HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-10 Work Session Meridian City Council Work Session March 10, 2020.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March
10, 2020, by President Treg Bernt.
Members Present: Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Treg Bernt, Jessica Perreault, Brad
Hoaglun and Liz Strader.
Members Absent: Robert Simison.
Also present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Cameron Arial, Caleb Hood, Warren Stewart, Jeff
Brown, Charlie Butterfield, Vincent Koontz and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
_X_ Liz Strader (4:35pm) _X_ Joe Borton
_X_ Brad Hoaglun _X_Treg Bernt
X Jessica Perreault _X Luke Cavener
Mayor Robert E. Simison
Bernt: Welcome, everybody, to our work session this evening. For the record today is
Tuesday, March 10th. It is 4:30 p.m. We will start with roll call attendance, Mr. Clerk.
Item 2: Adoption of Agenda
Bernt: Mayor Simison. We love him. Travel safe. Item 2, adoption of the agenda.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor. We do not have any changes on our agenda in looking through it,
so, I move adoption of the agenda as printed.
Borton: Second.
Bernt: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda. All those in favor say aye.
Any nay? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 3: Consent Agenda [Action Item]
A. Approve Minutes of February 25, 2020 City Council Work
Session
B. Approve Minutes of February 25, 2020 City Council Regular
Meeting
C. Approve Minutes of March 3, 2020 City Council Work Session
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 5 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 2 of 26
D. Burlingame Subdivision No. 1 Pedestrian Pathway Easement
No. 1
E. Burlingame Subdivision No. 1 Pedestrian Pathway Easement
No. 2
F. Caven Ridge Estates West Subdivision No. 2 Pedestrian
Pathway Easement
G. Turf Farm Subdivision No. 1 Pedestrian Pathway Easement
H. Final Order for Caldera Canyon (H-2019-0147) by Vanessa
Klaus, Located at 1294 E. Leigh Field Dr.
I. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Edington Commons
H-2019-0109) by G20, LLC, Located at 3610 N. Linder Rd.
J. Development Agreement (H-2019-0120) Hensley Station with
Northern Land Holdings, LLC fka Northern Land
Development, LLC, Located at 462 N. Black Cat Rd.
K. Temporary License Agreement between the Ada County
Highway District and the City of Meridian Regarding the Pine
Avenue Trailhead Amenity
L. License Agreement Between the Nampa and Meridian
Irrigation District and the City of Meridian Regarding Caven
Ridge Estates West No. 2 Subdivision to Support/Accompany
ESMT 2020-0020 and 2019-0117
M. Resolution 20-2190: A Resolution Of The Mayor And The City
Council Of The City Of Meridian, Waiving A Portion Of Certain
City Of Meridian Permitting Fees For The Meridian Library
District's Tenant Improvement Application To Construct The
Unbound Library Branch At 722 E 2nd Street In Meridian; And
Providing An Effective Date
N. AP Invoices for Payment - 02/28/20 - $134,257.95
O. AP Invoices for Payment - 03/04/20 - $177,621.79 Special
P. AP Invoices for Payment - 03/11/20 - $827,974.28
Q. AP Invoices for Payment - 03/05/20 - $76.00
Bernt: Number three -- Item No. 3, the Consent Agenda.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 6 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 3 of 26
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor. The Consent Agenda, there were no changes, so I move approval
of the Consent Agenda and with the Mayor to sign and Clerk to attest.
Borton: Second.
Bernt: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. No discussion,
we will have -- those in favor say aye. Any opposed? No. Motion carries. Perfect.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 4: Department/Commission Reports [Action Item]
A. Mayor's Office: Update on Current Citywide Strategic Plan
Bernt: Item No. 4, move to Department/Commission Reports, starting with 4-A with the
Mayor's office, update on the current citywide strategic plan and I believe that Mr. Vincent
is going to present.
Koontz: All right. Mr. Council President, Members of Council, I was told to keep this two
minutes, so -- so I'm Vince and I'm here to provide Council a brief two minute update --
I'm joking -- from our 2016 to 2020 strategic plan. I'm happy to report that our strategic
plan is on track and we are making steady progress on our objectives and we have got
59 total and we are -- we are moving forward on that. As a note, Mark Niemeyer will not
be here tonight to present his closeout slide. He is at some sort of virus meeting. I don't
know what that's about, so -- but he won't be here tonight. He did say he will provide a
memo to Council on his closeout. So, just an update on that. So, I'm going to be talking
about bi-annually we do a review to Council on our current plan. We provide closeout
reports and update on high priority strategic objectives that are currently in progress.
Today I will report to you our completion -- our current completion status on our objectives
on our total plan. Our objective leads will come up and present to you their close outs
that have occurred since our last September update in 2019. And, finally, I will discuss
what's left in our current plan in the last nine months and what we are going to be -- and
what we are going to be completed -- completing and potentially adopting into our next
strategic plan. So, how are we doing? Our current plan completion, which is the total
number of tactics in the plan, we stand at 73 percent complete. We were at -- when I last
reported when -- when Mayor Tammy last reported we were at 67 percent complete and
our goal is to be over 80 percent complete by the end of the plan period at the end of the
year. So, we are definitely on track with that. Our objective completion -- we have
completed 27 out of the 59 total objectives of the plan. Quite a few of those objectives
have about one tactic remaining. That's one of the reasons there is a little discrepancy
between the plan completion at 73 percent and the 46 objective completion status. So,
we have got seven objectives between 79 and 99 percent complete and we have got a
few more that are almost over 50 percent complete. So, we should have a significant
amount of objectives completed by the end of the plan. Our goal is to be over 70 percent
complete on the objectives by the end of the plan, so we are well on track to do that. As
part of the new plan, as I mentioned, we may carry over some of the strategic objectives
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 7 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 4 of 26
and goals into the new plan that we are creating based on the feedback, but we will -- we
will see where that gets to with our current plan completion and with our communication
with --with our directors and with our partners and our community on strategic plan, there
are very well many things that may carry over into that next plan. With -- with that we
have got a few close outs. We have got seven total and I'm going to have the objective
leads give a brief discussion on what they have completed, what challenges that they
have had, and what's coming up next in those strategic objectives. So, I'm going to hand
it off to Caleb for a few minutes and he is going to talk about his complete objectives
under strategic growth.
Hood: Mr. President, Members of Council, moving that needle that Vince had on that
previous slide I think was largely due to the adoption of the new comp plan since
September, so I will kind of walk you through -- a lot of what I'm going to close out with
you here are directly tied to the Comprehensive Plan and there is a couple of more that
he even alluded to where we have made substantial progress, but we can't quite close
them out yet, because we haven't totally closed the loop on -- on some of those things.
So, we are actively working on those and more to come here in the coming months. But
the ones we are closing out -- 1.D.1, define and articulate the city's growth goals. So,
one of the major milestones, obviously, was the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in
December. That was a two year process. Some of the tactics and performance measures
that are within that objective included hiring a consultant with experience. So, Logan
Simpson. Two years we worked with Logan Simpson to get us to adopt that plan. So,
those three performance measures within that objective are, again, hire a consultant with
experience and implement the plan is the third performance measure. You will see a
theme here with the three I'm closing out. You get -- you get to the end and you are not
done. You get to the end and it's about implementation or updating and keeping it going.
So, we are closing them out, but they are -- we are really not done, if you will, because
it's an ongoing kind of cyclical thing with these. So, again, that last performance measure
about an implementation plan is something -- we are working on right now. We have the
500 policies. Those policies have been shared with the other departments. They are
working on prioritizing those and bringing those back to you here in the coming months.
So, again, implementing the plan, working the plan is coming up. Some of the challenges.
I won't get into too much of this, but Vincent asked me to mention one of the challenges
with this one, just bringing a community of over 100,000 people together to come up with
a shared vision for our community was one of the challenges. Outreach and engagement.
And, then, again implementation will be an ongoing challenge. Next steps. I mentioned
it already, so I will try not to repeat, but the other thing I wanted to point out in the
implementation is this. We are going to try to get away from quoting this priority growth
area, but services and priority service areas. That's one of the key pieces to this strategic
growth and define and articulating those growth goals. So, again, we are closing this out,
but there is more work to be done as we look at those in prioritizing policies as well. So,
we are working on those. I'm going to go to the next one, unless there is any questions
on that objective. So, 1.C.2 is align future land use map with the city's growth goals. So,
as you know the future land use map is part of the Comprehensive Plan. So, again, by
adoption of the plan and the map we can --they are aligned. So, that December milestone
was a major milestone. The map does represent the type of land use the city envisions
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 8 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 5 of 26
in various parts of the city. The only performance measure for this objective was to adopt
the map. So, with that being completed this one is -- is closed out. One of the ongoing
next steps, if you will, we are currently exploring some code changes that would limit the
amount of times per year that the map could be amended. So, we are looking at change
that to no more than once every six months. So, June and December type of a time frame
for application and processing that. No more than. It doesn't mean we have to or want
to change it, but that would be the maximum times would be once every six months and,
again, so we will work the plan and try to encourage land uses and development in area
-- areas and land uses that are consistent with the map. So, that one's pretty
straightforward. But I will -- if there any questions on that one.
Cavener: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Yeah. Just on that comp plan map change process, I assume that just will be
kind of an ongoing staff initiated process?
Hood: So, Mr. President, Councilman Cavener, so staff will initiate it, but it is a code
amendment. We will look at -- in fact, I have already met with Legal on some -- it's really
just tweaks to our current language in the code, but it would make it pretty prescriptive
and a little more black and white about when you can apply and how often we will process
them, even if you have development associated with it. So, right now we are going to
have this out. This says if you are proposing a concurrent application, an annexation or
something, we will process it anytime. There would be, nope, we are only doing the map
every six months. At least that's what we propose to do to change city code. I don't know
how much of that you want to get into now, but we are also looking at a sunset, because
we talked about the plan, you know, every day it's more -- I don't want to say it's outdated,
but we change as a community and so some of the policies may not, so maybe a sunset
clause that says, you know, hey, for the next three years this was our policy. But, then,
when the plan gets to be, you know, four years old maybe we are not as tied to the land
use as we had planned back in 2019, so --
Cavener: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Caleb, I agree now is probably not the right time to go into that conversation,
but I think that's something that should be planned to happen sooner rather than later
looking forward.
Hood: We plan to bring it back for more discussion. All right. And, then, the third one I'm
going to cover is 1 .D.1, develop, promote and realize a master mobility plan, ensuring
that residents and visitors have safe and efficient mobility options in the future. Again, we
are never going to be done with that. So, we are always going to be working on this and
-- and even the title of this kind of morphed as we developed the plan. The plan really
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 9 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 6 of 26
became a map. So, the master mobility map. And I actually have that pulled up and I
didn't think this through all the way, so I'm going to go back over to the staff computer and
give you a quick tutorial of what this plan is. So, bear with me just one second. Mr.
President, in the interest of time I'm not going to re-load that up. So, we are -- we have
developed with our Transportation Commission and the help of Kittelson and Associates,
who was sub -- a sub consultant on the Comprehensive Plan -- developed a master
mobility map. It's a future meeting topic on our Transportation Commission agenda. They
were instrumental in getting a bunch of layers on a map. It looks real similar to what you
see on the screen, but it doesn't have all the layers on it. So, I will at another time show
you how that tool works. Again, it's only as good as the data that's feeding it and, for
example, we will talk later on -- this afternoon about ACHD's integrated five year work
plan. That's one of the layers in that map. So, when ACHD adopts a new plan we have
got to update our map, so it reflects what that agency plans to do. But, essentially, what
this plan is is ACHD's data on their five year plan and their 20 year plan, it's COMPASS
and VRT, so you can -- you can look and see where bus routes are at currently and
planned or stops that are planned and where they exist currently. Where sidewalks exist.
Where roads are widened and what they are planned to be widened to. So, it's -- it's both
the here and now, as well as the plan for our future network. The thing that we would like
to grow on this is really kind of twofold. Again, besides just the maintenance to make sure
we have got good data and it's pointing to information with ITD and ACHD and
COMPASS-VRT, but it's to have our Transportation Commission look at changes in
technology, so what are we -- what are we going to be doing to plan for e-scooters. We
have already had -- have had a little bit of experience with that, but a multi-modal network.
The drones, autonomous vehicles, what -- what role do those play in our community or
possibly play in our community and, then, looking out further than our transportation
agencies typically do. Twenty years is the maximum they are looking out. Twenty years
comes and goes pretty quick. So, we want to look out 40, 50, maybe even a hundred
years and what should we be doing now to plan for those future generations. So, that's
kind of the next iteration. There is a foundation in place, but the transportation
commission is really going to take this ball and start to build on it with some of the things
I just mentioned and what should we be doing to plan for, again, a multi-modal -- where
is our slide? Safe and efficient mobility options into the future. So, we are closing this
out. But, again, it's -- it's an ongoing objective that the city has and as staff we will
continue to move this forward. So, again, I'm sorry I didn't preload -- I meant to and --
and forgot to pre-load the rest of the layers here, but I will stand for any questions you
may have and I will show you that -- that tool, that plan at a future date.
Bernt: Any questions for Caleb? Thanks, Caleb.
Hood: Thank you.
Miles: Council President, Council Members, I have got the close out presentation for
3.A.2, which is improving citizen access to government and as Caleb mentioned, this is
one of those that you get to the end and as you know you never stop improving, it's just
we are at the end of this iteration and so will certainly look to operationalize this and look
moving forward what does improving citizen access continue to look like, but with that we
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 10 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 7 of 26
will touch on a few things, sort of service updates. As you are aware, we have started
taking phone testimony and e-mail testimony. We also have the capability of doing video
testimony inside of things like e-mails. It is a little clunky right now because of file sizes
and things of that nature, but we do have the ability to do that and that information is
posted as part of our public noticing when it comes to public hearings. So, I know that
we have seen some video files in previous hearings. We have also got publication and
live streaming of various events, whether it's these City Council meetings, town halls, we
have pushed those things forward and are able to do those as well, as well as looking at
surveys. I think there has been discussions about whether or not you do statistically valid
or pulling surveys through social media. Honestly, I think those are really case by case
basis, depending on what information you as a body are looking for on any given topic
and so each of those will be considered as they move forward. So, those are some of
the service updates that we have seen throughout the last six months or so since the last
update. Challenges. I think the video testimony is probably one of those challenges and
how you just manage the size of those videos and how does that look from a testimony
perspective. How do you manage it? Do you take text messages and if you have large
scale hearings, like Costco's of the world, how do you manage hundreds, potentially
thousands of inputs in a live meeting. So, we will continue to look at that ongoing as we
move forward. And, then, you have got various services that other agencies offer that we
have looked at. For instance, the DMV through the county. County just put out an article
that said they may slow that process down now based on the funding and some of the
things that are going on at the legislature. So, we will continue to work with those
agencies, continue to look at services as they relate to Meridian and what makes the right
best decision for Meridian and what's the best thing for the community. Next steps. The
performance measure is hanging out there. There is a survey that will go out in late spring
or early summer to evaluate. We are trying to get to 65 percent satisfaction up from 61 .
Obviously, it's not completed yet, but it is implemented, we are moving that forward, so
we will bring that report back to you as soon as that survey result is complete and, then,
we also have the advisory voting element that is hanging out there. We had hoped for
some movement this legislative session. Due to other activity in the valley that didn't
happen, so we will be working with the clerk's office in the county for the next legislative
cycle to see whether or not the city should take something on and, if so, what does that
look like and certainly discussions with you all about what that means moving forward
from an advisory commission. So, with that I will stand for any questions on 3.A.2.
Bernt: Any questions for Dave?
Perreault: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Perreault.
Perreault: So, you had said that -- that the goal was to reach 65 percent satisfaction, so
-- in the result of the survey, not participation of survey -- of people being surveyed; is that
right?
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 11 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 8 of 26
Miles: Council President, Council Woman Perreault, that's correct. Yes. So, to actually
see an improvement in the public involvement question of the survey.
Perreault: Okay. I see. Thank you.
Strader: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Strader.
Strader: Just wanted to maybe put a placeholder, you know, for further discussions about
potential town hall meetings or some other types of meetings where we are going to the
city and meet with people in different parts of Meridian. It just feels like that could be a
future discussion item that fits really well with responsive government and we can each
approach it differently or -- or have an open discussion at a later point, but just wanted to
make sure we have that on the list as something that -- that should be discussed.
Bernt: Mrs. Strader, that's going to be Item 4-E, so we -- we will be discussing that today
-- this evening.
Miles: All right. Thank you.
Campbell: Mr. Council President, Members of the Council, I had Objective 4.C.1, which
was to define the educational and financial, food, housing, transportation and healthcare
environment to assist in determining -- in determining the socio-economic profile within
the community. So, to do this we -- we defined what those mean and we also identified
metrics that we could use to evaluate those. Some of the metrics -- we ran into an issue
where we aren't able to gather all the data right now, so we may need to work with other
entities to maybe build a business registry or with Council to identify what the mix of
housing -- what we would want that to look like. We are going to continue to assess and
evaluate the -- the indicators, so that we can -- if necessary and see what it looks like,
how it's actually serving our community and we are currently working on 4.C.3, which
connects us with the stakeholders for all the different indicators, so that we can see what's
going on and our next step after this is complete will be to consult with them to see if there
is any gaps in services that have been identified. With that I will stand for questions.
Bernt: Any questions? Thank you.
Campbell: Thanks.
Siddoway: Council President, Members of the Council, I'm here to report out on Objective
5.A.4, which was to foster development of Discovery Park, to uniquely blend arts,
entertainment, and culture. This is actually my second time closing this one out. The first
time -- this was originally written specifically about Discovery Park and to be about the
development of the concept planning, design development, and construction documents
leading up to -- to the construction of phase one of that park. We -- as we completed that
one there was discussion among Council that we would like to morph this objective into
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 12 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 9 of 26
addressing art and theming discovery opportunities in more of our neighborhood parks.
So, the -- that has been -- that it was done a couple of years ago. Over the last year we
have had meetings with the Arts Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the
Mayor's office looking at the art and theming opportunities in the -- those neighborhood
parks. Those ideas were captured, identified for all the existing neighborhood parks. The
CFP was updated last year and that --this objective is now complete. During that process
the first priorities that were identified were Renaissance Park in south Meridian and
Champion Park in north Meridian. Both of those art projects were recently completed.
We now have ribbon-cutting dedication ceremonies planned for April 2nd and 9th at noon,
first two Thursdays in April. We hope that you will come and join us if you can and there
are our future ones as well that are built into the CFP on about an every other year rotation
starting in FY-22 through FY-2030 and, of course, the realities of those will depend on
budgets and discussions about the budget at those times. So, with that I will stand for
any questions.
Bernt: Any questions for Mr. Siddoway?
Koontz: I'm back. All right. And you all received a memo on the high priority updates.
We did this a little differently this year. Do any of you have any questions on any of the
high priority updates that I sent out or if you have any questions on any of those updates
that I -- I sent you? Okay. This is short and sweet. So, some of the next steps on our
current plan. In September 2020 1 will update you one final time on our current strategic
plan, what objectives might carry into that next plan, which objectives might be still
relevant and I think that will be informed on our next strategic plan discussion. In March
of 2021 1 will deliver a final report to Council. You know, how are -- how are the ongoing
performance measures doing in relation to what we -- what some of these directors just
-- just presented. How are we doing with that -- with that close out of that plan. What
worked. What did not work. The good, the bad and the ugly, that will be -- that will be
presented to you at that time and I look to -- and look to close that out and -- and give you
guys as much information as you can and kind of do that autopsy report and dig into the
details and see how we did. So, with that I will stand for questions.
Bernt: Any questions for Vince? One question. So, when will the -- the current strategic
plan that we are working on right now, when will that take into effect?
Koontz: The -- the new strategic plan that we are working on? My goal is to have it ready
and complete -- framework adopted and strategies underneath it by the end of the
calendar year when this plan ends. So, my hope is to have the adoption of the framework,
like the mission, vision, focus areas and goals, the high-level framework adopted
sometime during the year and, then, we can go back and work with staff on those -- what
are the strategies we would like to achieve to reach this goal and, you know, some of the
more detailed pieces. But, ideally, love -- love to have that framework adopted sometime
in August and September for time frame, with the full plan adopted before the end of the
year, so we don't have any gaps in that strategic direction for the city.
Bernt: Perfect.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 13 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 10 of 26
Koontz: So --
Strader: Mr. President?
Bernt: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I just wanted to make a comment. Vincent, I think the strategic plan working
sessions have been really helpful and if -- you know, if you feel like you need more
direction from Council as a body or more direction specifically in the future, I'm sure we
all would encourage you to reach out to us. I think it's been really, you know, a good --
good work session so far.
Koontz: Thank you, Council Woman Strader. Thank you.
B. Consideration of Approval of the Union Urban Renewal
District Eligibility Report and Corresponding Resolution (No.
20-2188)
Bernt: Going on to Item 4-B, consideration for approval of the Union Urban Renewal
District Eligibility Report and that will be done by Mr. Cameron.
Borton: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Before we do that, I have done this before, but I will just do it again to disclose
that we do work for the renewal district, our firm has. I don't touch it. So, I will just continue
to abstain from this and any consideration or voting on it.
Arial: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Council. So good to be with you as
always. Beautiful day. Beautiful opportunity to talk about our downtown in particular and
some of the incredible revitalization and redevelopment that's occurring. Specifically
tonight we are here to talk to you about the first step I guess in the official process of
moving forward with de-annexation and, then, a creation of a new district in our downtown
that encompasses -- as you can see at this map here the -- the Union Block, as well as
what we are calling this Civic Block in inner downtown. I just wanted to let each of you
know that this is, again, the first step in that process and so the Meridian Development
Corporation has adopted the plan and per that process it now comes before you for your
consideration as the ultimate decision making body on that and, again, it's moving that
forward. So, what you have here -- this eligibility report was created by consultants from
our RFP selected partner Galena Fund. We have a representative here, Phil Kushlan
here with us, so -- who is the main architect of the eligibility report and -- and so with that
I will just direct you to kind of our staff analysis of that. So, direct you to page 15 of the
report. I will just quickly go there. Quickly will be see how quickly I can get there. So, for
eligibility for urban renewal per code you have to kind of meet ten -- or have a reasonable
basis for meeting the criteria of the -- of the code and as you can see here there is these
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 14 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 11 of 26
ten basic tenants. The current area meets eight of them and I will just point you to the
ones that it does not meet. So, diversity of ownership and tax delinquency I think it's
important to note there that, you know, diversity is somewhat difficult because it's a very
confined, very small district. You have, essentially, you know, two blocks there that you're
looking at and, then, as far as tax delinquency, you know, if you have people that are
paying their taxes that are so -- you know, you either meet or you don't meet that, but that
being said --and, of course, the --the Civic Block is civically owned, so there is no taxation
occurring as it stands now. So, with that said, you know, staff feels very comfortable that
the consultant's report meets the intent of the code and that the eligibility is -- is -- is
warranted. It's also somewhat redundant, meaning that this area is currently in our
downtown district as it stands. So, arguably, already qualify as per our existing plan,
where it's now taking it out and making it its own specific district. So, again, from staff's
perspective we -- we would recommend approval of the plan and -- or of the eligibility
report, that, then, would kick off this continuing process that we would go down and just
to kind of highlight that for you in your packet, so if-- if accepted today we would move to
work with the consultant and the -- and the other MDC staff to further draft the plan and,
then, we would look to bring that draft plan back to you next week at the work session, so
that you could have a review of that plan -- of that draft and collect any specific comment
on the plan and, then, we would -- then it would go to MDC for their consideration of
approval on the 25th and, then, from there, if approved, it would move on to our P&Z
Commission April 16th and, then, we would look to bring that to this body again in a -- in
a final form in June. There is a series of readings. Those can be waived. I understand
that we have planned in our schedule to have the full three readings there and looking to
adopt this by the -- the end of June, so -- I did provide each of you, just in case -- you
know, just a refresher on urban renewal. There is this -- this document that was prepared
for each of you. If you have any questions about that certainly we can -- we can talk
through any questions you may have. With that, Mr. President, I will stand for any
questions.
C. Resolution No. 20-2188: A Resolution Of The Mayor And The
City Council Of The City Of Meridian Accepting That Certain
Report On Eligibility For The Union District Area As An Urban
Renewal Area And Revenue Allocation Area And Justification
For Designating The Area As Appropriate For An Urban
Renewal Project; Determining That The Area Identified In The
Report Is Deteriorated Or Deteriorating; Designating Such Area
As Appropriate For An Urban Renewal Project; Directing The
Urban Renewal Agency To Prepare An Urban Renewal Plan For
The Area To Include A Revenue Allocation Provision As Allowed
By Law; Directing The Urban Renewal Agency To Prepare A
Plan Amendment To The Downtown District Plan To Deannex
The Union District Area; And Providing An Effective Date
Bernt: Any questions for Cameron? No questions? Okay. Thank you, Cameron.
Appreciate it. That leads us to the resolution for the eligibility -- eligibility report. Do I
have a motion for that resolution?
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 15 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 12 of 26
Perreault: Mr. President. I move that we adopt Resolution No. 20-2188.
Strader: Second.
Bernt: I have a motion and the second. All those in favor say aye. Any nays?
Borton: Abstain.
Bernt: Okay. Motion passes.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSTAIN.
D. Community Development: 2020 Roadway, Intersection
and Community Program Priorities
Bernt: Item 4-D, Community Development 2020 Roadway Intersection and Community
Program priorities. Back to Caleb.
Hood: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Council. So, annually the city sends a
list of our highest priority roadway intersections and community programs projects over
to ACHD for their consideration as they come up with their integrated five year work plan.
I kind of mentioned it as we were closing out some of the strategic plan objectives, but
the integrated five year work plan is basically the start of ACHD's budget. So, they have
a two-year budget over there, but they -- they look to their five year plan to basically set
their budget and their projects. So, we try to influence that and we do influence it. We
get bonus points, if you will, for projects that are higher up on our priority list. So, I gave
this spiel to -- to the Transportation Commission and I will remind you let's not get caught
up in the weeds on, you know, what should be priority 33 and 37. It's really our top ten
or 15 that they really care about. They are not going was this priority 47 or 48? We are
not making that much of a change over there, but our top projects they want to make
happen and if you look at where -- right now -- and I will have to show you a little bit that
-- of that in the ACHD's integrated five year work plan tool that they have created this
year, but we do have an influence, we do have an impact, they do care what projects are
high on our priority list and I don't think it's any coincidence that the roadways that are
most congested, that you see the most accidents are the ones that they are improving.
Those are the ones that are on our priority list, too, but there is quite a bit that goes into
it, so -- but they have asked this year for our priority list to be returned to them no later
than March 20th. So, today's the 10th. Hoping to get through it today. If we need to we
have next Tuesday, but that's it, we got to -- I got to get a letter or this list out to them by
middle part of next week. So, in the memo that I prepared for today's meeting I told you
a couple things. One, that I would go through this interactive map that now is on the
screen, so I will spend just a few minutes on that. That I would share the Transportation
Commission's recommendation, so you have that already, but I did print out some hard
copies. It might be easier to look at hard copies if anybody wants them. I think I printed
five. So, maybe not quite enough for everybody. But I will pass those -- and, then, a draft
letter. I also mentioned a draft cover letter. We don't have to put a draft cover letter on.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 16 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 13 of 26
Most years we have. I'm just going to put a little context to our -- our list. So, there is
some new messaging in the draft letter I put together for this year, but let me pause real
quick and just hand this to the clerk, so you can all have copies of that. And, Mr.
President, it's your meeting, but I was kind of planning on going through the -- the list of
priorities and, then, we can double back to the letter and -- and all that if you would like,
but if you want to read that, you know -- I mean if there is a lull in our conversation or
whatever or just give me feedback after the -- after the fact. But I think the biggest thing
is to make sure we got our list right, so -- but first just -- and I won't spend too much time
on this, but I did want to -- this is a pretty cool tool that ACHD -- and there is a lot of
information -- and, again, I'm not going to go through all of it, but this interactive tool that
they have created you can click on a project, it will tell you the project name, when it was
designed, the construction year. It will send you to that project website as well, so if you
want even more information than what's -- for most people this is -- this is enough
information, but if you want to additional information, like who the project manager is --
this one should have it. That will be on their website as well. And we will talk about
community programs as well. So, if you want to look at community programs and what's
already in -- in the -- their integrated five year work plan, maintenance, bridges -- again,
we won't -- we won't look at that too much -- or at all today. You can see what -- what
projects in Meridian are already on their horizon for construction the next five to seven
years. So, this is -- this is a -- a pretty neat tool to see and if you look at the -- the
spreadsheet, so -- do we have enough for everybody? Not quite. Does anybody want
one that didn't get one, I can run a print real quick. But if you look at our top roadways
and intersection projects, five of the top six are in ACHD's program right now. So, that's
pretty good. I mean -- and we only have a couple of them that are -- that are that high
up. A project on Victory and one on Ten Mile, 16 and 17. But roughly half of our top 20
projects are in ACHD's program, which is pretty good when you consider how many roads
that they are charged with -- with maintaining. So, I encourage you to in my -- in the
packet to play around with this. Hopefully you had an opportunity to do that. If not it will
-- it's still up and live, so you can do it after the fact. But I think I'm going to transition,
then, away from this tool, but this is pretty -- pretty neat to see where -- where projects
are at in the county, not just in Meridian, but you can see how we compare what's going
on in -- in other jurisdictions as well. The other thing that's really cool is Brian has created
this -- this map that's also interactive. Right now it's a little busy, because I have got
everything turned on. I have got your roadways, got your intersections, and I got your
community programs. The community programs are the green ones, intersections are in
blue and roadways are in red. So, this isn't everything, but if you wanted to say, hey,
where is -- where is Ustick to Ten Mile. Oh, there it is. It's -- it's priority eight. It will zoom
right to -- right to that project and there is some more information that you can -- you
know, real similar information. So, this is really hyperlinked to a lot of what ACHD's
interactive tool is. So, it gives you a lot of the numbers and we are tracking it historically
now, too. Where has this project -- you know, where did it start. We aren't going all the
way back in history, but, you know, five year average. Where did it start, at 28 and now
we are up to priority number eight now. I didn't mean to do that on purpose, but I'm going
to use this as an opportunity. The Ustick corridor. It's meant to be. The Ustick corridor.
This is one that the Transportation Commission talked about when they came to -- up
with the priority list. So, you can see that on there. It jumped from 18 to eight this year.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 17 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 14 of 26
With Owyhee High School coming online, some of discussions even we have had over
the past couple weeks about service growth areas, service priority areas, that Ustick
corridor is one that I think, you know, is -- is going to be more -- more and more key. So,
the roadway right now is currently improved to five lanes just about to this drainage pond
that ACHD has and, then, it necks back down from Ustick all the say to the county line is
a two lane roadway. So, this next mile segment has jumped in the top ten right now and
as a corridor you're going to start to see that probably be widened, because that goes
into Nampa and that's a major corridor in Nampa, too. We met with them and Public
Works last week -- within the last couple weeks anyways and they have some -- they are
prioritizing the Ustick corridor. So, as a regional corridor it starts to make a lot more sense
as well and it always has, but to improve that, to move traffic kind of on a regional level
between Chinden, Ustick, 1-84, Franklin, you kind of have those every other mile type of
a -- a series setup where you really need to move east-west traffic, Ustick makes some
sense. So, there is some question on the spreadsheet that way, but props to Brian. This
is, again, a really -- really cool tool that can do way more and we are going to -- we will
work on some other dashboard type of stuff, so if you look on the right-hand side here
you can see just how many requests we have, how many projects totally -- you know,
total in ACHD's five year work plan, how many of those are our projects, but we can -- if
there is other metrics you want to see reported out here we can. One of the things we
just talked about this week is maybe -- that shows what -- what is in the five year work
plan, but we are kind of similar to 16, 17, 18, 19. When we get built in 2019, 2018, 2017,
number of projects, how much cost, how much investment in our community over those
years. So, for next year we are going to -- we are going to build that in this tool, too, but
there is a lot of neat stuff that we can report out if you're curious. So, if you are -- if you
think-- think of something throw it by us, I can't guarantee we can make that happen, but
we will see what data we have and would love to share that if there is some information
you would like to see. So, again, this is a -- this is something that right now is only
available -- and don't want to get into all of this, but basically you have to have a license
for this level of mapmaking, so it's not available for the public, because we don't want to
purchase the license for the public to use at all, but this information is all public. So, I
mean this isn't proprietary or anything like that, it's all information that we are basically
pointing to data that others have and consolidating that. So, I just wanted to kind of show
you that. We can use this, too, as we further this -- this discussion. If you wanted to look
at -- you know, let's just say geographical equity or something, you know, how many
projects are in south Meridian versus north Meridian, well, you can see our -- our top
intersection roadway projects in south Meridian, number six, Ten Mile. So,just at a glance
it looks like, you know, got at least a handful of your top ten projects that are in south
Meridian and, you know, again, kind of eyeball things even if you just want to kind of look
at it that way for -- again geographical equity just for example. So, I'm going to jump to
the -- the spreadsheet. But, again, we can go back to that map if you wanted to. I do
want to call a few things to your attention as we get through this and I will just -- in the
interest of time we can't -- can't talk about all of the projects, but I do want to spend some
time in the top, again, ten, 15, 20. Priority number three I want to spend just a second
on. You can see that -- that's the one in the top five or six that isn't in their program right
now and that's Locust Grove, Fairview to Ustick. One of the notes in here -- and this is
going to be somewhat repetitive -- sorry I don't have -- is to discuss with ACHD the scope.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 18 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 15 of 26
So, right now the -- this segment is planned to be widened to five lanes. There is some
serious neighborhood impacts. This is real similar to the South Locust Grove leg that
Brian talked with you about two weeks ago. So, real similar neighborhood impacts if you
look at this -- so, this is just between that Fred Meyer and Ustick there is some
neighborhoods that get really close and you -- if you widen that out to five lanes you're --
you're buying houses and you're in people's backyards. So, there is -- there is a little bit
-- and, then, we had high level conversations before about, you know, yes, we want to
move traffic, but also you got livability factors and people's -- you know, impacts to real
property that you have there. So, I'm going to have a conversation with them. You will
be part of that conversation about, you know, does it make sense to have Locust Grove
north of there be a full five lane roadway. What are the impacts to -- to residents there.
And I'm not going to go through all of them that have a similar -- that's really the only one
that I can think of that's planned for five where maybe three is appropriate. We have a
lot of the other roadways that I have got highlighted here that are planned for three or
maybe they want to be five, but I have highlighted those for you. So, if there is any of
those that you also want me to roll into that conversation and kind of have simultaneous
conversation about are we planning for the right number of lanes, three, rive or seven, if
any of those project descriptions don't look right to you let me know, but, again, just for
ease in -- in here you can see which roadways are planned for something less than five,
so I have highlighted those blue. Then maybe just a little bit more to kind of orient you on
the priority list and I already mentioned the Ustick corridor, but these are potential high
priority project corridors. So, I'm not -- I kind of want some direction from Council if we,
in fact, want to leave this -- some of these notes as we send this list off to ACHD. But I
mentioned the Ustick corridor. One of the other corridors that we mentioned -- east-west
corridors I should say is Victory. So, a lot of Overland is improved. Overland Road is five
lanes from Ten Mile back in through Boise. Franklin is almost there. You got that one
segment. In fact, there was a news story today just coming out of Amazon at the county
line that isn't improved, but the rest of Franklin is improved to five lanes all the way through
our community. But, really, Ustick and Victory there seems to be some opportunity.
Fairview-Cherry, largely is improved as well. There is some segments again as you get
closer to the county that aren't quite, but we really looked at those two as potentially
priority corridors. So, there is some questions there in that far right-hand column about
do we want to call that out. And, then, north-south -- and this in conversations with the
Mayor and other staff. You know, we have been working pretty hard on those corridors
that connect to interchanges at 1-84 and it's maybe time to show some love to those
corridors that are just overpasses or potential overpasses. So, this ties in with the Linder
Road overpass discussion and if you have had a chance to look at the draft letter that's
-- that's a highlight there is to say Linder Road is a key corridor. The overpass is critical
to not just our community, but region traffic -- I'm paraphrasing here. It's in the letter, but
-- but Linder Road is -- is a north-south one, as well as Locust Grove. So, a lot of our
priority projects are on Locust Grove and it just made sense to -- to kind of call those out.
So, not trying to redirect your attention to the letter, but -- but Linder Road and even
Locust Grove north-south and -- and Victory and Ustick as -- so, those are kind of-- again,
kind of highlighted on the right-hand side of that spreadsheet. I do think that we should,
you know, somehow designate Victory -- and, then, again, this is what the transportation
generally came up with as a rule to say let's -- let's work on corridors, not just, you know,
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 19 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 16 of 26
plug our fingers in the dam and get leaks everywhere, but let's work on -- you know, let's
work on completing a corridor and, then,jump to the next corridor and work on that largely.
Not that it has to be just one corridor, but -- but a corridor kind of philosophy. So, I think
those are the -- I want to hear from you more, but I think that, hopefully, sets the stage for
the rest of the discussion. Maybe just one more thing I had in my notes on that -- on that
priority project three. ACHD is going to group this project with -- I'm sorry. Not that-- not
that. It's the intersection of Locust Grove and Fairview. So, it's project -- priority project
four. When they started to look at this it just made sense to -- to widen Fairview back to
Eagle as well. So, not only are you getting the intersection, but you're getting the roadway
improvements back to the Eagle intersection, a seven lane roadway. So, there is a
question in here should we -- and combine priority 34 and four. I would say no. Let's just
go ahead and leave it the way we have it. But know that priority 34, which was to widen
Fairview, is lower on the list, but they are designing those together right now and they are
tracking together for construction right now. So, more to come on that. But I think those
are the things that I had highlighted and I will look to make notes, make changes kind of
in the spreadsheet as I hear comments, feedback, or if you just want to endorse this list
I'm okay with that, too, and I'm sure the Transportation Commission would appreciate it,
so --
Bernt: Thank you, Caleb. So, Council, we have an opportunity to discuss this list and
give thoughts. If you want to change things around, if you want to add things, give your
opinions, so on and so forth. So, do we have anyone that wants to kick it off?
Perreault: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Perreault.
Perreault: I would like to ask Caleb a quick question.
Bernt: Sure.
Perreault: Can you clarify what -- where it says future versus not programmed, is that
something that is -- is that because it's been detailed in the five-year plan that it's
something in the future versus nothing being -- being mentioned by ACHD and it -- does
that just stay future until some point that they decide to add a date to it? What's the
difference between those two?
Hood: That's a good question. Mr. President, Council Woman Perreault, so future -- so,
it's in the program, so it is, essentially, like you explained it. ACHD's five year-- so, there
is five years; right? '21, '22, '23, '24 and '25. And, then, they have what they call
preliminary development, which are, essentially, the next two years of construction and
that's your on deck, if you will. So, when we do the 2022 to 2026, roughly half of these
projects will be a named construction year and you will add some more in the PD. Future
is real similar, but it doesn't -- the -- the -- the construction dollars aren't even there, but
it's -- so, it's on the radar, but it's not quite as far along as even PD or preliminary
development. So, it's, again, largely as you described it. But those are kind of the -- the
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 20 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 17 of 26
layers, if you will, of the program.
Perreault: Thank you.
Strader: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Strader.
Strader: Caleb, I was hoping you could point out on the map exactly where the new
Owyhee High School is going to be for us and, then, I have a follow-up after that.
Hood: So, the high school -- high school -- the ball fields are on the south side. The high
school building roughly sits right -- right here.
Strader: Got it. Mr. President, follow up. You know, one of the things I -- I definitely
subscribe to the corridor philosophy, because I listened in on the Transportation
Commission meeting and I got what they were saying about, you know, feel the pain in
one area, just get it done, don't intersperse these projects everywhere. One thing I'm
struggling with a little bit is the prioritization of McMillan and maybe the answer is we are
prioritizing Ustick first, because we agreed to accomplish that first and really focus there,
but I have been receiving a lot of feedback from folks that live on McMillan. It's come up
in a lot of development applications and I just -- I think I would like to have a rationale of
why Ustick versus McMillan and -- and maybe the answer is, hey, next year when we
prioritize we are going to focus on McMillan, but I am getting -- and I -- candidly I live
close to there, too, so I understand that -- the traffic nightmare along McMillan personally,
but also I am receiving a lot of feedback from neighbors and residents on NextDoor and
other avenues. So, I just wanted to have a discussion about that.
Hood: Mr. President, can I -- before you have discussion maybe just put -- I can answer
I think a lot of those questions -- I'm not saying it can't be higher. Here is one of the
reasons it doesn't score very well at ACHD and it's one of the things I even alluded to --
if you look at the description, those power poles and Lemp Canal are very expensive to
move and so they are only planning on it ever being a three lane roadway, which doesn't
add a whole lot of capacity. It doesn't help the congestion problems that are out there
today. So, it doesn't -- you don't get a lot of bang for the buck if you will. So, that's why
it's -- it's tough and we could ask them to look at it some more as a -- as a five lane
roadway, but the impacts and the setbacks you have already got along that corridor or
where we are allowing development to set back to, we are -- for example, the apartments
that are there at Meridian and McMillan are right on the intersection. If you make that
wider now you're buying brand new -- I don't know if you have to buy them. But you're
getting really, really close to those and, again, the cost to pipe the irrigation facilities and
move the -- they are the big power poles. I'm not trying to make excuses, just a rationale
on why. But if you look at this -- I mean it's been hanging out there kind of middle of the
road, I agree with you, I mean I see it, it's -- it's backed up. ACHD, you know, did widen
it through the Locust Grove intersection, but back the west it's a farm to market road still.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 21 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 18 of 26
Strader: Mr. President, just a follow up. Part of what I'm reacting to -- I'm also looking at
the -- I guess the -- the peak hour -- I'm assuming this means level of service map. I am
seeing in there I guess a -- maybe what this -- if you can explain to me what this means.
It looks like there is a level of service with the red color that indicates F, which I always
felt was a failing grade, so I guess I -- I understand that it's expensive and so I guess my
question would be if it is lower in their priority list because of the expense, does that mean
like there is a strategy, like we would rather proposed, then, projects that they are more
likely to score higher in the hopes that -- that those things match? Is that how this sort of
works or is it -- and how could we get a project like that to move forward if it scores so
low for that reason?
Hood: Mr. President, there is a lot in -- in that. So, let me start with how to read the level
of service map -- and, again, it's just -- and I was looking to see if there were any
transportation engineers in the room and there aren't. Think of it as a letter grade. I mean
you're right on. I mean red is bad. Green is good. Scorecard type thing. What I will point
out is it is p.m. peak and it's two hours of the p.m. peak. So, I think it's -- I think it's 4:00
to 6:00, but don't quote me on that. It may be 5:00 to 7:00. Somewhere in there. But it's
the p.m. peak hour. They look at those hours and, then, they will take it your letter grade.
I do want -- so, a couple things -- more things in your -- your questions and comments
there. It's not just about the cost, it -- but it is cost benefit largely. So, again, because it's
-- you're spending so much, but you're only gaining a center turn lane out of the deal, it
doesn't score really well on congestion mitigation. So, you're not adding a whole lot of
capacity to the roadway. So, they really do put a lot of stock in the cost benefit. The other
thing I just want to make sure we are thinking about -- and, again, I get it. This is a -- it is
a high priority. But with Chinden being widened -- I'm hopeful, anyways, that that relieves
some of the congestion on McMillan and that provides an alternate route that is more
regional that can provide some relief to -- so, in a year or maybe two let's see what
McMillan looks like, because -- because the models don't show it needing to be widened
to five lanes, because you have got Ustick and you have got Chinden that can provide
kind of that through traffic and McMillan can be more for the Paramounts of the world and
the folks that aren't going maybe to Nampa, but, you know -- because right now you get
people that are using McMillan as a regional corridor and it's really not long term planned
to be that -- that artery, if you will, so --
Strader: One little follow up and, then, I will get off of the McMillan train. Yeah, I think
that makes sense. I also think there is some rationale -- there is only so many
construction projects one area can handle at one time and I think with the amount going
on on Chinden and, then, with Ustick potentially being under construction -- we have
already got Meridian Road. I just think the residents there are going to be, you know, up
in arms already. So, I feel the rationale. I understand what you're saying. I guess I'm
okay with waiting for a year to see if -- or two to see if the Chinden Road widening and
Ustick corridor really solve that problem, but I do think in the future if we come back and
we finally have the same issues going on on McMillan, we absolutely have to move that
up in a future year. But thanks for that context, Caleb, that was really helpful for me.
Hoaglun: Mr. President?
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 22 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 19 of 26
Bernt: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: A question, Caleb. On number eight, Ustick Road, Ten Mile to Linder, that has
-- for a quarter mile it has the Five Mile Creek to -- on the -- on the south side of that, so
that's -- that's going to be very expensive from the --ACHD has a pond there that you see
in the gray and, then, the creek comes along Ustick Road until it veers a little bit there
and right there coming into Pebblestone, right there in the I of Ustick, West Ustick Road,
there -- there is no turn lane and -- and I understand your comments -- you were talking
to Council Woman Strader earlier about they look at congestion relief and doing things,
which means widening, due to the expense -- and we know we are in competition with
other communities and their top ten lists and there is only so much money in the pot, but
do they look at things that they can do now -- when someone turns left on that with no
turn lane and traffic's coming to the east, you get back up past Linder Road, because of
no left turn lane and it's just -- and this was done in the mid 2000s and I don't know why
they didn't put in -- probably because it -- but there is room to the -- to the north side to
move that in. But, anyway, where I'm going with this -- do they look at those types of
things to put in a low-cost temporary solution until funding is available for a much more
expensive solution?
Hood: Mr. President, Councilman Hoaglun, yeah, that's a good question -- thought and I
was just and quickly thinking as you brought that up, I -- you must not have been on the
Council when we -- when we had the interim intersections that we asked ACHD to
improve. So, some interim intersections -- it's relatively low cost -- cost benefit, relatively
low investment for a bigger return. So, there were -- I think there were three or four
intersections that we asked ACHD -- similar to this one. And -- and this could be a great
candidate -- if it's not in the program -- so, if they are not looking to fully invest in that and
rebuild in the next five years and, then, get a -- you know, it's five plus year life cycle out
of adding a turn lane like that and signalizing it, we have been relatively successful in
asking those types of things. Typically what we do with that is put that -- those types
requests in our cover letter. So, that could be a candidate to say, hey, this isn't -- it's not
worthy of like a real -- it's not a real project, but if you have some maintenance forces out
there and can scab on a little asphalt and maybe throw up a -- you know, a turn lane,
maybe a signal, or -- but even a turn lane might help, you know, that's fodder usually for
-- for a cover letter. Hey, if you can fit this in --
Hoaglun: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Yeah. Caleb, that's -- that's all it is is just a turn lane at this time. You know,
you just need some place to move out and let that traffic continued to flow instead of
backing up and -- and -- and causing congestion. I do want to add one other question as
we continue down Ustick Road to Black Cat, in context of the -- of the new high school
coming in. Black Cat and Ustick is a four -- currently a four way stop and I -- I remember
seeing it on the list somewhere, but it was a ways down. Yeah. Number 23. And a dual
lane roundabout in -- again, is this an intersection that can have a temporary -- whether
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 23 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 20 of 26
it's a signal light, as opposed to four way stop. With a signal light you don't gain that
much, but you do gain people not having to decide do I go or not go or not pay attention
and I will just sit there, because I don't know what I'm doing. Not that anybody has been
behind one of those drivers. But, you know, those -- those are the types of things with
that high school opening up there and -- and I'm not sure of all the boundaries, again,
how much traffic will be going from that direction, but I'm sure there will be some. It's just
one of those projected points that as we look at the high school and what's going to be
taking place out there, what -- what can we do to mitigate some of those things earlier,
as opposed to waiting for full funding for full -- whether it's a roundabout or seven lane
intersections or what have you. So, that's -- that's what I wanted to call out as well.
Bernt: Did you get that, Caleb?
Hood: I did.
Bernt: Very good.
Perreault: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Perreault.
Perreault: If there is no other comments, with that being said I would like to propose that
we hold off one more week on making a final decision on this to get some additional time
to review based on what Caleb has shared and potentially some additional things we
might like to add to the letter. So, I'm curious what my other Council Members thoughts
are on that.
Bernt: A terrible idea. Any other -- I don't think that would be a big deal. I think it's good
that we give ourselves some time in order to do that. Before we go on, though, I think
that making a high priority-- or at least calling out Victory Road, you know, east-west, you
know, I think that's going to have somewhat of the same problem as some of those busier
streets on the -- on the north as well. Especially when another high school goes in over
there somewhere or, you know, with all the growth that's happening in the south, that
certainly is going to be an issue as well.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Bernt: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Really, then, next week what is it that we are -- is it we want just -- want a week
to marinate and, then, the goal is to come back next week and potentially make changes
to the priority list?
Hood: Mr. President?
Bernt: Yeah.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 24 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 21 of 26
Hood: If I could just ask while you are looking at the priority list, I will take the feedback
on the letter, too. And maybe even just a little bit of direction. I mean what Councilman
Hoaglun mentioned -- or requested on the two intersections and turn lanes there, I'm
going to incorporate that in, unless someone shakes their head and says, no, don't. But
I'm going to work that in the letter and probably the Victory as a high priority corridor in
the letter. Is there any other initial feedback you have on the letter that you would like me
to include or -- review it at your leisure. If you can get that back to me and, then, I will
regurgitate it back to everybody, you know, Friday, but with the packet or whatever.
Cavener: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: And maybe this is a conversation that we either have now or over the next
week. In the past, for our new Councils' benefit, the highway district has been very
enthusiastic if the city has ever -- to volunteer to speak about a willingness to provide
funds to help accelerate roadway projects. I don't know if that's something this body
supports. It's something I'm in support of -- of specifically in some of our high demand
needs. If we can get projects moved up on their list, because we are willing to allocate
some bucks, that's something I would want to communicate in this letter that we stand
willing and open to having those conversations with the highway district. Again, details
yet to be determined, but when you look at -- I know we have talked in the past about
number two. Number two doesn't become real without I think the city investing in some
fashion or another, but I think there is a couple other spots around Meridian and Council
Member Strader was speaking to one and Council Member Hoaglun was speaking about
another, that we could potentially move at a higher rate if we as a city are willing to allocate
some dollars. I -- just as an aside, something I have really struggled with -- we are not
roadway authority. We are, essentially, using, you know, taxpayer dollars that are
designed to be allocated for firefighters and parks and police officers to take on these
transportation challenges. But I think our citizens expect it from us and if we can move
things along it will make life better for them. I think we should at least be open to that
conversation.
Strader: Mr. President. I was just going to mention -- my understanding of that process
is that the city would eventually be reimbursed; is that correct? If we front the dollars
toward the highway district -- it's not a guarantee that we will be, but there is a -- a
likelihood or a -- I guess I would need to understand that piece of it to get on board
completely -- would be the likelihood of being reimbursed at a future date. In informal
conversations with the Mayor it sounded like that type of a strategy was something he --
I don't want to speak for him -- it sounded like something that he was interested in
exploring and I think if we flush that out that would make a lot of sense, but I would need
to understand the likelihood of being reimbursed in the future or if we are just straight-up
spending our city money on that, then, we just need to understand the magnitude of what
we are talking about.
Cavener: Mr. President?
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 25 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 22 of 26
Bernt: Yeah.
Cavener: I don't know if it was a question or a comment towards me or if you want me to
respond I'm happy to. I think it's mixed. If you look at priority number two, Linder,
Overland to Franklin, I think that in that case it could potentially be that we are -- we are
purchasing right of way and we wouldn't be reimbursed. I think with other projects we
come in, we do it, and, then, get a -- get reimbursed by developmental at a later point and
I think those -- I think both are in play. Both move projects further on the -- on the list, but
in some cases we could expect to be reimbursed, in other cases we wouldn't.
Bernt: Mrs. Perreault.
Perreault: I agree with Councilman Cavener's proposal, but I imagine there is more
projects than we would have funds for, as always; right? And so the hope would be that
if we were to invest those funds that it would improve response times for fire and for
police. That would -- that would be an end -- an end goal and so I would suggest that we
keep that in mind as we -- if we are going to spend those funds and we are going to
prioritize them, that -- that we are making sure that it's improving the response times for
our fire and police and, then, it, you know, isn't just about moving people in the city, but
it's -- it also accomplishes a couple of goals.
Cavener: Mr. President. I think it would be so hard for us to say we are willing to allocate
dollars for these items. I just think that the letter is an opportunity to provide a little bit of
that narrative and I think that's an opportunity to say we believe in this partnership, we
recognize the demands of transportation in our community and we are willing to partner
if it makes sense with the right project for our community.
Hoaglun: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: One more item I want to throw out there just for consideration and possibly for
the letter is another turn lane and it goes back to a development we approved about a
month ago. In fact, on Black Cat with Compass Charter School and that the intersection
at Franklin and Black Cat is a seven legged one. In fact, you can see the gray concrete
going up and, then, where it narrows up there to the south, Caleb, up there at the top and,
then, you have Aviator Street and Compass school is back there, we know that -- and to
the north of that is the property that will be developed and we know there is going to be
sidewalk and right of way for a future expansion, but what I would like to see is if right
there there are two houses it appears that just have right of way and it looks like they
have prepared for that acquisition in the future and that would allow at least a turn lane to
be put in with -- with a development and utilizing that land to the north of Aviator, a -- a
turn lane to be put in. We know there is railroad up there and their future land needed for
right of way, but just for a turn lane it might be one of those things that low-hanging fruit
-- in other words, low dollars to put in a turn lane for -- for a school that's there would help
with the safety. It doesn't address on the east -- I'm sorry, the west side, the sidewalk
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 26 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 23 of 26
that Council Woman Perreault had pointed out before, but at least on the east side where
that property is going to be developed, there will be a sidewalk right to the railroad tracks,
but not over. So, there is still a gap. But at least it's a start and if we could get a turn lane
there that would certainly be a benefit there.
Perreault: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Perreault.
Perreault: One more thing on that is that now that Ten Mile is -- has been under
construction, Chinden's under construction, both the Black Cat and Ten Mile
intersections, traffic down Black Cat has just like tripled and while that's a temporary thing,
it's not in the sense that we have at least another two, three years of -- of improvements
along those two roads. So, just -- just to point that out. But the -- in -- in -- you know, in
a few months' time Black Cat Road has now become this major thoroughfare that it didn't
used to be and I don't anticipate that once people change their traffic patterns sometimes
they just leave them like that. We will see.
Bernt: Well, Caleb, it doesn't look like we are going to come to full agreement tonight.
Probably going to have to continue this dialogue to next week most likely. But what do
we need to plan for for next week, so that we are prepared for a continued discussion?
Hood: Mr. President, I would put that back on you. I -- I feel except for maybe some
tweaks to a letter -- and, again, if you have some language send that to me and I will take
the letter, but I'm not planning on sharing anything -- if you could just review it and come
prepared to discuss and --
Bernt: Perfect.
Hood: -- if you want to give me a heads up on any changes that might make it run a little
smoother to priority numbers and, then, I can make some notes or whatever. But you tell
me what you need. I'm not planning on really doing much else, just listening to the
dialogue next week and getting ready to ship that letter off, so --
Bernt: Caleb, I don't believe we need anymore presentation. What I will ask Council to
do is go over this and if you do want some, you know, dialogue in regard to certain items,
then, maybe shoot that to Caleb and -- and have that discussion and maybe give him a
heads up, so that the discussion next week can go quicker and then -- and, then, if we
could look over the letter and offer up any type of, you know, changes or whatever to
Caleb in the meantime, so that we can have that prepared for Caleb to be finalized next
-- next Tuesday.
Strader: Mr. President. One thing I would just like -- that I think would help me with
touching on the city's willingness to fund future projects or advance funds for future
projects is if there is just some background information that someone has prepared or
some kind of information how that would work or like an example of a city doing that, just
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 27 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 24 of 26
because I'm new and I haven't seen that and don't fully understand it, that would really
help me.
Bernt: Yeah. That's great. So, we have actually done that as a city in the past. I believe
we allocated some funds for the overpass for Locust Grove and so -- I don't remember
what that was -- for the right of way -- I'm talking about amount seven and eight hundred
thousand dollars --
Nary: One point eight million.
Bernt: How much?
Nary: One point eight million.
Bernt: One point eight. I was a little -- I was only off a million bucks. So, we -- we have
allocated some funds in the past to expedite a project. It's not something that we are
foreign to. But when it comes to right of way, I -- Councilman Cavener nailed it right on
the -- right on the dot. So, we -- those are things that we would not get paid back for.
What it -- what we would receive is -- is connection, you know, more -- it's quicker.
Quicker connection. Our project would be more of a priority to ACHD, although that --
that project also includes ITD as well, so they are a hair more complicated. But could
move us to the top or get the project going quicker.
Strader: Thank you. I think I understand. Is there a distinction between when the city is
buying the right of way versus other things you might advance funds for? It sounds like
for right of way we are not going to get reimbursed, but the other things potentially we
could; is that right?
Bernt: Right. I believe that -- I believe that that -- that could be part of the discussion. I
don't know if we -- I'm -- I'm not familiar with the times we have -- where we have paid --
or offered funds to expedite a project, other than right of way with the Locust Grove
overpass. So, I did have this discussion with the Mayor last week in our meeting on
Friday asking him about a different stretch of road and I did ask him if we were to widen
it could we get paid back from ACHD and I don't think that he had an answer then. So,
maybe we just -- maybe that -- I don't-- to be honest, I don't know the complexities, I don't
know the specifics of how that would work.
Perreault: Mr. President. I don't want to speak for the Mayor, but it's my understanding
that it was just -- it was an idea that he was working on to -- to -- to loan those funds to
ACHD for projects that were already in the five year plan to move them up maybe three
or four years. So, it would be something that is already in the -- in the -- the financial plan
for the next five years. So, like let's say it was planned for 2025, but we did it in 2021,
because at that point in time we could create a contract where we already knew the funds
were --where it's going to be dedicated in 2025, but it would --that was my understanding
of his initial -- but it was -- it's just something I think he is working on as a concept and it's
not been done in the past, so --
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 28 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 25 of 26
Strader: Mr. President?
Bernt: Mrs. Strader.
Strader: Thank you. That helps. I think I'm confusing two different concepts then. So,
apologize. So, I think that makes sense. I would be okay with touching on the city being
open to that --
Bernt: Right.
Strader: -- like subject to look at, you know, how much that would cost and we would, of
course, do a lot of diligence on what would be worth it for us.
E. City Council: Discussion Regarding Council Members
Designated to Serve as Contact for City Areas
F. Resolution No. 20-2189: A Resolution Approving City
Council President's Appointments of City Council Members
to Serve as Contact for Respective City Areas
Bernt: Perfect. With that I believe we will go to the next item. So, my -- my item is not
imperative -- it's not something that absolutely needs to get this discussed -- discussed
at this moment. It's even a conversation that could happen offline, to be honest with you,
so --
Cavener: Do you want to move it to later tonight?
Bernt: Sure. Would that be possible, Bill? That --
Nary: Mr. President, as long as at the beginning of the meeting you make clear why you
are adding it to the agenda at the last minute, that's all that's required by statute.
Bernt: The beginning of the next meeting.
Nary: Correct.
Bernt: Okay. Is that okay with Council if we do it? Okay. Perfect. We will handle the
resolution at that time as well. So, we do not have any executive session planned, so I
believe we have come to the end of the meeting. Do I have a motion?
Hoaglun: Mr. President, I move we adjourn.
Cavener: Second.
Bernt: We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Passes. We are
adjourned.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 29 of 323
Meridian City Council Work Session
March 10,2020
Page 26 of 26
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:47 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
3 / 24 /2020
PRESIDENT TREG BERNT DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda March 24,2020— Page 30 of 323