The University of Idaho has long been leasing Harbor Center from the city for $10 a year. It recently received the green light from the City Council to sublease a portion of the space to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. 

“At market rate?” asked Coeur d’Alene City Councilor Dan Gookin, smiling.

City Attorney Randy Adams said the University of Idaho has been leasing Harbor Center from the city since 2002. The master lease has since been amended a few times, most recently July 1, 2013, which extended the lease to June 30, 2028.  

The university asked the city for its consent to sublease the first floor of the south wing of Harbor Center to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The space was used by Lewis Clark State College until June 30. 

“The city has, I’ve been told, no use for the space currently,” Adams said. 

The Tribe will utilize the space to house tribal government services to make access more convenient,  a staff report said.  

“Tribal staff in the Natural Resources Department is already heavily involved in education and outreach, research, and community support in the Tribe’s aboriginal homeland, and this location will make opportunities more readily available into the future,” according to the report.  

The term of the sublease will be Aug. 1 to June 30, 2028. 

Adams said the city has had good working relationships with the tribe and the university for many years. He said the sublease will not interfere with city functions and “would, in fact, demonstrate the good will the city has toward tribe and university.” 

Per the agreement, UI needed the city’s approval for the sublease. 

Councilor Christie Wood said she was disappointed LCSC vacated the site, but noted it will still have a presence on the North Idaho College campus. 

She also asked that the city, over the next three years, assess whether it could use the Harbor Center. 

“I want UI to stay there. I’m not suggesting anything,” Wood said. 

Adams said the UI lease with the city “contemplated negotiations would occur between the city and university” for the university to purchase the building 

“Those negotiation as I understand have been going on for 23 years and I think they are still going on,” he said. 

Financial terms of the sublease were not available.