Council Hopeful Cites Experience With Planning

With 11 years of experience on the Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission, Diane Duncan says she knows how to manage growth in Post Falls.

She’s one of five candidates running for two seats on the Post Falls City Council. The top two vote-getters in the Nov. 4 election win.

“I think I’m the only one with planning and zoning experience,” said the real estate agent for RE/MAX Masters.

Because city growth is such a hot issue, that experience sets her apart from her peers, Duncan said.

“Managed growth is good,” she said. “Montrose is a good example of managed growth because it was planned. Before, there was a lot of fill-in growth.”

Montrose is a development that will add 1,613 housing units within the Post Falls city limits by 2010.

But the City Council must consider the impact on schools of any growth it allows, she said.

“We have to make that commitment to our children and grandchildren that our parents made to us.”

She should know. She put her two children through Post Falls schools.

“I’m proud of my family and the fact that I’ve raised my kids here. My husband and I have been married for 28 years, and I have two children and two grandchildren,” she said.

She has lived in Post Falls since 1977.

Duncan wants more businesses to come to town to improve the city’s tax base. She expressed concerns over impact fees on businesses at a workshop before the Nov. 6 city council meeting.

The city is determining the level of the fees, which add to the price of building inside city limits but help pay for infrastructure, police and parks.

“To me, what this is encouraging people to do is build in Coeur d’Alene and Hayden Lake and the county,” she said, looking over the high prices of suggested impact fees for large businesses. “I want them to build downtown.”

The city needs big businesses to increase its tax base, but the higher the impact fees they must pay to move to Post Falls, the less likely they will choose this area, she said.

“I would love to do whatever we can to bring in business.” she said.

To attract those businesses, the city needs to improve its infrastructure, she said. That helps residents as well.

“The biggest thing I would like to see is curbs and paving on the streets,” she said.

Duncan applauded the council for lowering taxes.

“The City Council has done a good job of lowering the levy rates, and I’d like to continue that,” she said.

“I’d like to keep the budget meetings open to the public because they have a lot of ideas. I’d also like to go to department heads and ask them, ‘What can we do to be more efficient?”’ she said.

In general, Duncan says she doesn’t have any “one burning issue.

“I just want to do what’s best for Post Falls,” she said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Editor’s note: This is the fourth of five articles this week on candidates for Post Falls City Council.

This sidebar appeared with the story: POLLING PLACES CHANGE Polling places in Post Falls for the Nov. 4 general election have changed. Voters who live from Idaho Street east will vote at the National Guard Armory at 5555 E. Seltice Way. Voters who live from Idaho Street west will vote at Odd Fellows Hall at 200 E. Railroad. Eligible voters who have not registered may do so at their polling sites on the day of the election. In addition to the City Council race, the ballot will include the mayoral race and a library bond issue. Mayor Gus Johnson is running unopposed.