FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2008
Contact: Marlene Feist
Public Affairs Officer
(509) 625-6740
**********************************************
MAYOR TO TOUR FLOOD AREAS;
CITY TO MAKE SAND, BAGS AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS
Part of Upriver, South Riverton now closed
**********************************************
Mayor Mary Verner will tour Peaceful Valley and Upriver Drive today to assess areas affected by Spokane River flooding starting at about 1 p.m. She will be accompanied by City Public Works and Public Safety officials.
The City of Spokane is making sand and bags available to property owners in Peaceful Valley and along Upriver Drive, who may need the bags to keep water out of their homes, as the Spokane River continues to rise.
Sand and bags will be available in the parking lot at the Peaceful Valley Community Center and near the closed portion of Upriver Drive no later than 5 p.m. Updated information will be sent out as soon as it’s available. Citizens can fill the bags and then place them as appropriate on their properties.
Meanwhile, the City’s Street Department has placed sandbags at the boat launch at the end of Water Street in Peaceful Valley, around the Erie Street wastewater pump station, and around the levy in Peaceful Valley at the former Casket Company property.
Upriver Drive from Mission to Greene streets remains closed, and South Riverton, which is on the south side of the Spokane River, is closed to through traffic at Greene Street.
More information on flood preparation and cautions can be found at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/readiness.asp or at www.weather.gov/floodsafety/resources/FloodsTheAwesomePower_NSC.pdf.
Meanwhile, City Fire officials continue to repeat their safety concerns about the river. The entire river is running high and fast, and water temperatures remain very cold. The National Weather Service now says the Spokane River will crest sometime on Friday afternoon or early Saturday, however it is anticipated that the river will remain above flood stage until late this month.
Please use extreme caution around the river:
o Don’t allow children to play in the river. Moving water six inches deep can knock an adult off their feet, and the swift current can move a person downstream quickly. Cold water temperatures also can cause hypothermia.
o Don’t attempt to drive over flooded roads. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.
o Observe road closure signs and stay out of barricaded areas. Remember that portions of the Centennial Trail along Upriver Drive are barricade off. Please obey that signage.
o Be aware of the large debris in the river. Higher water levels are pushing logs and other large debris into the river, increasing the danger to people.
o Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have an emergency along the river! With these conditions, problems can develop rapidly. Don’t wait to make that emergency call.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
City..Community Roundtable
City of Spokane—Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2008
Contact: Marlene Feist
Public Affairs Officer
(509) 625-6740
**********************************************
MAYOR VERNER TO HOST THIRD COMMUNITY
ROUNDTABLE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21
**********************************************
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner will host the third in a series of three interactive Community
Roundtables on Wednesday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers in the lower
level of City Hall. The session's topic is "How do we drive growth to Centers and Corridors?"
The session is intended to explore infill strategies, incentives, and new ideas. Some of the issues
that will be explored include market demand and conditions, lending, availability of Greenfield
sites, and more.
Joining the Mayor will be guests:
• Gordon Price, Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University, British
Columbia. He also served on the City Council in Vancouver, B.C. from 1986 to 2002.
• Jim Frank, a Spokane developer and owner of Greenstone Homes.
• Pete Rayner, another Spokane developer and owner of Beacon Hill Events.
City staff also will be on hand to provide information.
There are several opportunities for citizens to observe and participate:
• Watch the meeting on CityCable 5, which is found on channel 5 on the Comcast cable
system in Spokane.
• Or come to City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., to watch the discussion.
The roundtable groups will also be answering questions emailed to the City at
asktheroundtable@spokanecity.org and from the audience in the Council Chambers.
-more-
Roundtable
Page 2
Earlier sessions in this series looked at municipal finance and business & development
incentives.
The roundtables are being coordinated by the City's Business & Development Services
Department, a new department created by Mayor Verner with a mission of addressing the
community's business needs and coordinating revitalization programs with an emphasis on
sustainable economic growth.
-30-
City--flooding
City of Spokane—Media Release
www.spokanecity.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2008
Contact: Marlene Feist
Public Affairs Officer
(509) 625-6740
**********************************************
CITY URGES EXTREME CAUTION
AS SPOKANE RIVER RISES & WARM WEATHER NEARS
**********************************************
With the Spokane River near flood stage and very warm temperatures expected later this
week, the City of Spokane’s Fire Department and Public Works Division are urging
citizens to use extreme caution around the Spokane River.
Areas along Upriver Drive from the Riverview Apartments east to Greene Street and in
Peaceful Valley are most at risk for flooding, but the entire river is running high and fast.
Although outside air temperatures may be warm, water temperatures are very cold.
These conditions are a recipe for potential drowning.
The National Weather Service says the Spokane River may reach flood levels of 27 feet
early next week. Snowpack levels in the mountains remain above normal, and wind,
rain, and temperature all affect how fast the snow will melt and the water level rises.
The City wants to remind residents to use extreme caution around the river:
o Don’t allow children to play in the river. Moving water six inches deep can
knock an adult off their feet, and the swift current can move a person
downstream quickly. Cold water temperatures also can cause hypothermia.
o Don’t attempt to drive over flooded roads. Six inches of water will reach
the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible
stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water
can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.
-more-
Caution
Page 2
o Observe road closure signs and stay out of barricaded areas. Even before
roadways are flooded, portions of the Centennial Trail along Upriver Drive
can become submerged. Please obey signage there, as well.
o Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have an emergency along the river.
-30-
www.spokanecity.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2008
Contact: Marlene Feist
Public Affairs Officer
(509) 625-6740
**********************************************
CITY URGES EXTREME CAUTION
AS SPOKANE RIVER RISES & WARM WEATHER NEARS
**********************************************
With the Spokane River near flood stage and very warm temperatures expected later this
week, the City of Spokane’s Fire Department and Public Works Division are urging
citizens to use extreme caution around the Spokane River.
Areas along Upriver Drive from the Riverview Apartments east to Greene Street and in
Peaceful Valley are most at risk for flooding, but the entire river is running high and fast.
Although outside air temperatures may be warm, water temperatures are very cold.
These conditions are a recipe for potential drowning.
The National Weather Service says the Spokane River may reach flood levels of 27 feet
early next week. Snowpack levels in the mountains remain above normal, and wind,
rain, and temperature all affect how fast the snow will melt and the water level rises.
The City wants to remind residents to use extreme caution around the river:
o Don’t allow children to play in the river. Moving water six inches deep can
knock an adult off their feet, and the swift current can move a person
downstream quickly. Cold water temperatures also can cause hypothermia.
o Don’t attempt to drive over flooded roads. Six inches of water will reach
the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible
stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water
can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.
-more-
Caution
Page 2
o Observe road closure signs and stay out of barricaded areas. Even before
roadways are flooded, portions of the Centennial Trail along Upriver Drive
can become submerged. Please obey signage there, as well.
o Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have an emergency along the river.
-30-
From City...Sustainability
City of Spokane—Media Release
www.spokanecity.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2008
Contact: Susanne Croft
Sustainability Coordinator, Office of the Mayor
(509) 625-6967
scroft@spokanecity.org
***********************************************
SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE BEGINS
WORK GROUP MEETINGS
***********************************************
The Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force, a group of 13 people who will create a
strategic action plan to identify ways that City government can help to address the
impacts of climate change and energy security, has created four work groups that will
begin meeting this week.
The work groups and their initial meeting times are as follows:
o Built & Unbuilt Environment: Monday, May 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Council
Briefing Center, lower level of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Built and
Unbuilt Environment will focus on issues, such as land use and development
patterns, buildings and facilities, urban forest and parks, and related topics.
o Transportation & Mobility: Tuesday, May 13, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Conference
Room 2B, second floor of City Hall. Transportation and Mobility will look at
fleet and fuel options, transportation modes and patterns, freight movement, and
related topics.
o Water: Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Conference Room 2B, second
floor of City Hall. Water will look at quality and quantity issues around water,
stormwater, wastewater, hydropower, and more.
o Procurement: Thursday, May 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Council Briefing Center,
lower level of City Hall. Procurement will look at goods and services, products,
contracts, packaging, recycling and waste reduction, and more.
Citizens are invited to participate in the work groups. If a citizen can’t make the first
meeting of any group, please call Susanne Croft at 625-6967 for more information.
A $75,000, one year GMA Planning Grant from the Washington State Dept. of
Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) is paying for the planning work.
-more-
Work Groups
Page 2
The goal is to determine affordable and sustainable ways that City government can
respond to the economic, environmental, and social challenges that may arise from
climate change and energy security needs.
The citizen task force is leading this strategic planning effort, supported by these work
groups and technical assistance from city staff and other experts. A kickoff event for the
year-long planning effort was held in early February and was attended by more than 150
people.
This project is consistent with Governor Chris Gregoire’s recent climate change
challenge that encourages local jurisdictions to develop plans to mitigate the impacts of
climate change and also with commitments the City made when it signed on to the U.S.
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement last February.
-30-
www.spokanecity.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2008
Contact: Susanne Croft
Sustainability Coordinator, Office of the Mayor
(509) 625-6967
scroft@spokanecity.org
***********************************************
SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE BEGINS
WORK GROUP MEETINGS
***********************************************
The Mayor’s Sustainability Task Force, a group of 13 people who will create a
strategic action plan to identify ways that City government can help to address the
impacts of climate change and energy security, has created four work groups that will
begin meeting this week.
The work groups and their initial meeting times are as follows:
o Built & Unbuilt Environment: Monday, May 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Council
Briefing Center, lower level of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Built and
Unbuilt Environment will focus on issues, such as land use and development
patterns, buildings and facilities, urban forest and parks, and related topics.
o Transportation & Mobility: Tuesday, May 13, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Conference
Room 2B, second floor of City Hall. Transportation and Mobility will look at
fleet and fuel options, transportation modes and patterns, freight movement, and
related topics.
o Water: Wednesday, May 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Conference Room 2B, second
floor of City Hall. Water will look at quality and quantity issues around water,
stormwater, wastewater, hydropower, and more.
o Procurement: Thursday, May 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Council Briefing Center,
lower level of City Hall. Procurement will look at goods and services, products,
contracts, packaging, recycling and waste reduction, and more.
Citizens are invited to participate in the work groups. If a citizen can’t make the first
meeting of any group, please call Susanne Croft at 625-6967 for more information.
A $75,000, one year GMA Planning Grant from the Washington State Dept. of
Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) is paying for the planning work.
-more-
Work Groups
Page 2
The goal is to determine affordable and sustainable ways that City government can
respond to the economic, environmental, and social challenges that may arise from
climate change and energy security needs.
The citizen task force is leading this strategic planning effort, supported by these work
groups and technical assistance from city staff and other experts. A kickoff event for the
year-long planning effort was held in early February and was attended by more than 150
people.
This project is consistent with Governor Chris Gregoire’s recent climate change
challenge that encourages local jurisdictions to develop plans to mitigate the impacts of
climate change and also with commitments the City made when it signed on to the U.S.
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement last February.
-30-
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
May General Meeting - Wed, May 7, 7PM at the MAC
Hi Neighbors,
Our May meeting is this Wednesday night at 7pm at the MAC.
Attached are the minutes from April's Meeting and the agenda for this month.
Hope to see you all there!
(If you would like to be removed from this list, please let us know.)
Our May meeting is this Wednesday night at 7pm at the MAC.
Attached are the minutes from April's Meeting and the agenda for this month.
Hope to see you all there!
(If you would like to be removed from this list, please let us know.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)