Council approves consent agenda, rezones 155 Willard and awards Mountain View Cemetery tree‑pruning bids

The Pocatello City Council approved several routine and substantive items in a single evening, including a five‑item consent agenda, a rezone for a property at 155 Willard Avenue and the award of bids for tree pruning and removal at Mountain View Cemetery.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (items A–E): approved on a motion by Council member Cheatham, seconded by Council member Paulson; roll call recorded affirmative responses and the motion passed. - Zoning map amendment, 155 Willard Avenue (South parcel): the council voted to rezone the south half of the property from Commercial General (CG) to Residential Medium Density Single Family (RMS). Motion to approve by Council member Jeff Mansfield, second by Council member Aubriana Paulson; roll call vote recorded affirmative responses and the motion passed. - Mountain View Cemetery tree pruning and removal: council awarded contracts to Top Notch Trees ($124,400) and Intermountain Tree Service ($39,600). Motion by Council member Cheatham, second by Council member Mansfield; roll call vote recorded affirmative responses and the motion passed. Funding for the project was described as furnished through the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Grant.

Rezoning, 155 Willard: proceedings and rationale The rezoning request was filed by applicant Brandon DeFosse to allow construction of a single‑family home on a parcel that had been split‑zoned; staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Jim Anglesey, long‑range planner for the city, told the council the property currently consists of two parcels with the north half zoned RMS and the south half zoned CG and that staff finds the request consistent with the city's future land‑use map and with criteria in city code section 170217(e). Anglesey noted the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at a public hearing on Dec. 11, 2024. The public hearing before the council drew no public testimony, and the council voted to proceed with an ordinance to effect the rezone following the affirmative vote.

Mountain View Cemetery bid awards The council authorized the mayor to sign all pertinent documents, including change orders subject to legal review, for the cemetery pruning and removal contracts. The two contract amounts reported on the agenda were $124,400 for Top Notch Trees and $39,600 for Intermountain Tree Service. Council documents and staff stated the USFS Urban and Community Forestry Grant provided funding for the project.

Consent agenda details The items approved as part of the consent agenda included: (A) material claims for Dec. 16–31, 2024; (B) the treasurer's report for November 2024 showing cash and investments as of Nov. 30, 2024; (C) confirmation of Dakota Neifert to the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee for a term Jan. 3, 2025–Jan. 3, 2028; (D) confirmation of Amy Commendador to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to replace Catherine Hickok, term Jan. 3, 2025–Jan. 3, 2027; and (E) reappointments to the Pocatello Regional Airport Commission for Kristen Jensen (term Jan. 4, 2025–Jan. 4, 2027) and Molly Becerrais (term Jan. 18, 2025–Jan. 18, 2027).

Procedure and context The rezoning matter included the required public hearing before the council. Applicant Brandon DeFosse spoke during the hearing and said the current owner was unaware the parcel was zoned commercial and that he intended to put a single‑family home on the lot. Staff confirmed there was no written correspondence on file opposing the application. Council members asked whether the city could initiate broader rezoning in the area to avoid one‑by‑one rezones; staff confirmed the city may initiate rezoning actions.

What the council directed next Following each successful motion, the council instructed staff to prepare the ordinance or contract documents for formal adoption or signature, with legal review where noted. No amendments to the items were recorded in the meeting transcript.