Low impact on Rathdrum Mountain

RATHDRUM - Rathdrum is following the majority of stakeholder and citizen voices in moving toward creating low-impact recreational uses on 557 acres it owns on Rathdrum Mountain.

The city council on Wednesday night directed staff to develop a draft ordinance that supports uses such as hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, viewpoints and educational opportunities.

The council also concurred with the report based on stakeholder and citizen comments compiled by consultant J-U-B Engineers that high-impact uses such as hunting, ATVs/motorcycles, camping and fires should not be allowed.

"I can envision this as a Tubbs Hill," said Fred Meckel, council member. "It will be a great place for people to do their morning exercise."

The report delivered at the meeting, attended by about 45 people, was the city's latest step in determining whether to lightly develop the site or not. Thirty stakeholders ranging from business owners and local and state agencies to environmental organizations and hunting groups were interviewed in May and June. An open house in June drew 143 attendees.

The council is in favor of forming a steering committee consisting of citizens, city officials, stakeholders and community groups to develop a plan for the site. That process could include open houses and a set of development options from which to choose.

"Maybe we should even include a couple of the people who are opposed to the whole idea to keep us honest," Mayor Vic Holmes said.

The city will need to make improvements to Barrett Drive, which the Post Falls Highway District last year validated as a county road and leads to the city site. The validation ended a 20-year fight between the city and some adjacent landowners on whether the city could access its property.

The county will maintain the road once the city brings it up to standards.

The city's mountain site, which isn't open to the public yet, includes streams, giant cedar trees and dirt Forest Service roads. Some areas offer partial views of Rathdrum and the Rathdrum Prairie. Spring Creek on the mountain feeds into City Park year-round. The city is finishing up a routine selective harvest of the site for revenue and to limit fire danger.

Chris Hansen, the city's forest consultant, said lightly developing the property with roads and trails would make it easier to fight fires at the site. Citizens in the report expressed concern about fire hazards.

"I definitely believe that it would be a big advantage to open roads up so equipment can get up there to fight fire," Hansen said.

As far as law enforcement at the site, which is under the jurisdiction of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said he has been in contact with Sheriff Ben Wolfinger on a plan. Rathdrum Police would respond to day-to-day matters and perform routine checks at the site. For more serious situations, the police would call KCSO for backup.

"Every officer who works for Rathdrum Police is cross-deputized by the sheriff's office," Fuhr said.

Dave LaFountaine, who lives near the mountain site, said he supports low-impact recreation.

"I'm open to some form of public access on a restricted basis," he said.

A plan on how to lightly develop the site that would include details such as where to place restrooms and hours of operation would ultimately need to be approved by the council.

City Administrator Brett Boyer said the city has already heard from multiple groups that would be interested in developing trails at the site and grant opportunities are also available.