City Council - Regular Meeting

Can you guys hear me? Okay. check. One, two.

Council will call this meeting to order. For the record, it is April 28th, 2026 at 4:32 p.m. We'll begin this afternoon's work session with roll call attendance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councilman Cavar here. Councilman Taylor here. Councilwoman Strader here. Councilman Whitlock here. Councilwoman Little Roberts. Councilman Overton here. Mayor Simmonson here. Next time is adoption of the agenda. Mr. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Albertton, we need to remove items 11 and 12 from tonight's workshop agenda. Other than that, I move we approve the agenda with those modifications.

Have a motion to approve the agenda with items 11 and 12 removed. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Nay. The eyes have it. And the agenda is agreed to as amended. Next is the consent agenda. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Overton, I move we approve the consent agenda for the mayor to sign and clerk to attest. Have a motion a second to approve the consent agenda. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying I. I.

Opposed? Nay. Eyes have it. And the consent agenda is agreed to. There are no items moved from the consent agenda. So we'll move on to department reports. Our first item up will be our parks and recreation commission update which will be delivered by uh chairwoman Greer when she is ready. If she needs to take a moment to get ready that is perfectly fine. Appreciate you being here Joe. Are you going to be moving in the slides for me, Chris? Oh, I can still use it. Okay,

I don't have a screen, so weird. Um, good afternoon mayors, council members. Um, thank you for your this opportunity to present the Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission update for 2026. I am Joer. I am the chair of the parks and recreation commission. And I'm honored to share the progress we have made in our goals for this year. I don't think. Okay. Just want to make sure because we updated this slide so I um each year the Midian Parks and Recreation Commission updates it list of goals for the coming year and we've currently identified 10 goals we're actively working towards. In this presentation I'll briefly tell you about some of the progress we've been making. Um, okay. Uh, before we review the goals, I want to take a moment to recognize a very special member of our commission family. Um, last week we lost one of our longest serving commissioners, John Nesmith. And John served nearly 20 years starting in January of 2006 on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He was recognized just last fall with a plaque for 19 years of loyal dedicated service. John was a true Meridian native born and raised right here in the Treasure Valley. He was a successful businessman with Meridian Automotive, Nesmus Brothers Towing, and Gem State Diesel. He was also a passionate race car driver, number 11 late model champion at Meridian Speedway, and a fierce competitor in the regional series.

But what I remember most is the personal way that John touched my life and the lives of so many others around him. Throughout my entire time serving on the commission since 2015, John was on the parks and recre recreation commission. He nominated me vice chair which follows up with being chair and was incredibly supportive of my growth and leadership. And before I was on the commission, I was part of the Christmas committee, which I'm still part of. Um, so he also sponsored some of the trophies and some he was we had to get sponsors back in the day. Um, so he was helpful with that. He personally mentored me in running a car show for the College of Western Idaho. He helped my son's car repairs, recommending the right shops, and also guided me when I went to purchase a new vehicle, giving me sound advice on maintenance needs and the ability to not be tied to a dealership. He stayed after meetings when I faced many losses, offering understanding and comfort during times of grief. He even asked me to help with the landscape design and some of his site work after he updated his building in the Quanza hut, as you probably all know. Um he was a person I always look for at every meeting or event and one I could always visit with. He was my mentor, my comrade and a very dear friend and I just never imagined the student without a gymnasmith. So um he was also actively involved in pathway related efforts as part of the parks and recreation commission and he participated in the meridian pathways strategic advisory work including the urban land institute panel and presentation on pathways. He also served on the city impacts fee advisory committee where he helps review and recommend impact fees to ensure growth pays for its share for parks, pathways and other infrastructure. So his contributions were significant to many of the accomplishments we're going to be highlighting today.

John's steady presence, his practical wisdom, and his unwavering commitment to our community will be greatly missed. And on behalf of the entire commission, I want to extend our deepest condolences to his family and thank them for sharing John with us all of these years. We will carry his spirit forward in everything we do. And while this is my own experience, I know there are thousands of stories like this because he was there for everyone in the same way. Um that's just who he was. So, oh, I was really rattled by um hearing of this news. So, he was really proud of the work we were doing and I know that he was specifically um part of pathways. We had committees way back when I started on the commission where we'd have to meet and go over different areas of the city that we were dealing with and he was on pathways and I know that he was part of the signage for the pathways. So if you see the signs, he was part of that um existing. So okay, moving on. Got through it without tears. That's good. Um goal number one, it is our top priority this year to participate in the design and um programming of the new community center. We have been actively involved from the very beginning. I was even on I think the original block whatever the what we were going to be doing downtown and it didn't happen. Um, our commissioners have attended design meetings, provided resident feedback, and participated in the groundbreaking, and the project is moving forward beautifully, and we are excited for what this will mean for our community. I just drove by there. Dirt moved, so that's a good sign. It's exciting. Um, and it's been a long time coming. Goal two is to support the development of a connected pathway system across the city with special attention to user experience amenities and improved connectivity. We are happy to report the progress that we have made so far. I

wish I would have brought some more photos. Um the pathway section under Highway 16 is now finished and we just had a pathways tour last week. last week, two weeks ago, our last meeting, we were on bikes um and we rode from Hawaii High School, right? Hawaii um down to the trail hub and back, I think. But we got my big thing was going under Highway 16 because having, you know, an underpass is kind of a new concept and pretty exciting. And my big thing I grew up on a farm and it makes me think of like a canal bridge and the canals are always full. So, we were not allowed around them, but when the water was out, I was like to go explore cuz So, I was fascinated with um going underneath this overpass or underpass. And if you have not been down there, I would just recommend that you take a stroll. Um the construction is massive. There's a lot of concrete, so I'm a construction nerd. It was pretty exciting to see. Um also, construction started on the railway trail quarter segment. Um, again, this is something from way back when I started that was it was spoken of and mentioned. Um, there was a lot of um, there were a lot of people involved in getting it going, but it hadn't really made any um, progress at that time. And honestly, when I would listen to people present, it didn't sound like it was going to move anywhere. So, to be standing there, um, we actually went to that site to check it out. And there is construction. there is a part of the segment for rails with trail started. So, it's really exciting. Um, and of course the five mile creek trail hub restroom will be installed in the near future. We also had that um cleared and ready to go for the restrooms. So, these improvements are already

making our trail safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Um, just wanted to make a note that Kim is our pathways specialist. I know that she had a lot to do with most of these things happening, so we're really fortunate to have her. Okay. Um, goal three is, um, feeding off of that one is to participate in the development of the pathways master plan update. And the updated plan is in its final stages. It was presented to the commission for our feedback and final edits are being completed. This plan will guide pathway developments of course for years to come. Um goal number four is to continue providing feedback for ongoing park improvements and enhancements. This year, we've already seen a new sidewalk in Fuller Park that creates a much safer walk to school, a brand new ninja style challenge course at Discovery Park, and expanded Discovery Dog Park, and a new shade structure at Kleiner Community Garden. Shade Structures was also one of the committees that was with Pathways back then. So, it's exciting. This is just an addition to the other shades out there. Um, so it's I don't know. It's pretty um remarkable to have been here from the beginning of some of these things just being in the discussions. Each of these enhancements came directly from resident input and commission recommendations. Um goal fire is to partnership with the Midian Arts Commission to add theming and identity identity reinforcing art in our parks and along pathways. Um, we're pleased to see new themed public art installed at Chateau Park and one of our parks commissioners continues to serve on the art selection committee for the new community center. And then if we do have

art or um anything that comes up for the art selection committee um or the commission, typically whoever is chair gets to be part of that. So I have been able to participate in some of the art pieces which is really exciting. It's just another avenue that you get to be part of. You know, I love Meridian. Um, and so these pieces are already becoming beloved landmarks. Angle six is um to support future improvements at Lake View Golf Course. Pond improvements have been completed and encourse restrooms are now installed. And coming very soon is a new rot iron fence along Black Cut Road. uh smoothing out club house drive and rebranding the new signage. And these upgrades will enhance both player experience and appearance of this community gem. I don't know if you guys are um golfers. I am. So, it's pretty exciting. Uh goal seven is to pursue a future park site in Northwest Meridian's field district. And we're pleased to report that the land purchased for this feature site has been completed. This is a major step towards serving the growth or the growing northwest part of our city, which is where I live. So for me, it's those are all kind of great for me honestly. Um goal number eight. So this is to engage other task force, commissions, entities and agencies through workshops and outreach to partnership opportunities. Um we have strengthened relationships with the arts commission, Midian Library District, Midian Food Bank, Idaho State Parks, as well as other um cities, other agencies with their parks and wreck. Um we get reports from them. And I know there's a lot of communication between our parks and rec department and the other cities

to try to bring together especially like the pathways so that we have interconivity between the different um areas. So, it's those are always kind of fun because it also if you sit in one of those meetings, you actually get to see like how far ahead Midian is in all of this just from all of the um effort that's been put forth to connect both sides. Okay, cool. Number nine, this is to support ongoing operations at the Meridian pool. This year, the team has rebuilt the starting blocks, refurbished the old pool motor, reduced operational costs, and had one of the best staffing years ever. And the pool continues to be a favorite summertime destination for families in Meridian. And it also is a lot nicer to look at since it was being handled by I know Garrett White usually gives a lot of reporting on the community pool, so I know he's really involved. Um, goal 10, this is to pursue improved communication tools and opportunities to engage the community and diverse interests. And we recently added an interactive pathways map to the city website, making it easier than ever for residents to find and explore a trail system. So if you have an opportunity to go look at that kind of race through that one, but um so that is those are our community goals, our all commission goals for this year. Um and every year we go through these and kind of rep prioritize depending on kind of what's happening. So if something didn't happen last year, we push it to the next list or sometimes something doesn't happen and it gets removed or it's not relevant any longer. So, yeah. So, are do you have any questions?

Thank you. Thank you, Joe. Council, any questions? Mr. Mayor, council Roberts.

Mr. Mayor. Joe, first of all, thank you so much. The commission does an amazing amount of work and is greatly appreciated and appreciate your work as chair and thank you for the tribute to John. That was greatly appreciated. So, can you tell us any more about rebranding Lake View? That would probably be a steep answer. Test test. Okay. Uh we did take this to the uh commission back in March um with a presentation. Um we are uh zeroing in on a a new logo and things to uh do some new signage with that will be coming to the council. Um but we're we got some feedback from the commission. We've taken that back to the consultants. Um we're not completely settled internally uh that we're ready to bring it forward. So um there's still some some ongoing work, but I would expect to see it in the coming months. Council, any additional questions?

Mr. Mayor, Councilman Kavner.

Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Chair McGreer, again, thanks. Thanks for being here. Um, one for the report and two for great tribute. It was just, it was great. Really, really great. And your ability to continue on uh amazes me. I would have been in a puddle. So, I appreciate that. My question is just very simple. Uh, I love our parks commission and they're always enthusiastic about kind of the next big thing, some of the things that you guys are kind of dreaming of, conceiving of. Can you give council a flavor like what are the things that gets chairman Greer excited about our parks commission moving forward? Microphone's not working. Just Chris is really on it today. You're getting a test today, Chris. Um, honestly, when we have things brought to the commission that we have um a request for input, that's probably the thing that gets us going the most because, you know, as a commission, we hear from a lot of different agencies or we hear staff reports and so we have a general idea of what's going on. So things that are new or upcoming, that's when we get excited. I think um a new park is exciting because when when I started, we were opening parks. I I don't know how many we open quite a few. Um which I always go take pictures, photos of the plaques, right? Because on the restrooms, if you're on the commission, you need them. Same as city council, but so yep. Um which I took one at the last um at our last trip. So, I think I mean it's mainly just knowing that even though we have a really good system set up and it um just a good parks situation in general that there are still future parks, you know, in that are in the planning or as part of the um

future overall planning. Council, anything? Anything else? Thank you, Joe. Appreciate you. Yeah, thank you. Um, I didn't I held it together because I was I've already been crying for like two days, so I was worried, but we we appreciate you. Right by John. So, yes. Yeah. Okay, council, we're going to take a five minute break so we can reset some of the AV issues in the room. So stand Hi.

All right, we will go ahead and come back from our break and we will move on to item three which is the employee benefits plan trust update which I'm not sure if this would be done by Mr. How or Christina or who wants to kick it off? Okay. Uh Councilman Taylor just before um this just wanted uh um quick disclosure. Uh I do some contract work with regent Blue Shield uh strictly rel related to state level lobbying services. Um, I did have our city attorneys do a conflict of interest check and analysis, uh, which we've done today and found no conflict of interest. So, I'm comfortable participating in the discussion in any future votes, but wanted to disclose that and have any questions, happy to answer any.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank her.

Just real quick, as I think it's been uh consistent when we've had a trust presentation, I just like to put on the record that my wife as the director of government affairs for regents, uh her responsibilities include representing regents on state issues and lobbying at the state level on public priorities on behalf of regents and their industry. Her tasks do not include soliciting business from local government agencies, responding to RFP RFPs on behalf of regents, or making decisions about whether to pursue new accounts. Her role does not put her in a position to vote or otherwise influence any decisions to bid or accept a bid on a particular account. She has a se a fixed salary and receives no commission salary increases or bonuses when regions obtains new accounts. I think council I've committed to providing that disclosure after meeting with the city attorney's office last year. I'll continue to do that at every point that we have a trust presentation. If any member of the council feels that I need to recuse myself, I'm I'm happy to take that under advisement as well. Thank you, Councilman. Anyone else? All right, we're good. All right. Thank you, Mayor and Council, for having us this evening. This is our quarterly trust um update. We committed to you last year to provide quarterly updates following the quarterly uh submissions to submissions to DUI. Um, so as we move through this, this first slide is a snippet of the actual filing with the Department of Insurance. So what you're looking at is a reconciliation of our surplus. So it shows the total surplus at the beginning of the year and then it also shows the prior year uh in comparison, the total net gain or losses um for that period, any additional surplus that's received. So that was the 1.5 million that the uh council approved and then the total surplus at the end of the quarter which is at 2.5 million. Then the next slide is the

adequ adequacy of the surplus. So it's showing the total surplus at the quarter end, the minimum surplus required and then any excess or deficit um in that surplus. So that's the first update in a while where there's been an excess there. So thank you for working with us last year on on that contribution to surplus. Um just as an update on the utilization so far this plan year. Um our medical and pharmacy claims are down and this is just in the two months January and February of the current plan year. Uh medical and pharmacy claims are down 15% compared to the 2025 plan year. Um medical on its own is down 23%. Pharmacy is up 5.5%. Uh we just have two claimments. so far in this plan year who have exceeded 50,000. Um neither of them have exceeded our stop loss. Um they're they're both still under 100,000. Um there went yeah I think it went um between the improved claims experience and also some increased funding for the 2026 plan year and um some minor benefit changes that were made. uh our loss ratio that is our expenses claims and uh administration expenses uh compared to our funding is at 89% uh anytime that number is below 100 we are adding to surplus um which is uh a refreshing start to to the year. Um

it's hard to tell too much of a story based on two months of experience. So, looking at the um at the last rolling 12 months, um our total costs are up 1.3%. Uh claims costs are up 4.9%. Those numbers are both um they've both smoothed out a lot in recent months. Uh we had some more extreme volatility than that with large claimments as you'll recall uh in the in the prior period. Primary cost drivers continue to be outpatient services and high-cost specialty medications. The highest cost of those continued to be uh cancer related looking back at at the past 12 months. This this slide is a summary of the uh 2025 plan year experience um where our um our net loss ratio again the plan costs compared to our funding was at 117%. um which we've yeah we've talked through the the reasons for that in the past again with the funding changes and benefit changes and just some improved experience uh down to 89% so far this plan year um this chart just represents the the department of insurance required reserve and surplus Um the blue line that for the most part floats above that green shaded area. The green shaded area is the represents the total required uh reserve and surplus by DOI. The blue

line is our actual uh the actual assets of the trust. Um again with the claims experience taking a a sharp turn last year we dipped below that. Um but uh as Christina presented as of the last quarter we do have a we are in excess of the surplus requirement. The department does require that we maintain that that surplus and that we stay in excess of their of their requirement on a on a monthly basis. Um we file with them every quarter. So uh that's that kind of coincides with the updates that we make here. But the goal is to and the requirement is to uh maintain that surplus monthtomonth. Um going into this next section, just want to um uh define a few terms that we'll use um each year as we work with the trust to make decisions on benefits and funding for the upcoming year. Uh a few things that we consider. One of them is benchmarking where we compare our benefits and our benefit costs to other agencies uh in the area. Um that's work that that Gallagher does on behalf of the trust um as well as other uh agencies that we represent. Actuarial review. Um Gallagher actuaries perform an actuarial analysis of prior claims. apply trending to to project funding needs for the coming year. Uh those numbers are used to set rates and are approved by the department of insurance each year when

we file. Um market check. Um we had some discussion on this a couple of meetings ago. Um the last time we we did this process was 2019. This is where we'll approach other carriers or thirdparty administrators in the market to um make sure that we're receiving competitive rates on our administration fees on our stop-loss premiums, that the network discounts that we receive by partnering with them for access to their provider network are competitive. um just to ensure that um that we're getting the the best deal possible that our partnership with uh with that administrator and that carrier uh are a benefit to the trust and to the uh participants in the plan. So we use the term market check. Um, I'll say that in our office, um, the terms market check and RFP often are used interchangeably. Um, however, in a I think especially in a government setting or in any um any entity that that has a procurement department, RFP can kind of take on a a little bit of a bigger meaning. Um, and so that's that's why we kind of distinguish those terms here. Um, when we talk about a market check, we're we're talking about a process where we approach other carriers in the market uh to give us the intelligence of an RFP without some of the disruption and cost and and risk that can come with um with what we often think about as a full-blown RFP involving uh you know,

procurement. Um, what the market check does well is testing the competitiveness of the admin fees, stop-loss rates, and network discounts that we're receiving. Um, validates some assumptions on trend and claims performance. Allows us to get some benchmarking from the carriers that we talk to. Um, it applies pressure on our current vendors to to sharpen pricing if we find that there are other partners in the market that are willing to uh to be a little bit more competitive. Um, and it targets those specific levers of stop-loss, pharmacy benefit management, third party administration fees instead of, you know, opening up the entire contract. those those three in particular are where we find um all of the savings to to be driven through the process. Um again the that full-blown RFP that we often think about especially in a in government setting um that formal procurement and public bid process um can invite proposals from vendors that aren't realistic options in our market. Um the rules of that process often limit the ability to interact with vendors throughout the process. Um and have meaningful dialogue and and questions and negotiation throughout the process. Um creates lengthy questionnaires, administrative work on issues that our team already understands. Um, and lastly, with the trust being a separate entity from the city, a procurement style RFP um is typically not the best fit for this kind of review. So our plan I think is to uh move forward with a

with a market check where we do request proposals from from those vendors uh but but with that more focused uh efficient data driven process that that's typical of us with our clients. Um the through that process we can demonstrate due diligence. Uh we'll work with our actuaries to validate results and projections um and get the best the most competitive rates that are available in the market um through that process without some of the unnecessary disruption of of the full uh full-blown RFP. Um, so our plan is to complete that market check uh over the next month and use the results in the projections that we'll be making this summer for the 2027 plan. Anything you'd add, Christina? Any questions? Thank you. Council questions. Caslo shader.

Thank you. Interesting. It's changed. Okay. Um I do have a number of questions. Um but one thing I I thought was important um I was really glad and actually from some discussions with my colleagues that we asked for some of the correspondence back and forth between the trust and the department of insurance because that to me to me I think these quarterly updates at least as a decision maker or someone who has input right that um I understand that the trust is a separate entity from the city of Meridian but certainly Certainly we have I think an important role in oversight. Um I guess my expectation for quarterly updates is that it's not just um a continuous discussion of market check versus RFP but that like if you have some significant findings from the department of insurance like an audit finding or um other issues that that would be surfaced regularly. We should I don't think just to provide candid feedback and in the spirit of being collaborative I don't think we should have to request that. I think that those pieces of information should just be surfaced in a very transparent way so that we can get our arms around it. Um I wanted to understand the audit process better. It's a five-year audit. Does that mean it's done on a rolling five-year basis and it's an annual audit or is it an audit every five years? Can you walk us through some of the findings around governance and um I have more detailed questions about our financial counterparties and stuff with finance, but if you could start there member straighter. Um so to be abundantly clear, I I thought I'd put it in the email. The findings are preliminary. So we are still in the audit process. Um they are going through our records doing um checks on various different claims and how they're processed. our internal processes as a trust. Um so some of those things may

not actually make it to the final determination. It is absolutely our intent to bring that final determination and any findings in that to the council for um them to review. Um we do also do an annual audit. Um so I Bailey does an annual audit on our trust. DOI does require a a five-year audit. So it is every five years they go through and they hire a third party. So that third party is not only auditing us as a trust, but DOI's practices and how that applies to our trust. So some of those findings may be related to us and our processes, but it also may be related to DOI and their processes. Does that help, Mr. Mayor?

Council Chair. Um, it it does help. I I guess when would we have when would the appropriate time be to have this conversation then regarding the audit findings? Like when will the audit be finalized and when do you think is the right time to have that conversation? We're hoping to get the audit finalized in the next couple of weeks. We're waiting for some of our vendors to provide the claim information that the auditor is requesting. As soon as they get that, they can finalize that and then we'll bring it back before you. Mr. Mayor Council Sher.

Um the timing is a little bit odd to me just because I feel like if we're going to receive some audit findings and that's material to me that's a material due diligence item as a decision maker. Wouldn't it make more sense to do this kind of a quarterly update after we have those findings so we could have a discussion about them? Do you feel uncomfortable discussing the preliminary f and just be honest about where you're at? Do you feel uncomfortable discussing the preliminary findings? Should we revisit this in a couple of weeks once you have a chance to work through that? I just wanted to get um everybody's opinion about that because some of the preliminary findings are significant and raise questions for me.

So, it was our intent to come back um after the quarterly report that we filed with DOI on the financials. That was the commitment that we made to council. We were hoping that the audit would be completed by the time we came to this meeting. However, it has not. um we are experiencing some issues with some of our carriers getting the claims that they're requesting. So, we're working through that. Um ideally, we would have been able to bring both before you and have this conversation, but because they are preliminary and they may not make the final, um I don't know that I can speak to that right now. Um on behalf of the trust because I am only one member of that trust board,

right? And I think just to be fair, since we don't control when it's done, we they can say two weeks. It could still be another month. Sure. You know, we can hope, but not guarantee. We were hoping the end of February, but we're now in the end of April. Mr. Mayor Council

and just so I understand the maybe what would be helpful is I think we'll have a chance during open meeting uh topics, but this will come up in open meeting topics for me as a followup for sure. Um I I don't want to put you in a position of discussing preliminary findings that you're not prepared to discuss. I don't think that that would be fair. Um, but I do expect I think it it's quite reasonable like some pretty detailed follow-up about the governance things that have come up in in the communication back and forth as well as understanding um how you know and I'm hoping at least the finance team is looped in to some of the trust's work with some of the concerns around um you know where our accounts are held our counterparty FDIC limits like some of these questions. So c could could you talk about that is Todd Lavoy's team looped into this? Where are we at with that? So from the very beginning the finance department has decided that they were not going to be a part of this trust. So that's the reason that I did not loop the memo on this. That being said, a lot of these findings we determined we needed legal counsel to help us navigate. Um unfortunately about six months ago our trust legal counsel left us and so we've been in the process of finding new legal counsel who is actually here today Alan Bosch. So um as we get that council on board now we can start to address some of these findings um and h absolutely we'll bring you know whatever resolution that is back to council.

Mr. Mayor Council is there any background on the uh departure of our previous legal council? Was that was was that for any specific reason? I hope it's not because of us. Like I just want to make make sure I understand the background on why our previous legal council is not supporting that. Councilman

Bill, your microphone. Sorry, I don't think your microphone's on. There's a new system. I'm sorry. There we go. I thought I had him on. U Mr. Rimmer is a council council sher. So, we had a bit disagreement with our prior council over a billing issue and he sent us an email saying I'm going to step away and separate from the trust. So, that's why we've been in the process. We just hired Mr. Bosch at our last meeting. So, he's on been on board with us now for a few weeks. And so, we he's aware of some of this. He was at our last meeting. He's aware of the questions that were raised by the department of insurance that they needed answers to which we've provided. So, he's been involved for the last few weeks with us. So, Mr. Mayor,

Council Shader, um, just to react to all of that, I I think it would be more appropriate to have this discussion in a couple of weeks, uh, when when we have a a better sense of the audit and can ask follow-up questions. Um um I I just I think that that's really important and I'm happy to take this offline with you all. Yeah. And and with I would like to still discuss it with the finance team. I understand that they've uh opted out. I don't know if they're allowed to opt out from things uh like this, but uh we'll definitely want to chat with them as well and get their take on a couple things. Thanks. That's it for me today. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Caver,

recognizing that we're going to be talking about DOI at a later point in time, I do have a maybe a handful of questions about commitments that have been made by the trust over the past year and just trying to get an update on all of them. Um, so I can take them maybe one at a time if that's helpful. Um, I know on uh April 22nd, the trust committed to improving outreach to employee dependents. I'm just curious how that's going and what the results are. I don't directly deal with that. That's um something that I coordinate in my office. So, I'll have to get back to you on what the status is on that. Okay. Mr. Mayor, how about uh can you give us an update on the employee satisfaction survey? What were some of the topline results? What are the things you guys are most proud of?

We're still processing those results. The I believe the survey was it ended about a week ago, so we're still processing those results, but we can bring that back to you as well. Do you know when that survey was initially conducted? About a month ago,

Mr. Mayor, how about can you give us an update on the GLP drug utilization data? Yeah, I'm just flipping to the to that information in our latest report. Uh so in this plan the um GLP1s are not covered for weight loss just for diabetes. Um looking at our top drugs over the last 12 months. Mjaro, which is a GLP, uh is our number three uh number three top high-cost drug spend uh with $169,000 and 147 prescriptions over the last 12 months. Um, Ompic comes in at number nine with 55 prescriptions and just under $60,000 in the last 12 months. And those are the only two that I see uh off the top here. Got Thank you for that. That's uh really good data. I appreciate that. Um, I know one of the things that came up, I think in our October hearing was about some proactive outreach to employees who work on uh shifts to be able to attend trust meetings. What's been the result of that? What's been the communication? And has that resulted in greater employee attendance?

Mr. Mayor, members of the castle, I I guess I'm not I'm not totally sure what that commitment was. I mean, we do notice all of the meetings, but I don't know. We we don't I don't we didn't do anything more than that. I don't know what other I don't know other I don't know. We've never discussed what else we would do to to reach out to that. So, I don't know.

Mr. Mayor, in the in the January 24th meeting, so council, for your benefit, through a course of actions, I spent a significant time going through all the minutes today and what came to me as is a handful of I think of commitments that have been made to the council that either they they occurred and they just weren't circled back on or maybe didn't happen. So, Missionary, and it's okay. I wouldn't expect you to recall almost a year ago, but uh during the the June 24th, I think it was um council member Little Roberts inquired about being able to support employees that don't work a traditional 8 to5 for their ability to participate and attend. Um and I think you and your office committed to doing some proactive outreach to find a mechanism to support those employees who work on shift work. And I'm happy to highlight that incident to you offline. I just was going through the list and trying to keep track of all the bouncing balls in terms of commitments that have made that I I likely have occurred but we just maybe haven't been informed about them.

And we can certainly add that to our agenda for our meeting for a discussion on how would we do that because again we notice all of the meetings and we do provide that notice publicly but and individually are separated to those that work off the normal 8 to5 type of shift. We haven't done any of that. So we could add that as a conversation. And then uh in October there was a a request made to evaluate cancer specific cost management program for 2026. How's that program coming along and when do you anticipate being able to share the results with council?

We are currently uh evaluating cancer and other cost management programs for the upcoming plan year. Uh we're we have presentations scheduled with it's actually with the committee I believe um with a number of vendors um so we should have updates on on those presentations over the next month or two.

Okay. Um then I guess maybe my last question just can you give us a little bit more of a flavor about the timeline around this pulse check process when it's set to begin when conclusions will be made when those conclusions will be shared with the council.

Yeah. Um, so the I think we're waiting for this meeting to just confirm that uh our intent on the market check. Um, our intent is to start that probably this week uh and have it completed within about a month after that. Um, so we'll have updates to the to the committee and the trust and for council. Um I would say by end of May 1st of June on on those results.

Great. And those results will be provided to us at that time or will those results be held and then provided at the next quarterly update?

I would ask what the council's desire is. I'm happy to provide that information as it becomes available or we can hold off until the next quarterly meeting. That being said, we expect that the audit to be done soon and so we could couple it with that if the timing is right. Mr. Mayor, just

my quick response on that is I think timeliness should be the default. um particularly related to the the the findings from the department of insurance. I would hope that when those results are received that those are sent to the council immediately, expedited. Likewise, when it comes to the pulse check and whatever recommendations that the trust is looking to fall through on, I think those should be shared with the council immediately. Um especially because that will have a budgetary impact as we move into the budget season. Um I would hope that we are again defaulting to expediting this information in a very transparent and and expeditious manner to the council. Well, I I can speak on behalf of I think the trust understands that uh this is one of two major issues impacting this budget and the budget when it gets delivered to council will be um scaled because we won't have the answers to these questions going into um when a budget book would need to be printed with information.

Mr. Mayor, if if I may, I I agree 100% with you. uh feedback I I received today is that maybe council isn't as deliberate providing that directness about what communication flow should look like. So I'm trying to be responsive to that feedback that I've received and make sure that there isn't any question about that. I think the council should have that information ASAP and not held to a later presentation um or to a a quarterly update. Council, any additional questions at this time? Okay, thank you very much.

A clarifying question. So, when we provide that information, is it just simply sending an email to council? Do you want it on the agenda? What format would you like that in? Both. Sorry, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Mr. Mayor, I think that this is a matter of of the public's interest as well. So certainly an email to the council, but that being included as part of the the agenda packet for the public to be able to review is to me a best practice. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council Sher,

um I think it would be good for us to have an in-person meeting. I mean, I think we can all discuss offline with the city council president and the mayor about future agendas, but it it just it feels to me like um this is a pretty normal process like in the sense that we're in some growing pains because we've established a newer entity and a new um approach and it's been a couple of years, but I think we're having some growing pains that are pretty normal, but that are important around our governance and how we're managing the financial in the trust and just a lot kind of a combination of factors that make it so that it would be really smart for us to have a meeting. I think when those audit results are ready and hopefully around the same time you have this market update kind of feedback maybe we could just have a a discussion on an agenda. That would be my suggestion just so we could really get our arms around it. It's not about I I just want to re kind of reset it. For me at least, it's not about, you know, um we all have things you can improve and the city of Meridian is indirectly responsible for this entity and it's hard because we don't govern it directly. We govern it indirectly. Creates some frustrations and some challenges, but I think it's still really important that we get our arms around these things as a team. And it's not about blaming anybody, but it's really about, I think, accountability and transparency and just we're all going to level up together. But it it's very obvious to me, at least from just the preliminary communications, that we have things we can improve and that that's a great opportunity. So, I think having an inerson meeting is a is a great idea and hopefully we'll have time to add it to an agenda. I know things are really busy, but that would be my suggestion.

Right. Okay. Well, we'll see you back at some point in time in the near future when we have information to share. Great. Okay, with that item 14, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, do you want to take the exact session now? U Mr. Castleton's here or we can do it at the That's That's what we're doing. Okay. Council Overton. Mr. Mayor, I move that we move into executive session P Idaho code 74-206 subsection 1F. Second. Have a motion second to go into executive session. Is there discussion? If not, clerk call the roll. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Cavar. Hi. Taylor. Hi. Strader Whitlock. Hi.

Little Roberts Overton. I motion carries. We'll go on executive session.

Mr. Mayor, Councilman Overson, I move that we come out of executive session. Second. Have a motion second to come out of executive session. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos? Nay. The eyes have it. And we are out of executive session. Mr. Mayor. Councilman Overton. I move that we adjourn our workshop. Second. Have a motion, a second to adjurnn our workshop. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. The eyes have it. We are adjourned.

Council will call this meeting to order. For the record, it is April 28, 2026 at 6:37 p.m. Um, we'll begin tonight's Reg City Council meet with roll call attendance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councilman Caver, Councilman Taylor, hi. Councilwoman Strader here. Councilman Wedlock here. Councilwoman Little Roberts. Councilman Overton here. Mayor Simmonson

here. And Mayor Little Roberts entered the room. Okay, with that, we will move on to the pledge of allegiance. Please rise and join to recyce all.

Okay. Uh we do not have a community invitation this evening. So we will move on to adoption of the agenda. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Overton, on tonight's agenda, we're going to vacate items number three and also we're going to vacate executive session. With that, I move the agenda. Second. Have a motion and a second to approve the agenda as a amended. Is there any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying I

oppose. name. You guys have it and the agenda is agreed to with those changes. Next up will be proclamations, which in case you can't tell by my voice, I will not be delivering them tonight, but we will uh turn to uh Council President Overton to once again come in on the proclamations. I've heard he's done an amazing job over the last two weeks. So, have no doubt tonight will be just as awesome. Good evening everyone. There are two proclamations we're going to do tonight. The first one will be um the denim day for sexual assault awareness month. And before I start this proclamation, can I ask if Laura Han is in the house? Laura, would you join me up front?

Thank you for saying Laura Hunts in the house. That's right. How about you introduce me? Laura, what I'll do is read the proclamation and then we'll can stand for pictures if you'd like and then let you have a few comments after. Thank you. I appreciate that.

Okay. So, the proclamation is whereas the United States government has declared April as sexual assault awareness month and the Women's and Children's Alliance has declared April 29th, 2026 as Denim Day. And whereas both events are intended to draw attention to the fact that rape and sexual assault remains a serious issue in our society. And whereas sexual assault awareness month and denim day were also instituted to call attention to misconceptions and misinformation about rape and sexual assault and the problem that many in society remain disturbingly uninformed with respect to the issues of assault and forcible rape. And whereas with proper education on the matter, there is compelling evidence that we can successfully reduce incidents of this alarming and psychologically damaging crime. And whereas the city of Meridian is an important partner in the Women and Children's Alliance efforts to educate our community about the true impact of rape and sexual assault. Therefore, Mayor Roberty Simmonson does hereby proclaim horsely April 29th, 2026 as Denim Day for sexual assault awareness month in the city of Meridian and encourage all citizens to speak out against sexual assault and support local efforts to provide help and healing to victims of these crimes. Thank you. Thanks very much. I just wanted to say thank you so much for this support. It means a lot to us. My name is Laura Han. I'm the new CEO of the WCA. I am 3 weeks

into this role, so it's quite exciting. But denim day is really important day for us. Uh it's tomorrow. So if you are in a position to wear denim, that would be a really great thing to do. But thank you so much to the city of Meridian for your support. Our second proclamation this evening is for landscape architecture month and is Celeste Penny in the house. Celeste, would you if anybody else wants to come up with you, they can come up as well. So I'll read the proclamation at lunch street. Whereas landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, design, planning, management and stewardship of the natural and built environment. And whereas science, technology, engineering, and mathematics known as STEM, knowledge is at the core of the professional practice of landscape architecture and informs landscape architects as innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges facing Idaho's communities. And whereas licensed landscape architects play a critical role in transforming ideas into places that endure, ranging from parks and schoolyards to waterfronts, commercial sites, and natural systems. And whereas the 2026 theme of landscape architecture and action emphasizes the vital role of these professionals in providing nature-based solutions to manage storm water, reduce risk, and increase access to highquality outdoor spaces. And whereas Meridian's economy benefits from licensed landscape architects through the creation of

inviting and safe places for the public, residents, and tourists alike while simultaneously protecting the environment and associated ecological systems. On behalf of Mayor Robert E. Simson, I do hereby procla 26 as landscape architecture month in the city of Meridian. I encourage all residents to recognize the contributions of landscape architects and shaping our community for the future.

Yeah. So, I just uh wanted to um say thank you for the recognition for there's uh many landscape architects in our community. Um, we're just trying to advocate for our profession and know that we think about the health, uh, safety and welfare of the public in all of our designs and our creations and really trying to make the community a better place for all. and and to the whole audience, thank you for bearing with us as we wrapped up that last meeting. We appreciate you sticking around for the proclamation and our upcoming action items. Um, with that, council will move on to announcements and recognition. Anything from council this evening? Council member

um just for the record earlier in our work session we had a wonderful tribute from our parks and commission chair about passed away last week. He was a great public servant and served for 19 years on our parks and recreation commission. And um as part of this meeting and the official record, I' I'd like to recognize his passing as well as maybe take a moment for personal privilege and and talk about another public servant who has passed away u who was a friend to Meridian. I had the opportunity of working for Governor Kempthorne for 15 years. started with him when he was mayor of Boisee and he worked very closely as I walked in today and looked at the pictures that are on the wall. He worked closely with Grant Kingsford and Bob Corey and Mayor Tammy and uh in all of his different capacities as mayor, as senator, and as governor. And I can tell you he had a love for not only Boisee where he was mayor, but this community as well. Uh you could tell by the friendship that he had with um with Mayor Kingsford at the time, Winston Garing over in Nampa, Pete Kohl's who was mayor in in Caldwell. There was uh great synergy among local leaders in this community. And um I was proud to to witness that to have a front row seat to a lot of the good things that happened that made the Treasure Valley the treasure that it is today. Um, the last conversation that I had with Governor Kim Thorne was sitting out here in the parking lot before a city council meeting and uh, he asked about you, asked about how you were doing, asked how the city of Meridian was. And uh, that was still on his mind these many years later after concluding his public service. I think he was proud of you. I think he's proud

of this entire council. I think he's proud of public servants who day in and day out um try to make life better for the constituents that we serve. So, I would just like to recognize and get on the record um my appreciation for a good man who worked hard for all citizens in the state of Idaho and and helped make Idaho and Meridian and all the communities in Idaho a better place to live. So, thank you for that opportunity. And I will second everything you just said and I won't try to add anything to it. Council on any other announcements this evening.

Okay. And then with that, Mr. C, anyone signed up under public forum? Uh, Mr. Mayor, yes. McKenna Marshall. come on up and you'll be recognized for three minutes.

Uh, hi. I'm McKenna Marshall. I'm an IB anthropology student conducting my internal assessment trying to answer the question, how does Meridian's environment influence its city council's response to water shortages to ensure sustainability? Do I have your permissions to use your responses as part of my research or do you have any questions? Um, so my question for today is, uh, what triggers a response to water conservation plans and have there have been any recent changes or any policy documents that aren't available online related to the most recent update to Meridian's water conservation plan? I'm not sure how to answer this one, Miss Mr. Ner. I mean, um, the public forum generally don't reply.

Um, Mr. Mayor, members, the council, um, I I do think probably at least we could help direct her to public works and that probably could get her information that may be more than what's on the website to maybe answer some of those questions, but we can I I can certainly talk to her when we're get them on. I I see u director Miles right there and I think he could help answer some of those questions and either connect or answer questions. So, McKinn, if that will work, I encourage you to chat with Mr. Miles either now or whenever you feel is appropriate uh through this meeting. Great. Mr. Mayor,

Councilwoman Shrader. Um, so we just as background information, if something is not on a noticed agenda, then we can't discuss it and respond to the public. Just so you understand, it's not intentional. We wish we could respond to you and help you with your survey. If you want to send me an email, I would be happy to try my best to answer your survey. Um, just as a suggestion.

Thank you, Councilman Shder. Okay. Um, Craig, was that the only person under public forum? Okay. Then with that, we'll move on to our public hearings this evening, uh, which is public hearing, um, at age 20250040, which was continued from March 10th, 2026. We'll continue this public hearing with staff comments. Good evening, mayor, members of the council. The next item on the agenda is the annexation for Rolling Hills. Uh, the applicant requests annexation of 8.16 acres of land with the CC zoning to construct 184 vertically res integrated residential units, 18,226 square feet of commercial space across four buildings. The site is generally located at the northeast corner of Overland Road and Rolling Hill Drive. As shown on the screen, the existing zonings are R1 and Ada County and the flume designation is mixeduse regional. In in 2023, an application was submitted for the five of the subject of the subject six parcels with this application. This the applicant was requesting annexation and a conditional use permit for a mix of vertically integrated units and multifamily. In total, they proposed 154 dwelling units across 5.89 acres of land. Uh that application was denied by the city council due to the creation of a county enclave, inadequate transition to the surrounding areas, and insufficient integration particularly with the property to the east. That layout

created a narrow underutilized strip of land between uh the future road and the edge of the development. In addition, the city council discussed vehicular connectivity and traffic, which was a large concern for several members of the city council. So, the new concept plan depicts four vertically integrated residential buildings consisting of 184 residential units and 18,226 square feet of commercial space. The applicant has indicated that the commercial tenants are envisioned to be gyms, personal and professional services and offices. In addition, during the review process to address uh comments from staff, the applicant revised their plan to incorporate approximately 53,000 square feet of open space and amenities that include pickleball court, botchi ball court, playground, fire pit, pathways, two barbecue areas, and a pergola with outdoor seating as well as a clubhouse. Uh the number of parking stalls uh required is 272 spaces and the applicant has provided 332 stalls exceeding the UDC standards. Uh they have also provided a parking exhibit to differentiate the stalls from residential and commercial uses. Uh the applicant has submitted elevations that do not meet the city of Meridian's architectural standards. And as previously noted, a reason for the previous application's denial on the property was inadequate transition to the existing county residences. To address this, the applicant proposed elevations for building A and B, which is on the north side of the property. um that are three stories facing the interior of the site and two sto two two stories facing the north. Staff would like to note that the applicant has recently revised this elevation and we'll talk about it more in their presentation. However, the roof height for the buildings remains uh the same from both perspectives. So from the three-story side and the twotory side, it is still the same mass of the building which is approximately 43 feet in height. Uh the previous application had buildings that were four stories with an approximate height of 45 ft. While staff understands the intent behind the applicant's

proposed transition, the overall height of the building has only been lowered 2 feet in total. Uh staff is asking the city council to carefully consider whether this proposed transition is adequate. Uh the current proposal provides a single access point uh a single access point uh to the proposed development via Rolling Hill Drive. Uh this raises cons significant concerns from staff regarding safety as Overland is provide uh planned to be widened to seven lanes which would limit access onto Rolling Hill Drive into a ride in ride out movements only. In addition, there is no established timeline for the construction of the future roadway which would be on the eastern portion of the site or offsite on the eastern boundary. Um staff has had multiple discussions with the applicant regarding this concern and has cont encouraged uh them to contribute towards a solution for connectivity and traffic in the area. Some of the ideas we have discussed include coordinating with adjacent developers to pursue a solution that would establish a timeline for construction of the collector roadway and signalized intersection at Overland, constructing a portion of the collector roadway on their property, exploring different alignments of the collector road and signal and putting money in a road tr road trust. The applicant has indicated that they've reached out to the neighboring developer, but were unable to engage in productive discussions regarding coordinated efforts or potential property acquisition. In addition, staff and the applicant explored other options in an effort to address this concern. However, the applicant was either unsuccessful or chose not to pursue certain options due to it not being financially feasible. While staff acknowledges that this presents a challenging situation for the applicant, the construction of the collector roadway is critical for providing adequate connectivity for both this development and anticipated redevelopment of the surrounding area. Without clearer information regarding the timing and construction of the collected roadway, there's risk that it may never be constructed, which would be detrimental for this development as well as the future developments in the area.

In addition, the current design raises concerns about its lack of connectivity to the adjacent property to the east. Instead of fostering continuity, the proposed layout creates a physical bar physical barrier uh physical and functional barrier between this development and the future collector that would hinder the integration with the surrounding property and collector roadway in the future. This was another reason for the previous application being denied. At the planning and zoning commission hearing, four citizens testified in support of the project, citing private property rights, need for additional housing, low vacancy rates, and allowing the county subdivision to redevelop similar to the surrounding area in the much broader area. In addition, some of the residents voiced frustration about coming back to the city every couple years for another public hearing and going through this process. Uh we also received two testimonies in opposition of the project citing traffic and safety transition to the existing homes and the peacemeal nature of redeveloping in the area. As mentioned in the staff report, staff is supportive of the proposed land uses within the broader mixeduse regional area. However, large concerns still persist regarding the project's timing and integration with the surrounding area. As a result, the commission and staff are recommending denial due to safety concerns regarding access, a lack of transition to the county existing county residences, a lack of integration with the eastern property and future collector roadway, and not having a clear timeline for when the collector roadway and signalized intersection at Overland will be constructed. And I'll stand for any questions you guys have.

Thank you, council. Any questions for staff? Okay. with the app to come forward.

Mayor, members of the city council, mayor, members of the city council, my name is Josh Leonard from the law firm of Clark Wle. Our address is 251 East Front Street uh sweet 310 in Boisey 83702. Uh we represent Assemble Management uh and its rolling hill project. Uh thank you for the opportunity to present our project here today. As I'm sure you already know and as from listening from the to the staff report uh our applications have been given a negative uh recommendation by both staff and by the planning and zoning commission. Uh we believe those recommendations were undeserved and we're here to uh to to try to tell you more about more of the story about our our application. Uh our goals tonight are first to tell you tell you that story. Uh second to help you understand a little bit about the context of our application and third to give you some reasons to approve annexation of our project. as a quick timeline of the property uh and its development. Uh a previous annexation application for a different project uh was on some of the same project uh property was considered by the city in 2024 and in a few moments I'll talk a little bit about that 2024 project uh again which staff mentioned was not approved. In 2025, our professional team uh took lessons from that 2024 application and applied them to to approve improve the proposal that's before you tonight. Uh we've also made a few adjustments from what we presented at the planning and zoning commission uh in early March and we'll discuss those those changes as well. As mentioned by staff, this property is located on Overland Road in Rolling Hill Drive just south of Alquist's Eagle View Landing project. The subject property is shown in green near the bottom of this aerial image. As I mentioned, the the uh 2024 iteration of this project got a recommendation of denial from the planning and zoning uh commission and then was ultimately denied. The two big

reasons for that uh first that one parcel was not included in the project. So annexation of the other parcels created an awkward county enclave. Uh and I'll show you an aerial on that in just a minute. Second, the proposed four-story buildings of the project created an abrupt height transition to single family homes to the north. Uh we've fixed that with our new application. As I mentioned, this aerial shows the 2024 project area in green and the omitted parcel in pink that would have created that awkward county enclave. This slide shows the uh the concept plan of the 2024 project again with the pink omitted parcel. And here are the 2024 project uh and the uh current project side by side. 2024 project obviously on the left with the current project being on the right. As you can see uh we've gotten that last parcel under contract uh so there would no longer be an enclave left in the county. We've also changed the design of the project and and uh of the buildings especially along the north side of the property uh to step down to meet that north property boundary. Uh, as you can see on the right, uh, excuse me, on the left, the 2024 project consisted of three four-story buildings. The current, uh, proposal keeps four-story buildings on the south end of the project, uh, adjacent to Overland Road, but puts descending three-story and then twotory buildings along the north side of the project. Uh, and while I'm on this slide, I want to mention the ways in which our project exceeds some city requirements. We have 60 more parking spaces that are required. We've overparked this project. We have 76 more bike parking spaces than required. Vertically integrated projects in the city uh typically are not required to include open space, but we have 53,000 square ft of it. And although vertically integrated products projects are not required to have amenities, this project will include significant amenities including a clubhouse, a pickleball court, outdoor seating, a pergola, a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, lawn

areas, a playground, a bike repair station, a fenced dog off leash area, and a community pathway. One of the things I wanted to address is is the fact that our our height only dropped the height of the the top of the building only dropped two feet. Um, one of the things that we noticed on on site is that the topography of that area is such that there's a gradual descent from uh neighboring single family existing homes uh down to the project area. In fact, um the the closest homes that are which are about 270 ft away would look straight across into the second floor of of the uh of the proposed project. Meaning that although the pro the proposed project did only drop 2 feet, by lowering that, there is a better better privacy uh better privacy screen there. People not looking down from a third floor into adjacent properties. We also responded to uh to neighbor comments. Uh neighbors in single family homes that are to the north requested more visual visual screening. Uh we added uh some transitional landscaping elements in particularly along the northern ed edge of the property. We added some fast growing evergreen trees which was a direct response to a particular neighbor's concern and comments. Uh we also uh included additional open space in the project. Uh and we had a shade study performed to resolve a neighbor's concern that the proposed buildings would shade neighboring properties. One of staff's criticisms of the property or of the project that you heard is that uh the project doesn't involve the construction of the planned connector uh the extension of Mavado which aligns across uh Overland Road and I'll discuss that more in a in a moment. Uh, as you can see here though, the pro proposed project does include the dedication of significant rideway both for the planned future widening of Overland Road and for the portion of the future Mavado connector, excuse me,

collector extension that is on the subject property up on the the top right hand corner there. I want to talk a little bit about traffic uh because the staff report implied and not just implied flat out said that putting traffic on existing rolling hill would cause a safety concern. and we strongly disagree. Uh, additionally, Commissioner Commissioner Perau, uh, who ultimately made the motion to recommend denial, mentioned that she wanted the applicant to look further into how traffic from the proposed project would affect uh, rolling existing Rolling Hill Drive. And we've now done that. Pursuant to the Ada Ada County Highway District standards, Rolling Hill Drive has a trip uh, capacity of 2,000 trips per day. The existing single family residences on Rolling Hill Drive that take access via Rolling Hill Drive account for less than 50 trips per day. And I would note that currently uh Rolling Hill Drive is gated and locked at its northern terminus where it meets a private street called Flat Iron. So there can't be currently addition uh additional traffic coming down Rolling Hill Drive from the Alquis project. As it currently sits, Rolling Hill Drive, which has a capacity of 2,000 trips per day, uh has less than 50 car trips per day on it. Uh the current project before you will result in approximately 650 car trips per day on Rolling Hill Drive, far less than its 2,000 uh trip capacity. Uh and as noted in that last bullet point, the current infrastructure uh referring to Rolling Hill Drive completely supports the proposed development. I also want to take a a moment to discuss the Ada County Highway District staff report, which was excellent. The the problem uh the only problem with the report is that the planning and zoning commission didn't get to see it. It wasn't included uh with the uh with the staff report. The staff report only included the first page of that uh Ada County Highway District staff report. Uh on the left is the first page. On the right of this slide are the is the full report, 18

pages. And I want to highlight a couple of those uh those pages that were omitted when it went to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The first thing I wanted to to to note is uh on this page, page seven from the highway district staff report, it states to accommodate the future construction of the collector and as a part of a future development application, the applicant should be required to dedicate rightofway at the site's northeast property line as shown on the site plan below. Then looking at the image uh uh that's included in the in the ACD staff report um it clearly requires dedication of only that red triangle because that's the only part of the the plan connector that is on the subject property. Uh while on this slide I also want to discuss a little bit more about the planning and zoning commission's recommendation of denial. Although it's true that they ultimately uh ultimately recommended denial, it was clear from their deliberations that they were torn. uh they truly didn't know what to do with our application. Uh several of the PNZ commissioners uh started their comments by saying either I don't know where I'm going to land on this or I'm on the fence on this. Uh and in fact the first motion which was a motion to deny didn't get a second. Uh the second motion was a motion to forward to the city council without a recommendation. Uh with further comment after further comment from staff though a motion was made and approved to recommend denial. But it but if you watch that uh that hearing, the recommendation of denial was only seemingly begrudgingly approved. I'd also like to to look at page 17 of the highway district staff report. Here it says that the highway district approves the proposed site plan subject to compliance with all of the site specific and standard conditions of approval. And again, this was one of the 17 pages of this report that the planning and zoning commission didn't get to see. We want to address staff's two biggest concerns. First, staff has pushed us to

include some or all of the future Mavado collector extension in our project. This doesn't work for several reasons. Perhaps the b biggest reason it doesn't work is that the north south portion of the Mavado extension must align with the existing Mavado Road south of Overland Road which uh is approximately 60 ft east of the subject property on property owned by a different landowner. As staff noted, we we uh tried to engage that landowner in a dialogue about potential u collaboration on the road. Uh we even asked offered to purchase that property to be able to build that road there. um but that owner would not engage with us. The next biggest reason it doesn't work to put the planned MVado collector extension on the subject property is that the east west portion of that collector which is located north of the the subject property uh needs to align with the existing rightway of existing view circle uh none of which is located on the existing or on the subject property. It's all located north of the subject property. Uh it it's critical to understand that that the this east west piece of that collector isn't necessary to serve our project. Our project none of the traffic from our pro project is going to go north and across and down. The traffic from our project is going to be well served by Rolling Hill Drive uh until the widening of of of Overland. Um put simply, our project uh can take access via Rolling Hill Drive without overwhelming it. Uh, in fact, as I mentioned earlier, our project's car trips plus the existing car trips on Rolling Hill Drive only equal about a third of what Rolling Hill Drive can handle. Uh, we just don't believe that our annexation and zoning applications should be denied based on a planned future off-site road. Uh, particularly because our project has safe and sufficient access without that road. Uh, additionally, as Commissioner Perau noted during planning and zoning's deliberations on our application, uh, if

the land owner to the east had wanted to attend and complain about the collector extension being entirely on his property, uh, that owner certainly has had a ample notice and an opportunity to raise that concern, but hasn't hasn't shown up so far. Moving to staff's second concern, improved building height uh, trans uh, transitions. uh we didn't have good enough building height transitions to the properties to the north in our initial in our in the first application. When we came back, we had we had uh stepped down those uh those transitions to meet the properties to the north. U but it it had a a big tall roof. Uh we've since tried to fix that. This updated elevation that we have here uh uses raised heels to create a shed roof that breaks up that main roof plan. Um, this project is important and although it's just an annexation and initial zoning, uh, it's important to this little area. This little six parcel assemblage could be considered the keystone that will enable redevelopment of this entire county enclave. This aerial depiction shows the status of various projects nearby. For example, the St. George project was approved by the city council earlier this year. That's an there's an application pending for Idaho Town and Country's project which is located immediately to the west of our project is shown in red here and a restaurant was approved. They're right on overland on the uh on the parcel in green and a redeveloped modern offices on the parcel identified in purple. Uh you can also see on this slide how close the city of Boise is with an approved project in Boisee city limits shown in yellow. This slide shows uh the project parcel assemblage in green. Fivemile Creek is a thin blue line that uh runs east west near the northern boundary of our project. Uh the planned this also shows the planned alignment of future Mavado collector extension in red. This is the ACD's master street map. I've added the labels. Uh other than that, it shows the alignment of Mavado and the extension

with uh of the collector with view circle and up and over to Topaz Avenue. Again, offsite for this from this project. Fivemile Creek uh basically runs along the northern border of our pro of our project. Uh this poses a a problem for us in that we can't do just a half section of the road on our project because to keep Five Mile Creek open uh we to keep it open, we obviously can't pave over it. uh we would have to move the entire road uh onto onto the subject property which essentially cuts it in in uh in thirds and makes uh makes it so that it it just absolutely doesn't pencil. The next picture here I've got is a a picture of the multi-use pathway that we've proposed along the the south bank of Five Mile Creek. And here uh this just shows Actually, I want to stop on this slide for just a minute. I've only got about 20 seconds. One, I went in preparation for tonight's uh public hearing, I went back and watched the planning and zoning uh hearing once again. And I was struck by one of the comments that that that I then went and found in the staff report um in several places in the staff report as well as in staff's report to the planning and zoning commission. um they use terms like that we were pushing or shifting uh pushing or shifting this this collector onto adjacent property. That's just not the case. The the collector as shown on ACD's uh future street or or master street map uh is exists on those those adjacent properties. Um I'll come back and rebuttal with a little bit more information. U but for now I'll stand for questions.

Thank you. Council questions, Mr. Mayor. Councilman Taylor. Josh, thank you. Um, one question on the the northern buildings. You have two stories on the outside, a threetory immediately inside. Are they separate buildings or are they is it just is it one building and one side it's two stories, inside it's three stories and you just kind of how you you're designing the pitch of the twotory building. Can you help me just sort of understand that a little bit more? Is it separate building, same building? But

Sure. I appreciate that, Mr. Mayor. and uh council member Taylor, same building uh adjusting the pitch of the of the roof uh and and that's why the building itself only dropped by 2 feet is because on the other side it remains at three stories. Mr. Mayor, a followup. Are the is it all of it um residential on those northern buildings or did you have some commercial in those northern buildings? I'm sorry. I ground ground floor commercial. ground floor commercial and then residential above that. Correct. Okay, Mr. Mayor,

Council Lo Roberts. Mayor Josh, thank you so much. Um, so do you have I know that the Corey Barton property is right next to you, but do you have something do you have a street stubbed prepared to go out? Yes, we do. That is correct. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So we will have Council Member Roberts traffic flow eventually. Absolutely. Thank you. Yeah, Mr. Mayor, Councilman Willock.

Josh, can you go back to the um elevations to show that threetory twotory transition? Um yeah, that one. So again, just to clarify, you're saying that the first floor, both on the north and the south side of those buildings, is going to be commercial. How do you access just on the south side? Just on the south side. On the north side, residential, too. Both residential. And then the second and third stories on the south side would be residential.

Okay. Can you talk to me about access into those second and third stories above the commercial property? And I'm also kind of interested where Councilman Taylor was going in terms of one building or two. Are they I mean is that first floor residential on the north side abudding the commercial on the south side just a wall in between or again two separate buildings? I I

Mr. Mayor and Council Member Whitlock, I appreciate the question. When you uh are talking about access into the residential, are you just in terms of stair stairwells and and and elevators or are you talking in terms of uh are are they actually abutdding each other? Mr. Mayor. Um Josh, I'm just I'm wondering again if I'm looking at the south facing buildings and the first floor is commercial, how do I get up to my apartment on the second or third floor? Okay. So Josh, if you could repeat that.

Yeah, you bet. there stairwells and it seems like I I was I thought you were asking a more difficult question than you were that the stairwells obviously will avoid the commercial areas and will work their way up to the second floor and third floor of residential. Okay,

Mr. Mayor Councilman Taylor, should we go to the slide that show is kind of had some colored depictions of the properties that uh have been approved? I think you need to go forward a few.

It's not letting me move. There we go. There we go. Yeah. Um, you said something that I wasn't sure if I heard correctly. The property that's in the city of Boisee. Did you say that has that in the yellow box that has been approved or it's in the process in the city of approval, meaning it's kind of going through? My understanding is that that's an approved unapproved project. Okay.

Well, let me let me back up. It may be just that it's been approved with annexation and that they're going through the process of of design review and things like that for the project itself. But but in terms of it being within the city of Boisee city limits, it that is approved.

Mr. Mayor, the follow maybe staff, is there any way that you could find out in the next 10 minutes if that's an approved annexation or if there's a an actual application approved? I' I'd be very interested in that. Um, and then I'm just kind of curious on the I'm the this is a really strange um alignment with Mavado and sort of that connection to the north of Overland. Um, I mean, I understand if I own that property and looks like a lot of my property is going to be lost to development of the of our roadway, uh, that would be of significant concerns. You said you have reached out. You have tried to have some conversations. Um I wasn't sure if staff had proposed solutions to both that property owner and you for kind of collaborating, but can you walk me through your efforts to reach out to suggest a solution because that's clearly a very significant part of this application and how I would I mean to me the central question is not so much what's the use type. it seems in alignment with where we want to go and it this is a very challenging part of Meridian but the sort of infrastructure connectivity is a really significant part of the overall um decision-m process but it's I I just like to understand better describe to me your outreach your conversations what has looked like it could work what has significantly failed in terms of finding a solution I'm trying to grasp what has actually happened Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council Member Taylor. Uh I appreciate that and and to your point, uh that alignment of Movado is kind of weird. It it's the fact that it cuts through that part instead of being on a shared property line uh is is a concern. Unfortunately, where it's a line south

of Overland, um it needs to align north of o of of Overland, and that just happens to to bisect that that that that parcel there. uh our project team has reached out on several occasions to that that property owner. um that property owner has uh at least based on uh uh on testimony that was given to the planning and zoning commission has said that he has a 20-year plan for the area uh and it has uh been I'll put it politely less than responsive to our uh to our attempts to engage u both to discuss purchase of that property uh and to discuss uh a collaborative uh approach towards constructing that collector. Maybe to piggyback on that a little bit. Um, and I don't know if staffs looked at this, but what I'm concerned about is it almost seems like it's going to create a spite strip between the road and your project where what can be is could anything legally be built in that space based upon the width of what's proposed.

Mr. Mayor, uh, if that's a question for staff, I think that's about a 40 foot space. uh in terms of what can legally be built in there. Um I don't know the answer to that. I can tell you that that if it's left as as open space, it's a it has the potential to be a a a nice spite strip, if there's such a thing. A spite strip though would cut off access, right? This this wouldn't um we would stub to that that property line. I guess I would say that to me the only people that that would benefit would be your side of the road. I think that's a fair statement.

The other side of the road gets left out of this and we're not here to well maybe we are here to solve problems but part part of me thinks that your development should be more off your property line to allow something else to go along that side working with the property owner to the other side as compared to sharing the road. It's almost sharing your property to have something built that would make sense. Just my two cents. I can't talk anymore.

I appreciate that, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate you extending your uh the last bit of your remaining voice. I I I will tell you that that none of those options are off the table in in talking to the adjoining land owner if the adjoining land owner would engage with us in those conversations. That the problem hasn't been that we have a lack of potential solutions. The problem has been uh the the inability to raise contact or return contact from that landowner. Any additional questions for the opinion at this time? Uh, Mr. Mayor, Cavender,

Mr. Leonard, a couple maybe just quick questions. The the green area maybe specifically the area where the that arrow is pointing up for BVA development. Is that multif family that's right there there, Mr. Mayor and Council Member Cavar? Um, the voice from above. I I uh there is a a multif family there, I believe. Is that the uh what's the name of that?

It's okay. I just I want to make sure I'm I'm I'm remembering correctly. Mr. Mayor, maybe just a couple of quick followups. Um Mr. Leonard, you you mentioned I think in kind of your opening, you took maybe exception with the the feedback from staff about maybe some of the safety issues on on Rolling Hills. And I'm I'm hoping you can maybe give me some understanding as to kind of how you drew that conclusion. I I it's very likely and possible that I've I've missed something in your application that speaks to that. Um I didn't see it necessarily contemplated in the ACT staffing report. So help me understand kind of why you're right and why our staff are incorrect.

Well, as as an Mr. Mayor, Council Member Kavana, as an initial matter, um the fact that that the planning and zoning commission didn't have the opportunity to view that that ACD staff report, I think, uh is problematic. In that staff report, one of the conditions of approval that was proposed by the or not proposed, but that was um requested by the the highway district by highway district staff was uh completion of a half section of Rolling uh Rolling Hill Drive. um and the and the dedication of property if necessary to make that a curb with curb, gutter, and sidewalk. Um that that to me is a a large piece of why why um why we believe that Rolling Hill can safely uh can safely handle the traffic. The other piece is just in terms of raw traffic count.

Mr. Leonard, you're you're a very intelligent guy. Okay, help me understand what gives you the expertise to draw that conclusion that Mr. Mayor, Council Member Kavanaaugh, the conclusion that that the ability that our uh willingness to construct additional uh infrastructure on Rolling Hill Drive uh would make it safer or that it's safe based on the the the existing traffic count. Yeah, I I guess probably the latter. I guess that's that was my takeaway from your opening statement was that it's it's already safe and that your your project would not generate enough traffic to to meet the the staff's level of concern about safety.

I Mr. Mayor, Council Member Cavender, I I would also note that there's been no uh that there was no concern about the the function of of Rolling Hill Drive from either the the Meridian Fire Department or from the Ada County Highway District staff. Um, I I I I don't um I don't consider myself an expert in that area. Uh and I'm certainly not u willing to to myself overrule staff. I'm merely arguing that those factors um play into the fact that that Rolling Hill uh with its existing traffic count traffic count of 50 can handle the uh the additional traffic from the proposed project.

Mr. May, one last question. No concern then about kind of the the queueing challenge on a on a ride in ride out there at Rolling Hills. You don't you don't anticipate on Overland that that's going to cause challenges and and traffic safety issues? I I Mr. Mayor, Council Member Cavar, uh I I think there could be challenges there and and I think that that it's

that it's up to the the developer to to produce some solutions to those challenges. for example, uh well well as a as an initial matter, it's not going to be right in right out to my understanding until uh Overland is is uh is widened. Um our we we firmly believe based on the uh the activity and and comments of of neighbors and and properties that are on currently on the market now uh and brokers for those properties that this property will break a log jam and cause dominoes to fall in that area. that will result in the uh the creation of and the construction of that collector across the the property that's just north of this of this property. Uh there really has been a bit of a log jam for properties that aren't directly on uh on Overland Road there. Uh so we we believe that that's going to solve that that queuing problem uh when that right in right out occurs. Uh in the meantime, if we needed to to help absorb some of the queueing on the on the parcel itself, we we're we're welcome to uh or we're will we're absolutely willing to do that.

Mr. Mayor, Council Sher, I think we could probably clear this up pretty quick. So, I always have I have a question for staff. I have always viewed an application as not only a staff report but also all of the attachments in laser fish. So could our city staff clear up was the ACD report available to the planning and zoning commission?

Mr. Mayor uh councilwoman Strader. So that's correct. You know in our staff report we typically do not include the full 20 30 page from each agency. However, it is in the public file and we do provide a link to the public file with directions on how to get there in the staff report so people can access the full document and that is correct. It was in the public file at the time that the PNZ commission heard this application. So, that is correct. Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Council Taylor,

a bit of a question for staff. Um, two questions. um at the end of uh at the northern end of uh Rolling Hills uh where it intersects with Flat Iron Lane. I know it is blocked off. Is the future uh traffic flow anticipated that that will open up at some point or is it always meant to be sort of gated off? And then just a second question on access as far as a uh a a stoplight is the the the plan at some point if it were to develop to put a stoplight at MVado and could you just clarify those two questions?

Yeah, Mr. Mayor, uh Council Councilman Taylor, that is correct. So, there is a planned stop light in the future at Mavado at that intersection um because it would align with the south side. it would access. So there would be access for people on the south side of Overland as well as on the north side. Um that's really the intention there as well as I believe that is the half mile um section between Clover Cloverdale and uh Eagle Road. Um for your first question um regarding the A gated access or the the Ballard access at the top of Rolling Hill and Flat Iron. So the city council actually that was a requirement with I believe that multif family project to the north that um c councilman Kavana was uh discussing and it was something that city council actually wanted to see at that time and it would be re-evaluated as development did occur in this area on when that could potentially be opened up. Um you know ultimately it the DA that bill just showed me the language in it says as determined by the city and ACD. Um, and obviously city council's purview if that is something they wanted to see open. Those are conversations we can definitely have. Um, I know that there are some discussions on, you know, future actually using Rolling Hill Drive in the future when Overland's widened, maybe even vacating that rideway and having a road that actually goes along the canal instead of Rolling Hill that get up into that area. You know, nothing set in concrete. Those are all very preliminary conversations. Um but definitely some things that are being explored. Um but yes, you are correct that that that access um at Flat Iron and Rolling Hill right now is Ballarded. It is emergency access only. Um and you know it's the city and AC's perview on when that would open and that would include you know feedback from the city council. That's correct. Mayor, members of the council, if I could just chime in a little bit on that topic about skating off that roadway.

One was because the amount of traffic that would be generated with that mixeduse development, but part two of it was safety concerns. Um, that is a a rural road section. There is no curb, gutter, sidewalk along that roadway. And that was some of the discussion you had on that project back in 2022. So, there are no street lights, no curb, gutter, sidewalk. So the council was mindful of that and they were supportive of that being get it off understanding that all of those trips the city and ACHD understanding that all of the trips would go and use Silverstone and use that light and that's why this project is all about timing. Is it the right time? Because as we discussed in all the other projects that have come before you on this roadway overland is getting busier. It's not going to get less busy. So having those signalized intersections are going to be critical and having those collector roadways are going to be critical and that's why we were hoping this developer and all the adjacent developments occurring in the area could work together on a comprehensive plan and figure out how we can get that road sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, we couldn't make that happen. And so looking at the the past record and what you did on this application, understanding there are impacts and that road is critical. Staff felt it appropriate and planning and zoning commission felt appropriate that we just have to wait it out. It's not the right time to annex the property and therefore you had the recommendation from staff and the planning and zoning commission on this particular application.

Mr. Mayor,

Councilman Overton. Hey Josh, just a just a my take versus your take on the width of Overland Road. Currently, I think we have in excess of 6,000 multifamily units approved to be built within our city. Some of those multifamily projects are spread throughout the entire city. They've sat there for years, some of them, with not a unit going up. while those roadway projects are going to continue to expand as the roadway needs to be expanded. So, I can't help and I think everybody on council can't help but look at a project like this from the standpoint that I have to look at this as Overland being seven lanes cuz I know that's going to happen and it may happen before your units go in because you got to compete with 6,000 more units in this city that are already approved to be built. And right now, I I know I have the director sitting in the back. I can tell you that the last 12 months has been virtually flat on developments of multifamily. So, I'd like to know what the secret sauce is that you have that is going to tell us that you're going to get disapproved and yours will go up and yours will be built compared to a lot of other great projects we've seen and great projects we've approved because there's there's some that we've approved. I'm just I can't believe that they're not breaking ground. It has more to do with and they're in good locations. We have good roadways. A lot of it has to do with economic issues that we sitting up here have no idea what are going to happen. We don't know what they're going to go. We don't know where interest rates are going to be. Um, I don't have to try to to tell you that, but I I've got to ask you how

you're going to be better off than all these other projects that are already approved that want to be built and how you can look at this from our standpoint, which is that Overland's seven lanes because we have to deal with that. I know we have ACD on the line and I want to make sure we prep him that we're going to ask him questions cuz I'd sure like to know what the plan is for Mato and if they're in compliance with the thoughts that we are hearing about how that would come to be in that parcel and line up and have that signal because eventually you're right this whole area is going to develop. We just want to make sure it develops in a safe manner because right now a sevenlane road if it's right out that's going to kind of hurt all of the commercial aspects of what you're developing. Anybody that's coming east turning left into that project is going to be very very tough. And everybody coming out having to go west is going to be very very tough. And I I just want to make sure we're clear. I don't ever want there to be surprises. I drive that road a lot and on school days, afternoons, it gets backed up clear past rolling hills. So traffic's an issue now without these other ones being built. So tell me your future thoughts how this is going to work. How how is this secret sauce you've got going to be that this is going to be the one that's going to sell? is going to build and that road's going to handle 2,000 vehicles a day.

Mr. Mayor and Council Member Overton, uh I'm not going to share the secret sauce. Uh with that said, um I can appreciate that you need to view Overland as a as a seven lane road because that is going to happen as you mentioned. Uh and there will be right in right out. um a as I not just the the project that that we're talking about here today, but that interior city on or county enclave that's up through there, not the not the properties that are right on Overland, but the ones that are north of the subject property. Um, one of the reasons why that and one of the reasons why that was gated at the north end up at uh up at Flat Iron was because there was a significant complaint by by members of the public that live on that that road through there that didn't want that traffic coming down their road understandably and and get it. Um, those properties though are transitioning out and are in the process of of uh being listed for sale. Uh there there's at least I know of at least a couple of properties in there that have that have uh been on the market now for a while waiting to see what happens with this application. Um developers like certainty. Developers like the ability to come in and point at a circumstance and say we we know what's going to happen here. Um without the approval of this application, developers don't know what to do in this particular part of the city. uh a and the likelihood that another one takes a jump and a run at a an approval like this is probably pretty unlikely in the near future because of exactly what what you what you mentioned um the pending construction of of additional multif family um and some even in this area.

Mr. Mayor follow Josh I I appreciate that. You know, one of the things uh I I deal with a development daily that has one of the restrictions that this one's got, which is you have no access to the north because of something called Interstate I 84. I mean, it's an absolute you don't go any further. you've got to go east, you've got to go west, or you've got to come out to Overland Road, which means for me that infrastructure, that roadway system, that collector street is a critical piece of seeing these properties develop. Um, and I think we're going to wait and see if we can hear anything from ACD this evening as well on what that plan is. If what they're saying jives with what you're saying, because that's the most critical piece that's hanging me up right now is making sure that we don't build something that is just another one of those situations where I'm going to have traffic hazards just due to the fact of I've got so much traffic backed up. even though the roadway rolling hills can handle it, they can't get out onto Overland Road. So, those are my concerns as we go through this and we'll ask other questions. Now, I know that it was mentioned about curb gutter and sidewalk and I appreciate that. Remember where my background is. Same with someone else in the audience. You forgot to mention the most important aspect. It's curb gutter, sidewalk, and street lights. And that's what's missing from those old county roads, those rural roads. And that's one of the reasons that was gated. So when we do see that developed, I mean that's some of the most important safety aspects we have to see on these roads. I love the curb and gutters, but the street lights are what really keep it safe for everybody on those roadways.

Mr. Mayor, Council Member Overton, I omitted I accidentally omitted saying street lights. I can promise street lights will be included in those improvements. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Willock, maybe a question for staff and I'm just I'm trying to look at the city and county maps and layouts and just confirm for me if you would everything north and east of the Ryenbach Canal on this map and the yellow portion of our city of Boisey. Is that correct,

Mr. Mayor? Uh, Councilman Whitlock. So yes, starting here I'll put my cursor starting to the yellow that is the first this is this is the boundary of Meridian city limits is the the east side of Corey Barton's property and then it runs along the Ryenba all the way to I 84. So and here I can actually share more zoomed out picture for you guys to Mr. Mayor while he's doing that just to clarify. So that CBH property that's that strip has been annexed and is part of city limits.

Mr. Mayor, Councilman Whitlock, no that is not. It is still in Ada County. That is correct. But it is in Meridian's area of impact. So this blue dashed line is Meridian's area of impact. Let's go a couple more. There you go. This will show you. So this is our area of impact. So City of Boisey, City of Meridian. Thank you, Nick. I guess my my question was ultimately is that CBH property up for grabs or is it in our area of impact since it's contiguous to the Boisee city limits or what they've already annexed.

Mr. Mayor, Councilman Willlock, that's correct. It is in our area of impact. And I did want to give circle back while we're on that topic to Councilman um Taylor's uh question about that city of Boisey project. I'm trying to navigate city of Boisey's website. Um, from what I'm seeing on their maps and their development trackers and what's been approved, I don't see an active application on that property. Um, I'll continue to look to make sure um and see if I can dig it up. Um, but as of right now, I do not see one that's been approved or is active currently on that property, but I'll continue to look. Also, any additional questions for the applicant? Okay, thank you very much.

Yeah, Mr. Cler, I'm gonna let you take over and Okay. Yeah. First, Mr. Mayor Katherine Mason, he's getting your slides up now.

You'll be recognized for three minutes. Welcome. What? Yeah. Okay. Say your name and address for the record and you'll be recognized for three minutes.

My name is Katherine Mason. My address is 1560 Rolling Hill Drive. Are you ready? Okay. Uh, good evening. Um, I own 1560 Rolling Hill Drive since 2017. I'm speaking only as not only as a property owner, but as someone born and raised here who keep deeply cares about the community. The immediate area around my property has declined. Homes are no longer being maintained the way they once were. At a recent neighborhood meeting regarding this development, one homeowner said his house now quote looks like ass cheeks. It was a blunt comment, but it reflected something real. There is frustration and there is visible deterioration. What was once a neighborhood people took pride in has now become an eyesore. At the same time, commercial development has grown up around us. My property now sits next to commercial buildings with more already approved nearby. The character of this area has changed, and our neighborhood is increasingly surrounded by uses that no longer match its original intent. This has been a long process for us, over 5 years. Brett Siggel and his team have worked to meet every city requirement, adjusting plans, collaborating, and even acquiring additional property to resolve that Enclave issue. The homeowners involved have remained committed throughout, reflecting a shared belief in this project and its potential. This proposal is the result of persistence and a good faith effort on all parts. I truly believe this property is an opportunity to bring life back into a declining pocket of our community. And it's not just about development, it's about revitalization and thoughtful growth. And I wanted to go over some slides. Um, can I push on these? I don't know. Okay. Um, I took these back in 2017, um, when I after I purchased the home. Uh, this is my house. It actually sits on or it's on my property. It sits on the corner of Overland and Rolling Hill as you can see. And, um, I am not

at this point going to be making any improvements to my home given the, uh, you know, existence of the area. Um, next, these are pictures that I took of many homes in in the area that are run down or poorly maintained even back then. Um, I have pop-up businesses that were around my house. I had a gunsmith business, a sprinkler shop, a motocross adjacent to me, and then of course there's that property that we talked about to the east. Then we have um dilapidated homes alongside polished commercial properties as you can see. Fast forward to the spring of 2026. That's nine years later. Again, there's my house or my well, my property um that I'm really not making any improvements to and not planning to. Um we have more construction now happening. This is the um this is the sprinkler shop now. It's a roofing company. Um and it's uh now has adjacent, you know, commercial businesses next to it.

Oh, I have one more slide. Is that okay? Yep. Okay. Great. Um, and then this I just wanted to make my point on this one was um, as you can see, there are now limited investments, aging infrastructure, and an abundance of people trying to sell their homes in the area. I counted 10 that were for sale um, within the two streets just yesterday. So, thank you for your time. Thank you, council. Any questions? Thank you, Katherine.

Mr. Mayor, next we have Ian Mason. Hi, Ian Mason, 1516 Rolling Hill. Don't worry, I get it all the time. So, as been presented, it's been a long process. And first, I want to say thank you for I've been to several of these with you guys here, and the attention you guys give to this is actually really honestly impressive to see. Um, so thanks for the service and and providing this. Um I'm a willing seller trying to sell in this market. Um have been and this um particular contract for a number of years now. Um coming to these meetings and seeing what's wrong, what gets fixed, what's wrong, what gets fixed, kind of back and forth process. And Brett and his team have always had open door policy. Um from my standpoint, honest negotiation on what they're trying to do, what they're trying to bring to the project. Um, I live in the area. I'm happy. U I I want to see something useful in the area. Um, and so the project kind of feels right as far as mixed use and having some retail available there on the right side instead of always having to go to the um left side of overland heading towards Eagle. Um the the infill I think is well you guys know better than me is more important than putting more approved properties that aren't getting built farther down two-lane roads that aren't approved either. This is yes Overland's busy um but people commuting have 10 minutes of commute to get out of there to reach Eagle, go the other way on Overland or reach the freeway to commute elsewhere. I commute that almost daily myself depending on how Franklin's looking. So, I I feel that it's it's obviously ripe and it's a difficult situation. I didn't know there's that

number of other developments approved in the area. I've just seen for sale signs. Um I'm hopeful that some resolution comes that lets me exit the property. Um but anyway, thank you for your time. Thanks.

Thank you, council. Any questions? you and Mr. Man. Next is Alicia Eastman. My name is Elisia Eastman. I live at 1485 Rolling Hill, directly across from where this project is proposed to be. I just have a few issues. Um, it seems like the main thing here is the access in and out. We all know it's landlock. You can't go north or east or west. You just have to go south onto Overland. And even one council member before said, "We're not going to widen the road our way out of this." Since we're having such a problem with this Movado thing, what what why can't we just put a signal at the end of Rolling Hill? That seems like logical to me that that would fix it or fix part of that. But also, I know that yes, we don't have curbs and gutters and lights. And the this city council uh maybe five years ago decided and said that we were not going to do any street developments until all the homes were gone on Rolling Hill. And it happened after as a result of the that rackom project at the end where the uh where BVA did all that and we got the road uh to to flat iron. There's there's no access just emergency access because of that reason. And part of the the issue was doing modifications to the road would knock out wells and another drain field for somebody. So the city council said, "Well, let's wait till all the homes are gone." Many

residents are just waiting for somebody to, you know, make them an offer. Um, so that right in, right out access, that's just a horrible idea because if you go, you turn right, you just end up going to Eagle Road. And so it seems to me like a signal would solve all that. This developer has done everything they can, worked with the residents. I mean, they've really worked with them and I feel really bad for the neighbors that they can't move. It's been, you know, over four years that they keep working with this. And um although I'd like to see this go through, it's still the same concerns that everybody has expressed here, you know. So, my idea is can we just go with the signal? my my property currently is in the neighbor next to me toward south of me is under contract. So even if you right there you would make the road developments from this developer here from the canal to Overland you would be able to make the road developments because they're it looks like they're going to do a new project with my property and the property behind mine too. So that kind of would fix it right at the end of the street there. Thank you,

Miss Eastman. Miss Eastman, Alicia, just to get clarification, uh, cuz our notes show that you testified against this plan and zoning. Are you actually against the project or you just think that there needs to be a light for the project to move forward?

I'm really not against the project itself because the developers really worked with the neighborhood. It's the access and that we're landlocked in there. So, it's the access in and out. So, if the if you put a to me that's just the answer. If you put a signal at the end of rolling hill, you could do the street developments, lights, curbs, gutters, everything from the the canal, which is really not a canal, it's a ditch there to Overland. And that would kind of really uh uh facilitate the traffic and everything through there. You know, you could widen the road there. it would accommodate the traffic coming out of this project and there would be a signal there and people wouldn't have to be turning right or there wouldn't be the accidents or the even though um we I I called and I got ACD to put a sign that says uh keep clear you like and to put the lines in the street. Okay. Um, but still if if if there's nobody there and you want to turn left, oh, sometimes there's another car sitting there to in that center turn lane that you don't see because of the traffic. So that's kind of a hazard. It's dangerous.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much, Council Overton. Alicia, so the problem with the whole process, because no process is perfect, is we work with land use. Mhm. I can't tell you how many times we've looked at a project and we've sat up here and said, "I wish we could get a traffic signal there." That's when we're reminded that we're not the 80ount highway district. Because they are the ones that decide the roadways and the high and where the traffic signals go and they're the ones who've said the signal would go at Mavado.

So, we don't have any we we can't change their mind and say we want to put it at Rolling Hills. Although I did talk to Kent Goldthorp and he said that that's what the plan was and I said can they possibly ever take that Corey Barton land uh eminent domain and he said no can't do that he says but uh if if you were forced to you know you could he led me to believe that it's possible to have a signal there now I don't know what magic land I was thinking in that I understood that okay because you know at my age maybe I don't have all my brain cells in the right place all right but that's what I understood him that it's that it's not completely un like no way that can that happen

Mr. May I have a quick followup, Alicia? I will make sure we have ACD on the line that we ask him your question tonight. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. And I will call Kent again.

Mr. Mayor, next we have Ken Boyak. Good evening and uh thank you for giving us time to share our point of view with you. Um my name is Kimberly Boyak. You can call me Kim and I live at 4270 East Overland Road. So, um, when you're stopped on Overland Road, um, because the traffic is backed up, we are the property that's right beside the Corey Barton, uh, piece of property that we've talked about. We have, uh, about 2 and 1/2 acres in there. Um, we've lived there for 40 years, raised our two kids there. Some of you might have seen our horses there. We've we've always had horses or some kind of livestock there. It's our little farm. Um but uh it's uh like has already been pointed out, the whole area is changing. It is not the same as it was. Um, as a matter of fact, one of the things that I've learned through the last five years or so is that uh I lived in the uh town of Star growing up and my folks had 33 acres and uh that uh they sold their land to developers and I know that uh just because something is proposed doesn't always mean that's what's going to happen because you know theirs was all laid out for a subdivision and now it has a you know a church on it and extended to the cemetery and you know it's just it's not the what they actually proposed. So I

know things can change and uh uh we had tried to sell our property a couple of times but both of the buyers at that time were turned down um from the city council for the projects that they had proposed. So, we'd kind of given up hope when uh this energetic uh developer from uh the back row here um uh Brett came and knocked on our door and that was in November of 2021, made us an offer and we, you know, by the time we uh you know went back and forth and negotiated things, um we came to an agreement with an offer that I actually don't think that I could get in today's market because that started 4 and 1/2 years ago. Um what's going to happen to us if this project isn't approved is that we're going to be at the mercy of Corey Barton because he's the one that holds the cards on this this access road, this stoplight. And um my big concern is is that uh um if this project is not approved that uh it's going to stall even longer. I would not be surprised if it just sits there for quite some time because we don't have this um outside development coming in to help kind of break things loose. So, what I'd really like to do is ask for your support on this project because I Oops, sorry. Um, I really don't, um, see us getting, um, uh, this project moving with that, uh, I guess you'd say kind of the cog in the road with that stoplight there. And so, um, I just, um, I'm asking for you to really think about, um, kind of ignore the stoplight aspect of it, um,

in that there's been a lot of other development around there that didn't have to take responsibility for it. And I'm really hoping that you don't make that become our responsibility when it's not even on our property. So, um, thank you very much for your time.

Thank you, council. Any questions? Thank you. And Mr. Mayor, I have Rick Boyak. Hello and thank you. My name is Rick Boyak. I live at 4270 East Overland Road. Um lot of stuff, a lot of information that you guys um were asking about and stuff. And as far as um so BVA built up there the north end of our sub our subdivision and I know that when they were doing that you guys were concerned about the access of getting all the people out of there and I know at one time they were talking about bringing a road down by the canal and dropping it down at the back part of my property and out on Cory Barton's property and because they came and talked to me about buying that uh if you look at the map I own that uh it'd be the furthest east piece of the property there by Corey Barton and they came and talk about that corner part and I know there was a couple of you guys that were concerned about the getting rid of that traffic and stuff from up there and so you leaned on the ACD saying that Silverstone Way was adequate enough and Rackom Road was enough and so I know a couple of you had some doubts about that but you went with ACD's recommend commendations and that road went away. Now, I don't know if it was because Cory at that time didn't want to participate in adding that up to Mobato Way at same problem that we're having now. I don't know. But my thought is is all that land up through there, the rest of the subdivisions all up, people are wanting to buy it up and stuff, but they don't know what to do. They can't because of the road situation. Rolling Hill was blocked off mainly

because of all the gravel trucks going up to that project up there. People were concerned about all the gravel trucks running up and down that. That is the main reason why that road was shut off. So, at this point, if we get de this development going and stuff, I don't understand why we can't open up Rolling Hill up to um Flat Iron and people out around that way until Cory Barton comes to the table and allows that other access road to be built up through there. So, that's my thoughts. I've been there for 40 years. Things have changed. Um, I don't want to wait another 20 years till Cory decides what he's going to do. So, I would ask that you guys approve this project. I mean, the state of Idaho is no more a secret. People are moving in. They need a place to live. These guys are offering places to put people. Welcome to Meridian and enjoy it. Let's do it. All I got any questions?

Council questions. Mr. Mayor, Councilman, uh, you know who you are. Taylor. Taylor, thank you. You are getting sick. Go to bed soon enough. So, your comments were tracking with some of the things I was thinking, which would be, you know, the biggest problem here is just there's only one access out onto Overland, but, you know, we could open up uh, you know, Rolling Hill Drive to the north. I guess my question would be from your experience, lived experience on the road, if that were to open up, would it be easier, would it make sense for you and your let's assume that the project's not even moving along just in your, you know, today reality.

Would it be easier for you to go up to Flat Iron and around to Silverstone or would you still be trying to go out overland? Does it depend on the time of day or Well, I'm saying if we were to open it up. Oh, like how I mean would you would you your neighbors actually start using that northern so that you're not trying to do a left turn on overland and busy times things like that? I'm just kind of curious what your if I had access to rolling hills. Yes. But my property faces it's on Overland Road. So I only have that access out. I have no choice. But yes, I would probably go up around and use the stoplight at Silverstone. make it a lot easier getting in and out. Absolutely.

Council Sher,

this not a question um but just a request for people if if there is additional testimony. I am curious to hear people's feedback about opening up the closure of Rolling Hills um and whether people would support that because it from what I recall when we originally closed it that was as a condition because of the development to the north um there were significant safety concerns and I think they were legitimate um by people in the neighborhood. I'm I'm concerned there may be people that are not here that really would have a vested interest in it. Um and hearing from them, but you know that is a potential solution at some point if there's enough of this redeveloping maybe that can get opened up and then that's kind of the answer for people to get to Silverstone. Um so just a request if you know if people come up if they could address that I'll probably ask that question. Thanks.

Thank you. Any additional comments, questions? Thank you. Can I kind of address what she was saying? So, the people that are um north of Five Mile Creek there, most of those people have either sold or their kids are no longer the little age. There's like two families there now. And that was their big concern about the gravel trucks running up and down the road. Um and that was the big push of why that um got closed. Mr. Mayor Sher,

as as a person who was a decision maker at the time, I recall safety concerns beyond just gravel trucks. Um, I get what you're saying, but there's a complete lack of sidewalks, a complete lack of lighting. I mean, all of those aspects. It I really wish actually that would be an interesting thing to find out if there was a way to know is there a critical mass of these properties that have been listed on the market. Um maybe if planning staff was able to refresh her memory about how many different parcels there are between here and the kind of northern boundary where BVA's property is. I I I feel like there's a research project to be had here. Um that might provide helpful context if if what you're saying is true. If it's true that like the vast majority of the neighborhood is selling at this point, we could really say, okay, this area is really finally in transition. Maybe we we can pick a direction and kind of move on that. But at the time when we made that decision, it was certainly a safety concern is what I recall very strongly. Thank you for your um help.

You're welcome. Yeah, I think there's seven or eight properties north of this parcel. I believe there's seven. Two of them, one's for sale, one already sold. Um well, actually, and then on the other side there's one for sale. So, and the one is another one is in negotiations. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Mr. Mayor, you have two online. First, Michael Blowers. And Michael, you can unmute yourself.

Hi, my name is uh Michael Blowers and at 1325 Rolling Hill Drive. Uh just to kind of address what we were just talking about. Um, yes, it does concern us much more than just the gravel trucks. There's a transition area now between the apartments and what would be going in. So, there's constantly people walking up and down the street, uh, people that aren't in the neighborhood, and there's, like you said, no curb, gutter, whatever. Um, but beyond that, uh, one of the questions I wanted to ask, um, my understanding is that this wasn't necessarily just because we complained about it. My understanding is that a local road once it exceeds a certain ADT has to become a commercial or some some sort of road and opening that up would exceed that amount which would then require curb uh gutter sidewalks lighting um which would require the removal of the homes. That that was my understanding not that we just complained about it. Um, and kind of to to echo overall this whole project, like we want them to be successful in it. I don't make the rules. And kind of like how the the last meeting for the previous project last month, uh, good luck to any business that attempts to open here, uh, because it's going to be chaos. And I don't know why you would want to open up a business here without that. Um because as someone who actually lives on Rolling Hill and drives it every single day, um I don't see how you can have that much traffic coming in and out of there uh without some sort of solution to this problem.

Thank you, council. Any questions? Thank you, Michael.

And Mr. for Mayor there. David Ellis did have his hand up, but it's not now. So, I'm not sure if he wants to speak, but you're able to unmute. Mr. Ellis, you should be able to speak now. Um, there's David Ellis online with hand raised, able to unmute and I'm just waiting on him to speak. Looks like he may be having some microphone issues. just brought in as a panelist to see if that would help. Do we have anybody else signed up?

Mr. Mayor, we do not.

There are others that want to testify. Okay. Um why why don't we do this? Why don't we take a a 5m minute break right here? Council's been going since 4:30 and we'll try to see if we can get Mr. Ellis figured out and then we'll continue with testimony right after that. So, we'll go in recess and it may be seven or eight minutes. So, okay. Mr. Ellis, I unmuted you if you want to try to test.

Can you try again there? I can see your Yes. Are you guys there? Yeah, we actually Yeah. I don't know what happened with my laptop. It just shut down on me. So, I was like, uh, what the heck? I was starting to talk and then all of a sudden it shut down. So, my apologies. Cool. They're on break right now, so we'll come back to you about seven minutes. Perfect. We're the recess, but we'll come back to you first thing. All right. Perfect. Thank you.

All right, we'll go and come back from our break and do we have Mr. Ellis ready to go? Yep. Mr. Ellis, you should be able to unmute. Yes, Mayor Council. How are you guys tonight?

My name is David Ellis. We own 1395 rolling kill and we also own 1300 rolling kill. Um to point out a couple things that have been addressed tonight. I definitely agree with Mike on opening up rolling hill. Um I'm totally fine with Rolling Hill opening up as long as all the houses are removed off of Rolling Hill prior to that happening. Um, I do want you guys to know we have been approached by a developer and nine out of the 10 existing homes north of Five Miles Creek um have all kind of committed and said yes, we're going to move forward with this um once this developer gets going on it. Um, according to him, he actually is sitting down with staff or with the city of Meridian tomorrow um which they have an appointment to start get the basically get the ball rolling on that end of things. Um, so with that being said, I know that that is their future plan is to go to Flat Iron and have all the traffic go out that way. So I guess if both of these developers kind of worked hand in hand, then at that point in time, um, it should solve a good portion of the traffic issues. Thank you.

Thank you, council. Any questions? All right. If there are others that had raised their hand if you just want to come on up. Mr. Mayor, there is someone online as well. Oh. Um, do you want to get them first? Okay.

Um, Bethany Irwin, you should be able to unmute. Bethany, you're able to unmute if you want to speak now. I'm sorry. Can you hear me now? Yes, we can.

Okay. Uh, my name is Bethany Irwin and I live at 4240 East Overland Road. I've lived there since 2015 and I have been an Idaho resident for almost 50 years. I am also one of the five homeowners um in this development. First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you tonight. If any of you have driven down Overland in the last several years, you would have noticed and most likely may have been a part of many of the changes. I remember when it was just a brick house across the street and acres of farmland. Now it is apartments and Mavado subdivision. I will say when this developer approached my family, we were one of the holdouts in the beginning. Sometimes it's hard to watch bare land go up into apartments, commercial development, and other residential units, but that is what has happened in our area and across our valley. I will say that watching the first round of de development being turned down, we didn't understand the commitment this company would bring to this community. I call it a community because they have bent over backwards to accommodate and comply with every form of objections they have received. I know that they have named a few, but what got my husband and I on board was the residential community they will bring to this area. I don't know about you, but I love to see people outdoors and enjoying our beautiful city and state. With the per this proposed development, it will bring dog parks, walking paths, fire pits, playgrounds, pickle ball courts, not to mention a clubhouse for people to gather. This allows this development to be a community, not just

a dwelling of buildings. And that's what sold us on becoming a part of the bigger picture. When we took when we look at Overland and Eagle Road, there is a bigger picture and it is coming. Whether most of us like it or not, traffic will always be a problem. But the people that I have talked to that have moved here say there is no traffic here at all. That's that I think was a little sarcasm, right? I think most people who have lived here most of their life, like me, want to keep Idaho a secret, but for the last 25 plus years, the secret is out. Once again, I just ran across an article that Idaho has been listed as one of the top 10 best places to live. I do believe not only as a homeowner, but even the properties around this proposed development will benefit from this approval if approved. The developers have spent countless hours and actually years making sure everyone was heard and going out of their way to accommodate all objectives that have come their way through these meetings. I want to thank you for your consideration and hopeful approval this evening. Thanks again.

Thank you, Bethany. Council, any questions? Okay. Appreciate it. Anybody else? Mr. Clerk. Okay. Now, you all can come on up if you'd like to speak. Um, and if you want to come up to the front row that way we whoever wants to go next can go. Angela, you're good. Come on up. Hello, my name is Angela Rainey. We own the property at 1480 Rolling Hill Drive. My husband Gary and I. Um, Mr. Mayor and City Council, thank you for your time and your energy in this. I really appreciate it. So, we moved away. We used to call it, we lived at that residence. We called it the goat ranch because we had goats and it was our special little place. We would go out in the back, never see anybody. It was wonderful. But we saw the development coming with all quiz at the end of the street. We saw it coming and so we bailed and um but now our daughter and her husband kind of husband um and their small child live there and um it's to to to borrow everybody else's that has spoken before me. I mean our house is a havvel. I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed when we go over there because we don't we haven't put any money or anything into it for five years knowing that it was going to sell and that the homes all around us the same way. It's embarrassing to, you know, to to think that our kids live there. But anyway, so my whole point of reason I want to talk tonight was we went over to our kids' house and we walked down. We'd never been down there. I'd never been down to the end of the street and had actually gone into the errand apartments. Those are at the end of the street there. And it was just like going into a completely different area. There were like people in the pool. There were kids running and playing. And you could tell the

neighbors were all like, "Hey, get in here. Come on." And it was just like, "Oh my gosh, this is what I want for the goat ranch." You know? I mean, we know our little our little special little goat ranch is going to be torn down. And to to think about it just being some I don't know awful place. But this developer when you say what's the special sauce I he has more energy and I believe the funding and um we believe in him and and I wouldn't want just anybody to be building there. And I never thought about opening up the end, but when we were walking with our kids the other night, that's a huge once once you get off of the end of Rolling Hill, it's a huge wide street with curbs and gutters on both sides and people walking um with their dogs um riding bikes and um very very wide street. I was very impressed because, you know, I have my granddaughter. I didn't want to be unsafe and I never once felt safe. So to to to to even think of that's an option, I think that's a gamecher for me. So anyway, thank you. Any questions?

Thank you. Council question for the goats. No, no, thank you. Okay. Thank you so much.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Gary Rainey, we own the property at 1480 Rolling Hill Drive. I'm the less attractive half of this combination. Uh, you know, my all my years of government service, I didn't deal with land use. Now I know why. Uh, I do know about growth, and that is that it is always complicated and it is always inevitable. And you here in Meridian know that better than anybody. I want to focus on my comments on what Councilman Taylor, Councilman Overton, uh, both were commenting on. We know this area is going to develop. Uh, we wish all of us wish that that Mavado intersection was in a slightly different place. We can't control that now. But, uh, some something that I want to share with you. So from a very prominent developer with a very prominent development very close to this development uh he and I were having a conversation because he tried to partner with Corey Barton. He tried to buy the land from Corey Barton and it was absolutely a non-starter. And what Corey Barton told him was that I have a 10 to 20year plan. Now, if Cory Barton has a 10 to 20 year plan, it's not going to go east. Not where that yellow spot was in that, right? The only way it's going to go is west and north. And what bothers me about this whole thing is whether or not our properties sells or not. I don't want Corey Barton to have a strangle. He should not have a strangle hold over these properties because if this gets denied, the logical the probability is that nothing will be able to be developed unless it's developed by him. So, you've heard the testimony tonight about the condition of the properties and people are struggling. The people next to us, their garage caught fire. Rather than fix it, there's a piece of

plywood on it. Uh I don't think we have a I don't think our place is a hvel. But it uh it's a tough neighborhood. I don't want Corey Barton to own all of us and I hope you agree with that. I'd stand for any questions. Council, any questions? Thank you. Thank you. Good evening.

Hi there. My name is Amy Waddles. I live at 1360 Rolling Hill Drive. Um I have attended numerous meetings probably the last eight years. And I do want to address the point about why Rolling Hill was closed at that point. Uh Rolling Hill was closed because of safety. people coming out of Top Golf, coming down Rolling Hill Drive, the possibility of drinking, driving, no lights, on and on. Um, one of the things that's changed in this conversation is now we have the concert hall going in right there at the end of where Rolling Rolling Hill meets Flat Iron. So, any discussion about possibly opening up Rolling Hill while homes are still there is dangerous. um 2500 people capacity. Parking is already overcrowded there. People are going to be drinking and the quickest route out is right down Rolling Hill Drive. Uh my understanding is that ACD report said Rolling Hill would remain closed until the homes were gone. Regardless of what latitude you all have, I encourage you not to even consider that there's children on these streets. There's families on these streets and regardless of what some neighbors think about the quality of the homes, we all agree, but there are homes and not all of us want to leave, we're being forced to leave because of these developments. My concern is Assemble has been wonderful. They've been great to work with. My concern is whatever issue comes from that development, is that going to further delay our development? Are we going to have to deal with those consequences? We've had to deal with the consequences from the north and is that

going to stall our developments? I don't have those answers. You all are the experts here. Um, but those are definitely some issues and concerns that we have. That's it. Thank you, council. Any questions? Thank you. Thanks. Is there anybody else that would like to provide testimony on this item this evening? If you're online, you can just raise your hand or you can come forward. Council, would you like to speak to ACD before we ask the the applicant to close? Mr. Mayor, Dr. Robertson,

see if we can raise Matt from ACD online. Mr. Mayor, council member Overton. Yep. This is Matt PAC with ACD, 5800 North Mer Avenue. Happy to stand for any questions.

All right, Matt, we can barely hear you here, but uh um I'll go ahead and fire off the first two questions. you've you've been listening to this testimony this evening and probably my biggest concern all evening has been what does the future look like with the intersection of MVA and maybe also you can address whether there can or can't be a signal at Rolling Hill and Overland. Mr. Mayor, Council Member Overton, I raised my mic a little bit. Hopefully that helps on your end. Yeah. So to comment on the uh the signalized intersection on Overland Road, um we would need it to be a collector street intersection, which of course Mavado is built out as and shown in our classification layer as a collector. Uh additionally, the MSM, the master street map, shows the future collector to be built in alignment with Mavado. Um and that's consistent with uh ACD's planning practices and discussion with the city. Um, with that being said, uh, that is the the ultimate location of a signal on Overland. Um, it's not necessarily a discussion to to signalize the Rolling Hill intersection, uh, given the southside there. Uh, the driveway is a private driveway, serves no public connection to the south. Um, and really with the the entire existing conditions to the south, uh, with Mavado being the collector there, that provides the ultimate public connection, uh, and where we want to see that that signal.

Thank you, Matt.

Are there other questions for AC at this time? Mr. Mayor, Council Shader,

um, couple of questions. What would ACD recommend for a neighborhood in transition like this? So, the end of Rolling Hills Drive is currently closed. It could be opened, I think, with the joint action or recommendation of the city council and ACD, but we have kind of this interim period where we have people still living in these homes and it's certainly a huge safety concern. What would you recommend in terms of how to address a neighborhood in transition like this in terms of best practices? Is there a way to do this in a safer way? Is there a way to um you know get some uh pedestrian improvements going? I I just general feedback and curiosity on my end of how how can we do this in the best way possible.

Mr. Mayor, council members trader, uh ACD would love to to provide some opinion. Um, however, I can really only necessarily speak to the facts that we have available and our standard practices. Um, the the best way to to go about it would be through development. That's the process in which these infill projects occur. That's how these local roadways, collector roadways get built and improved. our master street map which is the planning document. Um it's showing that collector roadway there and the only way to achieve that collector roadway being built out is through development which would of course uh require the the CBH parcel or the parcel adjacent to the site to the east to be developed. Um the intent of a collector roadway is to to to uh to transfer vehic vehicular traffic from local roadways to arterials. Um, and so the really the the best way based off the MSM, what's planned in the MSM is to allow development to to construct that roadway uh and carry that traffic to Overland Road. Um, yeah, that's what I can provide uh based on on how to alleviate any any concerns here.

Mr. Mayor Joseph Taylor. Matt, um can you tell me um what is the sort of the future plan for Rolling Hill Drive? Uh how do you anticipate? Is it going to be considered a collector? Is it an what really just give me a better sense of what ACD views for that road in the next, you know, whatever the next phase of of that um being developed or built out. I just want to get a sense from that. understanding Mavado is the designated collector with the the stoplight, but I want to know what you think or what the plan is for Rolling Hill Drive.

Rolling Hill uh excuse me, Mr. Mayor, Council Member Taylor. Rolling Hill Drive is classified as a local street. It is not shown in our MSM to be uh built as a as a future collector roadway. Uh so there there isn't necessarily a plan for Rolling Hill. any improvements, changes, vacations of Rolling Hill Drive would all need to be accomplished through the development process, which of course is proposed by the development community. Uh so yeah, ACD does not necessarily have any any plans for Rolling Hill Drive. See no further questions for Amanda at this time. Would the applicant like to come forward and close? Let me pull my presentation back up. I There we go. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council. Let's see. I'm going to start a as you've heard tonight from from some of the testimony. U existing land owners in this in this area who want to sell are are currently stuck. Um there there are are some um that have made an agreement in principle with a developer. I think I heard nine out of 10 that are north of this project. Um, but a domino needs to fall to be able to to continue and and uh allow enable uh redevelopment of the interior properties in this little enclave. Um, really quickly before I jump into

rebuttal, I wanted to to hit a couple of last slides in the presentation. First, um, looking at the city staff report, uh, the analysis of specific use standards, I'd note that we meet or exceed each of those standards. Uh I I I'd also note that we're compliant across the board with um the comprehensive plan. Uh we provide a unified coordinated plan across multiple parcels. Uh six parcels actually. We we're contiguous with city of Meridian on two sides. Um this enables the continued growth of Eagle View Landing in Elorado and and uh Silverstone and and other projects in the area. It significantly improves on the project that was previously proposed. uh and its road and layouts conform with the ACD and fire department requirements ensuring that safe vehicular access that I discussed a little while ago. And although we we uh previously uh received a denial recommendation from the planning and zoning commission, um it it was it was actually less a denial than it was an acknowledgement that the problems that are associated with this particular area uh deserve recognition and decision by the city's elected officials. Um, this developer has made herculean efforts to try to engage with the the uh private developer that's to the east of the property. Um, but without the engagement of that neighbor to the east, this this little project can't solve the the uh the connectivity and transportation areas for this this little enclave. Um, we recognize uh fully I'm going to click ahead a couple of slides here maybe it's not going again. Uh we recognize that this is a tough area from a planning perspective. Uh, this developer has made, as I mentioned, numerous goodfaith efforts to address staff's concerns with regard to uh, timing and with regard to to connectivity and with regard to transportation. This developer has offered to buy the property that's to the east. This property has offered to collaborate on a road through that

property to the that's to the east. Um, this developer has even offered to commit money to a road trust with the Ada County Highway District, which was an an offer rejected by the highway district. uh understanding that that's a little bit of an accounting nightmare for for the highway district. Um although it's certain that Overland Road uh will be widened, the timeline for that project is is uncertain. Uh in the meantime, uh you heard that there are those 10 properties for sale on the two interior streets. Uh there are degrading conditions. This is an area in transition. Uh I can tell you after after sitting down and sitting next to developer for a few minutes, uh this developer plans to move quickly to construct. You probably heard this before. I can tell you that this this developer has a proven track record of this in the Treasure Valley. It's not just uh it's not just lip service. Um a strong record in the Treasure Valley of building projects. It doesn't behoove the the the developer to sit on on dirt, so to speak. Um what we're what we're asking you to do is is to use a little bit of a crystal ball and to look forward 2.5 years, two and a half years uh into the future when this project is completed. it's gone through its permitting and it's it's it's coming into fruition and it's starting to lease up. Uh what are the conditions going to be then? Based on what we've heard tonight, I think it's not just logical, but it's likely uh that this uh that this project will spur further development in the area and will result in the construction of that that collector road. Um we're open to solutions. Um, and I know it's not your job to solve development's problems. Uh, in this particular area though, these are are unique problems. Uh, our our concern is that without an approval of this project, uh, other development in this little enclave is is essentially stymi. U, the lynch pin, the keystone, if you will, is Cory Barton's

property. And without him engaging in meaningful planning uh or the sale of the property, uh it's impossible to it's it's just impossible to get him to the table and it's impossible to solve that unless uh unless that occurs because of that alignment. Um our intention is to continue to try to work with Corey Barton to get that to get that done. Um an approval here perhaps puts Cory Barton on his toes. hopefully an approval brings him to the table uh to address solutions for connectivity in this area. Uh a and as you heard from uh Mr. Ellis as as I mentioned a few minutes ago, nine of 10 property owners north uh of our project are in agreement with a different project development that's meeting with the city tomorrow with city staff tomorrow. Um, we have previously uh offered or proposed uh signalizing rolling hill and we got about the same answer that you got from ACD on that that it doesn't make sense because it would be a three-way intersection because of the driveway south of of of Overland. Um, opening up Rolling Hill at the north end certainly is acceptable to the project developer understanding that there are safety concerns in the interim. Um, importantly though, none of the testimony that you heard tonight was opposed to the project. Uh, in fact, in stark difference to some of the projects that come before the city council, a lot of people who typically would be opposed to a project like this actually stood here at this table or or were online and heaped praise on this developer for being willing to work with and uh and um address concerns and object uh objections from neighboring land owners. Uh we understand that this is a tough one and we understand that that uh that there is a little bit of a leap of faith here. We ask you to take that leap and and approve our application. We stand for questions.

Thank you. Council questions. Mr. Mayor Council Sher,

um would you just remind me what your timing is? When do you think realistically your project would would deliver? Assuming approval tonight, past uh past any appeal period, uh we would begin uh starting engineering and design immediately. We still need to go uh and submit to design review. Uh I think we're probably 6 to9 months out from uh horizontal uh improvements starting. I think that might be maybe a little bit optimistic. Uh maybe 9 to 12 months from from horizontal happening. Uh and then uh completion of the project anywhere from two to three years out. Um Mr. Mayor,

council chair,

if you'll indulge me, I have a little bit of a thought process. Um and I wanted to comment and maybe get input from staff and the applicant. Um so we have really a chicken and egg issue. This is a neighborhood in transition. A few years ago, I think this whole neighborhood, not the whole neighborhood, but a a big part of this neighborhood was united around safety concerns and wanting to maintain their quality of life. What I'm seeing now is a big change, I think. But I I I kind of want to run that down and establish that. Um, we don't have a recommendation for approval right now from city staff or planning and zoning. So, I wanted to check with city staff. What would be involved if you were to draft findings of approval? What kind of time frame would be involved there? Mr. Mayor, uh, Councilman Strader, as far as findings and conditions of approval, probably just so the applicant and I can collaborate um, and make sure we're on the same page when we do come back to you or at least relatively on the same page. I think four to six weeks is probably realistic with that. So we have time to draft it up, send it to them, let their team review it, send it back to us, and actually get it published a week before the next city council hearing. That's that's probably a pretty realistic time frame.

Mr. Mayor Council Sher,

I'm curious if um city staff or the applicant potentially, but I think it would be more appropriate coming from city staff would be open to a little bit of an outreach project or some kind of a neighborhood engagement project. I would never normally ask this, um, but we're not talking about a huge number of homes. It's it's it seems like a manageable amount of homeowners. I'm curious if city staff would be open to contacting the homeowners in this area to make sure that the impression we're getting tonight is representative of the neighborhood as a whole. They don't have an HOA, so there's no easy way to do that. But if it was possible for city staff and maybe with the other application that I don't know about but sounds like might be swirling, city staff could kind of establish, are there big pockets of this neighborhood that are in transition now? And and how much of rolling hills does that kind of include? Because part of what I've been thinking, just to think out loud for a second, is this project's going to take two to three years, which is kind of what I thought. It's not happening in 12 months. two to three years is a long time, relatively speaking, to give people in the neighborhood a heads up that we believe that if we believe the neighborhood is in transition, if we establish, yes, this whole neighborhood is in transition and and the status here is really changing, could we work toward the idea of trying to open Rolling Hills Drive in like three years? That that's kind of what I'm kind of working toward. If we if we this is a lot of facts that would have to line up, but if the neighborhood as a whole were moving in the direction of selling to development, if we really felt we established, you know what, this neighborhood's in transition and then there was a goal of opening Rolling Hills Drive as part of approving this application, that would make me

feel comfortable that there is a solution to the roadway dilemma because from where I'm sitting right now, it's very frustrating. And I understand in Corey Barton Homes as a property owner, they have their rights to engage or not engage, but it does kind of feel to me like there's one particular piece of ownership of this whole area that's kind of holding it hostage. And I feel like opening up Rolling Hills is the solution that would help everybody in this neighborhood in the long term. And then we're really talking about there is a transition period where it could be dangerous. And so I I just wanted to kind of understand if the whole neighborhood is really transitioning and it's like we're talking about 10 homes and nine out of the 10 homes confirm to us, yes, we are talking to developers, we're actively interested in selling, then that would give me a a a time frame and some guard rails around what that risk would look like. Um, as opposed to where we sit today, which is a huge safety concern that can't be solved. And it feels like we have opened up development along this corridor. I wasn't a huge fan of it without a plan, but this at least would get us toward a plan. So, I was just talking out loud, but Mr. Mayor, if city staff has feedback about that brainstorming idea.

Yeah, mayor, members of the council, uh you kind of were on the same same wavelength I was on. I was thinking out loud here. Think I appreciate you kind of reaching in. Uh certainly I think I can confirm um with the council that we are meeting with the developer tomorrow to discuss the additional properties north of this site. In our initial meeting with them, they talked about three or four properties and we're like it's going to take more than that. And we also asked them to reach out to this applicant to come forth with a solution. So although staff is happy to take on that effort, what I what I would propose is allow staff to meet with that applicant tomorrow and then we'll report back to you on the findings on how many properties they do have and what an approach an appropriate approach will be. I think what you're saying about understanding the safety concerns, I think it's very valid because if you recall, it's it's more to it than just removing a gate. Um, again, this is a substandard street section, and anytime you add trips to a road that's substandard, there's got to be a requirement or a trigger to improve that street section to to accommodate the additional trip. So, although this development and the current Rolling Hill subdivision doesn't hit that threshold, we know if we remove that gate, it will hit that threshold with everyone coming out of that mixeduse development north of the site. So we have to understand what was going to be required from ACD as far as that component as well because as uh Matt testified they don't do anything unless there's actually a development proposed. It's it's a local road. So again if if that is the case it is going to take a partnership between this developer and another developer to do those improvements and make that happen. add the sidewalks, add the street lights, uh widen the roads or whatever it may take and also handle that um the drainage for the roadway. So, there's a lot of coordination that

needs to happen. So, if that's something that the council would like us to pursue and take and and come back with some findings, then I would probably recommend a continuence tonight and allow us to get some more information. And I don't know if the applicant's open to that or not, but at least we can start that dialogue and get do some of that factf finding for you and then let you know what that effort will take. I I I saw Bill Ner reach for his. So I think want to get his input.

Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. I I think the last part of what Bill said, I think kind of hit on the head. I mean, we we got a couple of different things, and I'm just trying to make sure the record for this project stays pretty clean. Now again, if we're going to get other information and the applicants understanding that we're going to continuous to gather further information about the roadway and from the what I thought I from the council is is right now without of that additional information there was less of a desire to want to move forward with this project by itself without at least understanding the interplay with the rest of the area. So, if the if the applicant is okay with that and a continuence not again presuming any outcome or not presuming any decision is going to be made either way and we're still gathering information, I think I think we're fine. I I was concerned how that was playing out, but I think if we do it that way with their with their um buy into that, I think we're okay from a record standpoint. So,

Mr. Mayor, share. So, I will turn to the applicant now. Um, so I I know and I know this is a little out of order. This is a little unusual how we're approaching this, but we're trying to be creative, I think, bec because this is a really tricky area. Yep. Come come on up.

Hi, mayor and council people. Thank you for your time and this um I appreciate the deliberation. I really do. That's been our you say your name for the record.

Brett Slegel from Assemble Management. Um, and so I, as everyone said here, I'm very solution oriented. I really I'm committed to all these people here. I want to figure out a way to make this work. they've effectively partnered with me and they've they've dealt with continuous extensions and draining emails from me and conversations and um it's been unfortunate. You know, we've put an an incredible amount of effort into this to date. Um but I don't want to just lose that effort. I believe in this parcel, these parcels. I believe in this area and so I I I'm not there's people in this crowd right here that have the ability to blow up this deal for me in the next week or two. And so I can't speak for them allowing me to get an extension. I I can say it would be fantastic to approve it tonight, but if if it's if it's either denial or a a continuation, then I'll choose continuation. But I just need everybody to know that I don't have the ability, the timeline from all these sellers that are somewhat represented here and somewhat represented on Zoom to say that I can come back here in four or six weeks. So this project may not exist in four or six weeks and I would be very sad about that. Um but I cannot force these people to give me another extension. Um, this was all predicated on today we thought was today was the day and um,

and maybe it's not. Um, so I I'm willing to because I'm solutionoriented, but I need you all to understand that it might not be around and that would be terrible. Um, so I guess I guess that's where I sit right now. I for for whatever it's worth, I will always be a solutionoriented person and I am happy and and and I think these gentlemen can contest. I mean, I've spent hours in meetings and on phone calls with these gentlemen and everybody in this crowd trying to find a solution. And I didn't actually know about the nine of 10 properties um being in LOI or whatever. And I'm happy about that. That's great for all the people that continue up the street. I would love to sit down with that developer and talk about how we could work together. I've tried so hard to get Corey Barton to do anything with me. Buy the 40 foot strip, buy his whole parcel, frankly, even pay for the road, you know, like it's been in incredible. And I just all I can think about is that he's trying to create a position of leverage over this area because that's what he's been effectively given if this project is denied. And sure, we could maybe open up to Rolling Hill to Flat Iron, but also maybe not. I don't know what the findings are going to be from ACD or from this other developer. I don't really know. But what I know is that our project is conforming and it's approvable. Everybody's been saying this is a great project and we believe in it. And so I I will continue to try to buy Corey Barton's parcel because I'm vested

in this project and I want my egress to be better and undeniably it will be better once Mavado is built. So I have a vested interest in making that happen. I also have a vested interest in making sure that Rolling Hill is a nice place to live and that means working with adjacent developers as I do on all of our projects. So, I I you have my personal commitment that I will do that. I really will. Um because I care. Uh I'm not, as you probably have all heard tonight, it's I'm not an average sort of developer. I I I'm really trying to do something different and and care about it. Mr. Mayor,

Council Shader,

I think we can all feel that. Um I I think that is coming across and I guess what what I just maybe some feedback would be even this evening we could not we could not approve this development this evening because we don't have any findings. So with without any uh support from planning and zoning without support from city staff it it's not anyone's fault. It's just the spot that you came to us at with recommendations for denial. We don't even have the findings to approve tonight. That that's not actually possible. I mean, we could, but we've never approved something without, you know, some guard rails and and some some support from staff and conditions from staff that are workable. So just from a a practical perspective that that that isn't an outcome I think that would work well tonight. But I do think a continuence might make a lot of sense even if it's for a few weeks to just give an opportunity to work with city staff and give us a chance to get our arms around just establishing is this neighborhood really in transition? It seems like it is.

Yeah. And if that's the case, then I feel like there there should be a path toward opening uh the end of rolling hills and then that creates a complete workaround where we'd love for Mavado and that intersection to happen, believe me. But if the reality is that's not happening for 20 years, it seems like in everyone's best interest to have some kind of a an alternative. Um so that that's I was just trying to be solutionoriented, too. That's where I was coming from. I didn't understand that it couldn't be approved tonight. I mean, that was news to me. I thought it could I thought city council could they could vote to approve it, but they'd have to come back with findings to approve those findings in three to four. Fine.

Did you still have more comments for your closing? Okay. I I I guess my statement then is if if the option is continuence or denial, I choose continuence with the risk that somebody out here might not give me a continuence of a contract timeline. Um but if if that's the decision, I choose continuence and I'd love to get introduced to this developer who has not reached out to me, FYI. Um, and I can be hap happy to be a part of that conversation and happy to be a part of the conversation with the 10 parcel people above us and a conversation with whoever at the city is necessary.

Mr. Mayor, Taylor,

I I think it's I I want to say this because um appreciate the creativity of for trying to move ahead. I think it's incumbent for us to remember that um we need to consider what's in this application and make our decision on this and that we shouldn't be considering a future potential application as how it may pertain to how we agree with here. So, while I appreciate the fact, and I think that, you know, Bill made it pretty clear if you're okay that we're getting more information, that's okay, but it's we're not going to be making a decision on this application based on what the future application may or may not look like. So, I I think that's important to clarify here as a quasi judicial role that we have. We have to look at the application and the facts before us. And you rightly point out, consider the facts. What are the rules? What are the development or the zoning and the annexation requirements? All that. That's what we're going to look at. Not, hey, what's the I don't even know what the next application what what we're talking about. It's first I've heard of it and that's appropriate. I don't even know what you're talking about. Um I shouldn't know. And so I just want to put that on the record that whatever if there's a continuence one, it would be because we don't have um findings to approve and we would have to work through that. And that's what Nick was saying would be four to six weeks to to work out those findings that we can approve. But I also want you to understand we won't be making a decision based on what a future land use application may or may not look like because that we're not really supposed to do that.

Yeah, that that makes sense to me. I appreciate you saying that, too. I I guess my followup would just be the findings that would be coming from this four to six week process. I'd be working with Bill and Nick to to help generate these and and I guess the question goes back to you is what what will what would we be finding in the next four to six weeks that would allow you all to generate positive findings that would allow us to get approved because four to six weeks is also four to six weeks and you know where are we going to be at that if if we're not going to be we're not going to have a proposed project for the upper upper parcels in four to six weeks. I don't even know who this developer is. So So we're going to be right in four to six weeks. We're going to be right here and it's going to be this speculative future development. Well, and I think that's from from my perspective where I would want to go with this council is I generally are you supportive of the project enough to even ask staff to do this and if so, what direction would you give to staff for those findings? What are the things that are uh again on this project that are relative to that? Um, you know, my my struggle is through this conversation. This the whoever has the properties to the north could have been here to testify tonight if they had a vested interest. They evidently chose not to for whatever reason. You know, they may be watching, they may not be watching through that process. But I I I think if you're going to continue with the intention of findings to come back of yes, I think it'd be important for council to state that that's actually where you're headed and or what are some of those answers so

staff can do their work. M Mr. Mayor, I I just want to clear that there are people that are part of the 10 parcels in this crowd and and on Zoom. There were people that it's more than just this land sellers here. there there's people up and down the road that spoke. I'm just referring to the person who's got the the proposed application coming after you. You know that they're they're not here tonight or haven't spoken if they are here tonight that the land owners of that proposed application or the developer the the one coming in to talk to staff the one that would you would be in theory collaborating with. Okay. Yeah. I didn't I can't No, that person's not here. But the people that he's theoretically purchasing property from are represented here tonight.

Yes. Okay. Got it. Mr. Mayor, Council Shader.

Yeah. I I think all important points and it's uh we're walking a fine line. Um I I would say based on what I've seen, I'm supportive of the project. if I can find a solution to the roadway network um at some point that will make this more functional. Okay. I I think right now um and probably you're even feeling it that the access and stuff is going to be a challenge. If I saw if I think I don't need to know the details even of this other whatever development is happening and I don't even tie it to that. I just want to establish because it's not a huge number of parcels. I just want to establish that the majority of this neighborhood along rolling hills is in transition and actively looking to sell or talking to developers. That's what I'm trying to establish is that the conditions in this neighborhood have changed. Got it.

When when they came to us before this was and people were I don't want to paint it as a monolith because everyone's different and every individual homeowner has their own decisions to make, but this is a very different tone and very different feedback than we received back then. That makes me suspect that this neighborhood is really in transition and we're in a different point and that there could be a pathway eventually when it's safe toward opening rolling hills. I just want to understand that this is a neighborhood in transition. That is the piece of information that I would need to feel comfortable with moving forward with your application in addition to just ensuring that city staff has come up with appropriate conditions of approval. I know that sounds scary. It could mean anything. I don't think that's what it means. I like I think it would be even for example you all have even stated you understand you need to dedicate right of way right up here in the corner. That would need to be a condition of approval. That's just one example. So, there are like usually dozens of these kinds of conditions of approval that we need. We need to see those. Uh we don't approve projects without them. Just from a practical perspective, that that's kind of where I'm at. I'm leaning toward wanting to see this happen. I'd like to understand that the the neighborhood is in transition and then that would give me a pathway toward there is an answer to this and it might not happen in two years it might happen in five years whenever that time is that we but if we feel it's in transition then at some point because of the nature of this development will have to be the mechanism that improves these roads and so if I knew that this whole neighborhood is really in transition and things have changed that would that would give me the confidence that yeah that's occurring. I hope that helps.

Yeah, Mr. and Councilman Strader. I I think I I know most all those 10 people up and down the road. We've been working with them for a long time. And so and I I generally think they are interested in selling. And you heard Mr. David Ellis who is who represents two of those 10 parcels. He spec spoke on Zoom tonight. He was the gentleman that said nine out of 10. So and I trust him. He's been very honorable. And so I gather speculation that that we could get a letter that could be signed by those nine of 10 people that says, "Yes, I'm interested in selling my parcel. Yes, I am I, you know, I'm interested in selling the parcel because I understand that a larger development play is is here." So, I I I'm comfortable saying I'm pretty sure we could probably generate that in a couple of weeks if not quicker.

Mr. Mayor, Councilman Overton,

just to pivot just for a second alternative idea. This is the first time I've seen this part of Meridian all come in in support of change. I don't have a lot of people saying, in fact, no one really saying we want to keep it the way it is. They they understand it's going to redevelop and it was overwhelming. Um, I didn't expect that when this public hearing started this evening. I expected that we'd see what we saw before. So, a couple questions. First one to staff, we have an option to approve this project tonight. If we approve this project tonight without those findings, what's that next step look like?

Mr. Mayor, uh, council president Overton. Uh, so yes, if you guys recommend or if you do approve the project tonight, you know, you would request us to make the findings to revise the findings and create a development agreement because it's an annexation application. So, it would be an associated development agreement uh for the site. Um, and then we would come back to you guys at your perview on what time frame um on when you would want to see that back at council. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Followup. Yes, Mark.

Um the the reason I asked that is because I think everybody in this room has a very vested interest in seeing this project commit us to commit to you. You've committed to a developer. You've committed to an idea. You've committed to a dream. But you're waiting on six people to say we also commit to that. And what I've come to understand about a lot of developments is that area behind you, those nine to 10 homeowners to me are waiting to see us approve you. They're not waiting to see us continue you. They're not waiting for us to delay that. They want to see this approved so they then know that we're committed before they're going to move forward. I see this as one of the major dominoes falling for this whole area developing. I see this as a major domino falling in trying to pressure a property owner to the east that he's got to start playing ball with everybody else so we can get MVAT. I think everybody in this room understands, as I do, and I don't have to drive these roads, that your traffic's going to get a heck of a lot worse before it gets better. And that I would never suggest that rolling hills be opened until we got to such a point that we had that curb, gutter, sidewalk, street lights, that those developments made that roadway safe that we could open that up. But I don't expect to try to have that crystal ball and say it's going to happen in this 12 to 24month period because I've never been able to do that with any development anywhere. They happen as they happen. We all know that. So, um, my alternative thought tonight is that I would move forward with approving this tonight, getting the findings. I think we've had enough discussion and enough commitment from neighbors to know that this is going to happen.

And I would feel terrible if we put this on a continuence to the point that you started to lose any of your homeowners that were willing to be part of this development or we start to get doubt with the other homeowners that are also hoping to then meet with the other developer. So I guess what I'm saying is I would be in favor of moving forward with this tonight, taking that vote and then getting those findings later. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Council Cavender,

maybe a question for for Mr. Parsons. Bill, can you give council a little flavor of how often the council has has made a motion or has approved a project without appropriate findings in your career with with the city?

Mr. the mayor, members of the council, uh, council member Cavar. Uh, it's a it's I guess it's a loaded question. Um, okay, that's historic. Um, you do ask staff to come back with with findings for approval. We do ask for a continuence because it does take time for us to draft those appropriate conditions, but there have been on occasions where you said bring forward the findings and the DA for a future agenda. And so we've done it different ways over the years. Uh it's really the the comfort level of the council this evening on how you want staff to proceed.

Fair enough. Thanks, Bill. Mr. Mayor, maybe just a quick thought for council team. There's a reason why why I asked that question is is I recall a time earlier in my time on council where I think the city council was very supportive of an application and very um sensitive to the feedback from the neighbors who were wanting to see development occur. and the decision to approve an annexation was correct. The steps in which we went about it were incorrect and caused future challenges for future councils. And I know all of us on this council have probably at one point or another, we've got a a fix that comes before us and we're all kind of scratching our head and saying, "Hey, why why did the city council make that decision back then?" And often it comes from a place of being well intended but not having all the details. So, uh, I appreciate what our good council president is attempting to accomplish tonight, and I think in theory, I likely can get there. I I do have saw some outstanding questions on the on the traffic impact. Um, but I I would really urge caution about issuing an approval tonight without appropriate findings. I just think that it it puts us in a in a better precedent long term should something go wrong that we we really have a lot of confidence about what it is that we're approving. So, I I won't be in favor of that action tonight, although I do think that by and large I'm support of I'm in support of the application. I just think that a continuence is more appropriate so council can have a lot of clarity about what it is they are voting to approve.

Mr. Mayor, council, um it's been a long day, so I I apologize if I'm asking a question that you've already answered. I recall that you said you've even offered to help pay for the Mavado road construction. I don't recall what you've said in in terms of rolling hill improvements to the west. Can you describe what investments you're going to make or improvements that would be made to the west of that property? Uh Mr. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Woodlock, you're talking the the west side of Rolling Hill Drive. The e the east side, our side. Yes.

Yeah. No, it it a full full improvement. Um sidewalks, curbs, street lights. We've even um some of the uh some of the folks down the street were said, you know, people drive fast up and down the street. We offered, we said, "We'd happy to put um speed limit signs, maybe even flashing signs." At a certain point, we even offered to put speed bumps if like that was allowable, just trying to propose solutions that that they would appreciate. I'm not sure that the city and the fire department would necessarily like those things, but you know, these are all things that we're willing to do, but we want that edge of our development to be polished and nice and beautiful, and that's part of our community. So, absolutely, we want that. followup.

Yes, we'll walk. So, essentially to the center line from your property, you'll have curbs, sidewalk, gutter, street lights. Yes, sir. Speed bumps if we want. Yeah. Yes, sir. Okay. Um, that's one of the things that I think we have is important to us. We want to see those improvements starting to um make their way up Rolling Hill because I think you've heard tonight that ultimately until we get a solution on Mavado that is the solution and I just wanted to clarify that at least to East View Circle or the FiveM Creek we will see those improvements.

Yes. And and this is covered in the ACD report as well. they go through and they they they they have their bindings of sorts and and it says that the applicant will improve that area of rolling hill.

The only other comment I wanted to make, mayor, was again you you changed the application basically with uh the elevations on those north buildings and I appreciate that we really haven't talked much about that modification that um was made in between the planning and zoning denial and what you're bringing to us tonight. So, um, you know, ultimately I think you've done the things that that address my concerns. Um, so whatever the process ends up being, whether we have to um continue for findings um to be developed, that's that's one thing, but I think you've made the modifications that address some of the concerns that I had in looking initially at the application and the denial from PNZ.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council Shader.

Yeah. Um I think just maybe a question for city staff around timing. I know normally it takes four to six weeks. Is there any flexibility there? Um could it be accelerated? Because I think like from my own perspective I think continuence for me would be necessary tonight. I I am like Councilman Kavanaaugh. I would not feel comfortable approving tonight. I want to get there. um even like a in a two-eek time frame. I think is that a possibility or some maybe three weeks. I but I'm just curious like what if if planning staff has any ability to accelerate their normal timeline? Um and at least from my perspective, if I had any information that was a little bit more systematic or scientific about the neighborhood being in transition, then I would get there on it. That's kind of where I'm at.

I'm going to speak for staff. Sorry, guys. Yes, it can be done faster. Okay. And you're the boss. And and secondarily though, they need direction, right?

So if you guys can provide what you want in those findings to them, it will take a lot off their plate. They don't have to come up with them, you know. So spend 15 minutes now, save three weeks on the back end would be my two cents. And I would maybe look for staff to say what direction what are the areas you feel like you need direction from council on because it's got to be a two-way street. Mr. Mayor, members of the council. So, correct. You know, staff's recommendation for denial and PNZ's revolves around traffic and safety concerns, transition to the existing county residences to the north. Um, I think those are really the two main things that I would want you guys to touch on tonight. And also in addition to that, if hypothetically the properties to north are going to redevelop, is it really necessary to have that transition at this point? That's something I would also like to kind of consider from you guys because personally, if it's going to redevelop in that area, I think three stories probably makes more sense than having a weird try to transition that may not really be that functional. if it's really all going to be, you know, garden style apartments. I to be honest to for the record, the people we're meeting with tomorrow, it's very high level. I've we've met with them once, haven't seen a site plan. You know, they're what about this, what about that? What would you support? Um, we talked with hundreds, sometimes thousands of developers in a year. Um, and I don't know if they'll move forward with it, but ultimately, um, that's where I would ask you guys to weigh in on that as well. do you want to see the transition now or is it something that maybe you don't want to see the twotory transition. Um those are those are some of the things for the findings um that ultimately and you know whether it's consistent with the comp plan. One of the findings we have to make is it is part of the reason staff said it wasn't because there is in the comp plan that

says you analyze roadways that are part of the development and not part of the development in the larger area. Is it adequate to serve this development and the larger area as it redevelops? So, that's another thing that I'd like for you guys to touch on if you could. And um you know, ultimately I can come up with it, but if you guys give me more clear direction, it may read more of the way that you guys want it. Um and I do have, you know, draft DA provisions um for the approval. So, yes, I think a two to three week timeline so they can review it. We can have some collaboration there is definitely doable for, you know, condition or a development agreement to be proposed. Sorry, Doug. I thought you had some questions earlier. I don't know if they or comments if they were resolved.

Um, actually, Councilman Whitlock asked my question, but maybe staff did bring up something I would ask if um the transition issue is. I mean, I'm I don't think anyone's bringing in some single family residential homes between these two big apartments. So, in your opinion, if if we don't make a trans the transition a condition of approval, would you prefer two, threetory buildings there? I mean, if that's something I mean, I'm just throwing that out there. I'm not saying that's what we're going to do, but part of the transition is because of what was the adjoining property.

Mr. Mayor and Council Councilman Taylor. Yeah, absolutely. I mean that that was when the original development came in and it was four stories. The acknowledgement was folks this is not going to be single family for so long. This is going to be some sort of commercial product and that's that's what the future comp plan supports. So the answer to your question is absolutely. I mean, I we we've we did that twotory thing to try to get this thing to the approval line, but frankly, it it financially it's it's a huge burden on the project. I know that's not your purview, but we've we've lost a bunch of income. And I know there's more than just money here, but like all these things are so expensive. I mean, this is not a this is not a home run for us as we've worked on this for three years now. I mean this is this is a single at best and so yeah absolutely and we we we we could easily generate a plan so quickly our architect is here like yes please um I think we would be limited to to we would raise it we' about uh I think we're limited to 200 units because we don't have two points of egress for fire department and and that actually is a plan that we put we Actually, when we first came with this application, it was for a 200 unit building and the feedback we got the feedback from from Nick and and Bill like what, you know, it was I think three stories on that side and and so that's when we lowered it. So, we already have that plan and I would love to put that back in. That would be I I know it's minor 16 units, but it's a big deal for the finances of this whole thing.

Mr. Mayor and Council, I think one other item um that I'd at least want to get on the record and just make it clear to the to neighbors and those that have participated in the hearing tonight is the FiveM Creek runs along the north boundary. We're aware of that. I appreciate the applicant willing to show a bunch of trees and vegetation, but I don't know if that's going to be allowed by the irrigation district. Um, so I I hope they're they're working with them and and communicating because the last thing I want to have happen is you see 50 trees behind uh the buildings and the irrigation district says we don't want any trees in our easements. And then all of a sudden we're stuck at the mercy of the irrigation district and the neighbors didn't get the trees that they wanted. So, I think some of that needs to be worked out with the applicant, too, because that could impact their their site plan a little bit. And so, if there's a give and take on density and maybe some some refinement to make sure that they're being true to what the neighbors expect to see, I think that's that's critical, at least from my standpoint. I want to make sure that everyone's working together and collaborating and everyone's kind of getting what they want um at the end of the the project. So, just just keep that in mind. That ditch is a a natural waterway. We want it left open. So, I don't know how much wiggle room we have there in order to allow all those trees.

Mr. Mayor, Des Taylor,

I'll just share some thoughts to kind of indicate my my thoughts on this. Um, you know, to Councilwoman Strader's comment about wanting to feel comfortable with the is the neighborhood in in transition. Coming into tonight, I'm not sure I could answer the question, but I do feel the testimony was unique. I'm like Councilman Overton uh surprised that the neighbors came in to say, "Make a decision, please, to give us some certainty about what our future is." Certainly, there's been many years in limbo. I do feel like this is an area in transition, and I do agree this is a bit of a domino. Maybe not in the way that some people might think it's a domino, but it's It's a domino in that it would become an intolerable intolerable place to live if you just owned a property right next to it. You'd want to make some moves and move on and and see the rest of the the area develop. Um, you know, I'm reminded of a hearing we had maybe four weeks ago, six weeks ago, I think, where we all acknowledged that the the key to unlocking this area and infrastructure was the the development. And it was kind of a leap of faith that we had um that we needed to do this to help pay for some of the infrastructure. And I find ourselves in a similar situation here. That said, trust us, but verify. I trust but verify is what I keep thinking. I don't think I can approve outright this application tonight. I would rather give it a continuence and give direction to staff on what the conditions of approval should be because I'd like to just come back and see what we actually have because this is a difficult area and I I want to make sure we get it right as much as we can. But to me and in voting for a continuence and signifying that I'm uh I like what what we have and agree this is this is you know you got to take a an applicant who's willing to kind of take some risk

too which you have because very uncertain or unknown how you'll be received by us with a very uh challenging part of Meridian. So, I want to reciprocate that, but I I do feel like I I trust but verify I want to see those conditions of approval worked on, but I think we can give staff enough clarity for what we want to see um in that. So, overall, I I I would support tonight a continuence, but from my perspective with the purpose of just because I want to see in writing the conditions of approval, but I intend to support that uh when we get there. So, it's not a 50/50 when we walk out the room, but I'm not going to support approving it tonight. That's that's kind of what I feel comfortable with tonight.

Mayor Council administrator.

Um, maybe just some feedback for city staff. Um, so I think conditions of approval would be everything that the applicant has already said they would do, right? Things they've committed to doing. So obviously um the completion of dedicating the right of way that they talked about the curb gutter sidewalk along their property all of the things that they've already committed to doing. Um for me if I have and it's kind of I think a low bar of just establishing that this neighborhood is in transition. I just I need something a little more scientific than just hearing public testimony. It helps me to understand, okay, there are 10 properties along Rolling Hills Drive and out of those 10, we we have checked and we know that a certain amount are in discussions or whatever that is, but like I think it's a pretty low bar for me to meet, but I just want something a little more scientific than just public testimony anecdotally. Um, if that is established to some level, then I I don't care as much about the transition. like that's not as important to me because at that point we know this entire area is changing and we're acknowledging that. I do think

council shar on that one point would it would the transition primary just be to the property directly to the north since it's already 270 ft or do you want to know all of them have to be transitioning before that becomes an issue?

Mr. Mayor, yeah, you're correct. I don't care as much about like I don't need a transition to a two-story building for somebody on the corner of Rolling Hills and Flat Iron or whatever that street is of um Silverstone. Yeah. Um maybe to continue um I do think the landscaping is kind of an important point that staff brought up that you should probably run that down. And then um on the adequacy of the roadway network, I view I I view that as mitigated somewhat by the potential to eventually open Rolling Hills Drive. So I I view that as being mitigated in the sense that there is something within our control eventually to fix this situation. I do expect it will be an acute situation. I think it will probably get worse for a couple of years before it's going to get better. So, you know, but there is no easy way to do this. Um, hopefully that's helpful feedback. I would expect if the neighborhood is in transition and it looks that way, if this came back in two weeks and nothing had changed materially, I would expect I would be in support at that point.

Mr. Mayor and Council Trader, just so I'm clear, if if we get the support from the 10 or so neighbors above to the north, then am I hearing you correct that the transition issue isn't so much an issue anymore? So, raising those two levels to three levels and potentially adding up to 16 units could be acceptable as well, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, that's correct. Um, I I do care about your immediate neighbors the most, though. And I I think that's an important distinction. If if your immediate neighbors,

you know, um, and that's something I'll have to mle, honestly. I'll be mulling that over because you you brought up some interesting points about the topography that I hadn't really fully thought about. So, it's something I'm going to be thinking about. No, it's not as important to me. Uh at that point though, if the whole neighborhood is transitioning, it doesn't matter to me as much because it's clear then this is going to become a very dense area um and the timeline has changed. Thank you. Y Mr. Mayor, can I ask a kind of a process question? Um we would we be uh wanting to keep the public hearing open. We would not be closing that tonight. Okay.

Correct. And if I may just pro I a comment I didn't share on the transition. I appreciate the creativity in the two stories on the north and three stories that I would prefer not to see that. I would prefer three stories both ways. So if staff is indicating that transition was kind of asked for because of the pro I we're not going to see single family homes stuck between two large dense developments. So for me, I would I would my direction would be to to remove that as a a need in that we would allow for three stories on both sides. Thank you. Appreciate that. Mr. Mayor,

as part of that process question, just want to reach out to staff, the applicant, and rest of council. Is May 19th okay? Three weeks.

Mr. Mayor, uh, Councilman Overton, that that works for staff. I want to make sure for the applicant. It works for him and his team. We're probably we're going to need revised elevations, revised, you know, want to make sure the unit count is correct and the square footage for the commercial. So, we will want to see those things and verify those things. So, they are in the DEA so it's clear what you guys are approving. Um, in addition to the updated landscape plan, um, you know, elevations, we're probably going to work with them on design review. So they may not look exactly the way they do now, but cuz they yes, they don't necessarily meet our standards as they currently sit and I don't know if they have enough time to revise them, but those are the updates that we would want them to make as well so we have a complete record for you guys when it does get approved.

Appreciate it, Nick. He's going to be out of town on May 19th. I I I I'm happy to come and stand here myself if that's preferred. Um or not and I can be I can be via could be via Zoom. Does Mr. Mayor feel we can we can do that if that'll work for you. I'm trying to find the quickest solution. I don't want to push us out to the six weeks if we don't have to. I love that for you for the neighbors. So if if three weeks will work for everybody involved, we can do that on May 19th. That'll work. Works for me, sir. Okay.

Any other items you'd like direction on? Mayor, members of the council, I think I got a pretty good basis. Um, we'll obviously collaborate with Brett and his team and the applicant and make sure, you know, we're on somewhat mostly the same page, if any, if not fully on the same page going into that with the development agreement provisions. Um, I already have some drafted up and uh we'll we'll get reach out probably as soon as tomorrow to send you a draft as soon as we can with that so we can start the conversation. But no, I I think I have enough direction from council to revise the findings and you know make those uh development agreement provisions. Mr. Mayor,

council Taylor. And I'll just know the reason I wanted a continuence versus approval is we can add some additional conditions of approval at that time. If if there's something that we felt was missing or we you know maybe on the landscape plan there's some nuance that we need to work through. Um that's I think that's why there's value in that.

Mr. Mayor Overton there's no more comments this evening. I move that we continue the public hearing for file number H2025-000040 to May 26 2026 second I amend that May 19th 2026 concurs the second agrees concurs to May 19th is there any discussion on the motion if not all in favor signify by saying I I post nay the eyes have And the item is continued. We'll see you back here. Thank you so much. I appreciate the conversation. Council, anything under future meeting topics, Mr. Mayor?

Council Sher, just a just gentle reminder, it would be lovely if the employee benefit Trust Group could come back at the appropriate time when they're ready and they have everything from the audit and some more information for us would be fantastic. Okay, sounds good. With that, do I have a motion to adjurnn? Mr. Mayor, I move that we adjourn. Second motion second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. You guys have it.