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New Snow Removal Rules

Thursday, November 19, 2009 – 10:42 am

Snow season is upon us, so be sure to look at the City of Spokane’s revised snow removal rules, requiring people to move their cars off city streets (or at least to one side) if certain snow emergency levels are reached. For more details, check out the brochure, factsheet, and FAQ. The Draft Snow Emergency Response Plan goes into more details, including snow plow routes and priorities. If you live in Spokane Valley, their Snow Removal page shows the different priority levels for plowing and deicing, while snow removal for the unincorporated part of Spokane County can be found towards the bottom of this page. - Spokane Government Librarian

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2010 Spokane Budgets

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 – 1:23 pm

Mayor Mary Verner has submitted her 2010 budget proposal for the City of Spokane, including her summary message, PowerPoint proposal, and Budget Summary Schedules. The City Council will now hold public hearings and make final budget decisions by the end of the year, so be sure to make your opinions known. Similar discussions are taking place on the County Budget by the Board of County Commissioners. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Local Elections

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 – 6:55 pm

With a local election coming up (November 3rd), people have been asking for guidance on the various issues. The Spokane County Elections Office has an online voter’s guide that includes the wording to all of the ballot issues; scroll down the page to find local propositions. For more details, the Spokesman Review has a special section for the 2009 Election, while The Inlander’s News and Commentaries page presents articles and endorsements. For state-level initiatives and referendums, the League of Women Voters has a good overview. Once you’ve voted, you can put your ballots in the drop boxes outside every library in Spokane County. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Smaller City Websites

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 – 1:52 pm

Most people know about Spokane City and Spokane County’s websites, but many of the smaller cities and towns in Spokane County also have useful sites. The City of Spokane Valley includes news about the 2010 budget, links to city departments, the municipal code, and a “Myth or Fact?” section that answers common questions. The City of Airway Heights, the City of Cheney, the City of Medical Lake, the City of Liberty Lake, and the City of Millwood also offer basic contact information, calendars, and information about the cities. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Comprehensive Plan Amendments

Thursday, September 24, 2009 – 11:38 am

The City of Spokane is accepting applications for amendments to the Comprehensive Plan until October 30, 2009. The Comprehensive Plan guides the growth of the city over 20 years, so amendments can be important modifications to city development. You can read about the Comprehensive Plan in this brochure. The Planning Department will soon have the amendment forms available on their website. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Sustainable September Spokane

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 – 8:00 am

Community Minded Enterprises is sponsoring the Sustainable September Spokane, a series of events that support community sustainability, including films, lectures, hands-on classes, kids’ events, and tours. The site also lists actions you can do to be more green. For more local resources, check out the library’s Sustainability Resources page. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Spokane City Map New Version

Thursday, August 27, 2009 – 11:21 am

The City’s GIS Department has had an interactive map available for years, but have recently updated their map to include new features. The beta test version allows you to look up an address. On the upper left, under Overlays, you can turn on various map features such as utilities, transportation (including pavement age), property lines, boundaries for various districts, environment, planning (such as zoning), and topography. You can measure distances and pull up Google Street view. In the upper right corner is a box that allows you to overlay other maps, such as 2007, 2008, and 1958 aerial photos, and satellite maps. Because it is in beta, there may still be some glitches. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Economic Development

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 – 12:52 pm

The City of Spokane’s Economic Development Department offers a wealth of information on doing business in Spokane. Find out about starting a business, getting building permits, and locating a business. The main Development website explains various economic development programs, such as incentives and historic preservation. There are also descriptions of various business centers and the university district in Spokane. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Spokane Aquifer

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 – 7:48 pm

Discover more about Spokane’s sole source of water by checking out the Spokane Aquifer’s Joint Board’s website. You can find out about aquifers in general, view the large Spokane Aquifer Atlas in .pdf format, get water conservation and water protection tips. For more technical information about the aquifer, the USGS has posted many studies about the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer (its official name) online. You can even take a virtual tour of the aquifer from the Eastern Washington University’s Geology Department. - Spokane Government Librarian

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Rules for Boating

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 – 1:51 pm

Summer’s the time for enjoying local lakes or rivers, so be sure to check out the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department informative web page from their Marine Enforcement division before you get wet. The page includes links to the boating safety ordinance, information about boating accidents, and a list of Spokane County Lakes. If you would like some guidance when kayaking, sailing, or whitewater rafting, attend one of the Spokane City Parks Department’s outdoor activities classes. - Spokane Government Librarian