Twin Falls City Council Meeting - October 19, 2026

The Twin Falls City Council met on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM at 203 Main Ave E, Twin Falls, ID. All six council members were present: Mayor Jason Brown, Vice Mayor Craig Hawkins, and Councilmembers Christopher Reid, Cherie Vollmer, Ruth Pierce, and Nathan Murray. Pastor Paul Thompson gave the invocation. The council approved the consent calendar and four action items by unanimous 6-0 roll call votes, received a presentation on a residential recycling citizen survey, and heard public comment.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the October 5, 2026 City Council minutes.
• Approved Accounts Payable for October 1-14, 2026.
• Approved the September 2026 Wells Fargo credit card summary.
• Approved the Special Event Permit for Read & Treat 2026.
• Approved Summit Restoration Construction's request to terminate an unused sewer easement at 190 Blue Lakes Blvd. N.
• Authorized the mayor to sign an agreement to deed right-of-way prior to Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of Completion for 2025 Highland Ave E.
• The consent calendar was approved 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mayor Jason Brown read a statement on public comment procedures: the council strongly supports First Amendment rights and voluntarily allows public comment at regular meetings, though not legally required; comments occur in a limited public forum; speakers must provide their legal name and city of residency and are allowed two minutes; those who decline to give their legal name will not be permitted to comment.
• Maria Hernandez, a lifelong Twin Falls resident, commended Mayor Brown for supporting a memorial for those lost on August 1st and expressed support for building that memorial.
• Celestine Martinson, a Congolese refugee, said recent Congolese refugees came legally with their paperwork, but some without green cards are being denied Medicaid and food stamps because immigration processing has been delayed; she asked whether the city could help. Councilmember Ruth Pierce suggested contacting federal representatives Mike Crapo, Mike Simpson, or Jim Risch and offered to provide contacts after the meeting.
• Samuel Zapalaha, pastor of a Swahili ministry at Church of the Nazarene and a resident for 11 years, spoke as a leader of the Swahili community, expressed appreciation to the city, and said the community is open and willing to be involved and contribute to the city.

Discussion Items

• Pheasant Pressure Reduction Valve change order: John Keifer, Staff Engineer, requested reauthorization to use $900,000 from water reserves for a change order with Suburban Construction. The request was previously made in late August, but the change order was not completed before the end of the fiscal year, so staff needed renewed authorization. The council approved the request 6-0.
• Pole Line Road East Sewer Project right-of-way: AC Palmer, Staff Engineer, requested acceptance of public right-of-way from FJZ, LLC and the Jae Foundation for the Pole Line Road East sewer and road widening project, along with authorization for the City Engineer to sign the agreements. Palmer said the city needs the property to build planned improvements and has been working with two property owners. The mayor commented that this is a busy section of road and welcomed the progress. The request was approved 6-0.
• Airport well water quality improvements: Lee Glaesemann, Assistant City Engineer, requested authorization to spend $4,862,000 from the city's Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Drinking Water Emerging Contaminants grant funds for water quality improvements at the airport well and related PFAS work. The city received the grant to address PFAS contaminants found in the airport well. The grant funds were not included in the fiscal 27 budget; invoices will be paid from wastewater reserves and reimbursed by DEQ. Glaesemann explained that EPA set federal drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals including PFOA and PFOS in June 2024 at four parts per trillion, and that recent measurements for PFOA and PFOS were 9.83 and 5.35 milligrams per liter, as stated. He described these as very small concentrations not necessarily an immediate health threat, but a long-term exposure concern. A well driller is already at the airport preparing to drill a first well; depending on water quality, the city may drill a second well or move to filtration. The council approved the spending 6-0. The mayor and council also recognized Glaesemann's 24 and a half years of city service and noted this was likely his last request at the dais.
• Public works vehicle purchases: Mark Thomson, Street Department Superintendent, requested approval to purchase a 2026 Mack dump truck, a 2028 Freightliner heated asphalt truck, and a 2028 International snowplow truck through Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agreements at a combined cost not to exceed $730,000, and authorization for the Public Works Director to execute contracts after legal review and approval. Thomson said the fiscal year 26-27 budget included $780,000 for these replacements; prices increased on two trucks but savings on the dump truck offset the increases. The dump truck will be traded in, while the hot asphalt and snowplow trucks will be sold at auction this spring with proceeds returning to reserves. Delivery is expected in six to eight months, with 2028 model-year trucks received in mid-2027. Purchases are authorized under Idaho Code 67-2807 and City Resolution 2019-014, and City Attorney Bruce Castleton approved the contracts. The purchase was approved 6-0.
• Residential curbside recycling survey: Chelsea Ross, Utility Services Supervisor, presented results from a citizen survey on expanding recycling. Out of 1,221 responses, 85% said yes and 15% said no to being more inclined to support recycling if plastics No. 1 and No. 2 are added. Out of 1,180 responses, 88% said yes and 12% said no to being more inclined to use recycling with plastics and the lower price described. Out of 1,198 responses, 69% said no to removing recycling for a projected $5.79 monthly savings, while 31% said yes. The leading concern for not wanting to keep recycling was too few accepted materials; 26% said they were satisfied with the program and price, 7% said it was too expensive, and 6% said they do not use and will not use the service. Respondents said they value curbside collection, room in the trash bin, protecting the environment, accepting more materials, showing where recycling goes, cardboard, and convenience; some find taking recycling elsewhere difficult and requested clearer instructions, practical costs, and access. Ross reported that if plastics No. 1 and No. 2 were accepted and the price was cut, about 85% of respondents would want to join the program. Councilmembers said they were pleased and somewhat surprised by the strong response, thanked Josh Palmer for leading the survey, and noted the data would help them make a decision.

Advisory Board Reports & Announcements

• Councilmember Chris Reed announced that NOVA, the National Organization for Victim Advocates, will hold community conversation sessions on October 28 and 29 with morning sessions at 11:00 and evening sessions at 6:00, plus morning sessions on October 30 and November 7; locations and times are available on the city website at tfid.org. The City Manager explained that NOVA is a nonprofit bringing crisis teams to facilitate community conversations, not counseling, and that the sessions are free with a partner covering costs.
• Councilmember Craig Hawkins announced a ribbon cutting for the Shawani Wellness Park at Canyon Trail Junction on October 28 at 3:00 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar passed 6-0.
• The $900,000 Pheasant Pressure Reduction Valve change order was approved 6-0.
• The right-of-way acceptance for the Pole Line Road East Sewer Project was approved 6-0.
• The $4,862,000 DEQ grant spending for airport well water quality improvements was approved 6-0.
• The Sourcewell vehicle purchases totaling not more than $730,000 were approved 6-0.
• No formal decision was made on the recycling survey; staff expect to return at the next city council meeting for a decision on how to proceed.