Watch: City Council Chickens & Communications

Chickens and how the city communicates about creating new laws were the major topics of the last city council meeting. Councilmember Ron Scholz attended via phone due to illness.

You can watch a video of the meeting and skip to the sections that are important to you using the links below.

Key Points

00:00 – Call to Order & Roll Call
00:35 – Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance
02:25 – Approval of Agenda & Meeting Minutes
03:33 – New Business – Farming Agreement Ken Greer
05:05 – New Business – Concert Series
06:33 – New Business – Airport Pavement Project
07:45 – New Business – Business Park LID Assessment
18:12 – New Business – Chickens
39:05 – Resolutions – Airport Loan Authorization
41:25 – Ordinances – Zoning Amendment
42:25 – Ordinances – Council & Agenda Rules
59:15 – Consent Agenda
1:01:15 – Report of Officers
1:05:50 – Comments from Audience

Farming Agreement Extension
The council quickly approved the extension of a farming agreement with Ken Greer.
Council voted unanimously in favor.

Summer Concert Series
The city approved the agreement with Gr8ter Veterans for Deer Park to organize the summer concert series. Councilmember Stapp raised mild concerns about a drop in quality from previous years. Mayor Verzal indicated that the main cause was a result of the pandemic.
Council voted unanimously in favor.

Airport Pavement Rehabilitation
Airport Manager Darold Schultz reported on the plan to restore damaged pavement and the contract with JUB.
Council voted unanimously in favor.

Public Hearing March 16th
The Council set a date for a public hearing regarding an assessment on properties located in a Local Improvement District(LID) in the Business Park adjacent to the airport. Details about this item were not included in the online agenda on the city website.
Council voted unanimously in favor.

Backyard Chickens
The council determined that it would be too much work and that there are not enough people interested to pursue making chicken ownership legal in Deer Park.
The council did not vote.

Airport Sewer Mains
Describing the plans Airport Manager Darold Schultz described how the money from a loan would be used to prepare sewer services for land available in the airport. Authorization has been given to the Mayor to accept the loan on behalf of the city.
Council voted unanimously in favor.

Three Reading Process & Agenda Rules

City Attorney Chuck Zimmerman presented the final proposal for the new ordinance. All changes to the Three Reading Process were removed from the new ordinance.
Council voted unanimously in favor.

Councilmember Reports
Jason Upchurch mentioned a survey in the water sewer bill about how the city communicates. The Mayor expressed concern about putting the survey on the website because people living outside of city limits will respond.

Public Comments
Joe Polowski asked the council to create a resolution or proclamation in support of legislation to end Governor Inslee’s emergency powers.

The City of Deer Park still has a resolution granting emergency powers to Mayor Verzal.

Caleb Stapp, Darold Schultz, Deer Park City Council, Helen Dee Cragun, Jason Upchurch, Jay Inslee, Joe Polowski, Ken Greer, Ron Scholz, Tim Verzal

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City & School Levy Under Investigation

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A state investigation is officially underway into the City of Deer Park for the alleged illegal use of taxpayer resources to promote a $14.6 million school levy. At the center of the probe is a potential conflict of interest, as the School District’s plans to purchase city-owned land in the near future hinge on the levy’s passage.

Typewriter with paper reading "Letters to the Editor"

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Dear Community Members,

My name is Mike Thompson, and I have been a resident of Spokane County Fire District #4 for 22 years. During this time, I have had the privilege of serving on the Citizens Advisory Committee, where we review district operations, monitor facilities, and provide input on funding options.

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Know Your Candidates 5Q For City Council 2025

September 24, 2025

The Deer Park Gazette posed five questions to city council & mayoral candidates in the upcoming election, including those running unopposed. These questions delve into candidates’ priorities, views, perspectives, approaches, and how personal beliefs have shaped their direction.

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