City Council

March 26, 2020 The City Council of the City of Idaho Falls met in Regular Council Meeting, Thursday, March 26, 2020, in the Council Chambers in the City Annex Building located at 680 Park Avenue in Idaho Falls, Idaho at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Casper stated the State of Idaho has announced its first three (3) deaths associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). She expressed heartache and sadness to those communities. She also stated there are currently no cases in Bonneville County. Call to Order: There were present: Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper Councilmember Michelle Ziel-Dingman (by WebEx) Councilmember John Radford (by WebEx) Councilmember Thomas Hally Councilmember Jim Freeman (by WebEx) Councilmember Jim Francis (by WebEx) Councilmember Shelly Smede (by WebEx) Also present: All available Department Directors Randy Fife, City Attorney Kathy Hampton, City Clerk Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Casper led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment: Mayor Casper requested any public comment not related to items currently listed on the agenda or not related to a pending matter. No one appeared. Consent Agenda: Councilmember Smede requested item 4.B.1), Bid IF-20-11, Purchase of Distribution Transformers for Idaho Falls Power, be moved from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda. She stated this is due to additional information that was analyzed in more detail after the agenda was published. Idaho Falls Power requested approval of the Statement of Qualifications for 161 kV Transmission Construction Bidders. Municipal Services requested approval of Bid IF-20-13, Purchase of Mowers for the Parks and Recreation Department; Agreement for Marketing Services for Idaho Falls Power Fiber Network; minutes from the March 9, 2020 Council Work Session, March 12, 2020 Council Meeting, and, March 19, 2020 Council Work Session; and, license applications, all carrying the required approvals. It was moved by Councilmember Smede, seconded by Councilmember Dingman, to approve, accept, or receive all items on the Consent Agenda according to the recommendations presented. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Hally, Francis, Radford, Dingman, Smede, Freeman. Nay – none. Motion carried. Regular Agenda: Municipal Services 1  March 26, 2020 Subject: City License Renewal Extension The resolution would authorize the extension of certain City license renewals pursuant to Title 50 of Idaho Code to May 31, 2020. Councilmember Smede stated the City and Federal Government have recognized COVID-19 has disturbed services. In order to support social distancing, recognize personal and business disruption, and, support essential services within the City, the Council desires to extend licenses and temporarily postpone renewals and current City licenses until May 31, 2020. She noted this would not apply to alcohol and catering licenses. Mayor Casper stated if the demand for new licenses becomes significant the City may find a way for the Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) to assist with fingerprinting. It was moved by Councilmember Smede, seconded by Councilmember Dingman, to approve the resolution providing for an extension for certain City license renewals due to the current COVID-19 public health crisis and give authorization for the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the necessary documents. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Freeman, Radford, Smede, Francis, Dingman, Hally. Nay – none. Motion carried. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-07 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO, PROVIDING FOR AN EXTENSION UNTIL MAY 31, 2020, FOR CERTAIN CITY LICENSE RENEWALS DUE TO CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND PROVIDING THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE AND APPROVAL ACCORDING TO LAW. Municipal Services Subject: Bid IF-20-11, Purchase of Distribution Transformers for Idaho Falls Power Director Alexander stated after further review of the bids, the lowest bidder deemed to have a longer delivery time, which was well beyond industry standards. Based on this review from Legal staff and Idaho Falls Power, the decision was made to award to the second lowest bidder. The total amount of the contract award changed in the amount of $958.00. Director Alexander briefly reviewed the amounts of bids received. It was moved by Councilmember Smede, seconded by Councilmember Dingman, to accept and approve Bid IF-20- 11 as amended by Director Alexander. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Francis, Dingman, Freeman, Hally, Radford, Smede. Nay – none. Motion carried. Community Development Services Subject: Annexation and Initial Zoning, Annexation and Zoning Ordinances, and Reasoned Statements of Relevant Criteria and Standards, Approximately 196 acres of City-owned parcels For consideration is the application to annex and zone approximately 186 acres consisting of parcels owned by the City of Idaho Falls. Community Development Staff has worked with Public Works staff to identify and legally describe all City-owned property which is contiguous to existing City limits so the annexation documents could be presented to the Council. Proposed zones are recommended based on adjacent zoning of other properties, existing uses on the parcels, and the Comprehensive Plan map and policies. The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this application at its January 8, 2019 meeting and recommended approval by unanimous vote. Staff concurs with this recommendation. In some cases with private development, applications that have gone more than one year have been sent back through staff review and to a new recommendation by Planning and Zoning. However, in this case, staff has already re-reviewed everything multiple times and with City-owned parcels there is no proposed development and a new recommendation did not seem necessary. 2  March 26, 2020 Councilmember Radford stated various departments have been working on annexing City-owned parcels for a period of time. He noted the parcels do not include any private property outside of the City. He clarified the acreage equals 186 acres, not 196 acres as noted in the memo. To the response of Mayor Casper, Director Cramer stated all these properties are contiguous. It was moved by Councilmember Radford, seconded by Councilmember Francis, to approve the Ordinance annexing 186 acres of City-owned parcels under a suspension of the rules requiring three complete and separate readings and request that it be read by title and published by summary. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Hally, Radford, Francis, Dingman, Smede, Freeman. Nay – none. Motion carried. At the request of Mayor Casper, the City Clerk read the ordinance by title only: ORDINANCE NO. 3303 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO; PROVIDING FOR THE ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 186 ACRES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1 OF THIS ORDINANCE, AMENDING THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY WITH THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY AND STATE AUTHORITIES; AND PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, PUBLICATION BY SUMMARY, AND ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE DATE. It was moved by Councilmember Radford, seconded by Councilmember Francis, to approve the Reasoned Statement of Relevant Criteria and Standards for the annexation of 186 acres of City-owned parcels and give authorization for the Mayor to execute the necessary documents. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Francis, Dingman, Freeman, Hally, Radford, Smede. Nay – none. Motion carried. It was moved by Councilmember Radford, seconded by Councilmember Francis, to assign a Comprehensive Plan Designation of Low Density, Parks and Recreation, and Public Facilities and Open Space, and approve the Ordinance establishing the initial zoning for 186 acres of City-owned parcels under a suspension of the rules requiring three complete and separate readings and request that it be read by title and published by summary that the City limits documents be amended to include the area annexed herewith, and that the City Planner be instructed to reflect said annexation, amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, and initial zoning on the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Maps located in the Planning office. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Freeman, Francis, Hally, Radford, Smede, Dingman. Nay – none. Motion carried. At the request of Mayor Casper, the City Clerk read the ordinance by title only: ORDINANCE NO. 3304 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO; PROVIDING FOR THE INITIAL ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 186 ACRES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1 AND EXHIBITS A-E OF THIS ORDINANCE AS P, LM AND I&M ZONES AND PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, PUBLICATION BY SUMMARY, AND ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE DATE. It was moved by Councilmember Radford, seconded by Councilmember Francis, to approve the Reasoned Statement of Relevant Criteria and Standards for the Initial Zoning for 186 acres of City-owned parcels and give authorization for the Mayor to execute the necessary documents. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Dingman, Radford, Francis, Smede, Hally, Freeman. Nay – none. Motion carried. Announcements: Mayor Casper stated the Governor will be holding a press conference regarding fiscal matters for the State budget. She stated there is a strong commitment on City leadership that employees will remain whole during this time. 3  March 26, 2020 Information will be released to City employees regarding details of policies from Congress and regarding pay. Mayor Casper noted the City workforce is light and she expressed her gratitude to the employees. Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m. s/ Kathy Hampton s/ Rebecca L. Noah Casper CITY CLERK MAYOR 4