HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 25-017 Reaffirming Findings of FactCITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO.25-017
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY, SPOKANE COUNTY,
REAFFIRMING ORDINANCE NO. 25-013 AND THE FINDINGS OF FACT
THEREIN
WHEREAS, the City of Spokane Valley ("City") contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff's
Office ("SCSO") to provide law enforcement services within the City, and receives both emergency
medical and fire protection services from Spokane Valley Fire Department ("Fire Department") and
Spokane County Fire District No. 8 ("Fire District" and collectively with the Fire Department, "Fire
Service Providers"); and
WHEREAS, the SCSO and the Fire Service Providers both contract with Spokane Regional
Emergency Communications ("SREC"), a regional public safety answering point (i.e. a regional 911 call
center) formed under RCW 39.34 et seq., to receive calls for emergency response services (i.e. 911
emergency calls) and dispatch appropriate emergency personnel to respond to emergencies (hereinafter
"emergency communication services"); and
WHEREAS, SREC needs to relocate both its regional 911 call center and primary/master
communications tower to property SCREC owns within the City of Spokane Valley because SCREC's
lease to its current facilities expires at the end of 2025 and the lessor has decided to not renew the lease;
and
WHEREAS, the City's development code does not allow wireless communication tower
structures greater than 60 feet in height (80 feet including the tower structure and antennae array); and
WHEREAS, in order to function properly and reliably dispatch emergency personnel throughout
the Spokane County region without signal interference or refraction, SREC's primary/master
communications tower structure must be constructed to be at least 100 feet in height without attached
antenna arrays, and up to 120 feet in total height including all attached antenna arrays, such that it is able
to send and receive signals free from interference of surrounding buildings, power lines, and other
facilities; and
WHEREAS, between now and the date by which permits would need to be issued for SREC to
complete the construction and programming necessary for the new primary/master communications tower
to be operational, there is not enough time for (a) the City and the City Planning Commission to complete
the process required by SVMC 18.10 et seq. to amend the City's development code, and (b) City Council
to thereafter consider and take action on the Planning Commission's recommendations; and
WHEREAS, on July 29, 2025, the City Council used its emergency authority under RCW
35A.63.220 to prevent imminent threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, and passed Interim
Ordinance No. 25-013 authorizing wireless communication tower structures to be up to 100 feet in height
(120 feet including antennae array) when used by regional facilities for first responder communications;
and
WHEREAS, after July 29, 2025, the following has occurred: (1) SREC has learned that it will not
be able to occupy its current facilities for any period of time in year 2026, and (2) in order to maintain
continuous operations, SREC secured temporary administrative office space under lease within the City
and a separate communications facility north of the City of Spokane from which it will be able to
temporarily provide regional emergency communication services beginning in 2026, but the facilities are
inadequate to reliably provide emergency communication services other than on a short-term basis due to
their size, layout, condition, and distance from each other; and
WHEREAS, RCW 35A.63.220 requires City Council to hold a public hearing on Interim
Ordinance No. 25-013 within 60 days after adoption; and
WHEREAS, Interim Ordinance No. 25-013 set the public hearing to receive testimony for
September 16, 2025, beginning at 6:OOpm (or as soon as can be heard thereafter) at City Council
Chambers; and
WHEREAS, notice for the public hearing was duly advertised in the Spokane Valley News
Herald on August 29, 2025; and
WHEREAS, City Council held a public hearing and received public testimony regarding Interim
Ordinance No. 25-013 on September 16, 2025;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Spokane Valley, Spokane
County, Washington as follows::
Section 1: Recitals Incorporated. The statements in the above recitals are incorporated herein by
this reference.
Section 2: Findings of Fact Reaffirmed. The City Council reaffirms the findings of fact adopted
in Section 2 of Interim Ordinance 25-013.
Section 3: Effective Date. This Resolution shall be effective upon adoption.
Passed by the City Council this 16" day of September, 2025.
CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY
9
Pam Haley, Mayor
ATTEST: Approved as to form:
M&U�'
Marci Pa rson, City Clerk Offic of thd 7 Attorney