There's dissent on consent

by Keith Cousins Staff Writer
| January 14, 2017 12:00 AM

COEUR d'ALENE — At the beginning of every Coeur d'Alene City Council meeting, the council's six elected members vote on a series of routine matters all lumped into one package.

But for one councilor, the city's practice of having a consent calendar is ripe for abuse.

"We can't just rubber stamp this stuff," said Councilman Dan Gookin. "That's ridiculous. This is the public's business."

There are 13 items scheduled for one vote of the council under the consent calendar during its Jan. 17 meeting at 6 p.m. According to Gookin, as well as Mayor Steve Widmyer, items placed in the consent calendar are supposed to be ordinary ones, previously vetted by one of the city's subcommittees, and not requiring further discussion from the full council.

"The consent calendar was designed as a rubber stamp," Gookin said. "But they always try to stick resolutions in there. Some of these matters are routine, yes, but some need to be further vetted."

There aren't typically as many items on the calendar, but Widmyer said 13 items appear on the Jan. 17 iteration because this is one of the first council meetings after the holiday season. Widmyer added he already expects one of the items, the update to the Trails and Bikeways Master Plan, to be removed from the consent calendar through an avenue given to council members allowing them to do so.

"Councilors can, at the council meeting, make a motion to request an item be pulled off. Anytime the council thinks an opportunity should be provided time for further discussion, we are happy to do so," the mayor said. "My question to him (Gookin) would be, why don't you use that avenue?"

At the subcommittee meetings themselves, which are overseen by members of the council, Widmyer said councilors can request an item they vetted be placed on the council meeting agenda for a complete discussion. Gookin responded he’s made motions to have an item removed.

"But we should always be erring on the side of transparency," Gookin added. "Every one of these items is city business that should be publicly discussed."