Len Crosby has failed at retiring.

The commercial real estate lender with Community 1st Bank in Post Falls retired in 1999 and moved to the area.

That lasted six months because he took a job with the real estate lending arm of Sterling Bank.

After that, he tried to retire again in 2008, but accepted the position with Community 1st.

Work isn't the only place Crosby can't sit still. He's a regular visitor at Post Falls city and urban renewal meetings, keeps an ear on decisions that are made and isn't afraid to speak out if he smells something that isn't in the best interest of taxpayers.

"I try to be an informed citizen and stay aware of the issues that impact our community," he said.

Crosby, named Post Falls' Citizen of the Year two years ago by the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, is a former chairman of Post Falls' Urban Renewal Agency and currently sits on the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce's Local Issues Committee. He's also involved with several other nonprofits and boards.

Crosby's busy schedule is a reflection of his upbringing as an "Army brat."

"My father was an Army officer who served for more than 30 years," he said. "Consequently, I moved around a great deal - generally every 3 years - and had to learn to adjust to a changing environment and make friends fast."

What was your upbringing like?

I was fortunate to have spent time in several foreign countries and have attended school in several states. The military during those years functioned as a close-knit family, but was also a demanding environment. Attending civilian schools, we were always reminded that we represented both our parents and the military - and our conduct was held to a high standard. I won't say that I never got in trouble, but every discretion had fairly immediate consequences. Additionally, I was the oldest of four, so I was generally held responsible for anything my siblings did or failed to do. In many ways, those expectations brought out the best in me. I was an Eagle Scout, I was active in several sports in high school and I was a good student. It was, however, a demanding environment.

How about the later years?

During high school and college I was active in Army ROTC and, upon graduation, was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. Within six months - after several military schools - I volunteered for Vietnam. I served two tours - one with the 4th Infantry Division and one with the 101st Airborne Division. I ended my second tour as a captain, and after a short hospitalization, elected to leave active duty and accept a fellowship to attend graduate school.

Following graduate school, I taught history and English at the high school level for a year, but left teaching to work for a nonprofit real estate development company building apartments for senior citizens in Rockford, Ill. That job led to doing similar jobs developing and financing apartments in Chicago and Charleston, where I served as the governor's advisor on Housing and Community Development, the head of the state housing finance agency and the state's disaster relief coordinator. During my tenure in that position, my agency coordinated the housing relief and construction following the disastrous Buffalo Creek flood.

I was recruited to become senior vice president and director of acquisitions for a real estate development firm in Los Angeles, where I worked for nine years developing apartments. In 1986 real estate had a major meltdown, and I was hired by a major bank to handle what - at the time - was the largest savings-and-loan failure in the country. We eventually resolved all of the organization's real estate problems and sold its assets. Successive jobs at Westinghouse and Amresco Management, a public company, also involved similar real estate restructuring assignments in the U.S., Mexico and Asia.

How are you involved in the community?

Idaho Bond Bank Authority, Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County, Dirne Community Health Center, Post Falls Community Volunteers, Kootenai Electric Trust, Kootenai Bridge Academy, American Legion Post 143, Disabled American Veterans and Military Officers Association of America.

Describe your jobs at Community 1st and as a nonprofit and business consultant.

Typically I work directly with customers who want to finance or refinance commercial real estate. I have been very fortunate to have been involved in arranging, with a Boise bank, the loan for the new Ground Force facility, in assisting the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce with their building and being involved in many other meaningful real estate loans which helped our community grow. Apart from the bank, I also do some consulting with businesses and nonprofit organizations, including churches, which have been impacted by the economy and are having difficulty dealing with more debt than they can handle. Most of that work involves assisting the organization, assess the issues they need to address to improve their revenue stream and helping them work with their lenders to modify their debt.

What words of wisdom do you have for nonprofits and businesses to survive in this tough economy?

Cash flow management continues to be the most important factor in managing through this economy. Reduce costs as much as possible, refinance debt if you can. If you are overburdened, sit down and work with your lender to try to get a loan modification or reduce your interest rate to current market rates, improve customer service and take advantage of low-cost digital marketing opportunities and networking to expand the reach of your message or service. Communication is a key factor. Talk to your lender early and often. No surprises. Be frank and candid. Ask for help. Work with your suppliers and try to stretch out your payables. Work with customers and make them aware of the need for prompt payment. For nonprofits, we live in an amazing community with a huge heart so make sure folks know what you do, how you do it, the impact you are making on the lives of community members and the assistance you need to keep doing that. Speak with the United Way. They have lots of resources for networking and for securing volunteer assistance. Keep the faith.

Why do you like your jobs?

I love the opportunity to work closely with customers who are building a business or making a serious investment. Often these are true entrepreneurs who are building their businesses and investing in job creation and growing our community. It is gratifying to have an opportunity to be part of that process and to work closely with them. I always learn something and value their commitment and their experience.

In what ways can your job/experience be of benefit to the community and why?

I have been involved in real estate development and finance since 1970, so I have a bit of experience to go with my gray hair. Over those years, I have been through difficult markets and understand the stresses that can negatively impact an otherwise sound investment. I have also done a great deal of work with nonprofit and community-based organizations over the years and served on many boards and commissions. Those experiences and the lessons learned have helped me appreciate the value of community and the amazing work that can be accomplished by a small group of dedicated folks who are willing to bring their talents to the table to accomplish a mission.

What is it about urban renewal and city issues that interest you? Why do you attend meetings that most people don't have time to?

The city is dealing with budget issues and working through the difficult question of maintaining the current level of service at a time when revenues are declining and our national and local economy is still experience significant stress. These are issues and decisions that impact the quality of life for all of our citizens. Urban renewal and the tax revenue which is being diverted to that agency is a significant part of the issue. As an economic development tool, urban renewal offers some significant opportunities, but we have URA districts which have not provided that development and continue to be a drain on tax dollars. We should consider shortening the lives of these districts and insist that specific goals be achieved before tax dollars are used to reimburse developers for infrastructure that does not create jobs and growth.

In your opinion, what needs to change, if anything, with urban renewal and why?

Limit district lives to 10 years with one five-year extension upon approval by the City Council. Require specific objectives and timelines for all new URA plans, and any extension or modification to a plan. Require the URA to provide the same information to the public and the other taxing entities for plan extensions and modifications that are required for the creation of a new district. Place specific development and job creation objectives on each new district that would tie into the reimbursement of the proponent.

What do most people not know about urban renewal that they should?

Two key things. I have heard so many people say that urban renewal is difficult to understand and to explain. That is just not true. This is not calculus or rocket science. The fundamental concepts are pretty easy to understand and to follow, so I would encourage more citizens to look at this issue and improve their understanding and their demand for greater transparency. The second is that urban renewal impacts each of the taxing entities that derive taxes from the properties located within a renewal district. The URA takes the tax increment created by new growth, or increases in property values over an extended period of time. That impacts all of the taxing entities which serve the properties in each URA district, not only the city that created the district, but also the county, NIC, the highway district, the fire district, solid waste, etc. The loss of those incremental tax dollars over time can result in those taxing entities having to increase their levy rate to maintain their services. Because of this simple fact, the creation or extension of a URA district in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls or even Spirit Lake, does have an impact on the tax rates paid by property owners throughout the County. The math is simple, and the impact is not only on homeowners but on those who own or lease commercial properties for their businesses.

In your opinion, what are the biggest issues Post Falls faces and why?

Post Falls is a wonderful place to live and is a business friendly community. It has aggressively and successfully competed against several communities just across the border for new jobs and economic development. I believe that one large issue facing our community is the amount of properly zoned commercial property which currently has access to city services but remains vacant. As the economy improves, the city needs to provide incentives for in-fill development on these parcels rather than further annexation. In-fill development limits the need for expanded city services and limits commute times and the need for new infrastructure. Another issue is the pending EPA requirements for the discharge of treated wastewater. Communities in North Idaho are being held to standards set by the State of Washington. These standards, as initially proposed, were more stringent and restrictive than those that are required of our neighboring communities in eastern Washington. The impact of this, unless it is resolved, will be to require extensive and expensive improvements to our treatment facilities, which will impact our sewer rates and limit the growth of our community. That is a double whammy - more taxes, a greater burden on our businesses and a more limited capacity to service new job growth.

How do you think Post Falls is doing as a community - good, bad or otherwise - and why?

I think that the community is doing well. It continues to deliver a consistent level of services. Our community has amazing police, fire, medical and emergency service systems. Post Falls continues to be a safe and secure place to live and raise a family. We have a great parks system and a public works department that continues to do more with less. The community also values and protects its abundant natural resources which enhance the quality of life.