Floating jungle gym returns

I noticed that Rob Riley’s “Hooligan Island” jungle gym is floating offshore from the Coeur d’Alene shoreline again. So I asked Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor if he’s aware of that fact. He was. And the city is doing everything possible to ship Riley’s vessel elsewhere:

Yes indeed, we are aware of it and very actively dealing with that issue. This is the same “Hooligan Island” vessel. While they took it away and indicated they would be heading south to, I believe, Utah for the summer, they instead chose to bring it back to the lake.

The owners of this vessel have been informed numerous times that they are not licensed and authorized to conduct business within the waterways of the City of Coeur d’Alene. The City’s incorporated boundaries and jurisdiction extends to 1,000 feet into the lake. At no time have we ever told them they could conduct business on the water and have worked hard to educate them on the various rules related to conducting business in the public waterway and the steps necessary to be considered for  conducting such business.

We recently had a meeting with the owners that included staff from Parks & Recreation, the Fire Department, the Police Department, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Municipal Services Department. We understand that they have also been engaged by local staff of the Idaho Department of Lands, which has jurisdiction over the lake bed (meaning anything anchored to it, etc.).

During that meeting (we have minutes and I am attaching those verbatim notes for you – we tape recorded the meeting due to concerns that the public statements being made by the owner were not accurate regarding what we have told them in the past) we expressed numerous concerns and also explained the various regulations. Those included the general requirements to be licensed as a mobile vendor (which they are not licensed for) as well as public safety issues from the Fire Department and Police Department.

Little to none of those items we sought compliance for have occurred and, again, they have not come into compliance with our business licensing requirements for mobile vendors. More here.

• City notes from meeting with “Hooligan Island” owner Bob Riley.