Spokane to adopt list of 2024-25 federal priorities

(The Center Square) – The City of Spokane is expected to adopt a list of federal legislative priorities for the next two years tonight, emphasizing a need for housing, essential infrastructure and economic growth.

Local law requires Spokane to adopt a legislative agenda before any representative or authorized party advocates on behalf of the city. The agenda dictates what city officials can push for at the state and federal levels while requiring city council approval for changes.

The 2024-2025 Federal Priorities draft includes 20 items divided into three categories:

Transportation, Water Infrastructure, Sustainability;Housing, Homelessness, Human Services; andEconomy & Workforce

The first category starts with investments in the historic Latah Bridge and U.S. Route 195, which connect Spokane to an area spurring development despite a dangerous lack of firefighting infrastructure.

In May, the City Council renewed a one-year building moratorium in Latah Valley to provide time to plan for the resources; however, around 1,000 new homes are already slated for development.

The first section also advocates for new infrastructure in underserved communities and mitigating PFAS, or the contamination of “forever chemicals.” According to Range Media , Spokane County kept quiet about contamination stemming from Fairchild Air Force Base for years but recently told residents it’s working on piping clean water, though many have doubts.

The following section focuses on initiatives related to Mayor Lisa Brown’s emergency declaration over the opioid epidemic. Three items are listed to advocate for bolstering Spokane’s “street medicine” efforts, expanding Medicaid, and encouraging “private investment of affordable housing.”

Spokane’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count noted the region’s first dip in overall homelessness since 2016; however, compared to that last decrease, 2024 still reflects a 106% increase since then.

Meanwhile, Brown’s administration is propping up smaller shelters scattered around the city while gradually decommissioning Spokane’s largest congregate shelter .

The last category, focusing on the local economy and workforce, emphasizes the need for a new childcare center with nontraditional hours, funding for Spokane’s American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center and supporting partnerships with federal agencies to tackle retail crime.

Councilmember Michael Cathcart has one amendment on the table. However, it doesn’t add to or subtract from the initial draft. Instead, it emphasizes supporting Spokane’s Waste to Energy Facility and housing efforts at Fairchild Air Force Base.