Meetings and Hearings
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Updated January 20, 2012
Neighborhood News and Upcoming Events:
Collister Neighborhood Association Meeting, Wednesday, January 25, 7 pm at the Collister Library. Annual meeting will include election of officers. Full agenda will be announced at a later date.
Planning and Zoning Hearing—Urban Agriculture Ordinance Amendment, File No.ZOA11-0006, RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012, at 6 pm, at the State Capitol Building, 700 W. Jefferson St. (entrance off 8th St., down the stairs).
For more information, please contact Cody Riddle at Planning and Development Services at telephone: 384-3830 or at email: criddle@cityofboise.org. (Note: January 9 hearing date is cancelled due to lack of quorum.)
Planning and Zoning Hearing—Boise City Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan Update, File No.CPA11-00002, Monday, February 6, 2012, at 6 pm, at the State Capitol Building, 700 W. Jefferson St. (entrance off 8th St., down the stairs).
The Boise City Parks & Recreation department has submitted an application for Comprehensive Plan Update and Capital Improvement Plan. You can read the full 500 plus page draft plan at this link:
Please e-mail comments back to PDSTransmittals@cityofboise.org.
Ada County Planning and Zoning.
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 6 pm, Ada County Courthouse, 200 W. Front St., Boise ID
1. File No. 201101223-ZOA—A zoning ordinance text amendment to amend Ada County Code Title 5, Chapter 7, Section 2, and Title 8, Chapter 5, Section 3, Subsection 62. The request is being made to add a definition of domesticated animal, and to clarify that written verification is required for livestock being raised for an educational purpose. . For more information, contact Richard Beck, Associate Planner, at email: rbeck@adaweb.net or at telephone: 287-7915.
2. File No. 201101232-ZOA--Renewable Energy Amendment to add a definition of a Fall Zone. Add two figures for examples of a fall zone and setbacks for freestanding wind facilities. Amend Specific Use Standards amending the parking requirement for sub transmission lines, raise the DBA for freestanding wind facilities, clarify the DBA for rooftop wind facilities, clarify measurement of the DBA and require documentation of noise levels expected to be generated and how they will meet the maximums allowed. For more information, contact Diana Sanders, Associate Planner, at email: dsanders@adaweb.net or at telephone: 287-7905.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at 6 pm, Ada County Courthouse, 200 W. Front St., Boise ID. File No. 201101116-ZOA-- A zoning ordinance text amendment amending Ada County Code Sections 8-7E-1 through 8-7E-6 to clarify that these sections of the Ada County Code apply to public hearings in front of the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission with the exception of Ada County Code Section 8-7E-5 where only the Board of County Commissioners has the authority to reopen a record to receive additional evidence. For more information, contact Brent Danielson, Associate Planner, at email: bdanielson@adaweb.net or at telephone: 287-7913.
News from Charlene Miller, Boise Police Dept. Crime Prevention:
Home Security Video:
Below is a link to a Youtube video recently made by the Boise Police Dept. on how to check your own home for security weaknesses and strengths:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4sXqfM-Xkc
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment for a personal, more in-depth survey, please contact Charlene Miller, Boise Police Dept. Crime Prevention Unit, 333 N. Mark Stall Place, Boise 83704, telephone: 570-6070, email: cmiller@cityofboise.org.
FREE Seminar—Teens and Marijuana
Thursday evenings, February 9th, 16, 23rd, and March 1st, 4:15 to 7:15 pm, at Renaissance High School Auditorium, 1301 E. Central Drive, Meridian, Idaho.
Four-part seminar for parents and educators will explore the issue of teens and marijuana: current marijuana trends in our community, signs and symptoms of abuse, available treatment resources and issues surrounding legalization/medical marijuana. Feel free to bring a brown bag dinner to the seminars.
Registration required (seating limited)—contact: Beau Lachance at email: blachance@cityofboise.org or at telephone: 570-6405.
Sponsored by Boise School District, Joint School District No. 2, Drug Free Idaho/Payada, the City of Boise, MADC (Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition).
FREE Classes—Water Efficient Landscaping
- Mon, Feb. 6 - Improving your Soil and Composting
- Mon, Feb. 13 - Xeriscape Concepts and Landscape Design with Adaptive Plants
- Wed, Feb. 22 - Using Native Plants and Tree Selection
- Mon, Feb. 27 - Efficient Irrigation and Landscape Maintenance
Classes will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting Feb. 6 in the Boise Public Library Hayes Auditorium, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. (Please use the first floor Eighth Street entrance.)
Register for one class or the series by calling: 362-7336 or emailing: landscape@unitedwater.com.
Go green - learn how to create a beautifully landscaped yard that conserves water and saves you money! Join United Water Idaho, the U of I Ada County Extension Service, the City of Boise and the Boise Public Library for four free classes in February, covering the fundamentals of water efficient landscaping.
Instructors are recognized experts in their fields from the Extension Service, the City and the Idaho Botanical Garden.
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FREE Tree Care Classes
Arborists from Boise Parks and Recreation's Community Forestry division and other professionals will teach a series of free tree-care classes starting Feb. 29.
Classes will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays starting Feb. 29 in the Boise Public Library Hayes Auditorium, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. (Please use the first floor Eighth Street entrance.)
Dates and topics include:
- Feb. 29: Fruit Tree Care and Pruning
- March 7: How Trees Work
- March 14: How to Prune Trees
- March 21: Selecting and Planting Trees
- March 28: Pests and Problems of Trees
Classes are free, but space is limited. To register, send your name, email address and phone number to Community Forestry via email City Forestry at this link: forestryinfo@cityofboise.org or call (208) 384-4083.
Community Forestry is responsible for the management of 41,000 public trees in parks and public rights of way. For more information, see their website at this link: http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/CommunityForestry/index.aspx
Winter Foothills Trail Use—Check Trail Conditions First.
A daily trail condition report is posted on Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/boisefoothillstrailconditions to give users up-to-date information so that they can make informed and responsible decisions as to whether they should be using the trails on any given day as well as which areas to avoid.
For the second year, Ridge to Rivers will enact voluntary daily closures during winter months. Users will be asked to stay off trails after 10:30 a.m. daily in the Table Rock, Military Reserve, Polecat Gulch and Crestline/Red Cliffs areas. Voluntary closures are expected to begin after Jan. 1. Closed areas will be signed and posted on the Ridge to Rivers website, at this link: http://ridgetorivers.cityofboise.org/.
Read it on-line: The Boise Sentinel, Neighborhood Watch Newsletter, for the Fall/Winter 2011 – 2012 at this link:
http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Police/PDF/BoiseSentinel/2011F-BoiseSentinel.pdf
Personal Safety Tips from the Boise Police Department Crime Prevention:
We all like to feel safe and secure in our homes and activities. It is important to know that each of us is responsible for our own personal safety, and the best defense is prevention. To reduce the likelihood of being targeted by criminals, we need to use common sense, as well as thinking and acting wisely and responsibly.
We also want to be educated and empowered in knowing how to plan for our own personal safety. Be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and always have a plan. Below are practical prevention measures that when used can improve personal safety in our homes, vehicles, and activities:
Prevention Measures:
Activity
- Have a friend join you in your activities when you can
- Tell someone where you are going and approximately when you will return
- When you’re out jogging or walking, leave your headsets at home
- ATM: choose one that is out in the open and well-lit
- Carry a cell phone at all times
Home
- Use deadbolt locks on all outside doors and install locks on your windows
- Install wide angle peepholes on your front door or have a window to see the porch
- Don’t open doors to someone you don’t know and aren’t expecting
- Trim shrubs to avoid providing hiding places, especially near doors and windows
- Install motion sensor or dusk-to-dawn lights outside your home
- Have a phone in your bedroom
At Night
- Park in well-lit areas
- Walk to car with a friend or ask for a store escort if you feel uneasy
- Have correct key ready in your hand before getting to your car
- Quickly check from afar under the car and behind the seat
- If someone is loitering nearby, get assistance
As a Motorist
- Drive with your vehicle doors locked
- Carry a cell phone
- In break-downs, stay in car with doors locked and call for assistance
- Being followed? Call 911 with your location and stay on the line for further directions
Single Females
- Be aware and alert of your surroundings
- Don’t leave a social occasion with someone you just met or don’t know well
- Avoid isolating yourself, by not jogging alone or being alone in a laundry room
- Know your limitations, make sure the messages you are sending to men are clear
- Be careful of personal information you post on social networking sites, such as when you are going on vacation, your address, where you work, etc
- On a first date or blind date, arrive separately and at a public place, if you feel threatened or uncomfortable, you can leave
- Install an automatic timer to a lamp inside, so it is well-lit when arriving home late
Options if Confronted by an Attacker:
- Yelling transfers fear into anger, so yell and run away
- Pepper spray can be an affective tool, if used correctly and is ready when you need it. Know the pros and cons of using pepper spray
- Consider taking a self-defense class
- Choosing weapons is a personal choice only you can determine; do the research to help you decide the best safety tool for you to use
The internet has a wealth of information on personal safety and self defense. To find more safety tips, click on: http://www.crime-safety-security.com/index.html or http://www.ncpc.org/ (National Crime Prevention Council)
When you have been the recipient of an e-mail message relating the current bizarre crime(s), check the www.snopes.com (urban legend) site to confirm safety myths and email rumors.
You can also watch a short video on-line about personal safety at this link:
Neighborhood Watch News from Charlene Miller:
“I have received complaints of a couple going door to door representing a carpet cleaning company. They are not actually selling, supposedly, but offering 'free' carpet cleaning. The complaints have been that this young couple do not dress or act in a professional manner, they come as late as 9 p.m., and want to come into the homes. When asked questions, they are vague in their answers, and leave residents feeling very uneasy.
I found out that the couple offering 'free' carpet cleaning does not fall under the code that door-to-door solicitors must possess a city license to sell. Officers contacted the couple and were told they aren't selling, but giving advertisement fliers to residents. Residents who've been contacted by the couple have different stories about them.
City Code information regarding those who go door-to-door, but do not attempt to sell at that time:
The way BCC 5-12-02(K) reads I believe they do need a license if they are giving out information for future sales. They can put a flier on a door or car without needing a license but cannot make personal contact with anyone. Also, BCC 5-12-10 says solicitors can only work in residential areas between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and one hour after sunset.
Remember, if someone comes to your door that you aren't expecting and don't know, you don't have to answer the door to them. You can choose to ignore them, or simply say you aren't interested. If you see or experience suspicious or criminal activity, please call police dispatch at 377-6790, or 911 for a crime in progress or you are fearful."
Charlene Miller, Crime Prevention Unit, Boise Police Dept., 333 N. Mark Stall Place, Boise, ID 83704, telephone: 570-6070, email: cmiller@cityofboise.org
Collister Post Office Update:
A letter received from Margaret Putnam, Manager Consumer and Industry Contact for the US Postal Service, said:
"Thank you for contacting the Postmaster General, Pat Donahoe, concerning the closing of the Collister Post Office in Boise, Idaho. His office has referred your comments to the local USPS District offices for response.
At this time, we are conducting a study on the feasibility of closing the Collister Post Office and what effect it may or may not have on the local community. A vital part of this study will include a community meeting as well as questionnaires, giving customers the opportunity to express their concerns and ask questions.
We appreciate your concern for the residents in your community and will consider your comments as we proceed with this study. No decision will be made unless the Postal Service determines that effective and regular service would continue to be provided to Collister area residents, if the proposal were to be implemented.
Again, we appreciate your comments and viewpoint."
When we hear more, we'll let you know.
Collister Post Office On Closing List.
The branch post office at Collister Center is again on a list for closures by the US Postal Service. We have been told that there will likely be a public meeting prior to any closure, and when we have information on that we will let you know.
If you are concerned, please contact the Postmaster General and your U.S. Senators and Representatives:
Pat Donahoe, Postmaster General
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-0010
On-line: https://www.usps.com/customer-service/customer-service.htm
The Honorable Senator Michael Crapo
251 E. Front St., Ste. 205
Boise, ID 83702
Tel: 334-1776
Fax: 334-9044
On-line: http://crapo.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
The Honorable Senator James E. Risch
350 N. 9th St., Ste. 302
Boise ID 83702
Tel: 342-7985
Fax: 343-2485
On-line: http://risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email
The Honorable Representative Michael Simpson
802 W. Bannock, Ste. 600
Boise, ID 83702
Tel: 334-1953
Fax: 334-9533
On-line: http://simpson.house.gov/Contact/
ACHD Reminder--Sidewalk Obstructions:
Ada County Highway District (ACHD) asks property owners to maintain any vegetation within the public right of way in front of and beside your home (including fence lines) to help keep motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists safe. State and local codes make the property owner responsible for the removal of obstructions or encroachments.
An obstruction is anything that prevents pedestrians from full use of the sidewalk, blocks traffic signs, extends into the road way, or reduces a driver’s sight distance and ability to see oncoming traffic.
In general, prune all vegetation that encroaches on the sidewalk so that pedestrians have a clear, safe place to walk. Prune trees so that the lowest branch is at least 10 feet off the ground from the sidewalk or street.
More information can be found on the ACHD website at this link: http://www.achdidaho.org/Departments/Traffic/Docs/Sight_Obstruction,%20brochure.pdf
Barking Dogs and Cats Running Loose.
There have been a number of complaints about barking dogs and cats running loose in the neighborhood. Please be good neighbors and responsible pet owners.
City code section 6-07-23 requires all adult dogs and cats (over 16 weeks in age) to be licensed. All animals must be controlled by a leash, and are considered a nuisance if they run loose; bark or make excessive, continuous, or untimely noise; molest passersby; chase vehicles; habitually attack other domestic animals; trespass on public or private property and cause property damage; or cause excessive accumulation of feces that affects the health and quiet enjoyment of another person.
City code also requires that a dog owner must remove fecal matter deposited by his/her dog from any street, sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, or other pedestrian right-of-way, or bicycle path.
City code provisions about animal control can be read on-line at this link:
http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/City_Clerk/PDF/CityCode/Title6/0607.pdf
The City of Boise has a pamphlet, “An A to Z Reference to Boise’s Ordinances,” with telephone numbers to call, and can be read on-line at this link:
http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/PDS/CodeEnforcement/WhotoCall/PZBrochure_WhoDoICall.pdf
Julie Klocke, President
Collister Neighborhood Association
president@collistercna.org
387-1887
News from Charlene Miller, Boise Police Dept. Crime Prevention:
Next meeting
Wednesday, January 25 at 7:00pm
Library! at Collister
Agenda: Annual meeting will include election of officers, annual review, 2012 neighborhood picnic planning.
We are in need of volunteers to help organize the neighborhood picnic. Please contact Julie Klocke if you can help.