RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum City Council will hold a public hearing tonight on impact fee proposals for new growth.

A citizen advisory committee which reviewed the fees is recommending that all the fees decrease.

"With a negative economic backdrop continuing through 2011 and the foreseeable future, the group concluded that it would not be advisable to recommend an increase in impact fees," a report states. "The economic downturn in the area affected the housing markets and building sectors negatively - to the point growth in the city and the area was down sharply."

Impact fees for roads is proposed to decrease from $1,872 to $1,428 for residential buildings and from $28.94 to $27.26 per average daily trip for commercial and industrial buildings.

Fees for police are proposed to drop from $159 to $155 for residential and $36.46 to $35.47 per 1,000 square feet for commercial/industrial.

Parks fees are proposed to decrease from $1,709 to $1,385.

Rathdrum approved a program in December 2005 that allows for the collection of development impact fees. State law requires an update of such programs every five years along with a review of how the funds were spent.

The six-member citizen committee, including four appointees from the business or development community, met five times to discuss the fees.

"The group did look at whether or not to (eliminate) any of them and it was recommended to continue with all three based on continued desire to maintain service levels and have growth participate in funding items due to that growth in each of the areas," the report states.

In other business, the council will:

• hear a presentation on e-cigarettes; and

• consider Rick and Corrinne Van Zandt's request for a conditional-use permit at the southwest corner of Highway 41 and Fifth Street to operate an accounting firm in a residential zone.

Several area cities, including Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, have recently approved laws that bans the sale of e-cigarettes to minors and prohibits youth from possessing them.

Electronic cigarettes are devices that convert liquid nicotine into a gas that is inhaled by the consumer. They come in different flavors, including chocolate, mint and strawberry.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 8047 W. Main St.