Twin Falls City Council Meeting – December 15, 2025

The Twin Falls City Council met on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. Mayor Ruth Pierce presided. Five members were present initially; Spencer Cutler arrived later, and Councilman Grayson Stone was excused. The meeting included police swearing-in and POST certification presentations, a solid waste contract negotiation decision, two ordinance adoptions, wastewater bond refunding authorization, and a fourth-quarter FY2024-2025 financial presentation. No members of the public provided General Public Input.

Consent Calendar

• Council considered approving the consent calendar, including the December 8, 2025 City Council minutes, accounts payable for December 4-10, 2025, December 10, 2025 travel requests, and a trust agreement for Western Horizon Subdivision placing all lots in trust.
• The Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation to accept a tree donation from the Twin Falls Parks and Recreation Department for planting at Thomsen Park in memory of Jacob Thompsen was added to the consent calendar (transcript refers to Thompson Park and Jacob Thompson). The transcript does not show a separate roll-call vote on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided input during General Public Input.

Presentations & Recognitions

• Police Chief Matthew Hicks swore in six newest Twin Falls Police Department officers: Malakai Brune, Joshua Gonzalez, Luke Heninger, Colton Michilizzi, Eric Ryan, and Owen Shields. The chief described hires and academy graduation dates; officers signed oaths, with signed oaths to be framed after one year.
• Lieutenant Steve Gasper and Emergency Communications Manager Deanne Taylor presented POST certifications: Basic Communications Certification to Jessica Burgess, Hannah Smith, and Logan Wilcox; Intermediate Communications Certification to Jamie Thomas (Quesnell); and Basic Peace Officer Certification to Cesar Cervantes Jr.

Discussion Items

• Solid Waste Contract: Utility Billing Manager Chelsea Ross requested authorization to enter contract negotiations with PSI Environmental Systems for solid waste hauling and recycling beginning January 1, 2027, for a 10-year term. The current contract expires December 31, 2026. An RFP issued October 23, 2025 and closed November 20, 2025; three vendors submitted bids: Elevate Recycling Disposal (non-responsive), Republic Services, and PSI. PSI was the lowest bidder across all alternatives. Alternatives included unlimited vs. limited solid waste and with or without biweekly recycling; the cost difference between unlimited and limited was 24 cents per month. Staff cited average solid waste cost of 5,646 and average recycling cost per ton of 11,758 based on 16,747 units, and said staff did not believe recycling was economically viable. City staff also cited 23,234 tons of garbage compared with roughly 92 to 99 tons of recycling material. PSI estimated optional subscription recycling at 30 to 35 dollars per month and said cardboard drop-off is currently available. Council Members Chris Reed and Jason Brown supported the base bid: unlimited solid waste without biweekly recycling, allowing residents to pursue subscription recycling separately. Motion by Chris Reed, second by Jason Brown, to enter negotiations with PSI using the base bid; passed 6-0. City staff noted negotiations are not final approval and recycling continues through 2026.
• Ordinance O-2025-028: Police Captain Brent Wright presented amendments to city code related to appeals of staff decisions. The change identified 22 code sections and aligns with the city manager form of government; commission and committee decisions and alcohol, beer, and wine decisions would remain with Council. Council voted 6-0 to dispense with reading rules and place the ordinance on third and final reading by title only, then voted 6-0 to adopt O-2025-028.
• Ordinance O-2025-030: Council considered vacation of a portion of a waterline easement on property in a portion of Lots 9, 10, and 11 of Block 2 of Sun West Subdivision #2 (PZ25-0110). The item had been continued from the prior week due to lack of five council members. It relates to the Tractor Supply building. Council voted 6-0 to dispense with reading rules and place the ordinance on third and final reading by title only, then voted 6-0 to adopt O-2025-030.
• Wastewater Revenue Bond Refunding: CFO Breanna Howard requested authorization to proceed with refunding or refinancing the City's 2014A Wastewater Revenue Bond through the Idaho Bond Bank Authority. Approximately 22.33 million dollars remains, and the bond has been callable since March 15, 2024. Staff proposed a 2,500 dollar bond bank application fee and estimated about 1.045 million dollars in potential savings; no documents would be signed until savings are certain. Motion by Spencer Cutler, second by Chris Reed; passed 6-0.
• Fourth-Quarter FY2024-2025 Financial Presentation: CFO Breanna Howard presented national economic context and City finances. The adopted budget was 109 million dollars; amended budget was 132 million dollars (62% tax-supported after amendment). Tax-supported revenues included property taxes of 31 million dollars (43% of tax-supported revenue), grants of 10.3 million dollars, state revenue sharing of 6.8 million dollars, highway revenue of 6.1 million dollars at 137% of budget, and franchise fees of 2.5 million dollars. Property tax revenue grew from 25 million dollars to 31 million dollars over four years. Building permits showed single-family permits down 11% but home values up 15%; commercial permits up 112% and value up 92%, with 2.23 million dollars received against a 1.24 million dollar budget due largely to the Chobani expansion. Personnel spending was 96.9% with 17 open positions and a 4.8% vacancy rate. Capital improvements budgeted 27 million dollars and spent 19 million dollars. Enterprise funds: water and wastewater user fees were about 10 to 11 million dollars each and exceeded budget; water personnel was 97.7% and M and O 98%; major water capital projects included Hankins Pump Station, Eastland, and Kimberly Road water line. Wastewater capital projects included mainline replacement, odor project, Canyon Rim drop line, and heat exchangers, digesters, and boiler. Sanitation remains consistent and contracted with PSI. National indicators noted CPI at 3% year-over-year, core PCE at 2.9%, retail sales up 5%, savings rate down 4.6%, housing starts lowest since 2020, Idaho rent burden over 50% of income at 21.8%, and expected health benefit cost increases of 6.7%. Staff identified risks including inflation, tariffs, health care rule changes, housing affordability, and labor cooling, but noted strong reserves, low turnover, and stable revenue performance.

Advisory Board Reports & Announcements

• Council Member Craig Hawkins announced one open position on the Arts Commission and encouraged applications.
• Announcement of an MPO transportation meeting on Thursday and a ribbon-cutting and tours at the new county courthouse on Wednesday at 8:00 AM.
• City Manager's office noted there will be no meeting on December 29; the Council would meet the following week and then next on January 5.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the purchase of a new 420 CAT backhoe/loader for the Water Department, budgeted in the FY2026 CIP Water Fund, for under the 176,000 dollar budget by about 5,000 dollars, with a five-year/1,500-hour warranty and rock breaker hammer; motion by Jason Brown, second by Cherie Vollmer; passed 6-0.
• Authorized contract negotiations with PSI Environmental Systems for solid waste beginning January 1, 2027, using the base bid of unlimited solid waste without biweekly recycling; motion by Chris Reed, second by Jason Brown; passed 6-0.
• Adopted Ordinance O-2025-028 amending city code related to appeals of staff decisions; passed 6-0.
• Adopted Ordinance O-2025-030 vacating a portion of a waterline easement in Sun West Subdivision #2; passed 6-0.
• Authorized proceeding with refunding or refinancing the 2014A Wastewater Revenue Bond through the Idaho Bond Bank Authority; motion by Spencer Cutler, second by Chris Reed; passed 6-0.
• Received the fourth-quarter FY2024-2025 financial presentation; no action taken.