Snake River Racing - Car Track
Meridian Parks & Recreation
Memo
RECEIVED
SEP 1 0 200~
City of Meridian
City Clerk Office
To:
Mayor and City Council
CC:
From:
Will Berg
Doug Strong, Director ,W.
Date:
September 9, 2004
Re:
Remote Control Car Track - Snake River Racing
During our July Park and Recreation Commission meeting the Commission
reviewed the request from Snake River Racing Club to build a remote control car
track on the property west of the Meridian Police Station. This was the second
review of this request by the Commission as it had been reviewed at their
November 2003 meeting and recommended for approval at that time. This
additional review was at the request of the Council and it was the Commissions
recommendation that the Mayor and Council approve the request. Ten thousand
dollars has been budgeted in the 2005 budget for development of this property for
use by the Club. The Parks and Recreation staff is requesting that this item be
placed on the September 21st City Council consent agenda for approval. The
following provides further description of what is proposed.
. Snake River Racing is a local club of remote control car enthusiasts
who are looking for a more central valley location for a track for club
activities as well as region wide sanctioned races. The five-acre parcel
next to the Meridian Police Department has been proposed as a
possible site because of its proximity to the freeway. The track would
occupy an area of approximately 250 feet by 175 feet and would be
constructed and maintained entirely by the club. A sketch of the track
area is attached along with the Staff Summary of Parks & Recreation
Commission Recommendation to City Council.
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STAFF SUMMARY
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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
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Key Commission Changes to Staff Recommendation:
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Outstanding Issues for City Council:
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APPROVED: c&.Ý (-\..lf4
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Andee Stockton, President
Bruce MacCoy would like to move the Parks Commission Ordinance from a
Discussion/Informational Item to the Action Calendar if an agreement can be met with
the commission. Bruce would like to keep it in the Discussion/Informational Item at this
point but take action on it tonight if possible and move it forward.
Creg Steele made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Andee
Stockton. Motion passed unanimously.
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS
None
APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 08. 2003 MINUTES
Creg Steele made a motion to approve the October 08, 2003 minutes, seconded by Bud
Porter. Motion passed unanimously, minutes was approved as written.
ACTION ITEMS
REMOTE CONTROL RACE CAR TRACK
After a brief discussion on the remote control race car track the commission moved this
ite,m from the Discussion/Informational Items to the Action Calendar for approvaL
Andee Stockton made a motion to have the commission take a vote to go ahead and have
the staff work with the people to get the remote control race car track going and make it
a reality. Seconded by Creg Steel, the motion passed unanimously and will be moved to
City Council for approvaL
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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ORDINANCE
After a lengthy discussion on the Parks and Recreation Commission Ordinance Bud
Porter made a motion to adopt this ordinance with the changes that were made and send
it on to City Council for approval, seconded by Andee Stockton. The motion passed
unanimously and will be moved on to City Council for adoption.
DISCUSSION / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
STOREY PARK PHASE II RENOVATION
Elroy Huff stated he had a drawing of the renovation of phase II of Storey Park he will
pass around for everyone to take a look at. Elroy reported that what we are dealing with
is we did not have a complete survey to do the drawings and drainage problems from
when it was created twenty five plus years ago and the codes are much different then
what they were several years ago. We are required to manage our drainage water,
which we are required to do for a hundred year flood.
Parks and Remation Commission Minutes
Novemberl9,200J
2
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
February 10, 2004
pese 2 of 21
Bird: Mr. President,
Nary: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Before we get off that, I would also like to know what type of building they
are planning on. Some kind of an idea of whether, you know, I don't want a
(inaudible) out there or something like that. At one time, they had talked about
something like that. I would like - if they got an idea of what the makeup of the
building is going to be.
Nary: I will ask them if they have some drawings or something like that as to
what their expectations are - my assumption is that they are trying to raise
money and they are going to have something to show people -
Bird: That and well, they got an idea if they are going to - you know they say
they want to raise about 2.5. So, they got an idea of what the kind of building
they are going to have.
Nary: We will re-communicate with the folks doing that and ask them to come -
it won't be for a couple of weeks now, but we have got some other things more
pressing on the agenda for the next week or two.
Item 4.
Discussion of Snake River Racing Remote Control Car Track:
Nary: Mr. Strong.
Strong: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council this issue has been discussed in
our Park's & Recreation Commission Meeting back in November, I believe and
was passed to bring forward to the Mayor and to Council. Essentially what we
are looking for or what the club is looking for is a central valley location for their
club racing activities for remote control cars. The site that was discussed in the
Commission meeting would be the five-acre track next to the Police Station,
which gives it good access near the freeway and easy access for anybody
traveling from either east or west to take part in racing events or weekly practice
activities. What's being proposed is the club would build and maintain the track
and the dimensions are roughly 250 foot by 175-fOO area of that five-acre track
and in discussion it seemed like it would be compatible use with other things
being considered for that area next to the Police Station. It's a dirt track, there is
not much development that takes place other than wood borders and structures
like that and an area to operate the cars. If you have questions about the track,
Mr. Jeff Oviat with Snake River Racing is present tonight and can answer
questions specific to what they are proposing,
Bird: Did he bring one of his cars down? They are neat. They are fantastic.
Strong: The Commission was able to actually see and touch and tear apart one
of the cars, so-
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
February 10, 2004
Page3of21
De Weerd: And we didn't get that opportunity?
Bird: No, you didn't. I was hoping he'd bring it, it was neat. I am sorry, Mr.
President. Mr. President.
Nary: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I know Chief Musser is in agreement with this and everything - it's use for
the five acres.
Musser: President Nary, members of the Council, Madame Mayor - got through
the whole litany there. Director Strong and I have been talking about this five
acres, seeing if we can come up with some sort of mixed use approach on our
own and find a couple of different types of uses for that land out there so it just
doesn't sit vacant and we can help develop and give something back to the
community and also demonstrate a joint effort between departments. I know I
had mentioned in the past that we were looking at a K-9 training facility that
would also be open for off lead type of dog usage with some of our K-9 clubs in
the town. The dirt track area for the cars is just but one area that we occupy with
that and then we were also kind of toying with a third application, which would be
an area for the BMX bikers to help keep them off the skate board park too.
Ultimately, that is what we were working at and we have had some conceptual
things, but we are just trying to get by in for what we were looking at from the
Council, the Commission so that we can move forward on it and see if we can't
provide something in general for the citizens here,
Nary: Doug, I was a little curious on the way that it's worded in your memo it
says the track would be constructed and maintained entirely by the club now. I
am assuming that the intent is to - the club would sort of have first use for
advanced activities or some sort, but they would sponsor or promote for this site.
But the off time when it's not used for those activities it would be open to the
public? Is that what's intended, or what?
Strong: Mr. President, Members of the Council, I would assume a scenario
similar to that. I think that an agreement would have to be struck that would
identify use and priorities for use, While, there are concerns that has been
discussed in Commission is that there has also been a proposal to develop a
small 8MX bike area there with dirt mounds and that - possibly some paved
areas or hard surface areas for BMX bikes, but also dirt areas. We would want
to ensure that eager BMX bikers didn't use the remote control car track for their
jumps and things like that, so Chief Musser is correct in that we are exploring
compatible uses for that site. Obviously, there would be some investment by the
City upfront in our department to develop a gravel parking lot and access into the
site. We would probably need some water and electrical hookup and some
minimal site developments like that before we move ahead and then I believe
Chief Musser has somebody working on a plan for the K-9 area and help with the
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
Februery 10, 2004
Page 4 of 21
development of that, so we would need to probably come back with a master site
plan for the entire site that would include this portion of that five acres.
Wardle: Mr. President.
Nary: Mr. Wardle.
Wardle: Doug, when you - do we have any preliminary budget numbers for what
that might cost the City as far as gravel parking lot and some utilities? Any
preliminaries?
Strong: I do not.
Wardle: Would that be something that could be brought back with the master
site plan for the area?
Strong: That would be the best time to take a look at cost.
Wardle: I agree that this would be a great use if we can get other uses in there.
I would like to see, personally, a site plan and some proposed costs and an
agreement. Do you have any information as to what Boise's agreement with the
site at (inaudible) Boise is with their track?
Strong: Mr. President, Councilman Wardle, I haven't explored any of their costs
or what they have done there at all. One of the things that when we were first
exploring the concept of developing this five acres would be relatively
inexpensive ways to use the site on an interim basis. Recognizing that that five
acres is a part of potential future development for the Police Department. We
wouldn't want to create anything that would be so hard surfaced or so in place
that if the Police Department needed to expand their building or other facilities
that would be in conflict with those future plans. Things we are looking at would
be relatively inexpensive to developing and probably could be done within current
budget and that's the way we would approach it, either by getting groups like this
that are going to do the entire development maintenance of the site and then
some Police Department resources for the K-9 training area and things like that.
So, we will have to put a cost to it at some point when we master plan it.
Rountree: Mr, President.
Nary: Mr. Rountree, I am sorry.
Rountree: (Inaudible). Don't take my comments as trying to dissuade you. I
just need to know. Talking about three concepts. Right now we are talking about
the local remote car usage. What kind of traffic are you going to generate? How
much use? Are there tournaments? Are there race days? What do we plan for?
Meridian City Pre-Councll Meeting
February 10, 2004
Page 5 of 21
Strong: Mr. President, Council Rountree I think I would like to defer that to Jeff
who is here who can best answer that question.
Rountree: Let me give a couple more to you and then I will hear that. I heard
mention that possibility of a gravel parking Jot concerns me a little bit. I assume it
would have to go through some kind of a variance process with the City because
I don't believe we'd let anybody else develop a gravel parking lot, even though it
is a temporary use. So, that's an issue that needs to be confronted. I read in the
memo and I heard you say something a little bit different about the maintenance.
I read in the memo that they agreed to develop and maintain the track.
Strong: Yes. Just the track.
Rountree: I heard you allude that they may maintain the area or at least their
portion of the area and I think that needs to be made clear who is going to
maintain this area because it's going to be occupied by other's litter. If it's not a
developed area with vehicles off a gravel or a paved parking lot, you are going to
be grading, you are going to be doing all kinds of things to maintain the site. So,
is that something that you are asking the City to contemplate? Your department
is going to do? Any thoughts on that?
Strong: Mr. President, Councilman Rountree, obviously we would have some
increased maintenance of the site if we have any activity there at all. All we
would obligate this group to would be the maintenance of the area that they are
using. There would be garbage containers and some other minimal
maintenance, probably some grassy areas to mow and things like that. So, there
would be additional maintenance to our department.
Rountree: To your department? Okay. I guess my final comment is I think it's
great that we use these open spaces to the benefit of the community on an
interim basis. As long as agreements are written in such a way as the folks can
understand it's interim, I encourage it. But, we do have some issues that we
have got to take care of.
Nary: Council, do you want to hear from the gentleman from the Snake River
Racing?
Rountree: Please. Just curious to find out about the events and the primary
folks that participate,
Oviat: Good evening.
Nary: Could you state your name for the record, please.
Oviat: Jeff Oviat.
Nary: And you are with Snake River Racing?
Meridian CIty Pre-Councll Meeting
February 1O, 2004
Page 6 0121
Oviat: Yes,
Nary: Could you give us a kind of a sense of the usage, your expectation would
be for this site and the type of traffic that might generate - numbers of people
and those kinds of things.
Oviat: Based on the club that's in Boise right now it's an average of 20 to 30
participants on an every other weekend basis brought up by a schedule of
because of holidays and what not we go through a whole year and come up with
the schedule of every other weekend. Right now the other place has a schedule
and I have agreed to work with them so long as this goes through to counter their
weekends. But, that's what we are looking at is about every other weekend and
then it is open to the public. Racing is open to the public - race days, practice
days - you know, anytime that we are allowed to be there due to noise ordinance
or anything like that.
Rountree: Mr. President.
Nary: Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: Do you collect fees or anything for events?
tournaments, those kinds of things?
Do you have
Oviat: There would be-
Rountree: -- charge entrance fees?
Ovíat: Yes, there would be a due to actually join the club. It all stays in the club.
All the money will stay in the club and there are benefits to being in the club. It
costs you two dollars less to be a club member to race than if you were a non-
member. Everybody is eligible to r;:tce or to become a member.
Bird: Mr. President.
Nary: Mr. Bird.
Bird: A couple of questions, Jeff. One is just the racers pay an entry fee? And it
stays for trophies and stuff like that, right?
Oviat: Yes.
Bird: Also, with each car you say there is 20 to 30 cars on race days?
Oviat: Yes, there could be.
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
February 10, 2004
Page 7 of 21
Bird: And what do you have? Two people with each car or one vehicle per car
that comes to the track?
Oviat: No, there are people that race various - there are classes of different
cars, Some people race up to four classes.
Bird: Okay, yes, I understand, but how many cars would you guess on a race
day that would be out there? 20 or 30?
Oviat: What kind of car?
Bird: The driving car. (Inaudible).
Oviat: The most I have seen is about 20 cars.
Bird: Okay, I think that was the question that you asked wasn't it?
Rountree: Yes, and he answered it,
Bird: Oh, I am sorry, I missed it. I was going to sleep here.
Oviat: Boy, it's going to be a long night. There is a lot of family or father and
son, nephews with gentlemen that come out there and participate. So, it's not
just one car per person.
Nary: Any other questions?
Oviat: Thank you.
Powell: Mr. President.
Nary: Ms. Powell.
Powell: The use would likely require conditional use approvals, so if the Parks
and Police Department would like to work with Planning a little bit before hand,
we can maybe suggest some things, but don't forget - don't forget.
Nary: I am sure that was their intent all along.
Powell: Yes.
Nary: Mr. Strong, do you need some direction from us to go forth and do that or
do you - I guess, what my expectations would be and Council can correct me if I
am wrong. What I would anticipate you doing now is coming up with some sort
of master plan for this site with the Police Department and with this in mind as
one of the pieces of that master plan and then whatever needs to be done
working out those details with Planning as well as that issue in the gravel parking
Meridian City Pre-Coone" Meeting
February 10, 2004
Pageaof21
lot that Councilman Rountree raised. That way the BMX or excuse me the
Snake River Racing folks know what schedule they are on to be able to put this
together. Is that a fair timetable - is that kind of what everyone thinks process
wise? Someone want something different than that?
Rountree: Works for me,
Nary: Does that sound okay to you, Mr. Strong?
Strong: That would be fine.
Nary: Great. So, ultimately, we will see it again before we get too much further
down the road. Before we are tuming dirt, we will see it again.
Strong: It will require communication with the Police Department and that could
be tough.
Nary: He is here every Tuesday night, at least for a while. Great. Thank you.
Next is the Parks and Recreation Commission Ordinance.
De Weerd: That's you again.
ItemS.
Discussion of Parks and Recreation Commission Proposed
Ordinance:
Strong: Mr. President, members of the Council, Madam Mayor. What you have
before you is something that has evolved over time, I guess would be the easiest
way to describe this. There has been several additions of a proposed change to
the existing Pari< & Recreation Commission Ordinance, It's taken a number of
months to get to this point. So, what you see before you - I hope you have a
colored copy. You will see a read through by Mr. Bill Nichols our City Attorney
that's in bold and statements from his review in between paragraphs and then
some revisions in red that were made by Commission members working on the
subcommittee to pull this ordinance together and then the edits that you see
either underlined or crossed-out in green are my edits to the proposed ordinance.
With all that being said, there is still some editing that needs to take place
because I think that there are one or two places in the ordinance where I missed
adding recreation to Parks & Recreation Commission, so that it reads throughout
as Parks & Recreation Commission Ordinance. So, with that I will stand for
questions if you have had the opportunity to look through it.
Wardle: Mr. President.
Nary: Mr. Wardle.
Wardle: Doug, one of the things that we have talked about and I am just going to
ask if it's been resolved is the difference between a recommending body and a