Mayor Dennis Hession is working to ensure that federal community development dollars that come to Spokane are spent to provide the biggest benefit to the citizens of our 13 community development neighborhoods. He has organized an effort that will consider ideas from the community and community development neighborhoods as well as best practices from around the nation to ensure the best approach.

"In the last 14 years, we have spent $105 million in community development block grants, HOME funds, and other community development dollars, yet the Census Bureau tells us that poverty levels in our community development neighborhoods remain unchanged," says Mayor Dennis Hession. "We have many committed citizens who have worked tirelessly to spend these dollars in best way possible, but we need to take a new look at how we're using these funds to provide greater benefit in our neighborhoods."

The Mayor has organized a team to review those new strategic choices for community development. That direction may include leveraging CD dollars to create jobs, improve the economy, and otherwise improve income levels in the neighborhoods that money is earmarked to serve. The team will do its work over the next 45 days, in time for the Community Development Board to consider the results at its annual retreat.

The committee members include:

• Chair, Todd Rothrock, Chair of the Community Development Board.
• Jean Farmer, Northeast Community Center.
• Christie Anderson, Human Services Advisory Board.
• Tracy Reich, Ventures Board.
• Jelili Ogundele, Community Frameworks.
• Mark Hurtubise, Inland Northwest Community Foundation.
• Tobby Hatley, Desautel Hege Communications.
• One representative from among the CD Neighborhood Steering Committees, who will be selected next week.
• An additional representative from the Plan Commission, who we are waiting to confirm.

The team will hold a series of five public meetings:

• Thursday, May 10, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Spokane City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Agenda: Briefing from Community Development staff about funding and past practices.
• Thursday, May 17, 4:30 to 6 p.m., East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone. Agenda: Public comment.
• Thursday, May 24, 5:30 to 7 p.m., West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt. Agenda: Public comment.
• Thursday, May 31, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook. Agenda: Public comment.
• Thursday, June 7, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Spokane City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Agenda: Report back to Mayor Hession and the public on the committee's ideas and recommendations.

Citizens can come at any time during the three public comment meetings at the community centers. In addition, the June 7 meeting will be shown live on CityCable 5, the City of Spokane's government-access cable station, and taped for replay also on CityCable 5.