March 3, 2025
City Council met in regular session on March 3, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present: Dylan Canaday
Scott Winkler Jared Andrews
Wyatt Perry
Amy Farris
Beryl Grant
City employees present were Public Works Director Mager, City Administrator Kennedy and Attorney Jessup. Chief Newman absent.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of February 18th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Liza Wilson, 208 Kids Triathlon, stated this is the same event as the last few years and they would like to host another on Saturday, June 28th, 8am-12pm. They would like to use Pioneer Park and surrounding areas including the pool. They would close W South 1st from Park to Florence. The partner with U of I to provide the insurance. They will bring an informative letter to everyone in the neighborhood about a month ahead of time. They will have volunteers at intersections, and at parked vehicles in the route. They will offer First aid onsite, water stations, “race events in progress” signs. They try to have an ambulance onsite during the event. They have cleanup crew for the end. The first year they had 55 participants, last year 74 and they will cap the participants at 100 for safety reasons. Councilor Grant asked if she has had any problems. Liza stated none. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Winkler to accept the proposal to hold the 208 Kids Triathlon on June 28th from 8am -12pm. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• CITY ADMINISTRATOR: City Administrator Kennedy stated city hall provided follow up information upon request for the auditors after they were onsite at the end of January and we should see the completed audit this week. The office continues to process Snowhaven deposits and answer questions related to the hill. Snowhaven will close on March 8th with final clean-up and tear-down occurring on the 9th. Jared Everson will be moving out of the area in June, so the hill will move forward with a new manager for next year. It’s been busy the last couple months with conditional uses and variances and there is another one coming up at the end of the month. We continue to have water and sewer meetings and have been busy processing pay requests and reimbursements. Ellie Kaschmitter resigned so the position will be advertised. They will be starting to get ready for the pool.
• FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Fire Minutes of 12/9/24. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canady, second by Councilor Andrews to accept the Planning and Zoning Minutes of 2/25/25. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
o Christopher Johnson, 224 E North 5th Street Variance Request: City Administrator Kennedy explained the two options available included a variance specific to the Johnson property or a street vacation for the circular area at the intersection of Mill and E North 5th which would have affected multiple properties and required a survey of the entire area being vacated. Johnson went through the variance process as described in the Planning and Zoning minutes. Maps of the property and application were reviewed. On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Grant to approve variance application submitted by Christopher Johnson, 224 E North 5th Street to allow him to place his manufactured home within the front yard setback. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Andrews, Perry, Grant, Winkler, Farris, Canaday. NO: none ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
o Lewis Clark Early Childhood Program, 400 S Idaho Conditional Use Request: Maps of the property and application were reviewed. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to grant the conditional use application to allow Lewis Clark Early Childhood Program at 400 S Idaho Ave to operate in the GEMS facility in a residential zone. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Andrews, Perry, Grant, Winkler, Farris NO: none ABSTAIN: Canaday. The motion passed.
• PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated they plowed snow and chased floods with normal city stuff in between. The Fire department helped a ton with sand bagging. He thought they would lose the creek on State Street, but they didn’t. It’s the first time he couldn’t take the backhoe off State Street creek grate. Mayor Lester helped a ton at Warden’s with his equipment. All sandbags are stored at Heritage Square now that the building is empty and they can load them right from the dock.
CAMPING ORDINANCE: The penalty was changed from an infraction to a misdemeanor.
CAMPING RESOLUTION: The permitted use section was clarified to show no vehicles are allowed on the grass in the designated camping zone. Camping was limited to 48 hours in a 30-day time period and only allowed from April 1st to November 30th. Campfires are prohibited except in an authorized fire ring.
15-MINUTE PARKING LAKE & SOUTH A: Public Works Director Mager said whenever the city gets a lot of snow, the city gets calls concerning the safety of the kids on Lake and South A. Sometimes people park on Lake Street on the south side. On South A, homeowners will park on the east side of South A. Mager is trying to think of ways to counteract the parking problems. He would like the ability to plow snow all to the east side of A Street. He would like to have 15-minute parking only, year-round. This would allow for school drop-offs, keep traffic moving and it would be easier for the police department to enforce as vehicles couldn’t stay parked on the street.
Councilor Canaday asked if it would only be the school side. Mager stated yes, residents could still park on their side. Councilor Andrews said it would help remove overnight and long-term parking. He fights it all the time from a school perspective. Councilor Grant said there have been other discussions over the years about this street. Councilor Winkler said at one time it was proposed to have it as a one-way. Part of the problem is the traffic and there is a bottleneck at the corner. Mayor Lester was concerned about residents that have visitors and have no other parking available. He wasn’t positive it should be year-round but it makes sense for snow. He questioned if it would be ok during winter months only, such as November 1 – April 30? Councilor Perry asked why a one-way wouldn’t work. Councilor Andrews felt a one-way would be beneficial for the kids and then suggested maybe have parking limitations seasonally or during school hours. Mager stated at one time he had all homeowners on board for a one-way street. Councilor Andrews knows what Mager is dealing with. He is very in favor of a one-way street and parking limitations. Councilor Winkler felt it should be looked at again. Mayor Lester stated he hates to have rules that aren’t enforced or are enforced only when we want to. Councilor Andrews stated at A and Lake Streets; most kids dropped off are K-3rd grade because their lineup for class is in that area. The parents of the older kids use South Idaho. Most of the council would like a combination of one-way parking and 15-minute parking. Councilor Farris asked about a 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. no parking so people could still visit those living in the area. Councilor Winkler suggested midnight – 9 a.m. no parking. Councilor Andrews stated 8 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. are very busy times. City Administrator Kennedy read the July 2014 council meeting minutes where discussion on the same area took place. Discussion occurred on having public input, possibly during a public comment period at a future meeting. This will be discussed at the April 7th meeting with an onsite tour at 5:15 p.m. on South A Street.
PROCLAMATION: Mayor Lester proclaimed April 2025 Strengthening Families to Prevent child Abuse Month.
The meeting adjourned at 7:21 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
