HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-09 Work Session Minutes Item#1.
Meridian City Council Work Session February 9, 2021.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 4:36 p.m., Tuesday,
February 9, 2021, by Mayor Robert Simison.
Members Present: Robert Simison, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Treg Bernt, Jessica
Perreault, Brad Hoaglun and Liz Strader.
Members Absent: Liz Strader.
Also present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Mark Ford, Joe Bongiorno, Miranda Carson and
Dean Willis.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
Liz Strader _X_ Joe Borton
_X_ Brad Hoaglun _X_Treg Bernt
X Jessica Perreault _X Luke Cavener (5:08 p.m.)
_X_ Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: Okay. Council, I will call this meeting to order. For the record it is February 9th,
2021, at 4:36 p.m. We will begin this afternoon's work session with roll call attendance.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Simison: Next up is adoption of the agenda.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we adopt the agenda as published.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, I second the motion.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as published. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it and
the agenda is adopted.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
1. Approve Minutes of the January 26, 2021 City Council Work Session
2. Approve Minutes of the January 26, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting
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3. Approve Minutes of the February 2, 2021 City Council Work Session
4. Approve Minutes of the February 2, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting
5. Final Plat for Apex Southeast No. 1 (FP-2020-0013) by Brighton
Development, Located on the Southeast Corner of S. Locust Grove Rd.
and E. Lake Hazel Rd.
6. Final Order for Bainbridge No. 12 (FP-2020-0016) by Brighton
Development, Located on the South Side of W. Chinden Blvd./SH 20-
26, Approximately 1/3 of a Mile West of N. Ten Mile Rd.
7. Final Order for Earl Glen Subdivision (TECC-2020-0003) by Riley
Planning Services, Located at 1780 E. McMillan Rd.
8. Final Order for Stapleton No. 2 (FP-2020-0014) by Conger Group,
Located at the Southwest Corner of W. Harris St. and S. Meridian
Rd./SH-69
9. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Spurwing Sewer Easement
Annexation (H-2020-0087) by Shari Stiles, Engineering Solutions, LLP,
Generally Located North of W. Chinden Blvd./Sh 20-26, Northeast of N.
Ten Mile Rd.
10. City Utilities Reimbursement Agreement Between City of Meridian and
Meridian CenterCal, LLC for Meridian Town Center Phase 3 Eagle Road
Water Main Improvements
11. Memorandum of Agreement with Meridian Development Corporation
for Contribution to Concerts on Broadway 2021
12. Memorandum of Agreement with Meridian Development Corporation
for Contribution to Traffic Box Community Art Project 2021
13. Restated and Amended Joint Powers Agreement for the Coordinated
and Cooperative Provision of Emergency Medical Services in Ada
County
14. Approval of Grantee Agreement for the Meridian Small Business Grant
Program
15. Resolution No. 21-2255: A Resolution Authorizing the Eleventh
Continuance of a Local Disaster Emergency Declaration and its Terms
for an Additional Thirty (30) Days; Authorizing the Continued
Immediate Expenditure of Public Money to Safeguard Life, Health
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and Property; and Providing an Effective Date
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: Mr. Mayor, I second the motion.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it and
the Consent Agenda is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
ITEMS MOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
Simison: There were no items removed from the Consent Agenda.
DEPARTMENT / COMMISSION REPORTS [Action Item]
16. Transportation Commission 2020 End of Year Report
Simison: So, we will move on to Item 16 under Department/Commission Reports, which
is -- first step is the Transportation Commission 2020 End of Year Report and I will turn
this over to Chairman Steed.
Steed: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council Members. I appreciate having the opportunity
to be here this afternoon. I am Walter Steed and I am the chairman of the Transportation
Commission effective January of 2021 . 1 became a member of the TC in July of 2020,
thanks to the nomination of the Mayor and the consent of the Council. Additionally, in
2020 Jared Smith had joined the Transportation Commission in May. And just last week
we welcomed another -- another new member Zachary Shoemaker. In your packet is a
month-to-month breakdown of what the Commission did during 2020. We looked at many
specific issues, areas that were brought to our attention by the staff, by Council Members,
by other entities and the public. We review and recommend to the Council the ACHD five
year work plan for roadways, intersections, pathways and community programs. We also
interact with ITD, COMPASS, Valley Regional Transit regarding their actions and plans.
Very importantly in 2020 the Transportation Commission discussed its future role and how
to expand its role in being helpful and relevant to the Council and the community. These
discussions led to the formation of two new standing committees. The first was a project
review and ordinance committee and the second a development subcommittee. Their
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formation included purpose statements and assignment of members to each. These were
in addition to the standing committee we have had for quite a while, which is the school
zone subcommittee to look at issues in school zones. This past week the commission
formed a fourth standing committee to consider in depth the projects in order of the ACHD
five year work plan. One issue the subcommittee -- that subcommittee looked at and,
then, sent to the TC as a whole, addressed at length in 2020 Police Department requests
for consideration of the issue of ATVs and UTVs on city streets. This past week we held
a public hearing on the proposed ordinance revision and in light of the testimony we heard
we have returned it to the subcommittee for further consideration and clarification of the
ordinance. We want to get this right before we send it forward to the Council for their
consideration if we end up doing that at all. So, you can look forward to hearing that in
the future or we may decide that it's not going to have a recommendation from us to move
it to the Council. In December we saw what the Council did last month, an in-depth
PowerPoint presentation by one of our members, on the reasons for and construction of
roundabouts and other methods of handling left turning traffic. I have been familiar with
roundabouts for years, but learned something from that presentation and reminded me of
some of the terminology that's used in the -- in the trade. The Transportation Commission
is very thankful to the amount of time and effort the city staff is willing to provide support
to us. We appreciate their help, their guidance, and we want to thank the Mayor and the
Council for allowing them to do this. We want to thank you for your support as well. With
that I will stand for any questions, Mr. Mayor. I would like to -- by the way, I would like to
recommend that if you haven't had a chance to read the item in the packet that you do
so. There is a bit more detail in there than what I have given you this afternoon.
Simison: Thank you, Walter. Council, any questions?
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: Just a comment. Walter, thanks for coming tonight. I appreciate you being here.
I know Councilman Cavener, the transportation liaison, isn't able to be with this -- this
afternoon, but wanted to extend our greatest thanks to you and your Commission for all
you do and your passion for transportation and for your desire to expand your role in our
community. So, if you could maybe extend thanks to the rest of your commissioners on
behalf of the Mayor and City Council we greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Steed: Thank you, sir. I will be -- I will be happy to be sure to do that.
Simison: Thank you very much, Walter. Have a good night.
Steed: Thank you. You, too.
17. Discussion and Approval of Ada County Highway District Integrated
Five-Year Work Plan Project Requests and Prioritization
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Simison: Council, next up on our agenda is Item 17, which is a continuation from last
week's discussion regarding the ACHD five year work plan. I will turn this over to Miranda
for any comments that she would like to make as we go into this further for direction.
Carson: Hello. I received a few comments during the week from Council persons, as
well as a few staff. So, I have just brought back the -- the list. I have added a few of the
comments that I have received and I will stand for any questions regarding -- or decisions
regarding rearranging those items. I will note, as I was reviewing again, there was a
project that was a duplicate in the community programs, so I would suggest that we
combine 33 and 36 in the community programs. That was my error.
Simison: Miranda, could you take a second, just touch on any modifications that have
been made?
Carson: Yes. So, I have not made any modifications yet, but I will let you know some of
the comments that I have received. We had the comments last week, just as a reminder,
from Council Person Strader to move some of the Owyhee projects up possibly. There
was also some discussion regarding moving Linder Road overpass project up. In talking
with staff that's something that I believe we are in support of as staff. It came up in the
Transportation Commission discussion as well when they were doing that. So, from staff
we are supportive of that if the Council decides to switch the number one and number two
projects. There was some question regarding moving some of the Ten Mile projects down
--that are down in the south and moving those down on the list, so that we can have more
focus in our southeast and northwest quadrants of the city and, then, there was also some
discussion around moving a few items that are in the middle of the list up or down from
Council Person Perreault.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I did notice that the Ten Mile and Overland area projects had moved down in
the list and so I just was wondering if -- if Miranda or -- or you were able to share what
the -- can you share some background -- background on that and, then, also I noticed
that the Eagle -- that it looks like at the very end of the list, 60 and 69, Eagle Road and
Amity intersections, those moved down at the bottom of the list. Is that because those
are already in process and so we don't need to put them in our higher priority?
Carson: Yes, Council Woman. Those were -- those are in process. They will happen.
The transportation discussion had some conversation regarding removing them from the
request list, because it is somewhat redundant and there were already programs that are
going to happen. The decision was made to just move them down to the bottom of the
list. Personal preference I think it's easier to track things if they are not taken off the list
until they are actually complete. So, those were moved down to the bottom of the list.
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Simison: And, Council Woman Perreault, I don't know that any change has been made.
But one of the things I talked to Miranda about -- I think on -- yesterday or Friday, I don't
remember which one, but, you know, when we sent the letter to ACHD -- and I don't
remember if it was us that sent it or the previous Council, the years are just kind of
blending together, but we talked about making a -- the Linder overpass a priority and
deprioritizing the Ten Mile area roadway projects, specifically south of Victory and Ten
Mile, and so when I talked to Miranda that was one of the things I thought we should
discuss is if we send a letter saying that Linder is a priority and Ten Mile is not, shouldn't
we adjust our priorities for the Ten Mile, so that it reflects what we stated in that letter at
that time. The other item that I mentioned was specifically that segment that we have
talked about on Lake Hazel between the park and Eagle Road, moving that up in the
place where I thought it made sense was putting it right there at the same area where we
are talking about projects along the Ustick. I think it was in 21, 22, somewhere --or, yeah,
putting it at 20 just to kind of extend that conversation about prioritizing projects to
Discovery Park, as well as out to Owyhee High School, at least puts it in the top 25 in my
opinion, that that's -- so, it's on people's radar as something that we would like, because
it's --again, it's not going to be a huge project from all intents and purposes and something
that I think would make sense to highlight in a letter that we put it up there for, quite frankly,
a small project when the opportunity arises from that standpoint. So, as was mentioned
no changes have been made in terms of moving the Ten Mile projects around on the list
to my knowledge, but that's really I think part of the question for Council is where do the
-- where does Ten Mile -- should it reside on our list based upon our previous interactions
with ACHD -- or communication to ACHD.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Just two questions for clarification. The Lake Hazel from Locust Grove to
Eagle is not currently on the list at all; right?
Carson: That is correct.
Perreault: Okay.
Carson: It is on the -- in community programs. Sorry. For improvements to the sidewalk
and pathways, but not for road improvements.
Perreault: I agree that -- that that should be and that's a good location for that, because
I -- I do think the opportunity for us to potentially expand that section is going to come
along sooner rather than later because of the developments that have been approved in
there. So, I'm -- I'm in agreement with the Mayor in that regard. Miranda, can you show
us what is happening in -- what priorities is the Ten Mile and Overland sections -- I think
we need to keep those in our priority list, but as far as Ten Mile and Victory intersection
goes, I'm comfortable with moving that down. I don't know if I want to take it completely
off.
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Carson: So, right now that Ten Mile south of Overland -- we have got them at 20, 36, 27
and, then, the Ten Mile-Overland is at five.
Perreault: Okay.
Simison: Yeah. Our previous conversation was only for stuff south of Victory as --
removing those from our priority -- or moving those down from our priority.
Carson: So, that would be just a misunderstanding on my part.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Carson: Are you able to see the map as well? Because I think that will help if -- if you're
showing the map.
Simison: No. It's just showing your spreadsheet.
Carson: Okay.
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, just for discussion purposes, as Ten Mile is a connection to the
interstate, does that -- should we keep things in the higher priority for Ten Mile just
because development may follow that pathway, as opposed to more interior roads? I
don't know. That's why I'm asking. But what are -- what are your thoughts on that?
Simison: I will at least give you my viewpoint is we don't have anything that's been
approved in that area south that's primarily feeding up from Kuna. So, if Kuna would like
to prioritize those intersections I think that that's great for them to do that, but from our
standpoint I think that there is much higher immediate needs than Items 27 and 36 on our
list at this point in time. Five and 20, absolutely. But 36 and 27, you know, not necessarily
in my opinion.
Hoaglun: I appreciate that input, Mr. Mayor. Just one of those things thinking through,
you know, we can try and figure it out and we don't have any development activity going
on there. That may change in the future and we certainly do agree with you, have many
higher priorities elsewhere where demand is past due for action.
Simison: Yeah. If you look at this map right now, Items 49, 67 and 50 all have active
development around them for us along Eagle Road -- or, I'm sorry, Locust Grove and --
and Eagle even, 68, 66, 27, all those compared to 20, 36 and 27, which we really don't
have any development in that area from our perspective. They are in our area of city
impact, they do impact the regional network, but for our -- from my standpoint our priority
should be how to serve our residents first and foremost in the recommendations we make
to ACHD, not necessarily the things that are going to benefit Nampa commuters that come
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in through that and get on the interstate at Ten Mile to bypass, because there is nothing
at Black Cat and Robinson to get onto the interstate. That's my viewpoint.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Can't disagree with that logic.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I'm having a little bit of a hard time hearing Councilman Hoaglun. So, if he's
able to speak up just a little bit more.
Simison: He said I was brilliant. Just in case you were wondering.
Perreault: Would it be okay for me to briefly go over the -- the feedback that I had given
to Miranda?
Simison: Absolutely, Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Thank you. So, I was looking along the priorities 12, 13, 14, potentially 15 and
so -- a priority -- excuse me, 11, 12, 13, 14. Priority 11, the 2021 priority 11 , Ten Mile and
Cherry Lane, I wanted to discuss moving -- you know, discuss the location of that priority,
because that is -- that does feed down into the interstate and that intersection is small
and it's in poor condition and I'm wondering if that should be in our top ten. And, then,
also the -- let me see. Let me look at my list very quickly here. Oh, I wanted to prioritize
Eagle and Overland, number 12, below 13 and 14. So, my opinion and thoughts on that
is -- and, again, I realized the Transportation Commission has taken several variables into
account that I might not be aware of, so just want to preface that, but McMillan Road in
that entire two mile stretch of 13 and 14, have no sidewalks. There is open waterways.
There safety issues. There is schools. There is pedestrian issues. And the intersection
of Eagle and Overland, which is priority 12, while there may be quite a bit of traffic there,
I'm not -- I have more concerns about -- about the expansion of McMillan than I do about
Eagle and Overland and having additional turn lanes added in there. So, just curious if
there is any other thoughts from the -- from my fellow Council Members on that. I -- it's
my understanding that these aren't prioritized by the Transportation Commission based
on ACHD's funding that there is not necessarily a financial component to it, it's -- it's purely
based on, you know, need traffic count community feedback and those kinds of things.
Simison: Thank you. And -- and I will -- this has been my understanding -- Miranda, you
are welcome to, you know, say that I'm not correct, but generally the way Caleb has
explained it to me is the top five are really what ACHD is likely to put a lot of weight into
and, then, it's your six through 25, how they are prioritized by the city within that group is
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not really as important or as relevant, because at the end of the day they are going to
look at costs, you know, effort, et cetera, in those groupings. So, whether they are ten or
11 or whatnot, the fact that they are in those areas -- but that's how it's been explained to
me in the past that, you know, it's -- it may be okay for us, but it's not going to necessarily
impactACHD's decision unless all things were one hundred percent equal in two projects.
Now Miranda is going to say if she disagrees with that, but just aware of where generally.
Carson: Mayor, Council Person, I would say generally I agree with that. I would -- in my
past experience doing this with the school district and, then, being on the Transportation
Commission in the past, I would -- my opinion would be the top ten rankings are the most
crucial and, then, 11 through 20, 25, where they fall between 11 to 25 is not as crucial as
just the fact that they are in there in the top 25, so --
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Perreault.
Perreault: I want to make sure I'm understanding correctly what you are saying is -- what
you are saying is they are going to look at this list and they are going to pay less concern
to where we ranked it in the top ten or the top 25 and -- and more specific to what are the
projects and how do they fall into the plan they already have -- what they already have
scheduled in their five year plan; is that right?
Carson: That is correct, Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Okay.
Carson: They have a scoring system that they use. Our ranking is just one piece of that
scoring system. So, we give our ranking and we get points for our top ten -- we actually
get points for every project that's on the list, but they are weighted based on where they
fall. So, we have significantly higher points for the top ten and, then, after that the points
start to even out and we do use this list for other things as well, so we like to keep all of
our priorities in order, but just keep in mind that after you get past about the top ten the
points don't vary much.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Miranda, do you have -- that's a great point you just brought up. Do you have
our-- or I guess last year's ACHD report and -- and point scale on our roadways -- sort of
shows how our top ten were scored and kind of the weight of those scores in relation to
the cost and the safety component and the other factors. It could help illustrate --
Carson: So, I don't have that, but I do have our last year's rank. So, are you asking for
their full -- they do a priority workshop similar to what we are doing with all the projects in
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the county where they look at how each program ranked them -- each agency ranked
them and, then, they add that into their calculations of how they are going to rank them.
So, I don't have all of those calculations there.
Borton: Okay. That's -- yeah, that's what I was referencing, that -- just the weight in
relation to the other factors that you were describing.
Carson: I would venture to say very generally that you can look at the years and get an
idea of where they prioritize things. If it's the high priority, then, it will be coming soon or
already in progress. If it was a lower priority it will be further out in years and if it wasn't
a priority for them at all it won't be programmed. Or I should say if it was just a very low
priority for them it won't be programmed.
Borton: Okay. Thanks.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Miranda, I was trying to find -- the only one I found was a number 29 for the
2021 year, Cherry Lane and Black Cat Road, which refers to the intersection being
widened. But is there anything for Black Cat from Cherry to Franklin? We have got
Compass school there and ACHD has right of way from Franklin up almost to that point,
but there is just huge backups there during the school year, people trying to get out. There
is no turn lanes whatsoever on any of that stretch. People trying to get in and out of
subdivisions. That -- I think, Council Woman Perreault, you probably access that more
than I do and it seems like that should be --there should be something there and I couldn't
find anything, but maybe I missed that. Is there anything for that stretch of road?
Carson: Mr. Mayor, Council Person, the Black Cat stretch does have some projects that
rank lower down in the 60s. We have the intersections generally higher up there at Ustick
and Black Cat and Cherry and Black Cat. We also have McMillan and Black Cat coming
in at 39. So, about mid list. The actual road improvements, which are these red squares
-- can you see the map now?
Simison: We can.
Hoaglun: Yes.
Carson: So, the actual road improvements here are down in the 60s.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
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Perreault: Thank you. Miranda, as -- does the transportation take ACHD's -- I mean is
there a -- how do I ask this. Are they taking into account the likelihood that ACHD is going
to approve of a project in -- in their ranking decisions or is it just purely like what we as a
city think needs to be done or is the fact that, you know, that section of road -- I know that
ACHD has, you know, the 2026 to 2031 plan already decided, so are they looking at that
and including -- including that in the decisions?
Carson: Mr. Mayor, Council Persons, I would say there are some that are looking at that,
but, generally, it falls lower on the list of priority -- of criteria that they are using to rank
their priorities. We use this list for more than just this purpose and we really want it to be
a list of what the city's actual priorities are, without trying to play into any kind of scoring
games, for -- for lack of a better way to put that. I do know there was discussion about
moving the Linder overpass road to number one at the Transportation Commission and it
was brought up that because it is such a costly program and the likelihood of it happening
sooner, that's why they opted to leave it at number two, rather than have it be number
one. So, that factor does come in, but I would say it comes in almost as a tiebreaker. I
wouldn't put it high in the list of criteria.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Wow, I just have a lot to say this evening. So, I agree with Councilman
Hoaglun. That section, which is -- is number 61 it looks like, I don't know what to think
about that. That section is -- I agree, there is -- every time we have done a development
in that area and we -- that we have approved one and we have done several, I feel like I
have kind of been a broken record and said, hey, this is an unsafe stretch. Hey, this is an
unsafe stretch. We have got a -- you know, an Idaho Power substation, we have got a
school, we have no sidewalks, we have ditches and now many people are using that
section of Black Cat to bypass Ten Mile Road, because it gets backed up in the morning
pretty significantly on Ten Mile, so -- however, we have other areas of the city that have
the same challenges. So, you know, I -- what comes to mind, of course, are these
stretches of McMillan were the same situation. There is canals. There is no sidewalks.
There is residences. There is children. There is schools. So, I don't really know how to
rank that in relationship to I guess traffic counts. It would be -- and, of course, we can't
do that here in this meeting, but I know there is definitely a need there. It's just -- it sounds
like the 60s are not something we should -- that we need to worry too much about at the
moment.
Simison: Well, Council Woman Perreault, maybe I could recommend -- with the
Transportation Commission plan to take a year long look at this issue -- I mean to -- to
your point, I think even if we moved it up to 30 or -- or 20 it's not going to impact the
likelihood that ACHD would consider these projects in this next five year work plan. But
if we need to -- if we want to give some criteria for the Transportation Commission to look
at for this next year in some of these areas, you know, what -- what would that be? And
I don't even -- I don't know how often ACHD would even go out and do a traffic count to
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get an updated one and, quite frankly, with COVID I don't know that we know what our
traffic volumes or patterns really are yet. I think that they are going to change dramatically
in this next year with new schools opening, as you just mentioned, in these areas and
people starting to work. So, it probably does -- the entire list probably does need to have
another set of eyes long term and looking at these and finding those criteria. So, that's
what I would suggest we do is we really punt some of this to next year, but Miranda's
heard it, so look at these items to see what we might want to consider.
Carson: Mr. Mayor, Council Persons, I would also say that it's not necessarily traffic
counts, but traffic flow. If you look at the level of service map that's in your packet, it also
shows if the road is operating at a C or better. So, if it's in the green ACHD very generally
says it's operating well. I wouldn't put a huge weight on that as a criteria, because it is a
very general map, but, again, it's a good one to use for tiebreakers in my opinion when
you are looking at a few projects and trying to decide which ones can rank higher. Looking
at projects that have E's and F on the level of service could be lower. Or, I'm sorry, could
be higher priorities.
Simison: And, Miranda, how often do they update or take a look at those specific issues?
Carson: I'm not sure how often they are updating that, Mr. Mayor, but I do know that the
one that we received was from December of 2020. So, it was very recent.
Simison: Yeah. I can only speak for myself driving around. Locust Grove used to be a
problem coming from Victory to Overland, because of Mountain View High School. I have
not seen a backup on that road all year, you know, and so I don't really think we
understand yet where -- what the status of all of our roadways are and we may not see
that and, quite frankly, until August of next year. So, we have added seven to ten
thousand people or more and those -- those trips in our community and see what the
impacts of the road improvements have been and the schools and with Owyhee opening
and how that's going to change everyone's traffic pattern. It is a great time to really delve
into this a little bit deeper and reevaluate these priorities as our patterns are going to
change, quite frankly.
Hoaglun: And Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I think it speaks to those peak hours, especially for schools, and that's why I
brought up Compass, because of no turn lane and with our approval of a development
between Franklin and the railroad tracks, they have right of way -- I think when they redid
the intersection there they went almost to the turn for the schools and it looks --from what
I remember Ryan telling us, they actually had the right of way for the two houses that are
between -- the right -- the expansion of the roadway to the intersection of the school and
now the right of way is in their possession for Hensley Station, which goes to the railroad
track. So, it's just one of those things and I know they want to go in -- it's more cost
efficient to do the whole road on both sides and all that, but there are some areas we just
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need them to take a look at. Can they do just a turn lane there by just expanding on right
of way that they already have. So, it's a difficult thing. I know it's -- it's hard and there is
so many priorities that are well deserving, but that's just one that's just like, wow, we have
a school and no turn lanes and it's just those peak periods that it's just really a bottleneck.
So, it doesn't meet the same level of service as some of those that are in red, but just
looking at those things -- if there is money somewhere to fix a few things, that turn lanes
can be a big help, so --
Simison: Thank you. For the record Councilman Cavener joined us at 5:08 p.m. So,
Council, with what you have heard so far, do you feel like there is enough direction for
Miranda to finalize this list? Do we need to start moving things around? What is the
comfort level of Council at this point in time with modifications that they feel are
necessary?
Hoaglun: Well, Mr. Mayor?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: I'm comfortable with the list. A lot of good work and thought has gone into its
review and development and the recommendations of the Commission as well. So, I'm
comfortable with it. Understanding we can move the pieces around in perpetuity. There
is just limited resources with unlimited need.
Simison: Councilman Borton, can I ask would you be comfortable with moving down the
Ten Mile and moving up the -- that one section for Amity or would you prefer not to have
any modifications?
Borton: So, Mr. Mayor, I'm looking at it now, what -- remind me the numbers in the 2021
priority ranking what would be switching?
Carson: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Go ahead, Miranda.
Carson: The project number 20, Ten Mile to Victory, would be moved down to the mid
30s and project number 27, Ten Mile to Amity, would be moved down to the mid 30s.
There is also discussion of moving the first and second projects. I believe those are the
only two kind of outstanding discussion topics of do we switch number one and number
two and do we move those two Ten Mile projects down.
Simison: And move in the Amity section up to roughly around 20.
Perreault: Lake Hazel.
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Simison: Or, sorry, Lake Hazel. Thank you.
Carson: That is correct. Thank you.
Borton: Okay. I appreciate the clarification. I don't have any concern with those changes.
Understand the reasoning behind it, so that makes sense.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I -- I'm in favor of moving the Lake Hazel project up and the Ten Mile projects
down. One thought of mine in regard to one and two, if there is one thing that we are all
are in agreement on it is that overpass should be our -- one of our biggest priorities and
so I would -- I would support moving the overpass to number one, knowing that Locust
Grove Road, Victory Road, Overland Road, which is currently number one, make that like
a one B. Two is fine. I don't know if it's really going to make a huge difference, but I do
believe that that overpass is our biggest transportation point and so I would move that to
number one, even with the complications that come with it, I think it shows -- sends a
message that that is our number one priority and so that would be my point. And great
job at the commission. Great job, Miranda. This was a great document every year. You
guys always do a fantastic job putting it together. So, thanks. I appreciate your time.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I'm fine with moving Lake Hazel up and the two Ten Mile ones down on the list
as we discussed. As far as moving the overpass up to number one, I guess I kind of liken
it to having the top two picks in the -- in the draft and the number -- what we have for
number two is it one that we can sign? Not really. So, why would we want it to be number
one? But I don't have a real issue with it being number one. One and two, that gets all
the attention, again, going back to draft picks, you know, they -- they garner a lot of
attention and this would garner a lot of attention whichever one is one or two. So, I'm fine
with either, whatever the Council's preference is on that, so --
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Appreciate it. 1, too -- I'm supportive of -- of moving
down those Ten Mile projects. I think that has a -- I think it has a much larger impact on
Kuna residents than it does Meridian residents and to me that makes the most sense and
certainly moving the Lake Hazel piece up also makes sense. I think from a -- from a pure
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argument sake, to Councilman Bernt's point, Linder Road should be our number one. I
think that when -- if you poll the Council, you poll our community, many of them are going
to be talking about Linder Road long before they are going to be talking about Victory and
Locust Grove as -- as our community's primary needs. So, I think moving it up to number
one, even if it's done ceremoniously, I'm supportive of it.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault, any last comments?
Perreault: Yes. So, this may be a really simple question. I'm trying to understand how
-- you know, how everything is done. Miranda -- so, I guess it hasn't -- all the times I have
reviewed these it hasn't made sense to me why we would prioritize projects that they
already have in -- you know, they already have planned and they already have funded,
why are we not prioritizing what isn't already in there? Are we just basically saying, hey,
we agree with you that we are still -- we are still good with -- with these projects that you
already have in your plan? Help me understand why--you know, it's not going to change.
You know, if we say that number five is our number five priority, they already have a plan
for it, it's -- you know, the plan has already been done, the design has already been done,
they already know when they are going to fund it, why do we bother to prioritize it?
Carson: Mr. Mayor, Council Person, I will say that some of that is accurate. If it's
programmed to begin design in the next two to three years or design has already
happened, more than likely it's not going to fall off of that list. It's not going to become
unprogrammed. But there are occasions when -- when something is programmed out
into the future and it gets bumped down, becomes unprogrammed -- I don't have a
specific example, but I can tell you it's a possibility that an item gets dropped off if the
design isn't for another five or six years.
Simison: And I would just say, Council Woman Perreault, to a certain extent, yes, it is to
say that we are in alignment and agreement, but it also does help protect if they have got
to make modifications or changes. If we take something that was five and we move it
down to 11 and they have got to balance their budget, you potentially are pushing those
projects out further. So, it does have a little bit of that impact.
Perreault: Thank you.
Carson: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, I will also say we do use this list for other
activities and when we are looking at what are the city's priorities, so we use this list for
ACHD's prioritization, but we also use it throughout the year and share it with our citizens,
that these are priorities for them and from them.
Perreault: Thank you.
Carson: So, I have the changes that were requested and sounds like they were generally
agreed upon and those are here on the screen. You won't see the Ten Mile, but I did
move those down to the mid 30s and I can scroll down if anyone wants to see those.
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Simison: Well, Council, I don't think that we need an official action from you on this. My
office will work with Miranda and we will transmit this under a letter and we will highlight
in the letter the changes that we made and why, so that they are relevant to the
conversation. We will get this transmitted and we will have a more robust review of
everything next year and maybe it's even something that will come back sooner before
ACHD asks if the Transportation Commission needs any input from Council as they start
reviewing stuff, so --
Borton: Good idea.
Simison: All right. Thank you very much, Miranda, appreciate it.
Carson: Thank you.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
18. Per Idaho Code 74-206(1)(f) To communicate with legal counsel for the
public agency to discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options
for pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but
imminently likely to be litigated.
Simison: Council, we are on to Item 18.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we go into Executive Session per Idaho Code 74-206(1)(f).
Simison: Mr. Mayor, I second the motion.
Simison: Have a motion and a second to go into Executive Session. The Clerk will call
the roll.
Roll call: Bernt, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader, absent; Perreault,
yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and we are recessed into Executive -- or we are in
Executive Session.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: (5:19 p.m. to 5:54 p.m.)
Simison: Okay. Do I have a motion?
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Bernt: Mr. Mayor, I move that we come out of Executive Session.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, I second the motion.
Simison: Have a motion and a second to come out of Executive Session. All 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.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, I second the motion.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to adjourn the meeting. All in favor signify by
saying aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it and we are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:54 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
2 / 23 2021
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK
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