HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-24CITY COUNCIL REGULAR
MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers
33 East Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho
AMENDED AGENDA
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 6:00 PM
1. Roll -Call Attendance
X David Zaremba X Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree O 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. 2-4)
A. Approve Minutes of February 3, 2015 City Council Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of February 10, 2015 City Council Workshop Meeting
C. Final Order for Approval: FP 14-046 Jump Creek by Kent Brown Located
Northwest Corner of N. Black Cat Road and W. McMillan Road Request:
Final Plat Approval Consisting of SixtyOThree (63) Single Family
Residential Lots and Eleven (11) Common Lots on Approximately 16.68
Acres in the R-8 and R-15 Zoning Districts
D. Final Order for Approval: FP 15-002 Coleman by Wal-Mart Real Estate
Business Trust Located Norwest Corner of N. Ten Mile Road and W.
McMillan Road Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of Five (5)
Commercial Lots on Approximately 26.08 Acres in the C -G Zoning District
E. Final Order for Approval: FP 15-003 Ventana Commons Subdivision by
Ventana, LLC Located East Side of N. Meridian Road Approximately 1,000
Feet North of E. McMillan Road Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of
Seventy (70) Single Family Residential Lots and Five (5) Common Lots on
Approximately 18.21 Acres in the R-8 Zoning District
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, February 24, 2015 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.
F. Acceptance Agreement: Display of Artwork of Breesha Rath in Initial Point
Gallery from December 4, 2015 to January 8, 2016
G. Professional Services Agreement With Treasure Valley Youth Theater for
an Amount Not -to -Exceed $5,000.00
H. Award of Bid and Approval of Agreement to Schmidt Construction Co., Inc.
for the "NW 8th STREET SEWER TRUNK MAIN — PHASE 3 BROADWAY TO
CHERRY LANE" project for a Not -To -Exceed amount of $345,383.20.
I. Resolution No. 15-1049: To Destroy Certain Semi -Permanent Records of
the Information Technology Department
J. Resolution No. 15-1050: A Resolution Declaring Surplus Fire Hose and
Approving Donation of Fire Hose to Kuna Rural Fire District
6. Items Moved From Consent Agenda None (Pg 4)
7. Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 15-1051: A Resolution Re -Appointing Mary
Jensen to Seat 2 of the Meridian Arts Commission Approved (Pg 4)
B. Community Development: Multipurpose and Event Center Project (Pg 5-16)
C. City Council: Discuss Upcoming Budget and Participatory Budget Pilot
Project (Pg 16-22)
8. Future Meeting Topics None (Pg 22)
9. Executive Session Per Idaho State Code 67-2345 (1)(c)(d)(f): (c) To Conduct
Deliberations Concerning Acquiring an Interest in Real Property, Which is Not
Owned by a Public Agency; (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 7:13 p.m.
Out of Executive Session at 9:03p.m.
Adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
(Pg 22-23)
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda — Tuesday, February 24, 2015 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 February 24, 2015
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday,
February 24, 2015, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Joe Borton, David Zaremba, Charlie
Rountree, Genesis Milam and Luke Cavener.
Members Absent: Keith Bird.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jacy Holman, Bruce Chatterton, Bill Parsons, Sonya Watters,
Jamie Leslie, Perry Palmer, Steve Siddoway and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll -call Attendance:
Roll call.
X David Zaremba X Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree Keith Bird
X Genesis Milam X Lucas Cavener
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: I'd like to welcome you to the City Council meeting. We appreciate you
joining us this evening. For the record it is Tuesday, February 24th. It's 6:00 o'clock.
Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Thank you. 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 by Larry
Woodard. He is with Ten Mile Christian Church. We see that they sent in fresh legs;
right?
Woodard: Fresh legs. Yes.
De Weerd: Thank you for joining us. If you will all join us in the community invocation
or take this as an opportunity for a moment of reflection. Thank you for joining us.
Woodard: Yeah. Well, thank you for having -- having us and I appreciate the practice
of having the faith community lead your Council meetings. I think that's a tribute to you.
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 2 of 23
Let's pray. Our Dear Heavenly Father, I pray tonight for our nation, our state, and, more
importantly, this group of city leaders who lead us. Meridian is in good hands with these
leaders, but leaders need your guidance and on a daily basis. I ask that you give them
good health and wisdom as they deliberate on matters that will affect this city for years
to come. When they leave tonight I pray you will give them a good night's sleep and
that as they face new challenges tomorrow your guiding hand will be with them. I pray
for our schools, as the number of children continue to rise in our city and our school
facilities are now overcrowded. I ask that the citizens band together next March to raise
the funds for new schools and expansion of existing ones. The school leaders have
done their part. I pray that the citizens now will do their part. I sense a rise in violent
crime in our city. Much of it brought on by drugs. I pray tonight for our law enforcement
members who work night and day to protect us and many who go the extra mile to
insure our comfort and safety. As I minister to seniors in this city I find a rising
apprehension about the future of our nation and I just pray that our nation will be in
good hands as we see the world around us kind of unravel. One cannot drive around
Meridian without noting the tremendous growth in building and road construction and we
thank you for the growth as people find this city a great place to raise their children. In
closing I thank you for the bright future ahead for Meridian because of leaders like this,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you, Larry. Item No. 4 is the adoption of the agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Item 5-1 on the agenda, the resolution number is 15-1049. Item 5-J, the
resolution number is 15-1050. On Item 7-A the resolution number is 15-1051. And with
those additions, Madam Mayor, I move that we approve the agenda.
Cavener: 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: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 5: Consent Agenda
A. Approve Minutes of February 3, 2015 City Council Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of February 10, 2015 City Council Workshop
Meeting
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 3 of 23
C. Final Order for Approval: FP 14-046 Jump Creek by Kent
Brown Located Northwest Corner of N. Black Cat Road and W.
McMillan Road Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of
Sixty -Three (63) Single Family Residential Lots and Eleven
(11) Common Lots on Approximately 16.68 Acres in the R-8
and R-15 Zoning Districts
D. Final Order for Approval: FP 15-002 Coleman by Wal-Mart Real
Estate Business Trust Located Norwest Corner of N. Ten Mile
Road and W. McMillan Road Request: Final Plat Approval
Consisting of Five (5) Commercial Lots on Approximately
26.08 Acres in the C -G Zoning District
E. Final Order for Approval: FP 15-003 Ventana Commons
Subdivision by Ventana, LLC Located East Side of N. Meridian
Road Approximately 1,000 Feet North of E. McMillan Road
Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of Seventy (70) Single
Family Residential Lots and Five (5) Common Lots on
Approximately 18.21 Acres in the R-8 Zoning District
F. Acceptance Agreement: Display of Artwork of Breesha Rath in
Initial Point Gallery from December 4, 2015 to January 8, 2016
G. Professional Services Agreement With Treasure Valley Youth
Theater for an Amount Not -to -Exceed $5,000.00
H. Award of Bid and Approval of Agreement to Schmidt
Construction Co., Inc. for the "NW 8th STREET SEWER TRUNK
MAIN — PHASE 3 BROADWAY TO CHERRY LANE" project for a
Not -To -Exceed amount of $345,383.20.
I. Resolution No. 15-1049: To Destroy Certain Semi -Permanent
Records of the Information Technology Department
J. Resolution No. 15-1050: A Resolution Declaring Surplus Fire
Hose and Approving Donation of Fire Hose to Kuna Rural Fire
District
De Weerd: Item 5 is our Consent Agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda with the previous additions.
Authorize the Clerk to attest and the Mayor to sign.
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 4 of 23
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Madam
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, absent, Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 6: Items Moved From Consent Agenda
De Weerd: There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 7: Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 15-1051: A Resolution Re -
Appointing Mary Jensen to Seat 2 of the Meridian Arts
Commission
De Weerd: So, we will move right into 7-A. Council, we have a resolution in front of
you, 15-1051, reappointing Mary Jensen to Seat 2 of the Meridian Arts Commission and
I would appreciate your confirmation of this appointment.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve Resolution No. 15-1051 reappointing Mary Jensen to
Seat 2 of the Meridian Arts Commission.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 7-A. If there is no
discussion, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, absent; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 5 of 23
B. Community Development: Multipurpose and Event Center
Project
De Weerd: Item 7-B is under our Community Development Department and I will turn
this over to Bruce Chatterton. I will note that we give him a yoeman's job in his two and
a half weeks of bringing this proposal back.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor and Council Members, I guess we will call this two and a
half weeks later. Thanks for giving me the extra half week. As you will remember,
earlier this month Sean Garritson from Pegasus set out some goals for some important
projects for our downtown. Ultimately these are projects which not only help to
implement our downtown master plan Destination Downtown, but they would help to --
they are catalyst projects for economic development as well. So, what I want to do
tonight -- really there are just two topics of discussion. First talk about what we would
include in a request for proposals to the development community. Wanted to get your
thoughts on that. What you're going to be seeing is not really an outline of an RFP, it's
a list of considerations that we have been vetting with a lot of the stakeholders we have
been talking to and with the chamber steering committee for this project. Then I want to
pause and see if I have left anything out, if there is anything that you feel needs to be
emphasized, and, then, I'm going to get into the schedule and, once again, pause and
ask if -- does that schedule make sense given the -- the scope of the request for
proposals. So, in an RFP for this multi -use center, which, of course, is a conference
center, a hotel, and a performing arts center, we would need to take each of those very
important uses and basically say to the developer that is -- this is what they are trying to
achieve. In addition to that we have the Ventures Lab and that project needs to be
accommodated and any development program on the two blocks that we are
contemplating. Because it's early out of the gate and should not suffer because of that.
It's a very exciting project, which we hope to be opening hopefully by the end of May.
And the other stated goal of the request for proposals is to implement Destination
Downtown and our economic development strategy. So, we would be including those
documents. Destination Downtown, economic development strategy, and, of course,
the multi -use center project development plan, which you heard presented earlier this
month. In the RFP we want to clarify -- and this is -- this is very, very important. There
are lots of developers that would love to come in and for a fee build something for us.
For a fee manage something for us. That's not what we are looking for. We are looking
for development partners that see a way to make money. Otherwise, of course, why
would they respond to this RFP and they need to have that financial participation and
skin in that game. It can't be just as if we had enough money to do this; right? It can't
be just paying someone for these services. In the RFP we need to describe -- so, we
would include the multi -- the multi -- sorry. It's the multi -use center development plan
and we describe what we are bringing to the table. At the moment we have three
publicly owned parcels between the city and MDC. We hope by the time the RFP is
issued to have some idea of what the philanthropic money would be in this deal for the
performing arts center component. And, then, we also want to talk about a further
funding strategy. The Meridian Auditorium District, which, of course, doesn't exist yet
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 6 of 23
and so we don't want to overpromise on that. It would be very obvious that we don't
have one as yet, but getting there could really help further development of these ideas
for the downtown. So, it's something that -- that is out there and it is significant. And
also other things such as assistance with land assembly and between now and when
we issue this RFP in June are there other resources that the city, the public in general,
and the community in general would want to include. We are going to have further
conversations, so there could be some more out there. Not ready to include any of that
right now. We need to know the usual sorts of things you do with an RFP. If you're
proposing, what is your team's strengths? What similar projects have you done?
What's your financial wherewithal as a development team? And we need a detailed pro
forma and that would include whatever private funding the development team is bringing
to the table. We would want to see what the cash flow would be throughout the life of
the development project. At least under the life of the construction project. If the
developer continues to be involved we would want to see how they intend to make
money on this project. And, then, finally -- and this is very important for us to leave this
to the end. Developer, given what we bring to the table, what our goals are, how can
you achieve this and is there a financial gap at the end of the day and what additional
resources would you be looking for from -- from any source, the public or otherwise.
The good thing about that is that we get a very clear picture of what we are getting for
any further participation. So, we leave that -- that part to last. Any further participation
would be to bridge that gap. What is that gap? What do you expect from us? Some
other things that we need to have in the RFP. We want to know if we are right that this
is a good use of mixes. Are these uses feasible financially and physically in terms of
the developer's experience with similar projects. And if it's not feasible, we will learn
that through the RFP process. Some -- perhaps it's possible that someone would say,
well, we don't -- not really interested in doing the performing arts center and as we
discussed a couple weeks ago, it would be possible for the performing arts center to
move on its own track and not be on the same construction track as a hotel, conference
center. We would also want to know what additional development, if any, you would be
proposing and this could be key, because if the developer wants to build a parking
garage or additional retail, urban housing, which would, you know, be fantastic if it's
properly designed and done. Spec office or office say for someone like the Chamber of
Commerce to occupy. That could help bridge that gap. That is there is more ways for a
developer to make money and, therefore, reduce any potential gap that might have to
be made up by the public. So, we really want them to get creative here and in talking
with -- especially some folks from the architecture community, they -- a couple of
comments. You know, we have clients around the country and internationally that love
this kind of problem. That would love to work it. So, the challenge is going to be getting
this into the hands of developers like that. We want to see what their proposal is for the
size and massing of uses, including that conference center and the hotel. We want to
see how big the hotel is going to be. We haven't really talked about how many rooms.
What would the massing of it be. We have said conceptually that we think that we know
we can support from the data a conference center of up to 36,000 square feet. Are we
wrong with that? Is the developer bringing information or insight that would say, no, it
needs to be a different size and that we feel that we can -- we can make a go with a
smaller conference center perhaps. And we want the developer to tell us how that
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 7 of 23
conference center can be reserved for the use of the public. It can't be just used to fill
up rooms in the hotel. There has to be -- since this is a public-private partnership of
sorts, we need to have a conference center available for the public to fulfill that need
and not just to fill rooms. We want both things to happen. We want those rooms to be
full and we want the conference center to be utilized and so eliminate those potential
conflicts with the hotel ownership and we want to see their schedule. So, that's the
sauce for the RFP that I have thought of to date. Had some more ideas from the
steering committee last week. Let me pause for a moment and see if -- before we get to
the schedule if that RFP sounds like it's adequate for what the vision is.
De Weerd: Council, any comments?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Bruce, I like what's going on here. I think this is great. On the bullet point
where you're saying you're going to ask them to identify any gaps in finance and what
they think the community would bring, I might add another element to that and that
would be not just thinking of what the community could contribute -- and by that I think
they would interpret what's City Council going to find in our budget to help with it -- and
that's okay if that stays in there as a question, but I would add one more is would they
identify potential partnerships that could be added to this and brought to the table in that
same conversation.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor and Council Member Zaremba, I think that's great. We are
challenging the development team to be creative --
Zaremba: Yeah.
Chatterton: -- and if they have seen this done elsewhere along the lines that we are
talking about, absolutely we would want to include that, so --
Zaremba: Then, Madam Mayor, a separate different question. Considering -- I guess
keep trying to make this a bigger idea than it already is. Considering the footprint that
we are kind of limited to how willing are we -- I like the idea of saying, okay, what if --
what if the developer wants additional things, like urban housing, how willing are we to
build up. Could we have a ten story building downtown and the top five stores are
residential with a beautiful view that they could sell for a lot of money and I'm -- that's
partially a question to the fire department as well, because when I first started saying we
need taller buildings, the push back was we would need more ladder trucks and so
guess the fire department would have to weigh in on that, but I guess I'm wondering
would we want to promote taller buildings in our Old Town area.
Chatterton: And I'll let chief weigh in here. Madam Mayor and Council Member, I don't
want to sound flippant, but I think that would be a -- the category of problems we would
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 8 of 23
want to have. We would like to work that problem with the development team, because
it means that what we believe to be true about downtown Meridian actually is, is that
real, true modern urban development is feasible in our downtown. So, that would be a
good thing. There are many things you can do with multi -story buildings. You can get
quite dense, for instance, and you can have floor area ratios which are pretty high and
yet with good design you often can make them look much more low rise, you can
deemphasize stories above a certain level -- there are a lot of different things that good
designers can do to make things like this work and so we really want to tap into
creativity. As far as the multi -story issue and our current firefighting capacity, chief,
would defer to you.
Niemeyer: Yeah. Certainly we have the ability to access higher buildings with our
aerial device, with the cooperative agreements we have with our neighbors to bring in
their aerial device if needed. I think what some cities have faced -- and I know Boise
has faced this issue is the streetscape. You know, those outriggers have to extend out
and there has to be enough room to get the aerial device in the air. So, that's a
consideration. But certainly from a capability standpoint we have that capability.
Zaremba: Thank you.
De Weerd: Any other questions?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Bruce, I like the train of thought. The information we are requesting -- what's
the forum -- or what's the expectation in terms of a deliverable? Obviously, it's a report
with economic analysis and that sort of thing, but when we are talking about some of
this depending on participation from philanthropic organizations, are we anticipating that
they will have gone out and done the outreach and actually have letters of commitment
or some vehicle to say something other than, well, we might be able to do this and
maybe that will happen and give us some more time on that issue -- you know, to me if
this is going to go I need something a little more concrete than a concept of wishful
thinking.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor and Council Member Rountree, absolutely. I mean that's --
that really is the -- I forget the term -- million dollar question here. As you will see from
the schedule in a minute we have already engaged with the performing arts community.
As all of you are aware there is a lot of interest in Meridian as a -- as a venue. That is
an appropriate indoor venue, but there is a lot of interest and certainly demand for it.
Autumn Kersey -- Autumn is here tonight, has done a fantastic job of bringing together a
stakeholder group for the performing arts. In the process we will be looking for
commitment in principle from various groups asking them what they bring forward in
terms of funding, grants, et cetera. I hope we can get there. I think there is enough
interest that we will probably be able to designate significant amount of money in terms
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 9 of 23
of philanthropic interest, but those conversations need to be continued and that's what
we are going to be doing, especially in the month of March as you will see in the
schedule, is continuing those conversations. And, again, it could be that the performing
arts piece of this moves on a separate track if we are not successful in gaining those
commitments.
Rountree: So, in terms of ours' as a city's commitment to this process, it sounds like
there is going to be an expectation presented in the RFP to any interested party that the
city will provide some of this information up front and if -- if not concrete, at least provide
our anticipated list of philanthropic groups so the contractor, consultants, whomever,
whatever shape we hire -- developer, can follow through. But I don't anticipate that we
are going to have an awful lot of luck confirming these things, other than, yes, we are
interested.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Rountree, again, I hope -- I'm optimistic
about this, but I -- there is no guarantee that we are going to be successful. That's
certainly a good point. There is a lot of interest, which we can gauge during the next 30
to 45 days or so and if there is commitment to be had I think we can get it. Obviously,
there is no guarantee. In terms of disclosing who is interested, one of the things we are
going to be doing is asking for letters of interest from the various groups that lays out
what they would be looking for from a performing arts center in terms of a performance
venue and what they propose to bring to the table as well and, of course, the -- the
ticket revenue portion of that would be significant. If all the groups that we -- that have
expressed an interest would -- would, indeed, want to be part of this. So, it's really
pulling that piece together. A number of things could happen over the next few days --
over the next few weeks. We could find that, again, performing arts needs to move
faster or slower than the other pieces and perhaps we are issuing an RFP for a --
performing arts would be on its own track and perhaps we are issuing an RFP for a
hotel/conference center by itself. We would really need to gauge that before you all
approve the RFP to -- to go out the door.
Rountree: Thank you.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Bruce, my question really kind of revolves around the New Ventures Lab and
why it's being excluded or included as part of the RFP and kind of being somewhat
exclusive and I'm sure there a rationale behind that. Are we saying, then, that the New
Ventures Lab is -- is more important than this project and, therefore, they are going to
work around it and -- I'm curious as to what the rationale is behind that.
Chatterton: We are looking -- Madam Mayor and Council Member Cavener, we are
looking for -- I think even Rick Ritter with Tech Connect, the company, of course, that
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 10 of 23
will be working with and managing New Ventures Lab, will tell you that old city hall is not
their end all --
Cavener: Sure.
Chatterton: -- that it's a great place to start and they are very appreciative of -- of the
allocation of resources to get that tenant improvement done. So, what we are trying to
do is include them -- I think it would be interesting to see if they can be included in the
two block area that we are talking about here, but, if not, perhaps we can find another
home for them as a result of a land swap or another -- other activity in the downtown.
But going back to Council Member Zaremba's point, we -- you know, we could have a
fairly dense mid rise project here and we -- it might be possible to easily accommodate
them in that overall development program. So, again, we want to challenge the
development community to include them, because they really -- there is some really
interesting synergies going on between the performing art center, having those tech
start-up center downtown, the conference center space, the hotel rooms -- it starts really
coming together there.
Cavener: I agree and maybe you can go back to the slide and maybe I misread it, but it
seemed to me, though, that the intention of the RFP is that the New Ventures Lab is
preserved in some way with the project that they bring forth and I just -- maybe that's a
question for Council is if that is something that is of the utmost priority.
Chatterton: And, Council Member, my starting assumption was that it's all important
and let's see how much we can get from this -- from this initiative.
Cavener: Okay. Thanks, Bruce.
Chatterton: Uh-huh.
De Weerd: Any other questions?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Borton
Borton: Bruce, do we lose some of the clarity by grouping it all into one RFP, even
though it might be broken out or they can propose on different components of it,
because it sounds like the performing arts center is such a truly different animal from
the assorted community partners that would participate financially perhaps as donors,
as users -- it's a much deeper bench there and there is some more immediate need or
at least demand, perhaps, for those types of users versus a convention center, which,
you know, when you talk of letters of interest and things of that nature, all of that really
is geared towards the performing arts center as I understand it where a convention
center to be different and seems to be, quite frankly, something that a municipality might
be tasked with carrying a heavier load to make something like that come through,
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 11 of 23
because you don't see really privately owned convention centers, very rare if they exist
at all. They just don't pencil. So, does it make sense in light of those concerns to do a
performing arts center RFP unique to that project and those particular partners wholly
separate from the performing arts -- or, excuse me, a convention center with or without
a hotel.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Borton, we thought long and hard about
this and along -- actually along the lines of what you just articulated. I don't know the
answer. As you will see our RFP schedule is pretty aggressive given some of the --
some of what we need to achieve in the meantime. I think we will know that answer in
fairly short order -- that is in a matter of months. You may have -- we didn't want to
leave the performing arts piece and the synergy that it potentially could have with the
other uses just on the table in a separate track. If there was a way to find a creative
development team that knows how to put all this together and wants to try to solve that
problem. So, we want to challenge them first and if the answer is, yeah, we would be
interested in a hotel/conference center, performing arts not so much, then, that would
tell us what we need to know about perhaps going on a separate track and perhaps a --
and it might not even be necessary to do a request for proposals for the performing arts
center, that might be something that could happen organically based upon some other
things, such as the -- a big issue -- another big issue that we need to work on is the
structure and ownership of the performing arts center, that entity, and, frankly, I need
some help with -- with ideas on that. And so -- but it's possible that if we work those
issues through that it could have its own track and we wouldn't -- we wouldn't burden
one with the other. Does that make sense?
Borton: It does.
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, that -- that makes me think of other locations that they maybe
have discussed this. The Boise Center on the Grove has a sizeable auditorium as one
piece of it that -- that is well used. Now it doesn't have the back stage capabilities, but
I'm thinking if you consider the whole complex, the performing arts center could be used
for conventions as well. Wouldn't necessarily be a play or an actual performing arts
thing, but the same way that the Summit Room at the Boise Center is used for large
conferences and stuff.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Zaremba, just to take your idea a little
further, even though the Egyptian Theater is not owned by GBAD, the Egyptian does
function almost as an auxiliary meeting space. A lot of -- a lot of meetings take place in
there. Obviously of a certain type. And, obviously, it's a -- in many ways a fine
performing arts venue as well. But it's almost auxiliary to what -- to what GBAD
currently offers with the -- with the Boise Center. So, is there a way, then, for the
performing arts component to -- in a developer's eyes to make the other pieces more
possible and help the performing arts center, too, to be successful. We don't want to
leave the private, nonphilthanthropic money possibility -- you know, basically from
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February 24, 2015
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developer sources. I think -- we don't want to leave that on the table. The chance of -- I
don't know what the chances are of getting that, but we would like to explore that and
see if that's out there.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Bruce, this might be a little bit redundant, somewhat similar to what Joe was
saying. Maybe. Maybe not. So, if you combine all -- everything in one RFP, are you
limiting your options of developers whereas if you had an RFP for a hotel/conference
center, RFP for -- you know, for each component separately, you bring I think a lot more
players to the table. So, I'm not --
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Milam, that's an excellent point and one of
the questions we will be asking in the RFP is -- is this mix appropriate and is any piece
of it viable on its own. So, again, we will be having these conversations in pretty short
order with developers.
Milam: Thank you.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: One of the last bullets -- bullets on your February tasks -- the month is
escaping is us -- is determining if and what consulting assistance is needed for that
process. Do you have a handle on what that --
Chatterton: We are going through right now -- Madam Mayor, Council Member Borton,
we are going through right now what our needs are for the dollars which have already
been budgeted and there is several things out there and so it's a subtle question of do
we want to -- for Sean Garritson, Pegasus, to have a role with the RFP -- if so the
purchasing issue is not a big one, it's a continuation of an existing contract. But I think
we -- that Pegasus' role at this point is probably going to be largely advice and counsel
on the RFP itself and perhaps helping us shop it. Now, that could change. In some of
the initial conversations we have with stakeholders perhaps Sean should be coming
back in to help us with some of those stakeholder groups. But, again, that -- we can
make those decisions fairly quickly once we have taken a look at the total demands on
our professional services budget and -- and what it is we need to do with that money.
Borton: Okay.
Chatterton: Move on? Okay. The schedule. Again, it's ambitious. I have provided red
checkmarks by the stuff that we have already done. Obviously, you have had the final
presentation of the project development plan. We have draft talking points for everyone
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February 24, 2015
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involved with the project. You know, there is such a thing as frequently asked
questions. Well, why is Meridian trying to duplicate the Boise Center or the Idaho
Center. You know, is this another public boondoggle, that sort of thing and, of course,
the answer is these are uses which are appropriately sized to Meridian and for which we
have demonstrated a demand and so on. So, talking points have been written and we
are going to be getting those to -- to really all concerned to make sure that we are --
everyone is on the same page. Lots of 101 conversations have continued with the
performing arts groups, property owners, selected developers that we have been talking
to. So, the last few days of this month -- tonight hopefully we are finalizing the RFP
schedule. The steering committee saw it last week and -- and thought it was fine.
Something else we are doing with the steering committee is we are working on some
past teams around funding, around the performing arts, and around the development
community and the good thing is that we have expertise on all of those areas currently
on the steering committee. So, February is almost gone, but a good part of this has
been done. March. Going to be taking Autumn up on her offer to reconvene the
performing arts stakeholder groups. There will be a couple of meetings happening in
March that have been scheduled already and let them know the direction that we are
headed. If they have any doubts about this being a strong direction, then, we will also
talk about the -- the strong interest and commitment of the Mayor and Council to see
this process through. Talk to them about the request for proposals. Introduce them to
the idea of letters of interest that we would be asking for them in the following months.
So, we need to know, as I mentioned earlier, of their interest, what their needs and
desires are. If they need office space. Their -- their annual budget and anything that
they bring to the table in terms of -- in terms of funding, grants, philanthropy, that sort of
thing. So, that's in March. April we get their letters of interest together, we put them all
together and come up with at least -- not a design for a performing arts center, but a set
of specifications that would meet the needs of as many of those critic groups as
possible. We have already started writing the RFP, but it would continue during April.
More conversations with developers, both to find out their interest and give us feedback.
Meeting with philanthropists to gauge their interest and hopefully get commitment and,
then, also develop scoring criteria for the RFP would be very important, so that we can
look at these in a very objective way. In May -- lots to do in May. So, we finalize those
letters of interest. We finalize the amount of philanthropy in this -- in this project, if any.
The draft RFP is available. More feedback from the community -- performing arts
community. Are there other uses in -- during that period of time which have come
forward that we would want included. Don't want to leave any of that on the table. Very
key question, one that I don't have the answer to right now is what's -- who is the
ownership management entity for the performing arts center? Again, it's possible it
could be a development company that has done this in the past, but at the moment it
may be that we need to develop that organization. We would need to finalize any
issues around the availability of the parcels of land. We are currently developing a
database of folks that we want to send the RFP to we need to market it. We are going
to market it through the Urban Land Institute, through our local BOMA chapter, through
the American Institute of Architects and really try to get this out there as widely as we
possibly can. In June there is a little bit less to do, because we finish the RFP, we are
sending it out about mid June -- June 15th. We finalize the scoring criteria and, then,
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
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we are giving them -- we are giving them 60 days to respond. So, in July we are busy
while waiting. We would be pulling together a review committee and we would need
some pretty broad based representation on that review committee. We need to make
sure that finance, real estate development, design, the performing arts, the hospitality
industry -- that we have some expertise on that committee. In August we get the
proposals back. We would start scoring them. We would provide a summary of the
recommendations to you all and, then, what we begin to look at is there a financial gap
and what, if anything, can be done to address that. Review and approval by you all and
MDC and, then, we begin talking to proposers and begin negotiation with the first place
team, assuming, of course, that everyone agrees and ratifies the recommendation to
move ahead with those discussions. And in September hopefully we would be off to the
races with a development team. This is optimistic. It's aggressive I know. I think it's
worth a shot to find out questions, to -- to find out answers to questions that we -- we
just don't have as yet. Once again I'm going to pause and get thoughts on the
schedule.
De Weerd: Council?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Bruce, obviously, February is just about over.
Chatterton: Yes.
Rountree: It's the transition from February through the rest of this process. In March
you talk about reengagement. That doesn't particularly set well with me in terms of the
word. I think you need continue engagement of the stakeholders and whatever
feedback loop you can put in the process to show that that's going to happen, because
would -- even a couple weeks there is enough rumors that are generated the
stakeholders are going to hear or create. There needs to be some continuity in this
thing to make sure that everybody is on the same playing field.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Rountree, absolutely. And reengage may
be not the best way of looking at it. We have been in constant contact, me personally,
with -- with several of the groups. So, I think it's refreshing it and updating them on the
conversations that we have had here, from steering committee, so that's a good point.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Just a thought. How do you reach out and make sure that we are getting this
request to as many people as we can? What's -- what has been suggested appear to
me to be mostly developers and construction -type people. I wonder if there might be
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February 24, 2015
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some way to tie into the users and I'm guessing that somewhere there is a national
association of managers of performing arts centers and if there was a way to contact
them and say, okay, what performing arts center works really well and who built it and
who designed it. You know, is there a state the art model that we should be thinking
about?
Chatterton: Well, let me call on a lifeline and put Autumn on the spot. Any ideas on
marketing this to the performing arts community?
De Weerd: Bruce? Autumn will have to come up front.
Chatterton: Really put you on the spot. Thank you, Autumn.
Kersey: Thank you. I'm happy to attempt to answer the question. There are a number
of professional associations that the arts groups are members of that we could certainly
lean upon to gather information. We have studied a couple of models in the Pacific
northwest, in California specifically, and I think what we have learned from all of them is
that they were built to specifications of their community's needs at the time and this was
many, many years ago. They struggle to keep up with technology and they are
somewhat frustrated besides. So, we might learn more from what they wish they had
now, but it's certainly something that I think is important in the RFP process that we do
that homework.
Chatterton: Any thoughts on how to get it into the hands of --
De Weerd: Bruce, I'm sorry, you have to speak into the microphone, too.
Chatterton: I just wondered if Autumn had any ideas on how to market it to that sector,
as was pointed out.
Kersey: Yes. Absolutely. We can reach out to those groups through communications
with our own contacts and there are a number of consultants in the performing arts
world that consult with groups that we can connect with and make sure that get our plan
in front of them for any advice or feedback.
Zaremba: Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions from Council?
Rountree: Move forward.
Chatterton: Only way to go.
Zaremba: Go forth.
Rountree: Do you need a deadline?
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
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De Weerd: Two and a half weeks.
Chatterton: I thought I had self-imposed one, but --
Rountree: You got it covered.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Sorry, not to put you on the spot. So, since there is just a few days left in
February are all of these items in February -- are they all complete?
Chatterton: Yes. Let me go back to that slide. We are -- everything checked off has
been done. Obviously, the one-on-one conversation, as Council Member Rountree
pointed out, those are -- those are ongoing, they don't -- they don't really stop and they
haven't stopped. We are finalizing the schedule tonight. So, there are the checkmarks
there. And we are working right now -- Brenda is working -- have been asked by the
steering committee to suggest roles and membership for those subtask areas.
De Weerd: And the steering committee meets on Friday, so that would -- that's still in
February, so he will be checking those off on Friday.
Milam: All right. Perfect.
Chatterton: And if you think that you all are demanding on this project, you should see
the steering committee.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you, Bruce.
Chatterton: Thank you.
Rountree: Thanks, Bruce.
C. City Council: Discuss Upcoming Budget and Participatory
Budget Pilot Project
De Weerd: Okay. Council, Item 7-C -- we talked with each of you regarding the budget
process last year and we have seen some of those changes in the schedule that Todd
has put out. We will be bringing that discussion back. Patty is working on an item that
was also brought up in terms of FTEs and we will be bringing that back at that time as
well. But, really, what we wanted to discuss is something that when you send an
elected member to training, be careful about what they will come back with. First,
through those discussions some of the -- I think opportunities we had is how we can
improve or better engage our public in our budget process and get better participation
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
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and/or interest. So, we wanted to bring to you an item that Councilman Borton thought
would be a way to better engage our public and certainly a specific group at this point,
but these are different ways to engage your citizenry in the budget process and so at
this point I will turn this over to Councilman Borton.
Borton: Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm half tempted to go to the podium, but I will sit
here and kind of give you a snapshot of what I mentioned very briefly back in
December, that in front of you is a -- kind of a pilot proposal for you to consider. One of
the things that we have dealt with, whether we have been here a long time or not, with
the budget process and some of the improvements, is to try to incorporate opportunities
for the public to be more involved on any particular level -- you know, are there some
creative things that can be done to try an engage our citizens. It's their money and to
give them an opportunity to participate more. One of those -- one of those ways that
other communities have done around the world, quite frankly, is this participatory budget
process. So -- and which is the one I mentioned before. It's a process that -- it's a bit
over 20 years old now. Quite frankly more often internationally, but several
communities around the nation are starting to incorporate this democratic influence in
some of the budgeting that the communities do. It's done in Boston and Chicago and
San Francisco. Vallejo, California. A number of cities and there is a number of others
that are starting to incorporate it in the last few years. So, what I have put before you is
an idea that allows Meridian to launch its first pilot project of this participatory budgeting
and it works something like this: The general -- the general process is you provide the
citizens an opportunity to -- from amongst themselves decide what within their
community is important to them, what they might want to fund. That community group
with city assistance develops a ballot and ultimately that community group makes the
selection of what will be funded that they, then, have determined is most important to
them. In other communities it's really been a great way to engage them, to give the
community members some more buy in and truly feel like they are building their
community. It's a great education opportunity for the citizens to have an understanding
of kind of the decisions we have to make with limited resources. I hold us accountable.
We support the transparent principles. Transparency principles we all try and promote.
So, is there a way that Meridian can try this type of project with kind of a control group
with limited risk in a measurable and meaningful way and, then, determine if it works.
So, that's what's before you. So, the most measurable and controlled group that's
available to be able to try this this spring is MYAC. A lot of communities -- Boston is
one of the most notable that has done a youth base participatory budget and the youth
there get a large sum of money and it's well developed. But the idea would be MYAC
with the assistance of the city staff. Todd and Ken are both less than tasked or cursed
with trying to shepherd this through. MYAC would develop the items that could be
placed upon a ballot. The MYAC leadership team in March and into April would refine
those ballot proposals and, then, the MYAC membership would vote. The obligation of
the elected officials is to support the project and while there is no change in city
ordinance or code, there is no delegation of spending authority, it's a commitment from
elected officials that with the assistance of city staff and developing the process and
insuring that the items placed on the ballot are within the parameters that we are okay
with, no personnel, for example, no ongoing expenses, the idea is one-time capital
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
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expenditures, this is something that we can incorporate into our community within the
next 90 days. So, there is an outline that -- that gives a real big snapshot of how it
would work. There is some additional details from the national organization attached
behind it which talks about a lot of different case studies in communities where it's
worked, how they did it, how they refined the voter pool, but, really, what's consistent in
all of them is -- is the opportunity to sprinkle a little bit of democracy into the republic
process that we use. So, it seems to me I -- when I learned about it I thought it was
really interesting. I thought it was a wonderful way to empower in this case MYAC. It
could grow if successful. Where other communities have, you know, all high school
vote and the eligible voters are age 14 to 18. If you are over 18 you can't vote. Or a
senior community. Or a particular district in a community. That may or may not make
sense for us, but for the short term what I would ask the Council to support and the
Mayor and I have talked about it, we talked with Finance, this particular calendar that's
before you, the question that the Council needs to give direction -- if they want to go
forward and try this pilot project is what type of financial commitment would the Council
be willing to commit to this. It's not -- not new monies, it's not an additional expenditure
necessarily, but it needs to be an expenditure that is meaningful to those that are
making -- making the decisions. So, that's what would take place through June. That
finished project would go to Finance to be incorporated into our budget for our ultimate
approval with everything else. We then use the fall to determine, hey, did it work, you
know, did it make sense, was it cumbersome, did it actually engage citizens, did we
commit too much or too little, are there ways to expand it to other areas in our
community. It may work and it may not. I'm cautiously optimistic. It's well worth the
endeavor with minimal risk. So, it's an exciting opportunity, it's innovative, everybody up
here always wants more community involvement in these types of decisions. So, it
seems to be a perfect way to launch it.
De Weerd: Thank you, Councilman Borton.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, I would like to express an interest in trying it. It seems like a
much more organized way to accomplish something that I have thought about many
times and that's sort of voting with your tax money I guess I would put it or a cafeteria
plan for operating government and my thought was the way I have applied it is, okay, so
the IRS tells you how much you owe this year and they supply a list of government
programs and you say, okay, here is where I want some of my money to go, here is
where I want some of my money to go, here is where I want some of my -- and I call
that voting -- voting with your money and if a program isn't supported it isn't supported.
If it is, then, it thrives and that is kind of a cafeteria plan, because as you go through a
cafeteria you choose this and you don't choose that and you choose this and you don't
choose that. That would be almost unmanageable, even though I think it's an attractive
idea. This appears to be an organized way to sort of go that direction to get people's
input and, like I say, I think it's worth trying.
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February 24, 2015
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Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: To respond to Councilman Zaremba's questions, one beauty of this type of
process is -- to the cafeteria analogy, the items that are discussed, the genesis is the
voters themselves. So, it wouldn't be set up necessarily where in this case if Todd and
Ken are setting those ground rules, the kids aren't presented -- the voters aren't
presented with here are 12 things that the elected officials are going to let you work on
and, then, vote on. You truly delegate that authority to those voters to -- within the rules
to populate the cafeteria, so to speak, with the ideas that are most important to them.
We may be amazed at what we find.
De Weerd: And the largest challenge is going to be to make sure that they are not led
in any particular direction and that will be the task of the facilitators. Yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Councilman Borton, I think this is a great idea and what an amazing learning
opportunity for the youth to experience the budgeting process, even if it wasn't
successful it would be successful at that. So, I think -- but I have -- I'm optimistic that it
will be successful. So, yeah, I definitely think it's something that we should try.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Councilman Borton, I'm more on the cautious side than on the optimistic side
and curious to what the -- the end result is. What is our -- the ultimate goal for our
community as a result of this and the second question I have is who ultimately is going
to determine the amount of funding that is set aside for this. I see ten to 20 thousand
dollars. Who -- who is capping that and what determines that financial amount?
Borton: Madam Mayor. Go ahead. Mr. Cavener, I will take the second question first.
think it's us. In every community that I have seen, at least in the nation, what happens
is the elected officials set those financial parameters, that kind of put the side boards on
potential projects that could be funded. As to what we gain is -- and I really have from
the anecdotal evidence from other communities is kind of an eye opening experience
that those elected -- or, excuse me, those voter have selected, for example, a -- you
know, benches around a skate park, which we never really would have thought about
and it, actually, to those -- that voting group was extremely important. Or in another
community it's street lighting or -- it's something that we might not have been close
enough to appreciate what is truly what's demanded by the -- by the voter.
Cavener: Okay.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
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De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Having sat through 16 budget hearings -- budget processes with the largest
citizen participation in terms of attendance being five folks in the audience, but most
generally one. Thank you, Ralph.
De Weerd: I had standing room only my first year.
Rountree: And that's only one experience in those 16 years. Actually, those 20 years.
So, anything we can do to increase participation in the budget process -- I'm not sure
this is the answer, but it -- it looks like an exercise that's worthy exploring. I have some
questions. You indicate a commitment to the process and funding parameters, so does
that recommended budget range include not only the budget, but it would be budgeted
by the group with the implementation costs, because there are costs to having meetings
and group sessions with staff and doughnuts and whatever it takes to get people to
come. Is that in that mix?
Borton: Madam Mayor. I think for the sake of the -- the experiment it can be.
Rountree: Okay.
Borton: It truly is. And some of the benefit, again, to the pilot project is using MYAC,
where it would be a component of their preexisting meetings and times and locations
and whether they get doughnuts or not and --
De Weerd: No, they don't.
Rountree: Now, one of the wrinkles that did come up --
Zaremba: Bran muffins.
Borton: -- is the time of Todd and Ken -- at least those two to facilitate, if not help create
some of those side boards, so the kids, from the educational component, learn about --
you know, it's not hiring staff and it's not ongoing maintenance expense, there is going
to be those types of projects that they may suggest that staff will correct them to
understand that those -- that's not included. How to capture that additional time I don't
know. Great question. I think that's part of the September to November evaluation.
Rountree: Evaluation. The other thing I would like to see in place before we do this --
and it's along the lines of the question you asked when you finished up your
presentation. We have this list of questions, which are in the form of a question, but
reflect what our expectations are. So, we have the questions and we are going to get
answers and that will tell us -- that will, in essence, be the performance measure. Can
we successfully answer these questions as a result of this process? And you listed
several questions at the end of your presentation, which I did not note and I can't
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February 24, 2015
Page 21 of 23
remember, but they were I think on par with what I'm saying. They sounded like that's a
way to measure the success or failure of this. Because I'd like to see that down on
paper before it starts. I'm okay to move forward with it. I'd like to see that done before
the process finishes.
Borton: Madam Mayor? I think -- and you may, Madam Mayor, know the best schedule
for the next steps, but if we are going -- it might be able to be a parallel track where we
are establishing those particular measurables on the accountability and transparency
and the community building in conjunction with MYAC's next step. Meeting with the
executive team, getting them informed of what the opportunity is for their group and
having them help to find those measurables. That's the next step.
De Weerd: Councilman Borton, I -- on March 10th is the next general meeting of MYAC
where we thought to present this structure and the purpose. That gives a week and a
half to really clarify some of the comments that have been made. We can bring to the
executive committee next week something further. I did have a conversation with them
last week after -- after Todd, Stacy and you and I met and they are ecstatic that they are
being asked. They knew that you were bringing this to Council and to understand if this
is something that the city wanted to explore at this time and they knew that a follow-up
conversation would be had next week in case this was to move forward, but at first
blush they would be willing and enthusiastic participants to pilot such a project and to
work within whatever structure that is -- is proposed and see how they can make it as
successful as possible. And one of the things that they really liked -- and they already
have that opportunity in MYAC right now is to see the results of -- of their influence or of
decisions that they participate in making and that's what's really exciting for them -- for
many of these that participated in that discussion, of course, they are seniors and they
are moving on, they are almost envious to not be here next year to be able to see how it
unfolds. So, you certainly got a lot of enthusiasm in the suggestion that this might be a
possibility, that they can -- that they can help pilot and they love the idea of being the
first.
Borton: Madam Mayor, one of the questions that we will have to decide at some point
relatively soon if we were to go forward is that financial side board. You know, in the
other communities that have done it elsewhere they literally allocate one -- they have,
you know, from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, upwards of three million
dollars in this kind of project, which is not at all what we are talking about, but we are
going to have to give them some parameters and the ten and 20 thousand is nothing
more than a -- kind of a general idea that's not diminimus that doesn't allow you to do
anything meaningful, but not such a large number that we are -- we are comfortable sort
of delegating that much spending authority until we see what takes place. So, we are
going to have to define that number at some point.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: And I guess that some point is maybe after you have had a chance to
present a structure and purpose to the executive committee to bring on the 10th. Maybe
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February 24, 2015
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you can report back next week to maybe have that conversation, because definitely
before the 16th when it would be scheduled to bring to MYAC to brainstorm ideas for
funding and debate, they need to know an amount that they are creating ideas for.
Borton: Okay.
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I just was curious for Councilman Borton if there is a best practice community
that we can model. I recognize you mentioned Boston and San Francisco, large
metropolitan areas. Is there a sister city of Meridian that's out there that's done this that
we could learn from some of their best practices to implement here in this pilot
program? And I recognize I'm putting you on the spot.
Borton: No, that's fine. Madam Mayor, so, the -- we are not -- we are definitely not
reinventing the wheel in that other communities have done it, but it is extremely -- within
the last three to five years and there is a lot of communities that are more our size that
-- the website that's at the bottom of the material, it has a map and it shows you the
communities that are doing it, but, then, it also shows you ones that have either
discussed it from the community perspective or from the city perspective, but they are
literally where we are at. They do have resources where -- and I haven't followed up,
not knowing where the Council wanted to go. We can call and ask that very question
and they would be tickled to provide us the particular community that's doing it. They
also have a multitude of forms and ballot samples and, you know, sample rules that
other communities have used. So, that should help speed things along. That's a great
question.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions for Councilman Borton at this time? We will put
it back on the agenda next week for further discussion and kind of solidifying some of
the -- the ways to move forward.
Borton: Okay.
Item 8: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. Council, under Item 8, future meeting topics. Anything
for future agenda considerations?
Rountree: Just the last item. This last item.
Item 9: Executive Session Per Idaho State Code 67-2345 (1)(c)(d)(f): (c) To
Conduct Deliberations Concerning Acquiring an Interest in Real
Property, Which is Not Owned by a Public Agency; (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
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 23 of 23
De Weerd: Okay. I would entertain a motion, then, for Item No. 9, Executive Session.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I move we go into Executive Session per Idaho State Code 67-2345(1)(c), (d)
and (f).
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adjourn into Executive Session. Madam
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, absent, Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: (7:13 p.m. to 9:03 p.m.)
De Weerd: Do I have a motion to come out of Executive Session?
Rountree: So moved.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Rountree: Move to adjourn.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:03 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
Meridian City Council
February 24, 2015
Page 24
MAYOR TPAMY DE WEERD
ATTEST:
HOLMAN, CITY
17 /,5-
DATE APPROVED
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