HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 01-13 PreMeridian City Pre -Council Meeting January 13, 2004
The Pre -Council Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00
P.M. on Tuesday, January 13, 2004, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Tammy de Weerd, Shaun Wardle, Bill Nary, and Keith Bird.
Members Absent: Charlie Rountree
Others Present: Bill Nichols, Bill Musser, Doug Strong, Anna Powell, Gary
Smith, Brad Watson, Steve Siddoway, Kenny Bowers, Diane Stewart, and Will
Berg.
Item 1. Roll -call Attendance:
X Shaun Wardle X Bill Nary
O Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: I'll go ahead and call the Pre -Council Meeting to order. It is Tuesday,
January 13th at 6:00 and I would like to welcome everyone here tonight and ask
the City Clerk to call roll.
Item 2. Adoption of the Agenda:
De Weerd: Thank you. Item Number 2 is the adoption of the agenda.
Bird: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I apologize now because I'm sure sometime during the night I'm going to
say Madam President. You know who it is anyway. I move that we adopt the
agenda as published.
Wardle: Second.
De Weerd: Okay it's been moved and seconded to adopt the agenda as
published. All those in favor say aye. All ayes motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: THREE AYES, ONE ABSENT
Item 3. Update on Meridian Downtown Market Strategy by The Hudson
Company:
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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De Weerd: Number 3 the update on Meridian Downtown Market Strategy by The
Hudson Company so Steve.
Siddoway: Madam Mayor Members of the Council. Most of you except for Mr.
Wardle will remember in November The Hudson Company was in town last just
to give you a brief synopsis of where we've been. At that time, we were looking
at demographics of Meridian what is our market and who are we and was laying
the foundation for the draft strategy in which they are back in town today to
present. We have been doing research into other similar communities across the
west and in addition to that looking at the essence of what downtown, Meridian
should be. We did meet this morning. Last week the Steering Committee for the
MDC got a preview of the presentation. This morning we met again and
discussed it. Our hope tonight is twofold. First of all, we have scheduled the
public meeting tomorrow night 6:30 to 8:30 at Cole Valley Christian School
hoping to give the Council a preview of the presentation tonight a nd get your
blessing o n t he d irection t hat i is g oing. T hen s econd of a 11, we would I ike to
gauge your level of comfort with releasing this to the press after you see it tonight
(inaudible). With that, I will turn the time over to Tom Hudson for the
presentation.
De Weerd: Steve have you given a copy of the PowerPoint presentation to
(inaudible) Shaun (inaudible)?
Wardle: I have not.
De Weerd: If you could that would probably be helpful.
Siddoway: I would be happy to. I assume Will has your email address or I can
get it from you. I can just get your email address I'll be happy to forward it to you
and same for Mr. Rountree.
De Weerd: Tom and Jerry show.
Hudson: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council it's nice to see you again. I
think I've spent enough time with you. Just a little bit of context for this evening
and then right into the strategy. I would like to add that we have handouts for
everything tonight in fact more than we can seem to share with you. (Inaudible)
what other kinds of materials you've had in the past so that we can get those to
Mr. Wardle of all the materials we (inaudible).
De Weerd: And you know the timeframe we have for (inaudible). I just thought I
would remind you.
Hudson: Madam Mayor it's my understanding that we have a grand total for a
presentation exchange of a half hour. We'll stay on that track.
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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De Weerd: That was not insinuating.
Hudson: I was reminded by the Mayor yesterday that I know how to talk so I
think that's what she was referring to was just talk, talk and talk. Context very
briefly. We began with analysis of the current conditions. A great deal of
research on social economic data, trends in the past and so on. Also looking
through interviews and existing materials of the community to identify local
values, use the values and other data to prepare the draft's vision statement and
strategy that you will be seeing tonight. Subject to your comfort and your public
comfort (inaudible) tomorrow night we will go forward in detailing of the strategy
in the fundamentally action plan that will discuss and identify who, what when,
where and how for implementation and then that will be presented in the form of
a final report to you right around the very end of February, perhaps early March
depending upon your schedules. Next slide. This is our agenda. We want to
just — very q uickly touch on the supply and demand factors that influence this
most, but as you know there are (inaudible) data that influence the project.
Touch on community values and priorities as the foundation for the strategy. We
are going to outline 15 primary components of the strategy, but please
understand that each of those 15 has between 5 and 15 sub -elements that have
helped to turn into actionable implementation and then the first steps. Next slide.
Very interesting that the demographics of your community are significantly
different from the rest of the Treasure Valley. These are some of the key issues
that we found. We are the youngest community in the Valley and have the
highest percentage of children. Also, the highest number of households as
families and the largest household size. We see a number of other
characteristics here that paint you as uniquely Meridian. This entire marketing
strategy is based upon that whole point and that was our guideline to begin with.
This is not about anything short of how to make downtown Meridian serve unique
needs of the community. From an economic development point of view, it
identifies an awful lot of opportunity of really an extraordinary set of
demographics. Next slide. One of the things that you don't have in your
downtown is a density of businesses in any particular niche to identify that you
have established yourselves strongly as the place, the most competitive or what
have you of that particular area. However, as a downtown you have a number of
assets that we think are highly notable. We have included some of those here.
There are certainly the makings for a lot of enhancement and revitalizations in
the downtown area. One of the things that we often don't think about because
we are not connected to it today is the rail line. As you look into the future of
Meridian contemplating it's potential to serve you as a transit line in connecting
you to the rest of the Valley it becomes very exciting. Interesting point here — this
is an historic calendar and this particular add came from September 1911:
Meridian, the heart of the Boise Valley. It's interesting that it's changed to the
Treasure Valley, but it's still the heart. If you look at the geography of the region,
you are geographically right in the middle. We think that that's an important point
as you contemplate circulation systems, transit opportunities and business
development and potential for the future of the community and welcoming
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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(inaudible -- ). Next slide. In terms of community values, many of the citizens
that we interviewed and even documents that we looked at from your past as
community got together to talk about where it should be going. There is this
emphasis on the heart of social h ub of the community. You think a bout your
growth from a community in 1990 of about 4,000 to today to exceeding 40,000.
A lot of great things have happened here. There is a lot to celebrate. But the
downtown hasn't kept up. As you think about the great downtown's and the
greatness that this community could have, they all have a center — a place to
connect, a hub, a middle, a social and cultural heart, a civic center, a business
center and so on. You have within this community developed your edges
substantially, but not the middle. Many people that I speak to at the airport, on
the street here in the community consisting talk about where do we gather?
Where do we congregate? Where are we citizens of Meridian? We need a
community center and a stronger sense of community and that's certainly
something that downtown can fulfill. A great place to be, not just maybe six
hours a day, but up to 18 hours a day --evening. More people living down here in
the evenings for cultural and social events and restaurants, recreation, etc.
Many people happen to say a Hyde Park on a larger scale. That's the
paraphrasing of one of the most common distinctions made about desirability of
the future. The business sector was very consistent on this next item; a clear
vision for the future. How do we, the business people, the developers, the
property owners, the sub of your community fit in your future? What is it that you
want to accomplish as a community? What is it that you want to do in the
downtown? The permitting process for new construction creates enough
ambiguities that it's difficult for property owners, entrepreneurs and developers to
note just what would be acceptable so they are asking for a clear vision and a
system to support it. I think all of these items are important, but in the interest of
time I won't go through the rest. I think you see these and you will get a hand
out. My main emphasis here is to share that. We did look at community values.
Next please. We want to talk about, in our discussion of the strategy the
fundamentals. That's kind of a basic framework for it. The vision that will drive it
and then move into first steps. Fundamentals: think about your growth rates in
recent times — 8 to 12 percent. At the current average you will be at 100,000 in
seven years. Not everybody stops to think about that, but if you just project it out
on a straight-line basis that's extraordinary. Now, it's very likely you won't hit the
high levels of just recent times, but you are not likely to drop dramatically either.
It's i nteresting t hat you h ave j ust been s urpassed b y your next-door n eighbor,
Kuna as the fastest growing city in the state. So, it's around here that growth that
will continue. With that kind of a background, it's more appropriate to think out in
terms of 50 to 100 year horizon with a 20 -year strategic perspective. You can't
predict everything a hundred years out, but if we don't try to contemplate where
we might be in 20, 30, 40 years and we don't plan for it now there may not be
space for it. There may not be a possibility. So, we have tried to consistently
think in 10 to 20 year time frames, not five or so. Another possibility, you look
around the intermountain west and many of the metropolitan areas, a lot of the
communities like you have simply been absorbed by the metropolitan city center.
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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The Denver — how many independent communities around Denver are now
synonymous with Denver? Seattle, Tacoma, Portland area, San Francisco. All
around us they get absorbed. It's very easy for that to happen. It's just let it. In
order to maintain a distinctive nature to a community, you have to be highly
proactive and identifying your edges, your center and all those other things that
will make you distinctively Meridian. This issue of sense of community, I think, is
very important toward that end. What is different about the community? What's
unique about the place? So, it's not just about sense of community in the
downtown it's a sense of community as a whole. You have a lot of outlying
neighborhoods that could be just simply enclaves. Places where people rest and
play in the evening or what have you, but then they go to Boise or some other
place to do their shopping where there still is other general socializing and that
sort of thing. We want the downtown development to be a part of that restoration
of sense of community. There is a lot that can be done there. Two other quick
items; downtown needs to be a to place, not a through place. That is so long as
you have a circulation system that strongly emphasizes high speed traffic
volumes m oving t hrough a nd not j ust h igh speed, b ut I arge n umbers of them.
This will simply be a circulation route and corridor, not a downtown. It will be
almost forced to be a strip. As I have talked to business people in downtown
recently, they have said as the numbers of cars have increased in general, their
businesses decreased. Especially those that have any kind of pedestrian
orientation. So more is not always better and that certainly is consistent with our
experience in the many other communities where we worked around the U.S.
west and Hawaii. That is, you have to have the right kind of traffic; it's not just
traffic. There are ways of differentiating the two serving both and making
downtown more attractive to some that might not have been inclined to stop and
not all. Next please. I wanted to just touch on our perspective about focusing on
economic strengths. This is an animated slide? I will give you each one. One of
the keys, we believe, is to connect to the population of the community, the
citizens who live here to reach out, you know really that circle could go a lot
farther as you know; b ut t he point is you have a remarkable population base.
You don't have to go to Boise or Nampa or greater Treasure Valley to find great
markets. The downtown you don't — people are not being served by a traditional
downtown now and the kinds of goods and services that might be there and they
are a ready market, immediately next to you, in fact, many of them going through
you every single day. Next slide. Connected — sorry, I am a finicky guy — we had
to back the version in order to get it into the other computer, so that circle would
have disappeared and these other items wouldn't come up. You know, I am so
artistic, I need to (inaudible). You have tremendous economic strengths all
around the heart of the city in the form of a regional retail, i ndustrial, medical
office a nd education and a d egree of mixed u se. They b ring m any p eople to
them everyday. Their employees, their customers, their clients and so on.
These are ready markets; the businesses that are out there immediately around
you are ready markets today. The people who are coming to those businesses
are ready markets everyday. So, on top of an extraordinary population you have
an extraordinary volume of people coming in to your place now and we propose
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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that they ought to be at the core of your target marketing. So, the double arrows
there indicate the mutual benefit of a restored downtown. Let's say a medical
practitioner at your regional medical facility ought to be able to find a great
business space in the downtown. Some of the other ancillary services that these
businesses that we need that are all around you should be available here in the
core, not in Boise or Nampa or elsewhere in the Treasure Valley. There is
tremendous opportunity there as well as the opportunities for people to go shop,
stroll, have lunch; you know the power lunches and those sorts of things.
Shouldn't that happen in the powerful part of the community, not on the edge or
in ambiguous strips? So, that's the point here of connection to your economic
strengths. Go ahead. This line right through the middle is something that I just
wanted to emphasize again briefly. That's your rail and if you think of it flexibly in
terms of transit, it's the way for you to connect to the rest of the Valley in a time
of regional transportation chaos and it's going to be a while before that chaos is
fully addressed, but this transit line represents a long term opportunity in
connecting this community to the rest of the Valley and when you think about
your geography, by the nature of who you are literally the community with the
greatest opportunity to become the centralized business hub. Isn't that beautiful
that circle that came in at the end. I should have In ad it the form of a heart.
Thank you, next slide. We would like to share with you now a vision that has
been reviewed and endorsed by your steering committee. If you don't mind, I'd
like to just read through it quickly. Would that be all right?
De Weerd: Yes.
Hudson: Thank you. Downtown Meridian will be the true center and heart of a
close-knit community. Primary markets will be community residents, especially
families and the customers and clients already drawn to Meridian's other primary
economic strengths: medical; retail; education; industrial; and professional
services facilities. The key to downtown's character will be connection. This is a
theme that we'll follow in many different ways between customers and
businesses, residents in the place of Meridian, heritage and future, young and
old, citizens and government, the community in the Treasure Valley. Next slide.
Family oriented public spaces will be managed to host a wide range of social,
cultural and civic activities. Sidewalks and street level businesses would create
an atmosphere strongly attractive to pedestrians, especially for socializing.
Downtown would be a highly livable place that provides a rural town feeling in an
urban setting. A variety of urban housing opportunities will provide a built-in
residential community that fosters city center business. Circulation and parking
systems will encourage people to come to downtown while — that is to downtown,
while facilitating through traffic around downtown. Building densities and building
heights will foster connection rather than sprawl. Next slide. Downtown
development will emphasize — should say — seven key strengths: social retail at
street level; cultural; continuing education and recreational or livability facilities;
offices for distances that serve Meridian residences and economic strengths;
highly livable urban homes; Treasure Valley business transit village — right now
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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we are calling it a transit village; along the rail corridor a strong highly visible civic
presence; and this last one is something that we heard nearly every person
speak to in our first visit here and all our many interviews — the circulation system
for cars, bikes and pedestrians that makes downtown a great place to be and to
visit. The key question is this something that you recognize in your mind's eye?
Is that something t hat you would f eel comfortable w ith i n your f uture? Isthat
where you want to be? Is this the downtown that would serve the Meridian that
you want this place to become? Next slide. If we were to summarize into bullet
points what this is all about really. We are focusing most on these primary
markets: Meridian residents and families and secondly to the people connected
to your economic strengths. Those activities center all around the center. We
felt that heart, home and hub speak to those connections. We talked an awful lot
that is with the community and with you about live, work, shop, learn and play as
being consistent themes. This is a stand-alone community. It's not a bedroom
community of the future. It has great things here. We are changing the way we
learn these days. We don't just go for four years anymore or two years or what
have you. We learn for a lifetime. One of the traits that Meridian could have that
would differentiate itself is life long learning, not just a four year institution or a
two year institution, but the capacity to serve communities and citizens
throughout their lives. We are excited about the other possibility of education in
your future. The general theme of connection is supported by the concepts of
discovery, services, comfort and activity. I have been to a couple of places in
recent times downtowns were at every corner. Every time you turn a corner,
move into a public space, you discover something interesting, unique, and
exciting you are rewarded as your experience as a pedestrian. We would
encourage you to think in terms of rewards. Why should somebody come to a
place? What draws them back? It's those kinds of things that make it a positive
experience for your various target markets. Now, with the highest percentage of
families in the Treasure Valley, what does downtown do for families and
children? Many, many years ago, McDonalds figured out how to create the
environment so that children like my own make it a terrible tragedy for the
parents to drive by without stopping. They got it. There are other places like
Wendy's that never wanted to have children as a primary target market. They
design for their targets, right? So, what have we done to design for families in
downtown M eridian? Y ou h ave g of a start. Y ou h ave got a couple of things
going well. Things like the Generation Plaza. Could you make Generation Plaza
more playful, more friendly, more inviting, more used on an everyday basis? I
think so. What about other places in the downtown for larger congregations of
people to gather to play to do business and so on? I think there are a lot of
opportunities there to make this a great place to be. In a very brief note, the
marketing strategy is 1 5 components in three segments. The three segments
are organize, communicate and build. Not very much different than ready, aim,
fire. Next. Because I wanted to make sure that we worked within your time
frame, we want to touch early on this issue of first steps — things that we think
need to be addressed before we move very far down the line as a community.
You know, right now in your recent past you already had a lot of people around
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January 13, 2004
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you coming to your community core, your center, your downtown asking the
question of themselves, is this a place for us? Should we develop here? Should
we build here and so on? They haven't had — they don't know the answer to this
first one. They haven't had an understanding of what is the vision? What are we
signing up to? Where is Meridian going? At the same time, they have had a
number of weaknesses in your downtown that say this is a risk. So, how many
businesses have come and gone? How many property owners have come and
gone? How many people, entrepreneurs already here have not grown because
of a lack of understanding of where you are going? In my experience in
downtown revitalization this intangible is perhaps the most tangible of all the
things you might do. Being clear about your future, where you want to go and
with that you drive all of the other pieces of the system. For example, your
design guidelines that you are about to complete ought to be driven by this
vision. Your downtown master plan, your zoning regulations are they in good
order? You can't answer that question until you know what your vision is and
have adopted it? Similarly these other items are things that need to happen
early. I have touched on a couple of them. The circulation system is something
that I think and h ave h eard regularly from b usiness people is h ampering your
capacity to draw the right kind of business and property improvement — even the
people who are already here probably are saying this is difficult to justify until we
see an improvement in the circulation system. So, those first four items are all
about organization. The development team — this should not be a list of all the
things that the City ought to do. If it's a good marketing strategy it's a public,
private partnership and citizen partnership. So, we are intending and working
hard already at building the team — MDC, Chamber of Commerce, Merchant's
Association, Historical Society, etc. There are many entities in the community
that might be along. In the small town of Wymai on the big island where I worked
some years ago, we started a downtown organization with a vision and a system
and although it was 2,000 people we had over 400 members of the downtown
association. It was because people understood how they connected. They saw
where the vision was going and they participated. It can be a very dynamic
situation. We also believe that given the nature of the many things that are on
your agenda to do, the sooner you are moved to full time professional staff on the
Meridian Development Corporation, the better. The city hall plan is a pioneering
venture. You will be telling the private sector, the community, the Treasure
Valley a great deal about yourselves and about your intentions as you make that
decision. I recently worked with a community that would not purchase -- the city
council would not purchase an old school. So, citizens got the money together
and they gave the money to the city to buy it. Then the city said, well, we will
own it, but we won't invest in it. We won't put any money into it; it has to be all
raised from the outside. Now, could you imagine going to a granting organization
saying we'd like you to invest, but we are not going to? Do you see the problem?
So, what is the civic investment in the downtown I think is a key question as you
move toward renaissance as it's being contemplated here. So, there is a major
message here. The demonstration project, the Farmer's & Merchant's Bank is a
pearl, no question about it. What an opportunity and a great moment to be
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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supportive of a project like this moving forward. The Creamery development
project, I would like to take a few minutes on that, but I can't, let me just say in a
sentence you cannot afford to let it linger. It must move forward or get out of the
way. As it sits, I think it's an obstacle to your progress in downtown. It's part of
the image of that whole sector and I would say what a blessing that Farmer's &
Merchants has the vision to move forward across the street with their
development. Last item is part of creating a place. It is the public sector,
pebbles in the pond is what I call it showing where we begin and end and so on
starting to improve the gateways and the sense of place along the public rights of
way, including that transit line area. Go ahead. How much time do we have? All
right. We are there already. All right. That's why we went to the first steps item.
Just like to conclude by saying we have in handouts for you two things. One is
the strategy elements that you can look at at your leisure and if you have
thoughts about these refinements that you'd like u s to make w e'd I ike to hear
from you within the next two weeks or so, individually or collectively. We also
have gone out and done a case study review of five communities very similar to
yours around the U.S. west. That's a 42 -page slide handout. They include
Redmond and Kirkland, Washington; Hillsboro, Oregon; Glendale, Arizona, and
Spokane Valley, a new City just east of Spokane. We have put together some
general summary information about their populations, demographics even
general budget and that sort of thing and looked to some of their main challenges
that they had a few years ago and where they are today. I'd like to just give you
three numbers and then we will stop. Is that all right? Not pushing the limit too
much? I was asked the question by the Steering Committee recently, what's the
potential benefit? Let's be specific now. Let's look at a town very like yours that
started off sometime ago and did this kind of thing where did they end up? We
worked in Redmond, Washington starting in 1986. Dramatic similarities between
your community and theirs, even the issues of one-way couplet and through
versus to and a week downtown in the midst of the fastest growing downtown —
or the city of the west coast. That's the home of Microsoft and Nintendo. When
we started the project their downtown property values in the core, commercial
values were $7 a square foot. Within two years after the completion of our
project, they were $18 a square foot. Today they are over $50 a square foot if
you can find any land. It is a highly developed, very integrated downtown that
has much to offer as food for thought. These aren't just warm and fuzzy ideas.
They make a dramatic difference. Madame Mayor, I also would like to say hello
to Mr. Rountree. Councilman Rountree, it's been a long time. Nice to see you
again.
Rountree: Excuse my tardiness. There were other things that took my time.
Hudson: I understand, sir.
De Weerd: Traffic.
Hudson: Thank you for this opportunity to share this draft vision with you tonight.
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
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De Weerd: Thank you. Are there any comments or questions?
Nary: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Yes, I think it is very exciting and I do like the plan and the vision and so I
am very impressed with the work that you folks have done. I do think it is the
vision that we have all talked about in different pieces and parts over the years of
what we see. It's still a lot of work and I recognize that as well, but I think it is a
great first step and I am excited with MDC to get this moving forward and for the
public to see that that's what we are looking at. I think we talked about a lot in
here, but I don't know that we really promoted out there as much as we need to,
so that people know that there is hope and something that's going to happen and
it isn't just talk, but we really want to make that happen. I think it's very good.
De Weerd: I guess that's a good introduction into this is the first step and
Council needs to be committed to the additional steps and the traffic
managements and sighting a new city hall and that sort of thing, so just had to be
a cheerleader for the next steps and I do appreciate your presentation. I wish
you luck tomorrow night and we look forward to hearing back from Steve on how
that went and Council if — how do you want to proceed with any comments on the
material that you will get? Do you want to have it in another pre -council agenda
with Steve or do you want to just individually get comments back to Steve and to
the Hudson Company?
Rountree: Madam Mayor, my preference would be that we individually comment
back to Steve or give us some kind of date certain so that we get it done.
Bird: I would concur with that.
Nary: That sounds fine.
De Weerd: Okay. What is a reasonable time frame? Mr. Hudson mentioned two
weeks. If you can please get that back to him within the next couple of weeks.
Bird: Where are our calendars?
De Weerd: I don't know. Will, can you give us a two-week deadline? What's the
date?
Berg: The 27`h
De Weerd: So, if you will get that to Steve by the 27th. If you haven't heard
anything by that Friday before, you might —
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 11 of 23
Siddoway: --send a reminder?
De Weerd: Yes. Thank you.
Hudson: Madam Mayor is there anything that we have shared tonight that you
would be uncomfortable with us pursuing tomorrow night at the public meeting or
with the press?
De Weerd: Not at all. Not me personally. I think this is great information and it's
necessary to start conveying the message.
Hudson: Thank you very much.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Siddoway: I have three hand outs for you, quickly, the first is the presentation
you just saw; the second is the case studies that he talked about with five
different cities; and then the third is just a one-page summary of the vision.
De Weerd: Thank you, Steve. While he hands that out, we will go ahead and
move on to Item Number 4.
Item 4. Discussion of Solid Waste Issues by Steve Sedlecek with SSC:
De Weerd: More handouts.
Nary: You didn't bring us a little dumpster or anything?
Sedlecek: Those are on order.
De Weerd: I didn't recognize them, Steve, so you don't have to respond. So
what Steve handed out is what we would like your feedback on.
Sedlecek: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. Thank you for having us on
your a genda tonight. We would I like to take 15 minutes of your t ime a nd talk
about solid waste issues. What I have handed out to you is just a quick list of
items that I wanted to go through tonight, so I can stay within my 15 minutes and
stay o n task. A Iso, you s hould have m your packet or p ile of paper, I g uess,
something that just came out today from Ada County. It's Trashy News Stage
Two. I d id not dream u p the title that came from the County Commissioners.
Also, there is a solid waste disposal goals. Goals and criteria from the County
and that came out today too. I don't really want to talk about this, but it's
something that you might want to refer to or look at in the future. The first thing I
guess I would like to do is talk about the status of Meridian's waste stream.
Currently, and you will get more of this data when we do our annual report, which
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 12 of 23
you should have in the next few weeks. Your waste flow now exceeds 100
million pounds per year. So, the prior speaker was talking about the growth in
the C ity a nd the demographics and we are c ertainly s eeing that on the waste
side too. By way of reference, in 1998 you generated 52.7 million pounds, so
you basically doubled in five years. It terms of trips to the landfill or to the
recycling facility we make 6,400 trips a year and that's approximately 25 trips a
day.
De Weerd: Steve, I am sorry to interrupt you, but that increase — a lot of that is in
part due to commercial and that kind of new uses.
Sedlecek: Right. Well, there always is construction going on, but in that system
there are more permanent accounts also. There is the Wal -Mart's where we haul
large compactors, the Winco's. Our revenue stream and I don't have it broken
out — actually I do have it — the revenue stream is basically half from residential
customers, a quarter from commercial and a quarter from roll off customers,
these large construction containers or permanent compactor containers. In
looking at — I just happen to bring my numbers luckily — half the waste stream in
terms of weight is residential, a quarter is commercial and a quarter is roll off type
accounts. It's that third category that fluctuates with construction and with the
strength of the economy, okay. More so than the first two. So just keeping that
waste flow in mind there is some issues currently going on with the County that
the County needs input on and they want your input. The Ada County Landfill is
scheduled to close in 2010; the problem is by the year 2006, if you look at the
map here, this is the current landfill area. That's a mountain that's being built
and as the mountain gets taller the top that you dump on is smaller and by 2006
there won't be enough surface area for all the trucks that go up there. So,
functionally the landfill is closing in 2006. Although it won't reach it's projected
height until 2010. So, there is this problem coming, I guess. Actually, I was
always told to call it an opportunity, but anyway. They're certainly an issue that is
going to be coming to the forefront —
Nary: Very big opportunity.
Sedlecek: Yes, there is a very large opportunity and the County is trying to get
their hands around this and that's good. They have started a three-step process.
Step one was to gather public input on what options should be considered and
that has been completed and now step two that we are in right now is to look at
the alternatives and in this handout that came out today, the four alternatives that
they are going to look at are listed. The first one is send the waste to an out of
county landfill and that is probably one in Elmore County that is already
permitted. Option B is to build a new landfill in the southern part of Ada County.
Option C is to expand the existing landfill site and this is the yellow line around
here is the current amount of land that they own. It's a huge amount of land. I
believe, if I recall my statistics right, that this landfill is about 200 acres. Is that
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 13 of 23
right, Bill? And I think that they have 2,500 acres in land. The problem is as you
can see right here this is Hidden Springs or — is that what it's called?
De Weerd: Yes.
Sedlecek: Okay. There is another one called Simiron Springs right in this area
and t hen you h ave got all this — all this is homes d own through here a nd it's
basically — the question issue is that a place where you would want to put a
landfill in the future? There are a lot of people that live in the area that don't want
that landfill there. There is traffic and you know litter, you know, it's not the
greatest thing to live next to. Although, it's been there since 1972, much earlier
than those homes. So, there are a lot of difficult decisions to be made and then
the fourth option, Option D that they want to look at is shipping this waste out of
state. You could put it on a rail car; you can truck it to all sorts of places. There
are a number of large regional landfills up in the Columbia Gorge. The City of
Moscow transports their waste using trucks and trailers. It's doable. It's all going
to cost money and so we are trying to get a handle on — the County is trying to
get a handle on what to do and they need input from you folks for one, but the
alternatives are going to be reviewed in a public meeting here in this room,
January 26th from 5-8:00 p.m. A Iso, there will be other public hearings if you
want to look at page two. One in the Western Idaho Fairgrounds. That's where
they tend to get the most turn out. That's the one closest to the landfill and then
there is one at Liberty Elementary School, so anyway, by April 151 they expect to
select the preferred alternative. We have been — we've had some meetings with
the County Commissioners since we are a waste haulers and we kind of
understand that business we have provided them some input and when we do
that — when we do it in writing, we obviously will give you all of our comments so
you will know where we are coming from. Quite frankly, at this point we don't
have a concern for so much as what alternative is picked, we simply would like
them to pick an alternative and start moving down the road because if the
alternative is to build a new landfill in the southern part of the County or expand
this landfill you have only got two more construction seasons and you have got to
go through all your permitting. There is potential litigation that occurs from
homeowner's nearby. I am not sure what they would litigate about, but it can
happen and that can slow the process down, so we certainly — we are
concerned. What we are looking at right now is we are going to be doing a
preliminary design and a cost estimate for a transfer facility on the property that
we own on Franklin Road. We are — you know, that's a permanent use in an isle
zone that we have on that piece. So, what will happen, we hope, is that when
the County comes up with their decision we will also understand the cost to meet
these options. One thing about transfer stations is if something were to go awry
and the County couldn't get their facility constructed in time we would at least
have a facility in place where we could ship waste for a year or two and meet the
City's needs. What we are concerned about is that we meet your needs,
obviously. Meridian is the second highest waste generating political subdivision
in the County and it's going to get higher and higher and higher as we go on. So,
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 14 of 23
one thing that — I have spoken with Mayor De Weerd about is the County does
have an interest in having you come to the landfill and take a tour. I am sure you
all are excited about that — just to see what goes on up there and see the kind of
first h and look at the i ssues that are happening. I guess I would extend that
invitation to all of you, particularly the Mayor and the member of the (inaudible)
that's going to be assigned to us, which I understand is going to be Mr. Rountree.
So, welcome back to the (inaudible). So, that's really all I have to tell you and we
are open to work with you, obviously any selected alternative is going to impact
the rate structure and if there are meetings with the County Commissioners
where you would like us to attend to kind of give a sense of how that might effect
what goes on in the City. We obviously, Bill and I are available to attend those
meetings. There is a lot of really important decisions that need to be made that
will be made in probably the next 10 to 12 weeks. There is a lot of stuff to be
done.
De Weerd: Steve, have you already started working with numbers on what that
impact would be with each different option?
Sedlecek: No. The County has not provided us or anyone else with any cost per
ton or you know, basic economic data yet. There was a study that they had done
maybe a year or year and one half ago looking at some of these options, but not
all of them. We know what our current costs per ton are and so once we — and
we should have that date on the 26th because one of the goals in criteria if you
look in that list is the last one on the last page is financial, which is something we
will need to help everyone evaluate. The other thing to remember is that different
portions of your bill that you pay every month are disposal (turnover tape)
(inaudible) per house, but for commercial customer or roll off customer or
construction customer, a large percentage of what you pay is disposal. So, for a
company like Louisiana Pacific, for example, that generates a lot of waste, a very
small increase in disposal fees is a large increase in their bill. Whereas, it won't
be felt as hard by a residential customer. So, this will probably have more impact
on b usinesses t han residential c ustomers, but i is g oing to have a n i mpact o n
everyone, no matter what is selected. I think I am running out of time, so —
De Weerd: Yes.
Sedlecek: Well, that's all I have and we look forward to working with you on this
issue and again, the County Commissioners hope to get input from you.
De Weerd: Any questions, Council?
Wardle: Madame Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Wardle.
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 15 of 23
Wardle: S teve, I just have a question as far as permitting in new sites. Y ou
mention some elements in there. Given best -case scenarios, how long would it
take the County or another entity to permit a new site given all the environmental
regulations and things like that?
Sedlecek: I would be guessing, but I would say at least six months to a year, at
least. Now the County does have a lot of authority through planning and zoning
and other things to get stuff done quickly. Now that doesn't get them through the
EPA and through the health districts and the State DEQ quickly, but yeah there is
a lot to be done.
Wardle: There are probably quite a few studies that need to be completed.
Sedlecek: Right. There is fetal flaw analysis. There also is some endangered
species in this area that they have to stay away from. So there is a lot to be
done. The other thing is that we — one of the things that is integral to a lot of
these decisions is building transfer facilities. You have got to ship this waste
somewhere, even if it's within the County you have to ship it. You can't drive
your garbage trucks to that new landfill, necessarily. It might be too far away.
So, we have to go through a permitting process to build a transfer station and
figure out the economics of that too. So, there is a lot of change in the works and
we will see what happens.
Rountree: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Steve, is there any discussion going on in the County that if they were
to select the option of building a new landfill in the County that they would do
something more than a landfill facility like an energy conversion or total recycle
plant? Are they talking in those kinds of scales or is that something that we could
see down the road?
Sedlecek: Yes, part of this newsletter does talk about additional waste reduction
methods where they talk about waste energy facilities and waste reduction
through a material recycling facilities and they are going to be evaluating those.
Incinerators, in general, are extremely expensive and cost per ton. Now they do
get rid of some of the waste though, but you can't burn everything, so there are
trade offs. They will be looking at that kind of information.
Nary: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I think part of the attempt of having this discussion tonight was in
preparation of our meeting with the Commissioners next week, so I think that's
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 16 of 23
where we will probably find out from them how we can provide the (inaudible)
comments and participate in the discussion because I think you are absolutely
right, I mean, it is very critical to our community to have at least a voice in the
outcome here. It sounds to me, I mean if I had to guess that we are really
looking at a couple of possible outcomes. One having to deal with the
contingency of the lay, like you said the interim fix of maybe having to transport it
some other facility and what that cost may be and a long term fix may also,
obviously, be the ultimate goal, but maybe looking at a couple of alternatives to
get there.
Sedlecek: They are hoping to find an alternative that lasts until the year 2045, so
that's a tall order. That's all I have got. Thank you.
Nary: I think Will would be the only one here still at that time.
Sedlecek: I figured I'll be about 90. That makes Bill about 100.
De Weerd: Thank you, Steve. Okay, Item Number 5.
Item 5. Discussion o f M eridian Y outh B aseball Concept f or S ettler's
Park by Doug Strong:
Strong: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council on the screen you will see a
concept drawing of Meridian Settlers Park showing a proposed 8-plex baseball
complex on the western boundary of the park. This portion of the park where the
pointer is is the currently developed portion of Settler's Park, that's the (inaudible)
pond. This is all grass, fields, the new restroom facility and all of that area is in
currently. So, the area of the park that's currently green is over to this blue line
on the drawing. Meridian Road on this boundary and Ustick Road on this
boundary. This is the city water tower, just to give you an orientation. So what's
being proposed for the development of the western portion of the park is
approximately 22 acres is a new parking lot in this area and then an 8-plex
softball complex through this area. The concept behind the design is that there
would be entry into the parking lot here, I believe, and here. I can't tell by the
design and to come in would be circle drop off back to parking. People would
flow from the parking lot into kind of a mall or plaza area that would have
landscaping through the center of the complex up through a larger more open
plaza area for the larger fields. This building h ere w ould be a large restroom
concession area and then there is a smaller restroom area down here. So, very
quick introduction into the concept. Present tonight also is Mr. Trace Leighton
from Meridian Youth Baseball that can answer any specific questions about the
concept. We want to get this out in front of you so that you could see what is
being proposed for that western portion of the park. Further clarification this area
right in here will be where Adventure Land Playground will be and it's about two
acres, I believe, of development there. We will have this section of the park right
in here. There is no plan for development currently and then section over here
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 17 of 23
where the red barn and the old house currently are that will be taken out and
there will be a development plan for that section of the park. Any questions?
De Weerd: Doug are those two larger fields — I know you had discussions about
them at the Parks & Recreation Commission. I know the most northern field has
removable fencing. Did the second field also? Was that removable?
Strong: Madam Mayor, I am going to ask Trace to address that question
because he was doing some — at our last meeting — some exploration of
removable fencing and what would be required.
De Weerd: I guess before Trace answers that where are we at with the
agreement and getting the agreement with the Meridian Youth Baseball and the
City?
Strong: It's not completed yet.
De Weerd: And what is the time frame on that?
Strong: We have no specific time — we need to get it done as fast as we can.
De Weerd: Can we set a time frame? Mr. Nichols, is that in your ballpark yet?
Nichols: Madame Mayor, no it has not yet got here. I think part of the — I could
be wrong and Doug correct me if I am wrong — but did we have even this much of
a concept yet?
Strong: I believe this concept is about two months old now. Is that right, Trace?
Leighton: Yes.
Strong: -- about two months that we have been talking about this
Nichols: M adam M ayor, members of the Council. We i ntended to u se as a n
example — not to reinvent the wheel, but optimist agreement that City of Boise
has on the optimist fields and to use that as applicable here for these specialty
uses where a good portion of the year they are going to be tied up by the group
that is raising the funds to help construct the facility. That was the intent, so it's
not like we are having to reinvent the wheel, but it's just a matter of having
enough of the meat of the concept to where the agreement is meaningful. There
has to be something more than just the idea.
De Weerd: So, if we approve this tonight, we can move forward with the
agreement and how long would that take? Would we have it by the end of the
month?
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 18 of 23
Nichols: Madame Mayor, members of the Council, I doubt it. Just looking at the
other things I have got, I would think three weeks would be optimistic and four
weeks would be more realistic.
De Weerd: Okay. Four weeks is fine. So, Mr. Leighton, did you have a
response for the fields and removable fencing?
Leighton: As far as (inaudible) and Babe Ruth (inaudible) any of our fences can
be removable to a certain point. We need to leave, basically, permanent fencing
from the edge, basically, the far end of each dugout to the center of the backstop.
But from then on it could be removable. Depending on our fund raising, we have
committed to, if the City desires we can — the two big fields will be removable and
the removable fence is about 40 percent more than the permanent fence. So,
depending on how much money we have raised will depend on how much. But,
we are committed to if the City requires those two big fields to be removable
fence. We would like for the one — the southern big field to be permanent
because that's considered as it's built as tournament size and that's one of our
objectives and goals is to try to make this complex actually be an almost full time
regional tournament complex. (Inaudible) and Babe Ruth does not have a facility
in the western U.S. like Little League does down at San Bernardino where the
regional has hosted every year because they do not have a complex that's built
or up to snuff say to host that. If this facility is built like it is, they consider this
being built to meet that goal they haven't committed that we could have it, but
they do say that there is very good chance that we could host a regional every
year here because of all the different age groups.
Nary: Madame Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: So, Mr. Leighton then is this field here the one you are talking about?
Leighton: Yes, that actually has got a 385 -foot center field, which is a minimum
for a tournament field. The other one, the north one has a 350.
Nary: When you are talking about the permanent fencing along the dugout, is
that what these lines represent or is this just the foul line?
Leighton: That particular line right there is — I don't know how to turn this thing
on —
Nary: We are talking more like about this area right here would be where the
permanent —
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 19 of 23
Leighton: Yes, from right there. That radius line is about the outer edge of the
infield and that's pretty close to where the edge of the dugout would be. The
dugout would kind of sit in that area right there.
Nary: I am assuming then in your folks' design of this that you must have looked
at putting the permanent fencing on this side that's not developed and then there
for having this open on the open edge of the park and it just wouldn't fit?
Leighton: Yes, this thing has been tweaked between me and the architect and
Elroy and Doug 100 different ways and this is the way that we could get the —
Elroy and Doug really like this idea here. I believe, I hope I am not speaking out
of turn that in our — we need the complex from the first of March until the first of
August. After that, you know if they wanted to do a fall farmer's market or
whatever, people could easily set up — this is a wide area. I believe it's 230 feet
there, Doug, or something? For some reason 230 feet from that point to that
point is the tightest. So this is a big area and they are talking possibly people
setting up booths along the two sides and then that way it leaves a central area
for people to walk through.
Nary: Is this just some sort of paved service or itjust gravel surface?
Leighton: This all in here is concrete. This right down here is what we are
considering a walk of fame. We want to sell engraved bricks, similar to what's at
the parking in downtown Meridian. I can't of think of the —
Bird: Generations Plaza.
Leighton: Yes, Generations Plaza on the wall, only these would be in actually
the ground and then out here from that line to that line to that line and I believe it
would cut off somewhere right across there. There is not a line there and that
would all be concrete too. This area here and this area here and in between all
the fields would be grass.
De Weerd: Trace, have started looking at designs for your pavers?
Leighton: Yes.
De Weerd: Because I know at Adventure Island also has a paver theme and it
would be nice if we had some consistency. You might compare notes with them.
Leighton: Yes, you bet.
De Weerd: Doug would have the contact on that. This is a nice design. I think
it's very well suited for the purpose. I know the Commission has talked about this
park for many, many, many years and this will be a nice asset to our community.
Any comments or questions from Council?
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 20 of 23
Bird: Madam Mayor.
IITATIM�ri■14= ]R:1
Bird: One comment. We are finally getting to what the -- this park what — what
this park was purchased for. (inaudible) by the 1992-93 Council. I think it's a
very nice design. I compliment Trace for all his hard work and going through this
to make sure that it fit. We still have plenty of open space if we can remove
those fences on at least one of the fields, but I think it's a very nice design and I
think it will be a real addition to the park.
Leighton: One other thing I might mention — Keith doesn't know this yet, but we
are going to hit up the MAA, which supports the Meridian Optimist teams and
then the football teams need practice fields too and I'd like to see some of our
games actually there instead of --- (inaudible) Optimist coach also and we have
to consider Boise our home fields, which kind of stinks, but this — if we can get
some money out of or do a joint venture also with possibly the MAA, the Meridian
Optimist teams, we would like to actually make some of these fences along here
removable also so that you could actually fit — and these outfield fences you
could fit a football field and if we can eliminate some of these also as temporary
fences, we could put — have practice fields and possibly some game fields along
there. As of right now, because we haven't talked to anybody about that we have
got to consider it budget wise, those will probably have to be permanent.
De Weerd: That was a shameless plug, but I am sure that someone heard you.
Thank you, Trace. Any other questions? Next steps, I guess, next steps would
be to approve this, just final decision or direction for staff on the fields with the
removable fencing.
Bird: Madam President — I told you I'd be calling you that. Madame Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: If you need a motion on that, I would be glad to make a motion that we
accept this plan. It has went through the staff. It has went through Parks & Rec
Commission. Like I said, Trace worked very hard on it and I would like to see
this adopted, passed, get our agreement going and get this on the way so Trace
could raise some money and see something happening this spring.
Rountree: Second that motion.
Bird: Thank you, Charlie.
Leighton: Can I add one other thing, Tammy, about the contract — or Madame
Mayor, sorry — I have got to fly to Reno in the first of April, we are actually going
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 21 of 23
to put our name in the hat to host the 12 year old regional here in 2005, which
would be around the end of July, the first of August. At that regional meeting I
would like to present it that we are going to try to have this facility built to be able
to host that. If not, we are still going to put in and we will host at our current
facility, Fuller Park. But, I cannot do that unless — I can't make that commitment
to the regional (inaudible) unless I have a contract with the City. So, if that — to
hurry that contract along as much as we can —
De Weerd: Well, our attorney has stated four weeks, which puts us out to
February 10th —
Leighton: That's when we will have the draft?
Bird: That's when we will have the agreement.
Leighton: The contract? Okay.
Bird: Right, Mayor?
De Weerd: That's correct. So, we will have that on the agenda, Mr. Clerk on
February 5th
Leighton: Thank you.
De Weerd: T hank you. O kay it's been moved and seconded to approve the
drawing as presented. All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
De Weerd: Thank you, Mr. Strong. It's a nice plan and we look forward to
seeing it as an amenity to our community.
Bird: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Madam Mayor, I know a councilman here that can help you Trace real well
because he built the ones at Fuller's and that is Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I'd be glad to.
De Weerd: B oy, we have a II kinds of cooperation tonight. Well, we a re o my
through Item Number 5. Is there a chance we can discuss Item Numbers 6 & 7
at the tail end of our regular council meeting?
Nary: Madam Mayor.
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 22 of 23
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Item 6. Third Party Billing Agreement 1 Service Fee:
Nary: I think we could take care of six very quickly. All is intended there is a
memo that's on our disc as well I think it was sent by email is to just indicate what
is necessary. I think all we have to do is set the time, the date for the public
hearing, which needs to be at least two weeks out from when the publishing is,
so probably within four weeks. So we just need approval to move forward and I
can do that. I would move to go forward with the — based on the memo that the
third party billing agreement/service fee that we advertise and notice at a public
hearing for that new fee to be imposed and I would move that we add that to our
February 10th — that would be adequate time, Mr. Berg?
Bird: I would second that.
De Weerd: Okay, it's been moved and seconded to move the third party billing
agreement/service fee to public hearing on February 10th. All those in favor say
aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 7. Upcoming Issues / Workshop Discussion by Bill Nary:
- Council Agendas
- Fiscal Policies
- ZGA Space Study Workshop
De Weerd: Okay, Item Number 7 is just for upcoming pre -council meetings, I
guess the only thing I would ask you to add to that is the Golf Course.
Nary: Right. Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary,
Nary: Members of the council, what I try to do is identify a few of the issues that
we have had on the table for a while that we need to have some discussion of
future workshops or pre -council sessions and that we need to space them out a
little bit, so it don't take longer than others. Just for your information, what they
are is council agendas and we have had some internal discussion about how our
agendas are done, how maybe we can improve our process a little bit. I would
anticipate that being a workshop -type of discussion. Obviously, Mr. Nichols'
input on what ordinances may need to be amended. We will try to have that in
the next few weeks.
Meridian City Pre -Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 23 of 23
Nary: Fiscal policies is the same type of thing. We have had some internal
discussions on how we do business and how we can maybe tighten that up a
little bit. Space study, the Golf Course — the same. Is there other things that
right now you want to at least add to the list as I try to work through these pre -
council items for the next four to five weeks so that we can get those on there. If
you think of something after that, obviously, just send me an email or call me and
we will try to get those on within the next four or five weeks.
Bird: Madam Mayor,
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Mr. Nary, I believe that those four that you have got is — I mean, a couple of
those are full sessions and so I think that will take care of us for a month or so.
Then we can see what other — if we have some other problems come forward the
Mayor might have something come forward (inaudible), but I like that idea very
much.
Nary: Great. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay, thank you. Anything further? Okay, I would entertain a motion
to adjourn the pre -council meeting.
Bird: So moved.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: Okay, it's been moved and seconded to adjourn the Pre -Council
Meeting of January 13, 2004. All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:10 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED:
ID, MAYOR
DATE
ATTESTED:,,
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