HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-07 RegularMeridian City Council January 7, 2020.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January
7, 2020, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Tammy de Weerd, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Genesis Milam, Ty
Palmer, Anne Little Roberts and Treg Bernt.
Also present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Caleb Hood, Cameron Arial, Kyle Radek, Jamie
Leslie, Joe Bongiorno 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. Well, thank you for joining us. It's -- it's a day to be celebrated. We
appreciate families and friends being here for our newly elected s and -- and old friends.
I see some of our city employees and a lot of familiar faces in the audience. So , thank
you for joining us this evening. For the record it is Tuesday, January 7th. It's a few
minutes after 6:00. We will start with roll call attendance, Mr. Clerk.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Item No. 2 is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you will all rise and join us in the
pledge to our flag.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Invocation by Larry Woodard of Ten Mile Christian Church
De Weerd: Contrary to a recent post, there is a right way to do the Pledge of Allegiance
and it's the way they do it in elementary school. Okay. Item 3 is our community invocation.
Tonight we will be led by Larry Woodard. He is with Ten Mile Christian Church. Larry, as
always, we appreciate you being here. I invite you all to join us in the community
invocation or take this as an opportunity for a moment of reflection.
Woodard: Well, I have been doing this now for over ten years and it's a pleasure to be
here tonight. I wanted to recognize all the new people , but they are still sitting out here,
so -- everybody knows who they are. I pray for your husband now that you're home all
the time.
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January 7, 2020
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De Weerd: You know, Larry, I think that's why he will still be at work. But thank you for
your prayers. They are always welcome.
Woodard: Well, let's pray. Our Dear Heavenly Father, one thing that has made this
Meridian special for the past few years has been our recognition that you have watched
over our city as -- as it has grown in such a rapid manner. We have watched this rapid
change and have always looked to you and this Council as the guiding forces behind such
change. I pray that you will guide our new Mayor and the City Council as further changes
occur. Based on news reports, more businesses and apartments are coming this next
year at a rate that we could not imagine. Keep our city safe as all this road construction
and building occurs. Be with our police force as they enforce new laws, especially the
prohibition of driving with a phone in one hand and a steering wheel -- wheel in the other.
Road construction this year will be a challenge as we widen Meridian Road, Chinden
Road, Ten Mile Road. We have moved from being a laid back residential community to
a growing bedroom community overnight. We are expanding schools and this next year
handle this growth and may our children be safe as they go to school. Lastly, I just ask
that you bless this Council and the men and women who are going off of it and the men
and women who are coming on as new members. They are going to tackle some tough
issues this next few months and we pray that you would watch over them and guide them,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Item 4: Adoption of Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you, Larry. Okay. Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move we adopt the agenda as published.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as published. All those in
favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 5: Announcements
De Weerd: Item 5 is announcements. Any news for the record?
Item 6: Future Meeting Topics - Public Forum (Up to 30 Minutes Maximum)
De Weerd: Okay. Item 6, future meeting topics. Mr. Clerk.
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January 7, 2020
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Johnson: Madam Mayor, there were no sign-ins.
Item 7: Action Items - Old Business
A. Public Hearing Continued from December 3, 2019 for
Silverstone Apartments (H-2019-0099) by Dave Evans
Construction, Located at 4107 E . Overland Rd.
1. Request: Modified Development Agreement for the purpose
of removing the subject property from DA Instrument #2018-
012457 and DA Instrument # 2018-012456 and be placed in
a new, separate agreement.
De Weerd: Thank you. Item 7 under Action Items, old business. Item 7-A is a public
hearing continued from December 3rd for H-2019-0099. The application has been
withdrawn. It was withdrawn on December 5th. Council, I will need a motion to accept
this withdrawal.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Move we accept the withdrawal of the application H-2019-0099.
Bernt: Second.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the withdrawal of the application on
7-A and I will ask Mr. Clerk to call roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Milam, yea; Cavener, yea; Palmer, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Bernt,
yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Items Moved from January 7, 2020 Work Session Agenda
De Weerd: There were no items moved from our work session.
Item 8: Swearing in of Newly Elected Officials
A. Swear in City Councilmember Seat 1 Elizabeth Strader
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
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De Weerd: So, we will move into the swearing in ceremonies and what I will do is I will
take it by each of the City Council seats and, then, the Mayor. I will ask the outgoing
elected official if they have any comments and, then, I will ask the candidate that is being
sworn in to come join me at the podium, bring what they would like to use to be sworn in
on and family members they would like to accompany them and at that point when they
take their seat we will ask that they give remarks. Thank any special guests that they
have in the audience and after that conclude s they will start their new business. So, I'm
going to go down to the podium, Council, and we will ask Mrs. Little Roberts if she has
any remarks that she wants to -- to say as I move.
Little Roberts: Thank you, Madam Mayor. After the gracious time we had last -- last
month prior to the end of the year, I feel like I have kind of have had my opportunity, but
just would like to say thank you again for those of us -- to those that I have had an
opportunity to serve and to work with . It has truly been an honor each and every one of
you that I have gotten to know and not only work with , but to feel like you are my friend
and those friendships will carry on. Meridian's got the best citizens and the best
employees anywhere you could ask and I look forward to watching the new Mayor and
Council continue with the wonderful path of people that we have.
De Weerd: Thank you, Mrs. Little Roberts. So, Item 8-A is the swearing in for City Council
Member Seat 1, Elizabeth Strader. If Elizabeth and her family will come forward. Okay.
If you will raise your right hand. Okay. I, state your name, do solemnly swear that I will
support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Idaho
and that I will faithfully discharge the duties as City Council Member of the City of Meridian
according to the best of my ability.
(Repeated by Elizabeth Strader.)
De Weerd: Congratulations. Liz, do you want to make a statement?
Strader: Yes. Thank you. Thank you, everyone who is here. The gravity and the
specialness of this day are very heavy for me and very meaningful. I would just like to
thank all of the voters who participated in our process. I would love to thank Anne Little
Roberts, who I think has been a fantastic city councilwoman and I hope to continue her
good work that she's done. And, then, finally, I just -- I would like to thank the volunteers
that helped and also my family. The campaign process was not easy and each member
of my family personally helped so much and I would like to give a special thank you to my
sister Emilie Schossow. Sorry. My sister is such an inspiration to me and -- and she's
the reason that I got this idea in the first place and she was by my side the whole way.
And, then, finally, I also want to thank Jessica Perreault. We ran a lot of our campaign
together and in the process not only did I find a colleague, but I found a friend. So, I just
want to thank everyone, especially Mayor Tammy and the Members of Council who have
been so wonderful during the process. Thank you.
B. Swear in City Councilmember Seat 3 Brad Hoaglun
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
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De Weerd: Item 8-B is the swearing in of City Council Member Seat 3, but before I do
that I will ask Mr. Palmer if he has any remarks.
Palmer: Sure. I can't look at my family. Already gone. There is a scripture that says we
have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as
soon as they get a little authority as they suppose they will immediately begin to exercise
unrighteous dominion and from the moment I was sworn in I walked into every city council
meeting and every budget hearing and especially every meeting I ever have with a
constituent and -- with that verse in mind ringing in my ears, determined not to fall into the
almost all men that's referenced in that verse and I will walk out that door tonight with my
family knowing that there is not one moment of my service here for which they should be
ashamed and here in a moment it's their -- their opinion will be the only one left that
matters to me and I look forward to spending much more time with them now.
De Weerd: So, I will ask City Council Member Seat 3, Brad Hoaglun to please come join
me at the podium. If you will raise your right hand. I, state your name, do solemnly swear
that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of
Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of City Council Member of the City of
Meridian according to the best of my ability.
(Repeated by Brad Hoaglun.)
De Weerd: Congratulations. You know, as Brad makes his way up there, I was -- had
the privilege of appointing Brad Hoaglun to a City Council seat over a decade ago. So,
it's great to have him back.
Hoaglun: Thank you, Mayor Tammy. I just have a few thank yous for -- for some folks. I
just want to -- of course thank my family. You know, when you decide to run for office,
you know, the first person you better consult is your spouse, because it impacts them and
Chandos, my wife, was more than willing to say, yes, go off and do this again and this is
not my first rodeo at it and -- and my folks Stan and Sandy are here. Of course they have
always supported me kind of and had instilled in me that sense of community service.
So, I thank them for that. But I do have to say when I was thinking th is summer I heard
about some changes coming on City Council, so my folks just live a mile away, went up
there and I said, hey, mom, I'm thinking about running for City Council and she goes you
need to have your head examined. True story. But I said, mom, mom, you know, I have
been on City Council before, I know what I'm getting into. That's why you need to have
your head examined. So, you know, I don't give up easily. So, I -- finally, I said, well, you
will vote for me; right? I will think about it. True story. But, you know, it's because of
those values they instilled in me that I wanted to run. You also saw my son Tyler and his
wife Jennifer and my three grandkids and -- you know. And that really factored into the
reason for running, because they live in Meridian. My son grew up in Meridian. It's a
great place. This is where I grew up and it's a great community. It has changed
tremendously. But at the same time there are great things about this community and
that's what we want to keep, we want to keep that sense of community no matter our size
and that's why I thought, you know, I need to go on and do the best of my ability that I can
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to make sure that they have a great place to live and -- and -- and I know at the same
time that it is a sacrifice and Ty mentioned it, you know, spending more time with family
and Anne and Genesis, that -- you do give up part of that when you come here, but it's --
it's -- it's worth the sacrifice and I appreciate your work on this and I know the three people
remaining on Council do a lot for this community and really put in the time for that. I also
have to thank -- because this is my second rodeo -- David Zaremba is here, a former
council member. Charlie Rountree I served with. I don't know if Charlie made it tonight.
And, of course, Keith Bird, who we lost last year, was very helpful to me and it was a
different time. There was four of us and the Mayor and she got to ride herd over the four
of us and I think we had a good time with that, but it was a good learning experience for
me and the head turning experience for me, however, though, is at that time when I --
when I served before I was the youngest member of Council and now it turned out now
I'm the oldest member of City Council. Now, things -- some -- some things. But I also
want to thank -- as I point out their -- their help to me, the ability to do this also extends
my thanks to Mission Aviation Fellowship in Nampa, my employer. I have been there for
a year now and to take time -- every one of us that are up here serving and have served ,
you have to take time away from your primary job and there has to be that flexibility and
willingness to work with you on that and I want to thank them for wanting to meet --
wanting me to be involved with my community and that is what they are about is that
service to begin with, so they -- they do what they say and I do appreciate that. It's also
something that I want to thank, believe it or not, the city employees, because looking --
coming back to here wouldn't have been so much fun if you work with people that don't
like what they do, but these people like what they do and they are very good at it. We
have great city employees that help the citizens recognize that. They are dedicated, they
are professional, and they have a great culture of service, their commitment to -- to the
citizens is -- is second to none and -- and, of course, I have to go back and credit Mayor
Tammy with that, 16 years at the helm, that's a wonderful time and -- I do have one other
story to tell and it's -- it's how I got on Council and it's rather embarrassing, because
someone came to me I knew -- they didn't know the Mayor and there was a vacancy for
City Council and they said, Brad, you know the Mayor and -- and I had worked with her
in her first campaign back in 2003 and helped in some others, but they said, you know, I
don't know her, she won't know me, but you know her, could you put in a good word for
me, at least, you know, make sure she looks at my -- my background and I said, yeah, I
would be happy to do that. They were -- they were -- they were a good person and, you
know, had some good qualities, didn't have experience, but I will do that. Well, as Tammy
does from time to time, you know, she will show up at various churches and whatnot and
I happened to be an usher greeter at our church and it just so happened when I had that
conversation that week she showed up Sunday morning. So, I -- oh, Mayor Tammy, great
to have you here and, hey, by the way, I have something to tell you. This -- this person is
putting in for this vacancy and you ought to take a look at them. I personally know them.
I can vouch for them. They are -- they are a good person and they might have the
qualifications you are looking for. She goes, oh, that's very good, Brad. And, then, she
looked at me and she kind of cocked her head and said what about you and that kind of
hit me. I was ready to throw out, well, you know, my kids -- my son and my daughter, they
are very involved in school, played three sports and our daughter had just left for college
that fall and so it wasn't like, well, I can't say volleyball, basketball, and track anymore or,
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January 7, 2020
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you know, the sports she was involved in. I went, huh, well, let me think about it. So, I
have to blame you, Mayor Tammy. This is all your fault. But there was something I found
where I was going through some papers from that 2003 campaign and I thought this is
very apropos. You had said we can continue to grow by chance or by choice. I don't
know if you remember that, but that was -- that was something you were campaigning on
and, of course, when I came on Council it was a very different time. It was a very difficult
time in coming in in '08 and '09 and the recession. But even today the dynamics have
changed and this Council has changed and the Mayor has changed, but we -- we do have
a choice. We can continue to grow by chance or by choice and I look forward to all of us
working together to grow by choice a nd how we look as a community and I'm excited
about that. So, I look forward to it. Thank you.
C. Swear in City Councilmember Seat 5 Jessica Perreault
De Weerd: And just add to Brad's story, I had already cleared it with his pastor, with his
wife and so he just didn't know it. Okay. Item 8-C is the swearing in of City Council
Member Seat 5 and before we ask Jessica Perreault to come join us up front I will ask
Council Member Milam for any parting remarks she might have.
Milam: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Well, I would like to first thank all of you for coming
out from my special day. It means a lot to me. The last six years have been incredible.
I have made some wonderful friends and we have -- I think we have done some amazing
things for our community. The friendships, the relationships, the employees, that's a hard
part for me to leave. So, today is a sad day. And I want to tell just you guys -- and I want
to thank the new people for stepping up to run, all you new electeds and to be here and
give of your time. Remember to keep it funny as I cry, which is ironic, and along with tot
lots, that's -- that's about it. Just thank you -- thank you all for your love, all the employees
of the city how -- how much you really love the place that you work and it shows and it
shines through everything that you do and it's been my pleasure and I hope to see all of
you guys around. I will be back.
De Weerd: Okay. Well, Jessica, please, come and join us after her hug. Okay. Raise
your right hand. I, state your name, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution
of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Idaho and that I will faithfully
discharge the duties of City Council Member of the City of Meridian according to the best
of my ability.
(Repeated by Jessica Perreault.)
De Weerd: Congratulations.
Perreault: Good evening, everyone. So, I would like to echo my new fellow Council
Members and say thank you very much to the staff who we have gotten to know over the
last couple of months and how incredibly impressed I am with their commitment ,
dedication, and attitude as they come in every day and faithfully serve our city. It's been
amazing. I have gotten to know some of them through my service on Planning and
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January 7, 2020
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Zoning, but I just had no idea how awesome you all are and I'm excited to serve with you.
I want to say thank you as well to the many people who supported me through the decision
to run for Council. That was a very long decision. It took me about a year to decide.
Genesis faithfully -- faithfully encouraged me on a regular basis to -- to run for her seat
and as did the Mayor. Every time I would see her she encouraged me and I just
appreciate the -- and I just can't even believe the phenomenal amount of support that I
have received to be up here and friends -- several good friends here this evening all over
the audience, thank you so much for coming and being here. And I also want to say hello
on camera to my son, who is in Florida serving in the Marine Corps. He can't be here
tonight. And also to Craig, who is out visiting his -- his daughter this week. So,
unfortunately, I don't have close family here, but my friends are family and so thank you
all for being here.
D. Swear in Mayor Robert E. Simison
De Weerd: Maybe this one is hard. So, our next item is to swear in our new Mayor and
I will just take a moment to thank the staff. You are my family and I know I keep saying
this -- I didn't run again because I wanted to spend more time with my family. Now, that's
my other family. Would like to thank my husband. Okay. You have an emotional Mayor.
I'm not going to change. There was a reason why they started to introduce my family at
my State of the City, instead of me, because I would always cry when I talked about family.
I was -- appreciated Mr. Palmer and him choking up about family as well, because family
is what our community is about. It was a purposeful vision that we said 16 years ago to
focus on family, focus on youth, to focus on re-engaging our faith community and to focus
on bringing -- bringing family wage jobs, so that our community was full service and we
could live or can raise their family right here in Meridian and, folks, we did it and we did it
by working together and many of those faces are in this room and maybe some of them
are tuning in online, but that's what a community does when they work together. So , my
heartfelt thanks to our community. It's been certainly an honor to serve the City of
Meridian and be able to be on a journey as we have seen our city grow up and I'm excited
for the future. I'm excited for our newly elected officials that have shown such great
passion for our community and such grit and determination that is going to be needed as
we enter this next chapter, this new decade for Meridian. So, I hope that everyone in this
audience, when you are here supporting your loved one, continue. They are going to
need your support, because being a public official is not always easy and especially those
that have young families. To the spouses and supporting network, they are going to need
you and so I challenge you to stay involved and to be involved in our community, because
we will have -- we have some amazing things coming up, but we have also some
challenges that we need a community working together to -- to right. So, with that I am
excited to ask the new Mayor to come forward, Robert Simison and his family, so we can
swear him in. If you will raise your right hand. I, state your name, do solemnly swear that
I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of
Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of Mayor of the City of Meridian,
according to the best of my ability so help me God.
(Repeated by Robert Simison.)
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January 7, 2020
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De Weerd: Congratulations.
Simison: Well, it's -- people have been asking me for two months if I'm excited or if I'm
nervous. Right now yes. But what I heard people talk about this evening was -- a lot of
is about family and the role that they play not only in the lives and the decisions that we
make, but in the -- it's really about the community that we are. You know, that was the
reason why after many conversations with Mayor Tammy I made the decision to run was
to keep this community focused on our families and the people that were here tonight
don't often get a chance to come down here to City Hall from my family. M y wife and
children, they definitely have -- have been here, but we also have my -- my in laws who
live three doors down who are basically co -raising our children. Couldn't do this without
you. So, you know -- you know that. I don't say it enough. But their sacrifice allows me
to be sitting here and doing this job and -- for the next four years at least. To my mom
and my stepdad, thank you for all the work ethic that you instilled in me over the years,
for being here supporting me. My decisions, going to college, going off to DC, you know,
coming back being there and being part of that and I had a -- had a long lost uncle and
my cousin who I have been able to reacquaint with over the last couple years being back
in the area, that's what makes this area so special and this community so special is the
role and the focus the family plays and, finally, to my sister, you -- you have been a second
mom to me. Thank you. I couldn't have done this without you all my life. So , with that
I'm going to try not to cry anymore. I didn't think I would be that emotional. I keep telling
everyone I'm not emotional, but apparently I am when it comes to these things. To the
room, I -- they are my support network to raise my family to allow me to be here and do
this. Looking out across the room, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all you who gave so
much of your time and your energy and you picked up the phone , you showed up and
you helped out throughout this process. You know, this was about a community that
wanted to continue the direction that we have been on and I couldn't have been here
without you. Brad already mentioned it, but the -- the shoulders that we sit up here on
from -- from my perspective, being someone in the community for the last dozen years --
Keith Bird, who wish he was here. I know his -- his wife Marge was hoping to be here,
but she wasn't able to make it. And David and Charlie. And -- and as was mentioned that
we have -- Brad and Joe were kind of right there when I first started . You know, that --
that was the group, along with Mayor Tammy, where I think I really learned most of what
I believed in in terms of how we should be working and moving this community forward.
So, I would like to think that I -- I learned from a dream team, the greats that have tried to
instill how we want to both have decorum here, but how we want to work together and
move the community forward. I'm excited to work with this group. I have known them --
several of them in several different ways for most of my time here. A few new ones that I
have got the chance, the opportunity. I think the community is going to be very impressed
with the group that we have and the work that we will set out to do to improve our
community. So, with that I'm just going to say thank you for being here. We have a
meeting that we have to do, but there is cake and some -- some punch out there for
anybody that would like it. All I ask is that you save my son Ryan at piece, because if he
doesn't get some cake I'm going to hear it and he's got to go to wrestling here in a few
minutes. So, maybe he can make the door to it. So, with that I will say thank you and I'm
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January 7, 2020
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going to call a -- just a five minute recess while we let people maneuver throughout the
room. So, I don't have a gavel, but --
(Recess: 6:43 p.m. to 6:53 p.m.)
Item 9: Roll-Call Attendance (6:43 pm)
__X__ Liz Strader __X__ Joe Borton
__X__ Brad Hoaglun __X__ Treg Bernt
__X__ Jessica Perreault __X__ Luke Cavener
__X__ Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: All right. Bring us back in. For the record it is 6:53 and we will begin with roll
call attendance. Mr. Clerk.
Item 10: Action Items - New Business
A. Public Hearing for Ten Mile and McMillan (H-2019-0126) by
Northwest Development Company, Located off the Northeast
Corner of N. Ten Mile Rd. and W. McMillan Rd.
1. Request: Modified Development Agreement to remove the
subject 14.36-acre property from the boundary of the
existing agreement Verona Commercial, Inst. #108059800)
for the purpose of entering into a new agreement consistent
with the proposed development plan.
Simison: All right. Our first item under new business, Item 10-A is a public hearing for
Ten Mile-McMillan, H-2019-0126. Open this public hearing with staff comments.
Hood: Thank you -- thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. You will have to bear
with me a little bit, I have been used to saying Madam Mayor for the last 16 years, so it
might take -- it might slip out every once in a while. So , Mayor, a little biscuit, you will
have to give me a little bit of grace there if that's -- I slip up every once in a while. Mr.
Mayor, Members of Council, the first agenda item for you this year is a modification to a
development agreement on 14.36 acres of land, zoned C-G, that's our general retail and
commercial zone. It's located on the northeast corner of Ten Mile Road and West
McMillan Road. The applicant is requesting a new development agreement to replace an
existing DA for the Verona commercial project. You can see on the screen there is a
parcel of that original Verona project that is not part of the subject application, right on the
corner of Ten Mile and McMillan, but everything that's highlighted on the screen is -- is
part of the subject modification to the development agreement. A conceptual
development plan was submitted, including a senior living multi-family development and,
then, commercial uses on the remaining pad sites. So, again, you can see on the right-
hand side of your screen that senior living multi-family with the conceptual plan and the
remaining commercial pad sites, again, right on the corner is not a part of the application
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tonight. Conceptual building elevations were submitted with the application for the multi-
family development. However, a CUP is required. The current development agreement
prohibits what they are proposing there, the senior living multi-family, so this action if
approved by you would open the door for them to apply and go through the conditional
use permit process to get detailed approval potentially for a senior living multi-family
project, similar to the one you see on the screen , but it does not guarantee that or vest
them with that approval. So, there are the conceptual elevations and renderings , but,
again, these would go through that public hearing process with the Planning and Zoning
Commission for further review and approval. This just allows that as a potential use in
this development agreement. A cross-access, cross-parking easement agreement is also
required. So, that's a condition of the new development agreement in the staff report , so
that all lots can share that spine collector road Milano , Cortana, and, then, additionally,
the access points to Ten Mile that were provided and McMillan that were provided by
ACHD previously, so that all those lots can have connectivity, kind of shown on that exhibit
on the left. We do have written testimony from the applicant 's representative that they
are in agreement with the staff report, but that is a general overview of this application
and I would stand for any questions.
Simison: Any questions for staff?
Strader: Mr. Mayor, I have a couple quick questions.
Simison: Council Member Strader.
Strader: Okay. Thank you. I wanted to check -- and forgive me, because I'm just getting
started, so I may have a lot of questions, but I'm not going to hold back on asking them.
I just wanted to understand if during the process , because this use was not permitted
previously and check that there will be an opportunity for public hearing. That was my --
my -- my question, if that would be part of the process going forward. And, then, my --
maybe not a question, but a comment. I noticed in several places that the permitted use
was senior living slash multi-family and I just wanted to make sure that, you know, having
that description would not make it so that it could end up being a multi -family project and
not actually a senior living project.
Hood: So, Mr. Mayor, Councilman Strader -- Council Woman Strader, so, yes, to answer
your first question, this would be subject to a new public hearing at the Planning and
Zoning Commission. So, it is a -- it requires a new conditional use permit approval. I just
want to clarify. The zoning, the C-G zone allows senior living slash multi-family. Both.
The development agreement tied that down further, though, back when this was annexed
before and limited those uses, but the underlying zoning of the property technically would
be a conditionally allowed use. So, this isn't a use exception or anything like that, it is a
use that would otherwise be permitted. There was just this contract between the city and
the property owner at that time where they didn't envision this type of use, they envisioned
commercial uses only and so, essentially, they are pulling that back and saying, you know,
other uses that are otherwise allowed in the C-G zone we would also like to potentially
have here. Your second question -- there is no guarantee, although I'm under the
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January 7, 2020
Page 12 of 39
impression and I -- and I have no reason to doubt that they are going to follow this up
immediately with that conditional use permit. The applicant is here, though, so if there is
some other sideboards or -- or parameters that you have got concerns about the multi-
family tagging here and you want to see more of 55 and over senior -- this concept, I have
looked at this historically, but I don't know how they plan to market or only rent to a certain
demographic or not. So, I think that's probably why there is the slash there, but that's
probably a question better answered by the applicant and, then, again, if you have some
concerns with maybe what they are wanting to open that up to, this application is -- again,
there is an existing contract where this use wouldn't be allowed and there is some
negotiation or, again, if you want to put conditions on it, that is certainly within your -- your
purview.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Strader: Thank you.
Simison: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Thank you. Mr. Mayor, Members of Council, Council Member Strader, the other
thing I could add from the public hearing standpoint -- tonight is a noticed public hearing,
so this has been noticed. Radius notices have been sent. Mailed notices have been
sent. Published, as well as signage on the property. So, an opportunity to participate is
also on this level of the application in addition to the application for the project when it
comes forward.
Simison: Council Member Strader.
Strader: Thank you. That helped a lot. Thank you.
Simison: Are there any further questions? Okay. If I could ask the -- Chris, would you
mind turning the podium around. We didn't get it turned around. Just for those that are
new to this process, we will hear from the applicant for up to 15 minutes regarding their
project and will take public testimony for three minutes, unless there is anybody here
representing an HOA or a group, which they may be afforded ten minutes. The applicant
will also have the final comment after any comments from the public and, then, we will
move forward. So, with that go ahead.
Thompson: Mr. Mayor, Members of Council, Tamara Thompson. I'm with The Land
Group, 462 East Shore Drive in Eagle. Tonight I'm here representing the property owner
and the developer of the senior living. I won't go into a lot of detail. I think staff did a
great job of giving you the overview of the project. It is a development agreement
modification. The one thing I do want to clarify, though, is on the -- the hard corner, which
is excluded from this, Jackson's recently processed a development agreement
modification to get -- get into a new development agreement for them exclusively. So --
so, that's why they are excluded from this one , because they own that corner separately
and they already processed that DA mod. The questions regarding the semantics of the
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January 7, 2020
Page 13 of 39
senior living slash multi-family, it really is just -- it's not a nursing home and that's what we
were trying to portray is that it is more active senior living. It is age restricted to 55 and
older and, hopefully, that explains that. Otherwise, I'm here for questions.
Simison: Any questions?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Can you chat with us a little bit about the height of the building and I know
that's not something that we are going to be discussing specifically, but I just was curious.
That area doesn't have any other four story buildings. So, can you share a little bit about
-- about how that came to be.
Thompson: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman --
Perreault: Perreault.
Thompson: -- Perreault -- Perreault. Is that how you say it?
Perreault: Yes.
Thompson: Perreault. Congratulations by the way. The -- the building design we have
-- these are conceptual designs at this time. They have been placed such that the ends
of buildings -- and you can see here that -- like here where the ends do kind of -- there is
a lot of modulation, fenestration in the buildings. There is also a large setback from the
adjacent residential areas. There is a public roadway and they are about 200 feet away
and, then, one of the other positive things is that when these -- the roads were put in the
street trees were installed at that time and so the trees are actually quite large. So, the
-- the taller buildings actually do really fit in nicely in the area. And one thing I wanted just
to go back and reiterate is -- Caleb mentioned it, but we are in agreement with the staff
report. He mentioned that I sent in a letter, but I want to make sure that's on the record.
So, we have read the staff report and we are in agreement with the conditions.
Simison: Any other questions?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Tamara, can you comment briefly on the distinction between the -- this DA
modification and that it allows a project like this to go forward and what is addressed in
the CUP that comes later.
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January 7, 2020
Page 14 of 39
Thompson: Absolutely. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Borton, the -- the differences that the
development agreement is a contract that sometimes limits what a zone would otherwise
allow and in this case it did. So, we need to do a development agreement modification in
order to allow the use and, then, within that zoning designation there is either permitted
or conditional or not permitted uses and this -- this use is a conditional use. So, then, the
use itself will come back with the number of rooms and the amenities and all those types
of things. All the details. So, the way I think about it is we are kind of in a helicopter
hovering over at 5,000 feet and when we come in with the conditional use permit we are
going to be on the ground and give you all the details at that time. And we are planning
to submit on Friday.
Simison: Any additional questions? Mrs. Strader.
Strader: Mr. Mayor, yes, I have a question. If you could just clarify -- could you have the
applicant clarify if going through the amenities and the percentage of open space
associated with this project would, then, be part of this conditional use permit discussion
in the future?
Simison: I will ask staff to respond to that question.
Hood: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Yeah. So, we do have -- I'm not sure if this is going
to be subdivided or not. I don't believe it is. But we do have two different types of open
spaces required for multi-family projects. So, we will have private usable open space
and, then, we will have required amenities and open space as well with the -- with the
project. So, that will be part of that conditional use permit, we will look at the amenities
package and -- and open space based on how many lots -- how many units, excuse me,
are provided -- proposed at that time.
Strader: Thank you.
Simison: Any additional questions? Thank you.
Thompson: Thank you.
Simison: Are there any people signed up to testify?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, yes. There are ten sign-ins, one indicating they wished to testify,
and that is Sheryl Tolman.
Simison: Thank you. Sheryl, if you would state your name and address for the record
and you will have three minutes.
Tolman: My name is Sheryl Tolman. I live at 2695 West McMillan Road, just around the
corner from this. So, first of all, the signs only say modified development agreement.
Nowhere in it does it say we are going to all of a sudden add a 170 unit four story
apartment building. So, I went around today to my neighborhood. Nobody was aware of
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January 7, 2020
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this. Nobody knew that this was what they were talking about. Nobody seemed to be in
favor of it. Four stories does not fit in that neighborhood and it's a quiet neighborhood
right now, but it will not be for long when we add potentially 200 cars that aren't there. In
fact, one gentleman I spoke with said that before he bought his house he looked into what
the plan said, it was commercial, which it still is allowing for the same commercial
buildings, but now it's allowing for a huge building. I -- from what I was able to gather the
original agreement says that they can't have any building over 400 -- over -- any non-
residential building over five hundred -- or 50,000 square feet and the total was like
225,000 for all nine buildings. They are still going to have nine buildings, but now they
are going to have this monster building with added traffic that it just can't support. I live
on McMillan Road and we talk about family and I'm concerned about my young drivers
getting in and out of my property, because we have no choice but to use McMillan Road
and more and more cars -- it's just not helping and I think we need to really grow by
choice. I think it was already decided to do it a certain way and I think that's what was
approved and that's what the residents are expecting. I don't think we should modify it to
that great extent and so I just -- unfortunately, I lost my notes that I really had, but I just
really think that we need to think about what we are doing here and not just approve it
because some developer put money into it when they know what the agreement is. The
agreement was you have the nine commercial buildings up to a certain size and I think
that we need to honor that agreement of the residents. I don't think that we always need
to grow at the expense of existing residents. I think we need to choose quality of life over
quantity of people. Thank you.
Simison: Any questions? Thank you.
Johnson: Nobody else indicated they wished to testify.
Simison: Okay. Is there anybody in the audience who did not sign up who would like to
testify on this application? Please come forward. If you could state your name and
address for the record, please.
Voltroubek: My name is Dan Voltroubek. I live it 2877 West Turin Court. And according
to your map that puts the apartments right in line with my house and all of the others that
live in this court. There is 20 homes in there. It was slated to be a 55 and over. It was
also slated to be owner live. Sorry to say about 12 of them are rentals. We have no
problems with that. The traffic is terrible getting out of -- from Cortona to McMillan or --
what's the other street. Milano to Ten Mile. All you got to do is drive out there after 3:00
o'clock and wait in line and find out. I would suggest that if you are going to go through
with this process that a light be located at both Cortona and -- and the other street there.
I think that's safety first. Like I say, other than that I moved out there -- I had a beautiful
big barn and -- right outside my bedroom window. That is now gone. It is turned into
storage areas. At least I can still see the -- some of my -- my landscape. When we first
moved in we said -- we were told the other side of the fence east of us would be small
homes like we have. It turned out to be apartments, which block this -- our view from
Bogus. You know, being an old farm boy and country boy I miss that. I feel you 're kind
of forcing me out and this is just going to make it tighter. That's all I have. Any questions?
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
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Simison: Any questions? Thank you.
Naumann: Mr. Mayor, my name is Matt Naumann. I'm a commercial real estate broker
for Cushman and Wakefield and representing the buyer or the developer in this -- actually,
the senior living developer, not the developer of the whole project. But I just wanted to
chat for a minute and let you know that I did bring quite a few different projects to the
developer and he was very selective in what would work in this location. I sell a lot of
multi-family land -- pure, true multi-family land and this development that's going here
now, the senior development, the active senior, does not have near the traffic flow that a
regular apartment does. They have got full time kitchen staff . All the amenities. They
have got shuttles. So, with the community talking about traffic flow, this is going to provide
far less traffic than if you put a retail development in there that's going to provide more
and, then, on top of that the neighbors that, you know, want to complain about the noise,
you don't have a big box that is driving semis in and out of there at 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 in the
morning. So, from both a noise standpoint and a traffic standpoint, this is less intrusive
than a retail development in that location.
Simison: Just so are -- can you put your address in, please.
Naumann: What was that?
Simison: Can you put your address into the record.
Naumann: I registered. But 9090 West Teakwood, Boise.
Simison: Any questions?. Thank you.
Naumann: Thank you.
Simison: Anyone else who wishes to testify?
Brown: For the record Kent Brown. 3161 East Springwood, Meridian, Idaho. I'm here
on another item, but I see the struggle that we end up having because the comp plan
calls out that we have got to put mixed use. The single family is what they wanted to put
in and they did that and they tried to guess for the future and that's why you have the DA
mods to allow you to -- to make a change. I can agree with the real estate agent when
you're talking about a residential, especially if it's a senior, we are seeing a lot of the
seniors coming to the valley. That's one of the biggest demographics that I'm being told
by real estate people and people are moving here to spend their retirement dollars ,
because we are such a bargain. But they have a different traffic impact. You can look
across the street and the other two corners on the west with those being commercial,
those commercial uses would have a lot greater impact on the area and that's all day
long. Maybe not in the evening, but I don't see seniors, other than hurrying for the
discount dinner that they can get going someplace, but other than that I -- and you still
have the approval of the CU that has to take place. So, as the details of that comes in
and how the mitigation and so forth, you got comments coming from the highway district
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January 7, 2020
Page 17 of 39
at that time, to me you end up being able to make a more informed decision than -- you're
just entertaining, if you will, the right to do -- to do senior and multi-family on that property
today and who is to say that when it comes through in the CU that it is two story or one
story or something else on that property than the concept that you have seen. I think they
have shown you the worst case scenario. But it is difficult when we are doing these
preliminary plats and trying to comply with the comp plan to guess for the future and I can
tell you the -- as I bring applications to you in the future I have to deal with some of these
multi-family corners or these mixed use corners and we are guessing, because that is the
last thing that takes place after you have put the houses there is, then, you start doing
the commercial. So, that's all I have. Thank you.
Simison: Any questions? Anyone else wishing to testify? I'm sorry. You can't speak from
back there. You have already spoken, so with that we will ask the applicant to come up.
Thompson: Mr. Chair -- or sorry. Mr. Mayor, Members of Council, Caleb, can I get you to
put the -- both -- the side by side site plans back up for me, please. Thank you. Tamara
Thompson for the record again. To respond to some of the comments that we received,
I just want to make it clear we did have a neighborhood meeting in accordance with the
requirements of the city and at that neighborhood meeting the sit e plan and the concept
elevations were shown at that time. The senior living was -- was -- was definitely
discussed with the neighbors. As far as this site -- so, this has already been zoned and
platted. Actually went through a preliminary/final plat for the property many years ago
and what is allowed on the site -- so, the City of Meridian has basically three commercial
zonings. We have neighborhood commercial, community commercial, and general
commercial. This one is the general commercial, the C-G, which is the more intense of
the three and the development agreement only limited one single user at 50,000 square
feet for -- for retail or commercial uses. A big box user -- that size would be a smaller
Albertson's grocery store type thing or a D&B Supply. You would have deliveries coming
and going, you would have customers all day long. Those types of uses are much more
intense than what's being proposed as the senior living. This -- and you will -- the -- the
details of those will come with the CUP, but most of the residents -- so, these are
apartments, they are not purchased, they are rentals, but they do eat their meals on site.
They have dining on site. They have entertainment on site. And they have shuttle
services. So, most of them are not driving. The -- the other thing I wanted to point out is
that the commercial pads are still in the front , that these -- these are still planned as
commercial in there and this is the way the plat currently is laid out with -- we did a
boundary line adjustment for the larger parcel in the back and, then, we have the pads
and, then, there will be an internal access drive. That won't be a public street , but it will
be an internal access drive. So, with that we respectfully request your approval tonight
and I will stand for any further questions.
Simison: Any questions?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Member Cavener.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 18 of 39
Cavener: Thank you. Tamara, Happy New Year.
Thompson: Happy New Year.
Cavener: Appreciate you bringing up the -- the neighborhood meeting. How many
members of the -- representing the neighbors were in attendance at that neighborhood
meeting?
Thompson: Oh, Mr. Mayor, Councilman Cavener, I believe -- I looked at the sign-in sheet
today. I did not do that neighborhood meeting myself. I looked at the sign-in sheet today
and it looked like there were about ten to 12 that signed in and I believe we submitted
that with our application. Caleb, is that something you have access to?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor? Tamara, in that regard, then, when you send out a letter to the --
to the neighbors do you put a description of the -- of what it is the meeting will be covering?
It's more detailed than just an invitation; correct?
Thompson: Yes. Mr. Mayor, Council Woman, we -- it's -- for The Land Group it's our
practice to put what -- what the use is and I did do the letter for this one, I just wasn't
available for the meeting. So, I did send out the neighborhood meeting invitation and it
did specify senior -- senior housing.
Simison: Caleb, were you able to find that information?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, I pulled it up.
Simison: It looks like it's six is what we are hearing from Council.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman -- Member --
Strader: Council Woman is just fine.
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Thank you for presenting today. I understand that you were not in attendance
at the neighborhood meeting. Could -- and what I, honestly, struggle with is that we don't
have a videotape of that meeting, we don't have any kind of information, just sort of
coming -- coming for our -- you know, ourselves, so that we can review how it went. What
types of concerns did you hear at the meeting or did a member of -- of the developer's
team here, can you give us a sense of how you tried to address the neighbors' concerns,
especially with regard to the four story building height potentially and how you tried to
mitigate those concerns, please.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
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Thompson: Mr. Mayor, if it's -- if it's okay I will bring up another member of the team that
was at that neighborhood meeting.
Simison: State your name and address for the record.
Brennan: Tyler Brennan. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council Members. So, I was at the
-- in attendance of the -- the neighborhood meeting. We did have a gentleman come and
approach me and asked some questions and just to backup, we did have large color
renderings of what you guys are seeing tonight blown up on large easels, so that the
neighbors could see the four stories and see the architectural design that we want to bring
-- as more of a residential feel. The finishes of the building are stone with architectural
siding and a lot of deviation in the roof lines and the building and pop outs to give it more
of a residential look. In regards to the four stories, the way that the buildings are situated
we have them sort of tucked back and they go away from the neighborhood and, then,
the tree buffering helps a lot with -- and, again, the only four story buildings are only the
two on the -- on the north and south side. The clubhouse in the center is not four stories,
it's only two stories, and we were trying to, obviously, be well within the zoned 65 feet
that's currently allowed. So, I believe we are just over 40 feet. But after showing the
residents the -- the color renderings, there was not any opposition at that point. They
welcomed the design. They saw the level of finishes, the architectural windows, the
shingles, the stone, the siding that we are doing on the buildings, then, they were -- they
were more excited about the project than having to look at a back of the large big box
retail store that could be up to 60 feet. So, I hope that answers your questions, Mr. Mayor
and Council Members.
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Thank you. And I guess just to further clarify, Mr. Mayor, if I may, did you make
any changes to the design of the project in resp onse to concerns from residents or you
really didn't receive any -- any concerns at that meeting and didn't make any changes?
Brennan: Council Woman -- no, we have not. This is -- we actually are -- we are well
down the road with design of this building, as long as everything is approved. This is
what we are delivering. This is what we will be -- what you see in those renderings of
elevations is what we are going to deliver. Or we intend to deliver. We did not make any
changes.
Simison: Council Member Bernt.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor. Wow, that sounds interesting. Weird. Mr. Mayor. Maybe just -- just
so maybe -- so the folks can know that are in attendance, so we can clarify, maybe to
piggyback on some comments made by Mr. Brown, so this meeting isn't -- we are not
talking about the design of this -- this building tonight, we are not approving this
development tonight. If you have concerns about maybe what this looks like , whether --
if you have issues with the height or the commercial aspect of it or whatever the case may
be, I would invite you to -- and it will be renoticed again when -- when the CUP goes
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 20 of 39
before Planning and Zoning Commission and, then, you will have an opportunity to
discuss your concerns in regard to what it looks like. I feel like we are sort of going down
the road of talking about what it's going to look like and what -- how many -- you know,
whatever details and that's just not -- that's just not what we are discussing tonight. So ,
you will have an opportunity to talk more about that in the future. Just wanted to make
you aware, so you -- so, you're not so concerned.
Simison: Any further questions for the applicant?
Brennan: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council Members.
Simison: Is there any further discussion?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Member Cavener.
Cavener: A question for -- for Mr. Johnson, not meaning to put you on the spot. I see he
sent approximately 75 postcards to the homeowners that are within 300 feet. I know we
have had some kind of a practice of the city that we also do additional postings via
NextDoor. I'm just curious if we did that in this particular case. Maybe just for the benefit
of the public to outline what communication -- just because when I -- when I hear folks
say we weren't told about that, for your benefit as a Council we hear that a lot, that people
feel like, oh, we weren't informed and sometimes you get a postcard and you're not quite
sure what it means and, then, you see a sign and it's like, oh, where is that postcard. So,
I just was hoping maybe for -- for our new Council and for the public to get a good
understanding about when it's required, what the applicant does, and how we
communicate with the public.
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Cavener, Members of Council, I'm looking at
NextDoor now to see when we posted, but it is our practice to send the 300 foot postcards
as required by code. We do post on our website as soon as a development comes in.
We have the Meridian Press noticing, which have to look and see the date, but it's
generally about 30 days before. That's in the Meridian Press. And, then, the applicant's
required to post on site and we do have an affidavit of posting showing they did that as
well. But I can certainly find the NextDoor and those are the various methods we notice
that within code and, then, also beyond that.
Cavener: Great. Thank you.
Simison: Is there further discussion?
Strader: I will discuss, please, Mr. Mayor, if I --
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 21 of 39
Strader: Okay. It's fun -- kind of fun and a little scary doing the discussion for the first
time. Just a couple of thoughts. I -- I am very sensitive to a lot of residents' concerns
regarding traffic, particularly with respect to multi-story residential buildings in an area
where we currently have a two lane road. I am very familiar with McMillan. I live nearby.
I, at the same time, would -- intuition would lead me to believe that a senior living type of
use would not have the same type of traffic concerns that would be associated with a
multi-story residential rental building that's not age restricted and I do -- do think it sounds
like a commercial use could actually have worse traffic. What I would just say is , you
know, I would be supportive of approving this. I guess it's a DA modificatio n with the
stipulation that we restrict the future intended use specifically to senior housing. Could
be senior apartments, but I just want to make sure there is no confusion about the
potential for multi-family housing here. It sounds like the CUP will come through -- at the
time that we go through that discussion I hope that the applicant would be very sensitive
to the neighbors' concerns and that, you know, you will be having discussions with the
neighbors and that you will be specifically discussing the traffic -- potential traffic impacts
with some more research at the time that we would see that and, then, we will be having,
you know, the ability for public testimony. I will also be , you know, looking for more
information about the percentage of open space and -- and in my -- just to give people a
flavor for it when they come back, I don't like people to have surprises, I think in the future,
you know, our ten percent open space requirement for residential development is
something that we will be taking a look at together as a city and if we have a two lane
road and this is not currently an intended use under the DA agreement, I'm going to be
looking for someone hopefully to go above and beyond the minimum requirement for open
space and really try to show that they are overachieving and that this is going to fit in well
with the neighborhood. I just wanted to provide those comments. So , you would have a
little bit of a flavor for how I would be looking at that . I think we need to, you know,
increase our standards and that we need to look at that as a city and so that's something
in the future that I'm going to be looking for.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, if I may --
Simison: Are you done with your comments?
Strader: Yes, I'm done with my comments. Thank you.
Simison: Council Women Perreault.
Perreault: If we don't anticipate we will be taking any additional public testimony, I make
a motion that we close the public hearing portion and continue with discussion.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: All right. There has been a motion and a second to close the public hearing.
All those in favor say aye. Those opposed say nay. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 22 of 39
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, if I may again.
Simison: Council Woman Perrault.
Perreault: I don't know if these questions are for -- for staff or for Mr. Nary. I'm wondering
about -- if -- if Council would like to testify or have comments on items related to the CUP,
the specifics as we talked about, how do we best provide those? Would you like us to
send those in writing for posting prior to the Planning and Zoning meeting or what would
be our process for that?
Nary: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Perreault, it would not be
appropriate for the Council to comment on your desire, because you are the appellate
body --
Perreault: Okay.
Nary: -- for the CUP. If there are conditions you think are important to put into the
development agreement --
Perreault: Okay.
Nary: -- that would be fine and that would be what tonight would be is if you want
additional direction in the DA, but not to the CUP.
Perreault: Okay. I wanted to make sure. I thought that was the case, but I wasn't -- I
wasn't sure. Okay. Then the other question is I am getting concerned about the amount
of senior living that is being built in that area because of the significant difference in
population numbers between the baby boomer population and the Gen X'ers, which I am
a part of, about 30 million people, and so I anticipate here in the next ten to 15 years we
are going to see a lot of extra resident -- senior residential living that we aren't going to
need and so I'm wondering if -- if the CUP is going to restrict -- if they are going to restrict
it and make it age restriction for it, will they be allowed to remove that age restriction at a
later time and would they be permitted to do that? Is there a time limit on the CUP and
do they come reapply for it? Can you give me some more specifics?
Nary: Sure. Certainly. Mr. Mayor, Members of Council, Council Member Perreault, the
CUP is -- is perpetual, it doesn't -- it doesn't expire and it doesn't require reapplication.
But certainly if the market were to change or the needs were to change, the ability to
come and request a change certainly is not going to change. So, definitely they can be
changed in the future by the owner at that time.
Simison: Is there further discussion or is there a motion that anyone would be interested
in making at this time? Council Member Strader.
Borton: Madam Mayor -- oh, God.
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January 7, 2020
Page 23 of 39
Simison: And that's why Council Member Strader is recognized.
Strader: Mr. Mayor, thank you. Maybe my fellow Council Members will help me make a
motion, so I don't mess it up too bad. I would propose that we approve the development
modification with the change that we continue in the future to restrict the future use to
senior living. I think it's important that we have that as part of the approval.
Simison: Is there a second?
Borton: Second.
Simison: Motion and a second. Is there discussion on the motion?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Member Cavener.
Cavener: This is a -- this is a unique -- this is -- the wheels turning. So, I guess a question
would be for either staff or either Caleb or Mr. Nary. We know that development changes,
what goes up one day gets torn down, something new goes up. If we were to approve
what I assume is Council Member's intended motion, that locks senior living into that land
designation only or only pertaining to that particular development?
Nary: Great question. Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Cavener, so
this development agreement only applies to this property and they are requesting that
multi-family senior living portion in this section of this property. So, the commercial would
still remain on the exterior. So, this restriction would only apply to that one portion of the
parcel. But it wouldn't apply to any other parcels other than this.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor, follow up. What happens -- I'm sorry. Mr. Nary, what happens a
hundred years from now they tear down and they want to -- they want to build apartments,
what does that process look like? I'm just curious if we are -- if we are locking in -- this
has to be senior living from here to perpetuity.
Nary: So, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Cavener, I mean we are
locking in that parcel as a residential living parcel with restricted to -- and the senior living,
just for the public's perspective, under our development code is 55 and older. So, this is
-- as they said, this is not a -- this is not a nursing home facility. So, again, the process
would be, again, they would have to come back for a modification to the development
agreement, ask to do something else.
Cavener: Okay.
Simison: Is there any further discussion?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor?
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January 7, 2020
Page 24 of 39
Simison: Council Women Perreault.
Perreault: Ask a question about the -- the height. I'm aware that that's something that
will be more specifically considered with the CUP, but I do have concerns about that height
and in -- in that location. I realize that the C-G allows it, but just -- just also wanting to
take into account the area, the concerns. I know there is some -- you know, I know
Walmart's across the street. I know there is some more heavier uses that are coming in
there, but I think it's going to -- to really stand out more than anything else within that area
and so the reason I asked about what comments that we can make, because it sounds
like it's possible for us to potentially limit -- limit that if we desire to do so as part of the DA
modification process and -- and since we are not going to have the ability to comment on
the CPU I wanted to specifically say that I'm not -- not a huge fan of a four story building,
if that's what the applicant chooses to do, but I realize that's going to be Planning and
Zoning's ultimate -- ultimate decision, but -- and I appreciate the clarification that that's --
that there is only going to be two buildings that are four story in height, although it sounds
like there are quite a few units in those buildings. I don't know what the -- I don't know
how a three story building that's wider, longer, or -- or an additional building --
unfortunately we can't take -- take more public testimony, but you can do so at the -- at
the conditional use hearing, but I just would like to say that I would like to see that be
designed a little bit differently. I think it would -- it would give that entire area a little bit
more subtle feel and we hear -- I have been on Planning and Zoning three years, we hear
a lot of testimony about people being concerned that it will change the value and nature
of their single residential homes when you have -- now, it may be senior living and traffic
may be calm, but because there is a large apartment look type -- you know, unit --
structure I should say, it does change the single family residential values that are all along
that area and I understand the neighbors' concerns that their home values might change
and the taller that -- that the buildings get the more likely that's the case. So, I just want
to say that it was always funny to me to -- to have a four story senior living -- senior living
building, but -- but I wouldn't say if the applicant -- I realize you guys have already done
all your design stuff, but I -- sitting on Planning and Zoning, knowing my fellow
Commissioners on that body, I know that that's going to be something they are going to
heavily discuss when you go before them , so --
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Perreault, one of the things
for the public's perspective that we -- we don't have story restrictions, we have height
restrictions. This is already a C-G zone, so it already has a height limitation as it is. So,
whatever buildings are going to be built have to stay within that height limitation. So,
whether it is a big box store, a commercial building with offices, or a residential structure,
they all have the same height limitation. So, I know you know that, it's more for the public's
perspective that all of that will get evaluated. So, it's really not about stories of buildings,
but simply height.
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January 7, 2020
Page 25 of 39
Perreault: And to -- Mr. Mayor, if I may.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I think the residential limit -- if it was in a residential zone wouldn't that be
limited to 35 feet in height? Maybe that's a question for staff. Caleb.
Hood: So, the height limitation in the C-G zoning district Is 65 feet.
Perreault: Right. But because this is a residential structure, if it were in a residential
zone, would it be limited to 35 feet?
Hood: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, that varies depending on the R zone. Some
of it's 35, some of it goes up to 40 -- 35, 40 is a typical residential zoning height limitation.
Perreault: So, the 40 foot height building would be consistent with that -- that the applicant
has proposed would be consistent with more residential use.
Hood: Mr. Mayor, again, 35, 40 feet is consistent with an R zone. So, yeah, 40 foot,
depending on what zone it has, yes.
Perreault: I'm just trying to get an understanding of whether that's something that we
want to consider limiting as part of the DA modification or not.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Yeah. I just want to weigh in a little bit. I haven't said much. I mean this is --
this is about changing a DA agreement, separating out property, and I kind of agree with
Councilman Bernt a little bit, you know, we are getting ahead of ourselves. It's -- it's
tempting to bake the cake when you get to decide the size of the pan, but because you're
debating the size of the pan you do want to get to , well, what kind of cake are we going
to bake and so that -- that is tempting. I -- but I do want to make sure the residents in the
area understand that -- that if we -- if the Council votes to -- to move forward with this DA
it sets up a process that allows you , then, to weigh in from the beginning, from the
Planning and Zoning process and if it makes it to City Council on those details and all
those different things that have kind of popped up here tonight and issues that you have
raised and -- and I don't -- and who knows, by the time it gets back to us I don't know
what that's going to look like. So, you know, I'm willing to support the change in this DA
and, then, see what comes forward and then -- then get into the -- into the recipe and see
what details we have that we want to have or not have. So, I think it's good to move
forward on this and just see what -- what comes out. The statistic I read on seniors, you
know, in this country 10,000 people turn 65 every day and that's -- that's -- that's a lot of
-- a lot of people moving and we do know -- as I was out campaigning how many people
have moved here that our senior citizens, because family is here and so there is that
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January 7, 2020
Page 26 of 39
need. We have a lot of needs out there for housing and this is part of our variety that we
want to offer, but is this the right place, the right thing. To me that would come later. I
think right now I'm going to support that next step of changing the DA.
Simison: Is there further discussion on the motion? If not, ask the clerk to call roll.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault,
yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion passes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Public Hearing for Castlecreek Subdivision (H-2019-0130) by
Northwest Ventures, LLC, Located at 2432 E. Amity Rd.
1. Request: City Council Review for the purpose of extending
the expired plat to allow a 6-month extension to obtain the
City Engineer ’s signature on the final plat.
Simison: All right. The next item on the agenda is Item 10-B, a public hearing for
Castlecreek Subdivision, H-2019-0130. Open this public hearing with staff comments.
Hood: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The subject application before
you is a miscellaneous application for a time extension of a p reliminary plat on 6.5 acres
of land, zoned R-8, located at 2432 East Amity Road as shown on the screen in front of
you. This property was annexed and received preliminary plat approval in 2014. They
were granted an administrative time extension in 2016 and they were notified that they
had until August of '18 to get the plat signed by the city engineer. They did submit their
construction drawings for the subdivision in a timely manner. Those were reviewed and
approved, just that final step, the way that the City of Meridian tracks subdivisions and
timeliness is city engineer's signature and they did not receive that in time. So, this would
extend that time for the city engineer to sign the final plat. So, you don't have to start
back over and do a new preliminary plat on this -- on the subject site. So, staff is
recommending approval of this request. The applicant is in agreement with the staff
report, but as Mr. Brown mentioned, he is here, too, so if you have any questions with him
I'm sure he would be happy to answer them. With that that is staff's report.
Simison: Any questions for staff? If not, would the applicant like to come forward and
make his comments.
Brown: For the record Kent Brown. 3161 East Springwood, Meridian, Idaho. Meridian's
process for final plats is kind of different than some of the cities and we end up submitting
subdivisions way in advance to try to get on your agenda and get the plans approved and,
then, sometimes they will sit on the shelf. In this case the window of opportunity was very
very short from when the plat was approved to when it expired. It wasn't -- we didn't have
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January 7, 2020
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the opportunity to build it in the time frame after those plans were approved to make that
happen. To date everything is built. We are in the process of doing final acceptance with
the highway district, having the bonding returned. The streetlights are up, the landscaping
is in, the fencing is all done. This subdivision is built. There is no value added to the city
to cause us to go back to do a preliminary plat and, then, turn around and come back with
a final plat six months later after we got the preliminary plat approved to get back to the
point where we are today. We have submitted the stuff for the signature and my client is
bringing in the warranty surety. We have comments from the county surveyor and ,
hopefully, with your approval tonight we will be recorded before the 1st of February. So,
we are asking for six months, but I don't anticipate that being an issue. We are just
covering our bases at this point. I will stand for any questions.
Simison: Any questions?
Brown: Thank you.
Simison: It is a public hearing. Is there any sign-ups for this item?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, there were four sign-ups. None indicating they wished to testify.
Simison: Is there anybody who would like to testify on this item? Applicant, any final
comments? All right. With that, any questions from Council or any motions on this topic?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Member Borton.
Borton: I move we close the public hearing on Item 10-B, H-2019-0130.
Hoaglun: Second.
Simison: Motion to close the public record has been moved and seconded. All those in
favor say aye. All opposed. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Simison: Is there any motion?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Member Borton.
Borton: With that explanation of the applicant, I move we approve Item 10-B, time
extension for H-2019-0130.
Cavener: Second.
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January 7, 2020
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Simison: There has been an motion and a second. Any questions on the motion? If not,
clerk call the roll.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault,
yea.
Simison: The ayes have it. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
C. Police Department: Internet Crimes Against Children
Memorandum of Understanding 2020
Simison: Item 10-C is our Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children
Memorandum of Understanding for 2020 and with that I will turn it over to Lieutenant
Leslie.
Leslie: Mr. Mayor, Members of Council, thank you. So, this is a -- an agreement that we
sign yearly and it's typically on the Consent Agenda, but we would -- we wanted the new
Mayor's signature on it, so that's why we moved it into this part. Internet Crimes Against
Children is a task force that we are part of for the new members. We assign one detective
to that unit. He works out of the Attorney General's office, working internet crimes. They
pay all of his wages and all of his compensation to be there and so it's a great partnership
for us and so we are just looking for the signature on that MOU. It hasn't changed from
year to year. We just wanted the new Mayor's signature on it.
Simison: Are there any questions?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Just a comment. Jamie, I agree that it is a great value for our citizens for our
state. I have had the opportunity to engage with the Attorney General's Office on this
program. These detectives have a very very challenging position. Now I mean it's a
challenging job that we don't talk about enough. So, I'm definitely supportive of all the --
this body -- and I assume you probably all are. Thanks for bringing this and giving you a
chance to come and share a little bit about this, so --
Simison: Mr. Nary, do we need a motion on this item?
Nary: Yes, sir.
Simison: Do I have a motion on this item?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 29 of 39
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I move that we approve the MOU 2020 from the Police Department, the Internet
Crimes Against Children.
Borton: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second. All those -- any discussion on the motion? If
not, the clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault,
yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
D. City Council: Election of New City Council Officers and
Department Liaison Appointments
Simison: Item 10-D is City Council elections of new City Council officers and department
liaison appointments and I will recognize Councilman Borton.
Borton: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate the -- the opportunity given by the Council to
have served as City Council president for the last couple of years -- a number of years
back by ordinance we -- which I think was -- was well done -- required the turnover in that
position, a two year term, no more than that, to provide others to have an opportunity to
participate in the leadership roles of City Council. I think the last two years we -- we have
accomplished quite a bit. I think one of the overarching things that we did that I'm very
proud of and excited about is some of the process improvements that we have done to
try and make it more procedurally open and accessible to the public , whether it's our
finances through open.gov, to our meeting format changes, trying to make it more
accessible for our community as it grows. So, I appreciate all of the support from our
Council in having that happen. So, I wanted to put that out first. I know it's the time to --
to put forth nominations. I would -- Mr. Mayor, if it's okay, I would nominate Treg Bernt for
the position of City Council president going forward.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: Have a motion and a second for Treg Bernt for City Council president. Is there
further discussion on the motion? If not, call the question. All those in favor signify by
saying aye. All opposed say nay. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 30 of 39
Simison: Councilman Bernt, congratulations. Do you have any comments you would like
to make?
Bernt: Two years ago when I was elected as a City Council Member I -- I -- here in Seat
4 there was a gentleman by the name of Council Member Bird and his name pops up
quite frequently in discussions of different things that happen in our city and, quite frankly,
he would say that as Council Members and this body and this brotherhood and now
sisterhood that we are a part of that you may disagree, that's fine, but we leave as a
brotherhood and a sisterhood and we leave it here in -- in chambers and so in the past
we have done a great job and I would have to say that this -- this Council has been the
finest Council in the Treasure Valley, if not the state, because we disagree and because
we have differences of opinion and I would hope, knowing that we have three new Council
Members, that the legacy of past councils goes forward, knowing that we can have lively
discussion, that we can have discussions where we agree and where we disagree, but at
the end of the day we leave it here and we leave and -- and next Tuesday we start again
and we go about the people's business and so grateful for the support of this Council and
their trust in me in going forward as the -- as this Council's president and know that I'm
close, know that I'm always available and whatever I can do to help, whatever I can do to
serve, know that that's my goal always. So, I appreciate it.
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The second position for vice-president of the City Council
I would nominate Brad Hoaglun. He is, as you know, experienced in this City Council role
and I think would be a great fit to serve as our next City Council vice-president.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have an motion and a second for Brad Hoaglun to serve as Council vice-
president. Is there any discussion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye. All
opposed say nay. The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Simison: Vice-President, the floor is yours.
Hoaglun: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for the nomination. I look forward to serving,
to do whatever I can on this Council. Just to kind of follow up on Councilman Bernt's
remarks there, which I wholeheartedly agree with, and that's the fact that, yeah, there will
be times we disagree, but everyone's heart is f or the best -- what's best -- they think is
best for this community and you can never disagree with that and that's always a good
thing, is the fact that we want what's best and we just may come out at it different ways
every now and then, but in the end we can walk out and with a lot of respect of everyone
that's up here and -- and I look forward to that and we will just work through the many
challenges that we will have and -- but we will face them together and do the best we can.
Thank you.
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January 7, 2020
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Item 11 : Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 20-1868: An Ordinance (H-2019-0099 –
Inglewood Place Subdivision) For Annexation Of A Parcel Of
Land Situated In The SW ¼ of the SW ¼ Of Section 21,
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 10.29 Acres Of Land From RUT To C-C
(Commercial Business) (3.761) And R-15 Medium-High Density
Residential) (6.532 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.
Simison: Excellent. Thank you. Moving on. Item 11 -A, Ordinance No. 1868. I'm going
to ask the clerk to read this by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an ordinance related to H-2019-0099, Inglewood
Place Subdivision, for annexation of a parcel of land situated in the SW ¼ of the SW ¼
of Section 21, 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 10.29 acres of land from RUT to C-C (Commercial Business) (3.761) and
R-15 (Medium-High Density Residential) (6.532 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.
Simison: Thank you, Council. Do I have a motion?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Move we approve Ordinance No. 20-1868 with suspension of rules.
Cavener: Second.
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January 7, 2020
Page 32 of 39
Simison: There has been a motion and a second. Any discussion? If not, I will ask the
clerk to call the roll.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Per reault,
yea.
Simison: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Ordinance No. 20-1869: An Ordinance (H-2019-0098 – 840 E.
Ustick Road) For Annexation of a Parcel of Land Being A
Portion Of The SW of the SE ¼ Of Section 31, Township 4
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 2.29 Acres
Of Land From RUT to R-2 (Low Density Residential) 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 Providing For A Waiver Of
The Reading Rules; And Providing An Effective Date
Simison: Next time item is Item 11-B, Ordinance No. 20-1869 and ask the clerk to read
this by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. An ordinance related to H-2019-0098, (840 E. Ustick
Road) for annexation of a parcel of land being a portion of the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of
Section 31, Township 4 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 2.29 acres of land from RUT to R-2 (Low Density Residential) 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
providing for a waiver of the reading rules; and providing an effective date.
Simison: Thank you. Council, do I have a motion?
Nary: Mr. Mayor, we normally would ask if anybody in the public wanted it read in its
entirety. And hopefully no one would.
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January 7, 2020
Page 33 of 39
Simison: Would anybody out there like this read in its entirety? Recognizing no one, do
I have a motion?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I move we approve Ordinance No. 20-1869, with suspension of rules.
Bernt: Second.
Simison: Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? If not, Clerk call the
roll.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault,
yea.
Simison: The ayes have it.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
C. Ordinance No. 20-1870: An Ordinance Amending Meridian City
Code As Codified At Title 11, To Amend The Maximum Street
Length For Dead-End Streets (Cul-De-Sacs); And Providing For
A Waiver Of The Reading Rules; And Providing An Effective
Date.
Simison: Item 11 -C, Ordinance No. 20-1870. Ask the Clerk to read this by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20-1870,
an Ordinance amending Meridian City Code as codified at Title 11, to amend the
maximum street length for dead-end streets (cul-de-sacs); and providing for a waiver of
the reading rules; and providing an effective date.
Simison: Is there anybody that would like this read in its entirety? If not, do I have a
motion?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: President Bernt informed me that my predecessor Genesis always made these
motions, so I will -- I will attempt it and if I am incorrect please -- please help me here. I
make a motion to approve Ordinance No. 20-1870, amending Meridian City Code as
codified at Title 11 with suspension of the rules.
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January 7, 2020
Page 34 of 39
Hoaglun: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? Okay. We will
call the question.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault,
yea.
Simison: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
D. City Council: Election of New City Council Officers and
Department Liaison Appointments
Simison: We need to go back to Item 10-D.
Nary: Mr. Mayor, I was going to ask under the liaison appointments, we didn't discuss
those. We normally would bring next week a resolution outlining what all those are, but
usually we have identified them tonight, if you have them prepared.
Bernt: Yes. Just a moment and I will get to it. Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council President Bernt.
Bernt: Would you like me just to go down just the list of each Council Member and what
responsibilities they have?
Simison: That would be awesome.
Bernt: Okay. Mr. Mayor, number one, Council Member Brad Hoaglun, he has been
assigned the liaison role for the Fire Department , the Parks Department, and will
represent Council at Rural Fire and at the Parks Commission. Any questions for you?
You're pretty -- you're pretty up to snuff, aren't you?
Hoaglun: I'm -- I'm ready to go.
Bernt: Okay. Council Member Joe Borton. Joseph W. Borton, he has been assigned
the liaison role for Police and Human Resources and will also represent the Commission
-- or, excuse me, represent the Council with the golf course committee and the Arts
Commission. Any questions or concerns from Council Member Joseph W. Borton? Okay.
Council Woman Jessica Perreault has been assigned the role -- the liaison role of
Community Development, in association with that will represent the Council at COMPASS
and Historical Preservation. COMPASS meets I believe once -- once a quarter and we
will notify COMPASS, so that you can be -- you will receive direct e-mails from COMPASS
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 35 of 39
and they will send out their agenda and so pretty self explanatory after that. Any
questions? All right. Council Woman Liz Strader. Are you ready?
Strader: Ye s.
Bernt: Your liaison role is going to be with Public Works and Legal. You will be best
buddies with our dear friend and cohort Bill Nary and also will represent the Council at
SWAC and the Air Quality Board. Questions?
Strader: Thank you. I really look forward to that.
Bernt: I know that that's -- you were very passionate about that, so we are excited to
have you play those roles. And last, but not least, my dear friend Council Member Luke
Cavener and he is going to stay -- has agreed to stay with his existing roles with IT, the
Clerk's Office and Finance, and will continue to represent Council at VRT and in its
executive board and also the Transportation Commission. Do you have any questions?
Cavener: Mr. President, I do actually just have a question. As I understand , I think
Meridian has the opportunity for two seats on Valley Regional Transit's board.
Bernt: So, what -- so -- so -- so Council Woman Milam used to be on that; right?
Cavener: Correct.
Bernt: Okay. So, you and someone else?
Cavener: We need -- we need to --
Bernt: One more person.
Cavener: -- bring in -- Mr. Mayor. Sorry.
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: So -- and there has been much larger conversation happening about VRT and
our board seats and that's a conversation for another day, but I would think it would be
appropriate for us to bring another name to replace Council Member Milam at VRT. You
know, we can have a conversation about keeping the existing Council Members on in
different roles. I know we have done tha t from time to time. I know they are always
probably willing to serve, but I think there is a value of making sure that this body is
represented in those spots. Just if anything from the conversation that happens at Council
meetings, either before or after, hey, here is what's going on at VRT, here is what's going
on at COMPASS, here is what's going on at MDC, those types of things. I think we should
lean towards having our Council -- Mayor and Council Members represented in that.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 36 of 39
Simison: Councilman Cavener, that's what I was going to -- I had heard that there was
an interest in having the Mayor serve in that role, because many of these other cities have
mayors who serve in that role. I'm open to whatever conversation makes sense . But I
would love with Council -- either offline we would talk about what makes sense.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor, I would wholeheartedly support and welcome that. I think that we
need -- as the second largest city we need to have your voice at VRT talking about public
transit. So, if that's something that this body is supportive of, I'm definitely supportive of
and we can just continue that conversation at a point in time, just knowing that we have
that vacancy that will need to work with.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor, are you -- it sounds like you want to -- to be the second.
Simison: I'm willing to serve in that role if it makes sense to have the Mayor, because
other mayors are present. You know, I mean if there is no conflicts with the other existing
meetings that are there, whether it's -- and I assume not, that COMPASS and VRT have
a lot of the same members.
Bernt: Right.
Simison: That would be my only question. I would like to see when those meetings are
to make sure that they aren't going to cause a conflict with something else at this point in
time, but, otherwise, I would be interested in taking on that role.
Bernt: Follow up, Mr. Mayor. I would agree with -- with Council Member Cavener, if you
are interested that makes sense to have you on there and have your voice there. So,
unless there is anything that anyone else would like to discuss, I think that -- I think that
makes sense.
Simison: But we will follow up and if there is any problems, then, we can talk and we can
find someone that we will bring back by next week. But we should be able to get an
answer tomorrow morning from that standpoint.
Bernt: One more thing, Mr. Mayor. So, those who are new, I would encourage the
directors that -- to reach out to these new Council Members and also these new Council
Members to reach out to these directors and -- and the departments and -- and it's quite
often that we meet with them and we discuss things with them and so just to have that
dialogue I think makes a lot of sense. So, other than that I think we are good.
Simison: Mr. Nary, do you need any sort of a motion or direction to bring that back?
Nary: Mr. Mayor, no, we will -- I took down all the notes of that. I will bring back a
resolution next week for Council's approval with all those assignments, just so we have a
record of it.
Simison: Okay. Thank you.
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 37 of 39
Cavener: Mr. President? Sorry. A couple other follow-up questions just along that. Can
we get a breakdown of who from Mayor and City Council will be represented on MDC,
the new Mayor and City Council, they will continue to be represented on COMPASS. You
mentioned Council Member Perreault, but I think we have three seats on COMPASS and
we have MDC -- there are three seats on MDC.
Simison: Council Member Bernt.
Bernt: So, I believe that we have three seats at COMPASS and the three seats at
COMPASS going forward would be -- would be the Mayor, myself and it would be Ms.
Perreault. And it would be Charlie Rountree. He's been there. Unless -- unless we want
to have -- unless we want to have another Council Member involved with -- with
COMPASS, but Charlie's had a ton of experience with that -- with that board. He's -- he's
served on the executive board for a lot of years and traveled with Mr. Stoll to different
meetings, so -- but I'm open to that discussion.
Cavener: Mr. President. Sorry. Mr. Mayor. Sorry, Mr. Mayor. My apologies.
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Council President Bernt, as long as the rhetoric is that it's not that Meridian City
Council Members don't want to participate. Over the last few weeks I have had
opportunity to engage with a few COMPASS members and there has always been a
question about why we don't have more Council Members and they have always said
they have been told it's because members of this board don't want to participate and I
was surprised to hear that, because I think we all would be happy and willing to
participate. So, I, for one, would be one that would be happy to participate in COMPASS.
I would never -- I can't remember which one of you said that we walk on the shoulders of
giants and Charlie Rountree is definitely a giant. I wouldn't take anything away from his
expertise. I don't want him to feel like that he's there because nobody else in this body is
willing to take on the responsibility.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: If you don't mind, I would be more than happy to reach out to Charlie and just have
a discussion with him just to gauge his interest. I know that he's traveling a little bit more
as a -- him and Nancy. I mean like -- are they in Hawaii right now? And so I will reach
out to Charlie gauge his interest and get back to you, Mr. Mayor.
Item 12: Future Meeting Topics
Simison: Perfect. Last item, No. 12, future meeting topics. Any topics for future
meetings?
Meridian City Council
January 7, 2020
Page 38 of 39
Cavener: Oh, we got all -- let's wait.
Simison: If not --
Bernt: One second. Mr. Mayor, one last thing about MDC. I forgot to mention MDC as
well. So, I sit on MDC and the Mayor also sits on -- on MDC and so I know in the past
we have had some lively discussion in regard to having Council Member representation
on MDC. I have a meeting tomorrow with the Mayor and I will just chat with her about
that as well.
Cavener: Mayor?
Bernt: The old --
Simison: Mayor Tammy.
Bernt: Mayor Tammy.
Simison: Mayor Tammy is still planning on serving in that role. A, there is nothing we can
do to remove her from that role even if you want to and she would have to resign at that
point time. Well, we -- so, she's planning on us continuing to serve. Her and I are meeting
monthly probably right before or after those meetings to keep me up to speed on whatever
the conversations are at MDC, but, you know, again, as Treg -- or Councilman Bernt
mentioned, we can talk to Mayor Tammy tomorrow and get her understanding from that
standpoint. With that do I have a final motion for the evening?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Move we adjourn tonight's meeting.
Hoaglun: Second.
Simison: Motion and second to adjourn. All those in favor signify by s aying aye.
Opposed? We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:10 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
_______________________________ ______/______/______
MAYOR ROBERT SIMISON DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
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CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK