Aug 14, 2025 City Council Meeting

[00:00:03]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THERE WE GO. SOUND GOOD. EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE

[1. Call to Order]

COUNCILOR. DINGMAN HERE. COUNCILOR. FREEMAN HERE, COUNCILOR. FRANCIS HERE.

COUNCILOR. LARSON HERE. MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A TRADITION OF STARTING OUR MEETINGS WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THE FLAG IS UP HERE, AND I WOULD INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I 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. WE OFTEN TAKE THAT ACTIVITY THERE FOR GRANTED. BUT I WAS TALKING TO SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO COME FROM A COUNTRY THAT RIGHT NOW IS UNDER A STATE OF SIEGE, AND THEY'RE FROM AFGHANISTAN. AND JUST THIS WEEK, I WAS REMINDED HOW TO SEE OUR COUNTRY THROUGH THEIR EYES.

AND WE SHOULDN'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, THAT THAT LITTLE MOMENT THAT WE JUST HAD. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO LIVE WHERE WE DO AND PARTICULARLY TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO

[3. Public Comment]

AND IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO SPEAK IN ONE OF THOSE HEARINGS, THEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT FOR YOU. YOU WANT TO WAIT TILL WE HAVE THE HEARINGS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. AND SO THIS WOULD BE PRIMARILY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONCERNS THEY WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO SOMETHING WE'RE ALREADY CONSIDERING. IN ANOTHER HEARING TONIGHT. AND WITH THAT, THERE IS THERE ARE SOME OTHER SIDEBOARDS, YOU KNOW, BEING KIND, WE ASK PEOPLE TO BE CIVIL. WE OFTEN HAVE SCHOOL KIDS WATCHING OUR MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF A SOCIAL STUDIES ASSIGNMENT. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD CIVIC EXPERIENCE. SO BE PASSIONATE, BUT BE CIVIL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S WORTHY OF A FIFTH GRADERS SOCIAL STUDIES REPORT. AND WE ALSO I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT WE DO HAVE A FEW COPIES OF THE SHORT VERSION OF THE AGENDA. THE LONG VERSION OF THE AGENDA IS A LITTLE BIT THICKER, AND WE DON'T MAKE COPIES OF THAT, BUT THEY ARE ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE. THERE'S A QR CODE ON THE BACK WALL THERE, AND YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CLICK ON THAT WITH YOUR PHONE. IT'LL OPEN UP THE WHOLE PACKET. AND SO YOU'LL SEE NOT ONLY EACH AGENDA ITEM, THEN DEEPER INTO IT ARE THE MEMOS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE AGENDA ITEMS. AND THE MEMOS WILL OFTEN HAVE ATTACHMENTS THAT RELATE TO RELEVANT PAPERWORK. PROVIDE THE RELEVANT PAPERWORK. WITH THAT, LET'S SEE WHAT WAS THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO SAY. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TURN THE TIME OVER TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'D INVITE YOU TO COME TO THE PODIUM, AND IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR NAME AND LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE A CITY RESIDENT AND WE'LL WE'LL GO TO THAT LEVEL OR AT THAT POINT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. WILL YOU PUSH THAT BUTTON FOR ME RIGHT ON THE MIC. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS TERRY IRELAND AND I OWN A BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN IDAHO FALLS. I AM THE ONE WHO STARTED THE PETITION AGAINST THE CHANGES TO PARKING. AT LAST COUNT, WE HAD 2695 SIGNATURES ON THAT PETITION. SO, MISS IRELAND, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE PARKING FEE, THAT'S THE SUBJECT OF OUR VERY FIRST HEARING. BUT IF THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE FEE AND JUST COMMENT ABOUT PARKING, THEN KEEP GOING. SO I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF SO THAT YOU KNOW WHO I AM, BECAUSE I IMAGINE THAT GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE IS NOW AN IDAHO FALLS MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION THAT I'M A PART OF, WILL BE INTERACTING TOGETHER. AND SO I WANTED YOU TO

[00:05:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ARLINGTON. I'M SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING YOUR VERY SHORT MESSAGE. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WHO WISH TO COMMENT TO THE COUNCIL OR SHARE COMMENTS WITH THE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON. AND SO THAT WAS NUMBER THREE

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO READ THE CONTENTS OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S ON THAT LIST. AND SHE WILL NOT BE READING THAT PART.

AND SO WITH THAT CITY CLERK, THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WE'VE GOT TWO ON CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.

THE FIRST ONE IS FROM IDAHO FALLS POWER. THEY'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE OF A CHEVY SILVERADO FOR $74,835.35. AND THEN FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, YOU'VE GOT THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM JUNE 2ND, FIFTH AND 26TH, 2025. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST AGAIN, TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S NOT JUST THAT, OH, THE DIRECTORS GOT TO PUT A CHEVY SILVERADO ON THE LIST AND BOOM, THE COUNCIL JUST APPROVES IT THERE. THERE IS DOCUMENTATION AS TO WHAT'S NEEDED, WHY IT'S NEEDED, WHAT VEHICLE IT MAY BE REPLACING, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST. ALL OF THAT IS IN THAT LARGER, EXPANDED VERSION OF THE AGENDA. JUST JUST SO YOU DON'T NOBODY GETS THE WRONG IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE JUST SAYING YES TO NEW CARS LEFT AND RIGHT. AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT TO OUR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO KNOW, YES, WE READ IT. I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN THE MOTION. SORRY, I'M GETTING OFF TRACK AND TALKING TOO MUCH. OKAY. I WOULD MOVE THE COUNCIL, APPROVE, ACCEPT OR RECEIVE ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED. SECOND. THANK YOU. AND SO OUR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO LIAISE WITH MUNICIPAL SERVICES HAVE MADE THAT MOTION. AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE. BRADFORD. LARSON. YES. FREEMAN. YES. FRANCIS I. DINGMAN. YES.

[5.A.1) Public Hearing for the Proposed Fees for Fiscal Year 2025/26]

AND THEN THE FINAL HEARING WILL BE ON THE BUDGET ITSELF. THE CITY CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES IS TASKED WITH PREPARING THE BUDGET. THAT'S WHERE OUR ACCOUNTING OFFICE IS. OUR FINANCE PROFESSIONALS ALL WORK OUT OF THAT. AND THAT DIRECTOR IS PAM ALEXANDER. AND SO SHE WILL OPEN EACH HEARING WITH A GOOD PRESENTATION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE TESTIMONY THAT IS ABLE TO BE OFFERED ON EACH ELEMENT OF THE BUDGET THAT WE CONSIDER TONIGHT IS, IS SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL WHEN IT'S INFORMED, WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WANT TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS, IF THEY HAVE SOME OF THE FACTS RIGHT AND UNDERSTAND, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO PLUG THAT TESTIMONY RIGHT INTO THEIR THINKING. AND IT SITS WELL WHEN THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE MAYBE PASSIONATE THOUGHTS, BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OFF ON ON THE

[00:10:03]

WE TAKE GREAT PAINS TO TRY TO. WE START IN FEBRUARY AND COUNCIL IS SITTING DOWN AND THEY'RE TRYING TO THEY DO A BROAD ASSESSMENT. HOW IS THE CITY PERFORMING? HOW ARE THEY? HOW ARE WE PERFORMING? WHERE OUR FLAWS, WHERE ARE WE? THIS IS WHERE OUR STRENGTHS. BUT HOW DOES THAT LOOK WHEN COMPARED AGAINST OUR STRATEGIC PLAN? AND WHERE ARE WE LETTING OUR, YOU KNOW, FALLING SHORT OF WHAT OUR GOALS AND OUR VISION FOR THE CITY AND AFTER THEY MAKE THEIR LIST AND THOSE THAT LIST THE ITEMS ON THAT LIST, THOSE BECOME PRIORITIES, COUNCIL PRIORITIES, AND THEY ARE RESPECTED AS SERIOUS TO DO LIST ITEMS FOR THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY ALL YEAR LONG. BUT THEN THE NEXT PHASE WOULD BE GETTING ALL THE DIRECTORS TOGETHER AND WE SHARED IT WITH THEM. THOSE PRIORITIES. WE ALSO SHARE A LEARNED WITH THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE DEPARTMENTS AND THAT HAPPENS IN MARCH. IN APRIL, WE BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER FOR ONE BIG DAY. WE HAVE LUNCH. WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET OUTLOOK. WE TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL TRENDS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY. WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FACTORS LIKE WHAT'S HEALTH INSURANCE DOING, WHAT'S INFLATION DOING. AND WE HAVE A BIG OVERVIEW CONSIDERATION THEN. AND WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE THOSE PRIORITIES. FROM THERE WE MOVE TO THE DIRECTORS ACTUALLY WORKING HARD ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS. THEY'RE THEY'RE SUBMITTED. AND THEN WE SPEND SOME TIME MY OFFICE WITH FINANCE. WE SPEND SOME TIME VETTING THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE IN GOOD ENOUGH SHAPE TO PASS ON TO THE COUNCIL, AND COUNCIL GETS THOSE RIGHT AROUND BETWEEN JULY 1ST AND JULY 4TH, SOMEWHERE IN THERE. AND THEY BEGIN. THEY THEN GET TO SPEND SOME TIME STUDYING THE BUDGET, AND WE START HAVING MEETINGS EVERY TUESDAY AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY IN JULY. WE'RE IN HERE FOR SEVERAL HOURS, ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 6 HOURS. WE'LL BE IN HERE HAVING BUDGET MEETINGS AND TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE BUDGET. THERE ARE A LOT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT, AND WE HAVE A FINANCE TEAM THAT IS UP AND UP TO SNUFF OR UP TO SPEED ON ALL OF THOSE, AND WE WORK THROUGH THAT. FINALLY, WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE WORK THROUGH EVERYTHING WE CAN. COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE, WHAT THEIR DESIRES ARE, WITH WHAT AVAILABLE MONEY WE HAVE. AND AT THAT POINT, THEY ADOPT A TENTATIVE BUDGET, ALSO KNOWN AS A NOT TO EXCEED BUDGET.

ONCE THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED, THEY CAN NEVER SPEND MORE THAN THAT IN THE COMING YEAR. THAT'S WE CAN'T EXCEED IT, BUT THEY CAN BRING IT DOWN. WHAT WILL CAUSE THEM TO WANT TO BRING IT DOWN? TESTIMONY. AND THAT'S WHY THE HEARINGS ARE SO IMPORTANT. BECAUSE NOW WE'VE GIVEN YOU WE'RE GIVING YOU THE TENTATIVE PRODUCT AND ASKING FOR TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC. TESTIMONY HASN'T BEEN SUPER ROBUST IN RECENT YEARS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A SIGN OF TRUST OR IF IT'S A SIGN OF NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS. WE HAVE SOME OF THE VERY BEST PROFESSIONALS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO WORKING FOR THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS. I WOULD PUT THEM UP AGAINST NOT JUST ANY OTHER CITY PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT IN SOME CASES, OUR OUR CITY PROFESSIONALS ARE BETTER THAN SOME OF THE FOLKS AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT I'VE MET. WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS. WHEN I SAY THAT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DIRECTORS WHO LEAD OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE ALSO HAVE A COUNCIL THAT THEY PUT IN HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF STUDY, OF THOUGHTFUL INQUIRY. THEY TALK TO EACH OTHER WITHIN THE LEGAL LIMITS. THEY ALSO TALKED TO THE DIRECTORS AND THEY DO RESEARCH. THEY CHECKED OUT WHAT OTHER THEY CHECK OUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. THEY CARE A GREAT DEAL. AND SO NOBODY IS JUST A YES PERSON HERE PUTTING THEIR STAMP OF APPROVAL ON, BECAUSE THEY LIKE BEING UP HERE AND HAVING PEOPLE CALL THEIR NAME. THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS WORK VERY HARD AND THIS BUDGET IS THEIR PRODUCT. IT'S THEIR PRIVILEGE TO PASS A BUDGET. AND WITHIN THE LAW, THE BUDGET DECISIONS THEY MAKE, THE FINAL DECISIONS. IT'S NOT UP TO ME. IT'S NOT UP TO THE DIRECTORS, IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL. AND THEY TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY. WE ALSO HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO PUT IN A LOT OF THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL TIME. WE HAVE SOME WHO STAY VERY LATE AT NIGHT INTO THE WEE HOURS TRYING TO GET THE BUDGET STUFF THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DONE. SO PLEASE KNOW THAT WHATEVER TESTIMONY YOU'RE GOING

[00:15:01]

SO LET ME TURN IT OVER TO PAM. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE FIRST HEARING.

SHE WILL THEN GIVE SOME TESTIMONY AND BACKGROUND FOR EVERYBODY, ITS BENEFIT, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET. WE HAVE SEVERAL. WE HAVE FOUR HEARINGS. THERE ARE FOUR SIGN UP SHEETS. WE WOULD ASK YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY, TO SIGN UP. IF YOU ARE MOSTLY JUST HERE TO LISTEN AND LEARN, THAT'S FINE TOO. AND AFTER THAT, WE'LL CLOSE EACH HEARING AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, IF YOU JUST WANT TO PROVIDE WRITTEN TESTIMONY, THAT'S FINE TOO. OUR CITY CLERK WILL TAKE IT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS A COPY AND THAT IT'S IN THE OFFICIAL RECORD. AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO TAKE ABOUT THREE MINUTES. BUT IF YOU TAKE FIVE AND WE'RE IN HERE FOR A LITTLE LONGER TONIGHT, IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE FULL, FULL HOUSE. SO IT'S FINE IF YOU IF YOU HAVE MORE TO SHARE. BUT THAT'S THOSE ARE SORT OF OUR GROUND RULES. THE ONLY THING IS THAT I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE GROUND RULES IF WE GET INTO A WEIRD SITUATION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WILL. AND SO WITH THAT, PAM, I WOULD DECLARE THIS HEARING TO BE OPEN AND TURN IT TO YOU FOR A STAFF REPORT. THIS FIRST HEARING ON OUR FEES.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PUBLIC, THESE ARE NEW FEES OR FEES GREATER THAN 5%. ALL THE OTHER FEES THAT WE NORMALLY CHARGE. IF WE DON'T MAKE ANY CHANGES TO NEW FEES OR FEES GREATER THAN 5%, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THEM. FEES CANNOT GO UP, CANNOT GO UP, BUT CAN BE LESS AS THE PROPOSED FEES THAT ARE LISTED HERE THIS EVENING AND WE CAN'T ADD ANY NEW FEES UNLESS WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. SO THERE ARE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT SOMETHING MIGHT CHANGE, AND WE MIGHT HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING OFF OF OFF OF THE SCHEDULE, BUT THAT IS REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE. YOU KNOW, STATE STATUTE ALSO REQUIRES THAT WE PUBLISH REQUIREMENTS TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE HEARING, AND IT HAS TO BE 14 DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING AS WELL. SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A PLACEHOLDER FOOTNOTE. AS WE START TALKING ABOUT THE FEES. WE DO START TALKING TO THEM VERY EARLY ON IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECTORS OR THEIR DESIGNEES FROM THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSING FEES THIS EVENING, EITHER NEW OR GREATER THAN 5%, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO LISTEN TO ANY PUBLIC FEEDBACK. SO STARTING OFF WITH THEIR AIRPORT, THIS IS A LIST OF THE FEE CHANGES THAT THE AIRPORT IS PRESENTING. AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE THERE'S TWO ITEMS. CUSTOMER FACILITY CHARGE A FEE INCREASE FROM $4 TO $6 AND NEW BADGING SORRY, NEW FEES FOR BADGING, PARKING AND PRINTING. SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE PUBLISHED ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION OF THE PAPER. AND IT'S A VERY BIG ADD, I MIGHT ADD. NEXT, WE HAVE PARKS AND RECREATION. THERE'S AN INCREASE OF GREEN AND PASS FEES OF 3 TO 5% FOR OUR GOLF PROGRAMS, AND ALSO SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES, RECREATION FEES. THERE'S VARIOUS FEES THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE SCHEDULE. FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE WATER, SANITATION, WASTEWATER AND THEN ALSO THE GREATER IDAHO FALLS TRANSIT PROGRAM. AND SO YOU SEE HERE, WATER IS REQUESTING SOME OR PROPOSING SOME FEE INCREASES AS WELL AS SANITATION AND WASTEWATER. AND THEN OUR GIFT PROGRAMS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE OFFERING EXPEDITED SERVICE. AND IF I HAVEN'T SAID IT BEFORE, WE CANNOT CHARGE A FEE UNLESS IT'S ON THIS FEE SCHEDULE. SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS WELL. SO REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN EXPEDITED SERVICE SCHEDULED FOR OUR GIFT PROGRAM HAS BEEN A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM. NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON POWER AND FIBER. POWER IS PROPOSING A 2 TO 10% VARIOUS BASE AND DEMAND AND SERVICE CHARGES. AND THEN FINALLY WE HAVE FIBER, A 3 TO 9% VARIOUS MONTHLY CHARGES. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE AN EMS PUBLISHED FEE INCREASES OF 5%. AND THEN ALSO OUR CITY CLERK IS ACTUALLY REMOVING THE DAYCARE LICENSING FROM THE FEE SCHEDULE, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN TRANSITIONED OVER TO THE STATE. THERE'S OTHER IN THE FULL SCHEDULE. THERE'S OTHER CHANGES SUCH AS TYPOS, ANYTHING WITH CONSISTENCIES, WITH DESCRIPTIONS, DELETION FEES AND DESCRIPTION OF FEES AND UPDATES. AND THOSE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NEW OR INCREASED RATE OF 5%. AND THEN JUST A NOTE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DID HAVE THE FEE HEARING NOTICE IN

[00:20:02]

PERFECT. MAYOR, I JUST I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE FROM CONSIDERATION SECTION 2.16 ITEMS A, B, C, AND D WITHIN THE PUBLISHED FEE SCHEDULE AND REMOVE IT FROM ALL CONSIDERATION AT OUR PUBLIC HEARING. IN TWO WEEKS. PUBLIC HEARINGS, PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT. EXCUSE ME.

YEAH. AND YEAH. FROM FUTURE NOTICE. OKAY. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.

ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WANT TO COMMENT BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE VOTE? EVERYBODY CLEAR? THEN WE'LL TURN TO EMILY, OUR CITY CLERK, TO CONDUCT A VOTE. THANK YOU. FRANCIS A DINGMAN. YES.

FREEMAN. YES. LARSEN. YES. RADFORD A BURTENSHAW. YES. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. SO WHEN THE COUNCIL ADDRESSES THE FEE SCHEDULE IN TWO WEEKS, THAT WON'T BE A PART OF IT. SO, AND IF ANY ADDITIONAL FEES ARE DESIRED, AS DIRECTOR ALEXANDER SAID, A HEARING HAS TO BE HELD.

AND SO THERE MAY COME A TIME. AND THERE AND THERE MAY NOT COME A TIME WHEN IFDC HAS A DIFFERENT REQUEST. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IFDC AND THE CITY IS SIMPLE. WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ASPECTS TO IT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING, THE CITY HAS. WE CONTRACT OUR PARKING, DOWNTOWN PARKING, WORK WITH. DID THEY TAKE THEY TAKE IT. THEY THEY MANAGE IT FOR US. THAT'S I GUESS, THE SIMPLEST WAY TO SAY IT. SAY IT AGAIN. THEY ENFORCE THE CITY. THEY ENFORCE THE CITY'S PARKING ORDINANCES. SO THE CITY STILL CONTROLS THE ORDINANCES. THEY CONTROL THE ENFORCEMENT. SO THERE WE GO. SO ANY FEES THAT CAN BE CHARGED ARE ONLY THE ONES THAT ARE LEGALLY IN PLACE AT THIS TIME. AND THAT WOULD BE IN LAST YEAR'S RESOLUTION, WHICH PROBABLY IN OUR CITY CODE SOMEWHERE. I'D SAY IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE CAN MOVE ON

[5.A.2) Public Hearing to Levy 1% Forgone for Fiscal Year 2025/26]

[00:25:07]

[5.A.3) Public Hearing to Levy 1% Forgone for a Fire Department Capital Project for Fiscal Year 2025/26]

WE'RE GOING TO DECLARE THIS THIRD HEARING ON THE 1% OF 3% ONE TIME CAPITAL FOREGONE TO BE OPEN, AND WILL INVITE OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, PAM ALEXANDER, TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS THE 3% PORTION.

SO WE ARE WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE LEVY 1% OF THE 3% THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 500,000. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE 2526 BUDGET FOR THIS SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF FUNDING A PORTION OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT STORAGE FACILITY. AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO OPERATE THE FIRE OPERATIONS. SO THIS IS A LITTLE EXAMPLE OF A RENDERING. IT'S NOT THE EXACT ONE, BUT IT WILL LOOK SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THIS. SO THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE AS IT'S LISTED HERE ON THE BULLET POINTS. THIS IS ACTUALLY TO PROTECT OUR CITY'S ASSETS. WE HAVE SEVERAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT GO FROM STATION TO STATION AND, AND THAT TYPE OF THING DURING THE COURSE OF THE OPERATION. SO RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON FIRE STATION SIX, WHICH IS OVER ON SPITFIRE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY POTENTIALLY TO BUILD A STORAGE FACILITY TO HOUSE AND TO PROTECT OUR FIRE EQUIPMENT. WE EXPECT THAT THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT SITE FOR IT BECAUSE THE SITE'S ALREADY PREPARED WITH ELECTRICAL. NATURAL GAS IS EVERYTHING. WATER'S ALREADY STUBBED, SO IT WOULD BE A PROCESS OF JUST EXTENDING THE WORK ON THAT PARTICULAR SITE. WE ANTICIPATE THE CONSTRUCTION TO TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS. WE WILL, IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING FUNDING TO FUND A PORTION. THIS IS JUST A PORTION OF THE 500,000, IS JUST A PORTION OF WHAT THIS WOULD COST. WHAT WE WOULD DO IS IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN GAINING ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND GO FOR A REQUEST FOR BID, AND IT WOULD BE A FORMAL BID PROCESS. OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT BACKGROUND. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING THE 1% OF THE 3% AVAILABLE OF FOREGONE THAT CAN BE USED FOR VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND IN THIS CASE, THE IDENTIFIED PURPOSE IS A CAPITAL PART, A PORT FUNDING A PORTION OF A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE TO BUILD A COVERED PARKING FACILITY FOR FIRE EQUIPMENT. ANYBODY'S INTERESTED. IS ANYBODY INTERESTED? ALL RIGHT, CITY CLERK, PLEASE LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT THERE WAS NO TESTIMONY. WE'LL CLOSE THE

[5.A.4) Public Hearing for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year Budget ]

[00:30:06]

MAYOR. OKAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCESS. THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THAT THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET. WE HAD A LOT OF PRIORITIES, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR DIRECTORS WORKED VERY COLLABORATIVELY WITH ONE ANOTHER. AND IT WASN'T EASY TO BALANCE EVERYTHING OUT. BUT BUT WE HAVE A MOTTO HERE. IT'S ONE CITY, ONE TEAM. AND WE REALLY DID PULL TOGETHER THIS LAST BUDGET SEASON TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND BE ABLE TO PRODUCE A BALANCED BUDGET FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION. THE BUDGET BOOK IS ACTUALLY 190 PAGES, SO I'M NOT HANDING OUT THOSE COPIES BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A LOT OF PAPER AND IT IS A DRAFT BUDGET, BUT IT IS ON THE WEBSITE. IT'S ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, IT'S ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE CITY'S WEBSITE. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO ON THAT, AND THEN I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK OUR ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR, THAT'S BROOKS. SHE'S SITTING IN THE BACK ROW THERE ALONG WITH HER TEAM OF ACCOUNTANTS. THEY JUST REALLY WORKED AS A MAYOR, HAD MENTIONED MANY, MANY HOURS, A FEW WEEKS HERE AND THERE PULLING A BOOK TOGETHER THAT IS AVAILABLE IN DRAFT FORM. IT'S A GREAT BOOK.

IT'S GOT A LOT OF REALLY GOOD DETAILS AND CONTENT, AND SO I ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. SO WITH THAT SAID, THE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS THE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER THERE WAS A COUNCIL STRATEGIC SESSION. AND SO WHAT WE DID, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TRIED TO KEEP THIS IN MIND AS A SPIRIT. WE HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS, AS YOU SEE UP HERE, AND THE FOCUS, AS YOU'VE SEEN WITH THE TWO FOREGONE HEARINGS, WAS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE ALSO HAD AREAS OF FOCUS, OF QUALITY, OF LIFE FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAM, TECHNOLOGY WITH A NEW FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT'S SORELY NEEDED BECAUSE THE ONE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS OVER 20 YEARS OLD, MAYBE 25. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE AS FOCUS. AND THIS IS MAINLY ON OUR ENTERPRISE PROGRAMS SUCH AS IDAHO FALLS POWER, FIBER AND PUBLIC WORKS IN THE AIRPORT. SO THE STRATEGIC AND INTEGRATED PLANNING PLANNING HAS EIGHT ASPIRATIONS. IF YOU SEE HERE THE ASPIRATIONS AND THIS IS ALSO ON THE WEBSITE. BUT IF YOU LOOK HERE UNDER THE ASPIRATIONS, THERE ARE EIGHT OF THEM. IT'S HEALTH AND COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC VIBRANCY, RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS, GOOD GOVERNANCE, FINANCIAL STABILITY, PLANNING FOR TOMORROW, RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY. SO AS I SAID EARLIER, ALL THE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS TRY TO TAKE THIS STRATEGIC PLAN INTO FOCUS AS THEY WERE BUILDING THEIR BUDGETS. THIS BUDGET IS THE TENTATIVE NOT TO EXCEED BUDGET OF $389.6 MILLION, IS AN INCREASE FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR OR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2425. ABOUT 16 16.9 MILLION. THAT INCLUDES THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES, A 3% STATUTORY PROPERTY TAX LEVY, GROWTH IN ANNEXATION, 1% ONGOING FOREGONE AND 1% LONG TERM CAPITAL FOREGONE. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE, THE BUDGET BOOKS 190 PAGES, BUT ALL THAT IS LISTED ON THE MAIN PAGE AND THE FEW PAGES BEFORE AND THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT ITSELF, PARDON ME. AND SO I'VE GOT THAT REFERENCES PAGE 27 OF THE 199 190 PAGE DOCUMENT. SO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE PROPOSED TENTATIVE NOT TO EXCEED BUDGET. IT ALSO INCLUDES A 3% MARKET ADJUSTMENT FOR NONUNION CITY EMPLOYEES, A 3% MARKET ADJUSTMENT FOR FIRE UNION EMPLOYEES, MARKET ADJUSTMENTS FOR IDAHO FALLS POWER AND FIBER EMPLOYEES. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF 9.9 FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR PACIFIC SOURCE, WHICH IS THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR CONTRACT. IT'S CAPPED THIS YEAR AT 9.9%. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES. THIS BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES INCREASES TO VISION AND DENTAL PLANS. THE BUDGET AND OPERATING SIDE. THERE'S A LIST OF MULTI-YEAR REOCCURRING AGREEMENTS THAT IS ON THE IS THAT IS IN THE BUDGET BOOK, AS WELL AS COUNCIL APPROVED ONGOING REQUESTS. THE CAPITAL SECTION IS INCLUDES COUNCIL APPROVED ONE TIME CAPITAL REQUESTS, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE FUNDED THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. YOU SAW AN ITEM ON THIS EVENING WITH THE WITH THE VEHICLE FOR IDAHO FALLS POWER.

THAT'S PART OF THE MUNICIPAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS US TO REPLACE OUR EQUIPMENT AS IT REACHES ITS USEFUL LIFE. SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM. AND THEN IT ALSO INCLUDES ON OUR CAPITAL SIDE, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET. ON THE CAPITAL SIDE IS OUR ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL PLANS. AND THEN IT ALSO INCLUDES CONTINGENCY AND CONTINGENCY RESERVE FOR UNPLANNED EXPENSES. AND IT'S REALLY RESERVED FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS GENERALLY IN THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. HERE'S

[00:35:01]

[00:40:05]

ANYWHERE BETWEEN A HALF A MILLION, UP TO 10 MILLION AND SIMILAR TYPE OF EXERCISE HERE THE ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE. AND THEN WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS THE THREE BLUE LINES THAT TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE 3% STATUTORY GROWTH, WHICH IS A RANGE OF $16.83, UP TO $336.51, 3% GROWTH AND 1% FOREGONE IS $19.48. UP TO THREE $389.56. AND THEN THE 3% GROWTH 1% FOREGONE, PLUS THE 500,000 CAPITAL GAINS ANYWHERE BETWEEN $22 AND $0.10, UP TO $441.91.

THIS IS ACTUALLY WITH A 9.5% INCREASE WITH COMMERCIAL. THIS IS JUST FORECASTING BEING ABLE TO SEE IF BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME ACTUAL NUMBERS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH ON THEM. THE BUDGET, AS WELL AS GIVING THE COMMUNITY AN IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT POTENTIALLY FROM OUR BUDGET AND WHETHER OR NOT THE GROWTH, WHETHER FOREGONE IS ADOPTED, ALONG WITH THE 3% AND THE GROWTH. SO WITH THAT, IT CONCLUDES THE BUDGET. AND AS I MADE NOTE BEFORE, WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE, AS WELL AS WE DO PRESENT OUR PRESENTATIONS OUT IN THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PAGE ON THE WEBSITE. WE POST ALL THOSE PRESENTATIONS ON THE WEBSITE AFTER WE GIVE THEM TO COUNCIL. SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DEEPER DIVE, THEY ARE OUT THERE. THEY WILL BE OUT THERE TOMORROW. THE BUDGET BOOKS ARE ALREADY OUT THERE AND ALL OF THE PUBLIC NOTICES ARE IN THE PAPER. IF YOU GET THE PAPER, SATURDAY PAPERS, AS WELL AS THEY'RE ALSO ON THE WEBSITE UNDER CIVIL SERVICES AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU MIND STANDING FOR ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO ANY OF YOU HEAR ANYTHING IN THE PRESENTATIONS THAT MADE YOU WANT TO CLARIFY BEFORE BEFORE WE DO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ANYTHING? OKAY. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WISH I COULD HAVE GIVEN SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO. SO I WOULD INVITE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO DO. HAVE YOU HEARD SOMETHING? AND YOU'RE THINKING, WOW, THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING. FEEL FREE TO CAPTURE ANY ONE OF US AFTER THE MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, VIA EMAIL OR WHATEVER, AND OR WE CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH OUR EXPERT DIRECTOR ALEXANDER, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT WILL INVITE. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO COMMENT OR SHARE COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET WITH THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING? YEP. YOU'RE WELCOME. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, TAKE THE PODIUM. IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND LET US KNOW. IF YOU'RE A CITY RESIDENT, YOU'D BE GRATEFUL. MY NAME IS

[00:45:06]

BUT THANK YOU, MISS HANCOCK OR NO. EXCUSE ME. YEAH. MISS HANCOCK, WITH THAT, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEL BOWLING. I LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN AS WELL. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. WE'VE LOVED LIVING IN IDAHO FALLS. WE LOVE RAISING OUR DAUGHTER HERE. AND I WILL JUST START OFF BY SAYING, I APPRECIATE YOU SEALING OUR STREET THIS YEAR. THE ROAD WORK IS. I KNOW IT'S INCONVENIENT FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT THE CITY IS INVESTING SO MUCH IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDING A LOT OF THOSE UPGRADES AND NECESSARY NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THE REASON I'M KIND OF APPROACHING THIS THIS EVENING, I HAD JUST A REALLY RUDIMENTARY CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET OVER THE LAST DAY OR SO. AND I GUESS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS RELATED TO PARKS. I NOTICED THAT IF I READ THIS OR INTERPRET THIS CORRECTLY, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A 17% CHANGE IN EXPENDITURE AS A DECREASE ASSOCIATED WITH PARKS. AND I GUESS WHAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXPRESS IS, YOU KNOW, AS I AS I DRIVE THROUGH TOWN AND CONTINUE TO SEE THESE, JUST A MONUMENTAL AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION AND GROWTH, PARTICULARLY THE MULTI-STORY UNITS, WHAT I'M NOT SEEING IS A PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL PARKS BEING PUT IN.

WHAT I AM NOTICING, THOUGH, IS JUST PARKS BEING AT CAPACITY, WHETHER IT'S BALL FIELDS, SOCCER FIELDS, SKATE PARKS, PICKLEBALL, TENNIS, WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY. BUT AS THE POPULATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN IDAHO FALLS, I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT INVESTING PROPERLY IN THOSE OPEN SPACE. PARKS AND REC OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NOT JUST GOOD FOR THE YOUTH, BUT ALSO FOR FOLKS OF ALL AGES. FOR ME, THAT WAS A REAL ATTRACTANT. WHEN WE MOVED HERE SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, BUT ALSO JUST THE QUALITY OF LIFE PIECES ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTING IN PARKS AND MAINTAINING THOSE THOSE SPACES EFFECTIVELY. I KNOW THAT COMES AT A GREAT EXPENSE. AND THOSE THOSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE COSTS ARE CONTINUALLY INCREASING AS THE DEMANDS INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WITHIN THE CITY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THIS EVENING AS FAR AS A CONCERN THAT I HAD. AND I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO THAT. THE OTHER ONE THAT KIND OF STUCK OUT TO ME, AND I THINK THIS WAS MAYBE TOUCHED ON IN THE INITIAL PRESENTATION NOT ASSOCIATED WITH PARKS WAS RELATED TO JUST IN THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES. AND I SHOWED A SOFTWARE INCREASE, I WANT TO SAY 900% INCREASE FROM 25 FY 25 TO 2026. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S AN INCREASE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SOFTWARE OR SOMETHING

[00:50:03]

THEY'VE DONE IT TO MY FAMILY. THEY'VE DONE IT TO COUNTLESS LAW ABIDING CITIZENS IN FRONT OF MY OWN HOME RIGHT HERE IN IDAHO FALLS. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR CITY BUDGET IS PAYING THOSE THUGS JUST TO GO AROUND AND VIOLATE PEOPLE'S FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. IT'S NOT A PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN COPS VIOLATE OUR RIGHTS, BUT WE AS TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING THOSE COPS TO DETAIN US WHILE THEY TEAR APART OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS IF THAT WAS A PUBLIC SERVICE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NUMBERS ARE CLEAR IN THAT CITY EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE TO FACE LAYOFFS. BUT INSTEAD OF LAYING OFF LIBRARIANS AND THE WORKERS WHO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS, WE SHOULD LAY OFF SOME OF THOSE THUGS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. CONSIDERING HOW MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED OR EVEN KILLED BY THE IDAHO FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT OUR CITY WOULD ACTUALLY BE SAFER IF WE HAD FEWER COPS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BEAR THE ENTIRETY OF THE BUDGET CUTS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ACTUALLY INCREASES FUNDING FOR THE POLICE WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IT MENTIONS FUNDING FOR AN IDAHO FALLS POLICE PODCAST. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE PROPOSING TO USE OUR TAX DOLLARS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE COP SUPPORTING PROPAGANDA. THE MOST DISGUSTING PART IS THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO THIS DURING A YEAR WHERE OTHER CITY SERVICES ARE HAVING TO MAKE CUTS. THERE IS ONE SOLUTION TO THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS FACING OUR CITY, AND THAT SOLUTION IS TO CUT THE NEEDED FUNDING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU CHRISTIAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL? OH, AND I'LL SAY TO YOU WHAT I SAID TO THE OTHERS. IF YOU WANT ANY DIALOG, YOU'RE WELCOME TO LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. OKAY, SO IT LOOKS AS IF WE MAY HAVE EXHAUSTED THE INTEREST LEVEL OF PEOPLE MAKING COMMENTS OR THE NEED FOR ANYBODY TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL TIME. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS BUDGET HEARING AND JUST INVITE OTHERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO BE HERE TO REACH OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU CAN DO SO BY EMAIL OR HOWEVER YOU NORMALLY REACH OUT BEFORE THEIR VOTE, WHICH WOULD BE TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT. AND WITH THAT, WE ARE READY TO MOVE ON. THE NEXT DEPARTMENT. WAS THERE ANY REASON TO TAKE A BREAK AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE ROOM, AND WE CAN TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK THAT MIGHT ALLOW FOR SOME DIALOG, AND WE'LL TRY TO CONVENE BY 830 ISH, AND THEN WE'LL WATCH IT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT LITTLE AD NOISE TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE CAN START. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR INDULGING THAT BREAK. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO TAKE CARE OF SOME QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY WERE FORGOTTEN OR

[5.B.1) IFP 25-17 (A) Downtown Alley - Phase I (General Construction) - B Jackson ]

[00:55:03]

PERFECT. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO FIRST OFF, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF BACKGROUND OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PROJECT. SO BACK IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, WE CAME TO COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A GRANT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH OMR. IT'S THE IDAHO OFFICE OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. IT'S A $2 MILLION GRANT, WHICH YOU GUYS APPROVED THE AGREEMENT FOR. THAT. AND WHAT IT IS FOR IS TO GO THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT ALLEYWAYS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND TAKE ALL THE OVERHEAD INFRASTRUCTURE THE WIRES, THE TRANSFORMERS, THE POLES, REMOVE EVERYTHING AND MOVE EVERYTHING UNDERGROUND TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT UP TO AND TO MAKE IT A LOT MORE SAFE AND RESILIENT AND RELIABLE OVER THERE. SO WHEN WE WHEN WE DID THIS, THE FIRST PART OF THIS IS WE WENT OUT FOR BIDS.

SO IT WAS KIND OF LIKE AA2 PART BID PROCESS. AND THERE WAS IT WAS PART A WAS FOR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AND THEN PART B WAS FOR THE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION OF IT. SO WE WENT OUT FOR BID.

WE GOT ALL THE BIDS BACK FROM EVERYBODY. AND THE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION PART B CAME IN RIGHT WHERE OUR ENGINEERING ESTIMATE WAS. BUT THE PART A FOR THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WAS WAY OVER OUR ENGINEERING ESTIMATE. OUR ESTIMATE WAS ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION, AND THE LOWEST BID WAS AT $1.2 MILLION. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE FOR ONE OF THE ALLEYWAYS, WE WANT TO LOOP FEED IT. SO WE ARE COMING UNDERGROUND UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND UNDER YELLOWSTONE TO FEED INTO TO THE ALLEYWAY. AND THESE CONTRACTORS, THERE WERE SO MANY UNKNOWNS WITH THAT. THEY'RE JUST LIKE, SO THEY BID SUPER HIGH FOR IT. SO WHAT WE DID IS WE CAME TO COUNCIL, WE GOT APPROVAL FOR THAT PART B, AND WE GOT APPROVAL TO REJECT THAT, THAT PART A, GO BACK OUT ONTO THE MARKET AND REBID IT. AND WE CHANGED THE SCOPE OF WORK. WE FOUND A NEW DIRECTION. SO WE'RE NOT GOING UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. WE'RE NOT GOING UNDER YELLOWSTONE. AND WE ARE STILL ABLE TO LOOP FEED THAT AREA. AND THE REASON WE WANT TO LOOP FEED IT IS IF THERE WAS EVER AN OUTAGE, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY CAME IN AND THEY DUG IN AND THEY TORE UP ALL OF OUR UNDERGROUND WIRE.

IT WOULD CAUSE AN OUTAGE FOR EVERYBODY DOWN THE LINE FROM THAT. BUT TO BE ABLE TO LOOP FEED IT, IF THAT HAPPENED, THEN WE CAN KIND OF ISOLATE WHERE THAT ACCIDENT OR WHATEVER WAS AND STILL FEED ALL THE CUSTOMERS FROM THE OTHER WAY. SO IT REDUCES THE OUTAGE FOR ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH IT. AND SO WE WENT OUT BACK OUT FOR BID. AND WITH THAT NEW SCOPE OF WORK, AND WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS FOR IT. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING TO YOU TODAY. AND THAT IS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SEEKING ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL FOR THE BID FROM B JACKSON CONSTRUCTION. AND IT'S PART OF THAT PART A AND IT'S FOR A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF. 509,700 OR $509,754.94. SO ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS? ALL RIGHT. OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION. YEAH. SO ON THE ARCO ELECTRIC BID, I CAN SEE THAT IT WAS FOR THE UNIT PRICE REMOVED EXCAVATION. WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GO OUT TO BID AND THEN IT COMES BACK IN IF THEY FORGET SOMETHING AND YOU SAY OH, IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. AND THEN AND THEN THEY CAN WITHDRAW IT OR THEY JUST DIDN'T INCLUDE IT. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? AND SO YEAH. AND SO WITH THAT, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WITH A LOT OF THESE THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THERE'S ALL THE UNKNOWNS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO BE UNDER THE GROUND IN THOSE ALLEYWAYS. THERE'S TONS OF OLD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NOT BEING USED ANYMORE. THERE'S A LOT OF LAVA ROCK IN THERE, AND THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE THAT CONTINGENCY THAT'S WITHIN THAT, THAT PART THERE. SO THAT WAY THEY CAN, LIKE YOU SAID, ONCE THEY IF THEY FIND OUT THAT ANYTHING'S WRONG, THEN THEY COULD YEAH. BACK OUT OF IT OR AND THAT'S WHY WE ALSO HAVE THAT CONTINGENCY CONTINGENCY ON THESE BIDS AS WELL, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF ANY OF THESE UNKNOWNS THAT ARE IN THERE. SO DID THEY WITHDRAW THEIR BID OR THEY JUST DIDN'T INCLUDE EXCAVATION IN THEIR BID? AND SO THEN IT DIDN'T QUALIFY.

YEAH OKAY. YES. SORRY. THEY DIDN'T WITHDRAW IT. THEY WERE JUST YEAH. THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE IT AND THEY WEREN'T THE LOWEST BIDDER FOR IT OKAY. THANK YOU. BY NOT INCLUDING EXCAVATION, THE BID WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE REQUEST. STILL RESPONSIVE, BUT THEY WERE STILL JUST THE NOT THE LOWEST BIDDER THAT WAS IN THERE. BECAUSE ONCE YOU TAKE IN TO THE ACCOUNT, I DON'T HAVE THEIRS WITH ME RIGHT NOW. SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE AT.

BUT OKAY, THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE IT WAS THE LOWEST, BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE OKAY, OKAY. IT DIDN'T.

THEIRS WAS AT 434 AND B JACKSON WAS AT 463. YEAH. AND SO THEN BUT THERE WAS AN ASTERISK THAT

[01:00:07]

THERE'S JUST THE WORD REMOVED. IT'S CONFUSING BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY A VERB, NOT A OMITTED.

YEAH, OKAY. OKAY. SO ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL INSIGHT THAT ANYONE HAS ON THAT? I JUST I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS I WOULD MAKE MAYOR PLEASE I THINK IF WE'RE DONE WITH QUESTIONS. WELL THANK YOU, MR. RUIZ, AND WE'LL GO TO YOU. COUNCILMAN. I JUST JUST THE FACT THAT DEALING WITH IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, WITH THE GOING IN UNDERNEATH THE ROAD AND ALSO DEALING WITH THE RAILROAD, WHICH IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, AS WE FOUND OUT IN THE PAST, DEALING WITH THE, YOU KNOW, AN INGRAINED INDUSTRY THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THAT IS USED TO GETTING THEIR WAY. IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE RAILROAD. SO I CAN SEE HOW THAT WOULD DRIVE THE COST UP OF THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO CONTACT JOHN TO TALK ABOUT B JACKSON, BASICALLY, THAT WE USE THEM A LOT FOR THE FIBER PROJECT, FOR DIRECTIONAL BORING, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB FOR US, AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH THEM WITH THE FIBER PROJECT. SO I'M YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE KNOW THAT THEY DO GOOD WORK. SO VERY PLEASED. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DELIBERATION? I DO HAVE ONE MORE THING FOR IDAHO FALLS POWER. I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAD AN ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE INTERNAL TO KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE WERE CLOSE TO THE 2 MILLION THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GO BACK, THAT WE REJECTED THE FIRST ONE, YOU WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND TALK IT OUT WITH THEM. BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT IN THE END, WE'RE GOING TO GET A MUCH BETTER PROJECT AND IT'LL BE LESS EXPENSIVE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. WELL, IN FACT, WE DO STRIVE TO HAVE THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES ON THE BID TAB WHENEVER THERE IS ONE. BUT IT'S GOOD THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED THIS BECAUSE IF ANYBODY IS FORGETTING TO PUT THOSE THERE, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT THAT. SO THIS IS GOOD. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY OTHER CONVERSATION COUNCILOR FRANCIS? WELL, WE'LL MAKE THE COMMENT THAT I THINK THIS HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO THE DOWNTOWN PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST MAKING IT LOOK NICER, IT'S SAFER WHEN IT'S UNDERGROUND AND PEOPLE HAVE CLIMBED POLES, ETC. I THINK COUNCILOR FREEMAN KNOWS ABOUT THAT. AND THIS WILL ELIMINATE THAT. NOT ONLY BEAUTIFIES THE DOWNTOWN, BUT IT MAKES IT SAFER. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS HAPPENS TO YOU. I KNOW I'VE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. ONCE YOU SERVE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE A THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT POWER LINES OR TO TAKE A LOOK AT INFRASTRUCTURE AT ALL IN A COMMUNITY, YOU CAN'T UNSEE THINGS. AND EVER SINCE I WAS AT THE AGE FRAME WERE POINTED OUT TO ME. I CAN'T UNSEE THEM AND I'M GOING TO BE EXCITED WHEN THEY'RE NOT THERE TO SEE IT ALL. BECAUSE THEY ARE. THEY LOOK INHERENTLY UNSAFE AND THEY'RE FROM A BYGONE ERA, AND IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND RESOURCES AND GRANT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ALLEYS SAFER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE. DOWNTOWN IS AN IMPORTANT SPOT FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND SO IT'S GOOD THAT WE CAN MAKE IT LOOK BETTER. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I GUESS I'LL BE TURNING TO COUNCILOR FREEMAN. IS THAT RIGHT FOR THE MOTION? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. I WOULD MOVE THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE BID FROM B JACKSON CONSTRUCTION PART A PORTION OF THE DOWNTOWN LA UPGRADE PROJECT FOR NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $509,754.94 AND GIVE AUTHORIZATION TO THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. SECOND.

SECOND. THANK YOU, CITY CLERK. WILL YOU CONDUCT A VOTE ON THAT MOTION? YES. DINGMAN. YES.

FREEMAN. YES. FRANCIS I. RADFORD I BURTENSHAW. YES. LARSEN. YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL

[5.C.1) Local Professional Services Agreement with Horrocks, LLC , for Intersection Improvements at South 15th East and East 49th South ]

[01:05:01]

ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. THEN THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN THE MOTION FROM COUNCILOR LARSON. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HORROCKS LLC, AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. SECOND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY CLERK. WOULD YOU CONDUCT A VOTE FOR US? BURTONSHAW. YES. DINGMAN. YES. FRANCIS A. FREEMAN. YES. LARSON. YES. BRADFORD. AYE. MOTION

[4.A.1) Bid Award - Commercial Water Meter Box Installation - Citywide]

THANK YOU MAYOR. SO THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST FOR BID AWARD. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6TH, WE OPENED BIDS FOR OUR COMMERCIAL WATER METER BOX INSTALLATION CITYWIDE PROJECT. TWO BIDS WERE RECEIVED, OF WHICH I BELIEVE THE BID TAB IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET AS WELL. BUT THE LOW BID FOR THE BASE BID AND BOTH BID ALTERNATIVES WAS SUBMITTED BY JM CONCRETE FOR A TOTAL OF $1,672,885. IF AWARDED, THE CONTRACT WOULD INSTALL 373 COMMERCIAL METERS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE FALL. FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WILL BE FROM THE WATER DIVISION, AND ABOUT HALF OF THAT COST WILL ACTUALLY COME FROM A GRANT FROM THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. SO THIS IS CONTINUING WORK THAT WE HAVE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE THIRD OR FOURTH PROJECT SIMILAR TO THIS METERS THROUGHOUT IDAHO FALLS. BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THERE MAY BE. ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILOR FRANCIS, IT WAS YOU WHO PULLED IT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO YOU HAD SOME REASONS. AND SO I. I'M SURE THAT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOU WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU AS BEING IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE AWARE OF. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED, ONE OF THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS FEDERAL MONEY FLOWING INTO THE CITY TO HELP MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE AND CONSERVE WATER IN THE LONG RUN. BUT DOES THIS COMPLETE THE PROJECT? NO. WE'LL STILL HAVE UP TO A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL CONTINUE WITH MORE PROJECTS. INSTALL COMMERCIAL METERING AT.

THIS TAKES US WELL OVER 50% OF THE COMMERCIAL METERS WITHIN IDAHO FALLS. THE PROJECTS THAT WE DID TODAY, I'M SURE HAVE USED THIS NUMBER BEFORE, BUT I'M STILL WORKING ON METERS.

ACTUALLY HELPED TO SAVE UP TO 30% OVER WATER USAGE. AND REMEMBER, IT'S ALL ALMOST ALL POTABLE WATER THAT'S BEEN TREATED. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S THE MOST STUDIES WOULD INDICATE THAT 30 TO 35%. OKAY. AND WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT SAVINGS, THAT 30 TO 35%. IT'S SELF INITIATED SAVINGS. PEOPLE CHOOSE TO MAKE THOSE SAVINGS ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BILL THEY WANT TO BRING DOWN. AND SO IT'S NOT EXTERNALLY FORCED UPON SOMEBODY WHERE YOU WILL USE LESS. YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS THROUGH ALMOST THE REGULATION OF A MARKET WHERE YOU IF YOU USE MORE, YOU PAY MORE. SO IT'S KIND OF A USEFUL THAT WAY. THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT TO COUNCILOR FRANCIS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILOR RADFORD? HOW ARE WE DECIDING WHICH 300 AND AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THIS, ARE YOU GOING THROUGH SECTIONS OF TOWN OR HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING? SO SOME OF EACH ACTUALLY WITH THE COMMERCIAL METERING, OUR INTENTION WAS TO WE HAD VARIOUS CLASSIFICATION OF WATER USERS. SO THE HIGHEST WATER USERS ARE CLASS SIX. WE'VE METERED ALL OF THE HIGHEST USERS FIRST. SO WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THOSE THAT USE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF WATER TO THE METER GLASS. THANK YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. WHAT I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANT BESIDES THE 30%, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL. BUT WE WERE ALSO TOLD IN THE WATER STUDY HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT WE LOWER A USE OR HOW MANY MORE WELLS WE WOULD HAVE TO DRILL, AND THAT WOULD COST MORE THAN THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST OUR CONSUMERS TO PAY THE EXTRA TO

[01:10:04]

YEAH, I THINK WE'LL LOOK AT THIS PERIOD AND THERE'LL BE PEOPLE IN 20 YEARS GRATEFUL THAT YOU TOOK THESE STEPS ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL. I KNOW COUNCILOR LARSON. ONE OTHER ITEM YOU MENTIONED, THE SURFACE WATER, AND THOSE ARE SURFACE WATER RIGHTS THAT COME WITH THE PROPERTY. THEY ALREADY EXIST. THEY'RE ALREADY PART OF THE PROPERTY. SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIND NEW WATER OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS ALL EXISTING. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S REALLY THAT GREEN SPACE THAT'S CURRENTLY AGRICULTURE THAT DEVELOPS OR TURNS INTO BUSINESS OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. SO THOSE WATER RIGHTS THAT EXIST ARE NOW CONVERTED AND UTILIZED, BUT MORE SURFACE WATER, WHERE IN THE PAST THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN POTABLE WATER IN THE SYSTEM. SO NOW WE OPERATE IN TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS TO SERVE THOSE SAME IRRIGATION NEEDS. THANK YOU. SO I DID HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. NOT LONG AGO, WE HAD A MEETING WHERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE WERE QUITE A BIT AHEAD OF OUR ORIGINAL SCHEDULE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE COMMERCIAL METERS. IS PART OF THAT, BECAUSE THE GRANT IS ALLOWING US TO ACCOMPLISH MORE, OR IS IT JUST THAT OTHER, OTHER FACTORS HAVE ALLOWED US TO GO A LITTLE FASTER? I THINK IT'S TWOFOLD, SOME OF WHICH IS THE GRANT THAT ALLOWS US TO SPEND MORE FUEL FASTER. BUT THE OTHER SITUATION IS A LOT OF YOUR I'M JUST GOING TO REFER TO THEM AS STRIP MALLS. SO YOU MAY HAVE 12 DIFFERENT BUSINESSES IN THE STRIP MALL THAT HAVE INDIVIDUAL WATER BILLS TODAY, BUT THOSE WHERE THEY HAVE A SINGLE SERVICE, THERE'S ONE METER. SO ONE METER TAKES CARE OF 12 BUSINESSES. SO THAT COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT THAT SHOWS 12M IS ACTUALLY SERVING ONE. SO THOSE COME OFF THE LISTING OF NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AS FAR AS NEW METERS. SO THAT THAT HELPS REDUCE THAT COST REALLY QUICKLY.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT'S BECAUSE THE STRIP MALL ITSELF HAS A SINGLE OWNER AND THEN THAT SINGLE OWNER THEN PARSES OUT THE. OKAY. VERY INTERESTING. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. NO, I THINK I WILL JUST ADDRESS IT. I MEAN, WE'RE JUST BARELY ABOVE 50%. SO I'LL JUST ADDRESS IT AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. OKAY. VERY GOOD. WELL I THINK WE ARE READY FOR A MOTION. AND COUNCILOR LARSON WILL ONCE AGAIN MAKE THAT FOR US. I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, AWARD THE BASE BID AND BID ALTERNATIVES ONE AND TWO TO THE LOWEST. RESPONSIVE. PARDON ME. RESPONSIVE. RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. JAM CONCRETE, INC. THE AMOUNT OF $1,672,885 AND GAVE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILORS.

CITY CLERK. WE WERE READY FOR A VOTE. BURTONSHAW. YES. LARSON. YES. DINGMAN. YES. BRADFORD A.

FREEMAN. YES. FRANCIS. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, WE HAVE ONE

[5.D.1) Ordinance Amending Title 1, Chapters 5 & 6 of the City Code, Compensation of Mayor and Council Members]

MAYOR. PRESENTING A PROPOSAL FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TITLE ONE, CHAPTERS FIVE AND SIX OF THE CITY CODE, INCREASING THE MAYOR'S SALARY TO 4223 09.09 EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 20 2645, 1539 JANUARY 1ST, 2027 AND 4807 70TH JANUARY FIRST, 2028. THE IMPACT OF THAT CHANGE ON THE 2526 BUDGET WOULD BE $4,727, AND ALSO THE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE COUNCIL SALARY TO $807.70.

EXCUSE ME, $698.66. EFFECTIVE SEVEN. AND THE IMPACT ON THE 2526 BUDGET FOR THAT WILL BE 12,851 AND $0.45. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS ONE THING I WANTED TO CLARIFY. I JUST FLEW OUT MY HEAD. COULD YOU JUST VERY QUICKLY DESCRIBE THE PROCESS THAT THE COUNCIL USED TO, OR THAT YOUR OFFICE USED TO GIVE THE COUNCIL SOME DATA? YEAH, WE CREATED A BENCHMARK OF

[01:15:02]

[01:20:03]

I, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE WE COULD HAVE SPREAD IT OUT OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT THESE CONCERNS UP AT THE WORK SESSION EARLIER AND, AND I I'M STILL HAVING THEM. SO IT'S LETTING YOU KNOW THAT I PROBABLY WILL VOTE NO. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILOR FRANCIS? YEAH. NO, NOT DIRECTLY RESPONDING TO THAT. BUT I WAS THINKING THAT THE OTHER IMPORTANT POINT IS WE KNOW THAT THE 26 BUDGET IS REALLY TIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY WE DID SPREAD THIS OUT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS THREE AND TWO, TO LESSEN THE IMPACT ON EACH YEAR'S BUDGET. SO ANYWAY, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. OKAY. AND I HAD HEARD THAT THERE MIGHT BE A MOTION TO AMEND. IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT'S COMING FORWARD? SURE. NO, I MEAN, MY SENTIMENTS HAVE ALSO NOT CHANGED. I, I DO THINK THAT THE WORK IS GREAT. I THINK THAT THERE ARE WAYS FOR, FOR COUNCIL TO COME BACK AND, AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE TIME COMMITMENT AND, AND, AND LESSEN SOME OF THAT TIME THAT, THAT WE COMMIT. I KNOW THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY A VERY WELL EDUCATED COUNCIL. SO I CAN I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT PART, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN THE SALARY AND THE TIME. AND I THINK THAT WE JUST COULD SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME LOOKING AT REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR COUNCIL. OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE WANTING TO WEIGH IN BEFORE A MOTION IS MADE. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR LIAISON TO HUMAN RESOURCES, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA IS COUNCILOR BURTONSHAW.

IS THAT A MOTION? YOU'RE. THAT'S RIGHT. I GET THESE MIXED UP ALL THE TIME. I APOLOGIZE TO BOTH OF YOU. SORRY. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT TO YOU THEN TO MAKE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE UPDATED SYDNEY ORDINANCE, CITY ORDINANCE FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION AS PRESENTED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. WE HAVE COUNCILORS WHO STAKED OUT THEIR POSITIONS. WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL VOTE. FREEMAN. NO, BRADFORD. I. LARSON. YES. DINGMAN. YES. BURTONSHAW. NO. FRANCIS. I MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, SO IT'S A42 VOTE. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR THOUGHTFUL PARTICIPATION IN THAT CONVERSATION. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS IS AN ORDINANCE CHANGE. AND SO IT REQUIRES TWO THINGS BEFORE IT'S EFFECTIVE. ONE IS THAT WE NEED TO READ IT BY TITLE IN THIS MEETING, AND THEN IT NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER. AND THAT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE OF WHATEVER THE NEWSPAPER, WHENEVER THEY TAKE OUR SUBMISSIONS ON FRIDAY MORNINGS. AND THEN IT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE. SO, CITY CLERK, WILL YOU READ THAT BY TITLE? OH, YES. JUST TO CLARIFY, IT WILL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, RIGHT. THAT THAT IS WHAT EFFECTIVE IN THIS CASE. IT'S UNUSUAL, BUT IT AND THE TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT EVEN THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER, THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND NOT BEFORE. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. AND, CITY CLERK, WILL YOU CONDUCT THE VOTE OR NO? DO WE READ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO, AMENDING TITLE ONE, CHAPTER FIVE AND SIX TO ADJUST THE MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPENSATION, PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, PUBLICATION BY SUMMARY, AND ESTABLISHING

[6. Announcements]

[01:25:01]

SO THAT WILL HAPPEN. AND THEN THE 25TH OF AUGUST, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THEIR REGULAR WORK SESSION THAT IS HELD IN THIS ROOM. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT STARTS AT 3:00 PM, AND ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AT THE WORK SESSION IS GOING TO BE THE BUDGET. ONE MORE TIME. WE HAVE THAT ON THERE AS A TIME FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSIONS THEY WANT TO HAVE AFTER THE HEARING HEARINGS, PLURAL. WE DID HAVE SOME PUBLIC TESTIMONY TONIGHT, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY CHOOSE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'VE HEARD WITH, WITH CHANGES OR OR NOT, BUT THEY CAN'T EXCEED WHATEVER IS IN THAT TENTATIVE BUDGET. THEY CAN ONLY KEEP IT THE SAME AND REARRANGED OR THEY CAN GO DOWN. SO ANYWAY, THAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE 25TH AND THEN TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, ALL OF THOSE ITEMS THAT HEARINGS WERE HELD FOR TONIGHT WILL BE ACTUALLY ADDRESSED WITH AN UP OR DOWN VOTE. AND WITH THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE. THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNITY INTEREST NEWS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE? I THINK BREW AT THE ZOO IS TOMORROW NIGHT, IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S AT THE ZOO TOMORROW NIGHT. AND IT'S ALWAYS IT'S A UNIQUE THING TO BE IN THE ZOO AT NIGHT, EVEN IF YOU DRINK BEER OR NOT. IT'S STILL, STILL A LOT OF FUN TO SEE THE ANIMALS. THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE ACTIVE WHEN IT'S COOLER. AND IS THAT AN ADULT ONLY EVENT OR DO FAMILIES COME? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. IT'S ADULTS. OKAY, SO NIGHTTIME ZOO. IF YOU'RE IN A NIGHTTIME ZOO MOOD TOMORROW AND IT'S A FUNDRAISER. CONFUSED? BOO WITH THE ZOO? THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S BREW AT THE ZOO WITH THE DIFFERENT FUNDRAISER. BUT IT ALL BENEFITS THE ZOO, SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU'RE IN COSTUMES OR BEVERAGES. AND YOU DO HAVE TO BE 21 WITH YOUR ID, AND IT BEGINS AT 530. OKAY, THERE WE GO. FRIDAY NIGHT ACTIVITY FOR COUNCILOR FREEMAN. I JUST TELL YOU ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, YOU'VE ALL HAD AN INVITATION, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT SEES FUTURE TECH UNVEILING IS ON AUGUST 21ST AT. NOON. YES. I THINK THEY'RE BRINGING IT'S A IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU. YEAH IT'S AND IT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO THEY'RE GOING TO UNVEIL IT. WE'RE GOING TO SHOW US AROUND. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY OF YOU WHO ARE PLANNING ON GOING SPITTING IN THE WATER TOUR OR THE WATER COLLEGE TOUR ON TUESDAY? NO. OKAY, GOOD. OKAY. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND YOU FORGOT ABOUT IT, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL TRY TO HELP MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME INFORMATION ON IT. BUT I THINK IT WILL BE VERY EDUCATIONAL. AND SO WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. AND WE THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT, DIRECTORS, ALL OF YOU WHO

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.