Author: Adam Marshall - uncategorized - Feb. 26, 2023

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First off, a huge thank you to all of you who made the CALV neighborhood meeting and to all who made generous donations (It's not too late to donate - www.contactcalv.org/donate). The energy was high and the justification for doing what we are to protect the integrity of the Latah Valley was solidly reaffirmed. We have got our work cut out for us, so let's get to it!

SPEAKING UP/OUT AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
For the next four weeks we need to be at city council to testify. Here is what we suggest (specifics found under Moratorium and Impact Fees below):
Monday, February 27th - Let the city council know that they must extend the moratorium
Monday, March 6th - Let the city council know that they must extend the moratorium - This is CALV rally day at city council. Let's get 100 of us there!
Monday, March 13th - Let the city council know that they must extend the moratorium + have the highest possible impact fees specifically for the Latah Valley
Monday, March 20th - Let the city council know that they must extend the moratorium + have the highest possible impact fees specifically for the Latah Valley
City Council meetings start at 6pm so get there at least 20-30 minutes early in order to put your name on the list(s) to testify. They are limiting testimony to 15 people.

SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, MEDIA, AND FRIENDS/NEIGHBORS
We have to constantly keep our reality, our future in full view which means we have to do all we can to keep the pressure on and to spread the word as to the situation in the Latah Valley. This means doing any and all of the following along with anything else you can think of to support protecting the Latah Valley.
Email, call, and/or ask for a meeting with the city council
Email, call, and/or ask for a meeting with the mayor
Submit a letter to the editor to the Spokesman-Review and Inlander
Contact the media to push for coverage on the Latah Valley [CALV can be of help here if you need it]
Reach out to friends and neighbors to make sure they are aware of the situation in Latah Valley and encourage them to get involved

EXTEND THE MORATORIUM
The current moratorium is set to expire in mid-March. That moratorium is centered on transportation impact fees (see Impact Fees below for more info) and with that work ending we need a new moratorium that is justified for the following reasons:
City needs to assess levels of service - Are the roads really safe? Is fire protection really at where it needs to be?
Planning - The Latah Valley needs a sub-area plan and for considerably more coordination between the city, county, state, and other agencies
Funding - Where is the money for an actual fire station, sidewalks, community center, parks, library, preservation of wildlands, etc.? Without more effort in either establishing additional impact fees, sourcing money from elsewhere, and accurate forecasting for what is actually needed for the Latah Valley, the area is prime to be overdeveloped and under serviced.
Infrastructure Before Development not only means actual physical infrastructure it also means planning properly for the future. The Latah Valley has serious problems that will only get worse unless, collectively, we take a different approach to protecting the quality of life of this amazing part of the city. There is tremendous potential to do something great for this area!
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES - HIGHEST AMOUNT TOWARDS THE HIGHEST NEED
The action that came out of the adoption of the moratorium was to reassess the amount developers must pay regarding transportation impacts and if the list of city transportation projects should be associated to specific districts within the city. After work from an ad hoc committee and the review of that work by the city's Plan Commission it is now up to the city council to decide what action, they will take. Currently the city council is to consider an ordinance change to transportation impact fees on March 13th (first reading) and March 20th (second reading + vote). Based on the city's list of transportation projects the Latah Valley has the most projects commanding the need for the most funding.

For the people of Latah Valley and supporters of CALV our message is simple:
The Latah Valley needs to be its own impact fee district
Impact fees need to be the highest amount possible (developers need to pay to play)
Keep in mind that even if developers pay their fair share at 60%+ that still means the city will need to find the additional funding somewhere else. We also need to be aware that the impact fees will only be collected once permits are issued which means it could be 5, 10, 15 years before the needed Latah Valley transportation projects are addressed in part or full via transportation impact fees.