Kootenai County commissioners amend wake ordinance

COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County commissioners voted Wednesday to replace some language in the county’s excessive wake ordinance and add a 150-foot “no tow” rule to the Spokane River.

The updated ordinance will remove the definition of “excessive wake” and replace it with language from the Idaho Safe Boating Act, which states that anyone who operates a motorized vessel “without due caution and circumspection, and in a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property, shall be guilty of grossly negligent operation.”

The ordinance will also forbid towing on the Spokane River within 150 feet of the shore or any structure.

Commissioners voted 2-1 for the change, with Bruce Mattare casting the dissenting vote. Mattare had favored an additional restriction to ban all towing on the river during certain times of year.

The board noted that the matter is contentious, with hundreds of community members weighing in over the last few years and public opinion largely split.

“I’m truly sorry that most of you are going to recognize this as a no-win situation,” said Commissioner Leslie Duncan. “We’ve done our best taking all the information into consideration. You can choose to make the best of this outcome or you can choose to be miserable because you didn’t get your way. That’s your choice.”

Mattare asserted that congestion on the river — particularly due to out-of-state visitors — is the real public safety issue, not excessive wakes.

“A large percentage of local residents avoid using the river on weekends, including myself,” Mattare said.

He proposed an ordinance banning towing from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

“I’m not so sure I’ve met anyone who feels that they’ve truly given something up if we were to pass a no tow from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.,” Mattare said. “The people I’ve talked to have been OK with that.”

“I’ve heard from all the people who don’t want towing restricted on the weekends,” Duncan replied, adding that she hasn’t seen data to support the idea that eliminating towing at certain times of year would solve the issues of congestion or excessive wakes.

She also said she’s unconvinced that wakes are damaging the shoreline and structures, as opposed to natural erosion.

“People are claiming that all the damage is occurring in 128 hours,” she said. “I’m just kind of skeptical there.”

Hayden resident Regina Houg told commissioners that large wakes have made recreating on the water difficult and dangerous. She believes the current ordinance is ineffective and the proposed changes won’t make a significant impact.

“I think the only solution is to have no tow zones or times,” Houg said. “150 feet is nothing. It’s not going to work.”

Commissioner Bill Brooks said he was comfortable with adopting the state’s language for excessive wakes but thought Mattare’s additional proposal would complicate matters too much.