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Record of Proceedings

Post Falls City Council Meeting - April 8, 2026: Annexations, Vacations, ADA Plan, and Little League Report

City Council — Wednesday, April 8, 2026

BodyPost Falls, Idaho

SessionCity Council

DateWednesday, April 8, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:53:34

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:59

Alright, we'll call the meeting to order, beginning with the invocation and the pledge.

1:04

Almighty God, send down upon those who hold office in this city the spirit of wisdom, compassion, and justice.

1:09

Grant that with steadfast purpose we may faithfully serve our community, seeking the common good, protecting the vulnerable, and promoting the well-being and harmony of all who dwell here on men.

1:19

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:24

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation, another individual liberty and justice for all.

1:37

Okay, all members are present and accounted for announcements.

1:42

We have one announcement.

1:43

The city will hold a budget workshop next Tuesday, April 14th at 5 30 p.m.

1:47

in the second floor conference room at City Hall.

1:50

The workshop is open to the public and all are invited to attend.

1:53

Next we have one proclamation for Fair Housing Month.

1:56

This is something we do every year for eligibility for the community development block grant funding.

2:03

Whereas April 2026 marks the 58th anniversary of the passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, commonly known as the Federal Fair Housing Act, and whereas the Idaho Human Rights Commission Act has prohibited discrimination in housing since 1969.

2:21

And whereas equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin is a fundamental goal of our nation, state, and city.

2:30

And equal access to housing is an important component of this goal, as fundamental as the right to equal education and employment and housing is a critical component of family and community health and stability.

2:40

And whereas housing choice impacts our children's access to education, our ability to seek and retain employment options, the cultural benefits we enjoy, the extent of our exposure to crime and drugs, and the quality of health care we receive in emergencies, and ongoing education, outreach and monitoring are key to raising awareness of fair housing principles, practices, rights, and responsibilities, and only through continued cooperation, commitment, and support of all Idahoans can barriers to fair housing be removed.

3:08

Now, therefore, I Randy Westland, mayor of the City of Post Falls, Idaho, do hereby proclaim April 2026 to be fair housing month in the city of Post Falls.

3:18

Any amendments to the agenda tonight?

3:21

We have none tonight, sir.

3:23

Declarations of conflict, ex parte contacts, and site visits.

3:28

Seeing none, please present the consent calendar.

3:32

Item A is minutes from the March 17th, 2026, City Council meeting.

3:37

Item B is payables from March 18th through April 8th, 2026.

3:42

Item C is computer equipment disposal.

3:45

Item D is school resource officer agreement renewal with Postfall School District.

3:49

Item E is City Vehicles and Equipment Dosposal.

3:52

And item F is public hearing notification for the budget.

3:56

Questions on the consent calendar.

3:57

I have a couple of them.

4:03

And I don't see our IT director.

4:05

Oh, there you are.

4:06

Thanks, Mike.

4:07

Um, for working with KTAC for this disposal.

4:10

Um, I really appreciate that.

4:11

They have an amazing program, and I'm glad that we're able to support them.

4:14

Um and then item D.

4:17

Great program.

4:19

Um, it's the school resource officer, and I hope we can keep doing that.

4:22

I just am concerned.

4:23

Should we be signing a contract when would it be prudent to wait until we had a chief of police to review this since it is part of his department?

4:30

Is this time sensitive?

4:32

I that was just uh a consideration that I had.

4:36

So it is a contract that's executed by the city, um, so it's signed by the mayor.

4:41

Um, and it is the same contract uh form that we've had for however many years that we've had the SRO.

4:50

So I I think it's fine to move forward with the the contract as it's a uh city contract.

5:00

So and then there are 16 items on the vehicle replacement disposal.

5:04

So is that all of the replacements for the next fiscal year, or is that just the city council meeting?

5:16

Good evening, John Beech and Public Works Director.

5:19

Uh those are vehicles that were replaced for the most part last year.

5:23

Okay.

5:24

Uh many of them are police cars that we've been able to put the replacement into service.

5:28

So now we're able to retire the old one.

5:30

Okay.

5:30

But these are I couldn't tell you definitively this is the full list for fiscal year 26.

5:38

A lot of these are cleanup from fiscal year 25 replacements.

5:41

Okay, awesome.

5:42

Thank you.

5:42

Thank you.

5:45

I think that's good.

5:46

Thanks.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████27%

Zoning And Development██████████████████18%

Disability Rights████████████████16%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%

Procedural█████5%

Fiscal Sustainability████4%

Public Safety███3%

Water And Wastewater Management███3%

Economic Development███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Post Falls City Council Meeting - April 8, 2026

The City Council of Post Falls, Idaho, met on April 8, 2026, to discuss multiple items including three public hearings, a water infrastructure project award, a new ADA transition plan, updates to city policies, and a detailed report on Little League field usage and fees. The meeting included a proclamation for Fair Housing Month, approval of a consent calendar, and an executive session.

Proclamation

Mayor Randy Westland proclaimed April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in Post Falls, commemorating the 58th anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes from March 17, 2026, payables, computer equipment disposal, school resource officer agreement renewal with Post Falls School District, vehicles and equipment disposal, and public hearing notification for the budget. Council members noted appreciation for the KTAC program and raised a question about waiting for a new police chief before signing the SRO contract, but staff confirmed it was the same standard contract and moved forward.

Public Comments & Testimony

Mullen Annexation: Public comment from Tyler Smithson, a civil engineer representing property owners to the north, who submitted a letter with 32 signatures requesting a 20-foot setback, landscaping, and height restrictions to protect the residential neighborhood. He expressed support for annexation but urged responsible development.
Millworks Vacation: Ted Pettibone of Immaculate Conception Church spoke neutrally, asking whether the vacation would place extra burden on north-side property owners for future development. Staff and applicant assured that the proposal would not add burden and might provide benefits.

Public Hearings

1. Mullen Annexation (ANX-25-7)

Proposal: Annexation of two parcels totaling 4.39 acres north of Mullin Avenue, east of Saringa Street, with Community Commercial Services (CCS) zoning. Applicant plans to market the property for commercial or mixed-use development.
Discussion: Council members expressed support for annexation as infill and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Concerns were raised about potential high-density residential (R3) under a special use permit. A consensus emerged to require a development agreement prohibiting multifamily construction. Council voted to approve annexation with CCS zoning and a development agreement barring multifamily.
Vote: Unanimous (all ayes).

2. Powder Horn Vacation (VAC-25-5)

Proposal: Vacation of a 10-foot utility easement along the southerly property line at 2503 North Powderhorn Street to allow construction of a garage. Staff confirmed no utilities were impacted and adjacent properties unaffected.
Discussion: Brief; council approved.
Vote: Unanimous.

3. Millworks Vacation (VAC-26-1)

Proposal: Vacation of three portions of right-of-way and an alley to facilitate redevelopment of the Idaho Veneer mill site (Millworks project). Includes a narrower 90-foot cross-section on Fourth Avenue with mid-block swales instead of continuous linear swales.
Discussion: Extensive debate on stormwater management, parking loss, pedestrian safety, and cost. City Engineer Robert Paulis noted the proposal reduces on-street parking by 10-12 stalls but improves visibility for vehicles exiting the development. Legal staff explained that vacated right-of-way reverts to the original dedicator and cannot be sold. Council approved with direction to return an ordinance.
Vote: Unanimous.

Unfinished Business

Westwood Water Distribution Replacement Phase One

Proposal: Award contract to L'Revier for $1,230,895 (with 10% contingency total $1,353,984.50) and a construction management services agreement with Century West for $226,200 (with contingency $248,820). Project replaces 5,600-5,700 feet of water main and 74 services in the Pine Villa subdivision.
Discussion: Council noted competitive bids; engineer's estimate was higher but budgeted amount was sufficient. Savings stay in pipeline replacement fund. Construction to start summer 2026.
Vote: Approved.

New Business

ADA Transition Plan Contract with Matrix

Proposal: Phase one contract for $93,979.70 (total project $190,000) to update the city's ADA transition plan from 2008. Work includes field investigations, policy review, community outreach, and GIS integration.
Discussion: Council debated cost and necessity. Staff argued it is a proactive measure to avoid federal compliance orders or lawsuits. Some members expressed concerns about scope and redundancy with existing practices but ultimately acknowledged the legal and financial risk. Phase one funding was available with a budget transfer.
Vote: Approved (5-1, with Councilmember Luca voting no).

Park Naming Policy

Proposal: Updated policy for naming new parks and renaming existing ones, including criteria such as historical significance, community service, and sponsorship.
Discussion: Council objected to overly rigid definitions, particularly the detailed list of what constitutes "exceptional community service." They preferred more flexibility and asked staff to revise the policy, especially moving the definition out of the criteria section.
Vote: Tabled to allow staff to revise the language (unanimous).

Update to City Social Media Policy

Proposal: Updated policy to default comments off on city social media posts, directing public input to official channels.
Discussion: Some members expressed concern that turning off comments might appear unresponsive, but others noted it avoids unmonitored interactions and manages expectations. Staff noted that third-party sites are better for public discussion.
Vote: Approved (5-1, with Councilmember Luca voting no).

Administrative Staff Reports

Post Falls Little League Report

Presentation: Parks Manager Brian Myers detailed field inventory, usage, fees, and volunteer contributions. Little League uses city fields extensively (over half the hours), pays about $5,000/year (net after credits), and gets a 50% discount. In-kind donations (scoreboard, pitching mounds) offset fees. The city's annual operational cost for five baseball fields is estimated at $100,000.
Discussion: Council discussed field capacity, the need for additional full-size fields, and the potential to work with the school district. Little League pays 50% of the hourly rate, which some questioned. The city's current cost recovery is around 5-7%. Council expressed support for Little League but also noted the American Legion program (local players, civic involvement) as a potential preferred partner. Direction given to staff to explore options for expanding field inventory and updating the MOU.

2026 Post Falls Parade Update

Report: Staff will host the 2026 parade (America 250 year) after previous organizers stepped away. Support from police and other departments confirmed. Long-term goal to find a new community sponsor.
Discussion: Council expressed full support for staff hosting the parade this year.

Executive Session

Council moved into executive session under Idaho Code 74‑206A to discuss hiring a public officer/employee, with no action expected to be taken.

Meeting Transcript

Alright, we'll call the meeting to order, beginning with the invocation and the pledge. Almighty God, send down upon those who hold office in this city the spirit of wisdom, compassion, and justice. Grant that with steadfast purpose we may faithfully serve our community, seeking the common good, protecting the vulnerable, and promoting the well-being and harmony of all who dwell here on men. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation, another individual liberty and justice for all. Okay, all members are present and accounted for announcements. We have one announcement. The city will hold a budget workshop next Tuesday, April 14th at 5 30 p.m. in the second floor conference room at City Hall. The workshop is open to the public and all are invited to attend. Next we have one proclamation for Fair Housing Month. This is something we do every year for eligibility for the community development block grant funding. Whereas April 2026 marks the 58th anniversary of the passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, commonly known as the Federal Fair Housing Act, and whereas the Idaho Human Rights Commission Act has prohibited discrimination in housing since 1969. And whereas equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin is a fundamental goal of our nation, state, and city. And equal access to housing is an important component of this goal, as fundamental as the right to equal education and employment and housing is a critical component of family and community health and stability. And whereas housing choice impacts our children's access to education, our ability to seek and retain employment options, the cultural benefits we enjoy, the extent of our exposure to crime and drugs, and the quality of health care we receive in emergencies, and ongoing education, outreach and monitoring are key to raising awareness of fair housing principles, practices, rights, and responsibilities, and only through continued cooperation, commitment, and support of all Idahoans can barriers to fair housing be removed. Now, therefore, I Randy Westland, mayor of the City of Post Falls, Idaho, do hereby proclaim April 2026 to be fair housing month in the city of Post Falls. Any amendments to the agenda tonight? We have none tonight, sir. Declarations of conflict, ex parte contacts, and site visits. Seeing none, please present the consent calendar. Item A is minutes from the March 17th, 2026, City Council meeting. Item B is payables from March 18th through April 8th, 2026. Item C is computer equipment disposal. Item D is school resource officer agreement renewal with Postfall School District. Item E is City Vehicles and Equipment Dosposal. And item F is public hearing notification for the budget. Questions on the consent calendar. I have a couple of them. And I don't see our IT director. Oh, there you are. Thanks, Mike. Um, for working with KTAC for this disposal. Um, I really appreciate that. They have an amazing program, and I'm glad that we're able to support them. Um and then item D. Great program. Um, it's the school resource officer, and I hope we can keep doing that. I just am concerned. Should we be signing a contract when would it be prudent to wait until we had a chief of police to review this since it is part of his department? Is this time sensitive? I that was just uh a consideration that I had. So it is a contract that's executed by the city, um, so it's signed by the mayor. Um, and it is the same contract uh form that we've had for however many years that we've had the SRO. So I I think it's fine to move forward with the the contract as it's a uh city contract. So and then there are 16 items on the vehicle replacement disposal. So is that all of the replacements for the next fiscal year, or is that just the city council meeting? Good evening, John Beech and Public Works Director. Uh those are vehicles that were replaced for the most part last year. Okay.

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