OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Court d'Alene City Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodyCoeur Dalene, Idaho
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:07:42

Transcript — Verbatim
15:38

It's ten o'clock.

15:39

Do you know where your children are?

15:41

So I'm going to have some comments.

15:43

Oh, yeah, yeah.

15:44

Okay.

15:46

Okay.

15:55

Oh, she's here.

16:02

Welcome, and uh this is our regular meeting of the Cordelaine City Council.

16:07

It is October seventh.

16:10

And roll call, please, Joel.

16:13

Evans here.

16:15

Miller.

16:16

Here.

16:16

Gabriel.

16:17

Here.

16:18

English.

16:18

Here.

16:19

Wood.

16:20

Here.

16:20

Gooking.

16:21

Here.

16:23

Thank you, Joe.

16:24

Invocation is Leslie here.

16:26

Leslie.

16:27

We rise, please for Leslie Watson from Northern Idaho Unitarian Universalists.

16:34

Thank you for being here.

16:35

This was written by our pastor Scott Campbell.

16:40

Divine presence that unites us all.

16:44

We gather here in this shared space of governance and community, diverse in our backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, yet bound by a common purpose to serve and uplift the people of Cordelaine with fairness, vision, and care.

17:07

As we commence this city council meeting, we pause to reflect on the profound responsibility entrusted to these leaders.

17:17

The stewards of our collective future, who dedicate their time and wisdom to addressing the needs of families, businesses, neighborhoods, and the natural beauty that surrounds us all.

17:33

We honor the inherent goodness in each person present.

17:48

Recognizing that every voice holds value and every effort builds towards a stronger whole.

19:45

Blessed be.

20:00

And to the republic for one nation, under Godissible justice for all the questions.

20:13

Thank you, Dan.

20:16

Council, any amendments to the agenda?

20:18

Mr.

20:19

Mayor.

20:20

Yes.

20:21

Thank you.

20:21

Mr.

20:21

Mayor, there's an item on the agenda placed there by you tonight that has caused some political debate in this community.

20:30

Before you read it, I want to focus on two areas that unite all of us.

20:36

First, I do believe I can speak for all of counsel in that we acknowledge the grief and the trauma experienced by members of this community who were personal friends with Charlie Kirk, who have followed him as a national figure.

20:52

We can unite in denouncing the political violence that led to his death in the strongest terms.

20:59

The second thing that we can unite around is our unwavering commitment and support to the First Amendment.

21:07

We all hear the speech of others from time to time that we may find offensive, and sometimes it'll really fire you up.

21:15

But I still want to live in a country where I'm free to speak, and we want that for all of you.

21:21

We can unite around that.

21:24

Stephanie, I know that you did your best in writing this proclamation to honor your friend and your beliefs.

21:32

You didn't have any guidance on development of a city proclamation, and so my comments are entirely directed at us and future proclamations, not at you.

21:46

As elected officials, it's critical to unite our entire community after such a horrific event as the assassination of Charlie Kirk, no matter what your political beliefs are.

22:11

After seeing the council packet, I asked for a proclamation that acknowledges all victims of political violence, such as the children that were slaughtered in Colorado immediately after the murder of Charlie Kirk.

22:26

I want us to properly grieve and address the violent attacks on the Jewish synagogues and the most recent violent attack on members of the LDS Church, as well as the politically motivated attack on a Minnesota State Representative and her husband.

22:40

These are just a few examples of the recent political violence in our country that have left many in this community grieving.

22:47

It doesn't matter what side of the political aisle you sit on.

22:51

The grief for the families is very real.

22:54

As council, we're not going to get a chance tonight to acknowledge this and help unite our community.

23:01

But Pastor Paul, I believe that you are going to probably do the invocation and lead the remembrance of Charlie Kirk.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████21%
Active Transportation██████████████████18%
Procedural████████████████16%
Religious Assembly████████████12%
Transportation Safety█████████9%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Arts And Culture████4%
Environmental Protection███3%
Legal And Ordinance███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Court d'Alene City Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2025

The Court d'Alene City Council held a regular meeting on October 7, 2025, beginning at approximately 10:00 AM. The meeting included an invocation, approval of the consent calendar, discussion of a controversial proclamation declaring October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, approval of community development block grants, adoption of affordable rent standards, and passage of a new trail ordinance after extensive public comment and council deliberation.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar, including Resolution 25-054, was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Craig Bunch (16th and Lakeside) requested council support for revitalization of East Sherman Avenue, noting interest from the Chamber and Downtown Association.
  • Aaron Barnard expressed support for the Charlie Kirk proclamation, criticizing council members for yielding to pressure and urging reflection on constitutional principles.
  • Cassiana (Kassiana) Azoni (Court d'Alene student) opposed the Charlie Kirk proclamation as incomplete, urging remembrance of all gun violence victims and noting the impact of school shooting drills on her generation.
  • Maddie Gilmore (high school student) denounced the Charlie Kirk proclamation as divisive and exclusive, arguing it deepens community divides.
  • Annika Hain (senior in Court d'Alene School District) thanked Councilmember Wood for acknowledging other political tragedies but criticized the proclamation for recognizing only one political party's victim, calling for inclusive remembrance.
  • Joel Curtis (resident on Linden) requested traffic calming on Linden Avenue due to speeding (45-50 mph in a 25 mph zone) and expressed concern for children's safety. Councilmember Dan Gookin noted speed data collection is pending.
  • Mary Rosedal (county resident) opposed the Charlie Kirk proclamation, stating it endorses divisive speech and undermines Court d'Alene's efforts to overcome its racist past.
  • Theresa Sousa (first-time speaker) opposed the proclamation, describing Charlie Kirk's teachings as bigoted and not representative of Christian love, and called for separation of church and state.
  • Mike Fuller (resident) supported earlier speakers, calling the proclamation divisive and unhelpful for breaking community divides.
  • Randy Neal spoke against political violence and anti-semitism, supporting human rights.
  • Asa Gray (Kootenai County Elections Director) promoted early voting (Oct 20-31) and recruitment of poll workers for the November 4 election.
  • Ben Towels read from Idaho House Concurrent Resolution 17 denouncing political violence, supporting the Charlie Kirk proclamation as promoting healthy dialogue.
  • Conrad Wooden supported the proclamation, citing parallels with Martin Luther King Jr.'s faith references and arguing removal of faith from government is unjust.
  • Duncan Menzies (Arts Commission) announced Art Spotlight Court d'Alane grants to Lake City Playhouse, Music Conservatory, and Court d'Alene Summer Theater ($5,000 each) for youth education programs.
  • Gary Cooper (Tour CDA owner) raised concerns about the proposed trail ordinance, stating it incorrectly classifies segues and mobility scooters as motor vehicles, conflicts with state code, and could harm his business. He noted he invested $100,000 after city approval of rideables.

Proclamation: Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance

  • Mayor Woody McEvers read a proclamation declaring October 14, 2025 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, honoring the conservative activist assassinated in 2024. Councilmember Christy Wood pre-emptively called for unity, denouncing political violence and suggesting acknowledgment of all victims. The mayor acknowledged the proclamation was not in the council packet but signed it. Public comment was deeply divided. Councilmember Dan Gookin stated the original proposer, Stephanie, intended a collaborative editing process that did not occur. The mayor noted he issued the proclamation at the request of a community member and reaffirmed his commitment to inclusivity.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Awards

  • Resolution 25-055 was approved unanimously (7-0). The resolution allocates:
    • $100,000 to Heritage Place Apartments LLC for replacing 156 electrical panels at Orchard Ridge senior apartments.
    • $20,020 to Court d'Alene School District 271 for McKinney-Vento homeless family supports.
    • $20,000 to Lake City Center for Meals on Wheels.
  • Funds come from Plan Year 2025 CDBG allocation ($290,998 from HUD) and reallocated prior-year funds ($51,973). Remaining funds may partially fund St. Vincent DePaul's emergency shelter rehab.

Affordable Rent Standards for CDBG-Assisted Properties

  • Resolution 25-056 was approved unanimously. The resolution adopts HUD-recommended affordable rent standards (household pays no more than 30% of income) for real property improved with CDBG funds, with a 5-year affordability period.

Trail Ordinance (Council Bill 25-1019)

  • The council passed a new municipal code chapter (4.40) titled "Trails, Bicycle Paths, Pedestrian Paths, and Multi-Use Paths." The ordinance repeals and replaces scattered existing regulations, establishes definitions for various electric vehicles, sets a 15 mph speed limit on trails, prohibits motor vehicles (but allows e-bikes and electric personal assistive devices), and creates a civil penalty system with escalation to infraction or misdemeanor for repeat or intentional violations.
  • Discussion highlighted enforcement challenges, especially speed. Chief White stated police lack resources to conduct speed enforcement on trails but could easily identify e-motorcycles and other prohibited vehicles. Councilmember Gookin argued the ordinance is too detailed and may not solve the problem, while Councilmember Gabriel noted the speed limit is an educational tool. An amendment to allow pedestrians on a section of Centennial Trail along Rosenberry was included.
  • Vote: 6-1 (Councilmember Dan Gookin voted no).

Executive Session

  • The council voted unanimously (7-0) to enter executive session under Idaho Code 74-206(1)(f) to discuss legal ramifications of pending or imminent litigation.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Consent calendar, Proclamation for Charlie Kirk Day (mayoral action), CDBG Resolution 25-055, Affordable Rent Standards Resolution 25-056, Trail Ordinance (6-1 vote).
  • Appointed: Denise Jessica, John Bruning, and Mike Fuller to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee.
  • Upcoming Events: Early voting Oct 20-31; VFW spaghetti fundraiser Oct 11 at 5 PM; Arts Awards Oct 22.
  • Next Steps: Staff to continue traffic data collection on Linden Avenue; trail education campaigns to be developed.

Meeting Transcript

It's ten o'clock. Do you know where your children are? So I'm going to have some comments. Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. Oh, she's here. Welcome, and uh this is our regular meeting of the Cordelaine City Council. It is October seventh. And roll call, please, Joel. Evans here. Miller. Here. Gabriel. Here. English. Here. Wood. Here. Gooking. Here. Thank you, Joe. Invocation is Leslie here. Leslie. We rise, please for Leslie Watson from Northern Idaho Unitarian Universalists. Thank you for being here. This was written by our pastor Scott Campbell. Divine presence that unites us all. We gather here in this shared space of governance and community, diverse in our backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, yet bound by a common purpose to serve and uplift the people of Cordelaine with fairness, vision, and care. As we commence this city council meeting, we pause to reflect on the profound responsibility entrusted to these leaders. The stewards of our collective future, who dedicate their time and wisdom to addressing the needs of families, businesses, neighborhoods, and the natural beauty that surrounds us all. We honor the inherent goodness in each person present. Recognizing that every voice holds value and every effort builds towards a stronger whole. Blessed be. And to the republic for one nation, under Godissible justice for all the questions. Thank you, Dan. Council, any amendments to the agenda? Mr. Mayor. Yes. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, there's an item on the agenda placed there by you tonight that has caused some political debate in this community. Before you read it, I want to focus on two areas that unite all of us. First, I do believe I can speak for all of counsel in that we acknowledge the grief and the trauma experienced by members of this community who were personal friends with Charlie Kirk, who have followed him as a national figure. We can unite in denouncing the political violence that led to his death in the strongest terms. The second thing that we can unite around is our unwavering commitment and support to the First Amendment. We all hear the speech of others from time to time that we may find offensive, and sometimes it'll really fire you up. But I still want to live in a country where I'm free to speak, and we want that for all of you. We can unite around that.

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