City Council Regular Meeting

Star City Council Meeting Minutes June 2, 2020 The regular meeting of the Star City Council was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 7:00 pm at Star City Hall, 10769 W. State Street in Star, Idaho. Mayor Trevor Chadwick called the meeting to order and all stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Councilmen David Hershey and Kevin Nielsen and Councilwoman Jennifer Salmonsen were present, and Councilman Michael Keyes attended via ZOOM. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Nielsen moved to approve the agenda. Keyes seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA: Keyes moved to approve the agenda. Nielsen seconded the motion. Hershey mentioned that there was a typo on the September 3, 2109 minutes. They had tabled Mr. Todd until the 20th, and the minutes read 2020, instead of 2019. Keyes made some corrections on names from the minutes: Zack Autin, Liz Paul and Mike Homza. Also, Greiner's Hope Springs was labeled Amazon Falls Subdivision and should be Greiner's Hope Springs Subdivision. Keyes modified his move to approve and Nielsen amended his second. All ayes, with the exception of Salmonsen, who abstained from the minutes. Motion carried. PRESENTATION: Presentation by Ada County Assessor, Bob McQuade. He gave an overview of property value assessment. By statute, the assessors have to be at 100% market value plus or minus 10%. The State Tax commission takes all the sales in Ada County and time adjusts them up to January 2020, compares the sales prices to their assessed values, and looks at the percent difference to make sure they are at that 90-110%. When they make assessments, they don't consider any information that comes in past the date of appraisal, so anything after January 1st would not be brought into the discussion. To come up with a taxable value, they take out home owners exemptions, add in operating property such as pipelines, railroad tracks, telephone line wire miles and will get the actual number after it has been approved by the Tax Commission. McQuade gave an overview of percentages and how this year compared to last year. He spoke of public concerns regarding job losses and tax burdens and plans to be less aggressive in their assessments to relieve the public's anxiety. He mentioned that Star has the most impressive numbers of growth compared to the other cities and counties and quoted statistics that put Star within favorable percentages with both residential and commercial. Keyes asked McQuade what triggers the change in status for new subdivisions. McQuade answered that they must include the Preliminary Plat, but it's the Final Plat that gives the values. OLD/NEW BUSINESS: Public Hearing - Ryken Meadows Subdivision: Applicant: Bill Lynch, 25220 W Deep Canyon Dr, Star ID 82669. He is applying to annex a 5-acre parcel off Foothill Rd between Can Ada Rd and Blessinger Rd, as well as applying for a combined Preliminary and Final Plat. Lynch detailed his plans for the property, including a private drive to keep traffic low and pulling irrigation water to each lot, along with having a private well and septic system. Each lot would be 1 acre to maintain the rural feel. The Fire Department was concerned about sprinkling to buildings due to there not being a pressurized fire hydrant/fire suppression system locally, so they will include the requirement for sprinkling for each property. They are asking for a waiver on street lights, common space, space for schools, parks, public streets, pedestrian walkways, bike paths, curbs, gutters and sidewalks in order to maintain a rural nature. In lieu of a landscape buffer, they plan to build up the shoulder and taper off for a safer traveling lane and will landscape along the entrance and roadway. They spoke with the Postal Service and will put a turnout along Foothill Road that will be a cluster box for mail delivery. Keyes asked Lynch ifhe would be willing to make a donation equivalent to the MINUTES 06·04·2020 1 impact fees for those pulling a building pennit application. Lynch was agreeable. It was detennined that a Development Agreement would be created and it would be a condition of approval for each lot. Salmonsen was concerned about where children would wait for a bus and asked if they would be willing to put in a light at the entry of Foothill. Lynch replied that it would be reasonable to install a light, perhaps by the mailboxes. Public Testimony: Jeff Whitlock, 6697 Foothill Rd, Star ID 83669. Whitlock expressed opposition to the applicant, both on a personal level and with the proposal of 5 homes being built. Jim Garrett, 6775 Foothill Road, Star ID 83669. Garrett is against annexation and is mainly concerned about his own well water if they punch 5 additional wells on the property. He is also concerned about increased traffic and stated that 5 homes would be too many. Applicant Rebuttal: Lynch stated he never had an interaction with Jeff Whitlock but purchased the property from and made all agreements and compensations with his Whitlock's father. He stated that he is only asking to annex his own property and it would not affect the other properties along Foothill Road. He added that there is no indication that 5 additional wells would impact the water table in that area and that the Idaho Transportation Department (ITO) indicated there would be minimal traffic impact as well. Nielsen asked about water rights to dig the wells. Lynch responded that the water right would be applied for by each individual owner. Nielsen asked what the waivers do for our long-tenn vision. Building/Zoning Administrator, Shawn Nickel answered that each are covered in code allowances that you can waive in certain circumstances, such as a rural development like this. Nielsen explained that he was asking about the impact of long-tenn plan for connectivity. Nickel referenced a letter from ACHD that they indicated Foothill would be realigned and would eventually connect to New Hope, and that's where you would see the pathways. Hershey asked if it would be a cul-de-sac and Lynch replied that it would be more of a hammerhead turn around and there will be no easements to extend the road in any direction. Keyes asked if the private road will be paved. Lynch answered that it will be paved with asphalt, with a gravel shoulder. Keyes asked staff for clarification that the comprehensive plan calls this residential and would allow up to 5 homes per acre. Shawn confinned that was correct. Keyes mentioned that with 1 home per acre, we would be well below the comprehensive plan. The Mayor closed the public hearing and went into deliberations. Salmonsen asked if the property would be served by Star Police and Star Fire Department. The Mayor confinned it would and mentioned that Canyon County Fire and Police would be a back-up. Hershey addressed the two citizens, stating that once a property is sold, the new owner is allowed to do whatever they wish with the property within the legal rights. He was initially concerned with all the waivers but feels that 5 houses will not be burdensome. Nielsen asked about a reciprocal agreement requirement of annexing into Star Sewer and Water. Legal Counsel, Chris Yorgason answered that if they are contiguous to the Star Sewer and Water District when an application is submitted, we would require that they annex in at the same time. It would not extend beyond the time of the application. Salmonsen asked to add a condition to require a street light at Foothill entry. Nielsen moved to approve the Ryken application with conditions to add the requirement of impact fees for Highway District 4 and to install dark sky compliant lighting by the mailbox. Salmonsen seconded the motion. Keyes added the need to include the Preliminary and Final Plat approval. Nielsen included those in his amended move to approve and Salmonsen amended her second. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Hearing - Moon Valley Estates and Moon Valley Commons Subdivisions: Since they had the same applicant, The Mayor opened both Moon Valley hearings simultaneously. Applicant: Mark Tate, 1087 W River St, Boise ID 83702. Tate gave some background on the project and detailed the vision for each community. It is a mixed-use community where the Moon Valley Estates has half acre estate lots along the river and Moon Valley Commons is a smaller lot product. Each community would offer large common open space areas and many community amenities. Tate had addressed staff requests and met with the MINUTES 06-04-2020 2