City Council

CITY OF POCATELLO, IDAHO CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION November 8, 2012 AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Mayor Brian Blad called the City Council ROLL CALL Study Session to order at 9:06 a.m. Council members present were Roger Bray, Steve Brown, Jim Johnston, Gary Moore and Eva Johnson Nye. Council member Craig Cooper arrived at 9:24 a.m. Council members Steve Brown and Jim Johnston were excused. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Sunny Shaw, Executive Director, Housing HOUSING AUTHORITY Authority of Pocatello, discussed the OF POCATELLO UPDATE Authority’s goals and projects, as well as Council’s policies and expectations. Ms. Shaw reviewed the Authority’s mission statement and announced six new loan programs are now available to assist applicants for their housing programs. She reported the Authority was able to purchase a house located directly across from the office. They plan to convert the house into a shop and use it for Authority projects and needs. Ms. Shaw stated because of decreases in funding, the Authority cannot utilize all of the assistance vouchers that are available for distribution. In addition, administrative costs for this fiscal year may not be completely covered. She noted that the Authority was forced to lay-off staff last year because administrative costs could not be met. Ms. Shaw estimated there are 582 individuals on their waiting list for housing assistance. Mayor Blad thanked the Ms. Shaw and her staff for doing a great job with limited funds. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: African Sister Cities representatives AFRICAN SISTER were not present to give the Council an CITIES SUBCOMMITTEE update. UPDATE AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Lon Crowell, Executive Director, POCATELLO DEVELOPMENT Pocatello Development Authority (PDA), AUTHORITY UPDATE discussed the Authority’s goals and projects, as well as Council’s policies and expectations. Mr. Crowell reviewed multiple PDA projects for 2012. He noted the South Valley Connector Project received monetary help from PDA for property acquisition to complete the road. It was noted that the State of Idaho 2012 Legislative session proposed nine bills that may have had a negative effect on economic development within cities. CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 2 NOVEMBER 8, 2012 Mr. Crowell feels City staff and the PDA were very successful at lobbying to defeat the bills that were proposed. Mr. Crowell noted that PDA staff is tracking the progress of Hoku Materials and communicating with Hoku representatives as much as possible. Mr. Moore mentioned the investment at Hoku Materials came mostly from the business owners and not the City. He stated, since the City’s investment in Hoku Materials was minimal it did not feel the full brunt of the facility’s closure. Mayor Blad stated a proposed change to determining personal property tax will be before the Idaho Legislature in 2013. He explained this proposal could have a negative impact on cities. Mr. Cooper arrived at this time. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Doug Balfour and Paul Yochum, members of JUSTICE FOR IDAHO Justice For Idaho Citizens, Inc., were CITIZENS PRESENTATION present to discuss the organization’s position regarding the constitutional rights of citizens. Mr. Balfour announced that Ken Estep, a long-standing Power County Commissioner, serves as President of their Board and Roger Bray also serves on the Board. He noted that their organization represents over 300 non-Indian families that own land within the boundaries of the Fort Hall Reservation and pay property taxes to Bannock, Bingham, and Power Counties. Mr. Yochum reviewed the organization’s list regarding rights for citizens and overviewed fee land on the Fort Hall Reservation. He also reviewed the history of land surrounding Pocatello that was allotted by the Tribal Council to its members and later sold to non-members. Mr. Balfour reviewed a recent conflict for a property owner that came to their organization for assistance. As a result, the organization is requesting that funds from the City be used to help assist individuals who need their services. Mr. Balfour stated they are a private non-profit organization and feels their services are important to the City. Council discussion followed regarding other property issues involving City property located within the Fort Hall Reservation. CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 3 NOVEMBER 8, 2012 Mr. Bray suggested that a legal precedence be established by the Federal Government to stop these property issues for private citizens and government entities. It was the Council’s consensus to discuss the possibility of supporting the Justice For Idaho Citizens organization when determining the City budget for Fiscal Year 2014. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Kim Stouse, Licensing Enforcement, and MASSAGE LICENSE Rich Diehl, Deputy City Attorney, were EXTENSION PROPOSAL present to discuss a proposal to extend the expiration date for City massage licenses to coincide with the implementation of Idaho Senate Bill 1295 requiring massage therapists in Idaho to be licensed by the State of Idaho beginning July 1, 2013. Mr. Diehl reviewed the proposal to grant a six month, no cost extension to all current massage establishments and therapists from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013. He noted that new massage license applicants would still be required to go through the application process and pay the current fee listed in the City Code. Mr. Diehl explained new applications for massage/therapist licenses require a background check and the fees charged per City Code are still necessary to cover these initial expenses. Mayor Blad adjourned the meeting at 10:13 a.m. APPROVED: BRIAN C. BLAD, MAYOR ATTEST: RUTH E. WHITWORTH, CMC, CITY CLERK