Sheriff’s training classes at CenterPlace discussed

The topics were varied and the conversation brisk at Tuesday’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting.

Among them:

“ Undersheriff Jeff Tower and Deputy Dave Ellis appealed to the City Council to undo an administrative decision to boot sheriff’s training classes from the CenterPlace community center.

“All we are asking for is at least a voice so we can present our program,” Tower said.

The city leases part of the building to Community Colleges of Spokane, which began leasing some of that space to the Sheriff’s Office six months ago.

Training exercise in the parking lot, gun classes, scheduling conflicts and other issues prompted Parks and Recreation Director Mike Jackson to put the brakes on the program. And after a series of correspondence with the colleges, he asked that the sheriff’s classes cease by Feb 16.

Mayor Diana Wilhite said the city’s bond attorney is looking into what is allowed at the publicly funded facility and the council will discuss it further in two weeks.

“ Next at the podium, Shelly Mitchell spoke about Spokane Valley sidewalks, or the lack thereof.

As it rebuilt its roads, Spokane County failed to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by not installing the proper curb-cuts and sidewalk facilities needed for people in wheelchairs, she said.

“The streets and sidewalks are not safe,” she said.

If it doesn’t work to bring the streets into compliance, she said the city will face a lawsuit.

“We’ve not just dismissed it or laid it aside,” Wilhite said, adding that she has been in contact with public works personnel about the issue who would contact Mitchell.

“ The council’s first item of business was a fourth, six-month extension of temporary 1-acre zoning for the Ponderosa and Rotchford areas, which passed unanimously.

“ The city awarded a contract to ORB Architects of Renton, Wash., to add water features and other upgrades to the city’s pools. The contract is worth an estimated $196,711, which includes setting up public meetings on the improvements.