3-24-15 CC Minutes - Dairy DaysMeridian City Council March 24, 2015
A meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March
24, 2015, by Mayor Tammy de Weerd.
Members Present: Mayor Tammy de Weerd. Charlie Rountree, Keith Bird, David
Zaremba, and Luke Cavener.
Members Absent: Joe Borton and Genesis Milam.
Others Present: Bill Nary, Jaycee Holman, Bruce Chatterton, Warren Stewart, Berle
Stokes, David Jones, Steve Siddoway and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll -call Attendance:
Roll call.
X David Zaremba Joe Borton
X Charlie Rountree X Keith Bird
Genesis Milam X Lucas Cavener
X Mayor Tammy de Weerd
De Weerd: I would like to welcome you all to the City Council meeting. It's always nice to
be joined by our citizens and businesses. For the record it is Tuesday, March 24th. It's
6:00 p.m. We will start tonight's meeting with roll call attendance.
Item 2: Pledge of Allegiance
De Weerd: Thank you. 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: Community Invocation by Justin Jordan with Real Life Ministries
De Weerd: Item No. 3 is our community invocation. Tonight we will be led by Pastor
Justin Jordan with the Real Live Ministries. If you will all join us in the community
invocation or take this as an opportunity for a moment of reflection. Pastor. Thank you for
joining us.
Jordan: Thank you for having me. Let's pray. Lord, we come before you and just thank
you and praise that we have given another day and, Lord, I just want to lift up our leaders
of this community, this Council, tonight as they make decisions on the best -- for what is
best for Meridian. We ask, God, that you would just continue to use them and bless them
as they lead our community and lead Meridian to be the best community that we can in
this great state of Idaho. We pray for our community. We pray for protection for all the
people that are involved. The Mayor's office. Police Department. Fire Department. All
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the different entities that are involved, God, we ask that you just continue to bless this
community like you have already and allow great things to continue as we know that you
are a good God and we ask for -- that you would just continue to bless any of these
people to make this community great. We pray that tonight that all the decisions will be
for the betterment for the citizens of Meridian as a whole and that it will continue to be a
vibrant community for families to come and raise their families. We thank you, Lord, for
your Son and we pray this all in your Son's name, amen.
Item 4: Adoption of the Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you. Item No. 4 is adoption of the agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: On Item No. 9-A, the resolution number is 15-1058 and Item No. 10-A, the
ordinance number is 15-1639. And with those, Madam Mayor, I move that we approve
the agenda.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda as printed. All those in
favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item 5: Consent Agenda
A. FP 15-007 Whitebark Subdivision No. 1 by BHH Investments 1,
LLC Located 2135 E. Amity Road Request: Final Plat Approval
Consisting of Twenty -Nine (29) Building Lots and Five (5)
Common Lots on 10.54 Acres of Land in an R-4 Zoning District
B. Final Order for Approval: FP 15-006 Solterra No. 2 by C15, LLC
Located Northeast Corner of E. Fairview Avenue and N. Hickory
Way Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of Fifty -One (51)
Single Family Residential Lots and Six (6) Common Lots on
Approximately 5.34 Acres in an R-15 Zoning District
C. FP 15-008 Three Corners No. 3 by Conger Management Group
Located Southeast Corner of N. Locust Grove Road and Chinden
Boulevard Request: Final Plat Approval Consisting of Twenty -
One (21) Single -Family Residential Building Lots and Four (4)
Common Lots on Approximately 6.81 Acres of Land in the R-4
and R-8 Zoning Districts
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D. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Approval: AZ
14-014 Sulamita Church by Architecture Northwest Located
Southwest Corner of W. Cherry Lane and N. Black Cat Road:
Annexation and Zoning of 9.76 Acres of Land with an R-8 Zoning
District
E. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Approval:
CUP 14-019 Sulamita Church by Architecture Northwest Located
Southwest Corner of W. Cherry Lane and N. Black Cat Road
Request: Conditional Use Permit Approval to Develop a Church
on Approximately 8.47 Acres in the Proposed R-8 Zoning District
F. Development Agreement for Approval: AZ 14-014 Sulamita
Church Located at the Southwest Corner of N. Black Cat Road
and W. Cherry Lane at 4973 W. Cherry Lane Request: Annexation
and Zoning of 9.76 Acres of Land with the R-8 Zoning District.
G. Lease Agreement for Concessions Operations at Julius M.
Kleiner Memorial Park Between Joys Boys, LLC and the City of
Meridian
H. Agreement For Use Of Kleiner Park on April 4, 2015 For Capital
Community Egg Hunt
I. Approval Of Purchase Of Cues CCTV Van From CUES, Inc. For
The Public Works Department For The Not -To -Exceed Amount Of
$202,000.00 And Authorize The Purchasing Manager To Issue
And Sign A Purchase Order To Cues, Inc. For The Not -To -Exceed
Amount Of $202,000.00
J. Overland Park Apartments Sewer and Water Easement
K. Continued from March 17, 2015: Resolution No. 15-1055:
Declaring Surplus Property And Authorizing Donation of
Outmoded Tactical Equipment To The Keck School Of Medicine
Of The University Of Southern California
De Weerd: Item 5 is our Consent Agenda.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree:
Rountree: I move that we approve the Consent Agenda as published and authorize the
Clerk to attest and the Mayor to sign.
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Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second for approving the Consent Agenda. Madam
Clerk, will you, please, call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea, Rountree, yea, Zaremba, yea, Borton, absent, Milam, absent,
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item 6: Community Items/Presentations
A. Swearing -In Ceremony For 2 New Firefighters
De Weerd: Okay. Item 6-A. We will be swearing in two of our new firefighters. So, I will
turn this over to Chief Jones.
Jones: Good evening, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I'd like to thank you for
giving us this opportunity to welcome into our ranks our two newest firefighters and with
that said I'd like to ask Nick Piccono and Michael Bayless to join me at the podium,
please. Thank you, guys. Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, this is Michael
Bayless. Michael Bayless comes to us from Caldwell Fire Department. Michael has a
degree in Business from Boise State University. He married -- he is married to his wife
Kelli since 2011 and, again, recently joined us from the Caldwell Fire Department Nick
Piccono has a bachelor's degree in biology from the College of Idaho where he met his
wife Molly. They have three boys, Rocko, Enzo and Nico, who are here. And prior to
coming to work in the fire service the educational -- education director at the World Center
for Birds of Prey just south of Meridian. Most recently was a firefighter with the Caldwell
Fire Department and joined us as of Monday this week. So, with that, Madam Mayor,
would you, please, join me at the podium to pin their badges.
De Weerd: I will. And I guess I will need to send a note to Mayor Nancolas; is that
correct? Okay. If you will raise your right hand. I, Michael Bayless, do hereby declare
that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the state of Idaho and that I will
faithfully discharge my duty as firefighter to the Meridian Fire Department and to the
citizens of Meridian, to the best of my ability. I promise to protect and enhance our
community through professionalism and compassion in accordance with the Meridian Fire
Department guiding principles and policies. Congratulations.
(Repeated by Michael Bayless.)
De Weerd: I, Nick Piccono, do hereby declare that I will support the Constitution of the
United States and the state of Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge my duty as
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firefighter to the Meridian Fire Department and to the citizens of Meridian, to the best of
my ability. I promise to protect and enhance our community through professionalism and
compassion in accordance with the Meridian Fire Department guiding principles and
policies.
(Repeated by Nick Piccono.)
De Weerd: Well, I would like to join you both to the Meridian Fire Department's family and
just take a moment to thank the families of our two newest fire department members.
They have entered into a close knit family and we know that you will all be sacrificing
some of your time with your loved ones during holidays and other special occasions, but
do think that you have joined the best and we welcome you and just wish you great
success. Thank you for joining our team.
B. 2015 Dairy Days Discussion
De Weerd: Okay. Item 6-13 is under discussion of our 2015 Dairy Days and I will turn this
over to Mr. Nary.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I want to make a statement that I am a member of the Dairy Show Board, but I do
not believe that this would conflict with any agreement or any voting that I would do. I will
let the other Council decide.
Rountree: I'm okay.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Nary: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I'm just going to I guess start
the discussion, just to give you some history as to what we are here tonight about. As
part of our special events process we have a team that's made up of representatives from
the Clerk's Office, Planning and Zoning, the Building Department, Fire and Police to meet
and discuss all of the ramifications of any type of activity or event and what may be
required, whether it's traffic control, whether it's on-site medical staff, what permitting is
necessary for whatever the -- the function is. And so with Dairy Days we did have a
meeting back in December with Dairy Days representatives, as well as our staff to look at
what was done previously. Last year, if you recall, we passed an ordinance to address
historical programs within the city. Dairy Days is one of those that qualifies for that, so
there is no permitting costs that's necessary for the event in regards to temporary use
permits and those types. There may be permitting necessary sometimes for electrical and
other things that are trade related, but not necessarily for just having the event. So, the
discussion was is what was done previously and, then, what was going forward -- what
was needed to be done going forward and that's -- that's what brings us here tonight. We
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looked at what has been done in the past. Last year, for example, we looked previously
and I have some information from the past and some of it's more for context. When we
when we didn't have the split corridor and all we had was Main Street and Meridian Road
in the older configuration, it was a different type of parade and a significantly different type
of traffic control, because of the way the streets and the traffic flow was. Last year was
the first year of the parade in a new configuration. Now the parade goes down Franklin
for a portion, then, turns on 3rd Street, goes to -- does down to -- it's not Carlton -- I'm
sorry, I lost my train of thought. Oh. Bower. Bower Street. And, then, turns onto Bower
Street and, then, turns onto Main and that way it allows the through traffic to take the
crossover and take Meridian Road and proceed north if they don't want to go to the
parade and they have that option to do that. So, it changes the way traffic control is done.
We looked at last year's cost and, of course, again, the permitting was waived. There was
police presence at the parade, which is always required. The police presence was a
couple -- was out two thousand dollars in overtime costs. Last year there was Specialty
Construction that was traffic control plan -- a traffic control plan, signs, barricades,
flaggers, those are required by ACHD that a traffic control plan be implemented and
Specialty Construction is one of the people that does that in this community and that cost
was almost 4,000 dollars of -- of barricades and signs and flaggers and such. They
anticipate this year potentially again the same cost of overtime for the police officers that
are necessary to staff the parade, as well as the barricades and traffic control and traffic
signs. Chief Lavey isn't here and I don't know if Lieutenant Stokes or Sergeant Gonzales
want to address this, too. One of the things Chief Lavey made a comment was that it
actually helps control some of the cost by using a group such as Specialty Construction
and using their materials, because it, then, allows a barricade to substitute for a police car
to block a roadway off or to make sure that pedestrians don't end up in the parade route
and so using barricades and such is a much less expense, but it is an expense and it is a
hard cost that comes to somebody to pay and last year the city paid that. So, it was about
2,000 dollars in police staffing last year, as well as approximately almost 4,000 dollars in
Specialty Construction costs. There was -- again, permits were waived. There were
some additional costs for Parks and Recreation staff overtime and those were also, again,
included from the city and were not charged back to the Dairy Board. This year, again, we
anticipate the same thing. The only thing that was different was there was a request -- we
-- they did feel it was important to have on-site medical personnel. In the past what was
done was really the response would come from Station One when there was a medical
need and trying, though, to, then, use the apparatus of the engine or the ladder truck to
access the parade to provide a medical support wasn't very practical and so Chief
Niemeyer looked at the cost of providing two on-site either paramedic and EMT on an
alternative vehicle, mule or something like that, so they would be more mobile and they
would be able to access the parade route safe and easier than trying to use the apparatus
and the cost of that would be approximately 700 dollars. So, those were the -- that was
the only additional cost that was different from last year is that addition, although we think
from a -- from a public safety standpoint it's a much better improvement than trying to use
the engines to do that. Those were the costs for the past. Those were the costs for last
year and what's anticipated this year and the discussion I think the Dairy Board wished to
have with the Council tonight is which cost the city was willing to absorb and which cost
the city felt was the responsibility of the Dairy Board, so that we would, then, continue the
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application and get it processed and complete this, so that we get the Diary Days event off
in June as it normally is held. So, unless you had other questions or specific questions for
the departments -- I know Chief Jones can answer for the Fire Department and Lieutenant
Stokes for Police if you had additional concerns.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you, Bill. Any questions from Council?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I suppose this may affect traffic control. Somebody this morning commented
on the medians that are currently being put in Main Street and asked how that would
affect our two parades. Has anybody thought about whether the traffic pattern for the
parade is going to change with the medians?
Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, Council Member Zaremba, that -- that was
discussed. I discussed it with Mrs. Kane, who is part of our special events team, that was
discussed. I believe the medians are placed in a way that still allows through traffic on
both sides. So, it allows vehicles the size of a fire truck or garbage truck to pass. So,
don't know that there is many -- if there is any vehicles that are larger than that in the
parade that that may prohibit that type of vehicle from being in it, but, otherwise, when
they remove the parking on Main Street for the parade they should be able to pass next to
those medians without any issue.
De Weerd: That was discussed when the Meridian Development Corporation talked
about the medians, that that couldn't in any way hamper the parade.
Zaremba: Great. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Anything further? Is the Dairy Show -- not Dairy Show Board --
Bird: Dairy Show Board. Yeah.
De Weerd: Oh, Dairy Show Board? Okay. Dairy Board. Jerry. Thank you for joining us
this evening.
Mattison: My pleasure.
De Weerd: Jerry, if you can state your name for the record we would appreciate it.
Mattison: Jerry Mattison.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Johnson: Gary Johnson.
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De Weerd: Thank you, Gary.
Mattison: I'd like to start off with just a statement and, then, we can get into some
discussion and answer some questions that the Council might have. The Meridian Dairy
Board -- first I'd like to thank the city for its continued support of Meridian Dairy Days,
which is the largest annual celebration in the City of Meridian every year. This year we
will be celebrating the 86th consecutive year of Dairy Days. As many of you are aware,
the Meridian Dairy Board is a nonprofit corporation whose primary focus is promoting the
youth of this community, particularly 4-H and FFA chapters. We provide substantial
financial support to these organizations, members to scholarships, as well as supporting
many local and national activities they participate in. Since last year's Meridian Dairy
Days events, members of our board, as well as many employees from the city, various
departments, have had several meetings in an effort to improve the event. On March 6th
of this year we received an e-mail from Senior Deputy City Clerk Jacy Jones suggesting
that we request a time in a Council meeting to address the city's role, particularly whether
the city would absorb some or all of the costs of traffic control and public safety for the
Dairy Days parade. Over the 86 years the Meridian Dairy Days has existed the event has
constantly evolved and changed. Our Meridian Dairy Days parade is now probably the
largest attended parade in the state of Idaho. Unfortunately, another change has
occurred in the last two years has been the decreased participation in Dairy Days by the
Meridian Chamber of Commerce. Last year the chamber decided that it would no longer
sponsor the food and craft booths in the park. Not wanting to see this disappear, the
Dairy Board took over that event and added numerous inflatable -- I don't know what you
call them, other than inflatables for children to play on. The cost that we charge for kids
for a dollar a day to use those things. Very inexpensive. This year we were notified that
the chamber, due to lack of getting volunteer support and profitability of the event, would
no longer sponsor the pancake feed. Once again, not wanting to see this disappear, the
Dairy Board has agreed also to take on that activity. Everyone connected with the parade
wants it to be a fun and safe activity. We share the city's concern to make the parade a
safe event for all. However, the cost involved in renting the required traffic control
barricades, signage and the hiring of professional flaggers would make this parade too
expensive for the Dairy Board to continue putting on. Last year the cost to rent the
required traffic control safety measures, which the city graciously paid, was 4,310 dollars.
That was the bid amount. I don't know the exact amount, because ACHD did provide
some of that free. We expect the cost to rent the same equipment this year could even be
more. We are respectfully requesting that the city again this year and for the foreseeable
future cover the required costs for public safety and traffic control for the annual Meridian
Dairy Days parade. We feel that Meridian Dairy Days, which celebrates our community's
heritage and is by far the largest celebration in the City of Meridian every year, needs to
continue and to be supported. This is why we are asking that the city keep its support the
same as last year, so together we can keep the largest parade in Idaho a fun and safe
event. Now, if there is some questions we'd like to answer those and have some
discussion.
De Weerd: Thank you, Jerry. Council, discussion?
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Cavener: I have got a couple.
De Weerd: Okay. Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Jerry, a couple quick questions for you. It was news to me that the chamber
isn't involved and I'm sorry to hear that. I appreciate you sharing that with us today.
Mattison: We were, too.
Cavener: I'm curious. What's your approximate cost going to be to operate the pancake
feed?
Mattison: I don't know those exact answers. We had someone who is heading up that
and they are not here today.
Cavener: I think he's sitting in the back.
Mattison: I didn't see him back there.
Cavener: It would be great if we could get a ballpark on what that is or maybe, then, you
can share what was your cost of the inflatable attractions that you had in Storey Park last
year?
Mattison: It was 3,500 dollars.
Cavener: Okay.
Mattison: And at a dollar a kid it does not pay for it.
Cavener: No, it doesn't.
Mattison: We don't do it to make money.
Cavener: Sure. All right. Thank you.
De Weerd: Other questions or comments?
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I think last year when we had this hurdle in front of us we addressed it through
ordinance by committing that we would participate in the level we have historically
participated in and I would assume that that's the -- probably the fix of that amount and the
participation level was the cost from last year. That amount will not cover the additional
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flaggers and safety equipment that ACHD is going to require and I do -- I do not believe,
from the discussion last year, that ACHD will provide that any longer. They provided
about 5,300 dollars worth of equipment last year, is that correct, Bill?
Nary: That's the number I have, sir.
Rountree: So, I guess what I have in front of me is an unknown of what you're asking.
Last year the city participated in an amount of about 8,200 dollars. I don't see us
participating much more than that.
Mattison: Part of that is the overtime and the staffing which has been in an ordinance last
year --
Rountree: Right.
Mattison: -- that's always taken care of. That to me is not an issue here.
Rountree: But that's where we got the cost to the city.
Mattison: True. But I'm talking about additional costs to the city is what we are talking
about today and the 5,300 that ACHD provided, I -- that seems high to me, because 4,300
was the grant total that Specialty Construction had for everything and if ACHD gives them
5,300, 1 -- that doesn't add up to me.
Nary: Well, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, I mean that was the number that was
given to me, which seemed a little high as well. I don't know if Sergeant Gonzales has a
better figure than that. I mean I was told at one point it was as low as 500 dollars that
ACHD paid, so I don't have an exact figure from -- as to how much they paid.
Mattison: That sounds more like it than 5,300.
Gonzales: John Gonzales, Meridian Police. The figure for 5,300 from ACHD is
$5,374.03. What that's about is an after action report that we made, ACHD provided us
their cost. This included their cost for personnel, materials, that they provided and the
personnel that they provided to help set up the equipment and also to do some of the
flagging during the event and so this also -- if I'm reading this correctly, it also -- this
includes labor, equipment, and materials.
De Weerd: So, I guess, sergeant, you probably can't answer this, but -- so, they -- their
cost was 53 -- almost 54 hundred and the cost to the city was close to 4,000. So, that
total cost was over nine thousand dollars and for anticipating this year it would be 5,000?
Gonzales: Madam Mayor, the way that was calculated, I think ACHD included in their
cost the cost of personnel in the planning and the approval process as well. So, they -- I
believe the way it's written in the document I received from them was all their time and
effort towards the -- the event, including the approval. Had we gone specifically just with
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Specialty Construction, our cost would have been about another eight to nine hundred
dollars more and Specialty would have taken care of those items that ACHD had originally
-- or had taken care of last year.
De Weerd: I'm not going to touch that one. Sorry, Justin, where ever you are in the
audience. Okay So, this year it looks like there is -- over last year what the city paid is an
additional 1,700; is -- is that correct, Mr. Nary?
Nary: I believe so, ma'am, just from the numbers I have.
De Weerd: Okay.
Mattison: Can I ask what's the 1,700?
De Weerd: It's because ACHD is not going to be a participant in the cost.
Mattison: So, they are not providing any barricades this year?
De Weerd: That's what my understanding is and so for Specialty Construction to do the
entire thing it adds a thousand dollars to that price tag and the other 700 is having the
EMS and first-aid staffing, as I understand it.
Jones: Yes, Madam Mayor, that's correct. Chief Niemeyer figured in to compensate for
the event. Four personnel. Two personnel assigned roving to the parade route and two
personnel assigned to the Storey Park staging area utilizing utility vehicles from the Parks
and Recreation Department.
De Weerd: And, chief, I -- I feel that I'm -- you're at a disadvantage to answer this, but
haven't we provided first-aid staffing in the past?
Jones: We have provided first-aid staffing, but it has not been consistently done. It's
been typically based on our availability staffing levels for the day and not utilizing overtime
to staff those events.
De Weerd: Okay. So, really, we could wrap that into historical coverage. So, it's really
the thousand dollars -- I would estimate is what we are talking about; is that correct?
Mattison: Over and above last year. Yeah.
Johnson: If I might add something to your --
De Weerd: Gary.
Johnson: I think the reason we are all here -- or I know why you're here, but we -- I know
you had some questions as a Council and we have some questions as a board whether or
not we can afford to put this parade on and it's outside of our mission statement, what we
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really want to do, and we just really -- bottom line need to know what the city's
commitment is to this, so we can decide where we want to put a parade on.
De Weerd: I think the commitment is close to 9,000 dollars. It's not -- not already
counting the additional thousand. If -- if that were included it would be close to 10,000
dollars. So, that would be the city's commitment. And, apparently, we are
underestimating our staff time, like ACHD did. So, I think we could at least say 20,000.
Mattison: I -- the reason I brought the information about the chamber backing of that is it
seems that's happening in our community is no one wants to step up and volunteer their
time to do things and we are trying to do that the best we can, just financially with the
restrictions that have been put upon for public safety and traffic control, we just can't
afford to do it and I would hate to see something that has been going on for that long
gone.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
Cavener: Madam Mayor? Oh. Go ahead.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: First of all, Council, these -- the Dairy Show Board pays in in excess of 32,000 a
year in property taxes, so they do pay their share. This has been something that has
always been -- the 50 years I have lived here has always been the biggest draw for
downtown Meridian. It's the biggest thing that goes on and I will tell you that those two
guys and about three or four others from our board do all the work on that parade and
everything else and I certainly am one that do not want to lose it and I got a printout,
thanks to Steve, of our expenses on our Christmas parade and I don't think -- I don't see
where any of our time -- police time or anything is in this cost. It isn't, so -- and we -- we
invested about 2,000 dollars, which I think -- I'm happy to do. I think that's something that
is very nice and I'm sorry we had to take it over, but thank God we did. So, if you added in
your police and everything like that, I'm sure you're looking at five to six thousand dollars,
especially if we cost out our labor like ACHD does. So, I -- I, for one, want to see this
continue on and -- and everything we take -- we take from the Dairy Board takes from our
youth because of our scholarships, our sponsorship. I can't remember, but I think one
year we sent 17 kids back to the national FFA deal; is that right?
Mattison: From Meridian and Kuna both. Yeah.
Bird: Yeah. So, our -- we are nonprofit, but our money all goes back to the youth.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
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Nary: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, just to follow up on what Council Member
Bird just said. We do have a breakdown on the cost -- some of the cost for the winter
parade. Just as a comparison -- and they are very comparable. I mean there is a slight
smaller charge as traffic control for the winter parade, but the parade is shorter than the
Dairy parade. So, it does seem pretty relative. So, again, I think costs are fairly
legitimate. I don't think there really is a question about -- about the -- what it costs and
what it takes to put on a safe event like this. It really is just -- where is it going to come
from?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: If I may, I would include a couple of comments about the information we have
been given about the Christmas parade. According to this the actual total cost was a little
over 10,000 dollars. The city ended up spending a little over 2,000 dollars, because Colin
Moss, bless his heart, does an awful lot of work, he gets sponsorships, he gets apparently
parade entry fees as well. He works very hard on that and often without a whole lot of
help. I think he does in -- gets a few people to help, but he as the volunteers for this
parade, he does most of it. I guess -- first I want to express my enthusiasm for Colin
Moss and our Parks Department and what they are able to do for the Christmas one, but
that also brings me to the question on the Dairy Days parade. Are there any entry fees or
sponsorships that help defray the cost on that?
Johnson: We do not charge nonprofit organizations, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, FFA,
all of -- they are in for free. Commercial and political candidates we do charge. Not
nearly what they -- what you charge for the -- I think it's 25 dollars. I don't know what the
winter one was of --
Zaremba: And other sponsorships either?
Johnson: We don't have a sponsor for the parade. Corwin Ford was a sponsorship of
Dairy Days last year and we are in negotiations with Kimball Ford this year. They had got
first right of refusal if they don't -- Corwin will step in, but I don't know what level they paid
the city, but ours might be lower than that.
Zaremba: Thank you.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I have got maybe a question. This might help us. We got a number in front of
us which is the city estimated cost for the parade. Do you guys have your own estimate
on -- on the cost or are you relying on the city to provide you with that data?
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Mattison: Well, what I have been relying is not from the city, it was from Specialty
Construction, who devised the traffic plan and where we needed signage and all that.
That was the 4,310 dollars -- that was last year's figure.
Johnson: We attempted to get another bid on that, but after numerous attempts a fellow
board member was not able to get that information.
Mattison: I do believe the 4,310 that was from last year -- John can probably answer that
better. I think there was some additional things that I think the police wanted, some
additional flaggers or something? And so I don't know what that new cost would be, but it
would be more than 4,300.
Gonzales: I think the estimate -- I don't remember what the estimate from Specialty
Construction was initially, but there was some revisions based on some changes that had
to occur and I know there was some things that were taken out, because ACHD provided
some of the material. Our invoice cost for -- for the parade, traffic control for specialty was
$3,926.75. So, in the same ballpark of 4,000 dollars. This is Dairy Days. 2014.
Johnson: It seemed like in our meeting in December you identified intersection of Pine
and Main and 3rd and -- needing additional patrolmen or something.
Gonzales: Today I talked to ACHD, John Wasson, in reference to what changes we might
anticipate with traffic control. The traffic control plan is devised by a traffic engineer and
they have determined where the traffic control devices need to be. It needs to be
compliant with the MUTCD, which is the Manual of Uniform Traffic something or other.
Control Devices is the C and the D. Anyway -- so, in the past the police department has
taken on the responsibility of traffic control, really not complying with the MUTCD and in
the future ACHD wants all events to be compliant. So, that's where the cost of the traffic
control comes into play. The police could take on an event, but it has to be a short-term
event -- police type event to be able to do traffic control. This is a planned event. So, it
would have to be compliant with the MUTCD.
De Weerd: Okay.
Cavener: Madam Mayor, follow up? Gentlemen, John, here is what I'm trying to wrap my
head around and maybe you can walk me through it, because I'm not that bright
sometimes. If you have your cost or what you anticipate it's going to be for this year, how
can you say you don't think you can afford it? That's just -- I'm trying -- you couldn't afford
it last year? Is that what you're saying or -- tell me -- help me get to that -- to where you
guys come up that you guys can't make it work this year.
Johnson: It was paid by the city last year, so -- we didn't pay it last year.
Cavener: Any of it?
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Mach 24, 2015
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Johnson: Of the traffic control and public safety. Correct. The city took that on. This
year we don't have an updated bid, but from what John just said and the bid of last year,
4,310 was the one that I have got with me here that Specialty gave us last year. They are
-- I believe they are asking for additional traffic control measures on top of what was done
last year. So, that's why I'm thinking it's going to be higher. I can't imagine them giving us
more for less money.
Cavener: Thank you.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Could somebody refresh my memory that contribution that we did make last
year, what budget did that come out of? How did we arrange that?
De Weerd: The hard cost of the traffic control I'm sure -- yes, lieutenant.
Stokes: Madam Mayor, Council, I believe the police department covered all of that and it
was about -- between the personnel costs and the Specialty Construction was about
6,042 dollars.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
Mattison: How much of that was Specialty?
De Weerd: 3,927.
Stokes: Yeah. 3,927.
Mattison: Okay. Thank you.
Bird: And Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: If we want to -- if you want to right, when we originally come out with the 43 or
something, ACHD had pulled their support last year until we had a joint meeting here and
I brought that subject up and all of a sudden they decided they had stuff they could -- that
we could use. So, that's why specialty was a little cheaper. But I have been told this year
that ACHD no longer does -- has their equipment, nor do they want to participate, so --
other than to make sure they are to their specifications.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
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Mach 24, 2015
Page 16 of 44
Rountree: We made a commitment last year that we would commit to the historical costs
and I think we need live with that commitment. However, at some point in time, since we
are 15 years into the 21 st century, I believe the Dairy Board probably ought to look at your
fee structure for your parade and look at the cost of the parade and see if you can defer
some of the costs in the future through participants. Having said that, I would move that
we participate in the historic costs of the parade in the amount not to exceed 9,000
dollars. Anything in excess of that amount will be borne by the Dairy Board.
Zaremba: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Is the intent of this to be for one year only or is it something that we would want
to have in place on an annual basis? I think it's important that maybe the Dairy Board
know where the city is coming from as they plan.
Rountree: My position, though it may not mean anything, is that there is going to be some
inflationary costs to the historic things we have participated in. Our salaries are going to
increase. The rental rates are going to increase. So, giving an inflation factor of the CPI,
maybe that amount could be increased. I don't know. Whatever the Council wants to do
next year to accommodate the inflationary aspect of what we have historically participated
in. But this year it's about a ten percent increase, which is pretty healthy.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
Rountree: And if at some point in time it doesn't make sense economically or financially to
have the parade, then, all of us that have lived our lives almost completely with having a
parade might have to change a little bit, but I hate to see that happen, but things do
change over time.
De Weerd: And I think that covers everyone in this room since it's the 86th annual. Mr.
Zaremba.
Zaremba: I'm trying to combine Mr. Cavener's question with what -- with what Mr.
Rountree said. The second interpreted that as being only for this year and I guess my
question is was I correct. That's sort of what Mr. Cavener asked.
De Weerd: To me I think you're establishing --
Zaremba: We are committing future years, are we?
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Mach 24, 2015
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De Weerd: You're establishing a base and --
Zaremba: It would continue.
De Weerd: That this would be the historic contribution and to consider inflationary costs.
Is that what I understood, Mr. Rountree?
Rountree: We committed by ordinance that we would participate in the historic costs for
these historic events, which the Dairy Parade happens to fall -- I think there is two, maybe
three of those events that are covered, and this one is covered by that ordinance, so,
yeah, this would be continuous.
Zaremba: Okay.
Rountree: But it could be --
Zaremba: As long as I understand that.
De Weerd: And I think this is the only event that met the 75 year ongoing, if I remember
right.
Rountree: Was this the only one? Okay. I thought there was another one.
Nary: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Future discussions -- and I don't know if the Council would like to include not just
the dollar figure that you would want to evaluate, but what types of service. I mean all of
them have traditionally been the same. It's been parks supportive in Storey Park. It's
been the medical staffing and the police and traffic control. I don't know if you would like
that to be part of your motion or part of what the historical participation of the city is for
those things versus just a dollar figure. So, it's up to you.
Rountree: Bill, my motion was intended to implement the ordinance, which is participate
in the historic costs of the parade. Public safety, medical, park support, and all of the
things that we have typically done in the past. So, that amount would cover the historic
costs for this year.
Nary: Okay.
Rountree: And anything in excess of that would be borne by the Dairy Board.
De Weerd: Any further discussion? Okay. Madam Clerk.
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Mach 24, 2015
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Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, absent;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: Thank you for being here.
Mattison: Could I ask for clarification?
De Weerd: Uh-huh.
Mattison: What -- the fee was 9,000? Was that what it was? And then -- so, how much
of that can we use for traffic control? How much of that was salaries and -- that's already
covered in the other ordinance? I just need a dollar figure that we are -- we can rely on.
thought the 9,000 included salaries. That's what I'm asking, how much the salaries was.
Bird: We don't -- I mean it's hard to tell what the salaries are going to be until it's over
with. How much we have used and stuff like that. You can't cost out -- I mean you can
estimate something out.
Mattison: I guess it's hard for us to estimate how much we have, then, to spend, if
anything.
Bird: From what I get on the paper we got here I don't think it's going to -- it shouldn't cost
you anything.
Mattison: I hope that's the case.
De Weerd: Well, we hope so, too.
Rountree: I'm going to add this up about as fast as I can add, Jerry.
Mattison: Okay. Appreciate it.
Rountree: It's estimated about half of that.
Mattison: About 4,500?
Rountree: Yeah.
Mattison: Thank you for the clarification. Thank you.
C. South Meridian YMCA Concept
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Mach 24, 2015
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De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. Item 6-C is under the South Meridian YMCA concept and
will have our Parks Director Steve Siddoway kind of kick it off.
Siddoway: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, thank you for bearing with us while
we got connected. We have invited the YMCA tonight to give an update on the South
Meridian YMCA planning effort. As you know they have a site that's been generously
donated by the Hill family in South Meridian near Amity and Eagle and tonight we want to
hear from them an update of the planning efforts that have been going on in relation to the
development of a YMCA, school, library, park combined facility at that location. So, I'm
just going to turn this over to them, because I believe their presentation will say all that
and more. Thank you.
Everett: Thank you, Steve. Jim Everett with the Treasure Valley Family YMCA.
Curtis: Scott Curtis, Treasure Valley Family YMCA.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Everett: Thank you for inviting us to be here today. What we are going to present is a
quick overview of where we are and this is what we are doing with -- as we go out and talk
to potential funders and we will give you an update as to where we are on there. This is
really about -- we think about -- about partnerships and about helping to uncover potential
from all the people that we work with. A couple of quick facts. The Y doesn't ever turn
anybody away due to the inability to pay. Last year over six million dollars in financial
assistance was provided. Discussion just took place. Volunteerism is big at the Y. Six
thousand people volunteer their time at the Y in that potential, whether it's reading or
swimming. This week I'd love to have any of you go back to any of our Y's, we will have a
thousand kids that will learn to swim this week at the YMCA in our annual spring break
splash program. I'm going to show a quick video. I hope this will work. This is one of the
things that we are showing to our potential donors as we go on.
(Video played.)
Everett: So, this was produced just for this campaign and that is one of the things that we
are going out and showing to folks, so I'm going to go back to where we started. This
actually started in 2005 and if you think back to 2005, a little different time. We had put
together a steering committee chaired by Jim Foley and Cory Jackson looking at the
potential of a YMCA in this community and did some studying. There was a high demand
for a YMCA. What caused us to pull back was we found out that the demand was beyond
what we thought we could meet. We were looking at a smaller Y and the economy got a
little tough and we were building a little camp project in -- up at Cascade -- outside of
Cascade and we decided we needed to put all of our efforts into that, so we pulled back in
2008 and we kind of put this on the back burner from there, so -- so we had some land at
Gramercy and that brought us back in the last couple of years to take another look at this.
We did a feasibility study, which is something we always do to see is there money out
there to be raised to support a project like this. The feedback we got was that we could
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raise about 12 to 13 million dollars philanthropically in this community and, then, we did a
market study to find out is there interest -- do people need the kinds of services that a Y
provides and we found out a lot of stats on that survey was that this -- there was the
highest unmet need of anyplace I have ever gone and done a study. A lot of that
revolving around family programs, aquatics, youth programs, including a community hub
in a community like this, you know, known for -- for catering to families. City of Meridian
came in. We met with the Parks Director Siddoway to find out that there was a lot of
interest here in a field house. Adult sports is big here. That's one of the programs that
Parks and Rec runs -- one of the many programs they do a great job with, but it's also one
of the ones that supports itself in generating some revenue for the Parks and Rec
Department. So, we had some discussions there. Took a trip to look at some other Y 's
and we looked at some national trends. Virtually -- I can't -- I'm not aware of a YMCA
that's being built now that isn't in partnership with some municipality. Most of them with
hospitals, municipalities, school districts like we are, and so we gathered a group of about
22 of us from Mountain Home, Kuna, City of Meridian, Eagle, to go out and look at some
of these facilities -- look at seven different facilities. They ranged in communities the size
of Sammamish of about 60,000. We looked at some in Tacoma. We looked at
communities as small as -- as Sumner, which is about 8,000 people. In each case they
were partnering with the Y in that community to provide services that otherwise wouldn't
have been provided. We started some discussions with the schools here in -- in the West
Ada School District. We have a long history in looking at the schools from youth sports to
early childhood, to after school programs. When we started that discussion the schools
were talking about the bond that didn't pass. We are delighted that the one that just
passed overwhelmingly says a lot about the commitment in this community to kids and
families. They -- the school is planned to open in 2016. Scott is going to show you the
plan -- the plans for the school in a minute. One of the clear things was that that school
will cost two million dollars less than it would have cost without the Y being a partner. We
will share a gymnasium. They will use our gymnasium. They will share library space.
There will also be cost savings to the Y as we will use the classrooms after school. We
were meeting with Dr. Clark the other day and all the teachers that get hired at that school
are going to know that those classrooms are shared with after school programs from the
Y. Some teachers don't want to do that. That's okay. But they won't work at this school.
They have got to be of a mind set that these are all our kids and we are going to share the
resources. So, we will come back to talk a little bit more about some of the savings. Then
we had one of the best things -- as we looked at this the property at Gramercy just wasn't
-- it wasn't coming together in the way we wanted. We had developers, including Tommy
Ahlquist and David Turnbull and Dave Walley and Clay Carley and Winston Moore telling
us -- if I'm a developer I would not put as much energy as you're putting into this -- this site
at Gramercy and we got introduced to Marty Hill and Dixie Cook and that was one of the
best days we have had to get to meet those folks. It was interesting as we drove in the
lane there -- Century Farms started in 1891. Same here with the YMCA was founded in
this community. The Y goes back to 1844. But in this community we have been around
since 1891. We thought that was a little bit of a -- kind of serendipity as we drove down
the lane. At that meeting we talked with them, they had had long interest, they had had
discussions with both board and the city about donating a park in honor of their parents at
that site, which used to be known as Hillsdale. The school, by the way, will be called
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Mach 24, 2015
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Hillsdale. There was a school before with that name and it will come back to that -- that
name when it's built and open in 2016. They wanted a park at ten acres. We talked about
the potential of the Y. They got pretty excited about that and so now all of a sudden we
are talking about a school and a Y and a park. Next we ran into Gretchen Caserotti and
think everybody in here is aware that the parks district is a -- is a taxing entity -- the
library. Excuse me. The library has its own taxing entity and started discussions with
them and they had a lot of interest in partnering with the Y. They have unanimously
approved on their board to -- to go forward and you will see in the plans that we have got
a spot for the library. We will share spaces in there. The library will be kind of central to
this facility. Their bond will go out -- they think in November of this year. It would include
a site for a library in south Meridian and north Meridian to kind of be matched with their
site in central Meridian. So, Gretchen Caserotti again very collaborative, very great to
work with. We have long had -- had partnerships with healthcare institutions. Currently
we have got one of each of our Y's, St. Alphonsus in the Downtown Y and the West Y.
West Valley Medical out of the Caldwell Y and we sent our RFPs and have gotten back
some great responses, so we fully expect that we will have a healthcare partner in this
facility. We are determining who that will be. It won't be an exclusive arrangement,
because we do many many programs like cancer survivorship, diabetes prevention, Delay
the Disease, which is a Parkinson's program with both -- both the primary healthcare
systems in this -- in this community. We anticipate -- and we will talk more about dollars --
that that will bring some dollars to this partnership, which we will need. So, you know, for
us it is all about partnership. I don't think any of us can get the job done by ourselves
anymore. We have long since trying -- quit trying to do that on our own. Everything we do
is in partnership with other organizations. It's in our DNA. When we say there is a
community and the first thing we ask is who might we partner with? Who could we go --
go lock arms with and work with. So, you see the partners that are listed around there, we
will have the healthcare partner probably within the next six weeks. So, from a -- just a
dollars and cents standpoint why -- why does this make sense? I already talked about the
fact that the school is going to cost two million dollars. I mean if you look at the bond, the
one that they put out that didn't -- didn't pass and, then, the one that passed, there is a
two million dollars savings just on the elementary school. For the Y there will be savings,
because we don't have to build afterschool spaces, we will use the space that the school
has. We will use -- some our youth space will be the library. The library will share our
receptionist. The parking lot will be shared. We had discussions just this week on -- on
the park there and, you know, we will be paying for the parking and the maintenance of
that parking and the -- but it will also be used for park patrons. So, there is a lot of -- at lot
of benefit in -- in doing this. We believe by the time we are all done it will be four and a
half to six million dollars, less money than if each one of us went out and built a park by
itself, a library by itself, a Y by itself, and a school by itself and a healthcare facility. So,
we will have that number, but I'm very confident it will be at least four and a half to six
million. That's really I think a drop in the bucket, because the long-term savings -- the
downtown Y is nearing 50 years old and it's got a lot of life left in it. We expect these
buildings, when we build them, to be well maintained and to stay around for a long time.
But if you're just looking at a 50 year life, that's where the costs really come in, you know,
and Councilman Rountree probably knows this better than anybody with the -- with
oversight of the Meridian pool, the cost of running a pool. An outdoor pool is expensive to
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run. An indoor pool is exponentially more expensive to run with a -- when you have got to
heat that envelope and all that. So, we believe there is going to be tremendous savings in
this partnership arrangement. The schools will do -- their PE programs will be with the Y
at a much lower cost than if they were to run them and with a lot more offerings and all the
kids will learn to swim. They will have access to the library and they will share librarian
costs. The parks -- it will be great -- will have space outside. The parks does a much
better job maintaining green space and outdoor space, so that's -- you know, that will be
some operating savings for the whole partnership. So, we have not calculated that whole
-- the whole operating savings, but it's huge and that's really an important discussion you
just had. We have all got to figure out ways that we can -- we can collaborate and do
things more effectively and more cost effectively as well. The other one for us -- this is
really about outcomes. I'm going to share with you just some -- fairly quickly -- we are
about three things. Youth development and that's at the core of everything we do.
Healthy living. And our target market really has evolved. Our target market is really
people that have not had success with leading a healthy lifestyle. We welcome everybody
and, you know, Krista Armstrong is a member, she is not a health seeker, but many of our
people are. They need a hand up. They have never had success for a long period of
time. Those people take more -- more time and energy, but it's what we do. It also helps
that we got partnerships with national organizations. We are kind of the go to organization
for the CDC now. They will offer programs, such as the diabetes prevention program, our
cancer survivorship program, our Parkinson's program, all developed in other parts of the
country and delivered to us so that we can spread them in communities like ours. So,
some of the results that we get -- I'm just going to talk about a couple of them. A lot of
people don't think about the Y and the youth development space of early learning. These
are just some results from our P16 project. The P standards for preschool. The 16
stands for four years after high school. This is the most recent results from Caldwell
where we have done this program. We have these results in Meridian. We actually have
more of these sites in Meridian, but we have probably done a better job in working with
them and measuring the results, but you can see that we have -- we have got a 20
percent increase -- or 20 percentage points -- it's more of a percentage increase than that,
but 20 percentage points higher of kids entering kindergarten ready to read than their peer
group that has not gone through our P16 project. We have more than doubled the rate in
Caldwell. Now, I say we, that's a collective we. We are just a part of that. But part of this
is by creating an expectation that every kid has potential and every kid can learn to read
and every kid can learn to do math. We taught every kid to swim in Caldwell, Homedale,
Vallivue School Districts. Most of them the low income school districts in -- in Boise. We
are now up to 24 schools. Every teacher will tell you that -- that the results are great in
the water, but they see those back in the classroom with better test scores, with better
behavior. Other outcomes. We do surveys -- you know, some of the softer ones that are
not on behavior. Our values are caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. I can tell you
that when we survey kids 99 percent of the kids who come to the YMCA since -- say since
coming to the Y have become more caring about others, 99 percent of them. Ninety-eight
percent of them will say since coming to the YMCA I tell the truth even when it's difficult.
Ninety-one percent of them say I have gained resistance skills. I have learned how to --
how to say no when things are proposed to me and it's not if, it's when that happens.
When does somebody ask you to -- to smoke this or stick this needle in your arm or to
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engage in activities that they shouldn't engage in. Ninety-five percent of kids say that they
have got positive role models and the Y is a safe place for them to be. Or the safest place
for them to be. So, you know, we get some great results in that area. Scott -- I'm going to
turn it to Scott, he's going to read a letter we just got last week. This is indicative -- we
can bring you lots of stories and we love to bring you the stories of the -- the meth addict
that comes to the Y and the person who -- the homeless person and we have got those
every day. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't have a homeless person show up
at the Y. But it's also every day folks and Scott's going to read this letter to you.
Curtis: Thanks, Jim and Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. As Jim said, this letter
came across our desk unsolicited about two weeks ago and it's by a man named David
and David writes: Dear YMCA. Last year my family lost 30 percent of our income and we
were in a tough spot where we couldn't afford our YMCA membership. You stepped in
and offered us about a 50 percent discount on our membership for the past six months.
You're very generous and I want you to know why this matters. First, my family has made
some changes and we are in a better spot than we were. My wife works ten hours a week
as a student worker at Idaho State Meridian, which is enough to cover her medical
insurance. She volunteered to the food bank in exchange for a food donation. I got a
three percent cost of living increase at work and shot an elk. We are doing better than we
were six months ago, but are still in debt. I cannot imagine living without the Y. It is my
main source of exercise and not only brings me physical wellness, but is a major source of
mental wellness for me as well. The Y is my happy place. I drag myself in there after a
lousy day at work and I feel better. It's good for my family and good for my community.
My son and I swim there and play racquetball. I'm a better person because of you. Lots
of people feel this way. The Y is an invitation to make a difference in the lives of
countless people in the Treasure Valley and you're a thriving hub and an international
village for people of all live styles to work out, visit, and hang out. Boise is a better place
to live -- better because of you. Last, your staff are awesome, they are friendly, and
always willing to help out. The best part, though, is how they greet everyone who enters
or leaves. Please tell them how much we appreciate being treated -- being treated like
human beings by your smiling staff. It takes a good experience and makes it even better.
This letter is powerful, as Jim said, because we provide 6.1 million in financial assistance
and the majority of that goes towards families and I think it's easy for me to say that, you
know, I'm one step away from being a David in this world.
Everett: So, we are going to hear about the project in just a minute. This is about building
-- building community together and this community, Meridian, is known for being a family
community and we are going to strengthen that. JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, as
you know, stepped up with four million dollars as a commitment to this project, the largest
gift ever, even outside of the education arena. That says something. They believe in the
Y's ability to change communities and change families' lives for the better. We are thrilled
with that. A report from Jamie McMillan, the -- the great granddaughter of Joe Albertson,
you can read that. It says: My family JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation are very
proud to be part of what we know to be a world class model for collaboration. A place for
limitless learning possibilities for children and families. You know, when they step up like
that it puts some pressure on us. We really want to deliver. But we are proud to be
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bearing four million dollars to this community through the Albertson Foundation and that's
in support of us and support of what the -- what the Mayor and the Council stands for. So,
Scott, I will turn it over to you.
Curtis: Thank you. I get to talk a little bit about the facility. This is fun. We are not going
to get lost in details with the facility. There is a lot of dreaming still going on, but I will
show you where we are at right now and why this is important that we are sharing this with
potential donors, because they are getting excited about it, too. First of all, sustainability
of the project. We, obviously, have taken some time to do a pro forma. We believe this
branch is going to meet community needs with a healthy mix of people from all economic
background. Obviously growth is significant in this area and we think that's going to
continue. As Jim mentioned earlier, the market study show that this was one of the areas
of highest unmet need that the folks had ever seen doing these studies and they do those
around the country for YMCAs and community rec centers. We also have a history of
starting programs and garnering ongoing volunteer support to keep -- to sustain them and
keep them going well. From a building design standpoint I just want to update you all.
We formed a buildings committee, a task force for this project. Councilman Rountree and
Mr. Siddoway both serve on that committee. That group went through a pretty arduous
process to select architects. Hummel Architects were chosen for this project. As Jim
mentioned, we benchmarked other partnerships, including Seattle and Tacoma. Also
want to mention that that group, then, moved forward with selection of a -- of a general
contractor, construction manager, and will be -- we worked in partnership with that
committee, as well as with the school district and used their preselected CMGCs as our
possible CMGCs for this project and Russell Corporation was chosen to lead this project.
A couple things.
Everett: And I was just going to say -- and that's for the whole project. So, again,
savings. Instead of having an architect for the schools and an architect for the Y and a --
it's one architect and one general contractor and that will save a lot of -- a lot of money
and just make for a much better and smoother project.
Curtis: And to orient you a little bit, Amity is just to the north of this picture and also that's
actually the true north on the map and Eagle Road is just to the -- just to the west. The
lane you see going in there is Howry Lane, which is currently a dirt road and it just shows
a model laid out for the property. You see some -- you see some funding. There is
holding spots for some of the partners. One of the things that we have learned from
Hummel in the design, the topography of this piece of land gives us some unique
opportunities. This part to the -- to the east is actually 14 feet higher than the other side of
the building and so what it has allowed for is some design -- design ideas that could really
help having this building feel open, spacious and being able to see across the facility and I
will show you the next picture. This is sort of a 3-D coming in from the -- from the east.
You see the YMCA entrance, which would be at the top of that 14 foot area, so that would
be, you know, a main floor. When you walked into that main lobby, you would actually
see through glass and see down to the pool area and through the glassed area on the far
side out to the park. Then you could also see the school, which is up off to the left here.
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Potential field house off to the right and a library, which is in the dark red to the bottom of
your picture.
Everett: The same entrance for the Y and all that very -- different school entrance, but it's
the same entrance, so, again, saving on receptionist, that kind of thing.
Curtis: And here is another view of that from the southwest. You can see the school.
And, again, on the -- on the southwest side of the aquatic center is a splash grounds and
you can see the connectivity. The school being able to access the gym, being able to
access the library. The Y being able to access all of those to the benefit of everyone.
Again, this is sort of a place -- over here is another idea of the design, which takes -- takes
the four courts and the field house and sort of staggers them, splits them, still gives
accessibility to the library and to the school. We are looking at putting the aquatic center
on the -- on the north side. Again, a lot of things still going on here. As Jim mentioned
one of the drivers right now is getting that school going and the school district really wants
to open that elementary school in August of 2016, so the architects and Russell are
working pretty -- pretty crazily, actually, to get ready to be able to break ground on that in
time to open in August of '16 and we are trying to get the rest of the master plan done, so
they can tie that in with the construction. Yeah. The timing for us -- we are not -- we are
not exactly sure. A lot of that is dependent. As you all know, we have a governance
process and our board also expects us to have funds pledged, so we are -- we are looking
at a lot of possibilities, depending on the fundraising. We could open -- we could open
part of the facility concurrent with the school or shortly after the school opens in late 2016.
If we are going to build the whole facility, including aquatic center, that would be -- that
would be at least two and a half years from now to complete that whole thing and, then,
there is a possibility of phasing in parts of the facility.
Everett: So, maybe a -- best case scenario we have the whole thing open for late 2017 or
January of 2018. That's kind of best case scenario.
Curtis: Some of the fun part about this has just been dreaming with the community
groups. You know, we had many sessions here in the community, as well as the different
committees looking at this and the partners and it's just fun to think of all this -- all this can
be -- you see it's a -- some sample of pictures. Picture number one is an open seating, as
well as stairway spacing inside of the school. It also serves as a gathering area, a
teaching area, group project area. They are also planning to build some sort of a stage
theater area inside of the cafeteria. It allows for opening up and the YMCA will use that
after school hours and you see some great images here. It's an open field house concept
from -- some of the neat things going on with aquatic centers and even building climbing
walls into the aquatic centers and things like that. A few more pictures here. Again, you
see that school area on the top left with that open seating area and you see the -- you see
the bridge that potentially will go across into the media center that the library will run for
the school, again, creating synergy, partnership, as well as saving dollars for everyone.
Outdoor splash pad images here, as well as group exercise classes, of course, will be a
part of this and, then, just some more things -- looking at some really creative designs on
that track, using possible hill track models. The library, obviously, and, you know, a slide
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that may exit the building and come back in and -- just having a lot of fun with this part of
the project and it's really fun to share this with potential donors and get their excitement
about what Meridian could be bringing.
Everett: There is two things. That hill track. So, that would actually have some hills on it.
ADA compliant, but would have an uphill section to it. It has a slide that goes off of it. We
find a lot of the kids that come in need to -- you know, they will go up and down the water
slide 20 times. They have got to go up the steps every time. There is no elevator, you
know, to get up there. So, they are getting exercise for the fun of going down the slide.
So, the same thing. Walking on the track, if there is a slide and they go down the slide
and have to run back up the stairs and get on the track, that's great. We have got to get
these kids active and, you know, we get different -- a whole bunch of different kinds of
kids that come in. Even some adults need to be kind of tricked into exercising.
Curtis: Just a comment about the fundraising that we are doing in this campaign and, you
know, Jim mentioned us doing a feasibility study and it really -- that was October of 2012
that the results were released and it really has guided where we need to focus these
years. You will see that our -- our fundraising is in three areas. One is -- one is capital
and that is -- that's focused on getting the land in south Meridian and that's the largest
portion of this campaign we are working on. At the same time we are meeting with a lot of
our old YMCA friends and family members and the -- trying to bolster our endowment.
Some folks are making gifts. Most of those are in expectancies. People giving -- name
the Y in their will or life insurance program or things like that. We are making some good
ground there. And, then, the third part is really important to make sure everyone
understands and that's -- because this facility, once it's up and running, will have ongoing
needs and part of the Y is having our volunteers go out into the community every year and
raise funds for those financial assistance dollars that we provide. As we are doing this,
this capital campaign -- what we are calling our comprehensive campaign, we have to
make sure that we are not cannibalizing those funds and so many of the donors we are
talking to give annually to that campaign and we make sure we emphasize first and
foremost we have to continue to support the programs we have going on or asking them
to continue at the same level with the annual campaign and give anything additional that
they can to the other areas of the campaign, so --
Everett: So, that's the overview. This is our steering committee. You will see that by far
the best looking one on there is the Mayor, but other than that we have got some pretty
good folks on there, too. So, it's a good group and what we find is leadership is
everything in these campaigns. When we had a successful campaign that built a camp
and John Fery was huge on that and this is -- this is a group that makes me sleep a little
easier at night knowing these are people that get things done, they are committed to this
project and they are just great to work with and we have some very very nice lead gifts in
this. So, really, ours is fundraising and fundraising. We have been around a long time.
We are going to be around a long time. First and foremost we try to raise awareness, we
try to tell a story. If somebody then gives money on top of that, that's frosting on the cake.
Some people they do that. But every time we are going to look at trying to create
awareness and have people understand who we are and why we do what we do. So, this
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gives you a little update on where we are. As Scott showed you on the capital side, we
need to raise 20 million. To date we have seven million and how that breaks down we
have got 5.5 million dollars in pure philanthropy. We have put in in this calculation 1.5
million from the city, because the field house will add cost, so we put a place over in 2.5
for the field house. That gets built on and this project becomes 22 -- 22.5. So, hopefully
everybody is following on that. So, we have 13 million to go right now. We think we can
get another six million -- we are confident we can get another six million in philanthropy,
so that leaves us with a gap of seven million that we have got to figure out between the
various partners and we are working on that. We think that the healthcare partner -- we
are confident the healthcare partner will be one of those. So, we did -- when we asked
people what the Y is -- this just gives you some of the words. You see family comes up.
Fun comes up. You know, I think of -- I think of the City of Meridian one of the first things
that comes to mind for me is family and we asked people what they think about the Y and
these are some of the words that come to mind. With that we would stand for questions.
We went through this fairly quickly. We are thrilled -- I think you may know, I'm -- this is
my final year at the Y. It will be 41 years at the end of this year. I have got to do some
awesome things. This will top them all when we get this done. This will be a model
nationwide. It will be a model statewide. David Turnbull, I can speak for him and I can
speak for Dr. Clark, you can verify this, they are already talking about when do we do this
in north Meridian. Let's get this done and, then, let's go look at north Meridian, because --
and other communities are going to try to be beating us to the punch. The library district
is also interested in that. So, first things first. We have got to get this one done, but we
think it's just going to be an amazing place for kids. The healthiest school in America,
that's the attitude when they come in and the school where we believe -- truly believe that
every kid has tremendous potential and promise and we are going to see that come to
fruition. So, with that we will stand for questions.
De Weerd: Thank you, Jim. Council, questions?
Bird: I have none. Just a nice presentation.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: I have got one. Park, library, school, YMCA -- lots of partnerships come
together. Who is ultimately in charge of the project? I mean if -- if the school says a
classroom needs to be used for something and the library says it needs to be used for
something, who -- who gets to play the dad card as we say in our household?
Everett: Councilman Cavener, that's a great question. There will be -- there will be -- this
will be a condominium agreement. So, we have -- the West Y is that kind of an
agreement. The city -- many people don't realize that. That's almost 20 years. That
would be 20 years old this January that that facility has been in operation. It's a
condominium agreement. So, they are actually out ownership wise. So, within the
school, the school will have the final say. Within the Y it will have the final say. It really is
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picking your partners carefully and so one example -- I gave one example of the kind of
teachers they are going to hire there. I mean Dr. Clark has gone on the record, we will
hire teachers that understand this is a shared facility and if you don't like that -- it doesn't
mean you're a bad teacher, but you're just not going to be very happy in this facility. The
other example we had we were talking about the phasing of this, because the schools are
-- you know, once the bond passed, Meridian has opened 2016 -- fall of 2016. That has
the contractor and the architect very nervous and so we are scrambling and the question
came up, all right, if we do this in phases and the Y builds part of this, we probably need
to build a separate entrance. Bruce Gestrin said, no, we don't need to build a separate
entrance, come in through -- why would we waste money doing that? The Y patrons will
come right through the same door, the school door. We might have to hire an extra
security person that will also be a welcoming person, so it really is -- it's more attitudinal.
You know, there will be some times when we will have to have those discussions, but
that's how -- that's who will make those calls within the -- you know, within the facility. We
have done this -- it's not a new concept for us. In the 20 years with the city of Boise I can
remember two or three meetings that we have had where we have had that kind of visit,
what we were trying to do and it's been -- I met with Doug Holloway the other day, the
parks and rec director and feel free to check with him. I talked to the city of Caldwell with
that partnership and the schools. We use the schools every single week of the year we
are using the schools for either our youth sports programs or our after school programs or
our preschool programs. So, those -- those opportunities for conflict exist all the time, but
they rarely occur, but when they do we just address them.
Cavener: Okay. Very good. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Any other questions from Council?
Curtis: Madam Mayor, with your permission, may I share with you the materials we are
using in our fundraising efforts?
De Weerd: Yes. Please.
Everett: And I will forewarn when he passes those out, there is a pledge card in there.
We don't go anyplace without seeing if anybody wants to help us, but, you know, we hope
to bring you back some more news on fundraising. We have got a couple of seven figure
asks out there right now and we are working hard to get this done. And I think Marty Hill
is back there and we want to thank Marty. Marty and Dixie have been unbelievable in this
project, as has David Turnbull. Those are great citizens and those guys -- this wouldn't
happen without -- without Dixie and Marty and David and their contributions of land.
Rountree: I was going to thank Scott for moving the meeting schedule and location
around.
Curtis: Oh, you're welcome.
Rountree: Much more convenient.
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Curtis: You're welcome.
Rountree: Thank you.
Everett: This is going to be co -owned by us. This is not a Y project, this is a community
project and that's what we have learned over the years. So, thank you.
Bird: Thank you.
Item 7: Items Moved From Consent Agenda
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. There were no items moved from the Consent Agenda.
Item 8: Action Items
A. Continued from March 17, 2015 Public Hearing: AZ 15-001
Bellabrook East by ZWZ Properties, LLC Located 398 S. Locust
Grove Road Request: Annexation and Zoning of 5.19 Acres of
Land with an R-15 Zoning District
B. Continued from March 17, 2015 Public Hearing: PP 15-001
Bellabrook East by ZWZ Properties, LLC Located 398 S. Locust
Grove Road Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of
Nine (9) Buildable Lots, Two (2) Common Lots and One (1) Other
Lot on 5.14 Acres of Land in a Proposed R-15 Zoning District
De Weerd: So, we will move into Items 8-A and B and I will turn this over to staff.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Members, you know our bench is not very deep in
Community Development when I'm presenting an application item. Sonya Watters was
not able to be here tonight, so I'm subbing for her. Ably -- well, I guess we will find out.
This item, you may remember, was continued from March 17th to determine the
requirements for the fencing along Mr. Cullip's property and we are going to bring up a
graphic here in just a second. To switch over from computers means I need the help of
our IT director. We sent you in your packet a memo explaining the fencing requirement.
Just a little history. In 2006 Mr. Cullip testified at the P&Z hearing and this was for the
Bellabrook Estates, as opposed to Bellabrook East Sub, which we are talking about
tonight. Mr. Cullip testified at the P&Z hearing and requested that the Commission require
fencing along the east -- excuse me -- along the south boundary. Let me see if I can bring
the -- okay. Good. We are up. And that was -- this is Mr. Cullip's property here. The
south boundary of this property is right here. So, had property right here and requested
that the P&Z require fencing along that south boundary. Staff was advocating against the
fencing, because it would be within the flood way and flood plain, both of which cross that
southern portion of Cullip's property. Mr. Cullip didn't talk at the Council about the fencing
issue. We follow up with the flood plain administrator regarding the fencing within these
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areas. Dave Miles has confirmed that fencing is prohibited from being constructed within
the flood way, can't do it at all, but you could do it within the flood plain with a special flood
plain permit. However, it wouldn't be continuous fencing along the southern part of the
fence. So, that's a bit of a problem. And fencing is not required by the UDC. So, that's a
little history and background. But I need to point out that Mr. Cullip's property does not
actually touch the current application's location. So, you see here the current application
is the area which is cross -hatched. Mr. Cullip's property touches the northern part of this
common lot associated with -- with Bellabrook -- the original Bellabrook sub and that's not
part of this development application. So, I don't see a way in which we could require
fencing through this application process for an off-site piece of property. If you follow my
reasoning there. And in addition to fencing, looking at the public record from last week,
staff believes there is some additional items that need further clarification from the Council
and the applicant. First, the details and the location of the amenity, basically where does
the developer propose to place it. We'd like to hear from the applicant on that. Paving the
emergency access. One of the things that was left open last week was that the developer
wishes to do gravel, rather than paving the emergency access and there was some
discussion with Fire about that. Third, requiring the multi -use pathway within the
development of Lot 5 and that's this piece of property here. And, finally, the looped water
system, we'd like to hear from the applicant and perhaps our city engineer on that issue.
Those are staff comments. Happy to answer any questions.
De Weerd: Council, any questions for staff?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Okay. Would the applicant like to make comment? Good evening. If you
will, please, state your name and address for the record.
Thomas: Thank you. Madam Mayor, Council Members, my name is Ben Thomas. P.O.
Box 170811 in Boise. 83717. Representing the applicant. Again, as I stated last week,
the applicant is in support of all the conditions in the staff report as written, except for the
2.1.1 regarding the waterline issue. And he's not as much opposed to that condition as he
is he just wants to get clarification on why it's necessary -- or if it's necessary and why that
is, because there is already an eight inch stubbed to this site, so I'm sure Mr. Stewart will
tell us why that's necessary if it is, but we will accept that condition if the waterline really
does need to be there. As Bruce stated regarding the fencing, that was, I think, a
condition of approval. In the 2006 project that was approved for Bellabrook -- as you
know that project expired, that preliminary plat died before the final plat was recorded. In
2013 we re-applied with a new preliminary plat for Bellabrook, which was a different
concept. It wasn't the original condominiums, but a bunch of single family detached
homes. That project was approved with no conditions to put a fence along Mr. Cullip's
property and so, therefore, when that 2013 project was built out, final plat was recorded,
we feel like we did comply with all of the conditions of approval of that project. The
amenity that we are proposing for this is a picnic table or similar site amenity as defined in
the UDC. We did submit a detail for the picnic table prior to the last P&C hearing. We
would propose, actually, to move that now down to our Lot 1, Block 1, which is the along
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common lot that goes out to Locust Grove that also contains the fire access road. So,
instead of putting it up on the common lot in Bellabrook, we actually have now proposed
to leave it down on our site. The applicant -- I did speak to the applicant today. He still
very much wants to leave the fire access road gravel. And so with that we would stand for
any questions.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Maybe I misunderstood, but it sounds like what you just said is that you want to
put a picnic table in the middle of that emergency access?
Thomas: Not in the middle of the road itself. That common lot is 50 feet wide. The fire
access road only needs to be 20. So, we have plenty of room to fit that in there
somewhere.
Zaremba: All right. Thank you.
Thomas: Sorry.
De Weerd: Any other questions from Council? Okay. Thank you.
Thomas: Thank you.
De Weerd: This is a continued public hearing. Is there any further testimony to consider
on this application? Okay.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: Mr. Stewart may want to comment on the water looping, but my assumption is
the necessity for that is so that we don't end up with debris or whatever it is that collects in
the line sometimes when that's a dead-end line and not looped in makes it difficult to flush
when we are trying to remove the brownish materials. Mr. Stewart
Stewart: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, that is one very important reason that
we try to do this. As you guys are aware, we had a discussion a number of months back
regarding redundancy and secondary connections to subdivisions. We had proposed at
that time to set a number of lots that you could add. We backed away from that,
essentially went back to the former policy until we could come back to you with something
that had been vetted through the community. So, we know just looking at these on a
case-by-case basis, but there are a number of reasons that it's very advantageous for us
to loop particular developments. Increased fire protection or improve fire protection is one
of those. Water quality is a significant one of those and you are correct, it does help to
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move water continuously through those lines, which prohibits -- or let me -- not prohibits,
but minimizes the amount of sedimentation that -- that comes out and settles in the pipes
and it has to be flushed out. So, we don't have to flush that system as often. The water
quality that the residents of that subdivision receive -- it's higher quality water. It's easier
for operations to maintain. They don't have to come out there and flush as often, they
don't have to waste as much water, because they aren't flushing that to waste. So, there
are a number of advantages to that. It also helps to facilitate growth in adjacent
developments as that comes in. So, there is a variety of reasons that we look at. We try
and make sure that at this point we only make this request when it's -- when it's
reasonable, that there is not significant off-site main lines and things like that that have to
be constructed, but that's a fairly reasonable request and that it improves water quality,
fire protection, and also operational -- operational ability at that particular site. So, those
are the reasons that that is done and with that I would stand for your questions.
De Weerd: Any further questions on that? Mr. Zaremba?
Zaremba: No. That was an answer to me. Thank you.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you. Anything further from Council?
Bird: I have none, Mayor.
De Weerd: Any final comment from the applicant? Okay.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, question for Bruce. Did the discussion about the picnic table
and whatnot with respect to its location, answer the question that -- about the detail and
location of the amenity? Okay.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Rountree, yes, it did. I -- of course we still
have outstanding -- and thank you for bringing that up. The issue of paving the
emergency access and, then, also the issue of requiring the multi -use pathway to be
developed along with the development of Lot 5, the lot to the east.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: That third point requiring the multi -use pathway with the development of Lot 5, 1
think that came up because it was unclear whether it needed to be developed now or
whether it could wait until the development of Lot 5. My feeling was that it would be okay
to wait for the development of Lot 5, as long as we knew it was going to come up and be
insisted upon at that time. That's my personal opinion. I think the original request was
that it be developed now and the applicant wanted it to wait and my concern was we need
to make sure there is a way to make sure it happens when Lot 5 develops. I don't know if
I'm interpreting what everybody else thought, too, but we definitely want that pathway. I
think it's okay if it waits for the development of Lot 5, as long as we know that it can't slip
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through the cracks sometime when Lot 5 comes up for further subdivision. That was my
opinion. I see heads nodding.
Chatterton: Madam Mayor, Council Member Zaremba, that's my understanding of the
conversation. I wasn't here last week, but the conversation that took place. Making that
clarification for the record would be very helpful to staff.
Zaremba: And, then, we also had some discussion about the -- paving the emergency
access. The response was that most likely the emergency access is needed by the Fire
Department and when it is time for them to use it, whether it's six months now or 20 years
from now, that access has to be passable by their equipment should the other public
roadway access be unavailable. The Fire Department seems to be comfortable with
leaving it gravel, as long as it's built to a certain standard, because it's not going to be an
actively used area. They did say that if it was an area that was going to have vehicles on
it in the interim, the gravel would probably spread and get screwed up and that would not
be satisfactory. But it sounded to me like they were saying as long as it's a low use area,
maybe a pathway for people to walk, but they -- they were comfortable with -- with it being
gravel, as long as the sub base was designed for its intended use, which is a fire truck has
to be able to drive on it. So, they were feeling that it would not get messed up and didn't
see the necessity for it to be paved. And I'm happy to take their take on that. I see other
heads nodding again.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: If there is no more testimony, I would move that we close the public hearing.
Bird: On both of them?
Rountree: On both.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearings on Items 8-A and
B. Oh. All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve Item 8-A with the following clarifications for staff with
respect to the development agreement and the final plat -- or the development plats that
the location and amenity as described this evening will be included. That the emergency
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access will be paved. Requiring that the multi -use pathway be developed with the
development of Lot 5 and that the water system be looped.
De Weerd: Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: Motion and a second to approve Item 8-A.
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
Rountree: Madam Mayor, the point I make with the paved emergency access is that a
dust, unabated gravel facility that length abutted by -- I think there is 14 or 15 homes, will
be a dust nuisance when somebody drives their motorcycle up it or a four wheeler, which
they will do. It will be a constant weed battle, which it will. It will be a very nice home for
goat heads and flat tires for the kids that ride their bike up and down it and it will over time
be much easier to maintain if it's paved and that's why I'm recommending that we pave
the emergency access facility.
De Weerd: Okay. Any further discussion?
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Yes, Mr. Bird.
Bird: On the motion maker, what specifications of paving are we going to do on that
emergency access?
Rountree: It has to be specified the sub base and the paving surface has to be sufficient
to carry the 70,000 pound load that would be traversing it.
Jones: Councilman Rountree, the code a 75,000 pound load rating.
Rountree: Seventy-five thousand.
Bird: Okay.
De Weerd: Okay. Okay. Any further discussion?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Madam Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, absent;
Cavener, yea.
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Mach 24, 2015
Page 35 of 44
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: The hearing is closed. If you have additional questions about what the
Council's action was? Please come forward.
Xu: Madam Mayor and Members of Council, My name is Danny Xu. My address is 1681
Bellalucca Lane.
De Weerd: Can you spell it?
Xu: Oh. Okay. Danny. D -a -n -n -y. Xu is X -- spelled as X -u.
De Weerd: X -u?
Xu: Right.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Xu: So, I'm currently living in the Bellabrook Subdivision --
De Weerd: And your backyard is --
Xu: My backyard is right next to the private road. So -- so, as a resident of the
subdivision I talked to my neighbors and -- who have their backyard on the same line right
next to back private road today. So, they -- because they have to work so they are not
able to come this meeting. They told me that, you know, I could actually represent their
opinion regarding this -- the paving of the back road. So, I gather your information,
basically, all of us agree that we would like to -- we would like the road to stay as gravel
for a couple of reasons.
De Weerd: Okay. The Council action -- it's too late. The Council asked that it be paved
and they just voted on that, so it's --
Xu: I'm trying to express my opinion from there, but, you know, right before you guys --
De Weerd: The public hearing had already been closed. So, your testimony is captured
from last week when you were -- when you were here, but -- and we do have an
ordinance about dust control and so the decision has been made by City Council.
Xu: Okay.
De Weerd: Okay?
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 36 of 44
Xu: Well, I just want to express opinion not just for myself, my family, but also the families
that will be affected by the City Council decision, because we live in that subdivision and
that's how we think about the condition of the back road.
De Weerd: Right. And I think that was part of the discussion from Council in terms of it
will be easier for upkeep. The weed -- the weed problems that can come up in a gravel
road will be minimized with the pavement and it follows our ordinance for a dustless
surface.
Xu: Okay.
Rountree: It's not a road.
De Weerd: Yeah. It isn't a road and it will be -- no one is going to use it as a road. It will
be blocked from the road. The only one who will have access is our Fire Department or
our emergency services.
Xu: Okay.
De Weerd: We appreciate you being here, though.
Xu: Thank you. I appreciate it.
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay. Item 9-A. Council, in front of you you have Resolution
15--
De
5--
De Weerd: Oh, I'm sorry. 8-B.
Rountree: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I move that we approve the Item 8-B with staff and Council's comments.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second on -- to approve Item 8-B. Madam Clerk, will
you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, absent;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 37 of 44
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item 9: Department Reports
A. Mayor's Office: Resolution No. 15-1058: Appointing Dawn Cronk
to Seat 1 of Historic Preservation Commission
De Weerd: Item 9-A is Resolution 15-1058. It is to appoint Dawn Cronk to Seat 1 of the
HPC. Council, you do have the information in your packets and I would stand for any
questions.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Seeing no questions, I move we approve Resolution No. 15-1058.
Cavener: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 9-A. Madam Clerk, will you call
roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea, Rountree, yea, Zaremba, yea, Borton, absent, Milam, absent,
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
B. Arts Commission Update On Percent -For -Art Concept And Long -
Term Planning For Public Art In Meridian
De Weerd: Item 9-B is an update and I will turn this over to Robert.
Simison: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. I'm here today -- Emily
Kane couldn't be here, so I'm here as well represented. You may remember we
presented to you back in January on percent for art to get a little bit of feedback from
Council on how to move forward. I'm here today with an update on that from the
conversation that was had with the Meridian Arts Commission back in November, City
Council in January, the conversation we have had with the Meridian Arts Commission the
last two months regarding percent for arts type ordinance for the City of Meridian. We
took the feedback from City Council to the Arts Commission and order to get their
recommendation for Council on how they would like to proceed with a percent for arts type
ordinance here in the City of Meridian and so I'm here to bring back the discussion and
recommendation to you for consideration to hopefully get additional guidance on how to
move forward after this meeting. So, with that in mind, the purpose of the funds that we
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
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talk about are to create public art in spaces throughout the city, including art on municipal
facilities. They did feel that based upon the approaches which were discussed with them
that having a steady amount would be the preferred approach, as compared to coming in
with the fund balance transfer at the end of the year, which could have given a lot of
money in any given year or a little bit of money, but they felt with where we are in the city,
having some predictability would be the best way to try to infuse art into the community.
With that in mind they felt that the General Fund amount, based upon a per capital
amount, as well as Enterprise Fund based upon a per account amount, would be the best
way to create a reasonable amount of funds over time frame with specific projects in mind.
So, what does mean? Well, what that looks like is we talked about doing the 50 cents per
person per year for -- from the General Fund. The numbers you have there for FY -16
estimate is more of an exact amount based upon the COMPASS figures that they just
adopted and we are now over 90,000 people based upon the COMPASS estimates, so
that's 50 cent per person per number based upon that. I have estimated 2,000 people per
year growth into that figure, which based upon the 6,000 that it was last year, that could
be low, but we have also talked about capping that amount at 50,000 dollars a year as
one way to still allow it to grow, but also have the expectation that it's not going to
continue to grow every year beyond a reasonable amount and I will get into -- part of that
is just from a workload standpoint, I think that unless you are going to get into doing very
large projects -- and most of the projects that we talked about doing in this fashion -- some
of them are a couple of lower dollar amounts and there are a couple of larger projects that
take a lot of time and a lot of energy and effort and even with the addition of Hillary
Bodnar to help them with their work, it's still going to take time and effort to do these. So,
with that in mind you can see what a five year percent for art type ordinance would entail.
Now with having the city doing five traffic boxes a year for five years, still getting 25 traffic
box art for the next five years and two projects in our parks with an estimated cost of
75,000 dollars each, that could be high, that could be low, but it's working with our Parks
Department to identify where those would be, the best size, location, type. And, then,
doing some complimentary downtown art pieces. We have the Under The Sun and
Dreaming at the south end of the -- MDC is working with the Arts Commission this year to
do something at the north end on the parcel and it's really trying to find some pieces that
would be complimentary to those in our downtown to go along with the traffic box art that's
being done. So, that's our recommendation for the General Fund. Enterprise Fund. This
one would look about a dollar per account per year and I have left this at 30,000. 1 think
that there is some -- even talking with Terri Glenn there is -- that number fluctuates and
think we would have to just figure out a little bit more what exactly that means in terms of
is it active accounts, because some go active, some shut down, but she did say that they
are varying about 500 accounts a year right now. So, you can see where that would put
us over a five year period and from this perspective if we look at doing two public art
projects. One at the water department, which is adjacent to a park on the property that
would be accessible to the community and, then, one at the wastewater treatment plant
that would be near the RV dump in a public place. What those will look like we wouldn't --
don't know if they would be just decorative, if they would be interpretive -- again, working
with the Public Works Department to insure that whatever is produced met with what they
would like to see and what the Arts Commission thinks would be of benefit and value to
the community. So, those are the projects that we have come up -- the funding sources
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 39 of 44
and the identified projects. So, really, where we are today also is to see if City Council is
interested in pursuing this type of an approach of funding arts in the community. If so, I'm
sure Mr. Nary would direct his staff to work on a proposed ordinance that could be brought
back for Council probably at the -- I'm just going to guess the workshop in April we could
probably have something that would be considered for your review and move forward and
if that does put in place I know MAC is excited to update their plan with a public art
component to it. So, with that I would be happy to stand for any questions you may have.
De Weerd: Thank you, Robert. Council, any questions? Okay. We are seeking
direction.
Cavener: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Cavener.
Cavener: Maybe a comment then. At the 101 level report of this idea, this proposal, the
piece that I'm hung up with and maybe this is an item for discussion during our workshop
is the dollar per account tied to the -- to the Enterprise Fund and my concern from that
rises with -- as the Public Works Director Tom Barry has discussed many times the
significant cost that our citizens are going to have to pay as we become compliant with the
federal government and the cost that we pass on to them I just -- I'm concerned about
adding an additional dollar on top of that for art. Just one -- one person's opinion. I like
the idea of tying it directly to population out of General Fund. I'm going to need some
massaging on doing a separate fund out of the Enterprise Fund personally. That's my
opinion.
Simison: Madam Mayor, Councilman Cavener, Council -- and Mr. Stewart can definitely
speak for the Public Works Department needs. I have spoke to the Public Works Director
and I think he does share, you know, that every -- everything you do does add towards
that bottom like over ten years. In our conversation -- I don't want to misrepresent where
he is. He was not opposed to this in the concept that this is at least a very reasonable
figure. Whether or not Council views that as being reasonable over the five years I think
is -- is that question, but it was at least something that he did not tell me to not come up
here say specifically, though he may have given different directions to Mr. Stewart.
Cavener: Fair enough.
De Weerd: Did he?
Stewart: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council, no, he did not.
De Weerd: Just wanted to verify.
Rountree: Madam Mayor, I have the same concerns as Luke does about the Enterprise
Fund. It seems to me that, you know, they are just a sub set -- they are a sub set of the
entire populace. Our ratepayers are still in somewhat of an upward spiral in terms of
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 40 of 44
rates. Over ten years it's a lot of money and it's money that -- we don't know that we
couldn't certainly better spend in improvements to the wastewater and water facilities that
we have in place. So, I don't have an objection to funding public art with the nominal 50
cents a head and at least in that proposal. We have an idea of what we are going to get.
We don't have really an idea or sense of what we are going to get with the Enterprise. So,
I think -- I think for now my direction would be go ahead and look at the General Fund
approach and as we -- I think we are going to get a rate discussion relatively soon,
probably not --
De Weerd: In May.
Bird: May.
Rountree: In May. But I'm going to withhold my direction on the Enterprise Fund until
hear some more about what rates are going to do.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I, too, think that the ratepayers are paying the max right now. We just -- we just hit
them with a 3.75 a month savings account deal to go on it. As far as 50 cents per citizen,
I have no problem with that. I do doubt the -- the -- COMPASS's counting, because they
get paid by how many we got. I would like to see what the state thinks we are, because
they pay us by how many we got. And I will say that the ones -- the census I have been
around, 2000 and 2010, COMPASS has been five to ten percent high with their estimates
from what our deal come back.
Simison: Madam Mayor, Councilman Bird, based on the 2010 census COMPASS was a
lot closer than anybody else in their numbers.
Bird: I know state's low.
Simison: And all I can say is from the perspective -- that's what we pay for dues and
every other organization is based upon our COMPASS dues to others, so it's a least an
apples to apples comparison about what others are charging.
De Weerd: I did offer Nampa to pay for our population estimate and we would pay for
theirs. If that helps.
Rountree: I wouldn't make it feel any better.
De Weerd: No. They -- they didn't go for it. Any other questions?
Zaremba: Madam Mayor?
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 41 of 44
De Weerd: Mr. Zaremba.
Zaremba: I guess it's been said, but just to chime in. If -- if Council makes the decision
that it's a legitimate expense to provide Meridian with artwork and to -- and that improves
the area, I can see spending that money out of the General Fund. I go along with the idea
that -- that the Enterprise Fund has a specific purpose and -- and that's what the public
expects it to be used for. I don't even particularly want to open the door to saying, oh, we
are collecting this month we are going to start using it for other things besides water and
sewer. I'm uncomfortable with that. You know, if we -- in an open meeting make the
decision to spend general funds that way, we will hear about it if the people don't like it. I
just personally think it's a little unfair to redirect funds out of the Enterprise Fund. So,
wouldn't go that direction.
De Weerd: Thank you. Well, I -- I will, then, have legal to put together the necessary
documents. Do I need a motion for that?
Nary: No.
De Weerd: Okay. And will bring it back in April. Yes.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would -- I would like for the Arts Commission to take a look at that ordinance to
make sure we are not giving them an ordinance that they don't want to -- they can't do or
won't do. Let them look at them.
Simison: Madam Mayor, Councilman Bird, we can definitely take that back to them. I
think the plan that's been provided is based upon that information and that's why we
brought back something that was doable and that they could handle over five years.
Bird: The ordinance is different than what we got, the way they go, so -- let them look at
it, please.
De Weerd: Well, we will have to bring it back later in April. I don't think there is any time
element, so -- okay. Thank you, Robert.
Item 10: Ordinances
A. Ordinance No. 15-1639: An Ordinance (AZ 14-014 Sulamita
Church) for the Annexation and Rezone of a Parcel Being
Located in the NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 9, Township 3 South,
Range 1 West, Ada County, Idaho, Establishing and Determining
the Land Use Zoning Classification of Said Lands from RUT to R-
8 and Providing an Effective Date
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 42 of 44
De Weerd: Item 10-A is Ordinance 15-1639. Madam Clerk, will you, please, read this by
title only.
Holman: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance No. 15-1639: An Ordinance (AZ 14-014
Sulamita Church) for Annexation and Rezone of a Parcel of land being Located in the NE
'/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 9, Township 3 South, Range 1 West, Ada County, Idaho, as
described in Attachment A and annexing certain lands and territories 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 R-8, Medium Density Residential 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? Seeing none.
Bird: Hearing none. Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we approve Ordinance No. 15-1638 with suspension of rules.
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 10-A. Madam Clerk, will you
call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, absent;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Item 11: Future Meeting Topics
De Weerd: Council, any topics to consider under 11 ?
Bird: I have none at this point.
Item 12: Other Items
Meridian City Council
Mach 24, 2015
Page 43 of 44
A. Executive Session Per Idaho State Code 67-2345 (1)(c)(d): (c) To
Conduct Deliberations Concerning Acquiring an Interest in Real
Property, Which is Not Owned by a Public Agency; AND (d) To
Consider Records that are Exempt from Disclosure as Provided
in Chapter 3, Title 9, Idaho Code
De Weerd: Okay. I would ask for a motion, then, under 12-A for Executive Session.
Bird: Madam Mayor?
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we go into Executive Session as Idaho State Code 67-2345(1)(c), (1)(d).
Rountree: Second.
De Weerd: I have a motion and a second to adjourn into Executive Session. Madam
Clerk, will you call roll.
Roll Call: Bird, yea; Rountree, yea; Zaremba, yea; Borton, absent; Milam, absent;
Cavener, yea.
De Weerd: All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: (8:09 p.m. to 9:17 p.m.)
De Weerd: -- Executive Session.
Rountree: So moved.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
De Weerd: Do I have a motion --
Rountree: Move to adjourn.
Bird: Second.
De Weerd: All those in favor say aye. All ayes.
Meridian City Councii
Mach 24, 2015
Page 44 of 44
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:17 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR Y DeWEERD
ATTEST:
OLMAN, CITY CLERK
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