Hayden council meeting tonight

HAYDEN - The Hayden City Council has three major discussion issues on its agenda for today's regular meeting at Hayden City Hall.

The meeting, starting at 5 p.m. at 8930 N. Government Way, will include discussions about a law enforcement feasibility study, a Kootenai County Sheriff's Department report and data collection proposal, and a proposal about the traffic islands along Government Way.

With the law enforcement feasibility study, the city will be looking at whether it should have its own police department or contract with an existing law enforcement agency to provide services to the city. The city will be evaluating the costs and benefits involved with both options, said Stefan Chatwin, Hayden city administrator.

The City Council will also look at what services are provided to the city from the sheriff's department and whether the city should purchase data-collection software for that department as payment for its services to the city, Chatwin said.

The council will discuss the benefits to the city of the data collection software, and how the information gathered with it will help the department's efficiency in its use of resources, he said.

Finally, the council will look at a Government Way traffic island safety proposal, considering whether the islands located along the road are helping to ensure safer pedestrian access. The council will also ask what can be done to make the islands more visible, whether some islands should be removed or improved, and if so, how, Chatwin said.