City Council - Regular Meeting

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Overton. There are no changes to tonight's agenda. I move we approve the agenda as published.

Councilman Overton. There are no changes to tonight's consent agenda. I move that we approve the consent agenda for the mayor to sign and the clerk to attest.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you for everyone being here tonight. The reason I'm speaking is because back in 1996, when Tracy was hired, I was a sergeant with the police department. I was the firearms range master instructor. I was also in charge of the field training program. And you have to understand that that's a lot of hats to wear, but we were a city of 20,000 people. And we had 20 police officers. A whole lot different than where we sit today. We've come a long way very, very fast. And I remember being told, we had six officers that came on during that year, that one of them, who I e

When I took a job with the city in 2008, my dad told me to go meet with two people when I started here at the city. One is our esteemed council president. The other one is our community police chief. And that's high praise coming from somebody who I really look up to and admire. And Council President Overton, you touched on something that I think is so important. It's one of the first conversations I remember hearing from our chief. It was talking about culture. And when you're an employee, you learn about how the police department kind of functions. As a council, we really learn how the polic

As I said the other day, when you got your post-certification, you're doing it all and you're doing it well, and not just at work, but in your personal life, which is a real inspiration, I think, for everybody. What I really appreciate about the chief is that he does not shy away from having those tough conversations and from engaging with the community. We've had many sit-downs. We've had so much turmoil nationally with policing. We've had so many conversations where He did not shy away at all from having hard conversations and just shining a light on how they're doing things, how we're diffe

Yeah, just take a minute. When I was first thinking about running for council, Tracy was one of the first people I sat down with, and he was kind enough to give me as much time as I wanted. I had a lot of questions, and he was more than gracious in that role. And Since then, I've had opportunities to interact with him in my own professional world that I navigate in. And he's often down at the Capitol building and we talk about issues outside of just the city of Meridian. And I found him to be consistently consistent with what he says and what he advocates for, whether it's here, whether it's b

Just briefly. Growing up, my dad always used to say, if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. And as I sit here tonight and as I've sat here on the council for the last couple of years and watched your leadership at the department, if it's worth doing, you've done it right. I'm impressed with those that you've surrounded yourself with, your leadership team, your command staff. You've built that culture and you've done it right. You've made us all proud. Congratulations on 30 years.

Mayor and Lorelei, thank you for pulling all of this information together. It's very helpful. And as you and I have talked about this situation, you know, it came about because constituents reached out and contacted me. I just want you to know that to a person that's contacted me, they've talked about the professionalism of your staff. and their willingness to come out and investigate and try to better understand exactly what's going on. So I'm sorry that there are some that have called and have not been as respectful as we would hope they would be. But in return, your staff has been very, ver

guess our discharge to the creek is generally not a source of odor and follow-up mr mayor in one of your slides you talked about continuing to do to build on the odor study and and have that developed can you just talk me through that a little more what's involved with that uh how often do we do it um with the last comprehensive one being five years ago is is this a comprehensive or just an additive study on top of what was done five years ago?

Follow up. Or like you mentioned, I think a 900 foot buffer that we try to maintain, we're not encroaching on that in any at any point around that wastewater treatment facility, are we?

Thank you. I had a question and a comment, but my question was going to be, it sounds like you have a hunch, we can't really prove it yet, but you have a little bit of a hunch that it could be this kind of starting and stopping of operations that could actually be making it more acute. I was just curious, is there an explanation for that? Why would that be? Just like help us understand a little more about the biosolids dryer and kind of how it works.

Mr. Mayor, and it sounded like we're hoping for some consistent operations in about 30 days. Is that right?

I was just going to make a comment just to encourage you and the team. It sounds like you're kind of taking fire from all sides. I don't want you to feel like you're taking it too much from us. I think we're asking good questions. We want to monitor the situation. I've always been a champion of this project. I think it's an important capital investment for the city. It has the potential to save us just an absolute pile of money, and you can see that with Ada County landfill rates and what that means. So I really appreciate, I think, just us giving you the time and flexibility you need to test

Yeah, it's interesting because, as you said, this is the first full-scale facility, so it's not like you can go buy a part and fix the problem. So we're kind of pioneering and figuring out as we go what the solution is. I would hope that some kind of a scrubber or filter on the end would be sufficient to knock down enough that it's not a problem, but... Yeah, I think that's interesting. So I'm assuming that you're pushing the air from one end to the other through the drying process. So the only exit point for air would be at those vents. Thank you.

Or like recognize you're going to keep us in the loop about our responding to the complaints I got it to buckets of questions one that's kind of around. The operation of this facility and maybe what our risk is long term if we're not able to get it functioning in time and so as one of this kind of start and stop and we get one thing fixed and something else breaks. What risks do we have if we're not able to have this operating continuously by the end of the year? How does that impact the city from a potential long-term financial impact?

That's great news. That helps me feel much more comfortable that even if we're in still start and stop mode by January, there's not. Okay. We get to a point that we've got to reassess this system, though, if we're not able to move it towards kind of that continual operation. And what is your team kind of evaluating is what those metrics are. If this. kind of buying that first generation, if it's not going to meet our needs, like at some point we've got to reassess. Right. And I guess, tell me how your team's thinking about that and evaluating it.

Mr. Mayor, maybe just want to change gears a little bit on kind of just the public communication. One, commend you for being proactive and out there in the neighborhood. A couple of things I try to do while we were talking through is one, Googling what happens if I need to file an odor complaint in Meridian. I couldn't find the phone number that you provide. I think the fact you provide a 24-7 number is incredible. But if the folks can't find it, I think that can be problematic. I know that not every answer to every challenge is putting that phone number on the front page of our website, right

One more thing then off topic, because I think it's important we celebrate wins. Kavner family had a broken water main in front of our house yesterday, got a knock on the door with somebody very kind, explained what's going on and walked us through the repair process. Again, I think just another great example of your team being proactive and providing good customer service. And so I'm really sorry that a very small subsection of our community is wanting to throw their shots at your team for something that they didn't directly cause. But I just feel really confident that your team continues to

I move that we go into executive session prior to code 74-206 subsection 1C and 206A subsection 1A.

of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. NEXT UP IS ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.

Move that we continue item number one, H2026-0029. All three. Do all three.

Item number two, CPAT H2026-0038. And item number three, which is UDC text amendment ZOA 2026-001.

so i we have not received any public comments since the commission hearing and i'll stand for any questions that you have thank you any accounts any questions for staff mr mayor councilman um thank you how do you recommend we handle the pathway um component of this like at what point would it be appropriate that we would see that happen

And then just one more question. I was curious about some of the changes in, I guess, would you call this like the compromise kind of provision? In similar situations where we've had a county property come in and we've tried to like thread this needle, is this kind of consistent with how we've tried to do it? It's hard. Like we don't, once somebody comes in, it's, we don't really have a lot of leverage at that point. So it's certainly with any kind of an approval, it needs to be tied to that. Just help me understand like kind of the context for similar requests.

Just because I'm a little slow, just want to restate the provision C is what you feel like brings in what planning and zoning kind of had wanted, what staff kind of wants and what the applicant kind of wants. Is it the closest thing to the sweet spot that we have in terms of that? Or put a little finer point on that for me if you could.

Council additional questions for staff with Mister mayor customer Kevin if if I recall isn't there a an application that's. This would be south of this property that is limited to the amount of their development they can do based on roadway expansion to my recall the right area the right project.

If it's possible, Nick, if you could bring up the provision C. I would love to have you specifically comment on it. I hear you on the shall be deemed nonconforming, that you'd like us to consider that change. But are there other, like what specific changes are you asking for in terms of language on provision C?

Mr. Mayor. I think what I'm struggling with a little bit is just kind of understanding. I mean, clearly we had laid out a pathway toward the applicant coming into the city. These one building it sounds like has already been constructed and is non-conforming but there's another building that it sounds like has not been constructed and i just kind of want to parse out um first of all i i think a missed opportunity if if our standards could have been met right with with construction like if if you had and clearly you knew that there would be a point where you would be coming in so um maybe walkin

So I think my question for staff, sorry to get so into the weeds, but I think really it's this provision that we're going to be honing in on. If we changed the language to match what the applicant is suggesting, it would say existing buildings north of the roadway, including those under construction, shall be deemed non-conforming and that we would consider necessary setback in landscape buffer requirements at the time of roadway construction. But I guess I'm concerned that maybe that property that hasn't been built yet could somehow be deemed under construction. And we might get a weird looph

Becky, help me understand, did we, did you and your client not attend the public hearing for the van trust to kind of flag some of these concerns with the collector? I guess I'm just, I'm trying to understand how we got here. It seems like this is something that could have been resolved a few months ago with a public hearing notification. I'm just trying to understand kind of where the disconnect occurred.

Becky, you had the authority and ability to inform the planning and zoning and the planning staff and the council of that change. And I guess I'm trying to figure out why there wasn't an effort to... I mean, that's why we do public hearings is so that we can be informed. And you are the subject matter expert on your land, and we're looking at things objectively and rely on this. And I guess it's just a head scratcher for me that... We're finding out about this now and not when there were ample opportunities to do it beforehand. And I guess that's what I'm struggling with.

If I'm looking at the road alignment in the exhibit that shared your presentation, it actually looks like the alignment is more advantageous than if it was just a straight shot all the way through. That would be going through one and two. So I guess that's the other part that I'm struggling with. If there was an opportunity to angle it, why not angle it slightly further? And it's just, I'm just, I'm very perplexed by this particular request because I don't, I think it could have been resolved six months ago. And I just, I'm not, I still don't have a lot of clarity as to why it wasn't. So I app

And, you know, I. Mr. Mayor, Becky, I don't want to go back and forth on this, but again, if that's concern is shared with the council, I think the council has been really supportive in the past and hearing from how a roadway impacts a business owner's operations and I would think that we would be worth being informed of this potential impact before it's before us for a request of this type before us tonight.

A question for staff. I'm just looking at the document that you gave us on the proposed conditions. The paragraph on the second page, it says that begins with staff's proposed condition. It's the small one. Is that the language that is sort of the happy medium between all parties?

To clarify, you've also asked that we call out the existing structure as non-conforming, but that any future buildings would conform with the IL zoning guidelines. And does that need to be stated in any does that need to be stated as well as part of the condition.

Seeing no additional testimony and unless there are other questions, I would move. To close.

Yeah, I was to move to close the public hearing on item H-2025-0060.

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Taylor. Just, uh, I won't make a motion now, but I'll be prepared to make one here in a moment in case anyone else wants to provide some comments, but, um, First off, we really appreciate you wanting to stay in Meridian and build a business and provide jobs and good services and did not know that you were the largest fence provider company in Idaho. So we really appreciate that. I always really struggle when things like this get in the way that are unfortunate and wish it weren't the way it was. But here we are. And so trying to make the best of what we have. And so. alwa

I just think from my perspective, I think the acknowledgement of the one non-conforming property, that to me is understood. We see that happen from time to time when we bring a county parcel in. I think the hardest part for me is not requiring the development of the future collector. And that's just simply because we've limited what other applications can do as a result of transportation in that area. And if we're going to limit what one business can do, and this helps to resolve a bite of this overall puzzle in the area, Again, I'm a big Butte fence. My fence is a Butte fence. I'm a happy cus

Mayor. Go ahead and make a motion. Before I do just to clarify with staff if I note. The provisions see language would be sufficient and then add the building on conforming statements to the conditions of approval.

Let's make sure I get it right. I move that we approve. After considering all staff applicant and public testimony, I move that to approve file number H-20250060 as presented in the staff report, noting provision C and amending the final sentence to note that building one that exists is noted as nonconforming, that any future buildings will conform with the IL zoning standards.

I move that we close the public hearing on item five.

Always, we have a challenge of getting more industrial and not less. So welcome that request. With that, I move that we, after considering all staff applicant and public testimony, I move to approve file number H2026-0025 as presented in the staff report for today's hearing date, both the comprehensive plan future land use map amendment, as well as the annexation. Second.

Sonia, talk to me a little bit about the write-in, write-out. What was the plan when residents are coming and they're going write-out, do they have to go down to Overland to kind of access West? Or is it, I mean, would we be expecting U-turns to get back towards Franklin? I'm kind of just trying to envision how this might actually flow with a ride in, ride out only. Because if I live there, I'd want access to Franklin to get East-West quickly. So I'm just a little concerned about how that would work. Can you tell me about some of the conversations you may have had with the applicant or kind of

Mr. Mayor, just a quick follow-up. I know this is a question for ACHD to answer, but if you have the answer, why is it required right in, right out here? Is it because of the proximity to the intersection?

I think what I'm going to struggle with the most on this is the right in, right out. I love that it's near transportation. I like that it's a different product and it's maybe hopefully more affordable. That certainly helps. What I'm really struggling with is that we are not able now, it sounds like, to get across access to the West, right? just a shame i i just want to understand have you had conversations what is prohibiting that because obviously if you could go west it would solve this issue the whole thing would be way more connected people could go up to franklin make a right turn like th

I guess I'm struggling a little bit with the rationale. Maybe you could get more specific. I mean, we have certainly built roadways that have connected to other public, private drives. Like I can think of examples near... Ustick Road and Eagle. I know we've done that there. It's not ideal. I understand that people owning the private drive might not be happy about traffic coming through there, but it doesn't appear to me that they haven't provided what could be a stub. Maybe that's what I'm struggling with is why can't we technically connect to the West?

Mr. Mayor, I think this is a question for staff then. So is the property to the west not required to provide cross-access? Is that the issue? I really want to drill in and fully understand that.

Seems like a huge miss on our part whenever that was approved. Is that one on us? When did that property of the West happen? Help me understand. It's just historical, been there forever. Help me understand because to me that's a breakdown in our street planning processes just because this thing is orphaned out here and it's like the right in and right out makes it really tough.

There probably should have been a better plan for connectivity either way right, I mean I just.

And Mr. Mayor, and just so I can fully understand. And so because of the topography you feel, and there's a concrete wall, which I get like knocking down a concrete wall is no fun. The grading would be awful, but technically you could, you could connect to the North, right? Is it physically impossible? Like help me understand that.

You talked about there's a significant grading. How many feet?

Mr. Mayor, a couple follow-ups, too. Councilman Cameron. So, again, I'm not the brightest bulb, so I need to be kind of up front with me. Is it a case that your client just didn't approach this neighboring complex about a cross-access? Is it that they are... Unsupportive of any type of an agreement, were you unable to agree to terms? I mean, help me understand what's going on there because I'll just be upfront. I think short of some other way to divert traffic outside of the right in right out is going to be. I understand there's a comp plan amendment, but it's going to be hard for me to be su

Maybe, Mr. Mayor, then a question for Senator McHenry. Sonia and again, it sounds like there's maybe this is more of a business decision about the wall, which I can appreciate. Is there any part of our code that would prohibit that cross access from the commercial to accessing a private drive for residential?

Mr. Mayor, just a quick follow-up. So I thought it misunderstood. I thought that there is a cross-axis agreement between the commercial to the north and this property.

some better pedestrian connectivity in there if we aren't to go forward this will remain a vacant parcel mr mayor yes quick question um i don't disagree with the um the arguments about it's not a great commercial lot a lot of the a lot of stuff over on 10 mile and that's really blossom Um, but with the lender overpass and the road being wide, and I think there's some. Opportunities here for it to still be a viable commercial property. What's your calculation in considering that? I mean, you're gonna have a nice road lender eventually is going to be a very nice. you know, north-south connectivi

Thank you, Bonnie. Just one last question. And maybe you're not privy to this. You kind of maybe alluded to conversations you were not privy to, but did the property owners engage in any kind of discussion with the property owners to the west about a financial agreement where you would have access and could help pay for the maintenance of the private drive?

Mr. Mayor, but do you know definitively if the developer attempted to have that conversation? Yes, that is my understanding. Okay. Because I guess maybe an angle of it that I'm a little boggled by is just certainly to the extent that there are 19 additional homeowners willing to share the burden of the private drive. I mean, if I'm living on a private drive, yeah, I don't want people driving through it, but I also am not loving my upcoming maintenance bill to help keep it up. So I'm a little... I don't know. I'm going to have a really hard time tonight getting here on this one. I would just re

Mr. Mayor. So I understand looking at the history of, then an application was submitted for that modification to the development agreement approved for the abutting property to the west back in 2020. And I think you've alluded to the fact that that was denied. And I think one of the questions that we've been trying to get to is, I realize it was denied, but that was denied because this property was going to be a 64-unit multifamily development property. So has there been an attempt to make an agreement with that property of the West with this application for lesser units?

Bonnie, just refresh my memory, the property to the west, are those all rentals or are those single family?

I recall they were four plexes. Sorry, Mr. Mayor, follow up. Four plexes and then it looks like some single units, but they're all rentals.

So just following the line of questioning, I mean, really, it's not however many units are in there, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 28. You're looking at about 30 renters and one owner. I wonder if that one owner would be amenable to some of the cost sharing ideas that have been brought up tonight.

I'll just comment. I love everything about the project. I love 19 homes. I love the affordability of those. I love the transition. I love the proximity to elementary school, a path to walk. I love everything about it except that right in, right out. I just... You check a lot of boxes, but that access is something that I'm really struggling with tonight.

Mr. Mayor, I think your recommendation is spot on. I mean, I don't know where everybody's landed on this, but I think you've got two paths, which is one, try to forge an agreement with the neighbor to the west and come with this residential project that you're proposing, or you can work on your cross-access agreement to the commercial to the north, knowing that that's also going to bring its own set of challenges. I think those are your two paths. given the current situation as I see it. And I know each one comes with its own challenges and trade-offs, but like I mentioned earlier, I couldn't

Mr. Mayor. Bonnie, how much time do you, would you want? Is it a month, two months, three months? And

I want to be respectful to you. I also think, Bonnie, it's right if you're not able to come to an agreement, it leaves you the opportunity to withdraw the application. You've got greater control of your destiny in the future than receiving a denial from the council. So it does give you, I think, a few more options to kind of control your own destiny. I guess maybe looking for some insight from some of my council members. Want to go in January? Okay, I'm seeing. Okay. Mr. Mayor. Unless Bonnie has any other comments to make, I don't want to step on your toes.

Usually I have that with me. Maybe we'll take a five-minute recess, if that's okay, and just... Thank you. Yes.

That's exciting. I'm going to move that we continue this application, file number H2026-0028 to January 5th of 2027.

I move that we approve ordinance number 26-2141.

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Overton. I move that we go into executive session prior to hook code 74-206 subsection 1C and 74-206A subsection 1A.