Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of domestic sewage at Meridian’s wastewater treatment facility.  In 2012, we generated over 4,300 tons of biosolids which were disposed of at the Ada County Hidden Hollow Landfill.

What is the Difference between Biosolids and Sewage Sludge?

This is like asking the question, “What is the difference between compost and yard waste?”  In both cases, bacteria are breaking down the organic matter and producing a beneficial organic material!  Composting takes place under aerobic conditions (in the presence of oxygen) while Meridian’s biosolids are produced within an anaerobic environment (in the absence of oxygen), and then centrifuged in a process known as “dewatering.”  At this point, the end product is a black-grey semisolid soil-like material. 

Composting Biosolids with Grass Clippings and Wood Waste

Meridian’s Public Works Department encourages innovation and supports development of pilot projects to explore ways to operate in a practical and sustainable way.  Toward that end, the Wastewater and Environmental Divisions completed a very successful Biosolids Composting Pilot Project at our Wastewater Treatment Facility.  The purpose of the project was to evaluate the achievability of attaining Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified Class A Biosolids which meant demonstrating the end product, through lab analysis, meets EPA required reduced pathogen limits.

We secured the composting expertise of Mr. Roger Wood of Compost West, Inc., to guide the operations.  Compost West, Inc., is well known for their very successful composting operations on Idaho dairies since 1990.  We composted the biosolids with residential grass clippings and wood chips outside, in long rows or “open windrows”.  The materials were mixed to provide an optimum blend of carbon (brown materials) and nitrogen (green materials) to maximize the performance of the microorganisms.  These good bacteria break down the organic matter and produce the stable organic end product – compost!

Following EPA’s strict treatment protocols, Mr. Wood managed the windrows so that the temperature of the compost mix was maintained at 131⁰F or higher for 15 days or longer.  During this period of elevated temperatures, we were required to turn (or flip) the windrows a minimum of five times.

Results

Our biosolids composting pilot project was a success!  Rigorous pre- and post-analytical results proved the end product had easily met EPA’s requirements for ‘exceptional quality’ Class A Biosolids.

Beneficial Uses of Class A Biosolids

Recycling biosolids is good for the environment.  Class A Biosolids are a humus-like material containing high concentrations of organic carbon and other nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) that are beneficial to soils and plant growth.  When properly applied and managed, biosolids can provide essential plant nutrients, improve soil structure and tilth, add organic matter, enhance moisture retention and reduce soil erosion.  While Meridian currently does not make our biosolids available for beneficial applications, we continue to research, innovate and conduct pilot projects in preparation for the future when it becomes financially and environmentally sustainable to do so.

For more information please contact:

Mollie Mangerich, Environmental Programs Manager at (208) 489-0379 / mmangerich@meridiancity.org.

Each spring, the City of Meridian Water Division conducts routine flushing of its more than 400 miles of water mains to clear out any naturally occurring sediment that may have accumulated over the winter months.  Without irrigation needs, water consumption during these colder months drops dramatically and slows the flow of water through our City’s underground piping system. This decrease in flow allows mineral deposits to accumulate in pipes and contribute to water color problems.

Flushing is required to remove this harmless sediment, which works by moving water through the pipes at a high velocity creating a scouring action. That water and sediment is then discharged through a nearby outlet such as a fire hydrant. Use of this flushing technique is a necessary practice vital to the health of our City’s water system.

This year’s flushing activities will take place between March 4th and April 5th.

During this flushing period, your tap water may temporarily appear a light red, brown or blackish color and could clog small household water lines and filters.  The water pressure inside your home may also fluctuate at times.  This is only temporary and regular water pressure will resume once the flushing period is complete in your area. 

Here are a few tips to help clear your water lines:

• Simply run cold-water faucets in your bathtubs at full stream for a few minutes until the water runs clear again.
• To avoid any unwanted sediment build-up in your hot water heater, always clear your lines using cold-water taps.
• During this flushing time, check your clothes washers and icemakers for any sediment before using. When laundering clothes, wait until the water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first.
• If your faucets seem to be clogged or running slowly, simply remove the screens and rinse out.

Did You Know? 

It is recommended that you drain your hot water tank annually to help clear sediment.

*Remember to turn off power to your water heater to prevent damage to it; please check manufacturer instructions on how to do this properly.

An estimated flushing schedule, along with helpful tips for minimizing the potential impacts of discolored water, can be found online at:  www.meridiancity.org/springflush/. Additionally, we now offer a free e-mail notification service giving daily updates of our current flushing locations and times. If you would like to sign up for this notification service please contact the Meridian Water Division at 208-888-5242 or e-mail us at water@meridiancity.org.  

Questions/Comments? Please contact the Meridian Water Division at 208-888-5242 or email us at water@meridiancity.org.

Recently, the City of Meridian and representatives from 80 Idaho cities sent President Barack Obama a letter of concern regarding the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado and his Administration’s decision to not enforce federal drug laws.  Those of us who signed the letter believe we need to have a consistent and clear national drug-free policy. Failure to do so will have negatives effects in our communities, state, and country and the worldwide war against drugs.

Many of the city officials who signed the letter are members of the Association of Idaho Cities (AIC). This week, AIC members will be in the Treasure Valley to discuss legislative issues with members of the Idaho State Legislature.  Among the items they will hear about is the need for the State of Idaho to be firm about our views on this issue, we do not support legalizing drugs - any illegal drug - in Idaho.  It is clear that Idaho is a target of pro-marijuana organizations; as communities we need to take a stand against this occurring. 

The social and economic harm that occurs with the legalization or acceptance of this controlled substance cannot be overlooked.  Especially for our children, who receive the message that marijuana and other drug use is okay if legalized.  Neighboring states that have legalized marijuana for 'medical' use have found it not only impossible to enforce but have seen large increases in the number of users, particularly in children. Legalizing marijuana will affect our public education system, productivity in the workplace, an escalation in the number of impaired drivers on Idaho roads, and in many other areas of our lives.

As the Chair of the AIC Drug Task Force, I will join other Mayors and Council members in asking the Idaho State Legislature to send a message that the State of Idaho is opposed to all efforts to legalize marijuana for any purpose by passing a resolution.  In addition, we are asking the State Legislature and Governor to send a Joint Memorial to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder requesting the federal government take appropriate action to enforce federal drug laws in all states and uphold international treaties relating to the control of illegal drugs in the world. 

When the time comes, I hope you will stand with us against efforts to legalize marijuana.  If you would like more information or would like to get involved in our local efforts to prevent drug use and abuse, I encourage you to attend an upcoming meeting of the Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition (MADC). The meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the Meridian Police Department.  To learn more, visit www.meridianmadc.org.

At the start of this new year, I want to reflect on some of our core values.  We do our best to be examples of the city-wide core values of Customer Service, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE).  This is what we call The Meridian Way of doing things.  How do we do this?  We focus on Putting Meridian First through the implementation of the three core values of the Parks & Recreation Department:  Quality, Community, and Fun.

• Quality:  We strive for well-designed parks with a high amenity value and lasting materials.  We strive for quality in our maintenance of existing parks.  We are always looking to improve the depth and quality of the recreation programs we offer.  We seek to improve on our wonderful special events for the entire community to enjoy.  Our mission is to build a legacy of quality.
• Community:  Research has shown that Meridian’s primary demographic is young families with children; therefore, our park amenities, recreation programs, and special events all need to be family-friendly.  At the same time, we need to understand and respond to the needs of our growing elderly population.  Special events (CableONE Movie Night in Meridian, Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, etc.) are great tools to engage the entire community and for building a sense of connection.
• Fun:  Yes, we are affectionately known as the Department of Fun.  This is really what it’s all about at the end of the day—family-friendly fun opportunities for the citizens of Meridian.  We provide opportunities for play, family outings, sports, friends, and active lifestyles.  We help bring the balance to work-life balance. We help build quality of life.  It is fun!

One of the reasons my husband and I were drawn to Meridian over 20 years ago is because we knew it would be a safe place to raise our family.  Over the years as our kids grew so did the City, but one thing remained the same – Meridian has always been a safe place to call home. 

We live in a safe community because we have dedicated police officers looking out for us, including Meridian Police Chief Jeff Lavey.  Now in his fifth year as Chief of Police, Chief Lavey leads a department that takes a proactive policing approach to policing.  One example is MPD’s IMPACT team. This specialized team has made dozens of arrests, removed hundreds of pounds of drugs off the street and returned stolen property to dozens of people each year. I am not the only one who’s taken notice of Chief Lavey and great work of the department he leads.  This past October, Chief Lavey was elected President of the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association (ICOPA).

The Association is made up of Police Chiefs and officers from cities all across the State.  ICOPA was formed so police departments could easily share ideas and collectively figure out the best ways to enforce laws and protect Idahoans.  Next week, members of ICOPA will be holding an annual training conference in the Treasure Valley. Being President of ICOPA is a huge responsibility but Chief Lavey has proved he is up to the challenge.

This year, Chief Lavey wants to focus on uniting police departments with their local sheriff’s office. As he explains it, “We go to the same academy, enforce the same laws and deal with the same people.” By building those relationships Jeff thinks we will build a stronger, safer Idaho. He will be working closely with the President of the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, who just happens to be Ada County’s Sheriff Gary Raney, to reach this goal. This June they’ve planned a conference for police officers and sheriff’s deputies.

As President of ICOPA, Chief Lavey will also be keeping a close eye on what laws are being proposed in Idaho.  One law he and ICOPA are already prepared to take a solid stance against is the legalization of marijuana for medical or recreational use.  Chief Lavey and the other officers in ICOPA have seen the dangers of using drugs and have spent years trying to keep them off of our streets. They know what a detriment it would be to Idaho to legalize any type of drug and plan to do all they can to keep that from happening.

I feel lucky to have Chief Lavey leading Meridian’s Police Department.  He has done an outstanding job serving our community. I can only imagine the positive impacts he will make as ICOPA’s President. I know he will do amazing things for ICOPA and the safety of our State.

This week the City of Meridian will be hosting a Legislative Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 6:30 pm at Meridian City Hall.  The 2013 Legislative Session has begun; the Governor delivered his State of the State address and the Legislature’s in session. From almost every corner around our community, there are a number of questions and comments about what the upcoming legislative session has in store.

Area legislators in Districts 14, 20, 21, and 22 each tend to host their own town hall events.  However what makes this meeting unique, is in addition to inviting our Representatives and Senators all to one place we have also extended an invitation to the leadership in the House and Senate.  I’m happy to say that we will be joined by some of these State leaders, who are elected by their peers in the legislature to serve all citizens of Idaho.

We did a similar event last year with the leadership from the Senate which was well received. It is because of the positive response from citizens and Senate Leadership, we extended the invitation to Senate Leadership and expanded it to the House leadership in addition to our area representatives.  This Town Hall meeting is a time for City officials, community stakeholders, and our citizens an opportunity to share comments and concerns important to us.  As Idaho's third largest city and one that continues to grow, we hope to provide perspective to our issues and gain feedback from our state's leadership.

There are many important topics our City leaders plan to share with those in attendance.  The topics will range from issues we have in public safety (police and fire) and challenges of a changing culture of how these services are financed and fairness to our city residents; the potential impact of changes in the personal property tax and what it might mean to the services cities provide; and our view on several other topics of concern. The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council will share with these leaders the focus of their efforts for the 2012-13 year.

In addition, our partners in the community from the Joint School District No. 2, our urban renewal area the Meridian Development Corporation, the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, and The CORE our industry cluster, will be presenting information as well.  This is a great opportunity to hear what needs our educators have in light of the repeal of propositions 1, 2, and 3 and what our business community believes is necessary for them to help grow our economy.

This promises to be a great opportunity for our community.  I hope you will join me in welcoming our state leaders to Meridian and taking part in this Town Hall meeting.

We recently celebrate the end of 2012 and rang in another chapter in our incredible community!  As we begin 2013 and set create our New Year’s resolutions, I would like to share some information and a program called One Church One Child (OCOC). 

OCOC is patterned after a national organization which seeks to establish long-term relationships with communities of faith.  The ultimate goal of the program is to increase support to Idaho’s children in the adoptive and foster care programs.  By providing the necessary support, as communities of faith, we can ensure that no child will age out of foster care and have a forever family to call their own.

In every corner of the state including Meridian, child welfare workers at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare are forming partnerships with faith-based communities to meet this goal. Whether interested in learning about fostering or adopting a child, supporting a foster or adoptive family, or volunteering through acts of service to improve the lives of families and children in Idaho, the response from faith-based communities across the state has been overwhelming.  Thus far, over 60 communities of faith have answered the call of OCOC and have formally dedicated their support to its mission. The movement in Meridian is encouraging.

OCOC has had the pleasure of partnering with churches such as Rockharbor Church in Meridian.  It heard of OCOC through my Faith Leaders Luncheon and immediately had a heart for the community campaign dedicating a recent service to “Orphan Sunday” which also officially began the OCOC partnership with more to come.

I know many other Meridian churches are considering the same model. As partnerships such as Rockharbor’s continue to grow and flourish, there is hope that significant improvements in the areas of successful family reunification, access to higher education, enhanced economic opportunities and healthy futures for each and every child in Meridian will occur.

As you embark on 2013, I hope you will consider including a resolution of finding a way to help ensure every child – especially those in adoptive and foster care programs – has a chance for success.  To find out how you can make a difference in a child’s life through One Church One Child, please call the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine or visit their website at www.fostercare.idaho.gov.

I have no doubt the realities of downtown Meridian’s Split Corridor road construction and utility projects have impacted a majority of us as we do our daily commutes and go about the business of our everyday lives.  We have had to learn to adapt to changing traffic patterns near downtown and how to access our favorite merchants in and near the construction area.

Throughout this construction project we will continue to experience a number of changes as work moves forward.  Until recently, Meridian Road from Pine to Franklin remained open.  Now through the end of the month, a closure is in place at the railroad tracks as crews bore under the railroad tracks to install sanitary sewer and water lines. 

While this is taking place, it is important to know that businesses in the area south of the railroad tracks can still be accessed via Meridian Road off of Franklin Road, or from Bower or King Streets which connect Main Street and Meridian Road. Other businesses along Meridian Road can still be accessed via alternate routes or access passages. You can find information on how to best access these businesses at www.meridiansplitcorridor.org. 

We have heard bits of good news from some of our impacted businesses. The owner of All Shirley Blooms said that her loyal customers have been making a special effort to visit her shop this season and to purchase their Christmas trees from her.  We also have our downtown businesses stepping up to help one another as the Borton-Lakey Law Office has done. Hopefully we can continue to see and hear more of these positive stories and examples.

As this construction activity continues, I ask that you continue to exercise care, caution, and patience in and around the construction area; please support our local downtown merchants; and remember that this project brings needed transportation improvements and will promote and enhance a more vibrant and vital downtown. 

Each year, one of the holiday traditions I look forward to is judging the annual Christmas essay contest the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department holds for local fifth grade students. The handwritten and heartfelt essays they submit on the theme “What the Christmas Season Means to Me” run the gamut from humorous to heart touching.

We had many who participated this year and each and every one had a special story to tell.  Through laughter, and an opportunity to is the heart and compassion of the youth perspective, I read of their hopes and dreams, family traditions, and wishes of peace and prosperity for others. I is my honor to acknowledge this year’s winners who wrote my favorite essays and were recognized on stage during the City’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration.

Isaiah Vega of Paramount Elementary described the excitement of waiting up for Santa’s arrival, and Colton Siwah of Prospect Elementary wrote of the importance of spending time with family during the Christmas holiday.  But it was ten-year-old Sammie Schabot, a student in Mrs. Brancet’s fifth grade class at Prospect Elementary that took top honors. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas I’d like to leave you with the words of Sammie’s winning essay and wish you all a very Merry Christmas. 

Christmas is a magical time of year. Lights flicker on rooftops, hot cocoa waits for you to taste its chocolaty goodness, cardinals chirp pleasantly, but the best part about Christmas is the tree.

My family’s Christmas tree tells everything. The Christmas presents huddle together underneath the sheltering branches, the wonderfully crafted ornaments dangle on the tree, some holding on for their life, and the star... the beautiful twinkling star. The star watches over our family atop the greatest view in the house. The star proudly represents the arrival of the little baby Jesus, and the star that the wise men followed to see the one who had come back to make sure that God’s world was in good hands.

Even though I love the flickering little strands of light, the warm cocoa that awaits me, and the singing cardinals, I cherish most our family’s Christmas tree and the star that shows what Christmas is truly about.

Some of the major projects included in the fiscal years (FY) 2013 – 2017 ECEP are the Meridian Split Corridor Phase 2, Ground Reservoir #2, Wastewater Treatment Facility Lab Building Expansion Design, and Recycled Water Pipeline along Franklin Road between Ten Mile and Linder.  In order to keep up with Meridian’s growth rate and to ensure the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure are in good working condition, the ECEP also contains projects such as Water Main Replacements, Water System Improvements and Upgrades, Water Line Extensions, Sewer Line Extensions, and Sewer Main Replacements.  These types of projects have funding for each year in the ECEP.

Some of the Engineering Divisions’ accomplishments from the FY 2012 ECEP include completing two water main replacements, four sewer main replacements, the recycled water master plan and the assessments and rehabilitations of three wells.  Other Engineering Division accomplishments on non-ECEP projects include completing the City’s first Water Conservation Plan, developing a Well As-Built Database, selecting a Project Management Software Solution and starting the implementation process, and developing a Recycled Water Hydraulic Model. 

There is a table of current and upcoming City Capital Improvement Projects on the City of Meridian’s website at http://meridiancity.org/public_works.aspx?id=275.  This table lists the project’s name, description, project manager and the estimated start date.  You can email the project manager with any questions or comments you may have regarding the project by clicking on the project manager’s name in a project.  You may also contact the project managers by calling the Public Works Department at 208-898-5500.

Despite having the 10th highest suicide rate in the nation, Idaho has been the only state in the nation without a certified, statewide suicide prevention hotline since 2006. As the second leading cause of death of adolescents and young adults in Idaho, many groups and individuals have been pooling their time, resources and talents over the years with the goal of getting a new suicide prevention hotline up and running.

Certainly this time of year is timely for this hotline! While many of us look forward to the Christmas holidays there are some who don’t.

Today, thanks in large part to a series of remarkable public-private partnerships and many extremely dedicated volunteers, we are celebrating the opening of the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline. The new hotline is managed by the Mountain States Group with a team of 18 trained local volunteers who will staff the hotline Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is still operational 24/7, but will be staffed during these off hours by another regional hotline.  Over time the hotline will gradually increase its hours of operation until it is staffed in Idaho 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can reach the hotline’s crisis counselors by dialing 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

While the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline is up and running, more needs to be done to ensure the long-term sustainability of this community resource.  The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council has selected to focus on this organization to increase the public’s awareness, teens in particular, of this topic and encourage those in our community who are suffering from depression, anxiety, or feelings of hopelessness to seek the help they need without embarrassment. 

In addition, businesses like Corkscrew’s in downtown are stepping up to help as they plan to hold a fundraiser on December 15 from 8pm to 11pm. I hope you will come out for this event and do your part to raise money for the hotline as current funding can only sustain its operation for approximately the next two years. As well, four Red Robin Restaurants in the area will be doing a future fundraiser in support of this needed resource.

If you want to learn more, John Reusser, who serves as the director of the new Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline, will be my guest on Celebrate Meridian next month. The program will be aired each Thursday evening in December at 8:00 pm on TVCTV Channel 11. I encourage you to tune in to learn more about the incredible collaboration that is making the Idaho Suicide Prevention possible. 

Last week we had an amazing turnout at the polls here in Idaho.  People came out in large numbers to cast a vote for the President, our Congressional Delegation, State Legislature, County Commissioners, the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District, and more.  I know that many people are still feeling drained and burned out by some of the election night results and all the dialogue of the past several months.  While I understand and even feel some of this emotional exhaustion myself, I think it’s now more important than ever that we stand together for the good of our nation, state, and city in order to address the common issues we now face.

By identifying and acknowledging our common interests and concerns, as a community of involved citizens we will all be in a much better position to leverage our resources and utilize teamwork to accomplish great things in Meridian, the Treasure Valley, and Idaho. If we can’t find a way to put our differences behind us then we know it will be more difficult to find common interests so we can work together down the road.

One of the areas we must work on across city and county lines is preventing and addressing substance abuse. While we may have a plan we are following here in Meridian, we know that we need to engage communities and their stakeholders statewide to be more involved. In order to accomplish that goal, the Association of Idaho Cities (AIC) Drug Task Force, along with help from the Idaho Office of Drug Policy and the Community Coalitions of Idaho, will be reengaging Idaho cities in an effort to address substance related issues in and around Idaho.  By joining together as strategic partners it is our hope that once again we can get cities to make a declaration for a drug-free Idaho and see significant reductions in illicit substance abuse.

As chair of the AIC Drug Task Force, I know that we can do more by working together than individually. Our groups will provide ideas, educational tools, and examples of what others are doing in their communities that might be relevant and easily replicated in other Idaho cities.  This is a good start and we look to engage others on this issue in order to take a stand and let people know that we want Idaho to be healthy, safe, and drug free.

Ultimately we need to put our differences behind us from this election and work together on these types of issues facing us in Idaho.  By engaging with one another we can find innovative solutions to the issues that matter to us in how we grow and thrive as a community.  If you would like to learn more about what we are doing or join me in this effort, please send me an email at mayortammy@meridiancity.org.

On November 11, our nation will observe Veterans Day, a day designated to honor all living soldiers who served, or are currently serving, in the military or fought in war. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to our veterans for their service, for what they have endured. One person cannot begin to sufficiently thank all our veterans for their courage, loyalty and dedication to duty.

Many us will never know the actual feeling of serving in the military. As civilians, the most patriotic thing we can do for our service people is support them for their service to our country and honor them for their sacrifices. While we honor them on this day of remembrance for their courage and selflessness we must remember that our military men and women are constantly “on duty” and prepared to defend each one of us, every moment of the day.
 
Here in Meridian, we will honor our veterans who have and are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our country’s freedoms in a public ceremony.  Our Veterans Day ceremony will be organized by the organizers of the Rock of Honor and our American Legion. While we do not have the details at this writing I ask you to check for details on our website at www.meridiancity.org. They are planning for the ceremony to be held at the Rock of Honor Veterans Memorial located in our new Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park. 
 
For those who may not know, The Rock of Honor is comprised of a stone pyramid and a series of granite walls on which are engraved the names of all Meridian residents who were killed or died from wounds suffered in wars or military conflicts since the state of Idaho was formally accepted into the Union in 1890. The monument, which is just two years old and was the vision of Meridian VFW Commander and WWII Veteran John Harrington Burns, is a joint venture of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the City of Meridian.
 
Although this monument has been built, they are still seeking funding to pay for this wonderful addition to our community in honor of those who have served.  To make a donation in support of this monument or to learn more about this exciting project, visit www.rockofhonor.com.
 
While I hope you and your friends and family will join me there for the Veterans Day observance in thanks for those who preserve our freedoms and have the courage to defend the rights we enjoy as citizens of this great nation, I also want to take a moment and let you know about another way you can support our severely wounded or injured veterans. 
 
On December 1, 2012, the Wyakin Warrior Foundation will be holding their Guardian Ball to raise money in support of their efforts to provide a full-spectrum education and professional development program for severely wounded, injured, or ill Post 9/11 veterans, designed for collegiate success and resulting in a rewarding career after graduation.  This is a great organization and you can learn more about their mission and this event by visiting www.wyakin.org.
 
Finally, a thank you to all in our community who do what they can on Veterans Day to honor those among us who have served.  From businesses providing free meals and car washes, to people doing acts of service, together, we can honor ordinary people who are willing to perform extraordinary tasks to preserve our freedoms. i am asking you to do the same whether its a simple 'thank you' to those you know have served. I will be calling my favorite veteran, Burl Pipkin, as my husband and I do each year (and throughout the year!).

 
Join us as we remember all who serve and appreciate their incredible strength and selflessness for the freedoms we enjoy.

Meridian is blessed to have a diverse and engaged faith community dedicated to serving and helping others regardless of their religious affiliation. Together they provide needed and valued services to those in need in our community.  The men and women who lead our places of worship wear many hats as business people, civic leaders, volunteers and overall pillars in this community.  The guidance and leadership they provide is of great value and can often be taken for granted.

October is National Pastor Appreciation Month and a time of year we can thank these leaders for what they do for us individually and as a community.  Annually, we take this opportunity to honor these men and women by hosting a Faith Leaders Luncheon, sponsored in full by local businesses. This event brings us together for an afternoon of dialogue and fellowship. It also provides a venue to celebrate the collective efforts of priests, pastors, ministers, bishops, rabbis, and other church leaders in our community.  While this is my small way of saying thank you, I encourage you to show your church leader just how much you appreciate them as well! 

This year the group will hear from Corey Surber, who will speak about Idaho's Suicide Prevention hotline as well as several United Way of Treasure Valley projects that are positively impacting Meridian. Heather Stole of the Idaho Department of Health and Human Services will tell us about an innovative program called One Church, One Child. This is a collaborative effort between Family and Children’s Services and faith-based organizations designed to recruit foster families and build a supportive network for Idaho children in foster care. This is always a great event and I want to thank the Valley Shepherd Nazarene Church for hosting this annual luncheon, Food Services of America for providing the food, and all the volunteers who make it a success.

You may not be aware, but our faith organizations are providing resources to our community for those in need or seeking a better life.  Some churches like Ten Mile Christian Church and Treasure Valley Baptist offer treatment programs for individuals seeking assistance from substance abuse through programs like “Celebrate Recovery”. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with invitations to other faith organizations to join in emergency preparedness, hosts fairs that provide opportunities for families to learn about being prepared and aware should a disaster strike. Valley Shepherd Nazarene, Holy Trinity, and a dozen other churches work diligently with the Meridian Food Bank to provide for those in our community who need additional assistance to make ends meet.

These are a few examples that just scratch the surface of what our faith community does in Meridian.  We are lucky to have so many community partners that serve our citizens and help build that sense of ‘community’.  I hope you will join me this month in expressing special appreciation to the pastors who impact local lives as they give leadership to our churches and worship organizations.

Every school year I have the pleasure of sitting down with the principals of our local high schools to take the pulse of what is happening with our youth. We discuss what is positive, what is working, how their successes are being won, and information about challenges and issues in their individual schools. This year, sadly, I noticed a common theme. Almost every principal cited prescription drug abuse as an enormous concern. We are calling a town hall meeting to be held October 17th to educate, inform, and discuss this issue; I hope our Meridian parents, grandparents, neighbors, and employers will participate.

We have all heard and read this festering problem on the news and in the media, but one seldom gives thought to how close to home it actually hits. News Flash! Prescription drug abuse is in our schools, our businesses, our places of worship, etc. These potentially dangerous drugs, for use that intended, are easily accessible and usually right down the hall in our medicine cabinets within reach of our youth.

Here is the reality. Every day in the United States, an average of 2,000 teens use prescription drugs without a doctor’s guidance for the first time. One in five Idaho teens report that they have taken a prescription medication that was not theirs for the purpose of getting high. In 2012, Idaho lost more than 16 individuals a month due to drug induced deaths caused by illicit, prescription and over-the-counter drug use. A staggering 49% of teens who have abused prescription painkillers also report use of two or more other substances, most commonly alcohol (81%) and marijuana (58%). More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug except marijuana.

The battle against drug abuse has always been something I‘ve been passionate about. One of my earliest actions as a newly elected mayor in 2004 was to establish the Meridian Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition (MADC).  I am humbled to hear of the respect our coalition and its members have gained for MACD’s programs and their ability to collaborate and partner with other organizations.

The MADC consists of more than 40 committed individuals and organizations. These members represent many sectors of the community including parents, students, businesses, educators, law enforcement, city officials, community organizations, healthcare professionals, media, and leaders from the Meridian faith community. Working together and within the community, the MADC has the knowledge, resources, and experience to attack our issues. The time for action is now and one of the greatest weapons we have is information – in this instance, informed parents are the boots on the ground.

On October 17th Meridian will hold a special Meridian Town Hall for parents and teens to offer facts and information on the best ways to recognize and combat the growing threat of prescription drug abuse. The meeting, at Wahooz Family Fun Zone, will begin at 6:00pm and will run no longer than 7:30pm. Admission to the Town Hall Meeting is free.

I will be speaking at this event and will be joined by Idaho Drug Policy Chief Elisha Figueroa, Meridian Police Chief Jeff Lavey, and others, for an engaging discussion and displays about this alarming trend and what we as a community can do to help with its prevention.

As an added incentive for your family to attend, Wahooz Family Fun Zone has graciously offered to let the City use their facility and has risen to the occasion by offering families packages to allow those with children over the age of 10 a safe place to play during the meeting. For $10.99, your children can enjoy unlimited Laser Tag, Max Flight Roller Coaster Rides, Mini Golf, and a $2.50 game card, while you attend the Town Hall meeting. The meeting begins at 6:00pm and will run no longer than 7:30pm, while the Wahooz offer lasts for 3 hours.

I hope to see you on October 17 for this insightful and educational presentation. If you have questions or can’t make it but would like information about this topic, please contact Ken Corder in my office at 489-0535.

Of all the programs and activities I have the privilege of taking part in, there is one in particular that has captured my heart and continues to hold it in a tight grip – the Mayor and CEO’s Kids Book Club – which just kicked off another year last week.

The Mayor & CEO’s Kids Book Club is an award winning program done in partnership with our local businesses and the Meridian Library.  This program offers local girls and boys in grades 3, 4 and 5 the opportunity to spend quality time each month discussing a book with me and community business leaders (owners, presidents, and CEOs).  With these leaders, this program now in its 7th year, we are able to ‘walk the talk’ the importance and joy of reading and show participants that it’s true that “readers are leaders” and vice-versa. All the while, we are building these young readers a library of their own as they get to keep the hard-bound books that we read.

This reading program is critical because over the last decade teachers report that children’s appreciation and enjoyment of reading and of books has plummeted, with a corresponding rise in their interest in television, video, and computer games. Many children never pick up a book outside of school, some by their own choice and others because their families do not have books in the house for various reasons.

By creating the Mayor & CEO’s Kids Book Club we felt we could offer valuable mentoring to local youth in the area of literacy. Also, by encouraging a group of children to all read and discuss the same text, we felt we could turn reading into a shared experience in which kids and adults learn to appreciate good books together.  Many of these families turn this opportunity into family reading time! Additionally, we feel it is important that Meridian children begin to build their own personal library, learn to revel in the idea of a good story, and appreciate the informational and entertainment value of books.

Over the years we’ve shared laughter over the antics of Stuart Little, shed tears over the ending of Where the Red Fern Grows, imagined African adventures with Mogo: The Third Warthog, and marveled over The Invention of Hugo Cabret. And each holiday season the group has read an installation from The Chronicles of Narnia series.

This new Book Club season will be no less exciting as we just completed The Aviary, and  have other great books planned including The Birchbark House, The Secret Zoo and Dog Friday to name a few.  My hat is off to the Meridian Library staff who recommend and order our book selections, handles registrations, and assists at our monthly meetings

Of course this program could not be possible without our corporate sponsors and the leader-readers they provide.  While we have had many over the years, I’d like to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to this year’s “leader-readers”: Mick Ware of United Heritage, Mark Bowen of CH2M Hill, Clint Shiflet of Bank of the Cascades, Dr. Greg Janous of St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, Matt Phelps of Citi, Debbie Bennet of Beniton Construction, and Sally Jeffcoat of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

The first session of the Mayor & CEO’s Kids Book Club, which runs from October through January at the Main Library is already full, but around the holidays sign-ups will begin at the Silverstone Branch of the Meridian Library for the second session which will run February through May – mark your calendars! Details will be available at the library.

Whatever the age is of the people in your home, I encourage you to keep books and reading at the forefront in your household.  Then, take every opportunity you have to read to or share books with others, and together we can all enjoy a good story.

Last week I had the opportunity to spend time at two extremely dynamic events, each unique and enriching in their own way.

The first was a gathering of local faith leaders, business professionals, and community representatives who comprise an organization called Treasure the Valley. Together, its members work to promote their vision of having a community where people are prayed and cared for and where the love of Christ is shared. They hope is to positively impact the greater Treasure Valley through a “prayer-care-share” lifestyle which includes acts of mercy, collaborative service projects, and community development accomplished through the partnering of social service agencies.

At the event, which was held in at Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Nampa, attendees exchanged news and information regarding activities in their communities and offered suggestions on how communities could work collaboratively to address issues of interest and concern. I was able to share with them how Meridian is currently exploring the ideas to provide teens, next summer, with a safe and wholesome weekend activity at which they can enjoy entertainment and socialize.

I also told them of the heightened concern I’ve heard from school leaders regarding prescription drug abuse as a growing trend among area teens. We’ll be discussing this issue in detail at a Meridian Town Hall Meeting slated for October 17, at 6:00 pm, at Wahooz Family Fun Zone. Members of Treasure the Valley have offered to help us publicize this important and timely event which I hope you, too, will choose to attend.

On Thursday evening, I attended a gathering at Meridian’s V3 Hair Studio called Healthy You!  This was a women’s event celebrating the many ways women in our community support one another. Guest speakers addressed topics related to maintaining emotional and physical health, well-being, and confidence. I spoke to attendees there about the many ways Meridian strives to be a healthy community in which people of all ages and interests feel accepted, connected, and respected.

In addition to enjoying an excellent dinner provided by Rumbi Grill and Q’doba and fun hair and make-up consultations by styling professionals, participants were able to take advantage of mobile mammograms and ask questions of healthcare professionals, both provided by Saint Alphonsus Medical Center and others.

As Mayor of a community that CARES, both events were rewarding and uplifting experiences and reinforced for me the importance of fellowship, community, and collaboration.  As well, the dividends to be gained by taking good emotional, physical, and spiritual care of yourself and others in the community.  I’m excited that these groups are energized, engaged, and joining the many others currently making a difference in our community.  I encourage you as we head into the holiday season to look for ways to make a difference.  There are many opportunities to have a positive influence on someone, or something, that can leave a lasting difference here in Meridian.

Just when I think I will completely burst with appreciation and pride for this great community that we live in - and that things can’t possibly get any better - they do! 

On September 12th, at a gathering at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., it was announced that Meridian has again been selected as one of the nation’s “100 Best Communities for Young People” by the America’s Promise Alliance and the global financial services company ING. We are the only city in Idaho selected for this honor in 2012 and it is the fifth time Meridian has earned a place on this prestigious list.

More than 350 American cities were considered for this honor.  According to the judging panel, the winning communities, like Meridian, have all taken steps to encourage youth civic engagement, facilitate improved access to health care for young people, enhance local educational opportunities, and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow.

This national distinction affirms the great strides being made by so many of our community partners, such as Joint School District No. 2, the Meridian Boys & Girls Club, the Meridian Library, the Meridian Food Bank, our local churches, along with City employees and many others in making important differences in the lives of our city’s young people.  It is through their efforts, and their elbow grease, that we maintain a safe and caring community where young people can feel accepted, respected, and connected.  Please accept my sincere thanks to those that work diligently to be a great place to live, work, raise a family and where our youth feel valued.

Meridian leaders, not only talk-the-talk but walk-the-walk in providing opportunities and engaging youth in nearly every aspect of community life, including community service and providing a youth perspective in policy making, advocacy, and issues of importance to young people. By giving tools and opportunity in organizations like the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council we see their passion and conviction in service to our community.

We have also worked within the community to bring several award-winning programs aimed at youth. Programs such as: the Police Activities League’s (PAL) "Recognize” aimed at rewarding youth making positive choices; the "Mayor and CEO’s Kids Book Club" designed to show that leaders are readers; "Backpack for Kids" providing needed food to underserved youth and families on the weekends; and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council’s "Ignite Youth" which is creating new ideas and opportunities, and inspiring others to look at life a little bit differently. , We can find many examples of work being done to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed in today’s world. Meridian has established exciting programs that other communities in Idaho can replicate.

In honor of its achievement, Meridian will receive a $2,500 grant, signage identifying the community as one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People, and access to America’s Promise Alliance’s community development resources.  We look forward to finding a way to celebrate this accomplishment in the same way we received it – together as a community dedicated to youth.

We are all aware the downturn in the housing market that swept the country. Our city was not immune from the effects of the downturn, however we did not experience the dramatic slump in construction  that hit other areas. At the “bottom of the market” in 2010 the City issued 509 permits for single family homes.  This year to date, the City has issued 550 permits for single family homes. Based on the monthly average this would equate to over 800 permits by the end of 2012. 

One of the most dramatic indicators during that period was near complete drop off in subdivision activity. Since subdivisions form the basis of our future neighborhoods, this was very telling as to state of the housing market. Essentially, residential developers were not creating lots for future homes. Some projects obtained time extensions to keep the subdivision approvals in place , while many  other approvals expired. In some instances the properties were abandoned or ownership reverted to the lending institutions that were funding proposed development.  

I want to briefly digress to provide a snap shot of the process through which subdivisions approved in Meridian. It is a two step process referred to the preliminary plat and final plat.  

The preliminary plat is the initial review and approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council to ensure that all subdivisions comply with adopted city plans, policies and standards, to ensure that services are available and that open space and recreational facilities are provided.  

Final plat approval occurs when the City is satisfied that all conditions of approval are met: utilities installed, roads constructed and open space and amenities in place. It is at this point that the plat can be recorded, lots sold and are available for home construction.  

Why was this digression important the story?   

In 2009 the City processed one preliminary plat that included 255 lots, however that project has received numerous time extensions and is not currently owned by a residential developer. That same year only 2 final plats were approved for a total of 9 lots.  

In 2010, no preliminary plats for submitted for approval and only 3 final plats were approved for a total of 49 lots.   

Fast forward to 2012 – Preliminary plats - 114 lots approved with 234 more in process. Final plats-  370 lots have been approved this year alone.

When combined, the approved preliminary and final plats total 484 lots have been approved this year with more in process. This is indeed a sign that our housing market is looking up.

We have seen a number of ribbon cuttings recently as more and more businesses are moving to or expanding in our community.  It’s not only a promising sign of economic recovery, it certainly shows that the energy is in Meridian!  This week, I wanted to share some brief information about some of these businesses.

First, the Village at Meridian (formerly known as Meridian Town Center), the large lifestyle development near the Eagle & Fairview intersection, is really beginning to take shape. Upon completion, it will represent one of the most significant commercial projects ever developed in the state of Idaho. Tenants – Gordman’s and Big Al’s – are already beginning to open in the project’s initial phase, which includes 500,000 square feet of retail, entertainment, restaurant, and office space. [Along with this development was the expansion of Eagle Road from their property to I-84.]

The enthusiasm of the Gordman’s staff was positively contagious at the July 26th ribbon cutting of their 50,000 square foot store. Sharply dressed in coordinating purple and black, they were beaming with pride as they welcomed guests into their new store.  At this event, we learned more about Gordman’s commitment to local education as CEO Jeff Gordman presented Joint School District No. 2 Superintendent Linda Clark with a donation of $2,500. He also announced that Gordmans will become Partners in Education with nearby River Valley Elementary School, supporting its activities and serving as mentors to its students.

Big Al’s plans to cut the ribbon on its newest entertainment center nearby on August 6.  Visitors will be dazzled by its full-service 42-lane Bowling center, 200-player video and redemption game Arcade, sports bar and grill with one of the Northwest's biggest TV screen. There's also the Skybox Lounge and CaddyShack, golf simulator, pool tables, shuffleboard and darts games. More importantly, the 66,000 square-foot, $10 million enterprise created new jobs for approximately 175 employees.

We have also seen a host of smaller enterprises have also been opening shop in Meridian this summer. MoMo Dumplings recently opened next door to Buffalo Wild Wings at Franklin and Eagle Road. This new eatery which features food of the Himalayas will soon become a community favorite.  Stop by and try one of their truly unique dishes!

Epic Exchange – Fashion Recycler also recently opened on Fairview.  At Epic they buy/trade/sell clothing, so as you get ready to do your school shopping, stop by and see all the amazing fashions they have on hand or pick up something special for a night out.

And just a few days ago I was honored to be part of the grand opening for the new home of Molly Maid, a residential and business housekeeping company, which is located in our downtown at 1519 N. Main Street. This Meridian company continues to grow and made a decision to investment in our downtown as they renovated their new location prior to moving in.  What you may not know is that they hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, have an A rating on Angie’s List and received the “Super Service Award” from them in 2011, and the owner Stephanie Camarillo was recognized as a top 5 Women Owned Business by the Idaho Business Review in 2012.  In addition, a percentage of every clean is donated to the Women’s and Children’s Alliance.  We are excited to see their growth as a Meridian company and appreciate their investment in our downtown.

This blend of national and local businesses, large and small, not only provide retail, dining, and service choices for those who live in Meridian, but they are bringing jobs in construction and then permanent jobs to the area, all of which gives us cause to celebrate. I encourage you to stop by and welcome these and the other new businesses to Meridian and hope this is just a sign of things to come as we continue to grow our community.   

The City of Meridian has assertively stepped up to the challenges of incorporating sustainability concepts into a variety of our Public Works projects.  The Public Works Department has positioned itself strategically to emphasize financial and environmental sustainability in our programs and projects while including our citizens in a wide variety of work groups and steering committees to help guide and support the way we manage our community’s resources and the services we provide.

For example, the Public Works Department has set forth the goal to create a Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility that is self-sustaining, utilizing closed-loop systems to recycle and/or reuse the waste byproducts and incorporate energy conservation technologies where possible.  This facility processes and treats about five million gallons of wastewater every day – and as a result – is our largest user of power within our Public Works Department’s utilities.

To date, we have achieved significant greenhouse gas reduction and energy savings through the following projects:

·         Blower energy usage is typically one of the largest energy consumers in an aerobic wastewater treatment process.  With the aid of an Energy Efficiency Grant, we replaced the existing blowers with newer more efficient turbo blower with an estimated energy savings of 250,000 KWh to 300,000 kWh annually and projected annual cost savings of $48,000.

·         We have replaced selected street lights with more efficient LED lighting on main corridors resulting in a reduction of 75,000 kWh and an estimated cost reduction of $6,000 annually with an additional expected reduction of 31 metric tons in greenhouse gasses.

·         New energy-efficient lighting was installed at the Wastewater Treatment Facility resulting in projected yearly electricity saving of 70,000 to 80,000 kWh and an annual cost reduction of $5,000 - $6,000.

·         Most recently, we installed tubular daylighting devices in our filtration buildings, providing natural light as an alternative to electric lights during the daytime.  These devices are not regular skylights.  The raised domes capture and diffuse natural daylight throughout the buildings with superior illumination efficiency and energy efficiency. There were 46 fixtures installed and are projected to save over 19,000 kWh per year resulting in an annual savings of $1,300.

While there are challenges in the production, distribution, treatment and reclamation of our water and reuse of its byproducts, our Department remains focused on providing modern and reliable facilities that emphasize financial stewardship and environmental sustainability for our customers.

Each year, the City of Meridian prepares and implements an annual budget, accounting for how it will use its financial resources to best provide for the needs of Meridian’s citizens. As part of this collaborative process, I recently joined the City Council, Finance Department, and department heads in a two-day thorough and systematic review of the proposed 2013 budget. This was a critical step for the city departments as they outlined their needs in the coming year in order to continue to provide the residents of Meridian with the services they have grown to expect.

More than just a bundle of spreadsheets, the City’s budget serves many vital purposes. It is a policy document, an operations guide, a financial plan, and a communication device.  And because we value transparency in all that we do, we also use the budget to inform and educate you – our most important stakeholders – about the City’s structure, achievements, challenges, and direction.

Fortunately, Meridian is faring remarkably well during a tough economy. That remains true today because of the fiscally conservative, disciplined spending philosophy of “living within our means” that has served us well in the past and will carry us into the future. Through this process the last few years we have been and remain realistic about what we can afford, focusing funding on our core priorities, and saving for tomorrow’s needs.

The 2013 budget will keep the city on the right financial track.  We will continue to connect our community with pathways providing the public with needed alternatives to move from point a to point b.  Work will persist at Settlers Park as we take steps, although smaller than originally anticipated, to complete the vision for this amenity.  The public safety training facility that has been saved for over the last several years will begin to move forward.    

In addition, we will see many projects to maintain and improve our water and sewer systems.  This will include a new ground reservoir, a water main replacement on Meridian Road, numerous well treatment and expansion projects, and several sewer line replacement and extensions.

These enhancements are not being presented in a vacuum.  Rather projects like these make up the City’s CIP or Capital Improvement Plan, which lays out our vision for enhancements over the next five and ten years.  It provides guidance and clarity to the departments and City Council about where they are headed so that these projects are known in advance before they are presented which keeps everyone focused and on track.

We have put into place the same cautious, conservative approach for the 2013 budget that has served us well for many years as a community – growing where we need to and holding the line or reducing where we don’t.  Now, as we focus on meeting the long-term priorities of our citizens with the resources that we have, it is important we are not delaying or passing on budget issues for future City Councils as doing so would only make issues worse in the future.  

Additionally, as a City we have certain unknown issues in the future which we may be required to fund or would impact our funding in the future.  These items include providing a court in Meridian, paying dispatch fees to Ada County, and potential revenue reduction based upon anticipated legislation in 2013 concerning personal property tax. 

For all these reasons we have asked City Council to provide a budget which includes a 3% property tax increase to the City’s base budget.  To not do so would be doing a disservice to each person who lives in our community.  We need to put Meridian first in our budget process to ensure the city is reflective of the values of the Meridian citizens and we have sound decisions in how we are governing.

An important part of keeping transparency in this process is citizen participation. I encourage your involvement in this year’s public hearings on the budget. You can access and review the City’s proposed 2013 budget online at www.meridiancity.org. You are also welcome to comment on it either in writing through our City Clerk’s Office and in person at our public budget hearing scheduled for August 21, 2012 at 6:00 pm at City Hall.    

Through our actions, I believe our community will remain strong and financially secure as we continue fighting crime, improving neighborhoods, growing our economy,  planning for the future, and streamlining the way we do business. 

On July 6^th I had the opportunity to participate in the ground breaking for the newest building at Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village. Located off of Franklin Road, this senior living facility has been a great addition to Meridian and an important part of our community’s development over the last several years.

Not only has Touchmark been an employer and catalyst for construction through their various stages, but they have created a vibrant community full of active seniors who participate in and volunteer their time here in Meridian. Touchmark holds dozens of events and activities that are open and available to the public including National “Morning” Out, a Model Building Club, the Art Gala, and the recent Classic Car Show which had over 200 attendees from the community.

Touchmark is a great amenity for the community groups and events.  I’ve hosted Coffee with the Mayor in their grand lodge and other city departments have done outreach efforts in this facility.   It is also a gathering place for groups such as the Noon Rotarians and about a dozen other organizations who hold lunch and other regular meetings there throughout the year.

To continue with their involvement in community, Touchmark will soon be hosting the BBQ Celebration and Packet Pickup for the 24^th Annual Idaho Senior Games, which runs July 28 – September 22.  On August 10, 2012 - 5-7:00 pm the Idaho Senior Game participants can pick up their registration packet, mingle with other athletes, and visit sponsor tables.  

Modeled after the Olympics (which incidentally is also coming up), the Idaho Senior Games is an extension of our dynamic culture of health and fitness, as well as the community’s great appreciation for our active senior community.

The games, according to their motto, are “designed to encourage health and fitness of men and women age 50 and over on all levels of fitness.”  In Meridian we are no strangers to having an active lifestyle. In fact, our quality of life has been repeatedly recognized by national publications such as Family Circle, CNN/Money, and America’s Promise, due in large part to how active our citizens are.

I wish all of the competitors the best of luck and I hope to see many of you cheering on our local senior athletes as they compete throughout our community!  It is because of events like these, and places such as Touchmark at Meadow Lake Village, that I am reminded why I love to live in Meridian!

By this time, nearly everyone knows about the Meridian Split Corridor Phase 2 (MSC2) project, scheduled for construction this fall. But did you know that right before the MSC2 project, this summer, ACHD is going to do some pretty major work on Main Street between Fairview Avenue and Ada Street downtown?

During construction of the MSC2 project, which is anticipated to begin in October 2012, Meridian Road will be closed to traffic between the railroad tracks and the Meridian/Cherry intersection. In preparation for Main Street handling addition traffic while Meridian Road is closed for construction to 5-lanes, ACHD will re-build Main Street.

The Main Street pavement and sub-base are failing and must be upgraded with a new road bed and asphalt. This maintenance project will remove the current road surface and replace it to improve quality and longevity. Due to the volume of traffic Main Street carries during daytime hours between Franklin and Fairview, combined with the numerous businesses along this stretch of road, this maintenance project will be constructed during nighttime hours, generally between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Working at night will minimize traffic restrictions for daytime motorists and business accesses when the area is busiest. Working at night sometimes creates negative impacts to nearby residents with construction noise and lighting—the contractor will try to minimize these impacts. It is likely that work on the pedestrian ramps in the area will occur during daytime hours. Construction of the Main Street pavement rehabilitation project is anticipated to begin in mid-July 2012 and last for approximately eight weeks.

Throughout roadway construction, I encourage you to continue to come downtown to shop, eat, and do business. Businesses all over downtown will be still be open during roadway construction and they need us to support them with not only our business, but also with words of encouragement. These downtown businesses will be greatly impacted. However, the short--term headaches and sacrifices they are making will benefit us all in the long run.   

This summer, Linder Road will be getting some much needed improvements between Pine Avenue and Cherry Lane. The City of Meridian will be installing new street lighting along the west side of the roadway to make the walk to school safer for area children. Lighting along Linder Road is currently spotty at best making it difficult for children bound for Meridian High School to see and to be seen by motorists. The walk to school for many attending Meridian High begins around 7 AM, well before the sun has even risen during the fall and winter. Add to the large number of pedestrians early morning commute traffic, school buses, and garbage trucks and you have a very busy section of roadway.

This street lighting project was approved by the City Council last year and was timed to compliment the Ada County Highway District’s widening of the Pine/Linder intersection. Construction of the street lighting project and the widening of the Pine/Linder intersection project are expected to be complete prior to the start of school in the late summer. This will also provide for better handling of detour traffic expected once Meridian Road construction begins in October. It should also be noted that a new pedestrian activated signal is being installed just north of Pine, where the entrance to Meridian High School and West State Street meet Linder Road. This will make crossing the newly widened Linder Road much easier and safer for Meridian High students.

Looking into the future, additional street lighting is in the planning stages for other sections of North Linder Road that see heavy pedestrian traffic. These include the area in front of Rocky Mountain High School and the section of Linder between McMillan and Cherry for Sawtooth and Meridian Middle School students. If you know of a street that you think could benefit from additional street lighting, contact the Public Works Department at 898-5500– we want to hear from you!

Q: What do I need to do in order to close the street for my temporary use?

A: If you wish to close a street or sidewalk, affect traffic flow, or create a greater-than-usual demand on City services, you will want to obtain a Citizen’s Use Permit.  This permit assists the highway district and the Police and Fire Departments a chance to review your plans to ensure the safety of our public.

Q: I am planning a big family reunion in my backyard.  Do I need a permit?

A: A private party on land that is not open to the general public generally does not require a Temporary Use Permit.  But if the use will affect traffic flow or require the provision of City services over and above that which is normally provided, you will want to obtain a Citizen’s Use Permit.

Q: My event will occur entirely in a park.  Do I still need a Temporary Use Permit, or can I just get approval from the Parks & Recreation Department?

A: Our City Code says that all persons wishing to have a temporary use, even in a park, need to obtain a general Temporary Use Permit (TUP) from the Clerk’s Office.  The Clerk’s Office will route your TUP application to the Parks & Recreation Department for review and approval – but please note that this process may not ensure availability of a park shelter or facility.  To reserve a shelter or facility for your event, please call the Parks & Recreation Department at (208) 888-3579.

The City Clerk’s office is continually looking for ways that we can improve and streamline our application process.  If you are considering holding a special event or having a temporary sales unit, please call our offices at 888-4433 and we will be happy to help you through the application process.

The event, planned and implemented by the Meridian Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC), was the culmination of the group’s year-long efforts to help the City establish and pursue an agenda for youth and to participate in events and initiatives designed to enhance the youth experience in our community.

This year’s MYAC was one of the largest and most dedicated groups ever; engaging approximately 60 members representing eight area high schools.

Last week, the group’s outgoing and newly elected chair’s stood before the Meridian City Council and presented a summary of MYAC’s achievements from the past nine-month school year. It has been an incredible year of involvement and accomplishments!

Among the MYAC’s most ambitious and successful projects was the follow-up work they did to advocate for a state-wide texting ban.  They took their concerns and voices all the way to the statehouse, addressing legislative committees and raising awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and were successful in helping to persuade action by the Idaho State Legislature and Governor.

In keeping with their interest in government affairs, MYAC also held a legislative breakfast for Meridian-area legislators and hosted mayoral/city council and legislative candidate forums in an effort to help citizens make informed choices at the polls.

This group’s energy was boundless outside the governmental realm as well. Whether performing yard maintenance and landscaping tasks as part of Rake Up Meridian or educating residents about the importance and ease of recycling by handing our reusable shopping bags outside local grocery stores, they planned and implemented their projects with enthusiasm and confidence.

MYAC delighted the audience at its second annual Ignite Meridian speaking and idea competition, and entertained other local youth through monthly activities planned by its Teen Activities Committee. These diverse and creative activities included an ice skating party, a Halloween haunted house, and an evening of fun at Wahooz.

I am incredibly proud of the members of my Youth Advisory and appreciate the time and energy they put into their endeavors this year. Their tenacity, curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness to work together to address important issues and contribute to their community set a sterling example we’d all be wise to follow as we continue to work collaboratively on making our community the best it can possibly be.

Pathway connections epitomize the City’s emphasis on being a great place to ‘Live, Work, and Raise a Family.’  We endeavor to provide and maintain pathways throughout the City for citizens to pursue healthy lifestyles, recreate with their children, and for use as alternative transportation routes.  The City’s pathway network has come a long way since the original Pathways Master Plan was implemented in 2007.  The development community has generously provided numerous pathway connections through and between neighborhoods, subdivisions, and commercial areas. 

Because the master plan is still relatively new, many opportunities to provide pathway connections in partnership with the development community were missed in older sections of town.  The City is committed to identifying potential pathway connections to downtown.  This involves working with property owners, irrigation districts, ACHD, and businesses; and ultimately, building new pathways, sidewalks, and bike lanes.  Currently, a new pathway project is underway on Pine Avenue as part of the Five Mile Creek Pathway project.  This is one of several concerted efforts to provide pedestrian and bicycle links to and from established neighborhoods, parks, and businesses.

The Fivemile Creek Pathway project will provide a ten-foot-wide pathway from the point where the creek crosses under Pine Avenue, heading west approximately 900 feet along Pine Street, turning north, and following the Five Mile Creek to Badley Avenue.  Efforts are ongoing to identify a route between Badley and Fairview and to secure pathway easements from willing property owners.  The project is being funded by a Community Development Block Grant.  The construction project kicked off in early March and is progressing well, in spite of the uncertainty of spring weather.  It is anticipated that the project will be completed and open to the public by the end of June. 

We are all thankful for the willingness of our neighbors in the Danbury Fair and Sterling Creek subdivisions, private property owners John and Shannon Uriona, and BW Meridian, Inc. for working with the City to get this pathway to construction.  In addition, we look forward to seeing many of you on the pathway in coming weeks!

Click here for more information about Meridian’s pathways, parks, and bikeways.  

Most of us know that art is important for our children – an opportunity to explore and express themselves – we witness it in our children or through others. But beyond what we feel and believe, there is also much factual information about why art is important in young peoples’ lives.

Creating art expands a youngster's ability to interact with the world around them, and provides them with a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Not only does art help to develop the right side of the brain, it also cultivates important skills that benefit a child's overall physical and emotional development.

But art goes far beyond the tangible statistics measured by studies -- it can become a pivotal mode of uninhibited self-expression and amazement for a child. You might say that art matters the same way language matters. It is a fundamental component of what makes us uniquely human.

Here at the City, we encourage young artists in a variety of ways.

From now until the end of May, Initial Point Gallery, located on the third floor of Meridian City Hall, will be filled with student art. This month-long exhibit, which includes more than 60 works of art by 40 local school students of all ages, was coordinated by Rocky Mountain High School student Megan Murphy, who is the youth representative member of the Meridian Arts Commission. I hope you’ll take time to come and view the art. It’s colorful, thought-provoking, and as diverse as the creative youngsters who created it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised and delighted as I always am, by the high level of talent on display. The gallery is free and open to the public on weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the exception of major holidays.   

Throughout the year, our Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of youth art classes at the Meridian Community Center. This summer, local artist Brian Schreiner will instruct a series of themed multi-media art camps for a variety of age groups. Details are available in the Spring/Summer 2012 Activity Guide which you can access from the City of Meridian website.

The Meridian Arts Commission has successfully launched an Artist in Residence program. The program brings professional artists into schools to provide students with an opportunity to make art that would generally be too complex to create in an ordinary classroom setting or without the expertise, instruction, and supplies of a professional artist. This year, students at River Valley Elementary and the Christine Donnell School participated in art projects made possible through this program. 

A growing collection of art created by students from Joint School District No. 2 decorates the walls of the Mayor’s Office at City Hall. These winning pieces from the school district’s annual student art competitions include a pencil sketch, a water color, photograph, and oil and acrylic paintings – showcasing the incredible artistic talent being nurtured within our schools.

As youth art continues to play a growing role in our community, I hope you’ll come to see that art education develops self-esteem, appreciation of the work of others, self-expression, cooperation with others, and critical thinking – all skills vital to the success of our future leaders, our children.

This project represents one of the most fabulous commercial projects ever developed in Idaho – right here in our city! When finished, the lifestyle center will consist of more than 1,032,215 square feet of retail, entertainment, restaurant and office uses with apartments overlooking Kleiner Park.

You’ve probably heard a lot of rumors about which businesses are coming. So far, Big Al’s Bowling & Sports Bar, Marshall’s, Gordmans, Petco, Tilly’s, Nike, Gap, and Chick-fil-A have been approved for development and are in the construction process. Seven (7) other multi-tenant buildings have also been approved that are proposed to house retail, restaurant, and office uses. 

Gordmans and Big Al’s are slated to commence the openings in early August with the others quickly following. The grand opening of Kleiner Memorial Park is planned for June 9^th.

A movie theatre is proposed within the area known as the Village at the southeast end of the center along with a large central plaza area. The plaza will offer folks a beautifully landscaped area to rest on benches under mature shade trees in an Italian themed setting while watching dancing fountains choreographed to music & lights inspired by those at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

A seasonal outdoor ice skating rink, two glass & Tuscan column pavilions housing fast food establishments overlooking the plaza, restaurants with doors that open onto the plaza during warm weather, Neri style kiosks, bronze statues, and a children’s play area are also planned.  Gas lamps will illuminate the plaza and provide an old world style ambiance after dark. During the Christmas season, there will be a Santa house & decorated Christmas tree.  Perhaps most importantly, along with the various shopping, eating, living, and entertainment opportunities this development will offer, a multitude of much needed jobs will also be created.

The long narrow raised stone waterway, intended to pay homage to Meridian’s early canal system, fell victim to substandard materials and improper construction.  This feature, an issue of our lawsuit, has not been functioning properly since its installation in 2008.  Because of these issues, the waterway had been losing large amounts of water underground, the bricks were crumbling as they failed to meet the specified standards necessary to handle the constant force of the falling water, and the capstones were literally falling off.

After the careful consideration of the repair options available and the proposed costs, the City Council sadly decided it would be most prudent and fiscally-responsible to remove the water feature altogether. While we would have preferred a different resolution, we value accountability, as you do, and will continue to try to hold the parties responsible for the water feature’s failed design and operation.

While the loss of this water feature is unfortunate, we’re confident that City Hall’s outdoor plaza will continue to be an inviting and welcoming asset to our community and a dynamic venue for future gatherings and events for generations to come. The area where the failed water feature once stood will soon be sodded and landscaped, creating an additional grassy area where visitors to the outdoor plaza can sit to enjoy the outdoors or to take in special events, such as the summertime Concerts on Broadway performances which will begin in June.

The City Hall Plaza’s remaining water features – the two large pools near the building’s main entrance and the stream and waterfall on the south side of the plaza – will remain intact.  The stream and waterfall are also experiencing some of the same issues involving leaking and may or may not be able to function as envisioned. We will continue to evaluate our options and hope to make the most of this unique outdoor space for the public to enjoy.

I hope you respect the decision City leaders have made on your behalf regarding the removal of the water feature. We truly believe decisions have been in the community’s best interest and we will continue to put Meridian first when faced with tough calls such as this in the future.

As the primary election approaches, I encourage you to become an informed voter.  While the choice is not always easy, the person that wins can have a significant impact on you and our community if they are in it for the right reasons - to represent 'we the people' not a personal agenda. You can take the following steps to make sure your vote counts:

1.         Take time to learn about and understand the basics of how government and our elected bodies work;
2.         Find out who represents you;
3.         Determine which issues matter the most to you;
4.         Find out the candidates’ positions on the issues that matter most to you; and,
5.         Vote your values!

If you’re uncertain which legislative district you’re in or have other questions regarding the upcoming election, a good source of information can be found online at www.idahovotes.gov.

When you go to the polls to exercise your privilege to vote, remember the people you select and support will make a very real and practical difference in the lives of real men, women, and children in our community and beyond.

Transportation is an important issue for everyone, but especially for our community’s seniors looking for alternative ways to get around our city rather than drive themselves. As part of these town hall meetings, we discussed options on how our growing senior population in Meridian might find safe, affordable, reliable transportation in order to access personal services and travel in and around our community without driving themselves.

The challenge is to find how best to leverage scarce funding sources to serve the needs of our community’s seniors.  Due to budget limitations, Ada County outside of Boise has limited bus service. While it is anticipated that more bus routes will offer enhanced service beyond the commuter service offered today, is not anticipated in the immediate future.

For now, seniors and other non-drivers must continue to seek alternatives in order to get to doctor’s appointments, social activities, grocery shopping, and other outings that enrich daily life. To aid their efforts, VRT hopes to better “manage mobility” to a greater extent by coordinating the current available options and helping to leverage resources.

According to VRT, there are some transportation options currently being considered or recently rolled out in neighboring communities.  This includes a Volunteer Driver Program which reimburses volunteer drivers for driving seniors to and from errands, and Travel Training and Ambassador Programs which educate and mentor seniors on various transportation alternatives and how to use them. VRT hopes a Dial-a-Ride type program is also a future possibility, as is some type of vehicle sharing system which would create a pool of vehicles which could be accessed by groups at various days and times as needed.

Some might be surprised to find that we have a few private businesses and non-profits who currently provide transportation options for seniors.  The Black & White Taxi has a policy to transport Meridian seniors anywhere they wish to go in Meridian for a flat rate, and seniors receive a discounted rate for rides to and from the Boise airport.  Friends in Action is a non-profit organization that offers door-to-door transportation services for Treasure Valley seniors through a volunteer network.

Currently the Meridian Senior Center’s transportation system brings eligible seniors to and from the center each weekday for lunch and to the Ten Mile Albertsons for a weekly grocery trip. Despite the increase in costs, the Senior Center’s current transportation services will continue unchanged until after the center is well settled into its new location in Julius M. Kleiner Park as well as results of a transportation survey administered by VRT expected later this summer.  At that time decisions will be made about the best way to provide transportation service to our seniors.

There is no doubt that senior transportation is an important issue in our community.  We will continue our discussion to explore options to expand, coordinate, and fund transportation services for the senior population.

Poop Scoot Fun Run/Walk Saturday, May 19, 2012

Runners, walkers and everyone in between are invited to join us for the Meridian Public Works Department s 4^th Annual Poop Scoot Fun Run/Walk.  The race begins at 8:30 AM on Saturday May 19^th starting at the 8^th Street Park in Meridian.  This year s race features both a 3K and 5K route.  Participants will attempt to beat a tennis ball traveling through the collection lines as the course follows a path from the City s Water Department to the Meridian Wastewater Facility.  After the race, racers can learn interesting facts about wastewater treatment with a free facility tour. 

Registration

The entry fee for the race is an item(s) of non-perishable food.  New this year are Poop Scoot t-shirts available for $10 (please specify size when registering).  All donations and proceeds will benefit the Meridian Food Bank!  This is a fun, educational, and family friendly event.  Email lball@meridiancity.org for a registration form (participants must register by May 1^st for t-shirts).  Please arrive at 8:00 AM to register the day of the race.

Expo

On Thursday May 24, 2012, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the City of Meridian will be hosting the 2012 American Public Works Association, National Public Works Week Expo at Meridian City Hall.  This event will showcase the many facets of the Meridian Public Works Department with static displays, interactive and informative booths.  The Expo will have fun and educational activities for children, as well as adults, with prize giveaways and free food and refreshments for the public.

There will also be equipment demonstrations from the City of Meridian Water and Sewer Departments, Republic Waste (formerly SSC), Ada County Highway District and Western States Caterpillar.  New this year is a Mini Excavator Rodeo put on by Western States Caterpillar that will challenge local contractors to demonstrate their operating skills for a shot at the Best Operator in the Valley trophy and bragging rights.

Canned donations will be accepted with all proceeds and donations benefitting the Meridian Food Bank.  This is a free event open to all citizens of Meridian.  For more information or questions, please call the City of Meridian Public Works Department at 898-5500.

Although located on school property, the playground would also be open to children of all abilities from the nearby Meridian Boys & Girls Club and from the community in general.  This would be a great asset to have for those that live in and visit our downtown.

Designed and maintained with access as a key priority, the playground will feature a series of ramps and structures that allow for children and parents in wheelchairs or with limited mobility to move throughout the area. Plans also include a soft-surface play area and attractions that will provide visual, audio and tactile stimulation and interaction.

This group first approached the City in 2011and applied for money for this playground through the Community Development Block Grant process.  They were successful in receiving partial funding for this project in the amount of $75,000.  This is for the purchase of the playground equipment that will be installed as part of the overall project, but the community will need to come together in support of this playground for it to move forward.

The Meridian Playground project needs to raise $100,000 to fund the remainder of this project.  To help accomplish this goal, they have launched a Buy-a-Brick program.  For a donation of $25 each, individuals and organizations can purchase engraved bricks that will be incorporated into the walkways of the playground. In all, the group hopes to sell as many as 1,700 bricks.

Organizers hope to begin construction this June, once school lets out for summer. If all goes according to plan, Phase I of the project would be completed within the year. To make this happen we need to come together as a community.

To learn more about this playground project and opportunities to contribute or volunteer, you can visit the website www.meridianplaygroundproject.com. There you can view an illustration of the playground, learn how to purchase a brick, or contact project administrators to discuss corporate or in-kind contributions.

In light of the enormous popularity of Adventure Island Playground – Meridian’s award winning accessible playground located in Settlers Park, another playground with enhanced accessibility would do much for our community as we strive to provide a wealth of play opportunities for children and families of all abilities.   I know the organizers look forward to your support and I hope to see your name on a brick at the grand opening of this new community amenity.

By Pam Orr

The Meridian Fire Department was honored to be chosen to receive a Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to provide smoke alarms to Meridian homes.  The department has named their program project S.A.F.E. for Smoke Alarms For Everyone.

Smoke Alarms are important life saving devices should a home fire occur. According to the National Fire Protection Association roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.  About one in five smoke alarm failures are due to dead batteries. Additionally, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.  Along with the smoke alarm program, the department has also received funding to supply devices to assist the hearing impaired/deaf community in Meridian.

In order to successfully complete this grant program, the department is looking for households to participate.  If you live in a home located within the Meridian Fire District where smoke alarms are nonexistent, not functional, or outdated, they will be replaced with new alarms at no cost, (while supplies last) meeting the standard of one alarm on every floor of the home, in each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas.  Additionally, if you or a family member cannot hear your smoke alarms due to a hearing impairment the department wants to assist you as well.  The department is estimating they will be able to supply alarms or hearing impaired devices to just over 1,000 homes between the beginning of May and the end of June.    

For more information contact Pam Orr via email at porr@meridiancity.org or call 884-0597.  To view a video on testing a smoke alarm go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPGr7oiVQ6Y

Meridian is also blessed to have diverse faith communities that are active and dedicated to serving others; helping people no matter their religious affiliation. Our faith community provides needed and valued services to our community.  Some churches, like Ten Mile Christian Church, offer treatment programs for individuals seeking recovery from substance abuse through groups such as “Celebrate Recovery.” Others, like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, host emergency preparedness fairs that teach local families how to be prepared and aware should a disaster strike. And Valley Shepherd Nazarene, Holy Trinity and others work diligently with the Meridian Food Bank to provide for those in our community who need additional assistance to make ends meet.

The one thing that all of our faith institutions have in common with these things they do is they are putting Meridian.  They share the values and principles that make us unique, are solution oriented to meet those needs, and are part of our vision to be a vibrant community. 

While each faith community may have activities they do individually, on Thursday, April 12^th, at 6:45 am, at the School District Service Center, many of them will come together as the Meridian Ministerial Fellowship will host the 43^rd Annual Meridian Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.  This is a a non-denominational community gathering which everyone is welcome to attend.

This uplifting morning celebration will feature words of prayer and encouragement by church, business, and community leaders; a hot breakfast catered by Meridian’s JB’s restaurant; live music by Mountain View High School’s Premier Jazz Ensemble; and a special address by featured speaker Joseph Lowe. Joey, a young local retired Marine who will share his captivating story and challenge us to stay positive while overcoming life’s challenges.

Tickets for the Prayer Breakfast are $15 and can be purchased at the Meridian Chamber of Commerce Office, at Ten Mile Christian Church, or by call Deborah Martin at 888-3101.

 I hope you’ll take this opportunity to show thanks and support for Meridian’s churches and faith organizations that bless our community by helping us lead spiritually fulfilling lives and to serve the needs of others. 

You see, growing up in Moscow, Rosauers was where my family did the bulk of its grocery shopping.  It was a Sunday tradition – a trip to the store after church; or riding our bikes there just to treat ourselves. They were the place to go for choice of products, quality and cleanliness, and where you felt like you were someone – they knew your name.  Looks like those things have not changed.

Beyond conjuring up fond memories for me and many others, the new Rosauers is a marvelous addition to our community for another incredibly vital reason – the positive economic impact it in our community long before opening their doors and beyond.

The 60,000 square foot store was built by ESI Construction of Meridian, with the support of numerous local subcontractors. Its shelves are stocked with more than 75,000 products, many of which are produced locally and regionally. Upon opening, the store created 130 new jobs in our community, 80% of which are sustainable, full-time positions with excellent wages. These are all important economic drivers which bode well for our area’s economic future.

Another highlight of the past week was Thursday evening’s charitable dinner-auction planned and hosted by the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) to benefit the Meridian Valley Humane Society.

This MYAC event is held annually to benefit a local nonprofit organization. Past recipients have included the Meridian Senior Center, the Meridian Food Bank, and the Idaho Meth Project, as well as Habitat for Humanity. Over the past few years this event has raised an astounding $20,000 dollars for these worthy organizations.

The Meridian Valley Humane Society, which operates the animal shelter in Meridian, was selected as the beneficiary of this year’s dinner-auction proceeds. Our youth were impressed by this group that feeds, walks, and cares for the lost and stray dogs in Meridian.  Many in our community don’t know that the shelter is operated by an all-volunteers staff who donate more than 14,000 service hours annually -- the equivalent of seven full time staff positions. 

Having this type of volunteer-run facility in Meridian saves tax dollars and provides a local place for lost or displaced dogs to go, rather than being sent to a neighboring city. This saves our pet owners time and money when searching for a lost dog or looking for new four-legged member of the family.

The animal shelter always welcomes additional help. If you want to learn more about volunteering at the Meridian Valley Humane Society or the many other ways you can help support its mission, go online to www.meridianvalleyhumanesociety.com or stop in for a visit at 3401 N. Ten Mile Road, close to the City’s waste water treatment plant.

These proposed changes are intended to improve and refine the processes and standards that are already established.  Some of the changes that are being proposed include:

• Lengthening the maximum number of days for temporary sales units that stay on site for the full duration of use from 60 to 90 days
• Ensuring that outdoor markets have the permission of the owner of the property to put up temporary signage
• All temporary signs be removed within 24 hours of close of the outdoor market
• Temporary construction sites will not be able to store construction materials or equipment in or upon a public right-of-way unless permitted by the right-of-way agency
• Discarded materials, rubbish and garbage generated at a temporary construction site will have to be enclosed in a container meeting Meridian City Code requirements

The City Clerk’s office is continually looking for ways that we can improve and streamline our application process. If you are considering holding a special event or having a temporary sales unit, please call our offices at 888-4433 and we will be happy to help you through the application process.

By Mike Barton, Parks Superintendent

The Parks and Recreation Department's mission statement is to enhance the community s quality of life by providing well designed and properly maintained parks and recreational opportunities for all citizens. The Parks Maintenance Division is directly responsible for the overall appearance and safety of the parks that so many of you enjoy. With spring approaching, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of our maintenance programs as follows:

• Turf Management--Sprinkler irrigation is the single most important aspect of a turf management program.  We utilize state-of-the-art technology to operate our irrigation systems. Maxicom irrigation compiles weather data that is fed from our weather station to the computer and then out to each park to automatically determine the amount of water needed to replenish the soil each evening. The system is set up with data from each sprinkler zone, including soil type, precipitation rate, and crop coefficient. These values together with weather data give us an evapotranspiration rate. For example: If our evapotranspiration rate for that day is .25, the system will automatically replenish ¼ of an inch of water allowing us to use our resources wisely.   

• Infrastructure--The infrastructure in our parks includes parking lots, pathways, playgrounds, restroom facilities, lighting, and picnic shelters. One of the most important components to our infrastructure is our playgrounds. They provide great recreational benefits to park users but can be the most dangerous component if not properly maintained. We have two certified playground safety inspectors on staff who follow safety guidelines set forth by the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) and the National Playground Safety Institute. Each playground is inspected monthly for worn parts, cracks, and other wear that could cause a safety hazard. If a hazard is noted, it is promptly repaired to new condition. 

• Janitorial--The cleanliness of our parks promotes a feeling of well being to all users. With fourteen restrooms, twelve picnic shelters, and countless litter receptacles, janitorial services is a full-time job that occurs seven days a week. Our service schedule is designed to clean, prep, and empty litter receptacles in our regional and community parks daily and in our neighborhood parks five days per week. During special events, festivals, or large reservations, we have staff onsite throughout the entire gathering to ensure that park users have an enjoyable experience. 

Our maintenance staff takes great pride in quality service and takes ownership in our assigned areas. We constantly strive to improve our service; that is why we solicit input from our users. If there s ever a suggestion that can help us improve our service and your experience in one of our parks, please contact me, at mbarton@meridiancity.org.          

On Tuesday, March 13, voters will be asked to go to the polls to support a tax levy to benefit our kids in Meridian, Eagle, west and southwest Boise, and Ada County. I will be voting in favor of this levy and urge your support as well. 

 

I don’t like paying taxes any more than the next person, but I will always support providing our children with the best education possible. Why? Because investing in our children’s education promotes prosperity for us all.

 

Our business community does much to support public education. They realize that to be competitive in business and economically we must prepare our future workforce. They understand that education is an investment, and that in order for America to compete successfully in the global economy, investing in education is vital. Businesses that come to the area, looking to bring their company and jobs often ask about the community’s commitment to educating our children and if it’s solid. It is for reasons like this that our Chamber of Commerce has also chosen to support this levy.

 

Over the last three years, Joint School District No. 2 has decreased its expenditures by $40 million, which is a 20% decrease. They rank 113^th out of 115 school districts statewide on cost per student (only two districts in the state pay less than our patrons!) and rank 112^th in administrative costs. Boise School District receives $7,557 per student, our District gets $4,759.

 

While they have already made many changes in response to budgetary belt tightening, there appears to be little or nothing more they can do without huge impacts to our students. Our kids are already missing nine school days a year – almost two full weeks of class time!  How will this impact our student’s preparation for college; our future workforce; our ability as a region, state, and nation to compete globally? It is incumbent upon us to step up and assure our kids have what they need to succeed.

 

So what is being asked of us?

 

Successfully passing the two-year levy will restore the nine school days that have been cut from the school calendar for two years. The levy would also allow the school district maintain its current staffing level and avoid further personnel cuts.

 

The levy also replaces one-time revenue in the district’s current budget no longer available after this school year.  Essentially, if this levy fails the district will have to cut an additional $5.5 million from its 2012-13 budget and an additional $7.1 million from its 2013-14 budget through a combination of eliminated school days, salary and benefit cuts, and staff reductions.

 

All children deserve a quality education. We, as a society, must be willing to invest in that goal as we all are affected by it. My youngest will graduate this spring, so although I won’t have children of my own in school - my grandchildren are enrolled in Meridian schools, as are the children of my neighbors -  these are our future car technicians, nurse practitioners, or doctors who will be providing our services. They must have the education needed to take care of our needs. In education, as in life, you get what you pay for. The choice is ours.

 

The District has made many changes administratively in response to the public's concerns. It is now incumbent upon us to step up and assure the best for our kids and the teachers that inspire them.

 

You can find additional information regarding the levy at: www.meridianschools.org. You can also find out where you vote by visiting: www.idahovotes.gov/YourPollingPlace.  Let’s work together and stand up for our children.

 

FROM FY2011 AUDIT REPORT ENTIRE AUDIT IS AVAILABLE ON CITY WEBSITE UNDER FINANCE DEPARTMENT  

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CITY S FUNDS

Governmental Funds

Governmental Funds provide information about near-term inflows, outflows and balances of resources that are available for spending.  At the end of a fiscal year the unreserved fund balance serves as a useful measure of a government s net resources.  Types of governmental funds reported by the City include the General Fund, the Capital Projects Fund, the Impact Fee Fund, and the Public Safety Fund.  

At the end of the current year, the City s governmental funds had a combined ending fund balance of $27.2 million which is an increase of $971,669.

As discussed in the Notes to the Financial Statements the City implemented GASB Statement No. 54, Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.  The GASB statement changes the fund balance classifications so they can be more consistently applied.  Of the combined ending fund balance of $27.2 million $119,984 was non spendable, $3.1  million was restricted by law, $6.5 million assigned by the intent of the City to specific purposes, and $17.4 million was unassigned and available for spending by the City within the purposes specified for the City s funds.

City of Meridian, Idaho

Management s Discussion and Analysis

The General Fund is the primary operating fund of the City, used for major operations including public safety, planning and development, parks, and administration.  At the end of the fiscal year, the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund was $17,408,645 down from the previous year balance of $17,779,306.  The City maintains a general fund balance reserve equivalent to four months of on-going personnel and operating expense.  The amount of reserve is calculated using the upcoming budget year i.e. the FY2012 budget is used to calculate the balance at the end of FY2011.  For fiscal year end this amount is $8.5 million.

The restricted impact fee fund can only be spent on police, fire and parks capital projects that sustain the level of service existing when the fees were adopted per Idaho statute.  Little was spent from the fund in FY2011, the fund balance increased from $1,964,241 at the end of fiscal year 2010 to $3,077,450 at the end of fiscal year 2011.

The Development Services Fund is used to account for Building and Planning Department Operations.  The fund is combined with the Capital Projects Fund to create the fund balance, Reserved for Capital Improvements.  During FY2011 the City transferred $600,722 from the Development Services Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. 

Assigned for Public Safety Purchases is a fund used to save for public safety construction or large capital purchases.  At the end of FY2011 the balance is $2 million, essentially unchanged, except for a small amount of interest, since the end of FY2010.

General Fund Budgetary Highlights

Total actual general fund revenue exceeded the final budget amount by 2% which is a little over $500,000.  By and large the additional revenues were due to greater than budgeted property tax collections. For the year ended FY2011 61% of the general fund revenue was from property taxes.  Intergovernmental is the next highest percentage of revenue, this category includes grants, sales tax revenue sharing, and a joint powers agreement with the Meridian Rural Fire District.  The amount received for grant revenue varies from year to year, this year it was just over $700,000.  For the last three years sales tax revenue sharing and Meridian Rural Fire District reimbursements have been consistent at about $3.5 million and $1.5 million respectively.  The original revenue budget was amended upward during the fiscal year to reflect about $765,000 in additional revenue from grants, donations, licenses and permits.

Planning for our community takes time and energy.  Not just from our staff, but from our residents, businesses, land owners, and stakeholders who together make up our community to ensure the standards we want and desire are set for our future.  Back in 2006 the City set out to plan for Meridian south of the interstate.  While those who participated in the process were able to agree on what part of the community should look like, there was a section that didn t have consensus so no decisions were made about the future of this property.

Last week, more than five years since this project originally began, we once again started the process of setting the vision for south Meridian located south of the interstate and west of Linder Road.  These nine square miles - in city s area of impact - were the focus of a planning session held at Mary McPherson Elementary last Wednesday night.  I d like to thank those who came out and participated in this exercise which is the first step in the long-range planning for the area.  Sitting side-by-side, the participants worked together to develop their plan for south Meridian, setting aside their needs or desires and putting Meridian first.  The next step now will be a joint meeting between the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.  This meeting will take place on April 3 at 5:30 pm at City Hall, during which common themes of the citizen designed maps will be presented and a summary of the first meeting shared.  If you have an interest in the area and the process, please visit www.meridianctiy.org/youarethemap. 

While long-range visioning is being done for south Meridian, we continue to work other areas as well, such as our downtown.  We received our quarterly update from Ashley Ford, the Administrator for the Meridian Development Corporation (MDC) last week at City Council. She shared information about the projects and activities in downtown such as parking to accommodate businesses for their employees and customers, and signage to have a cohesive look and feel to our downtown.

In case you didn t know, MDC has relocated the Groundfloor from its location on Idaho Street to the SW corner of Main and Broadway in the old Farmers and Merchants bank building.  This new location provides more opportunities for startup companies who need work space.  It will also provide a home location for the MDC administrator with office hours and an easy point of contact.  So, if you want to know more about MDC and what is planned for our downtown, stop in and sit down with Ashley.

As I mentioned in my State of the City speech, having places to go with family and friends is a priority.  Nowhere is this truer than in our downtown.  As I have said in the past, it must be a place to go to, not drive through.  The City is working with the MDC and downtown businesses to foster an environment that encourages investment; we have seen advancements over the last few years in spite of the economy with new businesses opening up such as Flatbread Community Oven, Preece Chocolates, The Grotto, and many more. 

We have also seen the construction of the new building for COMPASS and Valley Regional Transit keeping both of these organizations in Meridian and adding 20 jobs into our downtown.  We are currently working with developers and potential investors on two different opportunities that, if successful, will be catalyst projects for downtown and meet the Destination Downtown vision that has been established by the community.

As we continue to work on our future, both immediate and long-term, there will be plenty of opportunities.  I ask you to join us; stay informed, visit our website frequently, and get involved.  Working together, we are building a premiere community.

Last week at City Council we welcomed Bruce Chatterton as our City's first ever Director in our newly formed Community Development Department.  Bruce comes to us from the City of Boise where he has been the Director of Planning and Development Services since 2004, and was chosen after an exhaustive nationwide search that lasted more than 6 months.  We would not settle and wanted to find someone we knew would put Meridian first.  With more than 25 years of experience in the field in both Idaho and Florida, Bruce is well respected both locally and nationally and will be a great asset for our newly formed department.  Bruce will begin work on March 12^th; we are glad he is joining our team and we are excited for the new perspective and experience he will bring to our City. 

The Community Development Department is a combination of our Planning Department and our Building and Development Services Division, and can now be found on the first floor of City Hall in the space that our Development Services has occupied since 2008.  By combining these two workgroups we are creating a one stop shop and enhancing our business friendly climate. 

We are committed to our business community, as they provide jobs and economical stability in our community. A 2010 Boise Valley Economic Partnership survey showed Meridian City’s development processes ranked an 8.5 out of 10 - 10 being the best.  Now that is good, but we should always be our own toughest critic.  Ramping up our efforts in the Community Development Department is a major component to cultivating exceptional customer service.  Additionally, we have convened a work group, led by small business owner Jason Monks and a local developer Ron Van Auker Jr., to help us identify what we can do to move the needle towards the 'ten'.  They are focusing in two specific areas; business processes for commercial development and strategies and tools to boost our entrepreneurial climate.   This will ultimately feed into one of my five priorities over the next four years which is to attract and grow family wage jobs.

We have seen business growth and job creation in Meridian with 12,500 new jobs and over 1,000 businesses in my first two terms.  Our community gained 500 jobs just last year, even during the downturn.  It is important that the jobs created are 'family-wage' jobs which is the focus of another work group, led by Rick Ritter, who not only look at job creation, but also our role in the Governor's Project 60.  They are focusing on attracting suppliers for current manufacturers and employers, helping business’s bottom-line by having their suppliers close, and, at the same time, attracting new businesses and jobs.

This group will also look at our industry clusters known as our Business Enterprise Corridors in an effort to replicate the success seen in The CORE, our health sciences and technology district along Eagle Road. By bringing together complimentary type businesses in other areas of our city we look forward to rolling out plans for The Fields District and our Public Safety District.

As you can see we have a lot going on in Meridian.  With Bruce joining our team in our Community Development Department, citizen focus groups lending their expertise, and the many opportunities in our community for job creation in areas I have noted as well as the Ten Mile region and Downtown, we have exciting times on the horizon.  I look forward to sharing future successes with you soon.

Do you want to be involved in planning for the future of South Meridian?  Do you have a vision of where subdivisions, parks, schools and other land uses should be located? If so, I’d like to invite you to a February 22^nd community workshop at Mary McPherson Elementary School, 1050 E. Amity Road. During this workshop, participants will be asked to designate future land uses for property south of I-84, west of Linder, and north of Lake Hazel—about 9 square miles! Land use scenarios that are composed during the workshop will then be analyzed and reported back at a second workshop on April 3^rd at City Hall.

During the February workshop, participants will be asked to plan for the long-range future of the area, not just a few years out, by playing a land use board game called “You are the Map!” Participants will arrange square game pieces (representing 40-acre land uses) on a gridded map to help determine future land uses, development patterns and densities. Working in small groups and with the support of staff, participants will have the opportunity to put ideas to paper and tell the City what they’d like to see for South Meridian into the future. This planning and outreach process is designed for residents, property owners, businesses, developers, and other stakeholders to have a say in what the future for South Meridian entails.

The goal of this process is to create a map of future land uses for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan – the City’s “guide” for promoting and evaluating new development proposals. To ensure that in 50 years great spaces exist, that people have a variety of nice places to live and work, appropriate services are provided, and that South Meridian is an enviable and attractive destination to live, work and play we need your help. Please consider joining your neighbors on Wednesday, February 22^nd, 6:30 p.m. at Mary McPherson Elementary.

For additional information on this project, please contact Caleb Hood, chood@meridiancity.org or visit  the project website: www.meridiancity.org/youarethemap

The Treasure Valley is still reeling from the tragic loss of one of its most prominent business leaders just over a week ago. Despite his relatively young age, Steve Appleton made a lasting impression on nearly everyone he met and left behind a legacy of leadership, character, integrity, and generosity.

These traits were especially evident during an interaction I had with him back in March of 2007. It was during that year that the Meridian Mayor s & CEO s Kids Book Club was in its inaugural season. To put this story in context, let me first tell you about the book club and its purpose.

The Mayor & CEO s Kids Book Club, now in its 6^th season, is a City program for kids in grades 3rd through 5th.  This program provides the opportunity to spend quality time each month discussing a book with the sponsoring company's president or CEO and I. The purpose is to reinforce the importance and joy of reading and show them that it s true that readers are leaders and "leaders are readers.". 

I had seen a similar program offered elsewhere and modified it to reflect our community. The business sponsorship had to be more than writing a check, I felt it should include the investment of the 'leaders' time.  I hoped to instill the love of reading and opening my readers minds and hearts to books of all types. We also wanted to help kids to create their own library - I still have several of my childhood favorite books that hold a special place in my heart.

My staff and I hoped kids would learn to revel in the idea of a good story, and appreciate the informational and entertainment value of books. By creating the Mayor & CEO s Kids Book Club, we felt we could offer valuable mentoring to local youth in the area of literacy.

Steve Appleton obviously shared our sentiments and agreed to sponsor and serve as the leader-reader for one of our monthly book club sessions. Arrangements had been made well in advance for Steve to serve as a guest leader-reader. He selected the book The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo -- and greatly looked forward to his evening with the book club children when duty unexpectedly called& . and in a big way.

Steve Appleton was suddenly summoned to lead President Bush on a tour of a Micron plant in West Virginia, and the tour was to take place the Friday morning after he was scheduled to lead the Thursday evening book club. Understandably, his staff immediately recommended that he cancel his engagement with the children s book club. But Steve Appleton insisted on honoring his commitment to Meridian s youth and showed up, fully focused and engaged on the book club activities.

After guiding the kids through a spirited hour-long discussion about the book with me, Steve stayed on and regaled the kids with stories of exotic foods and 'critters' he had eaten during his many travels. He also shared with them his love of flight and aviation and listened as they told him of their hobbies and aspirations.

I don t know if the children present that evening fully comprehended that Steve Appleton was the President and CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or that he was willing to take a red eye flight overnight just so that he could be present at their book club meeting, but they were certainly charmed by his boyish enthusiasm, enthralled by his tales of high adventure, and impressed that the following day he would be hanging out with the President of the United States.

I ll never forget that evening, and Steve s easy way with the kids. His actions truly showed him as a person who walks the talk of his convictions and demonstrated his heart for youth traits any person should be proud to practice and perfect during their lifetime, regardless of its length. He showed 45 kids that night that they were as important as the President of the United States -- A priceless experience with a rare and unique man. The void he leaves in this valley, state, and well beyond will not easily be filled. 

I will write about various elements in my presentation in the weeks and months to come.  I felt it was important, however, to focus first on -- the rebuilding of the Meridian Road Interchange.  This is a priority that we, as a community, need to focus on today.  The benefits of an improved interchange would bring structural, as well as, bicyclist and pedestrian safety; congestion relief on the bridge/overpass and on and off-ramps, in addition to opening the fourth lane to traffic on I-84 for east/west traffic; and immediate and long-term job creation in the area.

This is a priority to our City and to the region as a whole.  We need to make our voices and concerns heard at all levels of government.  That is our responsibility as a city – to put Meridian first – and help met this community need.  We have learned from the past that if we come together as a community we can succeed.  If you don’t believe me, just go take a look at the new Ten Mile Interchange. 

Most of us drive over the Meridian Road Interchange on a regular basis and we all know that the condition gets worst every year.  We can see there are no sidewalks, bike lanes, or an adequate safety rail which means every day we risk losing a pedestrian, child, or bicyclist's life.  In a survey conducted by Roaring Springs Water Park at the end of last season, 97% of parents said they would not allow their child to walk or ride across the Meridian Road overpass due to the lack of these safety features alone.  This is not acceptable, not in our community.

Let us be clear, the rebuilding of the Meridian Road Interchange is not just a Meridian issue, it is a regional problem.  The rebuilding effort is supported regionally by the COMPASS Board and multiple cities and Chambers of Commerce in Ada and Canyon counties.  These entities recognize that we are not realizing the full benefit of the I-84 improvements and investment made by the state through the widening of the interstate – I-84. 

Due to its outdated design, the Meridian Road Interchange prohibits the efficient movement of commuters, goods, and services into and through the area due to the choke point at Meridian Road both on the overpass and under it as well.  The investment in the I-84 corridor has been huge and needed; but that they would exclude the middle portion defies all reason!  By rebuilding the Meridian Road Interchange we can finish the last puzzle piece, eliminating this bottleneck which is stymieing economic growth due to the inability to accommodate existing and future traffic.  Locally we have done our part as the Ada County Highway District has made improvements to Meridian Road on the north and south side of the interstate; now the State needs to do theirs.

In order for this to happen, we need you – the community – to be a supportive voice and help legislators like Senator Chuck Winder and Representative Marv Hagedorn advocate for getting the Meridian Interchange rebuilt. We need you to call Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and their newly appointed Chairman Jerry Whitehead, to call the Governor’s Office.  This needs to be a priority.  We can't afford it not to be!

Earlier this year I established the Meridian Interchange Task Force to begin working on this problem.  With their leadership and involvement, we are dedicated to work with ITD to ensure the Meridian Road Interchange is programmed for design and construction.  I encourage you to support their efforts, ‘like’ our Facebook page supporting the rebuild efforts, and make your voice heard to get this needed improvement for our community.  

Just this last weekend, members of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) invited area legislators from District 14, 20 and 21 to meet and discuss their views on a state-wide ban on texting while driving.   I would like to thank Senator Chuck Winder Representative Joe Palmer and Representative John VanderWoude for taking time to support our youth.  By listening and communicating with young leaders of today, they are giving them a voice and valuable experience.  MYAC members were the motivating force behind Kassy’s law which was enacted over a year ago in Meridian.  Kassy’s Law is named after Kassandra Lou “Kassy” Kerfoot, a 2009 graduate of Meridian High School, who died on December 29, 2009, at age 18, due to injuries sustained in an accident that occurred because she was texting while driving and lost control of her vehicle. 

Now they are continuing their efforts to keep not just teens, but every driver focused on the road in front of them and not reading, typing, and sending texts and messages while driving. They will be presenting this issue to the State's Senate leadership at a Town Hall meeting, Wednesday, January 25, at 6:30 pm at City Hall.  I applaud them for advocating and leading the discussion on this important issue.  I hope that ultimately the state legislature will agree with 87% of Idaho voters from the recent AAA survey conducted by Riley Research Associates in Portland who support prohibiting texting while driving.

Next month you will be able to witness the speaking talents of our youth at the 2nd Annual Ignite Youth.  This is an "idea" event and competition which is similar to Ignite Boise.  Each participating teen will give a five minute presentation using twenty PowerPoint slides.   It is a great opportunity for teens to share their passions, thoughts, and unique ideas with their peers, friends, and citizens.  Through their efforts, it is very possible that those in attendance will be challenged to look at life a little differently or be inspired themselves to try something new!

Presentations for this event which takes place on February 10th at 7 p.m. at Mountain View High School are currently being accepted at www.meridiancity.org.  I encourage youth and the entire community to come out to enjoy this competition.  It is not only just between the presenters, but also the area high-schools. The winning presenter will receive a prize, and the school that they attend will receive a trophy.

I have shared just a couple of the many things these civic and community minded youth are doing, for both today and the future for our community that we hope they will call their home when they settle down.  I encourage you to come out and hear what they have to say and take a moment to show appreciation for their efforts in putting Meridian first.

On February 10, 2012, the Teen Activities Council, a sub-committee of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, will be hosting the second annual Ignite Youth event at Mountain View High School. Ignite Youth is an event where high school aged students get the opportunity to share their passions, concerns, and ideas with an audience of their peers, as well as other community members of all ages. Ignite is an event that was started by a Seattle-based marketing company as a venue for people to share their ideas with others. Each speaker spoke for five minutes and used exactly twenty PowerPoint slides to convey their message. The event was a huge success, and now Ignite events are held all over the world, including a recurring event in Boise. While youth have participated in various Ignite events worldwide, Ignite Youth in Meridian is the only youth-only event in the world.

Ignite Youth is also a competition, not only among the individuals giving a talk, but also between the local high schools. The winner will receive a prize, and the school they attend will receive a trophy for their school’s trophy case. The competition will be judged by local celebrity and dignitary judges, including Mayor Tammy de Weerd.

The first annual Ignite Youth was held in February of 2011 and was a huge success.  Nine youth presented their ideas on everything from philosophy to the importance of Harry Potter. The winning talk was presented by a duo of juniors from Meridian High School. Steven Schimbke and Evan Cawley presented “The Classification of Monsters,” a hilarious look at the genealogy of monsters. Over 200 people from the community attended the event, and all present could be seen reflecting with, laughing at, and wildly applauding the youth on-stage.

Five minutes. Twenty slides. Come to Ignite Youth on February 10^th to participate in this landmark event and to find out about the passions and ideas of our youth.

For more information, contact Allison Kaptein at 489-0550 or Luke Cavener at 489-0535.

By Mayor Tammy

I am grateful to live in a caring community that is full of wonderful organizations and individuals.  Most people are aware of organizations like the Meridian Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimists. These three civic organizations - widely recognized - are each doing their part to support different segments of our community and provide an opportunity to get involved and make a difference. But have you heard of programs such as the VIBES Business Book Club, Blue Star Mothers, Teaching Hands, or the Meridian Police Activities League (PAL) 

Let me share some information about those programs and organizations that might not be so well known. Recently Meridian PAL was recognized nationwide in the Toyota Halftime Handoff and will be receiving $10,000, thanks to members of our community who voted for them in an online competition.  They will use these funds to buy equipment for a spring football league.  While this won t cover all the costs, they plan to do what it takes to bring this program to our youth.  They are a great youth organization; walking the talk and demonstrating that athletics and leadership are on and off the field.  

Another organization making a difference in our community is the Blue Star Mothers.  This national organization, comprised of mothers who support our active duty military and veterans, is spreading charitable support of military mothers and raising awareness of military service throughout our local communities and nation.  Our local chapter meets at the Veteran s Memorial Building, at 22 W. Broadway in Meridian.  Their meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm.  If the military is your passion, this group may be for you!  Check out www.treasurevalleybluestarmothers.org.

As well, Teaching Hands is a non-profit organization that, for the past four years, has been handcrafting hats and scarves for those in need, to help them keep warm during the cold season. This year, they wanted to tackle the issue of hunger for military and veterans families and others in need. They developed a partnership with the American Legion Post 113 in Meridian to work together on this mission. More can be learned about Teaching Hands at www.teaching-hands.blogspot.com. Meridian is truly blessed to have such great service organizations that are community and neighbor minded.

We have a group of business leaders who meet monthly to promote business relationships through discussions and sharing experiences on the book of the month or what they happen to have read.  The group, known as the VIBES Business Book Club, gets together monthly on the second Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. at The Grotto in downtown Meridian.  This month we discussed Bob Burg's book, "It's Not About You ; it s about supporting and inspiring the people around you!  You can find the group on Facebook to learn more or begin participating.

On a more serious note, take a moment and join the amazing interns from Capital Christian in praying for a beautiful young lady who was an intern at Capital Christian Center last year and was just diagnosed with Leukemia. It is never easy to deal with this type of information, so I hope you will join me, and many others, in praying for strength and healing. Or, lift up that special person in your life who needs your prayers.

We are a community that cares on many different levels.  Find your passion and get involved -- together we can stay focused on Putting Meridian First!

By Keith Watts, CPPB, Purchasing Manager for the City of Meridian

The Idaho Public Purchasing Association is planning on hosting a reverse vendor trade show at Meridian City Hall March 15, 2012.  What is a reverse vendor trade show?  A Reverse Vendor Trade Show is a trade show where the tables and booths are manned by buyers not sellers.  These buyers will be the actual purchasing staff from many state and local agencies, including but not limited to the City of Meridian, Ada County, City of Boise, Idaho State Police, State of Idaho Department of Administration, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality etc.  The vendors, consultants and contractors (Sellers), in one stop, will be able to make contact with dozens of government agencies interested in their products and services.  This will be a huge time savings for the sellers.   The sellers can provide valuable information about their companies such as product lines and  service capability while gaining valuable insight on how the different agencies conduct their procurements.  Please continue to visit the City s Purchasing web page as more information will be coming later this year.  IPPA will have a registration form on it s website (http://www.nigp-idaho.org/) in the near future as well.  IPPA is a local non-profit chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP).

Thanks to a rebounding recycling commodities market, the Solid Waste Advisory Commission (SWAC) has recommended reinstating the Community Recycling Fund.  This fund is money that is returned to the City from Sanitary Services Company (SSC), the City’s trash provider, for the sale of recycled materials.  This is not something that SSC is required to do; but it is their way of giving back to the community.  The program was discontinued after recyclables became less valuable the last few years and SSC did not see a profit from selling these materials.  This week we will hear from SWAC about their plans for the FY12 program including funding, program criteria, outreach, application period, and selection timeline.  It is great to have these funds available to our community once again.

During our monthly workshops, we also focus on and highlight one of our city departments.  This gives them an opportunity to spotlight achievements and performance over the last year and provides an update on what is planned for the year ahead.  Under the leadership of Bill Nary, our Legal/Human Resources/Information Technology Departments provide an array of internal support services to various city departments, as well as interfaces with the community on employment opportunities and legal issues.

Also planned this week is a discussion from the city’s consolidated Community Development Department. We are in the first phase of combining the Planning Department with the Building Services Division to make it more convenient as a one stop shop for the community’s short and long-term planning and development needs.  While we are currently recruiting for the Director that will lead this Department, we are moving forward with the initial steps in consolidating services.  This effort is being led by Rich Dees with the physical integration of the two groups to be located on the first floor and open for business on January 17^th. 

The primary topics by the Community Development Department will be an update on the most recent draft of the Ada County Highway District’s Five Year Work Plan, planned improvements to the Eagle Road and Fairview intersection, intersection improvements along Chinden (the U.S. 20/26 corridor), and other transportation-related issues.  As a growing community, we consistently have transportation on our mind regarding projects being planned and/or constructed.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about these proposed improvements.

We hope you will consider joining us at any of our weekly City Council meetings.  Regularly scheduled City Council meetings are held the first, third, and fourth Tuesdays beginning at 7 p.m.  City Council workshops are held the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 3 p.m.  If you can’t join us in person, you can watch the meetings by webcast online.  You will also find archived taped City Council meetings, as well as transcribed minutes on the city website.  Look for the agendas, published each Friday afternoon prior to the meeting on Tuesday, online at www.meridiancity.org.

My Name is Barbara Shiffer and I am the Administrative Assistant for the Planning Department Staff. I am looking forward to the merger, since we provide service to many of the same customers, I think it will only improve our customer service and help us serve our community and improve the communication between all departments involved.

The Department will have three major functions—all related to addressing the needs of our development and building community—lands development, building, and planning.

Many cities have moved toward this organization structure and Meridian has evolved to the point, that as a full service city this is a logical step.

Creating an umbrella organization has the advantage of bringing the agencies responsible for guiding community development together under one Director. This should facilitate aligning the efforts of the three groups and improving communication among the groups as well. In particular, one of the biggest benefits will be having all permitting functions under one department. This will create an integrated and systematic permitting program.

This reorganization will promote a coherent, integrated permitting system that can respond to the Mayor's priorities—including Economic Development.

Overall, the city is excited to be able to better service the needs of our development and Building Community.

The Planning Department will move to the first floor of City Hall with Building Services  on or about by February 1, 2012.

So years ago, my family and I decided ‘No more endless shopping’ for the holidays.  We felt like we lost the holiday spirit, not to mention our future savings at the local mall…but more than anything…we had lost the true meaning of Christmas.  Yes, we still have fun when it comes to the kids, but as adults, we sponsor a family at our church and just get together over our favorite meal and celebrate as a family without gifts.

Now, convincing all of your friends to do the same is not always as easy!! : )  So this year I made a true commitment of when and where I can, I will be doing my holiday shopping at small local stores and boutiques here in Meridian.  I’ve made a true commitment to it and I hope you’ll join me in doing the same.  There are so many benefits to you and to our community.

• Your dollars keep the community full of thriving businesses and local shopping centers full and festive in the holiday spirit and it keeps our communities prosperous and sustainable.

• You’re keeping Meridian’s small businesses thriving !  Nearly 80 percent of the jobs created in the community are by small businesses.  While you buy their goods, they’ll do they’re printing at the local printing shop, buy gas on the way to work and in return eat at the local restaurants.

• You are reinforcing the value of becoming a business owner. Entrepreneurship is really hard, especially in these times, so show your support! 

Just remember though, sometimes you may spend a little teenie bit more than said big box stores, but you’re building our local economy and generating great karma! Our Meridian small businesses are the ones who support your church, volunteer for many community organizations or functions, and donate to charitable causes that help many people.  These are local people working in the area, working in their shops, their farms and it sure helps stimulate our economy!

Now back to my first thought, in the true spirit of the holidays, be sure to remember those less fortunate in our communities.   My father always told us while growing up that most families are one paycheck away from being without a home.  Especially at this time of year and in these economic times, we should be thinking of things we can do to help.  The best gifts come from the heart so consider giving a gift of yourself or your time.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting small business and shopping local. 

Happy local shopping and Merry Christmas!

By Tracy Basterrechea, Meridian Police

Christmas and the New Year are quickly approaching. This is a very festive time of year and we want it to be a positive holiday season for our community.  With that we would like to offer this tip: Please, please, please remember to lock your vehicles. We deal with a great deal of vehicle burglaries and the vast majority of them are the results of unlocked cars. If we would all take a few seconds to make sure our vehicles are locked, yes even in our own driveways, we would deter a large number of vehicle burglaries. Also don't forget to lock your packages and valuables in your trunk when you are out shopping. Make sure you keep your valuables out of sight.
 
On a more positive note, I would like to tout the achievements and work of our Officers and our Impact Team. This Team was formed with the help of a federal COPS grant. We developed this team to help us focus on quality of life issues in our neighborhoods and on specific crimes which are causing our community problems. Some of these issues and crimes include things like burglaries, drugs, vandalisms, etc.. In the last three months our Team has served search warrants and made several arrests for burglaries and arrests. This includes the recent arrests of four people and seizure of 34 pounds of marijuana and $1,000.00 in U.S. currency. Our Officers are also currently working very credible leads in other burglaries, which include the burglary of a local church.
 
The Impact Team was designed to make a difference and in the short time they have been operating they are showing a great deal of promise. If you have a problem or a tip for the Impact Team you can contact them at impact@meridiancity.org.
 
Meridian Police Department is also pleased to announce our participation in Alive at 25.  Alive at 25 is a 4 ½ hour educational course developed by the National Safety Council and instructed by law enforcement.  Knowing that vehicle crashes are the number 1 killer of teens, this course is designed to help young drivers become defensive drivers. The first course was held on December 10, 2011 and was a great success.  To find enroll at future classes go to http://aliveat25.us/id/location-info?id=320.
 
The Meridian Police Department anticipates offering Alive at 25 classes a twice a month.  The class is intended for drivers between the ages of 15 to 24.
 
Some quick facts about young drivers:
Ø In Idaho, there were 43 young adults 15-24 years old killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2009.
Ø Of those Idaho young drivers or passengers in motor vehicles killed during 2009, only 29% were wearing a seatbelt.
Ø Nationwide, seatbelt usage for 16-24 year olds is the lowest for any age group.
Ø Studies have shown that when young drivers are involved in crashes, it is the result of one or more of the following:
Ø Distraction
Ø Inexperience
Ø Lack of awareness of risk-taking behaviors and their consequences
Ø Impaired driving Speeding
 
Funding for Alive at 25 is provided by the Idaho Transportation Department Office of Highway Safety. 
 
For more information visit http://aliveat25.us/.
 
Please have a Merry Christmas and a safe Holiday Season!
 
Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea

By Pam Orr, Fire Education/Prevention Specialist Meridian Fire Department  

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns us that festive lighting, windowsill candles and ornamented Christmas trees are staples of the holidays, but these decorative items also pose a fire risk if handled improperly. In 2005-2009, on average, one of every 18 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 141 total home fires.

Holiday lights and other decorative lighting were involved in an estimated average of 150 home fires per year during the same time. These fires caused an average of eight civilian deaths, 14 injuries, and $8.5 million in direct property damage per year.

December is an exciting time where almost every home on the block is accented with decorations and seasonal lighting, said Lorraine Carli from the NFPA. Though decorations such as candles or Christmas trees certainly spread holiday cheer, it is important to follow basic safety steps so celebrations go off without a hitch.

Here are NFPA s tips for safe holiday decorating:

• Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant
• Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
• Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Check the packaging; some lights are only for indoor use.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Use clips, not nails, or staples to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.

For proper Christmas Tree safety:  See Meridian Fire Website for a Christmas Tree Fire Demonstration Keep your tree well watered.  A dry tree can be extremely dangerous. 

• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
• Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Get rid of the tree when it is dry. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.
• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.

By Colin Moss, Recreation Coordinator-Meridian Parks & Recreation

Join in the fun this holiday season as Meridian hosts a variety of events to put you in the Christmas spirit!

We ll kick-off the season on Friday, December 2nd with the City s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in Generations Plaza on the corner of Main Street and Idaho Avenue.  Show up early, though, because we ll have a special showing of the short cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on our inflatable movie screen at 6:00 p.m.  During the ceremony, co-emcees Mayor Tammy de Weerd and Don Nelson of Today s Channel 6 will lead you through a magical evening that will include free hot chocolate and donuts, free carriage rides, performances by local school choirs, the announcing of the Christmas Essay Contest, and the arrival of a very special guest who will help us light the City s Christmas tree!

The next morning, Saturday December 3rd, the Meridian Community Center on the corner of E. 2nd Street and Idaho Avenue will play host to the 3rd Annual Children s Winterland Festival from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Don t miss all the fun that will be available at this event, including pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, face painting, toy building, arts and crafts, games, carolers, and much more!

The fun doesn t end there, though!  Head over to the Meridian Middle School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd for the Meridian Symphony Orchestra s Christmas Celebration presented by Sherer & Wynkoop Law Offices.  This family-oriented performance features popular and traditional Christmas music, a sing-a-long, and Mayor Tammy de Weerd as a guest conductor.

As the Comprehensive Planning Manager for the City, one of my primary responsibilities is to help the community establish a plan, or vision, for the future. I have the honor and privilege of assisting the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission and the community at large in crafting, adopting and implementing the longer-term vision for our great city. One of the key tools the City uses to express and execute the vision is the Comprehensive Plan.

The Comprehensive Plan (commonly referred to as the Comp Plan) essentially attempts to guide future decisions and investments in the community over the next 20-plus years. The Comp Plan contains goals, objectives and action items on many aspects of the community such as, land use, transportation, housing, parks and open spaces, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development. 

On April 19, 2011 the Meridian City Council adopted a new, updated Comprehensive Plan for our community. The primary reasons for updating the Comp Plan were to: verify and, as necessary, realign City goals to better reflect citizen values; reflect current economic conditions and development objectives; and create a more streamlined and easier to use document for staff, developers and the general populous. Throughout the two-year update process, the community was engaged through workshops, newsletters, newspaper articles, Facebook and Twitter updates, blogs, a display at the Mayor s State of the City Address, Public Service Announcements, and direct outreach to local builders and developers and their associations. In addition, the City was also able to make use of a 2010 City wide survey to ensure that areas of concern noted by residents were properly addressed and incorporated into the Comp Plan.

To make the Comp Plan more user friendly, it was separated into two portions; the Comprehensive Plan which looks to the future, and the Existing Conditions Report which embodies the communities past and present. I believe the updated Plan provides a much improved and complete guide for growth in our community. Recently, the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning Association (Idaho APA) agreed. Last month, the City of Meridian s Comprehensive Plan was recognized for excellence with a 2011 APA Idaho Award. This statewide award honors specific planning projects that advance the science and art of planning to bring awareness of the benefits of good community planning.

It is satisfying to be recognized by peers for a plan well done. It is even more rewarding to hear the positive feedback from those that have used our new-and-improved Comp Plan. As many will attest, the future in Meridian looks bright.

Caleb Hood, Comprehensive Planning Manager, City of Meridian

To view the City s award-winning Comp Plan, CLICK HERE.

Fall is finally in the air, and we’ve just completed another successful Meridian Business Day. This was the fifth time this event has been held and we saw several hundred people from local businesses gather at Meridian City Hall on September 9th for this free day of guest speakers, workshops, exhibits, and networking, topped off by an outdoor luncheon in the plaza.  I’d like to thank the businesses and individuals who volunteered their time, talents, and products to make this event the must attend it continues to be.

While this is a great annual event, there are many other opportunities for members of our business community to learn from one another.

Each month the VIBES business book club holds a morning meeting in downtown Meridian at The Grotto. We read an incredible variety of books. Recently we found unexpected lessons and inspiration in Dr. Seuss’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” and in November we’ll discuss “If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 9 1/2 Things You Would Do Differently,” which promises to offer cultural insights from a hospital executive who became a Disney cast member. We also have the Ultra Clean Smoke Out which is a great monthly networking and learning event for our business community.  Each month there is a featured speaker and the event includes a lunch and networking opportunities. 

There are many other ways our local business leaders are helping one another and getting involved in our community. We have outstanding support for the Mayor’s & CEO’s Kids Book Club. We recently started our new season with forty-five eager 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders who will meet monthly at the Silverstone Corporate Plaza to discuss some really terrific children’s books recommended by the Meridian Library. This year we’re fortunate to have “leader-readers” from local business sponsors including Saint Alphonsus Meridian Health Plaza, Bank of the Cascades, CableONE, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, Citi, CH2M Hill, and United Heritage. Together, we’ll show kids that readers are leaders.

Every day, Meridian residents and businesses are finding new and innovative ways to engage with our community. Hopefully you are too!

By Garrett White, Recreation Coordinator

The summer adult sports programs are coming to an end after a busy summer.  The Spring Softball league grew from 93 teams the year before to 108 teams.  The Fall Softball league grew from 72 teams last year to 84 teams this year.  When combining both leagues, the program grew 27 teams from the prior year.  All games were played at Storey Park, Bear Creek Park, and Tully Park, Monday through Friday. 

Earlier this year in May was the 2nd Annual Men’s Fast Pitch Tournament.  There were six teams in the tournament with three of them being from out of state (one team from Washington and two from Utah).  We are hoping to have eight to 10 teams next year.

Dodgeball has begun!  This program is going into its fourth year and still going strong.  There are 20 teams for 2011, and all games are played at Heritage Middle School, Meridian Middle School, or Cole Valley Christian School.  There are two coed divisions and one open division.  This is a great sport that takes you back to your school days.  Games are played Monday through Friday in the evening. 

The Adult Flag Football league will start on September 13 at Storey Park.  There are 11 teams this year in the league.  All games will be played on Tuesday or Thursday until November 17.  This is a passing-only league meant for adults to get some exercise and throw the football around all at the same time.  Game times range from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Volleyball is just around the corner.  The last day to register for the Winter Volleyball league is September 23.  We can only register up to 80 teams, due to gym space.  Last year we had turn away eight teams, so please hurry and sign up.  The league will begin on October 24. 

The Adult Basketball league follows close behind volleyball and will start on November 1.  Last year the league was at its maximum capacity consisting of 26 teams.  This year will be the same story; only a total of 26 teams may register, due to gym space.  The last day to register is October 7.  All games are played at Meridian Middle School, Monday through Friday. 

For more information on any of these activities listed above or to get your name on an interest list, contact the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department by calling 888-3579 or emailing recreation@meridiancity.org. 

This summer the City of Meridian Human Resources Department was very pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for students between the ages of 14 to 17 to be introduced to the functions of city government and develop real life work skills.  This program is called the Youth Work Life Skills Program.

 The Youth Work Life Skills Program provided 15 young individuals the opportunity to learn a basic understanding of local city government and develop administrative and practical skills that will serve them well in future occupations.  The participants gained hands-on experience and provided clerical support to several departments.  In addition they learned how to organize their time, provide excellent customer service, and understand the expectations and responsibilities of holding a job.

The interns provided over 1,329 hours of assistance and support to the city’s various departments which was invaluable. Mark Niemeyer, Meridian Fire Chief said “The summer internship program provided a valuable opportunity for young men and women to learn how City departments function and operate. For an individual considering a future career in the public sector, this experience will no doubt help shape that decision.”

In the Wastewater Department, they were responsible for entering manhole inspection data from paper inspection forms into Hansen 8, our infrastructure asset management system.  This included looking up each manhole in our Public Works GIS system to verify location information.  They job shadowed our Water Operators and gained an understanding of the daily functions they perform.  They were also responsible for the ground maintenance and beautification of the Water Treatment Plant and associated facilities. At City Hall several interns worked in Human Resources, Public Works, Fire Administration, Parks and Recreation, City Clerks, and the Mayor’s office learning the daily operations of office logistics, answering telephones, greeting visitors, and providing general office assistance.

One parent said “I just want to extend a huge thank you to the City of Meridian for the opportunity you guys are giving with this city internship.  I think it is so awesome that the City is doing this for the up coming adults.  My daughter is so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the program.  She called me after her new hire orientation to inform me she is now a “city employee”. 

Another parent said  “This was the first time my son experienced the whole employment process; from filling out the application, to being interviewed and selected, going through orientation, learning new skills and carrying out assigned duties, getting feedback on his performance, submitting time sheets, and receiving paychecks (the best part!). Through the process, I watched him mature and gain confidence in his abilities. He will be a better equipped job applicant and employee in the future as a result of this program. It also opened up some new career possibilities for him to consider which is awesome.”

These young adults are our future and we hope that their participation in this type of program introduced them to new, or enhanced, valuable work / life skills that will benefit them in their future choices, continued education, and job related opportunities as well as help them be successful at whatever they pursue. 

We are excited to see what the summer of 2012 holds for this successful program.  

By Luke Cavener

The youth of Meridian are creative, engaging, and demonstrate incredible character; this is why Mayor Tammy is looking to our young adults for insight and input to the City of Meridian and its various commissions, boards, and task forces.

Youth commissions are authorized to assess the needs of the Meridian community and to make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.  Youth who are up for this rewarding challenge are being sought for this unique opportunity.  Opportunity exists for youth to secure one of the following commissions for a one year term.

Historical Preservation Commission – A five member board that works to preserve the character and fabric of historically significant areas and structures with the City of Meridian in order to honor and preserve its rich heritage for future generations.  They meet the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 pm at City Hall.

Meridian Arts Commission – A seven member board that advises on art/cultural policy and promotes public awareness and participation in the arts.  They are responsible for selecting the monthly artist for Initial Point Gallery in Meridian City Hall, choosing musicians for “Concerts on Broadway,” and developing public art projects.  They meet the second Thursday of every month at 3:30 pm at City Hall.

Parks and Recreation Commission – A seven member board that advises on issues related to solid waste management and community recycling programs.  They meet the second Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm at City Hall.

Solid Waste Advisory Commission – A nine member board that advises on rules, regulations, policies and fees as such may relate to the orderly and efficient administration of the City's fully-automated solid waste collection system.  They meet the forth Tuesday of every month at 3:30 pm at City Hall.

Traffic Safety Commission – A nine member board that works to research and recommend City traffic safety issues, actions, and priorities.  They meet the third Tuesday of every month at 3:30 pm at City Hall.

In addition to these Commissions youth who are up for this rewarding challenge are being sought for this unique opportunity.  Opportunity exists for youth to serve on one of the following task forces and organizations.

Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition – This is a grass-roots volunteer organization dedicated to educating others about the harmful and costly direct and indirect effects of drug abuse in the community.  They meet the third Thursday of every month at 4:00 pm at the Meridian Police Department.

Mayor’s Faith Ambassador Council – Adult and youth representatives from Meridian’s places of worship and faith organizations comprise this non-denominational group which discusses ways to strengthen families and youth.  They meet the second Thursday of every month at 4:00 pm at City Hall.

Meridian’s Promise – Meridian’s “Promise Partners” are businesses, schools, churches, organizations, and individuals who are committed to building the character and competence of Meridian’s kids by fulfilling America’s Five Promises to youth—caring adults, safe places, healthy start, marketable skills, and opportunities to serve.  They meet the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 pm at the Idaho Department of Labor in Meridian.

Transportation Task Force – Researches, identifies, and prioritizes Meridian transportation issues.  They meet the second Thursday of every month at 3:00 pm in City Hall.

Selected applicants will be appointed to a one year term from October 2010 to September 2011 and will attend a monthly meeting of the Commission and other meetings as required by the Commission.  In addition, selected applicants will attend a monthly meeting of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) to provide informational updates and receive feedback from the members of the MYAC.

Interested youth should fill out the application here.  For any questions email me here or call the Mayor’s Office at 489.0535.

Meridian Parks & Recreation Director

• Had 2,344 total registrations for recreation classes and camps last year.

• Offered 157 different classes/camps in 648 separate sessions in the past year, from fall 2010 through summer 2011.

• Hosts a variety of different classes at the Meridian Community Center, from art and dance classes to new offerings such as violin camp, preschool tumbling, family martial arts, woodworking for kids, and more.

• Provided scholarships to recreation programs through the “Care Enough to Share” program to 23 Meridian residents in the past year, since fall 2010.

• Reserves 15 picnic shelters in 11 different parks.

• Had 4,286 players on 371 teams in our sports leagues last year.

• Used over 1,200 hours of gym time last year for volleyball, basketball, and dodgeball.

• Included 108 teams (1,355 people)—the maximum number available based on current field space—in the Spring Softball league.

• Had 1,100 people play on volleyball teams this past winter and spring.

• Hosts a Movie Night in Settlers Park every Friday night in June, July, and August.  That’s 13 free, family-friendly movies available in the park this summer.

• Hosts 5 different major community events every year, including CableONE Movie Night, the Barn Sour Races, Independence Day (4^th of July) Festival, the Community Block Party, and Christmas in Meridian/Tree Lighting Ceremony.

• Has already helped coordinate 38 other “event days” for special events hosted by other organizations in parks this year…so far.

• Had 149 people register for the Barn Sour Fun Run, 6K, and 10K races this year.

• Currently maintains 189 acres of developed park land in 19 different sites, including 1 Regional Park, 4 Community Parks, 6 Neighborhood Parks, 3 Mini-Parks, and 5 Special Use Areas.

• Had only 38 acres of developed park land in 4 different sites in the year 2000.

• Currently owns another 184 acres of additional park land that will be developed in future years.

• Provides 2.5 acres of park land per thousand residents in Meridian, with a goal of providing 4 acres per thousand.

• Will open a new 60-acre park, Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park, near Eagle and Fairview Roads next year.  This park is a donation from Mr. Eugene Kleiner and the Kleiner Park Trust.

• Maintains 9 miles of multi-use pathways, ½ of which is in parks and the other ½ throughout the community.

• Manages over 2,000 trees in our urban forest system, from park trees to downtown trees.  This year we will add over 1,000 more trees in Kleiner Park.

• Received nearly 3,000 hours of volunteer service from community members last year.  Thank you!!

These are just some of our numbers and fun facts at Meridian Parks & Recreation.  We hope that you are part of these numbers, or soon will be!

Sincerely,

Steve Siddoway

Meridian Parks & Recreation Director

By Keith Watts, CPPB, Purchasing Manager for the City of Meridian

The Idaho Public Purchasing Association is planning on hosting a reverse vendor trade show at the Meridian City Hall in early 2012.  What is a reverse vendor trade show?  This is a trade show where the tables and booths are manned by buyers not sellers.  These buyers will be the actual purchasing staff from many state and local agencies.  The vendors, consultants and contractors (Sellers)  roam the show and get visit with the actual people who conduct the procurements for these agencies.  These sellers can provide information and the capability on their companies while gaining valuable insight on how the different agencies conduct their procurements.  IPPA is also planning on presenting classes for both the public buyers as well as the sellers.  These classes will also offer a question and answer period.  Please continue to visit the City’s Purchasing web page as more information will be coming later this year.

By Mayor Tammy

It seems like just yesterday that our community came out to celebrate the ground breaking of the 10 Mile Interchange.  Now here we are nearly two years later, ahead of schedule and under budget, celebrating the opening of this great project for our community.

I’m pleased to announce that the interchange officially open for use today providing much needed access between Nampa and Meridian.  With this access it is anticipated that it will also reduce some of the traffic congestion that occurs on both Eagle and Meridian Roads.  This project would not have happened without the hard work and dedication of many in our community.  My thanks to the Governor, Legislators and community members who helped make this project a reality.  I’d also like to thank our patient citizens who dealt with road closures and construction inconveniences that were necessary for this project to occur.  Our short term inconveniences will lead to long term benefits both in transportation as well as job creation. 

While newly opened, this project has been over 30 years in the making.  In order to make the interchange a success, the City did a lot of coordinating with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Connecting Idaho Partners (CIP) on this project. Some of the elements the City advocated for, and worked with ITD and CIP to ensure were part of the project, include:

• Landscaping – Federal grant money was used to fund the cost for the materials, but City and ITD staff coordinated the design and construction of landscaping around the on and off ramps and center median islands.
• Reclaimed water – Essentially recycled water used to irrigate the landscaped areas around the interchange just mentioned.  This resource will also help in business attraction.
• Stamped concrete – The City worked with ITD to select concrete retaining walls in this new entry to our community.

These elements help to make the interchange not just a good project for cars, but also aesthetically pleasing for all users in the interchange area without excess cost. This is just another example of how the Ten Mile Interchange will stand apart from other interchange areas in the State. The overall result of this project will benefit the area, residents, our economy, and the community as a whole.  It also incorporates the elements of the Ten Mile Interchange Specific Area Plan to provide a mix of land uses and transportation elements that has not been built anywhere else in southwest Idaho.

I’m proud and excited to see this project come to completion and look forward to utilizing the interchange in the coming days and weeks.  With the 10 Mile Interchange complete we now need to focus our attention to rebuilding the Meridian Road Interchange.  I look forward to engaging with state and local leaders to assure this project is a top priority.  Do you want to know how you can help make the Meridian Road Interchange a priority? If so, I want to hear from you.  Email me at MayorTammy@meridiancity.org and together we can celebrate Meridian as the premier place to live, work and raise a family. 

By Shelly Houston, Mayor’s Office

Did you know that when students participate in activities outside of school, they almost always build new friendships, develop greater self-esteem, and learn important life skills? Extracurricular activities can also empower students to make their own decisions and help them gain vital experience which may help lead them on the path to their future.

In fact, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics, students involved in extracurricular activities are also more likely to become leaders, more willing to complete tasks, more willing to voice opinions, and more likely to graduate from high school and have annual incomes of more than $50,000. Extracurricular activities are also a good way to explore social, political, and career interests.

That’s good news, because Meridian kids and families will very soon have an opportunity to learn more about a variety of youth activities, camps, and programs offered locally during after-school hours and during evenings, weekends, and during school holidays and extended breaks.

Meridian’s Promise will hold a free Youth Activity Fair in conjunction with Free Family Fishing Day, on Saturday, May 21, from 8:30 – 11:30 am, at Settlers Park Pond (corner of Meridian & Ustick Roads).

Local businesses and organizations that provide services or activities which safely engage, educate, or otherwise enrich youngsters or teens will be set up near the pond. These information tables will have interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and games for everyone to enjoy. Whether your child is into athletics, the arts, or academics, there are activities and programs available in our community that would be a great fit for your family.  This is your opportunity to learn more about those organizations.

Whether or not you attend this Youth Activity Fair, it is important for parents to spend time with their children and carefully consider how time outside of school is to be spent.  Extracurricular activities should complement a student's life, not complicate it. When students are involved in too many activities or in an activity that takes up too much time, they can become stressed and their grades and family relationships can begin to suffer.

Before you leap into a new activity or program, take time to ask questions and really understand the time commitment required.

And be patient. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation to find the perfect balance of “busy-ness” and “down time” for both grown-ups and kids.

I hope to see your and your kids at Meridian’s Free Family Fishing Day and that you’ll take time to visit the family-friendly folks participating in our Youth Activity Fair… two more great events that are a reason to Celebrate Meridian!

Polling locations will be open on Tuesday May 17^th from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.   Remember to bring Government issued identification with you such as a driver’s license when you go to vote.  If you plan to skip the lines on the 17^th you still have the option to vote absentee.  You may vote in-person absentee through 5:00 p.m. on Friday May 13^th at Ada County Elections located at  400 N Benjamin Lane, Suite 100, Boise, ID 83704 (close to the Department of Motor Vehicles offices) or by mail through Tuesday May 17^th to that same location.

The first item to note is that this is a School District Election but since the passage of  Consolidated Elections, Ada County will be running the election.  This may be confusing because you may not vote in the same location that you have for previous school district elections.  The benefit of this is that whichever location you vote at for this election you will also vote there for the November election.  You can find you polling place online at www.idahovotes.gov or by contacting Ada County Elections at 208-287-6860. 

For Meridian residents two items will be on the ballots.  The first question on the ballot reads:  “Shall the Board of Trustees of Joint School District No. 2, Ada and Canyon Counties, Idaho, be authorized and empowered to levy a supplemental levy, as permitted by law in Section 33-802(3), Idaho Code, in the amount of eighteen million five hundred thousand dollars ($18,500,000.00), each year for two years for a total of thirty seven million dollars ($37,000,000.00) for the purpose of paying all lawful expenses of maintaining and operating the schools of the District for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2013.  To see a sample ballot, go to http://www.adaweb.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=z%2fw1DgJdsRw%3d&tabid=162 

The second item on the ballots will apply only to some voters.  There are two candidates running for Meridian School Trustee Zone 4.  How will you know whether or not you are eligible to vote for the Trustee in District 4?  Your polling location will have only the ballots that apply to you.  You can also check with Ada County Elections to see which zone you are in.

The internet is a great source of information on these elections.  The Secretary of State, Ada County, and the Meridian School District have all done a really excellent job at providing information that voters can access at their convenience through the web.  Ada County Elections has a very helpful and knowledgeable staff who are always happy to assist callers.  You can reach them by calling 208-287-6860 or online at www.adaweb.net.  The Meridian School District is equally qualified and happy to assist callers and address concerns about these elections.  They can be reached by phone at 208-855-4500 or online through www.meridianschools.org then by clicking the “read more” link under the VOTE picture.  Of course our staff here in the Clerk’s Office is always happy to help you find your polling location and answer your questions.  If in the instance we do not know the answer we will be happy to connect you to the agency that will.  Remember that as American citizens it is our right to vote and it is a right that should be exercised!  We look forward to seeing you all on the 17^th! 

By Mayor Tammy

At one time living here in Meridian it was easy to feel separated from the rest of the world and the events which “others” were experiencing.  While that may have once been true, we are now the 3^rd largest City in Idaho and our emergency responders know they must be prepared to respond to events.  This awareness and training to being prepared helps to keep our community safe and gives us just one more thing to celebrate in Meridian.

Our Emergency Management team, representing seven departments, has been working in collaboration with the Idaho National Guard 101^st Civil Support Team (CST) to put our emergency planning to the test.  The 101^st CST is designed and staffed to respond to emergencies anywhere in the state of Idaho within hours.  The Team is composed of Air Force and Army personnel who are equipped with a robust suite of chemical, biological, and radiological detection equipment.  The role of the 101^st CST is not for them to “take charge” of an incident, but rather they always work with a local Incident Commander to accomplish their goals and provide the needed information to protect lives and property.  This is a great resource to our community and our state to address emergency situations should the need arise.

As part of our training, Meridian City Hall served as the location for a large scale drill in March involving Meridian area emergency responders and the 101^st CST.  Additional participants in the drill included City of Meridian officials and City Hall staff, Central Health District, St. Luke's Health System, Ada County Paramedics, Ada County Emergency Management, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the USARNORTH/CSRG-W Bravo Division.  Each participant had objectives which were designed to test the plans, procedures, and systems in place under the control, simulation, and evaluation of the exercise.

Working with the 101^st, an exercise was designed to test current building policies and our City and State Emergency Responders. This large scale drill had our Police and Fire emergency responders in real life scenarios; the results will improve our response plans to the benefit of our community.

Here is a description of the event in the words of the 101^st CST:

“The exercise began with a suspicious package releasing a simulated toxin.  City Hall was evacuated and the Meridian Fire Department responded to assist the victim and to assess the scene.  Upon further investigation the Fire Department established Incident Command and called to request more assets to assist them at the scene.  As a result of these events the 101^st CST was deployed to work for the Incident Commander. 

Once on scene the CST learned that a package had sprayed liquid on a worker at the City Hall.  The liquid was simulating a dangerous toxin that would make a person very ill and require hospitalization.  Under the direction of the Incident Commander the CST made entry into the building and used a variety of equipment to determine the nature of the hazard and advised medical authorities how best to treat the person that was sprayed.”

I am proud to say this exercise was a success and a testament to the high level of readiness of our first responders and all the first responders that support our community.

This was the final of three training exercises that were held this spring between the Meridian Police, Fire Department, and the 101^st CST.   What this means for our community is the confirmation that if a need arises, your first responders – the Meridian Police and Fire Departments – are more than capable of meeting your needs.

If you would like to share your experience with our first responders, send me an email at mayortammy@meridiancity.org and together we can celebrate Meridian.

Health screenings for seniors, a community pathway, an afterschool transportation program, food for those in need, and down payment assistance for new homebuyers: at first glance the list above does not seem have anything in common.  However, these are all activities being undertaken by community organizations throughout Meridian that are recipients of grant funds through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.  Each year Meridian receives an allocation of these funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) according to a formula that takes into consideration the percentage of Meridian residents who are at a low to moderate income level. 

The purpose of the CDBG program is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, especially for low- and moderate income individuals and families.  The City works to accomplish the goals of the CDBG Program by first identifying the needs of the community and then seeking out community partners who have the capacity to carry out specific activities or projects.  Each year a variety of community partners submit their ideas for ways to achieve the goals of the program, and through an open and public process the City Council determines how much grant funding to allocate to which community organizations.  These partnerships have included the Meridian Boys & Girls Club, the Meridian Food Bank, the Meridian Senior Center, Ada County Housing Authority, Neighborhood Housing Services, and the Meridian Development Corporation.

This week the City is kicking off planning for the upcoming CDBG Program Year with a workshop for all current and potential community partners on Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in City Hall. The workshop will provide potential grant recipients with specific program criteria, requirements and timelines for applying.  If you are involved with or know of an organization that may have an interest in partnering with the City please attend the workshop this Friday or call Lori Den Hartog, CDBG Administrator at 884-5533 with any questions.

By Chad Neal,

Most of us remember what business was like before e-mail, before that term even entered our lexicon.  The internet has evolved into a tool, a meeting place, and a vast encyclopedia of knowledge.  It has also attracted ethical and unethical hackers, devoted to exploiting virtual holes in webpage’s and applications.  These hackers create and develop methods and programs to gain sensitive information from users without their direct knowledge.

Our Information Technology (IT) professionals are custodians of the City’s data and network security.  They are constantly trying to anticipate security holes and effectively manage our current layers of security.  They create security policies for the benefit of the organization and filter internet traffic, because of the potential for harm to the organization.

All IT systems, professional or personal, are vulnerable daily to attack from unscrupulous types that want to impact these systems.  Some of these “hackers” merely want to cause mischief, but others wish to cause real damage and want to cripple a system by having professionals spend a great deal of time undoing the damage.  As the protectors of our network our IT is vigilant in security, solving attempts to crash our system, and pro-actively seeking ways to prevent future impacts.  The job is tiring and challenging, but vital and necessary to keeping our City running 24/7.

When dealing with email, we all need to be on guard as to the risks associated with electronic communication.  At a minimum make sure to have software to protect your computer from viruses and spam.

Although we all wish that having software to protect us would be sufficient to eliminate risk, ultimately computer safety can’t be the sole responsibility of the software vendors.  The best person to protect your computer and data is you. You provide what software can’t, the human element which is able to recognize when things don’t seem right.  If an email seems suspicious, it is always best to delete it.  But if you have any doubt as to the validity of the email here are some ways to recognize potentially harmful e-mails:

-          If you do not know who the sender is, or which organization they are from, please do not even open the e-mail.  If you’d like to check the validity of their e-mail address, try Googling it.  If it is a reputable sender, there is sure to be a website or information on their organization.

-          If you recognize the sender, but the subject line seems strange, this may be a malicious e-mail.  It is up to your judgment as to whether or not to open.

-          If you work for an organization that facilitates e-mail and you receive an e-mail that wants you to validate your e-mail account, change your password, or verify your personal information by clicking on a website link, please verify the e-mail with your IT department before clicking on anything.  Typically, your organization will not ask you to verify any information about yourself by asking you in an e-mail.

Network security is something to be cognizant of no matter where you are.  It applies to all sizes of businesses and home users as well.  The internet has revolutionized the world and brought it to our fingertips.  Network security is something to be cognizant of no matter where you are.  The City is fortunate to have some of the best IT professional’s available to protect the public’s resources, but you don’t have to be an IT expert to protect your home computer, you just need to use your common sense.  If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. 

by Mike Barton, Parks Maintenance Foreman

Whether it’s patching Asphalt or repairing a Zero-depth water feature, the Parks Maintenance Division inspects and repairs everything from A to Z.

When you think of parks, the first thing that comes to mind is grass and trees. Yes, grass and trees are important, but without the infrastructure that supports it, parks wouldn’t have much recreational value. Our park users expect facilities that are properly maintained and safe for use.

We have a comprehensive inspection program that involves inspecting each infrastructure item in each park on a monthly basis. The condition of each item is noted on an inspection form that rates the condition from being good to needing repair.  If an item is noted as “needs repair,” it is put on the schedule and given a priority ranking for repair. Once repairs are completed, the date is documented, and the item is closed. This systematic approach to infrastructure repair creates facilities that are properly maintained.

Playgrounds are one of the most popular amenities in our park system. Due to their popularity and heavy use, their condition is of the utmost importance. Our inspection program follows national standards for the inspection and repair of playgrounds, as defined by the National Playground Safety Institute. Similar to the infrastructure inspection program, we inspect every component of each playground once a month. Repair items are noted and immediately repaired ensuring all of our playgrounds are safe for use.

When you visit one of our truly great parks and notice an item that needs attention, please don’t hesitate to call the Parks and Recreation office at 888-3579 or e-mail us at recreation@meridiancity.org.

By Reta Cunningham, Deputy Director- Meridian City Finance

The Ada County Assessor is responsible for collecting taxes for all the taxing districts within the county.    To calculate the amount to collect from each property owner they apply the formula below:

The process starts with the Ada County Assessor evaluating your property and assigning it a market value.  Next taxing districts (such as City of Meridian) submit a budget request to the Assessor.  The Assessor divides the budget by the taxable value of all of the properties within the taxing district and determines the tax levy.  The Assessor multiplies that levy rate times your property value to determine the tax due.

There are 40 taxing districts in Ada County.  The total property tax for City of Meridian residents has 10 or 11 taxing districts:

              City of Meridian

              Meridian Schools

              Ada County

              Ada County Highway District

              Ada County Ambulance

              Library

              Cemetery

              Western Ada Recreation

              College of Western Idaho

              Mosquito Abatement

              Meridian Downtown Corp (those in downtown district)

This is a bit simplified because there are exceptions, exemptions, annexations and new construction that can impact the budget request or the property’s taxable value.   There is a statutory limit on the amount the City submits for its budget request; it cannot be more than 3% over the prior year’s budget request.

The City can of course ask for a 1%, 2%,   or no increase.  For its FY2011 budget year the City did not ask for any increase in the budget amount.   At some point in the future the City can ask for that extra 3% (or foregone funds) to be returned.

In addition to the property on the County’s books the City can tax new construction that is not “on the books yet” since property tax is paid in arrears.  This helps the City keep up with population growth and demands for public safety and other services that exceed the capacity of only a 3% increase per year.

The exemption is the “homeowners exemption” that allows owners of primary residences to reduce the taxable value of their property.  Primary residence means that you live in the home and it is not a rental or vacation property.  This amount can go up or down each year based on legislative action.

History of Homeowners Exemption

1980-1982        $  10,000

1983- 2005       $  50,000

2006                 $  75,000

2007                 $  89,325

2008                $100,938

2009                $104,471

2010                $101,153

You may think if the levy rate goes up your property tax bill will also go up but as you can see that may not be the case.  If your property value decreased, even if the total levy rate increases your tax bill may go down from the previous year.  Here is an example of a Meridian home where the total levy rate increased while the property tax decreased because property values fell.

             Year               Assessed Value          Property Tax              Levy Rate

             2007               $211,200                    $1,235.13                   1.013%

             2008               $206,600                    $1,104.91                   1.045%          

             2009               $169,300                    $   985.28                   1.163%

             2010               $144,500                    $   937.22                   1.297%

When property market values plummet (as they have the past few years) it drives the levy rate up even if the City does not increase the amount of its budget.  You can see this in the example below;

The City of Meridian website has a link to the Ada County Assessors webpage which allows you to do a property search to see history of your own levy rates, property values and assessed tax.  We also provide history of the Meridian districts levy rates.   Go to   meridiancity.org / Departments / Finance / Tax Levy Rate Information, to access this information and the link for Ada County Property Search.

By Pam Orr-Meridian Fire Department

On March 31st, the Meridian Fire and Police Department’s will once again partner to present Meridian City’s Public Safety Academy.  We are starting class VIII and still have some available openings for people who live or work in this great city.

Just what is the Public Safety Academy?  Both departments show participants what it is like to be a member of a public safety organization.  Students hear and experience first hand knowledge of firefighters and police officers in the field. 

Participants have an opportunity to: Meet the Mayor, Fire and Police Chiefs, visit the 911 dispatch center and the ADA County jail.  They also learn what Meridian detectives and fire investigators are challenged with, they practice CSI duties, learn about traffic stops, to include hands-on use of tools of the trade such as the radar gun and others, they learn about drugs in our community, and how the K-9’s work and are trained.  Students are given the chance to wear all the gear necessary while performing building searches looking for criminals or fire victims.  Learning CPR and first aid, how to protect your family from fires, and an opportunity to learn about fire behavior and fire extinguishment are also covered. 

Classes meet in Meridian on Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00pm.  There are four Saturday commitments the departments call Super Saturdays as they are exciting hands-on meetings that include opportunities to drive department vehicles, rappel from the training tower, shoot fire arms and fire hose, learn about TAZERs, cut up cars using many tools of the trade and so much more!   

The Meridian Public Safety Academy is free of charge, but you are required to complete an application and make a commitment to attendance. 

If this opportunity sounds like something you are interested in and you live or work in Meridian; contact Pam Orr at 888-1234/ porr@meridiancity.org or Melissa Delaney at 846-7360 / mdelaney@meridiancity.org for an application.  

Brenda L. Sherwood

Economic Development Administrator

Industry Clusters – A centerpiece for economic development and a strategy for growing jobs.

Many of you, I’m sure, have been hearing a lot about The CORE in the newspaper and on the news.  The CORE is Meridian’s Health Science Technology Corridor, a private/public partnership developed to excel the growth of the health science industries in Meridian.  For those of you catching up on Meridian’s economic development strategies, let me begin with a brief explanation of cluster development.  The idea behind ‘clusters’ (sometimes referred to as corridors) are interrelated firms and supporting and coordinating organizations geographically concentrated in close proximity of each other.  These concentrations are usually comprised of companies, suppliers, institutions, services and universities that together create powerful synergies and sustainable partnerships developed to share ideas, start new enterprises and create jobs!  Their ssophisticated knowledge about their industry becomes the centerpiece for local and regional economic development.

The key to developing a marketing plan for targeted industries is to facilitate the development of new job creation.  A determination that many of our Meridian citizens said the City should focus on to create a better economy.

Industry clusters drive the economy and clusters emerge from a region’s core competencies.  In other words, if we encourage the growth of the types of economic activity that is already going on in our region, then we position ourselves to be the leaders in a growing market, develop new technologies and create a better skilled workforce.  New companies interested in coming to the area will not win without encouraging a strong “homegrown” regional economy.

According to the Brookings study, ‘The best way to create more jobs in a state is to grow them at home, rather than poach them from elsewhere: Some 95 percent of all job gains in a year in an average state come from the expansion of existing businesses or the birth of new establishments.’

However, the same Brookings study suggests that company attraction accounts for only 2 percent of job growth, with expansion of existing companies accounting for 43 percent of new employment. The preponderance of new jobs are created by new startup companies. Startups grow up and account for a whopping 56 percent of all job creation.

We are all about jobs! We are committed to growing our health sciences and technology industry and bringing more jobs to The CORE and Meridian. Nearly 5,000 people are employed by health sciences companies in Meridian, with an average wage of almost $50,000 a year. Despite the recession, the health science industry in Meridian was one of the few sectors to see job growth. 

Our strategic planning efforts will look at several other industries to create the same kind of dynamic job growth throughout Meridian.  Communities need “change agents” who help initiate innovation and diversify the economy.  We plan to work harder and smarter to bring about change and jobs. 

By Jacy Jones, Deputy City Clerk

Who built my house?  I am remodeling and need a copy of the original floor plans.  I just moved to Meridian; what was the average water, sewer, and garbage utility bill for my residence last year?  My child is working on a school project for their government class; how do I get copies of the ordinances passed this year?  All of these questions and many more can be answered through the City of Meridian’s public record request process.

The City of Meridian is a Public agency.  It differs from other entities doing business in the area in that most records generated are public in nature and therefore, when requested, the City must disclose these documents to the public to be in compliance with Idaho State law.  To comply with these laws and to assure citizens of Meridian that their requests are a high priority to City staff on March 2, 2010 the City of Meridian City Council adopted Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 6.17.

By law when a request is received Staff must respond within three business days.  That does not always mean that the record will be supplied within those three days.  While that is always our goal; occasionally in the three day period all we have learned is that we need more time to complete the request.  IF that is the case we can request an additional seven business days.  This means that when a request is received by the end of ten business days the requestor (you, the public) should have a response to the request.

As part of our internal SOP the City Clerk’s Office is to receive all requests and act as a point of contact between the Public and other City departments.  When a request is received Clerk’s staff log that request and then distributes it to other City departments who may have the responsive document(s).  The Clerk’s Office keeps the other departments updated as to the timeline of the request and when the timeline has expired.  Once the document has been located it is sent back to Clerk’s staff.  The information is then copied and routed to the Legal Department for approval.  Once it is approved the document(s) is then released to the requestor.  Having the Clerk’s staff manage requests has reduced a duplication of efforts within the City and made processing public records requests much more efficient.

Last year 249 public record requests were received and processed by City staff. This means that all 249 requestors received a response by City staff within the required timeline.  By doing this we hope to continue to earn the Public’s trust and show how important transparency is to our City.  Whether we have the document you are hoping to acquire or not we guarantee that you will receive exceptional customer service because while complying with Idaho State law is of upmost priority to our staff, being in line with the City of Meridian’s values and providing the best for the community we serve is what we strive for on a daily basis.  If you have questions, information, or documents you would like to obtain you may contact the City Clerk’s office at 208-888-4433 or access the public records request form online from the City Clerk’s webpage or by clicking HERE.  

By: Erin Lammers, Benefits Support Coordinator-City of Meridian

Three years ago the City of Meridian along with St. Luke’s Health Solutions introduced a Wellness program to all city employees to provide education, opportunities, and fun activities for all City employees to become more aware of their health and how the choices they make can positively affect their health.  Since 2009 the Wellness program has flourished, inspiring change in many of our city’s employees.

The City of Meridian knows the importance of a healthy workforce and how it can help to reduce the cost of health care.  According to HR Magazine Wellness programs after 3 to 5 years on average can expect to save between $1.50 and $3.00 for every dollar invested into wellness; which comes as a great value to the City in economically tough times. 

The Wellness program offers employees many opportunities to learn how to make healthier eating choices with weekly/monthly tips and healthy recipes; achieve fitness goals; participate in community events; compete in health challenges/competitions; and encourages employees to try new activities like yoga and kettle bells.  In a recent challenge employees were encouraged to do push ups to exhaustion.  The challenge was an eye opener for many after experiencing soreness; commenting that this is something they should do everyday.  

To date, the program has a total of 125 members who actively participate and are willing to make positive changes to improve their overall wellness.  The current challenge is Survivor, a 10-week weight loss and maintenance program which has 20 tribes and 91 tribe members all competing in weekly health and fitness challenges; to date tribal leaders have reported a total of 180 pounds lost during the first three weeks.  The City of Meridian is committed to supporting our employees as they achieve their health and wellness goals.

By Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea

We have been very busy at the Police Department working with our City Leaders, Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition, Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, Office of Drug Policy and our State Legislators.  We have been working on a statewide texting and driving bill, a bill to ban the chemicals for making the drug “spice” and now we are working very diligently to ban the chemical used to create a new drug being marketed as “bath salts”.

In the last couple of weeks, the Boise Police Department has dealt with a couple of very disturbing incidents involving someone under the influence of these “bath salts.”  In our city as well, we had a young man who was in a coma and almost lost his life, due to the use of this drug.  “Bath Salts” have very similar characteristics to methamphetamine, ecstasy and or cocaine; as a matter of fact it is often referred to as “synthetic cocaine.”  The City of Meridian feels we need to get ahead of this before it becomes a greater problem and before we suffer an actual death from the use of this drug.  So we are taking a very active role in working with the state to curb its availability and use.

Without a doubt we have received some criticism on our work to ban “spice” and “bath salts”, however it is criticism we are happy to take.  When it comes to the youth of our community, we refuse to let someone peddle poison to them.  We have had business owners claim these products have legitimate use and say it is not for human consumption yet they market it to kids with names like Zombie Matter, Ace of Spades, Blue Sky, Ivory Wave etc…

The Meridian Police Department will continue to work with the public and with our Officials to keep Meridian a safe place to live, work and raise a family.

By Karie Glenn, Billing Manager

Do you ever feel like your utility bills are just another avenue for more junk mail?  Bills filled with flyers that you don’t want or even read.  Many people just open the envelope far enough to see what the total due is;  perform some quick math for budgeting purposes and file it away until payday.

What you might not know is that the City uses our utility bills to provide vital information to the public.  As the utility manager I would encourage you to take a few extra minutes and examine your bill and all that is included.

Past billing inserts have included calendar reminders for town hall meetings, community events such as CableONE Movie night, Community Block Party and the Christmas Tree lighting.

The City also uses our utility bill to make citizens aware of important community changes.  Recently the City provided information to the community on a ban on texting while driving as well as a ban on the drug commonly known as Spice.

Please, take a moment to review the contents of the envelope when it arrives.  You will be educating your self on our community and learning about amazing events that make our community so great.

Additional information about the City of Meridian can always be found by visiting our website at www.meridiancity.org.  Please feel free to send us an email if you have any suggestions for inserts/announcements that you wish we would provide to our residents.

Utility Billing can be reached at utilitybilling@meridiancity.org.

By Allison Kaptein, Recreation Coordinator

Ignite: verb. To heat up: excite. To set in motion: spark.

On February 4^th, the Teen Activities Council, a sub-committee of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, will be hosting Ignite Youth at Rocky Mountain High School. Ignite Youth is an event where high school aged students get the opportunity to share their passions, concerns, and ideas with an audience of their peers, as well as other community members of all ages. Ignite is an event that was started by a Seattle-based marketing company as a venue for people to share their ideas with others. Each speaker spoke for five minutes and used exactly twenty PowerPoint slides to convey their message. The event was a huge success, and now Ignite events are held all over the world, including a recurring event in Boise. While youth have participated in various Ignite events worldwide, Ignite Youth in Meridian will be the first ever youth-only event.

Youth interested in giving a “talk” at the event were required to submit their ideas online, and we have received submissions from students at schools around the Meridian area, including submissions from students who attend Meridian, Rocky Mountain, Mountain View, and Renaissance High Schools.

Ignite Youth is also a competition, not only among the individuals giving a talk, but also between the local high schools. The winner will receive a prize, and the school they attend will receive a trophy for their school’s trophy case. The competition will be judged by local celebrity and dignitary judges, including Mayor Tammy de Weerd and Kyle Gravlin of Today’s Channel 6.

The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council is exited to bring this seminal event to our community and to continue it annually.

Five minutes. Twenty slides. Come to Ignite Youth on February 4^th to participate in this landmark event and to find out about the passions and ideas of our youth.

For more information, contact Allison Kaptein at 489-0550 or Luke Cavener at 489-0535.

By: Mayor Tammy

Every day the residents of the Treasure Valley travel over, under or through the Meridian Road Interchange as part of their daily travels or commute. The current interchange is in desperate need of replacement.  We came together as a community and made 10 Mile Interchange happen.  Once again we need to come together and get this project funded and built as well. 

Originally designed in the 1960’s to serve a rural community, the Meridian Road Interchange was built with 50-foot spans across Interstate 84 and no pedestrian or bicycle facilities, such as bike lanes, sidewalks, or security railings.  While acceptable for the time when Meridian’s population was approximately 2,000 people, today’s current population (approximately 75,000) grossly exceeds what this facility was designed to handle.  The increased traffic and mobility demands combined with the inadequacies of the current Meridian Road Interchange are creating a safety and mobility problem that affects not only Meridian but the entire region.

Today the Meridian Road Interchange is the second busiest intersection in the state with roughly 40,000 vehicles accessing it daily.  In addition, pedestrians and bicyclists run the risk of being injured when they traverse the interchange as there are no current sidewalks or pathways.  With the close proximity to Wahooz and Roaring Springs, providing safe access for the public should be a priority. 

As well, ask any daily commuter that travels under Meridian overpass on I-84 and they will tell you that the Meridian Road Interchange is a choke point or bottle neck for many commuters.  The current design of the overpass doesn’t allow for more than three lanes to travel under Meridian Road, despite the fact that completed GARVEE projects have widened lanes on both sides of the Meridian Road Interchange to four lanes in each direction.

Many of you have already chosen to be a “fan” of the City on Facebook.  If you haven’t you can click here to be taken to our page.  Facebook, as well as Twitter, has been a great tool to communicate with our community on a number of different subjects.  Continuing our effort to inform and engage the public, we have recently launched a new Facebook page to “Rebuild the Meridian Road Interchange.”  This page is a community driven project designed to bring attention to this vital project for our community page and we need your help to spread the word.  You can click here to become a fan of this page.

As the legislative session moves forward, as a community we need to utilize any opportunity to get this project back in the Garvee program.  Please visit our page to find information on how to contact your representative.  Let them know how important this project is, to not just Meridian, but to the entire Treasure Valley.  

Have a unique way for the City to share information? I want to hear about it, email me at MayorTammy@meridiacity.org.  We want to Celebrate Meridian with examples of the many people and events that make our community the premier city to live, work, and raise a family.

By Shelly Houston, Mayor’s Office

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

Dr. King, a tireless supporter of human rights, believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by applying the principles of nonviolence to make our country a better place to live. 

Many people are not aware that to honor that legacy, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994 in hopes that others would honor that legacy by annually taking the day off from work or school to spend it in service to their communities.

Each year, in that spirit, Americans across the country answer Dr. King’s question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. In fact, the MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call-to-service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.

For those who volunteer on a regular basis, as many Meridian residents do, a MLK Day service project could be a great way to show friends and family the importance of volunteering and encourage them to get involved.

For those who have never volunteered before but have the desire to do so, this could be the perfect time to find the right opportunity to give volunteerism a try or perhaps begin volunteering on a regular basis.

If you need ideas on possible service projects, the Internet is a great resource. Websites like serveidaho.com and dosomething.org have some great ideas to get you started, or you can simply type “service project ideas” into your favorite Internet search engine and begin exploring the possibilities.

As you’ll see, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can get involved by finding creative ways in their community to empower individuals, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community.

By Anna Canning, City of Meridian Planning Director

In 1975, State Legislators enacted a law that required all Idaho cities and counties to adopt a comprehensive plan. The statutes gave guidance on what the plan should consider and the function the plan needed to serve for the community. The Land Use Planning Act (LUPA), as it is known, remains largely unchanged to this date.

In response to that requirement, the City of Meridian adopted their first comprehensive plan in 1978. At the time, the City also had a subdivision ordinance and a zoning ordinance in place.

By 1983, the City had started to feel pressure from development; the Idaho Transportation Department had recently decided to build an interchange at Eagle Road, and developers were requesting permission to annex to the City and build a regional shopping center. The City knew that the 1978 plan was not providing the guidance and support needed to advance the goals of the City. From May 1983 to March 1984, the City Council conducted several hearings and workshops on a new comprehensive plan and a new zoning ordinance to implement that plan.

Fast forward now to the summer of 1993. Again the City is looking to update and modernize its comprehensive plan. Citizens representing neighborhood groups, developers, real estate professionals, and public agencies participated in the update process, and a modernized City of Meridian Comprehensive Plan was adopted on December 21, 1993. This time the zoning ordinance was left largely the same.

By the late 1990s, the Eagle Road interchange opened and residential development in North Meridian was booming; the pressure for the City to develop and grow quickly was unprecedented. In response, the City of Meridian issued a request for qualifications on November 3, 1998, to prepare an updated comprehensive plan. By June 1999, the process of developing Meridian’s 2002 Comprehensive Plan had begun. After many public hearings, the plan was adopted by the City Council on August 6, 2002.

This 2002 Comprehensive Plan called for new ways of thinking about land uses and how they should be integrated and mixed. The City quickly found that the existing zoning ordinance was ill equipped at carrying out the vision of the 2002 plan. In 2004, the City initiated an effort to re-do the entire zoning ordinance and to combine it with our subdivision ordinance thus creating a Unified Development Code. The Unified Development Code was a collaborative project of City staff, business owners, technical staff, elected and appointed officials, and the development community. By 2005, the City had adopted a new code that ensured that development met the vision set for the City, while also addressing current development practices.

As the City has grown and successfully overcome challenge after challenge, we feel that the goals and policies in our comprehensive plan meet the City’s needs. However, we recognize that much of the background material used in the 2002 plan is now out-of-date. Additionally, we have completed many of the tasks set to us in that plan and need to add to our “to-do” list. For that reason, City staff initiated what we are calling a “re-vamp” of the comprehensive plan. Our goal was to: 1) update the demographic and technical information in the plan; 2) update our analysis of such information; and 3) include a few key topics that were not discussed in the 2002 plan—specifically, economic development, sustainability, and art.  Last Fall we presented the updated technical information to the Council. We then concluded our work with our topic subgroups and folded their recommended goals, objectives, and actions into the lists for the overall plan.

Hopefully you heard about and attended our town hall meeting to discuss all the goals and objectives.  We received great ideas from the public that attended and we were certainly able to add to our “to-do” list based on those comments.

Now we (City Staff) are ready to take it public once again. We will formally submit the “re-vamped” comprehensive plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission later this month. We will post the draft copy on-line, and we hope you have the time to review and make comments.

As staff, we are excited about this new plan and new format. We believe it will be more useful to the public and our applicants. We want a great plan, but we need your help!

WHAT really makes a plan great is the ideas and comments that the public adds in the process.

We cannot do this on our own. Please look for upcoming notices on the City’s website and other social media about the plan. Please comment. Give us ideas. Make this a great plan for a great City.

Over the past 18 months I have used this blog to share with our community some of the many things we have to celebrate about in Meridian.  From community leaders to awards received, we have had a lot to share.  Today I’m excited to announce that the City is continuing this trend with a new partnership with Mountain View High School and Treasure Valley Community Television (TVCTV). 

Beginning in January CableONE subscribers can turn to channel 39 every Thursday at 8:00 pm for Celebrate Meridian, a 30 minute focus on our community.  For those of you who don’t have CableONE, Celebrate Meridian can be viewed on the City’s website in the video section after it airs on channel 39.

Each month Celebrate Meridian will discuss timely issues and feature guests who will give perspective and provide information about our community.  January’s guests include Senator Russ Fulcher and Representative Marv Hagedorn.  Both legislators share their thoughts on the upcoming 2011 legislative session and how it relates to our community.  This is great information for those looking to learn more about our community.  I appreciate both of my guests for taking time out of their busy schedule to share their thoughts.

In addition to guests, Celebrate Meridian will include updates about community events as well as profiles on Meridian businesses and exceptional student leaders.  Each episode will conclude with an “Ask the Mayor” segment where I answer viewer questions.  If you have a question you’d like to ask on Celebrate Meridian, send us an email by clicking here.

This program is produced in partnership with the students at Mountain View High School.  Every month the students in media production at the school volunteer their time to help direct and produce Celebrate Meridian.  The program is taped on a set inside the high school using the school’s equipment and operators. Under the direction of their instructor Michael Gartner, these students have received a variety of national awards for television production and we are excited to be working along side these future media professionals. 

I hope you will tune in or log on to Celebrate Meridian each month to learn more about our community.  Do you have an idea for a future show?  If so I want to hear about it. Email me at MayorTammy@meridiancity.org and together we can recognize those individuals and Celebrate Meridian as the premier community to live, work and raise a family.

By, Brenda Sherwood, Economic Development Coordinator

As the year draws to an end, it’s commonplace for many businesses (real estate agencies, banks, financial consultants, etc.) to throw their annual economic forecast events predicting the outcome of the year to come.  Now if you’re feeling like me, I’ve had it up to my eyebrows with the negative!  Yes, we’ve seen some of the worst turbulences in recession history and there are still many efforts that need to be made, but I’m certainly seeing a lot of economic indicators that are pointing towards an upturn in our economy.

Beginning this past month, The Mayor’s Economic Excellence Team has focused attention to our Business Retention and Expansion Program.  Its objective is to help existing businesses become more competitive, encourage synergistic collaborations and   to simply thank each company for being such a viable asset in the community.  Our BR&E program has engaged a variety of state agencies, higher learning institutions and local economic development organizations to participate in the future growth of businesses in Meridian.  Our formation of numerous strategic partnerships was designed to bring this commitment to a greater level. 

Why Retention?

Many assume that economic development means attracting new business or industry to the community.  I have people on the street asking me all the time, ‘what companies are coming into town?’  In this economy, many businesses are still hesitant to just pick up and move or expand their company to another state.  Actually, in good times and in bad, there is greater economic potential when helping one of your existing businesses or industries survive, grow and prosper.  These businesses account for nearly 80% of all new jobs created.  Retaining businesses that are already located here, and taking the time and energy to grow them, contributes more ‘bang for the buck’ than trying to lure new business into our area.

Now, I shifted into business retention to focus on the positive!  A majority of the companies we’ve met with here in Meridian have been reporting gains and growth for the past several months.  Time after time, we’re hearing companies tell us that they are finally starting to experience numbers similar to those before the recession.  If there’s anything that has put me into the holiday spirit, it’s the enthusiasm and positive attitude by the many CEO’s, Presidents, managers and owners of the companies we’ve visited here in Meridian.

We have a long way to go and it will take some time for companies to reestablish their confidence again to begin hiring, but for many businesses, hope is just on the horizon.

The Mayor’s Economic Excellence Team is committed to retaining and expanding the existing businesses that sustain our community, so when an economic development professional contacts your business, please take the time to set up an appointment with us.  We invite you to share with us what's holding you back from growing and making new jobs for our friends, partners and children. You'll be surprised what's out there to support growth, once you find the person(s) that can help you navigate the "system.”

To schedule a visit from our Economic Excellence Team, please contact me at 208.489.0537

May the year ahead bring peace, good health and much happiness to you and yours.  Happy Holidays.

By: Tim Curns, Transportation & Utility Coordinator

With multiple City of Meridian utility projects beginning soon we wanted to give you a heads-up so that you can plan your commutes accordingly. Please note that residents in the project areas will be notified closer to construction beginning to inform them of how they will be affected. Here is a quick summary of what to expect:

Currently, work is underway on E. Carlton Avenue in the downtown area to replace aging water mains. This work is anticipated to be complete by the end of January with intermittent lane restrictions and closures.

The McMillan and Locust Grove Intersection will be under construction beginning this month and ending in August. The Ada County Highway District (ACHD) will be reconstructing the intersection and adding a traffic signal. In conjunction with this project, the City is relocating water mains to accommodate the road widening. Stay up to date on road closures by visiting the ACHD construction website.

During the late winter and spring of 2011, construction will also being on NW 4^th Street and adjoining sections of W. Washington Street and W. Carlton Avenue This project will upgrade aging water mains and relocate the existing sewer pipelines.

In the late spring of 2011, construction will commence on W. Maple Avenue to upgrade undersized and aging water mains.

Questions regarding the Carlton, NW 4^th Street, and Maple Avenue utility projects can be directed to the Meridian Public Works Department at 898-5500.

For questions about the McMillan and Locust Grove Intersection Project please contact ACHD at 387-6100. Any utility related questions about this project can be directed to Meridian Public Works.

Affected streets for the NW 4^th and Maple Ave Projects

By, Stacy Kilchenmann

It’s December and most people are busy with holiday preparations.  In the City’s accounting department we are very busy too, but not with visions of sugarplums but rather debits and credits and cash reconciliations.  We are preparing our FY2010 financials statements and getting ready for our annual upcoming financial statement audit. 

The following excerpts provide a brief explanation of what a financial audit is and a history of the audit function.   You can find the City’s most recent audits on our Finance webpage.

Financial audits exist to add credibility to the implied assertion by an organization's management that its financial statements fairly represent the organization's position and performance to the organization’s stakeholders (interested parties).   The audit is designed to decrease the possibility that a material misstatement is not detected by audit procedures. A misstatement is defined as false or missing information, whether caused by fraud (including deliberate misstatement) or error. "Material" is very broadly defined as being large enough or important enough to cause stakeholders to alter their decisions.

The exact form and content of the "audit opinion" will vary between countries, firms and audited organizations.

In the US, the CPA firm provides written assurance that financial reports are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), where the threshold for materiality is determined via auditor's judgment.

City’s financial audits are governed by the Government Accounting Standards Board.  GASB issues accounting standards those governments are required to follow.  These standards have the goal of increasing transparency, accountability and consistency.  GASB in recent years has also required conversion of the fund accounting used in government accounting to full accrual accounting so that year-end statements are comparable to a business financial statement.

History

Audit of government expenditure

The earliest surviving mention of a public official charged with auditing government expenditure is a reference to the Auditor of the Exchequer in England in 1314. The Auditors of the Imprest were established under Queen Elizabeth I in 1559 with formal responsibility for auditing Exchequer payments. This system gradually lapsed and in 1780, Commissioners for Auditing the Public Accounts were appointed by statute. From 1834, the Commissioners worked in tandem with the Comptroller of the Exchequer, who was charged with controlling the issue of funds to the government.

As Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Ewart Gladstone initiated major reforms of public finance and Parliamentary accountability. His 1866 Exchequer and Audit Departments Act required all departments, for the first time, to produce annual accounts, known as appropriation accounts. The Act also established the position of Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and an Exchequer and Audit Department (E&AD) to provide supporting staff from within the civil service. The C&AG was given two main functions – to authorize the issue of public money to government from the Bank of England, having satisfied himself that this was within the limits Parliament had voted – and to audit the accounts of all Government departments and report to Parliament accordingly.

Auditing of UK government expenditure is now carried out by the National Audit Office. Sing industry (acting through various organizations throughout the years) as to the accounting standards for financial reporting, and the U.S. Congress has deferred to the SEC.

This is also typically the case in other developed economies. In the UK, auditing guidelines are set by the institutes (including ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS and ICAI) of which auditing firms and individual auditors are members.

Accordingly, financial auditing standards and methods have tended to change significantly only after auditing failures. The most recent and familiar case is that of Enron. The company succeeded in hiding some important facts, such as off-book liabilities, from banks and shareholders. Eventually, Enron filed for bankruptcy, and (as of 2006^[update]) is in the process of being dissolved. One result of this scandal was that Arthur Andersen, then one of the five largest accountancy firms worldwide, lost their ability to audit public companies, essentially killing off the firm.

A recent trend in audits (spurred on by such accounting scandals as Enron and Worldcom) has been an increased focus on internal control procedures, which aim to ensure the completeness, accuracy and validity of items in the accounts, and restricted access to financial systems. This emphasis on the internal control environment is now a mandatory part of the audit of SEC-listed companies, under the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) set up by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Meridian’s Promise recently held its annual Business Supporting Youth Awards program. During the presentation, Mayor Tammy, along with Meridian’s Promise President Mark Bennett, handed out awards to three outstanding individuals and groups who regularly go out of their way to support Meridian’s Youth.

What makes each of these winners so important and such good examples to our community is that they are not in traditional “kid-focused” businesses. They aren’t daycare centers; they aren’t pediatricians; they don’t run amusement parks. Yet they have each found unique ways, within their spheres of influence, to engage and enrich our city’s young people.

Let me tell you a bit about each of them.   

Our Individual Winner is Rich Nesbit, a local family man and realtor for EXIT Realty. He is extremely active participant in the Meridian Kiwanis, dedicating more than 300 volunteer hours to their year-round projects, many of which directly benefit children and families.

He is a liaison for the K-Kids service club at Meridian Elementary as well as the Builder’s Club at Meridian Middle School.

Rich has made his realty office a “safe place” for the kids who wait out front for the school bus. During the winter months and inclement weather kids are invited to wait indoor in the front lobby while waiting for their bus.

He offers his services at the Meridian Boys & Girls Club, reading books during story time and obtaining donations of needed supplies. Earlier this summer he coordinated vendors to voluntarily repair the club’s HVAC system, repair the sprinkler system, and improve the outdoor landscaping.

Rich has spent time as a field trip parent for both his kids, been a soccer coach for two different youth teams, and a game day coach and team manager within Meridian’s youth soccer program.

When it comes to making sure Meridian kids get off to a healthy start, our Small Business Winner -- the Idaho Dairy Products Commission -- does more than its share to encourage strong, fit, healthy kids.

This non-profit group, with the cooperation of the members of the Idaho Dairy Council and United Dairymen of Idaho, regularly provides healthy milk, ice cream, cheese, and yogurt snacks at a variety of children’s events free of charge – including Meridian’s Free Family Fishing Day.

They have provided more than $100,000 in in-kind and monetary donations to Meridian’s middle schools, provide milk and dairy products to students at low income schools, and awarded a $12,000 prize to Meridian’s Siena K-8 School as Idaho’s winning school in the Fuel Up to Play 60 competition.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a national school wellness program that is works with youth, schools and communities to offer actionable solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic and help youth develop positive life-long healthy eating and daily physical activity habits.

Wells Fargo, our Large Business winner, is truly a driving force in the Treasure Valley, helping support programs as diverse as the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the Boise Art Museum, Ballet Idaho, The Boise Philharmonic, and the World Center for Birds of Prey.

When funds are tight in the school district, one area which understandably feels the pinch is bussing for field trips. Yet thanks to a $7,500 grant from Wells Fargo, Meridian students were able to be on the move. 2^nd and 3^rd graders got an opportunity to learn about agriculture at the Ag Expo. 4^th graders go a first-hand look at Idaho history by attending Idaho History day, and 3^rd graders experienced the splendor of live music by the Boise Philharmonic.

However, Wells Fargo is about much more than money. They encourage their employees to volunteer in the classroom, donate books to the Reading First program, and actively participate with youth-focused groups such as the YMCA’s Strong Kids campaign, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Computers for Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and youth scholarship programs.

Wells Fargo is proud to support organizations working to strengthen our community. Through the efforts of their enthusiastic team member, volunteers, and contributions, they share their success within our community by giving back to non-profits and educational institutions that address vital community needs and issues.

As you can see, each of our three Business Supporting Youth Award honorees have found ways to help fulfill our community’s promise to youth, each in their own unique ways.

Hopefully their stories will inspire you or your company to do more for the youngsters who are Meridian’s future leaders, and perhaps to join Meridian’s Promise, our community’s initiative to build the character and competence of their community’s youth by fulfilling each child’s need for the Five Promises set forth by America’s Promise -- The National Alliance for Youth. These Five Promises are (1) Caring Adults with which they have ongoing supportive relationships; (2) Safe Places with structured activities during non-school hours; (3) A Healthy Start and future; (4) Marketable Skills through effective education; and (5) Opportunities to Give Back through community service.

Let’s all help pull our weight and ensure a bright and prosperous future for our community’s youth.

By Colin Moss, Recreation Coordinator

The Christmas season is fast approaching, and the Parks and Recreation Department is already in the holiday spirit.  The City’s Christmas tree was delivered to Generations Plaza on November 9th, and staff members have been working hard decorating it along with City Hall and Main Street.  Meridian is a great place to be during Christmas time, so come help us celebrate the season on December 4th with a variety of Christmas activities.

Winterland Parade -

The Winterland Parade, sponsored by Sterling Savings Bank, will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Storey Park (Main and Franklin) and will travel north on Main Street.  The parade features floats, horse units, car clubs, walking groups, and dignitaries.

Children’s Winterland Festival -

This event, hosted by the City of Meridian and the Idaho Parents Directory, is a downsized version of last year’s Christmas Street Faire and will be taking place in the Meridian Community Center (201 E. Idaho) from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.  There will be tons of activities for kids, including Christmas crafts, pictures with Santa, games, letters to Santa, caroling, and more!

Christmas Tree Lighting -

Join Mayor Tammy de Weerd and Stacey Skrysak of Fox 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Generations Plaza on the corner of Main and Idaho as we light Meridian’s tree!  Show up early, though, for a special showing of the cartoon “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” at 5:30 p.m. on the huge, inflatable movie screen that’s used for CableONE Movie Night in Meridian.  The evening will include free donuts and hot chocolate, performances by local school choirs, the announcing of the Christmas essay contest winners, free carriage rides, and the arrival of a very special guest!

Meridian Symphony Orchestra Concert -

The MSO Christmas concert, “Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is presented by Sherer & Wynkoop Law Office and Blue Cross of Idaho, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Meridian Middle School Auditorium.  Visit www.meridiansymphony.org for ticket information.

December 4^th will be a day full of Christmas magic in Meridian; so be sure to stop by and help us kick off the holiday season!

By Mayor Tammy

Community service always plays an important part in our lives as we help one another in times of need and celebration. Just a few weeks ago, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and First Lady Lori recognized 103 volunteers from throughout Idaho in front of approximately 400 guests during the annual Governor's Brightest Star Awards ceremony held at Boise State University. Meridian citizens, businesses, and organizations received several honors during the ceremony that night, giving us much to celebrate.

• Meridian honorees in the Individual Category were long-time civic leader and volunteer Terry P. Smith, who was honored posthumously; Brian Simer who is driving force behind many of Meridian’s youth sports programs; and Janelle Johnson who works tirelessly on projects benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Make-a-Wish, and the Idaho Food Bank.

• Meridian High School student Janelle de Weerd was recognized in the Student Category for her leadership, advocacy, and long-term community service efforts, including lobbying efforts behind Meridian’s recent ban on texting while driving and her leadership in a variety of youth-driven initiatives.

• UltraClean, owned by dynamic Meridian entrepreneur and small business advocate Brandon Wright was recognized by the Governor and First Lady as one of the top candidates in the Small Business Category for its numerous contributions to the community.

• The Meridian Kiwanis, who champion a large variety of programs and projects benefitting Meridian’s family and youth, including the K-Kids Club at Meridian Elementary School and the Builder’s Club at Meridian Middle School, took the top prize in the Organization Category.

• Blue Cross of Idaho and Bodybuilding.com were both nominated for the extraordinary amount of time and talent their staff members donate to our community. And Meridian’s Western States Equipment gained the top award in the Corporate Category, due in large part to their extraordinary efforts in collecting food for the hungry.

With these examples, is it any wonder that Meridian continues to be Idaho’s brightest star; a shining example for other communities in this great state to follow with such wonderful people and companies calling Meridian home?  As Mayor, it is my honor and privilege to work with many of these individuals and businesses, and others who are just as wonderful, on a daily basis. We are truly blessed here in Meridian!  I applaud all of our citizens for their continuous effort to help make our city the premier community to live, work, and raise a family.

Now the Holiday season is upon us and our minds turn to that for which we are most grateful. During this time you no doubt will be spending time with family and friends, taking time to reflect on what you are thankful for or perhaps exchanging gifts and expressing your love.  As a city we will be celebrating this season in a variety of different ways.  I invite you to join us so together, as a community; we can indeed show our unity and appreciation for one another.  It is each and every one of us that makes Meridian special.

One of my favorite activities in Planning is meeting with the public. Public testimony at hearings is interesting in the fresh perspective that citizens bring to the discussion, but nothing is as exhilarating as a good public participation meeting. There have been times (at another jurisdiction) where I was concerned enough about my safety to have plain clothes officers at a particularly contentious meeting, but, you know what, I still had a great time interacting with the public, informing them of work done thus far, letting them know what I would and could do, and most importantly, listening to their concerns. It truly is what is great about being a planner.

The Town Hall Meeting on October 19^th was no exception. We had a great turnout of approximately 40 engaged and interested citizens that had insightful and useful recommendations about how the City of Meridian should develop and grow.  Planning Staff briefly introduced the draft goals and objectives for our 2010 Comprehensive Plan Reformat and Update. This was followed by over an hour of citizens asking questions, providing feedback, and offering their own suggestions for discussion.

The following list summarizes the comments raised by the public during the meeting:

Variety of Uses

More parts of the City need to allow non-residential uses like retail, offices, and industrial.  Specifically, we need to attract more activity centers and entertainment opportunities. We also need more affordable shopping opportunities.

Jobs

We like to see more job opportunities in town. We need to be more than a bedroom community. Related to that, is someone going out to companies to promote/market Meridian? Does the city have resources and staff to go after these companies and bring them to Meridian?

One of the goals suggests that we pursue “high-tech, research, pharmaceutical firms, and high-quality retail facilities.” Are we going to lose business opportunities by limiting ourselves? What are we doing to help small, local businesses? Citizen would like to see a variety of business, including smaller, “eclectic” shops.

Transportation

Transportation options are a concern. More employment will impacts our transportation system. We need ways to commute more efficiently than single occupancy vehicles. We need more buses, and we need to consider using the Railroad corridor for some form of transit. We also need to improve the sidewalk system – especially downtown and over the Meridian interchange.

Environment
The current goal related to environmental resources needs to have more detail and be more meaningful; it currently states “Preserve, protect, enhance, and wisely use our natural resources in Meridian and surrounding areas.” Related to water resources, we need to encourage the use of irrigation water for landscape areas.

Parks and Pathways

Meridian is getting big and the pool at Storey Park is already crowded. The City needs to consider additional pool sites. We need more pathways that connect to parks, schools, and the pool. We also need to work better with Nampa-Meridian and Settlers Irrigation Districts on creek and canals for the public to enjoy.

Programs

The citizens would like to see a neighborhood cleanup program and an entryway signs program.

What’s next, you ask!?!  Staff will incorporate these comments into our work thus far. Then, on December 21^st, during a joint City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission workshop, we will present the revised list of Goals, Objectives and Action Items. Please feel free to come and listen to the discussion at the workshop, and you may continue to provide us comments throughout the drafting and adoption process. Contact Caleb Hood at 884-5533 for more information or to provide comments.

Anna Canning, AICP

Planning Director

By Pam Orr

The month of October is traditionally the Meridian Fire Department’s busiest month in their focus of educating the community in safe practices regarding fire safety.  Our biggest event of the year is our continued commitment to the NFPA’s, National Fire Prevention Week; which was the week of October 3-9th.  This year’s theme was “Smoke Alarms; a sound you can live with”.  We took the message to area schools, daycare centers, senior housing areas, and every media outlet possible in our efforts to get the message out.  Because of our size, it isn’t possible to get this important message out in only one week, therefore our department has taken the position to educate throughout the year with a major push during the month of October.  This year’s theme was an excellent one, as studies show smoke detectors may very well be one of the most important life safety items in your home.  According to the NFPA, over ninety three percent of all homes in the United States have at least one smoke alarm. That’s good news!  The bad news is that at least one third of them are not working. Help protect your family; test your detectors regularly and change the batteries.  A great time to remember to change the batteries is when we change our clocks.  On Sunday, November 7^th, Daylight Savings Time ends and we will be resetting our clocks.  Why not purchase a 9 volt battery for each detector in your home and change the batteries in your smoke detectors now.  You wouldn’t consider risking your families’ safety by not locking your door each night.  So, why risk your families’ safety from fire when they are sound asleep at night!  The Meridian Fire Department are your partners in safety; if we can be of any assistance to you or you have further questions regarding your smoke detectors; please contact us at 888-1234. 

For many years Meridian has been celebrated for stepping up to lead the way in the Treasure Valley and Idaho when it comes to programs and initiatives.  We have been innovative in our use of reclaimed water – the first City in Idaho to receive a Class A permit; we created a prescription drug drop-off program that is being emulated by others; and  since last week we have a new ordinance banning text messaging (or emailing) while driving.  While we may not be the first in Idaho to take this step, we are leading this issue in the Treasure Valley as a way to keep our roads safe for all who travel. 

Texting while driving has received quite a bit of media attention over the past month, but it is important to share the reasoning behind the change.  This issue has been spearheaded by members of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) – teens who see the dangers that occur when friends and family text while driving.  Members of MYAC researched this issue and worked diligently to lobby the legislature last year; during that process I learned a lot of surprising statistics about texting while driving.  Here are some you should know.

• 60 percent of drivers admit to texting while driving
• The average teen sent 435 texts a month in 2007; now its 2,899 per month – 97 a day
• If you text and drive you are twenty three times more likely to get in an accident
• Drivers who text often have delayed responses similar to those found to be driving under the influence of alcohol
• Over 20% of fatal car crashes involving teens were the result of cell phone usage

While the legislature failed to enact legislation on this issue last year, our Police Department knew that texting while driving was a growing problem that needed to be addressed.  Under existing laws, texting while driving could be addressed under “inattentive driving”.  The problem in using this as the only enforcement tool is that even if the officer sees someone texting and not watching the road, they can’t do anything until they swerve in and out of their lane, rear-end another car, or heaven forbid kill someone.   According to the third annual 2010 Traffic Safety Culture Index by AAA, 86% of motorists rated drivers who text and email as a very serious threat to their safety.  That’s 1% more than people rated those who drive after drinking.

We have a vested interest in protecting other drivers, as this behavior puts others’ lives at risk, not just their own.  The Meridian Police Department would like police officers to be proactive in texting enforcement and preventing future tragedies. 

This new ordinance that was passed by City Council unanimously is known as “Kassy’s Law”.  Kassy Kerfoot was a Meridian High school student who died last year in an accident she caused while texting; since that time Kassy’s family has been touring local schools and the country educating individuals on the harms of texting while driving.  Her story reminds us that we need to intervene before texting while driving becomes deadly.

Currently 30 states ban texting while driving, and starting November 1 the Meridian Police Department began educating the public about the ordinance with warnings to drivers.  In December, the offense for texting while driving will be an infraction with a $75 fine for the first or second offense, and the third offense will be a misdemeanor with the potential of $300 and/or up to 90 days in jail.  While we all recognize this ban alone will not stop all people from texting, we do hope those individuals who do text will learn about the issue and be reminded that no message is worth losing a life over.

In Meridian we will continue to lead on issues that are important and make a difference in our community whether big or small.  Our City employees are being urged to not talk on their cell phones when operating vehicles unless it is on a hands-free device.  We hope this action will also make our roads safer for everyone and I encourage the community to consider doing the same.  Together we can take proactive measures and celebrate all those who are leaving a legacy and making Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family. 

Recently the City of Meridian passed an ordinance making a product called “Spice” illegal.  The name “spice” is only one of the many names that the product is sold under.  In fact within the ordinance it lists the multiple chemical compounds that are covered regardless of what the product is called.  I won’t mention all of those here except to say that just one of them is called “JWH-018: 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl) also known as Naphthalen-1-yl-(penttlindol -3–yl)  methanone”.

That is just one and the shortest chemical names for one of the active ingredients found in any of the spice type products.  The products are designed to mimic the active ingredient (THC) found in marijuana and you will hear these products called synthetic marijuana.  This leads to one of the most significant problems with these products.  They have been marketed as incense, aromatherapy, and potpourri, but regardless of what they are called they are always sold in an unregulated market.  This can lead to serious health concerns as some of these products have been found to have levels of the chemicals 25% to 100% more potent than what is found in marijuana with near fatal results.  This has led to a rapid increase in emergency room visits by youth and adults who have smoked spice and not known of how serious the reactions can be and suffering from serious reactions that have very little in common with marijuana.  Our police officers have been called out on numerous calls where someone has been smoking these products and is no longer able to care for themselves or are an extreme danger to themselves and others and completely out of control.

That brings us to the question about why outlaw another product and not just have better education about how bad it is.  In public safety we struggle with this decision often, but it usually comes down to a couple of factors.  What is the chance of abuse versus common designed use of the product.  In the case of these products, they are marketed to youth and adults as a legal way to get high.   There is no other use for them.  The products themselves were marked in very prominent letters, “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” but then trying to sell them for aromatherapy, which is a form of human consumption.  We also have to look at continued education to parents and schools officials so they know what they are looking for with students and parents with their own children.  Education is a very big part of what we want to accomplish, but just like drinking while driving and wearing your seatbelt, sometimes education is just not enough.  It is illegal in 13 states, 17 countries and in the U.S. Military and now it is illegal in our community, The City of Meridian.

When the leaves turn colors and the wind picks up, most of us, like the birds and squirrels, feel the pull of home, wherever that may be.  What does “home” mean to you?  Is it the roof you sleep under at night?  Is it a dot on a map?  Most would agree that the word “home” connotes more than just an address.  Home is a whole scrapbook of memories and people that make up who we are. 

For example, when I was growing up, home was green chiles roasting at stands along the back roads, billows of dill-scented steam filling the kitchen when my mom canned pickles, and the sound of my dad raking leaves outside.  Home was Friday night at the football stadium, a sea of teenagers in letterman’s jackets huddled together and blowing on cups of hot apple cider, and the enthusiastic clatter and honk of the marching band taking the field.  Home was a trip to Serafini’s after practice for a cannoli that was half-eaten before I even got to the car, dropping in at the Padillas’ after school for homemade salsa so hot I teared up but so delicious it was worth it, and stopping by Carmen’s for tortillas that tasted like they were cooked over a campfire. 

It’s the little things, knit together, that make where you live feel like home.  In Meridian, home might be pancakes at the Legion Hall, salmon at the firefighters’ fundraiser, and hot lunch at the Senior Center.  Home in Meridian means that you can close your eyes and hear kids laughing on the playground, ringers in the horseshoe pits, and bats cracking in the ballfield.  Home in Meridian is the heavenly smell of chocolate when you walk by Preece Designer Chocolates, the beguiling taste of Gino’s secret-recipe dipping sauce, and the artistry of a Rick’s Press Room appetizer.  Home in Meridian means reading Lila Hill’s column in the Valley Times, riding bikes down the Bud Porter Pathway, and stopping by the History Center at City Hall to see photographs and artifacts that tell the story of those who came before us.

To everyone whose thoughts turn to Meridian in the fall, welcome home!

By Jaycee Holman- City Clerk

It’s that time of year again.  The time when leaves are starting to change color, the stores are full of Halloween candy and scary costumes and the political campaign season is in full swing.  All of this is leading up to the Big Day…. November 2^nd.  Being part of the election process by taking the time to go out and vote is one of the most important things that you can do for your community.  We encourage you to step out on Election Day and ensure that your voice is heard by casting your vote at your local polling place.  If you have any questions about the election from where you vote, whether you are registered or the location of your polling place, we do our best to assist Ada County Elections in any way we can.  We have created a link to the Ada County Elections site on our webpage at www.meridiancity.org.  You can also call the City Clerk’s Office at 208-888-4433 and a Clerk will be happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have.

If you are already registered to vote, you can stop by our office before the Election and fill out a request for an absentee ballot.  We will be happy to fax these in to Ada County Elections for you.  The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 27^th by 5:00 p.m.

If you would like to vote early, Ada County residents can do this starting October 12 through October 29, 2010 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ada County Elections, 400 N. Benjamin Lane, Suite 100 (south of Emerald just west of Target) in Boise.  Bring your photo I.D. and a piece of mail to verify your address.

If you would like to register to vote at your polling place on Election Day you will need a completed registration card, a photo I.D. and a document with your mailing address on it (no PO box).

The Qualifications to vote are that you must me a citizen of the USA, 18 years of age or older, a resident in the State 30 days prior to the Election and you must be registered.

If you have questions on Election Day, the Clerks Office will have two people stationed in the lobby of City Hall to answer your questions and to help direct you to your polling place.  Now get out there and VOTE!

My eyesight isn’t what it used to be. Not that I could ever “see” the future (I don’t have a crystal ball) but in the times we live in, it’s really tough to predict what our community will look like year over year.

Between 2002 and 2007, the City was pretty much guaranteed to see at least a couple of new developments per month. While new construction has been down the last couple of years, we don’t stop planning for the future. As a city planner, I spend a fair amount of time preparing for growth and trying to make Meridian a better place to live, work and raise a family. Good planning does not happen in a vacuum, and that’s where the community comes in as we all have ideas about what makes Meridian great.

To help reach our desired destiny, the City has a Comprehensive Plan.  The comprehensive plan is a document that describes our ideals, ideas and vision of the future, and we use that document to guide growth to be consistent with that vision. Specifically the comprehensive plan contains goals for many aspect of the community, such as land use, transportation, housing, parks and open space, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development. It also provides a community-wide framework for the many other plans and ongoing planning activities that are an integral part of life in Meridian.

The current version of the Comprehensive Plan has served the City well, but a lot has changed in our community since the plan was adopted in 2002. Our population has about doubled, we have many more acres of parks and schools, and we have multiple more miles of sewer and water lines – to name just a few of the changes.  While a lot of the policies, goals and objectives of the current Comprehensive Plan are still relevant, some of the direction-setting action items need to be updated to reflect the values of the current residents, business owners, and youth. Once updated this will help clarifying what Meridian should look like in 10, 15 and 20 years time.

However, in order for this all to make sense, we need your help.  We need to hear your ideas about what makes Meridian great and what direction the City is headed.

If you are interested in shaping the future of Meridian, I invite you to attend the October 19^th town hall meeting. This community-friendly forum will allow members of the public to express their vision and needs for the future. During the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to hear about and review data that has been assembled by City staff, and provide input on revisions that should be proposed with an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. 

I plan on seeing you on October 19^th at 6:30 at the Meridian Library Main Branch, 1326 W. Cherry Lane.

Caleb Hood

Planning Manager

NOTE: You can view Meridian’s current Comprehensive Plan, as well as the Draft 2010 Existing Conditions Report, online under the Planning Department’s portion of the City of Meridian web site at www.meridiancity.org.

Meridian is especially honored to receive this national distinction from America’s Promise for the last 3 out of 4 times.  It affirms the great strides being made by so many of our community partners, such as the Joint School District No. 2, in making important differences in the lives of our city’s young people. 

More than 350 American cities were considered for this honor that shared information detailing the many ways in which they make children and youth a priority in their cities and school districts.  Particularly in helping youngsters succeed in school and preparing them for college and the demanding 21^st century workforce.  The winning communities like Meridian, span 37 states, and have taken steps to facilitate improved access to health care for young people, enhance local educational opportunities, encourage youth civic engagement, and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow.

In her words of congratulations, Alliance President and CEO Marguerite Kondracke explained, “Through its innovative and far-reaching programs, Meridian is taking bold and effective steps to help their young people graduate and lead healthy, productive lives. Meridian serves as an example to inspire and educate other communities across the nation to tackle the challenges facing their city and children, and to implement initiatives that give them the essential resources they need to succeed in life.”

She went on to say that Meridian was named one of the nation’s 100 Best because of the community’s collective effort to ensure its young people feel accepted, respected and connected through unique and effective programs, citing examples including the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, Meridian’s Promise, the Mayor’s & CEO’s Kids Book Club, the Meridian Anti-Drug Coalition, and the City of Meridian Scholarship Program.

Later this fall we’ll be planning a celebration sponsored by America’s Promise.  At that time we will celebrate with the many local community partners who not only made this honor possible, but make this community what it is day in and day out.  I hope you will be able to join us when that celebration occurs.

If you would like to learn more about America’s Promise or to see the entire 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People and their accomplishments, please visit www.americaspromise.org/100Best.  In addition, if you would like to share why you believe Meridian is ton of the best communities for young people, send me an email at mayortammy@meridiancity.org and together we can celebrate Meridian.

Friday night (Oct 1), you can cheer on the blue and gold as the Meridian High School football team takes on the Capital Eagles at 7:00 pm under the lights of Bronco Stadium. Mountain View High School will also be in action at 7:00 pm as Caldwell High pays a visit to the Maverick turf. Or you can take a jaunt over to New Plymouth to see if the Cole Valley Chargers can claim a victory over the New Plymouth Pilgrims. This game also begins at 7:00 pm.

Saturday morning would be the time to browse the fresh produce, local specialty foods, and artisan-made crafts at the Meridian Farmers Market and Bazaar. This outdoor market is open every Saturday, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm through October 23^rd, in its new location at 1836 E. Overland Road, on the south side of Meridian Road just west of the Majestic Cinemas.

Speaking of the Majestic Cinema, when was the last time you caught a really good movie? Now showing: The Social Network tells the inside story of Facebook; Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps features the always-cool Michael Douglas; You Again appears to be a funny, fast-paced chick-flick; and kids might really be enthralled by the owls of Legends of the Guardians. Check the newspaper or Internet for complete movie listings and times.

Also on Saturday (Oct.2), the Horsepower & Ponies event will be going on from 2:00 – 8:00 pm at Meridian Speedway. This event, which benefits the Personal Ponies program which provides miniature horses to children with disabilities, will feature a race car pit party, a classic car show-n-shine, kids activities, vendors, food concessions, and a concert by Nashville recording artist Andy Griggs. Admission is $10 for ages 12 and up, and free to those 11 and under.

Have you thought about treating your family to a visit to the Farmstead Corn Maze & Pumpkin Festival? In addition to having Idaho’s original corn maze, visitors can enjoy hayrides, live entertainment, farm-fresh food, a huge pumpkin patch, jumping pillow, straw-bale maze, live pig race shows, corn cannons, pony rides, and more. On Friday and Saturday nights the maze turns in to the Field of Screams, offering brave visitors a terrifying “haunted-house” style trip through the corn field. You’ll be screaming for your mummy!

Check out the details at www.farmsteadfestival.com.

Then I recommend that you top your weekend off – and help keep nostalgia alive – by stopping by the Hungry Onion Drive-In at 334 N. Main Street for a cool softie or to try their new sweet potato fries. Founded in 1958, the “Home of the Big Hungry” never fails to satisfy!

I could keep going, but I won’t. I think you get the idea. Meridian has year-round activities for individuals and families of all interests.

You can watch for Meridian activities by regularly visiting the Community Calendar on the City of Meridian’s website at www.meridiancity.org. You can also join the City of Meridian on Facebook and Twitter to receive occasional updates. So much to do; so little time… let’s get out and enjoy Meridian!

By Brenda Sherwood, City of Meridian Economic Development Administrator

I just had the opportunity to experience some of the most competitive technology at The 2010 International Manufacturing and Technology Show, the country’s largest manufacturing show of its kind.  Included were 1,728 companies from 30 countries that filled 1,180 booths showcasing 1,137,375 square feet of the latest advances in manufacturing technology.  In attendance were 82,411 representatives from more than 100 countries to scout for their companies next competitive edge in Manufacturing.  

Manufacturing is an industry that has taken a serious hit in the US, but the excitement was in the air at the show, and the sentiment that good things were on the horizon and the hopes that the tide was going to change for the industry.  There was no doubt about it if you attended this show - Manufacturing today is the catalyst of advanced technologies and is truly the driving force of future innovation.  For this reason, I have always felt very strongly that keeping manufacturing in the US is of vital importance to our economy.

One of the many attributes to the manufacturing industry is its workforce.  Manufacturers are highly skilled, have exceptional worker productivity and an above average work ethic.  In addition, there was a tremendous sense of pride among the attendees when it came to the ‘Made in America’ brand.  

As favorable circumstances would have it, I had the chance to join the booth of Meridian’s very own, Dale Newberry, President of Micro 100 Tool Corporation and his incredible team!  Even more notable – what incredible products!!!  Manufacturers from all over the world stopped to boast about the quality of Micro 100’s products - made right here in Meridian.  Their slogan, ‘Quality in Focus,’ is a mere understatement of the reality! Industry experts lined up to see Micro 100's latest ‘Micro-Quick,’ a new tooling technology that reduces machine setup time and increases productivity.  They're new product line was quite an attraction at the show.  I was most impressed with the overwhelming number of people that just stopped to say, ‘Hey, thanks for making a great product!'  Micro 100 Tool Corporation places extremely high standards on their products.  It was a great show with a lot of energy and I was proud to be a part of Micro 100 Tool Corporation’s booth.  I’d like to thank Dale, Scott, Randy, Kerry, Scott H., Charlie, Rob and Craig for an incredible experience.

As I stood there with a Meridian company that is so important to the world’s economy, I had to think about the focus of our economic development efforts.  Although I was there to market Meridian to companies outside of Idaho, the Mayor and I hold dear to our hearts our Business Retention & Expansion Program.  It’s the companies that are already here in Meridian – companies just like Dale Newberry’s - that have made Meridian the vibrant business community that it is today.  Thank you for making Meridian a great place to live, work and play.

Meridian is an amazing community made up of a variety of talented individuals many who use their talents to benefit our community in a number of ways.  Often referred to as “silent leaders,” these individuals are the faces you see countless times in our community at a variety of events, serving not for recognition, but rather to make their home a better place.  These silent leaders deserve the recognition for laying the groundwork for our community, giving us much to celebrate today in Meridian.

Recently the City of Meridian lost one of those silent leaders, a precious member of our community, with the passing of Terry Smith.  Terry was a long-time businessman and active volunteer; he represented the best of our community.  I truly believe there is not a person in Meridian that wasn’t touched by Terry in one form or another – whether they knew it or not.  Terry was all the things our community stands for, a true pillar in our town and known by many as “Mr. Meridian.” 

Terry Smith was a man of faith, a man who loved his family.  He was a banker, Meridian Kiwanis leader, President of and ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce, involved in preserving and sharing our rich history, a believer and supporter of youth and a train enthusiast.  Terry was a community advocate and the energy behind projects such as the Eagle Road interchange, Generations Plaza, the creation of the urban renewal district, the Main Street LID that brought street trees and sidewalks…and dare I mention, the Split corridor and the years of debate.  He was known through his service on countless committees and philanthropic involvements as an individual who unselfishly dedicated his entire life to the community and others.  Terry was truly a man who has made a significant difference in our community!  Personally, he was my mentor; he was truly an inspiration.

Like many of our residents, Terry had an opinion and he would often share it without solicitation.  What made Terry unique was that not only did he always have great points to argue and loved a debate, he always had what was best in mind for his community…for our community. 

His passion for Meridian and youth drove his heart, mind, and deeds in his efforts which were always to build a better Meridian.  Our community is indebted to this man.  We all have a responsibility to pick up where he left off.  In his example - in his memory – get more involved; be a voice, make a difference in our community doing what you are passionate about.  Like Terry, passion and conviction are essential ingredients in choosing your involvement.  I also imagine Terry would say – don’t just talk about it, do it.

People like Terry have encouraged me to celebrate Meridian and be involved.  And it is all the people and groups that are involved in our community that make us unique.  I encourage and challenge you to honor Terry’s legacy, the legacy of a solid community leader, by becoming more involved in Meridian.  Find your passion and use it to make a difference.

I often refer to the popular “Starfish Story” by Loren Eisely.  The story is about a young boy who is seen returning starfish to the ocean as the tide was going out.  The boy is working feverishly in an effort to save as many starfish as possible, when the narrator questions how he can possibly save every starfish due to the countless miles of beaches.  At this, the boy bends down, picks up another starfish, and throws it into the ocean. As it meets the water, he says, "It made a difference for that one." 

We all have the opportunity to serve and to make a difference whether it is big or small.  If you know of an individual who is making a difference in Meridian, I want to hear about it.  Email me at MayorTammy@meridiancity.org and together we can celebrate the silent leaders who are leaving a legacy and making Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family.

By Mayor Tammy

Meridian is an amazing community made up of a variety of talented individuals many who use their talents to benefit our community in a number of ways.  Often referred to as “silent leaders,” these individuals are the faces you see countless times in our community at a variety of events, serving not for recognition, but rather to make their home a better place.  These silent leaders deserve the recognition for laying the groundwork for our community, giving us much to celebrate today in Meridian.

Recently the City of Meridian lost one of those silent leaders, a precious member of our community, with the passing of Terry Smith.  Terry was a long-time businessman and active volunteer; he represented the best of our community.  I truly believe there is not a person in Meridian that wasn’t touched by Terry in one form or another – whether they knew it or not.  Terry was all the things our community stands for, a true pillar in our town and known by many as “Mr. Meridian.” 

Terry Smith was a man of faith, a man who loved his family.  He was a banker, Meridian Kiwanis leader, President of and ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce, involved in preserving and sharing our rich history, a believer and supporter of youth and a train enthusiast.  Terry was a community advocate and the energy behind projects such as the Eagle Road interchange, Generations Plaza, the creation of the urban renewal district, the Main Street LID that brought street trees and sidewalks…and dare I mention, the Split corridor and the years of debate.  He was known through his service on countless committees and philanthropic involvements as an individual who unselfishly dedicated his entire life to the community and others.  Terry was truly a man who has made a significant difference in our community!  Personally, he was my mentor; he was truly an inspiration.

Like many of our residents, Terry had an opinion and he would often share it without solicitation.  What made Terry unique was that not only did he always have great points to argue and loved a debate, he always had what was best in mind for his community…for our community. 

His passion for Meridian and youth drove his heart, mind, and deeds in his efforts which were always to build a better Meridian.  Our community is indebted to this man.  We all have a responsibility to pick up where he left off.  In his example - in his memory – get more involved; be a voice, make a difference in our community doing what you are passionate about.  Like Terry, passion and conviction are essential ingredients in choosing your involvement.  I also imagine Terry would say – don’t just talk about it, do it.

People like Terry have encouraged me to celebrate Meridian and be involved.  And it is all the people and groups that are involved in our community that make us unique.  I encourage and challenge you to honor Terry’s legacy, the legacy of a solid community leader, by becoming more involved in Meridian.  Find your passion and use it to make a difference.

I often refer to the popular “Starfish Story” by Loren Eisely.  The story is about a young boy who is seen returning starfish to the ocean as the tide was going out.  The boy is working feverishly in an effort to save as many starfish as possible, when the narrator questions how he can possibly save every starfish due to the countless miles of beaches.  At this, the boy bends down, picks up another starfish, and throws it into the ocean. As it meets the water, he says, "It made a difference for that one." 

We all have the opportunity to serve and to make a difference whether it is big or small.  If you know of an individual who is making a difference in Meridian, I want to hear about it.  Email me at MayorTammy@meridiancity.org and together we can celebrate the silent leaders who are leaving a legacy and making Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family.

By:  Bill Nary, City Attorney/HR Director

Last month the Mayor and Council completed action on the City Budget and were able to balance the needs of our community while foregoing the 3% property tax allowed by law.  This was possible because the City has weathered the economic times thanks to good planning by our Finance staff, necessary belt tightening by our City employees, and sound fiscal management by our Mayor and Council.  We provide appropriate wages and benefits for our small, but hearty work force without having to resort to cut backs or layoffs that have become the norm for both the public and private sector.  The needs of our community have never been compromised and the vital services needed have been met, while keeping the tax levy in check as many in the community are working hard to make ends meet. 

This next fiscal year that begins October 1^st and needed new positions were approved for the Fire, Parks and Recreation, Police (4 funded from a COPS grant), and Public Works Departments by City Council.  These positions will make sure that as a City we continue to meet the needs of our citizens and our community. 

Inevitably, each year after our annual budget hearings our office usually gets the following questions: “Do you have any jobs?” followed by “How do I apply?”  For those interested in these future positions or an current positions, information can be found are applied for directly off our web page.  All you need is an email address.  Click on www.meridiancity.org and look for the pull down menu for “Online Services.”  Here you will find a tab for “Apply for a Job” that will take you to a page to register your email address and a listing of all openings will be provided.  You can fill out the application and upload any other information including a resume or cover letter.  All applications will be responded to by email initially and after review all will be responded to in writing or by phone.  The City of Meridian is an equal opportunity employer and a great place to work every day. 

If you’re interested, check our page often because we don’t always leave jobs open for long.  We have many more applicants than we can hire so we sometimes may only have a position open for a day or two.  Every application must be done online - we do not accept printed applications.  Keep watching as we hope a position comes along that fits your unique talents and qualities to be a good fit for you and us. 

        A potentially dangerous new product has made its way to Meridian. You may have seen it being promoted in the windows of local shops throughout the Treasure Valley as an herbal blend or incense. “Spice” is a synthetic marijuana product increasingly being used by Meridian youth to get high. However, instead of the typical marijuana-like effects they are expecting, many youth are turning up in emergency rooms with rapid heart rates, elevated blood pressure, severe agitation, anxiety and vomiting. 

      Spice, also packaged and sold under the names of K2, Ultra, Summit, Blonde, Standard, Yucatan Gold, Genie, Pot-pourri, Bombay Blue, and Black Mamba, is growing in popularity because it is legal, purported to give a high similar to marijuana and believed to be natural and therefore safe. However, researchers say synthetic marijuana is really an unregulated mixture of dried herbs that could contain toxic chemicals. "K2 may be a mixture of herbal and spice plant products, but it is sprayed with a potent psychotropic drug and likely contaminated with an unknown toxic substance that is causing many adverse effects. These toxic chemicals are neither natural nor safe," said Anthony Scalzo, M.D., professor of toxicology at Saint Louis University who also directs the Missouri Regional Poison Control Center.

        Although U.S. poison-control centers received only 13 calls related to Spice a year ago, 766 cases have been reported in the first half of 2010. Callers are reporting nausea, vomiting, increased agitation, elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and loss of consciousness. Further testing is needed, but Dr. Scalzo says these symptoms suggest that K2 is affecting the cardiovascular system of users. It also is believed to affect the central nervous system, causing severe, potentially life-threatening hallucinations and, in some cases, seizures. Even more frightening are the recent deaths linked to the alleged use of Spice. One, a young man from Iowa, committed suicide after his friends reported they smoked the substance together. In addition, the deaths of a young man in Texas and a young mother in Indiana have been linked to the drug.

      Spice has been available in the Treasure Valley for the last couple of years, but only recently have sales exploded. It sells for around $30 for three grams, which is comparable in cost to marijuana, and is available at local shops and over the Internet. Although not yet illegal in Idaho, synthetic cannaboids have been banned in 11 states, with pending legislation in six additional states. The substance has also been banned by the United States military and the countries of Chile, Germany, Finland, Russia, Sweden, France, Ireland, Romania, UK, Switzerland, South Korea, Latvia, Poland, and Japan.

      For more information about Spice, please contact the Meridian Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition at (208)846-7313 or efigueroa@meridiancity.org.

The first step in understanding how to conserve water in your home is to know where water is used.

Most people use 50 to 70 gallons of water indoors each day and as much as the same amount outdoors, depending on the season. Indoors, three-quarters of all the water is used in the bathroom and outdoors, lawn and garden watering and car washing account for most of the water used.

How to Conserve Water Daily

Because such a huge percentage of the water you use is used in the bathroom, that's where water conservation efforts should focus. You can install a few simple, inexpensive devices in the bathroom that can save a lot of water with no change in your lifestyle or your present habits. Most of our local home improvement stores stock these items. These are:

• Placing a water-filled bottle or container in bottom of toilet tank can reduce the amount of water flowing out of the toilet by up to 25 percent and they do not affect its flushing ability. Always be sure that at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
• Low flow, water-saving shower heads. This inexpensive and easy to install piece of plumbing reduces the amount of water flowing through your shower by up to 50 percent, but increases its velocity so the shower feels the same. This also saves hot water, which saves you in gas costs.
• Faucet aerators. These devices restrict the amount of water going through your faucet by up to 50 percent, but add bubbles so the flow of water appears the same. They could be installed on all of your faucets, not just the ones in your bathroom for very little out-of-pocket expense.

Other relatively simple things you can do in your home to further reduce water use are:

• Repair leaks in your faucets and toilets. A leaky faucet can waste 20 gallons or more per day. Leaky toilets, even though they are usually silent, can waste hundreds of gallons per day. To find out if your toilet has leaks, put a little food coloring in the tank. If, without flushing, color appears in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired. Repairing a faucet is usually as simple as changing an inexpensive washer. Leaky toilets can often be repaired by adjusting the float arm or plunger ball.
• Use your dishwasher and clothes washer only when you have a full load. If you are purchasing a new clothes washer, choose one with variable load or suds-saver options. Many dishwashers are also now available with water-saving options. If you already have these options, use them whenever possible.
• If you are building a new home or remodeling an old one, consider installing "low flush" toilets. These toilets use 1 to 2 gallons per flush instead of the 3 to 5 gallons used by conventional ones. They are readily available and, although they cost a little bit more, they can save you a lot of money in the long run through decreased water and energy use.
• Avoid unnecessarily flushing your toilet.  Never use it as a wastepaper basket to dispose of cigarette butts or tissue paper.
• Turn off the faucet while you are shaving or brushing your teeth or hand washing dishes.
• Avoid running water in the shower while you are shampooing or soaping. Most people step away from the water to do this anyway. Many water-saving shower heads come with a button to shut off the flow without changing the mix of hot and cold water.

Outdoor uses of water are often high volume. Nevertheless, there are ways you can save water. Try these:

• Attach a pistol-type sprayer to the end of your garden hose. In addition to enabling you to adjust the rate of flow, this device keeps water from continuing to run out during those short periods when you put down the hose without turning it off (while you are washing your car, for example).
• Water your lawn only when necessary. It takes 660 gallons of water to supply 1,000 square feet of lawn with 1 inch of water. This is nearly the same amount of water as you use inside the house in an entire week! Water your lawn when it begins to show signs of wilting - when the grass does not spring back when you step on it - rather than on a regular schedule.
• Use mulch around trees and shrubs and in garden beds. This greatly reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation and so reduces the need for watering.
• Consider using a drip irrigation system in your garden. This system supplies water only to the root zones of plants. In addition to saving water, it reduces weeding because it doesn't water the areas between rows and hills of crops.
• Use only plant varieties that are well adapted to your locality and sell conditions. Poorly chosen varieties often need greater amounts of fertilizer and water just to stay alive.  If the expense of replacing all of your shrubs and trees seems daunting and too expensive, make a goal to only change out a couple at a time.  The money you will save in water costs will be worth your efforts.
• Avoid watering the lawn. Your lawn may turn brown in the middle of the summer, but this doesn't mean that it's dead; it’s just dormant and will return when cooler weather or rain returns.  Most people are usually more concerned about their neighbors will think if their grass begins to brown a little rather then focus Rather, the grass is dormant and will regrow when rain and cooler weather returns.
• Use the water from your roof downspouts for watering your garden and flower beds.  Placing buckets in these areas can provide you with a quite a few flower bed or garden waterings.

And just remember when it comes to conserving water and saving money, every little bit helps.

Professional certification reveals many things.  Among these are years working in a specific field, college and professional education and training, membership in national and or professional organizations and passing national certification exams.  The procurement field is no different than many others. 

As a public procurement officer, one is expected to watch how their organization spends its tax dollars to maximize value and keep within the laws and regulations of your specific state and jurisdiction and abide by the ethics of your profession.   The road to certification better prepares procurement officers for these very tasks.  As a member of the National Institute for Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) and the Idaho Public Purchasing Association (IPPA) I have many fellow purchasing professionals from which I am able to network with.  These relationships that I have built over the years have become an invaluable asset to the organizations I have worked for.  Not only is the organization benefiting from my expertise but the expertise and experience of hundreds of other purchasing professionals.  I have attended many purchasing related classes, seminars and webinars over the past 20 years have gained valuable knowledge, not only from my instructors but fellow students as well.  This knowledge is directly incorporated into the practices of the organizations I work for.

I am proud to have recently passed the national exam for the Certified Professional Public Buyer designation.  I feel the City of Meridian and its residents will be better served from the steps I have taken to achieve this certification.

At a recent  event seven individuals were honored with employee and volunteer recognition awards presented by the Meridian City Council (David Zaremba, Keith Bird, and Brad Hoaglun and myself) at the City of Meridian’s Annual Employee & Volunteer Family Picnic held July 20th in Settlers Park.

The winners, nominated by their peers, were chosen based on how well they exemplify the core values of the City of Meridian in their work by demonstrating outstanding: Customer Service, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

Please join us in congratulating…

Director of the Year:

Steve Siddoway, Meridian Parks & Recreation Department

The Meridian Parks & Recreation Department, its staff, and the grounds they maintain for our citizens, are in the best shape ever in its history. This is due in large part to the Department’s director. With his enthusiasm and passion, has made our Parks & Recreation Department into a top-notch group, helping our staff and our facilities live up to their true potential. He leads by example, is respected within the City and by other community partners, and has shown the staff how to enjoy their jobs while serving the public, too. Through his vision, leadership, and enthusiasm, Steve Siddoway is truly deserving of our honor as Director of the Year.

Supervisor of the Year:

Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea
Our co-supervisor of the year exemplifies the core values of the City of Meridian, consistently demonstrating professional customer service with the community and media contacts he makes. He holds himself and all of the Police Department to a high professional standard of accountability. He is always respectful of community members and colleagues, regardless of rank. Recently he served as the acting chief for several months. During that time he handled a variety of critical issues and personnel matters. He consistently demonstrates strong leadership, yet remains very approachable. He was instrumental in creating the department’s “Emerging Leaders” program which is preparing our current employees for future roles in the department. He is considered a friend, a mentor, and an example of a true leader.  Please join me in congratulating Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea as co-supervisor of the year.

Supervisor of the Year: 

Karie Glenn, Utility Billing Department

 Our co-supervisor of the year began overseeing our Utility Billing only one year ago. During her time in this position, the number of customer complaints received by the city has dropped dramatically enabling our employees to work extremely well together. She has been cross-training and empowering her employees to learn more of their system and understand every process necessary to run the department. Leading by example, she stays calm with customers and treats them with respect, and following the appropriate ordinances, policies, and procedures.  Exemplifying the City of Meridian’s values of customer service, accountability, respect, and excellence, she truly is a great asset to the City. Put your hands together for our co-supervisor of the year, Karie Glenn.

Employee of the Year: 

Colin Moss, Meridian Parks & Recreation Department
In his nomination for Employee of the Year, it is said that this employee possesses and demonstrated a high level of ALL the City’s core values. He has excellent customer service and communication skills. He is also very versatile, with knowledge on a wide range of subjects from sports to websites. He has very innovative ideas which he shares during staff meetings. Furthermore, everything he puts his hands to, he does with excellence. He cares about the community and it shows. He gives 100% into the quality community events he is in such of, such as Movie Night, the Barn Sour, and the Fourth of July. Most recently he put volunteer groups to work in our parks painting fences, spreading bark, planning flowers, and more. With his leadership, to date, we have logged over 1,000 volunteer hours for this fiscal year, which is a cost savings to the City of approximately $16,000.  For these reasons and so many more, Colin Moss of the Meridian Parks & Recreation Department is certainly deserving of the title co-Employee of the Year.

Employee of the Year: 

Sheree Finch, City Clerk’s Office
Technically she works for the City Clerk’s Office, but in reality, our next co-Employee of the Year works for ALL of the City and City Hall in particular. This individual’s sincere smile and calm voice greets thousands who call or come into City Hall. She is helpful and friendly and never, ever complains, going above and beyond in every job she does. She also takes great care of her co-workers, listening, supporting, suggesting, and leading by example without ever being preachy or boastful. She is THERE for every one in her department and exemplifies what it means to be a team player.  It’s said that this individual is in charge of 100 things on a daily basis – from scheduling and keeping track of all meetings in City Hall to creating the PowerPoint advertising upcoming events in the lobby – and everything she touches is wonderful. Whether it be for computer support, customer support, or person support, Sheree Finch is the perfect example of CARE and deserves the honor to be the co-Employee of the Year.

Employee of the Year for Community Service: 

Meridian Police Corporal Chris Siems   
For the past two years, this individual has taken on the task of arranging a Christmas surprise for needy families in our community. This year he organized a large Christmas party for foster children in Meridian and was able to secure outside funding and sponsorship dollars for this project from local businesses. With these funds he feed, entertained, and purchase gifts for all of the children, arranging for the gifts to be delivered by Santa Claus who volunteered to help out at this event. The event was a huge undertaking which consumed much of his time during the holiday. This dedication of time and energy and heart earns Police Corporal Chris Siems the title of the City’s 2010 Employee of the Year for Community Service.

Volunteer of the Year:

David Thames  
Our Volunteer of the Year is someone from the community who devoted more than 250 hours of volunteer service to City departments, projects, and events this year alone. His efforts have earned him the title “Super Dave” and you will understand why after hearing about some of the countless ways he helps the City out:

• Neighborhood Watch Patrol 
• Settlers Park Bike Patrol 
• Old Town Community Clean-Up 
• Wearing the McGruff and Sparky Costumes 
• Picking Up Litter After CableOne Movie Nights 
• Putting up the Police Department Christmas Tree 
• Helping Coordinate National Night Out Events 
• Performing Police Car Maintenance 
• Scrubbing Out the Police Department’s Gooey Recycling Bins 

These are just a few of the volunteer tasks Super Dave has put his mind and hands to for the City of Meridian. In fact, he was nominated for Volunteer of the Year by multiple Departments. He’s described as the most enthusiastic and generous volunteer ever. And while he’s going to cut down a bit on his volunteer hours to re-focus on his technology career, I have a strong feeling we haven’t seen the last of Dave Thames, the City of Meridian Super 2010 Volunteer of the Year!

These individuals do so much for our community and we are fortunate to have them working to make Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family.

As the weather gets nicer, the door to door sales tend to increase and we here at the City Clerks Office are receiving many phone calls from Meridian Residents inquiring if these businesses are licensed with the City.  Here are some questions and answers that may be helpful.

Q:  Is a salesperson going door to door required to have a solicitor’s license with the City of Meridian?

A: YES!  Every person going door to door offering a service or items for sale (even to be delivered at a later date), excluding church’s, school group fundraisers, girl scouts and political entities, are required to have what we call a “Mobile Sales Unit” License.   They not only should have it on them but you have a RIGHT to ask to see it.  Many times the salesperson will say that “their manager has it” or “they don’t need one”.  Let us be clear on this… we process a federal background check on each individual and if they do not pass they do NOT get a license! 

Q:  What should I do if a salesperson does not have a Mobile Sales Unit License?

A:  Be polite, get their business card and after they have left, call Meridian Police right away.  Unfortunately, if you wait until the next day, the door to door sales people have moved on to another area of the city, which makes it very difficult to find them.

Q:  How do I know if a door to door salesperson is representing a business in good standing with its customers?

A:  Since The City of Meridian doesn’t actually license business’s in general, it would be best to contact The Secretary of State at 208-334-2300.  In all cases we recommend “buyer be-aware”.

Q:  Who can I call if I have more questions about Mobile Sales Unit Licenses or any other licensing that City of Meridian offers?

A:  You are always welcome to call the Meridian City Clerks Office at 208-888-4433.   

Do Meridian Police respond to fender benders in private parking lots?

Are people allowed to sell rugs, sunglasses, flowers, and the like, beside the road?

What are the regulations for open burning during the fall and winter?

Do dogs in Meridian need to be licensed?

Should I be concerned if my household water appears discolored?

Do I need any special permission or permits to build a new fence?

Questions are never in short supply at Meridian City Hall or at our other municipal offices. In fact, during a typical year, more than 25,000 telephone calls come in through the City of Meridian’s main phone line (208-888-4433) to the City Clerk’s Office, many from residents or local business people with questions to ask.

Thankfully, we’ve got knowledgeable staff members willing and able to answer questions big and small. If you have questions relating to City government or other community issues but aren’t quite sure who to call or visit, our City Clerk’s Office, located on the main floor of Meridian City Hall, is a great place to start.

Based on the nature of the information you’re seeking, they can quickly direct you to the department or individual best-suited to respond to your inquiry. 

Or, if you’re like me and consider yourself something of an “information hound,” you may want to spend some time thoroughly exploring the City of Meridian website.

We work hard to keep our website organized in a logical and user-friendly manner. We update it often with timely and useful information. Additionally, one of the goals we’re working on is to make sure you can reach the information you seek within three “clicks” or less.

There are other ways to pose questions to the City, as well.

Everyone from the Mayor on down can accept questions via telephone and e-mail. You can also ask questions through the City’s Facebook or Twitter accounts, or by submitting them to CityNews, the City of Meridian’s quarterly online newsletter which features a regular column called “Glad You Asked.”

The ongoing exchange of questions and answers between residents and the City of Meridian helps provide a vital link between you and your city government. As far as we’re concerned, the only poor question is one that doesn’t get asked. So please don’t hesitate to ask questions of us. If we don’t have the answer, we’ll do our best to help you find someone who does!

Any questions? 

I often use this blog as an opportunity to celebrate our community.  It’s no secret that Meridian is an amazing community that offers so much to so many people.  With outstanding parks, safe streets, our progressive education system, and quality neighborhoods it is easy to see that we have many reasons to celebrate Meridian.

Others are taking notice.  In fact with in a weeks time, two national news publications recognized Meridian as an ideal place to live.  Family Circle magazine and CNN/Money magazine both identified Meridian as one of the premiere communities in the country to live. 

On July 7^th Family Circle was the first publication to recognize Meridian as part of its annual effort to identify communities that are a perfect place for families to call home.  Family Circle designated Meridian as one of the Top 10 Best Cities for Families.  Indeed we are an ideal location for families and our emphasis on youth can be seen through groups and organizations like Meridian’s Promise which was highlighted by the article.  The individuals who make up Meridian’s Promise, the Kiwanis, Boys & Girls Club, Department of Labor, and so many other groups show our Meridian’s ongoing commitment to serving families. 

In addition, Meridian was also acknowledged for having a strong public education system in Joint School District No. 2, quality parks, and a low crime rate.  This acknowledgment is a reflection of the role that all of our great community partners play in making Meridian a place to call home.

As a community we had reason to ‘celebrate’ regarding the accolades from the Family Circle recognition.  Then a few days later CNN/Money magazine identified Meridian as one of its 100 Best Places to Live for 2010.  CNN/Money reporters crunched reams of data to find communities that have optimal combinations of fiscal strength, family-wage jobs, great schools, safe streets, low crime, lots to do, charm, and other features such as proximity to world class recreation that make a town great for raising a family. 

Together we have created, and are nurturing, a community that families want to be a part of; I have no doubt these collaborative efforts are why we continue to receive national attention.  Meridian is recognized as a community that blends big-city opportunities through arts and cultural opportunities with choices in housing; that offers an ideal blend of affordable housing, good jobs, top-rated schools, and wide-open spaces; and a lot less stress than many other cities and towns.  The City of Meridian continues to place great importance to our fiscal responsibility, to public safety, and to places to gather and to play – all are areas that matter to our citizens.  

So, I guess our secret’s out so let’s celebrate Meridian as a premier city to live, work and raise a family.  Do you like living in Meridian, if so I want to know about it.  Email me at mayortammy@meridiancity.org and tell me why Meridian is the top place for your family.

There is a long-standing saying in the field of parks and recreation nationwide that the “benefits are endless.”  The longer I am involved with providing parks and recreation services, the more I see the multiple benefits they provide to the community. 

Parks and recreation services provide economic benefits to the community, such as attracting business relocation.  Corporate CEOs say that quality of life (including parks and recreation opportunities) is the third most important factor in locating a new business. The National Association of Home Builders has found that 65% of home shoppers felt that parks would seriously influence them to move to a community.  Private property values have been shown to increase if they are in proximity to a park.

Parks and recreation can provide personal health benefits.    Creation of places for physical activity, such as parks, produces a 48% increase in the frequency of physical activity (Sherer, 2003).  Strong evidence shows that when people have access to parks, they exercise more (Why America Needs More City parks & Open Space, Trust for Public Land, 2003).  Additional examples of personal benefits that have been found to be correlated with parks and recreation include:

• Leisure opportunities for youth provide positive lifestyle choices and alternatives to self-destructive behavior.
• Relaxation, rest, and revitalization through leisure are essential to stress management in today's busy and demanding world.
• Parks and open spaces bring beauty to an area while giving people satisfaction and improving their quality of life.
• Meaningful leisure activity can be an essential source of self-esteem and positive self-image.

Social benefits can also be realized from parks and recreation activities, such as strengthening families and building a sense of community pride.  Community special events—such as the recent Independence Day Celebration in Storey Park, with fireworks from our partners at Meridian Speedway; or Dairy Days events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce; or CableONE Movie Night in Settlers Park; or Christmas in Meridian later in the year—are all examples of special events that bring the community together and provide families opportunities to spend time together.  According to an REI national survey of parents with children ages four to 14, 88% of parents believe that participating in outdoor activities strengthens family relationships.  Other studies have shown that juvenile crime decreases when they have meaningful recreation opportunities.

Finally, parks and open spaces also provide environmental benefits to the community.  Parks and pathways play a key role in preserving water and air quality, reducing congestion, and conserving wildlife habitat.  For many people, their first fishing experience is in a park pond. People can learn about the environment firsthand in parks and take those lessons home with them.

Be happier.  Build family relationships.  Increase community pride.  Reduce crime.  Increase property values.  Provide safe places to play.  Meet friends.  Relax.  Play.  Attract and retain businesses.  Create memories. Breathe fresh air.  Walk.  Enjoy the outdoors.  Take a class for fun.

These are some of the benefits provided by parks and recreation opportunities in this wonderful City of Meridian, Idaho—recently named by Family Circle Magazine as one of its Top Ten Towns for Families and will be featured in its upcoming August 2010 issue.  Meridian is truly a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.  I hope that you enjoy some of these benefits as much as we enjoy providing them.

Want to learn more about the benefits of parks and recreation?

Check out these links:

http://www.activelivingresearch.org/resourcesearch/summaries

http://www.manitowoc.org/parkandrec/benefits.htm#top

http://www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/Connect_and_Share/Community/Parks%20Are%20Essential%20Public%20Services.pdf

We’re feeling these numbers here in Idaho.  Currently, approximately 25,000 people are unemployed throughout the Treasure Valley.  Many of them are no longer counted in national unemployment statistics because they have merely given up.

I feel ever-greater urgency to tell everyone who can create a new job to do it quickly, remembering that Imaginative small actions lead to greater impact.  The question to each of you is, ‘What are those small actions?’  Stop and think for a moment.  What would it take for your company to create just ‘one’ job?  We currently have approximately 30,000 employers here in Meridian.  Think about the impact that one job, per business, could have on the entire community.

There are many ways we support our local businesses through visionary leadership.  We have an array of resources geared towards alternative financing, international export assistance, access to workforce development training and an array of incentives that could help your business grow.  Our business retention and expansion programs are at the top of our priorities…so once again, I place the question before you, ‘What would it take for your company to  create just one job?’  bsherwood@meridiancity.org 

However, positive indicators show improvement in our local economy.  Housing sales are up; Meridian’s population continues to grow; we currently have several businesses expanding and requests for information from companies all over the US with the intent to move to Meridian continue to come in.  We have an array of robust and exciting improvements happening in the coming year and I see the upturn in the near horizon.

We set out to learn more about Meridian.  When we looked on Google Maps we noticed that Meridian was central to the Treasure Valley, and we could commute to downtown Boise or Caldwell or Nampa and the distances would be similar. A friend, who is a teacher in the area, spoke highly of the schools. I was surprised by its growth and all the recent development; and that Meridian had surpassed Idaho Falls and Pocatello in population.  Friends commented to us that they thought Meridian was family-friendly and had low crime-rates. We were impressed enough to make plans to visit Meridian. As luck would have it my wife was also asked to interview with a company here.

Our first impressions of Meridian were great.  From the exit we saw that two of our favorite businesses were located next to each other (Winco and Home Depot). Then we noticed water slides next to I-84.  We knew our kids would want to cancel our plans to go to Lagoon this year and go to Roaring Springs instead. My wife smiled when we drove past the Meridian Speedway.  I am a racing fan and know that some of the best racing was found at the local tracks.

We tend to point out the negatives of a new city before seeing the positives; this was not the case with Meridian. As we drove through Old Town we were impressed and looked forward to walking around some of the stores.  We made our way north on Meridian and wondered where the bad areas were (assuming that there were bad areas).  We could see the play ground and people fishing at Settler’s park and thought that would be a great place to take the kids.  We noticed the conditions of the roads, sidewalks, and street lighting and we were impressed with the neighborhoods we visited.

We drove by City Hall and the kids’ school and could tell that they were both newer buildings and we were pleased to see these new investments to the community.  We were giddy with the many choices we had for restaurants, stores, etc. As we sat on our blanket and pillows at Settler’s Park, waiting for the evening movie to start, we talked about what our thoughts were so far of Meridian.  We pointed out that those quality of life issues that are important to us were on full display here and we hoped Meridian would be our home for a long time.

I knew of several planning departments in the Valley that I was interested in approaching, but based on what I had seen so far of Meridian, I wanted to start with them first. I didn’t need to go any further. After meeting with the director and members of the planning staff, I knew that this was the opportunity that I wanted and quickly asked “when can I start”?  It has only been two weeks but I have felt right at home here.  I look forward to volunteering here this summer. 

With so much going on, it can be difficult to keep track of the events and activities taking place in Meridian.  In an effort to make this information available in a timely and fun way, this last month the City launched a new weekly webisode program called “This Week in Meridian.”  

“This Week in Meridian” is a brief weekly video series that is designed to give you basic information about all the events going on in Meridian for the upcoming week.  From community events and activities to important information about our wonderful community, these videos provide a way to easily access what is taking place in Meridian via the City of Meridian website or on our Facebook Page.  You can also find much of this information on the electronic reader board located on Meridian Road at City Hall.

In addition to providing important information about what is taking place in Meridian, it is also a great way to introduce our community to the City Staff members who are dedicated to serving in Meridian.  Each week there will be a new City employee who will be presenting this information. 

We hope by rotating hosts through out the weeks and months you will get to know the employee that you might see at one of these events in our community or interact with the next time you are at City Hall.  In addition, you will be able to see what I already know – City of Meridian employees are second to none and they share the same passion for our community that you have.

I hope you find this resource beneficial as we are providing another way for you to get engaged in our community.  With so many great events, many of which are at no cost to attend and provide opportunity’s to enjoy an outdoor evening celebrating with friends, families, and neighbors, we want you to know what is taking place “This Week in Meridian.” 

If you have an event to be featured in the future or have a request for a host, I want to hear about it.  Email me at MayorTammy@meridiancity.org; together we can celebrate all that makes Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family.

If not handled properly, fireworks can cause injuries and burns to kids and adults. The National Council on Fireworks Safety reported a decrease in fireworks injuries last year.  That’s a great statistic, but even just one injury reported is too many.  Through education you can protect your family from the risks of injury during this fun celebratory time.

By far, the best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. There are many choices of public displays in the Treasure Valley, consider attending one and leave the lighting to the professionals.

If you choose to light fireworks at home here are several recommendations to help protect you and your family.

• Kids should never play with fireworks. They are just too dangerous and kids are unpredictable. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair.  Be sure to stay close to a kid with a sparkler.  Ensure they do not walk about or run with a lit sparkler in their hand.  Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.
• Buy only legal fireworks from a local vendor who has a permit to sell fireworks in your area.  Never try to make your own fireworks or alter those that you purchase.
• Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at another person.  
• Grass and structural fires are a common problem with fireworks. Always use fireworks outside on asphalt or concrete, away from homes keeping them away from brush, leaves and flammable substances. Have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of an emergency.  The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more than 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.  Don’t take the chance with property around your area. 
• Don't hold lit fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket.
• Assign an adult to light one firework at a time and never relight a dud.
• Once done, don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time. Soaking all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash will help reduce your risk of them reigniting.

If you or your child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. Many injuries are more severe than most people initially think; especially when it concerns eye injuries or burns

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you'll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and consider taking in one of the local shows.  However you and your family choose to celebrate this 4th of July, have a safe and happy Independence Day! Happy Birthday, America!

In the IT department, for example, Programmer Mike Tanner gained extensive experience with integrating and automating processes in his work for a private corporation.  There, Mike’s objective was to improve efficiency in a way that would boost profits for stockholders.  Improving efficiency in a public workplace means not only that hundreds of people do their jobs more efficiently, but also that taxpayer dollars go farther.  Mike recently designed a computer program for the City that automated and integrated multiple data-entry systems at the Police Department, eliminating duplicate entries and providing officers and detectives with a single tool to look up and record case information.  Other governmental agencies are considering implementing Mike’s program as well, a move that will save taxpayer dollars in multiple jurisdictions.

Our Human Resources Analyst, Crystal Ritchie, was also hired from the private sector.  Before working for the City, Crystal gained extensive experience in training employees regarding productive workplaces, compliance with employment laws, and effective management tools.  In her work for the City, Crystal is motivated by many of the same objectives she had in the private sector, but now her well-honed skills are helping to guard the public trust.  Especially in lean economic times, the City benefits greatly from what Crystal learned in her private-sector experience about facilitating smooth workplace transitions, ensuring that employees feel safe on the job, and helping supervisors energize their team members.

As a final example, Assistant City Attorney Andrea Pogue’s resume includes work as an associate in a private law firm.  Her experience in private civil litigation adds a vital resource to the City Attorney’s Office, meaning that existing City staff can handle non-complex litigation rather than contracting with an expensive litigation specialist.  Andrea also serves as the point person for bankruptcy cases where the City is named as a creditor because of utility debts, a caseload that has sharply increased in the past few years.  Andrea’s ability to transition her legal skills from a private to a public environment has saved taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Where employees make the leap from the private sector to public service, the benefit to citizens can be profound.  This effect is magnified at the City of Meridian, because our employees come to work each day not only with the goal of earning a paycheck, but with the goals of protecting the public trust, providing excellent service to citizens, and contributing to a sense of community.  We work for you!

Whether they tell you or not, kids and teens look up to adults and rely on them for modeling healthy behaviors. Therefore it is vital that as a community we send a message that we value and support young people in Meridian and are willing to invest in their success.

That’s what Meridian’s Promise is all about! Meridian’s Promise is an organization of caring local businesses, civic groups, churches, schools, non-profits, and individuals who are mobilizing our community to build the character and competence of Meridian’s children and youth by fulfilling the Five Promises of America’s Promise to Youth.

Founded after the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997, America’s Promise is a collaborative network that builds upon the collective power of communities like Meridian to help fulfill the Five Promises it is believed every child needs and deserves in order to succeed.

Research shows that if the Five Promises to Youth are consistently fulfilled, they can significantly advance the health and well-being of our next generation. These Five Promises are:

1. Caring Adults with which they have ongoing supportive relationships
2. Safe Places with structured activities during non-school hours
3. A Healthy Start and future
4. Marketable Skills through effective education
5. Opportunities to Serve through community service

These Five Promises contain the seeds for national and local movements capable of advancing the health and well-being of our next generation. Throughout the year, Meridian's Promise puts on or supports a variety of local events, each intended to help fulfill one or more of the Five Promises to Youth. These programs have included included Free Family Fishing Day, the Rigs & Gigs Career Exploration Fair, Old Town Community Clean-Up, the Meridian Classic Kids Fun Run, Kids Day America Health & Safety Fair, and others.     

But, we all must take responsibility and that is why we have “Promise Partners” who are members of Meridian’s Promise.  Becoming a “Promise Partner” is as an indication that you are family-friendly and support the success of Meridian’s youth.  As a member you’ll be presented with a plaque and little red wagon (the symbol of Meridian’s Promise) to proudly display. Best of all, it costs only $50 to join Meridian’s Promise and. With our future in the hands of Meridian’s children, can you afford not to?

If you or a business or group you belong to would like to help support family-focused events in Meridian throughout the year and becoming a “Promise Partner”, I'd be happy to pay you a quick visit to tell you more about Meridian's Promise, answer any questions you might have, explain it to your colleagues, and/or to fill out the easy application form. Simply call me at 489-0531or send an e-mail to shouston@meridiancity.org.

You can also find all of the information you’d need to get started by stopping by the Meridian Mayor’s Office on the third floor of Meridian City Hall, or you can access it online at http://www.meridiancity.org/meridians_promise.aspx?id=199.

I hope you will consider this exciting invitation to take part in Meridian’s Promise.  Together we can make Meridian a community where youngsters are accepted, connected and respected!

On May 17, 2010, Steve Maneck, Industrial Pretreatment Manager for the City of Meridian, engaged seventy-five 3^rd grade students at Paramount Elementary School in the importance of protecting our water, conserving water at home, and preventing pollutants from entering our stormwater runoff.

The students brainstormed ideas on how to protect our water resources in Meridian.  They learned where our drinking water comes from, and what happens to it once it is used.  The classroom presentations consisted of interactive story board posters, educational workbooks and a take-home assignment to quiz their parents and family.  A reusable handled bag was provided to each student, filled with recycled content goodies, stickers, and helpful educational materials.

“Environmental education is critical for promoting sustainability and improving the capacity of people – of all ages -  to understand our environmental issues from multiple perspectives thereby increasing awareness, critical thinking skills, and recognizing that large positive results begin from small, individual behavior changes” states Mollie Mangerich, Environmental Division Programs Manager.  “Of course, there is the pure fun factor of getting out into our schools and community.  When we can move our audience from saying “yuck!” to “wow!” – we know we’ve done a pretty good job” she concludes.

Workbooks illustrate, in a fun and visually-appealing way, the miles  of pipes, number of pumps, equipment and technologies necessary to  create clean water from waste water!

 Steve Maneck’s school presentations were part of the City of Meridian’s “Public Works Week” which included a variety of large equipment demonstrations, educational booths, fun activities, free food and live music at City Hall.

The Salmon BBQ raises funds by serving up the famous fish and from generous support of Businesses in our community.  Donations are needed to aid in raising additional money for the Burn Out Fund.  Members of our department do solicit donations from local businesses by letter or by in person requests.

Last month, a local Boise business fell prey to unscrupulous acts by someone pretending to solicit donations on behalf of Boise Fire Department for their Burn Out Fund.  The individual was forceful in his request for donations and was doing so for personal gain.  Phone solicitation is never done for Meridian Fire Department or for any other Fire Department within the State of Idaho.  All members of the Fire Department carry city identification and could possibly be in uniform when making the requests in person.  Donations are never solicited to benefit the Department.  All non-cash donations received are used to generate additional dollars for the Burn Out Fund.

The first few hours after a fire are very overwhelming for citizens.  In addition to funds being given to fire victims, the Fire Department has communications in place for assisting citizens to obtain hotel rooms and storage units, thanks to the generosity of local businesses. The Members of the Fire Department appreciate the community’s support in being able to offer this type of assistance. The Meridian Fireman’s Association is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions and donations are tax deductable, and receipts are available upon request.

Please mark your calendars and join us for the Salmon BBQ on August 6 at Meridian Speedway.  This event allows the Fire Department to interact with the public in a non-emergency setting and have a good time.  We in the fire service have great pride and passion and feel it is an honor to work in such a great City. We appreciate your support by helping us make Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family.

Our Hometown Heroes are Meridian residents who demonstrate selfless acts of heroism, going above and beyond the call of duty in service to those in our community.  This service is performed without regard of personal gain or attention.  Kelly Lloyd is one such hero who came to the aid of an elderly gentleman who had fallen into 5 Mile Creek.  Kelly’s actions resulted in rescuing a hero in his own right, a veteran who was visiting the tree he had planted in memory of his deceased wife.  You can read more about this story in CityNews on page 7, but it was Kelly’s actions that exemplified the heroic qualities of our Hometown Heroes.  

I can say that I was humbled to present Kelly with this recognition; almost as much as she was to receive it.  Just as inspiring, is that Kelly’s actions and character are similar to other amazing people in Meridian.

As a community we should honor our heroes whenever possible.  It is important for city leaders and members of our community to take notice of those unique individuals who go out of their way to serve those in need.

While Kelly’s actions resulted in saving a life, I do believe the word “hero” captures much more in our community.  Our teachers, community volunteers, first responders, and so many more demonstrate selfless acts everyday.  I would ask for your help in identifying these individuals in Meridian who go above and beyond the call of duty in service to others in our community.

Do you have someone who you would like to nominate for this honor?  If so, I want to hear from you.  Please send me an email at mayortammy@meridiancity.org and tell me who your Hometown Hero is.  Together, we can celebrate these individuals who help make Meridian the premier place to live, work and raise a family.     

“Fiber Composites has demonstrated a high level of initiative in their manufacturing processes that help make a positive difference in the quality of our city’s environment”, asserts Steve Maneck, Pretreatment Manager, Environmental Division for the City of Meridian.

Produced in a near waste-free manufacturing process, Fiber Composites offers consumers durable, sustainable decking product options that save natural resources.  From raw material sourcing to routine maintenance, Fiber Composites’ outdoor living products incorporate the following sustainable manufacturing practices:

·         Water conservation: The use of closed loop water cooling systems allow for zero water discharge from the facility – thus no process wastewater is discharged to the City sewer system;

·         Pollution prevention: Facility rainwater runoff is collected in a permitted retention pond, which decreases potential for downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, and improves water quality through pollutant removal of nutrients, sediment, metals, organic matter, oil and grease, and bacteria.

·         Waste reduction:  Over 98% of all material waste is recovered from their manufacturing processes.  Composite decking products contains a percentage of recycled, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic (milk jugs, shampoo and laundry detergent bottles) combined with reclaimed wood flour, acquired from window trim, door frames, lumber and cabinet waste. HDPE encapsulates the wood protecting it from harsh weather, warping, splintering and decay.

·         Greenhouse gas reduction: An energy-efficient lighting program was installed at the plant, and by participating in Idaho Power’s energy efficiency programs, they’ve reduced and contained energy costs while reducing energy consumption.

·         Noise reduction: Facility fan noise reduction efforts have led to significant decreases in operational noise, making their manufacturing plant a good neighbor within our thriving community.

Congratulations to the management team and employees of Fiber Composites, LLC!

I get to spend some of my time in the buzz of the many forestry-related projects that happen in the spring.  This year we are improving our tree fertilization program.  It is the first time we have performed in-ground injections with mineral and micro-nutrients for the trees.  We generally do not add fertilizer when planting because we want the tree to acclimate to the soil and site that it will be growing in so that the tree can thrive long term.  We are now giving the trees some fertilizer only during March and April to help in their overall health.  We want the trees to green up in the spring and be ready to go dormant in the fall.  Therefore, by not overfeeding them, we can accomplish this goal. Our team of Spence Chivers and Parks Maintenance Foreman Mike Barton have been instrumental in developing and initiating this program.

Also in the spring, there is a flurry of tree planting, especially in April, which is the month of Arbor Day and Earth Day.  This year I made an effort to take on all persons and organizations who volunteered to plant trees. In early April I started to receive calls and lined out several projects for tree plantings with various civic groups.

The first was a little project for one tree to be planted on April 16^th at Settlers Park with Carissa Springer and her Daisy Troop. Two of the Parks crew, Jeremy Aldrich and Debbie Miller, helped on this project.

The second project was with Amanda Martin and several high school and college students on April 22^nd at Tully Park.  Four trees were planted on Memorial Tree Lane with the assistance of Parks crewman Rick Heller.

The third project was for Arbor Day in Meridian on April 29^th held at Discovery Elementary. Two trees were planted at the celebration—one as a donation from Jayker Nursery—a Ruby Lace Honey Locust, and the other—an Imperial Honey Locust. There were roughly 150 students and dignitaries present.  Councilman Brad Hoaglun read the official proclamation for Arbor Day.  Later that day I returned to the same school to speak to about 300 of the student body, who did not attend the celebration that morning.

The fourth project was on the same day at 4 p.m. at Champion Park with Rachel Van Derlaan and her Cub Scouts. We planted four new Dawn Redwood trees at the park. It is a challenge to have 20 boys full of energy and getting them to go in one direction.  The first thing I did was to teach them about safety when using shovels, rakes, and while carrying tools. I gave the instruction and let them do the planting.  It took a while to fill each hole with soil around the trees because it had rained and the soil was wet and heavy. The shovels were bigger than a few of them, but the scouts kept working until they finished.

Then on Friday, April 30^th, City Council President David Zaremba, Parks Commissioner Phil Liddell, Parks & Recreation Director Steve Siddoway, and I attended the State Arbor Day Celebration at the Capitol. There the City of Meridian received recognition as a “Tree City USA” again this year and received a Growth Award for our tree plantings through projects last year.

There were 475 trees planted in the parks system in 2009.  I am pleased to note that this is our 8^th consecutive year to receive the Tree City USA designation.

The fifth project was also on the 30^th later in the day, where I attended a tree planting project with Diane Overall at Lake Hazel Elementary School. I was able to put her in touch with a nursery to help with a tree donation. We planted five trees, and I had the opportunity to talk about trees, proper planting practices, and care.

The sixth project is on May 19^th with an Eagle Scout tree planting project at Seasons Park. Ten new Norway Spruce trees will be planted and donated to the City.

Also in April, we received notification of an award for a stimulus grant for tree work in the City.  The grant totals $44,500. There will be five hazard trees removed and replanted in the downtown area. Also all of the downtown street trees will be trimmed. In another project, about 250 trees will be pruned in two parks. The work will be completed this summer.

We are also working on the specifications for the Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park arboretum.

The entire 60 acres will be an arboretum, but there will also be a seven-acre specimen arboretum.

We hope that it stands apart as an interesting destination to see trees that may not be easily found in the valley.

You can see that a lot of forestry-related activities are occurring this spring season.  I get to organize these projects, but it takes a good and willing Parks crew and many volunteers to help get everything set up, ready, and completed.  I appreciate everyone’s help in making these projects successful.  The City of Meridian is truly a great community to live, work, and raise a family in.

I had the opportunity to attend a training conference in New Orleans recently. There was a break in activities on Saturday afternoon, so I took advantage of the fact that the French Quarter Festival was in full swing just outside my hotel. The weather was delightfully warm (no wind or rain), and there were throngs of people everywhere enjoying amazing music at multiple venues. I spent most of my time listening to Zydeco music and learning the Louisiana two-step from new-found Creole friends. The music venue was a small public park lined by enchanting apartments with porches and wrought iron railings—just like it is in the movies. It was truly a magical afternoon of food, music, and fun. I headed back to the hotel room about 9:00 p.m. and dreamily drifted off to sleep.

The next morning I found out seven tourists had been shot by gang members around 9:00 p.m. about three blocks away from my hotel.

“Pop!” The bubble burst.

It reminded me that planning a great city is not just about what gets built and landscaping along streets. It is about much, much more. It is about providing youth programs that offer hope and support for our young so that they don’t turn to gangs as a place to belong. It is about having industries and job-force training so that crime isn’t the only good-paying “job.” It is about a police force that is a positive presence in the community.

There are a lot of things that New Orleans does right. The business owners and music community have great partnerships that lead to events like the French Quarter Festival. City leaders have capitalized on economic development opportunities by locating the convention center just south of the French Quarter. The community continues to value its cultural heritage as it is reflected in the foods, drinks, and spirits. Local businesses thrive through limiting the number of national chain restaurants and retail establishments. New architecture and signs respect the existing streetscape rather than trying to overwhelm it.  Jazz is everywhere.

We are just about to embark on updating our City’s Comprehensive Plan. My recent adventure will be foremost in my mind as I work with all the City leadership to make the City of Meridian a premier place to live, work, and raise a family.

In preparation for the conversion, residents are asked to contact Sanitary Services Company (SSC) to ensure they have a cart and that it is the right size cart.  Many of our citizens already have the large 95 gallon wheeled carts which they can continue using, while others will need to order wheeled carts from SSC for the very first time. In fact, pre-orders are currently being accepted from now until May 28^th. 

Switching to automated collection is a more efficient way to handle waste and will help ensure utility rates for this service stay low.  Having been used in communities across the state and nation, it has been a successful solution to rising utility rates, high fuel prices, employee attrition, and rapidly-filling county landfills. 

Under this new system, residents will pay according to the amount of trash they produce.  This brings equity to our system where those who produce the most trash pay the most for its removal and disposal.  There are three cost options for service based upon the cart size you choose; the 95 gallon cart is $16.32, the 65 gallon cart is $14.32, and the 35 gallon cart is $12.32.  This new price structure makes it possible for the rates to decrease for those in our community with little trash, and stay about the same for those who are already using a 95 gallon cart from SSC.  Residents will need to find the rate structure that best meets their needs.

The best way for a household to reduce the amount of trash it sends to the landfill is to recycle more.  Last fall the City launched a free comingled recycling program.  These recycling carts (with red tops) provide an opportunity for our citizens to place aluminum, plastic, cardboard, and other recyclables into one container for easy collection. I began using this system and was amazed at how much “trash” I didn’t think to recycle.  This small, simple change in my family’s life makes a huge reduction on our landfill and the cart size I need at my home.  If you don’t recycle now, I encourage you to talk with SSC about recycling options and how recycling can reduce your family’s trash.  SSC representatives can be reached at 888-3999 or email at supervisor@sscwaste.com. 

Another concern we have heard from the community is about yard waste.  I want you to know that we are looking for cost effective long-term solutions to yard waste for the community.  For now, if you’re worried about your ability to fit all your yard waste and lawn clippings into your wheeled trash carts, especially during the summer months, you might consider mulching your clippings.  This can be good for your lawn and reduce your cost for your trash collection.  You can also take them to SSC’s transfer station located off Franklin Road.  For times of the year when we all have extra yard waste, SSC will offer seasonal special collections, such as in the fall when there are lots of fallen leaves to dispose of. We are also exploring a spring pick-up opportunity and will be looking at that in the coming months.

While I know this conversion will take an adjustment, I am confident in the ability of our community to adapt and do what is best for the long term.  If you have a suggestion for the rest of the community on ways to help ease into the new system to keep Meridian clean and green, I want to hear about it!  Email me at mayortammy@meridiancity.org and together we can celebrate Meridian as the premier community to live, work and raise a family. 

With the current fiscal year half way through, the Finance Department has been working with the department directors and the Mayor in developing the FY2011 Budget.  The Council will formally adopt the FY2011 Budget on August 24, 2010 during its scheduled meeting starting at 7:00pm.  More detailed information about the budgets can be found on our webpage and Council agenda’s can be found at the City Clerks webpage.

The City of Meridian has been reviewing numerous City, County, State and National economic reports to help in preparing the FY2011 Budget.  Many efforts have been made to reduce the overall budget without sacrificing the vision that the City has in striving to be a premier city to live, work, and raise a family. 

The City of Meridian has many of the same financial obstacles that our neighboring cities do.  With the reduction in sales taxes, property taxes and government financing, a balancing act of sorts is needed to continue to provide the citizens the safety and security that they deserve while respecting the tax payers checkbook.  Through special workshops, the City will work with its Mayor, Council and citizens to develop a balanced budget once again for the City of Meridian.  Scheduled workshops can be found on the City Clerks website.

For more information about the Budget for the City of Meridian, please contact the Office of Financial Management and Planning.  Click Here for a link to our Contact Us webpage.

What parent doesn’t want the best for their child? This applies to car safety as well. Even if we think accidents happen to others, we have to admit that from the moment we are inside the car, the accident risk is assumed. Car crashes injure and unfortunately kill numerous children each year. This represents the leading cause of death and injury for children under five. Automobiles are built for adults and children do not fit into the seats or the seatbelt systems built for adults, consequently each child needs to be protected according to the law and to his/her size. This usually means installing a Child Passenger Seat in the vehicle for your child. But before you do, know this, four out of five car seats are used improperly. This estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is derived from the results of numerous checks conducted by safety experts throughout the country.  Most parents at these check-up events believe their children are safe. But they may not be. Why all this misuse? One reason is that not every seat is compatible with every car. There are more than 100 models of car seats, 300 models of passenger vehicles and a variety of seat belt systems!

When is the last time you had your child’s passenger seat checked for safety? The Meridian Fire Department holds monthly Child Passenger Seat Check-up events at one of their fire stations each month.  They have an event scheduled at Fire Station 1 located at 540 E Franklin on May 6^th from 1:00-4:00.  Why not call for an appointment to have your seat inspected during the event?  Call the Fire Department Administration line at 888-1234 to set up your free inspection today. 

Meridian Fire Department is your partner in safety! 

This Expo is celebrated in conjunction with National Public Works Week, May 17^th-23^rd, and is only part of a week full of community events showcasing the essential, life-safety services the Meridian Public Works Department provides to its citizens.  This event also allows us to bring to life some of the unrecognized operations that help to make Meridian a healthy, safe and comfortable place to live.

For more information on this event, please visit the Meridian City website at www.meridiancity.org or call Becky Licari, in the Public Works Department at 208-898-5500 x.1361.

Nicknamed “the Deacon,” Vern was known for his accomplishments both on and off the field.  In addition to helping the Pirates win their third World Series, Vern was also the recipient of the prestigious Cy Young Award – the award given to the best pitcher in both the American and National leagues.  Vern was also regarded as an individual who valued his reputation as a leader and his moral character, earning him the coveted Lou Gehrig award in 1969 given to the player that best exemplifies character and integrity both on and off the field. 

Kiss it Good-Bye is a new book about Vern Law’s life and career written by author and lifelong baseball fan, John Moody.  It contains unique stories about Law and the 1960 Pirates, including one that might give Law the unique distinction of being the only man in the history of major league baseball to be ejected from a game due to another player’s bad conduct.  

During a game Vern claims that pitcher Nellie King was sitting next to him, and began yelling and cursing - things that Vern never would have done.  When the umpire took notice he saw Vern pointing at the score board and thought Vern was making an inappropriate gesture.  According to Law, the ump came over to the dugout and said, "That’s it Law, you’re out of here!” Law said, “I was embarrassed to be out there any way with all the bad language. He accused me of impersonating an umpire. And I wish I would have thought faster and accused him of the same thing.”  These, and other great stories, are part of this book about this truly amazing Meridian High School graduate. 

At 3:00 pm today, I would like to invite everyone in the community to come out and meet Vern Law – a “Major League Meridian Legend”.  We will be celebrating Vern and his accomplishments on the steps of City Hall by proclaiming April, 22, 2010 as Vern Law Day.  In addition Vern will be signing autographs, a pitching session will take place, and refreshments and prizes will be provided.  This is a great opportunity to celebrate a Meridian citizen who has become a local hero and brings pride to many in our community.  Please join us.

Do you know of a local hero or legend making an impact in Meridian?  If so I want to hear about it.  Email me at Mayortammy@Meridiancity.org and together we can recognize those individuals and celebrate Meridian as the premier community to live, work and raise a family.

What you most likely witnessed was your local firefighters training to help your family and friends should they ever have to endure the damages of a fire, require rescue, or emergency medical care. As firefighters and paramedics, we train on a daily basis to ensure that our knowledge, skills, and abilities are honed to their finest in order to serve you in your time of need. We are fortunate to have outstanding training and educational facilities to serve this purpose. But unfortunately we are not called to operate in what can become very familiar or even sterile environments to our personnel. For this reason we take advantage of opportunities to “practice like we will be expected to perform” in a real world environment. This is accomplished by training and educating firefighters in structures that are slated for demolition or remodel. These buildings have served our community and families for years, taking the opportunity to learn from them before they are gone only adds to their overall value.

Every building we encounter on the job is different in construction, layout and use. As firefighters and paramedics we strive to learn as much as we can about how our clients build, work and live in these structures. This allows us the best ability to quickly evaluate a building that is being attacked by fire, and predict how that fire might progress or behave. Using this information we develop a strategy to stop the loss being caused, and allow our personnel to search and rescue victims that may be trapped by smoke and fire. Often we are called to provide emergency medical care to our friends and neighbors in these buildings. Removing them quickly and smoothly for safe transport to the hospital, if required, can prove challenging. Again, it is through practice in these real world settings that we develop techniques to treat our patients with the compassion and care they deserve.

It is in the course of extensive study on how these buildings are put together and react under fire conditions that your firefighters learn what to expect, and how best to alleviate the damage being caused. When given the opportunity we tear these structures down to their bones in order to learn how best to make quick entry and discover hidden fires. We may fill them with artificial smoke to see how it travels and affects our ability to locate the occupants we are searching for in the dark. Eventually we will often set carefully controlled fires in certain areas of the structure to see how the fire spreads and affects different building materials.

In the end many of these structures are allowed to burn completely under carefully monitored conditions. This is not simply to dispose of the remaining structure, but again to allow firefighters the opportunity to see how the actual structural members of a building react when exposed to fire. One of the greatest dangers firefighters face in controlling fires is structural collapse, and observing this occurrence in a controlled fashion allows us to learn the warning signs of impending collapse or structural failure. Many of the fire codes we now enforce, and require builders to adhere to, have been developed through this type of real world research. We have learned how buildings burn and eventually fail, and use this knowledge to build safer homes and businesses for our community to live and work in.

Should you own a structure slated for demolition that you feel may provide a valuable training environment for your local emergency responders feel free to contact fire administration headquarters at 208-888-1234. We will be happy to evaluate the opportunity and determine if it will provide benefit to our community, and provide that added value in a way the original builders may never have imagined.

Every time the Census form is delivered to my home, I gleefully fill it out and send it back in to be counted. My only frustration is waiting for the results because they have such a profound affect on the work we do as planners.

For example, two statistics that come out of the Census are: average household income and average household size. In 2000, the City had an average of 2.93 persons per household—which is 13% higher than the state and national averages. That number in and of itself is very interesting because it helps us understand what kind of housing needs to be made available to our residents and how many students we might expect in our schools. Once you couple that knowledge with our average household income—which is 27% higher than the national average—businesses that are geared toward middle income families start to get very interested in locating in Meridian. It then becomes our job to plan how to successful integrate those businesses into our neighborhoods and community.

If this one small example has intrigued you to learn more, I encourage you to look at http://www.civilrights.org/census/your-community/funding.html. This website gives a lot of great examples on how Census data is used at the National, state and local levels. If you would like to know more about how the City of Meridian will use the information, please feel free to call me or Caleb Hood, our Comprehensive Planning Manager, at 884-5533.

Many of you are aware through the Census commercials that this is a crucial tool used by government when determining the best allocation of resources –and I couldn’t agree more.  Due to the growth Meridian has seen over the past decade, having an accurate count assists with location of schools, transportation funding, assure we have an adequate level of representation at the state and federal level in voting districts, as well as the allocation of funds to benefit organizations like the Meridian Food Bank, Meridian Senior Center and the Boy’s & Girls Club.  While the pace has slowed, many families are still making the decision to move to Meridian, and this information will help make decisions on allocation of resources and services to maintain our levels of service for current residents and provide for our new citizens.

I found the new format to be easy and straight forward, and finished mine in less then ten minutes.  Today nearly 70% of our community has responded, yet there are still many of you that haven’t been counted.  I would urge you to take the time to fill out the Census; each individual counted can result in up to $14,000 dollars for our community over the next ten years. 

If you lost or threw away your Census or have questions you can stop by the Idaho Youth Ranch Store on Main Street to pickup a copy.  I recommend you call first at 895-8433 to ensure a Census worker is available.  A second Census form will be mailed out in a few weeks if you do not fill out and return a form.  In addition a Census worker may come to your home and knock on your door and attempt to fill out the information.  Unfortunately this is a costly and time consuming effort – occurring up to six times – so it is best to turn in your form as soon as possible to save taxpayer money in this effort.

With the great people that live in our community I know we will continue to be a leader in the country when it comes to returning our Census forms through the mail.  I want to thank all of you for doing your part so far.  Meridian is a community that is standing up to be counted as part of the 2010 Census, so please join me as we celebrate Meridian as the premier community to live, work and raise a family.  

Summer—June, July, and August—are the three months that kids of all ages start day dreaming about in April, as spring starts teasing us with warmer weather and longer days.

Here at the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department, we start focusing on and thinking about summer and all of the exciting activities it holds, as early as January and February!

We’ve spent months planning and prepping for the best season of the year.  On Saturday April 10^th, the Spring/Summer 2010 Activity Guide will be published in the Idaho Statesman, delivered to our mailing list, and available online.  We will begin registration for spring and summer activities on Monday April 12^th at 8:00 a.m.

We have some great programs, sports leagues, day camps, and classes lined up for this summer. Some of our new programs include zumba fitness classes, kettlebell classes, yoga classes, lots of art programs for adults, an adult flag football league and many more.

We also have lots of old favorites, including early childhood education classes, kids’ art camps, adventure camp, sports camp, tennis and golf for all ages, adult softball leagues, the Barn Sour 10k/6k/1 mile fun run, and everyone’s favorite, CableONE Movie Night in Meridian!

We have three easy ways to register for our programs:

1. Give us a call at 888-3579; we would love to talk with you, answer any questions you may have, and get you and your family signed up for lots of summer fun.
2. You can click here to access our registration program and sign up online.
3. If you received a paper copy of the activity guide or printed one from our website, you can mail in the registration form found on page 19.  Our mailing address is: 33 E. Broadway Ave. Meridian, ID 83642.

We look forward to sharing our summer with you and your family. Please feel free to contact us at 888-3579 with any comments, concerns, or questions.

Working with the Meridian School District, student presentation material and curriculum was developed to reflect information presented in the teacher’s class room; such as The Water & Weather Cycles.  Additional information on our local watershed areas including, stormwater, ground water, chemical pollutant disposal and water conservation was developed by City staff members to, “bridge the gap between class room theory and the City’s Public Works Utility Operations”.  Several water quality experts from the city traveled to five Meridian middle schools to conduct classroom presentations since the first of the year, roughly 1,500 6^th grade level students participated in these school presentations. 

Each 40 minute presentation discusses water quality topics such as water source generation, how Drinking Water is pumped from the ground water (aquifer) and sent to their homes.  How Stormwater pollutants generated at home can impact the groundwater (aquifer).  How Wastewater is collected and treated by the City of Meridian and returned to our local watershed (5 Mile Creek/Boise River) to be used by others living downstream.  And identifying chemical pollutant materials used at home, to prevent the dumping of chemicals down the drains at home, how chemicals impact the city’s wastewater treatment processes and the proper disposal methods of those chemicals.  Water Conservation techniques and the City’s Reclaimed Water uses are also discussed, as well as the city’s new Pharmaceuticals Return Program, administrated by the Meridian Police Department for residents of the community.

The response from the teachers and schools has been tremendous!  Teachers have commended the quality level of information presented to their students.  Teachers have sent e-mails expressing their gratitude for the presentations.  Students have even sent cards indicating their joy and excitement of learning about water.  One student wrote,   “Thank you for coming to our class room.  I’ve learned a lot about water now”, and another said, “Thank you for coming to our class. We had a lot of fun. I loved the part when you showed us the different types of water (wastewater process samples)”.  The response and feedback has been so great, all of the schools and classrooms we have presented to would like to participate in the program again next school year!

For additional information on this program, please contact:

Steve Maneck

Meridian Public Works Department

208-888-2191

In previous blogs and during my State of the City address I have had an opportunity to speak about our commitment to Economic Excellence and the importance of working with our investors who bring quality places that attract business.  In this blog we have celebrate the investors who have brought Meridian high caliber business parks and new businesses.

These ‘employment centers’ attract those who want to be located closer to the workforce and their customers.  We have a number of business parks and retail centers in various stages of development that have attractive landscaping, nice amenities, and thoughtful design.  Overall, Meridian’s business parks offer a great work environment and ideal locations. 

One of our growing business parks is the El Dorado Business Campus.  This 85-acre campus in the southwest quadrant of Eagle and Overland roads and is a project of one of our partners in our community, W.H. Moore Co.  Through the El Dorado Business Campus, W.H. Moore Co. has brought investment and jobs to Meridian and currently has great businesses such as Great West Causality, Complex Care Hospital, Stanley Consultants, and others in their facility.  But they are not done yet.

MDU Resources Group, the parent company to Intermountain Gas and three other utility companies, announced last August they would open a new customer service facility here in Meridian to serve the utility group’s 945,000 customers across eight states.  This service center will occupy 31,000 square feet and W.H. Moore Co. is saving adjacent land for future expansion.  This will be the principal point of contact location for the utility group’s customer service issues via telephone or Internet, and will handle billing questions, setting up service starts and stops, and other service-related issues.

The expansion of this facility is bringing 140 new jobs to Meridian with about 70 new jobs expected to be hired soon for this service center.  The addition of these jobs will be a nice injection to the current shifting economy and will be a benefit to our available workforce.  I am confident our citizens will greatly contribute to the success of our newest business in Meridian.

We are hopeful that this is another signal of a resurgence of economic prosperity in an environment that is built for business…and their success.  We will continue to partner with our investors and business community to be that premiere place in meeting business needs.  We must also continue to support our business here at home and recognize that supporting Meridian businesses will help them keep jobs close to home. 

Join me in welcoming our newest business in the El Dorado Business Campus, and if you know of a business that is looking to launch or grow in Meridian I want to hear about it.  Email me at Mayortammy@Meridiancity.org and together we can embrace these new jobs and celebrate Meridian as the premier community to live, work and raise a family.

The City’s Police and Information Technology Departments recently developed a computer application that streamlines police reporting so that reports can be processed and analyzed quickly and simply. 

The Police Department had been utilizing an antiquated report writing system based on a notoriously temperamental database that crashed frequently.  Different divisions in the Police Department were using different computer systems that were not compatible in all respects.  Information sharing between divisions was not automated.  Senior Database Developer Mike Tanner stepped in to help.

Mike, working with MPD Sgt. Jamie Leslie, learned that officers submitted a police report, administrative staff entered data from the report into their system and created a printout for the Records Department, and then the Records Department entered the data again in their system.  In some cases, this process required entering the same information in different systems as many as three times.

Mike, having previously worked for a private corporation, had extensive experience with automating processes to improve efficiency -- and, in the context of the private sector, to improve the bottom line.  Mike put this background to work, and designed a system that automates and integrates multiple computer systems, eliminates duplicate entry, and provides officers and detectives with a single tool to look up data and record case information.  After several months of planning and development, the product “Incident Tracking” was released to officers for testing. 

The buzz and enthusiasm following testing exceeded our expectations.  Officers were amazed at the ease of the product and how the product is customized for the way they work.  Similar systems can be purchased from commercial vendors, but an application of this quality would cost several hundred thousand dollars to purchase and implement.

Although Meridian is the third-largest City in the State of Idaho, our IT staff is one of the smallest.  Despite our small staff size, the application our team developed is better than anything on the market.  The City of Boise and Ada County have tested our Incident Tracking System and they agree.  In fact, Ada County has decided to forgo writing its own internal application, and will adopt Incident Tracking instead.  By sharing our success with other jurisdictions, we have eliminated time and costs that each agency – and their taxpayers - would otherwise have spent several times over.

The creation of Incident Tracking by the Meridian IT team has brought efficiency, innovation, and economy not just to the City of Meridian, but to government agencies throughout the valley.  We are extremely excited to implement Incident Tracking at the Meridian Police Department in April.