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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-07 Regular Meridian City Council July 7, 2026. A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 7 2026, by Mayor Robert Simison. Members Present: Robert Simison, Luke Cavener, Liz Strader, Doug Taylor, Anne Little Roberts and Brian Whitlock. Members Absent: John Overton. Other Present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Shawn Harper and Dean Willis. ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE X Liz Strader X Brian Whitlock _X_Anne Little Roberts John Overton _X_ Doug Taylor _X_Luke Cavener X Mayor Robert E. Simison Simison: Council, we will call this meeting to order. For the record it is July 7th, 2026. Have to think of that June and July. At 6:00 p.m. We will begin tonight's City Council meeting with roll call attendance. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Simison: Next up is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you would all, please, rise and join us in the pledge. (Pledge of Allegiance recited.) COMMUNITY INVOCATION Simison: We had no one sign up for the community invocation. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Simison: So, we will move on to adoption of the agenda. Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts. Little Roberts: Seeing no changes to -- to tonight's agenda, I move we adopt the agenda. Whitlock: Second. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 2 of 12 Simison: Have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the agenda is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITION Simison: Council, anything under announcements and recognition? Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: I think it's just great for the community to be aware that -- I believe it's a week from now we are going to be having a town hall meeting about e-bicycles and e- scooters. We had a big work session about that today. So, I think that if you care about that topic that's -- those are great opportunities to weigh in and learn more and find out about what we are doing. PUBLIC FORUM Simison: Okay. Thank you very much. Anything else? All right. And, Mr. Clerk, 1, understand we have a few people signed up under public forum this evening. Johnson: We do, Mr. Mayor. First is Douglas Hastings. Simison: Thank you. When your name is called you come up and speak for a three minutes. And just so everyone is aware under public forum it's not a back and forth. You are welcome to speak for three minutes and we will take in that information that you provide, so -- Hastings: Good evening. My name is Doug Hastings. Thank you for your service to our community. My concerns tonight are about growth, infrastructure and preparation. In November 2021 Boisedev reported on these concerns. In part they said ITD and ACHD recommended a right turn lane from westbound Chinden onto Black Cat in connection with a new development. The city chose not to make this a condition of the development's approval. Black Cat is already operating far beyond its existing capacity. Vehicles turning right onto westbound Chinden block traffic because there is no dedicated right turn lane. Nothing has changed for westbound Chinden traffic turning north onto Black Cat. For at least three more years at McMillan only single through lanes will exist in each direction. Left turning vehicles stop all traffic until opposing traffic clears, yet new development continues today. New commercial development will force motorists into inefficient and unsafe routes. Vehicles unable to turn left onto Black Cat will be required to travel through neighborhood streets, pedestrian pathways and apartment parking lots. A 2017 environmental assessment -- assessment rated the Black Cat and the Chinden intersection at a level of service F in October 2024 ACHD Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 3 of 12 staff confirmed the same unacceptably poor rating level of service F. Since then traffic has only increased. Rock Harbor Church has expanded. Additional commercial development is underway, including the planned Boise Co-op and the St. Alphonsus Medical Campus. Good planning requires infrastructure to lead growth, not chase it. These neighborhoods should be served by large collector roadways capable of safely handling traffic and providing reliable emergency access. Black Cat does not meet that standard today. I respectfully ask the Council to not approve additional new development before addressing these transportation deficiencies. The roads are not ready. The infrastructure is not ready. Meridian's residents deserve better planning that ensures roads, public safety and quality of life keep pace with growth. Thanks for your attention. Thanks for your consideration. Simison: Thank you. Johnson: Mr. Mayor, next is Kalisha Sherman. Sherman: Hi. Yes, my name is Kalisha Sherman. I live in Meridian off of Ten Mile and Cherry. Thank you for letting me come up in front of you guys and speak today. I appreciate the forum and the ability to come in front of you and speak about anything that we are concerned about as your constituents. Today I specifically want to bring up a concern. It's a hot topic right now, but the concern is the mass surveillance cameras that are installed in Meridian City, most popular known as Flock, although I am aware that Meridian doesn't contract with Flock, the program being used by the City of Meridian is Axon. Make no mistake, they are the same technology and Al programs. appreciate -- and you did bring forward that this has been addressed -- or brought forward and addressed before and it looks like, Mayor, you have addressed that you believe the Axon cameras have been installed in accordance with Idaho State Code, Chapter 14, Title 49-1432. You did state that you own and control the data and it's purged after 60 days unless it's needed as evidence of a crime and this data is not accessed unless it is related to a crime or a safety concern. It's not sold to any third parties and we only share our data with agencies with whom we have a memorandum of understanding. Now, for those who don't know these Flock cameras or Axon cameras they are constantly running. No, they are not recording, but they are constantly running accessible, searchable and they are always gathering information on the cars that are going up and down the streets, the people that are walking across the streets, going to and -- to and from parks, churches, grocery stores, like everywhere that we are going these cameras are all over the city and I didn't bring a picture with me, but if you look up there is an app called DeFlock and if you look that up it's already mapped out that there is literally over 30 -- almost 50 cameras just in this city and so I'm concerned about mass surveillance in this city. I feel like Meridian's an extremely safe city. I love it here and I'm not willing to be surveilled 24/7 just for the sake of a little bit of safety. I know that ACHD already has a room full of cameras where they are constantly monitoring traffic and, you know, making sure that lights change and if there is an accident they get the police out there, like those things are already happening. I believe Meridian already had a red light program, but it was potentially shut down due to costs if I remember correctly. I could be wrong there, but -- I mean we have already had Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 4 of 12 programs, those programs have been shut down. I'm just -- I'm concerned about safety, about constant mass monitoring. I did want to bring up there is -- Simison: If you can summarize. Your time is up. If you can conclude, because I know we have a lot of other people want to speak as well. Sherman: Okay. If I could get a meeting with somebody to discuss this further. I don't want to overstay my time, but I would love to meet. I have met a couple of you on occasion, so I would love to sit down and talk to somebody about this. Thanks. Simison: Thank you. Johnson: Mr. Mayor, next is Melodie Brown. Brown: Good morning, Mayor and Council Members. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. I'm a fifth generation Idaho girl and I am here to speak about the Flock or whatever you guys want to call it. I'm here because I have concerns about the growing use of Flock license plate reader cameras in Meridian. I understand the desire to reduce crime and help law enforcement solve cases. We all want safe communities, but safety should never come at the expense of Constitutional freedoms and privacy of law abiding citizens. Benjamin Franklin is often quoted as saying those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Whether or not every circumstance today is the same as when he wrote those words, the principle is still worth considering. Freedom and security should not have to compete with one another. These cameras don't just collect information on criminals, they collect information on everyone who drives by they can create a record of where innocent people travel, where they worship, where they receive medical care, where they shop and who they visit. That raises an important question. Where is the balance between public safety and personal privacy? I also think there is an accountability issue. Government agencies are increasingly using technology to monitor the public, yet when citizens record government officials performing their public duties they have been -- there have been instances around the country where those encounters have led to conflict or disputes over whether recording was appropriate. Public officials serve the people. I need you guys to remember that. And transparency should always work both ways. If government asks citizens to accept more surveillance in the name of accountability and safety, then, government should be held in equally higher standard of openness and accountability. I would like to know what data is collected. How long is it stored? Who has access to it? Under what circumstances is it shared with other agencies? What independent oversight exists to prevent misuse? How often has the technology directly solved violent crimes in Meridian? These are reasonable questions. Trust is built through transparency, not secrecy. Technology will only become more powerful if we don't establish clear limits now. Future generations may inherit a level of surveillance none of us intended. Please remember that. The people in Meridian value both safety and liberty. We should not have to choose one over the other. Thank you. Simison: Thank you. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 5 of 12 Johnson: Mr. Mayor, next is Adam Wurtz. Wurtz. Wurtz: Good evening, Council, Mayor. Thank you for having me. My name is Adam Wurtz. I live off of Locust Grove and Fairview. I am here in opposition of mass surveillance cameras as well. I didn't write a lengthy speech or anything. I just -- this is actually my first city council and I thought it was an important enough issue to show up and voice my opinion. No matter what software is used it's Flock, Axon, the camera doesn't matter, the software doesn't matter. I believe that it's a death by a thousand cuts. It's -- okay. It's just a license plate reader. Okay. Well, what's next? Al face tracking? Supposedly these cameras can track if your Bluetooth is on. Okay. So, now they are tracking your phone. It's not just a license plate reader. It's -- it's more than that and it's -- like others have said before me, if you start giving up those rights it's like -- it's a slippery slope. So, that's all. Thank you. Simison: Thank you. Johnson: Mr. Mayor, the last name is Ryan Williams. Williams: Good afternoon. I also do not have a speech as well written. I was unprepared today, but I also was made aware earlier today that it is Axon in -- in Meridian, not Flock. I do think, though, that no matter, again, what -- what they have said as well, no matter what camera system it is I know a lot of information about Flock cameras. I haven't done a whole lot of research on Axon. But I do know that Flock is constantly surveilling. They have already made that a point. And so that worries me as well about Axon, as well as I don't think we should be being tracked at all. We already are tracked on our phones. We buy phones and we choose to be tracked if we buy a device. But taxpayer dollars are being spent on these devices and I don't think that anybody is being made aware. Everybody I talk to -- nobody -- half the people I talk to have no idea that there is even cameras up. They don't know who owns them and they are just going up it seems like in secret all over the country. There is over a hundred and I think 11,000 cameras up all over the country and people are being surveillanced. That's -- it's bottom line. People are being surveillanced whether it's their cars, their faces. I know that there is a company also that is contracting with Flock right now as well, which worries me that it might move on to other companies. It is called Leonardo and what they do is they put up other devices. They are Bluetooth tracking devices. So, anybody walks by, drives by, their Bluetooth devices will be picked up by this and will be able to be tracked by their Bluetooth devices. So, this is already heading to the point of Flock I believe -- I know has been around -- 2023 1 believe is when they first started getting put up and it's already to the point of where they are partnering with other companies, which this is a weapons manufacturer that they are partnering with making these devices and that's exactly what it is. It's a -- it's a weapon being used against the people, whether it's a -- whether it's technology or it's guns, it's still a weapon being used against the people and it's going to be a silent killer, because at the end of the day we are being treated all as criminals when the majority of the population is not criminal and it's really sad that there are police that are defending this tool that they call it to stalk. There has been cases all over the country of stalking already. In Idaho, Jerome Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 6 of 12 county, there was a sheriff that was stalking people using it. So, there has been about at least 21 that I was able to find cases of stalking so far and who is to say that there is not more already. Thank you. Simison: Thank you. That was it? Okay. All right. Thank you for those that came this evening. PUBLIC HEARINGS [Action Item] 1. Public Hearing (continued from June 23, 2026) to Consider Adoption of the Ada County Jail Development Impact Fees Ordinance and the Ada County Emergency Medical Services District Development Impact Fees Ordinance Authorizing the Imposition of New County- Related Development Impact Fees Simison: With that we will move on to our next item this evening, our public hearing continued from June 23rd, 2026, to consider the Ada County Jail Development Impact Fees Ordinance and the Ada County Emergency Medical Service District Development Impact Fees Ordinance authorize imposition of new county related development impact fees. Mr. Nary, as legal, did you have any additional comments that you would like to make at this time? Nary: No, sir. Simison: Okay. Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone who signed up to provide testimony on this item? Johnson: Mr. Mayor, we did not. Simison: Okay. Is there anybody present who would like to provide comments as part of this public hearing on these proposed impact fees? If you are online you can use the raise your hand feature. Seeing no one raising their hand online or coming forward, do I have a motion to close this public hearing? Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts. Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor, I move that we close the public hearing. Whitlock: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All in favor signify by saying aye? Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the public hearing is closed. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 7 of 12 ORDINANCES [Action Item] 2. Third Reading of Ordinance No. 26-2127: An Ordinance Amending the Meridian City Code by the Addition Thereto of a New Chapter 2 to Title 12 Called "Ada County Emergency Medical Services District Development Impact Fees" Providing for Short Chapter Title; Authority, Findings, Applicability, and Purpose; Definitions; Capital Improvements Plan; Periodic Review of the Capital Improvements Plan; Intergovernmental Agreement with EMS District; Imposition of EMS Impact Fees and Payment; Enforcement and Collection; EMS District Impact Fee Administrator and City Powers to Require Payment of EMS Impact Fees; EMS Impact Fee(s) Exemptions; Process for Individual Assessment; Extraordinary Impacts; Developer Credits and Reimbursements; EMS Impact Fee Payment Mistake or Misrepresentation; Fee Payer Refunds; EMS Impact Fee Capital Projects Trust Fund, Expenditures, Budget, Audit, and Surcharge; Appeals and Mediation; Miscellaneous Provisions; Punishment for Violations; Construction of Ordinance Intent; and Providing an Effective Date Simison: So, with that we will move on to our ordinances. Item No. 2 is the third reading of Ordinance No. 26-2127. Ask the clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an ordinance amending the Meridian City Code by the Addition Thereto of a New Chapter 2 to Title 12 Called "Ada County Emergency Medical Services District Development Impact Fees" Providing for Short Chapter Title; Authority, Findings, Applicability, and Purpose; Definitions; Capital Improvements Plan; Periodic Review of the Capital Improvements Plan; Intergovernmental Agreement with EMS District; Imposition of EMS Impact Fees and Payment; Enforcement and Collection; EMS District Impact Fee Administrator and City Powers to Require Payment of EMS Impact Fees; EMS Impact Fee(s) Exemptions; Process for Individual Assessment; Extraordinary Impacts; Developer Credits and Reimbursements; EMS Impact Fee Payment Mistake or Misrepresentation; Fee Payer Refunds; EMS Impact Fee Capital Projects Trust Fund, Expenditures, Budget, Audit, and Surcharge; Appeals and Mediation; Miscellaneous Provisions; Punishment for Violations; Construction of Ordinance Intent; 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: Move that we approve Ordinance No. 26-2127. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 8 of 12 Whitlock: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2127. Is there a discussion on the motion? If not, clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, absent; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. 3. Third Reading of Ordinance No. 26-2126: An Ordinance Adding a New Title 12 Called "Countywide Development Impact Fees" to the Meridian City Code and Adding Thereto a New Chapter 1 Called "Ada County Jail Development Impact Fees" That Provides for Short Chapter Title; Authority, Findings, Applicability, and Purpose; Definitions; Capital Improvements Plan; Periodic Review of the Capital Improvements Plan; Intergovernmental Agreement with Ada County; Imposition of County Impact Fees and Payment; Enforcement and Collection; County Impact Fee Administrator and City Powers to Require Payment of County Impact Fees; County Impact Fee(s) Exemptions; Process for Individual Assessment; Extraordinary Impacts; Developer Credits and Reimbursements; County Impact Fee Payment Mistake or Misrepresentation; Fee Payer Refunds; County Impact Fee Capital Projects Trust Fund, Expenditures, Budget, Audit, and Surcharge; Appeals and Mediation; Miscellaneous Provisions; Punishment for Violations; Construction of Ordinance Intent; and Providing an Effective Date Simison: Next item up is the third reading of Ordinance No. 26-2126. Ask the clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an ordinance amending title -- an ordinance adding a New Title 12 Called "Countywide Development Impact Fees" to the Meridian City Code and Adding Thereto a New Chapter 1 Called "Ada County Jail Development Impact Fees" That Provides for Short Chapter Title; Authority, Findings, Applicability, and Purpose; Definitions; Capital Improvements Plan; Periodic Review of the Capital Improvements Plan; Intergovernmental Agreement with Ada County; Imposition of County Impact Fees and Payment; Enforcement and Collection; County Impact Fee Administrator and City Powers to Require Payment of County Impact Fees; County Impact Fee(s) Exemptions; Process for Individual Assessment; Extraordinary Impacts; Developer Credits and Reimbursements; County Impact Fee Payment Mistake or Misrepresentation; Fee Payer Refunds; County Impact Fee Capital Projects Trust Fund, Expenditures, Budget, Audit, and Surcharge; Appeals and Mediation; Miscellaneous Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 9 of 12 Provisions; Punishment for Violations; Construction of Ordinance Intent; 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. 26-2126. Whitlock: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26 -- No. 26-2126. Is there discussion? If not, clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, absent; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. 4. Ordinance No. 26-2128: An Ordinance Amending Unified Development Code Section 11-4-3-18 Concerning Flex Space; and Providing an Effective Date Simison: Next item up is Ordinance No. 26-2128. Ask the clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. it's an ordinance amending Unified Development Code Section 11-4-3-18 Concerning Flex Space; and Providing an Effective Date. Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there anybody that would like to read in its entirety? If not, do I have a motion? Taylor: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Councilman Taylor. Taylor: Move that we approve Ordinance No. 26-2128. Whitlock: Second. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 10 of 12 Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2128. Is there any discussion? If not, clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, absent; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. 5. Ordinance No. 26-2129: An Ordinance (Skybreak Rim H-2026-0001) for Rezone of a Parcel of Land Being a Portion of Government Lot 3 of Section 4, Township 2 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the Map Exhibit, Rezoning 6.64 Acres of Land From the R-8 (Medium-Density Residential) 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: Next item up is Item 5, which is Ordinance No. 26-2129. Is there -- ask the clerk to read this ordinance by title. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's related to Skybreak Rim, H-2026-0001, for Rezone of a Parcel of Land Being a Portion of Government Lot 3 of Section 4, Township 2 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as depicted in the Map Exhibit, Rezoning 6.64 Acres of Land From the R-8 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 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. 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. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 11 of 12 Taylor: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 26-2129. Whitlock: Second. Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 26-2129. Is there discussion on the motion? If not, clerk call the roll. Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, absent; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea; Whitlock, yea. Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. FUTURE MEETING TOPICS Simison: Council, anything under future meeting topics? Strader: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Strader. Strader: Yeah. And I think it might be helpful, because we had a lot more public comment than we usually get, so I think it's always helpful we would read a preamble before we do it, but I think sometimes it escapes people's attention that for us to discuss something it has to be noticed on a public agenda. So, that's the reason where if you come and make a public comment it's not a lot of back and forth like you would hope for. It's like you are saying something it's going one direction and my suggestion for future meeting topics -- and I think it would be great for us to do a workshop at some point just to refresh on what exactly is our camera program, what has it helped us with, what are the concerns, what are the guardrails around that program. I know when we set it up we said we were going to come back to that and visit that on a regular basis. I think we owe it to the community to have that discussion. So, that would be a great future agenda item. Simison: Okay. Anything else on a future meeting topics? Then if not do I have a final motion? Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor? Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts. Little Roberts: Move we adjourn. Whitlock: Second. Meridian City Council July 7,2026 Page 12 of 12 Simison: Motion and second to adjourn. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it. We are adjourned. MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:24 P.M. (AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) 7 / 21 / 2026 MAYOR ROBERT SIMISON DATE APPROVED ATTEST: CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK