[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6388320,"mediaKeyId","2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341","parentId",2114870,"title","City officials describe wildfire mitigation and contingency planning for foothill developments","audioSeconds",397,"startMs",5195000,"endMs",5592000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341&start=5195&end=5592","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341/thumbnail_5195000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6388320/Eagle/Ada-County/Idaho/City-officials-describe-wildfire-mitigation-and-contingency-planning-for-foothill-developments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388320-5c74cddf1f0958f070bc182128569903/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201299&Signature=AA5ueOpGeMbRasz0IuK5yMFzx1WHkYxFmUMOgj7TyA3r0MiVzlKwt6503fjI4qWAPiwba0YrYTgIOtMUXmry8gUfjHDz2VSghzXvdWJYdvLw9LRwymXFXZoPh66dH7jbXH~K8-AIml5qZb6eyLO-Si3w02kBZq7kTU8CLvNocboTVUrNXHSudvUDZbywtmph31m83lRIOnvgLEVcqXrtkpMGNkI8Be0sGrsDDzs6I~Pm2w2sCsUvIj6xjjHFq68BdBYM3h7y9BFQUj1YReJinR1~Euxt9kC7vDMwYDtwQ6JP1yGxgO~JcIV67-9y8zjrxN77D4aulQjpYTp5LZZ9yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eagle ID","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","Residents raised wildfire risk and vegetation management near new developments that back up to BLM lands at the Jan. 13 town hall. A resident said the community’s adjacency to unmanaged wildlands increases risk; the mayor and fire representatives described existing mitigation efforts and contingency planning.

The mayor and attendees identified ongoing work with the Eagle Fire Protection District and neighboring fire agencies including Boise and Star to plan mitigation, water access and contingency responses for wildland-urban interface areas. Officials said they are educating homeowners about defensible-space practices, working with the local water provider on emergency fire-water plans, and reviewing requirements for pump stations, generator backup and fuel logistics to maintain water for fire flows if power fails.

Officials emphasized that while mitigation and interagency planning reduce risk and improve response, large wind-driven conflagrations can produce conditions that quickly overwhelm local resources. The mayor said the city is working to expand equipment and response plans, add hydrants or tanked water access where needed, and coordinate cooperative response protocols with state and federal partners when fires threaten residential areas.

No new land-use rules or development moratoria were proposed during the town hall; officials said they will continue to review water and response capacity as new foothill development is proposed and to work with neighbors on mitigation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting January 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a Jan. 13 town hall, residents asked about wildfire risk adjacent to BLM land; officials and the mayor described contingency planning, coordination with neighboring fire agencies and water-supply planning but warned that large, wind-driven events remain difficult to fully control.","taxTitle","Eagle, Ada County, Idaho","taxId",52381,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6388325,"Residents report heavy truck traffic, Jake-brake noise on Beacon Light Road; city cites enforcement and staffing limits",82,1313000,1395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341&start=1313&end=1395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341/thumbnail_1313000.jpg","/articles/6388325/Eagle/Ada-County/Idaho/Residents-report-heavy-truck-traffic-Jake-brake-noise-on-Beacon-Light-Road-city-cites-enforcement-and-staffing-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388325-e57b036da43a2bf782fc8de26ec710af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201299&Signature=ItcsPPTliRMWZ8Za4tJXXp31COzD9nWpZZ8JSFMTO1gwA6gKKpUk8Z3yI2Grx0yytNI6ur50GyTVRtssh78cxoSrJg0KSY9~qXySrnYhFhnphg7S9~E09~mZumZjliwNSohwZjBxOnVIm-eNqk7eOnAFRggSY-ABepE3uO7rWDGzuPbrMIaYs5WheIP8AG1tH2asz5EcHjVjJJJH~~ACEgYjTLWxjQHUG3CDbsSsvaKNkSxQvx9MvxgVI-HQXT~INPhfIYA5CDr6QgDmucw9ORNhiwT1nsnjn3YxRjK96nOOnbO~hTvgVRCtQv5Xh0lWeHSAyfevTbl1VyyAPZ2F2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents raised noise, speed and truck-volume concerns about Beacon Light Road during the Jan. 13 town hall. Winslow Johnson, who lives “two houses away from Beacon Light,” said he recorded trucks and counted “57 trucks an hour” during peak summer periods and said “Jake brakes are being used without a load” close to residential areas, forcing him to work with noise-cancelling headphones at home.

Johnson said heavy traffic begins “at 3 o’clock in the morning” and runs through the evening during weekdays, and described videos of trucks failing to stop for stop signs and driving at speed through the corridor.

The mayor and Chief Ruby responded that Beacon Light is legally a minor arterial and therefore allowed for truck traffic. The mayor explained enforcement limits, saying the city does not have the staffing to continuously monitor one road 24/7 and that any mitigation measures would need a realistic enforcement plan. “If chief Ruby was able to have somebody dedicated 24/7 out to that road in monitoring people with Jake brakes and let me talk a little bit about Jake brakes...we don't have the staffing to protect you as a community and also have somebody monitoring one particular road,” the mayor said.

Officials said the corridor’s classification as a minor arterial makes it difficult to impose vehicle-type restrictions; at the same time, they said they have had numerous conversations over decades about options to reduce speed and noise and will work with neighbors and law enforcement to address immediate concerns where possible.

What residents asked for: cameras or noise monitoring, more consistent enforcement of stop signs, and restrictions or mitigation for heavy vehicles using the corridor. What officials said: the city is limited by statute and road classification, enforcement resources and the practicalities of continuous monitoring; staff will continue to meet with neighborhood representatives and explore options, but any change will require planning for enforcement and funding.

No ordinance or formal change to road classification was proposed at the town hall; this session served as a listening and information-sharing opportunity.","Residents said semis and construction trucks use Beacon Light Road at all hours, creating noise and safety concerns; the mayor and chief explained that as a minor arterial the road allows heavy vehicles and that the city lacks staffing to continuously enforce limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6388329,"City outlines Heritage Park renovation plan and council signals intent to return events downtown",604,417000,1021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341&start=417&end=1021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341/thumbnail_417000.jpg","/articles/6388329/Eagle/Ada-County/Idaho/City-outlines-Heritage-Park-renovation-plan-and-council-signals-intent-to-return-events-downtown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388329-1439f69ff0085a2d8268241258a4a582/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201300&Signature=LL0Is0UDGD5HqOtRwbz4xPOIsWWCgAfDHjOTEOjho8C58CEDud96Li9x9gpw~fo8r8wGda1X9CIHQNTI-zQUfjAZgJzLfnOPY6Tfs4JDWrxKGx0YXQcdinikdu2jJyJdfJkTrYq7~BAXG8rFztKTBHEke6e2~vMkzcF31oP6vxzdbIro1t5UtPAqLpZSnS-mGWFHBtsQNj2hwGa7wMius6nptF8~saaG5raYoKjT~yDWbBsh1kbjaCmcpWw3PtsES8K5-69fDiQ~-Q1R7A2n1h2Rhgq-IOpdb1TNj02x2SJWw8D8iTQM7zhxfRBlYmzJ9xJpKSgjU4O3bIFqQuWILg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nicole Baird Spencer, director of long range planning and projects for the city of Eagle, described the Heritage Park renovation and expansion plans during the Jan. 13 town hall and answered questions from downtown business owners worried about events, vendors and lost parking.

Spencer said the city owns three parcels that together total five acres at Heritage Park and that the current park configuration is too small for demand. She said the renovation will preserve the gazebo and the two large trees that flank it, and will reintroduce a larger, more flexible plaza in part of the area now used for parking. “We are increasing the usable area of the park, with a new plaza that will be taking over where the parking is in the park right now,” she said.

Planned park features Spencer described include a new splash pad with its mechanicals inside an expanded multipurpose building that will house restrooms, a concession stand and city fiber hookups; a new all-season shade structure (roughly 28 by 35 feet); seat walls and structured tree wells to support events and flexible programming; new paver sidewalks and street trees on Second Street; and preservation and reuse of donor heritage bricks in a “heritage plaza.” Spencer said design review recently gave a general approval, the city expects a 50% engineering set on Jan. 16, and staff hope to advertise the project for bid in early March with construction finishing in the fall and the city aiming to be out of the park by Nov. 1, 2025.

At the meeting Mayor and council members told business owners the council previously made a motion to return historical events to the downtown area when Heritage Park work allows. “The council did this last year when we approved the Heritage Park renovation that all historical events would return to the downtown area,” a council member said at the meeting. The mayor added that very large events (for example, those the council judges have more than 5,000 attendees) may require additional safety planning and could be evaluated separately.

Business owners at the town hall, including Amy Ritchie (Urban Casuals) and other downtown merchants, said losing markets and festivals has harmed downtown businesses and urged a firm commitment and communication from the city about when events will return. Amy Ritchie said sales figures fell for holiday events she used to rely on: “I did $29 this year” at one event and “country Christmas, I was down 62%,” she said, describing the financial impact on her shop.

City staff and council members acknowledged the financial strain on small businesses and said they will develop contingency plans. The mayor said staff have been directed to prepare parallel plans (plan A and plan B) in case construction timelines change, and noted the city will consider safety and logistics for large events.

Concerns expressed at the meeting included: loss of park parking during construction, the possibility that event vendor tents would block downtown storefronts (which led to complaints earlier in the project), and the impacts of phased construction on business access. Council members said they are tracking those issues and that a council liaison (Councilmember Gindelsberger) will attend construction updates.

No formal council vote on the Heritage Park construction or event locations occurred at the town hall; discussion focused on schedule, design elements and operational issues for businesses and events.","City staff described a planned renovation and expansion of Heritage Park, preservation of the gazebo and large trees, a new multipurpose building and splash pad, and council members said they intend to return most historic events to downtown once construction allows.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6388333,"ACHD-led Phase 2 of Downtown Eagle Mobility Project to Begin Jan. 27; State Street work targeted for early completion",255,207000,462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341&start=207&end=462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2114870-2406621c2f4a356fd14b8aca97f7d341/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6388333/Eagle/Ada-County/Idaho/ACHD-led-Phase-2-of-Downtown-Eagle-Mobility-Project-to-Begin-Jan-27-State-Street-work-targeted-for-early-completion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6388333-9dae51c43981adb3fab48eefb4eb665b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201300&Signature=WHr2eLlytBhLZQok6-iXXEpiS1znc5ng8KVkIlNCI5xVVk6TB4zSvg9ArJTPsDlXq-8oUJ1ml-8L2rJ~X0T0KO6mHZH66xURulmRlRj5HZ5ecpuLVGVw-2TALJpCKMprXpahoG21ZdlWKJ5oSAFeoV1JXPskyeVJf1bJ-85uz7-omKuZI8zNeAioHdL9GzZ4gzBUsQvtB8y9s8mJdUYeaPbXDszlXqY0WRCb1al12Bwq8HlE2QS9ylfg7Q-Fcw0G4bg0r5B7~9KvoPrPHLIUR3DPFndRpD-~Yw5iZcjtJoJ7j-hX690lNg~N0ksMBscxLEEdcurPWmELRBUKtfG6Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nicole Baird Spencer, director of long range planning and projects for the city of Eagle, said the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) is leading construction on Phase 2 of the downtown mobility improvements, with work scheduled Jan. 27–Oct. 24, 2025.

Spencer told the town hall that ACHD prioritized portions of State Street so some sections would be completed earlier. “The estimated completion date is June 13, 2025,” she said, referring to the prioritized State Street segments. She also said a public open house for downtown businesses is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 23 and a public open house for the general public is set for 4–7 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Residence Inn on South Palmetto Avenue.

Spencer described the current construction sequencing: work will move around downtown, beginning with Old Park Place and Akins on the west side of Eagle Road, then Akins east of Eagle Road, followed by State Street from Old Park Place to Eagle Road, then State Street from Smoky Mountain to Eagle Road, and finally the Eagle and State intersection. She said the contractor and ACHD “are going to move around the downtown” and that some phases may overlap.

As part of early work, Spencer said crews will grade and install a gravel parking lot at the southwest corner of Akins and Second Street; that lot will be paved later and will include public parking and spaces for nearby residents. When the project provides a bypass at Old Park/Akins and other connecting links, Spencer said the intersection of State and Eagle will be closed for final construction.

Spencer also reported that ACHD prioritized finishing improvements along State Street “as early as possible, in the spring,” so downtown businesses will have usable sidewalks and access for the summer patio season while other work continues.

Mayor and council members at the town hall said ACHD outreach staff are available for questions; Spencer identified ACHD community outreach staff as present and named an ACHD representative, Erin Johansen, who has been doing community outreach and pop-up events for answers and updates. The city also said the contractor Sunny Ridge attended the meeting.

What it means for residents: expect phased lane and sidewalk closures, shifting construction zones downtown, and intermittent intersection closures later in the schedule. Officials urged residents and business owners to attend the Jan. 23 open house to review phasing details and ask specific sequencing questions.

Votes or formal approvals: none were taken at the town hall on the mobility work. The project remains an ACHD-led construction program; city staff are coordinating scheduling and local impacts.

Questions raised at the meeting included concerns about construction communications, temporary asphalt repairs at paver intersections and how those fixes will be specified for long-term consistency across State Street intersections. Spencer said council will consider options at the next council meeting regarding the temporary asphalt and specification issues at paver intersections on Second and State.","The Ada County Highway District-led Phase 2 of downtown Eagle’s mobility project is scheduled to begin Jan. 27, 2025, with phased street and intersection work through October and a targeted early finish for portions of State Street in mid-June, officials said at a Jan. 13 town hall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City officials describe wildfire mitigation and contingency planning for foothill developments

Residents report heavy truck traffic, Jake-brake noise on Beacon Light Road; city cites enforcement and staffing limits

City outlines Heritage Park renovation plan and council signals intent to return events downtown

ACHD-led Phase 2 of Downtown Eagle Mobility Project to Begin Jan. 27; State Street work targeted for early completion