Spokane City Council Votes to Move Regular Meetings to Wednesdays

The council also proposes new public testimony rules, sparking debate over access and tradition.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Spokane City Council voted on Monday to move its regular legislative meetings from Mondays to Wednesdays, upending over 100 years of tradition. The council also proposed new public testimony rules that would limit individual speaking time but create more opportunities for residents to weigh in. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 9.

Why it matters

The move to Wednesday meetings is aimed at avoiding conflicts with holidays that often fall on Mondays, but some residents argue it will force them to choose between attending city council or neighborhood council meetings. The proposed public testimony rules are also controversial, with some councilmembers concerned they may limit public access and input.

The details

Under the new rules, the council's legislative meetings will move from Mondays to Wednesdays, and the committee meetings and agenda review will shift from Mondays to Tuesdays. The council will also consider additional changes to public testimony next week, including an "express" option allowing residents to speak for up to 3 minutes on a single item or the entire agenda, but limiting their ability to testify again at that meeting. For other agenda items, residents would be limited to 2 minutes of testimony on entire sections of the agenda, rather than being able to speak on each individual item.

  • The Spokane City Council voted on the meeting date change on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • The council will vote on the proposed public testimony rules next Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • The new meeting dates and public testimony rules are scheduled to take effect on July 9, 2026.

The players

Betsy Wilkerson

Spokane City Council President.

Sarah Dixit

Spokane City Councilmember.

Michael Cathcart

Spokane City Councilmember who opposed the meeting date change.

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What they’re saying

“We have been discussing moving our council meeting days for a number of years. This is not new.”

— Betsy Wilkerson, Spokane City Council President (dailyfly.com)

“The insinuation that any of this would be reducing people's time, I don't think is a fair statement.”

— Sarah Dixit, Spokane City Councilmember (dailyfly.com)

“Do I need to be the council person sitting up here upending 114 years of history on the day we meet? I don't know.”

— Michael Cathcart, Spokane City Councilmember (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

The Spokane City Council will vote on the proposed public testimony rules at its next meeting on Monday, March 10, 2026.

The takeaway

The Spokane City Council's decision to move its regular meetings to Wednesdays and consider new public testimony rules highlights the ongoing tension between upholding tradition and adapting to changing needs and priorities in the community. The outcome of the public testimony vote will be closely watched as an indicator of the council's commitment to maintaining open and accessible government.