City Council

July 22 2024 Council Work Session The City Council of the City of Idaho Falls met in the Council Work Session, on Monday, July 22, 2024, in the Council Chambers in the City Annex Building located at 680 Park Avenue in Idaho Falls at 3:00 p.m. Call to Order and Roll Call There were present: Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper Council President Lisa Burtenshaw Councilor Michelle Ziel-Dingman Councilor Jim Freeman Councilor Jim Francis Councilor Kirk Larsen Absent: Councilor John Radford Also present: Darrin Jones, Human Resources Director Lisa Farris, Grants Administrator Pam Alexander, Municipal Services Director Pam Alexander, Municipal Services Director PJ Holm, Parks and Recreation Director Wade Sanner, Community Development Services, Director Duane Nelson, Fire Chief Margaret Wimborne, Chief of Staff Catherine Smith, Economic Development Administrator Heidi Despain, City Prosecutor Michael Kirkham, City Attorney Corrin Wilde, City Clerk Mayor Casper called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. with the following items: Parks and Recreation – War Bonnet Rodeo Q&A: Clarification of Council Responsibilities on Friday, 2 August; Distribution of War Bonnet Shirts, Buckles, and Hats. Parks and Recreation Director PJ Holm discussed the upcoming PRCA rodeo event in Idaho Falls. This event started in 1911 and the city has run it for about 7 years. Director Holm says they try to improve it every year and have lined up new specialty acts and activities, including a drone show, and bison riding, to complement the traditional rodeo events. Safety protocols are in place, particularly for the bison riding event, which will be open to participants aged 16 and up. He discussed the kickoff event on Wednesday, July 31st, called the "Toyota Wild West Family Fest" which will feature free activities, music, food trucks, and mutton-busting qualifiers. Director Holm discussed events that will be happening each day. The rodeo is expected to draw a strong field of contestants, including several members of the renowned Wright family, who have dominated the bull riding and bronc riding events in recent years. In addition to the rodeo competitions, the events will feature the War Bonnet Roundup, a community appreciation night to recognize the leadership and commitment of local officials and supporters. The organizers have also introduced paid reserved seating under the grandstand, and ticket sales are already ahead of last year’s pace, with 57 sponsors secured for the event. Community Development Services: Presentation and Discussion: CDBG – CAPER. Grants Administrator Lisa Farris, Community Development Services Director Wade Sanner, and Municipal Services Director Pam Alexander discussed the CDBG grants and distributions of funds. Lisa Farris presented the proposed CDBG grant fund allocations for the city of Idaho Falls. 1  July 22 2024 Council Work Session There were over 21 applications this year, requesting a total of $859,000, while the available CDBG allocation was $434,124. Of the total allocation, only 15% ($104,207) could be used for public service activities, which had over $276,000 in requests. The selection process considered whether projects met HUD's national objectives, aligned with the city's five-year plan and fair housing analysis, and provided direct benefits to low-to-moderate-income individuals and families. Ms. Farris explained the formula used to determine the allocations, which involved subtracting administrative costs and ensuring 70% of the funds benefited low-to-moderate income populations. She noted that the city also considered avoiding duplication of services and coordinating with other service providers in the community. Mayor Casper expressed frustration that funding could not be provided for the CEI program, which helps low- income families with childcare expenses. Lisa Farris explained that CEI and the United Way's childcare program serve different clientele. Ms. Farris stated that the CEI program is specifically for low-to-moderate income students within certain census tracts, while the United Way program is aimed at filling a broader childcare gap in the community. Ms. Farris noted that this distinction in target populations was a factor in the prioritization and allocation of the limited CDBG public service funds. Councilor Freeman questioned whether the $190,000 allocated for public works projects would be available for other initiatives in the future. Ms. Farris clarified that the funding would need to be re-evaluated each year. Councilor Francis questioned why the elevator at the Senior Center was not approved for funding, citing ADA concerns. Director Alexander says, the city is seeking CDBG funds to help design and upgrade the elevator at the historic Senior Center building, which was built in 1979. Director Alexander stated that the city's architect estimated the total cost to upgrade the elevator would be around $300,000, due to the age and condition of the building. She explained that the city has maintained the elevator, but parts are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. The city and Senior Center would likely need to share the costs of upgrading the elevator. Director Alexander said the design and bid process would take around 1-2 years to complete before the actual elevator replacement could be done. If CDBG funds are not available, the city plans to explore other funding options, potentially through the ADA committee or by reprioritizing the project in the next fiscal year's budget. The Council discussed the prioritization of housing needs over other community access needs, with Lisa Farris explaining that affordable housing was identified as the top priority in the city's five-year plan. The Council agreed to move forward with approving the final CDBG fund allocation list at the upcoming City Council meeting on Thursday. Ms. Farris also noted that the action plan needed to be submitted to HUD by August 16th. Additionally, the Council discussed the need to continue exploring funding options for the Senior Center elevator upgrade, with Pam Alexander indicating the city would look at reprioritizing the project in the next 1-2 years if CDBG funds were not available. Legal Department, Fire Department, and Human Resources: Discussion Department Staffing Needs, Current Position Counts, Hiring Practices, and Early Hire Requests. Mayor Casper provided opening remarks. She explained the process for hiring new employees for the city’s workforce. When a department director identifies a need for a new employee, they must provide a specific job description and justify the need to HR. If HR approves the request, the director must then present a funding source to the finance department. Once the funding is approved, the mayor’s office will consider placing the request on the Council agenda for approval, as hiring new employees impacts the city’s budget. The Mayor noted that these decisions are not made lightly, as they require higher-level management thinking to ensure the city’s workforce is properly staffed to carry out its duties. 2  July 22 2024 Council Work Session City Attorney, Michael Kirkham, introduced Heidi Despain, the new prosecutor for the city. Mr. Kirkham noted that Heidi's work as a prosecutor can sometimes be "invisible" to the Council, so he wanted to bring her in to share her perspective on the role and the workload she has faced since starting the position. City Prosecutor, Heidi Despain, provided an overview of the significant workload she has faced since starting the job just two months ago. Ms. Despain explained that as a former public defender, she was used to being "underwater" with cases but was still surprised by the volume of cases she had to handle in her new role. She stated that she has already processed almost 500 cases in her first two months and has 30 trials scheduled for the next month alone. Ms. Despain noted that the quick turnaround for preparing for these trials, along with the other weekly responsibilities like motion hearings and pre-trial conferences, makes her job extremely demanding. She emphasized the importance of providing thorough preparation and evidence to the court, which is challenging given the high volume of cases she is responsible for as the sole prosecutor. Michael Kirkham reiterated that Heidi has done a "tremendous job" as the city's prosecutor, despite the heavy workload she has faced. Mr. Kirkham explained that the city had previously hired another prosecutor, Thomas, who ended up leaving due to burnout. Mr. Kirkham stated that he had warned Ms. Despain about the busy nature of the role when she took the job, but that she has risen to the challenge. Mr. Kirkham then informed the Council that he was requesting approval to hire a second prosecutor, using funds that had been set aside in the city attorney's budget for that purpose. Mr. Kirkham emphasized that this additional hire would help provide Ms. Despain with some relief and balance, allowing her to better prepare for trials and manage the high volume of cases. Mr. Kirkham explained that the city had previously set aside $80,000 in the city attorney's budget specifically for this second prosecutor role. He stated that the city would use this existing funding to cover the cost of hiring and onboarding the new prosecutor for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Council President Burtenshaw clarified that the ask is for $42,101 in next year’s budget. Mr. Kirkham agreed. Fire Chief Duane Nelson explained his needs for the Fire Department. He explained that his request is focused on the implications for the next year. He is seeking authorization from the Council to exceed the current number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) in his department. Currently, the department has 137 FTEs, with 126 being operational personnel working on shifts. Due to recent resignations and academy dropouts, the department is down to 132 personnel. Nelson wants to hire six new individuals instead of the usual five to account for an upcoming deployment of one staff member, which would bring the total to 138 FTEs. The additional hire would be funded by savings from unfilled positions this year and is budgeted for next year. If the deployed individual returns, the department would either revert to 137 FTEs through attrition or hire five more in the fourth quarter if needed. The request aims to exceed the current FTE cap to ensure adequate staffing, leveraging current cost savings and budgeted funds for the next year. Chief Nelson explained that the department is expecting retirements soon, having already lost four to six people over the past few years. He is confident that if any issues arise during the upcoming budget meetings or in the fourth quarter, they could manage the situation through attrition, ensuring the new hires remain employed. Given the extensive training required for fire department personnel, they need to act promptly. They have five openings and have conducted interviews, making tentative offers. The decision on hiring a sixth person depends on today's Council decisions. If approved, six recruits could start on August 12, but due to the recruitment and training process, they wouldn't begin shift work until mid- November. The Council has previously allowed such hires to provide flexibility. Despite the potential for attrition, the new hires wouldn't feel like excess staff. Duane also noted that several employees have left over the years, and this position is likely to open soon. 3  July 22 2024 Council Work Session Councilor Francis sought clarification that the request was to authorize 6 new hires, bringing the total to 138 FTEs, rather than just 5 to replace the departing employee. Chief Nelson agreed. The request is to authorize 6 new hires, bringing the total to 138 FTEs. It was moved by Councilor Francis, seconded by Councilor Freeman, that the Council approve the mid-term hire of one person for the Idaho Falls Fire Department and one person for the City of Idaho Falls Legal Department. The motion carried with the following vote: Aye – Councilors Burtenshaw, Larsen, Dingman, Freeman, Francis. Nay – none. Acceptance and/or Receipt of Minutes: It was moved by Councilor Francis, seconded by Councilor Burtenshaw, that Council receive the recommendations from the July 2, 2024, meeting of the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission pursuant to the Local Land Use Planning Act (LLUPA). The motion carried with the following vote: Aye – Councilors Larsen, Francis, Dingman, Burtenshaw, Freeman. Nay – none. Mayor and Council: Calendars, Announcements, Events, Reports, Updates, Concerns, Questions, and Discussion: Mayor Casper’s Calendar Updates: • Sister Cities Youth Delegation’s City Date, Friday, July 26: Catherine Smith announced that the youth delegation will arrive at 9:45 a.m. for a meet and greet with Mayor Casper. They will then tour the Idaho Falls Fire Department, visit the Zoo, and have a picnic at the Friendship Garden. It’s a full day of activities. Mayor Casper invited Council members to join on Friday, noting that the youth ask insightful questions and are a delight to meet. • July 31st: Idaho Falls Police Department Family Picnic. • August 8th: Budget hearing. After the hearing, there will be a Council discussion. The Council agreed to meet on August 9th at 8 a.m. to continue the discussion. • August 8-10: Roaring Youth Jam and Water Tower Tribute. Mayor Casper encouraged Council members to sign up and help. Council President Burtenshaw: • Had no items to report Councilor Freeman: • At the ICUA conference in Boise last week, there was strong support for our peaking plant. The groundbreaking ceremony for this project is scheduled for Monday, the 12th. This is a significant event, and there’s a lot of interest in it. Councilor Dingman: • Began a discussion centered around issues with the city’s crematorium and the animal shelter’s decision to stop humane euthanasia services. The crematorium needs repairs, and the city is limiting its use to residents only. Councilor Dingman expressed concern over the shelter’s decision, especially before the end of the budget cycle. Some believe this decision is retaliatory due to ending County contracts and could negatively impact non-city residents. There is also concern that the shelter could lose money while waiting to implement a new fee schedule. The discussion emphasized the need to address these issues fairly and transparently. Councilor Francis: • Sister Cities City Day and Council members are invited to come. Catherine Smith explained the event schedule. They will arrive at City Hall at 9:45 for a photo and then meet with the mayor in the City Hall Annex. Before continuing their planned events. 4  July 22 2024 Council Work Session • The African American Alliance BBQ for First Responders was on Saturday and was at Civitan Park and went well. Councilor Larsen: • Comment regarding what Councilor Freeman said. He was thinking about the hot temperatures and the plan to have the peaking plant and wanted to compliment the Council for having the foresight to have this happen. Mayor Casper was a Judge at the Idaho Falls Sidewalk Chalk Festival on July 20, 2024, at the Museum of Idaho which is fully sponsored by River West Dental and is the third year they have done this. This festival celebrates local artists’ creativity with stunning chalk art creations. Mayor Casper says the number of participants goes up each year and the quality is incredible. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 PM s/Corrin Wilde s/Rebecca L. Noah Casper Corrin Wilde, City Clerk Rebecca L. Noah Casper, Mayor 5