Post Falls poised to talk about growth issues

POST FALLS — Responding to constituents' questions — and cries for help — the Post Falls City Council is planning workshops to talk about what they can and can't do to manage growth in the city. 

During Tuesday's meeting, the conversation sparked when a citizen asked what the council could do to curtail the rising cost of rental housing and help the lack of low-income housing. 

"According to Idaho Housing, I am not considered low income, yet I can still not find affordable housing in Post Falls," Julie Roy wrote in an email. "Talking with local friends, I know I am, by far, not the only one this is difficult for. We need to do something about this."

Mayor Ron Jacobson noted the council has heard of some subsidized housing, but the prices continue to rise. From the city's point of view, he said the city has not offered incentives to builders to design affordable housing — an area that might be the responsibility of state or federal government.

"It seems like I've read a lot about growth," Councilman Alan Wolfe said. "The thing that bothers me the most is the misinformation that is out there about what we can do about growth. There are still people that think we can put up a wall at the border and just say 'no more people.'"

Councilman Steve Anthony pointed out two significant issues the residents of Post Falls have repeatedly mentioned — growth and the price of housing in the area. He has heard stories about buyers offering real estate agents $75,000 more than the asking price on a property. 

"It's hard to tell where that is going to end," Anthony said. "I remember one gentleman who came in saying if you've got a kid coming out of college, or a family with a $64,000 income, they can't afford a home here. Now it's going to be close to $100,000. It's hard for a city to solve that issue."

The housing shortage is apparent, councilwoman and real estate agent Linda Wilhelm said. She recently mentioned that the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service reported only 98 residential homes available in the area between Priest River, Stateline, Worley, and the Silver Valley. 

City administrator Shelly Enderud agreed with the council that something, on an informational level, needs to be done to help citizens know what the city is limited to doing. Enderud and the Post Falls department heads have been circulating a list of growth topics that have been presented to the council from citizens repeatedly — such as affordable housing and building moratoriums.

"Probably the second meeting of the month, you'll (the council) get either a staff presentation or individual workshop talking about each of the individual growth-related items," Enderud said. "At the upcoming meeting, you'll be talking about a moratorium on growth and what we can, and can't, do in the state of Idaho."

Staff will likely discuss more in-depth topics like affordable and fair housing through workshops held before council meetings. Staff is discouraging open forums that are advised against by Gov. Brad Little's Idaho Rebounds plan. Still, Enderud said they're looking for ways to get information to residents. 

A list of topics should be presented to the council at one of the March meetings, Enderud said, with the first discussion of moratoriums at the first or second council meeting next month.