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Applicants Sought for WQTIF Neighborhood Committee

Applicants Sought for WQTIF Neighborhood Committee

The City of Spokane is seeking volunteers for a committee that helps to select public investments in three Spokane neighborhoods – West Central, Emerson-Garfield, and Riverside. The funding for the work comes from a special taxing district created by the City in this area in 2007.

A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, which includes the Kendall Yards Development, was created by the City and County of Spokane to help pay for public improvements inside the Kendall Yards area and for projects in neighboring locations.

Volunteers are needed for a citizen committee — the Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee — which considers and recommends funding for the public projects in the neighborhoods. Recent work by this committee has included consideration of funds for improvements to the North Monroe area, Dutch Jake’s Park, and the pedestrian suspension bridge in Riverfront Park. The committee gives the citizens of Spokane a key voice in the development of public improvements in these neighborhoods.

The Committee currently has three open positions. The positions include a position for a resident of the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, one for a resident from the Riverside neighborhood, and one for an at-large position that needs expertise or experience in economic development, finance, and/or real estate.

Tax-Increment Financing is an economic development tool established by the state. It allows for a portion of newly generated property taxes within a defined district to pay for public infrastructure, including traffic calming, sidewalks, parks, and more. In this case, 75 percent of the increased property taxes are used to pay for public improvements over 25 years.

Interested individuals are asked to fill out the City’s application for committees, boards and commissions.

Please submit it to:

Mayor’s Office, fifth floor of City Hall
808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA, 99201

or to

mayor@spokanecity.org
no later than August 30, 2019.

For more information on the West Quadrant TIF district, as well as the Neighborhood Project Advisory Committee, please see the West Quadrant TIF webpage.

Spokane in Motion educational series

Spokane in Motion educational series

The City of Spokane, in partnership with the Spokane Bicycle Club and i-Sustain, is sponsoring a series of educational events around innovative cycling infrastructure. The project is called Spokane in Motion, and the goal is to increase awareness around biking in the city and the region.

Building on the City’s Bike Master Plan, city officials are using this project to answer the questions:

  • What are some creative ways we can promote cycling in our region?
  • How can we make biking safer and more accessible to people?

A Danish bicycle planner will be coming to Spokane to share insights around the Danish experience, and a local cycling expert will provide insights from a U.S. perspective.

Both events are FREE and open to the public. The idea is to encourage curiosity and participation in cycling as an alternative form of transportation.

Danish Cycling Perspectives  (This event is specifically for students)
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019
Time: 3-4pm
Location: EWU Spokane Center, 668 N Riverpoint Blvd, #122
Free, tickets required here

Cycling in Denmark & the U.S. (Open to the public)
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019
Time: 5:30-7pm
Location: Gonzaga University Hemmingson Center Auditorium, 702 E Desmet Ave, Lower Level
Free, tickets required here

More info on Bike Everywhere Events:
May is Bike Everywhere Month and more event information can be found on the Spokane Bicycle Club’s Facebook page. There are a lot of exciting events planned, including:

5/5 Bloomsday Bike Coral – Riverfront Park
5/7 Gateway Bridge Celebration
5/13 Annual Pancake Breakfast – Riverfront Park
5/15 Ride of Silence
5/17 Pizza & Beer Party – David’s Pizza

The bicycle club is sponsoring a variety of short and medium rides, energizer stations, and bike maintenance events during the month.  More information can be found at the Spokane Bicycle Club website: http://www.spokanebicycleclub.org/ 

Please share this flyer with others!

H.O.P.E. and Mosaic Church Community Meeting – May 14, 2019

H.O.P.E. and Mosaic Church Community Meeting – May 14, 2019

H.O.P.E., a ministry of Changing Lives of Spokane, and Mosaic Church needs your help. For the past 3 years they have been providing furniture and support for men and women getting off the streets, women moving here to get away from domestic violence, and refugees and families just down in life. They had a source for that furniture, but it is no longer available.

They are holding a community meeting to discuss this issue. Bring your ideas and be ready to fill out a survey.

Date: May 14, 2019
Time: 11am – 12:30pm
Location: Park at 603 W 3rd Ave; Walk to 218 N Howard St

Light lunch provided, RSVP by phone or email.
509-747-3007 ext 807
jntgravetter@yahoo.com



Win a “Local” gift bag at the December Potluck and Meeting!

Win a “Local” gift bag at the December Potluck and Meeting!

Attend the annual Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council Winter Potluck and Meeting on Wednesday, December 12 for your chance to win a “Local” gift bag filled with delicious and tasty treats that are all made in Washington.

The potluck begins at 5pm and the meeting will follow at 6pm. Drawings take place after the meeting, around 7:30pm.

A big thank you to Santa and Mrs. Claus for donating the items and putting the gift the bag together!

No purchase necessary.

Traffic Calming Program Workshop – Nov 27

Traffic Calming Program Workshop – Nov 27

Join Council member Breean Beggs and the Pedestrian, Traffic, and Transportation Committee for a Traffic Calming Program Workshop

When: Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Where: West Central Community Center – 1603 N Belt Street

Improving the Traffic Calming Program:

  • How could the program documents that shape the program—the Traffic Calming Workshop overview, the Toolbox, and the application form—be improved or expanded?
  • What about the program could be changed? What could be added? Are there other program management matters that should be addressed?

Every neighborhood council with a stake in the operation of the traffic calming program funded by the City Council and managed by Neighborhood Services should be represented and ready to weigh in.
Example Questions:
Should the 50+1 petition requirement be scrapped?
Are all the steps in getting a TC application submitted and approved for funding and then through construction identified, covered, and sufficiently described?