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minutes meeting date 2026-07-27 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 6061 characters · official file · plain text
COUNCIL WORKING MEETING July 27, 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 Chelsea Popplewell City Clerk BreShelle Tews City Treasurer Tim Stover City Attorney Pam Pehrson Planning & Zoning Admin Nestor Madrigal City Engineer Concerned Citizens PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM: Chelsea Popplewell confirmed a quorum. CITIZEN COMMENTS: No citizen comments CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes of June 22, 2026 – Working Session 2. Claims for Payment 3. Department Head Report – Public Works, Fire, Police 4. Commission Minutes – Library, Housing Authority, Airport 5. Clerk Report Cortlin moved to approve the consent agenda. Ryan seconded the motion. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Review and Consideration of the subdivision Preliminary Plat request submitted by Jared Hunt/JTMESC, LLC for Henry’s Fork Subdivision located at 522, 530, and 534 Sawtooth Ave, Buhl, ID 83316: Pam Pehrson explained the traffic study to clear up some confusion from the previous meeting. She also explained the preliminary plat questions that Council should be trying to answer while reviewing and deciding whether or not to approve or deny a preliminary plat. Pam noted that the ratings in the traffic study are already in place meaning the issues are already the city’s responsibility to mitigate and that the project does not impact the level of service or the mitigation efforts needed. Marla asked about if there were two or three exits. Pam explained that one of the exits in the plat was already turned into a cul-de-sac. Marla also confirmed that the city could require lighted crosswalks. There was also discussion regarding widening Clear Lakes to mitigate some of the traffic concerns. Pam noted that the roads coming out onto Sawtooth won’t be built for several years. Marla moved to approve the subdivision preliminary plat. Cortlin seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Cortlin voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes, and Marla voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Special Events Permit Application for Buhl High School Class of 1996 Reunion, Use of Eastman Park – Centennial Pavilion on August 8, 2026: Ryan recused himself due to his involvement in the event. Cortlin moved to approve the Special Events Permit Application for Buhl High School Class of 1996 Reunion, Use of Eastman Park – Centennial Pavilion on August 8, 2026. Marla seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Marla voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Special Events Permit Application for Culture for Change End of Summer Party, Use of Eastman Park on July 30, 2026: Marla moved to approve the Special Events Permit Application for Culture for Change End of Summer Party, Use of Eastman Park on July 30, 2026. Ryan seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Special Events Permit Application for TRIBE Movie Night in the Park on August 14, 2026: Shelley Richardson explained the TRIBE Movie Night details. Ryan moved to approve the Special Events Permit Application for TRIBE Movie Night in the Park on August 14, 2026. Marla seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Marla voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. Updated Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Worksheets: Chelsea explained the updates to the budget spreadsheets – a sign grant, an increase in Library foundation funds, clarifying some of the expenses in planning and zoning, and updating the SIRCOMM number. She explained that we did not have the L2 number yet. No action was taken. Reservation Process for Eastman Park: Chelsea just informed the Council that the City Staff is starting the process of formalizing the reservation process for Eastman Park and the pavilions. She explained that there haven’t been any known issues regarding reservations, however, there have been more requests which made the staff feel as thought we should have something in place to better organize the reserving of the pavilions, specifically. 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. Mayor complimented Pam Pehrson on the job she’s doing in planning and zoning. Marla thanked the police department for donating the funds from Guns and Hoses to Buhl Youth Sports. She also brought up a concern from a citizen regarding truck route with Burley closed and his question regarding what roads to take to make sure he and other trucks were taking the correct route. Marla also mentioned that she met with a citizen and wondered about any options to give a discounted rate to residents using less than the allotted 12,000 gallons of water. She then asked what the first step should be in working on widening Clear Lakes. The city engineer said he would reach out to her. Cortlin noted that he was going to be attending a Boys and Girls Club Leadership Reception in August. 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 7:06pm. Minutes prepared by Chelsea Popplewell, City Clerk
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