I was glad to see CDA 2030 voice its side of things in a recent My Turn column. Spirited and civil public debate about important public issues is a good and necessary thing — and I’m grateful that The Press provides a forum for it.

In that spirit, some questions about CDA 2030 remain. I welcome CDA 2030’s response.

1. Is CDA 2030 private or public?

If private, shouldn’t it give up the $70,000 annual taxpayer subsidy (most of its revenue) it gets? If public, shouldn’t its meetings, financials and other internals be open to the public?

The column was silent about my challenge to CDA 2030 to open its meetings and financials to the public — as all government bodies must — since its funding is mainly taxes.

Will CDA 2030 voluntarily agree to comply with the Idaho Open Meeting Law and Public Records Act — as government bodies do – and make its meetings and financials open to the public?

Meeting minutes and financial specifics are not disclosed anywhere on CDA 2030’s website, Facebook page or twitter (which are just general information) and would show what’s actually going on.

2. Is CDA 2030 really a City planning committee?

CDA 2030’s defenders argue that it deserves taxpayer money because it’s really an arm of the City — a planning committee — doing things the City planning department would otherwise have to hire and pay people to do.

There’s a lot of evidence that it really is a City planning committee:

• 5/20/15 Board discussion: “Gridley mentioned that without CDA 2030 the city would have to hire more staff to help with the things that CDA 2030 does ... Anderson seconded this sentiment and reported that the City would have to hire at least one new person to take on the activities of CDA 2030.”

• In 2016, CDA 2030 created a spreadsheet entitled “Return on Investment for City of Coeur d’Alene” — to show how much it claims its activities save the City.

• 10/20/17 Board discussion: “Funding will be provided to CDA 2030 through the City of Coeur d’Alene Planning Department budget at $45,000 per year.”

• CDA 2030’s board has always included top City officials and Council members, including the City Planning Director.

• Of the 178 “actions” in CDA 2030’s “visioning” plan, the City is “Lead Partner” on 84, far more than anyone else.

The problem is that under Idaho law (IC § 50-210), “the mayor and council” are the ones who create such a committee. Its authority, responsibilities and duties must be specified by an ordinance adopted by the council, and its members must be appointed by the mayor with the council’s approval.

In accordance with that, the Coeur d’Alene City Code establishes all City commissions, committees and boards, and provides how their members are chosen. See City Code chaps. 2.46 through 2.100.

By contrast, CDA 2030 is a private corporation created by private individuals. Its board members and officers choose themselves. And it determines what it does.

If CDA 2030 is a de facto City planning committee, is that in violation of the law?

3. For CDA 2030 to be entitled to the 501(c)(3) income tax exemption it gets, the federal statute requires that:

• it be “operated exclusively” for charitable purposes, and

• “no substantial part” of its activities be “attempting to influence legislation” (which includes City and County ordinances, resolutions and other actions).

CDA 2030 spent much time and effort “incubating” and publicly pushing the idea of a “health corridor” urban renewal district and the City Council “legislation” creating one – which hugely benefits Parkwood Business Properties, whose top executive has long sat on CDA 2030’s board.

Is benefitting Parkwood a charitable purpose? Wasn’t CDA 2030 “attempting to influence” City “legislation”?

Doesn’t the “vision” plan show that much of what CDA 2030 does is “attempting to influence” local government actions?

4. Why is CDA 2030 charged with handling the “public input” activity in the current effort to revise the City’s comprehensive plan? Can’t the City and its consultant do that public outreach themselves — don’t they do that all the time? Considering the special interests comprising the CDA 2030 board, can it truly be objective in conveying public input?

• • •

David Lyons is a Coeur d’Alene resident.