Spokane Government Blog

Don’t Feed the Ducks

Spokane Government Librarian — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:55:12 +0000

The Spokane City Parks Department is asking people not to feed the wild water fowl, such as the ducks and geese, that gather at the ponds and river in Manito, Cannon Hill, and Riverfront Parks. Feeding them causes malnutrition, overpopulation, and disease problems. Find out more from the Friends of Manito. For wilder bird-watching options, try visiting Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge or the Little Spokane River Natural Area. - Spokane Government Librarian

County Maps

Spokane Government Librarian — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:30:59 +0000

The Spokane County GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Department has a great thematic list of maps online. There are current and historical township maps, a cemetery map, and various city maps. The more specialized maps include city annexations, tax boundaries, and special districts. The interactive map will let you control multiple settings and zoom into particular areas; it only works with Internet Explorer for now. - Spokane Government Librarian

Winter Arts

Spokane Government Librarian — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:46:48 +0000

Since February can be a dreary time of year, a good pick-me-up can be taking part in one of the many art programs listed on the Spokane Arts Commission website. There is a calendar of events that features art, music, and performance programs, including those of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane Public Schools, several local universities, and other organizations. If you want to find the public art in town, check out their Sculpture Walk brochure and other suggestions. If you are an artist, the Commission lists Artist Opportunities, both locally and nationwide. - Spokane Government Librarian

Spokane County Law Library

Spokane Government Librarian — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:50:30 +0000

Spokane County’s Law Library has moved from its original location in the Paulsen Building downtown to a location near the county courthouse in the Gardner Center Building. The Law Library is a public source for more law books than what the public library offers, such as case law, historic laws, or out-of-state law. Read their Library Services page to see what help they can offer and About the Library for rules and collection information. - Spokane Government Librarian

City TV

Spokane Government Librarian — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:14:02 +0000

Spokane City has its own cable channel, Channel 5, which televises live City Council, Park Board, and City Plan Commission meetings, as well as developing informational and educational programs on city government. Their monthly schedule will show you when certain programs will be on. What if you don’t have cable? You can order DVD copies, or you can watch many of their programs online by using Windows Media Player. You can watch live streaming video for the above meetings while they are taking place or watch recorded versions later. - Spokane Government Librarian

Winter Preparedness

Spokane Government Librarian — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:24:55 +0000

Spokane County, in conjunction with the Weather Service, has developed a nice list of winter preparedness contact information and links, as well as winter safety and preparedness tips. For more winter advice, the City Water Department gives tips on avoiding frozen pipes, the Department of Transportation talks about winter driving, and FEMA tells how to protect yourself from winter storms and extreme cold. - Spokane Government Librarian

Winter Recreation

Spokane Government Librarian — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:27:59 +0000

The Spokane Parks Department offers many ways for you to get out and take advantage of Spokane’s winter weather. You can go skating at the Ice Palace in Riverfront Park, see the lights at the Manito Greenhouse until December 20th, or learn how to snowshoe, cross country ski, or downhill ski or snowboarding. Those who prefer indoor pursuits can find activities at the Corbin Art Center, or participate in other personal interest activities. - Spokane Government Librarian

Energy Conservation Tips & Programs

Spokane Government Librarian — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:12:15 +0000

Winter heating causes many people’s utility bills to rise significantly. The City of Cheney Energy Services gives various tips to save energy, formulas for finding out the cost of using an appliance, and other energy conservation measures. Avista also features their energy rebates and an energy savings suite of programs. Qualifying low income homeowners in Spokane can also take advantage of SNAP’s Energy Conservation Classes and Weatherization program, funded by federal stimulus money. - Spokane Government Librarian

New Snow Removal Rules

Spokane Government Librarian — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:42:59 +0000

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

2010 Spokane Budgets

Spokane Government Librarian — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:23:19 +0000

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