Hayden Mayor Delivers State of the City Address Emphasizing Growth, Infrastructure, Investment

Mayor Alan Davis delivered the State of the City address to the Hayden Chamber of Commerce during the Chamber’s Business and Connections lunch at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn, speaking before more than 120 attendees on Feb. 27, 2026. Davis framed the speech as an update on local economic trends, infrastructure projects and community programs and opened his remarks by saying he would cover "what we’re challenged with, what we’re focused on and what we’ve accomplished together."

Davis made housing costs and sustainable growth central themes, telling the business audience that Hayden is "growing much slower than its neighbors" while warning against development that sacrifices design for density. He said the majority of building permits in 2024 came from the Hayden Canyon project and that recent construction in Hayden has been "overwhelmingly single-family dwellings" rather than apartments or high-density housing. On design standards he said, "I hope to never see another development where it’s plain to see that it was built to maximize the number of homes and little else."

On land-use management, Davis urged policy that balances containment of sprawl with preservation of local identity, stating, "We need smart policies to manage the urban sprawl while preserving Hayden’s rural character." He pushed developers to consider working-class families in project planning and to improve neighborhood connectivity with walking and biking paths as part of the city’s livability goals.

Davis also addressed the public perception of rapid construction, noting that some residents "are seeing homes being built without realizing that the paperwork may have been completed years ago." That comment was offered to explain sudden-looking building activity despite the city's slower growth rate compared with neighboring jurisdictions.

Fiscal strategy featured a property tax initiative Davis said city leaders are developing to provide property tax relief while identifying better funding for law enforcement, road projects and other city services. On that effort he cautioned the crowd, "I know it’s going to take a few years if it comes to fruition, but know that it’s being worked on." No specific mechanism, eligibility rules, fiscal estimates or ballot timing were provided in the address.

Davis named several transportation and safety projects slated for further planning: a traffic signal on West Hayden Avenue, a roundabout on Honeysuckle Avenue and targeted congestion relief along Government Way, and he said an analysis of the city’s major arterials is underway. He did not provide construction dates, contractor names or budget figures during the luncheon.

Photo credit for the event coverage goes to Hailey Hill/Press. Mayor Davis concluded by stressing that the city’s agenda remains focused on sustaining a connected community while advancing infrastructure and funding discussions; the property tax initiative and the arterials analysis stood out as active items that will shape Hayden’s near-term policy and capital priorities.