HomeMy WebLinkAboutFeb 20, 2007 CC Mtg Mins
Meridian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 5 of 31
L. Award Bids and Approve Contracts for 22 Packages for New
Water Department Buildina:
M. Approve License Agreement with Nampa Meridian Irriaation
District for flushina water mains into the Five Mile, Nine Mile,
and Ten Mile Drains: At ./ c{p 01..00
N. Approve Comments Letter to ACHD reaardina Five Year Work
Proaram:
o. Award Bid and Approve Contract for Mower Bid for Parks
Department to Campbell Tractor Company for $40,785.00:
De Weerd: Okay. Council, Item No.6, our Consent Agenda.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve the Consent Agenda as published and the Mayor to sign and
the clerk to attest on all papers
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. If
there is no discussion, Mr. Berg, will you call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba: yea; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 7:
Department Reports:
A. Police Department:
1. Discussion of Department Re-organization:
De Weerd: Okay. Item 7 under Department Reports. We will turn this over to the
Chief. Thafs Chief Musser. The other Chief.
Musser: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, my report consists this evening of
informing you of some planned changes I have been looking at in the police department
and in getting your approval to go ahead move forward. Just as an update, I have met
with the Mayor on this and with my Council liaison at this point and with our HR director
as well, through the planning stages. The chart that I have up right now is currently how
MeridIan City Council
· February 20, 2007
Page 6 of 31
the police department is organized. I have a fairly flat organization with four lieutenants
right now --
De Weerd: This flat?
Musser: Just about that flat. And what I'm looking to do is to start moving forward, so
that I take the patrol division, which is on the far side over here, almost kind of shaped
like our little guy that you have right there, and combining them in with the detective
division, which is over on the far right-hand side of the diagram, and combining that
division into one division that will be known as field services. There is a couple of
reasons why I'm looking at doing that right now. Number one, I would like to have
watch commanders available on the shifts. This will allow us to have lieutenants that
we could place directly out as watch commanders on the shifts. So, for instance, the
lieutenant that would be on the day shift would be responsible for all the day teams, the
sergeants would report to him, and he would be the guy there in charge to be able to
follow up on complaints and that type of thing as they come in. Just expand it out for us
as we continue to grow. Same thing on the swing shift. And, then, finally, into the
graveyard shift as a -- as we get there. What I'm looking to do at this point -- if we can
go to the next chart -- is from March what I'd like to be able to do is to initiate the first of
what will be three phases with this reorganization and as you can see, field services
now has all of the patrol folks combined in there with the detectives at this point. I will
still have a criminal investigating -- criminal investigations lieutenant at that point.
Currently that position is occupied by Lieutenant Gene Trakel, who has made his
intention quite clear that he intends to retire come July 20th and what I'm doing is
holding him in that position at this point with that unit as we move forward. In the
meantime, the watch -- the watch commander position for the day, I'm looking at
Lieutenant Bob Stowe occupying that. And, then, my other lieutenant would be from a
promotion, would be Staff Sergeant Tracy Basterrechea, who we had -- I had come
before this Council about a year -- a little over a year ago and requested to be able to
promote him to a staff sergeant position so we could begin training him and getting him
ready to move into an eventual position as a lieutenant with the department. After Gene
retires out of his position as the CID lieutenant, I will be looking to come forward into the
next fiscal year to be able to fill his position, that open lieutenant's position, and with
what will be the final lieutenant to round out that area. In the meantime, utilizing the
services of Lieutenant Overton with community services, his area won't change a whole
lot, except that it really continues to grow with all the different things that we are doing in
town and he's been doing an outstanding job with that section over there. A lot of our
bread and butter, though, right now is in-field services, so I'm looking to change that
structure and I would like to promote a captain. We still have a captain's position within
the city. It hasn't been filled for about a year, year and a half, maybe as long as two --
two years at this point, but I need to be able to bring that back in, because what I'm
looking at is as the field services area grows and we continue to spread out over time, I
need to have a good operational manager in there and I do have a lieutenant tabbed for
that appointment at this point and that would be Lieutenant Jeff Lavey for that captain's
position. If we could go to that third chart, Anna. The third chart that I have here shows
ultimately where I plan to be able to get to as we enter into our third phrase on this. As
Meridian City Council
· February 20, 2007
Page 7 of 31
you can see, we do have the three watch commanders across the top. The light
colored one there is the grave watch commander. We have the team structured out and
one of the things that we are looking to do with detectives is to separate out the
detectives, so that we have both day coverage and a swing coverage, so we have
better investigative resources available around the clock. We are not just relegated to
8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday on it. I'm also looking at moving the SROs under
the community services area. It is a community services project that we have with the
SROs. That area will continue to grow. We have another middle school coming on this
fall and my budget will so reflect the expansion we will need to be looking at in that area
as well. Ultimately, this is what we had been envisioning. In looking at -- I started on
this project back in September to look at the different mechanisms that were available,
see how best to realign the department in terms of where we needed to go down the
road. Considering that the City of Meridian is continuing to grow, even though the
residential may be down a little bit, we are continuing to grow and we will continue to
see an upswing in other growth coming in, in particular in the commercial arena, and
looking forward to when the Ten Mile interchange is in and the development that will
bring that changes a couple of corridors in town to a whole different focus for the police
department. So, part of what I'm doing is being able to set the stage here at this time to
put some key folks into place to be able to set the structure up as we grow, so that we
can also accommodate that new focus as we become much more of a self-sufficient city
by 201 o. And what I mean by that is that in the past we have to rely upon some
commercial and industrial items from other cities, Nampa and Boise in particular, but we
are starting to see it come in in the Ten Mile corridor with the new interchange, will allow
us to have that and it changes how we do policing here in the City of Meridian.
Predominately it's been residential policing that we have had to do and what I'm trying
to do is set the stage so we can plan for that future and be able to accommodate the
different types of growth that we are going to have and different types of problems that
we will see at that time. Now, the bottom line -- and I know you'll like the bottom line on
this -- is what it's going to cost. Overall what I'm looking at at this point is I can
implement this and be able to go with the two key promotions that I need, which would
be Lieutenant Lavey and Staff Sergeant Basterrechea to implement this here in March.
And the initial cost that I have on that at this point is just under 10,000 dollars. As I do
the 10,000 dollars and I plug that into our financial budget sheets that we have from our
financial department, with the FICA, the PERSI, the workmen's comp, all of that added
in there, the overall expenditure that we are going to be looking at is roughly 14,970
dollars. I can accommodate it in the current budget that we have set at this point,
because of the number of officers that were authorized for hiring in the first two months
out of this year. We did not have all those officers on. I already have over 60,000 dollar
savings within the current budget and that is something I did address with finance on it,
they don't feel that an amendment would be necessary at this point, as long as the
authorization to move forward within our current budget was approved by the Council,
which is part of the reason why I'm here tonight, to present this to you and see in this is
the direction you would like to see me go or not. And lid stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Meridian City Council
~ February 20,2007
Page 8 of 31
Borton: 1 have none.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Chief, all I can say is if you want to go this way, let's go with it. You've got the
money in the budget, I'm for it.
Musser: Okay. I appreciate that Councilman Bird.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, my comment would be that you're ability to look ahead and
forecast what you need is excellent and appreciated.
Musser: Thank you, Councilman Zaremba. I appreciate that as well.
De Weerd: And I think the chief has sat down with his senior management and they
have tried to work out all the bugs and I think there were bugs, but they have been
worked out and I think this is a good, strong, positive forward step and one that will
accommodate and respond to the direction the city is going.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I don't know if we need a motion or not, but it is on and
appreciating what Bill's put together prior to my taking over the liaison position with the
police department, it's kind of nice to have all of this hammered out already, but I would
move that we accept a request from the chief to move forward with the reorganization
structure and with the budget proposed and start the implementation process.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to approve the structure as presented.
If there is no discussion, Mr. Berg, will you, please, call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba: yea; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. City Council Report by Councilman Rountree.
De Weerd: Okay. Item B is a City Council report by Councilman Rountree.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I received a letter from the Idaho Transportation Department
requesting Meridian to become a participating agency in the Idaho 16, 1-84 to Idaho 44,
Environmental Study. What that, essentially, means is that we would participate in that
process in the coordination meetings, development of the coordination plan, which
includes the scheduling of the project activities, provide comments on purpose and
need, the range of alternatives and practicability of various alternatives and also the
Meridian City Council
, February 20, 2007
Page 9 of 31
identification of what issues that alternatives might have for the City of Meridian. In any
othef planning activities that we might be involved with it could either affect or aid any of
the proposals that they are bringing forward. I bring this forward, because it was a letter
requested -- written to me and it's also been cc'd to the planning department and just
get a read from the Council on whether or not you want us to be a participating agency
and, if so, they have requested that we respond in writing either way, I guess, whether
we are Of are not going to be a participating agency. I don't think there is any financial
requirement, other than some staff time and I have already been volunteered to be the
coordinator with the agency meetings on this anyway, so Pete and I have been going to
the meetings that they have already held kicking this off and would continue to do so.
So, any feedback?
De Weerd: Council, any comments?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Bird.
Bird: I have no problem. I think it's a good idea. I mean it's going to impact us
tremendously and we need to -- we need to definitely have a voice in it. After it hits
Chinden it's ours and I think that we do need to be involved and if Charlie is
volunteering to do it, I think that's great.
De Weerd: Me, too. Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, two comments, if I may. One, I think we have all received
notice of it, but tomorrow ITD is having an open house at the Idaho Center. I believe
the hours are from 3:00 to 7:00.
Rountree: 3:00 to 7:00.
Zaremba: Something like that. And at a quarter after every hour they are going to have
groups get together and discuss this very subject separately. I intended to go on my
own to one of those sessions. We are all invited to it. And I think it's excellent that they
are starting. That's my first comment. My second comment is that back somewhere
near a year and a half to two years ago now, when the Planning and Zoning
Department had an open public house regarding expanding our area of impact to the
north and the west, a lot of people along the McMillan corridor came to that meeting and
were very interested in Meridian being involved in making the decisions that -- even
though the actual projects may be a long way off, they want to know what's going to
happen with their property. So, I do encourage Meridian to participate in this any way
we can.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Rountree, you are --
Meridian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 10 of 31
Rountree: I take that as a go, so if I could have Anna's ear, possible have Pete respond
in the affirmative, that we will participate and you can identify who on your staff would
be attending and I assume it will be Peter Mapp and myself and anybody else who
wants to tag along.
De Weerd: I will stick with 20-26.
Rountree: Okay. One's enough.
De Weerd: And Ten Mile. Locust Grove. Thank you. I appreciate, Mr. Rountree, your
interest and willingness to be involved.
Item 8:
Items Moved from Consent Agenda:
De Weerd: Okay. There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 9:
FP 07-002 Request for Final Plat approval of 120 single-family residential
building lots and 13 common lots on 34.74 acres in an R-8 zone for
Solitude Subdivision No.2 by Solitude Development, LLC - SEe of
McMillan Road and Meridian Road:
De Weerd: And Item 9 has been requested to continue to March 6th.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, do we need a motion for that?
De Weerd: Yes, please.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, I'm move we continue FP 07-002 to our regularly scheduled
meeting of March 6, 2007.
Borton: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to continue Item 9 to March 6th. All
those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 10:
FP 07-003 Request for Final Plat approval of 55 single-family residential
building lots and 7 common lots on 12.00 acres in an R-8 zone for
Shepherd Creek Subdivision by RMR Consulting, Inc - West side of
Meridian Road, approximately ~ mile south of Overland Road:
De Weerd: Item 10 on FP 07-003. I do have a letter from the applicant agreeing with
staff conditions. Anna, do you have anything you would like to add?
Canning: No, ma'am.
Meridian City Council
February 20, 2007
Page 11 of 31
De Weerd: Okay. Council?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Director Canning, I need clarification. Since this last left the Planning and
Zoning Commission, where it was I last saw it, the Planning and Zoning Commission
was very concerned that the roadway should connect to Meridian Road, State Highway
69, and that does not appear to be required by what we are looking at.
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilmember Zaremba, the City
Council did decide not to require that connection to Meridian Road. So, the final plat
that's before us tonight is consistent with the approved preliminary plat.
Zaremba: All right. Thank you.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve FP 07-003.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9. If there is no
discussion, Mr. Berg, will you call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, nay; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE NAY.
Item 11:
Continued Public Hearing from February 13, 2007: MI 07-001 Request
for a Miscellaneous application to Modify the existing Development
Agreement to allow all C-N permitted uses on lots 5, 6, 7 & 8, Block 25 of
Cedar Springs Subdivision No.6 for Cedar SDrinas Professional Center
by Lynn Brown - 710, 730, 750 & 790 West Ustick Road:
De Weerd: Okay. Item 10 is FP 07-003.
Bird: That's what we just approved.
De Weerd: Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. Continued Public Hearing on MI 07-001, Item
11. Anna.
Meridian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 12 of 31
Canning: Madam Mayor, just for the record, too, there was a mistake on that former
one that referenced Item 9. It was Item 10. I think it got to that, though. This is the
Cedar Springs Professional Center project. Ifs located on the north side of Ustick and
east of Venable Lane, the blue highlighted parcels you see there. They are currently
zoned C-N. The request before you tonight is a modification to their development
agreement. The applicant requests that all principally permitted C-N uses be allowed
on Lots 5, 6, 7 and 8. And, again, those are highlighted for you. You can also see them
probably in the landscape plan. Those four buildings kind of rimming this side of this
project. Currently only office uses are allowed, despite the C-N zoning. So, they are
requesting now the C-N zoning, which is in line with the neighborhood center concept.
Certainly, the applicant proposed the office uses as a restriction upon themselves at the
time that it went through, but we ask for the C-N zoning to allow for additional uses as
time went on. So, those structures -- we do have building permits, just so you know, on
all of them. This is the one that faces Meridian Road. And, then, this is an elevation of
that one as well. And, then, these are the elevations of the other three units. So, they
have begun construction on all of these and they do have valid, active building permits
at this time. So, the proposal that's being -- the change that's being proposed is to
modify the development agreement, Section 4.1 , to add the phrase: In addition to office
uses, all principally permitted C-N neighborhood business uses shall be allowed on Lots
5, 6, 7 and 8, Block 25, of Cedar Springs Subdivision No.6. That's the only change.
Staff is recommending approval. To our knowledge there are no outstanding issues
before Council and we have received no written testimony since the staff report. And I
will answer any questions you may have.
De Weerd: Okay. Just a comment. This is a nice development. I mean it is -- I was
probably not one of its biggest fans when it came through with the Maverick and it is -- it
is a very nice development. Is the applicant here? If you could pass on my comments
to your clients. It's turned out to be a very nice asset for our community.
Fluke: Thank you. I'm happy that you like it. Madam Mayor, Members of the Council,
Darin Fluke, JUB Engineers, 250 South Beachwood in Boise, representing the
applicant. When we initially went through it was intended and anticipated that all of
those four buildings that you see there would be strictly office. Those buildings are
about 5,000 square feet, which allows them to be quartered into spaces of about 1 ,200
square feet, more or less, as sort of flex office space and many of the -- many of those
buildings or many of those spaces will still get used as office space. My client just
seeks some additional flexibility in allowing other uses that are allowed within the C-N
zoning designation, to be allowed in there. I don't recall how we got to that point where
we said there would only be office in there. That's what they intended at the time for
those four buildings, but, apparently, market conditions are such that they'd like a little
additional flexibility. That's for my client. What the city gets in return is a more complete
commercial zoning designation in this location. It will allow other things, like small
specialty retail shops, such as a video store or a coffee shop or a pastry shop,
whatever, to go in more in line with -- in keeping with what the C-N zone is intended to
do, which is to make it so that people don't have to get in their car every time they need
to get a gallon of milk or they want to go to the bookstore, they can walk there from
Meridian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 13 of 31
where they live. It's a high quality development in terms of appearance, as you have
noted, and that will not change, of course, with this. What you see is what you get. As
far as the buildings go, this is just to allow a wider diversity of land uses within those
buildings that are being built. So, we'd simply ask for your approval and I will stand for
any questions.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions?
Bird: I have none.
Rountree: I have none.
Fluke: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. This is a Public Hearing. Is there anyone who would like to
offer testimony on this application? Okay.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Not hearing anymore, I move we close the Public Hearing MI 07-001.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the Public Hearing on Item 11. All
those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Okay. If there is no discussion, Council, I need a motion.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve MI 07-001.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 11. If there is no discussion,
Mr. Berg.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba: yea; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Meridian City Council
February 20, 2007
Page 14 of 31
Item 12:
Public Hearing: RZ 06-013 Request for a Rezone of .43 acres from an
R-8 to an 0- T zone for Vallev Shepherd Church of the Nazarene
Property by Paradigm Real Estate Holding - 39 W. Pine Avenue:
De Weerd: Okay. Item 12 also has been requested to continue. I will go ahead and
open the Public Hearing on RZ 06-013 and I believe this was a request by the applicant;
is that correct, Anna? Or posting?
Canning: Madam Mayor, it was a posting error. The site is posted for next week
currently, so --
De Weerd: Okay.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve Item 12 -- or continue Item 12 until 2/27/07.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to continue Item 12 to next week. All
those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 13:
Public Hearing: RZ 06-014 Request for a Rezone of 15.58 acres from an
R-4 zone to an 0- T zone for Joint School District No.2 by Joint School
District No.2 - 911 N. Meridian Road:
De Weerd: Okay. Item 13 is a Public Hearing on RZ 06-014. I will open this Public
Hearing with staff comments.
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, this is the Joint School District No. 2
project. It is around their administrative offices, which are located at the northwest
corner of Meridian and Pine, as you know. The application before you tonight is for a
rezone from the R-4, as shown here, to Old Town and that would be rezoning 15.58
acres. The purpose being to sell a portion of the property for commercial and office
uses where the existing offices are now. I don't have my laser pointer out. Sorry about
that. These are the existing offices along Meridian Road. And, then, this is the old Pine
Street school, which I will discuss in a moment. The Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended approval at their January 18th, 2007, Public Hearing. Shari Stiles spoke
in favor of the application. No one spoke in opposition. Wendell Bigham from the
school district commented. Key issues of discussion by the Commission were the
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February 20, 2007
Page 15 of 31
relocation of the old Pine Street school house onto the elementary site. I think what
was proposed at the Planning and Zoning Commission was that there was an older
home on the site that would be removed and they could move this old Pine Street
school onto that property. They also discussed a change in address for the elementary
school from State Street to West 1 st Street. So, here is 1 st Street coming into the
property that basically provides the entrance. State Street is over here and, actually,
the school does not have frontage on State Street currently. Or -- yeah. State Street.
So, the key changes from staff's initial recommendation were to require a development
agreement. The provisions of that development agreement would be -- there is just two
of them. The first one would be that the old school house building shall be moved and
maintained on the Meridian Elementary School parcel prior to development of the parcel
along the northwest corner of Pine and Meridian. And that re-addressing of Meridian
Elementary shall be coordinated with emergency services and planning staff with the
address change happening after school lets out for the summer of 2007, prior to school
resuming in the fall of 2007. So, those are the only two provisions of the development
agreement. Just before the hearing the applicant's representative did inform me that
they would like to not have a development agreement, so there is that as an outstanding
issue before City Council. And we have not received any written testimony since the
staff report. With that I will answer any questions you may have.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Anna, what's your thought on a development agreement?
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilmember Bird, given that it is
another public agency, it seems awkward at times to require a development agreement
with them, but I think that the Planning Commission did recognize two issues associated
with the site that did need to be addressed. If there were something else to tie them to,
that would be a possibility, but I don't think that the school district has any definite times
on when they'd like to move the old Pine School house and, then, the readdressing is
just kind of the right thing to do regardless and I think we could probably get to that one
in another fashion, but the applicant did point out that we are currently in a -- have an
agreement regarding the Pine school building and that may just need to be redone and
we could just trust that the readdressing gets done, because it's the right thing to do for
everyone involved.
De Weerd: You're mumbling and --
Canning: I'm sorry, ma'am.
De Weerd: -- Dean doesn't like that.
Meridian City Council
February 20, 2007
Page 16 of 31
Bird: I was going to say, you're becoming a very good politician there. You're circling
the question. We are supposed to do that, not you. Thank you, Anna.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Nary, do you have anything you would like add on that point?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, that was discussed at the Planning and
Zoning Commission. Mr. Bigham was there. He didn't have an objection with it. I
agree with Mrs. Canning that sometimes with public agencies it ends up being awkward
and we end up re-titling it or something else that suits their purposes, but if you're
comfortable that we can get those few things taken care of, that's certainly within your
prerogative. If you want to make sure that it gets accomplished in some reasonable
fashion, a DA is really your only method to do that, so --
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. Would the applicant like to comment?
Stiles: Shari Stiles, Engineering Solutions, 1029 North Rosario in Meridian.
De Weerd: Oh, you have moved.
Bird: Beautiful office, too.
De Weerd: Finally opened.
Stiles: Open for business.
De Weerd: When is the ribbon cutting?
Stiles: Spring. So we can have our barbecue out and get the bar set up and
everything.
De Weerd: Okay. Welcome to Meridian.
Stiles: Thank you.
De Weerd: Or welcome back to Meridian.
Stiles: Thank you. I do have a copy of the agreement. Unfortunately, I didn't get
copies made, but that agreement was entered into in May of '94 between Grant
Kingsford and Dan Mabb and the reason we would like to dispose of the development
agreement requirement is this is pretty specific. It does have a clause at the end that
either of the parties to this agreement may terminate it by first giving the other party 60
days prior written notice of intent to terminate the agreement. This is the only fashion in
which this agreement may be terminated. And it sets out that -- what the school will do
and what the city will do. I don't know if any of you recall that agreement, but it probably
needs to be either terminated and rewritten or -- we would hate to encumber the plat
with a development agreement, because that shows up in all the title reports. The city
Meridian City Council
February 2012007
Page 17 of 31
and the school district may decide that's not the place that they want it in the future, it's
not all that visible there, and, you know, you may have more of a historic area that you
want to relocate with museums or something like that. But, yeah, it is an encumbrance
on the property. I thought that we could take care of it -- that the Mayor or her designee
would amend that agreement and work together to come to an acceptable agreement. I
don't know if you need to come back before Councilor -- but we would like to do that. I
think we have a good working relationship with the school district. Of course, we have
no problem getting that new address figured out. We will get Tricia Shindel in Public
Works Department and get a new address for that, so they are prepared, so they can
print new checks and letterhead and all that. I think those were, really, the two issues
that we would really not -- we would really appreciate not having to have a development
agreement. Of course, the other reason being that by the time that property is sold and
someone wants to get a building permit, it's all going to be done, you know, and it's --
that's my reasoning for requesting that we not be required to have the development
agreement.
De Weerd: Okay.
Stiles: That's it. If you have any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Shari, I guess the addressing issue I don't have a whole lot of heartburn with.
The agreement that you referenced, really, isn't an agreement or a contract at all. So,
my only concern is as we sit here now there is no assurance as to what's going to take
place with that school house. I don't know what type of authority you have to bind the
district, so to speak, but at this time about what he's willing to agree to and if there is
something that needs to be written up between the city and the district, not necessarily
a development agreement, but a redo of what you have referenced. Do you have
anything you can comment or offer on that or --
Stiles: Well, it is very specific as to what will be done. You're saying that this is not an
agreement.
Borton: Well, if you can terminate it --
Stiles: For no reason --
Borton: I mean we agree to it, unless we don't agree to it, and, then, we don't agree to
it.
De Weerd: Leave that to an attorney to point that out.
Meridian City Council
February 20, 2007
Page 18 of 31
Stiles: Mayor de Weerd, Councilman Borton, Councilmen, I guess I would hope that the
city felt comfortable enough that they would get this resolved without unnecessarily
encumbering their property that's no longer going to have this -- I mean it's got to go
somewhere.
Borton: Right.
Stiles: And they were -- you know, if the city owns the school and it's on their property,
but to forever say that they are -- that that lot is encumbered by instrument number
whatever, recorded in Ada County, and they go and look at it and say what are you
talking about, it's a school. I mean if this is something that you would like to wait a week
or put it out a week, so Wendell can be here and make a definite -- I don't know what
the Mayor's schedule is like. I'm sure they want to get it taken care of as soon as
possible.
Borton: I don't necessarily have -- I don't have any problem with it, I was just curious
what your response was and what your position was. I feel comfortable with that
situation.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: And, Ms. Stiles, I guess my question would be -- I agree that between public
agencies, you know, a hand shake and a smile probably should be good enough. I'm
assuming -- maybe I'm reading more into this -- for one thing, this agreement,
apparently, is 12 years old and nothing has happened. There is no deadline or timeline
on it, I guess. But, then, the other thing that I'm assuming is that the school district
plans to separate this parcel off and sell it separately. Is that -- is that what's
happening?
Stiles: Councilman Zaremba, Mayor de Weerd, Council, they are doing a property line
adjustment. I don't know if you had a copy of it in your -- in your packet, but it -- do you
happen to have that, Anna?
Zaremba: Yeah, I do have that. It does say that they would like to offer the property for
sale. So, I guess my comment would be we would not be encumbering the school
district, we would be encumbering this new piece of property and I personally don't have
a problem with that.
Stiles: I don't believe they would be able to sell it with a building that is not owned by
them.
Zaremba: So, you're saying they have to move the building anyhow in order to --
Meridian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 19 of 31
Stiles: Yeah. I mean there is no choice.
Zaremba: Yeah. I can see that point also.
De Weerd: And, Council, I guess if it remains a question, we could have myself and
maybe Mr. Nary get together with the school district and try and bring something back to
you next week, if that -- if that puts this particular item to rest, we could come back with
more details and -- on what could possibly happen. But I would look for your direction
on that. Certainly, this could be continued to answer some of those questions.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I guess my take on this -- it's a matter of timing. Shari
indicated in something in her testimony that it's going to happen. I don't know what that
means in terms of timing, if it's going to happen in the next six months, I'm sure a
development agreement isn't necessary, but if it happens, like all good things happen
between two governmental entities, and it's five years from now, who is going to be here
to remember who agreed to do what? And that's my concern, so --
Nary: Me and Will. Me and Will will be here.
Rountree: Will and Bill.
Bird: Will and Bill. You might be close to being senior by then.
Rountree: So, I don't have a bit of a problem if we can work out an agreement with the
school district, so we have records of what the agreements were, but I know
Councilman Bird and I have some stories about agreements past that have not proved
out too well. So, whether it's a development agreement or refreshment of the language
that was done 12 years ago and turning it into an agreement about this property. I'm
fine with that, so if you want to wait another week or two, that's great.
De Weerd: I do like your terminology of refreshment.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would agree with Councilman Rountree, because we have been bit a few times.
I'm sure people say we bit them. I could wait a week. Let's get this thing worked out. I
think you offered up a great suggestion. You and Bill get together with whoever they
want, their attorney and something, let's get one drawn up that's pretty in the sand. I
just want to make sure that it happens and gets done. I don't want to be five years from
now, you know.
Canning: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Anna.
Meddian City Council
February 20, 2007
Page 20 of 31
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, if Mr. Nary might comment for us. Is
it okay that the Mayor be part of that discussion, since this is an open application?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I think if all we are talking about is just
this particular piece of it, 11m not too concerned that the Mayor sit in on that discussion
with the superintendent. I think we will be okay. The only suggestion, Council -- I mean
one week is probably adequate, other than this is a short week and I donlt think The
Mayor may have time the rest of this week and I don't know about the superintendent.
So, it might be two weeks would probably be wiser just to make sure we can have the
opportunity to meet and discuss it.
De Weerd: Okay. Does that work for you?
Stiles: Mayor De Weerd, Council, they are anxious to get it rezoned, so I mean they
have got signs up saying that it is already zoned aT, but -- and 11m sure that they would
like to get this done sooner, rather than later, but I don't know if it would help if we came
back with some proposed language for an agreement or -- I mean I guess I'm asking
you do you think that's the best place for it and do you think it will always be there?
Because a development agreement would require that it -- you know, that goes forever,
unless you amended or terminated or --
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I don't -- you know, they are going to set it around where they got the portables
now, is that what I understand?
Stiles: I believe so. Yes.
Bird: It depends on what's built in there. You just brought up a very good point to me.
Is that going to be the best location for that. I donlt know, to be truthful with you.
Depends on what they build and whoever would buy it and what they built in there. If
they built something that blocked it off, you know, an office building -- an office building
wouldn't, because we kind of like it out where people can come to it. You brought up a
subject I didn't think about of the location.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Perhaps maybe you or Mr. Nary can clarify the issue for me, but it's a matter of
the school house is owned by the city; correct? On the district property? Or owned by
the district and maintain by the city, but --
Meridian City Council
February 20, 2007
Page 21 of 31
Bird: I got news today. I thought it was owned by the district and maintained by the
city. That would be part of it. I can't remember, to be truthful with you.
De Weerd: Mr. Berg?
Berg: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. It was a centennial project
jointly done with funds that was raised for that particular project. Terry Smith could
probably give you a longer history than I would, but I believe that it initially is owned by
the school district and we had an agreement to help maintain that and keep it so that it
was available for the public to use for special events or elementary schools to tour it or
historical society to have special meetings or something of that nature. You have the
other part of it, the history people part, that I'm sure would want to play some roll in to
what they could utilize it for, especially if it's located in a unique spot. I wish I could call
some of the other people, the guy that signed the agreement, I'm sure I could ask him a
couple of questions. But I don't believe that -- you know, that it was kind of a
community, everybody took part of it, but I think the school district really owned it,
because it was sitting on their property. We did a lot of work to get it up to where it was.
Bird: That's what I thought, too, Tammy, and I was on the committee. I felt that that
was -- it was school district property -- on their property and we raised the money.
There wasn't any city funds that went into it, it was strictly raised by our committee, as I
understand -- as I remember, so -- but I think we can weed out some kind of agreement.
I'm like Mr. Rountree, let's go back and get the thing and come back and I don't think we
need a development agreement.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Not to muddy the waters, but, of course, I'm the one that always goes
sideways with suggestions. Considering the apparent purpose for the refurbishment of
the building and the possible future uses, if you're going to go to the effort to lift a
building and put all the wheels under it and get it ready to move, the difference in cost in
how far you move it I don't think is all that great and I wonder whether it might make
more sense to move the building to a city park where people would be more aware of it
and that it could be available for others uses, even if it became a museum.
De Weerd: Well, I do believe that we have looked at that and of consideration in
Meridian Settlers Park that the parks department did come back with. So, that has been
an item of discussion. It seems that we probably should just see if we can get together
by next Tuesday and -- I don't know what my calendar looks like, but I don't have to be
at the meeting, if we just got staff together, too. So, let's see what we can do between
now and next Tuesday and with both sides committed to getting together and
discussing this. Okay?
Bird: I'm for that.
Merfdian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 22 of 31
De Weerd: Okay. Does that seem reasonable, Shari?
Stiles: Yes, it does.
De Weerd: Okay.
Stiles: Mayor de Weerd, Council, I just briefly would like to go through what the school
is paying for or what this agreement said, since, I'm sorry, you don't have copies of it.
The school pays for fire and casualty insurance, electrical power, and maintenance,
water, winterization of water and sprinkler lines, janitorial service of minor maintenance,
vacuuming, dusting, snow shoveling, et cetera. Scheduling of use as a Pine Street
school, which includes key, checkout, opening for guests. Pine Street school groups,
collecting deposits, if necessary, et cetera. The city's responsibilities were lawn care
and upkeep, including mowing, edging, fertilizing, sprinkler repair, et cetera.
Maintenance and upkeep, including care for the schoolhouse, outhouse -- is there an
outhouse?
De Weerd: I think it's the outer building.
Stiles: Playground equipment, signs, steps, and ramp, repair of wear and tear,
vandalism damage, window breakage, furniture repair, painting repairs, et cetera.
Intermountain gas costs, liability insurance, janitorial services, exterior window cleaning,
step and ramp cleaning, receiving calls for repairs or reports of damages, et cetera,
which shall be relayed onto the school and shall be monitored by the school. So, there
may be liability issues that, you know, they go on that you might want to look at and I
will get this copy to Will, but I did get it on your website, which is fantastic. I don't think a
week will make or break it, so -- I know they do have people interested in it, you know,
that's a pretty high visibility corner and I don't know what's going to be left after ACHD
gets ahold of it, but that's all I had.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, if there is nothing further for Shari --
Bird: No, I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Stiles: Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. This is a Public Hearing. Is there anyone who would like to provide
testimony on this application? Okay. Council, it looks like a continuance is in order.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
l
Meridian City Council
February 20,2007
Page 31 of 31
Rountree: So moved.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor?
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Thank you.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED:
/ /
DATE APPROVED
MAYOR TAMMY de WEERD
ATTESTED:
WILLIAM G. BERG JR., CITY CLERK