West Central Mountains Economic Development Council
Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Remote: ZOOM
Members in Attendance: Jill Chapman (President), Dylan Martin (Vice-President), Cynda Herrick (Secretary), Julie Good (Treasurer), Linnea Hall, Lindsay Harris, Nicole Musgrove, Judith Nissula, and Andrew Mentzer (Executive Director).
Members Absent: Thom Sowers. Sherry Maupin, Gene Tyler, and Patty Wold
West Central Mountains Economic Development Council Monthly Meeting: Tuesday July 14th, 2020 Location:
REMOTE: Zoom – Time: 3:00 – 5:00pm
Executive team meeting, open at 2:30pm. Jill Morris, Julie Good, Dylan Martin, Linnea Hall, Cynda Herrick and Andrew Mentzer.
Early Childhood project: Discussed stipends for $300 to $500 and $750 for leads or $575 with reimbursement. Discussed how often the group should meet and project leads.
Discussed increasing number of EDC board members to 13 members in order to have an odd number.
o Signing of checks for previously approved items (done by Jill and Andrew ahead of time: Granite Excavation Cascade bus kiosk and CUB payment for Q3)
o Agenda discussion
o Executive session closed if needed
- Call to order, regular meeting, 3pm
- Adoption of agenda (ACTION ITEM) Revisions made include moving Alec Williams’ presentation to 4:30 p.m. and moving action items to the front of the agenda, ie minutes, Treasurer, BSU letter, and number of participants.
Julie moved to approve the agenda changes, Linnea seconded. Motion carried.
- Approval of minutes (ACTION ITEM) Nicole moved, Linnea seconded, motion carried.
- Treasurer’s report (ACTION ITEM) : Julie presented. Discussed grant, Andrew’s payment, etc. Lindsay moved to approve Treasurer’s Report, Dylan seconded. Motion carried.
- Letters/requests (ACTION ITEMS) BSU has asked for a letter to support their nomination for an award for their trade organization to state they have been effective with their CIP program. Andrew will craft and Jill can approve. Lindsay moved to approve Andrew crafting, and Jill approving, Nicole seconded. Motion carried.
- # of Board Members: Discussed increasing board members from 12 to 13 to make an odd number. Andrew and Megan will look at the board matrix based upon communities. We are technically down a member in Donnelly. Discussed de facto participation.
- New hire introduction (DISCUSSION) Megan Chandler was introduced. Official start date is Monday.
- Welcome visitors and guests: Delta James, City of McCall, Bill Flood, Alex Williams (joined at 4:30pm)
o Bill Flood RE Creative District – Bill is a consultant working with the Idaho Commission for the Arts. He discussed setting up a creative district in the region. Previously sent documentation on “Count Yourself Creative.” Talked about participation and taste/set-up of districts. Talked about how to get started. Delta stated there are a lot of economic development opportunities for grassroot entrepreneurs making art in their garages, etc. Delta and Nicole have been working with a small core group and the Arts Council. Have around 20 people lined up to participate. Nicole thinks it will be a wonderful thing for our region. Fits well with the Ponderosa Center. There is no “ask” at this time. Creative district can fuel the fire of gentrification….which can lead to artists being priced out, so it’s important to carefully manage these processes. Megan suggested we reach out to the Nezperce Tribe. Idaho Commission of the Arts is thinking about being the host for the website so additional districts can be set up statewide.
- Community reports:
Cascade: Judith said City Council approved F&C for River District. City Council approved a resolution to encourage masks and putting up a banner. Chamber discussed fireworks – there were no social distancing challenges. Some of the busiest weekends ever seen in Cascade, including previous 4th of July’s. Working on Business and Vendor licensing. Jill recommended contacting Mackenzie for a masking banner for Main Street.
Donnelly: Jill attended their discussion concerning Huckleberry Festival. It is canceled in its traditional format, will paint the town purple and look for opportunities for safe alternate events.
McCall: Lindsay said there were 500 packets distributed to visitors–a great success. Things seem to be civil. Discussed new chamber board members. Discussed Crush the Curve and some challenges with getting them to come to the region for testing. Lodging facilities are booked up–as reflected by the LOT taxes, which indicate a mostly normal year revenue-wise. Construction is still happening downtown. Power lines on Park St. are buried. Working on grants for broadband. One of the city employees tested positive, who did not have public contact and did practice safety measures while at work.
New Meadows: grant successful from USDA on the Weiser River Trail and waiting for determination on funding of the second half from Commerce.
Valley County: Midas Logistics facility, 50% up on building permits, open meeting law challenges, resolution encouraging masks has passed.
* STEAM group in Cascade requested to use the WCM branding elements for a new logo–can use our logo based on brand guidelines which Andrew has sent along. It has been authorized on our website. Shauna Arnold is working on a grant to develop a STEAM programming in the southern part of the county.
- Scenic Byways update (DISCUSSION): had a meeting this morning with ITD who is starting a major construction project in Smiths Ferry in September. There will be road closures, delays, etc. Will be working with most agencies and community groups to get the word out. Could be up to a half day delay when they are blasting, but this is primarily going to be done in slack season. Will attend our scenic byways meeting next week. Will discuss various items.
- Grants (open/future DISCUSSION)
o EDPro – successful. Will be getting MOU shortly.
o IDAEYC (grant contract) programming launches this week
o Stibnite Foundation: Weiser River Trail and Hand Washing Stations – will know more Thursday
o GEM/USDA: Weiser River Trail
- Broadband grants – working on two of them….Eagle’s Nest will most likely not move forward due to timing and lack of information, but Pilgrim Cove will.
- Recreation/Pathways – have officially put together an application between Norwood and the end of the North Valley Trail.
o Donnelly Flyway – going in front of Donnelly Council Monday–section connects city to the lake, but may not be approved until August meeting
- Education and workforce development:
o Talent Pipeline Management Academy through IACI–(DISCUSSION): first remote will be Thursday and face to face late this month in Boise.
o IDAEYC program next steps update (DISCUSSION) : launches this week.
o Update on BSU fall programs and enrollment to date (DISCUSSION) : potential for very large participation. We were hoping for 5 and have 8, shooting for two more.
- Community Projects/Infrastructure
o Cascade asphalt at bus kiosk–Granite (DISCUSSION) : finished and check’s in the mail.
o Census outreach update (DISCUSSION) : nothing to report
o Coronavirus task force update (DISCUSSION) : still meeting weekly – discussing creating a part time position to assist our at risk people with resources. We need a Covid care (needs) coordinator to work with St. Luke’s and other groups. Thinking of applying for a grant with the St. Luke’s foundation and putting under the auspices of the WCMEDC. The Board thought it was a great idea. Jill will pursue this option.
o Cascade seasonal wayfinding update (DISCUSSION) : this includes the busing element and there is no movement at this time. We should start meeting again this fall or winter.
o Broadband update (DISCUSSION) previously covered in meeting.
- Business retention and expansion (DISCUSSION) we met with just over 100 businesses for 2020 and are starting a new fiscal (state) year this month.
- Economic Summit update–keynote, agenda (Arts option), committee establishment (ACTION ITEM) monitoring the situation to see what this looks like. We have a keynote identified. More to follow as Megan get onboarded.
- Marketing/fundraising update (DISCUSSION) Nothing to report.
o Alec Williams, Trident Holdings, RE IDL land swap proposal:
Alec and Caroline Merritt were on the line. Shared basic concepts and the way forward to address community concerns. Not a developer. Looking for solutions for the 28,000 acres around Payette Lake. Setting a multi-generational plan. This is a conservation project with the intent to secure some lands for development in the future based on absorption rate, but intends to put the majority of the lands into easements. Vision is to work with partners to create development pods. They are trying to offer a solution to the community and finding funding. Addressed how they are a solution to the problem. The board had a lot of tactical questions and will have more as this evolves.
- Round Table, Upcoming Events & Public Comments
Adjourn: 5pm