Harris named to Post Falls council

Former Post Falls Schools Superintendent Dick Harris is becoming a Post Falls City Council member.

Mayor Clay Larkin announced Monday that he will appoint Harris on Jan. 2 to replace Councilman Todd Tondee, who was elected to the Kootenai County commission.

Larkin, who wasn’t available for comment, will introduce Harris at tonight’s council meeting.

Harris, 69, was selected from a record 15 applicants, ranging from a former councilwoman to a teenager who works at McDonald’s.

He will serve through Dec. 31, 2007, and said he will likely run for election in November.

“I just feel I have some experience with budgets, personnel, facilities and so on,” Harris said. “I put in an application thinking I could be of help to them.”

He sees growth as the town’s top priority and likes the city’s work on a new growth plan that follows the Smart Code model. That approach focuses on creating neighborhoods that have commercial centers and walking trails and encourages people to live near their workplaces.

Harris didn’t participate in an intensive weeklong planning session in October that was aimed at getting residents involved on how the town will grow.

But he thinks public participation is key and was a successful tactic with the school district.

The council expects consultants to present a draft planning code in January or February.

Harris said deciding on the code may be one of his first major votes as a councilman.

Tondee praised Harris’ selection, and said he was impressed with the candidates who applied for the job, which pays about $6,600 a year.

“Just the quality of the people was awesome,” Tondee said, adding that he hopes the city puts some of the other candidates on city committees.

Harris, who had a 42-year education career, has never served in an elected office.

He came to Post Falls in July 1994 from the Federal Way School District. He retired in June 2001 and was often credited for bringing financial stability to the district and for the new $18 million high school that opened in September 2000.

Since his retirement, Harris has worked as a consultant for several school districts and organizations and has taught at Whitworth College and the University of Idaho. He also served as interim director of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce.