Spokane County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Spokane County board reviews data center permit pause, wildfire recovery

Spokane County commissioners held four meetings over the past two weeks, taking up wildfire recovery, a potential pause on data center permit applications, and several infrastructure contracts. No final votes have been recorded; minutes for these meetings have not yet been published.

Wildfire recovery and fire response

At an Aug. 10 strategic planning meeting, the board heard an update on the Spokane Area Fires from Emergency Management Director Chandra Fox and discussed wildfire impacts on property tax assessments with Assessor Tom Konis. The agenda included a proposed special fee for demolition permits related to the fires and an amendment to the county code to create an additional vesting mechanism and nominal fee for fire recovery. No action was scheduled.

A second strategic planning meeting on Aug. 17 focused on updated fire recovery regulations and regional fire response, with participation from Senator Patty Murray's staff, Sheriff John Nowels, and other officials. That meeting also had no final action on the agenda.

Data center permit pause

The board discussed a potential pause on accepting land use and permit applications for data centers at both an Aug. 18 briefing session and a regular legislative session that same day. The briefing included a two-hour discussion of data center zoning with the Planning Director and Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor. The legislative session agenda included a proposal to adopt the pause, but no vote has been recorded. A follow-up strategic planning meeting on Aug. 24 is scheduled to discuss scheduling a public hearing on the pause.

Infrastructure and contracts

Several infrastructure and contract items were on the agenda. The board considered awarding a bid to Granite Construction Co. for the Scrisar Left Turn Lane construction at $672,000 plus sales tax, an item that appeared on both the Aug. 11 and Aug. 18 agendas. Also on Aug. 11, the board was scheduled to award bids to ten vendors for the Staple Foods Tri-Annual contract, totaling $155,972.43 plus sales tax, and to approve a contract with Julee Tonani for the Employee Wellness Program, not to exceed $68,054.40.

The Aug. 11 agenda also included acceptance of a $170,000 grant from the Washington Department of Ecology for the West Plains PFAS Filtration Project, along with airport property acquisitions, tourism agreements, and grant awards for therapeutic court and victim witness assistance.

Property and public hearings

The Aug. 11 legislative session included condemnation proceedings for portions of two properties: Assessor Parcel No. 56334.9601 (Bona Vista Manufactured Home Community LLC) and Parcel No. 55041.9035 (Brooke Marie Kelly). The Aug. 18 agenda set public hearings for Sept. 1 on Spokane Conservation District rates for 2027-2036, the sale of surplus county properties, and residential recycling service levels in unincorporated areas.

Coming up

On Aug. 24, the Board of County Commissioners will hold a strategic planning meeting to discuss the Comprehensive Plan 2046 update, including the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Future Land Use, with Planning Director Scott Chesney. The agenda also includes scheduling a public hearing date for the data center permit pause, Navigator funding for the Long Term Recovery Group, and a Broadlinc letter of support request. The meeting may include executive sessions on real estate, employment, and litigation.

Spokane County board to weigh wildfire recovery, property actions this week

The Spokane County Board of Commissioners cancelled all of its scheduled meetings in the past two weeks, leaving no county decisions on the record. This week, the board will hold a strategic planning session on wildfire recovery and a briefing and legislative session covering airport property, grants, and potential property condemnations.

No decisions in past two weeks

The board cancelled its July 28 briefing session and its August 3 and August 4 meetings. Agendas for those dates listed only adjournment, with no business items. No minutes have been published for these cancellations.

Wildfire recovery planning

On August 10, the board will hold a strategic planning meeting focused on the Spokane Area Fires. Emergency Management Director Chandra Fox will provide an update. Assessor Tom Konis will discuss how the fires affect property tax assessments for lost property. The board will consider a proposed special fee for demolition permits related to the fires and an amendment to the county code to create an additional vesting mechanism and nominal fee for fire recovery. The board may also hold executive sessions on real estate, personnel, and litigation.

Airport, tourism, and grants

On August 11, the board will hold a briefing session. Items include a utility easement and property acquisition for Spokane International Airport (Parcel No. 35014.0111), agreements with Visit Spokane and Spokane Sports, acceptance of a FY27 AOC Therapeutic Court award and a Victim Witness Assistance Grant, a $170,000 grant from the Washington Department of Ecology for the West Plains PFAS Filtration Project, and a discussion of affordable housing development fee deferral and permitting.

Property, contracts, and hearings

Also on August 11, the board will hold a regular legislative session. The board will consider initiating condemnation proceedings for portions of two properties: Assessor Parcel No. 56334.9601 (Bona Vista Manufactured Home Community LLC) and Parcel No. 55041.9035 (Brooke Marie Kelly). The board will also consider awarding a bid to Granite Construction Co. for the Scrisar Left Turn Lane construction at $672,000 plus sales tax, awarding bids to ten vendors for Staple Foods Tri-Annual at $155,972.43 plus sales tax, and a contract with Julee Tonani for the Employee Wellness Program not to exceed $68,054.40. Public hearings are scheduled on establishing several county roads in various plats and on granting a franchise to an electric cooperative.

Coming up

• **August 10, 2026** – Board of County Commissioners strategic planning meeting on wildfire recovery.
• **August 11, 2026** – Board briefing session on airport, tourism, grants, and property items.
• **August 11, 2026** – Board regular legislative session with condemnation, contracts, and public hearings.

Spokane County commissioners weighed public defender grant, data center moratorium in late July meetings

Spokane County commissioners had a full slate of agenda items in late July, including a proposed $941,297.08 state grant for public defender services and discussion of a moratorium on large load data centers. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so items reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

Public defender grant and federal HIDTA award on July 21 agenda

The Board of County Commissioners' July 21 legislative agenda included a resolution to accept a $941,297.08 award from the Washington State Office of Public Defense for the Spokane County Public Defender's Office. A separate resolution would accept a $45,507 award from the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy, for the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas) task force.

The same agenda listed authorization for the Spokane Airport Board to purchase property at 5007 S. Hayford Road (Parcel No. 24062.0125), and a contract with Pioneer Human Services for facility-based crisis stabilization services covering July through December 2026.

Commissioners were also scheduled to consider revising Spokane County Traffic Code Section 46.61.4155.1 to establish 20 mph school speed zones on Pittsburg Street and Farwell Road. Additional agenda items included setting dates for condemnation proceedings on two parcels, limited-access petitions for Hallett Road and Laurel Road, appointments to the Parks and Recreation Committee, Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee, and Essential Public Facilities Committee, and a recommendation to allocate housing units for 2026–2046.

Data center moratorium and regional planning discussion

A separate July 21 briefing agenda included a proposed Large Load Data Center Moratorium and Regional Planning Conversation, presented by Commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref. All items on this briefing agenda were listed for discussion and consideration only.

That briefing also included a Broadband PDA update presented by Ariane Schmidt, CEO of Broadlinc; acceptance of a financial assistance award for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs presented by Juvenile Court Administrator Tori Peterson; and an interlocal agreement for additional funding for West Plains PDA CRP No. 3279, presented by Jake Saxon of Public Works. An easement matter involving the City of Spokane Valley, Parcel Nos. 45191.0906 and 45202.0528 (CRP 2764), was presented by County Engineer Matt Zarecor.

Budget and Comprehensive Plan 2046 worksession on July 20

The July 20 agenda featured a sales tax update, a 2026 financial update, and a 2027 budget discussion from the Director of Finance. The Planning Director was scheduled to lead a 90- to 120-minute worksession on the Spokane County Comprehensive Plan 2046. Possible executive-session topics on real-estate transactions and contract negotiations were listed, but no final actions were scheduled.

July 28 meeting cancelled

The Board of County Commissioners briefing session scheduled for July 28 was cancelled. The agenda listed only adjournment, with no substantive items.

Coming up

No Board of County Commissioners meetings are scheduled for August 3 or August 4, 2026. Both agendas list only adjournment. Residents should check the county's official agenda portal for any rescheduled or additional meetings.

Spokane County Commissioners Packed Agenda: Housing Plan, $13.7M Disability Services Grant, and Data Center Moratorium Ahead

Spokane County commissioners covered a wide range of topics in recent meetings, from long-range housing allocations to multi-million-dollar service grants. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of the July sessions, so the items below reflect what was on the agendas for discussion and consideration — not confirmed final actions.

July 14: Housing Allocations and $13.7M Grant Discussed

The Board's July 14 briefing included a proposed housing allocation plan for Spokane County jurisdictions covering 2026 through 2046, tied to the ongoing Comprehensive Plan 2046 process. Commissioners also reviewed a $13,758,184 grant from DSHS for Developmental Disability Services.

Other items on the agenda included contracts for Juvenile Court Services: $90,000 with Synergy Counseling, $150,000 with Relational Roots Therapy, and $11,000 with Lutheran Community Services Northwest. A $10,000 grant from Rails to Trails Conservancy for the Argonne Gap in the Centennial Trail project was also listed.

Public hearings were proposed for August 11 to establish several new county roads, including Chatham Avenue and Molly Street.

July 14: Airport Property, Fire Recovery, and Fair Pricing

A separate July 14 session included briefings from Spokane International Airport on the Tobler and Kern property acquisitions. Commissioners also discussed proposed traffic code revisions to add stop signs at Green Bluff Drive and Halliday Road, special demolition permit application fees for Upriver Fire victims, 2026 Spokane County Interstate Fair ticket and parking prices, and Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program awards and contracts.

July 7: Court Award, Code Changes, and Housing Grants

On July 7, the agenda included a Family and Juvenile Court Improvement Plan Award for 2026–2027 totaling $107,965.00, a Spokane Conservation District rates and charges proposal, and proposed modifications to Spokane County Code Chapter 1.08 regarding the Department of Emergency Management.

Also listed were grant and regulatory agreements for Riverwalk Point II (HOME) and Broadway Seniors (HOME-ARP), and an item to rescind the second amendment related to the Beacon Hill Phase 2 Project Management.

July 7: Speed Zones, Software Contract, and Public Safety Grants

A second July 7 meeting featured public hearings on speed zone revisions for Craig Road, Hastings Road, Elk Camden Road, and Old Trails Road, plus a proposed road name change from Inland Road to Old Trails Road.

Financial items included a contract with Harris Recording Solutions, Inc. for Auditor's Office software: $421,392 for 2026, $151,800 for 2027, and $133,574 for 2028. Also on the agenda: $727,000 in financial assistance for Detention Services Crisis Intervention Specialist Program, and a $117,000 DHS Operation Stonegarden Grant for the Emergency Management Department.

July 6: Strategic Planning on Housing and Comprehensive Plan

The Board's July 6 strategic planning session covered 2026 housing allocations by jurisdiction, the Environmental Impact Statement Preferred Alternative for Comprehensive Plan 2046, a resolution and bylaws for the Essential Public Facility Committee, and a public safety and health revenue discussion.

Coming Up

July 20 — Commissioners will hear a sales tax update, a 2026 financial update, and a 2027 budget discussion from the Director of Finance, followed by a 90- to 120-minute Comprehensive Plan 2046 worksession led by the Planning Director. Possible executive-session topics on real-estate transactions and contract negotiations are listed, with no final actions scheduled.

July 21 — A briefing meeting will include a proposed moratorium on large load data centers presented by Commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref, a broadband PDA update, and additional funding for the West Plains PDA. A second session that day will consider accepting a $941,297.08 grant from the Washington State Office of Public Defense for public defender services and a $45,507 HIDTA task force award, plus a public hearing on 20 mph school speed zones on Pittsburg Street and Farwell Road.