MINUTES

Boundary County Planning and Zoning Commission

October 16, 2003

Members present: Jim Paulus, Marc Paulson, Doug Reoch, Jane Kirby, Mary Ann Luedtke, Toby Schnuerle. Staff present: Mike Weland. Members absent: Rod Barcklay, Donna Standley.

1. Chairman Paulus called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and called for reading of the September minutes. Kirby made motion to waive reading and approve the minutes as mailed, Reoch seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

2. Paulus opened public hearing on the proposed Bonners Ferry Area of Impact. Because the only member of the public in attendance was city planner Gary Falcon, it was agreed to waive reading the hearing procedure. Falcon gave a presentation on behalf of the City of Bonners Ferry. There being no public comment, Paulus closed the hearing to public testimony and opened discussion among members. Reoch asked what criteria the city used to determine the extent of the proposed expansion, Falcon stated that the key criteria were that these were areas the city identified as having growth potential and would benefit from the provision of city services. City engineer Steve Boorman joined the meeting. A member asked if the county would lose its tax base should these areas be annexed, Boorman stated they would not, that property owners would be required to pay additional taxes for the city services should those areas be annexed. Discussion was held on the annexation procedure. Discussion was held of the criteria the city uses in zoning newly annexed areas. Paulus expressed concern that so few members of the public were in attendance. Weland stated that in cases where mailings were this extensive, publication of a display ad in the newspaper of record served in lieu of mailings. Kirby noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission had long looked at the Three Mile area as the prime area for commercial growth and noted that the only industrial zone in the county is at and adjacent to the airport. She stated that the reason the area wasn’t being used to its potential was due to the lack of services, especially sewer, which only the city could provide. Following discussion, Weland stated that if it was the consensus of the commission, the hearing could be tabled until the following month and notification could be mailed to property owners within the areas proposed for expansion. Kirby moved to table the hearing until November 20, with the stipulation that staff provide mailed notice to property owners within the areas proposed for expansion. Luedtke seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

3. Under old/unscheduled business, staff advised the commission that county commissioners had rejected the appointment of Tom Hollingsworth to fill a vacant position on the board as the area in which he lives is already well represented. Following discussion, members unanimously agreed to have staff draft a letter to the Board of County Commissioners to reconsider their nomination. Jim Paulus stated that he would like to serve another term when his current term expires in January; he noted that Standley’s term also expired in January and stated she had earlier said that this will be her final term, so another vacancy is expected. Schnuerle asked why Don Plato had not been selected, members stated that of the three applications they had to consider, Hollingsworth seemed the best candidate. Paulus advised Schnuerle to have Plato submit another letter of interest. Discussion was held about members missing meetings. Kirby said there should be a hard and fast rule that any member who missed three meetings in a row should be dismissed. Members present concurred.

4. There being no further business, Kirby made motion to adjourn. Paulson seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.