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minutes meeting date 2026-03-23 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 8679 characters · official file · plain text
COUNCIL WORKING MEETING
March 23, 2026
203 Broadway Ave N
PRESENT:
Douglas Howarth
Mayor
Marla Sisson
Council President
Ryan Loos
Council Member
Fred Bartlett
Council Member
Cortlin Runyan
Council Member
Cristi Barriente
Assistant Clerk
Tim Stover
City Attorney
Sheridan Sylvester
Clearwater Financial
Jeremy Engbaum
Police Chief
Candice McCall
Code Enforcement
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM:
Cristi Barriente confirmed a quorum.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Minutes of March 9, 2026 – Regular Session
2. Claims for Payment
3. Clerk-Treasurer Report
Marla moved to approve the consent agenda. Cortlin seconded the motion. There was no further
discussion. There was a roll call vote. Cortlin voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes, and Marla voted
yes. The motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Review and Consideration of Sewer Bond Ordinance: Sheridan Sylvester from Clearwater Financial spoke
about the bond refunding process as well as that the bond ordinances would approve the sale of the bonds.
She explained that the bond bank is planning on going to sale in May with a rough closing date of May 27th.
Tim confirmed that bond counsel prepared the documents.
All members of the City Council having been furnished a copy of the proposed Ordinance No. 2026-03 and
being fully apprised of the content and purpose of said Ordinance, Marla moved that the provisions of
Idaho Code Section 50-902, which require said Ordinance to be read on three (3) different days, two (2)
readings by Title only and one (1) reading which shall be in full, be dispensed with and that said Ordinance
be passed upon one (1) reading by title only. Marla requested a roll call vote on the motion. There was no
further discussion. Fred seconded the motion. There was a roll call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes,
Fred voted yes and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed.
Marla moved to approve ordinance 2026-03 for the sewer bond. Ryan seconded the motion. Mayor read
the title of ordinance 2026-03. An ordinance of the City of Buhl, Twin Falls County, Idaho, authorizing and
providing for the issuance of a sewer revenue refunding bond, series 2026, in a principal amount not to
exceed $9,000,000, for the purpose of refunding the City’s outstanding sewer revenue bond, series 2015;
establishing funds; providing for the form, execution, registration, maturity, and payment of the bonds;
providing covenants relating to the bonds and the tax-exempt status of the interest on the bonds;
approving a form of loan agreement between the City and the Idaho Bond Bank Authority; providing for
related matters; approving a summary of this ordinance for publication; and providing an effective date.
There was a roll call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes and Cortlin voted yes. The
motion passed.
Review and Consideration of Water Bond Ordinance: All members of the City Council having been furnished
a copy of the proposed Ordinance No. 2026-03 and being fully apprised of the content and purpose of said
Ordinance, Marla moved that the provisions of Idaho Code Section 50-902, which require said Ordinance to
be read on three (3) different days, two (2) readings by Title only and one (1) reading which shall be in full,
be dispensed with and that said Ordinance be passed upon one (1) reading by title only. Marla requested a
roll call vote on the motion. There was no further discussion. Fred seconded the motion. There was a roll
call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed.
Marla moved to approve ordinance 2026-02 for the water bond. Cortlin seconded the motion. Mayor read
the title of ordinance 2026-02. An ordinance of the City of Buhl, Twin Falls County, Idaho, authorizing and
providing for the issuance of a water revenue refunding bond, series 2026, in a principal amount not to
exceed $6,000,000, for the purpose of refunding the City’s outstanding water revenue bond, series 2015;
establishing funds; providing for the form, execution, registration, maturity, and payment of the bonds;
providing covenants relating to the bonds and the tax-exempt status of the interest on the bonds;
approving a form of loan agreement between the City and the Idaho Bond Bank Authority; providing for
related matters; approving a summary of this ordinance for publication; and providing an effective date.
There was a roll call vote. Cortlin voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes and Marla voted yes. The
motion passed.
Review and Consideration to move to public hearing on April 27, 2026 to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026
budget: Marla moved to move to public hearing on April 27, 2026 to amend the fiscal year 2025-2026
budget. Cortlin seconded the motion. There was a roll call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred
voted yes and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed.
Review and consideration of Parking Ordinance Update: Marla asked Chief Engbaum if he felt the update
was enforceable and he did. Fred clarified that if you are loading your trailer in front of your house, you
can’t leave it unattended for 30 minutes. Chief Engbaum confirmed that actively loading and unloading
would be permitted. Mayor Howarth pointed out that he would like to see maintenance added to the
exemption list. There were some comments made from the audience. The City attorney advised the Mayor
that he needed to either stop the public comment or have them formally identify themselves so they could
be on public record. Or, the Council needs to determine if they want to hold a public hearing on the topic.
Marla reiterated her emphasis on safety when trying to come up with a compromise. She suggested a 10-
foot trailer. She also brought up the idea of having certain streets where parking could be allowed. Cortlin
stated his agreement, especially on the tree streets. Fred brought up the issue about camp trailers and
people wanting to leave in the morning instead of right away. Mayor brought up the option of a size
restriction. Fred made a motion to table this. Marla seconded the motion. The City Attorney encouraged
Council to come up with what they want to see happen with the code and give those suggestions to PD and
Code Enforcement to put together. Chief Engbaum told Council that if they emailed him their ideas, that
would be helpful. Marla confirmed that Council will table the discussion and in the meantime send Chief
Engbaum the ideas and what they would like to see in the code. Mayor wondered if there was anything we
could do in the meantime to allow for mowing lawns and construction and maintenance. Marla noted that
you can do that now. There were some additional comments from the audience. Fred restated his motion
to table this topic. Marla seconded the motion. There was some discussion on the timeline. It was decided
to table until the second meeting in April.
MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Howarth read the below statement.
We need to make sure that we comply with the law regarding employee privacy issues. If a member of City
Council would like to discuss any issues pertaining to complaints, discipline, etc., of a city employee, those
will first need to be discussed with the mayor, who is the chief city administrator per Idaho Code 50-602.
After review of the complaint, discipline, etc., if it needs to go before City Council, it will be listed under an
executive session on the upcoming meeting agenda.
Cortlin commented that Jackie Frey has an all-hazard mitigation plan that she will need the Mayor to sign.
He also brought up zip-kit homes and that he’s talked to Jazmine briefly about them. He started to address
the citizen’s questions from last meeting.
Marla said she could address them as well. She said we do have a PA system but that Council could maybe
talk better into them. She confirmed the audit is done by Brady Workman from Twin Falls. She mentioned
that the closure of 12th Ave. was a safety concern. Jeremy Engbaum added that the railroad removed the
part of the railroad tracks on 12th Ave. as well. She brought up the question regarding the airport and taxes
and that the people do have the ability to use the airport, if they are able. An audience member added
comments. It was further explained that the railroad company has taken a portion of the tracks out on 12th
Ave.
MEETING ADJOURNED –Marla moved that the meeting be adjourned; Cortlin seconded the motion. There
was no discussion. All voted yes. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM.
Minutes prepared by Chelsea Popplewell, City Clerk
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