COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho state Sen. Mary Souza hopes ideas to improve urban renewal laws in Idaho are flowing freely this afternoon.

That's when she is scheduled to meet with the board of directors for ignite cda, Coeur d'Alene's urban renewal agency.

"I'm not trying to make anything confrontational," Souza said Tuesday. "I'm there to gather information."

Souza, who is on the Idaho Legislature's interim committee on improving urban renewal laws, wants to make legislative changes to strengthen transparency and accountability.

She also wants urban renewal agencies establishing specific plans with measurable goals.

"I just think it's time for solutions - time for improvements of the law, and that's what this committee is all about," Souza said. "I'm serious about making some positive and constructive changes."

State Rep. Kathy Sims is also on the interim committee.

Souza said it's important to protect taxpayer money and have plenty of oversight of what ignite cda, a public agency, is doing.

The board meeting starts at 4 p.m. in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library's community room.

Ignite cda executive director Tony Berns invited both legislators to come meet with his board. Ignite cda is seeking to share information about how it operates and seeks to improve Coeur d'Alene.

"We thought it would be a good idea for both of them to be able to visit with the board prior to their town hall meeting on Thursday evening," Berns said Tuesday.

"We might be able to come up with some suggestions that we think could add value to her interim committee work."

Sims can't meet with the ignite cda board today as she said she has a previously-scheduled meeting in Spokane Valley on state business, which overlaps with the ignite cda board meeting.

"I'm sure Mary will keep me informed," Sims said.

They both have a meeting Monday in Boise with others from the legislative committee, Sims said.

The town hall meeting on Thursday starts at 6:30 p.m. in the community room of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

"It's an open format for people to tell us what they think about urban renewal," Souza said. "We want feedback from the public."

She said the town hall meeting will be video recorded, but it won't be televised live on Channel 19. She said someone will also be taking notes.

Written comments are also welcome. Those can be submitted to Souza at: msouza@senate.idaho.gov.