Council eyes how it’s elected

The horse race may end.

The Coeur d’Alene City Council will consider tonight changing how voters elect council members. It will also have a public hearing on new zoning rules to encourage mixed uses near downtown in addition to considering whether to ban diving from Independence Point, next to City Beach.

Coeur d’Alene may go to designated council seats, where candidates would choose which of the six seats they want to seek. Currently all council members run against each other for vacant seats and the top vote-getters get the open positions.

The designated seats would end the “horse-race” system, which proponents say would level the playing field and allow candidates to square off about specific city issues rather than touting their civic qualifications.

“It’s just straightforward and fair,” said Councilman Al Hassell who tried to get the city to switch to designated seats when he was mayor. Hassell said designated seats allow candidates to run against a person they don’t philosophically agree with instead of potentially running against candidates they support.

The city’s General Services Committee has recommended approval of the change.

Post Falls switched to designated seats in January 2003. Hayden also has changed to assigned seats. Hassell said seven of Idaho’s largest cities have made the switch.

“It just cleans it up and levels the playing field,” Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said, adding it makes it easier for a candidate to challenge an incumbent who isn’t performing well.

Coeur d’Alene’s next city election will be in November 2005. Council members Deanna Goodlander, Woody McEvers and Ben Wolfinger are up for election.

The city also will have a public hearing on changing its zoning rules in three neighborhoods surrounding downtown Coeur d’Alene. The current laws in Midtown, around Garden Avenue and the area east of Eighth Street, don’t allow for high-density housing and require too many parking lots to make urban housing possible.

The new rules would encourage mixed-use, high-density housing such as townhouses and condos. In some areas it would mean having street-level businesses with housing on the top floors.

The proposed rules range from allowing at least 40 living units per acre to embracing taller buildings and underground parking. Landscaping, including preserving Coeur d’Alene’s large trees, is a major part of the suggestions.

The city’s Planning Commission has endorsed the proposal that was recommended by a Seattle-based consultant.

The council also will decide whether to ban diving off city docks, pilings, seawalls and concrete steps in the area near Independence Point at the end of Third Street.