Chamber endorses McEuen Phase 1

Mayor Bloem and Coeur d'Alene City Council Members

City of Coeur d'Alene

700 Mullan

Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce took action during the January Board meeting on a policy endorsing the core of Phase 1 of the McEuen Field project.

The specific endorsement language is as follows:

The Coeur d'Alene Chamber, having full faith and trust in our Representative form of government, supports council's continued efforts to improve and enhance McEuen Park.

We commend the Council for a process that has been open and transparent. We firmly believe that through this process, synergistic solutions to park redevelopment issues have and will continue to emerge, for the general benefit of Coeur d'Alene's citizens.

We support solutions that are fiscally prudent and necessarily includes the "equal or better philosophy" including the boat ramp and ball fields, for replacement of existing amenities. Furthermore any solutions should enlarge and enhance the park's open green space and provide parking solutions necessary to the vitality of Downtown and the entire community.

Recognizing that urban renewal funding will sunset, we urge Council action be not only fiscally responsible but also expedient. Having reviewed Phase 1 of Team McEuen's conceptual plan, we believe that in general it meets the above standards. We encourage the Council to continue moving forward with implementation of the basic elements outlined in Phase 1 applying the standards set forth above. Council action now, will not only provide needed jobs and revenue generation today, but also assures a more vibrant economic infrastructure for the future of Coeur d'Alene.

We sincerely appreciate all your hard work on this important topic.

Sincerely,

STEPHEN T. WILSON

President/C.E.O.

Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce