HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-15Meridian City Council November 15, 2016
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:05 p.m., Tuesday,
November 15, 2016, by Keith Bird.
Members Present: Joe Borton, Keith Bird, Genesis Milam, , Ty Palmer and Anne
Little Roberts.
Members Absent: Mayor Tammy de Weerd and Luke Cavener.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jaycee Holman, Bruce Chatterton, Bill Parsons, Josh
Beach, Sonya Allen, Kyle Radek, Berle Stokes, Mark Niemeyer, Mike Barton,
Bruce Freckelton, Jake Garro, Dale Bolthouse and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
Roll call.
X_ Anne Little Roberts X _ _Joe Borton
X__ Ty Palmer X_ Keith Bird
__X__ Genesis Milam _____ Lucas Cavener
___ Mayor Tammy de Weerd
Bird: Welcome, everybody to the regular City Council meeting. It's Tuesday,
November 15th. It's 6:00 o'clock. It's nice to see so many smiley faces out here
and welcome. We appreciate it. We will start -- Madam Clerk, would you,
please, call roll.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
Bird: Okay. Thank you. If you will all join us in standing and saying the pledge
of allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Community Invocation by Troy Drake with Calvary Chapel
Meridian
Bird: Pastor Drake, I think you are here. If you would like to come up and lead
us in the community invocation we would appreciate it.
Drake: Lord God in Heaven, thank you so much for this free country that we live
in. God, thank you. We just pray that you keep it free, that we can choose our
elected officials and, Lord, we are also praying for our city tonight. We
appreciate Meridian so much and that we get to live and work and pursue our
own way here and, God, we appreciate that so much and so we just pray for our
city tonight, for the safety of it. Pray for all the first responders, the police officers
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and the paramedics and the fire -- firefighters, Lord, that you would keep them
safe and there be peace tonight in Meridian and the whole valley and so, God,
we just appreciate these people here tonight also that our -- our leaders, the
ones we put in charge to make these decisions for us and so, God, I pray that
you give them great wisdom and even on the small things, Lord, I think that you
care about all things and so we just want to do our best with those . We pray for
these people and, God, that you would give great wisdom and also that you bless
them for the service that they give to our community. So, God, bless this time
and we just praise your holy name, amen.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda
Bird: Thank you, Troy. Next item is adoption of the agenda. Mr. Borton.
Borton: Mr. President. We need to add Item 5 to the agenda. Proclamation for
School Psychology Awareness Week. Item 6-J is proposed resolution number
16-1178. Item 10-B is proposed resolution 16-1179. And Ordinance 11-A is
proposed ordinance number 16-1713. And with those amendments I move that
we adopt the amended agenda.
Bird: Mr. Borton, I forgot to tell you. Item 8-A, the Children's Museum
presentation, they want to continue that until next week --
Borton: Okay.
Bird: -- so that the Mayor can be here. So, would you -- have we got a second?
Milam: Second.
Bird: Okay. Got a motion and a second to approve the agenda -- amended
agenda. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Okay. The agenda has been
approved.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 5: Amended onto agenda: Proclamation for School Psychology
Awareness Week
Bird: I'm going to move down with your permission and if I can get the people
representing the psychology awareness to come up here to me I would
appreciate it. Okay. We are honoring the School Psychology Awareness Week
and I have got a proclamation here from the Office of the Mayor. Whereas
children and youth learn best when they are healthy, supported and receive an
education that enables them to strive academically, socially and emotionally and,
whereas, there are currently 24 psychologists employed by the West Ada School
District, each serving one to three schools, to include 33 elementary schools,
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eight comprehensive middle schools, in five comprehensive high schools and
whereas school psychologists are specially trained to foster and deliver in the
school and community continuing mental health services and academic support
that lower the barriers between teaching and learning and whereas sound
psychology principles are integral in instruction and learning, social and
emotional development, prevention -- early intervention and school safety and
supporting culturally diverse student population and, therefore, I, Tammy --
Mayor Tammy de Weerd, do hereby proclaim November 14th through November
18th, 2016, as School Psychology Awareness Week. Thank you. Do you want
to say anything? Somebody's got to talk.
Grinnell: Hi. I'm Sarah Grinnell, I'm one of the West Ada school psychologists
and also the president-elect for ISPA, which is the Idaho School Psych
Association, and we thank you very much for the proclamation and for honoring
the hard work that we do for the students of West Ada and all around the state of
Idaho. Thank you.
Item 6: Consent Agenda
A. Approve Minutes of November 1, 2016 City Council
Regular Meeting
B. Memorandum of Agreement for Contribution to 2017
Concerts on Broadway
C. Award of Bid and Approval of Purchase Order 17-0084
for 1000’ of 48” Class 3 Reinforced Concrete Pipe to
Oldcastle Precast per Formal IFB #PKS-1658-10518 for
the “RETA HUSKEY PARK” project for a Not-ToExceed
amount of $75,260.00
D. Approval of Purchase Order #17-0066 for New and
Replacement Sensus Water Meters to Ferguson
Enterprises in the Not-To-Exceed amount of
$466,500.00. This PO is a sole source purchase per the
previously approved Sole Source for Sensus Water
Meters.
E. Approval of Task Order 10624.a to Murray, Smith &
Associates, Inc. for the “WATER MAIN EXTENSION,
AMITY RD AND LINDER RD, MERIDIAN TO VICTORY
PROJECT 10624.a" for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of
$168,609.00
F. Approval of Award of Bid and Agreement to Star
Construction, LLC for the “WRRF OUTFALL PIPE
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RIPRAP EXTENSION” project for a Not-To-Exceed
amount of $58,509.00
G. Approval of Cooperative Agreement between the City
and Valley Regional Transit for “Annual Dues and
Service Contribution” for a Not-To-Exceed amount of
$180,194.00
H. Approval of Contract Amendment No. 1 to extend the
contract for “PolyAluminum Chloride” to Kemira Water
Solutions in the Not-To-Exceed amount of $60,000.00
I. Agreement to Accept Payment in Lieu of Installing
Street Lights at Silverwater Subdivision No. 3
J. Resolution No. 16-1178: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO, SETTING
FORTH CERTAIN FINDINGS AND PURPOSES TO
DECLARE SURPLUS PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN TO DONATE
CERTAIN FIRE DEPARTMENT PROPERTY OF NOMINAL
VALUE TO LOYAL TO ONE, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT
MINISTRY
Bird: Council, Item No. 6, Consent Agenda.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Item No. 6-J is resolution number 16-1178. And with that I move that we
approve the Consent Agenda. For the President to sign and the Clerk to attest.
Milam: Second.
Bird: Okay. It's been moved and seconded to approve the Consent Agenda.
Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 7: Items Moved From the Consent Agenda
Bird: Okay. We had nothing moved from the Consent Agenda.
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Item 8: Community Items/Presentations
A. Children’s Museum Presentation
Bird: So, we will go into Community Items and Presentations. 8-A, I would like a
motion to continue that to next week if possible.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move to continue Item 8-A to November 22nd.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: Okay. We have got a motion and a second to continue the Children's
Museum presentation to next week. All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
B. Historic Preservation Commission: TourBuddy Digital
Walking Tour
Bird: 8-B is the Historic Preservation Commission. TourBuddy digital walking
tour. Josh, are you doing that?
Evarts: Yeah. I'm good to go, sir.
Bird: Okay.
Evarts: All right. Let me go ahead --
Bird: State your name, please.
Evarts: Oh. I'm Josh Evarts. Interim vice-president of the Historic Preservation
Commission of downtown Meridian. And I have --
Herman: Nick Herman. CCS class president.
Bird: Thank you.
Evarts: Thank you. Pretty big deal. Council Members, I really appreciate your
time this evening. The Historic Preservation Commission has actually been
working on this for a number of months and we thought it was time to probably
bring this to you guys for you guys to ask questions and offer input on a project
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we have been working on as a commission . So, I provided some slides for the
evening. We are going to do an introduction to the team that's been working on
this, an overview of the app that we are proposing for this virtual walking tour for
-- for the history of downtown Meridian . The schedule that we are on. A little bit
of the cost associated that HPC is looking to pick up on behalf of the city and,
then, some considerations, as well as being open to answering questions that
you guys might have about this project. So, operation Lewis-Clark is what we
are calling this as a commission and what we are intending to do is deliver an
interactive walking experience for exploring downtown Meridian , Idaho. Currently
our commission produces these great printed guides that have been super
valuable I can attest as a property owner in Idaho Avenue, who sits down there
daily, that there is hardly a day that goes by that I don't see somebody walking
around downtown, whether it's a third grade class or individuals, that have got
their books out and they are walking around and they are reading about our
properties. One of the things that we found as a challenge as a commission is
that these are very static and we are limited to a single page and kind of a
paragraph of content that we can provide in a -- in a cost responsible way for our
citizens. So, we started exploring what were ways that we can augment this
current printed piece with some technology to offer a more rich experience to our
community. The team that's been working on this -- I'm kind of on this project as
a commissioner, kind of spearheading it. Nick Herman. He's Cole Valley
Christian School's vice-president -- or president and -- and his senior project is
actually being my stuckey working on this and so -- so, it's been exciting to have
him as kind of a resident of one of our high schools down here getting involved,
learning about history, and taking this project on. The Meridian Historic Society
-- Lila has been great in providing us all the content and, then, we have been
using Unbound as kind of a technical liaison. Nick and I have been meeting
regularly, talking about what technologies were out there, what could we use, as
well as how can we leverage them up to support this in the long run . So, that's
kind of the overview of the operation. So, I'm going to let Nick talk a little bit how
we selected TourBuddy.
Herman: So, we looked at several platforms that have virtual tours of major cities
and we decided on TourBuddy because they have almost ten years of
experience and this is what they were founded to do . All across the world they
have virtual tours for cities and they are compatible with IOS and Androids and
we think they would be great for our walking tour.
Evarts: So, the screen shots that you are to see in here are some -- we did a
pilot demo in the summer where we just loaded a little bit of content on this
platform and, then, I actually went out and did a walking tour with the Mayor and
showed her some of the things that were in there. It's actually what's called a
geo fired technology, which means that as I'm walking around these stops -- and
I'm using air quotes here -- are fired by your GPS location. So, while I'm walking
around with my mobile device, it's going to tell me that I am in a certain proximity
or a geo fence to a particular location, historic property, a business, whatever we
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want to map geospatially and, then, it's going to fire content to me and that
content is managed by our commission and it's not limited to just a paragraph of
a copy, we have all these videos that Lila produced and all these properties that
are sitting on YouTube, we can reference all those. So, that's that middle screen
that you are seeing up there. The screen on the right is actually a Facebook
page for The Vault. So, that's content that we can go ahead and fire , too, and
this other page gives other businesses that are around there, so we are actually
leveraging up Google Maps inside of there and letting people know what else
might exist around them. So, we are pushing specific geo data, images, videos,
external web links, any kind of content that we -- that we so desire. Our schedule
on this -- it really began last spring, kind of in its early formative stages, but we
actually got to where we had our formal plan in October that we approved as a
commission, as well as approving on the budget amount that we thought would
be appropriate for this. October 20th we begin working with TourBuddy to
provide all the legal documentation and user license agreements that we might
need to deliver the city to get that license executed . We are coming to you
tonight to kind of give you a project update, allow you guys to answer -- or ask
some questions for us to answer about the project. Upon approval we are going
to have the pilot app published and present to the HPC in December, with doing
a big tour event, kind of a launch walk party in January and we are not going to
worry about weather, because we are Idahoans. And, then, do that January
21st. The other part of -- the really cool part about Nick's senior project is our
third grade classes all get tours of downtown Meridian. That's something that our
commission is really active in developing. So, Nick, is going to be developing a
training program for this app, because the biggest gap that I see right now -- and
I see it because I sit in my building every day and I watch these classes come by
-- is that these third grade teachers and some of their volunteer parents don't
always have a lot of data about the sites and so they are walking around with this
book, but -- but, you know, being able to give them some actual curriculum and
give them a tool on their phone where they don't have to look around and figure
out, you know, what building am I looking at, it's actually going to show them,
boom, this is what it looks like today. Here are historical photos. Here is a little
cool video that I might be able to show on my tablet to students -- I think really
gives a great training platform and a richer experience for our third graders that
are going through that. So, Nick is going to be developing that program and
have that ready to give to teachers in the spring and in May, which is our Historic
Preservation Month, we are going to do another big Vault party where we are
going to invite the city to come in, everybody bring your mobile phones,
download the app, give a quick training that Nick developed and, then, go for a
walk and experience downtown Meridian. So, that's a little bit of our schedule.
Form a cost basis this was actually one of the most affordable solutions that we
found. When we went and looked at what the cost would be for us to develop it,
that was one of the things I talked to actually Nick and Unbound about was going
and finding out if we could, you know, build this ourselves, what could we
leverage up as open source. When we stumbled upon this company we found
out that we could get a license to do everything that we wanted to do for 2,500
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dollars and, then, for a thousand dollars a year in maintenance. One of the
things that we are going to be doing upon launch of this is beginning our
partnership with the Downtown Business Association to have them pick up the
out years for that thousand dollars that we think there is a real natural way that
we cannot only tell the history of downtown , but start including some of our
destination locations and businesses. One of the things that the app platform
provides is the ability to push out coupons, the ability to push out information.
So, we think this is a great platform to start building partnerships between city
and downtown business owners and we would ask them to pick up the ticket in
out years for that thousand dollars. So, our intent is as a commission we would
pay for that first year and, then, we would be getting those monies from
downtown business owners in the out years, because that would be a value
proposition that we could offer to them. So, that's the amount that we approved
by HPC was 3,500. So, some considerations. Nick's going to be working on that
plan to integrate with our Downtown Business Association. I'm going to put it on
him to make the presentation to them . He's also going to be working on that
training program. We are pretty excited about it. It's kind of a neat way to jump
into that digital age with that -- with a platform that's very easy to use and
friendly. So, with that I would open it up for questions.
Bird: Council, any questions?
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Josh and Nick, I was prepared to shoot a bunch of holes in this, mostly
because Josh asked me to to mess with you, but the presentation was fantastic.
It answered all the questions I was going to throw at you. So, I'm really
impressed and excited for it now. Not that I wasn't excited before. But I do have
one question. So, will -- will it be like a TourBuddy app that you download that,
then, you download the Meridian to or into or will it be a separate app?
Evarts: No. It's our app.
Palmer: It will be our app.
Evarts: So, it will be Meridian historic -- and haven't decided the exact name,
because we wanted to be inclusive, but I think it will probably be a destination
Meridian app with the idea talking about our history, talking about our
businesses, but it will be an app that will be in the IOS and Android store and free
to download.
Palmer: Mr. President, follow up? Can I follow up?
Bird: Yes.
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Palmer: That sounds great. I really especially like the point that you made
where you are going to try to get the Downtown Business Association to, then,
pick up the cost in the future. I mean while a thousand dollars a year in the
scheme of the hundred million that we spend slash blow, we -- it's very -- it's tiny,
but finding opportunities like that to benefit the businesses of downtown Meridian
that we are trying to help promote through all the various ways that we are with
URD and whatnot, finding this opportunity to support them while having them,
then, support the advertising opportunity for themselves is a fantastic way to
move forward with it. So, thank you for having that end goal in mind.
Evarts: And, Councilman, it was really important for us and like HPC is looking to
add value to downtown, our Downtown Business Association is doing the exact
same thing and when we talked about this as a board, we were super excited
about ourselves. Like we are going to find a way for our Downtown Business
Association to pay for this, because we think this is a great platform to push
content to them, because we really do believe this walking tour -- I believe this
gets used and I think when we digitize it I think it will get used more based on
what I see. So, if we can also help promote the downtown businesses I think
they are going to be eager to participate financially and it's not a big ticket item I
think to your point. So, I think it's great to allow those businesses to pick up the
tab in the out years.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Any other questions? Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Great presentation, Josh. An exciting idea. I have a third grader this
year, so I'm excited to come -- to be one of those parent volunteers on their field
trip. So, hopefully, I will understand this a little bit by then. And I don't know --
this thought just came to me. You were talking about tablets and I'm not sure if
every single teacher has tablets available and so it -- and third graders don't --
most of them don't carry a cell phone, so you might want to check with IT and
see if there are any old tablets around that could maybe be used as a check out
or something for those classes that have a larger visual to look at and stuff.
Evarts: Sure. I know that I hijack -- oh, yeah. Sorry. Thank you. Unbound
rents those out. So, what we will do is we will coordinate with them. Thank you,
Hillary. Because she's much smarter than me. Yeah. So, we will --
Milam: Okay.
Evarts: -- coordinate a check-out program as part of our training, that would be
an asset that's available, because what I will tell you, having -- and, like I said, I
hijack every third grade class that comes by The Vault and I bring them in, to the
great chagrin of all the parents and volunteers, but that's fine. They are looking
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to tell a great story. A lot of times what I see is teachers herding cattle and, then,
flipping through something trying to tell a great story. So, I think we are going to
really augment that program and give them a pretty rich asset and the fact that I
think they are going to be doing it on a tablet or personal device, something like
that, will be -- will be exciting and fun. Really great. Other questions?
Bird: Any other questions?
Borton: Mr. President? Josh, Nick, great -- great opportunity. Love the idea.
One of the things with the walking tour, which is really beneficial, is it's focused
on the historical buildings. Will there be some filter or similar feature that allows
you to just look at the historic buildings through downtown , as opposed to if we
have got a lot of businesses that participate and are -- will they also be featured
and located --
Evarts: Yeah. Without getting too technical. So, inside of the app there are
different threads that you can pull. So, meaning you can go on an actual walking
tour that's literally going to start at City Hall and , then, take you on a walk and
walk you and show you stuff. It's going to be very historic tour kind of driven.
And, then, there is effectively another layer, we can actually categorize things,
that this has been a business, so that you can go see those businesses, scroll
through them. There is tie-ins to things like Yelp, so if the business wants to
publish their Yelp reviews, because they are great, we can provide those links
and push that content as well.
Borton: Perfect.
Evarts: I don't know anything about technology, though, so this whole thing
might get really sketchy really, really quick. I have no background in that.
Anything else?
Bird: Any other questions? Thank you, Josh.
Evarts: I appreciate it. Thank you.
Item 9: Department Reports
A. Mayor’s Office: Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council Update
Bird: I appreciate it. Okay. Department Reports. Our Youth Advisory
Commission. Is Ms. Bradford here?
Bradford: Members of the Council, my name is Susannah Bradford. I'm the vice-
chair of MYAC for this year and I will be giving an update on October in the
Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. And this is our second update of the year. We
had three general council meetings since I saw you last and we had something to
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break out for each. We were also pleased to hear from three different guest
speakers. Autumn Kersey, Jeff Yarnell, and Erin Bennett. On October 27th we
had our trunk or treat here at City Hall. We had record attendance at this event.
It was awesome. It went super well. And we had food trucks, dancing, and lots
of fun. Yesterday at 4:00 we had our ribbon-cutting at Tully Park for a
participatory budgeting project, which was an outdoor gym for teens and adults.
So, we had maybe 20 MYACers there from this year and last year's council to cut
the ribbon on that and get that thing started and that was really fun to see. And
also yesterday right after the ribbon-cutting we had Rake Up Meridian, so we had
about 20 members that volunteered there and we were able to fill every single
bag that we had. So, it was really good and it was super beneficial. And do you
have any questions?
Bird: Is that it?
Bradford: Yes, that's it.
Bird: Any questions for --
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Can't leave you with nothing. Not really a question. More of a comment.
The ribbon cutting with the -- the outdoor fitness facility --
Bradford: Uh-huh.
Milam: -- that idea that you guys did is -- was fantastic and I'm -- I was speaking
with some senior ladies yesterday and she's -- the one woman said I -- I go to
Idaho Athletic Club. Now I go here.
Bradford: Yeah.
Milam: But, you know, she still plans on using her gym membership for the
winter, but she was so excited and she was telling me how to use each type of
equipment and what one she uses and she comes here every day. So, already
it's making a big impact.
Bradford: Yeah. I definitely --
Milam: Great job.
Bradford: -- think it's going to be beneficial. Thank you.
Bird: That was very nice.
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Bradford: Thank you.
Bird: You picked a very, very nice project and thanks to our private partners, Mr.
Conger and them, we got it done. And thank you very much.
Bradford: Thank you.
B. Public Works: Approval of a Budget Amendment for
$65,000.00 for the Emergency Repair of the Collections
Building
Bird: Public Works. Oh, Dale. We get the big guy.
Bolthouse: Good evening, Council President Bird, Members of the Council. I
wish I had something as interesting as those two fantastic presentations that you
just had, but I'm here to talk about sewer. I'm here to request your approval for a
budget amendment for a not to exceed 65,000 dollars for a collapsed sewer drain
that occurred in our collections building, which is one of our main office facilities
at the wastewater treatment plant and I trust that you have gotten the report in
front of you and see some pictures, but we, unfortunately, on a building built in
1977 had a catastrophic failure where the four inch cast iron pipe actually has
corroded and collapsed on itself in several locations to the point where it now
must be replaced and this building is an important one to us. We have ten of our
collection staff members in that facility. They use it for their offices, their locker
rooms and showers, which are important. Laundry facilities. As well as our
SCADA and command control systems for the lift stations that are throughout the
city and things, are all housed in this facility and we have absolutely no plans to
make any changes. We now have, however, the facilities associated with the
restrooms and anything that uses that sewer is now shut off and quarantined until
we can get this repaired. So, I think that probably covers the landscape and I
would stand for any questions that you may have.
Bird: Any questions for Mr. Bolthouse?
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: If I can read this sideways. I move that we approve the budget
amendment for the Public Works Department for not to exceed 65,000 dollars for
the emergency repair of the collection building.
Little Roberts: Second.
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November 15, 2016
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Bird: Okay. We have got a motion and a second. Any questions? Any
discussion? If not, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Bird: Thank you, Dale.
Bolthouse: Thank you.
C. Parks & Recreation: New Neighborhood Park Update
Bird: Item C is Parks and Recreation. Mr. Barton.
Barton: Good evening, Mr. President, Members of the Council. Thanks for the
opportunity to give you an update tonight on three neighborhood park s that have
been in design over the last year. I wanted to give you some -- a little bit of
history on where we have been and where we are going and what our timing is
for bid and contract award. So, the first one that I want to talk about is
Bainbridge Park. It's located in the Bainbridge Subdivision on North Ten Mile
between McMillan and Chinden. This property was donated to the city
approximately eight or nine years ago. It's seven and a half acres. So, we put
together a design and a lot of those programming elements we -- we drew from
our Parks and Rec master plan that has input from citizens, our task force and
citizen surveys on what amenities were desired. And also, of course, we -- we
worked with the landowner on this -- on this one and all the other ones to come
up with the layout you see right here. The layout is -- you know, one of the things
in that -- in those surveys is that there is a real call for intergenerational design
where you can have -- you can have a playground, you can have an outdoor
gym, you can have a sport court, some tables, something for the whole family to
do. A picnic shelter. So -- so, it's not just purely designed for kids, it's designed
for active seniors, teens, tweens, kids. So, I think we have -- we have kind of hit
that -- hit everything that's desired by our citizens with -- with this one. So, what
we have done regarding public outreach is we have had discussions with our
park and rec commission, they have approved the design. We have had,
obviously, discussions with the landowner, the Brighton Corporation, and we
have -- we have -- we gave the Council an update in July and kind of got your
feedback on some of these. We think we are right on target with this one, so
what's -- what's next on this. We have a couple of agreements that we are
working on. There is a well sharing agreement that will be coming to you and
also an agreement to use the pressurized irrigation system for the subdivision .
That's going to be coming to you. Those will be consent items here in the next --
in the coming weeks. The other one that we will be bringing is a cost-share.
Brighton Corporation has agreed to not only donate this land to the city, but they
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have also agreed to participate in the cost of the landscaping, the irrigation, the
sprinkler system, the turf, the trees. They have committed to half of the grating
and the site work and they have also agreed to half of the soft costs. So, a little
bit later on I will go into some more details on where we sta nd as far as costs go
and -- but this one in particular I mean all of them we have worked out some
partnerships that have really greatly reduced the cost of these parks, but this one
-- this one is, you know, kind of -- it's a homerun. So, we have got that
agreement coming to you.
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Quick question on that one. I assume that's a temporary name or is that
one going to stay that way?
Barton: This one is temporary.
Palmer: Okay.
Barton: Yes, sir. Per our naming policy we don't -- we don't name neighborhood
parks after the subdivision they are in, because there is some misunderstandings
where maybe it's a private amenity for the HOA, where this is a public park. So,
the name -- the name is -- will be changed. The next one I want to talk about it's
called Rita Huskey Park and that's located off Ten Mile Road. That's in the
Bellano Creek Subdivision. The land, eight and a half acres, was donated by
Coleman Homes for this neighborhood park. Kind of the same process we went
through with the amenity choices. We have got a playground, we have got three
pickleball courts for active seniors. We have some -- a couple of exercise --
cardiovascular equipment stations on the concrete. Walking trails. There is a --
in the entryway there is some -- there is a space for public art as you walk in or
some climbable structures. We have been throwing around ideas of climable
ladybugs and, you know, some playful things like that. One of the -- one of the
things that came out in our surveys are the need for unique amenities and unique
structures where not every park was -- looks the same where you can identify
with -- with what that park is, so this one will have a combination picnic shelter
and restroom building connected to each other. That will be the first one of its
kind that we have and the gable end presents an opportunity for either art or park
signage. So, same kind of process that we have -- you know, the public
outreach. One of the things we did with -- with this park in particular, because it
borders Bridgetower Subdivision, is we met with their -- their board, we
distributed park plans to the management company for distribution to the
homeowners out there, because they will be -- it's right in their backyard. So, the
partnerships -- obviously, Coleman Homes donated the land. They are paying
for and installing approximately 2,000 feet of multi-use path. The entire north-
south pathway is installed by the developer and the entire east-west pathway is
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
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installed by the developer at no cost to the city. The other thing that's really cool
is that we are working with Nampa-Meridian Irrigation and we got -- got board
approval for -- they are willing to use their crews to tile a thousand feet of the
Creason lateral. So, we are paying for the pipe, but Nampa-Meridian Irrigation is
going to use their crews to install that -- that pipe, which is at least 100,000
dollars in savings. We didn't bid it, so we can't -- we don't have a number, but
there is a big chunk and we wrote them a thank you letter and really appreciate
their cooperation on that project. So, one of the things on this one is we do have
a bid alternate to try to -- depending on where the bills come in, there could be an
offset of a reclaimed water connection to the park. So, we will have water
sources. One the -- the regional pump station from Nampa-Meridian, possibly a
reclaim water connection. We think it's going to be a little bit pricey, because we
got to go out to the Ten Mile Road and connect to the reclaimed water and bring
it into the park. So, we pulled that out and we are going to -- we are going to see
where the bids come in and see if -- see if we want to move forward with that.
The agreements that we need -- still need to put in place is a land transfer
agreement. We don't own the property yet, we have done our due diligence with
an environmental assessment and, then, we are getting close on -- on the
language of an agreement and, hopefully, by the -- by the first of the year we will
own the property. Obviously, we are not going to put any development money
into it until we own it, so we are getting there. The next one, Hillsdale Park. This
is -- this is the one connected to the elementary school. Hillsdale Elementary
School. The future or new YMCA that's going in in south Meridian that they
broke ground on here a couple of weeks ago. It's a ten acre site that was
donated from the Hill family. Marty Hill has donated the property to the YMCA
and, then, it's coming back to the city via -- via a property transfer. There is
some -- some platting and some things that -- that need to take place first for that
to happen, but, you know, the same -- same kind of process with this. We took
our impact from our -- our master plan and incorporated that in. Marty Hill had
some specific wants and desires for this park and so we have kind of an
agricultural theme to it. There is hay bale benches and a tractor playground and
-- you have probably seen the plans at some of the Town Hall meetings and from
the last presentation. So, we think we have got a real cool, real unique design
that's -- you know, when you walk into this park you will know -- you will
remember it. It will be, hey, there is that, you know, the tractor playground or
whatever it is. It will be very distinct. So, obviously, the partnerships -- we have
donated land. We are working on a partnership with West Ada School District to
use the lower parking lot there and a cross -access easement. We are working
with the YMCA for the -- the agreement to transfer real property. So, basically,
what that -- that will say is that the property is coming to the city and it will allow
us to make the improvements ahead of that transfer , because the transfer is
probably not going to come -- the YMCA wants to get it off the tax rolls and get it
to the city, but there was some -- there is a hold up on Howry Lane and how
much right of way and now there needs to be -- it can't go through a short plat
process, so it's a little bit more of a lengthy process. But the property is coming
to the city. We are -- we are anxious to get this going, because we feel that
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 16 of 70
bidding in December and letting these -- all of these plans out to bid for a month
and opening bids up in January is the very best time to solicit pricing from
contractors. If we wait until they are booked for the year and we have put things
out to bid in the summer, our pricing or our construction costs will be significantly
higher. So, kind of -- there is a sense of urgency in getting this agreement done
and -- with all of them trying to close in the loop with construction plans and
agreements and just getting these things out to bid and breaking ground March
1st. So, that's kind of it in a nutshell and I have covered most of the last slide.
So, really, final agreements. Construction documents. You can see the bid
schedule. Council award. One of the things that we -- we think we -- we set our
budgets based on 142,000 dollars an acre for development cost and those --
those numbers are basically seven years old. This is what we have -- we took off
our last impact fee study that was based on the last round of park development.
So, as you know, construction costs have gone up. I have heard some -- some
estimates of three to four percent per month, if not 18 percent per year. So, what
we have done by leveraging partnerships, donated land, developer contribution,
partnerships with shared parking lots, we have been able to hold that cost to we
think about 165,000 dollars an acre, which is less than a 20 percent increase
over seven years. So, I think we are -- I think we are good. But it's just to let you
know that when we -- when we open bids in mid January and we come to the
City Council for contract award, that there is likely to be a budget amendment
that goes along with that and the funding source will be from park impact fees.
It's money that we have already collected for park development. It's money that
we have in the bank right now and we are requesting spend -- we would be
requesting spending authority at that point. So, hopefully, everything -- you
know, we are getting down -- we are getting to the finish line, wanted to give you
an update and present where we -- where we have been, where we are going
and answer any questions you might have.
Bird: Any questions, Council?
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I just wanted to thank you for pointing out the -- and explaining ahead of
time the -- the future reasoning for the budget amendment , since we have a
million different reasons that a budget amendment may come before us and so
the earlier we know the reason and, then, it just makes it so much easier to
comprehend and move forward with when it does eventually get here, so thank
you.
Barton: You bet. You are welcome.
D. Community Development: Amendments to Professional
Services Agreements with the Idaho Division of Building
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 17 of 70
Safety for Mechanical and Electrical Plan Review and
Inspection Services
E. First Amendment to September 1, 2015 Professional
Services Agreement Between Idaho Division of Building
Safety and City of Meridian for Electrical Plan Review
and Inspection Services
F. First Amendment to September 1, 2015 Professional
Services Agreement Between Idaho Division of Building
Safety and City of Meridian for Mechanical Plan Review
and Inspection Service
Bird: Any other questions for Mike? Thank you, Mike, for the nice presentation.
Community Development. Mr. Freckleton. Are you going to cover D, E and F
right here while you are standing there?
Freckleton: Absolutely.
Bird: Okay.
Freckleton: Absolutely. Good evening, Mr. President, Members of the Council. I
originally had prepared this to be on consent and -- and Councilman Bird
suggested we take it off of consent and I give a little bit of background on the --
on the request and, then, where we are with our contracts. As you guys are
aware, we enter into contracts with different agencies to perform our building
plan review and inspection services in Community Development . So, we have
contracts for building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire for new -- for new
construction. The latest PSAs that we have -- or Professional Services
Agreements, were entered into in September of last year. At the time we entered
into those agreements we had -- we were negotiating electrical and mechanical
with the Idaho Division of Building Safety. At that point in time Ron Whitney, the
deputy administrator of DBS -- and he's here tonight to answer any questions
that -- that you might have to -- he did express some concern then that on the
electrical, with the percentages that we negotiated, that it was going to be pretty
thin for him and he wanted to -- to, basically, be able to come back and talk to us
if their program wasn't fully supported and so in mid September I received a letter
from Ron basically stating -- restating that and saying that they -- they are under
the scrutiny of the State Department of Financial Management and also review of
the different trade boards that they answer to and the scrutiny that they have had
on the electrical proved Ron's suspicion that they are coming up short from being
able to support the program on the percentages that we negotiated in 2015 . So
-- and also Ron had mentioned in a letter that the mechanical program was
starting to build a little bit of reserve and so his letter of September 16th
requested some adjustments to the percentages -- the compensation
percentages that they receive in those contracts, requesting a five percent
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 18 of 70
increase in the electrical compensation and a five percent reduction in the
mechanical compensation. Now, looking at these two together, the
compensation and mechanical -- or the fees in mechanical are higher and so I
had Todd Lavoie in Finance do a financial analysis and he went back and looked
at the past eight years and considered that if we would have made these
changes eight years ago, where would we be today? What he found was that we
have -- we have only realized a 7.21 percent fluctuation in the revenue and
expenditures across those two contracts and that because the mechanical
savings is greater than the expense that we would incur for electrical, we actually
would have a modest savings -- we would have had a modest savings over that
eight years of about 59,000 dollars. So, it's his recommendation that we -- we go
forward with this request and that's also reflected in the packet that I had
presented and, hopefully, you have before you. Again, like I say, Ron is here
tonight if you have any questions and with that I will stand for any questions you
might have of me.
Bird: Thank you, Bruce. Any questions for Bruce?
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Well, I don't have any question, I just thought that it was pretty awesome
that any person or company or anybody would come forward and recommend a
change that -- that results in less income in their pocket. So, that's -- that's
integrity and I appreciate that.
Freckleton: It really is. And, you know, it's -- you know, they are governed by a
lot of the same statutes that we are with regard to the financial management and
not being able to turn profits. So, that's -- that's a relief.
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Mr. President, Bruce, is there any chance that we could have any issues
with other bidders that -- at the time that we are putting this out for bid by
amending --
Freckleton: No. When we entered into these contracts in 2015 they were three
year contracts. So, I mean we are in the -- in the contract term right now. We
are only a year into the three-year term.
Palmer: Okay.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 19 of 70
Bird: Other questions? If not, I would entertain a motion to cover the first
amendment for Item 9-E.
Freckleton: Mr. President, if I may, I --
Bird: Yes.
Freckleton: I did notice a typo in my -- in my memorandum that I wrote to you. In
that closing paragraph, the second to the last line, I included and electrical in
there and it should only be mechanical.
Bird: And mechanical. Yeah.
Freckleton: Yeah. So, it is a reduction of five percent mechanical and an
increase of five percent in the electrical.
Bird: Mr. Attorney, we can make that in one motion, can't we?
Nary: Yes. It was a consent item initially, so you can certainly make a motion to
approve them both.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: If there is no further questions or discussion, I would move that we
approve the first amendment to the September 1, 2015, professional services
agreement between the Idaho Division of Building Safety and the City of Meridian
for electrical plan review and mechanical plan review and inspection services.
Milam: Second.
Bird: I have got a second. Motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing
none, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Bird: Thank you, Bruce.
Freckleton: Thank you.
G. Legal Department: Beer and Wine License Contingent
Approval for Frankie’s Java LLC
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 20 of 70
Bird: Legal Department. Mr. Nary.
Nary: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Council. This one is a little bit
different than you have seen previously and I will just give you a 30 second
history. Whenever a person requests a beer and wine license in the city, they
have to go through the state, the county, and, then, the city and so the state does
all the background checks, they do all of the investigation of the person's fitness
to be able to have a beer or wine license in the state of Idaho. There is one
wrinkle in the state code that requires the governing board of the city to allow the
issuance of a beer or wine or liquor license if the establishment is within 300 feet
of a public school or a church. In the past the state has normally issued the
license, as county licenses come to us and previously this Council used to issue
all of the licenses. A few years ago we stopped that practice. It's issued by the
clerk's office, unless it's within the 300 foot and, then, you would see that one on
your agenda after it had been issued by the state and the county . The state has
decided recently that that doesn't make as much sense to them , because if you
had a situation in the city where the council did not want to approve an
establishment within 300 feet of a public school or a church, then, they will have
gone through all that process for no reason and they will have issued a license
that wouldn't be effective. So, what they asked us to do is that the Council
review the request. If you approve the request -- you're not approving the
license, you're just improving the ability for the establishment to go through the
licensing process. You will still end up with the license if it gets approved at the
state and the county, you will have the license back in your agenda at a future
time for approval of the actual license because of the location. So, this particular
one is Frankie's Java, which is located in Generations Plaza. It's within 300 feet
of the Harvest Church. So, that's the reason it's in front of you. And, again, the
process is just slightly different. It actually makes more sense -- we suggested
this to them a couple years ago and so they eventually took us up on it , because
it does kind of make sense to do this first. So, all you need to do tonight is make
a motion that you would be approving the -- the ability for Frankie's Java to apply
for a beer and wine license through the state and, then, ultimately, the county
and the city.
Palmer: Mr. President. Bill, did anybody talk to the Harvest to see if they had
any --
Nary: We don't. We would -- well, eventually they get notice. They have other
-- other establishments within 300 feet. The Hop House is within 300 feet. They
had no objection to that. The Flatbread is within like 30 feet and they had no
objection to those. So, the state does go out and provide notice before they
issue them and if they have an objection, have an ability to raise it, but it doesn't
usually -- they do that before it comes back to us.
Bird: Any other questions? If not, I would entertainment a motion.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 21 of 70
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the exception for Frankie's Java, so that she can
apply for a state license for a beer and wine.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: Second. We have got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing
none, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 9: Action Items
A. Public Hearing for Proposed Winter 2016 – 2017 Fee
Schedule of the Meridian Parks and Recreation
Department
Bird: Okay. We will go to Action Items. First up public hearing -- excuse me --
for the summer -- or the winter fee schedule for Meridian Parks and Recreation.
That's Jake.
Garro: Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Council. As you had
mentioned, I'm here tonight seeking our Park fee schedule for the winter -spring
2017 activity guide. A little bit about the activity guide. It's currently in print. It
will go to print December 2nd and be released to our community members on
December 9th with our winter-spring class registration beginning that Monday,
December 12th, and the majority of the classes beginning the first week of
January, concluding by the end of May. Then our summer guide will be released
the end of April. So, with that I stand for any questions and the one thing I do
want to point out is, you know, reiterate our great relationship that we have with --
with West Ada School District. They are allowing us to use some gym space this
winter and spring for fitness classes that will be a part of our winter-spring guide.
So, I just wanted to get that on the record, that we really do appreciate that -- that
relationship with -- that we have with them and with that I will stand for any
questions about the fee schedule.
Bird: Thank you. Any questions for Jake? This is a public hearing. Anybody in
the audience would like to testify? If not, I would entertain a motion to close the
public hearing.
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November 15, 2016
Page 22 of 70
Little Roberts: Mr. President, I move we close the public hearing.
Milam: Second.
Bird: I have a motion to close and a second. All in favor say aye. Opposed?
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
B. Resolution No. 16-1179: A Resolution Adopting the
Winter 2016-2017 Fee Schedule of the Meridian Parks
and Recreation Department; Authorizing the Meridian
Parks and Recreation Department to Collect Such Fees;
and Providing an Effective Date
Bird: Item B is a resolution.
Little Roberts: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Little-Roberts.
Little Roberts: I move we accept the proposed resolution number 16-1179,
adopting in the winter 2016-2017 fee schedule.
Milam: Second.
Bird: I have a motion and a second to accept the resolution number 16 -1179.
Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
C. Public Hearing for CDBG Substantial Amendment
Bird: Next item is C and that is a public hearing for CDBG substantial
amendment and I will open the public hearing and Sean.
Kelly: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Council. I'm going to go over
this pretty quickly, but I will leave all the time in the world to discuss any parts of
this, since this is a public hearing. Some of these folks might not have seen it
until tonight. So, just really quick on why we are here. We have got a couple of
projects that didn't move forward. That tends to happen. We also have a
construction cycle, as Mike Barton had mentioned earlier, that we like to try to get
ahead of and sometimes we can't get ahead of it. There is also certain times
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 23 of 70
where a project can't get all of the things that it needs to move forward with
anyway. We do have some residual funds left over from prior years and we have
a plan and this is -- this is that actual plan, to amend the action plan to let us do
some of these projects earlier and to support a couple of the other projects that
we did last year with a few more funds. So, the recommendation from staff is to
reallocate 150,000 dollars of these funds to street lights. We had planned for
street lights in 2016 anywa y with the last action plan that Council approved.
What this does is it leaves street lights as an opportunity to be done in 2016. It
starts that process early with funds from prior years and, again, as Mike Barton
had mentioned, too, getting ahead of that construction schedule, this gets us in
design in December and gets us closer to a build somewhere in the spring -- or
closer to the summer as well. Also to reallocate 30,000 dollars to Neighborworks
Boise. Neighborworks Boise has been a great subrecipient for the city. They
have carried out all of their projects that we have given them. They have the
capacity and ability to spend those funds in a home buyer assistance program
that they run and, then, I'd like to take the Five Mile pathway projec t that didn't
move forward, pull that into -- to the -- keep it in the '15 action plan, but make that
an alternate project so that we can move forward with that at some other time
when -- when parks does get all of those easements that they need to do that
project and also at the request of the Mayor and Council I went ahead and put in
-- into the -- the notice that we applied for Public Works for LMI sewer projects of
100,000 dollars and that, again, in future years we can go back to 2015 and if
something happens like has happened over on 2 1/2 Street or whether it's an
emergency project or just something that Council wants to do with that, then, we
will be able to trigger that should those funds become available . Mr. President, I
will stand for any questions. I'd like to just note that this is a public hearing. This
is the -- the request that I have from you is to open the public hearing. I will
record the testimony if we have any. Close the public comment and, then, I'm
recommending approval. If Council has any questions or has anything that they
would like to say now I can definitely respond to those.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Sean, I have got a question. You have probably told us in the past, but
Neighborworks Boise, so you are requesting 30,000 dollars and they -- they help
people with housing assistance, but not just in Boise? Great. So, I don't like
their name so much. Makes it difficult to, you know, spend money that way or is
this going for Meridian housing or Boise housing?
Kelly: Mr. President, Counsel Member Milam, it is going to Meridian. It's
supporting homeowners in Meridian and that's what that is is a home buyers -- in
the home buyer assistance program that they are looking for homes in Meridian,
trying to find the right price point. They are a low to moderate income family and
we are putting them into those homes. Neighborworks Boise is their dba. I think
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 24 of 70
it's Neighborhood Housing Solutions is another -- I think that might be their -- it
might be their national name that they use, but locally they -- just because they
are down there in Boise, that's where they are headquartered.
Milam: Thank you.
Bird: Any other questions? Is there any public testimony on this? This is a
public hearing. Sean, how long do we keep it open?
Kelly: Mr. President, this is a public hearing and we are closing it as soon as -- if
no one has anything.
Bird: Okay. Seeing we have no testimony, I would entertainment a motion to
close the public hearing.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we close the public hearing for the CDBG substantial
amendment.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: I have a motion to close and a second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the CDBG substantial amendment as presented.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: I have a motion to approve the amendment and a second. Any
discussion? Hearing none, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, nay;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE NAY. ONE ABSENT.
Kelly: Thank you.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 25 of 70
D. Public Hearing for Interstate Center (AKA
Wahooz/Roaring Springs) H2016-0119 by Bowden
Properties, LLC and Black Mor, LLC Generally Located
Near the NW Corner of W. Overland Road and S.
Meridian Road
1. Request: For a Modification to the Development
Agreement to Amend the Recorded Development
Agreement (DA#97044085) for the Purpose of
Modifying the Approved Concept Plan, Including a
Sign Plan and a Landscape Plan and Modifying other
Specific Provisions
Bird: Thank you, Sean. Next is a public hearing for Interstate Center, also
known as Wahooz/Roaring Springs and I will open the public hearing and listen --
have the staff and I believe it's Josh?
Beach: Yes, sir.
Bird: Thank you.
Beach: Mr. President, Members of the Council, as you said, this is an application
for a development agreement modification . The sight consists of developed and
undeveloped commercial land, which is zoned C-G, located near the northwest
corner of West Overland Road and South Meridian Road. There has been quite
a number of applications through the years for this project . Currently the
applicant is proposing to modify the existing development agreement. The
current agreement is cumbersome to work with . It requires a conditional use
permit for every additional use on the property and so the applicant is requesting ,
A, that that requirement to get a CUP for every use be removed. That they be --
or adding a -- proposing to add a sign package to the development agreement
and -- it's a little difficult to read here. They have an existing 60-foot sign here.
Several of these signs will be removed. This sign, this sign, and this sign and
they are posing to add one, two, three, four and another sign along the freeway.
Staff has indicated to the applicant that this current proposed sign does not meet
our code. Our current code requires that signs along the freeway be up to 50
feet in height. The applicant is proposing 60 feet. They are also proposing 385
feet -- or square feet of sign area, where the code allows up to 300. So, part of
their request is that that be allowed . As I said, that does not meet code, but as
part of the development agreement that's something that staff has the -- or
Council has the ability to modify. So, as part of their application they submitted a
number of items here and the staff has modified to include some landscape
buffer that they added. A number of sections include a landscape buffer, which
isn't something that is normally included in a landscape plan. They submitted a
landscape plan to be included in their development agreement. That's not
something that we typically do with a development agreement, that's something
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 26 of 70
that's reviewed at the time of the certificate of zoning compliance for any use
that's being applied for. So, staff has made some slight modifications to that . I
will add that in addition to the modifications that are shown here from staff, the
applicant did submit some additional revisions on top of what staff has requested
that I think will -- will meet what the code entails. They have included some
language that includes a five foot -- feet of landscaping and a 20 foot gravel road
I believe along the east side, since there is a -- there is a canal and the irrigation
district needs an access road there. With that staff is recommending approval
and I will stand for any questions you have on the application .
Bird: Counsel, any questions for staff?
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Josh, that recommendation is in relation to this --
Beach: Correct.
Borton: -- what's on the screen?
Beach: I would note that as part of the application to include it -- to be included
in the development agreement is a request that they be allowed a 24-hour
operation, which would include -- they have indicated that they do, you know,
senior nights and some venues that potentially go into the late hours, 1:00, 2:00
a.m. in the past. There has been some concern from staff that would impact
some of the surrounding neighbors and so I wanted to make you were aware of
that as well, that that's one of their requests as well, so --
Parsons: Mr. President, Members of the Council --
Bird: Mr. Parsons.
Parsons: -- just to elaborate on that request a little bit more, as we all know, the
property currently is developed with an outdoor arts-entertainment venue. That's
what we call it. Outdoor -- indoor-outdoor arts-entertainment. Basically a fun
center. Under our specific use standards in our ordinance we don't allow outdoor
venues to be within 50 feet of any property line and that's what they are -- their
request isn't for 24 hour use. They can do the 24 hour use, because they are not
abutting a residential district. So, it's really not the hours of operation. Their
request is to allow their outdoor venues to be within 50 feet of their property line ,
which is against what our current specific use standards are. So, that's really the
request that they are after this evening. It has nothing to do with hours of
operation, it's just how close can that be to the adjacent property owners. In
looking at the area -- we know we have Walmart to the south, which is, again, a
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November 15, 2016
Page 27 of 70
commercial development, but Bear Creek West butts up against them . Recently
we have approved multi-family to the west of the waterpark, so now we do have
residential starting to develop closer to the waterpark than what we had when
this was first developed. So, it's just something to take and consider this
evening. Again, staff can't approve that request, because it's something that isn't
specifically allowed in our ordinance, along with the sign package. If I can go
back to the sign as well. The original approval for this project -- the original DA
had requirements for signage. Said would comply with whatever the sign code
was at that time. Well, the code changed and so they will be keeping one of their
non-conforming signs, but, again, this request this evening also -- they are asking
for you to approve a sign that isn't allowed under what our current code is. But
since we had signage tied to the original DA, we felt rather than coming back for
a variance before you to get the sign -- taller sign, we felt this was the more
appropriate mechanism to have the Council take action on their request for the
signage. Now, anything that's approved in the DA tonight, they still have to come
back to the city and get a sign permit. I mean all you're doing is conceptually
looking at their sign package. We have done that analysis. All the signs comport
to the sign code except for that one sign. The non-conforming sign can stay
there, too. So, we know -- we are pretty confident, other than that sign that they
are requesting to deviate from, everything else complies with our sign ordinance.
So, that's really what's on the table tonight. Really, the outdoor venue within 50
feet of the property and, then, that additional signage that they are requesting.
Bird: Any other questions? If not, applicant representative? Welcome, JoAnn.
State your name and address.
Butler: Thanks, Council. JoAnn Butler. 251 East Front Street representing the
applicant and who I have with me tonight are Pat Morandi and Tom Nicholson,
co-owners. Craig Callahan, civil engineer, and Neil Caldwell, who can answer
questions about the signs -- more technical questions than I can. But let's see if I
can possibly answer all the questions. I am pleased to be here tonight to
represent Pat and Tom. It's been a delight, since my kids are all grown, every
time we had a meeting we went over to the park and had a great time in the
summer. These two, obviously, have a great time providing entertainment
facilities for kids and families in Meridian and, in fact, it's grown to the point that it
is now the largest waterpark in the northwest. So, you have -- you're serving not
only Meridian, but a lot of people traveling to Meridian. So, part of the reason --
and I'll come back to the sign, but part of the reason for our request for the sign
amendment to take it ten feet higher than is allowed by code and to expand the
sign face is to make it easier for the travelling public to understand where they
are coming to get off of the freeway. Some of the photos that we provided to the
staff show that the existing signs today -- oh, thanks whoever did that. Shows --
it's a little hard to tell. These are -- and there is another drawing that shows that
the existing sign is actually invisible, because of the trees that are around and
also because of the revised signs that ITD has put up with the interchange
change. So, that's part of the reason that we are asking for that. Again, the
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November 15, 2016
Page 28 of 70
original DA -- it is about 20 years old. It was for an office park. It has never been
developed as an office park and staff's right, every time we came in for the most
minor of change we would have to go through a full-blown conditional use
hearing. So, the idea was to make this less cumbersome for the staff , less
cumbersome for the owners. Also we did bring in an overall landscape plan, but
staff has asked, no, let's not do that, let's do the landscape as we come. Let's
set the timing for the landscape, which we have said in this development
agreement modification, but let's have staff as you come in approve the
landscape plan. So, there will be a concept plan attached to this development
agreement. The landscape plan and the overall sign package. And, again, that
be -- the one issue that we have here with the sign change, again, just to repeat,
the idea is to make this easy for the travelling public to find their way to the park
and so that's why we are asking for that change. And with that we are in
agreement with all the rest of the staff findings and if I can answer any questions
or if anybody here can answer.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you, JoAnn.
Butler: Thank you.
Bird: We had nobody sign up. This is a public hearing, so if anybody would like
to testify, if they would come forward we would entertain that now. Council, any
questions before we close the public hearing that need to be answered? If not I'd
entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
Nary: Mr. Bird?
Bird: Yes.
Nary: One question I guess of Council might consider, before you close the
public hearing in case the applicant has some comment, but the venue where
they are talking about this being an event -- venue to go into the different hours
of the night, we do have an ordinance in regards to noises creating public
disturbances that doesn't grant an exception for development agreements. So,
they still would have to comply with the city code in relation to noises and -- and
there were some concerns expressed I see to the Mayor's office last year about
an event that was held. There was a concert I think that went fairly late and as
Bill Parsons has said, there is a lot more residences in this area than there used
to be, but I did want to make it clear, I did look up the ordinance again to be sure
and it doesn't grant any exception for a development agreement or a zoning
exception or anything like that. The only activities that are exempted are either
activities that occur in a park or activities that require a permit and those are very
narrowly focused to parades and fireworks displays and things like that. So, I
don't think a development agreement was ever contemplated by ordinance as an
exception. So, I just wanted to raise that issue in case you had a concern since
that was raised by Planning or the applicant had a comment about that. I don't
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November 15, 2016
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know if they plan on having events that cause a lot of noise and disturbance past
2:00 in the morning -- or, excuse me, past 11:00 at night, but that is a concern
that comes up periodically in the city, so --
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Mr. President, Mr. Nary, thanks for bringing it up. I kept going to the
mic, because I was going to ask that question, because I remember we got that
e-mail from the citizen saying, hey, it's loud over there. Well, it was like 10:30
and, then, our ordinance went to 11:00 and when we e-mailed them about them
they said, oh, we are very conscious of the law and we are going to make sure
that we continued to adhere to it. So, they -- they knew what they needed to do
and they were going to adhere to it, so I didn't have any concern.
Nary: Yeah. And I just wanted to raise it in case there was an issue by either the
Council or the applicant. I just wanted to make sure it matched up with our
ordinance, so --
Butler: And JoAnn Butler again. And, yes, we did review that with staff when we
met with them in pre-application meeting and whatnot and just talking to Pat, no,
they don't intend to be -- they are well aware of that noise -- the noise ordinance
and so they intend to comply with that.
Bird: Great. Thank you, JoAnn.
Parsons: Mr. President, Members of the Council, looking at the ordinance and
reading a little bit further, it does specifically prohibit the outdoor activities to 6:00
a.m. and 11:00 p.m. as well. So, it does align with our noise ordinance as well.
Bird: Any other questions?
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Seeing nobody is jumping up and down to ask questions. I move that we
closed the public hearing on H-2016-0119.
Palmer: Second.
Bird: I have got a motion and a second to close the public hearing on 2016-
0119. All in favor say aye. Opposed same sign? Okay. Passed.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 30 of 70
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve H-2016-0119.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Any questions? Hearing
none, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
E. Public Hearing for Citadel 4 Storage Ten Mile (H-2016-
0114) by Citadel Storage, LLC Located 4015 N. Ten Mile
Road
1. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 9.97 Acres of
Land with an I-L Zoning District
Bird: Next item is E, public hearing on H-2016-0114, Citadel Storage, LLC.
Josh, is that you again?
Beach: It is. As you said, this is an application for annexation. This site consists
of 9.97 approximate acres of land, which is currently zoned RUT in Ada county.
It's located at 40015 North Ten Mile Road. The Comprehensive Plan future land
use map designation is mixed-use non-residential. The applicant requests
annexation and zoning within the I-L zoning district, which is consistent with the
mixed-use nonresidential land use designation. The purpose of this designation
is to set aside areas where new residential dwellings will not be permitted , as
residential uses are not compatible with the plan and were existing uses in these
areas. If you're not familiar, the water treatment plant is this property here. So,
that's part of the reason why this property is -- the Comprehensive Plan
designation that it has. The applicant proposes to develop a 193,823 square foot
self-service storage facility, consisting of a 1,156 square foot office building and a
combination of enclosed and open outdoor storage. The site is proposed to
develop in two phases. As you see here in the box that would be the first phase
with approximately 63,187 square feet of storage in the first phase and 130,636
square feet in the second phase . Access to the site is proposed via Ten Mile
Road, which is designated as an arterial roadway. Staff recommends a minimum
20 foot wide driveway and cross-access be provided from the proposed site to
the property to the north and south in accord with UDC 11-3A-3. The applicant is
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November 15, 2016
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requesting the DA provision requiring the cross-access be modified if the subject
property does not develop with a self storage facility as proposed. A 35 foot wide
street landscape buffer his proposal along North Ten Mile Road. A 25 foot
landscape buffer is required to be landscaped in accordance with -- in
accordance with UDC 11-3B-7C and the ordinance requires that any building
setbacks be setback 35 feet from the road for any property in the -- in the I-L
zoning district. The property does abut a residential use along the portion of the
southern boundary, which is approximately 500 feet. Go back to the aerial here.
This property here has a single family residence on it and as you can see we
don't have a color like this property over here, so it's a -- it's a county -- county
property. UDC 11-2C-3 requires the applicant to construct a 25 foot wide
landscape buffer with vegetation that touches at maturity along any residential
use. So, the applicant -- staff is requiring that the applicant provide that along
that portion of that southern boundary. There is an existing home on the subject
property and associated outbuildings that will be removed with development of
the site. Building materials for the site include a structural wall would be around
the perimeter of the development, which consists of split-face CMU, with accent
mortar, ribbed metal walls -- ribbed metal wall accents and trim and metal
roofing. The office will consist of two different colors of stucco. The applicant is
required to obtain approval of certificate of zoning compliance and design review
application for the proposed structures and site design for the self-storage facility
in accord with the UDC and the architectural standards manual. The Planning
and Zoning Commission did recommend approval. Summary of the Commission
-- Jim Conger, the applicant, was in favor. There was none in opposition. Did
receive comments from Jim Conger, as well as written testimony. Bill Parsons
presented that application. There were no other staff members commenting on
that. Key issues of discussion by the Commission whether to recommend
approval of reducing or waiving the landscape requirements along the southern
boundary of the property. Key Commission changes to staff's recommendation
are they modified Condition 1.1.1C as follows: The applicant is also required to
construct a ten foot wide landscape buffer for the eastern 150 feet of the
southern boundary adjacent to the existing rental house. So, Commission
reduced that 25 to ten and only on the first 150 feet starting from Ten Mile Road
and going west. They modified Condition 1.1.1D as follows: The applicant shall
provide cross-access from the north to the south if the site does not develop as a
self-storage facility. Outstanding issues for City Council. The applicant is
requesting that they only be required to install a ten foot landscape buffer along
the southern boundary of the property and only for the first 150 feet of the
property starting from North Ten Mile Road. So, the Commission did recommend
that. That takes Council action. With that staff is recommending approval and I
will stand for any questions you have.
Bird: Council, any questions for staff at this time? If not, is the applicant here?
Please state your name and address.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 32 of 70
Conger: Good evening, Mr. President, Members of the Council. Jim Conger.
4824 West Fairview Avenue. The only clarification I will make to Josh is that he
said it was adjacent to the treatment facility -- or water treatment facility. It's
actually right next to your wastewater treatment facility, which is why there is no
residential allowed in the future. So, we are proud to bring another Citadel
Storage in this industrial area. We are in agreement with the staff report as
approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission as Josh indicated and
forwarded to you tonight. So, with that I will stand for any questions and
appreciate the approval.
Bird: Any questions for Mr. Conger? None. Thank you, Jim. This is a public
hearing. Is there anybody that would like to testify? Hearing none, Council, I
would entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Bird: Move that we close the public hearing on item H-2016-0114.
Palmer: Second.
Bird: I have got a motion to close the public hearing and a second. All in favor
say aye. Opposed same? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move that we approve Item 10-E, H-2016-0114.
Palmer: Second.
Bird: Have a motion to approve H-2016-0114 and a second. Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
F. Public Hearing for Paramount Director (H-2016-0104) by
Brighton Investments / Land Holdings Located
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 33 of 70
Southwest Corner of W. Chinden Boulevard and N.
Meridian Road
1. Request: Rezone of 37.31 Acres of Land from the C-
C and TN-C Zoning Districts to the R-15 Zoning
Districts
2. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of 196
Building Lots, 12 Common Area Lots and 2 Future
Right-of-Way Lots on 35.63 Acres of Land in the R-15
Zoning District
3. Request: Modification to the Development Agreement
to Amend Certain Provisions and Inclusion of a
Conceptual Development Plan
Bird: Item F, H-2016-0104, Brighton Investment Land Holdings, southwest
corner of West Chinden Boulevard and Meridian Road. Bill, is that you?
Parsons: Council Members, President, we are going to get the other planner to
come present the project. So, Sonya should be here in a minute.
Bird: Okay.
Allen: Excuse me. You guys were quicker than I thought. All right. The next
application up is a request for a rezone, preliminary plat, and development
agreement modification for Paramount Director. The subject property consists of
35.63 acres of land. It's zoned C-C and TN-C and it's located at the southwest
corner of West Chinden Boulevard and North Meridian Road. This property was
annexed in 2013 and a modification to the development agreement for the larger
Paramount development was approved to include the annexation area in the
existing agreement. A preliminary plat was approved at that time. No. Excuse
me. Earlier this year for Paramount North 40. The Comprehensive Plan future
land use map designation is mixed-use community on the northern 26 acres and
medium density residential on the southern 15 acres. A rezone of 37.31 acres of
land from the C-C and TN-C zoning districts to the R-15 zoning district is
proposed for the development of 196 single family residential attached units ,
consisting -- consistent with the associated MUC and MDR future land use
designations for this site. An amendment to the existing development agreement
is also proposed that will update the development plan for this site and amend
certain provisions of the agreement. A preliminary plat is proposed as shown
that consists of 196 building Lots, 12 common area lots and two future right-of-
way lots on 35.63 acres of land in a proposed R-15 zoning district. Two different
types of single family attached structures are proposed within this development.
The Encore units are an age-qualified 55 and older single story attached product,
configured in quads with shared driveways and side entry garages , located on
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November 15, 2016
Page 34 of 70
the western portion of the development, consisting of 98 units. The Cadence
units are a two story attached product with side entry garage s, accessed from
shared driveways located on the eastern portion of the development. Also
consisting of 98 units. All development is required to comply with the
dimensional standards of the R-15 district. The applicant has submitted an
exhibit for each of the unit types that depicts building f ootprint as shown,
setbacks, common driveways and off-street parking. The rear setbacks of the
Encore units that back up to common area need to be extended from three feet
to a minimum of 12 feet and the parking pad for the Cadence units does not meet
the minimum dimensional standards for the two off -street parking spaces per unit
that are required, which makes the development short 196 off -street parking
spaces. The plat and/or unit types will need to be revised to comply with the
minimum setback and parking standards or the applicant may submit an
application for an alternative compliance to the parking standards . Access is
proposed via North Fox Run Way, a collector street, which was previously
approved with the development agreement and preliminary plat for Paramount
North 40 and is shared with the assisted living facility to the west. Two accesses
are proposed via West Director Street, a collector street. Direct lot access is not
proposed or approved via West Chinden Boulevard or North Meridian Road.
Common lots are proposed along Chinden and Meridian for future right of way for
expansion of these streets. Common shared driveways are proposed throughout
the development for access to the units. A total of 8.63 acres or 24.2 percent of
qualified open space is proposed. Proposed site amenities consist of a
swimming pool and clubhouse in the Encore portion of the development and a
swimming pool with a risk -- excuse me -- with a restroom facility, tot lot, and
associated parking area in the Cadence portion, which is, again, on the east
portion of the development. A ten foot wide multi-use pathway is proposed along
Chinden and Meridian in accord with the pathways master plan . Conceptual
building elevations were submitted for each of the two types of attached units as
shown. The Cadence and Encore. Building materials consist of two different
types of materials with stone veneer accents . The applicant states there are two
different Encore floor plans, one for the front units and one for the rear units, with
elevation variations and one floor plan for the Cadence units with a few
differences between the back-to-back units primarily on the first floor. All
attached structures are required to comply with the residential design standards
listed in the architectural standards manual. The Commission did recommend
approval of the subject applications at their hearing. Mike Wardle, the applicant's
representative, testified in favor. Elizabeth Davis and Brian Davis testified in
opposition. Written testimony was received from Mike Wardle, the applicant's
representative, in agreement with the staff report. Key issues of discussion -- the
public was not -- the public that testified was not in favor of the attached housing
type and higher density proposed within the Cadence portion of the development,
as compared to the detached homes and lower density within the adjacent
Paramount Subdivision and they were concerned that the homes will be
purchased by investors and turned into rental properties. Key issues discussed
by the Commission was concern regarding the lack of off-street parking that was
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
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below UDC standards within the Cadence portion of the development and they
were in favor of the proposed housing types , density, and transition between
developments. There were no changes to the staff recommendation. The only
outstanding issue for Council is the off-street parking I mentioned in the Cadence
portion of the development is significantly below that required by the UDC. A
condition is included in the staff report for the applicant to reconfigure the lots to
meet the UDC parking standards or submit and obtain approval of an application
for alternative compliance with the final plat application. No written testimony has
been received since the Commission hearing. Staff will stand for any questions.
Bird: Any questions for Sonya at this point? The applicant is ready.
Wardle: Mr. President, Council Members, Mike Wardle, Brighton Corporation.
12601 West Explorer Drive in Boise. Just right at the get go and for the record
we concur with the staff recommendation as forwarded to you with a
recommendation for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission, including
a resolution to the parking issue for Cadence, which we will deal with in due
course. I just want to spend a few minutes -- Sonya has done a really very good
job and most of what I'm going to show you has already been shown , but there
are a couple of specific items that we would like to address. As noted, we are
requesting a change of zone from commercial zone to C-C and the TN-C to an
R-15 and that's primarily because of the dimensional and setback standards of
the R-15, even though we do not even approach the R-15 density. Also the
detailed site plan, which is a modification requirement for the development
agreement and the preliminary plat as noted. Thank you, Sonya. I'm not -- my
finger hasn't figured the screen out yet. There are two Comprehensive Plan land
use designations. The tan along Chinden is mixed-use commercial -- or, excuse
me, mixed-use community. The yellow, which encompasses virtually all of the
single-family portion of Paramount, is the medium density residential. You will
see the -- the Comprehensive Plan density objectives from each of those
designations and, in reality, what we are proposing with Paramount Director is
much less than the mixed-use community and right at the midpoint of the mix --
or, excuse me, the medium density residential. This project is not high density.
It is not multi-family. It is not out of character with Paramount. It just happens to
be a different form of single-family choice afforded to future residents. The next
slide, just for context to show Paramount Director really is the last residential
component of the project. It's been -- I guess we started this project in 2003, so
over the last 13 years there has been a great deal of development in this area,
with the exception of the Paramount Director and the southeast corner of multi-
family, which have yet to be developed , I have shown, for instance, the type of
density that has been created throughout the project and it depends clearly on
the size of the lots. You will see a range from about 3.4 on the low end up to 4.3
single family, but, then, the highest density that we have up to this point down in
the southeast corner of the are the alley load and some greenway lots, just over
six units per acre. When you look at the overall project, including the elementary
school site, the parks and all of the open space, the overall density of the project
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 36 of 70
is 3.25 units per acre. If you account for the future of Paramount Square
Apartments and the Director density of five and a half units per acre, the overall
project completed will be 4.02 units per acre. Paramount, I believe, is the most
complete community in Meridian, with the schools, the parks, with diverse
housing, the commercial, some of which has been completed and a great deal
more to be done. Churches and services afforded to the residents within that
square mile. There are a couple of parcels that we don't control, but will certainly
be developed at some point in the future, but in context Paramount is a very
complete community, with a fairly diverse character. The next slide simply kind
of reiterates what Sonya has already pointed out. The Encore product to the
west, which is adjacent to the assisted living structure that's under construction
currently that's noted or called Veranda and that's located just on the east side of
Fox Run Way, Encore will be single story age-qualified and we will market them
as townhomes, even though under your code they don't actually qualify as
townhomes. Townhomes under the UDC is three units or more attached. These
will be simply by your code single family attached two units each. The Cadence
portion will be two story units and so a bit broader market in the sense that it will
be open for all family sizes and characters, certainly ranging probably from empty
nesters to young families getting a start. So, it's not much different in character
than what is afforded to folks that already live within the community. I would just
point out that these units are by, again, code definition not duplexes. A duplex
consists of two units on a single lot. These will all be owner -- each unit will have
its own parcel ownership. The next slide, just, again, shows the distinction. This
particular product, because it is age-qualified, will have its own private pool and
clubhouse. The unit -- the ownership line shown in the lower corner shows how
those units would be broken up in terms of ownership . The next slide actually
shows a similar project in the nearby community of Boise. This is located at
Cloverdale and Ustick, but it shows how paired units are configured in a quad
configuration with shared driveways in lower courts that are off streets . So, the
yellow lines simply show how we have got two units each connected and, then,
they are separated by a little bit of a -- it's a utility corridor between the structures,
so it -- all of the utilities can be off the street and out of the lower court, but that
just shows how the character of those attached units in that quad configuration
are delineated. Cadence -- again, a family community, two story units will feature
the fourth Paramount community pool and playground open to all residents of the
community. Long planned and long promised. And so that particular product line
will have, again, some shared facilities in terms of the off -street parking and will
be acknowledged that Condition 1.2.3D is the one that requires us to either
reconfigure the units to provide that off-street parking or to seek and gain
approval of an alternative compliance proposal and that we will do . The next --
and almost final slide simply, again, shows the ownership line in red with the
Encore products, the age-qualified single story to the left, Cadence two-story to
the right and it shows the separation between those units with green space , so
that there is -- and I think Sonya had indicated the amount of open space, but it's
20 plus percent overall. Again, with two significant features. One a private pool
for the 55-plus group, another for the overall community that would provide the
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November 15, 2016
Page 37 of 70
fourth such facility for Paramount. The slide is simply we will open it up for
questions after we acknowledged our request for Council approval of the rezone
from commercial to R-15, the DA modification with a specific site plan for these
products and the preliminary plat for up to 196 units. Again, noting that we agree
with the conditions that have been forwarded to you from the Planning and
Zoning Commission as prepared by staff at the initial hearing. Mr. President, I
would stand for questions.
Bird: Thank you. Any questions, Council? Thanks, Mike.
Wardle: Thank you.
Bird: We did have quite a few sign up. A lot wanted to testify. When I read your
name if you would like to come testify come on up. Steven Chrysler. If you will
give your name and address, please.
Chrysler: My name is Steven Chrysler and I live at 417 West Broderick Drive in
Meridian. After reviewing the proposed request to change the zoning, I object to
it on the grounds that the schools are overcrowded. I have a son at Rocky
Mountain High School. It's my understanding the place was built for 1,500
students. It currently has approximately 2,000 students. I have another son who
goes to -- to the middle school nearby. Before the current school year they
asked some of the students to share lockers, because they did not have enough
lockers. That school is overcrowded. And the roads in the neighborhood -- there
is too much traffic. The current configuration of commercial zoning would be
appropriate, because there is not enough commercial facilities around there at
this time and the -- Paramount does not need new -- more people. That's
basically it. And if you have any questions of me that's --
Bird: Any questions, Council? Thank you.
Chrysler: Thank you.
Bird: Debbie Chrysler. She's against, but did not want to testify. Karen
Coonradt.
Coonradt: Mr. President, Council, I live at 5942 North Mitchum Avenue.
Bird: State your name, please.
Coonradt: My name is Karen Coonradt.
Bird: Okay.
Coonradt: Okay? And I live at 5942 North Mitchum Avenue. I'm losing my
voice, so -- but I object to this and the reason I object to it is because when all
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 38 of 70
homeowners bought their homes the zoning was just as it is stated and this
density -- the density that's being computed with parks and schools -- I don't
understand that, how you can count the density of this Cadence that way with
these two stories. It's just going to impact that area tremendously. I know that
they were going to have the -- the senior living there. They told us that when we
bought our homes. But we all were aware that the zoning at that time was C-C
and TN-C and this R-15 with meeting the high density, especially with the
Cadence, is just not acceptable. It's just too many people and I don't know what
they are going to do with the cars. You know, how they are going to figure out
what they do with the -- the cars, you know. So, anyway, I object and thank you
very much.
Bird: Just a minute. Any questions? Robert Chlebda. I'm sorry if I'm butchering
your name.
Chlebda: Good evening. Bob Chlebda is my name. Nice to see you all tonight.
My wife and I are at 362 West Bacall and we purchased last year and delighted
to be up here. However, we purchased based on the commitment that the
zoning was firm at the time, obviously. So, anyway, we are, obviously, against it
based on what some of the other comments have been tonight . So, totally
wanted to make -- make that abundantly clear and we are highly hopeful of your
-- of your correct decision in this matter. Thank you.
Bird: Is there any questions for -- thank you very much. Wanda Shelba. She
didn't want it testify. Claudia Bail. Against, but didn't want to testify. Lindsay
Merrill is neutral, but did not want to testify. Elizabeth Davis is against and, yes,
would like to testify.
Davis: Mr. President, Members of the Council, I am opposed also --
Bird: Ma'am, would you --
Davis: Oh, yes.
Bird: -- state your name and address, please.
Davis: Yes. Elizabeth Davis. 115 West Bacall Drive.
Bird: Thank you.
Davis: I am also opposed to the proposal to rezone this 36 acres of the
northeast corner of my neighborhood for three principal reasons . The first of
these reasons is the desirability of the current zoning as it stands. I'm sure that
you all as Council Members are aware, but in case some in the audience are not
aware, the land at the northeast corner of Paramount is currently zoned for C-C
or Community Business and TN-C, which is the Traditional Neighborhood Center
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November 15, 2016
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District and quoting from the City of Meridian's website: The purpose the TN-C
district is to serve as the focal point of a neighborhood center, containing retail,
commercial, and community services to meet the daily needs of community
residents within a one to two mile radius. A TN-C is pedestrian-oriented. It's
designed to encourage pedestrian connection with a traditional neighborhood
residential district and it uses small-scale retail, restaurants, recreational,
personal services, public or quasi-public uses, churches and attached and multi-
family dwellings. So, this type of pedestrian friendly area with a mix of retail,
commercial, and community businesses is really what Paramount needs . That
would just be fantastic for our part of the neighborhood . Instead of driving down
Eagle Road for a dinner out, it would be wonderful if there were a restaurant right
on the corner of the street. Instead of driving several miles to take a pet to the
veterinarian what if there were one right on the corner for the residents of the
Veranda assisted living facility that's currently under construction ? An area like
this, like a TN-C, could really enhance their quality of life. I imagine that most of
them will not be able to drive, but if there was something that they could walk to
with assistance that could really enhance their quality of life , as well as all the
residents that already live in Paramount, such as my family. The second reason
I'm opposed to this rezoning is what I would call the bait-and-switch problem. As
has already been stated for any residents that already purchased in Paramount ,
who inquired about the zoning of this area, they would have been told that this
area was zoned for community business and the traditional neighborhood center
district. So, to change the zoning now, especially, apparently, without much of a
compelling reason, is unjust and a classic bait-and-switch for the homeowners
that are already there. The third reason that I'm opposed to this change is just
the residential versus commercial balance in the neighborhood. Paramount is a
great neighborhood. We have lived there since April. I think it could be a model
for other neighborhoods as it is currently zoned. We love living there. It has a
fantastic elementary school right in the heart of the neighborhood. It has a lot of
houses. It has what I feel like is a nice variety of residential options already
there. Apartments under construction. There is an assisted living facility. There
are small alley -- alley loading homes. There are larger single family homes. A
variety of lot sizes. And what we feel like -- or what my family feels like
Paramount needs is not more houses, but something -- something else that we
could walk to.
Bird: Thank you. Any questions for --
Davis: Could I make just one more comment?
Bird: One more comment. Yes.
Davis: We feel like if the current zoning was a good idea at the time , what has
changed that makes it not a good idea now? That's not -- that's not clear to us.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
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Bird: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you. Brian Davis is against and would
like to testify.
Davis: Brian Davis. Same address. 115 West Bacall Drive. Mr. President,
Members of the Council, thanks for giving us this forum to voice our opinions. I
think a lot of what I was going to say, which has already been stated, the -- you
know, we love the neighborhood, what they have -- what they have done with it
and I don't think that the zoning change is -- is justified. As my wife stated, I'm
unaware of any compelling reason that goes above and beyond to -- I'm just not
sure what added value there is to making this zoning change and adding the
residential houses, the parking, schools, all that stuff. I'm just not sure how that
increases the value of Paramount in any way and we have a plethora of children
in our family, so we have a long time to -- to live there and it's a nice little
community as it is. When we get older we can transition right on into the
assisted living, so thank you very much.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. Kristin Arnell is against, but didn't
say whether they wanted to testify or not. Is there a Jessie? Or Maguire?
Jessie Maquire? Okay. They were neutral. Jonathan Sage is against and would
like to testify.
Sage: Good evening, Mr. President, Members of the Council. My name is
Jonathan Sage. I live at 137 West Bacall in the Paramount Subdivision. I am
against the motion to change the zoning of it , as I believe it is a bit of a bait-and-
switch. We live directly south of where the proposed development is going to be .
We were really looking forward to the C-C portion of the zoning for that, as we
believe a community center that has commercial properties would be a value to
us as we like to walk the neighborhood on a regular basis and it would be nice to
have an anchoring point with which we could have our walks within the
neighborhood. Both my wife and I, we really see value in that. In addition to
that, I seeing the zoning increase the density of our neighborhood is something
that concerns us, since we just had our first born child and we are worried about
increasing the density within our schools that according to other members of the
committee already seem to be overcrowded and that is all. Questions?
Bird: Any questions, Council? Thank you very much.
Sage: Thank you.
Bird: Karen Pestka. Bob Lockery.
Kerts: I think I'm the person you're after. I'm the last one on the -- on the front of
the page, if you have a piece of paper.
Bird: Kerts?
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November 15, 2016
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Kerts: Kerts.
Bird: Okay. We are going down the list. Is there Karen Pestka? Does she want
to testify? If you want -- you got to come up here.
Pestka: Mr. President and community. I'm pretty much the same as everyone
else. I'm against it. But the biggest reason is the off -street parking. Anyone that
lives in Paramount and has that high school in there with school-age drivers, they
drive extremely fast and I think going down that street around with cars and you
have this pedestrian walkways, it's going to create a hazard and even more so.
They already have everything planned how it was. We have lived there since
March. Been in the neighborhood in that area for 11 years and just the
overcrowding of schools is just becoming a nuisance. Even though our daughter
graduated last year, it's just -- we can't afford to keep putting the schools in
jeopardy.
Bird: Ma'am, would you state your name and address to get me out of trouble.
Pestka: Karen Pestka. 5997 North Mitchum.
Bird: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you very much. Sherwin. Did not want
to testify. Is against. Jake Griggs is against and he didn't -- he put a question
there. I guess he wants to testify.
Griggs: Good evening Mr. President, City Council Members. My name is Jake
Griggs. I live at 116 West Heston. My house actually backs up to where this will
-- the Cadence Community will be developed. I kind of feel the same as
everybody else. I do think there shouldn't be any exceptions whatsoever to
parking. As the folks on the south part of the subdivision with the school of
seeing lots of issues come up with that, I think the same thing with multi-family
dwellings. Another concern that I have is with regards to rental units. Eventually
the homeowners association will be passed off from Brighton into the hands of
the homeowners and at some point most HOA associations only allot so many
rental units per housing subdivision. I think that will become our problem later
when right now it probably should be considered by Brighton . A couple other
things. The schools, they are entirely overcrowded. With the opening of the new
elementary school last year that did free up Paramount Elementary. I foresee
that being a fairly large problem with all of the multi-family dwellings and, then,
just the traffic -- the access points in and out, you know, they say off of Fox Run
will be an access point. I struggle with that with the assisted living community.
Therefore, the other two are right on Director right to where all of our houses are,
coming in and out. So, that's all have. Any questions?
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much.
Griggs: Thank you.
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Bird: Eric Delreal. Name and address, please.
Delreal: 6010 North Peppard Avenue. Eric Delreal. Yeah. Pretty much like
everybody said, I don't agree with that. One of the main reasons is going to be
the schools. I got my daughter and my other daughter in the high school and
elementary and they are pretty crowded. The only thing is like I mean we wanted
to state that we did our due diligence looking for the best schools that we could
possibly find in Meridian and Boise and all the cities around and we came out
with Paramount. We found the schools and that's what we wanted. We rented
for about a year to see how we like the neighborhood and my wife she loved it,
so that's why we are there. Besides all the concerns that everybody said, I
wanted to address what is going to do that to our property values. We just
bought a house right there and I -- you know, we pretty much spent everything
we had and if they do that then how is that going to affect our property values.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. Dawn Delreal. Jeremy Schroeder
is neutral and did not want to testify. Ramona Neal against and did want to
testify. Thank you.
Neal: Good evening, President, Commissioners, staff, clerks and my neighbors
that I haven't even met yet. My name is Ramona Neal and I live at 181 West
Bacall. I moved into this home in February of this year. Since then I have seen
the development of the retirement center that is on Fox Run . There is a lot of
commotion there. There was one sign posted there at that corner. There was a
sign posted on Director and there was a sign posted, I believe, on Meridian
Road. The signs that are on Director would not be seen by most of the people in
the subdivision. Most of the people in the subdivision come right on Fox Run.
So, they might have seen the one sign that was there where the retirement
community was being built, but mind you when you're coming down Fox Run
you're trying to get out if you're going to work. There is a lot of commotion right
there. There are cars, there are vehicles, service vehicles, et cetera, being
parked there and so the sign being there was not completely apparent and I -- I
thank you for your attention and patience with t his important decision for us. We
just bought these homes. They are over 300,000 dollars. They are beautiful.
But we have made significant investments. So, I appreciate your patience. It is
late. I had the opportunity to run over to my parish, which is Holy Apostles, and
Holy Apostles is on the corner there and it's right across Meridian. They didn't
know anything about the change -- the zoning change. They said they didn't see
any of the signs and they are building St. Ignatius Catholic School, which is right
across the street. All of the traffic that will come out of this new development wil l
come straight out onto Meridian Road or it will go through Fox Run . What I
learned from pulling the ACHD report is that we can expect 1,140 trips of
vehicles to come out of that development every day. The Ada county report
looked at Fox Run, it looked at Meridian and it looked at Chinden. It failed for
Chinden. They said that's an Idaho Transportation Department issue. We don't
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November 15, 2016
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care. Well, it's not that they don't care, but it's not their issues to decide. Fox
Run they said was better than a D and they said that the other street was also
better than the D. They did not look at Director. They asked that -- and Director,
by the way -- the two streets that will come out on Director or Garbo and they are
-- I'm afraid I'm forgetting the other one. Garbo and, then, there is one more. So,
there is two streets that come straight out on Director and, then, they are going
right out onto Meridian. The ACHD report said that they asked that Channing
Way be closed and I think Channing Way is the street tha t comes out by the
retirement center and I'm not sure, maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong,
but that would mean that the outlet to Fox Run is closed and everything is going
to come out on Director. That's 1,140 cars out on Director Street every day and
that means my street, too, that comes out, which is either Bacall or the one that I
can't remember, will be the two that are venting out onto Director and you're
going to have 1,200 cars coming out there. The point made about the density, I
understand that R-15 in the proposed development is less than some of the other
neighborhoods within our subdivision, but it is greater -- it is greater than the
density that would have been proposed by TN-C. So, they are trying to compare
apples to apples and it's not apples-to-apples, it's apples to oranges. R-15 is a
much greater density than TN-C. So, we are talking 1,140 cars out on that
street every day. For me it's mindboggling. That's a lot of cars.
Bird: Ma'am, would you wrap it up, please.
Neal: I definitely will. I will tell you that there are 805 students currently in
Paramount Subdivision. With this new development you will add 200 students.
That's another 25 percent to that school. I don't think it can handle it. If the
school can't handle it, that means buses or it means parents taking their children
to school. I'm worried about the infrastructure. If they actually were doing the
zoning at the time and building for the units that they had , they knew at the time
we bought our houses that they were going to put this development in.
Otherwise, the infrastructure that's there is infrastructure for the TN-C, because
it's -- it's paved over. They have got irrigation, they have got all that stuff already
there and so the question is they were -- they knew about this before they told us
-- before we bought our homes. I'm worried about whether or not there is
sufficient water. If you had TN-C, you know, infrastructure there and you have
now -- you have irrigation for 196 units or water for 196 units, where is that water
going to come from? Things like that. Thank you so much and with that I will
close my remarks. I am available for questions.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Not really a question, but more of a comment. At least I have heard it a
couple of times already and I hear -- I really hear all your pains and I get it all,
because I live here, too. But in the TN-C zoning multi-family is an acceptable
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November 15, 2016
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use. This is much less density than a multi-family unit and so without changing
this to an R-15, which they are really going -- it's really -- they are putting in at
about five and a half per acre, they could be putting in apartments right there in
the TN-C. So, I just wanted to clarify that to you guys.
Neal: I guess that's true if what was promised or what was going to happen there
were apartment buildings, but that is not the representations that we heard when
we looked at TN-C and it does also include the parameters for small retail
pedestrian, which is what we were kind of hoping. So, I understand what you're
saying and we could get worse than we have I think is what you're trying to point
out to me. I get that. But I'm trying to make sure that this commission is aware
of some of the things that could impact the homeowners , the traffic, and some
safety concerns there. There are schools there. Paramount was promised to be
this type of a community and I just want you to know that this may impact it and it
may not be that type of community any longer. Thank you. Any further
questions? Comments?
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. Jeri Collins. She is against, but
she didn't want to say whether they wanted to testify or not. Sheldon Anderson
was against.
Anderson: My name is Sheldon Anderson. I live at 5964 North Mitchum, which
we live directly south of the proposed Cadence . Our objection is the high density
or label of townhomes. We know what happens to townhomes. Off-site parking.
You know, 98 units with one or two -- maybe three cars per unit, parking on the
streets, we all know what that looks like or attracts. My wife is a professional
property manager. We know what happens to townhomes. Eventually get sold
for rentals. We know what type of the demographics rentals bring people in and
out, in and out, it becomes a transient type of neighborhood, bringing people in
and out, and we object to this. So, the Cadence part of the high density. And the
traffic -- we all know people will avoid going Fox Run to Chinden. That forces all
that traffic out Director onto Meridian directly across from the school and
everything. So, it's going to be pretty hectic going through there. Thank you.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. Terrance Kurtz. Now, it's your
turn.
Kurtz: Mr. President and Council, my apologies first. My hair is gray and my
hearing is not great and you were speaking down here, so I didn't hear clearly. I
thought you were struggling with my name.
Bird: I have got the same problem.
Kurtz: Terrence R. Kurtz. I live at 652 West -- I’m tired already. 652 West
Barrymore. My wife and family moved here in May of 2011 back when we could
see the Catholic Church from where we were and certain representati ons were
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 45 of 70
made about the development. We knew ultimately in the course of time it was
going to be filled up. The first couple years I ended up being on the traffic
committee in the Paramount Subdivision, but we had traffic problems at that point
and that was really before a lot of the new construction has taken place. A year
ago there was a ballot provision to ask for a hundred million dollars to improve
and enlarge on schools in the school district and it was turned down in the fall. A
scare campaign was run telling us that the quality of our children's education
would be in peril and all these bad things would happen and they put it on the
ballot in the spring I think of this year and it passed . It added 300 dollars to my
taxes. When I moved here in 2011 my property taxes were 2,300 dollars. Today
they are 3,500 dollars. That's a 50 percent increase in five years. Our federal
government asked for a 75 percent increase going to the third year for health
insurance. That kind of thing is unsustainable. Now, we have yet to see the
apartments that have been approved for the southeast corner of Paramount
Subdivision. On the chart it showed it at a density of 18. It's going -- two years
ago I spoke to Principal Brigham at my children's elementary school and asked
where are these people going to go to school. You know, they are proposing --
they have already approved -- I mean it's a done deal. I realize that. They have
got all these families. The demographic in Paramount tends to be young families
with lots of children. The principal couldn't tell me where the children were going
to go to. All the schools -- Paramount is unique in that it's got -- within the square
mile it's got the high school, it's got the elementary school, and, then, Heritage
Middle School is just across Meridian Road. There is a rush hour in Paramount
just at the time children move to their schools. Buses, parents driving their kids
to the elementary school, a lot of it's internal. There has been people coming
across Chinden, down Fox Run, going to the high school. There is a lunch hour
rush hour at the high school and we yet have the traffic coming from all those
apartments to deal with, much less what's now proposed for the northeast corner.
I don't understand why the Council isn't -- I understand the developers want to
maximize their profits, but who is looking out for the people in our subdivision and
the quality of our life and protecting us . This current election they had three
ballot issues for money. One for the Western Idaho College and one for pools
and one for the -- anyway, three ballot issues asking us for money and they all
three got turned down. I don't understand --
Bird: Sir, time to wrap up. Would you, please, wrap up.
Kurtz: Okay. My point is this: I -- whatever will minimize the impact on the
subdivision where I live is what I want -- I want this Council to look out for us, not
the business interests. The homeowners within Paramount and our children and
our -- the education -- if we come -- they come back and ask us for more money
for more schools, that's inappropriate. That money should be collected before
permits are issued and at -- you know, put an assessment tax -- or an impact tax
on building permits to pay for these kinds of things. And one last thing. Coming
up Meridian Road, when the junior high school is letting out, it's a mishmash of
traffic. You have got entrances from this new part of the Paramount that's just
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
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been built and is being developed now where the apartments are, trying to cross
the -- Heritage School. School is trying to come out and turn left and right -- you
can't get -- it's just a robot and it's only going to get worse when that southeast
corner is fully developed. What's going to happen when the northeast corner is
fully developed? And I will leave that with you, because you are the one who are
approving these things to the Planning Commission ultimately and I leave that
with you.
Bird: Any questions? This is a public hearing. Is there anybody else that would
like to testify? Seeing none -- come on up. No. Not twice. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm
sorry. Come on up anyway. We will take you and, then, I will call --
Sullivan: Thank you so much. I'm Jennifer Sullivan. I live on 393 West
Dreyfuss. And my family -- my husband, my eight year old and I have lived there
since 2012. I really appreciate you listening to us, your voting constituents. We
are trusting in your wise decisions. I'm opposed to these new zoning changes for
reasons that parked -- extra parked cars and driving congestion are posing more
and more threat to our young children who walk and play in our communities . I
have seen several near misses. The houses are packed pretty tightly already
and I think what you are feeling from us is that we feel already that we are pretty
congested and these -- the changes of the apartments and now -- and now this
proposed change is just feeling a bit much. The pools are pretty crowded. I
have taken my now eight year old for years to the pools and we have walked
away, because there were too many people there . We bought into this original
dream and we have taken walks and we have been looking forward to the shops
where we can go as a family and have a healthy lifestyle , which encourages
more movement and walking and spending our hard -earned money locally and
we just bought into this quality of living, we bought into the dream, and it feels
like this is change -- changing on us. Thank you.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. I'm sorry. Tom Robert is against,
but did not want to testify. Naquel Ross against and does want to testify.
Ross: Hello, Council Members. My name is Naquel Ross and I'm at 6043 North
Peppard Avenue and I am opposed to the change in zoning because of -- our
family had made a decision to buy and build based on the current zonin g
information and we want that zoning to stay the same. To change the zoning
and development plan now for this parcel of land is unjust, particularly since
there is not a compelling reason to make the change. My husband was not able
to attend tonight. In his -- in his words he said that it should be kept how it was
originally said. We bought our homes because of this information and now they
change it. It's like it's not honest or fair and we are also worried about the
concerns of some of these townhomes and things being rented out as the
gentleman over here kind of explained what that can be like when they become
rentals and also how will that affect their property value . W e put a lot of money
into this home and we are worried about that. Also I'm concerned about traffic,
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 47 of 70
as many have spoken about the loss of the school capacity. I have three
children in the schools and so our family -- we respectfully request that the city
will not -- the City Council, that you will not -- sorry. Our family respects --
respectfully requests that the City Council will not approve this proposed zoning
change. Thank you.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. John Sullivan.
Sullivan: Thank you. John Sullivan. 393 West Dreyfuss. I echo my wife's
commentary. I just wanted to voice my objection. I wanted to add that we have
also -- already had an incident where a pedestrian has been hit by a car, so the
congestion is very much a concern. I also buy in that what was sold to as
originally or communicated to us while we were purchasing the home was the
original zoning and I would like that to stay in place. That's all I'd like to say.
Bird: Any questions, Council?
Sullivan: Thank you.
Bird: Thank you. I can't pronounce -- I think -- is there anybody that wants to
testify? This is a public hearing. Please come forward.
Delreal: Good evening. My name is Gisela Delreal. I live on 6010 North
Peppard Avenue. You heard my husband a little bit earlier. We have been here
since April of this year in the home that we purchased and , to be honest, the
streets are crowded with children always playing. They are always outside. But
that is where you will always find them. They are never inside, besides when
they are doing homework. And if we add additional congestion to that I can just
imagine, you know, the problems that we would see with the little ones running
out and I'm talking four, five, six -- all -- all ages are out in the middle of the street
and, granted, where we are it's -- it's a little bit quieter, but the kids do venture out
to busier streets and I'm afraid that, you know, at some point there is going to be
so much traffic that nobody is paying attention. And besides the schools being
congested, we have -- like myself, expect the parents that are going to have
children, you know, five, six years down the line where the schools are even
more congested and what are we supposed to do? We have invested everything
we have into the purchase of our home and we can't just pick up and go
somewhere that's less congested, because of the schools that we want to
provide our children with.
Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. Anybody else? Mike, would you
like to reply?
Wardle: Mr. President, Council Members, Mike Wardle again for Brighton. I was
sitting pondering what the feelings might have been if we were proposing to go
the other direction from a residential use to commercial. I suspect that the
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November 15, 2016
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arguments would have been largely the same. We are proud of the community
that's been created and I think that the folks here th is evening have affirmed the
quality of the community and this is not proposed in any way to detract from the
quality or character of the community. There was certainly no bait and switch
intended. When this was annexed and zoned in 2013 we did not have a specific
plan, but there have been two applications that this concept has been presented
to since 2013 to the neighborhood and also to the Council. When we brought the
Veranda assisted living project forward I showed to the Council at that point the
concept of virtually what we are proposing this evening. Slight tweaks in the --
the layout. So, it's really a matter of -- as the market evolves over time in any
project, there are some uses that are longer term and candidly when you look at
the southeast corner of the Paramount section where we have the commercial
and the multi-family, that area has not yet developed in commercial. It takes time
for that to occur. Now, this could be -- I guess we could sit and hold this, but our
intent is to build this community out. It's fascinating to me to listen to the
distinction that the -- the neighborhood has about the character of the people
that will live in these homes. These will be single family homes that will back up
to a collector roadway that will have their single family homes backing up to the
same collector roadway and the same character of their family makeups will be
identical. These residents will be them, but in a slightly different form of housing.
Schools. Always a challenge. Always have been. They follow the need just as
the need that these people created for schools when they chose to build a home
in this neighborhood. There was a comment made by one of the ladies
concerning the ACHD staff report that I just want to clarify. ACHD did not
recommend closure of the access to -- I believe it was called to Fox Run. They
recommended that it be made public, so that it -- because that will be not only an
access for the assisted living, but it will be the westerly access for this project as
well. We have to have the two access points. The two on Director, again, go
into a collector roadway that forms a clear distinction in terms of neighborhoods
between the area to the north and the area to the south and as has been stated
by one of the neighbors, their community that backs up to Director is, essentially,
kind of an enclosed little community. Certainly children can move out of their
neighborhoods if they choose to do so. But it doesn't change the character of
what their experience is. This will not have any direct impact on them internally
and, quite frankly, not from a property value perspective . These are just the
same type of people. In one case a bit more on the senior side. In the other
case small families, potentially, living in a choice of lifestyle, but ownership is the
same. There is no distinction between the two. I will conclude with that, unless
you have questions, but I think Mr. Turnbull would like to also make some
comments.
Bird: Thank you, Mike. Any questions for Mike?
Wardle: Thank you.
Bird: David.
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 49 of 70
Turnbull: Mr. President, Members of the Council, David Turnbull. 12601 West
Explorer Drive in Boise. I want to be brief, but I will probably respond a little bit to
some of the points that were made point by point. I will go back ten years. We
actually commissioned a plan over this northern property that actually included
about everything these new sections west of -- or, excuse me, south of Director
that are now the residents where some of these people live. The plan and the
idea back then, even ten years ago, was to create a different kind of living
environment. One of those components that we unveiled back then was the idea
of a continuing care retirement facility and I want to just point to the nature of
Paramount as a whole. We have tried and tried over the course of the last 13
years to provide multiple living environments that would incorporate anybody's
lifestyle choices. So, we got the Veranda project under construction now.
Obviously, this is for people that are nearing the end of life. The Encore project
is an adjunct to that. This is an age-qualified community. Some of you may have
been around when we built another age-qualified community called James Place
out by the Cherry Lane Golf Course and, you know, the average age in those
communities is into the 70s and 80s. And so when we are talking about schools
and crowding, a full half of this project is not anticipated to generate any student s
whatsoever. The other half of the project, Cadence, actually targets the buyer
profile that would be slightly diverse. It could be young couples, newly married,
just getting started. Maybe they have a baby or two. But it's not for the --
primarily targeted toward the families that have students that are going to school .
Or it could be empty nesters that are just wanting to downsize. So, the issue of
school crowding -- this is going to help. On the issue of traffic, everybody wants
to think about restaurants and retail and if you even look at this location, the idea
of restaurants and retail there is a little bit problematic, because, number one,
you have to attract traffic from outside of the community to support those uses .
So, we would actually be inviting more traffic into the Paramount neighborhood.
We would probably have to get a waiver from ITD to create an access off
Chinden and to make anything like that viable. So, the uses we are proposing as
Council Member Milam said, you know, under the current zoning we could have
gone for apartments, we could have gone for densities nearly two or three times
what we are proposing here. So, the traffic issues, although I understand their
concerns, we are mitigating those. The density issues are less. As for the
rentals, I want to go back about another ten years and just let these residents
know what we have done to look out for this Paramount neighborhood. A
phenomenon occurred that we had never seen before -- and I don't know how --
if I'm running out of time here, if I have got a time limit, but a phenomenon we
had never seen before. One day I came to work and we had had eight sales
reported in our community for that weekend and I thought, oh, my gosh that's like
-- where did that come from. So, I checked into it and I think -- I can't remember
for sure. I think about six of those were investor sales, people who wanted to
buy for an investment and I could see this bubble forming and I could see this as
a warning sign. We quickly revised our documents with all of our builders to
require that their homes be owner-occupied. We were the only ones that did
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November 15, 2016
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that. All of our surrounding neighbors were selling to investors as fast as they
could. Consequently, when the downturn hit and the foreclosure crisis came, if
you looked at the websites that tracked foreclosures, Paramount's foreclosure
rate was probably a third of what the surrounding neighborhoods were . So, we
have always taken that long view in mind here. Now, I will tell you that in the
Encore project there may well be some rental properties, because I have a mom
that's 89 years old. She doesn't live in Idaho. We actually looked at one of these
-- and Mike used this comparison of the Orchard project on Cloverdale and
Ustick, which is age qualified and built for older couples. There was a similar
project built where she lives and she looked at actually living -- moving there for
the environment. But she was 85 years old and they didn't rent. All you could do
was buy. Well, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for my 85 year old mother to
be buying a property at that stage of her life. So, there could be those kind of
situations. The nice thing about it is these are all under one common area
maintenance agreement. All of these units are maintenance free. Both sides.
Cadence and Encore. So, they will be managed by an association -- a sub
association that will maintain these properties. So, I think that we have taken
care of that concern. Somebody mentioned that, you know, they wished there
were more pools. Well, guess what, we have provided two. And for the Encore
residents we have provided their own private clubhouse. So, I think we have
addressed the amenities. We have addressed a lot of the concerns that have
been raised here. Obviously, you know, some of these people are probably
coming here with a lot of questions on their mind and, you know, we have done
our best to have the appropriate neighborhood meetings . As Mike mentioned,
we have had a couple of these in the last three years and laid out our plans and I
think with a better understanding they will come to recognize that this is actually
a really nice use. It diversifies the population base, but it also allows people for --
you know, this is a multi-generational neighborhood and that's what we have
always aimed to create and I think that's what we have done a pretty good job at.
So, I'd appreciate your approval of this application and I will stand for questions.
Bird: Questions for Mr. Turnbull? Thank you, David.
Turnbull: Thank you.
Bird: Council, what is your pleasure?
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Mr. Present, Mr. Nary, I know I have asked you this a lot here in my first
year, but just to keep it fresh and also to the benefit of the public , as we have
heard a lot of comments about -- concerning property values and schools and
whatnot, what are the parameters in which we can legally decide.
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November 15, 2016
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Nary: Council Member Palmer, Members of the Council. So, the Council's
decision has to be based on your zoning and -- your zoning maps, your
Comprehensive Plan, and your city code. The school district is responsible to --
to school -- to educate whatever children that come. They guesstimate those
numbers based on formulas, but they really, again, have that responsibility.
Schools are not your -- within your purview to use as a basis for denial alone.
Property values has not ever been found in the state of Idaho by any court to be
a consideration for whether you would amend a zoning map or you shouldn't
amend a zoning map. Again, everything is based on your code, your comp plan,
everything that's within your purview to review. Traffic is decided by the highway
district on what's the appropriate roadway system, access points, levels of
service, those are all decided by the highway district. They do have a
representative here tonight. I don't know if you wanted to hear from him, but --
I'm sure he appreciated me reminding you that he was here. But, again, the
issues of density are within your purview. The issue of zoning does require you
to find that the zoning that's requested is reasonable based on your -- your land
use map and your Comprehensive Plan and that it's in the interest of the city to
amend the zoning. The folks that testified about the zoning are correct, they had
an expectation, but they also have the -- they have an expectation, but there is
also a right that comes with that on the property and to request a change, which
is what's before you. They have the right to come and testify and give you their
concerns and issues and that's what they have done. So, property values, that's
not an issue. Schools really are not an issue. Traffic, that's not really an issue
for the city. It really is based on your code and your Comprehensive Plan. Does
that answer your question?
Bird: Any other questions? Any other discussion?
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I notice that Justin was squirming a little bit sometimes --
Bird: You want to talk to him?
Palmer: You had mentioned -- so, yeah, Justin, if you have got anything you
want to chime in, I'd like your opinion. Specifically I guess with the -- we hear
often about going both ways. That is some people prefer commercial because of
traffic. Some people prefer residential because of traffic. What's the science?
Lucas: Mr. President, Members of the Council, for the record my name is Justin
Lucas. My business address is 3775 Adams Street, Garden City, Idaho, and I
am here representing the Ada County Highway District. As always, I will guide
you to the official staff report that was submitted on behalf of the highway district .
I do that, because that is our commission action on the -- on the application and
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November 15, 2016
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the official response from the highway district. Now, as -- as I usually do, I'm
glad to provide commentary at the request of the Council. Traffic is -- as you
say, there is science behind that and the generation of trips depends on all kinds
of things. But typical use is one of the primary drivers. Residential uses typically
generate fewer trips than higher intensity commercial style uses . So, that -- in
general that that is true. Are there some commercial uses that are low trip
generators? Absolutely. Are there some residential types of housing that are a
little higher trip generators than others? Absolutely. So, it's -- it's very specific
and for this specific subdivision, a comprehensive traffic impact study was
completed many years ago when all of this was originally reviewed and
anticipated and I do not see anything with these changes that would change the
highway district's opinion on the traffic generation. It is unique that you have
collector streets on both sides, both the west and the south and, then, an arterial
street on the east and a state highway on the north and the trips generated from
this subdivision are likely to go to those collector streets, out onto the state
highway directly through Fox Run or onto Meridian Road through Director. So, I
can answer any other specific questions you may have.
Bird: Council, any other questions?
Palmer: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: So, that -- you mentioned that it was unique with the two collector
streets adjacent to the -- the property in question. Would that be to the benefit of
the proposal, as opposed to just having I guess one --
Lucas: Well, I'm hesitant to provide, you know, benefit type -- that type of
language, but what I can say is that collector streets are intended to carry trips to
other higher capacity facilities and in this specific situation it appears that the
trips that are generated from this proposed neighborhood would not have to cut
through other local streets to access those higher-capacity facilities, which is a
typical problem that we deal with with new subdivision applications is cut-through
traffic on local streets. In this specific situation I don't see that occurring as -- as
much, because of the -- the configuration of the collector system that was
developed through the Paramount Subdivision.
Palmer: Thank you.
Bird: Any other questions for Justin? Thank you again, Justin, very much.
Council, if we don't need anymore public testimony or questions, I would certainly
entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
Borton: Mr. President?
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November 15, 2016
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Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move that we closed the public hearing on item H-2016-0104.
Palmer: Second.
Bird: Got a motion to close the public hearing on H-2016-0104. All in favor say
aye. Any opposed? Pass. The public hearing is closed.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Bird: What's your pleasure, Council?
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: There has been I think some great input from the public and the
applicant to describe the very nature of the balance of considerations that we
have and I think a lot of the public -- the Davis family in particular -- raised a lot of
concerns and at least some questions that I think for me at least the applicant
has -- has answered. I'm trying to weigh the considerations of this application in
looking at -- as counsel has described -- our future land use map, our
Comprehensive Plan, and the specific ways in which this particular application
and this parcel that already had entitled land use rights to it . I for one am
pleased to see how the applicant has mitigated with this request the impact on
traffic and schools, for example, among other considerations. So, those for me
weigh heavily in favor of supporting the application as presented. I do think it's
consistent with a reasonable use and reasonable application of our code and our
Comprehensive Plan. It's an application that I'm supportive of and from our
experience on Council this particular project, which has been going on for 13
years, and this particular developer has been anything but a participant of bait
and switch or anything of the sort. Uses and needs may change and as I
understood this application that's what's happened here and I think that the
description has described just that, but clearly not an element of a bait and switch
or any overt or implied desire to try and pass something off that it isn't. So, that
was exactly what I -- when I saw it I don't agree.
Bird: Any other comments?
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: As I already stated, you know, the concerns that we all have, you know,
having families in Meridian are the schools and the traffic and, you know, that --
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November 15, 2016
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that makes our job really hard, because we listen to you and we hear you and
with our hearts want to just say no more building, no more houses, you know, but
in reality this is a project -- there is 24 percent open space, which is more than
double what is required. But the fact that they have the -- the age-required older
living is going to make -- have a lot less children. You can move literally from
one of your homes, your kids move out, you move into one of the Cadence
places and, then, you get a little bit older and you move into the Encore and,
then, you can move right into the assisted living. So, the diversity that it
provides, it -- I see that it does add a lot of value to Paramount and this particular
developer they donated the land for the school, they are the ones that created
this wonderful place that you guys love living and I know it's hard, but based on
the facts that we have to make a decision on I am in support of this application.
Bird: Any other? If not, I would certainly entertaining a motion to --
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: If there is no any further discussion, I would move that we approve Item
H-2016-0104.
Palmer: Second.
Bird: I have a motion to approve and a second. Any discussion?
Borton: Yeah. Mr. President, that includes the staff and applicant's agreement
with regards to how to reconcile the parking concern.
Bird: Everybody understand that? Madam Clerk, would you --
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
G. Public Hearing for Linder Road Apartments (H-2016-
0111) by S 3 Investments LP, Located at 1770 S. Linder
Road
1. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 4.55 Acres of
Land with an R-15 Zoning District
2. Request: Conditional Use Permit for a Multi-Family
Development in the R15 Zoning District Consisting of
Sixty-Four (64) Dwelling Units
Meridian City Council
November 15, 2016
Page 55 of 70
Bird: Next item. Item G is H-2016-0111, S 3 Investments, LP. The Linder Road
Apartments. Is that you, too, Sonya?
Allen: That is.
Bird: We have got you here, we don't have to go run you down.
Allen: I didn't run out on you. All right. Next item up before you is a request for
annexation and zoning and conditional use permit. This site consists of 4.35
acres of land, zoned RUT in Ada county, located at 1770 North Linder Road.
The Comprehensive Plan future land use map designation is medium density
residential. The applicant is proposing to annex and zone 4.55 acres of land with
an R-15 zoning district and requests a step up in density from medium density
residential to medium high density residential as allowed by the Comprehensive
Plan without an amendment to the future land use map. The proposed density of
14.71 units per acre is consistent with that allowed in the R -15 district and with
the requested step up in density to medium high density residential. A
conditional use permit is also requested for a multi-family development,
consisting of 63 dwelling units in an R-15 district. The site plan depicts 16 four-
plex structures that contain 63 two-bedroom units and a management office.
Access is proposed via South Linder Road. ACHD is restricting the access to a
right-in, right-out. An emergency turnaround for the fire department is proposed
at the southeast corner of the site. The proposed off-street parking is in
compliance with UDC standards. A ten foot wide multi-use pathway is required
along Linder Road in accord with the pathways master plan . Staff recommends
pathway connections are stubbed to the north, generally in this location here
where my pointer is at and to the east property boundary for future pedestrian
interconnectivity. A total of 1.99 acres or 44.6 percent of qualified open space,
along with site amenities consisting of large open grassy areas, a covered
barbecue area, a tot lot, a sports court, bicycle maintenance station and a
segment of the city's multi-use pathway are proposed in accord with UDC
standards. Two types of multi-family structures are proposed within the
development as shown. Building materials consist of a mix of horizontal and
vertical siding with stone veneer accents. The two building types appear to be
identical, except that they differ -- have different roof forms. Variety in the
architecture character of the structures and design should be provided as set
forth in our architectural standards manual. Windows are required on all
elevations that face pathways and areas used for children's recreation to allow
views of these areas. All structures on the site are subject to design review. The
Commission did recommend approval of the requested annexation, zoning and
conditional use applications. Kent Brown, the applicant's representative, testified
in favor. No one testified in opposition or commented. Written testimony was
received from Ken Brown, the applicant's representative, in agreement with the
staff report. There were no major issues of discussion with the Commission and
they did not make any changes to the staff recommendation. Council should
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November 15, 2016
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determine if a step up in density from medium density residential to medium high
density residential is appropriate and should be approved for this development as
allowed by the comp plan without an amendment to the future land use map.
Written testimony has been received since the Commission hearing from Kent
Brown in agreement with the Commission recommendation. He also submitted a
revised site plan as discussed at the Commission hearing that complies with the
right-of-way requirements and parking standards. Staff will stand for any
questions.
Bird: Council, any questions for staff? Mr. Brown.
Brown: For the record, Kent Brown, 3161 East Springwood, Meridian, Idaho.
Could you go to the colored -- yes. As you look at this design, I'm really pleased
with it. We -- we had one neighbor call us after the neighborhood meeting , said
he was out of town, it was on our east side. They have the Party Barn, if you
know what the Party Barn is, adjacent to us and they were concerned about the
private area back in the very southern -- southeasterly corner of our site. We had
a building located there. We moved it across the parking aisle and so now we
don't have any of our buildings back against any other building. We don't have
any neighbors that we are abutting, even though we have increased our setbacks
-- you allow 15 in the R-15 zone and most of your zones from the rear of these
buildings. We have 20 in all of them. We are adjacent to this parking lot on the
-- the east there as you can see in this -- this rendering. We have a ditch that's --
a couple of ditches and a right of way for irrigation that runs along our southerly
boundary that's between us and Fall Creek Subdivision that will be coming in in
the future up in this corner where it kind of comes to a point to have a cul-de-sac
that ends up in there. So, I really like the design. We have widened some of the
spaces so that it's a little wider, for example, between the -- on the south side as
you are coming off of Linder, the second building in, that area was widened with
a pedestrian path that takes you back to all of those amenities that are central in
-- in the site, in a close proximity for everybody to come. As I have been working
on this site it reminded me years ago of a project I did in front of Mountain View
High School, those apartments that are there. This intersection is much like that
intersection. At the same time when we put the apartments in there was no road.
The ones in front of Mountain View High School , there was no connection on
Linder Road across the freeway. This is the same thing that is taking place here.
This is one of the places that ITD and I think the Meridian plan that's looking for
that connection to take place, that is dramatically going to change the character
of the area and if you look at the two areas and what has taken place, as you
look over there by Mountain View High School you have the gas station that's on
the corner and more commercial type uses, but the apartments are very
appropriate with the busy traffic that's -- that's along Overland Road and I see
this fitting in and most likely the zoning that's to the north of us is going to change
also. As I did talk to the neighbors they were seeking kind of similar type uses as
what we were and that's why they are not here. The Meridian Fire Department
owns the piece directly to the north of us also and -- for a fire station site and I
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November 15, 2016
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think we have done a good job and hopefully you will think so, too. I would stand
for any questions.
Bird: Any questions for Kent? Thanks, Kent.
Brown: Thank you.
Bird: This is a public hearing. Is there anybody that wants to testify? Ralph?
You got any replies, Kent? Council, what's your pleasure?
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we close the public hearing for H-2016-0111.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: I have got a motion to close the public hearing on H-2016-0118 -- or, no,
0111. I'm sorry. Trying to get us out of here earlier. All in favor say aye? Any
opposed same. Okay. It's passed. Public hearing is closed.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Bird: Now what's your pleasure?
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Madam --
Milam: I'm glad you have a playground in there, so -- I move that we approve
H-2016-0111.
Borton: Second.
Bird: Got a motion to approve H-2016-0111. Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
H. Public Hearing for 2016 UDC Text Amendment (H-2016-
0118) By Meridian Planning Division
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November 15, 2016
Page 58 of 70
1. Request: Text Amendment to the Unified
Development Code (UDC) as follows: UDC Sections,
Definitions; Density Requirements in the Residential
Districts; Traditional Neighborhood Standards (TN-R
and O-T Districts); Ditches, Laterals, Canals or
Drainage Courses; Fencing; Pathways; Structure and
Site Design Standards; Landscaping Requirements
(Stormwater Facilities); Common Open Space and
Site Amenities Requirements; Specific Provisions
(Certificate of Zoning Compliance, Annexation and
Rezones and Alternative Compliance); Subdivision
Process; and Subdivision Design and Improvement
Standards (Block Length and Common Driveways)
Bird: Okay. Going on to H-2016-0118. Is that you, Mr. Parsons?
Parsons: That's me tonight. I will get my changes up here for you and we will
get into it. How does that sound?
Bird: We are ready.
Parsons: So, Mr. President, Members of the Council, I am here tonight to speak
with you about the next round of UDC changes. If you recall, we were here
about a year ago and did the same presentation for you . I would let you know
that we did vet these changes with the UDC focus group and we spent quite a bit
of time with them on the proposed changes and I also went to the BCA, as I did
last year, and vetted these changes with them as well and so very little
comments received on this application for you this evening . So, a lot of the
changes tonight I won't touch on, I will just touch on the bigger items. I know we
are getting late into the evening here. But I do want to highlight some of these
and I did want to let you know that we did take into consideration of our
development community, our stakeholders, as we went through this next round of
UDC changes. There are approximately ten pages and, again, I won't go into all
those tonight, but I did want to touch on a couple of them, though. I will run
through that quickly. I don't want this to be too much of a formal presentation. If
you want me to pause and answer any questions feel free to chime in and I will
do my best to answer the questions you may have and that way we will just keep
this at an open dialogue for you as a Council and also are two members in the
audience here this evening. So, as far as the first page before you -- and I can --
I think I can zoom in on some of this for you. Hopefully you can read it up there.
Bird: Did you have -- did you have Finance print this out for you?
Parsons: I did not. The problem is we have so many changes we -- we got to
have more and more pages of smaller, smaller font to fit it on here and I tried to
do the best I could to present that and I was hoping to get this blown up a little bit
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November 15, 2016
Page 59 of 70
for you. Let me see if I can increase the size here a little bit. Well, that didn't
help me, but, hopefully, you can see it up there. So, basically, on this particular
sheet there is two -- two items I really want to touch bases on and if you can see
my cursor here -- one is really double fencing. I think we came before you last
year -- I should probably leave it on that other mode and you can zoom in on it.
But as you know, we have always had an issue with fencing within our city and
there has been instances where residents have double fenced their property
when it -- especially when they abut a common lot and so this year we took it
upon ourselves to define what double fencing is and how we would apply that.
So, if you were next to your neighbor and you were fighting with them and you
wanted to build your own fence on your property, you could still do that. But if
you were up against a common open space, an HOA lot, code would prohibit that
from happening. So, that's the distinction here. We want to make it clear that
double fencing isn't allowed adjacent to common lots and that's happened
throughout the city. So, that's one of the big items that we are bringing forward.
The other one is really are density chart here and that's -- can you lower it here?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Yeah. Real quick on that point. Is it also prohibited adjacent to school
lots? The double fencing?
Parsons: Not -- no. At this time.
Borton: Is there a reason -- I knew -- it might have been a while, but that has
come up before -- and I forget the school -- where --
Parsons: The school district double fences their property. They -- they don't --
there was one up at Silverleaf Subdivision where the -- the school district likes
chain link fencing --
Borton: Yeah.
Parsons: -- and the subdivisions put in wood or vinyl and they want to just -- they
always put that perimeter fencing along -- yeah, they always double it up,
because they don't want to be responsible for damage on the adjacent property
owners' fencing, so this doesn't negate that. That's not considered open space in
our code.
Borton: Okay.
Parsons: It's really an HOA common lot.
Bird: But, Bill, they do -- they just require it to be open fencing, isn't it, if you -- if
-- at a school if you double fence?
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November 15, 2016
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Parsons: Not necessarily.
Bird: It isn't?
Parsons: No. They prefer to do that. Typically what we do is -- they do it for
maintenance purposes and they want eyes on that, because the public and the
police are kind of monitoring that. You do want your eyes on your open space.
Even parks are the same way. So, the practice is, yes, you want open vision
fencing along those areas. You don't want to wall people off and the school
district has done a pretty good job on that as well. The other one -- the other
item -- particular item on this slide is the density requirements. Currently in our
code we have a maximum density. So, in an R-2 zone maximum density of two
units to the acre. R-4 four units to the acre. Eight units to the acre in an R-8
district. When we presented to you last year we brought up that issue on how do
we increase our density to match what our zoning districts are and at the time we
had thought, you know, let's reduce our lot size and our dimensional standards
and Council was not -- was adamant against changing the R-4 and the R-2
standards. There are no -- we are good with the R-8, R-15, R-40, but we do not
want to mess with the R-4 and the R-8 -- or the R-2 standards and so what we
tried to do here is remove the density requirements and let the Comprehensive
Plan guide what that is. As you recall, every time we come before you we speak
to the Comprehensive Plan and we speak to you what the densities -- the
anticipated densities are under our Comprehensive Plan. So, again, for
example, in this evening we had one medium density residential, we talk about
three to eight dwelling units to the acre. Well, technically, you could have an R-4
development and still fall within three to eight. You could have an R-8
development that falls into three or eight. You can have an R-15 that falls into
three to eight. You just saw that this evening with the Paramount Director
project. So, what we are doing is taking density out of our code and letting the
comp plan guide that. Now, there have been instances where I have been with
the city where you have an in-fill project where density does become -- the
maximum density does become a problem, because you don't have open space
and you don't have a lot of roads to put in . So, when you look at, basically, gross
density on something -- if you have a lot of open space and a lot of roads, then,
your density is higher, because you're not setting aside that space for that. So,
this is our first blush at attempting to do that and, again, the group felt -- they
didn't have really an opinion on it one way or another, as long as they can
continue to do the projects they want to bring in Meridian and we said that
wouldn't have any bearing on that . We would still let the comp plan guide that.
Any questions or concerns with removing density requirement out of the code?
Next slide really kind of reinforces that same discussion that I just shared with
you. This particular slide, again, as we did last year, we are looking at some of
our zoning districts. This is our Traditional Neighborhood Residential District.
We don't have a lot of this within the City of Meridian. There are specific
standards that the developer has to comply with in order to use this zoning
district and because of the stringent requirements many developers don't use
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this. W hen you heard the lady just having a discussion about being walkable in
traditional neighborhoods and a mix of commercial, that's really what this zone is
for. You want the mix of residential product types and you want it to be small --
short block length, walkability, buildings towards the street, alley loaded product,
and that's what this zone tries to achieve and so we have looked at the
standards, we understand that some of them may not be achievable, so this --
this specific graphic is really diving into that and saying how can we make this
zone achievable. How can we get more of this in the City of Meridian and
incorporate that into our adjacent subdivisions and so we are trying to lower the
density requirements to give a little bit greater flexibility in the setbacks and
reduce some of the parking pad requirements in front of the units. It's similar to
what we did last year when we came forward with our changes to our R-8 and R-
15 and R-40 standards. On this particular slide here -- and you guys see this on
a regular basis. You know, Meridian has a lot of what's traditionally a farming,
agricultural community and we have a lot of waterways that traverse our city and
we get in a situation sometimes where waterways are either piped or relocated to
fit a certain development. Our Comprehensive Plan encourages waterways to be
incorporated into our overall development and so there is good examples of that
in Meridian where the developers did a great job at incorporating a creek or a
waterway as part of a linear open space and there is also bad examples where
they, basically, fence them off, they become a maintenance road and a weed
patch and so with this change here we are not requiring the developer to tile the
canal, what we are saying is follow the guidelines of our Comprehensive Plan.
We encourage -- we want to encourage them to -- don't look at that as an
impediment to the development of the property, look at it as a positive -- an
amenity for that development and find ways to creatively encourage that to be
incorporated into your -- the design of your subdivision and maybe create a linear
open space or a walkway corridor through there, pedestrian corridor through your
development. I think Settlement Bridge off of McMillan and Locust Grove did a
very nice job with their waterway that's going through that and that's really what
we are trying to do here. Again, we are not forcing it on the developers to do
that, they still have the right to tile the canal and -- and make some of those
changes, but it would be our first stance and we are even going to communicate
this at our pre-application meetings that it's our intent through our
Comprehensive Plan to keep these waterways open and protected and
encouraged to be incorporated into the development as a whole. Now, that will
take some work with the irrigation districts as well. There is -- there is some
requirements that -- they have some say on how these facilities develop, too, and
that's some of the concerns that I heard from the BCA is, you know, the irrigation
districts are a little skittish on letting us improve that and put landscaping in that
when it comes to maintenance of their facilities. So, again, there is good
examples of it and there is really bad examples of this. Next item is our -- again,
we are proposing some changes to our design standards. If you recall last year
we revamped our design manual and we took out all of the site development
requirements and came forward with our new architectural standards manual. In
that manual we clearly wanted to focus on the architecture more than the site
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development. We told you this was phased -- at that time that was phase one.
This tonight, this evening, I'm discussing phase two and what we have done is
we have comprehensively looked at those list of site changes that we removed
from the old design manual and we said where does this apply? Does it work in
the UDC, does it work in the Comprehensive Plan, or is it just redundant and we
don't need it? So, we vetted all of those previous standards out. We have
incorporated some new standards into the UDC and some of those did get rolled
over into the Comprehensive Plan or were already addressed in the
Comprehensive Plan. So, again, it's just that next phase of how we want to
encourage development to have buildings towards the street, minimize large sea
of asphalt in front of their shopping centers, almost like a village where you -- and
to have that pedestrian connectivity throughout the parking lot, so people aren't
having to walk down drive aisles, almost get run over as they walk through the
parking lot. So, that's really what this next step of our design changes are
proposing -- our design standards. We are expecting a little bit more pedestrian
connectivity and more buildings towards the street to kind of frame or screen the
parking areas. And, again, the majority of that would happen on our major
corridors throughout the city. Any questions or keep pressing on?
Bird: Any questions at this point? Evidently not, Bill.
Parsons: Nothing really on that slide to discuss. The one that I want to touch on
here -- are a couple items. Or at least the last one. If you recall last year we
spent a lot of time on how to make open space and site amenities proportionate
to a development. Currently we treat everyone the same -- or the code does.
We say if you're five acres or greater you provide ten percent open space and
you provide an amenity for every 20 acres and it doesn't matter if you're five
acres or 200 acres, you have to -- to comply with that standard. I came forward
with a matrix, some proposals, some recommendations to you. Council wanted
us to look at code and say how can we write something so that we can get it
proportioned -- be more proportionate for the larger developments . The Mayor at
that time said there has got to be some kind of alternative compliance or
something in place to do that and so I took your direction from last year and I
spent some time with the planning director and I said, Caleb, you know, maybe
the simpler way -- and I brought this up with the UDC focus group is maybe the
simpler way is to allow common open space and site amenities to be part of the
other alternative compliance process. We -- here on this table you can see we
have a list of standards and our alternative compliance process is allowed --
gives a developer flexibility. It's something to allow them to do something
innovative other than what our code allows. It has to be equal to or better than.
And so when I vetted this with the UDC focus group, they liked the idea of
opening that up to the alternative compliance process. Now, that is a director-
level approval. It doesn't require Council action or P&Z, but we will share that
with you as the projects come forward before you to let you know they are -- they
have submitted alternative compliance of these standards and so this would give
the developer an opportunity to -- say if they wanted to build a 6,000 square foot
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clubhouse and only want to do five percent open space, we could say, yes, that
clubhouse offsets the five percent additional open space and so we felt this was
the easiest way to come up -- rather than reinvent the code and come with some
new standards, this was our way of kind of taking what we heard from you last
year and incorporating it into what we already have in code and that was pretty
well receptive from the development community. They didn't -- they didn't like
the idea of doing that. I think it does give them some greater -- greater flexibility
and, hopefully, it does help us as we start having more and more in-fill projects,
giving them -- a developer or property owner latitude to come in with something
with some density, but also have a great amenity package to go along with that
to support that density. That's something that we discussed quite a bit last year.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Bill, was the issue of density versus amenities discussed at all, as
opposed to just acreage?
Parsons: It wasn't, but I think like any city when you get progressive, open space
is always a great amenity for a subdivision, but as I discussed last year, it can be
costly to an HOA, to a homeowner, because things will always go up and
maintenance of those facilities -- those costs increase. So, someone could
diversify their open space and off-set it with an amenities package, that -- that's
one way to do that.
Milam: Mr. President? I guess what I -- what I'm referring to, Bill, is more like the
amount of -- the number of homes -- so, if they are even R-4 and -- you know,
you have got a hundred homes -- and I'm just making up numbers. Don't do the
math on it. But 20 acres, you have got a hundred homes and -- or versus putting
200 homes in that same piece of property. It seems the 200 homes should have
to have more amenities to their -- because they have more people that they are
trying to appease. So -- does that make sense? Rather than just say acreage
itself.
Parsons: It does make sense. Again, the comp plan --
Milam: I mentioned this a long time ago, but I guess it --
Parsons: Well, the density is something, again, that -- as I presented, we are
taking out density out of the UDC and letting the comp plan drive that. So, if
someone came in -- in that particular case if something was a medium density
residential and they came in with an R-4 development and they still had 8,000
square foot lots and they came in on the high side, eight dwelling units to the
acre, technically they could request less open space and greater amenities,
because they have that available to them. But that's not a guarantee that they
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get that approved. Again, it has to be equal to or better than. Our intent behind
getting rid of density is to get more -- like as you saw this evening with the
Paramount community, is you have a master planned community, you want to be
all-inclusive. You want to have a townhome component. You want to have alley
load. You want to have the person that can afford the really nice single family
home, but they all share the same amenities. That's really the intent behind this.
It's not meant just to drive up density, so that we can get density for density sake.
I mean that's not the intent behind that . If we feel that's what they are doing, we
won't support their alternative compliance and we can deny their annexation or
their plat based on their requirement. Again, there is always going to be
someone that tries to push it. You can't try to setup code to address every
situation.
Milam: But I guess my -- my question really doesn't -- it isn't addressed here and
it's -- because it's not about any of the changes that you are making, it's about
changing our code to begin with.
Parsons: If they don't want -- yeah. If they don't want to do the alternative
compliance they can do the ten percent and stick with --
Milam: But I'm saying we need to have -- we should have higher -- we should
have higher standards or higher requirements for more homes. The higher
number of homes should have to have more amenities than less density or
zoning, that we are not getting rid of, but whatever it is, you have more homes
you need -- should have more amenities. More than what we already require, I
guess is what I want to say, not in this change or alternate compliance.
Something on its own -- take more time and come back with --
Parsons: Density should coincide with the open space and amenities.
Milam: Uh?
Parsons: You want density to coincide with open space and amenities.
Milam: Yeah.
Parsons: And that's -- again, you have to look at if -- if -- a prime example is that
multi-family up against Settlers Park. Do they really need open space and their
own amenities? They are right next to a city park, so --
Milam: But there you're going to have to have some exceptions.
Parsons: Yeah.
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Milam: And we talked about that before, having -- if they are a certain distance
from a park, having an exception and we talked about that a couple weeks ago,
that if there is a park within a certain distance --
Parsons: And I think we can have that discussion as part of the alternative
compliance process. If we don't feel it's appropriate again we don't send them
down that road.
Milam: And my point is really to not have so many low end, high density -- you
know, I look at this and I'm like what are we -- we are taking away all of our
standards and just let them just cram it all down -- you know, cram in as much as
you can and --
Parsons: Yeah. I don't want you to think that alternative compliance is a way to
get out of code. It's not. It's -- it's a means to get something better -- equal to or
better. There is findings that we have to make -- that they have to comply with.
Again, if they are coming in -- I'm with you. You want 300 homes, but you want
to do five percent open space and one clubhouse, is that really equal to or better
than or is it better to have open space and no clubhouse or a tot lot and open
space? Sometimes market demand kind of does that. You go where you can
afford to go. But, again, if you're getting nicer architecture -- I mean there is --
what if you have a nicer development? What if you do have a cluster
development where your -- all your -- as we discussed, you can have a really
great development with five percent open space and it could have a great
amenity package and it could be better than someone that has a ten acre park
and two trees and a picnic shelter. If you're getting everyone out there
participating, going to the clubhouse, doing community events, maybe three
acres is appropriate for a denser development. There is no easy solution to it I
guess is where I'm going. We can look at that further. Right now what we are
trying to do here is get something a little bit more innovative for the community
without sacrificing the open -- without -- making sure that it's equal to or better
than, not sacrificing. We don't want to degrade a community. We want to keep
that standard. But we want to give somebody flexibility to do that, whether that's
through lesser open space and greater amenities or --
Milam: And I agree with that. I mean it might be eight and a half percent, but
they have got some amazing packages, so --
Parsons: Yeah. Exactly.
Milam: So, I agree with having some flexibility, you know, in there, but I just think
it should be also based on the number of homes and the acreage --
Parsons: Well, the density -- right. The density is going to be driven by the
zoning district that they request. So, if they are falling within the three to eight or
whatever code may require, four -- under that and they are still complying with all
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the requirements, then, density is going to be what it is. They can't just request a
step up in density, they got to -- they got to still meet the dimensional standards
and fall within the parameters of the Comprehensive Plan. But that's the risk you
run when you take density out of the code . I mean now it -- it does get a little
subjective, because one -- one could argue that, hey, I'm giving you this great
open space, why don't you let me go a little denser, Council. Let me go to nine
units to the acre. Let me go to ten units to the acre. Because we are giving you
this great open space and now -- as Sonya mentioned to you, the code does
allow them to request a step up without -- in intensity without a comp plan
change. So, that's something to take under consideration. With that I don't have
anything else. I did want to let you know I did take this to the Planning and
Zoning Commission on the October 20th hearing. They supported -- they were in
favor of the changes with no modifications. No one was there to testify in
opposition and, again, staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission, we are
recommending approval this evening and, again, stand for any other questions
you might have.
Bird: Any questions for Bill? This is a public hearing. Mr. Brown, if you would
state your name and address, please.
Brown: Kent Brown. 3161 East Springwood, Meridian, Idaho. I do get to spend
quite a bit of time down here at City Hall and just the other day I was in the
planning department and this lady was ready to go postal and shoot somebody ,
because they would not let her build a double fence. So, I can definitely say that
there is an advantage -- she and her neighbor were having issues over that
property line and she wanted her fence. She -- she said their neighbor wasn't
playing right and so she's happy to have her own fence and listening to the poor
planners trying to tell her why she can't have one was -- I mean it was kind of
interesting. Over the 20 something years that I have been doing this -- 20 --
close to 27 now. The first nine years I was over land development for the city of
Boise and, then, I have been on the private side. I have done a lot of different
developments and a lot of them in your community and I look at like a
development that I did -- Tuscany and when we did Tuscany the plan that we
came in with didn't have any of the pools in it . That was something that we
added later and my client didn't want to show the pools , because he didn't want
to have to bond for those improvements and that's -- the reason he didn't -- he
didn't show those up front -- he ended up putting I think five pools in there and
gave a city park, an elementary school site -- I mean some of those things --
that's kind of the purpose why they do that. I would be really curious going back
and seeing if I could meet the ten percent open space and yet -- in Tuscany
today. If there is that ten percent that you guys view as qualified in that Tuscany
development, because we had so much water and that water area doesn't
always get counted with the way that you do things. We had groundwater that
was pretty high and so we had to dig trenches and create the Tuscany lakes that
-- that is quite an amenity for those -- those neighborhoods. As I work with the
different jurisdictions, one of the ones that I like -- the zoning code that I really
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like is Star's. In Star if you have an R-2 zone, that's two units per acre, and it
doesn't matter the lot size. There is no lot size in the R-2 zone or in any of their
zones. It is strictly just the density and it makes it really nice when you have
something and you're laying out a subdivision and you are putting these lots in
and someone in the planning world has said that 50 feet is the magic number
when you are building a lot of houses that, you know, you could do a 45 or a 49
and you can't put that in, even though you're not going to increase the density
and you are not going to do those things, but you still have to do it, because
there is a dimensional standard that is tied to that zone and that doesn't make a
lot of sense. You know, who came up that 50 feet or 60 feet is that magic
number? I have tried to do --
Bird: Kent, if you could wrap up, please.
Brown: I will real quick. I tried to do a development with shops, do estate type
housing and not have any open space and down in fl ames and yet I know that
there is a market for that and that is something that your code doesn't allow for.
Site amenities. You do an in-fill project -- I was in Boise city last night before the
Planning and Zoning Commission. I'm next to a 14 acre city park and I did a 52
unit apartment complex and they counted the apartment -- or the park space next
door as a part of the -- my amenity package. Realistically, everything else that
was around that park -- it's up by the airport -- is commercial. So, we would -- we
kind of like are the only ones that get to use the park that's in that area. I think
that they have got good suggestions. It's nice to be able to use the ditches
where we can. Not all the ditch companies are friendly about that and I will stand
for any questions. I do have other items.
Bird: Any questions for Mr. Brown? Thank you, Kent.
Brown: Thank you.
Bird: Thanks for staying. This is a public hearing. Is there any -- Ralph?
Robert? If not I would entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
Little Roberts: Mr. President, I move we close the public hearing.
Bird: I got a second?
Milam: Second.
Bird: All in favor? Any opposed?
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Bird: What's your pleasure, Council? I have kept quiet and I think that -- I think
it's a good deal overall. While I don't agree with it a hundred percent, I don't think
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anybody agrees with it a hundred percent, but I think our staff has worked hard
on getting some of these changes and I think they are to the benefit of the
citizens myself. That's my personal opinion.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, if it turns out this was a bad idea, we just change it back?
Parsons: Mr. President, Members of the Council, if you don't like some of these
changes you can certainly strike them out. That's -- that's within your purview
tonight. We can look at it at a later date. Right. We can -- we can try it and if we
don't like it we can certainly do another text amendment and change it. That's
always in our purview.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Mr. Borton.
Borton: We could look at that in a year and see if we want to make changes at
that time.
Bird: We are just going to have Mr. Nary do that.
Borton: I appreciate the -- the changes as written and in particular the efforts that
go to collaboratively come up with these and to incorporate the focus group and
the BCA and -- and, Kent, thank you for sticking around. All of that input is really
valuable and -- and whether or not what we have written works as intended we
will find out. This is a living document and can continue to evolve. We will
certainly track and Planning will track what is working and what's not. I do like
the alternative compliance. The key word being compliance. It's just another
means to allow them to comply. That flexibility I think is great. And we might be
surprised at what we see, so --
Milam: I'd like to see some --
Bird: Is that in the form of a motion?
Borton: Unless there is further discussion, I move that we approve the UDC text
amendment H-2016-0118.
Bird: Do I have a second?
Little Roberts: Second.
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Bird: Okay. We have got a motion and a second to approve H-2016-0118.
Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 11: Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 16-1713: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MERIDIAN AMENDING MERIDIAN CITY CODE
SECTION 6-2-3, RELATING TO CITY OF MERIDIAN DOG
LICENSE; AMENDING MERIDIAN CITY CODE SECTION
6-28(K), RELATING TO RABIES VACCINATION
REQUIREMENTS FOR DOGS; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Bird: Moving on to No. 11 is our ordinance. If you would, please, read the
ordinance by title only, Madam Clerk, I would appreciate it.
Holman: Thank you. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 16-1713, an ordinance of
the City of Meridian amending Meridian City Code Section 6-2-3 relating to City
of Meridian dog license. Amending Meridian City Code Section 6-2-8K relating to
rabies vaccination requirements for dogs and providing an effective date.
Bird: You have heard the ordinance by title only. Is there anybody in the room
that would like it in its entirety? Seeing none, I would entertain a motion.
Milam: Mr. President?
Bird: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 16-1713 with suspension of rules.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: I have a motion to approve it with a second. Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, absent; Palmer, yea;
Little Roberts, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 12: Future Meeting Topics
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Bird: Council, any ideas for future topics at this point?
Borton: Mr. President?
Bird: Yes, Mr. Borton.
Borton: Two things. One, will you e-mail around the assignments?
Bird: Yes. She's already -- we got that.
Borton: And the 29th, the fifth Tuesday, are we planning on -- on meeting that
day?
Bird: I don't think we will have a meeting on the 5th if we --
Nary: Mr. President, Members of the Council, there is nothing scheduled at all
on that, because it is a fifth Tuesday.
Borton: Okay.
Bird: Hearing none, I would certainly entertain a motion to adjourn.
Milam: So moved.
Little Roberts: Second.
Bird: All in favor?
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:25 P.M.
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