COEUR d'ALENE - City leaders from as far south as Lewiston and as far north as Bonners Ferry came together to share concerns and discuss ideas to meet common challenges recently. The 2011 Idaho Legislative Session was the first item on the group's agenda.

One topic has been the threat to reduce revenue sharing, or as Association of Idaho Cities (AIC) Executive Director Ken Harward more succinctly stated, "state collected city revenue."

Due to budget shortfalls, certain members of the Idaho House of Representatives were looking at diverting as much as $30 million from Idaho cities and counties.

Coeur d'Alene would have seen its share of revenue reduced from $557,493 to $258,965 - or by more than half (based on FY 2010 figures). Thankfully, Harward said, new economic reports from Idaho's budget office seem to have put that idea to rest.

"It's been great to have Ken at our meetings to keep us updated on legislative issues," said Mayor Sandi Bloem. "It's especially important to have this information when it involves funding from the state, and he's right on top of it."

Legislative efforts to overhaul, restrict, or completely eliminate urban renewal agencies and/or their districts have also been of great concern to North Idaho mayors. Urban renewal agencies are one of the most powerful economic development tools in Idaho.

"On the side of accountability, transparency, and local citizens having a voice, mayors are elected," said Harward. "When voters chose a mayor and council, they are making a decision about public policy positions such as urban renewal."

Almost nine years ago, mayors from all over North Idaho responded to an invitation from Mayor Sandi Bloem to participate in what was to be the first of many meetings to develop common goals for the region's cities. At the end of this meeting, mayors decided to form the North Idaho Mayors Coalition (NIMC) and they elected Mayor Bloem its chair. The group meets regularly to discuss issues and to provide educational forums so they can make informed decisions.

"There are many issues that challenge us," said Bloem. "Before we can effectively act on them, we must first gain knowledge."

In the years that followed, the North Idaho Mayors Coalition would have presentations on Idaho's railways and the rails-to-trails program, the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP), Water Conservation and Xeriscaping, the Idaho Rural Partnership, affordable housing, the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the P.O.S.T Academy, and a Regional Public Planning Transportation Authority (RPTA), among many other subjects.

Bloem believes that the NIMC has really broadened the number of people from North Idaho who have involved themselves at the state level and have a presence on state committees. She says it's because they believe they now have a voice.

"These meetings are a time to come together and better understand our common opportunities and challenges," said Bloem. "The best meetings are the ones when mayors get to share some good news."

For more information about the North Idaho Mayors Coalition, please call 769-2204.