Coeur d’Alene officials and residents met Monday to discuss ways to reduce vehicle noise in downtown Coeur d’Alene as the busy summer season heats up.

The workshop in the Public Library Community Room drew around 60 people. Many brought their own ideas to solve the issue.

Joe Deacon pleaded for something that would make a difference.

“It’s horrible, we need to fix this,” he said. “I think we absolutely have to get something done.” 

For Skip Priest, the problem isn’t just about noise.    

“It’s about safety,” he said. 

He noted that to attain loud engine or vehicle noises, one must be accelerating or driving quickly, creating a hazard for foot traffic.

John Deus, who lives downtown, was the main presenter of the workshop, giving a talk around many self-researched methods of noise prevention. He spoke of several solutions that varied in cost.

Some proposed solutions increasing signage to the downtown interior, increasing the police presence downtown, using decoy cars, dynamic signs that read sound or speed of vehicles and adding speed bumps to parts of Sherman Avenue.

He also spoke of adding technology that could measure sound and ticket offenders, turning areas into temporary modified pedestrian zones that could be changed to fit the days of lighter foot traffic and banning motorcycles. 

One attendee proposed eliminating traffic by turning the downtown area into a pedestrian mall. 

Former Coeur d’Alene mayor Steve Widmyer was opposed. 

“Pedestrian malls sound good, but there have been places where they are a failure,” he said. 

He added that any solution that would eliminate street parking “would be a killer.”   

Some attendees said noise was not just a Sherman Avenue issue, and that loud vehicle noise happens in several places in the city.

“All of the individuals take their nefarious activities over to Lakeside when they are finished downtown,” said Paul Torres.

Many voiced frustrations with police and asked for more citations and stops related to noise.

“It's something that could be dealt with, but it would require an effort from the police,” said Carl Bessant.

Some realized the difficulties that arise when attempting to solve a subjective issue like loudness.

“It’s not something that is going to be easily solved,” Ann Walker said. “We will have to be innovative.”  

After the meeting, Capt. Dave Hagar said police want to help but they also have to make sure they're not ignoring other serious issues, like assaults and DUIs.

He said the department is understaffed due to officers out on training or injury and having vacant positions, making increased patrols and similar solutions difficult.  

Hagar called balancing patrol numbers and their budget a “give and take” and said they simply “don’t have the officers right now.”

Many solutions mentioned would require overcoming legal, practical and monetary hurdles.

The workshop did look at increased signage, temporary LED signs and increased patrol with optimism, although no final decisions were made.