Twin Falls City Council Meeting Summary – May 11, 2026

The Twin Falls City Council met on May 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM. All seven council members (Mayor Jason Brown, Vice Mayor Craig Hawkins, Council Members Christopher Reid, Grayson Stone, Cherie Vollmer, Ruth Pierce, and Nathan Murray) were present. The meeting covered consent calendar approvals, appointments, property resolutions, budget reallocations, a major playground project, and public input. The meeting adjourned at 5:44 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 7-0 (Motion by Council Member Reid, seconded by Council Member Pierce).
• May 4, 2026, City Council minutes.
• May 6, 2026, Travel Requests.
• Accounts Payable for April 30 to May 6, 2026.
• Final Plat for Willow May Subdivision (two lots on 0.8+/- acres, PZ26-0054).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Maria Hernandez: Honored her uncle, retired Chief of Police Robert Bob Vasquez, in recognition of National Police Week (May 10-16). She detailed his career and expressed pride in his service.
• Francis Florence: Expressed general support for the City Park project but raised significant concerns about the park's archaic irrigation system, which he stated has not worked properly for a year, resulting in dead grass and weeds. He noted constraints in budget, manpower, and engineering capacity to address the repairs.
• Ron Yates: Attempted to speak against the Park Plaza. Mayor Brown ruled him out of order, as discussion of the plaza was not permitted during this public input period. Yates expressed frustration over a lack of response to his letters and opposition to the permanent street closure for the plaza.

Discussion Items

• Appointment to Historic Preservation Commission (Item 4a): City Planner Lisa Strickland requested the appointment of Phillip Hobbs. Strickland noted Hobbs' thesis on agricultural history and his interest in military history and urban planning as good fits for the commission. The appointment was approved 7-0.
• Resolution for Property Disposal (Item 4b): URA Executive Director Shawn Barigar requested the adoption of Resolution 2026-002 declaring the city's intent to convey several parking lots and the Globe Seed and Feed properties to the Urban Renewal Agency. The agency plans to include the parcels in a formal Request for Proposals for redevelopment. A public hearing was set for June 1, 2026. The resolution was adopted 7-0.
• Senior Center Fund Reallocation (Item 4c): Deputy City Manager Gretchen Scott requested reallocation of $9,876.76 from the Senior Center siding project. Council Member Murray noted a discrepancy between this amount and the $5,750 listed on the agenda cover; the correct staff request and approved amount was $9,876.76. The funds will replace the building sign (which crumbled upon removal), repair gutters and downspouts, and fix flooring damaged during door replacement. The motion to approve the reallocation passed 7-0.
• CDBG Budget Amendment and Playground Equipment (Item 4d): Senior Planner Will Klaver presented a dual request. First, an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program budget from $400,000 to $900,000 to correct an error in encumbering unused federal funds. Second, approval for the purchase and installation of replacement playground equipment for City Park for $249,594 from Big T Recreation using a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agreement. Klaver detailed plans for new playgrounds with historical elements (a safe merry-go-round, two fully ADA-accessible swings, a train-themed structure for young children), the permanent closure of Hanson Street to create a pedestrian plaza (resulting in a net increase of two parking stalls), and an outdoor learning space for the library. Council Members discussed emergency vehicle access and ADA compliance. The motion passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments: Phillip Hobbs appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission (7-0).
• Property: Resolution 2026-002 adopted to convey City properties to the URA; public hearing scheduled for June 1, 2026 (7-0).
• Budget/Finance: $9,876.76 reallocated from the Senior Center siding project to building repairs (7-0). CDBG budget amended from $400,000 to $900,000 (7-0).
• Contracts: Purchase of playground equipment ($249,594) from Big T Recreation approved; staff authorized to sign the contract (7-0).