It’s hard to argue with the report-card grade Mayor Sandi Bloem gave the city of Coeur d’Alene last week: excellent.

Certainly, the city had a very good year in 2004.

Two major annexations and the possibility of landing a $20.million Kroc grant for a community center highlight the work by Bloem’s administration. The year was made successful by the annexation of 237 lakefront acres owned by Hagadone Hospitality, including The Coeur d’Alene Resort golf course, and the $100 million Mill River development on the Spokane River. Toss in the new storm water utility that will protect Lake Coeur d’Alene, 1,000 feet of public beach that comes with the Mill River annexation, and a balanced $60 million budget, and you can see why the mayor crowed during her annual State of the City address.

But the municipality’s performance doesn’t warrant the highest mark possible, because the city missed some opportunities, wasn’t forthcoming at times, failed to complete all of its homework, and dragged its feet on some important issues.

Coeur d’Alene, for example, gets mixed marks for its handling of the annual Sanders Beach controversy. On the plus side, the city took the courageous step in October of filing a lawsuit to decide where private property begins and public property ends on the contested beach. The suit was prompted by increasingly angry confrontations between East Lakeshore Drive property owners, who claim to own the beach, and beachcombers who say they don’t. On the minus side, the city didn’t listen to thousands of residents who wanted businessman Duane Hagadone to provide perpetual access to adjacent Potlatch Beach as part of the negotiations for the golf course annexation last spring.

Also, city officials lose points for negotiating entirely in private with Hagadone officials on the annexation request.

Before handing out any grade approaching “excellent,” the Bloem administration should finish its homework.

At this point, the fate of Hagadone’s controversial memorial garden in honor of his parents could rest on a vote next week in which the City Council could decide to ask for an advisory vote in February.

There’s risk here. Hagadone could pull his $21 million project rather than face an uncertain outcome at the polls. Or he could forge ahead. Many fear, however, that a public vote on the gardens would undercut the two bond items scheduled for a February vote: $3 million for a new library and $7 million in public safety needs.

To maintain an excellent rating, the city needs the two bond issues to pass and to keep Hagadone Gardens in play.

Also, the city should quit procrastinating and find a way to preserve important open space and landmarks, such as Canfield Mountain on its eastern edge.

Bloem and her administration had a very good year – an A perhaps but not an A-plus. With an important election coming in February, the first test of 2005 will come quickly.