HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-28E IDIAN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR
i MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers
33 East Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 6:00 PM
1. Roll -Call Attendance
X David Zaremba Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
Genesis Milam X Luke Cavener
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Community Invocation by
4. Adoption of the Agenda Adopted
5. Executive Session Per Idaho State Code 67-2345 (1)(d)ft (d) To Consider
Records that are Exempt from Disclosure as Provided in Chapter 3, Title 9, Idaho
Code; AND (f) To Consider and Advise Its Legal Representatives in Pending
Litigation
Into Executive Session at 6:02 p.m.
Out of Executive Session at 6:35 p.m. (Pg. 2-3)
6. Consent Agenda Approved (Pg. 3-4)
A. Approve Minutes of October 14, 2014 City Council Workshop Meeting
B. Approval of Change Order 1 to Task Order 10480 for "Water Division
Facilities Assessment" to JUB Engineers in the Not -To -Exceed amount of
$15,000.00
C. Approval of Award of Bid and Agreement to ALTA CONSTRUCTION, INC for
the "Waterline Replacement — Lynhurst PI to W Penwood Dr to End" project
for a Not -To -Exceed amount of $61,798.00
D. Approval of Award of RFP and Agreement to Greenplay, LLC for "PARKS
AND RECREATION MASTER PLANNING SERVICES" project for the Not -To -
Exceed amount of $134,990.00
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Page 1 of 3
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.
E. Development Agreement for Approval: AZ 14-007 Sugarman Subdivision
by George Sugarman Located 1450 W. Ustick Road Request: Annexation
and Zoning of 5.04 Acres of Land with a C -C Zoning District
F. Development Agreement for Approval: MDA 14-008 Chinden and Linder
Crossing Subdivision by LEI Engineers Located Northwest Corner of
Chinden Boulevard and N. Linder Road Request: Terminate the Three
(3)Development Agreements Governing the Site AND Enter into a new DA
for the Purpose of Attaching a new Concept Plan and new Provisions
Relevant to the Proposed Chinden and Linder Crossing Subdivision
G. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Approval: AP 14-002 Polaris Pre -
School at Fairview Lakes by Fairview Lakes, LLC Located 950 E. Fairview
Avenue Request: City Council Review of the Planning and Zoning
Commission's Decision on CUP 14-010 (Condition #1.4d) Pertaining to the
Parking Lot Design
7. Community Items/Presentations
A. Continued from October 21, 2014: Annual Golf Course Update Motion
approved to deny request for rent relief for 2013-2014 (Pg. 4-10)
8. Items Moved From Consent Agenda None (Pg. 10)
9. Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 14-1028: Resolution Appointing Brad
Pfannmuller to the Impact Advisory Committee Approved (Pg. 10-12)
B. Fire Department: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Joint Powers
Agreement Update (Pg. 12-20)
C. Community Development Department: Update on Economic Development
Plan Implementation Efforts (Pg. 20-29)
D. Amended onto the Agenda: Water Main Easement for Volterra Heights
Subdivision No. 1 and Sewer and Water Main Easement for Volterra Heights
Subdivision No. 1 Approved (Pg. 29-31)
10. Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 14-1627: An Ordinance (AZ 14-007 Sugarman Subdivision)
For Annexation And Rezone Of A Parcel Of Land Located In The Southwest
1/4 Of Section 36, Township 4 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian;
Establishing And Determining The Land Use Zoning Classification Of Said
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Page 2 of 3
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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.
Lands From RUT To C -C (Community Business) District In The Meridian
City Code; And Providing An Effective Date Approved (Pg. 31-33)
11. Future Meeting Topics None
Adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, October 28, 2014 Page 3 of 3
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 Workshop October 28, 2014
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:10 p.m., Tuesday,
October 28, 2014, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Keith Bird, Charlie Rountree, David
Zaremba Joe Borton, Genesis Milam and Luke Cavener.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jaycee Holman, Bruce Chatterton, Kyle Radek, Sherwood,
Michael de St. Germain, Mark Niemeyer, 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: I'd like to welcome you all to our City Council meeting. For the record it is
Tuesday, October 28th. It's 6:00 p.m. I will just for the record -- we have an Executive
Session at the beginning of our agenda. These are not open to the public, but we
anticipate it will last 30 minutes. So, apologize for that. I will start tonight's meeting with
roll call attendance, Madam Clerk.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Item No. 2 is our 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
De Weerd: We do not have anyone to lead us in the community invocation.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: So, we will move to Item No. 4, adoption of the agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: A couple additions to the agenda. Item 9-A, the resolution number is 14-
1028. Under nine we are going to be adding D under Community Development, and
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 2 of 33
that would be sewer and water easements for the Volterra Heights Subdivision No. 1.
And on Item 10, the ordinance number is 14-1627. With those additions, Madam
Mayor, I move that we approve the agenda.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as stated. All those in
favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 5: Executive Session Per Idaho State Code 67-2345 (1)(d)(f): (d) To
Consider Records that are Exempt from Disclosure as Provided in
Chapter 3, Title 9, Idaho Code; AND (f) To Consider and Advise Its
Legal Representatives in Pending Litigation
De Weerd: Item 5 -- or four. Sorry. I'm trying to rush this. Oh, it is Item 5. Gee. How
about that. Item 5 is the Executive Session.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we go into Executive Session as per Idaho State Code 67-2345(1)(d) and
(1)(f)•
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adjourn into Executive Session. 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.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: (6:02 p.m. to 6:35 p.m.)
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we come out of Executive Session and let it be shown that no decisions
were made.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 3 of 33
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to come out of Executive Session. All those
in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 6: Consent Agenda
A. Approve Minutes of October 14, 2014 City Council Workshop
Meeting
B. Approval of Change Order 1 to Task Order 10480 for "Water
Division Facilities Assessment" to JUB Engineers in the Not -
To -Exceed amount of $15,000.00
C. Approval of Award of Bid and Agreement to ALTA
CONSTRUCTION, INC for the "Waterline Replacement —
Lynhurst PI to W Penwood Dr to End" project for a Not -To -
Exceed amount of $61,798.00
D. Approval of Award of RFP and Agreement to Greenplay, LLC
for "PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLANNING
SERVICES" project for the Not -To -Exceed amount of
$134,990.00
E. Development Agreement for Approval: AZ 14-007 Sugarman
Subdivision by George Sugarman Located 1450 W. Ustick
Road Request: Annexation and Zoning of 5.04 Acres of Land
with a C -C Zoning District
F. Development Agreement for Approval: MDA 14-008 Chinden
and Linder Crossing Subdivision by LEI Engineers Located
Northwest Corner of Chinden Boulevard and N. Linder Road
Request: Terminate the Three (3)Development Agreements
Governing the Site AND Enter into a new DA for the Purpose of
Attaching a new Concept Plan and new Provisions Relevant to
the Proposed Chinden and Linder Crossing Subdivision
G. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Approval: AP 14-002
Polaris Pre -School at Fairview Lakes by Fairview Lakes, LLC
Located 950 E. Fairview Avenue Request: City Council Review
of the Planning and Zoning Commission's Decision on CUP
14-010 (Condition 1.4d) Pertaining to the Parking Lot Design
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 4 of 33
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree is not here for that vote for the record. Item 6 is our Consent
Agenda.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda as published and for the Mayor to
sign and the Clerk to attest.
Cavener: Second.
Milam: 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: ALL AYES.
Item 7: Community Items/Presentations
A. Continued from October 21, 2014: Annual Golf Course Update
De Weerd: Item 7 is continued from October 21st. Who do I turn this over to? Mr.
Nary?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I think the Council left it with a couple
things and one was they had directed a discussion -- or direction from legal in regards
to the lease and all I can tell you in reviewing the lease, as we discussed last week,
there are provisions in the lease that equipment is not -- equipment is the responsibility
of the tenant and the lessee. So, that was one question that was brought up. I think Mr.
Oaas had some responses to some of the conversation last week, but I think the
general gist of the conversation that we left it last week was does the lease give us
some guidance as to what are capital improvements and didn't specifically define those
in the lease. They are generally defined as, essentially, improvements to the physical
property of the location of the tenant and, again, in our lease specifically equipment and
appliances and such were excluded from consideration, they are the responsibility of
the tenant. But there is the flexibility the Council can consider that depending on the
value and the amount and I think that's sort of where we left it last week is I think an
opportunity to be heard back from the tenant about the request.
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October 28, 2014
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De Weerd: So, I'm assuming we wanted to hear back from the tenant.
Nary: Yes.
De Weerd: And I apologize coming in in the middle of this discussion, but --
Zaremba: We missed you last week.
Milam: Yeah, we did.
De Weerd: I know. I keep missing the opportunity to break a tie. If you will, please,
state for the record your name, please, and your address.
Oaas: My name is Erik Oaas. My address is 314 South 6th in Boise and, Madam
Mayor, City Council, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you again tonight and
look forward to coming to a positive resolution with regard to the issue of the waiver of
the, lease payment and what -- what entails capital -- a capital improvement and what
doesn't. I think just very briefly, because I know your time is -- is at a premium, but very
briefly, I think the one item that I think is probably the most important -- at least in my --
in my estimation is most important to both you as the landlord and owners of the real
property of the Lakeview Golf Course, and us as the lessor, is how -- how are we doing
with your asset. How are we -- how are we operating the golf course. Are we operating
-- excuse me -- are we operating the golf course in a way and a manner that you feel is
appropriate and is supportive for your long-term goals for this -- for this golf course and
this asset of the community. My -- my personal feeling -- and I think that I speak on
behalf of our whole team -- is that we are doing an exceptional job. The golf course, by
all estimates -- by all estimation and any reasonable person looking at the golf course
and the facilities would be able to -- to attest to the fact that the golf course is in better
condition today than it has been ever and including the facilities of the golf course, you
know, as well as the golf course itself. If we -- if we don't do the golf course right we
don't do anything right. But from the perspective of the course itself, we have had
comments over and over again about how incredibly beautiful it is, how well the course
plays, how incredibly amazing the greens are and that's really the foundation and why
do I say that -- why do I say that -- that I believe that -- that this is true? Well, let's see,
this -- I will just give you a couple of examples. This year we had the Meridian High
School class reunion event at the golf course and it was a huge success. It used to be
held at another golf course here in the valley. They held it at -- at Lakeview this year
and they were just extremely pleased with what happened.
De Weerd: Mr. Oaas, I -- you know, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I -- from what
understand this is really about your request. I don't think anyone takes issue with the
statement that the golf course is in great condition. It's more on the request that we
have in front of us and that those aren't capital items and they have little to do with the
capital plan that you submitted when we went into a lease agreement. So, I think what
this Council is asking is in your opinion why you think that these qualify as expenditures
that warrant waiving the 6,000 dollars.
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October 28, 2014
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Oaas: Sure.
De Weerd: So, if I can focus you on that.
Oaas: Sure. Absolutely.
De Weerd: But I will -- I will say for the record I agree with you on the condition of the
course.
Oaas: Thank you.
De Weerd: And I would compliment your staff, because it does look very good.
Oaas: Yeah. Thank you, Madam Mayor. With regard to the capital items that we have
proposed for this year, I understand the Council's concern from last -- last week and
understand the Council's questions. I think from our perspective there really are two
issues. One is the fact that we -- we had discussed with the Council -- when we put our
seven year plan together we had discussed with the Council the -- the additional golf
carts would be -- would be part of the seven year plan and from our perspective if they
were replacements only, then, I would certainly agree that -- that they should not be part
of a new capital expenditure. But in this case if -- if, in fact, we can -- we demonstrate
that we have expended the funds necessary for the five golf carts that I -- that we have
been talking about, we would request that that would be considered. And, then,
secondly, we would request that because the -- the items on the seven year plan are
substantial in nature and -- for example, the -- just the rebuild of the number nine green,
the estimate is anywhere from 15 to 25 thousand and from our perspective these are
the kinds of things that we want to do and we will continue to do. What we would
request that the Council consider carrying over from one year to the next when there
are major expenditures, such as -- as the expected expenditure on number nine. Those
would be the only two points that I would like the Council to consider.
De Weerd: Okay.
Oaas: And I'm open for questions.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Erik, I -- checking around and everything, I couldn't find anybody that could tell me
whether it's replacement or new -- a golf cart was capital improvement. But, anyway,
how many did you -- how many new ones did you add to your fleet this year? This year.
Oaas: Councilman Bird, we are -- we have not added any.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
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Bird: Okay. So, what we are talking about is from September -- or October 1st, 2013,
to September 30th, 2014. Right?
Oaas: That's correct.
Bird: Okay. So, we have -- we have not purchased any of the golf carts.
Oaas: That's correct.
Bird: While you believe it is capital, I don't, but that's neither -- we don't have to argue
about it this year, because you didn't purchase any. Right?
Oaas: That's correct.
Bird: Okay. Everybody I have talked to the course is as good as it has ever been and
appreciate that and we as landowners expect the course and the running of it to be
right. We -- we shouldn't tell -- in my opinion we don't need to be telling you how to run
your golf course. But we do want us to see our assets maintained and kept up. But this
is on a year-to-year deal, so I think -- I don't see any capital improvements from October
1st, 2013, to September 30th that I would call a capital improvement, so while I know
that I voted last week, I have got to -- this week I have got to vote that we receive the
6,000 in rent for this year.
Oaas: Thank you, Councilman Bird.
De Weerd: Any other questions for Mr. Oaas?
Oaas: Madam Mayor, could I just respond just very briefly? And, Councilman Bird,
you're -- you're correct, the only -- I guess the only question that I would have is that if
we had any knowledge that -- that the capital items that we submitted this year would
not be considered capital, we would have shifted our dollars maybe in a different
direction and -- you know, and acquired the golf carts prior to October 1st of this year,
so --
De Weerd: But, Erik, I mean the conversation's always been that it was pre -approved
and so those items were never discussed or you would have heard from the golf
committee that those items aren't capital. The only thing that we have ever discussed at
the golf committee meeting -- and I wasn't at -- this fall, have been improvements to the
land, which is a capital improvement, and conversations to the carts and that's not what
you have in your letter. So, I guess we need to maybe get back to the basics of the
lease in terms of having the discussion so you know what is qualified and what isn't.
Oaas: Sure.
De Weerd: And if you would like us to call -- to convene the golf course committee
again and have that discussion on what constitutes the capital expenditures, we
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October 28, 2014
Page 8 of 33
certainly can do that and I know you have a very eager committee that is very receptive
to coming together and having those conversations. So, certainly I will put that on the
table to offer in moving forward to help with that qualification and conversation.
Oaas: Madam Mayor, thank you. I don't think it's necessary. Again, it's just -- it's just
the direction that I -- I walked away from -- from the golf course focus committee was
maybe a little bit different. But I understand completely. I would only request, then, that
the Council consider carrying over when there are substantial expenditures -- that,
essentially, that the Council consider carrying those dollars forward, so that -- so that in
the case of the -- the rebuild of the number nine green, that if we -- if we spend
substantial dollars, which we will, that that be considered in future -- you know, in a
future year as well.
De Weerd: And, Council, what I would recommend, if -- if you would want to at least
consider that, is bringing it to the golf course committee and having the conversation
there and bringing a recommendation back, if -- if that is appropriate. And I guess I
would ask Mr. Rountree what your thoughts are on that, since you're the unofficial chair
or official -- I just made you official.
Rountree: The unofficial chair of the focus group, uh?
De Weerd: Yeah.
Rountree: I think considering that as an amendment to the agreement is something that
the focus group should look at. Particularly if we are talking about big expenses,
because that's what we want anyway. So, how do we -- how do we give an incentive to
get them done, as opposed to just small increments and the question about what is
capital, which has been a problem from the get go. I would suggest that, yeah, that's an
item that we put on our next agenda for discussion. I would also like to see a statement
of what is and what isn't capital expense, so Erik knows and we know. I would also like
to reinforce the contract language that indicates that there is a pre -exposure and
preapproval of any capital expenditure, so if you're proposing to do something it gets
brought to the city and, then, you get the feedback that it is or is not a capital
expenditure, so we don't go through this. Having said that, if that happens, then, there
are provisions in the agreement that we don't necessarily have to go through the
request for a waiver, we have already documented it. So, that would be easier for all of
us.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: To Councilman Rountree's point, what might be helpful to that committee is --
to put something on Mr. Nary's plate is to craft language with Mr. Oaas that -- that starts
off articulating some of those points. In particular, you know, the scope of what
everyone -- what we think we mean by capital improvement is that property which is and
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October 28, 2014
Page 9 of 33
will remain owned by the city and there is probably a more clear way to articulate that,
but it's not, you know, tables and chairs and fryers and carts and things of that nature,
because we are not going to own it, we are not going to keep it, you're going to possess
it. So, that might -- rather than have the committee try and articulate that definition is
have the two of you try and do that and bring that --
De Weerd: In advance.
Borton: -- to the committee.
Nary: Yes.
Borton: And, then, the comment.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I like the idea of having the committee weigh in on all of these subjects.
think the Mayor and this Council and previous Councils have been very good about
having commissions and committees provide us with support and information and
recommendations and I like that process and I think it's appropriate in this case as well.
I would comment a little bit further. We don't necessarily need to invent by opinion what
is capital and what isn't. The IRS has some pretty clear definitions of it and I suspect
that if we just had an accountant look that up and I don't know whether there is an
accountant on the golf course committee or not, but --
De Weerd: We can all act like one.
Zaremba: Yeah. We try. But we don't need to formulate opinions about that, there are
IRS rules about what's capital and what isn't. My recollection is it's things that are
permanently affixed to either the building or the grounds, not things that are movable,
but somebody could look that up in the IRS code and we would have an actual answer
and I would prefer that.
Oaas: Councilman Zaremba, thank you for your comments. I think rather than going
that far, I think the conversations that Mr. Nary and I have on the topic I think would be
very helpful. A capital asset, even by definition in financial accounting, is an asset with
a useful life of more than a year and it's not purchased in the ordinary and normal
course of the business resold, so --
De Weerd: That's not the world we operate in.
Oaas: No. I understand.
De Weerd: It has to have a much longer time than that.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 10 of 33
Oaas: No. No. I understand. But I'm just -- I'm just telling you that we won't find
guidance, unfortunately, there, because it's an asset with a useful life of greater than a
year and I think we can get to where -- where you want to go, you know, by defining this
with -- with Mr. Nary and I.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I think -- I love where this is going and it may be unfortunate, but for this past
year the rent relief is not granted, but what I think we will find when you come back in
the fall, presentation won't be about rent relief, it will be about, you know, the state of
play, the number of rounds, and growth in membership and more a general report on
the performance of the course. I think the city does I think have some interest in how
it's run. I think you brought that up at the start, the -- how we operate and you may have
lots of instances to share successes and the city is interested and if there is not
successes I think the city is interested, quite frankly, capital improvement this or that.
So -- and I know the lease speaks to some of those points. There has been
communications to the Council that you have seen about operations, I think that's a
discussion for a different day.
Oaas: Thank you, Councilman Borton, but -- but, again, we would hold very firm that
the operations and the course are in far better condition than they have ever been in the
life of the course, so --
De Weerd: Okay. Anything else from Council? Anything else, Erik?
Oaas: No. Just that we appreciate your time and know that you have spent more time
on this than you have preferred, but I think it's a good discussion and -- and Mr. Nary
and I will get together and carry the ball forward.
Item 8: Items Moved From Consent Agenda
De Weerd: Very good. Thank you. Okay. There were no items moved from the
Consent Agenda.
Item 9: Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 14-1028: Resolution Appointing
Brad Pfannmuller to the Impact Advisory Committee
De Weerd: Council, under 9-A you have Resolution 14-1028 for the appointment to the
Impact Advisory Committee. Brad is here if you want to quiz him or really nail him with
a bunch of questions, but he will be representing the BCA and, Brad, do you want to
add -- do you want to say anything? You don't have to. Well, maybe I shouldn't have
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October 28, 2014
Page 11 of 33
given you that out. But, no, we appreciate your interest and certainly Council, myself, or
Brad can answer any questions you might have. Otherwise, I would appreciate your
confirmation of this appointment.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Before we do this, don't we have to enact on the --
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, you had a request for --
De Weerd: I'm sorry.
Nary: -- relief. I don't think he withdrew it. I think he understood your conversation, but
I was going to ask when you were done with this to say you probably should back up
and make a motion and --
De Weerd: I can back up right now.
Nary: If you want to back up right now.
De Weerd: Do I have to make the noise -- beep beep -- sorry. Yes. Council, I would
entertain a motion on the request for relief.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I would move that we deny the request for rent relief for 2013-2014 and direct
legal staff to work with Mr. Oaas to quickly assemble the language that we have
discussed outlining the parameters of capital improvements to be memorialized in a
short lease amendment that will be reviewed by the golf course committee and Mr.
Oaas, eventually be brought back before this Council, maybe before Christmas, maybe
Thanksgiving, we will see. Soon.
Cavener: I will second that.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
Rountree: I would not be quite as optimistic on the timing, but other than that --
De Weerd: We will do the best we can. We certainly want to do it before Mr. Rountree
leaves --
Rountree: Yes.
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October 28, 2014
Page 12 of 33
De Weerd: -- for his hiatus. Yes. That's the deadline. We can have meetings as
needed and I know that Mr. Barton has made copious notes as well from the Parks
Department. Okay. Madam Clerk, will you, please, 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.
De Weerd: Sorry about that. Council, we are back to --
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I move we approved Resolution 14-1028 appointing Brad Pfannmuller to the
Impact Advisory Committee.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-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.
De Weerd: Thank you, Brad, for being here with us. Are you sure you don't want to say
anything? I don't think they have any, just an appreciation you're willing to serve.
Thank you. Yeah. Brad, maybe we should have asked you -- do you know what you
just volunteered for. Yeah. Something like that.
B. Fire Department: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Joint
Powers Agreement Update
De Weerd: Okay. Item No. 9-B is under our Fire Department. Chief.
Niemeyer: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, thank you. I was kind of laughing
how quick Brad ran out of the room there. Three weeks ago you -- you recommitted our
position -- Meridian's position to maintain participation in the EMS joint powers
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agreement. I want to thank you for that. I'm happy to report that all agencies that
originally signed that agreement are back on board and they have stayed on board. But
one of the things you asked for is to get an update on where we have been and some of
the successes that we have seen so far. In my opinion this has truly been successful
and in a couple ways at the hundred thousand foot level. First, the folks that decided to
come together -- you know, we -- we all know the history of EMS in the county over the
last 30, 40 years and we could have continued down that path, but we chose to do
something different. You know, so the first success was everybody just staying at the
table. That was success number one. And everybody staying committed to looking
forward and making things better and I have been very pleased at both the
administrative committee level and the executive board level that that maintained
throughout all agencies, both on the elected officials side and the administrative
committee side, the boots on the ground that have been -- been doing a lot of work. So,
that was success number one, just keeping everybody at the table. I can tell you over
the first re -licensure cycle or the first re -up I served as the chairman of the
administrative committee, that's the committee that got together and said what are we
going to work on and how are we going to do it. Director Weston from Ada County
Paramedics served as the vice -chair on that committee. We have now switched roles
for this new cycle. He is now the chair and I am the vice -chair --
De Weerd: Don't look so gleeful about that.
Niemeyer: Well, you know, I -- he's timed this perfectly, though. The first two board
meetings I still represented the information to the committee, as he was off in Texas and
somewhere else, so I'm starting to wonder about that. The Mayor served as the first
chairman of this joint powers agreement, did a great job. Joe Steer served as the vice -
chair. They just had their elections last week and how Commissioner Steers is the chair
and Commissioner Yzaguirre is a pretty smart guy and he nominated Jim Tibbs to be
the vice -chair in a hurry. Councilman Bird was there to witness that and have fun with
that. So, that's your new board moving into this next cycle. I'm going to talk about a
very recent development and I have asked Director Weston to come and talk about
some of the other developments that we have seen, very positive developments that
has either reduced cost or gained efficiencies and we are going to talk about those.
One of the most recent developments -- we are starting to look now at deployment and
how we respond and who responds and are we duplicating things that we don't need to
duplicate and I was amazed that we put a sub committee together and within about
three days they had two recommendations for us that they all came unanimous with
smiling. I can tell you three years ago, four years ago, six years ago, if you would have
started talking about -- we don't need to send all this, we don't need to send all that, that
would have been a big challenge and a big struggle. They came out and said here is
our two initial recommendations that we think are going to keep our critical resources in
service when they need to be and still get the job done to the best ability that we can.
So, those two examples are -- the first is diabetics. Most diabetics that we go on we
don't take to the hospital, we have the ability to treat them on scene, get their blood
sugar up, get them a meal and they stay at home. That's decreasing the burden on our
healthcare community and our hospitals when we can do that. In the past we sent both
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an engine and an ambulance to go handle that call and there is no reason we had to.
This committee said how about we send the closet ALS unit whatever it is, because we
all can handle that call and we can keep others in service and available for the other
calls that we have. So, that was -- that was number one. It's being enacted. Number
two was what we call alpha responses. They are the noncritical, nonemergent
responses that, again, we still send an engine and an ambulance to. We are tying up
two resources for calls that we don't necessarily need to. So, now we will be sending
the closest unit, whatever that is, an engine, an ambulance, a supervisor, to go evaluate
the issue and if we need to call for resources we will. So, again, we are saving our
critical resources, keeping them in service, not sending duplications when we don't need
to. I know it may seem small, having been in the county now for many years that is a
huge step and it's one that five, ten, 15 years ago we would have never gotten through.
We would have fought over whose patient is it and whose jurisdiction is it and who is
bigger and who is better and those things have truly gone away now and it's a new year
and a new day and I'm very happy to report that. So, with that I would like to ask
Director Weston to come up. We are going to talk a little bit about what we have done
in the last year and a half and some of the other benefits that we have seen, some cost
savings, some efficiencies, to let you know that this is working, we are very proud that
it's working, we are very committed to it.
De Weerd: Thank you, chief.
Weston: Madam Mayor and Members of the Council, thank you for giving us an
opportunity to visit about this. I wanted to -- to touch on a couple things. There have
been -- you know, as Chief Niemeyer alluded to, probably the number one thing that we
can speak to is relationship and I have been in Ada County -- and, actually, prior to 28
years ago I was in the City of Meridian working on Rescue One and so I have got a long
history playing this game and providing this service and most of that history was
clouded with animosity and trying to figure out, as chief said, who was bigger, who was
better, who should have been in charge, all these questions that did nothing for the
taxpayers and they did nothing for the patient and I'm very proud to stand in front of you
today and say those issues are largely gone. Not only at the chief level, but throughout
our administrative staff and all the way down into the providers in the fields that are
providing the service, the animosities that have existed on scene and the issues that we
have been dealing with over the years went away faster than any of us believe was
possible. The collaboration you see, the respect and the -- just appreciation for what
everyone brings to the table has allowed us to provide patient care in a way that we
have not seen before and so I think overall that is -- is clearly the biggest win that we
have seen and I think that will carry us a long way into the future. Some of the specific
items that we have addressed -- first was medical direction. As we started this process
everyone had their own medical director, figured out what was right for each agency
within the system and, then, we would clash on scene, because we had conflicts in
orders for what we should do for the same patient. In the process of forming the
medical directorate under the joint powers board we have gone from -- I think a peak
was six or seven physicians representing agencies in the system to two physicians, one
from each of the primary emergency physician groups. So, we have one with the group
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that services St. Alphonsus, the other with the group that services the St. Luke's
hospital and the two of them work together and we have one set of standing orders and
expectations for every agency within the system. So, all those conflicts are completely
off the table and everyone speaks into exactly the same spot and the outcome comes
with one voice for all of us and so that is one thing that we have checked off the list.
The other thing that was accomplished in that is in consolidating those services to a
single contract we saved 12,000 dollars in the process of doing that to provide the
service to all of the agencies. The next one that we picked off was medical supplies
and each one of our agencies had a position responsible for ordering, inventorying and
distributing medical supplies and so Ada County as an agency took on that
responsibility and took on the cost of that responsibility to provide it for the system.
Number one was to become more efficient in what we do. Number two is because we
were billing for the services -- if we supplied all of it we could also bill for all of it and get
some recouping of the costs that were expended in patient care, whereas if the fire
department was doing it and we hadn't provided that service, we couldn't bill for that
service. But as a joint system we are able to bill more efficiently. The other efficiency
that we got out of that was that we took on all of the logistics and the distribution of
those medical supplies. So, not only do we order and we buy in a consolidated
package, but we also deliver the equipment and supplies to all of the fire stations or
stock rooms that they have identified throughout Ada County, which has eliminated that
function from within all of the other agencies for medical supplies. So, some of it was
cost shifting as a fire budget into our budget, some of it was actual elimination of
functions that had to be performed freeing up resources to do something that was of
higher value. The next piece that we have taken on is record management. In our
record management process each one of us had a very nicely siloed record
management system, but they didn't talk to each other, we could not evaluate easily
how we were doing as a system across the board and the ability to access what
happened to the patient over the course of the incident was restricted to going to each
agency involved and getting their piece of the puzzle and, then, going to the hospitals
and sending the physician their to get the outcome data and, then, trying to reconstruct
all of it. And so this project is to put all of us on a common platform that we share and
be able to track a patient from the first arriving unit all the way to the hospital and,
ultimately, back all the way to the provider on the first arriving unit. So, that not only do
we get the patient's piece of the puzzle, but, then, we will receive and be able to
distribute back the outcome data to provide education for all of the people that were
involved in that care. You saw a patient, you saw a particular presentation, but you may
or may not have a definitive diagnosis in the field, because there weren't the lab tests,
you just had a presentation. Now those medics and the EMTs will be able to go back
and view what was the outcome of their patient and integrate that into their ability to
provide care going forward. The other thing it gives us as a system is the ability to
evaluate field diagnosis and benchmark it against hospital discharge diagnosis. And so
our QI abilities are greatly enhanced through this. The other software collaboration that
we have had that has been very successful is in the training area. We have all moved
to a common platform. Target Solutions is the vendor that is supplying that platform for
us. Initially we all bought the same product, but we all bought it has agencies and we
started trying to use it and figure out how we could share back and forth and quickly
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discovered that wasn't the target that we had painted on the wall. The target on the wall
was to be in one system and so we went back to the vendor, had them create a single
entity within their structure that we all resided. So, any training officer in any one of our
agencies can develop and produce training and push it out to every medic and EMT
across the board in all of the agencies. Again, it builds a level of collaboration, we are
all training exactly the same way on exactly the same stuff and everyone has the same
message that they have received in their training, they are all on the same page trying
to accomplish the same task. So, the enhancement of what we are able to do as far as
providing for the patient, again, is another level of enhancement way beyond what we
have done in the past. The end result, as I said initially, though, is that providers in the
field are developing relationships with each other that we have never seen before. The
tension that had appeared on scenes on and off over the years are a piece of our
history that we learn from, but they are not a piece of what we have going onward. So,
those are the highlights. I would certainly stand for any questions you have and be
happy to answer to the best of my ability.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Excellent. I think this is a wonderful thing that's happening. I think I have
been hearing about this for five or six years. I know it's taken a long time to get it to this
point and I think it's wonderful and your description is that it's achieving some of the
goals that we all hoped it would and it makes sense to share equipment and respond
with the closet equipment regardless of who it is. The only question in my mind that has
come up recently -- this is not exactly a mutual aid agreement, but it's similar in nature
and in a discussion with another municipality near us we had a conversation about
services they may or may not provide and their response to me was, well, we have a
mutual aid agreement with Meridian and that seemed to be how they were going to
cover their needs was depending on Meridian to be the closest supplier. So, I guess -- I
guess my question is pulled in and around this is there a way to determine if a
jurisdiction is not pulling its own weight or contributing what it needs to contribute -- I
have lived plenty of other places where they have had mutual aid agreements and there
actually was an annual reckoning, they would go, okay, this -- this jurisdiction provided
3,000 hours of service to yours and you provided 2,000 hours of service to us. If it was
within ten percent they ignored it, if it was more than that, then, there was a bill that
changed hands and I'm just wondering -- I know that hasn't been part of the discussion
of having some kind of an accounting and a balancing, but are you thinking about it? Is
there a point where some jurisdiction is unfairly taking advantage of others and -- what's
your suggestion?
Niemeyer: Madam Mayor, Councilman Zaremba, excellent question. We have two
types of aid in Ada County. One is called automatic aid, one is called mutual aid. So,
they are a little bit different. Automatic aid is simply send the closest unit, regardless of
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jurisdiction and all that. We have some of that with some of our partners and we don't
have it with some of our partners at this point in time. I went back through the history
looking for it. Did we ever sign a mutual aid contract, has there ever been any signed
agreements, and I could not find any in our history. So, we had that discussion at the
chiefs' level. One of the things when it comes to aid is what's the reconciliation factor.
In other words, we go to you ten times, you come to us eight, is that fairly fair? Yes, it
is. If you had this massive offset we do have an issue. Within the fire service the
mentality has been if you need mutual aid -- in other words, you're already on scene,
you're tackling something, but it has gotten big enough that you need help, that's mutual
aid and, absolutely, we are going to be there for you, because you know we are
expecting you to be there for us and that is happening on a fairly level playing field
throughout the county. When you start talking about automatic aid -- in other words,
sending that closest unit regardless of that jurisdictional boundary, that's when we need
to start looking at the data to say how do we compare left and right, up and down
amongst all the agencies that are participating. We are a little bit different with EMS
when we respond with Ada County, because we both have coverage areas within the
same jurisdictional boundaries. But certainly as fire departments when we go to our
neighbors we are going right now basically under our mutual aid system built into the
dispatch system. With some of our partners it has become automatic aid, but we know
that reciprocation is there, we have been able to see that data with others, we know that
that is a little bit skewed. So, the answer is, yes, we are looking at that and trying to sell
the -- find a good solution to it, so that citizens are still getting a good response that we
are not lopsided. So, certainly that is an issue we are looking at.
Zaremba: Good. Thank you.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: The highlights are great, but I'm concerned about maybe some of the low
lights and we -- Mark, you sent us a letter for the presentation last -- last week, which I,
unfortunately, didn't open until the next day. So, I have it here and you point out some
things that were not expectations I had with the JPA and that's the creation of yet
another bureaucracy in Ada County in terms of a department in the Ada County system
and the fact that as members of the JPA we are now helping finance yet another
department --
De Weerd: No, this is -- that's another -- that's not this. That's Ada County -- that
ACCEM.
Rountree: That's ACCEM?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Rountree: But it talks about JPA in this letter.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
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De Weerd: Well, that's because there is a joint powers agreement that's part of that.
Rountree: Okay. So, that's a different one?
Niemeyer: Yeah. It's a different JPA.
Rountree: Okay. That's good.
De Weerd: I just -- I just don't want Darby to hold any responsibility for ACCEM -- or
ACEEM.
Rountree: So, then, my question is is the one on emergency management a model that
maybe ACCEM could utilize to get their act together?
De Weerd: Amen,
Niemeyer: Madam Mayor, Councilman Rountree, I would love to answer that question.
Yes, I believe it is. We collaborate, we share resources to come up with a final product.
We may do something in Meridian and lead the way and contribute our funds or our
time. You heard about Darby and the stocking solution and the inventory solution. We
are all working together for the same goal. There is no one agency spending so much
more than the other, it's not a matter of contribution at this point and being out of
bounds. I think it's a great model for the ACCEM issue that -- that you raise. It's why
had problems with the JPA as it was written, because I didn't feel like it did that -- it
didn't bring that collaborative working relationship together for a common purpose. I
completely agree with the --
Rountree: And, then, my final question is are there any tough issues you're facing with
the current --
Niemeyer: With EMS JPA?
Rountree: EMS JPA.
Niemeyer: You know, we have been waiting for that, to be honest with you. We have
been waiting for that one issue that's really going to challenge us. I think we have --
with the RMS, our recordkeeping system, that may be a bump in the road, because we
have some agencies I think that want this and we have some that want this and we are
going to have to work through that. But I think a positive is you have a good enough
working relationship now with the chiefs that we can sit down and have that
conversation and get through it. Some of the deployment issues that come down the
road are going to be challenging, but I think this group is up to the challenge. So, yeah,
there is going to be bumps in the road, we know that, but I think we can overcome them.
De Weerd: Darby.
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October 28, 2014
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Weston: Yeah. I think -- you know, one of the things that we have done that was
unique in the structure is requiring unanimous consent and we got some flack right off
the bat for that, because, well, you could just grind this whole thing to a halt requiring
unanimous consent. But I will tell you without reservation that that is the -- the one
piece of the puzzle that has allowed it to be successful, because until we have solved
the problem so that it's the right answer for everyone sitting at the table, we don't have
anything to bring to the joint powers forward and so at the chiefs' level when we struggle
with something, that's fine, because we don't always have the same view, we don't
always have the same opinion, but we have to find that collaboration that brings us all to
the same point where we get the value we are looking for and no one is damaged in the
process and, then, it's ready to go to the board and while it makes for a slower process,
it makes for a really good product.
De Weerd: Thank you, Darby. I totally agree with that, because I sit on both of those --
two different -- two different environments. That's the only word I could come up with,
so -- and I truly appreciated being a part of the initial work. I'm glad to hear I'm no
longer the chair and I eagerly turn that over to Joe, but I'm excited with the progress and
as you continue on -- you did accomplish some of the low hanging fruit, so it will get
meatier from now on, but I think you have the right butts in the right seats and -- and
that's important. People are seeing things a little bit differently and that's a positive
thing, because ultimately one thing that this particular group understands is, one, the
why and, then, the how and what comes easier and so -- and there is certainly a
dedication to making a difference in understanding that your customers are your
customers and our citizens and everyone at the administrative table's citizens. So, this
is -- this is a model that we hope can be replicated in other places.
Weston: Yeah.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Madam Mayor, just as a preview for Council Rountree and the rest of the
Council, that ACCEM agreement is on for next week for conversation again.
De Weerd: And do we have -- we are drafting a letter to follow up from last week's
conversation to get the clarity from the county that was sought in the conversation last
week. So, hopefully, we will have that reply next week. Otherwise, we will delay it
another week.
Niemeyer: Yes, ma'am.
De Weerd: Okay.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
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October 28, 2014
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De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: ACCEM is a complete different ballgame and -- you're going to have to do a lot
more for me to be in favor of that, because all we are is we are paying 28,000 a year to
be an advisory board. We have -- we do not have any say. I can't believe that the
elected officials even looked at that last draft, but that's me.
De Weerd: And when that's a topic on the agenda I will respond to that.
Niemeyer: Back to happy times.
De Weerd: No. And you were at that meeting where it was sent forward.
Bird: And I didn't agree with it then.
De Weerd: Well, anyway, I do appreciate, Darby, that you joined us tonight and the
joint efforts that have been going on. Greatly appreciate it.
Weston: Thank you very much.
C. Community Development Department: Update on Economic
Development Plan Implementation Efforts
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. Item 7-C is under our economic development efforts --
Rountree: 9-C.
De Weerd: Or 9-C. Sorry. Turn this over to Bruce.
Chatterton: Mayor and Council Members, appreciate this time to spend a few minutes
with you talking about our economic development strategy. You probably remember
that back in June you heard the final presentation from the consultant. In fact, Sean
Garretson is here with Pegasus in case there are any questions about his work and his
role in this. But since that time some interesting things have happened. We have taken
this -- the handoff from the consultants. Of course this never was strictly a consultant -
led effort. The community had a lot to do with crafting this new economic development
strategy. But some interesting things have happened that I want to visit with you a little
bit about and, then, talk about some next steps in terms of implementation. I want to
make sure at every point that you're okay with these steps and also get your ideas on if
-- should we be doing something else or doing something differently. Well, as I said, we
learned a lot from the community. We learned a lot about companies that -- at least
some of us, including me, were not aware of we had in our community. Committed
individuals that care about the economic vitality of our community. In the process we
determined what our best targets should be for the industries and companies that we
want to attract and pursue. We learned how to develop our local economy from the
inside out, this idea of economic gardening, if you forgive the term, this idea of creating
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the -- the atmosphere, the environment that attracts entrepreneurs, that builds
entrepreneurs from inside our community and steps that we can take along those lines.
so, all very exciting stuff, but in the process of learning these things something else
pretty special happened. I think all along we felt that -- and realized that economic
development can't be just Brenda with an assist from the Mayor and from the Mayor's
office, that there has to be a bigger team and we feel that we have been able to put that
team together. Also we have some doubts that the community -- individual
stakeholders, institutions, would come together around the strategy and that's proven to
be really beyond our expectations. Folks really have come together around these
recommendations to advance the strategy. So, through those conversations with the
community in general, our business community, the chamber, MDC, educational
institutions, we really have a new sense of direction, a new sense of urgency, a better
sense of mission and the ED plan now has its own steering committee, which is officially
sanctioned by the chamber and maybe most importantly we have got a new sense of
partnership, perhaps stronger than we had before. More of a team. Now, the
committee has been working with the economic development strategy document for a
few months now and what I'd like to do is just spend a few moments talking about some
of those directions that they feel we should head. Effectively looking at the plan, what
are those next steps. What with our limited resources can we do to band together to
advance the -- efforts behind this plan. So, first off -- you have been staring at this for
quite some time, economic strategy. There is more to it than that. There were several
goals that were set by the ED plan. First off -- and I apologize, I did not misspell
anything on here, it's cutting off the end of some of these phrases here.
De Weerd: Yeah. Right.
Chatterton: Yeah. No. No. It was fine on my computer. It's a display problem here.
So, we talked -- we talked about economic gardening. We are hoping -- and, exactly,
Mr. Bird, what does innovatio mean. I'm not sure. Complete talent and innovation.
Economic gardening. Land use transportation infrastructure. This is another whole
area that I'm really not going to be talking about today, because it's part of our strategic
plan that we are working on with the Mayor and you all and some projects will be
emerging from that. Strengthening the downtown and place making. Really the quality
of space in downtown. Now, those are the overall goals. So, returning for a second to
the overall strategy, there were several catalyst projects that the consultant
recommended. These are not exactly the priority projects we are moving ahead with,
even though we feel that they are all important, but we feel that there is some low
hanging fruit, an ability to answer some questions that could really benefit the
community. So, those catalyst projects from the -- from the study were a downtown
conference center and I will show you how that's evolved in terms of our history. An
innovation center, basically a tech center and an incubator and, hopefully, an emphasis
is always in our downtown. An agriculture innovation campus. Agri -tourism
development and ag-oriented real estate development. Really going to focus on the
first two. The ag-related initiatives and projects are important, but we are sort of doing a
different track. We want to make sure that those don't get lost and so we have been
having conversations with other jurisdictions and hope to come back to you about that in
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the near future. So, what are the projects the steering committee feels that we should
be focusing on? First off, the downtown -- downtown multi -use and event center. You
can see how this has evolved a little bit from a conference center and I'm going to go
into a little bit about what that might be and some of the things that we want to take a
look at.
Borton: Madam Mayor, real quick. Bruce, can you give me the parameters of
downtown? It's more narrow than MDC's boundaries; is that right?
Chatterton: Yes. Well -- wow.
Borton: For the purpose of this discussion.
Chatterton: I think we would want it in the downtown core, which is, you know, roughly,
the area serviced by the -- by the split corridor, you know, between Fairview and -- and
the interstate. There is also, of course, gateway parcels at either end north and south.
Does that make sense?
De Weerd: I know from the Waltman, 1-84 to Fairview, and could possibly include the
McFadden property on the corner of -- of Cherry and Meridian, but that -- that corridor.
Chatterton: MDC does have property --
Borton: A general boundary.
Chatterton: Yes.
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Borton: Thanks,
Chatterton: Next project, as I mentioned was the innovation center -- entrepreneur and
innovation center and have a little bit more to say about that, but Brenda is here to also
talk about some of the things we have been doing to further that idea. And, then, finally,
this idea of urban renewal expansion. That is for the right project, using the urban
renewal tool in the right way to help plan the business recruitment situation. So, there is
more to be said about each of these. I just wanted to lay those three out and maybe
have you think about them for just a second. I'm going to drill down a little bit into the --
into each of them. Any questions before I --
De Weerd: Bruce, I'd almost name that third one urban renewal expansion for
economic development.
Chatterton: Very good.
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De Weerd: Standing alone you will immediately get people's shackles up and --
because that's really what you're doing.
Chatterton: And, Mayor, that's an excellent point. The state legislation allowing urban
renewal does allow for economic development purposes. We always have to make
sure that we are doing it in just the right way and using those tools in just the right way
and perhaps it's important to make sure that everyone understands that we are using
them in the appropriate way. Let's talk a little bit about the downtown multi -use and
event center. So, again, it started off as a conference center, we began to realize that
there were -- there was interest in -- much more than just a conference center. Could
there be, for instance, a museum component, a performing arts component. A sports
component, perhaps an outdoor sports venue. As long as we -- we are looking at the
feasibility of a conference center and the demand for it, why not look at these other uses
to make sure that we are not leaving something on the table. None of this says that.
None of this says that all of this would be on a single site and none of this says that we
would do any of it at all. It's a look see to see really what the demand is. So, let's talk
about that a little bit more. This picture is also in the economic development strategy
plan. That happens to be the conference center in Salem, Oregon. I understand it's
about 30,000 square feet. It's an example of a conference center which has been right
sized to the demand of that particular community. So, what we are suggesting is that
we embark on a project development plan to look at this multi -use and event center.
Some of the uses, as I mentioned, could be a conference center, performing arts venue,
sports venue, library, a museum or cultural center. Again, not all these things
necessarily would be in the same building or be on the same site, but they all have
interest -- varying levels of interest from the community. What we are proposing -- and I
can come back to you with -- with a proposal -- actually, Pegasus has put one together.
This would be continuation of the work that they are currently doing with us -- would be
a project development plan that would look at each of those uses, coordinate the
stakeholders and partners. So, this effort would not be just about a consultant sitting
and crunching numbers in a dark room, this would be as much about going out and
talking, building partnerships, learning from the community about what -- what the
needs are. Already we have been approached by several possible partners in the arts
and cultural community. We want to be able to pull that together into a conversation
that we can all have. Determine what the specific uses and the users of these -- the
projects. And, again, very important. This is not all we want to do, but very important,
the financial analysis and funding piece of it and there are some other aspects to that as
well. An appropriate tool allowed to us under Idaho law is an auditorium district. You
have seen what Boise has been able to do with theirs. Pocatello also. Is this a tool
that's right for Meridian? I don't know the answer to that, but that would be one of the
funding sources we would be looking at. TIF could have application either here or
outside the current urban renewal boundaries and also partnerships as well. So, that if
we are talking about anyone approaching the city for money, that conversation needs to
be here is what we are trying to do and here is the gap. We want to identify that gap
first before we talk about any other possible sources of funding. Site selection and
physical planning. Pegasus under this -- under this proposal wouldn't be actually doing
any of that, but they would be working with our own Brian McClure in my department,
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October 28, 2014
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very talented urban designer, to find sites and to do some conceptual planning
physical planning for it. So, we can save money in that way.
De Weerd: So, Bruce, would that include transportation elements or connectivity,
whether it's through, you know, a connecting public transportation aspect or a pathway,
bikes -- now, I don't know what, but would it include something like that under the
physical planning element?
Chatterton: Mayor, those would be very critical considerations. The livability of the
downtown, connectivity, multi -modal is very important -- you know, Council Member
Zaremba can tell you how important ground transportation can be to the success of a
conference center, for instance, and other sporting venues as well. Yes, all that would
be -- those would be considerations.
De Weerd: Okay.
Chatterton: So, what we would like to do is come back to you with a -- with a proposal
possibly next week for a project development plan. Right now we are looking at 30,000
dollars over three months. You have, by the way, budgeted money for this in the
Council budget, that is a feasibility study for a similar use. So far the chamber is the
only group that's ponied up for this study. They have pledged a thousand dollars and,
that's great, we asked them to do that, because we really want them to have the sense
of ownership and they do, indeed, have -- have that sense of ownership. MDC actually
tell me that they will be considering -- will be proposing that the MDC contribute half of
the remaining 14,500 dollars. So, we would be looking at -- out of the city's pocket for
this work about 14,500 dollars. So, Sean's here to answer any questions. We do have
a couple of other projects we will talk about. Any questions about -- about that idea of
doing a project development plan?
Rountree: Good idea.
De Weerd: I would say amen.
Chatterton: Okay.
De Weerd: Amen.
Chatterton: The entrepreneur and innovation center. So, an excerpt from our economic
development plan. Currently what Brenda has been doing is coordinating partners and
stakeholders, talking to a lot of folks and I can't even tell you all -- who all she's been
talking to. But these were folks that know how to run incubators, know how to run tech
centers, which would perhaps be a difference now between what we have done in the
past with ATC is that we get the right manager with a track record and we need to
identify funding. We do have a building. Obviously, there would be some conversations
with -- with you all, perhaps it would be old city hall. In terms of trying to attract interest,
we have been talking about -- about old city hall. Coming up with the right lease for our
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October 28, 2014
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purposes. Finding out exactly what the city participation -- if there would be
participation beyond providing the facility, we would find that out. And, then, ongoing
assistance and marketing, because it would have to be a partnership. And if you ask
much more than that, you will be at the limit of my knowledge on this and if you have
any questions Brenda is as well. So, anything about the -- even incubator. Again, an
incubator, a tech center, innovation center, is all part of first reinforcing the downtown,
but also it's economic gardening. It's presumably the start up involved in such a tech
center would be those entrepreneurial millennials and entrepreneurs of other agencies
as well. And that's all part of bringing those types of jobs to the downtown to help make
downtown more vital than it is currently. Questions or thoughts on that?
De Weerd: Bruce, I would imagine that part of that would be some kind of an exit plan
as you incubate the -- the business, the hope is to grow those businesses in a fiscal
space in downtown. So, to make sure that there is a plan on how they exit the tech
center and enter into their -- their own physical space and -- and I know part of the
MDC's endeavor they are just going into in both the housing -- there is a component to
that that would a protection type for these new upstarts to keep it affordable for the first
year or two, so we can keep them in our downtown, because the whole idea -- and this
isn't new to -- to the Council Members who were on before last January, but the idea of
city hall was to really have a destination for entrepreneurship, have a think tank and
activities that draw people down here and create synergy for successful entrepreneur
launches and, then, capture them in space available in our downtown. We -- we do
hope it is in our city hall building, but regardless -- and I know that MDC had that same
vision. They were paying someone to do it. We don't want to do that. But looking at
how we can create a win for our downtown to really create a lot of energy behind
creating that entrepreneurial district.
Borton: Mayor, your -- especially the first part of your comments, to me that paints what
victory looks like -- success looks like in this endeavor. Startups that are nurtured
along, become successful and they move out into the community, we would certainly
welcome them in the downtown and want to have site space available for them, but
that's what success looks like. And, really, having that snowball effect of -- of incubate
jobs, send the checks off for more.
De Weerd: And that's what you call economic gardening; right?
Chatterton: That's right. That's a big part of it.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton?
Borton: Bruce, maybe it's under the craft lease portion, but we have talked about one of
the components to make this successful is to truly understand the physical requirements
for an incubator, what's the space, what type of expenditures may be needed, if any, to
lay out the structure to be successful.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
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Chatterton: Mayor and Council Member Borton, yes, that is -- that is -- again, we are
just in the -- we have walked a few folks through the building at this point and talked
about what that might be like. I think everyone is aware that ultimately an incubator --
perhaps that either -- for instance, old city hall, if that's where it is, would have to be
modified in some fashion. Again, is that our responsibility? Would that be -- that of the
entity -- the management entity that would be coming in, ultimately, old city hall might be
just the beginning -- it might be the incubator for the incubator. Perhaps that is part of
the -- the slash, the multi -use center, perhaps there would be the offices for an
incubator there -- a tech center there as well.
Borton: Madam Mayor? Kind of where I'm coming from is -- if we are told that in order
for an incubator to be successful, from experiences throughout the west, or even
throughout the country, it has these types of common components, whether it's the type
of fiber that's available there to the meeting space, the layout, whatever it is, we just
don't want to go down the road and open an incubator that's not structured in a way that
allows it to be successful.
Chatterton: Yes.
Borton: However expensive that may or may not be, then, we can decide what funding
tools can get you there. But we really want to know what that structure would be to be
most successful.
Chatterton: And, Mayor, Council Member Borton, what I hear you saying is that you
want us to come back with a solid proposal about what -- what the right model is for the
incubator -- physical and in terms of management and talk about what needs to happen.
And, again, we don't have that plan put together yet, but we certainly will.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I would just add -- I don't know, maybe I have invented my own concept of
what I think an incubator is, but to me it's not just based on infrastructure, an incubator
supplies some business services as well. I mean the assumption to me is you're taking
somebody who maybe has invented a widget or a service or something and they know
how to make that widget or that service, but they have no idea how to run a business
and so an incubator provides common to all of their incubating companies within that
structure some accounting specialties, some business management specialty, almost
like getting an MBA handed to you, you know, or their services. So, the structure would
need to include how are those services performed for the incubates, if I'm correct about
that.
Chatterton: Mayor and Council Member Zaremba, yes, shared services may, indeed,
be part of this model. Another part of it is -- is -- and going back to Council Member
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October 28, 2014
Page 27 of 33
Borton's comment, is the space suitable for collaboration, which is also a big part of
what -- what they started to do. Brenda, Sean, anything you want to add to -- to these
considerations? You can tell we are just getting our feet wet in this conversation.
Sherwood: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, thank you very much for giving us
this opportunity. I'd like to address, first of all, Councilman Borton's question about
whether or not this space would be acceptable for a think tank kind of area. As you
know we did give the 30 day notice, so they are actually moving out now, so we have
had several contractors that are going to walk through that space and give us an
estimate of what that looks like, if there is any needs. So, we will come back to you with
that information. The second thing, of course, that you talked about, the shared
services, that's part of the programming as well. So, there is a variety of things from
mentors to starting -- writing your business plan, a lot of the banks are involved, about
how to finance, patent attorneys, so there is a variety of people that are involved
through our executive board at the chamber. And we are also applying for a grant that
could actually address some of those needs for the space physically.
De Weerd: So, Brenda, is there any kind of a written scope or purpose statement or
anything like that? That would be helpful to get to the Council.
Sherwood: Yeah. Today we were just going to do a little overview, but we are actually
going to have a couple of the managing partners that are looking at this space to come
back with those proposals for you and they will be going before Council within the next
-- probably two weeks.
, De Weerd: Okay.
Sherwood: Any other questions?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Are those -- are either of those individuals or groups coordinating with the
contractors as they walk through the space that --
Sherwood: Yes. Yes. And we will also coordinate it with our engineers here at the city
to make sure that, you know, everything is up to par. Some of the space that we are
looking at is in the basement. Is that a possibility or not. Things like that. Yes. And it
might not be. So -- exactly. So, those are the things. We will make sure that we walk
through with a fine tooth comb and look at what those possibilities are. But yes.
De Weerd: And I do think there is an excited partner that does have grant money
available potentially that could cover what is needed to make that space into something
that will truly incubate businesses.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
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Sherwood: Absolutely. Madam Mayor and Members of the Council, I know we talked
about the steering committee and how they really help to drive this initiative and I will tell
you I have not -- I mean this has been a project that the executive board has
wholeheartedly been helping to push this forward. So, a lot of -- a lot of the things that
have been going on and a lot of discussions are going to be in kind donations and we
will have that pretty much laid out for you. But a lot of those members of the executive
board, they have been part of sort of these mentoring and these kick stand programs
where they are like we are utilizing -- not only that, but I think one of the things I was
excited about was that we have the school district on board as well and right now a lot
of these students are programming for a lot of the businesses that are part of this
executive board. So, they really believe in it. So, we had a lot of -- a lot of involvement
and just a lot of support from our board.
De Weerd: Well -- and I think it's -- it's been touched on. We have certainly talked
about this, but -- and I will give kudos to Pegasus. I think this project certainly brought
people together for -- towards a common vision. It helped define roles and
responsibilities. It certainly created a lot of energy and excitement, but more so in
addition to the better sense of the mission there is ownership and that ownership was
created through the anticipatory approach that Pegasus had in delivering the product
that -- that did come in front of you a couple of months ago, but this group really has
their eye on the ball and there is a lot of enthusiasm and -- and people willing to carry
that ball that is not city and that's what I'm excited about, so --
Chatterton: Why don't you hang for just a second, because we are talking about the
next piece. And, Mayor, that really -- that point can't be stressed enough. It's -- we
knew that to execute -- to implement any one of these projects we would need partners
and we are beginning to see partners step up and realize this stake that they have in
these projects and the energy behind them. So, that's huge. Finally -- I won't spend a
lot of time on this idea of urban renewal expansion for economic development. I'm
going to add that. But it's very important, because that would be the reason that we
would -- would do it and expansion isn't close, because we would not be expanding any
of our existing boundaries of our urban renewal districts. The idea would be that for
exactly that pearl of great price, the business recruitment opportunity, for someone to
come in that needed -- let's just say infrastructure, their infrastructure deficiencies in the
area, under the right circumstances there is several areas within the city, including the
Ten Mile area covered by our master plan that might qualify for urban renewal based
upon the fact that there are deficiencies in infrastructure in the area right now. So, for
urban renewal expansion -- so I did include a picture from our Ten Mile plan by the way,
in terms of what our vision is for that area, we would want to engage stakeholders, any
property owners that would be affected, the business community, we would want to
bring our elected officials, especially the state level along with us and we had that in
conversations with them. I think everyone is in agreement that doing this appropriately,
using these tools in the right way means that they might not be snatched away from
you. So, it's very important to us and, really, the state of Idaho that we go about this in
the right way. We would also be preparing an eligibility report with a mind that -- that we
would have a stringing plan, that is a plan ready to go, sort of fill in the blank template
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 29 of 33
approach should there be an opportunity to plan for it, but we want -- the point here is
not that we would use these tools, it's that we want them ready in case we need them.
Any thoughts on --
De Weerd: And you know that there was a legislative task force or a group that went
down to Salt Lake City that -- that looked at the use of urban renewal for economic
development and as I understand it there will be legislative efforts to enhance this tool
for economic development similar to what they have done in Utah. So, it's very positive,
but turn out is kind of maybe less encouraging, it's gotten more encouraging in terms of
further developing tools for our tool chest to find that right employer that fits the criteria
that I think that the state has set a template or sideboards to what would qualify for
these kind of tools, that certainly we don't have to reinvent the wheel. Any questions
from Council?
Bird: I have none.
Rountree: I have none
Chatterton: Mayor and Council, in particular, since Mr. Garretson is here in the room
and likely -- most certainly won't be when this -- the project development plans scope of
services is up before you, please, take advantage of him being here as well.
De Weerd: I wish I could. I just can't think of anything.
Chatterton: All right. Well, thanks so much for listening. We appreciate you taking the
time. This is very important to us and we know it is to you as well.
Bird: Thank you.
D. Amended onto the Agenda: Water Main Easement for Volterra
Heights Subdivision No. 1 and Sewer and Water Main
Easement for Volterra Heights Subdivision No. 1
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. We did have something added to the agenda under 9-D,
which is Volterra Heights and discussion of easements. So, I will turn this over the
Bruces.
Freckleton: The Bruces. Good evening, Mayor and Council. It's good to see you.
don't get here very often.
De Weerd: And, excuse me, Bruce. Just for the record Councilman Borton needs to
leave us, so thank you.
Freckleton: Well, good. It's good to see you. It's been awhile since I have been here.
Try to be real brief here with these comments, but we do want to thank you for your
consideration of this request. We know it's -- it's definitely outside of protocol to be in
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 30 of 33
front of you tonight asking for your consideration. So, do appreciate it. The project that
we are talking about originally came through our process as Bridgetower Heights. It
was a development that began years ago by Frank Variel. You might remember. Frank
Variel and I believe Ed Duse was involved. The project started I believe in about 2006.
Changed hands with the improving economy. We got a new developer that's involved
and he's finishing it off. It's a very interesting development in the fact that the -- the
roadways that they have done are all brick pavers, they are not asphalt roads, and it
took this developer a considerable amount of time to get those approved through the
Ada County Highway District and -- and get -- you know, get them approved as a public
road. It's certainly not a new concept to have brick pavers, but it is new for a developer
to take that kind of a leap and try and create something unique in Meridian and it's a
very nice development. The problem that has -- that has kind of initiated us being in
front of you started with -- we had -- the plat came through our process -- like I said, it
was Bridgetower Heights. Once the plat was signed by our city engineer and the city
clerk, made it to the county, the county surveyor rejected the name, even though the
county had approved the name previously. So, they had to back up, change the name,
they went back to Volterra -- Volterra Heights and it's now sitting on the -- on the county
surveyor's desk waiting to be signed. The easements for sanitary sewer and water that
were submitted to us still had the name Bridgetower and so new easements were
prepared with the new name -- that's what we have in front of you tonight. The plat is
held up. The surveyor won't sign it until the new easements are recorded. The new
instrument numbers can be put on the plat and it can proceed. So, we are trying to do
what we can to user this quickly through the process, so that the developer is not held
up any longer. So, that's why we are here in front of you and stand for any questions
you might have.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Rountree: Madam Mayor? Other than the ownership and name, nothing has changed?
Freckleton: No.
Rountree: Okay.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird, did you say something? Oh. No? Okay. Thank you, Bruce.
Freckleton: Thank you.
De Weerd: Council?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve the sewer and water easements for Volterra Heights
Subdivision No. 1.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 31 of 33
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the two items in front of you. Any
discussion from Council? Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried. Thank you.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES,
Item 10: Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 14-1627: An Ordinance (AZ 14-007 Sugarman
Subdivision) For Annexation And Rezone Of A Parcel Of Land
Located In The Southwest'/4 Of Section 36, Township 4 North,
Range 1 West, Boise Meridian; Establishing And Determining
The Land Use Zoning Classification Of Said Lands From RUT
To C -C (Community Business) District In The Meridian City
Code; And Providing An Effective Date
De Weerd: Thank you. Item 10-A is Ordinance 14-1627. Madam Clerk, will you,
please, read this ordinance by title.
Holman: Thank you. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 14-1627, an ordinance AZ 14-007,
Sugarman Subdivision, for annexation and rezone of a parcel of land located in the
southwest one quarter of Section 36, Township 4 North, Range 1 West, Boise meridian,
Ada County, Idaho, as described in Attachment A and annexing certain lands and
territory situated in Ada County, Idaho, and adjacent and contiguous to the corporate
limits of the City of Meridian as requested by the City of Meridian, establishing and
determining the land use zoning classification of said lands from RUT to C -C,
community business district in the Meridian City Code, providing that copies of this
ordinance shall be filed with the Ada County assessor, the Ada County recorder, and
the Idaho State Tax Commission as required by law. And providing for a summary of
the ordinance and providing for a waiver of the reason rules and providing an effective
date.
De Weerd: You have heard this ordinance read by title only. Is there anyone who
would like to hear it read in its entirety?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 32 of 33
Bird: Hearing nobody wants to hear it in its entirety --
De Weerd: Oh, my gosh.
Bird: -- I move we approve Ordinance No. 14-1627 with suspension of rules.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve this item. Any discussion from
Council? 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 11: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Council, any topics for future agenda to consider at this point?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Not just a topic, but a reminder to the general public, very few of which are
here, but maybe somebody is watching on live stream -- that our next two meetings are
on Wednesdays, not Tuesday, because of election day and, then, Veteran's Day.
Holiday.
De Weerd: Thank you for that timely reminder. I will also remind you that maybe you
don't have children -- that would be interested in tomorrow evening for Trunker Treat.
Come if you might. But tomorrow night is Trunker Treat and Dance to the Beat in our
City Hall plaza. There is going to be a lot of energy out there. We have 80 trunks and
pretty much sold out and there are going to be a lot of little goblins and witches and
various characters out in that area. I would also like to thank Councilman Bird and
Council Member Milam for joining us at the faith luncheon. What a great message by --
oh. And, Councilman Zaremba, what a great message by Nodme Avadini. It was -- it
was a great --
Zaremba: Inspiring.
De Weerd: -- event and appreciate you being there. So with that said I would entertain
a motion to adjourn.
Meridian City Council
October 28, 2014
Page 33 of 33
Rountree: So moved.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:07 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR T & WEERD DATE APPROVED
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ATTEST:
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JAYCEE OLMAN, CITY CLERK