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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-02 Special Meeting Meridian City Council Special Meeting January 2, 2024. A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2024, by Mayor Robert Simison. Members Present: Robert Simison, Brad Hoaglun, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Jessica Perreault, Liz Strader and John Overton. Also Present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Laurelei McVey, Kyle Radek, Jeff Brown, Kris Blume and Dean Willis. ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE _X_ Liz Strader _X_ Joe Borton _X_ Brad Hoaglun _X_ John Overton _X_ Jessica Perreault _X_Luke Cavener X Mayor Robert E. Simison Simison: Council, we will call the meeting to order. For the record it is January 2nd, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. We will begin this evening's City Council Special Meeting with roll call attendance. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Simison: First item up is adoption the agenda. Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: There are no changes to tonight's agenda. I move that we adopt the agenda as published. Overton: Second. Simison: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as published. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the agenda is adopted. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item] 1. Approve Minutes of the December 19, 2023 City Council Work Session Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 2 of 16 2. Newkirk Subdivision No. 1 (ESMT-2023-0181) Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Easement 3. TM Center East Subdivision No. 1 (ESMT-2023-0179) Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Easement No.1 4. Final Plat for Centerville Subdivision No. 2 (FP-2023-0022) by Kent Brown Planning Services, located near the southeast corner of E. Amity Rd. and S. Hillsdale Ave. 5. Development Agreement (Alexanders Landing Subdivision H-2022- 0084) Between City of Meridian and Quarter Horse Lane, LLC for Property Located at 4574 W. Quarterhorse Lane 6. Development Agreement Modification (Lavender Heights H-2022- 0017) Between the City of Meridian and LH Development, LLC for Property Located at 2160 E. Lake Hazel Rd. 7. License Agreement Renewal between the City of Meridian and Ada County for Meridian Police Department for Fiscal Year 2024 K9 Training 8. License Agreement Between Meridian Development Corporation and City of Meridian for the Relocation of the Hunter Lateral 9. Approval of Equipment Purchase Contract and PO# 24-0199 with Columbia Electric Supply for the purchase of eighteen Low and Medium Voltage Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) and associated equipment for the Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility Aeration Basins for the Not-To-Exceed amount of $1,087,999.92 10. City of Meridian Financial Report - November 2023 Simison: Next up is the Consent Agenda. Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda. For the Mayor to sign and Clerk to attest. Overton: Second. Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 3 of 16 Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the Consent Agenda is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. ITEMS MOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item] Simison: There were no items moved from Consent Agenda. ACTION ITEMS 11. Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Amendment in the Amount of $250,000.00 for Well 29 Pump Upgrade Simison: So, we will move on to Action Items. First up is Item 11, which fiscal year 2024 budget amendment in the amount of 250,000 dollars for Well 29 upgrade and turn this over to Director McVey. McVey: All right. Thank you. First I'm really excited this many people are excited about Well 29. 1 don't think we have ever had so many people show up. Kidding. All right. So, just to orient yourself, this is a budget amendment for water in Zone One. So, Zone One is in our northwest corner of the city. Currently we only have one well in this zone and that's Well 29. We are currently under construction on Well 34, but I will talk a little bit about the delay that has happened there and the need to potentially accelerate the pump upgrade at Well 29. So, just a little bit of history, because it's important on this one. So, we completed Well 18 and we started design on Well 34 in 2021. Most of the time these new wells take us about three to four years to complete and so we were moving along in that process. Unfortunately, we have experienced a couple of delays with contractors and the contractor's equipment had challenges, too. So, we are experiencing about a two year delay that we are anticipating to finish Well 34. So, what we are asking to do is we had a pump upgrade scheduled in the CFP to start in 2026 and we are asking to just pull that forward to FY-24, so we can get started on that. Essentially when we build these wells we build them so that they have a pump that meets the capacity of today and, then, they are able to -- when the need grows to a certain level we can just swap out the pump, put a new pump in and it gains us additional capacity. So, we have plenty of water, but the issue is pumping it out of the ground in the area of town where we are experiencing the growth. So, one of the questions might be do we have to do this right now? No, but what happens is we pump water from Zone Two and, then, we bleed it over into Zone One and that essentially wastes energy and can cause us some operational considerations. So, this is an easy way for us to gain some additional capacity much quicker than building a brand new well and, then, once we have 29 upgraded with the new pump and we have 34 finished, this zone or part of town should be well set for quite a while into the mid 2030s. So, essentially, what I'm asking is to just move forward a planned project due to some delays that we have encountered on another project. Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 4 of 16 Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions? Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: Can you talk about the delays that you have encountered on the other project? McVey: So, I'm actually going to turn this over to Kyle, because he will be able to give you better details. Radek: Council Woman Strader, Mr. Mayor, where do I start? So, we initially -- we were on schedule, we were -- we had the contractor out there about this time last year and they were -- the beginning of these projects is a test well and we usually drill about a thousand feet into the ground and -- and, then, we put in a series of tubes that we actually make from eight to ten wells out of one hole and you construct that from the bottom up and -- and what can happen and what did happen in last spring is the drill -- it got really cold and the driller had difficulty circulating his mud and keeping his -- his engineered polymer mud at the right viscosity and we had swelling clays and the hole started to collapse and so he got one of those test well tubes in and basically abandoned the rest of the well. So -- so, of the probably -- probably -- we designed these -- I think I said eight to -- eight to ten, maybe up to 12, but we got one in and so then he -- then he -- he -- he filled the rest of the well up with -- you know, abandoned it properly with grout and, then, left the site and -- and, then, he was going to get started again this summer after he did some wells for Meta, which is another issue we have of -- they have been very demanding of -- of his time and getting their wells drilled and does that mean that we are less important than Meta? Well, I'm not -- I'm not sure if I can get a straight answer on that, but I -- I'm pretty sure we are getting a better deal than Meta, but -- but, then, when he was ready to start drilling again this summer he had equipment problems and had to get a new pump for his -- his grout pump and then -- and, then -- yeah, I can't remember the other problem he had, but -- but, anyway, he didn't get started until -- until fall this year. So, we are back and -- oh. The other problem he had initially getting started -- I'm sorry I didn't mention this -- but there was -- at the tail end of the COVID supply issues, there was a problem getting PVC for the well as well. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: So, to summarize, delay, equipment issues, contractor issues, it sounds like we will take it offline. I appreciate that. Simison: Council, any additional questions? Okay. Thank you. Do I have a motion? Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor? Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 5 of 16 Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, I move that we approve a fiscal year 2024 budget amendment in the amount of 250,000 dollars for Well 29 pump upgrade. Strader: Second. Simison: Motion and a second. Is there discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll Call: Hoaglun, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Perreault, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. Hopefully this one goes better. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. 12. Ordinance No. 24-2042: An Ordinance (Alexanders Landing Subdivision — H-2022-0084) annexing the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, more particularly described in Exhibit "A;" rezoning 7.03 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to R-8 (Medium-Density Residential) zoning district; directing city staff to alter all applicable use and area maps as well as the official zoning maps and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance shall be filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law; repealing conflicting ordinances; and providing an effective date. Simison: With that we will move on to Item 13, which is Ordinance No. 24-2042. Ask the Clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance related to Alexander's Landing Subdivision, H-2022-0084, annexing the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada county, Idaho, more particularly described in Exhibit "A;" rezoning 7.03 acres of such real property from RUT to R-8 zoning district; directing city staff to alter all applicable use and area maps as well as all zoning maps and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance shall be filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law; repealing conflicting ordinances; and providing an effective date. Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 6 of 16 Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there anybody that would like it read in its entirety? If not do I have a motion? Perreault: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Perreault. Perreault: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 24-2042. Overton: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 24-2042. Is there any discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll. Roll Call: Hoaglun, yea; Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Perreault, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. RECOGNITION 13. Recognition of Outgoing City Council Members Jessica Perreault and Brad Hoaglun Simison: The final item on today's Special Council Meeting is a recognition of outgoing city council members for Council Woman Perreault and Councilman Hoaglun. You know, try to be respectful of some of their wishes in terms of not making this more than it needs to be or can be, but I will let each Council Member speak to what they find, but I will go and take a few minutes first if that's -- that's okay. And I will start with Council Woman Perreault, who we came in together four years ago and I just want to say I value very much the efforts that you have taken in the area of housing here in our community and community -- the community development planning process and I know that you are coming from your time on Planning and Zoning, that that's always been a passion of yours and you carry that forward here to the city and I think the applicants -- the applications that were approved are better because of it. The planning staff I think has thought differently about things because of your conversations and I think the community has heard your questions as well. So, it's been a pleasure and I don't know what comes next and I don't think you know that either, but we -- it's been great serving alongside of you. We value it very much. Mr. Hoaglun, you know, I had the pleasure of first meeting you over at Rick's Press Room prior to your appointment at an event for Mayor Tammy, if memory serves me correctly, and got to know you then and you have been a part of my service to the city ever since in various capacities, sometimes taking a hiatus, sometimes coming back, but the last two years specifically you have made my job -- I don't want to say easy by any stretch of the imagination, but you have allowed Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 7 of 16 our relationship to grow through the process and, you know, made it -- the job easy here for me in -- in that -- in every Wednesday our conversations, I never had to worry about where we were coming from or where we were going, because we were there together and so I just want you to know I have value and appreciate that, more than you realize. You have been a great friend and mentor, you know, for 17 years to me and it's not over, it's just going to be different. I know that moving forward. So, just want to say thank you to you for that and I will let the rest of the council members who want to speak speak. We do have plaques, which I think we will just go ahead and pull during the meeting when we are done and if anyone wants to take pictures we can do that from that standpoint. But appreciate and value you both. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: I will say a few words. It's been a pleasure serving with both of you and I will start with Council Woman Perreault. You have served our community with so much heart and you tackled the issues head on and you weren't afraid to take on the biggest issues, the most thorny issues. You were never intimidated. You never stopped. You always pushed as hard as you could and especially when it came to affordable housing. I think that you have moved the needle more than anyone else has on our City Council on that topic and I'm grateful to you. I'm grateful for your friendship and just believe that you have really served our community well. And for Council Member -- or Council President Hoaglun, you know, I appreciate you, too, and we had a rough campaign, but I think we can say that we are friends still and I think you have always served our community from your heart and that you are a person who really cares about our community and that that was reflected in your service on our City Council. So, I'm grateful to you as well. So, I just appreciate both of you and you will be missed. Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Overton: I would like to start off by thanking Council Woman Perreault. When I first got this job just a year ago you were the first person that really reached out and came over to my house and wanted to help me understand everything and walk me through different applications and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. For those starting out it's been called drinking from a firehose and it is, but you helped that a lot and took some of that pressure away from me and I really appreciate it. And I'm not just saying that because of the personal side of how you are helping out members of my family right now, but I appreciate it very much and so today thank you for your service. It's been fantastic. Councilman Hoaglun, I can't even remember how many years that I have known you, because when I first started working with you I was sitting in those seats wearing a uniform. You have been working for the city, for the employees, for the best interest of the city for such a long time. I'm going to miss that the only two people sitting up here that graduated from Meridian High School when it was the only high Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page S of 16 school in the city. I'm going to lose my sidekick. And when I look back at council members that have served, I look at the greats. You know, I remember very fondly Keith Bird and Charlie Rountree and David Zaremba. But, Brad, you are always going to be one of those greats for the level of service that you have always provided the city in what you have done over these past -- literally 20 years off and on time that you worked for the city and the things you have done. I will never forget it and I use it as an example going forward. Thank you so much. Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simisom Councilman Cavener. Cavener: A couple thoughts. Try and keep my composure. I want to start just for everyone that's here. From my perspective this is the finest city council that I have ever had the pleasure of serving with. We have had some great, some Titans, but as a team I have really enjoyed being a part of this amazing team and a lot of it has to do with Jessica. Jessica and I didn't know each other real well. We, I think, had some preconceived notions of each other when she started and it is a true joy that when you are -- your time is coming to an end that I'm losing a friend and that's bittersweet, because a couple of things that I want to share about Jessica, because these are things that I'm taking away from her. Three things. First is her -- her gentle tenacity. Jessica has a unique ability to get to the facts in a really really kind manner. She's unwavering. You are not going to talk her away from anything, but she's going to get to the bottom of it with kindness and grace. As someone who from time to time has been a little passionate up here at the dais, I appreciate someone else who brings a little passion to the role and sitting beside you it's been really really great to see your passion, not just for the issues, but for our community. And the other thing that I didn't realize we benefited from was your expertise in the real estate environment and I just so thank you for bringing that subject matter expertise to the table to what my colleagues have said before it has made for better applications, better questions, better response from our applicants and from our staff and so it's I hope enjoyable that you are leaving quite a legacy here on our Council and I think our Council is better for it because of you. No problem. With Brad it's -- it's -- it's also a little bit different. People go away to, you know, baseball fantasy camp or rock and roll fantasy camp. For four years that have I been able to sit between these two people I have been at public service fantasy camp and when I -- when I was first elected I remember telling my wife if I could do the job half as good as Brad Hoaglun I think I will do an okay job. I have learned so much sitting next to you and probably one of the things that I have learned is that I still have a lot to learn and I appreciate your -- your wisdom and your leadership and you are a true teacher. We have all been better because we have been able to sit next to you and learn from you. To that point we, as a Council, talk a lot about the Keith Bird rule and it's something that I appreciate Council Member Borton always keeping top of mind and the thought of the Keith Bird Rule is that when we are up here we advocate like cats and dogs for the positions that we believe in. We beg, borrow and steal to do what we think is best. We take a vote. And, then, Wednesday we go back together working together for the city and Keith embodied that. I think we as a Council have embodied that. But if Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 9 of 16 will you all indulge me, I'm going to propose a new rule which is the Hoaglun Rule. I -- this won't come as much of a surprise to anybody here in the room -- I have made some mistakes up here. We all as Council Members as humans have made mistakes and I was thinking a lot about this this past season and -- and Brad continued to teach and lead us and so the Hoaglun Rule that I'm going to propose is that when we all inevitably make a mistake, which we will, we are going to own it. We are going to work to make it right and we are going to learn from it and, Brad, you have continued to teach me and I'm -- I'm still going to be about half as good at this job as you are, but with your wisdom and tutelage I think I'm going to get there and I just want to thank you for everything that you have done for me, for my family, the encouragement, the teaching and the example that you have led for our Council. It's been well received and appreciated. Borton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Borton. Borton: I apologize, I'm trapped in an airport and can't be there in person, but I certainly wouldn't want to miss this. I think the way that Council Woman Strader references gratitude and the gratitude that I have for both of you a dozen different ways, but to make it short and sweat, Jessica, take it to heart, short and sweet is the most amazing, powerful tool that you bring to every week. You are very passionate in every single application and every single task at hand. It feels like you have served more years than you have and I think it's just a testament to how driven you have been week over week to be involved and engaged and I think it just comes from your heart. I think to the community you truly -- your passion and heart for what Meridian is and -- and you -- your passion for the details shows every week and the details matter and you keep pushing for us to try and make a decision a little better, to make an application a little better and hear the public a little more, those little details matter, Jessica. You have had a big impact and it's been helpful to remind us on how to serve and remind us why we serve that you show us every week. So I appreciate you sharing that. I'm grateful for learning from you and watch you display that week over a week, so you lead with heart and I love it. Mr. Hoaglun, we have worked together for a long long time, brother, and the gratitude that I have for you and your service -- it's not just your humility and your respect towards the process and the people involved, you have always been able to weave together an historical context in what we do. Your perspective on why we made certain decisions, whether it was five years ago, ten years ago, or that led to that might be an appropriate perspective in making a decision today. I'm trying to be mindful more and more about the long-term impact of our decisions in a variety of things that come before us and I'm grateful, because I think a lot of that comes from you, watching you try to make decisions with leadership that's not focused on this week or this month. There is times when all of us are gone and there is seven more up there trying to make long- term decisions. I think that perspective is what is the reason why Meridian is successful today, because that attitude existed in prior councils and I think you carried it forward throughout your entire service. Hopefully it's rubbed off on all of us. I know it's had a huge impact on me and I'm very grateful for that and you will certainly be missed. Take comforted in the fact that -- the way you had that caretaker focus is important as well. Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 10 of 16 That we are going to try and serve in the manner you serve and keep that long-term view for Meridian. So, I'm very very grateful to you and having that impact on and how to serve well. So, let's do both. Simison: Thank you. Perreault: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Perreault. Perreault: I'm okay if passionate means long winded and opinionated. No. I'm just kidding. I really am passionate and I love this city. I made some notes, so I'm going to read them, because I'm a little emotional this evening, so I don't want to lose my place. Excuse me. It was wonderful to sit down and write out all the things that I have enjoyed and learned from -- from each of you and just the incredible honor it's been to have a group of people who are willing to vote for just an average girl who had a desire to -- to benefit her community and to use the things that she has had the opportunity to learn in my career and in my life to hopefully continue the amazing service that the council members before us had done and so I want to share something about each of you. Liz, thank you so much for -- excuse me. I wish Treg was here. I think that's the first time I have cried on the dais. Thank you for challenging me to think big -- think bigger, to work harder and to ask really great questions. You have been an example of what I would have wanted to be as a council member in your commitment and you never -- you never approached anything half-heartedly or halfway and our city is very much better for it and you have been my -- my council member right or die. John, I'm just amazed that you have served our city -- that you have served our city for 27 years as a staff member and yet you came back to make equally as hard decisions and taking on an even more -- potentially more challenging position and run for office to do it all over again. That kind of -- it's just an incredible example of perseverance and that kind of commitment is hardly seen much anymore and you just have a true love for -- for our community. That is just incredible and special. So, thank you. Joe, hope you can hear me okay. More than anyone else on Council you have taught me to slow down, to be thoughtful and methodical and to choose my words wisely. I think I say at least two to three times more words than you do in a council meeting, but there is a reason that the room is quiet and everyone really listens when you speak. So, I have learned so much from you about being a good listener and really choosing -- choosing your words well. I appreciate you for that. Excuse me. So sorry. Brad, thank you so much for exampling kindness and patience. Many times when my passion would show through you will look over at me and with your eyes would say be patient and be kind and you always approach everything with a consistency and a moderation. That has never been natural to me and I have learned from you very much in that. You have taught me how to use storytelling as a gentle way to communicate -- to communicate a difficult idea or a difficult decision and to be very forward thinking about our community. Of all the council members that would have a reason to say, hey, we are growing so fast, let's slow down and return to the good old days, I know we all would love that in some way, but you have been so forward thinking about what our city needs, even when the decision to -- Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 11 of 16 to say yes to those things it's been difficult and I appreciate that, because you have led us in that way. Thank you for modeling what it is to be a true representative to our residents and teaching all of us to put them first. Sometimes it's -- it's so easy to get caught up in the details of a decision or the challenges of a decision that we often -- it's often easy for us as individuals to vote on what we think is best instead of being good listeners and hearing what our residents think is best and I think you model that so so well and that is one of the best things that I have learned from you. So -- excuse me. Last, but not least, Mayor Simison. While we often haven't agreed on the financial priorities of the city I really appreciate you and thank you for being an example of not giving up on your goals and your intentions. They have often required you to think outside the box to bring other organizations and individuals on board that weren't -- that didn't even have those goals as priorities for themselves or for their organizations and you don't rest until you have brought others along to also have a vested interest in what's best for the city and I appreciate that perseverance that you have. It takes a lot of persistence and countless -- countless meetings to cast vision to -- to folks to come on board with something big and I thank you for your commitment -- your time commitment to those things, because it would be very easy to just go with the flow and not be forward thinking about our city and you have done your very best to -- to just help everyone have a vision of what will benefit our residents in the future. Thank you for your present commitment to keeping our city debt free. That is something that not everyone has a heart for and a commitment for. It would be very easy to take the city into a place where we were not benefiting our residents that way and you have worked really hard to do that and we are all, as residents of the city, as council members, benefited from your commitment to that and I also want to say thank you for making the big decisions, for -- for trusting us as Council to help you and -- and all of us together make big financial commitments and investments that may seem risky, but have been very needed and it's tough -- it's been tough to lead through a pandemic and through multi-million dollar decisions, many, many of them in a very short amount of time and so I really appreciate that you didn't waiver from the commitment to -- to do those things and often at risk of not receiving positive feedback about those decisions. So, thank you very much. I have more thank yous for our directors, but I won't go that long winded, but I will share those with each of you personally. And one more thank you. I would like to make this to Chris. Chris, you have -- you are amazing. You have kept us running like a well-oiled machine. Every week you come in here with the most positive attitude. We never have to guess whether our workstations will be clean and set up and you care about the very smallest thing to the biggest things and, then, your department you are willing to serve in any way and you have a true heart and attitude that is, you know, just willing to be a servant and I appreciate how much you have done for us and I was -- we are so spoiled, because the second we ask you are there and you are -- and you are figuring things out. Excuse me. I have really appreciated about you -- that about you and I wanted to just say thank you -- to you, because you are just quiet about how you go about things and I just want to publicly say my appreciation for you. So, I'm so sorry -- so, if there -- there was one evening when I was unable to make the regular meeting and I overheard a council member say: Oh, great. Our regular meeting will be short because Jessica is not here. And at first I was kind of miffed and I thought, you Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 12 of 16 know, they are not exactly wrong. So, congratulations you all, you will have more time on your Tuesday evenings from here on out. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: Just for one second, because we can't let those be your parting words. I just have to say that I know we have all appreciated so much your passion and your input and I hope you don't ever feel guilty about asking those questions or digging into those details and that's part of what has made you a phenomenal council member. So, that's what I think we appreciate most about you. Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Hoaglun. Hoaglun: I have a few thank yous as well. First of all, when I decided to run again for City Council back in 2019, you know, I thought about it, because I knew what I was getting into. Unlike Council Woman Strader and Council Woman Perreault, you know, it's -- it's -- it was brand new to them, but I kind of knew. But one of the things that tilted the scale, knowing that there is time invested and there is -- you are going to -- family time and different things and you have to rearrange your work schedule and different things -- was the fact I'm going to work at a place where there are fantastic people who work here and that's our city employees. We have great leadership by our department heads. Their leadership teams are fantastic to work with. We have dedicated staff. They are hard working. Their customer service is fantastic. We live in a great city. It's because of our city employees. It really is. And the service that you provide to everyone out there, especially in this growing environment, because it's -- it's difficult. There is a lot of challenges here with growth and having served before when there was a recession and having to serve when there is rapid growth, I would rather have the challenge of growth, because recessions are very difficult on people, but there is a lot of challenges here and -- and for you to keep up and keep at it and trying to hire and COVID and -- that was -- that was a curveball we never saw coming there when we came in in 2019 being elected in 2019 and 2020 started and you have these plans and ideas and -- but you had a great plan, Mayor, and worked with the city and -- and with us and -- to keep things going, to keep our workers safe, but, yet, allow the full operation of this community moving forward in a way that wasn't a hindrance and although some people think so, but, really, we had a great operation going and everyone is to be -- be credited for that, because you made things happen. You know, one of the messages I take away about -- about change that I heard is -- maybe it's because I'm the oldest one on Council and I have seen lots of change. Having moved to Meridian in 1970 as a kid and -- and truly a small town and riding -- when the fire siren went off riding the bike -- because I live downtown off of Carlton and coming down with friends to watch all the volunteer firefighters pull into the station right over here and jump on and head out and we thought that's the coolest thing ever, you know, and never Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 13 of 16 in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be sitting here doing this for my -- my community. So, it's been awesome to do that. But it is a privilege to work with the Mayor and these Council Members and Councilman Cavener I think hit it -- it's such a great group. I have said this before. They -- everyone has community and I -- that remains, every one of them up here, and I know two others Doug and Ann, who are going to be sworn in a little bit later, they have that same heart. They want to do our city well and -- and that's the good thing and sometimes we disagree about how to do that and that's okay, because what I found with this group -- and I think it's going to occur with -- with the other two coming on, we do it without being disagreeable. We respect each other's opinion. It's -- we try to understand that perspective and take that into consideration and I know all of us have had our minds changed because I know I have, listening to people speak to an issue and going, oh, I didn't see it that way, you know, and that's -- that's the good thing about it. We leave our minds open to understand -- seek to understand and, again, we still may go a different direction, but it's still a way to go, okay, I understand -- I'm doing it differently, but I understand. Seeking to understand is always -- that's great advice. If anybody -- you can make sure they understand that, that if you can understand people you have come a long ways in -- in helping and listening to one another. The fact that when I was serving just previously some -- a reporter asked me -- there was an issue going on in Boise and there was dissension and Nampa had an issue and there was dissension and they said, well, Councilman, why -- why is Meridian -- you guys just don't have that dissension -- and this was at a time when there were just four of us on the Council, but I just said, well, it's kind of like being the middle child, between Nampa and Boise, you know, we just do our thing and we go along and don't raise a ruckus. We are the middle child. But, really, that was just my pat answer to them to move it along, because I had no idea why. But, you know, it truly is because of the heart of people who want to serve and bring -- bring solutions to the table and work through it and when we have that discussion things -- things work better. So, I do want to tell folks, you know, I'm disappointed I'm not returning, but at the same time I know every one of these people up here want to do the right thing for this community. Doug and Ann want to do that. I have every confidence as a private citizen that they are going to do the right thing and they will find the right way to do it and there may be some disagreements, but I know they won't be disagreeable and I appreciate that and that's what I look forward to from these folks. You know, it -- everyone brings their strengths to the -- to the table. When -- when Jessica came on board -- serving on Planning and Zoning was -- was a big help. I know it's a realtor background -- to be able to have that understanding and the passion that she brings -- there is passion and we have talked about it a couple times about how to be passionate and the right times and whatnot. So, all good conversations, because we want to help each other grow and become better people and that's always our -- my goal and -- and -- and I know others -- it's the same thing and look -- you know, I -- the joy I have there is the fact that I got to know your better half first. No, it's -- it's an amazing family and your passion for people -- you are making sure that they are being heard, that they are listened to, that the process serves them and it's not our convenience. I appreciate that, because there are times -- I'm about efficiency and let's get it done and, then, I have to step back. No, Luke is right. It's not about that efficiency. It's about the people and their understanding and their participation in the process. So, that I appreciate. You bring that day in and Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 14 of 16 day out and that's something we need. That's a voice we need. So, that is -- that is a great thing. Council Woman Strader. First time we met I think we had talked to -- talked and we were going to run for office. Three seats were vacant and three of us ran in 2019 for different seats and -- and I'm thinking, man, she's never done anything like this before, but what I -- what I noticed right there -- and you have proved throughout -- you are a quick learner -- you are very bright by the way. I don't know if you knew that. But you are very bright. You grasp things and -- and you have a passion for serving this community and that's -- that's a great thing. That's -- that's what we want. It takes a lot of work and it takes time and sacrifice for your family and you have to make that work and you are willing to do that and that is greatly appreciated and I know how much time you invest in this and you -- you are very detailed, by the way. I'm sure someone's told you that before. But very detailed and -- and you need to have that and that's a good thing as well, because sometimes we can go on -- again efficiency, whatever, okay, yeah, I think I understand it from a high level, but you want to dig into the details and we need that as well. So, I appreciate that very much. And I wish you very well in this position, again, for another four years and you have grown a lot and you will continue to grow. So, that's good. And, John, I was privileged with -- to serve with the Mayor and Joe, to sit down during the interview process and -- talk about the right guy for the job. Your service to our community in the police leadership team, understanding of the community growing up here, seeing it differently than -- than others, because we all come in at a different time and from a different viewpoint, just your common sense approach and being in a structured system where there is processes and, you know, you just can't be random about doing things in police work. You know that there is going to be something going before a judge probably at some time, there is processes, there is the law, there is rights, there is different things. I appreciate you bringing that to -- to this Council and your understanding of the inner workings from that staff perspective that you bring that those of us that -- we work with staff, but we haven't served in the city as a staff member and having to deal with Council and, then, your perspective as an HOA president and coming forward here and -- it's just like, oh, yeah, he's well prepared. He's been an HOA present. Nothing will phase him up here, so -- and, of course, I think the best thing is your better half, too, with Nora. So, great campaign asset, so it's great -- great to have her. Joe -- Joe and I go way back. You know, I got appointed because of Joe and if you want to know a funny story -- I guess -- I guess we got time. I can reminisce a bit. I'm prone to do that I guess. But it so happened that Joe, with his business and family life and everything, had to step down and do some things. So, this vacancy occurred and someone had approached me -- I had worked with Mayor Tammy and knew her and had been involved in her campaign when she decided to run for mayor and the offices we had here in Meridian, we held our meetings there and -- and so someone came to me and said, Brad, you know Mayor Tammy, I want to apply for this vacancy and I thought, great, they don't -- she doesn't know me, but could you put in a good word for me? I said, sure, I would be happy to and -- and she -- she would like to go to different churches and different times to worship and meet people and whatnot and it so happened that next week or two weeks later she showed up at our church and she was there and I saw, I chatted with her, I says, Mayor, I got somebody who I think you ought to consider for -- for this -- this Council vacancy, you know, they are -- they are really good and everything. She's, oh, that's great, you know, Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 15 of 16 make sure -- enter the name and everything and -- and, then, she looked at me says why not you? I'm like, whoa, I never thought of that before. I said, well, I don't want to say that my daughter was still in high school. My daughter had just graduated that spring and was off to college. I didn't have the excuse of the family and they are very involved in school and -- and athletics and student government and -- and other service projects and it was just kind of like, huh, I don't know, let me think about it. I will talk to Chandos about that. So, imagine what a difficult conversation I had to have with somebody who said, yeah, put in a good word for you and I get appointed to the seat. So, that was kind of how that happened. So -- and, then -- then I ran a year plus later and enjoyed that very much with four of us and, no, I am not at that level of Charlie Rountree and Dave -- and Keith Bird and David Zaremba. That was -- for me I was the youngest on the Council at the time. It does make your head spin a bit when I came back on Council I'm the oldest one serving. That -- and I think that's why some of that perspective about change. Change is going to happen. I see it in my life every day. My son's birthday is tomorrow. That number goes -- when my wife reminded me how old he was -- oh, it can't be. I'm not that old. But it -- change happens and seeing it from that perspective in 1970 as a -- as a boy to what it is today and walking through these things and thinking, oh, if only we had done this back then, you know, you have that ability of hindsight. So, trying to think ahead and someone had asked me previously about the railroad part. When are we going to get a commuter rail and all this stuff. You know it's not going to happen yet. There is no financial infrastructure. We don't have the density and the mass yet, but my job today is to preserve that corridor, because someday that will be used. It's seeing those opportunities and those things and one thing I am proud about this Council and the previous councils throughout, is saving for future needs, purchasing parkland in advance of need and also trying to get ahead of -- for Police and Fire and facilities and those types of things and in Public Works. Keith Bird was the one who told me what you can't see is very expensive. He was very right about that when it came to Public Works. Oh, my. So, I guess that's where it comes from. It's just the fact that having seen that, working with people and just going, wow, if only -- if we had known, trying to -- try and impart that wisdom. Not that it's really that wise, just kind of things that I have -- that I have noticed over the years. So, to all of you thank you for the opportunity. It has been a pleasure. I did tell people -- my wife wasn't very upset when I lost. I don't know why? But I think there is something about some time that she gets back now from me and I'm kind of looking forward to that. My grandkids are getting a little bit older. So, they have that opportunity to be involved -- certainly involved in athletics and different things. So, I will have more time to be free to do that. But I'm always open, if you have a question or if you think I can help I'm happy to take your call. Of course. I always will be. So, I always want what's best for this community. Love it. This is where I live. This is where I remain. It's where my grandkids are and this is where my parents are. So, that's really -- that's for the city. Thanks. Simison: Thank you. With that do I have a motion and a second? Perreault: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Perreault. Meridian City Council Special Session January 3,2024 Page 16 of 16 Perreault: I move we adjourn. Hoaglun: I will second the motion, Mr. Mayor. Simison: Have a motion and a second to adjourn. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The aye have it. We are adjourned. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:49 P.M. (AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) 1 / 16 2024 MAYOR ROBERT SIMISON DATE APPROVED ATTEST: CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK