Controversy erupted after conservative groups, the Republican Party, and others complained about “the sexualization of children” in the planned kiddie drag show.

“While the vast majority of our sponsors and supporters have voiced their support for the Boise Pride Festival and the Drag Kids program, we have made the very difficult decision to postpone this performance due to increased safety concerns. The health and well-being of the kids, their parents, and the attendees of the Festival are our priority,” a Pride news release said in part.

Several Boise Councilors have had informal meets with Ada Commishes and County Park board members regarding the plug being pulled on free compressors three years ago at Barber Park.

Boise contends tubers and rafters unwilling to use “arm strong” hand pumps to inflate their water craft are trespassing in nearby Harris Ranch subdivision and poaching power from unsuspecting resident’s electrical outlets.

Ada justified cutting the air flow as a COVID-19 precaution, citing crowding at the “pressure point.”

HISTORY
Back when there were gas stations selling tires, folks would pay $1 or two and get an old inner tube to float the river. At least one tube was often reserved for beer and sodas. Parking was free in the grass and brush under the cottonwood trees and folks helped each other navigate the float to Ann Morrison Park. There was no Barber Park in those days.

Then along came well-intended Ada Commishes. They developed the park and not missing the chance to expand THEIR reach, Boise Councilors annexed all around the County Park, encouraging development and increased population.

Boise coppers lobbied the legislature to obtain jurisdiction over the beer and river. Prior to the adoption of city jurisdiction, waterways–even within a city–were governed by the local county sheriff and the state.

The county has joined the cash flow created by the river current, licensing vendors for rafts, tubes, buses, and snacks, BUT no air.

TODAY

Boise coppers are faced with citizen complaints of power poachers, illegal parking, and other annoyances. The Boise Fire Department saves lives almost daily using expensive jet boats and water skis.

The GUARDIAN has talked with officials of both the city and the county. The county says they have no plans to pressurize the air compressors. They say the park use is enhanced without the pressure of air. The city says free air would eliminate the parking and residential trespassing, even encourage safer water craft instead of flimsy plastic inflatables. Plenty of hot air!

Common sense prompted the GUARDIAN to question the wisdom of floating the river if it results in such a demand on Boise Fire rescue services. The Ada County commishes had already asked the question of Koberg, prompting the memo he sent them. Koberg noted the Monday opener of the float season was the busiest ever. He also said the opening was conducted after the Boise FD had cleared obstructions and the flow of 1,300 – 1,500 cfs is within the historically appropriate range for floater recreation.

The news from BFD along with Koberg’s comments beg a few questions:
–Should Boise and Ada Parks provide lifeguards like they do at pools?
–Is the BFD claim of 4 life saving events in 5 hours accurate?
–Will the BFD have a crew on the river every day? Is it necessary?
–How much are specialty skill firefighters paid hourly?
–With so many rescues in such a short period should the float be banned?

RESPONSE FROM BOISE FIRE OFFERS MORE DETAILS.
Here is the Boise Fire Department’s statement to your questions:

The beautiful Boise River bifurcating our city is the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Water Resources and therefore the City of Boise does not have any legal authority to regulate float traffic on the river. The Boise Fire Department (BFD) and Boise Parks and Recreation assist with mitigating hazards created by the ever-changing landscape along the river. While the river looks calm and serene, one of the things that makes the river so dangerous is the vegetation density that can entangle rafts and floaters. The Boise Fire Department makes every effort to mitigate these evolving hazards to make it as safe as possible for people to recreate. However, it should be noted that it is never completely safe when floating a wild river. This is why we try to encourage floaters to all wear well-fitting and United States Coast Guard approved life jackets for all floaters, regardless of age.

There can be any number or reasons leading to someone needing rescue. Historically, we have seen a lack of skill, equipment, weather and intoxication all leading to river rescues. During high usage times, like opening day, the Boise Fire Dive Team attempts to have crews on the river. However, this is not something we have the resources to provide daily. The Boise Fire Department Dive Rescue team was organized in 1974 due to the prevalence of water rescues in area canals, ponds, and the Boise River.

Details surrounding the four recent life-threatening/life-saving rescues:

-A raft that had flipped upside down with two kids in it. The young girl was not wearing a life jacket and the young boy was wearing a life jacket that was too big. The dive team pulled the two kids from the water before they went under.
Reminder: kids under 14 are required to wear a life jacket and it’s important they fit properly

-A female floated into low-hanging trees, got trapped, and was clinging to a tree. Bystanders were trying to help but couldn’t get to her. Boise Fire was able to access and rescue her. Reminder: Floaters should pay attention where the current is taking them and paddle to avoid low-hanging tree branches and vegetation.

-Female who was trapped and panicking. She was not able to get to shore. A friend flagged down members from the Boise Fire Dive Team and they were able to rescue her.
Reminder: Boise Fire recommends floaters a life jacket and well-fitting water shoes due to the rocky bottom.

We took our annual drive Saturday to the “EAGLE TREE,” 120 miles east of Boise at WENDELL. The magnificent birds come every Christmas for about 40 days and roost in a couple of cottonwood trees. We counted 30 on January 8. They leave at dawn to fish in the Snake River and return at sunset each day.

Ask locally for WEST POINT or the eagle tree after you exit I-84 at Wendell.

Bring along a pair of binoculars and a telephoto lens if you want photos.

A whopping 84% wanted to leave the venue in its current location at Chinden and Glenwood. The survey offered three choices of suggested use of the 247 acres of public land.

Horse and buggy rides like this at Greenfield Village near Detroit would be a novelty at the Ag Park.

The GUARDIAN has been in favor of an Agricultural Heritage Park to demonstrate and honor our state’s past and current contribution to the farm life.

Margaret Carmel at BOISEDEV has a detailed account.

Under former Commish Dianna Lachiondo, a plan was hatched to create a financial product called “certificates of participation” to finance jail construction. The newly elected commishes will either save up some cash or go to the voters–as the Idaho Constitution requires for permission to go into debt.

Lawyers claim the Idaho Supreme Court “blessed” the so-called certificate scheme in a ruling against Guardian editor David R. Frazier in favor of the Greater Boise Auditorium District.

The GBAD and jail issues are not at all similar. The auditorium expansion is owned by the CCDC urban redevelopment agency and leased back to the GBAD. CCDC is authorized to sell bonds without voter approval.

Under the plan nixed by the new commishes, the jail would have been a debt secured by taxpayer assets with no citizen approval.

Ironically, local governments keep approving new construction and attracting more businesses and population all the while complaining about overcrowding at the county jail, schools, and highways.

Introduced by Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger and Sen. Regina Bayer, HB 311 would require public art costing $25,000 or less be approved by a simple two-thirds majority vote from City Council, but projects of $25,000 or more would require approval of a sixty percent majority public vote.

Ironically, this bill comes from a legislature that is hell-bent on denying a public voice in matters of state wide citizen initiatives, but giving us a voice in public art projects in excess of $25,000.

The legislature has also sought to limit the authority of the governor and the attorney general.

If the city rationale to kill the legislation is any indicator, perhaps the folks at the capitol have a point.

Rusty iron “cottonwoods” on city hall plaza.

Which means that Boise City isn’t thrilled to submit art expenditures to public approval.

“Crack in the wall” was inspired by Boise river drainage.

We can hear it now as folks in New York, Atlanta, or Austin plan their summer vacations saying, “We need to visit Boise and see that rusty iron at city hall and the crack in the wall on the big hotel.”

Boise lobbying effort letter.

THE CITY ARTS LETTER FOLLOWS

City of Boise Opposes House Bill 311 Relating to Funding of Public Art
The City of Boise and its department of Arts & History would like to bring a proposed bill, House Bill 311: Restrictions on Public Art Expenditures, to your attention. Introduced by Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger and Sen. Regina Bayer, HB 311 would require that public art costing $25,000 or less be approved by two-thirds majority vote from City Council, and projects of $25,000 or more be approved by sixty percent majority public vote.

We write to you today to express our opposition to HB 311. Municipal public art programs already involve significant public engagement and financial oversight. As drafted, the bill would add unnecessary costs to the City’s ability to adequately resource and manage public art. Public art is one of the many attributes of the City of Boise that contributes to the city’s perennial listing as one of the top communities to live, and supports a diverse local economy of professional artists and their interconnected support networks and trades.

While the proposed bill has not yet been voted on by the full House, the course of action you may choose to take is to contact members of the House of Representatives and your respective legislators expressing your opposition to HB 311.

Useful Links
Talking Points
Testimony of Kathy Griesmyer, Government Affairs Director
Members of the House of Representatives
Public art throughout the city is what makes Boise unique, and draws tourists from around the country who in turn support our local tourism industry and hospitality workers, restaurants and small businesses. Our community members recognize the value of investing in art and the artistic community in an effort to increase vibrancy in our urban environment.

If you have any questions about our position on this bill, please contact Kathy Griesmyer at kgriesmyer@cityofboise.org or at 208-890-3800, or Karl LeClair, Public Art Program Manager, at kleclair@cityofboise.org or 208-608-7044.

Thank you!
Your Boise Arts & History Team

This came in the wake of an attempt by Tommy Ahlquist and his Ball Ventures Ahlquist development firm to recruit GBAD to join in a move to develop the county-owned fairgrounds into a commercial and residential project along with a ballpark.

Executive Director Pat Rice told the GUARDIAN, “The merits of the Stadium Project, or ANY project, is not the consideration but frankly the financial position of the District and conditions within the Hospitality Industry are. We can’t sacrifice the level of quality that’s been maintained at Boise Centre and while 2021 will remain a challenge, we have significant capital projects of $1.5-$2M over the next 2-3 years that will require the cash on hand. I do, however, project 2022 to be a phenomenal year and I hope that comes to fruition; we need to be ready.”

The GBAD board also sent a letter to Ahlquist saying they will not consider Ahlquist or anyone else who could cut into their cash position.

The GBAD letter: 90120 letter to tommy

Meanwhile there was more opposition to Ahlquist developments from Preservation Idaho over a proposed project on 4th Street between Idaho and Bannock. The advocacy group sent out an email to members Thursday asking members to write to the City opposing the rezone.

Ball Ventures Ahlquist seeks to rezone the area to allow “unlimited height restriction” in an area where the current height restriction on the property is 6 stories (65’).

On September 21 at 6PM, the Boise Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) will hold a hearing to review the Ball Ventures Ahlquist (BVA) proposal for a rezone to allow a 232-foot tower on 4th Street between Idaho and Bannock.

This will be a hybrid meeting that you can attend virtually or in person.

Don Day at BOISEDEV has a comprehensive story about the ongoing threat of losing the Boise Hawks unless the citizens pony up land or cash for a new stadium. Day’s story mentions the GBAD board met in executive session to hear the baseball pitch.

The GUARDIAN learned the official reason for the executive session was to discuss property acquisition near the Centre on the Grove. Somehow Greenstone and Ahlquist got included.

GBAD is funded with the hotel room tax revenues which are woefully lacking due to the COVID 19 crises. They have about $10 million in reserves, but there is no cash available for other investments and it is doubtful they would qualify for bond debt.

Once again the GUARDIAN favors an “Idaho Agricultural Heritage Park” on the fairgrounds land. It could be a destination theme park with strong educational background. We have have offered this to the politicos for at least 13 years and generally been ignored.

Fair Idea Ignored By Commishes

Idaho Ag Heritage Park Is Good Fit At Expo Idaho

Fairgrounds Perfect For Farm Theme Park

http://www.drfphoto.com/stock-photography/greenfield+village/

It has been a while since we visited the area in spring and we were surprised at the way the deer and elk have been trained by Idaho Fish and Game biologists. The two big game species get along better than the Dems and Repubs, sharing dinners on the south and east facing hillsides.

The deer apparently are able to read since they cross the highway at the marked crosswalk. The elk aren’t as good at finding their way. We saw one with a GPS around its neck so it could locate and share the crosswalk with the deer.

If you go, take along some binoculars and at least one co-pilot. It is easy to get distracted as you watch the critters. Be mindful of other motorists and remember your car is the best viewing location.