COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association will receive additional funding from the city under a new contract.

The General Services/Public Works Committee agreed Monday to a three-year deal that calls for paying the association $63,000 a year.

That’s an increase from the current contract of $53,000.

“We’ve had a great partnership since 1990 and we’re requesting to continue that partnership,” City Accountant Stephanie Padilla told council members Woody McEvers and Dan Gookin in the Library Community Room.

The association handles many daily tasks, including cleaning, clearing sidewalks, pruning trees, removing graffiti and picking up trash. It also looks after the Fourth Street parking garage and will care for the new Coeur d’Alene Rotary Centennial Park on Sherman Avenue.

Padilla said the association plays a key role in preserving the downtown atmosphere, keeps storefronts filled and helps create an area inviting to shoppers.

“It's always good for our community to stay vibrant,” Padilla said.

Emily Boyd, association director, worked with Padilla for the past few months on the contract.

She said it doesn’t cover the full scope of their duties but it certainly helps.

The city will pay the association $3,500 a month, plus $5,250 quarterly.

Padilla said the slight bump in compensation was due primarily to inflation.

The association also puts up flower baskets each year, "that we have all come to know and love and enjoy,” Padilla said.

The baskets will go up later next month.

Cleaning up graffiti has become more of a chore as it happens more often and vandals get more creative. The association purchased a special cleanser for its removal.

"We really need to start appreciating," the association's efforts," Padilla said.

The Downtown Association was established in 1990 to provide services within the Business Improvement District. The nonprofit also receives funds from the district and promotional events, such as the wine tasting this last weekend.

The next step for the contract is approval by the City Council.