RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum City Council will hold a public hearing tonight at 6 on proposed sewer and recreation fee increases.

The base sewer fee is proposed to increase 7 percent from $42.40 per month to $45.40 as a result of stricter water quality standards for the Spokane River.

Post Falls, which treats Rathdrum's wastewater, is among three Kootenai County agencies that discharge wastewater to the Spokane River. Rates for those agencies have also increased.

"The city's portion is not increasing," Brett Boyer, city administrator, wrote in a memo to the council. "The amount being increased is the Post Falls treatment portion as a result of the new requirements put on Post Falls and all the cities in the area.

"The increases will continue (to help fund technology upgrades in Post Falls), but be lower over the next six years."

The sewer rate for each 1,000 gallons over 5,000 gallons per month is proposed to increase from $7.06 to $7.66.

The city's sewer connection fee is proposed to increase from $7,015 to $7,912.

Most recreation fees for youth sports are proposed to increase $2. Lance Bridges, the city's parks and recreation director, said the rising cost of putting on programs is the reason for the proposed increase.

"We've had minimum wage increases, yet we've kept the rates the same," he said.

No other fees are proposed to increase.

In other business,

* the police department will be awarded an accreditation plaque from the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association for complying with 94 standard. Sixteen police departments statewide have earned accreditation;

* a resolution supporting Idaho laws regulating possession and use of marijuana will be considered; and

* a public hearing will be held on a request by Tracy Bauhs to re-zone a lot at the southwest corner of Washington and Highway 41 from residential to commercial.

Bauhs is proposing a small coffee shop with a gift/antique store with the property.

Larry and Jane Brown, who live on Washington, oppose the request, saying the lot is too small for a business, it's been an ideal home for more than 60 years and the change would devalue their property and raise their taxes.

"There is no control over what kinds of business would go in there," the Browns wrote in a letter.