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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023.04.27 Regular Meeiting MinutesMINUTES McCall City Council Regular Meeting McCall City Hall -- Legion Hall VIA TEAMS Virtual April 27, 2023 Call to Order and Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Approve the Agenda Consent Agenda Public Comment Business Agenda Adjournment CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 1 Mayor Giles called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Giles, Council Member Maciaszek, Council Member Nelson, Council Member Nielsen, and Council Member Thrower all answered roll call. City staff members present were Anette Spickard, City Manager; Bill Punkoney, City Attorney; Sarah Porter, Deputy Clerk; Erin Greaves, Communications Manager; Linda Stokes, City Treasurer; Michelle Groenevelt, Community Development Director; Brian Parker, City Planner; Kurt Wolf, Parks and Recreation Director; Eric McCormick, Golf Course Superintendent; Chris Curtin, Information Systems Manager; Traci Malvich, Human Resources Manager; Dallas Palmer, Police Chief; Nathan Stewart, Public Works Director; Meredith Todd, Assistant City Planner; Amanda Payne, Local Option Tax and Short-term Rental Administrator. Also, in attendance was Ryan Garber, Captain of Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement McCall Fire District. Mayor Giles led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVE THE AGENDA 1 Council Member Maciaszek moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Council Member Nielsen seconded the motion. In a voice vote all members voted aye, and the motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA 1 Staff recommended approval of the following ACTION ITEMS. All matters which are listed within the consent section of the agenda have been distributed to each member of the McCall City MCCALL CITY COUNCIL April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 1 of 8 Council for reading and study. The items listed are considered routine by the Council and were enacted with one motion. 1. City Council Regular Minutes — March 30, 2023 2. City Council Special Minutes — April 13, 2023 3. Payroll Report for the period ending April 14, 2023 4. Warrant Register — GL 5. Warrant Register — Vendor 6. AB 23-081 City Licenses Report to Council Per McCall City Code Per McCall City Code Title 4 Chapter 9, the City Council has determined the City Clerk shall be delegated the authority to process and grant or deny all alcoholic beverage license applications, other than certain circumstances involving catering permits, which the City Clerk shall review the application for catering permit for completeness and forward said application to the Police Chief. The Police Chief upon receipt of the application shall make a recommendation to the City Clerk to approve or deny the application. Whenever the City Clerk shall determine that an application for alcoholic beverage license transfer or renewal is complete, the City Clerk shall approve or deny such application. All decisions of the City Clerk shall be reported to the City Council at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting after such a decision. The City Clerk is also responsible for all processing of business, taxi, snow removal, pawnbroker, child daycare licenses, vendor and short-term rental permits, and public event applications. Action: Review the license report. 7. AB 23-082 Treasurer's Report as Required by IC 50-208 Treasurer's report of accounts and office activity during March 2023 regarding care, management, or disposition of moneys, property, or business of the City. Action: Review the Treasurer's report. 8. AB 23-083 Treasurer's FY22 4th Quarter Report as Required by IC 50-208 Treasurer's quarterly report of accounts and office activity during July, August, and September 2022 regarding care, management, or disposition of moneys, property, or business of the City. Action: Review the Treasurer's report. 9. AB 23-084 Treasurer's FY23 2nd Quarter Report as Required by IC 50-208 Treasurer's quarterly report of accounts and office activity during January, February, and March 2023 regarding care, management, or disposition of moneys, property, or business of the City. Action: Review the report. Council Member Nelson moved to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Council Member Maciaszek seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Council Member Nelson, Council Member Maciaszek, Mayor Giles, Council Member Nielsen, and Council Member Thrower all voted aye, and the motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT 1 Mayor Giles called for public comment at 5:33 p.m. Sixteen (16) written comments were received and are included in Attachment A. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 2 of 8 David Gallipoli, 200 Scott St Mr. Gallipoli addressed the Council regarding the local deer herd. Mr. Gallipoli noted speaking to experts about controlling the population of deer using vaccines. Feeding the herd already kills the deer and it is only a matter of time until chronic wasting disease shows up. Joey Petri, 225 Valley Spring Rd Mr. Petri echoed Mr. Gallipoli's concerns for the local deer herd. Additionally, Mr. Petri requested a partnership between private and public entities for the pulverization of glass for recycling to limit the waste going to the landfill. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Giles closed the comment period at 5:40 p.m. BUSINESS AGENDA 1 AB 23-090 Wildlife Public Engagement and Education Plan and Direction to Staff Communications Manager Erin Greaves presented to the City Council stating that on April 13th, 2023, the Council gave staff direction to develop a plan for a community conversation surrounding the concept of a wildlife Ordinance in the City of McCall. Manager Greaves reviewed a public outreach and education plan that included details of the planned community meeting for May 4, 2023, and the expected next steps in the process. Highlights included an exit survey for any public attending as well as a survey available for members of the public that were unable to attend, sharing wildlife data in response to the Council's request, and the creation of a community data matrix encompassing other cities dealing with the same issue. Council Member Nelson complimented Manager Greaves on the process of community involvement planned. Council Member Thrower agreed with the format presented to the Council and requested additional scientific studies and smaller tables if there is a large turnout to the meeting. Manager Greaves noted that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Conservation League will be in attendance for educational purposes. Council Member Maciaszek noted the need for messaging to include that the city and community are in this together and there needs to be a plan of action to work together. Additionally, it is important to understand and gather information to see if the community sees deer as an issue and what the community sees as a solution. Council Member Nielsen noted agreement with Council Member Maciaszek and the need for positive conversations with positive actions. Council Member Thrower asked if it is possible to get the studies and information out before the forum. Manager Greaves noted that the information will be presented at the meeting and not before; this meeting is the start of a process to provide a good solution for the community. Mayor Giles noted having a lot of confidence in the direction staff is headed. Council Member Nelson noted interest in knowing if the lice are transmittable to other animals including pets and the risk to the animal community of McCall. Mayor Giles noted that most people agree on the goal of a healthy and wild deer herd. The goal is not to eliminate all the deer. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 3 of 8 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting AB 23-088 Captain Ryan Garber, McCall Fire and EMS, will give an update to Council regarding the Fire Inspection Process for Short -Term Rentals and ask for Direction from Council regarding Sleeping Areas Ryan Garber Captain of Fire Prevention and Code Enforcement, McCall Fire & EMS performs the fire inspection of all Short-term Rentals (STR). Captain Garber presented the numbers of inspections on STRs to date and of those inspections how many have passed and how many have failed the inspection. He discussed the primary failure points including windows and other egress issues. Highlights included the process to educate homeowners, fire prevention instead of suppression, and review of inspection numbers. Captain Garber noted that a prevalent annoyance to homeowners is having to have the fire extinguisher visible. Allowing anything other than the standards that Idaho has adopted will not occur during the STR inspections as it is important to be consistent. About 25% of owners have had an issue with window size or placement but several owners have begun replacing windows to be compliant. Another egress issue comes with condo units that do not have egress in loft spaces that are currently being used as sleeping areas. Council Member Maciaszek noted some of the condos were built for commercial use but were converted into living spaces. Mayor Giles noted that, in general, the City Council takes safety seriously and the regulations for the fire safety inspection are reasonable. Council Member Maciaszek asked how a loft is treated during the fire inspection. Captain Garber noted all sleeping spaces are treated the same regardless of whether it is a loft, a living room, or a separate room. Council Member Maciaszek noted that if the owner of the property wants to sleep in the loft without an egress window the owner can do so. Captain Garber noted that yes, it is that person's choice and used the example of the choice to wear a seatbelt or not wear a seatbelt when in a vehicle. The law requires the use of a seatbelt, but any person can make a choice not to wear a seatbelt. Council Member Maciaszek noted the City of McCall is not reinventing the wheel with the regulations currently in place for health and safety. Council Member Nelson noted that if it is not up to code it is not safe, and the codes have been put in place for public safety. Council Member Thrower noted that enforcing the code without exception is the expectation but input from the community and property management companies on how the process is going with the new regulations should be sought. Additionally, Council Member Thrower asked if Captain Garber sees most of the issues being residences that were built before the code or if the problem spaces were not designed to be sleeping areas. Mr. Garber noted the residential building code has been in place since 1979 in the State of Idaho, but homeowners can change out windows without a building permit which can change the egress to not meet the code. Council Member Nielsen agrees with Mr. Garber not setting any leniency for the inspection process and requirements. AB 23-089 4th of July Fireworks Update and Direction to Staff Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Wolf presented to the City Council. Due to cost increases and contractor availability, the fireworks display which was previously done by the McCall Chamber of Commerce has gone from an estimated $10,000 - $16,000 to $15,000 - $25,000. City Staff were able to secure a contractor for the show, however, the only way the company can justify a show in McCall on the 4th of July is for it to be a much larger display which comes at a higher cost. The same company can justify a smaller scale show on Saturday, July 1 for a cost of $15,000, but to schedule a show on July 4 the cost jumps to $25,000. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 4 of 8 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting City staff has researched various funding mechanisms to offset the cost increase, including the following: • Community Sponsorship Program — based on a tiered level sponsorship model. • Partnership program with other agencies such as McCall Fire, Southern Idaho Timber Protection Association, Payette National Forest, and Valley County to promote a community show on the lake and a more fire -safe community. • General operating budgets: (surplus auction revenue, marketing line item, parks operating line items.) The Council consensus was to keep the firework show on the 4th of July. AB 23-092 Request for consideration of a Code Amendment to McCall City Code 8.14.8(B) — Alcohol in City Parks Police Chief Dallas Palmer presented to the City Council draft language that would amend McCall City Code 8.14.8(B) and provide 4th of July alcohol restrictions in a predetermined manner, eliminating the need for the City Council to revisit the restrictions and approve by resolution on an annual basis. However, the draft language still provides an opportunity for the City Council to revisit and adjust alcohol restrictions by resolution if the City Council were to determine it necessary. Chief Palmer reviewed previous City Council decisions regarding alcohol in city parks during the 4th of July and the new proposed code language. Current Language: "By resolution, the city council may prohibit the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in designated city parks on specific days from July 1 through July 7 each year. Signs will be posted in each park announcing the restrictions at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the beginning of any period of such restrictions. " Proposed Draft Language: "Unless otherwise set by resolution of the McCall City Council, the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in lakeside city parks from 8:00 p.m. on July 3rd through 8:00 a.m. July 5th each year. Signs will be posted in each park announcing the restrictions at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the beginning of any period of such restrictions. " The Council agreed with the code language aside from Council Member Nielsen who expressed being opposed to the ban on alcohol in City parks altogether. AB 23-091 Request for Construction Contract Award: Davis Beach Intake Station Reconstruction Project Public Works Director Nathan Stewart presented to the City Council. The City, in collaboration with Clear Solutions, Inc., has conducted formal bidding for the Davis Beach Intake Station Upgrades. This project provides various building and mechanical replacements/upgrades to meet regulatory requirements, improve performance and efficiency, and enhance aesthetics. Major components include: • Replacement of the raw water pressure main 12 -inch flow meter MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 5 of 8 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting • Replacement of antiquated electrical and ventilation components • Installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs) to improve pump performance, control, and energy efficiency. • New roof, exterior siding, and architectural elements to maintain the structure and improve aesthetics. • Epoxy coating of interior concrete flooring, new exterior doors, and exterior pavers at doorway entrances No expansion of the building footprint or pump station capacity will occur with this project. All required design/architectural elements of the project have been submitted to the City Planner for Administrative Design Review Approval. The bid opening occurred on April 20, 2023. The bid was reviewed by the Project Engineer, Eric Landsberg of Clear Solutions Inc, for accuracy and responsiveness to the bidding specifications. Work on the exterior of the building is expected to be completed by late October 2023 but internal upgrades may take longer depending on part processing times and availability. Council Member Nelson appreciated the aesthetics put into the building design in response to public comments previously received regarding the look of the building. Council Member Nielsen stated that it would be beneficial to have a pathway to the beach at the pump station location. Director Stewart reviewed working with Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Wolf for improvements to access to the pump station and the beach for public recreation. Council Member Maciaszek moved to award the construction contract to the responsive low bidder Dalrymple Construction in the amount of 498,096.00 and change the order amount up to 10% over the contract amount and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. Council Member Thrower seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Maciaszek, Council Member Thrower, Mayor Giles, Council Member Nelson, all voted aye, Council Member Nielsen voted no, and the motion carried. AB 23-085 Request to Reject Bid for the McCall Golf Course Clubhouse Access Improvements— Phase 2 Golf Course Superintendent Eric McCormick presented to the City Council stating that the Engineer's Estimate for the clubhouse access improvements project construction cost, which accounts for the current volatile construction market, was $208,742.98 for the combination of the Base Bid and Bid Alternate #1. The city advertised bids and received one bid from Dyrud Construction. The received bid is 80.31% above the Engineer's Estimate. City Staff recommended that the bid be rejected, and the project be rebid in summer 2023. The City Council had no questions regarding the request to reject the bid for the McCall Golf Course Clubhouse Access Improvements. Council Member Nelson moved to reject the bid from Dyrud Construction for the McCall Gold Course Clubhouse Access Improvements — Phase 2 and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. Council Member Thrower seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Nelson, Council Member Thrower, Mayor Giles, Council Member Maciaszek, and Council Member Nielsen all voted aye, and the motion carried. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 6 of 8 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting AB 23-086 Request to Appoint Dave Petty to the McCall Area Planning & Zoning Commission City Planner Brian Parker presented to the City Council. Pursuant to McCall City Code Chapter 3.12, the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission consists of seven (7) members, four (4) of which are appointed by the McCall City Council. On March 7, 2023, the Commission vetted seven (7) letters of interest for the Planning and Zoning Commission vacancy and determined that only three (3) interested individuals were qualified pursuant to McCall Code Section 3.12.02 and still interested in serving: Toni Curtis, Dave Petty, and Mike Spilotros. At the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission's April 4, 2023 meeting, the Commission further reviewed the remaining applicants and recommended appointing Dave Petty to the McCall Area Planning & Zoning Commission. The vacancy was advertised for two weeks in the Star - News and a thorough public outreach effort through the Communication Department. Mayor Giles asked Planner Parker for the reasons the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended Mr. Petty. Planner Parker noted Mr. Petty's financial background and business background. Council Member Thrower moved to appoint Dave Petty to a three (3) year term on the McCall Area Planning & Zoning Commission. Council Member Nielsen seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Council Member Thrower, Council Member Nielsen, Mayor Giles, Council Member Maciaszek, and Council Member Nelson all voted aye, and the motion carried. AB 23-087 Request for Daily Vendor Fee Evaluation and Direction to Staff Deputy City Clerk Sarah Porter presented to the City Council. On January 12, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Staff recommendation to change the Annual Vendor fee to $140 to match the Business License fee for a new business and to cover the extra time it takes to get the proper approvals from the landowners. This fee would cover a Vendor that is in one location for a year. However, the Vendor would be required to pay the $50 a day fee if they chose to move locations. At that time staff also recommend eliminating the 6 -month permit fee. These fees more accurately cover staff time to administer. After considering Council's questions and comments staff later recommended the annual fee to be clarified as a 3 -12 -month permit in the same location, maintaining the $50 a day fee if they choose to move locations. On March 9, 2023, Council adopted Resolution 23-04 updating the Comprehensive fee schedule as follows: $50 Per Day $140 for 3-12 months in one location (Long Term fee) $50 Per Day is added to Long Term fee when moving locations. After working with the new fee schedule, the Clerk realized that the per -day fee should be a per - day or per -event fee, whichever is applicable, as it does not take any more staff time to prepare a daily permit than it does a per -event permit. Staff is requesting to hold a public hearing to reconsider the daily permit fee and change it to a per -day or per -event fee, whichever is applicable. The daily or event fee would still be applicable to a long-term vendor who changes location. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 7 of 8 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting The Council directed staff to schedule a public hearing to adopt the updated fee. AB 23-080 Acknowledgement of an Open Meeting Law Violation and Cure City Manager Anette Spickard presented to the City Council stating that the March 31, 2023 City Council Meeting Agenda did not get posted within 24 hours of the scheduled meeting as required by ID Code § 74-204(2). The City is self -reporting the violation and wishes to cure such violation as outlined in Idaho Code § 74-208. No action was taken at the March 31, 2023, Special Council Meeting, and therefore, there is nothing to declare void. Council Member Nielsen moved to recognize the open meeting law violation of failure to post the Agenda for the March 31, 2023, Special Council Meeting, any actions taken at that meeting are void. Council Member Nelson seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Council Member Nielsen, Council Member Nelson, Mayor Giles, Council Member Maciaszek, and Council Member Thrower, all voted aye, and the motion carried. Upcoming Meetings Schedule Discussion The Council discussed upcoming meetings. EXECUTIVE SESSION 1 At 7:15 p.m. Council Member Thrower moved to go into Executive Session for: • Personnel - 74-206 (1)(b) To consider the evaluation, dismissal, or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, or public -school student • Records - Pursuant to Idaho Code §74-206 (1) (d) To consider records that are exempt from disclosure as provided in chapter 1, title 74, Idaho Code Council Member Nielsen seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Council Member Thrower, Council Member Nielsen, Mayor Giles, Council Member Maciaszek, and Council Member Nelson all voted aye, and the motion carried. Council discussed the City Manager's annual evaluation. ADJOURNMENT 1 Without further business, Mayor Giles adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m. ATTEST: BessieJo Wagn 0011111118.0. /�"4 • %i• ty Clerk 1 11 obert S. Giles, Mayor MCCALL CITY COUNCIL April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 8 of 8 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting - General Comment Name Address Email Opinion Content Attachment A Deborah 7995 debhudson515@yahoo.com Neutral Hello I just read the article about the question what to do with Hudson west the growing population of deer in Mccall. My husband and I go Arapaho to Mccall twice a year for a timeshare week. My husband goes Garden several extra times to ski. He has a season pass at Brundage City every year. We love seeing the foxes and deer and all the lovely Idaho birds. My idea of a solution would be to have a deer reserve 83714 somewhere close to the highway in a flat area where the city would provide a large reserve with hay for the deer from first snowfall to may. Or maybe November to may. It would be like the elk reserve in Jackson hole. Then there could be signs telling about the reserve and saying do not feed the deer. If you provided a place for the deer to go that had some food I am pretty sure people wouldnt be feeding them. There might be a benefit to raise money to feed the deer to alleviate the city paying for it. Local restaurants and grocery store could buy whole deer butchered and have venison on the menu. Maybe one of the landowners would donate or sell land for the reserve. It would be fenced but mostly have food and shelter for the deer in winter. If mountain lions caught their meal out at the reserve it would just be natural. The deer in Mccall are for a non skiier like me the most beautiful part of Mccall and I am always so happy to see them. Thanks Deborah Public Comments Page I of 26 Apnl 27, 2023 107,2 61-1 Gtilord ; -rift, jar r°py.tI401 li67 bLaI A vaNJ ino� pv0191611��j2�c��, ��`� 1 The- Grh,i Gael ha � aC`f� d i klcori otnd prO5Yfl7pre7tiqed 101 pro 7?fori,(A2, kGf vdh ! Poocr�ri�� . iIa tea II} 4 2&r(t7 , ✓v�`h , in-�ec%e� (A)/(A(L /Cad 00✓wi in� lora/in urk1 ,K- tit* -1-111 dierAKe� 7'07 Gt,rill Ard I ' 'SDp°(i—i>efen--101 �Grn�A/t aF /flAt2e 1Qodle� �1 -J-ltii3 i� Gf (p�n�e0 �e rtrA,b(L row. tiviii\ I- Attachment A Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 2 of 26 Attachment A The citizens of McCall should be appalled at the actions of our City Council and our City Manager. The City of McCall has major infrastructure problems. Every citizen encounters these daily: potholes that are a serious hazard to our community and to our visitors, lack of sidewalks, unpredictable garbage service, and "oh, by the way" the increased cost of the sewer system that has cost each and every one of us because of lawsuits in the past. Not one person has been harmed, or murdered, by a deer. We are diverting the attention of the hard-working taxpayers onto the emotional issue of the self - generated ideas from the Fish and Game who want to slaughter the deer. There is not one shred of an instance where the murder or removal of deer has been successful anywhere. Just like the City of Billings, Montana, the deer here are a tourist attraction. They have harmed no one. Nature takes care of itself. Populations rise and fall and that has happened for eons, long before there was a City of McCall. We need to draw attention to the many failures of Fish and Game. Anyone want to talk about the effects of a reintroduced wolf population? Anyone want to talk about the effect of planting mackinaws into Payette Lake and the devastation to the native cutthroat trout? That was all on the shoulders of Fish and Game. Shame on them. Fish and Game should find a real reason for their jobs instead of coming up with lice and "just too many." Really? This "deer hunt" is nothing but a search for job justification. While Fish and Game takes up the time of city officials considering killing the deer our City Council should be thinking about the cost of housing for public officials, city employees. This cost will directly raise taxes for all the hard-working and voting constituents of McCall. Raising taxes for all will create a city with no affordable housing — ever — for the average wage earner in McCall. And for those folks who rent — their rents will go up because the property owner has been asked to pay, through their taxes, the building costs for those that don't pay. The hypocrisy of this City Council and City Manager is horrid. Jenny and John Fawcett Public Comments Page 3 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A From: Erin Greaves To: Sarah Porter Subject: FW: Town Deer Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023 11:14:33 AM For the record Original Message From: Patty Hickman <hickmanpatty35@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 11:13 AM To: Erin Greaves <egreaves@mccall.id.us> Subject: Town Deer CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Greetings, I would like to publicly express my concern about the lack of complete information regarding the Town Deer. I have been a full time resident of Mccall since June of 1976, I have had the opportunity to observe our Deer population over the span of all of these years. What I have witnessed is that the Deer population has survived despite all the growth that has taken over their habitat. For the Fish and Game to state that the reason for this population is here solely because of residents feeding the deer is not accurate information.The first winter that I noticed deer not migrating was a result of their habitat being invaded by new homes and a much better form of nourishment for them with the ornamental plants, flowers, fruit trees, shrubs etc. Then snow came and they were stuck in town believing that the new food source would be there all winter. As the years have passed, the generations of deer have grown and unfortunately for them the instinct to migrate out of town in the winter was forgotten and not passed down to the new generations each year. I used to feed the deer thinking I was helping them make it through the winter, through education I have learned that this was not the best way to be their champion. I have talked to other wildlife managers in Colorado about how they do it with their town deer and found that it is possible to coexist with wildlife in our community without feeding them. I believe that with more education, signage in town and a no feeding ordinance we can find the best balance for all. I question the value of the mountain lion sightings as being a much bigger presence now due to the deer. We have had sightings in town since I moved here. I personally believe that more sightings are happening because of all the cameras on homes and businesses. Because of my ring camera I see all sorts of wildlife that would have gone unnoticed in the past. Please stop and put the breaks on the attempt to eradicate the local deer, they are a part of the community and what makes our little town stand out. They are a destination feature not a problem. Yes some get hit by cars, is that because someone fed them or maybe because cars speed up and down our streets or are distracted by cell phone usage while driving or both. Yes in the spring we have fawns born and mama deer are protective, if you have your dog on a leash per city code you should be able to keep it from getting too close to the fawns and mamas. Let's see if together we can work towards a solution for residents both human and wildlife. How can we help? Do we need an action group made up of residents? Help us help the community and insure the safety of the wildlife. We can coexist, it is working in towns all over the country. Thanks Patty Hickman Public Comments Page 4 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A Sent from my iPhone Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 5 of 26 "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Attachment A -- Mahatma Gandhi April 24, 2023 Dear Mayor Giles and McCall City Council members, I watched the April 13, 2023, McCall City Council meeting where once again the McCall Chief of Police Dallas Palmer, Idaho Fish and Game Regional Manager Ms. Regan Berkley, and Regional Supervisor Josh Royse spoke about what has been labeled as the "town deer herd" issue. Many of us who have been following what we believe is an artificially drummed -up issue have grave concerns and question the information presented to the Council over the past couple of years, and the potential "solutions" recommended to this drummed -up problem. Is this truly the most pressing issue facing the City? Not economic development, not marketing efforts, not affordable housing, not infrastructure (roads, high speed Internet, sewer/wastewater capacity, airport, etc.), not property taxes? Societies are judged by how they treat their young, the elderly, and animals. Deer were in the area well before the city was incorporated. It is us humans who encroached on their territory, not the other way around. It is ironic for the city to have a "premier" development with clubhouse and golf course named "Whitetail" while waging a war on deer. My husband is a veterinarian, I am an attorney, and we both have been following closely this issue. My husband dedicated 27 years of his professional life to alleviating the suffering of animals. We both care deeply about animals, including deer. We have loved McCall for a long time and are disheartened by these developments. This is an artificially created problem, hyped up, blown out of proportion, and pushed by a few individuals who appear to be fanning the flames. There are also some special interests involved. An important part of Idaho Fish and Game's mission is "to provide a continued supply of wildlife for hunting, fishing, and trapping." Mr. Royse emphasized in the meeting that his agency receives zero general fund tax monies, and that they are entirely funded by hunters and anglers. Hunters and anglers pay Ms. Berkley's salary and Mr. Royse's salary. The City's mission is different. The City has a much broader constituent base, and the City is supported by taxpayer dollars. We pay the salary of the Police Chief and of the City Manager. You are in charge. The buck stops with you. You do have the power to allow all the deer or most of the deer in McCall to be killed next winter or to have annual deer killing sprees going forward. You do have that power. You also have the power to criminalize residents and visitors feeding the deer. Give an apple to a deer the second time within 12 months? Misdemeanor charge, six months jail time, $1,000 fine. Although you may have the power, it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. I hope that you will continue to show compassion and wisdom. What gives us hope, is that the Council to date has not rushed into a decision and refrained from taking action without careful consideration of both immediate and long-term ramifications of those actions. There are some people who would like you to believe that you "must" act, that you have no choice but to act. That, at a minimum, you must adopt a no feeding ordinance. In reality, you do have a choice. So far, the Council has been willing to listen. We hope that it Public Comments Page 6 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A will continue to do so: doing its own research, listening to all constituents, recognizing bias, questioning the motivations of groups and individuals, and carefully weighing what action, if any, is necessary. I agree with the Humane Society of the United States that killing deer, even if their numbers are greatly reduced, will not stop people from hitting deer with their vehicles, will not protect gardens, etc. https://www.humanesocietv.org/resources/why-deer-killing-programs-dont-solve-conflicts-deer The City should develop a plan, and part of that plan should be a strong commitment to non -lethal methods whenever possible —as demonstrated by adequate and ongoing funding approved for these non -lethal methods, carefully researching these methods, ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of these methods, allowing sufficient time for results to show, and commitment to changing non -lethal strategies as needed, instead of jumping directly to killing deer, if the first thing attempted does not work as expected. A lousy massacre Some of you may consider Ms. Berkley the "expert." I suggest that all we have to do is look at how the Cascade "pilot project" went down to realize that you need to do your own research, not just blindly listen to Ms. Berkley or anyone else for that matter. In my personal opinion, the Cascade "pilot project" was a disaster. I do not pretend to be an "expert," but I do know how to do research, I have done my research, and I could predict that it was not going to go well for the deer. Just like I could predict that a trap and transport operation in McCall was not going to go well for the deer. Previously, when the Fish and Game presentations in front of you discussed trapping and relocating the deer, I encouraged you to do your own research and look at the readily available studies and statistics on deer morbidity and mortality rates associated with trap and relocate operations. After Cascade passed a no feeding ordinance, that opened up the door for Fish and Game to swoop in with the grand plan of trapping and relocating the deer. https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/fg-will-trap- attempt-relocate-cascade-town-deer-winter They were planning to trap deer for 2-3 weeks. Fish and Game even said that stopping feeding and attempting to relocate deer is "the most humane option." Cascade passed the ordinance, and Fish and Game embarked upon implementing this "most humane option." They had to stop after two days. Over a two-day period, they trapped 20 deer. Out of those, they killed 15 deer, and the five were transported. Those that were transported, we do not know what condition they were in at the time of transport, after transport, and what happened to them since. We do not know if they are still alive or not. Fish and Game killed the deer in Cascade because they had lice. Armed with a magnifying glass, they examined the lice found on the trapped deer. Ms. Berkley admitted that she is not a lice expert. They sent the lice to a lab in the Midwest for a parasitologist to determine whether the lice were "exotic" louse or not. Too bad the deer were already killed. They were already dead before the results could confirm whether or not the lice were "exotic." It was not a huge surprise that the deer trapped in Cascade had lice. The "exotic" lice can cause itching, skin lesions, hair loss. Exotic lice is not the only thing that causes hair loss in deer. Deer normally shed their hair (normal "molt") twice a year. In the spring they shed their winter coat, and in the late summer they shed their summer coat. Deer with "exotic" lice cannot be relocated. Since it's been determined that the McCall deer also likely have this "exotic" lice, the McCall deer cannot be relocated (thank God, as many of us opposed trapping and transporting deer for other reasons). Ms. Berkley admitted that they knew that they had this "exotic" lice in the area, because several years ago they found it in a deer in Cascade. These "exotic louse" have been found in Idaho for many years, Public Comments Page 7 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A including in Riggins where in 2012 Fish and Game killed 60 deer after determining that more than 90 percent of the deer in Riggins had this "exotic" lice. https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/deer-riggins-killed- control-exotic-louse-infestation These pictures were taken on January 29, 2023, in Cascade, just before Fish and Game began its "pilot project." They don't look emaciated, their hair has not fallen out, they definitely do not look hairless like the picture in Ms. Berkley's presentation. They do not seem to be suffering. Certainly not suffering that warrants being killed. They may or may not have been part of the 15 that were killed just days later. Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 8 of 26 Attachment A The following are pictures from Fish and Game's website taken during the trapping and relocation operation: https://idfg. idaho. gov/article/fg-stops-cascade-deer-trapping-after-two-days-due-high-prevalence- chewing-lice Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 9 of 26 Attachment A Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 10 of 26 Attachment A A deer is being tackled. Another deer watches the humans implement "the most humane" option. rnall Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 11 of 26 Attachment A Imagine the trauma suffered by the 5 deer who were not killed but were trapped and shipped somewhere else, a place completely foreign to them as these deer do not migrate. According to Idaho Fish and Game's mission, "All wildlife... shall be preserved, protected, perpetuated, and managed. It shall be only captured or taken at such times or places, under such conditions, or by such means, or in such manner, as will preserve, protect, and perpetuate such wildlife." You decide if based on those pictures this "pilot project" lived up to that mission. This could have been McCall, had the Council acted on the information Ms. Berkley presented to the Council last time around. By not rushing in to act on the first information it was fed, the Council averted this kind of "lousy" massacre. It sure would not be a good marketing campaign for a tourist town. Whether some locals like it or not, McCall relies on tourism dollars. Whether some "full-time residents" like it or not, McCall also relies on property taxes paid by second home owners and part-time residents. Some of them actually pay more in property taxes than those who use their homes as primary residence and thus take a homeowners' exemption. Visitors, part-time residents also pay sales taxes when they come to town and spend their money at local businesses. There are many stakeholders, and their voices are important to the continued vitality and viability of the town. Ms. Berkley reported that this past winter they "initiated a pilot project" to count "town deer" in McCall. The method involved dividing the town into four quadrants, in each quadrant one vehicle drove around to count deer "so they were not double -counting deer." Importantly, McCall's total area is over 6,300 acres. Based on this method, Ms. Berkley stated that they were "relatively sure" that they did not have a lot of deer movement across town while they were counting. It was nice of the "town deer" to stay put while they were being counted. The same strategy was used again in January and February. Based on this, Ms. Berkeley stated that there is a minimum of 258 deer "living in town" during winter. Since there is no deer fence around the city, I am not sure why Ms. Berkley assumed that the deer "lived" within city limits, and not in the area of impact or in Valley County, and that they did not come and go freely since they do not know where the City's official boundary line is located. It is important to note that McCall does not have historical deer survey data to show an actual trend. This was a one-time "pilot project." Other cities have several years' worth of data to inform their decision -making. Other cities do not rely on Fish and Game alone to determine the method of counting or doing the actual counting for the city. During this pilot project, they also "learned" that deer in McCall were "very habituated to people." Ms. Berkley reported that there were "numerous instances" where deer walked up to their windows. Seems like deer were friendly while they were being counted. Ms. Berkley also reported that they saw "a very high fawn:doe ratio." She stated that it was "nearly twice what we usually see at that same time on our winter range, on our natural herds." Ms. Berkley did not explain how comparing the fawn to doe ratio in non -hunted populations to the fawn to doe ratio in hunted populations (non -similar environments and non -similar deer populations) was relevant, nor did she compare McCall's fawn:doe ratio to other similar non -hunted deer populations in similar environments. Nor did she explain what is an "optimal" fawn:doe ratio in these types of environments/populations? Assuming the counting was correct (which is a big if considering the method), this was still just one snapshot. There was no information provided on the sex ratio or other ratios. Fawn to doe ratios can change from year to year, depending on the conditions. Some winters we could lose a lot of fawns, while other years we could see really good recruitment. Fawn recruitment is the number of fawns that survived long enough to be recruited into the fall population. Fawn recruitment is an indicator of herd health. High quality habitats commonly have more than one fawn recruited per adult doe. Deer in McCall appear to be doing just fine, lice or no lice, "exotic" lice or not -so -exotic lice. Public Comments Page 12 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A Ms. Berkley concluded that the McCall deer population is "growing rapidly." Again, it is important to note that there is no historical data on the actual trend. McCall did not count deer year after year to see if the number of deer was increasing or not, and if it was increasing by how much. Therefore, that conclusion (high growth rate) was not based on actual data. It was simply a guess based on comparing the snapshot of fawn:doe ratio to the ratio in deer populations that are not similar to the deer in McCall, in a different environment. Ms. Berkley also stated that the "natural" winter "town deer" population is "likely very close to zero." That statement made no sense. Deer that live in McCall do not migrate. They have not been migrating for generations. Staying in McCall during the winter is what's "normal" to them. Whether or not Valley County in general is a natural winter range for mule deer is irrelevant. Saying that deer remain in town year-round "mostly due to feeding" is misleading at best. If that were the case, a feeding ban would ensure that deer that did not migrate before would magically start migrating somewhere all of a sudden. Not even Fish and Game believes that. They were also concerned that deer would simply starve to death if all feeding stopped (whether people voluntarily stopped feeding or forced by an ordinance that criminalizes feeding). Hence the previous plan of trapping and transporting the deer --a proposal many of us vehemently opposed, and now even Fish and Game scrapped it because of lice. If a feeding ban would magically make the deer migrate, the Council would not have to worry about deer starving to death or having to make the decision to kill the deer before they starve to death since they do not migrate (of course more palatable words would be used like "removing deer lethally"). This is why it is so important that the Council carefully considers both the short-term and the long-term implications of any decision it makes. Adopting an ordinance and criminalizing feeding the deer just kicks the can down the road, unless you figure out what happens after the ordinance is adopted. Are you going to kill the deer? Are you going to allow them to starve to death? I do not believe that there's an overwhelming support for a feeding ordinance from those who understand that a feeding ordinance will simply create other problems, and it will force the Council to have to make other decisions that many in the community vehemently oppose (like killing the deer or harming them in other ways). There's definitely no agreement on criminalizing feeding the deer. It is also misguided to believe that if people would just voluntarily stop feeding the deer, all issues would be resolved. If everyone (community members and visitors) would all suddenly stop feeding the deer, the result would be that the deer would likely starve to death during the winter. During the April 13th meeting, Ms. Berkley stated in her presentation that Fish and Game received "over 50" mountain lion reports in McCall. She admitted that it was not atypical for Fish and Game to receive reports of mountain lion sightings. Ms. Berkley did not provide an exact number and did not provide additional information about those reports. However, she did state that "likely" 3-5 mountain lions "reside" in town. It is unclear how a mountain lion's in -town residence is established. How do we know that they don't "reside" in Valley County and just visit McCall periodically during the night? Ms. Berkley did state that the mountain lions exhibit normal mountain lion behavior (activity mostly at night, they eat deer, not exhibiting aggressive behavior towards humans or pets). Mr. Royse stated that so far the mountain lion behavior is not concerned to them at all: "What we are seeing from mountain lions in McCall is not concerning at all." Ms. Berkley also said that these mountain lions are largely trying to avoid interactions with humans. Everything else is simply speculation and scare tactic. Ms. Berkley also reported that they received 40+ (no exact number) of dead or injured deer calls. Ms. Berkley did not give an exact number of calls concerning injured deer, nor did she give the exact number of calls concerning dead deer. She did not say whether all those calls were regarding dead or injured deer seen within city limits or also included calls about dead or injured deer seen outside city limits in the surrounding area. She did not say that those calls were about 40+ different deer (i.e. she did not say Public Comments Page 13 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A that Fish and Game accounts for multiple calls about the same injured or dead deer). Several people could have called about the same injured deer, and some of the calls could have been about an injured deer that later died prompting calls from others about a dead deer, when in reality only one deer was involved. Without accounting for repeated calls about the same deer, the number of calls, by itself, provided little useful information. If there is an issue with motorists hitting the deer with their vehicles, the first thing the City and the Chief of Police should do, is enforce existing speed limits. Crack down on those who speed and crack down on inattentive or careless driving. Why assume that it was the deer's fault that they were hit? Speed could be a factor, inattentive or reckless driving could also be a factor. Were the drivers driving at reasonable speed under the circumstances? Enforce existing laws before adopting new ordinances. This is what the Chief of Police's role should be. This is what the Council and City Manager should instruct the Chief of Police to do. His role right now seems more like the tail that is wagging the dog. The City could also investigate where the deer are hit and explore the possibility of lowering the speed limit or increasing fines in those areas. Instead of criminalizing giving deer an apple, instruct the Chief of Police to enforce existing laws. The City should also invest in several road/street signs: one at each entrance to the city, and signs at frequent deer crossing locations. These signs should have pictures of doe with fawn on them, flashing lights, and perhaps even some text warning drivers to slow down and drive carefully. The signs should be large so they are easily seen and read. SLOW DOWN WILD LIFE CROSSING SLOW DOWN RESPECT WILDLIFE AND PROPERTY The City could also see if there are ways to work with the Idaho Transportation Department. There could be informational posters posted around the walking trails and around town. The City could install devices that warn deer of oncoming cars. Fencing could be used effectively in some areas. There are a great number of non -lethal solutions that have not yet been explored and in which the City has not invested. The City should also enforce leash laws. Having walked a lot in McCall with our dog, almost every single time we encountered several people who did not have their dogs leashed. If the dog owners do not have control over their pets, it is more likely that the dogs run up to or after a deer, and of course if the deer does not appreciate that, it will be the deer that will be labeled "aggressive." During the April 13th meeting, staff said that the City had a $1,000 budget for education efforts. That is woefully inadequate, especially if the City considers the issue to be important (important enough to entertain the idea of considering an ordinance that would hit people with criminal penalties and/or large fines and would force the Council to have to kill the deer). If people are not even aware that the City has done some education outreach, then that effort has not been adequate. How can they be educated if they Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 14 of 26 Attachment A have not even heard or seen what has been put out to date? Education could also include information about deer resistant gardens, defensive driving, etc. Education is not a one-time thing, it must be ongoing. It is no surprise that many full-time and part-time residents, visitors, and long-time friends of McCall adamantly oppose the killing (lice or no lice) of the deer. Now that the trap and transport idea has been scrapped, and Fish and Game already warned that if feeding stops, the deer will likely starve to death, should the Council allow itself to be pushed to adopt a no feeding ordinance, then it will be put into a position to have to kill the deer. Likely a one-time killing spree will not suffice, it may be an annual killing spree. Will the Council allow people to shoot deer in town within City limits? It is easy to target someone or something once it is labeled a "pest." That is what some did with the deer here. It reminds me of the rabbit drives where people rounded up the rabbits and clubbed them to death. There are a lot of historical photos and some videos about the practice. Many of us would hate to see an annual shooting/clubbing of deer in McCall. Rabbit drives are not the proudest moments in Idaho's history. Idaho made national headlines in the 1980s: "About 800 men, women and children, armed with ax handles, baseball bats, tire tools and golf clubs, stretched across a mile of the desolate prairie near Mud Lake and rounded up jackrabbits which they claim have done an estimated $5 million in crop damage e...Many of the jackrabbits were beaten to death during the drive and others captured in a pen had their necks broken and their heads decapitated." https://www.idahopress.com/news/state/mud-lake-was-scene-of-1981 jackrabbit- killing/article f513a070-8cec-55ca-8ee2-f9a13a2e57fa.html A picture from the dustbowl of the practice of bludgeoning rabbits ("pests") to death. L Whether taking out the deer by hiring contractors to shoot them all dead, or saying that that is too expensive and allowing people to hunt down deer in town, or organizing an annual clubbing of Bambi, we are adamantly opposed to killing the McCall deer or harming them in other ways. We do realize that for some hunters it must be very frustrating that the town deer are off limits and "untouchable." We also realize that for some people hunting the town deer would be great fun. However, we should remember Public Comments April 27, 2023 Page 15 of 26 Attachment A that clubbing the rabbits also sounded like a great idea and was made into a family event at the time. Based on feedback from Fish and Game, the deer may even walk up to the hunters looking to kill them. Instead of getting an apple (which could be criminalized), they would get a bullet or an arrow into their flesh. No need to get up too early, drive to a remote location, just go into someone's backyard (with permission of course), shoot the deer on the spot, have a cup of joe at the Fogglifter Cafe, and brag about all the meat that is being donated "to feed the hungry." Of course we all know that these types of programs are never about charity meat. That is simply a red herring. One need not be against hunting in general to find killing of town deer highly objectionable. Even some avid hunters I know do not agree with the practice. Additionally, as some communities found out the hard way, the decision to invite armed individuals to wander neighborhoods, stalking and killing the town deer, pits neighbor against neighbor, can be a political hot potato, and can generate a lot of negative publicity for the town. We ask you to please take your time to study the issue, listen to all constituents, develop a well -thought out plan, budget resources accordingly, and implement that plan. Sincerely, -- C Edit Szanto, J.D., Ph.D. Public Comments Page 16 of 26 April 27, 2023 April 27, 2023 Regular Meeting - General Comment - Student Speeches Name Address Email Content Carter 415 Tucker Colorado St McCall Idaho 83638 tuckerc@mdsd.org Attachment A McCall has a major issue with potholes. One example is Wisdom Road, and I drive down that road whenever I go to hang out with my friend. On one of those drives, I was going 35 mph, which is the speed limit, and I hit a pothole. It ended up popping my tire and damaging my rim due to how deep it was. Luckily, I was able to get it replaced for free. Many more people have had experiences very similar to that where they hit a big pothole and they must get some part of their vehicle fixed, and it is not free. However, this problem is not unique to McCall. Places all over the United States have problems with potholes. According to the American Automobile Association, potholes caused 44 million drivers, on average, 406 dollars per person for repairs. That is almost 18 billion dollars in total. Potholes have the potential to cost many residents money as well. McCall needs a way to deal with potholes so that we can get this number down, and maybe even help other places. First, we will look at roads in McCall with potholes that desperately need repairs. Then, we will look at the problems potholes cause. Finally, we will look at ways to report those problems and fix them. There are many roads in McCall that have potholes, however, I have spoken to two McCall residents about roads that have given them trouble. I asked Trevor Dow, who has lived here four years; he said that Davis St could potentially cause damage to someone's car. He gets picked often for school and has experienced why the potholes could cause damage. The second resident I spoke to was Jack Aitchison, who has lived here for 16 years. He stated that the potholes on West Valley Rd are several feet long and up to half a foot deep. This has caused damage to his car such as a hole in the car's muffler and other damage to the bottom of the car. But what other problems arise from potholes not being fixed? Besides damage to vehicles, potholes can cause many more problems. An article titled "Is it illegal to patch a pothole? Can you be sued? Yes, but some in Jackson do it anyway." This article talks about how, even though it is illegal, citizens will patch potholes themselves and how unsafe and inappropriate it is to do so. A problem that can come from people fixing potholes themselves is safety. Someone could be fixing a pothole, and a distracted driver could be heading towards them and run them over. If this could happen in Jackson, Mississippi, who's to say it can't happen in McCall? The other part of the article is how people can get sued for fixing potholes. However, Jackson police do not do anything about it. McCall police would, and people who don't know that it is illegal could be fined an amount they might not be able to pay off. So, not only are there safety issues, but also financial issues that could be created by potholes not being fixed. Now that we've looked at the problems, let's look at a solution. A solution for less problems from potholes is a way to report them so they can get fixed more quickly. Pewtrusts.org talks about how places such as San Diego and Hartford are using an app for people to report potholes. By implementing this into McCall, the city could find where potholes show more every year and fix them before they become a bigger problem. Using this kind of tech and tracking the potholes, McCall and other places can have less pothole problems. I know potholes aren't McCall's biggest problem, but if I am being honest, they are very annoying. I am not alone in this. When asked, more than half of my class said that potholes are very annoying. Every other person and I in McCall see and deal with them every day, and it is pretty ridiculous considering they have an easy fix. Thank you. Public Comments Page 17 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content macy 13762 palmerm@mdsd.org City council and residents of McCall, Idaho, my name is Macy Palmer, I am palmer Nisula Rd submitting this comment to address a pressing topic that affects our McCall community: the local housing crisis. I have lived in McCall for about 16 years, Idaho and I have gotten the chance to watch as our population has grown, and 83638 McCall has changed. And to give you a little background on why I chose this topic is because this issue separated my family. I come from divorced parents and my mother had moved into a house off Davis Street in April 2021 and one year later the homeowners we were renting from told us we had 90 days (about 3 months) before they turned our home into an Air B 8t B. And due to the housing crisis, my mom could not find another house in our town pushing; her out to Boise; while we stayed here with my father. As we all know, McCall is a beautiful and vivacious small town that attracts tourists from all over the world. However, this reputation has put a strain on our local housing market, making it progressively more difficult for many of our residents to live with affordable and safe housing. The lack of affordable housing has caused many families to struggle, putting a hamper on people's finances and causing them to make difficult choices between paying rent, buying groceries, or even seeking medical care. Not only is this issue affecting families but local businesses: if we can't afford to live here businesses cannot find employees. While there is no straightforward answer to this tangled problem, we as a community can find a way to address it. We need to work together to find ways to increase the supply of affordable housing in McCall. One way to do this is by implementing Deed Restrictions. As quoted from a City McCall "Deed Restrictions place restrictions on the property for how an owner may use or resell the property. These restrictions can be similar to those found in community Land Trusts in promoting permanent affordability, like resale price control and income restrictions." (McCall Area Housing Study pg. 37) Additionally, we need to explore alternative housing solutions such as tiny homes, modular homes, and accessory dwelling units. As I found from the City of McCall "Theses homes are less than 1,000 square feet, though a true a "tiny" house is usually less than 400 square feet. While these homes are cost effective in their building cost alone, they also save residents money in most other housing cost that multiply with home" (MCCALL IN MOTION pg. 38) And Cont... about ADUs (dwelling units) "These improve rental options and availability with little extra cost to the city and extra income for residents, effectively improving affordability for existing homeowners. These smaller, more affordable housing options can be built quickly and efficiently, providing immediate relief to our housing crisis. But what are other small towns like ours doing to help alleviate housing issues? Well... In Crested Butte Colorado for the for time ever are implementing as quoted "The formal declaration — a mechanism typically used for natural disasters, or, more recently, a pandemic- could possibly open avenues for federal funding as well as streamline Frisco's budget policies to allow speedy re- allocations of funds towards housing." (Jason Blevins). Or they are also implementing an "Empty home fee" Also as quoted "There seems to be more local support for an "empty home fee," which would tax second homeowners who leave their mansions on town unoccupied except for a few weeks a year" (Jason Belvins) Now these are just a couple of options to consider. And the Empty home fee could be beneficial due to the fact that 73% of our home are owned by second homeowners. We must also advocate for policies that protect renters, such as rent control, security deposit regulations, and just - cause eviction laws. These policies can help ensure that renters are not exploited or forced to leave their homes without cause or warning. In conclusion, the housing crisis in McCall, Idaho, is a problem that affects all of us. We must come together as a community to find an accomplishable and realistic answer by incentivizing developers, exploring alternative housing options, and advocating for renters' rights by doing this we can take steps towards a more inclusive and sustainable housing market. Thank you. Public Comments Page 18 of 26 April 27. 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Ava Rinker 914 Valley rinkera@mdsd.org My name is Ava Rinker, and I have attended McCall Donnelly School District for Rim Rd the entirety of my school career. I care greatly for this community and am excited McCall for the opportunity to discuss ways to improve it. I would like to bring up the Idaho concept of waste and what we can do to play our part in bettering the 83638 environment. According to a NRDC website, around 28 percent of what we throw away is made up of food scraps and garden waste. This is valuable material that is being tossed aside in abundance year after year. That is why I would like to propose the idea of a community compost here in McCall. Now, this isn't a new concept. In a report produced for the City of McCall, written by Casey O'Leary, called "McCall in Delicious Motion", an idea for a community compost was presented by Kurt Wolf. The plan was to set up a compost area in River Front Park, an area where the soil quality was very poor "due to decades of extractive and polluting activities there", as stated by Kurt, in order to reduce the amount of waste heavily produced by McCall (which is described to be tons of grass clippings, wood chips, and other debris). The compost would be set in place to not only to reduce trash being thrown out but also to enrich the landscape with the compost produced. The only setback is time and money, with the general cost of this project estimated around $10,000. I do believe that this effort would serve to greatly improve our surroundings. Research has shown that composting not only does wonders for the soil beneath us, like preserving water and lessening erosion, but it also reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions which can help soothe the effects of climate change if done in large amounts, and also has shown to reduce trash volume by 30%. If we don't do something now, trash in our area is only going to keep growing with every passing year. I urge you to consider this opportunity with haste as this would provide a great service to McCall sooner rather than later. Public Comments Page 19 of 26 April 27. 2023 Name Address Email Content Attachment A Kayla Davis Ave kayelysea@gmail.com Anderson Y 110 McCall ID 83638 My name is Kayla Anderson, and I have lived in McCall for over 14 years. In McCall, I wish I could see more outdoor activities centered around the arts. McCall is well known for having many recreational activities year-round, including skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, skiing, boating, paddle - boarding, etc. These activities are very sporty and physically demanding, which may not appeal to everyone, myself included. Personally, I enjoy art and theatre, which means I don't really take part in these activities as much as others. Of course, we do have acting opportunities such as at the Alpine Playhouse, but I'd be more interested in a natural environment to enjoy the arts during the warm weather and not limited to indoors. Noticing this significant lack of outdoor areas that express my interest in acting, I started doing research into my ideal addition to the city: an outdoor amphitheater. During my research, I noticed that it has been in the Parks Improvements plan since 2005. The best price option I could find was for an outdoor amphitheater in Legacy Park, for a cost of 42,000 dollars. With its size and location, Legacy Park would be a fantastic place for an outdoor amphitheater. Since it is centrally located, art shows, fundraising, bands, etc. would bring together the community under something art based rather than sport based. McCall is ever growing, and a public, outdoor amphitheater that stays year- round would greatly influence performing arts in our town, and let people see just how creative McCall residents can be. Trevor 713 Fir St dowt@mdsd.org My name is Trevor Dow, and I have lived in McCall for 4 years. Dow McCall ID Before that, my family and I had visited periodically for 5 years, and 83638 I believe this has given me a unique experience. With this comment, I would like to address the lack of advertisement and community knowledge for events that happen throughout the community. For example, the Alpine Playhouse. As a proud member of the McCall - Donnelly High School Drama club I am very interested in everything they do, but I've only recently learned of their existence through fellow actors. After emailing Judy Anderson, one of the several volunteers at Alpine Playhouse, I've learned that yes, plenty of people go to see these performances with an average of 70 filled seats per night out of 100 seats. Still, a lot of people don't realize that we have an amazing way to express our theatrical abilities and/or experience incredible stories. Yes, this is a trivial problem but that means that there should be a trivial solution and there is. After talking with the communications director, Erin Greaves, I understand that there are several places in buildings to advertise for nonprofit events, but the lack of profit posting is odd. I'm not proposing that we allow profit posting in these buildings, but instead set up a separate area where it is available. I propose that a bulletin board be set up in a central, public place like Legacy Beach, for any offline advertisements for events or important dates for businesses and any other people. This has worked very well for the city of Boise. According to Idaho.gov, "The intent of this bulletin board policy is to help ensure the consistent and efficient use of public notification tools in the Capitol Complex. Our goal is not to prohibit use, but to preserve areas for proper use by everyone." This is exactly what I see our public bulletin board doing for our town, informing the residents in a professional way. Public Comments Page 20 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Kaeley 354 East Khiatt8115@outlook.com My name is Kaeley Hiatt, and I have lived in the McCall/Donnelly Hiatt Roseberry area for almost 9 years. Over the years I've experienced all the Road various kinds of weather, climate, and seasons that the area has to Donnelly offer. However, due to climate change our environment has been Idaho negatively impacted and we need to make it one of our top 83615 priorities. I realize McCall Is a small place that may not seem like it affects Climate change that much, however in the Draft 2018 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories, it says that 66 percent of our CO2 emissions come from residential energy. And that will only increase as more people move here. Our CO2 emissions have caused a widespread of things to happen. But one thing it has caused is our temperatures in McCall to rise, which in turn can cause a higher potential risk of wildfires. During the summer in past years, there's always been a wildfire season, but for the most part, it's a short season. But lately, the wildfire seasons just seem to be getting longer and longer. The smoke just keeps getting worse and worse. The climate change we experience here has affected my ability, as well as others, to go outside during the summer. In the Draft 2018 Greenhouse gas Emissions Inventories, it states that the endless amount of smoke that surrounds our town puts us at potential health risks. This summer I rarely went outside during the wildfire season due to it irritating my eyes as well as my throat. I had difficulty breathing whenever I was outside. We need to mitigate the effects of climate change within our community, or it will just keep getting worse. Our greenhouse gas emissions not only have increased wildfires, but they has also increased the algae blooms in our lakes. Now I know Cascade Lake isn't something you're entirely in charge of, however, Over the years, due to higher temperatures and warmer weather, the algae blooms in the lake have been growing increasingly at a faster pace. And these algae blooms can not only harm your pets, but also you as well. If we don't do something, our lake may end with the same fate as Cascades. I am aware that the council has their own ideas as to how we can combat climate change. But I do have a few ideas of my own. Due to much of our carbon emissions being from residential estates, I think if we found a way to incorporate renewable energy into the new homes that are being built. It would lower the percentage of CO2 emissions caused from residential homes. Now I am aware that due to the legislature in Idaho, the council isn't allowed to force people to build their houses in a certain way. However, we can make a Green Building Incentive Program. For example, Let's say if you design your house as a passive house, solar ready, EV ready, etc., then you can have a square footage bonus of a certain amount. Another possibility could be if you design your house like I stated before, then the council could offer aid with retrofitting things in your house like windows, ac units, insulation, etc. I urge the City Council to create an organization specifically for climate change made up of city officials and community residents. As a community, we carry the responsibility to address how climate change has affected us and how we can add a resilient community. The problem of Climate Change may seem small now, but if we ignore it, it will only become a larger problem for the residents of McCall as well as the city. Public Comments Page 21 of 26 Apnl 27. 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Morgan 467 Gold Moser Fork Rd Donnelly Idaho 83615 mosermo@mdsd.org My name is Morgan Moser and I'm a student at McCall Donnelly High School. I have lived in Valley County for five years. I would like to address the problem we have with our degraded roads in the City of McCall: potholes. First, I'm going to talk about the problems with the potholes and why they are bad for our vehicles, next where they are and last what we can do to fix them. First, everyone knows potholes are bad for our vehicles; they puncture tires and crack wheels in our cars. Larger potholes can cause collisions and severe injury. Cars aren't cheap and potholes make it worse. Potholes that have crossed my mind are the ones at Miners, when one tries to make a right-hand turn into traffic; Stibnite Street, when going up the hill into the left parking lot. Right before you go up the hill on Floyde Street, you can't avoid them. And Deinhard when making a right-hand turn into Ridleys. These are potholes I encounter every day, either going to school, the store, or work. However, we can address these problems by fixing them as soon as one appears, so it doesn't get bigger or worse. For example, Pewtrusts.org states pothole technology in Hartford Connecticut has a system of a pothole tracker app. Consisting of roads in the area that the individual can click on the road and then the city has a map of where to go and fix the roads. Considering our weather in the winter it would make sense to fix the potholes right as the snow melts. If we look at Shore Lodge for example and miners, you can tell the roads are considerably different. Since tourists go to Shore Lodge and the majority of locals go to miners why are we fixing the roads for the tourists and not the people who live here. Let's spend our money on the roads that need it most and the roads most people travel on. Public Comments Page 22 of 26 April 27. 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Leire 3570 Navarro Ridge Dr McCall Idaho 83638 leirenavarroji@gmail.com My name is Leire Navarro and I'm an exchange student from Spain at McCall Donnelly High School. I have been in this town for just a year, but I think that I could make this town a better place with some ideas I have been thinking about through all this year. Today I want to discuss the big problem that we have with sidewalks in this town. We need to think more about the people that can't drive and put up more sidewalks so that they can move around without depending on someone who can drive. According to McCall's website, the McCall City Council approved the implementation of a Downtown Sidewalks Maintenance Program at no additional cost to property owners through funding from the Local Option Tax. I'm happy that the City Council agreed to do this, but I think they should think through it a little more and expand the sidewalks until there are enough. There are a few sidewalks in our town, but they aren't very appealing. For someone wanting to walk, there must be good looking sidewalks. The sidewalks in our town are also very small. By this, I mean that only two people can walk together, there is not enough room for a third person. Sidewalks should be wider and that way it will be easier to walk, not only if there are many people walking together, but also if there is someone carrying a baby car or a wheelchair person going through. I have interviewed a few people and they all agreed that we need sidewalks in E Lake Street. There is no way to enter Albertsons without a car and we need to change that. People should be able to go to the grocery store on foot and breathe some fresh air. Making more sidewalks and making them look good and attractive will encourage people to use them and that will make our community healthier since people will do more exercise even if it's just to go buy a snack. Walking will also make them able to breath some fresh air and not go from a closed space to anther closed space; from home to the car, and from the car to the grocery store. As I previously mentioned, I am from Spain, Europe, and I don't find as much of a problem not being able to drive there. In Spain, the places are very close together and you rarely need to take the car. We have a lot of available public transportation too, which is very clean, so if it's raining you can travel more comfortably. Where I live, we have sidewalks everywhere and they are very appealing because most of them are decorated with trees or bushes. When I walk on those sidewalks, I feel better than walking on the ones that are here because here, I feel like I'm going to be run over by one of those cars that go right next to those tiny sidewalks. For example, from my personal experience, I find sidewalks very effective because I can't drive. I always have to find rides to get out of my house because I can't walk where there aren't any sidewalks. It is true that since many people here are able to drive, they don't see walking very efficient because it is slower, which makes them not care about sidewalks. The government doesn't receive many complaints, so they don't see it as much as a problem, although it is. I think this can help our town a lot and make our place a better community. Thanks for your attention. Public Comments Page 23 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Glenn 13075 richardsong@mdsd.org Hello, I'm Glenn Richardson, I live in Donnelly and go to school, and Richardson Hillhouse spend most of my time here in McCall. Through my time here, I've loop noticed a problem here come summertime. The Boat ramps are Donnelly always a mess, especially on holidays. Last year my sisters came Idaho home for Labor Day. They really wanted to go out on our pontoon 83615 boat and our jet skis. We drove out to the lesser -known boat ramp at ponderosa park, and it was absolutely crazy. After we sat in line for about 20 minutes, we finally got to a point where we could see the parking lot. The lot was full of boat trailers, and the spots that weren't already taken had someone standing there holding the spot for their trailer. We turned around and unfortunately my sisters didn't get to go boating. The fact of having all the boaters on Payette Lake confined to 2 boat ramps is very dangerous and a hazard to the community. If you look at the Cascade Reservoir, for example, It has Around 10 Boat ramps, in order to spread the boat traffic. I am proposing the construction of a new boat ramp on Payette Lake. Most of the coastline is either private property or not suitable for a boat ramp. A Possible site for a new boat ramp is the east side of north beach. The topography is flat enough for a boat ramp, and a large parking lot suitable for 30 boat trailer parking lots, and 40 car parking spots. The only difficult part of this location is there will have to be a 200 Ish yard walk from the parking lot to the ramp itself. According to Justin Kunde at Pacific West Construction. The estimated price for the parking lot and ramp would be just under 200,000. Which could be paid for by a pass to get into parking lot. This will also encourage the tourism of McCaII to spread to the North end of the lake and will also help more people experience the real McCall, and not just the small, centralized spots. Due to the expanded parking, and more traffic heading that way. Public Comments Page 24 of 26 April 27, 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Lydia 64 salmon wheatonl@mdsd.org My name is Lydia Wheaton and I live in Donnelly. I have attended Wheaton loop McCall Donnelly school district for 11 years, I get my groceries here, mccall id I obviously attend school here and have lived most of my life within 83638 the city limits of McCall, so this town is very important to me. I have always enjoyed going to the local beaches along the lake in the summer, and throughout the years I have noticed a growing problem. According to the official website of McCall, more than 60,000 tourists visit our town every year and it is still a growing number. This becomes a problem when they all want to visit the lake at the same time while beach space decreases. Each year I try to visit our lake in the summer, I am put off by the sheer number of people all crammed on the same strip of land, with seemingly thousands of children that don't even live here, scream at the top of their lungs disturbing the peace for everyone else. Every year the tourist population grows, it leaves less and less room for us locals to enjoy our own town along with our beaches and leaves us pushed out of our own home activities. This needs to change. It isn't fair to the locals who have lived here their whole lives, and it also isn't fair to the city workers, like my own father, who have to go clean up all the trash on the beaches from people who don't even live here. Nonetheless, there should be more beaches that have easier access for our local public. For Ponderosa Park beaches, there is a seasonal pass required which I think is an easily accessible system that allows our locals to be thought of first. We are more likely to buy the seasonal passes since we are more likely to be here year-round, while tourists are less likely to buy them considering that they probably won't use it more than a couple times a year. This system allows the locals to become first priority in enjoying Payette lake's natural beauty although it's still easily accessible to everyone else. I believe that this is a system that should be implemented on more of our beaches, not necessarily all of them or the main three that we have in town, but the more "hidden" gems, like Davis beach. We could also try creating funds for creating more public beaches off branching from warren wagon road this system to also account for the growing population of McCall in general. This would allow people who live here a chance to enjoy the two months out of the year we have summer weather. This is an issue that I believe needs to be addressed and talked about more in the community and thought upon more in the future. Thank you for your time. Public Comments Page 25 of 26 April 27. 2023 Attachment A Name Address Email Content Daniel 708 N 1st danieljackson192006@gmail.com Hello, my name is Daniel Jackson, Ijust wanted to thank everyone Jackson Street for their time today. I am going to start by giving you some McCall background on me. I have been a resident of Mccall for 17 years, Idaho and I have played sports my entire life. These include fall, winter, 83638 and spring sports. However, I have found myself and my teams falling short of those down in the valley, and areas where they can train year around. This is what brought me to advocate for an Indoor recreation center to be built in McCall. As I am sure everyone can see, especially this year, the snow in McCall lasts most of the year. Now this is great for those of us who like winter sports, but for the people who aspire to have a future in fall or spring sports that require grass, or a track, this makes it exceedingly difficult. I decided to further my knowledge of a solution to this problem that we have. After examining multiple city documents and realizing that the plan for an indoor recreation center had been in the works since before I was born; I was astonished that we had not created one yet. In a poll done by the City of McCall, in the "Pros Plan," drafted on November 16th, 2022, the community shared their opinion on what they would like to see added to the riverfront parkland. The number one request by the participants in the poll was an indoor recreation center. So, as you can see, the project is favored by the majority of McCall residents. The idea is not only the number one choice but also highly feasible. In the McCall Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a feasibility study was conducted which said that the project would cost somewhere between $13,000,000 to $16,000,000. The McCall Master plan also states how an indoor recreation area would benefit everyone. It says, "Development of a multi -generational/ multi -purpose recreation and community center could serve a diversity of functions and greatly enhance year-round livability and quality of life of McCall's Citizens, in addition to providing additional recreation opportunities for visitors." As the City of McCall clearly stated, the benefits of a recreation center would be seen by all that live and visit our town. As I have outlined, and I am sure you have been aware, we need an indoor recreation center to be built in McCall Idaho. We need an area where people can go to train, exercise, and connect when the winter months do not seem to end. I am not suggesting, and I am not advocating for you to consider our problem. I am proposing action, and after 18 years of having a plan in place to create a recreation center, it is time that we make that plan come to fruition. I ask you to understand the problem that I have detailed, comprehend the benefits I have outlined, and create a lasting impact on the community, its residents, and all who visit, with the addition of an Indoor Recreation Center to our beautiful town. Public Comments Pagc 26 of 26 April 27. 2023