|
Valley incorporation
Try, try again
A chronology of attempts at Valley incorporation
Spokane Valley voters rejected five separate incorporation proposals in the 1990s. In 1990, residents said no to a proposal to incorporate the area between Spokane's eastern city limits and the Idaho state line as the city of Chief Joseph. The Valley city would have had a population of about 90,000. The issue failed in all 70 Valley precincts and received just 34 percent support. In 1994, incorporation backers changed the name of the proposed new city and pulled in their boundaries - excluding Liberty Lake, Pasadena Park, Northwood and several other Valley neighborhoods that in 1990 had showed little interest - but the issue again failed. However, support grew to 44 percent. In 1995, the boundaries of the proposed city of Spokane Valley shrunk again. Eliminated this time were areas south of 32nd Avenue, north of the Spokane River and east of Harvard Road. Still, incorporation was rejected, 59 percent to 41 percent. In 1997, incorporation proponents shifted course and put two separate Valley cities on the ballot. The city of Opportunity, with 19,000 residents, was bounded by Argonne and Evergreen roads, Interstate 90 and 16th Avenue. The city of Evergreen, with 14,400 residents, was bounded by Evergreen and Barker roads, the Spokane River and 24th Avenue. The plan for the city of Opportunity got just 27 percent voter approval and Evergreen received only 26 percent. In November 2002 Liberty Lake residents overwhelmingly agree to make a city out of their lakeside suburb, with 65 percent voter approval. It was the first attempt to form a city in Liberty Lake. At the time of incorporation, Liberty Lake had about 3,300 residents.On May 21, 2002, Spurred by a growing Valley tax base and by annexation talk in Spokane's City Hall, Spokane Valley voters will consider the latest proposal to form a city of their own. The new city would have about 80,700 residents and could have an estimated annual budget of $34.5 million. The city would cover almost 39 square miles, stretching from the Spokane city limits to roughly Hodges Road, excluding the town of Millwood.
Back to Top
|
|
|
