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City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes 1 680 Park Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Monday, September 21, 2026 3:00 PM City Council Chambers Call to Order and Roll Call There were present: Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw Council President Jim Francis Councilor Michelle Ziel-Dingman Councilor Jim Freeman Councilor Kirk Larsen Councilor Brandon Lee Councilor John Radford Also present: Wade Sanner, CDS Director Pam Alexander, Municipal Services Director Kerry Beutler, Assistant CDS Director Brian Cunningham, Asst Public Works Director Nick Terry, TOK Commercial Real Estate Chris Fredericksen, IF Power GM Zack Jones, City Attorney Linda Lundquist, City Clerk Mayor Burtenshaw called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. with the following items: Mayor, City Council – Discussion: Citywide updates, concerns, questions, reports: • Council discussed upcoming police neighborhood meetings being held in the City’s four police beats. Councilors were encouraged to attend and participate with residents. • Mayor Burtenshaw noted that the Police Department’s recent awards ceremony recognized numerous officers for heroic and exceptional service, with additional information expected in an upcoming departmental update. • Council discussed the continued usefulness of departmental highlights, with Councilors expressing support for receiving regular updates because they provide insight into activities occurring across City departments. • Councilor Radford provided an update on the City’s work toward an ordinance addressing electric bicycles, electric scooters, electric motorbikes, and other electric vehicles. The discussion focused on creating classifications that are practical for officers to enforce while addressing safety concerns. o Council discussed differences between lower-speed pedal-assisted e-bikes and higher-speed electric motorbikes with throttles. o Concerns were raised about children operating high-speed electric bikes and motorbikes on sidewalks and paths. o A local pediatrician had contacted the City regarding an increase in serious injuries to children, including traumatic brain injuries. o Council discussed potentially establishing speed limits on the Greenbelt and other pathways, improving signage, requiring users to warn pedestrians when passing, and addressing congestion in areas such as the Broadway Bridge. o Members emphasized that regulations should improve safety without discouraging bicycles and other electric vehicles as alternatives to automobiles. • Council discussed the possibility of meeting periodically with the Planning and Zoning Commission to review past cases and improve consistency in interpreting and applying City development regulations. City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes 2 680 Park Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 • Mayor Burtenshaw raised concerns about vehicles blocking sidewalks, particularly affecting people with disabilities, wheelchair users, seniors and people with visual impairments. Police and Public Information staff were asked to consider enforcement and public education. • Council briefly discussed recent community events, including Symphony in the Park, the Downtown Street Party and the Day of the Arts. • State Representative Erin Bingham, also a member of the Gem State Housing Alliance, will be hosting local leaders to discuss expanding housing options in Idaho. Council is invited to the community conversation scheduled for October 19. Fire Department / Idaho Falls Power Updates • Councilor Larsen reported that the Fire Department had issued a Request for Qualifications for a feasibility study concerning potential consolidation of Idaho Falls Fire and Bonneville County Fire District No. 1. Responses were expected later in the week. • Council discussed an upcoming Fire Department block party at Station 1, including demonstrations, fire apparatus and food for the community. • Council noted that Idaho Falls Power performed well during the recent severe storm, with relatively few outages despite the conditions. Staff attributed part of the success to ongoing tree-trimming efforts, with the primary outage attributed to a lightning strike rather than a tree. • Council discussed a recent mobile-home fire on Ellsworth Drive in which firefighters rescued an unconscious resident. The resident remained hospitalized, while the resident’s dog died in the fire. • Members noted the unusually high number of structure fires recently and used the discussion to emphasize the importance of building, access and fire-safety codes, particularly when considering development standards and PUDs. CDS - Discussion: Serving Alcohol in Limited Commercial (LC) Zones Community Development Services — Serving Alcohol in the Limited Commercial (LC) Zone • Staff presented a proposed amendment to the LC zoning use table that would make standalone alcohol establishments a permitted use rather than requiring a conditional-use process. • Businesses would still be required to obtain the applicable state liquor/alcohol licenses, including compliance with separation requirements involving schools and churches. • The proposed change would also address situations such as businesses in the LC zone that want to offer limited alcohol service as part of their business, including spas, retail establishments or similar uses. • The proposal had already been considered and unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on September 1. Staff anticipated bringing the ordinance to Council in October after completion of the required notice period. • Council discussed concerns raised by the Police Department regarding the possibility of increasing the number of establishments serving alcohol, particularly if such establishments could be located closer to residential areas • Councilors supporting the change discussed: o The increasingly mixed residential/commercial character of LC areas. o The desire to encourage walkability rather than the concentration of alcohol-serving businesses in limited areas. City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes 3 680 Park Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 o The similarity between limited commercial and the central commercial zones, where mixed- use development and alcohol-serving establishments already exist. o Situations in which existing businesses have been unable to offer limited wine or similar service despite it being incidental to their primary business. • Staff noted that the principal policy question was whether Council wanted standalone alcohol establishments to be permitted in LC zones, while acknowledging the Police Department's concerns. Municipal Services, Legal, Parks & Recreation, Public Works - City Property Update: Bel Aire Division 3 and 610 Water Ave Bel Air Division 3 / Vernon Lot • Director Alexander and Nick Terry of TOK Commercial provided an update on the approximately 8.6-acre City-owned property near Pinecrest Golf Course, also referred to as the Bel Air Division 3/Vernon Lot. • Council had previously authorized a letter of intent and purchase agreement with Clearstone, LLC, for approximately $2 million. • The agreement included several extensions, but the anticipated August 31 closing did not occur. The City subsequently issued a notice of termination and demanded the outstanding $10,000 extension payment or, in lieu of that payment, the developer's due diligence materials. • Clearstone had shown very little recent communication. The information received indicated that engineering work had revealed that fewer units could be developed than originally anticipated and that the developer had shifted priorities to other projects. • Staff had not received the developer's completed engineering, floor plans, plat information or other due- diligence materials. • Council discussed the potential value of obtaining the developer's due diligence, particularly geotechnical and site information, because it could assist a future purchaser in understanding the property's development constraints. • The property was being returned to the market at approximately $1.9 million, with staff and TOK continuing to contact other potentially interested parties. • Potential future uses discussed included multifamily/townhome development and affordable housing. Staff noted that available Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations could affect the timing of an affordable-housing proposal. • Mr. Terry reported continued interest in the property but noted that financing conditions and interest rates were affecting developers' ability to move projects forward. • Staff recommended continuing to market the property, gathering letters of intent and bringing potential offers back to Council for consideration. • Council also discussed whether the City could use a redevelopment/RFP approach to help shape the type of development desired on the property. 610 Water Avenue Property • Director Alexander provided an update on the City-owned property at 610 Water Avenue, including the history of its attempted sale. • The property had previously been appraised, with its value affected by the lack of a sewer connection. A public auction in April produced no bids, and a subsequent $30,000 offer was declined. City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes 4 680 Park Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 • The property was then listed for approximately $65,000, with the buyer originally responsible for installing the sewer connection. Although there was substantial interest, the sewer requirement discouraged potential buyers. • Public Works identified an opportunity to install the sewer connection in conjunction with other nearby construction associated with the Boulevard/Birch Street roundabout. • The City obtained a change-order price of $15,898.75 for the sewer connection and proceeded with the work. A new meter pit and sewer stub were installed during the week of September 8. • Because the property is owned by the City (public works), proceeds from the eventual sale would return to that department. • The City received a $54,000 offer on September 12. Staff recommended declining the offer because it would provide little recovery beyond the City's sewer-installation expense. • The property remains listed at $65,000, now without the previous sewer-connection requirement for the purchaser. • Council discussed the length of time the property had been listed and the possibility of temporarily removing and relisting it to generate renewed interest. • Staff indicated that the property could potentially be worth approximately $65,000–$70,000 with the sewer connection now installed. Mayor’s Office, CDS, Legal - Discussion: Planned Unit Development (PUD) • Council discussed three main options for the ordinance: o Rescind the existing PUD ordinance and develop a new approach. o Place a temporary moratorium on new PUD applications. o Keep the existing ordinance and make targeted, incremental amendments. • A moratorium raised concerns about disrupting projects already in progress. o Staff noted that several developers were already working on PUDs in anticipation of potential ordinance changes. o Council discussed whether a moratorium could create unnecessary uncertainty or interrupt projects that had already been planned under the existing rules. • There was discussion of taking a more targeted approach. o Rather than rewriting the entire ordinance at once, Council could address specific problems individually. o Potential amendments included clearer definitions, setbacks, private-road standards, neighborhood compatibility, amenities and maintenance requirements. • The October 6 Planning Commission hearing became an immediate procedural issue. o A proposal to rescind the PUD ordinance had already been noticed for the Planning Commission's October 6 meeting. o Council could decide whether to proceed with that hearing, postpone it while staff develops amendments, or allow the Planning Commission to hear the matter and provide a recommendation. • The discussion ultimately identified several areas needing further work, particularly: o Private versus public roads o How PUD standards relate to the underlying zoning o Definitions and code clarity o Setbacks and building height o Amenities and open space City Council Work Session Meeting Minutes 5 680 Park Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 o Long-term HOA and infrastructure maintenance o Predictability for developers o The overall PUD application and hearing process. Council did not reach a final decision on whether to eliminate the PUD ordinance. The discussion centered on whether the City's concerns could be addressed through targeted amendments and process improvements rather than immediately replacing the entire PUD system, while also considering the already-scheduled Planning Commission hearing and the effect of any changes on developers currently working on projects. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:06 PM. /s/ Linda Lundquist_________________ /s/ Lisa Burtenshaw _____________ Linda Lundquist, City Clerk Lisa Burtenshaw, Mayor 9/21/2026 City of Idaho Falls — City Property Update Bel Aire Division 3 610 Water Avenue Monday, September 21, 2026 IDAHO FALLS Commercial Broker — Nick Terry, TOK Thursday, September 11, 2025 — Letter of Intent to Purchase from Clearstone, LLC. Approved by City Council. Purchase and sale agreement signed October 24, 2025 Three addendums: Notice of exercise to extend options issued (4/9/26); (5/11/26); (7/6/26) Closing date — August 31, 2026 Termination Notice issued 9/1/26 9/21/2026 ic. Bs. Crna = Anderson Str eas La 4 eS Vernon Ave, = 7 ot '-/ aa - oi — Pinecrest Golf, Course : Sie ; Wheelenst ra MB a Le Offer Proposed Development Terms: Earnest Money Due Diligence Closing Clearstone, LLC $2,000,000 Townhomes 120-days $10,000 non-refundable 1 option of an additional 30-days with another $10,000 deposit; Expedited request for zoning, platting, lot adjustments, permitting process prior to closing Close 30-days after due diligence Hawkins $1,900,000 Multi-family 180-days $20,000 refundable 2-60-day extensions, with $10,000 non- refundable deposit within 30-days of the end of due diligence Expedited request for zoning, platting, lot line adjustments Close within 30-days of due diligence Mach, LLC $1,650,000 Affordable Housing; will require 180-days $20,000 refundable a low-income housing tax credit 2 options of 60-day extensions with $10,000 (approximately a 6-month deposit each extension process) No later than 60-days after due diligence 9/21/2026 610 Water Avenue / Questions Council Direction to Staff Underlying Zone Give-Ups What the city gives up in exchange for the higher standards required elsewhere in the PUD Underlying zone give-ups 4% Keep or amend? Current Code Position Council's Options Lot Size No minimum within a PUD Keep as-is (core PUD flexibility), or set a floor if internal lots are getting too small to function Density Fixed by Table 11-2-4; no council discretion to exceed Keep the table as the hard ceiling, or amend the per-zone numbers Setbacks Hard floor at the perimeter (can't go below adjacent non-PUD Keep case-by-case, or set a defined minimum internal setback, or set a minimum setback); internal setbacks case-by-case for PUDs adjacent to undeveloped ground Height Underlying zone max, +1 ft height per 2 ft added setback Keep the 2:1 ratio, change the ratio, or cap total additional height regardless of setback offered Higher Standards Required Higher standards 11 items the city gets (combined amenities and phases removed parkinglots Keep or revise? | Known Gap or Question | Higher Standard Common space (25% minimum) Scaled amenities (1 per 50 units) — phased delivery Enhanced landscaping Buffers (10' + fence/hedge) Superior streetscapes Height/massing sensitivity Architectural quality standards Pedestrian connectivity Unified maintenance responsibility Open question: what % of the 25% should be allowed from drainage facilities? Currently uncapped No construction-grade standard except playgrounds, Dog parks have requirements, amenity required for certificate of occupancy Underlying zone is 20% - increases to 25% Additional trees and bushes are required landscaping plans must be included 7 foot to a 10 foot buffer Has not been overly strict other than through landscaping Elevations are provided - Staff resolves this and is addressed at staff level (very technical) Subjective language (“high quality design”) — could be tightened with specific criteria Is only better when a trail system is part of an amenity and not just normal circulation HOA responsible for maintenance and replacement Concern Amenity construction standard Retention basin / common space credit Private road maintenance Private road emergency access / fire lanes Drive aisle safety Unaddressed Concerns — Proposed Fix Commercial-grade construction for all amenities (not just playgrounds); reserve study/escrow for replacement Cap % of the 25% that can be drainage-based; require drawdown analysis, max 5:1 slopes, pedestrian connectivity City’s right to cure with a cost recovery -A condition allowing the city to step in and perform necessary maintenance if the HOA fails to act after notic 26' min. unobstructed width, mandatory fire lane designation, signage/striping, enforcement independent of HOA, retrofit trigger Sight-triangle compliance, physical separation at crossings, routed trash/loading access, capped dead-end length, lighting plan A/B/C Judgment Call Only playgrounds currently require “commercial” grade. Reduce the number of amenities allowed Cap percentage is an open question Largely ready to become ordinance language (ties to Section 3(a) unified control) Draft language already exists — needs Fire Marshal sign-off on the 26' figure and IFC alignment Largely engineering-standard items — decide if these belong in this ordinance or the public works manual Underlying zone give-ups 4 items city gives up ¥ Keep or amend? Per-item council vote S Keep flexible as-is Or add firmer standards Higher standards 11 items city gets S Keep or revise? Per-item council vote S ° Keep current requirements ° ° Or strengthen / remove items . One council decision Unaddressed concerns 5 open risk areas S Amend or condition? Or take no action S Amend ordinance (uniform) Or leave as CUP condition Amend the ordinance sections that changed; leave the rest as-is
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