Residents urge lower speed limit on Atlas Avenue, voice concerns about police records, and local chamber backs firefighters bond

Three public commenters addressed the council on May 6: a neighborhood petition to lower speed limits on Atlas Avenue, a business‑community endorsement of a May 20 firefighters bond, and a caller alleging problems with police recordkeeping and interagency cooperation.

Michael Sims, a resident, said he submitted a petition asking the council to lower the speed limit on Atlas between Prairie Avenue and Hanley to 25 mph, citing severe traffic noise for roughly 100 nearby homes and an increase in truck traffic. Sims said the 35 mph limit produces high speeds and that slowing vehicles is the most effective, low‑cost noise abatement he is aware of. He said he had provided studies to the city’s streets and engineering department and invited council members to visit his home to hear the noise.

Linda Coppes, president and CEO of the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber, told the council she spoke for the chamber’s board and nearly 1,000 member businesses in urging support for an upcoming firefighters bond on the May 20 ballot. Coppes said the fire department is operating out of aging, undersized facilities and needs upgraded stations, modernized equipment and expanded training; she argued those investments support public safety and local economic vitality and encouraged citizens to vote in favor on May 20.

Justin Nagle raised concerns about alleged police activities outside city limits and what he described as a long‑running problem obtaining investigative files from other agencies. Nagle said he had interacted with the Coeur d'Alene Police Department and county law enforcement and had not received satisfactory responses to public‑records or operational questions; he characterized the issue as a public‑safety concern and urged the council to look into interagency programs and accountability. The council thanked him for the information; no formal action was taken.

Council response and next steps: councilmembers and staff acknowledged the public comments. Streets and engineering had previously been informed about Atlas Avenue traffic; staff did not schedule an immediate vote but the topic is in the city’s purview for speed‑limit studies and traffic engineering review. City staff or the appropriate departments will follow up on specific public‑records or interagency inquiries where applicable. The chamber’s endorsement is a public comment on the upcoming ballot measure and not a council decision; the council did not take action on the bond at this meeting.