January 13, 2004 C/C Minutes
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 16 of 23
where we will probably find out from them how we can provide the (inaudible)
comments and participate in the discussion because I think you are absolutely
right, I mean, it is very critical to our community to have at least a voice in the
outcome here. It sounds to me, I mean if I had to guess that we are really
looking at a couple of possible outcomes. One having to deal with the
contingency of the lay, like you said the interim fix of maybe having to transport it
some other facility and what that cost may be and a long term fix may also,
obviously, be the ultimate goal, but maybe looking at a couple of alternatives to
get there.
Sedlecek: They are hoping to find an alternative that lasts until the year 2045, so
that's a tall order. That's alii have got. Thank you.
Nary: I think Will would be the only one here still at that time.
Sedlecek: I figured I'll be about 90. That makes Bill about 100.
De Weerd: Thank you, Steve. Okay, Item Number 5.
Item 5.
Discussion of Meridian Youth Baseball Concept for Settler's
Park by Doug Strong:
Strong: Madam Mayor, Members of the Council on the screen you will see a
concept drawing of Meridian Settler's Park showing a proposed 8-plex baseball
complex on the western boundary of the park. This portion of the park where the
pointer is is the currently developed portion of Settler's Park, that's the (inaudible)
pond. This is all grass, fields, the new restroom facility and all of that area is in
currently. So, the area of the park that's currently green is over to this blue line
on the drawing. Meridian Road on this boundary and Ustick Road on this
boundary. This is the city water tower, just to give you an orientation. So what's
being proposed for the development of the western portion of the park is
approximately 22 acres is a new parking lot in this area and then an 8-plex
softball complex through this area. The concept behind the design is that there
would be entry into the parking lot here, I believe, and here. I can't tell by the
design and to come in would be circle drop off back to parking. People would
flow from the parking lot into kind of a mall or plaza area that would have
landscaping through the center of the complex up through a larger more open
plaza area for the larger fields. This building here would be a large restroom
concession area and then there is a smaller restroom area down here. So, very
quick introduction into the concept. Present tonight also is Mr. Trace Leighton
from Meridian Youth Baseball that can answer any specific questions about the
concept. We want to get this out in front of you so that you could see what is
being proposed for that western portion of the park. Further clarification this area
right in here will be where Adventure Land Playground will be and it's about two
acres, I believe, of development there. We will have this section of the park right
in here. There is no plan for development currently and then section over here
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 17 of 23
where the red barn and the old house currently are that will be taken out and
there will be a development plan for that section of the park. Any questions?
De Weerd: Doug are those two larger fields - I know you had discussions about
them at the Parks & Recreation Commission. I know the most northern field has
removable fencing. Did the second field also? Was that removable?
Strong: Madam Mayor, I am going to ask Trace to address that question
because he was doing some - at our last meeting - some exploration of
removable fencing and what would be required.
De Weerd: I guess before Trace answers that where are we at with the
agreement and getting the agreement with the Meridian Youth Baseball and the
City?
Strong: It's not completed yet.
De Weerd: And what is the time frame on that?
Strong: We have no specific time - we need to get it done as fast as we can.
De Weerd: Can we set a time frame? Mr. Nichols, is that in your ballpark yet?
Nichols: Madame Mayor, no it has not yet got here. I think part of the - I could
be wrong and Doug correct me if I am wrong - but did we have even this much of
a concept yet?
Strong: I believe this concept is about two months old now. Is that right, Trace?
Leighton: Yes.
Strong: -- about two months that we have been talking about this.
Nichols: Madam Mayor, members of the Council. We intended to use as an
example - not to reinvent the wheel, but optimist agreement that City of Boise
has on the optimist fields and to use that as applicable here for these specialty
uses where a good portion of the year they are going to be tied up by the group
that is raising the funds to help construct the facility. That was the intent, so it's
not like we are having to reinvent the wheel, but it's just a matter of having
enough of the meat of the concept to where the agreement is meaningful. There
has to be something more than just the idea.
De Weerd: So, if we approve this tonight, we can move forward with the
agreement and how long would that take? Would we have it by the end of the
month?
Meridian City Pre-Councii Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 18of23
Nichols: Madame Mayor, members of the Council, I doubt it. Just looking at the
other things I have got, I would think three weeks would be optimistic and four
weeks would be more realistic.
De Weerd: Okay. Four weeks is fine. So, Mr. Leighton, did you have a
response for the fields and removable fencing?
Leighton: As far as (inaudible) and Babe Ruth (inaudible) any of our fences can
be removable to a certain point. We need to leave, basically, permanent fencing
from the edge, basically, the far end of each dugout to the center of the backstop.
But from then on it could be removable. Depending on our fund raising, we have
committed to, if the City desires we can - the two big fields will be removable and
the removable fence is about 40 percent more than the permanent fence. So,
depending on how much money we have raised will depend on how much. But,
we are committed to if the City requires those two big fields to be removable
fence. We would like for the one - the southem big field to be permanent
because that's considered as it's built as tournament size and that's one of our
objectives and goals is to try to make this complex actually be an almost full time
regional tournament complex. (Inaudible) and Babe Ruth does not have a facility
in the western U.S. like Little League does down at San Bernardino where the
regional has hosted every year because they do not have a complex that's built
or up to snuff say to host that. If this facility is built like it is, they consider this
being built to meet that goal they haven't committed that we could have it, but
they do say that there is very good chance that we could host a regional every
year here because of all the different age groups.
Nary: Madame Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: So, Mr. Leighton then is this field here the one you are talking about?
Leighton: Yes, that actually has got a 385-foot center field, which is a minimum
for a tournament field. The other one, the north one has a 350.
Nary: When you are talking about the permanent fencing along the dugout, is
that what these lines represent or is this just the foul line?
Leighton: That particular line right there is - I don't know how to turn this thing
on-
Nary: We are talking more like about this area right here would be where the
permanent -
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
January 13. 2004
Page 19 of 23
Leighton: Yes, from right there. That radius line is about the outer edge of the
infield and that's pretty close to where the edge of the dugout would be. The
dugout would kind of sit in that area right there.
Nary: I am assuming then in your folks' design of this that you must have looked
at putting the permanent fencing on this side that's not developed and then there
for having this open on the open edge of the park and it just wouldn't fit?
Leighton: Yes, this thing has been tweaked between me and the architect and
Elroy and Doug 100 different ways and this is the way that we could get the -
Elroy and Doug really like this idea here. I believe, I hope I am not speaking out
of turn that in our - we need the complex from the first of March until the first of
August. After that, you know if they wanted to do a fall farmer's market or
whatever, people could easily set up - this is a wide area. I believe it's 230 feet
there, Doug, or something? For some reason 230 feet from that point to that
point is the tightest. So this is a big area and they are talking possibly people
setting up booths along the two sides and then that way it leaves a central area
for people to walk through.
Nary: Is this just some sort of paved service or it just gravel surface?
Leighton: This all in here is concrete. This right down here is what we are
considering a walk of fame. We want to sell engraved bricks, similar to what's at
the parking in downtown Meridian. I can't of think of the -
Bird: Generations Plaza.
Leighton: Yes, Generations Plaza on the wall, only these would be in actually
the ground and then out here from that line to that line to that line and I believe it
would cut off somewhere right across there. There is not a line there and that
would all be concrete too. This area here and this area here and in between all
the fields would be grass.
De Weerd: Trace, have started looking at designs for your pavers?
Leighton: Yes.
De Weerd: Because I know at Adventure Island also has a paver theme and it
would be nice if we had some consistency. You might compare notes with them.
Leighton: Yes, you bet.
De Weerd: Doug would have the contact on that. This is a nice design. I think
it's very well suited for the purpose. I know the Commission has talked about this
park for many, many, many years and this will be a nice asset to our community.
Any comments or questions from Council?
Maridian City Pre-Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 20 of 23
Bird: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: One comment. We are finally getting to what the -- this park what - what
this park was purchased for. (inaudible) by the 1992-93 Council. I think it's a
very nice design. I compliment Trace for all his hard work and going through this
to make sure that it fit. We still have plenty of open space if we can remove
those fences on at least one of the fields, but I think it's a very nice design and I
think it will be a real addition to the park.
Leighton: One other thing I might mention - Keith doesn't know this yet, but we
are going to hit up the MAA, which supports the Meridian Optimist teams and
then the football teams need practice fields too and I'd like to see some of our
games actually there instead of -- (inaudible) Optimist coach also and we have
to consider Boise our home fields, which kind of stinks, but this - if we can get
some money out of or do a joint venture also with possibly the MAA, the Meridian
Optimist teams, we would like to actually make some of these fences along here
removable also so that you could actually fit - and these outfield fences you
could fit a football field and if we can eliminate some of these also as temporary
fences, we could put - have practice fields and possibly some game fields along
there. As of right now, because we haven't talked to anybody about that we have
got to consider it budget wise, those will probably have to be permanent.
De Weerd: That was a shameless plug, but I am sure that someone heard you.
Thank you, Trace. Any other questions? Next steps, I guess, next steps would
be to approve this, just final decision or direction for staff on the fields with the
removable fencing.
Bird: Madam President - I told you I'd be calling you that. Madame Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: If you need a motion on that, I would be glad to make a motion that we
accept this plan. It has went through the staff. It has went through Parks & Rec
Commission. Like I said, Trace worked very hard on it and I would like to see
this adopted, passed, get our agreement going and get this on the way so Trace
could raise some money and see something happening this spring.
Rountree: Second that motion.
Bird: Thank you, Charlie.
Leighton: Can I add one other thing, Tammy, about the contract - or Madame
Mayor, sorry - I have got to fly to Reno in the first of April, we are actually going
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 21 of 23
to put our name in the hat to host the 12 year old regional here in 2005, which
would be around the end of July, the first of August. At that regional meeting I
would like to present it that we are going to try to have this facility built to be able
to host that. If not, we are still going to put in and we will host at our current
facility, Fuller Park. But, I cannot do that unless - I can't make that commitment
to the regional (inaudible) unless I have a contract with the City. So, if that - to
hurry that contract along as much as we can -
De Weerd: Well, our attomey has stated four weeks, which puts us out to
February 10th -
Leighton: That's when we will have the draft?
Bird: That's when we will have the agreement.
Leighton: The contract? Okay.
Bird: Right, Mayor?
De Weerd: That's correct. So, we will have that on the agenda, Mr. Clerk on
February 5111.
Leighton: Thank you.
De Weerd: Thank you. Okay it's been moved and seconded to approve the
drawing as presented. All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
De Weerd: Thank you, Mr. Strong. It's a nice plan and we look forward to
seeing it as an amenity to our community.
Bird: Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Bird.
Bird: Madam Mayor, I know a councilman here that can help you Trace real well
because he built the ones at Fuller's and that is Mr. Rountree.
Rountree: I'd be glad to.
De Weerd: Boy, we have all kinds of cooperation tonight. Well, we are only
through Item Number 5. Is there a chance we can discuss Item Numbers 6 & 7
at the tail end of our regular council meeting?
Nary: Madam Mayor.
Meridian City Pre-Council Meeting
January 13, 2004
Page 22 of 23
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Item 6.
Third Party Billing Agreement I Service Fee:
Nary: I think we could take care of six very quickly. All is intended there is a
memo that's on our disc as weill think it was sent by email is to just indicate what
is necessary. I think all we have to do is set the time, the date for the public
hearing, which needs to be at least two weeks out from when the publishing is,
so probably within four weeks. So we just need approval to move forward and I
can do that. I would move to go forward with the - based on the memo that the
third party billing agreemenUservice fee that we advertise and notice at a public
hearing for that new fee to be imposed and I would move that we add that to our
February 10th - that would be adequate time, Mr. Berg?
Bird: I would second that.
De Weerd: Okay, it's been moved and seconded to move the third party billing
agreemenUservice fee to public hearing on February 10111. All those in favor say
aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Item 7.
Upcoming Issues I Workshop Discussion by Bill Nary:
. Council Agendas
. Fiscal Policies
. ZGA Space Study Workshop
De Weerd: Okay, Item Number 7 is just for upcoming pre-council meetings, I
guess the only thing I would ask you to add to that is the Golf Course.
Nary: Right. Madam Mayor.
De Weerd: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Members of the council, what I try to do is identify a few of the issues that
we have had on the table for a while that we need to have some discussion of
future workshops or pre-council sessions and that we need to space them out a
little bit, so it don't take longer than others. Just for your information, what they
are is council agendas and we have had some internal discussion about how our
agendas are done, how maybe we can improve our process a little bit. I would
anticipate that being a workshop-type of discussion. Obviously, Mr. Nichols'
input on what ordinances may need to be amended. We will try to have that in
the next few weeks.