Sun Valley Marketing Alliance Funding

In response to recent criticism and inadequate reporting on funding of the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance, I want to reiterate what I have stated on numerous occasions at City Council meetings:

The Sun Valley Marketing Alliance, Ketchum City leadership and the Idaho Mountain Express all know full well, but never acknowledge, that we have said from the beginning that funding to the SVMA for general area marketing needs to be in proportion with the amount of actual business (not tax revenue) in each City – which currently stands at approximately 75% in Ketchum and 25% in Sun Valley.

Since the beginning of the SVMA, the City of Sun Valley has been paying significantly more than its fair share and the City of Ketchum has not. City of Ketchum officials have known for over two years that we would be moving to a more relational budget allocation. This has been clearly and consistently stated up front and followed with associated actions as reflected in the reduction in FY2012 and FY2013 City funding to SVMA.

There was no “gotcha” –  only continued denial and lack of responsibility from Ketchum leaders for paying their fair share, and from the SVMA Board for not being prepared for Ketchum’s failure to meet its responsibilities. The SVMA, the community, and the local media should all be asking why the City of Ketchum is not contributing its fair share to the general area marketing efforts.

Sun Valley Council Meetings – April 2012

We have a series of special City Council meetings scheduled this month in our effort to initiate the forensic audit, search for a new City Administrator, review the Lane Ranch North applications and, of course, conduct our normal monthly business. Here is the current schedule:

April 9, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 11:00 a.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Forensic Audit

April 10, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 1:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Lane Ranch North / City Administrator Search

April 16, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 5:30 p.m. – Ketchum City Hall, Ketchum - SV Marketing Alliance Quarterly Report

April 18, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 11:00 a.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Forensic Audit

April 19, 2012 – City Council Regular Meeting – 1:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley

April 23, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 4:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Continuation of 4/19/12 Meeting

Visit Sun Valley This Fall

The colors in Sun Valley this fall have been spectacular and continue to hang on. I took this photo yesterday near Old Dollar Road of Sun Valley Lake and Bald Mountain. Come on up and visit if you get the chance…you won’t regret it!

Fall in Sun Valley

It has been a wonderful fall in Sun Valley this year, with great colors, and some early snow. I took this photo on October 7, 2011.

A Good Day for Democracy in Sun Valley

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!

Sun Valley City Council Meeting August 9, 2011

UPDATED 8-5-11

On Tuesday August 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. we have a Special Sun Valley City Council meeting. This is the fourth in a number of meetings we are holding to establish the City’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012). At this meeting the Council will hold its formal Public Hearing on the Tentative Budget for FY12 we adopted on July 12, 2011.

You will note that the Public Hearing on the FY12 Budget was to be held on August 2, 2011, a date the Council established back in April and which is indicated on your tax statement. Unfortunately, the City’s Administrative staff  did not follow proper notice procedures and the August 2^nd Public Hearing could not be held on that date. It had to be moved to August 9^th. I hope this does not cause an inconvenience to the taxpayers of Sun Valley. I am also waiting for the City to post a copy of the Tentative Budget on the City’s website. When that happens, I will put a link to it here. The Tentative Budget is now available online at the City website. Click here to view it.

During the July 12, 2011 Special Council Meeting, I was able to convince the Council to agree to my proposal to forego raising property taxes by 3% in the FY12 Tentative Budget. It makes no sense to increase property taxes when the draft budget showed revenues over expenditures greater than the increase in property taxes. We are still able to fund necessary operations and meet our obligations.

The City has not posted the Agenda or Council Packet for the 8-9-11 meeting yet. When they do, I will put a link to it here. The Agenda and Council Packet for the 8-9-11 meeting is now available online at this link. You will note that the Mayor has now added several additional items to the Agenda for this Special Meeting.

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 Meetings July 21, 2011

On Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 4:00 pm we have our regular monthly City Council meeting. Prior to that, at 1:00 pm, we will have a Special City Council meeting to discuss Council Priorities for Fiscal Year 2012.

Along with normal business and reports, the principal items of consideration at the regular monthly meeting include:

• Quarterly report from the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance.
• Public Hearing on Sun Valley Company request for Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Map Amendments.
• Request for 5 year extension on Weyyakin Phase IV Development Agreement.
• Approval of Retail Alcohol Beverage Licenses for 2011/2012.
• Amend meeting times for regular Council meetings for remainder of 2011.

To see the full Agenda and Council Packet for the 7-21-11 regular 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.

Sun Valley City Council Meeting July 12, 2011

On Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. we have a Special Sun Valley City Council meeting. This is the third in a number of meetings we are holding to establish the City’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012). Click here to see the complete list of our budget meetings.

At this meeting the Council is expected to adopt a “Tentative Budget” for FY12. The purpose of the Tentative Budget is to set a ceiling on the level of expenditures and the city property tax levy. This information will then be put in the notice for the public hearing on the budget which will be held on August 2, 2011.

During the June 21, 2011 Special Council Meeting, we made significant expenditure reductions in the Mayor’s original proposed draft FY12 Budget ($6,055,000 down to $5,166,000). The Council modified version is available online at this link. We will be using this version as we consider our “Tentative Budget” at the July 12^th meeting. Input from the citizens of Sun Valley will be important at this meeting.

To see the full Agenda and Council Packet for the 7-12-11 meeting, click here.

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 June 21, 2011

On Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. we have a Special Sun Valley City Council meeting. This is the second in a number of meetings we are holding to establish the City’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012). Click here to see the complete list of our budget meetings.

At this meeting, the Council will receive the Mayor’s proposed draft budget for FY12, we will discuss revenue and expenditure assumptions and projections for the budget, and we will review and update our Council Priorities for FY12.

As I do each year, I prepare my recommended Strategic Project Priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year for the City of Sun Valley. I will be discussing these at the meeting on June 21st. You can click here to see my FY12 priorities.

We will also have the second reading of Ordinance 442 Regarding Use of Certain Vehicles on Public Streets.

To see the full Agenda and Council Packet for the 6-21-11 meeting, click here.

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 June 16 2011

On Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 4:00 pm we have our regular monthly City Council meeting.

Along with normal business and reports, the principal items of consideration this month include:

• Discussion regarding Cox Communications franchise agreement
• Discussion with Sun Valley Postmaster regarding mail delivery issues
• Hear FY12 Budget request from Sun Valley Marketing Alliance
• Consideration of a 5 year renewal of the Mandatory Garbage Collection Agreement
• Discussion regarding the Area of City Impact Agreement with Blaine County
• Renewal of Mountain Rides Joint Powers Agreement
• Public Hearing on Ordinance regarding the use of ATV’s on City streets
• Adopt Council Priorities for FY12
• Consider revised Building Permit Fee Schedule
• Review Preliminary Draft of Capital Improvement Plan

To see the full Agenda and Council Packet for the 6-16-11 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.

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 the Week of April 18, 2011

The week of April 18, 2011 we have two Sun Valley City Council meetings:

Monday April 18, 2011 at 5:30 pm – Special Council Meeting – Quarterly Report from Sun Valley Marketing Alliance – at Ketchum City Hall

• Click here for the Agenda for Joint 4-18-11 meeting with Ketchum City Council.     

Thursday April 21, 2011 at 4:00 pm – Regular Monthly Council Meeting

• Click here for the Agenda and Council Packet for the 4-21-11 meeting. Along with normal business and reports, the principal items of consideration this month include:

• Request from Clear Creek Disposal to increase garbage collection fees
• Establish Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Calendar
• Review of Council/Mayor Powers and Authorities

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.