Spokane upends 100+ years of tradition, considering new public testimony rules

(The Center Square) – After more than 100 years of tradition, the Spokane City Council voted Monday to move its regular meeting date to Wednesdays, with other rule changes slated for a vote next week.

The council typically adopts its annual rules of procedure in the lead-up to Jan. 1 or soon after. The process was delayed this time as multiple members faced reelection. Two new officials joined the dais this year, shaking up the negotiations, which continued Monday as they considered new amendments.

The council has floated the idea of rescheduling its legislative sessions a few times in recent years to avoid cancelling Monday meetings that often fall on holidays. The officials rarely reschedule cancelled meetings for later in the week, but that shouldn’t be much of an issue anymore after Monday’s vote.​

“We have been discussing moving our council meeting days for a number of years. This is not new,” Council President Betsy Wilkerson said Monday. “We had go...