The City of Lewiston is seeking statements of qualifications and proposals for the design and construction of a minimum 10,000 – 12,000 s.f. concrete skatepark facility to be located within Kiwanis Park in Lewiston, ID. The City of Lewiston is seeking statements of qualifications and proposals for the design and construction of a minimum 10,000 – 12,000 s.f. concrete skatepark facility to be located within Kiwanis Park in Lewiston, ID. This is a design-build project. Request for Qualifications/Proposal documents are available on this website under “Bid Opportunities”. Qualifications/Proposal packages must be delivered to Central Purchasing, City of Lewiston, City Hall, 1134 F Street, Lewiston, ID 83501 no later than 2:00 P.M. (PDT) on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

The project will be partially funded by federal dollars so proposers are not required to have the applicable Idaho Public Works Contractors license prior to submitting a SOQ/P packet, but will be required to obtain such license prior to award. The design-build firm or team will be required to follow all applicable State of Idaho and local laws regarding professional services and public works construction.
[Go to Bid Opportunities...]

You are invited to a FREE Fair Housing Training Sponsored by the Disability Action Center-NW, Inc., Intermountain Fair Housing Council, and the City of Lewiston You are invited to a FREE Fair Housing Training

Sponsored by the Disability Action Center-NW, Inc., Intermountain Fair Housing Council, and the City of Lewiston

Friday, April 16th, 2010
9:00am – 12:00pm
Lewiston Community Center
1424 Main Street

Fair Housing Basics
Disability Rights and Responsibilities
Reasonable Accommodations
Legal Decisions

Featured Speakers:
Richard Mabbutt, Executive Director, Intermountain Fair Housing Council – Boise, ID
Ken Nagy, Esq., Fair Housing Attorney – Lewiston, ID

Who should attend?
All housing providers; Rental Agents; Rental Tenants;
Consumer Advocates; Assisted Living Facilities; Nursing Homes; Community Shelters; Individuals with disabilities and Agencies working with people with disabilities;

For early registration and additional information:
RSVP to Julie Waltermire at the Disability Action Center-NW, Inc. By April 7, 2010, (208) 746-9033 or (888) 746-9033

Accommodations are available upon request
Facility is wheelchair accessible

I never thought I would be standing here today giving a State of the City address after being introduced by Congressman Minnick. Thank you, Congressman Minnick, for the gracious words of introduction. While I am thanking people, I would like to acknowledge and thank my wife, Grace, who is in the audience today, for her support, patience, and understanding. In about 14 days (March 4) we will be celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary.
Also, I would like to thank Keith Havens for his service to Lewiston as Director and CEO of the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce. I sincerely wish him all the success in his future endeavors.

I want to thank and acknowledge the other members of the Lewiston City Council, Councilors Dennis Ohrtman, Thyra Stevenson, Jim Kleeburg, and Matthew Carlson, and Mayor Pro Tem Brad Cannon. It takes a certain (special) personal quality or character flaw to want to enter into public service. You need dedication, vision, and sometimes a thick skin to serve. I am proud and excited to serve on City Council with these special individuals.
I also want to acknowledge the great staff we have working for the city of Lewiston. They are industrious, consciencious, and dedicated to providing the highest level of service to the public. I am proud to be able to serve the citizen’s of Lewiston with them.

Mayor Pro Tem Brad Cannon is a hard act to follow. I appreciate his enthusiasm and his love of this city. I need to ask his wife, Linda,if he actually wakes up that way in the morning or if it takes him a while to rev up.
I also want to thank Mr. Steve Branting for sharing some of Lewiston’s historical information with me. I would highly recommend buying his book on the History of Lewiston - when he finishes writing it.

Lewiston was originally established as a ?service community? for the mines located in the upper Clearwater country. The 110 ft long steamer Colonel Wright, piloted by Captain Leonard White, landed at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers on May 13, 1861. This is the date we claim as the founding of the City of Lewiston.
On January 15, 1863, the Washington Territorial Legislature enacted a charter incorporating the city of Lewiston and setting city limits. Dr. Madison A. Kelly was named Mayor, with Hill Beachey, D.M. Lessey, F.H. Simmons, William Kaughman, and James McNeil as members of the council. When the Idaho Territory was created on March 4, 1863, the laws of Washington no longer applied. This seems to have applied to the city charter as well, as seen by the verdict in the case of People v. Williams, 1 Idaho 85, where the court found that a defendant cannot be indicted for a crime if the crime is not defined by law. Lewiston would have to start over. The city was incorporated under Idaho Territorial Laws on December 27, 1866. The city limits were set at 1 square mile. The original southern limit of the city was what is today 11th Avenue.

A historical note about our first mayor, Dr. Madison A. Kelly. He was born in 1828 in Hamilton County, Ohio. He and his wife came to Lewiston in 1862 and he was the first physician to serve the community. He served several terms as mayor, including the first to officially hold the office, appointed by the Washington Territorial Legislature in 1863. Dr. Kelly also served as Nez Perce County Treasurer, and also on the city council. In 1873 he joined other town leaders in requesting annexation into the Washington Territory. Apparently after almost 150 years nothing has changed, today we are still being ignored by Washington DC and the powers in Boise. Dr. Kelly died in 1903.

Besides being the first capital of Idaho, Lewiston has experienced a number of firsts.

July 25, 1862 — The first post office opens in what would become the State of Idaho.

August 2, 1862 — ?The Golden Age? becomes the first newspaper in what would later become Idaho.

1862 — Ernest Weisgerber opens Idaho’s first brewery.

1874 — first telegraph in northern Idaho (John Vollmer)

May 10, 1878 — first telephone call on Pacific coast (John Vollmer)

December 30, 1880 — first territorial school district

May 18, 1881 — first Idaho city allowing women to vote

1882 — first chartered bank in northern Idaho

October 14, 1910 — first heavier-than-air flight in Idaho – Curtiss Pusher – There is a group of people constructing a replica of that airplane in the Experimental Aircraft Association hangar at the Lewiston airport to commemorate that event.

September 14, 1914 — first woman to fly in Idaho

1930 — Pres-to-Logs invented in Lewiston

January 2010 – Jan Vasser is recommended for appointment to the Transportation Board. Jan will be the first woman appointed to serve on the Transportation Board.

Lewiston has a long legacy of being first. I stand here today prepared to tell you that Lewiston is on the brink of some great things to come. It is not because of a large business or rich benefactor moving into our area, it is because we as a community made it happen. We can make good positive things happen by involving our community and celebrating our success. We have a fantastic opportunity to showcase our community with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of our founding. I challenge the Chamber of Commerce and its members to form a committee to plan for a year long celebration of our 150th anniversary. I will commit to asking the Association of Idaho Cities to hold their annual conference here in 2011. They were here in 2005 for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Maybe they can come and celebrate our founding with us.

On October 17, 1911 President Taft visited Lewiston. What do you think about inviting President Obama to come visit us on that 100th anniversary to help commemorate our 150th founding anniversary celebration? If I see enough heads nodding yes in the crowd today, I will write the letter and impose on Congressman Minnick to assist us in that request.

We have our challenges today. We have to match providing an expected level of services to the citizens while tax revenues and shared revenues by the state are declining. The mood of the legislature is such that I expect them not to raise taxes but decrease the amount of revenues shared with local governments to help balance the state budget. This means we need to either cut services, personnel, capital projects or a combination of these to balance the city budget. I can’t foresee anyone recommending a property tax increase or going after foregone taxes in this economic climate to balance the city budget. So once the revenue projections are in, we will be working in earnest on the city budget. We, not meaning just the city council, but also department heads and union representatives will be brought into the conversation early on. This is the only way we will be able to come to a solution of matching appropriate levels of services to revenues. But this is not all doom and gloom. What we are doing is finding a solution to solving a problem. We can do this in a cooperative, professional manner than is in the best interest of the citizens of Lewiston. This council, the various city department heads, and the city employees are all capable of achieving that!

I stand here today prepared to tell you that Lewiston is on the brink of some great things to come. Not because of some government stimulus program or state funded grants or other governmental handouts. Just like Captain White and the passengers on the steamer Colonel Wright, they did not wait for direction or a grant from the government to start establishing a community and building a city. They built this community by their own labor and toil. Sure we have used government grants and funding, but our major growth and development as a city and a community is because we as citizens of Lewiston have taken on the responsibility and invested in our community. This investment has come through volunteering time and talents, backing bond issues for improvement of facilities and infrastructure, and through private investment and development in our community.

Volunteering is a great way to invest into our community. Through giving of ourselves, we enrich the community and people we serve. This can be done through your church, Valley Interlink (Ray Rausch), Idaho/Washington Volunteers (Barbara Bush) or the youth volunteer program ran by the Parks and Recreation Department at the Community Center (Brenda Goldhammer), the Idaho Food Bank, and the Salvation Army to name a few. I issue a challenge to everyone here to volunteer at least 40 hours of service this year. Our community will be a better place because of it.

Another way to invest in our community is to support the future bond issues. We currently have the opportunity to fund our own economic stimulus program worth $75 million.
$12 million in building the All Saints Catholic Church
$ 6 million in building the All Saints Catholic School
$ 7 million to build a library with a $2 million dollar or less bond issue $50 million to build a new high school complex - Note that $18 million is private investment by the All Saints catholic community. Part of the $7 million library project is private donations while the remainder is from payments made by the City of Lewiston and interest earned on investments. That leaves the High School project of $50 million as the only project mostly funded by a bond issue.

This totals $75 million dollars in construction and investment in our community. Some people say ? We can’t afford this or that…? What would that investment in our community cost? For a $150,000 value home the 25 year bond would cost about $2 per month for the library and $8.81per month for the high school. For less than $11 per month we could infuse $75 million worth of economic activity and investment into our community. $11 is less than some of us spend on fishing lures and bait a month.
The argument can be made that commercial property pays considerably more. I know that the commercial properties will pay more. It is our responsibility to support and patronize those businesses who support this community. If we spend more of our money at business’s in the valley, hopefully they can afford the additional property tax. The goal is through investment in our community that the investments attract additional business to spread the tax burden by increasing our tax base.

The argument can be made that people on fixed income can’t afford the additional $11 a month. For those truly in need of tax relief, we have the circuit breaker and homestead exemptions. Keep in mind that for two generations we have not built a school, Library, or other public use building via a bond issue. It is time for these citizens to step up, support, and invest in their grand children, grand nieces/nephews, and great grand children’s futures. Just as the generations before them supported bonds to build schools and libraries for their education and formation.

What economic impact does a public/private investment of $75 million have on our community? Analysis has shown a dollar spent in our community circulates through our community 7 times before it leaves the valley. 7 times $75 million is $525 million dollars of valley wide economic activity.

What other economic benefits do we get in this $75 million investment? What about increased value as a community for a business to locate to? Why would a business want to locate their employees and families to a community that has an 80 year old high school and a library next to a bar? Our investment into our community is an outward sign to others that we are proud of what we have, that we are self sufficient and capable of taking care of ourselves – without federal or state assistance, and that we are a proactive community that is planning and investing in the future of our community – our children. Our investment in our community is an outward sign to others of what our values and priorities are as a city.

If our city is to continue to grow and prosper, we must retain two important components. The first is our children. We need to provide the opportunity for our children to stay and live in this community after graduating high school and college. For too long we have been complacent in allowing our children to be trained and educated in this community and then watching them leave for another state because of employment opportunities. Retention of this precious resource is only accomplished by retaining and growing our existing business base which includes Clearwater Paper, ATK, Regence, and St. Joseph Medical Center, and by attracting new business to the valley that pays a living wage. We, as city leaders, need to continue to work closely with LCSC to facilitate their ability to provide a superior educational experience to their students. Business’ need to work closely with LCSC so that vocational/technical training programs are offered so that graduates are entering the workforce in a timely manner to meet the demands of local industry.

We have a great inventory of land available for commercial/industrial development. This has been done through the efforts of both private development and the Port of Lewiston. Soon, there will be ground available, complete with utilities, and access to both the airside of the airport and the road system. I predict, once it is constructed, the Southside Development at the airport will have a large impact on new business development in the valley because of those special amenities.

Lewiston has a great history. This is a great community with solid values and an excellent work ethic. This city council is not going to dwell on what has or hasn’t been done in the past. We will do as other councils have done for the past 150 years, pick up where the previous council has left off and proceed on to the best of our abilities and lay the groundwork for the city for the next 150 years. The citizens of Lewiston expect and deserve no less! Maybe we can experience a few more firsts for our community in the next 150 years.

Thank you for listening, I am truly blessed to be able to serve this wonderful city. God Bless Lewiston and God Bless America!

Thank you and Good afternoon.

2009 – A year that many of us would like to forget – a year where many business owners were put to task, decisions that were not popular, decisions that affected lives and the communities that we all serve, a year from a National standpoint that will go down in history as the most challenging in it’s history.

Although the business climate remains cautious about the future and some have made the decision to close as you can see by the empty buildings throughout our area, there are some who have experienced growth and remain profitable.

Clearwater Paper experienced a good 2009. Restructuring of the company and a strong business plan provided good profits and excellent stock performance which brought smiles to employees and this community. Employment at their paperboard and tissues mills remain steady during a challenging year. Clearwater Paper uses local business to help service their mills as they see the importance of building relationships in the communities they serve. Congratulations Clearwater Paper and we which you continued success. We're glad you're here.

ATK saw a year of great growth and success on the profit side. The Lewiston facility is experiencing expanded order files, growth in its infrastructure and added new employees to its payroll. This has also helped the economy in our region as ATK uses local companies to help expand their business. Thank you ATK and we wish you continued success. We’re glad you’re here.

Regence Blue Shield continues to have a major presence in this market with their growth and expansion in Lewiston along with St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center and Lewis-Clark State College. All of these companies and institutions use local business and local people to grow their different business units. Thank you to them and we wish them continued success in 2010. We’re glad you’re here.

The City of Lewiston was no exception. Although revenues were down, budget cuts were made and job losses occurred, the city did experience a very productive year and had some very positive outcomes. As I contacted the various department managers I asked them to provide me with their accomplishments of 2009 and the goals for 2010. Let me give you a little taste of the successes that each dept. has had. Let’s start with Public Works. (Referenced Department notes)

Thank you to Chris Davis and to all of the employees of Public Works. You have done a magnificent job.

Let’s talk a little about Parks and Rec. (Referenced Department notes)

Thanks to Lynn Moss and those who work so hard to make our city look great. Keep it up cause we’re watching.

Let’s see what Community Development is up to. (Referenced Department notes)

A special thanks to Laura Vontersch and her department for the commitment to help move this city forward.

To Mr. Dan Marsh, Administrative Services Director. Your Department has proven to be invaluable over the years and this year is no exception. You and your staff have been recognized with the “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting as presented by the Government Financial Officers Association. Your department has received this award in the past, but it does not come easy. It requires commitment and consistency from you and your team. The amount of time you and your team put into the budget goes without recognition as this is the single most important document that the city has. Dan I know that your staff has accomplished great things and you keep the city in the black. Thank you for paying all the bills and keeping us apprised of the money’s spent.

Let’s talk about the Library for a minute. 2009 was the busiest year ever-over 203,000 items check out, over 20,000 reference questions answered, and three competitive grants awarded (totaling $29,992) to provide new services, information, and equipment for their patrons. This library strives to build better collections, improve their service, offer unique programs, and work with a variety of community partners to enhance the quality of life for our citizens.
The degree of excellence within this library is determined by:

A strong collection of print and electronic materials and information

A variety of meaningful programming and service to enrich people’s lives.

An exemplary Staff which this city is very proud of.

Cooperative partnerships with agencies and businesses within the city

A quality facility and sustainable funding to provide service.

This library and Its Board of Trustees are committed to maintaining its degree of excellence from whatever means possible. Although they experience growing pains and lack of infrastructure they still provide this city with a great need.

We will continue to support this Board and its employees with a much needed facility to accommodate the needs of this community. Thank you Dawn and thank all of your employees for the excellent job that they continue to do day in and day out.

From the City Managers Desk. There are 36 bullet points on issues that were not on the Strategic plan or any type of work plan. Here are a few. (Referenced Department notes)

Our Police department is a group of very dedicated and motivated individuals who strive in providing quality and professional police service to this community. In attending the 12th annual awards ceremony at the first of the year, I witnessed a very proud group of police officer’s and administrative personal who help each other, who understand their positions and who provide a level of respect for one another that had me walking away saying “that’s how it need to be done”. These people are constantly training, finding new and better ways to perform there job and improving there infrastructure with communication within there department and other departments as well. The LPD is the oldest municipal police department in the State of Idaho. They have the history, the pride and the staff and that’s why they are a department that is highly respected in the northwest. Thank you Chief Orr and thank all of those who keep us safe.

When it comes to the Lewiston Fire Department, I would like to talk about an incident that took place in which the outcome is truly amazing. Tig Cornell, an employee of Avista, was part of a crew replacing power lines and infrastructure in the Clarkston Heights. While replacing those lines, Tig came in contact with a live feed with 7,620 volt for approximately 20 seconds. As other crew members saw what was taking place broke him free from the power line. Although Tig was initially conversant he went into cardiac arrest of which his fellow crew members contacted 911 and initiated CPR efforts.

Medic 73 which is now located at the Asotin County Fire District #1 station in the height since was dispatched. Medic 73 was returning to the station from a previous call at the time. Response time was approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds. Medic 73 personal DEFIBRILLATED his heart and on the 2nd try gained a heart beat. They proceeded to ventilate TIG and transported him to St. Joseph’s Regional Center where he was transported to Harborview Medical Center.

What was probably an 8 to 10 minute response two months ago was a 2 minute response in this instance and was instrumental in saving Tig’s Life. This save was the results of collaborative efforts of Lewiston and Asotin County elected officials working together to address deficiencies in the delivery of EMS in Asotin County. If you put the politics and the money aside, the improvement to the system is what was the difference between a tragic outcome and a positive one.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this was the right move to put an ambulance in the Clarkston Heights. Thank you to the Asotin County commissioners, The Committee from the Lewiston City Council, and all of those who played a part. I know that Tig’s wife, Daughters and Extended family are glad you made the decision that you did.

To everyone here today and to every citizen in Lewiston, It takes a lot to move a city forward. It’s not just city employees or your city council, it takes you. We have a great opportunity to come together and accomplish things in a positive way. We have life long residents who have invested millions and developed land that I thought would never be used for anything, people from outside our community who see the riches that our community can bring who have invested heavily and are looking for a return on their investment. A landmark in downtown Lewiston is coming down and it’s important that a good plan be put into place for the development of that sight. Waterfront will come into play as it should and utilize the resources around us to make this community a growing community. As we look at the whole picture, let’s not leave out those things that will drive a community to a new level. Ya, it’s going to cost, but what are the benefits in the long run to you, me, your neighbor and your community. Let’s pull our resources from every organization and every business and every citizen to move this community with excitement to levels unimaginable. This is Lewiston, Idaho and we won’t stand for second best.

Get those fingers and toes ready for "Counting" Storytime this Wednesday, March 10, & Thursday, March 11 @ 10:30am. Our stories, songs, fingerplays and craft will be fun. You can count on that!

The City of Lewiston will have trucks behind the library for children to explore Saturday, March 13, from 2-4pm. Also make & take your own truck at craft time. Cookies will be provided for our little truckers.

"Ducks" is our theme for Pajama Storytime this Tuesday, March 16th @ 6pm. Join us for songs, fingerplays, a craft and wonderful bedtime stories that will make you long for that down pillow.

Teens are invited to read and discuss "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore. Our discussion will take place Wednesday, March 17, from 4-5pm. Copies of the book are available at the library or can be ordered on VALNet.

We present stories, songs, fingerplays and a craft that will "quack" you up at Storytime this week. "Ducks" will be our theme this Wednesday, March 17, and Thursday, March 18 @ 10:30am.

The Friends of the Library will have a book sale at the Lewiston Community Center.
Pre-sale for members only (membership only costs $5 per year): Thursday, March 18, 5-8pm
Public sale times:
Friday, March 19, 9am-8pm
Saturday, March 20, 9am-3pm

The Public Works Department, Traffic Services Division, at the City of Lewiston is conducting a LED street light demonstration. Five (5) energy saving LED street lights have been installed on the east side of the converged intersections of 21st Street, G Street, and Main Street. The difference in color of the new LED street lights is dramatic. Existing lights have an amber color and the new LED street lights have a bright, white color. LED street lights are 43% more efficient than the traditional lights that currently exist and are the next frontier in the evolution of street lighting systems. Street light energy costs represent one of the City’s largest expenses as well as energy consumption.
Using a Department of Energy economic stimulus grant, the City will purchase 50 LED street lights for installation later this year. The City is already using energy saving LEDs in most of the traffic and pedestrian signals. Energy stimulus funds will purchase the remaining LEDs needed to finish these replacements. For more information about the use of LEDs at the City, please contact Traffic Services Manager, Mike McCrery, by telephone at 208-743-8406 or email mmccrery@cityoflewiston.org.

Information available on a State of Idaho Rebate program now being offered at this link State of Idaho Energy Resources Site

Your presence is requested at Centennial School on
March 2nd at 6:00p.m. in the school gymnasium to review, give input, and ask questions about the Safe Routes to School I-STOP Travel Plans for Centennial School.
A copy of the plan will be available and a Task Force member will be available to answer your questions about how the Safe Routes to School program will evaluate safety barriers at Centennial that deter children and their families from walking & wheeling to and from school.
Contact Dawn Ristau at SafeRoutes@CityofLewiston.org or at (208) 790-8808 for more information.

Your presence is requested at McSorley School on
March 11th at 7:00p.m. in the school library to review, give input, and ask questions about the Safe Routes to School I-STOP Travel Plans for McSorley School.
A copy of the plan will be available and a Task Force member will be available to answer your questions about how the Safe Routes to School program will evaluate safety barriers at McSorley that deter children and their families from walking & wheeling to and from school.
Contact Dawn Ristau at SafeRoutes@CityofLewiston.org or at (208) 790-8808 for more information.

Basketball Schedules have been updated as of 3/3/10! Click here to see the new schedule. [See Schedule...]

New Third/Thrid Standing now available! See Standings