HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 04-22Meridian Citv Council Meetina April 22, 2008
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April
22, 2008, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Charlie Rountree, Keith Bird, Joe Borton,
and David Zaremba.
Staff Present: Ted Baird, Jaycee Holman, Anna Canning, Jeff Lavey, Ron Anderson,
Kyle Radek, Matt Ellsworth, Steve Siddoway Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
Roll call.
X David Zaremba X Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: I'll go ahead and call tonight's regular Council meeting to order. I
appreciate your patience and tolerance, those who are still here. It is Tuesday, April
22nd. It's 7:30. And we will start tonight's meeting with roll call attendance.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance:
De Weerd: Item No. 2 is the pledge of allegiance. Anna Canning will lead us in the
pledge. Please rise.
(Pledge of allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Community Invocation by Pastor Darrell Taylor with Ten Mile
Christian Ghurch:
De Weerd: I'm sure you already have a City of Meridian pin. Item No. 3 is our
community invocation. We will be led tonight by Pastor Darrell Taylor with -- it says
Cherry Lane Christian Church, but I know it's Ten Mile Christian Church. It's that aka
thing. Please join us in the community invocation or take this as an opportunity for a
moment of reflection. Pastor.
Taylor: Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the -- when we said the pledge of
allegiance for a nation under God, we thank you, Lord, for the freedom that we enjoy.
May we never take it for granted. Father, we just thank you for these dedicated men
and women that are here to -- not only to keep our community safe, but just a nice place
to raise our family and just a good place to live and just ask that you will be with this
meeting, ask for your wisdom, your peace to overcome this meeting, and ask this in
Jesus' name, amen.
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April 22, 2008
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Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda:
De Weerd: Thank you. I hope to see you at 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning. It's Thursday
already. Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Rountree: I move that we adopt the agenda with the following changes and/or
additions. That Items 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are requested to be continued. Items 11, 12
and 13 would be continued until May 12th, 14 and 15 would be continued until May 6th.
We have a temporary use ordinance on -- somewhere here. Item 17, 08-1356 and Item
18 would be 08-1357. And I would also like to suggest moving Items 9 and 10, action
on final plats, to Item 6-A, just before Department Reports. And with that I'm
recommending approval of the agenda as modified.
Bird: Second.
Zaremba: Discussion. I may have missed it, but did we add the ACHD report from
the previous agenda?
Rountree: Oh, excuse me. And also the previous motion to add Item 3 to the
Department from pre-Council to the Department Reports.
De Weerd: As Item B?
Rountree: As item three under Item B.
Bird: Second agrees.
De Weerd: As Item D under seven?
Rountree: Item three under B in the Planning Department.
De Weerd: Oh. Okay. Mr. Rountree, 6-A, you said, maybe -- because that's the
Consent Agenda. We don't want to add it to the Consent Agenda.
Rountree: Oh, excuse me. Seven --
Bird: 7-A.
De Weerd: 7A?
Rountree: 7-A.
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April 22, 2008
Page 3 of 43
De Weerd: And, then, we will just renumber everything else or re-title.
Bird: You guys changed it on us. We are used to five being the consent.
De Weerd: Okay. So, I have a consent -- a motion for the agenda and I did have a
second; is that correct?
Bird: Yeah.
De Weerd: Oh. Okay. All those in favor of the amendment to the agenda, please, say
aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 6: Consent Agenda:
A. Approve Minutes of March 18, 2008 City Council Regular Meeting:
B. Approve Minutes of March 25, 2008 City Council Regular Meeting:
C. Approve Minutes of Aprii 1, 2008 City Council Regular Meeting:
D. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Denial: AZ 07-
016 Request for Annexation and Zoning of 224.29 acres from RR to
R-2 zone (45.14 acres) and R-8 zone (179.16 acres) for Castle
Rock by Providence Development Group, LLC - south of East
Amity Road and west of South Eagle Road:
E. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Denial: PP 07-
020 Request for Preliminary Plat approval consisting of 794
residential building lots and 86 common / other lots on 181.11 acres
in proposed R-2 and R-8 zones for Castle Rock by Providence
Development Group, LLC - south of East Amity Road and west of
South Eagle Road:
F. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Denial: PUD 07-
001 Request for approval of a Planned Unit Development for
deviations from district requirements to provide an opportunity for
exemplary site development for Castle Rock by Providence
Development Group, LLC - south of East Amity Road and west of
South Eagle Road:
G. Tabled from April 15, 2008: Award Bid for Grant for Sr. Citizen
Center Phase 2 ICDBG-04-III-01-SR for Window Replacement
with Atkinson Mirror and Glass for $3,654.31:
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2005
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H. Task Order 0754 with Civil Survev Consultants, Inc. for
Consulting and Plan Review Services for a Cost Not to Exceed
$40,000.00:
I. Approve Beer, Wine and Liquor License Renewals:
Gelato Cafe 2053 Fairview Ave Beer & Wine
Tony Roma's 790 Progress Beer & Liquor
Pier 49 Pizza 3665 E. Overland Rd. Beer
Jaker's 3268 E. Pine Beer & Liquor
Firehouse Pub 1767 W. Franklin Ave. Beer & Wine
Smoky Mtn Pizza 980 E. Fairview Ave. Beer & Wine
Quick Wok 3055 E. Fairview Ave. Beer & Wine
Albertsons #180 3301 W. Cherry Lane Beer & Wine
Albertsons #164 20 E. Fairview Ave. Beer & Wine
Lotus Garden 120 E. Fairview Ave. Beer
Groove Coffee 1800 N. Locust Grove Beer & Wine
Ram Restaurant 3272 E. Pine Ave. Beer & Liquor
EI Tenampa 906 N. Main St. Beer & Liquor
Andrew's Rib Shack 112 E. Idaho Ave. Beer & Wine
Mulligans 601 S. Main St. Beer & Liquor
Bill N Lynns 229 W. Franklin Beer & Liquor
Muggsys 501 S. Main St. Beer & Liquor
Rick's Press Room 130 E. Idaho Ave. Beer & Liquor
My Caffe 450 S. Meridian Ave. Beer & Wine
Harry's Meridian 2032 E. Overland Rd. Beer & Liquor
Maverick #233 1605 Cherry Lane Beer & Wine
Maverick #343 1545 E. Overland Rd. Beer & Wine
The Limelight 3575 E. Copper Pt. Dr. Beer & Wine
Qdoba #473 3068 E. Overland Rd. Beer & Wine
Qdoba #474 3319 N. Eagle Rd. Beer & Wine
Vina 1534 N. Main St. Beer
Fusion Asian Grill 3161 E. Fairview Ave. Beer & Wine
LakeView Golf Club 4200 W. Talamore Beer & Liquor
Double D 3100 S. Meridian Rd. Beer & Wine
J. Approve New Beer and Wine License Ap plication for Costa
Vida Restaurant, 3340 N. Eagle Rd., Meridia n, 83642:
K. Aareement for Sewer Main at Powers Residence with Knife
River Construction for $38,483.20:
L. Chan~e Orders No. 6, 7 and 8 for the North Black Cat Trunk
Sewer with Brown Construction for $24,721 and $13,166.00:
De Weerd: Okay. The Consent Agenda.
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April 22, 2008
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Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda and authorize the Mayor and
the Clerk to sign, execute appropriate papers.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none,
Madam Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Okay. We do have a celebrity in our midst. We have Mr. Borton in the
Idaho Business Review.
Rountree: Wow. I'm impressed.
De Weerd: Law firm 2.0, uh.
Borton: Is that pretty catchy?
Item 5: Proclamation for Arbor Day:
De Weerd: I guess so. Whatever you say. Do you have a motion on that. Okay. Item
No. 5 is a proclamation for Arbor Day and I, actually, jumped ahead with the Consent
Agenda. But with that being said, I'm going to read our proclamation for Arbor Day.
Whereas in 1872 -- and I have to read this again on Thursday. Do I need to read it in
the record? Okay. Whereas in 1872 Jay Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska
Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees and
whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than
a million trees in Nebraska and whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the
nation and the world. And whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil
by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the
air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife and whereas trees are a renewable
resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other
wood products, and whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the
economic vitality of business areas and beautify our community. And whereas trees,
where ever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewa{; now, therefore, I,
Tammy de Weerd, Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho, do hereby proclaim April 24th,
2008, as Arbor Day in the City of Meridian, Idaho, with a celebration at Meridian
Technical Charter High School and I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to
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April 22, 2008
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support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. And, further, I urge all citizens to
plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future
generations. Thank you for our parks director and his clapping. Okay. So, did we do
the Consent Agenda?
Rountree: Yes. We did that before.
Item 7: Department Reports
A.
1. Tabled from April 15, 2008: MFP 08-002 Request to
Modify Final Plat (FP 07-028) from the approved landscape
plan to eliminate trees from drainage swales in the center
islands of the roadway and near the detention pond in
response to ACHD requirements. Additional trees will be
placed within the common area along W. Ustick Road and
one tree planted on each individual residential lot (home
builder responsibility) for Southwick Subdivision by
Gemstar Properties, LLC -1255 West Ustick Road:
2. FP 08-006 Request for Final Plat approval for 1 building lot
and 0 common lots on 8.68 acres in a C-C zone for Three
Corners Subdivision by David and Luane Dean - east of
North Locust Grove Road and south of East Chinden
Boulevard:
Bird: Now we got to go to 7-A.
De Weerd: Okay. We go to 7-A and we did move Items 9 and 10 into that. The
applicant has agreed with the conditions in Item 9 and on Item 10 with clarification
regarding the timing -- of the timing of the irrigation ditch and these are on MFP 08-002
and FP 08-006.
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, as noted before, the first -- Item No.
9 is with regard to the landscaping proposed as a modification to the original and staff
has worked with the applicant to come up with a workable solution and are supportive of
it. With regard to Item No. 10, we do need to get on the record that we need to add the
following sentence to the end of condition number five. The temporary sidewalk shall
be located east of the ditch and setback a minimum of 15 feet from the top of ditch. And
with that we believe we are good to go on the timing issues of that tiling -- of tiling that
facility.
De Weerd: Thank you, Anna. Council, any questions?
Rountree: I have none.
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April 22, 2008
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Bird: I have none.
Borton: No.
De Weerd: Okay. Do I have a motion on item --
Rountree: Do you want to hear from the applicants?
De Weerd: Does the applicant have anything to add? Okay. Thank you.
Bird: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Bird.
Bird: I got a motion. Do you want a motion?
Rountree: We need a motion on it.
Bird: I move that we approve MFP 08-002 with staff comments.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9, aka 7-A-A. If there
is no discussion, Madam Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Okay. Item 10 is FP 08-006.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve FP 08-006, with one change in condition number five to
read: The temporary sidewalk shall be located east of ditch and set back a minimum of
15 feet from the top of ditch.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second on this item. Is there any discussion?
Hearing none, Madam Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea.
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April 22, 2008
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MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Mayor's O~ce
1. Tabled from April 15, 2008: Meridian Arts Commission
Update: Meg Glasgow Update
De Weerd: Item 7-B is the Mayor's office and we had tabled last week the Meridian Arts
Commission update and so I will ask our commission chair to, please, come forward.
Glasgow: Good evening.
De Weerd: Hi, Meg.
Rountree: Hi, there, Meg.
Glasgow: Thank you for being patient with us as we gathered our thoughts this extra
week, because we have so much going on and we are very excited to share this with
you. And I have prepared kind of some details of our projects that we have on our plate
right now and also some -- just some notes on the recommended actions coming from
the -- from the MAC commission. The first is an art value survey. As part of our specific
planning process which we have begun, we feel it necessary to take a public arts survey
to kind of tap into what our community really values as it relates to perForming public
visual arts, those kind of things, and so we are looking for, I guess, approval of the
survey questions from Council tonight, so that we can begin distribution of this
immediately. So, we were planning on distributing it out electronically, through the city
newsletter, the Chamber of Commerce has welcomed us to send out the survey to their
membership, as well as we plan on having copies available at, for example, the
Meridian symphony and different organizations like that. So, any comments on the
survey? Did you all get a copy of it in your packets and stuff? Okay.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Borton.
Borton: Meg, it's a great survey. I think it's awesome.
Glasgow: Does that mean you're going to fill it out for me?
Borton: You bet.
Glasgow: Okay.
De Weerd: It's a great reminder, Meg.
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April 22, 2008
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Glasgow: I will be looking forward to your e-mail.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, along those lines, I believe I already have.
De Weerd: I did with just my comments, but I'll now fill it out in real.
Glasgow: Excellent. Excellent. All right. So, moving on, then, the second point that we
have on our plate is the Initial Point Gallery that we recommending the name be
approved and this is the gallery that will be on the third floor in Meridian City Hall. We
have invited Terry Foley to help participate in this process and she and Howard have
been very gracious to allow us to use that name and because of the historical
significance about the Initial Point being located in Meridian, we thought it would be very
fitting for this historic nature of the building and in doing so, we have prepared a
prospectus of how the arts will be solicited, the artist application, detailing exactly how
the gallery will be run. We have gone to great lengths and Emily Kane has done a
fantastic job keeping us out of trouble with all the legal and liability issues we are
dealing with here. I will say we did -- Emily Kane and I met with the curator -- the Eagle
Arts Commission and talked to them in detail about how they're managing their art
gallery and after doing so we feel very, very confident in our plans of what we are doing
going forward on that. And so I would just ask for your, I guess, consent to continue
with our plans to name the third floor gallery the Initial Point Gallery. I did have --
wanted to get some feedback from you on the area of artists that we are pulling from.
Our recommendation that it was from at least the entire Treasure Valley area, instead of
opening up to outside just the Meridian city limits, and it's also been suggested to us
that we open it up regionally, too, looking forward, if we have the opportunity to have,
you know, a big nationally known artist to come through. I would hate for our initial
scope be so narrow that we didn't include that opportunity. So, I was looking for
feedback on that point, if there was any objection to opening it up beyond artists --
eligible artists just with -- outside of the Meridian area.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, my comment would be since we want to be and are the hub
of, at a minimum, the Treasure Valley, which has regional significance, I think we -- we
start at a regional level and I don't know that we would preclude anybody. I would think
if a foreign country or a foreign artist would want to contribute an idea, we ought to
entertain it. ~
Bird: I would, too.
Glasgow: Well -- and that's -- that's a good comment to give for us to consider,
because we have assembled a panel -- a review board that these submissions are
going to come in with detailed criteria of samples of their work and whatnot. So, they go
through quite a selection process before they are chosen to exhibit in the space, to
make sure that their -- their style of artwork is reflective of the image that the city is
wanting to portray and so that being the case, I would like to be able to open it up to
beyond just the Meridian area, so --
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April 22, 2008
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Rountree: I think that's a unanimous --
Bird: Whatever you want.
Glasgow: Excellent. One last sticking point has to do with pricing on this and because
it is -- items are not -- we are -- the Arts Commission and the city are not going to be in
the business of selling art. We are inviting artists who are selling their work to display
and because our primary mission is to help foster the arts, including the sale of art work
to support their artist endeavors and whatnot, we feel like the pricing should be listed at
some points in the gallery, whether that be allowed on the particular label that would be
with that artist's name, the title, the price of the artwork, that was one option. Our
preferred option and what we are recommending that we have, basically, tear sheets
that people would be able to grab from a display -- one display point and take that home
with them with the artist contact information, so that they could handle that transaction
outside of City Hall. So, Emily has exhausted this issue and feels like we are within the
legal -- help me, Joe. You know, that we are okay to do this that way, but I was looking
for direction as far as your feeling on whether or not you wanted the pricing to not be
included at all and that we forbid that or that it be placed on a little pamphlet, perhaps,
off to the side or in an subtle, tasteful way on individual display, little plaques hanging
with each piece.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Meg, I definitely think you need pricing somehow. I think how you do it is your call
of your commission. You guys are more familiar with it. Because if I go through there
and see a picture I'd like, I might want to buy it. I don't want to do it right there on the
spot, but at least I'd like to know who I get a hold of and what kind of price I'm going to
have to pay. So, I think it -- I think it -- and I think it will be a good selling point to getting
artists to come and display.
Glasgow: High caliber artists.
Bird: Yeah. Good artists. Yeah. I think if they know they are going to get the
opportunity to sell a piece and have a price and stuff, I-- I don't see anything wrong with
it. I mean I don't think there is any statute or -- I know there is no ordinance within the
city, but I don't know if there is any state statute that would -- Emily's I'm sure
researched it, so --
Glasgow: Right. And that's what our primary -- when we were researching with the --
how the Meridian Arts Commission -- or, excuse me, the Eagle Arts Commission
handled it and it was kind of a nonissue and they have chosen to label and price each
piece.
Bird: However you want to do it is --
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April 22, 2008
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Glasgow: We feel it's more tasteful to have it off to the side.
Bird: That's fine.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I agree with Councilman Bird. However, your last insertion there that it's
more tasteful to have it be a separate thing, I agree with that. I don't think it would be in
the spirit of the gallery to have a sign on every one of the items that indicates a price..
Having it available as a separate sheet that anybody can pick up, as you put it, is more
tasteful.
Rountree: I guess I will be more blunt. I think putting the price on it will be tacky. And I
don't know that I would have a tasteful display of a tear sheet. I think you would have a
small sign at the entrance of the gallery that if you are interested in this artwork,
information can be obtained from -- direct them to the information desk and they have a
sheet that's a quality document that's given to them with the contact person and the
price and if they want to negotiate a deal, they can do that on their own. And that
makes it a little higher class. I don't know. You guys will do the right thing.
De Weerd: And, then, the next question is what information desk?
Rountree: Well, I don't know how this is going to fit as it relates to the floor plan of the
new City Hall, but somebody there will be disseminating information, I hope, about the
city. Directions --
De Weerd: We will have an area out -- or right in the art gallery, a centerpiece where
people can sit and view the art and that sort of thing. So, there will be tasteful places
where a display can be made with the literature. Otherwise, we -- we will work with the
Arts Commission. If you leave it up to them, I think the feeling is unanimous about don't
list it on the wall. Yes.
Glasgow: We will do that. All right. Moving on to the City Hall art collection. MAC
wishes to purchase ten to 14 pieces of original paintings to go through the corridors at
City Hall. We are looking to start this with partially some of our funds starting in the '09
budget season. But we are also wanting to get contributions from community members
and we have already -- on our fundraising, I'll talk about in a littie bit, but we have got
several thousand dollars afready set aside for -- people pledging financiaf support for
this purpose. It's very, very exciting. So, in doing so what we are asking, I guess, for
approval on is a 1,500 dollar price tag for a-- say a sponsor for a company, a private
individual wants to sponsor a piece of art for 1,500 dollars, that original art will be
purchased, will be framed, and on display in City Hall with an I.D. label on it, similar to --
you're familiar with St. Luke's art collection and they have the piece, the title, the work,
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April 22, 2008
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perhaps where the artist is from that pertains to St. Luke's probably more than us. But
we are wanting to keep this to Meridian area artists and, then, have a line on there that
this is provided by Idaho Power, just -- I got off the phone with Dwayne Dodson and he
has pledged 1,500 dollars for this purpose and we have got several other companies
that are very excited to be on board with this as well. So, that is underway and so if we
get approval on this, we can start soliciting and sending out the call to artists. So,
again, we are going to be asking community artists within the southwest region,
because we want this to be a little more regional than the permanent art collection, to
submit samples of the work for approval and, then, commission going forward with their
work. So, that's the next thing on our agenda.
Borton: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Borton.
Borton: Meg, is it known where those corridors are, which ones in particular are going
to be eligible for this part?
Glasgow: I have a copy of the plans and I selected, based on conversations with the
interior designer at LCA, with Will Berg and meetings that we have had kind of
identifying different ideas as far as how the Arts Commission can help with the -- of
course, visual art displays in City Hall and I identified with a minimum of ten places.
There is certainly much, much more when you start talking about more public spaces,
conference rooms, all those kind of things. But we thought we would, you know, start a
little more conservative with that figure.
Borton: Okay.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Rountree: With respect to the placement of those ten, would those be included like on a
self-guided tour of City Hall for those people who are interested in the arts and seeing
what the art collection in Meridian consisted of?
Glasgow: Absolutely. And thinking even beyond that, that the Arts Commission wants
to take an inventory of the entire civic art collection, City Hall being an important piece
of that, but there are many other art places, too, that should be noted. So, yeah.
Absolutely.
Rountree: I support that.
De Weerd: I support it, too.
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April 22, 2008
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Glasgow: So, the fact that we are already getting public interest in helping -- and
financial support of the art projects, I think shows the commitment of our city members
in getting this going and so I'm very, very excited and a lot of it was due to the article
that was in the Statesman not too long ago about the Arts Commission and our efforts
to get that underway. So, that is good news. Moving on to strategic planning. We have
contracted with Delta James, as you know, and we have scheduled our two day
strategic workshop in late May and we are really committed to focusing on a public
value strategic planning process, with a real focus on how we can connect the arts to
Meridian community values and during this process we are going to be very closely
studying the Meridian Comprehensive Plan and looking for creative, innovative ways for
the arts to contribute to all areas in the Comprehensive Plan. So, the arts gets to be
part of, you know, the sewer system -- well, we will find a way to make that happen, so
-- anyhow, so we are very excited about -- about that. That was just a point of
information for you.
De Weerd: Artistic sewer, uh?
Glasgow: You know what, arts commissions have actually had influence on electrical,
big -- where it's dangerous areas and artists have actually come in and designed a
special sign, don't touch kind of -- for fear of electrocution sign. So, artists have had
input in there. Steve Siddoway and t have been talking at length lately about working
with the arts in parks, certainly, in public spaces and walking pathways. Oh, yeah. Oh, I
have got something to show you, too, because I-- but there was a railing that was all
done with bells -- or crimes that this -- the railing along the walking path and so when
kids walked around it they could ding it as they walked passed. And so we are really
hoping that the arts can become so interactive with the community, so part of every day
experience in the City of Meridian that it's not something -- some abstract obscure thing
that nobody understands. That's not what we are wanting to do. So, we are putting our
thinking caps on. And so I'm really very excited about the strategic planning process
and identify gray areas of different things we can do. Something we are going to start
this spring, too, is a public art workshop that we are going to sponsor. It's going to be
open up to artists of all levels interested in becoming part of the public art process and
you know what it's like working with city government and particularly for artists who
haven't done it before, this is -- Delta James is going to host this for us and this is a
freebie for us. She's still working with the Idaho Commission on the Arts and this is
something that they offer arts commissions like us to get started. So, this is something
that is -- we are able to bring to the community, the citizens of southwest Idaho, the
whole region, are welcome to come and so we are working hard to find a date. We are
hoping to get 75 seats at the auditorium at Mountain View High School for that. We
expect a huge crowd. So, that's something exciting that you will be hearing more about
in the future. And fundraising, I wanted to mention that as of right now we are just right
under 5,000 dollars towards our goal of raising funds for the art project at City Hall. So,
we are working hard and we have got a lot more to do. So, we are toying with the idea
of an art auction coming up this spring, maybe a different spin on it, something kind of
creative, so I'll keep you posted as that develops and we get more plans underway. I
did have an opportunity to sit in on the Idaho Commission on the Arts grant review
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April 22, 2008
Page 14 of 43
board as they reviewed our grant and I'm so excited to report to you that ours scored
second highest in the state. We were right under the Shakespeare Festival as far as
the score system and so the odds of ours getting funded is very, very high. So, please,
keep your fingers crossed. We should know probably with the next two weeks. We are
asking for 10,000 dollars towards the massive hanging sculpture in the lobby of City
Hall.
De Weerd: It's not going to be the picture you showed me the other day; right?
Glasgow: Oh, I should have brought that. That was awesome. But, no, it won't be that.
De Weerd: It could be agricultural.
Glasgow: Something about a John Deere tractor hanging -- it lit up, though, so that
was nice.
De Weerd: It was interesting.
Glasgow: Yeah. One other point, too, that I just want to update you on. I had a very
exciting meeting this afternoon. Steve Siddoway and I met with -- what was this
gentleman's name? Vance? Vance Henry with Lochner Engineers who are designing
the Ten Mile interchange and there is a possibility to incorporate public art in the actual
concrete structure of the overpass itself. This would be the first one in the state of
Idaho, if we could pull this off. So, it's just very exciting. In fact, it's keeping me up at
night trying to figure out how we are going to make this happen with ITD with support --
it's going to take support from the city, a partnership with ITD, to make this work and so
we are going to work with the parks department on the landscaping part of it, but there
is a real chance -- if you have been to Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake, Phoenix -- have
incorporated art into the concrete structures and so we are working to identify potential
spots for how we can get done and so we could really use your support in making that
happen, because, gosh, what a great place for -- to know that you have arrived to
Meridian where this is the only overpass across I-84 that's got art incorporated on it.
So, there is huge potential there and -- so, I'll keep you posted on that as well.
De Weerd: Yes. Let us know what we need to do to support that.
Glasgow: Yes. Yes. Yes. So, that's what I had for you.
De Weerd: Wow.
Glasgow: We have been busy.
De Weerd: You have been. So, Ted, what are the next steps on the 1,500 dollar art
sponsor fee? Does that have to be published or how do we go about that?
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 15 of 43
Baird: Madam Mayor, you will have to forgive me, I have been out in the hallway with a
public matter. So, I'm not even sure what you're talking about. (s it a-- iet me ask you
a question, in aid of answering it. Is it a new fee that the city would be charging?
De Weerd: It would be new fee that the -- sponsorship fees.
Baird: Sponsorship fees, so --
De Weerd: For one of our commissions. Through the Arts Commission.
Baird: Okay. It's likely it would need to be advertised like any new fee that the city
selects, but why don't we just give the legal staff an assignment to work with the Arts
Commission and bring back whatever is appropriate, whether it's a hearing -- I'm trying
to differentiate it from say just a regular -- you know, just regular --
De Weerd: It's not a-- it's a donation.
Rountree: It's a donation.
Bird: It's a donation. That's what I was going to say.
Glasgow: And the 1,500 dollar price tag we came up with was what we felt was a very
safe average. There is going to be some pieces of art that we want to acquire that
might be more. There might be some pieces we want to purchase for less. And so the
1,500 dollars we are asking for a donation price would go towards the purchase of a
particular piece of art.
Bird: And their name would be advertised on it.
Glasgow: Yes.
Baird: Madam Mayor, if no fees are -- if I could ask a question to Ms. Glasgow. If no
fees are collected, is it true that no taxpayer money would be used to buy the artwork?
Is that correct?
Rountree: Well, your budget.
Glasgow: Yeah. It would be part of our -- Meridian Arts Commission is going to
purchase the artwork and my understanding when the donations come in, they come in
attention MAC, but they are kind of set aside to another account.
Baird: And, Madam Mayor, the reason I'm asking that question, that the -- if we are
collecting fees to offset something that would otherwise be paid by taxpayer money, we
do have to advertise those fees. I'm getting people shaking their heads and I don't have
the full facts, so why don't we just look into it, if it's appropriate, we will bring it back. If
not, legal would give its blessing to the program. Is that fair?
Meridian Ciry Council
April 22, 2008
Page 16 of 43
De Weerd: Okay.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I guess along those same lines -- and I have to admit I'm not
sure of the details of your donation, but it seems to me we need to investigate the tax
advantage, if that hasn't been done.
Baird: Any donation to the city to a dedicated fund would be eligible for a tax
advantage, without the necessity --
Rountree: I think we need to market that as well. I mean that will help.
Bird: Get our 53 -- our 501(c)(3).
De Weerd: We are not a 501(c)(3), but we are a 501(c), I think.
Bird: We aren't a 3(c)?
Baird: Just by virtue of being a municipal corporation, Madam Mayor, Members of the
Counci{, it's --
De Weerd: The only problem is if you have a foundation and even there we have found
the Idaho Community Foundation or ldaho Trust Foundation -- I can't remember what
it's called, but they run it through them and get it to the city in that fashion. So, there are
ways we can work with them. So, finance can work with you if you need documentation
on any of the tax benefits. We --
Zaremba: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: And I might suggest -- I don't know how you came up with the 1,500 dollar
figure, but I might suggest that you at least make available a greater contribution for a
bigger plaque or something like that.
Glasgow: How big do you want it?
Zaremba: You know, if they do twice the contribution, their plaque's a little bit bigger or
something.
Glasgow: There you go. So, yes, we will certainly explore that and we have created
donor levels and whatnot and we are -- we are looking at, you know, different, you
know, perks and whatnot that you will get, like dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Rountree, for
example.
De Weerd: There you go.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 17 of 43
Rountree: Drinking wine on the patio.
De Weerd: Okay. They also made a request on the naming of the gallery as Initial
Point Gallery. That is something, Council, if you feel comfortable approving tonight.
Bird: I do.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Borton: Yeah. I think it's great.
Zaremba: Nice idea.
Borton: And you have got the Foleys involved, which is perFect.
De Weerd: Okay. Well, I would like a motion.
Bird: Charlie, your wife's on that, you better make a motion.
Rountree: Yeah. Madam Mayor, I move that we endorse and approve the naming of
the new art gallery in the City Hall the Initial Point Gallery.
Bird: Second.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and second. I will ask for roll call on this.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Glasgow: Okay. Great.
De Weerd: Is that everything you needed feedback on?
Glasgow: For now. There is more coming, so I will keep you posted.
De Weerd: Well, good. You should try attending one of their meetings. ft's very
creative.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 18 of 43
Glasgow: We are a fun group.
De Weerd: We get excited.
Glasgow: Great. Well, thank you very much.
De Weerd: Thank you. And, Meg, if you will, please, tell the rest of the commission
heartfelt thanks for their -- their work, their excitement, passion, and moving forward on
these kind of projects that -- it's been relatively quick, so -- and I know sometimes it
doesn't seem that way, but it has. Thank you. If I can remind everybody, I think our
Arts Commission has been established for just about a year. So, this shows a lot of
great progress. It's exciting.
2. Update on Heritage Ball Fields:
De Weerd: Okay. Item No. 2 is an update on the Heritage ball fields and I guess,
Council, when this was last on the agenda and Dr. Clark -- we just have conflicts with
school board meetings and Dr. Clark's schedule. But when this was last on our agenda,
from what I talked with Dr. Clark about, there was some confusion on the amounts that
the school district wanted a partnership on. It was understood that, as Dr. Clark came
during our budget session on the 200,000 dollars for the lighting of the ball fields, but
the access road was one of those things that was missed in the initial review and the
school district did not have the requirement for the access roads until they put the ball
fields in and so what Dr. Clark has said, the other fees that her staff are asking for
reimbursement for as well, is not the intent. They were hoping to get a partnership, 50-
50 on the price of that access road, which was 37,000, and if you go and you look at the
programs that we provide to the community, they are at our schools and they have been
a great partner. I think this is a very viable partnership and I believe, as Steve had
updated the Council, we are ready to go with a new league to utilize those fields in a
little bit more -- less than a month and we have some work to do. So, we really need to
get this agreement done, get the price tag settled on. At this point maybe I'll ask Steve
if he can -- I did ask Steve and Stacy to look at our budget and see where that
additional 15,000 dollars could come from and Steve has been creative in the
partnership with SWAC in the bleachers and trying to find where that money can be
pulled out af. So, Steve.
Siddoway: Well, Madam Mayor, just to -- just so I'm clear on what the amount is that
the school district's hoping for -- do you know if it's the 216 -- or 218,500 or --
De Weerd: Yes.
Siddoway: Okay. So, what -- when we were last -- when we were last talking, there
was direction from the Council for 210,000. That was based on 200,000 that we had
budgeted for the lights, the 7,000 that we had budgeted for the emergency access road,
and 3,000 that went -- that we had budgeted for dug out benches that they have
installed. The -- if they are requesting the 200,000 for the lights, plus half of the
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 19 of 43
emergency access road, that would be a total of 218,500 and last week the Council
approved a recommendation from SWAC that would give us 6,000 dollars to go toward
bleachers at the Heritage ball fields. That will free up -- that could potentially free up an
additional 6,000 dol{ars of what we have currently budgeted for that -- for that park
already. We have 12,000 dollars currently budgeted for bleachers out there and with
SWAC requiring a 50-50 match, we can provide six. They provide six. Freeing up
6,000 of our -- of our budget. So, I have come up with my creative thinking cap on a
way to get 6,000. We are still about 2,500 dollars shy of what their actual request would
be and I don't have a ready solution for that extra 2,500 dollars. But that's -- I think if we
approve the 6,000 dollars that we will be receiving from SWAC as freeing up that money
to go towards balf fields, we at least have 216,000 that I can identify.
De Weerd: And, Steve, then, the 3,000 that were for the dugout benches, that's already
covered?
Siddoway: That's in the 210.
Bird: It's covered in the 210.
Rountree: That's in the 210.
De Weerd: Okay. So, really, we would --
Siddoway: Need 2,500 dollars. Well, I'm sorry --
De Weerd: No.
Borton: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: We need 5,500; right?
Siddoway: Compared to the -- to the 210,000 dollars and the -- if they are -- if their
request is 218,500, we need an additional 8,500 dollars, 6,000 of which cou{d come
from the SWAC funds and leaving a difference of 2,500.
De Weerd: Oh. Thank you. Okay. Questions from Council? We do need to move
forward on this agreement and get it signed, sealed, and get the ball fields ready for this
league to begin.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Borton.
Borton: If you're saying the request from the district is for the 18,500, just half of
37,000, the 18,500 above the 200,000, then, I would move that we approve
reimbursement to the school district in the amount of 218,500.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 20 of 43
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second. Discussion?
Bird: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Bird.
Bird: My -- my opinion hasn't changed one bit. I believe we are doing them a favor. I
pay -- 53 percent of my property taxes go to the district school -- Meridian District 2.
Twenty-two percent of it goes to the City of Meridian. I think that they -- i think they
should be grateful that we are putting lights in for them out there, let alone doing
everything else. We are not the ones that told them to go out there and build softball
fie{ds when they don't even have softball programs at the school. Each one of their high
schools have two softball fields -- lighted softball fields. I just -- I cannot support
anything over 210. I'm stretching it to be 210. But I'm one vote.
De Weerd: Okay. Is there any other discussion?
Rountree: Madam Mayor, my -- I would have the same comments that I had the last
time and, you know, I don't -- I don't have any problem with the softball fields. I don't
want to get into the history. I don't want to get into the reason why. I just want to get
into the reason that we continue to get ourselves in these deals and it seems to me this
is a deal that I don't think any of us knew we were getting into to the extent that it was
just going to continue to grow incrementally over time. So, more from the philosophical
point of view that I'm tired of deals being cut, things not being put in paper, agreements
being made and the price tags continue to rise. So, I believe the deal we made, the
deal that the Council approved initially was for 210,000 dollars and the rest of this just
seems to be, you know, out of the goodness of the Council on the part of the city. So, I
probably will maintain my previous position, not favoring any increase.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other discussion? I guess I would say, you know, the city -- we
will get a good return on our investment and, you know, I know that Councilman Bird
asked regarding this league how many of them are from Meridian and those numbers
will grow. I think this will be an asset to our community and to the region and with also
the knowledge that there will be tournaments there. It will bring economic vitality and
commerce to our community and it will just be another asset that we can utilize as not
only as a city, but as a community as a whole. So, with that said, if there is no further
comments, Madam Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, nay; Rountree, nay; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea.
De Weerd: The Madam Mayor -- the Madam Mayor, she votes aye. In favor of the
motion.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 21 of 43
MOTION CARRIED: TWO AYES. TWO NAYS. MAYOR AYE.
De Weerd: Okay. Item --
Siddoway: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes.
Siddoway: Just so that I'm clear, the additional 25 -- the additiona{ funds, do I need to
bring anything forward as a budget amendment for that or how -- we approved an
amount, but how do I get those funds in order to make the reimbursement.
Bird: See that guy down there, your liaison?
Siddoway: Okay.
Bird: Work with him to get it figured out.
Siddoway: Okay. We will get together.
Zaremba: We will do our best.
De Weerd: And, Ted, I don't know if -- if this can be -- the agreement can be put up
next week in our strategic planning. We have some liquor licenses that we also need to
put on a Consent Agenda for that meeting.
Baird: Madam Mayor and Members of the Council, in anticipation of some sort of
approval tonight, Mr. Siddoway has already brought the matter up with Mr. Nary and it
was agreed that -- the agreement's ready to go, we will get it on the agenda next week.
At your planning -- because you do -- it's a meeting -- it's a publicly noticed meeting and
you have got an agenda that you can put it on if that's your direction.
De Weerd: Mr. Baird, I would ask if the agreement is that close to Council's
consideration, that you e-mail that out, the document, so Council can read it.
Baird: Certainly, Madam Mayor. And we normally like to have the signature of the
other party on those first before we send them to you. We will do -- we will make every
effort to do that by next Tuesday.
C. Planning Department
1. Split Corridor Phase 1 Landscaping Agreement:
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you, Steve. Okay. Item 7-C is our Planning Department.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 22 of 43
Ellsworth: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Item 7-B-1 is the split
corridor interagency agreement for landscaping of that project. As you know, ACHD's
moving forward to begin construction of the split corridor phase one next year. At the
same time, MDC has contracted with CSHQA to develop a landscaping design plan for
that project. What this interagency agreement does is just outline the rules and
responsibilities of each entity, ACHD, the city, and MDC. As far as the city is
concerned, the three responsibilities of the outline -- or the -- excuse me -- the
agreement identifies for the city are to, one, grant ACHD whatever necessary
construction easements there are to install the landscaping. Two, provide water and
power for the landscaping and street lighting once construction is complete. And,
finally, to, once construction is complete, assume responsibility for maintaining that
landscaping. The one element of this that -- that we wanted to specifically make you
aware of was a stipulation that, essentially, says that if at anytime in the future the city
fails to maintain, ACHD, then, has the right to come in, make whatever necessary
adjustments there are, whether it be to install hard-scaping, removing that landscaping,
whatever the case may be and, then, send the bill to the city for those -- for expenses.
Due to the importance of this corridor, I can't imagine anytime in the future that that
would become an issue, but I did want to identify it, so that you were aware. So, the
request on the table here is your consideration of this landscaping agreement. And,
then, a brief write up with tonight's date and this item identified as the attachment is the
full agreement. The section that I just mentioned is Section 6-C, if anybody would care
to review that language. With that I'd stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Steve?
Siddoway: Madam Mayor and Matt, I assume the responsibility for that maintenance
will come to the parks department and do you -- how soon do you anticipate that that
landscaping would be completed enough taking it over, because I'm wondering about
any enhancements that might be needed for the coming budget year or is it the one
after that that we would be looking at?
Ellsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, and Mr. Siddoway, I couldn't identify
a specific date. I would have to check back at those project schedules and how the
roadway construction coming together with the fandscaping, but if that's the information
that would be needed to make this decision, then, I can track it down.
Siddoway: Is it still an '09 construction project?
Ellsworth: Correct.
De Weerd: Spring of'09; right?
Ellsworth: I believe so. That's -- yes.
Siddoway: So, it would be at least summer -- it would be close to the end of that fiscal
year before we would be taking over any maintenance. I just need to think through that.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 23 of 43
I don't know if any cost estimates have been prepared for the maintenance, but we have
got to work together on that and -- just so that we are prepared for that when it comes.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
Rountree: I-- just one. As the contractual aspect goes forward, make sure that we
have a maintenance and warranty agreement on that installation, so -- for a minimum of
a year, so when we do inherit it, it's up, it's growing, it's working, and it does not
necessarily become a burden to the city. And that's not unusual in those kinds of
landscaping arrangements.
Ellsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilman Rountree, could you
repeat the specific terminology you had there on that?
Rountree: Just maintenance and warranty period of a minimum of a year on -- on all --
on the entire landscaping project. That would include the plumbing, the irrigation
system equipment, and electronics and the vegetation, and any lighting that would be
installed in conjunction with that.
Effsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, if that's the case, should I bring this
back to the staff level and allow each jurisdiction's legal staffs to get on the same page
with that language and, then, furnish a new agreement for you to consider at a future
meeting?
Baird: Madam Mayor, may I answer that question?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Baird: I have been reviewing the drafts ofi this agreement and I couldn't tell you right
now whether or not that warranty provision is in there. I'm familiar with the language
that you refer to, because I have seen it in {TD agreements. I guess the question I
would have for Matt is is there still time for us to make that request? I think we reviewed
a draft that was pretty near final, but if that's going to be a deal breaker to the Council, I
think it's a good idea. Do we have an opportunity to do that? Madam Mayor, could we
have that question answered by Matt as to where we are with the process?
Ellsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Mr. Baird, what staff has been
discussing in order to bring these projects together and still flow with the proposed
schedules for the roadway construction, along with the landscaping, is a signed
agreement by June 1 st. So, I brought it to you a little bit early, just in case anything like
this came up, we would still have time, I believe, to get it back to the staff level, clean it
up, and, then, bring the new version before you.
De Weerd: And, Matt, I think it's fair to bring it -- or frame it in context with the typical
language that ITD has, so we are not inventing anything.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 24 of 43
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I would be surprised if it isn't in their contract language. I just
want to make sure that it is and it's bid into the project.
Baird: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, while Matt's presenting the next matter,
I will pull that agreement up and if it's in there I can waive you down and give you an
update.
De Weerd: Okay.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Zaremba: I would add one thing. If there is a provision that -- if they find something
wrong with our maintenance of the landscaping that they can fix it and charge us, I think
we should find out a way to work in a clause that if there is an intersection in the city
that's not working, we should be able to fix it and send them the bill.
Bird: Be careful what you say.
Rountree: We will point that out to you in a few months if you're successful.
Zaremba: Things might come back to bite me, maybe.
Bird: Madam Clerk, would you mark that down on the tape? We might want that for
future reference.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further, Council?
Rountree: No. I have nothing.
De Weerd: Okay. So, did you get the -- enough feedback, Matt?
Ellsworth: Well, I believe so. I was under the impression that Mr. Baird was going to
review the language and if it is already in there, we can follow up after the next agenda
item.
2. Fairview / Main Intersection Analysis:
De Weerd: Yes, we will do that. Okay. Item 2, Fairview - Main intersection analysis.
Ellsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, on April 8th I presented an update
on the three transportation related projects that are coming together in downtown.
Based on that discussion, Council Members requested additional analysis be conducted
to take a look at the configuration of the intersection of Main and Fairview. I ended up
discussing the requested changes with ACHD's consultant, who is designing split
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 25 of 43
corridor phase two. He, then, produced a cost estimate for those -- those model runs
and their analysis of them. The total that he came up with was 3,100 dollars. When I
ran that back by ACHD's project manager for split corridor phase finro and asked
whether or not it's the sort of thing that could simply be rolled into that project, he
indicated that this early on in his project he doesn't have the wiggle room to do that. So,
there are a couple of different ways to move -- move forward in obtaining the requested
information. One, which is the direction that you guys have pointed toward on April 8th
is to send a request to ACHD's commission asking that they -- that they work that
additional analysis into the split corridor project. If that's still the direction preferred by
Council, then, there is a draft letter for your consideration included as attachment one
on the brief write-up that I provided in your packet. Other options to consider, should
you feel -- feel it's appropriate, would be to allow the Planning Department budget to
pay for any additional analysis or to approach MDC about the possibility of splitting the
cost. The only advantage is of taking a look at it from a different angle here would be to
expedite the process. Some of the information may come in handy for Council
Members who will sit on the policy steering committee for the Fairview discussions. But
I guess there is a draft letter for your consideration, should you feel -- feel like going to
ACHD is the way to move it forward.
De Weerd: Discussion, Council?
Borton: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: Matt, did I hear you right? And I'm -- as I read this, that the request to have
ACHD fund that additional cost, there is no room to do so? Is that's right?
Ellsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilman Borton, he indicated
that based on his existing budget it's going along exactly as itemized in his budget so
far, because it's a relatively new project. Things haven't shifted around at all. So, he
doesn't have the wiggle room just to simply make the adjustment right now. However,
he did indicate that -- that, obviously, at the direction of his commission they could shift
things around, whether it's between projects, where ever they need to go for that
additional money, to approach it that way. If that's the way it would move forward, then,
it would start with a letter from the city to the commission requesting that they do so.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Wouldn't the phase two planning on their part include some treatment of that
intersection? I mean they can't just ignore that Main ends there. I would think that
would already be in their discussion. Are we asking them to do anything that would be
outside of what they ought to be going at that intersection anyhow?
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 26 of 43
Elisworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Councilman Zaremba, part of that
project scope is to examine several of the intersections in that area, including Main -
Meridian -- or, excuse me, Meridian and Fairview, Main and Fairview, Pine and
Meridian, a couple of others. The configurations discussed on April 8th were not part of
the preliminary analysis that they conducted and as a result it's, essentially, something
that was overlooked in the earlier analysis.
Zaremba: So, they are studying the intersection, but not the solutions that we
suggested.
Ellsworth: Correct.
Zaremba: Okay.
Rountree: Madam Mayor. Just a comment. And I know we are all looking for ways to
fund our various needs and desires, but it seems to me that if a project is scoped so
tightly, with a preconceived notion of what the solution is, what's the point of asking for
input. I mean I'd rather be told that this is what they are going to do, than, spend 15 to
20 minutes looking at what they are proposing and, then, offering a constructive
comment. They are wasting my time and we are wasting theirs. I could really get
angry, but I'm not going to.
Bird: I will for you.
Rountree: And I can appreciate their budget constraints. I know them well. But, boy, if
it's -- if it's -- if their pencil is that sharp at this point, they better design the projects and
just start laying them on everybody and quit asking for input.
De Weerd: I guess, Council, you know, there is a concern that they will abandon the
light at Main and Fairview and it's just going to be the easiest thing for them to do and
that will be a detriment to downtown. I was driving on Franklin thinking Franklin and
Meridian -- Franklin and Main and Franklin and 3rd are not so different from Franklin --
or those intersections on Fairview. I don't know why there seems to be this -- this extra
stuff going on in thinking we need to take away lights and change things. It works on
Fairview, it should work on -- or it works on Franklin, it should be able to work on
Fairview. It's just a T, instead of a four way intersection. So, I just don't want that
intersection to be lost in let's do the easiest thing and not -- not take into consideration
the impact it's going to have on the vibrancy of the downtown.
Ellsworth: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, what I'm hearing, then, I suppose is
still in agreement that this analysis needs to occur and it sounds like Council would
prefer the latter and the request to ACHD that they include this in the projects that they
have underway.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I guess my comment is that spin that nicely in the letter that
we were asked as part of their process and we gave them what we feel is, at a
Meridian Ciry Council
April 22, 2008
Page 27 of 43
minimum, some suggestions that we would like them to consider and include in the
scope of their project. Yeah. And I would hope they would be open to that.
De Weerd: And that's, essentially, what the letter says.
Rountree: Yeah. Okay.
De Weerd: I think it is a good letter. So --
Rountree: Good by me. Option one.
De Weerd: -- Council, you're good about moving forward on this?
Rountree: Yeah. Uh-huh.
De Weerd: Okay.
Ellsworth: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you, Matt. Okay. The next item is the ACHD update on the status of
the growth alliance MOU.
Baird: Madam Mayor, before I open that item, I want to report to you back on the
question on the split corridor phase one landscaping agreement. It's not specifically
mentioned, but there is a provision that ACHD will bid the items for the landscape
project to meet their standards. I'm pretty sure that their standard bids include a one
year warranty, but I will get that spelled out. If there is time we will get it in the
agreement. If not, we will have it in a letter to you. But the important thing is that that
will be transferable to the city as the party maintaining the agreement. So, appreciate
you pointing that out. My primary concern was getting the non-appropriations language
right. When we first looked at this, it appeared to me that for some reason if we weren't
able to fund the maintenance, that we would have to refund them for the entire project.
We got it down to just -- we got it down to an explanation that we would just have to pay
them to tear it out, if you ever decided to stop maintaining it. But that's just an aside.
So, with that matter put away, we will get to the present item that's before you. The
drafts of the Alliance for Good Growth MOU, in your packet you have a memorandum
again from Emily Kane. She's provided three drafts of the agreement. The ACHD draft,
Boise city's comments, and Emily's comments on behalf of the City of Meridian. As you
recall, this came out of the ULI report from June of '07, I believe it was, where they,
basically, said everybody shou{d get together and --
Rountree: Hold hands.
Baird: It sounds like you're familiar with that report. And, really, what -- to -- I think the
Mayor wanted me to just sort of comment on the drafting process and, then, throw it
open for discussion. It appears to me from review of the e-mails, that this was sent out
Meridian City Councii
April 22, 2008
Page 28 of 43
by ACHD's attorney, to the attorneys for the other jurisdictions. I understand there was
some direction that they get planning staff from all the jurisdictions involved, but in
talking with our planning director, there has been no such involvement. From a quick
review of the agreement it really doesn't do anything, except put you in a room to talk,
like you do --
Rountree: Anyway.
Baird: All kinds of alliances that already exist.
De Weerd: That allows you to spend money to do so.
Baird: And, you know, not to open with a negative, but that's -- that's my take on it and I
know that the Mayor has some comments, so if there are no other questions of ine, I'll
throw it back to you.
De Weerd: I guess, Council -- and looking at these three different drafts, it's -- it's
something that we should be able -- I haven't changed my opinion on this. We either
need a paradigm shift to something that is different or we wrap it into Compass and
utilize their staff and budget and what we are already paying for in that regard. There
does need to be a greater focus on the five year plan and that we all need to be a part
of that discussion, but the proposals that I have seen doesn't change anything, other
than it gives us an opportunity for one more meeting and it gives us an opportunity to
pay fees into just yet another entity. So, I don't see any value. It doesn't detail once
this group would recommend to ACHD, what kind of weight that recommendation has or
anything else. So, as it's proposed here, I'm certainly not going to advocate for another
meeting and more dues.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, question?
De Weerd: Yes.
Rountree: !s that going to be the position you present tomorrow?
De Weerd: If that's -- if Council agrees with me. Right now it's just my own personal
opinion.
Rountree: Well, I'm just wondering -- you are seeking our opinion as to --
De Weerd: Yes.
Rountree: -- how to represent the city at that -- it is tomorrow, is it not?
De Weerd: It's either tomorrow or Thursday. Tomorrow.
Rountree: Tomorrow.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 29 of 43
De Weerd: And I'm really looking forward to it.
Rountree: I don't disagree with yours or Ted's assessment of what I have seen, heard,
or been involved in, so you got my support.
Bird: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I'll second what Charlie just said and I-- I think it's just another addition of
bureaucracy that we don't need. I-- reading all those MOUs that we get on the e-mail, I
don't see where that will accomplish anything, but -- but make people feel good and I'm
like you, I paid -- we pay enough dues, because people -- all budgets are tight. Let me
guarantee you Meridian's is going to get tight, too.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I understand the purpose of putting this group together, but I from the very
beginning and in the interim have not really had my mind changed that I believe the
correct forum for this is under the auspices of Compass, to whom we already belong
and pay fees. The little additional work that this would take on, they have already
explained that they are capable of doing. If necessary, there might be a small
incremental charge from Compass to cover some extra administrative work, but it would
be far different than setting up a whole separate committee and meeting and I agree
with what others have said, there are boards around the Treasure Valley that are all
made up of the same people, several boards, and while I understand ACHD's position is
there is certain powers that they don't feel they can give up, I think they also understand
the value of the cities and counties working together with each other to provide input to
the CIP and the five year work plan, which we now do individually. So, I feel that the
goal of the ULI's suggestion was that there needs to be a forum where all of the cities
work together to make the priorities clear, that we have agreed among ourselves, so it
isn't one city against the other, which puts ACHD in a bad position and pits the cities
against them, but I still have felt through most of the process that there isn't any reason
why this couldn't be a small augmentation to what Compass does, as opposed to a
whole separate setup and I believe Compass has offered.
De Weerd: Yes, they have. You know, I guess, you know, my -- in my simple mind, I
thought one way you could do this that would require a shift in the thinking and that
would be this regional alliance under the Compass umbrella, that would come together
and look at the recommendations from ACHD in terms of a percentage of budget to
regional improvements, a percentage of budget to each local municipality, that, then,
the local municipality can give recommendations and kind of manage that budget to
prioritized the Iocal needs, those needs that are not in the regional realm of
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 30 of 43
transportation corridor. So, let's say Kuna has a three million dollar project, but it takes
them two years to save their money towards. They can do that. Or Meridian has four
intersections that they get with their percentage -- and it's population based. And one of
the intersections goes over budget, well, then, it's taken out of the fourth intersection
and you delay that until your next budget year. There has to be something different.
But if we are going to stay the same, we might as well just use the tools that are already
out there and that's through Compass.
Bird: I don't see what this thing is going to change from what we are doing right now,
Mayor. I'm serious. Other than cause more confusion. And I think you'll pit the cities
against each other worse. I'd leave it -- I don't see where it's an improvement. There is
a heck of a lot more cons than there is pros, in my opinion.
De Weerd: Not in this document, there is no --
Bird: Not anything I have read.
De Weerd: But I do think I have a brilliant suggestion. It's just not its time yet. But I will
bring back tomorrow that the City of Meridian is not interested in another layer of
bureaucracy and another opportunity to pay dues with something that doesn't seem like
it's going to be anything different than we already do.
Bird: Compass is already raising our dues. Emergency management is not raising our
dues. Hallelujah. Other than our growth.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes.
Zaremba: I heard you mention tomorrow, but I don't remember if anybody has said the
next meeting of this group is at 2:30 tomorrow at ACHD headquarters and it's open to
the public, which means we can all go. The last several meetings all of Boise city
council has been there as well. The mayor sits at the table, but their council has been
there in the audience.
Bird: I was going to say, they want it, you can tell that.
Zaremba: Well, they want something with teeth in it. They haven't been --
Bird: They want something that's got teeth for Boise, not for Meridian or Kuna or Eagle.
De Weerd: I don't think their MOU shows that they want something with teeth in it,
though.
Zaremba: I'm sure their revisions they want to change things --
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Aprif 22, 2008
Page 31 of 43
Bird: They want control, though, Tammy.
. Zaremba: -- and did some other little fiddle diddle, but --
De Weerd: Other than they want us all to pay the same amount and, you know -- well --
Bird: At 2:30 at ACHD, uh?
Zaremba: 2:30 at ACHD headquarters.
De Weerd: I don't read lips.
Bird: Joe has been quiet and he was our representative.
Borton: I did rep one of those.
De Weerd: I think you've all had a turn.
Bird: Not me.
De Weerd: Anna, do you have something you wanted to add?
Canning: No, ma'am. I will get in trouble.
De Weerd: Okay.
Rountree: Not here f don't think.
Bird: No.
De Weerd: So, Council, you feel comfortable with me just going and saying if this is
what it is, the City of Meridian is not interested?
Rountree: 1f that's the best that could be done, we are not interested.
Bird: You got my vote.
De Weerd: Okay. Can I float my brilliant idea?
Bird: Do whatever you want.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Bird: We might not agree with it, but do what you want.
Rountree: We might not agree with it, so you might want to just --
Meridian Ciry Council
April 22, 2008
Page 32 of 43
Bird: Say i got a blond moment.
De Weerd: Oh, thank you, gray haired old man.
Zaremba: Are you going to tell us your brilliant idea?
De Weerd: Well, yeah, I really do think that you can get an alliance together with some
teeth. They still make a recommendation to the Ada County Highway District board, but
you use their annual budget and in a five year plan, you dedicate let's say 45 percent of
their budget to regional significant projects that the board makes recommendation,
prioritizes and, then, you give 20 percent to cities that would be diwied out per
population, that the cities, then, would look at their local need, whether it's intersections,
sidewalks, pathways, collector improvements, what have you, and, then, they have the
recommending for their own municipality and those recommendations are brought to the
ACHD board as well. The rest is maintenance and, you know, overall they are still in
charge of constructing and, you know, putting their stamp on it, but I think with -- the
desire that has been pretty much communicated by most every community within
ACHD's jurisdiction, that they want some local economy. You can achieve that. You
can still move toward your regional corridor improvement with a regional and valley wide
perspective with the percentage there, so you're really focusing on actual corridor
improvements, instead of one mile section improvement, and move in that direction.
But, like I said, it would take a real paradigm shift to move in that direction. But it really
does achieve a lot of what we people have been sitting around that table complaining
about. It may -- maybe it's too simple to work. But that way if Meridian has a project
that comes up short or over budget, then, Meridian has to figure which project they are
going to delay another year, instead of the way it currently is.
Zaremba: That sounds like an improvement to me. I hope you make that suggestion.
Bird: Madam Mayor, that sounds great, because, then, at least when we take the heat
we are the ones that's made the decision.
De Weerd: Well -- and, see, that's some of the local decision-making that -- again, it
doesn't take away their statutorial final say, but it gives them -- I think it gives them
greater direction, it gives the cities maybe greater influence on what happens in their
own city limits, it gives the smaller cities that opportunity to save towards either minor or
major improvements. So -- I don't know. Like I said, it may be too simple, but it's --
Bird: I'm afraid it might go over like a lead balloon in water, but --
De Weerd: Oh, well.
Borton: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: I have said things that have gone over exactly like that before.
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April 22, 2008
Page 33 of 43
Bird: So have I, Tammy. More than I--
De Weerd: Mr. Borton.
Borton: So, as long as it's a-- it's a recommending proposition, it has no teeth. I mean
to really accomplish the goal that I think you're trying to get to, there has got to be a
statutory relinquishment of control over those funds and their allocations, which is a
massive hill to climb. But to the extent a municipality gets the chance to recommend
some portion of the funds locally -- and we make recommendations to them often now
and they are duly noted and they do what they need to do, but to truly have the control
over those funds and control your destiny on certain key intersections and funding, et
cetera, there has to be a statutory change.
De Weerd: But they are not -- I mean at least this way they would be earmarked. You
would have your percentage allocation earmarked.
Borton: That stuff s earmarked all the time with them and budgeted and programmed
and changed and -- and with all due respect, they are in a tough spot. I don't disagree,
it's just one of the things that -- the word recommend dilutes so many great ideas.
De Weerd: Well, maybe we take the recommend and I can say City Council
recommended -- I take recommend out of there.
Borton: I'm not suggesting --
Bird: No. Say I am.
Borton: That's a bigger topic.
Bird: 1 am proposing this, not recommending. I'm proposing this. And, then, Joe will be
happy.
De Weerd: Okay.
Borton: No. No. You're at the wrong -- I'm making reference to the phrase: The City
Council reviews X percentage of the budget and we recommend to ACHD that as to our
city specific improvements, we recommend you do A, B and C. That's the recommend
that causes problems, because it has no teeth.
De Weerd: Well -- and maybe with the local percentage you -- you give them your
projects. I mean those are the projects that the money is to go to. But the regional one
-- it's all semantics. But the idea is -- is great.
Rountree: Let me throw some water on your idea.
Meridian Ciry Council
April 22, 2008
Page 34 of 43
De Weerd: Oh, crap.
Rountree: And I would say, you know, it's a-- it is a simple solution and it sounds really
good, but allocation doesn't work particularly well in times of short falls of money.
ACHD's difficulty is is they have rather large projects that cost a lot of money that need
to be done. When you start allocating by chipping away at their base revenue sources,
they would get to a point where they won't be able to build anything of any size or
significance, which is pretty close to where they are right now, only to meet an allocation
commitment to whomever for a bike path, a foot bridge, a minor intersection
improvement, maybe a temporary light, whatever. When you're flush with money or
when you can meet your basic needs and you have revenues in excess of those, then,
allocation works pretty well and everybody kind of comes away feeling pretty good
about it. But the basic flaw in that is if you don't have sufficient funds to meet your basic
needs and in ACHD's mind they just have barely enough money to meet their basic
need of maintaining what they have got, and the cost of doing the work they do now
costs them so much, they need all the flexibility they can as a board to try to figure out
how to prioritize the billions of dollars worth of need with, you know, a few million dollars
-- their construction budget is, you know, less than 50 million dollars a year. Probably
less than 35 million dollars. That's one good project of some of the projects they have
the magnitude to deal with. And don't -- allocation just makes that more difficult, being
able to do those big needed projects. I know a rather large agency in the transportation
business that does distribute funds statewide on an allocation basis and there isn't --
and there isn't a region in the state that's happy with their funding.
Bird: That's the same as there is not going to be a city in the county.
Rountree: And Anna's going to recommend we have --
De Weerd: Thanks for the wet blanket, Mr. Rountree. Yes, Anna.
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Mr. Ellsworth also wanted me to
point out that if we did it on a population basis, because they have been -- because
ACHD has allocated a large amount of their resources into the Boise area for the last
ten years, actually, the need is more out here, so they would still be putting more into
Boise based on population than they would in the need areas. So, just be careful
suggesting on a population basis versus a--
De Weerd: Well, that was only the local allocation. I would imagine that regionally with
all the regional identified corridors that run through Meridian a lot of those regional
corridors would be done in --
Canning: One would hope.
De Weerd: They actually need to connect any of the smaller cities, too, so --
Canning: And Madam Mayor --
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 35 of 43
De Weerd: It was selfish.
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, if there is a statutory change, as
suggested by Mr. Borton -- there is all sorts of statutory changes we could do that may
work better in the interest of the city than continuing the way we are.
De Weerd: I thought you weren't going to say that. I knew there was trouble when you
stepped up to the mike. Thank you. Council, any other discussion, other than tomorrow
I will go and tell them if this is it, we are not interested?
Rountree: Sounds good to me.
Bird: That sounds good to me. And we will be waiting for your answer.
D. Parks Department
1. Update on Kaboom Application to Construct a
Playground at Kiwanis Park:
De Weerd: Okay. Well, good. If there is nothing further and Matt is gone, so -- we
have Mr. Siddoway.
Rountree: Kaboom.
De Weerd: Kaboom.
Siddoway: Kaboom. Madam Mayor and Council, this is an item that is informational at
this point. It's something I hope to be back in front of you within a few weeks. I want to
make sure you're aware of it. About three weeks or so ago I was conta~ted by an
organization called Kaboom. They are a national organization that focuses on play
issues nationwide and they provide grants for building playground facilities. I received a
call from them; they said we have a sponsor in your area that wants to fund a
playground in the Meridian area. We are soliciting applications not only from Meridian,
but from surrounding communities as well, but they asked if we were interested in
applying for the use of their sponsored funds, to which I replied, why, yes, I think I would
like to do that. So, we put together an application and sent it in. The following week we
had a conference call, Councilman Zaremba sat in on that, where we met with Kiwanis
and we are targeting Kiwanis Park as the likely recipient of this playground, if we are
successful in the application. The way it would work is if we are successful and we are
chosen, they would -- they require about -- they require a 10,000 dollar local match.
They build a 40,000 dollar play structure. They require that we are able to mobilize
volunteers from the community and they would do a large build day. They are targeting
the month of June and if we are successful -- I know the Mayor would like us to see if
we can have it coincide with the week of the AIC conference, so we can use the -- the
advisory council -- youth advisory councils from across the state as part of this. The
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 36 of 43
Kiwanis group has -- has been at the table and is willing to help us mobilize volunteers.
We are required to have about at least 70, but they will have jobs available for up to 200
volunteers that day. They will also, in preparation for the June build day, have a May
design day, where they will ask children from the surrounding neighborhood to come
together in a design charrette of sorts, that they will lead, have them design their dream
playground, and, then, they will ship that off to Playworld Systems, who would be the --
the organization that would donate the actual playground structure and, then, they
would send back some alternatives for us to select from. I know that the Council wants
to be made aware of any strings that are attached with such items, so I have that here.
Bird: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Yes.
Bird: While he's handing out, Ted has worked with these people in Boise before. I'd
like his opinion before we have to read this.
Baird: Madam Mayor, Councilmember Bird just asked me if I had seen the agreement
and whether it was anything that we could sign and I have done a quick review of it and
I'm familiar with the form from having worked with the organization at the city of Boise.
There is an insurance requirement that I will have to make sure that we are covering
and it will be hard to reach, but if you're just wondering is it something that we can
legally accommodate, I think the answer is yes.
Siddoway: We did request their boilerplate contract language, just received that, and
we have sent that over to the legal department. Emily has it right now and I guess Ted
does, too. So, we do have that -- their boilerplate contract language in hand. We
should know, I would think, within a week or two, whether we are selected, if they are
truly to do a design day in May and a build day in June. So, if we are selected this
could move forward fairly fast. We were asked last week to acknowledge that -- an
understanding of their strings. They do have the 10,000 dollar requirement. I have
checked the budget today and our Kiwanis park budget has a balance of 16,000 dollars,
so we do -- we do have the 10,000 dollars that's required, but I would actually like to see
if we couldn't leverage part of that 10,000 dollars from our partners, such as Kiwanis,
and/or the homeowners association. So, be pursuing that as part of it. The other items,
the site prep is done. We can certainly do the utility checks, the soil test. We have
legal looking into the liability and maintenance issues. We can certainly except and
have other playground from Playworld Systems and use the engineer wood fiber for
safety surfacing in most of our playgrounds. So, any questions or comments about the
requirements of this application if we are successful?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Rountree.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 37 of 43
Rountree: I have two comments or questions about the last two items. Given that
these systems don't last forever and at some point in time we replace them, are we
bound to replace them with Playworld Systems if they, in fact, are still in business? And
it seems like the last one is also the same sort of thing, engineering wood fiber, it
doesn't give me a named product, but I think there is only one company that builds that
stuff at this point. So, it's a-- it's a way for them to have a future outlet for their product.
So, if there is an equivalent that comes down the road say ten years from now and this
stuff needs to be replaced on a fairly cyclic basis, can we use some other kind of
material? Is the contract so tight that we can't?
Siddoway: We can certainly look into that. I haven't actually seen the contract, so we
can look through that, but the -- I would be surprised if it required to be replaced with
another Playworld Systems playground, but it's a question that needs to be asked, so I'll
look into that.
Rountree: If it was a federal government deal they would require that.
Siddoway: Yeah. Yeah.
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree, I guess, you know, Boise is -- has done a couple of these and
I know Nampa has as well. So, I know in talking to their mayors that have been there
when they have had these, there hasn't been any of those concerns stated, but I doubt
if that would come up in a general conversation. So, we will look for those details.
Baird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes.
Baird: Members of the Council, Councilmember Rountree, I'm looking at -- just glossing
this over and it jumps out at me that the city is the owner of the playground in its
entirety. It talks about taking care of -- using the maintenance agreements or the
warranties from the manufacturer and going to them for advice, but so far nothing's
jumping out at me that smacks of --
Rountree: That binds us to that.
Baird: Yeah. I think we own it for the life of the equipment and, then, after that it would
be our expectation that we can do whatever with it. We will scrub it. It's about ten
pages long, so we will make sure we look for those things and if they are in there we will
bring them to your attention.
Rountree: And that's all I ask. So, at some future point -- I think that's a good deal, but
at some future point, if another Mayor and Council has to deal with it, they don't get a
surprise.
Baird: Yeah.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 38 of 43
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Steve, I take it this is a one day build day. They do all of it in one day?
Siddoway: Yes.
Bird: They need 70 volunteers?
Siddoway: They are, actually, hoping for up to 200 and they will be doing other side
projects as well, other than the actual playground. They are going to want to plant
flowers and do improvements to the pond area and lots of different things. But it's over
one day.
Bird: But we are going to bring kids, aren't we?
Siddoway: Lots of kids.
Bird: Because if not, we could bring those young people that -- hey, they do a good job.
We use them at the baseball fields all the time. Out of 60 of them you will get two that
don't work and the other 50 bust their rears. This -- community service people. A
deputy sheriff comes with them. But they can't be around kids -- we can't allow even
our legion kids to come out with them.
Siddoway: The Kiwanis Club has offered to help us contact the homeowners
association, get their involvement. Kaboom does do their build days on weekdays, not
weekends, so that's going to be something to overcome in terms of mobilizing a lot of
people that might be working that day, but --
De Weerd: Well -- and we have had companies that have been looking for projects, not
just to put money to, but to put time donations of their workforce. This might be
something that once we find out we can approach a couple of different companies that
have indicated interest. Also, as Steve had mentioned, the AIC youth track is looking
for a valley project that they can engage their youth members that are attending the
youth track with AIC conference and so we would be asking Kaboom if they could move
that one week out to the third week or fourth week of June. So, I think there is a lot of
good opportunities for community involvement. The Kiwanis also said they would get
their key clubs involved and I think this would be a really exciting project that we can
really give some profile to the parks system, to that new park, and get some good media
coverage as well, because they will bring media coverage with them.
Siddoway: Yeah. I believe it is something that would be -- attract media coverage and
a lot of excitement within the neighborhood that surrounds the park as well.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 39 of 43
Bird: Sounds good to me.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: One of the -- one of the things that they talked about -- even though the build
day is one day, they sound to be very organized. There is, actually, some staging days
ahead of that where they -- they time out delivery of materials that will be needed. They
have a plan for how to use 200 people if we can get 200 people there and I think one of
the things that struck me -- and 1 don't remember whether it was on a fax that they sent
or some other piece of paper, but at the bottom of it it made reference to a thousand
parks in a thousand days, which I think is a program they did {ast year. So, this is not a
new thing to this organization.
Siddoway: No. In fact, they said that they would send us a list of the subcommittees
that they would expect to be organized and we would be using Kiwanis members and
things to help out with those subcommittees.
De Weerd: They are very organized. We tried to get this for Adventure Island and they
gave it to Nampa.
Bird: That's right.
Siddoway: So, I'll stand for any other additional questions. I should find out in a couple
weeks whether we are selected and, if so, then, we will be before you at some point
with a draft contract, so --
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, since we are kind on the topic, too, of neat community
activities, is we got -- I got a call when I was out of town last week from a reporter or a
writer for Family Circle magazine and it looks like Meridian has -- is in the finalist
consideration for being one of ten communities nationally that they highlight as best
places to raise a family and so they called again today and were asking for names and
numbers for Meridian families that he could interview who fit a specific demographic
and, actually, I'll share this with you after the meeting and see if you have any ideas, but
I thought that was -- maybe since we didn't get one of the 100 best places for young
people, this was even better, so -- he had done some research and Meridian rose to the
top and so it was at least a good discussion with that reporter and thanks to Steve and
Anna and Robert and Shelly for pulling together and -- is Jeff over there?
Rountree: He's hiding.
De Weerd: He's hiding behind the recorder. I can never see him. And Ron. So, it was
a good team effort in pull very quickly together some information to get to this guy and
he was very impressed. So, thanks for your efforts.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 4Q of 43
Item 8: Items Moved from Consent Agenda:
De Weerd: Okay. We will move -- there were no items moved from the Consent
Agenda. We have already listed nine and ten.
Item 11: Public Hearing: AZ 08-003 Request for Annexation and Zoning of 12.06
acres from RUT to R-40 (10.56 acres) and C-C (1.15 acres) zones for
Reqencv at River Vallev (REVISED) by Mason & Stanfield - 2500 North
Eagle Road:
Item 12: Public Hearing: CUP 08-004 Request for Conditional Use Permit for a
multi-family development in a proposed R-40 zoning district for Re~encv
at River Vallev by Mason & Stanfield - 2500 North Eagle Road:
Item 13: Public Hearing: VAR 08-002 Request for Variance to UDC Table 11-3C-
6 for a reduction in the number of parking spaces required for multi-family
dwellings in covered carports or garages for ReAencv at River Valley by
Mason & Stanfield - 2500 North Eagle Road:
De Weerd: Eleven, twelve and thirteen have been requested to be continued. Do l
have a motion?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we continue public hearings -- have we opened them? Did you open
them?
De Weerd: Oh, sure. I opened those three items.
Bird: Okay. I move we continue Items 11, 12 and 13 to May 20th, 2008.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to continue Items 11 and 12 public
hearings to May 20th. All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 14: Public Hearing: AZ 06-063 Request for Annexation and Zoning of 38.68
acres from RUT and R-1 zones to C-G zones for Waltman Prouertv (aka
Brownina Plaza) by Waltman, LLC - 505, 521, 615 and 675 Waltman
Lane: Continue Public Hearing to May 6, 2008 Meeting
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 41 of 43
Item 15: Public Hearing: PP 08-001 Request for Preliminary Plat approval of 52
commercial / office lots and 1 common lot on 38.21 acres in a proposed C-
G zoning district for Browninct Plaza (aka Waltman Propertv) by SLN
Planning, Inc. - 505, 521, 615 and 675 W. Waltman Lane: Continue
Public Hearing to May 6, 2008 Meeting
De Weerd: Items 14 and 15 are also public hearings on AZ 06-063 and PP 08-011. I
will open these two public hearings, which have been also requested to continue.
Bird: Madam Mayor'?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we continue Items 14 and 15 until May 6, 2008.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to continue Items 14 and 15 to May
6th. All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 16: Continued Public Hearing from April 15, 2008: ZOA 07-002 Request
for a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to amend the current provisions in
Chapter 3, Article E(Temporary Use Requirements) of the UDC (Title 11)
and the definition of Temporary Use found in Chapter 1, Article A for
Temporarv Use UDC Text Amendment by the Meridian City Planning
Department:
De Weerd: Item 16 was -- is a continued public hearing from April 15th on ZOA 07-002.
I will ask for staff comments.
Canning: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I believe the item was continued just
because we had made some last minute changes to the ordinance and wanted to leave
it open for an opportunity to comment on those changes. We have not received any
comments in the office.
Bird: And nobody's here.
Canning: Nor does there appear to be anyone here to testify.
De Weerd: Okay. Council?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2~08
Page 42 of 43
Bird: I move we close the Public Hearing ZOA 07-002.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to close the Public Hearing on Item
16. All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 17: Ordinance No. 08-1356 Revising Chapter 3, Article E of
Title 11 Relating to Temporary Uses:
Item 18: Ordinance No. 08-1357 : Amendment to Title 10, Chapter 4,
of the Meridian City Code Regarding Amendments to the
International Fire Code 2006 Edition:
De Weerd: Okay. Items 17 and 18 are ordinances, number 08-1356 and 08-1357.
Madam Clerk, will you read these two ordinances by title only.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian ordinance number 08-1356, an
ordinance of the City of Meridian revising Chapter 3, Article E of Title 11 of the Meridian
City Code relating to temporary uses.
Holman: City of Meridian ordinance number 08-1357, an ordinance amending Title 10,
Chapter 4, of the Meridian City Code regarding amendments to the International Fire
Code, 2006 edition, Section Z.IFC, Section D-107.1, one or two family dwelling
residential developments, and providing for a waiver of the reading rules and providing
an effective date.
De Weerd: Were those two? Wow, those were short. Okay. You have heard those
two ordinances read by title only. Is there anyone who would like it read in its entirety?
Seeing no one left, Council?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve ordinances 08-1356 and 08-1357, with suspension of rules.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion and a second to approve Items 17 and 18 with
suspension of rules. Any discussion? Madam Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll-Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, yea.
Meridian City Council
April 22, 2008
Page 43 of 43
De Weerd: Okay. Motion approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Council, I would remind you that we have the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on
Thursday morning at 6:45 and that is a.m. in the moming, so -- and we have the Arbor
Day celebration also on Thursday. So, I would invite you to, please, join us.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: If I might, we got the Pine school moved. It's sitting on a foundation. The fence
was sitting on our property, the lady -- and i finally got a hold of her. We are going to --
we are going to tear it down and put up picket all the way around. Walt turned in his
first draw, which was 16,500. I take it that's the foundation drawings and all that kind of
stuff, so I'm hopeful he's going to come in way under budget, so -- anyway, it should be
completed here in a couple more weeks.
De Weerd: Thank you. We appreciate you keeping track of that, Mr. Bird. Okay.
Anything further from the Council? If not, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.
Rountree: So moved.
Borton: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOUF~NED AT 9:25 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MA OR TA De WEERD
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