Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper | CDAPress.com

Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho

Official: LCDC ball in public's court

Posted: Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 - 10:34:19 pm PDT
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By TOM HASSLINGER
Staff writer 

Agency seeking feedback before beginning to make suggested changes

COEUR d'ALENE -- Now it's time for the public to meet Lake City Development Corp., halfway, Pac/West Vice President Stefany Bales said on Thursday.

Speaking a day after she presented the eight-member LCDC board with a list of recommendations the agency can do to improve its communicative image in the community, Bales said the presentation was just the first step in many if the urban revitalization agency and city residents want to see eye-to-eye.

But the next step might be the public's, she said.

"It's an important part of the process, but it's a baby step," Bales said about Pac/West's list of recommendations. "I admire LCDC for recognizing there was a potential problem and coming forward and asking for help. They took a lot of criticism that they knew would come for it."

Meanwhile, LCDC posted Bales' list of recommendations on its Web page, www.lcdc.org, for the public to review and, the agency hopes, add suggestions as they see fit in time for the next board meeting at 3 p.m. Aug. 20 in the Community Room

at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library before the agency begins to make the changes Pac/West suggested.

"If you have concerns, bring those forward at the next meeting," Bales said. "Pick up the discourse about how to make things better rather than throwing rocks."

LCDC contracted the Oregon-based public relations firm in February to help identify problems behind a public perception that the group wasn't forthcoming with information behind some of its publicly funded projects, and to help find possible solutions to better engage the city and recruit public involvement. Bales presented the board with a list of recommendations that the agency could use to dust off its non-transparent image which included updating its Web page and e-messaging system, shifting meeting times to the evening so the public could more likely attend, forming groups and hosting retreats, among others.

LCDC Executive Director Tony Berns told The Press following Wednesday night's meeting the agency is looking forward to any suggestions the public may have that was omitted from Bales' list.

"I'd admire LCDC for coming forward and asking for help in a public forum," Bales said. "Now it's time for their critics to meet them the other halfway."


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Ipee on LCDC wrote on Jul 21, 2008 6:13 PM:

" How about these specific questions for all you "legal eagles"?


1. Can a LCDC board member voluntarily acquire real estate within the URD while holding his/her appointed position?

2. Is the mayor of CDA liable and responsible for alleged violations of Idaho URA statutes?

3. Since she the mayor appointed the URD board members can she be personally sued for damages caused to tax payers?

4. Can LCDC board members be prosecuted criminally for their actions as members of the LCDC? "

mini mouse wrote on Jul 21, 2008 1:21 PM:

" Here is some interesting information from the LDCD web site found in the minutes tab, May 21, 2008 minutes.

The LCDC funds with tax money the following "Events" which total $50,000.00 each and every year.

Just think who are these special people who get this tax money for their special events?

May 3 Cabin Fever
May 14 Downtown Farmer Market Every We.
May 26 Memorial Monday Farmer's market
June 13 Car d'lane Cruise
June 14 Car d'Lane Show & Dance
July 17, 24 Sherman Alive!
Aug. 1-3 Street Fair, Taste of CDA & ART ON THE GREEN
Aug. 7,14 Sherman Alive!
Aug. 21, 28 Sherman Alive!
August 29-30 Downtown Antique Festival
August 31 Labor Day Downtown Farmer's Market
Oct. 25 Fall Festival and Farmer's Market
Oct. 31 Downtown Trick or Treat
Nov. 8 Football Widow's Shopping Spree
Nov. 28 Lighting Ceremony Parade
Nov. 28 Carriage Rides


Just think $50,000.00 of your property taxes are vaporized paying for special events for special people. "

barracuda wrote on Jul 21, 2008 12:41 PM:

" From today's SR DfO BLOG:

Smith: Secret Taping 'Unethical' In Idaho
HBO Question: Would you condone a reporter or a columnist secretly taping a news source to gather information for a story or column?

SR Editor Steve Smith: Doing so in Idaho would be unethical. We would not condone it and it is, in fact, against policy. In Washington, its also illegal. There is no disputing that. Any exception in Idaho would be tied to extraordinary circumstances and require the editor's explicit approval and fall under our deception clause which establishes clear criteria for such an action.

Posted by DFO | 21 Jul 12:06 PM | Comments (0)





Maybe the DfO should have asked Steve Smith the following question.

HBO Question: Would you condone a reporter or a columnist secretly taping a news source to gather information for a story or column, if an official investigation was being conducted?

Questions for DfO:

1. Please explain why taping a conversation in Idaho is unethical but is lawful if one of the parties to the conversation has knowledge of the taping?

2. If the taping were part of an official investigation why would it be unethical? "

little mouse on Sherman wrote on Jul 21, 2008 12:12 PM:

" I am sooo TICKED the LCDC paid for the blooming CDA Mayor's (her Sandiness') new advertising awning for her jewelry store located on Sherman Ave. That awning cost thousands of tax payer dollars. That sinking LCDC gives away free tax money plus interest to a certain few rich and well connected developers and pays the CDA Mayor with a free advertising awning. Don't believe me, give her Sandiness a call and ask her about the free advertising awning for her jewelry store. Hey Sandiness, give me my tax money back. "

Birdy wrote on Jul 19, 2008 9:41 AM:

" do you think anyone in the LCDC paid attention to the fall out in Post Falls on Thursday when the chairman of URA resigned after pressure from the city council to be transparent and on course with urban renewal projects to create jobs, period? "

Right On wrote on Jul 19, 2008 7:42 AM:

" Wooo-Hooo John Connor! Way to say it with style. You hit the nail on the head. Thank you! "

stingray wrote on Jul 19, 2008 7:19 AM:

" It's the same Charlie Nipp who is business partners with Steve Meyer of Parkwood Business Properties.

Mike Kennedy is employed by Steve Meyer, who owns InterMax.

Steve Meyer is married to Judy Meyer who a trustee of North Idaho College and Kootenai Shoshone Allied Library District (KSAL). Both NIC and KSAL are taxing districts and Mrs. Meyer was elected to both boards, hence she is under the authority of Ethic In Government Laws.

Steve Meyer is on the Hayden Urban Renewal Agency board.

Both Steve Meyer and Charlie Nipp are board members of Mountain West Bank.

Mike Patano is a board member of Mountain West Bank.

Sue Thilo's husband Tom is a board member of Mountain West Bank.

Steve and Judy Meyer along with Charlie Nipp on in the top five largest property owners in Kootenai County "

LOL wrote on Jul 19, 2008 5:41 AM:

" From today's budget article:

"We could be looking down the barrel of some increasingly difficult times," Councilman Mike Kennedy said.

Mikey works for a firm owned by a partner of the LCDC Board Chair. Funneling monies into projects that benefit rich buddies seems to be the norm in CDA. Now the taxpayer is getting the shaft, reduced services and soon more taxes. Gee thanks Mikey. Glad you moved to CDA (even it it was AFTER you got elected.) "

John Connor wrote on Jul 19, 2008 3:11 AM:

" We're asking questions because some guys have figured out a way to legally funnel taxpayer dollars to rich developers.
These guys have, unfortunately, hoodwinked the local Democratic leadership who are near and dear to this issue (ie; Mike Kennedy, Mike Gridley, The Spokesman Review).
That's a shame, because there are a lot of lunch-box Democrats in this country who would hate this type of thing (as close as Montana comes to mind).
But we don't have that here.
What has kept urban renewals alive in the reddest of states so far is about 90% of the rest of the state's urban renewal agencies aren't being abused. (And, as we're learning, quasi-public URDs have lobbyists, $30,000-PR firms and high-powered attorneys like Ryan Armbruster. Google Ryan Armbruster and University Place together -- I dare you.)
Why, right next door in Post Falls is a perfect example of how urban renewal laws are supposed to work: identify a project under standards that are not arbitrary, set a time to complete the project and then get out. The public then reaps the tax revenue from the project within five or so years. Tops.
What LCDC is doing, hence, their PR problem, is creating a quasi-public organization (Lord, don't we know by now to watch "quasi-public" organizations) that has set itself up to continue until the year 2022. Between now and 2022, LCDC can pretty much do what it wants (spend taxpayer dollars) on whatever projects it wants. (The board is appointed by the mayor, not elected.)
And, our URD has decided to spend our taxpayer dollars, so far, on projects like Ice Plant, Mill River, and those 2 new skyscrapers downtown. (Subsidizing rich developers selling condos starting at $350,000.)
Our URD board has decided to pump $6.7 million taxpayer dollars into Riverstone and its $3.5 million manmade lake.
When developer John Stone and his crew built the manmade lake they told TV and newspaper media it would be there for public enjoyment: mostly weddings and such, they said.

Within a stone's throw away from the Riverstone manmande lake/fountain went the Holiday Inn Express on Seltice, which is owned by Charlie Nipp.
Across from Riverstone on Northwest Blvd. went the big new office building, which is owned by Charlie Nipp.
Who stands to benefit from taxpayer dollars being used to subsidized development at Riverstone?
OK, forget that question for a second. How about this one:
Who is the chairman of the LCDC board?
Answer: Charlie Nipp.

This is why I am asking questions.

This is not crazy. This is not unreasonable. These are legitimate conflict of interest issues; probably best decided by the courts and not a PR firm paid $30,000 by LCDC.

Coeur d'Alene's LCDC (a group of "volunteers") hiring a lobbyist for legislative sessions to argue and side against elected North Idaho legislators (who are the ones bringing legislation to curb URDs) in order to keep these quasi-public organizations alive reminds me of the "Terminator." Machines built to serve have taken on their own life and will do anything to preserve their existence.

To hired-gun Stefany Bales: It's not personal as LCDC fans will say it is. I don't know you from Adam. But, I work hard for my money. The Guvmint takes a big chunk and I hate to see it subsidize "projects" like these -- empty rich people condos. Our highway by Silverwood is still a deathtrap, Kootenai County is running on fumes since all the new development dollars in CDA are going to LCDC and our school levies are failing.

It's insulting when I see my money being spent to hire a PR firm to "educate" me on the benefits of urban renewal.

The ball is in your court. "

raptor wrote on Jul 18, 2008 3:22 PM:

" Just ask Tony Berns when does he records telephone conversations without telling the other person? Why do you think Tony makes $150K per year. He is a recording artist! "

dbc wrote on Jul 18, 2008 2:45 PM:

" Meet them halfway hell, disban the dam thing. "

memorex wrote on Jul 18, 2008 1:46 PM:

" Mary, do you think Stephany records all her conversations? "

TRI wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:44 AM:

" How do you meet someone half way if they are 100% wrong? Tax money shouldn't be given in the form of TIF to rich developers, period. We are struggling to pay our gas bills and Stone has a new leerjet. Stone can afford to pay for his own projects without tax money. John Buetler is a nice guy and the best real estate agent in the world but John doesn't need free tax money plus interest to build commercial buildings on Northwest Blvd. I am sick and tired of giving rich developers tax money so they can improve their bottom line.

If LCDC board conflicts of interest exist, the Mayor is responsible. Sandi needs to address conflicts of interest issues directly. Why hasn't she responded? "

Mary Souza wrote on Jul 18, 2008 10:46 AM:

" I'm glad the LCDC is asking for help in a public forum, too. What will the format of this meeting look like? Will citizens be free to ask any and all questions? Please use SD 271's model of their recent after-the-levy public meetings. Hazel has received much deserved positive feedback.

Stefany Bales had a very tough job with LCDC. She had to tell a group of powerful officials that public criticisms are well founded and they need to change some important aspects of their operation. And they sign her paycheck.

The quote from Exec. Director Tony Berns in yesterday's Press does not bode well for change. Tony said "We've heard a lot of the same topics before. We've been dealing with that for years. That's nothing new."

Stefany and the LCDC have a lot of work to do. "

actually wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:53 AM:

" I think the ball is in the mayor and city councils court!

Time to rotate members!

Time for the city to control the LCDC!

Instead of the other way around! "

Blame the Victim wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:17 AM:

" ...more LCDC B.S. "

missing info. wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:55 AM:

" Maybe if we had more info. about what their plans really are, then we could make some informed decisions.
It's disingenuous to simply say people are throwing rocks...people are frustrated, don't you get it!!!!! "

Niles wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:38 AM:

" SUGGESTION: Be honest. After reading the LCDC plans for their "education corridor" that label is a obvious snow job. The correct title should read: "The business corridor supported by colleges (and good luck finding parking)". "

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