HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-14 Minutes~~E IDIAN~---
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 3:00 PM
1. Roll-Call Attendance
X David Zaremba X Brad Hoaglun
O Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Adoption of the Agenda Adopted
4. Consent Agenda Approved
A. Award of Task Order 10238f to CH2M Hill for "Wastewater
Treatment Facility RAS Conveyance System Reconfiguration
Project Services During Construction" for the Not-To-Exceed
Amount of $163,700.000
B. Ada County Highway District Cost Share Permit for Meridian
Split Corridor Phase 2
C. Multi-Use Pedestrian Pathway Easement for Scentsy
D. Water Main Easement for Scentsy Warehouse
E. Water Main Easement for Scentsy Distribution Center
F. Water & Sewer Easement for Scentsy North Campus
G. Water and Sewer Easement for Scentsy Manufacturing
Addition
H. Real Estate Purchase Agreement for 15 W Broadway
I. Agreement with the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District for
the Construction and Installation of Sewer and Water Mains as
Part of the Main Street Pavement Improvement Project at King
Street and Williams Street
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Page 1 of 3
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
J. Agreement with the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District for
the Construction and Installation of Sewer and Water Mains as
Part of the Meridian Road Split Corridor Project
K. Development Agreement for Approval: RZ 11-004 Chesterfield
by Liberty Development, Inc. Located South Side of W. Pine
Avenue; Midway Between N. Black Cat Road and N. Ten Mile
Road Request: Rezone of 1.48 Acres of Land from the R-8
Zoning District to the R-15 Zoning District
L. Meridian School Resource Office Agreement for Approval
M. Arner~dcct ~~nto tC~e Agcr:icl~: Agreement with Nampa Meridian
Irrigation District to Cross the Hunter Lateral
5. Community Items/Presentations
A. Police Dept: Presentation of Chief's Commendation Life
Saving Awards
B. Amended onto the Agenda: City Scholarship Presentation
6. Items Moved From Consent Agenda
7. Action Items
A. Public Hearing: Proposed Fall 2012 Fee Schedule of the
Meridian Parks and Recreation Department(Pg6-7)
B. Resolution No. 12-864: A Resolution Adopting the Fall 2012
Fee Schedule of the Meridian Parks and Recreation
Department; Authorizing the Meridian Parks and Recreation
Department to Collect Such Fees; and Providing an Effective
Date Approved(?-8)
C. Request for Reconsideration: Larkspur Subdivision No. 4 FP
12-014 by Gus Porter, Sawtooth Land Surveying, LLC
Approved(Pg8-11)
8. Department Reports
A. Economic Development: Strategic Plan Update
B. Community Development: Transportation Update on Projects,
Priorities and Studies -Includes Discussion on Meridian Road
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Page 2 of 3
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Interchange; Franklin, Ten Mile to Black Cat Roadway Project;
and Other Transportation-Related News
C. Legal Department: Discussion on Traffic Safety Commission
Recommendation for No Parking on Ustick and Meridian Rd.
Adjacent to Settler's Park Motion Approved to Draft Letter to
ACHD
D. Historic Preservation Commission: Update on Discussion of
the Meridian Exchange Bank and McFadden Market and to
Consider a Draft Letter to the Owner; Meridian Exchange
Building, LLC
9. Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 12-1521: An Ordinance (RZ 11-004 Chesterfield
Subdivision) For The Re-Zone Of A Parcel Of Land Located In
The SW '/4 Of Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 1 West,
Situated In Ada County, Idaho, And Adjacent And Contiguous
To The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Meridian As Requested
By The City Of Meridian; Establishing And Determining The
Land Use Zoning Classification Of 1.48 Acres Of Land From
The R-8 (Medium Density Residential) Zoning District To R-15
(Medium-High Density Residential) Zoning District Approved
(Pg53-54)
10. Future Meeting Topics None
Adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Page 3 of 3
All materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian.
Anyone desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearing,
please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Meridian City Council Workshop August 14, 2012
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday,
August 14, 2012, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Brad Hoaglun, David Zaremba, and Keith
Bird.
Members Absent: Charlie Rountree.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jaycee Holman, Warren Stewart, Bill Parsons, Bruce
Chatterton, Brenda Sherwood, Caleb Hood, Jeff Lavey, Mike de St. Germaine, Mark
Niemeyer, Steve Siddoway, Patrick Dilley, and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
Roll call.
X David Zaremba X Brad Hoaglun
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: I would like to welcome everyone here this afternoon and thank you for
joining us. For the record, it is Tuesday, August 14th. It's 3:00 p.m. We will start with
roll call attendance, Madam Clerk.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Item No. 2 we will be led tonight -- or today by Lexy and Garrett Hayes.
They will be leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. If you will all rise.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
De Weerd: Lexy and Garrett, if I can offer you a City of Meridian pin for leading us
today. We appreciate you doing that.
Item 3: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: Okay. Item No. 2 is adoption -- or three is adoption of the agenda.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: We have a couple things to add to the agenda today. Under four -- after 4-L
we will add an M and that is an agreement with Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District to
cross the Hunter Lateral. Under Item 5 we have a new 5-A and it is a city scholarship
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page2of57
presentation and, then, follow that with the Police Department presentation. Under
Action Items, 7-B is resolution number 12-864. Under 9-A, Ordinances, that ordinance
number is 12-1521. So, with those, Madam Mayor, I move adoption of the agenda as
amended.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as amended. All those
in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 4: Consent Agenda
A. Award of Task Order 10238f to CH2M Hill for "Wastewater
Treatment Facility RAS Conveyance System Reconfiguration
Services During Construction" for the Not-To-Exceed
Amount of $163,700.000
B. Ada County Highway District Cost Share Permit for Meridian
Corridor Phase 2
C. Multi-Use Pedestrian Pathway Easement for Scentsy
D. Water Main Easement for Scentsy Warehouse
E. Water Main Easement for Scentsy Distribution Center
F. Water & Sewer Easement for Scentsy North Campus
G. Water and Sewer Easement for Scentsy Manufacturing
Addition
H. Real Estate Purchase Agreement for 15 W Broadway
Agreement with the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District for
the Construction and Installation of Sewer and Water Mains as
Part of the Main Street Pavement Improvement Project at King
Street and Williams Street
J. Agreement with the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District for
the Construction and Installation of Sewer and Water Mains as
Part of the Meridian Road Split Corridor Project
K. Development Agreement for Approval: RZ 11-004 Chesterfield
by Liberty Development, Inc. Located South Side of W. Pine
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 3 of 57
Avenue; Midway Between N. Black Cat Road and N. Ten Mile
Road Request: Rezone of 1.48 Acres of Land from the R-8
Zoning District to the R-15 Zoning District
L. Meridian School Resource Office Agreement for Approval
M. Amended onto the Agenda: Agreement with Nampa Meridian
Irrigation District to Cross the Hunter Lateral
De Weerd: Four is the Consent Agenda.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: We did amend onto the agenda 4-M and that is the agreement with
Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District to cross the Hunter Lateral. So, with that addition,
Madam Mayor, I move we approve the Consent Agenda and the Mayor to sign and
Clerk to attest.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda has
changed. Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, absent; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 5: Community Items/Presentations
B. Amended onto the Agenda: City Scholarship Presentation
De Weerd: Well, it's certainly my honor to -- under Item No. 5, to have two items that
are special to our community. Both of them certainly in their own unique way. First I
will address our scholarship presentation and I will ask Kara Fleming if she will come
forward. The City of Meridian is pleased to be able to offer these youth scholarship
awards to seniors that have graduated and headed to school and the recipients of these
scholarships are funded by the State of the City sponsors and so this has always been
a part of those sponsorships as a commitment to the youth of our community, those that
have provided community service and have left a legacy and a mark on our community
and we want them to remember that before they leave the community and their higher
education endeavor, sometimes in the hopes that they will come back. And if you will
allow me I have some information to share about Kara. This is Kara Fleming. We are
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 4 of 57
honoring her today. This spring she graduated from Meridian High School where she
was an exemplary and extraordinary student. She maintained a 4.0 grade point while
taking nine honor classes and if you have taken an honor class you know how difficult
that is and three advanced placement classes. She served on the student council, was
a member of the National Honor Society, participated in choir, cross-country track, and
other school organizations. Amidst all of her studying and school activities she found
the time to serve in our community. Kara is a very people focused student and inclusion
is important to her. She has worked with the Special Olympics and volunteered as an
after-school tutor for learning challenged students at her school. She has also done
projects with the Girl Scouts, the Boise Rescue Mission, her church, and has worked to
increase breast cancer awareness. But even more impressive than all of these
accomplishments is the fact that Kara will be the first person from her -- I almost did I
without crying. Is the fact that Kara will be the first person from her family to graduate
from college and she plans to become a teacher. She will be enrolled in Northwest
Nazarene University where she will begin her studies in secondary education. We
congratulate Kara on this scholarship. This, Kara, is just a certificate. We will send the
check directly to your school. But this reads: In recognition of your high level of
community involvement, academic merit, and outstanding leadership potential. We
thank you on behalf of our entire community for everything you have done in your
service and certainly wish you the best, but we hope you remember your roots here in
this community and come back home when you're done with your studies.
Congratulations. Oh. Kara, I do have a City of Meridian pin for you as well. And you
have been on internship; is that correct?
Fleming: Yes.
De Weerd: You were an internship in Washington DC.
Fleming: Yes. With Special Olympics International.
De Weerd: She just back from her internship with Special Olympics and I'm sure that
was a unique experience in and of itself. So, thank you again for joining us.
Fleming: Thank you.
A. Police Dept: Presentation of Chief's Commendation Life
Saving Awards
De Weerd: Our next item before I -- before I turn this over to the chief -- certainly his
presentation is on behalf of the police department and condemnation -- condemnation.
Boy, what do I have on my mind. But as we look at what our officer did in the line of
duty and in serving our community, we also want to recognize the citizen that
participated as well and we have what is called a Hometown Hero award. When
circumstances warrant it, the City of Meridian does have the honor of bestowing its
Hometown Hero award upon a deserving Meridian resident for their outstanding
citizenship and bravery. A person who embodies and demonstrates the heroic values
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page5of57
of courage, compassion, character, humanity, personal initiative and responsibility. And
Brett Hayes is such a person. Although he's not an emergency responder, he showed
that anyone can make a positive difference if they make a decision to get involved in a
time of emergency or crisis. For this reason we are pleased to award and honor Brett
for the Meridian Hometown Hero award and I would like the chief and Brett to come
forward. I'm sure the chief will always have something to say as well. But we want to
thank you for your quick actions, your selflessness and certainly your lifesaving actions.
Come on forward. On behalf of the City Council and myself it's certainly my honor to
present you our Hometown Hero award. It's presented to Meridian residents who
perform selfless acts of heroism, going above and beyond the call of duty and service to
others in our community without regard for attention or personal gain and this is
presented to Brett and we certainly extend our heart-felt thanks for what you did in
serving our community and continuing to really show that we are a community that
cares. So thank you. The chief wants you to stay up here.
Lavey: If you will stay there.
De Weerd: I will exchange my position at the podium.
Lavey: I don't always have a chance to try to outdo the Mayor, but hopefully I can do it
this time. Would Officer Hodges come forward, too, please, and stand next to Mr.
Hayes. Madam Mayor, Council, it's a little odd having my back to you, but I feel a little
safer having my back to you than to the audience sometimes. But on July 3rd of this
year a physical therapist and a police officer came together in an unusual place and
that's in the middle of the intersection at Linder and McMillan here in Meridian. And
what brought them together was a horrific car crash. It was a crash involving an SUV
and a motorcyclist and the motorcyclist had severe injuries -- and I won't go into graphic
detail, but it involved some pretty significant injuries. Shortly after that -- that incident
after everything was said and done I received a couple a-mails from an EMS supervisor
and an a-mail from deputy director of Ada County EMS and they provided me with some
information that was what brought me here today and the information that they told me
was had it not been for these two individuals that this motorcyclist probably would have
lost his life. Now, unfortunately, he lost his leg in this incident, but it's because of these
two people in front of you today he's still with -- or he's still among us. And because of
that I was going to honor these two individuals for our police department award. But
after talking with the Mayor we felt that Mr. Hayes' actions need to be recognized on a
citywide level based upon the actions that he took. What he did was truly remarkable
and it needs to be recognize as such. But not to be out done by the Mayor, I also have
a plaque that I would like to present to Mr. Hayes. But I'd like to read a little bit first. On
July 3rd, 2012, Brett Hayes witnessed an injury accident at the intersection of Linder
Road and McMillan Road between a motorcycle and an SUV. The motorcyclist was
badly injured and his left leg was almost severed below the knee. Realizing the urgency
of the situation, Mr. Hayes used his shirt to attempt to stop the bleeding. Mr. Hayes'
willingness to help and his quick response in an emergency situation helped to save the
motorcyclist's life. It is because of his actions Mr. Brett Hayes is presented with this
award for the chief's commendation from the Meridian Police Department. Thank you.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page6of57
Not to be redundant, but some of this wording is the same, so I will not repeat it, but I
will give a couple additional highlights. The Meridian Police Department had
participated in tourniquet training approximately one week before this accident. This
training involved a medical device that's used as a tourniquet and it's a special device
that we all carry now, but we weren't carrying it at the time of the incident. When Officer
Hodges arrived on scene she immediately recognized that the only course of action was
a tourniquet, because the T-shirt that Mr. Hayes had was beyond helping, without being
too graphic, and Officer Hodges realized I don't have one of those nice tourniquets that
we just trained on, but police officers carry what we call leg restraints. Sometimes we
have individuals that do not like to cooperate and they like to kick and so we have little
ties we can tie their legs and it has multiple purposes. It can be used for dog leashes.
It can be used for -- in this case a tourniquet. Now, when the emergency personnel first
got on scene their comment was what the heck is that. And, then, they realized what
Officer Hodges had done and it was because of her actions that most likely saved this
individual's life. So, between Mr. Hayes and Officer Hodges, we are recognizing them
today. So, on that I would like to offer this life saving award to Officer Karen Hodges.
Madam Mayor and Council, I will turn it back over to you.
De Weerd: Okay. If you will turn the podium around with you.
Zaremba: Thank you both.
De Weerd: Just turn it. Yeah. Thank you. And I welcome you upstaging me at any
point, especially in scenarios like that. It's truly appreciated what you and your
department does.
Item 6: Items Moved From Consent Agenda
De Weerd: Okay. There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 7: Action Items
A. Public Hearing: Proposed Fall 2012 Fee Schedule of the
Meridian Parks and Recreation Department
De Weerd: So, we will move into Item No. 7-A, which is a public hearing on the
proposed fall with 2012 fee schedule and ask Patrick to come on forward.
Dilley: Good afternoon, Madam Mayor and Members of the Council. I'm here to
present the proposed fee schedule for fall 2012 activities. Events and sports and our
fall activity guide will print this Saturday, the 18th of August, and registration for fall
activities will begin then Monday, August 20th. Obviously with your blessing. And our
classes will begin after the Labor Day weekend on September 4th. And will end on
December 29th of this year. We have some new classes and are continuing with our
most popular ones. Also with our most popular sports as well, including our holiday
classic volleyball tournament, which is going to be a good one. I'm excited for that this
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page7of57
year. And especially what comes after that with the donations. So, with that I will stand
for questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions at this point? Okay. Thank you. Thank you,
Patrick. This is a public hearing. Is there anyone who would like to provide testimony on
this item? Hearing none, Council, I would entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I move that we close the public hearing on the proposed fall fee schedule for
the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department.
Hoaglun: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing on Item 7-A. All
those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
B. Resolution No. 12-864: A Resolution Adopting the Fall 2012
Fee Schedule of the Meridian Parks and Recreation
Department; Authorizing the Meridian Parks and Recreation
to Collect Such Fees; and Providing an Effective
Date
De Weerd: 7-B is the resolution supporting Item 7-A and that's 12-864. Council.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I move we approve Resolution No. 12-864 and does that require for the
Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest?
De Weerd: Yes.
Zaremba: That's included.
Hoaglun: I would second that.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, absent; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 8 of 57
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
C. Request for Reconsideration: Larkspur Subdivision No. 4 FP
12-014 by Gus Porter, Sawtooth Land Surveying, LLC
De Weerd: Okay. Under Item 7-C is a request for reconsideration. I will turn this over
to Bill.
Parsons: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Last week Council acted
on a final plat for Larkspur Subdivision No. 4. After that hearing some information came
about that staff and, of course, the applicant felt necessary to come forward before you
this afternoon. If you recall, Council approved this plat with a condition that restricted
Lot 10, Block 12, to a nonbuildable lot until such time as that stub street was punched
through or extended through. In speaking with ACHD I believe Council has that a-mail
from Gary Inselmann at the Ada County Highway District. It appears that the applicant
-- at least that turnaround cannot be solely placed on Lot 10, Block 12, as conditioned in
the staff report and so what's before you today is what Ada County Highway District
would allow for temporary turnarounds and, then, also some options for Council to
proceed moving forward. Option one as stated in Mr. Inselmann's a-mail to you states
that if the turnaround is to stay on Lot 10, Block 12, a portion of that turnaround would
also have to be placed on Lot 13 -- or Lot 1, Block 13. And I have that depicted in this
exhibit here as option one. Option two would be that the turnaround is to be on just a
solely one buildable lot and, then, option -- or the applicant has either option to do Lot 8,
Block 12, or Lot 2, Block 13, which I have highlighted in blue and option three is to allow
the turnaround to remain on the common lot, but it would be designed and constructed
with Grasscrete, instead of the asphalt material or concrete. Staff is amenable to all
three conditions. The applicant's preference is to build that temporary turnaround on
the common lot and design it using Grasscrete. I have spoke with -- in ACHD's memo
to you they did state they could support that, aone-time exception. I did speak with the
fire department and they said as long as they meet their requirements they could
support the temporary turnaround as Grasscrete as well. So, if it's any one of these
options that you would like to pursue, staff does have some recommended changes to
that condition. I will go ahead and turn it over to the applicant to see if they have any
other information to provide you with and at this time I'd stand for any questions you
may have.
De Weerd: Okay. Any questions at this point from Council?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba:
Zaremba: I would comment my understanding of the purpose of a request for
reconsideration is for Council to decide if new information is present, but not to make at
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 9 of 57
this meeting any judgment on that, but just decide whether we want to calendar this for
a future meeting. I would be accepting of the fact that there is some new information
and that we could put this on a future calendar, but I don't believe we are to discuss it
today.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Since this is a final plat, Councilman
Zaremba, it doesn't require more public notice, so you actually can take action on it
today.
Zaremba: All right. Thank you
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further?
Zaremba: In that case I'm sorry that I interrupted. We should hear from the applicant
De Weerd: No problem. Anything else? Okay. The applicant. Good afternoon. If you
will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Porter: Gus Porter. 3098 South Mill Road in Emmett.
De Weerd: Thank you, Gus.
Porter: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, as Mr. Parsons has already conveyed
to you, we would just request that we be able to use Grasscrete to construct the
turnaround on Lot 9, Block 12, so that we can utilize the building lot and so that we don't
lose that until such a time as East Whitehall Street is extended. That is our only request
that we have. So, if there is nothing else I stand for questions.
De Weerd: I guess I would have a question as far as maintenance. Certainly I'd rather
see Grasscrete than pavement anytime, but I also understand that it then does place
the burden of care and maintenance on the homeowners association or whomever.
What is the maintenance plan on this kind of a facility?
Porter: At that time -- at this time I don't have that information, Madam Mayor. I would
have to bring that back at the next meeting when the Council would act on this.
Hoaglun: Well, Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Gus, it sounds like from legal counsel we can act on it today to reconsider
and to take an action. so --
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 10 of 57
Porter: Oh. Okay. I misunderstood what he said then.
Hoaglun: I guess my assumption is, to follow along the Mayor's questioning, being a
common lot that will be maintained like the other common areas by whoever they hire
to --
Porter: That's correct. Yes.
Hoaglun: -- maintain that and follow through on whatever maintenance is required, so --
and if I require -- recall correctly last time I will ask the question that if we were to take
this up would that cut into the amount of open space -- and I think it was, no, you had
adequate open space for -- if this turnaround was in place and --
Porter: That's correct. I actually -- I checked the acreage and we could -- we could
even get rid of this common lot and we would still be above the minimum requirement
for open space on this subdivision.
Hoaglun: Okay. Thank you, Gus.
De Weerd: Anything further?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, yes.
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: At such time as that street is continued and this is no longer needed for a
turnaround, is there a plan to convert it to usable open space or what would be next and
who would be responsible for that?
Porter: I suppose the plan would be to convert it back to just a plan grass area, open
space. That was the original plan for this lot anyway and the homeowners association
would be responsible for that.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Porter: Thank you.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I believe Mr. Parsons wanted to add some other comments as well.
Parsons: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Councilman Zaremba,
you are correct. So, looking at the exhibit, if you go with option one, then, we certainly
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 11 of 57
would like to have you modify Condition 4-B to add Lot 1, Block 13, which is that
southern lot, first lot there, to have the T-type turnaround. If you go with option two,
either state which -- what is your preference for the turnaround, either on Lot 8, Block
12, or Lot 2, Block 13. We change it from Lot 10, Block 12, and insert one of those lots
and blocks. And, then, if you go with option three, which is the Grasscrete option,
basically still modify Condition 4-B, strike -- add language that it could be constructed on
Lot 9, Block 12, and simply add verbiage that the turnaround be constructed with
Grasscrete and that it meet all ACHD and fire department requirements.
De Weerd: Did you get that?
Hoaglun: And Madam Mayor and Bill -- and that would also require additional signage
and no parking and those sorts of things? That was outlined in --
Parsons: Madam Mayor, Councilman Hoaglun, that is correct
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you, Bill. Okay. Council, we will await your direction
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I am satisfied that the open space requirements are still being met, that this
area could be utilized for a turnaround. Given the alternatives I'm not real keen on
taking buildable lots where it makes it more difficult. We'd like to have property taxes,
as opposed to not have property taxes. So, Madam Mayor, I move that we approve
option three that is on Lot 9, Block 12, that it be -- included the Grasscrete, that it meet
ACHD and fire department requirements for a turnaround and that additional signage as
required be installed to -- in terms of no parking and identified as a public turnaround
and that's my motion to approve.
Zaremba: Second
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Madam Clerk, will you,
please, call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, absent; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 8: Department Reports
A. Economic Development: Strategic Plan Update
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 12 of 57
De Weerd: Item 8-A is our economic development update and I will welcome Brenda to
the podium.
Sherwood: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I just wanted to say thank you for
giving me this chance to update you. Actually, to start out with, as many of you know, I
have moved down to the planning -- to the community development umbrella of
planning and building. So, I just wanted to also thank my, of course, partners at
community development, because although they did give up a conference room, they
were very welcoming. So, thank you very much. You're going to see this today and
you're going to say, well, this looks a little familiar and the reason being, of course, is
because we are hitting the end of this strategic plan that I presented to you almost two
years ago. Oh. So, I --
De Weerd: Well, that doesn't look familiar anymore.
Sherwood: Well, you know, that's a good point. I guess that's kind of a bad reminder.
De Weerd: No. It was at the end, too.
Sherwood: So, I'm going to kind of run through most of it. A lot of it we wanted to just
present to you with some nice check-offs. We have hit a lot of our goals. But also I
wanted to run through it, because I hear that Caleb is following me and he likes to talk a
lot. But not only that, Caleb has a lot of really exciting news to talk about as well. But in
addition I also anticipate at the end of my presentation you will have a lot of questions.
So, here we go. As you know we kind of throw things together in economic
development under business retention and expansion. Of course our ongoing efforts
with the Core, entrepreneurship, and attraction. So, under our business retention and
expansion program you know that this has always been near and dear to the hearts of
the Mayor and I, because we do know that 80 percent of the jobs that are created in the
city are usually from the jobs that are already -- or from the companies that are already
located here. So, what we do is we meet with these companies on a regular basis
weekly and just make sure that we are providing them with the necessary resources
that they need to expand and grow. So, just to update some of the information from the
last time we met, some of our accomplished tasks. We have had 283 one-on-one
business meetings and over -- I have attended over 150 organizational meetings. This
last Council update, the things that were our next steps, you will see we have kind of
checked them all off as things that we have accomplished. We are developing and
maintaining an up-to-date inventory of existing businesses and I put a little star right
there, because right now what we are doing is looking at some contact management
equipment, some software, so that we can make sure that we are kind of contacting
them on a regular basis. Not only are we meeting with them, but I tend to send them
from our database like information that we get from the Department of Commerce, new
programs. Right now there is a fantastic export program that will help pay for
marketing. So, these are things we want to make sure we are getting to them. C.J. and
I have been trying to divide them through industry, so it makes for a nice database so
that we can at least send them the necessary resources. Of course, once again, we
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 13 of 57
could finalize our BRNE survey. The Mayor and I kind of have this down pat and -- but
also what we also do during our interviews is just ask them what makes them different,
tell us, you know, about your successes, so that we can celebrate them as well and talk
about them in our community. And, of course, ambassadors have been a big part of our
program. Now we have kind of moved beyond identifying them, but also videotaping
them for both our website, but also so that we can put those on flash drives when we
have companies come in from out of state to talk about how great it is to be in Meridian.
We continue to review our city procedures, as I mentioned before, now being down in
community development, it makes it very easy. We analyze our interviews and shoot
for a different market space on that evidence. And, then, of course, we continue every
time I meet with someone and they tell me a resource that they might need, we actually
will add that to our website. Some of our measurable outcomes -- we have been hitting
about 20 percent of the businesses in the targeted industries. Most of our retention
visits within this past couple years have been focused primarily on advanced
manufacturing, healthcare, and, then, of course, technology companies. We have had
increased job revenues specifically in healthcare, nursing technicians -- that's a big one.
I think the last time I was in front of you we talked about MRIs, an array of different
equipment, x-ray technicians, things of this nature. Now, I actually in my possession
now have awonderful -- the Department of Labor has really stepped up and I end
projects now with the economic development personnel from each of the cities, so that
we can start tracking what companies are growing, what types of jobs are growing, but
also what incomes are growing as well. So, that makes it really great for us when we
start specifically targeting some of those different jobs. Also, the jobs created -- we
know that there has been an increase in healthcare. You know that by the Mayor's
State of the City this past year, while most of the cities were losing jobs, we were
gaining jobs, specifically in healthcare, but also in our retail industry, which we do -- our
considered the number one retail hub of the valley. And, then, of course, we continue to
track our permits. Now -- I'm going back to this -- I'm like, wait a minute, did we save
this? Okay. Sorry. Next, of course, is the Core. This has been very important about
strengthening our healthcare industry. We do know that healthcare is the number one
lead growing industry in Idaho and throughout the world. So, there is some great
events that have been -- been going on in the Core and I'm not going to steal too much
thunder, because Earl Sullivan is going to be coming in next month to talk to you a little
bit more about some of the updates with the Core. But a couple things that I just want
to highlight is, number one, they were able to -- because of -- if you remember correctly,
I came to you and asked you about us just helping and adding a little bit more support
for the Core, so that we could create the Angel Fund and the Angel Fund has been
developed and this is pretty exciting, because most of the colleges when you look at the
governor's I Gem program, the colleges see this as a very important part of that
technology transfer, helping us spin out some of these new companies out of the
colleges and BSU had called me right away and just said, you know, thanks for giving
your support. Tell your Council, tell the Mayor, because this is a fantastic addition to the
valley. But not only that, it really makes the Core sort of that catalyst for advanced
technologies and especially in healthcare. And another thing that I'd like to highlight is
that we started looking at collaborations and training programs and what was needed
and Earl Sullivan, because he did have a little extra time, because we helped push that,
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 14 of 57
he has been working with other organizations throughout the valley and has now the ear
of the governor and has been very supportive about the I Gems program and one of the
things that the governor mentioned to Earl is that they would like us to host a summit for
healthcare. So, that's something in the planning right now and he will be able to tell you
more about that. But the Mayor and I both looked at each other and we are like ding
ding, because this is such a wonderful opportunity for us to bring in some of those
companies, so that they can see the highlights going on within the valley. Of course,
the entrepreneurial piece -- I don't have to tell you too much of this, because you have
been right there with us during this. We have -- we are fostering our entrepreneurial
and technology innovation and, of course, that has been, you know, due to the ETC
now with Ashley at the ground floor. I wanted to kind of give you a little bit of update. I
called both of them and we have got all the numbers together. We have, of course --
we were saying that we want the ETC to open by spring of 2012, but, of course, we
made it at September 9th, 2011. So, since, then, we have 12 businesses at the ETC
and Julie has also assisted six start-up companies in Meridian as well. They have done
106 seminars and have had over 400 attendees. So, we are definitely hitting those
marks for entrepreneurship. This has attraction and recruitment. Of course, we -- this
is a big part of things that we have done in conjunction with BVEP. I think you will see
more in our strategic plan where we really focus more on some of those hard to get
industries and really go after them even more so than we have been. Our
accomplished tacks -- we have distributed marketing to about 38 site selectors. I have
also included a new linked-in site that we are just now linking to our website and each
week I'm sending out available properties to the site selectors. So, we will just keep
pushing those out of what we have available. We have contacted and followed up on
42 bio tech leads as I know. I just recently got back from a bio tech conference and,
then, of course, we also went to Shop Show this year. We also have developed a new
website specifically for economic development and business resources, but not only
that, like I said, it has featured properties, it also has available properties, so an array of
different information that site selectors can just get right up off of our website. We also
have accolades as well. As I mentioned before, using the videos from some of our
accolades, those are on there as well. And, then, of course, we have been working on
this new marketing brochure and we are kind of taking a new little twist to it. I put a
couple pages on there just so you could take a peek at it. But where the Mayor and I
have been going back and forth, because she said it seems a little arrogant. I said, no,
it's not arrogant, it's just sassy. So, you will see some new marketing material. But it's
really -- it's -- it's what we are doing is targeting a lot of companies from the west coast
that actually do a lot of technology products in California, but could easily come here.
Because when we started interviewing a lot of people they said, you know, we are so
close to these cities, we don't have to live there and one of the jobs -- a lot of the people
that we have interviewed, CEOs, said I like Idaho and you hear that all the time. It's
always hard to get them here, but it's hard to actually get rid of them. So, anyway, once
you're here you will love it. And so we are just showing how great it can be. You will
see there how much more affordable it can be in compared to like Seattle, Portland,
and, then, of course, all the California cities. Once again, we have created a database
of targeted industries and we have obtained target sector events and trade shows or a
number of leads. Forty-two leads from the international bio tech conference and I will
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 15 of 57
happily say that between Doug Jones and I we actually called each and every one of
them personally afterwards to follow up. One of the things that our site selectors told us
after these trade shows is that they are going to be just bombarded by letters. So, we
just took the initiative, you know, the project that I have been working on in the field, and
just sat down and called them all, so -- and, then, of course, we had 27 leads from the
Shop Show that could contribute to our potential public safety center and, then, of
course, we have had two companies relocate due to our follow up with BVEP and an
independent broker and I will tell you with BVEP they have relocated two companies.
One of those is in Meridian. Within the past couple years. It's slow right now. We are
hoping to see that kind of pick up. Anyway -- and, then, they are looking at doing -- or
those companies will create over 200 jobs, but hoping with growth 200 to 400 jobs. We
have participated in 11 site visits by consultants and participated in two visits by
companies. Moving forward, as I mentioned to you before, the next time I come before
you it will be for your approval of our new strategic plan and just a little snapshot of the
things that we will be looking at, as I mentioned before. We are going to focus on
targeted industries and clusters, number one being the fields district. And exploring
additional ag-related industries, such as viticulture and things like that that that can
contribute. But also contribute to our downtown revitalization. Our public safety center
cluster is definitely another target. We have met with a lot of local people and based on
the information and the enthusiasm that we have gotten, I think our simulation city could
probably pretty much be built just by contributions. And, then, of course, we will
continue with the Core. We are very excited about the summit coming up. It will be just
great exposure, especially for being that catalyst for healthcare. And, then, business
retention is always going to be one of our number one focus, but you will see here I
have this split corridor conception on there. I have created a survival kit for each of the
businesses. We have been walking the streets, so you will see us out there. Ann Little-
Roberts from the chamber. And, of course, the final one is something that we talked
about before and this is the one -- I'm thinking you might have a few questions about. It
is, of course, the business registry. So, here is -- we are going to revisit this again.
Excuse me. Thanks. The program -- we started talking about this a couple years ago,
actually. It was one of the questions that I was asked when I interviewed was how
could we add some value to the business registry program and as each of you know --
and Ibring this up -- it was really difficult when I first came here and we started looking
at target markets, of what targets we need to go after, because we really didn't have a
comprehensive list of companies that are here. We guessed right now that we have
3,200 to 3,500 businesses. We get the list from maybe the garbage, we get it from the
Secretary of State, but we are not positive -- well, you know, now, look, everyone else
got it. But, yes, our -- the SSC -- anyway, you know what I'm saying. We try to
generate whatever lists we can. You did that to throw me off.
Hoaglun: I was just -- Madam Mayor, I missed that one, because I was still focused on
her and Ann Little-Roberts walking the streets, so I was just --
Sherwood: Well, I was waiting for that. I saw the look on each and every one of your
faces as well. And if -- and do you know what, if you ask Ann she will just -- she will tell
everyone we are not trying to supplement our income. Anyway, one of the reasons that
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 16 of 57
we -- now you have thrown me off completely. One of the reasons, like I said, that we
were going with a business registry program is for economic development future, but
also, number one, a better way to communicate things like events, future developments,
things like construction. You know, we had to actually kind of walk around to get the list
for the split corridor, but also just important news to businesses, maybe different like
changes. It also puts into place a record of value that our community considers
important. A lot of people look in other cities. Well, you know, are they a registered
business. It gives them sort of that status. So, that is another piece that kind of says
the company is a successful company to be operating within our city. It insures that
product safety has been met. Building codes, zoning adhered to. It creates a safe
community for our residents, but also for our emergency responders. It gives us a
snapshot of the growing/ industries. But above all it really does celebrate our
businesses. I have had companies call me and say I have just created, you know, this
new window cleaner. That was actually one of them. And they wanted to know if we
had a plastics manufacturer that could bottle it for him. And that was something that we
had to kind of dig around for, because we don't know for sure, you know, what are some
of those small companies. So, it also just encourages purchasing goods and services
from our own business community. Benefits of a company -- or benefits of the program
for the company. I think we talked about this last year. We have a mobile app and a
web directory. So, the companies can actually advertise on a mobile device on the
website. It will give their customers locations, directions to the business. It will provide
the details about a company, service products, hours of operation, years in business,
even accolades. It offers customers featured on the spot discounts and there is a
variety of tools that we can use that actually the chamber, in conjunction, is going to
work with us, so that they can do like agroup-on type of thing for the companies that
are on here. In addition, we may register their -- we haven't determined the amount of
money yet, but they will get a discount with the chamber fees as well. They can
advertise their specials, but also they can engage their loyal customers and give them
special coupons, things like that. Most of our -- most of all it's going to increase the
awareness of the business. Vendors can also obtain a list of the -- the approximately
3,200 businesses, helping businesses succeed by something we continue to push and
that's buying locally. As I mentioned before, it adds that legitimacy -- am I going to get
this? Legitimacy and accountability to businesses. It clarifies our community's
expectations on the steps that they need to take to be a business. I can't tell you -- and
I think that both Bruce and Pete can tell you people sometimes start doing an expansion
or start a business and at the end they are like, wow, if I didn't -- if I would have known
that -- like all these fees and things. This way up front they can just kind of walk them
through that process. It really gives them a better edge as well. But it also insures that
in an emergency the correct contact is notified. We had the police department, fire
department tell us several times that they will arrive on the scene and they don't really
have the correct contact or maybe they have moved, something of that nature. So,
implementing the program. Here is what we are thinking. And we have had several
focus groups. Of course, with the clerk's office, with legal, with planning, with -- we are
community development, with the Mayor's office. We started thinking about this and we
thought, well, maybe we go ahead and do the first year free for registration and, then,
start that marketing that will express to the businesses that the program will become
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 17 of 57
mandatory. And, then, every business is required to register. The ones that have had
to register with the State of Idaho and that are engaged in business activities within the
City of Meridian, are required to register -- register and that does include home-based
businesses. We have had a little bit of push back with the home-based businesses, but
sometimes those are the ones we really want to make sure are in the right spots. We
have had people come to us about something they want to do at their home and they
have trucks lined up on the street or they want to start a hair salon and pour chemicals
down the drain. These are things that we probably want help them look at alternative
sites. Nonprofit organizations would register, but they are not required to pay a fee and
all fees received will help defray administration costs of managing the business
registration fee. Now, when we met we all talked about doing about a 20 dollar fee for
this program. As we mentioned before, the chamber, a couple advertising groups, said
that they would deduct probably close to a hundred dollars off of marketing materials
and things for these companies. So, this is based on an estimated number of
businesses and I have 3,000 dollars, but that's supposed to be 3,000 businesses. Are
you over there checking things?
Hoaglun: Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
Sherwood: I notice that -- you know, now I know to like check when you lean over.
Hoaglun: Uh-huh. Comparing notes.
Sherwood: Yes. Sorry. Typo. That's based on 3,000 businesses. I had met with
Jaycee, we have about 1,250 hours to complete the registration in the clerk's office,
which is 42 weeks. They would collect about 60,000 is revenues and it would be about
54,000 in fully loaded salary. Then we added some postage in there and total cost to
the city comes out during the 20 dollar registration fee to be 11,000 dollars. Now, we
are leaving it at that right at this point. We will find out a little bit more during that free
year how many businesses are there. But we are anticipating 3,200 to 3,500. So,
obviously, that total cost to the city would drop. So, we would have to kind of examine
that. So, it gives us a year to look at that. But we didn't want to take it over 20 dollars.
If we took it up to 25 it would more than cover the cost and that would be something for
you to make that decision about. So, that is the business registry in a nutshell. I will
take -- I'm sure you probably have some questions and so I will take any questions you
have on any of my presentation.
De Weerd: Thank you, Brenda. Council, any questions for Brenda? We waited until
Keith couldn't talk to have that presentation.
Sherwood: You really can't talk?
De Weerd: No. He's not supposed to talk
Sherwood: I thought you were being quiet
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 18 of 57
De Weerd: Anything from Council?
Sherwood: And what I would really like you to consider is that we go ahead and get
started with this business registry program on this free basis. However, we have to look
at, you know, the cost to the city until we start charging.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor, that was my question was to follow up and maybe Bill or
Brenda you can respond and that was what -- what is the process to get that started?
What method and what -- what do we go to? Is that a resolution? Are we changing an
ordinance? I mean it's a fee. What -- can you tell me what the process is?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Hoaglun, I mean that's
been part of our discussion. We think probably the most appropriate is to put it into
ordinance. You don't have to have a fee hearing, since you're not going to charge a
fee, but you would the next year, because it would be a new fee. But we would put into
ordinance as to what's required for the registry and what the purpose is and those kinds
of things. So, if that's the direction the Council wants to go, we would craft an ordinance
and bring that back to you.
De Weerd: And certainly, Councilman Hoaglun, Iwould -- even though Brenda is still
working with the Chamber of Commerce, I think we would have to do some outreach
into the business community to include them in the discussion prior to crafting an
ordinance to make sure they know what it is, what the benefit to our business
community will be, and what the benefit to the city is going to be. What we haven't
talked about is the benefit of knowing what is in those buildings that are burning or what
is going to go down our sewer systems and what is around maybe not compatible
businesses. So, there -- there are a number of other things that the city has been
talking about for as long as I have been involved and wanting to have more data about
what is residing in our community and where that might have a potential hazard to
nearby neighborhoods or to our employees as well. So, those are some of the
intangibles. But I definitely know that it's totally in Brenda and the team's plan that there
will be good communication with the business community before its rolled out in front of
you.
Hoaglun: Well, Madam Mayor, certainly that needs to be the case, because I do
struggle with the may versus shall. I mean a business may join versus a business shall
join. I mean it really -- and from one standpoint we can make the argument that you will
do this, because of the health and public safety aspect of it and there is merit to that.
But if that's our argument and we make that arrangement and say but here is what we
are trying to do to make it a benefit to you. It's more than just regulatory by the city to
make sure that health and safety issues are being met, but we are going to add -- help
you with marketing or different things -- the apps and whatnot and that's where the may
comes in, if it is such a good thing -- if we are doing such a good job you can roll it out
there on a voluntary basis and you have 80 percent of businesses sign up, wow, that's
fantastic, without having to go to the shall part. And that's -- that's the part that Ilike --
I'd much rather see, you know, it's just a matter of do we as a city with that authority --
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 19 of 57
we have the authority to do it, but Ijust -- it makes me hesitant just because that --
because we can do something doesn't mean we necessarily should. But I do see the
benefit and, Brenda, I commend you for working towards this, because, you know, you
and I have had this discussion that the incentives for a business to look at that and say
what you're putting together is really worthwhile for me to be part of this business
registry. I mean that's -- you have gone a long ways to meet that goal and for
businesses to look at that and say, hey, that is something that makes it worth my time
and for 20 dollars that's really nothing to be part of an effort that is out there that when
people come to town, they are looking for something like my business, they will find it
and -- and, then, we have the benefit on the other side that if there is an emergency
situation, the contact numbers are there and different things that police and fire can
follow up on. But it's -- it's still a struggle, but I do have to say you have done a good
job with this.
Sherwood: Thank you. Councilman Hoaglun, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council,
this is something that we have been struggling with and eventually there was probably
half and half of our group, like just go ahead and implement it to rolling it out free. It's
something that the entire valley economic development directors have been discussing.
We have had this discussion many times in BVEP and I have a feeling that once we roll
it out and, you know, I become that fall guy, so everyone kind of joked about that,
because I have talked to them about that we were thinking about it and -- so they are go
ahead, because they will follow afterwards and Pocatello and Idaho Falls also have a
registry program as well. But, yes, we want it to be -- and, you know, I don't know if I
should have given Jaycee a copy of this, but one of the things that we talked about was
the registration forms and at first we started asking a lot of questions about their -- their
business that people might have found intrusive. We got rid of that. And it's just a basic
piece. The only thing we are really asking about in this is basically hazardous materials,
because we just want to make sure that our public responders -- that they are safe.
And that's really a big part of this is making sure that those hazardous material are not
in areas that they shouldn't be. But for the most part if we are going to continue to grow
our businesses, we need to make sure that they are working together. We have met
with companies, the Mayor and I, and they will say, well, we are looking for this piece or
this gadget to be made and it's being made down the street and the Mayor and I kind of
look at each other like, well, it's right down the street. I think it will really help kind of
promote our businesses and so I went back to this business registry where Iput -- and I
didn't go into detail. I probably should have. But the whole marketing piece. We did
run this past our economic development group. Many of the people from the Chamber
-- I mean people are like -- you put them together I'll pay it. So, we have had some very
positive response. So, I think that we probably wouldn't have gone to step two without
some of that positive response. We agree, we all said the same thing. Do we roll it out
free? But we wanted to kind of walk into it smoothly and not just be one of those things
where we are forcing something on the businesses. But we do actually have on a
regular basis get people calling all the time asking if we have a business license and a
lot of the companies, you know, from other states, other cities, they are aware that
many times you do, so --
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 20 of 57
De Weerd: And, Councilman Hoaglun, I guess coming from a neighborhood that had a
homeowners association membership by choice, rather than by mandate, that doesn't
work and the 20 percent that doesn't sign up are the ones that will have the hazardous
waste that we need to know about. So, I -- you're never half pregnant, you're either in it
for the baby or not, so --
Hoaglun: That's a good point, Madam Mayor. And you touched on something very
important that I think really will make it or break it and is the -- the outreach component,
sitting down, making sure people understand the reasons why. It's just one of those
things. And you know how important that is and I know that it's something you will
invest in as well, so that will take a lot of work. But you recognize that and so we see
what the results are from that.
Sherwood: Okay.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Three or four comments, I guess. One, I'm very happy to see this moving
along. I think it's important. Having lived and had businesses in other cities I -- the
registrations and the permits and the things were mandatory. I think our example here
is that the Chamber of Commerce is voluntary. They don't have anywhere near -- I
don't think even 50 percent of the businesses signed up and there are a lot of benefits
to the Chamber of Commerce as well, so while I'm very much in favor of explaining the
benefits and each citizen or each city -- excuse me -- what each business will get out of
this -- and I think we may need to make big points out of that as you have, we also need
to bear in mind that the major purpose of this is public safety from our standpoint and
that that's a major component of this and I don't see how that can be voluntarily. We
need to know what's in some of those spaces and I think that's important to make it an
absolute, you must sign up for this. A couple of other comments and this one is just
semantics, but the spring that we were looking at -- the wax bullet on it, all fees will be --
willdefray fees. I actually would make the end of that managing the business registry or
managing and updating the business registry, we aren't really using fees to manage the
fee. That's just a semantic comment. The point of that is the --
Sherwood: I got it.
Zaremba: -- managing and updating and maintaining the business registry itself. I also
would like to -- since you mentioned the split corridor, I would also like to give credit to
all the work that ACHD has done. I know you have been out and Ann Little-Roberts has
been out from the Chamber, but Adam and Brian from ACHD have been wonderful
partners in preparing our downtown businesses for what's coming. I mean I -- in
discussing with ACHD, I mentioned to them that we all look forward to this, sort of in the
way that you look forward to surgery to have your hip replaced, it's an important part of
mobility, we have had increasing pain for the last 20 years and there is going to be a
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 21 of 57
little bit more pain while we go through it, but the end result is going to bring so many
benefits, but Ijust -- I just wanted to not only appreciate your efforts, but also Ann's, but
also ACHD as a partner in making this as painless as possible for the cities. One other
is perhaps picking a direction. You had a bullet on one of the other slides that said that
we would be assuring people of product safety. I don't think we want to get into that.
Our goal is public safety and the other parts of that sentence in that bullet about zoning
and other parts of -- yeah, building codes and zoning -- this is the one I was looking at,
building codes and zoning. And just -- we are insuring that public safety has been met
in that there are not unsafe things in the buildings or unsafe things going into the sewer
or fireplace. I don't think we want to get into --
Sherwood: I agree.
Zaremba: -- the business of either product or service safety or having anything that
would tell the public that we may be guaranteeing the work of a business. What we
need to be guaranteeing is that if one of our citizens enters a building they are safe in
there. But not necessarily that we have anything to do with their product or service
safety. That worries me a little bit.
Sherwood: Absolutely.
Zaremba: I would steer clear of that.
Sherwood: And this was -- this was our initial kind of rough draft that we had put
together and it might just be an oversight, but trust me, he will be in there. I think Bill
will be -- when it comes time to put all of this --
Zaremba: Good.
Sherwood: -- together not only will we have the marketing assistance, but Bill will be
there right along with us. So, I'm sure he would have noticed the same thing and when
you phrase it like that I agree with you, Councilman Zaremba.
Zaremba: So with that I'm thrilled that this is happening.
Sherwood: Okay.
Zaremba: Thank you.
Sherwood: Now there was a fourth point.
Zaremba: I think I said four.
Sherwood: Okay. I thought there was only three. But I also, Councilman Zaremba,
Members of the Council, Madam Mayor, I also would like to talk, you know, just about
what a champion ACHD has been to work with. We have an incredible team that has
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 22 of 57
been working on this, along with Caleb and meeting weekly, their marketing has
stepped up -- it is -- if we could -- everything that we wanted to do in the city, use that as
a paradigm of how we move forward, such as when we do this marketing for the
business registry, it would just be sublime. You know, we have had myself, along with
Caleb, ACHD is there every week -- not only that, Ashley has been with us every week,
in addition from the Meridian Development Council and so -- and, then, of course, Ann
Little-Roberts has really picked up and been walking around on a regular basis as well.
So, just having all -- everyone so involved it's just been a blessing.
De Weerd: Well, I know I am anticipating that Councilman Bird over there is screaming
from his seat wanting to say something, but because this is something that the city has
been debating and discussing for many years and I -- the bottom line has been that
before you can go out and make this mandatory and charge a fee there has to be value
added and -- and I appreciate and commend you and the committee for looking at what
that value added can be and now it's in a matter of going out and talking to the business
community and seeing if they see there there is value added, because I'll tell you the
Council will be the first one that hears is if there isn't. So, we know the backside of it,
the why is it needed, and now it's communicating why is it needed to the business
community and what's in it for me, because the bottom line is that's -- it's what's in it for
me and that's important. So, I commend you for your efforts. I certainly appreciate you
taking the bull by the horn and providing leadership and direction and continuing the
discussion and coming back with something. So, if you would, please, get this
presentation out to the Council members, so they can look at it again, look at the
different points, and provide you feedback before -- Council, would you like this after
Councilman Rountree gets back and he has an opportunity to look at it, too, and maybe,
Brenda, you can touch base with him, but we might want to put it on an agenda in the
next several weeks for further discussion and direction on rolling out those next steps.
Does that sound feasible?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, yes, that all sounds good to me. I -- maybe this is a question
for Mr. Nary. At some point if we do attach a fee to this does that require a public
hearing?
Nary: Yes, sir.
Zaremba: Okay. So, that would need to be included at some point.
De Weerd: Well -- and I would certainly suggest if there is going to be a fee, whether
we do it at the beginning or after the first year, that has to be discussed and it should be
in the plans and in the ordinance, because we don't want to hide that as intention.
Okay.
Sherwood: Mayor, thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you, Brenda. And thank you for a great presentation.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 23 of 57
Zaremba: Uh-huh.
B. Community Development: Transportation Update on Projects,
Priorities and Studies -Includes Discussion on Meridian Road
Interchange; Franklin, Ten Mile to Black Cat Roadway Project;
and Other Transportation-Related News
De Weerd: Next Item 8-B is our Community Development transportation update. All
things transportation. We are always excited for this part of our agenda and I sincerely
mean that.
Hood: Madam Mayor, I look forward to it as well, although I will dispel a little bit of the
myth that Brenda and some other staff here seem to have that I like to talk when I'm
here and it's just when given the opportunity here I feel the overwhelming urge to share
all I know about transportation and that's just a lot, so that's why it runs on a little bit,
there is just so much going on, so --
De Weerd: Well, we appreciate you being our advocate, because it does make a
difference.
Hood: Thank you. And, again, it is my pleasure, Madam Mayor, Members of the
Council, to be here today. The clerk has handed out some ancillary pages to the memo
that I prepared for today's workshop. The first one in that -- and certainly I don't expect
you to read all of those. There is one I want you to pay particular attention when we get
there, but I will call them out. The first handout, actually, is provided to me from ACHD
and it's a great resource. It provides a status updated of basically all the projects in
Meridian. So, I wanted to share that with you for this month and this is a couple weeks
old, but it's pretty recent, so, again, you don't need to study that now, but it's, again, a
good resource and I think you should have it on your fridge if you're current about a
project, it's current, up to date, by all the project managers at ACHD. So, I thought I
would share that with you and you can look at those. That supports everything in the
memo, basically, and I don't need to go through a lot of it, because with the memo and,
then, that handout you're in the know, at least on ACHD projects. There is one project
that's listed on the backside there that I do want to highlight and that's the one that's
going on right now on Main Street and that's the Main Street rehab project. As you all
know that -- the construction began in July, it's scheduled to last through August, shortly
before the split corridor phase two work begins, which, again, is anticipated for fall,
October 29th of -- of this year. So, that's the only one that a lot of folks are directly
impacted by right now, but there is only a few more weeks left and, then, that work will
be complete, too, as the timeline. So, that's it for project updates. Again, I will let you --
unless you have any questions on my memo and the project status update, anything
you see in that -- that spreadsheet there from the highway district, I'm going to move on
to the programming budgets and impact fees.
De Weerd: Caleb, I have a question. Are these primarily just road projects or are they
sidewalks and --
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 24 of 57
Hood: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, it does include -- you can see -- like in
designs from the federal aid projects, I haven't checked to see if it has all the training
programs, but, yeah, if you look in bid and award, for example, the third one down there,
Broadway, West 4th Street to Meridian, that is a pedestrian project there. So, there are
community programs or pedestrian projects. Carlton, West 1st to Main Street, is also a
pedestrian. East 3rd and Ada. So, yes, it includes, basically, all projects in Meridian.
De Weerd: Okay. Just feedback is until you told me that was a sidewalk project I had
no idea what it was. So, this is a great resource, but if -- because we don't live and
breathe that --
Hood: Yeah.
De Weerd: -- if --just feedback.
Hood: And, Madam Mayor, I can appreciate that and this is meant more for internal for
staff that kind of know the project more, so there is shorthand use here. You may not
understand it completely. But I think it does -- you know, it gives you the cost, a project
name, and a status update. So, I try to take this and include the relevant parts within
the memo, but Ican't -- I don't include every single project going on. So, I just thought
this would supplement somewhat that and if there is questions -- I feel like you should
know those type of things, so I'm maybe not doing my job to let know that there is a
sidewalk project here and there. So, that's on me to provide better information to you.
but I will look at maybe using this as a template, then, and modifying it for next time and
including some of those -- what I think are givens, but realize that I shouldn't assume
those things if you're not in it day to day.
De Weerd: You know what assume means.
Hood: Yeah. So, are there any other comments or questions on ACRD projects at this
point? So, like I said, I'm going to jump into page two of the memo. Maybe before I get
there, the second handout in that packet is just a letter on the -- the split corridor project
and it's a status update from Adam Zaragosa. Last time or the time before I was here I
asked you all if it was okay if I signed you up to get that electronically, so, hopefully, this
letter looks familiar to you, but I wanted to use it as a check in to make sure you're all
getting those updates, because throughout the project that's how you're going to get
updates, in addition to me coming here. So, it looks like everybody is signed up okay.
So, I will trust you read, then, and know what's happening then with that project at this
point in time. And, then, onto the programing and budgets portion, again, on page two
of the memo and the third handout. I handed out aspreadsheet -- and, again, there is
no way you're going to be able to get through this during our time here today, but this is
a breakdown of the next two year capital budget at ACHD. There are some overarching
themes from the budget and some details. It's an 89.2 million dollar budget. Capital
maintenance costs continue to increase. You see more and more dollars that ACHD
put towards the infrastructure that's already been invested in to maintain the system and
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 25 of 57
less and less for new or expansion capital projects. So, we will continue to see that
trend, I believe. Although there are some innovations that ACHD is looking at, as well
as some different ways to -- where they spend their maintenance dollars, but the
maintenance will continue to grow as a portion of the capital budget. The sidewalk
program is now included in the capital budget. It's new this year. And there is some for
economic development and storm water pilot projects. We don't really know at this
point necessarily what those are for, although I do have astaff -- just got a copy of the
staff memo from ACHD's website from Sabrina Anderson. She's going to be giving a
presentation tomorrow to the commission on the economic development portion of the
capital budget and I just want to summarize a couple of things in here. Options for
including them. Economic development impacts on ACHD project decision making
process. So, they are -- this is something we have been asking them to do is look at
projects that have kind of the X factor of can we attract or is there benefits there, but we
need a roadway to bring them -- bring them into town or can attract businesses into
town. Staff is recommending a two prong approach to address the funding and
prioritization of economic development projects. First option would increase the priority
of economic development projects in the capital budget by redirecting the capital
improvement citizen advisory committee, which I serve on, the narrative score portion of
that and including that into the five year work plan. So, beefing that up a little bit more
to give more points to the city. If we say, hey, you can do this project, we attract these
businesses, giving some more weight to that through the -- the preservation process.
And, then, the second option is to implement a set aside program of funding from the
capital budget for separate economic development scoring criteria process. So, again,
that's not developed this is something that the commission hasn't even heard yet at
ACHD, but will be presented tomorrow to ACHD. So, I just wanted to quickly highlight
the economic development portion of the capital budget and you can see in here that
there are monies that they are budgeting for -- well, storm water, and economic
development that are new this year. So, again, apologizing and understanding that you
-- you won't have time right now to craft any detailed comments on the budget, is there
any interest, though, in reviewing this and having me come back next week and
providing comments to ACHD on the capital budget. My opinion this is just so you
know, but if you see something that's out of place or want to comment on something,
certainly that is an option and I can prepare a correspondence accordingly. So, with
that I will pause and see if there is any -- any interest or direction from the Council to
prepare some correspondence on what ACRD is considering for their budget.
De Weerd: Caleb, I just have a question. I saw Ustick Road and Locust Grove Road
on here. Is that the intersection improvement? Is that going to be done this next
coming year?
Hood: Madam Mayor, let me find where you're at.
De Weerd: At the very end -- very bottom of the --
Hood: Yes. That is under the intersection. If you look on line 76. It's under the
intersection heading. If you look -- you got to follow the columns across and the seven
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 26 of 57
-- line 703 is the right of way, so in 2013 there will be 400,000 dollars set aside for right
of way and, then, you go over to 2014, which is the next half of a page over, basically,
and there is 850,000 dollars for construction in FY-14.
De Weerd: Okay. So --
Hood: So, that's how you read this chart. And if you look at the top -- sorry for my
handwriting, but the 700 series are -- is concept design, design, right of way slash
design professional services, appraisal right of way survey construction, construction
engineering, utilities -- I mean that's all the various aspects of building the project, so
you have to -- if that makes sense to you. Left-hand side is 13, the right-hand side is 14
and, then, your projects are all listed.
De Weerd: You know, that kind of question came up when I was in Bedford Place in
National Night Out, they wanted to know what -- what the plan was for Ustick, when that
intersection would be done and, then, the various mile sections. So, I can now answer
the intersection question. Do we have within the five year plan the section at least from
Eagle to Locust Grove? It seems to me like we did.
Hood: Madam Mayor, yes. Leslie Drive, because you have got the Kohl's and that
intersection at Leslie is improved. So, Leslie to Locust Grove is in '15 or '16. Justin, do
you know by chance? It's after the intersection. So, it's ayear -- I believe it's a year
staggered. They may be able to catch it up where it's -- you do the intersection and no
one can tell that you're seamlessly going into the new fiscal year and widening the
roadway. But it's just on the heels of that intersection project.
De Weerd: Okay.
Hood: Yeah, it is in the five year work plan. I'm sorry, I don't have that memorized, but
-- I should bring that with me when I --
De Weerd: Really?
Hood: Yeah.
De Weerd: Council, any questions for Caleb on this one?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Just a comment on your question about how we want to follow up with this
with ACHD. You are so excellent at interpreting these and picking out things that
jumped from last year or changed from last year, other than things that have been
completed, that I have, for one, become to depend on you to point out things to us that
we should notice. And I guess my thought about whether you need to bring those to us
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 27 of 57
-- as you go through this if you see something that alarms you, I probably would like to
hear that at a City Council meeting. If you look through it and say this is pretty much
what you expected, it's moving along the direction we wanted it to, I still think it would be
appropriate to send a letter to ACHD that says even that, that, you know, thank you for
providing information to us, this looks good to us. So, either way I would support you
sending a letter and if there is something in it that's alarming, then, I probably would like
to hear about that.
Hood: Madam Mayor, if I can start with the first and last part, I guess, of your
comments, Councilman Zaremba. There is nothing overly alarming about what I see in
the budget. In fact, in the memo everything seems to be pretty positive. The bullets
that I have on page three are all advancing projects. Nothing is delayed. If there is
anything that's -- and it wasn't even -- alarming is probably a little too strong. It's -- it's --
some questions remain still about the whole economic development and there is two
million dollars that are kind of -- going to kind of be used as a set aside and how that
gets implemented is a concern, but -- but we are so early in the process I don't think
there is any reason for alarm yet, but just understand and being part of how that's
developed and, then, implement it I think is -- is key and I can include that, probably, in
a letter thanking them for, you know, seeing our project advance and budgeting them
and we would like to be part of the process to figure out how economic development
should be factored into future projects. So, if the rest of the Council is okay with that, I
will prepare a letter and have the Mayor sign it before the 22nd, which is the public
hearing. But, again, if it was something that looked out of place or I thought you would
want to know it's slipping three or four years or whatever, you know, I would call that to
your attention. But it all looks fairly positive, again, with the understanding that dollars
are going more to maintenance than the capital project. So, we won't see a whole
bunch of projects for too much longer.
Zaremba: Well, Madam Mayor and Caleb, I -- from previously having been on the
capital investment citizen's advisory committee, I'm well aware, particularly during the
years where we had a lot of growth going on and ACHD was adding a lot of lane miles
and even some of the work that they are doing now to add lane miles. We know that
maintaining lots of -- not just the structure -- the number of lane miles they had in the
county 15 years ago, but they have to maintain not only that, all the new lane miles as
well. So, from my history with that it doesn't surprise me that continues to shift. I think
most of the ACHD commissioners know that should they find at some time they need to
not only change how they divide up their pie, but increase the size of their pie, I for one
would be supportive of that as well. And there will come a point where their entire
budget could go into maintenance and I -- you know, that's, hopefully, many years off.
But because of the continued growth, if there are not enhanced revenues for ACHD it
will eventually be a maintenance only operation and I understand how that's happening
and I would support them in looking ahead of getting ahead of that.
Hood: And, Madam Mayor, just one comment. I think the highway district is in a little bit
better shape than the state, because the state is, essentially, there now. We are trying
to maintain what they have. But ACHD at least can collect some impact fees and so
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 28 of 57
there -- and they have to spend it on expansion of the system. So, I don't know that we
will ever get to zero, but your point is well taken, that, you know, going forward you need
to be creative with the dollars you already have and look at the potential for revenue
sources if you want to see more expansion type projects, so -- anyway, so I'm going to
do a letter and I expect to be -- have a positive vibe to it, so I will ask the Mayor to sign
here in the upcoming work or so. So, I will move on to planning studies and design.
Emphasis on the design part of that, because Franklin, Black Cat to Ten Mile Road
project, which I'm on page three now of the memo, had just finished up concept design.
Tim Curns, Jay Gibbons, they are both here in the audience and they have been
partnering with me on this project, attending team meetings and public involvement
meetings and we have thus far updated the Council and gotten some direction that it's
okay to move forward with a couple of nontransportation elements on this project, but
beings you're the first public involvement meeting having that concept report finished,
we want to come back to you as we are sort of at adecision-making processing going
forward where we need to ask the highway district to include certain elements in a
project or not, moving into design and those three elements in this case that we have up
to this point requested free of charge are detached sidewalks, center medians, and
lighting. Now, we are talking about, again, the section of Franklin Road between Black
Cat and Ten Mile. I think there might be a piece that annexed in there, but it's largely
rural Ada County property in there on both sides of the road. A little bit different with
this project. It is a federal aid project and the match rate is 7.34 percent. So, these
elements -- we are talking about a small portion of the overall cost to these that would
be actually a city responsibility if we choose to include them. So, for example -- and
these are ballpark, high level cost estimates, but the lighting -- Tim would like to light the
project or have lighting on the project. The cost to do that for this project are roughly
160 to 200 thousand dollars. Our cost would be roughly 12 to 15 thousand dollars to
include the lights on that segment. Jay got me some high level cost estimates for the
medians. There is about seven to eight feet they would actually landscape in the
median at about five dollars a foot, you're looking at about 80,000 dollars. It costs us
about 6,000 dollars to landscape the medians. You do have some design costs, but
those are going to be minimal. Tim can do the design in-house for the lighting. The
planter areas, detached sidewalk is a little bit -- we got thrown a little bit of a curve ball.
It's a positive I think, but it's a little bit different approach. ACHD is looking to do a local
-- or an LIDA, a low impact development on this project, which means they are basically
trying to accommodate the storm water without using any pipes. So, we are looking at
roadside swales and if they do roadside swales, then, they are going to need to put the
material essentially that they need to in this project and have a detached sidewalk but
you would be widened that buffer between cars and pedestrians, so the sidewalk would
be ten, roughly, feet from the back of curb area. So, at this point we really don't know if
the city would need to cover any of that, so -- or if we wanted to make it -- depending on
what is the baseline improvement, we may come back to you and say, hey, native
grasses look like weeds and we'd like you to do something different and, then, we may
be on the hook to bring that up or, hey, we would like to have trees in there and we may
have to buy the trees. But the maintenance -- it looks like the maintenance they will
take over, because it's -- they are going to want to have some control over that. But I
don't have a hard fast number yet on if that will cost us anything. But, again, if we do
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 29 of 57
decide in the future to put any in we are looking at a seven percent match. So, seven
cents on the dollar is a pretty good bargain to get a complete street and I will just, you
know, pitch this a little bit. It isn't the Ten Mile interchange specific plan, we did get a
little push back from -- well, I got a lot of push back from --from businesses on -- on the
mile back to the east. There was established businesses there and large vehicles there
that, honestly, weren't thought through when they put medians in that section. This
section is, essentially -- and no disrespect to people living there and there are a couple
businesses, but it's a blank slate where they can be accommodated and Jay was at the
PIM that I mentioned and talked to some of the folks and -- and they saw the medians
and they understand they would be able to make a U-turn and I'm not going to say that
they were all positive comments, but they certainly weren't all negative either or they
were more positive and understanding that, hey, the long term benefits of this outweigh
some of those inconveniences of me having to, you know, make a U-turn here
occasionally. So -- so we look for some direction from you. We will be -- and you don't
have to necessarily give us that direction today, we will come back with a cost share
application that we will need to put forth to ACHD to officially request whatever
elements, but if you know any of those are a no go now, if you wouldn't mind sharing
that, that way we don't continue to show interest to the highway district I'd appreciate
that or if all of them you're fairly comfortable with or fully supportive of, I would take that
-- that feedback at this point, too. So, I do have -- if there are any questions on cost
estimates or anything like that or maintenance, obviously, would be part of the center
medians, but Jay seemed to think that would be minimal, but -- anyway, I would like to
pause and see if you have any comments on those non-transportation elements moving
forward for this project.
De Weerd: Council, any comments?
Hood: Quiet afternoon I think with Councilman Bird not being able to speak too much,
but if you have any other comments you want to e-mail or however else, too, I will
accept those, so --
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor, Iguess -- and, Caleb part of this will come back to us via
discussion with department heads during budget setting, because I know for center
medians and if they are landscaped, you know, Steve from parks, that impacts their
budget and they have got to find the money and, you know, we have this process, so
Iguess that's going to be part of that process as this moves forward. This is, what,
FY-16?
Hood: Right.
Hoaglun: So, you know, as long as they know what's coming and we can -- we can
work that with them -- I mean if we hear push back from department heads saying,
whoa, this is getting to be too much, then, I think that's where my concern would come
into play. But for right now I think we need to move forward with this approach.
Hood: And, Madam Mayor, Councilman Hoaglun, I can appreciate that and I haven't
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 30 of 57
talked to Steve in that instance with parks, but --
Hoaglun: I was just using him as an example, so --
Hood: Sure. Will, it's really Tom and it's on Steve, somewhere that will come to a head.
I just want to -- a little disclaimer there that you certainly do have -- up until it's time to
budget and pay for these things you do have the option to opt out. The down side, if
you do -- if you say design with this and we opt out in two or three, four years, when it's
time to actually come up with money, we would be on the hook to redesign the project,
to put it back to what they would have given us in the first place. So, I don't know what
that would cost, but there would be some fee that we would be charged to redesign it,
unlike the Franklin project where they just said, okay, we got to go back there with no
medians -- in this case we would have to pay somebody to put it back with no medians
there or attach the sidewalk or whatever the case may be. So, I just want to point that
out. There would be some cost and in this case it would probably be less than your
match rate, but, anyways, I just want to point that out, because, you're right, the hard
costs are really on the back end, but if you change your mind anytime in there --
Hoaglun: Okay. That's good to know, Caleb. I appreciate that. And I guess for
department heads for them to know that -- and I know you communicate this, so maybe
they are looking at their capital improvement plans, you know, knowing that's out there a
ways, that if we see concerns as they present their CIP to us next budget cycle and we
are looking down a couple years going, you know, maybe we ought to rethink it now for
what's being -- I don't think this one is going to be that big of a deal, but there may be
some project that that's how we have to approach it, so are we looking far enough down
the road to see the big things coming.
Hood: Thank you. Okay.
De Weerd: You know, Caleb, I guess it would be helpful for you and staff -- the various
departments that are affected by upcoming projects -- anticipating what some of those
expectations or cost share discussions are going to be and, then, come back and walk
through project by project so we can even start projecting maybe even into our capital
improvement plan -- a plan of what costs are going to be and if we are willing to do that
and -- because we do that with all of our capital projects so we are not caught unaware
and that we are saving and expecting those costs. That way you can definitely include
it in our planning process. I would like to see more of that approach, so we know what
we are getting into. And as Finance does with all of our other capital improvement
plans, build in the ongoing costs into those discussions as well.
Hood: And we could do that. I just want to let you know, too, just recently, within the
past couple three months we have actually established an SOP between -- primarily
between Planning Division, Public Works, utility coordinator Tim Curns and parks, Jay
Gibbons. Because those are the three that really are -- it also includes police and fire,
but -- but that way everybody is in the know and in the loop and you can start budgeting
and planning far out in our CIP and, you know, 20 years out, okay, these are the
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 31 of 57
projects. We haven't got to the level of all the elements that will be included with each
project and cost estimates, but as the project goes into concept we can communicate
and understand, then, here is an element we would like to carry forward. Right now the
only -- this project is the only one with center medians in the rest of the city. There may
be one other section -- one other mile section, but pretty much this is it for planned
meetings. Now, the Council anytime can say, hey, we'd like to have medians as you go
into design something else. But right now we don't have any other plans that call for
center medians and we always start off at least saying we'd like detached sidewalks.
So, that's kind of a given where we would like to start. Street lights we can give Tim. I
don't know how he decides when street lights are appropriate or not, but just so you
know those are pretty much the three --
De Weerd: He does have guidelines for it. It's not hocus pocus stuff
Hood: Yeah.
De Weerd: I don't think. But it's detached sidewalks, it's lighting, it's going to be even
if there is -- oh, wow, I just lost it. That's scary. Oh. Bicycle paths. Because I hate
on-road bike paths, as everyone knows, and looking at -- at that piece, too.
Hood: Okay.
De Weerd: So --
Hood: And that's -- yeah. We can certainly take that coordination to the next level and
include it in the budgeting and forecasting and things, too. I didn't know, though, that
you weren't a fan of on-street bicycling, so that is --
De Weerd: They are not -- they are safe. And anyone who wants to ride in them they
are going to ride in the middle of traffic anyway, so it's -- if we want to change for future
generations to be bike riders -- parents are not going to put their kids on the road. They
are not going to ride bikes. And until you get a safer system for bicyclists we are not
going to change behaviors, so -- and we are a family friendly community and I will not
put my grandkids out on those roads on their bikes. It's scarier than all get out.
Hood: And I -- yeah. I can't argue with you there. I think a lot of those cases, you
know, are meant for commuters. Adults. But we need to also accommodate other
nondrivers.
De Weerd: And I know commuter bicyclists they -- they will ride in traffic, the bike lanes,
and recreational bicyclists far exceed those that are going to go put their life at risk out
on our streets.
Hood: Well, we need to have -- we need to further that discussion, then, just -- not now
necessarily, but just because the standard now with the highway district is to have a five
and a half foot on street. That's not at our cost, it's just you get that. If we want to look
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 32 of 57
at something that makes it ten foot and detached so it's more like amulti-use path,
greenbelt type thing, we can explore that. There may be, you know, implications and
we may have to step up with more cost share type things, but we can -- we can --
De Weerd: We can save the pavement on the street and put it next to the --
Hood: A lot of it shouldn't be any -- any different. As you bring it back to intersections
and things like that you may, but we can explore that some more. I just -- I didn't know
you weren't a fan, so now I know.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: I swear at every opportunity I will state that. Yes, Mr. Zaremba
Zaremba: Two things. Just as a thought, I think you're right and way back in past
history I was a bicycle commuter myself and I mixed it up with the traffic. You -- the
issue anytime you're talking about mixing pedestrians and bicycles and cars are the
different speeds that they all travel at and the difference between recreational bicyclists
and commuter bicyclists, they -- the commuter bicyclist is more moving at the speed of
a vehicle and trying -- trying to do the things that a vehicle would do. When I was doing
it I just wanted to make sure that was safe as well. But I certainly understand that the
difficulty is all the different speeds that the different components travel at. That was one
subject. The other subject is on the similar subject of alternate transportation -- and this
comes up at Valley Regional Transit meetings -- they have recently revised their bus
stop requirements to comply with ADA requirements about what size the pad has to be
at a place where there is a bus stop. Now, Meridian is not yet heavily into having bus
transportation, but somewhere in our thinking of what's going to have to be either in or
adjacent to right of ways, I think we need to start anticipating where a bus system would
go if it did and start talking about adequate -- at least leaving a space for an adequate
bus stop, even if we don't require somebody to put the bus stop in. So, that -- in some
places that's in addition to the sidewalk that's there, but we need to factor that in at
some point.
Hood: Yeah. That's a tough one. We thought about it. It's -- you're sort of stuck
between a rock and a hard place there, but you can't -- you don't know where buses are
going to necessarily want to go or -- and can't require that with development, planning
and designing that and preserving that. I can look into some more, Ijust -- I don't know
how we can accommodate a future that we don't know what it looks like or what the
need may be for pull outs or in line or how that's all going to -- I mean I don't think they
want bus pull outs, but -- but accommodating all the users at that intersection of bus,
ped, traffic, it will -- we will look into it and I will probably involve you in that discussion.
Zaremba: I agree it's a challenge.
De Weerd: Yeah. I --
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 33 of 57
Zaremba: Not only in forecasting, but in -- in even considering it.
De Weerd: Yeah. Certainly our two Valley Regional Transit representatives should be
part of that discussion, but I will go back to the bike path is we don't have to reinvent the
wheel. I -- my husband comes from a country that they have off-street bike routes that
are also pedestrian and they don't have conflicts and maybe it's because they have
done it for decades or centuries -- when was the bike invented? But, you know, it's not
something new. But if we want a generational change and if we want to turn
recreational bike -- bicyclists into commuter bicyclists, they can ride on the same
facilities, but you will never have a generational change if we keep our systems the way
they are today, because they won't start when they are young.
Hood: Well, Madam Mayor, I appreciate those and I'm glad also that Justin is here,
because he is the right guy to hear this conversation and I will get with him and we will
-- I'm not going to promise that we will change the world overnight, but we will have a
discussion anyways about what we can do differently.
De Weerd: I have all the confidence in the world in you, Caleb
Hood: okay. I will try anyway.
De Weerd: And Justin.
Hood: Moving right along to some positive news. And I'm going to combine -- I'm still
on page three of the memo. The Meridian interchange task force with the first one
under ITD projects. The task force is working on sending a support letter to ITD on the
draft 2013-2017 ITIP and that is the -- the point of the ITD projects that the comment
period is currently open for those of you that have been under a rock or out of the
county or whatever. Meridian Road interchange is in the draft ITIP at ITD and the
comment period is currently open and so I have crafted a letter and that's the last thing
in your packet and this is the one I told you at the beginning of my presentation that I'd
like you to spend a little bit of time looking over. We have some time. We have until the
end of the month to actually submit something to ITD, but I would encourage you to
read the draft letter -- it is draft and give me any comments you have. It is -- essentially
supports the interchange being in the draft ITIP and I'd like to send something over to
them -- to the state here again by end of the month, so if you have comments now -- it
looks like the Mayor does -- and I will pick those up as I leave the podium. But I would
like to work with Robert and make sure that the Council is okay with me obtaining the
Mayor's signature and shipping it off. The other thing I would encourage you to do is
individually comment, then, to the state of the draft ITIP. You can -- you can comment
-- comment at itd.idaho.gov and send your comments on the ITIP and that's -- right now
they have -- similar to our website they have three pictures that scroll on their main
page and one of those is a linked comment -- review and comment on the ITIP, so --
De Weerd: Caleb, if you will maybe send that link via e-mail to each of the Council
Members and myself and they can just click on it and type away.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 34 of 57
Hood: Will do.
De Weerd: Okay.
Hood: And I will continue to work with -- with the Mayor's staff and any other comments
that trickle in here on that draft letter, so --
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I would say that looking through your draft letter to ITD I'm in favor of it. It
looks good to me.
Hood: I just -- before we leave that topic, I do -- you know, this letter is pretty much
supportive of the project. I'd like to explore with you a little bit at this point a follow up
letter, assuming that this project becomes a project or stays a project at ITD about some
of those elements -- I will say cost share, because everybody knows what that means at
this point. Elements potentially for Meridian Road. With Ten Mile I wasn't involved
through that whole process. Steve I think led a lot of the charge there and Matt
Ellsworth to an extent as well. I wasn't as involved in that. But it will be time soon so
that ITD -- you know, if we are interested in things like landscaping or any other
esthetics esthetics -- the form liner that was used with the family -- I think they are
holding hands -- walking along -- you know, if we want any of those types of things --
you know, I think we still have that form liner that we could probably just say, hey, we
would like to replicate that or buy a new one, things like that, though. If there are any
elements that -- again I will say more esthetic elements. There are some other things
like pedestrian environments and things like that that we would like them to
accommodate, but those things that -- they probably aren't going to address unless we
ask for them. We will just get native grasses or -- you know, they will seed it. If there
are things like that that we should be including in this. Again, the time to ask is going to
be coming up September, October time frame, because this thing is going to move fast.
So, I just want to plant that seed. I don't really know how to proceed forward with this,
because it's such a moving target and, again, it's going to go so fast, I don't know how
we get into the mix with that, so -- I'd also in that same letter -- draft letter -- at least draft
in my head -- encourage them to go with design, bid, build type of process that we can
be at the table and we can provide comment -- review and comment on some of those
elements, rather than just design, build, and we are probably going to be pretty much
cut out of the whole process about what we would like to see included in the
interchange to meet our community's needs. And that would be the other kind of
overarching theme for that letter would be, hey, we'd like to be a partner with you in this
project, so, please, let us know how we can assist you and that's what I would like to
send, again, that letter after the ITIP is adopted. So, we need to start thinking about
some of those things that maybe we -- we'd like to see included with this project or
maybe not, but if there are some I'd like to send another again the first of the fall. It's
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 35 of 57
probably District Three and just say, hey, can we partner with you. So, I don't know if
you have any comments at this point or not, but I just wanted to put that out there, so --
the last couple of things I just wanted to update you on that aren't in the memo. The
downtown Meridian neighborhood pedestrian bicycle plan, there is a draft out there that
Mr. Lucas will have ready for public comment and agency comment. I have already
looked at the draft draft and commented back to him, but it will be posted on the
website. This is the downtown area where they -- there was a public information
meeting held at Meridian Elementary in June and this looks at all pedestrian facilities
and bicycle facilities in the downtown area and, then, go work those into the community
programs and budget process. But, anyways, that plan will come back in September
with Justin and present that draft plan to you and, then, he will go to his commission and
sometime the end of the year, first of next, we will have a comp plan amendment where
we cross-reference that plan -- that infrastructure plan going toward a new comp plan.
So, it gets incorporated into, essentially, ACHD's programming process, but I wanted to
quickly update you on that. And, then, to follow up that we have aright-of-way
encroachment with the businesses and anybody else that wants to come tomorrow
afternoon 3:00 p.m., Conference Room A, to discuss use of the downtown sidewalk
realm. So, that's moving forward still and -- not necessarily transportation related, but in
public right of way, so I thought I would let you know that that's going on tomorrow
afternoon at 3:00 o'clock, so -- with that, Madam Mayor, I will stand for any additional
comments or questions the Council may have.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any questions?
Hood: Thank you.
C. Legal Department: Discussion on Traffic Safety Commission
Recommendation for No Parking on Ustick and Meridian Rd.
Adjacent to Settler's Park
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. Item 8-C is under our Legal Department. I will turn this
over to Mr. Nary.
Nary: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I'd like to introduce Ryan
Lancaster. He's the vice-chair of our traffic safety commission and he will actually do
the presentation of this item, but to just introduce it, we have had a recent discussion in
the traffic safety commission in regards to parking adjacent to Settlers Park on both the
Meridian Road side and the Ustick side and we had a recommendation from the
commission that we wanted to bring forward to the Council. If the Council would agree,
then, we would communicate that to ACHD. So, if it's all right I will turn it over to Ryan
for the presentation.
De Weerd: Thank you. And welcome, Ryan. Thank you for being here.
Lancaster: Well, thank you, Madam Mayor and Members of the Council. It's an honor
to be representing the traffic safety commission. As Mr. Nary said, I'm Ryan Lancaster.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 36 of 57
I'm a citizen member of the traffic safety commission, as well as my occupation is I'm a
professional engineer and a professional traffic operations engineer, which I think
means I know almost about -- almost as much about transportation as Caleb does, so --
and I am here to talk about parking adjacent to Settlers Park. Just a little background
about why I'm here talking about it. At our May commission meeting this topic was
discussed at length, as well as in our July meeting. I believe this originated with a
citizen request to the -- I believe to the Mayor's office that was forwarded to the traffic
safety commission. So, that was discussed because of the citizen request, as well as a
presentation by the Meridian PAL sports people requesting that something be done
about parking near the park and there was an additional presentation by the Parks
Department regarding their plans for additional parking west of Settlers Park. At our
July meeting we unanimously made a recommendation that parking should be restricted
or prohibited adjacent to the park and I guess I will also bring up -- you know, this has to
do with intersection safety, sight distances. I think, you know, there has been some
increased awareness in our community recently after some tragic events, a death of a
young person in our community and, you know, I don't want to make light of that or by
any means reduce the severity of that incident, but -- and nor do I want to make this
sound like a knee jerk reaction that suddenly we should go fix everything, but it does
bring to light some concerns that may be present near the park. This is just an aerial
photograph of the park. I'm sure you're all familiar with it. This is Settlers Park. On the
right side of the slide is Meridian Road. On the south -- or, I'm sorry, on the bottom of
the slide is Ustick Road. Currently vehicles park particularly during sporting event times
they park adjacent to the pavement on both Meridian Road and Ustick Road on both
sides of the road. This is just an image I pulled off of Google Street view and this -- let's
see if I can work this fancy board. So, in this area here and over here and, then,
beyond the entrance to the park that's currently where vehicles are using as parking and
I want to make a distinction here that throughout this -- you know, this recommendation
we are not saying the recommendation should be to remove parking, you know, this
isn't parking per se, this is, you know, public right of way that's being used as parking,
but it's not parking stalls or, you know, designated parking. So, I just wanted to make
that -- that, you know, designation clear here at the -- at the outset. Okay. If I can
figure out how to -- there we go. So, this is what we are talking about. So, particularly
the driveways -- or the approaches into Settlers Park from Meridian and Ustick Roads.
This diagram shows sight triangles. So, basically, the shaded gray area. These areas
that should have no obstructions in them or very low obstructions in them, so to not
impair driver's vision. Currently, you know, there is vehicles that park in those sight
triangles, thus restricting their vision, the vehicles leaving the park. This is from the
main guidebook for roadway design. I'm not going to read this to you, but, basically, it
says, you know, within these sight triangles as many obstructions should be removed as
possible, including buildings, parked vehicles, hedges, trees, bushes, unmowed grass,
fences, and the terrain itself. I'm not going to tell you what this equation means, but just
so you know, you know, this is all based on studies and, you know, research, it's not just
made up stuff that we are talking about. So, that equation leads to these distances, so
we are talking about this B distance or the amount -- or the length of area that has to be
clear of obstructions. So, I have circled 35 miles per hour and 40 miles per hour here,
because those are the posted speeds on Meridian Road and Ustick Road respectively
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 37 of 57
at this time. We are going on the posted speed, as opposed to the prevailing speed
that's being driven for -- you know, theoretically those are the same, but we are going
on the posted speed. So, what this means is, you know, a distance of 335 feet needs to
be clear of obstructions for right turning vehicles, so the -- this is the sight triangle to the
left of the driveway or 385 feet for Ustick Road. And, then, there is an accompanying
left turn site distance, which is a little bit longer, probably because the turning movement
is longer to make for aleft -- left turning vehicle and so that the distances given here are
a little bit longer. Now, I do want to point out while, you know, this B distance is shown,
that doesn't necessarily restrict the ability to have parking in this area that I just circled
in red. You know, it can be restricted. ACHD may elect to do that, but they don't
necessarily have to. It's this -- this area right here that is really the concern for safety.
Oops. Now what did I do? There we go. You have these fancy toys here.
De Weerd: You do better than our staff does, so --
Lancaster: Well -- so, here is, again, the aerial photo of Settlers Park. So, with that
knowledge of where these sight triangles are and what they mean now, this is just a
visual representation of what those sight triangles would look like. I have shown them in
red. I realize it's kind of small here, so this is zoomed in a little bit. This is on Ustick
Road. So that minimum distances that would need to be -- have parking restricted here
are shown -- some of the dimensions don't show up too well, but, basically, 140 feet
either side of this west driveway or approach and, then, 100 feet or 140 feet at the east
approach. Those are minimums. The maximum being the 390 feet or the 445 feet that
was shown on the tables before. Same with Meridian Road. You know, roughly 300
feet minimum there. These yellow rectangles that I show are the size of passenger
vehicles. So, that's where passenger vehicles could begin to safely park.
Hoaglun: Could we jump back one more to the very first one? I just had a question
right here.
Lancaster: Okay.
Hoaglun: Yeah. The one -- the main one coming out from the ball field, the one on the
left, is 140 feet and, then, the one coming by the tennis court it's 100 feet.
Lancaster: Yeah.
Hoaglun: And why is that one different? Why is that not 140 feet as well?
Lancaster: That's a good question. The geometry of the road is a little bit different
there. You know, there is a right turn lane there, so the road is a little bit wider, so this --
that triangle is a little bit different shape and it, you know, departs from the road quicker.
Hoaglun: That's right. I don't know why I forgot about the right turn lane, because when
people are -- when you're headed east on Ustick Road and someone is turning left and
you're backed up by the Chevron station wondering why there is a right turn lane and
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 38 of 57
not a center turn lane -- I forgot about that.
Lancaster: Yeah. Right. I can fix that for you, but --
Hoaglun: That would be awesome.
Lancaster: So, the proposal from the commission, then, is to post no parking anytime
signs in these areas, somewhere between the minimum distances that I have shown --
and these are approximate minimum distances, by the way. And, you know, the
maximum distances shown in those tables. So, it would eliminate, you know, a fair
amount of what is now used as parking adjacent to the park. It wouldn't eliminate all -- I
mean it could be. There is no reason why it doesn't have to be, but that's the
recommendation from the commission and I thank you for your question. If you have
other questions please jump in as well. But some other things that I think need to be
considered -- you know, this is a safety issue. It's -- this is really -- you know, these
parking prohibitions are probably something that should have been in place since the
day the park opened. You know, the fact that they haven't been isn't necessarily
neglect on anybody's part. I don't think it is. You know, in general we don't post signs
unless you need them. You know, so now that the park's been open for a few years
and there is sort of familiarity with the users and there is an issue recognized -- a safety
issue recognized, you know, now it's probably appropriate to -- to place these -- the
restrictions. I also wanted to mention just briefly, you know, luxury versus necessity.
You know, the former director of ITD used to talk about, you know, building a Cadillac
Road versus a Chevy road; right? You don't always need all the bells and whistles. To
me this isn't, you know, bells and whistles, this is, you know, the standard equipment
that we should have. You know, you expect your Chevy to come with windows; right?
And this is, essentially, what we are providing is the windows for the driver to exit the
park. A concern might be, you know, where does this parking go after it's been
displaced. You know, it's my understanding that currently the -- the parking structures
there at the park are somewhat underutilized, but there is concern that, you know, these
vehicles will find other places to park on the road, whether across the street or now
crossing Meridian Road or Ustick Road may become an issue or displacement of just
parking to -- to neighborhoods adjacent to the park, particularly the neighborhood just to
the north. If I go back to this picture right here. This area right up here you can imagine
may become a destination, if it's not already, for some of that parking. So, it may be
advantageous to place parking restrictions there as well. So, there are some
consequences that come with it. I think they are minor in relation to the safety benefits,
but they are there nonetheless. You know, I have mentioned there as well potentially
upset park patrons. You know, the Mayor's office may receive more complaints than
usual. This happens. Until, you know, people get used to it at least. And, then, finally,
you know, enforcement is an issue as well. You know, it doesn't make any sense to put
up no parking signs if it's never enforced. John Gonzales, an officer with the police
department, is part of the commission and he seems to be supportive of this. He was
part of the unanimous vote to make this recommendation. So, our recommendation,
then, is for the city to request that ACHD restrict parking on Meridian Road and Ustick
Road on these sides adjacent to the park, not necessarily the opposite side, although
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 39 of 57
parking restrictions could be placed there as well -- for at least 300 feet on Meridian
Road and, then, acombined -- what is that -- just over 500 feet on Ustick -- on Ustick
Road. So, that's the recommendation of the traffic safety commission that we bring to
you as a council and ask that you make that request to the Ada County Highway
District. With that I'm open to any questions that you might have. I hope I haven't bored
you with all this engineering jargon, but if you have any other questions I would be
happy to answer them.
De Weerd: Well, Ryan, I greatly appreciate the detail and the time and effort you put
into this presentation. It was very helpful. I certainly agree with it and I know it was a
result from a concerned citizen that lives on the other side of -- south of Ustick in
regards to safety and he had a couple of other things, but certainly think this is a great
start. My concern continues to be parking on the south side of that street. I think we
have all driven down Ustick and had the parking on both side. I think parking -- if we
are going to allow any until that road is improved, belongs on the north side, not on the
vision triangles, but on the north side, because the problem is if you have parking on the
south side of the street you have kids between cars wanting to cross the street where
they are not supposed to cross the street, that's 40 miles an hour and, you know, in my
opinion it's recipe for a disaster and so I agree with the parent that brought this up and
asked for the discussion. So, as -- as we are making recommendations for those site
triangles I think it's equally important to prohibit parking on the south side of the street
and on the east side of Meridian Road, because we have created an attractive
nuisance, if you want to call a park that, and I would never call a park that. But people
are people and regardless if there is parking available in those parking lots, they want to
get closest to the field they need to be to and the least amount of walking as possible
and we need to give our police officers enforcement tools by signing that, that they can
start ticketing or telling to keep that area safe.
Lancaster: And I would agree with restricting the parking on the opposite side of the
road as well. You know, this recommendation that came from the commission was
what we could all agree on at that particular time. So, you know, it's -- I would think it's
certainly appropriate to ask ACHD to restrict or prohibit parking on opposite side of the
road as well.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Was there a reason why they didn't address that east side and south side
parking on Meridian and Ustick?
Lancaster: I think the -- one of the reasons is, you know, we are asking for these
parking restrictions for safety for that sight triangle, that the driveways on the east side
of Meridian Road and the south side of Ustick Road, those sight triangles are slightly
encroached upon, but not to the same extent as they are on the driveways to the park
and so it's not quite the same safety issue, if you will. So, I think that's the only reason.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 40 of 57
De Weerd: I guess, Ryan, in terms of the site triangles that's correct, but it doesn't -- it's
not the same scenario on Meridian Road, which is wider and it has better shoulders and
certainly on the east side of Meridian Road you have a sidewalk that will connect the
pedestrian or the child to the intersection -- we know they don't do that, but at least they
have a safe route to the intersection to cross there. On the south side of Ustick there is
nothing. There is a very narrow shoulder. There is no sidewalk. And so even if we
were to say there is a safe route to a safe crossing, there isn't. So, we don't want
people on the south side of Ustick and trying to get to where it is legal to cross, let alone
encouraging them to illegally cross it, because they can't get to the crossing. So, that's
the urgency, in my opinion, and Steve might have something to add.
Siddoway: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. This is an issue that's
familiar to us. We have been wrestling with it for some time. This is the first time I have
seen the actual recommendation, so trying to process the actual distances, but I can tell
you I came with -- having formed my opinion of the south side of Ustick Road being an
important one to restrict parking on, because of the kids that -- just the people, not just
kids -- the people that run across that road. I am supportive of restricting parking on
either side of the accesses into the -- into the park. I was hopeful that we would keep --
try and keep some of the adjacent parking, because I think if we eliminate too much of
the on-street, if we call it that, parking right adjacent to the park, we will be pushing that
up into the subdivision or don't know where. But -- so, the distances are perhaps a little
bit longer than I was anticipating, but they are not that long. I think it could -- could go
with these. It's probably four or five car lengths back from -- from each side of the
entrance. So, getting a better visibility as you're pulling out is -- is important and I --this
has some engineering before it. One question, if I address Mr. Lancaster, is the -- the
tables seemed to be a road-road intersection, major road, minor road and I'm wondering
if my -- if the driveways for the purposes of that table count as a minor road or if
driveways are something different than a minor road.
Lancaster: No. That's a good question. The -- in this case the driveways would be
what we consider the minor road. We are treating these approaches or driveways like a
major road or a minor road intersection. Yeah.
Siddoway: Okay.
Lancaster: So, that's more or less how they function.
Siddoway: So, I'm definitely supportive of, you know, keeping some no parking areas
back from the entrances and definitely supportive of the opposite side of the street
being no parking and I know as a result of that we need to think about what our -- what
additional parking opportunities are available. So, Mike and I came prepared today to
present to Council some of the -- the additional parking scenarios, including temporary
parking or future permanent parking. I don't know if the Council wants to hear or
discuss those today or if you would like that for a future discussion, but we do have
some plans and some draft cost estimates available.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 41 of 57
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor. I do, Steve if it wouldn't take too long, but -- and also the time
frame for that. I mean we can, you know, do this as fast as ACHD gets to it, but, then,
we are waiting four years for a parking lot to come about, it's -- it may be something we
just have to live with, but I certainly wouldn't mind.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I agree. And I would just comment as we start into this, as a person who
drives a reasonably low car where I sit fairly low to the road, I'm very sensitive to the
sight triangles. They seem to affect me more than others and these particular areas
when I drive through here I just hold my breath and it isn't just how well the people
entering and exit the driveways can see, but when I'm through traffic I'm concerned
about the turning traffic sneaking up on me as well and the kids, you know, darting out
between. So, I appreciate the effort that's begun in this and perhaps this is something
Steve is going to get to. I was going to ask -- at one point we talked about trying to
develop a parking lot that will eventually be part of a future school and I was going to
ask how that is going. But I guess one of the things that makes this decision even a
decision is this is a park that's kind of a victim of its own success. I mean why do we
have this many cars coming here? Well, people love this park. They want to come
here. They want to do things in this park. And from a safety standpoint I think it is
necessary that we do fix this problem. I know it certainly helps me personally in my own
travels through that area. But as Steve is about to do, we do need to discuss where
they are going to park.
De Weerd: Well -- and I will tell you, Council, it's not just the parking, it is -- as maybe
we need to mark it under lessons learned, because as we approve subdivisions on
streets that are not improved and they are not on the five year plan, we have to give our
kids safe routes to schools and to the parks, because that is a huge attraction to the
parks. There is on -- and I won't ask to switch back to the picture that was just there,
but on the south side of Ustick there is a minor street that is just across from one of the
entrances into our parking lot and there is only 13 homes on that -- on that subdivision
right now, but when -- I think that's 3rd or 4th Street. When that's connected it's going to
connect to a number of homes and that's the route that kids are going to take and if you
look on the south side of Ustick, as I have already noted, there is not a sidewalk to be
seen along our park property to get the kids from those subdivisions or even where
those apartments are being built on Ustick just to the west of the park on the other side
of the street. You know kids are going live there. How are they going to get to the
park? And so like we have said in the past as we looked at subdivisions coming on line
that are close to schools and with no sidewalk connections, we might want to consider
that to our parks as well. So, again, how do we keep our kids safe.
Lancaster: And, Madam Mayor, if I can address a couple of the comments made. You
know, the comments that you and the Council have made are appropriate. I think we
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 42 of 57
are mixing a couple of issues or problems that are solved similarly, but not necessarily,
you know, the same. This presentation that I have made in this recommendation at this
time at least from the traffic safety commission is related to vehicles and providing that
sight distance for drivers.
De Weerd: Yes, we do have two different topics.
Lancaster: Right. Yes. So, it's not specifically addressing pedestrians or crossing
Ustick or Meridian Roads. You know, there are those doing the same thing, right,
restricting or prohibiting parking, but --
De Weerd: Well, however, once you put a car on the other side of the road it's usually
driven by people that are parking there to go to the park, so, then, they become
pedestrians,
Lancaster: Right. Right. Yeah. But we have approached it with just, you know, the
driver in mind at this time. The ultimate scenario here is that both Ustick Road and
Meridian Road will some day be widened to five or -- five plus lane cross-section, you
know, with curb and gutter and all of the parking will go away. So, you know, that's the
ultimate, you know, scenario for what will happen here. You know, these are all sort of
interim solutions I guess. Safety measures. So, I guess that's -- if there is no other
questions for me I thank you for the opportunity to present on behalf of the traffic safety
commission and it's my professional and my personal recommendation, as well as the
recommendation of the traffic safety commission to request from ACHD to restrict or
prohibit park -- some of the parking at least near Settlers Park.
De Weerd: Thank you, Ryan. And thank the commission on our behalf for looking at
this first piece to the vehicle safety aspect and those sight triangles and, I agree, it
should have been done as the park was put in and we do have to mark that under
lessons learned.
Lancaster: Thank you.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor. Ryan, before you -- are you sticking around to listen to this
presentation?
Lancaster: Sure. So, if we have questions that might come up you would still be
available?
Lancaster: I can be here for you.
Hoaglun: Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that.
Siddoway: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, we have been looking at parking
options adjacent to the site. The first one is in conjunction with the school district. This
is the school district property. It's between the ball fields in Settlers Park and Venable
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 43 of 57
Lane on its west. The school district earlier this year did sign and offer an easement to
the city on this property for a temporary parking lot with the basic caveat that we agree
to take on the maintenance of the weeds on the balance of the site. So, they give us
the right to build parking, we mow the weeds on the site in return and, then, we have to
remove the parking when they are ready to build the school. This was the first scenario
that we came up with. We have met a couple of times with Perry Palmer in the fire
department. One of the issues that we have with this scenario is the long driveway and
being off the street. We would be required to construct this to fire truck standards, even
though it's a temporary parking lot. The cost estimate for this one, which is basically ten
inches of pit run over four inches of -- or four inches or recycled asphalt over ten inches
of pit run, is a little over 60,000 dollars, plus whatever contingency based on one bid.
So, it's a 60, 65 thousand dollar solution. The school district has no plans in their five to
ten year work program to anticipate building this. We would probably get several years'
worth use out of it. We, then, did look at a different layout that put it right up against
Venable Lane. The pro is that it cut the cost almost in half. The estimate for this one is
about, you know, 36 to 40 thousand dollars and it's -- it doesn't have any of the pit run
that would support a fire truck, because it's all within fire hose length of Venable. So,
this is just basically recycled asphalt over a compacted sub grade. So, this is a 35 to 40
thousand dollar solution, as opposed to a 60 to 65 thousand dollar solution. We have
had one meeting with the both MYB and PAL representatives to see if they could
participate in this. I still haven't got a formal response, but they certainly aren't able to
fund the whole thing or a majority of it. I have identified 40,000 dollars -- or up to 40,000
dollars of our Settlers Park budget that -- cost savings from Settlers Village Square
phase one that we could divert toward this project if it was so desired by Council. So,
there is two scenarios. The real down side of the proposed parking that you see here is
that it is still quite a walk from the field and if the -- if the intent is to get the new parking
as convenient as possible so that people will use it, this is still going to be quite a walk,
you know, across the rest of that school district property, so --
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor. Question, Steve. This one looks bigger than the other one in
terms of the -- but it could be my imagination. Is there adifference -- how many spaces
were you looking at here?
Siddoway: They are both 150 parking spaces. This one is longer. If you look at the
other one it has -- see, this one has a single road in the middle. The other one has --
has two roads in the middle. They are both designed to be 150 parking spaces.
Hoaglun: Okay. Great. Thank you. That was actually Councilman Bird's question,
but --
Siddoway: I think the scales of the maps are a little bit -- this is a little bit smaller than
this one. If you just look at the size of the school district property it actually -- just the
way it was printed, it printed a little bit larger.
Hoaglun: My thinking, Madam Mayor and Steve, is the same as yours. You know, the
whole -- why people are parking along the road is because they want to be close. I
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 44 of 57
mean they want to be right there by the field, because many times on weekends when I
have gone by and there is a tournament going on and you look at the parking lot along
Meridian Road and it's half full or half empty. I mean there is room and people just need
to walk through the park and -- but they want to be right there and access to their
vehicles and that sort of thing. But, you know, it does give an option to get closer. I
don't know if one of the options is if we have 40,000 dollars this is the option, but if the
other two groups can kick in money and we get to the 60, then, we can move it closer
and do it that way. Or if we just say this is the money available and that's how it's going
to have to be, they are just going to have to -- have to walk. I mean they are going to a
park, they need the exercise; right? So --
Siddoway: I have a couple more to share with you real quick. If there is a concern over
putting the money towards temporary parking and you want to look at permanent
parking solutions, we do have the overflow parking lot, but it's on the -- it's up against
Meridian Road, so we are now talking about the Meridian Road side of the park. In that
area up against Meridian Road we have -- we have a grass area right now that's been
designed as overflow parking and to accept parking in the future. We can get 125
parking stalls in there. The total cost for 125 permanent parking stalls, though, is a little
over 350,000 dollars. So, we, then, looked at what could we do to -- to reduce that and
if you kind of envision two halves there, so if we were to build the -- the north half, that
estimate is about 220,000 dollars and if we were to just build -- the south half. North
half. Yeah. If we were to build the other half, then, that one comes out at about
180,000 dollars. I will also just add for the discussion that we were before Council last
month talking about the tennis project and as part of the tennis project we do anticipate
adding 36 stalls as part of the tennis complex right there along Ustick Road. So, we do
anticipate that one happening. We have the easement in place that would allow us to
construct the -- you know, either of the two temporary parking scenarios near Venable
that would be closer to MYB and help them and, then, the permanent parking would
actually be of most benefit to PAL in the spring and fall when they have flag football.
That's when you see that area really full and we currently restrict the number of games
and they are actually turning kids away from their flag football program based on
available fields. We would be -- we have space for it, but not parking for it, so we are
holding their -- their programs back a little bit right now and if we were to add permanent
parking they could open more fields and accommodate more kids, so lots of different
options here.
Hoaglun: But, Madam Mayor, one of the options that you showed with the parking
along Meridian Road and the big price tag, of course, the other day driving by I saw in
that grass area there was a football team and a soccer team practicing in that grass
area. So, we take out green space to put in parking and, you know, we are squeezing
that balloon, whether it's parking or activities, where do they go? They are going to go
somewhere and sometimes that's a little unpredictable, but --
Siddoway: It is. And that area does get used for -- for practices. There are usually
other areas they could move to out of it, but -- but it is used, so it's a trade off for sure.
And we use it for overflow parking on some of the biggest nights for -- of movie night
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 45 of 57
already. It does have a curb cut that's already been built into it on -- right at this location
with the existing parking layout. So, it has been designed to accommodate permanent
parking, but right now it's grass and only used in overflow situations.
De Weerd: Any other comments? Mr. Zaremba?
Zaremba: Looking at the west end again, is -- what is that school property for? Is that
an elementary school --
De Weerd: Elementary.
Siddoway: It is an elementary school.
Zaremba: Middle school or something like that. Okay. Well, that probably eliminates
my next question. What I was thinking about is could we ask the school district
whenever they are going to build what is their design and could we build their parking lot
for them and use it now, but if it's an elementary school it probably is not going to have
a configuration of parking that would serve our purposes.
Siddoway: Well, we do hope in the long term to use the school's parking for overflow
parking. I think that's been on the table for a number of years. But their parking would
probably be out closer to Venable than in the back near the ball fields.
Hoaglun: And, Madam Mayor and Councilman Zaremba, it would be similar to Fuller
Park, which is Western Ada, but I remember parking in Chaparral and walking over to
the ball fields there, which is very handy. That would -- the people could still utilize the
parking and access the park, we'd just have to work with them on the design element.
So, that's the only thing attractive about this is I don't see the parking going away. It
changes if we do a temporary and they eventually do build a school, but it could be
several years. We don't know how long that time frame is, so --
Siddoway: It could well be more than ten years at this point. At least based on current
growth projections.
Hoaglun: Yeah. It could last us quite a while and it would be a good investment to put
in parking here and get people close to the ball field. The ball fields aren't going away.
Tournaments will continue to be held. That park is going to be heavily used, we just
need to address the parking issue, I guess, in the best way possible with the funds
available. And I don't know if 350,000 dollars -- I don't see that as being another option.
Siddoway: I actually had that proposed in the first round of the CIP a few years ago, but
during the CIP balancing process it came out along with several other things.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 46 of 57
Zaremba: I guess I would ask the police department if there are any surveillance issues
with putting a parking lot in this location. I'm assuming that the rest of it is a level lot and
we are keeping the weeds down. Anybody driving on Venable would be able to look
into this area I would think. Are there any issues that we need to be concerned about?
De St. Germaine: None that I see. I talked with John Gonzales about this, too, and we
have -- it is an issue area, but this would be ten times better than what was proposed.
Siddoway: I guess from my perspective what I use is some direction from Council if
you'd like us to pursue either of the temporary parking scenarios and if you'd like us to
pursue any of the permanent parking scenarios on the other end of the park.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I would say in conjunction with the original current discussion, I would
encourage us to ask ACHD to post the triangles and -- the sight triangles as no parking
and pursue the park configuration that we are looking at right now fairly soon.
Somehow we need to get that in the budget I think. That would be my hope.
Hoaglun: And, Madam Mayor, I think one of the reasons why we are looking at this now
-- and, Steve, I'm assuming this could be done in this current fiscal year? I mean what's
your time frame for doing one of these options on the Venable property?
Siddoway: Well, could have it probably done this calendar year if we got on it real soon,
but it also depends on if you're willing to fund it ourselves versus require some funding
from Meridian Youth Baseball and/or PAL, because that might take them some time to
get their funding approved if any.
Hoaglun: Well, Madam Mayor, I think we need to make that ask, because this is a
problem that hits them as well and the reason I'm interested in this because like
Councilman Zaremba, not only do I want to put up the no parking as our traffic safety
commission recommended in those sight triangles, but that south side of Ustick as well.
I think the Mayor made the case very well, that it is a safety issue and we do not want a
kid running out there -- they are parking on that side, because there is parking -- while
there is no restriction to parking on the other side on something -- and something
happens. East side of Meridian Road there is sidewalks that access to the intersection
and a light is available to them. I could go either way on that one. But by taking up all
that parking on Ustick Road, then, we need I think an option here to -- to help out as we
squeeze that balloon where does it go? We direct them here and I think we also need
to budget if we can get with ACHD's permission a sign that talks about additional
Settlers parking -- Settlers Park parking back to this particular property for whatever --
whatever we do there. So, we don't know -- and this might be a question for Ryan. Do
you guys talk about an estimate on how many cars in the -- in the sight triangle and,
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 47 of 57
then, possibly on the other side of Ustick or is there a calculation that you can do to --
Lancaster: Well, I guess you can assume that a parked vehicle takes up roughly 30 feet
or so. So, I think Steve mentioned earlier that, you know, it looked like six cars either
side of the driveway. That's probably -- it depends on where -- where ACHD decides
where they want to place the sign, how much parking they want to restrict. You know, I
kind of gave a minimum and maximum, but somewhere between five and, I don't know,
ten or 15 cars either side of the driveways I would think is the restriction that -- that I
showed.
Hoaglun: It looks like -- if we were to restrict both sides of Ustick for quite aways -- and
I would have to go back to that one map to look -- and these are 150. I mean we
certainly create more spaces than we are taking away or at least worst case scenario
we are balancing.
Lancaster: Yeah.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, also from the commission -- and we did
discuss that. I think what -- what ACHD uses is the average car is approximately 15
and like Ryan said when you don't have striping and you're sort of dependent on how --
how close you want to park the car in front of you, so that's why 25 feet or so to 30 feet
is not uncommon that you're going to lose. But we did talk about the displacement of
parking and how that might impact the neighbors on all who have had neighborhood
complaints from people, but I guess one of the things the commission sort of landed on
is safety is more important than the inconvenience that people sometimes experience
and we felt safety was a greater factor. We didn't have the engineering for the south
side, but we -- I don't think the commission would disagree with anything that you have
all discussed that the south side could be equally as dangerous if you don't restrict the
parking and you allowed it there and people are still going to try to cross. But as to the
neighborhood -- I think what we found -- and I think Steve is the one who said this
before, too, is people tend to park when they think they can either get out quickly or it's
convenience for them. There is parking in the park that exists today, but they just want
to park adjacent to those fields. So, our feeling from the commission was the parking
along Meridian Road, if you were to remove that parking, that's not very likely to end up
in the neighborhood, because the people that are parking there are generally using that
area to park, so they are not likely to go park on Ashby on the north side of the park,
they are even further away from where they were. They could park in the park. I think
they tend not to, because, again, they think they can exit quicker out of the -- if you
restrict the parking you have an easier access and egress out of the park, that might,
again, encourage people to just park there. The parking on the south side -- or on the
north side on Ustick -- certainly some of those are parking for the games, there is no
doubt. If this alternative parking is available or could be available by next year, by next
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 48 of 57
season, then, we think it at least provides an alternative for folks. Does it mean they are
still not going to park on Ashton or Ashby or I guess park on the north side? Probably
not. They are probably still going to do that regardless of where the parking is they are
probably still going to -- they are going to park along there no matter what. But, again,
the commission felt the safety aspect was more significant than the inconvenience.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Thinking across Ustick, you showed a drawing of the completion of the tennis
complex. That adds a third driveway, does it not?
Siddoway: As proposed it does, but it hasn't been approved by ACHD yet.
Zaremba: And along with that there is actually a fourth driveway into the water
department facility. The water department driveway is not really used heavily, but I
would think the tennis complex driveway would need to be subject to the sight triangle
as well. We might get away with not requiring that at the water department driveway,
since there is not a whole lot of traffic in and out of there, but -- we have another
driveway in here that we need to include in the thinking.
Hoaglun: And I -- Madam Mayor. I think that's something we should consider when it's
-- when it's done. That might end up being -- you know, ACHD may say no to that.
They may say right turn -- right-in, right-out, you know, which I think would be fine, but,
you know, that's down the road and definitely I think it applies to the site triangle, if that
-- at this time I don't know if I want to go all the way down to Ustick Road or to the water
tower for a future driveway, just -- we are going to tick people off enough as it is, so --
the fewer we tick off the better, in my world anyway.
De Weerd: In my world.
Siddoway: Well, then, the direction I will take back is to pursue the temporary parking
solution that is closest to Meridian baseball, the one you see here. We will follow up
with MYB when they get back from their world series, which they are all busy with right
now, talk with them a little bit more about funding partnerships and what they can bring
to the table and also look at timing. Mike was just reminding me we still have to get --
you know, timing wise it has to go through an ACHD driveway permit. It's got to go
through certificate of zoning compliance -- there is several steps we need to go through,
besides the funding, that will add some time. So, whether it's this fall or next spring, we
would hope to be able to do it as soon as possible.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor and Steve. And I think that's reasonable if we are looking at
next spring, just because, you know, the baseball tournament portions of it are winding
down, school starting. I know you still have some softball tournaments coming up for
the fall.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 49 of 57
Siddoway: The big tournaments are pretty well done that are out there and MYB does
start up pretty early in the spring, so there wouldn't be much of a construction window in
the spring prior to the season, especially with as wet as spring usually is. But -- but we
would -- we can look into the timing and see what could be done as -- what as soon as
possible means.
Hoaglun: Sure.
De Weerd: Well, I would add that this is on Ada County Highway District's radar. There
has been discussions at the staff level. Certainly the staff member that is involved with
the traffic safety commission is well aware of the situation, as is the director. So, I can
only imagine that we get cooperation from our partner of ACHD in helping us make that
area a safer place for our families and I will tell you that we do need to seek the
partnerships with PAL and Meridian Youth Baseball, but 60,000 dollars is a small price
to pay for the cost of a life and that is not a safe situation right now, in particular on
Ustick.
Siddoway: I probably ought to just point out for clarity I just realized that this shows little
circles as if there is trees. There is no trees. This was just laid out by someone. This is
gravel.
De Weerd: I was thinking are we landscaping this?
Siddoway: There is no landscaping. There is no striping, really, because it's gravel
now. It's recycled asphalt. And so I don't know how we -- we have to figure out how we
can delineate drive aisles and things like that, maybe with cones. But, anyway, just so
you know. It's not a striped, landscaped parking lot, we are just talking a gravel surface
to park on.
Hoaglun: You have the chalk boxes -- or the markers, you know, they use for the
baseball fields.
Siddoway: We would be out there every day.
Hoaglun: But I'm sure, Madam Mayor and -- you know, with the fire department
because it's a requirement to have that truck, they would be happy to help out from a
budget standpoint.
Siddoway: All right.
Hoaglun: I just wanted to see Mike's face.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 50 of 57
Zaremba: Just -- in justifying it, as you say, compared to what could happen with the
safety aspects, 60,000 dollars is cheap, but take that a step farther and say we know we
are calling this temporary, but if we got ten years use out of it, that's 6,000 dollars a
year, even though we have to pay it all up front to build it up front, but I mean it's
cheaper and cheaper to do the right thing and if we are able to use it for quite a while. I
guess the one thing I would ask is on that long driveway would we want to make that
wide enough that people could park on it if they wanted or the alternate we'd probably
have to have signs that say no parking in the driveway.
Siddoway: And that reminds me. That estimate does include like some either railroad
ties or something kind of post and chain system to keep people from just going off Willy
Hilly. So, you know, there is going to be some additional cost there. That's just that
gravel base, so we can -- knowing that your preference is this scenario, we can look at,
okay, how do we contain the cars. It's not going to be that much more, but we need --
there will be some additional cost for that. So, in that 60 to 70 thousand dollar range.
De Weerd: Thank you, Steve.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor, question for Bill Nary. What's the mechanism to move this
forward? Is it -- do we use a resolution or can we just authorize the Mayor to sign a
letter to ACHD saying we want to have them consider no parking signs at these
locations and these areas?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Hoaglun, that's what I
would recommend is that the Council can vote and we can, then, prepare a letter for the
Mayor's signature to then send to ACHD.
Hoaglun: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, if there is no further discussion for Ryan or Steve, I would
entertain a motion.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I would move that a letter be drafted for your signature to go to ACHD
requesting the posting of signage as our traffic safety commission has requested for the
north side of Ustick Road and for the west side of Meridian Road in the traffic safety
triangle areas and that they also post signage on the south side of Meridian to make --
De Weerd: Ustick.
Hoaglun: I'm sorry. Ustick. Yes. South side of Ustick Road for no parking and on that
one I wanted to go back to the map to kind of give some points of reference. I'm not
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 51 of 57
sure where -- where that -- where that might be. Is that -- Caleb, can we pull up that
map? Because they want -- need to know from possibly -- and back on more maybe.
There we -- yeah. There we go. I would say from -- I'm on the south side of Ustick
Road -- and this doesn't have the apartment complex here. I'm trying to see. Is that --
De Weerd: No. It goes clear down to Venable
Hoaglun: Okay.
De Weerd: Past Fast Eddy's.
Hoaglun: From Venable to the church property I think. Do they have a sidewalk?
De Weerd: No, they don't.
Hoaglun: I don't think they have a sidewalk. I would say from Venable clear to the -- is
that assisted living or retirement center?
De Weerd: Assisted living.
Hoaglun: Assisting living sidewalk that starts there just prior to the intersection.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay. Madam Clerk, will
you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, absent; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
De Weerd: Thank you, Ryan we appreciate your time that you dedicated to this topic.
Thank you so much. And thank you Steve and Mike.
D. Historic Preservation Commission: Update on Discussion of
the Meridian Exchange Bank and McFadden Market and to
Consider a Draft Letter to the Owner; Meridian Exchange
Building, LLC
De Weerd: Okay. Our next Item 8-D is Historical Preservation Commission item.
Nary: Due to the lateness, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I will try to keep this
brief. Last week -- or a couple weeks ago I think some of you were able to go down and
see the state of the building -- what was the Meridian Exchange Bank, the former
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 52 of 57
McFadden Market, the corner properties along Broadway and 2nd that are now in the
ownership of the trust fund estate services for the Meridian Exchange Building, LLC.
Last week the historic preservation commission also went down to view the building
and, basically, review the actions the city has taken to this point and the
recommendation was to come both to you, as well as historic preservation is preparing
a separate letter from them, basically urging the Meridian Exchange, LLC, to quickly
make decisions on what to do with the building. There is -- as you will see in this letter
-- and this is just a draft. We have plenty of time to make changes you would like to see
from the group, but this is really just urging them to move quickly. There is a lot of
structural concerns with that building. We don't think the means of updating that are
going to be very sufficient once the weather starts to turn. Mr. Schwiger, who was the
previous owner, indicated the building no longer has supports underneath it. The
building no longer has a roof over the market section of the building. The back has
been boarded up, but it's not really secured from the weather or other means of damage
or vandalism and the like on the bank side of the building. So, there is a lot of concerns.
Certainly it's a beautiful historical building that, unfortunately, hasn't been maintained
very well for the last 20 years or so and so it's in such a great state of disrepair. But
right now the building official for the city has really just required that they board up,
secure, to make sure the glass won't fall off, but we are still concerned that there is still
structural -- lack of structural integrity that the building still could collapse. So, this is
really -- short of demanding either a demolition of the building or condemning the
building, which puts a lot of other things into play, this is just a very I guess strong
urging letter to the LLC to take some quicker action and to not let this sit for a long
period of time. This building's been sort of back and forth in different ownerships and
different developments for about five years. I think we went back and looked at an
engineering study that was done in 2005 that considered the building to be pretty --
pretty much in disrepair then. They had a fire in 2006. We had another evaluation of
the structural integrity of the building then. So, at least for the last seven years there
has been a lot of concern over the building. So, again, this is a draft for your discussion
and we can make whatever changes you would like to see. We have put this together
between my staff and the building department and HPC over the last couple of days
based on the information that we have, but, obviously, some wordsmithing, as well as
more appropriate when it's going to come from you to make sure it fits to a voice you
want it to have, so -- I will just go over there if you have questions or comments.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions or comments? I did see this earlier today
and submitted my comments that apparently hasn't gotten to our attorney yet, so --
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Again, I like the idea and the intent of the letter. This draft seemed to say
everything that needs to be said. I might pick one word to wordsmith a little bit and
that's in the third paragraph: For this reason I exhort you -- somehow to me the
connotations behind that word exhort aren't quite right. I would suggest either implore
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 53 of 57
or the simple word ask -- I don't know why, but exhort just hits me wrong. Implore or
ask or something.
De Weerd: Okay. We will find a better word. I guess, in essence, my comments, Mr.
Nary, have been more in towards the end of the letter, the second to the last paragraph
-- end of the last --the last part of the paragraph just to encourage them to consider at a
reasonable cost and to keep in mind that the building itself is cost negative and the
value is the land itself. So, you know, to again reiterate and certainly we can't tell them
how to do their business, but to be realistic in what they expect, because they will have
a cost if they have to take that -- if they have to clean that site up.
Hoaglun: And, Madam Mayor, Council Members, you know, I'm just starting going
through this. One thing we need to do is if we are -- if this is going to be signed by the
Mayor and the City Council, then, and we need to change all those singulars to plurals.
There are some things like E in the very first starting -- you know, I would like to initiate
a dialogue, I would go with: We are very concerned about the viability of the above-
mentioned properties. Second paragraph: It is heartbreaking for me -- I would rather
say it is difficult for all of us who love Meridian and its history to witness deterioration. If
you wouldn't mind, the Mayor and I can just go through this and do some wordsmithing,
with your comments, Councilman Zaremba, to go through this, clean it up and, then,
move forward with that, if that would be all right.
De Weerd: Perfect. It does catch the essence of the conversation at the historical
preservation commission and, Mr. Bird, if you have comments, too, if you get it to -- to
Mr. Hoaglun and we can get our changes to staff and get this out, if the essence of the
letter is agreeable to all of you.
Bird: Show us your reword and, then, we can get back --
De Weerd: Yes.
Hoaglun: We can probably do that in e-mail.
De Weerd: Okay. Very good. If there is nothing on this and -- Council, do -- pardon?
Nary: I just sent it to all of you.
De Weerd: Okay. So, Council, do you feel comfortable just with the Council president
and I working to clean this up and, then, getting it sent? Okay. Very good.
Item 9: Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 12-1521: An Ordinance (RZ 11-004 Chesterfield
Subdivision) For The Re-Zone Of A Parcel Of Land Located In
The SW ~/a Of Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 1 West,
Situated In Ada County, Idaho, And Adjacent And Contiguous
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 54 of 57
To The Corporate Limits Of The City Of Meridian As Requested
By The City Of Meridian; Establishing And Determining The
Land Use Zoning Classification Of 1.48 Acres Of Land From
The R-8 (Medium Density Residential) Zoning District To R-15
(Medium-High Density Residential) Zoning District
De Weerd: Okay. Under 9-A we have Ordinance 12-1521. Madam Clerk, will you,
please, read this ordinance by title only.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 12-1521, an
ordinance RZ 11-004, Chesterfield Subdivision for the rezone of a parcel of land located
in the southwest one quarter of Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, situated
in Ada County, Idaho, and adjacent and contiguous to the corporate limits of the City of
Meridian as requested by the City of Meridian, establishing and determining the land
use zoning classification of 1.48 acres of land from the R-8, Medium Density Residential
Zoning District to R-15, Medium High Density Residential Zoning District, in the
Meridian City Code, providing that copies of this ordinance shall be filed with the Ada
County assessor, the Ada County recorder, and the Idaho State Tax Commission, as
required by law, and providing for a summary of the ordinance and providing for a
waiver of the reading rules and providing an effective date.
De Weerd: Thank you. You have heard this ordinance read by title only. Council,
seeing that there is no audience, I will put this over to your action.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I move approval of Ordinance No. 12-1521 with suspension of rules.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-A. Madam Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, absent; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Item 10: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Are there any items for consideration under Future Meeting Topics?
Hoaglun: I have none.
Meridian City Council Workshop
August 14, 2012
Page 55 of 57
Zaremba: And I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you so much. Do I have a motion to adjourn?
Zaremba: So moved.
Hoaglun: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:03 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR Y De WEERD
ATTEST:
JAYCEL~OLMAN, CITY CLERK
~~ a ~ ~~
~GIATE APPROVED
4ogp,~tED A UC~s~
~°4 ~~
~ .~o
City of
E f i~IAI~~,
IOANO
~~ SEAL ti
~~~~ ~y~y
~f ~~e TR'EI-S~~