Approved by the Council. These are the official minutes of record.
Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Location: The Conservatory in Vinegar Flats at Vinegar Goods, 1930 Inland Empire Way
Interim Chair: Alexander Knox — announced move to Riverside.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Alex Knox at 6:15 p.m.
2. Attendance
Voting Members Present: Becky Dickerhoof, Ed Bruya, Alex Knox, Joe Lenti New: Stephanie Watson volunteered to take notes.
Guests & Other Attendees: Officer Micah Prim, Councilmember Paul Dillon, Elizabeth Goldsmith (Comstock), Jim Schrock, Pat Nault & various neighborhood representatives — Amber Groe (City of Spokane). Sign-in sheet was passed for recordkeeping. 13 people total.
3. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes and Consent Agenda
Approved unanimously.
4. Updates, Guest Presentations, and Reports
Officer Micah Prim — serves the south side of Spokane, from here. Connection to Community Court — when in doubt, reach out. Jim Schrock saw activity and Officer Prim shared to reach out and passed around his business card.
Police Traffic Hotline: 509-625-4150
Councilmember Paul Dillon
- Attended the Neighborhood Town Hall (District 1); another Town Hall for District 2 at the MLK Center on June 6th.
- 2025 Comprehensive Plan Meeting — March 25 at Liberty Park Library.
- Biennial Budget: public engagement process underway.
- Traffic Safety Hotspots identified at 7th & Inland Empire Way, 7th & Sunset Grocery.
- Code Enforcement Ordinance Updates: addressing vacant properties, unregistered vehicles, and vegetation concerns.
- Traffic Calming: Comstock’s reprioritized project is a strong example of neighborhood consensus. Request: prioritize a resolution prioritizing Inland Empire Way traffic safety. Alex Knox suggested inviting a city engineer to conduct a traffic/walk audit.
- Wildfire Risk & Development: integrated into Comprehensive Plan for better fire response time. Latah Fire Station: RFP for design in progress.
Neighborhood Council updates
- Latah-Hangman — Community Development Block Grant submitted for major restroom improvements to High Bridge Park by Stephanie Watson with Executive Committee support and Pat Nault.
- Comstock Neighborhood Council, Elizabeth Goldsmith (Ed Bruya attends and sees how we share priority issues; they run effective meetings with large turnout).
- Council focus for the year includes volunteer activities and speakers.
- Top Priority: fire safety, risk, and mitigation. Fire Mitigation & Wildland Urban Interface — we share space and concerns.
- Ed Bruya supports the mitigation efforts of Nick Jeffries and the wildfire mitigation program funded by the Department of Natural Resources and Spokane County. See Forest Health Tracker.
- Wildland urban interface, thinning, mitigation, and successful measure. For the West Hills fire — Nick Jeffries’ work prevented a significant disaster.
- One example is to partner with Comstock on a joint effort to manage lands to Latah Valley from Hatch to Overpass — Inland Empire.
- Comstock outreach efforts are targeting both high-income and commercial district residents — diverse and for everyone.
- Summer Activities: PTA outreach at their community pool, Summer Parkways event, Anchor Park, and a summer concert at Rocket Bakery — in the works.
- Efforts to reactivate Neighborhood Watch following recent park safety concerns.
- Comstock Neighborhood Council Updates were passed around the meeting.
Bylaws & Voting Membership
- Neighborhood bylaws are under review (last updated in 1998). Alex redrafted for Latah Valley Neighborhood Council and shared the draft in a newsletter.
- Current requirement: three meetings required for voting membership.
- Voting Members: Becky, Ed, Alex, Joe (at this meeting).
- Stephanie can workshop the bylaws as part of Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy Neighborhood Improvement Project.
- Review examples such as Comstock, West Central (and work with Gonzaga Law students to review before adopting as a board).
Committee Assignments & Updates
- Traffic: new chair needed. Pat Nault to support traffic calming proposal.
- Clean-up Committee: Joe appointed. Pat will be in Ireland in the fall.
- Joe emphasized the need for more than a single event; community hunger for civic involvement. Potential partnerships with Riverkeeper and Friends of the Bluff events already scheduled. Earth Day River Clean-up with Spokane Riverkeeper at High Bridge Park and People’s Park — Saturday, April 19th, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Brush on the Bluff — seeking neighborhood volunteers to table — May 17th, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Polly Judd Park.
- Land Use Committee: Pat Nault. They meet every other month. The biggest issue is parking due to standards of new construction and the minimization of parking spaces. Discussed Bob Scarfo, Memory Garden, with the concept of an enclosed landscaped garden for dementia and caregivers.
5. City Updates — Upcoming Programs & Opportunities
Traffic Calming Applications — Amber Groe is collecting applications for mobile speed feedback trailers. Pat Nault collecting information on our behalf. Application deadline: April 14. Data reports available: neighborhoods can use collected data to advocate for further safety measures.
Neighborhood Clean-Up & Civic Engagement — Joe organizing a major neighborhood clean-up event in the fall. Geiger Crew involvement confirmed for October 2025. Disposal Passes: $30 vouchers available monthly (request online or via 311).
Community Engagement Grant ($850) — Used to boost resident awareness and host a neighborhood party. Maximum $300 can be allocated for food expenses. Options to partner with neighboring councils for one larger block party with combined funds. Sandwich boards for meeting signage at key locations also proposed.
6. Bylaws & Leadership Transition
- Executive Committee & Bylaws — ongoing.
- Alex suggested that voting members participate in committees.
- Ed and Joe have kept this council alive, and cannot let something like this die.
- Compared to small neighborhood councils in Northeast Spokane, who joined four councils with one meeting — it can be done.
- Structure for outreach so as to not overload volunteers in leadership. Grow reach for board and committee recruitment.
- Discussion on restructuring outreach efforts to improve participation.
- Plan to integrate neighborhood gatherings into larger community events.
- Discussion on a liaison model between neighboring councils for collaboration.
- Need for a transition plan to prevent neighborhood council collapse.
- Stephanie Watson volunteered to serve as Chair/Interim Chair and grow the board as part of a service commitment for at least one year.
- Stephanie Watson volunteered to be Chair, and it was approved unanimously.
7. Parks & Schools Levy (November Ballot)
Comstock Neighborhood Council invited us to join their meeting about the levy. Proposal: joint funding initiative for parks and schools. Community Parks and Schools Engagement at Comstock: Dr. Adam Swinyard (Superintendent, SPS) & Garret Jones (Parks Director) attending Comstock Neighborhood Council meeting — May 21st at 6 p.m. to discuss levy impact.
8. Open Discussion & Additional Announcements
- Forever Chemicals (PFAS) Concerns: Kris Hanson from Cliff-Cannon. Water contamination detected near West Plains affects livestock, fish, and human health. West Plains Water Coalition Report available (30 pages). Shared PFAS map with council.
- Memory Garden Project: potential for a dementia-friendly landscaped space, designed and funded by benefactors — High Bridge or additional park options were discussed (Bob Scarfo).
9. Action Items & Next Steps
- Bylaws Committee: continue review and propose amendments. (Stephanie Watson)
- Traffic Calming Resolution: draft and submit for Inland Empire Way improvements. (Pat Nault)
- Clean-Up Committee: organize large-scale event with the Geiger Crew (October 2025). (Joe Lenti)
- Neighborhood Outreach: strengthen resident engagement through block parties and public events. Liaise with neighboring councils and join their events until we are ready to lift our own.
10. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Next meeting is scheduled for May 15, 6–7:30 p.m. at The Conservatory in Vinegar Flats.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Stephanie Watson, Sunday, March 30th.