City Council - Regular Meeting

3:46 – 4:18•EPEric Phillips

All right. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call to order tonight, September 8th, 2026, Caldwell City Council meeting. It is 6 p.m. on the dot. Thank you, everyone, for being here. And thank you, council, as always. Tonight is Tuesdays on the Creek. So we're going to try and knock on wood, get through this as fast as we can. We have a lot on agenda, but we should work through it quickly. All right. First on the agenda is going to be the invocation, which will be. Chaplain, if you'd mind coming forward. Chaplain Phil Whitbeck from the Colville Fire Department, thank you for being here. And

4:56•GWGeoff Williams

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the Father,

5:15•EPEric Phillips

As always, thank you, chaplain, for whenever you provide our invocation and your service to the city and the fire department. All right. The next item on the agenda is roll call, Madam Clerk.

5:33 – 7:40•EPEric Phillips

All right. Council is fully present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. All right. Next is conflict of interest declaration. Are there any members who have a conflict of interest to declare to anything on tonight's agenda? All right, seeing none. Just so everyone's aware, there is a change on tonight's agenda. So we're going to have case number SPP25-000019 and DEV25-000010 relative to the council's decision to deny the Covington Square Development Agreement modification of the preliminary plot. The takeoff off the agenda will be moved to mediation. All right, next is a special presentation with a procla

7:46•DRDiana Register

I move to approve the consent calendar as presented.

7:49 – 8:42•EPEric Phillips

Motion. Second. And a second. Madam Clerk. All right. That motion passes. Thank you. Next, we're moving on under old business. There's a discussion update on the Canyon County Jail. We're going to hear from Mr. Steve Pendleton and Robin Collins will have different aspects, so public works and community development. So with that, and just for clarity, we've met a couple times with their staff and one of their elected officials, ongoing discussions. It's been, we've worked through a lot of stuff. It's been some good information that we've worked through and appreciate staff and council that's pa

10:10 – 11:50•EPEric Phillips

Entities and we've looked in an alternate route. I know you guys have been presented 44 through farm way because of the accident that occurred on the exit 26 26 to notice it could be up to two years before we could run sewer Down highway 44 to farm way because it currently is a designated alternative route for that exit so it will not be in anytime soon that we'll be able to Get that through especially with the sheer volume of traffic and an alternate route. They could come up with one, but it'd be Significantly more challenging and more expensive. So it could be one to two years before we can

11:51 – 12:05•STScott Tilmant

Steve, just a quick question. So we are then routing similarly south the way we originally, but instead we're then turning and going west across the south side of CHA? Is that correct? And then that way we're not jack boring underneath the

12:40•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councilor Tillmont. Councilor Stoddart, did you have a question?

12:51•CSChuck Stadick

Did they say anything about the pond lane site, what they're going to do with it?

13:06 – 13:28•EPEric Phillips

All right, thank you. Yeah, just, Councilor Sadak, I'm not sure what exactly they would do other than I believe there's going to be an interest to sell it, but that'll be up to them as far as when. But it is a good highway front property. Thank you, Councilor Stoddart. All right, Director Collins.

15:00 – 15:44•EPEric Phillips

Yes, that way it'll avoid the most pretty much almost all tariff of any asphalt or other infrastructure and such they can just dig straight through and get hooked up in a timely manner and keep in mind just just understand to a council that we haven't made any agreements obviously this would be brought before you for review before any decision was made what we did have a good productive conversation and it was nice to be you know in that spot instead of And in our wills. So with that, do we have any other questions from council on this old business item? Councillor Dittenberg.

15:44 – 16:18•MDMike Dittenber

Mr. Mayor, just so everybody knows, that green line down the east side of Farmway Village to a certain point to the southern end of the property, then heading from east to west, where that green line ends at the west border is the exact manhole where the existing jack and bore and inverted siphon that goes under the canal is. So that would be the pretty much anticipated route of the sewer line from the county property through CHA's property.

16:21 – 17:07•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councillor Dittenberg. And once again, this is after looking at several routes and if we didn't have the alternate route, ITD would be a different situation, but with this, it's the most sensible at this time. So any other questions? All right. And just so we know, it's not a decision item tonight. It's just an action item. It's just an update. With that, now we're going to move on to new business. And first, we're going to consider action item number one, considering ordinance updating city code provisions for the city treasurer finance director. Michelle, would you like to please

20:12 – 21:03•CAChris Allgood

So Do that that's all I have and I'll follow up with any questions Thank You counselor all good I don't have a question but counselor Tillman and I sit on the Finance Committee and We we had a finance meeting last week in which our auditor from I'd Bailey was president present And I had the opportunity to ask them how they felt about this setup and if they had any issues with or concerns with this change. And they said they were fine with it. They felt like with a controller in place, we would have the oversight or a second set of eyes, whatever is needed. And so going forward, our auditors fe

21:04 – 21:16•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councillor, for that information. Councillor Allgood, and I appreciate you asking that. And obviously, we have great confidence in this move. With that, Councillor Tillman.

21:17•STScott Tilmant

Just a quick question. This ordinance is actually not just repealing, it's also replacing code, correct?

21:33 – 21:58•STScott Tilmant

Okay. Well just because of the cheat sheet. So I wanted to make sure. Um, so with that I will sponsor bill 36 ordinance three seven seven zero repealing city code title three chapter 15 pertaining to the city treasurer and replacing with a new chapter on city treasurer finance director.

21:58•EPEric Phillips

All right, we have a motion. Second. Motion is second. Any discussion on that motion? Councillor Dinberg?

22:07 – 22:53•MDMike Dittenber

Mr. Mayor, thank you. I will vote in favor of this in large part because I have great faith in my fellow council members here. But I am always concerned when we take more eyes off of something and go with fewer eyes, especially when our city is growing. We have extreme scrutiny about what we're doing. And it just seems disingenuous that we would say fewer eyes makes better sense than more eyes. I know you have a plan for reorganization and different people looking at it. I just think there's some inherent risk and we ought to just be aware of that. So that's all my concerns.

22:55 – 24:23•EPEric Phillips

Any other discussion? All right, Madam Clerk. All right, that motion carries. I believe we're going to have a follow-up next meeting to this. Yes, because we have to publish it, just so council's aware. Next item on the agenda is considering approval of the 2026 through 2029 collective labor agreement between the City of Caldwell and the Caldwell Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1056. First going to hear from Fire Chief Daniels and then Colby Curves on behalf of the union. Just before we start, I want to say, you know, as prior to being mayor for several years, I got to work with the fire

45:22•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, chief questions from council. Councilor Denver.

45:30 – 48:26•MDMike Dittenber

Thank You mr. Mayor President curbs thank you very much I got to tell you this is the second negotiation I've been involved in and having some familiarity with negotiations previously you guys did a really good job for the for my fellow members of council this process took about a three-month period we met every two weeks for about four hours and maybe four and a half hours, and there are 32 different articles of the contract. And you deliberately and very professionally went through each of those articles. And one of the things that is important to note, that we talked about salary on day one

48:29 – 48:41•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councillor Dittenberg. Anything else from Council? Councillor Allgood.

48:42 – 48:56•CAChris Allgood

Mr. Mayor, I move that we approve the 2026 through 2029 collective labor agreement between the City of Caldwell and And the Caldwell Professional Firefighters, IFF Local 1056.

48:56 – 49:41•EPEric Phillips

All right. That's the motion. Any from Councilor Allgood? Second from Councilor Dittenberg. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. All right. That motion carries. Thank you to Daniels and President Gers. We appreciate it. And our firefighters that stayed Thank you. The next item is a resolution authorizing the execution of a subrecipient agreement between the City of Caldwell and Advocates Against Family Violence for a Community Development Block Grant, CDBG, award in the amount of $111,000. Staff want to make any comments?

49:51•EPEric Phillips

All right, we'll correct it to $115,000.

49:58•EPEric Phillips

$115,000, just take note. Those listening in, it does say $111,000, but Director Collins has updated to $115,000.

52:47 – 53:04•EPEric Phillips

Thank you. Questions from council? All right. I did have a recent opportunity to tour. So that was a great opportunity and I definitely see where they can need this. Very heavily so with that do I motion?

53:08 – 53:27•DRDiana Register

Mr.. Mayor madam president um I move that we consider a resolution authorizing the execution of a sub recipient agreement between the city of Caldwell and advocates against family violence for a community development block grant award in the amount of 115,000

53:29 – 54:04•EPEric Phillips

All right, there's a motion and a second from Councillor Dittenberger. All right, do you guys want to arm wrestle over it? Just kidding. All right, do we have any discussion on that motion? All right, seeing none, Madam Clerk. All right, that motion carries. Next, obviously item number four, Was moved. Action items number five, six, and seven related to a vacation right away at South 6th Avenue and Main Street.

55:04 – 55:17•MDMike Dittenber

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to continue items number five, six, and seven on tonight's agenda to a date certain of October 19th, 2026. All right. Thank you for that motion. Do we have a second?

55:17 – 55:55•EPEric Phillips

Motion to second. Councillor Tillmott, any discussion on that motion? I see none, Madam Clerk. All right, that motion carries. The next agenda item is reconsidering, sorry, considering resolution 237-26, authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement, Barry, Dunn, McNeil, and Parker, LLC, for $124,000. $997 of impact fee funds to complete a comprehensive parks, recreation pathways, and open space master plan.

57:04•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Director Collins. Councilor Dentonburg.

57:10 – 57:34•MDMike Dittenber

Mr.. Mayor, thank you director Collins. I have a question for you with regards to the hundred twenty four Thousand dollars it says of impact fee funds, so I would take it that the Studies being paid for out of impact fees that go to parks But because it's part of the comprehensive plan or could be part of the comprehensive plan planning and zoning takes the lead on it Is that the correct assumption?

58:08•CAChris Allgood

Would you tell us again what date they'll be completed by?

58:53•CAChris Allgood

And what is the expected lifespan of this master plan?

59:02•CAChris Allgood

Okay. That makes more sense. Yeah. Yeah. That's better.

59:08•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councilor. All good. Anything else from Council? All right. Do we have a motion? Councilor Williams.

59:17 – 59:41•GWGeoff Williams

Mayor, before I'll make the motion, but we do have a pathways plan. This is just much bigger than that, right? Because we've Referred to that even in how it overlaps with your department in parks and rec but that no doubt will be part of the Beginnings even though this might be much bigger than that Mayor councilman Williams.

1:00:42 – 1:01:04•GWGeoff Williams

Mr. Mayor if I could I I would move to approve resolution 237 26 authorizing the execution of the professional services agreement for a buried gun money Alan Parker For one hundred and twenty four thousand nine hundred ninety seven of impact fee funds to complete a comprehensive parks recreation pathways and open space master plan Thank You councilor Williams for that motion.

1:01:04 – 1:01:39•EPEric Phillips

Do we have a second? Motion from a second from councillor Dittenberg any discussion on that motion Seeing none madam clerk All right, that motion carries. The next agenda item considers approving a resolution authorizing the use of available contingency funds for qualifying unplanned emergency-related wages incurred during FY 2026. Staff. Madam Treasurer.

1:03:04•GWGeoff Williams

Thank you. Mr. Mayor Rochelle again. Thanks for all you do What will we still be at that? percentage balance of our contingency fund and

1:04:34•EPEric Phillips

Kind of in preparation, hopefully we don't have to use any penny, but next year, correct?

1:05:04 – 1:05:29•GWGeoff Williams

there and that's what the contingency is it was increased for thank you comes Williams mr. mayor I move to approve resolution authorizing the use of available contingency funds for qualifying unplanned emergency related wages incurred during fiscal year 2026 thank you motion from your counselor Williams and a second from councillor Toma any discussion seeing none madam clerk

1:05:35 – 1:05:49•EPEric Phillips

The motion carries. All right, moving on to the next agenda item is to ratify the installation of a security fence. The Caldwell Police Department ranged by a meridian fence in the amount of $44,478. I'd like to welcome Sergeant Jesse Cooper, who will be representing on this.

1:08:38 – 1:08:53•EPEric Phillips

Thank you for the presentation, and we look forward to this great training facility. If you haven't had the chance, please head out there to council, check it out. But with that, any questions from council? Councilor Hogan.

1:08:54 – 1:09:08•CAChris Allgood

Mr. Mayor, I move to ratify and approve the installation of a security fence at the Caldwell Police Department firing range by Meridian Fence in the amount of $44,478. All right, we have a motion.

1:09:10 – 1:09:45•EPEric Phillips

Second. And a second from Madam President. Any discussion on that motion? All right, Madam Clerk. That motion carries, thank you appreciate your service Next item next agenda items are two annexations into the call municipal irrigation district including Huntington Ridge East subdivision phase 2 and Maverick fuel station 808 speed Parkway Questions or do I have a motion?

1:09:52 – 1:10:09•STScott Tilmant

Mr.. Mayor councillor Tillman I'll sponsor Bill 38, Ordinance 3772, and Bill 39, Ordinance Annexing Property into Caldwell Municipal Irrigation District.

1:10:09 – 1:10:39•EPEric Phillips

All right. Second. And a second from Councilor Stoddart. Any discussion on that motion? All right. Madam Clerk. All right, that motion carries. Thank you. The next agenda item is considering a resolution declaring city-owned real property to be sold to the Canyon County Ambulance District. Mr. City Attorney.

1:13:50 – 1:14:07•MDMike Dittenber

Mr. Mayor, Oscar, thank you very much for the information, but I have a question here. So are we in this resolution just declaring the property surplus, or are we also in the process of declaring it surplus also assigning a value to it?

1:14:32•MDMike Dittenber

Does that happen at a different time? Because I don't see anything on my little cheat sheet here that has any sort of property valuation for that process this evening.

1:15:03 – 1:15:27•EPEric Phillips

Thank you both cheese for being here tonight, especially our great community partners, Kenney County paramedics We were approached about this several months ago, and it was a no-brainer. I mean, obviously, it's up to council to make this decision, but they'll present probably what they presented to me, and this is a great win for Caldwell and Canyon County if we're able to move forward with this. So with that, Chief.

1:19:02 – 1:19:15•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Chief. Before we get to Councillor Stoddick, this is very exciting. Once again, we approved a paramedic bond. A levy, yes. Yeah, a levy, sorry. And this is the fruit of that labor. So with that, Councillor Stoddick.

1:19:16 – 1:19:41•CSChuck Stadick

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mike, you and I have discussed this for quite a few years. Yes. The biggest concern I have is not the actual site or anything like that, it's the funding in the future for it. Do you see any... At the end of the tunnel that it's going to be a little bit easier than it has been in the past or you Have you looked that far ahead so mayor council static for as far as funding for EMS in general just overall We're still working.

1:20:05 – 1:20:21•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councilor Stoddick. Anything else from council? All right, do we have a motion? Thank you. Thank you, Chief. Councilor Williams.

1:20:26•GWGeoff Williams

I just turned it on because I thought Chief Daniels was going to say something, but you're not, so can I ask you a question, Chief? Do you mind coming to the microphone?

1:20:37 – 1:21:03•GWGeoff Williams

I think it was already answered by Chief Stoll, and thank you for being here, but this Station 2 was originally designed to add on to, was it not? I mean, your counselor, I don't know. Okay, I could be wrong with that. But with building Station 4, there is no notion, desire, appetite, or money to expand Station 2 at this time. Is that correct?

1:21:09 – 1:21:32•GWGeoff Williams

And then the other question I wanted to ask Robin, and I hope you can answer this. I'm sure you can. Why would I hope? Is there any detriment to us as a city losing this park ground, and what is the resolution we have to make up for it if there is? And this isn't anything that was federally funded that we're going to need to make up for in another way so that we're in compliance, is it?

1:21:42 – 1:22:02•EPEric Phillips

Okay, thank you. Just for additional clarity, and thank you for that question, Councillor Williams, because we've had that issue. I believe in our new park study, we'll be adding Sisters Park, which isn't currently in that. We also have Mosaics Park and potentially Guardian Park that'll be added into that. So we'll be, although we'll lose a little bit here, we'll be significantly increasing that.

1:22:10•STScott Tilmant

Mr. Mayor, just to double check. So any profits from this land, will it stay with parks?

1:22:20 – 1:23:09•EPEric Phillips

Check with our treasurer, but I can also if I can advise the plan what we had planned to do Yes, I think the plan is to maintain That funding and reuse it within the parks department and functions for the parks within the city Just for clarity and we'd spoke about this by email our plan is to commit that money to Lions Park It's an area that we had had a plan. I believe there was a press release and such. Looks great, but there was not any funding attached to that. So we're putting together the funding so we can make sure that we increase that. We'd like to reutilize it. Of course, it'd have t

1:23:11 – 1:23:35•STScott Tilmant

Well, then with that, I move to approve resolution declaring certain city-owned real property to be no longer needed, declaring value of the property, proving sale of the property to Canyon County Ambulance District, authorizing execution of purchase and sale agreement and relative conveyance documents, and providing an effective date.

1:23:36 – 1:24:14•EPEric Phillips

Second. Thank you for that motion, Councillor Tillman. And a second from Councillor Stoddick. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. All right, that motion carries, and thank you for bringing this up to the city. Both chiefs have been working very hard on this, and staff, and we look forward to our continued partnership. The next agenda item is a discussion for possible strengthening of city code enforcement. Councillor Stoddard could request that this be brought on the agenda tonight. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:24:15 – 1:25:01•CSChuck Stadick

Bottom line here is that you've received some of the emails, and I think the rest of the counselors have too, on all the RV vehicles parked on the street and in driveways, safety factors, all that. And it seems like the current program that we have now, they can give a couple tickets up. Beyond that, there's really no enforcement relative to fines or anything like that. And I'm going to talk to the police chief about this too in the near future, hopefully tomorrow morning maybe, but I'm just wondering, maybe Ex-Chief Allgood could add a little bit to this. This program we have now, it's not ev

1:25:09 – 1:25:34•CAChris Allgood

Yeah, we, and Director Collins, please jump in whenever you want. Part of the situation that I perceive that we're facing is some of this stuff that we have parked on the streets just needs to be towed away. However, it costs us a lot of money. We get charged for that now where that didn't used to happen. I don't know, Director Collins, have we experienced that recently?

1:27:29 – 1:28:03•CAChris Allgood

Yeah Previously when I worked with Sylvia BAM towing vehicles There's no value in these old RVs. The tow companies don't want them. They cost them money to get rid of them and so it's a money loser for them and so they don't want to take them and and so We need to come up with some idea of compensating them or figuring out some solution because a lot of the stuff that's sitting on the street has no resale value for the tow company.

1:28:03 – 1:28:44•CSChuck Stadick

Well, I know in the past, some of the HOAs do a great job on solving the problem. They usually give the owners 36 to 48 hours to get it off the street. And if they don't do that, a tow truck is called in. They haul it away. And then it gets added on to their fees. And if that doesn't work, then they usually go to the county as far as taxes are concerned. So I think there are some avenues that we can discuss here to maybe solve the problem. But I'd say the biggest concern and the complaints we get is that there's all kinds of recreational vehicles on the streets. And they get a ticket. They mov

1:28:46 – 1:30:07•EPEric Phillips

You can also go good and counselor static real quick just for councils information I do have a meeting this Friday with interim chief. I'm gonna go over this right now. We have two code enforcement officers, but we've been down one we're looking at some options with a Temp agency it was definitely a warmer winter so not just vehicles, but there's weeds in a whole variety of issues I know we are actively trying to address that but I right now basically with one code enforcement person. I know Parks and Rec and Robin and others know that I'm constantly sending them things that need to be address

1:30:08 – 1:30:33•CSChuck Stadick

Other counselors or the public as we get these things in but having more staff would give us the opportunity To be able to address these and to start cleaning up Caldwell Yeah, one of the ideas I had is if it could be consolidated with the police department and maybe on their regular Patrol through the city they could actually issue tickets that way too rather than have a separate department I mean that's for discussion only so 100% well

1:30:34 – 1:30:50•EPEric Phillips

make sure that we explore everything. I'll meet with Director and Interim Chief Thomas and see what we can figure out because we do need to get to a better situation, but it does require that conversation and we definitely hear you loud and clear. So thank you for bringing that up. Anything else, Director Collins?

1:31:36 – 1:31:47•EPEric Phillips

Anything else? All right. Seeing no further questions or comments, we're going to move on to the finance report.

1:31:53 – 1:32:04•CAChris Allgood

I move to approve accounts payable in the amount of $8,225,925.76, represented by check numbers 195445 through 195886, and lock electronic payments and payroll in the amount of $1,785,432.08, represented by check numbers 40941 through 40977,

1:32:23 – 1:32:50•EPEric Phillips

direct deposits be accepted payments approved and vouchers filed in the office of the city clerk Thank you, that's a motion in a second for approval of the finance report any discussion seen none madam clerk All right that motion carries next we're gonna move to council reports councillor Williams Thank You Councillor all good There is a

1:32:52 – 1:33:05•CAChris Allgood

A meeting to continue the discussion on the local option registration situation in Nampa this week. I just want to know, do we have someone from here going? Is that covered? Do we need to?

1:33:05•EPEric Phillips

Yes, I'll be going. Sorry, I was going to cover that.

1:33:08•CAChris Allgood

And Councilor Stoddick as well? Okay, I just wanted to make sure that we knew someone was attending that. That's all I have, sir.

1:33:17•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Councilor Algin. Councilor Dittenberg.

1:33:20 – 1:34:42•MDMike Dittenber

Thank you. Just thank the community. We had a remarkable rodeo the last couple weeks. Great turnout, and we have another great event heading our way here in a couple weeks is the Indian Creek Festival. So I encourage everybody to get out and enjoy what we have in our city. I also wanted to kind of comment on what Councillor Stoddick said about code enforcement. And this is something that I believe, and you and I have had this conversation briefly, Mr. Mayor. I think if you drive a city vehicle and if you have a city phone, you are by de facto a city code enforcement officer. I don't think that

1:34:42 – 1:34:58•EPEric Phillips

Thank you. Counselor Denver, counselor Tama. And just for Councilor Tillmott, I did receive that letter, and Madam Clerk, I believe we turned it in to you from the library, so just wanted to give you an update on that. Councilor Stoddart.

1:34:58•CSChuck Stadick

Mr. Mayor, I just wondered whether you set up a meeting regarding the parking garage and convention center. Was it Grifton Swinton Company that we talked about?

1:35:12 – 1:35:31•EPEric Phillips

Two weeks So we're meeting with him first I had mentioned to that an email that we have a follow-up meeting and then we'll go from there as far as the next steps So will you set some dates then that you can send me so we yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you Council register president sorry Just very quickly.

1:35:31 – 1:37:01•DRDiana Register

We had our first mayor's youth Advisory Council meeting for this year of which there were So many kids there. It seemed like most of them were from Caldwell High School, but there were some Valley View kids there, too. Gino, Jessica, and Annette are putting this on now. They did a very good job. There was a lot of excitement, a lot of energy. And from what I heard in the meeting, it sounds like they're also inviting our former mayor, now Colas, to come back and advise, since that was originally his program, I believe, that he started it or founded it, so that was super exciting. And then Direc

1:37:03 – 1:42:00•EPEric Phillips

Thank you, Madam President. A couple things to go over. Yes, we did just start the mayor's youth. We will be inviting elected officials, not only from our council, to see if you're able to come and speak at one of those. We also invite you to attend at any point in time. So if you're able to accept one of those invites and come talk, we would love it because we don't want it to just be a youth group. We want it to be an opportunity for folks, young folks, to see what governance is like. We'll probably ask them to come to some of our meetings. and see how Caldwell runs. We'll also be inviting o

1:42:12•EPEric Phillips

I don't see an objection from council, so with that,