HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes_CCWorkMeeting_05172018CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK MEETING
IONA COMMUNITY CENTER
MAY 17, 2018 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Dan Gubler, Council President Rob Geray, Council Member Michael
Thompson, Council Member Kathy McNamara, City Attorney Andrew Rawlings, Public Works
Director Zech Prouse, Chief of Police Karl Bowcutt, and City Clerk Shara Roberts.
ABSENT: Council Member John Price.
VISITORS: Emily Leigh, Michelle Bateman, Scott Serr, Brian Dilenge, Dave Noel, Jennifer
Serr, and Kevin Harris.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS:
Presentation of Proposed Mountain Bike Park — Brian Dilenge: Brian Dilenge with Idaho
Department of Parks and Recreation handed out copies of the proposed mountain bike park,
"Exhibit A". He further reported the specialists at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have
reviewed the project and approved the plan to move forward mid -June. The next step will be for
the project to come out for public comment with the anticipation to start digging the project next
spring. Mr. Dilenge reported the proposal is very similar to the Eagle Bike Park.
Mayor Gubler expressed it has been discussed the bike park would probably work best housed
under the City of Iona as one entity to manage it. Then at some point, the City would initiate the
process to take ownership of the property further down the road.
Mayor Gubler explained the biggest question at the moment is some further reclamation of the
property by the Department of Environmental Quality (DOE).
Council President Geray inquired about the maintenance costs the City would be responsible for.
Mayor Gubler explained the bike club would take over the maintenance of the trails and there are
also funds available through the State.
Chief Bowcutt inquired if policing of the facility would be the City's responsibility. Mayor
Gubler indicated that was correct.
Mr. Dilenge reported there are landowners to the east and south of the property who have
expressed interest and involvement in the project as well.
Mayor Gubler outlined future visions for a city park or green space, and/or a shooting range on
the property.
Discussion of Possible BMX Bike Park/Pump Track: Citizen Scott Serr handed out copies of
his proposal for a small kid's version of a BMX bike park/pump track next to the skate park in
Iona Square, "Exhibit B". He expressed the proposed bike park up on the hill will be wonderful
for the community, but expressed the need for a smaller version for kids to be able to access
easily here in town. Furthermore, he would be willing to try and design something.
Dave Noel with Forsgren Associates explained to the Council they may want to talk to Ted
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Hendricks with the East-Central Idaho Planning & Development Association (ECIPDA) as this
type of project may fall into a category that is fundable with city improvement grant funds.
Council President Geray supported the idea of having a beginning stage appropriate track
available in town opposed to up on the hill with the more advanced bike park.
After further discussion, the Council supported Mr. Serr pursuing a design and cost plan for the
proposed project and bringing it back for consideration at a future date.
Discussion of Possible New Business in Iona — Emily Leigh: Citizen Emily Leigh explained
she approached the Council last month to discuss a possible pop shop business. The discussion
was tabled until the Council could seek legal counsel first regarding what type of liabilities could
potentially exist if it was placed on city owned property.
Attorney Rawlings asked if she intended for this to be a long term or short term arrangement to
help determine whether a lease or a permit would be more appropriate. Mrs. Leigh expressed the
intention is for the business to be a long term arrangement.
Attorney Rawlings inquired if she would be leasing a city building or setting up a separate
structure. Mrs. Leigh reported they would build a 10 x 12 structure and would like to set it up on
city owned property possibly on the east side of the tennis courts by Iona Square on Dayton
Street.
Attorney Rawlings inquired if the business would be set up as a Limited Liability Company
(LLC). Mrs. Leigh responded it would be.
Council President Geray expressed his number one concern regarding this proposal is setting
precedence.
Attorney Rawlings recommended the Council consider adopting standards for leasing out city
owned property or facilities instead of on a case -by -case basis.
Council President Geray inquired if Mrs. Leigh has explored other options for property for the
business to be located on.
Director Prouse expressed placing a structure in a city owned public right-of-way next to an
established street is going to create traffic and pedestrian safety issues.
Mayor Gubler suggested the empty lot on the corner of Iona Road and Main Street next to the
old Ernie's Cafe.
Mayor Gubler also suggested the north side of the Stanger Building in the parking area since the
building is owned by the City, but leased to the Bonneville Arts Association.
Attorney Rawlings indicated he would need to review the lease first for that particular scenario.
Mayor Gubler directed Clerk Roberts to provide a copy of that document for his review.
After further discussion, the Council indicated privately owned property would be their number
one preference. Mrs. Leigh understood the Council's concerns, but did express private property
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would be a very expensive route for this type of business proposal.
Discussion of School Safety: Mayor Gubler suggested tabling this item until Council Member
Price can be present as he is the individual who requested it for discussion.
Request from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -Day Saints (LDS) to hook up sprinkler
system to the City's water system: Mayor Gubler reported he received a request from the LDS
Church to permanently hook up the Iona Road building sprinkler system to the City's water
system.
Director Prouse expressed from his perspective the LDS Church including the landscape was
designed to run on secondary irrigation. He believes looking into the future it could be used as a
benchmark for water conservation. He is not comfortable at this time hooking it up to the City's
water system.
After further discussion with the Council, they supported Director Prouse's perspective. Mayor
Gubler expressed he would explain the reasons why they are denying the request at this time.
Meeting Adjourned: 6:43 pm
COUNCIL APPROVED: June 26th, 2018
ATTEST:
Shara Roberts, City Clerk
Dan Gubler, ayor
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Proposal for lona Bike Park (title not official)
Proposal
This is a proposal for a NON -motorized single track mountain bike park in lona Idaho.
Introduction
The proposed mountain bike park in the lona area, Bonneville County, is located at the east end of E 49th
North next to the Panoramic Hills Subdivision on 3 parcels of Bureau of Land Management property,
T3N R39E Sec. 32 S1/2 SW1/4 SW1/4 SE1/4. Parcel numbers RP03N39E319001, RP02N39E060001, AND
RP03N39E328401. These parcels contain approximately 200 acres of land. The land contains both well -
established Sage cover as well as grasses and newer Sage regenerating after a recent range fire. There is
elevation gain of approximately 590 feet, a few small natural drains as well as various volcanic rock out
cropping's. The main body of the property is a mile long and a quarter mile wide and could offer some
nice extended non -motorized single track trails with various degrees of difficulty. Parcel
RP03N39E060001 will be designated as a city/community park along with lona Water Storage facility a
pump track and skills park. i he plans discussed at this location for the community park would offer
picnic tables, day shelters, water, bathroom facilities, and parking. The Bathroom facilities have already
been offered by Bonneville County Recreation Department, the two hole CXT pump out facility as well as
the installation of the unit.
Protect Description
The proposed project is to offer the first official community mountain bike park to the greater lona area.
Approximately 10.0 miles of trail along with a pump track, skills park, and community park. It is
understood that there is approximately 1.5 miles of existing two track road that will remain for utility
line maintenance as well as ingress egress for emergency vehicles. These two track trails will be counted
as trails since they offer good ingress and egress off of the single track trail proposal. With the 1.5 miles
of two track trails there will be approximately 8.5 miles of non -motorized single track trail construction
and or improvement proposed.
"EXHIBIT A"
Trail Break Down and Man Made Features
10 miles of trail proposed
3.2 miles existing including two track utility and existing cow trails
6.8 miles of new construction
2 overpasses
6 table tops
2 walls
Support for the project
Support for the project has been wide spread from various local business owners, the City of Iona,
Bonneville County Commissioners, Bonneville County Recreation Department, the Snake River Mountain
Bike Club with over 1,000 followers on Facebook, the local and regional National Interscholastic Cycling
Association teams, and the Bureau of Land Management's Fire Crews.
Trail Management Objectives (TMO)
The main objective of this project is to build a local mountain bike facility within a few minutes of the
greater Idaho Falls area that does not exist currently.
The primary uses and vehicle types will be foot traffic and bicycles, with the exception of utility vehicles
servicing the power lines in the area.
The desired recreational experiences will be downhill lines with table top jumps, wall rides, overpasses
with othcr trails, steep rock sections, rock gardens, wash drain ridcs, cross country type trails and
beginner experience trails. There will also be a pump track as well as a skills park.
Design guidelines will be that of a single track trail approximately a twelve inch trail tread and brushed
out to three to four feet from centerline. Grades will be kept at approximately the 10% grade rule or the
half rule with full bench trail design in locations as well as in -sloped switchbacks. A more typical and
restrictive switchback may be constructed in the skills park for practicing measures.
The trail will be constructed both by machine and hand line techniques.
Frequency of trail inspection will be conducted continually throughout the season as many participating
builders will be riders on a weekly basis. A long with the frequency of inspections while riding,
appropriate people will be notified of needs for projects. ie repairs/clean up/clearing of trails.
Vision of the Project
Please see attached Vision.
Funding for the Project
Once we have a direction on how the Environmental Analysis goes, hopefully by this fall or early winter,
we will immediately apply for grants. Known grant opportunities that would be available next winter are;
the Mountain Bike Fund through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation supported with dollars
from the mountain bike license plate program, and the Rural Trails Program funded with federal fuel tax
money. There are many other funding opportunities such as the CHC Foundation that is an Idaho Falls
community source for grants, Clif Bars, REI Inc., and other corporate sponsors will be approached.
Bonneville County Recreation Department has already donated a two hole CXT and the equipment to
install the unit towards the project that we will be able to use as a match in the grant process. As well
Bonneville County Recreation Department has also explained a willingness to help in any way with
construction of the project. The BLM fire crews have also expressed interest in the project as they need a
place to train new hand line fire crews and would end up actually building trail.
Overpass
Pump Track
Table Top
Day Shelter
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`NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES'
BEYOND THIS POINT
Developed Vision
1. What needs to be done? Access gained to the already developed road and parking area.
Developing a plan to give to the BLM, Bonneville County, and City of Iona.
2. What can be done given the constraints of the site, resource concerns, politics, or management?
The site can possibly be added to with the addition of private ground to the south. One
constraint of the site is its narrow lay out, however, with good plan development that will not be
an issue. No real resource concerns known of at this time. Politics, the access to the desired
parking area as well as any negative feedback from the housing development close by. However
there is broad support for this project that helps with the political climate.
3. What vehicle types will be accommodated? Mountain bikes, and hiking. The idea of the area is
to develop a NON -motorized trail area. Some trails will offer downhill only.
4. What experiences will be provided? Uphill climbing, flow trails, single track cross country style
trails along with some steeper downhill trails with natural and constructed features.
5. What opportunities are there for difficulty levels and challenges? The area has two steeper
sections on the east third as well as the west third of the area, with the middle section
moderate/gentle slope. There is a couple washes as well as various rock outcroppings, and 600
feet of vertical gain. Trails will be developed for all riding abilities with features constructed to
match different trail ratings.
6. What facilities will be provided? A two hole CXT has been donated by Bonneville County
Recreation Department, and parking for the immediate amenities with future development of
water, picnic tables, and shelters.
7. What opportunities are currently being provided in the area or region? None in the immediate
area that is legally open for recreationists. The nearest legal bike riding is 45 minutes away.
There is green belt access along the river, however, no legal mountain biking in the immediate
vicinity of Idaho Falls or surrounding communities.
8. What levels of visitation can be expected? With the growth in the Idaho Falls area and the
growth in the Interscholastic Racing teams in the area, it is reasonable to expect 20-40 cars a
day with the same amount of riders.
9. Where will this system fit into the big picture; what is the niche? The niche is that there is
nothing like this within 45 minutes of Idaho Falls at any time of the year and its soil base makes
it ideal for early spring and fall riding. The topography and size of the property makes it ideal for
a bike park with the natural features (rocks, draws) and 600' of vertical gain. It should also be a
very appealing project for businesses in the area as an attractive amenity for young
professionals looking to relocate.
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Pump Track For Iona
Concern
Iona needs more activities to engage people outdoors. Many (young) people are caught in the
habit of being inside with electronic entertainment.
Summary and What is a pump track?
A pump track could be a great asset for the community. A pump track may look similar to a BMX
track, but the objective is to not pedal. The rider's forward speed depends on how well they apply
their weight over hills. It's more dense and fun for new inexperienced riders. It aims for full body
exercise and was originally developed to improve riding skill.
Also, if paved, a track can be ridden by skateboarders, in -line skaters, and scooters.
It would be easy, cheap, and low risk to build a pump track with mostly volunteer help next to the
small skate slab in the park. I've seen small tracks that fit in a backyard. We could have
something unique and utilized.
From Wikipedia
A pump track is a type of off -road terrain for cycle sport consisting of a circuit of banked
turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders "pumping" - creating
momentum by up and down body movements.[1] They are relatively simple and cheap to
construct, and cater to a wide variety of rider skill levels, so are popular in council owned
parks and schools.
Most pump tracks link a series of rollers to steeply bermed corners that bring cyclists back
around. Tracks are commonly constructed from dirt, and can be as small as 10 x 30 feet,
or to make them more durable may be paved.
Paved pump tracks also have the advantage that they can be ridden by skateboarders,
in -line skaters, and foot -powered scooters.
How is this different than a mountain bike park?
• Very small in comparison
• Appeals to all skill levels -- especially kids
• Close, no need to load bikes
What are they made of?
• Dirt/Clay
• Hard Surface - paved or similar
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"EXHIBIT B"
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