[1. Call to Order.]
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WE WAIT FOR THAT LITTLE POP SOUND, AND THEN WE KNOW WE HAVE OUR AUDIO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE IDAHO FALLS CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS. WELL, THIS THURSDAY NIGHT IN JANUARY, IT'S OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2025. AND WITH LUCK, I WON'T ACCIDENTALLY SAY 2024 WHEN I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO. SO WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. CITY CLERK, WE'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND INVITE YOU TO CALL THE ROLL ON OUR ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT BURTENSHAW HERE. COUNCILOR RADFORD. PRESENT. COUNCILOR. DINGMAN HERE. COUNCILOR. FREEMAN HERE. COUNCILOR FRANCIS HERE. COUNCILOR LARSON HERE. YOU HAVE A QUORUM. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. SO I'D LIKE TO TURN THE TIME OVER TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. PRESIDENT. COUNCIL? I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TONIGHT TO INCLUDE THE MAYOR'S CHOICE AWARD TO BE INCLUDED AFTER THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT, WITH THE GOOD FAITH REASON THAT IN THE TRANSITION OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE, THAT WE INADVERTENTLY LEFT THAT OFF THE AGENDA TONIGHT. SO, ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT BIRDSHOT AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR RADFORD. AND I THINK RADFORD CALLING THE ROLL ON THIS. I'LL JUST SAY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THE AGENDA THEN STANDS AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE MAYOR'S CHOICE AWARD AS ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE AGENDA. SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO A COUPLE OF THINGS VERY QUICKLY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT WE DO HAVE OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, JASMINE KILLIAN, TONIGHT, AS WE UNDERGO A TRANSITION. SO THANK YOU. AND WELCOME TO OUR TO THE TO THE HOT SEAT TONIGHT. JASMINE. THANK YOU. ALSO, WE HAVE COPIES OF THE AGENDA TONIGHT, A FEW OF THEM BY THE DOOR IF YOU WANT ONE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO FIND ONE. IF NOT. OH I DON'T SEE THE QR CODE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. SOMETIMES WE HAVE A QR CODE THAT IS BY THE WALL FOR YOU TO CLICK ON THAT, AND YOU CAN GET THE AGENDA ONLINE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT TONIGHT. I HAVE THIS COPY AND I'LL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE. IF SOMEBODY WANTS A COPY THIS EVENING, BUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY EXTRA COPIES TO A COUPLE OF YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO I CAN GO AND HAND THESE OUT IN A SECOND HERE. BUT WITH THAT, WE DO TYPICALLY START OUR MEETINGS OFF WITH THE PLEDGE. AND IF YOU ARE INCLINED TO JOIN US, I WOULD INVITE YOU TO STAND RIGHT UP HERE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO STEP OVER TO THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME,
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AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN. WE GOT ROADIES AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. ALL RIGHT.LEAN INTO THIS FOR. OH, THERE. I CAN BRING IT FORWARD JUST HERE. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS EVENING, AS WE DO TYPICALLY WE'VE DONE I THINK THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR WHEN WE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO. GIVE OUT SOME AWARDS. WE CALL THEM THE MAYOR'S CHOICE AWARDS.
IN FACT, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE WHO HELP TO IDENTIFY WORTHY RECIPIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I ALWAYS GET EMOTIONAL AT WEIRD TIMES, BUT WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THE KIND OF COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO CELEBRATE, AND IT'S NEVER EASY TO IDENTIFY WORTHY RECIPIENTS. BUT WHEN WE DO HIT ON NAMES, WE GENERALLY GO, YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S GOOD. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO DOES DESERVE SOME RECOGNITION OR A PAT ON THE BACK OR JUST A GIGANTIC COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT. AND SO TONIGHT WE'RE GIVING OUT FIVE AWARDS. AND I IF YOU HEAR YOUR STORY, I WOULD INVITE YOU TO COME ON UP AND LET US PRESENT THIS TO YOU. AND SO HERE WE GO. THE FIRST ONE WE'RE CALLING THE MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING AWARD. THAT'S A CORNY NAME, BUT LISTEN TO THE STORY. IDAHO FALLS HIGH SCHOOL WAS BUILT WITH NO HOME PLAYING FIELDS. OVER THE YEARS, MOST SPORTS TEAMS PRACTICED AND PLAYED ON CITY FIELDS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. NOW, TALK ABOUT TERRIFIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY. THEY SHARED AND DIDN'T DUPLICATE ANYTHING THERE. IN FACT, THE SCHOOL'S BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL TEAMS PRACTICE CURRENTLY STILL
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PRACTICE IN A RETENTION POND BEHIND THE SCHOOL THAT WILL FLOOD AND FILLED WITH DEBRIS EVERY TIME THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT RAINSTORM. FOR DECADES, MOST IDAHO FALLS SCHOOL IDAHO FALLS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS DID NOT HAVE THAT HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE THAT WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT. THAT IS, UNTIL ON WHAT ONCE STOOD AS AN EMPTY DIRT AND WEED COVERED 43.5 ACRES OFF OF EAST 49TH. A CROWD GATHERED TO BREAK GROUND ON A NEW HOME FOR TIGER SPORTS. IN OCTOBER 2022. HEATHER THOMPSON, STEVE HUNTER, BRANDON LEE, TRENT JOHNSON AND LISA BURTENSHAW SAW YEARS OF PLANNING COME TOGETHER.THESE TIGER PARENTS PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN REALIZING THEIR VISION FOR THIS NEW FACILITY THEY HAD STARTED YEARS BEFORE. I'M TOLD IT WAS LONG BEFORE COVID THEY ENCOUNTERED DISTRICT BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS INFLATION, WHICH WASN'T AS HIGH THEN AS IT IS NOW, BUT IT WAS STILL A THING. AND THEY HAD OTHER ROADBLOCKS THAT STOOD IN THE WAY OF THE DREAM OF HAVING A HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS COMPLEX. THESE PARENTS APPROACHED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BEGIN MAKING THAT DREAM OF THEIRS A REALITY. THEY PURSUED A GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO RAISE MONETARY AND IN-KIND DONATIONS, LEADING TO OVER A HALF A MILLION IN DONATIONS FOR THE NEW HOME FOR TIGER ATHLETICS. THREE YEARS LATER, HUNTER, THE IDAHO FALLS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BOOSTER PRESIDENT, REACHED OUT TO THE FRONTIER CREDIT UNION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023 TO ASK FOR A $10,000 DONATION. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT BUT IT'S MODEST FOR A BIG CORPORATE ENTITY.
WELL, THE CREDIT UNION'S LEADERSHIP WAS SO IMPRESSED BY STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND DONATIONS THAT THEY CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN THE 10,000 OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. PARENTS AND STUDENTS VOLUNTARILY CONTRIBUTED MORE TO SAY. BUT OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS HAVE RAISED FUNDS, LAID SOD THEMSELVES. THEY PLANTED TREES, THEY BUILT FENCES AND DID ALL KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS THEMSELVES ON THIS FIELD WHEN IT WAS COMPLETE, OR WHEN IT WILL BE WHEN COMPLETE. THE FRONTIER FIELDS COMPLEX WILL CONSIST OF TWO SOCCER FIELDS, TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS, TWO BASEBALL FIELDS, AND TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS, PLUS EIGHT TENNIS COURTS FOR THE IDAHO FALLS HIGH SCHOOL. ATHLETICS OR ATHLETES SORRY TO USE IT IS FOR THESE EFFORTS TO MAKE A PLACE LIKE THIS THAT STRENGTHENS PRIDE. A SENSE OF PRIDE WITHIN TIGER STUDENT ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY WE PRESENT TO THIS GROUP. WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO THIS GROUP THE TIGER PARENT CLUB, REPRESENTED BY TONIGHT, BRANDON LEE, HEATHER THOMPSON, TRENT JOHNSON AND LISA BURTENSHAW. AND I LEFT ONE OFF.
SORRY. NO. DO IT AGAIN. OKAY, I GOT IT. ANYWAY. THE MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING WILL WORK, SO COME ON. OH, SO HEATHER'S NOT HERE. AND WHO ELSE IS NOT HERE? THERE'S RUNNING LATE. DARN. WELL, MAYBE WE'LL EVEN GET A PICTURE LATER. BUT WE'LL DO THE REAL ONE TOO.
SO COME ON UP. I DON'T KNOW. THERE WE GO. SMILE SOMEWHERE. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ONE OF THESE TWO GUYS. YOU'RE CLOSEST? YEAH, YEAH. YOU WANT TO HOLD ON TO THE. YEAH.
I'M TRENT JOHNSON, I'M THE BASEBALL COACH. BRANDON LEE IS ALSO THE SOCCER COACH. LISA BURTENSHAW HAS BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS WHOLE PROJECT. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS COMING. I THINK THE THING WITH A GROUP LIKE THIS THAT KIND OF HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME IS IT'S TRULY BEEN TIME. I MEAN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING 4 TO 6 YEARS, NOT 4 TO 6 MONTH PROJECT, THE FIELD ITSELF FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, BUT ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S TRULY A COMMUNITY ASSET FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS, POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL BOARD, FRONTIER CREDIT UNION, AND THEN WHAT STARTED AS A VERY SMALL TEAM AND GREW INTO A MASSIVE TEAM OVER TIME. SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR THINKING ABOUT US. IT HAS WAY LESS TO DO WITH US, BUT HAS FAR MORE TO DO WITH WHAT CAN BE DONE THROUGH A GREAT IDEA AND THEN MASSIVE ACTION TO CREATE SOMETHING AMAZING FOR OUR KIDS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HEATHER IS JUST
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WALKING IN THE DOOR. OKAY, I STILL THINK WE'LL KEEP THE FLOW HERE, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT THAT IT'S NOT JUST WHAT THE FIELDS DO. SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S ALSO WHAT SPORTS DOES FOR OUR KIDS. THAT TEAMWORK EXPERIENCE, THE ACHIEVEMENT, THAT EXPERIENCING DEFEAT. THOSE ARE ALL REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR GROWING HUMANS TO EXPERIENCE. AND SO I LOVE THE VISION AND THE DEDICATION. THANK YOU PARENTS FOR THAT. WE HAVE ROOM IN THE FRONT. IT'S ALWAYS THAT WAY. SO THE NEXT AWARD GOES TO WELL, IT'S CALLED THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AWARD. OUR NEXT RECIPIENTS ARE DAVID AND ELOISE SNELL. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF INCREASING CULTURAL AWARENESS AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY, WANTING ALL TO FEEL EQUALLY WELCOMED AND COMFORTABLE. MOST NOTABLY, DAVID FOUNDED THE IDAHO FALLS AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE. I FAA, ALTHOUGH I TYPICALLY WILL SAY AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE, THE WHOLE PHRASE THERE. BUT THIS GROUP, THE ALLIANCE, EXISTS TO BRING LIKE MINDED MEMBERS TOGETHER UNDER THE COMMON BANNER OF BREAKING BARRIERS. ALLIANCE MEMBERS ASSIST THOSE IN NEED AND SERVE AS A RESOURCE. WHOA. SO MUCH FOR MY FEET HERE. SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR. INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE FOLKS CAN GET PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY THEY TRY TO HELP PEOPLE INTEGRATE A LITTLE BIT.ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF THE ALLIANCE'S MISSION IS TO DEDICATE AND BRING AWARENESS TO REMOVING RACIAL STEREOTYPES ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICANS. BUT IF YOU PUSH THEM, THEY'LL SAY, WE DON'T WANT STEREOTYPES ABOUT ANYBODY IN ANY RACE. AND SO WITH THE SNELLS TALENT AND THEIR HEART FOR SERVICE, THE ORGANIZATION STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY.
DAVID AND ELOISE BELIEVE THAT BUILDING INDIVIDUALS STEP BY STEP, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, ACTUALLY STRENGTHENS THE WORLD. UNDER DAVID AND ELOISE'S LEADERSHIP, THE ALLIANCE, THE IDAHO AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE, HOLDS AN ANNUAL DOCTOR, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR FUNDRAISING BANQUET. IT'S TYPICALLY HELD AROUND DOCTOR KING'S BIRTHDAY IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY. THEY WANT TO RAISE MONEY FOR EDUCATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY BUILDING ORGANIZATIONS. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2006. NO. NO. SORRY. THE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2006, AND THEY PROVIDED OVER $17,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE THAN $13,000 TO LOCAL CHARITIES.
DOCTOR KING'S DREAM WAS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND THE ALLIANCE DECIDED THAT THE BANQUET COULD DO THIS. PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS WILL COME TOGETHER TO ATTEND THIS BANQUET TO CELEBRATE DOCTOR KING AND HIS MESSAGE. ADDITIONALLY, THE SNELLS HELP TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AT EVENTS LIKE THE IDAHO FALLS AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE'S ANNUAL BARBECUES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS OR DURING IN THE AFTERMATH OF GEORGE GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH. TRAGIC DEATH. THEY HELPED TO FACILITATE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE DEEPLY CONCERNED AND POLICE OFFICERS WHO ALSO WERE DEEPLY CONCERNED.
AND THE SNELLS HELPED TO BRING THAT THAT TOGETHER AND MAKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN. THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT BIT OF TIMING. MORE RECENTLY, THE ALLIANCE SUPPORTED THE INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL 2024 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IN IDAHO FALLS, AND IF ANYBODY WAS THERE, IT WAS A FANTASTIC CELEBRATION. DOCTOR KING'S LEGACY IS STILL RELEVANT, AND IT'S AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS IT EVER WAS, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT DAVID AND ELOISE HAVE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO BRING DOCTOR KING'S VISION AND RICH SPIRIT TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO THE EVENT, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M YOU KNOW WHY I'M GETTING WEIRD. AND IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE EVENT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GIVE US SOME DETAILS SO THAT FOLKS CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY EXPERIENCE THAT IF THEY WANT TO. BUT IT'S WITH GREAT HONOR THAT WE PRESENT DAVID AND ELOISE SNELL WITH THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY BUILDERS AWARD FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY WORK. IN. THE CITY. RIGHT. THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? PLEASE DO AT LEAST AT LEAST GIVE A LITTLE PITCH FOR THE BANQUET.
AT THE VERY LEAST. OKAY? YES, MA'AM. WELL, LET'S GO TO THE MIC. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO.
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OH MY GOODNESS. THANK YOU AGAIN. ALL OF YOU. ALL THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU GUYS I APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DO RECOGNIZE AND I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND I LOVE OUR MAYOR. SO OUR POLICE CHIEF IS HERE. AND I JUST ADMIRE THESE GUYS. AND I UNDERSTAND AND SEE WHAT THEIR DREAM IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO ANY WAY THAT I CAN BE A PART, I THINK I'VE TOLD THEM BOTH. I WILL JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO HELP. AND FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE, OUR BANQUET IS COMING UP ON THE 16TH OF 16TH OF JANUARY. NEXT THURSDAY. WE HAVE A WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE A COUPLE OF INCREDIBLE THINGS GOING ON. THE FIRST THING WE HAVE THE LIONEL HAMPTON JAZZ BAND, AND THEY'RE COMING DOWN FROM NORTHERN IDAHO. AND I TELL A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY CALL US THE GEM STATE. WE HAVE SOME HIDDEN GEMS HERE IN IDAHO THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT. AND THIS BAND IS ONE OF THOSE, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM COME DOWN AND SHARE THEIR TALENTS WITH US DURING THIS BANQUET. THEY JUST HAPPEN TO BE IN TOWN DOING SOME STUFF WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THEY SAID, HEY, WE'D LIKE TO PLAY AT THE BANQUET. AND SO, WELL, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND ALSO, WE HAVE A FORMER UNDERSECRETARY OF ENERGY, DOCTOR PETE MILLER, WHO HAS SOME HISTORICAL THINGS GOING ON WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THAT. AND SO THE GUY IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE PERSON. AND OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS THE POWER OF ONE. THIS GUY, JUST JUST ONE PERSON, JUST ONE OF US COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ANY OF US CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT KIND OF THE PREMISE OF OUR THEME IS. THIS YEAR WE WANT TO TRY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND JUST WHATEVER WE CAN DO IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I INVITE YOU ALL OUT. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT. IFR.ORG. YOU CAN GO ON AND ORDER TICKETS AND WE'D LOVE TO. WE'D LOVE TO. WE LOVE TO FILL THE PLACE UP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE INSIDE THE ICE ARENA, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF ROOMS, SO COME ON OUT AND HANG OUT WITH US. GUARANTEED, YOU'LL MEET SOMEBODY THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND YOU HAVE SOME GOOD FOOD. SO YES. THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, THEY MOST DEFINITELY SHOW US THE POWER OF ONE OR THE POWER OF TWO. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH, AND UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO DOES HAVE AN INCREDIBLE JAZZ PROGRAM.
AND SO IT'S THEY'RE WORTH LISTENING TO. ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT AWARD IS THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF SERVICE ARE FREELY GIVEN IN OUR IN OUR CITY. THIS SERVICE BUILDS STRONGER, A STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. THEY SAY IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING, SERVE IT. AND IF YOU WANT TO LOVE SOMETHING, SERVE AND YOU WILL DEVELOP LOVE WELL. IF YOU WANT TO LOVE OUR COMMUNITY, YOU CAN SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WELL.
SERVICE WILL FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SHARED PURPOSE. IT TACKLES CHALLENGES LIKE HUNGER, LONELINESS, AND THOSE KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, DEEP PROBLEMS. SERVICE CAN HELP WITH THAT. COMMUNITY SERVICE CAN. COMMUNITY SERVICE ALSO HELPS TO FILL THE GAPS WHERE PUBLIC SERVICES AND FUNDING MAY FALL SHORT. ASSISTING IN THESE EFFORTS IS JUST SERVE. IT'S ONE WORD. JUST SERVE. IT'S A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION CONNECTING VOLUNTEERS TO SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2024 ALONE, JUST SERVE PROVIDED 600 VOLUNTEERS AND OVER 1300 HOURS OF SERVICE TO OUR PARKS AND OUR OR TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. IT'S HARD TO PUT A VALUE ON THIS, BUT IF WE DID, WE'D BE LOOKING AT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF VALUE. THIS INCLUDES CLEANUP OF OUR CANAL TRAILS, RAKING AT ROSE HILL CEMETERY, AND ORGANIZING THE PAINTING OF THE MELALEUCA BALL FIELDS WEST WALL WITH 80 VOLUNTEERS AND PAINT BRUSHES.
ADDITIONALLY, JUST SERVE HELPED ORGANIZE A GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY WHERE WE HAD AROUND 450 VOLUNTEERS HELPING ON 15 DIFFERENT PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY, ALL ON THAT SAME DAY. A LOCAL SPECIALIST FOR JUST SERVE IS SUSAN STOOKEY. SUSAN HAS HELPED TO BRING SMILES TO THOUSANDS OF SENIORS THROUGH A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY PROJECT. OVER THE YEARS, MORE THAN 20,000 HANDMADE VALENTINES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF FLOWERS. THESE DELIVERIES ARE DONE DOOR TO DOOR IN NURSING HOMES AND TO FIRST RESPONDERS, ALLOWING THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN FEELING FORGOTTEN TO INSTEAD FEEL IMPORTANT, CARED FOR AND SPECIAL. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF
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YOU HAVE EVER FELT JUST A LITTLE LEFT OUT. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING REMEMBERED WHEN YOU'RE HAVING THAT THAT LITTLE AWFUL EMOTION KICK IN. AND THAT KIND OF SERVICE CAN BE JUST AS MEANINGFUL AS THE PAINTBRUSH SERVICE AND THE LIFTING HEAVY THINGS AND THE PULLING WEEDS KIND OF SERVICE. IT IS FOR THESE ACTS OF SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GIVING THE JUST SERVE SO WELL. REPRESENTED BY SUSAN STOOKEY, THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE SUPPORT.I THINK SHE DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS WE TRICKED HER. I HAD NO IDEA. NO IDEA. ALL RIGHT, THERE'S THE CAMERA. OH, WAIT. LET ME STAND OVER HERE. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES, I DO TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN SERVE. YES. ALL RIGHT. I COULDN'T BE MORE SURPRISED. I GOT A CALL YESTERDAY SAYING. CAN YOU COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING? AND I SAID, DOES THE MAYOR WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE VALENTINES FOR SENIORS? BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE AND THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR OF THE CAMPAIGN OF DELIVERING VALENTINES TO SENIORS, VALENTINES AND AS MANY ROSES AS WE CAN. DONATIONS AS MUCH AND WE HAVE TO ASK FOR JUST SERVE DOESN'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR THIS, SO IT'S THE GENEROUS BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DONATE MONEY FOR THE FLOWERS THAT WE DELIVER, ALONG WITH THE VALENTINES. AND MARGARET SAID NO. AND I SAID, OH, ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IDAHO FALLS TO BECOME A DESIGNATED JUST SURF CITY? I HOPE YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT NOW. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEW AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE A PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION. JUST SERVE AS NOW IN 17 COUNTRIES, THE CITY OF IONIA WAS THE 19TH CITY OUT OF ALL OF THOSE CITIES TO BECOME A DESIGNATED SURF CITY. AND WE WANT IDAHO FALLS TO BE UP THERE IN THE IN THE FIRST TWO, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT IN TIME IT WILL BE A VERY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS AND SAY, NOW THEY SUPPORT SERVICE.
WE ALREADY KNOW THEY DO. THE MAYOR IS AMAZING. WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND I SEE HER MANY, MANY, MANY SERVICE PROJECTS. AND I LOVE THAT. ANYWAY, SO I, I'M VERY SURPRISED. I'M VERY ALERT, BUT IT IS NOT ME. I LOVE TO ORGANIZE, BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HAD INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES. PLEASE WATCH. BUT ON JANUARY 19TH WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING. AND IT'S INVOLVING THE CITY. AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN KEEPING IT UNDER WRAPS FOR A WHILE, SO I TELL NO. YES. OKAY. WILL YOU PROMISE NOT TO TELL ANYBODY? OKAY. WELL, NOW IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE NOTHING. I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. YES. I JUST I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE IDEA FOR MONTHS, BUT DON'T TELL BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER JUST SORT OF SPECIALISTS IN OUR AREA THAT WE'LL MEET WITH ON THE 19TH AND WE'LL ANNOUNCE IT, BUT THAT'S OKAY. AGAIN, YOU MIGHT THINK, OH, THAT'S NO BIGGIE, BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS PARTNER WITH THE CHECKERS. AND I GOT THE DATE TODAY ON AUGUST 15TH. IT'S GOING TO BE JUST SORT OF A NIGHT AT THE BALLGAME AT THE BALLPARK. WE'LL NAME IT SOMETHING REALLY CUTE, BUT IT PROBABLY BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS INVITE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BRING EXPOSURE TO JUST SERVE. BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS DON'T TELL ANYBODY, PLEASE DON'T. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SUBMARINE ON THE ON THE STOVE FOR A LONG TIME, AND NOW IT'S ON THE FRONT BURNER. JUST TODAY WE I MET WITH PAUL HENDERSON AND WE NAIL DOWN THE DATE AUGUST 15TH. WE PLANNED TO HAVE A VIP MEETING WITH LEADERS OF ALL KINDS AROUND OUR COMMUNITY, AND INVITE THE OWNER OF THE CHECKERS TO ATTEND. WE, OF COURSE, THE MAYOR WILL BE OUR HONORED GUEST TOO. WE MIGHT HAVE A TAILGATE PARTY. WE'RE PLANNING A TAILGATE PARTY BEFORE WITH LOCAL MUSICIANS PROVIDING MUSIC. WE'LL WE'LL GIVE THE FIRST THOUSAND ATTENDEES FREE. JUST SERVE FOR SPANISH. AND OF COURSE WE'LL THROW OUT JUST SERVE T-SHIRTS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS TO VIDEO THE CHECKERS, THE TEAM SERVING PERHAPS AT THE IDAHO FALLS SOUP KITCHEN, AND THEN WE'LL ON THE BIG SCREEN, WE'LL SHOW THAT VIDEO AND WE'LL SAY IDAHO FALLS SUPPORTS THE CHECKERS AND THE CHECKERS SUPPORT IDAHO FALLS.
THAT'S AWESOME. BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO LOTS OF OTHER THINGS TOO. AND I'M PLEASED. VALENTINES FOR SENIORS. WE'VE BEEN JUST SHOCKED AT HOW MANY ADULTS HAVE PARTICIPATED. SO YOU PLAN YOURSELF TO DO SO TOO? WE JUST ASK ALL THE SCHOOLS, ALL THE BUSINESSES, ALL THE PEOPLE WE
[00:25:02]
NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT. SO PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW JUST TO MAKE A SIMPLE HANDMADE NOTE. VALENTINE CAN WRITE FROM YOUR FRIEND OR WHATEVER. IT DOESN'T NEED AN ENVELOPE. AND THE KIDS WERE WRITING THAT. WE JUST ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SENDING FLIERS OUT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND WE WANT TO REACH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND JUST SAY, JUST WRITE A QUICK LITTLE MESSAGE OF HOPE OR LOVE OR WHATEVER AND SEND IT. THEY'RE SO FUN. THEY'RE SO FUN. I'VE ONLY READ A FEW, BUT ONE OF THEM SAID ONE OF THE SCHOOL, EVIDENTLY ONE OF THE. IT WAS ON TOP OF ONE OF THE SCHOOL PILES, IT SAID, WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD WEEK. BUT SOMETHING ABOUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE KIND OF A SHORT LIFE KIND OF THING. AND ONE OF THEM SAID, WE HOPE YOU GET GOOD GRADES, SENIORS. AND WHEN I TOLD JOHN STROBEL THAT AND HE SAID, WELL, DON'T WE ALL HOPE WE GET GOOD GRADES, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE FANCY. YOU CAN MAKE HUNDREDS OF THEM. YOU CAN MAKE, I'M TELLING YOU, BECAUSE REALLY, ADULTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT.SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY FANCY, SOME OF THEM ARE BASIC. IT DOES NOT MATTER. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE ROSES, THE FRESH ROSES AND THE VALENTINES ONE BY ONE AND DELIVER THEM TO OUR SENIOR CITIZEN COMMUNITY. AND WE'LL BE DOING NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE. WE WANT TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY ON DOING ALL OF THOSE FUN THINGS. AND OF COURSE, THE YOUTH SERVICE MONTH. AND HEY JOHN, AS YOU PROBABLY KNEW, I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD BE OUR AMBASSADOR LAST YEAR. THE FINALIST IN THE 21ST, I THINK, OF AMERICAN IDOL, AND SHE'S AGREED TO BE OUR AMBASSADOR AGAIN THIS YEAR. SO WE JUST TOOK HER AROUND WHERE SHE SERVED AND WE VIDEOED HER. AND THEN JAY HILDEBRANDT DID A WONDERFUL VIDEO ON HER. THEN WE SHARED IT WITH OUR JUST SERVE COMMUNITY, AND THEN WE SAID YOU COULD SHARE IT WITH THE WHOLE GLOBAL SERVE COMMUNITY IF YOU'D LIKE. AND THEY DID. AND WE HAD A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION ON THAT. SO THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE FUN THINGS WE'RE DOING TO SERVE.
IT'S FUN. GO TO JUST WALK, PUT IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND YOU'LL SEE PROJECTS POP UP. WE'RE WORKING ON TWO THINGS AWARENESS OF JUST SERVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND INCREASING OUR INVENTORY OF NONPROFITS. IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH IN THE COMMUNITY WITH PROJECTS THAT THEY COULD COULD CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN. SOME THINGS CAN BE DONE AT HOME. SOME THINGS ARE GOING. SOME THINGS ARE ONE HOUR. AND SUSAN, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE TO DROP OFF THE VALENTINE'S? YES. THIS YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH SENIOR SOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTACT WITH A LOT OF SENIORS. WELL, WELL OVER 2000 SENIORS. AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED. WE STARTED WITH THE PANDEMIC. WE MADE MASKS OR MADE MASKS FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS, AND THAT'S HOW WE MET. CHAD'S PALLET SENIOR SOLUTIONS. AND HE WAS LOCATED IN SUCH A PERFECT LOCATION UNTIL THIS YEAR. HE WAS OVER AT YELLOWSTONE AT THE BUSINESS CENTER OVER THERE. BUT HE'S IN OXFORD AND I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL HAVE THAT ON JUST SERVE. IT WILL BE POSTED AS A SERVICE PROJECT OR JUST SERVE. YOU CAN SIGN UP. YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT JUST SERVE AND FIND WAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S WAYS TO SIGN UP. AND THEN YOU'LL GET AN EMAIL AND THE INSTRUCTIONS. EVERYTHING IS JUST INCREDIBLY. IT JUST MAKES IT SO EASY. YOU KNOW, I'M SURPRISED THAT THE MILLENNIALS AND OTHER YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO SAY, I'M SO GLAD I FOUND JUST SERVE BECAUSE I'VE WANTED TO SERVE. I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUNG, YOUNG PEOPLE. LET ME SAY THIS. I WANTED TO SERVE AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM SO SHOCKED. I'M SO HONORED. THANK YOU.
YOU ARE ONE GOOD EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THIS NEXT ORGANIZATION BEING HONORED TONIGHT IS RUN BY AN ELECTED BOARD OF VOLUNTEERS. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1912, WHICH I THINK MAKES THAT 113 YEARS AGO, WITH THE INTENT TO BRING A WHOLESOME ATMOSPHERE WHERE MUSIC CAN UPLIFT AND ENRICH THE IDAHO FALLS COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE IDAHO FALLS MUSIC CLUB WAS STARTING THE IDAHO FALLS SYMPHONY IN 1949. THE CLUB ALSO STARTED CHORALEERS, THE LONGEST RUNNING WOMEN'S CHOIR IN THE STATE. WHEN I READ THAT, I WAS SURPRISED MY OWN MOTHER IN LAW WHO HAS PASSED, BUT SHE WAS A CHORALE AND I'VE BEEN TO CHORAL CONCERTS. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EITHER BEEN A COROLLARY OR BEEN TO A COROLLARY CONCERT? THANK YOU. GOT A FEW HANDS. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE YOUTH SYMPHONY OR OR BEEN TO A YOUTH SYMPHONY CONCERT? ALL RIGHT, THERE'S ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY HERE. THE CLUB HAS APPROXIMATELY 70 MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE MUSIC TEACHERS WHO WANT TO HELP THEIR STUDENTS BECOME BETTER MUSICIANS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE ARTS. MUSIC CLUB WORKSHOPS ARE HELD FOR
[00:30:04]
TEACHERS, AND THE CLUB PROVIDES MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. THESE INCLUDE MONSTER CONCERTS, PLAYING AT RETIREMENT HOMES, AND AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL WHERE STUDENTS ARE CRITIQUED BY A JUDGE. SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS ARE HELD IN MARCH TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS TO ATTEND MUSIC CAMPS AND FESTIVALS IN THE AREA, AND PROVIDE MONEY TOWARD COLLEGE FOR GRADUATING SENIORS AND CONTINUING ED STUDENTS. BUT LAST YEAR, HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN FESTIVAL AND OVER $15,000 WAS AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS. THE CLUB HAS GENEROUS SUPPORTERS WHO PROVIDE THE FUNDS FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER PARTICIPATED IN FESTIVAL PIANO STUDENTS HERE? THERE WE GO. MY OWN. I DID NOT LIVE HERE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO, BUT MY CHILDREN HAD PIANO LESSONS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC TEACHERS WHO BELONGED TO THE MUSIC CLUB, AND THEY ALL PARTICIPATED IN FESTIVAL. THEY ALL KNOW THAT FEELING OF STANDING OUT IN THE HALLWAY, LISTENING TO SOMEONE ELSE PLAYING THE PIANO, WONDERING IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THEIR PIECE AS WELL. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THEM, AND JUST ONLY ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY THE MUSIC CLUB IS IMPORTANT. WE BELIEVE THAT MUSIC MAKES A COMMUNITY BECOME BETTER, AND INDEED MUSIC JUST MAKES LIFE BETTER. AND I'M EXCITED TO AWARD THE IDAHO FALLS MUSIC CLUB THAT REPRESENTED TONIGHT BY CURRENT PRESIDENT LINDSAY BINGHAM WITH THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AWARD. FROM. SURE. YEAH, I'M A PART OF THE IDAHO FALLS MUSIC CLUB, AND I DID NOT GROW UP HERE EITHER. SO IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW OLD THIS CLUB IS. IT WAS STARTED IN 1912 AND IT IS 113 YEARS OLD, AND IT WAS STARTED JUST BY MUSICIANS IN IDAHO FALLS WHO WANTED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSIC AND WHOLESOME THINGS FOR FAMILIES AND PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN. AND SO WE GIVE AWAY SO MANY SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY YEAR. AND AGAIN, WE RELY ON THE BUSINESSES, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE AND DONORS IN IDAHO FALLS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THAT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION. AND I'M I'M ONE OF THE TEACHERS WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN FESTIVAL FOR A WHILE. I HAVE MY STUDENTS IN THERE AND THEY LOVE IT. IT IS SO FUN. SO, YOU KNOW, MUSIC TEACHER, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO LOVES MUSIC AND WANTS TO GET THERE, JUST PARTICIPATE AND GIVE BACK A LITTLE BIT. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE MEMBERS JOIN IT AND MORE TEACHERS JOIN BECAUSE THEIR STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS CLUB. SO AGAIN, YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AWARD AND FOR THINKING OF US. THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU SHARING IT WITH YOUR YOUR FELLOW MUSICIANS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE. ALL RIGHT. THIS LAST ONE IS ALSO DEEPLY MEANINGFUL. WE'RE CALLING THIS THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD. HERE WE GO. THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES THAT OVER 122.6, 122, MORE THAN 122 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO CONFLICT, PERSECUTION, WAR DISASTERS EVERY YEAR. AND THOSE PEOPLE OFTEN ENDURE IMMENSE HARDSHIP. RECOGNIZING THAT IMMENSE NEED. IN APRIL 2022, THROUGH THE OPERATION ALLIES WELCOME PROGRAM, THE IDAHO FALLS BRIDGE BUILDERS SPONSOR CIRCLE WELCOMED THREE AFGHAN AIR FORCE PILOTS, ALLIES OF THE US MILITARY OPERATION, TO IDAHO FALLS. THEY WERE THE FIRST REFUGEES IN IDAHO FALLS SINCE CONGRESS HAD PASSED THE REFUGEE ACT OF 1980. IN FEBRUARY 2023, A THREE GENERATIONAL FAMILY ARRIVED THROUGH THE UNITING FOR UKRAINE PROGRAM. IN 2024, THREE MORE PILOTS FROM THE AFGHAN AIR FORCE ORIGINALLY RESETTLED TO OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE US, VOLUNTARILY CHOSE TO RELOCATE TO IDAHO FALLS. ALL SIX PILOTS ARE MARRIED MEN, AND AS OF NOVEMBER, TWO OF THEIR WIVES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JOIN THEM. I'M ACTUALLY TEXT BUDDIES WITH ONE OF THE PILOTS, RAJAB, AND HIS WIFE. AFTER YEARS, WAS ONLY RECENTLY ABLE TO JOIN HIM IN JUST A MATTER OF MONTHS AGO, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY HER[00:35:01]
NAME BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YET. I THINK IT MIGHT BE LIKE WHAT? BUT I'M NOT SURE. BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING HER. WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE MAN. AND SHE MUST BE AN AMAZING WOMAN TO HAVE HIS LOYALTY. WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE IDAHO FALLS BRIDGE BUILDERS. THE OTHER FOUR WIVES OF THE OTHER FOUR PILOTS, TWO OF WHOM HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, ARE STILL NAVIGATING THE LONG AND ARDUOUS LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS TO THE UNITED STATES. LEGAL IMMIGRATION IS HARD, AND SO THEY'RE DOING IT. AND IT'S TAKING IT'S TAKING TIME. AND THESE COUPLES ARE APART. AND SO WE CROSS OUR FINGERS AND WE PRAY A LITTLE BIT THAT THAT'LL HAPPEN QUICKLY. THE VOLUNTARY AND MONETARY WORK OF THE IDAHO FALLS BRIDGE BUILDERS ORGANIZATION REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO COMPASSION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROVIDING SAFETY FOR THOSE IN NEED. THOUGH THEY SPONSOR THOSE THEY SPONSOR HAVE BECOME ACTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY, ENRICHMENT AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY. I'VE BEEN SO IMPRESSED AS I'VE WATCHED THESE PILOTS OBTAIN JOBS AND WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME, FULL TIME WORKING FULL TIME STUDENT OR YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BEING A STUDENT. AND IT'S JUST BEEN THEY'RE SUCH POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, IDAHO FALLS BRIDGE BUILDERS HAS RECEIVED AROUND $80,000 IN CASH DONATIONS, ALMOST ALL FROM WITHIN IDAHO FALLS, AND WITH MORE THAN HALF OF IT COMING FROM INDIVIDUALS, NOT JUST BUSINESSES. YOU KNOW, WRITING THOSE BIG CHECKS. THAT'S SO IMPRESSIVE. THE IDAHO FALLS BRIDGE BUILDERS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN CRISES. JUST HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THEY MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL LIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. EVERY SUCCESS STORY COMMUNICATES SOMETHING REMARKABLE, NOT JUST ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING THE HELP, BUT IT ALSO COMMUNICATES SOMETHING REMARKABLE ABOUT THE IDAHO FALLS COMMUNITY. I LOVE THAT IDAHO FALLS BRIDGE BUILDERS GIVES EVERYONE A CHANCE TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTES TO THIS PROGRAM, THIS IS BECOMING BETTER. IT'S THESE EXEMPLARY VALUES OF COMPASSION AND INCLUSIVITY THAT MAKE IDAHO FALLS SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE. AND WE'RE GIVING THE BRIDGE BUILDERS, REPRESENTED BY JOE AND KIM MITCHELL, THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD. THANK YOU. I HAVEN'T WRITTEN A CHECK TO YOU GUYS, BUT I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO. SO WE'D BE HAPPY IF SOME CORPORATIONS WROTE US BIG CHECKS. AGAINST THAT. THERE'S SOME HEROES IN THIS STORY, AND THEY'RE NOT ME AND KIM. THE FIRST SET IS THE PILOTS THEMSELVES. SIX OF THE GUYS WHO LIVE HERE IN IDAHO FALLS NOW FLEW AIRCRAFT OUT OF AFGHANISTAN. WHEN KABUL FELL AUGUST 15TH, 2021, ILLEGALLY TO PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN. SECOND HEROES IN THE STORY IS THE AMERICAN MILITARY THAT HELPED SPRING THESE GUYS OUT OF BASICALLY PRISON CAMPS IN TAJIKISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN, ARRANGED FOR THEM TO HAVE A PATHWAY TO VIRGINIA FOR RESETTLEMENT, WHERE THEY GOT CONNECTED UP WITH OUR SPONSOR CIRCLE. THE THIRD SET OF HEROES IN THIS STORY IS COMMUNITY OF IDAHO FALLS. WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION TO EXPECT. AS MAYOR KASPER SAID, THERE HADN'T BEEN REFUGEES HERE IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS, AND THE RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AMAZING. THE COMMUNITY HAS TREATED THESE THESE GUYS WELL, BEEN GENEROUS, SUPPORTIVE, MADE FRIENDS, WELCOMING. IT'S REALLY BEEN A COOL THING. IT'S BEEN A REAL COMMUNITY EFFORT. WE'VE HAD SUPPORT FROM THIS, THIS GROUP FROM SENATOR RISCH'S OFFICE, ESPECIALLY FROM CEI. CEI HAS BEEN GREAT FROM LOTS OF DIFFERENT CHURCHES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, FROM THE MUSLIM ASSOCIATION TO THE LDS TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. AND THAT'S BEEN COOL TO SEE. AND THEN THE FOURTH SET OF HEROES IN THIS STORY ARE THE WOMEN WHO ARE ARRIVING NOW. AND AS I'M SURE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN HAVE UNDERGONE SOME OF THE WORST REPRESSION ANYWHERE ON EARTH. THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO
[00:40:03]
HOLD JOBS, TO GO TO SCHOOL. THEY CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT A MALE ESCORT. THEY CAN'T SING, TALK, SPEAK LOUDLY, WALK LOUDLY, RIDE A BICYCLE, FLY A KITE. AND NOW THEY'RE COMING TO IDAHO FALLS. AND WHAT'S BEEN REALLY COOL IS JUST WHAT LIVEWIRES ALL THESE YOUNG LADIES ARE. THEY ARE FULL OF LIFE AND BRAINS AND ENERGY AND BEING PUSHED DOWN BY, EXCUSE ME, A REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT. THAT'S NOT. HAS NOT BROKEN THEIR SPIRIT. YOU WILL LOVE MEETING THEM WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE. ONE OF ANOTHER WIFE CAME ABOUT TEN DAYS AGO. HER NAME IS ATIKA. SO WE HAVE THREE OUT OF SIX, AND THE FOURTH SHOULD BE HERE IN ABOUT A MONTH. SO THERE'S BEEN GREAT PROGRESS.SO WHAT BRIDGE BUILDERS IS DOING NOW IS TRANSITIONING FROM RESETTLEMENT TO INTEGRATION. AND A BIG PART OF INTEGRATION IS EDUCATION. SO WE'LL BE HELPING ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION, PROBABLY STARTING AT CEI AND THEN GOING AS FAR AS THEY CAN TAKE THAT. SO LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THEIR STORIES THIS YEAR FROM US. WE KEEP EVERYONE'S PRIVACY. SO JUST LIKE FIRST NAMES IS ALL WE'LL USE. BUT YOU'LL HEAR SOME OF THE STORIES FROM THE WOMEN THIS YEAR, AND WE'LL GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO USE THEIR VOICE HERE IN IDAHO FALLS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHETHER IT'S A BALL FIELD OR A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE OR CHANGING THE LIVES OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN AN INTERNATIONAL HERO OR A HERO ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE, IT'S THE POWER OF ONE. ALL IT TAKES IS SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, WE CAN DO A LITTLE BETTER, AND THAT HAPPENS HERE, AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE IDAHO FALLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALL OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. LET'S DO TWO THINGS. HAVE A QUICK BREAK.
WE'LL RECONVENE AT 20 AFTER. BUT WE'LL ALSO IF WE COULD GET THAT PICTURE WITH HEATHER FOR THE FIRST GROUP, THE TIGER PARENTS CLUB. SO WE'LL DO THE PICTURE OR WE'LL BREAK AND WE'LL DO THE PICTURE AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE READY TO COME BACK INTO ORDER. WE HAVE EVERYBODY EITHER AT THE ON THE DAIS OR MAKING THEIR WAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL JUST RESUME WITH THE REST OF OUR MEETING. THERE ARE I CONFIRMED PAPER
[3. Public Comment.]
COPIES OF THE AGENDA IN THE HALLWAY IN A LITTLE BASKET RIGHT BY THE DOOR. SO THE NEXT ELEMENT OF OUR MEETING IS PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I KNOW WE HAVE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF CITIZENS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING COMMENT TONIGHT. TYPICALLY COUNCIL, WE LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS, BUT IF ANYTHING IS SAID THAT WE A QUICK A QUICK RESPONSE OR A QUICK THOUGHT MIGHT HELP, THEN WE'LL WE MAY SHARE THAT. IF NOT, WE'LL WE'LL MOSTLY JUST LISTEN AND TRY TO TAKE NOTES THAT WILL GET YOU GET GET SOME RESOLUTION GOING FORWARD. SO ANYWAY WITH THAT, WE WOULD OPEN THE PODIUM HERE UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND INVITE THOSE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. TO DO SO. WE ASK IF YOU COULD PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT. AND FINALLY, TO OBSERVE THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE PRINTED ON THE BACK OF THE AGENDA. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU.OKAY. WELL HELLO AGAIN. LONG TIME NO SEE, NO PUN INTENDED. SO I MY NAME IS BABE AND I'M NIGHBERT AND I'M FROM IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO. I'M JUST I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE, I WOULD SAY THIS MANY TIMES, BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GIFT BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A GIFT. AND IT HAS HELPED ME IN SO MANY WAYS AND GIVEN ME OPPORTUNITIES TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY MORE AND GO FROM POINT A TO POINT B, AND IT REALLY DOES HELP A LOT WITH THAT. AND I'M GLAD THAT I WENT TO WORK TO THE DEVELOP WORKSHOP TODAY. EARLIER TODAY WE DISCUSSED HOW WE COULD IMPROVE THE SERVICE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY GAVE US WAS TOKENS,
[00:45:04]
WHICH CAN HELP MAYBE THOSE THAT NEED IT. SO LIKE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. AND I THINK IMPLEMENTING MORE LIKE HOPEFULLY WE CAN START WORKING ON GETTING DISABLED TRANSIT TO BE A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER BECAUSE $4 A RIDE TO REQUESTING AND $6 TO SCHEDULE ONE EVERY TIME ADDS UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU NEED TO USE THE SERVICE ALL THE TIME LIKE I DO. AND I REALLY WOULD HOPE THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS WE CAN GET ON TO THAT POINT. AND I ALSO WOULD LOVE SOMETIME TO GO OVER TO HAMMOND CITY COUNCIL AND GIVE THEM A PIECE OF MY MIND ABOUT WHY THEY NEED IT AS MUCH AS WE DO, BECAUSE THE EXCUSES ARE JUST RIDICULOUS AND I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND I'D LOVE TO HAVE BUSINESSES PARTNER UP WITH THEM SO THEY CAN NOT HAVE TO PAY AS MUCH, YOU KNOW? BUT AGAIN, I'M GLAD THAT I AM ABLE TO COME HERE AND, YOU KNOW, THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING GIFT TO BE A PART OF MY LIFE AND, AND OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES AND, AND IT AND IT REALLY HAS JUST BEEN AMAZING. AND I HOPE WE CAN EXPAND THE SERVICE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS AND HEARTFELT WORDS. YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR.FASCINATING. HELLO. MY NAME IS MOSEY. I'M FROM. CAN YOU TRY THE BUTTON AND SEE IF YOU GET A GREEN LIGHT? THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. THERE YOU GO. MY NAME IS MOSEY. I'M FROM THE HEART. WE DO A LOT OF LOCAL MUSIC, MAINLY LIKE THE UNDERGROUND, LOCAL MUSIC. SO THE ONES THAT YELL A LOT. BUT BUT I HAVE. I HAVE SOME WORDS ABOUT ABOUT THE EXPANSION THAT WE TRIED TO DO RECENTLY AND, AND HOW IT'S GONE FOR US AND, AND HOW IT'S AFFECTED THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE NOT REALLY REPRESENTED. SO LIKE I SAID, MY NAME IS MOSEY FROM THE HEART, WHERE WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TYPES OF GENRES OF LOCAL MUSIC AND ART AND A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT OFTEN REPRESENTED. WE'RE AT RISK OF NEVER OPENING AGAIN DUE TO A BROKEN SYSTEM, AND I'M HERE AS A PASSIONATE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, AND ALSO SOMEONE WHO IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BARRIERS OUR CITY, OUR CITY PLACES ON GROWTH, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ITS PEOPLE. OVER THE PAST YEARS, I'VE FACED A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WORKING WITH THE CITY, CHALLENGES THAT I KNOW OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE FACED AS WELL. THESE. THESE INCLUDE A LACK OF CLEAR PLANS AND PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD CONSTANTLY, CONSTANTLY CHANGES AND OFTEN INACCURATE INFORMATION. SLOW RESPONSE TIMES AND INCOMPLETE ANSWERS. AND THESE ISSUES DON'T JUST CREATE FRUSTRATION, THEY CREATE A REAL, MEASURABLE HARM THAT I SEE AT MY BUILDING WHEN I HAD IT EVERY SINGLE WEEK FROM A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND ARTISTS. IT'S NOT. SMALL. BUSINESSES LIKE MINE ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE COMMUNITY, AS WE ALL, AS WE ALL KNOW. AND WE CREATE JOBS, PROVIDE SERVICES AND FOSTER A SENSE OF CONNECTION. AND WE KEEP THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY ALIVE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. BUT THE CHALLENGES WE'VE BEEN FACING ARE CRIPPLING, AND THE INEFFICIENCIES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF MONEY, STALLED PROJECTS AND WASTED TIME. AND THE IMPACT DOESN'T STOP THERE. THEY CONTRIBUTE TO A BROADER COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY ISSUES LIKE HOUSING, FOOD, HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY, INCOME INSTABILITY, AND EVEN ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES. IDAHO FACES A DAUNTING SUICIDE RATE OF AMONG AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, WITH OVER 500 LIVES LOST PER YEAR. ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE WIDESPREAD AND OFTEN TIED TO THESE SAME STRESSORS, THOSE BEING FINANCIAL INSTABILITY, LACK OF COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND FEELING OF HOPELESSNESS. THE CITY HAS THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT INSTEAD WE HAVE FACED ROADBLOCKS AT EVERY TURN. WHEN PROGRESS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN DELAYED. IT'S NOT JUST BUSINESSES THAT SUFFER, IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THOSE BUSINESSES FOR JOBS, SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S A FAMILY STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT, AND ARTISTS, CREATORS AND VISIONARIES WHO LOSE THE CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR GIFTS AND BUILD CONNECTIONS. I'VE HAD TO TAKE IT UPON MYSELF TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE OF ALL INCOME AND SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS. AND REALLY, IF I HAVE TO BE THE ROBIN HOOD OF THROWING CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND SAFE EVENTS, THEN THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO. AND I'M AND I'M LOOKING AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE HEART MAY HAVE TO DIE UP ON A HILL OF JUST TRYING TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES OPENLY AND CONNECT TO A COMMUNITY AND FIND SOME HOPE IN THEIR LIVES. I'VE SEEN THAT HOPE GROW, AND I'VE SEEN IT DASHED MANY TIMES, AND, AND, AND IT MIGHT JUST BE LOCAL MUSIC, BUT IT'S MORE. WHILE MY OWN STORY INCLUDES SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THESE STRUGGLES, EXAMPLES I'D
[00:50:02]
BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THIS IS A MUCH BROADER ISSUE, AND THERE'S SYSTEMIC INEFFICIENCIES THAT AFFECT COUNTLESS, COUNTLESS OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME, RESOURCES, OR ENERGY TO SPEAK OUT. BUT I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE, AND I NEED THE CITY TO STEP UP TO PRIORITIZE EFFICIENCY AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE RIPPLE EFFECTS AND ITS INEFFICIENCIES. TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE WE DON'T, JUST WHERE PEOPLE AND ARTISTS DON'T JUST SURVIVE, BUT THEY THRIVE. I LOST MY PLACE HERE ONE SECOND. OKAY, THIS IS NOT ABOUT JUST FIXING PROCESSES. IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES AND FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AND GIVING OUR COMMUNITY THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO BUY THEIR WAY TO INFLUENCE SMALL BUSINESSES MATTER. AND WE ARE A COMMUNITY.WE ARE A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THAT HELPS, THAT HELPS GROW, HELPS THE COMMUNITY GROW. AND I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO GROW WITH US. MY MAIN POINT IN ALL OF THIS BEING IS THAT I STARTED I STARTED THE HEART IN 2020, WHICH IS A TERRIBLE TIME TO START AN ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS. DON'T DO IT. BUT WE SOMEHOW PERSEVERED FROM JUST SEEING JUST PUTTING ARTISTS UP ON STAGE AND LETTING THEM PERFORM AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO A SHOW THAT WE PUT ON, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE WE'VE HAD 11 YEAR OLDS UP TO 60, 60, 70 YEAR OLDS PERFORMING MUSIC, AND BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY TO PAY TO GO ON STAGE, WE, WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE TO BE. AND OUT OF THAT, I'VE, I'VE HAD TO I'VE HAD TO TALK KIDS OUT OF SUICIDE OR SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, TEEN PREGNANCY, DRUG ADDICTIONS AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
AND BEING A BLACK PERSON, IDAHO FALLS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH ON A DAILY. AND IF YOU WANT A STORY ABOUT THAT, TALK TO ME LATER. BUT THIS THE CITY NEEDS MORE PLACES FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE. NOT NOT JUST NOT JUST MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEING TAKEN AWAY. NOT NOT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING I DID, BUT BECAUSE OF 4 TO 5 MONTHS OF TRYING, OF TRYING MY BEST TO MAKE A BUILDING WORTH IT AND THEN FINALLY GETTING INFORMATION JUST JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT IF I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN FOUR MONTHS AGO, WE COULD HAVE WE COULD HAVE BEEN OPEN ALREADY. AND I'VE HAD TO I'VE HAD TO WATCH PEOPLE CRY IN FRONT OF ME, TALKING ABOUT THE LOST OPPORTUNITIES. THERE'S BEEN ARTISTS OUT OF IDAHO FALLS THAT HAVE GONE ON TOUR AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT, BECAUSE IT WAS HEAVY METAL, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE HEAVY METAL, BUT THEY STARTED AT THE HEART IN IDAHO FALLS, AND NOW THEY ARE. NOW THEY ARE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FIND IT AT CHOIR. THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO FIND IT UP ON STAGE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES IN ANY WAY THAT THEY WANT TO, EVEN WHEN I HATE THE MUSIC. AND SO I HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT THERE IS A MORE CLEAR, A MORE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO GET A BUSINESS OR A BUSINESS OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY FROM THIS PLACE, THE OTHER PLACE, WITHOUT THEM ALMOST LOSING THEIR HOMES, LIKE I ALMOST LOST MY HOME AND STILL MIGHT WITHOUT THEM LOSING THEIR FAVORITE CAR TO PRIUS V AND I LOVE IT. BUT. AND NOT BEING ABLE TO AND LOSING THE COMMUNITY THAT I'VE GROWN OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS THROUGH LOSING EVERYTHING MULTIPLE TIMES. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY BUSINESS AND IF I. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN THAT THAT THE LACK OF THE LACK OF HELP AND BUILDING BUSINESSES IS NOT ONLY KILLING BUSINESSES, IT'S KILLING THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WE CAN GET TO A GOOD PLACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING THAT. I KNOW THAT I'LL JUST SAY THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE ALLUDING TO ARE ACTIVELY BEING DISCUSSED, MAYBE EVEN SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES HAVE TURNED INTO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE PROCESSES IN THE FUTURE. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IF YOU ARE NOT, IF YOU ARE AN AMATEUR DEVELOPER VERSUS A PROFESSIONAL, YOU KNOW, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, IT IS A HARDER IT IS A HARDER EXPERIENCE IN IDAHO FALLS. AND I THINK THERE IS SOME COMMITMENT TO TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR YOUR STORY. IT HELPS TO PUT A FACE AND SOME EXPERIENCES ON THIS AS WE AS WE ENDEAVOR TO GET BETTER. DON'T DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE NEXT PERSON THAT THAT TRIES TO HELP THE MUSIC COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING? I SEE MR. NITSCHKE IS APPROACHING. HELLO. I GUESS YOU'RE READY TO GET THE DREAM SQUISHER OR EVERY OTHER YEAR. SO
[00:55:03]
COME BACK NEXT YEAR. MY NAME IS BOB NITSCHKE. I LIVE IN IDAHO FALLS, AND I'M A FREQUENT PUBLIC OUTCRY HERE. I THINK I SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME KIND OF AWARD FOR THAT. MAYBE A MERIT BADGE.LET US BEGIN. ROUND THREE OF THE LION ENCOUNTER OF THE MOST HORRIBLE KIND. AS YOU RECALL, THE FIRST TWO TIMES I WAS HERE, I TRIED TO FORCE FEED YOU AT RAPID PACE. THREE MINUTES FOR TO STAY WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TIME FOR THE UNWASHED TO TALK TO THE HIGH TABLE. THIS TIME YOU WON'T GET A READING ASSIGNMENT THAT YOU CAN COMPLETE AT YOUR LEISURE. COINCIDENTALLY, THIS IS MY SIXTH MONTH. I'M NOT DEAD YET ANNIVERSARY, SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AS YOU MAY RECALL, I PROMISED TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL MORE DETAILED EVALUATION OF SAFETY AT THE ZOO, AS WELL AS CONCERNS ABOUT AND OBSERVATIONS ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE AND ZOO MANAGEMENT. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE EVALUATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED. IT'S ENTITLED IDAHO FALLS ZOO.
NONE DARE CALL IT SAFE. THE VOLUNTEERS EXPERIENCES AND MUSINGS ABOUT MANAGEMENT FAILURES AND FIASCOS AT THE IDAHO FALLS ZOO. I COVER THE LION INCIDENT BOTH BEFORE AND NOW. OTHER SAFETY MANAGEMENT FAILURES, ANIMAL WELFARE FAILURES, OTHER MANAGEMENT FAILURES DEALING WITH PERSONNEL LEADERSHIP, PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANNING. I'LL TOUCH ON FAILURE IN THE REPORT. WE TOUCH ON FAILURE OF MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT. I PROVIDE A SECTION ON A PATH FORWARD AND SOME REFLECTIONS. THIS PARTICULAR REPORT SAVES ME FROM HAVING TO STAND ON THE CORNER WITH A SIGN SAYING ALL ZOO LIVES MATTER. SO I'M A LITTLE BIT SELFISH THAT WAY. I CONSIDER THIS REPORT TO BE MY CHILD THAT I'M SENDING OUT INTO THE CRUEL WORLD TO FIGHT INJUSTICE. AT THE IDAHO FALLS ZOO AND ELSEWHERE, THAT INJUSTICE IS INNOCENT PEOPLE BEING UNNECESSARILY KILLED OR MAIMED BY APEX PREDATOR PREDATOR FRIENDS BECAUSE OF INCOMPETENCE AND NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF ZOO MANAGEMENT. I TOOK GREAT PAINS TO PREPARE THE CHILD TO WITHSTAND THE SLINGS AND ARROWS THAT ALL BEARERS OF BAD TIDINGS MUST FACE THE KILL THE MESSENGER SYNDROME. THERE ARE DETAILED AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF EACH POSITION TAKEN AND CONCLUSION DRAWN. THIS SHOULD PROTECT PROTECT THE CHILD FROM SPURIOUS, UNFOUNDED ATTACKS. THE REPORT IS MINE AND MINE ALONE. I DID RECEIVE A SANITY CHECK LAST NIGHT FROM TWO DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF MY BRAIN TRUST, SO I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO KNOW WHAT I KNOW. NOT SURE I'LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE TRUTH, BUT C'EST LA VIE. OF COURSE, IF I WERE A BILLIONAIRE LIKE ELON MUSK, I WOULD JUST BUY THE ZOO AND FIX IT MYSELF. BUT AS A POOR RETIREE ON A FIXED AND FALLING INCOME, I CAN ONLY PREPARE A REPORT THAT ACCURATELY AND PASSIONATELY DOCUMENTS THE CURRENT SITUATION AND HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE ANIMAL FRIENDS AT THE ZOO, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE ZOO, AND THE PEOPLE THAT VISIT THE ZOO IN A TIMELY, APPROPRIATE, AND COMPLETE MANNER. I HAD PLANNED TO SUPPORT A PLAN TO SURPRISE THE COUNCIL WITH THEIR VERY OWN HARD COPY, BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT MY OWN COPY COSTS $22 IN $0.05. SO YOU WILL BE GETTING AN ELECTRONIC COPY TOMORROW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. ZELENSKY. APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION ABOUT THIS SUBJECT AND KNOW THAT WE WANT TO DO BETTER ALWAYS. SO THAT'S SORT OF A HALLMARK OF OUR OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE TRYING ALWAYS TO IMPROVE THE THINGS WE DO. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE CITIZEN INPUT TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING WITH THE WE DON'T HAVE THAT BAROMETER WE CAN'T GAUGE AND IMPROVE. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY NEED TO SAY BEFORE WE MOVE ON? ALL RIGHT. THANK
[4. Consent Agenda.]
YOU, EVERYBODY FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO READ THE CONSENT AGENDA INTO THE RECORD. AND THEN IF THERE IS ANYONE COUNCIL MEMBER, DO YOU WANT TO PULL ANYTHING OFF? LET ME KNOW. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO CONSIDERATION OF THAT AGENDA. SO CITY CLERK, WILL YOU READ THAT CONTENT INTO THE RECORD? THERE SIX ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ONE ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS BID AWARD, NORTH PARK DRIVE REALIGNMENT, ONE ITEM FOR IDAHO FALLS POWER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH ELECTRICAL[01:00:03]
CONSULTING, INC. TASK ORDER NUMBER ONE, 20 YEAR LONG RANGE PLAN AND SYSTEM REVIEW. ONE ITEM FOR IDAHO FALLS AIRPORT IS ENGAGEMENT LETTER APPROVAL LAW FIRM. OF HOWARD, TROXEL AND HAILEY LLP. TWO ITEMS FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES. IMPACT FEE QUARTERLY REPORT I AM DASH 25 0007. BOTH AMMUNITION FOR IDAHO FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ONE ITEM FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK LICENSE APPLICATION, ALL CARRYING THE REQUIRED APPROVALS. THANK YOU. I'LL TURN TO OUR COMMITTEE. I'M SORRY. LET ME FIRST ASK, ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO PULL ANYTHING OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO OUR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR AN ACTION. THANK YOU. I WOULD MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE, ACCEPT OR RECEIVE ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED. SECOND. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR LARSEN.AND WITH THAT, I WILL ASK THE CITY CLERK TO CONDUCT A VOTE. BRADFORD A FREEMAN. YES.
BURTONSHAW. YES. FRANCIS A KINGMAN. YES. LARSEN. YES. MOTION CARRIES. VERY GOOD. THANK
[5.A.1) Appointment of City Clerk]
YOU. I WILL MOVE TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. AND THERE IS AN ITEM COMING FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. THIS IS RELATED TO THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR NEW CITY CLERK. AND I WILL TURN TO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS THE ITEM. OKAY. I WILL ALSO BE TAKING THIS ONE TONIGHT. WE DID INTERVIEW MISS EMILY GEISLER AND VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH HER. AND SO I'M EXCITED THAT SHE WAS OFFERED THIS APPOINTMENT. AND SHE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FROM ME AND FROM THE MAYOR AS WELL. SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, HER INFORMATION WAS IN THE PACKET. AND SO I WOULD MOVE. THE COUNCIL CONFIRMED THE APPOINTMENT OF MISS EMILY GEISLER TO BE THE IDAHO FALLS CITY CLERK SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FREEMAN, FOR THAT. SECOND THERE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WE'LL THEN ASK THE CITY CLERK TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THAT DEMON. YES.BURTONSHAW. YES, FRANCIS A FREEMAN. YES. LARSEN. YES. RADFORD. AYE. MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIRMATION. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS, NOW THAT SHE'S BEEN CONFIRMED AND APPOINTED AND CONFIRMED AS SHE WILL START EMPLOYMENT ON MONDAY AND GO THROUGH SOME INTENSIVE TRAINING FROM OUR CURRENT OR OUR OUTGOING CITY CLERK. AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON THE. OH GOLLY. WELL, WE MAY MEET HER ON MONDAY AT OUR WORK SESSION ACTUALLY. AND WE'LL SEE HER IN ACTION IN FUTURE MEETINGS TOWARD THE END
[5.B.1) Purchase Orders for Replacement Vehicles for the Parks and Recreation and Fire Departments.]
OF THE MONTH. AND SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS, I THINK A SINGLE ITEM COMING TO US. NO, NO, SORRY. PART OF ONE OF THREE ITEMS COMING TO US.JUST TWO COMING TO US FROM MUNICIPAL SERVICES. WE HAVE OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, PAM ALEXANDER HERE. AND DIRECTOR, I'LL INVITE YOU TO PRESENT THIS FIRST ONE, WHICH IS A PURCHASE ORDER. BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. SO UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ITEM THIS EVENING IS TO REQUEST THE AUTHORIZATION OF SIX PURCHASE ORDERS THAT WERE ISSUED TO SMITH CHEVROLET, WHO IS ACTUALLY PART OF OUR STATE OF IDAHO CONTRACTING COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT. BUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS THAT SEVERAL OF OUR THERE WERE SEVERAL VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS SCHEDULED FOR OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS ONE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS UNFORTUNATELY TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A FLURRY OF TRYING TO GET ALL THESE VEHICLES ORDERED. WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IS WE ACTUALLY ISSUED SIX POS SEPARATE POS TO SMITH CHEVROLET. ALTHOUGH I MENTIONED EARLIER THEY ARE ON THE STATE CONTRACT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE TOTAL OF THOSE SIX PURCHASE ORDERS WERE OVER $300,000. SO WE'RE NOT REQUESTING TO RATIFY THE EXPENDITURES BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T PAID ANYTHING OUT FOR THAT. BUT WE HAVE ORDERED WE HAVE ISSUED THOSE PURCHASE ORDERS TO SMITH CHEVROLET. SO THEY HAVE, IN FACT ORDERED THOSE VEHICLES FOR US TO GET US IN THE QUEUE SO WE CAN REPLACE OUR VEHICLES. SO THIS EVENING, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THOSE SIX PURCHASE ORDERS THAT I'VE IDENTIFIED IN THE MEMO, AS WELL AS ATTACHED TO YOUR PACKET OF INFORMATION. AND SO THE YOU SAID UNFORTUNATELY A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND THE IDEA IS THAT TYPICALLY BEFORE WE INCUR AN OBLIGATION, WE NEED COUNCIL APPROVAL. I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT HAD IT BEEN DONE IN A DIFFERENT ORDER, COUNCIL APPROVAL THEN INCURRED THE OBLIGATION. THE VOTE WOULD HAVE BEEN A NO BRAINER, KIND OF A YES. THESE ARE NEEDED ITEMS, THEY ARE BUDGETED ITEMS AND THERE'S REALLY NO REASON, NO CONTROVERSY ASSOCIATED WITH THESE REPLACEMENTS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION ON
[01:05:01]
WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A PART OF THIS STATEWIDE CONTRACT, AND I GUESS MAYBE A NEW STAFFER OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, OR A NEW PROCESS THAT CAUSED SOME CONFUSION AND THINGS WERE DONE OUT OF ORDER. SO I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO RATIFY JUST A REGULAR APPROVAL, BUT IT IS COMING OUT OF ORDER. SO IF YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS REALLY QUICKLY. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS WE ACTUALLY REQUEST WHAT WE CALL A PURCHASE REQUISITION IN THE SYSTEM. AND THAT PURCHASE REQUISITION IS IDENTIFIED. THE FUNDING OF THE ACTUAL PURCHASE THAT WE'RE REQUESTING. WHAT HAPPENED WAS IS THERE WERE SIX SEPARATE REQUISITIONS ISSUED THAT TURNED INTO WHAT WE CALL A PURCHASE ORDER. AND SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, AS THOSE WERE GOING THROUGH, THOSE SIX WERE GOING THROUGH AT DIFFERENT TIMES, THEY WEREN'T CAUGHT FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 301,000. SO WHEN THE SEPARATE PURCHASE ORDERS WERE ISSUED, THAT'S WHEN WE VIOLATED OUR, OUR, OUR PROCESS. AT THAT POINT IN TIME. ANY ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR ALEXANDER? COUNSELOR FREEMAN, I AM JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE TWO ADDS TO FLEET, AND THEY ARE ALSO BUDGETED THAT THAT'S OUR NEXT ITEM, ACTUALLY THE ONES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, THE SIX WERE ACTUALLY REPLACEMENTS. OKAY. FIVE ARE PARKS AND REC REPLACEMENTS THAT WERE DUE TO BE REPLACED THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND THE ONE IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS TOLD IN AN ACCIDENT JUST A SHORT DISTANCE. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE. FLEET. YES. OKAY. THAT'S THE NEXT ITEM. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.WELL, THEN, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AND EVERYBODY'S SATISFIED WITH THE INFORMATION THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM DIRECTOR ALEXANDER, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MAYBE I CAN MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILOR FRANCIS, I SAW THIS, AND I CONTACTED DIRECTOR ALEXANDER, AND SHE WAS SO PROMPT AND SO CLEAR WITH THEIR RESPONSE. IT'S JUST CONSISTENT FROM YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I DO FEEL THAT I'M GOING TO ADD ONE MORE THING.
I THINK THAT THE PROCESS OF HAVING MUNICIPAL SERVICES WORK ON THE REQUISITIONS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, GOING KIND OF BACKWARDS AND SAYING THIS IS WHY THE PROCESS WORKS IS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS PURCHASING TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING, LIKE, OH YEAH, THESE ARE ON THE CONTRACT. WE CAN GET A BETTER DEAL. OH, YOU WANT THREE OF THESE? WE CAN GET THREE. YOU KNOW, THREE OF THESE FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. JUST KIDDING. WE NEVER HAVE TO GET THAT. USUALLY IT'S THREE AND A HALF TIMES. BUT ANYWAY, I DO THINK THAT IT'S THAT. AND DIRECTOR ALEXANDER HELPED ME WITH THE RIGHT LANGUAGE WHEN IT'S NOT CONSOLIDATED PURCHASING, BUT IT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT CENTRALIZED PURCHASING. CENTRALIZED PURCHASING. THAT'S RIGHT. THE CENTRALIZED PURCHASING IS, I THINK, WHY IT WORKS. WELL, BECAUSE THESE WERE ON THE STATE CONTRACT AND IT'S STILL ON THE STATE CONTRACT. IT'S STILL AUTHORIZED. BUT PURCHASING REALLY CENTRALIZED PURCHASING I'M REALLY A FAN OF IN THE CITY. SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT TO DIRECTOR ALEXANDER, HAVE THAT OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILOR LARSON, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE SIX PURCHASE ORDERS ISSUED TO SMITH CHEVROLET FOR A TOTAL OF $301,071.19. OKAY, SECOND, SORRY, WE HAVE A SECOND COMING FROM OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES LIAISONS. CITY CLERK, WILL YOU CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE? FREEMAN. YES, FRANCIS I. LARSON. YES. BRADFORD I BURTENSHAW. YES. DEMON. YES. MOTION CARRIES. VERY
[5.B.2) Purchase of Replacement Vehicles for the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments and Two Additions to Fleet for Parks and Recreation]
GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS SIMILAR. AND I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THAT. THE NEXT ITEM IS ACTUALLY HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK. SO, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO A VENDOR. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SMITH CHEVROLET. THE ITEM COMES FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM IS FOR THIS EVENING, THERE ARE SEVERAL REPLACEMENT VEHICLES THAT WERE PLANNED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL AS PARKS AND RECREATION. AND THEN THERE WERE ALSO APPROVED IN THIS BUDGET TO ADDITIONS TO FLEET FOR PARKS AND RECREATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, ACTUALLY. AND THESE ARE ONE VEHICLE FOR HORTICULTURE DIVISION AND ONE FOR THE IRRIGATION DIVISION. AND IN YOUR PACKET YOU WILL SEE WHERE THOSE TWO ITEMS OR THOSE TWO ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET WERE ACTUALLY PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS. THEY ARE IN OUR ADOPTED BUDGET BOOK. AND WITH THAT, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OR THE APPROVAL TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES AND A TOTAL OF 90, EXCUSE ME, A TOTAL OF $345,408.68. SO THE TOTAL OF ALL THOSE ACTUALLY TOTAL THAT AMOUNT. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING TO SUBMIT TO SMITH CHEVROLET TO GET THOSE VEHICLES ORDERED. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCILOR FRANCIS? NO. OKAY. AND, COUNCILOR[01:10:04]
FREEMAN, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE ADD TO FLEET. YEAH. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? THE QUESTION WAS MY QUESTION. MY QUESTION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE BUDGETED, BUT THEY WEREN'T ADDED TO FLEET. IS THAT LAST MINUTE KIND OF THING? GOT IT, GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT THEN I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A MOTION. COUNCILOR LARSON, IS IT YOURS AGAIN? IT IS. THANK YOU. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF REPLACEMENT VEHICLES AND TWO ADDITIONS TO FLEET FROM THE STATE OF IDAHO. CONTRACT SBP 018200325 FROM SMITH CHEVROLET, FOR A TOTAL OF $345,407.68. SECOND, VERY GOOD CITY CLERK. WILL YOU CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE? FRANCIS, I. STEEDMAN. YES. FREEMAN. YES. LARSON. YES. BRADFORD A BURTONSHAW. YES.MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE NEAR THE VERY END OF OUR AGENDA. TIME FOR SOME
[6. Announcements.]
ANNOUNCEMENTS. I'LL SHARE A FEW, AND THEN I'LL SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE. JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS CALENDAR WISE, THIS WEEK WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF A WEEK. AND ON MONDAY, WHEN WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE HAD OUR WORK SESSION, SOME OF US WERE IN BOISE FOR THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS. THAT CAUSED US TO PUSH OUR WORK SESSION TO THIS COMING MONDAY THE 13TH. AND SO WE WILL BE IN THIS ROOM IN WORK SESSION MODE ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. ON THE 15TH, WEDNESDAY THE 15TH. THAT WILL BE THE DAY WHEN WE OFFER THE WHEN I WILL OFFER THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. AND IT'S JUST AN ANNUAL, YOU KNOW, SNAPSHOT OF WHERE THE CITY HAS BEEN AND WHERE WE'RE GOING. AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER IT'LL FEEL HOPEFULLY ALMOST AS GOOD AS THOSE AWARDS. WE'LL SEE ON THE 20TH. THAT IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY. IDAHO HAS DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE ON MONDAY THE 20TH. THE CITY WILL BE CLOSED, WHICH THAT NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR WORK SESSION DAY, BUT WE WON'T BE HAVING A MEETING ON THAT DAY. ALSO ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MANY OF THEM, WILL BE IN BOISE BECAUSE THERE IS. THE ASSOCIATION OF IDAHO CITIES HAS HAS SOME EVENTS THAT DAY OR THOSE TWO DAYS, AND PARTICULARLY ON THURSDAY, IT'S THE CITY OFFICIALS DAY OF THE CAPITOL, AND WE'LL HAVE A REPRESENTATION FROM THE CITY THERE MEETING WITH THE LEGISLATORS. SO THAT PUSHES OUR NEXT SET OF MEETINGS, WORK SESSION AND REGULAR COUNCIL EVENING COUNCIL MEETING TO THE 27TH, MONDAY THE 27TH AND THURSDAY THE 30TH. SO THAT'S WHEN WE'LL BE BACK IN THIS ROOM FOR OUR EVENING MEETING. THAT WOULD BE ON THE 30TH. WITH THAT, I THINK THAT THAT COVERS THE COUNT OF THE CALENDAR. BUT ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT KIND OF THING GOING ON IN JANUARY IS SIMPLY THE WEATHER. AND WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF SNOW REMOVAL GOING ON. AT LEAST MY SIDEWALK IS NOT PERFECT YET, BUT THAT KIND OF THING GOING ON, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD MORE PEOPLE SUBSCRIBING TO OUR INFORMATION SERVICE FOR TEXTING MESSAGES FOR SNOW REMOVAL ALERTS, AND THAT RESULTED IN, I THINK, FEWER. TOWING SITUATIONS IN THIS FIRST GO ROUND, OR MAYBE PERCENTAGE WISE, FEWER. I'M NOT SURE, BUT I THOUGHT THE NEWS WAS DECENT. BUT IS THERE ANYBODY WHO HAS INFORMATION ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL OR ANYTHING THEY WANT TO SHARE? DIRECTORS OR COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILOR I'LL JUST MAKE ONE PLEA AGAIN, AS I HAVE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING AND JUST MOBILITY. YOU KNOW, WE JUST AS CITIZENS CAN CLEAN THEIR SIDEWALKS. BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE 17TH STREET CORRIDOR, PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED AND IN WHEELCHAIRS AND IN OTHER THINGS HAVE A NEED TO GET THROUGH THAT. AND WE WERE AT AN EVENT TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND HOW SOMEONE NEEDED TO WALK INTO THE CITY TO GET TO USE GIFT, AND NOW THEY AREN'T WALKING INTO THE CITY BECAUSE SNOW REMOVAL ISN'T REALLY HAPPENING. AND SO WE I JUST THINK PEOPLE CAN DO THEIR PART. AND I'M NOT TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT HOMEOWNERS. AND I MEAN, THEY NEED TO DO IT TOO. BUT WHEN THE CORRIDORS, IF WE COULD GET OUR BUSINESSES ALONG THE CORRIDORS TO DO THIS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. YOU KNOW, I HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH FAMILY VISITING OVER THE HOLIDAYS, AND ONE OF MY SONS THOUGHT, I JUST NEED TO MAKE A LITTLE PATH FOR KIDS TO WALK TO SCHOOL. AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT IT. THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THIS RULE IS TO AID WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME MOBILITY CHALLENGES, AND IF A WHEELCHAIR CAN'T MAKE IT ACROSS YOUR SIDEWALK, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF THINGS. AND SO ANYWAY, THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. AND JUST ONE MORE COMMENT TO THAT. SORRY, I THIS JUST BLEW MY MIND RECENTLY THAT 20% OF PEOPLE HAVE SOME SORT OF DISABILITY. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE POPULATION OF IDAHO, THAT'S 20% OF 2 MILLION PEOPLE IS A BIG NUMBER. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S BIGGER THAN[01:15:05]
OUR CITY. AND SO IT IS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, COULD USE THAT HELP. SO THANK YOU.ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCILOR FRANCIS, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT JANUARY 20TH IS MARTIN LUTHER KING CIVIL RIGHTS DAY IN THE COMMUNITY IS BEING CELEBRATED IN MORE THAN ONE WAY.
THERE'S A BANQUET ON THE 16TH THAT THEY'VE ALL MENTIONED. AND THEN AND THOSE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. IFR, DOT ORG. AND ALSO IN RELATION TO THAT, THE WE CALL THEM THE FREEDOM RIDERS. A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE READING A READER'S THEATER AS A TRIBUTE TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE MARTIN LUTHER KING'S WORDS AND THOSE THERE'S TWO EVENTS, ONE IN THE EVENING OF THE 18TH SATURDAY AT THE MUSEUM OF IDAHO AND ONE IN THE AFTERNOON OF THE 19TH AT THE FOOD BASKET, WHICH YOU DON'T THINK OF AS AN EVENT CENTER. BUT IT WAS ONCE A CHURCH AND HAS A VERY NICE SANCTUARY IN WHICH THAT SECOND PERFORMANCE WILL TAKE PLACE. SO THERE ARE FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTORS READING MOST OF THE SCRIPT, AND SOME SUPPORT FROM CHLOE DOUCET FROM THE MUSEUM OF IDAHO AND FROM THE PERSON WHO SPOKE EARLIER, MOLLY MORAN. I LOVE IT, THE FREEDOM RIDERS, THAT'S A GREAT TITLE. THE FREEDOM RIDERS, THEY CHOSE THEIR OWN NAME, I AGREE. COUNCILOR OR COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEN ONE BIT ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL AS WELL. ON THE 13TH, THE NEW COMMISSIONERS WILL BE SWORN IN. THAT'S RIGHT AT 10 A.M. AT 10 A.M. SO 10 A.M, COMMISSIONER MALLARD AND CASPERSON WILL BE SWORN IN. AND THEN LAST THURSDAY, I WAS HEADED UP TO TARGHEE, AND I WAS ON SUNNYSIDE ROAD, AND WE HAD FOUR PLOWS JUST ROLLING DOWN SUNNYSIDE. AND I WANTED TO TAKE A PICTURE LIKE IT ACTUALLY DID MAKE ME SO EMOTIONAL. LIKE I LOVE LIVING IN IDAHO FALLS. IT JUST THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT I THINK, LIKE, HOW DOES THIS MAKE ME FEEL THIS WAY? BUT THEN YOU GET OUT A LITTLE OUTSIDE AND IT'S LIKE, OH YEAH, THEY DON'T HAVE FOUR PLOWS RUNNING DOWN SUNNYSIDE. SO ANYWAY, IT WAS JUST AWESOME. I LIKE THE LOGO. I LIKE SEEING THAT IT SAYS IDAHO FALLS ON IT AND THAT WE'RE JUST TAKING CARE OF TAKING CARE OF THE ROADS WHEN, YOU KNOW, BIG EVENTS LIKE THAT SNOW EVENT HAPPENS. SO WAIT, I WANT TO ADD ONE MORE COMMENT. DIRECTOR FREDERICKSON, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT IS A REALLY PLEASANT SOUND AT 2 A.M. IN THE MORNING TO HEAR THAT STREET BEING PLOWED OUT RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE, AND KNOWING THAT HE'D STILL BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY DO IT, I AN AMEN ON THAT WHOLE THING, INCLUDING PART B, BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT ON THE SIDEWALKS AND SNOW REMOVAL. I LIVE NEAR JUST OFF OF PANCARI ON THE WEST SIDE, AND THERE'S A REALLY NEAT SIDEWALK THAT WAS PUT IN WHEN THE ROAD WAS REDONE THAT FEEDS 2 TO 2 SCHOOLS, A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A GRADE SCHOOL, AND I PULL OUT OF THERE SOMETIMES PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING IF I'M HEADED TO THE GYM, AND THAT WALKWAY IS ALWAYS CLEAN. SO I ASK, I THINK I ASKED DIRECTOR FREDERICKSON WHO DID THAT, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS PARKS AND REC. SO PGA, TELL YOUR FOLKS THANKS. IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED OR APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. YOU BET. NOW, IF YOUR DRIVEWAY IS PLOWED IN WHILE THE PLOWS ARE GOING BY, WAIT A MINUTE. DON'T RUN OUTSIDE, GET MAD AND BREAK OUT A SWEAT AND HAVE A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE YOU'RE REMOVING CRUNCHY, HORRIBLE CHUNKS OF ICE. USUALLY THEY'LL COME BACK BY WITHIN THE HOUR TO CLEAR A SPOT THAT IF YOU CAN'T WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE SORRY. THE USUALLY WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL PLOW AN AREA AND THEN THEY'LL COME BACK AND DO THE CLEAN OUTS. AND SO HOPEFULLY YOU'RE NOT BLOCKED IN FOR AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT OR SOMETHING. BUT DON'T GET TOO FRUSTRATED IF THAT HAPPENS TO YOU. AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT NOT EVERY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES DOES THAT. TRUE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTARY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY TONIGHT, AND WE'VE HEARD SOME CRITICISM, TOO. WE'RE NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'RE STRIVING.
AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND WE ARE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.