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Home My WebLink About2007-04-11 Special~ ~~ ~, ~~ -~ ~. .. // ~~~~ ~~'' CITY OF ' ql ~ , " ~_~'1V~~YlG~1G~Y1 ~ IDAHO ~~ ~„ SItILE 1993 MAYOR Tammy de Weerd CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Keith Bird Joseph W. Borton Charles M. Rountree Shaun Wardle CITY DEPARTMENTS City Attorney/HR 703 Main Street 898-5506 (City Attorney) 898-5503 (HR) Fax 884-8723 Fire 540 E. Franklin Road 888-1234/fax 895-0390 Parks & Recreation 11 W. Bower Street 888-3579/fax 898-5501 Planning 660 E. Watertower Lane Suite 202 884-5533 /fax 888-6854 Police 1401 E. Watertower Lane 888-6678/fax 846-7366 Public Works 660 E. Watertower Lane Suite 200 898-5500/fax 898-9551 - Building 660 E. Watertower Lane Suite 150 887-2211 /fax 887-1297 - Wastewater 3401 N. Ten Mile Road 888-2191/fax 884-0744 - Water 2235 N.W. 8th Street .888-5242 /fax 884-1159 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING /WORKSHOP MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Meridian will hold a Special Workshop at Meridian Police Department, Public Meeting Room, 1401 East Watertower Street, Meridian, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. The Meridian City Council will be discussing and reviewing focus areas, initiatives and strategic planning for the City of Meridian. The public is welcome to attend. DATED this 9th day of April, 2007. ~'ha~ `\\~„ Illlllrrrrrr;~ ~ ~- ~ ~JU~rv~.a 5 ~ ~. ~\~~ ~,J ~.. n ~ r1,.~1... WILLIAM G. BERG, JR. = CI ~ C~I~K-~ ~~, - - C r4; ~ ~: "~~ ~Ln~ 9r~~ ~ 3e ti~ c :`= ,~~ .~ ~v ; \, . ~~rfrrrtrrll,~s'~~~~, Meridian City Council Special Meeting /Workshop -April 11, 2007 All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian. Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and / or hearing, please . .. contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting. "'~' CITY HALL 33 EAST IDAHO AVENUE MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 (208) 888-4433 CITY CLERK -PAX 888-4218 FINANCE & UTILITY BILLING -FAX 887-4813 MAYOR'S OFFICE -FAX 884-8119 Printed on recycled paper • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 The Meridian City Council Strategic Workshop was called to order at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 by Mayor Tammy de Weerd. Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Keith Bird, David Zaremba, Charlie Rountree and Joe Borton. Staff Present: Bill Musser, Bill Nary, Anna Canning, Brad Watson, Doug Strong., Ron Anderson, Ron Coulter, and Will Berg. Others Present: Phil Stiffler. Item 1. Roll-call Attendance: Roll call. X David Zaremba X Joe Borton X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird X Mayor Tammy de Weerd Item 2. Adoption. of the Agenda: De Weerd.: Let's get started on this. Unfortunately, or maybe not, we have Phil here to keep us on track. Sometimes we have to keep him on track so we'll all try and (inaudible) to stay focused. But to Council., our Senior Management Team got together and drafted the agenda and wanted to fully utilize your time, and seeing where we're aligned, maybe looking at some of those areas that we need to realign and really focusing the discussion today on where we're going and how we're going to get there and making sure that these records and their respective departments are really going in the direction that we all envision us going in and to engage you in being a part of getting there. And so that's the objective of these meetings. We want to utilize your time to the best of our ability to get the most out of your time, not out of you, but out of your time., and making. sure that if we move forward with our budget enhancements that they tie to the focus areas and to the goals of where we ail want to move together. So that's the theme here and we appreciate - -. This is the first time we've had all four Council people together in one of our sessions and we appreciate that. I add we will try to make the best use of your time and not be (inaudible). Phil. Stiffler: The two things, just to make sure, that are being handed out there are the (inaudible) laying alongside each other. The one that says Council Input. CJ • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 2 of 58 The only one that's absent on that, I think, is Joe. I think he didn't want go home, do this at 11:00 or 11:30 after Council meeting (inaudible). De Weerd': Or 12:00 or 1:00. Stiffler: I think you can ail appreciate that. I just want to make sure it does include the other Councilmember's input other than. Joe's but I'm sure Joe can verbally add anything that he - -. But on the other side is the one that Leadership came up with. It doesn't have anything on the top. And I saw it as a way to kind of kick off. Because if you look at the overall agenda, number two on there is each one of the Directors is going to get a chance to kind of give you their update and overview. But I think it would be very helpful, and I would absolutely engage any discussion.. When you get a chance, if you just look at them and. you say here's Council's input so far, and here's Leadership, just to see where you see some connections and ask you are there areas that you look at there that you think are synergistic or they're ones that do come up or you'd like to ask, you know, where Council might come from and (inaudible) because he can add his input into it too. De Weerd: Oh, well, that's cheating. Somebody already looked at it. (inaudible). Stiffler: So you can see, looking at the one for Leadership, as you look down those bullets looking at kind of what you envision for the City, related to the focus areas, you can see that this is organizational excellence, proficiency, stewardship, caring community, customer service. Obviously you can see customer service on the Council side, employee satisfaction, qualified staff. You see kind of the things that do cross over? And I think the other one is (inaudible) big government. I think it's the concept of really looking and I think there's a lot of things that tie in there, in the business efficiency, productivity, and stewardship of the public funds. So I guess what I would ask is, are there any comments from anybody? Either, who, would like to share looking at those two? Rountree: One of my comments is not necessarily (inaudible). It seems to me that these focus areas, the question is, are these focus areas consistent (inaudible)? The other question is (inaudible) on what? (Inaudible) I believe (inaudible) Meridian is, could and should review in regard to these focus areas and in fact., use these focus areas to achieve (inaudible). Stiffaer: Don't make it too complicated to figure out where you're going. You know, it's interesting Charlie because actually Bill and (inaudible) I were having a discussion and it included the very top, the top of the previous page on there. This citywide (inaudible) that one sentence there was developed by the Leadership in looking at saying how do they drill down a little bit? And I ask a • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 3 of 58 question, you kind of like to go back to what is the City's mission? And I'm going to read it and (inaudible) think about in that context, "The Mission adopted by the leaders of our premier city is to promote a safe and vibrant community by implementing the principles and policies of the Comp Plan.. The Mayor and Council will provide effective and responsible leadership, positive staff development, maximize available resources, and improve connectivity toward community. As a caring City, we are committed to fiscal responsibility, .public involvement, strategic partnerships, and economic vitality." But that was the vision that then broke down when the leadership (inaudible). So I guess that's where it sits today. If that needs refinement, or looking at, I think that's the question. Any comments? Canning: Well, that's a big statement. Where do you want to go? Borton: I thought the statement was satisfactory (inaudible).. But the way this question (inaudible). Stiffler: The question is, do these focus areas resonate with the vision? Or if they don't, how do they (inaudible). And I could say that if you took the bullets from Council and you take the bullets from Leadership, they are very supportive of that. They do articulate. I think there's a confirmation. Are there any of those (inaudible) worthy of discussion or comment? (Inaudible) Well, I'd like to make one comment in terms of what we have on Council (inaudible) I saw was predominantly lacking on the Leadership (inaudible). I'rn very glad, they brought it up (Inaudible). De Weerd: Council, one of the things that Phil says is that the Director team (inaudible). So (inaudible) feel comfortable and I know I don't really (inaudible).. want it to be more sent to the Directors, Not to the Director's back. We have the ability to speak frankly amongst ourselves and don't have to (inaudible).. Bird: And if I could relate a little more, (inaudible) 100%. We're just - - ,we're not your bosses, we're your partners, and we're all here (inaudible). De Weerd: Well, we're a team. And I just want to remind everyone that they can be (inaudible). Canning: (Lnaudible) She pointed at me because I (inaudible). That's my job. De Weerd: (Inaudible). Borton: Leadership will be slowing it down. Meridian Ciry Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 4 of 58 Stiffler: We've got (inaudible). I guess I would want to make one other comment. I've had a chance to talk to Leadership (inaudible). But I will tell you this. It's very interesting to observe other cities in comparable sizes in the Northwest and 1 think (inaudible) but I think we should all kind of really celebrate the successes and challenges (inaudible). (Inaudible) support that vision.. I think that's something (inaudible) really important. Something that I guess sometimes doesn't get recognized. I'm not sure the average citizen sometimes recognizes the significance of what you do. And I would say this, that it's been very interesting when I know (inaudible) the last month, month and a half, it's really kind of nice to hear (inaudible) better understanding, appreciate it. A lot of it's going on (inaudible). I just think that's a frame of reference. Borton: Phil, (inaudible) my comments (inaudible). I want to say what everybody else says. There's a couple things that jump out at me, reviewing this. If I don't see it, f guess (inaudible). One thing that I don't see. Maybe it's not necessary (inaudible) providing City services with available resources. I don't see any issue (inaudible). Difficult choices being made. The only time that I see (inaudible) is sometimes a discussion (inaudible). So I don't know if you prioritize all of the available (inaudible). And the second question I've got is you talk about celebrating successes. I understand that from a private business perspective. (inaudible}celebrate your staff. I'm not sure, I think one of the Council Members (inaudible) determine the success (inaudible). Is there difficulty in salvaging those (inaudible).. Stiffler: I guess I'd like to respond to the first question on prioritizing and I know it's tough but if you look at item four (inaudible).. They agree with (inaudible) services and kind of overall strategic side, how do you prioritize? This is not just the big picture but how do you even go down these services that are prioritized? So I think there's a - -. I think the Directors would like to get a little more kind of feel for what Council (inaudible). The second piece and I refer to Brad (inaudible) is Benchmark. Brad has already been starting the work. Bill's looking at it. What you see., right now, the State of Washington has an (inaudible). And they're developing (inaudible) for Benchmark. (Inaudible). And they're not getting lost in it .building a bureaucracy at Benchmark. It's not that. A good thing about it is they're now saying wait a minute. Let's narrow those down. Let's measure so we can say not only are we accountable to the citizens (inaudible) but we're going to set goals. And I will tell you the accountability system (inaudible) allows (inaudible) benchmarks right in. And actually you're going to be seeing some of their positioning plans and what they're doing (inaudible). And so I would say that is the trend,. And that's a direction. What I'd like to know - -. We've had several (inaudible) looking at Benchmark and he compared them (inaudible). He looked (inaudible) and asked us about it (inaudible). He got the City of Boise's (inaudible). • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 5 of 58 Bird: (Inaudible).. Stiffler: One of the problems that was happening in a lot of the cities of the Northwest is now that Washington got pushed on that., but it was for the right reasons, to look at saying budget-wise, prioritize, and how we do this. It takes many people to (inaudible). I will tell you it starts with a fine tune. It's the opening (inaudible) so far, so long, maybe they got locked into (inaudible). They went way to the extreme. The good part about it is you can pull back and I know even grab a little bit like I talked to John at Wastewater, really trying to put ones that are meaningful but it is, you know, like on water to looking at staff. What does that relate to, to do that efficiency (inaudible) and I think that, I think it's probably (inaudible). It's time. That's kind of how the leadership (inaudible) starting talking about that, saying (inaudible). Are we getting what we thought we would get? (Inaudible). But that's a positive. Borton: So are there, I guess in each individual department, are there two (inaudible)? Stiffler: Why don't we take a break? Gorton: Is there anything to celebrate? Other than these donuts? (Inaudible) each department (inaudible) celebrate moments, successes. Nary: I mean, I think, you know, we really encourage over in HR (inaudible) very supportive of doing that. We have small (inaudible). You know, five ,years ago we had to put in the line item (inaudible). It was a good discretionary exercise on how to buy (inaudible). It doesn't mean that's what it's for. Really Finance has been encouraging on those types of things (inaudible) gift cards or little things. And every department does something different. They use some way of acknowledging their staff (inaudible) good customer service., innovative ideas, (inaudible). Something like that. And employees are very responsive to that. You know, I think one (inaudible) and you mention in this (inaudible). I think one of the things this organization could do that I think maybe not was intended that way but I think at least for me it works that way is the liaison relationships that we have with Councilmen in our department. Because I know every time I sign on whatever purchase we make, that it goes on a list, that (inaudible) is going to see it (.inaudible). And that always reminds me to be (inaudible) responsible with the public's money, that we aren't reckless in how we spend money and how we use it. And that connection that we have in council, you know, working in a larger reorganization where they didn't have that and it did sort of (inaudible). I really appreciate that here. Because I really think it does require us, each of us around this table, to be cognizant of that. It isn't our money, it's the public's money. And we have to be responsible for that. But I think we have, you know, taken the last few years to (inaudible) members to make sure the departments (inaudible). • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 6 of 58 The acknowledgements that we've gotten have generally been pretty positive reinforcement (inaudible). And that's also been a way to acknowledge the folks that went through the (inaudible). Borton: (Inaudible) but now I'm beginning, to wonder (inaudible) like things to sign. Bird: Legal minds are different from (inaudible). They said who do you think got (inaudible) thrown out? Why do you think they read all those rules and regulations? Stiffler: And I think also, Joe, that other parts of (inaudible) that I know (inaudible) any time (inaudible) accountability-wise, this is just the feel-good soft side but (inaudible) this was our .goal. (Inaudible) this is your goal and you look at it, celebrating successes (inaudible). Now it's a measurable thing which is responsible for the citizens and say it's measurable for what you're really doing. (Inaudible) You know the kind of value. You've got some measure (inaudible).. De Weerd: And then after item two, we'll move into number two? Stiffler: Yup. De Weerd: So I think, Phil, your comments had a lot to do with reviewing (inaudible) initiatives and what is (inaudible) and what needs to be updated. And certainly prioritizing is going to be a huge one. And that's going to come a little bit later into this (inaudible). What is Council's priority? And what are the directions that we have been going and make sure that those are still a priority and consistent with the vision (inaudible). But it is a (inaudible) and how we can start {inaudible). Bird: 1 agree with you. I think on prioritizing for us, or for me at least, you know I'd like the department heads to say I really need this, it'll help us. I would like this. You know, tell me what you really, really need. Not what you'd like. (Inaudible). I don't work (inaudible) department so I don't know what (inaudible).. I all think all four of us here or all five of us with the Mayor to help make sure that you guys have the (inaudible) to work with (inaudible). By the same token, we're also wanting to keep the cost down, (inaudible). De Weerd: And Keith, I think that as I said earlier most measurements are starting to (inaudible). And you guys have seen that as well. When Anna came up about one of her Planning positions, you know, it was trying to nail down, what are the trigger points? Where do some of these decisions have to be made or where do they start .needing those discussions? So that's all about this but definite focus areas, how we can collectively? Because it's not just the • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 7 of 58 departments. We are trying to challenge them to not just think parochial about their departments. They have to also (inaudible) to focus their (inaudible) what goals (inaudible) within them. And that we're achieving those benchmarks together, not in a vision. So suggestions would be good... Stiffler: And I guess. I think that (inaudible). And I think that also, Keith, I think that's why and I guess what l would ask (inaudible) I think to move in to, you have (inaudible) and I think you get a chance to look at those, I think you're going to find out most of the rest of this is going to come out in other discussion. lncfuding item four so I guess I would not. I'd like to go from item one here before we go through the details (inaudible) actually get a chance. And you'll come back, have a little more involvement and understanding priorities rather than talking about those. (inaudible). So I'll ask which director wants to go first? De Weerd: But have we clarified (inaudible). On a couple of things that the directors have raised in their portion of it is to have (inaudible) clarification on the economic (inaudible) proportion. Stiffler: We can go through that too. I just thought it was going to come up again but we can do it right now. Let's just make sure. De Weerd'.: I just thought that was all part of - - Stiffler: Let's look at number two. Comparing those two. It's interesting, I don't know which, (inaudible). I just looked at the bottom of number two. One of the other Councilmen (inaudible). What about the first one on the Comp Plan? (inaudible): supplies. (Inaudible). De Weerd: You know, I think that my observation is how when I first started (inaudible) City Council and then the Parks Commission and Planning and Zoning, and we had a Comprehensive Plan, and I think it was in 1998 we started, started the process of (inaudible). It took a while. But one thing I think that Anna and her staff have been good at in working with all the other directors, and keeping it (inaudible). And it has to be updated. It's updated almost every time when (inaudible) and they look at the north Meridian area and the south Meridian area and then start looking at some of the tax that probably needs to be brought current. I don't know if we necessarily need to do a new Comprehensive Plan but we need to follow up on the (inaudible).. Canning: That's what I see, the first bullet on the Council (inaudible) that do have a lot of (inaudible).. In the sense of do I want to revisit (inaudible) for the City as a whole for the Comprehensive Plan? Absolutely no way. I don't want (inaudible). For those of you who weren't aware that prior to the 2002 • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 8 of 58 Comprehensive Plan the City's (inaudible) that this isn't urban and (inaudible) proposed. It was just provided that (inaudible). So that 2002 Comp Plan had a huge major (inaudible) and it was just a completely different kind of (inaudible). (Inaudible) quite a few years. And I've said this before., those semicircles (inaudible) oldest group (inaudible) State of Idaho as far as (inaudible). It was quite a (inaudible). So I don't want to go through that again. But I would love to just disassemble the Comp Plan and put it back together so that - -. I mean, it would be a new plan and (inaudible) put it back together so that (inaudible) much better or much easier to use. That's what I would like to do, To most people, (inaudible) but really it would be just (inaudible). Disassemble everything and put it back together. (Inaudible). Zaremba: (Inaudible) I've talked about this but all (inaudible). How huge a job it was, how huge a job it is to keep (inaudible). That in the short period of time., that process began (inaudible) double the population. This is a reality check to go back and say, you know, what has changed? In both our problems and our opportunities that nobody could have envisioned (inaudible). And part of the (inaudible) behind that is my own personal philosophy (inaudible). Fifty years ago (inaudible) establish (inaudible). Because you can't totally envision what's going to be here 100 years from now but you can make some targets and then divide the 100 year plans into 50 year plans (.inaudible) and five-year reality checks and one-year reality checks. Americans seem to want to have instant gratification., you know, what do we do about that now? But the results of their 100 year plans (inaudible) kicking our butts on a lot of stuff that we (inaudible). What is (inaudible) our eventual orders. At some point we're going to get 150,000 people before it's going to slow down. (inaudible). Can we start thinking about that now? We can actually make (inaudible) plans now but (inaudible) realize something different. And I'm just saying be .prepared for that (inaudible) Comprehensive Plan. How is it a tool that will (inaudible) forward the other tools that have come along? (inaudible) ACHD also has a (inaudible). Set it up, maybe organizing. De Weerd: I think one of the things (inaudible) - - in the planning process and he does and instead of just collecting it and waiting for everyone else to say okay. (Inaudible) the Council and pertaining to what those all mean (inaudible). So that's the difference. Nary: So that's the opportunity to now to have those (inaudible). Trying to do that. Two years ago (inaudible) building permits. (Inaudible). I can't imagine (inaudible) your best. But you can't hardly keep up with (inaudible). Whereas now it's a little different. It's slower but it's not slow. (Inaudible). Sort of look at where we are. (Inaudible). A couple of years ago I moved to Meridian and we did the Education Day and everybody (inaudible). Like Boise schools and all that. I think quite frankly the response was, we don't have time for that. That Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 9 of 58 sounds really nice. I don't think I'll work here. (inaudible) I mean it's not even in your vision at that point with the volume of kids (inaudible). Now (inaudible) school district feels the same thing. that we're talking about. They're trying to make (inaudible). Borton: I think (inaudible) we're going to longer (inaudible) which is fantastic. Always tough to (inaudible). So if Meridian wants to participate in a regional whim (inaudible). Make sure the State of Idaho (inaudible). So the goal is great (inaudible). I understand the City of Meridian has its own conflict. (Inaudible) I'm not sure how (inaudible) mutual efforts (inaudible). Canning: (Inaudible). I think that that's something (inaudible). Borton: (Inaudible):. Preserving a certain quality of life (inaudible). Canning: And also (inaudible). You were shaking your head when I was talking. (inaudible). Bird: I (inaudible) world (inaudible) told us what we could do. We planned to have 5.,000 people in a mile square. Ten years from now (.inaudible). And I hate that there's (inaudible). I get so sick and tired of this (inaudible) crap, they wouldn't be (inaudible). That's a sore subject. Stiffler: (Inaudible). I just have to have a little bit of fun with you though, Keith, (inaudible). Zaremba: And Anna's. (inaudible) when she talked about addendums to the Comp Plan taking on development. I would say that also opens doors to other potential things (inaudible). Some other things I will tell you., there's in our discussion, there's a lot of potential of that, not in focus, on those particular areas but I think comes back to (inaudible) economic development Comp Plan. What Joe was saying, we're still looking at where do we sit. There's another comment that says yeah, we also sit in a big valley. And as Keith said., and he's right, we're still saying if they want to locate a business here they want to know, wait a minute, are we going to able to have employees drive from here to there? Is there quality of life? Does it have parks? Does it have those other things? And you're seeing more and more of that. And it allows you to, I guess I say, not invent your future but a little bit of controlling your destiny within (inaudible). And they actually (inaudible). Just trying to do the best job you can. But I would say in any context, transportation is livelihood.. It's like the word, how often does it come up? It's just - -and yet, you know, it's kind of like we've heard the comments of somebody saying I'm looking into locating here. Well, do you guys have your act together? Are you really going to make sure that what. you're talking about, you're selling me? It's still going to be there? Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 10 of 58 Nary: And the City still, I think, is at the forefront of that and I don't disagree with what we're saying here but the market which we aren't necessarily in control of, will control the (inaudible). But the City is the forefront of it. I mean., you know, {inaudible) talk about the north Meridian area, we talked about that and said, you know, remember when (inaudible) went in, in 2002, before that (inaudible). That's it. (Inaudible). But if we hadn't put that (inaudible) there, they wouldn't have the opportunity. (Inaudible) right under the freeway (inaudible). Berg: (inaudible). Clash with Boise City (inaudible) Vienna Woods. (Inaudible). Nary: We didn't (inaudible) that sewer pipe under the freeway for nothing. We anticipate that as an opportunity for the market to be able to prosper. So we still have a city, some role in that. It isn't just totally marketing.. Not everyone's all for us (inaudible). And that's what I think we're all talking about is having (inaudible). Does that plan make sense? (Inaudible). De Weerd: You know, a lot of that is that density. And the market is going to respond.. They'll market it out there and they're going to go where they feel one, their investment is protected because there's a vision and some confidence that their investment will be protected as well. And so you know it's not dictafing and as you plan you want it to be as (inaudible) in reality as you can. (1naudible). But you have to have a vision. And a vision of where you're going (inaudible). With City Hall, that has really spurred investment and some excitement that people are stepping up and saying we want to be a part of that. But if there's no vision for it, they'll just let it go to decay and go where they have a strong vision (inaudible). Gorton: I was just going to ask, kind of listening to Bill, trying to get an idea of where we want to go. I kind of look to four Council members to kind of provide us that direction and you have the ability (inaudible) Mayor I take this point of view that you want this to be a city. That you want it to be a city that has its own personality (inaudible) and it has a legacy for the future. (End of tape). Borton: (inaudible). And I guess that's part of what we're looking for is how far are we going to reach out to control our destiny in terms of what we want to do that we can influence (inaudible) set the stage for it now (inaudible). Because it has an impact on how we police this community. I know there's been impact how we protect the buyer. And it affects all our infrastructure (inaudible). • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 11 of 58 Nary: But in terms of the vision, some of that is of truly wanting to establish that blueprint, becoming that, and aself-sustaining city that's out there and I think the time is now. We're at a crossroads, we really are.. In terms of population and our availability here for what we're going to do. And so that's kind of what I'm looking. for in terms of how do we want to do the Comprehensive Plan? How do we want to do our .long-term planning? Do we want to (inaudible) control our destiny as best we can? Because we're trying to get the job done for you (inaudible). Bird: Well, Bill, I think you hit it on the head there. (finaudible). We made a big step in becoming self-sufficient (inaudible). We were a .bedroom community. mean, you had a grocery store, Paul's Market, and a little downtown. Double park downtown (inaudible). If you wanted to go to a good restaurant or you wanted maybe entertainment or anything at all, you went to Boise or Nampa. So think we have improved. We're never going to be a downtown Boise in a lot of things. Because we don't have an airport, we're not the capitol city where all the financial .people are going to go, (inaudible) Farmer's and Merchant's. They were going to bring their corporate headquarters over here but we got as far as (inaudible). I have to be down at the capitol city (inaudible) so we'll never be that but we can certainly keep working towards making ourselves a more efficient community. And I believe we are. I believe and I give all the credit. I firmly believe, since 1998, (inaudible) the boom was going, our employees stepped to the plate (inaudible). I realize sometimes we were just swimming hard to keep our head above. water but every department has stepped forward. For the growth we've had, I believe we've had very small problems. We have problems. But we'd have had problems whether we had growth or not. That's just human nature. I'm proud to say that I've served through this growth and I think we have done one whale of a job as a city. I hope that as elected officials (inaudible). Canning: (Inaudible). Bird.: You've got speak up (inaudible). I can't hear you. Canning: I don't think it ever hurts to .articulate the vision from the Council and the Mayor because when the private project comes to talk to me, they can't get it from the rest of my staff because they don't spend as much time (inaudible). All they ever want to know is what is the vision? Is this (inaudible). They don't want to waste their time if it's not. So I think it's always helpful for Council and the Mayor to articulate (inaudible). Quality of life or whatever it is (inaudible). And it comes up with staff too. Because I can tell my staff this is Council's vision and they can pick up. They deal with it every day so it always helps (inaudible). Bird: And we should do this on a yearly basis. I mean, we have been doing it on basically a yearly basis. (Inaudible). I have no problem with that and if it goes wrong, I'm willing and I know Joe, Charlie, and David stand here willing to take • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page T2 of 58 the heat. Because we are the elected officials. You guys shouldn't have to take the heat. And I'd do anything in my power to make sure you don't get any heat. We need these kind of yearly deals where we do get out together and get our priorities in line of what we're looking at for the next year because I feel with the economy, we're based on economy. But you know I can't predict a year from now that we'll be - -maybe we'll only be having ten residential permits per month or we might be having 100.0. So anyway, I agree with you that we should., it should be a joint, for you guys to promote the City you've got to believe in what we believe. And on the same token, we've got to listen to you guys because you're the ones out there.. Even though we need developers, everything else, we're not dealing with them. Canning: I just wanted to tell you that we are the responsible party. We're not trying to change the (inaudible). Borton: (Inaudible). And he was right. (Inaudible). That was our intent. First major effort on that (inaudible). We at that time felt we were self-sufficient in terms of services. (}naudible). I think still (inaudible). And the last one particularly (inaudible). So the historic vision (inaudible). What we anticipated (inaudible). That's why we need these kinds of activities. (Lnaudible). Canning: That is number (inaudible). But I think that those are a lot of the things that (inaudible) as far as the (inaudible). Getting it tied to that confidence. Stiffler: (Inaudible). Interesting thing and I say Keith you know what, you helped create (inaudible). Is that city that's located (inaudible) like Meridian? And could name cities around the country that we've looked at, talked to, and everything else. The more you see (inaudible) and it's not going to be the smokestacks. But it's going to be, we're seeing some of that stuff, you'll appreciate this. You're seeing some of this stuff and you could talk to a couple of companies right here. If you went to Western Electronics right now, they're doing stuff right now that wasn't (inaudible). It's pulling back. We're seeing some of that but also (inaudible) smokestack stuff is that other that (inaudible). What they want is a quality community like Meridian. That's where they want to locate. And that to me is that opportunity. And that opportunity does (inaudible) making sure that the management and leadership of that City Council and you are insuring. I was asked in a magazine article when I was at that trade - -. I was asked by the guys, well Phil, with all that growth up there what's going to keep you from becoming California? I mean, that was kind of the comment. It was kind of like they're looking at it. Well, part of it is who we are as an area. But it has to do with leadership., responsibility, stewardship, making sure those things connect. And I guess it's still, I guess some of it's, it is going to look at us. It's going to be here (inaudible) of being able to make sure that does help the community • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 1'3 of 58 (inaudible) the City long-term. But I think it's opportunity. And it does lead into number three on our thing before we go back to the chart. Zaremba: I just want to make one (inaudible). - -the ability to put it in writing and (inaudible). That is our policy to businesses that we're trying to (inaudible), employers that we're trying to attract. Stiffler: And ones that are here. Zaremba: And ones that are already here, that there has been a lot of thought put into this. It's not a whim that's going to change next year. If this is (inaudible) you can trust this City to (inaudible). And I think there is value in (inaudible). It doesn't mean it couldn't be changed but (inaudible). Rountree: (Inaudible). All our continuity (inaudible) can change drastically (inaudible). Because you, the staff, don't have (inaudible). You've been pretty fortunate., I think, the past 14 or 16 years. There have been a lot of disagreements but generally (inaudible). That can change. Canning: (Inaudible). Rountree: And the reality is, staff has to face (inaudible). Canning: And Councilmen (inaudible). Nary: Having worked for a city and also like in discussions with her (inaudible) we are, you know, many cities are (inaudible) that you could shake a stick at. 1 mean, you can look at some of the other cities around the state and there's a few that, some of you probably know, (inaudible) Mayor or Councilmember (inaud'ible). Because truly I. think that recognition by the Council and the Mayor over the last dozen years (inaudible).. It's really what keeps good people here. (inaudible). They recognize (inaudible) that Council is doing everything they can to make this a good place to work. (Inaudible). It's hard to compare us apples to apples (inaudible).. - -grow incrementally here because we do try to be fiscally responsible (inaudible). V1/e try to (inaudible) how we grow and why. You know, I think most of the directors around this table don't just want to come to the folks and say I need that. (Inaudible). What're they going to do? (Inaudible). But we've got some great people. It really is impressive, with the volume of work that we have, the volume of land that we are sitting on, how big that map is, how ,much growth (inaudible), that we've got 283 people (inaudible). Bird.: To go back, I think since I've, been here I°ve always (inaudible). The administrations we've had' (inaudible). We've been run by good conservative mayors and councilmen. And then we were very fortunate to have one ~ ~ Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 14 of 58 gentleman in particular serve many years on Planning and Zoning that did a great job there and (inaudible). But I've had the utmost respect for the mayor and councilmen that have served in this city and I think we've got the map work from them and we have continued it on and I hope we will continue it on. I think that sometimes (inaudible) the other cities., the problems they get into, they get, oh kind of overindulging (inaudible). And we have never - -. Thanks to the employees (inaudible). They sit on this side with us (inaudible). De Weerd: (Lnaudible). Stiffler: And I think these kinds of transitions move on .because (inaudible). I would say this and I keep hearing this from the directors. One of the things the directors said about item three, when they looked at cross departmental things is the functionality of what they're doing and looking at making sure that if we're planning on having this addition out here., what's the impact going to be on Fire, what's the impact going to be on Police, and ail of a sudden Brad was ready to go what downtown? (inaudible) you know, kind of thing. And so I think that item three, you'll see some cross references there. I won't go through (inaudibie) public entity what it is where leadership needs to be strong. (Inaudible) execute on what really needs to be done for the City. So with that, I guess what I would like to do is move into each one of the directors getting a chance to kind of give their presentation unless somebody would like to take a quick break first. (Inaudible) No? All right, let's go. Who wants to volunteer first Musser: As just a quick rundown in terms of the PD and how it relates here, think the Council for the most part has already looked at what we had in terms of our contribution to the Annual Report and if you'd just like for me to sum things up as what we already had included in there. First, outlining that we have 95 members in this department currently working out of 101 that we've been authorized, 72 officers, which is now actually down to 71 because we had to let one go on field training, 4 reserve officers still, and 19 (inaudible) staff members. And my calendar's already filling up for Friday and for next week with interviews on (inaudible) candidates for records, witness coordinator, and for a patrol position. So hopefully we can get there or at least somewhat more of a match in terms of people we can authorize but we won't fill out everything in terms of our budget request this year. The simple .reality is we're not seeing the qualified candidates come through (inaudible) goal that we continue to work hard (inaudible). We'll get the people (inaudible). (inaudible): Excuse me, Bill. Musser: Yes. (Inaudible): Is that consistent {inaudible)? Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 ' Page 15 of 58 Musser: It's consistent nation-wide. It's anation-wide phenomenon right now. My attendance in Boston at the International Association of Chiefs of Police, a good major focus that was there was on recruitment, retention. I have since sent an officer out to a specific retention school (inaudible). In terms of our accomplishments over 2006, we submitted in what we thought were important items for the AIC award (inaudible) canine facility, (inaudible) drug coalition, which I think we've seen some results of how that's (inaudible). We have our Public Safety Academy partnership with the Fire Department. Chief Anderson went over it with the staff. And it's really brought a whole new perspective in terms of our citizens (inaudible) public safety programs. National Night Out, for those of you who participated this last time around, we had 22 this year (inaudible). The prior year, we had none. So I think that speaks highly of (inaudible) communities help us out with Neighborhood Watch programs and speaks volumes of the person who we have hired as coordinator, which is .Melissa Delaney (inaudible). Those are some of our big things there and we did get an online report established.. That seems to be working well. I noticed we get a lot of online reports (inaudible). It's another way folks can get information to us without having to (inaudible). In terms of the crime, I'd like to tie this one in to a recent Farmer's Insurance survey that went out. It was a nationwide survey in which the Treasure Valley area received the top marks in the nation for one of the safest metro areas in the United States (inaudible) in terms of crime or lack thereof. It just depends on the way you look at it. Even with the recent events that we've had., Meridian isn't totally immune to having murders or robberies or rapes or anything else here but we don't see them with the same frequency that we see them over in Nampa or we see them in Boise. And I think I have to knock on wood that we continue that. This year is the first year we started to get there - - to approach 3,000 crimes. We're told (inaudible). We're talking about 2006. We ended up hitting 2,967 total so we still haven't hit the 3,000 mark, but .it's pushing. For the time that I've been here, we've always had pretty much (inaudible). The other one-third has (inaudible). So for the most part where we live in that Treasure Valley area (inaudible) this community in and of itself is the one with the lowest amount of crime per capita. (inaudible) 64 reporting cities for the past couple years. We've sat on the other side of the midpoint, which is 30, so (inaudible). - -lower half. We aren't there with Nampa, we aren't there with Boise. So 1 think that goes well with where we're at. In terms of where we're at with the population as we move in. Right now that rate (inaudible) projected off the 2006 population. That's about 4.3%. Crime with relation to the population is 69,000 with 2,967 reported crimes. (Inaudible). Back in 2001, we had 2;194 crimes with a population of roughly 46.,118. That was 4.75. (Inaudible). - -That helps keep us as a safe community. I think that helps put us in position where. it becomes one of those positive things that people want to settle here, make it their residence or come here to open up a business. I think it helps us to (inaudible). • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 16 of 58 Borton: Bill, I have a question. It might sound (inaudible). You see the matrix and we talk about (inaudible). Is there a strategic plan to identify (inaudible). Musser: Well, if the city comes up number one (inaudible) for the last six, seven years (inaudible).. They have the largest per capita on the ratio of the Hughes audit and I don't really want to be going on latest set of statistics because it's crime per 100,000 population (inaudible). And a lot of it has to do with the types of felonies they have up there. (inaudible). Borton: You say number one (inaudible). Whatever city's in Idaho that's got (inaudible). Seriously (inaudible) why Meridian? (inaudible). Why is it Meridian? Musser: To be honest, in the grand scheme of things, if you look at from a criminology perspective., I am truly surprised we don't have more (inaudible). But we don't have it. Part of that, I think, may have to do some with demographics (inaudible). The reality is (inaudible) in relation to per capita population's going to be there. The big thing to me is as our downtown area evolves and rentals (inaudible) people who can't afford housing elsewhere., they're there. (inaudible) our seniors are more vulnerable. We have the potential to see a bigger increase in terms of personal crime against others just because of the dynamics that are there now that allow it to work. So I guess, trying to answer your question, there's no real set way because there's no magic (inaudible). It's only theories you. can look at to see where you're at. And I'd say right now we're (inaudible) high enough levels on socioeconomic status, education levels that it keeps us relatively good. We don't have the (inaudible) we have in Nampa or Boise. Borton: And I don't mean to imply it's not. I'm just curious. Is this a situation where we said (inaudible). Nary: You said sometimes, part of the problem is (inaudible). Musser: (Inaudible) cities of (inaudible) of the same size. We're number three in the state in terms of the cities that we're looking at. In that regard, I think it's safe to say we are number one in terms of that size city. (Inaudible). So that one's a fairly (inaudible). De Weerd: (inaudible). So one of the things that the Police Department is doing is they are using their crime analysis and they are trained to filter down., what are our highest problem areas and how can we start looking at it prevention-wise for targeting our goals over in that area? So they're looking at area. They're looking at types of crime. One of the examples is, one of the highest crimes, property crimes has been in construction. So they've worked with a (inaudible) in trying to identify how can we start reducing the numbers of theft in the new construction • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 17 of 58 area. So those are just one example of many that they're trying to start chipping down to identify the real areas and how we can use prevention to lower those numbers. And so, yes, we can always say (inaudible). One of the things that we discussed yesterday at our director's meeting and it goes to back one of the comments on question number one, is this organization (inaudible). Not all of our departments can put their arms around that. Is being that model government agency, that model, (inaudible).. But they're using their numbers to evaluate what are our issues and how can we start targeting and focusing on that to lower the numbers? Musser: The ultimate goal for us is to get to causation. (Inaudible) And the location or opportunities they have.. So we get to that and work on it and move right now. We're really working towards more problem-solving (inaudible). At one time in the City we had 34% (inaudible). Education and prevention programs. (Inaudible). De Weerd: Maybe we need to pass an ordinance that (inaudible). Lock your car. Stiffler: I think also, Joe, you answered your question. Bill and I had a discussion (inaudible). We're going to be in the top 10% (inaudible) because there's no differentiation but yet they take the matrix of their particular city and they identify those benchmarks and those are the benchmarks that say these are ones we have to improve by going down. (inaudible). But they're fine because sometimes it's apples and oranges. (Inaudible) They're not comparing the same population base. But they're saying we still want to be in this top ten, whatever that target top 10%, (inaudible) national or regional or those kind of statewide statistics. But yet they're really going down in the matrix of the ones that say, wait a minute., that's not acceptable to us. This is an area we can do causation and (inaudible). Address both. Rountree: (Inaudible) question in terms of how you approach it. And I appreciate (inaudible). You mentioned in (inaudible) rentals and seniors. (Inaudible). My question is, if we have those dynamics coming to the city (inaudible) whatever (inaudible) need to know, nationally, this is a dynamic (inaudible). But being proactive (inaudible).. ThaYs something that I'm always thinking about. Increased (inaudible). Musser: And I think that's a real good thing to be thinking about because we do have a potential., especially on the (inaudible) high-density subsidized apartments that are predominantly within that area and because the housing is older down in that area, wiring issues, sewer and water issues (inaudible). We technically, in terms of what we look at in social (inaudible). We're seeing the starts of a concentric zone . We're starting to expand out from the core. That leaves the core without a lot of focusing on. But I see the Council has already been focused • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 18 of 58 because you're already looking at (inaudible) revitalization (inaudible). But we're there and I would be more concerned if I hadn't heard the Council already addressing those issues. There is a dynamic (inaudible). Eventually we will have density. Councilman Zaremba mentioned that, you know, there's that build out. Build out only occurs (inaudible). What happens to the City once they reach that? Then they start building up. The population still increases. New York now has over (inaudible) million people just because (inaudible) so the reality is (inaudible) build out in terms of up and (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Another thing that the Police Department is doing is training department coordinators or managers on things that they can be doing. And one of those, one of fihe greatest things, the Police Department formed a ,partnership with the manager at Hobart. I mean, the reduction and the problems at Hobart have been enormous because of their relationship that they have with the manager there. So they are trying to (inaudible). They also are part of Anna's comment team in pre-application so they are looking at community design aspect. And bringing their safety perspective into how can we look into community design. So there's a lot of things that are going in and trying to (inaudible) the very things (inaudible) and be proactive in trying to look at it in terms on this side of things before we build it and create that situation and then on the other side where it's already been created, how can we work through a Neighborhood Watch, through the Anti-Drug Coalition training that they have, to educate and (inaudible) programs to address that. Rountree: And my mind goes back to (inaudible) celebration. If in fact (inaudible) successfully with a given metric (inaudible). And it ought to be one of the tools we have for MDC. Anybody else is (inaudible). Here's cone-page article with a picture of the area and a little bit of history of what we did., what the success was. (Inaudible). Stiffler: Austin, Texas had that very item. (Lnaudible) where they were actually .sell and market (inaudible) exactly that. I think it was like (inaudible). To me, that's a celebration. (inaudible) and recognized within the community (inaudible). Directors and the staff (inaudible) very small things (inaudible). Musser: Currently what we're in the process of because we can go back (inaudible) for a year. Look at how much participation activity we have. So one of the things that we are (inaudible) the Police Department (inaudible) Drug Coalition is our front line training program (inaudible) and our community program for landlord apartment managers so those are the only things I see (inaudible). (}naudible) is still there, we have the potential to (inaudible). Canning: (Lnaudible). • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 19 of 58 Musser: I can appreciate that. I think it goes (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible) hope for. Bird: I don't .know (inaudible) but I'm telling you, I wish we had it before - - picture. I'm sure there is one around.. Whatever happened over there, that looks like a new development. I mean, it looks decent. Musser: Well, what we had, is we had another manager that was involved. I'd say seven years ago we had the same thing. (Inaudible). We also had (inaudible).. We haven't had as much out of that area here as blatant (inaudible) initially set up. But we don't see as much active participation (inaudible). But will have to say it was probably about seven or eight years ago (inaudible) and since then we've been able to bring back a little bit more emphasis on getting people that have a passion. That's the key. We need folks there that have a passion to help us improve the situation. Bird:: And I also think that (inaudible.) because the Fire Department also has been through there to make sure (inaudible) set on fire. Probably helps the manager get a little more active. Musser: That's something (inaudible). I've been here 26 years (inaudible) so we're talking in excess of 30 years in that apartment complex. The same thing with (inaudible) Washington Square. Those places are getting a little old.. They don't have (inaudible). Zaremba: {lnaudible) as Bill mentioned (inaudible). As we grow into a bigger city that becomes more and more difficult to do. You and your staff (inaudible). I would only throw one negative thought into that and (inaudible). One of the difficulties of being a safe city (inaudible) is that gangs develop in the region. The safe city in the middle becomes the target of the turf wars. And I don't know how you prevent that but from regional contacts saying what's going on around us (inaudible). Can that not happen here? Musser: To address that specifically we do have an officer assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force in Canyon County which partners in with Federal agencies in Nampa, Caldwell, and Canyon County for focus on gangs (inaudible). We're fully aware of the potential. We do have one hot spot (inaudible). That's one we keep an eye on. If it becomes too hot of a spot (inaudible), I'll be the first one (inaudible). (End of tape). Bird: (Inaudible) shorts so we're in real trouble. • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 20 of 58 Borton: Oh, just like the Council Meeting. We'll still be wearing shorts. Stiffler: Everything changes when I become involved.. I know where to focus now. (inaudible). Bird: We're ready, Anna. Canning. You guys are painfully aware of what I do so truly (inaudible.) my business to your plans. We have Ten Mile, we have south Meridian, we have assistance to the Pathway Plan and .Parks Department, we have an industrial section. Those are really our big things.. They're all nearing completion. South Meridian, you'll hear about later. (inaudible). But really that's what we were up to this year. As far as current plans, Caleb did an excellent job keeping applications timely with relatively few mistakes while training a brand new staff. So, you know, (inaudible). Bird: Are you done? Stiffler: See, she's going to get to it (inaudible). Bird: But I have a question on it. lLn your opinion, and this has been brought to me by different people. I know (inaudible). Do you feel that we, wanting to be in complete unity, have got enough industrial and commercial area set aside? To become the community that has, you know, you live, work, and play in. What's your feeling on that? I have no take on it myself. Canning: The commercial, I think we do. I think that as the Ten Mile comes in, think you'd see more of that. But I do think that (inaudible) industrial. You know, when you've got Van Auker asking (inaudible) industrial, to me says that maybe there's not a market for industrial in this area. However, that doesn't mean there can't be other types of permits here but not the typical (inaudible). But to add it in other places, people are just telling us it's not (inaudible). But I think it needs to be tied in to other (inaudible). Bird: I did the follow-up on that, Anna, (inaudible) if we do the Ten Mile deal there I°ve got some real concerns, putting residential in that first (inaudible) square. The Black Cat-Ten Mile-Franklin to the freeway area. Because I look at that as being an industrial/commercial area. You know how well it's going to go if we let a bunch of residential get started in there. (Inaudible) and have people come in with tears in their eyes saying they assured us that nothing was coming here like it. And so I really wonder, it's something I'm thinking out loud,. I just wondered., if we go put residential out there before we get commercial or some industrial going. • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 1 ?, 2007 Page 21 of 58 Canning: Well, my commitment to you on the Ten Mile was that it was going to (inaudible). And it is, unlike Crossroads, where you've got low density commercial and low density residential because if you're going to have a high density (inaudible). I think that those will actually help. They are much closer in use because they are (inaudible) and I think that people, if they buy a house, not having looked at that Ten Mile Specific Plan (inaudible) that's just (inaudible). Bird:: But the people that are selling, you want to remember, downplay this. Oh yeah, they got a plan but that's not ever going to happen. That's how Crossroads was built. I remember Charlie, one time (inaudible) and asking somebody. He said., you know, that picture of that storefront sat out for five years. You drove by it every day and just believed it wasn't going to happen? Canning: Well., sir, I think you're stealing a little bit of my thunder for going on but Bird: Okay, then I'll wait. Canning: Next year I want (inaudible) this is one of the tools you need to develop to implement that Ten Mile. You need to have someone (inaudible) letting those residential neighbors know (inaudible). Bird: More crime. Canning: Low density residential tends to be the worst (inaudible). Nary: (Inaudible) this is very short and will be driven by (inaudible). Our update,. these are Things that are really actually currently ongoing (inaudible) that we're looking at. Three things I guess I want to highlight, one of which is (inaudible). One of the things that I have stressed (inaudible) the biggest thing that our department does is provide service to the other parts of the City. That's our goal all the time, that's our mission all the time. We stress it constantly in our staff meetings. That's what we're about. I mean, there're a lot of other things that we do, But we don't provide this service in (inaudible). And we're not dealing with that. That really is the number one mission for us. And in each of the sessions (inaudible) most talked about it is (inaudible). Over the last year we have been building a team with the Police Code Enforcement in our office, with the Building Department, and Planning Department on all these various public issues and they are constant, every day things that we deal with. And you need that integration, that working relationship among all those different sections (inaudible). You folks shouldn't have to deal with very much the offshoot of Councilman Rountree saying, you know I've been driving down this Cherry Lane and noticing all these signs around here all the time that shouldn't be here. You Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 22 of 58 know, we should be trying to address those now. And the proactiveness. And we have been doing that a lot with our department in understanding and communicating, working together to figure out how to stay ahead of this. The folks who build and develop this city are fast and creative in doing stuff. You can't barely keep up with (inaudible). Trying to stay ahead of (inaudible) signs, fixed signs, pole signs, flags, black signs with bright letters, bright signs with black letters, you. know, white signs - -. Borton: (inaudible). 'Nary: Sharp, creative people. That's something we've been really working together with the other departments in trying to provide more service:. On the HR side, (inaudible). We have, one of the criticisms of HR when I got here was that we didn't seem to be much of a partner with the departments on a lot of issues. It seemed to be a department that just didn't know a lot and I don't like that. think it's important that we work together with departments to figure out how to do things, how to get things accomplished, what's the right thing to do, and how to get it done. And we've worked really hard in the two-and-a-half years I've been here to do that. And, you know, recruitment and retention for employees is a huge deah In a city of 283 employees currently but we probably hired., you know, in the last year, we probably hired about 100 people for various things. (Inaudible). But it's tough and I've got one person that does that fullfiime and it's a lot of work and yet, again, our objective is to try to get the best people, the best bid, find the needs of the department and match those together, and you know, we aren't 100% successful but I think we've done a pretty good job in trying to keep up with the needs of the department and not only their needs, but the City's needs, with a consistency of the process and making sure we are meeting those goals to get the best people. Because that's how we keep good people here. The last one, on the IT side.. Same thing. When IT came to my department, one of the criticisms I heard was that IT didn't (inaudible) department very well. They either dictated or appeared to dictate, this is how it is, this is what you get, this is the way things work. And you know, we really tried to expand that. That first bulletin, the internal IT committee, we reestablished that and the goal of that committee is to look at the long-term needs of the City, make sure we are addressing them. Not from IT's perspective but the department's perspective. What they think they're going to need and how could IT help get the best people or technology to meet those needs going forward... Not so that IT has more toys to play with, so the departments have the right tools to do the job (inaudible). And these things are tough.. They aren't (inaudible) but those are the things we stress a lot in our department (inaudible). Bird: Bill, one question: In HR, what kind of percent turnover do we have in the City? • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Fage 23 of 58 Nary: Oh.... De Weerd: The Planning Department (inaudible). Nary: I don't have any exact numbers (inaudible) but you know, we have - - Bird: I keep hearing everybody saying, you know, we have (inaudible), you look through here, and I agree with it and I thought so too (inaudible). We don't have the turnover. I guarantee one thing (.inaudible) you're talking about 50 to 60% turnover in a year. Nary: But it doesn't say, it doesn't operate like that. Because we don't have a lot of turnover. But we don't have a lot of turnover because we do all the things (inaudible). Some of the people stay here because they just like it. They live here, (inaudible). The ones that we really work hard on retention are those ones that are in that three to five year (inaudible). When we get employees that are here about three to five years, we've invested a lot of time, we've invested a lot of dollars in training., and salaries, and pay and they're really good, they're really helpful and we're able to get things accomplished in the various departments. Those are the ones that are important for us to keep. When they stay beyond five years (inaudible). At that point, it's a challenge. In most of the departments, that's the one they're most fearful of losing because they are generally the most marketable. So, we don't have a big turnover but you know, we, the public sector business today is tough. Around the state, County, and the other cities, it's a tough business, you know, but we are competitive with those people. But if we weren't, if we didn't have comparable pay, we'd lose those three to five ,people. We're not that invested in theme yet. You know, they have the ability to go work in Nampa and be a Wastewater Operator over there. They have the ability to go to Boise and work in the police department over there. They're not super invested (inaudible) but because we are marketable (inaudible). We have stressed over the last four years very strongly about that communication, collaboration type of environment. I think we should feel like it's one thing that matters but the vision statement that we make, don't just say it in front (inaudible) but we live it, we actually do it. When we manage our staff, it makes it a better place to work. (Inaudible) If they feel like this is okay, I like it, (inaudible), I don't have to drive very far, the people I work with I like. You know, you're going to get a (inaudible) for somebody who's making $30,000 and somebody (inaudible). That happens. We can't always compete with every one of them, The dollar scale. But, you know what, if you hate where you work and you make $40,000 and somebody offers you $42,000 (inaudible). Bird: (Inaudible) private companies, their idea (inaudible), I think a lot of it's the trend now days for young people. I mean, Charlie and I's age group, I mean we went to work for a firm and we worked for it. That was our job for the rest of our • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 24 of 58 lives as long as we were treated right. Now, some of these kids, if they turn 30 and haven't changed their jobs, and we're talking about professionals, four or five times, they haven't kept up with the training.. Nary: That's part of the recruitment challenge. You know, I agree with that. The generation of people now, the 18 to 30-year-old generation, don't have in general the traditional work ethic that we're talking about. (Inaudible) isn't as common yet we still find in recruitment (inaudible). Idaho is a very old school, traditional kind of state and lots of folks who apply to work here still have that. Those are the ones we do try to get because they fit better in the department. They've been in the culture of our employees. If they're going to last longer (inaudible). We take longer to hire than a lot of (inaudible). We don't want (inaudible) six months or a year. We really want people longer and sometimes it takes a little. more effort to get them. Stiffler: The challenge (inaudible) then you lose some of that concern (inaudible) replacement. Then you come back and some of those numbers you look at are not just turnover for other reasons, they're turnover because then you're still trying to have that next generation replaced. Ina City where you have (inaudible) you're still going to see that. Look at different departments of (inaudible) compounds the challenge. De Weerd: Well, I know how long it takes to get employees up and functional. You know, I think that the Police Department, even the Sewer Treatment Plant, you know, we're starting to see some of our long time employees getting into retirement. We don't have a recruitment issue. Over in the Wastewater Treatment Plant, we're going to have a real challenge over there until we (inaudible) how we can not only attract and then retain (inaudible). As we get them up and trained, they start picking them off (inaudible) because they pay more. And we expect more out of our employees because we do (inaudible). So we need to find that balance of how we can train, recruit, retain, build the loyalty, and get that (inaudible) generational thing (inaudible). You landed somewhere and that was where (inaudible). Now if someone pays, Boise or Nampa, better than us, we just trained their person. They're starting to pick them off. And when you get into an area, whether it's Planning, whether it's our Treatment Plant Engineers, (inaudible) we have to find ways to build that loyalty and keep them focused here.. (Inaudible.). (inaudible): Bird.: And you have that recruit going on (inaudible) and I hope, and I know this (inaudible) but like a lot of private companies, once a guy gets up in years making good money, a lot of companies hire somebody else (inaudible). I think that we take care of our (inaudible) but in the same token if a young person is Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 25 of 58 raising a family, if they can go out and make more money, more power to them. Sure I'd like to retain them and stuff but we can't compete with (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Bird.: I realize that,. Tammy, but - - Nary: You can't solve everything at once. And every time, I guess all we can do is {inaudible). We have these issues to face and most everyone around this table has had to address this in some fashion. You know, really, the first question I ask is, is this person (inaudible)? Do we need to go to some extraordinary length to retain this person? What's the value of (inaudible)? You .know I come to the Mayor if you folks, every month, (inaudible). That doesn't work. The money's going to run out somewhere. We can't (inaudible). So we do want to make those kinds of analyses (inaudible) but we do, I guess what we try to do, is evaluate what can we do? Are we that out of whack? Is this a situation where we can't solve it or are we that out of whack so it's not this person (inaudible)? One of the things I usually tell Department Directors is unless they see themselves outside the organization, you know, they've got the new name plate, they've got the new jersey, whatever (inaudible) mindset that they can (inaudible) and be okay with it. We may not be able to (inaudible). And you may not want to. Sometimes you may not really want them to stay. Sometimes it's worth it (inaudible). All wages up front. Is there something etse we're not doing for this job that we should be looking at? Is it the way we organize it? The department? Are we giving people enough opportunity to challenge? I mean, that's the kind of, I guess, creative thinking that I think is important to address that retention set. Because, again, I don't think it's always money. Sometimes it's lots of other things. You know, if somebody offers (inaudible). How do we make sure we don't (inaudible). And you .know, we (inaudible) really good people, (inaudible) people. But - - Bird.: (inaudible). Nary: We certainly haven't discouraged them leaving.. But, you know, but I think we're sfiill in the ballgame in this valley. We aren't going to compete with engineering and a lot of - -you know, if you want to hire IT people and Micron's hiring., they're going to hire more (inaudible). But you know, we're still competitive in the market and that's the best we can do. And that's where we want to stay. We want to stay competitive. We want to make sure we're doing the right thing. Bird: I just wanted to get (inaudible) to get across the point that we aren't losing a (inaudible). And I can tell you right now, I don't know about the rest of you people, but the exit reviews now compared to what they were six, seven, eight • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 26 of 58 years ago is not even close. Very few are leaving here because of management or the way they're treated today. If one says that, you know there's a sour grape somewhere. And it's usually their fault. And that's all we got on the exit reviews before. Man, I don't care what the pay is, I'm out of here. I'm not (inaudible). We've all read those exit reviews like that. So that's what I'm - -. Whatever we're doing, I think we're doing a good job.. We can improve upon it though but let's keep (inaudible). Musser: If I could add one thing (inaudible). I just experienced (inaudible). think we have this thing in terms of succession, (inaudible) find two or three qualified people (inaudible). When it comes time to fill those positions, I recently ran (inaudible) some of the people aren't willing to do well. They're qualified., they're good.. But because you have to take on the extra work or because they know that their peers in other places get a little bit more money, it's not worth it to them. I was flabbergasted. I've never experienced that. But I guess my generational perspective is a little bit on the (inaudible) there, probably where I'm at, but it wasn't a dynamic that I have to deal with. (Inaudible). But we're starting to see it now too. (Inaudible). Stiffler: (Inaudible) good soldiers. The good soldiers are still there but it's appreciating also (inaudible.) value them and appreciate them because they don't want to (inaudible). They're still~doing their job. How important (inaudible). Bird: There're a lot of people that don't want to take on responsibility. (Inaudible) you know. Great mechanics, but they don't want to run a job. They want somebody to tell them what to do and they do a great job.. Musser: If you have those that are like that, embrace those. But we have those that do want to move up. They'd be happy to -move up but we aren't making it rewarding enough for them. (Inaudible).. Canning: (Inaudible) generational thing. There used to be a (inaudible). I think that's why Brad and I have such a hard time because, I mean you've got to want to be a planner, a City Planner, to do that job (inaudible). But if you enjoy (inaudible) get some satisfaction out of it. (Inaudible). Zaremba; The other element is important and I realize (inaudible) having a workplace that they're happy with, having other incentives even if .it's just movie tickets once in a while, however small they might be. I've been on the receiving end of that too. (inaudible) membership. The other thing, as I say, is having people want to work with the other people that they work with. And I don't .know what City policy is on (inaudible). Rick will not hire someone who wasn't recommended by a current employee. He will ask if they are good workers. Do you know anybody? You know, before they go out in the public on this.. And ~ ~ Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 27 of 58 .(inaudible). Sometimes people know who will work and help support them and (inaudible). Like I said.., (inaudible) rewards and recognition, pats on the back. (Inaudible) that's important. De Weerd: Well, maybe the challenge that a Director (inaudible) within the focus area the employee gets trained (inaudible). (inaudible) for a planner (inaudible), for a police officer in recognizing new programs that, you know, reduce crime or - Musser: (Inaudible). Wear the uniforms. De Weerd: But you know, maybe that is the challenge as well., (inaudible) internal and say, you know, within your profession what are those - -you know you've reached it when you've achieved this certain threshold for whatever it is. But maybe those are the kind of things that need building as well. And it gets back (inaudible) Joes' thing as being the best and having that pride of working in a community that's proactive and recognized for their innovation, that they are the best practice of the model city. And maybe that's something too.. So if we started to look at whatever those achievements - -. Maybe that's enough to keep (inaud'ible). Stiffler: I think (inaudible) values for the City. Maybe mean it something (.inaudible). Or working hard and telling their people they care about them. I think that idea of actually walking the talk, you care about. If I don't think Anna cares, I think I don't want to care. (Inaudible) first thing this morning, but the rest of the staff understood that and it has to do with the fact she really does care.. And I think that if you did a survey of all your employees today, I would tell you, even though money and the other stuff comes up there, if they feel they're out of touch with their Department Leader or their manager does, or all the way up, really don't care about them, all the way up to the Council, the whole culture of the City that you taught, Bill, will go tank down real quick. They don't see that. think it's more stay the course of momentum (inaudible). They know that you are engaging them. (inaudible). De Weerd: So if you guys have any ideas, the Council (inaudible) how to do that. Maybe Charlie (inaudible).. If you find those things that are those recognition points or (inaudible), let us know. Give us your ideas and we'll figure out how those work. It is a balance. Rountree: (Inaudible) showing respect. (inaudible). It's the hardest job you'll ever have. And you can't get everybody (inaudible). Work those situations out. It's simple recognition. (inaudible). Let them know. (inaudible). Bird.: (Inaudible). • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning 1Norkshop April 11, 2007 Page 28 of 58 Anderson.: Sure; I'd be glad to go next. As most of you know, the Fire Department has been playing catch-up for several years and I was kind of interested when I saw one of the Councilmen's comments about firefighting operating from behind the growth curve because if you recall, at the time when. Keith and I got elected and Charlie was on the Council at that time, Meridian was pretty much an ail-volunteer fire department at that time and that was only back in 1998. So it wasn't that long ago. And we were a very small community and growing very rapidly and we. were kind of right in that phase where we were transitioning from the volunteer department that had operated for years into becoming a fulltime, more professional organization, I remember that I was a volunteer firefighter here. And part of the reason I joined was because of the social activity, because of all the things that they did - -the salmon barbecue and the parade and maybe even some of that, the card games on Tuesday night and those types of things. But the Department has changed and the times have changed and that's not what the community demands of the Fire Department any more and so we have tried to change that organization and it's been a struggle in some cases but to look where we've come in a very short .period of time has also been very rewarding.. We also decided that we were going to take that next step in the .process of improving the professionalism of the Fire Department, upgrade our skills. And the Council made a bold statement here a few years ago and said we want to go from the basic life support to advanced life support because it's something that our citizens deserve, it's something that they demand as a higher public service so we took that step also. So in the last year here, to kind of build off of that, I passed around the department's Strategic Initiative and you see the city-wide focus is above there but just to talk a little bit about the first one there, to maintain and enhance the current service level. Part of that, being able to maintain and enhance those current service levels, is continuing to build the fire stations as the City's footprint grows.. And as we get bigger, obviously the response time increased and so every time we annex another piece of ground and that .happens almost on a weekly basis. At every Council meeting there's another piece of property that's annexed... At some point they have to build that next fire station. And so just staying up with that alone is a monumental task when you look at the .process of finding property, getting an architect, getting the building drawn, getting it submitted through Planning., and going through the City ,process just like all the other buildings, putting it out for bid, getting it built, equipment and hiring the people, training the people, working out all the new response areas. Most departments; they deal with that maybe once every 10, 20 years. We've built four fire stations since the year 2000. So that's a lot of work in itself right there. Also to go along with that enhanced service level in the last year the Mayor and Council decided that once we got Phis EMS program up and in place then we needed something there to sustain that and that means training and that means somebody to oversee that, that program. And so we appreciate the posifiion of the Deputy Chief and EMS.. We've also been working • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 29 of 58 hard with the Financial Department as well as the consultants that we did the Public Safety impact fees - - to try to develop along-term strategic plan for capital staffing and the operation and maintenance. So if you guys can get the big picture and the snapshot of what it's like, what the needs are going to be for the Fire Department, one year, three year, five years, and out so that we can plan for the future path that we need there. And that is something that has become very apparent to me here recently, that we really need to go in every year and adjust because of inflation or cost differences. A lot of these things, we're making best guesses at this time as far as what they're going to cost. They may be substantially more. In some cases, they're less. Usually they're more. So adjusting that Capital. improvement Plan I think is important. We also in the last year have made a lot of effort in improving our training programs. One of the problems was growing so rapidly. It was also having people ready to step into those positions. But every time we open a new fire station we're creating new opportunities for not only new firefighters to be hired but to promote people to drivers and then promote drivers to Captain and so our training programs have had to increase substantially to keep up with that demand to get those people ready. So we have literally new Captains that were only hired in our department four years ago and that's something in a typical fire department you don't achieve until you've been there 10 or 15 years. And so we're having to ,prep these people and get them ready for that additional responsibility in much less time and more compressed time. The new training tower that's being constructed right now will go a long way in helping to keep their skills sharp once the guys get out of recruiting class and go online. That training .that they go through is very repetitive in nature and it has to be to keep their skills sharp. So that's going to go a long way. But it's also going to help with a lot of our public education because there will be - -not only a burn room for the firefighters but there's a room for public display so we'll be able to actually bring school classes or groups that we're trying to educate about the dangers of fire and then we'll be able to have them stand outside the training tower to see some of the actual fire as it progresses. We have been working very hard at improving our public education program too. If you recall, it was only two years ago that we hired our first public education person and that was increased to a fulltime position last August and the Department is involved in programs that we've just never been involved in in the past, everything from child car seat safety. One of the requirements of all the hospitals around here is that before you can take your infant home you do have to have a (inaudible) that has been properly fitted to the car and to the child and so they have to come by either the Police Department or Fire Department. We've partnered with Central District health and we do those inspections for folks to make sure they bring home their little ones from the hospital. We do all kinds of partnering with different corporations in town from Wal-Mart to Lowe's to senior centers. We're doing Fail Fit programs for seniors to keep them from becoming injured (inaudible). All -kinds of things. So we are really reaching out and gaining a lot of ground in the public education programs. We've also • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 .Page 30 of 58 developed some great relationships with the schools as a result of that and we're now going into the schools and going into school assemblies and doing skits during Fire Prevention Month to educate the kids about different things that are required.. Improving the departmental communications, you guys have probably seen the monthly newsletters that we email out. We also put out an annual report every year that you should have a copy of. We have quarterly newsletters that we send home to all of the Fire Department's members and their wives because like any organization, typically the spouse never comes home and talks much about work and what's going on so a lot of the wives, girlfriends, and others find out about what's going on in the department through that quarterly newsletter. (Inaudible): Anderson: Yeah, we have a couple of those. But they work in the office. We also do monthly staff meetings with all the officers to make sure that everybody's on the same plan and that we discuss upcoming events and fall season and things like that. We have daily operational meetings. It all has been in an effort to help with. communications. And when we have these monthly staff meetings, minutes are kept. They're put out to all members of the department within 48 hours of the actual meeting so that if there was any question or (inaudible) about what happened at the meetings. We've also made a lot of improvements in the last year at the Fire Prevention Bureau. With you guys' assistance, we added a fulltime Fire Inspector in October and that's made a world of difference. One of the things that's different for the Fire Department and the Building Department when it comes to the plan review part is typically the Building Department, once they review a set of plans, if they're done with them when the building's built, then those plans get destroyed or archived.. In the Fire Department, we typically have to go back in every year and ensure that that building is being maintained. And so we have to make sure that the life-saving features such as sprinkler systems or fire alarms or fhe exiting or the housekeeping, all of those kind of things, are being maintained. So it's an ongoing responsibility for us. Every new business that comes into Meridian means additional work - - (End of tape). Anderson: And as rapidly as Meridian's growing., we were simply failing further and further behind. We have, as near as we can tell, somewhere around 1100 businesses in our town right now and we were only hitting about 300 to 400 of those a year and technically we should have been going in there in a lot of businesses every year. So between hiring the fulltime inspector and we (inaudible) the work load considerably (inaudible), we expect to hit somewhere around 900 and 1000 of those inspections this year. But we're still (inaudible) short in that area. And if something has a positive impact in the community • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 31 of 58 (inaud'ible). They're glad to have the Fire Department come through and point out some of those safety things. Some of them aren't so happy when they find out there's some major things that need to be upgraded but we're working through those and giving the idea that we provide a safe community for our oitizens. if we've got buildings out there that are unsafe and something can be done about them (inaudible). We also have been working closely with our Public Works department in trying to look at some of the trouble areas where we've had problems in the past, haven't had adequate water supply, and those kind of things. We're trying to address plans to remedy some of those (inaudible). Which kind of moves us into some of the areas that we're going to be touching on in the future. As Meridian grows and as we look at things like the Comp Plan and we develop different areas where we tend to put commercial growth, it's important that we all sit down together and talk about (inaudible) because it changes what these long-term goals are that we talked about and capital needs because when we start changing the look of Meridian and start putting commercial buildings where the Fire Department was originally thinking we were going to have residential and that may change the need and it may be that we need a little bit larger station because we have to (inaudible) in that area. And that is going. to require additional staff, additional cost for those vehicles and those types of things. We also talked recently about the Old Town. And we certainly, from the Fire Department standpoint, we'd love to see t'he Old Town .redevelop and become the vision that everybody has for that area but by the same token, there's some infrastructure needs that are not up to current codes down there. We've got water lines that are inadequately sized for that area. So when you come in and you start talking about building four-story City Halls and six-story buildings and remodeling that, that's going to cause some issues in the Fire Department when it comes to getting adequate flow. So those are some of the things that we need to talk about (inaudible).. With that, and the Mayor's sign off, I'II sign off. Zaremba: (Inaudible) was just so swamped that it was (inaudible). Not only catching up but getting ahead and having a lot of (inaudible). But in my mind I was extrapolating that into the other departments. In a city that's growing at the pace that we're growing (inaudible) go somewhere else (inaudible). And they would .say we're the ones who have to respond. We need to be included (inaudible). I never saw the inspector again. And I'm assuming that (inaudible). would assume that if they actually saw something (inaudible). But in hindsight I'm sure they were his eyes and ears and they saved him a lot of work (inaudible). I think that's great. Anderson: And we work kind of off the same kind of principle. I mean, we feel like that it's really important for those firefighters to be out there and be in those businesses because when a call comes in at 2:00 in the morning and black smoke is rolling out of that building, that's the worst time to start becoming • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning workshop April 11, 2007 Page 32 of 58 familiar with the lights in that building, what's in there, and all those kind of things so that's why we have been, I guess for the last several years, big advocates for this company inspection program because it's the active firefighters that will be responding when they are out there doing inspections. Typically what they have done is they get in there and it's just a routine inspection and there are just a few minor violations. They write them up, address them to the business owners to take care of them. But when they get in there and they find major problems, this needs a sprinkler system or these people are not wanting to comply, then they turn those over to the Fire Marshall and then that's what the Fire Marshall does. with the majority of his time, is deal with the more difficult inspections (inaudible). Same thing as what you're used to. Nary: Chief, I was just curious. ('Inaudible). Ls that something that would be beneficial? If you're going may be (inaudible). into a lot of businesses (inaudible). I imagine there Anderson:. Yeah, there probably is (inaudible) there.. A lot of the classes that policemen attend, a lot of times the firemen are in the same classes and we have to take, as we take our medical training, fhere's certain things that they teach us about. We see these certain types of signs. If you. go into a house on a medical call there'd be signs of (inaudible) in the case of child abuse or something like that and so - -. You go through that type of stuff. Meth lab stuff is always being trained in the firefighter training because you have to go in (inaudible). But I know as far as Nampa, they have a Gang Unit teach classes to all the City departments whether it's the Water or Public Works or Fire so that as we're out and about in the community, if we see certain signs (inaudible) Police Department. (Inaudible). I'm sure there's probably some training like that (inaudible). De Weerd: We did participate in (inaudible). I don't know how many were there but (inaudible). Watson: I'll bounce around a little bit. (Inaudible) Black Cat, the lift station, Wastewater (inaudible). One of the things that we're looking to do (inaudible). I'll be working with that department (inaudible). One of the big things that I have to report back to you on (inaudible). Three or four years ago (inaudible). Bird: Don't be saying that. (Inaudible). Watson:: (Inaudible). Also kind of under the radar (inaudible). Zaremba: It's a scratch or sniff. • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 33 of 58 Watson: There's so .much that I could talk about. (Inaudible). And we're getting faced with (inaudible). We've kind of come to the conclusion that (inaudible). When I commented earlier on (inaudible) quality of life (inaudible). What we focus on (inaudible). (Inaudible) ,probably in the last year that this Council has supported us and put extra money in that (inaudible). Some of our focus-based projects (inaudible). We will have a splash pad. (Inaudible). It'll be the first time we'll actually see the impact of (inaudible). Meridian Baseball Complex, I've not been by it (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Bird: (Inaudible) Charlie. 1t was '92. Watson: (Inaudible) continued to look at (inaudible). Irrigation going in. Grass will be seeded.. Soon after water comes in (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Watson: We don't have an official name for it yet. De Weerd: That's the south, southeast Meridian community park, neighborhood park. Zaremba: Park number 42. Watson: (Inaudible). We have a returning seasonal staff this year, with ahigh- quality seasonal staff (inaudible). We're excited about that. We've had significant growth in numbers of services (inaudible).. Zaremba: As Planning and Zoning Commissioner, I (inaudible). But those of us who have been put in some of the decision-making positions have a visual of what's going on with the parks. My feeling. about Parks and Recreation is they're not just amenities, they're a part of our (inaudible). The more kids that are actively involved in recreational activities (inaudible). Or maybe that's not true. (Inaudible) around City Hall. I bring that up because maybe there are things that some of the other directors. are (inaudible) their departments that you could maybe (inaudible) in order to base our decisions on things that are going on in the City. A city that's growing this fast is hard to keep up (inaudible). You know, if there is (inaudible) or even if there isn't (inaudible). I'm just saying to keep us better informed (inaudible): But I just feel it's a good connection. Anderson: If you guys are interested, and I know Charlie (inaudible) some of the departments are taking elected officials and they're doing like a mini (inaudible) • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 34 of 58 like cone-day and they're teaching them how to put on a breathing apparatus (inaudible). Canning: They use night vision goggles. Anderson: And if they don't give us what we want, we don't let you out. Bird: We can't let Anderson, Chief Anderson, go in because we didn't care if he got burnt when he was Chief of Nampa. We don't want him getting burnt (inaudible). Watson: (Inaudible). Berg: If you wait long enough, it'll be gone. Stiffler: Keep it going, so, Stacy. Kilchenmann: Who wants to (inaudible). Berg: Just on a personal note, I can't ever get (inaudible). Kilchenmann: (Inaudible). I'm just going to talk about a couple things we've done and some of them are really obvious and you know some of the obvious things that you (inaudible). But since I was hired six years ago, we haven't added any staff to the Accounting Department. This year we were able to (inaudible) .and some changes that allowed us to do a lot more in the cutting edge things that we've been wanting to do. We hired a professional accountant. We did some major changes in how we process paperwork (inaudible) departments that really saved us a lot of time in our Accounts Payable staff. We did electronic time cards which are saving us a lot of time in our payroll processing (inaudible). In the Utility Billing Department I think the level of professionalism there has really changed in the last few years. And work is caught up. We did one thing, online payments, which seemed really simple but it's actually pretty complicated. Not so much the software part of it but the reconciliation of those payments coming in and tracking them (inaudible). So we've got (inaudible) handle that better. And then we've actually found a different schedule to do our processing that will allow us to save more money. And at the same time (inaudible) that people are asking for like having (inaudible) available online. We can start updating accounts almost real time (inaudible). And then another big thing we did was implement the whole Purchasing Department, which that was, the City never had that before. (inaudible) and think it's run successfully. (Inaudible) or should we do that later? Stiffler: Later. • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 35 of 58 Kilchenmann: So that's ail I have. Stiffler: Any other comments right now? Zaremba: I have a question. (Inaudible). I understand (inaudible). Kilchenmann: (Inaudible) doing the things that we do now are appropriate for a small city (inaudible) but as we get larger (inaudible). Zaremba: I can understand it when we didn't have a person. De Weerd: (Inaudible) thingy-bobber. Whose trained on it, Will? Berg:. (inaudible). De Weerd.: Just thought I'd ask before (inaudible). Bird: You need to go read the Ordinance on what a Councilman is (inaudible) and if you want to change it, (inaudible). De Weerd: The state doesn't (inaudible).. (Inaudible): Can I be a fly, Uncle Will? Stiffler: Hey, move on. Berg: I want to do just one sentence. We deal with quality of life issues on a daily basis.. When you deal with people, their dog and license them, it's a major impact on their life. Being able to park their truck (inaudible) is an impact on their life. Installing a gate in a fence impacts their life. So we deal with quality of life issues all the time. (Inaudible). Berg: Well, they don't. They come to our office. De Weerd: They want to know what time it is. They need to have phone numbers. Berg.: So anyway I think capitalizing on quality of life issues (inaudible) part of our department. Considering that last year we handled over 21,000 calls. That doesn't mean we dealt with every call or tried to handle it, but somewhere along the .line we got it to the right place. And I think that's it. (inaudible). But I think • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 36 of 58 that's important to know, that the City deals constantly with the public. And it's probably a major, major part of my department, a major part of all departments, we can have all the things we want to do but when that phone call comes in, we have to answer it. (Inaudible). Getting back to my initiatives, sorry. One of the initiatives that I had was (inaudible). The access of information. We've gone from paper to email and now to web links. A lot of our (inaudible) for the project itself. They know that Friday night they can go to the web link, get all the packet information (inaudible). I guess that's why we push to get that information so we have it on the web link so they (inaudible). You know, Thursday at 5.:00 (inaudible). Also in that realm the Planning and Zoning Commission is now paperless. They use a web link to look at all the packets. And I think it's been pretty good that we've gone and set up all the laptops (inaudible). We have it all set up so it's working out good. De Weerd: Kind of like when they talk about computers (inaudible). Berg: I think you need to contact the IT Department. Bird: I couldn't email them a request. Berg: They already know you. Are you going to share? Nary: We have a limited number of licenses to web link because of an automatic timeout if the person takes (inaudible) so they won't tie up a license if somebody were to walk away from a link and leave it, that license would be tied up so it would just stay open without it being active. So if it could open - -. Bird: That's the first time I've seen it. Nary: I have all sorts of trouble with technology. But it comes from the City. Bird: Well, you know better than I. .Nary: But it's just to make sure because otherwise, we only have a limited .license amount so if you did do that, someone opened a web link and walked away from it, (inaudible). Berg: I think it was (inaudible).. The other issue that we had was a relationship with other agencies. We've been becoming more and more being able to exchange some of the information from other agencies (inaudible). (inaudible) a little bit better. Some of them now know they can email stuff rather than sending. us a letter in the mail. So we're trying to incorporate that a little bit faster (inaudible). Another thing is dealing. with, another customer service issue, is something that you'll be seeing in (inaudible) we have an Emergency • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 37 of 58 Management Team and we're looking beyond just some of the little issues but the bigger ones that may have to deal with the City and (inaudible) next budget process. We may be thinking a little bit out of the box of what we have (inaudible). The last thing., I think as far as processing and preparation of information in my department. We will have our full staff back in on Thursday or Friday I hope. And one of the goals of our department has been to delegate more and more responsibility and cross-train to do that. And we work as a team (inaudible) it's not just one responsibility on the shoulders of one person (inaudible). The accountability (inaudible) cross-training, You'll see different ones being responsible for different meetings as far as attending and making sure proper order is taken care of. (Inaudible) more rotation of people (inaudible). Stiffler: Any other comments? Moving on, if you go back to those two original. sheets, one from Council and one from Leadership. You see number four there, you see the two lists of what were (inaudible) top priorities or initiatives of 2008. would say that it's, you start to see some of the connected department (inaudible). And then you start seeing other things down there like (inaudible) but guess I would first ask you for finding (inaudible). Is there anything in those, (inaudible) as far as, would you see something there that somebody's got a question about or they would see something that's not there or something you might think, wait a minute (inaudible). Zaremba: For as long as I've lived here, it's always been a pleasant place to lire. (I'naudible). There was a period where I felt that the City really had a grasp of that growth as fast as it (inaudible). And in the last three years or so, (inaudible) think we're getting a handle (inaudible). The changes and accelerated changes, the growth. And there's an excellent group of heads that are working on it. My thought was this (inaudible). Positive response (inaudible). Stiffler: Anybody else have any comments (inaudible). Other elements were there and some of the stuff has been brought up and I know that there will be some other (inaudible) as far as discussion (inaudible). So I need to give yota a chance to chime in, Is there anything that you would have added? (Inaudible): Stiffler: (Inaudible) This was all (inaudible). I'm going to kind of go with that. You can see on the original agenda we have (inaudible) 2008 (inaudible) but the other one (inaudible) everybody's kind of talked about - - (End of tape). • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 38 of 58 Canning: So you're getting a map that kind of has all of our battlegrounds listed on it. And these are where the pressure is, these are where the service line has been extended and there's (inaudible) activity, a lot of activity, or potentially a lot of activity. I guess it would just help us to know where Council sees their priorities. I'm going to use what I'm hoping Council will say is the last priority as an example. (Inaudible). If I have to talk to more people on that darn (inaudible). We tell them, it's going to be three years. Don't even talk to us for three years and they still come back. But if we can say, we talked to Council, these are their core priorities for where we need to focus our efforts in developing (inaudible) or come up with staffing for Police, for Fire. (Inaudible) Public Works. Whatever it needs to be, each department really felt like they need to know (inaudible). Everybody felt like they needed to know really what is Council's priority hearing? Where do we need to (inaudible)? So the ones we have listed, Black Cat to Chinden, that new growth area next to the Tree Farm and then the (inaudible) below that. (Inaudible) makes it and I put that on there so (inaudible) reiterate once again that it is an absolute low-priority. Stiffler: Can I just mention that Councilman Zaremba and I went over to that transportation meeting they had at Idaho Center where they were asking everybody what they'd like to see on this, connecting 184 to (inaudible). And there were several of the neighbors there from this McDermott area and they weren't real happy, I guess, with the response they've been getting to call Meridian and tell them that we're not even going to talk about this for three years because to them, they may live there and that's their priority. They would like to know whether that corridor is going to be four-lane or five-lane or limited access highway. Is it going to have commercial on it? Canning: That's not the people we say that to. I think we're getting off track here.. It's not that we're not doing planning for that area. We participate in that. We're planning for that area. But there's not sewer available for that area for several years. These are really the development (inaudible) where houses are going to pop up. And houses are not going to pop up (inaudible).. That's what this map is trying to capture. Where are those residents? Where are the (inaudible) going to be? Not that we're not planning for it. We're definitely working on that. We want to answer that question too. It's just we're avoiding the questions of, I turned in my preliminary plat. You say it comes (inaudible) in three years? I mean., it's just, that's the questions we're putting off. Not where (inaudible), where should the highway (inaudible), things like that. That we're very interested in (inaudible). All right, back to the circles. Next one, Ten Mile Interchange. I think that's obvious, it's a special area plan going underway. Old Town also, equally obvious. Eagle and Pine, (inaudible) medical or med tech district. We're incorporating a lot of that Pine Street (inaudible). Your reaction. didn't get one from any of you. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, that area is - - • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, .2007 Page 39 of 58 Musser: (Inaudible). De Weerd: That's where I need a defibrillator. Canning: First time I met (inaudible). De Weerd: No, I just (inaudible) City Council. • Canning: That area does have services now. There's a lot of acreage there. But it's tied up by (inaudible) Group. De Weerd: That's where we were told we were arbitrating (inaudible). Canning: Locust Grove and Lake Hazel. That's the new area on our Comp Plan that we added in our, what used to be our referral area so, thank you (inaudible). But there's going to be. Well, given that Hubble got denied, there might not be as much pressure for a while but that was (inaudible). Maybe the circle has potential to be more of a development area (inaudible). But it is a future battleground and I guess we're pointing them all out here. Zaremba: (Inaudible) potential out there. Canning: And then we've got one (inaudible) at Black Cat and Amity in the general vicinity of what was to have been the, well I guess there's still a sewer treatment system out there but (inaudible). Brad is helping me out with that. But that might have slowed down a little bit but those are what we see as the battlegrounds and we just need to know from Council where you, what your priorities are as far as accommodating doing whatever we can to make things work or doing whatever we can to vote things down. Whatever your desires are. (inaudible). Watson: (Inaudible). Canning: About ten minutes. Watson: For clarification, you should have probably gone (inaudible). If you don't mind, (inaudible). Canning: Maybe you could just (inaudible), Brad, just say (inaudible) two dollar signs (inaudible). Watson: (Inaudible). I guess on a scale of maybe, what (inaudible)? • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 40 of 58 Canning: So what were the other ones? The one where it's now, is that no dollar signs? Watson: Right. (Inaudible). Canning: Ten dollars (inaudible) better not. How many dollar signs? Watson: (Inaudible).. Anything west on Cherry, anything probably west on Cherry or Ustick. (Inaudible). Bird.: Some of that (inaudible) go back into Black Cat. (Lnaudible). De Weerd: So I guess what I'd really like a sense of direction on, and that is that the Directors Team start focusing on (inaudible). Right now it's kind of a (inaudible) this whole thing. So it's good to get an idea from Council on where those priorities are and that are and then our (inaudible) better direction (inaudible) property owners (inaudible). Zaremba: I'll jump in (inaudible), everybody needs to know that they are (inaudible). I think the three that jumped. out at me as priorities would be Ten Mile first, Eagle and Pine second, and OId Town third. (Inaudible) everything else about (inaudible). That I guess is very high priority. Everything else (inaudible) I would say is low priority. (Inaudible) Lake Hazel already has. I think the pressure's going to change (inaudible). Gorton: I would think (inaudible). Has to be addressed with City Hall construction (inaudible). Bird: Well, I'd like to say I think Old Town has to be (inaudible). Can't go through that. I think Ten Mile interchange (inaudible) it's going to be a hot deal. I might try. 1 think Black Cat and Chinden is probably going to go before. I guess I don't have the faith in Eagle and Pine being done as fast as everybody thinks (inaudible). Down the river, I can see that. Black Cat and Amity, Mc Dermott, I don't know. Locust Grove (inaudible). I think Old Town should be (inaudible), Ten Mile, and Black Cat-Chinden. Canning: Well, just on my unofficial tally, the two or three priorities .are Old Town (inaudible). De Weerd~: I would almost say Black Cat to Chinden. The interchange is still a couple years out and we have commitments at Black Cat. • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop: April 11, 2007 Page 41 of 58 Bird: I have to agree wifh you. I think it's, you not only have commitments there, Tammy, you've got people who are wanting to come all the way down (inaudible). Borton: The question was our priority (inaudible)? Which might be vastly different than (inaudible). We might have a priority in the area, Black Cat- Chinden's coming.. Whether or not that's our priority. It might not. Canning.: The question is where do you want staff to focus their time (inaudible)? Musser: Can I ask one little question here? I know the interchange itself is probably at least three or four years down (inaudible). But we've already seen one .development request within the circle. Is there potential for more (inaudible) coming over that time because I see people building., you know, getting a request (inaudible) of the interchange which I think we have to realize is going to occur because (inaudible). All of a sudden we've got stuff (inaudible) Black Cat and Chinden. Old Town, Eagle-Pine, then we have a problem because (inaudible) but I see a little bit of a line here (inaudible). And I'm just trying to get a feel from the Council as to do you think we're going to have development stuff (.inaudible) as well as out at Black Cat and Chinden? Having things come through. That's going to put us in a building phase. Every time you build on those extremes, you go back to the property tax. (Inaudible) and so I'd like you to be aware of what you .potentially see or occurred or maybe working with actually (inaudible). Bird: Bill, and another thing, (inaudible). Musser: We're already exploring that. (Inaudible) See what we can get, talk to the developers over at Bridgetower, see about getting an office in there. They do have some space (inaudible) it's going to take us a year there (inaudible). Bird: Well, I think (inaudible) right (inaudible). Watson : (Inaudible) construction costs (inaudible). Some developments south (inaudible). Boston: Let me raise one issue. Last year (inaudible). There's a possibility that Kuna may decide, hey, it's mine, we're going. to annex (inaudible). And if that's still a concern of Council's or we (inaud'ible). Do we not worry about (inaudible) or do we hope that City Council can come to an agreement (inaudible). Because that was a priority here last year. Watson; (Lnaud'ible) still see activity (inaudible). • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 42 of 58 Zaremba: (Inaudible) what brings it to mind is (inaudible). Is there a chance that some of us (inaudible) to draw a natural line across the City. The terrain is such that the number of (inaudible). There's a point at which (inaudible). Is there anything down there that's (inaudible). Canning: (Inaudible). Zaremba: Is there any geographical element? Anderson; (inaudible) Fire District. Down there at Lake Hazel also. Those other districts like a library district, it doesn't change anything:, because Meridian doesn't have its own library so can annex. It doesn't change from one library district to the other but fire district, it does change and there's an exchange of land if the City of Meridian (inaudible). De Weerd: You know, the. concern is - -. Canning: It's like you go all the way over to Cloverdale, yeah. Nary: And it was like that all the way across, McDermott to Cloverdale, but haven't they annexed this (inaudible)? Bird: (inaudible). Canning: Yeah. De Weerd: You know, I guess the challenge that we have is about, if we say we're not going to focus down there, it's still going to draw our Police and Fire. Because they're responding if Kuna comes up and they start annexing into an area that we have planned for we still have to deal with the traffic and the resulting accidents and the fire district has to change so they're still going to have to provide services out there and those kind of things. So what we're trying to do is focus our service area in a more comprehensive way. So if we're going to have the (inaudible) service there (inaudible) by Public Safety, we really should look at our sewer. I think right now the obvious is that McDermott Basin and the Black Cat and Amity. Those are the obvious ones to say we're not ready. But the other things, I don't know (inaudible) because one way or another we're going to have to have (inaudible). Canning: I get the feeling that Locust Grove (inaudible). But I don't get the feeling (inaudible). De Weerd; (Inaudible). • i Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 43 of 58 Canning: They're not in a hurry. They just want to get it figured out. They want to get, I think they want to get (inaudible) Ten Mile. They don't seem (inaudible). Brad has a really weird look on his face. Watson: No, I'm hoping you're right. Canning: (Inaudible). And since Wright has kind of taken over leadership of it (inaudible). He hasn't told me (inaudible). Bird.: Is the partnership in place now? Canning.: Yes. Bird.: (Inaudible). Even aPre-Council (inaudible). Berg: We haven't had any meetings at all, have we? Bird: I'm lost. Canning.: It's more than (inaudible). River Days, you know I always worked with (inaudible).. He was trying to get planned community (inaudible) Ada County (inaudible). Bird: (Inaudible). Canning; Yeah, there's other property as well. Boston: (Inaudible). Canning: The outrageous sum at that time was (inaudible). Bird: (inaudible) last year. Canning: Right. (inaudible) was much more recent though. (Inaudib'le). De Weerd: So what time is it? StifEler: I think (inaudible) the thing is the challenges of Old Town but I guess would share, you know, Anna and I talked (inaudible). I would tell you .(inaudible). Now you look at Old Town and you look at downtown, you're not going to be able to ignore it (inaudible). It's interesting, Tammy and I (inaudible) downtown area. And we've had two people, I had one move out of Las Vegas a week ago that's now part of the (inaudible) property, another piece out on Ten Mile, Eagle and Pine, actually the transmittal's going over (inaudible). I think • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 44 of 58 what you said as Council, some of those are reality and saying (inaudible) you go back out to (inaudible) and services and work (inaudible) the City's. doing. They are they're still there. just think what Brad's Black Cat (inaudible) sort of what you said,. Watson: I think it helps for us to hear you talk. I don't know (inaudible). Canning: But, Brad, to me it seems Like (inaudible) they're not going to take a lot of push from staff (inaudible) as compared to Ten Mile. Yeah, because they are self-propelling, that's where the (inaudible). Watson: (Inaudible). Bird: (inaudible) cowboy. Watson: (Inaudible) I don't feel badly for (inaudible). Anna just mentioned we've already got some flack. Rountree: (Inaudible). Watson: All we're waiting for is to finalize the plan (inaudible). Chances are they are getting things done (inaudible). Once they do (inaudible). (Inaudible): Watson: I mean, if everything falls together, we have (inaudible) potential of four square miles (inaudible) between Meridian and Ten Mile. If that stuff came together, I think we could (inaudible) fast. We give it about athree-year period.. So we (inaudible) every potential (inaudible) lined up so it's ready to go once they meet all our requirements (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Phil, that was the growth area. (Inaudible). Stiffler: (inaudible) first discussion. (Inaudible) Charlie brought up earlier today (inaudible) opened up commercial (inaudible) economic base of jobs and balance out. I think the thing that Anna and I talked about this morning is if you look at (inaudible) so associated complimentary things. I think Anna's concept that she mentioned earlier about more of an amendment to the Comp Plan which is basically an economic development amendment that allows the focus of strategy and focus toward that area like a med tech district. We already have four and allow you to be able to do it in a way that you're not going through along-term. Comp Plan which really brings out (inaudible) strategies for those areas. It isn't limiting other things but it's in the focus of what's already here in court. What that does, though when it comes back into design standards (inaudible) priorities and • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 45 of 58 the things we're seeing on people's designs and zoning is complimentary things. I will tell you from an economic development standpoint identifying these and then allowing that to look at (inaudible) so that when somebody in that business (inaudible) hybrid of commercial-industrial of the future. You can say to them, this is the place you're going. This is what, the synergy of why you look at it. What happens that makes sense. And I think that already even (inaudible) a week ago when I was talking to (inaudible) and already just because of synergy of the hospitals and stuff they're actually more (inaudible) all the time. That's the kind of thing. It's not an industrial smokestack. But it's that other kind of commercial stuff. I think we're going to continue to see that. So I think the methodology this allows with that focus, what I would say integrate, kind of economic excellence plans which everything (inaudible) in a meeting upcoming. It's updating that. and actually (inaudible). I will tell you that right now this is a preliminary plat. If we got that (inaudible) changed (inaudible). A target induustry following the same kind of Thing that we're talking about here. So we can change. So that's what we're trying to do is align that synergistically so where economic excellence (inaudible). So guess my comment, Tammy, is I think that particularly Anna's idea today and actually what came out of that, we were talking about that economic development or amendment. As it comes to certain things even with some of the other grants and other opportunities and things and right even back into Old Town and back into other areas as an entitlement city and other things and other opportunities that we need to explore. De Weerd: Well., and I think if you look at the growth area and look at it from a balancing our opportunities for employment certain, certainly the Eagle, Old Town, Ten Mile, Black Cat, and Locust Grove and Lake Hazel are those areas that (inaudible). Because it is more centered where there is a population base (inaudible) state highways or interchanges (inaudible). Stiffler: Moving on, item four: I know these (inaudible) directors, you know, think, some of them have had a discussion (inaudible) just kind of a (inaudible) .but I think that kind of a (inaudible) basis let them go around and have a .little bit of overview time. What's their plan going forward, meaning into '08 (inaudible). (End of tape).. Watson: We'll have that information on applications (inaudible). Canning: We'II start including that as part of our staff reports. Zaremba: Is there a possibility (inaudible)? Kilchenmann: You know, I think if you can get the agency that you want to add, to review the numbers (inaudible). • • Meridian Ciry Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 46 of 58 Zaremba: (Inaudible). Kilchenmann: (Inaudible) actually they gave her some numbers this week. The .other thing, one thing I would like to start doing is, .it's called scenario planning. and we're starting it a little bit but it's like you're saying what's the worst case (inaudible) so that you have that when you make decisions like when we are in a time like we have been where all of a sudden you just go bam and everything goes down. (Inaudible) this is the worst case, what's our priority? This is what we probably expect and will probably do and if everything is like way up (inaudible). So that's something (inaudible) last year (inaudible). I emailed this to everybody but the Mayor asked me to put it out and plus it's like a fluid document. It keeps changing. But I'm hoping that we can actually update this every year or two years. That we pick some time, you know, I don't know if we want to do it in Fall before we do the budget cycle and we maybe prioritize the lead capital projects before we get into the operating part of the budget. And that would be good., especially if we get like best case situations and we can use extra money to use in our capital budgets. Gorton: Stacy, does the update of this correspond (inaudible) revision? Kilchenmann: Yes, it has to precede it because we need the Capital Improvement Plan. And I think it's almost time (inaudible). But that one is not prioritized so that would be something that would be good to be input from the Council because it's just (inaudible) here and if you look at the total number obviously, (inaudible). Borton: Question on (inaudible), come back, have to do it again. Kilchenmann: Continuous. And this is a little different from (inaudible) everything like (inaudible). So it's all comprehensive. Whereas impact fees (inaudible). I'm done. Berg: (Inaudible) priorities to build City Hall (inaudible). De Weerd: I don't think you'll have time for anything but that (inaudible).. Which was another priority. Berg: That's what I wrote. Which we are getting that. The new City Hall is going to be more centralized. We are (inaudible) to all the departments in fact. (lnaud'ibie) so that is a priority. De Weerd: (Inaud'ible). • ~~ Meridian Ciry Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 47 of 58 Berg: I know, I want (inaudible) anything else. (inaudible) city-wide and with the help of Brad (inaudible) already done it. Watson: Yes. Berg.: (Inaudible). The Water Department (inaudible) just Wastewater, city-wide. Borton: (Inaudible). Berg: (Inaudible) combat that. 'Borton: ('Inaudible).. Berg; It could but (inaudible) broken water line would probably be more focused on their manual with the Water Department (inaudible). But if we had an emergency like an earthquake or fire or something (inaudible). I guess the overall plan (inaudible) training consultants to help us (inaudible).. De Weerd: I guess, too, if it has to do with more immediate things internally, your fire drill., something happens at City Hall, meeting points, (inaudible) mosquito breeding coming up. We did not have a harsh winter (inaudible) they talk about. Berg: I'm going to tell you, Doug is pretty passive. He only speaks (inaudible). He doesn't want to try to (inaudible). Anderson: I guess this Emergency Management (inaudible) is one of those things that everybody looks at it like, well., we spend a lot of time, do we waste a lot of resources having all of these plans. But I tell you what, when some major catastrophe does hit and you don't have a plan, you look like a bunch of idiots and we have things that come up that we don't typically think of. Last year we had a flooding problem in the City of Eagle. If they had just sat on their hands and didn't do any advance planning or preparation for those kind of emergencies, they would look really foolish. They found a lot of hurdles dealing with all the different Federal and State agencies to deal with the flood management plan but that's kind of what this group does. We look at anything from whether it's a broken water line to even an overturned tanker truck in the middle of Fairview and Eagle to whatever type of disaster it is. The City needs to have a plan available and resources they can use (inaudible). Rountree: (Inaudible) ask a question. How big a scope is it? De Weerd: We're trying to focus it more in the community, Charlie, because Doug has the large scale plan. You know, and even (inaudible) it's kind of • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 48 of 58 responding to something that happens during a parade and how do you move through a parade (inaudible)? We're tackling a pretty basic thing but - - Rountree: You want recognition, I have (inaudible) communications. We're all working the same disaster. (Inaudible). Anderson: That's what we're doing. We're modeling ours basically on the County plan. They have an all hazards type of a plan so you just turn to that particular tab (inaudible). De V1/eerd: (inaudible) the emergency shelters (inaudible). Musser: (Inaudible) once a month and had a Civil Defense Plan for everybody so (inaudible). •Zaremba: And the two things t would mention is, the one thing it has to cover is that whatever you currently use for your communication system is probably going to break or will not be available. Always have some other way to communicate or some way to know that what everybody knows (inaudible) somebody else is doing (inaudible). And the other thing I would offer, and this is from the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, we had scenarios for everyfhing (inaudible) but we practiced what we called (inaudible).. Get everybody together in one room and say, okay, here's a scenario like a major stadium has fallen down. De V1/eerd: We've done that. Zaremba: And what happens is that somebody at the table says well, I need to know about that. Somebody you never would have thought to include. And so (inaudible) the tabletop exercises discover (inaudible). Musser: Well, for the Police Department, our focus really isn't 2008, our focus is 2010,. which is why I appreciate where we're at (inaudible). Currently our focus in that regard is (inaud'ible) as opposed to our residential. Recruitment retention, the focus area, of course, now we're really working on that. Also we're working on (inaudible) session planning. And we're working on celebrating our current employees and their successes, have quality enhancement (inaudible). One of the things that came out of that as I talked to those folks is they would just assume instead of us having an annual awards session (inaudible) they want to have it as it comes up. (Inaudible) we can do that as opposed to doing an annual rewards (inaudible) so that's one thing we're working toward implementing this year (inaudible) to address those things in terms of (inaudible).. As far as priorities go, with the 2008 Budget, our enhancements are (inaudible) such as adjusting wages again, looking for an additional resource officer (inaudible) resources that we need to go in conjunction with that, an additional Task Force • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 49' of 58 officer (inaudible).. There's going to come a time where we're going to be addressing things here in Meridian and (inaudible). Our building was built with a 20-year plan. The patrol aspect downstairs is already full. We have overlaps (inaudible). And then we have another one that's looming here. It's going to be a bit of a surprise for all of you. (Inaudible) patrol issue (inaudible) patrol expansion, shelter out on the current facility we have. So what I have already done (inaudible) Idaho Humane Society for options as opposed to potentially building all new (inaudible). (Inaudible) somewhere in the vicinity of $400.,000 to $500,000 as opposed to $250,00.0. De Weerd': That was such a good idea. Musser: You know, in this budget we had $140,000 that was set there to be able to do an expansion out there but we had some (inaudible) issues that came up that nobody was really aware of until we really started looking at it. And I guess we have some sewer and water lines that create problems (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Musser: Yellow page ad (inaudible) those folks. But we might have to. But anyway, those are always priorities and their focus is directed there so anybody have any questions (inaudible)? Bird: (Inaudible). Musser: (Inaudible) a little bit closer (inaudible). Bird: (Inaudible). Musser: I can stack the kennels. I just want everyone to know though that as we stack the kennels there is a significant sewer problem (inaudible). De Weerd: You do have a sewer line issue. Zaremba: But you can always take all of the animals out of the kennel and turn them loose in the parks. Canning: (inaudible) fiscal years in your plans. I'm with Keith. Blueprint for good growth in all our own plans. I'm sick of planning. I'm ready for something else. Bird: Did you get that on tape? • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop ApriF 11, 2007 Page 50 of 58 Canning: That's going to be your tool. And I mean you being the top tools as a public facilities (inaudible). Ada County committed to making that (inaudible). I think that that's a really important tool that we will be setting the model for the whole City because I don't like (inaudible). Some other ones (inaudible) we don't have business parks with industrial building on them (inaudible).. We put a lot of our work online and make it much more available to the public (inaudible) help more (inaudible) for folks not having to come in to view our files (inaudible) all our files online., those applications. So those are some of the tools we're thinking about. You might have noticed I haven't announced (inaudible). I've been working. with Nancy but I think it's time to give up (inaudible). Nary: (Inaudible) a lot of it is geared around the City Hall project (inaudible). We don't have a lot of (inaudible). Half time or part time., half of the year. (Inaudible) we have a couple of outsource projects that we've hired out (inaudible): Most everything else in the budget in terms of things (inaudible) our top priority in HR. We currently have a software system that requires multiple (inaudible), multiple data. Kilchenman: (Inaudible). Nary: (Inaudible) data key punch (inaudible). So we're looking at an enhancement for that that would allow a lot more efficiency in data entry. Kilchenmann: It's part of our accounting. Nary: We'll get to the payroll systems. (Inaudible) employee were to come in to employment on their first day (inaudible) .process all their information and paperwork and all that information will populate into the system so that the Payroll Department (inaudible). Multiple changes (inaudible) HR and Payroll (inaudible). Some of the arenas that we deal. with, like HR for example, we can contract out some services that are cheaper or at least no more expensive than hiring personnel. But in the IT arena (inaudible) it's way more expensive to contract out for those types of services so it's always better for us to have at least some idea (inaudible). Because the hourly rate for attorneys, the hourly rate for IT people (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Nary: (Inaudible). Kilchenmann: I think that they're paying for (inaudible). There's so much (inaudible). And the reporting capabilities that (inaudible). Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 51 of 58 Nary: Right now, for example, a lot of the data that you might think would be easy to acquire (inaudible). Kilchenmann: Basically Audi enters them {inaudible). Watson: 1 think we're down to the forty-four (inaudible). The main two areas are Waste Water Plant (inaudible). One of the enhancements that we submitted (inaudible). The other main area of enhancement is personnel. (Inaudible). We were talking about the sewer line earlier - -Ten Mile (inaudible) which is directly west of Eagle's park (inaudible). The reason I throw it out is (inaudible) for the next few years (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible). Watson: (lnaudible). One of the things (inaudible) that's popped up several times is that possibly (inaudible). (Inaudible) locating. a maintenance facility. De Weerd: That is (inaudible). Watson: (lnaudible) agricultural (inaudible). Anderson: I can tell Keith's fading over there so I'm going to be brief. De Weerd: B'ut he had to say that, Keith, so you'll look up when I talk. Now I know why. Anderson: Well, obviously to go along with out Strategic Initiative of maintaining the response levels, Station Five is in the plans for next year, of the 2008 Budget so we have put in an enhancement request for that station, staffing for that and a fire engine for that also. But keep in mind that that first year tab is (inaudible) and it would only be the operational portion of that budget (inaudible) responsible for 2008. In 2009, (inaudible). So that's the big thing for this year. And then in addition to that I want to make you aware that in the 2009 Budget and in the Capital Improvement Plan we still need to address the issue of (inaudible). I was contacted a couple months ago by the (inaudible) rating bureau. Meridian's due to be rated again for insurance purposes and I stalled them off another year until we can get Station Five up and running. They're going to be rating us again. All the buildings that have been built in Meridian that are over (inaudible) that's going to have an impact if we don't get in there before that next rating occurs. And so I don't know what the answer is but the dollar figure is in here. But I can tell you that we're putting up the capital much faster than the Impact Fees are coming in. Look at the training tower (inaudible) improvement plan as well as the fire engine for the new station, and the new station. So, so far it's been Rural District fronfing that money. I don't see the Rural District (inaudible) the money Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 52 of 58 on an (inaudible) because the Rural District has no (inaudible) so I see that pad for that aerial truck being paid for by the City. Now I think a couple times Anna has mentioned it in there that there might be a possibility of maybe a special overlay district or a special assessment or something in some of these areas to help pay for something like that (inaudible). But that might be something to consider because I don't see at the current rate of (inaudible) the City having the money available in 2009 (inaudible). Canning.: f don't (inaudible). But I think you could do that. (Inaudible) ACRD doesn't (inaudible). Bird: (1nnaudible). Canning: Well, ACRD does, but it's the only model (inaudible).. Bird: In certain circumstances I guess we could talk. De Weerd.: (Inaudible). Bird.: The problem is I don't think you could get it in place to get (inaudible). Anderson: There's the ladder (inaudible) but that might have been diminishing each year and aerial trucks (inaudible). If we can come up with some special packages or something (inaudible) that would help us I think that would be the way to go. But the Federal government is under the assumption and George Bush's view is that local government should step forward and pay for adequate fire and police protections and that's not a Federal government .responsibility so he's not real keen on putting more grant money out there for those types of things. But I can tell you the truck company, where ever we position that, gets a two-and-a-half mile radius around it so any building. over 35 feet in height that's two-and-a-half miles from the truck company would be covered. We've had buildings outside of that two-and-a-half mile radius and those (inaudible). We have so many buildings that are 35 feet or higher that are built right around the City core and down Eagle Road and out here now. You know, the Ten Mile's one thing, that might help with the development of Ten Mile but we still need an aerial truck at Station One or Station Four because of all the buildings (inaudible) in this area (inaudible). Canning: Then we also did Ten Mile area (inaudible). Bird: This was in place before that Cory Barton (inaudible). Anderson: And it's not unheard of in large developments (inaudible).. I certainly ask for your help (inaudible). Meridian City Council Strategic Planning workshop April 11, 2007 Page 53 of 58 Bird: You say the two-and-a-half mile radius. buildings would be covered (inaudible) of (inaudible). Is it built to the point (inaudible)? Well, I would say about 75% of our Station One and Station Four (End of tape). Rountree: (Inaudible) annexation (inaudible). Stacy, does the economic planning model have something that says (inaudible)? Anderson: So far, their growth and their area have been keeping up (inaudible) but using the funding formula that we established in 1998, it was based off the population of the City and the Rural District and the assessed value of the City and the Rural District and when we first started it in 1998, (inaudible) somewhere around 29, 30%. And when we ran the numbers last year it had diminished to the point where they were only going to pay 17% so at that point I went to the Rural District and asked the commissioners if they would be willing to pay 100% (inaudible) funding formula that we originally established to support that and they said yes, that they paid 20% of last year's budget. They have signed an agreement that they will continue to pay 20% as long as they can but when their funding starts to diminish then, at that point, the percent that's paid to the City will be reduced also. But obviously, as the City expands its footprint I think (inaudible) so it's probably just within, I would say, the next five years that we're going to start to see them having difficulties with their funding. So the City, if they plan on keeping up with the same level of fire protection that they have., is going to have to find other sources of revenue to make up the difference because the Rural District will eventually go away at some point. There will be no funding at all (inaudible) Rural Fire District. (inaudible): Anderson: Right. Bird: But the problem is, is there a Mill Levy within eight of ours? They're like 18, 17, 18 and we were 25 or 26. And that's just strictly Fire. And what's kept it up now, we know we're taking some of their ground. It's been the assessed value that's stayed up out there and gone up. You know, Charlie's (inaudible), one of these days; and we've seen it in 1996 to 2000, 2002, they went broke before they got the (inaudible).. They were broke, period. Anderson; One long-term solution could be to separate the Fire Department out of the City and we're. no longer a City department and we have our own district out there:. And then the district can provide protection to the City. And that way you can keep the Mill Levy intact. That may be something that has (inaudible). • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 54 of 58 Rountree: I think that's something we need to start looking at now. I guess one of the problems, one of the questions (inaudible) is there any possibility of a larger commtanity that's going to acquire a new ladder truck (inaudible)? Anderson: It is something that I'll consider. Aerial trucks are not as common to find (inaudible) as you do engines out there. So I certainly will keep my eyes peeled (inaudible) look at purchasing one of those that we might even buy but again, we have to have the money because it's like a used car. When it comes a ong, the first person fhere with the cash is going to buy it. Borton: Is there a department besides Boise (inaudible)? Anderson: Nampa has one, Caldwell has one, Middleton has one. Nary: (I`naudible) model. Stiffler: (Inaudible) district or actually looking at that. What are the ramifications and options that right now (inaudible)? Nary: Love that idea. Kilchenmann: How do you (inaudible)? Bird: What it would do, we would reside in the City. It would be the same package for the City. We would have another (inaudible) Mill Levy stuck onto us. It's going to be hard to sell to 65,000 people. But if we believe in it, we can do it. I'm serious. If we believe in it and have the plan right and show a need for it, the citizenry won't run it down. But I'm like Charlie, we need to be thinking about it right now. Rountree: I'm not sure that's the solution. Bird.: I'm not either but it's something that needs to be looked into. Anderson: Well, and maybe if folks understand that that one option is that if you pay the additional Mill Levy to a Fire District or you can look at increasing the City's Mill Levy and maybe by increasing the City's Mill Levy you would have the increase a full 18, you know. Bird.: (Inaudible) all at one time. Stiffler: For Council, actually originally the Directors had put together kind of some questions (inaudible) discussions with you (inaudible) dialog and I handed • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 55 of 58 those back out to Directors with copies of questions we originally had. Anna just sent that out and stuff. And I guess my question would be is that just to make sure because I think the dialog you gave me (inaudible) having that opportunity to do things that way but I guess are there other ones that Council (inaudible)? Are there any other questions that you feel as Directors that maybe didn't get touched on today or do you want to ask anything more? (Inaudible) some of it's already covered. This is the Director's question, but you don't have it. Their question, they just kind of put together to say originally when you were talking about it, is I want to make sure I ask Council this, and I'm just looking at one of your total lists. Looks like you answered quite a few of them today. Bird: I"ve got a question. (inaudible). Pages three and four were on you. Stiffler: They all have them. They all have them. Bird: Oh, they do? Stiffler: Yeah, they have them and actually though they got those, Keith, along with theirs to actually compare. So they do have them. De Weerd.: No they don't have three and four. Bird: We don't have three and four. Stiffler: Oh, okay, okay, I'm sorry. Bird: That took me longer to figure that out so I could be politically correct. Borton: I don't think it worked. Berg.: We would love to see your comment. We'd love to see your comment. Bird.: I'd be glad to read it to you. Stiffler: Moving forward, I guess I'm going to ask aquestion - - De Weerd: I'm giving Joe a chance to redeem himself and pull it out. Stiffler: Moving on, moving on. I'm on item, on the agenda, time to move on, items five and six. (Inaudible) skip through this issue because I think when you talk about actually (inaudible) a division of where you're going,, I think, just a dialog.. An interchange, I hope. I guess I'II turn to the directors. If he's feeling like there's a good conversation, a communication has gone on. Number eight is the next challenge of doing that regarding an issue (inaudible) how do you apply • • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 56 of 58 that related to what's going (inaudible) on the budget side? And I think you've got a pretty good reference for it. De Weerd': Number eight? Stiffler: Excuse me, number six. I should have taken (inaudible). Seven I put on there, and I hope that Brad might take a deep breath. Because at least it was saying that realizing there are some other things (inaudible). Number seven is just saying that I think letting the Council know some things about future workshops that, for example, they use downtown, was not going to be one. It could be part of a dozen things. It would be part of just one topic of discussion in and of itself that has impact on all the areas and everybody realizes. And number eight was adjourn. Kilchenmann: (Inaudible). Stiffler: That was part of the, what the leadership had talked about, is if you look at a budget you talk about prioritizing. For you to be able to sit down and look at what you're looking, the total budget. How do you look at that? (Inaudible) recommending the Council. De Weerd: Well, we have a pretty growing (inaudible). Future planning copies for our Directors (inaudible) and once we carry them through, pull some of those together, (inaudible) workshop or Pre-Council (inaudible). Plus you got a little bit more. That would be upcoming we'd have the fiscal analysis tool (inaudible) economic history downtown is of more critical (inaudible) right now. Road priority areas (inaudible). I think That we do need to check out that mobility plan and how we define some of the comprehensive planning. tools, Communities in Motion, and (inaudible). And then one thing for discussion with the Directors is the retention plan and how we can create an environment that can recruit and retain and some of those concepts. Those are the things I wrote down. (Inaudible). Council, did you have anything? Bird: I've just got a statement. I appreciate something like this and I think that I truly, it's a pleasure coming into a meeting like this here because (inaudible) and I hope (inaudible). I appreciate (inaudible). I'm just very proud to be part of it and you guys are (inaudible). We would not have survived the last eight or nine years. Thank you. Rountree.: (Inaudible). But you are an excellent, professional group of folks to work with. I enjoy these kinds of things because (inaudible) as opposed to somebody (inaudible) to us. I feel personally (inaudible) good issues or bad issues. (Inaudible) But I respect the time, the energy (inaudible). (Inaudible) the last, I'd say,- probably three years, three-and-a-half years of bringing about • Meridian City Council Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 57 ofi58 changes (inaudible) supervision, guidance, direction (inaudible). The problem isn't for the right reason. (Inaudible) Writing the lessons, willing to change. We are about change in this community (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible) politically correct? Rountree: (inaudible) doesn't believe that I did it, I typed it out on the damn board, I (inaudible) the form off the email, I saved the form on my desktop, I told Ron by telephone I was going to send him my responses, I wrote him a response, went to the desktop, got the attachment, put it in a memo. I always check attachments before I send Them. My note to Ron gets lost somewhere (.inaudible). But that's my point. The point was, on that evaluation it was hard for me to say nine different ways how great I think you all are without sounding (inaudible) but I'll say that. now. You all do a decent job (inaudible) plus or minus folks authorized to run and operate a city of some 70,000 people (inaudible). Borton: Speak to me (inaudible). Seriously, I didn't fill it out, but the two comments (inaudible). When I talked (inaudible) Department Director, you know, I'd get guidance and advice and ideas. Every one of you, it was good documentation. It'd say I thought of it this way and maybe look at this point, which is awesome because it's very, very helpful (inaudible) correct it and (inaudible). Everybody speaks so highly (inaudible). That's impressive. Zaremba: What I said earlier about our excellent leadership. I'm proud to be associated with every one of you, individually and as a group.. I consider you guys to be professional (inaudible). Here's the end result of (inaudible). So, you know, I appreciate working with alf of you in the direction this city is going with all of you and your staffs and I think it's an excellent direction. I'm .proud to be associated with you. Happy to be (inaudible). Berg: Group hug. De Weerd: You know, the only thing we didn't do is make Bill give a (inaudible). Nary: (Inaudible). De Weerd: The Mayor isn't getting any budget enhancements. Stiffler: I'd like to make one comment. That I know from the time that Tammy said that all the Council was here and all the leadership was here, I guess my comment from an overview and (inaudible) what an opportunity to have a City where you have the Council and the leadership sitting here (inaudible). Bird: (Inaudible) I didn't know that was money or (inaudible). r; ~' Meridian City Cowncil Strategic Planning Workshop April 11, 2007 Page 58 of 58 Musser: Mayor (inaudible) given the fact that I've had well over 25 years now ~ with the City, having worked for a couple other directors that were here, some of you spent time with them as well, Will and Ron. One thing that I always noticed., that I made a personal goal for myself was that it seemed like we were so (inaudible) and it was so territorial once the directors in terms of where they were at with the Council members. And, you know, I have to applaud one of the last things that Mayor Corrie did when he issued all of us coming together with Phil., sitting down and saying this is a team and approaching it in a concept (inaudible) continue with it. And I think that's what leant us to where we're at right now. We're coming in and continuing that philosophy with this encouragement I think has produced what you have here today. And I know for me I don't want it to be where I saw it .years ago because we couldn't get anything done. We really couldn't. And my take on it is you pay us to be able to initiate policies and help carry out visions and my peers in 'here, I really appreciate working with, because they embrace the same philosophy and 1 feel very confident of their abilities (inaudible) as opposed to (inaudible). So I appreciate the Council being part of that (inaudible). De Weerd: (Inaudible) marshmallow. Well, thanks. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 4:19 P.M. (TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) APPROVED: TAMM D WEERD, MAYOR DATE APPROVED F O ~~~~ ~ ~~ WILLIAM G. BERG, J ., CI CLERK :~ -~O 3 T ~ ~-~ . ~ ~~