County staff recommend new 20‑year A Vista Stadium agreement with loan and maintenance changes

County staff briefed commissioners on a proposed long‑term agreement with the Spokane Indians that would replace prior 2023 terms, provide a loan to accelerate remaining capital work and reallocate maintenance and revenue responsibilities.

Doug (county staff) summarized negotiated changes: a transition year in 2026 with no rent collected but immediate M&O savings for the county; beginning in 2027 the agreement would establish a base rent of $100,000 that increases slightly each year over a 20‑year term; a loan (advanced county matching funds) would be repaid with interest according to a fixed schedule through December 2029; and a stadium parking account would be established with a guaranteed $50,000 annual deposit from the fair and expo and a provision for the county to receive 50% of net parking proceeds should parking fees be charged in the future.

Why it matters: staff estimated maintenance‑and‑operations savings for the county (roughly $150,000 in 2026 against the current budgeted M&O) and highlighted the prospect that shifting routine M&O to the Spokane Indians could yield multi‑year savings. The county would retain responsibility for structural repairs; staff said they defined structural versus routine items in the draft and included transition support (training for winterization and procedures) to reduce risk.

Loan and collateral: the county would advance roughly $1.62 million (the remaining match) as a loan at 4% to be repaid per the agreed schedule; parking rights are included as collateral in the draft. Staff said the loan offer accelerates previously agreed matching commitments so capital improvements can be completed in a timely manner.

Board questions and process: commissioners questioned historical terms from the 2023 MOU and whether the county had previously advanced public funds to private organizations; staff said similar mechanisms had been used in limited past cases and argued the current structure protects county interests while allowing completion of the capital program. Staff indicated the agreement and related ordinance/amendment will be placed on next week’s legislative agenda for the board to consider; no formal vote was taken at the briefing.

Risks and guardrails: staff said they attempted to specifically define structural responsibilities and included insurance review and five‑year check points to allow adjustments if needed; commissioners pressed about potential liability for damage attributable to contractor or operator failings and staff said structural claims would be evaluated and pursued if responsibility could be demonstrated.

The board directed staff to place the draft agreement on the legislative agenda for formal review next week.