Spokane Valley Mayor Dean Grafos told a crowd of about 100 people, many of whom were city staffers and local dignitaries, that the city is doing well and that it's "lean and efficient with just 87 employees to serve almost 100,000 people."

​Grafos praised staff and departments for going above and beyond the call of duty.

He said one main goal of the city is to be business friendly. "As mayor, along with City Manager Mike Jackson, we signed a record 1,899 letters welcoming new businesses to Spokane Valley [in 2014]." That's up by 17 percent compared to 2013. Among the challenges faced by Spokane Valley, Grafos mentioned the oil trains that run through the city every day and how shrinking federal funding will have a negative impact on the long-term goal of bridging the Valley. 

Housing is also a concern. "We need a framework for a diverse mix of housing types for all ages," Grafos said. "Affordable housing solutions attract young people and their families along with new companies."

Read the full story in the Valley Voice on May 14.