JEROME TOWNSHIP AND THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE JOINT DISCUSSION

 

MINUTES – AUGUST 30, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order by President Gore at 7:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT (MARYSVILLE CITY COUNCIL):  Mr. Gore, Mr. Burke, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Fogt, Mr. Reams, Ms. Sellers   Excused:  Mr. Pleasant

 

MEMBERS PRESENT (JEROME TOWNSHIP):  Mr. Merkle, Mr. Thomas   Absent:  Mr. Rhodes

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Mayor Kruse, Kathleen Crowley, Jesse Dickinson, Marian Jacques, Mary Sampsel, Bill Lynch, Bill Schrader, Dick Noland

 

AGENDA:

 

Ø     Open welcome/format statement – Kathleen Crowley

Open discussion by the group.

 

Ø     Topics.

1.     Defining Land Uses

a.      What method should be used to determine land use between Marysville and Jerome Township?

 

Should sub-committees be formed.  Should we continue as a large group?

 

Mr. Reams asked if we are addressing issues that might come in short term or how do we determine the land use plan.  Ms. Crowley said it’s two-part.  A)  There are development pressures now and B) for the long term.

 

Mr. Reams said as far as dealing with land use pressures now, feels that’s why the group is meeting now.  In terms of long term, he suggested going through a process similar to what was done when the Comprehensive Plan was developed for the County, get public input, get an impartial party involved to lead the meetings, meet with public officials and then make recommendations. 

 

Suggestion was made to form sub-groups for different topics.  Sub-groups would then come back to the large group with recommendations, and then City and Township would take recommendations back to their community for approval.  

 

There are two Comprehensive Plans, a draft plan for Jerome Township and the City/County Comprehensive Plan.  One of the sub-committees would look at both Plans, bring them in line with one another then bring back to large group.

 

Mr. Fogt noted that MORPC and LUC had already put the two plans together.  It’s a compilation of what’s already in place.  Ms. Crowley will get the plan from MORPC.

 

Should Millcreek be involved?  Mayor said ultimately Millcreek should be involved.  It was felt parties directly affected should make the decisions on any given issue on how they’re going to work together.

 

Mr. Reams feels the topic Defining Land Uses should possibly involve more than just the City and Jerome Township. 

 

Mr. Gore noted if you talk about the land uses “between” Marysville and Jerome Township, it should include Millcreek.  Ms. Crowley said it should be land uses in Jerome Township based upon the service provided by Marysville.

 

Mr. Burke said Millcreek should be involved with land use.  Doesn’t see how you can have a land use plan and not have them at the table for this particular issue.  Some of the growth does affect their area.  They need to be informed so they can plan accordingly.

 

Ms. Sellers said this is a 3-step process.  We need to update our Comprehensive Plan, Jerome Township needs to finalize and adopt their draft Comprehensive Plan.  Millcreek has an approved Comprehensive Plan.  Talk to the developer.  Mr. Gore stated the City/Townships should determine the best use of the land then the developer comes in to develop accordingly.  Mayor Kruse said the landowners have a stake in this whole thing.  When this group has agreed on a recommended land use plan, will then hold meetings for public input before the plan is adopted.  At that point, the land owners have their input and it’s considered in final deliberation.  Developers don’t have a stake.  The land belongs to the landowners, the City of Marysville, Jerome Township and Millcreek Township.  If it’s decided that it’s to be developed in a certain manner, developers have to make the decision that we can live with that decision and can make money if developed in that manner.  If not, they can go somewhere else. 

 

Ms. Sellers feels we need to update the Comprehensive Plan.  Develop a vision for land use and expedite our Comp Plan process.  Meet with the developer then worry about contractual details at that point once the developer is brought in.  In many JEDD’s and CEDA’s developers are party to those agreements and many times are developer- driven.   Mayor Kruse said they are developer-driven because they want to generate the money to provide the services to support their development.  Whether it’s a commercial, retail, office or residential development, it’s the decision as citizens of the City, Jerome and Millcreek Townships. 

 

From Marysville’s point of view, Mayor Kruse sees basically the 33 Corridor down to 42 as our area of interest.  We’re looking at that as an area that we need to have some involvement in and consider it part of a growth area where we can potentially generate future revenues.  Millcreek and Jerome, as he sees it, have an interest in that for similar reasons, but they don’t want Marysville to have the whole pie in that and he understands that.  Sitting here now, we’ve expressed a willingness to share in this, so everyone gets a fair piece of the pie.  When you get below 42, he does not see Marysville having a legitimate interest except we have services to sell down there.  He personally would recommend that we don’t get real involved in how that area develops.  He feels that’s Jerome’s issue and how they deal with it. 

 

Ms. Crowley said it’s in Jerome’s best interest to meet with only Marysville due to development pressures being experienced now.  Work with Millcreek later.

 

Mr. Gore feels there is a role for Millcreek Township.  We need to figure out what that role is and how it fits. 

 

Jerome is looking for a partner to help resolve issues.  Mr. Merkle said we need to work together on issues before we get to a certain point. 

 

Land Use Sub-committee Members:

          David Burke

          Andy Thomas

          Dan Fogt

          Mayor Kruse

          Kathleen Crowley

 

This group is charged with figuring out how to deal with development pressures.  Group will also review City/County and Township Comprehensive Plans to bring them into strategic alignment. 

 

Ms. Sellers expressed concern for overlapping Land Use Committees.  There is an internal City committee looking at updating the land use portion of the Comprehensive Plan. 

 

The issue in terms of land use as far as this group is concerned is how we would like to see things develop in Jerome Township, that the City would be involved with as opposed to issues within the City limits.

 

2.     Economic Development Pressures

a.      What is the best approach to review prospective development?

 

Ms. Crowley said with all the commercial development coming to Jerome Township, they want to maintain Jerome Township’s integrity as well as being serviced by Marysville.  Economic Development pressures are how are we going to pay for this service infrastructure.  Jerome Village is a good example. 

 

Mayor Kruse said that Jerome Village, Select Sires development and Glacier West have talked to Marysville because of the water and sewer services.  City has encouraged them to all work together.  To facilitate this, City Engineer has called a meeting for representatives of all three groups to tell them if this land develops, this is what has to happen as far as sewer and water lines, etc. 

 

Two of those groups have said they would like for Marysville to annex the whole works.  Mayor Kruse said that isn’t going to happen.  City is working with Jerome Township and needs to put this thing together in a manner where everybody benefits from it  Some of the issues these developers are concerned with and drives them towards annexation is a very high quality Fire and EMS service, which would impact their fire insurance rates for any tenants in their developments.  It also has an affect on their ability to lease out anything that they may have.  Cursory discussions have been that there is decent fire and EMS service already there.  If it doesn’t meet their needs, we need to look at a way to make this thing come together where the finances are there to improve what’s already there.  Same way with Police service.  They want comprehensive Police service in that area. 

 

Ms. Crowley asked the Mayor if he would suggest dealing with this when developers come to talk since Marysville has the service and Jerome Township has the land.  Mayor Kruse said he would make them put sewer and water lines in according to City standards.  The other issues of concern are standards for roads and other types of infrastructure.  We’re looking at trying to do this where we all share in it without annexation, but there is a possibility 10-15-20 years down the road, the property, even after it’s developed, may annex to the City of Marysville.  City does not want to see it constructed if that happens where we have maintenance problems that we can’t live with.  City would probably insist that the City of Marysville standards are the minimum standards.   We have to figure out how to deal with these issues.

 

Mr. Merkle said the County Engineer dictates the infrastructure guidelines.  He’s not sure that developers are fully aware of the extent of their existing fire service. 

 

Mr. Marshall suggested having the City Planners of each entity meet with the developer at the same time. 

 

Mr. Gore suggested developers be directed to respective entity as to what each has to offer.

 

Mayor Kruse said at some point, any development that’s in Jerome Township and in the areas discussed have to meet with Marysville and Jerome jointly. 

 

Ms. Crowley suggested a sub-committee to review Marysville and Jerome Township’s standards and procedures.

 

Mr. Marshall stated when a developer comes forward, the standards should be given to them, then they meet with the City and Township jointly.  He noted the EDAP works somewhat this way. 

 

Mayor Kruse stated that whenever this kind of discussion is held with the developer, both political entities should be involved.  That would avoid “he-said, she-said” issues. 

 

Mr. Gore suggested getting legal representation involved in the meetings to identify what each entity can or cannot influence.

 

He also suggested forming a sub-committee to deal with item # 2 and 3 together.

 

Sub-committee – Economic Development Pressures & Contractual Relationship:

          John Gore

          Bob Merkle and/or Ron Rhodes

          Leah Sellers

          Tim Aslaner

 

Mayor Kruse said we need to figure out what we want to do, then figure out a way to get there.

 

Ms. Crowley asked the sub-committee to develop a sheet of standards for development for the City of Marysville.  Mr. Gore asked Clerk Patterson to get a listing of standards for the City of Marysville that exists now and send to everyone.

 

Mr. Thomas suggested having a special meeting, JEDD101.  Possibly Don Brosius could speak to the group.  Ms. Sellers offered to send the link for Price Finley for further information on JEDD’s.  The date of September 13th was proposed for this meeting.  Ms. Crowley will see if Mr. Brosius is available and let Clerk Patterson know accordingly. 

 

A meeting of the Land-Use Sub-committee is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s office. 

 

It was agreed to keep future meetings as an informal format.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.