POST FALLS - Post Falls continues to play ball with site exploration for a regional sports complex.

The City Council will discuss an undisclosed site option tonight during an executive session that's closer to the city core than the city's land application property at the southeast corner of Idaho and Hayden on the Rathdrum Prairie.

Two weeks ago, the council unanimously tabled a contract with Gavin Associates of Liberty Lake for a site analysis and feasibility study of 80 acres the city owns and plans to apply treated wastewater to on the prairie.

"The executive session is related to the sports complex," said Eric Keck, city administrator. "Having the complex closer to the core is a good idea, but the issue becomes land prices."

Some council members believed further site exploration closer to the city's core to support local business and have it more accessible was needed before tapping the consultant for $29,946.

The second planning phase, contingent upon the city giving a notice to proceed, would be for a master plan for $59,601.

Keck said the advantage the prairie site offers is that the city owns the property and the complex would likely become reality sooner than if it needs to raise more funding through impact fees or with a public vote to pay for the land first.

Both parts of the contract would be paid for with impact fees. The city has about $1.6 million available in its parks impact fee account. However, some of those funds are already pegged for smaller parks projects and, if most of the money goes toward the sports complex, some other projects may be delayed.

"In this economic climate, we need to be sensitive to how impact fee dollars are spent," Keck said of the funding generated from new growth. "We have not seen development occur at a pace that it has in the past."

While the council may discuss the site exploration after the executive session, no action is expected to be taken until Nov. 15.

Post Falls has been in the hunt for a sports complex for several years since Quad Park shut down. City officials believe a "tournament quality" complex could be a money maker.

But Keck said the site for such a project needs to be carefully explored due to noise and lighting infringing upon neighbors.

The complex would likely consist of softball, baseball, soccer, football and other activities, but details such as the number of fields and cost would arise in a site plan.

Keck said the property that will be discussed in executive session is not the Post Falls Landing and Idaho Veneer sites.

In other business, the council will hold its second public hearing on impact fees, most of which are proposed to decline.

No public comments were received during the first hearing in October.

The meeting starts at 6 at 408 N. Spokane St.