposed modification, additional review by other citizen committees and opportunities for public comment may occur.

2. Goals.

Various public meetings, forums, presentations and outreach may be conducted in order to ensure:

1. 1. broad dissemination of proposals and alternatives;

1. 2. opportunity for written comments;

1. 3. public meetings after effective notice;

1. 4. provision for open discussion;

1. 5. communication programs;

1. 6. information services; and

1. 7. consideration of and response to public comments.

3. Strategies and Methods.

In addition to plan commission and city council public hearings on amendment proposals, specific public participation strategies and methods should include, as appropriate:

1. 1. efforts to involve the broadest cross-section of the community;

1. 2. a series of public meetings or workshops should be held at various locations;

1. 3. opportunity to make written comment;

1. 4. a variety of communication programs and information services, such as information packets, brochures and a speakers bureau;

1. 5. drafts of proposals and alternatives should be reproduced and made available to the public at the planning and economic development services department offices, public libraries, and the planning and economic development services department’s website;

1. 6. notice of all events at which public input is sought should be broadly disseminated in advance through all available means, including flyers and press releases to print and broadcast media;

1. 7. all public meetings and hearings should be free and open. Anyone who wants to should be able to speak at a hearing.

4. Neighborhood Meetings.

Since all proposals are required to be consistent with any adopted neighborhood plan or center plan; persons proposing site-specific amendments are encouraged to address these through the neighborhood planning process. If the affected area currently has no existing neighborhood or center planning group, the applicant should meet with whatever representative body already exists (e.g., neighborhood council, or CDBG steering committee).

5. Consideration of and Response to Public Comments.

All comments and recommendations of the public should be reviewed. Adequate time should be provided between the time of any public hearing and the date of adoption of all or any part of the comprehensive plan to evaluate and respond to public comments. The proceedings and all public hearings should be recorded. A summary of public comments and an explanation of what action was taken in response to them should be made in writing and included in the record of adoption of the plan.

6. SEPA.

Every effort should be made to incorporate public involvement efforts into the SEPA process.

7. Emergencies.

Amendments outside the regular annual amendment cycle, such as emergency amendments, still carry a requirement for appropriate public participation.

Date Passed: Monday, May 9, 2011

Effective Date: Saturday, June 25, 2011

ORD C34719 Section 10