February 11, The Annual Meeting for the West Bench Neighborhood Association was called to order by
President Ronnie Marler.
This meeting was conducted via ZOOM, all attendees of the Zoom meeting were requested to add their
name and contact information to the chat stream, 33 neighbors were in attendance.
The annual Treasurer’s Report was made by Jonathan Melby. Jonathan reviewed the expenditures and
asset balance for the 2020 year.
Rochelle Schaetten 2021 nominating Committee Chairperson with the Assistance of Graham Paterson
worked ahead of this year’s annual meeting to provide names of interested candidates to be placed for
election. *This list of candidates included Officer and Board Member positions.
*All incumbent Officers plus incumbent Board Members retained positions by win of acclimation. In
addition, New Members were added to the 2021 Board.
2021 Officers:
President Ronnie Marler
Vice President Rochelle Schaetten
Secretary Annie Fuller
Treasurer Jonathan Melby
Board Members
Aaron England
Joshua Hibbard
Jim Hull (Incumbent)
Jody Hull
Maridee Lemieux
Jeanette Marler
Graham Paterson (Incumbent)
Dave Shaw (Incumbent)
Gordon Simpson (Incumbent)
2020 year in Review – Presentation by President, Ronnie Marler
Spaulding Ranch
Sagebrush Planting – Five Hundred native plants were placed at Spaulding Ranch. Many of the West
Bench neighbors participated plus other Boise citizens who came to participate in this project. Spring of
2021 the planting of fruit trees to establish the Orchard is to take place. Due to COVID restrictions, this
will be a Parks and Recreation assignment, only. The build-out of Spaulding Ranch Park will continue, an
extended timeline for completion has been established. Zoning from residential to open space use was
presented to the City at a recent Public Hearing meeting held February 1, 2021.
**The Neighborhood Identity Kit was completed 2020. The West Bench Team worked with Nancy Jasper
of Jasper Advertising and Marketing who presented the design – layout for the Identity Kit which
includes signage, namely the Sign Toppers that were created to best reflect the West Bench
neighborhood. The Sign Toppers have been produced and placement has begun at designated locations
throughout the West Bench neighborhood. ACHD will make the sign installations. The locations for
placement were decided upon at a previous meeting.
**A meeting with Mayor McLean and Police Chief, Ryan Lee was also held during the 2020 year.
**Three Utility Box Wraps were funded and installed in the West Bench neighborhood.
**Community Building –
There were many plans for events in 2020 however due to COVID, these were postponed. Ideas for
virtual plus events that can take place with spacing in mind are in the works for the 2021 year.
**ADOPT A PARK – The West Bench Association has volunteered to clean up Mountain View Park the
last Saturday of the month for several years. This project is currently on hold. A new assignment at
Fairmont Park is likely to be in the future.
**Discussion for a community Garden at Cabarton Park be considered.
ACHD
**Alexis Pickering, newly elected ACHD Commissioner was in attendance. Alexis requested that ideas
for areas of improvement throughout the district that she represents be sent to her by the 17th of
February. Alexis identified a five-year integration plan that she will be working with the ACHD Team for.
Additional Matters –
**A Board meeting was held January 11, 2021. Ideas to connect with neighbors 2021 were a Spring
cleanup, Virtual Garden Tour, Sign selfies to be shown with the newly installed West Bench signage and
front yard place making for neighbors to stop and take a break while walking thru the neighborhood.
The Annual Meeting is being requested to be moved to a designated date in the Fall of each year.
Change of this date would require an update to the bylaws of the West Bench Association, in addition
are other established By Laws that will also be reviewed for change and will be required to be adopted
by both the West Bench Neighborhood Association and the City of Boise.
Review of the Energize Boise Project – The conceptual lay out of the Linear Park has been prepared. City
of Boise Lawyers are currently working with the Settler Canal ownership for the plans presented. The
project is moving forward with a tentative start that is slated for the second quarter of 2021.
March 11th is the next scheduled Board Meeting. It will be held via ZOOM.
The meeting concluded.
Secretary: Annie Fuller
