City of Ketchum
P.O. Box 2315
480 East Avenue N.
Ketchum, Idaho 83340
"Small Town, Big Life"
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Inform. Celebrate. Involve.
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 People love visiting Ketchum because it offers them a chance to get away from the crowds. However, during peak season Ketchum can feel crowded as businesses and city infrastructure reach capacity. Parking plays a major role in the feel of Ketchum. Ketchum's inability to provide reliable, easy-to-find parking for business customers during those peak seasons impacts us all and negatively affects our economy.
The city and the community have discussed and invested in public parking for decades. Studies performed in 1994, 2004 and 2015 all reiterate the need for parking to be continuously managed as building density increases within the community core. The goal of managed parking is to provide convenience to customers and encourage parking and walking (window-shopping) around town.
Building density within the community core is increasing as large projects like the Limelight, Argyros Theatre, and Auberge come on-line. With this new expansion, and the resultant need for more parking in the South end of Ketchum, the city is responding to the community's comments and concerns regarding a growing lack of convenient customer parking.
Public discussions with the City Council and the Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency (KURA) commission about the need to invest in public parking facilities has intensified over the last two years. Ultimately, many individuals have expressed a desire to see parking garages developed within the city core to alleviate seasonal parking pressure. Such a facility would cost millions to build and would have to be repaid with revenue collected for paid parking. The question becomes whether Ketchum is ready for paid parking
Last December, City Council decided to take a first step towards the potentially larger investment of a parking garage with the purchase of parking meters to be used at the city and KURA lots. This small investment will allow the city to gauge the success of paid parking before embarking on the multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment of a paid parking structure.
The city has increased parking capacity at Washington and First by 250% with the inclusion of the KURA lot. Paid parking lots allow customers flexibility. Customers can now park for periods longer than two hours, including overnight winter parking, within proximity to shops and restaurants. And, those who don't want the convenience offered by the lots can still circle the block looking for a space. With the opening of the paid lots, visitors now have a choice and I think that's a good idea.
Nina
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COUNCIL AGENDA - MEETING INFORMATION - COMMENT
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Stay involved in your community. Included here are links to the Monday, Dec. 4, Council agenda and Council meeting information. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. At this meeting, Council will consider acceptance of the
FY16/17 financial statements and hear an update on the city's participation in the Galena Lofts project. Council will also consider approval of the following contracts. Click on the links to read staff reports and view contracts.
It is the responsibility of the City to inform the public and gain public input. We encourage you to provide the City with your opinion and comments by attending Monday's meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Ketchum City Hall, 480 East Ave. N., or by sending
an email to:
[email protected].
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TIS' THE SEASON FOR RENEWING CITY CONTRACTS
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 As we approach the new year, the city leaders are getting ready to consider and debate whether to renew some of our most significant contractual obligations and commitments.
At the Dec. 4 meeting of the Ketchum City Council, the public will have a chance to weigh in on this annual decision-making process.
Under Idaho code, cities can only contract for up to one year, triggering the discussion whether to renew contracts for services ranging from the city's financial contributions to marketing partners, buying a new snow plow or reimbursing local artists whose work has been selected to display in City Hall.
Most of the contracts are similar to those approved in previous years, but in some cases the scope of the work has or could change. The City Council will have the opportunity to renew a series of contracts on Monday night, including:
- The yearly contract worth $1.47 million for police services with Blaine County
- Approving $60,000 as part of the city's agreement with the Ketchum Community Development Corporation
- Paying $440,000 to the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance to promote 2018 destination marketing to the Sun Valley area
- The city's contribution to public transit provider Mountain Rides, projected at $634,000
- The city's $70,000 contract with the Blaine County Housing Authority
"As with any aspect of city business, whether it deals with spending, zoning or codes, the public's input is important," Mayor Nina Jonas said. "That's why I'm encouraging anyone interested in these contracts or how the city spends money to be at city hall and share your thoughts on these proposed agreements."
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CITY CELEBRATES HOLIDAYS WITH TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
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Who's ready for a little holiday spirit and cheer?
We've got you covered. The festivities kick off on Dec. 6 at 4:30 p.m. with the annual tree lighting event in Town Square.
 The guest list includes Santa, who will arrive via fire truck at 5 p.m. Santa will have gifts for the kids and will hear wish lists. Children are also encouraged to send letters to Santa using the mailbox posted on the Town Square stage. All letters should include the proper return address for Santa and his team to send a response.
The event will include holiday music, hot chocolate and cookies provided by the city. Vendors will provide beer, wine and cocktails, and KB's Burritos will be there to satisfy a quick meal.
It also seems appropriate to remind residents and business owners about the city's holiday lighting ordinance, which is ultimately intended to reduce the impact of urban light and preserve Ketchum's amazing night skies.
Some key points of the city's holiday lighting rules include:
- Holiday lights can only be displayed between Nov. 20 and March 20
- All new holiday lighting must be LED, or bulbs proven to be the most energy efficient technology available.
- All private holiday lighting shall be turned off at the close of business hours in the Community Core Zoning District, and after 10:30 p.m. in all other zoning districts. Outdoor public lighting is not subject to the holiday lighting curfew.
- Flashing holiday lighting is permitted.
For more information about the city's holiday lighting do's and don'ts, click
here to access the Dark Skies Chapter, 17.132.
On behalf of all city employees, we look forward to seeing you downtown for the tree lighting and the start of the holiday season!
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| ARTISTS WANTED FOR 11TH ANNUAL ART ON FOURTH EXHIBITION |
 It's that time of year again. The city invites sculptors to showcase their work for the 11th Annual "Art on Fourth" outdoor sculpture exhibition. The selected artwork will be featured in the heart of downtown Ketchum along the Fourth Street Heritage Corridor.
In its eleventh year, the Art on Fourth exhibition has evolved into a significant attraction during the city's summer tourist season, displaying artwork by diverse artists ranging from local residents to nationally known artists. Past exhibitors include Steve Jensen, Rod Kagan, Robert Kantor, Gwynn Murrill, Will Robinson and Boaz Vaadia, among others. The exhibition is organized and curated by the Ketchum Arts Commission, whose mission is to integrate arts and culture into the community's life.
Artists may enter as many sculptures as they would like for consideration. Selected artists will receive a $2,000 stipend and there is no fee to apply. The deadline for submissions is Mar. 9, 2018.The call for artists, which provides detailed information on the submission process, can be found here or at www.ketchumidaho.org/arts. The call is open to all artists, regardless of their state of residence.
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11TH ANNUAL POND HOCKEY CLASSIC
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BUSINESS NEWS
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Take the Survey on Business Air Travel
KIC Introduces Winter Programs and Holiday Party
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WHAT WE'RE READING
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 Mayor Nina Jonas
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MEETING INFORMATION
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City Council
 Attend the next City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4. City Council meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month in Ketchum City Hall. Click here to see the agenda and staff reports or scan the QR code.
Planning and Zoning Commission
Attend the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11. P&Z meetings are held on the second Monday of each month in Ketchum City Hall. Click here for agendas and staff reports or scan the QR code.
Public Comment
If you cannot attend the Council or P&Z meetings and would like to express an opinion, please submit your comments via email to [email protected]. Your input and engagement is encouraged. All comments will be reviewed.
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Subscribers
You are receiving this email because you have requested it or done business with the City of Ketchum in the past. We appreciate our residents, businesses and visitors and look forward to telling you more about Ketchum and receiving your input. To subscribe, click
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City of Ketchum
208-726-3841
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Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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