City Council

CITY OF POCATELLO, IDAHO TOWN HALL MEETING FEBRUARY 25, 2013 The Town Hall Meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. by Mayor Brian Blad. Council members present were Roger Bray, Craig Cooper, Jim Johnston and Gary Moore. Council members Steve Brown and Eva Johnson Nye were excused. Mayor Blad welcomed everyone, explained the format for the evening and introduced Randy Ghezzi, Street Operations Superintendent. Mr. Ghezzi presented information from the August 2012 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) five-year periodic inspection of the Portneuf River levee, specifically the inspection of the concrete channel. According to the report, the concrete walls are tipping and cracking due to trees growing behind the wall and due to the failing 59 relief wells in the concrete. It was noted the relief wells were not previously known to the City and had not been inspected by USACOE prior to 2012. The wells are corroded, full of silt and not operable. Mr. Ghezzi explained how the wells were designed to operate and why they are not working. USACOE predicted a 70% chance of failure for the concrete if the wells are not fixed. USACOE is requiring the City to clean and inspect the wells every 90 days as part of regular maintenance. Since January 2013, the City has cleaned seven wells. Mr. Ghezzi explained additional maintenance requirements, which include access to the relief well manholes every 90 days, no vegetation within 10 feet of the concrete walls, access to the City’s 10-foot maintenance easement and no obstructions over the relief well manholes. Property owners along the concrete walls will be impacted by the work, and City staff will be meeting with every owner to discuss the requirements. Louis Archuleta, 1965 Ardella Drive, asked how much it will cost per month to clean the wells. Mr. Ghezzi was unsure of the initial cost, as it depends on the condition of each well. However, the Street Operations Department has a budget for levee maintenance work. Bob Gehrke, 2279 Jacqueline Street, asked why property owners had not maintained the trees in their yards over the years. TOWN HALL MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 25, 2013 Mr. Ghezzi stated vegetation only became an issue when the USACOE began diligently inspecting flood levees following the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The City and property owners should have been doing the work for 40 years, but it wasn’t a priority. In response to a request from Mr. Moore, Mr. Ghezzi clarified that the relief wells have never functioned. The wells were left wired shut when the USACOE turned over the levee to the City of Pocatello in 1967. No one knew the wells existed and that they were not operating. Shawn Castona, 580 West Clark, asked if the only way to fix the concrete channel correctly was to completely rebuild it. He encouraged the City to remove the levee and return the river by rebuilding the bank with rocks. This would eliminate the need for maintenance every 90 days. Mr. Ghezzi confirmed that pipes in the wall connect each well to help equalize the flow of water. Each relief well has to function for the system to work properly, and the pipes have to be clear as well. Mayor Blad stated there is a group working to restore the river, but cost is a factor. There are many people living along the river who would be displaced. He said the City would fix the failing part of the levee and continue to consider other options for the future. Idaho Lorax, General Delivery, began speaking about the earthen levees. Mayor Blad asked him to address only the topic of the meeting, and when he would not, the Mayor had Mr. Lorax removed from the meeting. George Loyd, 2895 Terrace, agreed protecting property owners adjacent to the levee should be the primary concern. However since the concrete was likely to fail even with maintenance, he encouraged the City to be progressive with a plan for the future. Jolene Barnett Stephens, 572 Sunup Drive, posed questions about who is responsible for rebuilding if the concrete channel fails, whether it would be replaced and if the USACOE is the only agency who can remove the concrete. Mr. Ghezzi explained that our levee is non-accredited since the City failed the levee inspection. This means if the levee fails TOWN HALL MEETING 3 FEBRUARY 25, 2013 the USACOE will not help rebuild it, and the burden is on the City. However, the USACOE will re-inspect the concrete channel once the City completes the work and could possibly recertify the concrete portion. He also explained even if the concrete was permanently removed that flood protection measures would still need to be in place. Mark Balzer, 1770 Hampshire, asked about the timetable for the work and how it would be done. Mr. Ghezzi replied that he will be meeting with property owners prior to work on private property. He hoped to have both sides of the concrete channel completed in two years. He stated the City would use the sewer jet trucks and was investigating ways to deal with the water. Since the water flow is low in the summer, he felt silt traps or balloon dams could be used. M. Keene Hueftle, 1630 Monte Vista Drive, asked the distance between relief wells, the diameter and how the wells functioned. He encouraged the City to have engineers review the concrete design and rehabilitation. Mr. Ghezzi stated that the distances vary from 60-feet to 100- feet apart and are 2- to 3-feet in diameter. Two horizontal pipes in the concrete walls run between the wells to equalize the water. The diameter of the horizontal pipes is 6-inches and the pipes are 8-feet apart according to the as-built drawings. Karen Cordell, 3038 West Portneuf Road, asked if the relief wells could be re-used once they were cleaned. Mr. Ghezzi replied that crews were able to unfreeze the wells. He believed the wells could be used but would have to see the condition after they operate. Bruce Corbridge, 435 West Day, stated the USACOE built the levee for a reason with the best information and material at the time. He said the levee still had a purpose Corey Lamb, 2026 South Grant Avenue, asked if the USACOE is responsible for the damage if they left the wells wired shut. Mr. Ghezzi stated that the City will be posing the question to the USACOE. He also mentioned that one other city has experienced this same problem. TOWN HALL MEETING 4 FEBRUARY 25, 2013 Mayor Blad introduced Sera Bosen from the Pocatello Elks Lodge. He mentioned that the Elks Lodge organizes the 4th of July parade. Ms. Bosen, Exalted Ruler of the Pocatello Elks Lodge and 4th of July Parade Chairperson, provided history about the parade in Pocatello. She stated the parade promotes two of the organization’s main pillars – promoting community activities and promoting patriotism. This year’s parade theme is “Celebrating One Nation United.” Registration for the parade will begin May 1 and will close June 27, and she invited everyone to participate. She reiterated that it is the community’s parade organized and promoted by the Pocatello Elks Lodge and sponsored by Portneuf Medical Center. Both groups are doing their best to provide a great event. David Vanek, 9395 Pocatello Creek Road, asked how participation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) came about and what would happen if the LDS Church floats had a religious theme. Mayor Blad responded that several years ago he suggested the LDS Church stop its Pioneer Day parade and support the 4th of July parade instead. He felt Pioneer Day was a Utah holiday and knew Pocatello was one of the last Idaho cities with a Pioneer Day event. He stated that religion is a divisive issue in our community and hoped the “us vs. them” attitude could be resolved. He reiterated the LDS Church was not moving its parade but ending its parade. He encouraged everyone to be involved and to support the theme set by the Elks Lodge. Ms. Bosen commented that she had met with a representative from the LDS Church, and they were only interested in being participants in the parade. Floats from each stake will follow the Elks Lodge theme. She also explained that the Elks have not removed a float from the parade because it did not follow their theme. Examples she gave were entries from beauty queens and political organizations. Gabe Flicker, 2126 Pinto, thanked Mayor Blad for the information and the Elks Lodge for organizing the 4th of July parade. He expressed concern that the LDS Church was ending its celebration, as members had a right to express their religion. TOWN HALL MEETING 5 FEBRUARY 25, 2013 Mayor Blad said his understanding was that individual stakes could host a celebration, but the LDS Church itself was no longer hosting Pioneer Day events. M. Keene Hueftle, 1630 Monte Vista Drive, asked if representatives from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes were invited to participate. Ms. Bosen replied that the Tribes were invited. Stephanie Armstrong, 331 Washington Avenue, introduced herself as a member of the Portneuf Medical Center staff working with the Elks Lodge to sponsor the parade. She stated that the Southeast Idaho 150th Celebration Committee was also participating in the parade. Their Committee members have arranged for seven entries from the Native American communities to be in the parade. Robert Rodriquez, 1016 Brennan Avenue, expressed his opinion that the 4th of July parade should represent only three issues – flag, country and veterans. He stated he would not deny anyone the right to participate in the parade but did not believe religion should be discussed. He also felt the Mayor had offended the community by inviting the LDS Church to participate before asking for the community’s input. Dave Archuleta, P. O. Box 385, Fort Hall, thanked the Elks Lodge for organizing the parade. He stated he did not care who participated as long as the entries were celebrating America. He felt his concerns had been addressed tonight and encouraged the Mayor to communicate better with the community. Bobby Branch, 801 Bitterroot Drive, introduced herself as the President of the Pocatello NAACP. She stated that our country was founded on religious freedom and encouraged everyone to join together to celebrate our nation’s independence. She expressed her hope that participants would abide by the theme set by the Elks Lodge and urged the Mayor to speak to the community about issues in the future. Sandie Huerta, 134 South 15th Avenue, stated that she and her husband were judges for last year’s 4th of July parade. She noted that an LDS Church Ward participated last year and won an award. They created a float that was patriotic and not religious themed. TOWN HALL MEETING 6 FEBRUARY 25, 2013 Mr. Cooper noted that the 1976 United States Bicentennial celebration was inclusive of everyone. He believes the same th inclusiveness can occur with the 4 of July celebrations. Larry Fisher, 1830 Satterfield Drive, introduced himself as the public affairs officer for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. He stated there was no meeting between Church officials and the Mayor about the parades. He and the Mayor had a brief conversation where Mayor Blad expressed his wish that the Church support the 4th of July parade. Mr. Fisher explained that following the 2012 Pioneer Day events Church officials decided to end their central celebration, and each Ward of the Church could host a celebration instead. Mr. Fisher felt the controversy began with the newspaper headline. The Church is not combining or moving the Pioneer Day parade to the 4th of July. He reiterated that they plan to participate in the 4th of July parade organized by the Elks Lodge and follow the theme. Steven England, Mayor of the City of Chubbuck, expressed Chubbuck’s support for the Elks Lodge 4th of July parade and the Biggest Show in Idaho events. He encouraged everyone in the community to support all the 4th of July events. Mayor Blad reiterated that he had not held a meeting with LDS Church officials about the parade issue but rather had a casual conversation with Mr. Fisher. He said that it was the Church’s decision to end its Pioneer Day events. He informed those present there were many organizations working to make Pocatello’s 4th of July a two, three or four day event for the community with fun runs, bicycle rides, parades, and more. He hoped everyone would support the activities. There being no further business Mayor Blad adjourned the meeting at 7:34 p.m. APPROVED: BRIAN C. BLAD, MAYOR TOWN HALL MEETING 7 FEBRUARY 25, 2013 ATTEST: RUTH E. WHITWORTH, CMC, CITY CLERK PREPARED BY: ANNE NICHOLS, CAP-OM, ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR