OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Coer d'Alene City Council Meeting: March 18, 2026 – Downtown Core, Lift Station, and Proclamations

City Council — Wednesday, March 18, 2026
BodyCoeur Dalene, Idaho
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, March 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 45:49

Transcript — Verbatim
1:14

I think we usually have something else.

3:57

This is a meeting of the Court Lane City Council, which I will call to order.

4:01

The clerk will take the role, please.

4:03

Gabriel.

4:04

Here.

4:04

Miller.

4:05

Evans.

4:06

Here.

4:07

Wood.

4:07

Here.

4:08

Shekler.

4:09

Here.

4:09

English.

4:10

Here.

4:11

Very good.

4:12

Uh, for our invocation, I would like to invite David Bond from Compel Community Church up to the lectern.

4:18

Please rise.

4:22

Would you pray with me?

4:24

Heavenly Father, what a humble privilege it is to be here this morning standing in front of these men and women.

4:29

Lord, representing an almighty God that's for each one of us.

4:33

I thank you for the opportunity to gather with those that have committed themselves to life of service to this community.

4:41

Father, I pray that you ask, I pray and ask for wisdom that you would grant that an integrity and clarity for each and every person and every leader in this room.

4:52

For Mayor Guken to each councilman and woman represented in here today, to the men and women in blue standing all around this room.

5:00

I just want to give you praise for just what their lives represent to this community.

5:07

Father, I pray that you help decisions made here reflect justice, compassion, and what is best for all people of Court Elaine.

5:15

Father, I pray you give patience in disagreement, unity and purpose and humility and leadership.

5:22

We ask for your guidance and blessing over this city and these people.

5:26

Father, I pray for even during the time of public comment and presentation, Lord, that you would calm the nerves and put them at ease.

5:36

Let them rest in the preparation that they've put in to be here tonight and let them represent their passion before this council this morning.

5:44

Father, thank you for what you're gonna do, and thank you for just this opportunity, Lord.

5:49

You're such a good God, so worthy of all of our praise.

5:53

Thank you in your name.

5:54

Amen.

5:55

Thank you.

5:56

Councilmember Evans, will you lead us in the pledge, please?

5:59

I glad you're to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

6:07

One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

6:16

Are there any amendments to the agenda?

6:20

I will be making one, which is simply moving an item.

6:23

So we'll be taking item number H7C off the consent calendar.

6:27

It's up there on the screen, which is the approval of a construction contract to Big Sky ID Corp for the Mill River Lift Station upgrade project to the amount of $884,007.

6:40

And we'll be putting that under other businesses item number one or zero, whatever comes first.

6:46

Thank you.

6:47

So we have a couple of proclamations.

6:49

First, I'd like Council Member English to read our proclamation for the National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week of March 15th through the 21st, 2026.

7:00

Thank you, Dan.

7:01

Okay, you're back.

7:02

Whereas one of the basic rights of children as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1948 is the right to basic nutrition.

7:16

Caring for the children must be our nation's first priority.

7:20

And whereas, since the inception of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, CAC FP in 1968, it has been granted that our children, it has granted our children the best possible foundation in life and benefited many adults, which is vital to our state's long-term health.

7:42

And whereas the two fundamental goals of the CAC FP are that children serviced by this program will be well nourished during their crucial early years while concurrently learning healthy eating behaviors that will last their lifetime.

8:00

Nutritious diets are foundational for emotional, mental, and physical health.

8:06

And whereas we acknowledge the child and adult care providers, nutrition educators, program specialists and staff, state and local professionals and parents who contribute to the success of this outstanding program.

8:23

And whereas the CACFP community will continue its commitment to the benefits of nutritious eating for children and adults.

8:33

Together, as Americans, we can make a difference in the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable children.

8:40

Now, therefore, I, Dan English, on behalf of Daniel K.

8:45

Guken, Mayor of the City of Court d'Alene, do hereby proclaim March 15th to 21st, 2026 as National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week.

9:00

I urge our citizens and all agencies and organizations to unite on that week in observance of the necessity of the child and adult care food program to provide food security to children, individuals with disabilities, and older adults in our community, and witness therefore Mayor Gukin here to set his hand and cause the great seal of Cordelaine to be affixed this 17th day of March, St.

9:34

Patrick's Day, 2026.

9:38

Is uh Tina Clifton here with us today?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Downtown Planning█████████████████████████████████33%
Public Engagement███████████████████████23%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Economic Development████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Youth Programs███3%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Coer d'Alene City Council Meeting: March 18, 2026 – Downtown Core, Lift Station, and Proclamations

The Coer d'Alene City Council met on March 18, 2026, at 6:56 PM to address a range of items including proclamations, public comments, council announcements, a consent calendar, a construction contract award, and a detailed update from the Downtown Core Working Group. Key decisions included awarding a construction contract for the Mill River Lift Station upgrade and receiving direction-seeking recommendations on downtown height limits, tower spacing, and design guidelines.

Proclamations

  • The Council proclaimed March 15–21, 2026, as National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week. Scott Ferguson, Executive Director of St. Vincent DePaul North Idaho, noted that the program provided 700,000 meals in 2025 across five northern counties, equating to about $385,000 in reimbursements to 43 local providers.
  • The Council proclaimed March 22–28, 2026, as National Social Worker Week. Megan Dartis Coons, a clinical assistant professor at Boise State University, highlighted that there are approximately 810,000 social workers in the U.S., that they are the largest group of mental health providers, and that four out of five social workers are women.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Chris Meyer, representing Parkwood Business Properties, expressed cautious support for the Downtown Core Working Group's process, urging the Council to exercise patience and engage private property owners and business owners before making policy decisions.
  • Suzanne Knutson, on behalf of Specialized Needs Recreation, thanked Bill Greenwood for his long-time work in recreation for people with disabilities and noted that the program is in good hands with Adam moving forward.

Council Announcements

  • Councilmember Kiki reported that she presented on Coer d'Alene's housing work at the Housing and Economic Development Summit in Boise, noting that housing challenges are escalating statewide and nationally.
  • Mayor Guken honored retiring Parks and Recreation staffer Bill Greenwood with a key to the city. Greenwood served for 27 years, helping grow the city's parks from 10–11 to 32 parks.
  • Councilmember Dan English noted that construction on the Marriott at 6th and Sherman is ongoing.
  • The Council remembered Kathy Goodwin, known as the "life jacket lady," who served 29 years with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and regularly spoke at Council for safe boating proclamations.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council approved the consent calendar (Resolution 26-024) unanimously, with item 7C pulled for separate discussion. The vote: Evans – yes, Sheckler – yes, Miller – yes, Gabriel – yes, English – yes, Wood – yes.

Discussion Items

  • Mill River Lift Station Upgrade Contract Award: Mike Anderson from the Wastewater Treatment Plant presented the contract award for the Mill River Lift Station upgrade to Big Sky ID Corp for $884,037. The project will increase the lift station's capacity, allow easier maintenance, and total construction cost is $1.2 million. The city budgeted $900,000 for FY25-26, but underspent last year by $315,000, which will cover the remainder. A budget amendment will be proposed in August. The Council approved the contract unanimously (Evans – yes, Sheckler – yes, Miller – yes, English – yes, Wood – yes).
  • Downtown Core Working Group Update: Community Planning Director Hillary Patterson, Senior Planner Sean Holm, and working group member Kevin Jester presented the group's third update. The group has held 27 meetings over two years, focusing on downtown development regulations, height limits, tower spacing, design guidelines, view corridors, shadows, and parking.
    • Initial recommendations (from 2025) proposed limiting heights on Front, Sherman, and Lakeside Avenues to 45 feet, allowing 110 feet on Coer d'Alene Avenue west of 6th Street, and recommending no additional 220-foot towers. Tower spacing was proposed to increase from 50 to 80 feet.
    • A community survey (250+ respondents) showed the majority supported reviewing height limits, with building height regulations, historic preservation, and view protection as top themes.
    • Stakeholder feedback from a September 2025 meeting of developers, architects, property owners, and preservation advocates indicated majority support for reviewing height limits (except among architects/designers/engineers, where opinions varied). Preferred height per street varied: Coer d'Alene Avenue had the most support for towers, while Indiana and Sherman Avenues had low support. Stakeholders also prioritized historic feature requirements, enhanced pedestrian elements, and parking management.
    • Sean Holm presented 3D modeling scenarios showing current downtown towers (all over 75 feet) and hypothetical future changes.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Consent Calendar (Resolution 26-024) with item 7C pulled, unanimously.
  • Awarded construction contract to Big Sky ID Corp for the Mill River Lift Station Upgrade for $884,037, unanimously.
  • The Council received the Downtown Core Working Group update and is expected to provide direction on potential zoning code and design guideline changes at a future meeting.
  • The Council honored Bill Greenwood and remembered Kathy Goodwin.
  • Noted the passing of Kathy Goodwin, a regular safe-boating advocate and former elections department staff member.

Meeting Transcript

I think we usually have something else. This is a meeting of the Court Lane City Council, which I will call to order. The clerk will take the role, please. Gabriel. Here. Miller. Evans. Here. Wood. Here. Shekler. Here. English. Here. Very good. Uh, for our invocation, I would like to invite David Bond from Compel Community Church up to the lectern. Please rise. Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father, what a humble privilege it is to be here this morning standing in front of these men and women. Lord, representing an almighty God that's for each one of us. I thank you for the opportunity to gather with those that have committed themselves to life of service to this community. Father, I pray that you ask, I pray and ask for wisdom that you would grant that an integrity and clarity for each and every person and every leader in this room. For Mayor Guken to each councilman and woman represented in here today, to the men and women in blue standing all around this room. I just want to give you praise for just what their lives represent to this community. Father, I pray that you help decisions made here reflect justice, compassion, and what is best for all people of Court Elaine. Father, I pray you give patience in disagreement, unity and purpose and humility and leadership. We ask for your guidance and blessing over this city and these people. Father, I pray for even during the time of public comment and presentation, Lord, that you would calm the nerves and put them at ease. Let them rest in the preparation that they've put in to be here tonight and let them represent their passion before this council this morning. Father, thank you for what you're gonna do, and thank you for just this opportunity, Lord. You're such a good God, so worthy of all of our praise. Thank you in your name. Amen. Thank you. Councilmember Evans, will you lead us in the pledge, please? I glad you're to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Are there any amendments to the agenda? I will be making one, which is simply moving an item. So we'll be taking item number H7C off the consent calendar. It's up there on the screen, which is the approval of a construction contract to Big Sky ID Corp for the Mill River Lift Station upgrade project to the amount of $884,007. And we'll be putting that under other businesses item number one or zero, whatever comes first. Thank you. So we have a couple of proclamations. First, I'd like Council Member English to read our proclamation for the National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week of March 15th through the 21st, 2026. Thank you, Dan. Okay, you're back. Whereas one of the basic rights of children as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1948 is the right to basic nutrition. Caring for the children must be our nation's first priority. And whereas, since the inception of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, CAC FP in 1968, it has been granted that our children, it has granted our children the best possible foundation in life and benefited many adults, which is vital to our state's long-term health.

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