OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Coeur d'Alene City Council Meeting - September 2, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
BodyCoeur Dalene, Idaho
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, September 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:18:39

Transcript — Verbatim
0:15

Hope you're okay.

0:18

Good evening.

0:19

It's September 1st, 2026, deja vu.

0:24

I'd like to call this meeting to order of the Cordelaine City Council.

0:27

The clerk will take the roll.

0:29

Gabriel.

0:30

Miller, here.

0:31

Evans.

0:32

Here.

0:32

Wood.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Sheckler.

0:34

Here.

0:34

English.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Very good.

0:37

Is our pastor Jason Lowry here from the heart?

0:42

Okay.

0:43

We will uh are you good?

0:45

We'll we'll rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:47

Councilmember Sheckler, could you lead us?

0:51

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America for which it stands.

1:00

Under God.

1:01

Indivisible with liberty.

1:08

Next item D, amendments to the agenda.

1:11

Are there any amendments to the agenda this evening?

1:13

Mr.

1:14

Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to amend item K on the agenda to read executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206A 1A to consider a labor contract offer or to formulate a counteroffer.

1:29

Second.

1:30

Motion and a second to amend our agenda for executive session.

1:33

Any discussion?

1:35

All right.

1:35

Roll call.

1:37

Well, no, let's just uh all those in favor.

1:39

Hi.

1:40

Okay, we add we'll change that on the agenda.

1:42

Thank you so much.

1:44

The next item is E presentation.

1:46

We have a proclamation for suicide prevention and awareness month.

1:50

Councilmember English.

1:53

Sure.

1:53

I would be happy to read this.

1:57

Whereas suicide is a tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause among individuals ages 15 to 34, and whereas a 20 2024 Idaho had the sixth highest suicide rate in the United States, and suicide was a seventh leading cause of death in Idaho, claiming 437 lives statewide, and whereas Idaho's suicide rate is 1.6 times greater than the national average, and whereas Cootney County recorded 34 suicide deaths in 24, the highest number among the five northern counties, the highest number among the five northern counties.

2:46

And whereas up to 90 percent of those who died by suicide were experiencing symptoms of a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition that may have gone unrecognized or untreated, and whereas calling or texting 988 connects anyone in crisis to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.

3:14

And whereas organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Health, NAMI, COURTELAN Suicide Prevention Action Network, Span of North Idaho, and North Idaho Crisis Center, Kooteny Behavioral Youth Health, First Responders, the Mobile Crisis Unit, and many others are committed to saving lives and providing hope through research, education, advocacy, awareness, and support.

3:45

Now, therefore, be it resolved that we recognize suicide as a preventable mental health, public health issue, and declare suicide prevention a priority.

3:57

Encourage alignment with the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention 10 year plan and the 24 to 28 Idaho Suicide Prevention Plan.

4:11

Now therefore, I, Dan English, on behalf of the mayor, Dan Guken, Mayor of City of Cordelaine, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2026 as National Suicide Prevention Month in Cordelaine, Idaho, and encourage all citizens to work together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support those in crisis and bring hope to our community.

4:39

In witness, therefore, I, as Dan Kukin have said, herefore set my hand and cause the great seal of the City of Courtlein to be a fixed this September 1st, 2026.

4:55

Thank you, Dan.

4:56

We have a presentation by Kate Dolan, who's the president and family support group facilitator for NAMI.

5:02

Dan, if you want to go uh hand her the uh proclamation.

5:06

Coming up, I would also just say as a lot of you know, we have a mental health clinic here in Courtlean.

5:15

And one of the myths that is out there that I keep being discouraged is that people can't get into counseling.

5:23

And we we are a Medicaid provider.

5:26

80% of our clients are Medicaid by our choice.

5:30

And if you called today, we would get you in this week.

5:35

So, you know, maybe some of the other ones can't, but people sometimes, you know, what we hear is we thought, oh, we could never get in, or whatever, or we have Medicaid, and you don't do that.

5:46

But they are out there, we are out there.

5:49

So you need to just try that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Mental Health Awareness███████████11%
Procedural████████8%
Fiscal Sustainability████████8%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Transportation Safety███3%
Environmental Protection███3%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Coeur d'Alene City Council Meeting - September 2, 2026

The Coeur d'Alene City Council held a regular meeting on September 2, 2026, addressing a proclamation for Suicide Prevention Month, public comments on traffic safety, water code amendments, and drowning prevention, followed by approval of arts funding, an Iron Man 70.3 agreement, and adoption of the FY26-27 budget with a 3% property tax increase and foregone tax recapture totaling 7%.

Proclamation & Presentation

  • Councilmember English read a proclamation declaring September 2026 as National Suicide Prevention Month in Coeur d'Alene, highlighting state and local suicide statistics: Idaho had the sixth highest suicide rate nationally, Kootenai County recorded 34 deaths in 2024, and 90% of those who died by suicide had a diagnosable mental health condition.
  • Kate Dolan, president of NAMI Coeur d'Alene, presented on the organization's work, noting 1 in 4 Idahoans live with mental illness, 49 county residents died by suicide in 2025, and 18 had died through July 2026. She announced upcoming events including a mental health literacy series and the NAMI Walk on September 19.
  • Christopher Barton, a suicide attempt survivor and NAMI board member, shared his personal story and thanked the council for the proclamation.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Greg Kime (Indian Meadows resident) opposed the full build-out of Cortair II, arguing the increased traffic would endanger pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders who currently use streets due to a lack of sidewalks. He proposed access gates for first responders as a safety solution.
  • Christopher Barton expressed support for mental health services and the proclamation, sharing his recovery journey.
  • Darren McNeil (licensed plumbing contractor, Oakrest Mobile Home Park resident) requested amendments to the plumbing code regarding water meter installations and an increase in MRAP funds for plumbing repairs from $5,000 to $10,000 due to rising material costs.
  • Jeanette Laster (lifeguard trainer) expressed concern about recent drownings—six in 2025 and eleven in 2026 between Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. She argued that eliminating lifeguards from city beaches is unsafe, noting drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. She offered cost-free ideas such as life jacket stations and public water safety days.
  • Max (self-identified) criticized the lack of a survey requirement for building permits, leading to recurring setback errors. He reported a three-month delay in receiving public records and asked for a solution.

Discussion Items

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
  • Financial Support for U of I Riverview Gallery and Living Lake Lecture Series: Dr. Andy Fields and Jake Garinger from the University of Idaho requested $8,000 from the Arts Commission (Lake District Fund) for display tools, a small works show, and a four-part lecture series on science-art communication, 2027. Kiki Miller asked about the funding source; staff explained it comes from restricted urban renewal arts funds. Approved unanimously.
  • Iron Man 70.3 Agreement (2027-2029): Renata McLeod presented a three-year agreement with World Triathlon Corporation and North Idaho Sports Commission for June 27, 2027, June 25, 2028, and June 24, 2029. The city receives reimbursement for public safety costs (overtime included); the $25,000 annual payment goes from the Sports Commission to Iron Man. Police and fire chiefs were consulted. Approved unanimously.
  • FY26-27 Budget Hearing & Adoption: Finance Director Katie Ebner presented the $154.8 million budget. Property taxes constitute 50% of general fund revenue; the city is proposing a 3% increase to the property tax levy plus recapture of 4% of previously foregone taxes (1% ongoing for M&O, 3% one-time for capital), totaling a 7% increase in property tax revenue. For an average homeowner ($550,000 assessed value, $425,000 taxable), the increase is $93.50 annually ($7.80/month). Currently the city's annual property tax bill for such a homeowner is about $1,185. The city faces a $1.9 million ongoing deficit due to rising costs (16% health insurance increase, negotiated wages) and reduced growth revenue from legislative changes. Reserves are at 25% of expenditures. Councilmember Christy Wood moved to reduce the one-time capital foregone from 3% to 2% (total from 7% to 6%), stating it reflects $1 million in cuts already made. The motion failed (2-3; Mayor only votes ties). Council then adopted the full 7% increase.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the consent calendar.
  • Approved $8,000 in arts funds for U of I Riverview Gallery and Living Lake Lecture Series.
  • Approved resolution 26-072 for the Iron Man 70.3 three-year agreement.
  • After debate, adopted the FY26-27 budget ordinance (Council Bill 26-1014) with a 3% property tax increase and 4% foregone recapture (1% M&O, 3% capital). The foregone resolution (26-073) passed with the full 7%: $307,761 for M&O and $923,282 for capital.
  • Council entered executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206A(1)(a) to consider a labor contract offer or counteroffer.
  • Mayor announced formation of an ad hoc committee to address traffic and safety in Indian Meadows related to Cortair development, led by Councilmember Wood.

Meeting Transcript

Hope you're okay. Good evening. It's September 1st, 2026, deja vu. I'd like to call this meeting to order of the Cordelaine City Council. The clerk will take the roll. Gabriel. Miller, here. Evans. Here. Wood. Here. Sheckler. Here. English. Here. Very good. Is our pastor Jason Lowry here from the heart? Okay. We will uh are you good? We'll we'll rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Sheckler, could you lead us? I pledge allegiance to the United States of America for which it stands. Under God. Indivisible with liberty. Next item D, amendments to the agenda. Are there any amendments to the agenda this evening? Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to amend item K on the agenda to read executive session pursuant to Idaho Code 74-206A 1A to consider a labor contract offer or to formulate a counteroffer. Second. Motion and a second to amend our agenda for executive session. Any discussion? All right. Roll call. Well, no, let's just uh all those in favor. Hi. Okay, we add we'll change that on the agenda. Thank you so much. The next item is E presentation. We have a proclamation for suicide prevention and awareness month. Councilmember English. Sure. I would be happy to read this. Whereas suicide is a tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause among individuals ages 15 to 34, and whereas a 20 2024 Idaho had the sixth highest suicide rate in the United States, and suicide was a seventh leading cause of death in Idaho, claiming 437 lives statewide, and whereas Idaho's suicide rate is 1.6 times greater than the national average, and whereas Cootney County recorded 34 suicide deaths in 24, the highest number among the five northern counties, the highest number among the five northern counties. And whereas up to 90 percent of those who died by suicide were experiencing symptoms of a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition that may have gone unrecognized or untreated, and whereas calling or texting 988 connects anyone in crisis to the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. And whereas organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Health, NAMI, COURTELAN Suicide Prevention Action Network, Span of North Idaho, and North Idaho Crisis Center, Kooteny Behavioral Youth Health, First Responders, the Mobile Crisis Unit, and many others are committed to saving lives and providing hope through research, education, advocacy, awareness, and support. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we recognize suicide as a preventable mental health, public health issue, and declare suicide prevention a priority. Encourage alignment with the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention 10 year plan and the 24 to 28 Idaho Suicide Prevention Plan. Now therefore, I, Dan English, on behalf of the mayor, Dan Guken, Mayor of City of Cordelaine, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2026 as National Suicide Prevention Month in Cordelaine, Idaho, and encourage all citizens to work together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support those in crisis and bring hope to our community. In witness, therefore, I, as Dan Kukin have said, herefore set my hand and cause the great seal of the City of Courtlein to be a fixed this September 1st, 2026. Thank you, Dan.

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