HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 02-27MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2001
The regularly scheduled City Council meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order by Mayor Robert D. Corrie at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2001.
Members Present: Robert Corrie, Ron Anderson, Tammy de Weerd, Cherie McCandless, Keith Bird
Others Present: Bill Nichols, Gary Smith, Janice Smith, Tom Kuntz, Bill Gordon, Catrina Thomas, Will Berg.
Corrie: We’ll open the Meridian City Council regular meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2001. Mr. City Clerk, will you take the roll call, please.
Item 1. Roll-call Attendance:
X Tammy de Weerd X Ron Anderson
X Cherie McCandless X Keith Bird
X Mayor Robert Corrie
Item 2. Adoption of the Agenda:
Corrie: Council, you have seen that I have one request that we have. The City Attorney would also like to add discussion to the Council about annexation along with the Mill Levy rate
update. Gary are you going to do the quality letter on Water Department and discuss that as well?
Nichols: Yes Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Okay.
Nichols: John got me that information late this afternoon, so I have copies for everybody with me.
Corrie: Okay. Janice has her report. Did anybody bring their report with them tonight?
Bird: The budget?
Corrie: Okay, she would like to add that just for – if you want to do that then we can put that on the next meeting, either one.
Bird: Mr. Mayor I think we need to accept the audit because it has been a month and a half, and we need to get this so when the public comes in to ask for it we need to have it available
for them. So we can add that to the agenda, Mayor?
Corrie: It is entirely up to you if you want – this was not on the original agenda.
Bird: With your permission I would like to add it as No. G.
Corrie: Okay, Janice Smith and audit acceptance. Okay with those additions are there any others that Council has? Okay, under those auspices, I will entertain a motion to approve
the audit as amended.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we adopt the agenda.
Corrie: I am sorry it is the agenda Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we adopt the agenda as with the changes and with the additions.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded that we adopt the agenda with the additions. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 3. Public Hearing: Fee Schedule for Adult Softball Summer 2001 Leagues:
Corrie: At this time, I will open the Public Hearing and invite Parks to make the presentation.
Thomas: My name is Catrina Thomas, and I am the Recreation Superintendent. Basically, we are just asking for an increase. We have done a review based on last year’s fees, and with
all the cost for upkeep, maintenance, and supplies, the fee increase, we felt, would be conservative yet enough to cover all costs. A team fee increase to $350 from $295 and then the
player fees would remain the same and the ASA fee has stayed the same.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Your umpiring probably went up to would be a reason for an increase, would it not?
Thomas: Last year it had already gone up but it was not in the budget as of that, so yes it has.
Corrie: Any other questions?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay, since this a Public Hearing is there anyone from the audience who would like to testify in this request for fee increase with the Adult Softball Summer League?
Corrie: Okay, hearing none, Council, any other questions that you have.
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay, then I will request the Public Hearing be closed will a motion.
Bird: So moved.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to close the Public Hearing. All those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Corrie: Council, you have heard the request from Parks and Recreation for the increase from $530 too possible total team fees to $585. Any discussion, if not I will entertain motion
on the request.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I move that we approve the new fee schedule for the Adult Softball Leagues, summer 2001 to the proposed $585.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the fee schedule as requested by the Adult Softball Summer League and the Parks and Recreation division. Any further discussion? Hearing
none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 4. Resolution No. : for Meridian Development Committee:
Corrie: Bill did we get a map or legal with all this yet?
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, the purpose for having the item on the agenda is so that Council can set what this area is. I believe it was pointed out to me personally by Councilman Anderson
that anytime you go to set a boundary by doing a radius from one point you might take in half a lot or a quarter of a lot or some problem. So it is easier to designate a specific area
using the streets as a reference point. So the purpose would be for the Council to discus and decide what they believe that area to be, so that then we can put it in a map form to attach
to the resolution for the approval at another meeting.
Corrie: Okay, with that I will open up discussion for the area of Current Renewal No. 1.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and members of Council just for the benefit for those that are in the audience and also for the record, we did receive a letter from Jim Johnson the chair of the
Meridian Development Committee which proposed that the area for the Urban Renewal resolution this deteriorating or deterioration area would be in his words: a one mile radius centered
at East First and Pine. That took into account the old Creamery and the vacant property along the railroad corridor.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: It seemed to me that Councilman Bird had mentioned Fourth to Fourth and then Fairview to Franklin.
Bird: That is what had originally been talked about in the Committee when I had been doing it. This one mile radius I have a hard time – I think that would almost take in some of the
undeveloped ground up off of Franklin, north of Franklin, and I do not believe that it is financially responsible for us as a City Council to tie that up in a tax deal. That is our
major development area out there, but we had originally discussed Fourth to Fourth and Franklin to Fairview. I do not think we want to get a large area to start with our number one,
but we want to get something that is doable.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Wasn’t that discussed when they were here presenting in front of us as an acceptable boundary?
Bird: Yes. I had never heard of this one-mile radius.
De Weerd: Now you have to understand that this is just a designation of area that has deteriorated that would not necessarily be your Urban Renewal area. That would be designated with
specific perimeters because it would not encompass that whole area.
Bird: Well, if you read your resolution, certain property, to be described to be a deteriorated area or a determinate certain property lists below.
Corrie: I think primarily you are going to have to set a perimeter somewhere in the downtown area so that we can have the area of Urban Renewal take place in that area. If I am not
wrong, Mr. Counselor, just because that area takes in that area does not have to mean that we take the whole thing at one time. We can do it in increments of wherever we want to. Is
that correct?
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and members of Council it is essentially correct. It is a two-stage process. The first is to create an Urban Renewal project area then if you get into any of the
tax increment financing aspects of it that is a separate process. In that separate process then you designate what that tax increment area, it is called a Revenue Allocation area.
You have to designate what that specific area is for Revenue Allocation which takes in that property tax that is coming from increased value. You can have an Urban Renewal project and
a Revenue Allocation area that are the same. You can have an Urban Renewal project area, which is larger than the Revenue Allocation area. You have flexibility, but it is a two step
process, and this is merely the first step in the process.
Anderson: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Anderson.
Anderson: I will put in my thoughts on it. I understand that you can have two different area designations, but I think it is always simpler for the citizens to understand if we were
to define those as the same area. I also think at least the logic and reasoning behind what I have heard for the Urban Renewal District is to rejuvenate, rebuild areas that are rundown
in town. To me it kind of goes against the grain of why you are establishing it if you are going out into undeveloped industrial areas that you know are going to develop anyway. To
say that you are going to make that part of that district because that is really not the case with those areas, those are not rundown areas. They are just undeveloped areas that are
going to probably be developed shortly. I would be more in favor of the original area that was told to us of the Fourth Street boundaries east and west and the Fairview and Franklin.
Bird: I agree with him your honor.
Corrie: Okay, any other comments?
Anderson: I too believe that is a good first project area for a first step. It takes in some areas that do need to be included in our downtown redevelopment area, and it does help
preserve a quarter area of the rail system, which is going to be a major player in our years to come. I agree with those two.
Corrie: Any other comments?
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: If we have no other comments with the Attorney’s approval, I would move that we pass the resolution for the Meridian Development Committee stating the boundaries as East Fourth
to the east, West Fourth to the west, Fairview to the north, and Franklin Road to the South.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Motion has made to have the boundaries of East Fourth Street to West Fourth Street, and northern-south boundary being Fairview Avenue and Franklin Road. Discussion?
Anderson: Not to split hairs but maybe just clarification because I am sure it will come up in the future as – maybe Keith could clarify that motion too. A lot of times there is confusion
when you give a road like that, do you mean all partials that affront that road?
Bird: No. Centerline in. I do not want to lose that one.
Corrie: This is to direct Attorney up the resolution and bring it at that point. Any other discussion?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: We have heard the motion. Roll call vote Mr. Clerk.
Roll-call: De Weerd, aye; Anderson, aye; McCandless, aye; Bird, aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Corrie: The motion is carried. The resolution will be presented at – Bill could you have it by the next meeting?
Nichols: Yes.
Corrie: Okay, thank you.
Item 5. Ordinance No. 852: Amendment of Ordinance No. 852 for Water / Sewer Connection Outside City Limits:
Corrie: Council has had that ordinance and if it is okay I will have the City Clerk read the Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 852 by title only at this point.
Berg: Thank you Mr. Mayor. If I could ask for you, the attorney, as far as the numbering, are we going to recognize this as amending this Ordinance or creating a new number?
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council and Mr. Clerk I would say we give it a brand new number.
Berg: Thank you. Ordinance No. 01-910 an Ordinance for the City of Meridian amending Ordinance No. 852 and providing new sections 9-1-16I and 9-4-26A9 of Title 16 of Chapter 1 and
Section 26A of Chapter 4 and Title 9, Meridian City Code to provide for administrative approval of limited water and sewer connections to properties not currently within the city limits
and providing an effective date.
Corrie: You have heard the reading of the resolution by title only, just as a notice to the public here tonight. What we will be changing primarily on this Ordinance would be the fact
that the Public Works Director shall have a chance if somebody is in – let me read it. If a request connection is for a resident or multi-family resident, not excluding full resident
units, and if water service is readily available to the effective partial without extension of service then if the Public Works Director deems it in the best interest of the City to
do so said connection may be authorized by the Public Works Director without action by the City Council. If the Director declines to approve the connection, request will proceed to
the City Council final decision. That is both water and sewer outside the City limits. With having said that, is there anyone from the audience who would like to have that amended
Ordinance read in its entirety? Hearing none, Council any discussion?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: I will entertain a motion then on Ordinance No.01910 amendment to the Ordinance for water/sewer connection outside the City limits.
Anderson: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Anderson.
Anderson: I would make a motion that we approve Ordinance No. 01910 for water and sewer connections outside the City limits with suspension of the rules.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve Ordinance No. 01910 amendment to Ordinance No. 852 for water and sewer connection outside of the city limits with the suspension of rules.
Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call vote, Mr. Clerk.
Roll-call: De Weerd, aye; Anderson, aye; McCandless, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion is carried for Ordinance No. 01-910.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 6. Ordinance No. 01-911: Parking Regulations Ordinance:
Corrie: Mr. Clerk if you read that Ordinance No. 01-911, if you will read that by title only at this point.
Berg: Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, Ordinance No. 01-911, an Ordinance of the City of Meridian amending Section 10 to Chapter 2 of Title 7 and enacting new Sections 13-16
to Chapter 2 of Title 7 Meridian City Code to provide for parking regulations providing authority, providing for appointment of volunteer parking enforcement officers, providing for
training of volunteer parking enforcement officers, and providing for authority of volunteer parking enforcement officers and providing for an effective date.
Corrie: You have heard the reading of the Ordinance No. 01911. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to have the Ordinance read in its entirety? Let me explain just a little
bit what this one is. What this does is having a volunteer training of volunteers that will be able to go on private property such as parking lots and that and checking primarily illegal
parking on handicapped parking. If they do not have a sign, they will enforce that parking, and it just helps people with handicaps that have a good place they can park close to the
businesses. With that being said, Council, hearing that no one wishes to have that full Ordinance read, I will entertain a motion if we have no more discussion.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we pass Ordinance No. 01-911, Parking Regulation Ordinance with suspension of rules.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Ordinance No. 01-911 has been ordered and having a second, is there any further discussion? Hearing none, a roll call vote Mr. Clerk.
Roll-call: De Weerd, aye; Anderson, aye; McCandless, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: Okay, then Ordinance No. 01911 has been adopted.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 7. Ordinance No. 01-912: Tully Park Dog Ordinance
Corrie: If the Clerk will read the Ordinance by title only at this point, please?
Berg: Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, Ordinance No. 01-912, an Ordinance relating to Tully Park repealing subsection C of Section 2 Chapter 7 of Title 8 of the Meridian
City Code by the addition there to of a new subsection C to provide for the allowance of dogs on leashes in Tully Park and providing an effective date.
Corrie: Any further reading of Ordinance No. 01912 by title only? Is there anyone in the audience who would like to have the Ordinance read in its entirety? All it is was is we are
allowing – Tully Park is open to public K-9 processing, possessing a valid dog license are allowed in the park so long as they are leashed and within control of their owner. The Council
felt that we have the parkway going through there, there will be people going through there with their dogs, and do not want to have any complications with that matter there. Hearing
that, Council I will entertain a motion on Ordinance No. 01912.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 01912 for the Tully Park Dog Ordinance with suspension of rules.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve Ordinance No. 01912, Tully Park Dog Ordinance with suspension of rules. Any further discussion? Hearing none, Mr. Clerk roll call vote
please.
Roll-call: De Weerd, aye; Anderson, aye; McCandless, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion carried on Ordinance No. 01-912.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Anderson: I just want to say I believe this is one large step for dogkind, and my dogs will appreciate this.
De Weerd: Mine too.
Bird: Make sure they are on a leash.
De Weerd: Glad to accommodate you.
Bird: By the way on the news tonight, I think it was Tully Park, I just caught a glimpse, but they had a little 4-month-old Golden Retriever out there going up and down our slides with
its owner. It was really cute.
De Weerd: Was it on a leash?
Bird: No that is what I was going to ask. What are we going to do when the ones are on the playground?
Item 8. Presentation by Sanitary Services regarding the 2000 Annual Report for Solid Waste Collection Services:
Corrie: At this time I will let Steve, Bill or whoever would like to, you have 5 seconds, minutes, I am sorry Steve.
Sedlacek: My name is Steve Sedlacek. I think you all know me I am sure, well about a month ago we handed in the annual report. I am sure you all have questions after reading it thoroughly.
Anderson: It was such a fine report that I do not have any question.
Sedlacek: I am not sure actually how many of you brought it with you, but I know Councilman Anderson has his.
De Weerd: I do not.
Bird: I have mine.
Corrie: I have read this thing so much that I made my State of the City Address with it.
Sedlacek: I could it just open it up for questions if you want to get on with this, but I did want to go through this just really briefly. We appreciate the opportunity
to serve the City of Meridian, and we just wanted to give this to you every year to tell you how things are going, what is happening in the City. The City is obviously growing very
quickly. I did want to apologize to Councilperson McCandless for spelling her last name wrong on the front. She pointed it out to me.
De Weerd: Mine too. It is small de and then a space –
Sedlacek: As long as I am taking a whipping, I might as well –
De Weerd: Well, you know the City did it wrong too.
Anderson: And I am just Ron, you put Ronald in there.
Corrie: Is there anything he screwed up on yours Keith?
McCandless: He is not the Chairman; he is the President.
Sedlacek: Well, I guess everyone’s is wrong, except the Mayors. Is that right?
Corrie: You got that.
Sedlacek: That is just page one. Let us move on to Page 2. I thought we would be in the workshop session tonight and have a more informal presentation than this, but I will just go
through this quickly. Last year, which would be 1999, the City generated about 53 million pounds of waste, and this last year we got up to 64 million pounds of waste, 20 percent increase.
We expect an additional 20 percent increase at least in this coming year, 2001. These are calendar years not fiscal years. So we will be over 75 million pounds waste hauled out of
the City. The next page may be –
De Weerd: Steve, do you think some of that is due to recycling?
Sedlacek: Some of the increase?
De Weerd: Well, it says recycling here. Why such an increase, maybe I should put it that way.
Sedlacek: We will get to that. Let us postpone that question for just a minute. Councilman Bird, on your copy you have a next page which has a title that says, Waste Generation on
the top. That should be one page later. I missed paginated. Anyway, the next page starts Residential Collection. It talks about, basically, the increased number of homes in the City
of Meridian. On that Waste Generation page that was miss placed in yours and perhaps on the Mayor’s copy. Of the 60 million pounds of waste, 30 million is coming from homes, 7 ½ pounds
per house per day, and about 2.5 pounds per person per day. That has
been steady. I mean basically the waste stream is growing because we are building a lot of houses and a lot of people are moving to Meridian. We have as you notice, in 1999 there was
about 30 million pounds of waste also, and the amount of disposal fees paid for that waste stream was about the same in 1999 as 2000. We did have 3 months of recycling in that period
in the year 2000 so that cut down the residential waste stream. That waste stream when we talk about 64 million pounds generated does not include that which we have taken away, and
that is about – is that 10 tons a month, Bill? Yes, about 200 thousand pounds a month we are taking out of the waste stream. That is a good thing. We have come to the Council before
and also the Solid Waste Committee and said that your landfill fees are going up. We figured that is was going to be the spring, what we find out now is that they are not going up until
October 1, 2001, which will the County’s and City’s next fiscal year. Basically, the county was able to, instead of paying for a gas collection system at the landfill, they were able
to find someone to come in and put the landfill gas system in for free. They were going to take that gas and generate electricity with it and then sell it, so for the opportunity to
generate that electricity someone is going to do a lot of the installation of this gas control system. That is a good deal for the county, that is a new change at the county level.
You can still expect that the landfill fees with be going up 20 percent or so would be my guest on October 1, 2001. We will also have the cost of living increase at that point so I
am sure there will be a Rate hearing this fall. Moving on to commercial collection, this is where we are seeing a tremendous amount of growth, the next two areas, about 15.5 million
pounds of waste in that system. We were lucky to convert to a front-loading type system a few years ago; we can get a lot more stops per day. It is a lot more efficient. It keeps
our cost under control. Over the last three years, we have seen a 40 percent increase per year for three years in numbers of accounts. Last year it was about 20 percent. We will be
adding a third front-loading truck in the next few weeks. We had one mainline truck with a back-up, now we are going to have to have two mainline trucks with a back-up. For roll-off,
which is the next section of the report, both of those are construction accounts with the large 20, 30, and 40 cubic yard boxes and also permanent accounts that have compactors such
as Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, RC Willey, and those kind of big accounts. We have seen the waste load in 1999 grow from 10 million pounds to 15 million pounds in one year. We have gone from
in 1997; we had one truck that operated about 2 hours a day, now we have four trucks doing that. Three pretty much everyday with a back up. A tremendous amount of waste being generated
that is a sign of the construction in the area. The next part of the report was on recycling services. We obviously kicked of curbside residential recycling in October. It has been
very successful a 70 percent participation rate. That is a bit higher than we expected. It is very good for a starting program. When we started, we did not have any truck breakdowns.
We had three new pieces of equipment, and we are proud that we did not have any breakdowns. We bought some good equipment, which was good. Well, obviously the City reaps the benefit
of the commodity revenue after paying for household hazardous waste collection. That has brought the City about $9600 for the last three months of
calendar year 2000. So you can be expecting about $3000 a month coming in on that fund, and I know the Council has had discussion about what to do with that money, how to spend it and
that kind of a thing. It is up to you guys. The household hazardous waste collection program has also been very successful. We have gone to a monthly collection. It is the fourth
Tuesday; it is outside right now until 10 minutes ago. 18 thousand pounds of material taken out of the waste stream. The excellent point of that is that that is a lot of weight, a
lot of very toxic material that could end up in your Waste Water Treatment Plan or in somebody’s yard or in the sewer, whatever. That material is taken out for the cost of about $7.10
a month, which is nothing. The County Commissioners are paying for the disposal of that waste, and that is a big cost, and the fact that they are willing to do that helps a lot. It
is a very, very cost-effective program. We are happy to be part of that. They are also doing the thermometer exchanges now. If you have a mercury thermometer, Mayor Corrie was at
the kickoff for that promotion, you can exchange them for a digital thermometer for free at the collection event every fourth Tuesday, and that gets the mercury out of the waste stream.
We continue with the phone book recycling in cooperation with US West Dex and Jackson's Texaco. We had anther successful year at that. The used oil collection has gone very well as
you see in the graphs, I apologize I could not get page numbers on this. I do not know why, but it just did not seem to take, but you can see there was an initial spike in used oil
collection. We have gone to a seasonal fluctuation, where every spring and fall we are getting a spike of material, and we should see that continue well into the future. That is 200-300
gallons of oil every month taken out of the waste stream. Fall leave collection was continued again, it was successful, and the Christmas tree recycling, we diverted about 2000 trees
from the waste stream. Those are taken to the landfill and ground up for cattle bedding and shipped of to Simplot. For recycling services on the commercial side as customers move into
towns that are big commercial customers, Wal-Mart is a good example. They recycle cardboard, Fred Meyer, RC Willey, and WinCo. We haul that commodity to Western Recycling for recycling.
That customer that generates it gets paid for it, so we continue to do that of course every year we have more and more diverted. Wood waste is diverted for those customers that want
to segregate wood like yellow freight or consolidated freight weighs, and Jabil Circuit has a program to recycle integrated circuit tubes and reels from their facility. They believe
that recycling as much as they can is the best thing they can do. It has no value, but Western Recycling is willing to take it and reuse it somehow. I am not sure how they do it or
what they use it for, but we haul that at a reduced rate to get it out of the waste stream. Again, that is a new program in the year 2000. So we will continue to work with commercial
customers, and see that they can recycle as much as possible. Second to last page on the report talks about community involvement. We believe it is important to be part of the community.
We hope you think we are, and we provide donations in terms of monetary donations and serves to a wide variety of functions in Meridian. I could not list all of the Meridian churches
on this because it got to long; so I just sort of made a general category. Any questions so far? The last page of the report is on program implementation and future issues. We are
working towards getting a
new facility on Ten Mile Road and Ustick very new the WasteWater Treatment Plant just south of Five Mile Creek. We would like to build a shop and office and a transfer facility. As
the City grows, it is going to be – for example, we have paid last year to the County $600,000 to throw the trash away at the landfill, and we expect that will be $750,000 this year.
Probably after a rate increase it will exceed one million dollars. If we can get a transfer facility where we can cut down that waste stream, segregate what we can, it will be much
more cost effective for us. More and more we have trucks traveling to the landfill, it becomes a waste of time, frankly if we had an offloading facility here where we could transfer
the material onto a bigger truck and take the bigger truck to the landfill, it becomes much more cost effective, and it helps up keep our rates down. As the City grows we are going
to be faced with issues, and so we like to develop about a 10-acre parcel with this kind of a facility on it. I know Councilman Anderson has seen the one in Weiser. It will not be
anything like that. I guess there really is not too much to report unless you had some questions. I did have one other thing I wanted to ask about but go ahead.
Anderson: I have a question on the transfer station. Will that be a closed area?
Sedlacek: I would be a three-sided building.
Anderson: Also, is that manually sorted, or is it done by machines, or how does the sorting take place?
Sedlacek: No, the sorting, we would evaluate loads coming in. For example, a landscaper that brought in a truckload of grass. We would not have him dump on the transfer station floor
and push that into a trailer we would take it and put in a roll-off box of to the side. Or if somebody brought in a load of wood, rather than through it away, we would put it in a wood
area. We would try to catch loads as they came in. We are not going to have any mechanical sorting, or people hand picking through waste. That is very dangerous, and it is costly
too to run conveyor belts and that kind of thing. We just want to be able to take as much, in terms of discrete loads, and segregate them as we can. We are kind of doing it the simple
way, or as simple as possible.
Anderson: Kind of like they do at the landfill now. If you have tires or batteries or wood or whatever, just kind of segregate it.
Sedlacek: For example, if we could segregate grass and allow for example, customers or residents of Meridian to come to the facility and dump their grass for free, we can take that
grass to a dairy nearby and use it for cattle feed. Right now it goes to the landfill and we pay to get rid of that. Well, there is no sense in that if you can use it for something
else. It is just a wiser use of the resource.
Anderson: I had a question on grass. People get their clippings from their yards, bring it to you, can they feed that to cattle even knowing what chemicals are on it?
Sedlacek: Well, Bill has done research on that.
Bill: There have been a number of tests done on that material. It works great for sideage, feedlots, cattle dairy farms, so on and so forth. In fact, we have identified one farmer
who would love to take 6-10 tons a day. But we would have a separate drop area for 40-yard rolloff boxes for wood waste that type of material.
McCandless: Bill or Steve, which ever one, I had a question the other day from someone who missed the telephone site and wanted to know if they could put it out with their recycling
bin.
Gregory: Unfortunately, that is one time a year event that US West does with Western Recycling. It is a special product that they are geared up to take a certain time of the year. Now,
it is basically wince because the recycling center cannot take those.
McCandless: Okay.
Bill: Because of glued backing and so forth it creates problems for them.
McCandless: Okay, thank you.
Corrie: Any other questions from Council?
Bird: I have none.
Sedlacek: I just had one thing I wanted to bring up. We provide the Council on a monthly basis a lot of material about complaints, compliments, summaries on household hazardous waste
collection, and recycling. I know you guys do not have enough paperwork that comes in your boxes, but I was wondering if there might be a way for us to simplify our reporting to you.
If there was something we could do to make where you could get the information more succinctly, I guess. Is there something that you do not want to see that we give you?
Anderson: Just a suggestion, I mean I appreciate the information it is good information, but I could probably deal with a quarterly report.
Bird: I could too.
Sedlacek: Oh, okay.
Bird: A summary would be great.
Sedlacek: Okay, I am not saying we – I mean we do get complaints; it is part of the nature of the business, and we will miss the occasional customer, but we do take care of our complaints,
I hope.
Corrie: You evidently have because my phone has not been ringing on that type of complaint in a long time. Maybe I get a letter, but you get it, and you handle it that very same day,
so you do a very good job. Thank you.
Sedlacek: And a thank you to Councilman Anderson for being on the Solid Waste advisor committee.
Anderson: And not just because I work with you guys, but I think I could speak for the Council to say that everybody has been very impressed with the job you folks are doing, and you
have cleaned up the image of the trash service in Meridian, considerably. We appreciate all of the innovative programs that you bring in and keep doing what you are doing.
Sedlacek: If there is anymore, we would love to hear about them, and I appreciate your support.
Bird: Steve, can we get a copy of that report to the City Clerk’s people for the public, so that they can look at it?
Sedlacek: Certainly. Thank you.
Anderson: Thank you very much.
Corrie: Good report.
Item 9. Meridian Chamber of Commerce Lease Agreement:
Corrie: Tom, are you going to postpone that one, or do you have a comment that you are not ready for yet?
Kuntz: We had a meeting scheduled today, but some of the Chamber members were not able to make it. Our attorney and myself met anyway just to kind of discuss some issues, but we have
rescheduled that for next Friday morning.
Corrie: Okay. Thank you
Item 10. Department Reports:
A. Mayor’s Department – Mayor Robert Corrie:
1. Claire Bowman – Discussion on the Locust Grove Overpass with ITD:
Corrie: I have asked Claire to come tonight and kind of give us a rundown with what COMPASS has been asked to do, and I with therefore let you have at it.
Bowman: My name is Claire Bowman. I am the Director of the Community Planning Association. I apologize for my less than official attire tonight; I have been out of town and just flew
back in.
Bird: You will be just like us.
Bowman: The Community Planning Association annually puts together a document called a transportation improvement program that portrays a five year picture of what transportation projects,
that is broadly conceived, that is roadways, public transportation, commuter ride share, all of the methods of transportation in the valley except air. I get their projects into that
document that they anticipate or we anticipate will be constructed over the next five years. They are listed annually, and generally the first three years of that is considered a done
deal. Those are projects that are far enough along through the design, right-of-way acquisition cycles, whatever the bid process for busses or whatever the project is, and the funds
are pretty well allocated. The fourth and fifth years are less firm but still the intent is that those projects will move forward as the previous three years get constructed and taken
of the books. Lastly, we do a preliminary development year which has no year attached to it.
*** End of Side One ***
Bowman: -- Beyond into the future. It is there because for federally funded projects, you cannot even do preliminary engineering or surveying work until a project is in that transportation
improvement program. So the TIP has in it five years worth of projects plus a preliminary development setup. We do this annually. For the last 25 years, that document has covered just
Ada County. One of the features of it is that the COMPASS Board or what used to be the Ada Planning Association Board has to concur on how those projects move from one document to the
next annual version of it. We have been doing that for 25 years. We anticipate because of the new Census results that this process will have to be done on a two county basis beginning
probably in fiscal year 2003. There could be somethings at the Census Bureau that take a bit longer than we anticipate, and it might be fiscal year 2004 before that would apply. That
is background. The Idaho Transportation Department within Ada County right now uses the COMPASS Board as the priority setting mechanism for the projects. Outside of Ada County in the
rest of District 3, which includes Canyon County, and the other 9 counties of southwestern Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department essentially sets those priorities themselves. I
do not know how many of you are familiar with the work that was done in deciding how and whether to
put the Karcher interchange into that program as opposed to some alternative to it, but those recommendations coming out of the study team on the Karcher interchange went directly to
the Idaho Transportation Board because they are the decision maker outside of Ada County on how those priorities get set. After the area grows large enough that we have to do a two county
version of this transportation document then ITD will not be in that loop anymore, it will be the COMPASS Board making those decisions within the Ada and Canyon County urbanized area.
Pam Lowe, the new district engineer at District 3 for the Idaho Transportation Department, came to the COMPASS Board this last month asking them if they would begin in a very small way
this process a couple of years early and give some regional recommendations on priorities for the two county area to the Idaho Transportation Board. She would then do her best in the
development of the new transportation improvement program to move projects from preliminary development into a construction year that would be matched with the priorities set by the
COMPASS Board. Secondly, projects that are not currently in the program at all that would be moved into preliminary development would be moved in in priority order as established by
the COMPASS Board. That was her request, the board agreed with that. She will be coming back to the Board on March 19, 2001 to have the Board take action on projects. At the Board meeting
last week, the Board also suggested that the Executive Committee, which meets tomorrow afternoon for COMPASS, should do a preliminary review of these projects and make a recommendation
to the full Board on what those priorities are. I have taken a little bit more time than I probably needed to in the way of background, but I want to be sure you all understand the nature
of this decision making process that is going on here. Now, down to the nitty-gritty, what are projects that are effected? There are three projects in preliminary development that are
covered by her request for what projects out of the existing program should be moved out of preliminary development into a fiscal year for construction. The new transportation improvement
program will cover fiscal years 2002-2006 plus preliminary development. So what is it that is in preliminary development that gets moved into a funding cycle in 2006? The three projects,
and this is a case where I did not have a chance to get back to the office after I got back in here this afternoon, I know there are three. One of them is the Locust Grove Overpass,
one is improvements to Exit 29 that is the east-west version of Franklin Road at Caldwell, and it is the first Caldwell exit as you head west bound. Do you know what the third one was?
Anderson: It is the Franklin exit in Nampa, and they built one overpass next to the other one and they want to raise the grade.
Bowman: Yes, thank you. When they built the new overpass, they built it to the new specifications with a two-span, single post in the middle. The other one is a five-span facility at
a lower level, and they have to take it out at some point and replace it, that was the third one. So the COMPASS, the Executive Committee tomorrow, and then the COMPASS Board on March
19, 2001 is being asked to make a recommendation to the Idaho Transportation Department on what
priorities those three projects should have for moving out of preliminary development into a construction cycle. The dollars are quite different. The Locust Grove Overpass has in it
only about 3 million dollars or slightly less of Idaho Transportation Department funds; I think it is 2.7 million dollars. The Exit 29 improvements it is about a 13-14 million-dollar
project. The city of Caldwell has pledged 2 million of that. I think it is 11-12 million that the Idaho Transportation Department still has pending there, and I do not know the numbers
on the Franklin Road, Nampa construction, but typically an overpass like that is in the vicinity of 5 million, approximately to replace that overpass. The second request from Ms. Lowe
to the COMPASS Board was what new project should get moved into preliminary development if there is space to move anything in. I know of two there that she mentioned specifically, I
believe there was one more, and then obviously this is a category where the COMPASS Board is eligible to come up with new projects on its own. One of those is to study the extension
of State Highway 16, southward across the river connecting to a potential sight at a Ten Mile interchange in the future. A second one of those is to extend the center turn lane on State
Highway 44 west of Eagle. And the third one that I know of is the widening of 2026, Chinden Boulevard from Exit 29 to the east approximately to Black Cat, I believe, it might be Ten
Mile. Those are the projects that are currently on the plate for being considered moving into a preliminary development cycle, so that preliminary engineering could be initiated on them.
This is only one slice of the entire transportation improvement program process; it is a slice that is very difficult for ITD and with all of the two county work that is going on right
now. It is their request that COMPASS take this task on. It seems very appropriate, and the Board was unanimous last week in agreeing to take this task on. The difficulty now becomes,
this is where the rubber meets the road, and my suspicion is Mayor Corrie will attend the Executive Committee meeting tomorrow. You are all welcome to come only the Executive Committee
members are allowed to vote, but it is an open meeting and anyone would be welcome. I believe it is being held at St. Luke’s, in the downstairs level of the St. Luke’s Meridian medical
center. That is probably a lot more than you ever wanted to know about transportation planning, but it gives you a little bit of background, and I would be happy to try to reply to any
questions.
Anderson: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Anderson.
Anderson: I have a couple questions. Claire, one is, I do not mean to be offense but I am just trying to find this out for my mind because I do not understand how it works, and I was
not here when it was the Ada Planning Board, but you said that the State Highway Transportation Department takes the recommendations of what used to be Ada Planning but now it is COMPASS
at some point in the past was there a vote or something that was given that basically gave COMPASS the prerogative to be a negotiator or to make a recommendation for the City of
Meridian. I mean I do not understand that past there, maybe you could fill me in on that.
Bowman: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Anderson good question. That is a piece of background in front of where I began, and it is a very relevant piece. In areas which have a central city of 50,000
population or larger, all funds from the US Department of Transportation into that area must go through an agency called a Metropolitan Planning Organization, MPO for short. That Metropolitan
Planning Organization must have board members representing 90% of the population, and it must be blessed by the Governor before it can function as that federally required agent through
whom the funds are dispersed. Ada Planning Association was so designated in 1977 for Ada County. That was a time when I believe Meridian just left – Meridian was a member when it was
ACOG, and I believe when the turmoil in the summer of 1977 over your Planning and Zoning Administration caused the demise of ACOG. I believe Meridian was not a member at that point,
but they were not required to be a member because at that time the urbanized area encompassed only the City of Boise and Garden City. The Governor’s designation not only applied then
but also applies on in to the future unless there is a specific action taken to resend it. The role of Ada Planning Association now COMPASS in Ada County is still recommending only
to the Idaho Transportation Department. They do not have to honor our priorities. When the urbanized area around the City of Boise reaches 200,000 population, which it will in this Census,
there is no doubt. We will be up around 260,000-270,000, something like that. Then the Idaho Transportation Department has a different role with the COMPASS Board; the COMPASS Board
has a lot more say about the priority and which projects move forward. And we anticipate that Nampa will have an urbanized area with 50,000-population threshold as well, Nampa-Caldwell.
Right now we anticipate COMPASS will become the Metropolitan Planning Organization there as well. It does not have to happen that way, but that is way our organization has shaped the
way it has over the last year and a half to grow and why we include Canyon County members right now.
Anderson: That answers that question, I guess I do not know if you were, but I was a little bit confused because we had been negotiating with Ada County Highway District and with the
State of Idaho on the overpass deal, and I believe that contract was signed. It seemed like that contract, to me, was a binding agreement that sets forth specific years and things like
that. It seems like the process is a little bit backwards to now have COMPASS go in to make their recommendations after they have already signed a contract, but if that is how the process
works, then that is how it works.
Bowman: I was not aware that that contract had dates in it.
Corrie: It stated by 2006, and it only stated it if ITD came up with the money in hand.
Bowman: With their 2.7 million in hand, okay.
Corrie: They pledged that but it did not necessarily mean they have it.
Bowman: I saw their disclaimer. I did not see the 2006 date in there.
Anderson: They had a disclaimer in there that would give them some wiggle room to get out of that. Then my other question is, when I look at these projects and I look at the dollar
value of them, I mean if I look at the Caldwell project alone, I mean if it is a matter of prioritizing that you ought to do this, this, and this. We you could do the two projects with
a cost of the one project in Caldwell, so do they give you a dollar figure when you are going to do your recommendation to them so that you have a choice of accomplishing two things
verses one? Tell us which one you think is the most important. I mean that seems like an important bit of information.
Bowman: You are right on target. There were questions like that that came up at the Board meeting last week. Again, that is a good question. Short answer is we know nothing about how
many dollars are available. It is conceivable there will not be enough dollars to move anything forward. It is conceivable that there will be enough dollars to move two forward. Of those
three that are in preliminary development right now, two of them have local participation, and ITD has agreed that they will do whatever they can when there is significant local participation.
To move those projects ahead faster than those projects which have no local participation, and that really brings it down to Locust Grove Overpass and the Exit 29 improvements. I do
not know how risky the Idaho Transportation Board will get. They have an outstanding lawsuit right now on the Flying Y that could cost them a great deal. They also have, I suppose Mr.
Kuntz will appreciate this, about a 9 million dollar overrun on their landscaping contract. Essentially they forgot to put it in.
Bird: It was left out of the bid.
Corrie: Pam Lowe, she called me, was also the fact where you may prioritize and Meridian may be number three that the ITD might only have 3 million dollars they would take us over
the others.
Bowman: Yes, they might jump it forward, exactly.
Corrie: And your recommendation is exactly that, a recommendation, and they will look at their funds and make the decision after they have the fact of how much money they have.
Bowman: That is my understanding as well.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: In the past, what kind of criteria has COMPASS or Ada Planning, what did they look at when they were trying to prioritize those lists?
Bowman: We tried to keep our ice cubes in our glass. All transportation planning is a political process from my perspective, and that means it is negotiation; it is informing; it is
collaborating with other folks; it is trying to reach consensus on what needs to go next. Typically, in the development of that new version of a transportation improvement program we
are dealing primarily with what projects are in one year that need to move back or need to move forward, or what projects need to move into someplace. So instead of the several hundred
projects that are in that document all being up in the air every year, it usually comes down to 7,8,9, or 10 projects. For the most part, the Board and my staff have acted on a consensus
based decision making process. It is pretty clear as move to a two-county area of responsibility that that is not going to happen as frequently anymore. It will come down to votes at
the COMPASS Board; I suspect, and Mayor Corrie and I had a conversation about this the other day. He was right on in saying there is no consensus here. We are not likely to get a consensus
on which of these two projects: Locust Grove or Exit 29 improvements are number one on the COMPASS’s Board list. My guess is it comes down to voting, and that is probably the way it
will be in the future, so we are in a change period.
De Weerd: It just seems like Meridian over the next several years is going to really have some urgent priorities, Locust Grove and their Emergency Response and with the new high school
going in that the two other overpasses: Meridian and Eagle are over capacity as it is. Meridian needs to be improved; they are not going to improve that until we have another interchange,
and we do not see our other interchange on these lists yet. Which they have been on ours for 20 years, so it is just very difficult now not only were we competing with Ada County now
in the past. Now we are competing when it is finally supposedly maybe our turn, now we are competing against Canyon County too. We have two really urgent road projects coming up, so
we have to really campaigning with these political voters, is that what I am hearing, or can we not sell our case numbers and community support and that sort of thing, then we are pitting
city against city.
Bowman: Mr. Mayor, Mrs. de Weerd in practice that is what has been going on for many years.
De Weerd: And that is why we have always lost.
Bowman: It simply has been going at the Idaho Transportation Board level instead of a local level. The conflict or the decision making between Ada and Canyon County was below the surface.
It never was open and apparent, but it
was there. I guarantee you it was there. We have seen it a number of times over the last 7 or 8 years, but it has not happened in an arena where there is public discussion about it.
We are taking something that has been going on, this new request brings that up to the surface and puts it in the hands of the group where it will ultimately reside. And doing it a little
bit earlier than the federal rules would require. That is really all that is happening here.
Corrie: We are not precluded to talk to Monte McClure. He is our representative on the ITD Board; we can still talk to him and lobby him as well. There is probably going to be another
kicker in there that is going to be the Ten Mile interchange. We do not know right yet where that is coming from, how much money is involved, or who is involved yet. We know it is going
to be an involvement very shortly, and that is another equation figure that is coming in and can make a lot of difference all over the county. Like I said it does kind of put city against
city, but we have always done that, and you have to compromise, work with each other, and that is what we try to do. As you said, it has not come to the surface until now.
Bowman: Would you want me to explain to the rest of the Council how that work if that project does come in? How the process is likely to work?
Corrie: Yes that might be a good idea.
Bowman: The Locust Grove overpass has a great deal of participation by the city of Meridian and the Ada County Highway District. Therefore, the percentage is almost 2/3 of it, a little
over two-thirds of it in fact, comes from the City of Meridian and Ada County Highway District as local funds to Idaho Transportation Department. My sense is they will try to push that
project much more aggressively than the Exit 29 because in the Exit 29 case, the city of Caldwell has pledged maybe 15-20 percent of the total project. The Idaho Transportation Board
is on record saying that as a policy that when locally funding exists they will do what they can to move that forward. If a Ten Mile interchange proposal comes in with significant, 50
percent or more funding from local developers or a combination of local developers and municipal funds or something like that, and there is no such competing project elsewhere in the
state. Essentially, what will happen is that Ada County – ITD will not do it immediately – it still takes 5 or 6 years to design and get all the permissions and get those things ready
for construction. But they would do what they can under their current policy essentially to take dollars that would normally be spent elsewhere in the state and bring them in to fund
that project. That one would probably not compete with these others that we are talking about here. It would be an overlay. It would be one that comes in because of a different policy
application at the Idaho Transportation Board level. If it is a 10 or 11 million dollar project and there is 6 million dollars from local funds of some sort chances are that one would
simply be moved into a construction that is 5 or 6 years out. It might go into preliminary
development at first with a move as soon as they get the preliminary engineering to be sure that they are in the right ballpark on the cost proposals and all of that.
De Weerd: Would that go through COMPASS then for priority?
Bowman: You bet it would. Any other questions?
Corrie: Any questions at this point?
Bowman: Thank you very much.
Corrie: I thank you for coming this evening, you have set a good light to the Council, better than I could have done.
Bowman: Always a pleasure, thank you.
Corrie: My part comes tomorrow.
Bird: Thank you Claire.
Special Report by the Mayor:
Corrie: My special report is that I want to invite each one of the Council people to the State of the City Address Thursday morning at 7:30am. Are all of you going to be able to make
that? I think Keith and Tammy and Cherie, how about you will you be able to be there?
Anderson: Sure, I can be there.
Bird: Are you sure you can get up that early?
Corrie: That is right to the north, the church of the life center, there, gymnasium area at the Life Center. Third and Pine. That was my special report, so that you all will enjoy
my speech as much as I did preparing it. We got it in the final stages today, and I compared it to last year, the number of pages. Last year it was 15, this year it is 40, and I cut
it down 40 pages at that one, so I will make sure we will get out of there by 9am, but that I assure you.
B. Councilperson Tammy de Weerd:
1. City Seal Update:
De Weerd: You all have a memorandum from me that gives you a summary of the responses that we got from the different departments. We did receive comments from Public Works, Planning
and Zoning, Accounting, and the Parks and Recreation Department. The parks Department felt that it was time for a new
logo, but the did not like what they had as choices. What they did like was the font, the center of the Treasure Valley, and the lines that transition into wheat, and the since 1893.
The popular choice and I refer to it as number 3, and I do not think your packets have numbers, but number 3 was the one without any graphics, with any pictures. Sorry, I did not bring
any visual. And this was preferred for items such as vehicles, shirts, and lapels. I did get comments that the Department was to small, and that is something that can be worked on. They
liked the simplicity of that. The second choice was the following page as I refer to as number 4 and that had the simple graphics without the fine detail with the clock tower and the
building. Number 1 and 6, number 1 would be your first page that shows the different colors and number 6 is your last page. Number 6 did get more votes, I did not count them all when
I wrote this, but it was very close, so you might as well say it was a tie. Number 6 did get the popular vote on a more official type of thing such as the letterhead and the business
cards. Additional comments were to include some employees liked the hub statement, the hub of the Treasure Valley instead of the center of the Treasure Valley. I know that the Center
of the Treasure Valley came in play with the visioning process with the City and Chamber went on that that slogan was changed. The absolutely – I do not think I had one comment that
liked the flags, they did like Since 1893, but they did not like the flags off setting it. Popular color was the gray and the slate blue, and I would entertain any questions if anyone
has anything. I am sure you can all see it. It is the finer detailed one.
McCandless: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. McCandless.
McCandless: I wanted to ask Chief Gordon if he had any comments.
De Weerd: We got it back from the Police Department that there were no comments.
Gordon: We got copies on all of them. We did not have any comments on them. We thought most of them were to busy.
De Weerd: That was pretty consistent. The favorites, especially for the reproductions on lapel pins, shirts, and any vehicles, was the simplest one without any graphics on it.
Anderson: Mrs. De Weerd: I just have one comment and then one question. The comment on the flags, I have to put my plug in because that was my idea, the flags were supposed to symbolize
the speedway and the history along with the speedway, so I was envisioning those as being a checkered flag, and they are just white flags hanging there. I can understand why people would
say well why in heck are those even there because they do not really symbolize anything right there. The checkered flags have to do with racing so maybe that is an
inadequate portrayal of what I was expecting there. You do not get to respond to that. I do not want to hear your comment on that. My other question is if we do adopt this as a Seal,
I know it would seem that there ought to be some criteria established as far as when and how and what are we going to use this on. Or are we just going to leave that open to every department
to decide whether they want to use it or not use it in their logo. I mean if this is going to be the logo, is that going to go on the side of every vehicle that the City of Meridian
owns? Is that mandatory that the departments adopt that, or is it up to their choice? Those are questions that I think we probably ought to decide so that people are not offended saying,
well you are not using the logo that we gave you. You have still got this water tower on the side of your vehicle, and also I think it would make a difference on – some people whether
they have a strong opinion or not about whether they like this logo or not. So those are some of the questions that I still have, is it going to be mandatory? What types of media is
it going to be put on?
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Councilman Anderson, I do not have the answers to that. You guys started this process before I stepped on, and I kind of picked up. I do not know what your original conversations
were to that. Do you have any thoughts on how you would like to see it go since you would have one of the Departments that would have something like this on the doors?
Anderson: My thoughts are that I really like the design, and I think it has real good applications like on letterheads and printed material. I think it is a difficult logo to put on
the side of a vehicle. In the case of the Fire Department, we also have a rural Fire District that is contributing money, so I am not sure what their standpoint would be. Whether they
want to have the City’s logo or if they want so combination or they want something else on there. I think that might be one of their concerns. When they talk about it being too busy
when you put the one that has some of the pictures of the tree, old building, and the clock on the side of a vehicle that is just not going to display very well.
De Weerd: That was the consensus too. People were pretty consistent with their separation between the two. But the simple one without the pictures would be a lot easier to reproduce
onto a car door, shirt, lapel pin, instead of the water tower pins. You would get something more with this, but I understand certainly with rural fire district; I do not know, as far
at the Police Department how he would feel, we would have to ask him. We have four Department heads sitting over there. I just think if you are going to adopt a new city seal it should
be representative of the city, and in your appearance not necessarily does it have to go on the car doors but on business cards, letterheads, and shirts we need to be consistent.
Anderson: And that is like police and fireman wear shoulder patches, that design to me does not look like it is real easy to incorporate into something like that.
De Weerd: Do they have the water tower on them right now?
Anderson: Yes. I know the Fire Department does but I do not know about the Police Department.
Bird: The Police Department does not have the water tower on theirs, I do not believe.
Corrie: Well, to get this off dead center, so far you like the name Meridian or the City of Meridian, the Center of Treasure Valley, and Since 1893 then you want it in an oval, circle,
diamond?
De Weerd: Oval.
Corrie: Oval rather than circle. If we kind of agree on something of that nature then why do not we have something made up that shows Meridian or the City of Meridian, but we have
to have someplace in there that says Idaho.
De Weerd: I think it should say, City of Meridian, somewhere by the M and you could put Idaho by the AN.
Corrie: I think if you have it smaller, I mean you do not have to have it a big one on the side of a door, you can have it on a fender or somewhere more stationary. I think Ron is
absolutely right, we do need to make where it is going to go and how it is going to go, and who is going to do it. But that could come down the road later, but I think if we have a consensus
here on the City of Meridian, Idaho, the Center of the Treasure Valley, and the Since 1893. Maybe we can have somebody – so that we can get it off dead center, we have been on this thing
for years. If the Council does agree why do not we have Tammy have them put that together then bring it back so we can massage it back and forth. Then once we get what we think we like
we can show it to the public and let them make some comments and go from there. You have gone farther than I did four years ago. If that would be the case, would that be alright with
the Council?
Bird: You bet.
Corrie: Just to kind of get this off dead center, we kind of get moving on it. Tammy if you would do that then I think that would be great.
De Weerd: It would be my pleasure.
Corrie: Thank you.
C. Councilperson Keith Bird:
1. Appointment of Liaison Person to Departments:
Bird: With the Council’s permission, the appointments will stay the same as last year. Which was Cherie had the Police Department and City Clerk, Ron had the Fire Department and Human
Resources, Tammy had Parks and Recreation and Planning and Zoning, and I will take Public works and the Treasurer’s office. If that is okay with everybody?
Anderson: Can I file a protest? I think someone else should negotiate this.
De Weerd: Forget it.
Corrie: I am going to learn this year. Is everybody willing to accept –?
Bird: Is that okay with everybody.
De Weerd: I do not know, maybe we should see if there are objections over there in the peanut gallery.
Bird: Does the peanut gallery think that is okay?
Corrie: Hearing none. Okay, thank you Keith. I will get that down and get the list to Tammy.
D. Parks and Recreation Department – Director Tom Kuntz:
1. Generations Plaza Permissive Encroachment Agreement:
Kuntz: Thank you Mayor and Council. In your December workshop we originally brought the Encroachment Agreement from the Attorney’s office. To refresh your memory, the building that
is currently to be completed that houses the Smokey Mountain Pizza encroaches onto our property a total of 4 inches, and this agreement before you tonight addresses that issue legally.
Thank you Mayor.
Corrie: Has everybody had a chance to read that Encroachment Agreement? Okay, is there any discussion or questions in reference to this?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: I have none.
Corrie: Hearing none then I will entertain a motion to approve the Encroachment Agreement and have the Mayor to sign –
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve this permissive Encroachment Agreement between the City of Meridian and Generations Building LLC and Idaho limited liability coming in for the Mayor to sign
and the Clerk to attest.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the Generations Plaza and Permissive Encroachment Agreement. The Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest. Any further discussion? All those
in favor of the Agreement say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
2. Generations Plaza Building No. 2 Easement through Private Parking Lot:
Kuntz: The next one is a new request, and it was initiated from the Planning and Zoning Department. This affects the second building that will be going up hopefully this summer, and
it is to the north of Generations Plaza. They will be constructing a brand new parking lot directly behind that building. And the Planning and Zoning director wanted to make sure that
in the years to come that the public has the ability to enter through that parking lot without any restrictions and then exit through the existing city parking lot on Pine Street. I
believe the information in you packets, the last page of it, actually shows a drawing depicting where this easement would be which parking lot it would be located in, so we are asking
tonight for approval to institute this easement through that private parking lot.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would like to ask Mr. Nichols if he sees anything that can jump out and bite us. I do not, but I am not a lawyer.
Nichols: Councilman Bird, Mayor and Members of the Council this essentially gives us something that we do not have now, but it was partly in consideration of our support for the partial
vacation of the alley that ran to East First Street. That there would be a way to route the traffic through the parking lots and get them back out onto Pine Street. This is really to
the city’s benefit to be able to use that parking lot on the east side of this building's parking lot.
Bird: That is all I had Mayor.
Kuntz: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council I apologize, but the map actually shows the parking stalls lined up the wrong direction.
Anderson: I just figured you Park guys backed into all of your stalls so you could make quick get-a-ways.
Corrie: I was about to ask who was going to re-stripe it for you. Okay, any other questions.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Who is going to re-stripe it?
Kuntz: Council member de Weerd and Council and Mayor, the developer will be restriping and redirecting the planting strips in those parking lots.
Corrie: I think you have answered that substantially.
De Weerd: I do have an unrelated question. What is the Parks policy of having signs on Park property?
Kuntz: The signs that are in place right now are actually on the property that is being leased from the city, and that lease was effective December 1, and we have built a developer
for that property.
De Weerd: Was not that a lease for a patio, not for a sign?
Kuntz: Yes, ma’am.
Bird: What is wrong with it?
De Weerd: Because that is right by our park.
Bird: That might be right by our park, but it is also a taxpayer that is doing it. It is just there temporarily.
De Weerd: Yes, I have seen temporary signs. Thank you.
Kuntz: Council member de Weerd we have addressed that issue from time to time over the last month, and I physically moved one of the signs myself with another Parks employee. We drug
it down the alley and onto their property
behind their building, and I guess in the spirit of cooperation we feel like where they are now that we can live with for a short period of time.
De Weerd: What kind of time schedule is Generations Plaza phase two on?
Kuntz: The opening of the Smoky Mountain Pizza is scheduled for March 15, 2001. We contacted The Land Group a little over a week ago and let them know that that was the opening to
try and have all of our plat work done by then –
*** End of Side Two ***
Kuntz: -- freezing problems. They want to make sure that the ground is thawed, and they do not have to pour a third time. The other thing that I am not sure you are aware of is there
has been some extensive damage done to the landscaping by the developer’s contractor. And we have met on sight with the Wright Brothers and there is an extensive letter in the file showing
what kind of damages need to be repaired by the developer of the Smoky Mountain Pizza building, and their agreement that they will take care of those issues. To answer your question
the Wright Brothers have been notified when the pizza store is going to open, and they will get in there as soon as they feel like it is safe to pour the flat work and move ahead. I
am hoping that we have things wrapped up down there by the end of March.
Corrie: Usually when the snow is off of Bogus Basin plant your tomatoes.
De Weerd: Thank you, Tom.
Corrie: Okay, any further discussion? Hearing none, I will entertain a motion then for the Easement Agreement on number 2, a through private parking lot.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve the Easement Agreement between the City of Meridian and Lainey Land Limited Partnership.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the Generations Plaza Building and Number 2 Easement for a through private parking lot for the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest. Any
further discussion? All those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
3. Bear Creek Master Plan:
Kuntz: Mayor and Council to my left is the colored version of the master plan for Bear Creek.
De Weerd: Do you want to kind of turn it so the audience can see it too? Thanks.
Kuntz: As indicated in my memo, this plan went to the public for review on January 17, 2001 and then it was followed up with a few minor changes from those comments and presented to
the Parks and Recreation Commission of February 12, 2001. At that time the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended approval to the City Council. I can certainly go through it with
you if you would like me to. I would like to point out that we have some funding in place to complete phase one of the park, and I can show you that.
Bird: Which is the phase one, Tom? Could you show the people?
Kuntz: These are the construction documents for phase one. They are currently in the hands of the developer who is working on some pricing for some of the amenities. Phase one would
include one or possibly two parking lots depending on how far the funding goes. It will include the rough and fine grating, the perimeter pathway, which may be gravel initially. It will
include a sprinkler system and grass seeding which is to be provided by the developer. It will also include a perimeter metal fence. I believe it calls for rod-iron at this point. It
is going to be a very basic park to start with.
Bird: Thank you Tom.
Kuntz: Would the Council like me to go through the master plan real briefly? What I have handed out is also some development cost. At the bottom of the page, you will notice the automated
irrigation system in the seeded turf. If you subtract those amounts from the total since the developer will provide them, the estimated total is about $900,000 dollars or a little under
for this site. It is 18 acres. The other amenities that we will be adding as either any kind of contributions or partnerships or funding from the city become available. There will be
a restroom picnic shelter combination, a playground area, what we call a basketball round that includes three separate baskets, two tennis courts, and then two multi-fields that can
be used for either baseball or softball. The only item or amenity that was really questioned in the planning sessions was the tennis courts, and of course, those would only be built
if we can justify the need and the use when funding becomes available.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Tom, we have just a tot lot, is that all we are going to have out there? Don’t we have a playground?
Kuntz: Yes, it will be a full playground, it just says tot lot, but it will be similar to what is in Tully Park.
Bird: That is what I thought, but I did not see it in our costs.
De Weerd: One thing that the Commission also had discussed: A partnership so to speak that the City has formed with the playground group, and one of the members is out in the audience,
Debbie, but that is to set some standards for the playgrounds in our city that make it accessible to children of all abilities. You know it has been very exciting. The group has a lot
of dynamics, and Tom has met with that group, and have really been working towards setting some standards for the playground equipment that is established and built in our parks. That
has been a real positive outcome.
Bird: What I was asking him was, I do not see it in our costs, playground equipment. I see the playground safety servicing. Tom, I do not see it in our costs, $827,000 dollars, I do
not see any playground equipment in there. I see our playground safety servicing.
Kuntz: I believe Councilman Bird that the composite structure of $30,000 dollars would be the actual structure itself.
Bird: Oh, okay, I am sorry.
Kuntz: If you look at the costs for Tully Park, the entire playground component there was about a $50,000 expenditure. The equipment was about $25,000, and then by the time you do all
the excavation, the concrete edging, the soft fall material, and everything else that goes into it, that is not too far off. Now, the stand we will try to be adopting is that we have
a rubberized surface for at least anywhere from one-third to one-half of the playground, and that will definitely add to the cost by 20 to 30 percent, but we feel that is something we
want to have in all of our playgrounds. Again, these are estimates.
Anderson: Who put the estimates together, Tom? Is this just your guess or did you have some assistance from some Engineers? I mean things like the grating and the parking lot and some
of that kind of stuff, how accurate is this estimate going to be?
Kuntz: Actually, the master plan and the construction documents for phase one were both done by the CTA, and these estimates were also done by them. We are going to get a much more
accurate figure when the developers get back to me with their estimates, and they have had those construction documents for about three weeks. They told me they are real close to finishing
them up. It is to
there benefit, having this site greened up and looking like something that will be an advantage to their subdivision as far as sell of lots. I am hoping they will work with us on the
cost. I do not know if that answers your question Council member.
Anderson: I feel better knowing that you were not the only one who worked on the numbers.
De Weerd: And some of that, Ron, in the top is also going to be developer funded as per the Agreement.
Bird: Has the Parks and Recreation commission seen this?
Kuntz: They have not seen the cost estimates, no, Councilman Bird.
Anderson: And I also wanted to volunteer, I will put in that tetherball pole for $2500.
De Weerd: No, I was going to that.
Anderson: If you need two or three of them, I could do that for you.
Kuntz: We will have a contract in your office tomorrow.
Bird: And Kendra will have an article tomorrow.
Corrie: Are you done Tom?
Kuntz: Yes sir.
Bird: Thank you, Tom. Very nice.
E. Public Works Department – City Engineer Gary Smith:
1. Update on the White Trunk:
Smith: Thank you Mr. Mayor and Members of Council. The update that you have in your packet I believe is a bar chart, time schedule that has been projected for attaining easements for
the White drain sewer trunk from the Ridge Tower subdivision project, and coupled with that is our estimated construction time and completion of the Trunk line. We are expecting that
we would receive the easements on or about the time the project is submitted to City Council for your review and decision. The developer feels fairly confident that once he obtains Planning
and Zoning’s approval that he will move forward with developing the easements for the Trunk line. Today, I received copies or a copy of the proposed easement along with a small-scale
map, and I will pass that out right now to you. Briggs engineering also delivered a full size set of preliminary
plans, which I have here, two sets, that shows the alignment through the subdivision. This is just the first sheet that shows the sewer line starting over here on your left at Ten Mile
Road and progressing upstream to the east. They have done quite a bit of work in developing the project to this point, and I guess at this point we feel pretty confident that they will
continue along and barring any disasters at Planning and Zoning time that is should move forward. They have been doing a lot of work with the other agencies. There is still an issue
of an access from this development onto McMillian. At this point, they have not shown an access out of this development onto McMillian and that is a little bit of a point of consternation
between Planning and Zoning Administrator and Ada County Highway District and the developer. That is the only thing I know of that is creating a major point of discussion.
Bird: Gary, does that take about 1/3 of a mile of that first run from Ten Mile Road to Linder? Is this about 1/3 through his project of that mile?
Smith: No, it is probably closer to 2/3 of the mile.
Bird: They will take 2/3 of the mile?
Anderson: Is this in phase two, Gary?
Smith: Yes, this would be in phase two. Phase one was the Plat that came in off of Ustick Road, and that Final Plat is progressing through the approval process right now.
Bird: But that sewer is into Five Mile? And does not have anything to do with the White Trunk.
Smith: Right, it has nothing to do with the sewer in the White Trunk. Now there is portion you will notice on that small scale drawing a portion that is indicated to be in a future development.
But part of the requirement that Planning and Zoning has placed on the developer is that they annex the entire parcel of property. So that the easement can be continued through this
other piece of property even though their need for development or desire to even file a Preliminary Plat on that. They do not want to get involved in that because of the tax situation
between farm land and platted land in the preliminary stage, I guess.
De Weerd: But we could still gain the easement?
Smith: Yes.
De Weerd: Okay.
Smith: I am not sure, they may be going ahead with the Preliminary Plat on that piece of ground also in order to establish the alignment. But the schedule that was laid out, this was
actually the bar schedule, was developed from preliminary
discussions in January of this year. And after the last Council meeting, they came back to us and met with me and had brought this bar chart back and had moved things forward in terms
of the easement probably 6-8 weeks as I recall that they moved things up so that we would have them sooner.
Anderson: Just a hypothetical, if they did not get the approval of their phases, what would that do to your easements?
Smith: We would not be able to get the easements at least the way it has been presented at this point.
Corrie: So they are saying, you give us the easement and we will do the project?
Smith: Well what they are saying Mayor is that if the project is approved as they have submitted it then the easements can be granted to us within this time schedule if the project
moves forward.
Corrie: Does that coincide with our capacities and every at this point?
Smith: This is a new Trunk line, and the impact will be at the treatment plant, and there is not a problem there. But yes the easements are definitely tied to the project. I guess
it just a matter of how well they have done their homework in preparing the project so that it complies with maybe the meetings that they have had with the Planning and Zoning Administrator,
meetings they have had with the Ada County Highway District. It is a huge project and undertaking it means a lot of coordination with all of agencies. Ultimately, it comes down to your
decision.
Corrie: See White Sewer Trunk that is the next one up, right?
Smith: The White is located between Ustick and McMillian Road, correct. Do you have any questions that I could answer?
Corrie: I do not know if you have the answer to it or not.
Smith: I am not sure I have got an answer to the question that I am sure is on your mind. I do not really have an answer. It all depends, and we have alerted our consulting engineer
to this schedule.
De Weerd: Now Gary, is it going to be this way in future Trunk lines that it is totally dependant on these developers, and where they are going to allow an easement? Is this what is
going to happen with our North Slew?
Smith: Well, it could. I guess it could be looked at in two ways. One is that you try to work with the development community in locating the sewer trunks so that they are in a public
right-of-way, and so that they are more accessible so that they better fit a layout of the development. Or you move ahead and try to obtain
easements on the drainage. That is typically what we have done in the past, where there was not any plan for development. We just located the trunk lines down at the low point of the
topography adjacent to the drainages and obtained easements that way and away we went.
De Weerd: Well there is talk with the Comprehensive Plan that maybe is Circulation Plan or a Collector Street Plan be put together. Would that help facilitate easements or can that be
co-developed with –
Smith: I do not think that the Collector Street Plan could be detailed enough in the Comprehensive Plan to allow you to place something like a Trunk line. I think you can get general
locations of Collectors on the mile roads if you are going to bring them in at the center of the section and kind of wagon wheeled the section as far as allowing traffic to circulate
interior than out to your arterials, but I am not sure that you are going to be able to get defined with the location of your Collectors going through the section. It would not necessarily
follow the low point in the topography such as the drain does.
De Weerd: Do you see that we will have the same problems with the North Slew that we have had with the White Trunk?
Smith: Yes, I think so. I think with the development activity up there in the development interest that we are going to be faced with the same kind of question to answer. Unless we
just move ahead and try to obtain easements on the low spot in the low ground, and say this where we want the Trunk line to be. We are not going to try and locate it within the subdivision
or within your proposed plan because it does stall the thing to the point that – well one of the questions that I got from this developer was, well okay, if we get this approved how
fast can you get the sewer built? I said well gee, we have been waiting quite awhile to get this alignment, and now all of sudden there is a rush to get it built. That is what happens.
De Weerd: I think we should be them from Locust Grove to Ten Mile Road.
Corrie: One of the things that we are going to have to really be certain of is that we got our plans and J-U-B and everything else for our sewer system that we follow those and not
get out of sequence. Even when a developers says I can do this because we are heading down the wrong road at that point.
Smith: We have to be sure that the location of these Trunk lines is such that is serves all of the property within a drainage area, and we are not allowing the location of Trunks to
be in a most advantageous place for the developer of a particular project. We have always looked at the big picture and make that service area flows to the Trunk. So that is kind of
an update on this thing, where we are. I guess it is a little better defined than it was, but there are still some problems. There is still some doubt as to when things are going to
happen.
Anderson: How about J-U-B, it almost seems to me like there is a little bit of a conflict of interest there. I mean not only are they developing our master plan for a sewer, but they
are also the engineering firm for a bunch of these developers that have gone out and bought this land. It almost seems like they are trying to play both sides of the coin in trying to
force the city’s hand. Are there other alternatives to J-U-B out there?
Smith: Councilman Anderson, Mayor, and Council I think that one thing that is fortunate here is that the master plan was developed before we got this influx of development interest
in these areas. Generally speaking, the master plan located Trunk lines along the drainages and just very generally and very simply followed the existing drainages and said this where
it should be because it is the lowest in elevation. It does cast a little bit of a different on J-U-B when they come back with a big project; however, we still have the master plan that
was developed prior that we are going to follow. Just to give you another example, we are looking at a project right now at the south of us at Victory Road and east side of Locust Grove.
It is a huge project, and that particular consulting engineer wants to move our Trunk line around going through that project. We have had several meetings with them and told them that
they need to go back and rethink this because where they want to put the Trunk is to their advantage as far as developing a property. It short-circuits service to part of that service
area. We are very mindful, and I have instructed my staff, and I have always been the same way that we look at this big picture. We are not just looking at what this developer wants
to do. Like I said J-U-B developed that master plan several years ago. It was done in accordance with the topography of the ground for the Trunks. Having said that, they are coming back.
They are being hired by the developers to lobby to extend the Trunks into that area and get the development started out there. I do not think there is a particular conflict of interest
there may be some apperance that way because they worked on the master plan, and now they are working on the developing side.
De Weerd: Because of what they did at our last meeting.
Anderson: They make a lot more money too actually designing the system for the developer and figuring out all of the cuts and elevation and doing all of that stuff, so ultimately the
developer is going to be paying them more money than we are. So I have a question as to where their loyalty lies? Who are they trying to please?
Smith: I guess they have had two clients. They had the city as their first client; they are responsible to do what they have done. Now they have a developer as a client, and they do
have loyalty to that developer; however, they still have loyalty to that plan that they developed for us and that the City Council approved. The Public Works Department is the stewards
of that facility plan. We say okay, you
are working for the developer here is the facility plan. This is what we are dealing with; this is the end result.
Anderson: Based off of the comments they made at the meeting and this letter we have received, I question some of their loyalty, who they are most loyal to.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Yes, Mr. Bird?
Bird: I think that once they did that general layout for us their obligations, that is all we asked them to do was to give us the locations that was best suited for the sewers and an
estimated cost, then I believe that their contract with the City of Meridian was over with. They did a very fine job. We have the documents. Now they are being hired by private firms
to represent them in not only the sewer, but also their whole engineering of the development. I am like Gary. On the outside, it probably looks like it could be a conflict of interest,
but really I believe once they completed their contract with the City, they were done with us. They did complete it and did a very nice job.
Smith: I think it is important to consider the time interval between the two. If they were working on a master plan and a development then yes very definitely there would be a problem
there. It would be to coincidental to not have a problem when you are working that way with two different clients and yet trying to work something together. In the late 1970s, when the
City of Meridian under went a big infrastructure change or addition, we built the elevated water tower, a lot of water transmission, a waste water treatment plant, and a lot of Trunk
lines out to the Waste Water Treatment Plant, so J-U-B did all of that work. Well, following all of that work then the development started and they found themselves doing a lot of that
work too. It is kind of a similar situation, but I am still convinced that the master plan was based on the topography issues, the natural ground elevations, and just the fact that that
is where the sewers need to be, and it was laid out following those drainages and that was all. I do not believe at that time there was any information for development.
Corrie: Any other questions?
2. Discussion of Inspectors’ Fee / Contracts:
Bird: Gary, did you want to discuss the inspector’s fees, --
Smith: Well, I would if you would like to discuss it. I did not get the contracts to you in time. I just got them prepared today. They are the same contracts that they had last year,
the same numbers. If you want to wait until next week and take a look at them between now and then that is fine.
Bird: That would be my preference, Mayor, if that were okay with you.
Corrie: That is fine. I think that is a good idea.
3. License Agreement with NMID for Well No. 21 Bypass Line into the Eight Mile Lateral:
Smith: Well No. 21 is located just to the north and east of the elevated water tower in property that is owned by the City of Meridian and will eventually be an addition to the park.
Right now it is a staging area for the speedway. The issue here is that we need to have a bypass line that we are able to discharge from the well into a waste or into a ditch, or into
a facility other than our distribution system. This need arises when we have to pull a pump for maintenance, and then we have to pump the well to waste until it perhaps needs to be cleared
up, perhaps we get some bacteria problems. There are several things that can happen where we need to pump to waste. This Agreement with Nampa Meridian will allow us to discharge into
the Eight Mile Lateral. City Attorney Nichols had a question on one of the items, and he corresponded with Nampa Meridian’s attorney. Nampa Meridian subsequently fired back a change,
and I have given that to Bill, and Bill has approved that. That was on page three. It had to do with Item number 10; it had to do with the licensee, that is the City of Meridian agreeing
that the district shall not be liable for any damages which shall occur to any facility which the licensee installs. That was amended to say that – what does it say Bill? I did not bring
a copy of that with me.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council there is any additional phrase that is added at the beginning of that section. It reads as follows: Except for damages rising solely out of
the negligence of the district. So in other words, if they are cleaning out the ditch and they run into our pipe which they have seen the plans, they have approved the plans, they have
supervised the construction, they know it is there, and then later they damage in the maintenance of their ditch then they pay for it.
Smith: The only other thing I had was on page 6, item number B. They make reference to the district being able to deposit spoils in the licensees property, and we do not have any property
adjacent to this ditch, so I think we will need to get that amended. Those were the only two items, and Mr. Nichols conversation with the District’s Attorney took care of the one. If
you do not have any questions, I guess my recommendation would be to approve this licensee Agreement with Nampa Meridian for this Well number 21 bypass pump piping with the understanding
that I will talk to their attorney and get that amended to Item B on page 6. Do you have any questions?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Alright then, if there is no other questions, I will entertain a motion of the License Agreement with the understandings of the attorneys and statements made items A and B,
page three and page six.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we pass the License Agreement with the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District for Well number 21 bypass line into the Eight Mile Lateral with the contracts showing
the added wordings and to Items outlined in the Agreement and for the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Motion is made to approve License with Nampa Meridian Irrigation District approval with the conditions stated in the motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those
in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Smith: Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council.
Locust Grove Road Water and Sewer Project – Agreement for Professional Services with J-U-B Engineers:
Smith: This proposal comes from J-U-B Engineers who is also the engineering consultant for the Ada County Highway District, and they are designing this section of Locust Grove Road.
This will provide two lengths of sewer line, one short length from Fairview going north to Carol Street in that County subdivision for future extension into that subdivision if and when
the time should occur without having to tear up Locust Grove Road, and the other piece of sewer extends approximately from the South Slew south to again service two larger parcels of
ground on the east side of Locust Grove Road. That portion is about 1100ft south of the stub out of Cougar Creek, and the 8 inch sewer from Fairview north is approximately 1300ft, and
then there is a 12 inch water line approximately 1200ft that needs to be installed to complete the water line in Locust Grove. We have got a spot there where we have not connected the
tubings. We would have a cooperative Agreement with Ada County Highway District where the contractor doing the roadway improvement work would also be doing the installation of the sewer
and water line, and the contractor would be paid by ACHD then we would reimburse ACHD. This was the same agreement that we had on Franklin Road and Meridian Road when it was recently
reconstructed. I think we did the same thing on Cherry Lane when that was done, and we did a cooperative Agreement on North Meridian Road from Cherry Lane to Ustick, so this would be
our fourth agreement with the Highway District.
Corrie: Any questions?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: I will entertain a motion then for the recommendation.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we approve the Agreement for professional services with J-U-B Engineers for the Locust Grove water and sewer project with the pre-design in progress meetings,
an estimated budget of $559 supplemental topographic for an estimated budget of $1856, design, drafting contract documents and cost estimate with a lump sum basis with a cost of $6415.
I believe that is a cost estimate too, and the agency coordination and permitting for an estimated budget of $711, and I do not have a total.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the Locust Grove Road water and sewer project according to the motion as stated. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor
of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Smith: Thank you Mayor and Council. I did not mention, but it has about $182,000 price tag on it for construction estimate. So this engineering cost is 5.2 percent of that estimated
cost.
Bird: Gary that is about a standard is it not?
Smith: Five percent is a little bit less than what we spend on design. Wastewater treatment plant design is running around eight to nine percent for just a design.
5. WWTP Headworks and Septage Receiving Station Change Order No. 3:
Smith: There were four items in the memo that Brad Watson wrote to you, four items that comprise this Change Order number 3. The contractor is JC Constructors, and they have done an
excellent job on the project. They have been very good to work with. They have had a very high quality of work, and we are very pleased with them. Brad said their business is first grade.
We have been battling with some other contractors out there, and it is a welcome change to
have this kind of performance. Those four items, if you would like me to go through them I can.
Corrie: I think we have all read them, and I did not see anything.
Smith: The total of the changes is $7797.03. We would recommend approval of this Change Order No. 3 for JC Constructors work at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Headworks project.
Corrie: Any discussion?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: I will entertain a motion on the request for the Change Order number 3.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we approve the $7797.03 for Change Order number 3 between the City of Meridian and JC Constructors at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Headworks change.
McCandless: Second.
Bird: Mayor to sign and Clerk to attest.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the Change Order number 3 for $7797.03 and the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in
favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Smith: Thank you Mayor and Council. I have one other item that Mayor Corrie asked to be added on our request at the beginning of the meeting. It is a Line Item Transfer from the Waste
Water Department. With your permission, I would like to pass this information out to you at this time. I apologize for the short time fuse on this; the issue that we have run into is
a salary issue with our licensed operators at the plant. We have lost two in the recent past several weeks, and we have one more that is ready to move out. Boise City and Nampa are the
areas that are drawing our certified operators away from us. Item No. 3 that John has listed here is a request to transfer $37,850 from the special projects expense to the wages account.
He has a little dissertation there on what has happened as far as the loss of our operators. We lost one in January, another one left today, and there is another on being courted by
Nampa. Nampa and Boise’s beginning wage for operator $500-$900 a month higher than ours. John’s proposal is to
increase the salary for these operators $500 per month in order to retain them. The problem that we are having of course is that we hire an operator, get them up to spend, and he is
not able to higher a Class 2 Operator as a Class 2. Generally, they come at a lower class certification and then have to work and test for the next level. So we are providing the training
field for them also. It is our feeling that is going to be less expensive and to our advantage to keep our operators and that is the reason for this request. Apparently in our state
there is a shortage of trained operators, and we do not have a mandatory certification in Idaho. Other states are mandatory certified. I guess all other states are at this point. Idaho
is the only one that is not in Wastewater, and so that raises the price for us to hire certified operators. The other two Items: Item 1 and Item 2 are project related, Item 1 is a transfer
of money to our generator account based on the items of deficiency that were found by Taylor Engineering. You recently approved an engineering contract –
*** End of Side Three ***
Smith: -- in preparation of this Generator No. 3 installation, and there were some other improvements that were found to be necessary in order to make the Generator No. 3 project workable.
Item No. 2 is a transfer of funds to the Collection System maintenance. This is being transferred from an account that had money in it for upsizing a pump at the Ashford Greens Lift
station, which will not be needed this year. The money will be used for camera survey of new sewer lines in the developing subdivisions. We have had some problems with sewer lines that
have not been put in with correct bedding below the pipe. After the fact, we are finding that there is settlement taking place, so we are going to start running TV cameras down the lines
prior to pavement being placed on the roadway. And this will eventually be, as soon as we get it into our specifications, a responsibility of the developer’s contractor, so that we are
not paying the bill. But this money will get us into the TV business for the subdivisions that need that work done right now that was constructed without the requirement of the TV inspection.
I felt that it was important that we get that TV work done so that we do not have to go back in a year or two and tear up some streets and pull some sewer line out and get the bellies
out of them. That is kind of a short rundown on the reasons for the transfer request. If you have any questions, I will be happy to try and answer those.
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: I would like to encourage the Council to approve at least No. 3, especially. I hate to be a training ground for operators and Boise and Nampa, I think I heard that they are
going to be reevaluating their positions to upgrade that cost of wages, so I think that would probably be a good move for us rather than trying to hire somemore and then bail up again.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I whole-heartedly agree with you on that, but I can also tell you that request No. 1 is very important too. That Generator No. 3 is very, very important that we get it online.
We think we have fire and police problems, you let that sewer plant go down for a day or two and see what kinds of problems your office would have. You would run out of your office with
phone calls, and with that, I would make a motion that we approve these Line Item changes. No. 1, Account No. 96103 to Account No. 96141, sum of $193,500. Request No. 2, Account No.
96144 transfer $12,000 to Account No.52400 and request No. 3 is for $37,850 to be transferred from Account No. 55180 to Account No. 51200, and for the Mayor to see that this is handled.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the request for transfers on Items No. 1, 2, and 3 in the amounts specified in the motion. Any further discussion?
Anderson: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Anderson.
Anderson: I do not have any problem with the Line Item transfers, but with Item No. 3 I guess I do have a particular issue. I believe that requests like that need to be channeled through
the City of Meridian’s HR person. That is why we hired that person, and if somebody is going to do research about what other cities are paying for salaries and what the benefits are
and those types of things, I think that should go through HR, and then we should hear a report back from her about her recommendations are and how that fits in the City’s total pay scheme.
I do not disagree. I do believe that maybe this positions are low, but I think that is the proper channel, and at this point, I would say that I do not have a problem with moving the
money over there, but before we make those salary changes, I think we should involve our HR person, and run this thing right.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I believe talking to John, Ron, and Gary at the previous RPO meeting, this was all done through Pauline. Pauline is the one came up with all these things for John. He has been
working with Pauline for the last couple of months on this situation, and probably yes he should have got an attached letter from Pauline to go with this request. I agree with you on
that Ron, but I do know that he has and
Pauline is the one that has dug into these wages and stuff. He has been working with her for two or three months.
Anderson: Okay, because this just looked like a bunch of handwriting here. I did not know whose this was or what basis that was.
Smith: I will fault myself for that. I forgot to tell you while you were asking. Since you asked, we did discuss this in our staff meeting, and it had gone through –
Bird: It had gone through Pauline?
Smith: Yes sir. I am sorry I did not tell you about that.
Nichols: Thank you Ron. That was a good question, and it was the first thing that I asked John too. And the other thing I asked him was that us not just compare wages, but let us compare
benefits too, and make sure that we have a whole package that we are talking about and not just salaries. He had done that too, and Pauline had helped him put those numbers together.
Thank you, I am sorry I did not get a more formal report from her.
Corrie: I could still get it for you if you would like to have it for your records. Any other discussion? All those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
F. City Attorney’s Department – City Attorney Bill Nichols:
1. Mill Levy Rate Update:
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council you will recall that there has been some discussion, but not detailed discussion by the Council on whether to pursue the special provision
in the code which allows the city to have a special election at which the voters could determine whether or not they are going to raise the Mill Levy Rate up to the .004. You asked us
to check into some of the procedures and deadlines. I can tell you that the only specific statutory deadlines are that this election can only be held in May and November. The related
statutory deadline with regard to the May and November election simply states when a notice of the special election has to be put in the newspaper. One has to be published 12 days before
the election, and the other one is 5 days before the election. Those are the only statutory requirements. There are practical considerations, typically what is done is the Council approves
a resolution which specifies what the question is on the ballot and the reasons for it and sets the election date. The ones that I have seen are typically approved approximately 2 months
ahead of the projected election date because part of what is also done is that the Council then initiates some informational meetings, Public Hearings if you will, on this is what the
Rate request would do, this is what the funds would
be used for, this would be the impact upon the City’s budget. Another practical consideration is if the City is going to use the County Clerk’s office to actually conduct the election,
which from my standpoint makes sense. You have to enter into a contract with the County Clerk for that purpose. And talking with the Clerk’s office elections person today, since Mr.
Navarro was not there when I called today, they suggest that that be sooner rather than later if you are going to try to make a May election. So would say a decision probably within
the next couple of weeks if you are going to do this, or at least as far as to enter into the contract should you decide to have that election. The other practical matter to me is it
seems to make best sense if you are going to ask the voters to do this that you ask them to do it at the May election for the reason that then the funds could be included, or a portion
of those that you anticipate to be received, from the Levy could be included in your 2001-2002 budget. Janice can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that it would be this way, assuming
that you had an election in May at which the voters approved raising the Mill Levy Rate .004 that Mill Levy Rate would be effective with the Levy that occurs on January 1, 2002. The
first tax payment for that 2002 year is in June of 2002, so that the funds would be received approximately one year after the election, so the actual impact to the homeowner depending
upon whether they have Escrow payments and so forth, but I mean those adjustments that might be made in their monthly mortgage payment. If you want to get any increase in funds if it
were approved, you would need really to do it in the May election, so that you can budget for what you would anticipate would be received in 2001-2002; otherwise, you are holding the
election in November after your budget has already been approve and then you would do a supplemental budget, but it would seem like it would make a whole lot more sense from a practical
standpoint to do it in May, so that you could factor that into your budget requests and how you are going to handle those funds. So really the issue is does the Council want to do it?
I would recommend that you try to find unanimity among yourselves if that is what you propose to do. That you have a plan for how you are going to inform the public as to why it is necessary
and how you anticipate the funds would be used for some of the needs that you project out, so that is my report to you.
Corrie: Any comments from Council?
Anderson: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Anderson.
Anderson: I have put a lot of thought into this, and I for one am not in favor of raising taxes at anytime. But I think Meridian has gotten itself in a situation over the years, and
with the 3 percent cap that was imposed by that legislature that now with high periods of growth because you do count the new construction into your rate and that figures into your Mill
Levy. Actually what is happening is Meridian's Mill Levy is going lower every year because of the new growth, and I do not thing that the legislature had put enough though into the funding
formula
when they did that to allow for cities like Meridian that were experiencing high growth, and they thought that the Mill Levees would hold pretty consistent or slightly increase, and
in our case, it is actually going the other way. But when I look at the amount of growth that is going on in Meridian, and I look at what our needs our, and I am not talking about just
water and sewer and that seems to be a big issue with developers. They always talk to us about how those are the big expenses, and that those are what dictate growth. I am talking about
how it takes a lot more to build a city than just to put in water and sewer lines. You have to have the roads there to provide for the traffic; you have to have the schools; you have
to have the police and fire for the public safety; you have to have the Parks Department, all those things go into that and when you look at how fast our city is growing and I would
say probably on the average of 3,000 to 4,000 people a year. If you just take some of the basic numbers that we have seen in some of the studies that have come out in the last couple
of years of per capita Policemen, per capita Firemen, per acre a park ground. If you look at growing 3,000 to 4,000 people per year, we need to generate addition money to be able to
provide those services. We are right smack in the middle of several cities that have Mill Levees that are two and sometimes three times what the City of Meridians are. The people have
the expectation that Meridian is going to provide the same acres of park space, the same number of Police officers, the same number of fire fighters as those other cities. With our current
funding mechanism in place we cannot do it. We cannot even come close to keeping up with those numbers, so I see that this would be one measure that we could take that would get us one
step closer. I think the last time Bill and I went to a seminar they showed the figures that this would generate about one million dollars more per year for the City of Meridian. That
million dollars when you split that amongst the needs there just in the general fund budget that million dollars is not going to go very far, but is sorely needed to just make some strides
to catch up where we are behind. The other nice thing about this is that the Statesman in the last week has done a very good job of trying to show what some of the growth problems for
the City of Meridian have been, and I think they have laid an excellent ground work for us at this point. The citizens, the community, are well aware of some of the struggles and some
of issues that we are facing. Again, that is going to take more education on our part. The benefit to this whole thing is the fact that we are not ramming this down your throat. We are
just saying that right here is the needs, here is what the problem is, you tell us whether you want to fund it, and we put it to the vote of the people, and the people tell us whether
they are willing to pay more taxes for those services. I think as an elected official that I owe it to the public to at least offer them that opportunity to tell me whether they are
willing to pay for more services.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: First of all to clarify stuff, this water and sewer is self-supportive. No money from this tax increase would go into that fund at all. I have thought long and hard on this; I
am probably not as enthusiastic about it as Ron is, but I do believe that people should get a chance to vote on it. This year, I believe if you look on your tax bills from the City of
Meridian we are paying a 3197, last year it was 3247, even though we go to a 40 within a year if we keep the growth, I do not believe we are getting that kind of growth if I remember
right if not Gary can correct me, but I think we had less than 1000 building permits last year by a long shot. The average is 2.3 people per house. I do not believe we are growing quite
as fast as a lot of people like to think. It is not to think that we are not growing. We have grown in our commercial end of it, a tremendous growth, and that is what kills us because
we do not get the tax base off of them like we should be, so Ron I do agree with you that I think we ought to get it. I would sooner see it in May for the reasons that Bill stated that
we can get it in our budget this year if it is passed, and if it is not passed then what the heck. It has been tight for 35 years that I know of here, but I would support it.
Corrie: Anyone else? Well, you have taken about five minutes of speech for Tuesday morning. I think you are showing some tremendous leadership here.
De Weerd: You keep plugging that speech.
Corrie: Well, wait until you hear it, and you will hear what I am saying. I really think that you are showing some real strong leadership here tonight because we are behind the ball.
We have been very frugal with our money, and we have been kind of holding back, but I think Ron is absolutely right. We need to it to the public and let them decide if they want it,
fine, if they do not, then we will have to live with that. That will help our public services and our Parks to redevelop to what the people are wanting and needing, and I agree 100%,
Ron, with what you are saying and everything you have said. An other comments?
McCandless: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. McCandless.
McCandless: I can only say that I agree with what has been said. I would just be copying other people if I made anymore comments, but I do definitely agree. The people ought to make
that choice.
De Weerd: Me too.
Corrie: Hearing that, under those circumstances and under what the attorney has said, I will entertain a motion to bring this into the May election, and maybe you could do some real
fast, fancy PR on this to let the people know exactly what it is. I think that they will do that to. I will, unable to make the motion myself, let somebody –
Bird: Well, just a second a Mayor do we not have to make a resolution? So we need to instruct the attorney to draw up a resolution.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I think because of the importance and the need to build our case for lack of better verbiage, maybe a small subcommittee, or a low focals group can be pulled together. You
and Ron, he is so eloquent in his presentation, just uphold this inside of it. To justify the need and something that we can put before the public.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I make a motion that we have the Attorney draw up a resolution for our approval and passage, taking to the public a one time increase in our Mill Levy from a .34 to a .40.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Mill Levy is .0034 it will go to .0040 at that point due to the 3 percent –
Anderson: Mr. Mayor, I just read some numbers the other day and something from the Ada County Assessor, and our Mill Levy is not a 34, but I cannot remember the exact number. So maybe
in the resolution we can just leave that part out and just say that we want to go to the 40 cap.
Corrie: That is as far as we can go. I think it is .0032 something.
Bird: I think our Levy cap is .0034
Anderson: That is not a cap. That is what you Mill Levy is.
Corrie: Just a second before we get into a discussion, we need to get a second on the motion.
Bird: Ron did.
Corrie: Oh, I am sorry. Now it is open to discussion.
Berg: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council the Mill Levy Rate at the current time for this current year is .003180480.
Bird: That is right. I agree with you.
Anderson: That is the Mill Levy Rate.
Bird: That is what we were charged this year, but our Mill Levy cap is .0034.
Anderson: There is no such thing as a cap.
Bird: Then if you can only 6, it that is our Mill Levy then how can we go to 40. I was told we can only go 6.
Anderson: According to the state statute.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council the word Mill comes from essentially meaning one one-thousandth. So when you look at the Mill Levy Rate which Will just gave us, Mr. Berg
just gave us, that is essentially $3.18 and some change per thousand dollar of assessed evaluation. The statute in question allows us to go to a .004 or essentially $4 per thousand,
so the resolution that I would prepare will likely have in it a ballot title which will essentially read this way: Shall the city be allowed to increase it’s budget for the 2001-2002
budget year by an amount not to exceed the difference between .004 and the amount of the Levy for the 2000-2001 budget year multiplied by the market value of assessable property in such
year. That is going to be the ballot question. That is the essence of the resolution, so if the motion would be for me to prepare the appropriate resolution to raise to the maximum allowed
by that statute of .004, I think I can do it.
Bird: Okay, you got it.
Corrie: Any further discussion?
Anderson: I just wanted to clarify too then that the rest of the Council people understand that your Mill Levy then every year changes. And they take the highest budget of your last
3 years if that is what you choose to go to, and they divide that by the assessed value. That is how they come up with your Mill Levy, so even though we may get this election passed,
and it may go to a .004. Then if we have high growth years after that it will start coming back down again, and it will be back in those threes again.
Bird: Once you have growth you are not going to say the same, under 3percent.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Attorney.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council if this motion gets to vote and passes, I would also suggest and it does not have to be part of the motion that Mr. Berg then needs to contact
Mr. Navarro’s office, I would think, to inquire about using the County Clerk, or maybe you need to have some discussion about that. Whether you want to conduct your own election.
Navarro: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council I would discuss with the County Clerk what services they would provide to see if would prohibit positively for us to contract with them. I feel
that some of the services if I have to provide them, then there may not be a need for them to do whatever service. Also, looking at what they have for elections that time. We have looked
into to contracting those elections or having them count ballots or something of that nature, and we have found that we are third in a row of getting some of those services done. I would
also be inquiring about where we fit into the spectrum of them running the election and getting the results and doing the service for us. But I would discuss that with him.
Corrie: In other words, take care of that. Call for a question? Question has been called for. All those in favor of the Attorney drawing up the resolution to increase the evaluation
Mill Levy to .004 say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Corrie: We will have that probably next meeting with Bill. Do we have to do that? We have to do that pretty quick from what you have told us.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council my only hesitation on putting that together is I know what my schedule is the rest of this week, and we are trying to push to get the rest
of this stuff together for your packets for next week as far as Findings of Fact and that sort of thing. We are pushing pretty hard to get that done. And then this next item I want to
talk to you about is going to take up most of my day tomorrow. So I will do my best, but if it is not there by Friday – the only deadlines we are really looking at is if the Council
chooses to use the Clerk’s office, they have indicated they need to have a contract here pretty soon. As far as all the other things that need to be done, if we have this on the agenda
for the third Tuesday in March, that is sufficiently in advance of the election to be okay.
Anderson: What is publication date for it?
Nichols: The publication date would be May 9, 2001, and May 17, 2001, I think is the deadlines. You have to publish it at least 12 days prior to and then the second one has to be at
least 12 days prior to.
De Weerd: I cannot imagine the resolution would be to long that we could not read it if we get it Tuesday morning. We would have time to read it.
Nichols: I am just looking at I know where my schedule is, and I am just trying to warn you that I will do my best, but it may not be there in time for you to feel comfortable doing
it.
De Weerd: Give it to Eric.
Nichols: Councilwoman de Weerd, I cannot give it to Eric. He is in Jamaica. Tomorrow afternoon the Senate, the Tax and Finance Committee is taking up the two annexation bills which are
Senate bill 1151 which is the one proposed by representative Tillman which is the no annexation unless there is a vote, and also Senate bill 1167 which is a bill sponsored by the Association
of Idaho Cities which adds addition requirements for non-consensual annexations. I need you to know that Terry White and I will be providing testimony and input to the Committee tomorrow
along with some others in support of 1167 and in opposition to 1151. One of the things that Senator Bunderson added to Senate bill 1167 is the ability to annex property that is not contiguous
to the city limits. I can see that it might have some application in Meridian perhaps if you have some of these areas that are on the eastern boundaries of the area of impact that you
might at least have the ability to consider annexing even they are not contiguous. I did not want to speak to that issue without – if you want me to leave it alone, I will leave it alone
is basically what I am asking you to cement. The way it is worded now, it is permissive. It is not required. It is just another tool that might be in your hours.
Anderson: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Anderson.
Anderson: My thoughts on that bill because I had heard that he had added that language to that is again just like the statement that I made a little bit ago. There is a lot more that
goes into building a city then the water and sewer lines going there, and by being able to go out and do those spot annexations like Senator Bunderson is proposing, then you are going
to get those requests from developers to come out and want to develop this subdivision, but if we lose the ability to develop in an orderly fashion from the center of our cities, it
puts a tremendous strain on Police Departments, Fire Departments, Parks, the road systems, and those other things that go along with building a city because like Keith said, and he is
exactly right, it is the developers. They are willing to put their water and sewer just about anywhere to get their project going, but we as a city are faced with providing those other
services. So, I do not think by doing the spot annexation that helps us as a city one bit because all it does is spread us out farther, and we cannot provide the services to those spot
annexed pieces of property like we should.
De Weerd: Amen.
Anderson: Bill, if the Tillman bill is knocked down in Committee and Bunderson comes forward, lets say a scenario that it passe, we do not have to do that, or do we have to follow that?
If the city does not wish to hopscotch around and do that, do we have to do it?
Nichols: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council, no, they way it is worded now, it is simply permissive. It is like adding another tool to the bag. It is not a requirement that if there
is a request that you have to annex. There are some comprehensive plans in Oregon, for example, where if a person is contiguous in the city limits, and they asked to be annexed under
Oregon law, the city has to annex it and make provisions and plans for the provision of those municipal services for that annexed area, but that is not what we are talking about here.
It is a permissive deal, and it does not mean – I guess the other part in 1167 is, an annexation could be challenged, seek Judicial review. Right now annexations cannot really be challenged.
I mean it has been tried, but it is a Legislative act. This bill makes it subject to judicial review, so that it cannot be arbitrary capricious. There has to be some following of the
statutes, and there has to be a reason for bringing it in.
De Weerd: So, if we deny it, they can appeal it?
Nichols: No, denial is still going to be the same. It would be if it were granted so in other words if you had a Council someplace that did something that really was not in the best
interest of the city, somebody could challenge it. At least as I understand the bill now and I will be studying it more tomorrow.
De Weerd: Bill in those Comprehensive Plans, if it is allowed by law to annex when you are not contiguous, but our Comprehensive Plan discourages it we would not be getting that flood
of applications to do that.
Nichols: Councilwoman de Weerd, I would say you probably would be getting a mass flood of applications along either road. I think you have to understand the role of the Comprehensive
Plan in Idaho’s Local Land Use Planning Act as it has been interpreted by the Idaho Supreme Court which as recently as last year said or maybe it was in 1999, but the Urudia Case in
Blaine County essentially said: a Comprehensive Plan is a list of desires and wishes. You look to the zoning Ordinances and all of these other things, so if all that is standing in the
way of something is a Comprehensive Plan that is not as strong as something else. What I would say to you is you still have the ability in consensual annexations to say no. You still
have the ability to do that, to say we are not going to agree to annex you just because you asked. The thrust of these bills is primarily to deal with the situation where for whatever
reason the city needs to annex property against or without consent of all the affected property owners. Senate bill 1151 has provisions in it, for example, it says you really cannot
annex anything unless it does not have services. That is the gist of it. So if you have a piece of property in the middle of Owyhee County, that is a bad example maybe, but Gary Eimann
covers Owyhee County so there are police services available out there. 1151 in
its essence boils down to, unless you get consent you are not going to be able to bring them in even if they are unclave. So the reason for me bringing this up is to get your feelings
on this issue of Senator Bunderson’s rider, if you will, that was attached on that bill.
Corrie: Janice, are you still here? Are you awake?
Bird: Our 8:30pm meeting went a little long.
Smith: Thank you Mayor and Council. One thing that I wanted to be sure and get in tonight’s meeting was approval of the audit. Did you guys vote on that?
Bird: Janice, we added to this agenda now, to approve the budget after. We did not approve it the night Kevin was here and presented it to us. But we do need to get it approved, so that
it can be out for public.
Smith: It was presented January 16, 2001, and then Kevin Anderson came to the Workshop meeting February 13, 2001, so as soon as it is approved I need to get the two copies to the State
Legislative Offices.
Bird: We have a deadline on that, do we Janice?
Smith: Well, in a timely manner.
Bird: Well, we demand a timely manner from them to do that. I do not know what the rest of the Council feels, but I think we need to – Does anyone have any problems with it? I thought
it was great.
Anderson: I thought it was good. I was thinking that Kevin was going to do more of a presentation like he had done at past workshops, that was a workshop for a Council meeting that
he did that. He did not go over the numbers in detail like he has done in the past years and maybe it was a different format and a bigger meeting.
Bird: I thought it was so plain. This is the third Ron and I have had the privilege of going through these that I can finally read one. I can read it real well.
Smith: Kevin was ready to do a new workshop for the new Council members. That is what he was ready to do that night, but we have our books all marked up, ready to answer any questions.
We have asked them to change somethings because it easier for us to relate to the taxpayers, especially on the restricted funds in the parks. That was changed.
Anderson: That is what I was thinking. I was like Keith. I have heard it a couple of years, and I know what some of his terminology is, so I know how to read the report, but I was
thinking like for Cherie and Tammy that it would be nice if he would explain so of that, so that they know what his terminology and what those numbers were.
Bird: Mr. Mayor. Councilman Anderson, do you have any problem with us passing it tonight so that we can get it out to the public, and then Kevin would be glad to come back to our next
workshop for 10 minutes for Tammy and Cherie, but we need to get it passed and to the proper people so the public can come in and review it.
Anderson: No, I do not have a problem with that.
Bird: Okay, that is what you wanted and I wanted Janice.
Smith: Yes, and just overview of the investments and cash flow.
Bird: Mr. Mayor what do you want to do? Do you want to pass the --? Mr. Mayor, I would move that we accept the 1999-2000 audit of the City of Meridian.
Anderson: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and seconded to approve the 1999-2000 audit acceptance. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Smith: Thank you Mayor and Council. I was just going to do a brief overview of our cash investment report. You received your expenditure revenue reports last week. The property tax money
came in the 29th so we did not have to pull any money from the investments. That was the $2 million for $90,000. I did an analysis over the last 4 months. Our revenues averaging $250,000,
that is not including our property tax money, but our operating expenses are $538,000, and the capital is running about $161,000. The total of those operating and capital, these are
minor capitals, this is about $700,000, so in our general fund we are falling short about $450,000 on our expenditures which with our tax money that comes in twice a year does help.
The tax money will get us by through June. We are going to be a little tight through June, which also depends on our parks and our police how they are going on their capital projects.
We may have to again have our investment agents have some money out there in case we need to pull that in June until our next big property tax which in the last part of July which is
probably running close to $2 million. In the enterprise, they are doing pretty good right now. Their revenue for the last 4 months averaging about $700,000 and between their operating
and capital that is $450,000, so they are okay right now. But as our public works director indicated they have some big projects coming
down the road, and they expect in June that we may have to pull some money from investments on that. We have made sure our investment agency –
*** End of Side Four ***
Smith: -- penalties, so they do have some investments ready in June and July so we can pull those out as they come due. That is more just an overview. We will be tracking the capital
expenses so we can inform our investment agents and make sure that the Mayor and Council are up to date on where our money is at because this a tight year. We want to keep that money
in investments to help fund the Police Station. I am very glad that you guys decided to vote on the Mill Levy, and I am ready to help anybody in charge with some figures and some growth
rates that I have had in my office for whoever wants to be in charge of that. Thank you.
Corrie: Any other questions?
De Weerd: I have a question, Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: In looking at the investments, it reminds me with the Park Impact Fee when we are going to get that updated. As well, I know we had once talked about initiating a Safety Impact
Fee as – do you know the status of that?
Corrie: Well last I heard on that one we have to have a different committee on Public Safety other than Park Impact Fees. Is that correct Tom?
Kuntz: The increase in the Impact Fee is going to be connected to the Action Comprehensive Plan so as soon as we get that finished up which we should have for the Council in March
because the commission reviewed it last night. Then we will meet with the Committee. I talked to a couple of attorneys, and I know I need to meet with Mr. Nichols on that issue also,
but that and establishing an Impact Fee for our Impact area that would go to the County Commissioners is another key element that I want to accomplish within the next 2 to 3 months
Corrie: the one for the Police and Fire is a little bit of a difficulty.
Kuntz: Mr. Mayor and Members of Council in order to have an Impact Fee you first have to have a Capital Facilities Plan on those areas. For example, on emergency services for fire
and police there would need to be a Capital Facilities Plan which says this is what we project; this is what we need; this is how much it is going to cost and those sorts of things in
order to be able to have that type of Impact Fee if you choose to enact one.
Anderson: Basically, it will have that or will be getting that shortly with the evaluations that we had it would just a matter of extracting that information from those reports and
putting that into a separate Capital Facilities Plan.
De Weerd: And assigning someone to work on that.
Corrie: We are getting the police surveying done.
Bird: When will that be in Mayor?
Corrie: That should be starting this month, March. They are getting everything lined up. The fact is I think they are doing, they have done it. I think they are just going to put it
together now.
Bird: That should give us a Capital Facilities layout just like the fire one. They laid it out for us, and it is up to us to enact and get it taken care of so that we stay on top.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I think sometimes that we have to be very careful with Impact Fees. They have been challenged, and we want to make sure we cross all of our Ts and dot all of our Is when we do
an Impact Fee so that we do not plan on something and then find out that we cannot do it.
Corrie: Anything else?
Anderson: I make a motion that we adjourn.
Corrie: Do I hear a second?
Bird: I second it.
Corrie: Okay, motion to adjourn has been made and seconded. All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:50 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVE:
ROBERT D. CORRIE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
WILLIAM G. BERG., JR., CITY CLERK