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Residents urge safer Dalton connector and ask council to consider residential light‑trespass rules; city previews LeafVest pickup
Summary
Residents asked the Coeur d'Alene City Council to study a shoulder/sidewalk on Dalton Avenue and to consider a residential light‑trespass ordinance. Separately, the Street Department outlined the city’s annual LeafVest collection beginning Nov. 12.
Mary Merrill, a resident of Oak Crest Manufactured Home Park, told the City Council she and her husband — who uses a mobility scooter — face dangerous walking conditions on Dalton between Ramsey and Highway 95 and asked the council to consider a sidewalk, bike lane or street shoulder on the south side of Dalton to improve safety for pedestrians and people using mobility devices.
Mayor and council members instructed staff to review Merrill’s request; the mayor asked Troy to carry the request to staff for follow‑up and potential next steps.
Another resident, identified in the transcript as Lisa and living near 14th and East Coeur d’Alene Avenue, described increasing light trespass from recent large homes installed with high‑intensity LED fixtures that “blast” into neighbors’ bedrooms and yards. Lisa said the city currently has a commercial light‑trespass ordinance but not a residential standard and asked whether the council could pursue an ordinance to give residents an enforcement pathway. Council members said a dark‑skies initiative and examples from other Idaho cities (Hailey was cited) are already on staff’s radar and asked staff to research options for residential light‑trespass rules and enforcement practices.
Separately, Justin from the Street Department presented the city’s LeafVest program for the 2024 season. He said crews will begin pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 12, working from the south end of the city northward and that the program typically takes about two weeks, weather permitting. Justin said the street department expects to haul more than 2,000 tons of leaves — roughly 800 truckloads — and described safety guidance for residents (keep leaves about 1 foot from the curb, move parked cars during pickup, and do not place bagged leaves in the street). He described partnerships and hauling, grinding and reuse of the material and gave the Streets information line (208‑769‑2235) and city web pages for maps and pickup schedules.
Next steps: staff will review the Dalton safety request and the possibility of a residential light‑trespass ordinance and report back to the council. The LeafVest schedule and pickup maps are available on the city’s website.
