Spokane County Commissioners and Spokane City Council to Host Joint Meeting on Opioids and Regional Issues

Spokane County and Spokane City leaders are set to enhance their relationship through collaborative discussions aimed at addressing critical regional issues. City Council President Betsy Wilkerson and County Commission Chair Mary Kuney are spearheading efforts to hold roundtable meetings focused on the opioid epidemic and drug use, potentially the first in a series of ongoing dialogues. Wilkerson has suggested that these discussions include federal agencies to gain insights into their regional activities and explore partnerships for utilizing settlement funds from opioid manufacturers. The meetings will also likely cover the Spokane County’s 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update and the city’s transition to a scattered-site shelter model for homelessness services. Moreover, there’s a possibility of revisiting long-standing discussions about regional 911 dispatch services, a topic that has seen significant contention over the years.

Kuney expressed that these meetings could pave the way for addressing many unresolved regional issues. The collaborative nature of these discussions signals a positive shift in governance and community engagement. Overall, this initiative aims to foster a more unified approach to problem-solving in Spokane.