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McCall, Idaho: Politics and Government IV
This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 McCall 1% sales tax debated In online poll Measure fell just short in election last November BY TOM GROTE The Star -News An online poll has allowed those who voted on the city of McCall's proposed 1 percent general sales tax to elaborate on their decision. The anonymous poll, which was held during December, drew 63 responses that were evenly split between "yes" and "no" voters. Voters went to the polls last November to decide whether to impose a general sales tax. If approved, the tax was expected to raise at least $1 million per year to repair city streets and the water and sewer lines under those streets. The measure needed a 60 percent majority to pass, but fell seven votes short. Respondents who voted in favor of imposing the tax frequently cited the city's deteriorating Infrastructure which, they said, needs immediate attention. "Having usable streets and underground infrastructure is critical to the overall health of the city, especially a town that thrives on tourism," one comment said. "Returning our major roads and downtown streets to gravel is not a responsible option, and continuing to defer maintenance will cost many times more in the long run," another comment said. Other respondents said they thought the proposed tax was equitable. "A sales tax spreads the burden to all, and not just to McCall property and business owners," one respondent said. "It's a no-brainer," another respondent said. "Like almost free money paid by all of the nonresidents who use McCall." Those who voted against the proposal felt differently about the faimess of the tax. "Paying for such needs with a sales tax that will disproportionately be paid by others Is merely another way of subsidizing the wealthy who need no such subsidy," one respondent said. "1 will gladly support the initiative when groceries are made exempt from the tax," another comment said. 'Nothing For Residents' Others who voted against the tax said the city did not clearly communicate how the money raised from the tax would be spent. "Call the initiative what it is, as to what it really is going to do. That is to fix downtown streets," a respondent said. "Nothing for the residents, everything for the downtown business district." "I and others I have talked to would be more open to this if there was some type of guarantee that this money would indeed make it to the street Improvements and infrastructure instead of another pocket park, dead-end sidewalks or bike paths," another comment said. Mayor Jackie Aymon said the responses were "not new or surprising. There is now and will always exist, misinformation and some confusion." Aymon understood the worries of some respondents about higher taxes. "This is all perfectly understandable," she said. "Increases in taxes makes it difficult on a lot of families." The mayor said she would endorse putting the measure back before voters in November, the soonest allowed under state law. "Our streets do not repair themselves and only get more expensive as time marches on," Aymon said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 1 /22/2015 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Judge throws out most of case by former McCall police chief Trial on claims of Jerry Summers set for April 7 BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A federal judge has thrown out most of the claims of former McCall Police Chief Jerry Summers in his wrongful termination lawsuit against the city. In an order issued last week, U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge ruled that all but two of the claims by Summers had no validity and could not be presented to a jury. A trial on the case is set for April 7. Lodge ordered the two sides to get together by Feb. 23 to settle the case or allow it to go to trial. Summers filed the lawsuit in April 2013 against McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski and all five members of the McCall City Council serving at the time. The lawsuit claims Drabinski fired Summers in February 2013 as an act of retaliation. City council members upheld the firing two months later because they said Summers and Drabinski could not work together. Summers wants a jury to give him his job back plus pay him unspecified damages for past and future income he would have eamed as a police chief. He had served as police chief since 2005. In his ruling, Lodge quoted a deposition given by Drabinksi in preparation for the trial. "I lost the will to have him employed, I lost confidence in his ability to the lead the police department, and it was clear to me that he was lacking the support he needed within this community to be able to fulfill it, even if he wanted to, Drabinski said. The judge allowed two claims by Summers to remain, both related to actions and statements by Drabinksi. Hostility Claimed One claim said that Drabinksi was hostile toward Summers and made an aggressive move toward Summers during a police department staff meeting in September 2012. In depositions, witnesses to the incident described Drabinski's actions towards Summers as "angry" with "fists clenched," "slightly aggressive," and "hostile." Lodge also allowed to stand a claim by Summers that Drabinksi distrusted him while Drabinski was an applicant to be elevated from interim city manager to permanent city manager. Lodge quoted Drabinski as telling a police department employee that there was a "conspiracy in the police department to keep him from becoming the city manager." The judge dismissed the other claims by Summers including: • That his firing was in retaliation for his investigation of the Valley County Sheriffs Office in 2012 over the jailing of a juvenile arson suspect. Summers recommended criminal charges against Valley County Sheriff Patti Bolen, but an independent prosecutor declined to file charges_ • That his firing was in response to a tort claim filed by Summers against Valley County commissioners in 2012 for what he said was libel and slander. Lodge also dismissed claims by Summers that his federal rights had been violated, including his right to free speech in supporting a candidate in competition with Drabinksi for city manager. Drabinski declined to comments on the judge's ruling. The attorney for Summers, Matt Williams of Cascade, did not respond to a request for comment. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 2/5/2015 Star -News News Page Lead Story Page 1 of 2 Speakers protest proposed downtown McCall apartments Seniors worry about changes if center goes into complex BY TOM GROTE and CHRISTIE GROB The Star -News Speakers at a public forum last week said a proposed workforce housing complex in downtown McCall was in the wrong place and would threaten the McCall Senior Citizens Center. Most of the two dozen speakers at the special McCall City Council meeting opposed Northwest Passage, the name of the 36-unit, three-story apartment complex proposed for city land behind McCall City Hall. The forum was held to help council members decide whether to tentatively endorse a long-term lease on the 1.7 acres of land for the complex, which would be priced to provide housing for lower -income families. Council members deferred a decision until tonight's regular city council meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. in the lower level Community Room at Idaho First Bank, 475 E. Deinhard Lane. Additional public comments on the project will be accepted tonight, with comments limited to three minutes per person. About 60 people crowded into the council's meeting room at McCall City Hall on Feb. 4 to listen to a proposal from VCD LLC and Northwest Real Estate Capital Corp. for the project. The group has a deadline of Friday to apply for federal low-income housing tax credits that will allow them to offer rents lower than current market rates. The long-term lease of city land for $1 per year also is vital to allow the project to the built, the developers said. No Obligation The council will decide tonight whether to approve a letter of endorsement for the project. The letter would allow the developers to obtain the tax credits but would not obligate the city to approve the project. Speakers were nearly unanimous in saying the city needed affordable housing for govemment, construction and service workers. But the majority of those opposed were worried about a central part of the proposal, which is to demolish the current McCall Senior Citizens Center and include a new center as part of the housing complex. The current center, built in 1979, sits where the proposed apartment would be built fronting First Street. Opponents were worried that seniors would be limited in the use of the new space which would be shared with residents of the apartments. "If they let those people come over and play with our pool tables while were eating and doing prayers, we are not going to have anything," said Helen Layton of Donnelly, a volunteer at the senior center. The 4,000 square feet of space proposed for the new center is less than the 4,700 square feet in the current center, senior center president George Pool said. The seniors need assurances they can continue to operate their Meals on Wheels program for shut-in as well as regular meals for senior and special events, Pool said. Misconceptions Noted The developers are determined that Northwest Passage does not live up to misconceptions of affordable housing, spokesperson Chase Hobbs of McCall. "There won't be broken-down vehicles and a burn barrel out front," Hobbs said. "We don't want that image. It's not the Bronx." He pledged to 'Work the long hours and night to make sure the senior center is taken care of." Other speakers said the city should not commit land that may be needed someday to expand city hall, the McCall Public Library or other city functions. "I do not think it goes at all with the neighborhood," said Wayne March, who lives on nearby Idaho Street. "This project will not fit with the city and will kill future development." Speaking in support of the project was Cynthia Peacock, who is a permit technician with the city. Peacock said she must commute from Cascade because she could not find affordable housing when she took the job a year ago. am a textbook picture of people looking for housing in McCall," Peacock said. "I would really like to http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/12/2015 , Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 2 of 2 be a part of the community more so than working here." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/12/2015 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 $2 Million Buys Peace of Mind McCall replaces 60 year -old pumping station near N.F. river BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Peter Borner will sleep better at night now that he has helped the city of McCall put $2 million into a 29-foot deep hole in the ground. That is the price tag for replacing a 60-year-old pumping station that is a key part of city's sewage collection system. The new Station 7 is located on Mather Road and will push one-third of the city's raw sewage under the North Fork of the Payette River and toward the city's treatment plant on Deinhard Lane. It is the river, and the nearby McCall Fish Hatchery, that makes replacing the station so important, said Bomer, the city's public works director. If the pumps fail in the current Station 7, located on the west side of the river, the city would have less than five minutes to take action before raw sewage spilled into the river. Ste Nem Pom by Tom Grote Chucker Earl of Granite Construction stands on top of the new wet well at the sewer pumping station under construction on Mather Road in McCall. That short time frame is due to the small collection well at the station, which holds less than 1.500 gallons. The biggest improvement in the new station is the size of its collection well, a large concrete cylinder which can hold up to 10,000 gallons of sewage if the pumps fall, he said. The city has been saving up monthly fees from sewer customers for the last nine years to complete the project. Part of the reason for the high expense was the excavation of the hole to fit the new pumps and well. A hole 35 feet long, 22 feet wide and 29 feet deep had to be dug with shoring installed keep it from collapsing on workers. The excavation and shoring alone cost nearly $500,000. That was due in large part to the closeness of a three -foot -diameter pipe only a few feet away from the project site that provides river water to the fish hatchery. If the pipe were to be damaged, it could threaten about 1 million summer Chinook salmon at the hatchery destined to be released in the South Fork Salmon River next April as well as 60,000 Rainbow trout, 70,000 Westslope cutthroat trout and 14,000 Golden trout bound for high mountain lakes. Pile drivers could not be used to place the pillars for the shoring because the pounding could damage the hatchery pipe, so drills had to be used to excavate the holes. The pumps in the new Station 7 are more powerful than the current station to handle the sewage from about 900 customers downtown and in the northwest part of McCall, Bomer said. The dual 50- horsepower pumps can also be easily upgraded for future growth. There is no fear of a power outage, as a diesel generator on site can provide backup power for as long as needed, he said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 2/12/2015 Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 1 of 1 McCall council rejects affordable housing behind city hall 3-2 vote comes after objection of senior center users, others BY TOM GKOTE The Star -News The McCall City Council last Thursday turned down a proposal to build a 36-unit apartment complex behind McCall City Hall that would be affordable to workers. The council voted 3-2 against endorsing a letter of recommendation for the Northwest Passage apartments requested by a development group. Council members Marcia Witte, Laura Scott and Nic Swanson voted against sending the letter, while Mayor Jackie Aymon and council member Bob Giles voted in favor. About 40 people attended the meeting in the community room of Idaho First Bank to present additional testimony to follow up on a public forum held Feb. 4 by the council. VCD LLC and Northwest Real Estate Capital Corp. were asking the council to endorse its application for federal low-income housing tax credits that would allow them to offer rents lower than current market rates. The developers also proposed a long-term lease of the city land along First Street for $1 per year which they said was vital to allow the project to the built. A central part of the proposal would have been to demolish the current McCall Senior Citizens Center and include a new center as part of the housing complex. The current center, built in 1979, sits where the proposed apartment would be built fronting First Street. The letter of endorsement would not have committed the city to the lease and the project would have undergone the normal city approval process. Aymon said the project would have served a vital part of the community's work force. `They will work and spend money in our town," she said. "They are the folks that bag the groceries, care for us when we are ill, plow our snow, serve our food and fight our fires." No Consensus But Swanson noted objections of senior citizens who were nervous about losing control over the proposed new space. "A project of this magnitude, of this size, would fill a great need, but there is a significant lack of consensus among our community," he said. "Where I stand right now, I am hesitant to move forward as it is submitted." Speakers last Thursday repeated objections expressed at the Feb. 4 forum, which drew a standing - room only crowd of 60 people to McCall City Hall. "If It happens we don't have any control over what we do over there, in a few years, the center would just disintegrate," John Lund of McCall said. "To destroy the seniors just so you can have housing doesn't make any sense" "Nobody objects to affordable housing, but we don't need it on that piece of land," Jean Odmark of McCall said. "Do you want to give it away for $1 without more investigation?" Three employers spoke in favor of the proposal. Kilmeny Parker of Dahlia - A Beauty Parlor and Craig Campbell of PLAYIive McCall both said they have lost workers due to the lack of affordable housing in McCall. "I am sure all the gray hair on my face has come from installing RV hook-ups, retrofitting housing, and struggling to find a place for my employees to live," said Gary Thompson of the McCall Outdoor Science School located on the University of Idaho McCall Field Campus. State pay scales limits the ability of workers to find suitable housing, Thompson said. Not A 'Bad Guy' Chance Hobbs of McCall, a spokesperson for the development group, said he did not want to be viewed as "this bad guy coming in and trying to tear down the senior center or take away city space." "I proposed it to the city so we could have this discussion," Hobbs said. " I plan to still live here, please don't oust me for just proposing something that is trying to meet a need." Swanson suggested a new effort for the comprehensive development of vacant land near city hall. "Can we put together some sort of (proposal) for housing mixed with offices or a new senior center?" Swanson said. "Is there another way to advance this particular ball down the road?" http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/19/2015 Star -News News Page Lead Story Page 1 of 2 McCall City Council comments on proposed work force housing project Here are excerpts from comments made by members of the McCall City Council last Thursday regarding the proposed Northwest Passage work force housing project behind McCall City Hall. The project was rejected on a 3-2 vote. Mayor Jackie Aymon - Voted Yes The right space, the right project' "As a councilor, I learned that change is hard. Stuff is expensive and the city is complicated. "It is easy to vote no and stay the course. There are few risks, less heartburn, better sleep and happier husbands. Everybody's happier, no changes were made, we did not raise taxes, we did not change the zoning code, increase the sewer and water bills and the boat did not rock. "Problem -solving is hard. Voting for change is always riskier. Somebodys boat is going to rock. In my mind, the council's job is to look out after the community as a whole. Everyone counts - kids, seniors, moms, dads, mechanics, grocery baggers, teachers, snow plow drivers and parks crews. We all have to be part of the equation. "When I look at the parking lot behind city hall, I know nothing new has happened in 30 years. It is unattractive and it's costly. When this project came before council I thought to myself, 'oh my gosh, someone has a plan, they have the money and experience to fill a need and it may be the beginning of revitalizing our downtown.' "I knew a letter of support to apply for funding would in no way hamstring the city. Personally, after a lot of sleepless nights and interaction with friends and neighbors, I believe this is the right space, the right project. 'The city gets to drive the bus and all interested parties will be on board. This is the first bus in 30 years to stop by with $5.9 million to invest in the heart of our town. Young people, less -young people, families, workers will bring energy and vitality to the heart of the city. "They will work and spend money in our town. They are the folks that bag the groceries, care for us when we are ill, plow our snow, serve our food and fight our fires. "We can have a community center that the city can only dream of. We will have landscaping, a playground, a partner in road repair and maybe a picldeball court. How about a climbing wall? "The city will save several thousand dollars in maintenance and upkeep in both the parking lot and the senior center. The project in no way impairs the expansion of the city campus. It may actually precipitate library expansion. "1 view this as an opportunity and a perfect use of public space. Someone said let the bus pass. It took 30 years for this one to arrive, I don't think we can wait another 30. Whether council votes in favor or against this project, the need exists, the conversation has begun and will continue." Marica Witte - Voted No 'We deserve to take some time' "The conversation in the room and the letters we have received reflects the conversation in my head. Conceptually I thought it was a good idea. When we started to get some public input, I heard those concerns, so I took a second thought about it. 'I keep going back and forth. It has been a really difficult decision. If I had to make a vote as an individual, I would probably come down on the side of voting for the project. I think it is a good use of the land. 'It is unlikely the land wokt be used for anything else in the near future. But as a representative of the public, I feel like a project of this magnitude on our city campus deserves to have more consensus. "I think we are trying to address a very long-term problem. I think we deserve to take some time to build more consensus and come up with a long-term solution that is more acceptable to the community." Nlc Swanson - Voted No There Is a significant lack of consensus' "I have gone along the emotional roller coaster. We want to do everything we can to facilitate development of affordable housing because we have a lot or work coming our way due to the uptick in the economy. "I do support some sort of housing on this space. The seniors deserve their space, they deserve their own autonomy. "A project of this magnitude, of this size, would fill a great need, but there is a significant lack of consensus among our community. Where I stand right now, I am hesitant to move forward as it is submitted." Laura Scott - Voted No 'There Is a huge downside' "I came in here undecided and I changed my mind multiple times listening to what was said. I think it would be a fabulous addition to the downtown. I would love to see people living there. 1 think it would be vibrant. "The seniors gave me pause because I heard that a stand-alone center was preferable and more likely to thrive. There is a huge downside for an 18-month displacement of them. We're not going to find another commercial kitchen in any temporary place. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/19/2015 Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 2 of 2 'I've got a concem with giving up this space and I've got a concem about the amount of parking that will be available, especially on the nights when there are 50 seniors parking for dinner at the same time that the residents of 36 units might come home from work. 'Probably my biggest angst is giving away a city asset to a for -profit developer. I am not sure that's what I should do for the people who put me here." Bob Giles - Voted Yes 'I've got a lot of confidence In our city staff 'I lot of the issues we have talked about tonight could be worked out in the planning phase. I would be in favor of moving forward. "I think that people can come together and work out most of those issues, if not all of them. I've got a lot of confidence in our city staff and in the developer being willing to do that, and I suspect the other people in the room who have issues would be willing to work on those as well." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/19/2015 Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 1 of 1 McCall council endorses expansion of The Springs apartment complex Project would double from current 36 apartments BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The Springs worker housing complex in McCall received an endorsement to double in size last week by the McCall City Council. Minutes after rejecting a similar project behind McCall City Hall on a 3-2 vote, council member unanimously approved a letter of endorsement for The Housing Company of Boise, which owns The Springs. The Springs, located at the end of Jacob Street, opened in 2011 with 36 apartments ranging from studio apartments to three -bedroom units and is fully rented. The tenants work in such occupations as schools, day care, medical care, hospitality, grocery stores, construction and automotive, while some of renters are retired, according to its managers. The Housing Company has applied for federal low-income housing tax credits that will allow it to offer low rents. Work could start as soon as this summer on the expansion if tax credits are granted, the council was told by Kathryn Almberg, housing development officer with The Housing Company. The first tenants could move in during the spring of 2016, Almberg said. The complex is built on 7 acres of land donated by Valley County and is approved for as many as 148 apartments. If tax credits for the second phase are approved, the mix of apartments would be similar to the current phase, she said. The current property has four studio units, eight one -bed units, 18 two -bed units and six three -bed units. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/19/2015 Star -News News Page_Lead Story Page 1 of 1 McCall slashes rules for extra living quarters next to homes Changes cut time for approval, encourage higher density BY TOM GROTE The Star -News New rules to make it easier to build a guest house or additional living quarters attached to a home or garage were approved last week by the McCall City Council. The changes were approved by a 4-1 vote to ease current rules that add time and costs to homeowners wanting to add Irving quarters for visiting relatives or to rent. The changes "provide another tool in the tool box of housing options in our community, City Planner Delta James told council members during their regular meeting last Thursday at Idaho First Bank. The change applies to any additional living quarters on the same lot as a main house, including attached living quarters, a separate guest house or an apartment over a garage, James said. Living quarters are defined has having a full kitchen, she said. Previously, homeowners had to apply for a special permit to add living quarters, a process that needed approval by both the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission and the city council. That process usually took four to six months to complete, James said. The new rules remove the requirement for a special permit but still require any additions to undergo design review by the city, she said. City rules on percentage of lot coverage, setback from property lines and height also will stay unchanged. The relaxing of the permit requirements also applies to duplexes, which are two living quarters under one roof. That change worried council member Marcia Witte. Duplex Worries Rules by the homeowners association in her neighborhood would likely prohibit duplexes, Witte said, but she offered an example of the possible effects of the relaxed city code. "We have an empty lot next to us and an empty lot across the street," she said. "If you put a duplex next to us and put a duplex across the street it would be a different feel." The city rarely receives applications to build duplexes because financing is difficult to obtain for duplexes, McCall Community Development Director Michelle Groenevelt told council members. Witte voted against the measure while council members Nic Swanson, Laura Scott and Bob Giles and Mayor Jackie Aymon voted in favor. "This allows for greater density in town and offsets the need for affordable housing; Swanson said. The council's ruling affects homes within the city limits. On Monday, March 16, Valley County commissioners will consider the code change for properties within the McCall Impact Area, which surrounds McCall and Payette Lake. The county hearing will begin at 11:30 a.m. March 16 at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 2/19/2015 This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 Online survey asks opinions of McCall Golf Course operations Questions ask about restaurant, pro shop, tournaments BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A new online survey by the city of McCall asks respondents to rate operations at the McCall Golf Course. The 19-question survey is scheduled to be posted today at www.mccall.id.us and asks for ratings of 1 to 5 on the operations of the pro shop, the course, the restaurant and toumaments. The survey closes March 13. Questions include whether respondents believe the restaurant has appropriate hours, menu and prices and whether the pro shop is properly staffed and trained. A space for written comments is also provided. An advance look at the survey was offered this month to those who are on the golf course's general e- mail list as well as members of the McCall Men's Golf Association and the McCall Ladies Golf Association. They survey was requested by the McCall Golf Course Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations on rates and policy to the McCall City Council. "The committee is concerned that the restaurant operation is not operating to its full potential," committee vice chair Roger Snodgrass said. Snodgrass found an annual satisfaction survey is part of the contract between the city and Allan Morrison, who has been the golf course professional and manager since 2003. Snodgrass could find no previous surveys, so the goff committee decided to put one together, he said. The committee will review the survey results and make recommendations to the city council for any improvements, Snodgrass said. Morrison does not get paid by the city, but his contract allows him to keep profits from the pro shop and restaurant. He is responsible for paying employees in the clubhouse as well as utilities and other costs. The city receives all money from golf fees, season passes and rental of golf carts, under the agreement. The current five-year contract expires in 2017. Morrison says he welcomes the survey and has no objections to any of the questions. "If the survey suggests changes that make business sense, I will gladly comply," he said. "If it does not make business sense, I would hope city council does not insist." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 2/26/201 S This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1 McCall to offer funding options for street repairs Public sessions planned to get public's views BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The public will be asked if funding other than a local sales tax should be used to repair McCall's streets, the McCall City Council decided on Friday. Council members authorized McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski to schedule "community conversations" over the next few months to gauge the public's view on funding options. During a work session at McCall City Hall, council members discussed what to do next after last November's defeat of a proposed 1 percent local sales tax to repair city streets and the water and sewers lines beneath them. The measure fell seven votes short of the needed 60 percent majority. Council members told Drabinski to outline alternative funding measures that could be used to repair streets in addition to a local sales said and to present that package to the public 'We have to ask them, 'here are the options - what do you think?'" Mayor Jackie Aymon said. The council also said the meetings should be used to test public opinion on expansion of the McCall Public Library. Support for library expansion was voiced earlier this month by opponents of an affordable housing project proposed behind the library. Under state law, the city cannot put the 1 percent tax before voters again before this November. Drabinksi said there needed to be more vocal support for the next measure than existed for the Nov. 4 vote. "There has to be more people in the war party," he said. Last Novembers proposal would have increased the current statewide sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent in McCall only for 10 years. The tax was expected to raise at least $1 million per year. Studies in other towns with local -option sales taxes said about 70 percent of the tax is paid by visitors with 30 percent paid by residents. In addition to streets, water and sewer, the new tax also would have been spent on sidewalks along heavily traveled streets as well as bicycle and pedestrian paths outlined in the city's master pathways plan http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 2/26/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Neighbors oppose `pine tree; cellphone tower on McCall Golf Course BY CHRISTIE GROB for The Star -News A proposed 120-foot cellphone tower made to resemble a pine tree on the McCall Golf Course ran into opposition from neighbors Tuesday night. The opposition led the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission to table the application until April 7. The tower and a 312 square -foot equipment shelter is proposed for a wooded area at 925 Fairway Drive. The tower would be disguised to resemble a pine tree and the shelter would be obscured by an existing stand of trees as well as enclosed by a 6 foot wood fence and several new trees, according to the application. The tower is needed increase the capacity of emergency 911 calls as well as provide better coverage for Verizon Wireless users, according to the applications. Opinion was split among the 11 citizens giving comment either by email or in person during Tuesday's public hearing. Those supporting the tower hope it will supply better service for areas where dropped calls or no service happens frequently. Raorechnoun Assoctales Photo shows a cellphone tower disguised as a pine tree similar to what is proposed to be built on the McCall Golf Comte Opponents expressed worries ranging from reduced property values, noise and possible health threats. In an email, John and Angie Lanterman of McCall said they enjoy walking on the path along the project site and that the tower would "forever ruin the wilderness' of the area. "I don't know many people would want to live near a cell tower, including the person bringing it in here" said Robin Richards -Grove of McCall. Ted Simplot of East Lake Street described the golf course as "a gem" and said the planned tower was in direct conflict with the intended use of the land, which was donated by the Brown family to the city in 1939. Commissioners tabled the application until April 7 and asked the applicant to provide photos of the area with an image of the proposed tower superimposed. A report on the sound levels produced by the cooling system of the equipment building also was requested plus information on health threats for cell towers located near homes. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 3/5/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall P&Z likes Shore Lodge worker housing in former Payette building BY CHRISTIE GROB for The Star -News The conversion of the former Payette National Forest headquarters on Lakeside Avenue into offices and worker housing was endorsed Tuesday night by the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioners recommended approval of the project to the McCall City Council after endorsing the removal of one proposed condition at the request of Shore Lodge. No date has been set for the council to hear the proposal. Plans call for the westem wing of the building, about 20 percent of the total floor space, to be converted into a dormitory that can house 26 employees. Most of the 24,000 square -foot building would become the corporate offices for Shore Lodge. McCall attorney Steve Millemann, representing Shore Lodge, disagreed with two of the conditions placed on the proposal by city staff. One proposed condition would restrict Shore Lodge from building access to the property from Boydstun Street. Another condition would block development on a section of the property with wetlands. "We want to ensure the continued safety of bicyclists and drivers along this collector," city planner Delta James told commissioners. Millemann said both conditions were unfair because they would forbid any future proposals, even if they were reasonable. "If I were you I would hate to make a decision on something without having an application before you," Millemann said. Development of the wetlands was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and not the city, he said. Millemann proposed a 20-foot setback for any future development near the wetlands. No members of the public spoke during a hearing on the application. The commissioners recommended that the city council drop the ban on access to Boydstun Street and that an agreement be drafted on future development of the wetlands. Adding the new building would mean Shore Lodge would have housing for up to 98 employees. The lodge now owns a condominium with 36 beds plus a dormitory and bunkhouse providing up to 36 beds for employees. The lodge also provides housing to many of the 200 seasonal employees that work four months during the summer and two to three months during the winter. The Payette forest left the building last summer when it moved into its new headquarters on Mission Street across from McCall -Donnelly High School. The Lakeside Avenue building had been leased by the Forest Service, and Shore Lodge purchased the building from its former private owner. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 3/5/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 Summers case goes to trial next week Former McCall police chief claims he was wrongly fired BY TOM GROTE The Star -News More than two years after he was fired as McCall police chief, a federal lawsuit by Jerry Summers against the city of McCall will go to trial in federal court in Boise next week. Jury selection is scheduled to start Tuesday in U.S. District Court on the claims by Summers that he was wrongly fired. Summers filed the lawsuit in April 2013 against McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski and all five members of the McCall City Council serving at the time. The lawsuit claims Drabinski fired Summers in February 2013 as an act of retaliation. City council members upheld the firing two months later because they said Summers and Drabinski could not work together. J� Gene Drabinski, left, Jerry Summers, right Summers wants a jury to give him his job back plus pay him unspecified damages for past and future income he would have eamed as a police chief. He had served as police chief since 2005. In January, U.S District Judge Edward Lodge threw out all but two of the claims by Summers at the request of the city. Lodge ordered the two sides to talk about a settlement, but Summers elected to continue with the trial. The two claims by Summers that Lodge allowed to remain both related to actions and statements by Drabinksi. One claim said that Drabinksi was hostile toward Summers and made an aggressive move toward Summers during a police department staff meeting in September 2012. In depositions, witnesses to the incident described Drabinski s actions towards Summers as "angry" with "fists clenched," "slightly aggressive," and "hostile." Lodge also allowed to stand a claim by Summers that Drabinksi distrusted him while Drabinski was an applicant to be elevated from interim city manager to permanent city manager. Lodge quoted Drabinski as telling a police department employee that there was a "conspiracy in the police department to keep him from becoming the city manager." The judge dismissed the other claims by Summers including: • That his firing was in retaliation for his investigation of the Valley County Sheriffs Office in 2012 over the jailing of a juvenile arson suspect. Summers recommended criminal charges be brought against Valley County Sheriff Patti Bolen, but an independent prosecutor declined to file charges. • That his firing was in response to a tort claim filed by Summers against Valley County commissioners in 2012 for what he said was libel and slander. Lodge also dismissed claims by Summers that his federal rights had been violated, including his right to free speech in supporting a candidate in competition with Drabinksi for city manager. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 4/2/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 Witness says Drabinski took 'boxer's stance' toward Summers Jury trial begins in former McCall police chiefs federal lawsuit "He told me that I needed to get on the bus or he would get me fired." —Jerry Summers BY DAVE GOINS for The Star -News McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski went into a'boxer's stance" with his fists at his side toward former McCall police chief Jerry Summers in 2012, a witness in a federal trial said Wednesday. Sandy Ryska, support service supervisor at the McCall Police Department, told a six -person jury in U.S. District Court in Boise that Drabinski also yelled at Summers during the meeting, which was held to discuss an online public survey on the department. Ryska and two others reported the incident to the city's human resources department. "I felt that it was extremely unprofessional and I just felt that the behavior I had witnessed just didn't have any place in the workplace," she said. The trial was expected to continue today in the lawsuit by Summers, who was fired by Drabinski in February 2013. Summers claims he was fired for reporting workplace hostility by Drabinski as well as reporting Drabinskl's driving violations. An incorrect summary of the claims was reported in The Star -News last week. Summers, 56, who is seeking reinstatement as well as payment for damages, took the witness stand on Tuesday. 'Mr. Drabinski toll me that he believed I had done everything I could to keep him from getting the city manager job," he said, recounting a December 2012 conversation. "He questioned my loyalty." Summers said that during the same conversation, Drabinski told him that in his role as interim city manager, he had earlier tried to get Summers fired. "He told me that he had attempted to get me fired, but as the interim city manager he couldn't get the city council's support and that I needed to get on the bus or he would get me fired," Summers said. Resign or Be Fired Summers, who joined the police department in 1997, said that Drabinski told him during a January 2013 meeting that, "he (Drabinski) was going to be seeking my termination and I would have an opportunity to resign or be fired." Drabinksi fired Summers in February 2013 and the termination was upheld by the McCall City Council in April 2013. Summers had been chief since 2005. Det. Brian Koch told the jury that he recalled having two meetings with Drabinski, including one before Summers was placed on administrative leave. 'I remember him (Drabinski) saying there was a conspiracy to keep him from getting that (city manager) position — within the police department," Koch said, speaking of the earlier meeting. Summers also testified about the 2012 staff meeting recounted by Ryska. "As he was coming towards me, 1 felt he (Drabinski) was going to strike me; Summers said. "1 was concerned about it." Koch and another McCall Police Department officer who testified before the seven -person federal jury Tuesday said they didn't recall Drabinski having clenched fists when he approached Summers. 'Appalled' at Behavior But Sgt. Brian Holbrook testified that Drabinski got angry, "and stepped forward, pointing his finger and yelling something at Summers." "I was just kind of appalled that that kind of professional behavior would ensue," Holbrook said. "I'd never seen anything like it. It just kind of made me sick to my stomach." During questioning by Bentley Stromberg, the Lewiston attomey representing the city, Summers said, "Once he (Drabinski) stopped, I had no fear after that." The incident lasted about 15 seconds, he said. Summers said he advised Drabinski in October 2012 about the need to reinstate his revoked driver's license from Massachusetts. On cross-examination, Summers said that Drabinski had voluntarily disclosed to him the problem with the driver's license, which was revoked for not paying an excise tax. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 4/9/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 . "He (Drabinski) said 'Do what you've gotta do,'" Summers said, recalling a later conversation with Drabinski. Koch said he made a report to the Idaho State Police after he had twice observed Drabinski driving on the revoked driver's license. Summers, now a Caldwell resident, said that since his termination he has worked in the insurance industry and is now training on a job, but wants to retum to law enforcement. The city's legal expenses in the case are being paid by Its insurer, the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 4/9/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 Jury awards $400,000 to McCall ex -chief Summers Federal panel says police chief wrongly fired by Drabinski, city council "We are going to put this issue in our rear-view mirror and move forward Jackie Aymon BY DAVE GOINS and TOM GROTE The Star -News A federal jury in Boise last Friday awarded $400,000 to former McCall Police Chief Jerry Summers, saying he was wrongly fired from his job two years ago. The jury said McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski fired Summers in retaliation for Summers reporting a hostile move Drabinski made toward him in a 2012 meeting and for reporting that Drabinski was driving with a revoked driver's license. The jury ruled that Summers, 56, is entitled to collect damages of $400,000 for "the reasonable value of wages, salaries and benefits." That number was split at $200,000 each for past and future lost compensation. "I am thrilled the jury saw through the false reasons provided by the city of McCall to justify my termination," Summers said in a statement. 4 Jerry Summers, left, Gene Drabinski 'It was very important to me that my reputation as the chief of police be restored, and I am thankful the jury decision restored that reputation," he said. Mayor Jackie Aymon said she was "disappointed" with the verdict but that the city would not appeal the jurys decision. "We are going to put this issue in our rear-view mirror and move forward," Aymon said. The $400,000 and the city's legal costs will be paid by the city's insurance company, the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program. Drabinski defended his actions, saying he did "what I believed was the right thing, and I did it in what I thought was the right way." 'The Boise jury decided I was wrong about the second part, and I must honor their verdict, he said. "The first part will be judged by our police department and our community, and I will honor their verdict as well." Cascade attomey Matt Williams, representing Summers, said the McCall City Council took inadequate action when Drabinski began retaliating against Summers. "Ignorance and arrogance is a dangerous combination," Williams said. 'The McCall city manager and the McCall City Council had a healthy dose of both." Williams said that in addition to the $400,000 judgment, he will submit a claim for at least $100,00 for his attorneys fees and costs such as hiring expert witnesses. Originally, Summers sought to be reinstated to his former job, but that claim was dropped by the time the trial started because he was forced to move from McCall, Williams said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 4/ 16/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 Clash of Personalities Testimony in Summers trial details leadership tug-of-war '7 walked toward Jerry and pretty much told him 'Sit down and shut up. ' And he did " Gene Drabinski BY DAVE GOINS for The Star -News Jerry Summers was fired as chief of the McCall Police Department despite getting seven years of strong performance evaluations, the attorney for Summers told a federal jury in Boise on Friday. In his closing arguments on Friday, Cascade attorney Matt Williams said Summers was fired in February 2013 for what then -interim McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski said were Summers' efforts to block him from getting the manager's job permanently. "In Mr. Drabinski s own words: 'I want to terminate you for trying to keep me from getting that job,'" Williams told the jury in U.S. District Court. "And the reports came right at the time he (Drabinski) was applying for that job." The jury awarded Summers $400,000 on his claims that he was wrongfully fired for reporting that Drabinski had been hostile toward him and had been driving with a revoked driver's license. The McCall City Council hired Drabinski as the permanent city manager in November 2012 after serving an interim manager for three months. McCall's attorney, Bentley Stromberg of Lewiston, disavowed any connection between the reports and the firing of Summers. "There's no evidence (they) had anything to do whatsoever with the termination," Stromberg said. "It's just desperate speculation." 2012 Confrontation Drabinski, 70, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army, testified earlier in the week about his confrontation with Summers during a staff meeting in September 2012. He became angered at what he believed was resistance by Summers to the results of an online survey on the police department. "I walked toward Jerry and pretty much told him 'Sit down and shut up.' And he did," Drabinski said, later acknowledging that Summers was already seated. Drabinski also admitted that he lied to Summers shortly before firing him by telling him that four of five city council members supported his ouster. "I stated it in manner that was untrue," Drabinski said. "But my intention was I wanted him to go quietly." Members of the city council testified that one reason they voted in April 2013 to uphold Drabinski s firing of Summers was that an ineffective working relationship existed between he and Drabinski. "It was clear that Gene Drabinski and Jerry Summers weren't going to have a productive working relationship," council member Marcia Witte said. "I felt that we could benefit from new leadership in that department." Earlier, police support service supervisor Sandy Ryska recalled a statement made by Drabinski. "He said that Chief Summers had done everything in his power to keep him from being hired as city manager," Ryska said. Sgt. Peter Rittenger testified he had a similar conversation with Drabinski. "He said that he was hoping to work with Jerry Summers but he didn't think that was gonna be possible and that he (Summers) was a dead man walking," Rittenger said. Drabinski testified that it was his view that Summers was trying to damage his reputation. "Chief Summers was working actively to denigrate me and my reputation within the police department," Drabinski said. "I believe that Mr. Summers had worked to make sure I wasn't successful." Summers had a reputation of "drama king" within the police department, and was not committed to making improvements in the department despite the poor survey showings, Drabinski said. "Sure, he came to the meetings, but he was not pulling with an oar in the water," he said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 4/16/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 McCall P&Z says city should reject golf course cell tower Crowd at Tuesday meeting voice variety of complaints BY CI IRISIIE GROB for The Star -News A 120-foot cellphone tower should not be built on the McCall Golf Course, the McCall Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday night. The commissioners unanimously voted to recommend that the McCall City Council deny the application to build the tower between holes No. 3 and No. 4 of the Aspen course. "There are a lot of 'what ifs'" commission Chair Fallon Fereday said A new hearing will be scheduled in front of the McCall City Council, but no date has been set for that hearing, McCall City Planner Delta James said. About 70 people attended the P&Z meeting at the McCall -Donnelly High School commons, with many of them testifying against the proposal. The hearing was the second held on the proposal. After the first hearing on March 3, it was discovered that Verizon did not properly notify neighbors of the project, so a second hearing was scheduled Verizon wants to build the tower, disguised as a pine tree, with a 312 square foot equipment shelter on the section of the golf course near Lick Creek Road. The tower is needed to improve cellphone service in that part of town, according to the application. Verizon representative Doug Kofford attended the meeting to answer questions from the commissioners and public. "There are a lot of interesting conversations," said Kofford of questions raised at the first public meeting in March. Kofford spent much of his time rebutting issues raised at the previous hearing and a informal neighborhood meeting held last month. Among those was the question of property values which Kofford stated would not be affected, according to studies he had researched. Complaints among those who attended the meeting ranged from not only property values but also health dangers due to transmissions and destruction of nature. Robert Lyons of McCall read from a list of conditions created in 1939 when the land for the golf course was deeded to the city. Lyons said that the land was intended as a golf course and any construction on it to be "golf related." Dan Lewis of Carico Loop said that, as a real estate agent he is required to disclose the proximity of such a tower to prospective buyers. "Failure to disclose could result in a lawsuit," said Lewis, who also warned of a possible 10 percent loss of value to neighboring land owners, according to his research. Judy Van Komen of Syringa Drive and a member of the McCall Golf Advisory Committee said the construction would "destroy the integrity of the golf course". Lou Bias of Fairway Drive told the commissioners he wasn't opposed to a cell tower but was opposed to the location, saying further he didn't feel Verizon was "very smart." "1 own Verizon stock and I think I'm going to sell It," Blas said Potential health dangers are not allowed as a sole reason for denial, under federal regulations. But that didn't stop several speakers from voicing their concern for electromagnetic field emission. RoseAnn Reeder of McCall read from safety instructions included in cell phone packaging from the carrier warning of exposure to EMF from operation of cell phones. "Cell phone carriers are fully aware of the risks," said Reeder who further predicted future lawsuits. An attempt to measure the support of locals was made by Verizon on May 1, when Verizon customers received a text from the company asking for a "yes" or "no" vote on the proposed tower. The poll results were 514 votes in favor and 59 opposed, Kofford said. The validity of the poll was called in to question when several in the audience who returned a "no" vote said they received a message stating the carrier was unable to receive their vote. "How many of those 'no' votes were sent as 'yes' votes," asked Devon Barker -Hicks of Woody Lane. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/archive_2015/05_07_15_webedition/Copy%20of /o... 5/16/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 McCall pulls the plug on Verizon cell tower Application withdrawn after neighbors, P&Z rap proposal "The process worked exactly as designed " - Gene Drabinski BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A proposal to build a celiphone tower disguised as a pine tree on the McCall Golf Course has been withdrawn by the city of McCall. The project was scrapped by the city's community development staff after strong public opposition and a recommendation on May 5 by the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission that the McCall City Council reject the proposal. "The city, as the property owner and applicant, has withdrawn this application," McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski said. "The city is not currently evaluating altemate locations on city property." Verizon Wireless asked the city for permission to build the 120-foot tower in a stand of trees between Aspen holes No. 3 and No. 4 on the golf course near Lick Creek Road. Had the tower been built, the city and Verizon had agreed to $36,000 per year in lease fees, which would have been used for golf course improvements, Drabinski said. But two public hearings before the P&Z and an informal meeting among neighbors to the site produced opposition from nearby home owners who feared the tower would erode property values, damage the environment and possibly be a health danger. City staffers were persuaded by the P&Z's findings that Verizon did a poor job providing specific information on why the tower was needed on the golf course and whether or not property values would be hurt, Drabinski said. "This project demonstrates that the due process allows controversial proposals to be vetted and considered by the appropriate decision making bodies," he said. The city could not have anticipated the opposition to the cellphone tower, Drabinski said. "Until applications such as this have full exposure, no one can fully anticipate all questions," he said. "There Is, in my mind, nothing negative about a robust discussion of such a proposal. The process worked exactly as designed." If Verizon comes back with another proposal, the city will be better prepared, he said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 5/21 /2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 Still Looking Verizon will continue to look for sites for a tower in the McCall area, said Meagan Dorsch, a spokesperson for the company in Greenwood Village, Colo. 'Demand for data service is also increasing rapidly and we will continue to look for ways to invest in our network to expand coverage and increase capacity," Dorsch said. "We look forward to working with the community to find a solution that will meet local needs," she said. Meanwhile, Verizon has applied to build a 150-foot cellphone tower in Donnelly. The proposed location is off Eld Lane on city -owned property adjacent to the sewer ponds operated by the North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District. A public hearing on the tower is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, June 1, at the Donnelly Community Center before the Donnelly Planning and Zoning Commission. The application can be viewed at Donnelly City Hall and written comments can be sent by May 29 to: donnellycityclerk@frontiernet.net. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 5/21 /2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall begins search to replace Drabinski as city manager Schedule calls for new manager to be in place this fall BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The search for a replacement for McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski was officially started last week by the McCall City Council. The council approved a plan by Human Resources Manager Traci Malvich that would see Drabinski's replacement on the job no later than the middle of October. Drabinski was hired as interim city manager in July 2012 when former city manger Lindley Kirkpatrick resigned. He then applied to be the permanent manager and was hired to the post on Dec. 1, 2012. At the time, he told council members that he Intended to serve no more than three years. The city will place advertisements in various publication for the Job but will not hire a search firm, Malvich told council members during their regular meeting at McCall City Hall. Under the planned schedule, applications will be due June 26 with the first round of screening by a committee of council members to be done by mid -July. Finalists will be interviewed over Internet video conferences with invitations to visit to McCall Issue to the top candidates following the video conferences. A public reception for the top finalists and in -person interviews would be held in late August, after which the council would make an offer to its preferred candidate. The recruitment brochure drafted by Malvich says applicants should hold a bachelors degree in public administration or related field, but that a master's degree is preferred. Applicants should have five years of senior management experience with a city or have managed several departments in a related field. Experience with 10 years preferred, the brochure said. Skills Listed Desired attributes are leadership skills, a history of sound decision -making, dedication to open communication and a "demonstrated ability to foster a collaborative, creative and respectful work environment," the brochure said. The brochure says the current salary range for the city manager starts at $90,750 per year. Drabinski currently eams $97,718 per year. A survey of other cities in Idaho and the Northwest by Malvich showed the proposed salary Is less than what is paid elsewhere. Salaries of other city administrators or city managers surveyed included Hailey ($101,000), Ketchum ($160,000), Moscow ($130,000), Bandon, Ore., ($104,000), Hood River, Ore. ($135,000), and Chehalis, Wash., ($135,000). The city govemment of McCall has 73 permanent employees with 20 to 25 seasonal employees hired each year, the brochure said. The city's current budget totals $17.5 million, which funds 10 departments. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 5/21 /2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Minimum -wage backers in McCall gather enough signatures Petition now goes to McCall council to be placed on ballot BY TOM GROTE The Star -News An effort to raise the minimum wage in McCall has passed its first hurdle, as supporters have gathered enough valid signatures on a petition to place the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Valley County Clerk's Office verified 419 signatures on a petition submitted by a citizens group known as FairWageMcCall. The minimum number of signatures that needed to be validated was 196, Valley County Clerk Doug Miller said. The initiative will now go to the McCall City Council, which will decide to place the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. The item is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the council at its regular meeting June 11, McCall City Clerk BessieJo Wagner said. If the measure passes, employers and workers inside the McCall city limits would see the minimum wage rise from the state -imposed level of $7.25 now to $8.75 on Jan. 1, 2016, and then to $10.25 on Jan. 1, 2017. The current state minimum wage of $3.35 for workers who receive tips would rise to $6.56 in 2016 and $7.68 in 2017, under the initiative. FairWageMcCall estimates 700 workers in McCall, or about one-third of the total, hold jobs that pay less than $10 per hour, "This November the people of McCall, unencumbered by political maneuvering or special interests, will decide whether or not to raise the minimum wage in McCall," a statement by FairWageMcCall said. Proponents of the initiative said passage would spur the local economy, reduce employee tumover and training costs, and increase employee loyalty. McCall would be the first city in Idaho to adopt a local minimum wage if the measure reaches the ballot and is passed. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 5/28/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 McCall council likes MCPAWS, buses for LOT $755, 000 sought for expected $340, 000 available BY TOM GROTE The Star -News MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter and Treasure Valley Transit are at the top of the list to receive money under McCall's local option tax, McCall City Council members said last week. During their regular meeting last Thursday, council members gave direction to members of the McCall Local Option Tax Advisory Commission, which will meet next week to make a recommendation on spending the funds. A total of 34 eligible requests have been submitted for the local -option tax, which is a 3 percent sales tax added to the bills of motels, condo and house rentals, campgrounds and other lodging less than 30 days within the city limits. Those requests total $755,520 but the tax is expected to raise between $340,000 and $390,000 in the budget year that starts Oct. 1, according to city estimates. The advisory panel will hear presentations from the applicants over three days starting on Monday and make a recommendation to the council to consider at its budget work session on June 12. Council members gave top priority to MCPAWS and Treasure Valley Transit because those two groups have counted on the local -option funds each year for their operations. MCPAWs has requested $50,000 next year while Treasure Valley Transit, which operates McCall Community Transit, has requested $45,000. Forum Direction The council then told the commission to allocate the rest of the money according to the findings of a public forum on the local -option tax held on Jan. 13. That forum, attended by about 40 people, said the tax should be evenly divided among city department projects, for encouraging tourism and for community investments such as cultural events and snowmobile grooming. The forum was scheduled following an outcry from nonprofit groups when the council last fall discussed limiting spending with the tax to only city projects. Mayor Jackie Aymon also endorsed $25,000 for the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau which would be used as matching funds to obtain a $250,000 tourism grant from the Idaho Travel Council. Aymon also urged approval of $35,280 for the city's parks, police and public works departments to help pay for expenses associated with major events such as the Fourth of July and the McCall Winter Camival; and $18,000 for direct costs to administer the tax. Here is the list of applications for the 3 percent local -option tax for 2016: • McCall Community Tennis Association: $18,000 to rebuild public tennis courts. • Treasure Valley Transit: $45,000 for public transit. • Alpine Playhouse: $5,000, building improvements. • Payette Lakes Ski Club: $10,000, grooming for Bear Basin Nordic Center. • MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter: $50,000 for operating expenses. • Payette Lakes Community Association: $950 for "Fun Day at the Park" for the Fourth of July 2016. • McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: $20,000 for fireworks for McCall Winter Camival and Fourth of July fireworks over Payette Lake. • McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau: $25,000 for matching for Idaho Travel Council grant. • McCall Music Society: $4,500 for SummerFest 2016. • Manchester Ice and Event Centre: $24,500 for maintenance of ice refrigeration equipment. • Idaho Hockey Foundation: $10,000 to support the Idaho Junior Steelheads junior amateur hockey team. • McCall Senior Citizens Center. $4,000 for gutters and downspouts to keep walkways clear of ice in winter. • River's Crossing Homeowners Association: $4,920 to improve pedestrian pathway. • McCall Folklore Society: $3,000 to support free summer music series at Depot Park. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/4/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 • • McCall Arts and Humanities Council: $2,570 for the council's Cabin Fever educational program. • McCall Area Snowmobilers: $37,500 for snowmobile trail grooming. • McCall Nordic Ski Club: $6,000 for the McCall ReMastered Nordic ski race. • McCall Winter Sports Club: $5,800 to stage Big Mountain and Tri-Divisional ski races. • McCall City Clerk: $18,000 for administration of the local -option tax. • City of McCall: $35,280 for city costs from major events such as McCall Winter Carnival and Fourth of July. • McCall Parks and Recreation Department: $70,000 for renovations at Rotary Park. • McCall Parks and Recreation Department: $120,000 for playground equipment at Brown Park that can be used by the disabled. • McCall Parks and Recreation Department: $23,000 for Brown Park improvements and citywide park fumiture. • McCall Parks and Recreation Department: $19,000 for a new vehicle for recreation staff and equipment. • McCall Parks and Recreation Department: $9,000 for mini -truck for park maintenance. • McCall Parks and Golf Course: $25,000 to buy brush chipper. • McCall Golf Course: $35,000 for 300-gallon sprayer. • McCall Golf Course: $30,000 to patch and seal cart paths. • McCall Public Library: $25,000 for designs of future library expansion. • McCall Community Development Department: $4,500 for wayfinding signs on pathways. • McCall Airport: $50,000 for land acquisition for taxiway relocation and future expansion. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/4/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall council leans to 3% property tax hike Proposed 2016 budget still $472,000 out of balance "We don't want to be hammering people on all sides." - Jackie Aymon BY TOM GROTE The Star -News McCall City Council members told its staff last week to work in a 3 percent increase in property taxes when putting together the budget for 2016. Even with the tax increase, the draft 2016 budget reviewed by the council at a work session on Friday is still $472,000 out of balance. Staff members will review the council's recommendations and come back with a proposal for a balanced budget at the next work session scheduled for June 19. A public hearing on the proposed 2016 budget is scheduled for Aug. 13. The council tentatively agreed to a recommendation by city staffers to grant the first increase in the base pay of city employees since 2008. The proposed 3 percent across-the-board Increase would help the city close the gap with wages paid to similar positions in govemments elsewhere, Human Resources Manager Traci Malvich told council members. A 2013 study commissioned by the city found that the city's overall wages were about 7 percent lower than wages paid elsewhere, Malvich said The council also agreed to continue with merit wage hikes of between 1 percent and 3 percent. Merit increases have been used in place of base wage hikes in recent years. Adopting both increases would cost about $181,000 next year, Malvich said. The city's health insurance costs are also expected to rise sharply, perhaps as much as 30 percent, Malvich told council members. Bids are still being sought from insurers but none are likely to come close to the 13 percent increase in health insurance seen in the current budget, she said. On average, the city pays 85 percent of the health -insurance premiums for each city employee and their families. To pay for the increases, council members were asked whether they wanted to raise property taxes as permitted under state law, which allows up to a 3 percent annual increase, or $145,000 for 2016. Responsible Increase All five council members said the 3 percent tax hike should be worked into the tentative budget to help fund the raises and other city expenses. "3 percent is responsible," council member Nic Swanson said. State law also allows the council to spend deferred property tax increases from previous years. The city could spend up to $371,000 in deferred taxes, but council members generally leaned against dipping into that fund. Council member Bob Giles said he was in favor of spending all of the property taxes authorized by the city "to take care of some of these things." But Giles was reminded by other council members that too high of a tax increase could jeopardize the success of an expected tax package for street repairs expected to be on the November ballot. "We don't want to be hammering people on all sides," Mayor Jackie Aymon said. Apparent growth in the community should make wage and tax increases more palatable, Swanson said. "We can't lean on the bad -economy card any more," he said. Even if the council had allocated all available property taxes, the proposed budget still would have had $101,000 more in expenses than revenues, City Manager Gene Drabinski said. With the deferred property taxes left in reserve, Drabinski and his staffers will need to propose spending cuts of $472,000 at the June 19 work session. Property taxes fund departments such as streets, city administration, police and parks and recreation and subsidize operations at the McCall Golf Course and McCall Airport. The city's water and sewer systems are self-supporting through monthly fees for current customers and hook-up fees for new customers. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/11 /2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall council places minimum -wage hike on Nov. 3 ballot Pay would rise from $7.25 now to $10.25 by 2017 BY TOM GROTE The Star -News An initiative to raise the minimum wage in McCall to $10.25 per hour by 2017 was put on the November ballot by the McCall City Council last week. Council members ordered the measure to be placed before voters on Nov. 3 after the group FairWageMcCall gathered signatures on petitions. The group obtained 416 qualified signatures, far more than the needed 196 signatures to move the petition to the ballot. Under state law, the council had the option of passing the initiative on its own without an election, but council members said voters should decide the question. Employers and workers inside the McCall city limits would see the minimum wage rise from $7.25 now to $8.75 on Jan. 1, 2016 and then to $10.25 on Jan. 1, 2017. The current minimum wage of $3.35 for workers who receive tips, such as restaurant servers and bartenders, would rise to $6.56 in 2016 and $7.68 in 2017. FairWageMcCall estimates 700 workers in McCall, or about one-third of the total, hold jobs that pay less than $10 per hour. Increasing the minimum wage would mean less worker tumover, less training, more loyally, and more productivity from workers, according to backers of the initiative. McCall would be the first city in Idaho to adopt a local minimum wage. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/18/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 McCall local -option tax panel recommends cutting funding to MCPAWS Buses, parks, snowmobile grooming slated for most money BY TOM GROTE The Star -News MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter would receive no funding from McCall's local -option tax on ovemight lodging under a recommendation from a city advisory committee. MCPAWS requested $50,000 for operating expenses from the city's 3 percent tax on motel rooms, vacation rentals and campgrounds. The money would be in addition to the $35,000 per year that MCPAWS receives in property taxes for housing stray dogs picked up by McCall police. The McCall Local Option Tax Advisory Commission split 4-2 over whether to fund MCPAWS, chair Lisa Wood said. The shelter is doing well financially, so the committee decided to fund projects that do not have other revenue sources, Wood said. The committee also was influenced by the council's direction that priority should be placed on three areas: • Repay the dry for costs of special events like Winter Camival and Independence Day. • Community and cultural events. • Projects that directly bring visitors to town. Council member Bob Giles said he was "troubled" by the proposal to cut funding to MCPAWS, which is specifically mentioned as a recipient in the dty law authorizing the tax. The council also questioned the commission's recommendation not to provide $24,500 to the privately owned Manchester Ice and Event Centre to renovate the rink's ice -making compressor. Wood said the Richard J. Sabala Foundation, which owns the rink, should be "living within their budget" and not be seeking outside funding. But council members said the ice rink is used by many people for hockey, figure skating and curling, and to watch the Idaho Junior Steelheads hockey team. "My mom never played hockey in her life until the rink was built," council member Nic Swanson said. "Now she is an addict along with a couple hundred of her friends." Council members made no decision on the advisory committees recommendations, but will take up the list at its next budget workshop on July 17. The city expects to collect about $350,000 this year from the local -option tax. The largest amounts recommended by the advisory commission include $70,000 to finish renovations at Rotary Park, $45,000 to Treasure Valley Transit, which operates The Red Line and The Green Line in Valley County, and $37,500 for grooming snowmobile trails. Mayor Jackie Aymon said snowmobilers should pay more than the current $32.50 per year in annual registration fees to help support the grooming. McCall Parks and Recreation Director Dennis Coyle said proposals to raise the fee have been regularly defeated in the Idaho Legislature. Funding List Here are the recommendations of the McCall Local Option Tax Commission for 2016 grants of McCall's 3 percent local -option tax on motels, vacation rentals and campgrounds. The McCall City Council will make the final determination where the money will be spent. Recommend for Funding Listed In Order of Priority. Figures Noted Are Amount Requested/Amount Recommended 1. City Clerk, LOT administration direct costs: $18,000/$18,000. 2. City of McCall Parks 1£ Rec Department, Special event cost recovery: $35,280/$35,000. 3. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, Idaho Travel Council grant match: $25,000/$25,000. 4. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Winter Carnival Fireworks: $10,000/$8,000. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/25/2015 5. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Fourth of July Fireworks: $10,000/$8,000. 6. McCall Area Snowmobilers, Trail Grooming: $37,500437,500. 7. Payette Lakes Ski Club, Bear Basin grooming: $10,0001$10,000. 8. McCall Public Library, Expansion Design Development Fees: $25,000/$25,000. 9. City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Rotary Park final phase reconstruction: $70,000/$70,000. 10. City of McCall Golf Course, 300 gallon sprayer: $35,000/$35,000. 11. Treasure Valley Transit, Public transit bus routes: $45,000/$40,000. 12. Payette Lakes Ski Club, Bear Basin Nordic Center structure: $15,000/$7,500. 13. Payette Lakes Community Association, Inc., Fun Day at the Park: $950/$950. 14. Alpine Playhouse, Improvements: $5,000/$5,000. 15. Idaho Hockey Foundation, Idaho Junior Steelheads expenses: $10,000/$7,000. 16. McCall Winter Sports Club, Big Mountain Competition: $2,450/$2,450. 17. McCall Winter Sports Club, Tri-Divisional Race: $3,350/$3,350. 18. McCall Nordic Ski Club, McCall ReMastered Event Promotion: $6,000/$6,000. 19. McCall Senior Citizens, Install gutters and downspouts at four locations: $4,00044,000. 20. McCall Arts and Humanities Council, Cabin Fever Program: $2,570/$1,770. Contingency Projects To Be Funded as Revenues Are Received. Figures Noted Are Amount Requested/Amount Recommended 1. Treasure Valley Transit, Public transit bus routes: $45,000/$5,000. 2. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Winter Carnival Fireworks: $10,000/$2,000. 3. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Fourth of July Fireworks: $10,000/$2,000. 4. Payette Lakes Ski Club, Bear Basin Nordic Center structure: $15,000/$7,500. 5. Idaho Hockey Foundation, Idaho Junior Steelheads expenses: $10,000/$3,000. 6. City of McCall Golf Course, Patch and seal cart paths: $30,000/$30,000 7. City of McCall Parks and Recreation, Brown Park site improvements, city-wide park furniture: $23,000/$23,000. Recommended Not to Be Funded Figures Noted Are Amount Requested/Amount Recommended • McCall Community Tennis Association, Public tennis court rebuilding project: $18,000/$0. • City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Brown Park ADA compliant playground: $120,000/$0. • City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Recreation program vehicle: $19,000/$0. • City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Mini truck: $9,000/$0. • City of McCall Airport, Land acquisition grant match: $50,000/$0. • City of McCall Parks & Goff Departments, Purchase brush chipper: $25,000/$0. • MCPAWS Inc., Annual operating expenses: $50,000/$0. • McCall Music Society SummerFest 2016: $4,500/$0. • Richard J. Sabala Foundation, Manchester Ice and Event Center, ice chiller, phase 1: $24,500/$0. • Rivers Crossing HOA, Sheep Bridge path: $4,920/$0. • McCall Folklore Society, Summer Music Series: $3,000/$0. • City of McCall Community Development, McCall Area Pathway Wayfinding Implementation, Phase 2: $4,500/$0. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 6/25/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Alternate day sprinkling imposed in McCall City's water plant taxed by surge in water use BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Alternate -day sprinkling of lawns and gardens was imposed Wednesday by the city of McCall as residents have used over a million more gallons of water per day than normal. Under the order, residents at addresses with an odd number should water lawns only on odd numbered days, while residents at addresses with an even number should water only on even numbered days. The order does not apply to potted plants and hanging baskets, according to a news release from the city. Recent hot temperatures has caused a surge in the demand for water, McCall Public Works Director Peter Borner said. City water customers have been using between 2.5 and 2.8 million gallons per day, which is a million gallons a day over the normal June average of 1.5 to 1.8 million gallons per day, Borner said. If the demand continues, the city may not be able to process enough water through its treatment plant in Spring Mountain Ranch, he said. If that happens, the city's storage tanks may be drained. Also, water pressure may fall, leading to the risk that water would not be available through hydrants for firefighters, Borner said. Anyone caught watering on the wrong day will received a warning the first time, according to the city's new release. A second offense will see a citation issued and a third offense will see water service turned off, the city news release said. There is no way of knowing when the alternate day sprinkling order will be lifted, the city said. The peak demand for water is between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m., when many sprinkles are set by timers to go off during cooler hours, Borner said. The treatment plant can process up to five million gallons of Payette Lake water per day, but the fitters in the plant need to be cleaned after treating three million gallons, he said. That means the plant has to be partially shut down while a filter is cleaned, Borner said. The city has started a study to see if the treatment plant needs to be expanded and how much to charge water users to fund that expansion, he said. For questions on alternate -day sprinkling, contact Borner at 634-5580 or pborner@mccall.id.us. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/2/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 32 apply to be the next McCall city manager McCall council to keep applications secret, interviews closed until finalists "It is better done without someone listening. 'v --- Laura Scott BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Thirty-two people have applied to be the next city manager of McCall, but that is all the city will release about the applicants. The applications will be kept secret and all deliberations and initial interviews of candidates will be held in closed session, the McCall City Council decided last week. The Star -News made a request to the council to ask the applicants to disclose their applications and to hold all deliberations and interviews in open session. But a split council said keeping the process behind closed doors would ensure quality candidates would apply and prevent outside distractions. Last Friday was the deadline for applications to replace current McCall City Manager Gene Drabinksi, who is planning to leave his post this fall after three years. The Idaho Open Records Law says no employee applications can be released without written consent of the application. The Star -News requested that the council ask each applicant if they would consent to make their application public. State law says the names of up to five finalists will be released upon request, but not their applications. The Idaho Open Meeting Law does not require interviews of candidates to be held in closed session, but the council is permitted to do so. The Star -News requested that all interviews be held in the open if the candidate to be interviewed had previously consented to release their application. Council members were advised by Human Resources Manager Traci Malvich and Bill Nichols, the city's contract attorney, not to open the process until the finalists are selected. Public Reception Once finalists have been named, a reception or other public event could be held, but interviews should be closed, Malvich and Nichols said. "The interview process is personal encounter between the hiring committee and the candidate," Malvich said. "It is not meant to be a spectacle open to anyone that wishes to attend." Nichols said holding interviews in closed session would allow the council "to ask hard questions" of applicants. He also wondered if some candidates would withdraw if they knew the process would be open. "I wouldn't want you to do something that limits the pool, where some good candidates might say, 'I don't have to fool with this stuff.'" Nichols said. Council members Bill Giles made a motion to hold the Interviews for the finalists in public, but the motion did not get a second. "I can't think of a single question I wouldn't ask if this room was filled," Giles said. "Perhaps I would be more careful and perhaps we wouldn't cross the line and do things that are inappropriate." Mayor Jackie Aymon and council members Marcia Witte and Laura Scott agreed with keeping the process closed. "It is better done without someone listening," Scott said. Council member Nic Swanson was absent. Coyle Applies One candidate who confirmed his application was Nate Coyle, the current special projects manager for the city. Coyle was hired in 2013 as McCall airport manager after an eight -year career with the U.S. Air Force, where he was an airfield operations flight commander. In January, Drabinski added the duties of special projects manager to Coyle, with the charge to oversee projects that will have wide-ranging effects for the city over the next several years. Coyle declined to disclose his application or say why he applied. "I simply want to ensure that I am on equal footing with other applicants and that I receive no special or different treatment," he said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/2/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 The Star -News also asked for an accounting of the applications by number, gender, states of residences and current occupation without names. The request was denied except for the number of applicants. The council's goal is to see Drabinski's replacement on the job no later than the middle of October. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/2/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall to look at mix of taxes to repair city streets November ballot question would raise at least $1.6 million per year BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A mix of taxes to fund repair of McCall streets was pondered last week by the McCall City Council. During a work session, council members said any tax package presented to voters should raise at least $1.6 million per year in order to make real progress on street work. Council members are thinking about what proposal to bring back to voters after the failure last November of a 1 percent general sales tax. That tax, which failed by seven votes, would have raised an estimated $1 million per year. Various combinations of taxes will be compiled by city staffers and presented at the council's next regular meeting starting at 6 p.m. next Thursday, July 9, at McCall City Hall. Also, the council scheduled a public meeting for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the McCall - Donnelly High School commons to hear comment on any tentative option selected by the council on July 9. The council has until Sept. 11 to adopt a tax package for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot. That is the deadline set by the Valley County Clerk's Office, which runs city elections. The city staff could handle the administration of between $1.6 million and $2 million per year of street projects, McCall Public Works Director Peter Borner told council members. The public works department is expected to have a comprehensive street plan ready to release to the public by Aug. 1, Borner said. The plan would detail the work needed on all city streets, Borner said. Prior to last November s election the city released a plan only for renovation of downtown streets and major access streets. The council is looking at a more broad -based tax plan after public comments at three Community Conversations held since April said any new taxes should be evenly paid between residents and visitors. Revenue Estimates The city asked University of Idaho political science professor Brian Ellison to calculate estimates of how much each kind of tax would raise. Good estimates of revenues was lacking prior to last November's election. Ellison, who did not charge for his services, looked at local -option taxes in similar resort communities in Idaho and weighed them in comparison with the size of McCall's economy. The city with the package that would get McCall the closest to $1.6 million per year was in Ketchum, which levies a 1 percent general sales tax, an additional 1 percent sales tax on building materials, 2 percent on liquor by the drink and 2 percent on lodging, Ellison told council members. Council members said any package presented to the voters should not increase taxes on groceries. McCall currently has a 3 percent sales tax on lodging that is devoted to community and city projects, but any new tax would be dedicated only to street repairs. Council members also discussed how long to levy any new tax package. Council member Nic Swanson suggested a five-year limit to build trust and show the public that progress can be made, after which the tax could be renewed. Borner said a 10-year tax would be better for planning which projects could be done and in what order. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/2/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Summers attorney gets $275,000 In fees, costs $675, 000 total paid in wrongful firing case BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The attomey for former McCall police chief Jerry Summers has received $275,000 in legal fees from the insurance company representing the city of McCall. Cascade attorney Matt Williams received the $275,000 in addition to the $400,000 awarded to Summers by a federal jury in April for a total of $675,000. The money was paid by the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program, a self -funded insurance program made up of public agencies. The amount was released by ICRMP following a public records request from The Star -News. Williams had asked U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge to be paid $307,000 for the fees and costs that he accumulated over the two years that he represented Summers, but Williams and ICRMP agreed to the $275,000 payment. ICRMP also paid for all of the city's legal costs associated with the case. The payment is the latest action in the case of Summers, who sued after he believed he was wrongly fired as police chief in 2013. A jury said McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski fired Summers in retaliation for Summers reporting a hostile move Drabinski made toward him in a 2012 meeting and for reporting that Drabinski was driving with a revoked driver's license. Drabinski defended his actions, saying he fired Summers because Summers resisted making changes to the department in response to an online public survey. Members of the McCall City Council upheld Drabinski's decision to fire Summers. Council members testified during the trial that it was clear Drabinski and Summers could not work together and that new leadership was needed. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/16/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall council OKs expansion of McCall RV Resort over protests :Neighbors say there is no guarantee for landscaped screening BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Doubling of the number of spaces at McCall RV Resort was approved last week by the McCall City Council despite protests from neighbors. The council added a condition to its approval to require the owners of the RV park to notify neighbors when detailed landscaping plans for the expansion are drawn up. The council last Thursday unanimously approved the application by owners Grapevine 7 of Boise to expand the resort, located at 200 Scott St. off Mission Street. The resort is also the location of Northfork Lodge. Grapevine has owned McCall RV Resort since 2010. The company also owns Chalet RV Park in Donnelly and seven other RV parks in Idaho and Arizona. The approval will allow the owners to expand the current 117 RV spaces by an additional 100 spaces for summer use only. Also proposed is a laundry, restroom and a public pathway connecting to the Sheep Bridge across the North Fork of the Payette River. The new spaces would be added in three phases over the next seven years and none of the spaces would be closer than 175 feet from the North Fork of the Payette River, according to the application. The expansion was opposed by residents of the River's Crossing neighborhood located across the river from McCall RV Resort during a June 2 hearing before the McCall Planning and Zoning Commission. The P8Z added conditions to its approval to ban outdoor lighting, impose quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. each day, limit cars and ATVs to paved roads, and build a landscaping screen between the park and neighboring property owners. A half -dozen River's Crossing residents restated their opposition during a public hearing before the council last week, mainly over screening of the section of the resort closest to River's Crossing. River's Crossing resident John Thompson said that his quality of life would be "compromised" by the proposed expansion. Many of the trees within the proposed expansion area are diseased and would have to be removed, reducing the screening to River's Crossing, Thompson said. The expansion would be noisy and unsightly and lights from vehicles entering the park would shine into his home, he said. River's Crossing resident Mark Thorian echoed Thompson's protests. "If I were you I would ask one question - would I want to live next to 200 trailers?" Thorian said. McCall attorney Steve Millemann, representing five River's Crossing property owners, suggested that council members require the owners to provide detailed plans for screening. "You have nothing before you which tells you which of those trees will stay, which will be eliminated .. . and what they will be replaced with, if anything," Millemann said. Millemann also recommended that the Rivers Crossing homeowners association be notified when the plan is presented to the city and that owners be allowed to comment. Council members endorsed Millemann's suggestion but disagreed whether another public hearing should be held when the landscaping plan is drafted or whether only written comments would be accepted. Council members Nic Swanson and Marcia Witte favored another public hearing, but Mayor Jackie Aymon and council members Laura Scott and Bob Giles supported written comments only. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/16/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 McCall allocates funding for transit center, new city offices Former fire station, now city hall annex, would be torn down BY TOM GROTE The Star -News When Linda Stokes needs to talk to someone outside her office, she must take care not to bump into co-workers consulting at a nearby desk. Stokes, the McCall city treasurer, and other city employees from four departments must endure tight quarters in the former city fire station on Park Street next to the McCall Public Library. That would change under a two-year, $600,000 spending plan tentatively approved last Friday by the McCall City Council. During a budget work session, council members plan to piggy -back on a $750,000 project proposed by Treasure Valley Transit of Nampa to build a transit center on the current site of the fire station building known as the city hall annex. :r /k Stu -Ng,. Mao by Tam nmx From left, McCall city employees Gail Draper and Linda Stokes confer while Shay Tyler and Jen McCoy have a discussion at the city's annex next to the McCall Public Library. Under the plan, the transit company would build a building on the site that would be large enough for both the transit center as well as new city offices. The second floor of the annex now houses eight employees from the city's human resources, finance, information technology and parks departments. Any members of the public with questions are confronted with a long flight of stairs that discourage anyone with mobility problems. In addition, the parks departments houses its maintenance equipment in the former fire truck bays, causing dizzying fumes to drift into the offices above when equipment is started. Equipment to Move The plan approved by the council would spend $250,000 next year to move the parks equipment to a new building near the city's public works garages on Samson Trail. Then in 2017 and 2018, the city would chip in $350,000 to the transit center project to add on city offices. The city's costs would come from a one-time surplus of $786,000 the city has on hand from savings during the 2014 budget year. The rest, or about $131,000, would come from the city's general fund, which is funded by property taxes. The bus station would be funded with the majority of a $1 million federal grant received by Treasure Valley Transit, Executive Director Terri Lindenberg. The company operates the free Red Line around McCall as well as the paid Green Line between McCall and Cascade. The proposed 1,500 square foot station would include a waiting room, ticket counter and restrooms, and would be a stop for the Red Line and Green Line as well as for Northwest Trailways, Lindenberg said. The public also would be able to look at maps and schedules at the proposed center, and there would be bicycle storage lockers on site, she said. Ideal Site "This is an ideal site as it creates an anchor to the downtown amenities and the potential for shared space with the city," Lindenberg said. She noted the McCall Downtown Master Plan, adopted in 2013, calls the downtown an ideal location for a transit center. "The transit center will improve public access and visibility, aid economic development, increase ridership and benefit transit operations overall," Lindenberg said. About $383,000 already has been spent by Treasure Valley Transit to buy and renovate the former Collins Auto Body building on Helmich Street near the McCall Smokejumper Base to house and maintain the company's buses, Lindenberg said. The former fire station was vacated when McCall Fire & EMS completed its current fire station on Deinhard Lane in 2004. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/lead_page.php 7/23/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 McCall council returns LOT funding to MCPAWS Money taken from trail grooming, bus routes to fund animal shelter BY TOM GROTE The Star -News MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter will be given $17,500 next year from McCall's local local -option tax on lodging, the McCall City Council voted last week. In funding the animal shelter, council members overrode the recommendation of the McCall Local Option Tax Commission, which earlier had recommended no funding for the animal shelter. The $17,500 approved by the council was more than the $10,000 in local -option money that MCPAWS received during the current year but less than the $50,000 requested by the shelter for next year. The money will be in addition to the $35,000 per year that MCPAWS receives in property tax funding for housing stray dogs picked up by McCall police. In order to fund MCPAWS, the council took away $12,500 of the $37,500 recommended to be given to McCall Area Snowmobilers for snowmobile trail grooming. Also, $5,000 was taken from the $40,000 recommended to Treasure Valley Transit to operate free bus service inside McCall and paid service between McCall and Cascade. The advisory commission recommended on a split vote that MCPAWS not be funded because the shelter was doing well financially and that other requests with fewer sources of funding deserved the money. The city collects an additional 3 percent sales tax on motel rooms, vacation rentals and campgrounds for tourism development plus cultural and recreational events. During a budget work session last Friday, council members noted that MCPAWS is specifically mentioned as a funding recipient in the ordinance guiding spending of the local -option tax. The city expects to collect about $350,000 this year from the local -option tax. Funding List For McCall Local -Option Tax Here is the final list of the organizations and amounts to be allocated by the local -option tax. Projects To Be Funded Listed In Order of Priority. Figures Noted Are Amount Requested/Amount Approved 1. City Clerk, LOT administration direct costs: $18,000/$18,000. 2. City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Special event cost recovery: $35,280/$35,000. 3. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, Idaho Travel Council grant match: $25,000/$25,000. 4. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Winter Carnival Fireworks: $10,000/$8,000. 5. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Fourth of July Fireworks: $10,000/$8,000. 6. McCall Area Snowmobilers, Trail Grooming: $37,500/$25,000. 7. Payette Lakes Ski Club, Bear Basin grooming: $10,000/$10,000. 8. McCall Public Library, Expansion Design Development Fees: $25,000/$25,000. 9. City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Rotary Park final phase reconstruction: $70,000/$70,000. 10. City of McCall Golf Course, 300 gallon sprayer: $35,000/$35,000. 11. MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter, annual operating expenses: $50,000/$17,500. 12. Treasure Valley Transit, public transit bus routes: $45,000/$35,000. 13. Payette Lakes Ski Club, Bear Basin Nordic Center structure: $15,000/$7,500. 14. Payette Lakes Community Association, Inc., Fun Day at the Park: $950/$950. 15. Alpine Playhouse, Improvements: $5,000/$5,000. 16. Idaho Hockey Foundation, Idaho Junior Steelheads expenses: $10,000/$7,000. 17. McCall Winter Sports Club, Big Mountain Competition: $2,450/$2,450. 18. McCall Winter Sports Club, Tri-Divisional Race: $3,350/$3.350. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/23/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 19. McCall Nordic Ski Club, McCall ReMastered Event Promotion: $6,000/$6,000. 20. McCall Senior Citizen Center, Install gutters and downspouts: $4,000/$4,000. 21. McCall Arts and Humanities Council, Cabin Fever Program: $2,570/$1,770. Contingency Projects To Be Funded as Revenues Are Received. Figures Noted Are Amount Requested/Amount Approved 1. Treasure Valley Transit, public transit bus routes: $45,000/$10,000. 2. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Winter Carnival Fireworks: $10,000/$2,000. 3. McCall Area Chamber of Commerce, 2016 Fourth of July Fireworks: $10,000/$2,000. 4. Payette Lakes Ski Club, Bear Basin Nordic Center structure: $15,000/$7,500. 5. City of McCall Golf Course, Patch and seal cart paths: $30,000/$30,000 6. City of McCall Parks and Recreation, Brown Park site improvements, city-wide park furniture: $23,000/$23,000. 7. Idaho Hockey Foundation, Idaho Junior Steelheads expenses: $10,000/$3,000. Projects Not to Be Funded Figures Noted Are Amount Requested • McCall Community Tennis Association, Public tennis court rebuilding project: $18,000. • City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Brown Park ADA compliant playground: $120,000. • City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Recreation program vehicle: $19,000. • City of McCall Parks & Rec Department, Mini truck: $9,000. • City of McCall Airport, Land acquisition grant match: $50,000.. • City of McCall Parks & Golf Departments, Purchase brush chipper: $25,000. • McCall Music Society SummerFest 2016: $4,500. • Richard J. Sabala Foundation, Manchester Ice and Event Center, ice chiller, phase 1: $24,500. • Rivers Crossing HOA, Sheep Bridge path: $4,920. • McCall Folklore Society, Summer Music Series: $3,000. • City of McCall Community Development, McCall Area Pathway Wayfinding Implementation, Phase 2: $4,500. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories__page.php 7/23/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall to Interview three candidates for city manager Interviews on Friday will be in closed sessions BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Three candidates will be interviewed on Friday by the McCall City Council to see who replaces outgoing McCall City Manager Gene Drabinski. n Jeffrey Trinker Two of the candidates will be interviewed in person while one will be interviewed by teleconference, Human Resources Manager Traci Malvich said. The interviews will be held in closed sessions. The candidates are: Keith Johnson • Nate Coyle, who is currently works for the city of McCall as airport manager and special projects manager. • Keith Johnson of Boise, a certified public accountant and an attorney who was Idaho state controller between 2003 and 2007. • Jeffrey Trinker of Richmond, Texas, who is executive director of support services for the city of Rosenberg, Texas. No public events are planned for the two candidates who will be interviewed in person on Friday, Malvich said. Whoever is selected will replace Drabinski, who is planning to leave his post this fall after three years. NATE COYLE Coyle, 32, was hired in 2013 as McCall airport manager after an eight -year career with the U.S. Air Force, where he was an airfield operations flight commander. In January, Drabinski added the duties of special projects manager to Coyle, with the charge to oversee projects that will have wide-ranging effects for the city over the next several years. One of his main projects is to guide the consolidation of the sewer collection and treatment systems of the city and Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer System. 'McCall is a wonderful community which my family and I have grown to love," he said. "I believe, based on my background and skill sets, that service in this position is the way in which I can provide the greatest benefit to our city." KEITH JOHNSON Johnson, 53, recently left Oracle Corp., where he spent eight years as director of the company's Public Section Industry Business Unit. As part of his job, he worked in sales consulting for state and local governments that were undergoing major upgrades in their computer systems. In his application, Johnson said he left Oracle in June because the company eliminated his position as part of a corporate reorganization. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and was named director of the Idaho Department of Administration after he left the controller's office in January 2007. He served in that job for six months before taking the job with Oracle. "I have worked in various areas of state and local public management for over 20 years and have a broad and diverse skill set that would allow me to add significant value and leadership to the City of McCall," Johnson wrote in his application letter to the city. JEFFREY TRINKER Trinker, 32, has worked since 2013 in Rosenberg, Texas, a city of 33,000 people near Houston. He manages a budget of about $8 million in a position that includes seven employees in the city's civic center and five employees and 122 vehicles in the city's vehicle fleet. He oversaw the city's contracts for janitorial services, solid waste and recycling and mosquito control, and developed a plan for repair and maintenance of city facilities. Trinker said he applied to be McCall city manager when former city manager Lindley Kirkpatrick left in 2012. "McCall is truly like something out of a dream," he said. "I was extremely impressed with the number of amenities the city possesses for one that size and with the overall sense of community." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/23/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Valley County, McCall do not want to maintain new road to The Springs BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News Valley County commissioners on Monday approved a new access road over county land at The Springs work force housing complex in McCall. But both the city and the county would prefer to not maintain the connection between Deinhard Lane and Jacob Street. The Housing Co. of Boise intends to begin construction of a second phase of 36 more apartment at The Springs by the third week of August. McCall officials required The Housing Co. to obtain an easement on that county ground before granting a building permit on the second phase at The Springs, said Kathryn Almberg, housing development officer with the company. "The city wants it for public use, but they don't want it to be a public road because they don't want to maintain it," she told the commissioners. "They say they don't even have enough money to maintain the roads they already have." "We would have the same issues with that," Valley County Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kiiha said. The city is requiring that connection before The Housing Co. can develop the 10-acre parcel this year, Almberg said. A second access was not a problem when the company built the first phase but it emerged as it moved to construct more homes closer to Deinhard, she said. Almberg said it would cost The Housing Co. about $150,000 on the road's construction and drainage, which does not come from the govemment funds the nonprofit is using for the apartments. Commissioner Elt Hasbrouck asked about donating the land along the route to the city. But McCall would have to accept it and refused to do so when it was offered by the company, Almberg said. McCall also requires a maintenance agreement, she said. The commissioners agreed to the easement without the county taking on that upkeep and snowplowing. Almberg said she would work up a an agreement, with the maintenance likely falling on the developers http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/23/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall to put tax package on Nov. 3 ballot I % sales and 3% room taxes would raise money for street repairs BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A 1 percent sales tax exempting groceries and a 3 percent additional tax on overnight lodging was tentatively approved by the McCall City Council last week to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot. If the measure passes, the city estimates it would raise at least $680,000 per year to repair and rebuild city streets. The package was approved after council members considered a variety of combinations of different types and amount of taxes. Council members will review a formal drafting of their proposal at its next regular meeting on Aug. 13. If adopted, it would be the second time in a year that the council will ask local residents to approve new taxes to repair city streets. Last November, a proposal to impose an additional 1 percent sales tax fell seven votes short of earning the required 60 percent majority. The proposal would have raised an estimated $1 million per year for streets as well as to repair water and sewer lines under those streets. Following the last vote, council members held a series of "community conversations" to judge what would be more palatable to voters. No Grocery Tax At the top of the list was the wish that any sales tax would exempt sales of groceries. That cut the estimate of revenues from $1 million to $300,000 for a 1 percent sales tax, leading the council to look at other sources of money. Last Thursday, council members considered a variety of new taxes, including taxing liquor by the drink, restaurant meals and sporting equipment such as snowmobiles, jet skis, ATVs, skis and snowboards. The original goal was to raise $1.6 million per year, which is the amount that the city's public works staff said it could administer each year. But council members said raising a minimum of $680,000 per year was a good start. "$1.6 million is a lot of revenue to generate in one year for a town of 3,000 people," council member Nic Swanson said. Council members Bob Giles and Laura Scott favored adding a tax on liquor by the drink. That proposal worried council member Marcia Witte, who thought bar and restaurant owners would lobby against a liquor tax since the Nov. 3 ballot also includes a citizens initiative to raise the minimum wage in the city. Mayor Jackie Aymon favored taxing sporting equipment, saying there was a large potential for revenue from that source. In the end, council members decided to keep the ballot simple for voters. "I want to make sure whatever we put forward has the best shot of passing," Aymon said. Streets Plan Next week, the city is scheduled to release a comprehensive plan for repairing all streets in the city. Prior to last Novembers vote the city had released a streets plan that included only downtown streets and major routes. The new ballot measure also would not fund replacement of water and sewer lines under repaired streets, as the previous measure would have done. Repairs and water and sewer lines would be financed by increased monthly rates on water and sewer customers. The city is studying how much rates should be raised, but no date has been set for the release of recommended rates. The 3 percent lodging tax would be in addition to the city's current 3 percent tax on motel rooms and cabin and condo rentals. The current tax is spent on a variety of uses, but not street repair. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/30/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Coyle named as next McCall city manager Air Force veteran to replace Drabinski in top job BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Nate Coyle was picked on Friday to be the next McCall city manager by the McCall City Council. Coyle, currently the airport manager and special projects manager for the city, was named as the remaining finalist following interviews on Friday by the council with Coyle and two other finalists. Coyle, 32, has not been officially hired for the job. The council will meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Monday to work out terms of an employment offer. But the council is confident enough in its choice that a public reception for Coyle is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the McCall -Donnelly High School Commons. The other finalists interviewed in closed session on Friday were former Idaho state controller Keith Johnson, and Jeffrey Trinker, who is executive director of support services for the city of Rosenberg, Texas. Mayor Jackie Aymon praised Coyle, saying his has broad experience in managing people. 'His decision -making ability is head -and- shoulders above anyone else," Aymon said. "He gives me confidence that he will lead the city in a positive direction." Council member Marcia Witte cited Coyle's ability to approach problems with a calm rational approach. "He engages all constituents," Witte said. "He builds relationships. He seeks outside expertise when it is important to do so." Coyle thanked the council for selecting him. "I am hopeful that, at the conclusion of this process, 1 will have an opportunity to serve our wonderful community," he said. Air Force Veteran Coyle was hired in 2013 as McCall airport manager after an eight -year career with the U.S. Air Force, where he was an airfield operations flight commander. In January, Drabinski added the duties of special projects manager to Coyle, with the charge to oversee projects such as consolidation of the city's sewer collection and treatment system with the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer System. When he was hired in 2012, Drabinski said he would only serve for three years and initiated the process for his replacement earlier this year. McCall, Twin Falls and Lewiston are the only cities in Idaho to be led by city managers. City managers have broad powers over day -today operation of the city and have the power to hire and fire employees, including department heads. Under the city manager system, the mayor's powers are limited to running city council meeting and ceremonial roles. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 7/30/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Study: LOT proposal would rebuild 1/3 mile of streets per year Proposed tax package would fall jar short of needs BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Only 1/3 of a mile of McCall's streets would be rebuilt each year under the local -option tax package favored by the McCall City Council, a new study says. The council tonight will consider whether to put on the Nov. 3 ballot a new tax package expected to raise at least $800,000 per year. But the study by McCall City Engineer Nathan Stewart said that amount of money would only allow one street per year to be rebuilt, according to the study shown to council members at a work session last Friday. The council has tentatively agreed to a tax proposal that would raise an additional 1 percent sales tax exempting groceries and an additional 3 percent sales tax on ovemight lodging to fund street repairs. That package would raise an estimated $800,000 per year, but that amount would not put much of a dent in the backlog of street repairs, Stewart's study said. The proposed budget for 2015 has $350,000 budgeted for street repairs from existing funding sources. The city needs an additional $2 million to $2.5 million per year to make any headway on repairing streets, the study said. Even at that higher level, it would take 20 years to rehabilitate all of the city's 42 miles of streets. With $800,000 per year to work with, the city should focus on major streets and high traffic roads, Stewart's study said. Under that funding, the study says Commerce Street be rebuilt first. The street is a principal trucking route and is at the end of its useful life, Stewart said. Streets that should be rebuilt in later years include Park Street from First Street to N. Third St. (Idaho 55), Idaho Street, East Deinhard Lane, Second Street from E. Lake St. to Park Street and Lenora Street from N. Third St. to First St., under the study's recommendations. The majority of the work would be done downtown because of past comments of citizen committees, city planners and council members, Stewart said. Sidewalks & Paths A full rehabilitation includes improving stormwater drainage and building sidewalks and paths for bicycles and pedestrians, the study said. If the city had an extra $2 million to $2.5 million per year, major streets could be repaired plus work could begin on rebuilding streets in the city's residential area, Stewart's study said. The study assumes the city council would continue to chip in at least $200,000 per year from other sources for street work. The study does include the cost of replacing aging water and sewer lines below the streets to be rebuilt. Funding for that work will come from higher monthly water and sewer rates that are not part of the tax package before the council tonight. Those rates are the topic of a separate study still underway by the city's public works department. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/13/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 2016 McCall budget to be heard tonight that includes tax hike BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A proposed $20 million budget for the city of McCall for 2016 that includes a 3 percent increase in property taxes will be heard tonight before the McCall City Council. The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m, tonight in the lower level meeting room at McCall City Hall. The budget, which will take effect Oct. 1, calls for the city to operate next year with the same 83 employees that it current employs. The proposed budget would give those employees a 3 percent across the board salary hike but no merit pay for selected employees. About $5 million of the total budget is funded with property taxes for general administration, the McCall Police Department, street maintenance, parks and recreation and planning and zoning. The city's water and sewer systems are self -supported with monthly fees, while the McCall Airport and McCall Golf Course are subsidized with property -tax funds. The proposed 3 percent tax increase would total about $145,000, the most allowed under state law for one year. The city also has $786,000 in surplus funds saved during the 2014 budget year. Council members have proposed spending that surplus over the next two years for various equipment purchases and building projects. The largest of those projects would tear down the former city fire station next to the McCall Library and replace it with a transit center and city offices. The project's cost would be shared with Treasure Valley Transit of Nampa, which operates bus service in Valley County. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/13/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall posts survey about ending two-hour parking downtown An online survey posted by the city of McCall asks whether the two-hour parking limits on downtown streets should be continued. The survey Is posted on the city's webiste at www.mccall.id.us and will be open until Aug. 27. Two-hour parking is posted in a four -block area of downtown that contains a mixture of retail and commercial businesses, restaurants, bars and residences. Currently, parking longer than two hours is banned on those streets between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The McCall Police Department has one part-time officer responsible for enforcing downtown parking restrictions who only works during 29 percent of the time the two-hour rule is in effect, according to a statement accompanying the survey. "As a result, the police department's parking enforcement is often complaint -driven rather than pro- active," the statement said. A 2008 study of parking in the city found there was plenty of parking downtown, with 172 parking spaces in parking lots and 193 parking spaces on -street. The study said parking meters should replace the two-hour restriction if the two-hour limit is not able to be enforced, but the city has taken no steps toward installing meters. Removing the 38 signs noting the two-hour parking would be in line with the city's design guidelines that call for reducing clutter, the city's statement said.. For questions on the survey or downtown parking, contact Sgt. Pete Rittenger at 634-7144 or rittengerp@mcc.allid.us. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/13/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Coyle sworn In as McCall city manager to replace Drabinskl BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Nate Coyle was sworn in last Thursday at the new city manager of McCall. Coyle, 32, took over as city manager for Gene Drabinski, who resigned after serving three years. Coyle already was employed by the city as special projects manager and manager of the McCall Airport. He was selected after an open application process that drew 32 applications. His contract will pay him $92,113.11 per year, up from the $64,800 per year he was previously paid. The contract has no term and Coyle can be fired at any time by a vote of the council. If that happens, he is entitled to three months of severance pay unless he is fired for cause. Coyle also would get three months severance pay if new members join the city council and vote to replace him within two months. Coyle said he accepted the contact as presented to him by the council and did not offer his own terms. He will automatically receive the same salary adjustments given to other city employees and can also receive merit increases, according to the contract. The benefits package is similar to those given to other city department heads and some employees, including heath insurance and retirement, he said. Coyle immediately is entitled to three weeks of vacation per year, which will go to four weeks if he stays in his job five years. Coyle is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force with more than 12 years of command leadership experience, which included two overseas deployments. He has more than 10 years of experience with supervision and development of large groups of people, according to his resume. Coyle will keep Drabinski's practice of 'Open Door" hours from noon to 3 p.m. each Wednesday starting Sept. 9. The purpose of the sessions are to allow members of the public "to discuss an issue, work out a problem, or just to chat," a news release from the city said. McCall, Twin Falls and Lewiston are the only cities in Idaho to be led by city managers. City managers have broad powers over day -today operations of the city and have the power to hire and fire employees, including department heads. Under the city manager system, the mayor's powers are limited to running city council meeting and ceremonial roles. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/20/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Aymon, Swanson to seek new terms on McCall City Council Filing opens Monday for council seats in McCall, Cascade, NM, Donnelly BY TOM GROTE and TIM GALLAGHER The Star -News McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said last week that she will seek a new term on the McCall City Council and would like to continue serving as mayor. r� Jackie Aymon said. Nick Sti�snson Nic Swanson, the other McCall council member up for election on Nov. 3, also said he would seek a new term. Candidate filing opens on Monday for city councils in McCall, Cascade, Donnelly and New Meadows. The filing period ends on Sept. 4. Aymon has retired as a physician's assistant at St. Luke's McCall and will have more time to sit on committees and work for the benefit of the city she "Being a part of the fabric of McCall is my passion," she said. "The current city council is committed to do what it takes to move McCall forward and improve the lives of those who live, work and visit here." If re-elected, Aymon said she would continue to work on such topics as infrastructure repair, sewer consolidation, emergency response planning and economic development. She also hopes her fellow council members will elect her as mayor for two more years. Under McCall's city manager system, the mayor is not elected directly and has only ceremonial powers and chairs city council meetings. Swanson said he would like to continue to shepherd the consolidation of the city's sewer system with the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District. He also hopes voters will approve new taxes to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot for street repairs. Once the city has a proven track records using those taxes, he would like to ask voters for additional funds to speed those repairs. Council members Bob Giles, Marcia Witte and Laura Scott are not up for election this year. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 8/20/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall council puts tax package on Nov. 3 ballot / % sales tax without groceries, 3% extra room tax proposed BY TOM GROTE The Star -News McCall voters will be asked to raise taxes on themselves and visitors on Nov. 3 in order to fund the repair of city streets. The McCall City Council last week formally approved placing the tax package on the ballot. If approved, the current 6 percent general state sales tax would increase to 7 percent. The tax would apply to all items currently covered by the state sales tax except for groceries, which would exempt. The measure also would add another 3 percent sales tax on motel rooms and vacation rental within the city. That tax would be in addition to the 3 percent city tax already levied on overnight lodging that funds various projects in the city. A 60 percent majority is required for passage. A year ago, the city asked voters for a 1 percent general sales increase that included groceries, but that measure fell short by seven votes. The 2014 measure was estimated to raise at least $1 million per year, while the package to appear on Nov. 3 is estimated to raise at least $800,000 per year. That amount of money will only allow one street per year to be rebuilt, according to a street repair study conducted by city staffers. The study says the first street that should be repaired is Commerce Street, which is a principal trucking route and is at the end of its useful life. Streets that should be rebuilt in subsequent years include Park Street from First Street to N. Third St. (Idaho 55), Idaho Street, East Deinhard Lane, Second Street from E. Lake St. to Park Street and Lenora Street from N. Third St. to First St., under the study's recommendations. Council members have said they want to start small with the tax package to demonstrate to the public that the street work will be completed as promised with the funds. Additional taxes may be proposed once the public confidence in the city is established, council members have said. Major streets could be repaired plus work could begin on rebuilding residential streets if the city had an extra $2 million to $2.5 million per year, according to the city study. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/3/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall approves donation of metal sculpture for site near downtown 'Taking Flight' honors father of Porilcmd sculptor BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Donation of an eight -foot -tall steel sculpture to be placed at a corner near downtown McCall was accepted last week by the McCall City Council. The council accepted the donation of "Taking Flight," a sculpture made in 2012 by Portland artist Alisa Looney. The bright blue representation of a human figure will be placed at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Pine Street in front of AmeriTitle and across from the site of the McCall Farmers' Market. The donor, who has asked not to be named for this news story, will pay for the costs of transporting the work from Portland and installing it on a concrete base at the McCall site. The donor also will give $500 to the city for maintenance of the sculpture. "'Taking Flight' represents our deep connection to nature," Looney said in her artist's statement. "As the bind takes flight, the person also takes flight energetically, while physically staying grounded and strong. The bird as messenger leads us to our joy." The sculpture was created in the memory of Looney's father, Larry G. Looney, a former McCall smokejumper who died five years ago. The family had a cabin in McCall along Warren Wagon Road in the 1950 and 1960s. Phato cow,,, Al . Looney 'Taking Flight' by Portland sculptor Alisa Looney, will soon be located near &lantowv McCall. Looney said the inspiration for the piece came after family members spread her father's ashes near the Payette River and they went to a favorite lunch location to celebrate his life. "While we were there on the deck a small bird landed on the chair next to my sister and I," she said. "The bird was not scared and stayed a long time. It was my sense that Dad was visiting us." The sculpture was judged as one of the three most outstanding pieces entered in the 2013-14 El Paseo Sculpture Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif. "It seems fitting that the sculpture would come full circle and possibly be placed in McCall," Looney said. The sculpture should be installed by the end of the year barring unexpected delays, she said. Adjacent landowners, including AmerTitle, approved the placement of the sculpture, City Planner Delta James told council members. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/3/2015 Star -News News Groups Page Page 1 of 1 McCall gets $90,000 DEQ grant for water system The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has awarded a $90,000 drinking water planning grant to the city of McCall. The funds will be used to prepare a drinking water planning study to evaluate the current drinking water system, plan for future growth, and develop plans for improvements, McCall Public Works Director Peter Bomer said. The city will add $90,000 of its own money from its self-supporting water fund to pay for the study. The study begins this month and will be completed in the middle of 2016, Bomer said. The result will be the first full update to the city's Water Master Plan in over 25 years, he said. The new plan will be the guiding document for all major capital improvement projects for the city over the next five to 20 years, Bomer said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/groups_page.php 9/3/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Contested elections on tap for McCall council, New Meadows mayor Donnelly mayor decides not to seek third term BY TOM GROTE and DAN GALLAGHER The Star -News There will contested elections on Nov. 3 for the McCall City Council and for mayor of New Meadows following the closing of candidate filing last Friday. Three candidates will seek two seats up for election for the McCall City Council. Current council members Jackie Aymon and Nic Swanson previously announced their intention to seek new four-year terms. They have been joined on the ballot by Colby Nielsen. Nielsen, 35, Is general manager of the Payette Lakes Ski Club, which operates the Little Ski Hill and Bear Basin Nordic Center west of McCall. Nielsen was raised in McCall and returned home in 2008 after a 10-year absence. "I want to see McCall become a healthier community that accommodates residents, businesses, and visitors equally," he said. Nielsen said he understands what it is like to work several jobs In order to afford to live in McCall. "I'm running because I love my home, and I want to see it be healthy," he said. Aymon also serves as mayor, but that position is elected among the council members once the new council is seated in January. Council members Marcia Witte, Laura Scott and Bob Giles are not up for election this year. The population of McCall was 2,925 in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/10/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Survey results says two-hour parking in downtown McCall needed BY TOM GROTE The Star -News The two-hour parking limit in downtown McCall is necessary, according to a majority of respondents to the city of McCall's latest online survey The 128 respondents in the anonymous survey were split, however, on whether the downtown parking limit is property enforced. The survey was done in August on the current two-hour parking limit in the four -block area of downtown where it is posted with signs. Currently, motorists cannot park on those streets longer than two hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. A total of 63 percent of respondents said they either "strongly agree" or "agree" that the two hour parking restriction is necessary, while 23 percent say they either "strongly disagree" or "disagree" with the time limit. A total of 37 percent of respondents either strongly agree or agree that the two-hour parking restriction in the downtown core is sufficiently enforced while 38 percent thought it was not enforced well. Of the total respondents, 82 percent said they were full-time residents, and 81 percent said they use parking in the downtown core to patronize businesses, restaurants or bars. The city will use the survey results to help make decisions for planning the future of parking downtown, a statement from the McCall Police Department said. Here are some excerpts from written comments submitted with responses: "Two hour parking is key to the success of retail businesses downtown. If there is no parking available, it deters people from stopping." "I believe to continue to be a visitor -friendly destination town we should not have parking restrictions nor should we have parking meters!" "Real estate and business owners should use the free parking areas and leave downtown parking for customers." "McCall's downtown has plenty of paricing. Two-hour restrictions are unnecessary. The officer has plenty of other things to do, and should not spend time on this." "It seems the two hour limit is necessary during the peak parking times of summer, but the remainder of the year (excluding, say, Winter Carnival) it's nice not to have that limit. Is it possible to do seasonal Iwo -hour parking?" http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/17/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 Battle Tested: New McCall manager directed air traffic over Iraq, Afghanistan "Are we missing something? Are we doing well?" - Nate Coyle BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Nate Coyle is ready for upset citizens getting in his face. After dodging mortars in Iraq, complaints are easy to handle. Coyle took over last month as McCall City manager, replacing former manager Gene Drabinski, who served out the three years that he had promised the McCall City Council he would serve. Coyle came out on top of the 32 applicants for the job. He was already working for the city as manager of the McCall Airport as well as manager of special projects. At age 32, Coyle may seem young to be overseeing a city of 83 employees and an annual budget of $20 million, but his years of experience in the U.S. Air Force have prepared him for the challenge. For six months in 2009 and 2010, he was an airfield operations flight commander at Joint Base Balad in Iraq. At age 24, he was in charge of 100 people managing scores of flights per day at the busiest airfield in Iraq and over two-thirds of the county's air space. rEolo comb, N. corn McCall City Manager Nate Coyle is shown in Afghanistan in non wearing body armor that was required whenever leaving his base. Managing a busy airfield anywhere can be a stressful job, but working In Iraq had the added drama of occasional mortar attacks by insurgents. "When there was an alarm, we would duck and cover," he said. "Fortunately, they weren't well targeted and we never had a close encounter." Coyle served another six-month tour In the Middle East in 2011, this time in Kabul, Afghanistan, as the U.S. was winding down its presence in that country. No Radar As in Iraq, he was in charge of a 100-person contract team to manage air traffic across the country. Except there was no radar to track planes as there was in Iraq, so the controllers had to manually plot positions. By the time he left, planning was well along to hand air traffic control back to the Afghan govemment, which happened in 2014. Coming home, Coyle resumed his job running the airfield air traffic control at the giant Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. He and his wife of eight years, Heather, a registered nurse, decided to leave the military. "We were looking for something stable where we could raise a family," Coyle said. Coyle took the job as McCall airport manager in 2013 and he now has two children, a boy, 3, and a girl, 1. Coyle was raised in Tunkhannock, Penn., near Wilkes-Barre and was part of the high school volleyball team that made it to the state toumament. He attended Penn State University, where he eamed a full -ride scholarship in the ROTC program. He likes jogging, riding his motorcycle and spending time in city parks with his family. There are many similarities between the military and civilian government, Coyle said. "The military is not a gung-ho as you might think," he said. "A lot of staff were civilian employees and contractors, so I had to motivate them to provide the best service they could." Coyle's bosses on the city council are not technical experts on all functions of the city, but that is also similar to the Air Force, he said. "Our squadron commanders were generally pilots and not aircraft controllers," he said. "So I to make sure they had the information they needed to make a good decision." Open Door Policy Coyle believes dealing with the public is a vital part of his job, which is why he is continuing Drabinskrs "open-door" sessions each Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. where citizens can walk in without an http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 9/24/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 appointment. 'The best feedback often is the other side of the story that comes in the door," he said. "I really want to know - Are we missing something? Are we doing well? Is there something we need to pay attention to?" He plans to continue to build on the work by Drabinski toward consolidation of sewer services provided by the city and the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District. Coyle also will be on the lookout for ways the city can do its job more efficiently, and he is not reluctant to hand out discipline among city staffers when warranted. "My background prepares me well to be a leader, and I feel confident I will be successful," he said. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp stories page.php 9/24/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall awards contract to rebuild Payette Lake boat ramp Current ramp near Legacy Park sees over 100 launches per day during summer BY TOM GROTE The Star -News A contract to rebuild the busy Payette Lake boat ramp next to Legacy Park in downtown McCall was award by the McCall City Council last week. Richard L. Jordan Construction of Boise was the lowest of four bidders to rebuild the south side of the boat ramp, located at the end of Fir Street, and to build a new concrete sidewalk along the south side of the ramp that will connect to the existing dock that extends into the lake. Jordan bid $85,653 to do the work, which is to be completed by the end of the year. The city had budgeted about $121,000 from three different sources with the hope of including the north side of the ramp, but the bids all came in over budget, with Jordan's total bid being $157,555. The money is enough to complete the south ramp and walkway, but is not enough to rebuild the north ramp, McCall City Engineer Nathan Stewart told council member at their regular meeting last Thursday. Later in the meeting, council members voted to allocate all of the surplus money from the city's 3 percent local -option tax on lodging to the project in hopes the north ramp could be rebuilt. As much as $24,000 in funds not budgeted for projects Is expected to be available from local -option tax receipts collected through the end of the city's budget year on Sept. 30, McCall City Clerk BessieJo Wagner told council members. Stewart told the council that he hopes the local -option tax money plus cost savings as the work progresses will allow for the north ramp to be rebuilt. Limited Access The Legacy Park boat ramp is the only public ramp on Payette Lake downtown, with 127 launches per day in July recorded in 2014, McCall Parks and Recreation Director Dennis Coyle said. The only other public boat ramps on the lake are near the day -use area at Ponderosa State Park and at Ponderosa's North Beach unit along Warren Wagon Road. The city frequently receives complaints the boat ramp is not uniform and that the changes in slope leads to damaged boats, Coyle said. Three years ago, a 20-foot section collapsed and was patched, which caused the city to start working on a replacement project, he said. "It would be bad for our economy if the ramp became unusable," Coyle said. The most money for the project, $71,0000, will come from the Waterways Improvement Fund from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Valley County will contribute $25,000 and another $26,000 will be given by the McCall Redevelopment Agency since the boat ramp is located within the city's urban renewal area. The city is providing engineering design, construction management, and concrete disposal for the project, and more funds from the Waterways Improvement Fund are being sought, Stewart said http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/15/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall asks voters a second time to raise taxes for streets Ballot question would raise general sales tar, lodging tar BY TOM GROTE The Star -News McCall voters will go to the polls on Tuesday for the second time in a year on a proposal to raise taxes to repair city streets. The McCall City Council wants to raise the general sales tax by 1 percent except for groceries and raise the current city sales tax on lodging by 3 percent to begin to raise money for street repairs. A 60 percent majority is needed for passage. A year ago, a proposal to impose a general sales tax of 1 percent fell short by seven votes. If Tuesday's tax package passes, the city estimates $800,000 per year would be raised, enough to rebuild one-third of a mile of road each year, according to a study by the city. Commerce Street would be the first street rebuilt by the new money, following by streets downtown, Idaho Street and East Deinhard Lane, according to recommendations in the city study. "Our roads are a disaster and this is the best and fairest way to improve our roads," Mayor Jackie Aymon said of the package. "It spreads the burden out beyond property tax payers to visitors." Council member Nic Swanson said raising sales taxes was "easiest" way to raise funds because the taxes would be paid by both residents and visitors. "We need to raise revenue for our infrastructure, and this is the best tool to do so," Swanson said. In opposition to the package is Shore Lodge Manager Dan Scott, who said any lodging tax should pay for tourism improvements. "While I appreciate that the streets called out are generally in commercial districts also used by tourists, the fact is that better streets won't bring more tourists nor is it a necessity to keep the tourists that we have," Scott said. Shore Lodge guests would pay 15 percent in sales taxes if the measure passes. The 3 percent room tax and 1 percent general sales tax would be added to the 6 percent statewide sales tax, a statewide 2 percent room tax for tourism promotion and the city's current 3 percent room tax for community projects. "The main argument that I hear supporting this is that 'everyone that stays in a hotel in McCall can afford it and really won't even know the difference,'" Scott said. "That is absolutely incorrect. We get complaints about the current high taxes all the time." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 City voters go to polls to elect councils, mayors McCall has initiatives on minimum wage, higher taxes BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Voters in McCall, Cascade, New Meadows and Donnelly will go to the polls on Tuesday to elect their leaders, while McCall voters also will vote on two ballot measures. MCCALL COUNCIL, BALLOT MEASURES In McCall, voting will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the McCall -Donnelly High School annex on the comer of Stibnite and Mission streets. Three candidates are running for two seats on the McCall City Council. Current council members Jackie Aymon, who also serves as mayor, and Nic Swanson are seeking new four-year terms, while Colby Nielsen would like to unseat one of them. Council members Marcia Witte, Laura Scott and Bob Giles are not up for election this year. McCall voters also will judge an initiative by FairWageMcCall to raise the current minimum wage in McCall from $7.25 an hour to $8.75 in 2016 and to $10.25 by 2017. A 50 percent majority is needed for passage. Also on the ballot is a proposed by the city to raise the general sales tax by 1 percent except for groceries, and to raise the city's sales tax on lodging by 3 percent. The money would be used to repair city streets. The measure needs a 60 percent majority to pass. NEW MEADOWS MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL In New Meadows, voting will take place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesdays at New Meadows City Hall. Current Mayor Tony Koberstein is seeking to be elected to a four-year term. He will be opposed by Misty Hill. Current New Meadows City Council member Julie Good was the only candidate to file for the two seats to be elected. Council member Darbey Edwards chose not to seek a new term. Council members Brad Steiner and Shannon Fairchild are not up for election this year. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Business owners say minimum wage hike would hamper their operations BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Tuesday's ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage In McCall would be harmful to businesses, three local business owners said. The owners of a restaurant, two motels and a video gaming parlor all said their operations would be hampered if the initiative proposed by FairWageMcCall passes. The proposed increase would raise the current minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.75 in 2016 and to $10.25 by 2017. Tipped workers, such as servers, would see a raise from $3.35 now to $6.56 in 2016 and $7.69 by 2017. Restaurant owners are working hard to make a living just like their employees, said Lauri Strandell, owner of Steamers Restaurant. "Every restaurant owner 1 know is working right along side of their employees," said Strandell, who added that she already pays her employees more than the proposed wages in Tuesday's initiative. Businesses do not need another government mandate, she said. 1 really don't want to be told what to do by a misinformed public vote enforced by city govemment," Strandell said. Rather than focusing on wages, efforts should be made to provide affordable housing in McCall, she said. 'It's unfortunate that this organization that seems to care about people and has a lot of energy to promote change picked the wrong argument," Strandell said. Business owners should not be forced to pay an employee an amount they have not earned, said Bob Hunt, who owns America's Best Value Inn and the Super 8 Lodge in McCall. "I personally believe in compensating people for their individual value and would not enjoy having it forced on me," Hunt said. Can't Charge More Economy motels like his cannot afford to charge higher rates to offset higher wages, he said. "If this goes through, I will take a hard look at selling our remaining businesses in McCall," Hunt said. "I won't stay in business to break even or move revenues from other locations to subsidize shortfalls in McCall." Studies of the effects of raising the minimum wage have found that workers eaming 20 percent or more than the new minimum also get a raise, said Craig Campbell, owner of PLAYLive McCall. "This forced wage Increase will break the bank of many businesses if 90 percent of their workers will be forced to also increase their wages, especially in the slow seasons,' Campbell said. If local businesses have more revenue and can afford to pay more, they most likely will do their part, he said. "The problems with the initiative are many and even the supporters admit it will not have any real impact on struggling families," Campbell said. http://www.mccal lstamews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Speakers support higher minimum wage Measure would help, not hurt, economy BY CHRISTIE GROB for The Star -News The current minimum wage is not keeping up with the economy and an increase would not have much of a negative affect to the community, an audience in McCall was told last week. The statement was made by economist Don Reading of Ben Johnson Associates during a forum at Idaho First Bank last week hosted by FairWageMcCall. FairWageMcCall gathered signatures to put a raise in the minimum wage in McCall on Tuesday's election ballot. The proposed increase would raise the current minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $6.75 in 2016 and to $10.25 by 2017. Tipped workers, such as waitpersons, would be raised from $3.35 now to $6.56 in 2016 and $7.69 by 2017. The minimum wage would then continue to rise according to yearly indexing of cost of Irving increases. Reading and University of Idaho Political Science professor Brian Ellison spoke to about 30 people about the need and economic changes from raising the minimum wage. "In general, prices will go up a little," Reading said of concerns that the increased wages would cause the local standard of living costs to increase in order to pay the new wages. Reading felt the change to the minimum wage may result in some kind of "stimulating impact." He believed increased wages would be spent locally, benefiting businesses and the local economy. Geoff Burns of FairWageMcCall echoed Reading by saying, "We all prosper when we all prosper." The FairWageMcCall group claims the increase will add over $2 million in new revenue, but during a question session, some in the audience wondered if the new money would be spent in Boise or online. "It's a values discussion," Ellison said. "How do we value our community?" Ellison pointed out that the gap between the poor and wealthy is significant, and Reading felt that gap would continue to widen if an increase was not approved. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall freezes golf course rates after strong season Course brought in $103,000 more over 2014 BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Rates at the McCall Golf Course will not go up for 2016 after the course reported a strong season this year. The McCall City Council last Thursday accepted the recommendation of the McCall Golf Course Advisory Committee after hearing the course brought in $103,000 more this year than in 2014. The total number of golf rounds on the 27-hole public course increased to about 25,000 this year compared to about 23,000 rounds last year, course pro Allan Morrison said. Several factors were cited by Morrison for the strong financial showing, including the prime condition of the course, an increase in rates this year and an early opening on May 1. Also cited by Morrison were good weather, an improving economy and the closure of Osprey Meadows Golf Course at Tamarack Resort over a legal dispute. "We also had lots of repeat rounds where guest retumed several times," he said. When compared to expenses, the golf course is expected to have a surplus of about $60,000 this year, McCall City Manger Nate Coyle said. That surplus will draw down the $112,000 deficit that the golf course is carrying on the city's books, Coyle said. The city subsidizes the golf course with property tax dollars, with next years subsidy set at $100,000. In addition to keeping rates the same, council members approved changing the start time for afternoon and evening play during October to allow golfers to finish before dark. The normal 2 p.m. afternoon start time will move to 1 p.m. in October and the normal 5 p.m, evening start time will move to 4 p.m. in October. http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1 Jackie Aymon Age:61 Occupation: Physician Assistant -Retired Residency: Bom in Boise, homeowner in McCall since 1989, lived in McCall since 2005. Education: Capital High School - Boise; University of Washington: Bachelor of Arts; University of Canberra: Masters in Public Health Nutrition; Idaho State University: Bachelor of Science: Physician Assistant Studies. Public Service: Convened Firewise committee in 2014; chair of McCall Transportation Advisory Committee; member of Local Option Tax Commission; volunteer and board member of Community Care Clinic; member of McCall Centennial Committee; member of WICAP; sponsored Heartland Hunger Resource Center Project 100; occasional volunteer for Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary; participated in Humanitarian Wood Day event. Other Activities: Board of Medicine, Valley County Democrats, Roger's Hillbilly Backcountry Ski Group. Awards: Provider of the Year from the Humphries Diabetes Center in Boise Family: Husband, Jean-Claude Aymon. Aymon credits unified council for progress In McCall government A McCall City Council that gets along together needs to continue to serve the city, McCall City Council candidate Jackie Aymon said. Aymon is seeking re-election to a four year term in Tuesday's city election. Three candidates, Aymon, Nic Swanson and Colby Nielsen, are competing for two seats to be elected. Aymon was appointed to the council 2010 and elected to a full term in 2011. In 2014, she was named by her fellow council members to serve a two-year term as mayor. "The current city council is a collegial group who may not always agree but always get along; Aymon said. "We are all committed to identify problem areas and set a course to address them. I want to continue to be a part of that process." She does not take full credit for progress in the city during the last four years, but acknowledged her role in the development of Centennial Plaza in downtown McCall and improvements along North Third Street (Idaho 55). She helped the city receive designation as a Firewise Community and opened up communication and collaboration with Valley County and the Payette Lakes Recreational Sewer and Water District. Much work remains to be done, including improving the city's streets, reducing danger from wildfire and controlling rowdy behavior during the Fourth of July holiday, Aymon said. More workforce housing is needed in the city, the McCall Public Library needs expanding and the McCall City Hall campus needs updating, she said. Aymon will vote "yes" on the initiative on Tuesdays ballot to raise the minimum wage in McCall. "This is a voter -driven Initiative and an important question to be answered by the citizens in McCall," she said. She also supports the proposed local -option tax package on Tuesday's ballot that would raise sales taxes to repair city streets. "Our roads are a disaster and this is the best and fairest way to improve our roads," Aymon said of the package, which she helped to write. "It spreads the burden out beyond property tax payers to visitors." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/candidates_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1 Nic Swanson Age: 30 Occupation: Carpenter/Contractor Residency: 28 years in Idaho, 23 in McCall. Education: Class of 2003 McCall -Donnelly High School; Associate Degree, Fire Suppression Technology, 2005, Chemeketa Community College; B.S., Political Science with a minor in History, 2008, Boise State University. Other Activities: Golf, Skiing, Work, Reading, Sports, Hunting, Fishing. Swanson would continue work on roads, sewers Nic Swanson would work on improving McCall's streets and consolidation of the area's sewer system if he is re-elected to the McCall City Council on Tuesday. Thee candidates, Swanson, Jackie Aymon, and Colby Nielsen, are competing for two seats to be elected. Swanson was appointed to the council in April 2011 and was elected to a full term in November of that year. "I enjoy the work it takes to represent the residents of McCall," he said. "I care greatly about the community and its people, and I'd like to continue working on their behalf." Swanson said he helped hire two "solid folks" as city manager - former manager Gene Drabinski and current manager Nate Coyle. He is also happy with the results of the city's signing a separate contract with Lakeshore Disposal for trash collection. 'Despite the initial mistakes, we got them cleaned up and provided a solution that works for everyone,'" Swanson said. More work is needed to get the revenues of the McCall Goff Course closer to its expenses in order to take the burden off taxpayers, he said. Swanson supports the local -option tax package on Tuesday's ballot which he helped draft. "We need to raise revenue for our infrastructure, and this is the best tool to do so," he said. It is an "easy choice" to raise sales taxes, which are paid by both residents and visitors, rather than raise property taxes, Swanson said. "Residents and business owners regularly comment to me about the level of property taxation, and I'd like to see the folks that come to visit McCall pay for their share of impacts on our roads," he said. He will dedicate himself with continuing the effort toward consolidation of the sewer systems operated by the city and the Payette Lakes Recreation Water and Sewer District. "The work I've put into this area is something I'm proud of, and something I desperately wish to complete," he said. Swanson is undecided on how he will vote on Tuesday's initiative to raise the minimum wage in McCall. "I am in support of increased wages for our lowest paid workers, he said. "I'm still concerned about the unintended consequences that some of our businesses may face." http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/candidates_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1 Colby Nleslen Age: 35 Occupation: General Manager, Payette Lakes Ski Club Born/Raised: McCall Education: Associate degree in aviation, Bachelor degrees in English and recreation. Residency: Full time resident of McCall since 2008. Public Service: Capital Improvement Plan Committee, 2014; AVIC (Adams, Valley, Idaho counties) Collaborative. Formerly involved with a variety of organizations with the intent of community collaboration. Nielsen says community's voice needs to be heard The voice of the community needs to be heard as McCall moves forward, McCall City Council candidate Colby Nielsen said. Thee candidates, Nielsen, Jackie Aymon and Nic Swanson are competing for two seats to be elected in Tuesday's city vote. "I would like to promote an engaged community conversation about who we are as a community and what we would like to become," Nielsen said. 'Creative solutions lie in the minds of our community members," he said. "These voices need to be heard, and actions need to be taken." His top projects if elected would be the shortage in workforce housing, deteriorating infrastructure, and city codes that he says hinder small business growth and success. "The current climate is unfriendly towards new and existing businesses," Nielsen said. He would advocate a long-term strategy for workforce housing and promote open government to ensure the city is being fiscally responsible with taxpayers' money. The city should also improve pedestrian travel and safety, and improve public transportation, he said. Nielsen is undecided how he will note on Tuesday's initiative to raise the minimum wage in McCall. 'There is a noticeable void of objective information being presented to the public on this issue," he said. "In its place is hyperbole on the positive and negative affect on small businesses if the initiative passes." Nielsen will vote in favor of the local -option tax package that Is also on Tuesday's ballot. 'I do not fully agree with the current iteration of this initiative, but I will vote in favor of it," he said. "This is the first step in addressing failing infrastructure that has been neglected for decades," Nielsen said. 'It will not be the end-all solution to the problem. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/candidates_page.php 10/29/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page Minimum wage dies, local option tax flies Only 46% voted to raise wages in city limits BY TOM GROTE The Star-News A ballot measure that would have raised the minimum wage in McCall was defeated by voters in Tuesday's election. The initiative received 409 votes in favor, but that was only 46 percent of the total. A 50 percent majority was needed for passage. A total of 470 voters cast their ballots against the initiative, or 53 percent. Working families will continue to suffer without higher wages, said a statement from FairWageMcCall, the citizens group that gathered signatures for the initiative. "What is most disheartening is that so many of our supporters opted to stay home," the statement said. "In doing so they allowed the politics of fear and misinformation to carry the day." The proposed increase would have raised the current state - mandated minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $8.75 on Jan. 1 and to $10.25 by 2017. Tipped workers, such as servers, would have seen their base pay raised from $3.35 per hour now to $6.56 on Jan. 1 and to $7.69 by 2017. The minimum wage would then have continued to rise according to yearly indexing of cost of living increases. Supporters of the initiative said workers would spend their higher wages in the community, which would boost the general economy. Higher minimum wages also would reduce employee turnover, save money in training new employees and build employee loyalty, according to proponents. Opponents to the measure said they should not have the pay of their employees forced on them. Mandated higher wages would result in higher prices charged by businesses and would make operating businesses in a resort economy more difficult, opponents said. McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon praised the efforts of FairWageMcCall "on behalf of workers who could use a leg up." "Even though the minimum wage increase did not pass, you started the conversation on the need for ednesday due to the high number of voters who ralley County Clerk Doug Miller said. php Page 1 of 1 11/5/2015 Star -News News Lead Story Page McCall voters pass higher taxes for street repairs General sales tax to go up I% except for groceries Jan. I BY TOM GROTE The Star-News McCall voters on Tuesday approved a tax package that is designed to get the city moving on repairing its streets. The vote was 579 in favor of raising the general sales tax by 1 percent and raising sales taxes on overnight lodging by an additional 3 percent. The measure received a 65.4 percent majority, which is above the 60 percent majority required by law to raise local- option taxes. The new taxes will go into effect on Jan. 1, when the state's 6 percent general sales tax will go up to 7 percent inside the McCall city limits. The new tax does not include groceries. At the same time, an additional 3 percent would be added to the sales tax on motels and rental homes and condos. Motel guests will pay a total of 15 percent in sales taxes starting on Jan. 1 when added to existing state and local taxes. The new taxes, which will be collected for 10 years, are expected to raise at least $800,000 per year for the city to get started on long- deferred repairs on city streets. "This is a big moment for McCall," McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said. 'The city has a plan and now we have a new and hopefully robust funding source to the job." Tuesday's vote was the second time in a year on a proposal to raise taxes to repair city streets. A 1 percent sales tax proposal in November 2014 fell seven votes short. The money raised by the new taxes should be enough to rebuild one -third of a mile of road each year, according to a study by the city. Commerce Street would be the first street rebuilt by the new money, following by streets downtown, Idaho Street and East Deinhard Lane, according to recommendations in the city study. When placing the measure on the ballot, council members said the amount of revenue was small compared to needs, but that the city needed to prove it could spend the money wisely. Additional taxes for road repair may be sought in the future once the city gains the confidence of voters, council members have said. The new tax money will not be used to replace outdated water and sewer lines beneath the streets that need to be repaired, as the 2014 measure proposed. Those lines will still be replaced when the streets are renovated, but the money will come from the city's monthly water and sewer fees. iot known Wednesday due to the high number of voters who i Tuesday, Valley County Clerk Doug Miller said. d _page.php Page 1 of 1 11/5 /2015 Star -News News Main News Page McCall keeps both council members; New Meadows mayor stays put BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Both members of the McCall City Cou Nick Swansoa Jackie Aymon Tony+ Koberstein votes. Nielsen received 420 votes. icil on Tuesday's ballot were retained by voters. Meanwhile, New Meadows Mayor Tony Koberstein was elected to a full term. McCall council members Jackie Aymon and Nic Swanson both were elected on Tuesday over challenger Colby Nielsen. Swanson received 590 votes, while Aymon received 514 Council members Marcia Witte, Bob Giles and Laura Scott were not up for election this year. In January, council members will vote among themselves to see who serves as mayor for the next two years. Aymon has served as mayor since 2014. Under McCall's city manager system, the mayor has largely ceremonial duties other than running city council meeting. City Manager Nate Coyle is in charge of day - to-day operations. In New Meadows, Koberstein received 82 votes to be elected to a four -year term. Challenger Misty Hill received 35 votes. Current New Meadows City Council member Julie Good was the only candidate to file for the two seats to be elected. Council member Darbey Edwards chose not to seek a new term. Council members Brad Steiner and Shannon Fairchild were not up for election this year. In Cascade, all three incumbents on the Cascade City Council ran for re- election with no challengers. Debbie Haskins, Judy Nissula and Rachel Huckaby all kept their seats. Council member Kathy Hull and Mayor Rob Terry were not up for re- election this year. In Donnelly, Brian Koch will be the city's new mayor, moving up from the Donnelly City Council. Koch was unopposed to replace current Mayor Brad Backus, who is finishing his second four -year tern and did not seek re- election. Council members Gabe Slayton and Leslie Minshall both were unopposed. Council member Wendy Davenport was not up for re-election. Back To Index/Menu 2015 Election Results Note: These results were updated on Wednesday from preliminary results released Tuesday night. McCall Minimum Wage - FAILED (50% Needed) Yes - 409 - 46.21 % No- 470 - 53.10% McCall Local- Option Tax - PASSED (60% Needed) Yes - 579 - 65.42% No - 306 - 34.57% McCall City Council - Top Two Elected Nic Swanson - 590 Jackie Aymon - 514 Colby Nielsen - 420 New Meadows Mayor Tony Koberstein - 82 Misty Hill - 35 http://www.mccalistamews.com/pages/fp_stories_page-php Page 1 of 1 11/5/2015 Star -News News Announcements Page Cable ONE, city of McCall announce launch of GlgaONE Cable ONE and the city of McCall have announced that McCall will be able to lay claim to the title "Gig city" with the 2016 launch of GigaONE, the company's new Gigabit service. "The City of McCall is excited to be one of Idaho's first Gig cities," McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said. The company's newest speed is 40 times faster than the average speed currently offered across the United States, and will be available to the majority of Cable ONE customers by the end of 2016, a news release said. Prices and data plans will be announced in January. "GigaONE will support the technology needs of the communities we serve, now and in the future," said Joe Felbab, vice president of marketing for Cable ONE. "We are excited to be able to offer Gigabit service to nearly 1.5 million homes In the markets we serve." Cable ONE has invested more than a half billion dollars over the past five years on network upgrades and enhancements in order to bring the latest technology and fastest speeds to its customers. Cable ONE Gigabit speeds will enable customers to: • Download an HD movie in 60 seconds or less • Download 100 songs in four seconds • Download a game in 29 seconds "Our extensive fiber network deployment and continued investment in improving and expanding our network enables us to offer the fastest, most reliable Internet connections at the best value, while contributing to the economic development of the communities we serve," Felbab said. The company recently doubled speeds on virtually all of its plans for new and existing residential and business customers. Page 1 of 1 cements _page.php 11/19/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall mayor logs 310 walking miles, earns $1,000 BY DAN GALLAGHER for The Star -News McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon averaged more than 10,000 steps per walk and Meadows Valley Elementary School students trod 1,154 miles as part of the Mayor's School Walking Challenge. The event observed October as "Waiktober' by Blue Cross of Idaho's High Five Children's Collaborative, St. Luke's and the Idaho Dairy Council to promotes children's health by walking or running at school. The mayors encouraged participation in their cities. The winning mayor was Gordon Petrie of Emmett who walked 534 miles in October. He earned $5,000 for school or park improvements. Twelve mayors, including Aymon, averaged more than 10,000 steps per walk. A typical number of steps per mile is between 2,000 and 2,500 steps. Aymon said her walking monitor measured 310 miles for October. She was awarded $1,000. "The prize money will go to the city's Recreation Department for scholarships for programs kids may not be able to afford and recreation equipment, including bike and skateboard helmets," she said. "It was a great opportunity for our city and I hope we can do better next time." Also taking part were Cascade Mayor Rob Terry and New Meadows Mayor Tony Koberstein. Meadows Valley Elementary Schools fielded 102 students who walked a total of 1,154 miles, or an average 11.31 miles per person. At 24 schools, students averaged five miles or more in October. Each of the schools received $500 to promote children health. Back To Index/Menu A story in The Star -News last week about a strormwater drainage project on Mill Street listed the incorrect sources of funding for the project. The project is funded by city of McCall's streets and water departments. The caption for a photo on the front page of The Star -News last week gave the incorrect name for the actor portraying "Comedy" in the performance of "Phaeton and the Sun Chariot." The actor's name was Emily Hyatt. Back To Index/Menu Back To Front Page http:// www. mccallstarnews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 11/19/2015 Contact Us Place Classified View Classified Ads Arts/Events Outdoors/Rec Letters/Viewpoints Sports/Schools Of Record Public Lands/Roads Public Notices Groups Info Desk Calendar Announcements Back to Front Page LEAD STORY — THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 McCall complains about sloppy work on Lardo Bridge City says railing too high, concrete work done in haste "It became very clear that the aesthetic components were a very low priority for ITD and the contractor. " — Letter from city of McCall BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News The city of McCall has complained to the Idaho Transportation Department that the new Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55 near Shore Lodge contains mistakes and sloppy work. Photo courtesy City of McCall ncrete bands on the sidewalk of the new Lardo Bridge in McCall. The contractor that built the bridge responded by saying the city did not communicate well about what they wanted on the bridge and that the poor appearance is actually the fault of the city. The bridge, which spans the North Fork of the Payette River, was opened to traffic a year ago, but a series of aesthetic features that promised a "celebration of water" where not completed until several months later. Some of those features were not installed correctly and were the result of "sloppy, poorly conducted work," according to a letter to the ITD from McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon and approved by the McCall City Council earlier this month. Ralph A. Wadsworth Construction Co. of Draper, Utah, was the general contractor on the $5 million project. "It became very clear that the aesthetic components of this project, although minimal for the overall project cost, were a very low priority for ITD and the contractor," Aymon's letter said. Railing Too High The most glaring error in the bridge are the railings, including the railing fronting the 400 - square -foot viewing platform on the north side facing Payette Lake and the mountains beyond, the letter to ITD said. The city approved railings that were to be 42 inches high, but the railings that were installed are 56 inches high, the letter said. The 42 -inch railing would have been chest -high to the average adult and allowed unobstructed views, McCall Community Development Director Michelle Groenevelt said. The higher railings that were built impede the view for many, Groenevelt said. The pedestals were originally intended to be capped with steel plates bearing the likenesses of fish. But the pedestals as built are too high for most people to see the fish plates, so they were replaced with red metal caps, Groenevelt said. The sidewalk on the north side of the bridge is inlaid with charcoal - colored bands, but the coloring that was applied spilled outside the lines of the bands, Aymon's letter said. Also, the wood - grained texture that was supposed to be applied on the concrete pedestals did not come out as hoped, Groenevelt said To make matters worse, workers for Wadsworth sealed the concrete on the bridge with the flaws in place, making repairs impossible, Aymon's letter said. "This was disappointing given the importance of the bridge as a visual gateway into McCall," Aymon's letter said. Wadsworth submitted its own plan for the aesthetics features of the bridge, but the city rejected it, said Clint Wiscome, project manager for Wadsworth. "The city was also given the option to provide their own aesthetic plan and we would built it," Wiscome said. "The only problem is that the city did not know what they wanted." Wiscome disagreed that the railings were to be no higher than 42 inches. He cited Wadsworth's contract with ITD that said the railing should be "a minimum height of 42 inches." Wadsworth gave the city proposals with "every 42 -inch metal railing available to choose from. They rejected all of them," he said. "I was unaware that the city did not know the railing was 54 inches when they approved it." In response, Groenevelt cited a letter sent by her to Wiscombe in October 2014 in which the city approved a detailed aesthetics plan for the bridge. Damage Put on City The blemishes on the walkway are not the result of sloppy work but are signs of damage from the city's winter maintenance crews, Wiscome said. A mixture of sand, salt and pea gravel that the city puts on the road for traction spilled onto the walkway last winter and the concrete scarred when the city scraped the sidewalks with blades, he said. McCall City Manager Nate Coyle responded by saying ITD, and not the city, plows snow on Idaho 55. Also, city crews use snow blowers, and not blades, to clear the walkway, Coyle said. Aymon's letter did offer praise to ITD for allowing the city to add the viewing plaza and other amenities to the bridge design as well as the short closure of the river crossing that was required during construction. The letter also praised Wadsworth for the work to renovate the section of Rotary Park that was used as a staging area for materials and equipment for the project. Back To Index/Menu Back To Front Page © Copyright Log Off Star -News News Lead Story Page Page 1 of 1 McCall, ID 19 OF owanenst at Gal 31 PM r1,.�Y Tn hens j�d Story i_FAD STORY — THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10. 2015 ^- n story Inaex "'ain News )omlon Arts/Events Outdoors/Rw- Sports /School- Of Record Groups Info Desk Announcements Public Notices (orrent Fd,nor McCall council snuffs smoke -free ordinance Draft low was last discussed 18 months ago "('Phis is) a big battle over a small piece of territory. " .Jackie Aymon BY I OM GROTE for The Star -News Eighteen months after they last discussed it, members of the McCall City Council last week quietly disposed of a proposed ordinance that would have imposed a citywide ban on smoking in work places Near the end of last Thursday's regular meeting, council members told McCall City Manager Nate Coyle to take the proposed smoking ban off the list of future meeting topics. Coyle had brought up the item, noting no discussion had been taken since June 2014. In the spring of 2014, the council ordered an ordinance to be drafted that would have banned smoking in conference and meeting rooms, private offices, retail spaces and showrooms, elevators, hallways, cafeterias, employee lounges, stairs, restrooms, and garages. Other areas where smoking would have been banned included all motel rooms, patios and outdoor eating areas, areas within 20 feet of public doorways and in nursing home rooms. The draft also would have banned smoking on the McCall Golf Course as well as in and around the golf course clubhouse. Second -Hand Smoke When the council last reviewed the draft ordinance in June 2014 Mayor Jackie Aymon said she favored adoption in order to protect people from second -hand smoke. After last week's decision to kill the ordinance, Aymon said the proposed ban was "a big battle over a small piece of territory." "My hope is that the natural evolution of smoke -free environment will prevail," said Aymon, who retired earlier this year as a physician's assistant. "Most businesses have self - regulated, discovering that they do better with smoke -free environments," she said. The effort to stop smoking in the community needs to be coordinated with other agencies rather than an ordinance in isolation," said council member Marcia Witte, a physician. A new group, the Valley -Adams Health Improvement Coalition, will be working aggressively on tobacco prevention efforts in the schools, and St. Luke's McCall is looking at implementing a more comprehensive stop-smoking program in its clinics, Witte said. "I think the city can re- address the second -hand smoke issue once more of the groundwork is laid for such an ordinance," she said. Fines Proposed The proposed ordinance called for a one -year education period before the new restrictions were enforced. After that, a first -time violator would have been issued a warning, while a second -time violator within two years would have been fined $25. A third violation within two years would have drawn a fine of $52. Since 2004, the Idaho Clean Indoor Air Act has banned smoking statewide in all enclosed public places except for bars, tobacco stores, private clubs, designated motel smoking rooms, and break rooms in businesses with fewer than five employees, among other places. The discussion of new restrictions in McCall began in August 2013, when representatives from the activist group Smoke -Free Idaho urged the council to expand the state restrictions to protect nonsmokers from exposure to second -hand smoke. Similar expansions of the state ban have been adopted in Boise, Ketchum and Moscow. Back T)Index /Me❑c © Copyright 2009 -2015 Central Idaho Publishing Inc. • All rights reserved http: / /www.mccalistarnews.com /pages /archive_2015 /12_10_15 webedition /lead _page %... 12/28/2015 New plan culls jor renovalion of Park Slreei denlisls' office BY TOM GROTE for 'Me Star -News The location of a proposed transit center in downtown McCall has been moved, the McCall City Council was told last week. The center is now proposed for just west of McCall City Hall in what is now The Dental Arts Building at 210 Park St., said Terri Lindenberg, executive director of Treasure Valley Transit in Nampa. Treasure Valley Transit operates the free Red Line around McCall as well as the paid Green Line between McCall and Cascade. The proposed transit center would include offices, a waiting room, a ticket counter and restrooms, and would be a stop for the Red Line and Green Line as well as for Northwest Trailways. The council last discussed the transit center in July when it approved a two-year $600,000 spending plan to tie into the proposed center. At that time, the city was looking at tearing down the former city fire station just east of the McCall Public Library on Park Street and erect a new building on the site that would be large enough for both the transit center as well as new city offices. Treasure Valley Transit was going to fund its part of the project with a federal grant. But Lindenberg told council members that the Federal Transit Administration told her this fall it would not approve the project because the land would be leased from the city and not owned by TVT. That sent her scurrying to find a new location, which she found in the current dentists' office. The transit company has made an offer on the building and is expected to take over the property by early next year. She declined to disclose the purchase price. Crowded Offices The second floor of the former fire station, known as the city hall annex, houses eight employees from the city's human resources, finance, information technology and parks departments. Any members of the public with questions are confronted with a long flight of stairs that discourage anyone with mobility problems. In addition, the parks departments houses its maintenance equipment in the former fire truck bays, causing dizzying fumes to drift into the offices above when equipment is started. The plan approved by the council in July would have spent $250,000 next year to move the parks equipment to a new building near the city's public works garages on Samson Trail. Then in 2017 and 2018, the city would have chipped in $350,000 to the transit center project to add on city offices. The city's costs would come from a one -time surplus of $786,000 from savings during the 2014 budget year. The rest, or about $131,000, would come from the city's general fund, which is funded by property taxes. "We are currently evaluating a number of options for potential partnerships to ensure that our city staff and facilities are in a position to best serve the community," McCall City Manager Nate Coyle said this week. About $383,000 of a $1 million federal grant already has been spent by Treasure Valley Transit to buy and renovate the former Collins Auto Body building on Helmick Street near the McCall Smokejumper Base to house and maintain the company's buses. The former fire station was vacated when McCall Fire & EMS completed its current fire station on Deinhard Lane in 2004. St4A/ /� i� /atf/ Back To IndextMenu Proposed law backed by former McCall resident passes U.S. Senate Trevor's Law would .study sualvcted cancer clusters BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A proposed law named after a former McCall resident who survived brain cancer passed the U.S. Senate last week. Trevor's Law, named after former McCall resident Trevor Schaefer, is included as part of the Toxic Substances Control Act reform bill. Trevor's Law calls on the federal government to develop criteria to monitor potential cancer dusters in the United States, according to a news release from the office of Sen Mike Crapo, R- Idaho. The federal Centers for Disease Control would be required to track cancer clusters and offer assistance as needed to local residents and government officials. Crapo's office said. ZIA F'orrner McCall resident Trevor Schaefer, left, testifies on Trc'`or's laic before a congressional committee in Washington, D.C., in 2011 with em ilonmental activist Erin Brockovich. The law now goes to the U.S. House for final consideration. No timetable for a vote is known. Schaefer, 26, of Boise, was diagnosed with of brain cancer in 2002 at age 13 while living in McCall. After treatment, the disease was in remission in 2004 and he was declared cancer -free in 2007. His mother, Charlie Smith, also of Boise, made a connection between Schaefer's cancer and several cases of breast cancer that occurred in McCall earlier, in 1995. "The year I was diagnosed, there were five brain cancers diagnosed in McCall," Schaefer said. "Since then there have been more brain cancer and other forms of cancer diagnosed that we have heard about." Retardant Suspected Schaefer and Smith have several theories on the suspected causes of the cancer clusters. One is exposure to fire retardant dropped from air tankers to battle the massive 1994 forest fires that burned around Payette Lake. Another suspected source are high levels of contaminants, including arsenic and mercury, left from decades of mining at the Stibnite mining district near Yellow Pine, "There is mounting evidence that environmental exposures and toxic chemicals play a pivotal role in creating potential cancer clusters throughout our country," Smith said. Schaefer and Smith brought the idea for cancer cluster legislation to Crapo in 2010. Crapo introduced the original bill in 2011, at which time Schaefer joined cancer activist Erin Brockovich and others to testify before a committee in Washington, D.C. Schaefer hopes McCall would be high on the list of study areas for cancer dusters if the bill becomes law. Schaefer is president of Trevor's Trek Foundation, which recently completed the Children's Cancer Pavilion in Julia Davis Park. Even though he is cancer free, Schaefer has lingering effects from the disease and its treatments. He has had two surgeries to correct double vision, cognitive problems, ringing in his ears, and anxiety. He also may never be able to have children naturally. The bill that included Trevor's Law would reform and strengthen chemical safety regulations nationally, Crapo's office said. "We have made great strides in our country on curing childhood cancer," said Crapo, who is a prostate cancer survivor. "Now with this important legislation we can also focus on the causation and prevention of this dreaded disease." http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 12/25/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 4 McCall, 1D 9 OF Oeeroest;en BadeY at 10126 AM - COek fer Fanca�t `Finest Citizens' Drabinski was "one of our community's finest citizens and leaders," McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said in a letter to the editor that appears on Page 9 of this issue of The Star -News. Before applying for the job as city manager in 2012, he volunteered at the now -dosed McCall Community Care Clinic and served on both the McCall Area Planning & Zoning Commission and the McCall Local Option Tax Commission, Aymon said. "He had energy and enthusiasm that inspired," she said. "He was a coach and empowered city staff to reach higher and be better." Drabinski served in the U.S. Army and served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. Before moving to McCall, he worked in the health -care industry, including working for The TriZetto Group, Healthwise and PadfiCare Health Systems. Current city manager Nate Coyle said Drabinski was "an inspirational leader, a mentor with bountiful wisdom, and a close friend to many in the city." "Through Gene's own actions, we all learned to approach each day with vigor, to live our lives with tenacity, and to seek out the road or trail less traveled for an early morning run," Coyle said. In a Viewpoint in The Star -News that appeared on his last day as city manager, Drabinski wrote that the leadership and management skills he learned in the private sector aided him when running the city. "While you can't really'run a city like a business,' as the goals are completely different, people are people everywhere," he wrote. Sometimes Impatient Aymon wrote that Drabinski was "sometimes inpatient," which he acknowledged in his farewell Viewpoint. "Mostly, I was pretty good, but I owe those whom I offended an apology," he said. Drabinski's personal style was cited by a federal jury in April when it awarded former McCall Police Chief Jerry Summers $400,000 in damages in a wrongful termination lawsuit. During testimony, Drabinski said he became angered in 2012 at what he believed was resistance by Summers to the results of an online survey on the police department. "I walked toward Jerry and pretty much told him'Sit down and shut up.' And he did," Drabinski said. Witnesses said Drabinski went into a "boxer's stance" with his fists at his side toward Summers. Drabinski fired Summers in February 2013, after which Summers filed suit. A federal judge later awarded $275,000 in attorneys fees in addition to the $400,000 in damages awarded by the jury. http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com /pages /fp_stories_page.php 12/25/2015 MAIN NEWS— THURSDAY. DECEMBER 24, 2015 Main News Index Place Classified View Classified Ads Car kills former McCall manager Pilot g plane crash 2013 plane crash that killed three __ _Arts/Events Outdoors/Rec Gene Drabinski died from head injuries suffered when struck in an LA inrensection Proposed law backed by former "He had energy and enthusiasm dial inspired " —Jackie Aymon McCall resident Letters/Viewpoints passes U.S. Senate Sports/Schools BY'FOM GROTE Judge says Adams Of Record for The Star -News prosecutor can't Public Lands/Roads Former McCall city manager Gene Drabinski died on Sunday after he was struck on Saturday by a car force New Meadows to give him criminal Public Notices while crossing an intersection in Los Angeles, family members said. cases Groups image goes Drabinski, 71, died at Cedars -Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of head injuries, said Sack to Front Page Into Desk here his daughter, Kate Drabinski of Baltimore, Md. Calendar Drabinski stepped down in August as city manager after serving three years in the job, Annour>cerrmft fulfilling a promise to serve only a limited time. He was in Los Angeles attending an annual family Christmas party, Kate Drabinski said. "He was out for a walk with his sister Eileen, crossing at an intersection in a crosswalk, and he was hit and killed by a driver making a left turn who just didn't see him," she said. Gene Dmbi"ski Details of the incident were not available, including the location of the accident or the identity of the driver of the car. Plans for a memorial service and a place for memorial donations are pending, Kate Drabinski said. "We will all miss him - he loved and lived life better than most," she said. `Finest Citizens' Drabinski was "one of our community's finest citizens and leaders," McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said in a letter to the editor that appears on Page 9 of this issue of The Star -News. Before applying for the job as city manager in 2012, he volunteered at the now -dosed McCall Community Care Clinic and served on both the McCall Area Planning & Zoning Commission and the McCall Local Option Tax Commission, Aymon said. "He had energy and enthusiasm that inspired," she said. "He was a coach and empowered city staff to reach higher and be better." Drabinski served in the U.S. Army and served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. Before moving to McCall, he worked in the health -care industry, including working for The TriZetto Group, Healthwise and PadfiCare Health Systems. Current city manager Nate Coyle said Drabinski was "an inspirational leader, a mentor with bountiful wisdom, and a close friend to many in the city." "Through Gene's own actions, we all learned to approach each day with vigor, to live our lives with tenacity, and to seek out the road or trail less traveled for an early morning run," Coyle said. In a Viewpoint in The Star -News that appeared on his last day as city manager, Drabinski wrote that the leadership and management skills he learned in the private sector aided him when running the city. "While you can't really'run a city like a business,' as the goals are completely different, people are people everywhere," he wrote. Sometimes Impatient Aymon wrote that Drabinski was "sometimes inpatient," which he acknowledged in his farewell Viewpoint. "Mostly, I was pretty good, but I owe those whom I offended an apology," he said. Drabinski's personal style was cited by a federal jury in April when it awarded former McCall Police Chief Jerry Summers $400,000 in damages in a wrongful termination lawsuit. During testimony, Drabinski said he became angered in 2012 at what he believed was resistance by Summers to the results of an online survey on the police department. "I walked toward Jerry and pretty much told him'Sit down and shut up.' And he did," Drabinski said. Witnesses said Drabinski went into a "boxer's stance" with his fists at his side toward Summers. Drabinski fired Summers in February 2013, after which Summers filed suit. A federal judge later awarded $275,000 in attorneys fees in addition to the $400,000 in damages awarded by the jury. http: / /www.mccallstarnews.com /pages /fp_stories_page.php 12/25/2015 Star -News News Main News Page Sewer Solution Drabinski's personal approach was praised by those trying to solve the long- standing dispute between the city and the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District. "Shortly after he was hired as McCall's city manager I received a call - Gene wanted to have coffee," sewer district chair Jerry Vevig said. "Gene saw a solution, one that had been proposed for many years," Vevig said "The difference - Gene and I had established a friendship and trust that allowed a free exchange of ideas." The city and sewer district have since begun sharing operation of the area's wastewater treatment and disposal systems and have agreed in principle to consolidate the two entities. "He wanted to be a part of putting the past behind us, and get about doing what is best for the community," McCall City Council member Nic Swanson said. "We wouldn't have gotten anywhere dose to where we are now without Gene's time and effort," Swanson said. Page 2 of 4 Star -News News Main News Page Page I of 1 McCall website replaced with pro- Kurdish message Serwan hack has invaded other websites, apparently at random BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News Visitors to the city of McCall's website during the morning of Dec. 30 were greeted with a message from someone claiming to be a Kurdish nationalist. The home page of the site, www.mccall.id.us, was replaced around 8 a.m. Dec. 30 with a black screen featuring a map of Kurdistan, the nation that ethnic Kurds hope to create from parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. The messages on the site changed throughout the morning, but included "Hacked by Serwan," "you cannot force us not to be Kurds" and a line with explicit language. Image shows a portion of the screen that The Kurdish images were taken down by 10 a.m., McCall Information Systems replaced the city of Manager David Simmonds said. McCall's website on Dec. 30. See a full rendering including "The website that maintains only public data has no connection to the City of explict language HERE. McCall's internal network," said Erin Greaves, the city's communications manager. "The site contains only public information that is already freely available; nothing was at risk," Greaves said. The attack apparently was random and McCall was not specifically targeted, Greaves said. 'We don't have any other direct knowledge about them and have no reason to think they have any connection to McCall,' she said. An online search of "Hacked by Serwan" found similar messages have been posted to a variety of websites for various companies, some dating to 2013. Companies hacked by similar messages Included a software development firm, a biological testing device company, an artwork conservation organization, and a support group for victims of appendix cancer. http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 1/7/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall council backs change In state liquor laws Bill to allow more licenses gets mixed reviews BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A proposed change in state law to allow all restaurants in McCall to serve hard liquor was endorsed on a split vote last week by the McCall City Council. The council voted 4 -1 during its regular meeting last Thursday to support a proposal by the city of Driggs in eastern Idaho to ask the Idaho Legislature to change state liquor laws to expand the number of places where liquor can be served in resort cities. In its resolution supporting the change, the council said having restaurants where cocktails are available with meals "are an important part of the tourist experience." The proposal would limit restaurants to serving liquor between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and each customer would have a limit of three drinks. Currently, state law limits licenses to serve hard liquor to one for each 1,500 population as well as a number of exceptions that include golf courses, ski areas, horse racing tracks, airports, convention centers, gondola operators and restaurants that have been operating at least 75 years. Mayor Jackie Aymon and council members Nic Swanson, Bob Giles and Marcia Witte voted to endorse the change, while council member Laura Scott opposed the resolution. "I don't think the city's involvement in this state decision is necessary or warranted," Scott said after the meeting. Owners Polled Before bringing the question to the council, city staffers asked current and potential liquor license holders what they thought of the proposal and received a mixed response. Danielle Swinford of Blue Moose Pizza and Jennifer Hurlbutt of Salmon River Brewery both said they have been on the state's waiting list for new liquor licenses for years and favored the proposal. A different opinion was given by Allan Morrison, who operates the McCall Golf Course clubhouse, which has a liquor license. "More liquor licenses would likely bring more restaurants which would be great for the summer but devastating in the transition months," Morrison said. Allowing more liquor licenses would drop the value of current licenses, said Monica Tway, owner of The Yacht Club and Anchor restaurant. "That is not fair to those that paid a large sum of money for them," Tway said. Louie Klinge of McCall Brewing Co. said he does not want a liquor license, but would be forced to start selling liquor If other restaurants get licenses. As of Tuesday, the bill had not been introduced into the legislature, which convened its 2016 session on Jan. 11. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 1/21/2016 Star -News News plain News Page Page 1 of 1 Jackie Aymon keeps job as mayor of McCall First female mayor of city to serve two more years BY TOM GROTE for The Star-News Jackie Aymon will keep her job as the first female mayor of McCall for two more years after a vote last week of her fellow members of the McCall City Council. Aymon, 61, was elected by her fellow council members last Thursday shortly after being swom in for a new four -year term on the council. , Under McCall's council- manager system, Aymon has few duties, as most of the city's itIZl_ administrative powers rest with McCall City Manager Nate Coyle. Jaekie A}-on She serves as the ceremonial head of the city and chairs the meetings of the five - member city council. Aymon was appointed to the council 2010 and was elected to four -year terms in 2011 and last November. She was elected mayor on a unanimous vote last Thursday after all of the other four council member said they did not want the job. Aymon is a retired physician's assistant. She was born in Boise, has been a homeowner in McCall since 1989 and has been a resident since 2005. During her campaign for re- election, she cited her role in the development of Centennial Plaza in downtown McCall and improvements along North Third Street (Idaho 55). Work cited by Aymon that still needs to be done includes improving city streets, reducing danger from wildfire and controlling rowdy behavior during the Fourth of July holiday. More workforce housing is needed in the city, the McCall Public Library needs expanding and the McCall City Hall campus need updating, she said. There had been 16 mayors, all male, since 1967, when the city converted to a mayor - council system, according to city records. The city converted to the current council- manager system in 1994. http: / /www.mccalistamews .com/pages /fp_stories_page.php 1/21/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall council leans toward ban of overnight boat trailer parking BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A ban on overnight parking of boat trailers near the McCall city boat ramp was given tentative approval last week by the McCall City Council. The council agreed with recommendations by city department heads that would lead to more turnover of boat trailers parked at the city s parking lot along Mill Street. That lot is almost always full between mid -June and mid - August, McCall Parks and Recreation Department Director Dennis Coyle told council members. Currently the city allows boat trailers to remain at the lot for three days. Under the proposal, no trailers would be allowed to remain overnight. "i don't think people should be able to occupy a parking spot for three days," Mayor Jackie Aymon said. "They are essentially camping." McCall Police Chief Justin Williams said the overnight ban will only be effective if it is enforced, and Aymon said ample public notice needs to be given of any changes. One idea from city staffers is to begin charging fees for boat - trailer parking at the Mill Street lot to encourage turnover and to raise money to maintain the lot. The staff report also cited a need to find places where boaters can park their trailers when the Mill Street lot is full. There are no current designated overflow parking areas, the report saki. First Street Lot Ideas include designated spaces in the city-owned parking lot on First Street or to refer trailer owners to private services for shuttling and storage, the staff report said. City code is largely silent on where twat trailers, snowmobile trailers and towed campers can park in the city, Community Development Director Michelle Groenevelt told council members. Council members agreed with the staffs recommendation to ban parking of all recreational trailers on residential streets year - round. Most residential streets are not wide enough to allow trailer parking, the staff report said. Parked trailers are hard to see at night and interfere with walkers and bicyclists. Council members decided not to ban trailer parking downtown, which was on option presented by staffers, but to keep them under the current two -hour downtown parking limit. "You should be able to go in and get a cup of coffee or if your kids need to go the bathroom real bad," council member Nic Swanson said. Staff members will return later with formal changes to the city code based on the council's comments. http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /fp_stories _page.php Page 1 of 1 2/18/2016 Star -News News Info Desk Page Page 1 of 1 McCall launches process to update comprehensive plan The city of McCall is encouraging residents to take part in updating its McCall Area Comprehensive Plan and to develop the city's first transportation master plan. The comprehensive plan is a tool to develop policy, set funding and develop public - private partnerships, a news release said. The transportation plan helps guide decisions about implementing the city's streets and infrastructure and identifies projects for short-term needs while working toward long -range goals. The public is invited to attend upcoming events and take a survey found at http: / /mcca I lcom p pla n 2016. co m. http:// www. mccalistarnews .com/pages /info_page.php 2/18/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall begins update of its comprehensive plan Focus will be on gathering as many opinions as possible "Meetings do not have to feel like showing up for jury duty. " —Logan Simpson proposal BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News The basic planning document for the city of McCall and surrounding area is getting a revamp. City planners have started an 18 -month process to update the McCall Comprehensive Plan, which is the guideline used for the drafting of city laws, zoning codes and other policies. The current comprehensive land -use plan was adopted in 2007 and is in need of updating, Community Development Director Michelle Groenevelt said. "It is typical for communities to update their comprehensive plan every five to 10 years to reflect the current vision and goals of the community," Groenevelt said. The effort kicked off during the McCall Winter Carnival with a final plan expected to be adopted by the summer of 2017. The city has hired Logan Simpson, a consulting company in Ft. Colllins, Cob., to handle the comprehensive plan update. Logan Simpson and its partners will be paid $115,000 from the community development department, which is funded by property taxes, building permit fees and development fees. The company will review existing land -use codes uses in and around the city and recommend how future development should look and feel, according to Logan Simpson's proposal to the city. Tourism, economic development, parks and recreation will be major topics in the updated plan, the proposal said. Housing will be given particular attention given the growing demand for workforce housing, the proposal said. "We ... understand the importance of housing our local population in order to create a vibrant downtown and community," the Logan Simpson document said. They key to the success of the comprehensive plan update is to attract comments from the entire community, Groenevelt said. Three full days of interviews with individuals and small groups already have taken place, she said. Going Public Logan Simpson plans to do more than sit in a meeting room and hope people walk in. People attending public events, barbecues and car shows over the next several months will likely see the consultant team asking for comments on the update. Public meetings and formal public hearings will be held as part of the update. Neighborhood and community meetings will be organized, a citizens advisory committee will be formed and "stakeholder" groups composed of people of broad interests will be kept abreast of progress, Groeneveft said. Owners of vacation homes who are not full -time residents will also be sought out for their opinions, she said. The city has set up a website, http: / /mccallcompplan20l6.com, to allow the public to track the progress of the update and provide comments through an online survey. The process is intended to be enjoyable, according to the Logan Simpson proposal. "Meetings do not have to feel like showing up for jury duty," the proposal said. The process should produce a plan that people will read and understand, Groeneveft said. Rather than a dry, technical document, the final plan may be presented as a large- format coffee table book complete with photos and easy - to-understand graphics, she said. Logan Simpson also will make specific recommendations on how to change the city's zoning codes to match the goals of the updated comprehensive plan. "This can give us a relevant document that doesn't have a shelf life - it will actually live with us," McCall City Manager Nate Coyle said at a recent meeting of the McCall City Council. The McCall City Council will adopt the updated plan for areas inside the city limits, after which Valley Page 1 of 2 http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /fp_stories_page.php 2/25/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 2 of 2 County commissioners will be asked to approve the plan for the McCall Area of Impact, which generally surrounds the city and includes land around Payette Lake. http:// www. mccallstamews .comJpages /fp_stories _page.php 2/25/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall to draft first transportation master plan BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News Work is now underway on the first master plan in the city of McCall for all kinds of transportation, including streets, sidewalks, pathways and transit. The drafting of the McCall Transportation Master Plan will be done at the same time as the update to the city's comprehensive plan. The transportation plan will take 18 months to complete and will cost about $75,000, which will be funded with property taxes in the city's street department budget. The master plan will be drafted by a team from the Ft. Collins, Cob., office of Logan Simpson, the company that is also updating the comprehensive plan. The work comes just as the city is beginning to collect local new taxes approved by city voters last November to improve city streets. The new taxes include a 1 percent additional general sales tax, except for groceries, and a 3 percent increase in the city's overnight lodging tax. The new taxes are expected to raise at least $800,000 per year. The Logan Simpson team will review the current street system to determine how it can be made better and safer over the next 25 years. The city's current system of bicycle and pedestrians pathways also will be reviewed and improvements suggested, and the amount and kinds of parking available in the city will be analyzed. The new review will take into account previous studies and plans for the city's streets and pathways and confirm whether the priorities outlined in those plans are the best uses for the new taxes. Public comments on the new plan will be sought from as many people as possible in the community through events, meetings and online surveys, the Logan Simpson proposal to the city said. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 2/25/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 Leglslatlon advances to allow merger of McCall, sewer district BY DAVE GOINS for The Star -News A proposed law that would allow the merger of the city of McCall and the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District got out of a committee of the Idaho Legislature on Monday. The House Local Government Committee unanimously sent the measure to the full House for approval. The bill would provide the legal framework to allow the consolidation of two sewer systems operated by the city and the sewer district. During testimony at Mondays hearing, McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said the often contentious relationship between the city and sewer district has been patched up in recent years. "The city of McCall and the sewer district have this long history of not working together," Aymon said after the meeting. "And, now we're working together." The proposed law is designed to improve efficiency and reduce costs to customers of both systems, she said. "I think it's thrilling," Aymon said "It just gives us a tool that we can use if we need to." Under current law, the only way that the sewer district and city could consolidate is if each individual property owner submits a formal request. "When you're dealing with a whole area in a city, that's very impractical," said Nampa Attorney Bill Gigray, who testified on behalf of both agencies. "You'd be talking about thousands of petitions, or hundreds." "The idea of this law is to give the governing bodies of the water and the sewer district and the city an opportunity to get that process started on their own," Gigray said. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Terry Gestrn, R- Donnelly, said the legislation would streamline the consolidation process. "The city has the ability to say 'No, thank you; and they also have the ability to say 'Yes, please,'" Gastrin said, describing the effect of the proposal. It the proposal passes the full House, it must then go to the Idaho Senate for final legislative approval and then to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for his signature. http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /fp_ stories _page.php 2/25/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall proposes reduction In stormwater treatment requirements BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News Developers likely would save money and use less land for stormwater drainage in McCall under a proposal aired last week before the McCall City Council. McCall City Engineer Nathan Stewart proposed slashing by half the amount of rain that swales, catch basins, gravel r. filters and other drainage structures are required to catch. y The current standard is 20 years old and does match AZ• recent rain records, Stewart told the city council last Thursday at their regular meeting. — _ Council members agreed in principle with the recommendation and told Stewart to come back with formal _ — ":- changes to the city's building codes. New projects and substantial renovations that cover more fir. than 5,000 square feet of ground are required to retain or.a.�rrm "r „�:,,, control stormwater under the building [odes. McCall is pmlxxi ng reducing the requirements for storm—ter drainage such as these catch basins The current standard says structures should be able to [nested near Alpine Village. handle up to 1.56 inches of rain per day. The new standard would be up to .81 inch per day. The current standard was adopted in 1997 and was based on rainfall info from the 1960s that does not take into account recent climate trends, Stewart said. The current standard has drawn criticism because it is impractical and excessive compared with the likely amount of rain that will fall, he said. Smaller, Cheaper The proposed standard would allow retention ponds and other structures to be smaller and cheaper while still meeting the goal of keeping dirty stormwater out of Payette Lake, Stewart said. The new standard would be an advantage to builders and developers, said Gregg Tankersley, principal engineer with Crestline Engineers in McCall. "Instead of large holes all over town to store runoff, maybe developers can create more aesthetically pleasing landscapes,” Tankersley said. The proposed standards "provide for a nice balance between just enough treatment and way overdesigned," he said. Also endorsing the proposal was Brian Davis, chairman of the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Council, which advises the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The proposed lower standards will encourage landowners around the lake to take steps to control runoff, Davis told council members. "We feel that folks who were hesitant of retrofitting current systems are now going to be more interested in doing them, knowing it is something that is more feasible," he said. Page 1 of 1 http:// www. mccali stamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 3/3/2016 Star -News News Main News Page New McCall Airport manager brings experience from military, mountains BY TOM GROTF for The Star -News The new manager of the McCall Airport will draw on his experience in the military and in a mountain town in his new position. Jay Scherer replaces former airport manager Nate Coyle, who resigned when he was named McCall city manager last year. Scherer, 49, came to McCall from Durango, Colo., where he had been a security officer at the Durango La Plata County Airport since 2013. The elevation of the Durango airport is 6,685 feet, while the elevation at the McCall Airport is 5,024 feet. The Wiscosin native served in the U.S Air Force for 20 s � byT years. He worked in a variety of positions in airport McCall Airport Manager Jay Scherer is shown with management in Texas, Delaware, Oklahoma, Virginia and a loader used to clear snow from the airport New Mexico. runway. Scherer also was assigned to the Arab nation of Qatar, where he supervised the day - to-day operations at the Air Force's Al Udeid Air Base. Scherer eams $58,000 per year at the McCall airport, where he oversees all airport operations and maintains relationships with private pilots, charter aircraft operations and the Forest Service, which operates the McCall Smokejumper Base at the airport. "My wife Janet and 1 were impressed with the friendliness of the people, their energy and the natural beauty of McCall and its surroundings," he said. Scherer said he enjoys the broad range of duties that he has at the airport. "A typical day can have you leading a planning meeting for a several hundred thousand dollar project to be immediately followed by shoveling out a stuck airport access gate," he said. This year the McCall Airport will receive $74,000 in property taxes to pay for operations, but generated the same amount in taxes from the private hangars at the airport, according to a report presented last month to the McCall City Council. An estimated 44,000 takeoffs and landings are recorded at the airport each year, including firefighting operations by Forest Service during the summer as well as private and charter flights into the Idaho back country for visitors, hunters and others, the report said. A 2009 study by the Idaho Transportation Department found the airport was responsible for nearly $30 million to the local economy and brought in 30,000 visitors per year by air. Major improvements at the McCall Airport are 90 percent funded by the Federal Aviation Administration through its annual grant program. The ITO usually contributes 2.5 percent for each project while the city must pay the remaining costs. The city is current acquiring land to relocate the current parallel taxiway to meet new Federal Aviation Administration safety standards. Later projects call for rebuilding and expanding parking areas for airplanes. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews.com /pages /fp_stories_page.php 3/3/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall commits $104,000 for streets ,Honey collected so jar exceeds city projections BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News The first major spending from McCall's new local-option taxes for streets was approved last week by the McCall City Council. Meanwhile, collections from the new tax are well above the city's original projections, according to city figures. The council approved spending $104,000 with Horrocks Engineers of Nampa to design the reconstruction of Commerce Street and to plan the later rebuilding of streets in the downtown core. The spending was approved by council members during their regular meeting last Thursday at McCall City Hall. The contracts with Horrocks are the first major expense to be committed from the city's new local - option taxes approved by voters last December and which took effect Jan. 1. The city previously hired an employee at McCall City Hall to administer the new taxes at an annual salary of $33,267, which will be paid by the tax. Voters added 1 percent to the 6 percent general state sales tax on all items taxed by the state except for groceries and cars. The approval also added 3 percent to the city's sales tax on motels, vacation cabin rentals and campgrounds. The lodging tax was added to the existing 3 percent "bed tax" that is used to fund community projects Collections from the new tax are far exceeding projections, according to city figures. Nearly $220,000 has been collected for January and February as of Monday, which is nearly double the $114,000 the city had projected to collect in January and February combined. If the trend holds, the city will collect about $1.1 million during its first year, which is nearly 40 percent above the $800,000 estimate presented to voters. The money is to be used to renovate streets under a priority system laid out in a city study of all 42 miles of paved streets within the city limits. Commerce St. in 2017 Commerce Street, which is in a business zone, is scheduled to be renovated first in 2017. That is to be followed by the rebuilding of Park Street downtown in 2018, Idaho Street in 2019, East Deinhard Lane in 2020, Second Street downtown in 2021 and Lenora Street downtown In 2022. Nearly $41,000 of the first payout will go to Horrocks to design the rebuild of Commerce Street. The design will include replacing the roadway as well as building stormwater swales, replacing culverts and building five -foot sidewalks on both sides of the street. The rest of the money, or about $63,000, will begin the design for rebuilding of the three downtown streets, including new underground water and sewer lines, stormwater drainage, placing overhead utility lines underground and building sidewalks. Horrocks is required under the contract to stay in touch with downtown business owners and others affected by the work to review the plans and timing of construction. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 3/31/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall approves reduction In stormwater treatment requirements BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News Developers should save money and use less land to treat stormwater in McCall under new standards approved last week by the McCall City Council. The new standard slashes by half the amount of runoff that swales, catch basins, gravel filters and other drainage structures are required to catch in order to meet state water quality standards. The current standard is 20 years old and does not match recent rain records. New projects and substantial renovations that cover more than 5,000 square feet of impervious ground are required to treat stormwater, under the building codes. The current standard says structures must be able to treat runoff from 1.56 inches of rain per day. The new standard will require structures to treat runoff up to 0.81 inch of rain per day. The existing standard was adopted in 1997 and was likely based on rainfall info from the 1960s, McCall City Engineer Nathan Stewart has said. It was also not linked to removing a specific amount of pollution, Stewart said. The current standard has drawn criticism because it is considered impractical and excessive compared with the likely amount of rain that will fall, he said. The new standard looks directly at the percentage of storms that occur each year and is sized to manage runoff from 95 percent of storms based on the past 50 years of weather. It will allow retention ponds and other structures to be smaller and potentially cheaper while still meeting the goal of keeping dirty stormwater out of Payette Lake, Stewart said. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 3/31/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall approves lakefront club for Whitetail Club over neighbors' objections Opponents cite noise from nearby vacation rental BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A rezoning of land to allow the building of a lakefront dub for Whitetail Club was approved by the McCall City Council last week over objections of nearby residents. Council members unanimously voted to approve rezoning of a one -acre strip of land zoned for medium density residential just west of Shore Lodge to allow the project to be built. Neighbors said they were worried that noise from the new club would be similar to the noise they have heard from a rental house dose to their homes. Resort representatives did not expect they would have to apply for rezoning when the application was filed to remodel the former home of former Shore Lodge owner Doug Manchester into a lakeside club. The zoning was imposed by the city between the commercial zoning of Shore Lodge and residences to the north when the land was annexed in 1986. But the strip was left off city zoning maps until 2011, when zoning ordinances were review, a city staff report said. Part of the buffer strip runs through the former Manchester house, so rezoning is needed to ensure the entire proposed lakeside dub was zoned commercial. More than a dozen letters in favor and more than dozen letters in opposition to the rezoning were submitted to the city, with several of those on each side testifying before the city council last week. Those opposed said they did not object to Whitetail's plan for a club, but they did not want a repeat of what they said were noisy renters who have occupied a house on Owen Drive owned by Shore Lodge. No Response Dennis McDowell, who purchased advertisements in The Star -News questioning the rezoning, said in a written statement that he has had to call Shore Lodge "on multiple occasions" about noise from the house. "Their response, 'It's not our problem, call the police,- McDowell wrote. "What this demonstrates is the complete disregard and contempt (Whitetail ) has for our neighborhood." There is no way to know how the new clubhouse will increase car traffic on Warren Wagon Road and boat traffic on Payette Lake, McDowell said. Shore Lodge attorney Steve Millemann acknowledged the noise complaints from the Owen Drive rental and said steps were being taken to prevent noisy tenants in the future. Those steps include better screening of potential renters and the eviction of noisy renters if needed, Millemann said. The complaints from the Owen Drive house are not related to the proposed rezoning, and the Whitetail expansion will not have the same problems, he said. Whitetail members want the new club to be "a safe, sane and enjoyable place for them and their kids to go," Millemann said. "They have no interest in this becoming some drunken party scene." McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon advised the neighbors to call police for future noise complaints. "It's is our police's job to help you with some of these Issues," Aymon said. "They are very good people and do a very good job." Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 4/21/2016 Star -News News Groups Page Poe ae iw,'a Hu—&i KEEPING MCCALL PRISTINE - Arabelle Britton of McCall picks up hash on the heath at Legacy Park in McCall on Sunday as part of the first McCall Pristine Project dean -up. About qo people turned out to dean their neighborboods or common walking arms. Vdubteers nn submit areas they ha%e cleaned to the McCall Pristine Project Facebook page. A second cleanup will be held beh%vm 9 a.m. and S p.m. Sunday, with the meeting place being the McCall Farmers Market site on Pure Stmt. Page 1 of 2 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /groups _page.php 4/21/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall makes Fourth of July alcohol ban official No drinking to be allowed in city parks between July I and July 5 BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A ban on alcoholic drinks at McCall city parks over the Independence Day weekend was formally adopted last week by the McCall City Council. Council members approved a resolution to ban alcohol between midnight Friday, July 1, and 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 5. The ban will go hand -in -hand with actions by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to ban alcoholic drinks at North Beach on Payette Lake during the weekend. The state parks department also will limit the number of revelers at North Beach to 700 people and the Valley County Sheriffs Office will set up a blockade of boats 300 feet from shore. The measures are all Intended to cut down on the number of rowdy young adults during the Fourth of July holidays. Last year's celebration, held on a Saturday, led to a large number of complaints about unruly behavior, explicit language and various stages of undress. The city plans to conduct an intensive publicity campaign, particularly in the Boise area, to get the word out about the alcohol ban, city communications manager Erin Greaves told council members during their regular meeting last Thursday. Greaves gave council members an update on the family- oriented activities planned for the holiday weekend to counter the disruptive activities of years past. Volunteers are being sought to become roving "ambassadors" with yellow vests to help answer questions and detect trouble spots early, Greaves said. More than 20 organizations have contacted the city to stage activities during the holiday, she said. In Legacy Park, there will be live music, face painting and a cardboard boat regatta as well as teen and adult volleyball, according to a list of activities presented to the council. A bounce house and water slide will be set up, a sidewalk chalk -art contest will be held and street vendors will be offering their wares. In nearby Brown Park, the Payette Forest Capitol Christmas Tree Project will host three tents to make ornaments for the Idaho tree bound for the grounds of the U.S. Capital this fall. Hundreds of dollars in donations have been sent unsolicited to the city to help funded the holiday events, the council was told. "It's going to be a blast," McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon said. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 5/5/2016 Star -News News Outdoors Page Page 1 of 1 McCall likes $15 for overnight boat - trailer parking The city of McCall plans to start charging a $15 fee this summer to park boat trailers overnight near the city's boat ramp on Payette Lake. Trailer owners would be required to buy a permit at a private vendor and pay $15 per night to park their trailers at the city's Mill Street parking lot, under a plan approved by the McCall City Council last Thursday. The new fee would be intended to encourage greater turnover of the 24 boat - trailer parking spaces, McCall Parks and Recreation Director Dennis Coyle told council members. A public hearing is required by state law before any new fees can be imposed. No hearing date has been set because the city first needs the permission of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to charge the fees, McCall City Manager Nate Coyle said. The state will be asked to lift the city's commitment to not charge fees at the lot that was placed when the city obtained a state grant to help build the lot, Coyle said. The city currently limits trailer parking at the Mill Park lot to three nights in a row and does not charge a fee. The new fee would be in effect between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Council members urged Coyle to find ways to tell boat -owners about private businesses in McCall that offer extended parking for boat trailers as well as valet service for picking up and dropping off the trailers at the boat ramp. http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 5/5/2016 Star -News News Info Desk Page Page 1 of 1 McCall asks public to take online survey for future planning The city of McCall has an online survey which will help set a direction for future planning in transportation, workforce housing and other important topics. The McCall Visioning survey is now available at http: / /mccallcompplan20l6.com and Licking on the "Dive Deep" section. Similar questions were asked at the McCall in Motion Vision events on April. McCall in Motion will update the city s comprehensive plan, a long -term strategic document and create a new transportation master plan. "The process for McCall In Motion is one that fully engages the entire community, embraces its cultures, respects the history, and protects the environment," a city news release said. The survey first asks which issues are important for the respondents, such as housing, parks, natural amenities, supporting business or recreation. Next are themes to concentrate on in the future such as a diversity of housing types, sustainable business, a small -town feel, efficient transportation and other aspirations. The survey then asks for levels of support of high -tech companies, recreational businesses, partnering with the University of Idaho on policies, mixed development and even snow removal. Finally, it seeks opinions on the city's roadways, nonmotorized paths and sidewalks. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /info _page.php 5/19/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall public works director Borner leaves city; no explanation given BY TOM GROTE for The Star-News McCall Public Works Director Peter Bomer is no longer working for the city, according to records at McCall City Hall. Bomer, who was hired as public works director in 2010, left his job on May 26, according to city records. His annual salary was $84,714. McCall Mayor Jackie Aymon and McCall City Manager Nate Coyle declined to say why Bomer was no longer with the city, saying it was a confidential personnel matter. Bomer could not be reached. p , f-o . Peter Borner Bomer's last day on May 26 was the same day the McCall City Council met in closed session under the Idaho Open Meeting Law to discuss an unspecified personnel question. After coming out of the closed session the council voted to "confirm and make permanent, the temporary removal of the individual discussed during the executive session." Borner supervised the largest department in the city with 21 employees working on the city's streets and sewer and water systems. The department has a budget of about $7.5 million for the current budget year that covers all three functions. The department is poised to take on more work as it is charged with spending proceeds from the city's new local-option taxes for street improvements. In May 2013, Borner and his wife, Della, were seriously injured when their car collided head-on with a semi -truck on U.S. 95 south of Riggins. The Bomers each suffered cracked sternums, multiple cracked ribs, and fractured vertebrae. Peter Bomer also suffered a ruptured disk in his back. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php Page 1 of 1 6/9/2016 Star -News News Main News Page McCall briefs ambassadors on heading off trouble during Fourth of July BY TERI ROBINSON for The Star -News Erin Greaves wants the Fourth of July in McCall to be fun and safe, and she is enlisting the help of citizens to meet that goal. Greaves, the communications manager for the city of McCall, led a meeting last week for a group of 15 ambassadors who will be assigned to spot trouble before it happens in the downtown celebration zone. "All of you have come together and are providing amazing things for our community," Greaves said to the meeting held June 8 at the McCall Public Library. "Simple, wholesome, good time small -town fun, and that's what we're going to be about," she said. — a" Toe sm-v"". h T___ The city has banned alcohol consumption in city parks for Erin Greaws, city of McCall communication manager, displays a vest to be worn by city the holiday weekend to counter complaints about rowdy ambassadors during the Lakeside Liberty Fest on behavior by young adults during last year's holiday. July 4. In its place, the city is staging the Lakeside Liberty Fast, featuring a series of family events to be held in Legacy and Brown parks in downtown McCall between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 4. "It's not to keep people away," Greaves said. "It's to bring the right customers in." McCall Police Chief Justin Williams explained the duties of the ambassadors, how to handle certain situations, and how the day was expected to flow. The ambassadors will be scattered between Brown and Legacy parks to help visitors find their way, and be an extra set of eyes for the police if needed. Ambassadors will travel in pairs and will carry radios in case they encounter any fights, alcohol use, drug use or anything out of the ordinary, Williams said. If a problem occurs, the ambassadors will call in the problem but were specifically told not to get involved. The public is invited to attend events throughout the day. Vendors will be placed in both parks and a DJ booth will be set up for entertainment during the festivities. Mayor Jackie Aymon told the group the community has been backing the change and wants to have the festivities be more family - friendly. There may be imperfections this year, but city officials plan to tweak whatever didn't work and make it an even better celebration for next year, Aymon said. More ambassadors are needed for the holiday, Greaves said. Anyone interested should contact her at egreaves@mccall.id.us or 634 -8966. http:// www. mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php Page 1 of 1 6/16/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall begins radio, newspaper ads for Lakeside Liberty Fest The city of McCall has begun newspaper and radio advertising in the Boise area about the city's alcohol -free Fourth of July celebration. Advertisements for the Lakeside Liberty Fest will be aired on various radio stations in Boise as well as in the Boise Weekly, McCall Communications Manager Erin Greaves said. Advertising also has been scheduled with The Star -News and local radio stations, Greaves said. The city allotted $4,700 for the advertising, but donations of about $2,000 have been received, reducing the citys share to about $2,700, Greaves said. The Lakeside Liberty Fast will offer family- oriented events to counter complaints after last year's celebration about rowdy behavior by young adults. The McCall City Council has banned the use of alcohol in all city parks over the holiday weekend. Here is the text of the radio advertisements: "Celebrating the 4th of July on the Shores of Payette Lake. 'Announcing McCall's Lakeside Liberty Fest. Monday, July 4th at 11 a.m., Legacy and Brown Park will overflow with free fun for the entire family! "Bounce houses, water slides, competitions, face painting, artists, local activity tents, music and more. "Sponsored by the City of McCall with the support of local community partners. "Plan to play at the Lakeside Liberty Fast. A reminder that alcohol is prohibited in McCall City Parks July 1st to July 5th." AUDIO OF RADIO AD http:// www. mccalistamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 6/16/2016 Star -News News Outdoors Page McCall to air $15 overnight fee for Mill Street parking lot A public hearing on a proposal to charge $15 per night to park overnight in the Mill Street parking lot near Payette Lake will be held next Thursday by the McCall City Council. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. next Thursday during the council's regular meeting in the lower level meeting room at McCall City Hall on Park Street downtown. Under the proposal, trailer owners would be required to buy a permit and pay $15 per night to park their trailers at the Mill Street lot. The permits will be located at the kiosk at the entry to the parking lot and only cash would be accepted. Those buying a permit would put the envelope with cash into a locked box and place the permit on the trailer. The proposed fee is intended to encourage greater turnover of the 24 boat - trailer parking spaces, but the fee also would apply to cars parked overnight in the lot. The city currently limits twat - trailer parking at the Mill Park lot to three nights in a row and does not charge a fee. The new fee would go into effect on July 1 and run through Aug. 30. The fees would start on June 1 in future years. As an alternative to paying the fees, the city would urge twat- trailer owners to hire private businesses that offer extended parking for boat trailers as well as valet service for picking up and dropping off the trailers at the boat ramp. A scanner code that can be read by smartphones would be placed on the kiosk that would link to the latest online information on valet services, under the proposal. Page 1 of 1 http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 6/23/2016 Star -News News Announcements Page Cities group gives award to McCall for Firewise Project The Association of Idaho Cities has recognized McCall with a City Achievement Award for its Firewise Project to raise community awareness about preventing wildfires and protecting property. The organization presented McCall officials with an award in the public safety category during its recent annual conference in Boise. The award recognizes pioneering - approaches to improving quality of fife and addressing challenges. The Firewise Committee's goal is to have all active^ homeowner's associations Firewise designated, so they will takes steps such as Gearing woody debris to protect homes, Mayor Jackie Aymon said.'' JA }bob by Jom Rvm 'Of course, the Firewise recognition is the first step and AIC President Greg Panting of7�win Falls, left, and now we have to continue getting all who live and visit McCall AIC all alive Jackie Aymon with the City to get on board and help protect our town from wildfire," Achie entent Award. Aymon said. ents _page.php Page 1 of 1 7/7/2016 Star -News News Lead Story Page McCall files lawsuit to acquire land for airport taxiway City, property owners could not come to terms on price BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News The city of McCall has filed a lawsuit seeking to acquire 15.3 acres of land adjacent to the McCall airport to build a new taxiway required by federal officials. The lawsuit, filed in state court in Cascade, asks a judge or jury to determine the value of the land after negotiations between the city and the land owners broke down. No date for a trial has been set. The land is located in a strip along the east side of the airport's current taxiway, which airplanes use before taking off or after landing on the main runway. New Federal Aviation Administration standards say the city must abandon the current taxiway, which is 200 feet from the center of the main runway, and build a new taxiway that is 400 feet from the runway. The wider separation is Intended to help prevent collisions between large aircraft that now use the airport or may use the airport in the future, according to the FAA. The extra land also is needed to avoid placing the new taxiway over drainage ditches, according to the city. The city tried to negotiate a price with the owners of the land, but the two sides could not agree, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit does not reveal the amount of money offered by each side. The McCall City Council decided to use the city's power of eminent domain to acquire the land and pay whatever price is set by a judge or jury. The land is owned by four different entities: • McKeown Realty Services of Long Beach, Calif. John McKeown of Long Beach is listed as the agent for the company by the California Secretary of State's office. i ..4 1 -- maer er T -0— Area outlined in red shows the land the city of McCall is seeking to acquire to built a new airport t -i..Y. • McCall Aviation Partners of Torrance, Calif. Michael Mileski of Torrance is listed as a member of the corporation by the Idaho Secretary of State's office. • Airport Ventures of Eagle. Judd and Diane DeBoer of McCall are listed as managers by the state. The DeBoers own Brundage Mountain Resort and are the developers of the River Ranch subdivision on the west side of the airport. • The DeBoers as individuals. Sustain Standards The city needs to keep the airport up to FAA standards because of its contribution to the local economy, McCall City Manager Nate Coyle said. City records show more than 25,000 aircraft visit the airport each year. Studies cited by the city estimate the airport is responsible for 272 jobs in McCall and more than $29 million in spending. The city has signed a side agreement with its law firm, White, Peterson, Gigray and Nichols of Nampa, to handle the case. Under the agreement, the city will pay the firm up to $193,000 to pursue the condemnation. The FAA will reimburse the city for 90 percent legal costs since the new taxiway is required under federal regulations, Coyle said. The Idaho Department of Aeronautics will also pay up to 5 percent, Coyle said. The construction of the taxiway itself also will be paid in the same shares by the FAA and the state, he said. The city was already familiar with the land owners from 2008, when the group proposed to develop the 228 acres on which the 15.3 acres sought by the city is located. The land was proposed for a combination of commercial, office, industrial and residential uses. The proposal also called for development of more hangars for the airport plus a terminal site for future http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/lead_page.php Page 1 of 2 7/14/2016 >ed beyond the planning stage. i the lawsuit or been served with a notice that it had _page.php Page 2 of 2 7/14/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 Commerce Street businesses protest proposed Improvements Sidewalks, swales would impede trucks, rob parking "The people on Commerce Street have no problem with what is going on. " —Brian Nelson BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News Owners of businesses along Commerce Street in McCall told the McCall City Council on Friday they wanted nothing to do with a proposed improvement project along their street. About 20 people attended the meeting held at Idaho First Bank to oppose the plan to rebuild Commerce Street, a 1,325 foot street located between Deinhard Lane and Jacob Street. Owners did not object to the repair of the crumbling road, but cast doubts on plans to also build five - foot wide sidewalks and drainage swales along the length of the street. The sidewalks and swales would eliminate parking spaces and disrupt the ability of large delivery trucks from entering and leaving their properties, the owners told the four council members who attended. The project, slated to be built next summer, is the first to use the city's new local- option taxes for street improvements approved by voters last November. Business owners became alarmed when they received a letter in April from the Horrocks Engineers in Boise, which the city has hired to design the project. The letter, from Horrocks Principal Engineer Bryan Foote, said the reconstruction would include sidewalks and stormwater swales. During Friday's meeting, Foote said the design of the project was not final, and that it was important to hear from each property owners how various designs would affect their businesses. He showed slides of options that ranged from complete sidewalks and swales to shoulder -to- shoulder pavement with no sidewalks and underground drainage pipes. Horrocks and city representatives were scheduled to meet with each property owner beginning this week to talk about how much room they would need to allow for trucks to enter and exit their businesses. "We need to make sure we get these big trucks in and out," Foote said. Poor Condition The 25- year -old pavement on Commerce Street is in poor condition and could crumble at any time, McCall City Engineer Nathan Stewart said. City crews no longer do routine maintenance on the pavement, Stewart said. The street was selected as the first project for the local-option tax because the city recognizes its importance as a vibrant business location and critical trucking route for businesses, he said. The relatively small price tag of $450,000 would allow it to be accomplished quickly, and water and sewer lines under the street do not need to be replaced, as is the case with other streets on the city's priority list for the local-option tax, Stewart said. Several property owners questioned why sidewalks and ditches were needed. "What's the problem ?" Brian Nelson of Nelson Plumbing said. "The people on Commerce Street have no problem with what is going on." Nate Laughery, manager of Les Schwab Tire Center, said building swales and sidewalks would take away six of his 18 parking spaces, and John Brush of Adventure Floors said his parking spaces would be slashed from six to two. Most of those speaking advocated an open street plan to allow delivery trucks the maximum room to maneuver. Lex Bernstein of McCall Auto Club asked the council "to ensure that we are as viable as pedestrians as far as your planning and strategy goes" Irony Noted McCall attorney Steve Millemann, who was hired by the property owners, reminded the council members that they were not required to move forward with the Commerce Street work. "The irony of this is usually it's folks standing in front of you asking "when are you going to pave my street ?" Millemann said. "What you are hearing here is, 'please don't.'" Sidewalks are not required in an industrial zone, which is where Commerce Street is located, but sidewalks and pathways are encouraged as part of the city's Complete Streets policy adopted in 2011, according to a background memo provided at the meeting. http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 8/4/2016 Star -News News Main News Page All 'significant industrial projects" are required to undergo design review by the city, the memo said. That design review was imposed on two projects on Commerce Street in 2014. The expansion of Tekin, Inc., a maker of components for remote - controlled cars, and a new office and warehouse for A -1 Heating and Cooling both were required to include sidewalks and swales in front of their properties, according to city records. Council member Nic Swanson said he understood the frustration of those attending due to the April letter from Horrocks that gave the Impression, "this was a foregone conclusion.' "It is really important for us to see this local- option tax be a success in the community, not something that drives away business," Swanson said. Council member Bob Giles said he was impressed with the comments at the meeting and that "maybe we need to take a time out and not do it right now." Mayor Jackie Aymon reminded those attending that the Idaho Transportation Department has given the city $100,000 in federal money to help fund the project. Aymon was not sure if the grant could be used elsewhere in the city. Aymon also noted that Commerce Street was a public road. "it belongs to all of us and it has to work for all of us," she said. es _page.php Page 2 of 2 8/4/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 1 McCall chamber receives $266,265 from ITC Cascade chamber gets $56,100 from ITC as well BY TOM GROTE for The Stu -News The McCall Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau has been awarded $266,265 by the Idaho Travel Council to promote the region to visitors. The amount approved for McCall is a 60 percent increase over last years grant and represents the entire amount requested, McCall chamber President Jay Masterson said. -It signifies the confidence ITC has in us, and that we are doing the right things, the right way," said Masterson, owner of May Security. "It also is a unique year in that there were some unused funds that were added back into the pool of available funds," Masterson said. The state money will be spent to promote six attractions of the McCall area - recreation, cultural, cuisine, micro- brewerieslwine bars, relaxation, lifestyle and fun, he said. Marketing initiatives will focus on public relations plus advertising in print, television and online, Masterson said. The money will allow the chamber to add new features to its website as well as offer a range of cooperative advertising options for its members, he said. The chamber plans to boost its increase in spending on digital advertising from 40 percent of the total previously to 60 percent in the future, the chamber's application to the state said. Studies have revealed these facts about visitors to McCall, according to the application: 50 percent are age 45 to 64 and 33 percent are age 29 to 44. 40 percent are married with children at home and 31 percent are married with children no longer at home. - 87 percent travel to the area for a leisure trip involving recreation as opposed to business or leisure with no recreation planned • 72 percent of visitors are from Idaho, primarily Ada, Canyon, and Elmore counties, while 11 percent are from Washington. The chamber would like to draw more visitors from Salt Lake City, Spokane, Bend, Ore., and Lewiston, according to the application. • Median household income of typical visitor is between $75,000 and $150,000. A total of $31,180 of the grant money will be distributed to outside groups, including the Meadows Valley Community Association, the McCall- Donnelly Education Foundation for its annual Taste of McCall, the McCall Music Society for its SummerFest concert series, the McCall Folklore Society for the Summer Music Festival at Roseberry and the Donnelly Chamber of Commerce for the Donnelly Huckleberry Festival. http: / /www.mccall starnews .comlpageslarchive_2016 /08_ 18_ 16_webeditionlfp_stories _pa... 8/30/2016 Star -News News Main News Page Page 1 of 2 McCall approves $400,000 in local - option tax projects $5,000 switched from snowmobile trail grooming to signage BY TOM GROTE for The Stu -News Twenty-two projects were approved last week to be given $400,710 from the city of McCall's local - option tax funds collected in 2017. Another nine projects were promised an additional $45,000 if the taxes come in higher than expected. The list of projects recommended by the McCall Local Option Tax Commission was approved last week by the McCall City Council with one change. The council moved $5,000 from the recommended $25,000 for snowmobile trail grooming and put it in a fund to buy directional signs for pathways in the city. "After watching lots of visitors navigate Davis Avenue and complaints from folks on Wooley and Davis, I fell wayfinding signage needed to go from contingency to fund status to help visitors navigate our pathway system, such as it is," said Mayor Jackie Aymon, who proposed the transfer to her fellow council members. McCall City Clerk BessieJo Wagner predicted that about $400,000 would be raised next year from the city's 3 percent tax on motels, vacation cabin rentals, campgrounds and other overnight lodging. The tax was adopted by voters in 2005 and renewed in 2012. A total of 37 requests were made for funding form the tax totaling $642,790. Of that total, 10 were from city departments and the rest from various nonprofit groups in the community. Brown Playground The largest grant of $60,000 was given to the McCall Department of Parks and Recreation to make improvements to the playground at Brown Park to meet federal requirements for access for the disabled. The next largest amount of $50,000 was given to the city -owned McCall Golf Course to patch and seal cart paths, which also are popular with walkers during the winter. The snowmobile grooming money was requested by the McCall Area Snowmobile Club, which in turn gives the money to Valley County for tail grooming. The club requested $30,000, of which the LOT commission recommended $25,000 and the council approved $20,000. MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter requested $30,000 for general care of abandoned animals, but was granted $15,000. MCPAWS already will receive $40,000 from the city in property -tax dollars next year, up from $35,000 this year. Here is the list of project proposed to be funded with local- option tax dollars. The first amount in each line is the dollar amount requested, followed by the amount approved. TO BE FUNDED WITH EXPECTED REVENUES • Local Option Tax Administration $13,000/$13,000 City costs for Fourth of July and McCall Winter Carnival $31,1501$31,150 Repair of failed storm drain at McCall Airport $30,0001$30,000 • Brown Park playground improvements $60,000 /$60,000 Patch and seal cart paths, McCall Golf Course $50,000/$50,000 Two new mowers, McCall Golf Course $38,000/$38,000 • McCall Public Library intern for historical records scanning $1,500/$1,500 Treasure Valley Transit bus service $50,000/$50,000 • Match for McCall Area Chamber of Commerce Idaho Travel Council grant $25,000/$25,000 McCall Area Snowmobile Club Trail grooming $30,000/$20,000 • Payette Lakes Ski Club grooming operations $10,00010,000 McCall Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Fourth of July fireworks $10,000/$8,000 • McCall Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Winter Carnival fireworks $10,000/$8,000 • Manchester Ice & Event Centre chiller system overhaul $28,0001$15,000 Idaho Hockey Foundation - Idaho Junior Steelheads expenses $10,000/$8,000 McCall Arts and Humanities Council Cabin Fever program $2,5101$2,510 McCall Winter Sports Club Alpine Intermountain Division Qualifying Race $2,7501$2,750 http: / /www.mccallstamews .com/pages /fp_stories _page.php 9/1/2016 Star -News News Main News Page • McCall Winter Sports Club Big Mountain Freeride Competition $2,450/$1,800 • McCall Senior Citizens Center wood shed $3,0001$3,000 MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter $30,000/$15,000 McCall Nordic Ski Club McCall Re- Mastered event promotion $6,000/$3,000 Pathway wayfinding implementation $10,000/$5,000 TO BE FUNDED WITH ANY SURPLUS REVENUES Here are projects recommended to be funded with the next $50,000 in LOT money over $400,000: • Treasure Valley Transit Bus replacement $10,000/$10,000 Manchester Ice & Event Centre chiller system overhaul $28,000/$7,000 Rotary Park pavement replacement $10,000/$5,000 • McCall Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Fourth of July fireworks $10,000/$2,000 McCall Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Winter Carnival fireworks $10,000/$2,000 • Public Art for Lardo Bridge $10,000 /$8,000 McCall Public Library Expansion fundraising campaign $8,300/$4,000 Pathway wayfinding implementation $10,000/$3,000 Payette Lakes Ski Club snowmobile replacement for Bear Basin Nordic Area $8,000/$4,000 NOT FUNDED Here are requested projects that were not funded, either with expected money or with surplus funds: • McCall Music Society SummerFest 2017 $4,000 • Alpine Playhouse Greenroom /storage area improvements $5,500 • Treasure Valley Transit Transit Center remodeling $14,400 • Mrrall Winter finnrts rhih Nnrdir. Intprmrnmtnin Divisinn Oualltvino Race $4250 i mower replacement $30,000 Brush Chipper purchase $38,500 ary Furniture for Idaho Room $1,850 a/pages /fp_stories _page.php Page 2 of 2 9/1/2016 Star -News News Announcements Page McCall PU to air Albertsons expansion plans Tuesday Remodeled store would add pharmacy, seating area BY TOM GROTE for The Star -News A second floor pharmacy and a mezzanine public seating area are among the changes planned by Albertsons for its McCall supermarket. The changes were detailed in an application by Albertsons to the city of McCall totally remodel the 35,100 square foot store on East Lake Street in downtown as well ell as add on an �- additional 14,400 square feet.. The McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a hearing n the application beginning at 4:30 m. eA,r« rdesi ors u 9 PP � g p• Rendering shows the proposed exterior design of Tuesday in the lower level meeting room at McCall City Hall. the Albertsons store in McCall including a new mezzanine seating area. Albertsons acquired the former Paul's Market store earlier this year but delayed remodeling until after the busy summer season. Plans accompanying the application show an exterior design that is described as "a heavy beam/timber look and feel with stone accent, horizontal wood grained siding and corrugated accent panels." A floor plan submitted with the application shows a complete resetting of the store's interior. The bakery and deli would be moved from the east side of the store to the west side and the current clothing department would be eliminated. Walk -in coolers for beer, growlers and floral as well as new restrooms would be added at the front of the store. The freezer cases would be relocated to the east side of the building, under the plans. On the expanded second floor, the plans call for a pharmacy as well as indoor and outdoor customer seating, complete with a beverage bar and a two-sided fireplace. The name of the new pharmacy was not listed on the plans, but Albertsons stores in other areas feature pharmacies under the Savon name. A new elevator would take customers to and from the second floor. The expanded building would be 35 feet tall, the maximum allowed under the city's building height limits. A spokesperson for Albertsons declined to answer questions about the expansion, including when construction would begin and whether the store would be closed during construction. 'Because there are still decisions being made ... we are unable to provide the most accurate information to you at this time," said Kathy Holland, communications and community relations manager of Albertsons Intermountain Division in Boise. http://www.mccallstamews.com/pages/announcements_page.php Page 1 of 1 0 W elf O F— w U) C/) w CL Z V) Ow n Cn ~ 3: w or_ w W 0� m Z J in Mi. ui or w 0 0 �- 0 U) w 0a m CO - F- otf > LLI LLJ � En Z U) w W N Z 0 ll� co W ❑ W O LL 0 C) CD z w C) C) /.I I ------------- W w w cn II z (D U) Z 0 Ir LL w cr 0 U) ----------- z U) z Lli LU LLJ LU LL cli Ld Z 0 C/) Y C) 0 z LU Cf) ❑ LU LU co LW I.J. 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