Intergovernmental Agreements - Spokane Bylaws
Spokane, Washington routinely uses intergovernmental agreements and shared-service arrangements to deliver municipal services efficiently across jurisdictions. These agreements—often called interlocal agreements—allow the City to partner with counties, special districts, other cities, and state agencies to share staff, equipment, procurement, and program administration while preserving municipal authority and accountability. This guide explains how Spokane governs these arrangements under applicable city rules and Washington law, who enforces compliance, what typical penalties and remedies look like, and practical steps for municipal staff, partner agencies, and residents to request, review, or challenge an agreement.
Overview
Intergovernmental agreements in Spokane are implemented through the city’s contracting and legislative processes and must align with state statutes governing interlocal cooperation. Key controls include council authorization, procurement rules, and written contract terms defining scope, cost-sharing, duration, renewal, and termination. Many agreements are executed as resolutions or ordinances and recorded in the city’s official legislative records[1]. Washington’s Interlocal Cooperation Act provides the statutory framework for such agreements statewide[2].
When cities use shared services
- Shared maintenance or equipment pools for public works.
- Joint procurement or cooperative purchasing agreements.
- Shared administrative services, such as HR, IT, or permitting.
- Mutual aid and emergency response pacts.
Penalties & Enforcement
Specific monetary fines tied to breaches of intergovernmental agreements are typically set by the contract terms or by reference to the Spokane Municipal Code and state law. Where a specific fine schedule is not published on the contract record or code page, the amount is not specified on the cited page[1]. Remedies commonly available include contract damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, termination for cause, cost recovery, and withholding of payments. For statutory enforcement of interlocal obligations, Washington law establishes remedies but does not list uniform municipal fines[2].
- Monetary damages or cost recovery as specified in the contract or resolution (amounts: not specified on the cited page).
- Termination for breach or failure to perform; continuing obligations may trigger contract default procedures.
- Court actions for specific performance or declaratory relief under contract and state law.
- Administrative remedies such as suspension of services or withholding of funds where authorized by contract.
Applications & Forms
There is no single, citywide published “interlocal agreement” form on the municipal code page; template language and required attachments are typically included in the draft agreement or staff report for each proposed contract and recorded with the legislative action. If a specific form or template is needed, it is usually provided by the responsible department when negotiating the agreement; the municipal code page does not publish a universal form[1].
Common violations and typical remedies
- Failure to meet performance milestones — remedy: notice, cure period, damages.
- Failure to remit cost shares — remedy: billing, interest, suspension.
- Unauthorized use of shared equipment or staff — remedy: restitution, termination.
Appeals, review, and timelines
Appeals and disputes usually follow the dispute resolution clause in the agreement. Where the agreement is silent, statutory remedies and court processes apply. Time limits for filing claims or appeals are set by the contract or by applicable statutes of limitation; specific filing deadlines are not specified on the municipal code page and must be checked in the controlling agreement or statute[1][2].
Action steps
- Contact the contracting department early to request the draft agreement and any template forms.
- If you identify a compliance concern, submit a written complaint to the responsible department and copy City Legal or the City Clerk.
- If a dispute cannot be resolved administratively, review the agreement’s dispute resolution clause and calendar statutory or contractual deadlines for filing a claim.
FAQ
- What is an intergovernmental agreement?
- An intergovernmental agreement is a written contract between Spokane and another public agency to share services, resources, or responsibilities.
- Who approves interlocal agreements in Spokane?
- Agreements that require expenditure of city funds or affect municipal policy are approved by the Spokane City Council; other agreements may be authorized by departmental authority per city rules.
- How do I get a copy of a signed agreement?
- Request the agreement through the City Clerk’s legislative records or contact the contracting department that executed the agreement.
How-To
How to request or review a proposed intergovernmental agreement in Spokane:
- Identify the responsible department (e.g., Public Works, Finance, Fire) and request the draft agreement and staff report.
- Ask for any template forms, budget attachments, and the proposed council ordinance or resolution number.
- Review performance terms, cost-sharing, renewal/termination clauses, and dispute resolution provisions.
- If you object, submit written comments during the public review period or request to speak at the council meeting that considers the agreement.
- If a contract is executed and you later identify a breach, follow the administrative notice and cure procedures in the agreement and preserve documentation for any further action.
Key Takeaways
- Intergovernmental agreements enable Spokane to share services but must follow council authorization and state law.
- Remedies are contract-driven; specific fines are usually set in the agreement or not specified on the municipal code page.
Help and Support / Resources
- City Clerk - Legislative Records and Documents
- City Purchasing and Contracting
- Public Works - Contracts and Operations