POST FALLS - Post Falls city officials are reflecting on whether the city's residency rules need to be tightened or left alone for City Council appointments to volunteer advisory boards.

Council member Joe Malloy recently suggested that the council consider adding teeth to its commission appointment ordinances to ensure that appointees have ties to Post Falls.

"So, in theory, unless there is a state statute that prevents it, we could appoint somebody from Brussels, which would not be in the best interest of Post Falls," Malloy said. "What I would like to see is some type of limitation as to who can be on the commission, rather than nothing at all."

Malloy said he is concerned that the boards could become stacked with people from other areas or with specific agendas.

The council, after tabling the draft ordinances on commission appointments two weeks ago, will resume the discussion tonight at 6.

Jerry Mason, Post Falls' contract city attorney, said residency rules on advisory board appointments vary from city to city and ordinance to ordinance.

"The state supplies some rules (for Planning and Zoning and Urban Renewal), while others (Parks and Recreation) depend solely on local ordinance," Mason said.

In Post Falls, the residency rules are as follows:

* Planning and Zoning - By state code, members must reside in Kootenai County for at least two years prior to being appointed, and a city law requires one member to live in the area of city impact and the other six be city residents.

* Parks and Recreation - City law states all members must live within the Post Falls School District, with at least four members living in the city (there are no state law requirements).

* Building Code Board of Appeals - No state or local requirements.

* Urban Renewal Commission - State code says the mayor should recommend members that are to be confirmed by the city council.

Ron Jacobson, who took over as mayor for Clay Larkin two weeks ago, said he understands that residents tied to Post Falls should be the ones who serve Post Falls, but he's in favor of leaving the rules as they are because they can change with every council anyway and council members can always decline to accept appointment recommendations.

Another topic being bantered is whether to allow volunteers to continue to serve if they move outside city limits during their term. Currently, if a residence requirement is violated, the member must resign immediately.

"I believe that if they are in the middle of their term and move out of district that they should be able to finish out their term," said Betty Ann Henderson, council member.

Kerri Thoreson, council member, said she believes the boards should consist only of Post Falls residents.

"At this juncture, and with our population (about 30,000), I see no reason to appoint people who are not citizens of Post Falls to serve on commissions that make recommendations to the city council," she said. "In the case of the policy of eligibility to serve on city commissions, this a good time for re-evaluation."

Jacobson will recommend to the council tonight to re-appoint Jerry Baltzell and Len Crosby, and appoint Paula Rehrmann, to the Urban Renewal Commission. Rehrmann currently serves on Planning and Zoning.

Jacobson said he met with city council members and city administrator Shelly Enderud on different occasions to discuss the recommendations.

The Urban Renewal Commission will, in the near future, appoint someone to fill the board position formerly held by Bobbi Rollins. Rollins, who had cancer, died last month at 70.

The city is accepting applications for Planning and Zoning and Parks and Recreation members through Jan. 31.

In other business, the council will:

* Hold a public hearing on expanding the East Post Falls Urban Renewal District so the construction zone for the Greensferry Road overpass project is in the district (the project is currently confined by the western most rights-of-way of Greensferry)

* Hold a workshop at 5 p.m. on building fees.