Cd'A OKs Fourth of July parking plan

COEUR d’ALENE - The Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber will get some help from the city to generate revenue to help pay for the Fourth of July fireworks show.

Stephanie Padilla, city accountant, said the chamber faces costs of more than $50,000 related to the Independence Day celebration. Those include $30,000 for fireworks, $13,000 for electrical and $10,000 for security, banners and sanitation.

Under the proposal approved unanimously Tuesday by the Coeur d’Alene City Council, the city will lease three lots on July 3 to the chamber and seven parking lots in the downtown area on July 4.

In turn, the chamber will manage parking that day and charge a $20 per vehicle fee. It will pay the city $9 per space.

“The Chamber has taken on more responsibility for the traffic control expense on that day, and will be paying for over 20 traffic flaggers,” a city report said.

A similar plan over two days last year raised nearly $40,000 for the chamber, of which $13,000 went to the city.

This will be the eighth-year of the partnership between the city and the chamber.

This year’s city proceeds will go toward public safety.

The lease would include the parking lots at Independence Point, the Museum, Memorial Field, McEuen Park, City Hall, the Library, and the 4th Street Parking Garage.

The city would reserve space at Independence Point for the police command trailer and at the lower City Hall lot for personnel staging for the Police Department.

The Parking Fund, which receives no property taxes, is the usual recipient of parking lot fees.

"Under the proposal, there would be no negative impact to the revenue anticipated from use of the city-owned parking lots," according to a city report.

Forty percent of the net income from the Parking Fund goes to the Parks Capital Improvement Fund, which is used to develop parks.

Councilwoman Kiki Miller said she would like to see an analysis of how full the parking lots are on July 4. She said the Fourth Street parking garage is a prime fireworks viewing spot and suggested “different things” be done there in regard to fees.

Padilla agreed.

“That is something we should discuss,” she said.