HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 09-25Meridian City Council Meeting September 25, 2001
The regularly scheduled Meridian City Council meeting was called to order at 6:50P. M. on Tuesday September 25, 2001 by Mayor Robert Corrie.
Members Present: Mayor Robert Corrie, Keith Bird, Tammy de Weerd, and Cherie McCandless.
Members Absent: Ron Anderson.
Others Present: Bill Nichols, Gary Smith, Brad Watson, Dave Bowman, Tom Kuntz, and Will Berg.
Item 1. Roll-call Attendance:
X Tammy de Weerd X Ron Anderson
X Cherie McCandless X Keith Bird
X Mayor Robert Corrie
Corrie: -- second. Yes, we’ll get that finalized and we’re going to get moving on that one too. Okay, so if --. All right, we’re a little late here. Sorry, guys. I’m going to open the
City Council regular meeting Tuesday September the 25th at 6:50, City Council chambers. Roll call attendance please Mr. Clerk?
Berg: Thank you Mr. Mayor. Members of the Council, roll call.
Item 2. Adoption of the Agenda:
Corrie: Okay, adoption of the agenda. We have added, actually I was going to add one more to the request that the staff gave for the Council to discuss. We’ll discuss that too with adding
a discussing about the Columbus Day, a day off, and Thanksgiving discussion with goals and visions for the north corridor and a follow up on the impact fees from County Commissioner
(inaudible). Is there any other additions to the agenda that wants to be added?
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Okay, Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we adopt the amended agenda as read.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Okay, motion been made and second to approve the adopted agenda as corrected. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion say aye?
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Item 3. Consent Agenda:
A. Approve minutes of September 4, 2001 Joint Meeting with Ada County Highway District:
B. Approve minutes of September 4, 2001 City Council Strategic Planning Session/Workshop:
Corrie: Okay, consent agenda.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve the consent agenda noted.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Okay, motion been made and seconded to approve the consent agenda A and B. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye?
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Item 4. Department Reports:
A. Public Works Department – Gary Smith:
Corrie: Department reports, public works department, Gary Smith.
1. White Drain Trunk Sewer Easement:
Watson: Thank you Mayor and Council. We’ve got, as you can see, several easements that make up this white drain sewer easement topic. As I stated in the memo to you, there’s 2 that are
already signed. Three more that we expected to be signed by this meeting time. None of those 3 have materialized. I guess I would leave it up to you whether you want to even look at
those 3. I’ll start with the first 2 that are signed. The first one, now that I’m frozen up.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: While we’re waiting, is this troop 156, is that from Meridian? Welcome fellows. We appreciate your coming tonight. I hope you can learn some things
about city leadership and some of the things that we do in the City Council. So, welcome.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Watson: I think we can wing it a little bit through the first one anyway. It’s in your packet. There’s a copy of it, a signed easement from Kevin Howell. It’s Howell Murdoch Development
Corporation. It should be the first one inside the packet. This is for about a quarter mile west of Linder Road. Its between the proposed Bridgetower project and Linder Road. Its not
the Cedar Springs, proposed Cedar Springs Subdivision. Mr. Howell has signed this one. The one stipulation under which he has signed it is that the permanent easement is intended to
count towards the open space requirement when and if he chooses to develop that as a subdivision. There was an alternate easement that was given to him for signature that did not include
that. That language you’ll find in the right-of-way contract. It should be the first page inside the cover, transmittal. About half way down. It has additional stipulations. Number 2
has that the intent is for the permanent area to be considered open area for development requirements upon review and approval of information and a landscape plan provided to the city.
I spoke briefly with Shari Stiles and Brad Hawkins-Clark about this and you know there’s nothing to go on right now. They said conceivably it could be a pathway if it was improved. But
there’s no guarantees. So I guess the question before you is whether you want to accept that and have staff work with the developer when and if he develops to make that a pathway that
counts towards open space requirements. Are there any questions or comments?
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: You know, I’m not really sure where this piece of property is but, I don’t think it’s probably anywhere near a connecting pathway. Tom, have you seen this piece of property?
I guess, I would feel comfortable leaving it to staff and making it --. I mean even if it was a lineal park, something --. As long as it’s useable and it’s an amenity I wouldn’t have
a problem with it being designated as open space. But if its just a gravel road, no. that doesn’t really qualify as open space. I’m sure at staff level it could be taken care of as far
as if it was designated as an amenity and fulfilled the requirements of what qualifying open space would be. It would be an issue to me.
Corrie: Is this the one that you had up here? That sewer line, is that what we’re talking about right there?
Watson: This, Mr. Mayor, Council Members. This is in this general area. This is another easement that we’ll be talking about in a minute. Mr. Howell’s property sits right in this general
vicinity. This is the permanent easement between the 2
white lines. This is about a quarter of a mile. It is a quarter of a mile, an 80-acre parcel. It doesn’t look like, I’ll compare it to the Bridgetower which connects right in this general
vicinity. It connects right in here. As you can see, there aren’t any pathways it looks like proposed through here at this point anyway. I think this was just given conceptual level
approval, if I understand it correctly. There's one thing that was discussed between our consultant and Mr. Howell was that the Middle School property is just across Linder Road, directly
across over here and that perhaps that pathway would serve some purpose as it regards to the Middle school. My conversations with Shari Stiles, she indicated in no shape, way, or form
would they accept a gravel path which is what we would want at minimum for a sewer but there would have to be a asphalt pathway at the minimum. She did say that she thought, conceptually,
anyway, landscaping could be done to avoid having trees in a permanent sewer easement or at least in the area we would expect to excavate if we had to repair anything. That’s about the
extent of my conversations I guess.
De Weerd: Is that on the north end of the property line? So, it’s going to be on the backside of the lot, or plat?
Watson: Councilwoman de Weerd, mayor and Council Members. I have no idea. They don’t even have a conceptual layout at this point. I would assume that lots would back up to this permanent
easement. There’s already an easement for the white drain itself right along this north property line. That’s not shown on this easement I don’t believe. So, I would think that they
would have lots backing up, no to the boundary anyway. There would be some easement unless they tiled and reduced that somehow.
De Weerd: Well, Brad, I guess as long as it can be used as an amenity I wouldn’t have a problem it being used as their open space requirement. But it also has to be a portion that’s
not in a normal easement anyway. It sounds like a portion of it is in the white trunk, or the white drain easement. So, how much of it are we talking about? They want the whole thing
designated as the open space?
Watson: Councilwoman de Weerd, Mayor, and Council Members. That’s I guess, literally reading this, that’s the intent.
Corrie: How big is his parcel got to be?
Watson: Its about 80 acres.
Corrie: 80?
Watson: 80, yes.
Corrie: This is 1.2 acres?
Bird: Permanent 1.20 and 1.29 temporary.
Corrie: So, we’ve got about two and a half acres, right?
Bird: Yes.
Corrie: Out of 80? I agree with Tammy. We need the easement but boy, we sure don’t want to leave gravel. Okay, any other discussion?
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, may I ask a question?
Corrie: Yes, Mr. Nichols.
Nichols: Brad, does this easement lay on top of the white drain easement that Settler’s has? Or is it south of there?
Watson: Mr. Nichols, Mayor, and Council Members. I believe that it does lie on top of, at least a portion of the white drain easement. I have some construction drawings here that may
show it. Well, these are preliminary construction drawings and they don’t show the white drain. The one thing to point out is the permanent easement that we’re asking for is 1.2 acres.
That 1.29 really has no bearing on anything except for, just during construction. I believe at least 5 percent would be 4 acres. So, there’s still quite a bit that they would still have
to do within the subdivision. The one thing that I would add is that you would have another chance to put conditions on that development when and if it came in as far as the landscaping
and surfacing of that pathway.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
De Weerd: Brad, I guess then my last question would be, if its laying on top of a regular easement anyway, what part of that are they asking to be counted as open space? Even the part
that lays on top of a regular easement that they would have to give anyway?
Watson: Councilwoman de Weerd, Mayor, and Council Members. Again, literally reading that, that’s what the easement says. I haven’t talked with Mr. Howell directly. My interpretation
from talking with our consultant is that yes the entire area, the 1.2 acres would count. When I looked through these drawings though, I’m not seeing that the white drain is actually
on this except right over close to Linder Road. So, I may have misspoke. It appears to me that the white drain is actually taking off more northerly to the Brenniger’s property. Now
that I think about it, it is because we had to come down below the Brenniger’s property instead of following the drain. I think I misspoke. I think its only on their property for about,
it appears to be 3 to 400 feet towards Linder Road, that part that is kind of slanting down towards the southeast.
De Weerd: Is this something that you need us to vote on tonight or can we vote on it on October 2nd with you receiving further clarification from Mr. Howell on if he’s amenable to using
the open space requirement on anything that is not within an easement that would already be required? Which is the white drain.
Watson: I can certainly do this. We’ve been waiting for a year. So there’s no --. Another week wont hurt I guess. I’ll touch base with him or with our consultant.
De Weerd: Is that okay with the rest of Council? Or do you want to just go ahead and do it?
Bird: No, I don’t. I want clarification on it.
McCandless: Yes, I do too.
De Weerd: Okay.
Corrie: Okay. Then, if you would get the clarification then from Mr. Howell then Gary or Brad.
Watson: Certainly.
Corrie: Bring it back the 2nd of October.
Watson: Certainly.
Corrie: Okay.
Watson: The next one is, a small easement from Ramon and Marilyn Yorgason. I don’t have an exhibit up on the screen for this. It is in your packet. I didn’t receive this electronically.
It is directly across and north of the one that you’re looking at on the screen, just East of Linder Road. As, I stated in the memo, the sewer doesn’t physically lie on their property
but the permanent easement runs over into their property. They don’t have any stipulations on their right-of-way contract or easement form. There’s really nothing unusual about this
one so we would recommend that it be approved and the right-of-way contract signed, the Mayor’s authorized to sign and the clerk to attest. Are there any questions on that one?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess now that I finally started reading these sanitary easements I realize that you do have the right to gravel, grade the gravel. So, all of your easements, do you ask
them to have that in gravel? Is that a gravel road?
Watson: Councilwoman de Weerd, Mayor, and Council Members. That’s a mandatory requirement. All of these easements will be graveled so that if trucks, heavy trucks, cleaning equipment,
repair trucks can access all manholes.
De Weerd: Because we’ve really made a commitment County wide to eliminate gravel roads because of dust issues and this lawsuit that Ada County has going with the air mitigation and we’re
trying to reduce gravel rather than add to it. Is there any other you can do those maintenance roads?
Watson: Councilwoman de Weerd, Mayor, and Council. We can pave them but if it’s a cost issue, and I don’t know that they would be where people would ultimate want them once they develop
anyway. Some of the easements along here are within future right-of-way, future planned streets. So, they’ll be paved as they develop anyway. Something like this I would presume that
if it is landscaped, I’m back on the Howell easement now that they wouldn’t want it graveled either. That they would be required to put some permanent surfacing on it rather than the
city paying how ever much for asphalt where then another landscape plan comes in where they’re proposing a meandering street or something or additional landscaping which serves the same
purpose but for aesthetic reasons pleases them more than it does something that our civil engineer can design. The one thing that we would be required to do is, where it meets with public
roads, I can’t remember exactly what the requirement but we do require to pave back 30, 50 feet. 30 Gary believes.
De Weerd: Okay, thanks.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we accept the permanent and temporary construction sewer easement from J. Ramon and Marilyn Yorgason and approve the right of way contract and authorize the Mayor to
sign and the City Clerk to attest the easements and right-of-way contract.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Motion been made and second to approve the recommendation to Council on the permanent and temporary construction sewer easement for J. Ramon and Marilyn Yorgason and approve
the right-of-way contract. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Watson : Thank you Mayor and Council. The third one as I stated when I first began, I believe that the next 3 easements would be signed and delivered to me by tonight’s meeting. None
of those 3 have been. There are issues with each of them that we could discuss but --. Do you want to proceed with those? Or do you want to wait until they’re signed and delivered?
De Weerd: Wait until they’re signed.
Bird: And delivered.
Watson: Okay. I’m done with the white drain sewer easements then.
South Slough Sewer Easement:
Watson: The next one is the South Slough sewer easements. There were 2 of those. One of which has been signed and delivered. The other one hasn’t so I would presume that you don’t want
to talk to that one either. I would ask though, that there are some peculiar issues with that one. But, if you would indulge us we would love to have some direction on. The first one
that has been signed is for, is from Frank and Barbara Youngstrom. There we go. This is the one property owner that is within Carol Sub. Leslie way kind of meanders down from the north
through here and then turns and heads out to Eagle Road. The sewer is flowing northwesterly. What we intend to do on this lot, --. The South Slough is actually right through here. What
we intend to do is bore a sewer line within a casing. Actually bore the casing and then pull the sewer line through this alignment through here from this property owner into the public
right-of-way of Leslie Way. I should have brought a picture to show you all the stuff that’s in the way. There’s trees and landscaping, all kinds of stuff along there. There was just
no good way to get through here. These were the only people that were even interested in talking to us. We did have appraisals done on this property as well as all the others along that
alignment. The appraiser valued this permanent easement at $7,314 and they signed the easement with the stipulation that the city would pay the appraised value of this easement. Right,
that’s what I understand from the appraiser is they appraised the market value of the land and then and underground utility easement is appraised at 50 percent of that market value.
So, I think that’s all I had so I welcome any questions.
De Weerd: I have none.
Bird: I have none, Mayor.
McCandless: No.
Corrie: All right, if there are no questions. Thank you. Council, discussion? Hearing no discussion, motion?
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we accept the permanent temporary construction sewer easements with Frank and Barbara Youngstrom, authorize payment of $7,314 for the easement in accordance to the
prepared appraisal and authorize the Mayor to sign and the clerk to attest the easements.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Okay, motion been made and second to accept the recommendation (inaudible) the permanent temporary construction sewer easement of Frank and Barbara Youngstrom in the amount of
$7,314. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Watson: Thank you Mayor and Council. After conferring with Gary here, I think maybe we should just wait until next Tuesday to discuss the last one that hasn’t been signed. There are
some issues on that.
De Weerd: It looks very interesting from reading these letters.
Bird: Yes.
Watson: It is and it has been a very long process.
Bird: Are we going to bore that too?
Watson: No sir.
Bird: Can we bore it?
Watson: No sir.
Bird: It isn’t Boreable?
Watson: Its too far and it has corners.
Bird: Okay.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: Okay, anything else?
Watson: No. Thank you Mayor and Council.
B. Park’s Department – Tom Kuntz:
1. Skateboard Park Update:
Corrie: Thank you. B, Parks Department, Tom Kuntz.
Kuntz: Thank you Mayor and Council. Before I discuss the skate park, I would like to ask that you consider adding to your October 1st noon meeting with the ACHD Commissioners, the extra
heavy impact fees that they were discussing at the 58 acre park site.
Corrie: Okay, any objection?
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: So, be it. Mr. Clerk, make sure that’s on the agenda for the 2nd.
Kuntz: You should have a memo in your packet dated September 21st. we received a memo on that date from Doug Russell of The Land Group who did the design work and was responsible for
the bidding at this Tully Skate Park. They’re recommendation, and staff would support that is that we re-bid the project in the end of October, November, award the bid December, January.
Then have them start construction at the earliest date in the spring. In addition to the re-bidding process they would actually contact some specialty contractors who are familiar with
this work, would hopefully submit bids. In addition we’ve been contacted by several local companies who were not even aware that the project was out for bid and have expressed an entrance
in bidding it if it is re-bid. If, this does not produce a favorable result, our next option would be that we manage the project in house. We would prefer not to do that initially because
it does take a lot more additional staff time and does not always guarantee a great project.
Corrie: Okay. Does Council have any questions for Tom on his request?
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I would fully submit going out and re-bid the project and hopefully we’ll get some more exciting bids this time.
Kuntz: Yes, thank you.
Corrie: (inaudible)
De Weerd: Well, they were too exciting, and more reasonable I’ll say.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Tom, are we going back with the same plans, the same specs and everything?
Kuntz: Yes sir.
Bird: And you expect to get different numbers?
Kuntz: Yes sir, we do.
Corrie: Okay, with that being suggested I would take a motion to have us go back to re-bidding.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we get the project which we evidently aren’t going to have too much to do if we reuse the same specs and plans, get it out, get it advertised. I don’t know where we
advertise it at, but lets at least get it to the AGC, Intermountain Contractor and the additional places, so noted and get it re-bid so that we can have the bid awarded in January and
start construction in March if weather permittable.
De Weerd: That’s an interesting motion but I’ll second it.
Corrie: Okay, I’ve got a motion made and second to re-bid the skateboard park. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Corrie: Okay, Tom.
2. Thanks to Friends for Parks for the golf Tournament
Kuntz: Mayor, the last item I have, which isn’t on there. But, the parks department would like to publicly thank the golf for parks tournament, the committee and for the golf course
for all their work. It was a fine tournament.
Unfortunately, were a few stacked teams. Council Member Bird was on one of those.
Bird: I think the Mayor and Tom Kuntz was on one stacked more than mine.
Kuntz: I think they should be thanked for all the work they put into it.
Corrie: I agree.
Kuntz: Thank you.
Corrie: You bet you. Okay, I’d never known Bob Campbell before but he’s quite a guy. He hit a ball too.
Bird: A pretty fair golfer too.
De Weerd: I think our team did better than both of theirs.
Corrie: We will now have a recess until tomorrow night. How did you come in by the way? Your score?
De Weerd: 56.
Corrie: Yes, you did do better. (inaudible)
De Weerd: It wasn’t me.
Item 6. Annual CPI Rate Adjustment for Solid Waste Collection Services by Sanitary Services Company:
Corrie: Okay, item 6 is the annual CPI rate adjustment for solid waste collections services by Sanitary Services Company.
Sedlachek: Should I begin without the Mayor?
Bird: Yes, you sure can.
Sedlachek: Members of Council. We were here last August, August 28th. We have an August 24th dated memorandum detailing the CPI increase. I have copies of that here if you don’t have
yours and you want to see it again. You’ve probably all read it and have it memorized. At the last Council meeting it was requested that – the Council requested that we take this information
back to the Solid Waste Advisory committee. Have the committee review it, look at rates throughout the Valley. We’ve done that. We met last week. I was hoping that Councilman Anderson
would be here to fill us in on what the solid waste advisory committee, what their opinion was. I’ll just tell you what I think it was and Mr.
Nichols was there. He’ll have to verify that I’m telling the truth I guess. We had 2 options, an option A and an option B. Option A was doing it according to out contract. Option B was
doing some slightly weighting of the increase away from residential toward commercial. Frankly, I think it was the committee’s opinion that the options were so close that it’s really
not necessary to do it, not to do anything but option A. that’s according to our contract. Its you know, you’re really not going to gain much by going to option B. Our company frankly
has no, we don’t want to take any position in this at all. Either is fine with us. So, my, and Mr. Nichols can tell you if this is true, I believe that they were suggesting that the
Council adopt option A. we’re hoping to get some resolution to this tonight since the rate increase should be in effect October 1st which would be just a few days from now. The second
issue that we did discuss was the voluntary commercial cardboard recycling program that we want to begin. Mr. Nichols can tell you his opinion on that since it’s a voluntary program,
it’s my understanding that we don’t need a public hearing on it. Those people who are interested in participating can and those who don’t want to don’t have to. That’s really all I
had.
Bird: I wish you’d come in our area. (inaudible)
Corrie: Mr. Nichols, I guess you’re on the hot seat (inaudible).
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, Members of Council. I don’t know what meetings Steve was – No. The difference between the A and the B for residential user would amount to $2.40 a year. I believe
that’s what it was. It was 20 cents a month difference. So, it was a conclusion that since the contract provides for a straight across the board percentage increase applied to all of
the rates that that was the most appropriate means of doing that. I did conclude that because the commercial cardboard recycling would be a voluntary program it was not required to have
a hearing on it because they could choose to either continue to throw their trash away or recycle it. Steve was able to show us how some businesses could save some money by using the
voluntary program. They would pay to recycle the cardboard but it would reduce the amount, their quantity and volume of their trash. Thereby saving them some money in the long haul.
Sedlachek: The difference in residential rate between the 2 options is 10 cents a month. So, it’s a buck 20 a year. That’s not that much. I think, just one comment regarding our rates,
I think that the rate survey showed we were sort of right in the middle of the pack. You have to look at the rates from all of the cities in all of the areas. You know, some people are
lower in residential but they might have higher commercial. Some, oddly enough have higher residential and lower commercial rates, which is different than what I expected. It was interesting
to look at them all but we are sort of average. Only in cost, above average in service. Service is our middle name.
De Weerd: You’re calling yourself average. I’m glad you shared that because I was interested to see how those comparisons went.
Sedlachek: We do have some detail rate information if you’re interested in seeing it.
De Weerd: I’d love to.
Sedlachek: I hope I have an extra copy. I’ve got an extra. There’s a lot of sort of asterisks on those rate surveys. It’s important to know for example who recycles, who doesn’t. who
has unlimited service, who doesn’t. Sometimes the contractor keeps all the recycling revenue, which is the case always if BFI is your contractor. We don’t keep any of that. That goes
back to the city. There are just some things to watch for. Another issue in there is you’ll see the different contracts escalate at different times. The county contract escalates February
1st. the City of Eagle’s escalates January 1st. So those will be going up here shortly also. They’re all pegged on the CPI just as Meridian’s is.
Corrie: I guess our --. I guess what we’re needing is to give you either schedule A or schedule B. Is that what we’re --?
Sedlachek: Yes sir.
Corrie: Okay. All right.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we allow our sanitary service company to implement on October 1, 2001 plan A on their adjusted rates.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Okay, motion been made and second to approve the schedule A rate for the October 1, 2001. any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Bird: Bill will earn that extra raise tomorrow out of my tote.
Corrie: He came to my office limping and more than I’m doing right now. That one fell over on you didn’t it? Okay, Bill.
Bird: Thank you guys.
Item 7. Discussion of Thanksgiving/Columbus Day holidays
Corrie: The 3 added to the agenda, number 7 is request that we got from the staff that I wasn’t here on the meeting for the workshop. I was delayed. Anyway, the staff had asked me if
the Council would be – feel that they might be willing to approve. Now, we have Columbus Day off as October the 8th, that’s Monday. Most of the staff is asking if they can have that
changed and be able to take the day after Thanksgiving. Since I, -- I think that’s a good idea myself but I cant make that decision because its Council’s decision to make holidays and
policies. So, whatever the Council would like to discuss this. I think Gary did a staff meeting today and I told him I would bring it up tonight so we maybe can discuss that and see
what you want to do. Do we want to make a decision tonight, or you want to do it October the 2nd or however you want to do it. most of the time, October, the day after Thanksgiving is
a pretty slow day around the city. On Columbus Day not a lot of people take off. I think it’s the Thanksgiving for Canada, if I’m not mistaken. Am I correct? Is that what that is?
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: What’s, you know we’d better make the decision tonight seeing how the 8th is Columbus Day. What’s the feelings on the staff? Do they have any problems? I for one, like the day
after Thanksgiving off too. I’m flabbergasted that they still celebrate Columbus Day. I thought school was the only one that closed on Columbus Day.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Bird: The banks are closed too? So, why would we would be open then? You know that’s -- . I mean, why would we close?
Corrie: Gary, excuse me. Would you like to answer that because we had our staff meeting today and everybody in staff was in favor of that and your employees were the same. I’ll let you
kind of fill in here.
Smith: Thank you Mr. Mayor. It does seem to be a consensus of opinion that employees would rather have the day after Thanksgiving off as compared to Columbus Day. In the public works
department, the building department its pretty much a dead day, the day after thanksgiving that is. There’s very, very little business that is done. Most all of the contractors, even
the engineering firms are now taking that day as a day off to make a 4 day weekend. So, we’ve tracked telephone calls in that department for the past several years when this issue first
came to the surface. I think typically there might be a half a dozen phone calls during the whole day, if that many and no foot traffic. So, we just had one staff member on and any
other staff members that choose to work that day for one reason or another.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I don’t have any problem with it. I think that most people, many companies use it as a trade day anyway. They’ve traded Columbus Day for that day, so I have no problem with
that either.
McCandless: Nor I.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Okay. Mr. Bird.
Bird: With that then, I’ll make a motion that we have a policy that the City of Meridian staff Columbus Day holiday will be observed Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday and Columbus
Day will be a regular work day.
De Weerd: Is that a motion?
Bird: That’s a motion.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion made and seconded. Discussion, just as a point of clarification, Mr. Nichols do we need to have an amendment to the --. So, we can vote on that? I mean, (inaudible).
Nichols: Mr. Mayor, Members of Council. I think it’s in your personnel policies what your designated holidays are.
Corrie: Right.
Nichols: Therefore you’ll need to formally amend the policy and we’ll try to have one by Thursday.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: I can always get the word out (inaudible). Thank you. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Corrie: If we can do that then Mr. Nichols and I’ll get the staff and let our people know.
Smith: Thank you.
Item 8. Discussion of Visions and Goals of North Meridian Planning Area:
Corrie: Thank you. The other one is item No. 8 is discussion of goals and visions of the north corridor. I believe we’ve got the --. That was August 27th, the vision and goals draft.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: Any comments, additions --. Some of the things, bullet points here – in that area of growth. Tammy, do you have any comments from your end of this?
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor. The goals of the plan are very general and are pretty --. Can be looked at in a number of different angles. It’s hard to critique something so broad ranged. The
only thing I --. The only issue I had was on the vision statement as you see I filled in the dot, dot, dot. I didn’t agree that that sentence should be left open ended like that. That
there should be actually something a little bit more concrete. I concluded the sentence for him. I don’t know if you all agree with it. All of our departments have worked very hard on
master planning for the growth of their services and that sort of thing. So I thought that it would be very important to note that it would go in accordance of approved planning.
Corrie: Good point, I agree. We had that one about employment centers. I think we did discuss that --.
Bird; Yes we did.
De Weerd: Right, and a lot of these are just notes that I jotted during the conversation and the notes that I put on the bottom. Those don’t necessarily need to be --. They’re not goals.
They’re more items I’d like to see addressed within, as we get further into the process. Those weren’t intended for any discussion tonight. I just think the goals really do hit a lot
of the objectives that we have, even in our comp plan update. I didn’t have any problems with it. the employment centers –
***End of Side One***
De Weerd: -- or within the generic wording. The only comment I had was on the vision statement.
Corrie: I think we can add to these as we need to, we decide we have something else to it. At least we have something else for them on Monday.
De Weerd: Does staff have any comment on any of the vision, or the goals, or is there any conversation or discussion on how I ended that sentence?
Bird: I wish I had mine here because mine (inaudible) except for community plans, approved community plans. I can’t remember how I worded that. I think you have to have something on
that. You can’t leave it open. I’m like the Mayor and what we put in there is in the vision statement don’t have to be long but it certainly can be direct. I think this basically is
direct. I like it. Their goals are basically the same goals that we’ve been looking at and encouraging and doing that even though they are wide range. I had no problems other than I
didn’t think the vision statement was complete. Like I said I didn’t bring my paper today. I would go along with that. That would be no problem with me.
Corrie: Staff did you have any other comments that you want to add to that? Okay. While the vision is fairly wide, it is also narrow in some areas that gives them more directions where
we want to go. That’s good. This is not going to be the final one but I think it’s a pretty good –
Kuntz: Excuse me, Mayor.
Bird: I’m sure it will change.
Corrie: Tom, you have something?
Kuntz: Just a question. I think that, my understanding is that once these are adopted then we will start getting into the meat and potatoes as far as objectives and action items. Its
important from the parks perspective to be able to meet with the City Council at some point in a workshop session to discuss some issues that are pertinent to meeting these goals as
we get further along down the road. I want to make sure we have that opportunity.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Tom. I believe a lot of your issue is because of how we’ve ended that. Just to read into public record the rest of the sentence there. The vision statement that was written
was North Meridian will develop with all the diversive elements of community. I don’t think they intended to stop there but we conclude the sentence in an orderly and serviceable manner
in accordance with approved community plans. So, I guess in response to your comment Tom, you have a parks master plan and action plan coming up to be discussed at City Council and so,
upon adoption of those plans, that will be figured into what the vision statement if encompassing. That would be the sewer plans, the water plans, our park plans, our public safety plans,
and all of those issues can be brought into that statement.
Kuntz: The one issue that we discussed when we met with this group last week is, it will sure be nice to work out a way to where small drainage areas could be combined where the developer
could actually be responsible for providing the community, or excuse me the neighborhood parks at 5 acres in size and do that in a way to where they would be built to park standards.
Then maybe the city would take those over. Again that’s an issue. I know you don’t want to get into that tonight but that not – you know our plan calls for community parks but if we
could provide neighborhood parks through this plan with the developer (inaudible) and actually building them, that’s a win-win situation I think especially in the one mile sections where
we don’t have community parks called for.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Tom, the only problem we’ve had on that is Chief Gordon has stated more than once to us is the safety factor. Most of the time when they put in those little pocket parks, they
put them in the back in a cove back there and its pretty hard to police. I remember the first year I was on here that was one thing that Chief Gordon had got through my mind that you
know, if you’re going to put a little park in, put it out where it can be policed. Most of the time developers, what they’re going to give you, you know isn’t going to be a lot that’s
going to be real sellable. I think that’s something we really, definitely when we start looking at neighborhood parks and stuff, if we’re going to take over the responsibility of them
to make sure that they are well exposed to public safety.
De Weerd: They should be regardless if we take them on or not.
Bird: I realize that too, but if it’s a public park, or a private park, there’s not much a whole lot we have to say about it.
Corrie: Every time I see 3 dots after something, I get curious of what they were leaving out.
(inaudible discussion amongst Council)
Corrie: If we think of something else between now and then we can bring it to our attention and maybe we can give it to them as well. Anything else on that? We agree that those are visions
that we look at and goals at this point?
Bird: We can discuss it Monday morning.
Corrie: Okay. Very good. We’ll do that then, Monday morning.
Kuntz: Excuse me, Mayor. One last thing. I wonder if we need to add on the 1, 2, 3, fourth bullet the word pathways in there somewhere? We’ve got roadways. But I don’t see pathways in
any of those bullets. That could just be added to one of them I think instead of creating a new bullet. Just a suggestion.
Bird: What about No. 2 Tom, schools and parks and pathways?
Kuntz: That would be great. Thank you.
Bird: Good idea.
Corrie: Okay. (inaudible) Anything else? Thank you.
Item 9. Discussion of Letter to Ada County Commissioners to Collect City of Meridian Park Impact Fees:
Corrie: Item No. 9 is a follow up on input from the county commissioner’s letter.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor. At our workshop 2 weeks ago we discussed impact fees
as follow up to the fees that we’re trying to update. This has been a lengthy process in updating the park impact fees. The county commissioners at one time told us all we needed was
a memo requesting that they start collecting them in our area of impact. I did follow up with Commissioner Kingsford and he said that all I would need to do is send him a letter. I ask
him if he would like it from the Mayor or the City Council and he said from me would be just fine. So, you have the draft of the letter that I wrote. If this is agreeable to you all
I will send it off and they will require an ordinance to enact collection of park impact fees in our area of impact but its not a big process for them to do. So, I would like to get
this out to them as soon as we can get approval.
Corrie: So, you feel comfortable with it, you’re saying?
De Weerd: Yes.
Corrie: And didn’t have any problems with it? How about, (inaudible) did you get anything from her, any feedback from her?
De Weerd: No, I only had a conversation with the Commissioner Kingsford.
Bird: I’m for getting it out. We’ve been waiting 2 years to get this done.
Corrie: Okay, any other comments?
McCandless: No, I think we should go ahead with it myself.
Corrie: Okay.
Bird: Was that a motion?
McCandless: Yes, I’ll make that a motion.
Bird: I’ll second it.
Corrie: Okay, motion made and second to approve the letter to the Ada County Commissioners by Councilwoman Tammy de Weerd as written.
Nichols: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Yes?
Nichols: Mayor, Members of Council. If I may I would just suggest that you change the letter a little bit and indicate that at tonight’s meeting the Council approved to request this.
Bird: Yes.
Nichols: That way it’s reflected in your letter.
De Weerd: I would totally agree with them.
Bird: That was in the motion, right?
McCandless: Right.
Corrie: You got it in your computer?
De Weerd: Yes.
Corrie: Okay, all those in favor of the motion say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Corrie: Okay.
Bird: Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we adjourn.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Motion made and second for adjournment. Any discussion? Hearing none, I don’t know whether its discussable or not but. Adjourned, say aye?
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:50 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED:
/ /
ROBERT D. CORRIE, MAYOR DATE APPROVED
ATTESTED:
WILLIAM G. BERG, JR., CITY CLERK