City Council

City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes Monday, October 20, 2025 3:00 PM City Council Chambers Call to Order and Roll Call There were present: Mayor Rebecca L Noah Casper Council President Lisa Burtenshaw Councilor John Radford Councilor Michelle Ziel-Dingman Councilor Jim Freeman Councilor Jim Francis Councilor Kirk Larsen Also present: PJ Holm, Parks and Recreation Director Dr. David Pennock, Zoo Executive Director Kevin Kavran, Golf Operations - Parks & Rec Wade Sanner, CDS Director Pam Alexander, Municipal Services Director Zach Jones, Interim City Attorney Emily Geisler, City Clerk Mayor Casper called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. with the following items: Community Development Services (CDS) - Discussion: Amendment to Zoning for Salvage Yards 1. Environmental Standards: o Salvage yards must maintain a 100-foot separation from waterways (primarily the Snake River), o The proposed code already requires a 450-foot separation, exceeding DEQ standards, o Tire and scrap storage requires permits; DEQ and Bonneville County coordinate oversight, o Annual inspections and complaint-based inspections ensure compliance. 2. Zoning Considerations: o Salvage yards would primarily be in industrial zones, with north and south industrial areas identified, o Most future industrial expansion to the north is likely to become commercial, limiting salvage yard locations, o Limited land available in southern industrial areas could allow salvage yards but with considerations for buffers, 3. Flood and River Buffers: o Army Corps of Engineers recommends a 750-foot river buffer to protect against potential flooding, o Special-use areas (e.g., water treatment plant) are generally excluded from salvage yard placement. 4. Residential Protections: o Discussion on applying similar buffers for residential areas, o Agreement reached to adjust language from "district" to "zone" for clarity. 5. Permitting and Fire Safety: o Tire storage is controlled through permits to prevent hazards, o Fire oversight conducted by county; Idaho Falls has had minor incidents, none major. Next Steps: « Apply 750-foot buffer from residential zones in ordinance. 1 AL ilOVE. NOV 15 202.^  City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue Idaho FalIsJD 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes ● Upload final edits before posting agenda. ● Proceed with Council consideration on Thursday. Municipal Services, CDS, Legal. Mayor's Office - Update: Impact Fee Study (Director Alexander, Interim Attorney Jones, DirectorSanner) 1. Overview and Updates: ● Municipal Services provided a high-level update on the draft Impact Fee Study (dated October 7). ● Key updates include: o Transition from single-family/multi-family definitions to dwelling unit and square footage methodology (excluding garages), o Adjustments to definitions to align with Idaho Code, o Removal of affordable housing provisions from the ordinance; these will be addressed separately via economic development incentives, o Inclusion of capital improvement plans and tracking for the purchase of police vehicles funded by impact fees, with a ten-year lifespan and unique identifiers in the City's asset system. 2. Ordinance Changes: ● Consolidated definitions to avoid duplication. ● Updated calculations from housing-unit-based to square-footage-based fees for residential and non- residentiai properties. ● Minor statutory tweaks throughout the ordinance for consistency. 3. Community Outreach: ● Draft study and ordinance posted on the city website with a dedicated Impact Fees page. ● Information shared with the Impact Fee Advisory Committee, East Idaho Home Builders Association, and Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce. ● Fall outreach sessions planned (mid-November) to engage stakeholders further. ● Press releases and a brochure are being developed to explain impact fees and their rationale. 4. Hearings and Public Input: ● Multiple opportunities for input: o Planning & Zoning hearing - Nov 5 o Impact Fee Advisory Committee meeting - Nov 18 o City Council public hearing - Dec 11 (tentative) ● Discussions may arise around the square footage methodology; Council can adjust based on feedback. 5. Implementation Timeline: ● Ordinance cannot take effect immediately; it must have at least a 30-day lead time post-adoption. ● Tentative effective date: January 15, 2026, with flexibility to adjust to the nearest Monday if desired. ● Council emphasized moving forward quickly to provide clarity for developers while maintaining options to refine based on public input. 6. Police Vehicle Funding: ● Impact fees cover actual vehicle purchases, not leases. ● Vehicles are tracked with unique identifiers; insurance proceeds for totaled vehicles return to the fund for replacement. ● This ensures police resources scale appropriately with population and development growth. 7. Council Consensus: ● General support for dwelling unit and square footage approach. ● Affordable housing removed from ordinance but remains part of broader planning discussions. 2  City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue I DAHO Idaho Falls, ID 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes ● Safeguards and public outreach measures are in place to ensure transparency and effective implementation. Parks and Recreation - Presentation: Department Focus Report - Golf & Zoo (Director Holm, David Pennock, Kevin Kavran - Golf Operations) 1. Zoo Operations & Revenue Growth ● Revenue Trends; Compared to 2015, the zoo generated $709,000 more in 2025, but growth has not kept pace with inflation. Staff and operational increases are critical to future management. ● Food Services: Newly managed food services added $88,000 immediately. Per-visitor revenue is $0.71, but potential exists to reach $1.22/visitor, which could have added $75,000 this year. Upcoming improvements {larger food truck, new cafe) are expected to increase revenue. ● Gift Shop: Current revenue $1.27/visitor, with potential to reach $1.67/visitor ('^$60,000 more). A new, larger gift shop will improve sales and customer experience. ● Funland: Revenue recently increased to $70,000; consistent operationsand new attractions(like mini golf) could double or further increase revenue. ● Ticket Sales & Attendance:Adult and senior ticket prices may rise by $1; child prices remain unchanged. Attendance is a key driver; new exhibits, educationalprograms,and events are expectedto boost visits. ● Future Opportunities: Expanded event spaces (amphitheater, Funland, education center) provide potential for corporate rentals, family reunions, and special events. 2. Golf Operations ● Revenue Performance: Projected revenues $4M; actual $5.2M (includes one-time $300,000 from driving range machines). ● Green Fees & Passes; Green fee revenue increased to $1.3M; seasonal pass sales remain strong despite small annual price increases. ● Merchandise Sales; Gross merchandise sales $817,000, slightly down due to cost increases from manufacturers, tariffs, and shipping, but stable relative to competition. ● Driving Range Innovations: New automated ball-dispensing machines increased revenue (~$90,000 this year) and improved customer convenience. 3. Maintenance & Infrastructure ● Completed/Planned Projects: o Roof replacements (Sage Lakes, Pinecrest). o New furnaces at Pinecrest. o Sand Creek driving range improvements, o Sewer and water access for Sage Lakes Clubhouse (via Public Works trade), o Restroom installation between holes 4 & 5 at Sage Lakes, o Sale of Sage Lakes caretaker home to reduce neighborhood disruption. ● Future Capital Needs: o Pinecrest irrigation loan payoff (~$1.5M). o Sand Creek irrigation replacement (~$3.5M). o Sage Lakes irrigation upgrades and long-term course improvements, o Potential new clubhouses to host events and attract non-golf patrons. 4. Staffing & Operational Challenges ● Zoo & Golf Staff: Increasing staff necessary for expanded operations. 3  City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue I DAHO Idaho Falls, ID 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes ● Seasonal Hiring: ACA restrictions and limited seasonal periods make recruitment difficult; perks like season passes remain essential for retention. 5. Financial Management & Planning ● Revenue Optimization: Food services, gift shop, Funland, and ticket sales are key to increasing overall zoo revenue. Golf revenues are strong but face winter shortfalls (up to $1M), requiring careful financial planning. ● Future Investments: Investments in software (golf POS), infrastructure, and amenities aim to improve customer experience and operational efficiency while ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Mayor and Council: 1. Acceptance of Receipt of Minutes Motion: Receive recommendations from the Oct 7, 2025, meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission pursuant to the Local Land Use Planning Act. o Moved by: Councilor Francis o Second: Councilor Radford o Vote: Aye: Burtenshaw, Dingman, Francis, Freeman, Larsen, Radford. Nay: none, o Motion carries. 2. Calendars. Announcements. Events. Reports. Updates, Concerns. Questions, Proclamations, Notes or Minutes from Boards and Commissions: Postponed at this time due to the scheduled time for the executive session. Executive Session: Motion: Called pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code Section 74-206(l)(f) and communicate with legal counsel for the public agency to discuss the legal ramification of and legal options for pending litigation or controversies not yet being litigated, but imminently likely to be litigated. The mere presence of legal counsel at an Executive Session does not satisfy this requirement, and Idaho Code section 74-206(l)(b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complains or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent or public school student. Council will not reconvene afterthe session, o Moved by: Councilor Francis o Second: Councilor Dingman o Vote: Aye: Burtenshaw, Dingman, Francis, Freeman, Larsen, Radford. Nay: none, o Motion carries. 4  City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue I DAHO Idaho Falls, ID 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes There were present (T' topic): Mayor Casper, Council President Burtenshaw, Councilor Dingman, Councilor Francis, Councilor Freeman, Councilor Larsen, Councilor Radford, Interim Attorney Jones, Director Sanner, Director Alexander, Morgan Goodin (Associate with Givens Pursley LLP, via Zoom). Topic 1 began at 5:06 pm and ended at 5:46 pm. There were present topic): Mayor Casper, Council President Burtenshaw, Councilor Dingman, Counciior Francis, Councilor Freeman, Councilor Larsen, Councilor Radford, Interim Attorney Jones, Director Sanner, Director Jones. Topic 2 began at 5:49 pm and ended at 6:29 pm. There being no further business, the regular meeting adjourned at 5:02 PM Ef»Hy Geisler, City Rebecca L. Noah Casper, Mayor 5