Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer's first State of the City address was more than a reflection of the past year's accomplishments.

It was a commitment to the preservation and improvement of a quality of life in the city Widmyer said is already "second to none."

The speech - given Tuesday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort to a crowd of more than 300 at the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce's first Upbeat Breakfast of the year - was also a call to action and a call for unity.

"If we truly want to achieve great things we must work as a group, everyone coming together for a common purpose," Widmyer said. "Sure, we will have debates. We will have disagreements. But at the end of the day, we will stand together as one community with a common goal - of making our home, Coeur d'Alene, a wonderful place to live."

He called for his fellow elected officials and city staff to join him in using the philosophy of Steve Anderson, the police chief in Knoxville, Tenn., to guide them in their decision-making.

A quote by Anderson, read by Widmyer, encouraged leaders to reach beyond the easy, the familiar, to listen to those whose opinions differ from our own.

"We can still disagree and maintain our opinions, but we can now do so knowing that the issue has been given consideration from all sides," Widmyer read. "Or, if we truly give fair consideration to the thoughts of all persons, even those that disagree with us, that we can have an understanding as to what constitutes a majority."

He noted some of the accomplishments realized during his first year in office:

* McEuen Park opened.

* A long-sought agreement with BNSF Railway was reached, allowing the city to purchase 20 acres of right of way along the Spokane River from Riverstone to Huetter Road.

* The Four Corners plan for the area from Independence Point to Riverstone is being developed.

* The city filled three key leadership positions with the hiring of Police Chief Lee White, Community Planning Director Hilary Anderson and City Administrator Jim Hammond.

Widmyer lauded the city's executive team, and noted the wealth of city employment experience many of them bring: Betty Ammon, library director, nine years; Mike Gridley, city attorney, 12 years; Troy Tymesen, finance director, 14 years; Ed Wagner, building services director, 17 years; Tim Martin, street superintendent, 17 years; Sid Fredrickson, wastewater superintendent, 18 years; Gordon Dobler, engineering services director, 21 years; Kenny Gabriel, fire chief, 23 years; Renata McLeod, city clerk, 24 years; Jim Markley, water superintendent, 36 years; Steve Anthony, parks and recreation director, 40 years.

"This is 262 years of experience, or an average of over 20 years per city department head," Widmyer said. "So as you can see, the city of Coeur d'Alene has outstanding leadership."

He said the city's 310 employees have an average employment standing of 11 years.

The mayor noted that the current year's budget was built without a property tax increase.

"We will continue to look for ways to be more financially efficient," Widmyer said.

He encouraged citizens to support the $6 million public safety bond that will go before voters in May.

"The bond will fund badly needed capital purchases for the police and fire departments, such as emergency vehicles with excessive mileage," Widmyer said.

He also asked citizens to support the Coeur d'Alene School District's supplemental levy. The election for the two-year levy is slated to take place March 10. Voters are being asked for $15 million per year in local tax property taxes to support the maintenance and operation of the school district.

"This levy will reduce class sizes, provide much-needed materials, and it will continue our goal of having the best K-12 education system," Widmyer said.

Building permits are on the rise again, he said, reflecting the ongoing rebound of the local economy.

There are projects that the mayor said are already underway, or are expected to soon begin: trail improvements on Tubbs Hill to make the area more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities; an effort with Post Falls and the county to develop a safer corridor for pedestrians along Seltice Way from Huetter Road to Northwest Boulevard; and support for construction of a joint-use building on the Higher Education Campus shared by North Idaho College, the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and Kootenai Health.

Before closing, the mayor challenged citizens to make a positive difference in the community, to volunteer, to help each other and to work together despite differences.

"There is an old African proverb that best sums up this message: 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' Let's go far."