City Council - Regular Meeting

That is just perfect. All the city council work session to order. The time and place is advertised. May 4th, 2026, 3 p.m. Welcome one and all. If you'd please stand and join us in reciting our pledge of

aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat]

Thank you, council. Welcome. I'm going to try to project my voice. I know this is a hard room to hear in sometimes. [snorts] Next order, business is citizen comments. This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to comment on agenda items or other matters they wish to bring to the council's attention, excluding those scheduled for public hearing. As there may not be another opportunity comment once an agenda item is addressed, individuals are encouraged to speak at this time. Individuals I encourage to discuss operational issues in advance with the mayor in consideration of others wishing to speak. Commentary is limited to three minutes. So with that I will open up for any citizen comments. If you have comments if you'd please come up to this standing podium here. The green circles in the ceiling are the microphone. So if you just project your voice a little bit. Those at home and those listening online can hear what we have to say. And uh we are missing counselor. So, councelor my will receive an excused absence. Julie gets [snorts] her.

Welcome. Hello. Hello, Mayor, council members. How are all of you today? Good.

Good. Well, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak. Uh, my name is Kristen Kamak and I am the chief executive officer for Twin County. I'm here with Nikki Johnston, a resource development manager and we are here representing the Idaho Gives Committee today. Um, Idaho Gives kicked off today and Idaho Gives is a 4-day statewide celebration of generosity that connects people to nonprofits, strengthening their own communities. And when when Lewon gives, Idaho succeeds and Idaho thrives. And so we want to encourage everybody to be giving and helping support the nonprofits in your community. And we hope to have your support. Thank you.

Thank you. Other citizen comments here. I see another purple shirt over there. I'm with Kristen. You're with her. I was expecting more purple people. [laughter] Further citizen comments. Okay. Hearing none, we'll move on to Roman numeral four presentations. A. Emergency Medical Services Week Proclamation proclaiming the week of May 17 to 23, 2026 as Emergency Medical Services Week. This is an action item and I will read this proclamation. Chief, you're going to join me up front? Absolutely.

All right. Proclamation City of Lewon, Idaho. Whereas emergency medical services are a vital public service and whereas the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery of those who experience sudden illness or injury. And whereas emergency medical services fill health care gaps by providing important out of hospital care including preventive medicine, follow-up care, and access to tele medicine. And whereas the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, prehosp nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and other out of hospital medical care providers. And whereas the members of emergency medical services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills. And whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and accomplishments of emergency medical services providers by designating the emergency medical services EMS week. Now therefore, I, Dan Johnson, mayor of the city of Leon, proclaim the week of May 17 to 23, 2026 as Emergency Medical Services Week in the city of Lewon, Idaho. The 52nd anniversary of medical of emergency medical services week theme is EMS week, improving outcomes together. I encourage the community to observe this week with activities in honor of the EMS profession and the essential service it provides. and witness whereof I have here on two set my hand and seal of the city of Lon Idaho to be affixed here to this 4th day of May 2026 Daniel T Johnson mayor Lson Idaho Chief Mart would you like to give us 60 seconds

oh I'd be happy to thank you for and get the camera council I don't mean to turn my back to you but um I appreciate this on behalf of the men and women at Lewis Fire Department our our folks at our dispatch center and our our hospital um it's it really is a team effort And um the the chain of survival begins with a trained public that knows how to do hands only CPR and stop the bleed. So I encourage you to to get into those programs. It also begins one step before that with some prevention. And so as you weather warms up and we all love to hit the northern Idaho outdoor life. Um please reach out to friends and family and you know wear your wear your athletic helmets whichever sport you're doing that's that's there for that. And um you know be careful watch watch and especially we got these youngsters with their phones always head down and you know paying attention when you're walking across the street and things like that life jackets when we get out on the water and enjoy our boating fishing. So be safe. We'll we'll be there for you but we'd rather not see you at all. That's that's the best way we go. Thank you, Mr.

Very nice. Thank you, Chief. [clears throat] Council, next up we have item B, community development block 2026 action plan project recommendations, project and funding recommendations for the community development block grant, CDBG 2026 action plan. We have our community development office supervisor, Miss Don Ortiz, here with us today. Don, welcome. Please introduce yourself for the record. The floor is yours.

Don Ortiz, Community Development Office Supervisor. Good afternoon, councilors and Mayor Johnson. Uh today I'm presenting the community development block grant 2026 uh program recommendations. We received four applications this year. Um one being the list school district. They're seeking $15,000 to support families facing homelessness. [snorts] Uh Maverals at 421 Burl A. They requested 180,317 to replace private utility lines, tree removal, asphalt, and roof replacement. The LC Habitat for Humanity is seeking 64,500 to assist with uh excuse me, to assist with infrastructure costs such as curb, gutter, and sidewalk. Um also capping utility lines coming into parcels to help uh two to four um low income housing. The um last one is the city of Lstone Park and Recreation Department is requesting 150,000 to repair replace fit and gem roof and water damage. We anticipate 3,00 excuse me 310,55126. um will be available for allocation. This estimate includes project program income as well as remaining funds carried over from the 2025 program year. Staff recommends the following allocations. 40,000 for administration and also the consolidated plan. Um every five years we have to recreate the consolidated plan. So the one we currently are under ends in 2027. So, I need to start preparation for the 2028 to 2032 consolidated plan. 15,000

to the Lon School District, 150,000 to the city of Lon Parks and Recreation, 60,000 to our home repair program, and then $45,55126 to the LC Habitat for Humanity. The next steps in the process would be the submission of the 2026 action plan. Uh this identifies the applicants and funding amount um that will be held in the 2026 program year. Um in order to do that, I would need to do a 30-day public comment period, which goes from May 9th to June 8th. And then on June 8th, you'll get to see me again for a public hearing. And then on June 15th, I would submit the action plan to HUD. So our program year begins on August 1st. if our action plan is approved and then I am available for any questions.

Thank you, Don. Council questions. Council Speckle. Thank you, mayor. [clears throat] So, I'm curious and I ask this every year. So, any of these things when we um give these grants, is there any followup to them to see or audit to see what they spent the money on? So when they actually So it's a reimbursement. So as they progress through their project, they have to provide me invoices and then I reimburse those invoices. So I know exactly what they've spent it on. So it's directly reflected to you look at to make sure it's following with like the Lewis school district. I can't remember what theirs was something to do with the homeless. I'm sorry. Yes. Yeah.

So they provide invoices. Say it's to help with rental to prevent homelessness. They actually provide me with a rental agreement so I have that record. So I know exactly how much the check is for. And a followup. So [snorts] at the end um for instance, let's take the Lewis and Parks and Recck Department $150,000. So if they don't use the exact Where's the money go back to? Usually I reallocate it to the home repair program. So it goes it just stays in in the funds. Perfect. Thank you. Council, right? Yeah. What's Maven Rentals?

Um, it's a private company. Lowincome housing or Correct. Okay. The parcel that they're requesting is lowincome housing. I don't know if they have other properties, but the one that they're inquiring about is Okay. Mobile Home Park. Mobile Home Park. Okay. Officer Forceman. Um I don't recall us ever getting a request internally. I guess perks kind of view a little bit as internally. Um there's no rules or conflicts with that. So interesting.

We can So we're the sub original subreient and then we grant it out to others. Um, the last time we used funds was 2019 and we used it to replace a bunch of uh water lines up in the normal here that normal hill that was supplying the hospital.

Okay, council, if you have any more questions, uh, Don will be back before us in about a month or so and we'll have a hearing and you'll be able to vote on this. So, Thank you. Thank you.

So, next we move to Roman numeral five discussion items. Please note that identifying an item as an action item does not require the city council to vote on that item. First up, item A is listed and civic theater services agreement annual accounting presentation by executive director Nancy Mintosh regarding the activities financed to date with city funds in accordance with the fiscal year 2026 services agreement. So Nancy, welcome. Introduce yourself for the record. The floor is yours. And if you want to introduce your uh friends that you brought to that because I will. Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm Nancy Macintosh. I'm the executive director of the Lon Civic Theater and I wanted to thank the council for their continued support of the theater. Um and I wanted to provide an update on the service agreement that we have with the city. [clears throat]

Um, part of our agreement is that the theat's tasked with organizing community theater events and offering youth educational programs. Because of your support, we were able to license uh the shows that we are performing uh for the community. Um, we are almost done with our uh prior season 2526 and we're currently in rehearsal for the last show of our 2526 season. And that show is MMA Mia which opens on June 12th and runs through June 28th. And um I wanted to introduce you to the person, one of the people who's playing a lead in our production of MMA Mia. Her name is Heidi Santiago. Uh she's new to the Lewon community. She's a performer. Uh she performs elsewhere, but I wanted her to give you folks a perspective of someone who's new to working uh with the theater. So Heidi,

thank you. Thanks. Hello. Um as she said, I'm from Spokane and I've been doing theater since I was in high school at the Civic Theater and at Cordelane Summer Theater. and I had the amazing um privilege to be cast in a Broadway national tour and toured around the United States with the beautiful show Rag Time. And I was absolutely thrilled to hear that the Civic Theater was able to have the resources to pull off Mamma Mia. So, I was excited to audition and I am so honored to be able to play this amazing role in this amazing show and it the experience has been nothing but professional. The cast and the directors have been phenomenal. You would be very proud and I'm excited for you all to come see us. So, thank you very much.

Talk daddy's got [laughter] questions for Oh, really? Questions for me? Come on, counselor right inventory. When is it playing? When is June 12th through the 28th? So, we have some Thursday night shows and some matineese as well. So, sure you can find a time to come. Sounds fun. All right. Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah, we're really excited. We were able to bring in a couple of guest directors. one uh our musical director is uh his name is Todd McIntyre. They uh and his wife Becky Stout uh are here. Becky is the choreographer and she's a former Radio City Rocket. And Todd was on the national tour of Mamma Mia for three years. So they are friends of mine and they were able to come and help us out with this for a very short period of time with those that rehearsal. So, um, part of our our season this last year is we do a thing called, uh, the 10-minute plays, and that re, uh, that gives opport an opportunity to people in, uh, our volunteer community to learn how to direct a play that's only 10 minutes long. Um, and let them experience what it's like to be a director. So, this is the second year we've offered this program. And I'd like to introduce Michael Keane, who I think you if you've attended any of our productions, you've probably seen Michael. He's a performer, extraordinary performer, but he participated in the 10 minute plays as a director. And I wanted to give him an opportunity to talk to you about what it's like to be a veteran performer and the importance of theater in the community.

Thanks, Michael. Welcome. Welcome. As Nancy stated, my name is Michael Keane. I've had the privilege of being a volunteer, whether it's on stage, backstage with the Lewis Civic Theater over the past two decades plus. Um, and I can tell you for me as well as for many others uh who have grown up in that theater, that theater has created [clears throat] such a pivotal role in our lives. I know for me specifically, it created early on in my life a home, a safe space where I could go and be comfortable and be myself and be be proud of my accomplishments. But I will say being a part of that theater as well. We are a family. Um it's always nice to see new faces come and join us like Heidi, like so many others who have come to either perform or help out backstage volunteering and whatnot. Just that feeling of putting on a show and you get hundreds of people coming every weekend of of just laughter and smiles, people in this community has been such such a wonderful joy in my life and I don't want to give it up anytime soon. As Nancy said, I have been more on stage over the past two decades, but now I'm trying my hand in directing. I'm actually going to be directing a show next season as well, uh, just to show the growth within the theater. uh we start um kind of smaller, you know, until we're trusted to handle a big production which will be Susicle the Musical uh next season. But I know as I have said um this theater has been such an an incredible wonderful part of my life and it's something I will always cherish throughout my life. It's taught me confidence. It's taught me pride. has taught me how to be more warm and welcoming with all these wonderful faces I've seen coming in and leaving and going and doing professional theater or sticking around or will hire professionals to come in. And I truly believe it is a very very important part

of this community. Not only to give access to those who want to volunteer, to want to help out, to want to maybe try to get their a few minutes on stage um to shine or to just provide an escape for the people in this world who are working their nineto-ive jobs or just want to pretend to be somewhere else for a weekend and just laugh and relax. And I don't think I could ever give that up. and I just want to extend my gratitude for your support in helping us provide that for this community and hopefully for the foreseeable future. So, thank you so much. Council questions might have a co-starring role for you in one of these. [laughter]

So, auditions for Susical Musical are going to be in April next year if you want it. Oh, boy. [laughter]

Thanks. Um during the year we are also uh able to offer acting classes for kids. We uh and a summer program for kids. We're really excited about that. Uh the kids this summer are doing two different shows. One is called Finding Nemo Kids and the other is Mean Girls Junior. And uh the program, let's see, and then we have over 30 kids involved in our current acting classes. Um, and uh, I wanted to ask Micah to come up and talk about the kids program. Micah has um, participated in theater for a long time [laughter] and um, I'd like for her to speak to the council about her experience as a kid growing up in the program.

Thank you, Nancy. Hello, counselors and Mayor Johnson. Um, I'm currently getting over a cold, so please try to bear with me. Um, so I've been doing the uh kids program since 2022 uh when I was 12 years old and I am now turning 16 this June. And um it's been such an honor to be able to uh be able to find a community at such a young age and be able to grow. And I just I can look back on myself and know that I have grown as a person, as an actor, as a singer. And being able to be in theater, I just see all around me kids learning such important skills that they can use in the real world through theater. Um, these kid programs are not only to put on a show. Um, it's a two week long process this year. And so that means there will be time for the kids to learn new acting games, new skills, and they can learn how to present themselves. Um, theater does not only help with singing and just performing on a stage and pretending to be someone else. It helps kids gain confidence from a young age so that, you know, when they grow older, they can stand in front of a crowd and speak like I am right now. It builds confidence within them so that they just have this certain self-esteem as they grow up and they keep it throughout all of their life. And I have just been so honored to have all of these mentors and teachers and be able to take place in um the Lewis Civic Theater. And I'm going to be eternally grateful for all the opportunities that Nancy and the whole civic has given me. and I'm definitely not going to quit theater anytime soon.

Thank you, Micah. Council questions. Council, right? Just a comment. Um I I think it speaks volumes to what the theater can do for our youth. I don't know many 16-year-olds who can come and stand in front of a city council and talk so confidently. I know the when I stood in front of the city council year a little over a year ago to ask to be on the council, I was way more nervous [clears throat] than than you right now. So that's great. Yeah. Thank you so much. Thank you.

I have to say for my own self-observation, I've seen Mike on stage a couple of times anyway and you don't look 16 or 15 or 14. You are above your age, you know, in your performance. I think you do a wonderful job. So you and all of your team up there. So you did a great job. Thank you so much. That means a lot to me. Thank you.

Thanks. Uh so the the civic theater has been involved in many community events like artwalk. We just did the the art walk this last weekend and that was really a wonderful experience. We are able to uh just this year we uh are offering some of the proceeds from our ticket sales from our Saturday night performances to uh nonprofits in town. We were able to support the Snake River Community Clinic. Uh and we involved so many uh volunteers in our productions backstage, front of house, on stage in the orchestra. Uh we continue to operate out of the old old Lewon High School on the Normal Hill campus and we're always very grateful to the school district for allowing us to use that building or rent that building. Um and once again, I just like to thank the council for their support of the theater and we're excited about the future of the theater and we want to continue to and and are committed to serving the LC valley um through the power of theater. So, thank you so much for listening to us today and if you have any questions, I'll try to answer them.

Spec. Thank you. So, in the theater, what are like annually? What are your expenses?

Oh gosh. Well, I can tell you that it costs between it costs us between $10,000 and $25,000 a show to put on a show. So, for instance, the season that I've licensed this next season, 26 and 27, we uh about half of the money, well, we we half of the money that the the council provides us goes to just licensing the show. So, basically, we have to u pay the production companies. We it's it's artistic um intellectual property. So, we have to pay for that. we have to um pay the production companies um and it actually goes on to the people who wrote the music, who wrote the play. We don't just say, "Hey, let's do let's do Susicle." We have to pay for the rights to do that. And then we have to pay for costumes, we have to pay for sets, we pay for the advertising. So, um the money that you folks provide us, um we will use every bit of it. So, um, it's people, I think, aren't completely aware of what it costs to put on a show. We, you know, the advertising, the programs, um, all that stuff, uh, it adds up and it adds up quickly. It used to be that, uh, the production, the licensing for the productions was about half as expensive. It's doubled since we, um, since CO. So things are very much more expensive and lumber's expensive, you know, so the costs mount. Um, so that's that's where the money goes. So

yeah, I would say the majority goes to our licensing. Well, thank you Nancy for being here and team. The rest of you, I welcome to Lewon. Yeah. Thank you so much. Also, uh, next up is B. I don't see anyone here though from Boys and Girls Club hiding anywhere. I think we're going to jump over that one.

Jump over that. Go to discussion item C. Traffic analysis report for Brighten Avenue. Overview of maintenance and repair plans for Biden Avenue, presented by public works director Dustin Johnson. Welcome, director.

Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council. I was going to have Micah speak for me, but I guess you'll have to get stuck with me here on this one. So, um, full disclosure, this is a presentation I provided you May 5th, 2025. So, um, to be blunt, we haven't made a lot of progress. And so I'm going to go through uh generally uh kind of four areas today about Brighton and uh uh kind of talk why I'm here today which is the traffic analysis but then uh update the financial update and then kind of routes we see forward to actually get this thing off the ground. Uh so I love history and everything has a root cause and the root cause of the traffic issue on Briden can be directly correlated to Southway Bridge construction in 1982. So that was added as part of the uh the levy trail or the levies that went in constructed in ' 82. Uh it it connected the highway that went between Clarkston and Aotan and then Snake River Avenue, but there was nothing there were no roads that went off of there. And so if you ever look at old aerial photographs, that really cool bridge just stops on either end. So uh over the course of the next 20 years, uh give or take, they pushed it up to uh Fleshman Way and then they pushed it up in 1999 up Brighton Canyon. So those of you who lived here in that period know, uh how dramatically things changed uh when that when that Brighten Canyon opened up. uh to demonstrate that. Here's the traffic uh counts from 1995 to 1999. So you can see Brighton Avenue up on top, 9,400 trips basically from thing out to the airport. That's a daily trip. Uh in 1999, open up the spot, it almost doubled. Um and so you could see uh obviously the preferred route to get

up on top into the orchard was now Brighton Canyon. Uh and you can see previously in 95 Snake River Avenue and Southway Avenue where those trips were coming. So Southway Avenue, if you look at our old uh traffic uh capital improvements plans, Southway Avenue was set good. Yeah, that was going to be the big new thoroughfare. That's all those trips from 20,000 cars a day in 95 now reduced to half and we even today we're not even close to 20,000 cars a day on Southway. They're all going up, right? And Snake River Avenue is kind of the same. Uh I would I haven't looked at those numbers of 99, but we're probably close back to where it was in 95. Now, what 20 30 years later? [clears throat] And so, uh to give you the update as to last year, uh it was councelor Klene asked, uh can we do a three-lane section up there? Um which, uh is she came to me and you know, kind of scratching my head. I wasn't I was actually still in high school at the time. So I didn't know how did we get from 1995 to 2020. And so I I kept digging. I kept digging. I couldn't find all the recommendations were five-lane sections. And so I was trying to find any analysis that was done in that period that would say this is why we recommend a fivelane section. And I couldn't find it. And so I know it's it's like roundabouts in Lewon. You either hate them or you love them. And there's a lot of local people who tell me they love them tell me you hate them. Uh, same thing with Brighton. People tell me every day, I cannot get east or west at 5:00. It is backed up. It's ridiculous. Uh, or they say it's 20 minutes a day. It's not that big of a deal. And so, uh, I took Council Klein's question and I said, let's dig into this a little bit deeper. I want to know kind of the details, the analysis, why, um, a fivelane section is. And, and generally, when we're doing transportation planning, it's what's the design life? uh you know, you don't want to build a

road that's not going to last the the design life of the pavement. So, if we're talking we're going to build a a certain type of road and it's only going to last you a couple years, that's not good. You you want to build in the capacity or at least find a way to offset that demand somewhere else. Uh and so, long story short, they did the analysis. Uh they found significant queuing at basically all the intersections, fifth, 7th, uh and 10th along this corridor. they assumed a moderate a 1.29 I don't know how they get the exact 1.29% 29% a moderate growth rate. Uh and fifth and brighten the level of service reaches an F. Uh and so these are school grades, you know, A through F. Uh they do include an E. Uh but it reaches a level of service F uh which is unacceptable in 2033. And so uh there I did include it in your packet. I don't intend to really go into much more detail than this other than their recommendation is based on the projected performance of the corridor as a whole. They do not recommend a threelane section. And so, um, as public works director, as an engineer, you look at that and you say you could build that threelane section, no additional rightaway, no new, you know, no new, uh, expansion of pavement or rights away. Uh, and you would more than half that project cost. However, you're going to run into these significant levels of service and it's usually is almost always at the nodes. I will say this analysis ran uh ran the the model on roundabouts. So if you read it, I think it's called the roundabout corridor analysis. We're not building roundabouts up there. I want to be perfectly clear. They ran that as as a conservative uh model because the the modeling software uh it cars never stop at roundabouts and so they can get traffic if they ran a double and a single roundabout. Uh and it failed at 2033. So if it can't

operate at a double roundabout at those nodes, uh it can operate at signals, which is what we intend to. Uh that's what the current design is for phase one is signals at at well where the signals are where the signals are right now. It did not consider um also in that analysis, it did not consider the approaches. So gas stations, you know, you've got the the shopping complex up there. So people slow, turn right, pull into traffic, that obviously has impacts on the flow of traffic. It did not really consider that. It just considered the nodes uh intersections as they stop and go and cross traffic. And so u built on that, I I don't think it's in the city's best interest to proceed with a three-lane section. So that was the traffic analysis. Is there any questions? Anything you want to stop into? Otherwise, I'll I'll move into the deeper dive. Looks like the code director. Thank you.

Okay, good. Thank you. Because I'm not a traffic engineer and that was a that was a deep dive and I I digested it a couple months ago and I did not print it off for today. So, um, but if you ever want to have any questions or go back, we will keep that analysis and have that. So, if anybody asks questions as to why we're proceeding the way we are, we have that available. Um, so I wanted to dive, you know, transitioning away from how we got here, why we are going ahead with five lane section. Um and then kind of moving forward in into funding. Funding is obviously the most important part of or at least the part that uh impacts our ability to construct projects. And so a side sidebar conversation here is uh South um Snake River Avenue is under construction right now. Uh and in that memo I provided you, I gave some dates. Um and so that that is funded by uh surface transportation block grant program money. That is a federal allocation that we receive or the MO receives. So we go through uh the metropolitan planning organization which is valleywide. So it's a bystate. There's Clarkston and Lewon, Nesper County and Soten County and the city of Soten in this uh and so there's the Idaho you know u um money that we receive and there's Washington side. So uh roughly what Idaho side receives and it's based off the population area. Um, and so, uh, a urban boundary and so Nesper County has a little bit in there, but they're they're a very small component because it's just an urban core. Um, but Nesper County is eligible to draw uh, STP STBG money. Um, to date, they haven't really received much. So, most of what that STBG money is obligated towards Lewon. Uh, and it has at it's state money. So the state of Idaho gets it and then it's divvied up by population by each of these MO uh urban areas. Uh and actually our our

portion has shrunk in the last census because I think it's Idaho Falls or PO which one of the fall Twin Falls one of the falls Twin Falls has become an NO so we get less money. So, we've gone from roughly 800 to now we're down to $600,000. But that is money that the city has traditionally programmed into uh these large arterial projects. The problem with that, well, the good thing is it's not local tax dollars, but what's unfortunate is it takes forever. And so, when we started the Snake River Avenue project, we said, "Okay, this has been in the books since 2010." And I'm as a public works director saying, "Cool. We got yellow equipment running out there. We're turning dirt over. We got pipe in the ground and I sometimes monitor social media and people are like that road wasn't that bad. Why are we ripping that road up? That that seems like a waste of money. City can't spend the money on the roads that need it. And and I sat there and I thought, you know what? They're right. They are right that we we rip up Snake River Avenue. But that road was programmed in 2010. If we were to not do that road, we would have to give that money back to the federal government. So, you know, because all the design work, all the rightway, all the work that's been done as we've waited for all that money to accumulate, we would give it back. And so then we would start back from scratch and then say, "Okay, Brighton's actually the most important." And so by $600,000 into a $15 million project, the next road would be more important. And so I would say that is not a financially solvent way of approaching these large arterial projects because you're you're always three years behind the ball in addressing these projects. And I'll tell you the next project that's programmed into the STBG program is Ninth Street Grade. Its pavement also looks really good, but the the subgrade doesn't look bad, but it was identified soon after Snake River Avenue. So you you hit that, you know, fork in the road where you're saying, do you want to surrender the money, which you basically have a completed design and it should be

under construction in the next two years. the city has no money I mean other than the local match into that project or to to move that money surrender the money and then move on to the next project or build the project is still a need but it is not I would say as needful as uh Fain or Brighton or even 21st Street at this point. So that is the the game that the city has played in the past uh of of not putting their own local transportation dollars in there to get to the the rest of this. These are in external funding sources. So that's the STBG. Uh and then other one is Brighton is very unique in that is is contained within an urban renewal area. So the URRA, you've probably heard URRA being presented around and so um URRA can they have paid for a lot of uh you know design work up to this point. They've provided the match uh for these STPG dollars. They've committed to do work with Lloyd because Lloyd that's all Lloyd water lines up there. So they've committed to help facilitate the replacement of the water line um or water lines up there. So they are a partner. Um but again the funny part about urban renewal districts is they are finite. I think they are they can only exist for 30 years and then they got to close. Uh and so if we were to follow this STBG model forward, this urban renewal district will close long before the project will be completed. and so need to be more aggressive to utilize the STBG and the URRA money. Um and then the only other external funding sources are federal grants. So one that's out right now is better utilizing investments to leverage development. Um and that's the build grant. Uh and uh Brighton wasn't a good candidate for him. So we did turn in Main Street. Main Street is we turned that I think I brought that for you to sign the application. I think the the feds said we would hear back from them by the end of June. So there every you know all

these transportation bills that come through Washington DC you'll get raise grants, build grants, all these old uh transportation bills uh always have grants like this and so the city's going to need to be aggressive in applying for these types of grants and they're all you know this one is uh utilizing investments to leverage development. So the the the fed feds want to invest in a community and see uh the community buy in and get more um you know business development on that. So having a downtown core I think would be a good candidate for that. All right. This is the councelor Spickle page right here. So this is the arterial reconstruction fund. I think in the last couple weeks you asked where is that money? And so going back to 2022 was the first year uh I think that was when the police retirement fund reached solveny and so that the council at that time said we have funds available let's program this into our our transportation uh program capital cap transportation program and we came up with a catchy name of arterial reconstruction program uh and you can see for the first couple years it was 700,000 and then in FY24 uh the council uh moved the the building reserve fund or whatever the title is and put that into capital transportation. And so since 24, uh we've been putting $2.3 million. Uh this last one is next year's budget. So you shouldn't count your eggs before they're hatched, but um you know, so if you if you put put the if you continue to fund it as you have for the last three years, you will have roughly 7.5 million in that in that balance right now for arterial reconstruction. If you don't, you you minus out 2.3. So we're roughly uh five and a half somewhere between five and a half million today. If you budget it like this for the next fiscal year, it'll be seven and a half. Uh the only projects that have come out of it

to date was the main street design uh from 25 we didn't use the full this was what budgeted um I think we were probably about $100,000 under that. Um we didn't the whole contract wasn't a million. I think it was around 900 and then we didn't spend the whole 900. So we're right around 900. Uh and then we carried over for that build grant. Uh we needed a little bit of money for that this fiscal year. Uh and then um if you remember, we we did get a safety grant for the mill and overlay of Brighton Canyon. Uh and that was for $2 million, but we weren't we we asked that we didn't do half the bottom half or the top half. So we include the whole uh and so we needed to match that. So to get that whole project from the top to the bottom was a $4.5 million project. So we needed we we pulled that two and a half out. So um the net effect is that 5.5 to 7.5 million total in that arterial reconstruction program. So what does that all mean? So um the financial overview that project so this is phase one we have continued [snorts] through design we are we got a little bit of environmental uh left over hanging out this federal processes kind of linger if there's money to proceed ahead would accelerate much faster but we're kind of just hanging out in limbo it's not a huge hurdle it's just there's a little bit more to to say the design is complete complete um but roughly $15 million to build everything from fourth to 7th um is what's defined as phase one and then phase two is seventh to fame um as I already said we're roughly $600,000 a year in SDP allocation and so that it's a unique program each state does a little different Washington and Idaho um

it it's the money comes to the state of Idaho all the NPOS's have a a meeting or a couple meetings a year And so you you get on a list and so you like you can't just spend your money. You wait till your turn is up and you say, "Okay, I've got a project for $3 million." Okay, you're third in the list. So you're waiting for uh Celane and Boise to finish these projects. And so when they're done, you got to wait on the list. So you're on their terms and and so the the money, everybody keeps the accounting, they track how much money you're accumulating each year. And then when the other ones come off the list, it goes. The last couple years have been a little frustrating because there's been a little bit of extra money coming in from the federal government, but also a lot of cost overruns since COVID. And so a lot of these communities say, "Yeah, my project was 3.5, it's 7 million, so everybody's projects gets pushed back a year." Um, but but there's been like Snake River Avenue, we got an extra grant, so that moved everything forward. Um, so I would expect Ninth Street Grade to be here in the next two or three years to be ready for construction. So, that's a long explanation of uh STP money isn't yours and it isn't always necessarily going to come when you think it's going to come. Uh artillery reconstruction currently has been budgeted at 2.3 million for the last couple years. Uh the balance is, you know, like as I said, somewhere between 5.5 and 7.5. Uh and then this Brighton uh or Brighton Urra balance. Now, this is that number is 2 million. That's what's in there in the account right now. But that is an account for uh Lloyd. Lloyd has signed a contract with the URRA and I think they're up to 40 or 50% of their water. No cap on the dollar amount, but they will participate with them to replace those water lines. We've had a lot of conversations with uh uh Lloyd. Lloyd's, you know, they're much like us, the city, where we we program capital improvements, they program capital improvements. If if Brighton's not going to get constructed

for another 20 years, why would I replace those water lines right now and put, you know, their boundaries are exploding and growing just like ours. And so they've got demands. And so they've asked us, when you're ready to do Brighton, give us about a year, two, three years in advance so we can get all those lines replaced. In an ideal world, we would give them notice, they would program the money, they would get the design, and then they would move ahead right in front of kind of like what we did with uh Snake River Avenue where they would place the water lines. They wouldn't have to worry about it would just be one long construction project at the same time. I'm saying that mostly because I don't want you to run go through this ledger and say, "Okay, we've got, you know, whatever that that money that number is. We're up to almost 10 million here. Uh and so we can start moving forward." we can, but you know, if we get the rate, you know, if we get the build grant for Main Street, that's a 20% local match. So that 7 and a half million goes away pretty fast. And if Lloyd moves forward on that Briden, that goes away pretty fast. And so there's a there's a a certain game of watching your your reserve balances and making sure that each of your projects are moving forward in such a manner that you're not going to, you know, rob Peter to pay Paul and now you got a grant and you don't have the local match. So really last slide is moving forward um where we're at for restrictions. Uh Lloyd Lloyd is uh you know we're just going to continue to to to negotiate or not negotiate but communicate with Lloyd to let them know where we're at with with funding uh planning. Uh right now as I said we are give or take halfway there to fund this project in house. Uh if so, if the council wanted us to move forward, um we will need a little bit more money. Uh and then right away and so I guess that's where we're at. Um where this project sits today, we're ready to do right away. I think uh we could probably uh maybe not in this

year's budget, but next year's budget be in a position where we can accelerate this schedule uh if we bring our own money to the table. It's federalized. Once you uh take federal dollars, that's called, you know, you federalize the project. So, you're doing the environmental, you're doing all the right, you know, certified right away, all those things. So, you're you're in for it now anyway. So, we can we can strategically use our allocation from the feds, our URA money, and our arterial reconstruction program money, and start moving forward in right away, acquire the rightway, and then start moving on construction in phase two. The only thing that would accelerate this faster than that uh is obviously if we fund greater than $2.3 million or do what we we had talked about doing for Main Street and that is a a geo bond where you bond that revenue of the $2.3 million um and and you get money forward and then you can finish the design get the rightway. I don't think we'd want to do that for right away. I think we would want a bond only for construction. Uh, and you know, that would be a a a general obligation bond that would require a supermajority for the people to vote on. Um, but that would be a tangible project that you would say it costs x amount of dollars. It's for Brighton and this is the timeline that we would do. I don't have the figures because I haven't worked on anything. I spent the last two years on Main Street. So, but Brighton would be a good candidate for that. Um, if not, if if the if the appetite for a bond is not there, then then we we fund it $2.3 million at a time. Um so that's that's the the big ones. Um we've talked internally what we could do with the money on in hand. Uh is you know these these as the traffic analysis demonstrated it's a node failure. So it's almost always the intersections that fail. Um we could we could go through this is the painful part. You could go in and you could say all right

we're going to fix fix the intersection of seventh and brighten. Now we're going to go down and we're going to fix the intersection of fifth and brighten. uh or opposite of whatever. And so you're starting to fix the nodes that that makes it, you know, you're coming in and you're doing maybe you do both at the same I don't know I but you do it peacemail that is more painful especially for the the street that you know Brighton Avenue that sees 20,000 cars a day uh where you draw that out over four, five, six construction seasons. That would probably be more painful than than the people would like. But that's one way that you could you could spend the dollars that you have in hand to address some of the shortcomings in some of those intersections. Um, I think that's all I got. [laughter]

Thank you, director. Counselor's questions. Councelor Spiffle. Thank you, Mayor. So, director, in the last time you gave the presentation, um, you stated if we waited and kept saving saving, we're probably looking at 2050. Yeah. So, I'll never see it.

Correct. I don't think I But what I'm wondering is when we worked on the main street thing, a lot of the public's comments was why can't we fund it internally? Um because they see a lot of money. So I guess it's more of to the finance department. Is there any way that the city could fund it internally? I might look at Amy, but the dollars I have for for our capital transportation is this $7.5 million. Um, you know, and that's why the main street was was a I don't want in a way Main Street was easier. It's it's more money, but you have you you have the enterprise funds because you're replacing water, replacing sewer. You don't have that up there on Brighton. Brighton is just a street project. And so I can only draw on these transportation dollars.

Well, we're talking about more other city reserves. I mean, there's sometimes you can't do it and then sometimes you don't want to do it. I would defer to Amy on that on what you can and can't do because of my mine. I'm road building. I'm not the the the finance person. Let me call Jennifer up to our city attorney. Second on this. Jennifer, welcome. Please introduce yourself for the record.

Thank you, Mayor. Jennifer Tangano, city attorney. Councelor Spickle Meer. The primary problem that would be associated with that is the Idaho Constitution. It's article I'm sorry, it's yeah, article 8 section three limits the public indebtedness. So in any particular year, we have to make sure that our annual appropriations um including our revenues and expenses don't exceed one another. So um at the time that we enter into a contract for such construction, we have to have the balance of the contract available if for any event that the contract were to be paid. Um so that means that any initial term or initial costs have to be in the city's accounts at the time of contracting. So um the way that the city was planning to finance this was through the bond because we don't have the entire balance appropriated at this point. So our revenues would not match our expenditures. Our expenditures would be much greater because we'd have a contractual obligation to pay a full amount of that project and then we would be paying it back through installments over the lifetime of um the contract period. And that way by getting an approved uh bond through our voters that is the exception or one of the few exceptions for such uh for this constitutional limitation. So that if we do have a twothirds voterapproved expenditure, we could spend more than we actually have appropriated. Um it's just that at this time we don't have that and we don't have the voter approval. So we cannot even um enter into any contracts to begin this project except on a peacemeal basis um until we have the full balance of the money available in our accounts.

Understand that. It's not my question. My question is that we show reserves in a lot of accounts and I understand that different utility accounts but there are other accounts within the city that have money in them. My question is can is it we cannot use that money and that's what the public wants to know or do we don't want to use it.

Well to the extent that those monies are earmarked for other contracts or other um particular funds then no we cannot use those. So the money that's earmarked specifically for like um our workers compensation, our health trust, our enterprise funds, those by law, various statutes and the Idaho Constitution are limited in how they're spent. So just because we have the money doesn't necessarily mean that we can spend it for something other than what it's been appropriated for. Council President Clayberg. [clears throat]

Thank you, Mr. there and the citizens of the community passed a ordinance. I can't remember what it was, but prohibiting us from moving reserves from one fund to another. It was all because of the library. That would have been about 19 or 2006 2008 somewhere in there. So that's the law of our land. Councilors, further questions for city attorney Tangano.

Not at this time. Thank you, Jennifer. Director Gordon, are you um anxious to come up here or No, we're okay. We're good. [laughter] All righty. Director Johnson. Thank you. Council for the council right. Yeah. So, as far as a bond goes, because it it seems like the the traffic problem there isn't going to nicely wait to 2050. No. No. And that's the 2050 route is using STP funds. Yeah.

Um and the the point uh at least when this was started, the arterial reconstruction was to give you flexibility. I mean, obviously at $2.3 million and I think the the the um annual transportation capital improvement identifying all the projects in the city, it's like $250 million. So, we're never going to get that. But also, you know, let's be realistic. You're always going to have more demands than you're going to have funds available. But the expectation was you get the money in the bank and then you can start cash flowing whether it's a a grant you you're paying for the match or you're just going to cash flow and you're going to build some of these larger projects. Right.

And so yeah, I I you know I I feel like it's my responsibility to tell you as the public works director say it is not responsible to wait for that road to get to dust at60 and then build it. That that's just not a viable path forward. And so I think the bond is the fastest of that we would have we would bond against the the revenue that's generated by this uh and then get the design done and then the I think the biggest hurdle would be you know we've got phase one design phase two is not design it's concept level but you know I want to make sure that when we we move forward and I think we need to move move forward with more urgency if we're going to move away from Main Street we're going to go to Brighton again I'm going to go to councelor Spickle I think it was last week that said, "Pick something and do it." And so Briden's a great project. It It's got a good start. We've kind of hemmed and hawed. It's It can be controversial. I've heard people from, like I said, both ways, but let's I mean, we we've got a good start. 7.5 million. We're halfway through phase halfway to funding phase one. I think if it's a bond, we leverage and we move forward in getting phase two to either dovetail right into it or we do one bigger project in the next, you know, 10 years. So, let me on the on the bond route. If we if we had a bond approved, do we still acrue the is it the STGP money and we can help pay off the bond sooner with that money? We can still apply for federal grants to help offset the bond and pay it off more quickly. We could still do those kind of things.

Yeah. Yeah. The the the allocation from from the um STP or STBG uh it will keep coming. Um so that is as I said it's not a guarantee. I don't know that you could bond against it but you could you could use it to offset other projects um you know other revenue streams. So yeah it it it it not going away. It will continue to come and as I said it's not predict predictable in that you can I don't know that you could bond against it because it it may be off a year or two or three but it it's it's going to continue continue to to come to the city of Lewon. Councelor Splicker.

Thank you, Mayor. So, director, um, another public comment is, well, why don't we just fix what we have? And can you kind of explain that why we can't fix some of what we have already on Brighton?

On Brighton. Yeah. I mean, that's that's exact. Well, one thing when I learned we did do uh fifth and brighten, we did because that had gotten so rudded. Uh, and so when we went out there and we took core samples, there's no base course there. And a lot of these roads in the orchards, if you see the ruting, 21st Street was one that we we did a a repair on. Bane is tremendous ruting. Those have no base course. Those were roads that were farm roads that have river rock underneath of them. So you're going to continue to see ruting until you do a complete reconstruct. And the federal ADA requirements when you're anything beyond a mill and overlay or greater. So when you're milling off pavement, you're putting in all new ADA ramps. And so it's kind of this like once you're in, you're all the way in. So that's why we could we could do uh some, you know, say like phase two, which it pavement is is terrible. Uh and it's I mean, it will be long gone by 2060. It'll probably be long gone by 2030. So we've pushed ourselves into this place where, you know, are you going to let it go to a kind of what what you would consider an unacceptable appearance for the sake of we're going to make this a bigger project? we're going to complete it in 10 years, but you're going to obligate. You're going to say, "I'm committed to seeing that versus, all right, it's not real pretty, but let's just put new pavement on it." That's going to last half the service life that it should because there's nothing underneath it.

Councelor, so I guess a question then, mayor. So, if we wanted to have another discussion about a bond, how would we go about that? Well, council, that's a good question. Um, and I think the director, if I understand him, uh, correctly, his preference is, and I think wise, is to wait, um, until next spring to try to run under the bond. I don't think it's in the cards for this year.

No, no. I mean, that [clears throat] was one of the things, you know, the feedback from running the main street bond is is I think you need to be out in front of that, you know, and and I I've not prepared any of the numbers. I mean, because we're talking phase one, phase two, you've got rightaway, you've got money on the bank. So, where does it make sense to cash flow something up front? Maybe we don't want to do a bond until say 2028 once we get the rightway secured and we get the design because the URRA can pay for the design of phase two. So, there's a lot of moving parts on this. Um, but I don't think we want to. What I learned from the the main street, you know, was that one, when I can talk to you and I can show you the figures, it's a lot better than than kind of talking to you from this place. Uh, and then two, time is time is well worth it. So, yeah, I don't think we would try and do any bond, you know, any earlier than next spring. Um, just because it's there's a lot of unknowns on even on my end. And then just getting this information out to the public to let them kind of feel it out. And I would even, you know, like Main Street, I would say we want to we want to solicit feedback. Um I know we've been getting a lot of feedback on on Brighton for decades, but um you know, I I think just like I said, you know, the my social media barometer when we did Snake River Avenue, it's like and they're 100% right. That pavement was was not bad compared to what you know, Briden is. And so I'm like, yes, that is 100% correct. So, you know, having those conversations and even reading those Facebook comments help staff and probably the council to understand we need to get out in front of these and uh and not try and, you know, what some people would consider forcing a bond, another bond on them. I want to, you know, give it plenty of time.

Follow up. Counselor, I guess more of a comment to me. Um, the longer you wait, we keep adding that 2.3 or whatever number we put into the balance. there's always going to come a reason to use some of that money, you know. It's always going to get picked away at. Um, exactly like one of our next conversations, it's going to be the same thing, you know. So, the sooner we to me we really line it out, the better off are.

Yeah. I mean, the benefit of it is, you know, it would I mean, when I started in 2020, the thought of having seven half million dollars in a capital transportation fund was was a pipe dream. Uh, and the thing I'm concerned is is kind of like that, but you know, there are some really competitive grants, uh, and sometimes it takes multiple applications to get there. And Main Street might be a great uh, build grant. And if that's 20%, well, that that basically consumes almost all of that. And so, it's not that you're you're burning it to, but I don't want to make overpromise on Brighton and oh, actually, we got this really good grant. we're only paying 20% of the project, but we don't Bride's now getting kicked down down the road. Or the opposite of all right, we're committed to Brighton, we're building it, we're under construction, oh, we got the grant, we don't have the match. So, it it's just trying I even when we were doing the Main Street bond, I didn't want to have where we were committing all of these funds to one project because, you know, as I've said, Fain uh is right behind Brighton and 21st and Main Street. Those are all major projects and excluding Main Street, they're all substandard subgrade that need to be replaced.

Right.

Yeah. So, from everything I've heard, the the need for a five lane that that's what it's going to be. It's going to be a five lane because that makes the most sense. It's going to last us the longest and we're going to need to find a way to fund this whether it's with a bond or not not with a bond, but I I think probably more likely a bond. So, what do you need from us to more aggressively pursue the rightway so that we get on top of that and we've got that solved by the time we're ready. Yeah, I I appreciate that because uh you know, as I was preparing this, this has been on, you know, we got this report in January and I said, "Oh, I know I need to get this I need to get this before you before the the budget sessions start going." And I what I think unless there's some real um you know, issues that you want you're saying absolutely not. I don't want to touch Biden or you have some feedback today or even after you know sit on this for a little bit. I want to go back to our staff and kind of go to the no, go to the URRA and kind of feel out some options and probably after um you know budget this fall come back to you and say you know here here's what here's what I think we could bond and here's what would be in a bond. here's a route where we don't have to bond, but here's the, you know, kind of give you some scenarios because I I'm, you know, I know I know transportation funding and all these things, but I don't know the details of what's the estimate on phase two, how how long it would take to get the design, you know, all these other different uh things that you got to dig into. And so, I think let's come back say October and and roll this out once we have the budget done and let me show you kind of some scenarios. Um, so then we can I mean we we're always dealing with budget. So, you know, we'll have adopted next year's budget just in time for us to start for the FY28 budget. So, um, but I think right away for phase one

is probably the next next step. That's an easy one that we have the funding available. Um, so yeah, let give me a couple months and come back to you with some scenarios and maybe we have some some conversations. I've had some great conversations with councelor Klein who's really kind of challenged. Is it really what we want to do? Is this is this what the community needs? And I I I for a a while, you know, we we really thought this had traction, but as we ran the scenarios, it's just it it there's too much traffic.

Counselors, I would tell you that uh you will see in the neighborhood of 2.3 million uh in my budget this year for the annual arterial reconstruction. So, I'm committed to putting money into that fund on an annual basis. Uh because I don't expect anyone to come in and pay for this. We're going to have to cash flow it. We've talked about that. If it doesn't, the bond doesn't pass, then we have to cash flow it there. There's another way around this. And so, we just have to save up for it and do it. And I agree with uh Councelor Specier and Director Johnson, others about hitting it and getting it. So, we need to get a project. We need to get on it and get it done. And we can do that and we don't need to wait my opinion don't need to wait till 2050 to get rid and done and uh the example of Snake River you know is is prime about how this happens. So um do we go all the way to thing? I don't know. That's that's a big lift, but um we certainly need to ask those questions because there's economy of scales. There's other grant opportunities. Um you know, and we'd sure like to see something happen before Director Johnson retires takes over.

Yeah. [laughter] So, it's tough, but we'll continue to pursue these avenues. Um, you know, we, um, I mean, just as a reminder, you know, for the last three years now, we've, uh, taken a reduction in our, uh, road and bridge levy from the county to the tune of 300 to $400,000 a year. So, that takes more money out of our roads program. And what are they going to do this year? We don't know. We're asking them to take a second look at it. This year we've got reduced funding from the state government through our shared revenues, you know, and so there's all these challenges that we're facing and it's just going to get probably a little more difficult in the future. But I think we need to at least [snorts] I'm going to continue going down the path of putting money into this arterial reconstruction fund so that we can plan and keep moving forward. So

Well, thank you, director. Thank you, counselors. Next up, we have item D, the assigned building fund. And um this is the discussion on the remaining balance and future plans of the assigned building fund as requested by Council President Kleberg at the March 23rd, 2026 city council meeting. So, uh Council President Cleber, I'm going to turn this over to you to lead the discussion. Sounds great. We get Director Gordon up here. Director Gordon, would you um please come up here and won't be too specific, but had a couple questions.

Hi. Hi. So, what do you figure the balance is right now? Um, at the end of Well, sorry. Um, first of Amy Gordon, city treasurer. At the end of our last fiscal year, we had five and a half million in there and I don't know what we have spent year to date, but I would guess two to 300,000. Yeah, we've obligated three. So, we have about 5.2 million. Okay. So, that's 300. Okay. and chief. Sir, yes, sir. Greg Right, fire chief.

We still need a new fire station. We still need the plan that was approved by council, the 2020 station, the 2020 station survey study to be completed, which that involves relocating station 4, relocating station one, building a training center, and remodeling station two. Most currently though, and this is what I've been working with the facility and parks folks, is we need all three stations to have health and safety modifications made immediately. We we've been dragging this out two, three years now. Um well the whole the whole thing about this building fund that we have this is what's [clears throat] been concerning me is we've dipped into it because it's just money sitting there but it was actually money that was set aside for a specific purpose and Chief Michael Buzz spent I mean you were about two plus years going through the plans to get a new station up going and uh of course council voted against that. Um my question for the council is what do you want to do? You want to sit here and pick away at it and do this little project and this little tiny project or do we want to do like uh we were just talking about pride. Do we want to do something like this money is going to go towards a new station?

Yes.

Yes, sir. So, my input is I was on when we voted down this fire station. What was voted down was the location, not a a station. So, I thought there was going to be a discussion on where would be a new location. I think everybody agreed or it was unanimous that that Biff and Brien wasn't a good spot because of where it lay. Um, I just thought we'd come up with a new place to put it. That's my understanding of that situation. I I reviewed the video yesterday and and um while there were concerns about the location by some council members, the the overarching issue was the contract, the contractor, and the prices at what they'd gotten to. At that point in time, we'd spent $900,000 on a piece of property and designing a station to the 60% status. So, it's very difficult to know exactly what it is. I can tell you at this point while we need a new station, we need our firefighters to be in a safe station. And if I had three and a half four million dollars today to spend, I wouldn't spend half of that to build a new station and have to go get the other half. I would update all three stations and get them safe for our firefighters

and keep station forward. It's not ideal, but but what I'm faced with is our workforce is in stations that aren't healthy. We've we've done an assessment on that. We've had an engineering. We've had industrial hygienists and they've told us that our the city's industrial hygienist when we asked him, would you spend the night in our station with your family? He said no. And we've got 48 firefighters and 12 reser living in those stations every day. Well, on that we did spend a bunch of money to fix a lot of the exhaust fumes and stuff in it. And like last year or the year before, we approved a lot of money to look at doing exactly what you're wanting to do and nothing's gone forward with.

Yeah. I think that there's a couple things there. We paid money to we paid about $300,000 to clean the stations and paint them, but we did not fix the problem that was contaminating them before we cleaned them. And there was some discrepancy about how that happened. And in the meantime, we've had a turnover and we now have a phenomenal parks director and a phenomenal facilities director that are actively engaged with us to solve these problems. Um the past is the past. We're we're where we're at now. And I I'm I think that Do we have a kind of time frame you're working on right now to come to council or I don't want to put words in your mouth. We don't have a time frame yet. I think in the near future

Yeah. Yeah. We're we're actively meeting. Um we just had a meeting a couple last week, week before. So you should see something soon. Well, I mean for us to say we're not doing anything's wrong. We have approved it to move it on. It just hasn't happened. So to me, it's not the council's fault. That's fair. Uh are we building money in that in those funds? I I thought we were building some kind of interest rates off. No. Is there opportunity for that or is that lock so where we can't then spend it?

Um the funding was removed from that account and shifted to capital transportation. That's where 1.6 and a half million of the 2.7 came. and the interest that's earned is general fund interest that goes into the general fund. It's a general fund account. Would there be a way to move or allocate some of those funds? Like we obviously know we're going to spend a certain amount to get the fire stations up to date, make sure they're safe. Then the remaining funds, can we put in a very high interest rate type CD or something to start

interest the funds are in a solid interest earning fund. Those funds go to the general fund, help support the general fund. You could do that if you wanted to supplant that revenue with new revenue where it would be only for that fund though instead of the general fund. I mean, how do we create a Well, it's currently supporting the general fund. So, you're either going to have to cut expenditures in the general fund or find a new revenue to replace it.

I see. Okay. I guess the big concern I have is, you know, at the time the Pope was taken about and people weren't happy with the location, which we beat that dead horse over and over and over. I think all the videos that were produced by the chief and engineers show that that intersection was absolutely not a problem. be a spot to host a a fire station. But at that time we had what? Seven and a half million.

I believe the highest the account got up to was 6.8 million. 6.8. Okay. You say we're at five 5.2. I guess that's the question is

well at the same time that they start talking about the station is when we have the out brief of our deferred maintenance which was $10 million worth of deferred maintenance and if the effort at the time was to start moving towards putting some of the money towards getting some of that accomplished I think we got some of it done um but I mean so we have two things to fund it's it's kind of like the main street and bride and you know there's always a place to put your money but I agree with you know what we're going to When we started saving for that fund, I mean, that's basically what the underlying purpose of it was was for a new station.

And we ended up falling to a piece of property that was viable. And here we are, you know, three years later, no closer to a new fire station. And uh what do we want to do? 5.2 million. Do we Uh, do we sell the land and use the money to improve the fire stations, the existing fire stations? Yeah, it's it's a tough cell if you're not if we're not going to do anything with it. That's a mistake. We own the license. It's not costing us any money. Well, the thing with the

add money to it, the money that was was put into that now it's the unassigned building fund was moved over to the transportation fund. That's where that 1.7 out became. I understand all that. Which one are you gonna do? Looking for help. Council right to to if I may address your your question. Councelor Klein asked me this question when she came on the council. Um I I think that we could find a better location to serve the community. The issue is there's only so many pieces of land available

and I'm not looking to to force people off their property imminent domain or you know anything like that. And so really we have Walker Field. Um we have the the subdivision that's currently being developed by Steve Carlton and we have Fifth and Bride. And so and you know there's always an opportunity maybe a commercial piece of land comes up in that area that we can jump on but um having having the one for sure until we get something else um is probably the wisest decision for us to make right now.

Probably well and I'm sure you guys did because this was before I'm here but assessing what you know kind of like we did at the last working session. What are what are all the parks we have? What's all the land we have? Absolutely. Um yeah, maybe maybe this is you hang on to it. Well, for now,

so I from what I'm hearing, the safety stuff is is my big concern at the moment. There's safety issues. Yeah. I'd like Well, I mean, station four, all you got to do is walk through that one. They never did anything about the size of the windows, have they?

We did get We did get the bedroom window made legal on station 4. So, um, a couple years ago when I brought forth the the list from the industrial hygienist, um, council authorized we spent $15,000 to have an engineer come in and look at and give us a rough order of magnitude on the different projects. And they came back with about a $4 million price tag to fix all three stations to bring them up to standard. Personally, I have hard time fixing something that I know needs to be replaced. But when I look at um let's say the the Burger King property on 21st has been vacant. If we were to be able to buy that if it wasn't a lease, but we could actually purchase the land and build a a big headquarters fire station there, I'm guessing we're in the the the $30 million range. I don't see that happening anytime soon. So, I think that given two failed down downtown bonds when we've had the funds to pay the bond payment, I think that the message I hear as a fire chief is we should fix what we have and make do with what we have um for the foreseeable future. I don't I you know, we we can keep chasing engineering, keep chasing these things, but it's at some point it's like we've we've got some documents, we've got some rough order of magnitudes. Um I think if if the council gave facilities direction right now here's a guaranteed maximum amount amount of money what can you do with that money um allows us to take steps toward that rather than this constant little bit of well what would it be for this what would it be well we got to go to engineering we got to go to architecture we got to get design now we got to go out to bid and that whole process um just keeps costing us more money and pushing things further and further whereas is if the the council just like we did with station 4, if you you set a an amount of money and say,

"Okay, design within this realm, it allows our facilities folks a better vision of where to go because right now they're working with I think we were approved right around 800 just shy 900,000." Yeah. But that was for several projects. That wasn't just the fire department, correct? That was that was for several projects. It was uh last it was last spring that director grow last February. Yeah. Okay. February. Thanks.

Yes. How um chief how much I'm basing on how much was the estimated cost to build the fire station when we were getting close to the final stages? I mean obviously the the last one came in at 8.2. It would have been a total of 8.2 to build the fire station on Brighton at that time. The one that was designed at that time. Correct. And we're thinking that's maybe triple by now.

Oh, no. I don't believe that that's tripled. Sorry. The example I'm giving you is to buy a commercial piece of property that already exists on 21st, tear down a building and then build build and that would be a headquarters fire station. Much larger beast fire admin and everything in that one building. Yeah. Because I'm trying to gauge if we are going to go with putting a fire station on the Brighton and say we're going to go down that avenue, how much money do we need to even build to make that happen? Well, we need about another three mil.

I think 8.2 would be a starting spot if that's where we were at in 2023. I'm not a economist, but I'm guessing 8% a year right now. 75% a year. I mean, probably have to have our um construction cost updated. Absolut. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, we'd have to start all over. We'd have to start some just so and that that process too, we didn't own the plans when it was done. So, I don't know that we could even like Can you go back to the people who you bid it to and say, "Can we start with you?" Yeah, that's a good question. We might have to make all new plans is what I'm hearing. Which What was the estimated cost for that last time?

We were $600,000 into that process just from plans.

Correct. Well, my opinion is to fix what we have. I mean, we we have a long that pro piece of property. There was so much uh friction and even people that have worked within the fire department that felt that where they are now was fine. There's a lot of citizens that didn't like that location and and we find that we're not able to build with it because the prices went up and we couldn't get to down and I don't know the community was there wasn't overwhelming support on that spot for a fire station. So I think we're at the point where they and most of the community felt that we should just take care of what we already have. I think that we're playing catch-up and kicking the can down road on current buildings and I think we should just start taking care of what we have and then maybe one day we'll be able to get the funds to actually be able to rebuild and then sell off existing infrastructure that we've hopefully taken care of and someone would actually want to buy from us.

I think we still haven't fixed what we got on the other stations. Yeah. No, let alone station four. the others have to be fixed. Interestingly enough, that the firefighters that you heard from during that point in time, that was their issue was you're you're you're just fixing one station. We have two other stations that aren't getting fixed. And so those folks, their their concern was that the health and safety of their entire body, not just one station. Yeah, that's fair. I agree. Yeah. I mean,

you want to get something done, but I do see that other side to that. Well, I mean, I'm pretty much done. I got one recommendation, which I don't disagree with, but that that be my recommendation as well. Let's at least get the stations fixed. some nodding of heads around here.

I I mean I I guess you know question to you are are you wanting are you wanting to start allocating money into this fund again? It's just going to get smaller and smaller. We're Well, I It took us think how long it took us to get up to the uh original mount, but it was several years to get there. And uh yeah, I don't I don't know what we're going to get a whole lot of traction for that. So, Mr. Klein.

So, one thing to think of too is once you have a five lane in that section, it might make um the possibility of building a fire station there more open to the publics and still feel less congested. Good point. Have a mile long line when you're trying to stop right around 5:00. So, could we hear from Director Glenn? Um, have a question for you.

Justin Glenn, parks and recreation director. So, director, in in your plans, I know you guys are talking about it. Um, this is this is your stuff. Um, so do you have plans to um deal with the issues at the fire stations? Yes, we do. We have priorities. We need to get a time when you will present that to us so we I was waiting for this conversation, sir. Yes, sir. And so I can get that on the docket scheduled and we'll present that information going forward. Absolutely.

Okay, we'll carry on. So then with that conversation, um I was going to try to add in an agenda item to look at our deferred maintenance. Will that be all in the same conversation? It can be. We've got a good start on deferred maintenance. Same dollar.

It's [laughter] same dollar. That's right. Um I would say that we've got the a different set of skills in in the city now. Um knowledge and abilities. So, we've been proactively plugging holes with our fingers where we can't. Um, but we do have the knowledge. Just got to get the time to get the information right. So, we have a start of deferred maintenance projects that we know that would probably have the greatest return for the city. But there's some other contributing factors we have not been able to address directly yet.

That's all. You're done. Okay. Thank you, Council President Clay. Council, next up, we'll uh have item E under Roman numeral 5, utility reserves. Discussion on utility reserves as requested by councelor Speckleer at the April 27, 2026 council meeting. Councelor Speckle, I will turn the floor over to you. Thank you, Mayor. Um, and my question around this comes from a lot of the public's questions. is they read our reports, they see this large amount of money. What are we going to do with it? And I I know there's a reason for every bit of it. Um, so I'd ask the director Gordon if maybe she could explain what we need because like we have the cities, there's so many days that we like to keep so much to pay, you know, cash on hand to keep the city running. Um, is the same thing apply to these utility funds? Um, thank you, director. So Amy Gordon, city treasurer. The city doesn't have a formal policy on reserves, but what we practice is the government finance officers associations recommendation on best practices. And the their recommendation is to have no less than 60 days cash on hand. We follow 90 days. The reason why we lean towards 90 days is because, and I should extend that, the GFOA, they recommend no less than 60 days and then each um governmental entity should review their special circumstances to determine if that's sufficient or not. We've always chosen 90 days because our two primary um revenues that support the general fund, we don't receive until January. So that bridges us to Jan to January. Um so that's a good practice to have in place on all of our tax reliant

um funds. But enterprise funds are different because they're bringing in revenue every single month. So do you need to have 90 days cash reserves in your enterprise funds? Maybe not. You could entertain something less than. But what makes the enterprise funds um unique is that they have this long list of capital projects that have been identified in their master plan. So what we're not reserving on the operating side, we're transferring over to fund our capital side because within the user rates that are set for each various fund included in that revenue are components for capital funding. So we bring it into the operating side. we fund our operating needs. The excess revenue off those user rates then are transferred over to the capital fund. So you could make an argument as long as you have capital projects to be done, you really don't have reserves. But there is, you know, timing. You can't complete all your capital projects from a master plan in one year. So um but that will really kind of drive what we set our rates at. So, you're going to get a in-depth presentation next week from um Director Johnson on capital projects specifically for the enterprise funds in preparation of our upcoming budget. I did put together some information for council that just kind of talks about reserves and then the enterprise funds themselves. So, I'll um distribute those. You guys can take a look at this after um the meeting. I'm going to ask that you read it right now, but um just due to kind of lack of timing when you had approached me Monday night and today we put this information together. Really what that does is it, you know, it talks about kind of the status of our four various enterprise funds. We have four enterprise funds, water, wastewater, sanitation, and storm water.

And they're all actually fairly unique into where they're at um at their current state. you know, you have water that's um slowly depleting their reserves because we have a a funding deficit there. So, between what they're bringing in to cover operating and debt service, they don't have excess revenue to go towards capital. So, they're slowly they're in a slow burn state. They're slowly burning down their reserves. Um wastewater, they're in a planned spin down of reserves. when they went out to bond for their plant improvement, um, they received significantly less than water. So, there were large components out there that they knew they were going to have to cash fund. So, they increased their rates equivalent to what water did and then they stockpiled all that money. So, once the plant was completed, they could proceed into those cash funded projects, which they're currently doing. So, you're going to see their reserves deplete over the next few years. Sanitation's unique in that it's really um all the costs that come from sanitation are operational. So we contract out all of our services. So they maintain reserves to protect those contracts. So if there's a disruption in the contract, we would have the resources available if we needed to switch contractors or needed to haul our waste somewhere else. We have some protection there. And then storm water is our, you know, our baby enterprise. It's a fairly new fund, so it's building reserves. You're going to see the reserves go up before they go down because they're stockpiling reserves so that they can move forward with capital projects. So, the four enterprise funds, but they're all kind of in a unique status as a fund. And so, what they need in reserves have a little bit of a different meaning for each of those individual funds. But there is a purpose to those reserves and a plan for those reserves.

Question for you. I printed off um a page off of last week's when you did the um financial report, but I cut off the top. So, I'm going to have stuff I need. I'm just curious in these different funds um why do they have multiple banks and I think the top actually said that, but

for instance, um water has three different banks or two banks and a state treasur. Can you explain that one? So when you're reading your treasures report, I brought this too because I thought it might come up today, but when you're reading your treasures report, one reminder is a far right column that says other, those are restricted funds. So, kind of going back to your discussion earlier today when we were talking about camp transportation, when you're looking at what the city has in reserves and grand total, what's in that other column are reserves that are restricted, meaning they have a very narrow scope of what they can be used for and legally can only be used for one sole purpose. Water fund, you're going to see that they have money in Banner Bank and those are restricted. Those are equity buyin fees. So, we put them we separate them out from city's um general funds so that we know that they're not being spent on anything but what they can be spent on. The um the rest of their money is split uh we split it between Wells Fargo where our operating and capital funds are at and then the state treasures pool and that's just to diversify and help protect the funds.

Equity buyin is the one where you explain that some new development has to pay to get in. Okay. question actually for director Johnson. [snorts]

So when you look at your funds here, your water, take any of them, how do you determine in a year what projects you're going to fund internally? you should see your packet for next week because uh [laughter] I I've got it outlined as far as uh you know because we it's kind of it's an interesting interface because Amy looks at it as an accountant and I'm like I want to how are we going to take these dollars and make them into water or capital projects. And so yeah, um I don't necessarily look into the bank accounts where they're banner bank or Wells Fargo. I'm looking at where are we sitting with operations? Are we budgeting enough to, you know, keep the lights on? I keep saying uh and then everything going into uh um into capital. And so I'm forecasting out um Wastewater is a is a a a enterprise fund that I think is the envy of everybody right now because they've cash flowed enough where we're kind of on the front end of that wave. And so we're forecasting out five years. And so we can look at we have the reserves that are healthy. And so there's a couple major projects like the headworks that were wasn't done with the original part of the plant upgrade. So we upgraded the entire plant. So I can't remember how many millions of gallons of waste it is designed to handle, but we didn't upsize the the the headworks the intake of that plant mostly because we don't need it now, but it will be need done, you know, as as more waste comes into the system. But that's tens 10 to 20 million of that project. And so that's one I I I have the flexibility when, you know, I think that that reserve account or for that Oh, I'm looking at the wrong one. We have plenty of money in that account, but we know we have a big bill sitting out there. And so when when you're asking me how are you looking, you're looking, okay, we've got $2 to $3 million in pipeline replacement annually. That's just the bottom line. And then I've got some larger capital projects. we'll program them in say FY29 and then kind of adjust rates

accordingly to make sure you're never you're never you don't want to build too much but you don't want to consume to where you're you're in the red. So yeah, I everything that my world is based off is capital improvement plans uh and looking at forecasting these projects out because the worst thing you want is to have a project of need be done too late which is where water's at right now because we've had a lot of you know responding to water mane leaks and and you know we've got some reservoirs that need to be replaced uh and and the reserve accounts are just not there you know so we we play that game of whack-a-ole of moving this money here because this is a bigger need than this one but they're all needs. So, I don't know if you answered the question, but

So, follow um for the public then as city attorney mentioned, those funds can't be used for something else.

Heck no. Heck no. I mean, looking at these accounts and where water is right now, and Lloyd Lloyd reminds me that, you know, that's a that's a separate enterprise fund. And so, yeah, water is it it's just like you're not buying your neighbor a new car. They are separate accounts. And so when you pay your water bill, you're paying that water bill specifically to fund that water utility. And I can't borrow and uh councelor Cleleberg said that this was back in early 2000s, they the I think it was sanitation lent money to fund the library. There was a loan and the citizens voted no. And so there it's enterprise fund state law can't do it. And then even if you wanted to provide a loan, it's very explicit that the citizens said no. So, I jump up and down and every time I give a presentation, specifically like Main Street, I can use money from the from the storm water utility to pay for storm water improvements on the Main Street project, but I can't use it to pay for new street lights or something like that.

Follow. So then the question came from the main street was that if you have this much money sitting in there, why didn't each of these entities the water waste water and sanitation just paid their part in whole and so the only part of the bond would have been for the road maintenance?

Yep. Yeah. I mean and the the biggest thing is the capital improvement plans like water, we wouldn't have any money. you because you you just like we talked with capital transportation. I don't want to over obligate any of these one one utility into one project because then you know you know it's you you go you know you always save money for the rainy day and some of these utilities are you know storm water is the baby so it has a lot of projects looming so you don't want to come right out of the gate and put it all in Main Street. Um, so trying to to to to find that sweet spot where you're not over obligating for one project, but yet you're not, you know, stretching this out longer than it needs to.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Well, we're gonna, as Director Johnston said, we're gonna I think get a lot of material from him coming up that'll have some more information on it. So, council. Next, we move to Roman numeral six on finished new business. Item A, city council comments. Council,

councelor Foresman. Uh, I'm going to be traveling down to Boise starting tomorrow to go to an AIC leadership training to network and get to know other city leaders and hopefully bring back uh good networking and ideas to use here the city. I will be out the rest of the week. Thank you, councelor. Other council comments? [snorts] Councelor Speckle, I

have a question. I forgot to ask. Um, Director Gordon, if this information, this policy discussion information is available online for the public. Sorry about that. All right. Um, I'm going to see if I can I'm going to ask Tanya in the morning if I can attach it to the agenda so that it would be available for the public. We just finished it today. Thank you. Councelor. Next up, city boards commissioners lay us on updates. Councelor, right?

Yeah, we had the historic preservation meeting and I just had a three things here. So, reminder of the orchard awards coming up and a welcome to Walker Furniture and Mattress. And there are two open seats on that commission. Thank you councelor Council President Clever. Well, it wasn't quite a city board and commission leison on thing, but [clears throat] let everybody know that the mayor and council, right, and I went down and learned all sorts about uh information on container shipments back to the port of Portland. They're reopening their container yard and they were up here wanted to make sure that they were gonna get some business out of the Port of Lewon and I think pretty much everybody assured them they would and u it was pretty well attended. There were a lot of local producers in the area that attended and you know of course the shipping agents and all that kind of stuff. So that was kind of a big deal. The other one was uh last Thursday in Orurafhino they had the annual Clearwater Economic Development Agency meeting and uh which is also well attended. There are officials from all the communities in our area, 5count area, and um they still have money. They weren't begging for money or anything, which is always good.

So, u their business is going all right. They've got new loan officers now and um we wish them well. Thank you, councelor. Okay, we'll move to the mayor comments. I have a couple. Uh first of all u we had a couple of guests earlier uh here representing Idaho Gives Week and I just want to share a little bit more information about our nonprofit leaders. Um often entrepreneurs are helping us to create solutions to problems and fill previously unmet needs in the areas of health, recreation, education and research, art, social services and more. This week, this is Idaho Gives Week and it serves as a time for Idahoans and Lewis and residents to join together with one voice on one day to contribute to and amplify the efforts of Idaho nonprofits. The nonprofit sector acts as a responsible steward of charitable dollars to achieve a diverse range of missions and goals. We know that we have a lot of volunteerism in this city alone. And then um we often fulfill the missions by advocating on behalf of those who cannot advocate for themselves. So, we appreciate their efforts and their work in our community. I also um would like to announce I don't know we have to get the word out counselor so you can help with this. Um we are accepting applications for the Lewon airport position until

May 20th.

Until May 20th. So today is May 4th. We have 16 days. But if you don't have anybody out in the community that has an interest in serving on our Lon airport authority, um the city has an open position, [snorts] we'll uh do interviews after we get the applications in and then I will bring a nomination to you. If there's a counselor or two that would like to serve on that interview team, please uh let myself or Tanya know. But we have to get some candidates. I think we have one application so far and if we don't get any more uh that person is it. So there's your opportunity. I've talked to a few folks uh about serving. Uh the question comes up sometimes whether or not they have to live in the city of Lewon. Not necessarily. Uh this is a regional airport and so uh if there's somebody that you think could represent the city's interest that doesn't live um strictly within the the bounds of the city of Lewon and I would still encourage them to submit an application. Uh we could always interview them and if we don't want to appoint them we don't have to do that but we need some applications. This is a very important uh board position for the city. So please help me get the word out on that. Our next uh agenda item is agenda topics. Council councelor Klein.

I move to add the possibility of creating a vacant building ordinance to the June 1st work session. Second repeat that I didn't hear. um the possibility of creating a vacant building ordinance the June 1st work session.

Well, councilors, I am going to say that councelor Klein moved to add uh the discussion for a vacant building ordinance uh to the June 1st, 2026 work session that was seconded by councelor Wright. Those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I.

Opposed. Okay. We will add it to the June 1st work session a discussion topic for vacant building ordinance. And councelor Klein, if you have anything to share with the counselors, could you please get it to clerk Rocky so she can get it distributed to them also? Thank you, council. That takes us to Roman numeral 7 adjournment. motion. It's been moved by councelor Forceman, second by council president Fle to adjourn. Those in favor, please signify by saying I.

Opposed. We are journ. Thank you, council. Facebook. You're looking at one you identified. Okay, here's where the edge of the sidewalk is.