A common rallying point for those who oppose parts or all of the current proposal to create a new McEuen Park is the desire to hold a public vote. With the election of two new council members, ones who have both stated their willingness to consider such a vote, this issue is again at the forefront. The City Council voted last year to accept the Team McEuen plan and has already authorized funding for the next step of this development. Since the council has charted this course, and in the face of considerable public disagreement, I think that now is an appropriate time to conduct a suitable vote to seek the will of the public on this very significant undertaking.

The obvious question is: How exactly shall such a vote be worded? What exactly will be voted upon? Until now, I think that the absence of a clear ballot statement has clouded this issue, and I think that the formulation of an accurate and unambiguous statement will enable such a vote to be held fairly, and will help the results of this referendum to be generally accepted, regardless of which way the matter is decided. A straightforward ballot could perhaps be worded along these lines:

Should the City Council proceed with the funding and development of McEuen Field, according to the currently accepted plan presented by Team McEuen, or should this plan be set aside and the fundamentals of this project be thoroughly re-evaluated?

The mayor and several of the council members have indicated their conviction that decisions regarding the parks and other administrative matters are their right and responsibility, and that we have elected these officials precisely for this reason: to run the city government on a daily basis. I agree with this principle, and I am personally quite glad that these good and earnest people have the intelligence and patience to immerse themselves in the myriad details of the daily operation of such a complex enterprise as running the city. However, the decisions to completely remake McEuen Field, build a major parking structure, re-route significant elements of downtown traffic, and remove the boat launch and ballfields, are too big and too far-reaching to leave in the hands of a small number of people, no matter how much regard we may have for them as individuals.

This issue has polarized Coeur d'Alene in a way that reflects poorly on us all. I think that the best plan for McEuen Field has yet to be determined, and that it will be much more widely supported when it is found. To aid this process, I urge the mayor and City Council to put the current plan to a vote of acceptance or rejection by the people of this city, and I encourage the people to continue to make their voices heard in seeking this vote.

The destiny of McEuen Field is much more than just a discussion about "a park." McEuen Field and the Third Street Boat Launch are at the very heart of Coeur d'Alene and are at the crossroads where the developed city meets the natural surroundings of Tubbs Hill and of Lake Coeur d'Alene beyond. This quiet field and functional boat launch are priceless just as they are, and they have a comfortable and familiar identity that will be forever lost the day the bulldozers arrive.

Jeff Connaway is a Coeur d'Alene business owner and resident.