Pocatello council adopts historic preservation plan, approves grants, leases and equipment exchange

The Pocatello City Council on May 20 approved a package of planning documents, grants, contracts and property arrangements, including adoption of an updated Pocatello Historic Preservation Plan and authorization to submit a FY2024 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant application to fund two license-plate readers.

The council adopted the updated Historic Preservation Plan after a public hearing with no public testimony. Jim Anglesey, the city’s long-range planner, told councilors the proposed update refines objectives and implementation steps and was developed from an April–July community survey, public meetings and Historic Preservation Commission input. Anglesey said the plan supports the city’s comprehensive plan goal to preserve Pocatello’s neighborhoods and will guide preservation priorities for the next 10 years.

Councilors authorized submission of an $11,500 PSN grant application from the Pocatello Police Department to lease two license-plate readers (LPRs) from Flock Safety for use in Bannock and Power counties to assist in identifying and tracking vehicles involved in criminal activity. Staff said there is no local match required. The motion to apply and, if awarded, accept the grant and authorize the mayor’s signature passed on roll call.

The council approved a professional services agreement with The Land Group for $106,775 to develop designs for firewise and waterwise landscaping at several interstate interchanges, along South Fifth Avenue and other right-of-way areas. Hannah Sanger, science and environment division manager, said the work will cover the Pocatello Creek interchange, the west side of the Center Street interchange, right-of-way from Northgate Roundabout to the interstate, Fourth and Fifth avenues from Oak to Center, and the area near the Pocatello sign on South Fifth. Sanger said the project is funded by a U.S. Forest Service grant administered via a memorandum of understanding with the Idaho Department of Lands. She described the work as a demonstration of “what you can do” at interchanges, advising that “junipers are not very firewise” and tall grasses are also poor choices for firewise plantings.

At the airport, the council approved termination of a lease with Stacy Meyer and adopted a new lease with JRM Flyers Club LLC for 5,600 square feet where the company purchased an aircraft hangar. The approved lease term is 40 years at an initial rental rate of $1,288 per month, with annual CPI increases and a full rate review in 2026 and every five years thereafter. Airport manager Allen Evans said the FAA prefers that airport leases not extend too far into the future, but the term fits FAA requirements.

The council also approved a three-year easement lease with Riverbend Communications LLC for a broadcasting booster antenna at $260 per month.

Public services staff presented and council approved declaring two sanitation department vehicles as surplus and an equipment-exchange agreement with Future Enterprises Incorporated (Western Recycling). Tom Kirkman, director of public services, said the exchange will bring approximately 59 to 60 cardboard recycling containers and associated commercial routes into the city’s operation; council members discussed limits on noncompete agreements and staff said an exclusive noncompete was not pursued for legal reasons.

The council approved a consent agenda that included material claims for April 2025, the treasurer’s report for March 2025, and a city council decision to annex approximately 77.95 acres north of East Center Street and southeast of Vista Drive to be zoned residential low density (RL). The consent agenda passed on a single roll call vote.

Why this matters: The preservation plan sets a 10-year agenda for identifying and protecting historic resources; the landscaping contract and PSN grant aim to reduce fire risk and assist law enforcement; the airport and communications leases and the recycling equipment exchange affect local infrastructure and service operations.

What’s next: Grant awards, contract implementation, lease document execution and asset transfers will proceed subject to legal review and standard administrative steps.