(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council unanimously approved new procedural rules for 2026 on Monday, making changes to public testimony and how the officials fill vacancies with new members.
The rules go into effect this July, when the council begins holding legislative meetings on Wednesdays, ending a century-old tradition of meeting on Monday nights. The most significant changes adopted this week provide more structure around public input while also reducing the time for individual testimony.
The final package even earned the support of the lone conservative, Councilmember Michael Cathcart, despite prior reservations. He released a statement after voting, explaining that the majority offered a compromise in some aspects, but that his support should not be considered a complete endorsement.
“As the Council progresses, I will continue advocating for expanded public testimony options,” Cathcart wrote in a statement after approving the procedural rules on Monday, “so Spokane residents have more meaningful opportunities – rather than fewer – to be heard on decisions that directly impact their lives.”
Residents can currently testify for up to two minutes on most items, with the council allowing for up to three minutes for individual testimony at hearings and for ordinances under final consideration. Monday’s approval revamps the agenda structure into three groups, with testimony length varying by category.
The first major change to public testimony is the creation of an “express” lane, allowing residents to testify for up to three minutes on a single item or the entire agenda at the start of the meeting. In return, they can’t speak again that evening except during the public forum opportunity or hearings.
Some individuals wait hours for their agenda items to come up at the end of the meeting, forcing parents and others to stay out late on work and school nights. The express lane option allows them to be heard without sacrificing the entire evening. For everyone else, there are now several other options.
“This is increasing public testimony touch points,” Councilmember Sarah Dixit said, “not reducing it.”
Starting in July, the council agenda will be split into three sections: proposed, pending and final action.
The proposed section would contain ordinances and resolutions considered during a legislative session for the first time after leaving a committee. Each resident will have only two minutes to speak to the entire section once the change takes effect, regardless of how many agenda items are in that section.
The pending section contains items that received a first reading at a previous legislative meeting and are being amended or moved toward final consideration. Residents would be allowed to testify on each item in this section for up to two minutes, except for board and commission appointments, contracts and claims, for which each individual would have only two minutes to speak to all of those items.
The last section will contain items scheduled for final consideration, during which individual testimony would again be limited to two minutes for the entire section, regardless of how many items it contains.
Cathcart’s reservations were about moving the meeting date to Wednesday and reducing the individual testimony time on the agenda from three minutes to two minutes. He agreed that three minutes can be a lot at times, but argued that it is important for residents to fully present their cases, particularly on complex issues.
“I would often think that final reading would be the most important time to testify,” Councilmember Kate Telis said Monday, referencing her past advocating for issues on the other side of the dais. “But the truth is, I think we can take responses that we hear from the public and address those earlier on.”
Councilmember Paul Dillon said the July implementation allows for further adjustments if necessary.
The next major change to the council rules was around how the officials appoint interim replacements.
The current process requires the council to announce vacancies on the dais within seven days, opening an application window for residents living in that district to apply. After it closes, each member reviews the applications and can interview applicants one-on-one before the entire council interviews finalists.
The new rules allow each member to advance a candidate, rather than having the council president select the finalists. The council can also forward other candidates by a majority vote. The dais will interview the finalists at a public meeting without testimony and then narrow the field to no fewer than two candidates.
The updated rules then require the council to hold another meeting where residents can question the candidates, allowing the community to weigh in on who represents their interests. The dais will then reevaluate the candidates in a closed session before appointing a member at another public meeting.
“These rules improve the vacancy appointment process by providing a real public opportunity for candidates to answer questions before a decision is made,” Cathcart wrote in a statement after voting on Monday. “Whether that appointment lasts a few months or nearly two years, the public deserves a genuine chance to evaluate candidates and make informed recommendations to their representatives.”
