CDA Council: Looking ahead, a glance back

COEUR d'ALENE — Coeur d'Alene City Council members shared with The Press what they see as key issues facing the city in 2023 and what some of their achievements were in 2022.

Dan English

In looking back at our agendas for 2022 I was struck by how often the "simple" agenda items and meetings turn out to be the big ones, at least for some people.

• ARPA. We were fortunate to be targeted to receive almost a million dollars and had a special workshop to identify some of the high-priority needs for it. We did that, by setting aside more than half of it for public safety, specifically a critical expansion of the police station. But we also had members of the public shouting us down and saying we shouldn't take that "evil" federal money at all. We did and thank heavens it was there for our own taxpayers and citizens instead of going to some other town in some other state.
• Various annexation and appeal hearings. They are often minor affairs, but always important to those who request them and sometimes to the neighbors who sometimes resist them. Overall I think we do a fair job and do our best for even-handed decisions that are based on the law and not emotions.
• Budget work. This starts early in the year for departments as they begin to plan for their needs for the next year. In June of each year, we usually have a series of budget workshops where they all get presented formally and the council and mayor can begin to add them all up. They always add up to more than anticipated revenue and that's when the hard stuff starts, especially in years when we have major bargaining contracts up like we did this year. That went on until our last meeting in December and we have one more major group in 2023.
• Wind down of the original ignitecda urban renewal district. The wonderful accomplishments have largely been covered and reviewed but was a significant milestone for our city.
• Short-term rentals. Our planning department and city staff gave us a great starting point and we are still in the process of gathering data and will have some important decisions to make on STR's in 2023, again trying to strike a balance of business and neighborhood concerns and private property rights.

Looking Ahead to 2023

• Continue to study and try to make wise decisions that affect growth and affordable housing.
• Keep an eye on the dollars and budgets as everyone tries to answer the question of if we are in a recession or not and if so, given our state's terrific track record, how does that affect us?
• Keep our minds and hearts open to the needs of our constituents during these times of high anxiety and tension.
• Oh yeah, and it's an election year for half the council! Given all those anxieties and tensions some might say, "who in the world would ever want that job?" Well, I think you have 6 of us on the current council, three who will have to make that decision in the coming months. I have already publicly stated my intention to run and I look forward to it and all the extra dynamics it will bring to our meeting next year and hopefully in many public debates.

Christie Wood

Some of the highlights for 2022 were the completion of the comprehensive plan, and our continued focus on supporting sufficient resources for public safety. This was obvious with the immediate and correct response in the arrest of Patriot Guard members last summer. Also, our commitment to our invocations valuing religious freedom to all citizens made me especially proud of my fellow Council. Another highlight was properly supporting necessary upgrades to our water, and wastewater departments that are such an integral part of everyday life for our citizens. Cities often struggle with infrastructure upkeep due to costs. Our Department heads develop and adopt meaningful strategic plans that keep our critical systems from failing.

In 2023 it is my hope we can focus on infrastructure needs with our city streets. We will also be looking for best practices in addressing affordable housing from the regional alliance started by Councilmember Miller. As always, we will determine priorities in the budget process that helps us do more with less.

Dan Gookin

Getting the comp plan done this year is a major achievement, though I still have my doubts whether future Councils and planning commissions will adhere to its recommendations.

Moving forward, I'm happy the updated impact fees are coming. I've been asking about this update every year I've been in office. It's way overdue.

I've been after the STR regulations since 2017. They must be legal while at the same time preserving the character of established neighborhoods. I believe the city will work out a solution that achieves both goals.

Council asked staff to report back on downtown parking and height restrictions, which is something I've been pushing for several years. I've tried before to get a discussion going and both times no one on Council would second my motions. I hope progress will be made to help maintain and preserve the charm of our downtown without succumbing to overdevelopment and associated parking issues.

It would be nice if Coeur d'Alene could join other cities in offering no-fee online bill payment. I'm embarrassed that the largest city in Kootenai County has been so sluggish on this front.

Perhaps my greatest concern is for the future of North Idaho College. Not only does it offer quality education for our young people and others, but it's an economic driver for the entire region. Employers looking to relocate to this area give high marks to local education and NIC excels in providing these services. If local extremists succeed in destroying the college, it will take this area a generation to recover.

Amy Evans

As we enter 2023 key areas include; working with the Regional Housing and Growth Partnership on affordable housing, continuing to work to support our community by strengthening our partnerships with area partners to broaden our impact, continuing to expand and support public safety, looking at the city’s infrastructure and ensuring we’re meeting the citizens needs.

Huge accomplishments of 2022 was the completion of the Comprehensive Plan and finalizing the closure of the Lake District.

Woody McEvers

McEvers said he appreciates "little things" the city does that people don't know about and perhaps even take for granted.

He pointed to progress for handling wastewater and the go-ahead for the addition of a new water storage tank with the capacity to hold more than a million gallons at the end of Thomas Lane in Canfield.

He said that should help ease water pressure needs in the area and give the city five years or more before another well is necessary.

McEvers said the city completed street improvement projects and put in stormwater swales that will help protect the water quaity of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Spokane River.

The use of clover at Atlas Waterfront Park is another move MceVers believes will have a positive impact on the environment.

Looking ahead, he said he had one main goal: "Keeping the peace."

He hopes the City Council and residents can have respectful dialogue, no matter the issue.

"That's one thing I like about this job," he said. "You listen to a lot of input, then you have to kid of figure it out."

McEvers said the Coeur Terre housing developing will be a major issue. The proposed 442-acre annexation and zoning change received unanimous approval from the Coeur d’Alene Planning Commission in October.

The property is north of Interstate 90, south of west Hanley Avenue, east of Huetter Road and west of Atlas Road.

The project calls for a variety of about 2,000 housing units, businesses, shops and restaurants, 18 acres of parks, 4 miles of trails and land for two public school.

"That's a big thing," McEvers said.

Kiki Miller

My priority these past two years, and into 2023, is continuing to address local worker housing needs. The labor shortage coupled with the unattainable housing prices for middle income families remains a threat to the healthy and vibrant communities we all love.

Furthering historic preservation work, monitoring new developments for contributing elements towards housing and growth issues solutions and addressing a workable balance in short term rental permitting are focal points of that priority.

The city, like many local organizations, is feeling the impact of the labor and housing shortages as well as rising prices. I believe a look at potential revisions of programs, services and budgets will be mandatory in the coming year.

The ongoing efforts to unite the community and work towards these common goals is also important and I hope to continue to contribute towards those efforts.