Votes at a glance: Coeur d'Alene council approves ordinance on goats, approves several resolutions including street work and equipment purchases

The Coeur d'Alene City Council took multiple formal actions on May 6. Key outcomes below summarize motions, vote results recorded in the transcript and brief details included in council discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Council Bill 25‑1010 (ordinance amendment allowing limited goat use for abatement): Adopted. The ordinance adds a permitting path for homeowners associations to use goats in certain open‑space areas for vegetation management. The police department will review permit applications; the city and police added conditions limiting the number and timing of grazing events, prohibiting unneutered male goats because of odor concerns, and reserving the right to modify conditions to maintain peace and safety. Council noted two amendments discussed the night of the meeting: lowering an insurance requirement from $1,000,000 to $500,000 and adding flexibility on how “pinning” of areas smaller than a half‑acre is determined by animal control. (Roll‑call: unanimous recorded support.)

- Resolution 25‑020 (letter of agreement with Keenan Johnson for recreational transit): Approved. The council approved a seasonal commercial agreement for a recreational electric‑assist trolley operated by Keenan Johnson. The service is proposed May–October, 16 seats, routes beginning/ending at Jeremiah Johnson Brewing with loading on the south side of Montana Avenue; daytime scenic tours will be nonalcoholic and evening alcohol tours permit sealed individual beverages on board. Police and Streets expressed no major objections but reserved the right to modify conditions. (Roll‑call: unanimous recorded support.)

- Resolution 25‑021 (sale of triple‑wide modular unit to North Idaho State Fair Board): Approved. The council approved a purchase agreement to sell a modular building to the North Idaho State Fair (Fair Board) for $125,000. The fairgrounds plans to relocate the modular unit to their campus. (Roll‑call: unanimous recorded support.)

- Resolution 25‑022 (purchase of brine production system): Approved. The council authorized purchase of a replacement brine production system and upgrade kits from Cargill Salt (through Sourcewell cooperative purchasing) for $88,321; staff said the current system is aging and unsupported and that the replacement would increase production capacity and monitoring capabilities. The council recorded a unanimous vote in favor. The resolution cites Idaho Code section 67‑2807 for cooperative purchasing.

- Resolution 25‑023 (change order #1 — mill and inlay project): Approved. The council approved a change order with Interstate Concrete and Asphalt Company adding roughly 14,725 square yards of pavement work at several locations (including Birch between Third and Fourth and Kathleen/Saint Michelle) at a cost of $283,730.65. Councilmember Miller recused from the vote because of a property interest; the remaining councilmembers voted yes.

- Appointments and consent items: The council appointed Thomasina to the Design Review Commission and Elvia Metz to the Ignite Coeur d'Alene board; the consent calendar was approved. (Roll‑call recorded in transcript.)

Other procedural notes: Council directed staff to move forward with a proposed fee schedule for a new cemetery niche wall (unique carved‑stone family niches created by artist Dale Young) to be included in the next public fee hearing; staff will bring final pricing and fee language back to the council.

What the motions do and next steps: In most cases the council approved contracts and procurement actions necessary to begin work or transfer property. For the goat‑use ordinance, the new permitting process requires homeowners associations to apply to the city clerk and to meet animal‑control and insurance conditions before grazing occurs. The brine equipment purchase and the mill‑and‑inlay change order authorize vendors to proceed, subject to contract terms; the fair board will arrange relocation of the modular building.