Rathdrum opens ears to public's opinions

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

RATHDRUM — Rathdrum officials want to know what citizens think the city's next park should look like. They also want to hear from residents interested in updating its comprehensive plan.

Those initiatives and others, along with Mayor Vic Holmes' State of the City address, will be part of an open house on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lakeland High.

"We want to share more information with citizens," City Administrator Leon Duce said. "This is a nice way to ask questions and see what's going on in the community."

Holmes' 20-minute speech will open the event. He will also present three Youth Achievement Awards.

"Traditionally the awards have been presented during a City Council meeting, but we're having those at the open house in hopes of bringing out more people," Duce said.

Last year when the city decided to hold the State of the City address separately from the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, about 30 people attended.

"We brainstormed ways to increase attendance and one of the ways we thought of was to invite more people to participate," Duce said.

There will be several booths, including the Rathdrum Mountain project that will create recreational opportunities, road and pathways projects, parks and various community organizations.

Duce said some residents don't realize that construction for the Highway 41 widening project is planned to start in April next year, so a representative from the Idaho Transportation Department will be on hand.

A survey on what amenities residents would like to see with the city's next park will also be available.

"We want to know what people would like to see in the next park before we look for land and purchase it," Duce said.

Duce said the most logical locations for the next park would be in either the southwest or northeast part of the city.

"It would have to be on the edge of town and there is land annexed already that may be a possibility," he said. "But we won't start to look at land prices or location until we have an idea on what people want. It wouldn't do any good to buy a 5-acre park when you need 10 acres."

Duce said the city has saved $672,639 in impact fees for the purchase of land and the development of a park.

Rathdrum has nearly 5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. The purchase of a site for a new park would help the city retain that goal.

The donation of land by a developer is always a possibility, but the city can't make that a requirement when it’s charging impact fees. The city also has the ability to reduce an impact fee if a donation is made.

Another planning initiative the city is embarking on this year is updating its comprehensive plan. The last plan update was five years ago.

"With all the annexations and growth we've experienced over the past five years, we need to review it," Duce said.

The city will take names of residents who are interested in being a part of the plan update process.

For more information on the comprehensive plan or to express an interest in participating in the update, residents can also email cary@rathdrum.org.

To provide input on what the city's next park should look like, email eric@rathdrum.org.