Minutes - 2022 - City Council - 12/20/2022 - Special EAGLE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
December 20,2022
1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Pierce calls the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL: Present: GINDLESPERGER, PIKE, BAUN, RUSSELL. All present. A
quorum is present.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
4. ADDITIONS.DELETIONS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA:
A. City Staff requests;None
B. Mayor or City Council requests: Pike makes a motion to add a Public Comment 2 below
7C. Seconded by Russell.ALL AYE... MOTION CARRIES.
5. REPORTS:
A. Mayor and Council Reports: Russell provides an update on the Senior Center. Specifically,the
relationship between the City of Eagle and the Senior Center. The Senior Center is its own
affiliation.
B. Department Reports:None
C. Eagle Police Department: None
D. City Attorney Report:None
6. PUBLIC COMMENT 1:
This time is reserved for the public to address their elected officials regarding concerns or comments they would
like to provide to the City Council regarding subjects not on the agenda. At times, the City Council may seek
comments/opinions regarding specific City matters during this allotted time.This is not the time slot to give formal
testimony on a public hearing matter, land use application,or comment on a pending application or proposal. Out
of courtesy for all who wish to speak, the City Council requests each speaker limit their comments to three (3)
minutes.
No one in the public chooses to speak.
7. NEW BUSINESS:
A. ACTION ITEM:Acceptance and execution of real property donation agreement
between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle: Authorizing the Mayor to
execute an agreement between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle for the
donation of approximately 603.04 acres Generally identified as Ada County Parcel 1
(S0220110500 and a Portion of S0220212400)and Parcel 2(S0221110000,
S0222220000,and S0215300000). The property is generally located near Willow
Creek and Little Gulch.
Mayor Peirce introduces the item.
Nichole Baird-Spencer,Long Range Planner provides a PowerPoint presentation regarding the
donation of 603.04 acres.
General discussion amongst the City Council and Baird-Spencer.
Pike makes a motion to approve item 7A in Acceptance and execution of real property donation
agreement between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle: Authorizing the Mayor to
execute an agreement between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle for the
donation of approximately 603.04 acres Generally identified as Ada County Parcel 1
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(S0220110500 and a Portion of S0220212400)and Parcel 2 (S0221110000,S0222220000,and
S0215300000).The property is generally located near Willow Creek and Little Gulch.
Seconded by Gindlesperger.Discussion: The Mayor expresses that this is important to the City
to receive this land and keep it open to the public. Baun says that this is located next to the 1,600
of BLM land and so this would stay open for habitat and open space.ALL AYE... MOTION
CARRIES.
B. ACTION ITEM: Acceptance and execution of purchase and sale aereement
between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle: Authorizing the Mayor to
execute an agreement between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle for
approximately 84.32 acres of real property for an amount not to exceed $10,376,000.
The parcels of land are located in Ada County, Idaho generally identified as parcels of
land Tax Parcel R3314130100, S0333120700, S03333120710, R3314130300,
R4985520028, R3314130400,and a portion of S0327336350(28.44 acres). The
property is generally located at Highway 16 and Equest Lane.
Nichole Baird-Spencer,Long Range Planner provides the history of the property and an overview
of the agreement.
Russell requests an explanation on how the impact fees work.Baird-Spencer provides an
explanation on Park Impact Fees.
Mayor Pierce identifies a scrivener's error on this agenda item specifically 28.44 acres should be
28.56.
General discussion amongst the City Council and Baird-Spencer.
Baun moves to make a motion to accept and except the purchase and sale agreement
between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle: Authorizing the Mayor to execute an
agreement between the GWC Capital LLC and the City of Eagle for approximately 84.32
acres of real property for an amount not to exceed $10,376,000.The parcels of land are
located in Ada County,Idaho generally identified as parcels of land Tax Parcel
R3314130100,S0333120700, S03333120710,R3314130300,R4985520028,R3314130400,and
a portion of S0327336350(28.56 acres).The property is generally located at Highway 16
and Equest Lane. Seconded by Russell.ROLL CALL VOTE; GINDLESPERGER: AYE;
PIKE: AYE; BAUN: AYE; RUSSELL: AYE.ALL AYE... MOTION CARRIES.
C. ACTION ITEM: Claims Against the City.(KR)
Baun makes a motion to approve the claims against the City. Seconded by Gindlesperger.
ROLL CALL VOTE; GINDLESPERGER: AYE; PIKE: AYE; BAUN: AYE; RUSSELL:
AYE.ALL AYE... MOTION CARRIES.
PUBLIC COMMENT 2:
This time is reserved for the public to address their elected officials regarding concerns or comments they would
like to provide to the City Council regarding subjects not on the agenda. At times, the City Council may seek
comments/opinions regarding specific City matters during this allotted time.This is not the time slot to give formal
testimony on a public hearing matter, land use application,or comment on a pending application or proposal. Out
of courtesy for all who wish to speak,the City Council requests each speaker limit their comments to three (3)
minutes.
Jim Blackman, 802 North Eagle Hills Way,Eagle, Idaho. The optics of what the Council just did
looked bad in this sense. He doesn't understand why there was such urgency for these items. He
suggests having links to previous meetings attached to agenda items.
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Janet Buscher,235 West Floating Feather Road,Eagle,Idaho. She has a question to Baun about
the species and questions the habitat study.This property will need to be maintained and
monitored. It would have been helpful to know why a special meeting was held for this.
Mary Hunter, 173 North Sierra Way,Eagle,Idaho. She states that there was recently an RFQ
released for the design build of the proposed shooting range and does not feel like there was
enough notice time.
Jay Combs,409 Wingfoot,Eagle,Idaho.He wants to know if these property transactions had a
MAI appraisal.
Baird-Spencer expresses that there are appraisals attached to the agreement.
William Zibell,4365 West Springhouse Drive, Eagle,Idaho. Does not think that this is a good
example of good government,and it will be another item on the 15 Reasons for the Recall.
Teresa Noyes, 472 East Conaville Court,Eagle,Idaho.Requests information on the Eagle Arts
Commission.
13. ADJOURNMENT:
Gindlesperger moves to adjourn. Seconded by Bann. ALL AYE...MOTION CARRIES.
Hearing no further business,the Council meeting was adjourned.
Res ectfully submitted:
HOLL . CSENCSITS CMC
DEPUTY CITY CLERK
APPROVED:
J#90 PIEWCE
MAYOR
AN AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT
W W W.CITYOFEAGLE.ORG.
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EAGLE CITIZENS FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT: 15 Reasons for the Recalls
Website: eaglerecall.com Contact us: eaglerecall a(�gmail.com
These are just some of the many reasons Eagle citizens are calling for the recall of Mayor Pierce and all four Eagle City
Council Members.We have talked to hundreds of people who upset and affected by one or more of these issues.We
have also heard quite a few accounts from citizens about other concerns. If you agree these recalls are warranted, please
sign the petitions before the Dec.22 deadline! Go to eaglerecall.com for information on when and where to sign.
• AVIMOR: Mayor&City Council members received campaign donations from Avimor, its Owners, its Developers and Political
Actions Committees.The PACs are: Conservatives for Thoughtful Growth, Building Contractors Association of Southwest Idaho,
and Building Industry Group of Treasure Valley.The principal parties involved in these PACs are all connected to Avimor. Prior to
Pierce, Baun,and Pike being elected, Avimor's General Manager Dan Richter stated in interviews that he would not apply for
annexation to Eagle until after the next election cycle when he hoped there would be a Mayor and City Council in place that viewed
annexation more favorably than the previous administration.
• EAGLE WATER COMPANY(EWC): Mayor Pierce made the campaign promise that if elected he would acquire EWC for the
residents of Eagle. In early 2021,the Mayor and City Council used an executive session, out of public view,when they settled a
lawsuit over the City's right of first refusal out of court, relinquishing the right to purchase EWC for the city.The settlement allowed
Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve the sale to SUEZ,turning over control of much of Eagle's water to a huge foreign
company.This broken campaign promise directly impacted 4,200 EWC households.
• MUNICIPAL TRASH SERVICES CONTRACT: Mayor Pierce held a personal grudge against Republic Services because he was
not allowed to dispose of construction materials in Republic's bins. Soon after taking office(early in 2020), Pierce told Republic's
liaison that when their contract ended (12/31/2022) Republic would"be done in Eagle."On what basis could he have made that
statement to a contractor that had provided the city with over 20 years of excellent service more than two years before their
contract ended? In 2022,the city put out a request for proposals(RFPs)for a new trash contract; Republic and Hardin responded.
A committee of 4 reviewed and gave equal scores to the two proposals, but on April 26,the city council directed the staff to begin
negotiations with Hardin.The public knew nothing about this, and citizens were only given the opportunity to comment at the Aug.
9 Council meeting—after the negotiations had been completed. Several people testified against the change to Hardin. One
member of the RFP committee raised several concerns and asked the City Council to do more research before deciding.The
Council ignored these comments,went into executive session,and returned to vote in favor of Hardin.Why? Is it a coincidence
that Hardin serves Avimor?
• SHOOTING SPORTS PARK&SPRING VALLEY:An elaborate shooting sports park has been proposed for foothills land donated
by Spring Valley. The development's approved master plan shows the same area as an equestrian center,trailhead, and regional
park.This is the only place in the area that accommodates parking for many horse trailers and cars,and there are miles of user-
generated trails. Many Eagle and Ada County residents, including equestrians, hikers, and dog-walkers,who have enjoyed
recreating here for decades, are strongly opposed to this proposed for-profit facility that would be managed by the city.The
shooting park presents safety, noise,and traffic concerns for recreation users and nearby residents.
Many people in favor of the shooting park don't live close enough for nonstop gunshots to disturb their peaceful rural life or frighten
their horses. Couldn't Spring Valley consider locations for a shooting park where there are currently no homes and future home
buyers can CHOOSE whether buy near a shooting park or not?Note:The Mayor and City Council members Baun, Gindlesberger,
and Russell significant campaign contributions from individuals, builders, and PACs with ties to Avimor and Spring Valley.
• CITY OF EAGLE vs TWO RIVERS HOA: Idaho's Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City of Eagle in a lawsuit over a greenbelt
parking and access area in Two Rivers.The Mayor and City Council illegally used an executive session to discuss what to do
about the Supreme Court ruling. In the 2.5 years since the court ordered the parking and access site to be rebuilt,there is no
confirmation that the City's legal fees have been recovered and the parking lot has not been rebuilt.The easement Two Rivers and
the City are proposing for the Mace Park greenbelt parking and access near Mace River Ranch does NOT satisfy the Idaho
Supreme Court's order to restore the river parking and access in Two Rivers.
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• SALE OF THE EAGLE LANDING&COMMUNITY CENTER PROPERTY:The Eagle Landing property, new community center
and office facilities were serving many citizens of Eagle before Mayor and Council Members, Pierce, Pike,and Baun took office.
Knowing how popular the Community Center was,one of them stated in a Council meeting that they needed to sell it before the
public got too used to it—like pulling a Band-Aid off quickly.With no appraisal,the property was sold at auction to a single bidder,
Innovate Academy Prep,a school with connections to the Dillon family,who donated thousands of dollars to Pierce's campaign.
Innovate Academy had publicly stated they had found another location before this sale,and after about a year at the Landing,the
Academy relocated to a new 17,000 sq.ft.building.The Landing was clearly not needed by the Academy,so why was there an
urgent need to sell it?
• RELOCATION OF CHURCHIMUSEUM:The sale of The Landing made it necessary to relocate the Museum.The contracted work
to relocate the building commenced before Council approved the project's funding.They violated EPA regulations for failing to file
for a permit because of asbestos siding on the structure.The estimated cost to move the church was$20K;the actual cost
exceeded$100K.A beautiful plaza and fountain that were donated to the city were destroyed.
• EAGLE ARTS COMMISSION(EAC):Council member Gindlesperger abruptly announced at a recent EAC meeting that the City of
Eagle was dissolving the Eagle Arts Commission with no prior discussion or specific reason.The 6-person commission that has
been meeting monthly for many years will be replaced by a 3-person committee that will only meet twice a year.The excellent arts
programs organized by dedicated EAC volunteers will most definitely suffer as a result.
• CITY HALL EXPANSION: Funding approved for the expansion was$2.1 M; actual costs have exceeded$3.4M to date and the
final expenses are still unknown.
• SALE OF THE WEST PARK 35 ACRE PROPERTY:The previous Mayor and City Council purchased a 35-acre parcel to
establish the first city park west of Eagle Road.Mayor Pierce campaigned on selling West Park because he didn't like its location.
Pierce said,"When I ran for mayor, I made it very clear that just was not the place for a park. If you want to play frisbee with your
dog you have your yard."The future park land in west Eagle was sold to a residential developer.
• PURCHASE OF THE JACKSON HOUSE:This downtown Eagle property contains two parcels long owned by members of the
Jackson family.The city purchased the parcel with the historic Jackson House for$1M.The second parcel was handled by an
auction company that promised multiple bidders. However,the city was the only bidder and purchased it for$1,050,000. Neither
parcel had a recent appraisal; in 2016/2017 they were appraised for a total of$950,000 and in 2021 their combined assessed
value for taxes was$859,500.Yet the city paid$2,050,000.
• EAGLE 26, LLC VS CITY OF EAGLE, MOLINARI PARK DEVELOPMENT:This development was plagued by lawsuits, a
temporary restraining order, a petition for judicial review,and"biased individuals."When the Courts determined that Molinari Park
development was legal and would be allowed to go forward, Mayor Pierce and Council Member Brad Pike,attempted to stall the
process by refusing to schedule required city reviews. Both were sued for due process violations and impermissible bias while
violating the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution and Idaho State Property Rights.
• MUNICIPAL FIBER PROJECT:The City issued a request for proposals and received no responses.The Mayor and City Council
then used federal ARPA funds to purchase used equipment and trucks that until recently were parked behind City Hall unused.
The first purchase of equipment occurred nine days before the project's open house, public survey,or any other public discussion.
The city has since announced a contract with Fat Beam which has its own equipment and will not need that purchased by the city.
There is no long-term financial plan for operation and maintenance of the fiber service.
• REGIONAL SPORTS PARK:This proposed park in NW Eagle is seven miles from downtown.This is a destination event park that
doesn't seem designed to fill the need for a community park in west Eagle.The Mayor and City Council have spent over$2.25M
on this"proposed park"to date, including the purchase of a house and 10 acres.There is no connectivity between the proposed
location and nearby neighborhoods,and no sidewalks or pathways for pedestrians or bicyclists.
• TROLLEY: Mayor Pierce purchased a 1994 Chance Coach Trolley on 9/9/22 for$17,820.The budget for this was not approved by
the Council until 9/27/22. For occasional special events,the city would likely have saved money by contracting with an existing
trolley business in the Valley.
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