Emerson Garfield

Public Meeting – Avista Integrated Resource Planning – February 24, 2021

February 15, 2021 Emerson Garfield

Avista in the process of developing both their electric and natural gas integrated resource plans and customers are invited to give feedback on electric and natural gas plans.

Avista is hosting a special meeting on Wednesday, February 24, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to hear from you.

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Each plan looks 20 years into the future. It’s an extensive process, and public input plays an important role. They want to know what is most important to customers as they balance reliability, cost and environmental sustainability.

They will present a bit about each plan, answer your questions and hear your feedback. Each participant will be asked to choose two breakout rooms after the presentation. Focus areas include reliability, affordability, natural gas resources and environmental issues.

Feedback Requested – Downtown Plan Update

February 9, 2021 Emerson Garfield

The Downtown Spokane Partnership and the City of Spokane have begun the process to create a new plan for Downtown. The last plan was adopted in 2008 and the new plan will address the next 10 years.

View the Plan’s public workshop and survey summaries. The City would like to know whether you and your neighbors believe the Plan draft accurately reflects that process. Send initial comments to the project email info@spokanedowntownplan.org by March 16, 2021.

Overview presentation given to the City Plan Commission last month. The presentation shows the key features and functions of the Plan, such as a focus on a connected and walkable Downtown with sidewalks more activated through uses in adjacent buildings and activities along the street.

The Downtown Plan was last updated in 2008. Highlights in this update to support a more connected and walkable Downtown strategy include:

Transforming low-traffic streets by converting travel lanes for bike/scooter and pedestrian facilities, and additional on-street parking, rearranging how space is used within the existing right-of-way on some streets.
There is also a renewed focus on redeveloping several surface parking lots for a mix of residential and commercial office development, as well as parking garages.

Free Training Workshops – League of Women Voters’ Speak Up School – February 15 and 20, 2021

February 8, 2021 Emerson Garfield

The League of Women Voters of the Spokane Area (LWVSA) will be hosting a 2-afternoon free training workshop called Speak Up School to encourage a wide range of people to testify at open meetings held by the Washington State Commission on Redistricting later in 2021. Speak Up School will share tools to help participants find their own voice and build effective, personal testimony.

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Redistricting – redrawing district lines for legislative and congressional districts – occurs every ten years following the Census. This critical process impacts all voters by determining who they can vote for to represent them in their state and national governments. The 2021 Washington State Redistricting Commission will be hosting public input meetings during the spring and fall of 2021 in every congressional district.

In the past, public testimony at these hearings has not been effective at compelling commissioners to take action. The League of Women Voters would like to change this in 2021 to ensure ALL voices are heard regarding this critical state action.

Importantly, LWVSA envisions another benefit of Speak-up School. As part of their mission to “Empower Voters. Defend Democracy,” they strongly support active civic engagement and believe the skills gained in this training will provide long-term benefit to the public when they testify to different municipal and state government committees and commissions.

DivisionConnects Online Open House

January 26, 2021 Emerson Garfield

The Division Street Corridor Study (DivisionConnects) is looking at the future of transportation and land use along this important street in Spokane in anticipation of the opening of the North Spokane Corridor (NSC) in 2030. The opening of the NSC is expected to change traffic patterns on Division Street and other north-south arterials, providing an opportunity to look at how the corridor itself and the surrounding neighborhoods might change over time to support local businesses, local vehicle trips, increased transit trips, and biking and walking.

This online open house shares information with you about DivisionConnects and asks for your feedback about the transit alternatives presented.

There are several opportunities to provide input on how you travel along Division, including a series of short surveys. The online open house will be available through late February.

The project team will be hosting a virtual Open House on Thursday February 11th, 2021. More details will be coming soon. Please check back here or at divisionconnects.org for updates.

DivisionConnects Transportation Study Feedback Opportunities

September 17, 2020 Emerson Garfield

DivisionConnects, a collaborative two-year transportation and land use study, focuses on opportunities and challenges that come with the planned completion of the North Spokane Corridor (NSC).

They are seeking public feedback around how the highway can improve, what elements should remain the same and how Division can become more accessible for all modes of transportation in the long-term.

They have added a new mapping tool to their website to gather residents’ input on how they travel Division Street. They also added a questionnaire to let them know what your future vision is for Division Street, as well as your thoughts on the proposed selection criteria that will be used to analyze potential transit, walking, biking, and scooter alternatives.

Additionally, they are seeking participants for virtual focus groups. These focus groups would be conducted in late September/early October and again in late October/ early November, and are a completely voluntary commitment to participate in two facilitated hour-and-a-half discussions with less than 10 other participants. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this Doodle Poll with your general availability. If you are selected to participate, they will follow up with additional details within the next two weeks.

Emerson-Garfield Community