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minutes meeting date 2026-08-24 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 6852 characters · official file · plain text
COUNCIL WORKING MEETING August 24, 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 Shayne Nope City Attorney Jason Scott Public Works Director Jeremy Engbaum Chief of Police Nestor Madrigal City Engineer Concerned Citizens PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM: Chelsea Popplewell confirmed a quorum. CITIZEN COMMENTS: No citizen comments PUBLIC HEARING #1: Opened at 6:32 PM. No Council member declared any recusal or ex parte discussion. Chelsea presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget totaling $9,844,973. There were no questions from Council. There was no testimony in support of the proposed budget. There was no testimony in opposition to the proposed budget. There was no neutral testimony on the proposed budget. The hearing was closed at 6:34PM. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes of August 3, 2026 – Special Session 2. Minutes of August 10, 2026 – Regular Session 3. Claims for Payment 4. Department Head Report – Fire, Engineer 5. Clerk Report 6. Treasurer 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 Public Testimony of the FY 2026-2027 Budget: Marla moved to approve the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. 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 Appropriations Ordinance 2026-09 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027: All members of the City Council having been furnished a copy of the proposed Ordinance No. 2026-09 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. Fred seconded the motion. There was no discussion. 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 No. 2026-09 Appropriations Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Ryan seconded the motion. Mayor Howarth read the title of the ordinance. 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 Ordinance 2026-10 amending Title 5 Chapter 3 of Buhl City Code to update language for Conventional Bicycles and add regulations for Electric-Assisted Bicycles, and Electric Motor- Driven Devices: Chief Engbaum gave a summary of the proposed ordinance. He explained the purpose and safety precautions they are trying to take by proposing the ordinance. Fred confirmed that currently there are no bicycles allowed on the sidewalks. Chief explained that that is true and this ordinance would change that but it would still give the pedestrians the right of way and there are notification requirements for pedal bike users. Chief also explained it does not apply to wheelchairs and ADA accessibility. Mayor Howarth brought up the idea about a training or educational session for bike safety. There was a lengthy conversation regarding the downtown area and pedal bikes being allowed on the sidewalks in that area. It was discussed that the ordinance allows for areas of no pedal bikes on the sidewalks as long as it’s noted with signage. There was some discussion regarding where the boundaries of that area would be and police and public works would work together to ensure accurate signage is put up. The City Attorney brought up one correction. In the body of the ordinance, the second title 5-3-3 needed to be 5-3-4 and Chelsea will change that. All members of the City Council having been furnished a copy of the proposed Ordinance No. 2026-10 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. Fred seconded the motion. There was no discussion. 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 No. 2026-10 amending Title 5 Chapter 3 of Buhl City Code to update language for Conventional Bicycles and add regulations for Electric-Assisted Bicycles, and Electric Motor- Driven Devices and to also add in signs to walk bicycles in downtown area. Cortlin seconded the motion. Marla amended her motion to add be published by summary. Cortlin seconded the amended motion. Mayor Howarth read the title of the ordinance. There was a roll call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. 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 mentioned the comp plan open house as well as the email Council received from Les Schwab regarding the construction on Burley Ave. Marla explained the email that they received and wondered if they could explain that it’s not a City project and give them the contact information for the project manager. Public works director suggested Les Schwab reach out to City Hall to get the contact information. Fred thanked the department heads and everyone involved in the budget prep. Jason Scott told Council that he is presenting to the IRWA Legislative Water College on September 2nd. 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 7:03pm. Minutes prepared by Chelsea Popplewell, City Clerk
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