HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-26E IDIAN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR
MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers
33 East Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 6:00 PM
Roll -Call Attendance
X David Zaremba X Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X_ Genesis Milam X Luke Cavener
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Community Invocation by Larry Woodard with Ten Mile Christian Church
4. Adoption of the Agenda Adopted
5. Consent Agenda Approved (Pg 3)
A. Approve Minutes of August 12, 2014 City Council Workshop Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of August 5, 2014 City Council Special Meeting
C. Temporary License Agreement MCZC14-067 Between the Ada County
Highway District and the City of Meridian Regarding the Storey Park -Dog
Park Development Improvements to be Constructed Within ACHD's
Drainage Easement at the Southeast Corner of the Site
D. Award of Agreement for "Public Safety Training Center - Construction" to
Bledsoe Constitution, Inc. (Bid Package 6 Architectural Woodwork) for a
Not -To -Exceed Amount of $17,127.00.
E. Resolution No. A14-993: A Resolution to Amended Resolution No. 14-993 to
Destroy Certain Semi -Permanent and Temporary Records of the Meridian
Public Works Department.
6. Items Moved From Consent Agenda None (Pg 3-4)
7. Action Items
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, August 26, 2014 Page 1 of 2
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
A. Public Hearing: VAC 14-005 Wyndstone Place (Lots 1 & 2, Block 1) by Clay,
LLC Located North of 1-84 and West of S. Wells Street Request: Vacate the
Ten (10) Foot Wide Public Utility, Drainage and Irrigation (PUDI) Easement
Along the Shared Lot Lines of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 Platted with the
Wyndstone Place Subdivision Approved (Pg 4-5)
8. Department Reports
A. Traffic Box Community Art Project Update (Pg 5-7)
B. Public Works: Utility Rates and Connection Fee Update (Pg 7-13)
9. Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 14-1621: An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 13-1572,
the Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2013
and ending September 30, 2014 Appropriating Monies that are to be
Received by the City of Meridian, Idaho in the Sum of $2,199,234 and
Allocating Expenditures Approved (Pg 13-14)
B. Ordinance No. 14-1622: An Ordinance Adopting the FY15 Budget in the
amount of $93,707,229 for the Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2014 and
ending September 30, 2015 and Authorizing the City of Meridian to Levy all
Such Appropriate Taxes and Levies as Authorized by Law upon Taxable
Property; and to Collect all Authorized Revenue Approved (Pg 14-15)
10. Future Meeting Topics None (Pg 15)
Adjourned at 6:35 p.m. (Pg 16)
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, August 26, 2014 Page 2 of 2
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Meridian City Council August 26, 2014
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday,
August 26, 2014, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, David Zaremba, Keith Bird, Joe Borton,
Charlie Rountree, Genesis Milam and Luke Cavener.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jaycee Holman, Caleb Hood, Warren Stewart, Tom Barry,
Mike de St. Germain, Mark Niemeyer Robert Simison and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll -call Attendance:
Roll call.
X David Zaremba X Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X Genesis Milam _X Lucas Cavener
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: Good evening. We will go ahead and start tonight's meeting. For the
record it is Tuesday, August 26. It's 6:00 p.m. We will start with roll call attendance,
Madam Clerk.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Item No. 2 is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you will all rise and join us in the
pledge to our flag.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Community Invocation by Larry Woodard with Ten Mile Christian
Church
De Weerd: Item No. 3 is our community invocation. Tonight we will be led in our
community invocation by our long time friend Mr. Woodard with the Ten Mile -- see,
want to say Cherry Lane Christian Church -- Ten Mile Christian Church. If you will all
join us in the community invocation or take this as an opportunity for a moment of
silence.
Woodard: Okay. It's always a pleasure.
De Weerd: Thank you for being here, Larry.
Woodard: Yeah. It's always my pleasure. I will give you a special blessing tonight.
think my prayer is only two minutes, but it's going to be longer than anything I can see
on your agenda.
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 2 of 16
De Weerd: As it should.
Woodard: Let's pray. This week, our dear Heavenly Father, our children in Meridian
return to school. The school buses are now very visible and children's safety becomes
a concern once again. I pray for the drivers of these buses, the children, and the
teachers of our young people as they will be our city in a few short years. I pray tonight
for our Mayor and City Council and all the city staff. I pray that they will reflect the
wisdom we have grown accustomed to seeing in our city over the past several decades.
May the wise decisions continue as our city experiences another flurry of new homes,
new businesses. We are proud of our city and I would ask that we continue to reflect a
deep faith in a creator God. You have blessed us with a safe city, clean air, clean
water, and 80,000 plus citizens who enjoy all that Meridian offers. I would be remiss in
not asking you, our dear Heavenly Father, for the safety of those in our community who
put their own lives at risk for our protection. I'm thinking particularly of the police and
firemen. Tonight as we listen to the news around the world and in our nation we are
concerned about the future. Our enemies and groups like al-Qaeda, Isil, Muslim
Brotherhood, all vow our demise. Please keep us safe and give us good leaders who
will work diligently for our wellbeing. I ask all of this in Jesus' name, amen.
De Weerd: Thank you for joining us tonight. And it's always nice that you bring Betty
with you.
Woodard: I have to.
De Weerd: You didn't have to add that, Larry.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: On the agenda Item 9-A the ordinance number is 14-1621 and the beginning
of the fiscal year date should be October 1st, not the 2nd. And Item 9-13 the ordinance
number is 14-1622 and with those editions, Madam Mayor, I move that we approve the
agenda.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda. All those in favor say
aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 3 of 16
De Weerd: Maybe there is something behind that date change, right?
Holman: It was a typo.
Item 5: Consent Agenda
A. Approve Minutes of August 12, 2014 City Council Workshop
Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of August 5, 2014 City Council Special
Meeting
C. Temporary License Agreement MCZC14-067 Between the Ada
County Highway District and the City of Meridian Regarding
the Storey Park -Dog Park Development Improvements to be
Constructed Within ACHD's Drainage Easement at the
Southeast Corner of the Site
D. Award of Agreement for "Public Safety Training Center -
Construction" to Bledsoe Constitution, Inc. (Bid Package 6
Architectural Woodwork) for a Not -To -Exceed Amount of
$17,127.00.
E. Resolution No. A14-993: A Resolution to Amended Resolution
No. 14-993 to Destroy Certain Semi -Permanent and Temporary
Records of the Meridian Public Works Department.
De Weerd: Okay. Item No. 5 is our Consent Agenda.
Rountree: I move to approve the Consent Agenda, authorize the Clerk to attest and the
Mayor to sign.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Madam
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 6: Items Moved From Consent Agenda
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
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De Weerd: There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 7: Action Items
A. Public Hearing: VAC 14-005 Wyndstone Place (Lots 1 & 2,
Block 1) by Clay, LLC Located North of 1-84 and West of S.
Wells Street Request: Vacate the Ten (10) Foot Wide Public
Utility, Drainage and Irrigation (PUDI) Easement Along the
Shared Lot Lines of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 Platted with the
Wyndstone Place Subdivision
De Weerd: So, Item 7-A is a public hearing on VAC 14-005. 1 will turn this over to staff.
Hood: Thank you. Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Before you is a vacation
application for a five foot utility easement -- what we commonly refer to as a PUDI,
which means public utilities drainage and irrigation. It's centered on a common lot line
between Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, of Wyndstone Place Subdivision. As you can see in the
exhibit before you the site is on the north side of 1-84 generally east -- or, excuse me,
west of Eagle Road on -- off of Wells Street. The applicant is proposing to construct a
new 8,500 square foot dental office that spans across two platted lot lines. In the L -O
zone there is a ten foot side setback, as well as, again, the aforementioned public utility
drainage easement that exists. So, this was a requirement to construct that structure
across those platted lot lines. We have already in our office approved a certificate of
zoning compliance for the site development, but the building permits cannot be issued
until that -- that vacation is taken care of. They have also submitted a property
boundary adjustment and for a record of survey and that also is pending tonight. We
have received relinquishment letters from all utilities that have an interest in this tonight
and with that, Madam Mayor, we would stand for any questions. I guess I will mention
that the applicant's representative is here this evening if you have any questions or offer
him an opportunity to explain more, but with that that is my presentation.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions for Caleb?
Bird: I have none.
Rountree: None.
De Weerd: Would the applicant like to add anything? Okay. This is a public hearing.
Is there anyone who wishes to offer testimony on this item? Okay.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Seeing no one --
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
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De Weerd: You down there.
Zaremba: Way down on the end here. Seeing no one come forward to add any
testimony, I move we close the public hearing.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those in favor
say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I move we approve VAC 14-005 with all staff comments.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve 7-A. Madam Clerk, will you call
roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 8: Department Reports
A. Traffic Box Community Art Project Update
De Weerd: Item 8-A is a report by Robert regarding our traffic box art.
Simison: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. In your packet you have
a picture that was selected to be one of the first going up on the traffic boxes in the
downtown area. You may recall I brought before you a budget amendment earlier this
year, which had some money set aside to do a traffic art box wrap. The Arts
Commission is looking at doing these on a wider scale in the next budget year. We
have been using this opportunity, as well as doing something in Generations Plaza
working with the Parks Department for the Arts Commission to really get their feet
around how this would be move forward --
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August 26, 2014
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De Weerd: Their feet around it?
Simison: Yes. Their arms around it so they can move their feet and move forward.
Thank you for that. So, what they have done -- at this point in time we have been
working with ACHD, we will have an agreement with ACHD that you will have on your
Consent Agenda next week that gives us the authority to do these wraps. At the same
time you will also have an agreement next week on your Consent Agenda for the artist
that was selected for this and later I expect -- I don't have the exact time frame when it
will happen in the next year, but I assume it will be fairly early in the next fiscal year,
before the end of the year I expect the Arts Commission to bring forward an actual plan
that will dictate where -- the priority intersections on where they would like to see focus
on these art wraps. Right now it's envisioned that they are going to probably do two or
three -- I know MDC has it in their budget to do a couple. So, we will be maybe doing
five or six of these in the next fiscal year. So, you will see a plan on where they plan on
doing this. This is the first one in downtown. I know it will be located there at the
intersection of Pine and Main Street, right there next to the Harvest Church. So, with
that I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Otherwise, you will see these
items next week on your agenda for consideration.
De Weerd: Well -- and, Council, I would just add the budget amendment you saw
earlier was allocated from my State of the City funds. Any questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Robert, can you provide a little bit of background. It sounds like that Arts
Commission selected this particular submission. How many submissions did the Arts
Commission receive?
Simison: They -- what they did because of the timing, they actually just went to the
district arts show --
Cavener: Okay.
Simison: -- and selected a winner from that --
Cavener: Okay.
Simison: -- and brought that back for the Mayor to approve and say, yes, that was good
and moving forward how they will determine them moving forward -- I think that's part of
-- you will probably get that report from them when they come forward and say here is
how we are going to do this. I think there is not a desire to do an art piece probably
every time you do one, so some of them will probably be done very simply, maybe
some of them will be able to have more of a process, but -- yeah. So, this was chosen
from all the district applicants.
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August 26, 2014
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Cavener: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: And, Mr. Cavener, the art piece or this art that's in front of you was picked
solely for this and the winner -- the artist knew it would be an art wrap, so that was part
of -- part of the selection process.
Cavener: Great.
De Weerd: Other questions?
Rountree: I have none.
De Weerd: We are excited to move forward and to get this one up and going and for
the program to start to roll out as one of the commissioners on the Meridian
Development Corporation really thinks that it's unique that we are highlighting children's
art in our downtown and do think that it will be just one more reason for parents and
families to come down and enjoy what our youth have done, so -- thank you. If there is
no more questions for Robert, we will move onto the next one.
Simison: See you on the agenda next week then.
Rountree: Thanks.
B. Public Works: Utility Rates and Connection Fee Update
De Weerd: Item 8-13 under our Public Works Department.
Barry: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I just want to update
you briefly on our utility rates, as well as our wastewater connection fee and give you
some background as to what we have been up to over the last couple of months since
we last saw you in June and also lay before you the schedule and progress that we
anticipate making over this next month. So, with that we will go ahead and just start. As
you know, money doesn't grow on trees or else I would be in the landscaping business.
But we also know the challenge that we are facing in the utilities is -- particularly the
sewer utility, is that we have to come up with 170 million dollars over ten years in order
to meet the compliance schedule that's coming down from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency. That 170 million dollars is divided up in 154 in capital
construction, 16 million over ten years in operations and maintenance. Our goal, as you
directed us in June, were to avoid debt if we could and use the pay -go philosophy that
the city has been utilizing for many, many years and to achieve the compliance
schedule, which is ten years. Our approach we presented to you has not changed. It
essentially involves utilizing a bunch of different methods to try to close this 170 million
dollar funding gap and I will close at the end of this presentation with a reminder of
some of the updates about that. But, essentially, as you see here, that strategy has not
changed. What has changed are a couple of very small things, which is the reason we
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 8 of 16
are here tonight. So, I wanted to distinguish that. As you know we were proposing a
two percent inflationary increase to both water and wastewater usage in base rates.
That's unchanged. We were also proposing a ten percent EPA compliance fee. That
has not changed, except that we have had to convert that ten percent into an actual
dollar amount, so that dollar amount is $3.75 per account or per base for the sewer
charge. That is because our utility billing software does not allow for us to calculate
percentages, particularly as they vary throughout the cycle. So, we have had to revert
that, essentially, to a base fee, which will not change, it will stay the same once
instituted if that's your desire and, of course, we are recommending given that that
ceases at the end of ten years, so that hasn't changed either. So, just a very small
change there on the rate that is, again, creating a flat fee, instead of a percentage.
What has changed and a little bit more significant here, is our sewer connection fee. As
you might recall, back in June as we were putting the pieces together we recommended
a 750 dollar increase per connection on the sewer side. We are having to modify that
slightly, which is why we felt compelled to come back to you tonight and share with you
what the -- what the revision is. Essentially, almost immediately after we met with the
City Council in June we contracted the services of JUB Engineers to help us do some
engineering analysis and some rate model analysis as well. They have got expertise in
this and, more over, the ex -public works director for the City of Meridian is actually
employed by JUB Engineers and was helpful and instrumental in helping us advance
the model that was used back in 2007 for the city to set the rate. So, moreover, when
revised -- when we worked with JUB we were able to revise and refine our estimates
and inputs and overall improve the model and update the model to insure that it was
compliant with state statute and that it met industry standards and best management
practices. Moreover, it is now more complete by incorporating wastewater collection
system capacity improvements that are required by growth, wastewater treatment plant
capacity improvements required by growth, as well as infrastructure -related
improvements in both systems required by growth as well. So, the process for this
revision involved staff from the Finance Department, the Legal Department, Public
Works engineering, operations, business operations and the like. We have also had
several consultants working with us, including HGR Engineering, JUB Engineering, and
Brown and Caldwell Engineering. Right now the analysis that -- that we have
recommended here suggests that we have to raise the rate slightly more than
anticipated by an additional 224 dollars. So, I have put down here the current rate is
2,749 dollars. We previously proposed raising it to 3,499. The revision after all of this
work was completed is to make a proposal of 3,723 dollars, a difference from the
previous proposal, as I said, 224 dollars, for a total fee increase of 974 dollars, which is
no small change worth. A couple things that you should note -- or that I should note,
rather, this would move the City of Meridian from the second lowest to the fifth lowest in
the valley of the nine major Treasure Valley sewer providers. This actually puts us right
in the middle of the pack, which is where we were in 2007. It puts us 150 dollars or so
above the city of Boise and Ada County. It puts us about a thousand dollars under the
next sewer provider in the valley. Moreover, it is about 126 dollars below the regional
average. So, certainly, as we might say, within market. Nevertheless, it is a significant
increase. So, we thought we would draw your attention to that. That's the most
significant change according to the revisions that we were able to achieve. I won't go
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August 26, 2014
Page 9 of 16
through this laundry list, because there is a lot here, but, essentially, as you know, we
have developed a communications plan, communicated the chart and critical path
strategies of that to you some -- some weeks ago, perhaps longer, and, essentially, we
are doing our very best to work with staff and the Mayor's office with regard to
communicating these proposed changes and to invite those out who might be interested
to attend the public hearings that are upcoming. We will talk about those in just a
minute. Essentially we are utilizing mail resources, newspapers, the website, the City
Council meetings and we are also visiting with affected professional associations as
well. So, we sent out just actually this last week or so -- completed our fliers that we
sent out to every household. Now we sent over 30,000 fliers to every single account
household in the City of Meridian advising of this. We will also be following up with
letters to the development community to apprise them of these results as well. We are
holding on that at the moment, because I neglected to say in the previous slide that the
model, although it's been completed and we have these recommendations for you, has
been sent off to Washington state for analysis by the FTS Group. They are a financial
modeling -- utility modeling and rate analysis firm and we are expecting a third -party
opinion about not only the model and its applicability, its utilization and its defensibility,
also the calculations as well. So, we anticipate getting that opinion from that firm on or
around September 6th. Right after we have that, depending upon what that opinion is,
we may need to adjust slightly or alternatively continue on the path that we have, which
would include sending out letters to the development community and also attending
association meetings and the like. So, lots of communication. This is just a
communication recently that we have been involved in on the utility rate side of things.
Equally important we have had lots of communication and have lots to go on the
development side with regard to communicating on connection fee updates. So, this is
where we lie with these revisions. Essentially have this 170 million dollars. As we
discussed before we would like to close the gap by acknowledging that we have already
earmarked 74 million dollars or so for capital projects, which will go towards treatment
plant improvements. We want to use undesignated ending fund balance as we talked
about, approaching 25 million dollars. We know that we -- or we expect, I should say, to
continue to grow and as our population grows so do our accounts grow, so will our
revenues associated with the accounts and, then, also so will the assessments. So, we
will have more people connecting to our system, so those dollars will increase as well.
So, that left us with the following approaches that I have already been through and I
wouldn't go through in detail again, but, essentially, going after the fee leveling, which
has not been started yet, we have devoted our time and attention to rates and fees at
this point in time. The inflationary increase, the EPA compliance fee would add another
15.2 and, then, increased connection fees as proposed would add 11.7. So, the minor
changes that we have made in the model and in the flat fee have closed the gap by
about two to two and a half million dollars. So, we still have this funding gap. Again, we
were comfortable in the department and I think others are as well -- I got the sense that
the Council was as well, that, you know, a lot can change over the ten years and so if
we have a little bit of a detail gap, as long as we manage that over the time period and
we don't over ask, if you will, then, that seems like an agreeable path forward. So,
essentially, here is what the proposed next steps are. We would like to have the public
hearing on the utility rates, which is scheduled now for September 2nd, that's next
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August 26, 2014
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Tuesday, so I thought I would just let you know about that. Our proposal is that you
keep the hearing open for a week and not close that until September 9th and the
reasons this is is to allow for the public hearing notices to take effect and comply with
city ordinance. We are compliant right now with state statute, but our city ordinance
requires us to post twice in the ValleyTimes and so this would allow us to post that
second time and, then, have that hearing on the -- the continued hearing on the 9th and,
then, we can close that. Again, up for discussion at that point in time would be the
inflationary rate increases and the EPA compliance fee. A few weeks after that we
would like to have the public hearing on the sewer connection fee. It's a different
audience. It's scheduled for September 23rd at this point in time. The schedule we
have developed is -- is achievable. So, those are the next steps. Essentially that's all
have for tonight. We thought it would be important before we begin communicating with
the development community that you had the most up to date information on the
connection fee and the analysis that's been revised with regard to what needs to
happen in order to update that connection fee, so we wanted to do that prior to
communicating it with the development community. So, with that I will stand for any
questions you might have.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Tom, could you get a hard copy of this in our mailboxes, please?
Barry: Absolutely.
Bird: I'd sure appreciate it. And I want to thank you for our short presentation. I think
it's got to be a record, isn't it?
Barry: Well, you know --
Bird: And it's very good, Tom. I appreciate it.
Barry: Thank you. Thank you very much.
De Weerd: What can you say --
Barry: Yeah.
De Weerd: -- that won't add time. Any other questions? Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Thank you. That was an excellent presentation and very informative. Just
one question. On the -- I think the amount was something like 24 million that you want
to use the undesignated fund balance for, 24.7 million, designated ending fund balance,
just to clarify, you're talking about the ending fund balance from the Enterprise Fund, not
from General Fund; is that correct?
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August 26, 2014
Page 11 of 16
Barry: Well, we could use some money from the General Fund, but that's not what we
are requesting. This is an Enterprise Fund and --
Zaremba: Thank you.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Tom, while you're talking about the NPDES permit, what's the status? Is it
moving along or has it been kind of stuck for the past couple months or what's going
on?
Barry: Excellent question. It is moving along. We have had a number of coordination
meetings with the Department of Environmental Quality who sets the compliance
schedule. Most of that work is pretty well out of the way. That needed to occur before
the DEQ and EPA could get back to together and make more progress on the permit.
Compliance schedule is an important component of that permit, making sure that the
EPA writes in the compliance schedule and references it. So, most of the work that's
occurred in the last couple months has been firming up that compliance schedule and
getting approval between DEQ and EPA. That's a ten year compliance window. It was
acceptable to EPA and, therefore, can be written into the permit. So, we are -- we have
been making progress. At this point in time the estimate is about November for the
estimated anticipated time for the final draft slash final version, which would go public
for comment.
De Weerd: And, then, what is that public comment period and when will it be finalized?
Barry: So, the public comment period lasts for 30 days once it goes to publish. After
the 30 day period -- well, during the 30 day period anyone can make comment on it.
After the 30 day period the EPA can take literally as much time as they want to respond.
In some cases they will respond individually. In most cases they will respond
individually to those who make comment. Some cases it might facilitate renegotiating
with the entity that the permit is to cover. It's hard to say at this point in time what may
or may not happen. So, the process from when they -- when they close the public
hearing -- or I mean, excuse me, close the period and start to respond to comments
could take anywhere from -- typically 30 to 45 days, as much as several months. So, at
that point in time the permit becomes executable, meaning it goes into effect. So, we
are expecting probably another three or four months conservatively for the process to
see it through.
De Weerd: Any other questions from Council?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
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August 26, 2014
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De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Tom, can you refresh my memory on where the anticipated growth numbers
are coming from?
Barry: Yeah. Councilman Cavener, the anticipated growth numbers are based on
historic trends that have been averaged since about 2007 or so. So, it does include the
recession. Essentially, we are seeing about three percent account growth and so we
have just continued that three percent account growth going forward. So, at this point in
time, even though you could argue that growth currently today is more aggressive or at
least appears more aggressive, we have not continued that modeling or that
aggressiveness model for, we have been fairly conservative, which is, again, why if we
get a couple good years of aggressive growth this gap will close, we feel comfortable
about that. If the growth starts to stagnate or come off that three percent, then, the gap
would increase and we would have to come back with some other sort of solution or
scenario that would help close that gap.
Cavener: Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further from Council?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Tom, I really like the fact that you're having this sent off for some third -party
review. Help me get comfortable with the sequence of events. It looks like that's up for
review. It's not expected to be back for a week or so.
Barry: Right.
Borton: And there -- it looked like one of the slides there is still some outreach efforts,
which are fantastic that you're going to the development community to get their
feedback.
Barry: Uh-huh.
Borton: I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the order of things if our public hearing is the
2nd and the 9th -- if we are having a public hearing and those really important steps
aren't yet completed, are we going too soon do you think?
Barry: Councilman Borton, great question. We are running this particular project as two
separate phases. So, that the first phase, which is scheduled for public hearing on
September 2nd and 9th is the one that will only involved the utility rate inflationary
increases of two percent and the EPA surcharge of $3.75 per wastewater account and
that work is done. I mean there is -- there is no modeling, there is no -- none of that is
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 13 of 16
out for review. That part of the project is already done, which is why we are advancing
it now. We have sent out the fliers, we have communicated with everybody that, you
know, the hearing is on just that subject. The hearing scheduled for the 23rd was
intentionally pushed back, because that's the second phase and that allows us time to
receive back the opinion from the financial analysis group and to also meet with BOMA,
as well as the BCA, which those meetings are scheduled for BOMA this week on the
28th and, then, BCA is scheduled for the 9th of September. The development
community -- or the letters that will go out to prominent developers within our city will go
out on or around September 8th or 9th, which is right around when we will be meeting
with BOMA as well to give them a two week notice, three week notice, if you will, for the
next phase, which is the public hearing, which would involve really the sewer connection
fee. So, I appreciate your concern. We feel that by dividing it up into two distinct
phases we have been able to run the process in a way that is -- is beneficial for sort of
both stakeholders groups and also allows us the appropriate time in order to get back
the analysis, as well as communicating in appropriate time frames to invite people and
educate them, so they will come out to the public hearing and express what might be on
their mind.
Borton: All right. Thank you.
Barry: You bet.
Rountree: I'm good.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Barry: Well, thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Have a good evening.
De Weerd: Appreciate the update prior to the public hearing what's important.
Item 9: Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 14-1621: An Ordinance Amending Ordinance
No. 13-1572, the Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year
Beginning October 1, 2013 and ending September 30, 2014
Appropriating Monies that are to be Received by the City of
Meridian, Idaho in the Sum of $2,199,234 and Allocating
Expenditures
De Weerd: Okay. Item 9-A is Ordinance 14-1612. Madam Clerk, will you, please, read
this title -- or this ordinance by title only.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 14-1621, an
ordinance of the City of Meridian, Idaho, amending Ordinance No. 13-1572, the
appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2013, and ending
September 30th, 2014. Appropriating monies that are to be received by the City of
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 14 of 16
Meridian, Idaho, in the sum of 2,199,234 dollars and allocating expenditures and
providing an effective date.
De Weerd: You have heard this Ordinance read by title. Is there anyone who would
like to hear it read in its entirety? Seeing none, Council?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 14-1621 with suspension of rules.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-A. If there is no
discussion, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Ordinance No. 14-1622: An Ordinance Adopting the FY15
Budget in the amount of $93,707,229 for the Fiscal Year
commencing October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015
and Authorizing the City of Meridian to Levy all Such
Appropriate Taxes and Levies as Authorized by Law upon
Taxable Property; and to Collect all Authorized Revenue
De Weerd: Item 9-B is Ordinance 14-1622. Madam Clerk, will you, please, read this
ordinance.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 14-1622, an
ordinance pursuant to Idaho Code 50-1002 and 50-1003, providing for a title and
findings, providing for the adoption of a budget and the appropriation of 93,707,229
dollars to defray the necessary expenses and liabilities of the City of Meridian in
accordance with the object and purposes and in a certain amount herein specified for
the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2014, and ending on September 30th, 2015. To
levy all such appropriate taxes and levies as authorized by law upon taxable property
and to collect all authorized revenue, to provide for the waiving of the second and third
readings pursuant to Idaho Code 50-902 and providing for an effective date and the
filing of a certified copy of this ordinance with the Secretary of State.
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 15 of 16
De Weerd: You have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there anyone who would like
to hear it read in its entirety?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Seeing none, I move that we approve Ordinance No. 14-1622 with
suspension of rules.
Bird: Second.
Cavener: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-B. Madam Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener,
yea. call
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 10: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Council, anything for consideration under future meeting topics?
Bird: I have nothing.
De Weerd: Okay.
Rountree: Nada.
De Weerd: Nada.
Rountree: Nada.
De Weerd: I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
Rountree: So moved.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Meridian City Council
August 26, 2014
Page 16 of 16
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:35 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
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MAYOR TAMMY DE WEERD DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
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JAYCEE HOLMAN, CITY CLERK-
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