HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-15Meridian City Council May 15, 2018.
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:03 p.m., Tuesday, May
15, 2018, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Tammy De Weerd, Joe Borton, Genesis Milam, Luke Cavener and
Ty Palmer.
Members Absent: Anne Little Roberts and Treg Bernt.
Others Present: Bill Nary, C.Jay Coles, Kyle Radek, Bruce Freckleton, Brent Bjornson,
Cameron Ariel, Caleb Hood, Josh Beach, Scott Colaianni, Joe Bongiorno, Hillary
Bodnar, Mike Tiede, McClure, Mike Barton and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll -call Attendance:
Roll call.
Anne Little Roberts X Joe Borton
X Ty Palmer Treg Bernt
_X Genesis Milam _X_ Lucas Cavener
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: Okay. I will start tonight's meeting. We have some technical difficulties, but
we will try and work those through as -- as we start this meeting. Did want to start it as
close to on time as we can. So, I'd like to start by welcoming each of you to our City
Council meeting. We appreciate you joining us. For the record it is, Tuesday, May
15th. It's three minutes after 6:00. We will start with roll call, attendance, Mr. Clerk.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Thank you. Item No. 2 is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you will all rise and
join us in the pledge to our flag.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Community Invocation by Michael Pearson with 7th Day Adventist
Church
De Weerd: Item No. 3 is our community invocation. Tonight we will be led by Pastor
Michael Pearson. He is with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. If you will all join us in
the community invocation or take this as an opportunity for a moment of reflection.
Thank you for joining us.
Pearson: Eternal Father, we want to thank you for your willingness to be present in our
deliberations and this evening we ask three things. First, you have indicated that
community leaders who serve the community are there on your choosing and so we ask
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May 15, 2018
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your blessing on them. We also ask that you will bless all decisions made this evening.
And, thirdly, we pray your blessing on each member of the Meridian City. In Jesus'
name we pray, amen.
Item 4: Adoption of Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you, Pastor Michael. Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: We are going to add onto the agenda as an Item 8-A Mayor's Youth Advisory
Council update on participatory budgeting and the final proposal and with that in
addition I would move that we adopt the agenda as amended.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as amended. All those
in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item 5: Future Meeting Topics - Public Forum (Up to 30 Minutes Maximum)
De Weerd: Item 5 is future meeting topics.
Coles: No sign-ups, Madam Mayor.
Item 6: Consent Agenda [Action Item]
Meeting
0030)
Overland
A. Approve Minutes of March 6, 2018 City Council Special
B. Final Plat for Harper Ridge (H-2018-0040) by Schultz
Development, Located at 3885 E. Copper Point Dr.
C. Final Order for Movado Estates Subdivision No. 4 (H -2018 -
by Evans Development LLC Located South Side of E .
Road, Between S. Topaz Way and S . Cloverdale Rd
D. Final Order for Whiteacre Subdivision No. 5 by Kent Brown,
Located on the West Side of N. Meridian Rd. and W. Lava Falls
Dr.
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An
E. Resolution No. 18-2076-A: A Resolution Of The Mayor And The
City Council Of The City Of Meridian Approving City Council
President's Appointments Of City Council Members To Serve
As Department Liaisons, Committee Members, Commission
Ex Officio Members, And City Area Contacts, And Providing
Effective Date.
F. Axon Purchasing Agreement
G. Second Addendum to the Water Right Transfer Application
Agreement with Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District
H. Approval of a Sole Source Purchase for Avolve Projectdox
Software Licenses, Maintenance and Implementation Services.
Avolve Software Corporation is the Only Distributor for
Projectdox Software.
I. ACHD Permit for Conduit and Fiber to Homecourt
J. Approval of Task Order 10930 for Professional Services for
SCADA System Upgrades to Advanced Control Systems (ACS
for the Not -To -Exceed amount of $143,851.00.
K. Approval of Task Order 10921 for Professional Services for
Water Quality Evaluation" to Mountain Waterworks, Inc. for the
Not -To -Exceed amount of $56,920.00.
L. AP Invoices for Payment 5/16/18 - $2,969,428.20
De Weerd: Okay. Six is our Consent Agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda as published and for the Mayor to
sign and Clerk to attest.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr. Clerk,
will you call roll.
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Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item 7: Items Moved From The Consent Agenda [Action Item]
De Weerd: There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 8: Action Items
A. Amended onto agenda: Mayor's Youth Advisory Council
Participatory Budgeting Final Proposal
De Weerd: So, we will move right into eight under Action Items and we will kick it off
with our Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and their presentation on participatory
budgeting. Good evening. We have the whole team. Nice to see you all. Oh. We
have a PowerPoint. That could be a problem.
Conner: All right. Good evening, Madam Mayor and City Council Members. I am
Connor. This is Brianna, Cortney and Britton. We are from Mayor's Youth Advisory
Council and we are here to present a final proposition for our participatory budgeting
project, which is Fix -It stations around Meridian.
World: So, what the Fix -It stations are are bike Fix -It stations to fix flat tires, chains --
broken chains, et cetera. We want to put nine bike stations around Meridian and two
concrete pads will be needed. They are five -by -five pads with ten dollars per square
feet. So, why we want to do this is, obviously, public health and economic efficiency --
efficiency. Obviously, cars have pollution and bikes are going to be way better for the
economy. It increases city unity. If everyone knows that they have a way to fix their
bikes that is free, they will, obviously, be riding their bikes a lot more and feel the same -
- not a certain age to have to drive and transportation is, obviously, an issue if
everybody knows that they have a way that is free to fix their bikes they can ride more
and don't have to be struggling to find a way to get from place to place.
McBride: So, when we presented last we were approached afterwards by Fast Eddy's
and they want to sponsor seven of them and they wanted certain locations and, then,
MYAC also had a few locations in mind. So, Fast Eddy's locations were the Fast Eddy's
off of Eagle and, then, Cole Valley Christian High School, Kleiner Park, Settlers Park,
Tully Park and we will need a concrete pad there and, then, two proposed locations for
them are Storey Park and Paramount Park and, then, MYAC wants to do Heroes Park,
Bear Creek Park, which we will need a concrete pad for, Rita Huskey Park and we
would like to try and do the library. That's the last location. So, this is a map of the
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Meridian Park system and these are just all the proposed locations and they are sort of
like in the middle of Meridian, but they are spread out as well.
Davis: And so for the looks of these Fix -It stations, the station sponsored by Fast
Eddy's will have an orange color and have the Fast Eddy's logo sticker on them, along
with the MYAC logo and the one sponsored by MYAC will be blue with the MYAC logo
on and they will be according to -- they will be a powder coat that will last for, hopefully,
a pretty long time. And so the cost for each station is 1,300 dollars, but working with
Zach Eddy and also with the supplier, we got a 15 percent discount on that price.
Shipping would be approximately 344 dollars, with the concrete pad -- pads being ten
dollars a square foot and so the grand total for all 11 proposed Fix -It stations is
approximately 14,000 dollars and --
Conner: All right. So, we would -- we would like to challenge you guys as City Council
members and Mayor, we urge you guys as elected City Council Members to accept our
position to improve your society, as well as our own, and implement a needed and
applicable solution to bike safety. In summary, we have broken it down into three
different areas. One is the MYAC's cost. The participatory budgeting. And this will
come out to exactly $6,263.94. This means that we will be giving back to the city over --
over 13,736 dollars. Fast Eddy's -- the reason why we can do this is because Fast
Eddy's partnered with us and it's their cost that they are going to be giving towards
these Fix -It stations are 7,735. The total stations that we would like to have are 11, but
right now we have nine approved and we are working on those next two. Thank you.
Oh. Any questions?
e Weerd: Thank you, Conner. Council, any questions?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Are the next two -- are you trying to work with private companies to sponsor
those as well?
McBride: So, for the next two -- well, there is actually three others that need to be
verified, which would be the library, Storey Park, and Paramount Park, which
Paramount Park is not owned by the city, it's owned by the Paramount Subdivision, so
we would have to go through them and their HOA and, then, for the library we would
need to contact the library.
Davis: The explicit cost was already factored in with the 13,000 of those stations and so
these are the final numbers, including those that we haven't yet completely verified yet.
Borton: Okay. Good. Thank you.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
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De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: If this were approved how quickly can you guys move? How quickly will
these be installed?
Davis: Well, the shipping is just around four weeks and with installation the Parks
Department has generously offered to completely help us install with their existing
hardware, because all we need is a drill and the rest is shipped with -- by Dero, the
supplier, and so they can be relatively quickly to install. Of course, the one that's going
at Fast Eddy's will have to wait for them to build that one first.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, follow up?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Cavener: Do you guys have a plan in place? Are these stations being shipped to Fast
Eddy's and you're picking them up? Are they shipped to City Hall? What's the plan
when it comes to that?
Davis: We hadn't discussed exactly where to ship them yet. We wanted to first
approve, but we would -- since we don't know what resources the city has in terms of
like a warehouse that we can ship them to or something like that.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, one more. Is there going to be any type of on-going
maintenance costs to these units and, if so, who is going to be covering that cost?
Davis: In terms of ongoing, all the ones at parks the Parks Department has said that
they will keep up with maintenance at the ones that are located on the city property of
parks and the ones that -- under the private property, Fast Eddy's will be up kept by
them as well. Not parks. By Fast Eddy's.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, follow up. And is the plan for the homeowners associations
and the library, then, to also be responsible for the maintenance on those units and are
you guys working towards an agreement to give to them as well? Is that the plan?
McBride: So, yesterday we talked to a person in the legal department and they were --
they were explaining to us what we need to do with that and if we put it on the library's
property we would -- if they didn't agree to upkeep it, but they still wanted it there, then,
we could go to the city and they could have an access agreement to be able to access
and fix it if needed, because -- so, on average it costs about 40 dollars for upkeep, but
that's only if something happens, so it's not a guaranteed and with Cole Valley High
School they will be upkeeping it and, then, with Paramount Park we are not exactly sure
how that one is going to work out yet.
Cavener: Okay.
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De Weerd: I think they have already discussed as part of the agreement with any of the
private parties they would also agree to the maintenance. That would simplify it.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, would all of these be purchased through the city with the reimbursement to
the city or will it be purchased separately by -- some by the city and some by Fast
Eddy's?
Davis: We will purchase them together to get the best shipping cost and with that -- but
in terms of who is paying for it first, we haven't exactly worked that out yet and I'm not
exactly sure.
Milam: Madam Mayor, follow up. Part of the reason I asked that question is because I
thought a couple slides ago you had sales tax as a line item and the city doesn't have to
pay sales tax I'm pretty sure. I'm not in the purchasing department, but that shouldn't --
don't think that needs to be part of your equation. So, that will actually lower your cost
by going through the city. But I'm really impressed with this project that you guys have
done and thrilled with Fast Eddy's for stepping up to help you guys get it done and get it
approved. So, good job.
De Weerd: And I know that the Eddys are here, Zach and Melissa, and maybe you
want to say a few words. This is exactly what our youth council was hopeful. I think this
exceeded their expectations, this partnership, and how engaged the Eddys have been
in this -- in this project. So, greatly appreciate it, Zach, and you and your family have
spent some time and -- and met with our teams and -- and have really helped drive this.
Eddy: Yeah. It's been -- it's been a great process for us as well. We were here for the
past meeting a couple weeks ago when you guys first had the presentation and I'm not
going to lie, at first we saw this as probably just another project -- just another project
that people might not use. But as -- the further the presentations went we kind of really
-- we saw these guys and their presentation that they did and how knowledgeable they
were with what information they had kind of made our decision. So, big cheers for
them. I mean when I was a sophomore, freshman, junior high school, I wasn't thinking
about Fix -It stations that are for the community. So, it's really good. I'm proud of them,
so --
De Weerd: Thank you. And thank you for stepping up. This is really exciting and you
have done some of the footwork, but you have really helped further the efforts of the
four members of -- the key members of the committee in really moving this along
quickly.
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Eddy: Yeah. Definitely. The one thing we told them that we wanted to do is we would
help them install our seven stations with them by our side if they wanted that, so we --
we have all the tools necessary if they kind of want to get a more hands-on experience
with installing the equipment and stuff like that, so --
De Weerd: That's great. Well -- and there has been great ownership. I know when we
met yesterday on it each one of these committee members have played a role and so
they have divvied up the -- the duties. They arm wrestled on who got to make the
presentation. All of them lost. But we -- we appreciate the energy, the ingenuity that
you have put into this and truly you have emphasized what -- Councilman Borton when
he brought participatory budgeting back from a conference and said can we consider
this. The idea was what's missing teens want to see in this community and you have
really nailed it this year and -- and even further by bringing in a public-private
partnership and leveraging your effort in an even greater way. So, thank you. Anything
further from Council? Okay. Thank you, Zach. Melissa. Well, they have a proposal in
front of you and they do also have a proposal -- I know their -- their budgeted amount
was 20,000. They are turning back a significant -- more than 60 percent of that, so,
Council, we are looking for action by form of approval.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I think the -- the challenge and the way you have framed that was really well
done and you have done your homework and utilized this process the right way and this
doesn't happen without all of the hard work you went through. So, I'm more than
pleased to -- to make a motion to approve MYAC's request for the participatory budget
funding final proposal to approve funding of -- we will say $6,263.94. Greatly appreciate
the perspective of returning funds that aren't necessary back to the General Fund and
go to another purpose, another use. It creates great credibility in this program in the
way you have run it and that will pay dividends for the future students in MYAC down
the road as they bring proposals forward. So, with that I would move that we approve
the proposal as presented.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Council, I -- I would ask for spending
authority for the entire amount to be reimbursed by Fast Eddy's, if that is the direction
that we are to go, to realize the full shipping. Most of these are going on public land, so
having the sales tax savings would be legitimate, so that spending authority is
$13,998.94.
Borton: The motion would include that authority.
Milam: Second agrees.
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De Weerd: Thank you. Any discussion from Council?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I just want to echo Council Member Borton's comments. Well done on this
project. I am one that has somewhat wavered on the participatory budgeting project
process and I think this year you guys really knocked it out of the park. My only
recommendation would be -- is that we have got a couple that you're still waiting to
figure out that -- let's make sure that we are doing that in a -- if we are paying it forward
with taxpayer dollars, let's make sure it's in a public place where the full public will be
able to take access for that and maybe once when the whole city sees these great
stations that many homeowners associations would want to put them in their own
private parks.
De Weerd: Well, we have someone that might have some influence in the Paramount
area, so perhaps we can get a public-private partnership with that, too. So, no
pressure, but whoever is in the room that might represent that person, can always let us
know. Anything further? Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: Thank you and congratulations. Well done.
Borton: Good job.
B. Meridian Arts Commission Student Traffic Box Art
Recommendations
De Weerd: Okay. Item 8-B is under our Meridian Parks -- or Arts Commission. Sorry,
Hillary. I almost had you in -- and I will turn this over to you.
Bodnar: Mayor and City Council, I'm before you today to share the Meridian Arts
Commission's recommendation for their West Ada framed traffic boxes. We had three
jurors go to West Ada's framed and participate in kind of the arts selection and, then,
they brought a selection of art pieces back to the arts commission and the arts
commission recommended approval of the following pieces on May 10th. So, best of
primary elementary school was the Great Mr. Blue Sky by Annika Huizinga, a first
grader at Hillsdale Elementary School and the traffic box recommendation location is
Victory and Eagle, because that's near Hillsdale Elementary School. Intermediate
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elementary school is Fire in Fall by Elizabeth Carbajal. I should stop saying their
names, because I'm going to butcher all of them. A fourth grader at Meridian
Elementary School and the recommendation for traffic location is Cherry and Lauderhill
and that's fulfilling the box on the west end of town and its neighborhood access -- park
access and a school route to Chaparral. Middle School is Weeping Angel by an eighth
grader at Idaho Fine Arts Academy. We did verify if the student wasn't attending a
Meridian -based school that they were a Meridian resident and so she's from Idaho Fine
Arts Academy and the recommendation is Fairview and Hickory and that fills in the gap
that's currently between Eagle Road and -- where am I at? Whatever. It fills it. There is
one gap. There is one -- yes -- singular there at Hickory and it's near Capitol church,
so we thought maybe that Weeping Angel would make sense kind of near a religious
group. Sunbathers by London Belle Matthews. She attends Eagle High School and is
a 12th grader and the recommendation there is Overland and Stoddard, because it's so
close to Roaring Springs. One more. Solitare. And we did actually end up getting a
fixed spelling for this piece. They had submitted it with the spelling this way, so we
weren't sure if that was intentional, but the artist followed up with us and corrected the
spelling to how it's supposed to be. This is an 11th grader at Rocky Mountain High
School and the recommendation there is Fairview and Moon Lakes and that is near a
memory care facility and assisted living facility and fills in the gap on Fairview. And,
then, I have -- I wanted to share with you guys -- because we do a 3-D award as well,
so you can't wrap the 3-D, but I want to share with you guys the 3-D piece that the arts
commission selected as their award for that category. And, then, Mayor Tammy, if you
would like, I also got a picture of your box -- or your image you selected if you would like
me to share it.
De Weerd: That would be great.
Bodnar: I love this one. It's called Bird's Eye Attention by a 12th grader at Rocky
Mountain High School. Part of our traffic box program is that we have worked with West
Ada to get all of the artist descriptions for their art pieces, so we have included those
artist descriptions -- or Matt Hoffman from IT had very kindly included the artist
descriptions on our digital art map, so that people could actually read the description
behind each of these. This one was really cool. They kind of talk about attention deficit
disorder. So, we hope that that kind of adds another layer of understanding of the
pieces that we have selected. Those top five for these two were our recommendations
and I will stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions? Okay. Hearing one --
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I don't have any questions, Hillary, but thank you for the great job putting this
together for our packet and I really appreciated how you put in the artist statements. It
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was great to go through and compare and -- and read what they were thinking and what
-- when they created these pieces, so --
De Weerd: And thank you for noting that, because I -- I know the Mayor's Choice, the
description was a major part of -- of that selection, so --
Milam: Love that one. So, Madam Mayor, with that I move that we approve the
Meridian Arts Commission student traffic box art recommendations.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I'm -- well, eventually you're going to bring us some art and I'm just going to
keep my mouth shut, because it's going to be awesome, but I -- I looked at this earlier in
the week and understanding that I'm not an art guy and, really, I think most art that I see
is a waste of taxpayer dollars, frankly. So, I wanted to pass it around, be like, okay,
somebody else's eyes look at this and from the random sampling of people that I threw
it around to, there was concern about this sun bathers one that is weird and
inappropriate for public display and public funding, so passing the comments on, that's
all I have to say.
Bodnar: Okay. I can share those back to MAC so that they are aware.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other comments from Council? I have a motion and a second.
Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, nay; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE NAY. TWO ABSENT.
C. Approval of Request for Proposals for Old City Hall
De Weerd: Thank you, Hillary. Okay. 8-C is regarding our RFP for our old city hall.
We have MDC's attorney here to lead us in the discussion. Todd, thank you for joining
us.
Lakey: Madam Mayor, Council Members, thank you. Let me give C.Jay some
handouts. So, Madam Mayor, Council Members, I appreciate the opportunity to be here
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tonight. Again, Todd Lakey, general counsel for MDC for the record. I handed out kind
of the latest version that includes some of the additional maps and diagrams and links
that were added following the committee's recommendation and MDC's approval, but I
want to walk through the process with you and, then, walk through the -- the RFP with
you as well. Just to remind you, this is a result of the joint committee that was put
together by the city and MDC. Council Member Milam served on that committee.
Council Member Little Roberts, Commissioner Vlassek, and Commissioner McCarvel
and, then, myself and Mr. Nary were legal counsel, along with Mr. Ariel and Ms.
Squyers as far as staff support for that. This RFP was developed after three meetings
with the Council. Or, excuse me, the committee, and it was really a great process,
frankly, from my perspective. Everybody had great thoughts and input and came up I
think with a good product. The committee has recommend -- has recommended
approval of the RFP. MDC took it up at our meeting last week and also approved the
RFP. They approved the RFP and recommended approval of the RFP, knowing that
the language was in place, authorizing some technical minor changes if needed, but
with the understanding we would be adding some additional maps and -- and pictures
and aerials and some links that are included in that handout that I have provided, we will
also be handing out a packet of information that has some of the technical aspects
regarding the property. Utilities. Development requirements and standards. Any past
environmental studies that have been done. Past appraisals. A preliminary title report.
And, then, also a list of projects that are of public record in the downtown, just as kind of
an informational packet for those that may be interested in providing a response to the
RFP. Mayor and Council Members, before I go through the -- the RFP our request
tonight comes, again, with that sense of urgency and needing to get this project rolling.
Our hope is that we can receive a vote of approval of the RFP, understanding we may
still add another picture or map or two, but the languages is -- is there. So, I will go
through it and, then, I'm happy to answer any questions as we go along, but I will just
kind of walk you through page by page and give you some kind of the highlights and,
then, like I said, be happy to answer any questions. Again, this process -- it's a
process where we are cooperating with the city. MDC issues the RFP, but as we have
talked about all along, both sides, essentially, have veto power. The city -- the city
ultimately can say we don't like the proposal, we are not willing to transfer the property.
So, you have bottom line backstop as the city. But, as I said, it's been a good
cooperative process so far. Looking at page one -- excuse me -- page two, passed the
cover page, some of the key items I want to point out -- the -- this lays out the initial
request and it's a request for a mixed-use development on the real estate that's
occupied by the old city hall. It -- it requests a signature -- it uses words like signature,
project, iconic project, something that really stands out and creates a recognition of
downtown and is recognized as being part of Meridian's downtown. That link is the
video that the city put together regarding some of the economic development
opportunities and kind of the -- just a little bit about the city, particularly that core area
that is being promoted by the city. So, that's the video link that's there. We talked
about the committee that's been formed. The committee's intent is to review the
proposals as they come in and, then, again, make a recommendation to the City
Council and to MDC and perhaps we have a joint meeting down the road to interview
the top applicants and -- and, then, make a decision. I think that makes sense from our
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perspective in that we are all in the same room asking the same questions and getting
the same answers at the same time. We note that it's not limited to the subject
property. Other uses and sites would be considered, but they still have to comply with
the goals, intent, and objectives of the parties. Going through a little bit further we have
the aerial photographs and maps. A description of the utility lines that are there. A list
of utility providers that interested parties would need to work with. We still need to
insert either a -- either the old map of MDC or a better map of the MDC boundaries, but
that's one still to be inserted. And, then, we provide and inserted the information
regarding the opportunity zone that was approved by the city and the information about
that and a point of contact. The guiding principles are one of the key components.
Those came primarily from the city framework, the RFP with some adjustments and
reordering by the committee. But these layout kind of the guiding principles of
somebody that's interested in preparing a proposal should look to follow. Things like the
first one is successful experience in this type of development. So, we are not getting
somebody that's brand new and doesn't have a track record. Familiarity with urban
design principles. Also the requirements that they look at Meridian's Comprehensive
Plan, the revitalization plan for MDC, and those different plans -- Destination Downtown
that has been adopted. And, then, also noting that their financial resources and a
financing plan should be part of what's being considered. So, they have the financial
wherewithal to carry their proposed project forward. Also some mention of ingress and
egress and parking and some of the details on the scale and design. So, those are the
guiding principles. The meat that the committee really drill down into it and put forward
are these bases for selection. So, these are the criteria that the committee and -- that
both entities would review and evaluate the proposals based on these criteria and they
assigned a point total to each -- each one. There is ten criteria. It's a hundred point
total. So, it's -- it's fairly easy to add up, but the first one is that signature iconic mixed
use development that -- that iconic project that really stands out. The second one is --
does the project propose something that's going to be a substantial economic benefit to
the community and, then, it lays out those criteria that -- that meet that. Enhancing the
tax base. Encouraging and stimulating new growth and private development and
investment. There is -- they are all included in two. And, then, number three is a
description of their project team, so that they have the qualifications and experience and
what's the team that's going to be working on this project and can they -- can they bring
it to fruition. Four, again, goes back to that financial ability. They need to prove that
they have the financial resources and plan to put it forward. Next one is compliance
with those goals and plans that have been adopted by both entities. Number six is a
commitment and a detail regarding their plan and that they are looking at implementing
it in the -- in the immediate future. We don't want a speculative proposal. We want
something that's going to be carried forward. Then the timeline for commencement and
completion is also a criteria. I think the desire is to have something that moves forward
expeditiously and promptly and, then, public improvements, parking, and, then, lastly,
creativity and innovation. Talk about the potential for presentation. The award -- we
talked about how that process will work. If a project -- a proposal is selected ultimately,
then, again, they have to have the approval of the city and the approval of MDC and,
then, ultimately, enter into a development agreement that describes and lays out how
the project will move forward and that development agreement, again, is contingent on
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the city's approval of the -- the proposal and the development agreement. We also
included -- and recognizing the city's key involvement in this process, Cameron Ariel, as
the project point of contact, so Cameron will be fielding all the -- all the questions that
come in and will be helping prepare any addendums if we have to do an addendum to
the agreement in response to a question. So, he's kind of the gatekeeper. And, then,
lastly, it gets more into the instructions for the bidders. Our proposal -- pre -proposal
meeting is currently planned for June 11th, 2018, and, then, responses would be due by
July 2nd and, then, the content is described what they need to submit as far as a cover
letter, table of contents, and narrative, the concept plan and their pro forma financial
analysis, those things that we described previously. At least two comparable project
examples. So, again, we are able to look at something that they have been successful
in completing before and, then, identifying their -- their partners and their team. And,
then, lastly, we give them kind of a notice -- this is a public process and these things are
public record. If there is anything confidential they need to describe it that way and we
will do our best, but we have to comply with the open -- or, excuse me, the public
records law. And, then, that last page is the -- the anticipated schedule. Issuing the
RFP. Our hope is this week pre -proposal conference June 11th. Receive the proposals
July 2nd. Interviews potentially July 9th. And, then, selection around the week of July
25th. So, Mayor Madam, with that, again, I would request your approval, but I'm happy
to answer questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Mr. Lakey. Council, questions?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. Mr. Lakey, did the committee decide that mentioning or
including the opportunity to potentially involve the current City Hall parking lot? Did they
decide that wasn't -- were they wanting to consider for the RFP?
Lakey: Madam Mayor and Council Member Palmer, there was discussion about
whether we list specific other public properties and the idea was to not -- keep it really
open and -- and give interested parties the opportunity to be creative and -- and find
opportunities on their own without really providing direction to those that are submitting
a proposal as far as you should include this or look at that. So, that was the thought
process that was -- was not to include specific properties.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: And -- yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Todd, I -- I know that we had discussed listing Cameron as the contact person,
but he's listed on here in a couple of pages as the MDC representative and is that
proper to do that if he's not technically associated with MDC?
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Lakey: Madam Mayor, and Council Member Milam, from our perspective, yes, with
MDC issuing the RFP, it's -- it's still coming from this entity, we are simply, as part of our
cooperative effort, designating Cameron as the -- as the gatekeeper for the project.
Milam: Thank you.
De Weerd: And I guess just to comment on Councilman Palmer's question, some of the
opportunity can be presented in the pre -application meeting to discuss what's going on
downtown, where properties are and let them take it without spoon-feeding it.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, thank you. Mr. Lakey, can you give the Council -- at least
give me a little bit deeper dive as to the background basis for the point criteria, where
that was derived from and -- and why each point amount was recommended to be that
way and weighted as such?
Lakey: Sure. Madam Mayor and Council Member Cavener, we put them in priority
order and there was a fair bit of discussion. Ultimately the committee took a lot of
guidance from Council Member Milam in the -- the points that were selected, but I think
the discussion was kind of along these lines. First, they want that project that really
sticks out and is recognized as part of downtown Meridian. So, that's that iconic
signature project nature that's the -- the top of the list. Then, the second -- or another
very important -- not the second most important, but probably the points are equal, but
that's substantial economic benefit to the downtown in the form of creation of new
economic development opportunities, private development, encouraging job creation,
bringing visitors and residents downtown. So, that was another very important aspect.
And, then, the third one was -- we want somebody that can pull this off, that has the
experience and the team that can make it happen. This isn't going to get in the project
and -- and fail and not be able to carry it forward. So, those were really the top three.
The specific points were kind of a matter of dividing things up. Those were the top
three. And, then, and close number four is the financial ability. Would they need to
have the resources to be able to pull it off. The reason that's a ten instead of a 15 was,
well, somebody can have lots of money, but if they don't have the experience, then, it
doesn't do them any good. So, wanted the experience and, then, the financial ability to
-- to back that up. And, then, obviously, compliance with the -- the goals and objectives
of both the city and MDC are very important and, then, their commitment to carrying that
forward in the -- in the immediate and near future work or priorities. Those last five are
worth evaluating, but they didn't feel like they -- they rose to the same level as those
other criteria.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions from Council? So, Council, I think there is a
request to take action on this tonight to move -- move this forward and we are looking
for your direction.
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Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I was part of the committee. Is it proper for me to make a motion?
De Weerd: I think -- yeah.
Milam: Okay. I move that we approve the request for proposal for old city hall as
proposed.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Okay. Well, Council, without
a second we can't even have discussion, so any --
Lakey: Madam Mayor, what I might offer is if we don't have a second tonight I would be
happy to come back at the next Council meeting and answer questions and see if there
is some other things that we could clarify.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I still have enormous reservations about this, given the two properties that we
are giving away. Has there been anymore discussion with Mr. Evarts about potential --
or the possibility of returning those properties?
Lakey: Madam Mayor and Council Member Palmer, no. The properties are in Mr.
Evarts' possession and -- or at least the one and, then, he has the contract on the other.
He controls those and -- and it's his choice whether to pursue a proposal or not or move
forward on the agreements that he has. So, that -- that status hasn't changed. Again,
at the end of the day the city controls whether you agree with a particular proposal or
not.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: With that, my preference -- my desire would be to move forward with the only
appropriate way of disposing this property given the circumstances, which would be to
sell it at a live auction, which we understand from Mr. Nary, would be a possibility. I
think it would help us accomplish the same purpose in that it's not going to accidentally
slip away to -- to somebody who -- you know, with the silent auction may just happen to
have the -- the highest bid, while somebody who has the potential to -- to make enough
money off the property if they knew the bids would be able to ensure that they had the
winning bid, as the state has done with the -- the selling of their properties around lakes
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and whatnot recently. So, I still feel that's the most appropriate -- the only appropriate
way to move forward with disposal of the property, unless we are going to hold onto it.
De Weerd: I think the conversation from Council and the MDC when they had the joint
meeting was that this seemed the approach that had the greatest potential to ensure
that whatever project happened there would be -- have the benefits -- benefits of
meeting the -- the goals of both City Council and MDC board of having a quality project,
a project that all agree would be a benefit not only to the downtown area, but for the --
the community as a whole and if you put it out for auction you lose all of that. You are
no longer approving what the project and the use would be, it could continue to -- well --
and I think that was the basis of asking the committee to be formed and an RFP
proposal be brought back.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: At that meeting no one was in absolute agreement that any -- I guess process
would be the best one, so I made the motion to move forward with both ideas. One to
start with -- just to keep the ball rolling, because we could have talked until we were
blue in the face and nothing would have happened and so I went ahead and made the
motion to start the process of putting together an RFP, Mr. Nary had time to put
together the details on what to do should we decide to sell it and now we have gotten to
today where we have all that information. We have the RFP information before us and
we have received information from Nary -- Mr. Nary about how to dispose of it should
we try -- choose to sell it. Now that we are here and at the decision point on the
agenda, I think we should move forward with selling it and leave it to the hands of the
private sector to make the best decision as to what to do with the property, as opposed
to an unelected, urban renewal district board and an elected City Council.
De Weerd: Okay.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: While I tend to agree with Council Member Palmer's philosophical approach
about the appropriate way to dispose of a taxpayer -owned resource, I'm -- I'm not in a
position tonight where I feel comfortable moving forward with either path. I think that
when we began this process we felt we had a pretty good grasp on the future viability of
that building and the obligations that we may or may not need to make and I don't feel
that those questions are completely answered right now. So, I'm not comfortable
supporting an RFP at this point, nor am I supportive of us moving forward with any type
of disposal of that property. Again, since that meeting we have heard from our
community development department and their need for additional parking and additional
space and additional resources and I think we as a Council take it upon ourselves to
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look at all options that are presented before us as a way to meet the needs of the
Community Development Department. So, I appreciate the good work that this
committee has done and can understand the rationale of making a recommendation or
a motion to -- to move forward, I just feel that there is too many questions that are out
right now that the city needs to be in a place to answer before I feel comfortable moving
forward with either path.
De Weerd: Okay. Just a comment. Community Development has brought a space
plan, utilizing the future growth space of city hall and also the asset we have in
developing fleet parking at our Bower Street property. So, we do not have a need for --
for the former city hall, which is why we were moving forward with that RFP. So, I
thought that question and the plan was approved last week in -- and we are moving
forward on it, so -- and that doesn't include the former city hall. All of that was part of
the packet last week. So, just to answer your question, we don't need the former city
hall for our community development activities.
Cavener: I didn't know there was a question.
Lakey: Madam Mayor, as I -- I mentioned, we would be happy to come back at the next
meeting and -- and be a part of a larger discussion about both issues and answer
questions if you have them.
De Weerd: Okay.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I -- from what I recall at our joint meeting with MDC, we had a pretty good
consensus of what we were going to do and we were going to put forward -- bring
forward an RFP and if we are having to discuss -- discussion tonight about specifics
within the RFP that these councilmen or not appreciating or wanting to approve, makes
it really difficult, because Councilman Palmer is -- is exactly right, he was like I want to
sell it, do both, fine, but I thought the rest of us were comfortable bringing forth an RFP
that as long as we are in control and have -- and have final say in what happens with
that property and no title transfers until everything is approved, that that was the way
that we wanted to go. So, I'm feeling a little bit confused right now, but that being said, I
move that we maybe continue this hearing to -- out another week and if any -- that gives
the councilmen a little bit longer to review the document and think about what it is that
we are asking for and presenting.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion to put this on next week's agenda. Oh. I will just go
ahead and do that.
Milam: Okay.
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Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Could a motion to reject it be made? And if -- if the motion to reject it was
approved, is this done, we are not moving forward with the RFP or they would -- okay.
Then I guess we will chat about it at another meeting.
De Weerd: Okay. Well, we will put this on next week and would appreciate if you can
join us again for continuing this conversation.
Lakey: Thank you, Madam Mayor. It's always a pleasure.
De Weerd: Thank you. We certainly appreciate your time. And thank you to the MDC
board members who -- who joined us as well.
D. Final Plat for Creason Creek No. 2 (H-2018-0037) by CS2, LLC,
located near the Southeast Corner of N. Linder Rd. and W.
Ustick Rd.
De Weerd: Okay. Item 8-D is final plat for H-2018-0037. I will ask for staff comments
at this time.
Beach: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. So, before you tonight
is the -- and, I apologize, typically we don't get final plats in front of you -- your body as
an action item, but this was not included in the Consent Agenda. So, I will say before I
start that the applicant is in agreement with all of the staff conditions. This is a second
phase of the Creason Creek Subdivision. It's located near the corner of Meridian --
excuse me -- Linder Road and Ustick. It's for 13 single-family residential lots and two
common lots on 3.78 acres of land. Staff has reviewed the proposal and found it in
compliance with the afore -mentioned dimensional standards and I will stand for any
questions you have on this application.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions? Does the -- is the applicant in attendance?
Any comment? Okay.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I'm scared to make a motion right now. I move that we approve H-2018-0037.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8-E. Any discussion? Mr.
Clerk, will you call roll.
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Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
E. Public Hearing Continued from April 24, 2018 for Summertown
Subdivision (H-2017-0142) By 745 W Ustick, LLC, Located at
745 W Ustick Road
1. Request: An Annexation and Zoning of 15.13 Acres of Land
with a TN -R Zoning District
De Weerd: Item 8-E is a public hearing continued from April 24th on H-2017-0142. I
will ask for staff comments at this time.
Beach: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. This is a -- for
reference this is what's called the Summertown Subdivision. The site consists of
approximately 15.13 acres of land, which is currently zoned RUT in Ada county. It's
located at 745 West Ustick Road. The Comprehensive Plan future land use map
designation is mixed-use community. The applicant requests annexation and zoning of
approximately 15.13 acres of land, with the TN -R zoning district. The TN -R zoning
district lists multi -family development as a permitted use. It is not required to have a
public hearing, so staff asked the applicant for further details that we typically would not
receive with an annexation. The Commission did recommend approval with conditions.
I will say that at the April 24th City Council hearing there was some direction given to
the applicant to provide some additional information, one being the additional
elevations. We did receive a -- as you see on the left is the previous site plan.
Received an updated version of the site plan yesterday morning. Did not have a whole
lot of time to review that compared to the existing or -- previous plan there -- there in
front of you. The applicant was also asked to provide some elevations. We do have a
three story elevation. They were, I believe, asked to provide a two story elevation,
which I do not have. Lastly, they were requested to find out from Ada county what the
issue is -- going back to the slide here, there is a -- as you see here, there is a C-2
property -- there is a property boundary line concern with the two properties and they
were directed last meeting to discuss that concern with Ada county and see what the
solution maybe in fixing that issue before the city decides to annex the property and we
were made aware of this after the Planning and Zoning Commission. The concern is a
home crosses the property line and that's a concern for that -- that current homeowner.
So, with that I will stand for any questions you have on the application.
De Weerd: Thank you, Josh. Council, any questions at this time? Okay. Is the
applicant here? Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the
record.
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Robnett: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, my name is Shannon Robnett. My
address is 5103 Zamora. And I wanted to take a moment to address some of the
issues here. Josh, the space bar to advance? There we go. So, as you know there is
the subject property that we are talking about and -- next slide. So, we had people
testify last meeting and you can see here highlighted who testified. One of the things
that we have is we have 20 homes that actually touch the borders of our property, nine
of which currently have not been occupied, they are currently under construction with
Corey Barton. One of the things that we have been asked to do -- several of the things
we have been asked to do is lower from four story to three story along the neighbors
and make our lots maybe different sized, things of that nature. So, when you look at the
site plan that we turned in, we did do some of those changes. But what I want to kind of
go back to -- I want to back you guys up a bit to where we started with the Planning and
Zoning staff almost a year ago. In this proposal and in this project with 272 units, we
would be -- we are required to provide 1.67 acres of common area and up to six
amenities. What we have proposed is 3.3 acres of common area with 12 amenities.
The reason that we did that was because we went vertical. The reason that we did that
was because we felt that providing the amenities and the open space was one of the
things that drove community. That's what created the value inside the complex, instead
of -- some of the issues that you heard from the neighbors about the potential for
wandering citizens or wandering tenants in and out of their community. So, as we
began to look at that, that's where we really focused our attention inside and came
through with that -- Josh, these -- sorry. So, these were -- these were some of the other
renditions that we have. Next slide, please. So, you can look at some of these. These
had 215, 218 unit counts. They had about two acres of common area. You can see the
sea of parking lot there. You can see the things that didn't fit. Meeting with Josh and
Bill as the staff we change some of those things around. Josh, next slide. And we
continued to hone that. We also -- if you look at the lots to the south, those lots are
larger than the lots they back up to, because we wanted to make sure that we weren't
overcrowding our neighbors, who had already been there. Next slide, please. We even
routed our streets through different ways to try and line up for ACHD access and things
like that. But, then, we found that we had people crossing streets to get to common
areas, to get to clubhouses, and things like that and so going back to -- to Ada county
and dealing with that. So -- next slide. So, that's when we came to this solution and
what we have really looked at was we looked at the internal focus of our complex and
the amenities that we provide and in those amenities we got a waterfall at the front
entrance. We have got a clubhouse. We have got a yoga room. We have got an
exercise room. We have got indoor and outdoor play structures. We have got fire pits.
We have got splash pads. We have got a dog park. We have got walking paths. We
have got a 50 -by -100 grassy area. We have got an indoor -outdoor hot tub. We have
got a media room. We have got patios, barbecues, and an outdoor pizza oven. We
also have gazebos and two external -- or two outside play structures. This is it at a cost
of over 900 grand. Next slide, please. But in an effort to look at that, at what the
neighbors would want, we looked at moving everything back and away. So, when we
did that we went back to something that -- when we talked with Bill and we talked with
Josh at the Planning Department, they really didn't want to see the parking out front, but
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that created the buffer. That pushed everything back. You will also see that we divided
everything down. We have no large buildings. They are all four units per floor and we
turn those at 90 degrees so that you only have four patios that actually look out toward
the -- the residents on that west side. Next slide. Another thing that we wanted to bring
to your attention is when you look at density, there is -- there is a cost of that and one of
the things that we look at is we look at an amenity count and we look at a door count.
So, with 272 units at 3,500 dollars a door, which is what I'm currently putting into Rainier
Village, which is just up the street, 3,500 dollars a door is what we are spending on the
amenities. At 990 grand in amenities spent and 272 units, that works at about 3,500 a
door. When you start cutting that down and carving that off, you start cutting things out.
You can't put in 12 amenities. You can't put in splash pads and some of the other
things that we had proposed. And so in an effort to keep our development rich with the
amenities -- that's one of the things that I challenge you guys to look at is not just what it
is, but what it provides and what it really brings to the area. Next slide, please. One of
the other things that we are looking at -- next slide -- is inside this neighborhood center
area that you guys have designated, that is a one mile radius. Those of you that didn't
know, one mile radius has 502 acres in it. We are trying to develop 15. Of those 15
acres you guys are currently at eight units per acre inside that area. Your comp plan
calls for 8.4 units as a desired density inside that comp plan and as you can see outside
of the Summertown radius there you only have a few more open spaces to get that
density there. So, if you down zone us from what we are proposing, then, you're under
what your comp plan says you want, that you desire. If you leave us alone,
miraculously, you come in at 8.4 and, then, you have several other parcels that you can
continue that with. Next slide, please. Here is just some things that are allowed in the
TN -R zoning. Next slide. And one of the other comments that was brought up in that
TN -R zoning -- or, I'm sorry, that was brought up by the neighbors was the schools and
the fact that the schools were overcrowded. This is an e-mail from the superintendent
of the school district that says not only is it not overcrowded, that it's not necessary to
build a school at this time and we just wanted you guys to see that that's what they are
saying, so -- the other thing that it states in there is it states that there is not funds to
build that. So, one of the things that we wanted you guys to look at is the -- the permit
funds that would be generated here. Next slide. Also the taxes that would be paid on
this community. There is 169,000 dollars a year that would go to West Ada School
District based on the taxes on this particular facility. Next slide. Next slide. So, the
other thing that we were told is we were told that we really didn't kind of fit. We didn't fit
in the middle of the neighborhood. But I wanted to bring up the point that Sellway
Apartments is set 2,708 feet away from the McMillan and Linder intersection. Heron
Village is 2,700 feet and 2,600 from Fairview. Prelude is 1,200 and we are sitting right
at 2,659 feet. So, we do fit. We do match what the other -- other apartment complexes
in the area have been approved at. Next slide. The Highpoint Apartments have 190
units on eight and a half acres. That's 21 units per acre. Next slide. Next slide. I'm
going to just -- so, the Prelude is 280 units with eight amenities, 3.19 acres of common
area. That's 18.95 units per acre. Like I said, my project at Rainier Villas is 23 units per
acre. We are in the middle of a commercial zoning. We have six amenities. We have
been back to bug Josh several times to redesign those and to bump that now to nine,
because we know that that's what's bringing people to our community. The Sellway
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apartment complex, 171 units, six acres -- or six amenities on ten acres is 17 units per
acre. The Heron Village is 108 units, five amenities on 5.4 acres, for 19 units per acre.
And Highpoint is at 21 units per acre. We are at 18 and a half on our proposal. But,
again, we comply with the code and we fit with what the others have done in the area in
very similar situations, very similar neighborhoods. The other thing that I would like to
point out is that Prelude has 100 of their 280 units are one bedroom, one bath. Another
120 units of theirs are designated two bedroom, one bath. Those are not necessarily
family units. Those are for single people. Those are for maybe newly married people.
Maybe have one small child. Twenty-five percent of our units are three bedroom, two
bath. That is designed for a family and families are the fabric of our community.
Bringing those in to our community, they don't leave, they are not as transient. Kids go
through the school system and parents stay. Their credit gets better or they wind up
buying their first house and they buy in the community where they go to school, where
they worship, where they are in their daily lives. That's the difference between ours. All
of our two bedroom, two bath, are -- there is -- 50 percent of our units are two bedroom,
two bath. We don't have any two bedroom, one bath. Our one bedroom one bath are
over 1,000 square feet. Some of the other proposals about our community -- we are --
we are a higher end community. We have proposed all these amenities, so that we can
keep our tenants, we can keep our rents higher, because we know that turnover and
profits are what affect communities, that affect apartment complexes, that lead to them
degrading over time. One of the last things I want to touch on is the traffic. People
mention that the traffic was a problem. People mentioned that that was an issue. The
traffic study that we paid for, that we submitted to Ada county, that they approved, said
that we would generate 160 car trips in the peak hour. That peak hour is westbound at
the 5:00 o'clock traffic. Ustick Road is designed for 1,770 trips per peak hour. We
would add 162 to that and currently there is a thousand on that road. So, we are still
well within the design criteria of what the -- what the surrounding area has been
designed for. So, what I -- what I'm coming back to is that we have asked to look at
what we have done to comply with the community. I don't think we got a fair shake. I
don't think you guys truly understand the effort that we went through to not only comply
one hundred percent with your comp plan, but to double up on the amount of amenities.
To double up on the amount of open space that we are required to put into the
community. We match the existing apartment complexes that are ongoing and the one
thing that you're -- that the Treasure Valley valleywide is struggling with is vacancy.
There is plenty of apartments -- or there is plenty of office space for rent. There is
plenty of office space for purchase. There is plenty of retail space for purchase in the
immediate area. The McMillan and Linder corner is all available. The Ustick and
McMillan -- or the Ustick and Linder corner is available and there is stuff directly across
the street, nine acres, that's available for commercial use. So, I don't feel that the
community needs more of that. So, what I'm trying to get at, guys, is that when we look
at this we have thought long and hard about what do we bring to the community and
why are we doing this and what does it really affect. So, I did bring a proposal, as I was
asked, about what we can do to lower the density. I did show you a site plan that -- that
moves everything back. It's not what we were advised to do by staff. It's not what we
originally proposed, because it puts the parking against the street, but it does reduce
the density to 230 units -- 234 units. It goes with three stories, it goes with four stories
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May 15, 2018
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along Ustick Road and along the east property line. The reason we felt to put the four
story on Ustick Road is because you're overlooking at a park, you're overlooking retail,
and you're overlooking the road. There is nobody there to look at. We have also turned
it so there is only eight balconies that are facing residential areas. The other balconies -
- Josh, if you will back up to that proposal. The other balconies that you see would be
blocked by the two-story structures that would be built in the backyards of the lots to the
south. So, we would build two-story homes on the lots to the south. You would not
physically be able to see the buildings at all, let alone the balconies. So, you only have
a very small amount and in this proposal you see the large buildings, breaking those up
into smaller buildings and providing more space in between would definitely help that.
We agree with that. But I guess what I'm trying to get at is that at the end of the day
when you look at what we are trying to provide, it all boils down to the dollars and cents
of it and when you start taking away door counts, you start taking away amenities.
When you start taking away profit margins generated from those doors, then, you start
dealing with issues with management, you start dealing with issues with the
maintenance and things like that that, then, lead to the kind of complexes that the
neighbors have alluded that they don't want, which I entirely agree with. But if you have
a complex that is full of amenities, that is -- that is full of tenancy that is not necessarily
designed to be a transient tenancy, you're going to have a better product. The last item
that you asked us to look at was the issue of the piece of land with Blue Rider and we
scheduled six and 1/2 weeks ago a meeting with Ada county for our pre -application
meeting. That happened this morning at 10:00 a.m. We had everything ready to turn
in. We were informed that three and a half weeks ago they changed their forms and we
are going to have to get some new signatures and we are going to have to have a new
neighborhood meeting. However, that would put us on for their August 9th hearing -- for
the first hearing to hear the issue of whether or not we could change the zoning from
part of our ground, about 7,500 square feet, if you remember, to RUT -- from RUT to C-
2. That they don't see as a problem, because it is a conjoined use. So, it would be the
same. We would enter into a development agreement that says that it would be C-2.
There shouldn't be a problem with that. The second hearing would be held October
17th, where it would be affirmed if that first hearing went through positively, but because
it's only 7,00 square feet we -- they don't see a problem, but that is the process that we
would be going through with them and that's the earliest that we could do that. We also
talked with them about the potential to do a lot split, but we don't conform with our
frontage to create a small lot and, then, move forward with our process here in the city
and annex the larger piece and leave that other one to happen later, but we don't meet
the frontage. So, with that I will stand for questions.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions? Okay. Thank you. This does open
the public hearing portion. Mr. Clerk.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. We had a few sign-ups this evening. The first on
the list was Donna Ray. She signed up against, but no indication of testimony. Okay.
The second on the list Susan Littlefield, signed up against, wishing to testify.
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De Weerd: Good evening. Thank you for joining us
name and address for the record.
Littlefield: Susan Littlefield. 2968 North Fairglen.
De Weerd: Thank you.
If you will, please, state your
Littlefield: I just wanted to reiterate -- I know I spoke with you at the last meeting and
although he's address some of the concerns, Mr. Robnett, it's still a huge project. There
is still a lot of cars and a lot of people entering on one road Venable and I just feel that a
lot of the traffic will be going through our subdivision, which is already full and we have a
lot of cars going in and out and the traffic study that was done, I'm sure they -- they did
a good job on it and I'm sure the information is accurate. However, when I try and get
out on Ustick at peak hours it's difficult and the thought that they would add 500 more
cars on one road just doesn't seem viable. Also, the people in -- within our subdivision
that I have spoken with indicate that they have to send their kids to a school on Eagle
Road, because the schools are full. Now, I don't know why the superintendent would
say they weren't. The parents say that they are. So, that's -- that's not for me to know I
guess. But it was another concern in speaking with the people in our neighborhood, so
-- and I just don't feel like it's an appropriate amount of buildings and people for that
area. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you for your testimony.
Coles: Next signed up is Brad Bower Ballard signed up against, wishing to testify.
De Weerd: Good evening. Thank you for joining us. If you will, please, state your
name and address for the record.
Bower: Yeah. My name is Brad Bower and I live at 445 Creekview Drive in Meridian.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Bower: City Councilmen, Madam Mayor, thank you. I am almost a 20 year resident of
Meridian. I live off Meridian Road and I know there is a planned widening project
starting in 2019. I'm guessing, but the way that the construction is, it's going to take
about 18 months to finish that, as it did the stretch here. I live exactly two miles from my
driveway to my office. It takes me between 15 to 18 minutes to go two miles. That's to
get on Meridian Road. Some days I wait up to ten minutes to get out from Willowbrook
to Meridian Road. Adding another 500 plus cars -- and, yes, Ustick has now been
widened and you're able to go up and down Ustick and the problem is they all go to
Eagle Road to go the freeway. They go up Meridian Road to get on the freeway and
with the amount of -- more people you're looking at, what, 900 -- 900 people, families,
mom, dad, kids -- not only the foot traffic, but bicycle traffic, crosswalks they put in with
the lights -- it all is a factor in the major rush hour time periods in -- up and down
Meridian Road and this apartment complex will affect both Meridian and Linder. But,
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again, they are not going to Linder to get on the freeway, they are going to Meridian
Road, because they got to get to the freeway to go downtown to go to work and
whatnot. The amount of traffic to do that and add another 500 cars to go up and down
that road, it's -- it's insane to think that we are even considering doing this. Until that
road is widened and we have the ability to have five lanes, instead of three, the school
buses, the stop lights and the crosswalks -- to get home at 5:00 o'clock I get stuck at
Meridian and Fairview, at Franklin or Cherry by the Albertsons. Sometimes I go through
three red lights before I get across and, then, I'm stuck at Albertson's for another few
minutes trying to get that one block to come into my neighborhood. The traffic on Ustick
it seems to be the only corridor they worried about in their study. You need to worry
about Meridian Road and Linder Road, because that's where all the people are going to
go. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Coles: James Littlefield signed up against, not wishing to testify. Eta Helen Hill signed
up against, not wishing to testify. Amy Kernin Way signed up against, not wishing to
testify. Jeffrey Lay against, not wishing to testify. Catherine Garcia against, wanting to
provide testimony.
De Weerd: Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the
record.
Garcia: Catherine Garcia. 2970 Northwest 8th Avenue. I appreciate -- it appears that
Mr. Robnett has, indeed, taken into account some of our concerns. However, he has
also pointed out the extensive number of units that are already going in in the
surrounding area. It is not just this development that is a concern. It took me -- I took
my boys to cub scouts tonight right on the church that is across from the school on
Meridian and McMillan. It took me 15 minutes to get through that signal at 5:40. 1 can
only imagine once those apartments are completed and everybody is in there and
coming with that traffic what the traffic is going to be like and the safety that it's going to
be. For me -- my boys go to school down in Kuna. They are in the dual immersion
program down there. But my next door neighbor had to put their child on the lottery for
five different schools to figure out where their child is going to go to kindergarten and it's
not any of the local -- within a couple mile radius of the house. That being said, driving
south on Meridian to get to my boys' school I saw three accidents this morning of severe
rear ends, just slam -- one of them didn't even have a back -- I pray there was nobody in
the rear -- in the back seat. There is an extensive amount of development going on. I
very much appreciate that this was -- that this is currently zoned -- or you would like it to
be used for this, but that plan was put in place 20 years ago. I think it's safe to say that
Meridian has grown exponentially beyond what anybody expected over even just the
last three years. I don't think it's inappropriate to take a look at the whole broader
picture of what it is that you are developing and to say maybe we need to rezone this
area, maybe we need to sit back and take a look at what we are doing and what -- the
projects we already have going in and just reevaluate it and say it's too much. It isn't
just the freeway. It isn't just Meridian. If people decide to work in the North End in
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Boise and they decide to go north on Meridian to Chinden, the county has no plans to
widen Meridian further north. They are only going to widen Meridian up to Ustick for
that one mile. So, all of this traffic condensed going north is going to just get completely
bottlenecked again and go run into the same problem. Chinden itself isn't slated to be
widened until 2022 and they plan to take 11 years to widen it based on their plan. So, I
just -- it's too much given everything else that's going on in this area. I think it would be
-- there is a great property right by the freeway on Meridian. There is lots of vacancies
off of Overland where Overland is already developed. There is lots of great single
space going in there. There are lots of bike lanes already in there. You had students
here talking about that. I just -- I think it's just too much. So, thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Coles: Igor Osipchuk against, with no indication of testimony.
De Weerd: Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the
record.
Osipchuk: Igor Osipchuk. 2878 North Ridge Haven Way, Meridian.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Osipchuk: I'm against this project. I live nearby. Fairly close. So, at the last meeting
on the 24th -- and, actually, at the staff recommendation I keep on hearing it was
recommended two story and three stories. It was specific recommendation at the last
meeting to come back with a three story and two story proposal. I guess I'm a little
confused why we are still coming back with the four story. I mean the four story
apartments do not fit within the residential area. Those apartments and the developer
are building apartments up here by the freeway, perfect location, four story, five story.
Whatever you want to build. There is a commercial area. Nobody's going to complain.
Four stories do not fit there and he's been asked specifically to come back with a three
story, two story apartment and that still hasn't happened. I have been coming back to
this meeting since November and there is still really no resolution for this. So, please,
consider rejecting this. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Coles: Joe Simunich, with no indication of stance on the project and a question mark in
wanting to testify. Okay. Diane Ryssel against, wanting to testify.
De Weerd: Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the
record.
Ryssel: My name is Diane Ryssel. 2981 Northwest 11th Avenue in Meridian. And I,
too, am against this and as I stated with the last meeting and I agree with the gentleman
that just spoke before me, that it was I think mentioned by you, Councilman Borton, to
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May 15, 2018
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come back with a two and three story proposal versus a continuing while it -- we are
down to three and four, but still I feel the same and it's not -- it's not a development that
belongs in this particular area when you consider the infrastructure and the burden on
an infrastructure that is not yet developed to accommodate these kinds of developments
and, then, the kind of development that's there right now, which is primarily single family
homes and to put an infrastructure that is high density housing and, yes, it does come
down to dollars and cents, but quality of life for those of us who are there already. I'm
there in the Crossfield Subdivision, which would adjoin it and -- and other subdivisions
that are adjoining is something to consider. Dollars and cents is an important factor for
all of us, but it's not -- it's not all that there is to consider. I said last week -- or the last
meeting that we had is this what you would like in your neighborhood next door to you.
Would you want four story units next door to you. Would you want the congestion of
this traffic next door to you. And I just ask that you consider that, that it's -- that it's
more than just putting a project in that meets the criteria for the piece of property and for
the zoning. As another neighbor mentioned, the idea of possibly rezoning might be
something to be considered versus just more high density in an area that has not been
well developed yet to absorb that kind of housing. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton. Diane, we have a question.
Borton: You walked off kind of quick.
Ryssel: I'm sorry.
Borton: Not so much a question, just -- just kind of a comment. We brought it up a little
bit at the last meeting, but it maybe provides some helpful context. You know, the
property hasn't been zoned yet. That's part of what this process is. So, it's -- it would
be its initial zoning, but kind of what got us to this stage is that future land use map,
right, in the Comprehensive Plan that -- that had this area, you know, broadly
designated as this mixed-use community, which right or wrong, but had a plan with
infrastructure that would go in to serve multi -family, a little higher density, eight to 15,
right around there, dwelling units per acre. Again, whether that's right or wrong, that's
kind of the context that -- that brings us to today. So, some of the planning that's gone
in has at least had the idea that this would be some form of -- of multi -family, a little
higher density, in that -- in the brown circles so to speak. So, it doesn't necessarily
mean one way or other that this project, as designed, is perfect or should or shouldn't
be approved, but at least it gives, hopefully, some context that the -- the idea of multi-
family housing and the infrastructure necessary to serve it in this area is part of
executing that -- the long-term plan.
Ryssel: And all of that's understandable and plans for all of us, whatever our profession
is, whatever our endeavors are, sometimes can be well made and some time ago, but
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May 15, 2018
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as the plans unfold and the developments unfold does that mean that still is a good use
for the property and the surrounding area and I think as the testimony has indicated, as
all of us I'm sure in conversations around the dinner table, in restaurants, in churches,
as I mentioned before in the dentist chair, everyone is talking about the burden of
development and not having an infrastructure that can adequately support that. So,
some of these things that have been laid before us for many years now, does that mean
that they should be executed at this time looking at how development is going.
Borton: Madam Mayor. I -- and this is where I -- I need to appreciate that perspective
of infrastructure. Some of the things that -- that -- that we plan for with this type of
density, with the police, fire, water, sewer -- right? The infrastructure that -- that we
think, the concept of school to roads, the two forms of infrastructure that we don't have
direct control over we need to be mindful of, but as for the stuff that we control, at least
it's -- that's been planned for.
Ryssel: And what we feel as constituents, as citizens, we feel the impact directly from
schools and roads every day. So, that's where the red hot button is.
Borton: Makes sense.
Ryssel: Yeah.
Borton: Thank you.
Ryssel: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Coles: No other sign-ups, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Okay. Is there anyone who would like to provide testimony who didn't sign
up or -- yes, ma'am. Or I was going to say changed your mind, which is allowed. If you
will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Ray -McNair: A woman's prerogative; right?
De Weerd: Absolutely.
Ray -McNair: My name is Donna Ray. I'm at -- Donna Ray McNair. At 2692 North
Summersby Way in the -- in the Crossfield Subdivision. First I want to say thank you for
your comments and -- and it was well thought out. Again, I -- I live on a street in
Crossfield that I watch people go more than 25 miles an hour on a curve. We have lost
our mailbox and more than once in the wintertime when they are coming around that
curve, because we know that subdivisions don't get plowed and it just concerns me. I
know that during construction I had to go out to other subdivisions to get out of my
subdivision, because you could not get out on Ustick and I -- I don't drive Ustick
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anymore, because a 20 minute drive takes me 40 minutes to get from my house to my
office in Boise. So, I avoid Ustick and when I do go down Linder I see parents parking
on a two lane road to pick up their children, because there isn't enough space for them
to even pick up their school kids, which leads me to believe that maybe we have too
many kids enrolled in the middle school and high school on Linder Road, because of the
dense population at this time. I understand that there is future plans for another high
school out by Black Creek -- or, no, Black Cat and that's maybe where growth should be
is where the schools are being built right now, grow around that new school, so we can
pull the kids out of schools that are already full. Yes, my kids are older and my kids are
in college and high school in another state, but I remember my daughter being in a
school that was overcrowded with over a thousand students and it was miserable. If
you couldn't get in the classes you needed, you're setting up portables, because you're
overcrowded and things get cut when the population goes up just to accommodate the
kids that are there. Services and amenities in the schools go down. I love the idea that
that is a great apartment complex. It is not affordable housing, which is what the state
of Idaho is needing, affordable housing. I work with enough two income families that
can be barely afford 1,300 dollars a month rent. They can't even afford a mortgage,
because they don't qualify and that's my only concern is the affordability. My daughter
cannot afford a one bedroom apartment. She has to have a roommate, because of
affordability. She makes 13 dollars an hour and can't afford a 900 dollar apartment. So,
we don't offer those jobs to accommodate what she wants to build for the average
family in this area.
De Weerd: Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to provide testimony?
Thank you for joining us. If you will, please, state your name and address for the
record.
Moss: Thank you. Tyler Moss. 2946 Northwest 8th Avenue. Been up here before
talking with everyone, so I know you know my stance is in opposition to this. Just want
to reiterate the transition -- take a look at the surroundings in this area. Nothing shows
this dense and a modern look anywhere in this direct surrounding area and I just want
to say Planning and Zoning was used on some of this property as commercial use and
there is none of that and I know Bill said last time that that's what they wanted. So,
where the Crossfield Apartments where was designed for commercial use, they decided
to swipe that and put it on this parcel and have commercial on this, as well as I guess
some of the other apartments and single -unit housing. So, I just want to say they were
also to do two and three story apartments and they have not done that and I do want to
attest to the schools, where my child goes to school on Eagle Road, more than three
miles away from my house, when we have schools around the area. There is no room.
We have already checked. So, we -- we know that first hand. So, that's kind of
frustrating to hear that they say, yeah, there is room. And, like they say, with all these
units going in in this direct subdivision and one on Ustick and there will be about 500,
600 kids. That's 1.5 kids per unit and that's 600 kids. Where are those kids going to go
to school, because there is no slated school going to be built in the near future. I just
want to reiterate what you guys said in the previous hearing that's important. The spite
strip issue is probably something that has to be resolved. We have seen communities
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May 15, 2018
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where it doesn't get resolved. The name says it all and it's a disaster. I think it's just too
large on Ustick and Venable. It's got 18.5 dwelling units per acre and just -- you know,
it's anticipated six to 15. That's the fatal flaw. Four stories. It's a hard concept to
accept. Council Member Palmer: We are not going to touch this one until you figure
this -- this issue. That's the spite strip. Council Member Bernt: I don't believe this is the
right location for it. It's just the wrong spot, plain and simple. And later he says: I'm just
not in favor of the apartments in this location. They want to have -- if you kick this down
the road and waste a bunch of resources and money. Councilman Milam: The density
of this particular parcel is inappropriate. This is the wrong location. There are too many
apartments with -- in the course -- range of this. This is designated as mixed-use. It will
affect the quality of living of everyone living nearby. Later she says I'm on the same
page as Councilman Bernt. I'd rather see you leave this as four stories and put it
somewhere else. Thirty less isn't going to change my mind. It's still going to be too
high of density for this location. Councilman --
De Weerd: Tyler.
Moss: -- Cavener: I'd like to --
De Weerd: Tyler. You will need to summarize, please.
Moss: Okay. In summary I just want to -- I have two more down here and even Mr.
Nary said this shouldn't have gone this far down the road. It shouldn't have gotten this
far. There is too many issues with this. We are trying to do the peg -- square peg in a
round hole and I think we know the issue is there is just too many issues with this and
there is no immediate resolution to get this put in and so with all that said -- I mean I
know all of you had said you were against this at one point. We vote for you, we hope
that you listen to us as -- as members of this -- this community. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. Further testimony? Seeing none, would the applicant
like to come up and summarize, respond to the testimony. Thank you.
Robnett: Again, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, my name is Shannon Robnett.
If you know, 5103 Zamora is less than 1.2 miles away from this site. I live right across
the street from Prelude. I'm very well aware. I live right across the street from Prelude
in the Ventana Subdivision. I'm 1.2 miles away from the site. My kids go to these
schools. I'm very well aware of the problems that -- that are being stated, but I also
know that the solutions are there as well. The comp plan. It's 20 years old. It was done
and amended in 2011. But you guys know that. There is 350 cars, according to our
traffic study, that will go through. There will be cut -through traffic, but I ask you to look
at what traffic is going to come the other direction onto Venable. Currently in this slide
that you can see, there is two accesses out of the Crossfield Subdivision that are
completely cut off until Venable is built. We will build that. We are going to allow all of
the pressure out of those 80 apartments -- or I believe that's 80 units. All of those will
more than likely drop out onto Venable. We are going to create traffic patterns that will
come off of Meridian Road where they will relieve pressure going to Meridian Road that
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May 15, 2018
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will come out onto Ustick. When you look at the individual layout of the subdivision
behind us, because it will be shorter to come out to Ustick, so they will be using the road
that we build. The traffic going both ways, the traffic study says that 60 percent will go
downtown. Let's say it's as high as 70 percent, the 30 to 40 percent will go to Ten Mile.
I personally work in Meridian -- or in Nampa. So, I go the opposite direction. Let's talk
about timing of the road construction that's going to happen to Meridian. That coincides
with what we are going to do with the best case -- best pace scenario we would be
starting sometime in February or March of '19. We wouldn't be ready for occupancy
until sometime in the fall of 2020. Meridian Road would be done by then, according to
the calculations that have been proposed, and the reason that the commercial was
omitted and not just because there is plenty of it available, but when we went through
with Josh and staff, we realized that the -- because of the access point that you see
coming out of the Crossfield Apartments, it created an access issue for the commercial
to actually exist on its own parcels and have its own exit as would be necessary. It
would have to be combined with what would happen behind it, which created a problem,
because there was no clear designation and, then, you had residential that was sharing
an access and sharing parking and the children were -- they had access to the area
that's in between those two to line those accesses up because of where it was put. The
other thing that I want to point out is that we are not necessarily demanding four story,
we are asking that we comply with the 40 foot height requirement that's there. To
remind you, the Crossfield Apartments are 35 and a half feet tall and they are only two
story. So, the argument is that we are looking to do something that is as tall -- and,
Josh, if you could show the slide that shows my elevation from Pennwood. This is the
apartments that I'm currently building on Pennwood that are three stories high and they
are a traditional look. Yeah. We went with the modern look, because we decided
maybe different is what somebody wants. If you want the modern look, we have got
that. If you want the traditional look that everybody does -- backup one. Backup two.
This is the apartments that we are currently building. This is the exact same floor plan
with a modern look to it. That's the only difference. They still comply with every bit of
the CZC and they are just as tall. So, when you look at that, your -- your code calls out
a 40 foot height requirement. It says nothing about floors. So, you could be two stories
and be 35 and a half feet tall and you can be three stories and be 40 feet tall or you
could be four stories and be 40 feet tall. We are asking simply to comply. So, I think
that Venable will open up. The traffic flow from Crossfield will alleviate and eliminate a
lot of the traffic that they now experience from all of their residents leaving that direction
and, yeah, lastly I understand that this is being built in my backyard. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. Council, any questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I do have a couple of questions for the applicant.
De Weerd: Shannon. Thank you.
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Cavener: Shannon, I appreciate your comments. I have some questions. You kind of
-- your opening comments came at kind of a breakneck pace and so I was struggling
to --
Robnett: I apologize. Too much coffee.
Cavener: Specifically related to the spite strip, you identified some dates with the
highway district.
Robnett: No, not the highway district. It was Ada county itself.
Cavener: With the county itself. Excuse me. Can you go over those dates --
Robnett: Sure.
Cavener: -- again about what that plan looks like?
Robnett: Okay. So, six weeks ago we scheduled our pre -app meeting before we came
before you the first time. That pre -app happened today at 10:30. They let us know that
if we have our application in by the end of the month with the new signatures, that we
would be heard August 9th. That was the earliest available -- even if we turned in our
application today, we still wouldn't be heard until August 9th. Then from there we would
be -- assuming that we were moving forward, which we have every indication that we
will, because it's not -- not an issue that's going to be hotly contested, we would be,
again, at October 17th for their council level approval.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, follow up.
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Cavener: So, it sounds like, then, that you were having this issue resolved by middle to
the end of October?
Robnett: Yes.
Cavener: Okay. Madam Mayor, additional question if I may. Shannon, can you pull up
your revised site plan for us?
Robnett: I will have my assistant do that.
Cavener: Great. Sorry. Thanks, Josh. A remarkable individual.
Robnett: Back a couple. One more. There you go.
Cavener: If I hear you correctly, you went from 272 units to 230; is that accurate?
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Robnett: This is 236.
Cavener: Two hundred and thirty-six. Great.
Robnett: Yes.
Cavener: Can you, using the marker, maybe identify on the map for us and for those
that are in the audience which units are two story and which units are three story?
Robnett: I have not identified any in this plan that's two story.
Cavener: Okay.
Robnett: That could be done. It would cost -- if you did the front two that would cost
you another eight units to do two story, but, then, again, what kind of roof can I put on
them?
Cavener: Again, Madam Mayor, I guess I'm just looking for some of the direction that
Council provided --
Robnett: Sure.
Cavener: -- at our last meeting to have a good idea as to what you're presenting. So,
for the sake of conversation, you don't necessarily have anything identified as to what is
two or what is three or what is four.
Robnett: That's correct.
Cavener: Okay. Fair enough. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions from Council?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: So, Councilman Cavener brings up a good point. This Concept G that's before
us, is the request now that -- this is the concept that you're asking to be approved or is
this to illustrate you shouldn't approve this, the reason why --
Robnett: This is to illustrate changes that were asked for by the neighbors that we
could comply with, but it illustrates a site plan that I don't agree with. First of all, if you
look at it, you can see where -- around the common -- or the smaller building in the
center of the front area there, not only is there room for me to put a couple more
buildings if I wanted to increase the density and leave it all two story and drop down to
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the 1.6 acres that I would only be required to put in, but that puts all of the common area
activities in front. It puts them out on the street. It puts them in plain view, if you will,
whereas if you go back to the site plan and I proposed, it puts all of that to the interior.
So, the buildings act as a shield, much like a lot of the retail requirements are, that the
retail building be up front and the parking be behind. So, when we met with staff
originally, staff recommended that we not pursue that type of a design, because it really
left the common area out in the -- in the public view, more like it's a city park, rather than
the interior courtyard of a high end complex.
Borton: Madam Mayor? So -- and I appreciate that. I'm just trying to get a sense of -- it
sounds like -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that -- that proposal G I think -- or Concept
G, it is your request that the Council deny Concept G. Don't use that. And, you know,
up or down the original proposal and that's it. Is that -- is that a correct request?
Robnett: My request is -- Concept G is to illustrate what could be done to eliminate
some of the -- the issues that were brought up by the residents. I still feel that my
original concept -- maybe going back and separating all of the buildings into the -- the
smaller configuration building would still leave us with the same unit count and still leave
us with that interior courtyard feel. So, Concept G shows what I could do. If that's what
you wanted me to do, if that's how you directed me to do it, to reject the original
proposed layout and go with Concept G, that would be what we would do. But I don't
prefer it.
Borton: So -- Madam Mayor? And I didn't hear Concept G coming -- at least from the
Council -- as what was requested to be a potential redesign. What I -- what I heard, at
least, to see if it was feasible, would be to make these four perimeter properties -- we
say two story and understanding two story, maybe 30 feet, you know, the -- the property
to the west, which is two stories, 30 feet --
Robnett: Thirty-six.
Borton: Okay. So, with the roofline; right? So --
Robnett: Yes.
Borton: And you have got a flat roof, so when we say two story, you might be thinking I
could do three stories within that dimension.
Robnett: Possibly.
Borton: Okay. That those four lots -- the design would remain the same, but those four
buildings, rather than being 40 feet, using round numbers, they would be effectively 30
feet.
Robnett: Correct.
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Borton: And in response, what's come back to us -- and just correct me if I'm wrong,
that that's not what you're proposing as Concept G, you're -- you're doing a completely
different redesign, which, as written, I can't really make sense of it.
Robnett: No. I hear your question better now.
Borton: That was the request.
Robnett: So, what I -- what I -- what I designed Concept G to show you was if I took to
heart everything that the neighbors had said and really pushed everything back and
away from them, just to show you what it would look like. So, the reality is that I look at
the original -- to state what I'm saying, I look at the original proposal and I say I would
like to leave the original proposal designed, essentially, the way it is and, yes, reduce
the -- the two buildings along Venable in height to something more suitable for the
neighborhood, not to push everything back and away, as Concept G shows, because I
don't think that it -- it does the right things for the -- for the complex. So, if you were to
look at that and say what -- what -- what would I like, I would like to stay with the original
proposed layout as far as building footprints and, then, talk about what happens to the
height on the two buildings, which would, then, become four buildings with what I'm
proposing, to create -- take these two large buildings here and split them in half, which
is exactly what these little ones are, into the smaller buildings that you see on this site
plan. Make everything only the smaller footprint and, then, lower these ones along
Venable to three would be what I would love to see. But if -- if we are looking at apples
to apples, could we go with two story next to the two story neighbors and three story
next to the 35 foot tall building, because they are just apartment dwellers.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Borton: That's helpful. I mean to cut to the chase. Who was -- you know. Is it possible
to keep it the same and just -- at least my request or thought was to cut the size of
those four properties. I was including the two along Ustick and I understand your
perspective on that. That that's not at least within your modified proposal.
Robnett: And my modified proposal was to show that when the neighbors wanted
things pushed away from them what it really did it -- it spewed the inside of the complex
out and so I was really trying to show, more than anything with Concept G, that I didn't
think that that was -- that was a benefit. I think that the concept as shown is a better
footprint and, then, if we deal with the height of the units on Venable, that would be --
that would be acceptable.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions from Council? Okay. Thank you.
Robnett: Thank you.
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Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Being an elected official there is nothing I love more than being quoted out of
context, so when somebody was quoting us I just -- it just didn't sound like me. So, I
had to look it up and -- Dean, you're the man. Dean's got it right in here. So, I had to
look back to the minutes and figure out exactly what the heck I was saying, because it
didn't make any sense. What I had said was: The talk needs to be -- okay. Is there a
way to get around this? How do we figure this out and, then, discuss the merits of the
project itself. Assuming we are able to find a solution to that, not -- we are not going to
touch this until you figure out this 20 foot issue. So, the context was let's figure out if we
can deal with it and, if so, discuss the merits of the project. Not the opposite of that. I
had to clarify that.
De Weerd: Okay.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: A question maybe for -- for legal. We find our -- I guess does the Council find
themselves in the same situation tonight that we found ourselves a few weeks ago with
really being in a challenging position to address this application until the spite strip issue
has been resolved?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilman Cavener, yeah, nothing has
really changed in regards to that issue. I mean the process they are going through is
the county's process, it is a county parcel, so the county does have to drive that. The
fact there are such long delays is unfortunate, but that's not really anything anybody --
even the applicant can't control that. So, what was being proposed was that they would
annex -- they have a legal description they have created that incorporates this parcel
and excludes that parcel. What they were asking was that they -- that the Council
would approve this and -- but not act on the ordinance or the development agreement
until that piece was resolved. That is unusual. We don't normally do that. Normally we
annex a parcel that is already defined and already been a legal parcel of record and so
that's really the hitch that we identified previously that they can't change. So, it's not
really -- it's not their fault, but they can't change that at this juncture and that there is this
delay. So, it is outside of our normal process. I don't anticipate that it will be a problem,
but I don't know that and I don't know what happens. It seems like occasions when we
have made those types of exceptions, more often than not, there is a problem and,
then, it becomes much more of an issue for us now to deal with. So, it certainly is not
something you cannot do, it's just not something we have done before when we don't
have a legal parcel yet defined by the -- the county. You know, Mr. Brown was here the
last time and said the whole issue of his measuring and all those things -- and that may
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be exactly the case, he certainly would know that, but it's still got to be a legal parcel
and that's kind of what we don't have.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I don't know where the Council's level of comfort is on this application and
what, if any, action this body feels comfortable taking tonight. I maintained the last
meeting on this and I still feel the same way tonight, that I'm not comfortable moving
forward until the spite strip issue is resolved. I sympathize with the delays with the
county and how long that will take for this to come back before us, but the applicant
stated that he didn't feel he was given a fair shake by our City Council and I guess I take
exception with that. I think that with every application that comes before us we give
every applicant and the public a fair shake. The reason this was continued was to give
you, again, another opportunity to address some of the concerns and questions from
the Council. I don't necessarily feel that was necessarily addressed, but, nevertheless, I
still am open to this project somewhat, but not until we have the spite strip issue
resolved.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
IT&T,Jc=i■AM A n—
Milam: A little different than Councilman Cavener, because on this one I -- I said so last
time and I still believe that this is a gorgeous development. I love it. This is not the right
location and even though there is some apartments slated for this, that was probably
before other apartment complexes in the area got their areas changed to allow them to
have apartments and now there are just too many. The density is already heavy in that
area. The infrastructure isn't there. I like -- and I -- I would hate to see you lower it,
because I think it's beautiful the way it is. I love the look of the buildings, I would just
like to see it somewhere closer to the freeway. So, I'm at denial at this point.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: See, this is a situation that we run into. We have places where a project fits
fine, but needs a change in the Comprehensive Plan and this Council has often denied
those projects, because we have lots of neighbors who come and say I planned my
entire life based on your Comprehensive Plan. My -- from age 30 to in the grave is
based on what I saw on the Comprehensive Plan when I was looking at the property
and now we have -- so, we tell developers all the time, no, come back with something
that fits in the Comprehensive Plan. Now, we have something that fits within the
Comprehensive Plan and we are ready to tell them no, because it's -- it's exactly what
we have asked for. We are going through the process now of adjusting it. It's going to
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take a long time, but in the meantime I can't imagine that we punish somebody for
bringing exactly what we have asked them to bring in the meantime. I feel comfortable
working around the issue of the little strip of land up there and I think it merits approval.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other comments? Mr. Borton.
Borton: Madam Mayor. I agree with Councilman Cavener with regards to the concern
on the spite strip.
De Weerd: Will you pull your microphone --
Borton: Sure. With the spite strip concern, even if -- you know, taking affirmative action
tonight doesn't really move the ball too much, because it's, essentially, tabled until the
county -- assume they resolve it in -- in August or this fall -- takes action. So, moving
quickly doesn't actually move anything quickly. So, my -- my concern that -- that hasn't
really been addressed is the -- the compatibility of the size of these. I'm comfortable
with apartments in general in this location. I love this design and I think the applicant
has done an admirable job in describing the amenities that are incorporated in this and -
- and the length that he's gone to try to address really what we are asking him to do on
this parcel. I just think that the -- if there was -- if there was additional time -- and there
is -- that those four buildings -- those exterior buildings be adjusted -- we use the phrase
-- we kind of struggled with his last time with two stories and three stories, four stories --
and, he's right, it's a height requirement really. I don't think I could articulate today
proper measurements to try and capture really what we were intending with two story
and three story. Probably with time a way to do that, whether it's a -- I'm not going to do
it. But I think that's important. As designed I'm not supportive of it. I think it's -- it's just
too big. It's not compatible. But the glass is half full perspective I think there is
adjustments that could be made that make it acceptable, but that's my -- if we were to
take action that's my position right now.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Taking all that into consideration, I know there hasn't been a great winning
record on motions on tonight's meeting, but what I would propose that we do, then, is
that we continue this item to November 7th, which is the day after the general election
day we will have a meeting -- our regular Tuesday meeting will be rescheduled to that
date. We will give the applicant the opportunity to do, in my opinion, a couple of things.
One, work with the county to get the spite strip situation resolved, so that that issue is
removed from -- from the plate of consideration and so I would encourage the applicant
to -- to listen to what Council has said both in the last meeting and tonight and bring us
back a proposal that is more in line with some of the feedback that you received, should
you choose to. That's my motion.
Borton: Second.
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De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to continue this item to November 7th
with specifics on what to come back with. Any discussion from Council?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: It looks like Mr. Nary is dying to say something, but my question is also why
November, as opposed to September or October? I think you said August was his
meeting.
Cavener: Did legal --
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, maybe I can answer Mr. Palmer. He
said October 17th was the commissioner's approval. So, that was why. Madam Mayor,
Members of the Council, the only thing I was going to interject was it sounded like you
wanted to leave the hearing open for specific information. That's a very long extension.
In the past when we have had some we have renoticed it, because it is hard for people
to track that and I just wanted to interject that if that's the Council's desire that's what we
have done previously when we have set over that long is we have done that, so --
De Weerd: So, just to reiterate, the continuation is for action from the county on the
spite strip and what the perimeter apartments would look like and reducing the -- the
height. Is that what --
Cavener: Madam Mayor, appreciate the opportunity to provide some clarification. It's
generally -- because I don't want to summarize the feedback from all the members of
Council, but the things that I have taken away from both these meetings is that there is
too much density. The buildings are too high and that the -- the layout or -- and, again, I
don't want to speak for Council Member Borton, but speak to the general incompatibility
of -- of the site. While those aren't necessarily all of my comments, I just -- I thought it
was important for the applicant to really hear the feedback that was provided from
Council, both in our previous meeting and this meeting tonight.
De Weerd: So, primarily it's the spite strip and the -- the incompatibility with the
intensity as being proposed.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, that is a very good synopsis.
De Weerd: Okay.
Cavener: If second would agree.
De Weerd: If second agrees.
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May 15, 2018
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Borton: The second agrees and to provide some specifics and direction -- and I will use
somewhat kind of arbitrary figures for the illustration -- is if those four properties had
some height condition of -- and I will -- for illustration it's, you know, 25 feet on the
exterior and 35 on the interior, it tries to capture the concept of what we talked about at
the last hearing. Those aren't hard amounts, hard heights, but that gives some direction
at least to make -- to make amendments and perhaps a condition that would address
the height on those four perimeter lots -- or perimeter buildings along Ustick and
Venable.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I'm just trying to put my feet in the applicant's shoes and maybe he wouldn't --
he wouldn't be interested in this, but is there a mechanism for us to not wait so far as
November, but to give him a time in between to have an opportunity to present an
adjustment to the plan and for us to be able to -- whether officially or unofficially give
him feedback about whether it's worth his time continuing all the way through the
process of November, rather than wait until then, come back with, okay, we have got
the county dealt with and now he has got to try to convince us of a new plan that we
may reject anyway. Just so he doesn't have to wait that long to be told no after all the
work with the county.
Borton: Madam Mayor? If I recall, Mr. Nary, was one of the concerns if you go down
that path and if something were to go sideways with the county, that you got to go
through a de -annexation process?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, that's correct. What they are asking us
to do is to sort of hold it until that becomes a legal parcel, which is highly unusual. So,
yeah, that would be the other problem is that if we annexation it the way it is now we
would have to de -annex a portion of it, which is more problematic.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: So, I guess your other option is you can deny it and they can reapply once
the spite strip is resolved and -- and bring in a new plan.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: There is all kind of choices. Yes, Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I think that would be poor customer service. Even if it's not, you know, an
official binding decision, if there is a way for him to be able to take what -- what's been
presented -- and I guess maybe that was this meeting -- to be able to unofficially give
him an idea, okay, you're on the right track. Get your county dealt with and we will talk
to you in November, as opposed to now we won't see anything until November.
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De Weerd: I have heard he is not on the right track --
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: -- with the intensity. Yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Yeah. I don't consider it poor customer service, because what was brought
back today wasn't what was asked for before. It still has the same intensity. The
specifics weren't -- the buildings weren't reduced in height. We were given a -- I felt like
a side wall of whatever that Concept G was, just to kind of throw us for a loop and get
us talking on something that -- we were talking about or considering and so I would like
to make a substitute motion. I move to deny H-2017-0142 based on too much intensity
and -- for the area.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion to deny the application. Do I have a second? Okay.
The substitute motion failed. We do have a motion to continue to November 7th, with
the premise to have addressed the spite strip and the intensity. Any further
conversation? All those in favor of continuing this application indicate by saying aye.
Any opposed say nay?
Milam: Nay.
De Weerd: Okay. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE NAY. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: And also to reiterate what Mr. Nary had suggested, that this be reposted as
a public hearing with the appropriate charges to the applicant and also posting on
NextDoor. Okay. Well, thank you for joining us today and the action by Council is -- is
continuing this to November 7th.
Agreement
Modify
F. Public Hearing Continued from May 1, 2018 for Paramount
MDA (H-2018-0038) by Brighton Corporation, Inc. Located at
5100 N. Dyver Ave.
1. Request: Modification to an Existing Development
to Allow for Self -Storage Uses on the Property and to
Certain Other Provisions of the Development Agreement
De Weerd: Okay. Item 8-F is a public hearing continued from May 1st on H-2018-
0038. 1 will ask for staff comments.
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May 15, 2018
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Beach: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Before you tonight is a
-- get the slides here. I apologize. Is a development agreement modification. This site
consists of approximately 3.56 acres of land, which is zoned C -G, located at -- located
at 5100 North Dyver Avenue on the northside of East Archerfield Street, west side of
North Meridian Road, in the southeast corner of Section 25, Township 4 North, Range 1
West. So, a little history on this project. It was originally annexed into the city in 2003
and has received several development agreement modifications over the years, the
most recent in 2013. The applicant's request for you this evening is to change the
language in the development agreement to allow for the R-15 zoning, to eliminate TN -C
as an allowed zoning district and to allow self storage use as a -- as a permitted use in
the development. I will say the applicant is coming forward on Thursday evening to
present a conditional use permit for a storage complex, which is the site plan you see in
front of you tonight. I will stand for any questions you have on the application.
De Weerd: Thank you, Josh. Council, any questions for staff at this time? Good
evening.
Wardle: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Mike Wardle. Brighton Corporation.
12601 West Explorer Drive in Boise. Just a comment before I comment on this and that
would be that perhaps putting a bicycle repair station in a project might be easier than
sponsoring a Grand Prix Auto Race downtown. So, it might be an easier sell.
De Weerd: I can guarantee you that.
Wardle: For those that were not here several years ago. Madam Mayor, as Josh has
laid it out clearly, it's simply a use that was not anticipated originally, but the -- a
commercial use proposed in a commercial zone will be before the Planning and Zoning
Commission and we simply asked for the opportunity to have that consideration and
that discussion. So, I would answer any other questions. Thank you.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Wardle: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to provide
testimony? Okay.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Seeing no testimony, I would move that we close the public hearing on H-2018-
0038.
Cavener: Second.
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May 15, 2018
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De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: You know, I just wanted to make sure that you really wanted to go on the
record to close the public hearing. Okay. Okay. It's closed.
Borton: Madam Mayor? I would move --
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: -- now that the hearing is closed -- to approve H-2018-0038.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. No, I will call for roll call, please.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
G. Public Hearing for Wells Subdivision (H-2018-0017) by
Schultz Development LLC Located at 2550 E. Amity Rd
1. Request: Annexation of 14.80 Acres of Land to the R -4
Zoning District; and
2. Request: Application for a Preliminary Plat of 38 Single -
Family Building Lots and 11 Common Lots on 14.8 Acres of
Land in the proposed R-4 Zoning District
De Weerd: Thank you, Mr. Wardle. We will be following up with you. 8-G is a public
hearing for H-2018-0017. I will open this public hearing with stuff comments.
Beach: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, before you tonight is the Wells
Subdivision. It's both an annexation and zoning and a preliminary plat. The site
consists of approximately 14.8 acres, which is currently zoned RUT, located at 2050
East Amity Road. There is no current history on the property. The Comprehensive
Plan future land use designation is low density residential. The applicant has applied to
annex and zone 14.8 acres of land with an R-4 zoning district. The proposed zoning is
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May 15, 2018
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consistent with the text of the Comprehensive Plan and future land use map. The
proposed plat consists of 38 building lots and 11 common lots. The plat is proposed to
develop in one phase. The gross density is 2.57 dwelling units per acre and the net
density of 4.08 dwelling units per acre. The average lot size of 10,664 square feet.
There is an existing home and out buildings on the site. The home is proposed to be
included on Lot 6, Block 1, of the subdivision. Any outbuildings that do not meet the
required setbacks of the R-4 zoning district shall be removed or relocated. Just for
reference sake, the existing home is located near Amity Road on this parcel here. It is
set to remain. There is a -- there are three common driveways on the plat to serve a
total of seven residential lots. It will provide several stub streets. One to the north, East
Melwood Street, and South Superior Avenue are stubbed to the site and the applicant is
also proposing to stub to the property to the east. Staff is supportive of the street layout
proposed for this development. A minimum of ten percent qualified open space is
required for the development based on the preliminary plat, which is 14.8 acres. A
minimum of 1.48 acres of qualified open space is required. A total of 1.85 acres of open
space or 12.5 percent is proposed, consisting of half the street buffer along East Amity
Road, a micro path lot, internal common open space areas and internal parkways to
comply with the requirement. Based on the area of the plat, which is, again, 14.8 acres,
that requires a minimum of one qualified site amenity be provided. The applicant has
provided a gazebo within the northern common area on Lot 9, Block 2. Follow my
cursor again in this parcel here. Because the homes that back up to East Amity Road
will be highly visible, staff recommends the rear and side of structures on lots that face
East Amity, which include Lots 8 through 11 of Block 1, incorporate articulation through
change in material, color, modulation and architectural elements, to break up
anonymous wall plains and roof lines. Summary of the Commission hearing. Mr. Matt
Schultz was the applicant in favor. Did not receive any in opposition, nor did anyone
comment. Did not receive any written testimony. I was the -- the staff that presented
the application. There were no other staff members present to -- to comment. There
were no key issues of public testimony. Key issues of discussion by the Commission
were questions on the status of the existing structure and as you see Commission
change to several recommendations. Originally we had a multi -use pathway slated
along the north side of Amity Road for the parks to provide their condition at the
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, so we struct that condition out and those are
all related to that. There are no outstanding issues for City Council. The Commission
recommend approval with conditions and we did not receive any written testimony since
the Commission hearing. Stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Josh, you mentioned building elevations. Do you have those?
Beach: Sure do. I apologize. So, this is the -- the plat itself showing the parcels and
the existing home will stay here on that parcel there. The landscape plan -- the
applicant did provide some conception elevations for the homes within the development.
De Weerd: Okay. Council -- thank you. Council, any questions at this time?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
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May 15, 2018
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De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Josh, is there some portion of the Ten Mile Creek that's open that's --
Beach: There is a regional pathway on the northside.
Borton: North side. Yeah. Okay.
Beach: And I believe the parcel goes to the center line of that irrigation canal, so it's not
part of this application.
Borton: Okay. Thanks.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions at this point? Okay. Is the applicant here?
Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Schultz: Good evening, Mayor and Council. Matt Schultz. 8421 South Ten Mile. Here
on behalf of MWT, LLC. Happy to have an R-4 before you. It's kind of nice. It fits in.
We have got a great access in all -- in all directions. In fact, ACHD made us delete one
of our accesses to Amity and we have -- we have four accesses. We had too much
access and they, basically, said it's a future arterial, five lanes, unless you can prove
you need it or we are going to -- we are going to take it out, which we did, and short-
term maybe it's a problem for the marketing. Long-term is better for the neighborhood
to not have a bunch of traffic from Tuscany wanting to dump out. In fact, ACHD said
there might be a signal there if we -- if we launch it out there. Yeah. We don't want to
do that. So -- so, we took it off. We actually submitted it going out to Amity, but they
told us on day one we needed to take it off, so we revised it and got it back in. So, other
than that, we are blended it in -- really into Tuscany is what we are doing. Good
location. South Meridian. A lot of -- and R-4 is really -- makes sense for us. Didn't
really think about R-8. Not that R-8 is bad. Tuscany is R-8, but they have got some
more clustered stuff further away than what's up against us. There is a multi -use
pathway, like staff said, on the northside that Brighton -- we are going to build a
bridge to connect to Tuscany. Brighton, when they finished that out, put up a trust with
ACRD. They were going to, you know, basically, contribute roughly a hundred -- they
put a hundred and it will be about a 200,000 dollar bridge to connect. So, people will
still be able to get through out to Amity, it will just be through the adjacent Castle Creek
to the east. They do have an Amity connection they have not built yet, but they will and
so there will still be access to Amity. It's a little more circuitous route and I think that will
-- that will eliminate some of the -- the cut through hopefully. But other than that we --
we love it. We think it's a good -- it fits in real well. Nice big lots. Nice homes. And,
hopefully, something you will pretty easily approve. Thanks. We do agree with all
staff's recommendations. So, thanks.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions for the applicant?
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Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: A question for the applicant or -- and Mr. Nary. I think development
agreements are critical in every annexation and there is not a recommendation that one
may be necessary, but there is still conditions and terms in development agreements
where you put those. I assume you're not opposed to having one as a requirement of
this, so long as all the terms and conditions are consistent with what is recommended.
Schultz: Yeah. Mayor, Councilman Borton, it's a matter of course for us to do
development agreements. So, if you say, please, do one we have said no problem, you
know, it's -- so, we don't look to switch anything up and it just -- it makes everybody feel
better to have a development agreement that this is the R-4 that we are going to do and
those are the elevations that you're going to do and the staff report's in there and -- and
it's all covered. So, no problem.
De Weerd: You're so happy and accommodating tonight, Matt.
Borton: That's my only question. I appreciate that.
Schultz: R -4s are easy, Mayor, and so I love it and that's why -- that's why I'm happy,
because I need a reprieve, so --
De Weerd: Awesome. Any other questions from Council? Okay. Thank you.
Schultz: Thank you.
Coles: Madam Mayor, we had one sign up this evening not wishing to testify. Sky
Ragland. However, he did write don't want to see the street go over the canal at Zopiro
Way.
De Weerd: Okay. Is there anyone who wants to provide testimony on this application?
Okay.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I would move we close the public hearing on H-2018-0017.
Palmer: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those in favor
say aye. All ayes.
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MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move that we approve H-2018-0017 to include all staff comment and conditions
in the staff report and to include the requirement of a development agreement as usual.
Palmer: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve this item with a development
agreement.
Beach: Madam Mayor, could I ask a question of Council Member Borton? Are there
specific provisions that you would like to see in the development agreement or just that
there be one maybe tied to this layout and to the elevations provided?
Borton: Madam Mayor? I think there is -- there should be a development agreement
with every single annexation and any -- and any and all conditions that we would ever
need to have this project be bound to be included into -- into a development agreement.
Beach: Just to clarify. The reason we did not in this particular one is this is R-4, it fits
with the neighborhood. They are not really doing anything unusual. We are happy to
do that if you would like. I just wanted clarification is if there is something specific you
wanted to see as a condition.
Borton: Madam Mayor. There is not. I just think that's the only vehicle to insure --
De Weerd: I think it's too kind of bring in all the items that were discussed. I think Mr.
Schultz had actually summarized it very well in terms of capturing the elevations, the
connectivity, that there will be no access out onto Amity Road, those -- those are
elements that would be appropriate. Any conversation? Discussion? Mr. Clerk.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried. Thank you.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
H. Public Hearing for Fire Station No. 6 (H-2018-0016) by City
of Meridian Located at 1435 W. Overland Rd
1. Request: An Annexation and Zoning of 1.99 Acres of Land to
the R -8 Zoning District
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De Weerd: Item 8-H is a public hearing for H-2018-0016. I will open the public hearing
with stuff comments.
Beach: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, before you tonight is an application for
Fire Station No. 6. The site consists of 1.99 acres of land, which is zoned RUT
currently, located at 1435 West Overland Road. This is an annexation. There is no
current history with the city on this parcel. The Comprehensive Plan future land use
map designation is medium density residential. The applicant has applied for
annexation and zoning, as I said, of 1.99 acres of land with an R-8 zoning district. The
proposed zoning is consistent with the policies in the Comprehensive Plan and future
land use map designation of medium density residential. The applicant proposes to
develop a new City of Meridian fire station on the property and include an apparatus
bay, housing area for staff, and offices. Once the property is annexed the applicant
intends to apply for a conditional use permit, certificate of zoning compliance and
administrative design review for the property, to establish the fire station use on the
property. The site plan as provided by the applicant provides a concept plan indicating
the access point, circulation, parking and building footprint of the property. With the
conditional use permit application the applicant will need to submit a site and landscape
plan in accordance with the UDC section as outlined in the staff report. A 25 foot wide
landscape buffer is required along West Overland Road. Internal parking lot
landscaping is also required. They are showing two access points to Overland Road.
This being an arterial they would need that approved by Council, so we have included
that in this -- as part of their request that they be granted direct access to Overland
Road and the conceptual site plan indicates that there will be a total of 18 parking stalls
on the property and -- with one for every 500 square feet being required. The applicant
shall comply with the section of code to receive alternative compliance. This is the
conceptual floor plan with the potential of future additions on the west side of the
building. Do have nailed down architectural elevations from the applicant at this point.
The Commission did recommend approval with conditions. Summary of the
Commission public hearing. Charlie Butterfield was the applicant and Gunner Gladics,
the applicant's representative, were both in favor. We received none in opposition. No
comments. No written testimony. I was the staff member presenting. Bill Parsons also
commented. There were no issues of -- key issues of public testimony. Key issues of
discussions by the Commission were location of the access point for the parcel,
meaning -- essentially there was a lot of discussion about the flow of traffic and we
originally had a condition that limit access points to Overland Road that this parcel here,
locally known as The Party Barn, would share an access in the future out to the parcel
as a cross -access. The Commission removed that condition. In further discussion with
the fire department it didn't seem like it -- would cause more problems than anything.
So, that's the one condition that was removed. With that I will stand for any questions
you have on the application.
De Weerd: Thank you, Josh. Council, any questions? Okay. Is the applicant here?
Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
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Gladics: Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council. Gunner Gladics. Pivot North
Architecture. 1101 West Grove Street, Boise, Idaho.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Gladics: Yes. In regards to Josh's comments, we -- we agreed with all of the staff
comments and conditions, with the exception of the two access points. Just a brief
overview of the way that we envision this to work is that the -- the emergency entrance,
we side -- on the left side of the drawing is basically a response only drive aisle that's
where they will start from when they respond to an emergency and, then, the access
aisle to the right side on the east side is where they will be returning from calls with the
engines and as well as coming to park when they do shift change every 48 hours. So,
the -- the two issues that we had as a team looking at this were we were concerned
about the -- the mixing of traffic between the RV lot across the street with the apparatus
coming back from calls, as well as the possible conflict entering that access with cross -
access from another location. One of the things that we have done since starting this is
do some engineering calculations on the turning radiuses. Returning engines and
returning trucks will take up the entire width of that access way as they come back in, so
if you have traffic stacked up to leave, returning apparatus will -- will not be able to
come back in to refit and go back out on a call. So, we feel that there was a conflict
issue with traffic from the RV place, which we thought caused a public and staff safety
concern, as well as an operational efficiency concern in not being able to get back into
the station to refit and go back out and if you have any questions I will respond.
De Weerd: Council, any questions? Okay. Thank you.
Coles: No sign-ups, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Okay. Is there anyone who wishes to provide testimony on this item?
Okay.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes. There is one.
Borton: Josh, there is -- there is one condition and you might have -- I might have
missed it when you had spoke on it. The 1.1.7.
Beach: I can get to the staff report. I believe that's the condition that they provide a
cross -access to the property to the east, so that there are some limited access points
onto Overland Road and the Commission did not want that. I believe that's the
condition you're referring to.
Borton: Well --
Beach: I could be wrong. Let me look.
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Borton: Yeah. It says -- it says access to the site shall comply with UDC 11-3-A3,
unless waived by Council, and it's not sticking out.
Beach: That's the one where you have to grant them approval to take access to
Overland Road.
Borton: Oh. Okay. So, we -- Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Borton: So, to grant access we would be waving that UDC requirement as part of the
motion?
Beach: The UDC -- Council Member Borton, the UDC requires that -- there is a specific
provision in there that if someone wants to have direct access to an arterial road they
need Council's permission to do that. So, that's what they are asking for.
Borton: Okay. Thanks.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: It's probably a question I should have asked a while ago. Mr. Nary, given the
massive amount of ex -parte communications and everything that I have had concerning
this project before us, I planned on not voting, but does that cause a problem given the
number of members that we have here today?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, no. Once we have a quorum
established, as we do, if a council member were to recuse himself on a particular vote,
that doesn't change the quorum requirement. So, you can do that.
Palmer: That's what I figured. Thanks.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions from Council? Hearing none, I would entertain
a motion to close the public hearing.
Cavener: Madam Mayor. I move we close the public hearing on Item 8-G. H -- sorry.
Thank you, everyone.
Borton: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and second to close the public hearing on 8-H. All those in
favor say aye.
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May 15, 2018
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MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I move we approve H-2018-0016 and include all staff and applicant
testimony. Do I need to specifically call out that modification for the cross -access?
Okay. Taking into account -- sorry, I closed my staff packet with the -- I don't see the --
1.1 -- delete 1.16 and allow access as to 1.17. My apologies for the confusion.
De Weerd: Okay. Do I have a second?
Borton: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay. Mr. Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, abstain; Little Roberts,
absent; Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSTAIN. TWO ABSENT.
I. Public Hearing for Proposed New Fees of
Community Development Department
1. Resolution No. 18-2075: Adopting New Fees For Certificate
Of Zoning Compliance, Use And Sign, Portable; Amending
The Description Of Fee For Director Determination;
Authorizing The Community Development Department To
Collect Such Fees; And Providing An Effective Date
De Weerd: Item 8-1 is a public hearing for proposed fees by the Community
Development Department. Caleb.
Hood: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. During last week's
presentation we talked about a couple of fees that Planning was proposing to add to the
city-wide fee schedule. So, this table should look familiar to you. I did have a follow --
one follow-up conversation this past week with Dave Yorgason. He was here in the
audience last week and so I just followed up with him on any implications to these few
changes regarding marketing signs and Parade of Home signs and told him, basically,
this -- this didn't change anything that was going on with those. So, I can explain more
about this maybe just briefly. The certificate of zoning compliance -- I see that zoning is
spelled incorrectly on the table -- but we need to have a third option for CZC. This --
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May 15, 2018
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what we have been doing is either targeting applicants -- one of the two fees above and
we are finding that it's not taking as much time to do this level of certificate of zoning
compliance. This level of certificate of zoning compliance is, essentially, for a new
tenant in an existing building that has been doing modifications, but there are specific
use standards that we still have to verify are present on the property. So, there is a little
bit of research there, but, again, not a huge list as far as the effort goes staff time wise.
And, then, the new portable signs. The other new one is portable signs. These largely
affect properties that are zoned Old Town and would be similar to the sandwich board
signs. Those are typically what a -- what a portable sign constitutes. So, we found out
during this past tax season that we didn't have anything to allow that and kind of a
similar story where we are still permitting them, but under a different limited duration
sign and we realized we should technically be doing it under portable signs. So, the
same level of effort, same fee. We are calling it what our code calls it. So, it kind of just
lines it up better with the definitions of the UDC. There is a third change that I didn't talk
to you all about last night, but it's a change to the fee schedule and under zoning
verification letter, parenthetically there is -- it says director's determination. Well, no, a
zoning verification letter is not a director determination letter. So, we are -- we are just
striking that out of the fee schedule and there is already a director's termination letter in
the fee schedule. So, that's kind of more of a scrivener's error type of a thing in the fee
schedule, but just wanted to clean it up while we are in here.
Borton: Madam Mayor? So, Caleb, the bottom one is being stricken?
Hood: What you don't see here -- so, put parenthetically on the official fee schedule for
the city -- and I should have had it -- again, there parentheses after that. It says
director's determination. Well, that's incorrect. We have a director's determination on --
in the fee schedule. So, they are two separate things. So, I don't know how that --
Borton: That makes sense.
Hood: So, no change to that fee or anything, it's just a little bit of a change to the name.
Borton: Madam Mayor? So, the resolution -- if we approve this now that would include
correcting that parenthetical?
Hood: Correct.
Borton: Okay.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any other questions?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I move we close -- oh, you were going to ask, probably.
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May 15, 2018
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De Weerd: I just want to make sure there is no public testimony. Okay. Is there
anyone who wishes to provide testimony on this? Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I move we close the public hearing on Item 8-I.
Borton: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing on Item 8-I. All
those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: Resolution No. 18-2075.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I move we approve Resolution No. 18-2075.
Borton: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the resolution under 8-I. Any
discussion? Mr. Clerk.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item J: Police Department Budget Amendments
1. Net Zero Budget Amendment for Mobilization Grant
2. Net Zero Budget Amendment for Motor Officer Grant
3. Net Zero Budget Amendment for Alive @ 25 Grant
De Weerd: Item 8-J is under our Police Department. You have three budget
amendments with a net zero impact. Lieutenant.
Colaianni: Madam Mayor, Council Members, do you want me to go through these one
at a time and talk about each one or do you just want me to globally go through them
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and hold the questions for the end? Perfect. So, the net zero budget amendment for
the mobilization grant. This is an Office of Highway Safety grant for 24,300 dollars. I
have three documents in front of me. I apologize. This is for mobilizations for
enforcement of aggressive driving, DUI impaired driving mobilizations that we do
throughout the year. It also allows our officers to attend a lifesaver conference during
the year, too. It's attached to the mobilization. The second one is a zero budget
amendment for a motor grant. This is year three of three of the grant. It is for 31,500
dollars and next year the city will pick up all the balance of the rest of that and, then, the
last one is a net zero budget amendment for Alive at 25 grant. It's for -- from the Office
of Highway Safety and it was for 6,000 dollars. We spend a lot of time doing education
and prevention in our Alive at 25 program and it's been very successful. Almost every
class that we hold has 24 to 30 people in it. So, it works well for us. Questions?
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Scott, what's the -- the ongoing, then, obligation for the city? I think you said
for the -- the motor officer grant moving forward. Maybe I missed that in the budget
amendment form, but I didn't -- I didn't see -- oh, there it is. It looks like 31,000 dollars
moving forward. I found my own answer. I just forgot there was two pages. Okay.
De Weerd: Okay. Any further questions?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Not a question, but -- but, Lieutenant, I appreciate all of these and in particular
that Alive at 25 grant. That is such a valuable resource for the young drivers and kids
that -- whether required to go through it or not, any -- you know, good responsible
parents encouraging their kids to use that class, it is a phenomenal resource for them.
So, I love seeing that here.
Colaianni: Yeah. We use it a lot. We just had a class last night and I popped in and
was watching it and we have an engaged audience and I think over the years we have
been kind of -- set the pace for that across the state in terms of attendance and our
participation by the police department. There has been many agencies that have come
to us and asked us how we have been so successful at it and so I'm pretty proud of that.
Borton: Madam Mayor. And I think there is -- there is several insurance carriers that for
parents who have their children go attend the class and provide certificates of
completion, that -- that there is discounts available. I'm sure that's made known to
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parents, but it's a great resource to encourage young drivers to participate and
encourage parents to have their kids go, so --
Colaianni: Absolutely.
De Weerd: And you have engaged participants, because your officers are engaged.
Colaianni: I agree. I agree.
De Weerd: You do set the pace.
Colaianni: Yeah. You know, we can -- and we -- it's set up to take ages 15 to 24 and
so most of our attendance are youth, but -- I mean we get them a little bit older than
that, too. Not too many that are 24, but we get some that are 19 and 20 that are still
learning.
De Weerd: Thank you. Any further questions from Council? Okay. Hearing none.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the police mobilization grant award for fiscal year 2018
for 24,300 dollars.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. to approve Item J-1. If there is no
discussion, Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: Item J-2?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the police motor officer grant award for fiscal year 2018,
year three of three in the amount of 31,500 dollars.
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May 15, 2018
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Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second approve Item J-2. Any discussion? Mr.
Clerk.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve the police Alive at 25 grant award for fiscal year 2018 in
the amount of 6,000 dollars.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item J-3. Mr. Clerk, will you call
roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
K. Parks and Recreation Department: South Meridian
Regional Park Naming
De Weerd: Item 8-K is under our Parks Department. Sorry. Parks and Recreation
Department.
Barton: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Council. Thanks for your time. Wanted to bring
with -- bring forward a naming discussion for the new park in south Meridian. Over the
last year staff has worked with the parks and rec commission to -- over the course of
several meetings to develop some names for the new park. The discussions that were
-- narrowed the names down to Highland Park, Exploration Park and Innovation Park.
There was really about five or six names that we started out with. One of them was
Falcon Ridge. There was Discovery. As well as these names. I think there was one
more that I have in my notes if you're interested. So, Discovery Park -- one of the
reasons that the Discovery name dropped out of the discussion because it's already
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May 15, 2018
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used at the state park unit below Lucky Peak Dam and also Boise city has the
Discovery Center. Another thing that was brought up is Discovery Elementary. It's an
awesome name. It's just used -- too bad it's taken. So, the parks and rec commission
voted to bring back -- or bring forward the name Exploration Park to you for
consideration and we did so on February 6th. At that time Council instructed us to put a
survey out to the citizens, which we did do, and we have -- that's been completed. It -- it
was out for two months. We had it on social media and it also went out in the utility
bills. We got about 800 responses and the citizens liked the discovery name and that
was the leading percentagewise at 26 percent. The next one was the Exploration Park
and, then, Innovation Park, Highland Park came in with 12 percent. And, then, there
was a big category of other names. Some of them were kind of a joke. Parky McPark
Face and some others, so -- I think it's -- it's worth noting that the others actually
garnered more -- more responses than Discovery did. So, it kind of -- the data that we
got back was a little bit hard to understand. So, we shared the results of the survey with
the parks and rec commission at the last meeting on May 9th and they still would like to
see the park named Exploration Park. They feel that there is just -- there would be too
many conflicts because the name is already taken. So, wanted to bring that up and
reiterate that with you. So, we are asking for either approval of the name Discovery
Park according to the survey, approval of the Exploration name of the park, or instruct
us to go back to the drawing board and come up with some more names for
consideration when you're not in any hurry. The park won't be open until late next
summer, so -- with that I will stand for questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Mike. Council, any questions?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Mike, did you realize before the survey went out of the problems with the name
Discovery?
Barton: Yes, we did. You told us.
De Weerd: And it was discussed.
Milam: I was curious what the results would be had that not been part of it. Maybe
something else as an alternative. I mean knowing that we weren't going to use it it just
seems kind of silly to put it on the -- as part of the survey if we are not going to use It
anyway.
Barton: Great question. Yeah. It was talked about and I think the -- if I remember
correctly, I think we were instructed to put it on the survey.
Milam: Thank you.
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Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I appreciate the input. I think it just adds additional validation to the good work
that the -- I think the parks and rec commission has done. I was supportive of their
vetting of this entire process and their ultimate recommendation of Exploration Park and
remain supportive of their work and that recommendation.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other comment? Would Council like to take action tonight? Is
this informational only? What -- what is the direction from Council?
Barton: Madam Mayor, may I interrupt for a minute? I think the process we would take
your direction and bring back a resolution.
De Weerd: Yes. But we need a motion first.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I think it's perfect that today that this is what's before us. You know, we look at
the -- the ballot that -- you know, official ballot for who we are actually going to put as
our elected officials and there is some jokes on there, but the reality is the people are
going to make that decision -- have made that decision. It's after 8:00. And now they
are going to get counted, that will be the decision, and I think it's symbolic of -- of the
opportunity that we took to put it out to the public. We -- there was a lot of great names
that were put forward and we knew there would be -- of course Parky McPark Face
would show up, because that's what online things do. But the reality is the most popular
idea was the first popular idea and if there is some nearby places named after it, I'm fine
with that. I think the Discovery Park is -- is the best name for it. So, with that I move we
-- I guess -- I don't know how you want us to word it. That we bring back a resolution
naming the south Meridian park Discovery Park.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to bring back a resolution naming the
south Meridian regional park Discovery Park. Any discussion from Council?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
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May 15, 2018
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Milam: I'm going to go along with this and that's because Discovery was put on the
survey after it was decided that it might be a problem and I think that if we were going to
not take the citizens' opinion, then, we shouldn't have put that on the survey. So, I like
the name anyway. Probably won't cause that many big, you know, problems. It's going
to be way better than anything else named Discovery, so -- anyway. If we -- if we had a
problem ahead of time we shouldn't have put it on the survey and asked for peoples'
opinion if we are not going to use their opinion.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: This is a -- for like a political nerd, you know, this is -- this is kind of a
fascinating case study, because we have a citizen commission who is saying we
support one option and the public as a whole that says we support another option and
both are right and, ultimately, we are only going to pick one. That's -- that's -- that's the
challenge. While I am supportive of the name Discovery I -- I recognize the challenges
that came with that, which is why we opted to include that in the survey for the public to
decide, because the public is aware of the Discovery Center. I know at least some of
our public is aware of Discovery Elementary. I don't want to discount the -- the
recommendation of the Parks Commission. This would have been a lot easier if all of
us were on the same page. But I appreciate, one, the thorough description here tonight
to the outline in the memo that was provided to Council. I thought it gave a good job
summarizing how we landed here today. I'm supportive, obviously, of the motion, but I
don't want to discredit the work that came from the Parks Commission. So, appreciate
your work on this.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Another option. I'm supportive of the commission, not of the commission, just
because that's the good they did and they were there for that exact purpose. I think the
survey wasn't the binding -- I mean if we thought the choice was going to be the binding
decision we would have had to have discussed that at the start, if that was really the
risk. It could have gone a lot of different ways, too. I think it was helpful for the
discussion. We also have some Council Members missing. I don't know their
perspective. So, I'm not supportive of the motion. If it got bumped to June 5. May 22nd
is really crowded -- at least to get their input and I'm not a -- I don't like substitute
motions at all. I'd like to have -- I like motions to be up or down and, then, we can -- for
discussion purposes I'm not going to make a substitute motion, but that's another option
and it might help give some consensus if it's five -one one way or the other -- we will
have, as a collective body, have a little more comfort in the decision if we are a little
fractured right now, so that's another option.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
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De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: We could just go with my vote --
Cavener: Parky McPark Face?
Milam: No. My vote was Mayor Tammy's Park of Innovation and Exploration. I'm just
saying -- there is other names out there, but -- yeah, the public voted, so I'm good with
Discovery. But I agree with Councilman Borton that we do have two councilmen
missing tonight and they may have some -- we vote on things when I'm not here.
Cavener: That's the agenda.
De Weerd: Okay. Well, we have a motion on the table.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Just to that point, you know, if we are going to hold back making a decision on
the naming of a park because we are missing a couple members, I would hope that we
wouldn't make a decision on the next item that's 400,000 dollars for software. I think it's
an appropriate decision for those who are here. We are all elected. I think we can
name this park and move on and, then, buy some software.
De Weerd: Okay. If there is no further discussion, Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, nay; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: Okay. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE NAY. TWO ABSENT.
Barton: Thank you.
L. Approval of Agreement to AVOLVE SOFTWARE CORPORAT
ION for the "ProjectDox Software" project for a Not -To -Exceed
amount of $393,125.00
De Weerd: Thank you, Mike. Item 8-L is an agreement that's in front of you for your
consideration for a not -to -exceed amount and I will turn this over to Cameron.
Ariel: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, it's a pleasure to be with you. It's really
good to be following up on last week's discussion and so this is part of that. As you
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recall, Keith and -- and Dave came before you to -- to talk about this very topic, that it
would be coming before you today. This -- we are excited about this. This is the
software package that represents the backbone of our building services evolution plan
and, you know, from my -- my perspective can't thank Finance and IT enough for their
diligence in putting this together. So, with that I will turn some time over to Dave if he
would like to speak to specific elements of it or answer any questions that you may have
-- you may have.
Tiede: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Without further adieu I
guess I will talk a little bit about some background as to why this is coming before you,
besides the -- the community development evolution project. Prior to this happening --
prior to DBS giving us notice, we started looking at options for electronic plan review,
because that's something that Community Development has been very interested in and
heard from the community that we need to be doing as a city -- as a city and with the
desire of our Community Development Department and the city as a whole to provide
that premier level of service, it's something that's been on our plates to look into. That
being said, we started a couple years ago with a project to start looking at needs and
what options are out there. Electronic plan review was actually a component that was
recognized as a need back when we went with our Enterprise solution for land
development Accella back in 2011. So, long time coming. A couple of the things that
we did as part of this is we met with many of the stakeholders, including our contract
with inspectors, plan reviewers, our internal staff. Discussed with them their needs, how
they do business and what a system would need to do for them. We met with other
jurisdictions and heard from them, including Bend, Oregon; Hillsboro, Oregon; city of
Boise. DBS. Just to name a few. A common theme that we heard is that Avolve
software's ProjectDox is the solution out there that works for everyone. Many
contractors are very familiar with this, because it has such a large propagation in the
market. It works well. It does everything that people need it to do and it does it better
than any other system out there. We had the opportunity to go and see the system in
action in Hillsboro, Oregon, with the community development team and a few IT staff
members and heard their feedback and input on it and it's -- let's just say it's surprising
to hear from any user of a large application that they love it and they love the support
that they get from the company that provides the software. So, we also heard from -- I
believe one of their customers while we are there and the customer said that the
process was easy for them as well. She was new when she started using it, new to the
-- how to handle submitting for development applications and it was easy for her to learn
and get comfortable with and pass along the knowledge to others. So, anyway, that
was really, really good information. You have probably noticed in the Consent Agenda
tonight there was a sole source for that and for this software and that was due to the
sensitive nature of time that we are dealing with when it comes to the Community
Development project. We did test and look at a couple other options, including Accella's
own EER project products, which they have -- they loosely support right now, but they
have actually partnered with another company to provide a new solution, rather than
continue with their own solution, because they recognize that it doesn't work. We tested
it, because we have a way to make part of it work and we found it was buggy, it didn't
work well, it was cumbersome for our staff members. It crashed a lot. It affected their
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ability to be productive and this is with folks that do tiny, tiny plan review compared to
what our plans examiners will be doing with larger projects. So, we -- we heard their
frustration and recognize that that is not an option. We looked at a couple other
options. One from Accella partner system and -- trying to remember the name of the
software. I think it was e -Plan Soft was the name of the other system that they work
with and found that one to be just as costly, but a very new product and from the sounds
of it not many customers are very happy with it, so that wasn't the direction that we were
interested in going and, then, we looked at a couple other options loosely, but the costs
were even higher and, again, they weren't near as common in the -- in the marketplace.
So, with that, this proposal represents multiple phases. There is the main component,
which is the ProjectDox license if you happen to be looking at this. That is the main
plan review component that our staff members will be using and, eventually, I believe
other -- some of our other contractor plans examiners will use it as well. There is a
portal piece. That's where the development community will be able to go and submit
electronically for plan review, which will be an additional level of service that we don't
currently provide that they would like to have. There is a Plans Anywhere component.
That's a component for out in the field, so our inspectors can actually pull up plans in
the field without having to carry around a set of plans or go back to the office every time.
So, again, staff efficiency. There is a big chunk of this that's implementation services
and training services. So, we will have the company Avolve help with the
implementation. We will be doing the majority of it. There will be some IT interaction on
the Accella piece and a few other components, but for the most part of we will be doing
much of the implementation and, then, training and, then, of course, there is a
maintenance cost on here. You will notice that there is a difference between the sole
source and this cost here. The sole source is 393,000, roughly and this is 343,000 and
that's because we held back part of the project pending further investigation and
research. They wanted to sell us a part specific to planning and we felt that there is a
possibility that we could use what we have for that piece, rather than buying another
piece. So, we were trying to be aware of, again, being good stewards of public funds
and not jumping the gun a little bit, so -- the other thing that I'd like to highlight and it's --
it's our payment schedule. We are -- we are trying to do a good job of paying them for
things that they have done, services and products that they are delivering and not --
they -- as most software companies they want paid upfront for everything and we don't
like that, so we kind of hold them to the fire a little bit and said, no, this is what we are
willing to do. The software costs -- obviously, we are buying a product for you -- or from
you. Once we get the product we have to pay for it, but implementation services will
come as phases are complete and, then, you have -- we give sign off -- or Community
Development gets sign off and so you will see that represented in the payment schedule
on page five. So, obviously, all the payments won't be going out up front, it will be a
phased approach up front, though, the 127,000 dollars will be going out, because we
anticipate getting the software immediately. That being said, I don't think I have
anything else to add, but I will stand for further questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions? I think that was very thorough.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
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De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: So, the approval request is for the 343 figure, not the 393?
Tiede: I believe that Keith put the 393 figure in here, so that we have approval from
Council to do the entire sum if we so desire, but from a purchasing standpoint it would
require a change order, if that makes sense.
Borton: Madam Mayor. A change order to spend the additional 50.
Tiede: Correct.
Borton: Yeah. Okay. Which we could see.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions? Okay.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I move we approve the agreement to Avolve Software Corporation for the
ProjectDox software project not to -- for an amount not to exceed 393,125 dollars.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8-L. Any discussion? Okay.
Mr. Clerk.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, absent;
Bernt, absent.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Tiede: Thank you.
Item 9: Department Reports
A. Community Development: Implementation and Level of
Service Follow -Up
De Weerd: Thank you, Dave. Okay. Department Reports. 9-A. Didn't know if you
were waiting for me or -- no need to wait.
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Ariel: Madam Mayor, Members of Council, again, it's a pleasure to be with you. Just
wanted to first just kickoff real quickly just something that we need to take care of briefly
before we get into the -- the report itself. I just -- real quickly I would like to read into the
record a quick retraction and I will just read this here. Towards the end of our lengthy
budget amendment discussion last week -- at last week's City Council Workshop, our
building official Brent Bjornson spoke passionately and independently on the record
when referring to the quality of the building plan review and building inspection services
provided to the city by the Idaho Division of Building Service -- Building Safety. The
words negligent and irresponsible were regrettably used. I would like to retract those
words, as they are not the true feelings of the building official, nor the opinion of the
department and the city's leadership towards the IDBS or its employees. The city has
enjoyed a contractual relationship with the IDBS. However, we have chosen to bring
the building and electrical plan review and inspection services in house at this time. We
do plan on continuing our relationship with IDBS for the provision of the mechanical plan
review and inspection services for sometime into the future. We also are in discussions
with IDBS to extend contract services for building and electrical plan review and
inspection services during the transition to our own in-house program. Mr. Bjornson
regrets making the statements on the record and he personally delivered a written
apology and retraction, along with approval apology to IDBS staff on Friday, May 11th.
The statements were not made with any malicious intent or to defame the character of
the IDBS or its employees. They were the unfortunate result of the stress that both our
organizations have been experiencing while attempting to meet customer demands
during this time of tremendous growth. And I will leave that to the clerk if that's okay,
Madam Mayor.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Borton: I appreciate the sentiment. I don't think anyone heard it or took it that way,
other than as you have described as, you know, very difficult, quick pivots being made.
So, they have been a wonderful partner for a long time and continue to do so -- be that
through this transition and do good work throughout the state. So, I appreciate you
sharing it, but I don't think it was -- he's received as -- as anything other than passionate
discussion, so--
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: If I can just add to that. I think one thing that's often lacking in government is
passion and passion for the work that we do. I think probably all of us, except for
maybe Council Member Borton, have regretted saying something up here that we wish
we wouldn't have and I don't think any of us have ever followed up the following week
was something that is kind of eloquent and to the point. It speaks of the department. It
speaks to you guys' integrity. It speaks to the leadership. Appreciate you sharing that
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before we dive into the conversation. I echo Council Member Borton's point, I didn't
take it as such and I would hope that our partners recognize that we have got
passionate people who really want to do the best job for our community and I appreciate
that.
Ariel: Excellent. Appreciate that. Thank you, Members of the Council. Madam Mayor.
So, just to follow up again. We are grateful and thankful to be before you. We
appreciated the conversation, the discussion that was had as we went through the
budget amendment last week and certainly the feedback that we -- we gained, we took
to heart. It's an opportunity for us to continue to build trust with you. This isn't
something that we have done. We are committed to excellence and so as we build this
out we look forward to continuing these types of conversations on how we are doing
and how the implementation is going on a regular basis and so with that we are -- we
are excited to talk more about this and where we are at currently, talk through some of
these -- the matrix and accountability measures that we would like to discuss with you
tonight. So, real quickly, you have here in your -- in your packet, as well as in front of
you, just a brief memo that outlines really, again, our -- our commitments here from a
visionary perspective. We as a department, as you can -- you can tell we are all in on
this. We want to be the best building department in the west and that's been really good
for me as a director to see that level of commitment, not only from the staff, but also
from the city partners as well. It's been really humbling to be a part of that. So, with
that we will just dive in here with some of how this is going to roll forward. Again, we
appreciate this additional time that you're taking to explore this with us. So, you will
hear in this first paragraph just two things that we will note here, you know, Madam
Mayor, particularly, and Councilman Borton, that you had mentioned, the idea of -- of
potentially a -- a phased or a stepped process and we -- we like that. I think that there
is -- there is just a lot of merit to that idea and so what we are going to provide you is
with specific things that will be either customer facing and/or related to the department
itself, are, essentially, what we are looking to do now, but, then, also what is our stretch,
what is our premier, what does that goal look like out into the future and so you will see
that laced through here, those -- those types of concepts. Again, won't -- won't read
through division of principles, I think you're very familiar with -- with that commitment we
have to excellence. Skipping to item three, the inspections. So, again, if we are -- if I'm
our customer -- and, again, this is coming largely from their feedback. This is what they
can expect from our implementation of this program. An AM -PM residential concrete
inspection. They should be able to expect consistent and complete inspections. So,
this isn't something that's going to be evolutionary on the fly, it's something that's a
quality inspection the first time and that goes right into the third bullet there, reduced re -
inspections by conducting thorough initial inspections. So, what that means to the -- the
inspector himself, the account -- accountability measure there is we are looking to do,
again, a core or a phase one level inspections per day per inspector. This -- this
number has been derived from extensive research with IT. It took us some -- some
time. Again, we haven't pulled a lot of these reports, because we haven't ever done
this, but we did pull the -- sorry. Scroll -- scrolling here. Thank you, Brent -- or thank
you, Bruce. So, we were able to derive this number from -- from additional work with IT
to -- to actually get the specific data and, then, now we look forward to implementing a
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reporting mechanism that actually helps us get it readily, so we don't have to keep
digging it out, it's -- it's kind of data from data. But we are looking forward to making a
consistent report here on that. Of course you see there the premiere or the stretch goal
is to do 20 inspections and, again, the expectation there is that as we continue to build
out, as we have efficiency, as we have fully trained inspectors as we -- as we hope to
do, we are going to start to see them be more and more able to do additional
inspections. With that said, we are proposing that we hold one of the building inspector
ones and, essentially, holding back one of the admins to, basically, be a cross -trained
admin for the time being. We think that that's prudent given the -- the -- you know, the
fact that we -- we can from the data that we have been able to see, we can do 13
inspections is what we have proposed. So, we would -- we would look to hire that if
needed, but we would hold that back for the time. Again, you know, I have already kind
of reiterated some of these points. Increasing inspector training in multiple disciplines
will help increase this and decrease trips and so on. We will also, you know, through
the active and remote to field support, we should be able to recognize a lot of efficiency
there. And, then, we are -- we are really excited about the customer support specialist.
We have seen this implemented well in other jurisdictions where really it's on the very
technical matters making sure that, you know, plans and inspections are -- are done
correctly with the -- with the -- the software. Considerations to keep in mind. So, you
know, these are -- these are things that could be potential threats to the goals that could
impact the goals. I think with inspections it's important to note, you know, we -- right
now we are not tracking re -inspections. So, that's a -- that's something that we really
need to take a hard look at. We weren't able to dig that out of the data. So, obviously,
what that means is we are not tracking how many times we are having to go back and,
essentially, do the same inspection. So, we want to -- we want to become more
efficient there and be able to report on that as well. Back to AM and PM inspection. So,
again, this is a -- just to be clear, the customer should be able to expect if they call for --
for example, a concrete inspection in the morning, we would be able to turn that around
in the evening and, then, if they call for it in the evening it would -- that inspection would
be there conducted the following business day. So, that's -- that's what our customers
can expect their -- what we expect from the inspector on this is that, you know, they --
they do meet those timelines. This will make it easier for contractors to pass
inspections where minor concerns exist. So, we can -- we can address those in the
field as well. And, then, this is a consideration to get on your radar. We currently do not
require a stem wall inspection for those foundational inspections. We would look to
eventually do that and, of course, that would mean for foundational inspections that
would be an additional inspection. So, just keep in mind that when we do implement
that or when we take a look at that we will -- and that could increase the number of
inspections that we -- that we require. Number five. So, going to plan review. So, for
new residential, again, our core, what we would hope to do -- be able to do here shortly
is a five to seven business days for -- for residential and, then, of course, our stretch or
our premier goal would be -- would be four days. Small commercial we feel like we can
achieve this same day over the counter and so there would be literally a counter and we
could take that and approve that there. Medium commercial -- and I think, you know,
you can see as defined is, you know, a 6,500 square foot single level commercial
project. We would expect to be able to turn the core there in five days and premier in
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three days. So, we are -- we are really pushing on that one. And, then, with large
commercial, we feel like the things that we can control and you can kind of know that
there, building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire -- we expect to be able to turn
those irrespective of the complexity within ten days. But, again, just -- just noting that
timelines would depend largely on those external partners, structural engineering, land,
so on that may have impact on those turnaround times. And, then, of course, like we
mentioned before, resubmittal of modifications, we would -- we would do those at a
premier level right out of the gate. Same day. Of course the plan reviewer, their
expectation -- you know, we have the -- the assistant, again, to begin with and the
customer support specialist position are going to assist greatly in reducing timelines.
That's really their goal, to make sure that everything is inputted properly and whatever is
going to those plans examiners is in the form that they can just look right at the plans.
They don't need to worry about, you know, data entry and the form of that. And, then, of
course, the software implementation and the -- the training over time is going to be a
huge asset compared to our -- to where we are now. Again, the main consideration
here is volume I think it's important to note. I mean, obviously, if we have more volume
that's just going to impact and stress the -- the system, but we feel under the current we
should be able to deliver that. Of course, if volume is up we will probably be coming to
talk to you about more staff to meet that demand. Of course, if it slows we would look to
do other things. Okay. Stepping to, you know, how we are going to track this and
measure this. You know, we are going to look to implement a number of things. Below
you can kind of see some of the hypothetical tracking we would have for inspections.
So, you can see there we would list, you know, the -- the inspector and this would be
their actual -- the work they do and so we would be able to track that on an ongoing
basis and see how they are measuring up compared to the goals and benchmarks.
And, then, of course, you see down below there, the same is true for -- basically just
how we would look at it and what we would report to you on an ongoing basis of how we
are doing with actual, compared to the goal, and, then, what -- what those trends are.
You can see in the -- in the tables that were produced -- I know that this is -- again, this
is a hypothetical example, but if you just follow this -- oh, sorry. I need to scroll. Sorry.
This will just give you, again, a -- more of an illustrative of -- of how that is trending.
What you can expect as far as what we will report -- so, there will be a physical
measuring tool that will be posted outside of Brent's cube, so the team will be able to
see where they are on a daily, you know, weekly basis. Also we -- we would hope to
post these on the website. So, for our -- our customer eventually, you know, if you think
about it in terms of like, you know, a waiting room or what have you, they will be able to
see exactly how long it will take them based on volume and so on to get whatever it is
that they need to prove, whether it's an inspection or a plan review. So, that -- that's --
that's the goal there. But we would expect to post these matrix online, so people know
what -- know what to expect. Of course, Madam Mayor, you and I have talked about
this monthly report to Council and yourself to -- to make sure that we are keeping you
updated and so you're aware of exactly how we are doing as we move forward. And,
then, again, just working with IT and Finance to make sure we refine these reporting
tools to make sure they produce exactly what you expect them to and what we need
them to in order to -- to make that accountability real. And, then, of course, ProjectDox,
we already know has a very robust reporting mechanism and so that will be utilized as
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well. So, with that we will kind of transition a bit to the -- some of the other questions
that Council had regarding the implementation, where we are, what the plan will be. So,
I will just reference you to -- to the screen here. Let's see here. You can see this is --
this is the Gantt chart that the team has put together that kind of describes exactly
where each piece of this is and -- and how it's going to move forward. Just to kind of
give you some high level updates -- so, HR they have already posted for all 11 new
positions with the -- you know, totaling the 21 FTEs. They have also, you know, posted
those on exterior sites that are common to them. We have also requested that they
post those to 15 additional sites and locations and organizations, just because we know
there is specific ones that are going to help us get the word out for some of these more
technical positions. And truly kudos to HR for doing this. I mean it's -- it's Herculean
the work -- amount of work that -- that they are doing and it -- and it's noteworthy.
Currently applications are being accepted, so we are starting to see some of that flow.
That's -- that's a good thing. We have received some anecdotal reports that maybe our
hire ranges are a little low, but we think people will want to come, because Meridian is
awesome and it's where it's happening and maybe they don't need to commute as much
to other places. But will keep you posted on that as well, the realities of -- of how that's
going. Just to kind of highlight -- I don't think we need to go into any great detail on this,
but we have already set up the screening and interview teams, single point of contact
and, then, I'm going to have a personal commitment to make sure I'm meeting with
every person that we potentially will hire. I want to make sure they are who we need
them to be. Committed to excellence. Have a growth mindset and -- and want to be
part of our team. Finance. Quickly, you're aware of the Avolve package. Also, you
know, Keith has been helping us with purchasing of the vehicles, as well as the -- the
phasing plan of the RFQs for the interim period to make sure we don't -- we don't -- we
don't stumble. So, that those are all going well. IT. Dave alluded to a lot of this.
Obviously, there is a number of other things that IT is helping us purchase that will be
some of this state-of-the-art things that will help our -- the building services division be
that premier level. Public Works have had ongoing meetings with -- with Madam Mayor,
as well as Dale and others in Public Works. We really appreciate their help, too, with
the space planning and project management of the build -out of -- of the space that we
are looking to provide and they are moving forward with that as of even today there has
been advancements there. And, then, of course, Finance has been excellent on the
spot helping us manage the money, make sure that reporting is -- is sound and as we
need it to be going forward. So, with that, Madam Mayor, I will -- again just reiterate our
appreciation for the Council's continued support and we look forward to any questions
and, again, building that trust as we build this out. Stand for any questions.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Thank you, Cameron. Yes, Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, Cameron, I just -- in your memo you -- you mention -- and I just
want to tell you how much I appreciate the attention to detail and the -- despite the
grandeur of -- of this task that we have put in front of you to figure out and solve, that
you haven't missed the details and the level of fiscal responsibility and that you even
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mention that you looked into and commented on whether or not to use used vehicles.
So, even getting into those minute details -- the purchase of cars -- not that minute I
guess, but not just bypassing it to save time, but, you know, ensuring that this is done in
the most fiscally responsible way despite the large budget that we need to accomplish
it. Appreciate that. So, I have got a question. We had mentioned that we wanted to
kind of adopt a level of service. How is that typically done? I don't think we have
adopted a level of service for anything since I have been on. We just did it I think.
De Weerd: We have adopted a level of service in Fire and in Police and we asked to
bring this back last week, so you could get a better idea of how the FTE counts were --
were figured and what -- what premier looked like. I wanted to have those goals set for
the department as it was formed, so they -- they knew -- they, Council, they, the
customers and, they, the -- the employees of the building department that -- that we are
hiring, so they knew what they were going to be a part of. This is, of course, a best
guess. It's using the data that staff has been able to -- to glean from how we have
managed our contracts without necessarily being the boots on the ground ourselves
and so we wanted to give you something to consider as an expectation as we move
forward as well.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Just some thoughts on this. I think among everything else, your role as the --
the head coach to ensure this happens and to make truly objective measurable matrix
that you can hold people accountable to and champion and challenge people, I think
needs to be perhaps more measurable and maybe that's where the next step is. Overly
simplistic perspective I think, but take it for what it's worth, I envision these tasks having
a level of service adoption equivalent to a response time from request delivery, whether
that's -- how that's measured at this stage really finite and objective to track from when
a request comes in to when we have provided that particular service that it might vary in
residential, large commercial, et cetera. My -- my first reaction is while I understand it
may be phased, but, really, what's the goal? What's -- what's premier? The core isn't
really something that seems necessary to adopt. We understand that it's going to take
some time and there is always variables, but what is premiere and if I'm interviewing to
come work for you and you're going to challenge me that says here are these four or
five benchmarks we are going to hit and you have got me as head coach to support you
and champion you to make this thing happen, because we are up here going to ask you
to do that with this big pivot. So, I thought in response time -- and I don't know if that's
the right way to phrase it, but one way to capture that commitment that we are going to
provide that service within X time frame and if it's premiere is X, then, let's make it X.
With regards to inspections I thought of something along the lines of, you know, no
more per inspector, no more than X, no fewer than Y. The idea that, you know, we don't
necessarily want to capture a floor of inspections, right, where inspectors are required
or hoped that they each do X amount, because that can invite overwork and slow
response time that -- that can come with low staff and excessive growth. So, we don't
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want inspectors doing 35. We don't want that. Right? So, we might want a ceiling on
what they can do and we might want a floor as well, so when times are slow and we are
staffed and we need everybody to at least be able to handle -- and my numbers are
arbitrary, but for illustration that everyone is doing at least ten and -- and if we don't
have that much work, then, we are going to make necessary adjustments and maybe
that concept provides some sideboards on what we are going to ask of each inspector.
Kind of a volume of activity and a speed at which it's done. The same type of response
time matrix can apply to the plan review and you -- see, it looks like you have tried to
capture that idea, whether -- a certain number of days to try and accomplish those
tasks. Those may be -- in my mind when I look at -- at levels of service, there may be
four things and it may be -- you know, you can put in four little bullets. Here is what --
here is quickly we do these tasks and I don't -- you know, meetings and size of the city
and -- those variables aren't important. You have got to go manage those as head
coach.
Ariel: Yeah.
Borton: Right? To make sure you have got everybody ready to deliver, so -- I think this
is -- this gets us there. This isn't, I don't think, something that this gets adopted, but I
envision is something more definitive, here is the four or here is the five or six
benchmarks that are going to be on that sheet next to Brent's office -- you know, we are
tracking. Whose is last. Who is first. I mean that's what we do, you know, in our office.
So, at any rate --
Ariel: Madam Mayor --
Borton: My perspective on this. I think it's great progress on that.
Ariel: Madam Mayor, Councilman great -- great feed back. And I think we are on the
same page. I think, you know, we can, obviously, refine, you know, how we -- how we
do it. Obviously we want it to be concise. I think we can get there. So, you know, to --
to the point, I think, you know, if we say, you know, inspections, we are going to expect,
you know, a minimum the 13, that's what we are going to be staffed to. You know, a
maximum of 20, obviously, if we get efficiency, but if we are more than that, then, we
are going to start to understand potentially that that's impacting, you know, the quality or
-- or, you know, other things. To your point, I think -- I think we can get to those simple,
concrete, you know, measurables. How are we doing on AM/PM? Does that -- is that
happening. And plan review, I mean hopefully that's kind of what we are articulating
here is the -- you know, the minimum expectation is the core, but we are shooting -- I
mean we want people trained, equipped, dual certified to be able to accomplish premier,
so -- but, yeah, I -- I hear what you're saying. Let's make it definitive and simple that we
can track it and report it.
Borton: Madam Mayor. And that might be to Councilman Palmer's question, if
something gets adopted -- I know the response time ultimately was those -- you know,
the four tiers and the time and that's it. It's black and white. We are hitting them and we
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don't and we deal with it and -- and discuss why we might not be doing that. So, that
square box -- it might be something to adopt and -- and one of the -- the things you
brought up also is some reinspection ratio --
Ariel: Yes.
Borton: -- you know, equal to or less than X, whatever that matrix might be.
De Weerd: At this point these were -- were kind of what staff was able to put together to
-- again, to show the context of the FTEs. They will still work with the customers in
helping to further define premier and this is very early in the game, but did want to -- to
see kind of the road we are going down and the visioning and now the conversations
that will begin as we bring our team on board and work with the development
community to further understand expectations, so we can readily meet them. So, this
was really to start the conversation, to put out some initial expectations, patience to start
moving forward and having those -- those more in-depth feedback type of discussions.
Borton: Madam Mayor? And I -- I appreciate that. I just -- I just know next summer or
in the spring or the winter I'm going to be excited to hear you champion these
benchmarks and things aren't successful or -- obviously, right, that's -- you get your feet
held to the fire. So, to be able to be that -- again, I use that coach analogy -- the sooner
we can have those defined and you can articulate clearly here is what you got to do -- I
mean this is a different way of doing business. This is a -- a huge pivot and we use the
word premier and we are all in on this thing. You know, one of the comments in here
doesn't list you as part of the interview team. I know that's getting into the weeds, but I
would think you would want to be there to say here is -- I want to see who we are
looking for. Is it your folks who are going to try and implement this new practice.
Ariel: Yeah. No. That's good feedback. Originally that was the case -- I apologize.
Madam Mayor and Councilman Borton, just the idea of 21 interviews makes you got to
have to triage that. But, no, I -- I hear what you're saying. I am committed to making
sure that they are -- they are our team. They are that premier team. No. That's good --
good feedback.
De Weerd: Any further questions? Okay. Thank you. Good job.
De Weerd: Item 9-B is also under Community Development, an update on the
Comprehensive Plan effort and scope of work.
Ariel: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, again, a lot of fun stuff happening in
Community Development. This is one that I -- I am particularly excited about -- is our
comp plan rework here. So, I just wanted to thank you for -- again, for your -- your
willingness to -- to move forward with these things,. We are excited about it. I'm really
glad at the process that we have gone through. You know, Meridian has grown rapidly
and, you know, roughly ten years ago there were 40,000 less people here. So, that --
and just to kind of give you an idea, you know, it's been eight years since we did a
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rework of this and 16 years since the last plan. So, it's arguable that a lot of people -- a
majority of the people that are here now had no input into what kind of city we are. So,
we are a new city as far as the public goes. So, we are -- we are excited about this new
public engagement tool where we can really take a deep dive into where we want to be
and what we want to be. We feel it's timely. I think it's been awesome working with the
-- the stakeholder group and the selection committee. I feel like we have -- we have
saddled a good horse in Logan Simpson and I'm looking forward to, you know, Caleb
and Brian giving me some greater detail into -- into the amendment. So, with that I will
turn it over to -- to Caleb and Brian.
De Weerd: Good evening, Brian.
McClure: Good evening. Technical difficulties. Sorry. Good evening, Madam Mayor,
Members of the Council. Just a note before I begin. We do have Krissy Gilmore on the
conference phone. She is with Logan Simpson and she's the selected consultant that
we are working and contracting with. Cameron stole some of my thunder here. Why
are we doing this? Oh, before I get into kind of the details, the Council has asked us to
prioritize this. We haven't done a significant update in eight years and we haven't done
a new comp plan in 16 years. Most of the people living in Meridian today have never
been meaningfully impacted or -- that's wrong. Most of the people I meet in Meridian
haven't been meaningfully involved in the Comprehensive Plan and we hope that
through this process we can better inform decisions that we make every week. So,
what does the comp plan do? I would like to just briefly remind everyone it needs to
meet state -- state mandated requirements and it needs to incorporate community vision
for the future in the decision making. It needs to be a solid tool. It is a legal corner
storm -- cornerstone for decisions. It needs to empower by reference other plans and
studies that we wish to have considered as part of the -- a land use decision. And it
needs to help inform high level and long range worker staff in light of what the
community needs and expects. So, what's the current to the date? The scope of work
was issued on January 19th. This -- I'm sorry. The RFP was issued on January 19th.
The RFP was closed on March 2nd with three submittals being received. The selection
committee reviewed and subsequently approved two for additional interviews. After
interviews the selection committee approved Logan Simpson to negotiate and contract
with the city and on April 20th Finance issued a notice of intent to all the applicants.
Lastly, and before Caleb gets into some of the details, here is some high level work for
the consultant that they will be responsible for. Logan Simpson will generally be tasked
with directing outreach -- community outreach. They will be establishing a web platform
for public engagement. They will do an analysis of land use and market viability and
balance. They will do analysis of plans, such as the southern rim. They will do analysis
of transportation corridors. They will work on creation of a service impact assessment
tool and they will do a delivery of the final plan, including a living kind of online modern
plan. With that Caleb will get into some of the specifics of each task. There are five.
And he will cover those.
Hood: So, Madam Mayor, if it's all right with you, I would just like to do my part of the
presentation from here, especially since we can't advance the slides from the podium
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tonight. So, if that's okay. If you don't mind me just continuing on from here. So, task
one -- and as Brian just mentioned, there are tasks -- five needed and the previous slide
did a good job of just kind of highlighting overall the scope of work that -- that city staff
and Logan Simpson will be doing together in conjunction with the public. I want to do --
take the next handful of slides, though, and get -- dig it a little bit deeper into the tasks
and some of the deliverables that will be receiving as a city once we enter into a
contract with Logan Simpson. I did share a memo and two different scope of works. We
asked them to put together kind of two options for you all to consider. Staff has looked
at both of those, compared them side by side. I have got highlighted in the next handful
of slides the differences between the baseline and the expanded scope, but, again, if
you want to follow along at home I will be working from the packet basically. I am going
to be using the baseline kind of to -- to run through, but if you're looking at the expanded
it's fine. They are just -- they are basically the same. There is just blue highlighted
areas where they have expanded optional tasks. So, with that being said I think I'm just
going to jump into the scope of work proposed. So, task one is foundation. Really, this
is about public engagement. It will begin with kickoff events, surveys asking people
how they want to be involved, asking them to share their feelings about the city. We will
do some text polling. Set up a website. We will have a kickoff event on the 25th.
Brian's even got a Coffee With The Mayor logo there on the -- the screen. So, the May
25th, assuming this -- this goes well here in the next couple of weeks, we are targeting
May 25th for kind of that public kickoff. Starts to advertise. I talked -- I talked to already
some folks in the Mayor's office about that and having a table there at Pro Source to
hand out some materials and really start this planning exercise. So, planning week as
you see on the screen June 11th through 14th. So, that's when we will be doing a lot of
our stakeholder interviews and our first steering committee meeting as well. So, that's
going on there. The other thing that we are going to do prior to that June 12th Coffee
With The Mayor that I mentioned is on May 25th we are also going to be at the Hillsdale
Park -- not the ribbon cutting earlier in the day, but the evening kind of celebration. We
will also be set up there with some of the same material as you could get on -- on June
12th. So, between one of those two events we hope that a lot of people in the -- in the
public can become engaged and begin to interact with us on this, again, roughly six to
nine month long public engagement part of this task or of this project. So, one of the
optional tasks that Logan Simpson has proposed to the city is to do these educational
talks or at least an educational talk -- it could be a series of talks -- really meant to
engage the public more on why should -- they should be involved and what planning is
and -- and why it's -- you know, could be good for your community and why you should
be engaged with it. Without -- I guess I will kind of get to the punchline there a little bit.
Staff isn't recommending that we -- we pay for this expanded service. We think it could
be of some value, though. So, if Council is so inclined there is more information on
what that actually is, but I was going to spend most of the time today talking about what
staff is recommending we fund, not the things that we aren't recommending, but we can
jump back to that if you would like to talk about that some more. So, task two, then, is
visioning. This is also values. So, that's really a focus on articulating the vision of
Meridian, but generate a summary of community values. The -- the main event series
with this one is on July 25th at Town Hall, having this be the headliner. That means --
that doesn't mean we can't have other things that may come up between now and then,
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but really think that if we advertise this with, you know, come and let us know your
thoughts on growth. We might get some people that show up. So, that's -- that's really
what we are -- we are looking at doing there for the 25th. I have talked to both Robert
and Jodi upstairs about that and so the wheels are kind of in motion that way. We have
also -- Robert mentioned maybe trying to do a phone -- phone-in type of a town hall.
Not quite sure if that's the right one for this or not. We will talk about that a little bit
more. There are some logistical issues potentially with that with not being able to
display things at a town hall when you're talking about this, but -- but maybe anyway.
So, we will talk some more about that. The other things that I just wanted to share with
you on -- on this slide in particular is the vision document. You only see one -- one
page here as an example, but there is a deliverable here. We would have kind of a
takeaway. I think most of the examples they shared with us previously were between
five and 40 pages, basically, a summary of kind of what happens in task one and two
and so that's something we can have and will carry us through the process and -- and
envision some of those elements being carried forward into the plan itself. The other
thing at some of these events -- and I guess I should -- should have probably pointed
out in task one asked, but I will do it here in task two, city staff is going to be busy at a
lot of different events kind of throughout the summer, so Concerts On Broadway, doing -
- just going to where the people are. We are going to take the plan to the people. One
of the things that we are going to have set up is this photo booth and so one of the
examples you can see there -- I don't know exactly how it's going to look. Probably
won't look like a -- a Facebook page, but we will have something like that where people
can express their thoughts on the comp plan and will do it in a fun manner and make a
collage of those things that -- that people want to talk about and, then, summarize those
in that manner. We have talked with Kaycee Emery up in the Mayor's office and her
intern is going to be helping us a lot with this throughout the summer to staff this, to take
those photos, to help us advertise on Twitter and Facebook and other social media
outlets to get people at these events and, then, as the media events are going on
potentially live tweeting and doing some of those things, too, to -- to keep the
momentum going at some of these events and, really, again, engage the public in these
nontraditional methods where we can still track, you know, with the hashtag to track
different topics and comments and, then, compile those into summary documents. So,
at the end of this, again, it will kind of be a report with map insets, a series of locational
and strategic -- strategic examples for the next task, which is opportunities and choices.
So, again, building on the first two tasks. The third one, it's under strategic growth
management and public services. This is one of the two kind of core tasks that we ask
proposers to address and we think that it -- that Logan Simpson has done a good job in
this task in particular. One of the things that they will develop for us is a service impact
tool. So, this is a mapping tool using GIS that can illustrate where areas of change and
stability are and so you can really look at where your existing infrastructure is and
maybe where it's lacking and potentially even develop some policies around, well, here
is where you should develop first and, then, go out here and you can even add things
like your -- you know, your CIPs and your other capital programs and plans for ACHD or
ITT to look at infrastructure and where that's coming -- where it exists and where it's
coming in different horizon years. So, this is a tool I think we could use in the planning
department in particular as we are looking at new projects and where they are
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proposed. Is this in a good -- is this in an area of stability, meaning is there existing
infrastructure that can generally support this or is it an area of change where subsidies
may need to occur to make this happen and maybe its not the right time to approve a
project in those types of areas. Don't really know how that will totally play out, but that's
kind of the idea with that service impact tool. I will just point out there is an expanded
task related to that basically for an additional about 10,000 dollars plus some licensing
fees. We can have that be real time. So, right now staff is kind of initially planning on
updating that like monthly or maybe, you know, quarterly type of a thing. So, it's still
general -- it's still accurate, but it's not in real time. You couldn't play with it on the
public side necessarily and that's kind of what the expanded task does is -- is allows the
public to kind of also look at that in real time. The service impact tool would still be
useful for -- for city staff, though, even at the baseline proposed in the scope of work, so
-- I should have said at the outset -- I'm sorry, Madam Mayor, that if there is any
questions as we go feel free to interrupt, too, or ask questions, so -- and, then, also
transportation, economic development, and housing. So, that's -- that's a big list there;
right? And I would just encourage you to look at those subtasks in here. But, basically,
there is some overall market analysis that they are going to do in Meridian and, then,
some specific corridor analysis done. So, we are being a little bit opportunistic in this,
particularly in the market analysis section. Brenda has some tasks that she's charged
with in the strategic plan moving forward to really look at target industry clusters. So,
while we have our consultants kind of looking at the baseline economic development of
Meridian and even our region, we have asked Logan Simpson to kind of do an optional
task is sort of the -- as the baseline, so we don't have to hire somebody else. Again, we
are being opportunistic. We are getting kind of a baseline level which said, hey, Brenda
needs you to do this a little additional to look at specific industry targets for Meridian.
So, I just want to point that out that that's something that wasn't initially envisioned when
we put the RFP out there, but talking with Brenda and some of their response, we said,
hey, it looks like, you know, let's piggyback, basically, on this and get what you would
have otherwise have done next year done with -- under this contract. So, that's kind of
what -- what's going on there in that -- the market analysis section, in particular, if
you're going to follow along at home, 3.2.2 is the section where -- where a lot of that
would be done. So, the deliverable -- we will get some technical documents for use in
the plan out of that, so it won't just be pretty maps and -- and things like charts, will have
some technical documents and some draft policy statements that we can really glom
onto as we move forward with development of the plan. Task 3.2.3 is corridor market
analysis. Originally this -- this was just meant to look at the rail corridor, but in talking,
again, with Logan Simpson and just as staff, it's really evolved at this point to look at
eight key corridors throughout the -- throughout Meridian, including the rail corridor, but
there are one, two, three -- yes. So, four east -west and three north -south, besides the
rail corridor. So, they are -- they, basically, are -- are -- are main arteries, if you will and
-- in Meridian right now to look -- accesses the existing zoning, map key opportunity
sites and identify catalyst development site -- development sites as well. So, again, we
are looking at maybe some opportunities where we currently aren't thinking big enough
potentially on some of these corridors and look to change some land uses or vice -versa.
Maybe we are not -- we are not quite there as far as a good mix of land uses overall and
so some -- some changes could be -- could be made to the future land use map and
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some policies that way as well. Then the master mobility -- master mobility map is
another deliverable. This is something that has been on the transportation
commission's agenda as sort of a future meeting topic for probably a year and a half or
maybe two now. Basically what this -- what this mobility map does is it takes the
existing infrastructure and shows where that's at in map, but it also shows the next --
you know, in five year blocks what will happen with ACHD's five year work plan, ITD's
seven year plan, ACHD's 20 year plan and VRT's Valley Connect 2.0, but, then, it goes
to the next level and really has us thinking evening further than that. Some of those --
I'm not trying to be derogatory, they are fiscally constrained, some of the -- that's why
they are 20 year plans for those transportation, but 20 years comes very quickly, so
especially when you're talking about the transportation realm. So, some of this is going
to stretch our community to think 50 to even 100 years into the future about what should
we be doing now to prepare for the transportation network of 50 years from now. I don't
know exactly how that's going to be developed or where it's going to go, but it's going to
be, again, a longer term map where you can say, okay, I want to walk from point A to
point B today, how can I get there. What about in the year 2050, if I wanted to take the
bus from A to B, is there going to be any bus service there? And so you could turn that
on and say, okay, it's not there now, but could it be there in 2050. So, that's kind of the
idea with that map. Opportunity areas and policy choices. So, I have -- I have a star,
an asterisk after specific areas. So, this is something that isn't highlighted red as an
expanded task, but, essentially, as -- in the baseline we would -- we are asking under
this area -- and particularly as we are looking at some of these off of the strategic
growth to -- to fund four specific areas. The southern rim area, southwest Meridian,
the Fields District and the fourth one is escaping me right now. Magic View -Wood
Bridge. Thank you. Yeah. So, those are the -- the areas that we would ask some
special attention be paid in this process. So, we are looking at corridors, but, then, also
those specific geographical areas for potential land use changes and policies. This is
event series number three. I can't remember if we have actually identified -- oh, this is -
- this is -- this will be during the holiday season, so we will do something probably the
first part of December. I haven't seen the -- the schedule yet, but just a week long of
parties that we have in -- in Meridian would be a lot of those events. Don't know yet if it
would culminate with the parade or doing something else there just yet, but that's the
time that's set up in the calendar is this biggest piece of the public involvement would
occur during the first part of December at -- at some of the winterland events. Okay.
On to Task four then. Strategies and planned development. So, again, taking
opportunity areas and implementation priorities. I'm just going to read directly from the
scope of work here in our task 4.2 is going to create a tailored implementation and
monitoring program that meets the city's current needs, while being adaptable to
changing circumstances in the future and identify ways to address gaps in current
programs, policies and services and will recommend actionable regulatory revisions,
strategic initiatives and catalyst projects and sharing projects and actions tier and link
with capital work programs, sustainability initiatives and other plans. So, essentially,
this is taking a lot of what you have going on and making sure -- I kind of glossed over
it, but in task one there is a plan on it, too, and that's not just the comp plan, that's other
plans of the city and other service providers to see what they are doing, to see what's
out of alignment with each other and get general feelings on those thoughts. Here you
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kind of take that and you're streamlining those and making sure the comp plan is pulling
in the same direction of those other plans and, if not, an amendment needs to be made
to either the -- the comp plan or those other -- other service plans. And I'm going to talk
about implementation of that. So, there is an optional task here as well. This is to dig a
little bit deeper into the market or gap analysis, so this really is looking at the highest
and best use and maybe some additional incentives that could be provided to the
development community to provide the next level of -- of density in some cases, of just
intensity in others, we are really looking at that difference between what our future land
use map has and what -- what the development community maybe is willing to provide
absent any incentives. So, that's task four. Again, we aren't recommending that
expanded task, just the baseline gap analysis we think will be -- will serve us well. So,
task five. And this is the final task. This is the draft and final Comprehensive Plan. Not
a whole lot to -- to really call out here that's -- that's innovative for event series number
four, which is a planned hub. I'm not quite sure how this works and we -- honestly, we
haven't talked too terribly much to Logan Simpson about it, but the way they have
described it is similar to a professional art exhibit. So, taking a lot of things I think that's
been developed thus far and setting them up in a room to have -- have comments on
some of these things on -- on various walls or tables or whatever, but, essentially, this is
the check back in before the plan goes through the public hearing and adoption process
and making some revisions. So, the main deliverable for this whole exercise, right, is
the Comprehensive Plan itself that's web -based. So, we are excited about that, that it
can be more interactive on our website, it can be updated more easily by Brian when --
when it's appropriate and it's not such a -- a task to update it when appropriate, but
that's kind of the last scope, obviously, is bringing this to the finish line with the comp
plan itself. So, again, I stated a little bit this at the beginning of my part of the
presentation, but we have two working draft options that are -- that have been prepared.
I will just say, you know, there are still some proofreading and other edits that -- that are
-- that exist and I find them, you know, in here and we have talked to Logan Simpson
about making those changes. So, please, kind of disregard some of that stuff. We will
get that cleaned up here in the next couple of days. As Brian stated, the plan will meet
all state requirements, include a robust public involvement plan, with either option that
you prefer or some hybrid option that you may prefer as well. So, we are going to be
busy. Not just Brian and myself, though, we have interest from other planners in the
current planning, you know, they showed some interest. They are busy, but they are --
they are kind of interested in the other side of -- of what the office does in the comp
plan. So, we are going to engage them, too, and ask them to attend some of these
events, you know, probably with one of us, to bring a current planner to these and do
other tasks throughout the plan. So, city -- city staff is going to be involved heavily in
this -- in all those tasks and more that -- that were just highlighted to you. We are also, I
mentioned, making use of the communications intern. We also have an intern starting
in June in planning, so excited about that opportunity, too, to -- to get some experience
for somebody. But also help us out with some of these tasks. So, our recommendation
-- that's on the next slide. We are recommending what we believe is needed. It's not
the -- all the bells and whistles. We think this is the -- you know, with straight face I
can tell you, you know, this is -- this is what I think we need to -- to get the job done
correctly, to do all the things that it -- the feedback I have heard from you over the last
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eight or ten months, we -- we talked to you about this as an enhancement early on for
the -- the FY -18 budget and you said, oh, no, let's do these two efforts in one and that's
updating the Comprehensive Plan and -- and we weren't planning on doing it for another
year or two, but, anyways, we think that our recommendation -- we are -- is a solid one
and we think it will -- it will create a great tool to move our community forward. So,
basically, we are proposing a hybrid. It's -- I will call it the basic plus package. So, it's
the baseline that --
De Weerd: I feel like this is a timeshare presentation. I keep waiting for --
Hood: Sign here on the dotted line and --
De Weerd: Yeah.
Hood: No. I'm not trying to sell you anything, but I kind of am. I mean it is a project we
want to do, so I'm sorry if I -- if the salesman in me is coming out. So, it is, but it isn't
the sparkly version; right? But we do have some -- some things we think that will keep
the public engaged that are still kind of cool. You have seen all this before. So, I'm just
going to go to the next one. So, here is -- here is what that looks like. The baseline is
approximately 180,000 dollars. I'm not going to go through all those. I think I have
talked about all of those already. There are the specific costs associated with each one
of the detailed sub areas that I mentioned. The one I haven't on the slide talked about
is in talking again with Kaycee Emery up -- up in the Mayor's office, she recommended
that I ask for some money for advertising. She can help with some of the advertising,
but recommends having some money where it may -- she may not be able to cover
what is needed to get appropriate levels of advertising for -- for public engagement.
Again, it's optional or less. Same with food and beverage and prizes and fun. We -- we
-- we have been encouraged to have something to maybe hand out, a wheel to spin,
something that kind of draws people. I don't know what that is right now. The same
with food and beverage. We aren't -- one of the options that Logan Simpson talked to
us about was doing, you know, hamburgers and hotdogs for everybody. I'm like we are
just -- we are not going to feed the community, but maybe, you know, some cookies and
some punch type of a thing. So, that's, essentially, what we are looking at here. So, in
total it's about 215,000 dollars for that level of involvement for -- for this project. So, the
next steps in the process -- and, again, I think I -- I called most of these things out, but
we are looking at having the -- the plan largely wrapped up a year from -- from now. We
would have the adoption phase that will go through next -- next summer. That will take
two, three months or so to get through Planning and Zoning Commission and the City
Council, but, basically, that's the schedule. So, pretty aggressive and it -- it's going to
start here right away and we are a little bit behind the curb in what I have been telling
you for the last six, eight months of where we should be, but this catches us back up. If
we can get going right away we can have the plan adopted well in advance of the end of
calendar year '19. So, with your blessing -- and I know there will be some discussion,
but with your blessing tonight what I would like to do is -- already has -- Finance has
already been looking at is the legal for the contract, will put the budget amendment
paperwork together and bring that back next week. Logan Simpson in good faith has
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already been working on some of these things, assuming that will go under contract,
particularly in -- in task one there is a little risk. I think we will get there with them, but,
you know, haven't been doing any option tasks or anything, but starting to put this stuff
together for kickoff week and planning week. So, we will continue to provide you
updates. We will ask you to participate -- aside from just being updated, we will ask you
to be active participants as well at some of these things and we will probably just see
you at some of those events and stuff. With that being said, that is the end of our
presentation and we would stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Hood: Your direction.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I think it's a great recommendation and presentation and I would bring it
forward as -- as requested or recommended.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Brian, Caleb, kudos to you and the whole team. I think that you guys have
kind of done a slow burn on this project and really been thoughtful in the presentation
you have brought forth. The only feedback I would bring is as it relates to -- I'm
someone who is always sensitive to spend taxpayer dollars to promote and advertise.
However, I think in this particular situation I -- I actually think it's warranted. I think this
is one of the few occasions that we should be maybe allocating even more than what
you guys have identified to connect with the community. So, I know that Kaycee has
got a social media budget, maybe working with her to see if we are able to accomplish
what you need within that, but, you know, in the years past we have seen the Parks and
Public Works advertise on billboards and community calendars. I would really
encourage you to think creatively about how we can really speak to the community
about this. As silly as it sounds, Caleb, I think you're right, tchotchkes, fun stuff and it
goes to the earlier comment about getting passionate about local government. This is
not something that is sexy, this is not something that people are going to bust out of
their door to make plans to come and attend, so we have got to find an incentive --
De Weerd: What?
Cavener: I know it's hard to believe, Madam Mayor, that this type of stuff is not what
gets people motivated. So, we are also very fortunate to have a very generous
community -- business community and so if there is an opportunity for some
collaboration and some donation there, I'm willing to kick in money out of my own
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pocket to make sure that we have got prizes and fun, so we don't have to put that on the
taxpayers' dollar or taxpayers' back. It's a very small piece, but just something that I
would encourage you to look to do more advertising and if you need dollars for prizes
and fun to come let me know.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I was thinking the exact same thing and people like to be fed -- I mean you got
to bribe -- you know, if you have to bribe people to show up, that's fine. I think -- I
agree, this is that situation where we should be doing anything we can to get as much
input as possible and if we are spending all this money to do it, let's get it done right and
-- and involve as many people as possible in the process.
De Weerd: So, feed them and they will come. Not bribe them.
Milam: Feed them.
De Weerd: But give them incentive to join us.
Milam: Thanks for clarifying that for me.
De Weerd: So, next week to bring back the -- the contract, the -- all of this in -- in a
summarized form. Correct?
Hood: That is -- that is the plan, yes.
De Weerd: Okay. Did you get the feedback you need? I think this is very
comprehensive and it's a good process and you have heard it time and time again, this
is -- this is going to be an extremely important exercise for our citizens to engage in
where they want to see the city going and getting engagement and buy in. Okay.
Thank you. Thank you, Brian. Thank you, Caleb.
C. Parks and Recreation Department: South Meridian Regional
Park Active Recreation Complex Update
De Weerd: Okay. Our last item, 9-C. The prize goes to Mike.
Barton: Thank you. Madam Mayor, Council. Hopefully we saved the best for last and
while C.Jay is kind of cuing that up, I will apologize that the first slide is already
outdated.
De Weerd: Boy, you know how to clear a room.
Barton: Yeah.
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De Weerd: I would call a break, but we are so close.
Barton: I have a feeling that Mike McGerdio is here waiting for -- no? Okay.
De Weerd: Okay. Let's go.
Barton: Okay.
De Weerd: Okay. It doesn't matter. We got to go.
Barton: So, what I wanted to --
De Weerd: I mean it matters.
Barton: I wanted to give you an update on the active recreation complex at the new
Discovery Park in South Meridian. It's -- this is -- this is fun -- fun stuff right here. So, if
you remember the design -- I just wanted to refresh everybody and, you know, the
entrance -- the entrance road parking lot, a couple of softball fields and, then, kind of the
heart of the park is that -- that active area with the playground and splash pad and all
that stuff is -- not unlike Settlers Park. So, really, the goals and objectives that we had
when we -- we went to design and lay this section of the park out was that we wanted a
destination playground complex. We wanted to have a variety of activities, especially
wanted to serve a variety of ages, all the way from toddlers to -- to tweens and teens
and up to even adults. Of course, it had to be fully accessible. Some shade. And,
then, those educational components that we have been talking about for the last year
and a half, we wanted to build those in and have a unique theme and, you know, all --
kind of all in line trying to keep it within the budget that we have. So, this is the way that
the area lays out. One of the things that is not really obvious from this, but where you
see -- you see the playground and the rock climbing area, there is about a ten foot --
nine to ten foot elevation change right there and that's the rock climbing area. So, if you
can visualize that, there isn't an elevation that shows the specific grade changes there,
but they are pretty -- pretty substantial -- and C.Jay -- so -- and if you can just click on
the splash pad. The green label there. No. We went to the playground. That's okay. If
you want to go back and click on the name itself, I think that will get you there.
De Weerd: You just want to make us dizzy.
Barton: So, if you click on the name itself. Yeah. Yeah. There you go. So, the splash
pad --
De Weerd: It looks like one of those cell towers.
Barton: Yeah. So, this is a -- this is a pine tree that -- that's made to look like a -- more
or less like a Ponderosa pine. It's made out of GFRC concrete. It has a spray out the
top and a couple of dumping buckets and, then, there is ground sprayers all around.
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So, you can see the way it lays out from this perspective and, then, off to the left there is
a little toddler zone that has the bubblers that you can play in. So, we got the -- the
dumping buckets for the older kids, the ground sprayers, and, then, the little toddler
zone. One thing to note is this is a fresh water system, it's not recirculated, just for the
health and safety. All of our splash pads are one pass, so it's potable water and it goes
to drain. This is another view and those -- those balls right there that were originally
part of the design, they had to be value engineered out. Those are actually interpretive
balls that the water comes out of the top and you can put whatever educational wrap
type stuff around those that you want, if it's, you know, Idaho fish or animals or -- it
could be a variety of -- you know, the inside of a rock or something like that. Those
were -- those were taken out of the budget, but we do have an enhancement that's
going to come forward that would put those back in. So, we just had -- it's kind of plug
and play. We can unscrew the -- the jets and install those, so that's the splash pad. So,
C.Jay, if you could click on the playground itself. So, this is really the heart of the
complex right here and you can see to the left there is two roller slides that come off of
that grade break that go down the artificial grass. So, there is two -- so, you can get --
you kind of recycle up to the top, the kids can race each other down that. There is not
enough gravity for a conventional plastic slide, it's not steep enough, but the roller slide
you will get enough momentum to -- to have a good time with that. There is -- you
know, the age diversity is -- there is -- there is some of that component. There is also a
zip line that's put in there that's about 60 feet long that tweens and teens and even
adults can -- can race back and forth. I mean if you're into that, if you're -- if you're
super active. The -- the playground itself is what they are calling the Canyon collection,
so it's kind of a rock looking playground and, then, if you have -- if you can visualize the
panels that are installed for safety and -- and if -- you can see a couple of those -- those
panels, the white squares up there, those are the playground panels and a lot of it --
oftentimes they are just a piece of plastic up there. But this particular company has a --
a product that you can -- you can create artwork and interpretive stuff on these panels.
They call it -- it's a Digifuse process where it's infused into the plastic. So, with the
Digifuse, what we wanted to do is -- there is a total of eight different panels and on the
front side of the panel when you are looking up from the ground, we would have the
state flower, bird, tree, fish, reptile, horse, insect and gemstones and minerals on the --
on the front side and, then, on the -- on the back side, then, you go into more detail
about, you know, what are some of the native flowers in Idaho, birds in Idaho, and, then,
on down the -- on down the line. So, as you work your way around the playground,
there is these learning opportunities that are incorporated into the design. Also in the
playground there is the two to five year old activity center that's -- there is interactive
play events on there. It's fully accessible and it's really scaled for developing toddlers
and preschoolers, kind of get them off to the side. So, C.Jay, if you could click on the
climbing area. So, that grade change we have designed in an Idaho topo climbing map
that has some of the surrounding states honored as well and you can -- just for
reference there is a -- one of the maps they did of the state of Colorado. So, they are
using the geography has handholds and footholds and, then, on either side of the
climbing map there is a boulder -- boulder walls that you can -- you can scramble up,
you can go down, you can get up to the top and there is a curved tube slide that comes
off the hill back down, so the kids can just kind of climb and -- and, then, make their way
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down and just -- and just repeat that activity over and over and, you know, really learn at
the same time, that you're actually climbing the state and some of those surrounding
states. And the last feature is the sand and water play. So, all along we really wanted
to incorporate something into this design that was hands-on play, where kids can get --
go out and get dirty and just, you know, kind of have that natural play. So, this is a -- it's
really a big sandbox, but it has opportunities for -- to get water. There is channels that -
- the channels that -- if you can go to the next slide -- that you see here are in the shape
of the Boise watershed and we are still kind of working out the details of how to label
each one. Anderson Ranch and Lucky Peak and -- and it's not going to be an exact
replica, but it's going to be pretty darn close and in there is opportunities for -- for water
and places to dam up the water and then -- and, then, release it. If you go to the next
slide. So, there is -- so, there is the gate and -- and I believe the next one -- no. Back
up. Thank you. There is gates that the kids can -- can, you know, screw down and,
then, open up and build up some water and flush everything down, so -- and, then,
there is just -- there is water sources in the sand. For -- just for reference, the sand and
water play area itself is about 70 feet long by ten and, then, it goes to 20 feet. It's -- it's
kind of a -- it's not an exact rectangle, but so you can get an idea of how many users it
would accommodate, I can see a ton of kids being in there. So, with that I would be
happy to answer any questions you have.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
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Palmer: So, the sand area isn't going to have like loose sand?
Barton: Madam Mayor, Councilman Palmer, yes, it's going to -- it will be -- it will have a
concrete floor with drainage in it and, then, about 18 inches of loose sand, like bunker
sand.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. With the water running -- I'm just wondering is this going to be
like a disastrous mess?
Barton: No. So, the -- so, the water source is -- will be similar to a drinking fountain
where you have to stand there and push the button to get water out of it and we can
regulate the flow. So, it's going to be -- there is going to be areas that are pretty messy,
but that's kind of the idea, that hands-on play keywords -- an area where kids can go
and get dirty. I think we have -- we have got it to where the water won't build up, it's
going to drain back into the ground and there is -- and it's not like you can open up a big
-- you know, a faucet and walk away from it and leave it running. So, it's regulated. If
that -- if that helps.
De Weerd: Do we have an example of -- of another place that has this and --
Barton: Yeah. There is --
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De Weerd: So, lessons learned?
Barton: There is -- there is a park in Utah that has it and I'm drawing a blank. And,
then, there is one that -- a company called Learning Landscapes in Oregon that has a --
has a sandbox and water sources and -- yeah.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
Cavener: Madam Mayor? Oh.
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, I guess as a follow up to that, but I had different questions. What about
cats? Did they ever -- they talked about cats. Because that's always I think the thing
that worries me when we talk about sand is it becomes a litter box for all of the
neighborhood cats.
Barton: Yeah. That's a great question. The only -- you know, the neighborhoods --
well, there isn't anything there now, but there will be. It's probably almost a thousand
feet to the nearest house. So, I don't know if -- I -- I don't think it's -- I mean it's -- yeah.
It's a legitimate concern. I think the only thing we would do is just -- we have to -- you
know, maintenance.
De Weerd: What has been the issue out at Kleiner Park with the sand out there? Have
we had issues with that?
Barton: No. In the sand volleyball? We haven't had any issues. I haven't heard of
anything.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Milam: Now I will ask my real question. So, I'm curious about being -- trying to be
conservative with resources for using fresh water, it's only coming through once and --
Barton: Yeah.
Milam: -- just dumping, but why are we not using a system that -- that purifies it and
recirculates it?
Barton: And that -- and that's -- that's an awesome question. So, our experience with
the recirculated splash pad was at Settlers Park and most of the tanks that are available
for a system like that are about -- it's about a 2,000 gallon tank and a regular swimming
pool is about 100,000 gallons. So, if you -- if you -- if you think of all the kids that go in
and out of a splash pad and they would count as a -- as an occupant or a bather, so
Meridian City Council
May 15, 2018
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during the course of the day we figured that in that splash pad there could be 500 to 800
kids in and out each time and if you start to do the math and the multiplication of, you
know, if there is 500 in a 2,000 gallon tank, what -- how many that would be in a regular
pool -- 100,000 gallon pool, it's -- it's in the -- it's like taking 20,000 people and walking
them in one side and out the other.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
Barton: It's a serious health hazard.
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mike, a comment maybe, and, then, a question.
The water play area I think is going to be a huge attraction and I think to the Mayor's
point, we just need to make sure that it's -- it's built the right way. Our city hasn't had
the best track record when it comes to fountains and water features and even kind of --
we had some issues with the splash pad at -- at Kleiner. So, making sure that we get it
done right the first time, so that our -- people don't see this great amenity and, then, you
know, aren't able to -- to take advantage of it. My question is related to -- I guess what I
see as a lack of an amenity for our teenagers and I will probably use this as another
opportunity to plug that I think that we need a skatepark or a jump track or something
that appeals to teens out of that area and I don't know what the plans are to find
something -- while a zip line is really cool one time or maybe twice, it's not something
that our teenagers are going to want to come to -- flock to this to take advantage of.
Barton: Yeah. And that -- Madam Mayor, Councilman Cavener, that's -- that's a great
point and phase -- the items that we think are coming in phase two that we are hopeful
would be an obstacle course, maybe a pump track. I think that sometimes kids don't
need a full-blown skatepark, but even some -- some jumps or rails that are around that
accommodate -- we have a lot of kids that like to skate on our benches and walls and
it's really because we don't offer a place for them to go and we are -- we are a hundred
percent behind that. I mean we are really sympathetic to that. Those -- those kids need
activities in parks and I -- I personally think that right now they are -- they are
underserved.
Cavener: I agree.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions? Great presentation.
Barton: Yeah. It's going to be fun.
De Weerd: Okay.
Barton: Thanks.
Item 10: Future Meeting Topics
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De Weerd: Thank you. Anything under Item 10? If not, I would entertain a motion to
adjourn.
Milam: So moved.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:35 P.M.
(AUDIO RE IDI 1G -O -N --ELLE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
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