Seven and a half hour City Council meeting yesterday…proud of my fellow Council members…we passed a budget for next year that doesn’t raise taxes, passed a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan and worked on a way to pay for it, rejected a plan to change our Comprehensive Plan after listening to 160 citizens testify against it…it was a good day for democracy!
Category Archives: Democracy
Sun Valley City Council Sets Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Meeting Schedule
UPDATE: 7-29-11 – See date change below for Public Hearing on FY12 Budget.
At our last Regular City Council meeting we set the dates for the formal Public Hearing and other associated meetings for the preparation and decision on the Fiscal Year 2012 City Budget. Our fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30.
I have posted the dates below and on my website. The only date that is fixed in stone is the formal Public Hearing to be held of August 2, 2011 at 10 am at Sun Valley City Hall (so much for that – City Administrative staff did not properly notice the meeting so it had to be canceled and moved to August 9th – see below). Please contact me if you have any questions or thoughts on the City budget. I also urge you to check in periodically here on the blog for updates and changes to meeting dates and times. And, of course our City Council always appreciates public comment at any of our meetings, not just the Public Hearing.
May 31, 2011 – City Council Special Meeting – 10:00 a.m. – FY12 Budget Discussion – Priorities
June 21, 2011 – City Council Special Meeting – 10:00 a.m. – FY12 Budget Discussion – Assumptions and Projections
July 12, 2011 – City Council Special Meeting – 10:00 a.m. – Approve Tentative FY12 Budget
CANCELED - August 2, 2011 – City Council Special Meeting – 10:00 a.m. – Public Hearing on FY12 Budget Ordinance
August 9, 2011 – City Council Special Meeting – 10:00 a.m. – Public Hearing on FY12 Budget Ordinance
August 16, 2011 – City Council Special Meeting – 10:00 a.m. – 2nd Reading of FY12 Budget Ordinance
Two Sun Valley City Council Meetings March 17, 2011
On March 17, 2011 we held two Sun Valley City Council meetings. The first, at 4:00 pm was our Regular Monthly Council Meeting, and the second, at 4:30 pm was a Special City Council Meeting.
The Regular Monthly Council Meeting agenda only had on it the consent agenda (minutes from last month’s meeting and the financial report from February). Click here to see that Agenda Packet. We were unable to discuss the financial report as the City Treasurer was not present at the meeting.
The Special Council Meeting, called by the City Council (click here for that Agenda Packet), considered the following business:
- Review and discussion of policy considerations concerning “FY 10 Audit Comments and Management Responses.”
- Discussion of policy considerations concerning funding of Consolidated Dispatch services.
- Review and discussion of Council participation in preparation of meeting agendas in “City Council and Mayor Powers and Authorities” of the City Council Policy Manual.
We were unable to discuss the first item as the City Treasurer and City Administrator were not present at the meeting. The Council did, however, have a very good discussion on the subject of Consolidated Dispatch with County Commission Chair Angenie McCleary and will be moving forward with her to solve funding issues between the City and County. The Council also had a good discussion on how agendas for our meetings should be prepared in the future.
You can also listen to any of our Council meetings live, or later on the internet at this link.
You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website.
Sun Valley City Council Meeting February 17, 2011
On Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 4:00 pm we have our regular monthly City Council meeting.
The Council received the agenda for this meeting on Friday, February 11th. There are no action items of any substance on the agenda. However, there will be a report, a discussion, some Council member liaison assignments and the normal monthly consent agenda.
We do have many important policy matters pending and the Council is waiting on the City administration to bring these before us. They include, among others, a Capital Improvement Plan, County Dispatch funding issues, and Area City of Impact expansion with the County. Hopefully these important matters, along with others on our FY2011 Council priority list, will be available for public comments and input soon.
To see the full Agenda and Council Packet for the 2-17-11 meeting, click here.
You can also listen to this or any other Council meeting live, or later on the internet at this link.
You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website.
Violence Has No Place In A Democracy
In a democracy we cannot and must not allow the use of violence or the threat of violence to settle our political differences. Nils Ribi
Happy New Year Sun Valley!
Happy New Year Sun Valley! I look forward to continuing our efforts in 2011 to keep Sun Valley the best resort community in America in which to live.
Sun Valley Budget for Fiscal Year 2011
Update 8-1-10 - The City has now posted the complete Agenda and Council Packet for the 8-3-10 meeting. You can view it by clicking on this link.
At 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, the Sun Valley City Council will hold its public hearing on the Tentative Fiscal Year 2011 Budget (for the fiscal year October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011). I encourage you to take a look at the proposed operating budget for the City and to comment on it if you so desire.
The Mayor originally presented the Council with a Draft FY11 Budget on June 3, 2010. The City Council made some changes to the Mayor’s budget and agreed, on a 3-1 vote, to send what is now called the “Tentative FY11 Budget” to the public hearing on August 3rd.
You can view the Tentative FY11 Budget at this link on the City’s website.
Here are a some highlights of the Tentative FY11 Budget and why I supported sending it to the public hearing:
1. The Tentative FY11 budget is 9% less than the adopted FY10 Budget. It reflects the realities of the current economy.
2. It is a balanced budget, as required by state law.
3. It maintains a sound 44% Unreserved Fund Balance Ratio at the conclusion of FY11 (this provides the City the ability to fund 21 weeks of operating expenses in reserve to mitigate current and future risks*).
4. All critical City services (fire, police and streets) are funded to meet expected demands for the coming year.
5. The budget anticipates funding the new external marketing organization to begin the revitalization process of our resort area economy.
If you have any questions prior to the hearing on August 3rd, please contact me. The meeting will be held in the Sun Valley City Hall Council Chambers at 10:00 a.m.
In addition, the City Council continues to work on the development of a long-range capital improvement plan for the City concerning streets and roads, facilities and capital equipment. We hope to have that capital plan ready for public comment within 45 days. I will keep you posted on that effort, as well.
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* Note: Over the past couple of years, we have carefully brought excess fund balances of the City down to appropriate and sound levels. This complies with the Fund Balance Policy adopted by the Council last year to ensure the City’s continued financial stability.
Special Sun Valley City Council Meeting June 3, 2010
On Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 10:00 am we have a Special City Council meeting.
At this meeting, the Mayor will present his proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Draft Budget. We will also hear presentations from organizations requesting funds under external contracts for service.
Presentations will be made by:
- Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber and Visitors Bureau
- Marketing Exploration Committee
- Mountain Rides Transportation Authority
- Blaine County Housing Authority
- Ketchum Parks and Recreation Department
- Sustain Blaine
- Fly Sun Valley Alliance
To see the Agenda and Council packet for this meeting, click here.
At our last Council meeting we established the following calendar for the remaining FY11 Budget meetings. All meetings will be at Sun Valley City Hall at 10:00 a.m.
June 14, 2010 – Discussion on Draft Budget
June 28, 2010 – Adopt Tentative FY11 Budget
August 3, 2010 – Public Hearing on Tentative FY11 Budget, First Reading of Budget Ordinance
August 10, 2010 – Second Reading of Budget Ordinance (if necessary)
August 17, 2010 – Third Reading of Budget Ordinance (if necessary)
You can also listen to any of our Council meetings live, or later on the internet at this link.
You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website.
My 250th Blog Post
My last blog post on the May 20th Sun Valley City Council meeting was the 250th blog I’ve written since I began this interesting journey back in 2005.
Blogging has been a great way, as an Elected Official, to communicate with the citizens on a variety of issues. It has also been a tool to keep our community instantly informed, particularly in the early stages of the massive Castle Rock Fire of 2007. I have had a great time sharing many of my photos with you here, and it has been a way for long-lost friends to find me. I can’t think of abetter opportunity to involve technology in our democracy.
Great thanks to all of you who regularly read my blog posts, for your comments, and for your e-mails and phone calls! I look forward to continuing this journey with you here.
Here’s a photo I took a couple of weeks ago of Idaho’s beautiful Sawtooth Mountains from near Lower Stanley. Enjoy!
A Great Day for Sun Valley
It was a great day for Sun Valley, as we saw the result of real democracy in action today. Bob Youngman and I were sworn in to our City Council positions this morning by the Mayor.
The people spoke loudly during the City election this past November 3rd. They have told us clearly what they expect from their government. It is now up to us to act according to their wishes.
It is an honor to serve the people of Sun Valley.
Here are a few photos from today’s ceremony.
The Mayor administers the Oath of Office, as Councilman Dewayne Briscoe observes.
The Mayor administers the Oath of Office to Bob Youngman.
It’s official.
Councilmen Youngman and Ribi confer.
Special Sun Valley City Council Meeting January 5, 2009
On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 10:00 am we have a Special Council meeting.
The main purpose of this Special Council meeting is to swear in the newly elected Council Members from the general election this past November.
Obviously this is a very special meeting for me as I will be one of the two Council members taking the Oath of Office. The other will be Bob Youngman. I am extremely happy that Bob was elected to the City Council. His help last spring in the effort to stop the consolidation of Sun Valley into Ketchum was invaluable and he will make an excellent Council Member. He has worked very hard to prepare for his Council position and I believe he is already more knowledgeable about City operations than some others with whom I have served.
At this meeting we will also conduct some additional business including electing a new Council President, filling vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission and other appointments. I have had the honor to serve the past two years as your Council President, a position I have not taken lightly. It kept me very busy working closely with Mayor Willich and attending a great number of meetings on behalf of the City. I will be nominating fellow Council Member Dewayne Briscoe to be Council President for the next two years. Councilman Briscoe has done a very good job attending to his Council duties and I have found working with him over the past two years to be a rewarding experience. Together we have accomplished many of the necessary legislative tasks needed to move the City forward.
As your Councilman, I look forward to keeping my focus on those things that really matter and which make Sun Valley so special and a great place to live. We now have a much stronger Council that I believe has the ability and commitment to accomplish, in a positive environment, a great deal of the necessary work we have outlined. It is truly an honor to serve you and I appreciate the great vote of confidence you have placed in me.
To see the Agenda and Council packet for this meeting, click here.
You can also listen to this or any other Council meeting live, or later on the internet at this link.
You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website. The complete 2010 regular Council meeting schedule is now on my website.
Thank You!
Thank You!
Great thanks to all who have supported me and who voted for my re-election. I appreciate your confidence in having me continue to serve our fine City.
I will continue to use my best efforts on your behalf to keep the City of Sun Valley the greatest resort community in America in which to live.
Nils
