A six-year list of proposed transportation work, project change orders grant funding were some of the items the Airway Heights City Council took up in meetings from mid-June to early July.
Planning future projects
At its July 7 meeting, council unanimously approved the city’s 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) 2025-2031. If all 16 projects were realized, the estimated cost of the plan would exceed $63.84 million.
Assistant Public Works Director Steve Flude said the plan identifies needed transportation projects. It is one of the documents the city must submit when it applies for state or federal funding.
“Our hope is that we’ll eventually get money for all of those projects and build them,” Flude said.
Flude said the new list is smaller than previous ones as department staff identified projects needing additional scoping or more consideration. Those projects were removed from the new TIP, but remain on the Capital Improvement Projects list in the Comprehensive Plan.
“They (TIP projects) are pretty well dispersed throughout the city,” Flude said.
Projects ranged in size from the $21 million U.S. Highway 2 Boulevard Safety/Multimodal Phase 3, projected for 2027, to the $200,000 annual sidewalks program for work on sidewalks and bicycle paths on various sections of city streets. Most projects are in the $2 million – $4.6 million range, with some listed for possible construction in 2026-2027 already receiving grant or other funding, such as the nearly $3.89 million roundabout on U.S. 2 at Garfield Road and the almost $3.63 million roundabout on U.S. 2 at Craig Road, both slated for 2026.
Council approves reclaimed water connections
At its June 16 regular meeting, the City Council unanimously approved two change orders connecting three northside Airway Heights parks to the city’s reclaimed water system.
The connections are part of the reclaimed water line installation project awarded to DW Excavating and funded by a state Department of Ecology grant received in March, 2024. DW Excavating was the low bidder on the project at just short of $1.288 million.
The project places reclaimed water pipe along 6th Avenue from Ketchum Drive to King Street as well as reclaimed water lines on South Ketchum Drive for 800 lineal feet (LF) south of West 6th Avenue to Aspen Grove Park. Reclaimed water pipe is also placed on Campbell Street for 800 LF north of West 6th to Cleveland Park, and on Lawson Street for 500 LF north of West 6th to Traditions Park.
Laying the new piping was originally one contract, but because of scheduling requirements for the 6th Avenue Road project, Ecology agreed to split the line work into two separate projects, the first laying the pipe along 6th and the second connecting the parks.
The total cost of the change order connecting the three parks is $695,994. It includes $560,994 for project materials and labor, $84,000 for construction administration by the city’s project consultant Century West — which was approved by council via a second change order — and $51,000 for construction contingencies.
Previous change orders raised the project cost to $1,346,5009.15. The proposed change order would increase that to $1,907,503.40.
Council approves climate planning element, grant
Also at the June 16 meeting, council unanimously approved the proposed scope and budget for the Greenhouse Gas & Vehicle Miles Sub Element of the city’s Comprehensive Plan update along with approval for applying to the state Department of Commerce for receiving additional grant funding to complete the work.
The Planning Department has wrapped up the first phase in upgrading the city’s Comprehensive Plan to include adding climate resiliency elements. The next phase involves setting greenhouse gas and vehicle emission reductions targets and strategies.
Some strategies discussed by department staff and the Planning Commission include incorporating pedestrian-friendly elements into required subdivision plans and multifamily housing, environmentally-friendly elements included in rejuvenation plans for U.S. Highway 2 and ensure Spokane Transit Authority access within one-quarter mile of multifamily and large-scale residential centers.
The city has contracted with Seattle-based Sustainable Solutions Group to help with the climate elements work. The state planning grant funding was done over two biennial budget cycles, with the city receiving $230,000 in the 2023-2025 cycle.
The city is now applying for $170,000 over the 2025-2027 cycle to complete the work.
Council sets July 14 as “Drey” Day
At its July 7 meeting, the City Council unanimously adopted a resolution setting July 14 as the day to honor deceased Airway Height resident Quindrey “Drey” Trevon Davis Murphy for his contributions to the city and the region.
Murphy graduated from Cheney High School, playing in the Blackhawks Band, and went on to study percussion performance at Eastern Washington University. After graduation he taught middle and high school band at Northwest Christian School, formerly Bartell Music Academy, as well as performed in several area musical groups in a music career that included a variety of genres such as gospel, jazz, soul, rock, and classical.
Murphy passed away suddenly on Oct. 14, 2023 following a leukemia diagnosis. His mother, Erica Davis, approached the city recently about designating July 14, 2025 as “Drey’s Day” to honor his lifetime and lasting influence.
Quail Run park impact fees approved
At its June 23 study session, council unanimously approved a recommendation from the Park Advisory Board to allow the developer of a 46-lot subdivision to pay park impact mitigation fees instead of setting aside land for park construction. The arrangement is allowed under state law and Airway Heights municipal code.
In an email, Parks and Recreation Director JC Kennedy said the development will be assessed $2,775 per lot. With 46 lots available for use, the total amount payable to the city is $127,650.
According to Washington’s Municipal Research and Services Center, park mitigation impact fees can be used for “new or expanded public capital facilities that will directly address the increased demand for services created by that development.” Facilities include publicly-owned streets, roads, pedestrian and bicycle paths; publicly-owned parks, open spaces and recreation facilities; school facilities and fire protection facilities.
Kennedy said he was not certain who would be paying the Hunters Crossing impact fees. According to preliminary plat documents, the owner/developer of the subdivision is listed as Airway Heights, LLC, with a Liberty Lake post office box. Homes at Hunters Crossing are listed on the D.R. Horton Home Builders website.
Airway Heights council voted unanimously to accept park mitigation impact fees from the owner/developer of the Quail Run at Hunters Crossing subdivision instead of dedication of land for park construction.
Council denies damage claims
At the July 7 meeting, council voted unanimously to deny two separate claims for damages stemming from utility issues that exceeded $2,000 and therefore prompted council review.
Otto Investments submitted a dispute on March 19, 2025 for $8,737.93 for a higher-than-normal water bill originally submitted and denied by the city on Nov. 18, 2024. The March submittal included additional information documenting costs.
Airway Heights Public Works Department confirmed the high bill stemmed from water leaking from a broken water line and that property owners were aware of the issue for at least a month before repairing it. Department staff noted the city is not responsible for fixing or paying for leaks on private property.
The second water bill dispute was from Spokane Kart Racing (SKR), who submitted a dispute on March 20, 2025 for $3,515. SKR stated a curb stop valve had been leaking for the 2023 and 2024 racing season, and that they had replaced the value and rectified the leak.
