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1 City of Star Council Meeting Minutes November 15, 2016 The regular meeting of the Star City Council was held on November 15, 2016 at Star City Hall, 10769 W. State Street, Star, Idaho. Mayor Chad Bell called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and all stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call: Councilmen David Hershey, Richard Lockett, Trevor Chadwick and Kevin Nielsen were all present. Approval of the Agenda: Lockett moved to approve the agenda, Chadwick seconded the motion. All ayes: motion carried. Consent Agenda: Lockett moved to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of: Regular Meeting Minutes for November 1, 2016; Parkstone Subdivision Final Plat, Phase 9 and Craftsman Subdivision Final Plat, Phase 1, Chadwick seconded the motion. Nielson asked about the landscaping being deficient. Ward stated that until the homes were built the landscaping would be deficient; per code trees are to be planted every 35 feet. All ayes; motion carried. Public Input: Gary Smith, 258 S. Langer Lake Way, Star, stated that he is working on a project named Idaho Veterans Come First. In the last year there has been a lot of talk about low income housing. Smith thinks we should use the housing for Veterans. He has met with HUD and Senators offices. That group did encourage Veterans. Smith believes it would be advantageous for developers and Vets; women soldiers are a major concern as some are homeless. Smith would like the City to send a letter to the developer encouraging them to add to the application that we have Veterans preference. Nielsen stated this was an excellent, positive project. It is really encouraging; a positive step. Smith stated that this is an opportunity for the community. Nielsen stated that this is great for citizens and not just the City. Michael Keyes, 338 S. Long Bay Way, Star, extended a Happy belated Veterans Day to all. Keyes is the President of Pinewood Lakes HOA and has several residents that have reached out because of a trailer that has been parked at the corner of the park. Law Enforcement explained that it is not the intention of the City for trailers to be stored on roads. Keyes found an Ordinance to amend and give Law Enforcement some tools in the tool box. Keyes found a law and read it to the Council. Hershey stated that he had this looked at by the Chief and he was going to present it. He will get it adopted. Michael Traficonte, 301 S. Selwood Lane, Star, commended the Council on the Domestic Violence Proclamation. He wants the City to become a preventative community. He would like ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 to reach out with information on places for reaching out and help. We need to be proactive as a preventative City. We need to help our Police. Nielsen stated certainly if there is something the City can do, we certainly will. Trafaconte stated he’s thinking on being more preventative, maybe have a workshop. Trafaconte would be willing to coordinate. Ashley Freeman, 12339 W. Foxhaven, Star, stated that it’s great to have low income housing, putting Veterans first, but we need to think about the logistics and implement a safe community. She is a social worker and a Vet. She works with disenchanted people. Star is a little isolated – Veterans need outreach. She would encourage that we work with developers for Vets to have access to services. Work with community and understand the concerns of Veterans. The one service we do have is with St. Al’s, but that doesn’t necessarily work for Vets. Freeman talked about a poverty simulator and encouraged the Council to go through it. You can see the things they need access too. She could bring it to the City. Nielsen asked what Freeman suggests we do. Freeman stated that community involvement is one. There are complications, in that some have problems with the law, like PTSD and it’s a hard thing to come out of. Hershey asked if the criminal past tied to PTSD would that cause any problems with Section 8 or vouchers for the Vets. Freeman stated that just because people have violent problems doesn’t mean they don’t need help. Hershey noted we lost more Vets to suicide than in Afghanistan. Freeman stated we need support in all ways not just housing. Chadwick asked what the timeframe on simulator would be. Freeman stated in a month or two. Bob Powell, 10601 Gloxinia, Star, stated they have had some vandalism in the neighborhood. It did get resolved. He would like to commend the Chief and our officers, their work is greatly appreciated. Old/New Business: Valley Regional Transit Discussion – Kelli Fairless – Fairless thanked Council for the opportunity to speak. VRT is a public transportation authority funded through the jurisdictions they provide service to. Boise provides the lion share of money, with the other major amounts from Nampa and Caldwell. Idaho does not have local designated transportation funding. Our stop is funded by other cities contributions. Star’s contribution is $8,754 and Middleton pays the same amount. Eagle pays $16,000. Our route carried about 6,300 people last year. The other funds fund administration and they are serving veterans and seniors. Chadwick asked about the 6,300 trips that are on the system. Fairless stated that they don’t count every stop. The bus comes in the morning and once in the evening. They don’t have funding for more trips. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 Nielsen asked what the cost per rider is. Fairless stated that it is about $5.90 per trip; that person pays $3.00 and the rest is funded through federal funds and all the contributions. They have looked at discontinuing service but heard about it from the public. It is a commuter service. Valley Ride provides maintenance and service and the trips are funded through the federal government. They only have to fund 20% of service. Hershey asked what the chance of getting another bus stop is. Fairless stated they would like to talk to the Council about that. They can use the value of the land for grant requirements. Hershey has an employee that uses the bus. Nielsen asked what the approximate ridership is in Star. Fairless stated they don’t have a mechanism to know those numbers. Eventually we will know, but not now. Nielsen asked what the anticipated time frame is. Fairless stated that the passenger counter has been in the budget for several years. Nielsen stated he sees cars parked, but only sees four or five people get off, that’s a high cost per person. He would like to see better data on the numbers. Fairless stated that it is benefiting our seniors. It always has loyal ridership. Fairless suggest looking at the entire corridor. One year Eagle couldn’t pay and Boise paid their share. The next year residents came to the Council and Eagle has paid for it since then. Nielsen believes it would be more valuable if there were more routes available. Hershey would like a more detailed look at numbers and possibly another park and ride. He can’t imagine the bus not stopping in Star. Fairless stated that if Star doesn’t pay, then the route would stop. She agrees on the need for more routes. Resolution N0. 2016-08 Valley Regional Transit Agreement – Hershey stated that he knows there is value in it and details can be worked out. Hershey moved to approve Resolution No. 16- 08 Valley Regional Transit Agreement, Lockett seconded the motion. Nielsen would like to see an amendment and add having VRT study an extra route within the next 12 months and make it a condition of approval. Nielson would like to add the amendment and does not believe it is unreasonable. The question keeps coming up let’s get the facts. Hershey amended his motion adding in the next twelve months VRT will do a study on the value to the City of Star of adding a second trip, Lockett amended his second. All ayes: motion carried. Public Hearing – S. Springs Court Rezone & two Development Agreements - The Mayor stated that we are opening the public hearing, our legal counsel is sick and not here tonight. Because we don’t have Legal Counsel and Council has questions, we are not going to hold the public hearing tonight. We will open the public hearing and have a motion to table it to a date certain. The Mayor opened the public hearing. The Mayor asked if the Applicant was okay with doing a traffic study. The Applicant stated that they agreed to do the traffic study. Chadwick moved to table the Rezone & two DA agreements, for lack of Legal Counsel and for the applicant to do a traffic study, tabling the public hearing to January 17, 2017, Lockett seconded the motion. Applicant will let Ward know if that timeframe doesn’t work; we can table it to another date. We would like to see the traffic study done prior to construction. Nielsen asked if ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 we are legally able to hold a public hearing without legal counsel. The Mayor stated that we are, but Council had questions. All ayes: motion carried. Reports: Staff - Chief Vogt stated that the prescription drug take back box is mounted upstairs by their office and will be open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Citizens can bring in unneeded medication, but no needles, liquids or lancets. Council - Hershey participated in pie tasting contest at the Senior Center. Mr. Smith was another judge as well as Deputy Speakes. The seniors invited him to come have lunch. Lockett stated that he rode in the Veterans Parade, it was very well attended. He also attended the Potato Feed. Nielsen stated that COMPASS came and spoke to the EDC. There are opportunities for grant funding. Nielsen has ten applications, he needs a letter from the Mayor and approval of the applications. They are due by November 30. The EDC is looking at the Comp Plan. Chadwick stated the Beautification Committee is meeting this Thursday. If you haven’t been out to the skate park, Tom Erlebach is doing a great job and thanked him for his time and effort. It will be top notch. Mayor - The Mayor stated that we will have a substantial completion walk through on the Skate Park on the 28th of November. Bids for the boat launch went out and we had an issue and it will be extend a week. Boat launch will be built this spring. The Mayor thanked Hershey and Lockett for filling in for him. The Tree Lighting will be December 2 at 7 pm and there will be hot chocolate, cookies and singing. We will also have a Gingerbread House contest. Adjournment: – Nielsen moved to adjourn the meeting, Lockett seconded the motion. All ayes: motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 pm. Approved: Respectfully submitted: Charlten Bell, Mayor Cathy Ward, City Clerk