No money for Spokane economic adviser-Some on council think post backed by mayor not needed

A job description has been written.

The call for applicants has gone out.

A salary of $62,305 to $76,796 has been set.

But there still isn’t money in the city of Spokane’s 2003 budget for an economic development adviser.

Amy Cannata
Spokesman Review Staff writer

And there’s no guarantee that the Spokane City Council will make that money available, even with the urging of Mayor John Powers and the city’s current economic development adviser, Kim Pearman-Gillman. She will be leaving in about two months.

Pearman-Gillman made her pitch Monday to the Council, saying that someone needs to be hired to maintain the momentum of Spokane’s economic development efforts.

But not all council members are on board.

Avista Corp. loaned the city Pearman-Gillman for the past 17 months. The city received her services and Avista paid her salary, and the council’s intention when it passed the 2003 budget last year was to seek another loaned executive to take her place.

Pearman-Gillman said she doesn’t think that’s possible or wise. She said the city needs someone in the position that it can look to for leadership for more than nine months.

The council already allocated the money needed for the job to economic development programs and support staff.

That means the council would have to pass an emergency budget ordinance to amend the budget to pay for an adviser. That takes five council votes.

Councilwoman Roberta Greene said she supports the move.

"We need to have someone looking out for ways to expand our opportunities," Greene said.

"I won’t be approving this," said Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers.

Even after Rodgers’ statement, Pearman-Gillman insisted that the councilwoman would support funding the position, saying that what Rodgers meant was that she hadn’t voted for it last year.

But after the meeting, Rodgers said, no, she wouldn’t vote for it now because the position isn’t necessary.

Councilman Steve Corker said he hasn’t made up his mind, but added that he has some concerns that the request is a move toward creating a whole department — not just a position.

Corker pointed out that the job description lists that the economic development adviser will be guiding and directing "all employees working in the Office of Economic Development within the Mayor’s office."

Powers’ 2003 budget proposal included funding for an entire economic development department, but the council quashed it, and Powers compromised, accepting $127,000, about half the funding he had wanted for the program.

At his press briefing last week, Powers said funding a replacement for Pearman-Gillman is essential if Spokane’s economic development efforts are to be taken seriously.

"We want to make sure the city is at the table," he said.

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