Two landscape workshops have been planned for Friday, March 19th. They are designed for anyone who makes decisions about, or participates in, the maintenance of landscapes, from professional landscape contractors to church trustees.

“Pest Management and Prevention” will be held in the morning. It will be led by Ben Kappen, a Certified Arborist with Northwest Plant Health Care. Ben will cover the basic methodology for plant diagnostics, as well as responsible use of pesticides. Emphasis will be placed on an integrated approach to keeping plants healthy to prevent pest problems.

“Trees and Turf” will be presented in the afternoon by five local professionals giving a wide range of information. Topics will include: an overview of turf & tree needs that result in competition, creating and maintaining safe zones for trees, ground covers as an alternative to turf, irrigation zones and delivery methods, and suggested solutions to compaction problems.

Both workshops will be held at the Trailhead building at Q’emiln Park in Post Falls. A $10 registration fee per workshop helps cover workshop costs. Besides instruction, attendees will receive related educational materials, snacks, and door prizes. Lunch will be served to those attending both workshops. Pesticide applicators credits and ISA Certified Arborist Continuing Education Units will be available.

The workshops are sponsored by Community Canopy, a tree care education partnership working toward sustainable community forests.

Pre-registration is encouraged since there is limited room. A workshop brochure and registration form is available on-line at www.communitycanopy.com or call Katie at 208/415-0415.

For further information, please contact Karen Haskew, Urban Forester, City of Coeur d’Alene, at 208/769-2266.

Over the past seven years, World Triathlon Corporation, owner of Ford Ironman, has contributed more than nearly $200,000.00 to the Coeur d’Alene community, which is distributed to a variety of area organizations. Approximately $15,000.00 a year goes to volunteer groups that help at various aid stations throughout the bike/run course, as well as to others who volunteer during the Ironman Event.

The Ironman Community Fund also distributes $15,000.00 annually in grants. At the March 2nd City Council Meeting, individuals representing the following organizations received grants from the Ironman Community Fund: Jeff Wickham, Boy Scouts of American Camp Easton; Mike Darcy, City of Coeur d’Alene Recreation Department; Clark Campbell, Fernan Elementary; Suzanne Cano, City of Hayden Recreation Department; Angie Hannon, Hayden Meadows Elementary; Judi Owens, Mullan Trail Elementary; Jim Wyatt, Ponderosa Elementary; Sue Lauer, Post Falls School District 273 District Meet; Mary Knight, Prairie View Elementary; Nancy Lowry, Kroc Center; David Hirsch, Seltice Way Elementary; Angie Goucher, Specialized Needs Recreation Camp Allstars; and Steve Somers, West Ridge Elementary.

The following organizations were also awarded grants from the Ironman Community Fund this year: School District 271 District Meet, Coeur d’Alene Youth Triathlon, and Ramsey Elementary.

“The Ironman Community Fund is an exciting, vital component of the link that the World Triathlon Corporation has with the community,” said Mayor Sandi Bloem. “Through the fund, financial opportunities are provided to help those organizations that support youth sports activities.”

The fund placed a heavy emphasis on providing youth sports opportunities as a means of spreading goodwill to those people who are impacted by the race. For more information about the Ironman Community Fund, please contact Susan Weathers at 769-2231.

The City of Coeur d'Alene has announced the availability of free street trees for six new subdivisions. The trees are available for planting within the rights-of-way of Sunshine Meadows, The Landings at Waterford, Ramsey Meadows, Copper Ridge, Jae's Place, and Echo Glenn. Homeowners or residents in these subdivisions who are willing to provide care for street trees can contact the Urban Forestry division of the Coeur d'Alene Parks Department to sign up for a tree. There are a limited number of trees and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Funding for the trees comes from a street tree fee collected on residential building permits. The street tree fees can be refunded to builders or new homeowners who plant a street tree upon completion of a new home. Six months after the completion of a home, unclaimed funds are forfeited to the city. The city is now using these forfeited funds to purchase and plant trees in the same neighborhoods where the fees originated.

Of course, the owners of the homes whose building permit fees were forfeited are the first choice for using these funds. The city has already contacted those property owners regarding the planting program. However, there are still some trees unclaimed. These street trees are being offered to any home in these same neighborhoods. The only qualification is a willingness to make sure the trees are watered and protected from string trimmers and mowers.

The tree species still available for spring planting are honeylocust, white ash, hackberry, and baldcypress. The trees will be planted by contract tree planting crews in May. Since there are a limited number of trees, interested homeowners are encouraged to reply as soon as possible. A response form is available on-line at http://www.cdaid.org, by sending an email to karenh@cdaid.org, or by calling Urban Forestry at 769-2266 or 415-0415.

Coeur d’Alene residents are still receiving notices about water right claims from the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR). However, property owners who receive their water from the City of Coeur d’Alene will not have to file a claim.

The IDWR is simply continuing its multi-year process of cataloging and confirming all surface and ground water rights in the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane River Basin Adjudication.

A Notice of Claim is NOT required to be filed where the individual property owner and water user is not the owner of the water right; for example, the individual property owner receives all of their water from a city, an irrigation district, water utility district, or a company. A water delivery organization typically files for the water right used by all its customers or patrons. Accordingly, the City of Coeur d’Alene will be filing Notice of Claims on behalf of those served by the city.

“Our water customers do not need to take any action,” said Jim Markley, City of Coeur d’Alene Water Superintendent. “Nonetheless, people on wells should deal with IDWR regarding the process, and customers of other water districts within our city limits should contact their water purveyors (Hayden Lake Irrigation, Hoffman Water, and Dalton Water) with any questions they have.” For further information, please contact the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Northern Region 762-2800 or the City of Coeur d’Alene Water Department at 769-2210.

The Idaho Association of Building Officials (IDABO) has named City of Coeur d’Alene Building Services Director Ed Wagner as Idaho’s 2009 Building Official of the Year at its 2010 IDABO Education Institute held in Boise January 25 - 29. This prestigious honor recognizes Mr. Wagner’s professional stature and respect throughout the State of Idaho as a preeminent Building Official and reflects his statewide leadership in promoting IDABO’s mission that includes placing the public health, safety, and welfare above all other interests, applying the special knowledge and skills of the membership to meet this goal, investigating and identifying the application of safety in the construction, occupancy, and location of buildings and related structures, supporting consistency and enforcement of the adoption of the International Building Code, other ICC Codes and related documents, supporting uniform regulation and legislation pertaining to building construction, and promoting the uniform application of zoning practice and interpretation. There are over 150 Building Officials in the state. Mr. Wagner currently serves on the Board of Directors of IDABO.

Mayor Bloem stated, “It gives me great pleasure to see Ed Wagner so deservingly recognized as Idaho’s Building Official of the Year. Ed has long been known as knowledgeable, consistent, and professional. Not only does he know the code business, but he has a steadfast focus on customer service while serving our community.”

City Hall is typically open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays, but citizens can now access City Hall 24-hours a day, everyday. By dialing 676-7405, citizens will be able to leave a message regarding any city issue, problem, or complaint - any hour of the day. Messages will be monitored every day, and appropriate departments or individuals will be directed to address the issue and get back to the citizen who called. Citizens will be asked to leave their name and number.

Remember, the City 24-Hour Hotline number is 676-7405.

The citizens of Coeur d'Alene have another way of communicating with the Police Department without calling the business number or 911 and having a police officer respond to their house. This phone line allows a person to leave information regarding a particular crime, criminal activity in their neighborhood, drug activity, a hit and run vehicle, recovered stolen property, dogs running loose, illegally parked cars, or other information regarding the quality of life in their neighborhood. The caller is able to leave their name or remain anonymous, if they wish. The phone number for the TIP line is 769-2296. The TIP line is operational twenty-four (24) hours a day, 365 days a year, and will be monitored on a daily basis. The phone number will not take the place of the Department's regular business phone number 769-2320 or the emergency number 911. The TIP line will give citizens another convenient and quick way to inform the police about concerns that they may have in their neighborhood.