City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody. Thank you for being here. I'd like to call this meeting to order. We will begin tonight with an invitation from Jim Porter. So, if everyone will please stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Father God, we thank you for your presence with us tonight. We thank you for the remarkable growth of our city. We thank you for those that have have come and gone, who have stewarded the business of the city so well. We look forward to a future. Father, help us during this time of transition. We know that governance does not come easy. It comes with patience and with patience comes wisdom. So, Father, we ask for all involved, our council, our new mayor. Father, would you bless them with extraordinary wisd wisdom beyond uh what they have at this moment? Father, may they grow into their new roles as servants of the city.

Father, we also want to remember our city staff as they go through transitions as well. [crying] Every change has a ripple effect. And father, we want them to continue to enjoy their work. May it bring them joy. May it bring them fulfillment. And may they understand that the city and the people of the city. Love them for the work that they do. Father, for the events tonight, we ask that you would look down, you would bless the congregation or this this gathering tonight. May we uh look back on this in years to come and and say uh God was faithful and Caldwell is a great city. Father, we pray this in your name. Amen. Amen.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Jim, for your thoughtful words. At this time, we'll call the role. Councelor Dodie. Councelor Shottic here. Councelor Register here. Councelor Williams here. Councelor Algood here. Councelor Denber here.

All present except for councelor Dodie. At this time, uh, because we do not have an acting mayor or council president, our city code dictates that an acting council president must be elected. That will be done by the existing council prior to the new council members being sworn in. So, at this time, I would entertain a motion for the acting council president. Madame clerk, councelor register. Um, due to his experience, I would like to nominate councelor all good to get us through the first part of this meeting.

Second. There's been a motion and a second for councelor Algood to serve as the acting council president. The floor is open. All votes in favor. Acting council president. All good. All right. Thank you everybody for being here. Hopefully I'm up here a really really short time. I'm going to go really quickly. Um but this is a wonderful turnout. Thank you to all the city employees that are here. Um anyway, first thing on the list is uh conflict of interest declaration. Does any employee or any council member have a conflict of interest with anything on the agenda? All right. Um, is there no audience participation tonight?

After the proclamation. Okay. All right. The next thing on our list to do is to recognize January as the National Stalking Awareness Month. Um, I will read a proclamation. Is there anybody here representing this, Madam Clerk?

Okay, I'll read this plation and we'll get to you. Whereas stalking is a serious and pervasive crime that affects millions of people in the United States each year with a one in with one in three women and one in six men experiencing stalking in their lifetime. And whereas stalking behaviors such as unwanted phone calls, messages following and the use of technology to track or harass cause fear, trauma, and disruption in the lives of their victims and their families. Whereas stalking often occurs with domestic violence and sexual assault and can escalate to threats and physical violence. Whereas the community of Cobbell is committed to supporting safety, dignity, and the justice for all individuals who have experienced violence or abuse. And whereas Advocates Against Family Violence works tirelessly to provide safety, shelter, and hope for survivors of stalking and abuse, offering resources that promote empowerment and healing. And whereas the National Stalking Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to increase understanding about stalking, recognizes profound impact on victims, and to promote prevention through education and community engagement. Now therefore, January 26 is hereby proclaimed National Stalking Awareness Month in the city of Caldwell, and all citizens are urged to learn more about stalking and to recognize it as a serious crime and support those affected and work together to create a community where every person can live free from fear and harassment. Uh, and whereas therefore, I set my hand to this on uh January 5th, 2026. Uh, good evening. Thank you, city

council, um, for recognizing stalking awareness month. I'm Trisha Loftton, the operations director at Advocates Against Family Violence. Stalking is a serious and often misunderstood crime rooted in power and control, and it impacts individuals and families right here in our Caldwell community. For many survivors, stalking is ongoing, frightening, and can escalate without warning, especially when it overlaps with domestic or sexual violence. By bringing visibility to this issue today, you are affirming that survivors are seen, believed, and supported, and that help is available right here in Caldwell with Advocates Against Family Violence. Thank you.

Thank you. [applause] All right, there's nobody else. Um, all right, we have several people here uh signed up for audience participation. Um, Shannon Dacon Hi guys. Congratulations to all the new ones and the old ones and to our new mayor. I'm really excited for to see what he has to do. Also want to welcome all the new people that have come aboard. I haven't don't even recognize anybody over here anymore except for one. Anyhow, I just want to say congratulations. And I know last year was a very hard year for not only the council and the mayor, but for the city people or the people of the city. And I just want to ask one favor. Try to all be cohesive. Get along. It's okay to disagree, to agree. No more negativity. We don't need to be in the news 247. We worked very hard over the years to stay out of that and I would really like to see everybody come together as councilman and as the new mayor. I know you will and it's okay if you want to be upset at each other. That's fine, but you'll work through it. You know that process. Anyhow, congratulations and thank you. And also thank you to the citizens of Caldwell for coming out to support everybody tonight. Thank you, Shannon. [applause]

Hilda Pisano. Is Hilda here?

Okay. While we're waiting for her, let's go to Luis Laura. Is he here? David Spence. What? Everybody leave on us. All right. Well, we're going to keep going. Um, next thing on the list is to approve the consent calendar. Would somebody make a motion for that, please?

So moved.

Moved by councelor Stoic, second by councelor Register. Uh, for the record, uh, Mr. President, it would be the minutes from December 15, 2025. Thank you. Yep. All right. I got so many pieces of paper in front of me here. Uh, the next thing on the list is to approve the finance report. And this is my month, so I'll go ahead and present that. Uh the motion is to approve accounts payable in the amount of 5,82082,993.86 86 represented by check numbers 1 190392 through 1 190699 and electronic payments and payroll in the amount of $872,242.54 represented by check numbers 40679 through 40690 and direct deposits be accepted, payments approved, and vouchers filed in the office of the city clerk.

So moved. Second. All right. Moved by councelor Sic. Second by um Yeah,

Bittenberg. Yes. Right there.

All right, Madame Clerk. What is next?

Yep. Okay. So everybody down front will swear at you. Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I say your name. I, Scott Filmont, solemnly swear solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Idaho and the Constitution of the State of Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of council member that I will faithfully discharge the duties of council members of the city of Caldwell of the city of Cwell according to the best of my ability. according to the best of my ability. Congratulations, [applause] You know what you're do this yourself. I say your name. I, Chuck, solemnly swear solemnly swear

that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Idaho and the Constitution of the State of Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of council member And I will faithfully discharge the duty of council of the city of Calwell of the city of Cwell according to the best of my ability. according to the best of my ability. [applause] I state your name. I Diana register solemnly swear solemnly solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States

that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Idaho and the Constitution of the State of Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of council member and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of council member of the city of Caldwell of the city of Caldwell according to the best of my ability. according to the best of my ability. [applause]

[laughter] I say your name. I, Eric Phillips, solemnly swear solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Idaho in the Constitution of the State of Idaho and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of mayor. I will faithfully discharge the duties of mayor of the city of Calwell of the city of Calvo according to the best of my ability. according to the best of my ability. [applause] [cheering] HEAT. [cheering] [cheering] [applause] HEAT. [cheering]

[applause]

of Oh, thank you.

Yep.

I think I'm ready. Okay. All right. Um, good evening. Let's bring the meeting back to order and proceed to the next item on the agenda, which is the election uh of the council president. So, for those of you here, this is a twofer. You're going to get a second council president coming here. Idol law requires that this decision is made at the first council meeting in January after the swearing in of elected city officials. The council president is responsible for chairing council meetings when the mayor is not in attendance and assisting with mayoral duties as needed when the mayor is gone or unavailable. There is no requirement other than to be a member of city council. The election will be conducted by a roll call vote of the city council on a motion made and seconded to nominate a specific member of the council to serve as city council president. A majority of the council is required for the motion to pass. The mayor may break the tie vote but may also abstain. This process will repeated until there is a successful motion. With that background in place, I would entertain a motion to nominate a member to serve as council president.

Mr. Mayor. Yes, council. I would like to make a motion to nominate councilwoman register for the following reasons. uh her honesty and integrity, her availability to taxpayers, her research ability to come with come up with the facts and uh her openness to all taxpayers, not just a segment. Thank you, councelor Stoic. Um is there going to be any other uh motions tonight? All right. So, with that, can we get a second uh for that motion from councelor Stoic? Mr. Mayor. Yes. Council, I second that motion.

All right. We have a motion and a second. Uh it has been moved and seconded to nominate um councelor Register as council president. Please vote by using your clicker. As a reminder, a yes vote indicates your support for a nomination. A no vote indicates a different preference.

[cheering] [applause] [cheering] [applause]

Congratulations. [applause]

All right. Well, you're all not going to be stuck here all night. So, all members have voted and the motion passes with yes votes from all counselors and no no votes. Uh, congratulations to newly elected council president Diana Register. I look forward [applause] I look forward to working with you in this role as well with all members of this council. On a personal note, I hope that there is never a need for you to assume the duties of mayor due to incapacity. By the way, with the election of a council president completed, we move to the next item on the agenda, which is council reports. We'll begin with seat one and work through that order from there. and end with the mayor's comments.

Mr. Mayor, um I just like to say thank you to all of the residents who showed up, all the citizens who showed up. Um for those that elected me, I'm really excited to see where we can go, what we can do as a full council. Um also like to express my sadness to hear of the leaving of Mr. Jenkins. I think he was a huge asset to this city and I think it the city has lost a great person in him. That's it.

Ditto to what Mr. Tilman said and I just want to add that uh I wish we had these this many people to all our city meetings the first Yeah. The first and third Monday or first and third Monday. Yes. Of every month in case you're wondering. Thank you.

Council register. I also just want to thank everybody for being here. Um, it is we had to turn the air conditioner down because I was afraid we were going to start fermenting in here. So, I was very very happy to have to do that and um very pleased that so many of you are invested in our community and I too am am genuinely hoping that um you know this is a turning point and we can put so many things be behind us um everywhere and just move forward for what's best for our community. And I really feel like everybody up here, I can't I don't want to speak for everybody, but I think everybody feels the same way. So, I'd really like to see that and move forward and be very productive.

All right, Council Williams.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. How about that? I get to call you Mr. Mayor now. Congratulations again, and congratulations to my colleagues, uh, especially Councilman Stodd, uh, and Councilman Tilmont and Councilwoman Register. Uh this is uh this is going to be fun and I'm looking forward to seeing how we all can work together. Appreciate all of you for being here. It goes without saying. Uh this is a momentous day and we're uh we're here for business and we are glad for the opportunity to serve Caldwell. Uh just a brief note, Mr. Mayor, if I could inject something else. Uh I was really happy uh to see the opening of the largest indoor soccer facility in the city of Caldwell and I just want to continue to say great things are happening in Caldwell uh beyond what's happening around the valley. We just continue to be a successful and vibrant city and I'm thankful for good news.

Thank you all. Um yeah, thank you. Um, you know, the great thing is whether you like it or dislike it or whatever, college is just an exciting place. We're always just we keep making changes and doing new things and and uh I think this new this next two years is going to be as exciting as what we've done in the past. We're just we're doing wonderful things and and I'm proud to be a part of it. Thank you. You sir,

thank you. uh being involved in politics is not for the faint of heart. So for everybody who was uh who was elected and went through the process uh congratulations. It's it's tough and especially congratulations to you uh Mr. Mayor who uh fought long and hard for this. We get an opportunity every couple years or every year to uh to cast votes for who we want to lead our government and uh and for people who say they may have got it wrong, the votes are never wrong. Uh so we have the city council that we are supposed to have at this time. And so to the to the staff uh uh of the city, you guys are are great people and uh we trust you to keep your hands on the ore and to row our boat in the right direction. Uh the city of Caldwell is a is a great city like everybody has said and there's exciting things going on. If there wasn't exciting things, we wouldn't have this uh this auditory impact here this evening. So, thanks to everyone who uh who is here, to the staff, and to the uh to the new mayor and the recently reelected and elected people. We look forward to uh a new year in 2026 and a new government.

Well said, Councelor Denber. Um thank you counselors for your comments tonight. Um what an opportunity to see all these wonderful faces, supporters, um you know, that were with us along the way. I want to thank our staff for being here tonight. You know, you guys are the unsung heroes. There's many hours you guys put into what makes this all happen, what makes this go around. Thank you to our news organizations that are here. Um, we appreciate you guys. I love the First Amendment, as I've talked about before. Um, thank you for those watching online. I know there's a lot of people that weren't able to make it because they were sick or they were at work. Um, thank you for our first responders that are serving tonight. Um, you guys are what keep us safe. So, thank you. [applause] You know what? To have a safe uh secure and prosperous city, first our first responders are definitely what we need each and every day. I want to thank my family and friends who are here this evening. My wife, my son, as you saw, he was very uh energetic earlier. [applause] I cannot adequately express my gratitude through this election. Uh your patience, the long hours, um you know, battling out online uh with folks and communicating with others. That being said, I just want you to know I'm here to serve you. I'm here to serve our staff. Um, I'm looking forward to the next four years. I can't wait to see what happens. And with that, we're going to be adjourned here shortly. All right. With nothing else appearing on the agenda and there being no need for an executive session, this meeting will be adjourned and the council meeting will meet again. So, for those of you that are here tonight, would like to attend again um at his next regularly scheduled meeting on January 20th, 2026, please join us for a small celebration. It's going to be a meeting in the lobby. And with that, we are adjourned. [applause]