McCall staff recommends data‑driven area‑of‑impact map; council leans to broader option

McCall Mayor Robert “Bob” [last name not specified] and the City Council spent a work session reviewing two draft boundaries for the city’s McCall area of impact after staff and outside consultants ran a 24‑factor GIS suitability model tied to the state statute adopted in 2024.

Michelle Grunewell, the city’s community and economic development director, opened the presentation and said, “the goal of this evening is really to prepare, for the May 5 meeting, which is a joint meeting between Valley County Board of Commissioners and the city council.” She told council members the team aimed to present a defensible proposal the city could take to the county.

The council heard from Logan Simpson consultants Megan Moore, senior planner, and Ben Ochsling, GIS analyst, and from Cushlin & Associates consultant Diane (last name not provided). Moore described the consultant team’s background and past McCall work; Ochsling explained the technical modeling. Moore said the analysis used existing plans, service boundaries and growth projections and that the model combined five statute categories — water and sewer, transportation, public…