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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-22Meridian City Council August 22, 2017. A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 22, 2017, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd. Members Present: Keith Bird, Joe Borton, Genesis Milam, Ty Palmer, Luke Cavener and Anne Little Roberts. Members Absent: Mayor Tammy de Weerd. Others Present: Bill Nary, C.Jay Coles, Caleb Hood, Warren Stewart, Brian Caldwell, Charlie Butterfield, Jaycee Holman, Bruce Freckleton, Bill Parson, Sonya Allen, Josh Beach, Todd Lavoie, Rita Cunningham 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 __X__ Lucas Cavener ___ Mayor Tammy de Weerd Bird: It's 6:02. We will call the regular meeting of August 22nd to order. First item of business is roll call. Mr. Clerk. Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance Bird: Okay. Next item. If you all stand and pledge with us on the Pledge of Allegiance. (Pledge of Allegiance recited.) Item 3: Community Invocation by Larry Woodard with Ten Mile Christian Church Bird: Item No. 3 is our community invocation by Mr. Larry Woodard from Ten Mile Christian Church. Welcome, Larry. Woodard: Our Dear Heavenly Father, we pause before the City Council of Meridian begins its weekly meeting and we want to thank you for all the blessings you have given our city. We thank you for these leaders who are leading us through unprecedented period of growth. As we nudge closer to 100,000 residents the need for solid leadership becomes ever so evident. This city is preparing to see new growth never imagined just a few years ago. A new apartment complex is planned on Overland and Linder, amazing in its size and scope. This and the news of Costco planning to build at Ten Mile and Chinden is a reminder that our state highway schedule is not keeping pace with growth . On the other hand, the widening of Meridian Road and plans to widen Linder by our local Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 2 of 82 highway district is welcomed. News reports about an uptick in crime associated with drug trafficking is worrisome and I pray tonight for our uniformed police and detectives who are trying to keep Meridian a safe community. Be with our school leaders, teachers, and children entrusted to their weekly care. May we see young people growing in the knowledge required to be good citizens. I pray that the racial discord found in many cities will not be found in Meridian. May we be known as a courteous and caring people. Thank you, God, for Mayor Tammy and this Council as they lead us tonight, in Jesus' name, amen. Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda Bird: Thank you, Larry. Item No. 4, the adoption of the agenda. Mr. Borton. Borton: Mr. President. On Item 7 -- excuse me -- Item 6-H, is proposed resolution number 17-2024 and with that addition I moved that we adopt the agenda as published. Cavener: Second. Bird: Okay. We have got a motion to adopt the amended agenda and a second. All in favor say aye. Okay. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Item 5: Future Meeting Topics - Public Forum (Up to 30 Minutes Maximum) Bird: There was no items moved from the Consent Agenda, so -- oh, wait a minute. I'm getting ahead of myself. Future Meeting Topics Public Forum. Coles: Mr. President -- Bird: Have you got anybody signed up? Coles: There were no signups this evening. Item 6: Consent Agenda A. Final Plat for Decatur Estates Subdivision No. 3 (H-2017-0106) by 4345 Linder Road, LLC Located 4345 N. Linder Road B. Final Plat for Preakness Subdivision (H-2017-0105) by Schultz Development Located 1155 W. Victory Road C. Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with Meridian Rural Fire Protection District for Firefighting and Life Preservation Service Contract and Joint Exercise of Power Agreement Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 3 of 82 D. Movado Subdivision No. 1 Sewer and Water Easement E. Movado Subdivision No. 1 Sewer and Water Easement #2 F. Diamond View Assisted Living Release of Water Main Easement G. Pintail Pointe Subdivision Pressure Reducing Valve Easement H. Resolution No. 17-2024: A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Meridian to Amend the Future Land Use Map of the 2002 Comprehensive Plan for 60.00 Acres known as Intermountain Gas Storage Facility Located at 4014 N. Can Ada Road, Nampa, Idaho; and Providing an Effective Date. I. AP Invoices for Payment - $1,353,844.96 Bird: No signups. So, unless anybody wants to -- we will go forward with our agenda. Consent Agenda. Mr. Borton. Borton: Mr. President, I move that we approve the Consent Agenda as published. Item 6-H being the resolution number 17-2024 and for the President to sign and Clerk to attest. Cavener: Second. Bird: Got a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as published and, clerk, roll call. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Item 7: Items Moved From the Consent Agenda None Item 8: Action Items A. Public Hearing for FY2017 Amended Revenues and Expenditures of $116,445,332 Bird: Item No. 8 is Action Items. 8-A as a public hearing for the FY-2017 amended revenues and expenditures of $116,445,332. Todd, are you going to do this for us? Lavoie: Mr. President, Members of the Council, again, appreciate your time tonight to present to you the fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2018 budgets. As the agenda states, we will start off with the fiscal year 2017 amended budget for you to accept and approve. The data that we are going to show it to you for fiscal year 2017 is going to be referencing Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 4 of 82 the $116,445,332 as we have noticed to the citizens. Again, this amount will be presented to you in the three major fund groups that we report on. That would be the General Fund, Capital Improvement, and, then, the Enterprise Fund and, then, after we go to the '17 and the processes there within, then, we approach the fiscal year 2018 as the next agenda item. So, we will start off with the total city budget. Again, as it's been announced, $116,445,332. That is a reduction of 2.34 percent from the original budget that we announced this time one year ago. Again, the reason for the changes -- I will go through that here in a second, but just note that all the changes that have occurred since we left -- we last met last October 1st, they have all been presented to you through the fiscal year over the last ten months. So, this is kind of a year in review for you. These amounts have been approved for -- by you and passed from the amendment standpoint. Again, this is the formal process to notify the citizens in the state of our final fiscal year 2017 budget. So, again, the information here should be repetitive to you and you should have seen this at some point in time over the last ten months. So, you can see personnel operating went up about 1.94 percent with some amendment changes. Capital up 36.33 for the total city. And, then, what we call carry forward we reduced that by 47 percent throughout the fiscal year, again, with a net effect of 2.34 percent reduction to the overall budget for fiscal year 2017. Throughout the fiscal year you had 34 amendments proposed to you from -- presented to you, with the General Fund representing 2.7 million dollars, Capital Improvement Fund a little over 21,000. And the Enterprise Fund had a reduction request of 5.5 million. Again, I will go through the individual departments or funds with you in a second. So, we will start off with the General Fund. The General Fund overall went from 50 -- a little over 52 million to 54.8 million. That's five point -- up 5.35 percent for the year and you can see the personnel capital and carry forward as presented on graph. And, again, that's 5.35 percent. What we did is we captured a few of the larger ticket items. We did not present all 28 items to you. Those were presented to you throughout the fiscal year. But the major items are Fire Station No. 6, a little over 4.7 million dollars. We presented that to you last month. And you can see we have some park impact fee development budget amendments. We had a fire station remodel and some legal consulting fees. Then we have our carry forward adjustment of a reduction of 4.5 million, which is -- if you add those 28 items up you can -- it will come out to 2.7 million in increased. Capital Improvement Fund. Start off with 422. End of the year a little over 444,000. Only one major amendment there. That was our ADA compliance for the City Hall plaza. And, then, the last major fund that we report on is the Enterprise Fund. Again, as we reported that went down eight percent -- 8.39 percent from 66.7 million to 61.1 million. So, you can see it's personnel and operating down, capital went up. Carry forward went down. Overall down 8.39 percent. They had about five amendments. A couple of them were zero cost amendments. These are the major ticket items that we wanted to present to you in summary. That was represented to you over the last ten months. Again, at the end of the day the Enterprise Fund did go down 8.39 percent for the fiscal year. And with that stand for any questions for fiscal year 2017 budget amendment in review. Bird: Council, any questions for Todd? Borton: Mr. President? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 5 of 82 Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: Briefly, Todd, can you -- there has been discussion about the natural sequence of carry forward from one year to the next and a large portion of next year's budget is comprised of carry forward from this prior year. Can you speak to that briefly, that process of carry forward and how that impacts this budget and next year's budget being so much more. It's comprised of some of that carry forward. Lavoie: Mr. President, Councilman Borton, the finance process for carry forward -- so, any capital items that have been budgeted for fiscal year 2017 , we work with each department to determine which projects have not been completed that still have a budget outstanding, that still has contracts in place that we must contain and maintain for fiscal year 2018. Those budget dollars will be carried into fiscal year 2018, so that those departments can continue those capital projects as you have approved in prior fiscal years or in this case fiscal year '17. So, any projects not finished by September 30th in fiscal year 2017, we will carry those project dollars, those budgeted dollars, into fiscal year 2018 and we call that carry forward. Bird: Thank you, Todd. Any other questions? This is a public hearing. Would anybody from the public like to testify? Seeing none, Council, what's your wishes? Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: If there is no further discussion or any discussion from the public, I would move that we close the public hearing on Item 8-A, the public hearing on the fiscal year 2017 amended revenues and expenditures. Cavener: Second. Bird: Second? Got a motion and a second to close the public hearing on 8-A. All in favor say aye. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Bird: Okay. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I would move that we approve Item 8-A, the fiscal year 2017 amended revenues and expenditures as presented in the amount of $116,445,332. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 6 of 82 Cavener: Second. Bird: Got a motion and a second to approve the FY-2017 budget -- amended budget. Mr. Clerk. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. B. Public Hearing for FY2018 Proposed Revenues and Expenditures of $154,853,276 Bird: Okay. Item 8-B is the FY-2018 proposed revenues and expenditures of $154,853,276. Todd. I will open the public hearing. Todd. Lavoie: Mr.President, thank you again. Council, good to see you. It's been a while. Tonight I'm going present to you the fiscal year 2018 budget proposal in the amount of $154,853,276 and this is the amount that we proposed to the citizens. We have noticed it using the newspaper and the internet. This is all the work that we have put together as a team for the last seven months and I'm going to go ahead and go over the -- the overall 154 million, kind of like I did with the fiscal year '17 by going over the three major fund groups. We will go over the General Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, Enterprise Fund. Again, this will be a summary of what we have accomplished over the last eight months, so it will be a summary level of the details that have been posted in the newspaper and on our internet and I won't be going into those fine details. But, again, this is a public hearing for you guys and the citizens. So, withthat we will start off with the General Fund. General Fund -- I apologize. The total city, again, $154,153,276. You can see that the distribution of funds by personnel, operating, capital and carry forward on the left pie chart and, then, on the right side you will see how it's distributed amongst the reporting departments that we use here at the city. And to answer Mr. Borton's question about carry forward, you will see the term on here carry forward. This represents all budgeted projects from fiscal year 2017 or before that have not been completed as of today that the departments have requested that we carry those approved budgets into fiscal '18, so that they may complete those projects accordingly. We will jump into your first major funding group, which is the General Fund. We are requesting from the citizens $61,562,388 for fiscal year 2018. Again, the same pie charts are used on the left side to represent the General Fund. As a reminder for the General Fund, during our discussions and proposal we are requesting they use three -- a little over three million dollars out of our Capital Improvement Fund to pay for capital projects. As a reminder, the Capital Improvement Fund is a fund that we established to set aside monies for future capital projects. So, we are utilizing these fund dollars that we have been saving in the past, that save as you go, pay as go, so we have been able to save some money in our Capital Improvement Fund to use for future capital projects. In this case there is a project that we would like to use the money for in 2018. The same thing with the impact fees. We have been collecting the impact fees to utilize for future capital projects . We are requesting a little over two Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 7 of 82 million dollars of that fund balance to utilize in our fiscal '18 project request and, then, we are also going to add over 280,000 dollars to our Public Safety Fund to utilize in future years, just like we have done with the Capital Improvement Fund and the Impact Fund. So, we will tap into those resources at a later date for our public safety needs and the same thing -- we are going to add a little bit back into our Capital Improvement Fund, so we can utilize that in the future as well. And, again, gain some quick notes on the General Fund. Public safety this fiscal year -- for fiscal year 2018 is about 58 percent of the total fund. Parks is 26. And the community development and administration, they make up the remainder 16 percent of the General Fund as proposed. This year is a quick summary of what was submitted to you and what we submitted to the citizens as a general overview of requests. So, community development and the administration departments requested 821,000 dollars -- a little over that for enhancements and replacements and you see that listed accordingly. Parks and Recreation a little over 8.4 million dollars in requests for enhancements and replacements. Fire Department 770,000 accordingly. And, then, the Police Department at 1.8 million dollars respectively. Total General Fund revenue sources a little over 50.96 million dollars. Primary revenue source for the General Fund for fiscal 2018 will be property taxes sitting at about 62 percent of the entire revenue stream and, then, we follow that up with some intergovernmental and some impact fees -- development fees. So, that represents the General Fund. We will go into the Capital Improvement Fund. We are asking you the Council and the citizens to approve a little over 3.2 million dollars in the Capital Improvement Fund. You can see the proposed request down below. South Meridian park development, that's that Capital Improvement Fund that we have been looking to utilize the funds for and, then, some lobby remodel work for the City Hall here to improve the capital infrastructure here . Enterprise Fund. We are requesting for fiscal year 2018 90,082,845 dollars for the fiscal year '18 budget. Again, the graphs on the left kind of show how the fund is going to be distributed amongst the personnel, operating, capital and the departments. Wastewater for fiscal year 2018 will make up about 70 percent of the total budget. Water about 19. Public Works slash engineering, ten percent and the utility building they will make up one percent of the fund in its entirety. Again, another summary of requests for the Enterprise Fund. Wastewater is requesting a little over 30.5 million dollars and you can see enhancement or replacements. Water 7.7 million. Public Works a little over 277,000. And, then, utility billing 83,420. So, again, those are just a summary request and review for the Enterprise Fund. The revenue sources for the Enterprise Fund this year is going to be 38,461,568 dollars. That's what we are proposing for fiscal year 2018 budget. A majority of their revenue sources come from our water and sewer invoices that we send out t o our citizens and the residents. And with that I stand for any questions for the fiscal year 2018 budget as proposed to you, Council and the citizens, today. Bird: Council, any questions for Todd? Palmer: Mr. President? I don't necessarly have a question, but have a tweak to the budget that I would like to propose. I don't know if now or later is the appropriate time to go into that. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 8 of 82 Lavoie: Mr. President, Councilman Palmer, this is the last time we have a chance that if you wish to make a motion to your fellow Council Members before any considerations of budget changes, this is your opportunity at this moment. Cavener: Mr. President? I guess maybe a question for the clerk. C.Jay, did we have anybody sign up to provide comment on the proposed budget? Coles: Mr. President, Council Member Cavener, we did not have any public testimony signups this evening. Cavener: Okay. Bird: Mr. Cavener, we -- if we -- if this is a change or something the public should know that before they testify. Cavener: Okay. Palmer: Then, Mr. President, and when we had our -- our roundtable discussions on the budget there was some talk about the Fields and the amount of money that we have been spending there over the years and what's proposed in our FY-18 budget to continue spending on whatever it may be with the future goals and plans for out there. In the time since we have had a fairly in depth presentation by Mr. Chatterton as to what's been taking place out there or what -- really what hasn't been taking place out there, but what efforts have been made to figure something out or -- or what we -- our goal might be to happen within the Fields District and I feel like -- like we don't have a clear direction or -- or a clear opportunity for the investments that we have been spending to have something happen out there, other than what might naturally happen through the private sector making decisions with what land may be purchased and what developments might come in the future and so my proposal would be to remove any f unding from the '18 budget with regards to the Fields District and maybe a separate discussion -- maybe not a separate -- but while we may defund whatever we have been -- or whatever we have planned for -- for spending on the Fields, maybe -- I would hope that -- I think it would be best as a separate discussion as to whether the Council's intention is to -- I guess our opinion as to whether, then, any additional staff time would be put into the development of it. I don't know if it's best to do it together or -- or later after discussion on funding. Bird: Right now is the time to do it. Have you got a -- have you got any kind of idea how much money? If you're that far down you should. Palmer: Mr. President -- and Todd might have those numbers handy. There is -- there is multiple places where it's -- it's outlined in the -- in the budget book and I'm hoping he's got all the numbers, because I start mixing them together and -- because they all -- they will read the same and it's like is this the same 20,000 here or later in the book or are these separate. Part of the reason I want to get rid of it. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 9 of 82 Lavoie: Mr. President, Councilman Palmer, I did note down what I could find, quote, unquote, associated to the, quote, unquote, Fields consulting dollars. I did list them on my little note sheet here. But, again, you get to make the final proposal or motion to your fellow Council Members. I'm more than happy to identify what I found in the -- in the fiscal year '18 budget for your records and, then, you can make a comment or a motion based on the information I give you, if that's okay with you. Bird: Council? That's fine with me. Okay, Todd. Lavoie: Mr. President, Councilman Palmer, in the Planning Division -- or I apologize. In the Community Development admin division I did find a notation for Fields District roundtable facility services, budget of 20,000 dollars. In the planning division I did find a note for the Fields District land use planning for 20,000 dollars. In the planning division I did find a line item called Fields Distict Outreach for 5,000 dollars. Those are the three items I found, quote, unquote, Fields in my research. And at this time, Councilman Palmer, if you wish to make a motion. Bird: Thirty-five is what I come up with, too, on the -- what's your suggestion, Mr. Palmer? Palmer: Mr. President, if you want a motion for it -- Bird: We can decrease the budget. We can't add to it. Palmer: That is fantastic news. Mr. President, I move that we remove that 45,000 dollars from the proposed budget. Bird: Got a second? Cavener: I will second it. Bird: Okay. We have got a motion and a second. Any discussion from the Council? Little Roberts: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Little Roberts. Little Roberts: I'm curious if any of that was for the actual land use planning, if I could potentially address that question to one of our staff. Bird: Bill or Sonya, can either one of you answer that or -- oh, Caleb. You're -- Little Roberts: Caleb, if you don't mind. Bird: Thank you. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 10 of 82 Hood: Mr. President, Members of the Council, I'm almost through my second full day as interim co-director in Community Development, so no softballs I guess from you guys. So, to answer Council Women Little Roberts' question, yes, some of that was for -- not just the roundtable -- so, there is two -- kind of two different things going on here. You had the Growing Together roundtable group that was -- that you heard about just a couple of weeks ago and, then, the land use planning that needs to go on , which last week you approved a change to the Intermountain Gas facility. So, looking at the land use planning in that area, I mentioned that we will still have some work to do there. What I'm envisioning -- and I'm -- just for the record I'm okay with that motion , but I want you to know when we had our workshop talking about the budget I'm going to come back for that money when you roll it under the comp plan update umbrella. So, yes, it is part of that, but we can repurpose -- pending a budget amendment approval repurpose some of that and some of it will be used for some land planning in the Fields District in those four square miles, because we need to do that or, basically, around the Intermountain Gas facility. So, I hope that answers the question. Bird: Any questions for Caleb? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Just maybe a -- maybe a comment. I think that when we were in our budget hearings that was contemplated that that department would come back with a budget amendment after you had an opportunity to really truth some numbers based on the feedback that you heard. So, while I'm very supportive of the removal of this, I'm also supportive of hearing back from you for a budget amendment to really address those specific land use needs. Hood: Mr. President, if I can, just -- so, September 12th was the direction that we received there. So, we are still trying to fully scope this thing out and figure out what it's going to cost, but I anticipate some or all or maybe a little bit more money with the 50 ,000 dollars that is in this budget right now as a general -- we will have more discussion on that on the 12th of September, though, at that workshop, so -- Bird: Thank you, Caleb, for your answer. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: And I may have to amend my motion. I -- there was another point where it didn't say Fields in the binder, but I wrote in all caps next to my note Fields, because I believe that when I asked about it that it was in relation to it. The agricultural biotech consultant under Economic Development. I believe that also -- because I -- as I remember it was closer to 70,000 was the amount that -- I don't know if -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 11 of 82 Hood: Mr. President, Councilman Palmer, I did not talk to Brenda about that any more to see -- in title it does sound like more Fields, but I do think there is some other related things that she's doing that isn't directed at the Fields District, but it is more in the -- the realm of that profession. But I am, again, just starting to really kind of wrap my arms around all that she does for the city, so -- but that's kind of my understanding is that isn't necessarily Fields, but ag tech kind of related efforts. Palmer: Mr. President. While it may -- may or may not be money that would be spent targeted that area, I think it's still the same line of thinking, the same goals on the same part of the project, essentially, that -- it's something I'm feeling that we need to move away from. So, if the second would agree, I'd like to include that portion of it and bring that up to the 65,000. Cavener: I'm in support of that. I would agree. Bird: And second agrees? Taking it up to 65,000. Got a new number, Todd? We got a motion and a second in front of us. Anymore discussion, Council? Cavener: Mr. President, just a comment. Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: My support of this reduction in budget is -- I'm not in any way against the fine work that the Economic Development Department has been doing or the great work that's coming from the Community Development Department. I have to say I agree with Mr. Palmer that the time for the Fields District experiment I think has come and went and that we should really be encouraging our -- our staff to -- especially in the Economic Development Department to be working on projects that are truly related to economic development and this is in no way a reflection I think of the great work to the budget process of that department or just a reality where we are today in terms of the resources we have available. Bird: Any other comments? Mr. Clerk, would you call vote. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, nay; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, nay. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO NAYS. Bird: Okay. Council, this is a public hearing. What's the new figure? Taking the 65 out of there. I think I got it about right as about 790 -- Lavoie: Mr. President, I show if we remove the 45,000 plus the 20,000 -- Bird: No. Sixty-five. Sixty-five. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 12 of 82 Lavoie: -- 65,000 dollars total. Bird: Sixty-five total. Lavoie: Sixty-five thousand reduced total. Agreed? I have the total at 154,788,276. No? Bird: It can't be 278 if you take 65 from 53. Yes, you can. It is 88. Don't argue with an accountant. You're right. Don't argue with an accountant. Lavoie: Are we -- Bird: You're right. Okay. This is a public hearing. Is there anybody in the public that would like to testify? Seeing none, I would entertain a motion to close the public hearing at your discretion. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I move that we close the public hearing on Item 8-B, the proposed fiscal year 2018 budget. Milam: Second. Bird: I have got a motion to close the public hearing and a second. All in favor say aye. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Bird: Before we have the motion to -- one way or the other on this, I have got to tell you, this is my 20th public hearing for budgets and this is the first time we have had over two people here. We know it isn't because of the budget. But, anyway, thank you for being here. Okay. I would entertain a motion. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I would move that we approve the fiscal year 2018 budget as presented and amended at tonight's hearing. Milam: Second. Cavener: Second. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 13 of 82 Bird: Okay. We have got a motion and a second to approve the budget as amended. And any discussion, Council? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Just a comment to dovetail on yours. For all those of you that are here for from the public, invite your friends to get more involved in the budget process next year. I have begged and asked for feedback and comments on our budget . These are your dollars that we are spending and we are spending a lot of them and it's hard to know if we are in the right direction if we don't hear from the public. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: Mr. President, I have learned a lot since the last year and I have learned that despite my continuous -- up until learning again this year -- my complete opposition to ever voting for a budget that includes a tax increase, there may, in fact, come a time when given how our budgets work that that may be necessary, but today is not that day. We are still at a point where we are increasing taxes. The max that we are allowed to and it's not necessary. There are a few million dollars that I found that could be removed and still fully funding all of the public safety items that we have planned in this budget and I feel we should never get to the point of increasing taxes unt il the necessity comes to be able to fund those public safety issues or our water and sewer components of the city. There is -- we are not there yet, so while the budget is certainly better today than it was when we first started the roundtable discussions and the public hearing today, it still includes a three percent tax increase, which isn't necessary. So, we are doing a great job in that we have no debt, but there is still things that may be improved before I would feel comfortable voting for a tax increase. Bird: Any other comments? Borton: Yeah. Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: One of the things that goes with -- with these difficult decisions -- and there is lots of tradeoffs that occur in the city and one in particular occurs when we -- when we grow in the manner in which we grow and throughout the course of the year we make decisions that have strings attached and we have to do those with our eyes wide open and one of the firm commitments that we make and have made, quite frankly, with a lot of your leadership, Councilman Bird, over the years is that when our city decides to grow and we choose to annex new property, that we understand it's a two way street and there is a firm commitment by the city that we are going to provide certain services to that new Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 14 of 82 member of our city in a particular fashion and that gets extremely expensive to do very very well and we do it very very well and we have for a number of years and one of the challenges that we found even in this current budget is with that growth we have and have an increase in public safety expenditures, which are -- are unquestionably necessary and it's expensive, but it's appropriate. Just the expansion and planning for station -- Fire Station No. 6 to better serve our residents south of Meridian and the personnel that it requires, there is several million dollars a year just to provide that essential critical , nonnegotiable public safety and there is I believe seven new law enforcement officers that are part of this budget, which are understandably and rightfully expensive, but necessary and -- and the alternative of cutting short that service level, public safety in particular, is unacceptable and we as a council and the city over the years always ensured that we would maintain that and that's the trade off and commitment to the citizens when we approve a project that we will provide exceptional services above and beyond and we have always done that and we are committed to doing that. The challenge can be is that can be expensive and if we are going to grow at the rate we grow that comes at a cost and sometimes I think -- to Councilman Palmer's point, that expense requires us collectively to share in that additional expense , which nobody likes to do, but the alternative might be to just not grow as quick as we are. So, with this budget, as much as I dislike having to utilize any portion of three percent, it's necessary for the public safety requirements, it's necessary to adequately compensate our wonderful employees, which we have all discussed and approved in prior meetings. All of that I think supports the particular budget that's before us today and is the reason that I'm supporting it and makes it necessary. Bird: Thank you. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: And just -- I guess as clarification, I hold nothing against any one of you for voting for this. As I was out knocking doors in 2013 and 2015, I made a promise that I was not going to vote for a tax increase, especially as long as it -- as long as there were things built into the budget that have absolutely nothing to do with public safety and certainly there is things that we are spending money on that should we not do no one's quality of life would decrease. It may increase as we spend money on those things , but it -- or is not going to be any decrease to the quality of life should we take a year or two off of spending on some of these things and so just to -- as crazy as it seems to fulfill a campaign promise, that's just what I'm doing today. I feel that -- that the vast majority of this budget is perfectly appropriate, but there are some certain things that could be removed that would no longer necessitate a tax increase. But, again, it's an appropriate budget, it's just me fulfilling a campaign promise to vote no today. Bird: Thank you. Any other discussion? I just -- I have just got one thing to say. We still are the lowest mill levy in the state for a city our size -- with a city -- our services. I know there is -- people think that you can take stuff out and not take -- not take the three percent Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 15 of 82 or not, but if you're not -- if you're not going to take it, then -- then your employees are not going to get raises and you go three or four years not taking it, you can get yourself in a pickle and you're out looking for bonds and everything else. But that's one thing this city has never went for a bond, nor for four more months they are not going to. Okay. Got a motion and a second. Mr. Clerk. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, nay; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE NAY. Bird: Item C is -- Lavoie: Mr. President? Bird: -- somebody didn't -- oh. Lavoie: I apologize. If I can just quickly give an update. The next steps -- Bird: Sorry. Lavoie: I apologize, Mr. President. So, next steps for the budget -- Legal Department will present to you an ordinance supporting these dollar figures for fiscal year '17 and '18 over the next handful of weeks. Haven't picked out the date yet, but Legal will present to you an ordinance that makes this budget process complete and you will see that in the next few weeks and this is, I guess, my last chance to -- oops. My last chance to say thank you -- maybe. Thank you. Perfect. Thank you. Perfect. So, again, this is my last chance to say thank you to you guys. Again, it's a lot of time, a lot of efforts have gone into this process. Council, you guys have been very integral to this. The department staff, the department directors, the Mayor, you know, the -- Jenny, she's led this process and she is taking care of her new baby Penelope, which is awesome. We look forward to her return. But there is one final one on there -- Bird: Thank you. Lavoie: -- Mr. Bird, appreciate it. Bird: Thank you. Lavoie: So, you had led us -- now I'm getting emotional. Gees. Twenty years you have guided us and -- Bird: I have had a lot of help. Lavoie: I just want to say thank you. I do. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 16 of 82 Bird: I thank you guys. First class. You got a young lady over there that taught us how to do it and now when I come in -- I can tell you the city wasn't hurting, but it wasn't in very good financial -- they didn't know where it was at. But thanks to Rita we got things in line and now I can't say enough about what you guys have done for the finances . Lavoie: I speak on behalf of the citizens. Bird: Thank you. Lavoie: Hats off to you, Mr. Bird. Bird: Thank you very much. Lavoie: Thank you. C. Final Plat for Hill's Century Farm Subdivision No. 7 (H-2017- 0102) by Brighton Investments, LLC Located East of S. Eagle Road, Midway Between E. Amity Road and E. Lake Hazel Road D. Final Plat for Caven Ridge Estates East Subdivision No. 1 (H- 2017-0097) by New Cavanaugh, LLC Located Approximately 1/4 Mile East of S. Meridian Road and South of E. Victory Road Bird: I appreciate that. Okay. These next two -- I think somebody didn't get their deals back before the agenda was published. So, Sonya, do you want to take us through C and D and, then, we can -- Allen: Yes, President Bird and Councilmen. Item 8-C is a final plat for Hill Century Farm Subdivision No. 7. This site consists of 12.23 acres of land. It's zoned R-8, located east of South Eagle Road, midway between East Amity Road and East Lake Hazel Road. This is a request for a final plat, consisting of 34 single family residential building lots and six common lots on 12.23 acres of land in an R-8 zoning district. The proposed final plat is in substantial compliance with the approved preliminary plat as required by the Unified Development Code. Written testimony has been received from the applicant in agreement with the staff report. Staff is recommending approval. Bird: Applicant's here. Do you have anything to say? Okay. Council, what's your pleasure? Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I move that we approve Item 8-C, H-2017-0202. Cavener: Second. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 17 of 82 Bird: Got a motion to approve and second. Any discussion? If not, Mr. Clerk. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Bird: 8-D. Allen: President Bird. Council. The next application is also a request for a final plat for Caven Ridge Estates Subdivision East No. 1 final plat. This site consists of 13.3 acres of land. It zoned R-8, located south of East Victory Road, south of the Ridenbaugh Canal on the east side of South Standing Timber Way. The request is for a final plat consisting of 36 single family residential building lots and two common lots on 13.3 acres of land in the R-8 zoning district. The proposed final plat is in substantial compliance with the approved preliminary plat as required by the Unified Development Code. Written testimony has been received from the applicant and they are in agreement with the staff report. Staff is recommending approval. Bird: Thank you, Sonya. Applicant here? Council, what's your pleasure? Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Milam. Milam: I move that we approve H-2017-0097. Cavener: Second. Bird: Got a motion to approve and second. Any discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Clerk. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. E. Public Hearing for Sugarman Subdivision (H-2017-0103) by Columbia Trust Located 1450 W. Ustick Road 1. Request: One (1) Year Time Extension on the Preliminary Plat in Order to Obtain the City Engineer's Signature on the Final Plat Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 18 of 82 Bird: Item E, a public hearing for Sugarman Subdivision, H-2017-0103 by Columbia Trust, located at 1450 West Ustick Road. I will open the public hearing and, staff, do you want to present. Allen: Thank you, President Bird, Council. The next application is a request for a time extension on the short plat for Sugarman Subdivision. This site consists of four acres of land. It's zoned C-C, located at the northeast corner of North Linder Road and West Ustick Road. Back in 2014 this property was annexed and a short plat was approved . A time extension for one year was approved by the director in 2016 . The applicant is requesting another one year time extension on the previously approved short plat in order to obtain the city engineer's signature on the final plat. As conditions of approval of the time extension request staff is recommending future development comply with the updated structure and site design standards in the Unified Development Code and the architectural standards manual and the most current supplemental specification and drawing and design standards. Staff is recommending approval with the conditions in Exhibit B of the staff report. No written testimony has been received. Bird: Any question for the staff at this time? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Sonya, what was the reason for the extension request a year ago? Allen: President Bird, Council, to my understanding the applicant was just needing a little bit more time in the process to get the improvements complete. The applicant could provide more information if you'd like to ask. Bird: Any other questions for staff? If not, is the applicant here? Thompson: President Bird, Members of the Council, my name is Tamara Thompson. I'm with The Land Group, 462 East Shore Drive in Eagle. As you can see, if you look at the approved subdivision, The Land Group was not the civil engineer of record initially. What's -- LEI is no longer in business. The -- Mr. Sugarman had some health issues, that was the reason for the initial time extension, and now LEI is no longer in business. So, they have asked The Land Group to pick up the ball, so to speak, and get it across the finish line and we are requesting a one year time extension for us to do that. Thank you. Bird: Any questions for the applicant? Thank you. Thompson: Thank you. Bird: This is a public hearing. Would anybody like to testify? Have we got anybody on the list? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 19 of 82 Coles; We do not, Mr. President. Bird: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Council, what's your pleasure? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: I move we close the public hearing on Item 8-E. Milam: Second. Bird: I have got a motion to close the public hearing on 8-E and a second. All in favor say aye. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Cavener: All right. Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: I move that we approve the time extension for Sugarman, Item H-2017-0103. Milam: Second. Bird: Okay. I have got a motion and a second to extend the one year time extensions. Mr. Clerk, would you call roll. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. F. Public Hearing Continued from August 15, 2017 for Sky Mesa (H-2017-0068) by Sky Mesa Development, LLC Located 5899 S. Eagle Road 1. Request: Annexation and Zoning of a Total of 54.01 Acres of Land from the RUT Zoning District in Ada County to the R-4 (Medium Low-Density Residential) (26.57 Acres) and R-8 (Medium-Density Residential) (27.44 Acres) Zoning districts in the City 2. Request: Rezone of 38.87 Acres of Land from the R-2 (Low- Density Residential) to the R-4 (Medium Low-Density Residential) Zoning District Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 20 of 82 3. Request: Rezone of 6.26 Acres of Land from the R-2 (Low- Density Residential) to the R-8 (Medium-Density Residential) Zoning District 4. Request: Rezone of 0.88 of an Acre of Land from the R-4 (Medium LowDensity Residential) to the R-8 (Medium- Density Residential) Zoning District 5. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of 278 Single- Family Residential Building Lots and 31 Common Lots on 98.35 Acres of Land in the R-4 and R-8 Zoning District Bird: Okay. Next one is the continued public hearing on Sky Mesa, H-2017-0068. When we -- we are going to open -- the public hearing is open. Please, all -- we would like anything that is new -- to be flat truthfull, we don't need to rehash what we heard for three hours last week. So, anyway, I will open the public hearing with staff. Allen: Chairman, Council. The applications before you, again, are a request for annexation and zoning, a rezone, and a preliminary plat. The Council continued this project from the August 15 hearing to tonight's meeting in order for the app licant to make some changes to the plat and address the following issues: Reduction in the number of lots along the west boundary adjacent to Blackrock Subdivision, so that no more than two lots abut each single lot. The arrow here -- excuse me -- shows the changes they have made to the plat. Addition of a common lot for the Hillside adjacent to Blackrock, so that the homeowners association can consistently maintain that area and you can see there they have added that common lot. The addition of four parking spaces for a total of eight at the parking lot for the swimming pool facility. Again, there is another red arrow showing the addition -- additional parking spaces. Modification of the phasing plan to include the pool facility as part of phase three to be constructed after the one hundredth residential building permit is issued, weather permitting. And they have labeled the facility here to be constructed in phase three. Inclusion of a raised pedestrian pathway for traffic calming across Taconic at the intersection of South Clay Way and East Taconic Drive. And it's a little hard to see here, but this is Clay. This is Taconic. And this little shaded area here is the raised pedestrian pathway. Delineation of the pedestrian pathways and multi-use pathways throughout the development. The applicant did submit a revised landscape plan and you can see that the pathways are included throughout the common areas on that. Inclusion of a bike lane with the improvements to Taconic Drive. Inclusion of a dual roundabout and a proposed HAWK signal at the Taconic-Eagle intersection on the plat. Again, it's pretty hard to see on this drawing, but they have included that information. And landscape perspective drawing of the entrance to the su bdivision with the future roundabout. The applicant will address these items in her presentation in more detail I'm sure. Staff has reviewed the revised plan and it does appear that the items have been addressed that were requested by Council at the last hearing. Written testimony since the Council hearing has been received from the following: Ann Shelton. Susan Karnes on behalf of the Southern Rim Coalition. Allyson Gozart. Andrea Tlucek. Barbara Berlat. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 21 of 82 Cameron Keller. Doug Wheeler. Elise Poulson. Greg Wells. Pat and Cliff Looney. Paul Gozart. Ryan Poulson. Susanna Bohlman. Ted Bohlman. And Troy Johnson. Staff did note a recurring trend in the letters of testimony submitted. I would like to clarify one item that keeps coming up in those . There is -- there is a misconception that the applicant is requesting a step up in density between the currently designated low density residential and medium density residential on the future land use map. The proposed development is actually -- is actually right in line with those density designations currently. The low density is three or fewer units per acre and the medium is three to eight units per acre and its actually at the -- at the very low end of the medium density also. So, I just wanted to clarify that. And do you have any questions? I will try and answer them. Bird: Council, any questions for staff at this point? The applicant. McKay: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Council. As Sonya indicated, the Council gave us specific instructions -- you want to pop that up, Sonya. To go back and make these changes -- so, one of the things -- one of the things that we delineated -- it was always there all the time -- where is my arrow? I can't find the arrow. I don't know. Just a sec. No, it's not going. Allen: Sorry, Becky, it must not be working. There we go. McKay: Now is it there? Allen: Touch one of the colors at the top, Becky, and -- at the top of the screen. McKay: Oops. At the top of the screen. Bird: Becky, while you're -- while you're playing with that, would you introduce yourself and your address. McKay: Oh, yes, sir. Bird: I forgot. McKay: Now will it let me draw? No. Becky McKay with Engineering Solutions. Business address 1029 North Rosario. I'm representing the applicant in this matter. What you see before you is a revised landscape plan. What we did is he added on those pedestrian pathways. They were on our preliminary plat all along, they were just kind of hidden and there they are there. We also have linkages everywhere. You see the pedestrian accesses. We have micropaths that lead into our central common area. One of the other things that we were asking for from the Council was, obviously, a waiver of that block length along the Ten Mile Creek. As you can see, there is the common lot right there that will provide access if people want to walk the ditch bank right there mid block . We did go through and we eliminated a lot. Adjusted and fanned out those lot lines adjoining the Blackrock Subdivision as we discussed at our previous meeting, so that no more than two lots would back up to any one Blackrock home. We also took the slope, which is 35 feet Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 22 of 82 wide and, then, it kind of starts narrowing to 15 feet as it heads south and we put that in a separate lot with a note on the plat that that shall be owned and maintained by the homeowners association with specific standards of maintenance outlined in the CC &Rs. We also went through and added additional parking to the parking facility next to our pool amenity to -- to provide additional parking for residents and , then, we also kind of highlighted the -- it just does not want to cooperate, does it. There we go. We highlighted like the existing ten foot multi-use pathway that's along the south side of Taconic and, then, that runs up the northwest side of Eagle Road. We also indicated -- we consulted with ACHD. They told us where those HAWK pedestrian signals would be located. The pedestrian friendly crossing will be on the south side of Taconic and will go across over to Hill Century Farm. The bike lane is delineated on the preliminary plat and I think that covered -- one of the concerns was the length of our pedestrian -- or our median there to block Radiant Drive, so we did do -- we do have some that shows how that channeler will extend to the west beyond Radiant Drive, so it will prohibit any left-outs or left-ins. It will be right-in, right -- right-in, right-out only. We only have -- I believe there is 39 of those patio type homes. They equate to about seven percent of our development. But this gives you the perspective of what that roundabout is going to look like. We have also allocated extensive landscaped areas there knowing the roundabout would be constructed, so that we could do significant buffering, walls, signage and make our berms high, so that the homes that adjoin that roundabout obviously don't have any negative influence. As far as the zoning is concerned, as Sonya indicated, we are in full compliance with your Comprehensive Plan and we -- we purposely kept our R-8 over on the eastern side of the project adjoining Eagle Road. Everything else to the west, which is 66 and a half percent of this property, is R-4 and only 33 percent is R-8. I think we have got a good project here. We have done everything you have asked us to do. We ask that you support it and we thank you for your patience and allowing us to come back before you. I sent you a letter. There were some conditions that we had asked for some attention on. In that letter under site specific condition of approval we just wanted it noted on 1.1.1B concerning developer responsible for costs of associated with any sewer or water service extensions, we will be having to extend an oversized sewer main and if by chance there is some changes to the city code and reimbursement in the future , obviously, we want the ability to fall under that. I know Bill's counterpart mentioned at the Planning and Zoning Commission the ordinance that is in effect at the time that we process is what the city has to, obviously, apply to our project, but I know the staff has talked about maybe changing some of those provisions. So, this is, you know, a five year project, so things change over five years. 1.1.1E was the site amenities. We wanted that to state that that would be constructed in phase three and, then, with the -- after the one hundredth residential building permit. Initially we had the one hundredth lot, but, then, we got to thinking, you know, we don't know what this market is going to do. We might do -- say we do a 50 lot phase and, then, we come in with another 50 lot phase, but maybe we only have 25 houses and, then, the market just cools off and we have to, then, build the clubhouse for 25 homes. So, we wanted to make sure that that was in there. 1.1, that is supposed to be 1.1-2-G, not 1-G. Sonya caught that. Is a waiver on that B lock 5 along the Ten Mile Creek. That does require Council approval. I, obviously, can't break the block with Ten Mile Creek there. And, then, 1.1-2-N, not 1-N, is where I do need Council to basically approve the easements for some of these pressurized irrigation facilities and Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 23 of 82 gravity irrigation facilities to be within a -- not within a common lot, but a buildable lot. And, then, 1.1.1O is -- also deals with the zoning certificate at that one hundred -- phase three and the one hundredth residential building permit . Other than that we are very pleased with our conditions. We have ACHD commission approval and we have got a really good project and we are excited to get started on next year. Thank you. Bird: Council, any questions for the applicant? Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: Thank you for all of these changes and turning it around in short order. One of the things that -- I think it was discussed last time, but in some of the -- the written public comment has focused on the access -- or the -- and I forget the street name. Coming off of Eagle Road onto Taconic, that first right as being I think 200, 210 feet from Eagle Road, as opposed to 330 and I don't know if you're able to point out someplace in the ACHD staff report that addresses that and might give some narrative to why that is acceptable at that distance. McKay: ACHD staff report, when they did their analysis of it, they indicated that it fell within that 30 percent deviation, which is allowed by staff to deviate from their standards. Secondly, because we had so few lots that would take access there and it's solely there for public safety purposes for two points of ingress and egress, that they felt that it would not cause any safety issues. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: Was that at the hearing or is that -- is that in the staff report? I couldn't find it. McKay: That is in the ACHD findings. Yes, sir. And, then, there are conditions -- let's see. Borton: And while you're looking, Mr. President. And the reason for the question, Becky, I think it's really helpful -- I have got concerns -- I know I have got concerns with some comfort level when ACHD has a particular standard and has safety as being one of the basis for that standard, that anytime there is a variance from that standard that's based on safety, it takes a pretty good explanation to get some comfort level why that would be appropriate and if they -- if they gave that either in the public hearing or in the report, the more detail the better on how that was justified. McKay: What the -- what the staff had indicated -- if that -- if that were say a major -- a major street into the bulk of the development, I would say it would not have been approved. But due to the fact that we have, what, 15 -- 15 on the south and 20 -- what is Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 24 of 82 it -- 24 units on the north, staff indicated that that -- that channeler would block that left- out or left-in movement and that the residents will also have their full access to their westerly approach, so -- and it's not like they are having to go out of their way to exit and we will be participating 120,000 dollars toward that roundabout and paying for relocation of all the gravity irrigation and the extension of that medium and we plan on -- like I said, it's in our latter phases, so chances are the roundabout will have been constructed and, then, that channeler will be designed to go beyond Radiant. It's not that unusual that we -- we deviate from a policy when we have so few lots. Most of my projects are in compliance. This one was a little bit different, because we had kind of this notch out of it and to try to make it work we wanted a little -- a community of 55 and over, single level patio homes. You know, these types of residents typically won't be com peting with that p.m. a.m. peak hour. Borton: Thank you. McKay: So, yeah, there is the recommendation you can see right there and -- and the issue was discussed thoroughly at the Commission. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I might have misunderstood. The -- the median that would block that easternmost exit -- the closest to Eagle Road -- McKay: Yes, sir. Borton: -- would block that ability to take a left out? McKay: Correct. Borton: The median would -- would that go in at the start, even before the roundabout, to ensure -- or at a later phase -- McKay: There is -- there is already -- there are two medians that currently exist. Borton: Okay. McKay: One right at the entrance and, then, one to the west that sits in front of where Radiant Drive would go. Borton: Okay. McKay: Now, if by chance we were to develop the patio homes prior to that , we would just extend that median a little bit further west , so that you didn't get anyone trying to sneak around it, as you have seen some people do -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 25 of 82 Borton: Sure. McKay: -- if they are not long enough. But with the channelers and the roundabout, then, that median will extend even further. Those existing medians will have to be removed. Borton: Okay. McKay: And that has to be, I believe, at our expense those -- those existing ones are removed, because we will be rebuilding Taconic to bring it up to current collector standard. Borton: Thank you. That's helpful. Bird: Any other questions for the applicant? Thank you, Beck. This is a public hearing. Mr. Clerk. Coles: Thank you, Mr. President. As I read your names if I mispronounce it I'm going to apologize right now. But we have Lisa Broderick, who signed up against the project, not wishing to testify. Tony Broderick signing up against the project, not wishing to testify. Susan Karnes signing up against the project and wishing to testify. Bird: Please state your name and address. Karnes: President, Members of the Council, good evening. My name is Susan Karnes. I reside at 5556 South Graphite Way. Tonight I speak to you on behalf of the Meridian Southern Rim Coalition regarding this application. President Bird, I feel your pain and I will try not to repeat testimony, but we have very strong feelings and feedback from our membership after last week's hearing and so I know, based on your long service -- many years of service to the city that you understand and will accept my responsibility to address the issue we are most concerned about, public safety. We made a lot of progress last week. I thank -- and we thank the developer for revisions made to this plan. But due to time constraints I'm just going to go ahead and focus on the issue at hand . Allow me to present an overview of the community, the future land use plan predominantly low density, R-2, R-4, with medium density south of Taconic. Please note our proximity to Eagle Road, across which lies our elementary school, the YMCA, city park and possible future library branch. The future land use map or FLUM for the sake of our audience here this evening, is created via a process that includes all stakeholders. Not just developers. Not just homeowners. The coalition is quite familiar with the FLUM, since staff has advised us numerous times that we cannot propose amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that contradict the FLUM. Here, too, for the sake of our audience this is a summary of the zoning step-ups proposed by the applicant. I will point out that number three is two steps up, despite the city's Comprehensive Plan's direct language saying density can only be changed one step. As I mentioned briefly in last week's hearing, there is a cognitive dissonance between zoning computations and calculations and residents' perception and understanding of density. It's difficult for people in this community, for instance, who are used to their half acre or acre or three-quarter acre lots, to understand that 65 foot width Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 26 of 82 lots are considered low density by the city. To refresh your memory from last week's hearing, here is the crux of the problem regarding public safety. The only connecting road -- connector in our neighborhood is Taconic and its intersection at Eagle Road. We do not have a north-south connector as our -- as will our neighbors in Century Farm, nor do we have a plan for one. Our other route of egress to an arterial road, Amity, is via Marcala Way, which I have marked here on this map , is a local road. It's convoluted. It has many turns. It has a basketball median that presents challenges to those of us with RVs, boats and trailers. As you're aware, there are no plans in the next five years to offer traffic relief to our section of town amidst exploding population growth. But germane to our concern is ACHD's plan to widen Eagle Road to five lanes, which in our view is a major road, perhaps as soon as five years from now. Please note despite testimony to the contrary, ACHD does not yet have a right of way on Eagle Road between Amity and Taconic, therefore, any assurances of a plan to widen Eagle Road is not factual at this time. Although, undoubtedly, that will happen at some point. More context. The roundabout at Eagle and Taconic will be a dual lane roundabout. Here for the audience sake is an ACHD rendering of a typical dual lane roundabout. With the scene set, let's try and visualize the reality of this scenario . You have a 50 mile per hour speed limit on five lane Eagle Road with no intermittent breaks in traffic flow from upstream, because there is a dual lane roundabout planned for Eagle Road at Amity. There is a 25 mile per hour speed limit on Taconic. There will be 2,700 additional vehicle trips created by this application. Thousands of vehicle trips created by Century Farm and its 675 homes. A school speed zone. A HAWK crossing of indeterminate design and detail and you will see in red children crossing Eagle to Hillsdale Elementary twice a day. Cyclists, pedestrians, families, crossing Eagle Road to access the YMCA and city park, because although the future land use map indicates a school in our vicinity, there is no school planned and, therefore, no additional green space that a school would provide. This plan provides a two acre park to serve 278 homes and some of that space is dedicated to the community pool. Vehicle slowing or stopping from a 50 mile per hour road to enter the patio home section, which will be marketed to over 55 buyers, of whom I am one, so I will acknowledge as we age we have slowing response times. Vehicles leaving the north patio home section are meant to turn right only. Realistically, since Marcala is not truly an easy road out, they will either turn left or turn right into a U-turn on Taconic or drive across Taconic to use the street in the south patio home section. Picture trying to merge under the two lane roundabout from Taconic. A typical driver will only look at the one way oncoming traffic in his or her attempt to merge. It's unlikely attention will be focused on the HAWK signal or pedestrian crossing to the south until after that merge is negotiated . I want to point out at this -- at this juncture that according to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, safe stopping distance at 25 miles per hour is 155 feet and 30 it's 200 feet. The applicant's plan is for streets 210 feet marking center line of Eagle Road to the center line of streets . We feel that eliminates a critical margin of safety. Since the HAWK is planned -- said to be planned for a few feet south of the roundabout, it doesn't provide safe crossing for pedestrians crossing Taconic, as you see by the arrow pointing northward, in the spirit of our, quote, healthy, safe, walkable neighborhoods, to quote the city's Comprehensive Plan, to shop at Albertson's, which will be a short half mile stroll up the road. Councilman Cavener, you expressed your concern about traffic backing up on Eagle Road during rush hours. We believe that's more than Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 27 of 82 a valid concern. Safe stopping distance for a vehicle at 30 miles per hour is 200 feet. According to edmunds.com, SUVs and all wheel drives have greater momentum, take longer to stop. The Idaho Department of Transportation states it takes a fully loaded truck driving at 55 miles per hour, with properly adjusted brakes, on a dry road, a full 450 feet to stop. Wintering conditions is double stopping distances. Taconic is not a street that is treated. With all due respect to ACHD, this is not a typical dual lane roundabout site. Due to the fact that our elementary school, city park, and YMCA are across Eagle Road, it's a complicated intersection that's further complicated by the applicant's request for four streets and 39 patio homes sites so close to this intersection. We believe this plan creates unnecessary risk to the safety of our children , cyclists, and families. In fact, the city of Phoenix guidelines would not allow roundabouts under these conditions where one intersecting street has a speed limit of 45 miles per hour greater and there are disproportionate traffic flows between the intersecting streets or where there is heavy pedestrian usage. The state of Maryland discourages roundabouts when one intersecting street is significantly wider than the other. We ask Council to consider this -- this portion -- this aspect of this application and consider its role in the future, taking all these factors into consideration. We, therefore, respectfully request that you deny the plan for these four streets near the intersection of Taconic and Eagle and require the applicant to relocate the patio homes and the related streets within the neighborhood to disperse traffic congestion and improve traffic flow. Please do not approve this aspect of the Sky Mesa application based on assurances that all will be well. Taconic is the primary egress and ingress -- egress route for hundreds of homes. This proposal offers no compelling justification for the four streets and 39 patio homes at its entrance. No rationale based on need benefits the neighborhood or otherwise. In fact, the north portion of it contradicts the FLUM and all of it raises serious questions of public safety, especially for the most vulnerable among us, our children. Would you honestly feel confident sending your elementary age student to walk to school from this neighborhood? It's design in no manner embraces the city's stated principles and values to make Meridian more livable and walkable. We feel we have a moral duty to ensure the public welfare and safety of our children. Indeed of all of our residents. Please, do not jeopardize the safety of our children, pedestrians, cyclists, motorists on hearsay or good intentions or the hope that all will be well. We respectfully ask for your consideration of this request and clarification on the following revisions to the plan as submitted by the applicant . My presentation has addenda that supports some of the facts included in this. Bird: Is there any questions for Mrs. Karnes? Karnes: Thank you. Bird: Thank you very much. Coles: Next on the list is Sam Karnes. Signed up against, wishing to testify. S.Karnes: Sam Karnes. 5556 South Graphite -- Bird: Let me ask you a question. Are you part of this coalition, the -- that she's -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 28 of 82 S.Karnes: I'm not an officer or board of director or anything. I'm speaking as someone who lives in Blackrock. Bird: Do we need to give him the ten minutes, too? State for their group. But, go ahead, we will give you three minutes. S.Karnes: Well, they have people -- like five neighborhoods. I live in one of the neighborhoods. I didn't know what she was going to talk about. She is my wife, but I thought -- Bird: I understand that. I have been married for -- S.Karnes: I kind of go to work and do my own thing. But, coincidentally, she did say some things that I was going to emphasize and that's -- that's -- well, with -- you know, the budget discussion, public safety came up. It's an important thing. And that -- as a former city councilman in Texas, a lawyer, I can tell you that's -- you know, I guess I'm approaching this from -- from your perspective. I mean who has approved the school, the park, the YMCA, if the library ever gets passed, on the east side of Eagle Road. Who was approving all of this housing on the west side of Eagle Road? You are. And you have a responsibility to ensure that all of those homeowners and their children that are living on the west side, have a safe way of crossing Eagle Road, because that's the only way to get there. I can't tell by that plan -- I don't think anyone knows exactly what's going on and Mr. Barton's -- Borton's questions were -- went to that also. You know, there needs to be clear cut access. I couldn't tell from the depictions that Mrs. McKay showed what's going on. I can show you what happens if you leave it to ACHD to determine. I had a slide or a picture I took last night. Hopefully we can cue this up, but, anyway, basically, at just north -- just north of this intersection is Amity and Eagle. There is a roundabout there, it's just a single roundabout, and -- here it is right here. If you can see it. This is it. And it kind of looks similar to the depiction we saw tonight. There is no signage. There was no indication of how you get across. I had a picture of a gentleman going across last night at 7:00 o'clock. He was stranded on the island. He was not there this morning. I assume he made it out. But I'm not sure -- he just kind of jumped through between some cars. Now, there are 50 mile an hour speed limits on both roads through this intersection and this is ACHD's idea of how to get across? There is no signage or anything. You're on your -- the pedestrians are on their own and that's going to be the same situation going north or south on Taconic once the kids cross Eagle Road. You know, they are going to have to jump out between cars that are coming off a 50 mile speed limit on Eagle Road, off of a double roundabout -- how are you going to be paying attention to children that are trying to get across Taconic? There is no way to do it. That's basically all I have to say. Bird: Any questions for Mr. Karnes? S.Karnes: Thank you. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 29 of 82 Bird: Thank you very much. Coles: Next on the list is Andrea Shelton. Signed up against, would like to testify. Bird: State your name and address, please. Shelton: Good evening. My name is Andrea Shelton. I live at 2498 East Cyanite in Blackrock. Most of what I was going to say has been covered, but as I sat there and listened to your budget discussions, Councilman Borton, you made the statement: Safety cannot be compromised. And it was in view of financial things, but in this instance I want to speak to the safety issues of our children. I am very concerned with the elementary school being across Eagle Road and our children have to cross that road in order to get there, across a 50 mile an hour road. I think it's sad at best that we would put them at more risk in their own neighborhood that they have to negotiate these other two streets on each side of the street that are so close to Eagle. We believe that the safety issues that have been set by Ada County Highway District, as well as the City of Meridian to keep those roads away from a major intersection to 330 feet away should be followed. I really believe what you said, Councilman Borton, when you said safety cannot be compromised. Bird: Any questions? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: I guess for clarification -- that's for your testimony, Mrs. Shelton. If I'm hearing you correctly, your -- your issues are -- they are not with the zoning or the patio style homes or homes butting up to -- Shelton: It is the roads. I have no problem with the patio style homes, but I think that it should be opened up into the neighborhood itself , not so close to Eagle Road. It will cause problems. There is just no way it won't. Cavener: Thank you. Shelton: Thank you. Bird: Mrs. Shelton? Shelton: Oh. Bird: I got a question. The children out of Blackrock that go over to Hillsdale? Shelton: Yes, sir. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 30 of 82 Bird: How do they get there now? Bus? Shelton: A bus. Bird: Okay. Shelton: Because there is no walkway at all. Bird: No. There is no walkway. Thank you. Shelton: Correct. Thank you. Coles: Next on the list is Ben Shelton, signed up against, not wishing to testify. Mike Wageman signed up against, not wishing to testify. Lani Wageman signed up against, not wishing to testify. Andrea Tlucek signed up against, wishing to testify. Tlucek: Andrea Tlucek. I live at 5866 South Graphite Way, Meridian, Idaho. President Bird and Council Members, thank you for once again providing time to be heard to those who are opposed to the current plans of the Boise Hunter Homes for Sky Mesa East. To be honest, even though there have been some concessions for which I am very grateful, I have felt that we have been beating our heads against a very sturdy wall. I would ask your indulgence as I read what I have to say, so it, hopefully, makes some sense. I have three specific issues that concern me. First, I worry about the dangerous intersection at Taconic and Eagle Road. You have heard before and will continue to probably hear this evening more reasons against the proposed plan by AC HD for that intersection. Even with ACHD's proposals, I believe the intersection will continue to be a danger for foot and bike traffic, most of which will be children and families. I believe it might be difficult for drivers to pay attention to those crossing Eagle Road while the driver anticipates and travels through the proposed roundabout. It can be difficult to see, especially small children, the other side of a roundabout while concentrating on who is joining or leaving the roundabout. I understand that roundabouts require little or no upkeep compared to lighted intersections. However, bringing traffic to a halt makes more sense for the safety of those crossing Eagle Road to go to school, the Y, or to visit school friends in Century Hills. Plus I believe a traffic light will not only help slow traffic on Eagle Road, but also on Taconic. In addition, streets turning into and out of the proposed 39 patio homes off of Taconic had been slated to be allowed to be set back from Eagle Road only 210 feet, rather than the accepted 330 feet. Potentially there is a danger of not having turning room off of Eagle Road because of cars training into that area, which would cause vehicles on Eagle Road to back up. Therefore, I respectfully would ask that we have a stop light with crosswalks at the intersection of Eagle Road and Taconic. People seem to understand how traffic lights work better than turnarounds. In addition, if it is inevitable that the patio homes be built, couldn't their access come from within the subdivision, eliminating the need for those four access roads into and out of the patio homes off of Taconic? I understand that this would require Boise Hunter Homes to revamp their plans and even possibly lose a lot or two, but, in my opinion, safety should come for first. Second, I am mindful of the lack of larger lots in Sky Mesa East. Having been led to believe that this Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 31 of 82 area of town would be a rural like one , many of the current residents bought just for the rural feel it now offers. Having moved back four years ago to Idaho, my home state, I can safely say that there is a lack of lots of one half acre or lar ger in Meridian and I believe there is a need. Why are step ups allowed? I don't understand. Bird: Summarize, please, Mrs. Tlucek. Tlucek: Sorry? Bird: Would you summarize, please. Tlucek: Third. I appreciate that the slope along the homes on Cyanite In Blackrock have a common area. However, couldn't -- shouldn't the lot sizes in Sky Mesa East along that area be recalculated to allow for the fact that those lot sizes are now smaller ? I realize that I'm not a speaker and often have facts incorrect. I would appreciate answers to my questions, so that I have a better understanding. I am disappointed to have been led to believe that I was buying into an area that was supposed to have a certain lifestyle or feel, to only find that it is being changed. My home was and is the biggest investment I have or ever will make. I believe development can happen without destroying the fields that now exist along the southern rim of Meridian. I know that there are those who remain neutral in this debate. However, by the number of communications and inputs you have received, one can tell that the majority care and are interested . Thank you for allowing me, as well as others, to express our concerns. As I said on a previous occasion of addressing the Council, this meeting is begun with a prayer. I personally believe in the power of prayer and have been praying about this situation for a long time. I would ask that you, too, prayerfully consider what will be done and allowed now and into the future specifically for this area of Meridian. Thank you. Bird: Any questions for Mrs. Tlucek? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Ms. Tlucek, can I ask you just a question. I heard you indicate you are against this project because of the lot sizes and I understand that you felt that maybe you were misled by someone. But that aside, what's your opposition to the smaller lot size? What is it about that that you take issue with? Tlucek: Houses are closer together. Oh, sorry. Houses are closer together. There is not a sense of room. There is not a sense of openness. I think that it -- it blocks views when you walk out your door and all you see is another house. I'm concerned that -- one thing that I didn't say is I would ask that there be restrictions on heights of houses that are along those lots that are next to Blackrock. Those people have spent big bucks buying larger lots and a view and it would be a shame for that to be destroyed. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 32 of 82 Cavener: Mr. President, additional question. Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Mrs. Tlucek, is your concern about your current view or the views of the people that would move into this new development? Tlucek: I am concerned about views from Blackrock. Cavener: Okay. Thank you. Tlucek: Uh-huh. Coles; Next on the list is a Laddie Tlucek, signed up against, not wishing to testify. Pat and Cliff Looney signed up against, not wishing to testify. Susanna Bohlman signed up against, not wishing to testify. Ted Bohlman signed up against, not wishing to testify. Tiffany Clinger signed up against, not wishing to testify. Cameron Keller signed up against, not wishing to testify. Lori Koga signed up against, not wishing to testify. Doug Wheeler signed up against, wishing to testify. Wheeler: Doug Wheeler. 2402 East Taconic. Mr. President and the Council, once again we have an evening together. We thank you for all your time. My concerns are partially from what I have kind of got a feeling a little bit from the Council -- and maybe I'm incorrect on this -- it seems as if these spoiled brats up in Blackrock are wanting all these different things. My wife and I are both teachers, some of the highest paying, you know, jobs in the world. We have spent over 30 years trying to accumulate so we could buy a place for our retirement, which we did. We did our homework, like we told our students to do, and the picture that we see now is not what the homework was providing and so I would -- I guess I would ask you to kind of put yourself in our spot. This is our investment. This is our retirement. And we have R-8 all over the city and there are a few places that seemed like the property lends itself to this type of development where there is larger lots. Many places do not have that. And so my plea is that we keep it more -- an account of what we already have there. I am not knocking at all the Boise Hunter, I think they do a fine home. My suggestion, for what it counts, would be to have the larger lots, charge a little more for them, have a little more upgraded house, which I know they can build, and have that whole situation taken care of so that the people on both sides can feel better about that. Bird: Any questions? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 33 of 82 Cavener: Ms. Wheeler, I guess that's a similar question for you and I'm hearing somewhat of a repetitive theme. Talk to me a little bit about why you're opposed to the proposed lot size. What -- why the opposition for you? Wheeler: Well, again, everything together, the amount of traffic it creates, the amount of roof tops that it brings in, the idea that originally this was a much more rural setting and it's becoming more and more like the center city of Meridian and that it's not necessary to have that for a builder to be able to have acceptable amount of money from their investment and the dollar sign I really feel -- and for a lot of people that I have spoken with is they can't find that kind of lots that are larger and when we have a perfect opportunity to make that happen, why not, you know. Cavener: Mr. President, a follow up. Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Mr. Wheeler, if -- if, for instance, the developer had proposed a project that had the same size of lot sizes, but there were less of them, you would be supportive of a project like this? Wheeler: If there were less -- Cavener: If the lot sizes were the same, but there were fewer lots. Perhaps the developer wanted more open space or whatever reason they would want -- Wheeler: I think that has a validity to it, yes, but I also feel that, again, we moved to that area because of the spaciousness and the feel like we weren't packed in. We could have gone to any other development throughout the city and -- and had that and, yes, saved a fair amount of money, but that wasn't what we were looking for when we were into a retirement situation. If we were having a family, we were younger, that might have been fine, but in this situation when we had a choice, that's why we went that way and I think that there are many other people that have that feeling and that's why, again, I would ask that maybe developers would look to that and say, hey, there is -- there is a market for that and -- and that's why we went there. Cavener: Thanks for your service in education. Appreciate it. Wheeler: Thank you. Bird: Any other questions? Hearing none, Mr. Clerk. Coles: Thank you, Mr. President. Melody Wheeler signed up against, not wishing to testify. Bobbie Gregory signed up against, not wishing to testify. Luke Gregory signed up against, not wishing to testify. Al Berlat signed up against, not wishing to testify. Barbara Berlat signed up against, not wishing to testify. Christine Herwy signed up against, wishing to testify. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 34 of 82 Herwy: Good evening. Christine Herwy. I live at 2373 East Taconic Drive in Meridian. Bird: Thank you. Herwy: Thank you for your time this afternoon. Bird: Are you part of the -- excuse me. Are you part of the coalition? Herwy: No. Bird: Okay. Herwy: I am not. So, I brought along pictures to try and just show what we currently have, where we are, and what's proposed and to show how that's going to affect us. So, this is Taconic and Eagle. So, this is currently where the roundabout is going to be. And you can see right now we have, you know, some berming and landscaping at the entrance, much like what is proposed from the applicant. You can also see that we do have two medians, if you will. This is also each side. So, you can see that we do have landscaping. Again, much like what is currently proposed. So, this is what our medians look like as well. They are fairly long. Pardon me. So -- sorry, this isn't a very pretty picture, but I have some questions about this. So, you can see, as a lot of people have said, in yellow this is Eagle Road. Here is the roundabout. So, people are going to be coming in at a high speed and they are going to be coming in with my blue line and there will be a median that I highlighted in yellow. So, that means that person either has to go -- turn right into the patio homes or go straight. So, it's a right-in, right-out. So, if they are coming out the other end -- or here -- well, my pointer is not working. But on the other end, they can loop around or go the other way. But what about the other people? So, to get into the other side, the south side, they are going to have to go and wait and make a turn and if they come back around to Taconic, they can only go right. So, what if they want to come out of their patio home and go to the pool, which is going to be the other way, do they have to get back in the round about to come back ? How is this going to work? I'd like that question. Also I want to show across the street is Century Farm. They, I feel, have done a very nice job of putting a really nice adequate boundary between Eagle Road and the houses. So, this is still part of that boundary before -- and so is this. Before you get to any houses -- and this is the other side of it. They have a lot of green space and to your point, Councilman Cavener, I do think that it would make a difference if there was more green space built into a subdivision, even with smaller lots. Also, the applicant has mentioned many times that they feel as though their product is superior . These are two pictures of Brighton and Century Home -- Century Farm, excuse me, and Boise Hunter Homes at Sky Mesa. I -- you know, looking from the outside they look very similar to me both seem fine. Back to this. You will see in the red this is where the patio homes are and I can't see to the right of that where our berming is going to be in our -- in our, you know, buffer. If you look across the street in the green, this is where the buffer is for Sky Mesa. Or excuse me. Century Farms. It seems as though we could do a much better job for safety and I won't -- you know, that has been addressed for buffering Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 35 of 82 between Eagle Road and so I would ask, again, for this reconsideration of where these patio homes are. You know, it's already a very tricky situation where we are trying to get in and out and, then, it just adds to additional security -- excuse me -- safety issues. Bird: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you very much. Coles: Kathy Baumgartner signed up against, not wishing to testify. Charles Webb signed up as neutral stating maybe he wishes to testify. No. Janelle Munson against, not wishing to testify. Marllee Andrew signed up against, wishing to testify. I think I mispronounced your name last week and I probably got it wrong again this week. Andrew: You remembered. Bird: Welcome. Andrew: Marllee Andrew. 2417 East Taconic Drive, Blackrock Subdivision. I had never stepped foot into a City Council meeting until about a month ago, because I always wanted someone else to do it for me. I was scared or I -- I just didn't think that it was going to matter. No one was going to hear it and I have been pleasantly surprised as this process has been taking place and I appreciate you guys listening to our concerns. So, I was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. Went to Borah where I met my husband, who was also raised in Boise, Idaho. We both graduated from Borah. We both attended Boise State and graduated. Worked six jobs between the two of us. We chose to stay here in Idaho, because it was our home. We had four children, all born at St. Luke's. We have had two cabins in the mountains, because we love the Idaho mountains. We currently have three college kids attending three different colleges in Idaho and one at Mountain View High School. We own three separate businesses in Meridian and the Boise area and after living in our last family home for almost 20 years and a lot -- a lot of hard work, we took the big step to build our dream home, in which I said last week, you know, we did our research, we -- we found out that that property below us was R-2 and we talked to Sky Mesa and they told us that the lots were going to match one to one on the transition. This is just my story, but everyone here has a story. Everyone has a reason why they chose to live in this Blackrock-Sky Mesa community. We have numerous doctors that have chose to live on this side of the freeway, because it's close to the hospital. We have lawyers, accountants, and retired couples, all who chose to live here in a rural area with green space and kind of a quiet area to live. This is all personal for all of us or we wouldn't be here today. I'm just a little bit confused on last week, what happened. At the very closing remarks -- I quote that the Mayor had said usually they do one and a half lots to every one lot transition -- in the transition and Hunter Homes quickly agreed to change it to two lots after that and I'm just wondering why they didn't do that in the first place. My husband attended all the neighborhood meetings and personally talked to Mr. Hunter and the representatives and told him our concerns. He said e-mail them and make your statement and we did so and we never heard back a reply of our concerns or anything ever, the whole time this has been going on. I also share the same concerns of safety, traffic congestion, overcrowding schools. I think that once we get our YMCA and all the -- a grocery store and all the growth that's going out there, I think Eagle is going to be a Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 36 of 82 mess and we just can't be changed. I appreciate Hunter Homes trying to make some changes, but I feel like it's still not an appropriate fit for this area. This is Idaho. This isn't California. I'm happy to share Idaho with the people that are coming in. Of course they want to move here. We are on the top tenlist. But I just hope that you keep the integrity of our state and of our city and our neighborhoods. Thank you. Bird: Thank you. Any questions? Thank you very much. Coles: Gary Andrew signed up against, not wishing to testify. Tony Broderick signed up against, not wishing to testify. And Elise and Aaron Poulson signed up against, not wishing to testify. That's all the signups, Mr. President. Bird: Is there anybody else -- it is a public hearing. Is there anybody else that would like to testify? Come on up. Broderick: Good evening, President and Council Members. My name is Lisa Broderick. I live at 2331 East Lodge Trail Drive in Sky Mesa, Meridian, Idaho. I had previously said that I wasn't going to testify just because I wanted to be respectful of your time. In the discussions I agree wholeheartedly with what my neighbors had mentioned. I do want to talk specifically to Mr. Cavener. At last week's meeting he had mentioned the -- the discussion about diversity and how his -- one of the final comments of the evening was there are no R-2s there and so for it to be truly diverse you would expect to see a wider spectrum of that. The -- the feel of the neighborhood -- and, again, I'm in in Sky Mesa, I'm not looking at it from above. So, my view is very much part of it. The feel is why my husband and I moved here and we moved here from -- from Cloverdale and Overland. So, not very far away. We wanted a larger lot. It took us seven months to find a larger lot and we couldn't find one that already had a house on it that we wanted to purchase, because most of those were either in the foothills, which we are not a foothills person, or deep in northern Meridian and those areas are very congested . We really wanted to try to find an area that was less congested and had that feel. So, I actually really appreciate the changes that they made for this. I think that looks nice. I like the green spaces. Obviously, I would like more, you know, if -- if I could ask for everything it wouldn't look like this. But I do really feel that that diversity is not being met, if you look at diversity as a whole and I feel that the -- the culture of that community, what was sold to my husband and I and everyone else that has talked, is different. We were told that, yes, they are going to develop. It will be very similar to what you have now. I'm on a point acre lot. I'm right below Blackrock so I -- and I'm on a hillside, so I have, you know, all of those issues that we have talked about the last time. But I wanted that larger lot and I like not reaching out my window and touching a neighbor and being able to walk through the community and being concerned that I'm going to walk and see these cookie cutter houses that are right next to each other. To me that's a significant turn off for what is our final -- hopefully our final investment. Bird: Any questions? Cavener: Mr. President? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 37 of 82 Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Kind of an off-the-wall question. You're not the first one tonight to bring up that you felt representatives of the developer had reported that this project was going to kind of a one-to-one match and was going to be large lots. My assumption is based on the people we have heard from tonight who have done their due diligence, what has been the response when you have brought that up to their attention and that's what you have been told? Broderick: Honestly, the only time that I brought that up is at the community meetings and what we were told was that one that wasn't what the representative should have said and/or that we are still within the future lot plan and so this was an appropriate step up . Bird: Thank you. Anybody else? Come forward, sir. Please state your name and address. Andrew: Yeah. My name is Gary Andrew. I live at 2417 East Taconic Drive. My wife was up here just a few minutes ago. The lot that we live on and the house that we live in has been mentioned by many people during these discussions, so I figured I probably should stand up as a homeowner and tell you who I am. I don't have -- these are just some pictures, but if you go back to the first picture, this is a picture -- my lot is -- I don't know if there is still a map up, but my lot is -- as soon as you go up Taconic up at Blackrock, my -- my lot is on the left-hand side. It's a one acre lot that I saved for a long time to get and I bought it and, then, it's the one that's been discussed that they are planning on doing -- the original plan showed like three of their lots equivalent to the side of mine. My lot also sits a little lower than some of the adjacent lots that have a little bit higher views, but, nonetheless, I still have a view and let me tell you I paid for that view and I pay all my taxes. This is my view from -- from the edge of my fence and I have been trying to maintain as best I can, because it's owned by the sod farm guy who -- who is selling all this I presume to Mr. Hunter and will do quite well on that. You can go to the next one. Now, across the street of Taconic -- this is over on the Sky Mesa side that's already been built and, I'm sorry, Mrs. Pope, this is her house. I'm sure she gives me permission take this photo. This is across Taconic. Now, her lot is big. That's a big lot. Much bigger than those ones that are going to be below mine and even her house blocks the view of that -- of the guy on the rim there, but, nonetheless, it's -- it's big. I think Mr. Hunter sold this to them and, then, they brought their own builder in and so they got a good deal on it. Probably because it's on the corner there, but -- nonetheless, that looks nice. What I fear on my side -- if you want to go to the next one, please. That's me looking up at my house from the sod farm. So, that's -- that's my hillside and there was going be three lots, basically, the span of what you see right there and so -- and if you could go to the next one. That is all -- I have paid to have that maintained. My lot ends where the fence is. You can see my fence starts to climb and go up to the neighboring lots, which are higher than mine, and you can see the slope. I know they have already discussed this to be common area and that that will be maintained, which is really nice, because that's actually really hard work to do, even if you grow the fescue grass and stuff, Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 38 of 82 and my hope is that there will be restrictions in there that they can't just go up there and plant some 50 foot pines or something and whatever else and -- and so -- so that I can maintain some kind of a view. And when they are selling those lots, you know, I have a pool up here -- yeah, I saved up a lot of money, I have worked real hard. Some people would consider me wealthy, but when I swim it's a small suit and I'm going to be out there whenever they are trying to promote these, along with my drum, so -- no. Joking aside -- I could do that, but I just hope that they are good neighbors and they -- they respect my view, as well as, Brother Cavener, I hope you ask the same question to me you have several others -- am I more concerned about my view or their view and if they built a two level house right there and they are looking into my bathroom , I guess I'd be more concerned about their view, because my view doesn't bother me, so -- maybe Mr. Hunter will sell me these lots and I will put some slides there and we can all just be happy. So, that's my testimony. Bird: Thank you. Any questions? This is a public hearing. Anybody else like to -- come on up. State your name and address, please. Keller: My name is Cameron Keller. My address is 2185 East Taconic Drive in Meridian. So, I'm in Blackrock as well. I don't wear a little swimming suit, so I won't have that problem. I think the biggest thing for me -- and it's been mentioned a couple times. I was not signed up to testify, but now just because of the different discussion items that have happened I wanted to come up and testify. I think the biggest thing for me is something that happened this weekend as we -- we had some people move back into this area and they were debating whether to live in Meridian or whether to live in Eagle and they said our work -- it's so much closer to Meridian, but Eagle is so much more beautiful. It's so much better from a -- from a beauty standpoint and I think, though, if you look from a space standpoint and from a touching one house with one hand and the other house with another hand, Eagle doesn't seem to have that same issue that we in Meridian have. When we talk about diversity, I don't think we are talking just about diversity in this subdivision. As has already been mentioned, there are hundreds and hundreds of homes that are already in the smaller lot size area . We really have almost zero homes in the whole south side of Meridian and the whole north side of Meridian that have any size to them at all. So, if someone makes a comment like, well, my work is a lot closer to Meridian, but I sure like Eagle a whole lot better, because it looks a lot better, I think that's -- for me, my standpoint, that's the main reason why I don't want the smaller lots, because I think we have plenty of them and I don't think we need more of them and so that's -- obviously, the safety issue already has been addressed and already exists , but the biggest thing is just the -- the overall beauty of the community I think. It's just sad to see all the open space go and I think it's all coming at a cost of really profit and I don't think it's necessary, because we have got plenty of other options, plenty of other opportunities that exist. So, to me it's completely unnecessary to have it be more and more and more of these types of developments. I have also heard many times that -- that there isn't a demand for bigger lots and I -- I feel like that's something that developers are saying that there isn't demand for bigger lots, because every single person I have talked to in the community is begging for bigger lots, not for smaller lots. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 39 of 82 Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. Public hearing. Anybody want to -- anybody else? If not, applicant, do you want to come forward again? Coles: Mr. President? Bird: Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. Coles: I was handed on additional name. She had to leave early. Amy Anderson. Against this project. She wasn't able to testify, but wanted me to read her name into the record. Bird: Thank you. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: Maybe before Becky comes up, I have got a question for Justin, if he'd be willing to join us, if that's all right. C.Jay, is there a way to show what's on my -- Coles: Councilman Palmer, there is not a way to broadcast your screen. Palmer: And it cost as much as one of these houses to put -- Coles: I can put it on my screen if you would like me to pull something up. Palmer: So -- well, I Googled HAWK signal roundabout, trying to figure out how one of these might work and so the question -- I have a really cruddy picture anyway. So, I don't know, maybe you can find the one, but -- anyway, in the functioning of one, if somebody were to activate the signal at one of the crosswalks, does it stop traffic from entering any portion of the circle or does it just -- just a few lanes that are going to be crossed in that moment preventing people from entering or maybe exiting on that portion of the street? How does the HAWK signal work in a roundabout? Lucas: Mr. President, Councilman Cavener, just for the record, Justin Lucas represented the Ada County Highway District. Business address is 3775 Adam Street in Garden City, Idaho. I might have to look at the picture, Councilman Cavener, and just also for the record I'm not a traffic engine and so if you're asking me a super technical question, I may not be able to provide you with an answer tonight, but I certainly can find the answer for you. But there are various design options for roundabouts and crossings . I don't know exactly -- okay. Thank you. Palmer: There weren't many on Google Images. This is the best one I found in a minute. Lucas: Yeah. Depending on the design -- and I will try to speak -- this isn't a local picture. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 40 of 82 Palmer: No. Lucas: I'm not sure where this is from. There is various design options with a crossing associated with a roundabout and at this specific location it looks to me as if there is multiple HAWK signals associated with this roundabout, which is one of the design options that is available. So, you can cross at one leg of the roundabout, at two legs of the roundabout, at all four legs of the roundabout and all four legs could potentially require some type of signalized crossing. I don't believe that's what's being considered at Taconic, but that would have to be worked out through the -- through the specific design process of that roundabout and during that design process things are looked at, such as demand for the crossing, et cetera, et cetera, and all of the other things that would go along with that. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: Mr. President and Justin and -- I'm not sure how to really approach the question. Are you confident that in a roundabout situation that there is an appropriate design that would safely facilitate children crossing the street at the same level that a HAWK signal might provide here on the -- on the side of City Hall where it's -- where there isn't a roundabout situation, it's just a straight -- Lucas: Mr. President, Councilman Cavener, it's not really my place in this setting to provide some sort of guarantee -- Palmer: Sure. Lucas: -- related to anything. What I am confident is -- is that ACHD has reviewed this proposal. ACHD has carefully considered the use of a dual lane roundabout at this location and ACHD, including its commission through the staff report that you have received, has talked about the options and the different considerations as part of this project and so I think it's safest for me in this forum to guide you to that staff report to let you know that things like this were carefully considered as part of the public testimony and other things that were heard by the commission and that they acted on those -- on those items appropriately and in full view of the public. So, that's -- that's what I can -- that's what I can offer at this meeting, because it's -- it's -- it's not my place to speak for my -- for the commission. They speak for themselves through the official staff report. Palmer: Sure. Bird: Okay. Another other questions for -- Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 41 of 82 Cavener: Justin, since you're up here, I'm curious -- there is a -- there is a neighborhood in Eagle Road -- it's in Boise, so I don't know the name of it. It's -- it's north of McDevitt Park near Lowell Scott Middle School. So, you have got a neighborhood -- and I recognize that in that part of Eagle Road you have got right-ins, right-out on Eagle Road. But what does -- it state highway, but I'm just curious if you could -- if you have any idea as to how they move students, essentially, from that neighborhood on the west side of the road to the east side of the road to go to Lowell Scott. Lucas: Excellent question, Councilman Cavener. ACHD in these situations where there is pedestrian -- specifically school children demand across an arterial street, Eagle Road, whatever it may be, we coordinate directly with the school district. Ultimately the school district decides what they consider is appropriate for safety busing and what they consider as not. I know that there are many locations within the City of Meridian and the West Ada School District where there is a five lane road and regardless if we put in a crossing or not, the school district has said they do not feel comfortable having children cross the road at that location and they provide safety busing and so those -- and the Boise School District looks at it a little bit differently and so you have different opinions based on the different school districts and how they view safety busing and the busing that they provide. We try as a highway district to facilitate children walking to school safely as -- that's one of our top priorities as established by our commission through our Safe Routes to School Program and you see the different -- many different facilities that have been put in place over the last, you know, probably ten years that have been -- the whole purpose of those facilities is to facilitate safe crossings for school children of these -- of these roadways. That being said, ultimately, the decision on how a child gets to school ultimately is probably up to the parent and, then, you have it go to the -- the school district, who weighs in and they make actual specific requests to ACHD related to infrastructure. Cavener: Mr. President, additional question. Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Justin, you touched on this last week about maybe not why to put a signalized intersection there and I -- I trust the subject matter experts. I'm just a non- educated person who sits up here. As someone who is not educated in traffic engineering, it seems like a signal would make a lot more sense there than a roundabout. Speaking as one who loves roundabouts -- I know that there is mixed feelings on that, but I look at, you know, Bristol Heights and Hobble Creek, where those two neighborhoods converge on Eagle Road, I believe there is a signalized intersection there. Over by Rocky Mountain High, again, I think there is some signalized intersections over there, some neighborhoods enter in. I'm just hoping -- and, again, I also know you're not a traffic engineer as well, but maybe for myself and for those that are -- that are here in the audience, what's the difference between those neighborhoods and what we inevitably know is going to be out in that particular part of Meridian? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 42 of 82 Lucas: Really good question, Councilman Cavener, Mr. President. I think the main difference is timing of when those decisions were made. I can't quote off the top of my head the exact date, but a few years ago -- I think it's several now -- maybe four or five -- the Ada County Highway District Commission adopted a roundabout policy. Prior to that roundabout policy the standard intersection treatment considered by the highway district was signalized intersections. But the Federal Highway Administration and other national organizations identified roundabouts as safety measures that should be considered as part of the development process, widening roads, new intersection treatments and because of these proven safety measures, the Ada County Highway District commission chose to establish a roundabout policy, establish a roundabout map and as part of that process the roundabout is the first consideration now. Under current policy that the Ada County Highway District looks at for an intersection treatment. Is it always appropriate? No. There are many where traffic volumes, other characteristics do not facilitate the use of a roundabout and a standard intersection or some other intersection type is used. I can say at this specific location it was identified for a roundabout several years ago on our master street map. We have been preserving the right of way through development process for a roundabout at this location and the -- the concept of a roundabout here has been a part of the -- the discussion for several years as new developments have come to this growing area. Bird: Any other questions? Thanks, Justin. Becky. McKay: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Council. Becky McKay, Engineering Solutions, 1029 North Rosario. I will kind of go through some of -- some of the concerns that were -- were brought up. One of the comments that keeps coming up is the fact that R-2 -- the R-2 zone was below Blackrock. That is incorrect. The zoning below Blackrock was RUT, Rural Urban Transition. There were two designations, medium density residential and low density residential. The R-2 was located only north of Taconic and when -- in my discussions with the staff, my discussions with the applicant, when they took Southern Highlands through, they did not have a development plan for that portion north of Taconic. So, one of the things that the City Council has done in the past is if you want to be annexed and zoned, but you don't have a development plan and you want a single family residential zone, we are going to give you an R-2 zone just as a holding zone and, then, you bring back a site specific plan in a rezone application at a later date and all the documentation that I reviewed from the previous staff reports basically substantiated that fact. But below Blackrock it was RUT. Secondly, there was discussion about Taconic, that that collector is the primary access out of this neighbourhood. There is the access north out to Amity and you have heard a lot of complaints about -- but they have that basketball medium. But that's a traffic calming device, which is what they have asked us to do on Taconic. So, it's kind of like a little bit of a contradiction. You want traffic calming to slow traffic, but you don't want to be inconvenienced by a traffic calming median. So, there is kind of a -- you know, a little issue there. Secondly, the East Ridge development that came before you and you guys remanded back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for redesign, did have a noncontinuous collector that came up from Amity and, then, it did interconnect through local streets to Blackrock. Now, one of the things that is unusual in this case is typically I'm sending traffic in a proposed development Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 43 of 82 and it may -- may intrude into another development. This is the reverse. My traffic will not go to Blackrock. All of Blackrock's traffic will come down Taconic through our neighborhood. So, this -- this is a little bit unusual. One of the other questions was the speed on Eagle Road. We did receive an e-mail from Christy Little over at Ada County Highway District, along with the design of the HAWK signals for what the West Valley School District is installing right now and her comment is that they anticipate dropping the speed limit on Eagle Road as development increases. So, they feel that, you know, the 55, that speed limit is going by the wayside, because that's Ada County Highway District. That's not ITD like the north section of Eagle Road. It was also mentioned about a school -- that there was a little school insignia on this property. I did contact Joe Yocum at the school district and I said, Joe, you know, Meridian has a little -- little flag showing a possibility of an elementary on this site. Do you have any need for an elementary at this site. He told me on the phone, no, we do not. He said, you know, those just go -- were pins on the map we did years ago. We did one in every section. He said we just built the Hillsdale Elementary and so we do not want a school site. But that was the first thing that I checked. Now, as far as the roundabout at Amity and Eagle Road, those are two major arterials. Now, the roundabout we are talking about will be at a collector and an arterial. So, it's going to be designed a little bit different. It's not a major arterial to major arterial. There has been a lot of debate on signals versus roundabouts. Now, what the highway district told me is Hill Century Farms alone, without my project, warrants either a signal or a roundabout when they hit a certain number of lots, that they are going through their analysis now. Their traffic engineer is evaluating it. They look at both options and what the -- what -- what will serve this particular purpose best. Right now the volume south of Amity on Eagle Road is about 5,600 vehicles per day. You look at North Eagle Road, north of Fairview, what are we at, 50,000 and pushing higher as The Village develops. So, this is not representative of North Eagle Road. The number of trips on Taconic 922. That's less than a local street of a thousand. Average lot size. Questions have been -- you know, what -- what's the average. And we have dropped two lots. We have matched no more than two. We have agreed that we won't allow any plantings on that slope to impede anyone's view. We have put it in a common lot. The HOA will maintain it. And our average lot size that backs up to Blackrock is 17,262 square feet and our overall lot size in the entire project is 10,350 square feet. So, these are not little dinky 5,000, 4,500 square foot lots -- and I know you guys see projects that come through with a lot of lots like that. We have seven percent of our lots are 5,500 to 6,999. Twenty-three percent of our lots are 7,000 up to 9,000. Thirty-seven -- almost 38 percent are 9,000 to 11,000 and, then, we have over 30 percent are between 11,000 and up to 26,000 square feet. So, I think, you know, when we are talking diversity, this is a diverse project and keep in mind Blackrock is elevated above us. They sit above us. I'm down low. A question arose how will somebody from the patio homes get to the pool . Well, I think she assumes that that Raphine, which is the westerly street, is left out restricted. It is a full access and it meets all the criteria of a full access. So, it's not -- no one will be inconvenienced in any shape or form. And the landscaping that you see right at the roundabout, even after taking out the roundabout right of way, is between 60 and 80 feet deep. There is a lot of landscaping there. On the other side of the road where Hill Century Farm has their little barn, that's where Ten Mile Creek comes through, so that's a floodway, so they had no choice but to leave that area open and this project has over 13 percent open space . It's a really good Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 44 of 82 project. This project -- someone brought up Eagle. If this project -- I had a project identical to this one in diversity, lot sizes, average lot sizes, that was approved in Eagle and the people that live there tell me they love it and we had alley load, we had 55 foot lots, you know, we just had pockets of them like we have here and people tell me they love it. This is a walkable, open neighborhood and Taconic Drive is going to feel good, it's going to look good. Like I said, it's going to feel just like Bridgetower does, where it's nice, it's open, it's not just the 20 foot of landscaping in width, it's going to have a nice, open feel, you're going to have a lot of walkability. This is a good project. We are 2.83 dwelling units per acre and it really -- you know, I'm proud -- I'm proud of this and I couldn't stand up here and tell you that if I didn't honestly believe it and I would like the Council to support it. Thank you. Bird: Any questions for Becky? Thanks, Becky. Council, what's your pleasure? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: If the Council is open to it, at least for the sake of discussion, just because I know sometimes we head down a rabbit hole, I'd like to at least keep the public hearing open for the meantime and allow -- if Council has got any discussion that we at least do that before we close the public hearing. Bird: We won't close it until there is a motion. Cavener: All right. Bird: Is there any discussion? Cavener: If everyone else wants to be quiet, I'm happy to chime in. I don't know where I'm going to go, though. For me -- I don't know about the rest of the Council -- this has been probably one of the most conflicted I have been on a project that I have seen in the past four years, because on one side you have what I think is a phenomenal development. Quality project that meets a need that we see in our community. I think that the Hunter brand has a strong reputation for quality. The amenities that we see in this project, the pathways, are things that when we see a development come before us that meet the, quote, unquote, minimum standards, I think a lot of times we are wishing they were meeting what we are seeing here before us today. Likewise, I applaud Mrs. McKay and the developer, because many of the changes that were asked of them they were open to and I look at what I heard from the neighbors, those issues related to the slope being a common area. The developer was quick to address that and be supportive of that. A major area of concern for me was those neighbors that had three homes against their backyard. Boy. Good grief. And, again, to the developer's credit they jumped at that and said, no, you're right, let's drop a lot and let's -- let's answer to that. I think this is a great project. It has challenges for me and this is at no fault of the developer. It's that access on Taconic coming of 55 -- and I appreciate Mrs. McKay saying that ITD or the highway Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 45 of 82 district is going to lower that. They are not going to lower that to 35. They are not going to lower it to 40. If they lower it from 55 they are going to lower it to 50. I can't think of any part of Eagle Road that's not, you know, 45 or 50 miles an hour. So, I don't -- I don't see that being a -- a huge drop and I do have some concerns about that roundabout and today -- maybe that works today. I don't know if that works at a year from now and I don't fault the developer, because they are taking the feedback they received from the highway district. But this is -- the second piece -- and something that I have touched on on -- on last week and I went back and forth, up and down on this all last week, is I'm a firm believer that the southern part of Meridian is really special and I'm one that gets after people for using arbitrary terms like special, but it just -- it feels different. Just like Old Town. It's different. It's special. North Meridian is special. And I think this is a quality development, but I don't know if it's at the expense of that special part of Meridian that we don't have a lot of left and so I'm open to the discussion. I'm looking forward to hearing from some of you on -- on your thoughts as to what we should do with this particular application. Bird: Any other discussion? Mr. Palmer. Palmer: Mr. President. Just looking at an aerial shot of Blackrock -- and there -- there is at least one house that's got four neighbors. Five if you count the corner of this property. One that's got two. Another one that's got at least two. So, when it comes to the adjustments that they made, I don't especially -- you know, if you look at it -- and there is one of them -- there is a very wide side of the property that -- to be able to reduce that down to two is impressive and I think adjustments to that really fulfill a lot of the -- should fulfill a lot of the angst that came out of the number of neighbors considering that in the existing property that, again, there is -- there is multiple places where there are multiple neighbors, especially the one with at least four. Yes. Let me -- I wish I could just show you mine. Maybe we can actually use the annotation here, if you want to turn me on, C.Jay. If we can zoom in on -- on Blackrock. Okay. So, I believe this home has one, two, three, four and -- yeah, it's just right in the corner, so not really a fifth, but four neighbors adjoining his property. This one right here has got one and two. This one's got two. So, that multiple adjoining properties is not abnormal to the area. Bird: Beg your pardon? If you got to talk you got to come up here. Oh. Okay. The public hearing is still open. We will let you talk, but, then, the applicant gets to talk again. Palmer: Mr. President. And this is just me looking at a satellite view. If there is other elevations that change something from how I see it I would love to know. It's different? Bird: Restate your name and address, please. Shelton: Ben Shelton. 2498 East Cyanite Drive in Meridian. Blackrock. I'm against the south side is where my house is. To begin with those are acre lots, so you're going to have more. I think our point of being next to people is not my land touches someone , because no matter where you go in Idaho you got four corners. You have got four corners, so you're going to have four lots touching you somewhere. The point is I don't Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 46 of 82 touch someone -- I can go between houses down and you go like and you touch someone and so that is my -- that's our concern is the distance between the houses, not the fact that there is a house touching my lot, because if I have four corners I'm always going to have a lot somewhere. It's how far away are those people. Are they 30 feet or are they five feet and when I walk down the street or I go into a backyard do I have a place for my kids to play, my grandkids to play. There are people that want that in Meridian and since this has begun for the last few months I keep hearing, well, nobody wants that, they just want the small -- they don't want to do lawns anymore and that really bothers me, because just recently -- this last few weeks across from us the house didn't even make the market, because there was people looking for houses like that and the realtor goes I have got somebody for you. It never even made the MLS listing. People want larger lots in Meridian, but we keep hearing the contractors say nobody wants to take care of a lawn anymore. That's just not true and so that's what I -- I mean is the spread between the homes, not just the fact that my lot touches someone else's lot. That's -- that's what I wanted to express. Bird: Okay. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: And, then, sir, the fact that that -- that story, you know, about a house not making it to MLS is happening in every range of houses. The one literally next door to my house, they put up a sign, but before they even had it listed one -- the Mayor's secretary bought it. And it's -- I live in an R-8 and it's awfully close to my house. Shelton: I get that, but there are people who want larger homes and we were getting less and less all the time just so we can have more houses. I don't think it's necessary. Palmer: And I have a question for your. Mr. President. So, you're on the southern end of Blackrock you said? Shelton: I am. Yes. I'm at the end of Cyanite, which comes off of Taconic to the left, the first road to the left. We are right to the very end. Right down there. Yes. That's my house to the -- right there. Palmer: Okay. So, would any of the homes in the development be anywhere near as close as your next door neighbor? Shelton: Down below? Palmer: Uh-huh. Shelton: I think most of them will be closer. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 47 of 82 Palmer: It appears your driveways there are really close. Shelton: But that's why we have things like RV garages and space with drives and everything else. Our homes, our places where we live, are separated extensively and that just gives you more space and we talked about earlier was the space. Palmer: Thank you. Shelton: Okay. Bird: Okay. Beck, you want to -- you get the last say. Okay. Okay. Council, anymore discussion? The public hearing is open. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: It's a wonderful project that -- it's just -- it's just really well done in a lot of ways that we have already discussed and addressed and the applicant's made great concessions to try and address some of the concerns. But one of the sticking points that is a challenge -- and we speak to public safety -- is that entrance -- and Councilman Cavener referenced -- is the entrance off of Eagle Road on Taconic and I wrestle with ACHD's staff level approval of the -- of the access point and the 210 feet from that roundabout and it -- the explanation in the staff report really doesn't address it. They -- they said it's necessary -- the waiver is necessary to provide access to that, which is a bit circuitous, because -- that's why you have any sort of access is to provide access. So, that didn't really satisfy me that -- that whatever that principle was that leads to a policy that restricts that type of access, especially from a road that's 55 -- maybe 45, that's the challenge and that -- that's a component -- and the applicant might have some great comment that will give greater comfort, not only to myself, maybe other Council, maybe the public, but this is that one and only chance to make sure the design is correct and is truly safe and -- and turning right at 45 or 55, even though it's right-in, right-out, if someone is turning right on Radiant to head west on Taconic, they are probably turning right from a complete stop, so when you come in off of Eagle Road there is 210 feet, at 45 miles an hour, your stopping distance is about 200 feet. It just seems like that's only going to grow more unsafe. So, there is -- with regards to the remainder of the project, a lot of the issues have been addressed we have talked about balancing considerations between R-2 and R-4 and holding zones and trying to at sometimes meet in the middle to address competing interests. But the one thing that I struggle with is if the time is appropriate for this application with that design off of Eagle Road the way it is. So, comments for consideration at least. Bird: Any other comments? Little Roberts: Mr. President? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 48 of 82 Bird: Mrs. Little Roberts. Little Roberts: I agree with both Councilman Borton and Councilman Cavener. It's a great project. There is so many wonderful things about it. And I just struggle with that -- the traffic and the roundabout and everything right there. It just seems with the HAWK signals and the roundabout and the speed of the traffic, I think it was Councilman Rountree that always said you can go slow -- it's better to go slow and I just feel like we are just not there yet. I'm just not comfortable with that situation. Bird: Any other comments? From my -- from my experience these traffic engineers prove me so wrong that it isn't funny. Franklin and Eagle is a good example. I didn't think that intersection would ever work. I thought -- in fact, I told them we would probably build it - - better build a fire station out there. But I can tell you I don't think ACHD is going to let anything that isn't safe -- I know the school district is not going to let anything that it's safe for our children and I know that Council doesn't want anything that isn't safe for our children, so I think it's -- I think it's the nicest project you could get for transition down. I think the developer has went back and done everything that's been asked of them. You know, I -- I don't know where you say yes or no to stuff like this. I mean I sat through at least three City Council a long drug out meetings when Blackrock come in, because all the people out there wanted five acre lots and so -- I -- I question the roundabout over signalized stop lights, but the traffic engineers I'm sure have studied this pretty well. That's my two cents. Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: Kind of along the lines with what Councilman Cavener said, this has -- this has been one of -- one of the most difficult hearings that we -- that I have personally been through. I'm really torn. I'm listening to the neighbors. I feel your concern and your lifestyle and I really appreciate that. On the other hand, Boise Hunter Homes does -- does a very high quality project and this project fits into all of the parameters that that area was set up for. They are not stepping up. They are not asking for special provisions. So, I can't really see a reason, other than the traffic safety, to even say no to this project, other than I feel for your -- I feel about your feelings and your homes and your views, but that's not technically really enough reason to decline a project to a developer who is following all of the guidelines in that. You know, part of me wishes I didn't have to vote on this at all, but that's part of the job. So I wish -- I wish it was going to be able to be a win-win for everybody and, obviously, there is no way -- you know, they have come a long way with, you know, giving in to some of the concerns and trying to make it a better transition and a more comfortable environment and be better neighbors, but other than reducing, you know, to half of the homes I don't see how they really could actually meet all of the desires from all of the neighbors. Cavener: Mr. President? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 49 of 82 Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: My mic's off. I know that our public hearing is still open and I guess, you know, I got a question for Becky, if you'd be open to it. Becky, you're one of the most experienced people that comes to this type of work and I really respect your historical perspective, so I'm going to make an assumption that when a roundabout was first presented, like many of us up here, you probably questioned that and I'm just curious if you could share with us some of that historical knowledge about the intersection , why was it designed the way it was, why as a representative of the applicant if you were supportive of that. To me that would be really helpful. McKay: The way this would work -- whether it was a signalized intersection or whether it was a roundabout, the distance remains the same. Now, I had the traffic engineers with Six Mile, who are highly respected in the valley -- ACHD uses them -- evaluate it and they said, you know, it's outside the influence area of the roundabout, because I don't do anything that they don't recommend. If I -- and I always tell them, you know, look at -- look at our plan, let me know if you see any, you know, red flags. Now, what we could do is we could slant that approach, so that it's more like a slip lane where you just slip into it. That's what you have the Council approved at Jackson's on Eagle Road and Pine, because they had so much difficulty with people getting in and out, solely on Pine and they said for -- you know, it doesn't meet any policy standards of ITD, it doesn't meet any city standards, but for their viability as a store they needed that slip lane and they put it in there. My office is just off Pine. I have never seen an accident at the slip lane. Ever. It's never -- no one stops. They just -- basically that's why they slip in. So, we can angle that Radiant on the north side so that people -- it is angled they just slip in and there is no stopping and backing up through the roundabout. Now, where I see the problem in the roundabouts, to be honest with you, is people to become confused in the roundabout on are they the one to yield or they are not the one to yield and I have been confused before in Nampa and I almost got hit at the Pine roundabout, which ACHD says is not their preferred new design, because the speeds are too fast. A roundabout is intended, according to ACHD, to be -- you're supposed to slowly traverse it, not go through at 55 miles an hour and, you know, I -- I like signals. Signals, basically, are cheaper to design, cheaper to install, but I know the district has embraced the roundabouts, because cost, maintenance cost is so much less. They can't carry the same high volumes that signals do and there are appropriate places where they operate very well and there are places the district has admitted they are not appropriate. It's not my call. It's the highway district commissioners' call. Is this -- is this appropriate. But what they do -- they know that school is down on Amity, but there is going to be cross-traffic coming from Taconic. So, pedestrian safety is going to have to be number one issue in the functionality and the design of this. So, you know, I have been doing this for 20 -- I'm going on 27 years and I wouldn't bring something before you that would endanger children . I have lived here in Idaho my whole life and I have had three kids in the Meridian School District that grew up and my daughter is an elementary teacher in Middleton and -- and if I wasn't confident that this could operate safely I would not bring it before you. Thank you. Bird: Thank you. Any other questions? What's your pleasure, Council? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 50 of 82 Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: Becky, I do have one question for you. Sorry. Bird: We are going to make you get your exercise. Borton: Yeah. With that experience I got to ask and it's -- it's never necessarily wise to try and talk design at this late, late, late stage, but talk to me about when and if there was a consideration of making -- instead of Radiant those, two accesses onto Taconic, having it a long J cul-de-sac with requesting a waiver on block length or a cul-de-sac length, so you would come in on the full access into those patio homes and it J around to a cul-de- sac, so there would be a single access point in and out, understanding there may be a waiver to policy to accommodate such a design. And just to eliminate the right-in, right- outs. McKay: Yeah. The only problem with that is in working with Scott Fulcher, who owns that outparcel there, I worked with him on transitional lot sizes to make that lot bigger and, then, giving him access. We have got gravity irrigation. A well over there. A pump station. I mean there -- you know, there are -- Borton: Mr. President? McKay: Yeah. Borton: And again I -- McKay: You guys allow 450 feet in cul-de-sac length, which isn't -- Borton: Without -- without granting a waiver to that requirement under -- McKay: Oh, I don't believe you can grant a -- you had -- the Council can't grant a waiver to maximum cul-de-sac length. Bird: No. McKay: I believe it says shall. No culdesac shall exceed 450 feet in length measured from center to center. Bird: For safety. Anything else, Mr. Borton? McKay: But I mean you -- I mean you find situations like this throughout the valley. You know, right-in, right-outs used to be at 220, so you have them all over Ada county at 220. I am at 210. And a lot of those are on a major arterial intersection. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 51 of 82 Borton: Mr. President? You made the comment of slip lane -- McKay: Yes. Borton: -- which I understand what that means with regards to the Jackson's on Eagle and how would that be accounted for here? McKay: Okay. So -- so, the Radiant is perpendicular to Taconic, so instead of making it perpendicular, we slant it so that traffic that goes right into Radiant does not have to slow down -- does not have to stop and turn, so it doesn't create any delays. That's what a -- that's what a slip lane does. Over at Two Rivers they restricted their accesses to right-in, right-out and so they -- they have got them now so they are angled so they -- they don't slow traffic down on Eagle Road, which is going 55 and that's a state highway and, then, it angles in and it doesn't slow or stack. So, I think -- you know, the purpose here -- I guess you may be looking at the roundabout like people are whipping in through 55 miles an hour. They are designed with those channelers, so you can't do that at 55 miles an hour, that you have got to go through them. I don't know what the design speed is, maybe Justin -- you know. But I know they want that traffic to be like 30 , 35 miles an hour as it goes around and, you know, as -- as we build these the highway district's in a learning mode, they use them all over -- I mean all over the world and, you know, they are embracing them and every time they build one they get better and better and, like I said, we can design, you know, that to be at an angle, so all you -- you can just slip right in. I don't see that this is -- like I said, you have got them all over town at 220 feet or less. ITD used to allow them at 50 -- we could have an approach at 50 feet. That's what happened to Fairview. Borton: Okay. McKay: That was not good. Borton: That's helpful. Thank you, Becky. McKay: Thank you. Bird: Thank you, Becky. Anything else, Council? Cavener: Yes, Mr. Bird. Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Justin, question for you if you would, please. My question as you're walking up here is -- I can't think of a situation in Meridian that we have got a roundabout that is also providing access into a neighborhood. Just hoping if you could direct me towards anywhere in Ada county or Canyon county if you can recall a spot where you're using a roundabout to gain access into a -- a neighborhood. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 52 of 82 Lucas: President Bird, Councilman Cavener, for the record Justin Lucas representing Ada County Highway District. Off the top of my head I don't know if -- if we have a roundabout in Meridian that provides access to a neighborhood off of an arterial street. The plan is to do more of them. That's certainly our -- the direction the Commission is headed. This is -- obviously there is a roundabout -- an existing one just north of this location at Eagle and Amity. That roundabout is proposed to be widened to two lanes as part of the Albertson's project, so this is not the only roundabout in this area and people are certainly learning how to operate within roundabouts in this area and one thing about roundabouts is they do work well in a circuit or line where you use consecutive roundabouts, because people become familiar with the movements and if they are consecutive, then, they are used to doing those movements as they go down a corridor. That being said, to answer your specific question, I -- there may be one, I just -- it's not coming to my head right now. Cavener: I asked kind of a follow-up question -- Lucas: No problem. Cavener: -- but it sparked conversation. Thanks, Justin. Lucas: Thank you. Bird: Council? Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I don't know if staff had any comments, questions, or concerns with regards to comments on a -- if that's what -- lane adjustment assists in any fashion on safety concerns? Allen: President Bird, Councilmen, Councilman Borton, not necessarily, no. We are not traffic engineers. Borton: Okay. Just wanted to give you the chance to -- Allen: Thank you. Borton: -- provide input. Bird: Do I have a motion or something or are we going to sit here with a public hearing open for the rest of the night? Cavener: Mr. President, I will get this ball moving forward -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 53 of 82 Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: -- for everyone. Mr. President, I move we close the public hearing on Item 8- F. Palmer: Second. Bird: Got a motion to close the public hearing and a second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Bird: Okay. Cavener: Question I guess. Mr. President. Sorry. Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: I think probably for Mr. Nary or maybe even Sonya or Bill. I have got some changes maybe that I will want to include in my motion potentially. My biggest concern is about this -- this access piece and I need some clarification from staff about our ability to seek further guidance from the highway district on that particular access point. I recognize that ACHD has already rendered a decision on this, but it's -- I guess respectfully it's one that I disagree with. I'm just curious if someone can give me a little bit of insight as to what, if any, course of action I could make in my motion to take that piece into consideration. Nary: Mr. President? Oh, go ahead. Bird: Mr. Cavener, we got -- staff. Parsons: Mr. President, Members of the Council, as Justin stated, I mean typically ACHD has made their decision and they approved it as it's shown to you tonight. If you need further clarification on that or justification from -- why they think it's safer, it's certainly within your purview. You're the land use authority to ask for some of those things. What we don't want to happen is our Council and ACHD not coming together on a project. That's kind of -- that's where we are at this point. So, certainly it's your prerogative. You're here making the land use decision, so if you need further clarification maybe have Justin come up and ask him to go back to the Commission and see what can be done or have Justin come up and see if there is anything else the staff there or their commission can do. Nary: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Nary. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 54 of 82 Nary: So, Mr. President, Members of the Council, Council Member Cavener, I guess you have a couple of options. So, if you're talking about just that one access concern or question in regards to Taconic and Radiant Way -- or Radiant Avenue, you have the -- you have the ability and discretion in the preliminary plat on what you would like this plat to look like and probably in the -- Chief Butterfield could correct me if I'm wrong -- my recollection is that a secondary access isn't required because of the number of lots it serves. I think a single access can be approved from the fire's perspective . You could -- you could recommend that that access on Radiant Avenue be an emergency access only. To change that, which I think the developer may want to do, they will have to work with the highway district to figure out another way to address it and maybe that slip lane would be the recommendation or maybe something else , but that's the only thing I can think of on the plat that you would adjust is that one access point being simply an emergency access only. We do have a few of those around town -- not a lot, but we have had a few of those as a secondary only and the one that comes to mind is Spurwing West. We have a service road access to the rear of that subdivision -- that's the only secondary access to that particular development and the rest of it goes through a main collector like this. Off the top of my head that's the best I can come up with, because I’m not an engineer either. Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Just I guess a comment for the rest of Council. I am not one who is supportive of denying a project because of my feelings of an access that's approved by ACHD. I'm one that believes wholeheartedly and supports staff level decisions and, again, I -- we rely so much on subject matter experts. I could see a scenario, though, in a staff member at ACHD may make a recommendation to the commission, maybe it's a busy agenda and they go along with it and in light of maybe further sunshine on this would say, hum, if given the opportunity to look at this again maybe we would have a different decision. I don't know. Again, I don't know where the rest of you are on this. I think that I have come to terms for the most part with this project, with some slight modifications, but that access piece to me is a -- is a glaring issue and one that if we don't address now is -- could be I think problematic in the very, very near future. Bird: Any other discussion? Hearing none -- Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: So, in response to that, Councilman Cavener, maybe an idea would be to have it reviewed and not specify how we think -- we, the nonsubject experts -- as opposed to us stating how we think it would be better -- ask for a review. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 55 of 82 Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: As much as I know that the applicant and the citizens that have been through this process would -- would love to see some closure on this particular issue, I think that's -- that's where -- at least where I am is that I -- I would be supportive of continuing this to give the highway district another opportunity to weigh in on this and if the response comes back, no, we stand by that, so be it, but -- and I guess just -- here is where it boils down to me and I think -- again, I have been a staunch supporter of roundabouts, but -- and when I hear that it gets better each time -- Eagle Road is not an experiment grounds where we -- we try and put something in that may be better down the road . If, indeed, a roundabout is the best course entering into a nei ghborhood there, okay, but I guess I really would like the highway district to -- to articulate that very clearly to us. Bird: Let me make a statement. How would you feel if the ACHD wanted to tell us how to do our land development? That's basically -- they -- they are our highway people that do the -- that have the experts down there and to my knowledge and to my thinking have done a very, very good job. Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Yeah. Cavener: I don't think this is something that our Council is doing on a regular basis. I think anyone in the valley would acknowledge that Eagle Road is a major transportation hub and we have a neighbor that's taking access off that and we have heard from ACHD this is a new process for them and one that we want to make sure -- again, we have heard it from many members of this board if we are going to do it we want to make sure it's done right. I think the highway district would be well within their purview if they were hearing from their constituents on a particular land use issue that they would ask us to review that and I think that, again, because we value the relationship with the highway district, we would be willing to do that. Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: So, is there any way, other than keeping this open and dragging this out longer , to stipulate that they review it and either re-approve it or change it -- I don't know. That's just -- I guess that would be a staff question. Because if we were to approve this tonight with a stipulation that ACHD needed to either re-approve this -- to review it and make sure that this is truly the safest, best avenue or if they decided, no, that maybe a light would be better, would -- could they, then, change it after the hearing if we close it? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 56 of 82 Allen: President Bird, Councilmen, Councilman Milam, we can certainly make that request to ACHD. I'm not sure if they have a mechanism or not to re-review a project after they have already had a hearing and a decision has been made. I'm getting the -- the head shake form Justin Lucas, ACHD, that, no, that's not the -- not the case. Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. -- Milam: Sorry. Bird: Justin, do you want to come up. Well, wait a minute. This is a public hearing. This is the consultant, so -- Lucas: Mr. President, I believe you closed the public hearing, but it's at your discretion, obviously, if you'd like me to provide further comment. Bird: Go ahead. Lucas: So, I understand that -- the Council's deliberations and I am sensitive to that. I - - what I can do is say that I'm not aware of a process we have at ACHD to review a quasi- judicial decision that they have already -- my commission has already made. They acted on a prelimary plat, much like you act on preliminary plats. There was a public hearing for this specific project. This was not all done at the staff level. Some projects are. They are approved only at the staff level. This specific project there was a public hearing with public testimony. Much of what you have heard tonight was shared with the ACHD commission and they acted after hearing that public testimony and considering all of the different things that have been brought up. That being said, I just wanted to clarify that I'm not aware of a process that I would be able to go back to my commission on and have them revisit an action that they have already taken. I believe the action they took were outside of the period in which -- as much as you have -- the period in which you can request reconsideration or appeal and that's the -- I think that's the only mechanism that they can revisit an action through a -- through a decision like this on a land use application. Bird: Thank you, Justin. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: If I understand the discussion right -- and procedurally the only option that would be available with a closed public hearing, if -- and I'm just describing procedure, not making a motion, but it would be with a closed public hearing to be tabled for a week or two, depending on when our next meeting is, for the applicant to bring back -- to request -- it's not a reconsideration necessarily from the ACHD commission, but perhaps a narrative discussion, invite ACHD to assist in that, perhaps the traffic engineer would -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 57 of 82 would be able to provide that narrative that addresses this specific issue with regards to the roundabout, the 210 feet and could give some comfort to where this situation exists elsewhere in the city or in the valley, how it works, perhaps from a more granular engineering perspective and that could come back and be presented and a decision could be made, if there is not a -- not a mechanism to have -- that I'm aware of -- that allows it to be reviewed and it doesn't sound like there is a request to ask ACHD to reconsider and change its decision, it's more with respect to the decision been made and the input they received, to understand how they got to that conclusion, so we can feel comfortable, the public can feel comfortable, we get it, we understand why in this context 210 feet is appropriate in light of all the circumstances -- I get it. I think that helps everybody and if a week or two allows that data to be provided -- not reopening the public hearing and rehashing everything, but having that input presented from the engineer and ACHD staff, a narrative might help. Nary: Mr. President? Bird: Waiting for a motion. Nary: Mr. President, I just had a question. Mr. President, I just had a question. Bird: Okay. Mr. Nary. Nary: Mr. President, Members of the Council, and Council Member Borton, I guess I'm - - I'm slightly confused, because I'm not certain what the concern is. Is the concern from the Council the roundabout itself? Because I believe the testimony was it's going to be constructed anyway. It's part of the Hillsdale project already. So, is the access onto Taconic -- we do have -- and it's one minor intersection in the city, but we do have an intersection at the railroad tracks on Linder that only allows a right-out only. So, there is no right-in there at the railroad tracks and it was because of access issues and things and a little bit more -- less the traffic in this. But, again, you have the discretion on the plat to determine -- and it doesn't have to be an emergency access only, but you can prohibit access in in that location if that's your desire and they could only exit out and make a right out, so that people that would want to exit and go to Eagle Road would always have to go Sapphire Way. So, I mean that's another option you could consider. I -- I just wasn't clear I guess when I asked the question before if the roundabout was the question or if just the access onto Radiant -- or from Radiant is -- because you can, again, make it simply a right-out only and, then, there is no one exiting -- a slip lane isn't necessary, any of that. Bird: Thanks, Mr. Nary. Any other -- any other thoughts or -- Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 58 of 82 Palmer: It seems like we are down to just this, that there is -- seems like there was fairly good consensus among the rest of us that we are -- well, I'm not going to speak for you, but that -- that we are down to this issue. I saw a whole bunch of head nodding as to the idea of a -- of a right-out only, as -- as Mr. Nary pointed out. I guess I don't know where I'm going. I don't want to be the one to make the motion, because there was a lot of other stuff in here that I might have missed out on on the -- the different waivers and whatnot and I saw Councilman Borton taking quick notes as Becky was going on about this. I'm hoping he would make the motion. But is there -- is there any other concerns -- assuming they are good with the -- the right-out only right there? Let Justin solve that issue. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: This is getting tied in a knot now. The comment on the right-out as being a solution I guess has me a bit puzzled. I'm not sure what Mr. Nary was -- just some of the concern -- if -- with that proximity the 210 feet and this discussion we have been going through forever is if you're trying to turn right out on Radiant to go west on Taconic, somebody coming off of Eagle Road -- at a slower rate of speed, is that too close? Is that a concern that there is not enough distance and there may be enough distance, but that's -- that's some of the dialogue. So, if it's right out only that doesn't alleviate the problem. Right-in only would prevent that left out on Radiant -- that may or may not be -- or may be a concern. The right-in only, precluding a right-out on Radiant. Make sense? That just gets in the weeds on this now. Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: I concede to ACHD and their expert engineers and the people that do this for a living and their commissioners. They went through this. I don't see why we are picking -- I mean whether it -- we don't get it or it's confusing, I just don't see why we are picking apart their work on the stuff that they do every single day -- that's what they do. They are here to keep our -- to make our roads and our streets and keep it safe. I'm -- I'm just uncomfortable with this whole discussion of -- because I don't have all the details. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I don't disagree, but I think it's this painful, nauseating grind is just because we care and this is an important opportunity and the applicant respects the fact that this -- this -- and the public, this grind we go through is to try and get it right and even though we are disconnected agencies, we really do have blended concerns and this is just one of those areas where this is -- kind of makes it rise to the top. Having said that, I -- I agree with you as well and I am -- I am comfortable -- we rely on -- on that agency to provide Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 59 of 82 that expertise and analysis and the applicant and the applicant 's engineer has done so as well and -- and the narrative, as painful as it might be, is helpful to gain comfort when a project like this goes forward that we can articulate why it's in the end appropriate to bring into Meridian. So, I love these gritty details. Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: I'm not -- I guess I did say I don't like having the conversation . I do like having the conversation. What I don't feel comfortable with is making changes to what a professional did and they know how it should -- how it should be. I don't. I am not an expert. I have never built a road. And I feel very uncomfortable making changes to something they did. I guess that defines it a little bit better. Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: It's sad how many times I have to start off my motions with, okay, let's try this. But before I do, I did have a question for Mr. Nary. Becky mentioned that -- in one of the -- the requests for approval that -- I think it would at least be called late comers fees or something. Is there -- is there any way to build into a -- the agreement or the motion or whatnot that should the code ever change that it be retroactive and apply to this project or is that something we need to just stay away from? Nary: Mr. President, Members of Council, Council Member Palmer, so -- and I don't know the state of that particular issue at the moment. I don't know where that is. What we did previously is when we had -- we put the last -- the current one in place, we picked a date as to when it would be reflective back to . So, that was the discussion at the time and if you recall one of those projects predates this one that we have discussed changing that reimbursement ordinance for. So, it's more awkward to put into a contract that we are going to apply a future ordinance that doesn't exist yet. It would probably be more -- probably would be better to simply have the discussion when and if that comes in front of you. They know it currently isn't eligible, but it could be and that would be the discussion when that ordinance comes in place, so we would just set the date back to somewhere that would incorporate some of these and that would be the Council's discretion. Palmer: Mr. President? Thanks, Mr. Nary. That makes sense. Then I have got a question for Sonya. As she was going through her list of waiver requests on the different things there, was there anything that staff objects to? Allen: President Bird, Councilman, 1.1.1B, what you were just talking about, I think we have addressed that. The only thing I was unsure about is 1.1.2N and the statement that the easement for the Beasley lateral that it looks like flows into the Ten Mile Creek. Overflows. Will remain, since it's rare that the Boise Project Board of Control relinquishes Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 60 of 82 easements. She's requesting the Council allow the easement to be located within the building lots. We may need to have that vacated. I believe that was platted -- or shown on a -- on a recorded plat for Blackrock, so that may need to be vacated in the manner before City Council. The rest of that condition looks fine, if you guys choose to approve the easements to be located in the building lots. Nary: And, Mr. President, I would make note that on the letter that's dated from the applicant of August 17th, those particular ones I think she identified there. Actually, it's supposed to be 1.1.2G and 1.1.2M. Bird: Does that answer your question, Mr. Palmer? Palmer: Mr. President, to a point. I'm sure it answered the question. What exactly that all means I can't be positive. Allen: President Bird, Councilman Palmer, if -- if we could leave a little wiggle -- wiggle room in that and we can check that out with the Ada county surveyor and just make sure what process -- or if there is a process to vacate and that could be reflected in the condition. Palmer: Now we need a lawyer to make the motion. Or to write it up for me. Borton: You will get through it. Bird: You will do fine. Palmer: All right. Then here we go. Mr. President, I move we approve H-2017-0068 with the -- the waivers that were requested, with the exception of 1.1.B and, then, with 1.1.2G and N -- how do I word this? You say wiggle room. Bird: Is that it? We got a second? Palmer: Well, sure. To be worked out with staff. I see head nods. Borton: Yeah. Bird: Have we got a second to that motion? Little Roberts: Second. Bird: Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 61 of 82 Cavener: A question actually for staff. I think condition 1.1.E about construction of the pool at -- I think they are requesting the hundredth permit being issued? Is that what I heard? Bird: Yeah. Cavener: As opposed to what was requested of them last week was when move into that -- a phase, was that -- what was that from them last week? It said a question mark from last week. Allen: President Bird, may I respond? Councilmen? I was a little unsure, honestly, what the applicant meant by with phase three of the development or after the one hundredth residential lot. The intent, I believe, was that it be constructed with phase three of development. I would maybe just end it there. Bird: What's your pleasure? Allen: There are two conditions that that affects. 1.1.1E and 1.1.10. Palmer: So moved. Bird: So moved. Second agree? Little Roberts: Yes. Bird: Okay. Any other discussion? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: I have a policy that if I’m going to be voting no against a motion that I at least articulate the reason why. I think I have done a decent job of sharing how much I appreciate this project. I just have significant concerns about the access and while we don't necessarily have the maker to address this, it's not something I could be supportive at this time. Bird: Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Clerk. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, nay; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE NAY. G. Public Hearing Continued from July 25, 2017 for Linder and Overland Apartments (H-2017-0093) by Wolff Enterprises II, Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 62 of 82 LLC Located south side of W. Overland Road, Approximately 1/4 Mile West of S. Linder Road 1. Request: Modification to the Existing Development Agreement to Remove the Subject Property from the Agreement and Execute a New Development Agreement Solely for the Subject Property Bird: Thank you. Thank everybody that -- you're very respectful. Appreciate it. Item G. Public hearing continued from July 25th for Linder and Overland Apartments. H -2017- 0093. Which staff? Bill? Parsons: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of th e Council, as you mentioned this item was continued from the July 25th hearing. I'm just going to get you oriented to where the property is located and that's the first part of my presentation and, then, share with you what's changed since the previous hearing. So, as you mentioned, this is a development agreement to change the concept plan for the site from an assisted living facility, independent care facility, to a 336 multi-family development. The site is located on the south side of West Overland Road, west of South Linder Road, and consists of 19.5 acres of land and is currently zoned TN-C within the city. In 2012 there was a development agreement modification that tied a new concept plan to this particular property and you can see here in your graphic what -- the area that we are talking about here. So, if you can see my cursor here, this is the 19.5 acres that's currently zoned. This is the master concept plan for the overall development. So, all that we are really talking about tonight is the 19 and a half acre site and as I mentioned to you, the DA modification is to tie a new concept plan for 336 units and consists of 14 three story apartment buildings and a 9,000 square foot club house. This item was continued for primarily three reasons. The first was, one, the aesthetics of the development. So, what was the site going to look like, how was the architecture going to comply with the code. Two -- and the other one was incorporating the ACHD retention ponds within the landsc aping on the site and the third one was to see if there was adequate capacity to allow the additional increase in the number of residential units. As I presented to you at the hearing last time, this site, again, is tied to that concept plan that I showed you previously and this is capped at 250 units. Again, the applicant is here to discuss 336. So, prior to tonight's hearing the applicant did provide a 15 page document to you to kind of give you more of a comfort as to what you are looking at and what you're approving to. I would mention to Council that this is a DA modification. Although the zoning does allow this as a principally permitted use, this concept plan and this contract that's currently on this particular property, is subject to your discretion. So, if this is not approved tonight, that concept plan that I previously shows you will remain on that property and this project cannot move forward unless this DA modification is approved. So, I did want to make that very clear to you as we deliberate -- as you deliberate on this project this evening. So, again, the applicant went back to the drawing board and they made some modifications to their elevations and also provided some conceptual renderings for you to take under advisement tonight . So, again, you can see here a lot of landscaping. The architecture has changed substantially from what you saw previously. You have more of a mix of materials on the building, so you can see Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 63 of 82 there is a mix of balconies and they also broke up the roof lines, which is in better alignment with the architectural standards manual. What I also want to show you that some of these are other additional renderings as well that you should take under consideration. So, if I could quickly get to the DA provisions that -- that was shared with you at the previous hearing -- a couple things to touch bases on. So, right now as we have -- currently have it written -- I think it was one of the recommendations from our City Council that the color rendering be included as part of the DA. So, certainly -- and my recommended change this evening is that these renderings that I'm sharing with you this evening we certainly want to -- if it's -- if it's your desire to include those as exhibits in the DA -- as I mentioned to you the applicant -- both the applicant and staff contacted ACHD about incorporating the ACHD retention ponds. Confirmation has been received from ACHD that they, in fact, can be included as part of the development through a license agreement. So, the applicant will have to work with both city and ACHD, execute a license agreement, and those ponds can be landscaped, the aerators in there added as a water amenity and add -- and included as part of their open space as per your request and so I am proposing that we do modify DA provision number five to reflect that. I think that was some of the concern that came from Council is -- well, what if ACHD does not allow it, do they still meet the open space and the site amenity requirements. With that clarification it looks like they still can, so now that we know they can incorporate it, we want to make sure that they do incorporate it and I think tying in that r endering, as I suggested in DA provision one, does that. And, then, on the last DA provision number six, what I wanted to also share with the Council is the applicant actually did submit CAD drawings to our Public Works Department. They actually modeled the proposed development with the 336 units and they did confirm that we do have adequate sewer and water capacity to add the increase in residential units. Touching on one last item. Staff did deceive additional written testimony on this particular project from a Nancy Szofran and she was concerned with the number of residential units -- multi-family developments that are occurring in this area, so she wanted to have -- urge you on caution on that and so with that -- with the proposed changes that I am showing you this evening to the DA provision, staff is still recommending approval and I will stand for any questions you may have. Bird: Any questions for Bill? Is the applicant here? State your name and address, please, Tamara. Thompson: President Bird, Members of the City Council, my name is Tamara Thompson with The Land Group, 462 East Shore Drive in Eagle. We feel we stubbed our toe a bit back in July and we appreciate the opportunity to come back before you and provide a more complete picture with more clarity regarding the project. We are here to request approval of a new development agreement. The project -- I will briefly just touch -- Bill -- Bill talked about it. The project is 19.5 acres, zoned TN-C. The proposed development consists of 336 units, which are three story apartments. In the TN-C zone apartments are a principally permitted use. With me tonight is Greg Van Patten with Wolff Companies. He will give you a brief overview of the Wolff Companies as soon as I am complete and, then, Dane Knudsen with Katerra is the architect and he wants to present to you some of the further refinement that they have gone through on the architectural drawings. Jason Densmer from The Land Group is also here as well should you have Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 64 of 82 any technical engineering questions. There is a long and convoluted history of ownership groups and proposed development plans in the South Ridge area and on this parcel. The proposed project complies with the city Comprehensive Plan, the Ten Mile specific plan and the TN-C zoning designation. The TN-C zone and the mixed use commercial designations provide a wide range of uses with residential densities up to 40 units per acre. What we are -- our proposal is 17.2 units per acre. The proposed project complies and aligns with the Comprehensive Plan and the specific zoning designation. So, when we were here before in July we talked -- you had some questions that we couldn't answer. Some Bill has touched on here. So, the specific items you requested Public Works -- Bruce Freckleton, who is sitting in the audience, has confirmed that there is adequate water and sewer capacity to serve the project. One of the items that was brought up that Bill didn't mention is the schools and we did contact Joe Yocum , the assistant superintendent with the West Ada School District. He's aware of this and other projects in the area and has confirmed that the school district is actively planning for the growth . There is a future Blue Valley School site that the site -- the land is currently owned by the school district and it's a tenth of a mile to the east. There is a future Grove High School, which is two and a half miles away at Ten Mile and Amity and the school district owns that property as well and, then, there is the newly constructed Victory Middle School, which was built in 2016, which is approximately three quarters of a mile away. So, he did confirm that they are actively planning for the -- the growth in the area. And, lastly, was traffic. ACHD has provided confirmation that the project does not require at traffic study and Christy Little confirmed for us that given the preliminary information that she has that there are no offsite traffic concerns. ACHD has confirmed that the ponds can be landscaped and aerated and our intent is for the ponds to be amenities in the project. And with that I will let Greg Van Patten give you an overview of the Wolff Companies. Bird: State your name and address for the record. Van Patten: Greg Van Patten with the Wolff Company. Seattle, Washington. Good evening, Mr. President, Members of the Council. Again, my name is Greg Van Patten, I'm with the Wolff Company. We are the applicant and I think admittedly probably could have done a better job last time telling you a little bit about who we are and what our company's history is. So, you can see on the slide right now we are a fully integrated real estate development company. We are focused on multi-family and senior housing communities. Have been around since 1949. Founded by Alvin Wolff in Spokane. So, deep roots in Spokane. The company is now headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, but we have regional offices in Spokane, Seattle, the southwest. Denver. Northern and southern California, et cetera. So, it's a third generation family company started in 1949 and it's actually now led by four of the grandsons. So, they all kind of returned to the family business and we are going strong. So, between 2000 and today we have invested in more than 120 communities and 30,000 apartment units and you can see that the states that we are active in. The eastern state's actually are more in the acquisition side. We have really focused our development efforts on the western states that you see there. And we are -- we have about 127 -- I think we are maybe closer to 130 strong in terms of the head count in the firm. We actually also have some history here in the Treasure Valley. We have been involved in I believe six properties over the years. Most recently, Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 65 of 82 actually, we have a senior housing community that we are doing in Eagle. It's about 150 units and we just started construction in June . So, we are -- we are excited to be there and excited to be here in Meridian as well. So, I just thought I'd quickly show you some images of some other kind of similar type of properties. This one is called Bailey Farm. It's Bothell, Washington, which is a north Seattle suburb. Some photos of the clubhouse there and the amenity spaces, as well as the residential buildings. Next is one in Missoula, Montana, called Mullen Reserve and you can see, actually, some similar aesthetics in the clubhouse on both of these to what we are proposing here in Meridian. And, then, lastly, we have another one here in Santa Rosa, California, called Annadell. That one is a slightly more contemporary aesthetic with the residential buildings, but some similarities with the clubhouse as well. So, I think with that I will hand this off to Dane Knudsen, who is our project architect, who will tell you just a little bit about some of the highlights, the modifications that we are making to the design, so -- thank you. Knudsen: All righty. Dane Knudsen with the Katerra Spokane. Located at 502 West Riverside, Suite 200, Spokane, Washington. Mr. President and Members of the Council, thanks for taking the time here. Yeah. First off I just wanted to express kind of where we are at in the process here. We are working with Bill Parsons and -- and more or less the regulations set forth by the City of Meridian architectural standards. So, with that we are going to continue to develop these -- these images and these building elevations in accordance with what we are required to do. So, these are our conceptual images, so they -- they are a work in progress, but I thought I would take the time to at least show some of the elements that we have been modifying in here. So, with the pointer here, if I am able to. All righty. Go back one. Here we go. All right. Let's start mainly with the -- gosh, the ponds here. I mean that was, obviously, one of the big -- the big topics last time and really what we are doing in terms of the pond landscaping. So, here really working with The Land Group and our landscape architect on this one to provide a really attractive pond setting here with grasses and aerators and fountains on all -- which were all a big comment from last time. Here we are showing just some conceptual -- conceptual images of some landscaping and split rail fencing around some of the ponds. So, these are, obviously, big discussions that we have been having with the landscape architect and ourselves on how we really design this site. So, working into the -- the residential buildings, which was definitely a few of your guys' comments last time, kind of hear it loud and clear, that we are -- we are taking more of a rustic approach in a sense here , really taking a look at modulation and articulation within the buildings, really creating a sense of the base element on these buildings, as well as providing a tectonic approach with really kind of showing the -- the structure on these balconies and with that being said they are larger balconies in accordance with the City of Meridian residential standards, so -- so, these are a lot of the comments that we have been working through and modifying. So, hopefully, they are more well received and, again, they are -- they are conceptual and we will continue work on them. Let's go to the next one here. This is just a view, really, of the site amenities giving a little bit better scale with kind of a building in the backdrop to really show that this -- this central amenity node within -- within the project is really kind of a hub and a lot of internet connecting walkways between the site for pedestrian movement. So, that's an important piece, of course. And, then, here is -- as well as the Overland aerial view showing kind of the ponds, which a lot of these other ones you're Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 66 of 82 not -- you can't really see this pond in the back and so, really, taking a look at all these ponds and really landscaping them and providing, like I said, aeration and -- and fountains in them. So, with that being said let's jump into the landscape plan. I just want to talk briefly about a few of the site amenities that we are -- that we are proposing for this site. One topic that was brought up last time was the fact of a tot lot and, actually, I think we are showing a proposed location, more or less here closer to the clubhouse. There was a few issues about ponds adjacency and whatnot, but we decided to move it a little bit further away down -- kind of tucked back in this corner here and, then, we also have a few covered barbecue areas and gazebos and whatnot for breakout spaces for the residents and kind of intermittent nodes without the site -- throughout the site. We do have a dog run area that we are -- that we are planning and there is a few things kind of in question right now more or less on potential sand volleyball courts and Bocce. So, obviously, all these things are conceptual or moving through that process right now, so - - with that being said, I will leave -- I will leave that open and thank you very much for your time. Bird: Thank you. Thompson: So, with that we will wrap up our presentation and we thank you again for the opportunity to provide a more complete picture. We are requesting to be removed from the previous development agreement and to have a new development on the property and just to summarize, we comply with the comp plan, the Ten Mile specific plan, the TN- C zoning, ACHD has conformed no traffic study is required. The ponds can be landscaped and aerated. Public Works has confirmed water and sewer capacity. We have reviewed the revised conditions of approval that Bill put up and we agree with staff's analysis and those conditions as modified and we look forward to working with staff on the CZC and the design review applications and we respectfully request your approval tonight. Thank you. Bird: Any questions for the applicant? Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: Tamara, I do like the ponds. Are there -- I don't see any covered parking. Is here no covered parking in this entire development or am I just missing it? Thompson: Yes. Sorry. It doesn't pop really well, but, Council Woman Milam, it is -- Milam. Milam. An I sound. Is this not working? It's the darker color that you see on here. Are you on the mouse or am I? You are. Okay. I was trying to move it. So, where the parking stalls are there is the darker -- I'm sorry -- it's the lighter -- the lighter color parking stalls is -- are covered. Milam: I thought it seemed pretty odd, but -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 67 of 82 Thompson: No. We do comply with the -- yeah, they just -- they don't pop as well as they could. Knudsen: Yeah. The darker -- the darker areas as shown here are covered garages and, then, the lighter -- the actual lighter ones are covered carports. Bird: Carports. Thompson: Yeah. So, those are -- yeah. Those are actually garages. Bird: Thank you. Any other questions? Thompson: Thank you. Bird: Okay. Thanks, Tamara. This is a public hearing. Do we have any sign-ups? Coles: We did, Mr. President. We had one Adam Braden signed up against the project wishing to testify. Bird: Please state your name and address. Braden: Yes. My name is Adam Braden. 1683 West Woodington. President Bird and Council Members, I'm a member of the Southridge Subdivision and the first time I heard about this apartment complex, as well as another complex going up on the northwest corner of Overland and Linder, was at an HOA meeting on August 4th. As I'm the only one from my neighborhood here, I thought I would kind of voice not only my concerns, but the concerns of those that I spoke with as well. So, the applicant did mention regarding schools that the school district is looking into it and I'm wondering if they have looked into adequate fire, police, and emergency coverage for that area. Due to the growth of Meridian in the past ten years it's nearly double and looking around Meridian there is not a lot of apartment complexes. You know, this is -- this type of development is something new to the City of Meridian and we have experienced such amazing growth in the past ten years without throwing in massive subdivisions and such as this one and some -- those are some of the concerns -- you know just the mass quantity of people in this relatively small area, whereas the subdivision of Southridge, you know, they are single family dwellings. We had a little more space, yards, and here we are -- we are going to basically be adding twice the number of people in this area and so those are some of the concerns that we had . Also some of my neighbors expressed concerns regarding pricing -- you know, type of pricing for these, whether it's going to be lower income or higher end income, as well as whether or not they would have sufficient parking, because we didn't want people parking all long Spanish Fork Way or going into American Fork Drive. Thank you. Bird: Any questions? Thank you very much. No others? Is there anybody that would like to testify? Tamara, do you want to have your last say? Restate your name and address, please. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 68 of 82 Knudsen: Dane Knudsen with Katerra, Spokane, Washington. 502 West Riverside, Suite 200. In -- I can definitely talk about the parking -- or, Mr. President, Members of the Council, I can definitely touch on the parking requirements here. So, we -- we definitely hit over our parking -- over the parking that is actually required for this site by at least -- by at least a few stalls there, so -- and the parking ratio -- and, Bill, I don't know if we can -- if you're able to touch on that, as well as on the -- what we provided and the required is. I know that we are matching -- we discussed this last time really about the worry about overflow parking and into the -- the adjacent neighboring sites, so -- is that something you're able to touch on as well, Bill? Bird: Mr. Parsons? Parsons: Mr. President, Members of the Council, I don't have the actual parking total for you on this particular project, but what I can tell you its parking ratio is based on the number of bedroom units. So, if you had a one bedroom unit, you provide one and a half parking stalls per those units. If you have a two bedroom unit -- two and three bedroom units require a minimum of two parking stalls and, then, half the site has to be covered parking and, then, the clubhouse is subject to its own parking standards, because it's considered a commercial structure, so it's one parking stall per every 500 gross floor area of the building. So, there is going to have to be some substantial parking. But, again, this is a concept plan. The applicant will have to go through that -- if the DA modification is approved the applicant will have to go through the certificate of zoning compliance process and they will have to at least meet the minimum requirements. I would mention to Council that the last couple of hearings that the conditional use perm it that we took before them, they -- they -- that body, they were very concerned with the amount of parking we were getting with our multi-family standards, so they did impose a little bit higher parking standard than what our bare minimum code requirement s are. So, just FYI on that for -- for Council tonight. Knudsen: One thing also to add if I could. The fact that we do have so much open space that was one thing that was really highly sought after that as you can see on this site, our density is lower than what we really are required, so we do have that opportunity to increase that parking, if that is really something that is absolutely desired with the amount of open space that we have provided, so -- Bird: Any questions? Tamara? Thompson: Mr. President, Members of the Council, Tamara Thompson again. I just wanted to touch on a couple other points. The price point -- this is not low income, this will be market rates, so the market will dictate that. The -- there is an on site management company that will -- hopefully has got parking and especially with the garages to make sure that those garages are being used for parking and not for storage units. And as far as emergency services, when we had our preapplication meeting with the Planning Department, the Fire Department was there and they did not have any concerns that they voiced, so with that I will stand for questions and -- Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 69 of 82 Bird: Any questions? Thompson: -- appreciate your time tonight. Bird: Thank you. Thompson: All right. Thank you. Bird: Thank you, Tamara. Council, what's your pleasure? Palmer: Mr. President? Just -- Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: -- to go into more detail to answer your question about fire and police with the budget that we approved earlier in the meeting, we approved several new hires for the police and we are building a fire station awfully close to this property that will have quite -- quite a bit better coverage. I mean we got great coverage now, but it will -- it will be there in seconds if needed. Bird: Any other -- need to close the public hearing if it's -- Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: Move that we close the public hearing on Item G, H-2017-0093. Cavener: Second. Bird: Got a motion to close the public hearing and a second. All in favor say aye. Public hearing is closed. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Borton: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Borton. Borton: I appreciate the second look, second chance, additional information on this application. I would move that we approve Item G, H-2017-0093 to include staff and applicant comments. In particular including the newest renderings as an exhibit as requested by staff and the proposed development agreement provisions that are displayed before us. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 70 of 82 Cavener: Second. Bird: Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: So, I appreciate the second chance as well and I love the ponds. They are actually my favorite part of this design right now, but I like the original DA much better. This looks like workforce housing to me from the sky view, so I'm not -- I'm not in favor of this project. Bird: Any other discussion? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Just a comment. I live over in this area and, you know, many times nobody from the public will ever come and say put apartments here, apartment always make sense here. Apartments always make sense someplace else. And when you look at the thought put in from ACHD, with the space on that road and the connection to Ten Mile, I think this is an appropriate use for this space. I somewhat do share Council Woman Milam's concerns about the esthetics of the facility, but clearly in the examples that the applicant has shown us they have been able to design something that appeals to a -- a certain marketplace and I have no doubt, due to the sheer demand that we have for short- term housing and apartments in this area, this will be a very successful development. Bird: Any other discussion? Palmer: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Palmer. Palmer: The last rendering looked like Army barracks to me, but these look -- I think they look awesome. I mean we have so many apartments like the ones just down the street that all look exactly the same. Four story. Stairwell. That look identical. These look so different that it's refreshing to me and all the articulation colors and different materials used, I think they look great. But I'm just a millennial. We really don't know what we are talking about. Milam: Mr. President? Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 71 of 82 Milam: So, if this is -- it's probably going to pass without me, I would urge the applicant to put in -- think of -- consider putting in two play structures. The swimming pool is great for the summertime, but we have a lot of cold weather here and 336 homes, one little plat structure, you know, and if you have got kids and most of those -- I don't think that's really sufficient as an amenity for that many kids. We have 80 homes in my subdivision and we have got, you know, a play structure, so -- thank you. Bird: Mr. Clerk, would you call roll. Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, nay; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE NAY. H. Public Hearing for 2 1/2 Street Townhomes (H-2017-0066) by Broadbent Properties Located South of E. Franklin on the West Side of 2 1/2 Street 1. Request: Rezone of 3.07 Acres of Land from the C-C and R- 15 Zoning District to the O-T Zoning District 2. Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of Fifty-One (51) Residential Lots and Seven (7) Common Lots on 2.571 Acres of Land in the Proposed O-T Zoning District Bird: Next item. Item H, H-2017-0066. I will open the public hearing and have staff comment. Is that you, Josh? Okay. Beach: Mr. President, Members of the Council, as you said, this is the 2 1/2 Street townhome project. It's an application for a rezone and for a preliminary plat. This site consists of approximately 3.07 acres of land. It's currently zoned both C-C and R-15, located south of East Fairview Avenue on the west side of 2 1/2 Street. Not much history on this property. There is some existing single family homes there. Some have been demolished, some that are existing and will be -- will be removed from the property. The applicant has applied to rezone the property from both C-C and R-15 to the -- to Meridian's Old Town zoning district. The proposed plat, as proposed by the applicant, currently consists of 50 building lots and seven common lots on approximately 2.571 acres of land in the Old Town zoning district. The gross density for the subdivision is 18.28 dwelling units per acre, with a net density of 25.36 dwelling units per acre and an average lot size of 1,055 square feet and the access is proposed for the site via two access points, both from 2 1/2 Street. The applicant is proposing private streets throughout the development. The applicant is proposing to develop this project in two phases. The layout of the phasing plan depends on availability of utilities for the project. Part of the concern -- and the reason this was continued once at the Planning and Zoning Commission was to discuss parking for the project, understanding that this is downtown. It's in our Old Town zoning district -- or will be upon hypothetical approval this evening. So, the idea is to Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 72 of 82 have somewhat walkable, bikeable area downtown. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that they add some additional parking there. There were nine stalls originally proposed, in addition to the two stalls that will be in the garages. They are not proposing driveways or two stalls on a driveway as we typically get with single family homes, but they have provided 20 parking stalls on site to accommodate any overflow or visitor parking. The landscape plan submitted with the application for the area proposed to be platted -- landscaping for this project is not required. However, the applicant has provided approximately .71 of an acre in qualified open spaces. This area includes the MEW lot and an area with a tot lot and internal pathways. You can see the tot lot down here in the bottom right corner. The applicant was -- staff requested the applicant beef up the amenities a little bit to provide some sort of an amenity for the development and they were willing to do that . Moving on to the landscape plan. As you can see, the landscape plan -- they have provided quite a bit of landscaping internal, as well as around the -- the tot lot there on the plan to the right there. These are the proposed elevations. Building -- has submitted some conceptual sample of building elevations for future homes within the development. Building materials consists of board and batten, asphalt shingles and fiber cement siding. A certificate of zoning compliance and design review application are required to be submitted for this application prior to building permits being obtained. Commission did recommend approval of the project. A summary of Commission public hearing. The applicant, Mr. Belcherr was in favor. Commenting were Michael B. Morrison and William Gardoski. Written testimony was received by Dan Basalone. I was the staff presenting the application. Mr. Bill Parsons also commented on the application. Key issues of public testimony were the lack of parking and increased traffic through downtown. Key issues a discussion by the Commission were, again, parking and the density. Commission did not make any changes to staff's recommendation and there were no outstanding issues for City Council to review. There were no additional -- no additional testimony was received after the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. With that I will stand for any questions you have. Bird: Council, any questions for Josh at this time? Okay. Is the applicant here? Please state your name and address. Truax: President Bird, Council, Bill Truax. 2832 South Portside, Boise, Idaho. 83706. Appreciate your time tonight hearing this. This project I believe is a -- one of the game changing sorts of deals that I like to work on. The development after some consideration and discussion with staff has been modified. I think parking was one of the initial concerns that we had when we were designing it, though I think I placed less emphasis on the parking than some of the individuals that reside in the area. So, you know, after discussion in public hearing we came back and reinterpreted the plan to address those concerns. I, when approaching this project, think about what it would be like to live there. I think about what it would be like to live in the neighborhood and I think about what that neighborhood should be like, you know, years from now, not just today, tomorrow when we are -- when we are done developing the project and livability is a huge thing . I'd like to work every day -- every day I can, except when I'm driving out to Meridian, but we are -- we are part of the culture that -- that buys this type of product and that's why I love developing this type of product. I am not a huge fan of big parking lots. We put them in Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 73 of 82 -- developed many, many apartment projects, put down a lot of asphalt over time , and it doesn't get utilized and what I think that we are looking for specifically is places that have locational amenities, something that may not appear to be that fantastic when you 're looking at it, but that over time is and I think will develop into that and I think that's what Old Town really needs. It needs people, of which I hope I am a small minority -- hopefully you get better people than me, but I think you need people like that. We are not asking for a huge swath of the demographic of Meridian to all of a sudden become buyers into this community, we are looking for 50 families, whether they are small families or whether they are couples or whether they are folks in aging and downsizing who are looking to be part of a vibrant community that has some walkable community space. It's not a huge segment of the population, but I think will make a fantastic addition to the economic viability of every shop downtown in Old Town. There is a lot of stuff on Eagle. I'm not going to do those projects. I have looked at them, they are fantastic for someone else. For me I like the downtown core. They are a little harrier, they are a little dirtier, the site has a lot of history and people have tried to do it, it was not done. We hope that this time around it is done and I think that what we are promoting is walkable , bikable, you know, it's less than a half mile to the elementary school. That's awesome. Cole Valley Christian is right down the street, if you're in that school. Middle school. Not far away. Boys and Girls Club. Close by. I mean you don't really think of those as amenities unless you have to work and, then, you have to drop your kids off or you have to go to soccer, it gets crazy. So, those are the kinds of things that we are looking for when we are designing this community. Two extra parking stalls, don't need them. The street parking I'm sure will be mentioned after I talk. If street parking is going to become a problem -- look at the downtown, the north end area in Boise. Some of the most expensive real estate in the valley and Seattle, Portland, it's all the same. People want to be a part of those communities and I think with the downtown plan that Meridian has I think it can get there, but I think you need people living downtown, spending money downtown. When the winter is cold and dark you are making the trip that's the shortest possible distance downtown. That's where you're going to spend your money and I think that's what -- I believe that is part of the ingredient that the Council is looking for and the planners from the city were looking when they were setting up that master plan, that -- with that I guess I will stand for any questions Council may have. Bird: Questions for the applicant? Truax: Thank you. Bird: This is a public hearing. Was there anybody that would like to testify? Coles: Mr. President, we -- we did have one individual sign up in favor -- or, excuse me, wishing to testify against the project. Michael Morrison signed up against wishing to testify. Bird: Please state your name and address for us. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 74 of 82 Morrison: Michael B. Morrison. 3405 North Curt Drive, Meridian, Idaho. And, yes, I'm still against the project. I gave him my business card, told him to call if they had any questions, if they would like me to look at it. Offered my input. I received as many phone calls as I have great grandkids. Zero. If this is such a great project, why not flip it 180 degrees, dump everything out onto Main Street with no access to 2 1/2? We already have traffic issues. As of 20 minutes to 6:00 -- there is no parking on that side of the street -- on 2 1/2 Street. The tenants that I have on 2 1/2 Street already have parking issues without this complex going on. If it's so great, flip it 180. Dump it onto Main Street. That's where their access is. That's where the people want to buy -- buy things and go and walk to. Give them Main Street, not 2 1/2 Street. I thank you much for your time. Questions? Bird: Any questions? Thank you. Coles: Eileen Gardoski signed up against, not wishing to testify. And that was all the signups. Bird: Is there anybody else that would like to testify? Seeing none, applicant, would you like -- oh, I'm sorry. Come on up. Gardoski: President and Council Members -- Bird: Your name and -- Gardoski: -- I don't speak well. Bird: Your name and address, please. Gardoski: Thank you. My name is Eileen Gardoski. I did say that I was against it and I was not going to speak. My husband usually does the speaking for me. At 9:47 I ran home -- I drove home. There are four cars illegally parked in the area that there is no cars ever supposed to be parked and we deal with this every day. I am very happy that we have Cole Valley Christian School. I'm so appreciative -- I -- I have lived here over 25 years on 2 1/2 Street. I love this street. Yes, there should be some improvements, but you just don't understand living on that street, those kids even now are walking out on the road, because cars park there and even Ada county dispatch can't do anything about it. Hopefully, if they do continue to build they are going to do something to secure the safety of our kids and slow down the traffic. Right now we have lots of -- lots and lots of traffic. We have lots of apartment complexes and there is a lot of traffic on that street . So, I apologize that I am not a good speaker, but this is coming from my heart and any of you are welcome to come to my house for free coffee or water any morning or evening of the day and see what we live with every night. Thank you. Bird: Thank you. Any questions? Cavener: Mr. President? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 75 of 82 Bird: Mrs. -- Cavener: Mrs. Gardoski, could I ask you a question? Gardoski: I apologize. Yes. Cavener: Okay. I'm curious. I appreciate you sharing the concerns about parking. In your mind who are these offenders? Is it just other people that own homes along 2 1/2 Street? Gardoski: They are actually renters that live there and there are signs that point both ways and when I spoke to Ada -- I spoke to the police department here. I spoke to Ada county. They didn't go out and check and, then, they said, well, there might be a problem because maybe one of the signs isn't there anymore, but you got -- there are eight signs on that road. Just right in the middle there happens to not be a sign. But there was a -- a bicycle pedestrian walkway made like three years ago to kind of help the children through safety. It's not being observed. Cavener: Thank you. Gardoski: And you can -- on your way home or where -- I just drive by there you can see for yourself. I don't like to be a complainer, but I don't feel it should be my job to call Ada county dispatcher each day to say you don't -- the kids need to have a safe place now. And there is lots of motorcycles that race. There is a lot of activity on 2 1/2 Street, so thank you. Bird: Thank you. Cavener: Thank you. Bird: Any other questions? Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: Lieutenant Caldwell, do you think we can get some patrol over there, check it out? Caldwell: Mr. President, Council Woman Milam, yes. Milam: Thank you. Bird: Anybody else that would like to testify? Applicant, would you like to come have the final say? Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 76 of 82 Truax: Yes. Just two quick points of clarification. After the last -- I believe it's the last P&Z hearing -- no, it was the time before. We made a commitment to include a provision in our CC&Rs that the garages are primarily to be used for storage of the vehicles; right? So, that those -- those are actual car storages. The cars aren't -- aren't being used up and down -- they are not being parked up and down the street. There are some guest parking stalls that we added, increasing the overall number on the site and as Dan Basalone from MDC will -- also testified he lives in an area -- he lives in -- I believe it's The Orchards, it's a townhome development. It's 94 units. It's got very minimal numbers of parking stalls for guest parking. They don't have it -- they do have that CC&R provision in their documents and it is going to require an HOA to manage it, you know, if they don't manage it it's going to be tough. But if it is in the CC&Rs it is something that can be enforced. On the issue of the connectivity, that is something that is specifically important to us and we have worked already with a couple of the neighbors l ooking at the possibility of extending the sidewalk from the south end of the property line down to connect to Cole Valley Christian. As it is where it would terminate now is at the Rite-Aid. That Rite-Aid is a very interesting spot, because there is not a lot that we can do. It's providing dock access to the back of a building, so unless Rite-Aid is gone, it's going to be tough for us to do anything on that side, though, I think we can stripe it and do what we can to make sure it's safe there. On the south end, though, we are looking at extending the sidewalk to connect to Cole Valley Christian. We don't know yet what the cost of that is, but we have gotten some support from the neighbors to do that . You know, I think it increases the marketability of our product. I think it increases the safety of the neighborhood and I think provides some -- some very specific and distinct boundaries for car versus pedestrian that I think will improve the overall flow that are some of the issues that are -- that are spoken about. So, that's all. Bird: Any questions? Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: Just for clarification, then, you're supportive of -- along with your project -- creating some safe access for the -- essentially people that are going to live in your development to being able to -- I guess I recognize that Cole Valley is right there. I guess for me -- my big concern is those elementary students that are going to be leaving your development going to Meridian Elementary. Cole Valley is a high school. It's a private school. You have got a high amount of -- of vehicles that are driving there, but getting access for young ones to be able to get from -- from where they are living to that school has got to be a top priority and it sounds like that that is a top priority for you as well. Truax: Yeah. Absolutely. I mean we can't -- we can't govern the areas outside of, you know, what's an ACHD right of way. However, we are planning for pedestrian and bike conduits through the property and hopefully -- you know, so that they are able to cut across, instead of having to go all the way down to Col e Valley and over to Main, you Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 77 of 82 know, cut through. I don't think it's going to be nuisance traffic, it's going to be folks that are flowing through ultimately using those amenities. But pedestrian is a big thing. Bird: Any other questions? Thank you. Truax: Thank you. Bird: What's your pleasure, Council? Need any more information or -- Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: I move that we close the public hearing on Item 8 -H, H-2017-0066. Palmer: Second. Bird: Got a motion to close the public hearing on H-2017-0066 and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Cavener: Mr. President? Bird: Mr. Cavener. Cavener: The applicant spoke to this and this is -- this area has been a unique part of Meridian as long as I can remember. I appreciated hearing from Mrs. Gardoski about some of the challenges in that area. As a youth I was employed by some of those landlords who rented those homes and I mowed their lawns and so I'm distinctly aware of some of the parking challenges, because as a youth to try and unload my lawnmower, even 15 years ago was a challenge . The hope is is that with a -- with a project like this that would encourage some change in use of that area and I, for one, am supportive of - - of the project. So, with that, Mr. President, I move that we approve Item 8-H, H-2017- 0066 and include all staff and applicant and public testimony and just appreciation to the applicant -- I appreciate you speaking specifically about safe access for the people that are going to be living in that area and will continue to see some growth as hopefully our downtown begins to come back alive and I think a project like this can be a catalyst for that, but ensuring that as we become more alive that it's safe for people to get to and from where they want to go. Palmer: Second. Bird: Okay. We got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Clerk. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 78 of 82 Roll call: Bird, yea; Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Item 9: Department Reports A. Finance Department: Consolidated Fee Schedule Update Bird: Thank you. Department Reports. Finance Department. Consolidated fee schedule update. We let you come early and, then, made you stay. Cunningham: I know. Bird: Wasn't fair. Cunningham: That's the way it is. Cavener: Blame Todd. Cunningham: Okay. I think that we are bringing up the presentation. So, I will go ahead and get started. Hopefully I can make this pretty quick. So, I'm here to give you an update where we are at on the consolidated fee schedule and first I was going to give just a little bit of history. Let's see. The arrows? There we go. I was going to give you a quick history. The finance goal. How we created this one schedule, what we found and, then, a summary. First off, there was 98 adopted fee schedules in the last 15 years and that's without including the recreation guides. Fifty-seven of them still have active fees on them. There is 749 fees. Our goal for this first year -- this first go around was to actually create a consolidated fee schedule to take those 57 and create one. Then with that we wanted to let you know that you're still going to see fee schedules come throughout the year from the departments. They will initiate them, bring them forward, such as the impact fees, assessments, water, sewer, trash. Then September will be here every year to consolidate them back into one fee schedule, so we don't end up 15 years down the road with another 57 schedules. So, our first goal was to establish -- we looked at establishing a schedule and this is actually some ideas for the future. So, this first year was just to create the one schedule. Kind of do some clean up. In the future we kind of want -- we want to put the fees on a schedule. Look at whether we have valid fees. Should there be an increase. A decrease. Should we look at increasing some of our fees a small percentage each year based on the budget. Does it need a full cost review. Because I don't think every fee needs looked at every single year, so maybe we come up with some kind of a schedule, identify those fees that need to be and those fees that need maybe a three, four. This is just ideas. And also Finance would be that repository for all the fee history, the calculation, the methodology, who created it, why. We actually found throughout the discussions with departments, you know, sometimes they didn't know where some of these fees actually came from. So, what we did was Cortni Klucken, our accountant, she actually took it and started forming meetings. We didn't get it until I think it was April 28th Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 79 of 82 Todd came to us and said Mayor would like us to go ahead and consolidate into one schedule. So, first we set up meetings with Legal Department, determine who is going to facilitate and what Finance role will be and Legal's role will be. We agree to meet with all the departments and make -- and actually ask them to go through their list of fees this first year to determine what we -- what are active, what are still current. Luckily we had -- Finance had a spreadsheet to start with, so Jenny had created one back in like 2009 and we tried to keep that up to date the best we could and so Cortni started with that, edited it, and that is what has brought us to our list of fees. We found 130 of them that could be omitted. Seventy-six were identified as obsolete. Should have dropped off years ago. Weren't being charged. Fifty-four were identified as redundant. So, they were repeated over and over in some of the other fees. Schedules within -- and maybe even in some of the other departments. Twenty-four were identified by departments that need some kind of an adjustment and, then, we had 15 that had some small title changes, just more clarification, transparency. Of the -- of the ones that we need adjustments, the 24, Com Dev has nine fees that they would like to decrease and they also have -- would like to identify the multi-family category. There is two fee increases in Com Dev. Police have two decreases, two fee increases. Parks has nine fee decreases. And the reason is is we are going to take the sales tax out. So, they are all -- sales tax was included in the fee and that's unlike any of our others. And, then, as you know, Republic Services was already here. Their fee schedule also rolls into this and they will have one new fee and, then, they are going to have the -- a CPI index increase. So, for Com Dev, the nine fee decreases -- they actually happen to be the commercial application fee. So, it's almost like they come in and they pay 500 as a deposit to start the application process and Bruce would like to bring that down according to a threshold. So, if it's under 20,000 it will be 50 dollars. If it's over 20,000 it will be 150 dollars. What happens is sometimes it's just a tenant improvement. They just want to move a wall. So, when they pay 500 dollars to start the application, then, when they get done with the calculation it's maybe 350 dollars. We have to refund the other 150. So, Bruce is hoping that it will reduce the refunds and make more sense for some of the applications. We still will collect the same amount on the total permit fee. Let's see. Then he has the prior to expiration. So, that the fee would actually change also and go down to a flat rate of 50 dollars. We have two fee increases for the Com Dev and the reason is is these are past -- what we call pass through fees. So, we are already paying for like the fast track application, 110 dollars to our contracted services, but we are only collecting a hundred dollars. So, we'd like to increase that to 110 to cover our cost. For the qualified licensed engineer review, the same thing. We are paying 260 a sheet and we are charging 250. So, we'd like to increase that to 260. For the Police Department, they have four increases -- four changes and they are all due to labor. So, we actually have two that are going to go down, because staff is changing and the labor has gone down . The labor cost. And, then, we have two personnel fees that would actually go up and that's due to the increased wages in the police department. The Parks Department. This is the nine fees that would decrease according to sales tax rolled in and then -- that's if -- the proposal is to come back to actually publish our consolidated schedule and Legal recommends -- we will actually publish the entire thing. It will be ten pages. But we will publish all the fees and we will actually post what hasn't changed, there is no change, and, then, we will show what it has increased or decreased and, then, that's our starting point from this point going forward. We will publish for two Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 80 of 82 weeks, come back with a public hearing on the 12th, and, then, we would come with a resolution for approval on the 19th. The changes effective 10/1. And with that I stand for questions. Bird: Any questions, Council? Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: Rita, on that permit fee that was currently like up to 500 -- Cunningham: Yeah. Milam: -- reducing all the way down to 150, does that really cover it all, Bruce, because Rita made a comment that it was like, well, if it was only 350, then, we are refunding them 150, but now we are only charging 150 and so I'm just wondering if that is enough to cover it. Freckleton: Mr. President, Members of Council, Councilman Milam, the -- Bird: Name, please. Freckleton: These application fees -- what did you say? Bird: Your name, please. Freckleton: My name, please? Bruce Freckleton. Community Development. Bird: Thank you. Freckleton: 33 East Broadway Avenue. Meridian, Idaho. The -- the application fees are -- like Rita said -- they are kind of like a deposit. It gets applied towards the permit, so it's not like an extra fee that's on top that the applicant is losing. Does that makes sense? I don't know if that answers your question. Milam: It does make sense. So, if -- so, there -- an application might be 500, the 150 goes towards that and they pay the extra 350 dollar difference? You're trying to make it so low that we will never have to refund anybody, is that -- Freckleton: Well, that's one of the intents of doing this. The -- the other reason for doing this is that -- the last time we did fees was 2007, ten years ago, you know, so what we are trying to do is we are trying to modernize our fees and bring them current to the way we currently operate. Since 2007 we have got an Enterprise wide software solution that has brought about huge efficiencies for our -- for our staff. The work effort on that front Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 81 of 82 end is not as heavy as it once was and so it really has brought our labor down on the front end of those applications, so -- Milam: Okay. Thanks. Freckleton: Okay. Bird: Any other questions? Okay. Thank you, Rita. And we look forward to the schedule so that we can have it ready in place for October 1st; right? Cunningham: Okay. We will be posting it and bringing it forward. Thank you very much. Item 10: Future Meeting Topics Bird: Thank you. Thanks for sticking around . Council, before we adjourn I got some upcoming events. This is the last movie for CableOne Movie Night and it's Lego Batman. I don't know what a Lego is. Backpack giveaway is Saturday between 10:00 and noon and this is an organization that -- and with Mayor Tammy is going to be giving away a bunch of back -- backpacks for school children between 10:00 and noon here at the Farmers Youth Market. Of course Concerts on Broadway. Jeffrey Castle and his Celtic Band is here Saturday night at 7:00. Opening act at 6:30 p.m. And I don't know who that is. MYAC kick off is Monday, August 28th, at City Hall at 5:45. So, if you know any young people that would like to belong, send them down. And Meridian Mondays from Deja Brew is August 28th at 6:00 p.m. and I think this is the one you walk in, isn't it, every -- what? I thought you was staying in shape. Anyway, that's the upcoming events. Council, thank you for tonight. Milam: Mr. President? Bird: Mrs. Milam. Milam: I do have a possible future meeting topic. I would like for -- at some point for us to discuss the process for our elections for City Council Members. Currently you apply -- you sign up for a specific seat and, then, elections and I personally think that we would get better candidates and -- well, maybe elect the better of the candidates if it was -- if it was open and we take the top three candidates. That's not for discussion right now, but -- Bird: That's for discussion -- Milam: If we even have a discussion. Bird: We can certainly have one. I don't -- we would have to do a lot of changing with our ordnance and stuff and -- I do have some thoughts on that, not that I would ever run again, but -- anyway. Meridian City Council August 22, 2017 Page 82 of 82 Milam: I think it's better for this whole -- Bird: We can -- we can certainly -- I will -- Mr. Nary, help me remember that, so we can get it on a future topic. I think it's a good topic. With that I would entertain a motion to adjourn. Borton: So moved. Milam: Second. Bird: All in favor? MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Bird: Thank you, guys. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:29 P.M. (AUDIO RECORDING ON ATT C. JAY CO E WEERD OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) q DATE APPROVED , CITY CLERK Cit y of w E IDIAN�.. SEAL �,�