Meeting Minutes
November 24, 2008

Attendees

Staff and Guests

Margie welcomed everyone to Parma and appreciated everyone braving the fog to get to the meeting. As the members drove in to Parma this morning, you saw the beginnings of redevelopment in Parma. Curbs, gutters and sidewalks are not something this town had all the way through. They started with five blocks and as the economic downturn occurred, they ended up with a lot of money left over from the redevelopment. They plan on putting in street lights and other things with the funds that were left over.

Tammy added that the City of Meridian did not get sidewalks and lights on their Main Street till the 90’s.

Margie introduced Nancy Merrill and John Caywood that were here to discuss a Boise River Master Water Plan. Nancy indicated that it was a real pleasure to see everyone again. She mentioned that she is now working for Parametrics, which is involved with transportation related activities. They work in five different States and do a lot of community building work. She will be involved with governmental relations and community building and gets to work on parks, recreation, pathways, trails, etc.

Nancy indicated she is working on opportunities that are abounding on the Boise River Corridor. She has been gathering studies that have been done on the Boise River. There are so many coalitions on various issues that it is astounding. She passed out a listing of documents/plans that have been conducted on the Boise River dealing with a variety of issues. She indicated that there is an opportunity to gather all these documents together into a large master plan that would encompass everything that has been done to date. And then we could move forward with various issues. Her dream is to put together a living document that could be used by each jurisdiction that would impart all of the information that has been generated to assist with each jurisdictions plans and activities along the river.

Nancy stated that the biggest things that happen as a result of putting together a master plan is not grants or money, it is the coalitions of groups that make things happen. Her purpose was to get discussion going on creating a master plan for the river corridor. We have an opportunity through knowing what has happened in the past and move it forward into the future.

She introduced John Caywood that would inform the Partnership of the activities that are happening along the river in just the recreation area. John indicated that they are working on a cross county, multi-jurisdictional effort to plan a trail system down the Boise River. This is an example of regional planning in just one aspect that can be accomplished on the river.

John indicated that all the cities and counties along the river have been meeting to plan a trail system up and down the river. They are working toward a vision of connected pathways near the river from Lucky Peak down to the confluence with the Snake River. Their vision is to connect the recreational, educational and economic opportunities of the river communities. An example of the economic opportunities is represented by Barber Park in Boise. It grossed over $300,000 in a few weeks from floating revenue this past summer. This business model could be applied to other places in the valley.

John indicated that there is a real opportunity to create between twelve and fifteen miles of new trails in the next couple of years. Tom asked if these trails were to incorporate bicycle traffic. John indicated they have been working with the biking community to provide bike access along the trail system.

Tammy asked how police handle large pathways with lots of undergrowth. Dave mentioned that there are a lot of volunteers that patrol the greenbelt in Boise. They patrol using bikes, golf carts and by walking. Both Tom and Garret indicated that they also have a large contingent of volunteers patrolling pathways.

John stated that there are several floats on the lower sections of the Boise River that are real good. He mentioned going from Star to Lansing lane and it was about a three-mile float. David indicated he had been on that float as well. It is serene with lots of undergrowth along the banks and you really cannot see many houses from the river on that stretch. David also stated that we should look at some more access points along this stretch. He would like to get the Partnership to float that stretch sometime this next year. Brad said we could go right now with our shotguns.

Nancy indicated that her goal was to have all the local officials informed as plans change and that the trail ways plan is just one piece of the whole pie. She stated that she had been working with FEMA and the response was encouraging for local entities to get together on planning. She looks forward to garnering support for coalitions as they look at putting together a master plan for the river.

Phil stated that the Corps of Engineers have tried for years to get this kind of activity moving forward. What they have lacked was a sponsor. This would be great if we can get our coalitions together and identify a sponsor, we could tap into some of the planning money that the Corps has as well as other organizations. Nancy stated that they are trying to tap into that $500,000 Corps money for this purpose.

Margie wished we could get some pressure on Fish and Game to get involved with planning a pathway down at the confluence. One of the problems is nesting issues involved in the area around the confluence. Therefore, they do not want walkers/bikers moving around and disturbing the wildlife. She feels that it is going to take a larger coalition than her and John Caywood to get some movement from Fish and Game.

Nancy mentioned that they had problems with Fish and Game while trying to put trails on the river near Eagle Island State Park. At first they were real resistant, but their resistance cooled over time. You just have to be persistent with them.

SAUSA Project

Margie asked Bill to give the partnership an update on the SAUSA Project. Bill pointed to the meeting packet that contained a fiscal analysis, a spreadsheet on sentences and a draft letter to legislators. Bill mentioned that the Fiscal Year spreadsheet analysis identifies the savings per State fiscal year projected into the future.

Bill mentioned that we needed a decision point on funding into the next year. The Partnership originally voted to fund the project for two years. And by the time we get Christian’s replacement we will be beginning our third year for the project. He also indicated that there has not been an update from the Governor’s Office on our $50,000 request. John asked if there was some trouble with this request. David mentioned that they were just hesitant to commit to a number given the fiscal concerns the State is having this year.

Garret stated that Dave, Tom and him had committed to fund the SAUSA Project into the future. He still feels this commitment is there. He has had discussion with his City Council and they have discussed the need to make sure the SAUSA Project is funded and that the Treasure Valley Partnership should be the vehicle to do this.

Dave mentioned that you know you are on to something good when 6 elected officials took credit for the project prior to it even starting. He said this project has proven itself more dramatically than they had anticipated. We are taking out the kingpins of these gangs and gangs are thus disbanding.

Garret mentioned that when the SAUSA Project first started, there was a photo of the East Side Lobos. There are now X’s through seven of the members. His numbers show that this is the seventh year in a row where gang related numbers have decreased. There are a lot of initiatives working to make the numbers go down, but the SAUSA Project is right in the middle of it.

In Nampa they have seen the violence in gang activities go way down.

Margie asked where we should go from here. Dave moved to send the draft letter that Bill prepared to garner legislative support. Garret seconded. Vote passed unanimously. Tom mentioned that he appreciated all the work Bill had done in putting together this information.

Dave was concerned that this SAUSA Project is the farm system for the U.S. Attorney’s office. He asked Bill to research wages and benefits of the U.S. Attorney’s office so we could make an appropriate decision on pay.

Margie mentioned she is on the interview committee and wanted to know what to say to potential candidates. Garret suggested that we have a motion to continue the project and if we do not get the State commitment, we will figure out how to structure the funding from the Partnership. Tom said we need to say we have a long-term commitment. Garret moved that we move the SAUSA Project to a long-term commitment regardless the annual participation by the State. As we identify the State commitment, we then address the cost make-up between the Partnership, and the Cities of Boise, Nampa and Caldwell. Tom seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Rick mentioned in the beginning, Ada County was the only dissenting vote on the SAUSA Project. Their position at the time was the use of Partnership dues. Tom mentioned that maybe we can switch this line item from a dues basis to a city/county budget basis.

Tammy felt it was important that the Treasure Valley Partnership, as an organization, continue to fund a portion of the SAUSA Project. When we went into this Project, all of us wanted to do this and we all want to share in the costs of the project.

Covered Load Ordinance

David mentioned that they are having a hearing on December 10th and this will be called a Contained Load Ordinance. They are repealing their covered garbage ordinance and rolling it into this ordinance. He will send everyone out a copy of the Canyon County Ordinance. Dave stated they are still in the process of putting their covered load ordinance on the books in Boise. He anticipates the beginning of the year as a rollout date.

Transportation Access Plan

Garret mentioned he had just met with Pam Lowe, Monty Mclure and Dave Jones. What they are really trying to do is add some consistency on highway access along State corridors. What they have found, they have been working for two years on an access plan and on Hwy. 20/26, and in the middle of all this, ITD gave deeded access points. They signed off on those deeds less than a year ago.

Phil stated he had a meeting with the same individuals from ITD. One of the concerns is that the Governor’s Office has put a red light on this. One of the major concerns is that through this TAP process, ITD may be able to transfer some of their legal accountability to Cities/Counties.

John said he attached his support from a couple different perspectives. One is the TAP process is completely voluntary. It does not commit your jurisdiction to enter into agreements with ITD. The second aspect is the customization and flexibility of TAPS from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. One shoe will not fit all. Additionally, you can take the attitude that this can further protect personal property rights. And you can further marry this agreement to your Comp. Plan.

Tammy indicated that you get a higher and better use when you put it into your Comp. Plan. Ordinances are parallel to the Comp. Plan.

Brad stated that he has been watching the horror stories of the past experience in the valley and feels that maybe the Partnership should support this legislation as a group.

Garret volunteered to work with Bill to draw-up a broad support letter. Tom moved to have Garret and Bill draft a support letter from the Partnership. Rick seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

David moved to approve the minutes and financial report. John seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned.