HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-13 Work Session Item#1.
Meridian City Council Work Session October 13, 2020.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 4:31 p.m., Tuesday, October
13, 2020, by Mayor Robert Simison.
Members Present: Robert Simison, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Treg Bernt, Jessica
Perreault, and Brad Hoaglun.
Members Absent: Liz Strader.
Also present: Chris Johnson, Adrienne Weatherly, Bill Nary, Caleb Hood, Bruce
Freckleton, Sam Zahorka, Berle Stokes, Joe Bongiorno and Dean Willis.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
Liz Strader _X_ Joe Borton
_X_ Brad Hoaglun _X_Treg Bernt
X Jessica Perreault _X Luke Cavener
_X_ Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: Council, I will go ahead and call this meeting to order. For the record it is
October 13th, 2020 at 4:31 p.m. We will begin this roll call -- this meeting with roll call
attendance.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Simison: Next item is adoption of the agenda.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we adopt the agenda as published.
Hoaglun: Second the motion.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as published. 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.
CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
1. Approve Minutes of the September 22, 2020 City Council Work
Session
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Meridian City Council Work Session
Item#1. October 13,2020
Page 2 of 17
2. Approve Minutes of the September 22, 2020 City Council Regular
Meeting
3. Approve Minutes of the September 29, 2020 City Council 5:00 p.m.
Special Meeting
4. Approve Minutes of the September 29, 2020 City Council 6:00 p.m.
Special Meeting
5. Apex Offsite Sanitary Sewer Easement No. 2
6. Apex Offsite Sanitary Sewer Easement No. 3
7. Apex Offsite Sanitary Sewer Easement No. 4
8. Burlingame No. 2 Pedestrian Pathway Easement
9. Gem Prep: Meridian North Pedestrian Pathway Easement Description
No. 2
10. Gem Prep: Meridian North Sanitary Sewer Easement No. 1
11. Gem Prep: Meridian North Water Main Easement No. 1
12. Gem Prep: Meridian North Water Main Easement No. 2
13. LaSalle Building at Ten Mile Crossing Water Easement
14. Movado No. 8 Pedestrian Pathway Easement
15. TM Creek Cobalt Sanitary Sewer Easement No. 1
16. TM Creek Cobalt Sanitary Sewer Easement No. 2
17. TM Creek Cobalt Water Main Easement No. 1
18. TM Creek Cobalt Water Main Easement No. 2
19. Final Plat for Baraya Subdivision No. 5 (H-2020-0088) by Matt Schultz
of Schultz Development, Generally Located South of W. Franklin Rd.
and East of S. Black Cat Rd.
20. Final Plat for Baraya Subdivision No. 6 (H-2020-0089) by Matt Schultz
of Schultz Development, Generally Located South of W. Franklin Rd.
and East of S. Black Cat Rd.
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Item#1. October 13,2020
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21. Final Plat for Lavender Heights No. 1 (H-2020-0090) by LH
Development, LLC, Located East of S. Locust Grove Rd. and North of
E. Lake Hazel Rd.
22. Final Order for Firenze Plaza (TECC-2020-0002) by LC Development,
Located at the Northwest Corner of S. Eagle Rd. and E. Amity Rd.
23. Development Agreement Between the City of Meridian and Pinnacle
Land Development, LLC for Brody Square (H-2020-0032)
24. Development Agreement Between the City of Meridian and Calvary
Chapel Treasure Valley, Inc. (Owner) and Evans Development, LLC
(Developer) for Poiema Subdivision (H-2020-0035)
25. Development Agreement Between Shelburne Properties, LLC and
Kenneth A. Williams (Owners) and Shelburne Properties, LLC
(Developer) for Shelburne South H-2019-0106
26. Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2020
Subrecipient Agreements for Boys and Girls Clubs of Ada County and
Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. DBA Neighborhood Works
Boise
27. Interagency Agreement Between the Ada County Highway District
(ACHD) and the City of Meridian for Water Improvements for Ten Mile
Road and Amity Road, ACHD Project No. 308044
28. Project Management Agreement with Qwest Corporation dba
CenturyLink QC for Sewer Line Repair — Ten Mile Road
29. Agreement Between the City of Meridian and Republic Services for
Use of Reclaimed Water for Landscape Irrigation and Bin Washing at
the Republic Services Transfer Station on Franklin Rd.
30. Approval of Fiscal Year 2021 Purchase Order to Lawn Co. for
Landscape Maintenance Contracted Services
31. Approval of AIA Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment for Scenario
Village Training Building
32. City of Meridian Financial Report -August 2020
33. Approval of City Benefit Policies and Procedures
34. Resolution No. 20-2232: A Resolution Authorizing the Seventh
Continuance of a Local Disaster Emergency Declaration and its Terms
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for an Additional Thirty (30) Days; Authorizing the Continued
Immediate Expenditure of Public Money to Safeguard Life, Health and
Property
35. AP Invoices for Payment - 09-28-20 - $5,816.78 - Special
36. AP Invoices for Payment - 09-30-20 - $339,605.57 - Special
37. AP Invoices for Payment - 10-01-20 - $175,597.00
38. AP Invoices for Payment - 10-07-20 - $407,003.56
39. AP Invoices for Payment - 10-07-20 - $196,694.07 - Special
40. AP Invoices for Payment - 10-14-20 - $1,321,427.58
Simison: Next up is the Consent Agenda.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda, for the Mayor to sign and for the
Clerk to attest.
Hoaglun: Second the motion.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Is there any
discussion on the motion? Councilman Borton, any discussion? All those in favor signify
by saying aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it and the agenda -- Consent Agenda is
agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Simison: I think Mr. Borton is aware that we can't hear him. Okay. I don't know if there
is a way that he --we want him to communicate with us on the -- on the votes for anything
until he gets that situated. We don't have anything for the next hour, but maybe if our
clerks could think about an another option -- even get him on the phone if necessary.
ITEMS MOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
Simison: Next item -- there are no items removed from the Consent Agenda.
DEPARTMENT / COMMISSION REPORTS [Action Item]
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41. Building Division and Fire Department Report: Adoption of State
International Code Adoptions and Amendments, Including Building,
Residential, Fire, Electrical, and Mechanical
Simison: So, we will move on to Item 41 under Department/Commission reports and the
first thing up is with Sam, who will discuss the Building Division and Fire Department
report on adoption of the State International Code adoptions and amendments, including
building, residential, fire, electrical and mechanical. I will turn this over to -- it looks like
Bruce and Sam.
Freckleton: Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. It's good to see some of your smiling
faces in person and those that are electronic. What we are bringing before you today is
the adoption of the new codes. Statutorily we are obligated to bring codes forward
following the state's adoption of these codes. We have never formally introduced Sam
Zahorka, our new building official, to you guys and so I'm going to turn the time over to
him, but this is Sam Zahorka. He is our building official. He's been with us for five years
-- five years and ten months he says. Okay. So, anyway, he is going to explain a little bit
more in depth of why we are here and what we have proposed for you and the purpose
of this today is just to introduce the topic and to initiate the process. This will be public
hearing. It's going to have to have several readings of the ordinance and that sort of thing
for final adoption, so --
Zahorka: Good afternoon. Thank you. Thanks for the time today. We will go ahead and
go through this quick PowerPoint. We will just start off -- maybe somebody has seen
Channel Seven -- maybe somebody has seen Channel Seven yesterday. We are the
third fasting -- fastest growing city in the United States, so we have been -- we have been
found. So, I will go ahead and jump right in. Appreciate that. So, building code adoptions.
The essential tool to preserve public health and safety that provides safeguards from
hazards associated with build -- with a built environment. This is informational. In the
future public hearings will be scheduled to adopt these minimum codes and amendments.
The background. The 2020 legislature approved the administrative rules that the Idaho
Building Code board adopted and the following international codes for all building
authorities in Idaho to be effective on January 1st, 2021. The 2018 International Building
Code with amendments, Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the existing Building Code, the
Residential Code with amendments, International Energy Conservation Code with
amendments. The Uniform Plumbing Code did not change. Idaho Fire Code with
amendments. The 2017 National Electrical Code did not change. The 2018 Mechanical
Code with amendments and the 2018 Fuel and Gas Code with amendments. And, then,
pursuant to Idaho Code cities are required to adopt the model codes that have been
adopted by the Idaho Building Code board, Idaho Code sections establish processes by
which cities may adopt local amendments that are more restrictive than these adopted
codes following a public hearing and notice to enumerated stakeholders. The timeline for
this process and ultimate adoption of these codes is as follows: Tomorrow, October 14th,
I will mail out a copy of the proposed code adoptions and local amendments to Idaho
Code -- per Idaho Code section and stakeholders list. On the 16th Meridian Press will
publish a notice of November 17, 2020, public hearing. On November 17th the public
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hearing and first reading of the ordinance will occur. November 24th the second reading.
December 1st would be the third reading, plus the adoption, and January 1st of 2021
would be the effective date of the city ordinance adopting codes and local amendments.
The proposed local amendments are summarized as follows: I can go through these if
you would like, but we can talk about any ones you are interested in, but to start out the
2000 International Building Code, which is specific to multi-family and commercial related
projects, we gave some bullet points there. Some of the amendments -- when it says
local amendments it's state IDAPA. Those are the amendments from the state of Idaho
and we carry those over into our ordinance. So, again, there has been some -- some
bullet points listed there for you. We can get into that if you would like. International
Residential Code is the same thing. There is -- when the codes are adopted there is --
there is -- there is new products that come into the codes, there is flexibility that comes
into the code, so can definitely go through those if -- if anybody has any questions. And,
then, the Energy Code. That's the other -- the one that I listed here that talks about the
changes to -- from the '15 adopted codes to the -- to the -- it would be the '18 codes. So,
that's the end of my slide. I will go ahead and open it up for any questions.
Simison: Thank you, Sam. Council, any questions for Sam at this time?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Sam, how long does the -- does the building community or any business that
has to comply with the codes have to implement them? Is it immediate? Is it January 1st
of next year?
Zahorka: Yes. It's January 1 st of next year. So, the way that we treat the adoption of
new codes is if a developer or contractor submits their application prior to January 1 st we
allow that to be under the current -- the currently -- the current adopted code. So, it's
really the cut off date to comply with the new codes is January 1 st. We do have a little bit
of a soft implementation for a piece of the energy code. The energy code is now requiring
every fifth house or 20 percent of the houses that are submitted to our jurisdiction for
building permits to comply on the residential side with a blower door test and so there is
a six months soft implementation for that and so I'm working on what that looks like. All
the jurisdictions are working on how to manage --track every fifth house a builder submits
to the City of Meridian. So, again, it's -- to answer your question it's January 1 st.
Bongiorno: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes, Deputy Chief.
Bongiorno: I would just like to tag onto that. Mayor and City Council, we have also been
doing -- the Fire Department -- the 2018 fire code. They added a new section on mobile
food vehicles, which is pretty -- it's -- it's different and so we have been working with the
food truck industry for the last -- I think we started notifying them back in like March and
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April that, hey, there is a change coming and you need to meet the code and so we have
been working with the Idaho food truck coalition on that as well. So, we have been trying
to -- like Sam was saying, give everybody a heads up that, hey, this is coming. There is
some new stuff. Here is the changes. Here is what's going to be expected. We
implemented our fee for food truck inspections and, actually, November 7 the Mountain
-- Mountain Home, Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Star, Eagle, Kuna, Caldwell and Emmett fire
departments, we are all getting together at the Public Safety Training Center and we are
actually doing free pre-inspections. So, we have been giving everybody as much heads
up about the new code sections that are coming as we can. So, we try and give
everybody, hey, here is -- here is big changes you need to be aware of. So, we try and
notify the public even ahead of time, other than just the -- the standard notification that's
required by code.
Zahorka: Yeah. And I will just go ahead and add -- echo onto that. We definitely do --
do our best job to -- per statue we have to send out mailers. I will be sending those out
tomorrow per statute and, then, I will be visiting with BCA. I have been working with Dave
Yorgason and Jon and Brighton and anybody and everybody that I can to let them know
about the up and coming code adoption and so we -- we try to be as transparent as
possible and answer any questions or concerns any of our stakeholders have prior to the
adoption. I have all types of resources to -- that compare the changes from the '15
adopted codes to the '18. So, again, if anybody has any questions on -- or concerns
about any of the code adoptions, please, reach out to me and I will do my best to help.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Mayor. Sam. And having dealt with this previously -- and I think I saw that you
had it written down, but if someone wants to come and testify and complain about, you
know, that's too onerous, we shouldn't have to do this, we are in the situation where we
can only implement more restrictive measures, we can't ease off on any -- any codes that
have -- are in this -- this -- whether it's fire, building, et cetera, we -- we can only be more
restrictive.
Zahorka: Correct. Correct. And that is -- thank you for bringing that up. I actually had a
little bit of a piece on my first slide and I was going to speak to that. The -- the state of
Idaho adopts the codes every three years and those are the minimum codes. The State
Building Code board, they go -- they go and they meet, they vet the codes, they amend
the codes for Idaho for like, for example, you know, there is -- there is certain things in the
code that don't work for every state or every jurisdiction, so the state vets all that through
the State Building Code board and, then, that is the minimum code. We can be more
restrictive than the minimum code and we have a draft ordinance that will be available for
-- in those hearings for the public and anybody to come and testify and look at those
codes and -- and have those conversations. We were very -- we only have a few code
sections that were more restrictive than the state. One of them is the garage house
separation. The code requires half inch sheet -- sheetrock on the garage side. We have
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always in Meridian required a five-eighths type X sheetrock. That's a fire code sheetrock.
And so we are -- there is only a few code sections that we are more restrictive than the
state and I can speak to those whenever--whenever needed, but we are minimum codes.
We follow the state minimum adopted codes.
Simison: Council, any additional questions? Okay.
Bongiorno: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Deputy Chief.
Bongiorno: If nobody else has any comments, Mayor and City Council and Mr. Nary,
again, big huge thanks to Emily. Emily's a superstar. She did an awesome job helping
Sam and I. I don' t know if she's sitting in the audience, but big kudos to her for helping
us pull this together. She's -- she's always awesome to work with and made our job a lot
easier.
Simison: I think Mr. Nary tells her that every day, but he will pass that along. She felt so
confident she's not even logging into watch, so -- okay. Thank you very much, Sam.
Zahorka: All right. Thanks.
42. Parks Department: Presentation of Pathways Map Update for Council
Consideration
Simison: Next item on our agenda is Item 42 and this will be a Parks Department
presentation of pathways map update and I will turn this over to Kim.
Warren: Good afternoon. Mayor Simison, Council Members, it's nice to see you all in
person and otherwise. So, I'm glad to be here for the pathways map update. This isn't
quite as particular as Public Health and Safety Code, but it's -- yeah, it's our process of
making this an official document that we can, then, hold our development community to.
So, Chris, can you -- is there a trick to advancing? Pardon me. Apologies. This is a little
different than I'm used to, so -- this is the pathways map update. We do maintain a
pathways layer in parks and rec. We have a lot of great GIS support. It's an ongoing
process. This is a -- it's not a big city -- large area worth of city, so we do try to keep our
working layer as current as possible. I'm always making changes, submitting those to the
GIS department, and those are getting incorporated into our working layer, which is not
published on the website, it's not our official layer, but staff does have a more current tool
that we are working from as we do plan review. We have just updated this pathways map
in March of 2019. That reflects a pretty standard timing. I think moving forward doing
this pretty strict annual basis is going to be important. We are just trying to stay ahead of
development and growth. So, we are here today. We provided some -- we have a map
book that is the pathways map for the city. It is -- Chris, is there a way to maximize it so
it's a little bigger? Okay. I will proceed. My apologies. So, included in the packet is what
we call a map book. This is our way of making a big map manageable for review. That's
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available electronically. It's 22 pages. It's just the city divided out into sections. So, we
have proposed and existing pathways per the legend and, then, anywhere that it's
highlighted in a mint greenish color, those reflect changes since the last adoption. So, at
a glance if you want to see what's different that's -- that's the key. Sorry. It's not
advancing. So, we have provided map pages for review. We are presenting methodology
to you today. How do we generally go about updating and making these changes and,
then, we would like to give you another week for review and if you are interested in a
hardcopy of this map book it's just 11 by 17, 1 could send those out. It's a little more
tangible. Again, we are trying to focus on the criteria we use for making these changes
to -- and ask for approval of the criteria more than asking for approval of every specific
change. So, we will come back in a week with the resolution after you have had a bit
more time to consider this data. So, there are typically three types of changes to the map
and those -- some of those are minor, like number one, did a proposed pathway, was it
constructed and now it's existing. Those are pretty simple changes and changes to
alignment where during the development process, you know, we know that there needs
to be a pathway connection in a certain area, but it works out that for whatever reason it
may shift to the other side of the waterway or take a slightly different route through as
subdivision open space. So, some of that fine tuning happens in the -- during the review
process and we like to take advantage of opportunities that are catalyzed by development
sometimes that will dictate a slight change to alignment to accomplish the same basic
connection. And, then, also maybe one of the more important changes is proposed new
connections in growth areas and there our intent is to enhance connectivity both within a
project and in the greater system at large. We want -- with the annexation projects we
are able to -- during the development agreement process and for pathway connections,
but we need to get those on the map officially, so that we can actually enforce those
requirements and in general when we are siting pathways we are looking to achieve
separation from major roadways. We want to provide pedestrians with as much of a
refuge experience as possible. So, where we do have pathways along waterways, try to
stick to those waterways or look at the mid-mile collectors as a more comfortable option
where waterways aren't available. So, here is an example of a sheet from the map book,
again, with the changes to the map highlighted in that aqua green colored. Some of the
proposed connections in new areas and being more of a -- what -- as a landscape
architect I would call a desire line. We know we need to get from here to there. We don't
really know the particulars yet. So, the -- sometimes we just kind of draw them in roughly
and, then, they take shape as the development process gets more specific. This was a
case where a pathway got routed through a development to take advantage of some
green space and I think since this map version was done that may have been denied, so
it's an ongoing process to keep this current. And, then, just as another example here we
are trying to make a mid-mile connection, keeping destinations, like parks and
neighborhoods in mind and, then, along Chinden, which is a state highway, the areas in
aqua just show pathways that are now there that weren't there before. So, those -- and,
then, in general -- and we have been talking to the department about improving the data.
So, that's in the works. When we did the pathways master plan -- that was before my
time. This is kind of the schematic of circulation -- pedestrian circulation we were trying
to enable throughout the city. With this Meridian loop pathway, the Five Mile pathway and
the Ten Mile pathway being priorities, so this map that we will be uploading to the website,
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highlight those routes, and the Meridian loop is not contiguous necessarily everywhere,
but it gives a sense of the structural organization of the greater system and, then it -- it
highlights those -- like the Five Mile pathway, which actually has quite a continuous run
now. So, we are working to improve that data and to note that this map is for recreational
purposes only and it's as accurate as we can make it, but may or may not be. So, we
presented this information to the park commission at our last meeting, which was a few
weeks ago, and based on this methodology and examples and, then, some recent
experience from our -- our pathways biking tour, they felt comfortable recommending this
for approval and bringing it to you all today. So, if you would like to take a closer look with
the hardcopy prior to next week when we will ask for your approval and formal adoption,
please, let me know, I would be happy to send those around. They are available in the
packet. And I would stand for any questions if there are any.
Simison: Thank you. Thank you, Kim. Council, any questions?
Warren: Hearing none, I thank you for your time and I will see you next week.
43. Community Development: Ada County Title 9 Application Presentation
Simison: Thank you very much. And just for the note, Emily is the staff member that
works on that commission as well. Up next is Item 43 under Community Development
Department. This is the Ada County Title 9 application presentation. I will turn this over
to Mr. Hood.
Hood: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. If you are okay with me presenting
here, it's a little more comfortable for me, but I can certainly go up there if that's okay. All
right. So, we have had a series of meetings with Ada county staff over the last several
months about what I'm going to talk to you about. At the end of the day it does result in
an application and I will get into a little bit more details of what that looks like. But, again,
we have been coordinating with their staff and kind of getting -- have gone back and forth
a little bit on the best way to get some of what we would like the county to help us
implement as it -- as far as our growth priorities and development patterns go and so we
have got that path forward and that's, essentially, what I would like to share with you this
afternoon. So, as you know, the city adopted our comprehensive plan in December of
2019 and Ada county noticed -- gave us notice a few months ago that they were going to
do a development code rewrite. So, there was an opportunity there to kind of coordinate
some of what we had just adopted as a community as our vision for the community with,
you know, roughly 60 percent of Meridian being developed and 40 percent of it being
largely undeveloped, at least unincorporated and developed in the city. So, we are
working with them on kind of two fronts, again, them to recognize our vision and, then, as
they amend their development code having that code reflect some of our needs as a
community going forward. So, we as staff have identified a comprehensive wish list, if
you will, and that's kind of the middle part of this slide. I will kind of run through that a
little bit more, but those -- those dashes there, those are really kind of the main things --
well, again, a comprehensive list of things that we would like to have changed. Again, in
some of those meetings with the county it was starting to make more and more sense to
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kind of take bite sized pieces or do this in phases, rather than ask them for all these
changes at the same time. Kind of bite off some of the most important things first and,
then, follow that up through their process of amending their overall code on some of these
things or maybe that are a little more less important. So, let me walk through that with
you. So, at the end of the day we have drafted a letter that -- that we would ask you to
go ahead and authorize the Mayor to sign and apply to amend our Title 9 agreement with
Ada county. So, that information is in your packet this afternoon. So, the biggest one I
think is probably the Title 9 request and that has to do with recognizing the city's
Comprehensive Plan. There is actually two sections of their code that they do that, they
recognize the map and, then, by ordinance they adopt the Comprehensive Plan and
resolution within that ordinance, our Comprehensive Plan. So, that's outlined in the draft
letter you have in your packet. And the second part of that is -- and this is still, again, in
Title 9 -- is require that hearing level projects on properties that are contiguous to current
city limits. So, eligible for annexation of the city be processed by the city and not the
county and on the next slide I -- I will have an example of that, one that we are dealing
with right now and, in fact, there is a couple of them that we are dealing with right now.
There will be some exceptions to that. It doesn't make sense in every case. Someone
wants to do an addition on their single family home, we wouldn't say, okay, now you need
to come into the city, disconnect your well and septic and hook up to our services. That
seems a little bit over the top for someone who just wants to do something as simple as
a single family residential addition or a home occupation or a daycare or some of those
types of things. So, we would have to work out some of those details, but for the most
part if the -- if the property is touching city limits, that's the orderly development of the city
for the most part. There can be some exceptions to that, you know, on the fringe we don't
necessarily want to keep sprawling and sprawling out, but as a general rule it makes
sense for the city to be the lead agency when those properties are contiguous to the city
limits. And so just in -- in parentheses there under that second bullet today in Title 9 it
just requires that planned unit developments, subdivisions, and rezones go to the city.
So, conditional use permits, those are processed by the county. There can be long-term
implications if the county approves a CUP and it operates for years and years within our
area of impact and it is an enclave for years and years. So, just as an example. So, the
second part, then, of the letter in our application request is to do some amendment in Title
8. So, maybe I should just back up real quick. So, Title 9 is the county's agreements with
all the cities. So, there is six separate chapters in there. Each city has an agreement
with the county. So, Title 9 is -- is their agreement with each city. Title 8 is their overall
development code. It's like our UDC. It's Title 11 of city code is their Title 8. And, actually,
it's structured really really similar. So, these are the things, again, that we had listed as
some things that we want to make sure that our eventual urban level services aren't more
costly to put in or if not impossible to put in in the future. Kim was just up talking about
the pathway network. You build a house where we are planning on a pathway, we have
to work around that. It becomes more costly, again, if not impossible. So, those are some
of the things where at least we would like the county to preserve some easements for our
sewer trunk mains. We don't envision too many dry line requests, but the easements to
at least preserve us bringing those sewer trunks through properties when appropriate
consistent with our masterplans. Landscape buffers on -- on arterials. Again, they don't
have to look exactly like the city's requirements, but there should be some consistency in
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that for landscaping along your section line roadways. Parking lot and drive aisle
improvements. So, again, just making sure that they are paved and brought up to an
urban standard with some of those things. Again, multi-use pathways. And streetlight
infrastructure. So, we aren't asking them to put in streetlights. That would be out of
context in a lot of these places that are in the county to have streetlights where there
aren't any for sometimes miles and in other directions. But at least the conduit and, again,
preservation of that. And so I'm going to draw an imaginary line, basically, that is about
halfway through that list and those are the things that we have asked them to address
more immediately. So, right now in this letter we would like them to consider changing
their code to address these things in Meridian, if not the rest of the county, when you are
in an area of city impact to provide those -- those types of -- or at least, again, preserve
for those types of urban level improvements. The second half of that list is, again, the --
kind of the longer term effort -- effort and discussion with the county and other cities about
what does that mean. The county approves a lot of private streets. Private streets can
be problematic into the future as they redevelop and getting through private streets or
sharing private streets and expanding private streets on five acre lots. So, just getting on
the same page with them about what that looks like and connectivity and those types of
things. Access points to arterials, master site plans and fire code protection. And, then,
again -- so, this is kind of a hierarchy billboard, barbed wire and electric fencing aren't as
high on the list, but we think it needs to be at least addressed or what does that look like
as the city comes along and properties are annexed, do we grandfather in billboards,
barbed wire fencing, and those types of things. So, more to come on that. We don't have
all those things solved as far as the exact code that we would propose, but we want to
have that conversation with the county about how that -- how that works. Parenthetically
kind of in that first note, there is some examples of some problems that Public Works
have had in the past on Rescue Ranch was -- was a subdivision about five years ago
where we didn't get the easement that we need for the McDermott trunk and so now we
got to redesign our master plan and work around that through the county. So, if they can
adopt our master plan and enforce that and -- and get those -- the preservation of those
easements, it will certainly make things more efficient in the future as we do that -- bring
that infrastructure to and through those properties. And this is an alternative. Just a
thought. So, today basically the highest you can -- the highest development you can do
that's none -- not commercial, if you are talking about residential, is five acre lots. We
had some -- some discussion of do we make that a ten acre minimum. Even these five
acre lots are tough to redevelop. So, it's just -- it was just a -- just a thought to maybe a
ten acre parcel in the future, if we need to get through those with the easements, there is
a little bit more wiggle room to work through a property than even a five acre lot and you
can be kind of more constrained if you will. Again, I already mentioned the second --
second kind of caveat there. We need to define those application types to exclude single
family homes and home occupations and things. So, I said I had an example of a slide.
Oops. Too fast there. No, I added it -- sorry. I updated the presentation in the Y drive.
Chris, is that something that you can -- I apologize. I added an example. I will apologize
for that. I made a last minute change and decided to share this example. So, everything
in gray and where it says site is all in Ada county. This is just, again, one example. We
probably get, you know, a handful of these, you know, maybe one every other month or
so I mentioned in kind of my opening remarks, you know, there is a couple of these we
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are dealing with right now. This site is totally surrounded by city limits and there is
development approved on all sides, yet they are proposing a daycare and a Montessori
school through the county. There are stub streets from both the east and the west and
services are stubbed from the north and the east and the west to this property. We have
a tough time as staff encouraging the county to approve development and, you know,
again, the perpetuation of an enclave in the county on something like this. We believe it
should be processed through the city. So, this would be an example of an application
type that we think makes some sense to let the city be -- I mean this is surrounded by the
city and some of the bullets I have got there -- I mean they are asking for a waiver of
sidewalk on Cherry Lane where we require development on either side to put in sidewalk
on Cherry Lane. So, that's just an example. I don't want to spend too much time on this,
but this is in the vein of those types of examples that we are talking about. There is some
commercial examples and some of our mixed use designations where the county is
processing these applications and I can't blame their staff, because their current code --
that's how it's written right now is that they are the lead agency. But I just want to give
you a little bit of a feel and a flavor for the types of things where it makes planning difficult
when we are almost encouraging development in the -- to stay in the county, but, yet, the
city limits are -- are surrounding these properties or at least on multiple sides in a lot of
cases. This didn't make it into -- so, this is, again, kind of a future request to Title 8 and I
think we will have to have another conversation and this isn't me to lead that conversation,
but I did want at least put it on your radar about impact fees. So, we have had some of
that conversation as well with the county and I know the county is talking about that kind
of independently of the city -- or even with the cities, but that's something that -- that's
come up as well. So, I just wanted to put that on your radar and maybe that's a future
joint meeting topic. So, again, for what we are here today -- so, that kind of gives you the
-- the full -- the full picture of what we will -- we will be working with the county on over the
next several months and, then, as my boss -- boss likes to say, the wolf at the sled,
basically, is this letter and the application to ask the county to adopt our current
Comprehensive Plan and, then, help us implement that as they review development
applications in the county and make some changes to Title 8. So, with that I will stand for
any questions you may have.
Simison: Thank you, Caleb. Council, any questions for Caleb on the information he
provided?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Caleb, is this -- kind of these changes -- the proposed
changes, are those being worked at merely staff to staff? Are any of the county
commissioners involved in that? Is the Mayor or any member of the City Council involved
from our side on this process?
Hood: So, Mr. Mayor, Councilman Cavener, I do not know directly. I can let you know
directly. I have not talked to the county commissioners about this. Both Steve Rutherford
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and Dave Miles have been part of that, so I'm assuming there is some conversation with,
you know, our Mayor and their -- their commissioners. We have in theory talked about
these things, you know, and -- and the county commissioners, you know, encouraging
development close in within cities, not exacerbating sprawl, but some of the exact
changes to code, no, I have not coordinated that with their commission, only with their
staff.
Cavener: Okay. Thank you.
Simison: And, Councilman Cavener, if I can add in just a little bit. And I -- it's hard to
remember when we had this conversation. This is a follow-up conversation that was had
with the county--former county commission several years ago, so it was initiated through
that process. I have had conversations about the desire to update. Again, we did not talk
specifics in terms of changes, but we have talked conceptually about those changes and,
actually, the one thing that I didn't realize was not on the list was impact fees, because
that is something -- that is something I have had specific conversations with their
commissioners on and so I'm actually at the end of this conversation going to suggest we
move that up to a higher level immediately into this conversation. They want us to collect
their impact fees when they get them going and just like we prefer them to collect our
impact fees that are existing and I'm not aware of any current reasons why we shouldn't
be moving that forward more expeditiously, to be honest with you. But all the
conversations have been in a while and it's been left at the staff level for the last three to
six months, because most of my conversations were had back in February on this topic.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Mr. Mayor. Caleb, two questions. The first on the bottom of your memo it
referenced having cities -- our city staff participate in the pre-ap meetings. That doesn't
require a code change.
Hood: Mr. Mayor, Councilman Borton, correct, yeah, that's just a process thing where we
have requested that they include us.
Borton: Have they, though?
Hood: No, not as of yet -- or I haven't been invited and I don't know anybody on my -- on
my team that has.
Borton: That's -- that's too bad. That's such a good idea to get those concerns in the
conversation extremely early for any applicant trying to develop in the county. The second
question is until a code change occurs can our list of requests that you have put together,
has that -- is there a means to get that to the -- to the decision makers themselves at the
very least, they get in the -- of imposing those types of requirements prior to a code
change? Is there any means to --to have them address them without waiting any further?
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Meridian City Council Work Session
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Your Montessori example is an extremely concerning -- it's a tragically perfect example
of why action is needed really quick on what --
Hood: Mr. Mayor. Councilman Borton, you kind of cut out of there a little bit, but I think I
get the gist and that's why we have, again, decided to take this phased approach. We
really think we are on the same page. Even though I haven't talked to any of the three
commissioners directly we think we are on the same page as staff and I have to think that
their staff has communicated some of these things with their commission and we think
we can move this through -- it still requires public hearings, so I'm not going to say it's
going to be done, you know, next week, it's still a process, but these are the ones where
we think there is little controversy and can move expeditiously, so we can get this cleaned
up.
Borton: Thanks.
Simison: Caleb, just to our knowledge did Ada county ever fill -- I assume they have --
their development services manager position?
Hood: Mr. Mayor, I have not heard. Only interim still as far as I know. That may have
changed. I haven't heard anything in the last maybe ten days, so --
Simison: Council, any further questions regarding the items Caleb presented? As
mentioned we do have a letter in the packet that we would like to send. If I can just -- I
don't think we need a motion, but if I can just -- to my knowledge we don't need a motion.
If there is not any questions we will go ahead and get that sent over to the county
immediately for their action.
Hood: Okay.
Bongiorno: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Deputy Chief.
Bongiorno: I just wanted to comment -- and Mayor and City Council, Council Member
Borton, there is one other project that I'm working on right now with the county that's 25
acres on the southwest corner of Amity and Meridian and, basically, it's -- it's Victory
Greens is wanting to move their nursery onto that corner and what I found -- and it was
developed through the city and -- and they can't meet fire flow, because there is no water
there, but the water is literally across the street in two different directions and there is
literally sewer right across the street and so I recommended, you know, unless you want
to put 60,000 gallons of water on your property or potentially 180,000 gallons of water on
your property, maybe you should come through the city and get water. So, that's another
one that I made Caleb aware of that it's -- it's going to be an issue. So, another example
of what we are having to deal with. Thank you.
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Meridian City Council Work Session
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Hood: Mr. Mayor, it sounds like you are ready to move -- move on, but just one more
point to that. I just wanted to disclose to the Council -- we actually submitted as staff a
letter to Ada county both on that -- so, the hearing for the Montessori school that I showed
you as the example is actually this Thursday at their planning and zoning commission.
We --we co-signed a letter as city staff and -- and Boise's concerns. So, I just want to be
-- have you be aware it's -- our requests and our concerns are not consistent with Title 9
and 8 right now as it currently exists, but we want to daylight this with them and go on
record and say our system is broken, here is a good example of why it's broken, and we
want to change this. And to Joe's -- Deputy Chief's point, we are going to do the same
with that project. It's right on the corner of Amity and Meridian. It's -- the city is on two
sides annexed. We have got development approved on both of those sides. It should
come through the city, not the county. So, we are going to write a similar letter on that
project. So, again, just -- if you get a letter, you know, waved in your face or something,
just know that, yeah, we are doing that even in advance of that -- the technical changes
kind of to Councilman Borton's point a little bit, we are trying to make some of these points
in advance of changing the codes and the processes. So, just a disclaimer there.
Simison: Thank you. And at least from my conversations I don't think the current
commission wants to be approving that type of development anyways. They -- they don't
want county enclaves in Meridian, but they have to follow their codes and their rules as
well, so --
EXECUTIVE SESSION
44. Per Idaho Code 74-206A(1)(a) To deliberate on a labor contract offer or
to formulate a counteroffer; and 74-206(1)d To consider records that
are exempt from disclosure as provided in Chapter 1, Title 74, Idaho
Code
Simison: Okay. I want to come -- next item on the agenda is Executive Session.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we go into Executive Session per Idaho Code 74-206A(1)(a) and 74-
206(1)(d).
Hoaglun: Second the motion.
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, absent; Perreault,
yea.
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Meridian City Council Work Session
Item#1. October 13,2020
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Simison: All ayes. We will adjourn into Executive Session.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: (5:20 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.)
Simison: Do I have a motion?
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we come out of Executive Session.
Hoaglun: Second the motion.
Simison: Got 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.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we adjourn the meeting.
Hoaglun: Second the motion.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to adjourn. All those in favor signify by saying
aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6.06 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
10 / 27 2020
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK
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