City Council - Regular Meeting

I'm curious, has community development had an opportunity to weigh in on some of the ideas around updating our UCC code? And I guess I'd like to understand how much of the plan has implications for changes that we would need to see from that department and whether they've had a chance to agree or disagree or discuss.

There we go. Just a quick question, Cassandra. I think we talked about it a little bit when we sat down, I don't know, eight months or a year ago. I don't even remember when it was. We talked a little bit about something I think would be interesting, and you talked a little bit about it, but connecting Meridian's history reflected in art. I mean, I like the unique art pieces that are kind of fun and whimsical and things like that, but I also really like the art that tells a story about Meridian. Can you talk a little bit more about some of the discussions you had about how to kind of pull that

follow-up question? Yeah, thank you. That's great. Another question about, you know, we talk about art in public spaces. It's easy when it's our public space, a city park, a pathway. There's other public spaces that are, you know, owned by other people or commercial areas. I'm kind of curious, how are you trying to reach out and work with some of the development community to maybe identify opportunities where we could um have some public art that we're sort of participating in that they might be receptive to knowing that it's you know we don't necessarily control the property but i'm curious h

Yeah, Mr. Mayor, for just a quick comment. I think that's an opportunity, maybe. Maybe that's something we consider as applications come forward if we give them more points as they are proposing to put in some public art because it would be nice to take advantage of that opportunity but be nice to kind of coordinate with the work that the city's doing uh so there's some themes and things that we that the citizens of meridian have made clear our priorities to kind of convey that and be helpful in that so just i think that's something that might be an interesting opportunity for us so thank you

Can you just go back to that slide, please, Craig? Thank you. I just want to say I'm very disappointed about the McMillan change. And this is an area that has a huge need. It's right next to a school. I've heard from Girl Scouts and other kids even about it. And I just think this is a pretty important one. And I guess I'm just frustrated about the... Just moving it out of the programmed years. What does that mean exactly? Does that mean it's like number 65 or does that mean it just doesn't even have a date anymore? Like, help me understand what that means.

Mr. Mayor, I'm tracking you now. So it's just that it hasn't been programmed in the five-year plan, not that something changed and they actually moved it completely out of the prioritization entirely. Thank you. That's helpful. Okay.

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Overton. I move that we go into executive session per Idaho Code 74-206, subsection 1A, B, and F. Second.

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Overton. There is one change to tonight's agenda. I move that we vacate item number eight, the executive session, and with that one change, I move that we approve the amended agenda.

I'm hearing two different sort of issues here. Mr. Schoonover, you weren't necessarily contesting the score as much as you were trying to understand how could you get more experience, which would lead to a higher score. What I heard from staff was we didn't receive sufficient information to score it that way. When I was reviewing the materials, it didn't look like even if you got the highest score or the proper scoring for your experience with the city, you still weren't scored high enough considering all the other pieces, which Mr. Watts talked about. So I guess my question for you, sir, woul

What I'm hearing is that what you followed up with should have been in your original proposal. I don't think any of your experience was irrelevant. I think it's that you didn't give a very fulsome response to that section of the RFQ. Having read the different sections, you really needed to tease out what you ended up following up with, which was after this window had closed. This is where I work. They're not saying your experience is irrelevant or that you're unqualified. They're just saying that your proposal needed to tease out a lot more detail in that section. That's what I would say. Yeah

if our Director Watts wants to elaborate if that's correct. This is what I'm hearing, having reviewed everything in the file.

we've all been listening to what's been going on tonight. Do you feel like you've learned how this process works to the point that given the opportunity to do it again in the future, you would do it much different?

Mr. Mayor, follow up. Well, I was learning along with you this evening on how this process works. I believe we have a fair process that we run at the city. I'm glad to hear it explained in the detail that we had it explained tonight, both by purchasing and by community development. And I hope this doesn't discourage you from putting in in the future as well. Next time put in every piece of information possible.

Maybe a little takeaway here is if, I'm not sure what our, not for discussion here, but I would just put this out there for our purchasing department. It might make some sense on an annual basis to have an opportunity for prospective vendors to come in and understand the process. I mean, it's not a transparent, clear process as it is. It's meant that way to be fair. We have to have a metric by which it's fair so that there's no, you know, Helping a friend out only we have to look at these objective metrics, but it might make some sense to consider ways that we can have some outreach on a basis

Mr. Mayor, question for Mr. Neri. I'm assuming this is a accept or deny situation? Mr. Mayor, I believe we've come to a good point this evening on understanding how this process works that I think Mr. Schoonover understands how to compete for this a second time when another one opens up. But I do believe in everything we've heard from both planning and purchasing, that this process was done in a fair manner. And as such, I would move that we deny the award protests this evening on the RFQ that took place July 14th, 2026.

Well, that was going to be a motion, but I would say that I'm thrilled to have Robert involved with doing things in a big way in Meridian. He was heavily involved in the chamber when I started and took over there, and he was, I think, an immediate past president. And so I'm just really thrilled to know he'll do a great job. And with that, I'd be happy to move.

I move that we pass resolution number 26, section 7600, the resolution of the city council of the city of Floridian, appointing Robert Chappie to seat one. I've been ready and planning the resumption and providing an effective.

I would move that we approve agenda item number three, resolution number 26-2601, a resolution certifying the levy of $536,339 of foregone property taxes in fiscal year 2027 for the specific purpose of funding ongoing operational expenses and providing an effective date.

So, Heath, thank you. You know, that private driveway was the one thing that gave me heartburn last time when we did that approval is just the fact that we had this albatross sitting in the middle and I knew it was going to develop at some point, but how that was actually going to develop and at what point was my biggest concern for the future. The fact that you were able to bring it in now and clean this up and make it look like no one in the future will ever know that that existed and that private driveway was preserved. Very happy to see that. So no questions. Thank you. I want to keep it s

I would close the public hearing on agenda item number 4H2026-0018. Second.

I'll be brief, too. I think this is an approval. Is that the word? Okay. And I appreciate the applicant bringing us an approval on something that we've previously approved. So if there's no other discussion, I would move that we approve agenda item number 4, H20- I'm sorry, H2026-0018. After considering all staff and public testimony for this hearing date of August 18th, 2026 with the waiver for the excess block length for East Crimson Clover drive and the waiver to keep the Ross and canal open.

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Taylor. I move that we approve ordinance number 26-2134. Second.

Mr. Mayor. Councilman Taylor. I move that we approve ordinance number 26-2135. Second.

If not that motion smear as a tailor and move that we prove ordinance number 26 dash 2133.