Remarks by Doug Taylor
58 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 3
“Yeah, just take a minute. When I was first thinking about running for council, Tracy was one of the first people I sat down with, and he was kind enough to give me as much time as I wanted. I had a lot of questions, and he was more than gracious in that role. And Since then, I've had opportunities to interact with him in my own professional world that I navigate in. And he's often down at the Capitol building and we talk about issues outside of just the city of Meridian. And I found him to be consistently consistent with what he says and what he advocates for, whether it's here, whether it's…”
“Yeah, it's interesting because, as you said, this is the first full-scale facility, so it's not like you can go buy a part and fix the problem. So we're kind of pioneering and figuring out as we go what the solution is. I would hope that some kind of a scrubber or filter on the end would be sufficient to knock down enough that it's not a problem, but... Yeah, I think that's interesting. So I'm assuming that you're pushing the air from one end to the other through the drying process. So the only exit point for air would be at those vents. Thank you.”
“Just because I'm a little slow, just want to restate the provision C is what you feel like brings in what planning and zoning kind of had wanted, what staff kind of wants and what the applicant kind of wants. Is it the closest thing to the sweet spot that we have in terms of that? Or put a little finer point on that for me if you could.”
“A question for staff. I'm just looking at the document that you gave us on the proposed conditions. The paragraph on the second page, it says that begins with staff's proposed condition. It's the small one. Is that the language that is sort of the happy medium between all parties?”
“To clarify, you've also asked that we call out the existing structure as non-conforming, but that any future buildings would conform with the IL zoning guidelines. And does that need to be stated in any does that need to be stated as well as part of the condition.”
“Seeing no additional testimony and unless there are other questions, I would move. To close.”
“Yeah, I was to move to close the public hearing on item H-2025-0060.”
“Mr. Mayor. Councilman Taylor. Just, uh, I won't make a motion now, but I'll be prepared to make one here in a moment in case anyone else wants to provide some comments, but, um, First off, we really appreciate you wanting to stay in Meridian and build a business and provide jobs and good services and did not know that you were the largest fence provider company in Idaho. So we really appreciate that. I always really struggle when things like this get in the way that are unfortunate and wish it weren't the way it was. But here we are. And so trying to make the best of what we have. And so.…”
“Mayor. Go ahead and make a motion. Before I do just to clarify with staff if I note. The provisions see language would be sufficient and then add the building on conforming statements to the conditions of approval.”
“Let's make sure I get it right. I move that we approve. After considering all staff applicant and public testimony, I move that to approve file number H-20250060 as presented in the staff report, noting provision C and amending the final sentence to note that building one that exists is noted as nonconforming, that any future buildings will conform with the IL zoning standards.”
“Sonia, talk to me a little bit about the write-in, write-out. What was the plan when residents are coming and they're going write-out, do they have to go down to Overland to kind of access West? Or is it, I mean, would we be expecting U-turns to get back towards Franklin? I'm kind of just trying to envision how this might actually flow with a ride in, ride out only. Because if I live there, I'd want access to Franklin to get East-West quickly. So I'm just a little concerned about how that would work. Can you tell me about some of the conversations you may have had with the applicant or kind…”
“Mr. Mayor, just a quick follow-up. I know this is a question for ACHD to answer, but if you have the answer, why is it required right in, right out here? Is it because of the proximity to the intersection?”
“some better pedestrian connectivity in there if we aren't to go forward this will remain a vacant parcel mr mayor yes quick question um i don't disagree with the um the arguments about it's not a great commercial lot a lot of the a lot of stuff over on 10 mile and that's really blossom Um, but with the lender overpass and the road being wide, and I think there's some. Opportunities here for it to still be a viable commercial property. What's your calculation in considering that? I mean, you're gonna have a nice road lender eventually is going to be a very nice. you know, north-south…”
“Thank you, Bonnie. Just one last question. And maybe you're not privy to this. You kind of maybe alluded to conversations you were not privy to, but did the property owners engage in any kind of discussion with the property owners to the west about a financial agreement where you would have access and could help pay for the maintenance of the private drive?”
“I move that we approve ordinance number 26-2141.”
“Lorelei, just the one question on the on the proposed language for the ordinance change. Generally, I'm supportive of what we're the direction we're moving. I think it makes some sense. But when you have public utility provider, how is that defined in our code? Who would that entail potentially?”
“Yeah. Mr. Mayor. Yeah. I'm yeah. I'm not, I don't love the idea of, changing code for very, very specific things. But I understand why we would maybe want to do in this case. So my desire would be to avoid maybe someone reading it differently a few years down the road and opening a doorway that we didn't have. So I agree with the idea of it needs to be a request from another municipality, not from any other entity outside of that. So unless there was some compelling reason why we wanted to keep the language of public utility provider, I would prefer to keep it out so that it's a city to the…”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“A quick question. I actually had a constituent bring this up today to me. Relative to greens fees and then fees for renting a golf cart, do the golf cart fees only cover maintenance of golf carts, or is that part of also broader costs for maintaining the golf course? Their question was, you know, they don't, really the green fees only cover managing that versus the golf cart fee. So is there a way, I don't know if you can break that down, uh, how those fees cover what costs or if it's sort of all lumped into one pool and that kind of is distributed out. Just some clarification for a…”
“The quick question so that to the north of the property. The school district bought the 2 properties. IN ANTICIPATION OF EXPANDING THE CTE POTENTIALLY BECAUSE AND SONYA MAYBE THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION FOR YOU. THE CROSS ACCESS IS ALLOWED IF THERE'S THOSE PROPERTIES ARE DEVELOPED AS EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OR IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT CROSS ACCESS REQUIREMENT IS AND KIND OF WHAT THE PLAN IS. I JUST WANT TO IF YOU COULD PUT A FINAL POINT ON THAT FOR ME.”
“While we're having this discussion, if I might add just another consideration for ACHD, and maybe this is a little far down the road, but once Idaho State University starts to build out on their vision and plan just down the road, it's going to make this an interesting segment of Locust Grove. I'm sure we'll have some discussions about traffic flow then, but I'm just wondering as we're contemplating this, if ACHD has any comments that they would add to the broader vision for this stretch with the right in, right out, left in, whatever it might be with the addition of quite a bit more…”
“Linda just want to just make sure I understand quickly on all these waivers, these bullet points that you have on the handout that you gave to us. Those are all the conditions that we need to have included. As we make a motion tonight and my understanding is that applicant is supportive of all those requirements.”
“Seeing no other further testimony, I move that we close the public hearing for H-2026-0041. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor.”
“I just want to express our appreciation as myself and Council to West Ada. You guys are really good partners. I personally have a high level of trust in your planning and your long-term vision and the things that you're doing. I think you bring a lot of value to the city and to the students. especially noting how you've been able to plan for some long-term needs and some capital improvements without raising taxes and going to the taxpayers. So a lot of compliments to you and really appreciate that. Also, with four kids in the West Ada School District, I have firsthand knowledge of what's…”
“Mr. Mayor, there's no other discussion. I'd be happy to make a motion. Prior to my motion, I would just say as a father with a teenage son, please, please be firm with these kids and tell them how they have to access this. My son has my old truck and he will run over candlesticks and anything else in between him and where he wants to go. After considering all staff applicant and public testimony, I move to approve file number H-2026-0041 as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of October 6, 2026, with the following modifications. A waiver for the removal of the requirement for…”