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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-07 Work Session Meridian City Council Work Session July 7, 2020. A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 4:36 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, 2020, by Mayor Robert Simison. Members Present: Robert Simison, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Treg Bernt, Brad Hoaglun and Liz Strader. Members Absent: Jessica Perreault. Also present: Chris Johnson, Adrienne Weatherly, Bill Nary, Tracy Basterrechea, Joe Bongiorno, Crystal Campbell, Kendall Nagy, and Dean Willis. Item 1: Roll-call Attendance: Liz Strader _X_ Joe Borton _X_ Brad Hoaglun _X_Treg Bernt Jessica Perreault _X Luke Cavener _X_ Mayor Robert E. Simison Simison: Council, I'm going to call the meeting to order. For the record it is Tuesday, July 7th, 2020, at 4:36 p.m. We will begin this meeting with roll call attendance. Item 2: Adoption of Agenda Simison: Item No. 2 is adoption of the agenda. Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: I move that we amend the agenda to include Executive Session, Item 74-206(1)(f), along with the existing Executive Session Item 74-206(a)(1)(a). Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Hoaglun: I second the motion as amended. Simison: Councilman Hoaglun seconds, along I'm sure what was going to be Mr. Cavener. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. Item 3: Consent Agenda [Action Item] Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 7 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 2 of 17 A. Approve Minutes of June 17, 2020 City Council Budget Workshop B. Approve Minutes of June 23, 2020 City Council Work Session C. Approve Minutes of June 23, 2020 City Council Regular Meeting D. Calvary Chapel Water Main Easement No. 1 E. Prevail Subdivision No. 1 Pedestrian Pathway Easement F. Prevail Subdivision No. 1 Water Main Easement No. 4 G. The Oaks North Subdivision No. 4 Sanitary Sewer & Water Main Easement No. 1 H. The Oaks North Subdivision No. 5 Sanitary Sewer & Water Main Easement No. 1 I. TM Crossing #4 Pedestrian Pathway Easement J. Twelve Oaks Pedestrian Pathway Easement K. Final Plat for Aegean Subdivision No. 1 (H-2020-0052) by Challenger Development, Inc., Located on the East Side of N. McDermott Rd., 1/4 Mile South of W. McMillan Rd. (South of Five Mile Creek) L. Final Plat for Graycliff Estates No. 1 (H-2020-0069) by Allen Lee Centers, Located at 701 W. Harris St. M. Final Plat for Pine 43 No. 2 (H-2020-0059) by Dan Torfin, C&O Development, Inc., Located on the East Side of N. Locust Grove Rd., '/4 Mile South of E. Fairview Ave. N. Final Order for Hill's Century Farm North No. 1 (H-2020-0055) by Martin L. Hill, Hill & Hill Properties, Located on the South Side of E. Amity Rd. and East of S. Eagle Rd. O. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Ascent Townhomes (H-2020-0039) by Schultz Development, Located on the North Side of W. Franklin Rd., Midway Between N. Black Cat Rd. and N. Ten Mile Rd. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 8 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 3 of 17 P. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for COMPASS Charter School East Expansion (H-2020-0042) by Bouma USA, Located at 4540 W. Franklin Rd. Q. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Midgrove Plaza (H- 2020-0029) by Arthur Berry, Located at 1450 E. Franklin Rd. R. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Tanner Creek Subdivision (H-2020-0024) by Schultz Development, Located at 675 W. Waltman Ln. S. Agreement Between the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District and the City of Meridian to Add Victory Commons Pathway to Pathways Master Agreement T. Memorandum of Agreement Between the State Historic Preservation Office and the City of Meridian Regarding the Grant in Aid of the Reconnaissance of the Meridian Speedway Complex U. Memorandum of Agreement with Meridian Development Corporation for Contribution to Traffic Box Community Art Project V. Professional Services Agreement Between the City of Meridian and Hull Film for Meridian Historical Virtual Tour Photos W. Purchase Agreement Between Signs Etc. and the City of Meridian for the Fabrication and Installation of Traffic Box Wraps X. City of Meridian Financial Report - May 2020 Y. AP Invoices for Payment - 06/26/20 - $7,114.27 Z. AP Invoices for Payment - 06/30/20 - $606,517.14 AA. AP Invoices for Payment - 07/01/20 - $512,649.80 Simison: Item No. 3 is the Consent Agenda. Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 9 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 4 of 17 Bernt: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda, for the Mayor to sign and for the Clerk to attest. Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Hoaglun: Go ahead. Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: I will second that. Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye? Opposed nay? The ayes have it. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. Item 4: Items Moved From the Consent Agenda [Action Item] Simison: There were no items removed from the Consent Agenda. Item 5: Department / Commission Reports [Action Item] A. Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2020 Action Plan Presentation Simison: So, we will move into Item 5-A, Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2020 Action Plan presentation by Crystal Campbell. Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. So, as you said, we are here to talk about the PY 20 action plan for CDBG, which runs from October 1st, 2020, September 30th, 2021. So, to conduct the program, then, we have a couple of different planning documents. The first one is the Consolidated Plan. This is our five year document and every five years we do an analysis of impediments, as well as a housing assessment, and that puts together our five year plan. The current plan that we are working under is from 2017 to program year 2021 . The Action Plan is the plan that we put together to administrate the current year and so that's what we are talking about tonight. We try to make sure that we have community involvement. We ask for citizen participation through the public comment period for this Action Plan. It opened on -- sorry, half my dates are missing, I can't remember for sure. I'm going to -- okay. So, from June 19th to July 21 st we also have public presentations, the one tonight and we also have -- will have a short one before the public hearing on the 21st and, then, we will have the public hearing on July 21 st. We also consult with stakeholders throughout the year. We have regular involvement at different meetings and groups that we are involved in and we also sent out the Action Plan specifically to certain stakeholders to make sure that we are getting feedback from the people that we need feedback from. We are year four, which Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 10 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 5 of 17 is -- the Action Plan that we are in is for year four of our five year Consolidated Plan. We are anticipated to receive 489,753 dollars. Of that we are putting 52 percent towards accessibility construction type projects, another 21 percent toward housing projects, nine percent for public services and almost 17 percent towards administration/fair housing for the program. We are administering housing activities. There is a federal cap of 20 percent, which comes out to almost 98,000 dollars, but we don't quite need that much. What we are going to be doing with that this year is conducting the analysis of impediments and the housing assessment in preparation for our next Consolidated Plan. We also do an annual fair housing campaign with the other Treasure Valley CDBG entitlement communities and, then, just the general administration of the program. For public services, both of these programs are ones that we funded in the past. The first one is Jesse Tree's Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which provides rental assistance for people who are at risk of losing their housing and the Boys and Girls Club also applied for scholarships to provide eligible candidates for their extended care programs. For housing we are -- we did a new program on this one. The first one, homeownership assistance, we have always done that. We are trying to extend it a little bit, so that we are working with a TA provider right now, so that the Ada County Housing Authority can get a little bit more information about principal buy down assistance and so we are going to kind of try to change the program up a little bit this year. So, we are working on that end to get people into housing that they can afford and, then, on the other end we are also working with Neighborworks Boise on the owner occupied home repair program, which is new to us, and this will allow people to stay in housing that they can already afford, instead of kind of being priced out of it. So, this will be for City of Meridian residents. It has to be within Meridian city limits and it will be for things like a new roof on or an HVAC system or different repairs that people would need to age in place in their home, so that they are not forced out. For accessibility the first project is the second year of the Fairview Avenue sidewalk connection. So, that is going to be widening that sidewalk so it meets ADA standards, installing a ramp, doing all of those things, so that that is a more accessible route to getting to downtown businesses. And we also have the West Chief Joseph streetlights project, which is a continuation of the streetlight modernization that's around Chief Joseph Elementary for the walkability to -- to and from school. We also have a couple of backup projects in case there are any additional funds that if any of the projects are under budget or anything like that and both of those are related to streetlight projects. So, moving forward, as I said, right now we are in the public comment period until July 21 st, which is when we will have the public hearing and the final presentation and the final week on July 28th, then, there will be -- I will submit the final report with any comments that have been submitted until that point -- until the 21 st and a resolution for you guys to adopt and, then, I plan to submit it to HUD on the 31st -- or by the 31 st actually. So, if anybody has any questions or comments they should direct them to me Crystal Campbell at ccampbell@meridiancity.org or you can call me at 208-489-0575. Thanks. Simison: Thank you, Crystal. Council, any questions? Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 11 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 6 of 17 Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Crystal, question for you on the -- on the Homebuyers Assistance Program and I think even the -- I think it's the emergency rental assistance through Jesse Tree, are the amounts that we are appropriating or propose to appropriate -- I know they are similar to what we appropriated in years past. I assume those funds are utilized at a hundred percent and has there been any conversations amongst you or stakeholders about adjusting those to meet if there is a current need or to reduce if -- if we are over appropriating the -- the appropriate amount? Campbell: That's a great question. And Jesse Tree's emergency rental assistance, they are using one hundred percent of our funds every year. We also awarded them sometimes through our CARES Act funding as well and so they -- they are seeing a huge need right now. They don't anticipate needing less by any means, but they seem to have a lot of different donors that they are getting other funds from and I think that they -- they always have people who are in need of assistance, but they have to balance it with the number of case managers that they have and it's really hard to -- to serve the number of people with the great services that they provide around it with budgeting and making sure that they don't end up in the same place again if they serve too many. So, it appears to be the right amount for them, but we do work with them on a regular basis to see where they are at and in the past, then, they have also let us know if they needed additional funds, but they typically spend pretty much -- if they are at 20 percent of the year they are usually at 20 percent of their budget and as far as the down payment assistance program, which is actually the homebuyer program now, they were not able to spend all of their funding the last two years, which is why we have the technical assistance for them now and so we have been encouraging them to serve -- to increase the amount that they put towards each household, so that they can actually get some homes that are a little bit more affordable for people. So, that's how we are trying to combat that. Cavener: Thank you. Simison: Council, any further questions? B. Community Development: Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Amendment in the Amount of $288,106.00 for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Simison: Okay. Then we will move on to Item 5-B, fiscal year 2020 budget amendment for the amount of 288,106 dollars for the Community Development Block Grant and turn this over to Crystal. Campbell: And this is for the CARES Act funding. We were awarded the 288,000 specific to COVID-19 to be able to get out as many services as possible, just to help people out, and so that -- we have already gone through a substantial amendment to our previous Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 12 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 7 of 17 action plan, so that we could award those different projects, but this is just adding to the budget so that we can actually spend those funds. Simison: Council, any questions? Okay. Well, with that -- and I'm just going to encourage all Council Members to unmute your mics, because we are going to have four of these coming up afterwards. So, do I have any motion on this item? Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: I move that we approve this budget amendment in the amount of 288,106 dollars for Community Development Block Grant, Coronavirus aid relief and Economic Security Cares Act. Cavener: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the budget amendment. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault, absent. Simison: All ayes. Motion passes. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. C. Police Department: Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Amendment in the Amount of $7626.00 for Partnership for Success Law Enforcement Grant Simison: Item 5-C is from our Police Department fiscal year budget -- 2020 budget amendment in the amount of 7,626. I'm going to turn this over to Kendall. Nagy: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, I'm here to request a budget amendment for a grant that we received from the Idaho Office of Drug Policy. It's the partnership for success law enforcement grant for 7,626 dollars. This grant was awarded June 18th, so it was after our fiscal year '20 budget cycle was completed and this is to fund -- continue our services and fund two alcohol compliance check and shoulder tap operations where we work with youth with the Meridian Anti-Drug Coalition that serve as our decoys and we have two operations throughout the year and they work closely with the school resource officer team and do these alcohol compliance checks and shoulder taps and, then, once that's completed we provide certificates of compliance to the establishments that -- that passed and so if you have any questions I will stand for questions. Simison: Council, any questions for Kendall? If not, do I have a motion? Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 13 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 8 of 17 Borton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Borton. Borton: Move we approve the budget amendment for fiscal year 2020 for the Police Department in the amount of 7,626 of the partnership for success law enforcement grant. Cavener: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the budget amendment. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault, absent. Simison: All ayes. Motion passes. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. D. Fire Department Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Amendment in the Amount of $25,801.00 for Public Education Simison: Item 5-D is from our Fire Department, another budget amendment for fiscal year 2020 in the amount of 25,801 dollars. I will turn this over to Pam. Orr: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Members of the Council. Thank you for having me this afternoon. I'm here this evening to request a FY 2020 budget amendment in the amount of 25,801 dollars for the public education program. The way this has broken down is that we have received 10,000 dollars in a donation from the Light My Fire organization that we work with every single year. That donation does have an -- we do have an MOU between that organization and that organization is -- is a matching -- matching amount and so that -- that is where the 10,000 dollar budget amendment actually comes from in that. We also have citizens donations of 3,030 dollars. Our Local 427 has donated to our Public Education Fund 2,771 dollars and so that brings it up to that 25,801 dollars. None of these donations will be -- we will, obviously, adapt to October 1 st and so that's why we are coming to you today to have this amended and get spending authority for all of that money. Simison: Thank you, Pam. Council, any questions for Pam? Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: I move that we approve Fiscal year 2020 budget amendment for the Fire Department in the amount of 25,801 dollars for public education. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 14 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 9 of 17 Cavener: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the budget amendment. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault, absent. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. Orr: Thank you. E. Mayor's Office: Fiscal Year 2020 Net-Zero Budget Amendment in the Amount of $4,000.00 for City Youth Scholarships F. Mayor's Office: Fiscal Year 2020 Net-Zero Budget Amendment in the Amount of $1,709.00 for the Mayor's Walking Club Simison: So, Council, Mr. Miles is upstairs listening to the Ada Health Board conversation occurring right now, so I'm going to do these next two budget amendments. So, Item 5- E -- and I'm just going to speak to them of both, the Mayor's office fiscal year 2020 budget amendment amount of 4,000 dollars for city scholarships and Item 5-F, Mayor's office fiscal year 2020 budget amendment amount of 1 ,709 for the Mayor's Walking Club. So, this last year you recall we turned over the State of the City to the Chamber, but part of our agreement with them that they would continue to fund our youth scholarships from the sponsorships that they receive, so -- that they provided. We actually received one donation from one of the people we held on to and, then, we received money from the Chamber as well to fund those youth scholarships and for the walking club that is also a sponsorship program. We were not able to do the walking club this year, but we worked with the sponsor, they will be the sponsor again next year, we had already purchased the equipment, the things for this year's walking club, so we won't have a sponsorship amount for that next year more than likely, unless we do something different. So, both of these are net zero and with that I would stand for any questions or any motions. Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: First off, I -- in your State of the City we saw the youth give speeches in gratitude for the scholarships that they earned -- not received, but, you know, earned and so proud of them and for their dedication to the city and good stewards and we wish them the best of luck going forward. But with that said I move that we approve fiscal year 2020 net zero budget amendment in the amount of 4,000 dollars for our City Youth Scholarships. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 15 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 10 of 17 Cavener: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the budget amendment. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault, absent. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: Also like to make a motion to approve fiscal year 2020 net zero budget amendment in the amount of 1,709 dollars for the Mayor's Walking Club. Cavener: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 5-F budget amendment. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault, absent. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. G. City Council Discussion: Clean Energy Resolution Simison: Thank you very much, Council, for that expeditious disposing of those items. So, Item 5-G is a City Council discussion regarding clean energy resolution. I will turn this over to Council Woman Strader. Strader: I will do a quick sound check, because I know sometimes it's an issue at this mic. Awesome. Thanks, everybody, for taking the time to talk about this important issue. It's one that's very dear to my heart in Meridian and that I feel really strongly about and just appreciate having a good discussion about it with everybody in Council Chambers and on Zoom. I will try to keep it short. I think what's really important with considering something like this -- this is a first step we could take that in my view would really set our intention as a city and as a City Council and with leadership from the Mayor if we are all supportive of it, which is really to support some clean energy investments for Meridian that make sense. There are several examples of similar resolutions that I sent in the Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 16 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 11 of 17 backup information. Many other cities in Idaho, including Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Boise and even Ada county have adopted clean energy resolutions. But what I think is more important than just having a resolution is the idea of having a resolution that really speaks to our city and the things that are important to us. If you take a look at the environmental survey results that the Public Works Department and Solid Waste Commission had sent around, there is very broad, long standing public support for environmental matters in Meridian. In fact, 77.6 percent of the public support making that a priority and so what I -- what I tried to do -- with a resolution like this I think fear of the unknown is a -- is a big thing that people worry about. I didn't want to come up here just with a bunch of whitespace and a lot of open ended, wondering about what this could look like, so I took a stab at drafting a resolution myself based on the Idaho Falls and other resolutions, that I thought reflected a lot of things that at least in individual conversations with people I thought Council might support. I think it's -- it's important to look at, you know, kind of the objectives; right? It's environmental stewardship, conservation of city resources, and, ultimately, the -- the goal of the resolution would be not only to pass the resolution signaling our commitment to clean energy, but to set up an advisory committee and that committee I hope could have experts on it and could recommend smart investments for us to make as a city. I think it could take into account the functional and economic viability of different options for us and what I would love is instead of getting to the next budget and Liz talking with Dale about LED lights at length, to have a broader view on what are we doing for our city to become more sustainable, move towards some smart clean energy investments and, then, we can look at different recommendations and prioritize them in terms of moving the needle. You know, this doesn't commit Meridian to being carbon free by any certain time frame, but what it does say is that we will evaluate and support clean energy, that we will take a look at whether those investments make sense for our city and if they are viable for us and that we will try to support them. Yeah, I didn't feel like rehashing what -- whatever I sent to the whole Council. I think everyone has the resolution. Everyone has the backup information. But I will just leave you with this. You know, for my perspective I think this could bring us opportunities as a city. I think it could help us further develop our economy. I think it could create a future for future generations in Meridian with hopefully less pollution and a sustainable conservation of our city and our resources for the generations to come and I think that really speaks to our collective vision of having a premier community and I will turn it over to you guys to --well, I will turn it over to the Mayor to see if there are questions or comments. Simison: Council, any questions or comments? Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Council Member Strader, thanks for bringing this to us. I really appreciate the work and effort you have put into this. I will touch on one thing that I really like I think that your proposed resolution does that I support, which is -- is number two. In just that first line, that we are economically and functionally viable, which means we are -- we are thinking smarter about the decisions that we are making and being able to justify both to Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 17 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 12 of 17 staff and to the -- to the taxpayers that we are spending these dollars in the most efficient manner. So, I appreciate that particular piece. I did have a question for you about the advisory committee. Is it your intention, Council Woman Strader, that that advisory committee is made up of members of the public? Is this become like a offshoot of SWAC? Is this staff based? Does Council have a role on it? What's -- what's your vision of that? Strader: I would like feedback from everyone, but I would hope a little bit of everything in the sense that we have great talented members of the SWAC. I think there may be several that would be interested in being a part of a committee like this. I think we have experts within the city that really touch some of the areas that might make sense to be involved in. I think we will definitely need some staff involvement for this to be successful, so that the city is well represented and, then, I -- I would hope that in addition to that we could have a Council Member on there and that we could also even have potentially subject matter experts or folks that bring some unique skills to the table. But you are totally spot on in the sense of, you know, what I'm hoping for are some really informed recommendations and hopefully that follow a -- kind of a -- an investment framework of, you know, hey, here is a prioritization and here is the -- the rate of return we think we can get for these investments and here are the -- the prioritization of them and here is why. I think, you know, that logic is really important, because to your point it's not clean energy at all costs, that is not what I'm trying to achieve at all. I don't think that works for our city. But I think what our city would really care about is are there smart investments we can make that move the needle and that's what I'm trying to accomplish with it. Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Council Member Strader, because you asked -- asked for -- for feedback on it, that's the piece that I'm -- I'm trying to wrap my head around. What I -- what I don't think that we want to do is create yet another commission or group that meets monthly for this sole purpose. You know, Council Member Bernt may be able to chime in. I know when you were on the Parks Commission, the Parks Commission have these different committees that have worked on different things. Perhaps this could be something that SWAC could at least have the first crack at. Transportation Commission has done some of that as well. A subset has sat down with subject matter experts and brought forth recommendations. From a structural standpoint that -- that number one that would establish that clean energy advisory committee, I'm not quite sure that I'm there on that particular piece yet, because it is a little nebulous. Something along the lines of working with the city Solid Waste Advisory Commission will bring forth a set of recommendations prior to every budget year and perhaps the chair, staff liaison, Tom in the department and the Council liaison could be the people that -- that bring that. Just my immediate response. But I think what you have put together is really really great. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 18 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 13 of 17 Strader: Yeah. I am not totally wedded to one structure or another. Like I really tried to pull out an example that would get a great conversation going and I'm not super wedded to the tactics of how we get there. I could see a -- a SWAC subcommittee being extremely effective at this, because there is a great amount of overlap between some of the mission of what the SWAC is working on and this and I think that would -- that would be a great way to move forward at least initially to leverage that talent there. So, I appreciate that feedback. Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: Question for Council Woman Strader. I know our department heads and, then, departments are always looking at efficiencies and that includes clean energy. I know, you know, Chief Niemeyer and the Fire Department have even looked at an electric fire truck and trying to look at the possibilities and get that hope for the future for the department. Public Works is looking at things that are clean energy and trying to find ways that, you know, help the taxpayer and do so in a way that favors the environment. How do you see the department heads and this commission working together in these areas? Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: Thank you, Councilman Hoaglun. No, I totally agree that that's an important component of this. To me what this does -- this really sets our intention as a Council and signals to the city and even the city staff their priority here for us is to look at this and, then, I do believe that city staff and the department heads need to be involved in a conversation with -- whether this is a committee or subcommittee, but especially before the budgeting process takes place, you know, regularly to talk about what are the possible investments and, then, to prioritize them and evaluate them, hopefully with some consistency. There is a fair amount of work done in the past by Dave Miles and others that I think we could leverage moving forward. I just want to see this happen regularly with the recommendations aggregated together and brought to Council on a regular basis. That -- that to me is the important component. So, we are getting that information and we are making holistic decisions about those investments. Hoaglun: Follow up, Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: Yeah. I appreciate that, Council Woman Strader. And I hope it doesn't involve, you know, competition for dollars. I mean it's the budget process and we are always looking for funding for various things, but if we can -- if this commission can -- Council can weigh in, commission weigh in to the Council on some things that -- that would be Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 19 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 14 of 17 helpful. And I was thinking when I first read the resolution -- and I think Councilman Cavener touched on it a little bit -- is there a possibility that we could have a solid waste and clean energy commission that--that's more of a dual purpose or a purpose that looks at all these things in -- in light of better ways of doing things that are more efficient and better for the environment? Is that a possibility? Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: Absolutely. I think it's a possibility. There -- there is a good amount of overlap and the timing for this presentation I think is great, because the SWAC is coming to present their master plan, if you will, for, you know, waste management here at Meridian in the upcoming weeks. It's not the exact same goal, it's not the exact same mission, but there is overlap in the subject matter experts that are involved in the SWAC have a fair amount of overlap with -- if our priority is looking at clean energy as well. I -- I doubt that they would have an objection to taking a look at that. So, yeah, I think that's a good suggestion. Simison: Council, any further questions or comments? Borton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Borton. Borton: Great questions and discussion already had that answered some of the questions. I think Council Woman Strader did a great job presenting this draft with some sideboards in guiding the discussion somewhat and the supporting materials were really helpful as well. If -- if the ask is -- for today's purposes continuing down the path to try and refine some of these details and kind of evaluate whether SWAC could handle some of these tasks or not, I think at least from my perspective the direction is -- is in the right place. I had the same concerns and questions that Councilman Cavener and Hoaglun have already expressed. I think that paragraph number two really would be number one. I wouldn't bury the lead. I think anything like this -- and I know this is just a draft, but any process down this path will certainly be framed under a fiscally responsible and functional viability. You are spot on kind of a standard that any proposal must meet obviously. So, some reference to that I thought was really well done and being stewards of limited taxpayer dollars is an important part of that as well, so -- and I appreciate your approach. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader,. Strader: I guess my ask of Council today would be -- assuming that, you know, I could have some discussions with SWAC about either a subcommittee or a shift in their mission and sort of leverage that infrastructure, you know, would you all be supportive of-- I guess Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 20 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 15 of 17 having a -- and I'm a new Council Member, so you will have to help me out, but would the next step, then, be to have you revise the resolution, circulate it for review, get some city input, and, then, would the goal be to have a public hearing? Would that be the next step? Just looking for some guidance on what that would look like. Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: I think that -- I think so. Maybe even -- at the very least maybe even one more workshop just to go over the nuts and bolts of what that resolution would look like. Ultimately, absolutely, we are going to have a -- if this continues to be like it is and it looks like just reading the tea leaves you have a lot of support in regard to this resolution, so we would absolutely have a public hearing and where we would, you know, approve this -- this resolution. I have the same sentiments as my fellow Council Members. I think there is a lot going on with number one and that can -- I just -- I think we need to know more about what that looks like, you know, the overlap of SWAC, how involved they are going to be. Director, staff, Council support, as well as community support, obviously. There is many people in our great city that know a lot about this subject and could add a lot of insight in how we could be successful at it. My other question would be number three. I would prefer to just have a period at the end of processes and plans period. But that may be minor. But I commend you for doing this. I mean this is -- I mean you were just elected and for someone to come up and give this type of presentation -- I know you have been working on it for a very long time. I know you are extremely passionate about it. I just think it's awesome. I thoroughly think it's awesome that -- that you are in front of us talking about this right now. So, I think it's -- I think it's amazing. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: Thank you very much for saying that. I am extremely passionate about it and, you know, a big part of why I ran for City Council was to -- to work on these issues, as well as, you know, the -- the other reasons I obviously ran. But, you know, I want to leave the city at the same wonderful place, if not a better place for my own children, and so it comes from -- it comes from the heart. So, thanks for saying that. Bernt: Mr. Mayor, follow up? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: And like anything else, I mean, you know, of course we are going to be good stewards of the people's money and if some of these things that we will talk about that are generated -- some ideas and programs and whatever, grant money that may be to go after that will benefit our great city and benefit our great citizens, I don't understand why we wouldn't do something like this. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 21 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 16 of 17 Strader: Thank you. Item 6: Executive Session Executive Session per Idaho Code 74-206A(1)(a) Deliberating on a labor contract offer or to formulate a counteroffer. Simison: Council, any further questions or comments? All right. Thank you very much. Council, we have reached Item No. 6 on our agenda. Do I have a motion? Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: I move that we move into Executive Session per Idaho State Code 74-206(a)(1)(a) and 74-206(1)(f). Cavener: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to go into Executive Session. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, yea; Perreault, absent. Simison: All ayes. We are moving into Executive Session. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. EXECUTIVE SESSION: (5:16 p.m. to 5:57 p.m.) Simison: We do have a quorum. Council, do I have a motion? Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: I move we come out of Executive Session. Cavener: Second. Hoaglun: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to come out of Executive Session. Any discussion on the motion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 22 of 590 Meridian City Council Work Session July 7,2020 Page 17 of 17 Bernt: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Bernt. Bernt: I move that we adjourn the meeting. Hoaglun: I second that motion. Simison: I have a motion and a second to adjourn the meeting. Is there any discussion on the motion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed nay. We are adjourned with the work session. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:58 P.M. (AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) 7 / 20 / 2020 MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON DATE APPROVED ATTEST: CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda July 21,2020— Page 23 of 590