Best way to move on McEuen

Two old sayings come to mind when thinking about McEuen Field:

1. Issues divide, but values unite. 2. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

The issue of McEuen Field has divided some in the community, but the values that guide improvement of that important piece of land don't. They are the "Seven Values" that a past City Council unanimously approved 12 years ago. You can read them on the city's website (www.cdaid.org). We should honor those values while addressing today's divisive issues.On the topic of an advisory vote, the expectation is that I've already "made up my mind". Not entirely true, but we've had this debate already and my position is informed by countless communications with voters and a public hearing last year with dozens of citizens testifying for and against. I wasn't elected to be a weather vane, adopting a political position just to simplify re-election. I take the oath of office seriously, using input from the citizens of Coeur d'Alene and my best judgment to make decisions.

I genuinely don't think an advisory vote can bring clear, actionable guidance. I've talked to people in the county who demand to be included in the advisory vote. Should they even though they are not city residents? I've talked to people in the city who would vote yes if their preferred changes are included, but no if they aren't - even though they absolutely want McEuen overhauled. What would we learn from that?Remember the old saying that "a camel is a horse designed by committee"? That's how I've come to feel about urban parks.

If either the Kroc Center or the Landings Park were put to a public vote I think they would have both failed. Many different interests wanted different specific features and would have canceled each other's votes. Yet both projects are now triumphs.Moreover, the same telling comment was made to me by supporters and opponents of the McEuen plan alike: "You just had an advisory vote called the election. Your side lost. Compromise and move on."

McEuen Field needs work. I still personally endorse the current plan that passed. And our predecessors created a long range goal of improving McEuen along with a funding source - urban renewal.

But there's not enough funding to do everything now, so let's improve the park consistent with the "Seven Values" and the financial realities now: * Front Avenue needs to be redone - it is years overdue. Move the parking while doing that project and recapture five acres of green-space. It may never be cheaper to do public construction than it is today, creating construction jobs now. Keep the parcels north of Sherman for a future multi-use parking project when the economy improves.

* Leave some lanes for boat launching while pursuing additional waterfront access along Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive. * Build an exceptional baseball facility on 15th Street. The city could be forced to evict American Legion baseball by the federal and state agencies that funded McEuen, so we need a sound long-term plan for baseball.

* Install public infrastructure under McEuen so that as funds and opportunities arise in the future they can be implemented.People who support the park redesign understandably don't want the city "caving" to political pressure, while some who oppose the park redesign don't want any change at all.

Our job as a city council is to pursue the values that unite the community while not letting the perfect become the enemy of the good.The goal is to make McEuen better. We can and will find the right amount of compromise to keep the process moving forward for the future.

Mike Kennedy is president of the Coeur d'Alene City Council.