City Council met in regular session on March 2, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Jared Andrews
Wyatt Perry
Amy Farris
Dylan Canaday
Gabriel Forsmann
Cody Edwards
City employees present: Chief Newman, Public Works Director Mager, City Administrator Kennedy and Attorney Jessup.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of February 17th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Rachel Young requested the use of Pioneer Park for the Grangeville Arts Summer Concert Series on July 9, 16, 23 and 30. This is 18th concert series which is about 75 concerts in the park. Rachel said if Vintage Youth finds a drummer, she may come back and ask for August 6th. Administrator Kennedy stated she could ask for that date now and if it doesn’t occur, then let city hall know. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to approve the request for use of Pioneer Park for the Grangeville Arts Summer Concert Series on July 9, 16, 23 and 30 and August 6th. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Terri Schmitz, Grangeville Chamber of Commerce requested permission to use Heritage Square for the city-wide yard sale on June 6th for those people that live out of town that would like to participate and for Oktoberfest October 2nd and 3rd. The Chamber also wanted to hold a Holiday Light Parade during the tree lighting. Terri has the street closure forms completed that will go direct to city hall for staff review. During the yard sale, they want to do a BBQ cook off by the veterans center and they want to close the street as Billy and Angela Isbell will sponsor it. On October 2nd they want to have a band at Heritage Square and then October 3rd would be the rest of the events. Billy stated he would like to set his trailer up Wednesday night in Heritage Square and then sell food Thursday and Friday before the event. Terri confirmed Oktoberfest is only Friday evening and Saturday. Because Billy wants to set up prior to the event, this would need to be on a future agenda.
Mayor Lester stated each request will be addressed in a separate motion.
• Yard Sale: Councilor Perry has seen good and bad yard sales. He was a little leery but he’s not opposed. Councilor Farris stated as long as they haul unsold items away, that’s fine. Terri stated they had requests last year from out-of-town people that wanted to participate; the chamber will make sure everything is cleaned up. Councilor Farris asked if there was a fee. Terri stated they charge $20 to create a map and distribute and it’s a fundraiser for the chamber. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to allow Grangeville Chamber of Commerce to use Heritage Square for the citywide yard sale on June 6th. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• Oktoberfest: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to allow Grangeville Chamber of Commerce to use Heritage Square October 2nd and 3rd for Oktoberfest. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• Lighted Parade: Terri stated the parade would be the same day Pioneer Park lights are turned on. They’d like to start the parade by Syringa and end up at the park. They will get with city hall for the street closure. Councilor Farris asked if they had discussed it with the Winter Magic group? Terri stated no. Farris said she helped coordinate it for 3 years. The first year they had 10 floats, then about 4 and the last year 0. Feedback from Farris was not to make it the full length of Main Street as people weren’t out until about US Bank and to look at the flow of traffic. When the floats get to the park, they need to turn off all their lights so it wouldn’t take away from the tree lighting. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to allow Grangeville Chamber of Commerce to hold a Holiday Lighted Parade pending Winter Magic approval. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Terri stated on April 18th they plan to do a clean-up day at the park. They would like to see about someone cleaning out the creek. She was directed to visit with Public Works Director Mager.
Terry Kohler presented information on the Rapid Disaster Assessment Program. There is an app that takes the old paper process and does it electronically. It is a new tool that is available if the council wanted to check out the website.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to accept the P&Z Minutes of February 24, 2026. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
o Decision on the variance application submitted by Mountain View School District to have a shipping container in Zone A.
Councilor Andrews stated as facility manager for school district he would recuse himself from the discussion and decision as he has more knowledge on the application than the rest of the Council.
Administrator Kennedy stated the Council received a packet with the minutes and application to review. The school’s variance was to have a shipping container in zone A for permanent use. Kennedy stated the commission recommended approval to allow it in zone A; however during discussion no one knew if the container would meet F Street setbacks. The day following the hearing, Kennedy found a survey in the vicinity, provided a copy to Public Works Director Mager who then went on site to measure. The proposed container would be approximately 1 foot in the F Street setback. The P&Z minutes show if the Council votes to approve a container in Zone A, then the school would need to do a second variance application to allow placement in the setback. If approved, the Council motion would need to be pending a new variance application to have it in the setback.
Councilor Edwards asked if schools are normally in a residential zone. Kennedy stated they are allowed anywhere as long as they go through the conditional use process. Mayor Lester stated there was an application about a year ago to have a shipping container in Zone A; the council chose to have them remove the container. He questioned if the council is setting themselves up to have to approve all applications. He knows there is a church in town that is also thinking about a variance to have a shipping container on location. Attorney Jessup stated you can define why you made the exception; it doesn’t require that you do the same thing for the next application.
Councilor Canaday felt he was ok with the location. It is out of view for most unless the property develops to the west. He questioned if there should be a time limit on the variance? Councilor Farris stated the idea is to use it to store the car and parts of the donated vehicle that the kids get to build from the base up. It is an opportunity kids don’t get to see often, to provide a safe work environment and keep it out of the weather. She felt this was ideal for the kids. She questioned if anyone contacted Eberts who are directly to the west. Administrator Kennedy stated all the notices went out and they were on the list. They did not attend or provide written comments.
Mayor Lester felt if a new teacher came to the district and the program ended causing the container to become a storage shed, then a time limit could be good idea. Canaday stated P&Z minutes reflected if the club ends, they could use the container to store metal which is currently in the bus barn. Canaday didn’t want the variance to be forever and then 10 years or so down the line a subdivision occurred to the west and now they have a shipping container in view of the subdivision. Councilor Farris stated then maybe only allow it as long as the car club is active and if it dies and they want to use it as storage it could be re-addressed at that time. The question was raised on how the city would know if the car club was active. The city wouldn’t know unless someone complained or it was questioned, but could then look into it.
Councilor Edwards questioned if this application was approved, is it correct they would still have to apply for a variance on the setback. That is correct, the Council will have to act on that after P&Z holds the hearing. Mayor Lester stated findings of fact should be included in the minutes. Councilor Farris asked Attorney Jessup for additional guidance other than education purposes. Attorney Jessup stated the use is for educational purposes, it’s limited from public view where it’s located, it is for the narrow purpose of use for the car club and if the club isn’t active it could end and it’s an opportunity to learn a trade rather than college. Councilor Perry stated there was some discussion about a lean to versus shipping container. The council consensus was it would cost way more to build a lean to. Councilor Canaday asked about the commission recommendation. Administrator Kennedy read the motion from P&Z “to recommend to the city council to allow a variance of a shipping container for use at Grangeville High School for the auto club/metal shop, with the understanding that it needs to meet setbacks for F Street and that they paint it a neutral color that blends with the building or has a high school patriotic theme, such as school colors or bulldog logo, and has no shipping/container type logos on it.”
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the variance application submitted by Mountain View School District to have the shipping container in Zone A and the variance will serve the public welfare by supporting vocational and trade education opportunities for Grangeville High School students. It provides educational opportunities outside of the regular school schedule for students pursuing trades rather than college, and it provides a secure weather protected storage for a vehicle being donated to the school for educational use. The proposed location is largely obscured from public view. The only neighboring property with the direct line of sight is the Ebert property to the west and there was no opposition. It is adjacent to the existing school building rather than an open residential yard, and the school context distinguishes this from a typical residential zone A situation. Pending council approval, the container will be painted to match the building or in school colors, Bulldog theme, no shipping logos, minimizing the visual impact, and the use is personal to Mountain View School District for the specific purpose of the Auto Club and metal shop storage. At such time that the auto club dissolves and there’s no need for metal shop storage, we can re-address and it is conditional on council approval of the variance to place in the set back. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: Andrews. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
• FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Fire Minutes of 1/12/26 and 1/26/26. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
SNOWHAVEN BUILDING PROJECT: Administrator Kennedy explained Mayor Lester, Joel Wasem and herself met with Morris Arnzen to review the alternate plan on the project. Morris spent time reviewing the changes and based upon the proposal, his estimate was $833,000 – $962,000. The city’s current agreement is for $360,000. The city doesn’t have the funds to move forward with the alternate proposal. Mayor Lester stated he wished it would have worked as it would have been great off the front of the building. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Perry to continue moving forward with the original proposal. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed.
ORDINANCE NO. 989
(Ordinance No. 989 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE, IDAHO, AMENDING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 5, SECTION 6 BY ADDING SUBSECTION G(4) TO THE GRANGEVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH METERING REQUIREMENTS FOR MOBILE HOME PARKS, MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS, AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Andrews that the first reading be approved, that the rules be suspended, the second and third readings be waived and the ordinance be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Ordinance No. 989 duly approved and adopted.
LIBRARY CONCRETE PROJECT AND ALUMINUM WHEELCHAIR RAMP: Public Works Director Mager explained rather than going through the cost of tearing all the concrete out to put in a new ramp and then have it get torn up through the use of deicer, he would like an aluminum ramp considered. It would be cheaper and hold up well. The building inspector stated they will meet code and he suggested putting styrofoam under them to further insulate and to use a heating pad during winter. It would also be easier to replace when it wears out. He would like approval to use this type of product. Councilor Canaday felt they looked cheap. He suggested finding a design that looked better. Councilor Perry stated they are stout and he likes them. Councilor Andrews felt for the cost of concrete, the city can buy a lot of aluminum. Mager stated the city is investing a lot of capital in concrete when it’s not as good a product as historically. There is also a lot of excavation and then a new pour to use concrete. This would save the city quite a bit of money. Councilor Farris stated there are quite a few houses that have them already and she didn’t feel they were an eyesore. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to approve with Mager moving forward with aluminum wheelchair ramps at the front and back door of the library. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
ORDINANCE NO. 990
(Ordinance No. 990 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE CALLING FOR AN ELECTION ON MAY 19, 2026, TO APPROVE INCREASING THE AVISTA FRANCHISE FEE FROM ONE PERCENT (1%) TO THREE PERCENT (3%) OF GROSS REVENUES PURSUANT TO IDAHO CODE 50-329A; AND PROVIDING FOR THE ORDINANCE BECOMING EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE, APPROVAL, AND PUBLICATION.
On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris that the first reading be approved, that the rules be suspended, the second and third readings be waived and the ordinance be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Perry, Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Ordinance No. 990 duly approved and adopted.
ORDINANCE NO. 991
(Ordinance No. 991 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE, IDAHO COUNTY, IDAHO AMENDING GRANGEVILLE CITY ORDINANCE NO. 972 TO REMOVE THE AUGUST 2026 EXPIRATION DATE REFERENCE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry that the first reading be approved, that the rules be suspended, the second and third readings be waived and the ordinance be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Perry, Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Ordinance No. 991 duly approved and adopted.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Mayor Lester stated J-U-B Engineers will be at the April 6th meeting to present the draft Wastewater Facility Plan. Prior to that meeting, the Council needs to attend a tour of the WWTP facility. The date was set for March 25th at 7:00 A.M.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
