Because of the holidays, there is no City Council meeting on Dec. 22. There is a regular council meeting on Dec. 29.
Then, at the Jan. 5 council meeting, the oath of office will be administered in Spokane Valley City Council Chambers at 5:45 p.m. Newly elected council member Sam Wood, who's replacing Ben Wick, will be sworn in, as will Arne Woodard who won reelection and Mayor Dean Grafos, who is reelected after running unopposed.
The City Council also selects the mayor and deputy mayor among its members at this meeting.
Temporary Councilman Bill Gothmann will continue to fill in for Councilman Bill Bates, who's been on medical leave for more than a year.
Gothmann was appointed in June and will serve until June 2016 or until Bates returns to the council, which ever comes first.

---

---