Summertime hot spot heats up

Wes Somerton knows what to expect when summer hits Coeur d’Alene.

“I have my first loud car stereo appeal hearing coming up,” the deputy city attorney said. “That’s usually an indication that summer has begun.”

School’s out and summer weather has, on some days, started to show its face.

That means more noise complaints and alcohol violations – many of them in the downtown area, particularly Independence Point. Families, out-of-town visitors and groups of teens flock to the lakeside spot with its grassy areas, picnic tables and asphalt parking lot. And they don’t always get along, Somerton said.

Law enforcement and city officials are preparing for a summer of problems at the spot, but they’re optimistic that their preparations will prevent problems. Those preparations include more lighting, a “zero-tolerance” policy from law enforcement and an effort by school resource officers to inform students of the laws governing public conduct before school let out.

“There’s increasingly more activity, so we knew we had to be very proactive there ourselves,” said Christie Wood, Coeur d’Alene Police Department spokeswoman.

Somerton said city attorneys are meeting with police to discuss other ways to deter problems at the spot, such as possibly implementing a noise ordinance in the parking lot or issuing nuisance violations to repeat troublemakers.

Aaron Borg, 19, said problems at the point are “way exaggerated.” He and 18-year-old Brandon Cool were at Independence Point last Thursday night with friends. They said they frequent the spot and rarely see their peers do anything other than hang out in the parking lot and listen to music.

“They just automatically assume we’re down here to smoke weed,” Borg said.

Cool said drug use may take place on occasion, but “that happens anywhere and everywhere.” Police do a good job of monitoring the area, he added.

“The cops even come down here and sit and talk with us,” he said.

Some complaints about Independence Point aren’t necessarily fueled by illegal activity, Somerton said, but come from adults who aren’t comfortable with young people gathering there.

“I don’t think the young people intend to be an intimidating group. I think that’s just the nature of the beast,” he said.

Cool and Borg were at Independence Point when about five police officers were in the parking lot responding to a dog fight and altercation between the dogs’ owners.

That’s about as serious as problems get here, 19-year-old Anthony Wells said.

“All of it is drama; most of it is words,” Wells said.

The police are there enough, he said, pointing to the large response to the dog fight. As a result of that presence, illegal activity is discouraged about as much as it can be, Wells said.

City officials remain optimistic about the season and possible conflicts at Independence Point.

“The next couple weeks we’ll fasten our belts, hang on to the ride and see what starts happening,” Somerton said.