Garden City Council approves inclusion in Ada County Highway District five-year work plan after multimodal safety discussion

Garden City — The Garden City Council voted March 10 to approve Resolution 1200-25, adopting the city’s request to be included in the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) Integrated Five-Year Work Program. Council members approved the measure by roll call after a discussion about safety for nonmotorized travelers and plans for a concept study at the Alworth and Adams corridor.

Council member Rasmussen said the approval came amid concerns about how road agencies prioritize vehicle flow over other modes. “I think roadway agencies have done a disservice to some taxpayers by primarily focusing on how best to move cars, not as much the movement of people,” Rasmussen said. He told the council he supports making busier roads “a little more multimodal and safer for all ways of getting around.”

The council’s discussion referenced a police department memo; Mayor (name not specified) said the council would attach the police chief’s comments as an addendum to the approved work plan. Rebecca, an agency representative, told the council that the Alworth and Adams item would start as a concept study. “In that concept study, we will be highly engaged with the community, the immediate surrounding community. We will, pull in a member from the city. We will get, all kinds of feedback,” Rebecca said, adding that concept studies typically include one to two public outreach events and in-person meetings to gather feedback to inform design.

Rasmussen also said, as part of his remarks, that ACHD receives about a third of its revenue from property taxes (he prefaced that comment with “if I’m not mistaken”). He argued that because not all property taxpayers drive, roadway planning should better accommodate alternative modes. In giving that context he cited the Green Belt as evidence that some residents are using non-vehicle routes when they are available.

After brief discussion, Council member Rasmussen moved to approve Resolution 1200-25, described in the motion as "a resolution of the Garden City Council adopting the 2024 Garden City request to be included in the Ada County Highway District an integrated 5 year work plan and providing an effective date." The motion received a second (not specified on the record) and passed on a roll-call vote: Council member Jacobs — yes; Council member Paige — yes; Council member Rasmussen — yes. The mayor announced the motion carries and directed that the police department comments be appended as an addendum to the adopted plan.

Council members and the agency representative emphasized that the integrated five-year plan is regularly updated and that specific project designs can change during subsequent design or construction phases. Rebecca said she would relay the council’s request to include city staff and the police department in the concept study outreach for the Alworth and Adams project.

The council concluded its official business and adjourned the meeting. The attached police memo (referenced on the record) will be included with the approved work plan and provided to council and staff as part of the follow-up materials.