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Council approves street tour license, goats ordinance, fairground purchase, brine system and paving change order
Summary
The Coeur d'Alene City Council on May 6 approved multiple administrative and legislative actions: a commercial recreational‑transit agreement, an ordinance to allow limited goat weed‑abatement on HOA open space, a $125,000 sale of a modular unit to the North Idaho State Fair Board, an $88,321 purchase of a new brine production system, and a $283,730.65 change order for additional paving work.
The Coeur d'Alene City Council on May 6 approved multiple administrative and legislative items, including a commercial recreational-transit agreement, an amendment to allow limited use of goats for weed abatement in homeowners association open space, the sale of a modular building to the North Idaho State Fair, purchase of a new salt‑brine production system, and a change order for additional street mill-and-inlay work.
Why it matters: the actions affect street use rules and downtown commercial activity, expand the city’s toolbox for wildfire fuel mitigation, move city property to a public fairboard partner, update winter road‑treatment capability, and accelerate pavement repairs on several arterial and neighborhood streets.
Key votes and motions - Recreational-transit agreement (Resolution 25-020): Council approved a letter of agreement allowing Keenan Johnson to operate a seasonal, electrically assisted recreational transit/trolley with both nonalcoholic scenic tours (8 a.m.–3 p.m.) and alcohol-permitted evening tours (1 p.m.–10:30 p.m.) that begin and end at Jeremiah Johnson Brewing. The council adopted the agreement with language reserving the city the right to modify conditions for public safety. Roll call recorded: Miller — aye; Gabriel — yes; English — yes; Wood — yes; Evans — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Fees and millstone niche wall direction: Council directed staff to include new pricing for a decorative millstone niche wall at Forest Cemetery in the next public fee hearing. Roll call recorded in support. Outcome: directed staff to proceed.
- Amendment to municipal code allowing goat weed-abatement (Council Bill 25-1010 / ordinance): Council added subsections to MC 6.15.010 to permit limited use of goats for weed abatement on homeowners‑association open space areas, subject to an application and conditions reviewed by animal control. The ordinance limits days of use, prohibits intact male goats, requires insurance, and allows the police department to impose additional conditions. Roll call recorded: English — yes; Wood — yes; Evans — yes; Miller — aye; Gabriel — yes. Outcome: adopted.
- Sale of modular unit to North Idaho State Fair Board (Resolution 25-021): Council approved a purchase and sale agreement to transfer a triple‑wide modular unit to the North Idaho State Fair Board for $125,000. Roll call recorded: English — yes; Wood — yes; Evans — yes; Miller — yes; Gabriel — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Purchase of new brine production system (Resolution 25-022): Council approved the purchase of a new brine production system including upgrade kits and accessories from Cargill Salt (through Sourcewell cooperative purchasing) for $88,321. Staff said the existing equipment is no longer supported and replacement reduces the risk of being unable to produce liquid brine for winter operations. Roll call recorded: English — yes; Wood — yes; Evans — yes; Miller — aye; Gabriel — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Mill-and-inlay change order (Resolution 25-023): Council approved Change Order No. 1 for the city’s 2025 mill-and-inlay program with Interstate Concrete & Asphalt in the amount of $283,730.65 to add additional streets (including Birch between Third and Fourth, and portions of Kathleen and St. Michel). Councilmember Miller recused from the vote. Roll call recorded: Wood — yes; Evans — yes; Gabriel — yes; English — yes; (Miller — recused). Outcome: approved.
Other formal actions - Consent calendar: approved by roll call (Evans — yes; Miller — aye; Gabriel — yes; English — yes; Wood — yes). - Appointments: The mayor announced appointments of Thomasina to the Design Review Commission and Olivia Metz to the Ignite Coeur d'Alene board; council approved by roll call.
Implementation notes and conditions - The recreational transit agreement includes a reservation allowing police to require modifications to protect peace, order and safety. - The goat‑use ordinance requires an application routed to animal control, limits the number and timing of grazing events, requires insurance, and disallows unneutered males because of odor concerns. - The brine system will be purchased through Sourcewell; staff intends to install the system by mid‑August to be available by November, and said budget savings from a mild winter and vacant positions can absorb the purchase.
Looking ahead: staff said they will present a broader campus plan for police, fire and public works at an upcoming meeting; the sale of the modular unit is a step toward that campus planning process.
