McEUEN: Need a resolution

Here is the consolidation of two emails sent to Mayor Bloem and the City Council. Councilman Kennedy kindly responded that "he had thought of something similar." Judge for yourself if you think my idea is any good. My email follows...

"Let me say at the outset that I generally agree with what I hear will be the first phase of the McEuen project... eg.(1) site grading, (2) Front Avenue improvements, (3) one level parking garage, (4) boat launch to Silver Beach and (5) Legion ball fields to high school (barring some deal with the Riverhawks). I believe the cost would be about $15 million, give or take.

Mayor Bloem, presumably on advice and consent of City Council, stated that NO taxpayer dollars (other than those run through Lake City Development Corporation, LCDC) would be used to fund the McEuen project. NO new property taxes... NO bonds... NO levies. Funding would be exclusively provided by LCDC, grants, redirection of budgeted Parks and Recreation/street monies and private donations. I have a serial disregard of contractor bids and time lines which are rarely correct nor completed on time and generally overlook expected but unbid overruns which, in turn, lead to a chorus of unending "change orders."

Therefore, I ask that City Council adopt a RESOLUTION regarding the allowable funding sources for the McEuen project... including council's pledge that NO additional taxpayer funds will be required. Given the mayor's and council's PLEDGE, adopting a RESOLUTION should be "consent calendar" material. I also believe that the RESOLUTION should provide that if pledged funding proves insufficient to complete any phase of the project, that construction be suspended until an allowable funding source has been secured."

As for me, I believe the mayor and City Council owe the taxpayers of Coeur d'Alene a formal RESOLUTION confirming their verbal commitment that NO new taxpayer money will be used to build McEuen Park... nothing less.

ROBERT B. CLIFF

Coeur d'Alene