City Council

City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue I DAHO Idaho FalIsJD 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes Monday, November 24, 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 {Left at 4:30 PM) Councilor John Radford Councilor Jim Freeman (Arrived at 3:07 PM) Councilor Jim Francis Councilor Kirk Larsen Absent: Councilor Michelle Ziel-Dingman Also present; Pam Alexander, Municipal Services Director Chris Fredericksen, Public Works Director Kade Marquez, GIFT Coordinator Roxanne Mitro, Anderson, Karst and Mitro Zach Jones, Interim City Attorney Emily Geisler, City Clerk Mayor Casper called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. with the following items: Municipal Services, Public Works: (Director Alexander, Director Fredericksen, Roxanne Mitro) Update; Frontier Center Lobby Expansion Project City staff, architect, and Councilors provided a comprehensive update on the Frontier Center (formerly the Civic Auditorium) expansion, highlighting both progress and the long funding history behind the project. Director Alexander reviewed how recommendations from a 2014 citizens review led to the formation of the Civic Auditorium Committee and its later 501(c)(3) Civic Foundation, which has since played a major role in attracting private donations. Phase 1—the $1.8 million auditorium renovation including new seating, ADA-accessible seats, updated colors, and a stage sound shell—was funded largely through private contributions. The City spent very little on the facility beforehand and has since created a small reserve fund to maintain the new seats. The current project, a more than $7 million lobby and front-of-house expansion, is approximately 70% complete and remains on budget with minimal change orders. Over 80% of its cost is covered by private funding, including a major Frontier Credit Union contribution, CMC Foundation grant. Civic Foundation pledges, private donors, ARPA funds, and $1.5 million in City support. The Foundation also confirmed a $250,000 distribution coming in January. Councilors emphasized that only about 20% of total project costs are public dollars, calling the expansion an exceptional value for taxpayers and a strong example of public-private collaboration. Architect Mitro detailed construction progress: new exterior walls, sunshades, windows, terrazzo flooring with decorative "notes," and a greatly enlarged lobby that will finally allow patrons to wait inside—even during winter sound-check delays. The restroom expansions will dramatically increase capacity and add ADA-compliant options on all usable levels. The team explained that an elevator was removed from the scope after analysis showed it would not provide meaningful balcony access due to remaining stairs and limited functional benefit. Both staff and Council stressed the preservation of the building's historic "art deco" identity. Original heavy steel exterior grilles were salvaged and integrated into a new Tribute Garden honoring the original architects (Fetzer & Fetzer), ensuring that architectural heritage remains visible. Some backstage areas and basement restrooms have received temporary improvements—partly due to repairs funded 1 Nov 24, 2025 Video: https://idahofallsid.new.swagit.com/videos/3 6196Q  City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue I DAHO Idaho FalIsJD 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes after a flood—but dressing rooms and other "back-of-house" elements are still planned for a future phase. The topic discussion closed with broad praise for the design team, the committee, and the Foundation for delivering a project true to donor expectations, historically sensitive, accessible, and financially responsible. Anticipation is high for a ribbon-cutting in early spring 2026, and community members are encouraged to support the next phase of improvements to continue strengthening this key cultural asset. Public Works: (GIFT Coordinator Marquez, PW Director Fredericksen) Update: Greater Idaho Falls Transportation (GIFT) 1. Program Overview and Current Operations The GIFT program provides on-demand micro transit service throughout Idaho Falls, serving all age groups and neighborhoods. It operates as a door-to-door service, primarily via shared rides, which reduces traffic congestion and vehicle emissions while supporting local businesses and the economy. GIFT operates a mixed fleet of City-owned and contractor-provide d vehicles, including cutaway vans (Turtle Top 14-passenger vans) capable of carrying wheelchairs. The service prioritizes customer satisfaction through data-driven scheduling and an algorithm that optimizes routes, wait times, and vehicle utilization. 2. Service to Events and Downtown Access GIFT actively supports events, conferences, and tourism, providing shuttles from hotels and the airport, as well as service to venues such as Mountain America Center. The program has the flexibility to create on-demand shuttles for downtown or special events, potentially funded through partnerships with downtown businesses, arts organizations, or event planners. Future opportunities include premium airport-direct service and expanded downtown connectivity to reduce parking demand. 3. Fleet, Maintenance, and Contract Management The GIFT fleet is a combination of City-owned and contractor-mai ntained vehicles. Contractor vehicles are fully maintained, while City-owned vehicles may be serviced locally or by the contractor. The program maintains operational reserves and contingency plans for vehicle downtime, Recent improvements include streamlining fueling through City facilities and preparing for additional vehicles funded through carbon reduction grants anticipated in 2026. These enhancements will allow GIFT to meet higher demand while maintaining service quality. 4. Financial Sustainability and Community Impact All reimbursements from the previous year have been approved, and board decisions ensure no City contribution for 3-4 years, allowing funds to go directly into service. Board members have managed the program frugally while supporting growth. Community engagement is critical, as many residents are unaware of the service. Word-of-mouth and user testimonials are key to increasing awareness and ridership. GIFT generates multiple positive externalities: ● Traffic reduction: Shared rides remove multiple cars from the road. ● Air quality improvement: Fewer vehicles contribute to cleaner air. ● Economic support: Passengers are brought to local businesses, boosting the local economy. ● Workforce flexibility: Employees can access jobs without owning cars, helping attract talent. ● Parking optimization: Reduces demand for downtown parking space. The program is Idaho's first door-to-door micro transit system and may eventually evolve into fixed-route service as population density grows, though this would require significant infrastructure and 2 Nov 24. 2025 Video: https://idahofallsid.new.swaEit.com/videos/3 6196Q  City Council Work Session 680 Park Avenue I DAHO Idaho Falls, ID 83402 FALLS Meeting Minutes capital investment. Future expansions aim to maintain high service efficiency, reduce wait times, and leverage data-driven planning for continuous improvement. Mayor, City Council: Acceptance or Receipt of Minutes Motion: Receive recommendation(s) from the November 5, 2025, meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission pursuant to the Local Land Use Planning Act o Moved by: Councilor Francis o Second: Councilor Larsen o Vote: Aye: Francis, Freeman, Larsen, Radford. Nay: none. o Motion carries. Calendars, Announcements, Events, Reports, Updates, Concerns, Questions, Proclamations, Notes or Minutes from Boards and Commissions; Mayor Casper, Councilor Francis, Councilor Freeman, Councilor Larsen, Councilor Radford: o Calendar & Delegation Update: Council received a calendar and a report on the Eastern Idaho delegation's recent visit to V\/ashington, D.C., highlighting discussions on water storage and Teton Dam rebuilding. Planning for future actions is ongoing, o Peaking Plant Ribbon Cutting: Scheduled for December 4th, with speeches, ribbon-cutting, tours, and refreshments. A follow-up session for legislators unable to attend will occur shortly after, o City Council Meeting Reminder: The next council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 PM tomorrow, (note the corrected time), o Holiday & Community Events: ● Tree Lighting: Councilors highlighted the large official city tree in the plaza and discussed the lighting design, noting its popularity. ● Water Tower: Testing and completion of the water tank expected soon ● Fire Station Ribbon Cutting: Scheduled for December, just before Christmas, o Voting Reminders: Early voting ends two days from the meeting at 5 PM. Election Day is December 2nd, 8 AM-8 PM. o Community Service Announcement: Salvation Army Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Elks Lodge is Thursday, 11 AM-1 PM. Open to all, with volunteers providing food and fellowship, o General Notes: Councilors encouraged public engagement, highlighted successful events, and emphasized participation in City planning and community activities. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:54 PM Rebeci 3 Nov 24. 2025 Video: https://idahofallsid.new.swagit.com/videos/3 6196Q