HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-10E IDIAN.-- CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers
33 East Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 3:00 PM
1. Roll-Call Attendance
X David Zaremba X Brad Hoaglun
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Adoption of the Agenda Adopted
4. Consent Agenda Approved (Pg. 2-4)
A. Approve Minutes of July 9, 2013 City Council Budget Hearings
B. Approve Minutes of July 10, 2013 City Council Budget Hearings
C. Approve Minutes of July 16, 2013 City Council PreCouncil Meeting
D. Approve Minutes of July 16, 2013 City Council Meeting
E. Approve Minutes of July 23, 2013 City Council PreCouncil Meeting
F. Approve Minutes of July 23, 2013 City Council Meeting
G. Approve Minutes of August 6, 2013 City Council Special Meeting
H. Approve Minutes of August 13, 2013 City Council Workshop Meeting
I. Meridian Community Block Party 2013 Sponsorship Agreement Between
All CAD Northwest and the City of Meridian for aNot-to-Exceed Amount of
$750.00
J. Approval of Agreement for Use of Kleiner Park by Idaho Promotions Group,
LLC for TUP-13-0070 Chili and Salsa Fest
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Page 1 of 4
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.
K. Modified Development Agreement for Approval: MDA 13-011 Touchstone
Place by Iron Mountain Real Estate, Inc. Located South Side of E. Fairview
Avenue and West of N. Stonehenge Way Request: Modify Certain
Provisions Approved with the Recorded Development Agreement
(Instrument #106187189)
L. Modified Development Agreement for Approval: MDA 13-008 Twelve Oakes
(fka Hark's Canyon Creek Subdivision by JLJ, Inc. Located at 1845 W.
Franklin Road: Amendment to Development Agreement to Remove the
Language Pertaining to the Expired Plat and to Include a Conceptual
Development Plan for Mixed Use Development
M. Development Agreement for Approval: AZ 13-006 Jack's Place Subdivision
by Jack's and Jesse Place, LLC Located East Side of S. Meridian Road,
Approximately 1/4 Mile North of E. Victory Road Request: Annexation of
5.34 Acres from RUT in Ada County to the L-O (Limited Office) (1.71 Acres)
and R-8 (Medium-Density Residential) (3.63 Acres) Zoning Districts
N. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Approval: SHP 13-002 Ennis-
Thrivent Condominium by Dave Evans Construction, LLC Located 2450 E.
Gala Street Request: Short Plat Approval for Three (3) Condominium Units
in One (1) Building in a C-G Zoning District
O. Agreement for Use of Parklet by Sunrise Cafe
P. Canterbury Commons Subdivision No.1 Multi-Use Pathway Easement
Q. First Amendment And Addendum To Master License Agreement with Ada
County Highway District For Regulation And Maintenance Of Sidewalk
Facilities In The Meridian City Core
R. Award of Bid and Approval of Agreements for the Waste Water Treatment
Plant Lab and Administration Buildings -Bid Packages 1 (Sitework) & 2
(Fencing) to Alta Construction, Inc. and Cascade Fence Company, Inc. for
the Not-To-Exceed Amounts of $380,293.00 and $22,850.00 Respectively
5. Community Items/Presentations
A. Present Volunteer of the Year Award to Tom McKinstry (Pg. 4-5)
B. Urban Parking - Discuss Potential Changes to Parking Policies and
Standards in Downtown, and Traditional Neighborhood Districts (Pg. 5-12)
6. Items Moved From Consent Agenda None
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Page 2 of 4
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.
7. Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 13-943: Reappointments to Meridian
Development Corporation Approved (Pg. 12)
B. Economic Development: Strategic Plan Update (Pg. 12-23)
C. Community Development: Review of Ada County Highway District's 2014-
2018 Integrated Five Year Work Plan (IFYWP) (Pg. 23-30)
D. Parks & Recreation and Legal Departments: Proposed Update to Parks
Code (Pg. 30-34)
E. Legal Department: Interagency Agreement for Sale and Transfer of Real
Property with Ada County Highway District Approved (Pg. 34-36)
F. Legal Department: 2013 Addendum to Lease Agreement Between
Lakeview Investors, LLC and the City of Meridian This item will come back
on the 9/17/13 agenda (Pg. 36-38)
G. Police Department: Transfer of Animal Control Duties and Equipment to
Idaho Humane Society (Pg. 38-41)
H. Fire Department: Overtime Discussion
Continued (Pg. 41)
I. Public Works/Legal Departments: Discussion of Three Party Agreement
with the City of Meridian, LC Inc., and Meridian Heights Water & Sewer
District Moved to Special Joint Meeting Agenda (Pg. 41)
8. Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 13-1574: An Ordinance for the Re-Zone of 5.85 Acres of
Land Known as the Bainbridge Subdivision (RZ 13-005) Located on the
South Side of Chinden Boulevard Midway Between N. Ten Mile Road and N.
Black Cat Road from L-O to R-8 Approved (Pg. 42)
B. Ordinance No. 13-1575: An Ordinance for the Annexation of 5.34 Acres of
Land Known as Jack's Place Subdivision (AZ 13-006) located East Side of
S. Meridian Road, approximately 1/4 mile north of E. Victory Road from RUT
to L-O and R-8 Approved (Pg. 42-43)
C. Ordinance No. 13-1576: An Ordinance for the Re-zone of 5.52 Acres of
Land Known as Fast Eddy's (RZ 13-006) Located at 710, 730, 750, 770, &
770 W. Ustick Road, Meridian Idaho from C-N to C-C Approved (Pg. 43-44)
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Page 3 of 4
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.
D. Third Reading: Ordinance No. 13-1573: Adopting Idaho State Plumbing
Code and Local Amendments; Adding Local Amendments to 2009
International Building Code Regarding Restrooms, Drinking Fountains, and
Service Sinks in Business and Mercantile Occupancies Approved (Pg. 44-
45)
9. Future Meeting Topics None
Adjourned 5:23 p.m.
Meridian City Council Meeting Agenda -Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Page 4 of 4
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_Cty Council September 10, 2013
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday,
September 10, 2013, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd, Brad Hoaglun, Charlie Rountree, David
Zaremba, and Keith Bird.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Emily Kane, Ted Baird, Jaycee Holman, Bruce Chatterton,
Caleb Hood, Brenda Sherwood, Steve Siddoway, John Overton, Mark Niemeyer, 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'd like to welcome you all to the City Council meeting. For the record it is
Tuesday, September 10th. 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 is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you will all rise and join us in the
pledge to our flag.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
Item 3: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: Item No. 3 is adoption of the agenda.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: For this afternoon's agenda on Item 7-A, that is Resolution No. 13-943. 7-H
there is a request to continue this item to a date to be determined. Under Ordinances,
8-A is Ordinance No. 13-1574. 8-B is Ordinance No. 13-1575. 8-C is Ordinance No.
13-1576. So, with that, Madam Mayor, I move adoption of the agenda as printed.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as printed. All those in
Meridian City Council Workshop
September 10, 2013
Page 2 of 46
favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 4: Consent Agenda
A. Approve Minutes of July 9, 2013 City Council Budget Hearings
B. Approve Minutes of July 10, 2013 City Council Budget
Hearings
C. Approve Minutes of July 16, 2013 City Council PreCouncil
Meeting
D. Approve Minutes of July 16, 2013 City Council Meeting
E. Approve Minutes of July 23, 2013 City Council PreCouncil
Meeting
Approve Minutes of July 23, 2013 City Council Meeting
G. Approve Minutes of August 6, 2013 City Council Special
Meeting
H. Approve Minutes of August 13, 2013 City Council Workshop
Meeting
Meridian Community Block Party 2013 Sponsorship
Agreement Between All CAD Northwest and the City of
Meridian for aNot-to-Exceed Amount of $750.00
J. Approval of Agreement for Use of Kleiner Park by Idaho
Promotions Group, LLC for TUP-13-0070 Chili and Salsa Fest
K. Modified Development Agreement for Approval: MDA 13-011
Touchstone Place by Iron Mountain Real Estate, Inc. Located
South Side of E. Fairview Avenue and West of N. Stonehenge
Way Request: Modify Certain Provisions Approved with the
Recorded Development Agreement (Instrument #106187189)
L. Modified Development Agreement for Approval: MDA 13-008
Twelve Oakes (fka Hark's Canyon Creek Subdivision by JLJ,
Inc. Located at 1845 W. Franklin Road: Amendment to
Development Agreement to Remove the Language Pertaining
to the Expired Plat and to Include a Conceptual Development
Plan for Mixed Use Development
Meridian City Council Workshop
September 10, 2013
Page 3 of 46
M. Development Agreement for Approval: AZ 13-006 Jack's Place
Subdivision by Jack's and Jesse Place, LLC Located East Side
of S. Meridian Road, Approximately 1/4 Mile North of E. Victory
Road Request: Annexation of 5.34 Acres from RUT in Ada
County to the L-O (Limited Office) (1.71 Acres) and R-8
(Medium-Density Residential) (3.63 Acres) Zoning Districts
N. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Approval: SHP 13-
002 Ennis-Thrivent Condominium by Dave Evans
Construction, LLC Located 2450 E. Gala Street Request: Short
Plat Approval for Three (3) Condominium Units in One (1)
Building in a C-G Zoning District
O. Agreement for Use of Parklet by Sunrise Cafe
P. Canterbury Commons Subdivision No.1 Multi-Use Pathway
Easement
Q. First Amendment And Addendum To Master License
Agreement with Ada County Highway District For Regulation
And Maintenance Of Sidewalk Facilities In The Meridian City
Core
R. Award of Bid and Approval of Agreements for the Waste Water
Treatment Plant Lab and Administration Buildings -Bid
Packages 1 (Sitework) & 2 (Fencing) to Alta Construction, Inc.
and Cascade Fence Company, Inc. for the Not-To-Exceed
Amounts of $380,293.00 and $22,850.00 Respectively
De Weerd: Item 4 is the Consent Agenda.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: There are no changes to our Consent Agenda, so I move approval of the
Consent Agenda and the Mayor to sign and Clerk to attest.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda. Madam
Clerk, will you, please call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
Meridian City Council Workshop
September 10, 2013
Page 4 of 46
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Council, I first would like to introduce my job shadow today and, actually, I'm
going to have my guest introduce himself and tell you why he's sitting next to me, so
there is your --
Zeynalov: Riyad Zeynalov. I am an exchange student from Azerbaijan. Nice to meet
you.
De Weerd: This is -- this is one of the -- I don't know if it's a requirement that he has to
pain himself to hang out with the Mayor all day, but he's been my sidekick all day and
it's been a joy having you.
Item 5: Community Items/Presentations
A. Present Volunteer of the Year Award to Tom McKinstry
De Weerd: Okay. We are under Community Presentations and --
Niemeyer: Madam Mayor, Members of Council, we are here to present the city
volunteer of the year award. This is a follow up from our picnic in which we present our
other awards. If you allow me I'm going to go ahead and spin the podium around if
that's okay.
De Weerd: We'd rather see Tom than you anyway.
Niemeyer: Tom, if you want to come up here and join me and I'm going to bring Pam up
as well. I know she's going to punch me for doing this, but I'm going to bring Pam up as
well. Madam Mayor, Members of Council, it's my pleasure to announce our volunteer of
the year award for the city and I would like to read the nomination, if that would be okay.
Volunteer of the Year 2013. This man has been involved in Meridian as a volunteer for
over 35 years. He is also along-standing member of the Meridian Chamber of
Commerce. He makes it a priority to be available when someone needs help. He has
always promoted Meridian as the place to be. He supports local business, lends a
helping hand to other civic organizations, and recruits others in the community to take
on the volunteer spirit in an investment in the future of Meridian. Committed to serving
those in need, he has been a volunteer for the Meridian Food Bank for about eight
years. Year after year every week he drives to Meridian library, schools, and local
businesses to gather donated food items. During the holidays he makes daily runs to
cover the growing needs and the growing giving, all in an effort to keep the shelves at
the food bank filled and making room in the food bins for the extra food given during the
season. Starting as a member of one of our longstanding service clubs, the volunteer is
a charter member of the Meridian -- the volunteer is a charter member of the Meridian
Optimist Club. He was instrumental in growing the club by taking on leadership
positions, spearheading the growth of the junior rifle club, being one of the organizers
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September 10, 2013
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for Meridian Optimist Easter egg hunt, bicycle -- is there anything you have not done?
Bicycle safety and many other projects that have helped Meridian maintain the
reputation of being a great place to work, live, and raise a family. Over the last year
he's invested many hours in various capacities for the Meridian Fire Department. One
area of huge significance is that he has been instrumental in the success of Project
Safe by installing hundreds of fire alarms in Meridian homes to protect families from the
devastating effects of fire. The hours and commitment to keep people safe exemplifies
what is best about this volunteer and also what is best about a community like Meridian.
No job is too big or small that he is not willing to help with. As an ambassador to the
City of Meridian he is second to none. He is beyond deserving. So, please, join us in
congratulating Tom McKinstry as the City of Meridian's Volunteer of the Year for 2013.
At this time, Tom, we do have a plaque for you, as well as a gift from the city. What isn't
mentioned here, too, is all the other things that Tom has helped our department with. I
know that Chief Shaul and some of our logistics needs, you have been a great
volunteer, you have been a great stepping stone and a springboard for us to look at
further volunteer opportunities, so I would like to present this to you and thank you very
much.
De Weerd: Thank you, chief, and thank you, Pam, for the nomination and thank you,
Tom. It's citizens like you that help define the community that we are and certainly it's
the service that you give our community that continues to put us on the map and it helps
our departments really leverage resources to make sure that give quality service to our
citizens. So, we gratefully appreciate and our heartfelt congratulations. Thank you.
B. Urban Parking -Discuss Potential Changes to Parking Policies
and Standards in Downtown, and Traditional Neighborhood
Districts
De Weerd: So, Item 5-B is urban parking and I will turn this over to Caleb.
Hood: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Dan Basalone with Meridian Development
Corporation is also going to join me and we are going to do a little tag team presentation
here on this item. I'm going to just quickly introduce the topic and, then, turn it over to
Dan for a little bit of perspective. We have been talking -- we, city staff and some
members of the MDC board, in particular their parking committee, have been discussing
some of the parking issues n downtown Meridian now for some time. I have only been
part of that discussion in earnest over the past couple of months, but Brian McClure in
my office and Bruce Chatterton have been part of those discussions, too. Earlier this
year, just a couple months ago, the MDC board did rescind the resolution where they
adopted an in lieu of parking fee -- not policy, so the -- before that happened we did
some research and one of the barriers that we had identified to development and
redevelopment in downtown was the parking issues. Again, more specifically the fee
that would be associated with properties that either couldn't or was cost prohibitive to
provide on-site parking. So, again, MDC recently rescinded that resolution and I will be
talking to you after Dan gives a little bit of his perspective about the implications to our
companion resolution that we adopted in 2007 as well as city and, then, potential code
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September 10, 2013
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changes that we could amend to have new standards for parking requirements in
downtown. So, before I get into some of those details, again, I wanted to turn it over to
Dan for a few minutes to kind of give his --his perspective.
De Weerd: Thank you, Dan, for being here. If you will just, please, state your name for
the record.
Basalone: Dan Basalone. I'm a member of the Meridian Development Corporation
board of commissioners, resident of the City of Meridian.
De Weerd: Thank you, Dan.
Basalone: Mayor de Weerd and Members of the Council, it's a pleasure to come before
you today and discuss this issue. It came to our attention honestly through the research
of the planning department here in the city. Those of us who are fairly new to the
commission and we -- I joined about two years ago -- really were unaware of this
particular policy and in researching it and hearing from the city planning department and
not knowing exactly what the ramifications were six years ago in 2007 when this policy
was enacted, it appeared to us at this time that it needed to be rescinded and a new
policy formulated. The policy that was rescinded, as you well know from the
memorandum that was sent to you on September 5th by Caleb, is a fairly restrictive --
was afairly restrictive policy. It really only allowed for two means for a developer to
increase parking in the downtown area if they wanted to develop property in this area. It
was either provide on site parking, enough spaces, one for every 500 or so square feet,
or pay an in lieu fee of approximately 10,000 dollars for each of those spaces, but that
could only be done up to about 50 percent of the needed space. So, it appeared to us
that two things were occurring. First of all, the fee itself was there and appeared that it
would be a hindrance based on the size of property in downtown areas and the amount
of space available and if somebody wanted to develop were they willing to pay that in
lieu fee. The other thing was that over the six year period that the policy had been
enacted no one had ever utilized it and there could be a lot of reasons for that as
mentioned in the memorandum. It could be because of the economy and people
weren't developing property or it could be that why would I want to tie up money for two
years, probably get it back after two years, not knowing what the policy is -- how this
money is going to be used within the policy, where is it going, where is it going to be
invested in the meantime before property is developed and so forth. So, it appeared
that this policy was both inflexible and a possible hindrance and that's why we rescinded
it and why we are before you today is that the policy that is enacted or would be
enacted would be a policy that is both agreed upon by the Meridian Development
Corporation and by your Council and before we make a final decision, even though our
parking committee has discussed it at great length and Caleb will refer to that parking
committee today, we have not made a final board determination as to what that parking
policy should be, because certainly -- and we recognize that probably all the members
of this Council have dealt with parking as an issue in development as a need in this
area, especially the downtown core area and we value your input before any policy is
enacted by us especially and certainly by you. So, with that I'm going to turn it back
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September 10, 2013
Page 7 of 46
over to Caleb and he will kind of go over the fine points of where we are now in terms of
the policy. Caleb.
De Weerd: Thank you, Dan.
Basalone: You're welcome.
Hood: Yeah. Thanks, Dan. So, we are -- like Dan pointed out, we are at the staff level
still where we have been meeting with the parking subcommittee. I do have a
recommendation, though -- a soft recommendation if you will of what we have come up
with over the last few meetings of that parking subcommittee and city staff. I have
talked to Bruce and Brian about these draft standards and just kind of want to get a feel
from the Council if you think we are heading in the right direction to actually submit a
UDC text amendment. Justin Lucas was here last month presenting some -- some draft
text changes, fencing, irrigation easements and how we address those, those types of
things. So, we are looking at potentially rolling in parking changes into our city code, as
well as rescinding again the resolution from 2007 that the city adopted regarding the in
lieu fee. Before I go into some more of those details, it is mostly just in the downtown
area, but I do have some other things that we have talked again at the staff level since
we are addressing parking requirements. Just as a refresher. You deal with this pretty
regularly, but --and Dan mentioned it, but the standard is for -- for retail users and office
users the standard is one car park on site for every 500 square feet of gross floor area.
That is how current city code works across the board. It doesn't matter where you're at
in the city or what your zoning is, if you're that use you provide on site parking
requirement. There are, however, currently adopted two forms of alternative
compliance that the code allows and those are -- if you have a shared use agreement a
good example would be like a retailer with a church and they can share a parking lot,
because the conflicts usually are peak and off peak hours, so you can share a facility
like that. Or if you have a transit stop that's within a quarter mile of your property and/or
if as an employer you put together a car pool or a van pool program we can reduce the
required number of on site parks proportionately to however many people are
participating in that program. So, currently those are all options on the table and that
would apply to everywhere else, except for Old Town right now because of the
resolution that says, as Dan mentioned, there are only two options, you either put it on
site or you pay into this pool money -- or some combination of that. You can pay for a
couple of stalls and provide a couple of stalls. But that's what's on the books now and
so what we have talked as that group would be instead of in -- in the Old Town area --
Old Town zoning specifically, if you're zoned OT the standard we would propose is half
the requirement. So, one per thousand square feet and that would be -- also in
conjunction with that would be a -- I hate to use the term grandfathered, but any existing
square footage you have would already be accounted for. Your parking -- somehow
your parking today, whether that be on site or on street or somewhere in the
neighborhood, that square footage is accounted for somehow. So, it wouldn't be
retroactive. If you have got a thousand square foot building and you want to do a
thousand square foot addition, you need one new car park. It wouldn't be, okay, now
you need two because you have got 2,000 square feet. Well, a thousand already
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September 10, 2013
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exists. Kind of along that same vein if you were to raze the building you could also get
a credit for that square footage, but the caveat to that is you would need to reconstruct
on that same -- to get that credit you would need to be -- commence construction on site
within 18 months of the demolition permit being issued. So, that's to say, as an
example -- and, hopefully, there is still a ray of hope. I'm holding out that the McFadden
building can be saved and not razed. But if someone were to go and get a -- hire an
architect and verify that whatever square footage is there and they knock the building
down and reconstruct, if it's the same square footage we wouldn't have any new
requirements for parking. If they were to raze the building and not reconstruct within an
18 month period, then, it's a clean slate and every thousand square feet of building that
goes up there you would need to provide an on site parking stall or this alternative -- go
through the alternative compliance section, which I'm going to get to here in just a
second. So, anyway, that's -- that's probably the biggest thing so far is that this
subcommittee and city staff have come up with a one per thousand requirement for any
new square footage added to buildings with the credit. The other thing that we have
spent some time discussing was the boundaries of this. We have got the destination
downtown plan, which has different districts within the plan. There is seven different
areas, traditional neighborhood center, TOD area for the city and we would be the ones
charged with -- it's our standard we are charged with carrying out whatever standard is
for parking, it's cleanest and most simple for us to, again, use the OT zoning. So, if
you're zoned OT that's when this parking standard would apply. We talked about
should it go from Broadway or Carlton to State or Bower, you know, Meridian to 3rd and
it just got too convoluted. So, we thought, you know, if you're in -- in the greater
downtown area that just makes the most sense for the planners that basically have to
verify you have got the required on site parking. It's the cleanest way. We don't have to
go to three different documents and see, okay, what's the standard, what's the parking
requirement in destination downtown, what does this plan say, and it just -- it's how we
regulate a lot of the other users -- uses is through the UDC and the underlying zoning.
So, that's, again, kind of a recommendation. To kind of get away from downtown for
just a second, like I said, while we are in here kind of looking at the parking standards, it
goes hand in hand with our Old Town. Again, it's a mixed use, pedestrian friendly vision
for our downtown. We do also have two other neighborhood -- traditional neighborhood
districts that have real similar visions. We only have I think five or six acres at this time
that are actually zoned TN-R or TN-C, but that same standard we would look to apply to
those small nodes of mixed use where you're looking for vertically integrated or
horizontally integrated mixed use developments that these standards could also be
applied. Some incentives can get some developers to actually do mixed use projects,
which we just -- we don't see. So, we think this could be an incentive not only for
downtown, but for some small pieces of these neighborhood commercial type nodes
that we got planned throughout the town on a smaller scale than downtown, but -- but
that's also the standard that could apply and that's what our -- again, the soft
recommendation to you today. If that makes some sense. It's the same philosophy for
our downtown as it would be for some of these smaller mixed use neighborhood serving
zoning designations. So -- and, then, the final thing I think I wanted to explain today
where we kind of landed as a recommendation to all is the -- an additional compliance
option. We have -- we have discussed what -- you know, again, how unuser friendly the
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September 10, 2013
Page 9 of 46
current in lieu fee policy seems to be and we have come up with an option that we
would like to allow the COMPASS board -- if someone comes in and says, you know,
have got this great public-private partnership that I want to propose and it's something
where I'm going to buy this -- this piece of ground and I need the first ten parking stalls
for my business, because that's what's required of me, I know I got this many
employees, I'm going to need this many, but there are two more levels and let's partner
on this and I got 50 percent of it and some other alternative that we just can't codify,
because we don't know what a proposal might look like. The MDC board -- as a
developer you can take that to the MDC board and say here is my pitch to you. This is
what city code would require. You got a 10,000 square foot building, so I need ten
parking stalls. Instead of me providing that on my little lot, I'm going to put them over
here and we will have a partnership. I'm going to buy the ground, I'm going to build the
first level, I need you to build the next two and we got this agreement or whatever
worked out and so you go through the MDC board and the board sends a
recommendation or an approval back to the city and the city says it seems appropriate, I
mean we can approve the development. The way it works it's not so black and white,
but the board would have to adopt a policy that talks about how you would -- and a
procedure for how you would get before the board and make your pitch for those -- for
that type of a partnership or alternative compliance. But we would write that into city
code or as otherwise approved by the MDC board. So, that would go into city code and
give them some flexibility. You know, one of the examples I used was I could see a
business coming in -- we got a bike shop down here downtown, you know, if they
wanted to do an expansion I could see them saying, you know, our employees and
pretty -- they like to ride their bikes and so instead of more on site parking, what we
would propose to do is we are going to build an indoor bike storage shelter and it's not
only just for our employees, but it can be public and you can rent it or whatever and
there are lockers and showers or -- you know, something along that where we just again
it doesn't make sense to put it in a city code that says here is all of the options you can
have as a developer, but it would be something outside the box that will still have to
make sense for our downtown and, you know, again, that's what we would trust the
MDC board to kind of weigh and recommend approval. But that would be the other --
the other kind of tool that we would add to the tool box that really isn't defined as a --
what that proposal would look like. So, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I think
that's -- that's where we are at at this time and I guess what I would ask for is any
comments you have on those two standards of where are -- would like to head with this
and, you know, I would point out it's something Iwould -- I would recommend we try --
try the standard. We have also talked about just removing the parking requirement
downtown and I don't think that's where we are at. I don't think we want to go there just
now. You know, having a parking problem is all relative. You will hear from, you know,
some business owners now and some patrons even that do talk about Ican't -- I can't
park where I want to park. You know, sometimes having -- if you can't pull up right in
front of a business, that's oftentimes good for business. That means they are busy.
And having to walk a block or two isn't always a bad thing, so -- but I'm not really ready
to just say or recommend to you all that we just remove the parking requirement. I think
this is a step in the right direction. I'm hopeful that it does provide some incentive, if not
be more developer friendly for more investment downtown and, again, I look for any --
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any comment or feedback you have as you look to prepare a UDC text amendment for
full public comment.
De Weerd: Thank you, Caleb. Council, any questions, comment?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Dan, anything you want to add?
Basalone: Just if there are any questions or clarifications that are needed. I think Caleb
did an excellent job of kind of laying out the parameters of what we are looking at. It's a
work in process, obviously. There are no final decisions that have been made, so any
input would be gratefully appreciated.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Has MDC undertaken any business owner outreach to discuss the various
options and some of the incentives that you're talking about?
Basalone: The members of our parking subcommittee, many of which are local
business people or residents in this area, and so, yes, we have received input from local
people. I can tell you I'm a local property owner, too, so -- as a volunteer on the board.
So, yes, we have sought out the local businesses and the local property owners and
also potential developers. We do have a potential developer who has given us input.
Rountree: Excellent.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Thank you, Madam Mayor. I am still framing my comment as I speak, so if I
get ahead of myself I'm sorry, but to me the downtown, Old Town area is unique and I
understand why our ordinances have the parking requirements they do. If you're
visualizing a larger shopping area the Crossroads or the Village at Meridian, there is no
public parking. You can't park on Eagle or park on Fairview to get to those businesses.
So, they must provide all the parking. Downtown doesn't have a lot of it, but it does
have parking -- public parking on the streets and even a small public parking lot and to
me it makes sense to consider that that does exist and, therefore, the direction that
you're going of saying, okay, the downtown spaces don't need one space for 500,
because that's not the only parking. They don't have to supply every parking space, so
we can use the public parking spaces and that seems fair to me. So, I guess I'm
speaking in support of the directions we are going, you know, whether it's the exact
details or not I'm happy to listen to staff and the parking committee of MDC and -- but I
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appreciate the direction it's going and I can see some sense to it.
Basalone: Thank you, Councilman Zaremba. That's exactly our feeling is that there
needs to be flexibility, that you can't have a couple one size fits all kind of policy that
appeared to us, you know, was more geared to metropolitan area than our historic
downtown area where many -- we don't have a lot of excess property and if a developer
came in and say wanted to buy up a block and build something on a full block, we would
still have a city ordinance policy that would cover that. But for the existing businesses
and the potential smaller developments that are going in downtown and the mixed use,
that it isn't necessarily all going to be retail. We have churches. We have other entities
other than our downtown area. So, the flexibility to us is really key and we think that is
what will help overall development of our downtown area and keep its historic nature.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Caleb, you mentioned that you had some deliberation about just having no
ordinance with respect to parking downtown and I'm not saying this to support it, but I
would like to see as you bring forward your recommendation, at least a statement or
some sort of analysis of why that is not a good idea.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, if I could jump in. Council Member Rountree, I mean you
bring up a good point and there was support from some members of the MDC parking
committee for that very idea. In fact, many ideas around the -- and many downtowns
around the country have actually said we are not going to require parking at all in the
downtown. There -- and, of course, we are not proposing that at this point. I think we
want to take a baby step and see how it works and make sure that -- because if you
don't understand the reasons why, that can maybe be a hard communication job there.
There are really three reasons in my mind why -- and I think we have found this again
and again over the years -- why you can reduce parking downtown. First is -- as
Council Member Zaremba pointed out, you have on street parking. You have public
parking available. Second, if you impose suburban parking standards on a downtown
you're not going to like the results. You're going to end up with big -- you're going to
end up with missing teeth. Basically, those often -- and Boise's had this problem with
historic buildings being razed or relocated for parking. And the third thing is that we
found -- there is a big body of literature and a lot of experience that shows that type of
development you get in downtown generates less demand for parking than you do --
than the types of usage you get in a more suburban setting. So, our feeling was let's try
to get -- introduce this, see what the experience is like. If we have problems we can
always make adjustments to it.
Rountree: Thank you.
Hood: And to follow up, I will -- in the staff report I will do some analysis, though, that
speaks to some of those things and --
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De Weerd: Anything further from Council?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you so much for your report. Thank you for joining us, Dan.
Basalone: Glad to be here. A labor of love.
De Weerd: Yeah. We appreciate that. We know it's a labor of love.
Bird: See you in the morning.
Item 6: Items Moved From Consent Agenda
De Weerd: Okay. There were items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 7: Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 13-943: Reappointments to
Meridian Development Corporation
De Weerd: So, we will go ahead and move to Department Reports. Under that is the
resolution that is in front of you, Council, 13-943, reappointments to the Meridian
Development Corporation. Council, I would entertain any questions or would appreciate
a motion to confirm.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve Resolution 13-943, reappointing the three members
to the MDC board.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, Madam
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Economic Development: Strategic Plan Update
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De Weerd: Item No. 2 is 7-B -- or 7-B is our second item under Department Reports
and we will call Brenda forward. She will give you an economic development strategic
plan update.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor and Council Members, if you're wondering why I'm crowding
the podium here, I just wanted to sort of -- this is really Brenda's -- Brenda's show here.
I just wanted to bring up a few points -- some thoughts. As you all know, when Brenda
gave this presentation a year ago she had just recently become part of the Community
Development Department and I just wanted to point out some of the ways in which we
have really begun to fully integrate economic development as a division in its own right
within Community Development. Now, when we have a customer coming in, rather
than being sort of one step removed from it, whether it's a -- a site selector for an
employer, Brenda is right there and she can talk to Bruce Freckleton to get the
necessary water and infrastructure capacity, have that information right there. If there is
a customer that's concerned about moving in quickly, she can talk directly to Caleb and
his staff. She can talk directly to Brent Bjornson. So, the one step removed -- it's really
-- really an integrated approach and what we have done is we had a team, but we are
also building a team around Brenda and her economic development program. So, I just
wanted to point that out and I'm -- I just had a couple of thoughts here about a future
direction and I wanted to daylight a few concerns that the Mayor has asked us to work
on and it really has more to do, than anything else, with a competitive advantage that
we are finding ourselves in in some ways. We are finding the other cities -- now not just
other cities in Idaho, but other peer cities to Meridian in the intermountain west are
recruiting employers successfully. We are at a competitive disadvantage in many ways
to some of these communities, both within Idaho and outside Idaho. We all know the
natural strengths. It's not surprising. We all know Meridian's natural strengths
demographically where we are located, the transportation network. But in my mind we
are sort of like an natural athlete that's missing the bat and the mitt, maybe even the ball
in some ways. We are missing some tools that other communities have. Other
community incentives that are -- they are using to bridge gaps -- financial gaps for
recruitment and to actually seal the deal. It's very common for us to be asked by -- you
name it. BVEP. The Department of Commerce. A site selector. So, what can
Meridian do? What else can you bring to the table? Because this is a competitive
situation and our answer is -- and it's no small thing -- well, we will lend you a helping
hand. We will make it quick. We are going to be the quickest, most friendly jurisdiction
you have ever worked with and we have a whole bunch of customer testimonials that
attest to that. But those are things that I refer to as process incentives, making it fast,
making it easy only goes so far. There is real money. Real time involved with that. But
that's hard to often quantify. The biggest example of cities bringing incentives to the
table that everyone -- the incentive is quite a bit and we will be hearing more about it, of
course, is Chobani in Twin Falls. That is something that Twin felt that they needed to
do and it's gotten a lot of, you know, recent mold issues aside, I think it's going to -- they
are going to reap huge benefits for that community and for Idaho. I'm not saying that we
do a deal like that. It has to be, of course, something right for Meridian that's a natural
for us. But we lack -- we lack many of these tools and also another issue is that we
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keep finding that industrial land and space is more expensive and we don't have the
space for -- physically for large users that are often the folks that -- say BVEP or
Department of Commerce will bring to us. So, as I mentioned, the Mayor has asked
Brenda and I to develop a new economic development strategy. So, we want to really
sort of kick it off now. As Brenda is going through her presentation she's really going to
be coming back to some of these things -- some of these same issues and ideas. What
we want to do is create a really robust steering committee of folk that are committed to
Meridian's success. Talk to a lot of folks. Talk about the tools out there. What have we
left on the table. We want to focus on what incentives really meet our needs. In many
cases tax increment financing is being used as an incentive. Deferral of impact fees.
Reduced permitting fees. There are many other special districts, any of which Brenda is
more -- knows much more about than I do. We want to at least put on the table the idea
of urban renewal expansion. Now, by expansion I mean a new district that would, or
course, under law would have to be managed by -- by MDC and, of course, we would
want to look at all the legal and practical ramifications of that. I'm now saying we launch
on that, I'm saying we need to look at it as one of many tools that perhaps is missing in
our tool set that other communities are using. We also have an economic impact
model, which has not really been used. I don't know if those of you who were on the
Council back in -- I believe it was '06 when this was created. It's a wonderful tool for
determining the economic impact of different types of development and when you use a
tool like that to see if we are in balance, if our land uses are in balance into the future
and to see how they pencil out, how much does it cost to serve them, how much
revenue do they bring in? So, we would like to dust that off and I should mention very
quickly that the Idaho Smart Growth is aware that we have this model, they are very
excited about it, they have talked to the consultants that we use and they are going to
be touting this model all across Idaho and one of the things we like to do is have -- as
with Smart Growth and Anne Wescott who was on the consulting team, come back for a
refresher, so that we can start talking about how we appropriately use this -- this tool,
that we use it in development review, that we use it just for comprehensive planning, but
it's something that we should be working on and using more, because it's really -- it's a
great approach. Finally, we need to look at our industrial land uses, that we have
enough gray on the land use plan map. Is it located where we need it? Is it configured
properly? In any of these circles right now everyone is excited about -- about industrial
and they will look to see are we really bringing everything to the table that we can when
it comes to -- to incentives and to our land use plan. It spite of that we are succeeding
and Brenda is going to talk of some -- about some of the successes here. But the
overall message is let's take it up a notch and see what we can do to improve things,
even better than they are now. So, I'm going to let Brenda move ahead. I will be happy
to help answer any questions about what I have just said as -- hopefully at the end of
the presentation, so --
Sherwood: Great.
De Weerd: And so he throws a bomb and leaves. No, I'm kidding, Bruce.
Sherwood: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, thank you so much for this
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opportunity to come and talk to you about some of the things that we have seen, some
of the initiatives that we are working on and some of our strengths and some of our
weaknesses. Just some other things that we're going to cover today. We are going to
talk about business recovery and as he just mentioned, we are calling this sort of setting
the stage. I think that the next few years are going to be imperative. We are seeing a
lot of activity and how we move on it is very vital. We are going to talk a little bit about
our projects and our initiatives, economic development, integration into community
developments and, then, of course, our cornerstones, those things that I'm always
continually working on, business retention and expansion, business attraction and
recruitment, updates on some of our collector developments and some of the things that
a lot of the cluster developments that I'm going to talk about are things that I'm really
getting a lot of great support from the state on. And, then, we will end once again
talking -- kind of closing on what some of the threats and opportunities are. So,
business recovery. Like I said, we are setting the stage, we are seeing a lot of activity
right now. During our retention visits we found that most of the companies that we have
met with they are seeing their revenues back where they were before the recession.
We are also now this year --just this year starting to see a lot more jobs added. Last
year as the revenues went up, the gross domestic product was back to where it was
before the recession. There was a lot of fear about adding employees. Well, we are
seeing that activity now. So, that's a very positive for growth in our economics. Talk a
little bit about new commercial permits. This year, our current year, we are at 39
commercial permits. Last year we had 40. We still have four months left, so we are
going to bypass that. I did a little breakdown. About 72 percent of that -- of those
permits that we have right now are retail, some office, and that were -- I'm sorry. Retail
and services through -- is a larger percentage. Now, we will talk a little bit more about
that under attraction and why that is. Site selector request for information. This has
really increased. I will break that out as we go into attraction and talk to you about it,
but we have been distributing marketing information about Meridian to about 42 site
selectors that have come on board to our Linkedln, through our a-mail, and making sure
that we are working with the relocation consultants to get them the information that they
need quickly. We have contacted and followed up on 59 leads. A lot of those are in our
public safety training center. Cluster developments. So, I will talk a little bit more about
that when we get to our initiative. Meridian job creation. Like I said, this is really
positive for us this year. We didn't see a lot of this job activity. We see it continue to
grow, but now it's really moving forward. The five industry increases -- construction, of
course, we are seeing a lot of construction. Healthcare services, one of Meridian's
strong strengths. Our professional -- one of the things I really enjoyed seeing was
professional, scientific, and technical services. That's imperative. It's where we have
been lagging in the past throughout the valley. So, seeing this was a very positive
piece. A lot of it has to do with additions at Scentsy, at -- Blackhawk has been adding
some more people. So, there is a lot of our larger corporations that are adding. So,
that's where some of those numbers come from. And, then, of course, accommodation
and food services and, then, retail. So, the number of jobs created in 2012 to the
current quarter one -- and that's only quarter one -- it's 2,200 jobs we have added. So,
of course, economic -- Bruce talked a little about the integration into community
development and I have to tell you what a positive aspect this has been. It's been a
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smooth transition. I have the heart of the entire community development team and
that's been imperative. I will tell you we had a data center call the other day and they
asked me about a piece of property. Within 15 minutes I was able to call them back,
basically outline how long it would take us to annex that piece of property. Pretty quick
response. We created the dashboard, so that each month we could look at our
progress. We could send it to you. But not only use that, I use it as a market tool for
some of our developers and for some of our site selectors. Our response to requests
for information, as I just mentioned, is just -- it's been imperatively quick. We are able to
return calls right away and tell them what the process will be. Not only that, but our
ability to work with businesses through the entire process has improved. Customer
service really has improved quite a bit. But not only that, as Bruce was mentioning, we
can look at some of the issues, the concerns, in all three of our departments and
strategically look at how we are going to solve those solutions in the future and one of
the things that our staff action team has been working on is a small business
coordinator pilot. I do remember last year I reported to you that BVEP did a survey with
some of the large developers and found out that we were by far the best city to do
business with. We were the quickest and so we were rated probably about 8.5 out of a
ten, a scale from one to ten. But when we started doing some small business focus
groups we found out that some of the small businesses, the first timers, were kind of
getting left behind. So, the staff action team moved forward and they said let's create
this pilot program. So, we are about ready to launch that. We are hoping -- we know
that it will be a success and we are hoping to look at resources so that we can make
that afull-time position. Of course, one of our cornerstones is business retention and
expansion. We know that 80 percent of the jobs that are created in the city are created
by the companies that are already here. We have done about 192 one-on-one business
meetings. Those are the meetings with the Mayor. I have been doing meetings myself
with -- C.J. has been part of that team as well -- with the Chamber of Commerce. So, a
lot of people -- and especially the Department of Labor. We actually throughout the
months get together, we had 65 organizational meetings to kind of look at some of the
issues that we are facing and how we as a team can kind of find solutions for those of
things. The results of our retention visits -- jobs. Like I said, we are seeing the jobs
move forward. Idaho Department of Labor resources -- we are making sure that
everyone that we meet with is hooking up with the Department of Labor, so that they
can access different things like training programs and incentives to hire new people.
We implemented a business contact manager to easily access business information.
Now, you know that we were trying to do a business registry and Idaho companies,
people in Meridian, they weren't quite ready for this yet. So, we are trying to find the
best solution. We will be integrating this into Accella eventually, but right now we have
had the split up into our industries, so we are trying to keep a better record, make sure
that we are able to share that throughout all the different departments and, then, of
course, we are further developing business assistant resources throughout our partners
with the Department of Commerce, through BVEP, through the Chamber, so we have
kind of pulled all of our expansion and retention things, so that we can find solutions for
some of the hurdles that we have faced. Nearly 75 percent of the retention visits have
been in our targeted areas of development. That includes healthcare, manufacturing,
ag science, public safety, jobs created in 2012 1,300 and already in the first quarter,
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September 10, 2013
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which is the latest data that the Department of Labor has is at 900 already. So, we will
by far surpass that number from last year. So, I told you that a lot of our larger
companies are adding new employees. There is just a couple that I just wanted to toss
in and a lot of the activities in our downtown, which has been an area of our focus, but
also some of -- for instance, Performance Systems, Inc., they are a contractor, but they
have decided now they are going to do a lot of their manufacturing. The Department of
Labor is thrilled, because they are bringing in some precision workers that do welding,
machining, that we don't have in the valley. So, it's going to be a positive for our
workforce. Since we were talking a little bit about downtown, I think one of the greatest
catalysts was -- as painful as it might have been -- was the split corridor. But it gave
Ann Little-Roberts and I, from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, an opportunity to
really get around in the downtown, talk to people, but also identify what properties were
available. With the assistance of Rick Ritter we were able to land a couple small tech
companies, which are actually gazelle companies, they are moving quickly, they are
growing fast. So, one of those is Dental Rat. If you remember correctly, this was a
dental hygienist that developed this new system and PKG actually developed it for
them. In addition, there is Sounds Ford, another big rec tech, fast moving gazelle
company, and, then, of course, Admin Group just moved downtown. So, you're seeing
a lot of movement. Some affordable space in our downtown and a lot of tech price
companies that really will be more involved in our downtown area. They have talked to
us already about creating a downtown business association. So, we are working with
the Meridian Development Corporation in conjunction with the Meridian Chamber of
Commerce, so that we can bring those jobs here and, then, that way the -- the future
restaurants, activities that we bring in, it has that captured audience. Business
attraction and recruitment. We have been distributing a lot of marketing information to a
lot of site selectors. One of the biggest reasons is, number one, the Village at Meridian
and, number two, of course, as we have mentioned already Chobani. It's put us on the
map nationally. So, we have just been getting -- besides the regular site selectors that
we have been working with, we are getting other ones call in just wanting that
information. We have contacted and followed up on about 57 leads. A lot of those in
our public safety training center cluster developments. Conferences that I have
attended just recently. We went to the International Association of Fire Chiefs trade
show. The Idaho Firearms and Accessory Manufacturing Expo and I will be attending
the National Tactical Officers Association trade show in a couple weeks. Now, we are
focusing on our public safety training center for one main reason is that we have the
support of the state. Not only that, but our senator -- Senator Hagadorn has been doing
some of the retention visits with me as well. We have been talking to the companies of
how they see themselves getting involved in this corridor. So, we have really gotten a
lot of attention from this. In addition, the International Association of Fire Chiefs trade
show -- at that event I traveled with Deputy Chief Chris Amenn that's here and we had
an opportunity to talk to several different companies that were interested in doing
training out here. And just so I can break it down, talk to you a little bit about what some
of those industries were. We had seven leads that we obtained from this last industry
show. Of course, like I said, the public safety industry -- you know, the public safety
training center is definitely an opportunity for us as a city to leverage economic
development. It's showing our investment to the community for public safety, but also
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what the state has been calling rec tech and it's definitely one of their targets as well.
We received 22 leads that came from web inquiries. I'm getting a lot more web, a lot
more Linkedln. Most of those -- a good portion of those are from retail and
manufacturing and I want to note that manufacturing has stayed very steady here. Has
grown not as much as some of the larger industries that I showed, but we have added
almost a hundred jobs a year with manufacturing. So, that's very positive. We have
had eight site visits by new businesses from outside of the state. A lot of those are
large food processors and retail and we have had one or two offices. We have had 12
site visits by businesses from within Idaho and a lot of those are companies that are
seeing our growth and want to be a part of that growth. So, we are seeing a lot of, you
know, movement from within the state. Business attraction and recruitment. Just
wanted to talk about a couple things. The Village of Meridian once again. It's created a
lot of national attention. But I wanted to bring it up, because I think sometimes we get
nervous about retail and we say are these creating the jobs that we need. Well, we --
first of all, it's definitely -- it creates an economic viable community for the companies
that are moving in. They look to see, you know, what are your services, what are your
retail that you have. But I bring up, for instance, Yard House. We know that CenterCal
has done this project well and the companies that they are bringing in are companies
that actually are eligible for Department of Labor funding. So, all of these companies
are paying a wage of over 40,000, plus benefits. So, that's really positive. Not only
that, they are using new technology and so they are using training dollars to train the
management staff. So, that's a positive. So, let's not be too fearful of some of the retail.
I also wanted to thank you. I know that most of you knew about project Bolt. This was
the company that came in through BVEP and it was one that we were very excited
about. It was 250 high tech jobs and it was one -- actually, since I have been here
probably one of the best projects that has come in, but also in Chicago, in any city, this
would have been a project that anyone wanted. So, I really commend you, because the
Mayor and I were at that table and the Mayor was basically texting, trying to get some
support from behind. I know that she called Brad and they were there to make sure that
we could offer a little bit more, because it was -- once we heard about what this
company had and what it contributes to our economy, we -- you guys were right behind
us making sure that we had that support. So, I just wanted to say thank you for that.
One of the things that we will talk a little bit about at the end, but it was definitely some
workforce. It's not off the table and it's something that we will continue to pursue and
we have just actually gotten in contact with them once again today.
De Weerd: Yeah. So, stress we -- it's not a no.
Sherwood: It's not a no. We don't -- we don't really take no as an answer.
De Weerd: It's not acceptable.
Sherwood: No. We currently have three active projects that are still reviewing property
here in Meridian. A couple of them are in the Waltman property, one is over in Ten
Mile. So -- and, then, one is in part of our public safety training center. And, then, of
course, we are -- right now we are working to do a web makeover, just so it's easily
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accessible for all the site selectors. So, we will roll that out in the next month. Updates
on our cluster development. Our Fields District -- this is something, as you know, I
worked very hard on last year. We kind of ran into some hurdles. We have about a
hundred acres and some of it being donated by one of the developers. We have a lot of
partners at the table, we were looking at other companies to bring in, but we kind of --
looking at funding, workforce, we had some questions. So, what we did is we modified
the white paper, we sent it to some of our stakeholders on a lot of feedback, we sent our
an RFQ for consultants. We are currently reviewing the scope of the work from a
potential consultant and we expect to be signing a contract shortly. Phase one would
determine the feasibility of the Fields District and render a go or no go response. So,
we will -- like I said, that should be -- contract should be signed. I think many of you will
be contacted as stakeholders, because that's part of the initial phase is to interview
those stakeholders and look at what regions to preserve some of the agriculture. 1 bring
up the wine tasting cooperatives today, primarily because -- kind of moving on from ag,
but also it's been a big push of the state. The reason why, if you have read, Pony just
recently hit Wine Spectator and Wine Spectator, for an Idaho wine, it's the first time
ever. They received about a 91 score. So, ever since that happened everyone from
Hong Kong to Washington D.C. to New York has been calling to get wine. So, the
Department of Tourism has made this a priority. We are working with the Meridian
Development Corporation exploring opportunities for partnerships with wineries in
Garden City, Caldwell's Sunnyslope, and the Idaho Department of Tourism backing us
with some tourism dollars as well. It will promote our downtown Meridian activity and
our goal right now is to look at how to create a viable cost efficient model. A public
safety cluster development. This has gotten a lot of attention from the state. We have
-- actually, the Department of Commerce is coming out next week with several of their
team members to partner with me on this. We have developed a white paper and
marketing material. We have engaged our stakeholders, local agencies, private
partners. We are actively recruiting potential cluster development and we also when we
were in Chicago I engaged FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Why this
is so important to them is that they are still looking at incident command systems and so
what they are saying is because this will be the first training center where we combine
all the public safety training, emergency responders in one location, that's a huge
positive for them. So, actually, states outside of Idaho are looking at how they can
come to train at this facility and they also told us that because we are combining all of
these emergency responders it's fairly easy and they would walk us through the grant
funding process. A couple of our wins. Forward Movement training is part of our cluster
development. This is, actually, a tactical training center. You will see a little picture of it
there. Matt Schneider came to me months ago when he heard about -- that we were
doing the public safety training corridor and he is an Ada County SWAT member, he
said we need a training facility and how can we make this work with what you're doing.
So, what we did, so that it wouldn't duplicate some of the things that we will be doing in
our scenario village, he's opened up to the public, it's a smaller center, it will only be for
tactical teams, so we are hoping to look how we can kind of, you know, do some
training together in the future. He signs the contract with Sundance, 125 West Taylor
Street. He's already doing concealed weapons training. I connected him in Chicago
with Triple Canopy, so they are going to be bringing some training in. But not only that,
Meridian City Council Workshop
September 10, 2073
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some of our local private companies are going to utilize the facility. He's already
booked out pretty much January and February. Another big win is, of course, GSA
Direct. They will be moving here from Boise. This is part of SRM Arms. SRM Arms is
similar to the Scentsy story. They started building these arms out of their garage and
now they have grown pretty quick. The first year that we went to Shot Show they went
with us and they did phenomenally. They are now featured in Call Of Duty, the Xbox
game. So, they are growing very quickly. They are going to move into a new
manufacturing facility on Pine. GSA Direct will be exclusive -- exclusively distributing
their arms and this has been a big win, especially since the governor has really been
going after arms manufacturers. So, this is good for us and it's something that I have
been telling, of course, to ATK and many of the other ones, including Remington. Some
of our threats and opportunities. As we talked about, we oftentimes get calls about
being, you know, left behind. A lot of the other cities in the valley have their urban
renewal. What they are doing is collecting a lot of land and offering that land to
companies at a very low price and some of the cities can offer that -- that property for
free. So, we are -- oftentimes when something comes in we don't have those -- those
tools to use, so, you know -- and whether or not that's the route that we want to go, we
have to look at it as Bruce said, how do we level this playing field. Geographically we
are the center of the valley and because we are the center of the valley our property
cost a little bit more and, then, of course, some of our development is a little higher. So,
how can we even that out. So, we are looking at the urban renewal, but also, you know,
from a perspective throughout the U.S. we have -- right now we just allocated a three
million closing opportunity fund for the Department of Commerce, but many other states
have anywhere from 20 million to 70 million. So, we kind of feel a little left behind, but
we just want to make sure that we are looking at new opportunities. Talent recruitment.
Once again, one of the things that I talked to you about with project Bolt -- they looked
at the comparison of what an IT specialist cost in our state in comparison to other
states. Unfortunately, what they didn't realize is that we wouldn't have the workforce,
so they would have to recruit them and so they were looking for recruitment funds. So,
our answer to that has been we have been coordinating with the Department of
Commerce, with BVEP, and, actually, some of the private companies had come on
board and put money into those and there is going to be a talent recruitment video that's
going to be released. So, that's in the making right now. And, then, another thing that
we are always faced with is, basically, the flight availabilities and schedules and, once
again, Department of Commerce, we all meet pretty much quarterly to talk about, you
know, whether bonding might be an issue, but how can we loosen up those schedules
and create more flights. So, those are the things that we are seeing as the threats.
Anyway, this is pretty much some of the things that I have been seeing. There is some
great opportunities. The projects that I have brought forth to you today are the ones
that really we have had a great backing from the state, from the Department of
Commerce, the Department of Labor, they actually are creating programs to help
facilitate these projects that I'm working on. So, there is a lot going on and a lot of
opportunity and so, anyway, I'm going to open it up to each of you and see if you have
any questions about some of the things that I have been seeing.
De Weerd: Council, any questions?
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Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Thank you. Very good report. Good stuff. With respect to the incentives
and some of the ideas that you floated, I hope you know that I am open for discussion of
any of those and whatever comes out of those discussions. I understand we are at a
disadvantage. Hopefully building a place will help and that's what we are trying to do as
well. But if we know where to leverage what we have I think we are willing to do that or
how to leverage it. I think I for one am willing to leverage our legislative body in any
way we can to get the help there, which is probably where our most significant
disadvantages are in the state or in the city is state taxes and those sorts of things that
are not very well received by potential businesses moving into the state. So, I'm open
to this. I like some of the -- the areas you exposed where we have some weaknesses.
I think we can do some things with process, which in a lot of ways is a fair amount of
money, but it's going to have to be crafted in a way where we can do that in addition to
other leveraging that we can do to help. If I had the answers we wouldn't be in this
situation, obviously, nor you, but we need to work together as a team and get it done
and I think we need to work on it with a great amount of vigor.
De Weerd: Thank you, Councilman Rountree. I would say that we have put together a
small committee to look at that, to look at cost advantages and disadvantages, because
certainly when you give an incentive that takes away from something else and so it is a
balance and when we come back with tools for Council to contemplate we will have the
pros and cons and, you know, what it all means and certainly Stacy has been doing
some background research on some of the tools that have been employed in other
business attraction in other communities and seeing what is that cost and we have been
talking to our legislators as well about, you know, whether it's the district or -- or various
tools and they are encouraging and on board in some of our most conservative and I
will end with we are also challenging our Council or our chamber to engage in some of
our larger business leaders on our community to also step into this discussion and be a
participant and as we move forward be a leader in the discussion. So, that is what
Brenda and Bruce have been starting to pull together. So, as we bring
recommendations back to you there is involvement, engagement, ownership, and
thought behind each one of those.
Rountree: Thank you, Mayor. Just an actual question now. Can you give us a short
update on what's going on in Core?
Sherwood: Absolutely. Councilman Rountree, thank you for that question. We have
actually been working very diligently with the State Department of Commerce. BVEP
just recently has said they are going to add healthcare to one of the initiatives as well.
The Angel Fund is off and running. They have created a couple of small tech
companies throughout the valley. So, they have been active. They are going to go
back into their recruitment or, rather, their fundraising this next year. They are rewriting
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September 10, 2013
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their strategic plan as well, but I know that they have been working diligently also with
Idaho State University for the cadaver lab that will be coming relatively soon, so -- and
they are also helping them with some fundraising as well.
De Weerd: And certainly the ANP lab, which is a university -- so, apublic-private
partnership, that Core has taken a big leadership in the matching funds that the
legislature funded 50 percent of the cost of that building and they have been fundraising
for the second piece. This is a big deal and when that does get built or start
construction, it's going to be a big benefit to the Core and -- forgive the pun -- their core
emissions, so --
Rountree: Any timeline on that?
Sherwood: No. They are still in that fundraising process to match those grant dollars,
so -- I think that they were hoping by the end of next year, but at this point they do not
have a timeline.
Rountree: What's their goal for that match?
Sherwood: It's 250 -- oh. I have to double check on that, Councilman Rountree. I will
have to shoot that over to you. I think at this point now -- I will double check that
number and send that over to you.
Rountree: Very good. Thank you.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: In today's paper -- the newspaper from the town to the east of us here -- had
a good story about Micro 100 Tool Corporation. It's a Meridian business. And they
talked about how the city and there are others -- the industrial revenue bond helped
them purchase land and I think did some building, because they had this huge
investment in the tool making equipment and they were having trouble with banks. Is
that something that's still available to us today?
Sherwood: Yes, it is. Through the Department of Commerce there are revenue bonds.
De Weerd: And we have kept our -- the board necessary for industrial revenues bonds
up and ready.
Hoaglun: Okay. And, then, to follow up on that question, then, you talked about there
are tools that other cities have -- I'm assuming within Idaho that we aren't utilizing. Is
that something you're going to be coming to us and say let's expand, let's put these
tools into the tool kit so we can -- so we can be more competitive?
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Chatterton: Madam Mayor and Council Member Hoaglun, yes, absolutely. Yes, we --
the way we want to approach it, though, is even though we see that other cities are
using things like urban renewal more effectively in industrial areas than we are, what we
don't want to do is immediately a knee jerk rush to that as the tool and rush out and
grab that. What we want to do is consult with those who have great knowledge of
industry in Meridian, important stakeholders. We want to consult with some folks that
perhaps might be naysayers as well and -- and craft an overall strategy and bring you a
menu of tools that can be developed and some of them wouldn't happen overnight. For
instance, a change in how we do urban renewal. Overnight we would not be changing
the land use plan. Although we can do that, you know, over time, but -- if there is a will
to do that and the agreement among property owners, but we want to come forward
with a full strategy for you so that you can agree or disagree that these are problems
that are worth solving and these are the appropriate tools to solve them.
Hoaglun: And follow up on that, then, Bruce. Thank you. What are you looking for time
frame? By the end of next year? By the middle of next year?
Chatterton: You know, I don't know that we have actually talked about a time frame yet.
We are talking to folks. What we are going to do is -- one of the things that the Public
Works Department has done really well is to -- they have a template for defining
projects. We don't have a project yet, but we are going to start populating that template
and as we talk to stakeholders I think we will get a better idea of what the order of
magnitude of these changes are and getting -- whether they are ordinance changes or
other things, what they will be. We will be talking to a lot of folks. We are going to be
taking alook -- careful look, as a lot of other cities are at -- at Twin's example, both from
what we would like to do along these lines and perhaps what we would not want to do,
what's not right for Meridian. So, we hope to have a schedule to get the strategy back
to you within the next 30 days or so.
Hoaglun: Thank you
De Weerd: Any further questions?
Bird: Just a nice report. A lot of hard work. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay.
Sherwood: Madam Mayor, Council, thank you so much.
C. Community Development: Review of Ada County Highway
District's 2014-2018 Integrated Five Year Work Plan (IFYWP)
De Weerd: Okay. Item 7-C is also under our Community Development Department
and we will be discussing Ada Highway District's 2014 to 2018 integrative five year work
plan.
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Hood: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I will be presenting to you
ACHD's draft IFYWP. I like FYWP better, but we will put the integrated. So, the
integrated -- I have mentioned to you a few times before over the past year and a half or
so that ACRD is integrating their budgeting with their capital projects, with their
operations, with their community programs -- they are basically putting it all together in
one place, so left hand can know what right hand is doing and have a full
comprehensive, integrated, detailed comprehensive five year work plan. So, this is the
first year that they are actually integrating all that together. Before you you have
different time lines and schedules for the five year work plan and budget and community
programs are out over here and so I really think this is a win for just the transportation
network. The highway district as an agency I think it's going to be a great thing for all of
the people that -- that traverse the roadways here in Ada County. So, what I would like
to do today is just run through that draft and seek any comments you may have. They
have asked for a pretty quick turnaround time on this. I did talk with our -- the Meridian
Transportation Commission yesterday. They didn't recommend any changes to the
draft, but I want to just run it by you and see if a written correspondence is in order or
not based on what's in the draft plan. So, I will just start by explaining to you a couple of
things that you won't see in this -- this plan and that is the first -- the first plan in about
ten years that the split corridor doesn't show up and that's because it's going to be done
here in a couple of weeks.
De Weerd: Hallelujah.
Hood: So, it is not in the five year plan and that is a good thing. The other major project
that's coming out of this is Franklin, Ten Mile to Linder, and that's wrapping up this
month as well. So, that's also not on the plan. Changes from the plan that's currently
on the books. There is really only one major change in -- that affects Meridian and
that's the Franklin-Black Cat intersection. That right now is in the -- is scheduled for
construction in 2015. The proposal is to move it out a year to be 2016 with the roadway
widening of Franklin Road between Black Cat and Ten Mile. So, that makes a lot of
sense to just do it all as one project -- federal aid project and do it all in the same year in
2016. So, a one year delay of that intersection project would, again, make a lot of
sense to me. Some of the other -- our other projects that -- that are advancing or
moving up pretty substantially in the plan --just a couple to call to your attention. One is
McMillan, Locust Grove to Eagle. This project currently is on the books or in the five
year work plan as an unfunded project and in 2015 it's shown to be constructed -- that
mile of McMillan to a five lane facility with the McMillan and Eagle intersection rebuild.
So, that's a pretty big project. Not all of that is in Meridian, but about two-thirds or three-
quarters of it is Meridian city limits there and, obviously, it's a pretty major thoroughfare
into and from the City of Meridian. Another corridor to highlight. There is actually three
projects. One is the intersection of Meridian and Ustick and, then, the two mile
segments and go east and west of Ustick and Meridian. So, towards Linder to the west
and towards Locust Grove to the east, those have all events from preliminary
development in our PD to having a funded construction year of 2017 and 2018. I would
also point out that those have the -- the asterisk by them that say if funds become
available they can advance any and all of those projects. So, the Ustick corridor is
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September 10, 2013
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going to be very hot in that this next year the Ustick-Locust Grove intersection will be
rebuilt. At least the northern -- northern half of two-thirds or -- yeah, that northern half of
that project, two of the four legs, and, then, the roadway widening back to Leslie Drive
on Ustick will also be out to bid here and under construction probably just after the first
of the year, so -- and, then, a year or so off and, then, over the next two, three years the
rest of the Ustick corridor or the rest will be under construction so -- and here is another
just -- kind of just to summarize some of what's in the five year work plan -- I hope you
had a chance to look at the 115 pages of the integrated five year work plan, but there is
some summaries that we did in a memo that you have for today's meeting. I think this is
-- this is a pretty good snap shot into our request and it makes me feel pretty good to
recall -- we were trying to have the Meridian Transportation Commission on board by
April, so we could go through the whole -- our priority process and forward that onto
ACHD to consider in their programming projects. We did make some tweaks with your
help. You forwarded on a recommendation to ACHD, but the top -- our top three
roadway, our top three intersection, and our top three intersection and our top three
community programs projects are -- all have a construction year in the five year work
plan. So, that to me -- we have got a pretty good pull from what our needs are here in
Meridian and there is a long laundry list of them, but our top three in all categories are
going to be reconstructed in the next five years and so now the city can say that. Again,
I think with the help of the previous transportation task force and with the help of Council
the prioritization process that ACHD has with their -- their cost benefit analysis and
safety analysis and congestion, mitigation, again, to get the prioritization and the
programming correct, I think we are doing a pretty good job of identifying essential
projects, asking ACHD to look at them and they are programming them, because they
are -- they are pretty good projects. So, that's a pretty quick just overview of the
projects in Meridian. The last thing I wanted to just highlight for you -- and I mentioned
this to you as well a couple of times -- is the new economic development program that
ACHD has. This is the first year -- it's actually two years. They got that budgeted, but
the commission had set aside dollars to do economic development related projects. I
came to you a few months ago and said we have identified one and that was the East
3rd Street extension here downtown that would connect Fairview to Carlton, acquire
that right of way and build that connection because of the issue that Meridian and Main
present there at Cherry-Fairview and how close those signals are to each other and
getting 3rd Street as a major thoroughfare between Franklin and Fairview with the
railroad crossing that it currently has. So, long story short, that was one of the --the top
projects that -- that ACHD -- their workshop with their commission on here a few weeks
ago. During that work session, though, the ACHD commission did not like the idea of
using the economic development dollars in urban renewal area, so they have asked for
staff to come up with a policy that basically states something to that effect that you're
ineligible and I know Ryan's hear today, I don't know if he's prepared to talk anymore
about how that policy is evolving or not, but I think that's a pretty big deal and, quite
honestly, those urban renewal areas are set up for economic development and
redevelopment opportunities and to exclude them from this -- this potential funding
source and reinvestment opportunities. I don't know all the thinking that went into that --
that comment, but just on the surface of it taking is a little counterintuitive to what we as
cities try to do or urban renewal areas try to do, we are trying to reinvest to get, you
Meridian City Council Workshop
September 10, 2013
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know, properties that are otherwise underutilized to get economic development to
happen and they typically are in city core or rundown areas that need some help and I
didn't have the numbers, but a majority of the 14 applications that ACHD received were,
in fact, in urban renewal areas, again, because that's where the need tends to be. So,
my recommendation would be is if we do write a letter on the five year work plan at all --
and we could stay silent on this and that's probably okay, but I think a lot of our -- we
don't have a funding source. ACHD builds arterials and that's it. You know, we really
don't have any way -- and we don't even have the authority to rebuild the road if we
wanted to. So, to me this was a good opportunity for some of those other lesser
classified roadways where we really do need some help. So, I just wanted to update
you on that and if you wanted to take it further we can explore that dialogue some more.
De Weerd: Caleb?
Hood: Yes.
De Weerd: If you would take a breath. I was waiting. But I do think we should write a
letter and one of those is -- is in reference to urban renewal districts. Unfortunately, I
think they always reference one particular urban renewal district and the amount of
money that they are able to collect. It's very unreasonable to think that our urban
renewal district, that was kept small for a reason, it really was focused on blight, for the
true definition of why urban renewal districts exist and certainly while an extension of
that is being contemplated and I'm saying is in early discussion, that would be taken to
City Council and to the voters for economic development. Two different things. Our
urban renewal district is small and they might be surprised at the dollar amount that is
collected and so I think that that is going to be an important element to processing the
letter.
Hood: Thank you. I will draft a letter, then, and seek the Mayor's signature here in the
next week or so. The other thing just along -- along that economic development our
application in particular, I just wanted to check in again -- and it has been fairly recently,
but I just want to make sure that that is a priority project for the city still, the East 3rd
Street extension. There are a couple of obstacles in the way there, a couple of
structures and of property near Carlton that is either on the market or has been optioned
to redevelop and so we haven't seen anything officially submitted to planning yet, but it
was a longer term vision that preservation of some of that right of way and/or if ACHD
can get it in the five year work plan and build that extension. I just wanted to check in
and make sure that nothing has changed on that front over the past few months that this
is a project we want to see happen and go forward. So, I just -- I'll pause and take a
breath and just make sure -- I saw a couple of heads nod, but I don't know if there were
any comments to that effector not.
De Weerd: When you say heads, make sure you say in agreement.
Hood: In agreement. Yes.
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De Weerd: Council, any comments?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Just in case the rattle when I shake my head isn't audible, I -- 3rd Street
connection I think is very important to the whole eventual picture of how downtown is
going to function and the future that we have for it and certainly the existence of the
railroad crossing there makes it an important element in the circulation in that area and
it's a high priority for me.
Hood: Okay. Thank you.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Caleb, all one has to do is try to get north out of that part of our city and they
can appreciate the need for 3rd Street. It's next to impossible. So, I support that -- at
least getting access to Fairview.
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor -- and I agree with that, that we just need to keep that a priority
and keep pushing on that. Also agree with the Mayor and her comments about the
letter. It does seem counterintuitive, as you said, Caleb, to not include urban renewal
districts in economic development funding for roads. It just -- maybe there is a good
reason for it, but I can't think of one off the top of my head, so --
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I agree with what's been said, but I also think we need to make sure that the
people involved with some of that property realize that there is going to be a right of way
requested through there, because that -- that can hurt some developers if they have to
-- if they find out half their property is split for a roadway.
De Weerd: I would preface that staff has been talking about and -- okay.
Bird: But let's just make sure that it is out there.
Hood: And, Madam Mayor and Councilman Bird, that is what -- the discussions we
have been having I just want to make sure we are on the same page with you as we
continue those discussions that something hasn't changed and we shouldn't be telling
people that.
Meridian City Council Workshop
September 10, 2013
Page 28 of 46
Bird: So, it would be a priority, as Councilman Rountree said, to get us through town.
Hood: So, with that, Madam Mayor, I do have maps we can -- we can -- I know time --
you have got a 5:00 o'clock special meeting, so we -- I'm not proposing we do this, but
do have maps that ACRD has provided that shows all the projects over the five years of
the plan. If you want to go through each individual project we can do that. Again,
hopefully, you have had a chance to look at those projects that are in Meridian over, you
know, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18. Again, I have all those maps. If there is any specific
questions on them, if it's -- if it's your pleasure I can run through all of the roadway
intersection projects real quick, probably take about five minutes, or we can be done.
So, again, the transportation commission reviewed the draft plan yesterday and
recommends to you your endorsement of it. I will draft a letter for the Mayor's signature
specifically regarding the economic development program over there in urban renewal
agencies, so -- with that, Madam Mayor, I'm done, unless you'd like more information.
De Weerd: Thank you. Council, any need for Caleb to go further or do you have any
questions?
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor, just one comment. It's on there. It's the intersection of Ten
Mile and Chinden and that is to be a developer cooperative deal, but when Highway 16
opens that's going to be the closest access to the freeway and it's not the people that
are going to the freeway, it's the people coming back that are going to be utilizing that
and there is no light, got a major highway and if that -- and, then, we have accidents
there already. I'm just concerned about that, that if that gets delayed -- the sooner the
better on that one.
Hood: So, Madam Mayor, Councilman Hoaglun, just a little bit more on that. It was
either last Wednesday or the Wednesday before that developer cooperative agreement
was approved between -- that's Walmart driven. Walmart and ACHD. If Walmart stalls
and doesn't build their store, then, that intersection wouldn't be, but all points right now
to them moving forward and that should be done this next year. So, it should be about
the same time that 16 punches through to Chinden. So, unless Walmart changes their
plans, that intersection should be up and running about the same time.
Hoaglun: And Caleb -- Madam Mayor. That is my one concern if that timing doesn't
work, we could have some issues there. But, anyway, thank you for your report. It was
very good.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Caleb, a first. We have got our preferred in every category and that's great
and thank you ACHD. Appreciate that. As I went through the list of all the projects it
didn't appear -- make me realize what was bothering me until I saw and overlaid all the
maps and, again, we are going to be significantly impacted by 16 opening up and there
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is a lot of things that need to be done in advance or in conjunction with that that are not
in a program anywhere. We know of multiple intersections that are going to level of
service F once that thing starts functioning. Now, there are some improvements that
are in the program that will help, but there is some issues that I see and I anticipate on
Black Cat, on Cherry Lane to the west, on McDermott, on some of those rural rail
crossings where you will have improvements on either end and you're going to have
sleepy drivers driving through those areas in numbers that have never drive through
those areas before and none of the anticipation of that is reflected in the -- in the plan.
Even through year 2018 and I believe that project will be opened at the end of this year.
If not, by spring of next. So, I -- and I know that they haven't necessarily modeled that
impact in what's going to happen in western Ada County, but it just seems to me it's a
little short in that area in anticipating what might be happening to us specifically,
because all of that traffic is going to come through Meridian. It's either going to go to
Ten Mile or it's going to go to their new Meridian interchange and with Meridian
interchange under construction next year and 16 opening up, we all know where it's
going to funnel and that's to Ten Mile. And they're all not going to come down Ten Mile,
because it doesn't have enough room for everybody. So, that's my one concern about
the plan, but I think it's great and I really applaud ACRD for the plan they put together
and the resources they got to put it together with. It's -- it's -- I think the priorities look
good and, again, I really appreciate that they have recognized our priorities and they
have included them in the plan.
De Weerd: Council Rountree, I wholeheartedly agree with you, as you well know. The
City of Meridian and I -- the City of Meridian was certainly taken to task, because we
vocalized our concern about the bridge connecting 44 and 20-26 prematurely until there
was a route to connect that traffic either to the interstate or improving 20-26, because
you are just piling a bunch of traffic onto an already congested highway with rural roads
connecting to it. I don't think Ada County Highway District for that matter were
supportive of this either, because they are dumping traffic on -- their local roads without
trying to determine what is going to happen at that point. Although I am afraid you
would have a legislator that's said by us getting funding for Meridian interchange we
took that opportunity away from extending that bridge all the way down to the interstate.
So, there is -- there is no solution. I think it's put Ada County Highway District in a real
predicament in trying to now accommodate the state transportation department's mess.
Rountree: I agree.
Hood: So, Madam Mayor and Councilman Rountree, I guess to -- how would you like --
is that something appropriate for the same letter?
De Weerd: Sure.
Rountree: I think we just have concerns for what that impact is going to be and we have
not seen any anticipation in terms projections and planning. I know early on I got some
figures from ACHD about the intersections that were going to go to a level of service F
and, again, I agree with the Mayor, that's -- that's really not ACHD's issue. They are
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getting put on just as we are getting put on by probably not the best decision in the
world to put that bridge in without some place for it to go. But it is a -- it's a community
concern and I hope ACHD looks at that as that opens up and if things really did get bad
in some spots and we have some high accident situations that maybe the program can
shift.
Hood: And, Madam Mayor, Councilman Rountree, I hope it doesn't take accidents, but
if I do have one beef with -- with the current way that this happens, it is reactive. They
do take -- mostly it's where the problems are today, because there is not a lot of funds
to anticipate --
Rountree: I agree.
Hood: -- where the problems are going to be. So, we are going to have to get through
some congestion along Black Cat and McDermott and some of those other corridors
that will be used more before they will start to score higher in this program and I know
you know that, too. I do think we have some -- we had a similar concern when the Ten
Mile interchange was being built, because there weren't a lot of projects along Ten Mile
and in the vicinity, it's like the state's putting in this interchange, but we don't have the
local roads to -- so, I think we can -- we can bring that up and just put them on notice.
But they -- I mean they know the situation, too, and I will draft a letter to that effect, so --
De Weerd: Caleb, I guess one thing -- maybe the seed that we need to plant is when
the voters passed the registration fee extension, it was to be dedicated towards bridges,
safe routes to school, and intersection improvement and at this point I think the only --
only thing that we can maybe advocate for is the intersection improvements. Right now
I -- I don't know if we have four way stopped intersections in -- along McDermott from
Chinden to Franklin, but we may want to look at some intersection improvements at
least even if there is temporary lights or what have you. But it is -- it is going to be a
concern and it's going to stretch our resources out beyond our city limits for sure and
I think I guess I would challenge our police department to have a conversation with the
sheriff's department, they are going to have to start paying more attention to that
corridor. All good discussion. Thank you.
Hood: Thank you.
De Weerd: Anything further on this topic? Okay. Thank you, Caleb. Appreciate it
D. Parks & Recreation and Legal Departments: Proposed Update
to Parks Code
De Weerd: Item 7-D is our Parks Department. I will turn this over to Steve.
Siddoway: While the presentation is coming up, Madam Mayor, Members of the
Council, thank you for having us today. It's our intent to -- today to simply introduce to
you the update of the parks development being worked on. We would like to
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acknowledge a few people in the room that you will hear from. Emily Kane has been
instrumental in working with us over -- not just a number of months, but a number of
years -- I think soon after I began in this role Colin and I started tracking new issues and
items that came up that were not addressed in the current code and wondering how --
you know, how we should deal with them and worked with Emily to help draft an update
of that. We have recently this year been working with Officer Shawn Harper and
specifically been looking at the enforcement side of things, make sure we have the
police department's acknowledgement and blessing on that. We have been working
with the Parks and Recreation Commission since about May of year on it. Councilman
Zaremba has been in a couple of those meetings and they asked us last month to
forward it on to the City Council at the next available workshop. So, that is why we are
before you today. With that I just want to introduce a little bit of the why and some of
the issues that we were trying to address and, then, I will turn some time over Emily to
touch on each of these in a little more detail. First of all, you know, there is a growing
interest or -- of commercial uses in the parks and we thought it was important to think
about those and how we might address that. Recreational programs in the parks that
would compete with programs that we offer through not just ourselves, but with
contracted partners that we contracted with, how do we address that. Short-term
concessions permits are a new item that has come up with the -- the temporary use
permit process and things like that and want to make sure that that is reflected in our --
our code as well. Provisions for alcohol in parks have developed and morphed over the
years. We wanted to make sure that the code reflected current practices there as well
and, then, a whole host of general park regulations. So, those are some of the issues
that we looked at. I'd like to turn this time over now to Emily and would invite Shawn up
briefly near the end and, then, I will wrap things up and we will be done in about
probably ten minutes.
De Weerd: Thank you, Steve.
Kane: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I'm Emily Kane in the legal
department. I want to start with the commercial uses of parks. We are kind of hitting
the top five highlights of the draft parks code that you have before you. Starting with --
as Steve said, commercial uses of parks on page three -- at the bottom of page three
and continuing on to page four of the draft that you have in your packet this section
restricts selling goods and services in parks. As Steve mentioned it competes with our
contract concessionaries and this section kind of embodies the philosophy that the
primary use of the public park is not for private gain, it's not for commercial use. That
would be inconsistent with the park goals and purpose of being for everybody. So,
under this section, for example, it would not be okay to reserve a shelter at Settlers Park
and sell snow cones to the public. It's not a store, it's a shelter. It's for celebrations and
other kind of recreational park uses, not for commercial uses. This scenario is unlikely
at this point, but it's not unheard of. These are issues that pop up or that are
foreseeable given kind of the trends that we have seen and questions that have come
up. So, that's part of the code that would address an issue that -- that is before us or
maybe occasionally, but could come up more in the future. A similar section starts on
page four -- or, rather, is on page four and it restricts non-city recreational programming
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in parks. For example, a private tennis pro can't reserve a tennis court and give tennis
lessons, because tennis lessons are available through city recreational programming.
This is a problem that crops up every now and then. This creates competition with city
recreational programming and also we have little oversight over that private
programmer. So, the idea is that that programmer can approach the city and offer
recreational programming through the city in the city park, but, otherwise, we want to
kind of -- we want to control our recreational programming and not allow competition
with our providers. The third highlight, as Steve mentioned, is a short-term concession
permit on page five of our draft. The short-term concession permit is something that we
are doing right now and it is working. This draft would codify that process. It allows --
the key component is that the city invites vendors to sell a particular product at a
particular place and time under this permit. So, a hotdog cart at the soccer fields on
game day is a good example of someone that we invite to come and provide an amenity
to park users. It's similar to a temporary use permit for temporary sales units. Those
are not currently allowed in parks. The difference between the short-term concession
permit and the TUP is that the city invites the vendor to come into the park. So, we are
pretty restrictive and pretty selective about who we want to be in our parks selling food
and -- food and drinks. It's also similar to our contract concessionaires, but the
difference is the relative permanence of those two types of vendors. Another highlight
of the parks code is that it attempts to address alcohol in parks. This is a big issue. It's
highly regulated everywhere in the state and parks are no different and alcohol is
related because of public safety. There are permitting requirements, as you know, and
age restrictions as you also know. This is an area that took quite a while to figure out
the categories of alcohol consumption. The -- the four situations and contacts that we
have identified for alcohol use in parks is, first, alcohol that is sold at a public event, so a
special event or outdoor market. Alcohol that is brought to a public event for personal
consumption, similar to Concerts on Broadway. So, you can bring a picnic basket with
a bottle of wine. Third, alcohol sold or served at a private event. So, a wedding or a big
company party maybe. Picnic. And, finally, alcohol that is brought by attendees at a
private event. So, bring your own beverage kind of event, like a family reunion or,
again, a big company picnic. So, the -- the code attempts to define those situations and
clearly outline which permitting is required for those -- each of those situations. We do
have on the books now and in place at parks an alcohol permit and this, again, codifies
that process. That process is working pretty well. Finally, we added some additional --
or rather several additional park use regulations. Currently, the -- our code addresses
animal related issues, damage to park property, and trespass in parks. Those are the
only specific kind of rules that are outlined in our parks code and clearly there is a whole
host of behaviors that we typically do regulate and that we see. So, Sergeant Shawn
Harper is here to maybe touch on some of that information.
Harper: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, thanks for having me today. My first
time being up in front the Council, so a first time for everything.
De Weerd: Sergeant, it's nice to have you.
Harper: Thank you. Briefly, once again, it was nice to get to work with the other
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divisions and have good positive conversation, constructive conversation, and kind of
rebuilding, updating, improving these regulations. They were extremely outdated in a
lot of areas, a lot of language had to be changed and updated to be current. We met
with the parks commission and kind of worked over some -- some verbiage and some
questions they had, but overall I think the biggest -- the most important thing about this
revision was making sure that our codes were -- were fair and consistent and I think
where we have gotten today will show that if once you get a chance to review those and
read those if you haven't already and I think it -- again, it gets us -- it gets us to today's
times with Kleiner Park and the growth of our parks and pathways. I think it's fair and
up to date.
De Weerd: Sergeant Harper, I guess, you know, in addition to fair and consistent, it --
you need to include enforceable. So, do you feel that as these are I guess clearer
defined and as Council implements this, does it give you the tools to enforce?
Harper: Yes. And prior to this revision, as long as it goes through, most everything was
a misdemeanor offense and upon lots of discussion a lot of these things we considered
they should probably be infractions, which if we need to enforce them outside of the
educational piece and warnings, which we do quite a bit, it allows us to do it promptly,
so that enforcement piece is there and dealt with immediately. When you have
misdemeanor offenses it's the citation, the report, then court, and it kind of -- it goes on.
So, we can deal with matters immediately if we need to actually include that
enforcement piece. The only other thing with that is a lot of our city codes coincide with
state law, so if there is not something that we feel we need to enforce on a city side
through our city ordinances, we can enforce on the state side. So, I think we have -- we
have got it covered.
De Weerd: Okay. Council, any questions?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: On this general use regulation, is that where the no smoking would be?
Harper: No. It's separate from --
Rountree: It's in a separate ordinance, but maybe it ought to all be in one spot.
Kane: So, the general park regulations in Section 13-26 address kind of the behavioral
issues. Are you referring to the --
Harper: Smoking ordinance.
Kane: -- smoking ordinance or to the --
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Rountree: Well, the no smoking is part of it
Kane: So, the no -- the smoking in parks is regulated by a director's order and that
establishes the places in the parks where smoking is and isn't allowed and it's posted.
The disturbing the -- disorderly conduct provision addresses smoking everywhere in the
city. So, we could address smoking -- take it from the policy and put it in the code.
However, it's definitely covered and if someone is smoking in an area in a park where
they are not allowed to do that, they would be cited under the disorderly conduct
provision of city code, as they would in a private establishment or private property
where it's posted no smoking.
Rountree: Just got to know where to find it is all. And just for something to think about,
I don't know how it's defined in that policy, but e-Cigarettes -- I don't know if they are
defined as smoking or not, but if not that needs to be discussed, because I see them
more and more and I see them in the parks.
Kane: Yes. Sergeant Harper noticed that as well that that is a change that needs to be
made to the disorderly conduct provision regarding smoking. So, that's in the chute.
Harper: And that coincides with the way the state law was updated regarding e-
Cigarettes, so I think it's important for us to be consistent at the city level as well, so --
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further from Council? Okay. Thank you, Emily. Thank
you, Sergeant Harper.
Siddoway: So, we have got the last slide. Just to wrap it up from this next steps, our
intent today was simply to introduce this to you. I know it's coming to you formally for
the first time. It would be our proposal to bring this back in a couple of weeks on
September 24th, two weeks from today, for a first reading and discussion, give you a
chance to read it, ask other specific questions. If in your review you have specific
questions that you would like to have addressed I would actually encourage you to send
those to me. I asked Emily if that was okay, you know, this is an open item and she
said as long as I address them at the public hearing that you can. So, if there is
something specific you want me to come prepared to address I guess just let me know.
Otherwise, we thank you for your time and I will stand for any questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Steve. Any questions from Council?
Rountree: I have none.
Siddoway: Okay. Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. And this will move forward.
E. Legal Department: Interagency Agreement for Sale and
Transfer of Real Property with Ada County Highway District
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De Weerd: Hi, Ted.
Baird: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I'm here to address Item E in your
packet. It's the purchase and sale agreement for the properties directly behind City
Hall, commonly known as the Andrews Upholstery property that is currently owned by
ACHD. ACHD uses a different state statute when they disclose a property to other
governmental entities and their process requires that your action approving the
agreement be noticed in the newspaper twice and that's been taken care of and it's here
on your agenda today for your consideration. It's not a public hearing. You're certainly
welcome to take comments if there is any from the -- anybody from the public, but I'm
just here to seek your motion to approve the agreement and have the Mayor sign. We
would intend to close within 30 days and stand for your questions.
De Weerd: Any questions for Ted?
Bird: I have none.
Rountree: I have none.
De Weerd: Is there anyone who would like to comment on this item?
Hoaglun: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: If this isn't an official public hearing, I guess I don't have to close a public
hearing.
De Weerd: No, you don't.
Hoaglun: But I would make a motion that the city proceed with the purchase of Ada
County Highway District property, commonly known as the Andrews Upholstery
property. It's located just west of Meridian City Hall.
Bird: Second.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion on this item?
Baird: Madam Mayor, if I could ask the maker of the motion to amend that to include
approval of the agreement that's in your packet, with the Mayor to sign. I will also
mention while I have the floor that ACHD did approve this last week, so the -- your
approval tonight makes it a signed and sealed deal.
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Hoaglun: Okay. And, Madam Mayor, I would amend my motion to include approval of
the agreement. And the Mayor to sign.
Bird: Second agrees.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. If there is no discussion by Council, Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
De Weerd: Thank you, Ted. Appreciate it.
Baird: Thank you.
F. Legal Department: 2013 Addendum to Lease Agreement
Between Lakeview Investors, LLC and the City of Meridian
De Weerd: Are you also the next item?
Baird: Yes, I am.
De Weerd: Thank you for being here.
Baird: I appreciate them being on the agenda adjacent to each other. What you have
in your packet is an addendum that's been a long time coming to the golf course lease
agreement with our concessionaire Lake View Partners. I was last here in November
where I gave an outline of what we were attempting to do in the addendum. There were
a few items that needed to be negotiated between the finance department regarding
records and we got that ironed out, so that's why it came back to you for a final
approval. I do apologize for putting it on the Consent Agenda last week without any
explanation. So, what I did for tonight's presentation is I included in your packet the
minutes from the November discussion. My bullet point presentation on what's included
in the addendum and to be -- also, since there is some concern about the turf conditions
of the -- how to treat the turf, I included what we were replacing -- what's going to be
replaced with the new proposal. So, I would be happy to walk through the agreement
section by section or I could stand for questions.
De Weerd: Council, do you have any questions?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor, I actually had some specific questions and I'm not sure we
need to go through the whole thing, but I was a little bit startled that I thought it went
farther than we intended to go in giving away some responsibilities that they had. In the
earlier discussions we did talk about how they would treat the turf and in the new lease
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agreement that is very -- very well spelled out. We have a great deal of explanation of
what they are required to do as far as the grass. However, that same item says that it
replaces another paragraph that has a lot to do with how they care for trees and
irrigation systems and I was not believing that we were substituting better care of the
grass for the other things that they need to care for and my first thought was if we are
going to be so specific on grass we need to still include the requirement that they care
for trees and irrigation and pond and the other stuff. This doesn't really replace that,
although what is being presented at the moment says that it does supersede and
replace the paragraph that does have those things in it and the reference to an older
exhibit that is also being replaced. So, my feeling was I think we are giving up more
than we intended to give up in the way of what they are required to care for.
Baird: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, and Council Member Zaremba, I want
to make sure that I understand your concern, because intent was with regard to the
existing grounds maintenance paragraph, which is Paragraph I, that that remain in place
and all that we are doing is swapping out the old Exhibit F, which is entirely turf related
with the new -- the turf management standards that were recommended by Raven Golf
Services when they were under contract, but the course continues to use those
particular items. Looking at Section C of the addendum and it does reference Exhibit F
to supersede and replace the exhibit only. I had not intended to remove that paragraph.
Perhaps -- perhaps you're talking about the paragraph that we are deleting from the
capital improvement section that we talked about separately.
Zaremba: No. That was what I was talking about, what you're just referring to, and I
think I was interpreting the sentence that you were just reading to be a little more
expanded than maybe your interpretation of it. Perhaps in the part of the sentence that
says shall be superseded and replaced, if we all understand that that only applies to
Exhibit F and it doesn't apply to paragraph 4-1-1 -- the 4-I-1 I mean, then I can be
comfortable with that. But when I first read it -- maybe I didn't read all the words to
myself, but when I first read it I felt it was taking that whole paragraph out, but if we all
understand it's not, I can go with that.
Baird: Madam Mayor? Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member
Zaremba, if you interpreted it that way, that's an indication to me that it's less than clear
and I would propose that we change the language to make it crystal clear that it's only
the exhibit that we are replacing. I can easily get Mr. Oaas' signature and have this
back on your Consent Agenda next week. So, I would suggest that we proceed in that
-- in that manner. That would be, then, all of the other maintenance provisions that are
in the body of the agreement. So, all we are doing is stepping out the exhibit.
De Weerd: That's an excellent suggestion.
Zaremba: I would appreciate that and be very comfortable with that. Just a thought.
De Weerd: Anything further?
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Zaremba: The other question that I had I think has been clarified for me. I wasn't sure
that we were making forgiveness of the 7,000 dollars ayear -- or 6,000 dollars a year
that was supposed to -- I wasn't aware that we were making that an ongoing thing, but
as I read back through the notes of what has been presented to us, it's kind of a semi-
ongoing thing, that it still has to be approved every year by us, by their showing that
they have spent monies on capital improvement and so the question that I had there
was actually not a legitimate question. It's been answered, so --
Baird: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Zaremba, if I could just
briefly recap what the intention is and make sure that that's the way that you're reading
it now is when the golf course task force met we tried to -- we looked at the existing
capital improvements plan that was an exhibit to the agreement, identified that that was
pie in the sky, you would never get there with the way things are, but the course -- we
made an attempt to come up with our own specified year capital improvements plan and
it was the committee's recommendation that Eric is in -- Mr. Oaas, the operator, is in the
best position to determine on a year-to-year basis where that improvement is needed,
so give him the flexibility each year to make those choices, whether it be cart path
improvements, the committee even went so far as to agree that the carts themselves
may be considered a capital improvement. So, for this fiscal year through September
30th of 2019 it's on what I call an autopilot where if he has those receipts, because
that's sent to the finance director, she verifies that he gets the rent release. If she has
any questions, problems, concerns she puts it on the agenda to discuss it with you. It
doesn't eliminate the annual report that you will be expecting every year from the golf
course, it just takes that financial piece out of it. As soon as this is approved, hopefully
next week, I will let Mr. Oaas know we are expecting those receipts for the last year, so
that that request can go through if the rent is due on October 1.
Zaremba: Thank you.
De Weerd: Any other questions for Ted?
Rountree: No.
De Weerd: Okay.
Baird: Thank you.
De Weerd: Well, then we will put this back on the agenda next week and take action on
it then. Thank you, Ted
G. Police Department: Transfer of Animal Control Duties and
Equipment to Idaho Humane Society
De Weerd: Item 7-G is under our Police Department. I will turn this over to Lieutenant
Overton.
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Overton: Madam Mayor, Members of Council, this is our ongoing process as we go
through the last steps in taking care of all the loose ends, the fine details on the transfer
of animal control duties around the City of Meridian to Idaho Humane Society. This is
broken up in front of you in your packets into four specific pieces. I'd like to go through
all those pieces one by one if you have questions we can answer them and in case I get
two far off track I do have Emily Kane to keep me on track, hopefully as she's written
most of this. The first part of this is the professional services agreement. Now, when I
originally talked about the services agreement when we did the presentation before it
was for animal control services. You will notice this also says dog licensing. We have
gone ahead and incorporated the dog licensing agreement into the yearly contract, that
way we cover two things with one document. This document has gone over by legal.
We have made a few tweaks to it to change it to the way the city wants it to read and
the good news is today is Dr. Jeff Rosenthal is ready to sign this today and mail it back
to us, so we would have it ready by the 24th of September when we bring this entire
packet through for final approval. If you have any chance to look at this, is there any
questions related to the professional services agreement?
De Weerd: Lieutenant, I just had to chuckle. Under definition I guess of an animal is
any member of the animal kingdom, except members of the human race. That is --that
was very well defined.
Overton: That is a legal term I'm sure.
De Weerd: Any questions from Council?
Overton: Okay. Madam Mayor, Members of Council, moving onto the second
document, the second document is -- our current ordinance and updates to that
ordinance, part of what we are going to do here is do a lot of terminology changing, so
that we are consistent with the terminology used across all aspects of what we do with
animal control and fee schedules and everything with IHS. So, as you look through and
you see a lot of strike throughs, the first one will be is we have only ever funded and
called a dog pound as we have discussed before, but we are contracting for a full
animal shelter. So, the word dog pound has been struck and animal shelter has been
placed in all of those areas. Another one you will notice is anytime it just said dog it will
now refer to animals. Other changes in definitions will be impound fee is changed to a
redemption fee. Relinquishment is changed to surrender. We have done all of these
changes just to make sure that our language meets their language, there is no
misunderstandings as we move through. So, it's really a clean up to bring us consistent
with the language that they use and all the other entities in Ada County. I would stand
for any questions on that .
De Weerd: Any questions from Council? Okay.
Overton: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, this third document is the resolution
adopting the fee schedule changes that would come with the contract. We will still
maintain quite a bit of revenue coming back to us, even with a contract with IHS. When
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they take enforcement action, fines, court fines, all that stuff still comes back to us at the
same rate that it does now. The other ones we have on these fees is we have some
new fees. Instead of a dog impound, of course, they are called dog redemption fees
and there is now a cat redemption fee and there is going to be a livestock redemption
fee. It's important to note on those new redemption fees, which are our old impound
fees, is a hundred of that still comes back to the city. Where IHS collects fees from this
point forward that we have either collected in the past or had the NBHS collect in the
past, is they will collect all of the boarding fees, they will collect all of the adoption fees,
vaccination fees and all veterinary fees, everything that's found on their site by their
people. So, we will still have a significant amount of revenue coming back to us from
stuff that we have always done before and we will continue to get revenue from in the
future. And, again, these definitions that we saw on the previous change are also on
this new fee schedule and change. Any questions on the fee schedule update?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Again, I guess this is a question for Mr. Nary. In other departments if we
have new fees we have to have a public hearing. So, you mentioned you're going to
bring this whole thing back to us in a couple weeks. Is that a public hearing at that point
or how do we handle new fees?
Nary: I think Ms. Kane is going to answer the question.
Zaremba: Okay. Thank you.
Kane: Thank you. Madam Mayor, Members of Council, Councilman Zaremba, the --
that's correct. There will be a hearing on September 24th. It was -- notice of that
hearing was published yesterday and will be published next week and, then, we will be
ready to have the public hearing. The -- the fee schedule is largely unchanged, except
for those -- those new fees that Lieutenant Overton mentioned.
Zaremba: Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay.
Overton: If no other questions, move onto the last document. The last document is the
resolution that deals with declaring the two animal controlled vans we have now as
surplus property and being donated to IHS, the consideration of which is included in the
service agreement, which was the first document. That's pretty straight forward on how
we have done that. But those two are tied together. So, I would stand for any
questions if there are on that one.
De Weerd: I don't see any.
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Overton: I'm glad to hear it. Or not hear it. With no further questions, as was stated,
this will be coming back on the 24th. We will have a public hearing on the fee schedule.
I believe we talked that the actual service agreement, if there is no questions, could go
on Consent and be signed and the other two need to come back as resolutions and
ordinance changes. Thank you.
Rountree: Very good.
H. Fire Department: Overtime Discussion
De Weerd: Okay. Very good. Well, under the auspices of the dog ate the homework,
we are skipping Item H.
Rountree: You're in the dog pound.
I. Public Works/Legal Departments: Discussion of Three Party
Agreement with the City of Meridian, LC Inc., and Meridian
Heights Water & Sewer District
De Weerd: I won't elaborate on that. Item 7-I is our Public Works/Legal Department.
Nary: Madam Mayor? Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I was wondering,
because of the lateness and your other meeting, we believe this Item I is not only
relevant to the Council, but can be also relevant to the Planning and Zoning
Commission, since part of this transaction is going to be in front of them at a certain
point in time. Mr. Barry and I have been corresponding while we have been here and
we wondered if it would be relevant or appropriate to move this item to your joint
meeting after your presentation on the Eastern Treasure Valley electric plan. We could
have this discussion with the Commission and -- before we go to the Executive Session
on a separate item.
De Weerd: I think that would be most appropriate.
Nary: Okay.
De Weerd: Okay. So, do I need a motion, because it is on a separate agenda?
Nary: What you will need to do -- you can -- basically we have made note of it on the
record. We are going to have a motion at the beginning of the next meeting on the
agenda to add it.
Bird: Add it to the agenda.
Item 8: Ordinances
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A. Ordinance No. 13-1574: An Ordinance for the Re-Zone of 5.85
Acres of Land Known as the Bainbridge Subdivision (RZ 13-
005) Located on the South Side of Chinden Boulevard Midway
Between N. Ten Mile Road and N. Black Cat Road from L-O to
R-8
De Weerd: Okay. We are moving to Item 8-A. Madam Clerk, will you, please, read
Ordinance 13-1574 by title only.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 13-1574, an
ordinance RZ 13-005, Bainbridge Subdivision, for the rezone of a parcel of land located
in the northeast one quarter of the northwest one quarter of Section 27, Township 4
North, Range 1 West, Boise meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County, Idaho.
Establishing and determining the land use zoning classification for R-8, Medium 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: You have heard this ordinance read by title only. Is there anyone who
would like to hear it read in its entirety?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Seeing none, I move that we approve Item 8-A, Ordinance 13-1574 with
suspension of rules.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8-A. Madam Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
B. Ordinance No. 13-1575: An Ordinance for the Annexation of
5.34 Acres of Land Known as Jack's Place Subdivision (AZ 13-
006) located East Side of S. Meridian Road, approximately 1/4
mile north of E. Victory Road from RUT to L-O and R-8
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September 10, 2013
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De Weerd: Item 8-B is Ordinance 13-1575. Madam Clerk, will you, please, read this
ordinance by title only.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 13-1575, an
ordinance AZ 13-006, Jack's Place Subdivision, for annexation of a replat of a portion of
Lot 7 of Edmonds Subdivision, as shown in Book 33 of Plats, pages 2050 to 2051, Ada
County records, within government Lot 3 of Section 19, Township 3 North, Range 1
East, Boise meridian, Ada County, Idaho, as described in Attachment A and annexing
certain lands and territory 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 said lands from RUT
to L-O, Limited Office District, and R-8, Medium Density Residential District, in the
Meridian City Code. Providing that copies of this ordinance 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: You have heard this ordinance read by title only. It's riveting. Anyone want
to hear it read in its entirety? Seeing no takers, Council?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve Item 8-B, Ordinance 13-1575, with suspension of
rules.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8-B. Madam Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
C. Ordinance No. 13-1576: An Ordinance for the Re-zone of 5.52
Acres of Land Known as Fast Eddy's (RZ 13-006) Located at
710, 730, 750, 770, & 770 W. Ustick Road, Meridian Idaho from
C-N to C-C
De Weerd: Okay. Item 8-C is Ordinance 13-1576. Madam Clerk.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. City of Meridian Ordinance No. 13-1576, an
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ordinance RZ 13-006, Fast Eddy's, for the rezone of a parcel of land, including Cedar
Springs Subdivision No. 6, recorded in Book 91 at pages 10818 through 10819, records
of Ada County, Idaho. Situated in a portion of the southeast one quarter of Section 36,
Township 4 North, Range 1 West, Boise meridian, City of Meridian, Ada County, Idaho,
establishing and determining the land use zoning classification of C-C, Community
Business 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, Madam Clerk. I don't see anyone jumping up and down to hear
it read in its entirety. So, Council, do I have a motion?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move we approve Item 8-C, Ordinance No. 13-1576 with suspension of
rules.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8-C. Madam Clerk.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
D. Third Reading: Ordinance No. 13-1573: Adopting Idaho State
Plumbing Code and Local Amendments; Adding Local
Amendments to 2009 International Building Code Regarding
Restrooms, Drinking Fountains, and Service Sinks in Business
and Mercantile Occupancies
De Weerd: Item 8-D is the third reading of Ordinance 13-1573. Madam Clerk.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Third ready of City of Meridian Ordinance No. 13-
1573, an ordinance repealing and replacing Meridian City Code, Section 10-2-1,
adopting the Idaho State Plumbing Code and local amendments thereto. Amending
Meridian City Code, Section 10-1-3, local amendments to the 2009 International
Building Code and providing an effective date.
De Weerd: This was the third and final reading of this ordinance. Is there anyone who
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September 10, 2013
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would like to hear this read? Okay. Council?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve Item 8-D, Ordinance 13-1573 with suspension of
rules.
Bird: No. Do not suspend the rules.
Zaremba: We already complied with the rules.
De Weerd: We actually followed them.
Rountree: We followed the rules.
Bird: Followed the rules.
Zaremba: I second that.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8-D. Madam Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Hoaglun, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 9: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: We are at the final item. Any topics for future meetings, Council?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: No? Okay. I would entertain a motion to adjourn our workshop.
Bird: So moved.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
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MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:23 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR MY DE WEERD DATE APPROVED