WHAT LIES AHEAD Parks, road projects planned for 2019 amid growth

Planning for all those projects to place people can produce pressures.

Keeping pace with an increase in demand for services due to population growth will be a common-thread priority and challenge in all area cities and Kootenai County in 2019, leaders say.

Shelly Enderud, Post Falls' city administrator, said she expects the city's rapid residential growth to continue.

"If the feds continue to increase the interest rates, we may start to see a slowdown on some of the single-family residential, depending on the rest of economy, job market and continued population increase," she said. "We hope to see an increase in commercial permits based on the technology park being approved (for the Highway 41 corridor) and inquiries from developers."

No businesses have been announced for the park, "but all seems to be moving the right direction for an increase in commercial permitting," she said.

The City Council recently created the 831-acre Post Falls Technology Urban Renewal District in the Highway 41 corridor.

The site includes a future 335-acre technology park on the west side of Highway 41 from Prairie to Hayden and a future 50-acre shopping center at the northeast corner of Highway 41 and Prairie.

Here's a look at the top priorities and projects for local cities and the county in 2019:

COEUR d'ALENE

Mayor Steve Widmyer said four projects will rise to the surface in the next year, including developing the Atlas mill site. The city bought the 48-acre property on the Spokane River last May for $7.85 million.

"We will begin work on the waterfront public improvements," he said. "In addition, planning will be done for the road infrastructure in the site."

The site was annexed into the city in October. The council also approved a provision that the shoreline remain in public ownership in perpetuity.

Widmyer said the Memorial Field grandstand project will begin in the spring and wrap up in the fall.

When bids came in $200,000 more than anticipated this fall, the project was bumped to 2019.

The project will include refurbishing the inside of the antiquated green structure and adding locker rooms, concession and ticket areas, and access for people with disabilities. It could cost about $1.4 million.

The cost will be paid by ignite cda, the city’s urban renewal agency, along with funding from North Idaho College and the city.

Other projects will include traffic improvements in congestion hotspots on Northwest Boulevard, Ironwood and Ramsey Road along with completing the city's comprehensive plan update, Widmyer said.

KOOTENAI COUNTY

With soon-to-be commissioners Bill Brooks and Leslie Duncan to be sworn in on Jan. 14, some new priorities are expected to emerge.

The county will continue to review facility space issues, the future of the Coeur d'Alene Airport, wages and public transit to see if changes should be made, said Nancy Jones, county spokeswoman.

Rich Houser, who has been the county's chief deputy assessor for the past 15 years, will replace Mike McDowell as assessor in January.

Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said his department will explore ways to retain employees.

Jones said communication efforts will include broadcasting commissioner meetings and improving the new website.

POST FALLS

Wastewater, parks and road projects will dominate the city's agenda in 2019, Enderud said.

The design of a $42 million wastewater treatment upgrade will be completed and the construction contract will be possibly be awarded during the year.

"This project will continue to keep Post Falls in compliance with regulations," Enderud said.

Tullamore and Crowne Point parks are slated to open in the summer and design work will begin on the city's sports complex off Prairie Avenue.

Another parks project will be collaborating with Avista Utilities and Liberty Bankers on a pocket park along the Spokane River next to Falls Park.

Infrastructure upgrades in the Highway 41 corridor for the future technology park are also planned.

Keeping pace with overall growth will be a priority, Enderud said.

The city issued 444 single-family residential permits this year through Oct. 31, surpassing the full-year totals of 366 last year and 343 in 2016.

Post Falls' population is about 37,500 now. The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, a multi-agency regional transportation planning body, projects the population may exceed 100,000 by 2040. However, other projections show more modest growth figures.

HAYDEN

The city is going back to the drawing board after voters in November shot down a levy rate increase proposal for law enforcement and improved roads. The decision came after city leaders actually encouraged the "no" vote because they believed some residents misunderstood the proposal. The proposal was already on the ballot when leaders had a change of direction.

"The city has asked for volunteers to be on a task force to look at these two issues (law enforcement and roads) and make recommendations to the mayor and council," said Brett Boyer, city administrator. "The goal is to get recommendations from the task force on whether or not to seek an adjustment on the base budget and, if so, how much and when."

The city will also work on a roundabout at Honeysuckle and Ramsey to relieve congestion and work in collaboration with the Hayden Urban Renewal Agency to improve Hayden Avenue between U.S. 95 and Government Way.

A new playground structure in Stoddard Park should be in place in the spring. The city will also be updating its comprehensive plan and working with the airport to provide a sewer collection system in that area.

RATHDRUM

The city will continue to work on access to its property on Rathdrum Mountain to offer recreation opportunities.

"We should be finishing up with the Barrett Road project when the asphalt plants open back up," said Leon Duce, city administrator.

Residents should be able to enjoy the site by summer.

"In the spring we should be able to schedule the ribbon cutting," Duce said.

Mayor Vic Holmes will deliver his State of the City address during an open house on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at the Lakeland High commons.

There will be a booth to collect names of citizens who would like to be involved in the city's comprehensive plan process.

"We hope to have the updated plan finalized before the end of the year," Duce said.

Input will also be accepted on what parks amenities residents would like to see.

Street safety remains a concern, especially along Meyer Road at Highway 53, Boekel and Lancaster, so addressing those intersections will be a high priority, Duce said.

Widening Highway 41 is planned for 2020.