What’s on your mind as we start into the first week of Summer? The weather? Ironman? How about the City leasing out its parking lots?
Here’s that story: On the 4th of July, the City will lease its downtown parking lots to the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber plans to DOUBLE the price of the parking in these lots, to help pay for the fireworks. What bugs me is the posturing at last week’s City Council meeting, where three council members question the decision, saying it will set a dangerous precedent and that this type of lease will be used by all kinds of fundraisers now…then they ALL voted in favor of the measure!
You can read my abbreviated version of the city council meeting minutes below:
RESOLUTION NO. 10-020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COEUR D’ALENE, KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE 4TH OF JULY PARKING LOT LEASE, WITH THE COEUR D’ALENE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Motion by Hassell, seconded by Goodlander to adopt Resolution 10-020.
DISCUSSION: … Councilman McEvers voiced his concern that once we start something like this it keeps going…Councilman Bruning noted that he had received a number of phone calls and emails all negative remarks towards this lease with the main comments that the City is setting a dangerous precedent and possibly “price gouging”. Councilman Edinger received several phone calls all opposed to this proposal and all of them commenting that this is setting a dangerous precedent… Councilman Edinger voiced his concern of setting a precedent…
ROLL CALL: Hassell, Aye; Bruning, Aye; Goodlander, Aye; Edinger, Aye; McEvers, Aye. Motion carried.
The lease is an effective cut to the city budget. What they’re doing is redirecting parking fees from the general fund into a private organization. In common parlance, it’s a bailout of a floundering private organization by the government.
Comment by Dan — June 22, 2010 @ 10:16 am
Why didn’t the Chamber simply scale back the fireworks display to an amount they could afford?
Comment by Susie Snedaker — June 22, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
The LCDC hearing today agenda lists only the presentation of the rental complex way out on Seltice. Stories differ on the target market – low income seniors or 55 plus years with a sliding rental scale. Will the developer actually be given $3 million in tax credits while requesting over $300,000 in tax funding? Is the location the best for seniors, or is this simply a big hunk of available land in an odd location?
Comment by Susie Snedaker — June 23, 2010 @ 7:31 am
It’s desperate, and it’s not anything that the LCDC has boasted in any of their previous mission statement incarnations.
Comment by Dan — June 23, 2010 @ 7:48 am
Moving on a bit…..am I not correct that the Presidential oath of office swears to uphold the constitution. Well, so much for freedom of speech. Obama fired an excellent General for his very mild comments based on his knowledge and expertise. Once again, Obamas ego cannot take criticism. The one term legislator and neighborhood organiser, who knows absolutely nothing about anything, stamped his little foot and ruined a man. And I might add, Obama, of no character whatsoever, isn’t fit to be in the same room as the General. What times we live in!
Comment by rochereau — June 23, 2010 @ 12:48 pm
The General deserved to be fired, IMO. He was way out-of-line for a subordinate. And that interview leads me to believe that he surrounds himself with idiots. His entire staff needs to be fired as well.
Comment by Dan — June 23, 2010 @ 1:21 pm
Someone needs to tell the truth Dan…subordinate or not. We surely don’t get it from the present govt. We are fighting “un-winnable” wars and people are dying. Technically yes, he is a subordinate. But look who he is subordinate to. Would you advocate firing a council member who told the truth about hidden council activities and agendas? Who told the truth about what this activity would produce. I don’t think so. That person would be cheered and rightfully so. Perhaps he and his staff saw too many casualties…I don’t know. But truth is in short supply and I frankly like the idea of someone having the fortitude to give the real picture to the public. And Obama wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him on the nose.
Comment by rochereau — June 23, 2010 @ 4:06 pm
Even though you and I may not like Obama, we need to respect the office. What would have been proper, would have been for the General to resign and then make his comments. As it stands, the comments reflect upon the General’s character, not Obama’s.
In two more years, this country will join the rest of the world and realize that we have another clown in the White House. Hopefully we replace him with an experienced leader. I’ll hope for the best and expect the worst.
Comment by Dan — June 23, 2010 @ 4:57 pm