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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 07-09 Joint ACHDMeridian City Council Special / ACHD Joint Meeting July 9, 2007 The Meridian City Council meeting was called to order at noon on Monday, July 9, 2007 at the ACRD Auditorium by Joe Borton. Members Present: Joe Borton, Keith Bird, Charlie Rountree. Members Absent: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, David Zaremba, Staff Present: Pete Friedman, Anna Canning, Robert Simison, Kyle Radek, Matt Ellsworth, Will Berg, Bill Nary and Shaun Wardle. ACRD Members Present: John Franden, Rebecca Arnold, Dave Bivens, Sherry Huber, Carol McKee, Christy Richardson., Jay Schweitzer, Peggy Smith, Kendall Kemmer, Katey t_evihn. Item 1: Update on Ten Mile Specific Area Plan/Overland Road Realignment Franden: Well, welcome everybody from Meridian that's here. Richardson: They're welcoming me too because I'm (inaudible) since you guys were here. Borton: I guess Tammy's on vacation and Dave is on vacation (inaudible) and we're just going to be the five of us. So anyway, the first thing we have though is the update on Ten Mile Specific Area Plan. Is that Pete? (Inaudible). Friedman: Mr. President, (inaudible), Council Members, I'll make this really quick. On June 19th our Council adopted the Ten Mile Specific Area Plan and, as you know, your staff had very large involvement in the plan. And we are hoping to continue that involvement as we work toward (inaudible). Two key elements I think that really do address the district's interests and our interests and that would be the realignment of Overland Road, of course, which plan has adopted the alignment on the east side of Ten Mile Road, that we took out the area west of Ten Mile Road because it overlapped with our South Meridian Plan. Our Planning and Zoning Commission is going to revisit that on November 1St The other area we want to work with, the Commission and your staff, is the Ten Mile Plan contemplates a (inaudible) planned collector system, collector road system so that we can see if we can get the system up without having development drift. There are some tools that we want to explore, possibly LID's, possibly something that fits (inaudible) and we want to continue to do that so that we can try to do something a little bit differently than these collector roads establish. But I'd like to just briefly go back to the Overland alignment because one of the things we've been hearing both through the South Meridian Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 2 of 23 transportation planning process as well as the Ten Mile planning process other than the interest in density that the issue keeps coming back (inaudible) as you can imagine, roads, roads, roads, roads. And it's getting to be a growing voice. I don't know how large it is but it's certainly vocal about the realignment of Overland and whether it should be along (inaudible) or some place else. And these people are talking to us a lot and they're talking to your staff quite a bit about the South Meridian Transportation Plan. So I guess our message to you is we will be happy to stay engaged and continue working with your staff as we move forward but we have sort of this alignment of the stars now coming with the South Meridian Plan and the South Meridian Transportation Plan (inaudible). We are hopeful that maybe you will take a look at a realignment, possible realignment of Overland (inaudible). So again, in summary, we took that out of Ten Mile Specific Area Plan on the west side but we did leave it in the east side and that's what's (inaudible) Overland - -Ten Mile probably about a quarter mile width. Borton: So my question is (inaudible) there's that jog to the south on Overland. And so is that a line that's set now? I know we talked about it. Richardson: No, I don't think it is the line where Overland is, where it would (inaudible) over the rise there to the south. I don't think that's - -. Borton A portion of it, I believe, was set by the approval, parcel approval of the South Ridge development but then that development hit our level (inaudible). Council didn't approve all of it. Second phase of it, so they wanted the Ten Mile Plan adopted which it now has been and it's just been - -. I think, as I understand it, this commission was waiting for our Council to approve the plan. We have a general conceptual alignment (inaudible). Smith: (inaudible). We got Gary. Inselman: (Inaudible) Council, we approved it for different preliminary plats of South Ridge. They matched on the east side, not on the west. We told the developer that until our transportation plan in that area is done we're not going to bring forward the preliminary plat that the City approved that would include the realignment of Overland Road and (inaudible) . That transportation plan will look at both sides of Ten Mile (inaudible) Road so until that's completed, we've been telling the developer that we're not going to bring forward this revised plat because the Commission wanted a more public process for that (inaudible). Richardson: Because wasn't it on the north side the property owner here had some (inaudible) input because that would really impact him. Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 3 of 23 Inselman: There were questions raised at our hearing, what happens to West Ten Mile? Nobody knew at that point so we're looking at that as well. Peggy? Smith: And I would like to add, this is also complicated by the Ten Mile Interchange work line there and we have been trying for some time to, at the staff level, to get agreement on our project - -Ten Mile, Overland, Franklin being included with the interchange work and an arrangement where we (inaudible) somehow ITD the impact fee for that portion and then that is included. We have been trying to negotiate that for pretty much over a year now but as the Garvee program has started and stopped and staff has come and changed, we have an outline drafted but not finalized yet. We did actually finally get a meeting with the connecting (inaudible) partners last week and are supposed to get a more firm contact to be able to compete on that. And it gets messy because they have gone ahead and done their environmental clearance for the Ten Mile Interchange from current Overland to Franklin but not down the road. And how that's going to be paid for and when it's going to be built and how and whether that affects some of that Garvee Project or not is a little bit of a question. So I just wanted to bring up the complicating factors there. I'm not sure how it's all going to work out (inaudible). I think I'll go ahead and start nailing down some of those details which we haven't been able to get nailed down on the sort of funding (inaudible) so we're not jeopardizing one project or the other. Borton: (Inaudible). Has there been any determination on the design (inaudible)? Smith: Well, that's another thing that - -. We have made a very strong proposal that that interchange and of course our roadway that goes with it has to be to urban standards because that area is urbanized and that's not normally what ITD does, the connecting (inaudible) last week heard that loud and clear. I'm not sure exactly how that's all going to work out. You know, if they were drainage for instance, we all know how much that costs to keep putting gutters, sidewalks, and bike lanes and it really affects the drainage around there and I know they're trying to coordinate with your area plan and everybody trying to come up happy so to my knowledge that hasn't been 100% set yet. But there are pretty intense ongoing staff discussions. Borton: Was it three or four different options as far as the interchange design? Smith: Oh, design? Yeah. They're getting close on that. I think they're doing it. Radek: Commissioners, Council Members, it's my understanding the last traffic (inaudible) they were down two. One would be the single point urban interchange (inaudible) diamond and then I believe (inaudible). So they really Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 4 of 23 narrowed it down to what they're going to be going forward with as far as their environmental study. Smith: You see, that design very much impacts how Overland (inaudible) so we're still trying to (inaudible) where things are exactly going to end up. You know, if you don't have the compressed one then you've got certain distance and site requirements for intersections. So all that discussion's going on. If you have any input, as Commissioner (inaudible), that you'd like to give, now is an excellent time to stand up and say that. Rountree: I'd like to see what the alternatives (inaudible). What they look like now. Smith: (Inaudible). You have it. I think we gave you a package probably four or five months ago and they've come along. So we can get that together and bring it to our commission meeting (inaudible). Okay? You see, we went to that last meeting they had.. But they were still showing a bunch of them then. They didn't have them down good. Rountree: So what kind of time frames are we looking at here as far as if everything went well? Franden: If everything aligns well, we understand that they would commence construction in the later part of 2009. I believe they are having (inaudible) based on some of the citizens (inaudible). They were beginning to have their initial contacts and negotiations and property acquisitions particularly around the interchange area. So (inaudible) up and down Ten Mile Road but we certainly had a flurry of folks coming in and wanting clarification about the Comprehensive Plan- - (inaudible). Rountree: (Inaudible) part of the interchange. Smith: There's also, I mean, we've been pushing for this meeting last week. I'll just say it wasn't even on the agenda. I'll give you a little bit - -. We really wanted to be able to coordinate both ITD as well with ACHD. If we had a lot of work planned in that corridor, we'd be ready for a Ten Mile Interchange and with some of our budget constraints and you know, when is the Garvee going to be funded and how certain is the funding? We at least all agreed we have to keep in close contact because whoever is building in that area has to be able to reroute the traffic and get people around and that's going to be ugly and messy. One of the things we had talked about which my Commission will be sending a letter as soon as we can get it finalized, confirming what went on at the meeting. At the meeting last week was originally we had planned to build the Ten Mile and Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 5 of 23 Franklin intersection out at a 7 x 7 ahead of the interchange. With some of our budget constraints, that may not be able to happen. We're still in the middle of looking at all of that. So as an alternate, the staff are proposing to agree on an interim signal there with some modifications that may last for a few more years. mean, if everything goes well in 2009 and the interchange goes, then that would only be an interim signal for a short time but depending on when it went, it may be longer. Rountree: We need the signal now. Smith: Which is why what we were talking about last week, we have very little there and we're still trying to align all our thoughts and get that back out to you. Inselman: Thank you. Item 2: East Third Street Alignment Study Borrton: East Third Street. Ellsworth: Thank you Mr. President, Members of the Commission, Members of the Council, I appreciate your time this afternoon. I was hoping to give you a very brief update on the progress for East Third Street Alignment Study. ACHD staff and Meridian Staff and MDC staff as well as the going back and forth revising scope. We're almost at a point now where we have to finalize the scope and once negotiations and agreement are in place with the selected consultants we look at approximately a four month time arising for this study. Prior to finalizing the scope I was hoping to receive a little bit of feedback from you today on two closely related outcomes of the scope. One is just the roles and responsibilities of the study as we continue toward implementation and the other one is intended outcomes of the study and again of the eventual implementation of this corridor. So I suppose as I understand it on the City's side of things we are hoping for the alignment and that's for several different reasons, one of which is to allow some certain key investments coming in through downtown as to what they can and can't build structures. The other side of it is of course the funding of the roadway. So I suppose with that, I'd like to open it up to you to hear your comments, to see if everybody is on the same page as we continue finalizing the scope and in that direction (inaudible) the staff so we can relay that to the Council (inaudible) product that is mutually beneficial on both sides. - Gorton: Sherry? Huber: I need more explanation about your rules (inaudible). Your very first thing, you wanted to know, about rules. Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 6 of 23 Ellsworth: Oh, roles. I apologize. Huber: Oh sorry. I was going to say (inaudible). And when you say, I have another question, when you say outcome, you mean a predetermined outcome or do you - -? Maybe you need to explain the scope to us to understand, at least for me to understand outcome.. Ellsworth: Well, it sounds like we may be asking the same question then. Which is why it's been raised for discussion. By outcome I suppose I meant an outcome of the study and the question becomes will the study propose different funding options for constructing a roadway or is that the sort of thing that should be included in the scope as an already established outcome? Huber: But can't we decide now on that if you're even going to be done by private or it's going to be done by public? What's the other choice? Or a combination of private/public. I mean, am I wrong there? That, to me, is obvious in the beginning. Borton: Either that or we can all bring our checkbooks. Smith: In any case, ACHD (inaudible) get that corridor going. We've been in discussion for six or eight months now on this that the actual construction of it would be through development, which is initially (inaudible). Huber: Right, because we don't have anything planned in our five year work program at this point in time unless we get different direction. Smith: And so this study that would be funded almost entirely if not entirely by Meridian and MDC and it wouldn't be very costly is to just sort of determine an alignment, what the best option is for the traffic through here. Huber: But the way that we might change that is if other funding comes in. But somebody along there for some reason finds it an advantage to .upfront the money or something. Smith: Oh sure, development. Bivens: And then we do a -we've done that before, we have impact uses. mean, we have another option. Smith: It's still private funding but it's my understanding that they just want to set the alignment of the corridor so we can tell developers what to do with it. Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 7 of 23 Borton: Well, that sounds like a good idea. Ellsworth: That's the minimum the City's looking for out of this study. The other question is whether or not this corridor should be identified for priority in future back-to-work programs or - -. Huber: The City would have to put down on their list as a priority and then it would go into the system I'm thinking: Peggy, is that right? Smith: If that becomes your number one priority then that gives it different points in our system and then it feeds into it. So it really starts with the City's priority and then it rolls into our priority rate and then (inaudible). Ellsworth: That's what it seemed to me, that my question is what does the city want? That's the starting point I think. Smith: I don't know, Shaun might have a ton of money back there, he can't (inaudible). Ellsworth: (Inaudible) the work is going to go. If we don't allow something to be built in the (inaudible). Wardle: Mr. President, members of the Commission, one of the things that Matt and I have discussed with staff was the fact that there are some opportunities for the alignment. There are some missed opportunities which may require - -. There are some structures which have been approved through the City of Meridian which prevent certain alignments. So we just wanted to bring up the fact that private development may not fund the entire alignment of Third Street. There are some missed opportunities from the past and we just want to get it on the radar that this is a priority for Meridian. While we will put it through the proper priority channels, that iYs something can be happening very quickly especially with regard to our next item, the corridor and entire downtown improvement structures. I think Matt and I were really seeking direction on - -, the City and MDC are helping to joint fund this particular study. You're going to see it in the future as things come out of the consultants. Bird: Mr. President, Council Members, I think the other day as Matt and Shaun both pointed out, since we largely going to be funding it we don't want to be out there going down the road if you will coming up with an alignment that may be contrary to something in the future and that the district might be doing. So part of it is to get that direction as to what the roles (inaudible). We're hoping to just get it out there for you so that we don't go through this process of which you'd be a Meridian Ciry Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 8 of 23 part and then come up with something that would be contrary to (inaudible). Part of it's to get some direction, part of it's just to inform you of what we're going to do. Smith: Wouldn't the roles and responsibility be defined early on, Katey? Am I thinking this is - -? I mean, to me, it's a question that should have already been answered.. Levihn: We're all working together on this, right? Smith: Right, okay. Levihn: There's been a little glitch in our internal ACRD staff here (inaudible). I have to hold onto that (inaudible). I only really have (inaudible) gotten that far this morning. And so what I said is we need to develop a very simple (inaudible) doing what. Staff will work on that and get that brought before you guys, all of you, in the next couple of weeks. Smith: Sounds perfect. But what is the question that you're asking? I mean, obviously, if you're funding a study and you're putting your money forward, you want to have an action take place, sooner, not 10 years down the line. So that is really kind of your bottom line you're getting at? So that somebody needs to decide, with both agencies - -the alignment - - get a cost estimate., look at how it will be funded and then you're going to get to the Witty-gritty. If there's a section of it that is a lost opportunity that isn't going to happen (inaudible). This has a start. Then likely we're going to have to come up with some funding, figure out however here., jointly or whatever on that. Whatever section, the timing of the last section. Boston: So we get the alignment and then we'll know where it's supposed to begin. Huber: Sounds like you guys have an idea. Smith: (inaudible) The study will be dead by then anyway. (Inaudible) Huber: You're a man after my own heart. Study the obvious. That has been my question. Item 3: Status Report on Split Corridor Franden: I just want to give a quick update on the Meridian Split Corridor. The 95% design has been reviewed.. It will be done with design by the end of this Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting Jwly 9, 2007 Page 9 of 23 month. So it's gone on schedule as planned. The Council, Meridian City Council., previously asked us to look at - - Bird: (Inaudible). Franden: They previously asked us to look at moving the signal from Idaho to Broadway. ACRD staff reviewed that. Has determined that that is okay. Previously went back to Council two weeks ago and confirmed with them that that is what they wanted to do so we are planning to do that, not as part of the project but around the completion of the City Hall. ACRD staff will move that signal. City Council also asked that instead of changing the center turn lane from Franklin to Pine as a through lane, that that center turn lane stop at Broadway where the new signal will be and the cars can take a left there. We are changing the plans to incorporate that so the plan has gone forward. We do have a few issues that we'll be resolving through the right-of-way process in regards to the area that's developing around Waltman, in regards to Johnson Lane, and the pond site. Phase Two of the Meridian Split Corridor, staff right now is going through a scoping process. It is budgeted for design in 200$ and 2009. So once the budget has been approved and scope of process has been completed we will start negotiating with a consultant for the design of Phase Two. That's where we're at on those two. Are there any questions? Wardle: What you say budgeting (inaudible) was that from us on this next budget go-round? I mean so that you guys --. I mean that's what you need. Franden: Correct. ACRD 2008 budget. Carol? McKee: Is the City Hall still targeted for August of next year to open up? Borton: Yes. Yes. McKee: All right. Everything's on schedule. Wow. Wardle: Anything else on the Split Corridor? Franden: IYs moving along. McKee: He forgot to tell us he had some extra money. Item 4: Update on Cooperative Development Projects Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 10 of 23 Wardle: Mr. President, Members of the (inaudible) ,Members of the Council, we, the Meridian Development Corporation is funding, as you know, the landscape improvements along phase one of the Split Corridor. We're currently expecting to have all those documents together. I attended the 95% review for documents and our consultants should have everything ready to bid for the same project. We're creating an interagency agreement where there comes in at alternate to the construction document so that MDC can fund that group. The one thing that we do have a question on and the question was from the City, is the pond site in it's current location, in it's current configuration will be the front corner of Waltman and Meridian Road which is essentially the entrance to downtown and so the question of landscaping and how those improvements can be done, I think we're still working through and should have that shortly. But I know that the City and the Commission have created relationships in the past where there's maintenance taken place and the improvements are different than some difficult ponds that ACRD (inaudible). So I just want to bring that up. Franden: Sherry. Huber: Something that I recently saw in my travels that I thought might work here, maybe this would be a good time to at least think about it. They have Adopt a Median and they have business names that are responsible for the capital of the median and the maintenance. Now I don't know how they do it safety-wise on that but they have the little business sign in medians and they're landscaped nice and it's Adopt a Median and it tells the company name. So it helps solve the City, you know, some City responsibility of maintenance and I don't, you know, I don't know how it all works but I was kind of impressed with the fact that somebody came up with the thought. Smith: Well we do that on our highways, don't we? We could just model that. Huber: Yeah, that's trash pick-up. No this is all it was that they, hey, they did the capital and the maintenance. I did ask about that part. Borton: Well, we could find acopy - - Huber: I mean, you're in the early stages so I'm just kind of tossing it out and it may work, it may not work but I'd never seen it before. And they had the little sign. And all the signs were the same for each one of the businesses that, the companies that - -. (Inaudible). Huber: Median. Meridian Ciry Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 11 of 23 Bird: Wonder how that works if the company goes out of business as far as (inaudible). Huber: (Inaudible) They certainly have to maintain it. There would be people in line waiting for the location. Anyway, when you said landscaping it reminded me of that and I know you're in the early stages, so it's just an idea. Wardle: We just wanted to bring, both from the Development Corporation and efforts in common from the City Parks and Recs, that that is really our entry corridor into the community and so we want to, as construction happens, want to make sure that if there's partnership opportunities that we have a number of willing players at the table to make some things happen. Huber: We got it. You want it to be nice. Wardle: Yes, we do. Huber: You got it. Franden: Thanks guys. Anything else at all? Item 5: Project Funding Issues Franden: Project development news. Christy? Richardson: Hello Commissioners, Members of the Council. I just wanted to give you a brief update on some of the development cooperative agreements that we're working on. Most all of which fall in your city. In Meridian. And perhaps it's because we've had some great success. Last year along with all the commercial development at the corner of Ustick and state highway 55, the highway district worked with the Winston Moore Company on a successful development cooperative project there to widen out the intersection and the legs of that intersection. Going on right now and we've been under construction for almost a month now, is the intersection of Meridian and McMillan Road. That's adjacent to the new Heritage Middle School that set to open this August. So this project has been managed by the Wright Corporation and is also being funded by Hubble and Kevin (inaudible) and the project funding mechanism, the highway district has budgeted a certain amount up front will be paid to these parties when the project is completed, they'll be reimbursed through impact fees over time as fees are collected from their developments in that adjacent area. This particular project was important for us and for the City mostly because of that middle school opening this August. But I do have to be honest with you, the project Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 12 of 23 schedule isn't where it was expected to be at this point. The utilities were probably the major hold-up in June. We run into that often, unfortunately (inaudible) more than we would have liked and then two weeks ago we also ran into some issues with the (inaudible) base that were certainly unexpected so they're not really that far behind.. We had hoped to get the project substantially complete before school starts and with that the intersection will be signalized and pedestrian flashers and that's likely not going to occur, having the substantial completion done, with the minimal safety requirements will be in before school starts. We'll probably have to move out of the area for a little while so the parents and students can get into the school and then after things have been settled down a little bit, get them back in there to finish it off so it's not where we would like it to be but it's certainly better than that school opening without any of the improvements for the entire year. Smith: Are they thinking October? Richardson: Oh, in September? Smith: No, no, as a completion. Richardson: Oh, it'll still be September. Bird: Mr. Chairman, what utility's held it up? Sewer? Richardson: Our biggest problem was Qwest, was phones. They're not as proactive as some of the other utility companies are. And so we're excited about that project and we'll be coordinating with the Meridian School District and get it going as fast as we can. Another application or agreement that the Commission has already approved is for the next mile down at the intersection of Linder and McMillan. Again, Wright Corporation will serve as the project manager but there are a number of other investors in that area and developers, Tom Bevins, Black Hawk, Frank Varielle, Primelands that also contributed. So that construction, that sign's been completed and that construction will begin in early 2008 and then on the Commission agenda for this week is the approval of final development agreement for the intersection of Ten Mile and McMillan, so the next mile down, that's with Frank Varielle and again it will be funded through impact fees from nearby developments over time. The interesting thing about that intersection is that Frank and his development company have donated all of that right-of-way to the highway district. Smith: We should be sure that when they do that, that they really get kudos with everybody and publicity. (Inaudible) I mean, we don't want it to go without recognition. Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 13 of 23 Bird: They're the one development, the one we did North Meridian Plan that stood by their word. They said then that they would donate the right-of-way on their projects and they have done it. Donated that (inaudible). Smith: I think jointly we should try and work on a story. Looking at Robbie. Because I think everybody knows that finances are hard for government entities and it really does take a developer stepping forward like that or things aren't going to happen as fast as everybody wants them to. And when you find somebody that's done that and kept their word, they really do need to get, I think, some recognition (inaudible). Bird.: You know, W.H. Moore put up the money on 55 and Ustick (inaudible) interchange deal there and people like that should be recognized. Smith:: On Eagle Road, you know, that time Roger Anderson (inaudible). Richardson: The Ten Mile Project will occur next year after the Linder Project so - -. And both of those projects will probably have some construction going on in the winter with utilities and moving some irrigation facilities but the next spring you'll start to see the major road work. And then finally, Alley's Avenue should be starting construction this week. Alley's, as you recall, about a year ago was part of a collector network that the Highway District and the City worked to establish as a secondary connection; it's east of Highway 55 and it will connect Ustick to Fairview and perhaps even to the north, on north of Ustick, and so ACHD purchased the property on Ustick Road to get this first thing constructed and with this project we're working with Una Mas, their the adjacent developer so we should start to see some construction out there this week. And we've been working with the adjacent property owners to the west, the central property owners (inaudible) those sorts of issues (inaudible). Bird: Christine, how is the Locust Grove overpass? Is it on schedule? Richardson: Looks like it is. Bird: It looks good to me. Smith: (Inaudible). Richardson: I haven't been updated.. That was maybe three weeks ago. Bird: Maybe they caught up. It looks nice. Meridian Gity Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 14 of 23 Smith: A week compared to how long that's taken is not (inaudible). Bird: A week's nothing to count. Franden: Katey, while you're up, funding? Levihn: I've just decided I want Christy's job. She gets to bring you the good news. I have a little tiny Power Point here just because you can't make it through an entire meeting without a Power Point so we are right now going through our budget update process and I'm going to let you know there is some kind of daunting news that we're dealing with. Revenue projections, which are mostly Mike's department; he can step up and add in here but there is uncertainty in the impact fee projection. Our new CIP that was adopted last year showed an average collection of $26 million a year for over 20 years and of course, we have to ramp it up to get to that so we wouldn't be expecting to see it right now but our 2006 actual collections were $10.5 million. We're projecting about $13 million for 2007, and hoping for $14.5 for 2008. But there is quite a bit of uncertainty. We have seen a big flip. You know they used to be 75% residential. Now that's closer to the proportion for commercial, so as the economy changes, so do our collections. At the same time that we're experiencing some uncertainty in our revenue projections we are also, as you all have heard before, seeing great increases in cost. I went through last week and looked at what the total construction cost alone from our 2007-2008 Five Year Work Program and it was, you know, taken as a whole. Individual project varied quite a bit but taken as a whole, it was +30% in cost and we still have some bids coming in that are higher than what we've projected unfortunately although that seems to be leveling off. American general contractors last year predicted six to eight percent annual increases for the next three years. So we're still facing those increases in cost and of course, right-of--way costs are at least as steep. In some places much steeper, in others less. They're highly variable around the County, where you are. So going through the budgeting process right now, our current capital project budget is $46 million. It looks like our 2008 one's going to be about $45 million and 2009 $47 million, essentially flat. Please note that the Capital Project Budget does include about $3 million per year for chip seals and overlays but if we're going to keep those same flat projections with rising project costs, that pretty much means we get fewer projects done for that amount of money. And although it's not definitive yet, what we're seeing for the 2008 Budget is roughly about a $16 million shortfall from what we had hoped last year at this time. Last year we adopted for the first time atwo-year budget process and we did the 2007 with a guess at what 2008 would be and we're $16 million short on that for being able to get those projects done just because of this - - it pretty much, it's the numbers straight across, $45 million, 30% of that is $15 million and a little bit of extra increase. And that's exactly where we are so we're trying to let all the Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 15 of 23 jurisdictions know that our poor Commission is going to be faced with some difficult decisions on what to do with projects. We have tried in our preliminary first run-through on the budget to keep at least the City's top priorities in place but some of your not-top-priorities may be slipping a year or more depending on what happens. So I do, I really want Christy's job now. Any questions? Smith: Mike is thrilled. He didn't have to give the gloom and. doom message this time. He made you do it. How'd you get out of that? Levihn: We decided we would trade. Smith: That's good.. That's been our concern as a Commission, for this isn't a big overwhelming surprise to any of us. I mean, we've been concerned about the cost of this whole thing. That's why it's so important that the developers understand that too and they step up because we just don't have the money. I mean, it's not that we don't want to do them. We do. Bird: They're getting hit just as hard as you are. They're getting hit just as hard. The cost doesn't shock us at all. We're going through a City Hall. Our costs, you know, you need to bid this month because next month will be six percent more. So it doesn't shock, I think, any of us. It shouldn't shock any elected official because we know we've been riding on a gravy train for a while and I've never been - - 42 years or 45 years being in the construction business - -I've never seen where you could go 40 years with a gravy train. (Inaudible). Smith: In the 1980's we had dips and we haven't seen it since. Levihn: And we just have to tighten our belt same as you guys do. Bird: (Inaudible) We're projected over the actual cost (inaudible). We've got one big bidding on the 12th that will come in. That's our biggest package. We'll see how by then. Our first package might come in a little under. Smith: Are you doing it as a design build? Bird: No. Construction manager. Smith: Well, we'll work closely with you as we get closer to this. We'll decide what we do and what we don't do and have to postpone. Bird: We've had the same thing to go through. (Inaudible). Item 6: Discussion -Emergency Traffic Light for Station No.5 Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 16 of 23 Franden: Emergency traffic light. Station number five. Anderson: Good afternoon Commissioners and the Councilmen. My name is Ron Anderson. I'm Fire Chief in Meridian. We would like to be proactive and we'd like to come and talk to you guys about any issues that you may have relating to a traffic signal. We're getting ready to build our fifth fire station and it's going to be at 6001 North Linder Road so it's just a little bit south of Chinden. And typically we put emergency traffic signals out in front of our fire stations to allow the fire trucks to get out onto the busy roads. And our last station, Station Four, we had I guess quite an issue with the traffic signal. I wasn't the Fire Chief at the time. But, and I don't think it was on any part of Ada County Highway District. I think it was between the architect and the engineers and those folks but I guess we have just selected our general contractor and we're going to be meeting with the electrical engineer and so we would like to know if there are any issues relating to putting an emergency traffic signal out there and if you're not aware of any right now, maybe you could direct us, who on your staff that we need to talk to, to work with as we move forward.. (Inaudible) Richardson: How about what ever you need, you can have? Anderson: Sounds good. (Inaudible). Richardson: Well, you need to know for the conduits and the whatever in the electrical design so that it goes in to meet, you know. Anderson: And the other thing is, this piece of property is fairly close to Chinden Boulevard. I mean, it's back about an eighth of a mile but we need to know if there are any issues relating to distance and all those kind of things. I know when Station One was built on Franklin Road the proximity to Stratford and where Stratford comes in, trying to get traffic to stop back in front of the fire station when they stop at that traffic light has always been an issue and so we get people that pull right up to the stop line instead of the one that is marked, clearly marked, back on the other side of the fire stations. So sometimes we do have a difficult time getting out of the fire station when that light changes red because people do park - -. Richardson; But can you find some markings or a sign or some help? We can certainly - -. I can't believe - -. Meridian City CounciF Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 17 of 23 Anderson: We can work with Bob. There isn't any pat solution, I mean, it's really close. It's difficult to put two sets of heads up there and really provide the right information to the driver. We had a terrible time with the accident record out here on Glenwood with the Marigold signal and the one at the fire station. Had somebody come to the desk, the counter one time who'd been in two accidents out there. They were all crippled at the time. It was a serious thing out there and we worked on different designs and operational. The techniques there, to solve that. That was really difficult out on Franklin Road (inaudible). We'll have to look at the distance. Richardson: What did we do on Eagle Road? That was just the signal for the fire station. But there is no intersection there. Anderson: Biggest thing on that one is knowing when you guys plan on widening that - - Richardson: I know. When I saw that again I said (inaudible). Anderson: (Inaudible) section of road so that when we do put in the traffic signal, can we get them outside where they need to be or are they going to have to be relocated later on and I image those same questions would come up on this one because I imagine at some point - - Richardon: (Inaudible) that road can never be closed with (inaudible) because you have to be able to go both ways. I mean, that's going to be the big deal issue on that. Bird: So (inaudible) when a fire station site is chosen, is this type of concern, is it part of the equation? (Inaudible). Anderson: It's yes and no, I mean, obviously this piece of ground was donated to the City of Meridian by a developer so a lot of times, whether land is free or what the price is, determines some of those things. We do give consideration to traffic signals and all those kind of things too but I think this one, my gut feeling is, was driven by the fact that it was free land that was given by the developer. Richardson: Like a lot of this stuff (inaudible). Anderson: Thank you. Item 7: Update on Urban Land Institute Report: Jay S or Kendell Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACRD Meeting Jwly 9, 2007 Page 48 of 23 Franden: Update on the Urban Land Institute Report. Jay, were you going to do anything or is that just kind of a general discussion? Schweitzer: About the only thing we're working on right now is trying to get a group meeting of the, what we call the Alliances, a group of mayors and the president of the Ada County division (inaudible). That's about all that's going on. Smith: Well, Tammy's on a plane now. Schweitzer: I was kind of curious about what the City Council's reaction was to the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute, specifically those recommendations that there be an alliance and that the cities give up some stuff, we give up some stuff and we gain some stuff and you gain some stuff. Have you had a chance to talk about it or - - ? Borton: We haven't (inaudible). Bird: We need to discuss it. Schweitzer: The biggest challenge seems to make that process successful is the funding strings and the ability to relinquish some control to a third intermediate body. It seems historically that our biggest challenge was (inaudible). It makes sense if we can participate looking at that opportunity. Borton: (Inaudible) to get all of the players together pretty soon and sit down and say okay, what do we think? Where do we want to go from here? Smith: I'm curious myself if opinions there are between cities on that? If in fact, you know, you have a majority of cities that don't see that it's an issue, you know, a major city - -Boise - -thinking that it is. And that's going to be a big deal how you resolve it. If in fact, that's the case. I don't know that it is. Bird: Well, I know that we have the four smaller cities right now that are very concerned because they don't have the population base or the horsepower compared to a Meridian or compared to a Boise. So they worry about where are they in the mix. You can't compare us to Boise. I mean, we're not even close to being Boise (inaudible). I have a real problem, if you can get a Council together that's going to go for all this comprehensive plans and stuff, every one of us, every elected official's got (inaudible) even though we don't think we do. Are we going to sit down and take this? I doubt it. Some of us will (inaudible) and you're always changing. Re-elections are always changing people. I hope it works. It's a dang good idea. And I, you know, I support it. I can't see you coming to Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 19 of 23 Meridian to give up something for Timbuktu out here because we're not going to allow it. Schweitzer: Why not? Bird: You know why. We got 24,000 voters that call us up and they don't mind calling us. Schweitzer: One of the (inaudible) recommendations Ipersonally like is what we've done for years is we've gone from city to city to city and said (inaudible) and asked for the input, the priorities, and so on. Ipersonally like the idea no matter where it all washes out of having everybody in the same room at the same time talking about regionalism and which projects are regional and which are not and trying to share each others' problems and concerns. Bird: I'll make the same statement I made about the communities (inaudible). If you're going to be reasonable you've got to go beyond Ada County line. A lot of people travel. These roads and stuff connect Gem County, Canyon County, and everything else so how can you stop at Ada County line and have it planned right? You can't. And that's the fallacy of these cities in my opinion. Smith: But one thing that I've always said and I think it could hold true here is, you have to have regionalism in Ada County before you can really go beyond your bounds. Because if you can't solve the problems that are going to come up with that then you're never going to solve them when you add more counties. Bird: And that's all we can do. Smith: And so that's all you can do. But once you've solved them then you can be a model and show people how you solved it because I mean I think that's a challenge that I'm not sure is surmountable. But it's insurmountable if you're going to add other counties. I mean, in my view. So to me if you don't make an attempt at regionalism, if in fact everybody believes we should have it, at least in terms of benefit of the roads which I think we all agree to the concept. We just don't agree to it - - Bird: Call it county-ism. Smith: Yeah., I think you agree to the theory but then when it hits home they might have a - -. Bird.: (Inaudible) doesn't stop the counties that surround - - Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 20 of 23 Smith: Oh no, it goes both ways. Bird: (Inaudible) the state line. Nevada, Montana, Utah not very much but a little. You know, ITD, in their study they listed six counties we had to go. They realized that Ada County, even though we're the largest, we're not the only one. Schweitzer: Well, the purpose of the blueprint, in fact almost (inaudible) that area recommended. But I think you remember, sitting around this table, that my concern was the implementation (inaudible). That's the bottom line as far as I see it. Franden: We hope to have the written report, which won't give (inaudible) other than it will have substantial narrative that follows the bullet points and we have received some of that narrative already on some of their bullet points and it's different than the bullet point. I know it clarifies it but when it clarifies it, it makes it different than what the bullet point was. And we'll have that to use (inaudible). Bird: I admire you guys for going out and doing this stuff. I really do. I admire you. You're trying. Smith: Well, and when you see the deficit of dollars mounting every year, somebody has to try to do something because if we don't all get together at least for the money, to go forward. Bird: (Inaudible). Smith: That's right. We al{ have to work that out together. Bird: We've all been pretty high and mighty here the last ten years but it's starting to go down. Huber: I'm sure you guys get the same thing we do at meetings. I think a lot of people haven't been as annoyed with the growth as they are with the lack of infrastructure prior to the growth. I mean, if we solve anything with what you're talking about, John, you know, everybody getting in the same room, I mean that would be a huge, just doing it with the roads. I mean you have it with alf your infrastructure. But I mean that's what we hear. At least I've heard for quite a few years, is that they don't really gripe about the growth so much as the lack of the infrastructure and the road system, that they know the road isn't going to change for ten years after the growth because of money. Bird: But Sherry, I don't know of any instance where infrastructure has beat growth. Because you have no idea. I mean, 20 years ago we had no idea what Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 21 of 23 those farms were going to be. As far as we knew they were still going to be farms. Huber: Don't you think it's easier to see the next 20 years, where cities want to put their growth? Bird: Well, we hope we do. Because the supply and demand is going to determine a lot of that. Huber: Especially the entire process, which we all know, (inaudible) making more regional agreements (inaudible). That's all fine and dandy but without the funding mechanism to close the gap (inaudible). You still can't get anywhere. You can't fund what you re-do. Franden: Where is Meridian at on adequate public facilities? I had it in my head that (inaudible) you were in favor of it. Huber: I'll speak up loudly for Susan. Canning: Thank you. This is Anna Canning, planning director for the City of Meridian. We are participating with blueprints on the Adequate Public Facility ordinance. They have hired Michael Bower. He is beginning those discussions and he will be coming in to town next month, later this month? Franden: He's coming the third of August I believe. Canning: He's coming in soon so he's going to start that process. If that appears to slow down, I think that we're ready to - - I know the Mayor has talked to me about making some funds available out of my professional services budget to just go ahead and move forward with that. We did hire a, after our Fire, Safety, and Clerks impact fees were finished., we hired the same consultant group to do a fiscal model of the general fund which looks at the impacts of development so it's kind of one more step in the adequate public facilities process so we may go back to them if the blueprint looks like it's stalling and ask for the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to move forward. Franden: In my mind, that's our only salvation. It's not the only one. But adequate public facilities in my mind are critical because we personally are about $400 million behind right today. So if at least we could not allow ourselves to be negatively impacted by development from this day forward and have development covering those infrastructures' cost. Then at least maybe we can chip away at this $400,000 and something. Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 22 of 23 Bird: Oh, it was just $400,000, not $400 million. Huber: And he said personally but he really meant the district. Bird: And I don't disagree with what you want (inaudible) and in a perfect world we could do that. But we can help. I'll tell you one thing (inaudible). For the last couple years the general public has finally said we've had it. Huber: Well, that's what I said earlier. They don't mind the development growth. They don't like the road - -. Bird: But go out and ask them if they want a tax increase. Franden: Exactly. Bird.: I'll tell you, I think you guys were pushing it to the point, this is strictly my opinion. We're pushing it to the point we're going to get a California (inaudible) if we don't. People are fed up. Go up to Valley County or Ada County with the new assessments. Go to Canyon County. Find out how, what they want to raise their taxes. Huber: I'm one of those people. Yeah, you know. I'm not in disagreement with any of that. I don't want my property taxes raised either but the question that I always ask drivers is if they're willing to pay more for their automobiles. And never anyone has said to me no. It varies on how much more they want to pay but when I was down in Arizona I couldn't get over five-lane roads everywhere. Then I find out each car is $420 registration fee there. So you see a signification change. Now we're not ready for that. None of us what to pay that either. But it's a user fee. It's a user fee. So that's as fair as you can be. If you're using the roads and having automobiles, you may have to pay more to use them. Item 8: Other (time permitting) Franden: Anything else? Rountree: Mr. President? Borton: Yes? Rountree: I wanted to introduce Robert Simison behind us, new Executive Director, Assistant for Mayor Tammy de Weerd, at this meeting. Huber: Wave your hand. Meridian City Council Special /Joint ACHD Meeting July 9, 2007 Page 23 of 23 Bird: Stand up, Robert. Franden: Is that it? Borton: I just wanted to express my appreciation for the recent improvement on Ustick between Meridian Road and Linder. You can actually drive down that road now and thank you all for doing that. A great improvement over what had been destroyed.. And Overland Road is coming along and I've driven the stretch that's just about ready to open in Boise (inaudible). Rountree: Is that just past Five Mile? I haven't even been down there. Bird: (Inaudible). And the other, Eagle from Meridian Road to Stoddard is coming along pretty good too. You guys are doing a good job for us. Huber: Thank you. That is so nice to hear. Franden: (Inaudible) report on Fairview. Just a few brief minutes or so. I just want to give you a head's up on what we've actually started. We got some notes from Steve for our (inaudible) concept design projects from consultants today. Because of the complexity (inaudible). We've broken it up into two phases. We started Phase One. To kind of give you a brief highlight of what some of those things are to be covered based on that (inaudible) schedule. We do have (inaudible) mutual two cities - -Boise and Meridian on the project team to help us in coordinating efforts (inaudible). Borton: Thanks very much. Thank you everybody. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 1:10 P.M. (TAPE'ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) APPROVED: ~~~ 8 , 28, oT TAMMY D ERD, MA~',(.~f~,,,,,,,~~ DATE APPROVED i `~~TE - i2'~-~ c ~ ~' W~.LIAM G. BERG, JR., IT CLERK ~ ~: ~ ~ .111