HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-05
Meridian City Council April 5, 2016
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:05 p.m., Tuesday,
April 5, 2016, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Keith Bird, Genesis Milam, Ty
Palmer, Anne Little Roberts and Luke Cavener.
Members Absent: Joe Borton.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jaycee Holman, Bruce Chatterton, Sonya Watters,
Josh Beach, Clint Dolsby, Jamie Leslie, David Jones, Todd Lavoie, Crystal
Ritchie and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
Roll call.
X_ Anne Little Roberts _ Joe Borton
X__ Ty Palmer X_ Keith Bird
__X__ Genesis Milam __X__ Lucas Cavener
_X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: Again, thank you for being here this evening. I will go ahead and
launch right into our regular agenda. For the record it is Tuesday, April 5th. It's a
few minutes after 6:00. We will start with roll call attendance, Madam Clerk.
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 Justin Jordan with Real Life
Ministries
De Weerd: Item No. 3 is our community invocation. Tonight we will be led by
Justin Jordan with Real Life Ministries. Thank you for being here this evening.
Please join us in the community invocation or take this as an opportunity for a
moment of reflection.
Jordan: Thanks for having me. Let's pray. Lord, we come before you tonight
and thank you for just the opportunity to come and pray for the City Hall, City
Council, for our Mayor, for our great city. God, we are thankful that we live in an
amazing city, the greatest city in the United States and you bless us with
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amazing citizens and amazing leadership to lead this city. I pray for unity
amongst this Council, amongst the different divisions of City Hall as they
continue to lead us and lead -- make the best decisions for this great city. God,
we ask that the different departments as they are getting ready for budget for
next -- for 2017 that there would be unity and an ability to really think about
what's best for the citizens in this community and they would work together and
that the agenda that everybody brings forward would be one that is in harmony
with one another and what's best for this great community. We pray for your
blessing to go upon the citizens of this city and it would be great knowledge for
our -- for our kids and our grandkids as well. Again, I pray for leadership. I pray
for just wisdom and discernment and unity and thank you, Lord, that you bless us
so abundantly in Meridian, Idaho. We pray this all in your son's name, amen.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you, Pastor Justin. Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: On the agenda -- on the Consent Agenda Item Y, the resolution number is
16-1127. Z is 16-1128. AA is 16-1129. And under the ordinances, 10-A,
Ordinance is 16-1677. B is 16-1678. C is 16-1679. D is 16-1680. And E is 16-
1681. And we want to add an Item H, the appointment of Jacy Jones as City
Clerk to the City of Meridian. With that I move we approve the amended agenda.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda as amended.
All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
A. Proclamation for Ambrose School Boys’ Basketball
State Champions Day
De Weerd: Council, tonight we have the privilege of having the boy's basketball
state champions here with us from Ambrose and I'm going to move down to the
podium, but I will ask the players and their coaches if you will, please, come join
me at the podium. Well, it's always a great privilege to be able to recognize hard
work and those ambassadors that represent our community and do us proud.
We are very proud of the hard work that you all have worked towards this state
championship and so this is your day. I'm going to read a proclamation without
your names, because usually I butcher them, so -- but I will tell you that in the
proclamation that will be part of the public record it will include your names. I do
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have a proclamation that lists all of them out, so if some day you ever want to
show your family members that you made it into the history books of the City of
Meridian you can do a search on your name and it will come up. So, with that
said let me read this proclamation. I will turn it over to -- I will present it to your
coach, but I also understand -- which of you are Travis? That you may have a
few words to say afterwards. No one told you that? Whereas being an Ambrose
Archer basketball player is more than scoring point, making assists, grabbing
rebounds, stealing the ball, and achieving the state title, it is training to build
leadership, character, confidence, teamwork and resilience, all traits needed to
succeed on the court, in the classroom, and in the real world and whereas for the
2015-2016 the Archers not only went undefeated in their conference, but
continued the basketball domination at the district tournament by bringing home
the winning trophy and whereas their strong desire to exhibit excellence in all
they do resulted in 67-62 victory to win the Idaho A-1, Division 1, boys state
basketball championship tournament and whereas capturing the first ever
basketball state title builds school spirit and allows these young to walk the halls
of Ambrose with a little extra swagger and whereas the leadership, training, and
discipline of their coaches helped all team members to focus their talents and
passion to becoming a winning team, with each player making a valuable
contribution to their victory. Therefore, I, Mayor Tammy de Weerd, hereby to
proclaim April 5th as Ambrose School Boys Basketball State Champions Day
here in the City of Meridian and I call upon our community to join me in
congratulating the Archers on their remarkable athletic achievement and for
representing our community, Meridian, so proudly in the state tournament and I
will turn this over to their coach. I will ask the coach to -- to say a few words and,
then, we will have their captain do that and, again, coach, I would like to
congratulate you with this achievement. Certainly it's your team, but we know the
hard work and discipline behind being the coach as well, so thank you to you
both.
Hosier: Thank you very much. Okay. I will keep this short. So, first off, on
behalf of the Ambrose School and the Ambrose community let me express my
appreciation to the City of Meridian and Mayor Tammy for this honor. It has been
a privilege to coach and mentor these young men over the past several years.
Our program has come a long way from the carpeted gyms and five gyms in five
nights that we had 11 years ago to the pinnacle of our sport a state
championship. I feel the team has represented the community of Meridian well,
both with honor and humility. I feel -- sorry. And as we talked about many times
before, we don't play basketball to give glory to self, but we play basketball to
give glory to God. Once again let me express my gratitude for taking th e time to
recognize the hard work and achievement of these young men and I wish you a
good evening. Thank you.
Yenor: Yes. As coach said, our school's athletic mantra is soli deo gloria, which
is a Latin phrase that means glory to God alone and that's our goal here as
Ambrose basketball players, give the glory to God and we also want to thank
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Meridian for allowing us to come here and for the honor -- honor that it is to have
a day named after us. Thank you.
De Weerd: So, if I could get each of you to just say your name and the position
that you play, we would greatly appreciate that.
Hughes: My name is Jaxon Hughes and I played point guard.
Yenor: Travis Yenor and I'm the center.
Good: Reagan Good and I'm a guard.
Wilson: Zach Wilson. Backup center.
Ashaye: Dami Ashaye. Small forward.
Walsh: Matthew Walsh. I'm a guard.
Boeck: Easton Boeck. Power forward.
De Weerd: Thank you very much.
Item 5: Consent Agenda
A. Approve Minutes of March 1, 2016 PreCouncil
City Council Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of March 1, 2016 City Council
Meeting
C. Approve Minutes of March 8, 2016 City Council
Workshop Meeting
D. Approve Minutes of March 15, 2016 City Council
Meeting
E. Approve Minutes of March 22, 2016 PreCouncil
City Council Meeting
F. Approve Minutes of March 22, 2016 City Council
Meeting
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G. Approve Minutes of March 29, 2016 City Council
Special Meeting
H. Final Order for Reflection Ridge Subdivision No.
5 (H-2016-0010) by Schultz Development, LLC
Located 575 E. Rumple Lane Request: Final Plat
Approval Consisting of Fifty-Three (53) Building
Lots and Nine (9) Common Lots on 18.88 Acres
of Land in the R-8 Zoning District
I. Final Order for Reflection Ridge Subdivision No.
6 (H-2016-0015) by Schultz Development, LLC
Located West of S. Locust Grove Road and
South of E. Victory Road Request: Final Plat
Approval Consisting of Thirty-Nine (39) Building
Lots and Five (5) Common Lots on 12.75 Acres
of Land in the R-8 Zoning District
J. Final Order for Oaks South No. 4 (H-2016-0020)
by Coleman Homes, LLC Located South Side of
W. McMillan Road, Between N. McDermott and
Black Cat Roads Request: Final Plat Approval
Consisting of Forty-Six (46) Single Family
Residential Lots and Seven (7) Common Lots on
17.99 Acres in the R-4 Zoning District
K. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for
Olivetree at Spurwing Subdivision by Spurwing
Limited Partnership Located North of W.
Chinden Boulevard and West of Spurwing Way
Request: Two (2) Year Time Extension on
the Final Plat for Olivetree at Spurwing
Subdivision in Order to Obtain the City
Engineer's Signature on the Final Plat
L. Final Order for Creason Creek Subdivision (H-
2016-0022) by CS2, LLC Located Southeast
Corner of N. Linder Road and W. Ustick Road.
Request: Final Plat Consisting of Thirty-Four
(34) Single Family Residential Lots and Six (6)
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Common Lots on 15.75 Acres of Land in the R-8
Zoning District
M. Professional Services Agreement for Concert
Series Production Services Between the City of
Meridian and Epique Events and Gifts
Regarding Kleiner Park LIVE at Julius M. Kleiner
Memorial Park
N. Amended Development Agreement for Verona
East (MDA-15-002) with Gerald Martens located
at 5048 N. Cortona Way, in the SW ¼ of Section
26, Township 4 North, Range 1 West. (Parcel No.
R9010660620)
O. Approval of Task Order 10680.a to ADVANCED
CONTROL SYSTEMS for the “SCADA System
Upgrades PRV’s 2, 6, 10, 14, 23 & 26” project for
a Not-To-Exceed amount of $76,480.00.
P. Vacation And Release Of a 27’ Easement
Adjacent to McMillan Rd. At Paramount Square
Sub (Mcmillan Road)
Q. Vacation And Release Of a 35’ Easement
Adjacent to Meridian Rd. At Paramount Square
Sub (Meridian Road)
R. Sanitary Sewer And Water Main Easement
between the City of Meridian and Brighton
Development, Inc. for Paramount Square
Subdivision No. 2
S. Sanitary Sewer And Water Main Easement
Between The City Of Meridian And Isola Creek
LLC for Isola Creek Subdivision No. 3
T. Sanitary Sewer Main Easement between the City
of Meridian and Challenger Development, Inc.
for Normandy Subdivision
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U. Sanitary Sewer And Water Main Easement
between the City of Meridian and Sagewood
Overland LLC for Sagewood Subdivision
V. Sanitary Sewer And Water Main Easement
between the City of Meridian and Corona LLC
for Sagewood Subdivision
W. Water Main Easement between the City of
Meridian and Brighton Development for Hill’s
Century Farm Phase 3
X. Easement Agreement Between University
Venture Dst And City Of Meridian For Sanitary
Sewer Lift Station Underground Infrastructure
At Kennedy Commercial Subdivision And Bill Of
Conveyance For Certain Infrastructure
Components.
Y. Resolution No. 16-1127: A Resolution Affirming
City of Meridian's Commitment to Provide a
Community Match Under the Idaho Tax
Reimbursement Incentive Act in Support of the
Proposed Idaho College of Osteopathic
Medicine to be Located in Meridian, Idaho; and
Providing an Effective Date
Z. Resolution No. 16-1128: A Resolution (H 2016-
0017 Shops at Victory) Vacating a Portion of the
10-Foot Wide Public Utility Easement Located
on the Northwest Corner Boundary of Lot 3 of
Golden Eagle Estates. Subject Property is
Located at 3210 S. Eagle Road in the NW 1/4 of
Section 28, Township 3 North, Range 1 East,
Boise Meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County,
Idaho; and Providing an Effective Date.
AA. Resolution No. 16-1129: Resolution (H2016-0016
Quenzer Commons No. 10) Vacating Plat Note
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#5 that requires Lot 11, Block 13 to take access
from N. Quenzer Way. Subject property is
located at 3997 N. Quenzer Way, in the SE 1/4 of
Section 31, Township 4 North, Range 1 East,
Meridian City, Ada County, Idaho.
BB. Continued from March 22, 2016: Final Plat for
Paramount Subdivision No. 31 (H-2016-0021) by
SCS Brighton, LLC Located North of W.
McMillan Road and East of N. Linder Road
Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of
Forty-Two (42) Single Family Residential Lots
and Three (3) Common Lots on 10.54 Acres in
the R-8 Zoning District
CC. Final Plat for Shops at Victory (H-2016-0029) by
WL Victory Crossing, LLC Located South Side
of E. Victory Road and East Side of S. Eagle
Road. Request: Final Plat Consisting of Three
(3) Commercial Lots on 3.68 Acres in the C-C
Zoning District
De Weerd: Okay. Council, Item No. 5 is our Consent Agenda.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: As stated earlier, Item No. Y is -- the resolution number is 16-1127. Z is
16-1128. AA is 16-1129. And with that I move we approve the Consent Agenda
and for the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. If
there is no discussion, I will call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
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Item 6: Community Items/Presentations
A. Presentation by Senator Marv Hagedorn regarding the
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
De Weerd: Okay. Under Item 6 is a community presentation. We have with us
tonight Senator Marv Hagedorn and would like to have you come forward and
thank you for joining us.
Hagedorn: Thank you, Madam Mayor and City Councilmen. This is a pleasure
and I appreciate the opportunity. I wanted to come in last week after we got out
of session, but you guys were pretty busy, so this week will do. I wanted to come
before you for two reasons. One -- the first reason was to thank you. When we
were in the middle of negotiations with the Idaho College of Osteopathic
Medicine -- at that time it was just the College of Osteopathic Medicine -- the
Department of Commerce came to you asking you for some help to throw
something in the kitty to make the CEO -- the decision makers of the new
medical school feel welcome, to help entice them to come to Meridian and you
did that without really knowing a lot about what was going on, but you trusted a
lot of people and I really, really appreciate that. It made a huge difference in their
decision. In fact, after the Mayor had come and presented the letter to the CEO
of the Burrell Group he came to me that afternoon and said this is so different
than where we were and we worked 11 months in Montana and we still didn't feel
welcome and we have been here for 30 days and it feels like home. So, you
made a huge difference and I wanted to thank you for that. It really -- it really
helped solidify this deal. The second reason I wanted to come before you was to
tell you -- kind of tell you the story about how this whole thing happened, so you
had that history and, then, answer any questions that you might have since the
decisions were made. A lady by the name of Suzanne Frederick, who lives in
Eagle, was the executive director of the Idaho Osteopathic Medical Association.
We have about 200 osteopathic doctors in Idaho of the 3,200 that we have right
now in Idaho. She knew of this school that was planning -- or this group, a
private company, that was planning on building this college in Montana, in
Bozeman, and they were having some problems. They weren't getting a good
welcome from the Montana Medical Association. They were struggling with --
with the WWAMI folks in Montana. WWAMI is the association we have to train
our medical doctors between five different states and they were fighting an uphill
battle and Suzanne talked to them and wondered if they might be amenable to
considering Idaho and she came to me and said -- because I'm also the senator
for Eagle -- she said, hey, I got this great idea. Maybe we can bring this College
of Osteopathic Medicine to Idaho and that was on December 20th and I said, you
know what, I would really, really like to talk to you about this, but tomorrow my
son gets married and I have a house full of all kinds of people and, then, the
holidays and we are going to -- because I have people calling me all the time with
really, really great ideas. But this one was. After the holidays I made an
appointment with Suzanne and we sat down, along with Kent Kunz and Kent had
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gone through -- the reason I asked Kent to come was Kent is the representative
for ISU and he had gone through the study eight years earlier, the medical study
that we did to see if we could place a medical school in Idaho and a lot of us --
although we were really pushing for that, had our tails handed to us, because
Idaho could not do that alone. It was an 80 million dollar effort. We didn't have
the residencies, we didn't have the ability to do the clerkships. We couldn't do it
by ourselves. So, we have been working with WWAMI trying to build up that
process. So, I wanted Kent in that room. So, Kent and I and Suzanne went to
Kent's office and we talked about what the opportunities were. Kent called the
president of ISU and asked him if he would be interested and President Vailas
said absolutely, positively not, until I get some coverage from the governor,
because every time I try to do something outside the norm the state board of
education smacks me. It sounds like a great idea, but I can't get involved in it.
So, I put a quick plan together. I went over and briefed the governor in about
probably less than 45 minutes from when we talked to the CEO, making sure that
he would consider Meridian and I got the governor's blessing in about 15 minutes
and we put the right people together. They were very hesitant to brief people on
the potential of the -- or this college coming to Idaho, because of the -- the issues
that they experienced in Montana. Dr. Hasty had already put down money on a
house. They had made a lot of investments in Montana. They had been working
there for 11 months and they just were having a struggle making it work. Too
many people were working against them. So, they wanted to find a place that
they could plant some roots before they really ran into the same issues and they
did that here. Within 30 days we had a contract between ISU and -- and the
Burrell Group put together, but it took us the next two weeks to get the state
board of education on board to brief them on what happened, why they weren't
briefed up until that two weeks later and in 45 days we had their unanimous
consent to partner with ISU and build this college here in Meridian and so I
believe it's going to not only change the face of Meridian, but I think it's going to
change healthcare in Idaho significantly. We are already seeing where
companies are now looking at Idaho to support the college. They are looking at
opportunities and the College of -- the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
already has 300 more preceptors within the five state region signed up to do
clerkships. This is three years before we even have the opportunity to do a
clerkship and so people in the five state region that they will be supporting are
very excited. They plan on and announced that they were going to take what the
City of Meridian offered them monetarily and the tax credits that they are going to
get from the state and create scholarships for Idaho students. Idaho students in
our contract have -- qualified Idaho students in our contract have priority for the
seats in the university at ISU, so -- and we have two seats on the board as well
for the college. So, I think we came out fairly well. A hundred and ten -- roughly
110 million dollars. I met with -- that's going to be spent the first year. I met with
the CEO of -- excuse me. The investment manager for the Rice Foundation --
Rice University Foundation, they are going to be the major partner in the
investment. He was here last week and we met and he was so excited to walk
through the labs and the facilities at ISU, he understands -- with what he saw he
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said, you know, we aren't going to have to invest as much as we planned, which
means we can invest in other places and so we talked about rural Idaho and
about the struggle that we have in getting doctors to rural Idaho and that struggle
includes facilities. If we want to bring a doctor to Challis or to Council, they -- not
only do they need to move there, but they need to build a practice there. They
need to have facilities to do that practice. So, we are in discussions right now
with the Rice Foundation to possibly do some investments in rural Idaho, so we
have a place for our students to go where our shortages exist. So, I wanted to --
seriously just wanted to thank you. Thank you for taking the chance, because I
think it's really going to pan out for us and with that, Madam Mayor, I would love
to stand for questions that anybody might have.
De Weerd: Thank you, Senator. Council, any questions?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, Marv, Senator, whatever we call you today, not
necessarily a question. I just wanted to -- it's an important I guess aspect that
got my support behind it was the fact that we are taking a piece of land that's
currently tax exempt and it's becoming not only an economic juggernaut in the
middle of town, but it's going to start producing a lot of property taxes. So,
essentially, all we are doing is giving them a small piece of their property taxes
back for them to reinvest directly into scholarships. So, that was important to me
and that made it a really easy decision that I'm not sure what other places were
missing out on, but got me excited about it. So, thanks for pushing it through and
making it happen.
Hagedorn: I appreciate that, Ty. And Ty, by the way, was my first campa ign
manager. Although we lost that campaign, it was still --
Palmer: That's not important.
Hagedorn: Yeah. That's right. I think that's a really valid point and I also believe
a lot of people miss the opportunity of sales taxes, income taxes, spending that's
-- I mean just the students alone -- we are going to have 600 students and their
families that are going to be moving here and there is -- they are going to need
the support of being in that college just to live. Then we are going to have all the
doctors that are going to be teaching and all the support staff that are going to be
teaching and moving into our -- into our area and they are going to need all of the
-- the housing and all of those things and they are going to -- they are going to
get paid very well and they are going to spend their money right here in the
Treasure Valley.
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De Weerd: And when I talked with the gentleman from Rice Management Group,
he -- he did mention that they are committed beyond opening the doors and that
was -- that was exciting, but they -- they see that this will bring the synergy for
health and health science related businesses -- almost become an opportunity
for incubating ideas and innovation and so they have met with some of the
surrounding activities that are going on through some of our private practices and
the research they are doing and saw the opportunity there. So, it will have a
ripple effect I think not only in healthcare and the quality of care in our state, but
for the economic opportunities that also come with medical education and
medical colleges. So, it is an exciting time. We look forward and certainly I -- our
City Council has been all in for much of what Councilman Palmer mentioned, but
what we can add to our generations coming forward and the opportunities that
they can study here in our state and, then, in turn, practice in our state and that's
exciting.
Hagedorn: Yeah.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Marv, just a nice thank you to you for what you did to get this college here.
I mean you're the number one player and we were just a little bit of a helper there
for you and I certainly, certainly appreciate it. Thank you very much.
Hagedorn: It's a team. I have been -- I have always enjoyed working with the
City Council here.
Bird: Thank you very much.
Hagedorn: I mean just -- we have a good relationship and I really appreciate
that.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Maybe to echo Councilman Bird's comment, our thanks. Great
constituent services. I mean when you think about that to have a citizen contact
you and say I have got a great idea and to embrace that idea and to your point I
know you get a lot of really, really good ideas, but I appreciate you noticing a
great idea when it was presented and I also think it's important to thank the
Mayor and our economic development team for jumping in. I know this was an
aggressive timeline and had to be kept somewhat quiet and I appreciate your
support on this project. Mayor, thanks to you and your staff for their work on this
project. People talk a lot about win-wins, but it's my understanding that's like a
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win win win win win. So, it's great for Meridian, it's great for the state, thank you
for your hard work on this.
Hagedorn: Thank you, Luke. I appreciate that. And I felt really bad, because we
-- there was only about ten people that were read in onto this program and what
we were trying to accomplish and we had to put a timeline together when we
could bring other people that were critical to making this happen, but we had
milestones. If we -- if we met this milestone, then, we have got to bring, you
know, person X, Y and Z on board and, then, we have got to meet the next
milestone and I saw some of you and I so wanted to tell you what was going on,
because I was -- I was losing sleep just from the excitement of the possibility.
We had a lot of long days putting things together, but it just -- it has really come
together well and there is some -- there is fences to be mended, because there
were some folks that found out late and felt that they should have been involved
much much earlier, but this private company decided they wanted to do it the
way they wanted to do it and so we needed to -- we needed to observe that. So,
anyway, thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you, Senator.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yeah. Mrs. Milam.
Milam: You kind of said what I was going to say, but I just am so excited about
this project, Senator, so -- just hearing you talk about it again almost brings tears
to my eyes and I know it's kind of mooshy, but it's -- it is such an opportunity for
our city and for our state, for our kids, it just makes me so happy inside and I'm
glad you called that lady back. Good job. Keep it up.
Hagedorn: Thank you. I don't let a lot of them go by. So, I have been cued --
she's a great lady. I believe she is still involved with the college, as will be a lot
of people. I'm just excited that we were able to land it here and put a stake in the
ground for them, so --
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor and Senator, just, again, thank you so much. I
don't want to reiterate what everyone else has said, but thank you for moving at
the speed that they needed it to move at to make sure that it happened. I know
that was a whirlwind for you and just on behalf of the business community and
my other hat with the Chamber we are absolutely thrilled that it is going to be in
Meridian and Dr. Hasty will be our guest speaker at a Chamber lunch next month
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and so we are thrilled to be welcoming them having them in our community as
we speak.
Hagedorn: I appreciate that and, seriously, I did not come here for any
accolades. This was -- this is just something great for our -- our community and
-- and I'm excited about it and I know all of you are excited about it, too, and I
really wanted to thank you for buying into this so quickly so early without knowing
all the details. It made a huge difference. It really did. So, thank you for that.
De Weerd: Thank you, Senator.
Hagedorn: Thank you.
De Weerd: So, Senator, before you leave, I just want you to know that there is
an exhibit upstairs. We are having a reception and wanted to make sure
everyone in our audience knows this as well, but upstairs we are previewing two
artists. One is Joyce Akerman and she's got a beautiful display. Opposite is
Jessica Tookey and she has named her exhibit The Faces of Suicide. It's a very
weighty exhibit. It shows that there is some serious issues behind the smiles and
the faces, that it is to bring awareness to suicide and the live s that impacts not
just those that are in the pictures, but the -- the families, the friends, the
communities that are impacted by it and I would be honored if you had a moment
to go up there. The exhibits last until 7:30 this evening and just say thanks to the
artists. It is timely, because on Friday on April 8th we will have Do The Right
Day. This is our second event. Last year we kicked it off and it's just trying to
share and promote a movement of compassion that do something nice to the
person on your right. It could be the person seated in the chair on your right.
Your neighbor to the right. Your coworker to the right. The locker to your right.
And this is something promoted by our Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and the
city and it comes at a great time where we have this art exhibit and the reminder
of how -- how far a moment of compassion, a nice kind word, will go in improving
someone's day and ultimately their life.
Hagedorn: Thank you, Madam Mayor. And I think you will be happy to know we
have been working -- I have been personally working on our Idaho Suicide
Hotline for about four years and we funded it with very little money, but all we
could scrape up the first year that we started it and this year we were able to now
officially get that under the Department of Health and Welfare, so the Department
of Health and Welfare will be able to build a budget in. We have -- Idaho was
amongst the worst for suicide amongst our citizens for many years and we have
to change that. My interest is not only suicide of the citizens, but veteran
suicides and that's how I got the initial money into the suicide hotline was through
veterans funding and so we did a lot with the suicide hotline and with suicide
prevention in this legislative session and a lot of that will go into effect the first of
July, but, hopefully, we will start making a difference in suicide and I appreciate
you doing that and I absolutely will go up and visit. Thank you.
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April 5, 2016
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De Weerd: Well -- and I will say that our youth council two years ago presented
the PSA that is being shown across the state on behalf of the Idaho Suicide
Prevention Hotline and just letting people know that recognize the signs and
make sure you get that person helped. Tell someone.
Hagedorn: Yeah.
De Weerd: So, thank you for what you do on that, because I know your
involvement in it, too.
B. Mayor's Office: Mayor's Youth Advisory Council (MY AC)
Update
De Weerd: Okay. Item 6-B is our Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. We have
Brianna here to give you an update of the works of the Mayor's Youth Advisory
Council.
Siddoway: Thank you, Madam Mayor. So, I will be giving the sixth update of the
Meridian Mayor's Youth Advisory Council this school year. So to begin I would
like to talk about the executive council trip to the National League of Cities in
Washington DC. It was held from March 5th through March 9th and there were
nine students who were able to attend. I'd like to list our sponsors just to give
them a special thanks. The Village at Meridian. Dutch Bros Coffee. Meridian
Medical Arts Charter High School. Papa Murphy's Pizza. CBH Homes. And
Northwestern Marketing Concepts. Buckle Up For Bobby. Kirby Graphics LTD
Company. Northwest Neural Behavioral Health, LLC. Progressive Realty,
Incorporation. Kathy Chambers, a State Farm agent. Venture Meridian
Magazine. Mountain West Bank. And Ty Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: If I could interrupt you for a second. While my name is on there I
appreciate that. I just wanted to point out that I actually -- I used campaign funds
and I checked with a few of my donors that had helped me get her e and they
were more than excited to help support your cause, so thank you.
Siddoway: Yeah. Thank you.
De Weerd: Well -- and I would just note that Mr. Palmer did that while we were in
Washington DC. He let them know, hey, I want to sponsor you. I have made
sure that it's all legit and I can do that and just his excitement and our youth
council went out -- they had to earn the money to go to Washington DC. They
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April 5, 2016
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are still out there working and so if they call on you, make sure you treat them
kindly. But we appreciate you stepping up.
Siddoway: So, I talked with the members of our executive council and I asked
them if they had any thoughts that they might want to share about our trip. A few
of them said that they learned different ways to vote an d it was amazing that we
were able to have a voice on a national level. We learned many different ways to
communicate with our community and be able outreach with them. We had the
idea to expand our current schools, instead of building new ones. We also
learned more about our American history through the -- the places that we visited
and we were able to meet and see national leaders. Some of the historical sites
that we visited was the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Martin
Luther King, Jr., Memorial. World War II Memorial. Korean War Veterans
Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I'd just like to add my personal
insight on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. My grand pa served in the war and I
had heard a story that he told and I wanted to find the name of the person that he
had -- that he had served with who was killed in a plane accident and his name --
you can see in the bottom center, the name Denny C. Johnson was the name
and I was able to find his name and send the picture to my gran dpa. So, that
was such an amazing experience to be able to do that and be able to see all
those people who have served our country to get us where we are today.
Some other places that we visited was the National Zoo. The Smithsonian. The
Capital, which we had a personalized tour of it. The White House we had a tour
of as well. And the Library of Congress. It was so cool being at the Capital,
seeing the statues, some the actual -- you know, part of the actual building that
was standing years ago and being able to learn more about our government and
the -- the creation of it. At the Library of Congress that was another amazing
one. The artwork there is beautiful and it was such an amazing, amazing
experience.
De Weerd: Now, before you move on, how many steps did you take?
Siddoway: Oh. Okay. I counted -- well, I had -- I had it on my phone and we
took over -- like 20,000 steps a day and the maximum is 10,000 on it and so I
was really racking it and take pictures of them every day. So, it was really kind of
fun to see. We were walking everywhere in downtown DC and it was so fun. It
was awesome. So, to move on, we had Mad City Money. We -- we partnered
with CapEd and Ford Movement Training Center where we held the activity. This
is an enjoyable way to educate teens on financing that we all need to know in our
near future. When we started we had a packet that gave us an occupation,
salary. Some had a spouse, a child, student loan, debt -- credit card debt and
medical insurance payments. And so our challenge was to stay within a budget
and visit these merchants to select items such as housing, education, food,
household necessities and clothing, daycare for a child and other wants and
needs. We even had our police officer, Officer Gomez, wh o would give us tickets
or he -- he would give us like a reward for something good that we did and so
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
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that was also fun, you know, something unexpected that happened. At our
STAND event -- which stands for Supporting Teens Against Nicotine
Dependency, we held this event at The Village Cinema and we gave -- we gave
teens in Meridian the opportunity to attend a free showing of Jurassic World. We
partnered with The Village at Meridian and the American Lung Association and
with this we highlighted the dangers of nicotine and tobacco and vaping and
Officer Gomez was our DJ for it, as he is known to do in the past, and we held a
dance party and afterwards we had a raffle. The prizes were announced by
Officer Gomez at this event. For our participatory budgeting we -- this is a
different way to manage our public money and it engages the youth with our
government leaders. The Mayor's Youth Advisory Council -- we were able to
decide how to spend the part of our public budget. We -- we gathered the ideas.
We had 70 total. Then we narrowed it down to 20 finalists and with the help of
our general council we -- we decided on the top five. These five are increasing
trash and recycle bins. A BMX track in a park. An adult routine obstacle course,
focus playground equipment and a tree gym. We -- we incorporated two events
-- I'm sorry. We also -- bike checkouts from the library where people would be
able to go to the library and rent a bike and, then, bring it back and a Meridian
greenbelt, kind of like the Boise one or pathway improvements. So, we will be
finalizing our top choice next meeting and we will have that to you. Soon,
Hopefully. I will now stand for questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Brianna.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Thank you, Brianna, for all you guys. I do have -- I heard a rumor --
Siddoway: Okay.
Bird: -- when you were in Washington DC that a young lady -- a little older than
you guys -- a young lady had all you guys moaning and groaning about walking
so much. Is that true?
Siddoway: Well, I mean we did do a lot of walking, but it wasn't necessarily bad,
it was just -- you know, we walked from point A to point B and --
Bird: She wanted to go back to the motel first.
Siddoway: Yeah. I mean it was -- sometimes we were hungry and we wanted
dinner, but we also wanted to go see memorials before it got dark and it was -- it
was fun and --
De Weerd: You know he's giving you a hard time.
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April 5, 2016
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Siddoway: Oh, yes, I know.
De Weerd: It goes back to are we there yet.
Siddoway: Yeah. No. We asked all at the same time. We were trying to make
the most of it, but, you know, one time we walked from, you know, the furthest
ends of DC -- it was a long walk, but it was so much fun, you know, being able to
connect with each other. It was -- it was a great experience.
Bird: You want to stay in shape like that so you can do like she does.
Siddoway: Yeah.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Not to put you on the spot. What was your favorite monument and what
did you take away from it? Or it doesn't have to be a monument. Anything that
you --
Siddoway: Anything that I visited? Oh, my gosh. So hard. I really loved the
Washington Monument. That was the first one that we went to and before I had
kind of -- before I had gone my friend and I we learned more about the
Washington Monument and the creation and the time of it and so that was really
cool to be able to go there and I remember how excited we were. I guess that's
why it was so fun. I remember how excited we were to see it and it was -- and
just being there in person, that was so cool. I also loved the Library of Congress,
looking at the -- Thomas Jefferson's library and in the library itself there are
70,000 books and I was -- you know, a fact that I -- I learned. You're also able to
go and study there and, like I said before, it's the artwork, it's amazing. It's
stupendous that they would be able to do that, you know, I congratulate them for
that, you know. It was amazing.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Maybe a two part question. It's related to the participatory budgeting
that the youth have been working on. Can you talk to me a little bit about what
that process has been like for the youth council? Is it a challenge? Has it been
rewarding? Something you would consider doing again in the future?
Siddoway: Yeah. So, we introduced it to the youth council last year -- with the
last school year and we kind of introduced it and say is this is a thing that you
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would be interested in. We got a lot of input from it, you know, people are
saying, yeah, that would be cool to do it. So, this year we really put it into effect
and we -- we talked with community leaders and, finally, once we got all the key
details that we needed we brought it to the general council and we said you have
this amount of money to do whatever you want to do with it to better Meridian
and so with it we go those 70 ideas and, you know, that was quite a big outcome
and we are so pleased to know that these people -- you know, members, they
wanted to make this change and so once we got it in pencil -- lowered the
numbers a little bit, combining ideas, you know, that might have been repeated
by different people and, then, when we were able to pick the top five from the
general council we really knew what Meridian was all about and I -- I feel like
that's getting people involved in what we are doing and I know that from the drive
that I have seen in MYAC that we -- together we will determine the most
appropriate one for our city and I think that we will have a really amazing
outcome.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, one follow up. Talk to me about the tree gym. I have
never heard of this and it -- it sounds interesting. I'm curious as to if it's what I'm
envisioning.
Siddoway: You still -- I had only heard about, but -- the night that it was selected,
so from what I understand it's just kind of in -- it's like a gym for adults, but it -- I --
I don't know how to explain it. It has kind of obstacle courses and things like that
for adults to be involved in in kind of a more energetic environment than a gym
you could say.
Cavener: Great.
Siddoway: I could get you more information about it and so --
Cavener: Thank you. I appreciate it. Great presentation.
Siddoway: Thank you.
De Weerd: Any other questions or comments? Thank you, Bree --
Siddoway: Thank you.
De Weerd: -- for being here.
Siddoway: Thanks.
Item 7: Items Moved From the Consent Agenda
De Weerd: Okay. There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
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Item 8: Action Items
A. Continued from March 15, 2016 Copperbrook
Subdivision (H-2015-0029) by Hayden Homes Idaho, LLC
Located 4725 N. McDermott Road
1. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 51.45 Acres of
Land with an R-8 Zoning District
2. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of
199 Building Lots and Eight (8) Common Lots on
51.45 Acres of Land in the R-8 Zoning District
De Weerd: So, we will move to Item 8-A, continued from March 15th. I will turn
this over to staff for comments.
Watters: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. First item before
you tonight is a request for annexation and zoning and preliminary plat. This site
consists of 51.45 acres of land. It's zoned RUT in Ada County and is located at
the southwest corner of West McMillan Road and North McDermott Road at 4725
North McDermott. The Comprehensive Plan future land use map designation is
medium density residential. The applicant proposes to annex and zone a total of
51.45 acres of land with an R-8 zoning district for the development of 198 new
single family residential detached homes, consistent with the medium density
residential future land use map designation for the site. There is an existing
home, a shop and two sheds that are proposed to remain on Lot 12, Block 1,
along the frontage of this development on McDermott Road. The other existing
structures are proposed to be removed. Lot 12 is designated on the plat for
future right of way for the construction of State Highway 16. Lot 12 is this lot you
see right here where my pointer is at and that is where the existing home and
outbuildings are. When the highway is extended all the remaining structures will
be removed. Until that time the applicant requests Council approval for the
existing home to remain on well and septic and not be required to hook up to city
services. The preliminary plat is proposed that consists of 199 building lots and
eight common lots on 51.45 acres of land. The subdivision is proposed to
develop in nine phases with the last phase being a 300 foot wide lot for the
extension of State Highway 16 where the existing home is located. There is an
outparcel along McMillan Road. That's what you see this pointing to here. Staff
did recommend the applicant include that parcel in the development. However,
they have been unable to do so. It is an original parcel of record per our UDC.
The applicant is in communication with the property owner and is trying to obtain
permission to construct a sidewalk along the frontage of that property. At staff's
request the applicant has submitted a conceptual development plan showing how
this parcel may integrate into the development in the future as a street buffer
along McMillan and three building lots and that is what you see here at the upper
right-hand corner. Access is proposed via West McMillan Road, an arterial
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April 5, 2016
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street, along the north boundary and via North McCrosson Avenue, a collector
street, proposed along the west boundary of the site. No stub streets exist to this
property and none are proposed to adjacent properties. The applicant requests a
waiver to UDC 11-3A-3, which requires all subdivisions to provide local street
access to any use that currently takes access from an arterial street. They would
like to retain two accesses via McDermott, one for the existing home and that is
approximately in this location here and another for secondary access for the
subdivision in approximately that location. They would like to retain the two
accesses until the redevelopment occurs. The Idaho Transportation Department
completed an environmental impact study for the extension of State Highway 16
to I-84. The study identified a north-south road a quarter mile west of McDermott
for access to individual parcels that would no longer have direct access to
McDermott, as well as an east-west secondary road that would provide access to
a potentially landlocked parcel, the Maxwell Goldbach property. ITD's plan here
is shown on your left. You can see this kind of faint red line, that is ITD's access
plan. Changes to the location of these roads could potentially impact the future
construction of the express way and/or increase the cost to taxpayers in order to
provide connectivity. The applicant is not showing a road in the location
preferred in the study. However, they are proposing an access be provided by
the collector street at the half mile. ITD does not object to the proposed
alternative access. So, as you can see this is the site here. This is the location
of the proposed collector street and the applicant's proposal for access to these
parcels there. A draft of a revised plat with updated open space calculations was
included in the letter to the city from the applicant, dated March 3rd. A pathway
connection was added within the block along the south boundary to the multi-use
pathway required along the creek and one building lot was removed from --
adjacent to a large common area, which opened up to the common area and
increased the area and that is right here. There was an extra lot hanging right
out here. The proposed changes and updated calcs appear to comply with the
minimum open space standards. The Five Mile Creek runs off site along the
southern boundary of this site. A ten foot wide multi-use pathway is required to
be constructed off site along the north side of the creek in accord with the master
pathways plan in accord with UDC standards, except for the buffer a long
McDermott Road. The applicant proposes to install a five foot wide pathway
along McDermott, but construct a street buffer along the future right of way for
State Highway 16, instead of along McDermott and that would be in this location
right here. Because it is an existing arterial street the UDC required a 25 foot
wide buffer to be constructed along McDermott with development. However,
code does allow for a request for alternative compliance for a width reduction. A
minimum of two site amenities are required to be provided with this development.
The multi-use pathway counts as one and the applicant proposes a sand
volleyball court at the southwest corner of the site. That is right down here where
the pointer is at, within the common area proposed for drainage. Staff is
recommending if a volleyball court is provided that it be placed within a common
area central to the development and not within the storm drainage area. A
portion of this site along the southern boundary lies within the floodplain overlay
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April 5, 2016
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district and will require floodplain permit application to be submitted prior to
development. Staff recommends the applicant construct the ten foot wide
pathway off site along the southern boundary of the site as depicted on the
pathways plan, which will count towards required amenities for the site. Building
elevations were submitted for five different styles of homes within the
development as shown. Building materials consist of horizontal lap siding with
shake accents and a gable with optional masonry accents on the front elevation.
Because the rear or side of homes on lots that face North McCrosson Avenue,
West McMillan Road, and the future State Highway 16, collector streets and the
state highway and an arterial street will be highly visible, staff recommends the
rear or sides of structures on these lots incorporate articulation through changes
in the materials, colors, modulation and architectural elements, horizontal and
vertical, to break up monotonous wall plains and roof lines. The Commission
made a recommendation of denial at the hearing. Casey Ketterling testified in
favor. No one testified in opposition or commented and written testimony was
received from John Carpenter, the applicant's representative. Key issues
discussed by the Commission was the location of the multi-use pathway along
the creek versus along McMillan Road. At that time the applicant was proposing
the pathway along McMillan. Now they are agreeing to construct it along the
creek and, then, extend it up to the north to McMillan, the future intersection . In
the second they felt that there was too many outstanding issues to determine at
this time what the future extension of State Highway 16 and the existing site
conditions with the existing home being retained, the existing accesses, lack of a
street buffer along McDermott, several of the existing conditions and proposed
requirements for the site. The Commission changed staff recommendation.
They recommended denial to City Council based it not being in the best interest
of the city at this time for the previously mentioned reasons. Outstanding issue
for Council tonight is Council should determine whether or not it's appropriate to
annex and approve a development plan for this property at this time with future
impacts to this site from the State Highway 16 extension and existing site
conditions. Written testimony since the Commission hearing has been received
from neighbors, letters in support that are south of this site, south of the creek,
from Kenneth Wilcox, Phyllis and Joe Plower, Karma McFadden and for Robert
McFadden and Scott Anderson and a letter from John Carpenter and Casey
Ketterling and another memo from John Carpenter, the applicant's
representative, in response to staff 's original recommended conditions. Staff will
stand for any questions the Mayor and Council may have.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions at this time?
Bird: No. I don't have any.
De Weerd: Okay. Is the applicant here? Good evening. If you will, please,
state your name and address for the record.
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April 5, 2016
Page 23 of 77
Ketterling: You bet. Casey Ketterling. 332 North Broadmore Way, Nampa,
Idaho. 83687.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Bird: And after listening to that young -- vibrant young lady that spoke I feel like
you would be really disappointed with an engineer.
De Weerd: She did have a lot of energy, didn't she?
Ketterling: Lot's of energy. Yes. I have a 13 year old daughter. It seemed very
similar to what I'm used to at home. Madam Mayor and Members of Council, I
would like to express appreciation for the opportunity to speak to you this
evening and present our project Copperbrook Subdivision. Before I begin I
would like to just give a quick summary of our presentation to team. Get the
hang of his board here. Hayden Homes is a well established development
company. They have been developing residential communities in the Pacific
northwest for more than 25 years and they have over 9,000 residential homes to
their credit. Hayden Homes has located their office in the City of Meridian and
have completed several developments, including the Village at Cole Creek and
the Village at Lochsa Falls. Just a couple photographs of some homes that they
have actually constructed in the City of Meridian and I'm an engineer with TO
Engineers and John Carpenter is also here with me and has been involved in this
project and so he -- there may be questions you have for me that may be a better
candidate to answer. We have been working with staff on Copperbrook for some
time now and I appreciate the attention to detail that the staff has put into their
report, both the written report and their presentation this evening . And with that
amount of information already presented, I'm not going to restate all of the basic
statistics that were just presented to you and rather just focus on a few project
distinctions and some progress that we have made since the Planning and
Zoning meeting. As was -- as was stated, our project is located immediately
adjacent to Meridian city limits. It's actually directly across the street and west of
The Oaks planned community that's already completed several phases of
development. Our project is currently included in the city's Comprehensive Plan
with a planning and zoning of R-8 and just as a note this project was also
included in the sizing of the new regional lift station, which is located across the
street and it's also part of the city's water planning and the part of it was used to
locate a well near the same location. Planning and Zoning did recommend
denial of our application and indicated that t he timing appeared premature and
this was based primarily upon questions related to the proposed Highway 16
alignment, so we are going to discuss some of that this evening. The findings
from the Planning and Zoning meeting are in your packet and if you'd like you
can turn to page 25 of the staff report and we will quickly review a couple of
those findings. First related to annexation. The findings A through D under
annexation indicates our development is consistent with the city's goals and
planning for the Comprehensive Plan, the zoning, public health and safety, and
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April 5, 2016
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that we don't present any adverse impacts. Finding E reads as follows: The
Commission finds annexing this property with an R-8 zoning district is not in the
best interest of the city due to there being too many outstanding issues to
determine at this time with the future extension of State Highway 16 and the
existing site conditions. As far as the preliminary plat findings, Item A, which I
have on the screen there, says the Commission finds that the proposed plat is in
substantial compliance with the adopted Comprehensive Plan in regard to land
use and circulation. However, it is not in compliance with ITD's corridor study for
the extension of State Highway 16, because a north -south access is not provided
at the quarter mile to provide -- provide access to the properties to the south of
the creek. Item D through F, once again, indicates our development is consistent
with the city's planning and goals. So, as you can see there are really two
specific items of concern identified. One was outstanding issues related to the
State Highway 16 extension and outparcel and the other was related to the
location of the collector street providing access to the southern parcel. So, I plan
to address those two items tonight. The first is the Highway 16 alignment. Our
project is impacted by ITD's long range planning and the future location of their
highway. We have met with ITD and they are in agreement that our project
works to respect their planning efforts and preserves the necessary corridor for
the future. They recently sent -- sent us a letter and I have highlighted one
comment in there. I'd like to read it to you. ITD would like to express our
appreciation for the City of Meridian and the developers of the Copperbrook
Subdivision for their foresight and willingness to leave a 300 foot setback along
the west boundary of their development, which has been identified for the course
of the future State Highway 16 alignment, thus helping to avoid un necessary
impacts to homeowners when the future State Highway 16 highway is built and
saving taxpayer dollars. ACHD expressed agreement with our planning as well
in their staff report when they stated the applicant has coordinated and planned
for the State Highway 16 extension with the Idaho -- with the Idaho
Transportation Department and ACHD. As such the applicant has planned for
the future right of way dedication to accommodate the future McMillan Road
overpass at State Highway 16. Staff is supportive of the applicant's proactive
approach and planning for the future State Highway 16 extension. So, the way
that we are meeting agreement with both of these transportation agencies is,
essentially, to bear the entire burden of the right of way on our prope rty and we
have done this by providing a large lot in our subdivision that would be reserved
for this future highway and since the development of ITD's plan, which could be
as much as 20 years out, would essentially make it so the 5.7 acres can't be
further developed. In the interim we are asking that the existing home be
permitted to remain on the property. To assist in the time in between the
homeowner has agreed to remove several permanent structures that are located
at the north end of the lot at the owners expense and also to move forward with
fixed points as was stated by staff. Another item that was identified in the
findings was that the proposed location of the collector street of McCross on.
ITD's planning identified a potential frontage collecto r road at the quarter mile as
shown on this display. However, ACHD is the agency with jurisdiction over local
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
Page 25 of 77
collectors. So, your staff actually tasked our group with signing an agreement on
where this roadway should be located. So, we met with both ACHD and ITD
actually several times and on March 23rd a meeting was organized with both
ACHD, ITD, as well as a representative from the city and the developer were in
the room and the meeting was positive and several agreements were made. So,
one of them was that ACHD and the city have jurisdiction and that ITD will defer
any approval to those agencies. The second is that the half mile spacing for the
collector is proposed on our preliminary plat is preferred by ACHD and it's
consistent with our master planning. ACHD indicated in their staff report -- and I
quote: The applicant's proposal meets district policies and should be approved
as proposed. ITD in that same letter I showed earlier stated that ITD concurs
with ACHD's recommendation -- recommended location for this local road.
Meridian staff requested that we demonstrate that the parcels to the south can
obtain access to the new collector. This graphic demonstrates a potential road
location that would give access to all of the southern parcels. In an effort to
further demonstrate that we have a good plan, we have been able to get written
support from all the owners to the south that can be seen on this map. The
owners of the hatched property have expressed their support of Copperbrook in
writing. We also would like to specifically address the regional pathway, which is
located just off our property to the south. We are proposing to locate a ten foot
wide multi-use pathway that complies with the city's planning objectives along the
Five Mile drain. This property is owned by the Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District
and so we needed to request approval from them to be able to locate the path on
their property. Nampa-Meridian has agreed to allow us to construct a path within
their lot. However, they have indicated in a letter dated March 28th that an
additional pedestrian crossing at the quarter mile is not acceptable to them. I'd
like to just end with a couple concluding statements. First, we are in agreement
with the staff report and we are willing to comply with those conditions. This
property is in a planned expansion area of the city. It is in the Comprehensive
Plan. It's adjacent to city limits and it's included in the regional planning for
utilities. Our layout takes the future ITD alignmen t into consideration. In fact,
ITD, as we found out later, expressed their appreciation for our planning efforts.
It's a good precedence for the city and for the department to set aside this right of
way. Our project is consistent with ACHD's master plan and it will provide for --
and we will also provide for a portion of the new bridge that will cross Five Mile
Drain. So, our proposal before you this evening is acceptable to both ACHD and
ITD. Our project will develop several pedestrian amenities. We will be
constructing sidewalk along our frontage along McMillan Road, an internal
pedestrian network, including connections to the regional pathway, which we
have talked about internally it's going to serve as a nice loop. We can go on the
pathway on the File Mile Drain and then -- and, then, walk through the pathways
internal. We will be constructing our portion of the regional pathway along the
Five Mile Drain and connecting it up to McMillan Road and, then, there is a large
central park for the residents. And, finally, we think there is an important note
that the neighboring property owners who will be most impacted by development,
the ones to the south, have expressed their support of Copperbrook Subdivision
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April 5, 2016
Page 26 of 77
in writing. So, over the last several weeks we -- we have done a lot of work and
we have really tried to be diligent to obtain greater clarity on several items and
we now have specific statements of concurrence from several agencies,
including the Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District, ACHD, and ITD. Additionally,
we experienced greater involvement and support from the neighbors. Through
this effort we are convinced that our proposal before you this evening is in the
best interest of the community and the people that will be most affected by it,
those by our development, and respectfully request approval this evening. So,
thank you for hearing my proposal and I will stand for any questions you have.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions for the applicant at this time?
Bird: I have none.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Thank you, Mr. Ketterling, for your presentation. One question now
that you didn't cover and I'm curious if you could maybe talk me through the --
the thought process on the volleyball pit for your amenity. It seems to me you
have got a lot of homes that are going to attract a lot of families and according to
the school district they anticipate 160 school age children and I'm just -- could
you explain to us a little bit why the volleyball pit was selected as the best option
for you?
Ketterling: You bet. And, actually, have had a lot of discussion about that. I
wish I had had more in my presentation about it. We -- staff had expressed that
the volleyball pit, where we originally proposed it, may not be the best amenity to
provide, which we -- in an effort to work with staff and come up with better
alternatives, we have also discussed some picnic areas in the larger central park,
which will be connected by sidewalks and, actually, some of those patio homes
front to that park and so we talked about providing better amenities and the
central park itself. We would just like to discuss the option of the volleyball pit,
because we think it would be fun, in a shallow area with all that sand in there.
But we are going to provide other amenities as well and not -- not necessarily
rely on that to be one of the two.
Cavener: Okay. Great.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything else at this time? Thank you.
Ketterling: Thank you.
De Weerd: I did have some individuals that have signed up on the sign-up
street. When I call your name -- and I will apologize in advance that I might not
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say it right. I would ask you to come forward at that time. Kim Schwisow? I'm
kind of -- I'm sure like de Weerd, no one ever says de Weerd -- de Weerd, but
how do you say your last name?
Bird: Schwisow.
De Weerd: Thank you. If you will, please, state your name and address for the
record.
Schwisow: So, for the record it's Kim Schwisow. 6659 Airport Road, Nampa,
Idaho. 83687.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Schwisow: Good evening, Council Members, Madam Mayor. So, I have been
working on what I was going to say up here for a couple days and my kids just
got finished with spring break. My little guy couldn't sleep Sunday n ight going
back to school, so I thought I would practice on him, going over what I was going
to say. Fortunately or unfortunately, he fell asleep. So, tonight I'm speaking in
support of this development on behalf of the property owners, Lois and Gary
Schwisow. They are here tonight. I'm going to provide you with some
background information to this property on the owners and reasons for approving
this development. Lois and Jerry met at Meridian High and officially purchased
this property from Jerry's father in 1975 when they returned from Germany after
the end of Jerry's military service. They have farmed, had a dairy farm, and
raised five children who all graduated from Meridian High on this property. They
have watched three of their grand children graduate from Meridian High and
even my kids say they want to go to Meridian High, so I may have to move back
to the city so they can do that and not break the tradition. These aren't people
you find front and center running events, getting attention, but t hese are people
who are behind the scenes, kind if in the background always helping, whether it
was helping check kids in at wrestling tournaments, shuttling kids back and forth
to the event they needed to get at, or just having a safe place for anyone their
kids brought home to have good dinner and a safe place to stay. They collected
stray kids like many people collect stray animals. They bowled on a bowling
league here in Meridian Lanes for over 35 years and Lois used to shuttle some
elderly ladies weekly into the Meridian Bowling Lanes for their weekly senior
league. So, this is where the memories of their life have been created and they
want to continue to make good memories here. This development will truly be in
their backyard for the time being until Highway 16 and so they believe by
choosing Hayden Homes they have chosen a good partner that will insure quality
development not only for them, but for the city. Hayden has been creating
developments throughout the northwest for over 25 years. They are not a cookie
cutter developer. They don't develop hundreds of acres of land, they are really
selective about where they build, what they build, what they use to build. They
want to provide quality and value to their home buyers. They care about the
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April 5, 2016
Page 28 of 77
communities they are developing in. In November they gave a 25,000 dollar
backyard makeover to a Post Falls veteran. In addition, there is a small portion
of their proceeds from every sale of the home, each time it sells that they go into
a community fund and it helps the community, it helps other -- build other homes
for low income families in the communities that Hayden is developing. They
have a community giving fund and that fund has provided funds to the Women
and Children's Alliance in Boise. So, Hayden is a really good community partner
and the right partner for this development. As Casey talked about, Hayden and
the city have spent a lot of time putting together the pieces of this project. We
appreciate the time that the staff has spent on this. One of those pieces has
been the opposed Highway 16 corridor --
De Weerd: Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to summarize.
Schwisow: Okay. The city staff -- ACHD, ITD and Hayden have met and have
created to a well thought out plan for this development and as you know you
approved The Oaks development that's about 252 for the north and 135 on the
south. That's just directly across the street. The services are there. So, this
area is undergoing a lot of change, which is -- it's reflective of the change that
these people also are seeing in their lives. It's kind of time to transition farming
into something that is a little bit more usable and maintainable. So, the -- not
only is the property going to change, it's going to get cleaned up and tran sitioned
from farming and so is their life.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions? We appreciate that. Carmen
McFadden signed up in favor. Good evening. If you will, please, state your
name and address for the record.
McFadden: My name is Carma McFadden. My property is 6750 West Lazy
Diamond C Lane and I also represent my father's estate, which is at 6830 West
Lazy Diamond C Lane.
De Weerd: Thank you.
McFadden: So, Madam Mayor and Council, I just want to say that I do believe
that that west of there will be developed, so I approve of what Hayden Lake is
doing. I think our farming -- which it currently is, is not going to be what's
existing, it's turning to development, so we would like to also see our land being
able to be developed to that. We have known for years Highway 16 was coming
through. It's really restricted what we could do with our land for several years
now, so we do know that that is coming. Kind of the only thing that I would ask is
-- I am one of those lands that will be landlocked without the quarter mile -- we
are showing the quarter mile. That if there would be a way that they could put a
stub road to allow for openings for us -- I know it's not going to be a main
collector road and I agree that the half mile wil l be fine there, but at least opening
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April 5, 2016
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something up so that we could use it for access and also for emergency as we
potentially could develop our property also on that.
De Weerd: Thank you.
McFadden: Thank you.
De Weerd: I think this is Lenny Nelson. I wasn't even close. Right? Oh. Okay.
signed up in favor. Connie Porter. Signed up also in favor. Good evening.
Porter: Hi.
De Weerd: If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Porter: Connie Porter. 19630 Friends Road in Greenleaf.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Porter: Idaho. I am a sister to Carma McFadden. My father Ron McFadden had
the property right next to her, so it will be affected, you know, affected by the
development. I am in favor of the development. I grew up and I have been on
that property off and on since -- for about 59 years. The farming on Schwisow's
property -- I mean the land is okay. It's not great farm ground. Obviously, you
can see across the road all the subdivisions that's going in. It's kind of sad to see
some of the farm ground being turned into subdivisions, but that's just the way it
is. Move out to Greenleaf. We have lots of farm ground out there. So, I am in
favor. I also am a little concerned about maybe a stub road that we cou ld kind of
access. Hopefully we will be marketing my father's estate -- he just passed away
this summer and it would be great if we could market it more as a potential
development than just a small piece of farm ground, which is going to be stuck
without -- when Highway 16 comes -- until they put that half mile road in there,
but I am for the subdivision. From what I saw it looks like it's going to be a pretty
good -- good plan. My husband has developed subdivisions in the past and this
looks very compliant with what you want. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to provide testimony
on this application?
McKay: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I'm Becky McKay
with Engineering Solutions. 1029 North Rosario in Meridian. I'm here on the last
item, but I have seen this application and I reviewed it and I designed The Oaks
development to the east of this project. I want to, obviously, emphasize to the
Council that the Highway 16 extension is going to be west of McDermott and as a
City Council you guys have the power as far as annexation and rezone in order
to make sure that decisions and land uses are not made that will hamper that
Highway 16 extension. That overpass for McMillan Road goes west of
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April 5, 2016
Page 30 of 77
McDermott. Now, in The Oaks we worked two years with ACHD, with ITD, and
we even showed the footprint of additional right of way so that when that
overpass starts ramping up there is enough room. This particular project is
probably the worst layout I have ever seen before this City Council and as a land
use planner -- I mean you asked the question, Councilman Cavener, about
amenities. There are no amenities. It's going to be a drainage pond. That's all
it's going to be is a big drainage pond. I mean you guys -- when I came through
with Bridgetower Mayor Cory was here and he said we want something nice in
north Meridian. That's why we are spending all this money to extend sewer and I
promised him with Bridgetower I would set the bar and I did and I'm proud of it
and we have continued keeping that bar up and we have a pool, clubhouse, tot
lots. We are going to do a Western Ada Recreation park. We have a big
greenbelt along that Five Mile Corridor, so it is going to be an actual greenbelt,
not just sticking the pathway back in Nampa-Meridian's access along the drain. I
asked the Council -- unless you set the bar this is what you're going to get and I
asked an engineer one night after a Council meeting a few years back -- I said
why would you submit such a terrible project and he said as long as the City of
Meridian will approve this, I will submit it and I don't want to put any curbs in my
street. I'm maximizing. He said if I put curbs in it, then, it would look like your
stuff. Well, I'm proud of that and I ask the Council -- this -- they can do better
than this. They can do better. Thanks.
De Weerd: Okay. Any further testimony? I think before we ask the applicant for
any final comments, I would ask -- and I looked through my packet, I couldn't find
comment from our police department. I know that -- are we ready to jump
McDermott and go further west? Every time we annex another piece of property
it comes into your service area and it extends this another quarter, half mile -- I'm
not sure what. But have our police and fire departments weighed in on this and
-- and I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Leslie: Madam Mayor, City Council, I haven't seen these plans, but typically --
you're absolutely correct. As we annex further away from the core of the city we
have to provide those services. So, as the city stretches out, our response times
and numbers of officers required to handle those services or calls for services
increase. The moment that's annexed into our city we are responsible f or making
sure that the protection is provided that. We will do our best to provide that, but,
obviously, it's going to take additional resources every time we stretch out further.
De Weerd: Okay. Any comments from fire?
Jones: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I would concur Lieutenant
Leslie. Same for fire. This is at the far northwest corner of our district. We have
one station that's fairly close to that, but any additional response times are going
to be extended from our other core stations. You know, we will, again, do the
best we absolutely can, but that's just more ground to travel.
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De Weerd: Council, any questions before I ask the applicant for any final
remarks?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Quick question for Sonya. Am I correct, the closest park to this
proposed development would be Heroes at Ten Mile and --
De Weerd: Bainbridge.
Cavener: Bainbridge? Okay.
De Weerd: Yeah. Which is not too much further.
Cavener: Much further. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Okay. Would the applicant like to make final remarks? If you will,
please, state your name again for the record.
Ketterling: You bet. Casey Ketterling. 332 North Broadmore Way, Nampa,
Idaho.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Ketterling: Really I just wanted to -- wanted to respond to Ms. McKay's comment
about the crossing over McDermott and the response is just simply to -- we have
-- our traffic engineer has worked with ITD and it's -- it's our understanding that
the way we have it set up now would work with the proposed crossing, so I don't
have anymore information than that, other than we have worked with ITD on that.
Other than that I would just stand for any questions that you might have.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions for the applicant?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Ketterling: Thank you.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we close the public hearing on H-2015-0029.
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April 5, 2016
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Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those
in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, the Planning and Zoning Commission, according to this, denied it --
the project based on it not being the best -- in the best interest of the city. I know
that there have been -- there has been some work since then and -- with ITD, but
I agree with them and also with what Becky said. This is another minimal project
with crammed in houses and no amenities and I don't think that this is the type of
project that we need to -- to allow and we do -- we should set a precedent and
start expecting better from our developers.
De Weerd: Any other comments from Council?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: A couple of comments. You know, I -- I, for one, I think probably with
the rest of this Council, really respects our Planning and Zoning Commission and
so when they deny something I really try and take a hard look at it, because they
have spent their time taking a look at it. It takes a lot for me to -- to want to
overturn their decision. That said, I -- I feel that the developer has done their due
diligence on a lot of these issues. They have looked to address some of the
concerns that were raised in the Planning and Zoning Commission -- and I -- I
applaud you for that. I felt you did a fantastic job of bringing forth a presentation
addressing those concerns. And, then, Councilwoman Milam says the comment
I knew was coming, which is -- is minimal and that's a -- that's a big word that
means a lot of different things for being the word minimal and I have struggled
with that, because Councilwoman Milam is correct, there is a lot of -- let's do the
bare minimum in north Meridian to get this property developed and I struggle with
that. I struggle -- to Councilman Milam's point about -- about the amenities.
According to the school district 160 kids are going to be in this deve lopment, with
-- with no park, no place to play. These are smaller lots with not as much of a
yard. I grew up in an neighborhood like that a long time ago and we had a little
patch of dirt that we called a park and I have always said that I wanted our
Meridian to be better than that. So, I'm -- I'm torn on this one. I appreciate the
developer and the work that they have done, but I have to say that I'm agreeing
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
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with Councilwoman Milam, that we are setting a standard and if we are going to
annex a piece in, it should be a gold standard for our community.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, probably guess where I'm at. I -- they own the property.
What they want to do is legal. What they want to do makes sense. There is
nobody around them that objects, except for maybe their competition. I -- I think
it makes sense in every way and people going in to buy their property are going
to know what's there and what's not there and they will make a choice to buy
accordingly and it's up to them to make that decision. They own the property,
they want to develop it a certain way, it makes sense, it's legal, I say we let them.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Just a brief response. To a point I don't disagree with you. It is legal.
I think the question is does it make sense and I would argue that this particular
development done this particular way doesn't make sense to most Meridians.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: It's a game of tennis. Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, it gets really easy to spend other people's money. I
mean it would be nice to say, hey, why don't you build this, why don't you build
that, but it's their money. It gets to the point where, again, they own it, well, who
are we to tell them you got to make is cooler. You got to make it so that other
people are going to want to be there, other than the people you're wanting to sell
it to. It's up to them. I don't want to spend their money. I'm grateful for them to
spend money that they plan to spend.
De Weerd: So, Mr. Palmer, you said something a couple of -- sorry.
Cavener: Sorry, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: You mentioned a couple of meetings ago that you were looking for
homes in north Meridian and there was a reason, because the development you
were looking at was a place. It created a sense of place and I think that is what
Mrs. McKay was referring to and north Meridian set a different standard and it did
in terms of creating a sense of place, that these were not just roof tops, they
were neighborhoods where people connected and people were proud to call
them homes. The development community in north Meridian did step up and
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
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they did give us something different. I agree to a certain regard on -- if it meets
our Comprehensive Plan, then, it needs to be considered. This jumps another
arterial, which means it stretches further our -- our pressures on our services and
I would hope that those are comments in these applications , so that our
applicants know the concern, because stretching those services to yet another
square mile where this will be the only thing out there, takes away services to our
existing residences and I think that that is what this Council needs to weigh, is
this worth stretching those services and opening up another square mile where
we need to provide those services and I'm not sure we are ready to. I think that
in the strategic plan, in some of the exercises this coming year we have to
understand the cost of service and the cost of growth and growing sprawl like --
and I hate using that word, because I will take to task anyone that uses it. But
here I am. Are we ready to grow on that side with some of the remaining
questions that the Planning and Zoning Commission really did raise. There is --
there is no certainty on Highway 16 and where it's going to be located there is no
design, there is no funding. Do we really want to wait until it's funded? If it's
going to add cost to the public because we are putting something in there that
will need to be removed at some other point if we guessed wrong, who pays the
cost? We all do. So, I understand their concerns and is it the time to jump
McDermott yet? I'm not convinced and certainly not for what is in front of us.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Just before I was sworn in I believe the city annexed about 1,200 acres
in one swoop. I know it was on our border. That was to -- that was to stop
another city from advancing into an area that we wanted to have annexed in our
area and that we -- that's been the plan all along. This is in the plan. It's not
opening up a whole square mile to the needs of public safety services, it's
preparing a section of that quarter -- that mile further their services and I know -- I
just -- I think the argument doesn't work because we -- we just annexed a lot
more land than this and this is a very small piece compared to that and they are
ready to develop and spend money here in Meridian and I think we should let
them.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Let's clarify one thing right on our public safety. Annexing this would make
our police department have more. Our fire department already covers this area,
because it's rural and they are already pa ying for fire taxes, so -- and a pretty
good chunk. So, taking that away -- but in my opinion I'm not ready to jump
across there for a development like this. I think for 51 acres, 199 houses, the
amenities, is low bar. I mean they are -- I don't -- you can have -- you probably
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
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have a lot of mud volleyball out there if you're going to put it down there in the
drainage pit. And there are other subdivisions that have done that, but they have
had other amenities to go with it. I don't think that -- I kind of agree with the
Planning and Zoning. I don't think this is the proper -- proper development as it's
shown with the preliminary plat it's got now, with the amenities and stuff that I
want to jump across McDermott Road with. So, if we don't have anymore, I will
make a motion to -- if we don't have anymore to say. Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we deny H-2015-0029, by the fact that I don't believe that this
development is in the concept of what we had wanted in north Meridian area and
I don't -- I would like to see it -- let's grow out, instead of from out in.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk.
l
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, nay; Palmer, nay;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: Okay. Motion passes. Okay. Do we -- that was for the entire one,
not just the annexation? Okay.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. TWO NAYS. ONE ABSENT.
B. Final Plat for Southern Highlands Subdivision No. 3 (H-
2016-0032) by Boise Hunter Homes Located West of S.
Eagle Road and North of E. Taconic Drive
1. Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of Forty-
Seven (47) Building Lots and Five (5) Common
Lots on 19.3 Acres of Land in an R-4 Zoning
District
De Weerd: Item 8-B is for final plat on H-2016-0032. Will ask for staff
comments.
Watters: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. The next
application before you is a request for a final plat. This site consists of 19.3
acres of land, zoned R-4, and is located west of South Eagle Road and north of
East Taconic. The applicant requests approval of a final plat for the third phase
of the development of Southern Highlands Subdivision, consisting of 47 building
lots and five common area lots. Staff has re viewed the proposed final plat and
deems it in substantial compliance with the approved preliminary plat, with a
condition that requires a stub street to the east as shown on the approved
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April 5, 2016
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preliminary plat. This is the approved preliminary plat. If you look at the -- the
stub street right here, the applicant is not proposing one in that location any
longer and is proposing to provide it at the north end of this phase with the fourth
phase of development. Staff is recommending approval with the conditions as
written in the staff report and written testimony has been received from Brad
Pfannmuller and I will have him talk about his issues with the report. Staff will
stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions at this point? Okay. Good
evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Pfannmuller: Good evening. Brad Pfannmuller. Sorry. 1026 North Bridgewater
Place in Eagle, Idaho. And it's 83616.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Pfannmuller: Thank you, Madam Mayor and Council. What -- what we -- we are
working with staff on -- and we agree with all conditions, except for one and that
is the stub road to the -- to the east. We would like to move it up three lots and
the purpose for that is that if we leave it where it's at the future trunk sewer is
going to be going through that -- that stub road and we would have a couple cul-
de-sacs or temporary turnarounds and what we would really like to do is just
move it three -- three lots to the north, connect our subdivision so that it -- it's a
nice block of lots I guess you could say that -- that would be coming online and it
wouldn't affect the trunk sewer that would be going through in a future phase. I
do have -- I do have a handout that I can hand to you t o kind of show where your
master plan is for the trunk sewer and -- anyway. Sorry about that. And so all
we are proposing is just to move this -- this stub road up three lots and it ties
together and we are proposing to build the sidewalk, curb and gutter and also the
landscape strip on this future stub -- stub road, so it's not like we are trying to
skirt our responsibility of stubbing to the property and, in fact, we actually have
this property under -- under -- under contract that -- and you can see where we
are going to be bringing in a -- we were calling it right now Southern -- Southern
Highlands to the east and we also have Southern Highlands to the south. So, it's
not like we are stubbing to somebody else's property, it is -- it is ours. So, again,
I just would request that -- that the staff condition of 4-B be -- be stricken and,
then, also 5-B, which is just requesting the stub road to be where it was on the
original preliminary plat, again, we are just moving it up to the north three -- three
lots and I will stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
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April 5, 2016
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Cavener: Brad, just one question. I just want to make sure that I'm -- the arrow
got moved, so I wanted to make sure I'm seeing things right. The stub street,
then, would connect I guess north of Bow Canyon Drive and not right at Bow
Canyon Drive?
Pfannmuller: True. It would be -- it would be one -- one lot -- one lot north.
Cavener: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Pfannmuller: Thank you guys very much.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Sonya, do you see any problem with that -- moving it three lots with our
sewer going through there?
Watters: Madam Mayor, Councilman Bird, no real issues that way. Just keep in
mind that if you do approve the relocation of that stub street you won't have any
other interconnectivity to the south -- to the west between these -- this and the
future development. And it would be kind of an odd offset here. I'm not sure if
that -- what ACHD would think about that, but --
Pfannmuller: Madam Mayor and Council, there was always only one stub to the
east and it is under our control. We are -- on that one handout that I handed to
you it kind of shows the layout of what our future -- what our -- somewhat
proposed future layout is going to be for lots and we are going to be bringing it
right on back out to Taconic, because that's going to be another entrance and so
-- I mean we are -- it's going to definitely be able to connect is -- I guess is what
I'm trying to say and ACHD we have talked to them about this and they haven't --
they have had no comment.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, Brad, what you're saying is it's not as weird as what it looks with
the --
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April 5, 2016
Page 38 of 77
Pfannmuller: True.
Milam: -- it's not a stub street going to nothing, because you have got a whole
plan for it on the other side, so on this one side it looks like of weird; right? It's
like move it up, it's a random stub street.
Pfannmuller: It's not random. It's -- it's all planned for the -- you know, the future
trunk sewer and everything, so --
Milam: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Glad to hear it's not random. Any other questions?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Pfannmuller: Thank you.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve H-2016-0032 and to include staff and applicant
comment, which means striking 4-B and making -- moving up the -- the stub
street three blocks north.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to adjust the stub as the
applicant testified. If you're all clear what that -- where that really is. Okay. Any
discussion? Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
C. Public Hearing for Logan Creek (H-2015-0037) by Jim
Jewett, JLJ, Inc. Located 4617 & 4620 S. Martinel
1. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of
Sixty-Eight (68) Building Lots, Eighteen (18)
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Common Lots and Two (2) Other Lots on 21.76
Acres of Land in an R-4 Zoning District
2. Request: Modification to the Development
Agreement with AZ 14-016 to reflect modified site
layout and updated provisions
De Weerd: Okay. Item 8-C is a public hearing on H-2015-0037. I will open this
public hearing with staff comments.
Watters: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. The next
applications before you are a request for a development agreement modification
and a preliminary plat. This site consists of 21.76 acres of land. It's zoned R-4
and it's located off of the south -- excuse me -- northeast corner of South Eagle
Road and East Amity Road. A little history on this property. It was previously
platted as Lots 1 and 3, Block 1, Martinel Subdivision, in Ada County and
recently annexed into the city with an R-4 zoning district with the requirement of a
development agreement. There was a concurrent preliminary plat requested for
Nesting Swan Ranch Subdivision that was submitted with the annexation, but it
was denied by City Council. The Comprehensive Plan future land use map
designation is medium density residential. The applicant proposes to resubdivide
Lots 1 and 3, Block 1, of Martinel Subdivision to consist of 70 single family
residential building lots, including two lots for the existing homes and 18 common
area lots on 21.76 acres of land in the R-4 zoning district. The applicant has
submitted a phasing plan as shown. It's a little hard to see , those kind of faint
lines, but it depicts five phases of development, starting at the north end o f the
site. The overall gross density for the subdivision is 3.21 dwelling units per acre,
with a net density of 4.25 units per acre. The two existing homes on the site
owned by the Allens and the Morgans are proposed to remain on lots in the
proposed subdivision. The Allen home is right here where you can see my
pointer in the southern portion and, then, the Morgan home is right here in the
northern portion. The applicant has submitted a revised plat this afternoon for
the southern portion of the site and a revised plat was submitted previously for
the northern portion of the site here shown. The revised plat on the southern
portion reflects a revised street configuration that provides two stub streets to the
loop parcel and shifts the public street along the north boundary of the shared
property line with the Taylors, which did run right here where my pointer is.
Shifted it to the south. I will just flip back to here real quick. This was the original
plat that was submitted with the roadway going along the Taylor property and
coming down into a cul-de-sac and this is the revised configuration. The
changes do result in one less building lot. The turnaround that meets fire
department requirements is required at the end of the stub street to the loop
parcel where the street exceeds 150 feet in length and that would be in this
approximate location. Access is proposed via South Martinel Avenue currently a
private street that is proposed to be converted to a public street via East Amity
Road. No access is proposed via Eagle Road. All internal streets are proposed
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April 5, 2016
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to be public. Two stub streets are proposed to the loop parcel at the southwest
corner of the site and one is proposed at the north boundary for future extension
and interconnectivity with Shelborne Subdivision and that is this stub street right
here where my pointer is at. The pathway is proposed within the common lot at
the north boundary of the site where a sewer and water easement is proposed
and also at the east boundary of the site for pedestrian access to the future
school site to the east. A 25 foot wide street buffer with a detached sidewalk is
required along Eagle and Amity Roads, both arterial streets. A minimum of ten
percent qualified open space and one site amenity is required t o be provided
within the development. Applicant has submitted pictures of sample building
elevations for future homes within this development. Building materials consist
primarily of stucco with stone accents and horizontal and vertical siding.
Because homes on lots that back up to South Eagle and Amity Roads will be
highly visible, staff is recommending the rear of structures on lots that face these
streets incorporate articulations through changes in materials, color, modulation,
and architectural elements, horizontal and vertical, to break up monotonous wall
planes and roof lines. The Commission recommended approval of the proposed
preliminary plat. Summary of the Commission hearing. Carl Porter testified in
favor. No one testified in opposition. Frank Shoemaker and Roger Taylor
commented on the application and written testimony was received from Jim
Jewett, the applicant. Key issues of public testimony were the desire by Mr.
Shoemaker for the lots that back up to his three lots, which are lots 3 through 6,
Block 2, on the proposed preliminary plat at the north boundary of the site to be
restricted to a single story in height with no bonus rooms. And, then, second
concerns by Mr. Taylor -- and, again, Mr. Taylor lives on this parcel right here --
regarding access and safety for the irrigation ditch and that runs right along his
property here that will remain open along the rear of Lots 30 through 33, Block 1
-- that's these lots right here -- in a common lot and the desire for Lots 33 through
36 and 38 through 41, Block 1, to be are restricted to a single story in height with
no bonus rooms and a desire for a gated access to south Martinel Avenue. Key
issues of discussion by the Commission was discussion regarding Mr.
Shoemaker and Mr. Taylor's testimony and request. They did make a
modification to number -- condition number 1.17 to allow the ditch that runs along
the rear of Lots 30 through 33, Block 1, to remain open and to require it to be
placed in a common lot within ten foot wide easement for use and maintenance
by the adjacent property. The Taylor's. The ditch should be fenced off from the
subdivision to prevent access by children. Second, they added a new condition
restricting building heights to single story with no bonus rooms on Lots 3 through
6, Block 2, and Lots 33 through 36 and 38 through 41, Block 1, adjacent to Mr.
Taylor's property if agreed to by the applicant and they did stress that and
wanted the applicant to confirm at the Council meeting tonight if he was in
agreement with the requested changes by Mr. Shoemaker and Mr. Taylor. And,
then, finally, they added a new condition requiring applicant to provide a gated
access to South Martinel Avenue for the Taylor property, again, if agreed to by
the applicant to confirm. Outstanding issues for City Council. Confirmation that
the applicant agrees to restrict the height of homes to single story with no bonus
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April 5, 2016
Page 41 of 77
rooms as requested and for a ten foot easement to be provided to the Taylor
property for use and maintenance of the irrigation ditch and a gated access for
the Taylor property via South Martinel Avenue as discussed at the Commission
hearing. Written testimony has been received since the Commission hearing. A
memorandum of understanding between the applicant and the Shoemakers, the
Taylors, and the Morgans. The applicant has agreed to restrict homes to the
single story in height on Lot 5, Block 2 and a single story -- or single story with
bonus room with certain provisions on Lots 3, 4 and 6 , Block 2, adjacent to the
Shoemaker property and the applicant agrees to relocate the northern stretch of
the ditch located on the Taylor and Morgan properties to completely on the
Taylor property and construct a concrete ditch and relocate the Taylor's existing
fence to the west side of the relocated ditch. Install a 16 foot wide privacy gate
between the Taylor property and Logan Creek Subdivision along East Teramina
Street for Taylor's access and, finally, to restrict homes to a single story on Lots
33 through 36 and 38 through 41, Block 1. You should have copies of these
signed agreements in your packet for tonight. Staff will stand for any questions
Council may have.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Sonya, would you mind telling us what is currently on -- I guess it
would be the south corner -- what's nearest the roundabout? I'm really curious
about that corner. Right there.
Watters: Right here? Madam Mayor, Councilmen -- that is the loop property.
There is a single family home there currently.
Little Roberts: Thank you.
Watters: It is -- just for additional information, it is designated on the
Comprehensive Plan for medium density residential uses in the future. It's in the
county right now.
Little Roberts: Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Is the applicant here? Good
evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Jewett: James Jewett. 827 East Riverside Drive, Eagle. 83616.
De Weerd: Thank you.
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April 5, 2016
Page 42 of 77
Jewett: Sonya did an excellent job of recapping. I will just do a short one. This
application originally came in with another applicant as Nesting Swan and it was
approved for an R-4, denied for an R-8, and denied on the preliminary plat. We
-- it was brought to me sometime after that. We looked at it. Revised the layout.
Took away private roads. Took away some of the opposition that the city had,
the neighbors had, and we worked with the neighbors on their issues as far as
boundary issues, the calculating heights. One of the last remaining issues and
the reason for the last change in the layout is the loop property. Recognizing that
they may believe it's a hard corner they can use for some commercial use, I
recognize that the City Council's plan and the growth plan does not designate
that as any type of commercial use. In recognizing it has to develop somehow in
concert with ours -- in looking at how that would develop in the future, if I just left
just the one stub street there they would have to cul-de-sac, which would be very
problematic, their whole property is taken up with a cul -de-sac and they get one
or two lots. So, in working with several people, including ACHD, I looked at just
doing a complete loop, just not finishing the loop on their property. That's what's
fundamentally changing in this last layout and allows them to develop that way.
Me, if I can eventually get it purchased. So, that's the change, that's why we
were looking at that southern change, just to make sure that that property can
develop with the most efficiency in the future, whether it be by me or some other
applicant. Our -- our thought process on this subdivision has always been a
different nitch than what you have out in south Meridian right now, wh ich is
primarily a lot of two story homes, larger families. Ours are going to be primarily
exclusively single family homes with some bonus rooms in some locations within
the plat. They are going to be almost a hundred percent stucco and stone for
lower maintenance. Our clientele will range from the empty nester buying a Ted
Mason signature home at 1,700 square feet in the southern, to a Shadow
Mountain home in the northern part at 2,200 square foot and above, very similar
style, it's just on the photos we provided you. It's -- we are not trying to compete
with the two story homes that are in the other subdivisions that are around us, we
are trying to fill that void. We also in redoing the Nesting Swan we created a very
usable open space where they were using a not usable open space. So, we
created the pathways. We created a large space that's usable. We have
worked with the neighbors. We have entered into a memorandum of
understanding on the ditches, on the single level adjacent to theirs. But, as I
said, we are planning on pretty much single level everywhere regardless. I know
that the Morgans and the Allens have waited a while from the first developer to
try to get this plat through and they are eager to see this project go forward. We
are in agreement with all staff comments, with the comments they have made
tonight, and I would stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions?
Bird: Not at this time.
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April 5, 2016
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De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. I had a Ryan Kerfoot sign up in favor. Did not
want to testify, but thank you. Roger Taylor signed up as neutral . Okay. Thank
you. Is there anyone who would like to provide testimony on this item? Council,
any questions for staff or the applicant at this time?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Did -- is the qualified open space still an issue?
Watters: Madam Mayor, Councilwoman Milam, they have made some revisions
to the plat and they appear to comply with the open space.
Milam: Thank you.
De Weerd: Does the applicant have anything further? Okay. Thank you.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: You could have -- you could have changed the name to Empty Nesting
Swan. Just saying. That's what we are after; right? Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we close the public hearing on H-2015-0037.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All in favor
say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I will take a shot at this. I think there is a lot -- there is a lot of detail, but I
move that we approve H-2015-0037 for Logan Creek, including all applicant and
staff comments and note -- and all of the modifications to the DA that are
supposed to happen -- happen before -- yeah. Before any permits are issued.
Am I missing anything else?
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April 5, 2016
Page 44 of 77
Cavener: I would agree with that. I will second it.
Milam: Okay.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay. Madam
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
D. Public Hearing for Swindell Subdivision (AZ-15-010 / RZ-
15-011 / PP -15-013) by Volante Investments, LLLP
Located Northwest Corner of S. Locust Grove Road and
E. Overland Road
1. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 15.07 Acres of
Land with a C-C Zoning District Request: Rezone
of 0.57 of an Acre of Land and 5.09 Acres of Land
from the C-G to the C-C Zoning District
2. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of
Seven (7) Building Lots, One (1) Common Area
Lot and One (1) Other Lot on 20.03 Acres of Land
in a Proposed C-C Zoning District
De Weerd: Item 8-D is a public hearing on AZ 15-101 and RZ 15-011 and PP
15-013. I will open this public hearing with staff comments.
Watters: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. The next
applications before you are a request for annexation and zoning, a rezone and
preliminary plat. This site consists of 20 acres of land, zoned RUT in Ada
County, and C-G. It's located off of the northwest corner of South Locust Grove
Road and East Overland Road. A little history on this property. A narrow sliver
of land along the north boundary of this site and the northwest pipeline property
at the northeast corner of the site was previously annexed into the city back in
2006. An annexation and zoning and a preliminary plat application for Fig Nut
Subdivision was approved for this site in 2008, but has since expired. The
Comprehensive Plan future land use map designation is mixed use community.
The applicant is requesting approval to annex and zone 15.07 acres of land with
a C-C zoning district and rezone .57 of an acre and 5.09 acres of land from the
C-G to the C-C zoning district, consistent with the mixed use community
designation. A conceptual development plan was not submitted showing how the
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April 5, 2016
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site is intended to develop, therefore, staff is unable to determine if the proposed
development and uses are consistent with the MUC designation. Staff
recommends a development agreement is required as a provision of annexation
and rezone that requires the agreement to be modified prior to any development
occurring on the site to include a conceptual development plan that demonstrates
a mix of at least three land use types. For example, commercial, which would
consist of retail, restaurant, that type of uses. Office. Residential. Civic, public
open space, parks, entertainment venues, etc., with a minimum of 20 percent
being residential and conceptual building elevations that are generally consistent
in design and incorporate some of the same design elements and construction
materials unify the development consistent with the MUC designation. The
applicant also requests approval of a preliminary plat, consisting of seven
building lots, one common lot and one other lot on 20.03 acres of land in the
proposed C-C district and C-G district for Swindell Subdivision. There is an
existing home and accessory structures on the site that are proposed to be
removed. The Northwest Pipeline facility exists on a lot at the northeast corner of
the site and is proposed to remain. Access is proposed via East Bird Dog Lane,
an existing private street and a shared right-in, right-out access with the Maverick
property via South Locust Grove Road. A new access is proposed via East
Overland Road. Local street, South Fig Nut Way and East Bird Dog Drive are
proposed for access within the development from the adjacent arterial streets.
Because local street access is not available to this property a cross-access
ingress-egress easement is required to be granted to adjoining properties.
Therefore, staff recommends an access easement is granted to the Maverick
property to the east. An access easement is depicted on the p lat to the property
to the west, Pack It Up Subdivision. So, they have covered that one. And that is
in the -- right in this location here. The Nine Mile Creek exists along the west
boundary of the site and has been piped. The UDC requires natural waterways,
such as creeks, to remain open as a natural amenity. However, becau se the
creek was piped some time ago staff does not want it opened back up.
Landscaping is required with the subdivision in accord with UDC standards. A 50
foot wide landscape buffer is required along I-84. A 25 foot wide buffer is
required along East Overland and South Locust Grove Roads and a ten foot wide
buffer is required along internal local streets. There are several existing trees on
this site that if are removed will likely require mitigation. The applicant should
coordinate with the city arborist to determine mitigation requirements prior to
removal of any trees from the site. The applicant requested alternative
compliance to UDC 11-3B-7C3, which requires trees be planted within the street
buffers. To not plant trees along the west side of south Fig Nut Way. That would
be in this location right here. Due to an irrigation and drainage easement, which
does not allow trees. As an alternative the applicant proposes a wider buffer with
bushes and vegetation. The director has approved this requ est. Conceptual
building elevations were submitted for this subdivision as shown. Construction
materials consist of EIFS and stucco, with stone veneer accents. Flat roof, some
with varying parapet height and cornices. Others have no variations in profile.
Some have modulations in the facade and others don't. Overhead doors are also
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April 5, 2016
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proposed on a couple of the rear elevations. These elevations are not approved
with this application. Conceptual elevations are required to be submitted with a
conceptual site plan when a development agreement is modified in the future that
incorporates some of the same design elements and materials to unify the
development and comply with design standards. The Commission did
recommend approval of these applications at the public hearing. Summary of the
hearing. Brad Miller, the applicant's representative, testified in favor. No one
testified in opposition or commented. Written testimony was received from Brad
Miller. There were no key issues of public testimony. One issue discussed by
the Commission is if residential uses are an appropriate use for this site. The
Commission changed staff's recommendation to modify condition number 2.1.1
in regard to installation was a water main and also modification to condition
number 1.1A to not require a residential component of the development. The
Council should consider if removing a residential component of a mixed use
development is appropriate as requested by the applicant and recommended by
the Commission. Staff will stand for any questions Council may have.
De Weerd: Any questions for staff at this time?
Bird: I have none.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Sonya, can you show us like the -- what's across the street and
where the street would come out -- what is it, Fig Nut, compared to what's across
the street? Because isn't there an entry out of that subdivision?
Watters: Madam Mayor, Council Woman Little Roberts, there is an entry right
here, if you can see my pointer, and, then, the entrance to the development is
right in here.
Little Roberts: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions at this point? Okay. Would the applicant
like to make comment? Should have known reading the -- the names of the
streets and -- it's a halfway normal name, though, of the subdivision.
Miller: Madam Mayor, Brad Miller, with Van Auker Properties. 3084 East Lanark
in Meridian. Yes, they are somewhat normal names. I still have post-traumatic
stress disorder from being harangued by Walt Marrow about one of our other
subdivision names. I think it was Porky Park. It's not my choosing, it's Mr. Van
Auker's choosing and I must state that I'm a little bit nervous here, because
Becky is still here and don't want her to say that this the most poorly designed
subdivision she's ever seen. I appreciate you taking the time -- although I agree
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April 5, 2016
Page 47 of 77
with her comments. Thank you for taking the time. This is the former Robertson
Kennel parcel. It surrounds the -- the Maverick there. And we have owned it for
over 15 years and we have decided it's probably time to put it in production. It's
kind of odd in that we have the Northwest Pipeline property there and we had to
incorporate that into the plat, because of a goofy lot line adjustment that occurred
years ago. So, we have accommodated them and accommodated the city. So,
everything should be in good shape after this. We agree with the staff comments
and there is only a few items, which Sonya touched on. Number one is we would
ask that the residential requirement be waived. We just don't see that residential
is compatible in that area right up against the freeway and I don't know how we
would incorporate it into there. The second item is that cross-access easement
for the Maverick. The issue with that is the Maverick functions fine the way it is
and I understand the city code, but by having a cross-access easement for the
Maverick across an office property or something like that, you could really create
a lot of problems for that property by the ingress and egress that comes it and
out of that store and people zooming in and out of there. So, we would ask that
that condition be waived as well. I notice that item number three in my letter I
miss-wrote that. It should be Section 2.1.1 and Sonya has already addressed
that and I think we have that one worked out. The only other thing that we ask
for is that the landscape buffers be installed at the time of lot development. With
the commercial type development it's -- if you have the landscaping in you end
up tearing it up and chewing it up, because we usually take asphalt right up to
where the landscape is going to be. So, we would ask that that be waived, so we
don't have to reinstall the landscaping twice. With a resid ential subdivision it's a
little bit different, because you're putting in a lawn and things like that up against
the landscape buffer, but in commercial it's a little bit different. Anyway, my final
item is -- there was a discrepancy on the -- on the plat where it stated that we
had vinyl fence planned for the north boundary and that's just the existing fence
that's there, which is a barbed wire fence. I'd stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Bird: I have none.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, you want to wait on the landscape buffer until construction begins --
development begins, is that what you said?
Miller: Correct. Yeah. What we would do is as we develop each lot and build on
each lot, then, we would put the landscape buffer in at that time and that's the
way -- for example, to the east of R.C. Willey, the Siam Subdivision, which we
own, that's -- that's what we have done there. Every subdivision we have done in
Meridian we have done that way and we ask that that be the case with this
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April 5, 2016
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subdivision as well. We only do industrial and commercial subdivisions. Mostly
industrial. No residential.
Milam: What is your time frame?
Miller: Our anticipation is we would like to put the roads in this year and as soon
as those roads go in I would imagine that activity will pick up. We have a number
of people who are interested in having us build projects there. What we typically
do is -- we are build and hold guys. We don't typically sell off lots , although on
this one, because it's commercial, we may sell some lots off. So, typically we
build out a subdivision -- you know, industrial subdivision or commercial
subdivision and, then, we own it and manage it and develop it ourselves. So,
that's our intent.
Milam: Thanks.
Miller: Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any further questions? Thank you.
Miller: Thank you. Appreciate it.
De Weerd: Is there any member of the public who would like to testify on this?
Becky? Okay. Council, any further information needed from staff or applicant?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we close the public hearings on AZ 15 -0010, RZ 15-0011 and PP
15-013.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing on this
item. All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve AZ 15-010, RZ 15-011 and PP 15-013 and include all
staff and applicant comments.
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April 5, 2016
Page 49 of 77
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Discussion from Council?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: In clarification -- and the -- the --
De Weerd: Residential.
Bird: No. No residential and also on the buffering and the landscaping as per
building code, like they have been doing all their subdivisions.
De Weerd: Don't mumble. Say that right into the microphone.
Bird: I did.
De Weerd: Well, I saw Dean over there. He's going to make it up. Any further
conversation? Discussion?
Milam: The easement.
De Weerd: Did you discuss the easement?
Bird: No easement through Maverick. I think we discussed the -- was the
applicant's deal. No easement at Maverick, no. We don't ne ed that traffic going
in there.
De Weerd: Okay. Any -- did second agree?
Cavener: Second agrees.
De Weerd: Convincing. Okay. Anything further from Council? Madam Clerk,
will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
E. Public Hearing for Fall Creek Meadows Subdivision (H-
2016-0009) by Bear Creek West Development, LLC
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April 5, 2016
Page 50 of 77
Located South of W. Overland Road on East Side of S.
Linder Road
1. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 13.17 Acre of
Land with an R-8 Zoning District
2. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of
Ninety-Five (95) Building Lots and Ten (10)
Common Lots on 33.54 Acres of Land in a
Proposed R-8 Zoning District
3. Request: Development Agreement Modification to
Incorporate the Surplus Property Purchased from
the School District (Parcel #S1224244410) into the
Existing DA for Bear Creek West Subdivision
(Instrument #106151232)
De Weerd: Okay. Item 8-E is a public hearing for H-2016-0009. I will open the
public hearing with staff comments.
Beach: Good evening, Mayor, Members of the Council. We will get there. I
apologize. So, this is an application for annexation and zoning, preliminary plat,
and a development agreement modification. This specific site consists of 33.54
acres of land, which is zoned R-8 and RUT, located south of west Overland Road
and east of South Linder Road, as you can see on the vicinity map. The
Comprehensive Plan future land use map for the property is medium density
residential. The applicant proposes to annex and zone 13.17 acres of land with
an R-8 zoning district. So, as you see here on the vicinity map this -- this parcel
is what we are proposing to annex, which is consistent with the goals and
policies of the Comprehensive Plan and the medium density residential
designation for this site. The applicant also proposes a preliminary plat
consisting of 95 single family residential building lots and ten common lots on the
33.54 acres of land in the proposed and current R-8 zoning district. A
modification to an existing development agreement and he's also requested to
incorporate the surplus property purchased from the school district into the
existing development agreement for Fall Creek Meadows Subdivision. This is
the parcel that -- kind of a little bit on the preliminary plat there that's being
proposed to be added to the development agreement. Staff has reviewed the
proposed plat for compliance with the applicable standards listed in the UDC and
found that they comply with those standards. The lots range in size between
8,700 square feet and 22,514 square feet, with an average lot size of 10,730
square feet and the proposed plat exceeds the minimum lot size requirements for
the R-8 zoning district. The subdivision will take access from West Kodiak Drive,
which is here, if you can see my pointer. The two proposed access roads, South
Grayling Avenue and South Sockeye Avenue -- because the Victory middle
school is under construction, slated to open in the fall of 2016, staff believes that
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the applicant should construct the remaining portion of West Kodiak Drive. Prior
to submitting a final plat the applicant has agreed to do so. One stub street is
depicted to the north for future extension and interconnectivity. South Brooktrout
Way is proposed to stub to a reserve strip, which is not currently annexed into
the city and will likely remain that way for some time, unless the parcel is
included in this plat or with the development of the adjacent property to the north.
The applicant has indicated they have tried to contact the current property owner
and at the time of the planning commission meeting an agreement had not been
reached between both parties to incorporate the parcel into the boundary of the
project and if left unannexed this property will more than likely be undevelopable
due to the size and shape of the parcel. This is a -- kind of zoom in of that
parcel. At the widest point the property is 30 feet wide there on the east side and
the applicant's plat stubs a road to that reserve strip in its current configuration
may -- may not be able to be developed based on this as a separate property
owner. So, staff has suggested the following remedies to that situation. The
inclusion of that reserve strip in the proposed annexation and preliminary plat
boundary and with the South Brooktrout Avenue stubbing to the south boundary
of that north parcel, stubbing to the south boundary of this parcel here. Because
the UDC, as I said, does not allow for that or the applicant shall move the
location of South Brooktrout Avenue away from the reserve strip and provide an
additional stub street to the north and with a maximum block length of 1,000 feet.
The proposed landscaping, open space, and amenities meet the requirements of
the UDC. Coleman Homes plans to construct their Woodland and Countryside
collections of homes within the proposed development. Architectural styles will
include American Craftsman, Cottage, Prairie and Pacific Northwest. Written
testimony since the Commission hearing -- we did not receive any. The
Commission recommended approval with conditions. Summary of the
Commission public hearing. Becky McKay and Denny Johnson were in favor.
There was none in opposition. Mr. Denny Johnson, who is the property owner to
the north here, commented. Written testimony received by Becky McKay, the
applicant. I was the staff member presenting. Bill Parsons also commented on
the application. Key issues of public testimony were the continued supply of
irrigation water from an existing ditch to irrigate the property that have rights to
use that water and if my understanding is correct the -- this property contains that
-- that part of the ditch is contained in this property. Fencing material, size and
potential for a berm of some sort for privacy for the properties to the north. I
believe the neighbor indicated that he would like to see a fence or a berm on this
side to adequately screen his property. The potential to provide a stub street to
the adjacent property to the north for future development. Key issues of
discussion by the Commission were maintenance of the irrigation ditch and who
would be responsible for that. Location of the stub street that will stub to a
reserve strip or piece of property that is not developable. Potential locations of
that stub street to the north. Potential of adjacent property owner s to purchase
the reserve strip and include it as part of that property -- as part of their property.
Excuse me. The Commission changed Condition 1.1.1C from prior to
Commission the applicant was -- staff had required the applicant provide some
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changes prior to Commission hearing and the Commission -- I will read that to
you. The change from prior to Commission hearing the applicant shall submit a
revised plat showing one of those two options that I read, the Commission
changed it to prior to approval of the final plat the applicant provide either a new
location for the stub street or include that reserve strip in their parcel. Did not -- I
don't have any outstanding issues for Council and with that I will stand for any
questions you have on the application.
Bird: Council, any questions for staff? Hearing none -- applicant?
McKay: Thank you, Members of the Council. Becky McKay. Business address
1029 North Rosario in Meridian. I apologize tonight, I have frozen shoulder, so I
can't be responsible for what I may or may not say. I'm medicated. But not
impaired. Medicated, but not impaired. I'm representing the applicant Coleman
Homes on this particular piece of property that's before you this evening. We are
annexing 13.17 acres. As Josh had indicated -- there we go. Here is an aerial
photo. The 13.17 acres are right here. Oh, it is draw -- you little --
Beach: Give me just a second here.
McKay: Okay. Sorry. Technical difficulties. I hope the clock is not running.
Beach: Try that.
McKay: I won't be up here long. Okay.
Beach: How is that?
McKay: There we go. Okay. Hold on. Oh, it won't. Anyway, the -- the property
that's being annexed was part of the property that was purchased by the school
district. This particular project was initially back in 2005 called Bear Creek. Prior
to my submittal to the city in '05 the school district indicated they needed a
middle school out in this south Meridian area and so they purchased almost
close to 40 acres -- or I think 30 some acres adjoining the future Kodiak collector
and along Stoddard Road just across from Bear Creek Park, which I did as part
of Bear Creek and the school district has since modified their footprint for the
middle school and they don't need as much land as they did when they
purchased this back in 2005. So, they put this 13 acres up for public auction and
they did not receive any bids on the property. So, then, the school district, Dr.
Gestron, contacted my client Coleman Homes, who had purchased Fall Creek
back in 2012 from a bank after it had gone into foreclosure and we had
redesigned it and bought it back through the city for new approvals in 2012 and
he contacted my client and said would you be interested in purchasing this from
the school district. So, my client did pay the value that the school district asked
on the property, since it kind of appeared that he was only the lot -- you know,
the only logical buyer since he surrounded it. So , when I met with the staff about
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the 13 acres and annexing it, the staff told me that it would be -- this was what
we had approved back in -- oh, you. Back in 2000 and -- 2012. So, that did not
include the 13 acres. So, it's located -- the 13 acres is located right to the east of
it. So, the staff said it was their desire that we include in the annexation 33.5
acres of -- in this preliminary plat, because since we were revising that plat they
wanted us to replat everything north of Kodiak, between Linder and the new
Victory middle school. So, this is the plat that's before you. It's on the 33 acres.
It's 95 single family lots. Let me switch it -- that kind of gives you an idea. So,
what we -- what we have included is the school district portion -- oh. It's giving
me fits. As staff indicated, there was sliver parcel that was right here. That was
created by a surveyor a long time ago. Not -- was never a part of Bear Creek
West, owned by Greg Johnson and Craig Groves. It was through no fault of any
of my clients, it was just a faux pas of the surveyor and he left this little sliver.
The only thing that's in the sliver is a ditch. So, the staff said, you know, we
would like to clean that up and since it's like, I don't know, .3 acres, but the Ada
County assessor has zero value on it. We contacted the owne r of the property.
The original owner was a doctor. He passed away. The property went into his
trust and his son controls it and I asked his son -- or Shari asked his son if he
would be interested in quitclaiming that sliver to us or agreeing to at leas t have it
annexed and allow a public street and your sewer and water to cross it and he
said absolutely not. Not unless somebody is going to pay me for it and they are
going to pay me a lot. And we told him, well, you know, the property has zero
value according to the Ada County assessor. It has a ditch on it. So, therefore,
really, the property is -- has no value and we would just like to clean it up and
Meridian has asked us to do this and he was totally uncooperative. We asked
him, well, if you want to sell it could you give us a price. He said, well, I'm going
to have to think about it. So, I told the staff -- and in my application we can't get
him to -- to cooperate. Now, the property to the north of us that will benefit from
your sewer, your water, your stub street, is Denny Johnson. Denny Johnson
spoke in favor of our project and he wants the stub street at that location and
that's why when we were approved in 2012 and we had it in that locat ion and --
and that approval is still valid, because we are still platting those phases and
Denny believes that he can -- since he knew the doctor very well, he can contact
the son and maybe the son will deed it to him, so that it's part of his property, not
deeding it to a developer and, then, the issue will be null and void and he thinks
he can accomplish that, he just said he needed time to do so. So, on the sliver
parcel we did agree that, okay, if that can't be resolved we will move that stub
street to the west, even that's not -- even though that's not what Denny Johnson
wants, but -- but we will do so. I can't annex it, I can't zone it into Meridian,
because we don't own it and so I can't have a condition that reads inclusion in
this -- of this parcel in the annexation and preliminary plat shall be completed -- I
mean that's not an option for me, because I have already made application for
annexation and preliminary plat and I can't come back through the process for
the sliver. So, I need 1.1.1 revised at least to a minimum that -- that -- I just can't
have it say what it says. Now, as far as the square footage, in the original Bear
Creek West -- or Fall Creek project, these lots were about 6,000 to 12,000
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square feet. We took out 15 lots and made all the lots larger. Now, what you're
looking at before you this evening is 8,700 square feet to 22,000 square feet.
So, we have got an average lot size of 10,700 square feet. So, these are nice,
big lots. I did include a micropath -- oh. A micropath to the east, which matches
the micropath as shown on the school district site plan that their architect
prepared and was approved by the City of Meridian. To the north I added
another micropath and, then, since we were in design of the subdivision to the
north called Sagewood, I moved -- I put a micropath in that project, so those kids
to the north will come through here and be able to come down detached walks,
we have an eight foot landscape strip and to go into the middle school, so they
won't have to be bused all the way around the horn. What you're looking at here
has 11 percent open space. We have a central pocket park that's going to have
playground equipment for the kids. We have built our pool and changing rooms
and playground in our central open space in the Fall Creek and the project just to
the south of Kodiak. I'm going to have a nice landscape buffer. As -- as the
traffic goes down Kodiak it varies from 20 to 60 feet. So, it's going to feel nice
and open and, then, our central amenities are located directly on the south of it,
so it's going to have a nice feel. We also put a micropath out to that southwest
corner and -- right -- located there and we will be constructing a ten foot, multi-
use pathway all along the south side of Kodiak with our phase four that we are
getting ready to roll in design and build the rest of Kodiak. So, hopefully, Kodiak
will coincide connecting to Linder with the opening of Victory middle. So, they
won't just have to rely -- put all their traffic on Stoddard. That multi-use pathway
that's part of your parks plan will also go north up Linder. So, we are going to
create a lot of pedestrian linkage to that middle school, safe route to schools. I
know that's important, and, like I said, we agree to all the conditions. I just need
a change in the wording that I cannot include that parcel as part of my
annexation and preliminary plat. But we will agree if that sliver cannot be
resolved, that we will move that stub street to the west, so those utilities and that
public street connection can extend north, because tho se properties do need a
street connection, because they all front on Overland. Thank you for your time. I
appreciate your indulgence when I spoke earlier. Like I said, you know, I'm
proud of Meridian, I have done a lot of projects in Meridian and 24 -- after 24
years I'm kind of like Mayor de Weerd, I'm a little bit passionate and I get a little
bit emotional. So, thank you very much.
De Weerd: I never get emotional.
McKay: Oh, now, I think I saw emotion the other day.
De Weerd: Council, any questions for Becky?
Bird: I have none.
McKay: Thank you.
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De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. Is there anyone who would like to testify on this
item? Okay. Council, any questions for staff or the applicant?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: What, you weren't going to criticize the lack of imagination or the plat
or --
Bird: Well, I thought I better be nice to her.
De Weerd: Gosh. What's -- I thought I would at least have someone, you know,
spoof you anyway. So, if there is no further comment, I would entertain a motion
to close the public hearing.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we close the public hearing on Fall Creek Meadows
Subdivision, H-2016-0009.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those
in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve H-2016-0009 with all staff and applicant
comments and removing the side parcel that they don't own -- I forget what it's
called. Surplus property --
Bird: Sliver.
Milam: -- sliver. Yeah. Removing the sliver.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay. Madam
Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
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MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 9: Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 16-1130:
Appointment of Spencer Meinburg to the Meridian
Parks and Recreation Commission
De Weerd: 9-A is a resolution. Council, in front of you is Resolution No. 16-1130
for the appointment of Spencer Meinburg to the Meridian Parks and Recreation
Commission. I think the first notable -- and you do have his information in your
packet, but he just sat through an entire City Council meeting. So, if he was not
dedicated and you question that, I think you just saw.
Bird: And if you knew how antsy and fired up this kid gets, you would wonder -- I
wondered how he was sitting in that seat that long.
De Weerd: So, Council, in front of you is a request for confirmation for the
appointment of Spencer Meinburg and I would entertain any questions. Do you
want to approve this?
Little Roberts: Oh. Sorry. Of course.
De Weerd: Okay.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: I am honored to recommend that we approve the resolution for
the appointment of Spencer Meinburg to the Meridian Parks and Recreation
Commission.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the appointment in front of
you. All those -- oh, I'm sorry. All those in favor I will let you answer to Madam
Clerk there.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
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De Weerd: And, Spencer, would you like to say anything to the Council? You
can come up here.
Meinburg: This mike?
De Weerd: Yes.
Meinburg: Thank you, Madam Mayor and City Council Members. It's an honor
and privilege to be appointed to this position, so thank you for allowing me to
step into this roll and I look forward to serving the great City of Meridian. So,
thank you.
De Weerd: Well, I'm actually -- you have been serving the great City of Meridian
in a different capacity, but we do look forward to your involvement on our parks
and recreation commission and that you bring your passion and your energy to
this group.
Meinburg: Yeah. Thank you.
De Weerd: And thanks again for sitting through our meeting.
Meinburg: Yeah. And you told me I would be at the top of the agenda and, then,
three hours later I'm --
De Weerd: Oh, no. Well, I confess I wasn't at the agenda setting and usually my
appointments are, so I apologize.
Meinburg: No worries.
Bird: Blame it on the attorney.
De Weerd: Yes. It's his fault. Thank you for being here and, like I said, we do
look forward to having your passion and your great ideas and your involvement
on our Commission.
Meinburg: Yeah. I do, I look forward to it. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. And I will just add, we expect great things on the Dairy
Days parade. Just saying.
B. Police Department: Budget Amendment for Eight (8)
Cradlepoint Devices for Patrol Vehicles for the Not-to-
Exceed Amount of $27,500.00
De Weerd: Okay. Item 9-B is under our police department and I will turn this
over to Lieutenant Leslie.
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Leslie: Madam Mayor, thank you. Members of the Council. So, this project
actually came on behalf of IT. This last year we purchased some new motion
tablets for the police cars and in doing so IT was able to save us a considerable
amount of money on that purchase and it was under the quote that they initially
had and, then, David Tiede and I sat down and talked about the transition to the
cradlepoint system. So, the cradlepoint is something the fire department has
used for quite some time and what it does is it takes the communication
mechanisms in our vehicles from the device itself to the car. So, currently our
computers have the Gobi chip or the Verizon card in it that allows the vehicle to
communicate with our -- our computer aided dispatching system dispatch, that
type of stuff. The cradlepoint moves it to the car technology, which is actually
more efficient and it allows us as we replace the devices in the car to use a
device that doesn't have an onboard Gobi chip, that type of stuff. So, it's more
efficient. We have eight cars that we want to replace, so we are going to move
the 27,500 from an existing budget into our replacement -- or computer
equipment purchasing line item, so that we can make the transition of the five
new cars that we just purchased, we a re going to put that equipment in, so we
don't just do it again later on in the year and, then, we have three cars that have
old technology that are not working very well and require a lot of attention by IT.
So, this budget amendment will not only make the cars more efficient, but it will
save some time for our IT staff having to come out and keep those vehicles
online. So, with that I would stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Jamie, we are in the midst of budget season right now. Can you
explain to me why we are needing to do this now, as opposed to going through
the regular budget cycle?
Leslie: Yes, sir. So, the -- currently the cars we purchased last year --
Cavener: Uh-huh.
Leslie: -- the six replacement vehicles -- there is five and, then, the one that
came in front of you last year are actually in the build process. So, using this
money now while those cars are stripped down and now being built makes more
economical sense to put them together now, instead of waiting until the next
year, if that makes any sense.
Cavener: It does. Thanks for the clarification.
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De Weerd: Okay.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, Jamie, as I heard you say, just for clarification, that it's
moving money that's already budgeted for another portion of your department --
Leslie: It is.
Palmer: -- into this, not new money; right?
Leslie: Correct, sir.
Palmer: Awesome. Thanks.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the budget amendment for eight cradlepoint
devices for patrol vehicles for the not to exceed amount of 27,500 dollars.
Little Roberts: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the request in front of you.
Council, any questions or discussion? Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
C. Human Resources: Merit Costs for the FY2017 Budget
De Weerd: Item 9-C is under our Human Resources Department and we have
both Crystal Ritchie here and Todd Lavoie. They are -- they are a tag team and
after having an opportunity to talk with each of the Council Members, it became I
think important to have some topics discussed prior to the budget workshop as
we prepare for those and so these two have devised a plan, a scheme, and are
in front of you today to share information and thank you both for being here and
Todd has been under the weather, so this is great seeing you. That's good. Why
don't you go sit in the front row.
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Ritchie: So, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, thank you so much for
having us here this evening. We are going to be bringing forward to you several
topics in April that we wanted to review and tonight we are going to focus on our
budget presentation. So, for tonight we are going to share some information w ith
you regarding our April presentation. Our city's compensation plan, the city's
compensation policies, the facts from our compensation plan, our salary
administrative guidelines. FY-17, initial projects that Todd and I have been
working on, the projected costs associated with those projections and, then, we
are going to wrap up and provide you some action reminders and, then, of
course, we will stand for questions. So, the information that we are going to be
sharing with you during the next month, but specifically tonight -- it is a lot of
information. The topics that we are bringing forward to you do have a lot of
budgetary impacts. We are bringing this information forward to you sooner,
rather than later, to give you an opportunity to process the i nformation that we
are communicating to you and, then, Todd and I are going to come back at the
end of the month for your guidance and direction. So, in regards to the FY-7 --
or, excuse me, FY-17 budgetary impact projections, tonight we are going to talk
to you about our compensation plan. On the 12th of April we will come back and
discuss with you our healthcare benefits. On April 19th we are going to come
back and Todd is going to discuss with you the allowable three percent property
tax projections. So, for these first three meetings, again, it's informational only.
We are not looking for any decisions, but we will be back on the 26th for our
guidance and direction. So, tonight let's talk about the comp plan. So, our city's
compensation plan was developed in FY-13. It was communicated to Council
and approved by the Council in the summer of 2013 and, then, implemented it in
2014 and communicated it to our city staff. The compensation committee
consisted of our external consultants, Bill Nary from our legal department, myself,
Tom Barry, our Public Works director, Stacy Kilchenmann, Council Member
David Zaremba and, of course, Mayor Tammy de Weerd. So, the purpose of our
compensation committee was to design a compensation plan that is employee
focused, predictable, standardized for budgetary reasons and implementation
purposes. By doing so it better positioned us to be better at forecasting and
planning the budget as we move forward. These plan guidelines also do
incorporate market adjustment analysis on a two to three year rotation and
currently we are on track. So, our city's compensation policy is SOP 3.4.2. The
purpose of our compensation policy is to insure that as a city our compensation
program is periodically reviewed. The policy -- or the overview itself is that
Human Resources partners with the Finance Department to review the comp
program for effectiveness and budgetary compliance. The program will be
updated as needed to meet internal equity and external competitive and
subjectives and the city has three pay plans currently -- or pay schedules
currently today. We have one focused on Fire for our represented employees,
the police pay plan, and our general employee population. So, for the -- for the
police pay scale and our general employee pay scale, this was a commitment
that was made to review both of those programs every two to three years . Both
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of those programs were reviewed two years ago. One of the things we need to
consider is being mindful of the rotation or the cycle that we look at these things
or these programs. We should consider a staggered, but yet a consistent
schedule when looking at these things. One of the things to keep in mind is if we
review them every two years we should consider the possibility of a phased
approach and spreading that out, for example, half one year and half the other.
There are pros and cons to each -- each rotation cycle and we need to be
mindful when we look at that. So, it is very important that we review the
compensation program, that we do make adjustments as needed and by doing
so this will insure that the city has the ability to attract and retain qualified
applicants and also remain market competitive. So, the compensation plan, here
are the factors that feed into that. So, it is employee focused. It's fair and
competitive. It's fiscally responsible. It provides budgetary predictabilty and it
gives us the ability to attract and retain top talent. We have an additional policy
that supports our compensation program and compensation policy and that
policy is our performance increases to salary. So, the City of Meridian has been
a pay for performance organization for at least 12 years, maybe longer. That
policy is policy number 3.4.3. The purpose of our performance increase to salary
policy is to identify a manner in which all of our employees may receive wage
increases based on their performance. As an overview the city has established a
pay for performance compensation program for all nonrepresentative employees.
Each year the Mayor and you, the Council, may approve percentages for pay
increases, if any, to be made available to employees. Those merit increases are
based on the outcome of their individual performance appraisals or performance
reviews. Every year HR offers performance management training to both
supervisors, managers and our employee population. In addition to that, HR
does review all performance appraisals that come in on an annual basis and we
look at that to insure that the appropriate and proper justifications are in the
evaluation to support or justify the rating. Our increases here at the city are
earned by our employees. They are not just given by management. So, to
support and wrap all of that up the city does have a compensation -- excuse me
-- a pay philosophy. The City of Meridian does desire to be an employer of
choice, both in the public and the private sectors. To do so we need to pay our
employees fairly and competitively as possible to attract and retain high
performing employees. In addition to that, our pay philosophy, which is based on
merit increases primarily, can be and is augmented as determined with market
adjustments. So, the City of Meridian is a premier city. To be a premier city we
need the best employees, to attract and retain the best employees we must pay
competitively within our markets and we reward high performance employees
and their results. We need the best employees and we believe that we have
those employees here at the city. So, talk a little bit about merit increases, but
we often get asked how does this work. So, very high level, the manager
completes an annual performance evaluation and they determine the overall
performance rating for each of their employees and you can see there the listing
of the different rating options that we offer with our program. The performance
evaluation and all of the associated people work is, then, forwarded to Human
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Resources for processing. HR does review each of the evaluations, as I
mentioned earlier, to insure that the appropriate justifications are included in the
performance review. We obtain that overall performance rating. We take a look
at where that specific employee's salary is in their salary range and, then, we use
our matrix to calculate a consistent and fair merit increase. So, let's take a look
at what that looks like. So, here is an example. On the right-hand side of your
screen, I think, or the left-hand, you have Joe and Joe has received his overall
performance rating and he received a fully competent. So, that's great. Way to
go, Joe. His current pay is at $14.50 per -- or, excuse me, 40 cents per hour.
We take a look at his position salary range, which is the salary range assigned to
his position and you will see here for the example provided that we h ave
identified at the minimum it's $13.56 per hour, all the way up to the maximum of
$20.18. So, we take that information and we apply it to the matrix you have in
front of you. So, again, we take that $15.40, which is where Joe is currently
today. We look to see where that falls in his assigned position salary range. We
have identified that he is -- that pay range is within the market minimum for his
range and, then, we apply it to the matrix. So, we locate the market range he is
in. We identify the performance rating he received. He would receive a merit
adjustment of two percent. So, in order to have a fair and consistent process, we
also have salary administration guidelines that were developed through the
compensation program. These guidelines do support our compensation policy.
They do insure that we maintain the competitiveness and appropriateness and
integrity and consistency of the application of the program itself. The guidelines
address setting employee salaries and jobs, whether it's new to the city,
movement within the city, et cetera. The method of revising the pay structure.
And also how to manage employee movement through the ranges. These
guidelines help us in Human Resources make the appropriate and consistent
decisions regarding how salary is administered. So, today we are bringing
forward to you what we are going to consider a placeholder for FY-17. These are
our initial projections. So, what we are bringing forward for you to consider is a
two to four percent place holder. We will come back to you with a more formal
recommendation as information becomes available, but we could come back and
ask for a whole merit increase only or we could come back and ask you for a
market and merit combination. It's a little too early for u s at this time to pull local
and state data. That's generally made available to us in May and June. National
data is generally available to us in June. The data that we look at are market
surveys, salary surveys, comparative data, economic indicators, e t cetera. So, at
HR we are going to continue to monitor and provide formal recommendations for
FY-17 budget as the date becomes available for your consideration.
Lavoie: Well, thank you, Crystal. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the
Council. Sorry about the bad voice here. As Crystal stated, this presentation
here is to inform you and this slide here is to -- is intended to give you a general
overview of what a percentage increase to the overall city personnel wages
would look like if we applied a two percent to four percent increase and could see
them staggered left to right. Apologize. As you can see, if we applied a three
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percent merit or market adjustment, you can see that the total bottom line at the
very bottom would be around the 673,000 dollars, taking into consideration this
also includes the fire department contract discussions that are still in negotiation.
I did include fire union adjustments as well, but, again, I understand those are
separate, but I just included them here as inf ormational purposes only. This
document does not include the police step plan adjustments that are going to be
presented to you on a different day, but that does not include this, so this
includes all your general employees, not including police STEP plan -- the police
STEP plan, but it does -- thank you. But it does include your Fire union wages at
the moment. So, again, this is an informational document. We are available to
you between now and the 26th to answer any questions, but it gives you a
general overview of what a percentage increase to our overall wages will be for
the city if we went a certain direction on a percentage.
Ritchie: So, just as a reminder the information that we have given to you today
is for informational purposes only. It's for you to review, think about. Todd and I
will be back in front of you on April 26th. On that date we will be seeking
guidance and direction and just, please, keep in mind that the -- all FY-17
budgetary recommendations can be updated and/or changed up to July 20th.
We want to thank you and we will stand for questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Crystal. Council, any questions?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I have got one request, Crystal. When you come back --
De Weerd: If you can pull --
Bird: When you come back the 26th would you come back with a turnover
percentage for each department?
Ritchie: Okay.
Bird: See what kind of turnover we have. And I don't want -- I don't want -- like
parks, I don't want the part-time summer help and that stuff included in it, like we
did one year to make it look good.
Ritchie: Okay.
Bird: So, I don't --
De Weerd: To make it look good?
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Bird: Well, make it look --
Ritchie: Madam Mayor, Mr. Bird, yes, we would be happy to bring you back that
information.
Bird: Thank you, Crystal.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
Ritchie: Oh. I'm sorry. Madam Mayor? Mr. Bird, what kind of time frame would
you be wanting for that turnover information?
Bird: Last calendar year.
Ritchie: Last calendar year?
Bird: Yes.
Ritchie: Thank you.
De Weerd: Calendar or budget?
Bird: Calendar.
De Weerd: Okay.
Bird: That's the best one. They can run it.
De Weerd: Okay. Other questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Comment and a question. Appreciate guys doing this. I think this is
probably beneficial for the new Council members, the more established Council
member, and us in the middle. So, thank you for kind of getting ahead of this.
Can you provide me some explanation about how HR and the city functions
related to -- let's say, for instance, I'm a -- I'm a supervisor and I -- I rate my
employees very hard and Councilman Milam is much more pleasant than I and
so she rates her employees in a higher fashion. So, an employee at work reports
to me -- if he or she were to report to Councilman Milam they might be rated
higher. How does -- how does HR look at that to insure that there is fairness
regardless of the department that the employee is in?
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Ritchie: Madam Mayor, Mr. Cavener, it's a great question. There is a couple of
different factors that the -- that we deal with. One is we do provide the annual
training to our managers, to our supervisors, to insure that they fully understand
the program, that they fully understand the performance evaluation process, that
they have clear understanding of how those ratings work and how they are
clearly defined, so that we can work towards a consistency from department to
department or manager to manager. In addition to that, HR also reviewed each
of the performance evaluations and how they are written up and how they are
documented to insure that the examples that are provided for the justifications
that are provided fall under the rating definitions and, then, of course, we make
ourselves available to speak to and assist any -- any manager or supervisor
while they are working through the process.
Cavener: Okay. Thank you.
Ritchie: Uh-huh. You're welcome.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I'm still kind of stuck on how come Joe gets a merit raise. Based on your
chart, I mean I understand why he might get a market adjustment raise, but he's
like competent. I mean you're able to do your job -- good, you get to keep your
job. I mean I don't see how that would be a merit situation. Sorry.
Ritchie: No. That's perfectly fine. Madam Mayor, Ms. Milam, the merit matrix
that we put together we did take that as a consideration as the compensation
committee pulled together -- excuse me -- the compensation plan and a matrix
for -- for merit increases and we do want to recognize those individuals who
provide a fully competent performance throughout the year, in addition to keeping
their job and maintaining that to reward them for that as well. However, if you
look at the matrix -- and I can go back -- and I do have a handout to give to you
when we are finished. Depending on where an employee is placed within their
salary range it will determine whether or not their performance increase is lower
in the pool or if it's higher in the pool. So, the higher you are, excuse me, in your
range the lower your percentage increase may be, because you are performing
and you are working and you are maintaining as you move through the progra m
or that pay plan. Thank you.
Milam: It just seems that you would be -- it would really -- to get a merit
adjustment, which is a pay for performance --
Ritchie: Uh-huh.
Milam: -- that you would be at least at a -- higher than average performance
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and --
Ritchie: In the years that we -- excuse me, Madam Mayor, Ms. Milam. In the
years that we don't offer a merit increase it does allow the opportunity for growth
in their -- in their salary range, so that they can, if they are not already getting to
that market area, that we have identified as where the city would like to be, so
that we do remain competitive and we don't lose good employees either,
because they go elsewhere for an increase. So, it recognizes that and helps us
have the ability to retain them as well.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: As soon as -- yeah, as soon as you brought that up I started running the
numbers in my head and calculating it out and I guess you pretty much just said
what I'm about to say, that he -- fully competent means he's doing exactly the job
that we hired him to do and so it's only 30 cents in Joe's example, so if it takes 30
cents an hour to keep Joe around, so we don't have to pay extra money to retrain
somebody when he's doing exactly what we hired him to do, no better, no worse,
but exactly what we hired him to do, I think it's worth 30 cents not to have to pay
to retrain somebody else that might do a little better.
Ritchie: I would absolutely agree with that. Way to go, Joe. The cost and
investment to hire -- to recruit, hire, attract another employee, bring them on
board, get them the six months of their probationary period to get them
acclimated to their job to do processes here at the City of Meridian, there is a
huge investment there that we would lose if our employees were to leave, so --
Milam: Madam Mayor. See -- and I'm comfortable giving Joe the raise, but as a
market adjustment.
Ritchie: Well noted.
Milam: Anyway. Thank you, Crystal.
Ritchie: You're welcome.
De Weerd: Any further questions from Council? Okay. If you have any other
questions that you think of , the whole idea behind having the conversations on
the compensation plan on next week on the benefits and the following week on
the three percent, is to give you an opportunity to mull them over, to fully vet
them, have an opportunity to ask questions and -- so when we come back you
can give feedback to the direction you're looking at and, again, we have the
compensation plan that if it looks like you want to consider policy changes and
reconvene a work group to look at it, that will -- we will roll that out for -- for next
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year and just, please, feel free to ask either Todd or Crystal whatever questions
you have. Thank you.
Ritchie: Thank you.
Item 10: Ordinances and Other Items
A. Ordinance No. 16-1677: An Ordinance of the City of
Meridian Granting the Rezone of 0.669 acres of Land
known as Verona East Subdivision (RZ 15-004) From the
L-O (Limited Office) Zoning District to R-8 (Medium
Density Residential) Zoning District in the Meridian City
Code. The Property is a Parcel of Land Being all of Lot
12, Block 10 and a Portion of North Cortona Way, as
Shown on that Certain Plat entitled “Verona Subdivision
No. 2”, According to the Official Plat Thereof Recorded
March 4, 2005, in Book 91 of Plats and Page 10743,
Records of Ada County, Idaho; and Providing an
Effective Date
De Weerd: Okay. Council, Item 10-A is Ordinance 16-1677. Madam Clerk, will
you, please, read this ordinance by title.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 16-1677,
an ordinance RZ 15-004, Verona East Sub for the rezone of a parcel of land
being all of Lot 12, Block 10, and a portion of north Cort ona Way, as shown on
that certain plat entitled Verona Subdivision No. 2 according to the official plat
thereof, recorded March 4th, 2005, in Book 91 of Plats and page 10743 records
of Ada County, Idaho. Establishing and determining the land use zoning
classification of L-O, limited office zoning district, to R-8, medium density
residential zoning 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 reading rules and
providing an effective date.
De Weerd: You have heard this title read by -- this ordinance read by title. Is
there anyone who would like to hear it read in its entirety? Okay. I'm not going
to ask this each time. Just raise your hand after the reading if you want to hear
it.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mrs. Milam.
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Milam: Seeing none, I move that we approve Ordinance No. 16-1677 with
suspension of rules.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 10-A. Madam Clerk,
will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
B. Ordinance No. 16-1678: An Ordinance of the City of
Meridian Amending Title 1, Chapter 8, Section 1,
Meridian City Code, Appointments by the Mayor;
Providing a Waiver of the Reading Rules; and Providing
an Effective Date
De Weerd: Item 10-B is Ordinance 16-1678. Madam Clerk, will you read this by
title.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 16-1678,
an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 8, Section 1, Meridian City Code,
appointments by the Mayor, providing for a wavier of the reading rules and
providing an effective date.
Nary: Madam Mayor? Excuse me.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Do you need me to explain this on the record, since we hadn't previously
discussed it?
De Weerd: Yes.
Nary: Okay. Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, so what this ordinance
does -- we have a section in the city code regarding appointed positions. This
eliminates the Human Resources Department director from an appointed
position. This changes the title of the information services to support services
director position and it moves the chief financial officer and city treasurer into a
code section related to the Idaho Code. So, it's really just a cleanup ordinance,
but that's what it does.
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De Weerd: So, Council, three years ago we consolidated two departments of the
clerk and the information -- or the IT. In doing so it really showed how this
consolidation and putting it under a single point improved communication,
improved the flow of the information that was requested from the public. It had a
higher oversight and it added a strategic focus that sometimes it gets lost in our
busy lean departments that built in greater accountability and as I looked at that
moving forward when we had our HR director return to the private sector and
Suzanne, our interim CFO position, I looked at consolidating those departments
as well under that single point of contact. In essence, this will not only save
salary or save a budget with the reorganization, but it gives a stronger strategic
oversight. It provides for better communication and it streamlines policy and
eliminates the potential of redundancies in the four different divisi ons. I think that
as we reorganize, that this is in front of you, because most of these -- and many
of these are appointed positions and so those appointed positions would also
need the -- your action in terms of not just the -- the reorganization, but the
people that would go in there. And I know there was a point I was going to make
and I just lost it, so --
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 16-1678 with suspension of rules.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk, will
you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, nay; Palmer, nay;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Okay. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. TWO NAYS. ONE ABSENT.
C. Ordinance No. 16-1679: An Ordinance of the City of
Meridian Repealing Title 1, Chapter 8F, Sections 1 and 2,
City Human Resources Department Director; Providing
for a Waiver of the Reading Rules; and Providing an
Effective Date
De Weerd: Item 10-C is ordinance 16-1679. Madam Clerk, will you read this by
title.
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April 5, 2016
Page 70 of 77
Holman: City of Meridian Ordinance No. 16-1679, an ordinance repealing Title 1,
Chapter 8-F, Sections 1 and 2, Meridian City Code, City Human Resources
Department Director, providing for a waiver of the reading rules and providing an
effective date.
De Weerd: Okay.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 16-1679 with suspension of rules.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
D. Ordinance No. 16-1680: An Ordinance of the City of
Meridian Amending Title 1, Chapter 8B, Sections 1-2,
Meridian City Code, City Treasurer to Chief Financial
Officer/City Treasurer and Repealing Title 1, Chapter 8E,
Sections 1-2; Providing for a Waiver of the Reading
Rules; and Providing an Effective Date
De Weerd: Item 10-D is 16-1680. Madam Clerk, will you, please, read this by
title.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 16-1680,
an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 8 -B, Sections 1 and 2, Meridian City
Code, City Treasurer to Chief Financial Officer, City Treasurer and repealing Title
1, Chapter 8-E, Sections 1 and 2, providing for a waiver of the reading rules and
providing an effective date.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve Ordinance No. 16-1680 with suspension of rules.
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Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, nay; Palmer, nay;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: Okay. Ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. TWO NAYS. ONE ABSENT.
E. Ordinance No. 16-1681: An Ordinance Adding Title 1,
Chapter 8E, Sections 1-2, Meridian City Code, Support
Services Director; Providing For a Waiver Of The
Reading Rules; And Providing An Effective Date
De Weerd: Item 10-E is Ordinance 16-1681. Madam Clerk, will you, please,
read this by title.
Holman: City of Meridian Ordinance No. 16-1681, an ordinance adding Title 1,
Chapter 8-E, Sections 1 and 2, Meridian City Code, Support Services Director.
Providing for a waiver of the reading rules and providing an effective date.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 16-1681 with suspension of rules.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 10-E. If there is no
discussion, Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, nay; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE NAY. ONE ABSENT.
F. Appointment of Todd Lavoie as Chief Financial
Officer/City Treasurer of the City of Meridian
De Weerd: Item 10-F. Council, I am -- I am very pleased and honored to ask for
your approval of the appointment of Tom -- Tom.
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Bird: Holy cow.
Cavener: No.
De Weerd: Oh, yeah. His name was Todd. Todd Lavoie. Todd has served as
the interim, but he has been with the -- the city for nine years I believe and he
has served us well. He has -- in the short time that he has served as interim he
has shown leadership. He has built the confidence of his staff and I'm very
honored to ask you for your confirmation of my appointment to Todd Lavoie as
our permanent CFO/City Treasurer.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: It's with my great honor that I move we approve the appointment of Todd
Lavoie as Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer for the City of Meridian.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay. Madam
Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: Congratulations, Tom.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Milam: Speech. Do you have a slide show?
Lavoie: Yes. Fifteen slides.
Bird: How many?
Lavoie: Only 15 tonight.
Bird: You're not Tom, then.
Lavoie: Good point. Well, Madam Mayor, good evening. Members of the
Council. First I would like to thank you very much for this opportunity to serve as
the chief financial officer of the City of Meridian. The trust and respect that you
have provided me will not be taken lightly. I, along with the rest of the finance
department, will continue to take pride in what we do for the City of Meridian, for
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April 5, 2016
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the City Council, for the citizens and for the fellow staff members and also for
you, Mayor. We will continue the tradition that was promoted by ou r previous
CFO by leading the city in a positive direction with all financial decisions. The
citizens voted you to lead in a sound and prudent way and I will continue to
uphold that direction with all finances and the Finance Department will do the
same. I am proud to say that the citizens could be well assured that the city
finances will be managed in an professional manner due to the outstanding staff
that you, the Council, have provided them in the finance department. So, in
closing I want to thank you again, Mayor. I want to thank you Members of the
Council. I want to thank the Department of Finance. I know you're watching on
the internet. I want to thank our fellow staff members and, then, also I want to
thank my beautiful wife behind me. Oh, there she is. For all the support, all the
trust and all the encouragement that you have provided me in giving me this
opportunity and one final note to our friend Luke, just ordered some nice big
shoes -- just ordered them and we will look good my friend.
Cavener: All right.
Lavoie: So, again, I just want to say thank you very much for the opportunity.
De Weerd: Thank you, Todd. Very proud to have you on board.
G. Appointment of Jaycee Holman as Support Services
Director of the City of Meridian
De Weerd: Item 10-G is the appointment of Jaycee Holman as service -- support
services director of the City of Meridian. Council, it's been a great honor to serve
with Jaycee in the various roles that she has held for -- with our city from the
utility services or otherwise known as MUBS director, to the city clerk to our
Information Services director and now to support services director. Jaycee has --
has been able to -- to really organize and put in order almost everything that she
has touched and I say almost, because I think there is always room to stretch
and grow and I'd hate for her to have a big head. It is an honor to serve with her.
She adds great discussion and leadership to our senior leadership team and I
believe that she is going to take these four important divisions and departments
and -- and bring them to the next level in achieving the -- the strategic goal in
streamlining our policies and -- and bringing you efficiencies that I know you will
applaud her and her team on. She's got a dream team and I am very honored to
bring her appointment to you as support services director.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to make the appointment with the kid,
Jaycee Holman, as Support Services director for the City of Meridian.
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Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, if -- in our talking about doing this I said on multiple
occasions that if I knew Jaycee was never going to die and never going to retire,
I'm a hundred percent on board all day long. Knowing that will not be the case,
you know, I voted against a couple of these. I feel that the head of the finance --
the head of the money and the head of the records need to have a straight line,
nobody in between to the Mayor. I have complete confidence in the people that
we are putting into these positions, just looking long term. I'm sure we will
probably be in a situation with future people that will hold these positions, I know
we are in a good spot with the ones that we do have. So, I have absolute faith in
Jaycee, just do me a favor, don't ever die and don't ever retire and we are good.
De Weerd: So, moved. I'm sorry. Any -- Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Holman: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, first of all, I would like to thank
you very much for giving me this opportunity. When I started with the city very
close to 11 years ago my daughter was in kindergarten. As a utility billing
manager -- I used to bring her to work with me at night and put her to sleep on
the floor until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. So, now that same daughter -- I'm
starting to look at colleges with her. So, as she has grown and the city has
grown, I appreciate the opportunity to allow me to grow with the city and to
promote from within and allow me to continue to challenge myself and stretch
myself. When I started in 2005 I never would have dreamed that this is where I
would be and I hope to continue always to provide an example and raise a really
strong young woman who -- who knows she can do anything. So, on that note,
Bailey, I know you're watching, from home. Thank you for logging in. I love you.
And go do your homework.
H. Amended onto the agenda: Appointment of Jacy Jones
as City Clerk of the City of Meridian
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April 5, 2016
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De Weerd: Thank you. Item 10-H is appointment of Jacy Jones as City Clerk of
the City of Meridian. Jacy Jones is also an employee that's proved herself over
and over and over again -- it wasn't too long ago that Jacy stood in front of you
and -- and shared the accomplishments of her team and the efficiencies that they
have found in her commitment to continue to find those efficiencies and -- and to
make sure that those costs are passed onto our citizens and I know that you all
applauded those efforts. She has -- has been under the direction of Jacy
Holman, but she has stood in her own right as a real asset to the city and it gives
me great honor and privilege to recommend her appointment as City Clerk for the
City of Meridian. I would entertain any questions.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the appointment of Jacy Jones as City Clerk for
the City of Meridian.
Little Roberts: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 10-H. Madam Clerk,
will you call roll.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, comment --
De Weerd: I'm sorry.
Cavener: -- before the vote, if possible.
De Weerd: Yes.
Cavener: Earlier tonight Crystal and Todd presented some information about our
budget and there was a line in there about attracting and retaining the best
employees and, then, afterwards she said -- and we have them. And I think that
the three appointments that you have brought tonight are not the exception to
that, they are the rule. We have amazing employees in every department in our
city and it's been great to see these three appoints tonight. So, I am -- thank you,
Mayor, for bringing forth three great appointments. I'm looking forward to voting.
De Weerd: Thank you. Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
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April 5, 2016
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MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
De Weerd: If you would like to make comment.
Jones: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I appreciate this opportunity. I
am grateful for the trust that you have placed in me and just the faith that you
have that we will continue to do good work. I have members of my team
watching -- I can't ever do this. I have members of my team watching and we
just -- I am blessed to be able to work with the type of people I do every day and I
cry at every single one of these. I apologize. But I love Meridian and I love what
we are building and I will continue to do good work and I'm excited to be able to
serve Meridian in this new capacity. So, thank you for your faith and I'm
sincerely grateful for the opportunity. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. So, I just want to make one last comment. One of these
positions that is not an appointment, so you don't have it on your agenda tonight,
but I am very -- so, I thought I was going to get through this whole thing without
getting emotional. Thanks a lot, Jacy. And Jaycee. Well -- and Todd kept it dry.
But when I mentioned that this is a dream team, the last piece of -- or not the last
piece, there are two other pieces to this. One is in our HR. Crystal Ritchie has
stepped in, has been the interim since December and she has really proven
herself. She has shown her organization, her attention to detail. I think that --
that Jaycee Holman has really gotten a strong team of people not only committed
to the city, but committed to delivering quality service and results to the
departments they serve, to the City Council they serve, and to the citizens they
serve and that's very important to me. Crystal Ritchie is going to be our HR
manager and I am thrilled that she can finally move forward and assemble the --
the remaining gap in her team and so thank you, Crystal, for everything that you
have done and one of those people that is not here tonight is Dave Tiede, that
part of this reorganization of reclass is putting Dave as our chief information
officer or CIO and he will take the lead of our IT department. Dave has
tremendous talent and -- and just excitement for what he can do in this -- this
new roll. It's -- it's long deserved. It's the first time we have officially recognized
the lead in our IT department under this important title and I know he 's joining an
amazing team to again make sure those support services to our departments, to
our citizens are -- are quality and exactly what our elected leaders expect. So,
my congratulations to Dave and my heartfelt thanks to the leadership he has
played as the co-lead in that department and now as the one that will lead it. So,
excited.
Item 11: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Council, under Item 11, any agenda items for future meetings?
Okay. That ends this lengthy agenda. I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
Bird: So moved.
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
Page 77 of 77
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: All in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:39 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
_______________________________ ______/______/______
MAYOR TAMMY DE WEERD DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
JACY JONES, CITY CLERK
Meridian City Council
April 5, 2016
Page 77 of 77
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: All in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:39 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
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MAYOR DE WEERD DATE APPROVED
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ATTEST: eQ"
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JACY JONES, CITY CLERK IDAHO
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