Meridian Mayor Robert Simison is pushing forward with his priorities to fund public safety, promote Meridian as a place for businesses to set up shop, and provide more amenities for the city’s citizens.
On Wednesday, Simison took the stage at the Galaxy Event Center at Wahooz to deliver his State of the City Address. Simison covered everything from pathway projects and transportation to public safety and city projects. He even announced efforts underway by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce to form an auditorium district and secure funding for a multi-sport event center.
Public safety over all
Public safety was a large theme during Simison’s address.
He highlighted the two new fire stations and a new police station built since his last address and the installation of Opticom traffic signals, which help emergency vehicles get through intersections, as part of the proof of the city’s support of public safety personnel. Simison also said he has recommended to Meridian City Council that the budget for next year invest in “needed personnel for the Police Department and related services. This includes hiring a support services commander, a detective, a police attorney, and two police officers.”South Meridian neighborhood gets approval after previous denial
“Our police department takes care of the little things late at night, so they don’t become big things. This has long been our practice and we are committed to ensuring it remains,” he said.
Simison said Meridian crime rates were down in 2023 by over 10 percent when compared to 2022.
Simison touted the police department’s recent passage of an assessment of its internal processes and policies and the fire department becoming the 1st Commission on Fire Accreditation International-accredited department in the state. This accreditation has been a central topic of a lawsuit filed against the city by a former employee who says they were harassed for raising concern on how the department was reporting data for the accreditation. The city has refuted these claims and said it “firmly” disagrees with the allegations.
Roads, trails, the wish for a rail
Transportation and trails were also a large topic of the address. Simison noted recently completed road construction projects, such as the widening of portions of Lake Hazel and Locust Grove Roads. There has also been progress on the Linder Rd. overpass as it has moved out of the design phase and into the acquiring land and right-of-way stage.
Simison said the city recently connected two separate networks of trails and now has a continuous system connecting downtown with North Meridian. The city also recently completed a trail near Mary McPherson Elementary.
“This new connection is a game-changer for those kids, families, and school district, as a majority of the kids can now walk or ride their bike to school safely,” Simison said. “This is something that hasn’t been possible since the school was built in 1959. It’s a great win for the community thanks to collaboration with the Simplot family, West Ada, Boise Project Board, and the City.”
He spoke about the Idaho Transportation Department’s recently announced plans for Eagle Rd. and the work on Highway 16 before saying that an east-west connection was something the city and valley lack.
Simison said he would like to see the existing rail corridor utilized for this very thing, a project that former Meridian Mayor Tammy DeWeerd was also passionate about.
“For this corridor to have some form of viable public transportation in the future, it needs funding and the attention of our governor, legislature, and ITD,” Simison said. “Specifically, as the lone remaining state with no dedicated state funding for public transportation, that situation needs to be addressed. Until state funding exists, local government has to choose between funding public safety or public transportation.”
Tax increases, projects, and an auditorium district
But east-to-west transportation wasn’t the only challenge Simison said the city was facing. He acknowledged the city needed another post office, something he said he was working on with Idaho’s federal delegation but he hasn’t received a response from regional leadership on the matter.
Additionally, Simison said the city was struggling to manage growth from a budget perspective. He said the city was still facing the effects of H.B. 389, which caps how much local governments can get from new construction and annexation in taxes for budget growth. He said the bill has cost Meridian $1.4 million a year and has made “the long-held mantra” of growth paying for growth “more of a challenge today than ever.”
Because of this budget challenge, Simison proposed the city take the full 3% property tax increase allowed under state code as well as an additional 1% of foregone tax dollars amounts not collected last year.
“I don’t like taking foregone one bit. But if we want to keep up with our public safety needs, it is what we need to do,” Simison said.
Because the city’s budget is limited, it has sought out the fulfillment of certain community amenity needs through partnerships, donations, and working with other entities. The city recently had land donated which will allow for the expansion of Hillsdale Park. Simison said the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, which put on the State of the City event, has been pursuing the formation of an auditorium district in an effort to bring an event center large enough for eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, or one high school graduation.
“Imagine having a place for your kids and grandkids to have sports tournaments in Meridian so you don’t have to travel. Or imagine watching your son or daughter walking across a stage in Meridian as they receive their diploma, rather than traveling to another city like I did this past weekend,” Simison said.
The chamber is in the process of collecting signatures on a petition that would put the creation of the Auditorium District of Meridian on voters’ ballots in November.
Other projects the city is currently working on or considering include a new community center at Settlers Park, restrooms on the golf course at Lakeview, a new aeration basin and tertiary filter for the wastewater treatment plant, the final phase of the Can Ada lift station, and another water treatment facility. Simison said the last three projects are estimated to cost $40 million in the 2025 budget and $110 million total.
“It’s amazing how expensive a few words can be,” Simison said.
The past calendar year also saw the arrival of a cache of new businesses in the city. Scheels opened its doors in April. Chicken Shanty moved into the city after experiencing permitting troubles in Boise, and In-N-Out Burger opened at The Village. There was also an expansion at Western States Cat, an addition at the Children’s Museum of Idaho, and Red Aspen built a new place of business.
“Many folks are enjoying the benefits that these businesses are bringing, and the activity is good for the community,” Simison said. “In fact, according to the Idaho Department of Labor, nearly 500 new businesses came to Meridian last year, and the community continues to show job strength for it.”
