Hayden City Council approves 5% pay increase, adopts five-year CIP, sets public hearing on higher impact fees and funds streetlight repairs

The Hayden City Council voted unanimously Sept. 23 to approve several budget and infrastructure measures, including a 5% increase to the fiscal 2026 salary schedule, formal adoption of the city’s five-year capital improvement plan and authorization for staff to publish a public hearing to consider increasing development impact fees.

The council also voted to accept participation in national opioid settlements (including the Purdue direct settlement and related manufacturer settlements) and authorized a contract to replace six damaged streetlights along Government Way at a cost not to exceed $95,502.

Why it matters: The salary increase updates compensation tied to the recently adopted FY2026 budget; the five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) sets project priorities tied to expected funding sources and will guide capital spending through FY2030. Publishing the impact-fee hearing starts the formal public process for raising developer-paid fees that fund growth-related infrastructure. The streetlight repairs restore pedestrian and driver safety at locations that have been damaged by vehicle impacts.

Key votes and outcomes

- Consent calendar (multiple routine contract approvals and minutes): approved (roll call: Council President Rotor — yes; Councilmember White — yes; Councilmember DePries — yes; Councilmember Schaeffer — yes). The consent calendar included multiple items referenced on the published agenda (special meeting minutes, Atlas Industrial Subdivision Master Development Agreement item, change orders for Ramsey Road and force main projects, engineering agreements and bills ratification). Specific consent items were not separately voted on at the dais.

- Fiscal year 2026 salary schedule (5% increase): approved unanimously (same roll-call pattern as above).

- Development impact fees: council authorized staff to publish notice for a public hearing to consider increasing development impact fees and to update the impact-fee methodology report; motion passed unanimously.

- Resolution adopting five-year capital improvement plan (FY2026–FY2030): adopted unanimously.

- Participation in opioid settlements (Purdue direct settlement and secondary manufacturer settlement participation; funds directed to Panhandle Health District for opioid abatement): approved unanimously.

- Contract to replace six damaged streetlights on Government Way (not to exceed $95,502): approved unanimously. Council discussion noted 14 lights in total are damaged citywide; the current contract covers the six highest-priority locations and staff will return later with costs for remaining repairs. Council and staff said insurance receipts (about $65,000) offset part of the replacement cost.

What council members and staff said

City Administrator Lisa (last name not provided) told council the CIP was recast from a single, long spreadsheet into separate, easier-to-follow spreadsheets by program (transportation, sewer, parks) so council and the public can better track projects and funding sources. Staff and council discussed that several CIP line items currently show federal aid or grant funding as the anticipated source; staff said those projects are listed as contingent on obtaining grant dollars and will be pushed if grant funding is not secured.

A council member noted the city’s streetlight repairs follow vehicle impacts and high-speed incidents; staff said the prioritized six-light repair package addresses the most critical pedestrian crossings and that remaining damaged lights will be brought forward in a subsequent request.

Ending

Council meetings will continue with agenda items and an executive session scheduled at the end of the Sept. 23 agenda. Several of the approved items (the CIP and any impact-fee increases) will have follow-up steps: the CIP is effective upon adoption and impact-fee increases will be considered at a future public hearing once staff publishes notice.