COEUR d'ALENE - Front Avenue property owners will be required to repay the city of Coeur d'Alene for improvements made to the area during the McEuen project.

On Tuesday night, the Coeur d'Alene City Council narrowly approved a final assessment on a Local Improvement District created by the city in 2013 to pay for $845,100 of the $2.2 million Front Avenue reconstruction project. The city originally funded the LID portion of the project, and the additional 67 percent of the funds required for its completion.

Under the LID assessment, property owners will pay $300 per front-foot toward the cost of street and streetscape improvements including paving, sidewalks, landscaping and lighting. Mayor Steve Widmyer recused himself from discussion on the matter because he owns property in the LID, and Councilor Kiki Miller declined to vote on or discuss the matter because she also owns property.

Eight residents of the Parkside Condominiums officially protested the assessment, either via a letter to the city or in person during the proceedings. One resident, Martin Krupitsky, wrote that he owns a northeast-facing condo that doesn't have a view of the park and did not benefit from the improvements.

"...and the convenience and safety of the owners entering or leaving their Parkside underground garages has been compromised. Actual cash value increase to the property from the street changes, if any, is yet to be determined," Krupitsky wrote. "I respectfully request that my unit described herein be exempted from this proposed assessment as it decreases rather than increases the value received."

After the protests had been heard, Councilor Dan Gookin made a motion to deny the assessment, which would have meant that the city would be on the hook for the $845,100.

"It seems to me that this is already paid for," Gookin said. "And I'm uncomfortable with charging my residents interest on money we already have."

However, Council President Woody McEvers disagreed with Gookin's thoughts on the assessment, arguing that only 8 of 53 condo owners voiced their opposition. He added that downtown Coeur d'Alene is what it is today because of two past LID initiatives.

"All of those people paid their share, and they paid more," McEvers said. "I hear what you're saying, but you're always talking about the budget and how you don't want off the budget - well you're making a big dent in it. This is the way we do things."

Gookin's motion was supported by Councilor Ron Edinger, but ultimately failed by a 3-2 margin.

A motion to deny all of the official objections - if any were approved, those property owners would be exempt from the assessment - was passed by a 3-2 margin, with Gookin and Edinger voting against. A final vote on accepting the assessment passed along the same lines.

City spokesman Keith Erickson told The Press that approximately 70 percent of the property owners are expected to pay within the 30-day period in order to avoid the 4 percent interest associated with making annual payments for 10 years.