Coeur d'Alene council approves water‑supply land deals, wastewater design contract, demolition and park alcohol permits

The Coeur d'Alene City Council adopted a package of infrastructure and administrative measures on June 2, approving land transactions and contracts intended to protect water supplies, upgrade wastewater treatment, and address a public‑safety nuisance.

Council voted to approve a $185,000 purchase agreement (Resolution 26044) for property adjacent to the Locust well at 114 E. Locust Ave, with $155,000 from water department capital‑fee funds and a trade of a parks food trailer valued at $30,000, staff said. Water Department Director Kyle Marine told the council the purchase secures working room around a wellhead and helps meet DEQ/EPA guidance for a roughly 50‑foot protection radius.

The council also authorized staff to determine the suitability of property at 632 E. Moore Ave for a future production well and to proceed with purchase if tests are successful (Resolution 26045). Marine said the city expects to need an additional lower‑zone well by 2030 and that the authorization would allow a test well and water sampling before a final purchase decision.

On wastewater infrastructure, the council approved a $250,000 professional‑services agreement with Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions to provide specialized engineering design for tertiary membrane filtration equipment (Resolution 26046). Wastewater staff said Veolia’s engineers are uniquely positioned to design the membranes and that combining designs for two treatment trains reduces cost.

Council approved a contract not to exceed $30,000 with Cannon Hill to demolish a structurally dangerous house at 361 Mill Ave and authorized a special assessment against the property (Resolution 26047). City building staff described extensive storm and structural damage, repeated nuisance calls and an unresponsive owner; the council limited the authorization to the house after legal staff warned removing the undamaged detached garage could trigger takings or other liability unless additional legal criteria are met.

The council amended municipal code to allow possession and consumption of beer and wine with a permit in two small parks — Rotary Centennial Park and Cherry Hill Park — under established permit, fee and security requirements (Council Bill 26‑1009). Parks staff said the change will enable planned community events to include a roped‑off beer garden with security and a permit fee.

The council also created a new Spotlight Coeur D’Alene visual‑arts grant program with $15,000 of annual funding to support community‑focused visual‑arts projects and K–12 arts education (Resolution 26048). The Arts Commission representative said grants will range from $5,000 to $7,500 and will follow a rubric prioritizing artistic quality, community engagement and feasibility.

In a separate utility settlement, council approved an agreement with Virginia L. Tate for water service outside city limits at 4176 E. Potlatch Hill Road and future annexation (Resolution 26042). As part of a negotiated settlement staff and council agreed to waive the annexation fee (estimated in staff materials at $25,217.60) and use the 2025 capitalization‑fee rate (a credit staff said reduces the city’s cap‑fee charge by about $17,189) to offset certain prior costs the Tates said they incurred; staff described the package as a settlement that balances past investments and the city’s fee schedule.

Finally, the council authorized Amendment No. 6 to the solid‑waste contract with Republic Services to allow for a fuel‑cost adjustment if average diesel prices exceed a contractual baseline (Resolution 26049). City staff noted the recent year’s average diesel price was roughly $4.03 per gallon and estimated an approximate 3% contract‑year adjustment for the 2026–27 contract year; any customer fee changes would be considered through the municipal‑services fee process.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 26044 (Locust well purchase): approved by roll call (motion carried). - Resolution 26045 (632 E. Moore suitability/purchase authorization): approved by roll call (motion carried). - Resolution 26046 (Veolia PSA, $250,000): approved by roll call (motion carried). - Resolution 26047 (Demolition 361 Mill Ave, not to exceed $30,000): approved by roll call (motion carried). - Council Bill 26‑1009 (permit alcohol in two parks): adopted by roll call (motion carried). - Resolution 26048 (Spotlight CDA visual arts, $15,000): approved by roll call (motion carried). - Resolution 26042 (Tate water service / annexation settlement): approved by roll call (motion carried); council waived annexation fee and used 2025 cap‑fee rate per the motion. - Resolution 26049 (Republic Services fuel adjustment amendment): approved by roll call (motion carried). - Council Bill 26‑1010 (vacation of alley right‑of‑way): adopted following a public hearing (no objections noted).

The meeting closed with a motion to enter executive session under Idaho code for personnel/complaints. Staff said further action or implementation steps (drill/test wells, bidding for wastewater procurement, demolition contract execution, and municipal fee review for any solid‑waste adjustments) will follow in staff reports and future council agenda items.