I recently moved from Meridian to Boise and I thought that this would be an excellent chance to learn about my new city. I found this to be interesting and very informative as I knew some parts of this, although seeing how it all fits together is useful. This is mostly in regards to the city’s response to the coronavirus and how it is assisting the citizens’ of Meridian to help manage some of the challenges that the coronavirus has presented.
How is the city helping renters’ facing evictions?
Community Development Block Grant[1] is providing funding to Jesse Tree to provide rental assistance for those who are at risk of eviction. We are also working with NeighborWorks Boise on a similar mortgage assistance program and CATCH on a utility assistance program.
1) The Community Development Block Grant, one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities with the stated goal of providing rehousing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development.
Do you know how many renters have been evicted since the beginning of COVID?
We do not have this data.
What was the rate of homelessness in Meridian before the pandemic?
This is difficult to determine as the majority of those experiencing homelessness in Meridian are not homeless in the traditional sense of the word and are often not counted. West Ada School District does have a count of students who are experiencing all forms of homelessness, but this does not include households without school age children. According to the Analysis of Impediments conducted in 2016 to inform the 2017-2021 Consolidated Plan, WASD (West Ada School District) reported 476 children were experiencing homelessness. This number would reach beyond Meridian and wouldn’t include those without school aged children.
Has the city considered placing a moratorium on evictions?
We believe the rental assistance programs made available through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding are providing the needed assistance and the City has not considered a moratorium at this time. As the pandemic evolves, this may be a topic that the City takes up.
What has the City of Meridian done to address the needs of the homeless population during the pandemic?
Using the additional CDBG funding received under the CARES Act the City prioritized applications from providers that offered services for:
• Homelessness prevention (rent/mortgage/utility assistance)
• Domestic Violence
• Behavioral Health (mental health and substance use disorders)
• Food stability
What resources does Meridian have to offer the homeless population?
The CDBG Program works closely with Our Path Home, the public-private partnership working to end homelessness in Ada County, to identify the services that are most needed in Meridian related to homelessness. While not specific to those experiencing homelessness, CDBG is providing funding to the following programs:
• Jesse Tree – rental assistance
• NeighborWorks Boise – mortgage assistance
• Boys and Girls Club – scholarships for extended care programs
• Allumbaugh House – case management for behavioral health crisis services
Any idea what the unemployment rates are looking like for Meridian?
Meridian Ada County Idaho US
June 2020 5.6% 5.7% 5.6% 11.1%
May 2020 9.4% 9.5% 9.0% 13.3%
April 2020 12.1% 12.3% 11.8% 14.7%
Sources: Idaho Department of Labor, US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Small businesses will undoubtedly be greatly affected by COVID. Have there been any projections as to the extent of the damage that may be ultimately caused to small businesses?
City staff does not have any direct data regarding Meridian businesses that may have permanently closed, though we do know that there have been no commercial utility account closures. Meridian Chamber of Commerce would be a good resource for this question. They also just did a virtual meeting with local businesses that may help you (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNBXlBbt8dg).
We are hearing that businesses are still operating, likely with the help of Paycheck Protection Program loans and grants, Idaho Rebound grants, and landlords who have agreed to rent abatements. Many businesses are hopeful that the holiday fourth quarter will result in a rebound. It is anticipated we will not see the full impact of COVID-19 for some time.
City efforts to help businesses adapt to/overcome COVID challenges:
• In May, the City Council approved fee waivers for three business-related permits through 2020 that allow businesses to increase visibility and sales.
• Meridian has been partnering with the Chamber of Commerce in the Keep Meridian Healthy & Open for Business campaign, and was approved to utilize CARES Act funding to assist the Chamber and its members with this campaign.
• Recently, the Council also approved waiving the need of an affidavit for the use of zone encroachments, making it easier for businesses to expand their footprints to meet social distancing requirements.
• With State authorization in mid-July allowing cities to utilize CARES Act funding to help small businesses, the City is developing and considering a small business grant program which can offer continued financial help to businesses in need.
What’s the biggest shift that the City of Meridian has had to make since the coronavirus set in?
At the City of Meridian we have made many adjustments to handle the impacts of COVID-19 on our employees and community. We have significantly increased communications efforts to ensure residents are in the know when it comes to orders, best practices, and local resources during this constantly and quickly evolving situation. We implemented an emergency response plan that outlines how we utilize these best practices in our facilities, if and when facilities should be closed, and what steps employees should take if they are exposed to the virus. Though challenging, our employees adjusted fairly seamlessly to working remotely when we closed facilities earlier this year. It was a great opportunity for us to evaluate processes and procedures and identify areas to improve efficiencies and expand our online services. We have continued to work and serve the public throughout the pandemic, whether working from home or in our respective facilities. A great example of this was shifting our Council/Commission meetings to a virtual platform that allowed for public testimony, and kept city business moving forward without interruption.
Are there any departments within the City of Meridian that have had to lay off some of their employees as a result of the coronavirus?
No employees have been laid off due to the Coronavirus.
Which departments have been most effected by the coronavirus?
All departments have been significantly impacted in different ways. Our police and fire departments have shifted protocol as they respond to calls in the community. Our Fire Department implemented a COVID specific response unit, as well as establishing and implementing safety measures for our crews that spend 24 hours together at a time. Meridian’s police department has worked to educate the public on orders enacted by the Governor, Mayor, and Central District Health. Public Works continued to deliver clean water and collect wastewater 24/7 with a small teams approach, a job that as you can imagine cannot be done remotely. Our I.T. department worked tirelessly to ensure employees had the capability of serving customers while working remotely. The Clerk’s office, which handles public meetings, shifted their focus to virtual meetings utilizing new technology. Building has continued in Meridian, and our Community Development department found new ways to accept, review, and process building permits and applications. Parks and Recreation has stayed on top of gathering size mandates and made difficult decisions to temporarily close facilities and cancel events. They’ve also implemented new plans and protocols for events and activities. The Finance Department has been hard at work determining acceptable and best use of COVID-19 relief funds. Our communications team has added COVID-19 information to their regular internal and external dissemination, and employees throughout the City have fielded phone calls, emails, and messages on all things COVID-19. COVID-19 also impacted our hiring process, which added a new layer of complexity to those in our H.R. Department. We are proud of the way everyone has stepped up to the plate to handle these new challenges at work, while also dealing with the realities of COVID-19 at home.
Boise recently announced that they will be having a climate action team. Do you know if Meridian has ever considered anything like this?
• Meridian has a Sustainable Operations Team within the Public Works Department. The Sustainable Operations Team’s goal is to identify, develop and implement reliable and cost effective measures for energy conservation, water conservation and waste reduction across City operations.
• The City Council initiated conversations around the implementation of an energy resolution in July. They will likely be taking up the topic again in September, determining how to memorialize the clean energy goals and practices of the City and support Idaho Power’s commitment to clean energy.
Does Meridian have any sustainability goals?
The Meridian City Strategic Plan adopted by the City Council in 2016 set strategic goals to advance sustainable practices throughout the City – both internally and within the community. Specific goals, objectives and action items are in the 2019 Environmental Programs Plan and include developing internal practices and external partnerships to reduce energy consumption, and improve and protect air and water quality and natural resources.
For further information, we recommend checking out the following documents:
Click to access Adopted-Comp-Plan.pdf
Click to access Citywide_Strategic_Plan%20-%20April_2_2019.pdf
1 Wikipedia contributors. (2020, July 26). Community Development Block Grant. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:21, August 20, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Community_Development_Block_Grant&oldid=969661510
Jessica Specht 