HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-05Meridian City Council March 5, 2019.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March
5, 2019, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Tammy De Weerd, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Ty Palmer, Genesis
Milam, Anne Little Roberts and Treg Bernt.
Also present: C.Jay Coles, Bill Nary, Sonya Allen, Clint Dolsby, Jeff Lavey, Shawn Harper,
Joe Bongiorno, Crystal Ritchie, Steve Siddoway, Cameron Arial, Christena Barney and
Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
Roll call.
X__ Anne Little Roberts X _ _Joe Borton
X__ Ty Palmer X__ Treg Bernt
__X___Genesis Milam __X___Lucas Cavener
__X_ Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: Okay. I will go ahead and call tonight's meeting to order. First I would like to
thank you for joining us and special thanks to Troop 173, the Scorpions. They are
sponsored by the Green Hill LDS Ward. Thank you for joining us and good luck on you r
-- either a merit badge or community service -- something. Something. What is -- what
are you here doing?
Bernt: Shenanigans.
De Weerd: Shenanigans. Wow. Well, thank you for joining us. Item No. 1 is roll call
attendance. Mr. Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Item No. 2 is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you all rise and join us in the pledge
to our flag.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Community Invocation by Troy Drake of Calvary Chapel Meridian
De Weerd: Item No. 3 is our community invocation. Tonight we will be led by Troy Drake
with Calvary Chapel here in Meridian. Thank you, Pastor Troy, for being here. I would
like to ask you all to join us in the community invocation or take this as an opportunity for
a moment of reflection.
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Drake: Mayor and Council Members, let's pray. God, thank you so much for this time we
can gather. Now, you said that if we would -- you just ask us to humble ourselves and to
call on your name, so that's what I'm doing here tonight and I just thank you, God, for this
country that we live in, that we have the freedom to pursue you or not or that we have the
freedom to elect the people who represent us and to live where we want and our dreams
and -- and we just appreciate that, because not everybody has that and -- and, God, we
just also are grateful for this great city that we have here in Meridian and I just pray for all
those who are in leadership over it, you know, the -- of course, the folks that are gathered
here in front of me, as well as all of the leaders and those who keep watch over things to
keep it safe, the -- the first responders, law enforcement officers, God, we just appreciate
them so much and thank you that we have this -- this place and we pray that there would
be peace tonight and that those who are afraid would find a place of solace and -- and
those who are hungry would also find a place where they could receive what they need.
So, God, lastly, I just want to pray for the Council and the Mayor, that you give them a lot
of wisdom and I know you care about all the -- the small things, Lord, and they are not
small to you and so we just ask that you would preside over all these things and -- and
bless these people who represent us, in Jesus' name, amen. God bless you guys. Thank
you.
Item 4: Adoption of Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you. Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: We are going to move from the Consent Agenda 6-P, as in Paul. It's going to be
a new 7-A. And Item 8-A is being amended onto the agenda and that's the Mayor's Youth
Advisory Council update. And with those two changes, I move that we adopt the amended
agenda.
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: ALL AYES.
Item 5: Future Meeting Topics - Public Forum (Up to 30 Minutes Maximum)
De Weerd: Mr. Clerk, under Item 5 I believe we have one sign up.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. We do. Kim Foss would like to address the Council.
The topic is unleashed dogs.
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De Weerd: Okay.
Foss: So, my name is Kim Foss and by way of background I moved to Meridian in January
of 2018. I served in the Marine Corps for 22 years and as such I have lived in many many
places. The reason I'm here is to raise awareness about unleashed dogs. They are
presenting a threat to our community and there doesn't seem to be a lot of action. I have
a small puppy. He's an emotional support animal and we were attacked while walking in
La Mirada. Several weeks later I saw a gentleman walking with an unleashed dog while
I was driving in my car. I pulled over and I said do you know that there is a leash law in
Meridian and he started gesturing very aggressively at me and said I know, I don't care,
move on. Mind your own business. I have testimonials from several people who have --
I mean there have been two children attacked recently by unleashed dogs. My son is 14.
He was coming home on his scooter at 7:00 p.m. He was knocked off his scooter and
attacked by yellow Lab. He was able to get away with scrapes and swelling on his ribs
and hands. My 11 year old was bit in Burney Glen a few weeks ago by a dog that got
loose from an owner. And there doesn't seem to be a lot of proactive things going on. I
mean there is -- and, Lady Mayor, your office responded and said we work in concert with
other people. Call animal control. But by the time you call animal control the dog is gone.
So, I am asking for people -- I mean what's it going to take, somebody to get killed by an
animal? There are children running everywhere in our neighborhoods. So, I mean that's
-- that's what I have got. I just -- I just think we need to do more.
De Weerd: Thank you, Ms. Foss. We appreciate your passion and that you reached out
and the public comment portion is to take testimony and we will see if Council would like
to have further conversation and let you know when that would be on the agenda . So,
we could perhaps ask our police department , you know, what are we doing proactively.
Certainly we can invite our animal control folks in as well.
Foss: Okay. Thank you very much for your time.
De Weerd: Thank you. And -- and I know everyone has a story on this. It is an issue.
My mom was attacked and had serious wounds, so -- and she doesn't live here, so -- they
live in another city. But it's an issue in all of our communities that we do care about.
Foss: Okay. Thank you so much.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Foss: I appreciate it.
Item 6: Consent Agenda [Action Item]
A. Approve Minutes of February 19, 2019 City Council Special
Meeting
B. Approve Minutes of February 19, 2019 City Council Regular
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Meeting
C. Permanent Easement Contract for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of
$5,718.09 for the Five Mile Creek Pathway Connection James
Court Sidewalk Widening
D. James Court Sidewalk Widening Easement
E. Seyam East Subdivision Sanitary Sewer and Water Main
Easement
F. Final Plat for Third Street Square Subdivision (H-2019-0009) by
Trenten Seltzer, Located at 324 NE 3rd St.
G. Final Plat for Bicentennial Farm Subdivision No. 3 (H-2019-
0018) by Toll ID I, LLC, Located at 3880 E. Lake Hazel Rd.
H. Final Order for Edgehill Subdivision No. 1 (H-2019-0003) by
Trilogy Development Inc., Located at 1393 and 1405 W. Victory
Rd.
I. Final Order for Hill's Century Farm No. 12 (H-2019-0008) by
Brighton Investments, LLC, Locate on the North side of E.
Lake Hazel Rd., 1/4 mile East of S. Eagle Rd.
J. Final Order for Hill's Century Farm No. 13 (H-2019-0010) by
Brighton Investments, LLC, Locate East of S. Eagle Rd. and
North of E. Lake Hazel Rd.
K. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order for
Avebury (H-2018-0141) by AD800, LLC, Located on the North
side of E. Pine Ave., West of N. Locust Grove Rd.
L. Development Agreement for Shelburne East (H-2018-0112) with
Shelburne Properties, LLC located at 4080, 4115, 4205, 4301 &
4330 E. Bott Ln., in the SE 1/4 of Section 28, Township 3N.,
Range 1E
M. Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Meridian
and the Nampa Highway District (NHD) to grant to City a non-
exclusive license for the installation, repair, and maintenance
of water and sewer improvements in NHD right-of-way
N. 1st Interstate Bank Parking Lot Use Agreement for Main Street
Market
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O. Agreement for Extension of Domestic Water and Sewer
Service Outside Meridian City Limits: 5233 W. Franklin Road
Q. Award of Change Order No. 10 to JC CONSTRUCTORS, INC.
for the “WRRF Liquid Stream Capacity Expansion” project for
a Not-To -Exceed amount of $88,646.26.
R. City Financial Report - January 2019
S. AP Invoices for Payment 2/28/2019 - $107,009.20
T. AP Invoices for Payment 3/6/2019 - $556,885.75
De Weerd: Any further sign-ups? Okay. Thank you. Item 6 is our Consent Agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: With one removal of Item P, I would move that we approve the Consent Agenda,
for the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda with the
removal of Item P. Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 7: Items Moved From The Consent Agenda [Action Item]
P. Approval of Task Order with McCall Studios for Renaissance
Park Identity Public Art Project Not-to-Exceed $40,000
De Weerd: Item 7-A is from 6-P, which is approval of task order with McCall Studios and
Mr. Burton.
Borton: Madam Mayor, the request was made by Councilman Palmer to remove this for
some discussion.
De Weerd: Okay.
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Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: The reason I asked for it to be removed, as I'm sure everyone is shocked and
wondering why on earth I would want to have a discussion -- have an opportunity to vote
no on it. In a year where we are currently on a budget that we -- that this Council took
the full three percent tax increase that we could, essentially, as a statement that by taking
the max that we were allowed to do, that if we were allowed to do more we would have ,
because we don't believe that we are able to fully operate on the max amount of funds
that we can force come our way. So, in a year that we are doing that I don't feel it's
appropriate for us to spend what would equal the entire Meridian city portion of 80 of our
families' property taxes to what would no doubt be beautiful signage and art upgrade to a
park, but, again, that's 80 families' entire Meridian city portion of their property taxes going
to this in a year that we said that we were taking everything that we possibly can -- isn't
quite enough to meet what this Council feels would be appropriate funding for the city.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? If not, I would entertain a motion.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I don't necessarily agree or necessarily track the -- the basis for the objection
necessarily. I think art is an integral part of our community as it grows and I think we went
through that when this was approved previously. So, I would move that we approve the
task order for McCall Studios from Renaissance Park Identity Public Art Project not to
exceed 40,000 dollars.
Cavener: Second.
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, nay; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: The ayes have it. Thank you.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE NAY.
Item 8: Action Items
A. Mayor Youth Advisory Council update
De Weerd: Item 8-A is under the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and I see Ben here to
give you an update on what our youth council members are up to.
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Bernt: Hey, Ben.
Hutchins: Hey, Madam Mayor. Hi, Mr. Bernt. So, an update on the Mayor's Youth
Advisory Council is we recently had our first volunteer service fair. With this we partnered
with the Meridian Library and we had over 80 people come last Saturday to experience
what a volunteer service fair would be like and possibly talk about having a recurring
event for the future. It was a great success and we are nearly positive it's going to be
happening every year now. We also had our Valentine's Day party on Valentine's Day.
We had over 15 people come and it was bringing everybody together, everybody was
playing games and it was a great time. And, then, we also have officially decided on our
participatory budgeting project. We took it to a vote on our previous meeting . We met
with professionals. We had some City Council members with us. Thank you. And we
made the most educated decision we could based off the vote and we are ready to be
moving forward into the future with it.
De Weerd: Which means you will be back to Council to present it.
Hutchins: Exactly. Exactly. We are just finishing everything up, making sure that our
presentation is as great as we possibly can get it.
De Weerd: Thank you. And you have Do The Right Day coming up.
Hutchins: Yes, we do. We have Do The Right Day coming up that we are currently
planning on. We are hoping it's as big of a success as it was last year. We have tons of
stickers, tons of ideas. Our next meeting we are going to be planning primarily -- well,
the majority of our Council is going to be at NLC. We are going to be planning on Do The
Right Day and figuring out exactly what we want to do and how to make it even better
than it was last year.
De Weerd: And what date is Do The Right Day? April 4th?
Hutchins: April 5th. 4th. 5th.
De Weerd: 4th.
Hutchins: 4th. I say Do The Right Day is every day actually, so --
De Weerd: And what is Do The Right Day?
Hutchins: Well, Do The Right Day is a movement of kindness that we celebrate every
year in the City of Meridian where we look to someone on our right and someone on our
left, we do something good for them and we make sure that we do everything that we can
in the city to just make sure that everybody is doing the right thing and we are helping
each other out.
De Weerd: Thank you, Ben.
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Hutchins: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you for letting me put you on the spot.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Ben, is -- are any of the members of MYAC doing anything significant next week?
Come on, man.
Hutchins: Yes.
De Weerd: Going to NLC; right?
Hutchins: Yeah. NLC is next week.
Palmer: Madam Mayor. And what is NLC?
Hutchins: Well, NLC is the National League of Cities conference in Washington, D.C.,
which I was blessed enough to go to last year, which was really great and integral to my
leadership training. We were able to receive speeches from guest speakers such as Cory
Booker, we were able to hear from Ben Carson , we were able to hear from all these
different perspectives that we normally wouldn't be able to hear from and I think it was a
really, really great foundation to the leadership training that the Executive Council got last
year and I know that with the amount of people that were selected this year they are all
going to do great things with the information that they get and bring back to MYAC and
the community at large in Meridian. Making up for my April 5th.
De Weerd: Any other questions from Council?
Hutchins: Thank you.
Item 9: Action Items
De Weerd: Okay. We are at Item 9 under Action Items. Under this I wanted to just give
you an idea of what the process is under Action Items. I know it's all detailed out in your
agendas, but these are land use items looking for City Council's recommendation on how
to move forward. We start with staff 's presentation that gives an overview of the
application and staff's review that meets our plan and, then, the applicant gets up, has 15
minutes to give a presentation. After that presentation we open it up for public comment.
The City Clerk will read off the names that have signed up in advance. At the end of that,
if you have not signed up, but want to provide testimony, I will open that up and invite you
forward. Our public testimony process is three minutes and you can track your time on
the podium on the screen, so you know exactly where you're at. After public testimony is
taken, the applicant has an opportunity to respond to any of the questions or comments
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that are made during that public testimony period. At that point City Council can ask staff,
the applicant, or any follow up with any of the citizens that they might want further
information at that point. Then they will close the public hearing, make a determination.
B. Public Hearing for Rackham Subdivision (H-2019-0005) by BVA
Development, Located 1020 S. Eagle Rd.
1. Request: Modified Development Agreement Modification to
the terms of the previously required Development Agreement
for Langly/Power Mall to update the development plan for
the site and associated provisions.
De Weerd: So, with that I will open the public hearing for Rackham Subdivision H-2019-
0005 and ask for staff comments at this time.
Allen: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. The first application before
you tonight is a request for a development agreement modification. This site consists of
51.59 acres of land. It's zoned C-G and is located east of South Eagle Road on the south
side of I-84. A little history on this property. This property, along with the property to the
south, was annexed into the city in 1995 with the C-G zoning district and a conditional
use permit planned development application was approved for a 700 ,000 square foot
retail center as shown on the conceptual development plan here at the upper left -hand
corner of the screen. That PD has since expired . As a condition of annexation the
applicant was required to enter into a development agreement prior to submittal of a
preliminary plan application to include the provisions in the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law. However, because annexations cannot be conditioned and the
property was annexed without a development agreement , the city attorney has deemed
compliance with the provisions of the annexation are not required and the current C -G
zoning governs future development of the site. The Comprehensive Plan future land use
map designation for this property is mixed use regional. The applicant is requesting
approval of a development agreement for this site with a new concept plan as shown
there on the bottom right. A mix of uses are proposed to develop on the site , including
office, medical, hotel, retail and outdoor recreation facility uses with future multi-family
commercial and office uses. Access is proposed via South Silverstone Way at the
southern boundary of the site and via South Rackham Way, at the southwest corner of
the site. Driveways are proposed internally for circulation within the site. A phasing plan
was submitted as shown that depicts eight phases of development , starting with the two
125,000 square foot buildings proposed along the northern boundary of the site adjacent
to I-84, which are proposed to commence construction within the next several months. A
pedestrian circulation plan was submitted as shown that depicts a continuous pedestrian
pathway around the perimeter of the development with internal walkways to each of the
main building entrances. Written testimony was received from one person, James
Rogers. He is an adjacent residential neighbor on the east boundary of this site. He feels
the provisions in the annexation findings from 1995 are still applicable and should be
included in the development agreement and should appl y to future development of this
site which includes a 35 foot wide landscape buffer, which he requests be of sufficient
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height to preclude the vehicle lights from shining directly into adjacent homes. He is also
concerned about stormwater runoff from his site -- from this site impacting the shallow
groundwater aquifer and has included several requests in his letter for Council
consideration. You should have a copy of that in your packet. Staff is recommending
approval of the proposed development agreement modification. Staff will stand for any
questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Sonya. Any questions for staff at this time? Okay. We will hear
from the applicant. Thank you for joining us . If you will, please, state your name and
address for the record.
Wardle: Madam Mayor, Members of Council, Geoffrey Wardle. I am counsel for BVA
Development, the applicant on this site. We appreciate the effort that staff has put in on
this application.
De Weerd: Mr. Wardle?
Wardle: Yes.
De Weerd: Do you have an address?
Wardle: Oh. 251 East Front Street, Suite 200. Boise. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Wardle: We appreciate the effort that staff has put in on this and we have worked with
staff, we have worked with our commercial neighbor to the south and you are going to
hear them tonight and I think we have some good solutions for some of the concerns that
have previously been articulated. As Sonya indicated, the first phase of this project, as
you know, is about ICCU building a corporate headquarters at this property. ICCU
acquired this property and has entered into an agreement with BVA Development to help
them develop that, so that they can consolidate their employees and in this central
location in the valley. So, what we are going to talk about tonight is how we got here and
what we anticipate the next steps. As you know, this was part of a much larger 70 acre
annexation that occurred in 1995. At that time it contemplated a much larger commercial
big box power center of the type that we see struggling elsewhere. So , we are fortuitous
that the plan that was presented to you in 1995 is not what actually was built. It was retail
heavy. It didn't necessarily address a variety of mixtures of uses and it didn't contemplate
some of the things that I think we have seen as better planning strategies. So, we are
not seeking any change to the zoning, because the zoning that you applied to it in 1995,
the C-G zone, is your most intensive commercial zone. Now, that 1995 annexation
included the property that has been developed at the south by Norco as part of Eagle
Commons and what you're going to hear from all of us tonight is that I believe we have
solutions to how we integrate those two projects together. So , as staff indicated, we are
proposing a variety of uses and what is contemplated here is not just an office park , but
office, medical, retail, commercial, entertainment. In the southwest corner for what we
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are articulating as phase four, is an area of seven acres that's going to require some
future additional planning and development. It's an area that could be multi -family. It
could be office. It could be other commercial uses. But we are prepared to come forward
with a development application now with this development agreement and master site
plan, so that we can proceed with the first phase , which will be approximately 250,000
square feet of office in two phases, the ICCU building and the eastern building. It's the
intention to start the ICCU building this summer and, then, follow it up immediately with
the second building, so that we can just keep everybody mobilized and move on those
and we are well underway in leasing that building, so that both of those two buildings
would be delivered and functional second or third quarter of 2020. But as we talked about,
we recognize the need to move a lot of these uses together, that a true mixed use project
necessitates a variety of those uses and so as Sonya indicated with the phasing plan, we
have identified eight phases, but, really, it's probably three, just because of how we are
going to put infrastructure in. Phase one will be the two office buildings and the main
improvements through the middle of the site, with the roadway connecting south to
Silverstone. The second phase of development will be the commercial , entertainment,
retail components that provide that access there on the south and, then, the outdoor
entertainment would be part of that. The southwest corner contemplates additional off ice
and medical use and it's a medical use that very well may come earlier. So, when we talk
about phase two having four different elements, phase two and phase three all could
come online very quickly in late 2020, early 2021. As Sonya indicated, because the site
is so large and because we recognize the goals of your ordinances and plans, pedestrian
connectivity is an important part of this. As we visit with the tenants that we are doing
office park work for, the ability of people to get outside, have connections, have a larger
pathway around the outside, much like has been approved and is being done at Ten Mile
is what you're going to see here and, again, it's going to be -- will be addressing this as
we -- as we go through the -- the process of phasing, but in light of the fact that the two
office buildings are the first integral part of this project, the bulk of the improvements along
the interstate will happen at that time in those two phases , as well as the -- the central
core as we do the retail. Now, we have met with ACHD several times to address how do
you take Silverstone, a public street, bring it into the project and make it function in a way
that it doesn't overwhelm the project and the solution to that is a mini roundabout. We
are in the design process of that and its actual configuration will be addressed in the
preliminary plat application that we bring forward to you, but we don't need to have a
preliminary plat approved to be able to move forward due to the way that we are
approaching this with ICCU. Additionally, we have had conversations with Eagle
Commons and you will see that we both have a solution for how do you make the
connection from Rackham to Silverstone, how do you make the connection between the
two projects, and we think the most appropriate way to do that is a private service drive
at the common boundary that jogs slightly to the north as you come up towards the
Silverstone mini roundabout. You're going to see their plan. Here is our plan. It is -- it
does need to be engineered, but what you're seeing from both of us reflects that degree
of agreement as to what type of facility it is. As you know from your prior requirements,
that the real need for that is -- is emergency access and the ability to connect to the public
thoroughfares and we met with ACHD, had the conversation, because their code -- their
-- their policy would have required Rackham to just end in a cul-de-sac and instead they
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are in agreement that if we do a joint easement with a connection across there , that it
provides the degree of public conductivity that they require. So , what are our next steps.
We agree with the proposed conditions of approval in the staff report. We will be coming
forward with our plat application as we finalize some additional engineering. We don't
need to do a preliminary plat, because of the way ownership and development is being
structured on those first phases of the office buildings. So , we intend to record it prior to
building completion, but that's why you're seeing the development agreement first, so that
we can move forward with that. So, our next steps. We need to finalize the design of that
entrance mini roundabout to ACHD standards. We need to finalize the documentation
with the access road, which we continue to work on with Eagle Commons and Norco and
finalize and submit the preliminary plat and final plat. So, with your approval tonight, here
are our next steps. We have drafted and I believe reached resolution on all issues on the
form of development agreement with your -- your planning staff and your legal staff and
so with that we will move very quickly to get that recorded , but with your approval tonight
we are seeking the ability to go ahead and submit for a CZC on the ICCU building, which,
then, would be followed with the east building, then, we would submit the design review
applications, we would submit the building permits, we will get the development
agreement recorded and we will be able to start construction on those buildings this
summer. Moving, then, forward with the other phases as we finalize leasing and
agreements with those parties. So, we are excited about this project. To be honest, this
is one that Tommy Ahlquist and I have worked on off and on for about six years. One of
the first things that I did at Gardner Company when I went to work for Tommy was we
were working with Elk's for how do we turn this into a medical office campus and that was
six years ago. We are excited about the efforts that the City of Meridian has made, ACHD
has made, the commitment that Eagle Commons and -- and Mr. Kissler have made and
we think that we will have a project that provides the type of employment that residents
in Meridian are presently happy to leave our city. Houses need jobs and jobs need houses
and it's just part of making sure that we provide the places that people can work, get their
healthcare, recreate and enjoy. So, with that I will stand for any questions you might
have.
De Weerd: Council, any questions at this time?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Thank you for being here. My only question I think right now is just on this slide
that you have got pulled up -- and maybe it's easier to go back to your slide with the
pathway, but it doesn't appear that gives me a much better vision about whe re your
pathway goes. So, actually, that -- that answers my question.
Wardle: Okay.
Cavener: The image helped me to provide clarification. Thank you.
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Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: Good to see you, Mr. Wardle.
Wardle: Good to be here, Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: Quick question. Are you pretty much in agreement with staff's recommendations?
Wardle: We are. We are in agreement with all of their recommendations.
De Weerd: Nothing further?
Wardle: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Bongiorno: Sorry, Madam -- Madam Mayor, I'm sorry to interrupt. I didn't get my mic
down quick enough.
De Weerd: Mr. Bongiorno.
Bongiorno: Mr. Wardle, if you wouldn't mind, at some point we need -- we need to talk
about the access. I have not seen this plan and the Rackham access won't work, so we
just need to talk at some point to fix that.
Wardle: That -- that's fine. We can -- and Horrocks has been directed to have those --
start having those conversations with everybody, so -- our concern just there on Rackham
was -- we didn't want to have just a big bulbous cul -de-sac, so there were a variety of
things that we think can work down there.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Clerk, can you, please, let us know who has signed up for public
testimony.
Coles: Absolutely, Madam Mayor. We have a few this evening. Jim Rogers is the first.
He would like to address the Council.
De Weerd: Okay. Good evening, Mr. Rogers. If you can, please, state your name and
address for the record.
Rogers: Okay. My name is Jim Rogers. I live on 1115 Rolling Hills Drive in Meridian,
which is directly to the east this development off the Rolling Hills Drive there.
De Weerd: Thank you.
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Rogers: And I appreciate the time you're giving us here and I'm here representing the --
some of the residents of the Rolling Hills Drive Subdivision. I have a written statement I
would just like to read in and I can provide this to the city clerk if you're interested in it
also. I have -- I have submitted it -- I -- on -- by e-mail this morning, technical aspects of
my request to Council and the staff and I understand that you have received that
information, so -- this is kind of a Paul Harvey rest of the story microphone for those of
you who are old enough to remember Paul. I would like to use this opportunity to submit
further information concerning this development. I would like to go back to 1995 and the
original request by Langley Associates for that request of Maria annex, the reference in
the finding act -- findings of fact and conclusions, then, signed off by the then Mayor
Kingsford and the council. As requested by Meridian city, prior to formal submittal of the
annex and request, the developer was required to meet with the residents of the adjoining
subdivision. At that time Overland Road and Eagle in the area was a two lane road
surrounded by agricultural land. The neighborhood meeting was attended by residents
of Rolling Hills and Jewel Subdivision, plus other interested landowners and developers
and that's on pages six through ten of the 1995 facts and conclusions. It was held at the
old Meridian City Hall. The developer at that time only provided a map of the general
area proposed with no detail as to proposed tenant, other than a vague illusion that
Walmart had indicated a desire to build on the property. As you can see in the original
findings, the residents who live in the area were not real happy about a Walmart being
built and what was a small residential development surrounded by agricultural property.
This meeting resulted in written and verbal statements presented at the formal council
meeting held during the fall of 1995. Prior to the formal meeting residents of our
subdivision held several informal meetings to discuss the proposal. A major question
asked was why Walmart would want to locate a store in an area that was essentially
undeveloped. There was no commercial development, other than St. Luke's property
within a mile of the area. In addition, one of our engineers -- one of our neighbors, who
was an engineer working for Intermountain Gas, stated that he was not allowed to discuss
proposed development, but that Walmart had contacted Intermountain Gas about the
availability of gas utilities located in the area of Overland and the I-84 Interchange where
they are near -- today is located.
De Weerd: Mr. Rogers, your three minutes are up, but let me get clarity. You are speaking
on behalf of your subdivision?
Rogers: Right. Of the subdivision.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Clerk, will you add seven minutes. Thank you.
Rogers: Okay. And not where they developer proposed the I-84 subdivision. After formal
findings of fact and conclusions were adopted by the council and mayor, several months
past, we became curious as to why the development agreement had not been presented
to Meridian city. In the spring of 1996 myself, Bob Nelson, and John Jamison, residents
of the Rolling Hills Subdivision, requested an informal meeting with Mayor Kingsford. At
that meeting the Mayor told us the proposed Power Mall was never seriously considered
as a feasible development. However, Meridian city was willing to move forward with the
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annexation in order to be able to annex property on the southeast area of Overland and
Eagle, the location of the existing Silverstone development. In order for that to move
forward Meridian could not annex the area on the south side of Overland, because it did
not adjoin the existing city limits. Meridian city could not jump across Overland unless
there was an adjoining property. At that time the only property was where St. Luke's is
located. He indicated that was why the city was interested in the annex -- annexation of
the proposed I-84 Power Center. You stated that it was developed -- be doubtful that a
development agreement would be submitted by Langley and Associates. When we
mentioned that Walmart had made contact with Intermountain Gas about construction
near I-84 and Overland, the mayor indicated he was aware that Walmart was not
interested in the Langley property. They all stay -- also stated that was why Paragraph
AA on page 38 or the findings of fact and conclusions was part of that agreement and that
Meridian at a future date, when the area south of Overland developed, would de-annex
the property as set forth in the findings of fact and conclusions. Obviously, the
deannexation never took place. I would request that Council not ignore the 1995 request
or requirements of the findings in fact and conclusion and seriously consider the
recommendation and concern voiced by the residents of Rolling Hill and Jewell
Subdivision. Especially those concerning groundwater issues and buffer requirements
also outline in my March 4th Rackham Subdivision submittal to Council. The '95
document was sound off -- signed off by council and mayor and I consider it a legal and
binding document and find it difficult to understand why city staff and Council would
completely ignore us. Issues that were valid in '95 are still valid today. The developer
stands to make millions off this project while Meridian city will realize thousands of dollars
in tax revenue from a property at this time that generates very little tax dollars due to an
agricultural exemption. Meanwhile, the residents of Rolling Hill and Jewell Subdivision
have and will see major declines in our quality of life and environment. Our request is try
to maintain and protect our groundwater and quality of our semi rural area. The impact
of our request on the developer is very minimal. We would request that no development
agreement be approved until our concerns have been addressed. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you, Mr. Rogers. Council, any questions?
Rogers: Would the city clerk like a copy of this?
De Weerd: Yes, please.
Rogers: Okay.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Mr. --
De Weerd: Mr. Rogers?
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Cavener: -- Rogers?
De Weerd: We do have a question for you.
Cavener: Sir, if I'm reading correctly.
Rogers: I'm a little hard of hearing.
Cavener: That's okay. I'm not used to being so quiet, so I appreciate that. Your letter
states that -- I just want to make sure I'm reading correctly -- your requests are for a 35
foot setback and for a -- a hydraulic study?
Rogers: Yeah. Hydrology.
Cavener: Can you maybe extrapolate a little bit more about what you mean by that for
the Council, so I have a better understanding. I am not intelligent when it comes to water
issues and so -- but I know how important they are, especially if you're on a well and --
and you have a little aquifer. Just help me understand what that request is based on.
Rogers: The 35 foot buffer was requested because at that time we realized that the
proposed development in 1995 would have a big impact on our development and we
wanted to make sure that we had a buffer there that would protect us from noise , lighting,
et cetera of that proposed development. The hydrologic study requested -- we really don't
know exactly too much what the groundwater conditions are under that site , other than
our water wells are approximately a hundred -- from 80 to 125 foot in depth drawing water
out of there. A hydraulic study -- or hydrology study would give us information as to what
the groundwater is doing under there, which way is it moving and what is the potential for
contamination of that groundwater due to stormwater runoff. That was why we requested
the above ground swales and storm water garden -- or water be used to dispose of
groundwater -- or storm water in that area. A hydrologic study would determine, in part,
whether storm runoff in this area would create a groundwater mound, which is kind of like
a hill of groundwater under the -- under the area and the -- any pollutants that happen to
get into that groundwater, then, would move towards the south Jewell Subdivision and to
the east Rolling Hill Subdivision. And that's what a hydrology would, essentially,
determine and that information could be obtained when if -- if and when the four
monitoring wells were placed in the area.
De Weerd: Yeah. Just bring that -- there we go.
Cavener: My assumption is, Mr. -- Mr. Rogers, that -- that a similar study was not
conducted in 1995.
Rogers: No, it was not.
Cavener: Okay. Thank you.
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Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Mr. Rogers, before we get my -- to my question for you --
Rogers: Let me come up there.
Palmer: I think this was the first time in my life that somebody has said -- for those of you
old enough to remember when, in fact, I was old enough to remember -- I used to listen
to Paul Harvey in the morning on my way to high school as he would give his the rest of
the story. So, now I'm feeling, you know, maybe a midlife crisis moment here, but -- 31.
You had mentioned concerns about noise. Do you currently experience a lot of noise
from your proximity to the freeway? And do you anticipate maybe the enormity of the
structures possibly blocking out some of that consistent noise you're experiencing there?
Rogers: Yeah. We get a tremendous amount of noise from the freeway at this time. The
wind in the area, of course, blows from the northwest, which blows noise right into our
area. In an earlier period of time before the Idaho Department Transportation put the third
lane in on the freeway, we requested that a sound barrier be constructed along that -- the
whole entire south side of the freeway from, essentially, the Eagle intersection all the way
down and ITD agreed to do that when they got money to build the third lane and, of
course, we know that -- that was conveniently forgotten and we never did get to sound
barrier. But, yeah, we get a tremendous amount of noise off the freeway. Now, whether
these buildings would eliminate or attenuate that noise I don't know. I would certainly
hope there would be some attenuation of the noise. The study that IT D did earlier when
we requested that indicate noise levels of anywhere from a hundred to -- or, I'm sorry,
from 80 to about a hundred decibel noise for those residents who lived right next to the
freeway and it certainly is a problem with noise, but, you know, like anything else, you --
and where I'm deaf or hard of hearing I don't really hear it anyway.
De Weerd: Any other questions from Council? Thank you, Mr. Rogers.
Rogers: Thank you for your attention, gentlemen, ladies.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I have a question for staff and maybe it was gone over in the introduction, but
what -- he's asking for a 35 foot buffer and what is the buffer with this development?
Allen: Madam Mayor, Councilman Milam, Councilmen, the UDC required buffer width to
residential uses is 25 feet in the C-G district.
Milam: So, it went from 35 to 25?
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Allen: I'm not sure if the code required 35 at the time or if that was just something that
was required as part of the annexation provisions.
De Weerd: And that's not captured in any development agreement or --
Allen: It was in the findings. Our city attorney at the time deemed that we could not annex
property -- excuse me. We couldn't require a development agreement prior to annexation
of property. So, they included requirements and findings then, which our current city
attorney has deemed that they cannot do and shouldn't have done.
De Weerd: That's why you have attorneys. They all have a different opinion. Mr. Clerk.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Next is John Fitzgerald.
De Weerd: Sorry, Mr. Nary.
Nary: It's all good.
De Weerd: Thank you for joining us. If you will, please, state your name and address for
the record.
Fitzgerald: My name is John Fitzgerald. I'm at 1235 Rolling Hill. So, I am on the same
street as Jim.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Fitzgerald: Madam Mayor, Council Members, thank you very much. I'm not opposed to
the development. I am however -- I realized I'm no Tommy Ahlquist and his crew, but I
am a business owner in Meridian. I'm a homeowner in Meridian. We have -- in some
small way we are the future of Meridian. We want to stay here. We live where we live for
many reasons, the same reasons that everybody else attracted to that area. If you have
ever been on Overland Road anytime around high traffic, it's impossible already. This
clearly is only going to make that worse and I hear a lot of fancy footwork around what
we are going to do with traffic. Dumping all of those people onto Overland is going to be
a nightmare. It's already getting backed up to Cloverdale, all the way through Meridian.
It's impossible to get out of there. I'm assuming that it will end up being a right turn lane
only. I don't know. But it can only get worse. I feel like nothing should happen there until
something is really done with the traffic situation. The -- the -- the only thing that really
makes sense in my mind -- and it's -- and it's horrific logistically and probably financially,
but it's to run an overpass over and dum p people onto Franklin and Eagle through those
access points. I don't know how you're going to get all of those people -- especially with
the next one up, Eagle Commons, it's only going to further aggravate the situation that is
all right there at Rolling Hill halfway between Eagle and Cloverdale. So, it's a mess now.
It will get worse. The answer to that question, sir, is that we are -- if you didn't know this
already, we are all on domestic wells there, if you didn't know that. That's all I have.
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De Weerd: You know, the problem is this was approved before most of those traffic trips
generated were created. So, they already have their entitlements.
Fitzgerald: Madam Mayor, I call the planners here all the time asking what I can do, where
I can do it and where I can buy property, what I can do with that land and I am always
told, I'm sorry, we have just impacted the -- the map for this year -- or that's not in best
use -- I mean things change all the time. This is a real problem for us and it's -- it's going
to be a real problem for Meridian. It's a huge problem that's growing every day as the city
grows and it can't get better with this development going there unless it is seriously dealt
with.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Fitzgerald: Thank you.
Coles: None others indicated they wanted to provide testimony.
De Weerd: Okay. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who did not sign up who
wishes to provide testimony? Yes, ma'am. Good evening. If you will, please, state your
name and address for the record.
Haven: Yeah. My name is Amanda Haven and I'm actually representing my grandfather
who lives at 925 Rolling Hill Drive with power of attorney. So, I wasn't planning on
speaking, but thank you for allowing me the time to address you. I just had a couple of
questions and concerns after hearing fellow neighbors speak. One question I had is the
original plans that we saw that were published in the paper showed the emergency access
point actually across our property and so I just wanted some clarification as to where that
had moved to, because we -- and that was published before they had obtained that
easement from us and so they discussed and I just didn't understand in the original
testimony where it had been moved to.
De Weerd: I think staff -- we don't know. We will ask the applicant to address that.
Haven: And, then, the other things I just wanted to address is just to speak to Mr. Rogers
comment as far as the spacing is for noise and water containment . Also my concern is
there is a lot of elderly that live in that area and knowing the development that's been
proposed is safety concern is there for me as far as fencing and having that buffer or
some sort of barrier to prevent -- because the entertainment that I have heard that's being
proposed to be developed is like a Top Golf and I myself have been to some Top Golf in
other states and I know that there is alcohol there and that they are quite -- there can be
like music and a loud kind of an environment and who knows who could wander off of that
and across the property right into one of their homes or their backyard s. So, that's one
of my concerns. And, then, I can also speak to the last man that testified that that traffic
is a huge concern and I believe with something like that big of an establishment and
housing, it will be very difficult for all the residents on Rolling Hill to ever exit their -- their
road onto Overland. It already is a concern for them to take a left-hand turn, they will
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always have to go righ t and so I know with any added traffic this big of a development is
-- it is a concern that I wanted to have considered. So, thank you for your time.
De Weerd: Thank you, Ms. Haven. Yes, ma'am. Good evening. Thank you for joining
us. If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Holaday: Carol Holaday. 3810 Onyx.
De Weerd: Thank you, Carol.
Holaday: And I would like to know on this map where he's got Onyx.
De Weerd: Pardon?
Holaday: I would like to know on this map which one he's got Onyx on. There is Norco.
Overland. And I don't see him listed Onyx on there. Onyx.
De Weerd: The previous -- I don't know. You will -- you will have to ask --
Holaday: Okay.
De Weerd: -- the applicant. I didn't --
Holaday: What I want to know is are they going to come through the back ? Because I
have an easement on my property and we were at one meeting and he said the man -- I
can't remember his name. He was going to open that up, because it has to be opened
up for fire trucks or emergency vehicles to get in the back.
De Weerd: Well, we will ask the applicant to -- to note where the emergency access is
anticipated.
Holaday: Okay. Because in my contract when we bought the house it states in there that
that cannot be opened up for anything unless I sell my house. Well, I'm not selling my
house.
De Weerd: You didn't have that in mind, uh?
Holaday: No. I have been there too long.
De Weerd: We will certainly ask the applicant to clarify that --
Holaday: Thank you.
De Weerd: -- and address your question.
Holaday: Thank you.
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De Weerd: Thank you. Is there any further testimony? Okay. Mr. Wardle.
Wardle: Madam Mayor, Members of Council, Geoff Wardle. 251 East Front Street. So,
to address the issues that have been raised, we do have secondary access. The property
owners on Onyx, when that property was platted, that was platted with one of those fine
1970s era ACHD, Ada county plats with 50 foot wide undedicated future public right of
way and when our consultants looked at that they had initial conversations with ACHD
and ACHD said we don't perceive that to have been dedicated. We did have some
conversations with the property owners down there on Onyx. They weren't amenable to
it, so we moved on. We entered into an agreement. We actually entered into a contract
to purchase an easement up here from that property owner, as you heard from his
granddaughter. They came back to us and indicated that they didn't want to do that, so
we respected their wishes, we terminated the contract and we went and entered into
another contract with another property owner and, Sonya, if you can go back to the site
plan. We do have a property under contract for purpo ses of providing a secondary
emergency access. It's not a public street, it's to satisfy our requirements under the
International Fire Code and as Sonya showed, it's -- it's -- it's right here. So, we have put
-- we have put this property under contract to acquire and that's where that emergency
access will go. We understand in 1995 there was a contentious and difficult hearing that
occurred that generated a significant amount of paperwork. We also are in agreement
that your Council in 1995 didn't serve the city or the citizens well. The advice that you
received from your current counsel I believe is the correct one, that, A, Idaho Code,
Section 67-6511(a) which enables you to do development agreements as parts of rezones
and annexations, are intended to occur contemporaneously, if not simultaneously with the
annexation of the property, but this property has been annexed and has been zoned C-G
since 1995. So, what has happened since 1995? Well, some of the conditions of
approval that were imposed in 1995 are reflective of the fact that you had an application
that the Meridian city code in 1995 was not prepared to address. Your code -- you rewrote
your code several times, including the current version of the UDC that you have that
addresses and imposes requirements on applicants related to many of the things that
were attempted to be addressed through the findings and conclusions in 1995. The
issues of groundwater and sewer connections and those things have all been addressed.
What else has happened since 1995? Well, since 1995 every three years we have had
updates to the then UDC and now the International Building Code. We have had regular
updates to ACHD's policy manuals and the requirements of DEQ related to stormwater
detention, retention, and how we deal with that. We are here tonight on the development
agreement application for this site plan. We will engineer the road systems, the sewer
systems, the storm water systems, the pressurized irrigation systems, the fire systems,
all in compliance with the codes that exist in 2019. Now, 1995 was a long time ago. I
was still in law school in 1995. But I can tell you as a practical matter from -- in the
development community, the requirements in your code today address and resolve all of
the issues that your City Council was attempting to address and impose through
conditions in 1995. Would also point out that every use that we have proposed -- we are
coming to you with an application that proposes uses that are either permitted of right or
via conditional use permit within the C-G zone. We are not seeking to modify the zoning.
And why is that important? Well, that's important because the models that you participate
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in through COMPASS, the transportation models, all of these things since 1995 have
taken into consideration that you have 71 acres of C -G zoned property at this location.
Now, is traffic bad? Yes, traffic is bad. Are their requirements that ACHD will impose
upon us as we make the connection? Yes, there are. Are there things that ITD would like
to have. There probably are. But as a practical matter -- and I appreciate -- I appreciate
the comment from the dias, we were the first ones in. This was the first property that was
entitled. This was property that was entitled, that has been part of your Comprehensive
Plan, that has been part of your vision for a commercial core at this interchange since
1995 and the issues of traffic, those are all things to take into consideration, but as we do
denser development, as we do mixed use development, as we do things that we wouldn't
have done in the past, like connectivity with these neighborhoods that minimize and
reduce the problems that we have, this is part of the solution. Now, we still have -- we
still have those efforts to go through . That's still part of other things, but I would just
highlight the fact that we are here asking for a master site plan that is consistent with your
C-G zone and all of the requirements that currently exist under the UDC. And with that I
would stand for any further questions you might have.
De Weerd: Council, any questions? I -- I guess, Geoff, can you walk through the
capturing of stormwater and how you have to keep it on sit e and maybe Mr. Rogers'
concerns about their wells.
Wardle: Madam Mayor, Members of Council, as you know we have significantly upgraded
our regulations over the last 15 years on what you do with runoff from sites. That you --
you have to maintain all of your stormwater on site. You can't discharge it off site. You
have to engineer your -- your ponds, your swales, your other things to take that water, to
treat that water and hold that water before it goes back into -- into the aquifer. These are
requirements that are imposed not by the city, but they are requirements that are largely
imposed under the Clean Water Act that have been implemented through the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality and others and that's where our codes and our
standards come from. So, in 1995 this community was not attentive to the impact of
stormwater and runoff, but in this day and age this community is much more attentive to
those issues and this will be engineered and addressed in due course.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions for Mr. Wardle?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Mr. Wardle, what is your -- what's the setback on your southern border from
the residential component?
Wardle: Madam Mayor, Council Member Cavener, I believe that this strip here has been
engineered and designed at the 25 feet. So , when we talk about setbacks and we talk
about setbacks from improvements, I think that's the other thing that people don't
remember is that the way that we measure setbac ks is it -- it isn't, you know, 35 feet of
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landscape, it is a setback to the structure. So, we have not proposed any structures that
are within 25 feet of those southern properties.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, follow up.
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Cavener: Mr. Wardle, what about your northern border from -- your two buildings there
to the interstate is -- is that also 25 feet or is that -- it looks like it's somewhat larger.
Wardle: Madam Mayor, Council Member Cavener, your code requires an additional
significant setback to the interstate and so within that area is where the walkway is. So ,
that is approximately 25 feet and, then, those buildings -- I believe it's 25 feet, Sonya. Or
is it 35? Oh, it's 50. So, it's 50 feet. And, then, those buildings are set back even further
from that.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I'm going to keep going.
Wardle: Yes.
Milam: So, are you -- you're just going to have a -- I mean you don't have any buildings
over here, but they were talking about landscape buffer and , then, somebody mentioned
a fence or some way to protect these neighbors from the outdoor golf activity or whatever
is going in there, so --
Wardle: So, Madam Mayor, Council Member Milam, so this is at least 25 feet there and
if you have seen one of these outdoor entertainment facilities , they are built and designed
to keep the golf balls inside and I'm sure that some of you may be able to drive most of
that distance, but we are totally confident that golf balls are not going to be landing in their
neighborhood. Also, when you -- and we are not here with an application on that, but I
would point out that this outdoor recreational use is a permitted use within your C-G
district. The lighting plans for these uses are not the old driving ranges with great big tall
telephone poles with metal halide lights hanging from them. The lighting is -- is very
contained, the lighting is very directed and is -- is maintained within the facility. So, you
know, we will have the opportunity to have those discussions when we are actually here
with an application to design that, but I can assure you that we have reviewed the
requirements of the UDC for outdoor uses. We are sensitive to what the audio
requirements and limitations are. We are sensitive to what the lighting requirements are
and those other setbacks. Thank you.
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De Weerd: Okay.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor. Geoff -- and I must admit I'm very excited about the
possibility of having a golf -- something like that in the Treasure Valley. Having a golfer
son now I can assure you that on a very regular basis he can hit it out of the Scottsdale
one with not much problem. So, I will volunteer him if you need some tests arms regarding
-- because it -- it can be done, especially with a group of 19, 20 year old golfing boys.
De Weerd: I think it becomes a competition.
Wardle: It does. And, you know, that's the problem, is that this is not your traditional
driving range that, there is -- there -- there is -- it's not just about going out and gripping it
and ripping it, so we will work on that with them.
De Weerd: Any further questions?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Not a question, but more of a comment that I appreciate what you have done
here in light of what it could have been with previous developments. It's -- it's a better
product. It's a better end result. I think it's laid out better and I think the mini roundabout
solution there as well helps disperse traffic through it, so all in all it's a definite
improvement over what was done before. So, we appreciate those efforts.
Wardle: Thank you, Mr. Borton.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you so much.
Wardle: Thank you.
De Weerd: So, Council, any further questions for staff or the applicant?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I know Council Member Milam stepped out. I don't know if she wants -- if we
can grab her or whatnot, but I don't have any comments. I echo much of Council Member
Borton's comments. I also -- appreciated the -- the narrative that was provided by the
applicant in our packet. Staff's great work. I know a project of this magnitude doesn't
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come across and come super easy and super fast. I know we have had many Council
Members who always talk about taking time and I think the end result is something really
remarkable. I, as a -- when I graduated college my -- my father subleased this land from
the Elk's and we farmed it on four wheelers for three years, because my family and I are
crazy and this is a much -- much better use than farming it on four wheelers. So, if there
aren't any comments, Madam Mayor, I'm happy to close the -- the public hearing for Item
8-A, the DA for H-2019-0005.
Bernt: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and the second to close the public hearing on Item 9-A.
Council, any -- any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Did I hear all ayes? All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I move we approve Item 9-A, H-2019-0005, and include all staff and applicant
and public testimony.
Little Roberts: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-A. Any discussion by
Council?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Since Council Woman Milam has joined us, I just want to let her know that I
have made a motion that we approve Item 9-A.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Mr. Wardle, if you could meet with Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Rogers and Ms.
Haven to maybe do some follow up on their concerns and -- I would appreciate it. Thank
you.
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B. Public Hearing for Eagle Commons (H-2019-0016) by James A.
Kissler, LLC, Located Generally North of E. Overland Rd. and
East of S. Eagle Rd.
1. Request: Modification to an Existing Development
Agreement for Eagle Commons at Overland to update the
development plan and associated provisions.
De Weerd: Okay. Item 9-B is a public hearing for H-2019-0016. I will open this public
hearing with staff comments.
Allen: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. The next application is a
development agreement modification as well. This site consists of 18.03 acres of land .
It's zoned C-G and is located east of South Eagle Road and north of East Overland Road
and this property is directly south of the property that you just heard . This property was
-- along with the property to the north was annexed into the city back in 1995. A new
development agreement was approved in 2016 , which is proposed to be modified with
this application. The property was previously subdivided. The future land use map
designation for this property is mixed use regional. The current development agreement
anticipates development of a 86,000 square foot two story office retail building where
Norco has been constructed and an 85,000 square foot -- 85 to 95 thousand square foot
single story commercial retail store and a single pad site. That is the plan there on your
left. The proposed plan on the right depicts five commercial building pads, the existing
Norco building and associated parking. The applicant has submitted two options for a
modification to the existing development agreement as follows: The first option would be
to eliminate the development agreement in its entirety and let zoning dictate future uses
and development of the property or the second option is to update the development
agreement to reflect the current development plan and strike the provision number 5.1L
pertaining to the restriction on business hours of operation for uses abutting a residential
district and replacement of the word substantial in favor of general in relation to future
development being in compliance with the approved concept development p lan. Staff is
recommending that this site remain under a development agreement, but is amenable to
the requested changes. Staff is recommending additional modifications to the
development agreement as noted in Section 7C of the staff report due to completion of
several of the existing provisions. Staff will stand for any questions. No written testimony
was submitted on this application.
De Weerd: Thank you, Sonya. Council, any questions at this point?
Bernt: Madam Mayor, one question.
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: So, what would be the difference between being in general compliance compared
to being in substantial compliance and maybe an example.
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Allen: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilman Bernt, to staff there is no real
difference, but maybe attorney speak there is, but staff didn't have any problem with that
request.
Bernt: Madam Mayor, follow up. Mr. Nary, how about you?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Bernt, I mean it definitely
a judgment call on the part of the staff. Substantial compliance is the legal term. So, it is
being predominantly as it was proposed that it's being complied with. It doesn't have to
be exact, because the recognition by courts is is that buildings can move slightly, you
know, one lot may move, one -- one lot may be lost, one lot maybe gained, sizes may
change slightly. So, substantial is a judgment call and ultimately is the decision of the
Council, is -- is it substantially compliant with what was proposed.
Bernt: Madam Mayor, one more follow up. Mr. Nary, any concern there in regard to the
-- to the lawyer speak there in regard to substantial versus general?
Nary: No.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further from Council? Would the applicant like to make
comment? Good evening. If you will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Huber: Yes, Madam Mayor. My name is Jeff Huber. My address is 8385 West Emerald
Street, Boise.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Huber: And I represent the applicant. We appreciate the opportunity to come before you
tonight and modify our development agreement plan . We have been working with staff
over the last six weeks and with the neighbor to the north to work out the details on the
access road and I think that staff has done a great job with our report and we are in
agreement with the report. This is an important piece of property and I think that you have
the opportunity to review both of these plans and I think that the uses are appropriate for
this area. So, with that I would stand for any questions. As the previous applicant has
given you a good history of the development agreement , so also refer to that.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Mr. Huber, kind of the same question for you that was proposed to our legal
staff. The rationale behind requesting general versus substantial. It kind of caught me
off guard when I read that from staff as well. Help me understand where that request is
generated from.
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Huber: Yes. Madam Mayor, Councilman Cavener, that's -- if we come back with another
tenant that doesn't quite fit with this plan, it's not -- it would be just some minor adjustments
to the plan, I think that it could be approved without us coming back for the complete
modification application again.
Cavener: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Any other questions? Mr. Borton.
Borton: Madam Mayor. Everyone's got the same question on that. The concern with
creating -- even if it's unintentional -- what you described very well might be met with a
substantial compliance standard that we always utilize , but it would be a pretty big step
to create a new standard, which is something less than what staff and the city has
consistently or tried to consistently apply, still affording an applicant the flexibility that's
preserved in a substantial compliance standard, but we kind of understand how that works
and the application -- or the development community kind of understands how that works.
What you described sounds like a substantial compliance standard, so I would have great
concern that if we create a new standard it comes with a lot of strings that now we are
inviting a much more loose application of approvals to something less than, which I know
is not your intent -- it doesn't sound like that's your intent, so --
Huber: That's not our intent.
Borton: You very well might be able to get to where you need to be and preserve the
substantial compliance language that we have always utilized. It still sounds like that fits
-- would be helpful for us and our staff to ensure we have got those consistent parameters.
Huber: Madam Mayor, Councilman Borton, you bring up a good point and we are -- the
applicant's certainly agreeable to leaving that -- the word substantial in if you prefer.
Borton: Okay. I appreciate it. Thanks.
De Weerd: Any further questions? Thank you.
Huber: Thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Clerk.
Coles: No sign-ups on this one, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Okay. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to provide
testimony on this item? Okay. Seeing none, Council, any further questions for the
applicant or staff?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
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De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: I think there -- there weren't any unresolved issues that we -- as we see the
proposed conditions?
Allen: Madam Mayor, Councilman Borton, no.
Borton: Okay.
De Weerd: Other than the one word.
Borton: Oh, got you. Got you.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we close the public hearing on Item 9 -B.
Little Roberts: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those in favor
say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve H-2019-0016, leaving the word substantial, as opposed
to general.
Bernt: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion ? Okay. I have a motion to
approve Item 9-B. Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried. Thank you.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
C. Public Hearing for Proposed Vehicle Immobilization (Booting)
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Ordinance
1. First Reading of Ordinance No. 19-1815: An Ordinance
Adding A New Chapter, Chapter 3, To Title 3, Meridian
City Code, Regarding Vehicle Immobilization:
Definitions, Vehicle Immobilization License, Vehicle
Immobilization Regulations, Prohibited Acts, And
Penalty; Adopting A Savings Clause; And Providing An
Effective Date.
De Weerd: Okay. Item 9-C is a public hearing for a proposed vehicle immobilization
booting ordinance. This is the first reading of Ordinance 19-1815. Mr. Clerk, will you,
please, read this by title.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 19-1815, an ordinance
adding a new chapter, Chapter 3, to Title 3, Meridian City Code, regarding vehicle
immobilization: definitions, vehicle immobilization license, vehicle immobilization
regulations, prohibited acts, and penalty; adopting a savings clause; and providing an
effective date.
De Weerd: You have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there anyone who wishes to
hear it read in its entirety? Okay. Seeing none, I will ask if there is any people signed up
for testimony, Mr. Clerk.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. I do believe we have one. Nathan Nuno.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Nuno. Thank you for joining us. If you will, please, state your
name and address for the record.
Nuno: Nathan Nuno. 9136 West Brogan Drive. Nice to see you all again. Once again
I'm just here to support my industry and support this ordinance . I still have little issues
with it that I think we could actually fix, but I do feel there is a need for that and it looks
like I'm the only one representing my industry here . There is others involved, but that's
what I do. A continuation of last time. I have talked to many of the property managers
and a couple actual property owners with regards to the time limit that we discussed last
time that before we are able to have a vehicle towed. They feel that a restriction on a
time limit violates their rights of private property owners and the rights to do what they
want with real property. I originally told them that it was set up for 48 hours, then, we got
down to 12 the last time and they feel even 12 is too much, but they felt that four hours
would be probably negotiable and they would feel comfortable with four hours, especially
with the signage and the parking addendums that they supply their residents that they are
in charge of telling their residents' guests of -- the residents are in charge of telling their
guests where to properly park. So, that's the only complaint that they really had was the
time limit. They don't have any complaints about anything else. They agree with
everything else that's in the ordinance that the police department handed out to t he -- to
the properties. The only concerns I have personally is -- is -- and the more I read this the
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more I -- I mean I didn't go to law school. I wish I would have -- was that if our licenses
are revoked there is no due process before that. They are just revoked, then, we have to
appeal that. So, I feel like there should be a due process before the revoke for us to be
able to defend our employees or even our company to try to prove that this didn't happen.
Instead of an appeal process afterwards. So, I would like some kind of due process
before that would happen to make our case and it would actually impact economically for
whichever employee's license was revoked or even our company not having that
employee out doing their job. So, I think there is an economical thing there on that type
of process. As far as anything else, I can't really think of anything. It's a pretty good
ordinance that the city has put together and those are basically just the concerns is the
time restriction on -- before we can tow, which I understand why that's in there and, then,
the whole licensing process. So, that's all I have. Thank you for not making me wait four
and a half hours this time. But I'm open to any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Little Roberts: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Nathan, thank you for being here again.
Nuno: No problem.
Little Roberts: And just maybe some clarification. You are already doing business in
Meridian and -- and working with property owners.
Nuno: Correct. I have nine properties in the City of Meridian.
Little Roberts: Okay. Thank you. We had -- I had someone reach out that was thinking
you are not in business yet in Meridian and that's what this was to determine. So, I just
wanted it on the record that you are already in business and competitors as well; correct?
Nuno: Yes.
Little Roberts: Thank you.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Let me just ask a question regarding your last statement about revoking of
licenses. Do you think there are any circumstances that a license should be revoked
immediately?
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Nuno: I would say a DUI situation. Felony of some sort. But I do believe that with
misdemeanors or -- they are a little bit less. I mean a crime is a crime, but I think of a
serious felony or a DUI it should automatically be revoked, but I think that should also be
up to the -- to the employer to decide if they should still employ that person for doing that
also or put a requirement in the -- in -- I'm not sure -- maybe Scott can answer this better,
but I didn't see anything that if a situation happened that we would have to report it
automatically to the city and, then, go from there.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further? Thank you. Any further sign-ups?
Coles: No other sign-ups.
De Weerd: Okay. Is there anyone else who would like to provide testimony on this item?
Council, what is your desire?
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: There was something I thought of a few minutes ago that I wanted to kind of vet
out and see if I might have a suggested adjustment. So , I'm hoping maybe we can just
continue it through the normal process, rather than just approving it tonight. At least for
another -- I assume it would be the next week. It's not a huge deal , but rather than ask
the question and look dumb, I would rather re-read it first and see if it's even something
relevant.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
Borton: Mr. Borton.
Borton: As part of the -- this will continue on. I don't think it's going to get approved
tonight necessarily, but for a second read. One way that issue of due process and
revocation of the consequence can be addressed is -- and perhaps take some of the
burden off the city clerk in making that determination is if -- if there is a belief that a
violation has occurred there might be written notice to the -- to the licensee of --
notification of what the -- what the violation may be and that hearing is set in 14 days or
15 days where they can have their time before the Council and a determination can be
made. So, they would still be operating until whatever the grounds of revocation are
presented and a decision is made. So, something to chew on that you could adjust, that
paragraph G, rather than take it and appeal, go through the same process, but it's a little
more process which we could do. Something to chew on. That's all.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
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Nary: Just while you're pondering that, I mean I cannot recall -- and I don't know if the
clerk can recall -- I can't recall us revoking a license of anybody.
Borton: Yeah. It's pretty rare.
Nary: So, it is done very sparingly. The concern is -- if you look at the three conditions,
one is the license violates any -- the licensee violates any term or condition of the license
or any provisions of this chapter or any other local or state or federal law. It is found --
the second is the license was issued on false or inaccurate information or incomplete
information. So, there is -- and, then, the third is that their -- their licensee, the operations
vary materially from what they claimed how they perform. My only concern is what was
raised by Council Member Milam is that there are circumstances that probably immediate
revocation is more appropriate subject to appeal and there are probably are ones, as Mr.
Nuno raised, that maybe there are some that would require the revocation after a hearing.
So, if you want to ponder that we can split them, but, for example, if you had an allegation
of a battery that occurred by a licensee on a patron , that may be a different circumstance
than a reckless driving citation. So, I mean that might be something to ponder. We can
certainly split them if you think that would make more sense on the types that are more
serious and we could work with police on what they would think would be ones that should
be revoked now versus ones that could be considered based upon circumstance s.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further? Mr. Clerk.
Coles: Madam Mayor, I will just follow up with Mr. Nary's comment that I don't believe
during my time at least in this office that we have revoked a license. Most of that happens
at the front end in denying a license through the application process, but actual revocation
of a license I don't believe that's happened in my two plus years in this office.
De Weerd: Okay. So, Council, you want to set this out for a second reading? Okay. We
will put this on -- we don't generally do these during workshops.
Coles: I believe, Madam Mayor, we could. It's land use that really doesn't make its way
onto -- onto workshops. But at Mr. Nary's advice I believe that we can.
De Weerd: Okay. A second reading will be next week, then, at our City Council workshop.
D. Public Hearing To Consider The Conveyance To The Ada
County Highway District For Right Of Way Purposes A Portion
Of Certain Real Property Located Near The Northerly
Pedestrian Entrance To Heroes Park On Ten Mile Rd.
De Weerd: Okay. Item 9-D is a public hearing to consider the conveyance to Ada County
Highway District for right of way for purposes of a portion of certain real property and, Mr.
Nary, is covering this.
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Nary: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. So, this is a portion of a
pathway that is the north of -- there is a small church parcel adjacent to Heroes Park and
there is a small pedestrian pathway that is adjacent to it on the north side. This is part of
the Ten Mile widening project for ACHD. Other portions of the city of the widening project
have already been dedicated from the Parks Department, so this is one last little sliver
piece that basically came in later than Heroes Park as it came in as part of the church
annexation that was a few years after Heroes Park. So, it just follows our normal process
with ACHD on the dedication of right of way and the city transferring property to them.
Item E is the ordinance to make that effective.
E. Ordinance No. 19-1814: An Ordinance Authorizing The
Conveyance Of Certain City Owned Real Property To The Ada
County Highway District For Right-Of-Way Purposes, A Portion
Of Certain Real Property Located Near The Northerly
Pedestrian Entrance To Heroes Park On Ten Mile Road, In
Section 26, T4n, R1w, Bm (A Portion Of Ada County
Assessor ’s Parcel S0426233770) In The City Of Meridian, Ada
County, Idaho; Authorizing The Mayor And City Clerk To
Execute And Attest On Behalf Of The City Of Meridian The
Deed And Other Documents Necessary To Complete The
Transaction; Providing For A Waiver Of The Reading Rules;
And Providing An Effective Date.
De Weerd: Okay. Any questions for Mr. Nary? Okay. Mr. Clerk, will you, please, read
Ordinance 19-1814 by title.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 19-1814. An ordinance
authorizing the conveyance of certain city owned real property to the Ada County Highway
District for right-of-way purposes, a portion of certain real property located near the
northerly pedestrian entrance to Heroes Park on Ten Mile Road, in Section 26, T4n, R1w,
Bm, A portion of Ada County Assessor’s Parcel S0426233770 , in the City of Meridian,
Ada county, Idaho; authorizing he Mayor and City Clerk to execute and attest on behalf
of the City of Meridian the deed and other documents necessary to complete the
transaction; providing for a waiver of the reading rules; and providing an effective date.
De Weerd: You have heard this read by title. Is there anyone who would like to hear it
read in its entirety? Okay. Council, would you like to take action on this this evening?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I think we still have a public hearing that's open. I don't know if there is anyone
that's here to testify.
De Weerd: Thank you.
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Coles: There were no sign-ups on this matter.
De Weerd: Is there anyone who wishes to testify on this? I swear I asked that, but -- I
don't see anyone.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Having no one here to testify, I move we close the public hearing on Item 9-D.
Milam: Second.
Little Roberts: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close public hearing. All those in favor say
aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: You have heard the reading of Ordinance 19-1814.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I move we approve Item 9-E, Ordinance No. 19-1814 with suspension of rules.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-E. Any discussion? Mr.
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
F. Recommendation to Allow the West Ada School District
(WASD) to Proceed with a Reimbursement Agreement for
Infrastructure Enhancement (RAIE) for the ‘Oaks Lift Station’
Pump Upgrades
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De Weerd: Item 9-F is under a request by West Ada School District and I think Clint is
here to cover that item.
Dolsby: Thank you. Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, what you have before you
is a recommendation to allow the West Ada School District to proceed with the
reimbursement agreement for infrastructure enhancements to The Oaks lift station, which
they are pump -- basically pump upgrades. When this lift station was constructed by
Coleman Homes a few years ago it was oversized to accommodate some future
development, but you also -- we also needed to complete some pump upgrades to
accommodate the future development as well. So , in order to accommodate the future
development The Oaks lift station pumps must be upgraded and this reimbursement will
reimburse the high school for paying for these pump upgrades . Hopefully, it's the only
reimbursement that's contemplated for this service area. So, with that I will stand for any
questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions? Okay. If there is no questions for staff, do I have a
motion from Council?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I guess that is my question is what is -- what is the action that you or staff are
looking for? Is it to accept the recommendation? Is it approve? I guess I'm confused as
to what you're looking for from us.
De Weerd: Clint.
Dolsby: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Cavener, we were
looking for direction to proceed with a reimbursement agreement and also aut horization
for the Mayor to sign that agreement.
De Weerd: So, that would be yes, that the recommendation is to proceed forward and --
and to bring the appropriate documentation back in the form of agreements.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, thanks. And I apologize, I know that was covered in the letter.
Sometimes it's -- if it's in the letter and what is requested before us sometimes aren't the
same, so with that, Madam Mayor, I move that we approve the recommendation from staff
to allow the Western Ada School District to enter into the agreement and invite the
developer to submit a written reimbursement proposal and also authorize the Mayor to
sign said agreement.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the item in front of you under 9-F to
bring forward the appropriate agreements to allow the reimbursement for infrastructure
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enhancement on The Oaks lift station pump upgrades. If there is no discussion, Mr. Clerk,
will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 9: Department Reports
A. Citywide Strategic Plan Update
De Weerd: Okay. Council, our next item is Department Reports and I will move to the
podium. Okay. Well, I'm here for our annual update on the strategic plan. You know, I
am really honored to stand in front of you to provide this update. This is the third year
and I can tell you lately is I have gone from department to department meeting with the
staff. There is a lot of excitement about the strategic plan and I have department staff
asking how can we be involved in it. They don't see a specific objective or maybe a tactic
that they own, but they want to know how they can be a part of that and so now they are
challenging themselves in how they can actually look at being a part of the five different
focus areas and what role that they play in it and we will get into some of that as -- as we
walk through the plan and -- and -- and maybe share some examples at that time. Okay.
So, I will go through what I have done over the last couple of years with the review of the
status and what prompted modifications that are also in front of you and -- and each of
you should have received yesterday a red line version of both the strategic plan and the
different objectives, as well as the document that you will be asked -- not tonight to pass
and adopt, but in two weeks. The dashboards, which will review the current completion
-- or completion progress, close out reports and some of our key updates. The high
priority objective updates that we have done over the last several years and , then, an
overview of the modifications. We will be bringing two recommendations to move
objectives from medium to high, as well as three that are requested to remove as they
are unneeded. So, we will move into number one. Review of current status. Last month
we had a review by our senior leadership team that talked about the plan and walk through
each of the objectives and -- and the tactics and had a very good discussion. We wanted
to make sure as we walk through there that each of these are still relevant , because we
do know that a strategic plan that is actively engaged with is fluid and that we want to
make sure it's still relevant and we must be serving a purpose to achieve the mission of
our premier community. We also reviewed the proposed changes, discussed them and
that's what I will be presenting tonight. Item No. 2 under the objective, this dashboard
shows you some of the progress that has been made. Last year the update was at 16
percent completion, with ten objectives that had been completed and closed out.
Currently we are at 27 percent complete with 17 objectives completed and seven nearing
completion that are at 75 or greater in completion. So, the plan dashboard also shows
you the total number of tactics that have been completed as the plan progresses. So ,
last year the update showed 36 percent complete with 19 percent in progress. This year
we are at 53 percent complete. There are 22 of the objectives that are in progress and
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24 that are not yet started. Last year that stood it 45. So, number three in our close out.
Under this we will have -- we have five objectives that are ready for close out, with a few
more that are very close to completion, we just couldn't get it all done before tonight.
Each department lead will bring an overview for the completed objective and you will --
you will hear about some of their key milestones and get an update on how we are
measuring success for each of these . While they are closed out that doesn't mean that
they are no longer needed or being actively engaged with. So , at this point I'm going to
turn the mic over to Cameron.
Arial: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, pleasure to be with you this evening. So,
we are excited about this one that we have been working on for quite a while and excited
to close this out and give you a little bit of a report on some of the findings. So, this 2.B.1
really was a fun one to tackle. One of the ways that we -- we went about this was to
engage with MYAC. Truly the -- the youth of our -- representation of the youth of our
community from, you know, a broad breadth of -- of the educational institutions and what
we did is we put together a survey to kind of ping them and to see really what they are
thinking about the local economy. What -- you know, is it a perceived thing that our youth
our leaving our community or is that actually real and to kind of dive into that a little bit.
What jobs excite them. What -- what things would keep them here and so just to share a
little bit of those findings. Nine of those that were surveyed out of 16 said that they would
be leaving our state. Three said that they would be remaining in our state and I'm
assuming this is for educational reasons and the remainder were unknown. So , I think
just that alone is somewhat interesting. Another is, you know, how many of them are
receiving active counseling, both for career and education. Nine of them are not receiving
any type of guidance. Six are. And that's coming from either parents and/or school
counseling. So, interesting thought there. Real quick, you know, what kind of jobs excite
them. You know, this was interesting. I think our economy is -- is diverse and our youth
are kind of a representation of that. It's not just one technical thing or one , you know, big
employer that -- that is keeping -- that is going to keep our youth here. I think it's how do
we generate a diverse economy that can maintain them. One other just quick one.
Eleven of 13 that responded said that it is a real perception that the youth of our
community are -- are -- are leaving and that the majority of that is for higher ed ucation
purposes and so from there this -- this discussion kind of transitioned into a -- kind of a
narrative or a qualitative element, just to really dive into what they are thinking and what
we discovered was that there is a real reality that Meridian is built for family and it's a
good place to be, but not so much for our youth and -- and the 20 somethings coming up
and that was interesting. Some of the comments that they had that there isn't a diversity
of -- of housing for them, whether it's -- that's affordable and obtainable. Another was,
again, connected to higher education, higher education opportunities. Of those surveyed
-- let's see just real quickly -- 12 of them said that they were either going for a master's
degree or a doctoral level degree. So, do we have that available in our community. I
think -- I think that's -- that's important to consider. So, with that said I think it was -- it
was a very enlightening process and we plan to do that again , as the Mayor mentioned,
on an ongoing basis to really see that, you know, this -- this objective is not going to go
away, that it's an important one. We also felt that it was important to couple this with our
Comprehensive Plan, because I think these findings can inform some of the policy making
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that's going to become the plan and also the results can become a part of the document
itself, maybe as an appendices. But, anyway, I just thought that that was -- that was a
good feedback that we were receiving raw and unfiltered from our youth and, you know,
we -- you know, we would do well to pay heed to that, you know, and I think just in closing,
one of the things that was important from some of our earlier Comprehensive Plan efforts
is that we weren't really receiving that voice, you know, from some of the surveys, from
the participation, we just were missing that 20 something and younger demographic and
so we feel like this is a good way to -- to bring that into our -- into our discussion and
potentially our policymaking. So, with that I will close. Thank you so much.
Milam: Mr. President?
Borton: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: Cameron, more of a comment I think than a question and I like the idea of bringing
in the youth and I would like to see that go forward, you know, in the future. However, I'm
not sure that poling MYAC kids is the same as your average high school kid. They are
like the cream of the crop. So, I don't know that you're going to get the same answers
that you would if you figure out a way to get more of a generalize d survey out there
somehow, but maybe through the MYAC kids you can get into some of the schools. It
would be the same as don't do just Renaissance , you know, you're not -- your answers
aren't going to be the same as if -- you know, if you're -- if you're doing the entire
population. I don't know how, but I think that if you can get a broader base for a survey
that would be awesome.
Arial: Madam Mayor and Councilman Milam, great point. Certainly that's the goal. I
mean we would love to be able to have much more of a representative sample. Certainly
that -- this isn't certainly scientific by any means. It's just what -- what did we glean from
our efforts with -- with MYAC. But great -- great point and I think there is a path for that.
You know, it's -- it was very simple to send out, it's just a matter of having e-mails and we
could --
Milam: Snapchat.
Arial: -- we could do that. Snapshot.
Cavener: Mr. President?
Borton: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Thank you, Mr. President. Cameron, appreciate the update on this one. This
is one that, Council Member Milam, is of great interest to me. I echo Council Member
Milam's comments. I think you guys have done a great job of developing the concept s,
being able to integrate that with, you know, some of the other groups we see. FCC LA,
SkillsUSA, I mean those are I think other organizations that will make it easy to branch or
contact within to provide a better response rate. I would love to see the survey responses.
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The other piece that I'm interested in is to have a good understanding as to what these
targeted industries are. I think that's something good for the whole City Council to see.
So, when you send us the survey results maybe also highlight what those targeted
industries are as well, so we can kind of follow the bouncing ball as this particular issue
continues to occur each year.
Arial: Mr. President and Council -- Councilman Cavener, the -- the targeted industries is
another part of the Comprehensive Plan effort and so, yeah, we will -- that will be -- it
continues to be addressed and will be a part of the Comprehensive Plan as well, but the
idea here with this is to try to inform that more and more to the extent we can. Thank you .
Borton: Thank you, Cameron.
Palmer: Mr. President?
Borton: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: And Mr. President -- and while we got Cameron, would it be appropriate to talk
about other aspects in the strategic plan that he had a hand in?
Borton: No.
Palmer: Okay.
Borton: Let's just -- let's get through. Maybe they will save it for the end. We will see
where this goes. But let's get through this presentation and go from there.
Arial: Thank you.
Borton: Thanks, Cameron. Good evening, Christena.
Barney: Good evening, Council Members. So, I'm here to present -- present the close
out for 3.B.1. This is our benefits plan here at the City of Meridian. So, this was to develop
a comprehensive cost effective benefit plan for the City of Meridian. So, this was to take
a look at our benefit plan, make sure that it is financially sustainable, that it compares
favorably to our competitors and that we utilize the best practices , trends, that we are
evaluating our analysis, that we are using our broker, that we are using everything
possible to make sure that we are ensuring the benefit -- best benefit package possible.
So, we have worked through this objective. We have met all of the measures and matrix
and we will continue to do so, even though we are closing this objective out. We have
closed out tactic number seven. The benefits committee did decide towards the end of
this, before we closed this out, that they wanted to see us secure our funding mechanism,
so you were presented with a recommendation to move the city from fully in sured to self
funded in November of last year and we are continuing to move that forward. With that
recommendation they felt comfortable with us closing this objective out. That being said,
we will continue to move this forward. Even though we are closing it out today, we will
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continue to measure our benefits plan. We will continue to use those trends and
measures and analysis year over year. We also have in effect and in the budget a benefit
valuation that we have started. We have selected a vendor and are in the process of
securing agreement with them to do a full valuation of not only our medical, dental, vision,
but our benefit plan as a whole. So, I will stand for any questions.
Borton: Thank you, Christena. Council, any questions? Good job.
Barney: Thank you.
Borton: Next up to the podium, Crystal.
Ritchie: I'm sorry? Oh, we had two. That's right. So, Madam Mayor, Members of Council,
thank you so much for having us this evening. I am here to talk about our strategic
objective three point -- 3.B.3, which was to develop a succession planning program and
although HR is the lead for this particular initiative , I want to take a moment and say we
really could not do this without the commitment and the partnership from all of the
department directors and their staff, to help us accomplish what we are here to close out
this evening. So, the purpose of the succession planning program was to de velop and
groom replacements for key critical positions across the city. This would include positions
anywhere from directors to senior managers to other key roles within our organization.
So, some of the key milestones that we had to make this happen -- we did bring in a
consultant who provided the city's senior leadership teams and training. Once we had an
opportunity to complete the training, then, we actually worked with each of the individual
departments, asked them to identify what they would consider to be the operational key
critical roles in each of their areas. Once they had an opportunity to do that we asked
them to, then, look to see if they had any potential successors for those positions and
evaluate those potential successors and their current skills, experience, knowledge,
expertise against that of the current job descriptions for each of those critical -- critical
roles and identify any skill gaps that we may have. Once they had an opportunity to do
that, they, then, developed what we would call a succession planning development forum
and how they would actually address closing the skill gap and getting individuals internally
prepared for possible future positions here at the city. So , all of the departments
collectively have worked and accomplished that. They have provided that information to
Human Resources. We have looked at each of those development plans, given a thumbs
up to the departments. They have communicated those development plans to each of
the potential successors and so with that we are now into the implementation stage, which
closes out the objective we have for you this evening. However, with that, if you look at
the performance measures that you have in front of you, we have two that will be ongoing.
Two of them -- one of them is going to be that the -- the succession plans are tracked
through the performance appraisal process, through one on ones, those types of things
and so that's going to continue as the city continues to grow, as the program continues to
evolve, as we add positions to the succession planning program , as we work over the
next three years with the individual successors we have identified to help get them
prepared for possible future positions here at the city and, then, in addition to that, the
fourth success performance measure you have there is 50 percent of identified
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successors are retained by the city and moved into those appropriate positions and, of
course, that evolves over time. So, with that we are here in front of you to close out this
particular objective, although it will be an ongoing program and I stand for any questions.
Borton: Thank you, Crystal.
Ritchie: Absolutely.
Borton: Council, any questions?
Cavener: Mr. President?
Borton: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Crystal, when you began this process how many positions were identified?
Ritchie: Fifty-five.
Cavener: Fifty-five? And, then, of that how many plans, then, did you guys launch or
how many individuals did you identify potentially be working within the identified
positions?
Ritchie: So, I did not bring with me this evening the number of employees that a plan was
developed for, but I can certainly follow up with that. But what I can tell you is of the 55
positions that were identified, 29 of those positions have a potential internal successor.
But I can certainly follow up with the number of staff.
Cavener: Great. Thank you.
Ritchie: Absolutely. You're very welcome.
Borton: Council, any other questions? So, Crystal, a couple things that are obvious, but
certainly true. There is nothing more important than the employees and our commitment
to ensuring that they have the best training, support, certification, continuing education
and helping them become better at what they do is the critical part, kind of our obligation
to empower them to be successful and -- and benefit from a complete succession
planning. So, cultivating talent from within is an outstanding opportunity for our city. So,
we have to be steadfast and committed to supporting all of our employees in that fashion.
Ritchie: And we wholeheartedly in Human Resources feel the same way and I stand here
in front of you on behalf of the senior leadership team, who would agree with that
sentiment exactly and we -- we appreciate your support and commitment allowing us to
implement these types of programs that support the employee development growth and
their career opportunities. So, thank you to all of you for that as well.
Borton: Good job. Thanks, Crystal. Welcome, Chief Lavey. Good evening.
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Lavey: How are you?
Borton: Doing okay. Thanks for asking.
Lavey: I am doing pretty good. They tell me I can go back skiing March 25th. So, I'm
going to -- I'm going a little stir crazy, but I am walking much better. So, Mr. President,
Council, I'm here today to close out Objective 4.A.5, which is become the safest city in
Idaho regardless of size. The performance measure that's included within that objective
was the old objective and it talks about the top one hundred safest cities in the U.S. and
I can tell you that we have had that honor for many many years . We have fluctuated
between the 40s and the 60s and the 70s, but we have always been under one hundred
safest cities in the United States and that is what is creating part of our growth, because
the successes that we have is that we can celebrate we are one of the safest cities in the
northwest and people know that and we continue to get awards for that, but I want to
share with you our status here in Idaho. We are the seventh safest city in Idaho , but we
are the safest city of our size in Idaho. I do not know if we will ever be the safest city in
Idaho with the rapid growth and the instability we have with the staffing levels, but I will
tell you there is also some things that are beyond our control. Our mission is to -- is three
prong. It really is. Education, prevention and enforcement. And that's in partnership with
our citizens. But we need all those things to happen. We need our citizens to report
crimes. We need our citizens to lock doors. We need our officers to perform self-initiated
stuff out there. Right now our public calls for services increased 23 percent, which means
that higher need for the public, lower opportunities for us to do proactive enforcement.
So, there is just some things beyond our control. But with that being said, we are here to
close out the objective and celebrate some successes, because for a city our size we are
truly amazing in what our stats show. But with that said, this is an objective that's never
going to be finished. You can't sit there and say, oh, we are done. It's ongoing. So, right
now Vincent and I and -- and our staff are developing new tactics to address the future,
so we can maintain or improve our status and with that I stand for any questions.
Borton: Thank you, Chief. Council, any questions?
Palmer: Mr. President?
Borton: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Mr. President, Chief, I am confident that with -- between booting and regulating
e-scooters we will become the safest city in Idaho, regardless of size.
Lavey: Could I hold you to that?
Cavener: Mr. President?
Borton: Mr. Cavener.
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Cavener: A couple comments. One, I have to agree with the chief, it's a Catch 22. People
leave their doors unlocked and their windows enrolled, because they feel that we are in
a safe community, which then, promotes crimes of opportunity. So, you're right, it's -- if
people didn't feel so safe they would lock their doors more , so maybe the way to get
people to lock their doors for our law enforcement to do worse of a job tha n they are
already doing now, which, then -- again, I don't know how to solve that. Recognize the
challenge. I will say the title says become the safest city in Idaho regardless of size and
-- and you say that we are the seventh based on size. I'm not going to give you a hard
time with that, but maybe it's an opportunity to revise the title, maybe one of the top five
safest cities in Idaho.
Lavey: Part of our close-out report -- actually, Mr. President, Councilman Cavener, part
of our close-out report has that exact comments in there. It talks about how the title may
be inappropriate. It's achievable. It's how long, how much money, what is the public
willing to put up with to get there. But I think it's unrealistic right now with our growth and
so there is a proposal to change it to -- and that's why I used the word that I used, safest
city of similar size or -- or our size, so --
Cavener: Then Mr. President?
Borton: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: If I recall when we were initially going through this is we had substantial
discussion about, you know, sure, we could be the safest city in Idaho if we had unlimited
resources and more -- ability to recruit more officers than we would need. So, it's doable,
it just comes with a very very high cost and an influx of , you know, candidates that kind
of meet our criteria. So, I appreciate maybe there is going to be a change. Appreciate
the great work you usually do.
Lavey: Thank you.
Milam: Mr. President?
Borton: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: So, chief, just out of curiosity, what is the safest city in Idaho and what is their
population?
Lavey: Mr. President, Councilman Milam, that's two questions. The safest city in Idaho
is Rexburg and I do not know their current population, but it's around 40,000. You could
probably Google that right now and it will tell you.
Milam: Thank you.
Borton: Thank you, chief. Appreciate it.
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Lavey: Thank you.
Borton: Good job. Mr. Siddoway, good evening. Must be next. Welcome.
Siddoway: Mr. President, Members of Council, this has been a fun one for us. Objective
B.4. It's in our recreation division. Set targets. Identify gaps to play programs, activities,
and events that promote family centered recreational opportunities. One of the themes
that is recurring with everyone, including me, is that this one leads to elements that are,
obviously, ongoing and don't just end with this. However, there were a specific set of
tactics that went along with this one to go through a round of identifying these and seeing
where we are at. So, some of the important events that happened along with this
particular objective was inventorying our existing recreation programs, looking at all our
activity guides and putting them into categories of different types of class es and camps
and who they are for, are they for, you know, preschools or teens or adults and, then, we
went through a process of identifying and prioritizing where we saw gaps and we did that
with our Parks and Recreation Commission. Trying to remember which of my liaisons
was there. I think it was Council Woman Roberts last summer when we came to the
commission and had a list of various categories of types of programming and asked them
to help us prioritize those gaps. The high priority gaps included additional teen and --
teen and tween programming, social activities for adults and seniors, adaptive recreation
and more outdoor adventure activities. So, our -- we have, then, gone through and
developed our CFP, which is based on a whole host of input, but this is one of them and
I think that we are to the point where the objective is now met for this round and we will
take the lessons learned and use that as input as we continue to evolve our programs.
With our activity guides we are a little bit at the mercy of, you know, contracted instructors
and what programs are available to us to do, but it's good to have the information in case
we have an opening and two competing classes -- class possibilities and one is in one of
these priority gaps and one is not, we can -- we know which one to prioritize. So, with
that I will stand for any questions.
Borton: Thank you, Steve. Council, any questions?
Siddoway: Thank you.
Borton: Thank you much. Appreciate it. Oh, awkward. Chief, welcome back.
Lavey: We are actually -- Mr. President and Council, the Mayor and I will share this one
with you, but fresh off the press, 2019 figures, Meridian is the fourth safest city in Idaho.
Borton: Outstanding.
Lavey: So, we have Rexburg, Middleton, Moscow and then us. So, we are improving by
the minute. And Rexburg has 28,000 people.
Milam: How many? Twenty-eight thousand?
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Lavey: Twenty-eight thousand.
De Weerd: And I would point out on both Rexburg and Moscow is they have campus
police. Those numbers are not included.
Lavey: Correct. They are also a dry community in one of them.
Borton: Interesting. Thank you, chief, for the update.
De Weerd: Just saying. Because we really are competitive, so -- I am proud of our police
officers.
Borton: Welcome back, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: And so you have heard five close outs. You heard two last fall. And so that
was seven in total, bringing it to a total of 17 that you have had close out s on. So, in
addition to the close out, in the updates we have key updates on previously closed out
high priority areas. As well we have a key update on a medium priority that is regarding
Public Works and utility infrastructure. So, I will get to that. We thought the senior
leadership team thought that it would be important to highlight the one strategy or
objective under the Public Works. So, under Objective 1.A.2, this is out in the Ten Mile
area. I think many of you heard the update that was provided during the State of the City
where you have Paylocity, Horrocks, Ball Venture Ahlquist, AmeriBen, Zennify and Capital
Auto Loan and Premier Pool. They are all residing out there. They moved there in 2018.
And 2019 we see Kristin Armstrong's PIVOT. Brighton hopes to have a ribbon cutting on
May 1st. They are going to start move in later this month. So, they are excited about
that. AmeriBen is already expanding outside of the building that they origina lly moved
into out there and that's currently underway. And Marriott Hotel has announced. We have
a 6,000 square foot food pavilion and some exciting food choices that are going in out
there and just announced a four story 200 -- or 120,000 square foot building just came in
for a permit as well. So, that will be on the east side of the Paylocity building. There has
been no payout today on the tax increment financing piece of it . They haven't gotten
enough increment yet and nor has the developer submitted for reimbursement, but
anticipate that by year end. Objective 2.A.2. This is an objective that we had to look a
little bit -- it's a legacy objective that hasn't disappeared. We did look at refining the -- the
performance measures on this. Vince has been going around with each of the
departments and with all of the objectives looking at the performance measures and --
and trying to find some consistency in the KPIs and -- and really what is it we are looking
to track and how do we know that we are moving the dial, so -- and performance measure
number one, the economic development steering committee has not met. So, it came to
the question of is this committee needed. It was determined, yes, it is needed, but putting
in some of the measures is set defined goals for each meeting that we are engaging, that
we are leading and that the participants are engaged and are appropriate to be at the
table. Also in this performance measure we are looking at what does success look like.
So, with this committee in the long term we want to know what are the top three things
that we want to accomplish with this growth or with this group and those are things that
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are important to the success of that committee and -- and even giving it reason to meet
and to be involved in -- in this area. Performance measure two with the partnerships,
brokers, developers and property owners, what are the outcomes that we -- we want to
accomplish with these partners. Are their marketing materials that are shared both
directions. Are we sharing? Are they sharing? And are they being used? Are they
relevant to what these partners are needed? And we want feedback from these partners
on what can we be doing better and where can we be improving. So, just keeping that
constant communication is -- is very important that it's consistent and it's regular.
Performance measure three on the annual leads. What is our follow up on the leads and
-- and what is the outcome. How are we utilizing our partners in that for the referrals and
where are we succeeding and do we do a debrief and understanding where those
successes are. In the area that we pulled a medium priority into a Council update is 1.B.4.
This is to provide and guide desired growth with investments in utility infrastructure and
services ahead of growth. This objective is about providing our citizens with planning and
building infrastructure in a timely manner and it's -- it's really indicative to good growth
and what are those good growth patterns. So, some of the key activities in that -- first we
have our Public Works that do their capital financial plan and the ir rate models. These
are updated annually and they are on ten year schedules. So, these are very in depth
and they are looked at annually as to relevance. Our water masterplan and sewer facility
plan are also currently being updated and when you grow as fast as we are growing that's
really important to the integrity of our systems and the long term planning and how we
are -- we are spending our dollars. The second area is in that infrastructure investment
and service impact tool. This is being developed along with the Comprehensive Plan.
So, another aspect. The Comprehensive Plan is producing a number of different
outcomes for this strategic plan. This impact tool will rate and score developments based
on criteria, including how close they are to trunk sheds, pipe and infrastructure
modifications that might be needed. So , this tool will give City Council, our staff, and
developers more information before they pursue a development in a certain area of our
community to know do we have the services in there, what will the cost impacts be and
are we ready to serve. This effort should be ready by the end of 2019 or early 2020 and
it will provide great insight into how development will impact and affect our future services.
One last area is just to touch on the mass amount of capital investment that's going on
right now. Seventy million dollars in projects that include Well 33, we put in the
infrastructure in the south Meridian area, having that poised for development and can
can't forget the wastewater treatment plant -- the waste resource recovery facility and
their capacity and headworks projects. Those are major and right now our staff are really
engaged with how to put these improvements online. So , now we will delve into item
number four, the high priority objectives for a deeper dive on the plan with the high priority
and if you want the deeper dive , the software program or tool that was developed has a
wealth of information in it. Vince really makes sure that the departments are going on on
a regular basis and updating their activities and -- and putting relevant information
regarding the -- the objectives and the progress that they are getting. So, I encourage
you to go on and take a look at those. So, the first area 1.A.1. This area is in regard to
our Old Town and we do have a proposed modification on this. First I will give you a brief
update. Certainly the percentage complete is -- is still unchanged at 25 percent and what
we did find is it needed that modification in order to move it off of dead center, because
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of how it was -- it was worded. So, this was one of those that was closed out. It was
reopened because we didn't think it should be closed out yet and we did want to refine
the wording so it could be more relevant. Certainly the first project to highlight is exciting
with the transfer of ownership of the former city hall into the private sector ownership. It's
no longer publicly owned and we look forward to -- the environmental testing is currently
in progress. The demolition begins this month and they anticipate the groundbreaking in
April. They do estimate 2021 occupancy -- early in 2021, so that is going to be a catalyst
project to our downtown. 2nd 1/2 Street, the -- the townhouse project that was discussed
well over a year ago has been transitioning into a number of different things. Right now
they are marketing it as a high end apartment development and they are seeing what kind
of interest and activity that they can create there. Not necessarily the place I would put
high end apartments, but maybe they have a long-term vision on that that this will be a
catalyst project in that area. There are a couple of other developments that have been
coming and talking to the city and our city staff and we hope to be able to talk more about
that in the near future. The city -- the community development director and the
administrator with the MDC are -- have been working well together over the last year to
collaborate on a number of things and I think you saw that most recently in the CDBG
project with the sidewalks, trying to get that moving forward and Crystal was just a rock
star in trying to figure out how we can get those connections in an older part of our
community that does need a safe route to school and -- and make that a higher priority.
That was a great collaboration. MDC approve the recommendation that City Council
heard by Crystal a week or two ago. And, lastly, in communication we are having the joint
meetings between City Council and the board, as well as quarterly updates by the city --
by the MDC administrator. We hope those are proving helpful to City Council. Now on
the modification, the downtown needs to be supported by o ur city and this objective
change should allow us to focus more in doing that. We feel that there is value in what
the city can add. In fact, early into the development of MDC a lot of the work was created
from the city in trying to evaluate our codes and look at how we can be part of the success
of a redeveloped downtown. The tactics to support this modification are really centered
around engagement with MDC on the parking policy and parking solutions , utilizing a
committee within the city realm to evaluate current and future city employee parking and
engaging with firms that look at community design in the downtown, as well as review of
codes for flexibility that are supportive of redevelopment. So , that -- that modification is
in the red lined version that you have in your packets. Objective 1.B.1 is to define and
articulate the city's growth goals. Last year this -- this was at zero percent and this is also
one of those that are tied quite closely to the Comprehensive Plan activities that we have
going on. This will be a future growth and guiding document for our city and how we work
with our Comprehensive Plan, as well as starting conversations on managing our growth
for the next generation. Completed or the evaluation of the strategic plan and comp plan
goals and that is really information that was gleaned from the participants, in the public
processes, on the surveys and on the online forums. These have been used to bring to
the steering committee to inform the document and how it's going to be brought forward
to public comment. They have also formed focus groups in the areas of housing ,
economic development, community design transportation and others that also will take
the information gained from the public participation, the focus group, truth that and brings
it well into the -- the plan. Our next steps are to compile our growth goals , both short,
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medium and long term. Engage our stakeholders, such as MDC, property owners and to
further refine the city's draft and, then, to publicize the growth goals with a plan for
adoption by City Council. This is looking to complete by November of 2019. In Objective
1.C.1, this area was 33 percent complete last year. It's now 66 percent. We feel that is
a major accomplishment to have come up with an agreed on line with the city of Kuna
that with both cities -- you heard about it at the joint meeting with Council and the Planning
and Zoning Commission. W ith the nod that we received there, we will be moving it
forward into the Comprehensive Plan and -- and so will Kuna. Once both of our elected
bodies adopt that, that will move to the county to -- for their -- their action. Okay. Was
that you, Mr. Harper? How did I know that? I didn't even have to look. Okay. 2.A.1. This
was previously -- previously reported to you at 68 percent last fall. It is now 84 percent
complete. We have established the Executive Pulse software and implementation. They
will be walking through that tomorrow for training. Th is software will -- will allow the city
to track, monitor and instantly bring up information on existing businesses , as well as
catalog the efforts to bring business into our community. The second area , the key
performance indicators, they have been drafted to complement the efforts of the
economic development administrator and Vince continues to work to refine those to make
sure that they are relevant to tracking the kind of information we would like to do. So, a
next steps to develop tools. The final piece will be to our new target industries and that
will bring all the pieces together in -- in terms of how to move forward in the economic
development plan with the Comprehensive Plan. The other tool is the economic
development opportunity zone and using those to further our -- our goals to attract
business to grow our business and to continue to grow the number of jobs in our
community. The date has changed. The complete date was moved to align with the
industry analysis and so it is moved out to May 31st of 2019. Objective 2.A.3. There is
no change in the percent -- percent complete. This effort is so important to the kinds of
industries that we are looking to in the future to keep our -- our economy vibrant and to
bring those family wage jobs. Research has been completed on the certified sites and
target industry analysis will be changing this objective and so you do have a modification
that is proposed and that is to really reflect what the new industries should be as we
complete the Comprehensive Plan industry analysis. Now, the draft industry suggested
-- and I think Mr. Cavener had asked what those are looking to be. They are coming back
as manufacturing, healthcare, professional services and technology and they are looking
at a projected ten year growth in those areas that would, one, create 2,600 jobs in
healthcare, 765 jobs in finance insurance and 460 jobs in the professional and technical
services. This also projects growth in office space of over a million square feet. Industrial
space at two million square feet and to continue to be a live -work area, not just someone
that exports our residents in the morning, but can leave them here in our community
where they can live and work. Objective 3.A.2 is to improve citizen access to government.
This is also at 90 percent. It hasn't changed and a lot of that reason for kind of being
frozen in place is because we are looking at how we can use live video testimony and
that was found that it is not viable and that we need to explore other options for testimony
here for the City Council public testimony. What we have completed is that NextDoor is
being fully utilized and all of our commissions are now live streamed. The completion of
the telephone Town Hall and that will be highlighted in two weeks at the Mayor's Office
update and the executed polling on the e-scooter ordinance was another way NextDoor
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was being used. So, this changed because of the barrier we -- we hit with the live video
testimony is being moved out to September 1st of 2019 and we will bring updates within
the next six months on that. Objective 3.B.4 is now 55 percent complete. It was 40
percent last time I updated you. We have reviewed and approved the future program
content that was related to the employee engagement program with the senior leadership
team. This was really brought through the survey of our employees, as well as the follow-
up plans from each of our departments and some of those things said their employees
gave in feedback of what -- what kind of programs are important, such as community
engagement, employee communication, awards and recreation or recognition programs
and those are being now looked at in terms of how can we implement them. Will they be
effective, developing KPIs, and any cost impacts that can be considered with the budget
process. In Objective 3.B.5, this is being actively worked on and it's not reflected in the
ten percent completed. However, there is a lot going on. We have Councilman Bernt and
Borton involved in this. We have been plowing through the -- the documents in terms of
what is the policy. The committee has affirmed to keep our pay for performance
philosophy. They have reviewed the existing program and we have also used input from
our employee exit analysis that we do every year and that has helped inform that as well.
So, next steps are looking and considering new forms of compensation. What program
impacts will be and the committee will be deve loping recommendation and performance
reviews are put in place to meet these outcomes. We are looking to change this to keep
alignment with the committee assignment and that will move it out to October of 2019.
That is also noted in your spreadsheet. 3.D.1. This has moved from ten percent complete
to now 65 complete. We have evaluated the needs, the budgets and the future
opportunities for the current written objectives. Most departments have also looked at
what resources they have available and what is needed to work both the high and medium
priorities and if working the low priorities would necessitate new resources. So, they have
been working with Vince on that. One of the things that has come out in this is a desire
for a couple of our departments to utilize interns. These would be used to help facilitate
programs and we have an intern in the Mayor's Office that is for credit, so it's at no cost
to the city. So, it is exploring what some of these programs would do. The next steps are
complete the plan on time. That would be good , Vince. Use the vision and data gathered
from the Comprehensive Plan and put those into our objectives and tactics and really
what are the lessons that we have learned over this first three years and how we can use
them to inform the updated five year plan . For Objective 3.D.2, that was just begun and
it's ten percent complete and this area of developing and deploying a city wide
performance measure, monitor and reporting program, has been more complicated and I
think that Vince has really been working well with all of the departments and they have
really stepped up in seeing what can they do in developing key matrix and indicators in
establishing goals and outcomes that are relevant to the strategic plan. What does
success look like? How do we measure it and what outcomes do we want to achieve in
each of these programs. And right now Vince and I are going over the numerous different
indicators and -- and seeing how they work and we are working with the departments on
that. There is a change on this one. Reality is the -- the objective only had nine months
from start -- from the start date to the completion day, so we are moving this objective out
to better reflect the time that's needed to refine, collect data and to developing a reporting
platform that makes sense. So, estimated completion date is December of 2019.
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Objective 3.D.3 is the Peak reporting and Vince will be providing an update on that in two
weeks and so I think I'm just going to -- unless you guys are dying to hear this right now,
I will let him provide the update in two weeks on what the -- what's going on in this
objective, but I think that we will be bringing a recommended course of action to develop
a city wide continuous improvement plan and that's really what they have been doing. I
will highlight an example of what the Peak training has gone though. There is a pilot
program going on in community development. These are all staff members that have an
interest in process improvements. They volunteered to be part of this group. They call it
the I Team or Innovation Team and they took a very small -- they wanted success, so they
took a small project that now takes duplicative and redundant action of uploading
documents to laserfiche that was already being done and they eliminated that step in their
process. Also many of our departments are now tracking phone calls within their
departments and they are looking at why are people calling, should that information be
available online and how can they train their staff to answer the questions, so they don't
have to transfer the call and so that's going on in a number of our departments and -- and
there is great collaboration working together on that . Objective 3.E.4 on priority based
budgeting. Our financial analyst has compiled work from all of our departments. This is
a load of work that he's put into it. So have our departments. They have identified every
program and effort in their departments and they have assigned time resources to it. How
-- how much of their department time goes towards that effort and now they will be looking
at what are the costs. So, we are trying to drill down into the cost of services and so this
-- this is moving into the next phase and prioritizing programs and having them align to
the strategic plan. Objective 4.A.4 is under our deploy programs and identify gaps to
enhance the community's perception of public safety. One of the steps that was involved
in this is our SRO leadership team worked together to identify key programs that they do
and what those demographics are, such as parent engagement, social media, et cetera.
So, with that they will be evaluating the effectiveness of these key programs and ensuring
that they are meeting the established outcomes that they want in those areas. Another
effort is our new crime prevention specialist is being trained in multi-family housing crime
prevention and they will be tracking the effectiveness and the outcomes regarding that.
And another area they really wanted to highlight was in their records management
system. It's now online. IT really assisted with that. They are excited to have that online
and data is being tested. Some of the next steps with this is to evaluate key programs
for their cost benefits and their effectiveness. They are developing a communications
plan and they are excited to do their first joint Meridian and Nampa police academy that
is due in April. So, finally, item number five -- you can clap. Okay. Proposed modifications
that weren't part of the high priority areas, I have two that we will discuss and -- and, then,
three that we want to remove. So, the first one really is -- if you have your plan in front of
you it's on the first page of the plan. It's 1.B.2. Identify growth -- priority growth areas
and incentify growth and development. It's part of our annual review of this plan and with
the upcoming Comprehensive Plan modifications, this discussion of priority growth areas
must be a point of our conversation and so we felt that this was really important to move
from medium to high priority. As I mentioned in my State of the City, density and strategic
growth decisions as part of the Comprehensive Plan update has been raised to a new
level of importance. Discussions such as what tools do we use to steer or guide growth.
Should we look at continuing to expand our areas of impact or annex within the area that
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our city limits -- we have a lot of enclaves and having it closer to where the services exist
and looking at fee model discussions. The second area is 1.C.3 and in reframing this
objective -- the original was written to a Pegasus report that is starting to evolve with the
update of the Comprehensive Plan on defining the open space aspect. This reword is to
reflect our 2017 citizen survey, as well as the comments that we have gotten in the
Comprehensive Plan. That is to support preservation of our community's heritage and a
commitment to open space. We need to know what is open space and to our residents
and how are we going to define that. Is there a community desire to identify areas to
keep rural heritage and what does that mean and ag preservation and what does that
mean in a city area of impact and not in a county aspect. So , this objective really should
modify -- be modified to fit the comments that we are getting and , again, this is an
evolution of the strategic plan from where it was when it was originally written to where it
is now. Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Madam Mayor, Mr. President. I mean when we first had the presentation from
the organization that came saying, hey, let's lock down property forever as -- as farmland
and I started going, whoa, whoa, whoa, everybody stop, this is crazy. People were saying
you're crazy to worry about it. Now here we are moving this to a high priority to look into
maybe possibly making this happen. Man.
De Weerd: I don't -- I don't think that anyone is suggesting that. It's what is it. We are
getting these comments frequently and in order to have a relevant conversation you really
have to know what is this conversation. You heard from one specific group. I don't think
that that is what the feedback is that we are getting, but until we -- we find out and -- and
put time and resources into figuring out what does this mean, your definition, my definition,
their definition probably all different and -- and that's why we want to move it as a higher
priority is what is it, because it's on -- it's top of mind on people's concerns and -- and you
have to be able to respond to it and so it is just moving it to a higher priority, so we can
have the conversation. And we can provide it in the updates to all of you.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
Cavener: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: A question --
De Weerd: I'm sorry.
Cavener: Sorry. Sorry. Mr. President. My apologies.
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener. Yes.
Cavener: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Mr. President, Mr. Nary. I guess may be a question
for Mr. -- Mr. Palmer. Is -- is your concern with the word preserved? I guess I can
understand from a John or Jane Q citizen seeing that if -- if I had some aversion to the
city preserving land, as opposed to the city working to acquire land -- either way do you
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-- are you bent out of shape? I hear where you're coming from, I guess I apologize for
the term bent out of shape.
Palmer: No.
Cavener: But I'm hearing your concern, I'm just curious if your aversion to the changes
because of the word preserved or your aversion to the proposal is holistic in nature.
Palmer: Whoever is in charge. I -- there are several reasons why it concerns me and
bends me out of shape, even though I feel I'm well rounded, not just because of my eating
habits, but -- jokes tonight. One of -- one concern I have is, you know, I look at what
Boise is doing. You drive through Salt Lake, you look at their -- you know, the lower
portion of their mountains and they are gorgeous, because there is homes and
landscaping and they are amazing. You look at ours and they are beautiful foothills for
about two weeks while they are super green and, then, they are a muddy, brown, ugly
mess the rest of the year and I wish that we were building up those, because where we
do have subdivisions they are gorgeous and landscaping green and -- and -- and help
with fires from my understanding thanks to the landscaping and irrigation and whatnot
that's happening there. But we have Boise spending tax dollars, given the citizens voted
for it, to lock down foothill land, so that it can't be built on in the future. As the -- the left
side of our political spectrum continues to move west into our city, I fear that if we go down
this road generally pretty much all we have is -- is flat land with the exception of our two
rims and so if -- if we are going to be locking down anything it's going to be some cornfields
and whatnot and I think that if somebody who owns the property wants to hold onto it and
-- and figure out some kind of contractual obligation to any future landowner that it can 't
be developed, go for it, because I am all about that property right, but I don't think it's the
role of the city, even if the people were to say, hey, yeah, let's -- let's get everybody to
chip in to lock down land, it's not the role of government to even contemplate that idea.
Whoever owns the property should be allowed to kind of decide what they are going to
do with it going forward. My other concern with -- with this moving up as a priority is within
that same objective we have still a tactic that ment ions the Fields District and is actually
being worked on. It's my recollection that we def unded any Fields activity, yet there is
meetings taking place about implementing the Fields District plans and investigating
opportunities around that. I feel like if we move this objective to a higher priority that it
could be kind of a workaround into still keeping that alive when this Council has made
clear it's dead.
Borton: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: I'm not sure if I'm -- I'm supposed to talk. Mr. President and Council Members,
this is -- is -- and if we need to put -- to cross to be preserved, but it is an area that has to
have further discussion and our citizens -- this is one of the number one things that have
come back with the Comprehensive Plan. It's something that needs to be discussed and
-- and by raising this as a priority we will -- if Council agrees with the rewording of this --
because we did try to take out as you see the -- what we lined out, identify economic
opportunities for interactive educational and agricultural industries, it is more in what is
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open space, what is historical significance, and -- and cultural heritage, so we can better
understand what is the direction our citizens are coming from. Once this is approved , the
tactics will be written to support it. Right now we can't rewrite tactics until we know what
the objective is. So, that's why you don't have rewritten tactics, because we don't have
an objective that is relevant. So, there you go. Okay. Our last area is removing 4.A.3,
4.B.3, 4.C.3. These are seen as -- and needed as full objectives and these can be
accomplished in their respective goal areas is tactics. So, we don't think they need to be
written specifically as an objective. These each -- legal will evaluate, they will take action
on items to look at what needed changes are in each of these areas as it relates to policy
codes as part of the development of the safe, healthy and secure initiative -- initiative and
we think that by removing it it removes redundancy in the plan. So, with that the next step
we will bring this back in two weeks. If you have questions, if you want further detail to
be brought back, we can -- we can do that and at that time look to adopt the amended
plan and the proposed modifications.
Borton: Thank you, Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Borton: Appreciate the update and information and the directors who presented as well,
so -- Council, any wrap up questions? Otherwise, we will see it in a couple weeks. All
right. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Borton: There is a request to take a five minute break before we get into the next topic ,
so, Madam Mayor, if that's okay. Take five and, then, quick break. Okay.
(Recess: 8:53 p.m. to 9:06 p.m.)
B. Mayor's Office: Update on Government Accountability Officer
Position
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. I will reconvene at our meeting under 10-B -- I'm sorry, I'm
losing my voice already, because of that riveting strategic plan update I'm sure. Item 10-
B, update on government accountability officer. I have met and discussed with all of you
in some form or fashion and this has been discussed in various forums since 2014. I
think what -- in discussing with you, with our senior leadership team, we all agree that we
want strong, internal controls and systems, we want good oversight of department
spending, on policy review and -- and how that policy is being applied. Process
improvement review. That's something that Vince is very active in. Strategic plan
oversight and program audits on a -- kind of a program-by-program request from the
Council or the Mayor and -- and looking at what are priorities for the city. So, a lot has
happened since the initial discussions in 2015 in terms of addressing some of those
through our Finance Department, our support services director when we had it, with our
strategic analyst, our finance analyst, the policy review from HR and Legal. So, it has --
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it has changed a lot over that period of time and so how -- I would like to bring a budget
enhancement for this upcoming budget to address areas that positions like the financial
analysts, the strategic analysts, our CFO and our Finance Department and their oversight
and HR and Legal and policy overviews, that Council would have a line item specific to
those special project or program audits that are desired to talk about at the budget year,
so we can give a good indicator of what costs might be and we can find specific people
that would be qualified to delve into the different areas that Council would have a desire
to have a deeper dive in. So, I will be bringing that for this budget year for the discussion
and the detail at that time. So, I just wanted to give an update. Those were the key areas
that I tried to summarize feedback that we received in both written and verbal form and I
wanted to bring an update. So, I guess stay tuned.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Sorry, I guess I had maybe trouble following the bouncing ball. Can you maybe
share this again what it is that you're planning to bring? I heard at one point it sounded
like maybe resources for staff , but, then, another comment it sounded like multiple
positions and I guess what I'm hearing is what you're planning to bring is what you think
addresses the concern or questions brought up by Council for the government
accountability officer without creating the government accountability officer. Is that
accurate? And, if so, maybe summarize for us what you're planning to bring, so I have a
better understanding. I just was very confused from all the words. I'm sorry.
De Weerd: Okay. Well, in 2015 when the position was discussed and a position was
defined, there were more statements in areas desired that would be focus of an individual
or individuals and so I summarized that in the -- the different areas and I could even say
that in those different areas a number of programs and positions have been created that
are addressing certain aspects. It's not in one person, but it's in several, whether it is the
CFO in looking at strong internal controls and systems and your oversight of department
spending, which is not only the Finance Department, the financial analyst, department
directors, there is a number of people that have responsibilities in -- in those areas with
the policy review and application or how that's applied . Legal and HR will be bringing
within the next couple of months that review and -- and ask for City Council feedback.
You have our strategic analyst and our department directors that are overseeing strategic
plan implementation and accountability, as well as process improvement reviews and
areas. You have individual requests that have come up on occ asion from either myself
or the Council and we have had consultants like John Croy that have come in and done
an independent audit on something very specific in relation to that request. So, a lot has
happened in the last three years that have addressed a lot of the different things that have
come up in those conversations. My -- my path forward that I will be bringing for Council
discussion and consideration would be for a budget line item that can be used for specific
program audits that should be identified by Council during those budget discussions on
prioritization of where those programs are desired to have an audit and -- and we can
appropriately fund those with that line item.
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Cavener: Madam Mayor? And, again, my apologies. So, if I'm -- if I'm hearing you
correctly your -- what you would plan to bring forward is a -- a line item request for outside
sources or an outside resource to respond to inquiries that come from Council as part of
the budget process; is that accurate?
De Weerd: Yes. A neutral third party --
Cavener: Perfect.
De Weerd: -- that's probably more specific -- has more qualifications that would align with
whatever program audit that's being requested.
Cavener: Okay. So, Madam Mayor, then, just for clarification, from your perspective,
then, that would fulfill the request or discussion from Council around the government
accountability officer.
De Weerd: I think the duties that were contemplated have been parceled out to a couple
of different positions that have been approved by Council since the original conversation
and that those different aspects are within the responsibility of different people in the city
organization.
Cavener: Okay. Madam Mayor, then, maybe just one more question. Where does the
conversation by the government accountability officer go from here then?
De Weerd: In terms of you want someone doing duplicative duties?
Cavener: So, Madam Mayor, I'm just -- I'm trying to follow what you have presented. I
understand that you have had ample time to review and put this together and we are just
getting this for the first time, so I'm just trying to merely see what it is you're trying to
accomplish and what -- if that is in line with what the City Council wanted to accomplish.
De Weerd: I think my -- my -- I was to update on the government accountability officer
position and the -- I was to take feedback from the Council in areas that they would like
to see focused on and this -- this list was more from two of our six Council Members, but
I did want to point out that much of this is already within position responsibilities and for
those audit requests that seem to be a higher interest in the majority of the feedback that
I received, I think can be accomplished through a professional services line item that can
go specifically to those program audits that Council prioritizes during the budget and
requests.
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I thought I understood this really well until -- until you just explained it. So, I guess
the part that I'm confused about is do the specific -- okay. So, here is how I -- thought I
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understood it to be. Well, since we have discussed having this accountability officer, we
have -- now we have Vincent and Brad who are doing a lot of the duties that this person
would have done. Now, we are going to have a line item during the budget tha t's not
specified for anything necessarily, other than a line item to have outside services come in
when there is something that we need looked into. That's the part that -- that doesn't -- I
-- why should it have to be identified specifically a year in advance? If something comes
up six months into the budget year -- I guess that's the part that I'm struggling with.
Borton: Can I interject?
Milam: Yes.
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Borton: I think the disconnect is -- as I understand it, what's happening is there is -- there
is a funding line item available for outside resources as needed , the dollar figure to be
determined. Stay tuned. How then -- once that's approved, how that money, if any of it,
is utilized over the course of the year is determined over the course of the year when and
if the need arises. It's not -- and so I heard it the same way. I don't think it's decided how
it would be spent --
Milam: The amount.
Borton: -- is part of the approval process and it will be utilized as needed, as directed by
the Council if and when the opportunity arises. That's the extent of what now is. That's
the update. So, when I hear you say stay tuned, it's stay tuned for what the dollar figure
is and, then, our discussion on if and when and how we want to fund it and ever use it.
De Weerd: Yeah. Because -- and I think what we tried to show in the AIA contract review
and audit is that a lot of that can be done in house. If Council wants a third party --
someone that is not an employee to do the audit, then, that would come from the -- the
line item budget. So, you -- you and Joe -- or Councilman Borton had the correct.
Milam: Okay. Thank you. Amount to be determined during the budget, not where it's
being spent necessarily. Because maybe it won't be spent; right?
De Weerd: Yeah.
Milam: Okay. Hopefully. All right. Thanks.
Bernt: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bernt.
Bernt: So, we -- as we all know we have been talking about this for a long time and
discussing it and now have a little time to , you know, maybe ponder what I would think
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that this -- this job would entail and I realize -- just preliminary, but just maybe some talking
points that I would be interested in discussing in the future. Number one being I feel if
this is something that we are going to pursue, I feel like this needs to be independent of
the Mayor's Office, which would include Vince. Love you, Vince. No -- no -- no -- you're
fantastic. This is nothing with -- with you at all. Or Brad. It has to be truly independent
and so I don't know what that is right now, but in order to have it be unbiased I feel like it
wouldn't -- it would just -- bottom line needs to be separate from the Mayor's Office for it
to be a true independent -- whatever that may be. So, that would be one of the things
that I would want to discuss going forward.
De Weerd: Yeah. And I think that's why my recommendation to bring back a budget
request enhancement for external resources for those areas that you think you need
someone not associated with the city to do an independent audit and -- because some of
them, you know, use the -- the expertise from your finance team and -- and your -- your
strategic analyst and -- and efficiency and -- and we have, what, six trained individuals in
-- in the process improvements that -- that can do a lion's share -- because I have yet to
know what the problem we are trying to solve is yet, so -- but that's what you would bring
the budget enhancement for resources that would provide that third -party neutral view
that would answer to the elected officials in reporting back on. So, I will bring that back
as part of our budget discussion.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I guess the request when that comes back with as much details as possible. I
think it's good for Council to clearly have formulated kind of what you want this to be. I'm
still having -- I'm struggling to try and see it through your eyes and so as much detail as
possible, so Council can have a clear vision of what you're hoping to accomplish in the
amendment prior to us being asked to support it.
De Weerd: Oh, absolutely. You have to support -- I mean this is a Council discussion
and approval process anyway, so --
C. Police: ITD/OHS Alive at 25 Budget Amendment Not to Exceed
$15,000 (Net Zero) [Action Item]
De Weerd: Okay. Item 11-A -- or, I'm sorry, 10-C. Chief.
Lavey: Madam Mayor, Council, what you have in front of you is a budget amendment for
15,000 dollars. We are asking for spending authority. It's -- it's a net zero to the city. It
is an Office of Highway Safety grant that we received. We just received it and we need
that spending authority, so that's why you have the amendment in front of you. The
purpose of this is dedicated solely for the Alive At 25 and this will just give us the revenue
to continue providing those services, that training to our youth. If you recall, Alive At 25
is an educational program for any youth under the age of -- or 25 and under, because
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Meridian City Council
March 5, 2019
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statistics have shown if we can keep them alive to the age of 25 their driving habits
improve, the maturity levels improve and they are less risk at dying in a traffic collision
after that. So, it's for a good cause and this is merely the spending authority to continue
that program. I will stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Thanks, chief. Council, any questions? Okay.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: Hopefully, at some point we can have Alive At 35, so that maybe I can learn
some additional skills. But since we don't have that for now, I move we approve the police
budget amendment for not to exceed amount of 15,000.
Milam: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 10-C. If there is no discussion,
Mr. Clerk, will you call role.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 11: Ordinances [Action Items]
A. Ordinance No. 19-1813: An Ordinance (H-2018-0112–
Shelburne Subdivision) For Annexation Of A Parcel Of Land
Located In The NW ¼ Of The SE ¼ of Section 28, Township 3
North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, As
Described In Attachment “A” And Annexing Certain Lands And
Territory, Situated In Ada County, Idaho, And Adjacent And
Contiguous To The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Meridian
As Requested By The City Of Meridian; Establishing And
Determining The Land Use Zoning Classification Of 35.09
Acres Of Land From Rut To R-4 (Low Density
Residential)(23.58 Acres) And R-8 (Medium Density
Residential)(11.52 Acres) Zoning District In The Meridian City
Code; Providing That Copies Of This Ordinance Shall Be Filed
With The Ada County Assessor, The Ada County Recorder,
And The Idaho State Tax Commission, As Required By Law;
And Providing For A Summary Of The Ordinance; And
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Providing For A Waiver Of The Reading Rules; And Providing
An Effective Date.
De Weerd: Item 11-A is Ordinance 19-1813. I will ask our clerk to, please, read this by
title.
Coles: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 19-1813, an ordinance
file number H-2018-0112, Shelburne Subdivision, for annexation of a parcel of land
located in the NW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 28, Township 3 North, Range 1 East, Boise
meridian, Ada county, Idaho, as described in Attachment “A” and annexing certain lands
and territory, situated in Ada county, Idaho, and adjacent and contiguous to the corporate
limits of the City of Meridian as requested by the City of Meridian; establishing and
determining the land use zoning classification of 35.09 acres of land from RUT to R-4,
low density residential, 23.58 acres, and R-8, medium density residential, 11.52 acres,
zoning districts in the Meridian City Code; providing that copies of this ordinance shall be
filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax
Commission, as required by law; and providing for a summary of the ordinance; and
providing for a waiver of the reading rules; and providing an effective date.
De Weerd: Okay. You have heard this read by title. Is there anyone out there that wants
to hear it read in its entirety? Seeing none, Council?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
Milam: I move that we approve Ordinance No. H-2018-0112, with suspension of rules.
Palmer: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and second to approve 11-A. Mr. Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 12: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Anything under Item 12?
Milam: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mrs. Milam.
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Milam: Unleased dogs. Unleashed dogs.
De Weerd: Unleash. Dogs unleashed. There you go.
Milam: Sounds like a movie.
De Weerd: Yes. Mr. Borton?
Borton: I was anticipating you going to 13.
De Weerd: No. I do want to remind you of the groundbreaking tomorrow at 11:30 for Fire
Station Number 6. We have our police recognition awards tomorrow evening at 6 :30 at
Renaissance High School and maybe you qualify for this , Mr. Palmer, but the Mayor's
Senior Advisory Board has keys to safe driving. That is Saturday, March 9th, from 10:00
to 12:00 at the Public Safety Training Center. So, you would be welcome.
Palmer: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Palmer.
Palmer: I have to take advantage of it as much as possible , because I realized tonight
that I'm not always the youngest person in the room, though I am right now.
Item 12: Executive Session per Idaho State Code 74-206(1)(b): To consider the
evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or
charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or
individual agent
De Weerd: Okay. With that I will entertain a motion to adjourn into Executive Session.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move we go into Executive Session pursuant to Idaho State Code 74-206(1)(b).
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adjourn into Executive Session. Mr. Clerk,
will you call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
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EXECUTIVE SESSIONS: (9:28 p.m. to 10:48 p.m.)
Palmer: Mr. President?
Borton: I would entertain a motion to come out of Executive Session.
Milam: Move we come out of Executive Session.
Little Roberts: Second.
Borton: All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES.
Borton: Motion to adjourn.
Milam: I move that we adjourn.
Little Roberts: Second.
Borton: All those in favor?
MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:48 P.M.
(AUDIO R CQ�EitFr41SI-F-1 OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
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MAYOR TAMMY DE WEERD DATE APPROVED
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