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In front of a packed house, Mayor Jim Hammond delivered the 2024 State of the City Address.  Citing national awards and accolades including “2nd Best Performing Small City,” “Best Places to Live.” and “Safest Cities in Idaho,” Hammond stressed that things are good. Specific examples include a decrease in crime in spite of population growth and a vast reduction of phosphorus and ammonia discharged into the river. However, he noted, challenges in the city include the cost of housing, traffic, increased budgets resulting from higher costs of equipment and labor. 

Hammond stated the city is exploring ways to offset the housing crisis by increasing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and promoting the building of twin homes. However, he informed the crowd, the city would not enter into the subsidized housing market–likely referencing “Mt. Hink” at the Atlas Mill Site, which we discussed here. This is also at odds with previous statements from Councilmember Christie Woods.

He recently received the “Pillar of Idaho” award from Idaho Leaders United for standing up to extremism. In other city news: After a considerable lull, the city restarted invocations in January 2024, apparently never intending to let the change die on the vine, as we reported last year. 

Proponents tout the plan as a way to preserve the open space on the prairie. However, we urge you to vote no on this seemingly good idea. Why? Here are several reasons to vote “No.”

• The county doesn’t have any contract for the purchase of land on the prairie.
• This is a tax increase and a government intrusion into the private sector: real estate development.
• Land costs a premium right now. 
• Water is limited and the open space would need water to benefit the public. 
• Cities and the county already control what type of developments can take place on lands under their jurisdiction. 
• Precluding large swaths of land from development will increase the value/cost of developable land and subsequently contributing to increasingly unaffordable homes for median income households.
• There is no plan! The verbiage calls for “scenic or recreational purposes,” but does not give any specifics.
• The county cannot afford current needs and obligations. Rather than trying to buy land, the county should look at ways to fund prosecutor’s office construction, jail needs, and other issues. 
• The bond rate of 3.7% is significantly lower than interest rates in a money market account and results in interest payments of nearly $22 million. 

Here is the text you will read on the ballot:

OPEN SPACE BOND ELECTION KOOTENAI COUNTY STATE OF IDAHO NOVEMBER 7, 2023

QUESTION: Shall Kootenai County, Idaho (the “County”), be authorized to issue and sell Open Space Bonds in the principal amount of up to $50,000,000 for the purpose of financing the purchasing and acquisition of public open-space land and/or easements for scenic and recreational purposes and development for public use (the “Project”), together with costs and expenses related thereto, the final installment of each bonds to fall due not later than twenty (20) years from the date of issuance thereof, all as provided in the Bond Election Ordinance No. 583 adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 18, 2023?

The interest rate anticipated on the proposed bond issue, based upon current market rates, is three and seventy hundredths percent (3.70%) per annum. The amount to be repaid over the life of the bonds, based on the anticipated interest rate, is $71,980,000, consisting of $50,000,000 in principal and $21,980,000 of interest. The term of the bonds will not exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issuance.

The estimated average annual cost to the taxpayer on the proposed bond is a tax of $8 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value based on current conditions.

As of November 7, 2023, the total existing indebtedness of the County, including interest accrued, is $0.00.

IN FAVOR OF ISSUING BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $50,000,000 FOR THE PURPOSE STATED IN BOND ELECTION ORDINANCE NO. 583

AGAINST ISSUING BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $50,000,000 FOR THE PURPOSE STATED IN BOND ELECTION ORDINANCE NO. 583

After looking closely at all candidates including interviewing, hosting meet and greets the CdA News proudly endorses the following candidates:

City Council: Dan Gookin, Christie Wood, Dan English

CDA School District 271: Heather Tenbrink, Jimmy McAndrew

This will be the closest election of them all. Dan English vs Roger Garlock. Roger Garlock could easily pass as Dan English from decades ago. We observed them in their candidate forums online and through in-person interactions. Both candidates worked for years with many non-profits, spoke softly, and seemed slow to anger. Both candidates are likable and approachable. Potential liabilities for each candidate are as follows: Dan English voted yes on Coeur Terre, which is upsetting to neighbors in Indian Meadows. He serves on ignitecda, the urban renewal district, which receives frequent fire from opponents and fellow council member Dan Gookin.

Roger Garlock accepted the endorsement from the KCRCC. This will prove to be his largest liability due to community backlash against the KCRCC for the turmoil they engineered at NIC and the Community Library Network. However, Roger paid attention to city issues over the last few years and has not voiced radical rhetoric espoused by his endorsers. However, he endorses the KCRCC candidate panel regardless of their diminished level of understanding.

Both candidates get the same grade: B. 

This one will be a toss up. It feels like Dan English is happy to be replaced by Roger Garlock. Neither will rock the boat too much.

Christie Wood served on the City Council for several years. She also volunteered as an elected NIC trustee for nearly 20 years. She entangled herself in North Idaho College’s turmoil. However, after she left the college, NIC challenges grew substantially. Clearly NIC problems stem from the current board majority rather than Christie Wood’s covert influence. We covered some of Christie’s blunders on council but in general she is nice and wants to do right by the city, it’s employees and citizens. CdA News grades Christie Wood: B

Brian Winkler moved to Coeur d’Alene two years ago and runs on a platform of fear and conspiracy. We reviewed his platform on his website, interview online, and performance at a debate. From those performances, it is doubtful that he understands what the city does, how it operates, and what it controls. In the interview it appears he doesn’t understand the definition of a PUD, nor the implications it has on the property he owns. His other performances left us wondering if he knows what the “Trades” are. Christie Wood’s warm and disarming performance at the Coeur Candidate Forum left great advice for Winkler. If he wants to get involved, he should volunteer in a city commission (parking, parks, planning, etc). He claims CdA 2030, now rebranded “Connect Kootenai” is in cahoots with the “[evil UN 2030 agenda]”. CdA News grades Brian Winkler the candidate: DNF (Did not Finish) 

With more attention he may be a good candidate for the future. We hope his interest in the city will continue.

Pros/Cons

Mr. Albritton has a long tenure as a resident of CdA. He is running on a platform of limiting population growth and its impacts. However, after our review of his public comments here, here, and at a local campaign event, he ultimately fails to make a case against his opponent.  

When asked to give an example of council action he disagrees with over the past few years he cited the purchase of the SWAT vehicle. We covered the SWAT purchase here. Mr. Albritton claimed the vehicle purchase was 500k, much higher than published not only in our review but also here. Maybe he’d be a great council member. It just seems he hasn’t been paying attention. Maybe he will in the future. 

Perhaps Albritton’s achilles heel is the endorsement he proudly touts from a local political party. He is endorsed by the same organization that took over the NIC Board of Trustees and the Community Library Network. Both organizations incurred hefty and ongoing legal bills while facing increased insurance costs and suffering from contentious and disruptive meetings. The endorsement by Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) serves as a red flag to those who value civility and a balanced and measured approach to change.

Needless to say, in our opinion, he fails to grasp the issues at hand as his campaign website says: “Radical ideologies are taking grip, inserting tyrannical control wherever possible as global agendas are being implemented without local voice or scrutiny.” 

CdA News gives Clark Albritton, the candidate, a grade of: D.

Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash

After meeting with both candidates, The CdA News endorses Dan Gookin, flaws and all, for city council, seat #3.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Has a record on which to run. While he has regularly, but infrequently (and not disruptively), opined and pushed for different outcomes, he has been ineffective in convincing his fellow council members to change their opinion on substantive matters. 

Approved council’s action regarding invocations to be open to all.* However, after one round of lottery he exercised his astute political prowess by letting invocations die on the vine. He claims to be a fiscal conservative but has overseen the bulging budget and spends money the city doesn’t have.

He has a temper and vulgar vocabulary which he isn’t afraid to use. As a public official, a little decorum would be nice and inspire the next generation to rise in civil discourse. He has degenerated to Trump-like politics with name calling and demonizing. He isn’t afraid of double standards. Evidence of this occurred when he stated that his “Rants” are his personal life and shouldn’t be considered in his council seat candidacy. However, publicly and privately, he has lambasted his opponent for issues in his “private life.” He also blocked a neighbor from posting to a neighborhood chat after said neignbor invited the neighborhood to meet and greet current candidates for city council.

Having said all that, he is responsive. He understands the city. He cares about the city. He tries to follow the law and work within the structure of the city council. He’s not perfect, but he’s not going to ruin the city. He’ll keep the sewers flowing and the water clean. And, he’ll get back to you. He previously committed to retiring from the city council citing belief in term limits.

 CdA News Grade for Dan Gookin: 

We at the CdA News team closely watched and scrutinized city actions directed by council members and mayors for nearly a decade. Our goal of kindness and positivity for this medium  frequently overruled by our mission to inform voters and hold elected officials accountable. Many articles explained in our view mis-steps of the public servants. It is clearly evident that our officials are not perfect and they make mistakes, usually with good intentions. We earnestly rubbed our hands together waiting for this day when we could campaign and cheer for someone better than the incumbents.

November 7th, residents of CdA will choose between re-electing public servants or their challengers backed by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC). The KCRCC rates, vets, endorses, and heavily promotes candidates while discouraging participation from those who fail to receive their approval. Gone are the days when a concerned and engaged citizen can “throw their hat into the ring” to take a turn making sure the water and sewer are flowing in the right directions, the streets are clean and void of potholes, police and fire keep the public safe, and trash is collected regularly. Local elections, non-partisan elections, turned into a polarizing political battle over imagined issues best categorized as conspiracy and fear.   

Over the coming days, we will share our endorsements, and rationale, for CdA City Council and District 271.

In the thick of election season with deepening divisions in northern Idaho, CdA city staff and council members ignored the plea of volunteers to offer invocations for the past several months. Invocations occur at the discretion of the council who control the agenda. “Invocation,” listed on each agenda accompanied by a blank space to its right. 

The previous method of controlling invocations, where a pastor submitted a list of names to the city, was illegal and violated the rights of excluded citizens. Upon realization, the city created an inclusive lottery system for which they received a Defense of Religious Freedom Award. Now, perhaps fearing blow-back from far-right christian activists and opposition from non-religious, the city apparently abandoned invocations altogether. 

Local elections will have a significant turn out. This could bode badly for the more incumbents with voting records subject to scrutiny and significant opposition from the far right. Hopefully their careers in public service don’t transition from “living on a prayer,” to “dying on the vine” as did invocations.

Tomorrow, Thursday 26 October 2023, Trader Joe’s will hold a company wide meeting with a big announcement. Sources say announcement of a Coeur d’Alene store has a high probability. Previous rumors floated midtown Coeur d’Alene as the future location. Watch for it, here.

City council members failed to follow the lead of fellow council-member Kiki Miller last Tuesday resulting in a lose-lose-lose situation for Coeur d’Alene. Relevant issues include the comprehensive plan, the housing shortage and affordability crisis, and the definition of the term “adjacent.”

Background

Kaufman and his team appealed the two decisions from the planning commission, covered here and here, regarding his proposal to build twin homes on a two acre lot. Twin homes are two homes separated by a firewall and platted individually allowing two distinct owners per structure. Kaufman’s goal was to create entry-level home ownership options in the community. 

During the hearing council member Kiki Miller, a champion for solving the housing crisis, floated the idea of working with the developer to find amenable conditions for the project that would help ensure the homes remain affordable. None of the city council members entertained the idea of conditions with the developer and upheld the denial from the planning commission.

Analysis

The results are as follows: 

The neighbors lose. The developer can build eight duplexes with 16 units. This results in nearly the same density that neighbors oppose.  

The city/community loses: After months and years of developing a framework for development agreements and a future land use map, respectively, council members seemed to ignore guiding documents and focus on (mis)constructing the word “adjacent” to mean “abutting.” With so much opposition to building, it is hard to imagine where infill projects can occur in the future. 

The developer loses: Affordability is not achieved. Only up to eight owners can buy the properties and they must pay 700k-900k per duplex. Kaufman was hopeful that sixteen families could own their own entry-level home. Now 18 families will rent.
With such a bad decision, who wins? Landlords and incumbents. With no relief in sight through innovative and affordable housing options, many will be forced to continue renting. Higher demand will continue increasing rent price pressures. Council members currently running for reelection steered clear of constituent ire by denying this proposal. Neighbors of this project may gratefully vote for English, Gookin, and Wood next month.

Correction: The article has been updated to reflect that the appeal is in October. The city council voted to hear the appeal as part of the consent calendar.

Kaufman Estates development team will appeal last month’s denial from the planning commission. We reported on the original request in 2022. Many neighbors attended the August planning commission meeting to voice opposition. The debate centered around whether or not the proposed development fits in with the character of surrounding homes. One neighbor said he’d rather look into the backyard of one home rather than five. It appears to be the first PUD request of 2023.

By right, the developer, Kaufman, can build over a dozen duplexes. He claims, however, that he would like to develop twin homes–a product that allows unique owners for each unit regardless of the shared wall and roof.

The meeting dynamics will be interesting. There is a housing shortage–especially for affordable housing. Council members English, Gookin, and Wood are up for re-election and will hear from many constituents who oppose the project.

Proposed layout

Architectural Rendering