Centennial Neighborhood Association just received the email from the Boise Bicycle Project. This is a great cause. We had a neighbor a few years back that left a perfectly good, albeit used, bicycle outside next to their garage. Through rain, snow and sunshine that bike never moved for over a year. Finally, when they moved – it was gone, probably to the landfill.
I received a separate email encouraging Boise Neighborhood Associations to open convenient collection points in their neighborhood area where folks could easily drop these much-needed bikes off, avoiding a separate trip downtown to the Boise Bicycle Project shop and warehouse. My wife and I are volunteering to store donated bikes at our home between now and the first part of December. From here we will call the Bicycle Project for them to come and pick all the bikes up at one time! Convenient for all! Perhaps, my former neighbor just couldn’t be bothered to bring that bike downtown. It’s sad that some youngsters miss out.
Let’s show our Centennial Neighborhood spirit and gather as many lovingly used bicycles that our children have just outgrown! If you are able to help please call me. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Centennial Neighborhood Association Meeting – 2023
Annual Meeting of The Members
Our meeting closely followed the evening’s AGENDA. Bonnie Shelton led a highly informative presentations by Boise Parks and Recreation (McDevitt Park Master Plan Kickoff). Nicole Carr did a presentation on “Energize Our Neighborhoods Boise”, and District councilwoman, Luci Willits, spoke to the valuable relationships between neighborhood associations and the City. Mark Salisbury, “West Boise Needs a Library Too” updated members on the great progress of the library initiative. Five new board members were nominated and unanimously elected, bringing our CTNA board to its full eight members! Thank you all for your support.
Boise Parks and Recreation representatives to present at CTNA’s October 19th, 2023, Annual Member meeting. It’s the kickoff of a search for ideas to finish the east end of the park
This is one of only three parks in the Centennial Neighborhood Association (CTNA) boundaries.
∙ The land McDevitt sits on was annexed in 1999.
∙ Most of the park was finished in 2001.
∙ Impact fees from new construction have been assessed and are available. ∙ Over 10 years later, in 2013 money was in the budget to finish McDevitt. The Boise Parks and Recreation (BPR) master plan for McDevitt included 3 lacrosse fields to be built in the unfinished area in association with a local lacrosse league. That plan fell through.
∙ Another 10 years after that, in 2023, BPR again had money in the budget to finish the park but needed a new master plan. This was put on hold because of a “capacity issue” or staffing shortage to manage the community outreach needed to develop a new plan.
∙ In July of 2023, the CTNA appeared before the Boise City Council at the FY2024 budget hearing to request the park be completed in FY2024 and not pushed back again. The City Council denied the request. However, Eric Bilimoria, Boise Budget Manager, said McDevitt was scheduled in FY2025, but he qualified that by saying it was “dependent upon collection of development impact fees.”
(1) When asked, Karen Bledsoe, BPR, said that there was $1.2M in FY2023 for McDevitt and that by FY2025 it was projected to be “over $1.4M.” It was asked if that meant planning in FY2024 for installation in FY2025 and she did not disagree.
(2) ∙ Each year, the park is not completed, the $1.2M in impact fees buys less and less. BPR says installation costs have gone up 40% since 2021. We were told by BPR that they currently forecast $100K per acre for irrigation and turf, so just grass for the bare area in McDevitt could cost over $750,000 today.
While McDevitt continues to be unfinished for over 23 years, the city has purchased, improved, and finished parks in other areas of the city. Some improvements are as extravagant as a splash pad and free Wi-Fi.
Impact fees are charges assessed for the impact that new development makes on the City of Boise’s regional parks, local parks, fire department and police department. New residential development pays all four impact fee types, because they impact all four services. Commercial development pays only fire and police impact fees because it typically does not directly impact regional and local parks.
The city’s park service area extends to the city’s area of impact boundaries and is segregated by two types of park systems – Regional Parks and Local Parks. However, since local parks are intended to serve smaller geographic areas with different capital facility requirements and growth patterns, there are five (5) separate local park fee areas – each with separate impact fees. This means the local park impact fees charged in any of the service areas pay only for the infrastructure which provides the direct benefit to that area. For example, the Northwest Local Park only funds parks in the Northwest service area.
So, the impact fees from our area will go to area parks, but that might mean impact fees earmarked for and we assumed would go to finish McDevitt, may in fact be diverted to buy or improve other parks inside the planning area, but outside the CTNA, such as Spaulding Ranch Park. Eric Bilimoria stated that “there are other projects within that planning area.”
(3) Councilmember Hallyburton says that “There’s a priority list.”
(4) Here is a map of the impact fee planning areas:
Currently, we’re being told that the reason McDevitt is being delayed is because of “capacity issues” or lack of staffing. Councilmember Colin Nash encourages us to “stay engaged.”
(5) His advice is good. Mayor Lauren McLean said that Spaulding Ranch Park, acquired in 2016, a favorite of Boise City
Councilmember Nash is “being pushed forward.”
(6) McDevitt continues to be pushed back.
(1) July 11th, 2023, Boise City Council Meeting- FY2024 Budget.
One of the benefits of living in Boise is the number and quality of our parks. Mayor McLean has established a goal of having a Boise park within a 10-minute safe walk of all Boise Citizens. For many of us in the Centennial Neighborhood, McDevitt is that park.
McDevitt is one of only three parks within the boundaries of the Centennial Neighborhood Association, but it’s a nice one. The park includes: Norm’s Pond, a 1.2-acre fishing pond the 10,000 Sq. ft. McMillan skate park 2 children’s play structures 7 groomed and fenced ball fields complete with tall backstops, foul line markers, batting cages, covered dugouts with water fountains, bleachers, league storage sheds, a concession stand and restrooms parking a walking path around most of the perimeter There are also a few small, old backstops with wooden benches in the unfinished area that might have once been softball fields. However, about a quarter of the park in the NE corner is unfinished.
Walking path should be completed to extend to Eagle Road. Walking path needs to be completed
ACHD Proposed Changes in Neighborhood “Speed Calming” Policy
This is a recap of a proposed change in ACHD policy for those requesting speed calming. In the past applicants would need to collect data to prove excessive traffic speed, traffic volume, and cut-through. A cut-through is when traffic passes through a residential neighborhood that did not originate, nor arrive at a destination in that neighborhood. Additionally, a petition for speed mitigation needed signatures from 75% of affected residents. At that point, ACHD would consider if it would pay for the speed mitigation structures, or if the requesting party were responsible.
Under the proposed policy, calming applicants will have to prove either excessive speed or traffic volume in the area — not both — and get the required signatures on their petition. This eliminates the cut-through requirement. ACHD will pay for the cost of the structure installations.
Traffic speed and volume are typically determined by placing tube counters across the road at an agreed-upon location. According to the policy, a street must be over 750 feet in length and have more than 400 cars per day to be considered eligible for traffic calming evaluation. If a street has more than 4,000 vehicles per day, it surpasses the upper limit for traffic calming and is not eligible. Only residential streets and collector roads that have a speed limit of 30 MPH or less are eligible for traffic calming.
The default speed limit in Boise is 20 mph, so the majority of our side streets qualify.
We’re not sure how ADHD would define “affected residents” when requiring signatures. And, while now a moot point, we also don’t know how ACHD would define the boundaries of the “neighborhood” for cut-through.
We are expecting to hear more about where these proposed changes stand over the coming weeks. We’ll keep you posted!
Neighborhood Contact Officer – Presentation – May 16, 2023
National Night Out is Tuesday August 1. Registration for Nation Night Out 2023 opens today and runs through July 25, 2023.
Please do not wait until the last minute to register. While we encourage all to enjoy a great time with their neighbors and community, we can only guarantee City representatives (police/fire, etc.) for the first 50 parties to register.
The Centennial Neighborhood Association applauds the continued progress made by “Citizens for a Library” to establish a library facility in west Boise. “Citizens for a Library” founder, Mark Salisbury along with Jennifer Gravel, a life-long library patron and a long-time advocate, presented testimony, and the organization’s formal petition for locating a public library in west Boise. Our Centennial Neighborhood sits in the middle of this underserved area and formally supports “Citizens for a Library” and its efforts.
A discussion and questions by library board members followed the presentation. While board members expressed skepticism as to any ability to impact funding for the FY 2024 fiscal year, which begins October 1st, it was clear that Mark and Jennifer made a positive impression.
Boise Public Library Board Presentation Sept. 13, 2023
West Boise / East Meridian Needs a Library Too!
Your Centennial Neighborhood Association supports the need for Boise to have a library closer to the citizens of West Boise. Ideally libraries are within walking or at least biking distance. “The Library!” at Cole & Ustick is more than five miles away from parts of our Neighborhood Association. Many citizens of Boise live within 1 mile of a library, and most are within two miles. “?” West Boise stands alone in a “library desert”!
West Valley Neighborhood Association has invited our CTNA community to an entertaining and informative presentation about the past and future of the historic Ustick Townsite.
Most folks in West Boise aren’t aware of the fascinating history of the Ustick Townsite. Dan Everhart, Outreach Historian from the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office has an entertaining and informative presentation to share with West Boise residents. The presentation is free, and refreshments will be available.
Poultry processing plant in west Boise . . .. will certainly never happen. Why? Because people would come out of the woodwork and stop it. That seems to be the way things go these days. People quickly react to perceived threats but often fail to support positive change. I expect a “poultry processing plant” to be a negative for most of us!
Sorry for the trickery if you otherwise wouldn’t have come to Centennial’s website. It is critically important, however, that, as your Neighborhood Association president I get this message to as many of our Centennial residents and businesses as possible.
This past Thursday evening Centennial held its 3rd Qtr. Open Board meeting. The meeting was announced a week in advance on our website, Facebook page, Nextdoor and emails were sent to our complete “membership” mailing list.
We had a total of nine in attendance at Thursday’s meeting
Board members (3), Our fourth Board member was not able to attend because of a family medical emergency. Board member spouses (2), Library presenters (2), Energize Our Neighborhoods and Public Works presenters (2), Centennial residents or business owners (0). Energize Boise and Boise Public works gave highly informative and interesting presentations.
Centennial Neighborhood Association’s next regular meeting is the third Thursday of October. At this meeting there are some organizational tasks that must be completed, not the least of which is the election of Board members. As it stands now two of our current four boards have served their maximum consecutive terms and must go off the board. That leaves me, currently president and our Treasurer. We need a minimum of three board members to fulfill Neighborhood Association requirements. Our bylaws call for a board of five to seven at a maximum.
There are many ways you can contribute to supporting your Centennial Neighborhood’s efforts to make our neighborhood “a great place to live, to work and to raise a family”. You don’t need to be on the Board. If a Board seat is something you might be interested in email us, and we can discuss. Review our “make a difference” page on our website. Is there something there you could help with?
As a reminder, here are just a few of the things your neighborhood association is tracking and advocating for you:
Our Annual Meeting, October 19th, is not very far off!
Yes, I was sneaky in the post (Poultry Processing) I made to hopefully bring more of a response to come to our Centennilana.org website. I hope you’ll forgive me for that, but October 19th is very near, and your Board needs to know it has or doesn’t have the support to continue doing all that it can to “make your Centennial Neighborhood a great place to live, to work and to raise a family”
Presentation and Discussion – Nicole Carr, City of Boise, “Energize Our Neighborhoods”, Program Manager – Presents Energize Update
Energize Our Neighborhoods Program Manager, Nicole Carr. Nicole has an extensive background in community building and outreach. She collaborates with neighborhoods to create unique and desirable communities for everyone by supporting Boise’s neighborhood associations.
Questions and discussion?
Old Business
Library Initiative – Update
McDevitt Park – Update “Let’s Finish McDevitt Park”
Zoning Rewrite – Update
New Business
City Public Works presentation by Abby Haydin, on Pilot Water Treatment Program
Board ratification of expenditures for Ustick In Bloom Supplies
Walmart – Candy for Ustick in Bloom booth $25.91, Office Depot -Bus card stock for Ustick in Bloom $35.92 Used CTNA Debit Card – pre-approved by email Unanimous Consent
Election Year – Possible District One candidate meet and greet, Mayoral Election Candidates?
Annual Meeting Planning
Board Member Openings – To be filled at our Annual Meeting
At Tuesday’s (7-11-2023) City Council Meeting the adequacy of BPD staffing was discussed as it relates to Boise’s growth as well as the increased demand for services brought on by more and more out of town visitors.
Of the nine people testifying, seven were either related to our Centennial Neighborhood Association or the “Citizens for a Library” group. It was all about our issues last night when it came to testimony.
Young 9-year-old Molly Froerer spoke about the importance of libraries to her personally. Well done, Molly! After the meeting, BPD Chief of Police, who also attended the meeting, commented that he “wanted to clap” for Molly after her testimony.Very positive and encouraging! “Citizens for a Library” and your Centennial Neighborhood representatives were there to testify. I just spent the last few hours watching and unpacking details, taking notes of the taped meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv8Mre8G_UQ . Note that testimony was limited to three minutes per person for this meeting.
Time0:00 – Start of Boise City Council Meeting to vote on the 2023-2024 Budget Presentation
41:29 Beginning of citizen testimony, Council members questions and comments
1:24:45 Watch all but if you want to skip and hear Molly first, here’s your spot
Watching this meeting in its entirety, at least from the start of testimony, is highly informative. I was extremely impressed by the Mayor and Council interactions with those giving testimony. I’m not a fan of what are often dull and monotonous public meetings. This meeting was neither.
With Mark Salisbury’s permission I am posting his reflections on Tuesday’s meeting from the “Citizens for a Library” Facebook page. Great job, Mark
Mark Salisbury
Jul 12, 2023, 11:33 PM (20 hours ago)
to bcc: me
Hello Citizens for a Library in West Boise,
We made an impact last night but there’s more to do.
We’ve helped set the stage for the Boise library to act as they work on a new master plan over the next year.
Last night was a success. I delivered printed copies of our petition, with names of signers, and a few pieces of supporting information, to City Council Members, Mayor McLean, and Library Director Dorr. Besides myself, Gary Dufault, Amanda Salisbury, Jennifer Froerer, Molly Froerer, and Joe Lague offered testimony in support of this effort. Others expressed a desire to be there but for various reasons were unable to be (Nancy Cowles, Jennifer Gravel, and Tammy Rampton, and Codi Galloway have worked hard on this and weren’t able to attend). Molly Froerer was the youngest person to testify, and she stole the crowd — Police Chief Ron Winegar told her he wanted to clap when she finished!
They heard our message loud and clear. I know they recognize the gap that exists in West Boise, and I believe they would like to do something about it. They understand that many citizens care about this. I was encouraged by the questions that were asked by City Council members and the support they offered for improving library access. The conversation shifted to the mechanics of how we get this done.
Names of 835 Boise Citizens were included on the petition we delivered, including comments from many who have signed the petition online.
By signing this petition, by testifying, we’ve shown them that Boiseans do value library service, and believe equitable access is important.
We’re not without obstacles, however.
I’m learning how city government works through this process. When I started this, I believed that showing the City Council that there is a need to address, that there are enough people who believe this matters, would be sufficient to prioritize this problem and allocate funds to address it.
I knew that Library Director Jessica Dorr, the staff at the Boise Public Library, and the Boise Library Board of Trustees would need to back any development plans and ultimately request the funds from the city. (Did you know that Boise has a private foundation that supports the library? https://www.boisepubliclibrary.org/about/support-your-library/library-foundation/. Donors gave millions to build a new downtown Boise Library in 2019. These funds were returned after that effort failed). I understand the desire to not misstep right now. Last year the Boise Library collected citizen input. Included in this year’s city budget are funds to pay a consulting agency to help develop a new master plan, which will include examining how facilities are expanded and improved.
By showing them (library staff and city leadership) that citizens care about facilities (and the library knows this also through the outreach they did last year), we’re helping to provide evidence that citizens will support funds going towards library improvements.
There are really 2 options for how we could see library access improved in West Boise:
1) A facility is leased to add a library branch. Collister and Hillcrest are renovated shopping mall space. The city likes them because they are relatively inexpensive.
2) A dedicated facility is constructed. This could happen on land already owned by the city or land could be purchased.
At the conclusion of the study (which will look at the entire city), I believe multiple scenarios will be presented, ranging in cost and scope. To decide which scenario to pursue, I believe the library staff and board of trustees won’t want to hear just from the Mayor and City Council, they’ll want to hear from citizens also.
Our hope is that when this study is completed, we’re ready to turn to visible action.
We suggested that the library / city should examine West Boise in particular for how to expand while the study is taking place as the gap is so obvious.
What do we need to do in the meantime?
– Remain engaged. Find out what’s happening. Offer input to the city and library when the opportunity is available to do so.
– Build more support. Talk about this initiative. I’m leaving this petition open until money is allocated and a place is designated for a library in West Boise.
– Support and use the library.
– Finally, have some patience. Realizing this will take some time.
Big thanks to Council Member Luci Browning Willits for supporting this initiative and getting these great pictures!
Also, I want to acknowledge the efforts, prior to this meeting, of the Centennial Neighborhood Association. Gary Dufault, CTNAs’ President, in addition to speaking last night, has been very supportive and engaged in this effort. The Centennial Neighborhood Association, which has 13,000 Boise residents, is fully within the West Boise Library Desert. Larry Ice and Joe Lague, also members of the CTNA board, testified at the City Council Meeting last night as well. It’s awesome to see our Neighborhood Associations energizing Boise and representing their communities!
West Boise Library Petition Presentation and testimony to be given this Tuesday, July 11th, at the City Council Budget Meeting
This Tuesday, July 11th, Boise City Council is meeting at the Boise City Hall at 6 PM to review the FY’24 budget. Several of our neighborhood association members will present a petition to improve library coverage in West Boise. We invite you to come and support this too.
If you plan to attend Tuesday’s meeting in-person you can sign up to testify at City Hall before the meeting. The earlier you sign up the earlier you will be able to testify. Note the start time for the meeting is 6 PM. Testimony is limited to three minutes per person testifying.
Many, if not most of us, have firsthand experiences or stories that reflect how important public libraries are to ourselves and our families. Consider if you have a story to tell that reflects on better access to a public library in west Boise.
Taxes
We all pay equal taxes to support libraries, but we don’t have equitable access.
Cost Efficiency, Expediency West YMCA
A new, dedicated building would be preferred but we recognize this is expensive, the quickest most efficient path to improve access would be to lease space in an existing building. This could be done near the West YMCA in the Boise Research Center or other retail locations that have become vacant due to a trend away from brick-and-mortar retail.
Walkable City
We want Boise to be more walkable and bikeable. Part of making it more walkable and bikeable is having places to walk and bike to, within a reasonable distance.
Not Just Parks
We have good access to parks, for which we are grateful, but parks are not the only city service we care about.
Library Study
When the library study is completed in a year, the same coverage gap will exist. Can we not recognize this and begin to act now?
Library Study
The study doesn’t need to be completed to see where we have poor coverage. It’s obvious to anyone when they look at a coverage map of Boise.
Action Now
Action we could take now: Step 1) research different options – we can tell you about them, we know West Boise, we live there. Step 2) purchase land. Can we include money from this year’s budget to purchase land for a library in West Boise?
Action Now
We’ve identified locations near West Boise MacDevitt Park. We Don’t want to name it publicly. We’ve seen other potential locations disappear due to development. Great locations have been disappearing, West Boise is developed.
Action Now
It’s important to act sooner than later, as available space is only going away.
Our great supporters out gathering petition signers!
This morning (July 8) neighborhood association members collected signatures in support of this petition at Albertson’s at Eagle and McMillan. You can sign this petition online at https://citizensforalibrary.org/west-boise. Tammy and Jeremy Rampton along with their daughter, Eve, and Clair Salisbury gather petition signatures outside Albertsons at McMillan and Eagle Road. We want to thank our local Albertsons for being a great supporter of Centennial Neighborhood.
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West Boise Needs a Library Too – Door-To-Door Campaign Kicks Off Saturday, May 13, 2023
At our most recent board meeting, we agreed that having a library within or closer to our neighborhood would be a tremendous boost to our community. Supporters of this initiative will be going door to door on Saturday at 1:30 PM to collect signatures and distribute flyers. If you would like to help, please sign up here:
Mark Salisbury updated CTNA tonight on the library meeting that was hosted by Mark and his wife, Amanda, last night.
“We had a great meeting last night! I’ve started working on a presentation for the library board / city council, which I shared with everyone who was present. I got some valuable feedback – thanks everyone who was here for your ideas. We got a little more organization, with several people volunteering to help this effort in a variety of ways. I’m excited to see where we go.
And the pie — lots of pie, it was delicious.
If you believe having a library nearby is worth some effort, I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks especially to Amanda Salisbury for all your help “
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