Make a note in your calendar for this important annual member’s meeting. Check back here for the agenda.
Centennial Neighborhood’s Annual Member’s 2024 Meeting – October 24th Tree City Church Room 218
News
Charles F McDevitt Youth Sports Complex Completion Included in Boise’s 2024/2025 Fiscal Budget
Your Centennial Neighborhood Association has been diligently advocating for the completion of the remaining open space and upgrades to this west Boise jewel for over three years. Thanks to a lot of hard work and attendance by your board and other Centennial members at many city and neighborhood meetings, this great park is finally scheduled for completion with funding included in the 2024/2025 City budget.
Centennial Neighborhood Supports Ashcreek Development
In testimony before Boise’s Design Review Commission August 14, 2014, Boise City Hall
Case # DRH24-00194, 12673 W Ashcreek St – The Ashcreek multi-family residential development (Ashcreek)
The Centennial Neighborhood Association (CTNA) has been aware and actively engaged in review and assessment of Ashcreek since 2022, when it was first proposed. Recently, a meeting notice was sent to all participating members of record of CTNA, with reference to the project design changes proposed by Brighton Corporation and offering opportunities for review, discussion and potential action. Representatives of CTNA have also discussed Ashcreek with applicant representatives as well as Rachael Ferell, city planner.
We have a CTNA member consensus.
CTNA desires to go on record in support of Ashcreek as proposed. Further, CTNA anticipates and appreciates that Ashcreek will yield:
- Complimentary housing units in close proximity of companies and employers within and near the Boise Research Center, the Idaho State campus and the HP campus. It is noteworthy that the adjacent, former and longtime vacant, AT&T/DIRECTV building has been recently acquired by ACHD for a new headquarters building.
- Ashcreek will also yield improvement and completion of pedestrian access from W De Meyer Street to Hobble Creek Park.
- Yield completion of north side of W De Meyer Street with addition of curb and sidewalk.
- There will be tree removals. But it is anticipated overdue attention, care and some potential replacements for the numerous trees that populate the site and adjacent berm will be made by applicant.
- Provides added pedestrian access to the southern border of the Boise Research Center.
- The elimination of a chain link fence and anticipated replacement with a more attractive and appropriate fence will also enable improved pedestrian access.
- For what is currently an unused parking lot, better property utilization and additional tax revenue to support the City’s services to Ashcreek and the local area.
West Boise Needs A Public Library An Open Letter to All Boise Neighborhood Associations
We, the Centennial Neighborhood Association, represent Boise’s west-most citizens. We would like to make you aware of an issue we’ve raised with city leaders. We’d like your support. We’d also like to know what issues you feel need more attention where you live. We know that we are stronger when we support each other.
In Fall 2022, a couple of our citizens appealed to our Neighborhood Association, at our Annual Meeting, highlighting the need for better library services in West Boise. They shared a map, showing that most of the city lives within 2 miles of a library, except for West Boise.
In 2023 these citizens started a group, calling themselves “Citizens for a Library in West Boise”, with support from our Neighborhood Association. Together we took a petition to neighbors, calling on the Mayor, City Council, and Library Board, to improve library services in West Boise. Nearly 1,000 Boise citizens signed this petition. You are welcome to learn more about this effort at https://citizensforalibrary.org/west-boise.
This petition was presented to City Council at the Budget Hearing meeting on July 11th, 2023. At this meeting, City Council approved funding for the library to create a new facilities plan, with help from an outside agency.
Development of a new facilities plan is in line with the Strategic Framework for Impact, https://www.boisepubliclibrary.org/about-us/strategic-planning/, a plan to guide efforts at Boise Public Library from 2024 to 2029. This framework was created after holding listening sessions with citizens and hosting an online survey in 2022.
The last facilities plan, created in 2000, called for the new branch libraries we have today: Cole & UStick, Hillcrest, Collister, and Bown Crossing. It called for a new library downtown – which was ultimately rejected by citizens at the ballot in 2019. Despite this setback, the library plan was successful in expanding access to libraries in nearly all parts of the city, putting a library within walking or biking distance of most citizens. However, during this time, West Boise saw a reduction in library access: bookmobile service ceased in 2013. Starting in 2022, Citizens in West Boise have been calling on city leaders to prioritize funding to build a library in West Boise too.
At a recent City Council meeting, February 6, 2024, City Council approved the selection of Group 4 Architecture to help create a new facilities plan for the Boise Library. Group 4 Architecture was hired by the City of Spokane to help create the facilities plan which led to improvements in Spokane’s library system. City Council members made it clear during this meeting that they want to see input from Boise citizens as this facilities plan is created.
We feel that physical libraries remain an important part of the services a city provides:
- Printed Books. It’s great that many books can be checked out in a digital format these days. However, a physical library provides several advantages over an app on your phone. The printed book selection is better, printed books cost libraries a fraction of the cost of digital forms.
- Other Media. Libraries offer other forms of media – music, movies, games. Robotics kits, 3D printers, and if you go to the library branch in Eagle or Garden City, you’ll find a whole collection of interesting “things”!
- Special Programming. They provide unique programs for teenagers and young children.
- Gathering Place. Libraries provide a community gathering place, a space for meetings.
- Access to Technology. Libraries make technology accessible to everyone.
- Education and Community Services. Libraries provide a place where classes are taught, free legal and tax services are offered, and literacy programs.
In short, libraries enhance and build a community!
We hope that you’re as excited as we are about the next chapter in Boise’s library.
You might consider –
- Visiting your closest Boise Library Branch, and or the downtown library.
- Sending a message showing your support for Boise Libraries to your City Council Representative.
- Sharing this message with members of your Neighborhood Association.
Sincerely,
Centennial Neighborhood Association Board
Gary Dufault, President
Mark Salisbury, Member at Large
Preventing Vehicle Burglary
Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex master plan update and request for input!
February 15, 2024
Good afternoon, you are receiving this e-mail because of your interest in the Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex master plan update. Our team values your input on potential amenities and design elements and is excited to share the next phase of the master plan outreach process.
In December, we opened an online survey to receive feedback on potential amenities in various price brackets and recreational focus areas. Thank you to those who participated in this survey – we received over 830 responses! If you would like to view these survey results, you may do so here.
Incorporating input received through the survey, our team of landscape architects has prepared two design concepts that we are now asking for your feedback on. Option 1 focuses more on traditional sports and includes a fenced dog off-leash park and a small water play feature. Option 2 is more focused on wheeled sports with a bike pump track area and new skatepark features adjacent to the current skatepark on site. Both options include new trees, a nature play area, and pollinator gardens in the park.
Click to Review Option 1 and option 2
Please take this brief follow-up survey to vote on your preferred option. There is then an opportunity to share what, if anything, you would change about your preferred design. This survey will be open for two weeks, closing at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28.
Next Steps
Following this second round of public input, the city’s landscape architects will work to finalize a single master plan design. This design will be presented to the Boise Parks and Recreation Commission, where a public hearing will follow a presentation from staff. The Board of Commissioners will then vote on the updated master plan. This meeting is anticipated to be held in April, but neighbors will be notified once details are confirmed.
Thank you again for participating, and we look forward to engaging neighbors and community members as this process moves forward.
Who’s Stealing Our Mail and Why?
| Crime Prevention | 2:38 PM (8 hours ago) |  | |
| to Crime | |||
In recent weeks I have seen a few complaints of mail theft in various areas of Boise. So far in 2024 we have received four reports of mail being stolen.
Mail theft is a different problem than package theft. When someone steals a package, they are looking for a valuable item sitting on our doorstep. When a person steals mail, that are looking to steal your financial information or your identity.
What are thieves looking for? Cash, checks, gift cards, account numbers, your social security number, banking details, pay stubs, and identifying information like your name and date of birth.
Reduce the opportunity. Switching to paperless billing and statements can reduce the amount of sensitive mail you receive.
Purchase a lockable mailbox. A lockable mailbox allows the postal carrier to deliver mail through a slot in the mailbox but requires a key to open and retrieve mail.
Don’t flag your mailbox as a target. Using the red flag on your mailbox can alert thieves that there is something inside to be stolen. Hand your mail directly to a letter carrier, use a secured USPS blue mailbox, or go directly to your local Post Office to send mail.
Pick up your mail regularly. Don’t leave letters in the mailbox for several days, over the weekend or even overnight. Make checking your mailbox part of your daily routine.
Stop delivery. Alert the Post Office if you are going out of town and request them to temporarily stop the delivery of your mail. When you return, you can pick up your mail at the local post office and resume normal delivery. https://www.usps.com/manage/hold-mail.htm
Talk to your neighbors. If your mail was stolen, let your neighbors know. They may not realize their mail was stolen too. Watching out for your neighbors helps to build relationships and keep your neighborhood safe.
Be aware of and report suspicious activity. Notice an unknown individual looking at or tampering with mailboxes in your neighborhood? Report it to non-emergency dispatch 208-377-6790.
Sign up for Informed Delivery through the postal service. While this won’t prevent mail theft, it will provide you with a daily picture of all letter size mail that is on its way to your mailbox. You can sign up for this free service through the United States Postal Service at https://informeddelivery.usps.com.
How to report if your mail was stolen? You can report by calling 208-377-6790 or can report online on the Boise Police website. To file a complaint with the USPS you can use this link https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/daily-mail-delivery-inquiry or call 1-877-876-2455.
Crime Prevention Unit
Boise Police Department
Office: (208)570-6071
Snow!!! Who you going to call? Snow Busters? Call ACHD! They’re on our snow team.
Boise Bike Project – Your Centennial Neighborhood Centralized Drop Off Point
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!
208-484-3365
Gary Dufault, President
Your Centennial Neighborhood Association
October 19, 2023 – Annual Meeting
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.
https://www.facebook.com/centennialna
https://www.cityofboise.org/programs/energize/
Please email centennialnaboise@gmail.com with any questions!
