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City Council Meeting - 06/23/2026
Published: Jun 23, 2026
City Council Approves Enhanced Rural Fire Suppression and Mutual Aid Agreements
The City Council approved an amended and restated agreement for rural fire suppression and other services, simplifying the calculation of annual amounts due. The new method uses a five-year average of city calls to rural districts (approximately 12%) multiplied by previous fiscal year fire department expenditures, plus the insurance cost for rural vehicles. This streamlined process provides predictability in contract amounts starting in January for the July contract year. The agreement, which expires at the end of the month, was recommended for approval by the city manager and fire chief. Council members Braden and Mills, along with Rural Board Commissioner Monty Colbertson and Brandon Coley, were involved in the negotiation process. The council also approved the 2026 Snake River Valley Mutual Aid Agreement, which updates Oregon and Idaho state codes and includes an operations plan covering spending limits, communications, accountability, and mutual aid request guidelines. This agreement maintains a strong partnership with 38 departments, plus BLM, built since 1968.
Resident Urges Council to Prioritize Affordable Housing, Animal Welfare, and Recycling
During public comments, Anna Tubbs addressed the council regarding several community needs. She urged the city to continue discussions and planning for affordable housing, low-income housing, transitional housing, tiny housing communities, and day housing services like the OASIS House. Tubbs also highlighted the need for animal welfare infrastructure, noting the absence of an animal shelter and few animal parks. Additionally, she proposed expanding recycling opportunities, particularly for low-income housing facilities, and improving options for recycling plastics, referencing the recent departure of Western Recycling. Tubbs also advocated for reduced chemical use in parks and required notification for spraying. She encouraged the city to consider these needs in future grant applications, partnerships, and community development efforts. Later, during the public hearing for the CDBG Secondary River Intake Project, Tubbs expressed support for investing in water infrastructure but also reiterated her hope for future consideration of affordable housing options, including the OASIS House and tiny homes, aligning with the public notice's mention of housing desires.
City Council Approves Supplemental Budget and Annual Budget for 2026-2027
The City Council approved Resolution 2026-117, adopting a supplemental budget to account for unexpected revenues and expenditures. Adjustments were made due to higher than anticipated legal services costs, increased TOT tax revenue, a grant for airport fencing, higher task force expenditures, and increased building revenues necessitating a surplus charge to the state. The increase in legal services, amounting to $25,000, was attributed to employee issues and a pending court case. The council also approved Resolution 2026-115, declaring the city's election to receive state revenues for fiscal year 2026-2027, and subsequently adopted the city's annual budget for 2026-2027 via Resolution 2026-116, which included appropriations for grant and building funds and the imposition of taxes. A conflict of interest was declared by Councilmember Ott regarding the grant and building funds due to providing contracted direct services and her wife's employment in the building department, respectively.
Secondary River Intake Project Moves Forward with Council Approval for Construction Grant Application
The City Council held two public hearings regarding the Secondary River Intake Project, funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The first hearing (Resolution 2026-115) was the final notice for the design phase, which is nearing completion, with construction to follow. The project aims to provide a redundant and additional water supply from the Snake River, benefiting approximately 10,044 persons, with 57.88% being low to moderate income. The second hearing (Resolution 2026-116) was the initial notice for the construction phase application, seeking up to $2 million in CDBG funds. This phase aims to benefit approximately 11,645 persons, with 58.1% being low to moderate income. The project is intended to provide redundancy for the existing single intake and increase future supply capacity for projected growth. The project cost, initially estimated between $2.5 and $3 million, has increased to a range of $4 to $7 million, exceeding the CDBG grant allowance. The city has also secured a safe drinking water revolving loan, with half forgivable. Public comments expressed support for water infrastructure investment and inquired about project specifics such as total cost, funding sources, treatment upgrades, and impact on water quality and chemical usage. Staff clarified that the project focuses solely on intake and supply, not treatment, and does not affect current chemical usage. The council authorized staff to apply for the CDBG construction grant.
City Explores New Location and Purpose for Flag Project Amidst Budget and Safety Concerns
Mayor Falkland inquired about the status of a flag that was to be located below the hospital. City Manager Dan Cummings explained that the initial bid of $154,000 was significantly over the budgeted $50,000. Additionally, the proposed location near Idaho Power poles was not approved by OSHA due to safety regulations. The city is now exploring Option B: relocating the flag to Lions Park. Negotiations are underway with the sole bidder for new quotes, considering the presence of mature trees at the proposed park location. The existing base's removal cost is estimated between $8,000 and $15,000. As an alternative, Cummings proposed repurposing the existing base for an emergency response group (fire and police) bronze statue or monument. He is gathering cost proposals and input from the fire and police departments. The existing plaque dedicated to the flag's benefactor would potentially be replaced or updated to include Bob Sullivan, who originally funded it, and potentially honor the emergency responders. Council members expressed strong support for the emergency response statue idea and urged getting cost proposals.
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