Hammond: Cd'A up to challenges

COEUR d’ALENE — Much praise has been given to Coeur d’Alene in the past decade. 

It’s been recognized for quality of life. Business and economic development. Low crime. A Top Adventure Town. And most recently, the Milken Institute Report ranked Coeur d’Alene second among 2024 Best Performing Small Cities.

“And, we've got Trader Joe’s,” Mayor Jim Hammond said as the crowd laughed and applauded during his State of the City address Tuesday.

But kidding aside, Hammond said not everyone is thrilled about all the national attention on this lakefront town once dominated by the logging industry and home to blue-collar workers.

“Sometimes, we’ve been kind of grumpy about those accolades because it shines such a light on us that everybody wants to move here,” Hammond said to about 175 people at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

The mayor, who took office in 2022, delivered an upbeat message with smiles and a few jokes, but acknowledged the city has tough tasks ahead.

“We are growing,” he said. “This is a great place to live and people want to be here.”

The city’s population is today near 60,000 and it has had an impact.

Housing costs are high. Traffic can be maddening and noisy. Water demand has climbed to 40 million gallons a day come summer. Costs to operate the city have increased dramatically in just a few years. Short-term rentals are affecting neighborhoods.

The rising cost of living has forced many to leave and, according to one study, cost the area thousands of jobs and millions in lost payroll and taxes. And the city was the victim of a cyberattack earlier this year from which it still has not fully recovered.

“All of that creates challenges,” Hammond said. 

But the city still has much going for it. 

It is surrounded by mountains, rivers and has Lake Coeur d'Alene outside its front door. It is still a place where many people greet each other with smiles and waves and are willing to help as needed.

Crime rates have fallen substantially since 2017 despite more people living here.

“Look at all these people back here in blue,” Hammond said, gesturing toward police officers and Chief Lee White.

“They’re the ones that are making this happen.” he said.

Police are forming an opioid task force, will return its effective downtown foot patrols this summer and are adding downtown bike patrols.

“Our investment is returning very well on our police department,” Hammond said.

He praised the wastewater plant operations for dramatically reducing the amount of phosphorus (87%) and ammonia (99%) that is reaching waters.

“We’re putting water back into the lake and the river that is cleaner,” he said.

Hammond said the city is guilty of being a top user of water for its many parks and is looking for ways to create parks that require less water.

“We have a wonderful aquifer and need to treat it with care,” he said.

Hammond said the city is taking steps and considering ways to increase affordable housing.

Allowing accessory dwelling units and approving zoning amendments to allow more homes per acre in certain areas could help.

“As a city, we’re not going to do public housing. I personally don’t think that works,” he said. “But No. 2, it’s just not something we would do in North Idaho.”

He said the city last year annexed Coeur Terre, “not without some angst.”

The 440-acre development on its western edge calls for nearly 3,000 housing units, businesses, shops and restaurants.

“We provided more opportunity to build homes, which could create more stability in the price of housing," Hammond said.

He said short-term rentals have increased 250% since 2019 and that is affecting the community's character.

“I'm not saying we shouldn't have them. I am saying we need to preserve the integrity of neighborhoods," he said.

Hammond praised city administrators, staff, police and firefighters for their dedication and hard work and credited the City Council for its leadership and decision-making.

The city has faced rising cost of operations. For instance, a dump truck that cost $42,000 in 2004 and $191,325 in 2019 is today $240,000. The annual cost of a police officer has climbed from $133,239 in 2019-20 to $162,546 in 2023-24.

But Hammond said the city does its best to be financially prudent, maintain operations and will continue to promote civility, inclusiveness, and equal treatment for all.

“I think the state of our city is excellent, and that’s due to all of you people out there," he said.

The mayor issued a challenge to the younger generation, millennials and Gen Zers, “to step up.”

He said more younger people are needed in government, chambers and civic groups.

"I’m sure one of you could be up here now doing a better job than I," he said. "And I’m not kidding."