HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-13 SpecialMeridian City Council March 13,
2018.
A joint meeting of the Meridian City Council and Meridian Development Corporation was
called to order at 6:47 p.m., Tuesday, 2018, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Tammy De Weerd, Joe Borton, Genesis Milam, Luke Cavener, Ty
Palmer, Anne Little Roberts and Treg Bernt.
Board Members Present: Dave Winder, Dan Basalone, Nathan Mueller, Keith Bird,
Tammy de Weerd, Rob McCarvel, Rick Ritter, Diane Bevan and Steve Vlassek.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Todd Lakey, Ashley Squyres, Hillary Bodnar 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
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: Well, I will go ahead and get us kicked off tonight. Thank you for joining us
to the handful in our audience. We appreciate you being here. For the record it is
Tuesday, March 11th. This is the joint meeting of Meridian City Council and the
Meridian Development Corporation and we started very late. It's 6:47. And, Mr. Clerk,
will ask you to call roll.
Meridian Development Corporation Board
De Weerd: Ashley, would you like to call roll for MDC.
Item 2: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: And thank you all for joining us. This is a great one hundred percent
turnout. Awesome. Item No. 2 is adoption of the agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Dan Basalone
_X_
Rob McCarvel
X
Nathan Mueller
X
Rick Ritter
Keith Bird
_X_
Diane Bevan
_X_
Tammy de Weerd
_X_
Steve Vlassek
X Dave Winder —
Chairman
De Weerd: Ashley, would you like to call roll for MDC.
Item 2: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: And thank you all for joining us. This is a great one hundred percent
turnout. Awesome. Item No. 2 is adoption of the agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
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Borton: Move that we adopt the agenda as published.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda. All those in favor say
aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 3: Zamzows Mural Update
De Weerd: Item 3 is the Zamzow's mural update. I did see Hillary. There you go.
Bodnar: I don't even know how to address you all now. All right. Madam Mayor,
Members of the Council, Members of MDC, the Zamzows family and Sector 17 have
been working on numerous versions of a design for the Zamzow's mural and this design
was approved by the Zamzows -- I think it was just last week. So, we wanted to give
you all the opportunity to see where the design currently stands, get any of our input.
But I did want to let you know that MAC is having a special meeting on the 21st of
March to determine their formal recommendation to you, but if you have suggestions,
comments or feedback that you would like to supply prior to hearing MAC's
recommendation, this is the opportunity to have you both together as the authorizing
boards to discuss.
De Weerd: Thank you, Hillary. And we -- we did want to make sure, since we had
everyone together, that you had a chance to -- to hear what the other body might say. It
does need to go to the commission first, but this was an opportunity to share your
thoughts as -- as one.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: I am so not artistic, so if I'm just missing it, please, let me know, but
could you give hints on the blank spaces?
Bodnar: Oh, these blank spaces are windows and doors that are a part of the building.
So, as far as signs go --
De Weerd: I was going to say they have something to do about the farming and -- no.
Bodnar: There are -- there are some signs on the building currently and the artists said
that they would be happy to work around those signs and the Zamzows said they would
be happy to move the signs, so everyone is really flexible as far as those go, but a lot of
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these are built-in windows and, then, the stained bottom center is their door that slides
open. So, if that helps give you a reference.
De Weerd: That's a good question.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Hillary, so is it planned -- or planning on doing it in gray?
Milam: Or is it going to be in color? Because I'm having a hard time envisioning it --
Bodnar: Yeah. It will definitely be in color. This is just, like I said, the approved design
from the Zamzow's family. The artists have been creating design after design to help
make the modifications that would fit the needs of both generations of the Zamzow's
family, so we have this update design with their approval that we want to share and,
then, the colors that would be integrated would be colors that would reflect some of the
MDC branding, so there is some of those oranges and rich blues and yellows that would
be integrated in this as well.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Hillary, as one who has just kind of got caught up to date on this project in the
past week or so, can you give me a little bit of background about what type of direction
was kind of provided to the Zamzow's family? I am so proud of our ag history in this
community. That's just such a unique canvas and I think a really unique opportunity to
do something different. I just didn't know if the direction was we wanted to do
something very ag related, because it's the Zamzow's family -- just get me caught up to
speed on how we ended with this.
Bodnar: So, there -- there was a definite desire and -- from the Zamzow's family to
have their be an agricultural theme as well. There were previous versions that kind of
had some more abstracted elements and the Zamzow's family tended to the more
realistic and the more linear, which I think we also kind of heard at one of the MDC
meetings there was someone had said that they were interested in being pretty realistic.
So, this artist group is also really good at making things look very realistic in their
shading and use of color, so it was very much kind of that -- that drive from the
Zamzow's family that gave it that pastoral and linear feel, rather than, you know, like
something other -- the cows really stand out to you, but most of it's pretty flat surface
and that was something that was the direction from Faye and Jim it sounds like and,
then, there were lots of conversations, like we should add a cat or a cat family. We
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should have a red barn, so that barn will probably be red, because that's something
that's important to them and their family and that's the way of representing them without
necessarily putting, you know, Grandma Z's face on the side of a building really big.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other comments, questions? Dan. I mean Mr. Basalone.
Basalone: Madam Mayor. Hillary, what's the timeline for a possibly completion date?
Bondar: So, they -- the artists are really eager to get started sooner rather than later
and so they are hoping to get it done this spring. Basically my plan is to get some type
of recommendation from the arts commission. If they are in favor it could go as quickly
as going to MDC on the 28th, City Council on the 3rd and, then, having the artist
probably start in April and they said the installation time itself would be about two
weeks.
De Weerd: Mr. Basalone, can you talk into the microphone?
Basalone: So, possibly by summer --
Bodnar: Yes.
Basalone: -- we would have it?
Bodnar: Yes.
Basalone: Great.
Bodnar: That's the goal. Their original goal was to have it done by March, but there
were so many design revisions that it got pushed back a bit.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: It has been well established I am not an authority on art by any means, but I
just -- just some feedback maybe to pass along to MAC and to MDC and the City
Council here. We are a community of young families. We have kids in everything that
we do and if it's possible to incorporate a couple of kids, at least I think that's also
representative of what our community has become, which is a place that's focused on
youth.
Item 4: Main and Broadway Project Update
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further? Okay. If not, thank you, Hillary. We appreciate
you being here. Item 4 is the Main and Broadway project update. Mr. Lakey.
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Lakey: Thank you, Madam Mayor and Council Members. I guess I will kind of start this
discussion and if the MDC board members can humor me a little bit, I'm going to go
over some of the history that they are all familiar with. This is more for the City
Council's benefit and what I'm going to talk about particularly are the -- the history of the
process that MDC's been through, particularly with 703 and 713, the two buildings just
over here and, then, kind of where we are now and, then, the broader policy and where
to go from here is up to you as policymakers. So, going back to early 2017, MDC put
out an RFP for those two buildings and Mr. Josh Evarts' November Whiskey was the
only response that we received, but it was a good one, and the board approved and
selected his proposal and we entered into a development agreement with Josh on
November Whiskey. That development agreement, essentially, comes in two phases,
but I want to start back before that. Before we entered the development agreement the
urban renewal agency has the ability to put things like deed restrictions and rights of
reversion in contracts, but we talked about that and although MDC has the ability to do
it, those that are providing financing for the project and title insurance to the project
don't really like those things, so we didn't include rights of reversion in the properties or
deed restrictions, we simply addressed those things in the contract. So, when I say
rights of reversion that means if the project doesn't move forward or there is a violation
of the agreement, that it automatically comes back to MDC. It doesn't. What we built
into that was what's called liquidated damages and specific performance, that if it didn't
happen and there was a monetary amount that would help compensate MDC for the
property that was transferred to -- to Josh in November Whiskey. So, as part of that
development agreement, the 703 property, the old bank building, was transferred to
November Whiskey and the -- that's Mr. Evarts' company and that -- development of
that site was, essentially, phase one and, then, phase two would be the old bank
building where the Unbound Library is now and they were kind of tied together. As
things went along and time went along with the increase in building and everything,
construction costs kind of went through the roof and as Josh was going through it and
looking at the numbers realized that just phase one by itself didn't pencil. So, it was
very -- Josh has been very up front with the MDC board, came and told them phase one
doesn't pencil, I could -- it looks like phase one and two could pencil. So, started going
down that road. But, then, as he started exploring that and MDC started -- was talking
about that, I think everybody looked at a larger vision being the best approach and that
larger vision being, okay, those two buildings and what part of the rest of the block could
be developed as part of this project and Josh got Caleb Roope involved from the Pacific
Companies and we started having those discussions about the larger block. Then there
was discussion about the old city hall and that was a big question, a big unknown. It
wasn't included initially in the -- in the planning and the discussions initially, but our
board thought there was potential there. The challenge of the city had, obviously, that
you know about was the litigation with Ada county and the unknown as to whether you
had to do a courthouse or not and how all that was going to shake out. But there was
interest in exploring whether the potential for the old city hall was even possible, even in
the realm of consideration, and we talked about if so how would that proceed. MDC
would not have to go through another request for proposal process, because we already
did that with 703 and 713 and the rest of the properties, excluding the old city hall,
would be private. Caleb Rube and the Pacific Companies teaming up with Josh to
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develop the larger -- the larger site. So, we didn't -- we wouldn't need to go through an
RFP. But if the old city hall was included, if that ultimately came to MDC, then, that
would require some RFP process, because it hadn't been included in one before. So,
as a result of that with that potential in the mix, we moved forward with a meeting with
city staff and the Mayor and some of the MDC folks and MDC staff to talk about that
potential for the old city hall. I would also say that during this time the development
agreement has a larger term to it and, then, it has some internal timelines within it and
think some of the communication that we had from the city -- there was confusion about
what those timelines were and the fact that we don't have a right of reversion. So, what
we ended up doing with November Whiskey was extending some of the internal
timelines, which related to getting plans submitted to the city, getting the demolition
permit, actually demolishing the building. As part of those discussions the board was
having -- initially they were talking about let's get the building knocked down as quick as
we can and get things going. Ultimately they changed that to say, well, if we are looking
at a larger vision, don't knock the building down, because it is still an asset. It's in need
of some -- some work, but it's not falling over, it's not dilapidated or broken down, it just
needs some additional repair work if we were going to lease it out again. So, we
extended those timelines internally for those -- those internal timelines with November
Whiskey an additional six months at our last meeting, but that doesn't affect the over --
we didn't change the overall term of the agreement as far as the end date for the
development and then -- I don't know if I clarified before, but 703 has been transferred
713 Josh and November Whiskey has under contract and an option. So, both of those
properties are subject to that agreement. The -- just to the discussion that we had with
the city staff was -- is it possible to potentially include the old courthouse in a proposal
and everybody essentially thought that it was possible. It could be included in an RFP,
either as a bid alternative or -- well, probably as a bid alternative. You could do an
option with it or without it. So, that potential was there. At the end of that meeting there
wasn't any commitments, obviously, by the city or by MDC or anyone, but there was a
consensus that staff go back to the respective boards and encourage those boards to
look at issuing a request for proposal, which would include the old city hall site. But the
caveats, obviously, with that were the city owns that property and the city would be
involved in the drafting of the RFP and the selection process and ultimately if the city
didn't like the proposal, the city has veto power. It's the city's property and if they don't
want to include it, that's the city's choice. But the recommendation was to move forward
with -- with that group, to go back to our boards and suggest that the boards move
forward with preparing an RFP and -- and including that. That RFP crafting process
could include whatever the priorities are for the respective entities, for MDC or for the
city or, obviously, for both, recognizing that it needs to be transparent. Obviously,
November Whiskey and the Pacific Companies have been doing some work already
and make sure that it was open and it could be just the old city hall site, it could be a
larger vision, whatever the entities come up with in the RFP and have it open for
anybody to submit on -- on that RFP. There wasn't any set track or anybody that was --
was just being granted an approval at the beginning, so to speak. With those things,
think that kind of brings us to this point in the discussion. We can't require that Josh
and November Whiskey put 703 and 713 into the RFP. They are -- they are under
contract. The only thing that we can deal with in an RFP is the old city hall site and,
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then, how and if that would be included in a potential larger vision. So, I think that's the
history. Madam Mayor and Chairman Winder. I would be happy to answer any
questions, but the policy side is yours as elected and appointed officials, whether and
how to move forward on the old city hall site. MDC can still move forward with 703 and
713 in a larger vision without the old city hall, but it's up to you whether you think that's
worthwhile to approach and how to approach it if you do.
De Weerd: Well, I guess to just add one thing to it, the timing is perfect as 703 and 713
are looking to move forward, that if this RFP were to be put out now there could be
some coordination among the projects and so that's what makes this discussion at
Council timely.
Lakey: One other item, Madam Mayor, the potential legislative solution also seems to
be progressing well with the city and the county and that went through the senate
committee -- I want to say this week or Friday.
De Weerd: Last Thursday.
Lakey: Last Thursday. It all goes -- runs together, Madam Mayor, lately, but it -- it
seems to be well supported and I anticipate that that will be moving through the
legislature and ultimately be passed.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Lakey: You're welcome.
De Weerd: Okay. So, I'm going to open this up for discussion. Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. My initial thought was before we get into heated discussions
about the million different ways that we can all try to offend each other, my thought is to
wait until we have a solution to the courthouse issue, because if -- if we are not going to
require a courthouse opportunity in conjunction with whatever may or may not go there,
I think that really clears up a lot of the questions about it and could make it as simple as
putting it for sale, due to not having -- nobody ever having to deal with providing the city
any type of space or anything with it I think might make it more appetizing to just
purchase it and avoid the -- the concerns that the city has had with -- with regard to just
opening just that property out for an RFP. Just my thoughts.
Lavey: Madam Mayor, on the practical side, I'm not -- not talking policy at all. You will
have an answer on the legislative issue by the end of the month. The legislature is set
to get out the 23rd and, then, we will see what happens with the governor, so you will at
least know that part. I anticipate if you decide to do an RFP that it would take a month
or so to put together between staff and everybody working on it. So, just more practical
things to consider.
Mueller: Madam Mayor?
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De Weerd: And I think as you noted, you could put an add alternate on there that would
be considered as they -- they look at it and propose -- because we still have an order,
you know, our thing is -- is the legislation does address a funding piece to it, but we still,
then, would need to hopefully move together with the county to ask for it to be
dismissed or revoked or whatever the right terminology is. Yes, Mr. Mueller, just pull it
toward you.
Mueller: Okay. So, I think a color commentary piece that's probably a good one to
explain is I actually agree with everything that you just said. The only caveat here is
right now time is a pretty big deal, because what will happen is we are going to have the
end of winter, when everybody is going to want to kick off construction projects, and it's
kind of coming fast. The other problem is we have people actually leasing some of the
space right now. So, before any type of building project can be kicked off a notice has
to be given and people have to be given the opportunity to clear the premises and we
have a window for construction of that size and scope -- the window is very small. We
had a very mild winter this year, but that was pure luck, and it was very unexpected. If
we have a bad winter next year, nobody's building during the winter, because it costs
substantially more; right? So, one of the dilemmas that we have is while I actually think
if we wait out a legislative solution and, then, sell something or something like, that -- it's
a good idea at the same time if we do have to go down the route of an RFP, we have an
option to be able to put out an RFP, we essentially represent government, so we get to
be as complicated as we want to be. We can put out an RFP that has two questions,
like what would you do if you had to accommodate a courthouse and what would you do
if you didn't have to. Right? We are able to publish that and put that out there and have
it ready to go and by being a little preemptive, just in case that's the route that we have
to go, we save about a month's worth of time and that month is critical when it comes to
actual construction if we want to get something going sooner rather than later.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: This is the Nathan -Ty show up here. And, you know, our concern with the --
the RFP situation is that -- at least to me this councilman doesn't -- doesn't want to put
out an RFP without including the 703 and 713 properties. I understand the
complications behind that. I think the most realistic opportunity to -- unless Council
disagrees -- would be to pursue selling it after we know that the courthouse issue is no
longer an issue. Unless we were to have it appraised, assuming -- I don't know if it
becomes less valuable because of a need that we would have with regard to selling --
which we really can't move on selling it without knowing whether we need it or not. So,
really think we are just stuck unless Council is willing to do an RFP on just that property,
which I'm not -- stuck waiting to know whether we need it or not and, then, moving
forward with a sale.
De Weerd: So, you want to do an RFP with someone else's property?
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Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. No, I don't. I want to do an RFP only -- no. I mean I -- this
was the road I was trying to avoid us going down, because, you know, for me it's the
optics of the scenario. There is no greater friend to Meridian I feel than Josh Evarts.
He has the exact same motivations that the rest of us do and our passion for Meridian.
The problem is for me I'm super worried about the optics of Council putting up a piece of
property that we own for an RFP when they are -- I mean it's one thing when there is
adjacent properties that -- that Josh may own, that he purchased, but when there is
pieces of property that were purchased with tax dollars that were given to an individual
and, then, have an RFP for an adjacent property when there is an obvious upper hand
that was given by government, it's just -- the optics of it, even though the reality is a
perfectly legitimate situation, but the optics of it are too strong in their own direction to
go down that road I feel and could all be avoided -- understanding the construction
issue may complicate it, but dealing with government complicates it and so I really feel
like that the best way to maintain the view of the whole situation, the relationships
involved in it, is to wait, find out if we don't need the property and, then, it makes it much
more appetizing to me I would think, knowing that you can have the property and not
have to provide anything to the city, other than pay for it.
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: I -- you know, I don't think there is a person in either one of these bodies that are
sitting up here right now that certainly, you know, doesn't want to dot their I's and cross
their T's to make sure that we are not making any mistakes, that we are doing
everything above board. There is no doubt about that. Perception is reality and I think
we all understand that. However, you know, Josh Evarts, November Whiskey, owns
those two properties technically on paper and so it would -- unless he is willing to give
those properties up, you know, to create, you know, and RFP is what you're talking, you
know, about doing, I think it would be pretty difficult, you know, and so I don't think it
would be a complicated conversation just to say hypothetically, you know, if we were to
offer up an RFP does that -- I don't know if that RFP necessarily has, you know, to do
with the two existing properties that November Whiskey owns. You know, someone
might want to -- in their RFP proposal may want to do something completely different
that has nothing to do with what Mr. Evarts has -- or what his vision is. I mean that
would be Mr. Evarts, you know, vision of what he wants to do with his RFP, but maybe
someone else's vision is completely different and may be a completely different
business, a completely different development, and so I think that if we are up front, you
know, making sure that we dot our I's and cross our T's, making sure that we are above
board and very transparent, I -- and maybe a discussion needs to take place of, you
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know, is it possible to do an RFP just on city hall, but not necessarily, you know, the two
properties that are involved with November Whiskey.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: I agree with Councilman Bernt. I believe there are -- is definitely an
opportunity to do an RFP and I think once that we have the courthouse issue -- not only
through the legislature, but resolved completely, then, I think we can have the
conversation do we send it out for RFP or do we outright sell it and I don't think until we
know for sure that the courthouse issue is completely resolved that we should take that
building and making other commitments with it.
De Weerd: Other discussion?
Mueller: So, one point of clarification that's probably worth mentioning is developers
that exist in the conversation have made it clear that even if they had to build a
courthouse they would actually be able to factor that into the plans. So, on one hand
the courthouse is an issue, because this all becomes a lot clearer if that is resolved and
goes away, but on the second hand, even if it doesn't go away and we really are stuck
with building a courthouse down here, that it appears none of us want to, we actually
have a solution to even that scenario that's probably worth mentioning.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, are we wanting to create an RFP because we have one contractor who
wants to do something with the project? That's what it sounds like. And if so wouldn't it
be easier for them just to buy the piece of property. If you already have the person -- if
you already have chose the winner pretty much and you're just putting an RFP out
there, I don't know -- it's just confused.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: I don't know if they are still in play, but at one point -- probably six or
eight months ago I had heard that there were two other developers interested in
participating in an RFP for just the city hall piece.
De Weerd: You know, I guess just a little history here. When the city moved into this
building the Council did have an opportunity to -- to put that out there and put it up for
sale and the hope was to be part of a larger vision and when you put it up for sale you
don't have any -- any opportunity to know then what the future owner would have for
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that vision and so that is why they held onto it as to be part of a larger project that would
benefit the public and the redevelopment of downtown that was the decision made at
that time. I think that we are at a crossroads again with that very same premise is you
put it out for an RFP and the Council would have an opportunity to say does that vision
fit the highest and best use and would benefit the public and the redevelopment of
downtown. If you sell it you don't have that -- that -- I -- control, I -- for lack of a better
word and that is what you lose when you do that. Council has noted that it would take a
handful of weeks to put together any kind of an RFP and as Board Member Mueller
mentioned that you could have with a courtroom or without a courtroom and what would
that that proposal be. That is another approach that you can do. But there is the timing
issue here and if we are willing to -- to take advantage of that timing opportunity, we had
someone at the MDC board that said, hey, he would submit on the city hall project, even
knowing the other two buildings -- or two lots are under development, because he felt
he could also gain from economies of scale in doing some joint partnership or work with
the project that 703 and 713 might be able to benefit. So, I think with that timing in mind
you could serve one big project or two projects that work in synergies together by going
ahead and moving forward now with those two caveats.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Again there is many choices. Mrs. Milam.
Milam: With all of that in mind, I think putting it out there with or without a courtroom I
think really complicates it. I think we would get less response, but I wouldn't have a
problem with staff working on it. If it's going to take several weeks hopefully by the time
it is ready we will have an answer and if for some reason we don't, then, you can
include the courthouse kind of as a last minute -- you know, before it goes out there.
But I think that by putting it out without that, if we have an answer by then I think it would
be a lot cleaner and a lot easier to get more responses.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: The other major concern for me is I'm not willing to sign over a title where there
is no mechanism to get it back.
De Weerd: Then build it in --
Mueller: Quickly I want to clarify --
De Weerd: Mr. Mueller, I will recognize you.
Mueller: Oh. Sorry. You do understand that if you're going to do anything with
government property and sign it over to an individual, if they are going to be able to get
a loan to finance any kind of project of any size whatsoever you cannot have one of
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those clauses in it. No bank on earth will finance it. So, if you're not willing to sign over
property without a clause to be able to immediately swoop in and steal it back, you are
effectively removing that property from any development whatsoever ever. That's just a
truth. Like whether you understand the way banking and development works, that's
true.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: To clarify, I'm not willing to sign it over without a mechanism to get it back if we
are giving it away. If we are selling it through the normal process in which we would sell
a piece of property, absolutely, sign that sucker over. We don't own it. It's in private
hands. It will be much better handled by somebody that's not government, but I can't
give it away without being able to get it back if -- if what has been promised to be put
there some reason doesn't happen, we need it back and if that's not a possibility then --
then whoever is going to build on it needs to -- needs to buy it.
Winder: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Winder.
Winder: Just a point of clarification. Our agreement on 703 and 713, we do have the
right to get it back if we declare him in default of the agreement and pursue legal
remedies that we have for that. We just can't immediately take title back. So, there are
-- there are mechanisms in place if he doesn't build the project that we all agreed on to
get it back.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird?
Bird: Madam Mayor -- Madam Mayor, to tag along on the Mayor's talk, we bought 703
and 713 when we got a good price on it and Tammy and I are the only ones that were
involved. We did it to get some property so that this kind of project could be done on
that block. We envision -- basically, the original envision was to only have the Bank of
the Cascades building left on that block when we got done with redevelopment. So,
don't disagree that we -- that we wait until we find out what the legislature is doing with
the courthouse, but as far as construction, if you got started in July, August, you could
be closed in so you could work through the winter, even if you had a snowmobile. So,
-- I think we better just get the RFP ready and I know that it's going to take the whole
block to get it done and, then, the Council -- you guys decide what you want to do with
city hall, whether you want to sell it outright or whatever you want to do, but those two
buildings were purchased with that development in mind -- of the whole block, just not
half a block.
De Weerd: Mr. Basalone.
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Basalone: Madam Mayor, just a couple of clarifications. I agree that we -- we shouldn't
go forward with an RFP if we don't know exactly what the specifics of the RFP should
be, but to Mr. Mueller's point, there is nothing to keep us from preparing an A and a B
plan as Councilwoman Milam said, that -- that -- one that included a courthouse in the
project and one that didn't and, then, wait and see what happens with the legislature to
see which of those you put forward. But I would agree with you that we put it through
the RFP process, rather than an outright sale, so that you can include what you feel
should be in that RFP and you can accept it or not accept it, you can negotiate it and so
forth. But it isn't giving away the property, it's negotiating the sale of the property based
on the RFP. So, I think we need to be real clear about what we are talking about. We
also have a third entity in that block and that's the private owners that are not part of the
old city hall RFP possibly and the property that Josh now has the rights to on 703 and
713. So, there may be -- there could be, theoretically, three different developers that go
into that property. It would behoove them, obviously, to work together to get the best
bang for the buck for that total block, but we have no assurance on that and I think the
RFP process, in my estimation, is the most transparent process for the public.
De Weerd: Mr. Mueller.
Mueller: So, it is worth pointing out there is actually five different property owners on
there and by putting out an RFP we are not at all actually in any way, shape, or form
choosing winners. The interesting thing is it might -- there might be a perception that it's
that way, but if there is any perception of that there is not people with 30 to 65 million
dollar budgets lining up to build projects in downtown Meridian right now. So, while
there is only one person standing in line willing to spend that kind of money down here
and there is a chance that he might win it, there -- there is five private property owners
on that block and all of them have, essentially, at their core the same advantage and/or
disadvantage that the current interested party would have and any other interested
party is able to go and procure some of that property and also have an advantage if
they want to. So, as far as the possibility for some view of impropriety here, I think that
that's just an issue of education. I mean we have the press here right now, they can
write about this if they want to, but the fact is the whole entire panel up here is very
concerned about the fact that we need to be very, very transparent and make sure that
this is being handed over correctly. I'm fairly certain that we can find a way to not stall
out possibly one of the best, largest projects to ever come to downtown because we are
scared maybe it could look bad, even though every single thing that's originated so far
has been a hundred percent organic and in the public eye and even written about in the
paper. So, I think it's an interesting thing, but I definitely wouldn't say we have any
chosen winners in this.
De Weerd: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. Mr. Lakey, can we get some clarification as to whether there is
a mechanism to take a property back or -- or is there ---
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Lakey: Madam Mayor and Chairman Winder and Council Member Palmer, I will put a
finer point on that. There is not a right of reversion, so it doesn't automatically go back.
What we have built into the contract is liquidated damages for the property that's
already been transferred. So, the 703. That one does not have a mechanism to come
back. We have specific performance built into the contract, which would require court
action to, essentially, try to force Josh to do what he said he would do, so that parcel
doesn't have a specific mechanism to come back. What Chairman Winder was talking
about is the violation provisions of the agreement. If the agreement is violated, then, we
have a 30 day cure period, we have to provide notice of violation and opportunity to
cure to Mr. Evarts and give him an opportunity to correct what the violation is and if he
doesn't, then, we can terminate the agreement and if we terminate that agreement
before the property is transferred on 713, then, that one would come back to the MDC,
because it hasn't been transferred yet and if the agreement was properly terminated,
along with the option. So, that's kind of the finer point. Part of it, yes, part of it, no.
Liquidated damages and specific performance.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary, would you have anything you wanted to add?
Nary: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Not -- I don't think so, other
than it seems like there is a little lack of clarity. We -- the city cannot give the property
to anyone other than the MDC, so we can't -- we can't transfer it. Even with an RFP we
would still, then, need to partner with MDC for the transfer of the property. The only
way the city can give property is to either a nonprofit or governmental -- or, excuse me,
a governmental entity and so that part isn't -- it's really a partnership that has to be done
with MDC. If the objective is to, then, transfer the property at no sale to, then, get the
RFP constructed as presented. Other than, as Councilman Palmer stated, you could
certainly put it on the market, you can market it, declare it as no value to the city or no
use for the city and, then, get an appraisal and sell it and that's an auction and that's a
-- that's a different process. But I wasn't clear if everybody understood that we -- MDC
has different rules and ability to do things with properties that the city does not. So, the
RFP part can be done and if the intent is to transfer the property without a transfer of
funds for those properties, then, it could only be done for the MDC process.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Clarification for Mr. Nary --
De Weerd: Yes.
Cavener: -- if you don't. Sorry. Should the City Council want to transfer property to the
MDC, can they provide that transfer with certain conditions attached?
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Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Mr. Chairman, Councilman Cavener,
absolutely. I mean I think that's kind of been the discussion is that will be part of the
RFP process. If the city determined that the RFP didn't meet whatever requirements
the city had, then, they could decline the RFP, simply, then, remove the property from
consideration. So, that's really the one string that you could maintain before you
transfer the property over.
De Weerd: Any other questions? Comments?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I value MDC's time here tonight. I know that part of the goal was to hear from
Council on this issue, so I want to provide a couple of thoughts. First, I just want to
applaud MDC and the public that are here with an interest in some of these properties
for having a vision. The many years I was on MDC when we were smacking our heads
against the wall saying we need a vision for this area and I applaud this group for
coming up with that and bringing forth an idea. As a City Council member -- and
appreciate Mr. Mueller's comments about the perception. I really try and look at this as
what would somebody who lives in Meridian -- we see in the newspaper, hear on the
news, what would they hear? And here is what I see. I see that the agency gave a
building away for a project, didn't quite work, and so they provided a second building at
no cost that maybe would work -- it would sure work better if the local government gave
a third building in order to make a project work. I think if I read that in the newspaper,
saw it on TV, I would wrinkle my brow and I would say, man, those are three assets that
have been paid for with my tax dollars, but are now going towards a project that wasn't -
- those are my dollars being spent and I just don't know how the public would feel about
that and so that's the piece that I have wrestled with. I feel much more comfortable
selling the building and letting the free market make the pick or if the city needs to build
a courthouse, to me that opens up a compelling case to be made for our public that we
have to build a courthouse and here is the land to do it and there is a developer that's
willing to include that. Our taxpayers are getting something in return for the asset of
which they are giving up. Right now all I hear is that for the assets that our taxpayers
are giving up is a potential for a new great business development that will bring jobs and
restaurants, entertainment, and grow our economy -- well, that's great. Meridian's
economy is also growing without that. So, I'm really struggling to find a compelling
reason to support giving up a city -owned asset to benefit an overall larger commercial
project and that's hard, because as has been articulated many times, the person behind
the project is somebody who I consider a friend, but I think we as elected officials have
to take the names out of the seats and make the determination about what if it isn't
Josh, what if it's somebody else, boy, would we still be feeling the same way that we are
and so for me that makes it easier to say, boy, just don't see the value that I can
articulate to our taxpayers in just giving up a city -own piece of property.
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Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Based on what I have read on NextDoor, if you put out an RFP for this to be a
Trader Joe's with a parking garage on top, I think the taxpayers will be happy with that.
De Weerd: Well, I think you're right that -- that development is happening all around us,
but not in downtown. Downtown always hosts or sports a number of problems and an
uneven playing field and that is why urban renewal districts are generally developed or
-- or considered is to help even that playing field and allow redevelopment to happen.
It's been said many times -- and I think that our public in particular during Destination
Downtown said it is important to them that the heart and soul of our community is
healthy and that investment happens down here. Well, there is a partnership
expectation with redevelopment to -- to even that playing field. The reason you're not
seeing development in downtown is because of the challenges and the costs for
redevelopment and oftentimes those -- those assets that are owned by an urban
renewal district are considered to help incentivize those investments, to bring them to
our downtown and in the meantime bring services and jobs and life. So, I guess you
can see it in a number of different fashions, but that's traditionally some of the rationale
behind having those assets and putting them to use in looking for that higher and better
investment and bringing life and jobs into a downtown. Mr. Basalone.
Basalone: Madam Mayor. Just one of the factors that Councilman Cavener left out of
his concern is the fact that the goal of urban renewal is to increase property values, to
increase the value of what is already here in some meaningful way, because of all the
things that the Mayor was just talking about, which limit it. First of all scale. I mean
there is a reason why people are building in Ten Mile and not downtown, because they
can get more property cheaper there than they can here and the scale allows them to
make a profit, which is what capitalism is all about, and I would submit to you,
Councilman Cavener, that the equity increase in the property -- private property value
downtown over time will more than pay back the public's need to have revenue from the
downtown. I can tell you from own experience, having been an investor in downtown
over the last five, six years, my property taxes have more than doubled in a two year
time period. That tax money is going to the public. It's not going to anyone private. It's
going to the public and if we have a development on Broadway that's going to bring in
over time millions of dollars of tax revenue, that's to the benefit of the whole Meridian
community. So, I think we have got to look at a long range, as well as short range in
terms of value and you're right about education, because nothing is being given away.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. We are asking somebody to invest two, three,
four, ten million dollars in our downtown of their money, not our money. So, there is no
such thing as a free lunch and I think that we have to take that longer view sometimes,
because it is an investment in our downtown.
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De Weerd: Well, it doesn't appear that a decision or direction will be made tonight or -- I
don't get that sense, but certainly if Council would like to prove me wrong I'm open to
that.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: While I am not one that is any -- prepared to make any decision tonight, I do
think it's important that this type of dialogue continues between MDC and the city.
Obviously, we will know the city's fate as it pertains to what, if anything, we may be
required to do with that building in the coming weeks. It warrants either a joint memo
between the two bodies or potentially a follow-up meeting. I'm very supportive of that.
enjoy having the opportunity to hear from our urban renewal commissioners on this
particular issue. So, I think that nobody is closing the door, I think I'm prepared to make
a decision tonight.
De Weerd: Any other comments?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Just one thing for you guys -- everybody to consider and stuff. We -- we all have
seen what's developed in Boise in the last five or six years, how they have grown. I will
guarantee you 50 years ago you could have shot a rifle through that town and never hit
a person. It took them -- or their urban renewal district that long and if you get
something started like this, it will just piggyback all around. We -- and Tammy and I and
Bill are the ones -- that's why we did not move City Hall out of this downtown. We could
have -- we could have found property half the price if we wanted to go out to Eagle, Ten
Mile, someplace like that. But we committed here. The MDC, thanks to Ashley, we got
COMPASS to come down here and bring people down here. We put that building up
and stuff. So, just -- just think what you want downtown here. Dirty dirt is always going
to be more expensive than clean dirt. I just leave that with you guys to think about. It --
you don't redevelop a downtown that didn't have a great set up to start with for the last
40 years. We have had the Crossroads and all them go on in out there and draw a lot
of that away there. So, just -- this thing, do you want to redevelop downtown? If so this
block is a good place to start.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor and Mr. Bird, to that point I think that -- that I -- I agree that we
want to see this stuff redeveloped and it's best done in the private sector through the
selling of it, because I mean you bring up the building that COMPASS and VRT is in,
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that's a building that tax dollars continue to go towards debt on that MDC doesn't -- they
are not on the title. I mean that -- that to me is a disgusting situation, the fact that there
is an unelected board that built the building, gave it away, is paying the debt on it and
isn't on the title and so to me instead of turning properties over to MDC or to another
government agency to try to figure out who best to give them to, because they might
build the coolest thing, this is why I am consistently in favor of selling properties,
because if we sell it, then, it's in the private sector's hand and while we very well may in
that situation get the project that we all -- all these ideas of what may end up there that
we have been hearing for the last few months, we are all super excited about that. But
the process in which that property is transferred ownership needs to be done in the
purest way and that is not by just transferring it between governments to give it away,
without -- especially without an opportunity to get it back if what you are told is going to
be built isn't built. I don't foresee that being the issue, but whoever it may be, whether it
was Josh or anybody else, if there is -- there is always a chance that that isn't going to
happen and so to give it away without a mechanism to get it back because a bank
doesn't like that language, isn't appropriate to me.
Bevan: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes. Mrs. Bevan.
Bevan: Thank you. I just want to point out that, you know, throughout MDC and all the
many times that -- that November Whiskey has come and presented to us, that, you
know, where we are today is not where we were ever intended to be today. So, I think
in the original process of going through the 703 and 713 and coming and presenting
tens of thousands of dollars have gone through November Whiskey in trying to make
this happen and I think we just need to remember that -- that that point is that there was
a lot of heart and a lot of drawings and a lot of renditions and a lot of changes, I mean if
there could already be a building on 703 there would be and so we just need to
remember that, that -- that I think that we need to continue with that same passion that
we started with at the very beginning, because I think that that's important to remember.
De Weerd: Good reminder.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, the RFP is put out, then, by MDC; correct? Does the Council have any say
in the final choice or is that all MDC? We have -- okay.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Hold on. We will have Mr. Lakey respond to that question.
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Lakey: Thank you, Madam Mayor and Council Member Milam. The RFP we
anticipated would be put out by MDC, but it would be developed and approved both by
the city and by MDC, so we are -- if -- if both entities decide to do it, you're on the same
page as to what's issued, both the city and MDC would be involved in selecting the
successful proposal and, then, even after that the city would still have the final veto on
whether or not to transfer the property. It's the city's property, it would have to be
transferred to MDC to be moved forward in whatever development is selected. So, the
city has most of the cards in this one.
De Weerd: Thank you. Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Thank you, Madam Mayor, but he answered my question in that
process.
De Weerd: Thank you. Mr. Mueller.
Mueller: Okay. I want to make a comment, but I like want to take my MDC hat off for a
second and be a member of the public. So, a couple things. One is if you guys spend a
lot of time downtown, like Old Town Meridian, which I do, we just lost one of two tech
companies in downtown. They needed to move. They looked for space. They haven't
been able to find space. So, they are gone. I'm hiring five people a week right now.
think I'm the largest employer in downtown Meridian next to City Hall and I'm out of
space and I'm literally going campus style and it's insanely expensive for me, because
I'm going to have to start signing leases on multiple buildings, which gets stupid, the
amount of coffee machines I have to buy is absolutely ridiculous and you're, frankly,
going to lose me soon, because I can't fit down here, guys. That's just the truth of
what's going on in downtown. We need development. We have -- even flagship
restaurants that I can't actually say, because it's on friends -- that basically are at the
point where they want to move into, essentially, something kind of like Boise, a
downtown entertainment district that doesn't exist in Meridian and if we don't solve
these problems soon, they are going to leave, too, and we are, essentially, going to be
the place that you pass through on 1-84 to go to downtown Boise to have a good night
out and get a drink and a bite to eat. That's the reality of what is actually happening.
Our company -- when we hire an employee right now -- our average employee buys a
home, their first time home ever within three months of getting hired by us. You know
where they buy their homes, because our offices are in downtown Meridian, they buy
their homes in Meridian. They live out here. So, as a member of the public on one
hand I sit here -- this is why I'm on urban renewal. I will never be a good city employee.
You guys can all laugh at me -- and it's true, I would laugh at myself if I ever went to try
to actually be in politics. But the reality is I'm on urban renewal because our job is not to
only predict taxpayer money, that's your guys' job and you do a great job at it. Our job
is to think strategically about downtown and how are we going to save the fact that we
have businesses even now -- while we all think that we are so focused on building
downtown, we are losing businesses. They don't have space to grow. We have coffee
shops that don't have enough people. Do you know I'm the highest grossing person at
both our coffee shops and Flatbread. I know both owners. They have their little
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system. I have spent more at both of those places than anybody else in history. If -- we
are going -- we are not quite growing like people think we are. Yes, we are growing, but
our downtown is not. Okay. So, we do need development. Time is of the essence.
We are losing companies right now as we speak and things like this -- I got to correct --
I'm sorry, I'm talking very long, but give me -- I got to correct a couple facts, because we
actually took a really long point to meet with the Meridian Press to make sure that the
article that you're scared about getting published someday, it's an impossibility that that
would ever be published, because already they know enough information to know that
what you said is actually not possible. So, the property that Josh has currently -- he's
already expressed and said if we cannot move forward on a bigger project, that he will
develop that, but the trick is you can't just say, okay, go ahead and start that and we will
get back to you on the other greater thing, because there is an economy of scale thing.
I'm either doing a loan for this much money for this fixed project or I'm doing a loan for
the whole thing. We can't do one without the other. So, that is currently on hold while
he's waiting for a response, essentially, from us, okay? So, that's why that's on hold.
Secondly, those properties are back on the tax code, so he has paid property tax on
them, which they weren't for the last several years. They were just a drain on city and
taxpayers. So, we are happy that they are at least back on the tax code. Somebody is
paying taxes on it. There will be a development there. We are hoping for a larger one.
Secondly, they have never ever expressed an interest at all to necessarily get Meridian
city hall for free. That's something we all seem to kind of be projecting onto them. I
don't think they care. They are more interested in what is the way to go about doing a
bigger development. Now, me as an MDC member, I understand this block is a very
strategic place in downtown and we only get one shot at doing this right and it's
important that we do do it right. Now, here is the dilemma that we run into -- and I'm just
going to be very transparent here. We have the public and everyone here. As an MDC
member, trying to be strategic for downtown, saying what do we need downtown for
downtown to thrive. If we go a public route and we say let's just put it up for auction and
sell it. We lose our ability to be strategic, because anybody can buy it. The Harvest
Church, which we all like and has done a great job and we actually partner with them on
a transportation program, they could see on this amount of value in it and they will
literally buy it, pay twice the market rate and level the thing and just turn it into church
parking. Now while they have been a good partner to downtown, that is not a strategic
use of a whole entire city block that we can develop; right? So, to be able to control the
destiny in some way of this development, it doesn't mean we have to give it to a chosen
winner, I don't care what developer builds something, I just know that we need stuff built
down here; right? So, we need to be able to somewhat I think control this process
through an RFP to make sure that the greater strategy of both MDC, people like me
from the public that don't get paid to do this, that somehow this takes like 20 hours of
my life every single week; right? Somehow we get what we actually need for downtown
and we all agree, even City Council, that it is strategic; right? So, we have -- this isn't as
easy as -- although I just want to sell it to public sector or those guys want to give it to a
developer that's pre -chosen. It's not that simple; right? The other thing I would say -- if
you like this meeting and like hearing input from us, we meet every week right there,
actually. We have a property committee that discusses this stuff in detail and this is a
project that I personally have worked on for almost a year and it's not only even -- I will
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Page 21 of 36
be glad after this -- 90 seconds. This project isn't even just this project. This project is
connected to the Union Pacific land, which is connected to Pro Build. It's connected to
a greater vision of all of downtown and there is a lot of information -- information,
believe it or not, the whole entire press has been briefed on. We met with them for --
how long did we meet? Three hours I think it took or two hours or something to explain
all of this. So, there is a lot of details around this. It's not just as simple as, hey, I just
want to sell it or, hey, I don't want to just do an RFP that automatically will be won by
Pacific Partners. Does that make sense? I hope that helps shed some light.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: So, here is a question and, then, the reason for it. How long does it take to
prepare the process for either going an RFP route or auction or whatever mechanism to
just sell the thing route and -- and whatever the time frame those are, to know when we
could -- the reason I'm saying this is I -- if we were to -- to be in the process on both
routes and, then, by the time it's time to say go on one of them, we might have more
information with regard to the courthouse and be able to make a better decision which
way to go, or is it none of that can begin until we do say go?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Palmer. So -- I wish
there was an easy answer. You know there never is.
Palmer: Sure.
Nary: The RFP process will take a little bit longer, because as Mr. Lakey stated, the
development of what -- what the city and the MDC board is interested in and what you
would like it to contain, will probably take 30 to 45 days to develop that. Putting that,
then, out to the marketplace, the timing is whatever you choose, 45 days, 30 days, 60
days, whatever you choose is fine. So, that process will likely take quite a bit longer
and really I think the question we really know -- or are asking and want a decision at
some point is do you want us to do that. The selling part is simpler. There's a public
hearing process that's required. There is declarations that has to be noticed in the
paper. There is a public hearing that's held and, then, the auction itself. So, if you're --
if you want to sell the property you can do that probably within -- with a due diligence
period and everything else that might go with it, 60 to 90 days max and you can be done
with it. Probably 60 -- closer to 60. So, you could do the selling very quickly. But the
other piece -- because, again, we are still looking at the development of the RFP and
what you're looking for, will generally take a little bit longer and, again, you would want
to put it out on the street for at least 30 days, if not 60 or 90, depending on what you're
looking for.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
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Palmer: And just for the selling version -- auction I guess, what does that look like? Is it
a -- okay, on such and such a day we are going to have an auction of the property or is
it -- bids are open for 30 days?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Palmer, you know,
apologize, I don't remember the specifics of the statute. We haven't sold many pieces
of property with the city since I have been here. The noticing part and all of that stuff is
done. There is a set date for the auction to be held. In the past the ones we did, we did
simply a closed bid. We set a minimum price. We did a closed bid and we got -- we got
better than the minimum price for it. Here we are talking a large parcel, we are just
probably going to have an appraisal with some other things that will have to go into it
and, then, whether or not you do like a public auction -- how that's -- how that auction is
done -- I would have to look. There isn't a lot of changes in the code in that regard, so
how the public option is held I couldn't tell you specifically off the top of my head how we
would do that. I think that's a decision for the Council on how they would like to acquire
those bids and whether or not you would leave it open for a period of time. You know,
it's not eBay, so you really can't just leave it out there and have people constantly
bidding against each other. But you're going to set a minimum and you're going to have
to do some due diligence to make that determination as well.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: And you would have to sell that to the highest bid.
Nary: Correct.
Basalone: Madam Mayor? I think we need to clarify something. An RFP process is not
a giveaway process. It is a sales process and I hope maybe -- maybe Counsel Lakey
could explain -- we have been through the RFP process with a number of properties
through MDC and you put out the RFP, putting out what you would like to see with --
done with that property or how it would be used. But, then, you have to negotiate a sale
and you get people who say they are willing to pay this, that, or the other thing in order
to acquire that property. So, the RFP process is a sales process. It isn't a giveaway
process. You could, if you felt that it would be in the benefit of the public to sell it for a
dollar, because somebody is going to invest ten million dollars, you could do that if that's
the best deal for the public, but you are selling the property. Am I right or wrong?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Mr. Basalone, you're not wrong in
relation to MDC. We can -- the city cannot sell it to an individual based on an RFP. We
could sell it to MDC, but we can't sell it to one individual person without a public bidding
process.
Basalone: Right. But what I'm saying -- if it came to MDC and we put it out for an RFP,
we would be negotiating with whoever applies through that process for the best deal for
the public. That is the point I wanted to make.
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Nary: And, Mr. Basalone, you're absolutely correct. What I'm saying is the city can only
give it to MDC or sell it to MDC as an individual buyer. If we want to sell it to anyone
else it has to be done through the public auction.
Basalone: That's correct.
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: I -- there has been a lot of discussion, a lot of debate, and I really respect and I
appreciate it. It's important. I agree with Commissioner Basalone and the Mayor and
others who have spoke about the grander and greater vision that this project brings
downtown. I think that there is an absolute -- I never have ever in my life professed to
be the smartest person in the room. Probably never will be. That's the reason why we
have folks like Counsel Lakey, you know, Mr. Nary and others who counsel us and
make sure that we are doing the right thing, that we are being transparent, that we are
making legal decisions, that we are doing the best job to put it out there in front of
people. Let's let them do their job, all right? Let's agree this evening that we are going
to do, you know, some type of RFP or at least start the process. It doesn't mean that
we have to put it out, but least maybe start the process, do it the right way and -- and
not lose sight of the grander vision of what's going to happen to downtown with this
project, whether it's Josh or anyone else, can do for the greater good and what can
happen economically to revitalize what we -- what we truly love, which is downtown.
That's -- that's my opinion.
Milam: Is that a motion?
Bernt: It could be. I don't know.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. Mr. Nary. I had like 80 more questions. What were they? So
-- okay. So, if we are looking at -- at six weeks to even being able to say, okay, RFP is
open and a much longer process to actually dispose of the property that way, but 60, 90
days I think is what you said for selling it route --
Nary: Yes.
Palmer: -- would we be able to say stop up until auction day or is it -- if we put out a
notice saying we are going to sell this property on this day, is it we are selling it on that
day?
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Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, and MDC, my recollection of the statute
-- and it's been a while since I have looked at that on disposal -- once you have made
the determination that it is of no longer use for the public and you are going to notice it
out for auction, you cannot take it back. You cannot get your minimum price, whatever
the minimum price you set -- if you don't get that you certainly don't have to sell it. At
that point you can actually negotiate a sale to anybody if you don't get the minimum
price. But once you have made that declaration that you no longer need it and set a
minimum price and notice that there is a sale, then, you can't take it back. So, there is a
point -- there is a stopping point before that. The public hearing process, you know,
which can be 60 days out, but at a certain point you don't have the ability to rescind that.
Palmer: Madam Mayor? Then, yeah, I think -- as much as I hate having staff and
anybody preparing two things, knowing we are going to throw one out the window, I
think maybe the best move, in light of making sure that there is a timing -- that we are
not delaying the possibility of this being an opportunity -- is start the process on both,
making sure that we know where the cutoff dates are, so that we don't go too far on one
and we are stuck with that one and that way we have begun the process tonight of
being able to dispose of it how we choose as we gather more information and as we
approach those drop dead deadlines.
Nary: And, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Palmer, maybe
on that piece, if the direction from the Council is to begin the staff process and working
the RFP, we can, then, come back to the Council probably -- maybe not next week's
meeting, but the meeting after, to give you that time table on the sale piece, so that you
will have a better, clearer understanding, because like some of -- some of those
deadlines and things I'm not as clear on tonight in my head, so we could at least come
back to you in two weeks, but that -- because you're not going to start anything on that
right away and you're still going to have to do appraisals and other things. But at least
we can give you the timeline on the sale portion in two weeks.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: My turn. I'm kidding. I believe that we should -- I should almost make a motion.
We should go ahead with the preparing of the RFP. I do like the idea of being able to
approve the project and not just selling it to somebody who is going to put it in a car lot
or a pawn shop or something that's not going to add economic vitality to downtown
Meridian. So, yes, I move that we start preparing RFP and -- with an A and a B, just in
case there has to be a courthouse involved.
Bernt: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second. Discussion?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
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De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I think that as elected officials we do a really good job of talking a lot and I am
guilty of that and I think that there -- we could go down this route of just looking at an
RFP and, then, maybe we get to a point where we decide, shoot, we would have rather
-- this just isn't going to work. Something came up. Whatever it might be. Would rather
go the auction route and, then, we have lost time and so I really don't see any harm in
moving both options forward, at least directing staff to do that so that when we can
make that decision as more information is gathered, as we get closer to those -- those
dates and -- that Mr. Nary will figure out for us. So, with that, as a substitute motion,
move just that.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Councilman Palmer, I guess part of it -- it's not just staff time. There is -- selling
there is going to appraisals and a lot of other financial obligations that go into the sale of
a property and I guess personally I just don't understand the rush of the sale.
understand the rush of the RFP -- of the RFP, because people want to get moving on it.
I feel that if we don't get -- come up with something that we like and approve, then, we
can sell the property. I think that's a great backup plan. I just don't think it should be
the first -- the Plan A. It's more like a plan B or C.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: And my motion didn't make -- which I hope maybe gets a second -- didn't say
-- favor one or the other. Obviously, I have a favoring, but the motion wasn't move
forward with this and if it doesn't work do an RFP, it's figure out the mechanisms for
both and know when we have to pick one, so that we can begin the process and not
waste any time should one or the other become more appetizing as we gain
more information later.
De Weerd: Well, did --
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: -- that motion --
Cavener: I will second that for the sake of maybe advancing the discussion. Madam
Mayor, if I may. I'm somewhat supportive of the concept of Mr. Palmer's motion.
Before the vote, I would like some better clarity about what the goal of the RFP would
be, what it would include. I mean there is some certain elements that we have talked
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about and talked around here tonight. I would want some stronger clarity, some
stronger sideboards before I would be supportive of casting a positive or from moving
forward on Mr. Palmer's path. So, I don't know if Mr. Palmer has got some thoughts
that he would like to share about what that RFP would look like. If legal counsel,
Madam Mayor, if you have got thoughts about what you would want to have that
include, to me that would be helpful. A hypothetical RFP gives me a lot of heartburn.
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: I mean I don't know if we would be just throwing something hypothetically out
there, you know. I think that, you know -- you know, obviously, we are not going to
leave it in the hands of Council or staff or whoever might be, you know, writing up this
RFP and -- and let it go out. Obviously, we are going to have a discussion about it.
think that -- I think that maybe what the motion is is that we allow that discussion to take
place. That we allow the conversation to take place and maybe in that motion say, you
know, we reconvene in -- on such a date to talk about what was proposed and, then,
have significant discussion in regard -- and serious discussion in regard to what that
RFP may or may not look like.
De Weerd: I think both counsels have heard enough of the discussion they probably
have a good baseline to bring something back in two weeks' time that can give you key
elements to an RFP and in addition to say if the RFP is not the route chosen at that
time, the specific steps to disposal of city property. Yes, Ashley.
Squyres: Madam Mayor, Chairman Winder, and Members of the Council and Board,
we do have a property committee meeting next Wednesday, the 21st, at 3:00 p.m. in
your council conference room. We could invite anyone from this Commission and this
Council to attend that and we could talk through this a little bit more. Usually Counsel
Lakey is in attendance at that. We would certainly invite Counsel Nary to be a part of
that discussion and we can focus that hour on this discussion alone.
De Weerd: Mr. Lakey.
Lakey: Madam Chair. I think -- at least I have some idea of -- of the vision that you all
have been talking about. I think the RFP would have the opportunity to have a single
potential project with just the building, but there is also -- I have heard a lot of comments
about incorporating it into a larger vision. So, you can have -- RFPs are usually fairly
broad in their description. You can do this or you can do this or give us your ideas
besides those things, so -- but we can certainly include language that allows them to do
one or encompass it in some type of larger vision for the -- either the block or even
beyond that. But all of that is -- we bring a draft to you and, then, you can cut it back or
modify it or change it and potentially we can kind of talk about some of those larger
picture things in our property committee. If some of the city officials want to come, just
make sure we are all copacetic with open meeting laws, but --
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De Weerd: Well, it sounds like it could be further discussed at the property meeting.
Mr. Nary can come back in two weeks and lay out bullets to consider in an RFP and
giving the updates on what -- of disposal of city -owned property would look like as well.
Further discussion from Council?
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: Counsel Lakey, Mr. Nary, any further discussion you need from us or any -- any
direction, any questions you have from us before we have a vote? Do you have
everything that you need?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: And maybe also include in the discussion, as the Mayor has talked about
before, the parking lot that we stole in front of us as an opportunity to be included in it,
assuming the parking would -- in whatever mechanism be replaced. Yeah. The parking
lot in front of us. But -- and just as a further comment, I think that, you know, if Mr.
Evarts at any point decided to transfer the title back -- give the property back, I think -- I
feel like this Council would be much happier to move forward as fast as humanly
possible on -- you know, on the normal RFP process with those included, but he owns
them, it's up to him. So, I think this is our best route, assuming those properties are
going to stay there.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I have to echo Council Member Palmer's comments. Recognize Mr. Evarts
has worked his contract, has entitlements to the land, I appreciate that, but, boy, we
would have been done a lot sooner tonight if you would just offer to give back or, quite
frankly, if the MDC had asked for them back and I appreciate the discussion tonight, but
there is a couple other mechanisms that we haven't discussed that involve asking for
the property back or for the current person with the entitlements to turn them back. If
MDC doesn't want to do that, that's fine, but it definitely has complicated the process.
De Weerd: That property is owned.
Cavener: Madam Mayor --
De Weerd: I don't understand why this is even a discussion. That property is owned.
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Cavener: Madam Mayor --
De Weerd: It's owned. It went through a process and this -- the MDC Board made a
decision.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I asked the question. I'm happy to answer it. The reason why it's coming up
is because the City Council is being asked to dispose of a taxpayer owned resource to
give to a private owner for a project and some of us have some issues with that and we
want to make sure that we feel comfortable in our decision. That's why.
De Weerd: Well, I'm sorry, I don't think MDC ever gave the impression that -- of that.
have not heard one person on the MDC Board say that. So, I'm sorry, I disagree. But
we have a motion on the table right now and I would ask is there any further discussion
pertaining to the motion? Mr. Clerk.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Council Member Milam?
Milam: No.
Coles: Council Member Bernt?
Bernt: Aye.
Coles: Council Member Palmer?
Palmer: Aye.
Coles: Council Member Little Roberts?
De Weerd: I'm sorry. Mr. Clerk, I will just clarify. The motion is the amended motion to
-- to move forward with both the RFP and --
Bernt: I'm sorry.
De Weerd: Yes. So, maybe start roll call --
Milam: Wait. Madam Mayor? Sorry. Discussion real quick.
De Weerd: Okay.
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Milam: I guess -- I don't have a problem with looking into the sale of the property.
don't want to spend any money and a whole lot of city resources or time working on that
option, because I think that should be the last option.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
►yin .�TOW
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer. I will ask Mr. Palmer to give a little bit more background behind
the motion. Or the intent.
Palmer: Thanks. Madam Mayor, I think where we are going to have -- in a couple of
weeks, you know, a lot better -- is a faster process, I don't think we are going to lose any
ground by waiting a couple weeks to find out from Mr. Nary exactly what that process is
and I'm fine with -- the intent of the motion -- not necessarily meaning to -- to spend
money, other than finding out exactly what the process is going to be, because they can
start the RFP process while we gather the information on exactly how this other one
would go and, then, if it's appropriate then to decide, okay, we now know how this
works, let's move forward with paying for an appraisal and so on, because we know that
-- the deadlines for both.
De Weerd: So, your motion is to start the process of developing an RFP and bring back
in two weeks the key components to what that RFP would have, as well as an outline of
disposal of city owned property.
Palmer: Yes.
De Weerd: Yes? Does second agree?
Cavener: Yes.
De Weerd: Okay. That's the motion that we are voting on -- or you're voting on. Any
further clarification needed? Okay. Mr. Clerk.
Roll call: Borton, abstain; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea;
Bernt, yea.
De Weerd: Okay. The motion passes and we will set this on the 27th.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSTAIN.
De Weerd: Certainly, Council, you're -- if we don't want a quorum, but if you would like
to attend the property meeting, if you will let Ashley know, so she will have a better
indication of -- if we have a quorum or not.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
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Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I just -- I guess I wanted to clarify for Bill or whoever is going to be working on
that, when you bring back the information can you, please, include all financial
obligations on the sale of the property? Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, a question I think maybe for Mr. Nary or the clerk. If there is
four Council Members who want to attend that, are we in a position that we should just
notice that as a meeting and what that process looks like? I don't want to preclude a
Council Member from attending, but I also don't want us to notice it as a meeting if we
don't have enough members who are going to be there. I just don't want to limit
anybody's option to be able to attend or not attend.
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: The property meeting is next week. Wednesday at 3:00?
Squyres: At 3:00 o'clock. And Madam Mayor and Members of the Council and the
Board, we noticed the property committee quite often as a public meeting, just because
there are times that we do have a quorum in our own board in attendance. So, I'm not
concerned about that. I just want to make sure that we properly notice.
De Weerd: We will ask -- C.Jay, would you also notice it just an advisory notice, just in
case we would have a quorum. Does that work, Bill? Okay. As an official meeting
maybe.
Nary: Yeah. So, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, so the problem is there is no
such thing. So, you can -- if you noticed a meeting you don't have a quorum, then, you
can't have the meeting. So, that's the problem. So, if you decide -- I think, C.Jay, they
can notice it by Friday. I believe so. If you can let C.Jay know by Friday -- if he knows
there is four of you to be there we will just notice it as a meeting. We have to record it
and other things. If there isn't a quorum, then, you're not going to -- I mean you can still
attend it, but if there is only three of you that have the time or the ability to be there,
then, we don't have to notice that, even if MDC does. So, I just don't want to notice the
meeting and, then, we don't have a quorum and, then, we still hold the meeting anyway
and we are really not supposed to do that, so --
De Weerd: Okay. Well -- and how does that work? Because I'm on the committee.
will be there irregardless.
Bird: You don't count. You're not part of Council.
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Nary: You don't count as part of Council.
De Weerd: Okay.
Nary: So, you're okay for that.
De Weerd: Okay.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. Maybe just before we move off this, I just wanted to reiterate
that we are all super excited about the opportunities for our next door neighbor here and
while we all have different opinions on the best way to make all that happen in between,
we all want it to happen. We are all on board for this and I just pray that at the end of
the day we can figure out a way that ends up kosher for everybody and no problems
and so that we can have this amazing project. Again, we all want it. Let's just figure out
a way to make it happen.
Vlassek: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Vlassek.
Vlassek: Madam Mayor. The other thing that I would suggest is maybe we ask Ashley
in that property meeting to bring the renderings and stuff on the proposed 703 and 713
piece, so that the Council Members that might not have seen that can see Josh's vision
and some of the renderings and the dollars that were spent on that corner.
Squyres: Mr. Vlassek -- or Commissioner Vlassek and Madam Mayor and Members, I
will ask Josh to get me the current update renderings for you and we will have those
available.
Item 5: Union Pacific Railroad Update
De Weerd: Okay. Okay. Anything further on this item? Moving on. We will move to
Item No. 5, the Union Pacific Railroad update.
Squyres: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Members of our Board,
I'm going to keep the next three items fairly quick, just because I know that you have
had a very long meeting and, then, our board is going into our regular meeting right
after this. But just wanted to give you a little bit of an update on some projects that we
are working on. I'm going to start with a little bit of history on each of those, so I hope
my board members will just give me just a little bit of latitude, but I will keep it quick. So,
as you know, Pro Build is looking at consolidating their operations east of 3rd Street.
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This includes the potential construction of a new spur. Pro Build, in their conversations
with us, has granted -- granted permission to us late last summer -- late last summer,
early last fall, to pursue a conversation with Union Pacific. Up to this date we had not
had a relationship of our own with Union Pacific and thanks in part to Brenda Sherwood,
your economic development director, who was able to bring us into a meeting with Pro
Build, that was very helpful for us. We talked to UP about the possibility of utilizing the
space between Main Street and East 3rd for parking and also potential some open
space for that entire property with Pro Build relocating. We were able -- we were very
fortunate to get UP out from Nebraska to meet with us at the end of October on site.
We had some representation from some of our MDC board commissioners. We talked
through the concepts that you have in front of you. I just wanted to make sure that you
all had the two different ideas that have been bantered around. We know that these will
have to be modified at some point. In general in that meeting it was very successful
and I can let some of my board members fill in on that conversation, but, generally, UP
walked away feeling pretty good about our conversation. They are very supportive of
the parking concept, because it does still fit within their mission and they encouraged us
to submit a lease application. In November we obtained permission from the -- from UP
to be able to have our civil environmental consultants out on site. The goal was to do a
high level walk through in order to give my MDC board the ability to understand what
the high level costs may be if we were to move forward with the removal of structures,
along with the construction of parking and some streetscape along Broadway. So,
those consultants provided MDC numbers for removal of structures, the environmental
remediation -- we are assuming worst case scenario at this point. UP would not allow
us to do any testing until we have a lease in place. It includes the parking lot
construction. It includes open space construction. And Broadway Avenue streetscape
and lighting on the south side. In January our board reviewed those numbers and
authorized me to be able to submit a lease application to Union Pacific. That
application has been submitted. We know that the concept plan in front of you will need
to be modified. At the time that this was drawn back about a year ago almost, we
weren't sure if Pro Build was willing to give up the building on the corner of Main Street
and Broadway. As they were undergoing their own negotiations with Pro Build -- or,
excuse me, Union Pacific. They are willing to give that property back -- or that building
back and so we would modify our plans. I am waiting on formal comments from Union
Pacific. We have been in verbal discussions about some of the questions they have
regarding the site plans. They aren't very keen, unfortunately, on open space, but we
are trying to work through that and figure out if our -- if our insurance through ICRMP
would cover some of their concerns. So, we are working through that. They are also
working through potential lease rates based on market rates and we have given them
an idea of what construction costs we may be incurring to be able to move forward with
one of these plans. So, hopefully, we can come to a consensus soon. This is the most
up-to-date information that I have at this time, but it's been a very positive conversation.
They seem very willing to work with us and so I am very hopeful that we are going to be
able to come forward with an actual proposal and I'm happy to answer any questions
you may have and if my board, who has been involved in the conversation, would like to
add anything, please, feel free to do so.
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De Weerd: Thank you, Ashley. Any addition to the presentation that Ashley gave by
the board? Any questions from Council?
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: Maybe Ashley stated this, I didn't hear, I apologize. On the pinkish -- this area
where it says area to remain, is that going to be dirt or gravel or --
Squyres: It would be some level of kind of gravel surface that would minimize dust. We
are looking at ways to minimize some of the costs. So, that would be more overflow
area.
De Weerd: And there are some buildings on there, too, that would remain that were not
part of the project.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Not a question, just more a comment. This is great. This is awesome news
to hear. I want to thank -- I was mentioning to Commissioner McCarvel underneath my
breath, I never thought in a million years something like this would happen. So, to the
MDC commissioners and staff that helped bring this to us tonight, even to get to this
step is no small feat I'm aware of. So, job well done. Really appreciate you sharing this
tonight.
Item 6: Nine Mile Floodplain Discussion
De Weerd: Any other questions from Council? Okay. Thank you. Item 6 is the Nine
Mile Creek or not --
Squyres: The Nine Mile Floodplain.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Squyres: You're welcome. Mayor, Members of the Council and the Commission, just to
give, again, a little bit more historical context for those who are newer, in the -- in the
2000s MDC became aware of the Nine Mile Floodplain. This impacts properties
primarily between the Union Pacific rail line tracks and Franklin Road. In 2011 MDC
hired a consultant to assist with understanding what improvements would need -- would
be needed in order to get those properties out of the floodplain. We had the opportunity
during the split corridor project, as many of you may remember, to be able to oversize a
culvert under Meridian Road, hopefully, allowing for better flows and to eliminate some
of the floodplain issues. As we were moving forward with our study, we were informed
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in 2012 that FEMA was remapping the entire Boise watershed. So, our remapping
efforts were put -- put on hold, because we were just a very small area within a very
large study area. We were told we would have draft maps by 2014. Unfortunately, that
did not happen. We received a draft map in December of 2016. So, those draft maps
were issued and, unfortunately, FEMA increased the flood -- based on the draft maps,
the floodplain, there is only one property based on those draft maps that is outside of
the floodplain and that's Eric Davis' property on the east side of Main Street, on the
south side of the tracks. Every other property within the urban renewal district south of
the tracks in between Franklin Road is now forecasted to be within a floodplain and this
has horrible implications for redevelopment and for those property owners. So, in 2017
our consultant filed an appeal of the map based on their calculations in flow and,
essentially, the best way to describe this is -- is that FEMA looked at this at a hundred
thousand foot level. Our consultant was able to bring it down to a 30,000 foot level and
bring in more information and data to be able to say your flows are much too high. So,
we put in the appeal in August. FEMA responded I would say, Mr. Winder, probably six
weeks, eight weeks after we placed that appeal in. We started having conversations
with the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, along with the floodplain administrator with
Meridian and while they haven't accepted what our flow rate is and we were initially
proposing around 80 cfs, they certainly are not going to do -- to move forward with 145
cfs based on those draft maps and right now we are working from a model of a hundred
cfs, which is significantly decreased and that's good news for our area. FEMA has
agreed, graciously, and I think -- I'm not sure if your floodplain administrator has given
you an update on this, but has agreed to assist with the hydraulic modeling, because
they are taking our data that they just received in the last couple of weeks and they will
recreate the model based on a hundred cfs. Once we have that information -- it will
probably be about eight weeks -- we can take that information, put it into our models
and we can determine what properties are impacted and what improvements are
needed and what those costs may be and so that's kind of where we are -- that is where
we are at this point. We believe this is a very important project. This is the future
development area of downtown and so my goal, as the administrator, is by the time we
sunset at the end of calendar year 2026 is to go through this process, go through a
letter of map revision with FEMA to get these properties out of the floodplain once the
improvements are made and it would allow for future development. It is a long process.
It's an arduous process. It will likely require some partnerships. There are federal grant
monies available for some of these improvements, but we don't know what we are
looking at quite yet. So, happy to answer any questions that I might be able to answer.
I sat in on a FEMA conference call recently. I understood about 80 percent of it, so I felt
that that was pretty good, but your floodplain administrator -- I just have to say, Council
Members, is amazing and they have just bent over backwards to work with our agency
and I want to thank you for that.
Item 7: Ten Mile Update
De Weerd: Thank you. Any questions from the Board or from the Council? Thank you.
And, last, but not least, the Ten Mile update and you provided a nice packet of
information on that.
Meridian City Council - Meridian Development Corporation Joint Meeting
March 13, 2018
Page 35 of 36
Squyres: Mayor, Council, Board Members, again, I will give just a little bit of historical
perspective and move this fairly quickly.
De Weerd: Can you pull the mic up.
Squyres: I'm so sorry.
De Weerd: Yeah.
Squyres: As you all know, the district was established in 2016 by the City Council. Our
owner participation agreement with Brighton Corporation for that first part of the
development was recorded in February of 2017 and that was based on the development
agreements and the specific plan that this Council approved. That owner participation
agreement, OPA as we call it for short, included 15 segments of improvements for
approximately 16.5 million dollars in improvements. This included reimbursable
improvements, financing at five percent, costs on improvements and right of way and
this is slated -- mostly it's slated between 2016 and 2019. We receive reports from
Brighton on a regular basis. That's what I have given to you. All the reports since we
first started getting reports in March of 2017. They are not always monthly, because
they are very, very busy, but Jonathan Wardle from Brighton Corporation has been
great in communicating with us as needed. So, as you can see the reports, we asked
for infrastructure, we asked for new building permits, we asked for new tenants, new
land entitlements forthcoming, pre -application meetings and land use hearings. Those
are important for us to know, because those affect our owner participation agreement.
All those land use entitlements need to be included as exhibits. In 2017 development
agreements with the city were modified and final plats were recorded and so tonight at
our regular board meeting after this meeting we will be reviewing our very first
amendment to the owner participation agreement to incorporate all the development
agreements and final plats that have been recorded. We need to ensure that our owner
participation agreement is up to date. The entire Ten Mile district generated
approximately -- is generating approximately 40,000 dollars in increment this year. We
received 25,000 dollars about a month ago from the county in our very first assessment
check and we are currently finalizing a reimbursement policy. We are working through
with our legal team, our accounting team, and are auditing team to ensure that our
reimbursement process can stand -- withhold -- stand to the public scrutiny and also to
our annual audits. It's interesting in researching the different -- or renewal agencies
within the state that some have processes and some do not. So, we are just trying to
make sure that we have all of our T's crossed and I's dotted before we approve this.
But I -- I anticipate our very first reimbursement within the next 60 days.
De Weerd: Awesome. Any questions? Okay. If there is no further questions, that is
our agenda. Is there anything further by either Council or -- or MDC Board? Hearing
none, do I have a motion to adjourn?
Cavener: So moved.
Meridian City Council - Meridian Development Corporation Joint Meeting
March 13, 2018
Page 36 of 36
Little Roberts: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adjourn. All those in favor say aye. All
ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Mr. Winder, do you want to ask for a motion to close as well this special
meeting.
Winder: Sure, Madam Mayor. I would move that we close this --
Bird: I move we close the meeting.
Basalone: Second.
De Weerd: Now you just say -- ask for a vote.
Winder: For our motion.
De Weerd: Yeah.
Winder: Okay. So, now it's our turn for a --
De Weerd: You already got a motion and a second.
Winder: Okay. All in favor -- any discussion? All in favor say aye. We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:28 P.M.
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