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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-03-05city council minutesBook 27 Page 48 SPECIAL MEETING March 5, 1986 7:30 p.m. The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pete Cowles. The Roll of the City Council was called with the following members present: Raymond, Carter, Mallea, Marcus, and Mazm.on. Absent: none. The Mayor introduced the new member on the City Council, Les Carter. Mr. Carter was appointed at the last Regular City Council Meeting to replace Councilman Norman. Mr. Carter will be sitting in on the Meeting, but due to the fact that he has not been sworn in at this time, he will. not be voting on any issue. The Mayor then asked Councilman Carter to read the instructions as to how a Public Hearing should be conducted according to the Idaho State Code: No person shall be permitted to speak before City Council at a Public Hearing until recognized by the Mayor. All persons speaking shall speak before a microphone in such a manner as will assure that the recorded testimony or remarks will be accurate and trustworthy. At the commencement of the Hearing, the City Council shall establish a time limit to be observed by all speakers. When the Public Hearing is quasi-judicial in nature or one after which the City Council is required by law to make Findings of Fact, each speaker must swear or affirm that his testimony will be true and correct.. Any person refusing to comply with the rules will be prohibited from speaking during the Public Hearing. Councilman Marmon was then requested by the Mayor to read the Notice that was published in the newspaper with regard to the hearing: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That a public hearing will be held by the City of Caldwell on Wednesday, March 5, 1986, at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 621 Cleveland Boulevard, Caldwell, Idaho, to receive comments and recommendations from the public on potential 1986 Block Grant projects. Project categories eligible for funding include Economic Development, Housing Rehabilitation, Public Facilities, and Senior Citizen Facilities. The project being tentatively considered by the City under "Economic Development" pertains to the location of a maximum security prison facility in the Caldwell area. Amount of the grant request will be $350,000.00. Written and verbal comments will be accepted at or prior to the public hearing. Dated this 24th day of February, 1986. Isl Pete Cowles, Mayor, City of Caldwell, Idaho The Mayor then asked if there was anyone else from the audience who cared to sign up to speak during the hearing. After the list was completed and presented to the mayor and City Council, Mayor Cowles asked the City Council to determine by motion how much time each of the speakers would be allowed. MOVED by Mallea, SECONDED by Raymond that five minutes be allowed for each person desiring to speak during the Public Hearing, MOTION CARRIED Mr. Redmond then explained to the Mayor and City Council the handout given to them with regard to the scoring or awarding of points to those suggested projects for Grant monies. Included on the list are categories in Economic Development, Public Facilities, Improving Housing Stock, and Senior Facilities. Mr. Book 27 Page 49 Redmond further pointed out that for the application to be considered, it has to meet one of several. catagories identified; either qualify in a low and moderate income category which applicant must show at least 51% benefit to low moderate income persons and score at least 60 points or qualify in a slum and blight category where an applicant must have at least 35 points total. The Mayor stated that he would read each naive off the list, ask them to come forward to the podium,, please give their name and address, and then address their comments to the City Council and the audience. Those recognized by the Mayor during the Hearing were: Jerry Timmons, Route 9, Box 163 - Is this a hearing on to whether or not the City was going to try to get a grant for subsidizing the prison or doing something with the prison. Ron Redmond - Someone will be presenting a proposal for block grant funds in conjunction with the prison. Jerry Timmons - I would like to know what this Block Grant is going to do, what it is for, and etc. Could I ask questions after their presentation? Mayor Cowles - Yes - you have a total of five minutes to speak. Jerry Timmons - I would like to tell you about opposition to the prison in Caldwell. A petition with over 1,900 signatures against the prison was presented to the City Council at their last meeting. There was a lot of concerned people. The Mayor made the statement at a luncheon the other day that he had 20,000 people in the City he was representing. If my impression of census is right, that 20,000 includes children from birth to ninety- nine. If you take the school kids out of that figure, you are looking somewhere between hive and seven thousand. I would also like to know the location of where the prison will be built. There was also some question as to how the purchasing would be done for the prison. Basically, it is all done through the State. They do not come downtown and buy anything - all is sent to Boise and it goes out on purchase orders. if you are low bidder, you may sell something. Terri Timmons, Route 9, Box 163 - prefers to wait. Nancy and James tall - asked to be postponed. Councilman Raymond stated that until a specific request is made for the Grant, there is really no where to start the discussion. Ron Redmond - ,?ally Frank will be here presently to make a presentation on behalf of Caldwell Unlimited. He indicated he would be late. Two proposals were to be made tonight - one from t1r, Frank and another from the Senior Citizens. George Godfrey, 1404 Arthur - I am the Chairman of the Mayor's Committee for the Senior Citizens Center. We have a section of the Center that has been built on which we have not been able to complete due to lack of funds. We did get our freezer in last year - we find we will have to move the compressor out on the roof as it heats the room too much. On the room we planned for meetings, there is some water problems tihat need to be taken care -- of. As soon as that is fixed, we want to insulate it, wall board, and put ceiling in, ?peat in and air conditioning as there; is no windows, All of these things need to be finished and we do not have money to do them.. GVall_y frank, 1417 Oregon : street - I am here tonight representing Caldwell Unlimited. The proposal we would like to make for a Flock Grant is for development of a piece of property to provide water and sewer, and some street improvement we hope to develop Book 27 Page 50 West of Caldwell for a new prison site, an onion processing plant, and also a piece of land that is going to be used for Treasure Craft Decals. (Mr. Frank pointed out the area on a map for the benefit of the City Council) The property was located on the Wilder Highway. The reason for proposing this project is to provide jobs and also income for the City of Caldwell. The prison is proposing to have an employment rate of somewhere in the neighborhood of five to six million dollars a year; the processing plant somewhere in the neighborhood of eight thousand to a million dollars a year; and Treasure Craft Decals which already has employment of four of five people, an additional four or five people. 'we need some kind of funding in order to put the sewer and water out to these proposed sites to accomplish this project. Caldwell Unlimited is making the proposal that a Block Grant be made available to this piece of land to extend the services to the property. Mr. Redmond reported the estimated dollars for the benefit of the City Council. The total estimated cost which included the construction of access road, water, sewer, and engineering costs was 1533,000. Mr. Frank further stated that the private sector portion of these projects: Treasure Craft project about $250,000; the onion p processing plant about 2.4 million; and the State Prison which we hope to build and lease to the State will be a project of between nine and twelve million dollars. We are talking of twelve to thirteen million dollars project. Councilman Carter asked Mr. Frank if the private industry was going to build the prison? Mr. Frank stated that they have made this proposal. He also believed it would aid in the emoloyment of low and middle income people. A number of other questions were asked of Mr. Frank including as to whether the project would have an impact on housing in Caldwell, Mr. Frank stated that it would have a real impact on the housing and economic development. It would generate property taxes which would have an impact on the local economy. There would be an environmental impact - it was a clean environment as all are what you would call clean industries. A tape of the hearing is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and will be held there for six months. Terri Timmons - I would like some clarification as to where the site is. (pointed out by Mr. Frank) If you are applying for a Federal Block, what is it? Mr. Redmond answered that it was what they refer to as a Community Development Block Grant. He then gave Mrs. Timmons an explanation as to what the Grant application consisted of. He also explained that the Grants were handed out on a priority basis and were very competitive State wide. The scoring wass explained to the City Council at the beginning of the meeting. Terri Timmons - Are you ever going to hold a public hearing to let the public give their input as to what they think of a ?risen being in Caldwell - one just for this topic. Councilwoman Mallea informed Mrs. Timmons that the City was now trying to get to a point where they could have such a hearing, I f they even look at Caldwell as a top contender, then the C i t y would look at what they are offering and then the citizens will be asked to offer their opinions. So far there is no commitment of any kind and if there was reasonable assurance that there was a possibility, of course the Council would listen to the people. Nancy and James Hall - Questions were answered. Richard Winder, 2806 East [;stick - I am not going to speak directly to the issue of the prison or any other type grant other than to say that Caldwell is in desperate need of economic development in order to provide jobs for our current residents 13ook 27 Page 51 and most importantly, the young people who are preparing for jobs. Back in the fifties and sixties, we exported most of our young people to California, Oregon, and other major states where employment opportunities existed in a variety of fields. Caldwell is in an agricultural area and most jobs are related to agriculture. Nith agriculture as deflated as it is, we must find other sources that will. provide jobs for the future. We have to stop the migrating of people because of the job situation, Downtown Caldwell business district is a disaster area. There is more vacant space in Caldwell than ever before and most people who have been here for any length of time understand that we must get new jobs in here due to new industry. As an illustration, the impact of the prison alone will be somewhere in the forty to fifty million dollars a year category during the first two or three years. This would be counting the roll over. The other projects discussed would be another large income. We have to do those kinds of things. Others speaking in favor of the application for the Grant for the possible maximum security facility, onion processing plant and the printing business were: Williams E. Brown, 1510 Cleveland; Sandy Straight, 3410 South Tenth; Art Honey, 1115 North 5 Jean Brueggestrass, Rt. 9, Box 167, Rio Vista Drive; Maureen Cegnar, Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce. All of those speaking for the application of the Grant for the maximum security facility, the onion processing plant and the printing business agreed that this project would create better economic development in the City of Caldwell., would employ low and moderate income people, and would require more housing for lower and moderate income people. Mr. and Mrs. James Hall, Deloris Prince, and Duane Kane did not speak to the issue as they stated their questions were answered during the discussions. [a ward Wright, 2003 Summit Drive - I would like to address the City Council on a little different issue. I believe that economic development is very important and I am all in favor of the prison. I do think we have to look at other things as a quality of life as well. I have found there is a need in our community for a community auditorium. I would like to propose the possibiity of renovating the old Jefferson .junior High School for a community center. Whether it is feasible or not or fits into the criteria, I do not know but I do feel. it is something that should be looked into. After some discussion among those participating, the Mayor declared the nearing closed and asked if there was any discussion from the City Council members. It was then MOVED by Mallea, SECONDED by Raymond that the City of Caldwell shall make application for a grant concerning the development of sewer and water and other necessary facilities to this site. MOTION CARRIED Mayor Cowles complimented the audience and the City Council for their conduct during this hearing as it was a controversial issue. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. APPROVED AS Wri tten THIS 1986. C u�i erson ���— Co xi. ilpers °z� Couricilperson 17th. DAY OF March Co n ilper 'n / C - C Councal ' e' -r son ATTEST: >_L �/� Cit� erC� k —