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Position 5
Question 1
What do you believe to be the most important issue
facing our city and why?
Anita Banta
I believe that right now public safety is a current and
developing major issue. Our city is growing, and we need to
keep up with our police, crime control, fire safety, streets
and traffic control, garbage, etc. We are doing a good job
now, but I think we can do better by utilizing our tax
dollars for safety. I agree with Chief Longo that we need to
fill more police positions.
John W. Bruning
The most important issue facing our city today is the
lack of affordable housing both for purchase and for rent
for those who want to work and live in Coeur d’ Alene. We
rely on our teachers to instruct our children, firemen and
police officers to protect us, and health care workers to
provide medical care for our families and ourselves. Yet we
as a community do not seem to be able to provide them with
housing that they can afford. These valuable members of our
society are forced to either move or change professions.
Neither of these options is healthy for Coeur d’ Alene. For
local businesses, for our school district, for our municipal
government and for our health care industry, recruitment of
new employees becomes increasingly difficult.
Wayne A. Frisbie, Sr.
I beleive that growth is one of our main issues, not so
much just growing but rather how we grow. We need to work
towards going as a community, not just growing bigger. This
can be done by looking at ways we can provide affordable
housing for our working class. We also need to take a long
hard look at our taffic, not so much in more roads rather
improving the flow of traffic trough our City. A
comprehencive traffic stidy would be a great place to start.
Joseph B. Kunka
I my opinion there are two equally important issues
facing our community today. They are affordable workforce
housing, as well as growth. Public access to Lake Coeur d'
Alene is rapidly deteriorating. More homes, more
developments, more closed shoreline. We do not need
workforce housing, we need good paying jobs that will allow
our workforce to buy homes.
Susan P. Snedaker
It appears to me that the focus of the city has moved to
one of unbalanced growth leaning heavily on part time
residents and retail without any attention to sustainable
development that would include well paying, long term
careers instead of jobs.
Question 2
Recently, a lot of discussion has centered on the
need for providing affordable, workforce housing for our
city’s teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other
working citizens. What are two ways you believe the City can
help facilitate affordable, workforce housing in Coeur
d'Alene?
Anita Banta
Everyone needs affordable housing, and again, with a
substantial influx of new citizens, the law of supply and
demand has caused an imbalance. We need to review the cost
of regulations and infrastructure and see if there are ways
to cut those costs. There has to be a relationship between
wages and the cost of living, including housing. I don't
have a ready answer, but we have to work for a solution.
John W. Bruning
Coeur d’Alene has recently been awarded a $300,000
Community Development Block Grant. The goals for this grant
are to increase the supply of homes for sale at affordable
prices and to increase the supply of affordable rental
housing. These goals can be accomplished through density
bonuses, impact fee waivers and by partially funding
infrastructure development. Also I believe the Lake City
Development Corporation has a role to play in this effort
through land acquisition and infrastructure development.
None of these solutions by themselves are going to solve the
problem. It is going to take a combined concerted effort by
all parties, government and private parties, to find
solutions.
Wayne A. Frisbie, Sr.
I strongly believe that this is a major issue, one that
may very well take the involvement of other juristictions in
our area. I believe that we can provide incentives for
developers and builders to build these much needed homes,
through discounted developement fees that would reward these
developers and builders for providing these homes. Second we
need to also take a look at affordable rental housing for
the lower income families, we can look at developements in
the LCDC districts were with the help of LCDC we can
encourage developers to build affordable house abd
incorporate the homes into the business developements.
Joseph B. Kunka
In my opinion our police officers, teachers, and
firefighters need to relax. I have lived in Cda for 18 years
and have never made more than $35,000.00 per year. If I want
to make more money I may have to move. Maybe we should all
consider living within our means. Police and Firefighters
CAN, and do, make more money elsewhere. I am fairly certain
that the risk factors increase as well. If we need to spend
more money in these fields, perhaps it should be in
judgement training, discernment, and people skills. Perhaps
a special focus on discernment and people skills may be
appropriate. Perhaps the County should stop over inflating
our property values. Does workforce housing men low income
housing?
Susan P. Snedaker
The issue of affordable workforce housing is currently
being addressed by Kootenai Perspectives workshops. A
partnership with Idaho Housing and Finance Association to
assist in loans _ whether primary or secondary is an option.
The issue of providing housing for the residents whose
incomes are lower than those who qualify for affordable
housing is complex, and I do not have an answer. Rental
subsidies are an option but other solutions should be
studied.
Question 3
What is your position on the development of the
current Stimson DeArmond lumber mill into an Education
Corridor/University Place and why?
Anita Banta
We need to look at all possible reasonably priced sites
for the education corridor, and hopefully maintain some
close grouping of the campus, NIC, UI, and/or Lewis and
Clark. It is my understanding that the lumber mill next to
the campus, on a long range basis, will become part of the
campus. What expansions have been done have added to the
educational opportunities available, while maintaining a
reasonable cost for education. If the DeArmond mill does not
become available in the near future (within the next 10
years), we may have to look for other building sites, near
the present corridor.
John W. Bruning
I strongly support the development of the Education
Corridor/University Place on the Stimson property. I have
visited with the administrators of both the University of
Idaho and Lewis Clark campuses here in Coeur d’ Alene and I
know how overcrowded their facilities are. The demand for
services is apparent. The Education Corridor project would
add to the diversity of employment opportunities that we
desire for Coeur d’ Alene. The project could provide
opportunities for residents to further their own educations
without them having to move. It would provide needed
educated employees for local businesses and provide the
young people of Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County with the
opportunity for higher education in their own community and
at lower cost.
Wayne A. Frisbie, Sr.
Education is the best way to ensure a stronger ecomony in
our Cities future. The ability to recieve education right
here at home that may not be currently availible will prove
to be a very viable resource to our community. With moe
people such as single working mother have the opportunity to
recieve an education that can futher thier chance of
providing a stable income for thier families, is one of the
best ways to strengthen our economic future abd will
encourage these individuals to stay here and be a productive
member of our community.
Joseph B. Kunka
I am not really sure how to approach this one. I possess
a copy of the original lease between the City and the
University of Idaho. The University has been given a free
ride and I DO NOT support that at all. Perhaps I should
investigate this one furthur before commenting. We have many
institutes of higher learning within a 100 mile radius. I am
not sure what advantage this possesses. Good question. Are
taxpayers going to be asked to fund this, and if so,
why??????
Susan P. Snedaker
Although I find the concept of interest, inasmuch as I
have yet to see or read any concrete plans for the
development of this site accompanied with curriculum
information, impact statements relative to Projected student
population, traffic, air quality, etc., I will withhold my
judgment.
Question 4
Do you support urban renewal districts and tax
increment financing as an economic development tool? Why or
why not?
Anita Banta
I am studying this issue at this moment, and do not have
enough information to form a firm conclusion. I have a lot
of homework to do on this issue.
John W. Bruning
In Idaho urban renewal districts along with tax increment
financing provide about the only sources for local
communities to fund economic development themselves. Without
these tools Coeur d’ Alene probably would not have a new
library, two new parks (Mill River and Riverstone), the Kroc
Center would not be under construction and other projects
would not be in the planning stages. LCDC assisted in the
financing of needed projects such as the workforce housing
study by BBC Research and Consulting, downtown development
regulations, the Walker-Macy Master Plan, and numerous
community art projects. I foresee LCDC being in a major role
in the building of the education corridor, providing help
with affordable housing, creating new parks and trails and
in Midtown redevelopment. There are many projects that would
never have occurred in Coeur d’ Alene without these tools.
They are still needed to complete redevelopment work in the
Lake and River Districts and are crucial for creating
affordable housing.
Wayne A. Frisbie, Sr.
Yes, any time we can take undeveloped or under developed
areas in our community that offer little in the way of tax
base. And turn these areas in to a stronger and more viable
part of our community we all win in the end. When these
areas are turned back to the city they will provide a
stronger and more sucure tax base for our future. With these
districts we are also seeing more business brought to our
area which simply means more jobs and a stronger economy.
Joseph B. Kunka
I was blessed to have the opportunity to sit and talk
with Tony Burns, Executive Director of the Lake City
Development Corporation, last week. We talked alot about
urban renewal districts, as well as, tax increment
financing. Before this conversation I was opposed to all of
this. I need to learn more about these tools but right now I
would have to say that I do support the use of them as a way
to manage growth.
Susan P. Snedaker
Yes, I do support urban renewal districts and tax
increment financing as an economic development tool used, in
the case of the city, to jump start the revitalization of
the downtown. I lobbied for the inclusion of Midtown at the
time the district was established. I think that the duration
of the urban renewal area and district should be limited so
that the taxes are returned to the city’s general fund
sooner for the benefit of the entire community. I am hopeful
that the legislature will address the issue of the diversion
of taxing district taxes to the urban renewal districts.
Question 5
What programs or policies would you propose or
support to balance Coeur d’Alene’s economic growth and
quality of life?
Anita Banta
Coeur d'Alene has always had a good quality of life,
while at the same time has had a sustainable manufacturing
base, involving our natural resources. We need to maintain a
manufacturing base, look at bringing in high tech
industries, paying good wages and benefits, and look to
expand our excellent health care industry as a destination
industry. These would promote growth, without compromising
our healthy quality of life. I support the new library, it
is a welcome addition to our city.
John W. Bruning
Number one program I would enthusiastically support is
the education corridor. This is a perfect replacement for
the last of the sawmills (Stimson DeArmond mill) which have
provided high paying jobs for over 100 years in Coeur d’
Alene. The education corridor project would replace some of
these higher paying mill jobs with professional people
making equal or higher pay. Education is a clean industry
which is something any elected official would support. I
support the efforts of organizations such as Jobs Plus for
their efforts to recruit businesses such as Night Hawk
Radiology which also supports our health care industry. City
government has a role to play also as is stated in the 2007
revised Comprehensive Plan for Coeur d’ Alene: “City
government and other agencies should also encourage
businesses that are complementary and supportive to health
care and education activities while preserving our quality
of life.”
Wayne A. Frisbie, Sr.
One of the most important issues I see we need to deal
with is the traffic, I would like to see a study done that
would help us deal with the flow of traffic. I would like to
lok at the impact that rising property values are having on
our citizens that are living on a fixed income. I do not
feel that people who have lived and worked in this community
should have to worry about how they can afford to keep a
home that in many cases is paid for just because the taxes
represent sometimes half of thier annual income. I would
also like to see our parks made avalible for all citizens
including pet owner. I also have ideas on humane ways to
reduce the problem we have with stray and feral cats in our
City
Joseph B. Kunka
I will propose issuing fewer building permits for a short
period of time. I believe we need to evaluate the effects
this boom has had on us before we proceed full steam ahead.
I have noticed some traffic difficulties, as well as some
nasty attitudes as of late. Perhaps there is a need for more
communication between the City, County, and Citizens. When
elected, I will be insturmental in creating an exciting form
of public communication that will ENCOURAGE people to come
up with solutions instead of complaining. I will also
encourage a detailed evaluation of our infrastructure. IT
WILL BE HEALTHY TO RELAX AND SLOW DOWN A BIT.
Susan P. Snedaker
I think that a long term business incubator should be
established to not only encourage but also mentor new
businesses that will create career opportunities rather than
those that pay low hourly wages. In order to thrive
economically, the city must have diverse employment
opportunities for its citizens. Financial security is a
crucial component of quality of life.
Lucas Braden, Public Affairs
Manager
(208)415-0109
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