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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-03 Work Session Meridian City Council Work Session February 3, 2026. A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 4:0 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026, by Mayor Robert Simison. Members Present: Robert Simison, Luke Cavener, Liz Strader, John Overton, Doug Taylor, Anne Little Roberts and Brian Whitlock. Other Present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Tracy Basterrechea, Steve Taulbee, Carley Shears, Garrett White, Renee White, Dave Miles and Dean Willis. ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE X Liz Strader X Brian Whitlock Anne Little Roberts X John Overton _X_ Doug Taylor _X_Luke Cavener X Mayor Robert E. Simison Simison: Council, we will call the meeting to order. For the record it is February 3rd, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. We will begin this afternoon's work session with roll call attendance. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Simison: Next item up is adoption of the agenda. Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Overton: No changes to the agenda this evening. I move that we approve as printed. Little Roberts: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the agenda is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item] 1. Approve Minutes of the January 20, 2026 City Council Work Session 2. Brundage Creek Estates Subdivision No. 2 Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Easement No.1 (ESMT-2026-0016) Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 2 of 30 3. Brundage Creek Subdivision No. 2 Water Main Easement No. 1 (ESMT-2026-0017) 4. Calvary Chapel Treasure Valley, Inc., Water Main Easement A and B (ESMT-2026-0009) 5. Centerville Subdivision No. 3 Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Easement No. 1 (ESMT-2026-0010) 6. Habit Burger & Grill Meridian Water Main Easement (ESMT-2026- 0005) 7. Kingstown Subdivision Pedestrian Pathway Easement (ESMT-2026- 0008) 8. TVAC Beach Volleyball Facility Water Main Easement No. 1 (ESMT- 2026-0067) 9. Ziggi's Coffee Water Main Easement No. 2 (ESMT-2026-0018) 10. Final Order for Hadler Subdivision No. 3, located at the intersection of Locust Grove Rd. and E. Via Roberto St, on the east side o Locust Grove Rd., by Ben Thomas, Civil Innovations, PLLC. 11. Development Agreement (3780 E. Overland Rd.) Between City of Meridian and Bae Jong Kil & Keung Soon Family Trust Dated 05/0712022, Bae Jong Kil as Trustee, for Property Located at 3780 E. Overland Rd. 12. Development Agreement (Borough Village H-2025-0037) Between City of Meridian and Corey D. Barton and Challenger Development Inc. for Property Located at 1250 E. Everest St. and the Abutting Parcel to the West 13. Agreement between the City of Meridian and Union Pacific Railroad Company to allow installation of City-owned Conduit and Fiber under Existing Railroad Crossing 14. Agreement between Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District and City of Meridian for Pathway along the Purdam Drain and Kennedy Lateral through the District Ten Mile Subdivision 15. Development Agreement (Dayspring Subdivision H-2024-0070) Between City of Meridian and MFRE River Jordan Mink Ranch North SLLC for Property Located on the South side of W. Ustick Rd. One- Quarter Mile East of N. McDermott Rd. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 3 of 30 16. Development Agreement (Springday Subdivision H-2024-0069) Between City of Meridian and MFRE River Jordan Mink Ranch North SLLC and Maurice Craig Rambo as Trustee of the Morris & Dixie Rambo Trust, UTA, the 9th Day of December, 1999 for Property Located on the North Side of W. Ustick Rd. One-Quarter Mile West of N. Black Cat Rd. 17. Agreement with Adam Markowich for Connection to City Water and Sewer Services outside of City Limits at 2832 E. Leslie Dr. 18. Interagency Cooperative Agreement between the Ada County Highway District and the City of Meridian for the Ninemile Creek Flood Mitigation Project 19. Approval and Award of Construction Contract to Owyhee Civil for the Not-to-Exceed amount of $712,457.54 for the Eagle Road. Water Crossings Project 20. City of Meridian Financial Report - December 2025 Simison: Up next is the Consent Agenda. Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Overton: No changes to the Consent Agenda this evening. I move that we approve. For the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest. Little Roberts: Second. 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 the Consent Agenda. DEPARTMENT REPORTS [Action Item] 21. Agreement and Waiver of Liability for Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Donation to West Ada School District Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 4 of 30 Simison: So, we will move on to Department Reports. First item up is Item 21, agreement and waiver of liability for automatic external defibrillator AED donation to West Ada School District. Carly, is this going to be you? Okay. Shears: I have a little statement to read. Good evening, Mayor Simison, Council Members and the West Ada School District representatives here today. As we recognize National Heart Awareness Month tonight's donation reflects what community risk reduction and strong partnerships can accomplish together. Incidents of sudden cardiac arrest continue to impact both residents and visitors in Meridian, reinforcing the need for accessible life-saving equipment and coordinated emergency response planning, especially in our schools where seconds can truly mean the difference between life and death. As noted in the resolution for this donation through the Heart Safe Meridian initiative these AEDs once strengthened response capabilities in Meridian police vehicles. Now, through collaboration with the West Ada School District they will serve a renewed purpose, helping provide students, staff, families and the thousands who gather in our schools every day. Schools are central hubs for learning, athletics and community events, making them one of the most impactful places to strengthen the chain of survival and expand cardiac preparedness across Meridian. This effort also -- also aligns with growing state and national legislative momentum focused on ensuring cardiac emergency response plans are in place in schools, because survival depends on preparation long before first responders arrive. By repurposing these devices and working across agencies we are reducing response time, expanding readiness and investing in a safer, more resilient Meridian. Thank you for considering supporting this partnership that turns resources into impact and helps ensure that when seconds matter most our community is ready. Garner: Thank you, Carly. Mayor Simison, City Council Members, as a representative I'm Tracey Garner, representative for West Ada School District. I'm the health services supervisor. I just want to share with you how pleased we are -- what an amazing collaboration between City of Meridian City Council, Meridian fire, Carly, has been amazing since she's come on board and in this position in supporting West Ada in some of our safety initiatives, as well as Health Solutions of Idaho, who will be the company that will be helping bring the AEDs on board, making sure they are in working order and helps provide CPR instruction for our staff. So, again, just a great community collaboration between Meridian City Council, Meridian fire, West Ada and, then, local businesses, just -- it makes my heart sing and is happy. So, thank you all. Really appreciate this. It's truly a gift. Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions? Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 5 of 30 Cavener: Couple questions. One, great, love this. Thank you for being here. Carly, thanks for leading on this. Just a few questions that maybe weren't captured in the memo. So, we are donating 37 AEDs that are functional. Shears: Correct. Cavener: I'm trying to understand why we replaced 37 units that were functional and like just -- help me understand kind of the process on why we made that business decision. Shears: Yeah. So, these were originally purchased with the Heart Safe Meridian initiative and those went out to all of our parks, outfit a lot of city vehicles as well. These ones particularly were placed in the Meridian police vehicles. The Meridian Police Department recently acquired new body cam footage and with that came AEDs for each vehicle. So, now there was an excess of all of these AEDs. We were trying to figure out the best place for them in the community. Through the Heart Safe Meridian initiative a lot of the parks already have them. We found the greatest need was at the West Ada elementary schools, who currently have no AEDs. I think six of their schools might, which is not very many, so -- Cavener: That -- that is good context. So, our -- our law enforcement officers receive new AEDs as part of a new technology upgrade, which necessitated the need to replace existing ones, because they didn't work with our technology. That makes sense. Shears: That's correct. Cavener: These 37 that are being placed and you will have to forgive me, I'm a West Ada kid, love West Ada, but I'm a homer for Meridian. Are these 37 going into schools that are just in Meridian or are they going to be deployed all around West Ada schools? Shears: The agreement was that they would go in the West Ada elementary schools. So, Meridian is included in that, but some of the Boise ones will -- will have them as well. That does benefit us, however, Councilman Cavener. You know, we do provide mutual aid response to a lot of these into Boise, a lot of the West Ada district, so -- Cavener: Mr. Mayor, if I may. Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: I lived in Meridian and attended a West Ada school that was based in Boise. So, just more trying to understand. So, no -- no criticism. Did we do any outreach -- and we have a handful of charter schools that are based in Meridian. Did we do any engagement with them? They certainly are, obviously, in need as well. Were they involved in the conversation? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 6 of 30 Shears: Not in this initial conversation, no. We do a lot of outreach with the charter schools. We provide them the education if they need. Help work with them on emergency response plans. None of them have communicated that need to us like the West Ada School District has. So, without reaching them -- out to them and saying would you like this, we haven't been expressed that need from their end, so -- Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: I think this is a good conversation for you and everyone that -- that's listening. You know, these -- these charter schools are short staffed and I get -- love West Ada. My kids are West Ada kids. But they don't always have the resources that West Ada has being the largest school district in the state, to be proactive. So, my challenge will always be to the city is if we are going to do one for a public school, we have got to be inclusive of all the public schools that exist in Meridian and so that would be -- as we continue to evolve this program that we are thinking about all the schools that are based in Meridian, not just West Ada, which does a great job. There is also a lot of great public schools that do a great job as well. So, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Garner: May I just add. I love that. I think that's awesome. The other reason, you know, originally why West Ada started to receive AEDs was back about 12, 15 years ago St. Luke's cardiology received a grant -- a federal grant to place AEDs in schools, not necessarily because children were having cardiac arrest, because schools become that hub as mentioned and a lot of our schools are rented out to a lot of our community providers. The YMCA, et cetera. And so there is that added bonus that a lot of the community comes to our schools for activities, et cetera, and so it's nice having those AEDs when our elderly or some of our community are coming to our schools. Shears: Councilman Cavener, if I can speak? Cavener: Yes. Shears: Just to reassure you that as we continue to build relationships with these schools, the charter schools, the private schools we will certainly begin to address that as well as the emergency response, cardiac response plans that schools have in place. So, we will continue that work in our CRR division, making sure every school in Meridian has an AED and emergency response plan for cardiac events. Cavener: Thank you. Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 7 of 30 Overton: Just -- just another kudos to police and fire. I mean, obviously, when we get new technology and new equipment that doesn't always mean that we reissue and reutilize the old equipment and I'm very glad to see that in this case we are taking all the AEDs and reissuing them, reusing them and putting them in a place where we have so many of our future students, teachers and staff. I think it's -- it's a huge footprint that we can add to our city and beyond. But I'm so glad to see that this program exists that we can reissue these and keep them working and keep them functioning and save lives. Appreciate it very much. Simison: Any additional questions or comments? Okay. Thank you very much. With that got a motion? Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: Move that we approve the agreement and waiver of liability for automated external defibrillators --AEDs donation to the West Ada School District. Overton: Easy for him to say. I will second it. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve the agreement and waiver of liability for AEDs donation to West Ada School District. Is there a discussion on the motion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the agreement is agreed to. Thank you very much. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. 22. Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment in the amount of $40,000 for City Fourth of July Fireworks Display Enhancement Simison: Okay. Next item up is fiscal year 2026 budget amendment in the amount of 40,000 for city Fourth of July fireworks display enhancement. Turn this over to the new -- the improved Garrett White, the back to being -- yes. White: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, thanks for having me tonight. In front of you is a budget request for 40,000 dollars to increase our fireworks show for the Fourth of July. Really in conjunction with the America 250. We really kind of are finding out -- finding out about America 250 after the Fourth of July last year. Otherwise, we would have originally wanted to go through the budget process to get this done. But once it started gaining a lot of traction, a big -- a nationwide initiative to celebrate the America 250, we decided let's come to you as Council and ask for a 40,000 dollars budget amendment to increase the fireworks show. So, really, with that I will stand for questions and answer what I can. Simison: Thank you, Garrett. Council, any questions? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 8 of 30 Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: I don't have a question, but I just have a comment. I'm the parks liaison, so I would normally sign budget amendments. I chose not to sign this one. Just want to explain where I'm coming from. I love America. I love fireworks. Just to get that out there. We do have money in our budget for fireworks and, respectfully, I think that this is a discretionary expense in kind of an unprecedented year where we asked our voters to approve a public safety levy and we have known about America's 250th anniversary since 1776, if we are being technical. So, I think this was a foreseeable expense and feel like budget amendments should be used for emergencies and life safety items generally speaking. So, that's where I'm coming from. I'm not in support of this. I wish we could find some corporate sponsors to help pay for it. I think that that would be a better path. Thanks. Simison: Thank you. Council, any other -- Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Garrett, Council Member Strader touched on this. You guys have a budget for fireworks. I know in my conversations with the parks director there was some kind of back and forth about utilizing the existing budget to spruce up the day of Independence Day's events. Is that still the plan or is the existing budget still going to be allocated towards fireworks? Help me understand how this 40,000 dollar request fits within the overall budget for the Fourth of July celebration. White: Sure, Mr. Mayor, Councilman Cavener. So, the 40,000 dollars will increase the fireworks show for aerials and stuff like that. Our original budget or current budget for the Fourth of July celebration will still be -- we will still hold a Fourth of July celebration, the activities that happen in the park that day, a band, some of the other fun activities, those types of things. So, really, this would be increasing our fireworks show. We are not asking for it to be a longer show, it's just more aerials, those types of things. If that makes sense. Cavener: Mr. Mayor, maybe a follow up. Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Garrett, what's the total budget, then, for fire -- if this were to be approved what's the total budget for fireworks? White: The total budget for fireworks would be about -- this would -- this increase would increase it to a 40 -- 54,000 dollar firework budget. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 9 of 30 Cavener: Okay. Mr. Mayor, follow up? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Is it -- do we typically budget 15,400 dollars for fireworks on an annual basis? This seems lower than what I think we have budgeted in the past. White: So -- just to clarify. So, this 40,000 dollar budget amendment will increase our fireworks budget to 54,000. If that makes sense. So, typically, what we do is we -- we -- overall we have a 14,000 dollar aerial show at the -- at the fireworks. Cavener: Okay. White: Does that answer your question? And maybe I'm -- maybe I'm struggling with the -- Cavener: And, Mr. Mayor, maybe I'm not answering the question -- Simison: It does increase the amount that we are spending on the aerial fireworks by 40,000 dollars. Cavener: Yes, Mayor, I recognize that. I just -- I know at one point there was a suggestion that we would split part of the original budget that we had for fireworks. Less of that would go towards aerials and more go towards character actors and balloon arches and prizes and I'm supportive of this. What I don't want to have happen is that we are doing a budget amendment for 40,000 dollars, we are taking our existing Fourth of July budget and we are shaving a bunch of that off to go towards other things and not being used for its intended purpose, which is fireworks. And so that's what I'm trying to get some clarification on. Simison: Renee can come up and give some clarification. Your understanding should be accurate, because you worked this out with the parks director on this item and we also have other items that are not yet in this budget that we are trying to get corporate sponsors for to help offset in the future, but we had to get the fireworks going with the money now compared to some of the things we hope to have sponsored later, but -- Renee, go ahead. R.White: It's a great question. Originally the idea was that we would add to all of that. Based on feedback we have pulled all those things. So, right now the budget amendment as it's being presented -- a hundred percent of what we are asking for is going to go to the fireworks. We will not be spending any of that or any more than usual on any of the other bands and activities. Does that address your question? Cavener: Mr. Mayor? And just to clarify, we are going to spend the same amount -- we have our same originally budgeted amount for fireworks that we have had for years and this is going to go in addition to what we have traditionally budgeted for fireworks. Any Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 10 of 30 other supplemental activities and events, either going to look for from corporate sponsors or come for a budget amendment at a later point in time. Is that -- White: Yes. Cavener: Thank you for that clarification. I appreciate it. R.White: You are welcome. Simison: And I'm going to be optimistic that by us doing a bigger fireworks show fewer people are going to do their own from their homes and Meridian is going to be safe and sane. Cavener: Look at you? Simison: I know. Cavener: Appreciate that optimism, Mr. Mayor. Simison: I'm nothing but optimistic today. Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: Garrett, can you just walk me through a little bit why we are doing this through a budget amendment, as opposed to when we were talking through the annual budget last summer -- kind of how we got here. I kind of share the same concerns as Council Woman Strader. We knew it was 250. If we -- you know, how did we end up here, sort of some of the thinking behind that. White: Good question. R.White: That is also a great question and it really comes down to while it's been coming for a number of years, it wasn't on my radar. I didn't see it coming. I -- you know, we, of course, plan -- our budgets are proposed, what, 18 months in advance and I am in the thick of doing the events as they happen while also trying to anticipate the advanced events. I just didn't. It wasn't on my radar to be honest. Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Overton: Garrett, going to ask you a quick question. If you would have put this into your budget and we had approved your parks budget it would have had an additional 40,000 dollars for the fireworks. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 11 of 30 White: Correct. That's what we more than likely would have requested. Overton: It's the same dollar amount we are asking for tonight in a budget amendment; correct? Garrett: Yeah. Overton: If we would -- if we would have foresaw this 250. 1 don't think we are going to have another 250 and I keep getting stuck on the fact that this is our -- our one and only 250th birthday and that 40,000 dollars in the scheme of things as a one-time shot -- we are not looking to increase your budget line, so it's 40,000 dollars higher next year. We are simply doing that to celebrate America's 250th this year. I'm having trouble not understanding why it would make a difference if it was included in your budget versus doing a budget amendment now. Because at the end we are talking about the same net effect. It's going to cost the same dollar amount. Of course it would be preferred if it would have been in the budget, but the fact that it wasn't I understand and I will certainly be supportive. I think when we look at some -- what the other cities have done, especially one to the northwest of us that their budget for fireworks is a whopping -- I believe 225,000 dollars this year and normally it's 175,000 and we are going to have just around 54,000, we are still being pretty darn conservative with how much we are spending on our fireworks show and I appreciate all the work you have done and you didn't state it, but originally when this was being looked at I believe it was 50,000 that was going to be brought forward and it's actually been brought back to 40 as it comes in front of us tonight and I appreciate what you have done and how you have worked it and the homework you have done and I will tell you that I am one that's going to come to the park this year and not have fireworks in front of my house. Just to -- well, live close enough anyway I can do that, but I look forward to enjoying it in the park this year very much. Whitlock: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Whitlock. Whitlock: Garrett and Renee, thank you for bringing this. As the former parks liaison we have been talking about this for quite a while in terms of what the scope would be, where it would be, who it would be with, how many people we anticipated, how big did we want it, did we want to compete, did we not want to compete? So, we took some time to walk through all of those things. I don't think we were ready for prime time during our budget session earlier in the year to answer questions. I think now that we have been able to answer those questions, decide what would be best for our community, we now have a budget amendment to move forward with. So, I -- I echo what Council President had to say about this. I -- I probably won't vote on another budget amendment like this for 250 years. So, I'm okay doing it this time. Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 12 of 30 Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts. Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor, Council, Garrett, Renee, thank you for all you do first and foremost. I won't reiterate my entire conversations with your director, but I'm not a huge fan of fireworks within that limited amount of space, because I hear them. I'm south of the freeway and I have a dog that I stay home with, but because it's America's 250 1 have got a dog sitter in the middle of nowhere Middleton that will be taking care of them, because I was very hesitant about this, honestly, to increase the fireworks at that space. I was hoping we actually would be in Kleiner where we had more space, but that didn't work and so I think that's a bigger discussion to have at some other point not impacting America's 250. So, at this point I will support it, but I would like us to consider just a general fireworks discussion as things go along. Thank you. Garrett: Thank you. Simison: Are there any other comments? Questions? R.White: May I -- Simison: Yes, Renee. R.White: I just want to say I'm always up for making things bigger and better. And, yes, we have had a lot of conversations this year about -- starting in July about where the right place was, what types of things we could add, who we could partner with and, you know, came down to let's just present what I think is a pretty nominal reasonable amount. In the past we have spent half of what the cities surrounding us have done. But I'm always up for making things bigger and better. So, I really believe in the value of bringing people together, the value of what the events do. I think we all saw it in 2020 when we couldn't do that. I think it's an intangible that makes our community better. I think it connects us in a way that nothing else can and so I really appreciate this Council's support. Simison: Any other questions, comments or do I have a motion? Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Overton: I move that we approve the fiscal year 2026 budget amendment in the amount of 40,000 dollars for the city Fourth of July fireworks display enhancement. Whitlock: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Item 22. Is there discussion on the motion? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 13 of 30 Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Real quick. Renee, I want to commend you. You know, I recognize like we sit up here and it's hard for the public -- I know it's hard for the staff to come up and you did something today that I think we could all take a page out of, which was just self- accountability. Hey, I'm working on so many different things. I'm spinning all these types of plates, I didn't have a chance to think about 18 months from now and I just think you just showed -- was a great example for me and I think for the Council to say it's okay, I wasn't thinking about that thing. I think we would all like to think how we would act and respond if we were in a budget meeting six, seven months ago. Maybe we would be in support, maybe we wouldn't. We don't need to cross that bridge. I just -- I want to thank you for just say, hey, this is just the reality where it is. Nothing to prove, nothing to gain, it's just -- I'm going to take that with me as a good example this week and I just want to commend you and I just also want to applaud my good Council Member Council Member Strader remaining consistent in kind of her -- her approach to this thing. That's a hard decision to make. I'm going to vote in favor. I think that where we are at as a one-time thing makes sense. Maybe I would have supported the budget. Maybe I wouldn't have. I don't know. But I appreciate you guys at least flagging this for a good conversation, working with Council Members to address their concerns. So, will be voting in favor. Simison: Any other? If not, Clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, nay; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, nay; Whitlock, yea. Simison: Four ayes, two nays, and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO NAYS. Simison: Thank you. Garrett: Thank you. 23. 2026-2030 Strategic Plan Overview Simison: Okay. With that we will move on to Item 23, which is the 2026-2030 strategic plan overview. Mr. Miles. Miles: Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Give Chris a second. Get some slides up. Thanks, Chris. So, strategic plan. It's been a while. I have been working on a lot of things, so I may forget some things and I apologize in advance. Here excited tonight to present with our partners -- we have got some partners in the crowd -- Lee Scott and Nicole Cormier, who are with our consulting group Unleashing Leaders, to go over the -- Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 14 of 30 what we propose to be the 2026 to 2030 strategic plan goals and focus areas. Go over a couple of basics. This is a lot of words. So, I do apologize in advance. And I think this is -- the intent is really -- tonight is sort of day one. We do have a timeline for you where we will give you the additional rollout of the opportunities to engage as well. So, apologize up front for a lot of words, but it is meant to be a discussion, question-answer if you have it today. If not we will be back in front of you again. But we will get started. You can see the objectives -- the agenda for today. We will go over a couple of the objectives. The foundation. Take a look at the focus areas and review the draft goals that Lee will lead us through and, then, come back up real quick and give you the next steps and any feedback that you all have as well. So, really, the objectives as we looked at the next iteration of the strategic plan was what do we want out of this? We know we want it to be a new plan, but what else does that mean? We know it's for our next five year horizon and I think that's some of the difficulty in strategic planning is getting your mind around how do we frame what we want the city to look like? But what's achievable for this group, the department directors, the city to take on and in what time period. So, really, looking at what can we do over the next five years that sets the city up for long-term success to meet our mission and vision. So, with that we still have the same focus areas and we will go over those. Those are still the big ticket items. We hear it in our city surveys. We have for the last six cycles or so. So, we are not proposing to change those focus areas and that will -- we will go over that. A few of the words did change in the narrative of those, but nothing substantive in my opinion and we do appreciate having you all involved in the feedback sessions to look at those, as well as -- as we looked at the next iteration a lot of the feedback we had was about how do we -- what do we want out of this plan and what we heard from directors and to some degree you all was we want things that are tangible that we can actually -- yeah. We can actually achieve over the next five years. It's nice to have big lofty goals. It's nice to have big lofty words. But we need things that your team, the department directors, can actually take their teams and work through and towards. So, it's kind of -- we frame it as the big rocks and those things that are workable over the next five years. Little bit on the timeline. You do know some of this, you have sat through our work sessions, so we kicked off the scope in September of the past year and, then, worked through our -- first work group was in November of '25 and, then, obviously, as you know life is busy, you have got the holiday schedule, so we did the best we could, got all of our work group discussions through November and December with the goal to implement this plan hopefully in March. Again, that's -- that's our goal. And, then, we do tactic development out in March and April through the department directors and through the department teams. You can see there that simple visual of kind of where we are today. Here today to talk about the issue, present it to you all, give a nice three week time gap we think between now and the next time we come back, proposed to be the 24th, where you can digest, you can think, you can reach out to other folks. We can take your comments and answer questions with the hope that we can get to early March for adoption. Again we know things change, but that's our target. And I think running in all of this is still the same foundational values that we have had since we have started, the vision of Meridian. We will be the west's premier community to live, work and raise a family by 2035 and our mission in that to help us get there -- all of that through our CARE values and the Meridian Way to deliver those CARE values. I think those have Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 15 of 30 been sort of the -- the anchor that we have rooted in and at least the ones that I have been hearing I think -- or we have heard from you all as we base this strategic plan and for how do we go forward, those things are always there and I just had a conversation today with one of our employees about the Meridian Way and the reason he really enjoys and wants to be here with that and which I think it's a great example. I will stop there and I will bring -- invite Lee up. Lee will run you through the -- all of the words and things and, then, I will be here, as well as Lee, to answer any questions that you may have and we will go from there. Scott: Thank you, Dave. Mayor, Council Members, as I go into the focus areas and the strategic goals that are being proposed for the next five year cycle I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge you and your team. Unleash Leaders, we have done hundreds of these over the years and your team really modeled the Meridian Way and the CARE and how you showed up, how you interacted, how you were at customer service, how you were professional, how you are solution oriented in the conversations and so I think those reflected in the product that we have kind of collectively created for you here today. So, just wanted to acknowledge your team for modeling that. As Dave mentioned, the focus areas -- the focus areas themselves remain the same. There were very few slight revisions to a couple of the little definitions of them just to kind of tighten up some of the wording, you know, provide a little more parallelism, some of the things that were in the descriptions we were like, well, that is the goal, so let's make that the goal. So, those are some light revisions there. But as they stand remaining here won't be reading these all out to you there. I understand they are into the record based on being on the screen. But I will go through the focus areas here quickly and, then, will zoom in on the recommended updated strategic goals for each of those focus areas. So, obviously, we have responsible growth and the transportation and infrastructure, the business and economic vitality that creates that economic fabric upon which things can grow and the public health and safety, so that we can all do it in a way that promotes quality of life for everybody involved. A vibrant and sustainable community, so that we get to enjoy each other's skills and memories and government excellence in terms of how we show up and deliver fabulous valuable services to our customers or constituents. So, those were the focus areas. We would welcome any questions on those. I can come back to these pages if there was any of those you would like to discuss further. Just to get us through, then, for each one of those focus areas we were looking, as Dave mentioned, you know, what are the three to five'ish big rocks, which, really, the target audience for this being the directors to be able to have navigational clarity to be able to, then, further distill and inform their work. One of the other variables that Dave may have not mentioned was we also wanted to choose things that were -- that would require collaboration across the city. So, to the degree to which, you know, police or fire or water or parks, you know, they have got a mission themselves, they have got a service that they provide, the degree to which it's fully within their jurisdiction to do it -- well, they can execute accordingly. So, these objectives really represented shared objectives versus things that would be specific to just one particular area. So, each column here represents -- and the numbers are just there in case you have any questions you want to refer to something. There is no intended prioritization associated with those numbers. So, you see their responsible growth is on the left with those four Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 16 of 30 areas. A couple of them were revised and carried over from the prior plan, because we have done great progress, but there was more progress and transformational work to be done. Some of these also really reflected in particular the opinions and wishes of the Council Members here represented today to make sure that we were signaling those and, then, others looked more for, hey, what are the things we need to be doing in the next five years to really set us up to the five years after that. So, there is kind of a flavor of each of those -- in each of these categories. Responsible growth and, then, transportation and infrastructure on the right. I think we are going to have questions towards the end, so I can come back to the slide if there are specific references, unless there is somebody that has any questions right now, Mayor, I can keep going. Simison: Council, would you like to take this one slide by one slide to provide feedback or do you want to wait? Okay. I'm hearing wait. Scott: I will keep going then. This is an economic valley vitality. We had some really good robust discussions there. I think there was a lot of an evolution of the identity and intention in this category. So, really thrilled with some of the new strategic goals that showed up in that area and, then, public health and safety, part of the evolution there was to recognize that, you know, there is the, you know, police, fire and water, all of those things, you know, provide an intersection of public health and safety. So, how do we leverage that and also clean up some of the things that were currently in that domain, but, really, fell more logically under one of the other focus areas. So, that got kind of tightened up in looking at our immediate response, as well as our more proactive activities also balancing that short and long term perspective. With vibrant and sustainable community, this was really looking at understanding that the role of the city is powerful and important, but it's not all -- all controlling and dictatorial. So, obviously, we have to work in partnership with our residents and our businesses and our partners, but how do we -- how do we shape and guide that accordingly. And, then, of course, just continuing to be a premier public entity really modeling what the best of government can be in providing valuable service, customer friendly services and also looking to adopt and innovate the way we show up to continue to serve our constituents. So, that represents our goal -- strategic goals for those six focus areas. Maybe I can return it to you guys for any backtracking and questions or comments about any individual items. Simison: Thank you, Lee. And, Council, hopefully some of these look familiar. We are -- obviously we had Council, you know, two in each one of these conversations generally, but not everyone was in all of them, so for some probably the first time seeing some and others, oh, yeah, I remember that or I remember something like that. So, with that, Council Woman Strader. Strader: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Would you mind going back -- I think one or two slides? Yeah. Sorry. Scott: There we go. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 17 of 30 Strader: Yeah. The business and economic vitality, I think it's maybe just the wording of it that comes -- Scott: Probably. Strader: -- out to me. But number two, making memories for residents, patrons and owners, it just strikes me as odd. I think that wording choice is strange in that context. So, maybe you could -- I wasn't in that particular session. Maybe you want to give me some background on that one. Scott: Certainly. And this is one that I think we have all shared similar eyes on it, but we want to incorporate it, because it's something that was mentioned, we have got it in our notes and it was on one of the flip charts that we were capturing. We weren't quite sure exactly who and where it came from. Some of the things we incorporated we were -- like I remember, you know, Council Woman Little Roberts was really advocating for this. We are making sure that word is in there. This one is a little bit of a mystery in that regard. But the sentiment was this, that, you know, we want the downtown and the greater city to be a place where both the businesses and the residents that, you know, reside and operate here, as well as guests who are maybe visiting here, that Meridian is a place to go and make memories. We tie it back to the vision where we talk about it's a great place to raise a family, it's a great place to entertain, it's a great place to grow your business and so I think that's where that clause came in. So, we were trying to honor that sentiment. I think both the Mayor and I would probably support versions to remove that if we needed to, but we want to make sure that we gave you guys the option to at least see it. Simison: And maybe there is -- memories is what -- is -- used to say make memories. It was -- it was like right in the very top, but it was hard to connect that to business and economic vitality and so that's why we did try to -- the integrity of the process, without removing the concept, but I was -- I didn't recall us making memories at all in this context, but we didn't want to just throw it out in case it was something that was really important to those that were part of the process. Scott: I think you will see this -- the rest of the context is like, hey, you know, there is the downtown -- Destination Downtown initiative, so continuing with that work. But, again, looking at it through the lens of all the participants -- again the residents that live downtown, the businesses that operate downtown and the patrons and guests who come to visit it, that that is a desirable destination. So, open to suggested wording changes on that over the convening three weeks. But way to zero in on the one that we struggled with, too, Council Member. Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 18 of 30 Taylor: On point four on this slide, the phrase heart of healthcare, I was there for that discussion, so I remember hub, health, heart, all -- you know, lots of discussion and I know what we are trying to capture there. Now that I see it in this format and kind of coming into it absent the context of that, it seems odd to me, just kind of sticks out as sort of a -- I understand what we are trying to get at. Scott: Which part Council Member? I know it's number four, but which part of that one? Taylor: Heart of healthcare. Scot: Okay. Yeah. Taylor: This is just a personal opinion. It reads weird. I think we are trying to say it's -- we want Meridian to be a hub for healthcare excellence going forward. So, I think that just seems strange in a strategic plan to have words that emote more of a feeling, so -- again, that's probably Councilman Taylor's own opinion. I do remember the conversation. When I come into it reading it -- not like with fresh eyes, but in a way with fresh eyes. It stands out to say, what, that's -- that's a strange thing to have in a strategic plan, though I understand what we are trying to say, which is really we want to position Meridian as a place strategically where we are focusing on making it this -- this hub of healthcare innovation and excellent, so -- Scott: Thank you, Council Member. Yeah. I think the intention, as you described it is, definitely like we -- we have access to the resource and we can create an identity in our city by leveraging the relationships in those. I think that's been part of it. Some of the alternative words we had was epicenter. I think you mentioning hub now, so we can certainly explore those options. I think when we were to discussing epicenter we were -- that had been a -- you know, a favorite one, but there was like, well, maybe it's time to -- to consider an alternative. Considering epicenter sounds like an earthquake and heart is more in alignment with healthcare, so -- and in a little iteration. But would welcome some alternative suggestions from you, Council Member. Anybody else for that matter. Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts. Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor. I think it's a great idea to have the thought in there, but I had underlined and put a question mark by that comment as well. It strikes me as odd. So, I was not the one that was stuck on that, but -- Scott: No worries. Little Roberts: -- but I don't mind being an example. Scott: Yes. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 19 of 30 Simison: And on this one -- as I have said, I -- you have heard me use healthcare epicenter of Idaho. I mean I was -- was a new -- made the connection to -- I glommed onto that personally, more so than hub. If health -- if epicenter is preferred -- if we even need something we can also make it as simple as Councilman Taylor just stated, because it is about what's -- what are we really trying to do? But -- Councilman Whitlock. Whitlock: Mayor. And I think we -- we evolved from earthquakes to emotion fairly quickly. It was -- as Lee said, it was more alliteration than anything else, getting art associated with health and healthcare. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: I actually like the heart of healthcare part. It's the making memories one that freaks me out. Memory is different. I think we all get the idea. I actually think that's a beautiful way of wording it. I -- the making memories one -- the reason it's weird is that the way that it reads is like -- almost as if we are responsible for making the memories, which isn't really the case. Like we are trying to create like a dynamic environment where people will make memories. So, there is some way to do that. I think we will figure it out in the next couple weeks. Scott: Yeah. That comma after thrive might be a great period. Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: Well, now that I feel like an old curmudgeon and a grumpy old man, think what you want, it's just my opinion. But I have an actual question. On number three -- Scott: Yes, sir. Taylor: -- I do recall some discussion -- and Mr. Mayor and others maybe you can jog my memory -- where in the previous version of the strategic plan there was a lot of debate about identifying areas of the economy that we would say we would want to kind of recruit. I -- you know, there is some built-in advantages that we have and some things that we don't have as strengths and I do remember we were trying to kind of touch on what we thought were strengths to Meridian, et cetera. Can you walk me through conversations beyond maybe the one that I was at when we kind of talked about this a little bit -- how do we end up sort of talking -- or identifying the types of businesses that we want to focus on recruiting? Can you walk me through that discussion just a little bit? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 20 of 30 Scott: Sure. Let me go back to the focus area definition, Council Member. We were talking about the -- you know, a balanced economic base and the family wage job creation in the description. There was a conversation of what are the types of industries where there would be a more natural inclination, based on the resources and connections and proximity in our region and also would represent enough diversity of industries, so that we wouldn't be tethered to any one. That creates resiliency for our economy as well. So, that kind of was the source of it and, then, when you go back to the ones that were identified here on number -- on the left column, that's number three as you mentioned, you know, professional services, you know, is a -- is a broad category, but that's, you know, representative of a city that's, you know, kind of middle aged -- you know, teenager style where you see that professional service surge, that provides that family wage base. But also know that if that's not tethered to, you know, some manufacturing or technology there was discussion about really promoting Meridian as a type of city that could be an early adopter for emerging technologies and maybe even a service center and an innovative incubation hub. So, that's where the technology one came from. And, then, of course, healthcare overlapping with the bottom -- I mean just strategic assets and relationships we have in there, that was kind of the no brainer. So, I think the idea was when you look across those none make the city dependent on just a single industry and it also provides career progression and growth for residents. Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Would you like me to give -- maybe even a little more -- these were really developed with BVEP, you know, I want to say about eight years ago where these were the ones that were really based upon our community, based upon what type of zoning, based upon the interest that these are what really made sense for our community. You know, it's kind of like light manufacturing. We didn't want heavy manufacturing; right? So, these were developed several years ago and there has not been -- you know, we have smell test them over time and they seem to still meet the smell test without going into another analysis with BVEP or anybody else, which is why they weren't identified to change at this time. Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: And I appreciate that and I think I have shared a lot of my -- my thoughts about, you know, how do we position Meridian as one of those cities that is sort of forward thinking, a place where people feel like we are an innovative place where their public- private partnerships are beneficial and helpful. We get out of the way. People -- you know, and I -- it looks like it's -- it is reflected -- I think point one talks about ideal place for businesses to innovate. I think that we are getting after there -- while recognizing we also want it to be a place where there is a variety of jobs of all kinds. So, I do feel like we are kind of touching that point there and I -- I like what's there. I do feel like it's, you know, reflective of some of our advantages. Really the only industry specific that we are Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 21 of 30 really calling out is healthcare. Obviously, we can point to a lot of inherent advantages, some actions we have taken with ISU campus and whatnot that that's there, so -- no, I think that's -- that's helpful. Thank you. Simison: And just add on. These are -- these are how Department of Labor defines them in their categories of businesses. So, they are -- we did not -- we did not create something that's already not tracked by somebody to help us work in these arenas. Scott: Thank you for the questions and the comments. Other areas of interest? Overton: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Overton. Overton: I told myself I wasn't going to comment, but on number one on public health and safety, considering things of late that we have embraced as a Council and we have had in front of us and approved, I'm not sure whether it wouldn't be appropriate to add to improving public safety through thoughtful planning and design and technology, expanding education and risk reduction efforts, because technology is beginning to play a very big role in public safety in the future. Scott: Mayor, would you like to start with that one? Simison: Again that's -- we put in -- it's in three. Yeah. That -- that was our technology to keep it more focused. I don't think it excludes it from being in one, but that's -- we were trying to give a nod that that's where -- and it's in its own. But -- Scott: Yeah. When you look at the planning and design, for example, we heard from our police and fire chiefs that they were like how do we use -- how do we incorporate technology as the solution and the vehicle for designing in those items and the risk reduction efforts as well. There was a -- that was a good category and part of the conversation with those aspects of the city, they were pretty clear on how and where technology could be the tactic to implement it versus prescribing it in that particular goal and, then, as we were -- we did have it in that one version to be entirely honest when we looked at a big picture, you know, with item three really focusing on the technology investment piece of it, it seemed to be a little redundant to be putting it -- like you could almost argue you put in every single objective, because that is often the vehicle by which we will achieve the outcomes. Simison: Council, anything -- and, granted, this is just a fresh run. I mean that -- we just want to get this in front, get some initial feedback and comments. I don't want to short change any additional comments if you have them at this point in time. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 22 of 30 Strader: I think it's great we will have a couple weeks to noodle on it a bit more and like ideas might come to us and should we reach out directly -- Dave, should we reach out to you and copy the team? Scott: Yeah. Miles: Yeah. Mayor and Council Woman Strader, you can reach out to me directly. We will take your feedback questions. If we can answer them right away we can. If it's a group answer we can bring those back to the record. Got the timeline up there for you. I think one of the things we are also, you know, following in the last previous plan as we reach out to our partners and share the direction we are going between now and then and see if we get any feedback or not. Again the goal being beginning of March. It's flexible. It's a goal. And, then, really from there comes probably the majority of the work of putting together, okay, this is the work that departments are going to do to help achieve those things in their mind and bring those back to you at some point in time, kind of on that regular cadence reporting like we have seen in previous reports. Simison: I would say, you know, we heard from -- we heard to Idaho, too, that maybe we can come up with a different draft version. If there is others, you know, over the next two weeks would be good to get your feedback if you have any questions. That way we can -- the team can at least put some thoughts to what that might look like. I think as -- as important, if not, more is is there something missing from your perspective or is there something in here that you don't think should be in here. I think those are the -- two of the biggest questions, especially before we get to the 24th, if there is something that just like -- you get home tonight and it slaps you in the face, please, reach out and let us know. I don't think this should be here or we need to consider this, so we have time to do a little bit of work before two weeks from now. Miles: And, Mayor, maybe to add to that -- also we headed in the right direction just cumulatively. I know to the Mayor's point some of you saw some of these, some of these are new to some of you. In general are we headed in the right direction? Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: Dave, I think this is my third strategic plan step on the Council. So, that same question I have asked the last two times. What engagement do we do with community stakeholders? What do we do with VRT, the Chamber, Central District Health, ACHD, our hospital system, area businesses? I recognize we are all kind of asking ourselves what we want to do, but there is a wealth of stakeholders that I think have a perspective and I don't believe that we have done that and I'm just curious is that part of the plan? Is there a reason why we choose not to engage with outside voices? I think it would help to make whatever our strategic plan looks like be way more robust when providing way more voices. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 23 of 30 Miles: Mayor and Councilman Cavener, I think that's a great question and I think to your point what we have done in the past is not the same as what we do in the future. Different philosophies I think. You know, one aspect being that this is a strategic plan for the city intended to drive forward the initiatives that we see and hear from the community, including residents, businesses, et cetera, based on the fact of what we hear generally throughout our surveys, as well as general feedback. I will use an example. There is a -- there is a goal in here, a draft goal that talks about elevating our transportation engagement, or what if ACHD or if VRT says no, no, that's our job. So, think there is a -- an ongoing discussion in strategic planning where it -- a plan in place is the -- the tool that helps us go and work with our partners. I -- we can certainly engage our partners on the development of our goals. I can tell you we will miss the March deadline -- or timeline. Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Cavener: I appreciate where you are coming from, Dave. If that's what they say, then, that's what they say. I think that's value. If ACHD says that's our job, don't worry about it, I want to hear that. I don't think they are going to say that. Miles: Correct. Cavener: I would be really interested to think about what St. Luke's and St. Al's and ICOM for that matter think about the health of our community, but they are focused on maybe different things than we are thinking about and this is why I -- I struggle with this plan as a whole is it's very insular; right? Luke Cavener can have his own strategic plan. When I talk to my wife my strategic plan changes a lot; right? And I think that we are doing ourselves and our community disservice that we continue just to ask ourselves what our strategic plan should be and we are not doing right by our community by asking other stakeholders that are invested in Meridian being successful what their opinion is. Miles: Mayor, Councilman Cavener, appreciate the point and, you know, if -- if the in between is that's what the tactic development is about and, you know, the subject matter expert is going and working with the partners and saying, okay, if these are our goals, to your point if somebody says we don't like this goal that's one aspect. I think based on the year worth of feedback that we have had, the engagement we have had with our partners on a regular basis, I think this body and the directors and the leadership teams are pretty well tuned that I don't think we have a goal in there that's off base. We can certainly ask that question, but I do think the next step is in our development of tactics and efforts where those discussions occur. Cavener: And Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Cavener. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 24 of 30 Cavener: Dave, I don't think these outside organizations are going to say your goals are off. Frankly again -- and this is the case that I made with our -- with the predecessor that was leading this is that we are not going to get a true data set if we just keep asking ourselves what the goals should be. So, I recognize this thing is close to the end. I don't love that we didn't engage the community yet again. It makes me question the validity of a strategic plan and are we really achieving the needs for our community? Whether we go back and we ask, hey, ACHD, what do you think of this and they say great. Okay. That's fine. I think that's much different than saying, hey, ACHD, the City of Meridian is engaging in our strategic plan. We are talking about transportation. What should we be learning from you as a subject matter expert on our streets and roads we should be thinking about for transportation. I just think it's a missed opportunity that we didn't do that. Miles: Appreciate the point. Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: Dave, can you just remind me -- because I know this was discussed a little bit -- when we get to the point where we have sort of adopted bigger picture goals and objectives, focus areas, the city department manager, staff, will kind of work on some actual actionable items or steps to carry it out, but I know we didn't want to over prescribe a bunch of tasks, but just remind me a little bit of sort of -- sort of the way we intend to focus on the implementation of the strategic plan. I know this is a few months down the road, but it's going up. That's going to help me think through the bigger, higher level stuff as to how we are going to be implementing it as a city. Can you walk me through that? Miles: Yeah. Mayor, Councilman Taylor, the discussion with leadership team directors, this initial step was really what was desired from their perspective to be able to understand what is the Council body's big picture. Where do you want us focusing our time and energy. From there that's what the directors are looking for to say, okay, great -- you know, for instance, utilizing technology. Well, now they can go and work and look at what are the innovative technologies out there. Where are the businesses that produce those types of things to try and attract those and come up with essentially -- we call them tactics right now, whether they stay -- called tactics or not doesn't matter, but to develop with their teams and with inputs based on what the goals are to, then, bring those back and say, hey, this is how we as a city team think we can help you, the Council, and the city in general meet these strategic goals. So, that's the work that -- it's an iterative process that will probably take, you know, through mid-summer, but that's the effort is to come up with -- understand what are the big picture, big rocks, so that we can work on some tangibles to say we think these are the things that you want us working on. Strader: Mr. Mayor? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 25 of 30 Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: I really enjoyed the process so far. Like I found that it was very collaborative. You know, we had a consultant this year, which is a new experience for us with this and 1, actually, would like to compliment the team. Like I thought that was very helpful having an outside set of eyes, you know, that are not involved in the day to day to kind of help us see the big picture. I really enjoyed the workshops and I just thought it was a really good process so far. So, you know, there is, obviously, more work to do, but I just wanted to say that I appreciate everybody pitching in and thought that it's been good so far. Miles: Thank you. Simison: Okay. Well, we will continue this conversation back on the 24th. If you -- if you have any comments or thoughts get it to Dave. We just got two items that we will kind of create a different version for Council to look at, but if there is others let us know. So -- Miles: Thank you. ORDINANCES [Action Item] 24. Ordinance No. 26-2108: An Ordinance (Borough Village H-2025-0037) for rezone of land located in the northeast quarter of Section 30, Township 4 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit, rezoning 3.04 acres of land from the L-O (Limited Office) zoning district to the R-15 (Medium-High Density Residential) zoning district in the Meridian City Code; directing city staff to alter all applicable use and area maps as well as the official zoning maps and all applicable 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; and providing an effective date. Simison: Thank you. Okay. With that we will move on to Item No. 24, which is Ordinance No. 26-2108. Ask the clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance for rezone of a land located in the northeast quarter of Section 30, Township 4 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit, rezoning 3.04 acres of land from the L-O zoning district to the R-15 zoning district in the Meridian City Code; directing city staff to alter all applicable use and area maps, as well as the official zoning maps and all applicable maps -- official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 26 of 30 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; and providing an effective date. Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this read by title. Is there anybody that would like it read in its entirety? If not do I have a motion? Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 26-2108. Little Roberts: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2108. Is there discussion? If not, Clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. 25. Ordinance No. 26-2109: An Ordinance (3780 E. Overland Rd. — H- 2025-0038) annexing land being all of Lot 5, Block 2 of Jewel Subdivision recorded in Book 34 at Page 2056 in the Ada County Recorder's Office and the adjacent right of way of E. Overland Rd. in the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 16, Township 3 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit; rezoning 1.01 acres of such real property from the R1 (Estate Residential) to the R-2 (Low-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: Next up is Ordinance No. 26-2109. Ask the Clerk to read this ordinance by title. Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 27 of 30 Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance annexing land being all of Lot 5, Block 2 of Jewel Subdivision recorded in Book 34 at Page 2056 in the Ada County Recorder's Office and the adjacent right of way of East Overland Road in the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 16, Township 3 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit; rezoning 1 .01 acres of such real property from the R-1 to the R-2 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: 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? Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 26-2109. Little Roberts: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2109. Is there discussion? If not, Clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. 26. Ordinance No. 26-2106: An Ordinance (Dayspring Subdivision — H- 2024-0070) annexing land located in the east half of the west half and the west half of the east half of Section 4, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit; rezoning 143.09 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to R-4 (32.64 acres) (Medium Low-Density Residential), R-8 (77.76 acres) (Medium-Density Residential), TN-R (25.29 acres) and C-N (7.40 acres) (Neighborhood Business) zoning districts; 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 Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 28 of 30 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: Next up is Item 26, which is Ordinance No. 26-2106. Ask the Clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance annexing land located in the east half of the west half -- and the west half of the east half of Section 4, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit; rezoning 143.09 acres of such real property from RUT to R-4, R-8, TN-R, and C-N zoning districts; 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: 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? Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 26-2106. Little Roberts: Second. Simison: Motion and second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2106. Is there a discussion? If not, Clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. 27. Ordinance 26-2107: An Ordinance (Springday Subdivision — H-2024- 0069) annexing land located in the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 4 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit; rezoning 40.84 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to the R-8 (Medium-Density Residential) zoning district; Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 29 of 30 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: Next up is Ordinance No. -- is item 27, which is Ordinance No. 26-2107. Ask the Clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance annexing land located in the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 33, Township 4 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the map exhibit; rezoning 40.84 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to the 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: Thank you. Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there anybody that would like it read in its entirety? Seeing none, do I have a motion? Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: I move that we approve Ordinance 26-2107. Little Roberts: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2107. Is there discussion? If not, Clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. Simison: Council, do I have a motion to adjourn? Meridian City Council Work Session February 3,2026 Page 30 of 30 Overton: Motion to adjourn. Little Roberts: Second. Simison: Motion and second to adjourn. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed. nay? The ayes have it. We are adjourned. MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:32 P.M. (AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON 2-17-2026 ATTEST: CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK 2-17-2026