City of Pocatello | minutes | meeting 2026-03-13 | Special City Council Meeting Agenda (8:30 AM)
source: https://pocatello.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03132026-1874

CITY OF . CITY OF POCATELLO, IDAHO
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
GOAL SETTING MEETING

MARCH 13, 2026

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AGENDA ITEM NO. I:
ROLL CALL

Mayor Mark Dahlquist called the City Council Special Goal Setting meeting to order at
8:42 a.m. Council members present were Dakota Bates, Brent Nichols, Hayden Paulsen,
Stacy Satterfield and Ann Swanson. Council member Corey Mangum arrived 8:54 a.m.
John Gribas from Idaho State University served as a facilitator. Staff members and
members of the public were also present.

AGENDA ITEM NO: 2:
COUNCIL DISCUSSION - GOALS FOR THE CITY

Mr. Gribas led Council members in a discussion regarding their long-term visions for the
city. Council members shared the following items they believe would strengthen and
grow the community:

e Emphasis on growing the commercial property tax base and strengthening the
local economy through partnerships with Idaho State University (ISU);

e Develop the city into a vibrant college town
e Expansion of job opportunities and economic development, including growth at
the airport;
Increased beautification efforts and expanded youth activities;
Development of a strong “game day” culture tied to ISU events;
Creation of a cultural shift toward a proactive, “can-do” community mindset;
Establishment of downtown as a cultural and economic hub featuring open spaces,
events, concerts and thriving businesses;
Enhancement of city entrances with improved aesthetics and curb appeal;

e Development of a walkable, bike-friendly community while maintaining a small

town feel;

e Promotion of community pride and positive public perception; and

e Strengthening communication and transparency between City departments and
residents

Council members discussed the importance of sustainable “smart growth” rather than
growth for its own sake. They shared concerns regarding expansion, including
infrastructure strain and housing compatibility. Council members expressed a desire for
diversified economic opportunities to retain ISU graduates locally and an interest in
regional coordination with neighboring communities and Bannock County.

Mr. Gribas reviewed current goals with the Mayor and Council members and, if the goal
had been completed or was no longer relevant, Council asked that the goals be removed
from the evaluation list. Those items included commercial cardboard recycling program,
Riverside Clubhouse project; city walking tourapp; charging stations initiative; online city
parks platform expansion; Olympic swimming pool initiative; and spay/neuter ordinance.

Council identified goals which should be retained or updated including the following:
Fire/Police training facility; deferred maintenance program; housing plan; airport

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
GOAL SETTING MEETING 2
MARCH 13, 2026

development; greenway trail maintenance plan; water conservation plan, code
enforcement improvements; business licensing ordinance; and hiring of an Economic
Development Director. Council members expressed an interest to modify or refocus the
following goals:

e City entrance improvements expanded to include a comprehensive city entrance
and corridor beautification plan;

° Xeriscaping standards revised to include broader landscaping standards;

e Sidewalk and street improvements refocused to include a long-term planning
strategy; and

e Downtown parking improvements tied to broader redevelopment plans.

Potential new goals were identified and discussed and included the following:

Enhance downtown parking

Expand or relocate police station facilities

Develop Phase 2 of the city skate park

Establish a city purchasing function within the Finance Department

Improved coordination between Planning, Engineering and Building Departments
Increased public transparency through financial dashboards and reporting tools
Initiate long-term net-zero carbon emissions planning

Develop a comprehensive communication strategy aligned with the city’s long-
term plan

SONA ROWN =

Council members discussed the importance of clear prioritization of top objectives and
alignment between goals and the City Mission Statement. They emphasized the need for
measurable outcomes and implementation strategies. Council members completed a
mission alignment scoring exercise to evaluate how they felt each goal aligned with city
priorities. They discussed potentially addressing items during a future Work Session.

AGENDA ITEM NO. 3:
ADJOURN

There being no further business, Mayor Dahlquist adjourned the meeting at 12:08 p.m.

APPROVED:

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MARK DAHLQUIST, MAYOR

ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: