City Council - Special Meeting

welcome everybody and hello. I am going to call the meeting to order. We This is It's a weird thing because this is a daytime in the middle of the day meeting today, but we're going to we have all of the ceremonies if it's an evening meeting. So, I'm going to start with an invocation which we observe by a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance

to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Clerk, will you please call the role? Corus here. Hallelbertton here. Morales here. Nash here. Ste here. Willlets here. All present.

Thank you. Um we will go ahead with um I'm just noticing the order of this. I'm going to um do we need to make a change to the agenda if we want to just deal with this consent agenda before the water renewal plan? I can just pull that up. Okay. Um I I'm going to take the minutes the request for approval of minutes from the council meeting and then we'll move to consent. Okay. Great. Great. So, Madame Mayor, I move to approve the minutes from the strategic planning session and regular D meeting for March 24th, 2026. Second the motion. We have a motion and a second. Clerk Steed, yes. Willlets, yes. Yes. Ali Burton,

yes. Morales, yes. Nash, yes. All in favor? Motion carries. And then, Madame Mayor, I'm approve I move to approve the consent agenda without with um a second. I'll take a second. Second. Clerk. Ste. Yes. Willitz. Yes. Orless. Yes. Hi Burton. Yes. Morales. Yes. Nash. Yes. All in favor? Motion carries. And then I think Madame Mayor, we have an ordinance on first reading and I ask unanimous consent that all ordinances on first reading be read by number and title only and filed for the second reading calendar. Without objection.

OD-11-26 and ordinance ZOA25-13. Amending Title 11 Boyisey City Code Development Code, removing electric vehicle parking requirements and modifying bike bike parking requirements in title 11 chapter 4 section 8. Updating requirements for accessory dwelling units and tiny homes on wheels in title 11 chapter 3 section 3. Modifying incentives in title 11 chapter 4 section 3 modifying the definition of dwelling in title 11 chapter 6 section 3 to allow a second kitchen. Modifying the airport influence area and wild wildland urban interface overlays in title 11 chapter 7 section 2. Modifying the application of streetscape streetscape standards in title 11 chapter 2 making amendments to correct errors align language clarify procedures and ease administration of the code throughout title 11 approving a summary of the ordinance adopting a reason statement and providing an effective date.

Thank you. Um and then madame mayor moving on to special business. I uh move to reappoint. Okay. Um I ask for unanimous consent in the reappoint of Lauren Mlan to the Capital City Development Corporation Board for a 5-year term ending April 2031. Without objection.

All right. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Um now we will move on to the first item of special business. um the reading of a proclamation acknowledging that today is trans day of visibility um around the country, but here we're marking it um as a day in the city of Boisee. Um and before I read this, I just I just want to say that at a time when many people in this state and around this country are seeking to divide us. Um they're seeking to divide us by targeting um the the most vulnerable among us. And um we there's little that we can do at the state and national level, but there is much that can be done here at home. And I want the people in this room to know that I see you. We see you. I value you. We value you. Um that you are wanted, important, um and unique members of our community. and your ability to know that you are loved, seen, and welcomed um or I would say I hope that knowing that you are loved, seen, and welcomed by this city um enables you to fully participate in the fabric of this community to be true participants um and contributors um as you are to what makes Boisey Boisey. And today in particular, I know it is um a sad day, a tough day um for many people that call Boise home. And regardless of what is happening outside of our city limits, I want you to know um that we remain that I remain day in day out committed to being a safe and welcoming city. Um somebody asked me today how you tell that story to somebody that's asking whether or not they're welcome. And I thought of the moms on front porches that I've heard from whose kids

have left. Thought about my own kids and their questions of whether or not their friends are welcome here, whether as a woman my daughter will be able to have children here in a healthy and safe way. Um it is a time when people in this city are feeling targeted for who they are. And I it's deeply hurtful to the folks that are living this. Um, I want you to know it's hurtful to all of us. Um, and that while words can only go so far in explaining to somebody that they are welcome here. A proclamation can only go so far because it's just words on paper followed by a signature. Um, it is the actions I would encourage you to look for, watch and acknowledge of your friends, your neighbors, the people that call this place home that join us in common cause to continually be part of that story of making Boisey what she is as a city. You're all part of that. This community stands with you. Um, and today, um, we are marking, um, and saying loud and clear that we see you by acknowledging that today is trans day of visibility in Boise. And so I thank those of you for um the courage that you have in your own lives um to be here to tell your story um here today in the in the neighborhoods in which you choose to live um and for many of you at the state house um during really trying times. I I thank you for that. I want to acknowledge that and it's truly an honor um to join this council in celebrating today as trans day of disability. So thank you all. I'll go ahead and read this and then um I'm sure that some council members will have a couple things they want to say. We have two organizations that will be taking these proclamations from us today. One is Transjoy and we've got Bonnie Violet who I met earlier today. Preston Preston and

Rachel. Hello coming up. And then with trans firm Aria, hi Aria. Um so I'll read this then would join anybody that would like to be part of a picture. We'll do um a picture of both celebration of you and acknowledgement of the day with that. Whereas today on this transgender day of visibility, the city of Boisey affirms our commitment to ensuring that every resident is seen, valued, and supported. And whereas we recognize the courage, resilience, and contributions of individuals across our community who work each day to make Boise a more welcoming, vibrant and compassionate place. While there's been progress in upholding trans individuals human rights and equality, members of this community face bigotry, persecution, discrimination, and violence. And whereas in Idaho, the fundamental freedom of trans individuals to live visibly, to make private medical decisions, to use facilities, public facilities, and so much more is increasingly under attack. And whereas the city of Boisee remains dedicated to upholding fairness, dignity, and opportunity for everyone, including our trans residents. And whereas the city of Boisee was among the first cities in Idaho to address LGBTQ plus discrimination in the state by enacting a non-discrimination ordinance to protect our residents from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. And whereas we continue to strive to be a community where everyone, including our trans youth, can live openly, safely, and authentically,

access public services without barriers, and participate fully in civic, cultural, and economic life. And whereas we will continue to advocate for and protect Boise's trans community and affirm the fundamental human rights that all of our residents deserve. The right to be yourselves. The right to live without fear of harm or violence. To write the right to live our lives open and freely. And the right to love and be loved. I, Lauren Mlan, hereby proclaim March 31st, 2026 as transgender day of visibility in the city of Boisee. Yeah. Um, I've got a few words. I didn't know if the two folks receiving from the organizations if they had anything to say first. Um, if you had anything you wanted to share. If not,

you're welcome to if you'd like. No pressure to do so if you don't want to. Yeah. Thanks, Preston. My name is Is this on? Okay. My name is Preston Pace and I just wanted to thank the city for this. This is such an honor. Um I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge Boyisey Trans Collective who's here with us. uh they have paved the way for the work that we have done and I'm just so honored to be in this room with everyone and thank you so much for the work that you do to make it known to the trans community that we are safe here because that is so important and many of us just don't feel that. So, thank you. That's all.

Thank you. Um, Madame Mayor, just a few words here. Uh, this proclamation fits my family pretty personally. I know it does for some of our other council members. Um, and I know it does for many of you here in a way that, um, that I'll never feel. I was thinking about the term we call today the trans day of visibility and why we use the term visibility in a couple of different aspects. Um, and I think for many folks it is the visibility of your humanity, of your right to love, your right to experience hope, your right to experience joy, um, and your right to experience safety and the visibility that everybody should have of that inherent human right. And I think that's a lot about what this proclamation is about. I also think talking to some folks earlier today, it's about what does vis visibility mean for um others? How can we be visible for each other in this moment? And whether that is hanging a flag on your house so that your queer neighbors can hang a flag on their house and feel safe. Standing up so that other people can stand up. as a business owner putting a flag or a decal on your window so when somebody enters the door they know that they'll be stood up for. I think there's multiple ways where we have to recognize the importance of being visible um as individuals as a collective um and for for each other in this moment. I think that today feels like a day of mourning. you know, taking the flag down, uh, it hurts hurts a lot of people and makes people feel less safe, less seen, less visible. Today can also be a day of strength. I think today is a day where we can lift each other up, where we can be strong

for each other, where one flag can go down and a thousand more flags can go back up, where we can make sure that everybody feels the right to be visible and everybody takes us as an opportunity to be visible for each other. So, while I know there are so many people in here who are hurting, my hope for you is that you feel love and support from your city, from each other, from the community, and that the rest of our community members find ways to show that love and support today so that everybody has that right to be visible. I see you appreciate you. Thank you so much for being here today. Um, I want you to know that Boyisey is a place where you belong. And when we have these proclamations, it is important for the city of Boisee. But Boise is a beacon of hope for this entire state. Um, and there are people who live in Idaho City, and Mount Hol and Burley and Oakley, all across the state who are looking at Boyisey right now and saying, "Will Boyisey continue to take a stand?" And the answer is yes. Um, we will. Um, and that people can be visible no matter where they are. And even when tools are taken away, we'll continue to stand up for each other. appreciate you all, Madame Mayor. Thank you, Jimmy. Um so uh it probably feels um if anybody it we feel bombarded right now and whether it's a Supreme Court decision, whether it's a new action by the state legislature, uh whether it's a pronouncement from this presidential administration, um it feels like an onslaught because that's exactly what it is. And the flag has been an important symbol for us uh to say that we're not party to uh that government behavior, that government hostility towards members of

our community. Um and we're going to continue to communicate that. I am hopeful and excited for the forms of expression that are going to be born out of this. Um, the flag is not our only form of expression and uh I'm excited for what both us and the community can come up with as other ways to uh identify our solidarity uh with each of you. Uh, having served in the Idaho legislature, I can tell you that sharing these stories um on Transgender Day of Remembrance and visibility is um often in the legislature it felt like casting your pearls before swine. Um, so I'm just going to share a story important to me um with you um because it's a safer place here to share that than it was when I was serving there uh and trying to oppose the legislation that um uh has been so harmful. Um my wife's cousin Sheay I knew her since she was young and she took her own life a few years ago while I was surfing in the legislature and I wanted so bad to share her story. Um, but I just knew they wouldn't listen. I had shared personal stories with them before about family members that had been harmed by the legislation that they passed and um it just didn't resonate

and their hearts were hardened and they wouldn't hear it. And Shay was a lovely soul. My invitation, my invitation to legislators then and is today. I I'm not asking you to understand. I'm not asking you to empathize. But if someone feels something so deeply that they would go to those ends, can't we just give them a little bit more understanding, a little bit more sympathy? And um I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I really wish she was with us. I really wish her family understood and I really wish her elected officials understood. Thanks for letting me share that.

Madame Mayor, um I just want to acknowledge that today is such a hard day. Um I think that you know the governor is signing into law um bills that are breaking my heart. Um, and also I get to be here with all of you to celebrate our trans community and that means a lot to me. Um, I think that joy and grief can exist in the same moment and they do for me today. Um, but our love for this community is louder than any of that. Um, we will continue to fight and um, and I stand with the council up here in that. I know we all stand with that together. And, um, I also urge every resident who's feeling frustrated to um, hang their own flag and support each other, listen to each other's stories, show up for each other. We're all neighbors and um, and we want you here, too. Madame Mayor, I want to thank everyone that was able to join us today, earlier today here and for so so many more of our community members. Um just countless numbers of community members who um are part of this amazing community that we appreciate and we love and we welcome here in the city. Uh I look out in this room alone, I see community leaders and I think on trans day of visibility how important that is. Not every uh member of this community is able or uh feels comfortable being visible. And so many of you have um put in a lot of of very heartfelt, very hard work. And I want to thank you for those who continue to do that and continue to encourage more. I think that one of the things

um our state leadership lacks is connection to the real lives um that are impacted by legislation like this. Um you know, it can be it can probably be pretty easy in certain communities to ignore um what is a real community and a community in need. And I think over, you know, past couple decades for me, uh, the opportunities that I have had, uh, to get to know members of this community, the trans community within my own faith community, I think have been really important. And I've seen growth in, um, fellow community members as they understand uh, the very real feelings and life experiences. And so, I also want to thank those I know we have members of of various faith communities from all across the spectrum that have been with us today, too. and thank them for continuing to preach what truly I think all faith communities love and and appreciate um our collective earth family that we have here and the need that we have to welcome and love one another. And so I want to thank those that continue to do that work and encourage those um that may not be able to be visible now to continue to find community, continue to know that your city loves you and supports you um and hopefully get there someday. Madame Mayor, council, um I want to I want to try to get through this, but I want to thank you all for being out here um and being visible. Um it really occurred to me I've been um a supporter of the LGBTQ community for for decades. But it also occurred to me that why I said that I wasn't doing much for that. I was not out there being visible. Um I was not um flying a flag to show that you are welcome. This is a beacon. Um and realized as uh council member Halle

Burton rightly said that we do need to be out there and we need to be visible all of us not just those who are part of the LGBT community or those who are part of our transgender. And um it it's hard today. I just in Idaho, this isn't the Idaho I grew up in. Um people are under attack. this legislation that's coming out seems mean, spiteful. Um, and I hope that as we gathered today as a community and we said and I said earlier today is that, you know, our love and support for our community didn't start with the flag and it's not going to end with that flag coming down. We're going to be here. We're going to support our residents, our neighbors, and the family to show how much that you belong here. You're valued um and deserve to be seen and respected and celebrated for who you are. Um at a time when the state may seek actions to limit the rights and visibility of transgender people, we want to be clear in this city. You are loved and we will do everything in our power to protect the safety, dignity, and freedom to live authentically. We recognize that visibility is not just about being seen. It's about being safe, supported, and treated equal under the law. This is human rights, basic human rights. We are committed to fostering a community where every transgender person can thrive without fear of discrimination or harm. And I think your presence today and for those who um maybe don't feel as comfortable being visible but are here with us um and and

watch this and know that they are supported and we're going to continue to work and ensure that this is a place where we can live openly and with pride. Thank you so much for being out here today. Well, I would now like

I'd like now to present these to you all. And if if I if folks want to take one big group picture, if we want to do individual organization pictures, we can do whatever um folks would like to do. I'm just going to appoint somebody in charge of that. Garrett. All right. photos and then um it might be easier to take a group photo that way. Oh yeah, that's a good idea. Y

great. We'll come down. Thank you. Yeah, that's great. In front and then every we can see everyone if everyone could stand up. Yeah.

And then I know everyone has a rally to go to, so we'll get out here quickly or you can hang out and talk about sewers if you

All right. Thank you everyone. I'm just gonna um give an update. Nobody needs to leave. We're pushing the next item to the next meeting so everybody can um hang out.

No, because then everybody has to come back up. We'll adjourn in a little bit, but every nobody needs to leave and no council member needs to get up here right now. The second time I was trying All right. Yeah, Oh,

which is right. So I can walk.

Okay. She raised me. What do you think? Yeah. I'm actually

Good luck. But I know He was writing. I think A fine student.