Month: January 2026

University of Idaho Dr. Andrew Fields will pitch the sale of the Harbor Center and surrounding lands from the city to University of Idaho.

The lease was recently finalized and it was another sweetheart deal, $20 per year until 2028, up from $10/year like many others the city [negotiates].The roof had to be replaced recently.

Riverfront property is hard to come by. In fact, the city purchased the Atlas Mill site for $8 million to ensure the Atlas Waterfront Park could be developed, according to Mayor Gookin. With very little community input regarding the sale of riverfront property, it will be interesting to see how the city council and mayor spin this as good for the residents of Coeur d’Alene. We need education and additional opportunities. Is the U of I the best steward? The University of Idaho spent over $17 million in a dead-end deal evaluating a nearly $700 million purchase of the University of Phoenix. University of Idaho officials failed to offer concrete plans for the building and adjacent lands, but cited the following benefits: 

• Open the door to expanded educational pathways, particularly in collaboration with neighboring North Idaho College;
• Improve the ability to develop high-quality research and teaching programs that best meet the
• Coeur d’Alene region’s workforce and innovation needs and concomitantly attract students, faculty, and staff ;
• Increase opportunities for intergovernmental and community partnerships;
• Allow for the creation a better-defined ‘Vandal’ space more welcoming to students and alumni, and;
• Permit increased and more strategic capital investment in the property, particularly from grants and the Idaho Permanent Building Fund.

City Council will decide on the fate of the building and property on Tuesday, 19 January 2026.

City leaders recently incentivized the retirement of long-term city employees. The five to six-figure payouts would pave the way to less expensive replacements. However, on Tuesday, 20 January, the city council will vote on studying the pay ranges of jobs within the city. Taxpayers paid for similar studies over the last two decades. However, the city council last ordered a study in 2017, three years before COVID-19 pandemic. Three years before a massive stimulus fueled inflation. Eight years ago. So, we say, Ready, Fire, Aim.

Perhaps this is one reason the city’s finance director Katie Ebner suggested that city council allow retirements to occur naturally, over time and NOT incentivize early retirement. 

Changes in wages are necessary and must be evaluated on a regular cadence. City leaders would be wise to evaluate wage changes before incentivizing retirement buy-outs. The projected savings will need to be reevaluated and will certainly shrink. In addition, funding the wage study will require use of reserve funds.

On a positive note, Christie Wood proposed a way for the city to conduct its own study of wages and save money. HR director Melissa Tossi kindly rejected the idea.