Rexburg council approves budget amendment, fee changes, grants and several project contracts

Rexburg City Council members approved a set of budget and fee changes and authorized a series of project contracts and grants during a regularly scheduled meeting. Councilors passed a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment on first reading, approved updates to city and joint county fees (including changes to golf-course and recreational rates), adopted a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant agreement for a river pathway and pedestrian bridge, and approved professional services and construction contracts for water-department design and airport pavement maintenance.

The council’s finance presenter said the total change in the FY2025 amendment is $2,138,700. The council opened a public hearing on the amendment and recorded no public testimony before moving the ordinance forward on first reading.

The council also held a joint public hearing on revised city fees that affect multiple departments (parks/recreation, police, public works) and certain county-shared services (the golf course and Rexburg Rapids). After discussion, the council approved the fee changes. During debate members focused on the golf-course rate structure, proof-of-residency methods for the newly offered Madison County discount, downtown resident parking permit increases, and police forensic and shooting-range user fees.

On capital and infrastructure items the council approved a TAP grant resolution to fund a river pathway and pedestrian bridge east of the Second East Bridge that will connect the north and south-side trails. The council also adopted a resolution to move forward with installation of a traffic signal at Seventh South and Center Street near the university athletic fields; the city’s estimated match for the signal was stated as roughly $88,000 while the grant portion was larger.

Contracts and procurement actions approved included: architectural and engineering services from Method Studios for a water-department building renovation ($95,250); a design/construction-management contract with Ardura for airport pavement maintenance ($141,439), noting the Federal Aviation Administration will cover most of the project cost; and award of the airport pavement-maintenance construction contract to Straight Stripe Painting for $288,055.

The council set a Sept. 3 public hearing for proposed FY2026 utility rates and completed second readings of two ordinances related to the FY2026 budget and a proposed bond election for a facility (the bond disclosure language was revised with bond counsel before publication). The consent calendar — minutes and city bills — was approved.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 13-35 (FY2025 budget amendment) — motion to consider first reading: APPROVED (first reading). Public hearing held; no public testimony recorded. Motion/second: mover not specified; second by Council member Johnson; recorded voice vote: "Aye." Outcome: approved for first reading.

- Resolution No. 2025-07 (city and county fee schedule, including golf fees and Rexburg Rapids discounts) — APPROVED. Mover: Council member Johnson; second: Council member Eric Erickson. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Resolution No. 2025-09 (Idaho Transportation Department TAP grant for river pathway/pedestrian bridge) — APPROVED. Mover: Council member Johnson; second: Colin Erickson. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Resolution No. 2025-10 (traffic signal at Seventh South & Center Street) — APPROVED. Mover: Council member Colin Erickson; second: Council member Chambers. Outcome: approved by voice vote. City estimated match (stated in meeting): about $88,000; remainder covered by grant funds.

- Contract — Method Studios, architectural/engineering services (water-department renovation), $95,250 — APPROVED. Mover: Council member Reeser; second: Council member Johnson.

- Contract — Ardura (design/CM for airport pavement maintenance), $141,439 — APPROVED. FAA to cover approximately 90% of the project costs. Mover: Eric Erickson; second: Colin Erickson.

- Construction award — Straight Stripe Painting (airport pavement maintenance), $288,055 — APPROVED. Mover: Eric Erickson; second: Council member Reeser.

- Motion to set public hearing on FY2026 utility rates for Sept. 3, 2025 — APPROVED. Mover: Council member Chambers; second: Council member Reeser.

- Ordinance No. 13-33 (FY2026 budget appropriation) — second reading held; motion carried on second reading. Mover: Council member Chambers; second: (recorded) second present; voice vote recorded as "Aye." (Councillors discussed a related festival/event budget line and whether external contributions alter the budget numbers; minutes show discussion and clarifying follow-up will occur.)

- Ordinance No. 13-34 (Rexburg Place facility bond election ordinance) — second reading held and carried; council indicated bond disclosure language had been revised with bond counsel prior to publication.

Discussion vs. formal decisions

Councilors frequently separated discussion from formal action. For example, extensive debate over the golf fees and private-cart trail fees led several members to recommend the golf board reexamine certain provisions, but the council ultimately adopted the fee schedule as presented. When a councilor asked to change parts of the fee schedule after the public hearing, staff and the city attorney noted that reopening or redoing the public hearing would be necessary if the change was substantial.

Implementation notes and dependencies

- The TAP grant and the Seventh South signal will proceed to bid; timelines depend on contractor availability and material lead times (signals often require long equipment lead times). The river-pathway work will need coordination with ITD and grant administration.

- The airport pavement project relies on FAA funding for the majority of its cost; city documents and contracts were approved to move design and construction forward.

- Fees that rely on county cooperation (the Madison County discount for Rexburg Rapids and some golf fees) depend on the county’s continued agreement to participate.

What this means for residents

Residents can expect modest fee changes on some services; the presenter said the 20% overall adjustments to certain green fees would be largely offset for Madison County residents by a 20% local discount. Downtown resident parking permits, some enforcement and tow-related fees, and several police-service fees (forensic phone downloads, shooting-range use) were increased to better recover actual costs, staff said. Staff also said they would publish details about proof-of-residency requirements for discounted rates.

Ending

Council staff said they would publish the revised fee schedule and additional explanatory materials on the city website; several members asked staff to return with clarifications if stakeholders request further changes, and staff warned that substantial post-hearing changes may require reopening the public hearing and republishing notice.