COEUR d'ALENE - For the fifth straight year, the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce plans to lease the city's downtown parking lots to help raise money for Fourth of July fireworks.

"This is the fifth year we have done this," said CEO Steve Wilson, adding the chamber is responsible for funding the fireworks show. "That requires a significant amount of cash."

The city council will consider the request at its meeting tonight.

Wilson said the fireworks, traffic control, permits and portable toilets will cost around $50,000, and the parking lot fundraiser will cover about 10 percent of those costs.

The city has a holiday event ordinance that allows it to raise parking fees to $7 per space; the chamber increases that fee to $15. Seven dollars will go to the city and the chamber will collect the remaining $8.

The remaining fireworks funding comes from sponsors and donors. Wilson said the business community is very good about supporting the show.

"Anyone donating $500 or more gets their picture in the paper," he said, adding donors get mentioned at various chamber functions as contributors.

Wilson said the chamber is working with the Coeur d'Alene Press on a fundraiser for the Ironman Coeur d'Alene event. The Press donated its parking lot for a VIP party at the chamber building across the street.

Those attending will pay $15 for parking and $35 to attend the event. Those attending will be served food and drink in a climate-controlled building equipped with bathrooms.

Wilson said all of the money raised by that event will go toward paying for the chamber's Ironman sponsorship.

"That corner is the hot corner," Wilson said. "We are also right at the finish line. You only cross the finish line once, but all of the athletes round that corner four times during the race."