City Council met in regular session on August 15, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
President Winkler presided:
Councilmembers present:
Mike Peterson
Beryl Grant
Dylan Canaday
Pete Lane
Amy Farris
Mayor Lester absent.
City employees present were City Administrator Kennedy, Public Works Director Mager, Chief Newman and Attorney Green.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of August 1st were approved as presented by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Farris. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Ashley Szudajski presented a petition signed by multiple people to allow chickens and rabbits in all zones in the city. Ashley provided additional information from various cities that allow chickens and/or rabbits in all zones. Lewiston allows poultry. They must be kept clean, in a coup/cage, they can’t run around except on their own property, they need to be kept quiet to not disturb others in the night. No roosters allowed. Moscow allows chickens, ducks or geese and the numbers are based upon square footage and no males are allowed. There is no number on rabbits. McCall allows 6 fowl per parcel; the enclosure must have roof and be kept clean. It must be 10’ from the neighbor. Boise allows 6 hens or 12 if you have an acre. No roosters. The coup must be clean and 10’ from the neighbor. Nampa allows the property owner to have 10 chickens, no roosters, must be a single-family residential property, and no more than three types of pets. Pets include chickens, ducks, fowl, rabbits, dogs and cats. Caldwell allows 10 chickens but no roosters. They must be in structures/pens and kept clean and 5’ from the neighbor.
In Grangeville the price of 5 dozen eggs has increased from $7.99 to $14.99. She would like these animals in the city limits. She would like the council to determine a realistic number allowed based upon lot size. She proposes a covered run, a coop and no roosters. The coops and enclosures should be kept clean so there is no odor. There should be a fine if they aren’t kept clean and if they don’t follow the requirements, they could have the ability to lose the right to have the animals. Ashley said she had multiple people in favor of chickens and rabbits. Councilor Farris suggested they should come to the meeting too. Ashley stated they didn’t come because Ashley was the only one on the agenda.
Michael Williams stated he is being charged for services not being used. Even though his water is off, he is being charged the base bill and he does not think that is right. He is also upset that the bill can’t be in the renter’s name. It is interfering with a renter’s credit score by not allowing them to have the bill in their name. It’s difficult for a City to collect from renters, just like it is for him. He wanted to ask for hard copies of the ordinance. He was told he could get copies from city hall. He plans to take legal action as he doesn’t think it’s right. He did this previously down south of Salmon and he won. He is being billed for services when not using them and he doesn’t want to pay for services he’s not using. He wants the Council to look at the ordinance and see if they need to change it. He doesn’t find it right or legal to charge for those services.
POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT: Chief Newman reported the City had 156 calls for service and 40 reports taken. Officer Vance graduated from the academy August 5th. Officer Brown’s last day was August 7th.
TRAFFIC STUDY–SCHOOL ZONE ON N A AND W NORTH 2ND: Chief Newman reported the department did a traffic study on the two streets. During the study, it was determined approximately 90% of vehicles on North A were traveling at or below 20mph. On W North 2nd approximately 95% of traffic was at or below 20 mph. Newman didn’t feel the school zone would dramatically impact drivers. His recommendation is to approve the school zone at 15mph, effective Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm when school is in session and posted as such. Councilor Grant asked the purpose of a school zone. Chief Newman stated it alerts drivers that it is a school zone and to drive more cautiously then they would normally drive and to be more careful as children could be present.
On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to approve the request from Cornerstone Christian Learning Center, 515 W North 2nd for a school zone on W North 2nd Street from N Idaho to N A and on North A from W North 2nd to W North 4th, Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm, when school is in session and that the school purchase the signs. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated PumpTech was in town and got Eimers well up and running. They thought the depth was causing issues so they brought the pump up 100’ and it is running and back online. Spencer well is running but the city is still flushing. The BST on W North 3rd and W North 6th is completed and will be seal coated next year. J-U-B was in town with a flusher truck and camera all least week working on sewer project. They’ll be back next week. The crew did some crack sealing on S Hall. Councilor Peterson asked if S Hall would be chip sealed. Mager replied no chip sealing will be done because of the sewer projects. We’ll go back to chip sealing after the projects are completed so new chip seals don’t get dug back up.
FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Lane to accept the Fire Minutes of June 13 and 27, 2022. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
ON STREET PARKING OF TRAILERS 9-2-15: Councilor Farris has been brainstorming to try to find a solution. She has the following proposal.
• Trailers parked on the street need to be attached to a licensed, registered and operable vehicle.
• Allow any recreational trailer to be parked on the street from May 1 – October 31.
• All parking should be 20’ from the intersection so as not to obstruct view at the intersection.
• If it is violated, have a fine.
Councilor Farris felt a non-attached trailer can’t be moved quickly, especially in the case of an emergency.
Councilor Grant also felt they shouldn’t be parked too close to driveways or fire hydrants. Councilor Lane was concerned about widths if vehicles are on the street and it’s a narrow street. Councilor Farris felt the city could make it useable for most citizens. If they violate it, have a fine.
Councilor Lane asked what everyone thought about the Clarkston ordinance where you could park for 72 hours if in front of your house or 24 hours if not. Councilor Grant stated she didn’t like people having to move every 24 hours because the police would have to just drive around looking for vehicles.
Councilor Farris stated this is a small community. The streets are narrow and people have acquired a lot of things but they don’t have the room to park them. She has seen several vehicles with flat tires, that aren’t registered or are broken down. Councilor Canaday asked if there should be something about how it looks? Councilor Farris stated you can’t be judgmental. She felt a utility trailer with a bunch of trash shouldn’t stay there year-round but if they dump every couple weeks then she felt it’s ok. Councilor Grant liked the idea of having all the trailers off the street during the winter. Councilor Farris felt there are options to get them off the street, even parking them in your backyard if you have to. Councilor Lane asked if street sweeping is a problem with the vehicles on the street. Public Works Director Mager stated if we have issues, we have talked to homeowners and they’ve moved them. Billie Sue Stephens stated it is narrow in her neighborhood, so you can only park on one side of 6th Street. It’s signed no parking on one side of the street.
Councilor Winkler felt putting stipulations on trailer parking and having it seasonal will help solve some of the problems. Councilor Farris felt the city could be fair and reasonable. If someone doesn’t comply, then they would get a ticket. If they continue to not comply, then another ticket. Maybe incremental increases based upon the number of offenses. Councilor Grant would like to see the ideas in writing. Councilor Canaday questioned the problem of parking in the vision triangle in their yard which would obstruct the view. Councilor Grant would like commercial use dealt with separately in residential areas.
ANIMALS IN ZONE B AND D: Councilor Grant stated she liked the idea of having animals based upon square footage. Councilor Winkler agreed. Councilor Farris had submitted minimum square footage requirements as part of the packet that she received from the extension office. Farris stated she likes eggs, not chickens. She lives in zone B and chickens are allowed. Her neighbor has chickens, and they are in enclosures but they are out all the time. They have been on her car and in her yard. They are noisy and she hears them day and night. She loves animals but doesn’t want other’s animal in her yard. Even when animals are allowed in a zone, they aren’t always contained as required.
Billie Sue Stephens asked what about 4-H animals, will they be allowed?
Ashley Szudajski felt the Council needed to understand not everyone in the City will have chickens. She suggested a fine so there is an option for noncompliance. She also suggested there could be a requirement to be a certain distance away from the property lines.
Councilor Farris stated in the zones where animals are allowed, there is already so much non-compliance. She didn’t feel the Council should do away with animals but felt there is a need to have guidelines and enforcement or fines. Councilor Grant felt there are some lots that are not big enough for animals. Councilor Winkler felt if there was a complaint on the number of animals on a lot, then the property could be evaluated at that time for compliance.
Councilor Winkler felt the Council needed to look for ways to tighten up the requirements and have it based upon square footage. Councilor Grant stated she didn’t have a problem with the animals currently allowed in zones B and D but felt a fine was needed for enforcement. Councilor Farris felt going off square footage is a good idea. Her research from the extension office showed the square footage required for various animals under which they could thrive if taken care of.
Susan Harries lives in zone B by rodeo grounds and has a large lot. Sometimes she gets requests during Border Days to house multiple horses on her lot. What happens if her lot doesn’t allow that many? Councilor Grant stated she should communicate with the City.
Aaron Monzon felt Farris’s personal opinion shouldn’t be part of the process.
Councilor Farris stated she has an opinion and she represents what others say.
Aaron Monzon stated you shouldn’t have a personal belief. You should represent the public. He read the preamble to the constitution, stated the City should advertise better so people would know what is going on. He felt our meetings should be held elsewhere such as the park, school or Heritage square so families could attend and that agendas should be posted two weeks before the meeting instead of days before.
BILLS: The bills, in the amount of $362,424.06 were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds, on motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Canaday. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
ICDBG AGREEMENT: On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Peterson to authorize the Mayor to sign the Idaho Community Development Block Grant agreement for the High Zone Water Tank Project in the amount of $500,000. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Lane, Grant, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed.
ICDBG FUND REQUEST #1: On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Peterson to authorize the Mayor to sign ICDBG Fund request #1 in the amount of $55,429. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Lane, Grant, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:04 P.M.
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Scott Winkler – President
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
