HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-03 Kevin Strout
Application: Centerville Subdivision AZ, PP (H-2021-0046)
Applicant: Engineering Solutions, LLP
Project Location: 4111 E. Amity Rd. (including the outparcel to the South) and 5200 S. Hillsdale Avenue,
at the Southeast corner of S. Hillsdale Ave & E. Amity Road.
Link to Application: htpps://bit.ly/H-20521-0046
Dear City Council:
I am writing to request a motion to further delay any decision related to this application until a joint
public meeting is held between West Ada School District and the City of Meridian, as requested by both
the mayor and city council on 11/16/2021 to publically review the data and potential impacts as a result
of continuing to approve subdivisions specifically in the South Meridian area, but also any area of
Meridian where public school capacity is deficient.
I am requesting delay of decision on the Developer’s proposal for the following reasons:
1. At the last city council meeting on 11/16/21, Mayor Simison requested a meeting with the new
West Ada trustees prior to any further decisions. I cannot find any public record of a joint
meeting being held between 11/16/2021 – 01/04/2022. Here is the quote from Mayor Simison
advising on a joint meeting with the new trustees, (…we do need to get a flavor for the new
board and what -- what is going to be their priorities and how are they going to handle
growth? Maybe the new board says we are not going to go out for bonds ever. That's not
part of our plan. What does that mean? So, there is probably a larger conversation to be
had on this with the schools, especially with the new leadership in the next two months”).
2. It is unclear to me why this topic is on the agenda for 01/04/2022 when the intent of the joint
meeting is to “get the flavor for the new board” as Mayor Simison advised. However, the new
trustees for Zone 1 and Zone 3 of West Ada have not been officially sworn into office yet. Can
the City allow time for the new trustees to get up-to-speed and settle in to their roles and
responsibilities before placing this topic back on the City Council meeting agenda?
3. Data requests were made by several council members during the 11/16/21 city council meeting
to be evaluated prior to the topic returning to the city council agenda meeting. Has this data
been collected, analyzed, and provided to the public for review? The council’s data request is
intended to display the approved plats/subdivisions in Meridian in comparison to West Ada
school capacity, over a time horizon, and using a more accurate family size value that reflects
the true family size of the South Meridian area or specifically school age-children per household
to determine enrollment projections, since the city average/levelized approach of family size is
under weighted for this area of Meridian, which we know based on school enrollment data.
Here is an excerpt from the 11/16/21 meeting notes: “Perreault: Specific to Council Woman
Strader's request, would it be helpful to have expected enrollment information from West Ada
based on where we currently are and where -- where they anticipate us to be. In addition to that
maybe some more information from the planning department on the projects that have been
approved -- some of them are four years out, some are five years. There is one that's ten years
out. If there is any way for us to get information on their phasing plans and when they expect to
have certain portions of their residential completed that might give us a better picture.”
4. Have any formal invitations been sent out to state legislators to attend these City Council
Meetings when a subdivision is on the agenda that may potentially be denied due to a school
capacity concern for the public school system? Can the City Council advise the public on any
efforts being made at your level to work with the local legislators, since you likely have a better
relationship and/or utilizing your position of office to shed light on the issue in hopes of state
legislative efforts towards the school capacity issue? Is their interest in a joint public meeting
with local legislators to discuss the failed public education infrastructure funding mechanism
during times of accelerated growth and related impacts to home builders?
Thank you for your consideration,
Kevin Strout
714-335-7275
3731 E. Tenant Dr
Meridian ID 83642