HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-01-29
CITY OF MERIDIAN
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
Tuesday, January 29, 2002, at 6:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
1. Roll-call Attendance:
Tammy de Weerd
Cherie McCandless
Mayor Robert Corrie
Bill Nary
Keith Bird
2. Adoption of the Agenda:
3. Public Hearing: Proposed Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
for the City of Meridian:
Meridian City Council Agenda - January 29, 2002
Page 1 of 1
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property ofthe City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing
please contact the City Clerk's Office a1888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
February 15, 2002
MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
APPLICANT
REQUEST
February 19,2002
ITEM NO.
Approve minutes of January 29, 2002 City Council Regular Meeting
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AGENCY
CITY CLERK:
CITY ENGINEER:
CITY PLANNING DIRECTOR:
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY POLICE DEPT:
CITY FIRE DEPT:
CITY BUILDING DEPT:
CITY WATER DEPT:
CITY SEWER DEPT:
MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT:
MERIDIAN POST OFFICE:
ADA COUNTY HIGHWAY DISTRICT:
SANITARY SERVICE COMPANY
CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH:
NAMPA MERIDIAN IRRIGATION:
SETTLERS IRRIGATION:
I DAHO POWER:
US WEST:
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS:
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION:
OTHER:
Contacted:
COMMENTS
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Date:
Phone:
Materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
CITY OF MERIDIAN
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
Tuesday, January 29, 2002, at 6:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
1. Roll-call Attendance:
x
X
Tammy de Weerd X
Cherie McCandless X
X Mayor Robert Corrie
Bill Nary
Keith Bird
2. Adoption of the Agenda:
3. Public Hearing: Proposed Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
for the City of Meridian: Continue to February 6, 2002 for written
testimony
Meridian City Council Agenda - January 29, 2002
Page I of I
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents andlor hearing
please contact the Cily Clerk's Ofticc at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Meridian City Council Comprehensive Plan Meeting
January 29.2002
The special meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:30 P.M.
on Tuesday January 29,2002 by Mayor Robert Corrie.
Members Present Mayor Robert Corrie, Cherie McCandless, Bill Nary, Keith
Bird, and Tammy de Weerd.
Others Present: Brad Hawkins-Clark, Bill Nichols, Gary Smith, Brad Watson,
Mike Worley, Shari Stiles, Ken Bowers, Keith Borup, Tom Kuntz, and Will Berg.
'Item 1.
Roll-call Attendance:
X Tammy de Weerd X
X Cherie McCandless X
X Mayor Robert Corrie
Bill Nary
Keith Bird
Corrie: -- City Council chambers and I'll have roll call attendance please Mr.
Clerk.
Berg: Thank you Mr. Mayor. Members of the Council, roll call.
Item 2.
Adoption of the Agenda:
Corrie: Okay. All are present. I want to welcome everybody here tonight. I wish
we had this at everyone of our Council meetings. The public is certainly invited
to attend like this at every one of them. We like to see that. Also, I would like to
especially welcome troop 128, scouts for being here tonight. Council, we have
second on the item is adoption of the agenda. Any corrections or additions? I'll
entertain a motion for the adoption of the agenda of the Public Hearing and the
proposed amendment to the comp plan for the City of Meridian.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we adopt the agenda as noted.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Motion has been made to adopt the agenda as printed. Any further
discussion? All those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 3.
Public Hearing: Proposed Amendment to the Comprehensive
Plan for the City of Meridian:
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Meridian City Council Special Met:urlg
January 29, 2002
Page 2 of 38
Corrie: At this time I will open the Public Hearing and kind of set s few ground
rules. There are a lot of people here tonight. I'm sure there's a lot of people that
want to testify on the different things that we will probably, before the night's over
we will probably be continuing this because there are a lot of items that need to
be discussed, a lot of changes that are being made to the Comprehensive Plan.
Tonight, what I will do is anybody that wants to speak, I'm going to limit it to three
minutes each. Now, if you have a person that's representing a number of you,
then that one person can be recognized to represent the ones that raise their
hand and they have probably five to - depending on the number of people they
are representing up to probably ten minutes if they have that many people here.
What we will do is as you testify, you will be sworn in and then when somebody
comes up that's representing a group, when I swear that person if the people that
they're representing will raise their right hand, they can take the oath at the same
time. So we don't have to go through this 150 times but you are under oath when
you come up here. J don't think anybody is going to lie. We don't say that but we
just want to have it on record that everything in your testimony is yours and the
truth. With that being said, I will open the Public Hearing and anybody can speak
on any part of the planning amendments in the Comprehensive Plan. Then,
probably if everybody doesn't get to testify, we can do it again because it's not
going to be done in one night. First off, Council, do you have any questions, any
statements? Okay.
Bird: Mayor.
Corrie: Yes?
Bird: Are we going to allow the staff to give a little presentation?
Corrie: Yes. Staff first.
Hawkins-Clark: Thank you Mayor, Members of the Council. The process --. I
guess I'm open to receiving some feedback from you before going into any kind
of lengthy staff report. I know we're all hot and probably don't want to be here too
long. I am prepared if you would like me to kind of give number one a brief
summary of where this Comprehensive Plan amendment has been and kind of
how we got to where we are. You have received a lot of materials in your packet.
I assume that you have not read all of it since it's about 20 inches tall. I know you
are all familiar with the process, I don't need to go over the background. I can
simply bring you up to date with our current staff report for this meeting if you
would prefer that to move things along. So, I guess I'd like to start with just some
feedback as to what you feel you need from us as your staff.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I think Brad, if you could give us the Reader's Digest version of how
the process began and --. I think a lot of the people in this room have not, weren't
Meridian City Council Special MecLll1g
January 29. 2002
Page 3 of 38
at our original workshop and have become involved throughout the process. I
think it would be helpful.
Hawkins-Clark: Sir, we're in a Public Hearing here. He's asking if I could stand up
at the front, which, my back would be to them. (inaudible).
Corrie: Whichever way. They're going to hear you from there or here.
De Weerd: Brad, we could have you right here.
Corrie: That would be fine.
Hawkins-Clark: Okay.
Nary: You need the computer though don't you?
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Hawkins-Clark: Generally to start out with, there is for both the public and the
Council a June 1,2001 memorandum that is available. There are copies here that
will include much of the information that I'll go over. We have, I believe about 40
copies. So, certainly not everyone would get one tonight but they can be picked
up at the Planning and Zoning Department office any work day from eight to five.
We started this process in June 1999. A corporation called SAIC was hired by
the City to assist us in the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan. The
City's current Comprehensive Plan today and in 1999 was adopted in December
of 1993. That plan due to the City's growth was seen as needing to be updated
both the map which addresses land use issues as well as a lot of the text
policies. That is sort of what initiated the City to say it's time to update this long
range plan which essentially is setting a blueprint for about 15 to 20 years in
terms of land use throughout the City. That was June 1999. We did hold
numerous workshops throughout the summer and the fall of that year. SAIC
more or less assisted with those. We had displays. We took feedback starting
with what are the major issues that people wanted to address whether they be
transportation, whether they be landscaping, whether they be schools and public
facilities, police and fire. All those concerns were essentially listed out. Those
workshops, at the end of those were all of the issues and the concerns were sort
of collated. The next series of workshops dealt with mainly the land uses of our
map. So, we had a preliminary draft in the winter of 1999 and early spring 2000.
There was an open house that was held in June 2000 where comments on the
land use map and the text were received. There was a steering committee
formed that comprised a representative of the City Council, a representative of
the Planning and Zoning Commission, representative, three representatives from
the community and a couple of staff that went into further depth and came up
with a proposed modification to both the map and the text policies. Then the
Planning and Zoning Commission began their hearings in June 2001. There
essentially was a bound copy of the plan, which looks like this. This was the first
document that was produced. This remains the base document, which a lot of the
memos that you have refer back to this document. This is the base. This was the
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Meridian City Council Special Meb<lIng
January 29, 2002
Page 4 of 38
first one prepared. This is what the Planning and Zoning Commission began their
hearings on. There was a supplement to this draft that made some
recommended changes. This supplement contains both text changes and it
contained a new map that resulted from some of the comments that the SAIC
and the City staff received at workshops. After the Planning and Zoning
Commission began their hearings in June 2001, they received testimony. We
broke it up into six key topic areas. People were permitted to testify on one of
those six areas ranging from the map to public services to public safety. There
were three hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission closed their
hearing process on the Comprehensive Plan. I would refer you to our January
25, 2002 memo, which includes a summary of the Planning and Zoning
Commission hearings on page two and the motions that, the topics of the
motions that were made. There were three key areas that both the public and the
development community testified on. The urban services planning are, the
neighborhood centers and the City services, well there was four, City services,
how are those going to be served particularly water and sewer. Whether they
could be private or public. Then the land use map. So, those are really the
dominant four areas that the Planning and Zoning Commission received a lot of
testimony on. They did make three different motions at three different meetings.
Those are again summarized on page two of that January 25 memo. There are
several differences between the 1993 plan and the current draft. It was
December 6th when the Planning and Zoning Commission made their final motion
and forwarded on the recommendations to this body, to the City Council for you
to hear. Of all the public testimony that was received at the Planning and Zoning
Commission hearing, which they received about 40 specific letters addressing
specific properties at the Planning and Zoning Commission level. The
Commission reviewed those. They recommended this map which is available on
the back tables and should be in your packets Council and Mayor. This map
represents all of the changes that the Planning and Zoning Commission choose
to make. Several of the letters that were received requesting changes to specific
properties whether that be changing it from residential or changing it from an
agriculture to an office. There were many different changes received. There have
been change requests made to you since the Planning and Zoning Commission
made their final motion December 6th. Those are in your packets. Of course the
most key one is the property that was generated here at the corner of Ustick and
Ten Mile. There was a proposed change for that 30 acres approximately. That
was one change that came after the Planning and Zoning Commission made
their recommendation. That has had a separate hearing process. That has gone
on separate from this process that we're going through tonight which is on our
entire area of impact. I think I'd just like to hit briefly three or four of the main
differences that this plan has from the 1993 plan. One of them is this concept of
neighborhood centers, which has received a substantial amount of media
coverage as well as discussion amongst the development community. The
concept is there for you to look at in detail. Generally where you see these half
sort of moon circle shapes, there would be proposed to be this general
configuration. The idea is to have a commerce center here off of an arterial road,
some high density housing with smaller block lengths surrounding to encourage
greater connectivity here internal to the section. You do have a grid section
represented here but it would not have to be grid. This is just a concept. The
(
Meridian City Council Speciai Meellng
January 29, 2002
Page 5 of 38
Planning and Zoning Commission's final recommendation was basically to allow -
-. Let me go back to the map here. To allow the centers to remain shown on the
map. There are 15 of them throughout the area of impact. However, instead of
requiring developers to construct this concept of a neighborhood center they
would have the choice at these to come in and construct a project to their own
design. However, they would need to still meet four key criteria in each of these,
if they choose not to do the center. That would be connectivity, open space, there
would have to be pathways and a mix of uses. So, those four things would still
need to be developed but not necessarily to the configuration that we show in
this concept. The Planning and Zoning Commission also recommended some
incentives that should a developer choose to purchase parcels at one of these
neighborhood centers' areas should they choose to do that there are five
incentives, I believe that are proposed by the Commission that would essentially
expedite and make the process simpler. I can go over those later. I won't go over
those now. Another difference in the 1993 to this 2001 plan is this concept of
auto circulation and future collector streets. The JUB Engineer firm did a study
throughout the Treasure Valley and had some proposed collectors. Now,
essentially these are shown. It's difficult to see on this map. But essentially the
dashed lines are shown to be at the half mile between two arterials. That would
encourage both transit and pedestrian and bicycle traffic within a section. Those
are certainly flexible. The Ada County Highway District is still in the process of
making formal comments on those and developing standards. The Parks
department as you know is in the process, they have a Comprehensive Plan that
they are working on. This aff street, multiple use pathway network more or less
replicates what the Parks department has in their plan. The on street bike ways is
not a necessarily significant change but we are proposing that is be included
essentially to provide the City a base should developers come through and Ada
County Highway District allows a right-af-way that is wide enough to do bicycle
lanes. This would be those roadways that they would be encouraged on. We had
included the public works department's facility plan, which designates the various
sewer service district areas as a figure in the plan. This of course would be
subject to any modifications that the public works department has. We have
included the Idaho Power proposed transmission line map which designates the
proposed substation areas as well as the transmission line corridors. I guess I
won't go into the detail on the changes at this point that are in our January 25
memo. There area a couple of highlights. On page three of that January 25
memo we do hit on the proposed change to (inaudible). At this point, the plan
that, the map that you have in front of you which the Planning and Zoning
Commission has changed. I'll just highlight since I believe most of the people
here tonight are for this area. This is again, Ten Mile, Black Cat, Ustick, and
McMillan, this square mile here. The Planning and Zoning Commission has
recommended this somewhat of an industrial buffer zone around the City's
wastewater treatment plant. At this point, the only development application that
the City has received is for this 30 acres, approximately here at the northwest
corner of that intersection. Utility subdivision is what they are proposing the name
and as I said it is a separate application that the City has received. The applicant
has proposed a text change only to our Comprehensive Plan that simply says the
City will encourage industrial uses adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant.
That is what the developers of Utility Subdivision Falcon Creek, LLC have
I
Meridian City Council Speciai Meellng
January 29, 2002
Page 6 of 38
proposed as their Comprehensive Plan amendment. So, essentially you have a
text change submitted to the City by the developer. We have a proposed map
change which is part of our City initiated Comprehensive Plan amendment. So,
there are two processes. This one tonight is the map and the one that the
Planning and Zoning Commission submitted a recommendation to you for. Staff
feels that there are many issues to take into consideration for this section. The
wastewater treatment facility is certainly going to expand in the future. There are
different opinions on whether or not that is a good place to live or not a good
place to live and the uses that are there. The public works department has
expressed concern about residential uses adjacent to the wastewater treatment
plant. There are several existing rural residential uses in this section. Some of
which do have properties that are currently split by our current map. Particularly
those are here along the south part of the plant. Here again, here's Ustick. Some
of these properties that have Ustick frontage are split by this industrial
designation right there between this low density residential and the industrial
which is the grey color. We feel that given the issues that around this whole area
that the land uses are --. We have single family residential at three corners of this
intersection. The Bridgetower Subdivision, 300 plus acres does have some office
uses here along the Ten Mile if you recall. It does have some commercial uses
proposed here at the southeast corner of McMillan and Ten Mile. There are I
believe approximately 800 plus single family homes at build out. That all is here
adjacent across at this point. The uses that are compatible or could be
compatible --. We feel that there's just a lot of issues to take into consideration
and maybe a more detailed specific area plan for that section is necessary.
Possibly the hiring of an outside consultant or some other group type, surrett type
setting where we could bring property owners, City, developers, architects and
maybe some other people that have experience with wastewater treatment
facilities to look just more in-depth. That is one recommendation that we have
before you. I'll just bring up so you can see the aerial photo. This is an aerial
photo taken about (inaudible). Again, here's the various components of the
wastewater treatment plant here. As you can see the dominant existing pattern is
almost all agriculture. The current 1993 comp plan calls out all of this area as
rural residential slash agricultural. That's what the current 1993 plan says. The
current plan also does call for a regional park somewhere in this area. As you
well know that is a designation that more or less floats and represents the fact
that in 1993 the City felt that somewhere in this area a regional park would be
necessary. Another option for the Council to consider is to simply retain the
existing 1993 designation for this area as agricultural slash rural residential, not
change it according to the P&Z recommendation until some greater detailed
planning work can be done and design standards put in place. (inaudible). Is
there any questions at this point?
Nary: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Before we get started on and before I ask Brad a question, I do want to
make it clear for the public record to those that didn't know. I was a member of
the Planning and Zoning Commission in the year 2001 for all of these Public
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 7 of 38
Hearings as well as all the motions and recommendations we made from the
Council, or the Commission to the Council and as part of our record now. In
reviewing the Idaho code I don't find that to be a conflict. There isn't any conflict
provision that prohibits my participation with this hearing. I guess I would ask the
Council, [ guess consent, that if they would agree that there is no conflict that I
could participate in these hearings as well. (inaudible).
Bird: I see no conflict.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd?
De Weerd: I see no conflict.
Corrie: There is no conflict from the Council.
Nary: Thank you. Now if I could ask Mr. Hawkins-Clark a question. You
probably knew I was going to ask you this but on that Utility Subdivision, I guess
the way I'm reading what you were saying was that the Commission's
recommendation was to make that a light industrial designation. My recollection
Brad is that that was what it was proposed in this June 2000 draft and there was
--. Isn't that correct?
Hawkins-Clark: That's correct.
Nary: Okay. As far as I can recall there was, prior to December 6th when the
final motions were made and this issue regarding Utility Subdivision come up
there hadn't been any testimony by anybody that that was not appropriate use or
designation for that site. Is that correct?
Hawkins-Clark: That's correct. We did not receive any public record testimony or
comments or letters.
Nary: So, I guess I'm a little confused by your memo from January 25th because
now what you're saying is that staff is now recommending that we separate that
particular section out now completely and rethink it before we go forward any
further on that particular section. Is that right?
Hawkins-Clark: That's right.
Nary: Could you at least tell us what thought process or what discussion if any
was had prior to June of 2000 to make this a light industrial zone in the first place
since it was a rural residential and it was a possible park site? What input was
done before that to change it to light industrial or recommend it to the
Commission?
(inaudible discussion amongst staff)
Stiles: Mayor, Councilman Nary and Council Members. In June 2000 what had
come up --. We've always struggled with what to designate around the
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 8 of 38
wastewater treatment plant. Also the property owners in that area were also very
concerned about what they could do with their property since it was designated
as rural residential and agricultural. We did receive an application for a
commercial storage facility that was approved in that area adjacent to the
wastewater treatment plant. That was felt to be a very compatible use. That's
why it was approved. The reason we put the designation of industrial around
there is because we did feel light industrial uses were compatible out there. Our
problem is our current zoning ordinance doesn't differentiate between a general
industrial use and a light industrial use. So, they are very --. So, I guess Utility
Subdivision was a great eye opener on what that could mean with that
designation, especially when it seemed to be the opinion of some of the property
owners out there that once it was designated industrial they could come in with
any industrial use they chose and it just had to be approved. Our thoughts behind
the light industrial was that they would be true and light industrial even though
our present zoning ordinance doesn't differentiate. We thought office, warehouse
type uses and possibly some type of distribution uses that you see in some of the
technological parks would be very desirable and very compatible uses with a
wastewater treatment plant and shouldn't have a great deal of impact on the
traffic or noise or smell or anything like that. We did have good intentions when
we designated that, when we proposed that designation in the first place but
what Utility Subdivision has done is really opened our eyes and shown us what
could be possible. It was never our intent to have every, maybe I guess I could
say not highly desirable use contained near the wastewater treatment plant.
That's the reason for our change. I think maybe --. I can't speak for the Planning
and Zoning Commission and they can't be faulted for the recommendation to
send the requested text change onto Council because they did keep the
remainder of the application, the plat and the annexation and zoning application
at their level because they just wanted to see what direction the Council would
like to go. I don't think it was yes we're recommending it and we want this use to
be there. I don't think that was ever the intent. Mr. Nary can speak to that but just
simply wanted to see where the - what direction the Council might be headed so
it would give them better direction on how to act on those other applications.
Nary: Mr. Mayor, if I could ask one more question. Brad I didn't see in your memo
but my recollection was that the Planning and Zoning meeting that this issue was
discussed in regards to Utility Subdivision specifically there was some comment
about that floating green dot, the park idea that was in the 1993 plan. My
recollection is Mr. Kuntz did offer to at least discuss that with folks as to a
potential for a park Comprehensive Plan to at least look at that as to whether or
not that's reasonable or feasible for that site. But I didn't see that comment in
here. Is that not something that still considered?
Hawkins-Clark: Councilman Nary, Members of the Council. That is still an option.
That was an oversight in our memo.
Nary: Thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
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Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 9 of 38
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: One brief comment before we open to testimony, I see that our chair
of the Planning and Zoning Commission. They put a tremendous amount of time
and I saw that they asked for a second turkey but I don't think they got it. You did
a very good job. We appreciate all the volunteer hours you put into this. You
really cleaned up a lot and it's a much stronger plan. Thank you very much Keith.
Corrie: Thank you. Okay, we'l[ start the Public Hearing. You heard what I said
about the timing. The City Clerk will have two cards. One is you've got what is
that 30 seconds warning and then it's time to stop. Hopefully you will follow that.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: The reason for that is we want to hear everybody's testimony that wants
to testify tonight. If we don't get it all in tonight, rest assured we're going to do it
again. You can speak at that time as well. I don't want to discourage anybody
from not putting their words in here to what they would like to see. This is
planning what you would like to see the City to be and we can't make those
decisions unless we hear from you what you want it to be. So, with that I will
start. If you'll raise your hand --. Let me ask you first, is there anybody here that's
going to be testifying for a group of people? Okay. Would you come up first?
Each one of you come up. I would like a show of hands of everybody that he is
representing to speak tonight for you. Okay. So, if you'll keep raising your hand,
we'll swear you all in at one time. Then as you come up individually we'll do that
as well. You've got five? Okay, just hold your hand up. Do you solemnly swear to
tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God? This
goes for everybody? Okay good. You're sworn in. go ahead. State your name
and your address.
Crane: My name is Charles Crane. I live at 3610 West Ustick Road Meridian
Idaho.
Corrie: I will give you ten minutes if you would like. If you don't need to take it
that's fine.
Crane: I kind of represent some of the people in a general way. I have some
specifics of my own but there are some general things I would like to include the
group in. first thing, I wanted to set just one little quick part of the record straight.
The Planning and Zoning Commission did have three or four public meetings and
there was a person that did show up at the public meetings and testified. It was in
the September 27th meeting. That person was me, so I know I was there. I did
specifically speak about just one individual property at the corner of Ten Mile and
Ustick. I did mention that I was concerned that] felt the homeowners weren't
being represented for the area at the meeting. I was also concerned that that was
a drastic change from the old Comprehensive Plan, that in my understanding that
big green dot represented a park in that area. All of a sudden we went from a
park to an industrial zone where they were proposing a trash temporary transfer
station, garbage trucks, recycling center, a 12 bay diesel repair shop, 230 diesel
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 1 0 of 38
buses next to us. It upset me and I showed up for that Comprehensive Plan. So,
just to set that part of the record straight, I was there. I did show up, I did
(inaudible). Also at the last Public Hearing in Planning and Zoning, one of the
Commissioners kind of blasted the public that had shown up for not being at the
previous meetings and why we were showing now. I would like to bring up a point
that the June 2000 Comprehensive Plan on the map, that this corner was not
shown as industrial. So, after all the public meetings, all the public input that
corner was not shown as industrial after they closed the public meetings and they
got 47 letters from the public that address different subjects, none of which was
this corner, in the steering committee this matter was brought up after the public
meetings were closed. The map suddenly changed. I don't know if you guys have
a copy of it, the June 2000 but in the center of it there's a map that you can fold
out. If you notice this corner up here at Ten Mile and Ustick, this bottom part of it
all the way to the corner is not industrial. So, being at the public meetings
wouldn't have helped the public because it was not discussed then, it was not
decided then. [t was decided in a private meeting where there were not minutes,
there's no way for the public to tell who brought this up? Why was it changed?
There is no history of the decision. So, just those two points to set that part of the
matter straight. The main point of my comment was the original 1993
Comprehensive Plan designated this area somewhere in there as a regional
park. Since 1993, this area has built up and people when they're reference an
area --. I've talked to many of my neighbors that have said they've seen the map.
They've been to Planning and Zoning. They've seen the map on the wall with
that green dot there. That was significant in their decision to live there. In fact, the
City Council, directed people to live there by approving all these subdivisions all
around this area. The new Bridgetower with 800 homes are going to be right next
to this, Candlestick, Inglewood, Dakota Ridge. All these places have been
approved as a place to put your children, your families, to put your homes. We're
expecting a regional park. Now it's flip-flopping to industrial zone. You can
probably see why we're a little upset with this. I'm kind of glad that I happen to
live exactly next door and I was noticed by the developer because I was within
300 feet. Most of my neighbors had no idea what was going on. They had no
idea that such a drastic change would be allowed. Do we depend upon the City
government because we don't have time with our lives to sit and read through 21
inches of documentation? We depend on things like maps at the Planning and
Zoning Commission. Also in relation to the parks, I'd like to give this to Mr. Berg
when I'm done referencing it. In 1993 when the Comprehensive Plan was being
put together there was an article in the Statesman that talked about what they
wanted to do with the City. In fact it was before the 93 Comprehensive Plan was
approved. It talked about how the City had an explosive growth. I'll just read a
small portion of it. [t says the problem as the City's population grew 167 percent
from 6,588 in 1986 to an estimated 17,500 today, facilities did n't. The City still
has only three neighborhood parks an undeveloped park site and a few parcels
of public greenbelt. Before I can point to the result of that lack of planning on a
new City map. Right here there is a new subdivision, it says there is no school
site nearby and no park. It's a lost opportunity. Well, I went to the parks
department and this is their current activity guide that talks about parks. After
seven years, these are the same as it was in this article in 1993. We still have
three City parks and we have a quarter acre at the Generations Plaza and a little
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 11 of 38
piece of parkway along Five Mile Creek. So, in the seven years, the parks have
been mostly forgotten for our City. There are a few new developments on the
parks but those are in the future. The 1993 plan shows a regional park for this
area. The new proposed plan, --. Brad do you have the map for the proposed?
Okay. Thank you Brad. There is a new regional park over about a mile or so, a
mile and a half to the right that's being developed. Yes that one right there,
There's a little tiny triangle over to the left on the other side of McDermott I think,
I guess that would be Black Cat. There's a little tiny triangle over there. Yes right
there. That one is just an empty field but someday that will be a park. Well, in the
1993 Comprehensive Plan there was a big green dot right near that triangle.
There was a big green dot over in the large park there and there was a large
green dot in the middle. So, what has happened, those two other parks have
come into being or about to but our park for our regional area is missing, totally
gone. My point is, you know, it's insult to injury, not only are they proposing to
take our park away but put industrial area right in the middle of our
neighborhood. I would like to represent the group for a moment. My feeling is that
I oppose this change to industrial in this area and I would like to keep the original
recommendation of the 1993 Comprehensive Plan around the sewer treatment
plant so that any development in that sensitive area does have to go through a
tougher process than normal. I would like to ask the audience to raise their hand
if they agree with me that our feelings is that the 1993 plan for that to be
agricultural residential recommendation for that area is also what they believe.
Corrie: Okay. I would have expected nothing less.
Crane: I would also like to ask if there's anybody that believes that industrial
would be appropriate to put in that location.
Corrie: Same comment.
Crane: I believe my neighbors feel that way for some of the following reasons. I
believe that this would devalue my property. I was wondering if the audience
would agree with that. I believe it would damage the neighborhood of our groups
in our neighborhood that we're trying to develop there. I also believe this is not
the kind of City that I want to live in that would bring our values down. We want
this to be a place we want to live, want our children to be. I don't believe this
would be beneficial or put Meridian in that direction. As a final note, I would just
ask this Council to consider what they've approved before. The direction that
they have all directed us as homeowners and builder to develop this area and put
our families here. Please protect us. Please keep that 93 zoning and
recommendation in place. Thank you.
Corrie: Let the record show that there was a number of hands that went up with
those questions and that I'm going to take a little privilege and all you people that
swore that's what you're saying, raise you hand -
*** End of Side One ***
o
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 12 of 38
Corrie: --formal but I want to get it on the record that that's exactly what you
want. So, thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Just a few comments on parks since it's near and dear to many of us
sitting up here. There has been a lot of progress. We have a 56-acre park under
way starting this spring. We have Chateau Park just off of Ten Mile and West
Chateau that is under development right now. It should be done in the next
month or two. We have Tully Park on Linder Road that's 18 acres that has been
completed for two years now I believe. We have a pathway that has opened
since then. We have Bear Creek to the south of the freeway, 18 acres that will be
opening. So, this City has been working very hard at developing that green
space. Since the 93 plan, that 56 acre park was purchased. That's a regional
size park, which kind of moved some of that green. That moved some of the
green because of the limited resources that the City has. We have a very low mill
levy and we have been very unsuccessful in getting anything more. So, we are
trying to do what we can through partnerships. Parks are near and dear and
that's why you have an 18-hole golf course in that same square mile. We are
working at preserving that open space and we will continue to do that. It is a
priority of this Council and Mayor.
Crane: Can I make one comment? The open space is nice but I have a little
seven-year-old child. It's a long walk for him to go over to that regional park. Also,
the open spaces of the golf course and also the open spaces in the new
Bridgetower are not open to the public. They are not, --. If you went out to the
golf course and sat down to have a picnic and play ball I think you would be --.
So, it's nice to have a view but we would like someplace we could actually touch.
Corrie: I hear you and I understand what you're saying. I would also like to note
that I was the only one here in 1993. The Council has changed and the ideas
have changed. What Mrs. de Weerd said that they're very park oriented. So, just
take that for what it may be coming down as, Okay. Thank you very much for
your testimony. I believe there was another one back here that was testifying for
a group. How many are here that will be under his testimony tonight?
Unidentified Speaker: I don't think any are.
Corrie: That's fine, oh yes. Raise you right hand. Do you swear that the
testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: I do.
Corrie: Okay. Give your name and address please.
Rasmussen: Brent Rasmussen, 4315 North Ten Mile.
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 13 of 38
Corrie: Okay. Let me interrupt you just a second. If you've got a cell phone
would you --?
(inaudible discussion from audience)
Corrie: Pardon?
(inaudible discussion from audience)
Corrie: We'll see what we (inaudible).
Rasmussen: I'll speak into it better if I can.
Corrie: Okay. If you get up closer, you can hear a lot better. If you've got a cell
phone would you turn it off just for a little bit because it interrupts the comments
that they're making? I would appreciate it very much and I'm sure they would. Go
right ahead.
Rasmussen: Okay. You should have a letter in your packet. I'll make reference to
it because I did send one in earlier.
Corrie: Yes we do.
Rasmussen: I live towards the north end of the area that we've been talking
about, the industrial zoned area just off of Ten Mile towards the northern part of
it. I'm speaking for my neighbors in that area, six particularly and others that live
further down but all six plots towards the north part of that one just off of Ten
Mile. Me in particular we started building a house in that area because we
thought it was gone through the process in a couple of years but we thought that
it would be a residential area. So, we have started building a house on the
assumption that this was going to stay residential. Changing to industrial has
made us rethink those plans. We're already part way through but we wanted to
continue with what we were doing. So, it strikes home very much to us to be
changing that to industrial. The part about industrial as far as we understand was
to create a buffer zone around the sewage treatment plant. Most of the people in
that area have been there ten years or more and we moved there knowing that
the sewage treatment plant was there and are perfectly happy living there. So, as
far as the buffer zone goes, buffer zone is created with the residential properties
that are there currently. It makes a good buffer zone to remain that way and is a
strong desire for all the people living in that area to maintain it the way that it is.
We're happy the way that it is and we want to show that we would like the plans
to show that is what we want also instead of indicating that it is industrial. We
want to keep it residential. There are other problems that come about too with
houses in an industrial area with non-conformance and things because if a plot --
. If something happens to our wells or septic systems, we have to go and
become annexed because now the City services are there. As soon become
annexed, we are now industrial because of the direction that the proposed plan is
giving us. Now ifs a non-conforming use. So, we have to go through a lot of
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 14 of 38
hassles in order to remedy that problem. So, we are really concerned about our
area there being changed and we just want to portray that with our very string
feelings that we want to keep it the way it is. That's aliI have.
Corrie: Okay. Thank you. Do you swear the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth is what you're saying tonight?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes I do.
Corrie: Okay. Your name please and your address.
Brown: My name is Jeff Brown. I live at 3057 West Pebblestone in lovely
Meridian Idaho. I can speak with a little bit of authority. I have communicated with
you guys in letter form, actually twice. But I can speak with a little bit of authority
on alternative uses to ground around a treatment because I'm the grounds
maintenance supervisor for the Lander Street treatment plant for the City of
Boise. So, I want to go on record as saying that we there could be the poster
child for alternative uses because not only do we have a park on our grounds
that is very inviting and very used but we also are 100 yards from the Willow
Lane Athletic park which is a basically a nationally used athletic park. They know
that we are a treatment plant and they do have sense of that on summer days
but they appreciate being able to play-so much that they're happy to play there.
It's actually a terrific use for that ground. When we heard that we were looking at
basically having a dump in our neighborhood, we got pretty worked up because
there are other things that can be done with that property and really the City of
Boise is living proof of that. I certainly want to further what the other gentleman
said about we really don't consider the park at Meridian Roads and Ustick to be
in our neighborhood because it's really not. It's not walking distance and we don't
even have sidewalks at this point. So, we really would like to see something
happen in terms of open spaces. Again, as I communicated in my letter we're
really not asking for you know a birdbath and a fishing lake and picnic spots and
stuff like that next to the treatment plant but certainly athletic uses. Again, you
have hundreds of soccer moms that are paying a sod farmer to play soccer on
his ground and if I could be so bold as to say, you have $30 million that could be
put to somewhere in the direction I have to believe. At least somewhere there
has to be some room there. But I also want to say, I just want to address the
industrial zoning, because as we see it allowing the corner of Ustick and Ten Mile
to be zoned as an industrial area forces you as the Council and Mayor into some
very difficult and compromising positions. Number one it places you on record in
support of placing industrial zoning in residential areas. It makes any industrial
use and allowed use on that site. It makes you responsible for all the noise,
odors, wind blown trash, and urban blithe that will follow this development. And it
places you effectively informing us that we moved into an industrial after we
bought or built near the treatment plant. When you set a precedent to allow
industrial development in this residential area, I don't believe that you can
effectively stop another developer from pursuing the same concept in any other
subdivision in the City. If someone wants to put an industrial use on a residential
any time anywhere in the future, it seems that they would have recourse if you try
to stop them. Some might say that my time is up. I suppose I should have seen if
Meridian City Council Speciai Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 15 of 38
I was speaking for somebody. Then I could have gotten a few more minutes.
Thanks.
Nary: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Before we start, there's a couple of things that we want to make sure
that the public understands about money. Mr. Nary.
Nary: I was going to ask Mr. Brown, where did you get the $30 million figure
because we were, we had a meeting with our auditors prior to this meeting. I
didn't see $30 million in our budget so where do you come up with that number?
Could you come up here sir?
Brown: I'm not an economist. But I know you have enterprise funds and they total
about $30 million. My understanding is that those funds could be directed to the
treatment plant as improvement and you could spend that money today to buy
that ground. There's also about $4 million in cash and investments. So, we're
looking at barnyard $35 million here that could be used in some area, I've got to
think n. We just want to say that we figure that it's our City and we'd like to have
a say in what happens here.
Nary: Mr. Brown to follow up too on your comment about the park at the Lander
Street plant. It is a very nice park there. I think it's a very nice park there but it's
not a very compatible use with residences around the Lander Street plant is it?
Brown: They use it all the time.
Nary: No, I mean for the residences that live on Lander Street it's not very
compatible for those residences is it?
Brown: I'm not understanding your question because again they use it all the
time.
Nary: I'm not saying they're using the park. I'm saying the residences
themselves --. Is a residential use compatible because that's what this is
designated currently is rural residential. Is residential use compatible with a
treatment plant?
Brown: If you give it some distance it could be but my position is to declare the
entire area around it industrial and subject us to that is not compatible either to
us.
Nary: How close are the homes on Lander Street to the treatment plant?
Brown: 30 feet.
Nary: The nearest home is 30 feet?
Meridian City Council Special Mt:;"L.ng
January 29, 2002
Page 16 of 38
Brown: Well, it's an entire neighborhood because (inaudible), Yes it's an entire
block.
Nary: Right. It's longer than 30 feet though?
Brown: No, it's just across the drainage, across the irrigation canal on the north
side of the fence.
Nary: Right. But it's not compatible so having residences next to the treatment
plant wouldn't be a good idea, correct?
Brown: I'll agree with that.
Nary: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: We may want to say that the use of enterprise funds is only restricted
to water and sewer expenditures. That's a state law. We can't --. I would love to
see our enterprise fund go into the parks business.
Corrie: however, we've got sewer and sewer lines and everything else to --. If
we don't have those you don't have much of a community. Just so you know, that
$30 million is dedicated to water and sewer lines and the sewer treatment plant.
We can't buy parks with it. It's a dedicated fund. If you want to see the audit
report that we got tonight, you'll find that there's about $5 million in the general
fund which can be used for fire police parks and administration. That 5 million is
just about what we should keep in there to, if we have a bad year that's going to
help us run the City, So, to me, that's good stewardship rather than trying to have
$100,000.00 and that would be used up in less than five days if we have
problem. That's one of the reasons for that. It's not that we don't want to do this.
It's just that the state law prohibits from using certain monies that are dedicated
to certain things. That's money that comes in from the builders that they build the
sewer lines. Okay, with that being said, anybody else --? I think this lady, was
starting up then we'll come back over here. Go ahead, yes Ma'am. Raise your
right hand. Is the testimony you are about to give tonight the truth, the whole
truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Corrie: If you'll give your name and address please.
Hennings: My name is Cheryl Hennings and I live at 2696 North Morello which is
to the south and east, kind of oh just a little farther over that way. Right about
there. Okay. Because I live right on Nine Mile Creek so I can tell pretty much
where it is. First of all I want to say thank you to Mayor Corrie and the Members
of the Council for giving us the opportunity to speak this evening concerning our
(
Meridian City Council Special ME:o,,'lng
January 29, 2002
Page 17 of 38
neighborhood, our homes, and our way of Hfe. This particular parcel of land --. By
the way, I am going to ask for extra time because the president of my subdivision
said that I could speak for my neighborhood. I won't go really long or anything but
I will make sure that I get through all my notes. - is that as you would look for
ways to develop that particular parcel, the challenge is that it is residential on
three of those corners. Before I even go into my written notes, I would just like to
say that I found it interesting that you were thinking that you would buffer the
proposed neighborhoods, the residences that would go in with industrial. I would
like to just say that I think open space and I realize that there is a money issue
but would be a more perfect buffer for the existing properties and for future
properties. I want to just reiterate that when we moved into our home which was
just about a year and a half ago, we were not aware of what was happening on
that corner. My husband is a planner. So, he was going on, obviously a map that
did not show this particular change: It did not bother us moving into a
neighborhood with a water treatment plant or even when the facility, the storage
unit went up. But obviously it got our attention when some other proposed uses
came about. First of all, I'm going to speak purely from the point of view of
incompatibility for this particular area. Concerns of impact have been very
publicly made by the surrounding existing residents and homeowners. These
objections have also been stated by the developers of adjacent vacant properties
and I'm referring to the north Meridian planning area and also Meridian City's
professional planning staff. With that, I would like to touch briefly on the notes of
Findings of Fact provided in the City staff report. It provides needed support for
the denial of this rezone and Conditional Use application and all of these findings
are based on standards taken directly from the City's Land Use Ordinance 11-15-
11 general standards applicable to zoning amendments. One of the first findings,
our own planning staff was that the requested rezoning I-L is not in compliance
with the adopted general plan. Do you have that plan with you? Okay. Good. The
second thing is that on page two policy three point four states that the industrial
uses adjacent to residential areas should not create noise, odor, air pollution and
visual pollution greater than levels normally associated with surrounding
residential structures. Obviously none of the proposed uses that will be coming
before you are compatible with the surrounding residential uses. On page three
D of the staff report it states that the proposed uses not be hazardous or
disturbing to existing or future neighborhood uses. Here again, proposed
development for light industrial would violate the City's zoning ordinance and
general plan. Everyone, even the developers in their testimony to the Meridian
Planning and Zoning Commission admitted that the waste transfer station,
sanitary service facility, truck facility and bus facility constitutes uses that are
potential sources of point and non-point pollution. Also, all those who have
testified have voiced concerns about odor, noise, and traffic that would occur with
these proposed uses. It would most definitely be disturbing to our neighborhood.
I would like to note two other significant points provided in the staff report. On
page three item No.3 D, first the staff finds that the uses will be disturbing to the
existing uses and second the staff notes that the Council shall rely on public
testimony to determine whether or not the proposed uses will be disturbing or
hazardous to the neighboring uses. I would ask for the Council to please give
validity to the public testimony being provided at tonight's Public Hearing. Page
four G, the City Zoning Ordinance states that the proposed use not involve
Meridian City Council Special Me",ung
January 29, 2002
Page 18 of 38
activities processes, materials, equipment, or conditions of operations that would
be detrimental to any person, property, or the general welfare. They're talking
about our homes and our neighborhood and our way of life. Page four L, the
ordinance requires that any proposed development not result in the destruction,
loss, or damage of a natural or scenic feature. The Council should note that all of
the proposed uses that have been brought to the Planning and Zoning have the
potential for both physical and esthetic damage to the natural and scenic
attributes of the area. All the proposed uses are generators of point and non-
point pollutants. Only the absolute best management practices for pollution
discharge may assure that Nine Mile Creek and the areas ground water is not
damaged. As one final note, I would point out that the current Meridian
Comprehensive Plan shows this area as being a future regional park. I know that
recent changes in developments have shown this regional park being relocated
to Linder and Ustick. However, residents who purchased their home, and I'm one
of those, in this area relied on the City's Comprehensive Plan which unfortunately
was not complete at the time of a lot of our purchases. All of the property on the
north side of Ustick from Black Cat Road to Linder, known as the North Meridian
Planning Area has no objections to retaining the park at it's original location. It
could give added benefit as a buffer for existing homes and future development.
At this time I know that I place my trust in your elected officials and I know that
you do care about Meridian. You do care about the residents and the people who
live here. I would just ask that in your wisdom that you can act in the best interest
of your constituents and protect our homes and our families. Do you have any
questions or comments?
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: Thank you very much.
Hennings: Thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Thank you Cheryl. I just wanted to clarify something to you.
Hennings: Okay.
De Weerd: This is a recommendation to us, not from us. So, I do want to make
sure you all realize this is not our recommendation. We are taking testimony and
considering this as a recommendation to us not from us.
Hennings: I know and thanks for that clarification. I pretty much get real confused
with all of this. You can tell by all of my notes and everything. I practiced really
hard to make sure that I wasn't offending anybody.
De Weerd: I was waiting for you to break out in song.
I
Meridian City Council Special Me~[Ing
January 29, 2002
Page 19 of 38
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Hennings: I have some students here'that would love to sing for you. In any
event yes and I do apologize. [ don't think that there are any citizens that mean to
offend the process or the work that is being done. But obviously it does get
personal when it is in your own backyard.
De Weerd: I've been there,
Hennings: Okay, thank you.
Corrie: Also, in your testimony tonight, you're going to have an opportunity on
February 19th to testify also on the Utility Subdivision. The things that you wanted
to say tonight, you can say then. Not to destroy what you're trying to tell us
tonight. I think we got the gist of it. But, try to stay on the Comprehensive part of
that area not specifically because we will have testimony. Some of the testimony
that you're giving tonight will have to be entered into the record as well on the
February 19th. Just be aware that you're certainly welcome to come back on the
19th because that is a subdivision that is being presented to the Council on what
you're talking about tonight. So, if you kind of keep it in the general comp plan
rather than specific then we'll go a little faster and I guarantee you we got the gist
of what you're saying. Yes, I think that lady right here. Yes, Ma'am. Is the
testimony you are about to give tonight, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes sir.
Corrie: Thank you. Give your name and address please.
Britton: I'm Betty Lou Britton, 3680 West Ustick. I'm concerned with what's going
on but I'm not going to speak about that. If you'll look over on the other side of
the ditch, right there where it's n. Down, that piece right there. I've got six and a
half acres. You've got the back part of me industrial, the front part of me
residential. I'm trying to sell it. What am [ going to sell it as? Who's going to put
an industry that can't go across the ditch that can't come through the front yard
back there?
Corrie: Good point.
Britton: Okay. Thank you.
Corrie: Thank you. Good point. Yes sir? Is the testimony you are about to give
tonight the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Okay, your name please?
Newcomb: My name is Paul Newcomb. I reside at 3837 West Harbor Point Drive
which is in the Lakes at Cherry Lane about three quarters of a mile south of this
particular area. I would like to address this specifically from the comp plan. It
occurs to me from a common sense perspective that buffering industrial with
Meridian City Council Special Me"'Llng
January 29, 2002
Page 20 of 38
industrial is kind of self-defeating. To put it into a textual argument I would refer
you to title 11 of Meridian City Code chapter 1 paragraph 4, subsections, C, E, F,
H, and P. section C to improve the character and quality of Meridian's man made
environment while maintaining it's identity as a self sufficient community, to
protect residential, commercial, industrial and civic areas from the intrusion of
incompatible uses and to provide opportunities for establishments to concentrate
for efficient operation and mutually beneficial relationships to each other and
shared services. To provide for desirable and appropriately located living areas in
a variety of dwelling types and at a range in population and densities with
adequate provision for sunlight, fresh air and usable open space. Section H to
encourage excellence and creativity in the design of all future developments and
to preserve the natural beauty of Meridian's setting. And last, section P to provide
protection against fire, explosion, noxious fumes and other hazards in the interest
of public health safety comfort and the general welfare. This doesn't pass the
common sense test to me to in the comp plan, use industrial zoning to buffer
industrial zoning. As Shari Stiles pointed out Meridian City Code does not make a
differentiation between light industrial and having a construction company or a
manufacturing facility, anything. I mean, once you open it up to industrial, we can
have anything in that area. I think that's in and of itself is a good reason to rethink
this corner. Okay? Private residents identity aside I would like step in as Paul
Newcomb, individual member of the Parks and Recreation Commission. To the
best of my knowledge the Parks and Recreation Commission was not directly
involved in using this, or in giving their input in turning this into an industrial area.
The 93 comp plan did identify that as park space. The current Comprehensive
Action Plan of parks and Recs has another regional park in the area. I would
welcome, personally sitting down and discussing the concept of moving the park
that is currently sited for the NorthwesJ corner of Black Cat, or McDermott and
McMillan, pardon me. I would welcome someone bringing a recommendation to
me that possibly we look at re-siting this park. To speak from the other side of the
podium, Ladies and Gentlemen, the process by which all of this goes through is
incredible. There's over 700 pages of documents that I've spent the last three
weeks trying to get through. If you want a park, [earn the process and find out
what resources are available. Friends of Meridian Parks is out there begging for
people like you that want to have a park in their neighborhood. Find them. Thank
you.
Corrie: Thank you. Is the testimony you are about to give tonight the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Booth: I'm David Booth. I live at 3744 West Niemann Drive in Dakota Ridge
subdivision. I know there are several people from my subdivision here and they
all feel the same way I do. We are opposed to zoning this as industrial. But,
something that this gentleman just said is something that I've been thinking
about. That's the excellence in creativity. To me this is an opportunity for the City
of Meridian to step up to the plate and hit a homerun. Lets not just take the easy
way out and dump it off as industrial. Lets really sit down. Lets get all our creative
minds together in this community and maybe even from outside this community
(
Meridian City Council Special MC"'lng
January 29, 2002
Page 21 of 38
and come up with something that's going to be creative something that's going to
be excellent. Something that people are going to look at and say hey Meridian
did that right. There's all kind of ideas out there, I'm sure. I've had a few. I've
submitted a couple letters to you that I hope you have read or will read on one
such idea. I don't know if it's feasible or not but you never know. That's really all I
have to say. I say lets just leave it as is for now. Lets put our heads together and
come up with a plan. Thank you.
Corrie: Thank you. Let the record show, I have read your letter and it's a good
one. Also, we've got a stack of letters here that are all in the testimony. They will
all be added into the record. Rest assured we will get them. I haven't read
through all of them yet but we've got them and they are a part of the testimony. I
thank you for your letter.
Booth: Thank you for your time and effort.
(inaudible discussion from audience)
De Weerd: No.
Bird: No.
Q
De Weerd: You know, Mr. Mayor. If you'll just give me a moment. Tomorrow
there's going to be an open house at Meridian Middle School at 6:30 to 8:00 on
our North Meridian Planning area. This falls into that area. I did talk to the
consultant that's working on that land plan and he is anxious --. I don't know if
he's expecting quite this kind of turn out but I think he is very anxious and knows
that a plan is going to have to be generated for that area. So, I would encourage
you all to go and take a look at what they have currently underway and really
provide him --. There have been some excellent ideas in both written testimony
and tonight. This is the beauty of this kind of process. I would encourage you to
show up at the middle school tomorrow night at 6:30 and further input onto some
constructive ways that land use can be used in that area. Thank you Ma'am.
Corrie: Is the testimony you are about to give tonight the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Corrie: Go ahead.
Parks: My name is Patricia Parks and I live in Cascade Idaho but I own property
at the corner of Overland Road and south Locust Grove. I have sent a letter and
that's what I have with me today, dated October 22nd, to most of you. I would like
to propose that my property be considered for perhaps office or mixed zoning
rather than it is at medium residential right now. The property to the east is
proposed commercial and property to the north is proposed office. Behind me on
those other sides is the Sportsman Pojnte subdivision. I have three, just about
three acres there on the corner. Right now with everything that's going on in front
I
Meridian City Council Special ME;:",mg
January 29. 2002
Page 22 of 38
of my property on both sides, I feel that it really won't be suitable for residential
use. So, I would like to propose that I could get it changed possibly to something
that would go --. There's an RV park already there. There's going to be all kinds
of things there and I don't think people will really want that corner as residential.
That's just a proposal.
Corrie: Thank you. Is that the southwest corner that you're talking about? I think
that's the one you're talking about. That's the residential area on the map.
Parks: Yes. Right now it's showing medium and then across the street form me in
all directions is pretty much commercial.
Corrie: I just want to make sure we've got the right area down.
Park: And I do have maps here and I did have a map in my letter.
Corrie: Okay. I remember that. Thank you.
Parks: Thank you.
Corrie: Okay, yes sir, back here. Is the testimony you are about to give the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes it is.
Corrie: All right.
Curbs: MY name is David Curbs, 3657 West Angelica Drive. That is Dakota
subdivision, which is close proximity to the proposed industrial change. For the
record I would like to just mention I would like you to not accept the text change
to industrial use. But more so looking at the Comprehensive Plan just as a point
of interest, Ten Mile is proposed as a future off ramp, the largest industrial area
on the new Comprehensive Plan is the proposed three miles north. So, my
question to the Council in considering this, do we make Ten Mile and every
business and home for that three mile area a thoroughfare to the largest
industrial area on the north side? That is for your consideration. The other thing
is we have just spent millions of dollars in the new school, Ponderosa School
which is currently under construction next to that division. That is currently under
construction. I don't know how many Council Members have actually been out
there. The question is, if in the future, five ten years down the road, if Ten Mile is
a thoroughfare that school, the only school in this Comprehensive Plan that is
next to a large industrial section. My question is do we want our school next to an
industrial section? We have invested many tax dollars. We know the shortage of
schools in Meridian. It is an issue. If we looked at the rest of the Comprehensive
Plan the proposed schools, not existing schools, but proposed schools they are
nowhere next to an industrial section. My question for the entire group is do we
make a Ten Mile a Thoroughfare off of the freeway, four lanes to the largest
industrial section of Meridian? Thank you.
I
Meridian City Council Special Me"ung
January 29. 2002
Page 23 of 38
Corrie: Other testimony? Yes sir? Is the testimony you are about to give tonight
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes it is. I just wanted to bring up three things --.
Corrie: We need your name and address please.
Fuchs: Oh, Patrick, and my last name is F U C H S and I live at 4315 Campfire
Court which is right across the street from your property there. Three things I
wanted to bring up about section 34 is the surrounding sections. If you do change
that to industrial it's going to effect sections 26, 27, 28, 33, 4, 3, 2, and 35. It's not
just going to effect 35, 3, and the corner of 2. That's a large area. We don't want
to turn it into Garden City. You know the way that that looks with all this industrial
that goes up and down Chinden there. You're actually going to --. You are going
to effect by turning it into industrial, you're going to effect nine different sections
and decrease property values at the same time. The idea of buffering the sewage
plant doesn't really make very much sense to me since I live across the street
from the cattle that are already there. The cattle don't bother me very much. I
haven't yet to smell the sewage plant although I guess some people have. The
other thing I wanted to propose here to actually make a motion is that as Tammy
was bringing up is that we might have some input into --. Actually, I have one
more question to actually bring up. Why is that industrial area, if it is proposed, so
large? It seems like about 150 acres or so. That seems pretty large to be a buffer
for any type of sewage treatment plant. I wanted to make a motion that we might
have more public input into exactly what the alternatives would be such as
Tammy was saying before we make a final decision on that. Thank you.
Corrie: I'll accept your proposal but not a motion, I'm sorry. But we'll take it into
consideration. Thank you.
Fuchs: Thank you very much.
Corrie: Anyone else that would like to issue testimony that's different what
you've heard all tonight? We've still got some time. Come on up. I don't want to
keep anybody from talking that has something they would like to say. We just like
to hear some new things. We're pretty well assured of what's going on tonight.
Yes sir?
Unidentified Speaker: I'm your guy.
Corrie: Is the testimony you are about to give the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes it is.
Corrie: Give your name and address.
i
(
Meridian City Council Special Me<::(Ing
January 29, 2002
Page 24 of 38
Hobbs: Don Hobbs 2683 West Chinden. Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. I
have 39 acres that's on Chinden about half way, about the center of the map,
right across from the entrance to Spurvving. It's designated very low density,
currently (inaudible). It's the third designation it's had. I'm a landowner. I'm not a
developer. I don't know what kind of an impact that would have on the value, the
property value being low density, very low density. I've been told that the purpose
of that is to have kind of a buffer for Spurvving. That they wouldn't have high
density housing just across the road from their entrance. Well, that's all and
good. It is a nice development there but there are some of those houses that the
price, I'd sell my whole 39 acres and throw in my house along with it. I'm not real
sympathetic. But that was just my comment. I would like you to consider that in
adopting this final plan. Also that is a dramatic change to have a very low density,
then adjacent to it you have a medium density. There's no low density in
between. So, I'm not sure what the purpose is there.
Corrie: Mr. Hobbs, I would suggest if you get a chance to go to that tomorrow
night because that whole area is being discussed and what it's going to be and
kind of put your input on that as well. We'll have people there from the City as
well as the county and schools and everybody else. So, if you could make that it
would be a great deal. Thank you Mr. Hobbs.
Hobbs: Thank you very much.
Corrie: Yes sir? Is the testimony you are about to give, the truth, the whole truth,
nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes Mayor.
Corrie: If you would give your name and address please.
Janicek: Brad Janicek, 4352 West Chinden. There seems to be a lot of
opposition to the industrial site up there around the sewer plant. So, you know
just to hear something new, why don't you go ahead and move it on down there
to my property where the arrow is and that would be fine with me.
De Weerd: Thank you Mr. Janicek.
Janicek: For the good of the public. Really, I'm kind of surrounded by mixed use
there and it would probably make pretty good sense that it either be at least
mixed use or commercial or industrial. Whatever your pleasure is.
Corrie: Thank you.
Janicek: Thank you.
Corrie: We're going to try to get the sewer down there by you.
Bird: Yes, we'll get the sewer (inaudible).
i
)
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 25 of 38
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Mr. Forrey, yes. I believe Mr. Forrey
and I was on the same City payroll at that time. (inaudible). If you'd raise your
right hand please. Is the testimony you are about to give the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Forrey: It is.
Corrie: Your name and adress?
Forrey: My name is Wayne Forrey. Address is 701 South Allen Street in
Meridian. Now I'm under oath, so I acknowledge that I'm not the most popular
guy in the room tonight. I'm here to testify in favor of the Comprehensive Plan
and I can hear the boos and the ohs and ahs. When we started this process, of
course we never envisioned it would come to this. So, let me give you just a little
bit of background. I'm representing by the way the Meridian School District,
Sanitary Services, that has the contract to haul waste in the City, Western
Recycling who would like to build a recycling facility in the community and Falcon
Creek. When we started looking at land for those entities over a year ago and we
were aware that your Comprehensive Plan committee, land use committee was
looking at different alternatives, we were told by representatives of your parks
department two things, the City didn't have funding to acquire that land, this circle
that we've been hearing about for a ~regional park. That there was a more
preferable site two miles to the east and secondly it was a very low priority or it
would discourage a park there because of the odors from the treatment plant.
There was some fear that that would not be the best optimal use of that land
because of the odors there. So, that went into our thinking. Falcon Creek applied,
actually did not make application but intended to make an application, hired an
engineer, developed a preliminary plat of a subdivision on this ground, met with
the City as required in your pre-application conference. Staff in the planning
department and public works said that's not going to fly. The City is going to
discourage any residential development there, Try something else. At that point,
Falcon Creek hired me to look at an employment center on this site, a business
park. I was in contact with the company in California. I made a trip to California,
learned through the Idaho Department of Commerce that a certain company was
coming into the Treasure Valley. I thought, well lets get them to come to
Meridian.
*** End of Side Two ***
Forrey: -- the City planning department staff and they said, oh we don't want an
employment center in that location. That's a high concentration of people and we
don't want to put people next to our waste treatment plant. We're trying to create
a buffer there. Then we went back to the drawing board. That led us to the school
district because they were looking for a sight to park buses. That led us to
Sanitary Services because they were pinched in and looking for a site to park
waste trucks. Western Recycling came into the discussion because they are
affiliated with Sanitary Services and they said we want to be in Meridian. So, we
Meridian City Councii Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 26 of 38
view this as really a parking lot, low intensity of uses. It didn't look like a park was
going to work either from a financial standpoint or being next to the treatment
plant because of odors. By the way the gentleman that testified about the Lander
Street plant, that's tertiary treatment. That's the highest level of treatment you
can have. Meridian does not have a tertiary treatment plant. It's secondary
treatment. It generates much different types of odors. It's a different treatment
complex in the system. Knowing then that a park wouldn't work, a subdivision
wouldn't work, an employment center wouldn't work, we started focusing on a
parking lot. By golly, you know I don't want to be the one and Falcon Creek or the
School district or Sanitary Services, we don't want to be the one to damage a
neighborhood. I'm very sympathetic to the comments. If this is not a workable
mix of land uses then I guess we're just going to have to keep looking. But, we're
hoping through this process of the regulations that you have in place, through a
development agreement, through Conditional Use Permits there are some
controls that we can work with neighbors and try and have proper setbacks and
buffers and transitions and alter the uses and change the layout and reduce the
size of the bus parking and move the sanitation trucks here or there and do
different things. I mean, we're willing to do that because these are essential
public services and they have run out of room in this community. We have looked
high and low for compatible places. We thought this might be the place. In fact,
early on staff said to us, you know our land use committee is meeting and they
kind of think this is the best place for those kind of public services. It's a parking
lot for waste trucks and school buses. It's low human activity intensity. I mean, all
that ground and it's mainly a big parking lot. So, we thought we had a win, win
situation. We are willing as an entity of public users of this land, the schools and
the waste systems here, we will definitely try to work with neighbors. if we can't
find some common ground, we're not going to push our rope up hill. If this really
is flat, not good for the neighborhood and we can't mitigate enough to make it
work and be a good neighbor, then maybe we've got to look elsewhere. But on
the same token I would ask that we have an opportunity to try. I mean, this is a
waste treatment plant. It is secondary treatment. It does generate odors and we
do need some buffers out there. Maybe what we should focus --. I mean, we
need a Comprehensive Plan change to make that happen, but we're willing to
look at some office uses along Ustick and Ten Mile and tuck things back away
farther. But we can't do any of that unless we have a Comprehensive Plan
amendment to allow those discussion and negotiations to take place. So, we
would support and hopefully that you would --. I know it's going to be tough.
There's a lot of folks here that don't want that to happen. We're asking for a
chance to try because these agencies need a place to park school buses and
park the sanitation truck and work on that and bring recycling into the community.
As the community grows these are needed services. We're willing to work to the
end that we can decide if it's going to work. So we hope that this zone could be,
Comprehensive Plan amendment could be of help as a recommendation from
the Planning and Zoning Commission. I hope the Council agrees with that and
see if this is workable in this location. I'd be happy to answer questions.
Corrie: Okay. Thank you Mr. Forrey. We are going to be hearing testimony from
you on the 19th.
Meridian City Council Special Me"ung
January 29, 2002
Page 27 of 38
Forrey: Yes.
Corrie: These people can also respond to that at that time at that particular
meeting. So, thank you for the background.
(inaudible discussion from audience)
Corrie: Wait, just a minute. This is not a question and answer. This is a public
testimony, not back and forth because we'Jl get into a real problem. I don't want
to go through it again.
Nary: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Mr. Forrey, maybe you could answer at least one of the questions that
has been raised by some of the testimony. The size of this particular piece being
all light industrial or all industrial.
Forrey: Right.
Nary: What's the reason for that?
Forrey: Well, of course the property that I am most familiar with is between Nine
Mile Drain and Five Mile Creek, the very northwest corner of that intersection. It
does strike me as an urban planner, a little excessive that the boundary of that
industrial would be so far north. I mean, you know where you want to make those
buffers is really to the residential areas. Whereas those neighborhoods haven't
started to develop yet, I think a little less industrial zoning --. I mean, it just
appears a little excessive to me as well. I would agree with the neighbors that
that's quite a bit of industrial area. But on the other hand, you do have a
secondary waste treatment plant and it does generate odors and vectors, the
flies and those types of things. It's different than the Lander treatment plant. I
would defer you know to people like Gary Smith and JUB Engineers that studied
that and they may need a certain amount of distance north south east and west
of that treatment plant. Plus I know you're going to be expanding the treatment
plant. Maybe in the long-term expansion of the treatment plant it's to the north
and to the west. If that's the case, then you would need that industrial buffer.
Nary: One other question Mr. Forrey. For the purposes of the project that you're
in charge of at the moment, is it necessary for the land use map to reflect this
change now? Is that text change enough? I know we haven't heard that yet and
it's to be before us on the 19th but to do what you're wanting --. You're saying to
give you an opportunity to try -
Forrey: Yes.
Nary: -- to make this work for these folks. I think we've had this discussion a
month and a half ago.
Meridian City Council Special Me<:;llng
January 29, 2002
Page 28 of 38
Forrey: Yes.
Nary: Is it necessary then at this time to change this map?
Forrey: We think it is.
o
Nary: Okay.
Forrey: We do.
Nary: Thank you.
Corrie: Anyone else like to issue --? Not a question, no. We're taking testimony.
You're going to have a chance to give your testimony as far as this one is
concerned February 19th. Then he'll have to answer your questions that you bring
up at that testimony. We're just here tonight just to concentrate on the
Comprehensive Plan and testimony. If [t's anything particular to that one area,
you'll have that chance then. But I don't want to get into it and I'm not going to
answer back and forth. If you've testified once, you can come back and do it
again but you're not going to do it twice.
De Weerd: Follow him out the door. I'm not telling you to leave. That really
sounded wrong.
Corrie: j want to say, --. Right now, I want to say you are a great group. I mean,
I've been in some meetings where they're ready to kill each other or the one
that's going in or coming out is different from the opinions of the whole. I want to
compliment all of you. You've been very good tonight, very calm and very distinct
in what you're saying. We appreciate that. That's what we listen to. There's a lot
of emotion in this and you're giving us facts not your emotions. That's what
makes it very difficult for anybody to go on emotions. But you're not giving
emotions; you're giving some very good facts. So, I want to thank you all for what
you're doing. Now, any other testimony? Yes Ma'am. Is the testimony you are
about to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
Unidentified Speaker: It is.
Corrie: Okay. Give your name and address.
Wilder: Janet Wilder, 3340 North Ten Mile Road. We live right across from this
property. I don't have anything except I would like to ask the neighbors that are
here how many would move because the wastewater treatment center is where it
is? How bad it bothers them. Maybe we could have a show of hands of who it
bothers? Would they move because the wastewater treatment is there?
(inaudible discussion from audience)
Meridian City Council Special ME:dlng
January 29, 2002
Page 29 of 38
Wilder: I just wanted to make that point.
Corrie: Okay. Thank you. Yes ma'am. Is the testimony you are about to give the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but theOtruth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes it is.
Corrie: Name and address and proceed.
Miller: Charlotte Miller. My address is 2855 West Ravenhurst. We bought our
home a year ago, or I mean last May. When we brought this property, we had no
idea they were putting this industrial area there. We came from Jerome, and we
used to take our garbage out to the transfer station, which he is asking to put in
there. If you get within a half a mile of that transfer station, you can smell the
garbage. I mean, garbage is garbage no matter how you disguise it, it's garbage
and it stinks. That place was kept very clean. It was covered over. They had
flowers. They had trees. They had everything around it, but you could not get
within a half mile of that without smelling that garbage. I don't know how many of
you have been around a garbage dump COut it really is bad and it's going to effect
all of Meridian sooner or later because we'll all get that smell because it's
overpowering. Thank you.
Corrie: Anyone else to give testimony? Yes sir? Is the testimony you are about
to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: It is.
Corrie: Okay.
Unidentified Speaker: The first thing I want to point out is -
Corrie: Name and address?
English: Sorry. Brian English, 4650 North Linder, not associated with the
wastewater treatment plant although you can smell it from our house a mile and
a half away when the wind is right. There is an odor. There will be an odor.
(inaudible). The first question I want to ask is, is this plan consistent with the plan
we're going to see tomorrow night? Second question, is this plan consistent with
the existing approval of zonings that we've had that's gone through the City
Council already? There are the Bridgetower Subdivision is a planned urban
development, has commercial. They have put commercial at intersections that
this plan does not address. There's other commercial that is out there now that is
proposed that are not consistent with this. The plan for growth involves potential
for multiple thousands of people in the north section of the area. There is not the
water supply. The water right now, the groundwater is being mined. It was an
artesian aquifer. A lot of people's wells no longer flow out there. Idaho
Department of Water says you're not supposed to mine the aquifers. How are
these aquifers going to be protected? Those are the questions. I will be there
tomorrow night and see what the rest of the plan is but I would ask that you keep
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 30 of 38
these two units on the same track so that we have a chance to comment on both
of them simultaneously and before the public so that the public can see if the
plans are consistent or not. Thank you.
Corrie: Thank you.
Bird: Thank you.
Corrie: Anyone else? Yes, Ma'am? Is the testimony you are about to give
tonight the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: It is.
Corrie: Okay. Your name and address please.
Anderson: My name is Lori Anderson. Excuse me. I live at 2795 West McMillan
Road in Meridian. In listening to Mr. Forrey he stated that making this industrial
park would basically turn the property into a parking lot. My understanding of the
Comprehensive Plan that is in force now is that we are supposed to be making
this area more conducive to pedestrian traffic. I n making that a parking lot with all
the buses and the garbage trucks that would be coming in and out, the school
down the street I really don't feel that it would make pedestrian traffic safe or very
conducive for the area at all.
Corrie: Thank you. Anyone else? Is the testimony you are about to give the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes I do.
Corrie: Your name Joe and address.
Simmonich: I'm Joe Simmonich and I reside at 955 West Ustick Road. One thing
I just quite don't understand is we're having another public meeting here. Who is
this being put on by? What's the purpose of this? Has this got something to do
with this Comprehensive Plan? Or is this a private individual and firm going to
have something different for this area?
Corrie: I guess I don't understand Joe what you're saying --?
Simmonich: What is this meeting for? Who's putting it on?
Corrie: The meeting for tomorrow night or tonight? Tonight is the
Comprehensive Plan.
Simmonich: This includes area that's in the Comprehensive Plan, does it not?
Corrie: That's right. But what that is, is to give you an idea of what we're
thinking about doing with that whole 12 mile area. That happens to be part of the
area but tonight, this is the whole comp plan for the whole City. We want
I
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29, 2002
Page 31 of 38
testimony from the people how they would like to see that land used. So,
tomorrow night, you're going to get an idea of what the County, the City and the
schools and the parks and everything is going to be doing and what they would
like to see up there in the planning and mixed use area. Tonight is this whole
area of the City and what the comp plan is going to look like and what they would
like the City to look like.
Simmonich: But then who is sponsoring? This is a private firm that's sponsoring
this meeting.
Corrie: That one is yes. That has nothing to do with this Comprehensive Plan.
That is done by the developers, the City of Meridian, ACHD, Ada County. All of
us are doing that one up there tomorrow night.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
Simmonich: I just don't understand this process.
De Weerd: Mr. Simmonich. A Comprehensive Plan is a very general and loose
type of a plan. The plan tomorrow night is going to be an overlay to the
Comprehensive Plan. So, it's going to be more specific and talk more in detail
about what will happen. A lot of it's going to focus on infrastructure needs to
service what would be built out there and in a timely fashion. I see that one of the
consultants there is in the back. He might be able to give some more detail. But
this is kind of a collective type of partnering with Ada County Highway District,
the City of Meridian, the County Commission and the development community to
address a lot of the needs that are being raised with development in North
Meridian and how it's going to be supported. That's what that process is
tomorrow. A Comprehensive Plan cannot be that specific. This will go into a lot
more detail than this is allowed by law.
Simmonich: How can you go into more detail until you go to Planning and
Zoning? How can you go into more detail? You have the Comprehensive Plan.
To change that you have to go into more detail through Planning and Zoning.
De Weerd: Well, this way, you're going to see a whole area instead of one piece
at a time each time you get a development application. So, there are great
advantages to doing this and you can learn more tomorrow night by going to that
I know it's right across the street from your house that this planning boundary
actually takes place. It would impact you.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Nichols.
Nichols: If I might add something. I hope it's adding something. Mr. Simmonich
if anything comes out of this North Meridian Planning Area to the extent that it
Meridian City Council Special Me",ung
January 29, 2002
Page 32 of 38
effects any City ordinance or to the extent that it effects the Comprehensive Plan,
anything that would effect those would have to go through the City Ordinance
and the state statutes with regard to any of those issues. So, just because there
is this overlay type planning being done out there doesn't mean that it's an
automatic thing or that it's going to be done in contradiction of state statute or the
city's ordinances with regard to any kind of --. So, it is a separate effort to try to
deal with a specific area in using, employing a bunch of different people if you will
to try to get some plans done. But it does not mean that you would not have an
opportunity again, before this body to comment on anything that might come out
of that group.
Simmonich: Thank you. Also, on the Ten Mile corner, again, they're
contemplating 220, 30 school buses. That means there will be 220 drivers in, 220
drivers out in the morning. The same amount back in and out and again that
evening. That amounts to well over 1,000 trips just for the school buses alone. I
lived on the North Meridian area for 30 years and if most of you Council
Members or people here know that I have contributed to the betterment of that
area. I think we should keep that area as residential. You have open ground
there. Now is the time to do it right. Thank you.
Corrie: Anyone else? I think I saw another hand up. (inaudible). Is the testimony
you are about to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so, help
you God?
Unidentified Speaker: It is.
Corrie: Okay. Your name and address please.
Wardle: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, my name is Jon Wardle. My
address is 50 Broadway Avenue in Boise. If I can just pass out a couple of things
that we presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission just as a point of
reference. Then we can discuss these a little bit more. I think I gave these to you
in reverse order. I think the item that you have in your hands, which is one sheet
dated August 30th to the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission talks about a
couple things. Specifically in this we were talking about the work that we were
doing in relationship to the north Meridian area plan which is a specific plan
which if adopted would be a subset or an overlay to the comp plan which is in
front of you this evening. We were just asking for some consideration that as the
course goes with the camp plan that language be implemented or placed in the
Comprehensive Plan that if adopted the North Meridian Area Plan could be
accepted into the Comprehensive Plan in a faster process than perhaps waiting
an additional six months to go through the Planning and Zoning commission. The
other item that I gave to you, which was dated June 27, 2001, deals with a
couple issues, which relate to the future land use map designations. Specifically
section 15, which is west of Ten Mile and south of Franklin Road. Currently it
shows up on the comp plan as medium density. If you look at the designations
there. The pointer is there right now. Most everything around that section is
designated as mixed use or industrial or high density. We're just asking for
consideration for that area on behalf of the property owner be commercial or a
Meridian City Council Special M"",'lng
January 29, 2002
Page 33 of 38
combination of commercial or mixed use as it relates to the other areas that are
designated there. There's a little bit of discussion about the, as Mike Wardle calls
it, the patchwork quilt of residential designations between Ustick Road and
Chinden. There is a wide variety of differing densities and residential uses up
there. We're going to get into quite a bit of discussion tomorrow night in terms of
graphic presentation and the plan at the open house that we have scheduled for
tomorrow night. (inaudible). Also, I have asked for maybe including in the text
itself consideration for a high tech professional center somewhere in the area of
McMillan and Ten Mile. The plan update shows it in the area of McMillan and Ten
Mile. The plan language should simply note the desire for such in the northwest
quadrant and avoid locational specifics. I think a lot of that is going to be market
driven as to where that is going to end up. It may be easy to pinpoint that on the
map or say this is where we would like it to happen but I think as future decisions
are made as to how the roadways connect across the river, Emmett, Highway 16
specifically, I think the market will really determine where that high tech business
center will occur in the northwest quadrant. As for the North Meridian Area Plan,
which we have been working on for some time now, since June, tomorrow night
we will have a public information meeting relating to that. The development
community will be there. I believe that representatives from the City, Ada County,
and the Highway District will also be there. So, we just invite everybody to come
out and participate. We realize that this process will come back to both the
Planning and Zoning Commission for input as well as the City Council. SO, I'll
stand for any questions if there are any for me.
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Thank you Jon.
Wardle: Thank you.
Corrie: Anyone else? I guess Council, seeing there is no other testimony. We
do want to keep this open for Public Hearing to return at another date. I don't
think that we're going to make any decisions here tonight without the testimony.
We need to look at it and study it. So, if Council has any questions or any
discussion on tonight's hearing.
Bird: [have none. Mr. Mayor, I have a question. If we continue this, we can
continue it without a date certain as long as we do a 15-day notification, our legal
counsel is telling me?
Corrie: Okay. Do we need to continue this at a date certain?
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. If you do not continue it to a date
certain, then the continuation of the hearing will have to be noticed by a
publication and notice in the newspaper.
Nary: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
(
Meridian City Council Special M(::<:::ung
Janual)' 29, 2002
Page 34 of 38
Nary: Just, I guess a thought as we're trying to decide what to do next. It would
appear to me that we would need after some time to digest the testimony that we
have and the material that we have, we would need some opportunity to discuss
it in an open meeting. Not necessarily take testimony but to discuss all of our
thoughts so it may be something we may want to continue to a work session for
that purpose. Then if we feel that there's a need to get more testimony for
specific purposes, specific areas that haven't been addressed tonight --. I think
we focused pretty good on Utility Subdivision. But there's a Jot of other areas that
we really haven't addressed yet. Then we could again continue it to a Public
Hearing date to then ask for some specific information from those areas. That
might be at least one way to do it.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Nichols.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The state statute simply says that
the governing body has to hold at least one Public Hearing. So, there's no
prohibition against holding more than one.
Corrie: Okay. Then I think that suggestion is a good one, Bill. How does the
Council feel about that? (inaudible) keep it open (inaudible) testimony and public
hearing so the public can hear it, any other testimony or discussion we have.
Bird: Sure. I think that's a very good idea.
Corrie: With that being said I will entertain a motion then Mr. Nary for the 1 ih is
a?
De Weerd: Oh, no the 1ih is full.
Corrie: Is it the 12th?
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Nary: Is the 26th?
Corrie: That's a regular meeting.
Nary: Oh, I'm sorry, the 19th.
Corrie: The only --,
Bird: The 19th, you can't have it then.
Nary: You're right.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Meridian City Council Special Me~\ing
January 29, 2002
Page 35 of 38
Corrie: What does the agenda look like the 12th? I don't have it. It's a workshop?
De Weerd: We have several presentations and ordinances. Cheri and I are going
over it on Monday.
Corrie: Okay.
Nary: Well, I wonder Mr. Mayor, I mean, this is basically for our discussion. I just
don't want to get too far off track if we set it all the way to March. We could set it
as an agenda item. I f we can't get to it or we have to continue it, then that's fine.
These folks are welcome to come or not. I mean, we're not actually going to be
voting it this hearing. It's simply to discuss where we're at and where we think we
need to go, whether or not we need more information or something else. Or we
could do it into March. I just don't want to go too far out. These folks you know
want to know how this is going to progress.
Corrie: We can have it in a special meeting too.
De Weerd: That would be my preference.
Bird: That would be my preference.
Corrie: How about the 13th of February?
Bird: Wednesday? That's a great idea.
Corrie: That's on a Wednesday.
De Weerd: That's the Parks Commission. How about the 14th?
Corrie: The 14th is Valentine's Day.
(inaudible discussion from audience)
De Weerd: Who has a life when you seNe up here?
Corrie: My wife may have something to say about that one.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: How about the 7th? Isn't that Planning and Zoning?
Bird: that's Planning and Zoning.
De Weerd: How about the 6th?
Corrie: Are they on a Wednesday or Thursday?
r
Meridian City Council Special Me",[Ing
January 29, 2002
Page 36 of 38
Nary: They're on Thursday.
Bird: We could have it the 6th.
Corrie: All right. How about the 6th? That gives us exactly a week.
Bird: A week and one day.
Nary: Either that or the 20th right after the other hearing.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: I hope you all don't think that that's the way we do everything in the City.
But there seems to be an awful lot going on in the City and trying to get a
meeting night where there's not something here. Hopefully one of these days
we'll have a new City Hall that's got about four hearing rooms and we can all
meet at the same time.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: The Planning and Zoning Commission, I read their minutes believe it
or not, they suggested maybe giving a presentation to Council on what they
changed and kind of what the discussion was behind that. Keith, is that
something that you would like to do? Brad made a nice summary so you don't
have to.
Corrie: On the 6th?
Borup: That would be fine but Brad did do a good presentation.
De Weerd: If you feel okay with what we've gotten that's fine. I just read that you
had that conversation and everyone seemed to support that. I know you've put a
lot of work into it. If you would like to we would appreciate it. If not, we do have
the information from staff.
Borup: I'll probably plan on being there in case there's any input. I might just
mention that I do feel real good. Of all the testimony tonight, there's was only a
handful that was anything other than the utility Sub area.
De Weerd: You must have done a bang up job.
Keith: I don't know if that means there's not any interest in the rest of it or if we
did a good job on the rest of it.
Corrie: (inaudible) at the risk of everybody going to having to do a lot of
homework and reading between now and the 6th, could we have a special
meeting on the 6th to have discussion on what we heard tonight?
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 37 of 38
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Nary: --continue the hearing but only for a discussion, not for public testimony.
De Weerd: At this point. So, you're not closing it off to all testimony.
Nary: No.
De Weerd: Just the 6th we'll have a workshop discussion?
Nary: Right. I mean jf somebody wants to submit written information or things
like that. I just don't want people to think next Wednesday we're going to testify
and hear this all again. We're going to have a workshop to discuss where we're
at digesting all this material.
De Weerd: But at the meeting following that it would still be open Public Hearing?
Nary: Right.
De Weerd: Okay.
Corrie: Mr. Nary, I will entertain a motion.
Nary: Okay. Mr. Mayor I would move that we continue this Public Hearing to
February 6th for a special meeting of the City Council for a workshop for
discussion by the Council of the Comprehensive Plan. There is opportunity to
submit written testimony. There won't be public testimony taken on February 6th
but there will be a public meeting that the public can attend for us to discuss all of
the information that we've received to this point and then decide if there's more
public testimony necessary to set a future hearing date for other issues on the
Comprehensive Plan.
Corrie: Do I hear a second.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to hold a special hearing
workshop with the City Council with not public hearing, a public hearing but not
with testimony on February 6th, continued public hearing.
De Weerd: Continued public hearing.
Corrie: Any further discussion?
Bird: 6:30?
Corrie: 6:30. Okay. All understand the motion? Okay. All those in favor say aye.
(
Meridian City Council Special Mef;![ing
January 29,2002
Page 38 of 38
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Corrie: That concludes the agenda for tonight. I want to thank everybody for
being here. You're certainly welcome tomorrow night to see about the northwest
section what we have planning there. We think it's very important that we plan
because there's going to be approximately 66,000 up there in 15 to 20 years. If
we don't have a plan, it's going to be a mess. You can see what we're looking at.
We've got a lot of people that are involved in this. We want your involvement in it
and see what you think of it. Let us know and then if you'd like to come back the
6th and hear what we're going to be discussing about what you said tonight we
would Jove to have you. With that being said, Council I will entertain a motion to
close the meeting.
McCandless: Mr. Mayor, I move we adjourn.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and second to adjourn. All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:43 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED:
~
ERT D. CORRIE, MAYOR
2- / /1 / tJ z,
DATE APPROVED
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(
CITY OF MERIDIAN
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
Tuesday, January 29, 2002, at 5:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
1. RolI~call Attendance:
X Tammy de Weerd X
X Cherie McCandless X
X Mayor Robert Corrie
Bill Nary
Keith Bird
2. Adoption of the Agenda:
3. Discussion and Review of the 2000/2001 Fiscal Year Audit by
Balukoff, Lindstrom & Company: Kevin Anderson presented
Meridian City Council Agenda - January 29,2002
Page 1 of I
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring aecommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing
please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Meridian City Council Special Meetin~
January 29.2002
The special meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 5:30 P,M.
on Tuesday January 29,2002 by Mayor Robert Corrie.
Members Present: Tammy de Weerd, Keith Bird, Bill Nary, Cherie McCandless,
and Mayor Robert Corrie.
Others Present: Stacy Kilchenmann, Bill Nichols, Mike Worley, Janice Smith, and
Will Berg.
Item 1.
Roll-call Attendance:
X Tammy de Weerd X
X Cherie McCandless X
X Mayor Robert Corrie
Bill Nary
Keith Bird
Item 3.
Discussion and Review of the 2000/2001 Fiscal Year Audit by
Balukoff, Lindstrom & Company:
Corrie: (inaudible) Okay, are we ready? Okay, I'll call the notice of the special
meeting of the Meridian City Council, Tuesday January 29, 2002 at 5:30 P.M.
The City Council will meet for the following items, discussion review of the
2000/2001 fiscal year audit by Balukoff, Lindstrom and Company. At this time I
will invite the representative.
(inaudible discussion amongst staff)
Corrie: Pardon? I'm sorry, let the records show that everyone is here and
present.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: Mayor and Members of the Council, I'm Kevin Anderson from the firm
of Balukoff, Lindstrom and Company. We did the audit of the financial
statements for the year ending September 30,2001. Some of the things that I
want to talk about and I'll entertain questions at any time. So, if you have
anything feel free to ask them. I'll answer the best J can. We did the audit of the
financial statements. On the first page, page one is our opinion, page one and
two. It's an unqualified opinion. It'll be in the financial statement, which is this
thicker part here.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Bird: That's your disclaimer?
Meridian City Council Special Mel:Hing
January 29,2002
Page 2 of 11
Anderson: Yes that's our opinion. I've got to tell you --. Well, I better not. It's a
tough time to be a CPA and have a last name of Anderson. All joking aside. But
our firm name is not Anderson.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: I've been having a little grief or whatever over that. Fortunately we're
not the same firm or whatever. So, we will stand by our work.
Bird: You don't have any shredders?
Anderson: No, we're not shredding documents either even as we speak. A
clean opinion on the financial statements, unqualified which is the best you can
get. Basically what we say is we've audited the financial statements and they
present fairly the financial position and results of operation for the City for the
fiscal year 2000/2001. As part of our audit, we did a couple of things that auditing
standards require. One is we considered the City's internal controls over financial
reporting to determine basically the procedures that we would perform. The
better the internal controls, the more we rely on those and we don't do as many,
what is called substandard procedures. The City has good internal controls from
that. We don't do a detailed review of those but we do take a look at those to
determine what we feel like are the necessary audit procedures that we perform.
We also perform procedures to determine whether the City is in compliance with
laws and regulations that may have a material effect on the financial statements.
Obviously we are not attorneys but we do look at those things that we feel like
might have a material impact on the financial statements. The objective of our
audits is to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are fairly
stated. The key word being reasonable assurances, not absolute. But, you know
we do, do the best that we can there. As far as the audit goes, we issued an
unqualified opinion, as I said. We also issued a report on compliance with laws
and regulations and internal controls. That's contained on page 35 and 36 of the
financial statements. Basically, we did not note anything that needed to be
reported to Council as far as any kind of deficiencies in the, or reportable
conditions in the internal controls or in your compliance with laws and
regulations. We issued a letter to the Council and the Mayor, which is this one
right here that many of you got that basically covers some things that we are
required to report under auditing standards. It's basically telling you that we did
implement a new accounting policy this year. There's a statement No. 33 that we
implemented and as a result of that statement, developer contributed to water
and sewer lines is now recognized as (inaudible). Is that me?
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: The sewer lines and water lines that are contributed are recognized
as revenue rather than as contributed capital as they have been in the past. We
note that there were not disagreements with management, no issues where
Meridian City Council Special Metollng
January 29.2002
Page 3 of 11
management consulted with other independent accountants or we encountered
no difficulties in the audit. We also issued a management letter talking about
some things that we felt like there could be some improvements made. It's this
one here, management letter. I think we issued that to the Mayor and to the
Finance Director Stacy. They have a copy of that in there. Some observations on
the financial statements. Again, this year your expenditures were less than
budgeted amounts. So, you're in compliance with state Jaw there, which is
always a good thing. Your general fund balance is at 13 and a half million dollars
now. Because of governmental accounting and I apologize that it has to be
presented this way. I don't make the standards I just have to kind of report them.
But, basically that, you need to subtract from that fund balance, the amount you
have to pay on the police building, a debt of about four million dollars there. So,
really you have nine and a half million dollars that you can look at that's
available. That is on page two of the financial statements. We'll just go there a
little bit. Sorry, not two, five and six of the financial statements. On page five, is
the general fund. At September 30,2001 there's 5.8 million dollars of unreserved
fund balance available. So, we have some park improvements that we have a
reservation of and police center construction and fire truck purchases and the
overpass construction that we have reservations of fund balance. But, basically,
we have unreserved of 5.8 million. You take the four million dollars of debt out of
that and you're down to an unreserved balance of about 1,8 million.
Bird: Excuse me. Kevin, I think the reserve for the police construction, 3.6 million
is up there already.
Anderson: Yes.
Bird: So, you wouldn't take that out of the five?
Anderson: Well,--
Bird: Would you?
Anderson: I suppose, yes that's correct. There is 3.6 million reserved for the
police center construction debts.
Bird: (inaudible) when I went through that I did the same thing. I thought holy
cow; we're down (inaudible).
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: The other thing about fund balance, I don't know if you read in the
newspaper here a while back. But I think Ada County kind of took it a little bit on
the chin a little bit as far as their --. I don't know. There was a comment made
that the fund balance was getting a little too high or whatever. So, it's one of
those that you've got to manage both sides, you know. You can't get it too low
I
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 4 of 11
and you can't get it too high. That means you're never right kind of thing. You
guys have never been in that situation I'm sure, kind of thing. But basically, it is
one of those things that you probably need to kind of take a look at. You've done
very well over the past years of building that fund balance up. I've said in past
Council meetings that it's been a very conservative Council and built that up or
whatever. But, also you know with say now be careful about continuing to build it
up too high because you know you could have the same comment made at some
point down the road or whatever. Again, it's one of those that you know I don't
know that I'd worry about it too much. But, if we continue in the next two or three
years building fund balance like we have it, it could become very much and issue
for you. Net income, on page seven of the general fund, if we can call it. That
was 2.8 million dollars. Four million of that was actually debt and again, you have
to recognize in governmental accounting, debt is recognized as revenue, which
makes no sense. That's the way it is. You transferred out 2.1 million dollars and
most of that went to --. That went to the capital projects fund based on the
ordinance that we have in place to transfer excess to that fund. Enterprise fund is
also in good financial condition. Again, page five and six. You have 33 million
dollars of retained earnings there. 87 million total equity but most of that is
developer contributed sewer and water lines. So, 33 million dollars and the
enterprise fund had net income of 9.8 million, which sounds a lot higher than it
has been in the past. It looks like that on paper but again, we had donated water
lines and connection fees, which is that new accounting change that we just
talked about on the (inaudible) statement. That was seven million dollars of it. So,
it makes it look quite a lot higher or whatever. The guys in the ivory white towers,
I don't know. Sometimes I wonder about --. We do have one new accounting
statement out there. Many of you may have heard about but it's called Gasby's
statement 34, which is getting a lot of press. Basically it will change --. We have
to start reporting infrastructure assets, which for the City of Meridian is not too
bed. We're really pretty --. We really don't have much in the way of infrastructure.
If you're Ada County Highway District, what that means is they have to go figure
out the cost of all their roads and put that on the balance sheet kind of a thing.
They've expensed those in the past. But as far as the actual accounting goes for
the City of Meridian, it won't change things a lot. What will change is the look of
the financial statements. We're required to implement that statement for the City
in the fiscal year ending 03. So, we have two more years before --. We won't
implement it in 02 unless there's a --. I think Stacy is probably is saying no, no.
We're not going to do it in 02. So, unless there's an overriding reason of
somebody wanting to do that from the Mayor and Council perspective, we're
going to look to 03. That will take us some additional time to implement that. I
was just telling Stacy that I was today reviewing my first Gasby 34
implementation. CCDC is implementing that. That thing is kind of a bear, just the
look and the feel of the financial statements are totally different than they have
been. So, we'll probably implement that unless we get any objections from any of
you when it's required rather than early implement next year.
De Weerd: We'll let you work the bugs out first.
I
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 5 of 11
Anderson: Thank you. We get to practice on CCDC-
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: --and Boise City first or whatever which we will be doing this year.
Then we get another year to kind of work some more out. So, that's probably a
good strategy.
(inaudible discussion from staff)
Anderson: We're going to take a dry run at it. But it will be off of the statements.
We won't actually put it there but we're going to kind of take a look and see, you
know make sure there's no issues or whatever.
Bird: Sewer lines, water lines, stuff like that, is that infrastructure? Is that
covered under that?
Anderson: It's technically already on the balance sheet right now. I mean,
infrastructure is stuff that really got expensed but not included on the balance
sheet anywhere.
Bird: Okay.
Anderson: So, technically no Councilman Bird. That's already accounted for.
Again, as far as infrastructure goes, you've got most of everything on the balance
sheet already. So, it's just a matter of making sure it's in the right place. We'll
start pulling it together into one column instead of breaking it out into two. Let me
illustrate that point. If you go to page two and three on the financial statement,
there's a column titled general fixed asset and general long term debt, as you
see on page six. Lets got to page three and four. I'm sorry. Three and four,
there's two columns called general fixed asset and general long-term debt.
Basically what would happen is those two columns will be combined with the
general fund column and the capital projects to form one column that will be
called governmental activities. Then we'll have the proprietary activities, which
are already the enterprise fund. So, it will change how the financial statements
look. Actually it will bring the general fixed assets into the general fund which is
probably where they belong anyway. I'm open for questions. Are there any that
you have from reading the financial statements? They are fairly similar to what
they have been in the past as far as foot notes go and the disclosures that we
make. There really aren't any significant changes there.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr" Bird,
Meridian City Council Special Meeting
January 29,2002
Page 6 of 11
Bird: Kevin, we discussed this earlier but I would like to --. You know, on page
seven we've got under miscellaneous revenues 183,000 --
Anderson: Right.
Bird: -- dollars. I just can't imagine that there's that much, that there's
miscellaneous to that. It's got to be under some kind of a revenue.
Anderson: And it is, you know we kind of struggled as I looked at that after you
made that comment in the hallway Councilman Bird. We kind of struggle with
how much detail to put onto the financial statement. We may have 11, 11193 -
11,193,000 in revenue and you know we could probably keep going and list that
you know down --.
Bird: But, under that miscellaneous couldn't we just kind of, just kind of list under
there two or three items that it's under because --?
Anderson: Yes. We probably could and -
Bird: I mean, you know that's a very small percent of the 11 million. I looked at
that too and -
Anderson: Yes.
Bird: But in the same token that is a pretty large sum -
Anderson: Number-
Bird: -- for somebody to look at -
Anderson: --and say what is that?
Bird: You know that's a lot more money than I make in a year and you're getting
these revenues in and they're miscellaneous. Now what are they covered under?
Are they this or n. If we could Ijst two or three categories --. We don't have to
categorize them, put them all under miscellaneous. But under there put some
parenthesis and say -
Anderson: Right.
Bird: -- such, such and such.
De Weerd: Just general terms. I hate miscellaneous.
Anderson: Okay. I'll make a note of that.
Meridian Cily Council Special Mel;clng
January 29,2002
Page 7 of 11
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Bird: As you said, we wouldn't get away with this on our personal taxes.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Bird: We've also got it under expenditures too.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: Yes, we can do that. We'll do that next year in the audit.
Bird: Kevin I think that would definitely help us.
Anderson: Okay.
Bird: In the budgetary time to know that last year we got x amount, you know
these three or four sources we received 183,000. Is the economy going to allow
us to receive 183,000 this year?
Anderson: Yes.
Bird: Or 100,000 or what? You know, we can do it within the budget.
Anderson: Okay. (inaudible).
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I don't know who this question is to, Stacy or our attorney. I noticed in
the 2001 column on page 11 donated land. Didn't we get Bear Creek Park last
year?
Bird: I thought we got it in 2000.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Anderson: Okay. This would be just for the enterprise fund. This is-
De Weerd: Oh.
Bird: Oh, that's the enterprise? Okay.
Meridian City Council Special Met:ung
January 29,2002
Page 8 of 11
Anderson: Yes. That donation only covers what's in the water and sewer fund
since that's all the statement covers.
De Weerd: Do we have one for the general fund that you track that too?
Anderson: Not that would be broken out. It's probably miscellaneous.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Nichols.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The Bear Creek Park deed was
received by the City just prior to the end of December 2001. So, it won't show up
until the next coming one.
Anderson: Until fiscal year 2002 audit. Okay.
De Weerd: Thank you very much.
Corrie: Any other questions?
Bird: No. Just compliment again on the nice job these people have done for us
the last three four years. It's sure a change over what I came onto my first couple
of years on the Council. I for one certainly appreciate it Kevin and all the work
you guys do and the work our people do.
Anderson: They do a good job too. My hat is off to them for the job that they're
doing for you because they do, do a good job. They are very conscientious. You
know, we ask for information and they get it for us or find and answer questions.
We probably torment them a bit during the process or whatever but they were
very good about it.
De Weerd: They looked very hairy this time.
Bird: You guys do a great job and we appreciate it.
Corrie: Thank you.
Anderson: Thank you.
De Weerd: Just one other question I guess. You do give the letter to Council
every year. As a follow up to those recommendations, have they been
implemented? Have you seen progress in those areas?
Anderson: Yes we do see progress in the areas that we do make
recommendations in. I suppose the one that I think I would like to probably re-
Meridian City Council Special Met::ling
January 29,2002
Page 9 of 11
emphasis is contracts getting to accounting. They just don't, you know
sometimes they don't get all the copies that they need to make sure that the
recording gets done. I'm not really pointing fingers at anyone person or whatever
kind of a thing. But they do need to get that so that they can make sure that there
are issues that they can address them from accounting and get those recorded.
It's mainly in the water assessment agreements, latecomer agreement, those that
are --.
Bird: Hopefully those will be history.
Anderson: -- anything that relates to grants or accounts payable type things.
That's one j would probably plug on but you know we make comments and
people are very conscientious about, I guess to rectify the situation that caused
the comment.
De Weerd: j appreciate that.
Bird: Thank you very much Kevin.
Corrie: Thank you Kevin. I appreciate it. Council, it has been requested that we
go into executive session just for a few minutes. The police department would
like to give you a personnel update. So, can we get you down there in my office?
McCandless: DO you want to pick me up and carry me?
Corrie: I'll do anything you want. You have the biggest guy in the --. No, I'll take
that back. I may be (inaudible). We'll get you there.
De Weerd: Glen is still here.
~
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Yes?
Bird: I would move that we go into executive session as per Idaho State Code
672345-A.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: C.
Bird: C.
Corrie: We need to do a roll call please.
Roll-call: De Weerd, aye; Nary, aye; McCandless, aye; Bird, aye.
Meridian City Council Special Met::L1ng
January 29,2002
Page 10 of 11
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Executive session
Corrie: Council, I will entertain a motion to come out of executive session.
De Weerd: So moved.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion made and seconded to come out of executive session. All
those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Corrie: Okay, I'll entertain a motion to close the special meeting on the
discussion and review of the fiscal year audit.
McCandless: So moved.
Corrie: Do I hear a second?
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to -
Bird: Discussion?
Corrie: -- to close the -
Bird: Do we not have to pass on accepting that audit?
Corrie: We did not do that, did we?
Bird: We didn't do that.
Corrie: Okay, yes we need to.
Bird: With that Mr. Mayor I would move that we approve the financial audit by
Balukoff, Lindstrom and Company for the fiscal year ending September 30,2001
and make it available to the public.
De Weerd: Second.
Meridian City Council Special Me""mg
January 29,2002
Page 11 of 11
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the review of the fiscal audit for
the year 2000/2001 and to make it available to the general public. Any further
discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Corrie: Now, J did entertain a motion earlier for the closing of the Public Hearing.
Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say
aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:29 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED:
2 / Ie; I tJ2-
DATE APPROVED
~~~
ILLlAM G. BERG, JR., CI CLERK