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Pocatello council approves consent items, firearms trade/purchase, South Fifth URA study, airport power work and speed‑limit ordinance
Summary
The Pocatello City Council approved a slate of consent and staff-requested items, including plats and appointments, a police equipment trade and purchase, acceptance of a South Fifth URA eligibility study, an Idaho Power quote for airport taxi-lane power work, and an ordinance updating school-zone speed rules near Washington Elementary.
The Pocatello City Council voted on multiple routine and administrative items, approving the consent agenda and several staff recommendations in a single meeting.
Consent agenda: On a motion by Council Member Cheatham, seconded by Council Member Paulson, the council approved the consent agenda items A–I. Approved items included minutes (work session 06/12/2025 and clarification/regular meeting 05/15/2025), the treasurer's report for May 2025, confirmation of mayoral appointments (Benjamin Gomez to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Lazarus Clark to the Pocatello Arts Council with specified term dates), and short/final plat approvals for Juniper Heights, Frederigo Village, Alameda Commercial, and Stratton Estate Subdivision 4. The motion passed by roll call.
Police equipment trade and purchase (agenda item 7): Council approved staff’s recommendation to trade in older department weapons and equipment and accept a quote from Javelin Arms to purchase new patrol rifles, suppressors and optics. The agenda description lists the trade-in of several patrol rifles and accessories and purchase of Springfield Saint Victor SBRs, SilencerCo suppressors, and Aimpoint Pro optics. Officer Bill Collins answered a council question clarifying that the traded patrol rifles and purchased rifles are 5.56/.223 caliber while the Remington bolt-action rifles being traded are .308 caliber. Council approved the purchase; roll call recorded the members present voting yes.
South Fifth Urban Renewal Area eligibility study (agenda item 8): The council accepted the Pocatello Development Authority South Fifth Urban Renewal Area eligibility study and authorized the mayor to sign related documents subject to legal review. Planning staff answered council questions about the study area, area of impact, and whether adjacent conserved lands (Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust/Century Heights) were included; staff said those parcels were not in the proposed URA and that they would follow up with acreage breakdowns for county vs. city parcels. The motion to accept the study passed on roll call.
Airport power service request (agenda item 10): Council approved an Idaho Power quote in the amount of $70,988 to remove and install power lines necessary for a new taxi lane at the airport. Staff said the project will be funded by federal and state grants and airport passenger facility charge (PFC) funds. Council authorized the mayor to sign documents subject to legal review; the motion passed by roll call.
Ordinance amending speed regulations (agenda item 11): Council approved reading the speed-regulation ordinance by title only and placed it on final passage for publication; the ordinance amends municipal code chapter 10.16 to update school-zone speed regulations around the former Washington Elementary School following the school district’s closure. Public services Director Tom Kirkman explained the change would remove the school-zone designation around Washington Elementary and return those streets to their standard posted limits (maintaining 25 mph where appropriate). The council then performed the ordinance reading and voted in favor of final passage.
Votes at a glance (summary of actions): - Consent agenda (items A–I): Approved (motion: Cheatham; second: Paulson). - Police trade/purchase (agenda item 7): Approved; equipment trade-in and purchase authorized; staff answered caliber/specification question (Officer Bill Collins). - South Fifth URA eligibility study (agenda item 8): Accepted; authorized mayor signature subject to legal review (motion: Nichols; second: Paulson). - Airport Idaho Power quote (agenda item 10): Approved $70,988; funded by federal/state grants and PFC funds (motion: Cheatham; second: Paulson). - Ordinance amending speed regulations (agenda item 11): Approved reading by title and placed on final passage; ordinance adopted to remove school zones tied to Washington Elementary closure (motion: Bates; second: Paulson).
These items were approved by roll call votes during the meeting; staff noted follow-up tasks (e.g., acreage breakdowns for the URA study, contract execution subject to legal review, and typical permitting/review for plats).
