Welcome to Boise

              Welcome to Boise
Contents
Boise- A Pioneer Center
Organizational Chart
Mayor and Council
Downtown Redevelopment
Planning
Community Development
Buses
Golf Course
Bike Lanes
Police
Fire
Parks
Forestry
Landscape
Green Belt
Cemeteries
Zoo
Recreation
Art Gallery
Library
Airport
Finance
City Clerk
Accounting
City Treasury
Personnel
City Attorney
Safety
Information and Services
Boise State University
Building Department
Emergency Services
Public Works
Sewers
City Shops
Communications
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The Cover
Two-hundred years ago the West
was still an untamed frontier. Boise, at
that time an unnamed Indian campsite,
was yet to be founded. Today, however,
Boise has become a hub of eovernmental
and commercial activity. The inset in the
"0" of "BOISE" is the hallmark of Boise.
It tells much - first, the ereen center of
"The City of Trees". From this extend
rays depictine location and distance (to
scale) to major centers of the West -
clockwise: Spokane, Great Falls, Denver,
Salt Lake City, Las Veeas, San Francisco,
Portland, Seattle. The me8881e: Boise's
unique central location in the dynamic
northwest. Those rays also reflect
diversification of major activities -
government, financial center,
distribution, education, unlimited
recreation, lieht manufacturing and
transportation.
Inside Front Cover: Beautiful Ann
Morrison Park, one of 28 parks covering
1,508 acres in Boise.
Boise-A Pioneer Center
In the fall of 1811 as a party of fur traders
traveling to the lower Columbia moved to a vantage
point overlooking the Boise Valley, the
French-Canadian trappers sighted the tree-lined river
and used the name, Boise, or Wooded River in French,
which version prevailed as the name of Boise City.
In 1834 British fur traders established a post
that developed into the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort
Boise. Indian trouble along the Oregon Trail in the
Boise Valley in 1864 forced the decision of the United
States to build a military outpost. Before action was
taken on the decision, discovery of rich gold deposits
in 1862 in Boise Basin, less than 40 miles to the
northeast, resulted in a gold rush to these mines. The
military force sent to build Fort Boise chose a
location, and three days later a townsite was provided
adjacent to the fort.
Boise City grew quickly: located at the
crossroads of the transcontinental Oregon Trail and the
The City of Boise is an equal opportunity employer.
routes to the Boise Basin and Owyhee mines to the
southwest, the city rose as a commercial center. In
1863 with irrigated farming all along the river below
Boise, it became a strategic location and served both
the farms and mines.
The Territorial Legislature in 1864 chose Boise
to be a permanent seat of government, established Ada
County with Boise as county seat, and undertook to
provide a city government. The citizens refused to
ratify the charter until "An Act to Incorporate Boise
City in Ada County was approved, January 11, 1866."
Even though Boise's growth declined for a time after
the gold rush, the town began to grow again steadily
but somewhat unspectacularly.
Following repeal of the 1866 City Charter in
1961, the brake on expansion of the city limits was
removed, and the city extended over more and more of
adjacent areas and the population began to rise. After a
century of growth, Boise still lives up to the
expectations of its founders who had planned a major
center of commerce and government.
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A.C.O.G.
Emergency
Services
2
CITY OP BOIS•
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Council
~~ Administrative
Assistant
I I I
City Planner Fire Police Recreation
I I '~ I
Finance Attorney Library Safety
Personnel I I
City Clerk
Building Public Works Park
Accounting Housing Sewer Cemetery
Treasurer Relocation Sanitation Zoo
Printing Inspection Street Lights Tree
Purchasing Engineering Landscape
Parking Meters Communication
City Shops
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Airport
I
Community
Development
I
Information
and Services
Boise
City
Council
The City Council is the
policy-making body, passes or
repeals ordinances, approves the
annual budget and all city
expenditures.
Every qualified elector in
Boise is eligible to vote for these
elective officers, and every resident
of Boise, new or old, may be a
candidate for Mayor or
Councilman. The next City
Election will be held in the fall of
1977. Elections are held every two
years. Council members are elected
for four-year terms, three being
elected every two years to stagger
terms for continuity. Council
meetings are held every Monday at
7:30p.m. in City Hall.
Mayor
Richard
Eardley
The City of Boise operates
under the Mayor-Council plan as a
City of the First Class under 'the
General Laws of Idaho, with a
Mayor and six Council members.
The Mayor is elected for a
four-year term.
The Mayor is the Executive
Officer of the City, carrying out the
policies set by the Council and
enforcing the ordinances in the City
Code. He has the power to appoint
Department Heads and committee
and board members, by and only
with the consent of the Council.
The Honorable Richard R.
Eardley was elected Mayor of Boise
after four years as council member,
to a term beginning January, 1974.
From t he left: Counci l members Joy
Buersmeyer; Marge Ewing, president
pro-tem; and Berne Jensen.
From the left: Council members Fred
Kopke; Ralph McAdams, president; and
Corki Onwciler.
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Boise's
Downtown
Redevelopment
The Boise Redevelopment
Agency exists under the authority
of the State Urban Renewal Law.
Its governing body, the Board of
Commissioners, consists of five
appointees of the Mayor, with the
concurrence of the Boise City
Council. Each of the appointees
serves for five years without
compensation. The Redevelopment
Agency is charged by the City
Council with all renewal activities
within project areas after
designation by the Mayor and
Council.
Currently, the Redevelop­ment
Agency is undertaking two
downtown redevelopment projects.
Project I is bounded by Capitol
Boulevard, Front Street, lOth
Street and Main Street. Project II
consists of the eight blocks north of
Project I.
A large enough parcel has
been assembled for the
construction of a downtown retail
shopping mall. Construction of the
shopping center is awaiting
finalization of negotiations between
Dayton Hudson (the developer) and
major retailers. Although the mall is
the focal point for downtown
redevelopment, the Agency has
received other proposals.
Construction has been completed
on what is now Idaho's tallest
building - One Capital Center.
The rehabilitation of an older
building as headquarters for
Continental Life & Accident
Company was completed during the
summer of 1974. Also, Boise City
and Ada County have purchased
land within the renewal areas and
are constructing the first portion of
a Joint City-County Administration
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City Planning
The administration of zoning
and subdivision ordinances,
preparation of city comprehensive
plan amendments, and the research,
analysis and development of plans
to meet the needs of the public and
accommodate future growth are
performed by the Ad a Council of
Governments (ACOG) staff under
contract to Boise City.
Responsibility for final decisions
affecting Boise rests with the City
Council and its advisory Planning
Commissions and Boards who are
Building complex to be completed
in late 1976. Offices of the
Redevelopment Agency are located
at 7111h Bannock Street.
advised directly by the ACOG staff.
Recognizing the need to
revise the Comprehensive Plan and
define the goals and policies on
future growth, the City Council
actively supports the 160 member
Citizens Advisory Committee.
The committee prepared a Concept
Plan for the City Council which is
the basic decision - making tool
concerning the future growth of
the city.
The Ada Council of
Governments is located at 525 West
Jefferson.
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Boise City's community
development program, funded by
an annual $5,297,000 grant from
the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, provides
Boiseans with 34 separate services
and projects.
By late 1975, all of the grant
had been allocated with the
exception of $55,411 in the city's
local option fund.
Activities provided range
from housing rehabilitation and
sewer financing assistance to
individualized services for all Boise
residents, especially the
disadvantaged, handicapped and the
Community Development
aged.
The program is administered
by the Department of Community
Development with the staff being
recruited from the phased-out
Model Cities program.
Programs and projects were
selected for funding only after
public hearings were held where
citizens had the opportunity to
express themselves on proposals
advanced by an ad hoc citizens
committee.
Originally, 53 programs were
studied by the committee, other
citizen groups and public and
private agencies. Finally, 24
programs, embracing 31 separate
projects were presented Boise City
Council for approval. In late
summer, an additional four projects
proposed by citizen groups, were
funded out of the city's local
option fund of $150,502.
The annual, federal grant is
scheduled to be available for at
least two more years and now with
first-year programs started, agency
staffers and citizens are developing
policies, programs and plans for the
future.
The agency is located in the
Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol
Blvd.
Buses
Boise Urban Stages (BUS) is
a contract bus service for Boise.
Operation provides 30-minute
service over twelve routes
throughout various parts of the
city.
Four newer buses were
placed in service by Boise Urban
Stages in 1973 and the number of
routes was expanded to eight with
30-minute service as published.
Eleven more newer buses were
added since early in 1974. Further
expansion and updating of
equipment is on the horizon.
The Boise long-range transit
plan will be completed by Ada
Council Of Governments. Ten new
45-passenger buses will go into
service in 1976. Ridership averages
2,500 daily and increased more
than 400 percent by late 1975
compared with early 1973. Call
336-3300 for schedule information.
Bike Lanes
In October, 1973, a technical
committee of the Boise
Metropolitan Transportation Study
(BMTS) suggested a network of
bicycle lanes and routes over a
long-range program. The study
identified the area where bike
routes are most needed. The City
and Ada County Highway District
are systematically working toward
establishment and marking of the
routes as they are approved and
funds become available.
Golf Course
The Municipal Golf Course
on Warm Springs Avenue is
self-supporting. Various
improvements in the facility have
been made and others are planned
depending on public use. With
nearly 300 days of golfable weather
available, many citizens make use
of this facility.
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Police
Increasing crime as well as
changing social values and lifestyles
require that a police department
also change to meet the needs of
the community.
Community and specific
crime problems must be identified.
The Boise Police Department seeks
to identify and impact these
problems through a Participative
Policing Program.
A participative approach will
call for citizens' involvement in
helping to solve their own
problems. It promotes endeavors to
establish a cooperative and stable
relationship of mutual respect and
helpfulness between officer and
citizen. The officer cannot be
everywhere and the citizens'
cooperation is vital to the overall
effectiveness of crime control.
The concept affords more
opportunity for the police officer
to expand his service capability,
thus, he will be able to initiate new
approaches to solving individual
problems. There will be new
alternatives available and resources
which have not been utilized fully
in the past.
The Police Department is
composed of four geographical
divisions which are responsible for
the delivery of police services; a
Central Services Division which
includes records and
communications, a Personnel
Division and the Airport/University
Division which is responsible for
the Department's Intern Program.
A Joint City-County-State
Law Enforcement Center is now
being constructed and is scheduled
for completion in 1977. The
present City Police Station is
located at 215 North 6th Street.
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Fire
Department
The City of Boise has a Class maintenance, training, fire at 520 W. Idaho Street and the Fire
III fire rating, which is a prevention and administration. Training Complex is located at
determining factor in fire insurance Administrative Offices are located 1050 South 17th Street.
rates. The department operates
from eight fire stations and another
is under construction.
In addition to fire
suppression, the Fire Department
provides services such as
extrication from wrecked vehicles,
resuscitation for lack of oxygen,
scuba diving crews for water
emergencies and many others.
The Fire Prevention Division
has responsibility of enforcing the
Uniform Fire and Life Safety
Codes. Questions relating to fire
prevention, weed burning,
flammable liquids and arson are
handled by the Fire Prevention
Division. They also have a variety
of fire and safety programs
available to service clubs, PTA's or
other interested groups.
The Fire Department consists
of 179 personnel in five
divisions: combat, alarm and
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Parks
Department
Boise City's park system
consists of 51 park areas, several
areas of Greenbelt strips or tracts
along the Boise River and various
highway and boulevard strips,
comprising approximately 1,625
acres of which about 385 acres are
partially or completely developed.
Included in these parks are an
amusement park, art gallery, band
shell, historical museum,
community center, little theatre,
boating lagoon, pool with
illuminated fountain , a rose garden
and zoo.
Other facilities include:
children's playgrounds,
neighbor hood parks, covered
shelters and many acres of shaded
turf suitable for picnicking. Annual
attendance at Boise's park facilities
is over three million visitors.
Cassia, a ten-acre park
southwest of City Center, is nearing
completion and will add another
picnic shelter, bar beque pit,
baseball fields and four tennis
courts to Boise's growing park and
recreational facilities. Tot lots are
being installed in several parks.
Hillside Park, adjacent to Hillside
Jr. High School and presently under
construction, will add a lighted
softball field and an equestrian
arena for the public's enjoyment.
Administrative offices are
located at 1104 Royal Boulevard.
Forestry Division
The Forestry Division of the
Park Department provides services
for the citizens of Boise. Some are
obvious, and perhaps just as many
go unnoticed.
Boiseans are most likely to
see the big mist-blower spray
machines methodically spraying the
trees that line the City's streets or
abound in the many park areas.
Occasionally these trees die,
become incurably diseased or
present a hazard and must be
removed. The Forestry Division
maintains men and equipment
capable of safely removing these
trees with a minimum of
inconvenience to the residents.
Dutch Elm Disease continues to be
the number one problem in Boise.
Constant surveillance coupled with
efficient spray operation, quick
diagnoses and removals help keep
the majority of Boise's elms
protected from this disease. All tree
remnants are recycled in the form
of fence rails and posts, mulch,
bedding and firewood via sale to
the public.
The newest forestry
operation involves a portable
sawmill designed to salvage logs by
turning them into dimension
lumber. This operation virtually
eliminates the need to carry out
costly disposal by burying. Some of
the lumber is used by the Division
and the remainder will, hopefully,
be available for sale to the public.
Landscape
Division
Landscape personnel are the
green thumb for the City of Trees.
They complete special landscaping
projects and provide special care of
trees, shrubs, turf and flowers. In
the spring of '75 they set out
27,000 annuals throughout the City
parks, along highway areas, around
swimming pool sites and city
owned facilities such as the airport,
City Library and some fire stations.
Weeding maintenance of
these areas are under their
jurisdiction. Propagating of annuals
and other plant materials is done at
the City nursery, located in Julia
Davis Park.
Green Belt
Boise River Greenbelt
initiated by the City several years
ago, has gained in significance in its
quest to provide for the citizens of
this community valuable open
spaces and recreational facilities
along the Boise River.
The Greenbelt, a federally
funded program, assisted through
the use of Land and Water
Conservation Funds, has to date
acquired approximately 90 acres of
river front land and developed a
number of recreational facilities
extending from the Municipal Golf
Course to the Lander Street
Treatment Plant.
This year's dedication of the
Boise River Greenbelt was a
significant event for the City of
Boise. As part of the dedication,
Shoreline Park and a new Bicycle
Rental facility were opened to the
public, providing a unique and
aesthetic touch to the Greenbelt.
Cemeteries
Division
Boise City owns and operates
two cemeteries, Morris Hill
Cemetery, an 80-acre tract acquired
and dedicated in 1882 and Pioneer
Cemetery, an area of approximately
five acres, located between the East
End and the downtown business
district, acquired in 1920.
Also, a City owned and
operated Mausoleum is located at
Morris Hill Cemetery. Lots are for
sale to the general public.
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Zoo
Idaho's finest zoo is located
in Julia Davis Park. Through the
efforts of the Idaho Zoological
Society in cooperation with the
City, this facility has become an
attractive, up-to-date educational
and recreational complex. In 1975,
a new aviary and a nocturnal animal
shelter were completed. Animals of
the northwest, exotic species such
as a Bengal tiger, Steppe cats (of
which Boise has the only two in
captivity in the U.S.), a South
American Rhea and various kinds
of monkeys and apes as well as a
variety of birds are featured for
public viewing and entertainment.
Through appointment, free
school tours are provided; a service
which more and more schools from
southwest Idaho and eastern
Oregon are taking advantage of. In
1974 approximately 21,000
children enjoyed "A Day at the
Boise Zoo."
An educational program in
cooperation with the Boise
Independent School District was
initiated in 1975. Grade school
children are bused from the schools
to the zoo where a qualified
instructor teaches the children
animal care and habits.
A visit to the Boise Zoo is a
worthwhile and rewarding
experience.
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Recreati• on
The Recreation Department
affords guidance and administrative
supervision of various forms of
healthful recreational activities for
the entire citizenry of the City of
Boise and the Independent School
District of Boise. The object is to
create a life style that makes Boise
more than just a city but a good
place to live.
S orne of the activities
sponsored by the City Recreation
Department are:
Alpine Ski Touring
Arts and Crafts
Back Packing
Banquets
Baseball
Basketball
Bike Touring
Camping and Hiking
Clinics:
Camping
Lifeguard
Ski
Softball
Swimming
Umpiring
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Handicapped Programs
Horseback Riding
Physical Fitness
Saturday A.M. Programs
Ski Conditioning
Ski Racing
Ski School
Ski Touring
Softball
Special Activities
Swimming
Tennis (General)
Tennis (Schools)
Track and Jogging
Volleyball
White Water Kayaking
Wrestling
The recreation office is
located at 1130 Royal Boulevard in
Ann Morrison Park and is open
from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Monday through Friday.
Boise Gallery Of Art
The Boise Art Gallery,
Boise's only art museum, has grown
threefold thanks to the cooperative
efforts of Boise City, the non-profit
Boise Gallery of Art Association,
Fundsy and many interested
citizens. Boise's (and the nation's)
cultural explosion is in some
measure the reason for the Gallery's
growth.
Our community's visual arts
center provides more space to
exhibit the best art of today and
yesterday, plus a place for artists,
students and the public to meet,
work, learn and express themselves
in the visual arts. The public is
invited to visit and participate at
the new Boise Gallery of Art, 716
Capitol Boulevard, which is in the
heart of Boise's fast-growing
cultural center.
Adjacent is the Idaho State
Historical Museum and across the
Boulevard is the Boise Public
Library and Information Center.
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Library
and
Information
Center
All Boise City residents may
have borrowing privileges at the
Boise Public Library and
Information Center without charge.
Books, art prints, sculpture replicas,
records, cassettes, and 8 mm films
are among the items which may be
checked out from the library. Also
available are current and bound
periodicals, the government
document collection, the
Northwest history collection, and
the Reference collection.
Reference librarians are
available during the library's open
hours to answer your reference and
research questions either in person
or by telephone. The library is an
important source of information
and recreation.
The Library's new automated
circulation system checks materials
in and out using a light pen
terminal. Each item is labeled with
a computer readable "Zebra
number". The system provides
speedy and efficient service to
locate materials, place reserves, and
generate useful statistical reports
for library use.
The library is open 70 hours
each week during the school
session. Monday through Thursday
the library is open 9 am to 9 pm;
Friday and Saturday 9 am to 6 pm;
and Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm except
during summer months. For library
patrons who cannot conveniently
come to the library, bookmobile
service is provided on a regular
schedule.
The library is located at 715
Capitol Boulevard, just across from
Julia Davis Park.
Boise Air Terminal
The Boise Air Terminal is
classified as a Small Hub Airport
and is one of the finest aviation
facilities in the Northwest. The
parallel runway system allows joint
civil-military use and provides
excellent safety factors in the
separation of large and small
aircraft, turbine and conventional
powered aircraft. The longest
runway is 9,767 feet. This runway
was reconstructed for strength and
a friction course added to improve
the runway. The ILS and RVR
were moved to Runway lOR and
Taxiway "R" was completed during
this year, also the installation of
airport surveillance radar.
The Airport Terminal
Building provides second level
loading, with two nose loading
devices and nine gate positions. The
Security check area has an X-ray
device to screen carry-on baggage
thereby speeding up the flow of
passengers. F .A.A. Security
Requirements are accomplished by
use of a sterile concourse plan on
the second level concourse.
The terminal is large enough
to handle expanded use of ticket
lobby, waiting lobby and houses
coffee shop, kitchen and restaurant
on the lower level, flight service
station, six rental car companies,
concession and game area, aviation
weather information, F .A.A. Office
and baggage claim carousel
facilities. A 750 car parking facility
is available. The Fire Crash Station
has been enlarged to a five bay
station with two additional pieces
of fire crash equipment. A new
100-foot tower has been completed
and is in operation. A doubling of
the size of the baggage claiming
area with one additional baggage
carousel is being accomplished this
year.
United and Hughes Air West
provide over 36 schedules per day
and Sun Valley Key and Cascade
Airways provide scheduled air taxi
service. Non-stop service is provided
to Chicago, San Francisco, Salt
Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Twin
Falls, Idaho Falls, Lewiston,
Spokane and Sun Valley.
For flight information call
United, Hughes Air West, Sun
Valley Key and Cascade Airways.
Aircraft sales, rental, maintenance
and agricultural spraying is
provided by Boise Air Service,
Morrison-Knudsen Company,
Simplot Aviation, Inc., Gem State
Aviation, Gaige Aviation and Idaho
He 1 i copters, Inc. Military
operations include Idaho Army and
Air National Guard headquarters
and units.
Aircraft utilized by United
and Hughes Air West are DC-8, 727,
DC-9; the military utilize RF4C's
and HUlA ahd OH58 helicopters.
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Finance
Finance and Administration
exercises general supervision over
all offices of the city regarding the
proper management of fiscal
concerns. Under the direction of
the Council, this department
coordinates the preparation of the
annual budget estimating the
probable amount of money
necessary for all purposes for which
an appropriation is to be made and
an estimate of the total revenue
anticipated during the next fiscal
year. This department also provides
supervision and technical assistance
in the development of Municipal
financial planning techniques,
revenue forecasts, debt
administration, capital
improvement planning, economic
analysis and cost studies.
COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Computer Systems is a
department within a department. In
197 4, the City of Boise began
investigating the use of computer
hardware to handle a number of
city functions. With the assistance
of the Boise Center for Urban
Research, a joint City of
Boise/Boise State University study
group, it was determined that the
Modcomp mini-computer would
best handle the city's data
processing needs.
The Modcomp was installed
in November, 1975 and now
processes all accounting, including
payroll, cash flow, projections, and
trash and sewer billings. Future
applications call for in-depth
computer utilization by the
department of public works in
monitoring treatment plant
facilities.
The Modcomp currently has
five terminals situated throughout
city departments and eventually
will go to thirty. Annual operating
costs of the mini-computer are
offset by savings in personnel and
time requirements of manual
systems.
The computer is temporarily
being housed in the Idaho building
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until completion of the new city
administration building.
URBAN RESEARCH
The Boise Center for Urban
Research has undertaken several
other studies in addition to the
computer research. It was assigned
three projects by the Boise City
Council in 1975; a citizen survey on
a wide range of subjects, a
population migration study, and a
possible city-county regional data
center.
During 1976, the Center has
been asked to study city
department productivity,
alternatives to present property
taxes, alternatives to Boise's solid
waste utilization program, zoning
changes on ground water, another
citizen's survey, and continue its
study of the regional data center.
Funding for the Boise Center
for Urban Research is being
provided by Federal grants.
City Clerk
The City Clerk prepares the
weekly City Council Meeting
Agenda, attends each of their
meetings and keeps a record of all
their proceedings. Also, he is the
custodian of all the records of the
city not otherwise provided for by
law. For a nominal fee, he can
furnish a certified copy of any
records, papers or documents on
file.
Information relating to the
following items can be obtained by
calling the City Clerk's Office.
Licenses
Directory Service
Council Meeting Agendas
Morris Hill Cemetery Lots
Public Hearings
City Elections
City Records
Certification of Documents
Accounting
Accounting provides technical
direction over City accounting
procedures, systems, and functions
to verify and produce timely
financial information and special
reports. This plus emphasis on
proper controls for keeping and
maintaining the real and personal
property records of the City
provides better inventory controls,
management information for
budgeting decisions, and more
complete coverage of the City's
assets for insurance purposes.
The department evaluates the
City's needs and resources for data
processing, and effects coordination
with the County as needed.
In summary, this office acts as
the in-house City Auditor.
City Treasury
The Division of the Treasury
and Purchasing is headed by the City
Treasurer who shall generally be
responsible for (1) receipt, deposit
and investment of all City monies
and the records associated
therewith, (2) keeping a bond
register, ( 3) acting as Purchasing
Agent, (4) real and personal
property insurance program for the
City, (5) central services printing
shop, and (6) parking meter
operations.
Personnel
The Personnel Department
has responsibility for centralized
personnel functions such
as: recruitment and selection
procedures, maintenance of all
personnel records, enrollment of
eligible employees in and
adminstration of retirement and
insurance programs, preparation of
regular and special informational
and statistical reports
Personnel assists and advises
employees in the maximum
utilization of every benefit to
which they are entitled. Also, they
maintain employees' salary and
benefit programs competitive
within the local economy.
The department's goal is to
continue to develop in a way that
will relate employees to
productivity and build individual
and organizational capabilities
through improved personnel
selection and evaluation.
City Attorney
The City legal staff is
composed of two secretaries and
four attorneys. The City Attorney
concerns himself primarily with the
civil and corporate functions of the
City. The three assistants are
responsible for criminal prosecution
and the enforcement of the Boise
City Ordinances, although they are
used more and more for assistance
in the civil and corporate areas.
Safety
The Safety Department of
Boise City assists all other city
departments by investigation of
vehicle and personal injuries and
recommends corrective measures to
prevent similar accidents;
monitoring of safety procedures of
the employee work habits and
working conditions; plus
conducting safety sessions on the
use of tools and instruments, first
aid classes, defensive driving courses
and meeting OSHA standards.
These actions help control
equipment and material loss; reduce
personnel injuries and suffering;
and result in the saving of
thousands of dollars of unneeded
expense to the City. The Safety
office is on the fourth floor of the
library at 715 Capitol Blvd.
Information
and Services
The Citizens Assistance
Officer aids the public by providing
information, handling requests with
a minimum of inconvenience, and
where possible, taking quick action
to satisfy complaints. The ultimate
goal is to reduce citizen frustration
to a minimum, provide one-stop
service on all inquiries and engender
a higher degree of satisfaction with
the services provided by City.
23
24
Boise State University
One of the institutions that
the City of Boise can be
particularly proud of is Boise State
University.
Founded as a junior college
in 1932, BSU achieved university
status February 22, 197 4.
Now Idaho's largest school of
higher learning, BSU offers students
nearly 50 undergraduate degrees as
well as two areas of graduate study.
Spring term enrollment was 10,270.
BSU offers students a wide
range of educational opportunities
including a new four-year program
in nursing, numerous
vocational-technical educational
skills, and schools in business,
education, arts & sciences and
health science.
Boise State University
continues to change and expand to
meet the needs of the community.
A firm believer in innovation and
quality teaching, BSU has made
excellent teaching its foremost
mission.
To continue to meet the
needs of Boise and Idaho as well,
the BSU campus is constantly
undergoing change. Six
construction programs are slated
for 1976. They include phase II of
the Science-Education Building, a
heavy mechanics Vo-Tech Building,
a Pedestrian Mall with foot bridge
over the Boise River, a Maintenance
Building, and completion of the
Special Events Center.
Building Department
The Building Department is
charged with the duty of providing
for that aspect of public safety and
welfare which relates to the
construction and maintenance of all
buildings or structures within the
city. Enforcement of the Uniform
Building Code, the Boise City
Zoning Ordinance, and the issuance
of required permits, along with
inspections and recordkeeping, are
its primary functions.
There are forty-seven people
employed by the Building
Department. Twenty-two of these
employees are engaged in services
which have to do with remodeling
and new construction of housing
and commercial buildings.
Twenty-five perform tasks related
to maintaining, up-grading,
rehabilitating and relocating
existing housing. The two spheres
of activity are commonly referred
to as the Codes Division and the
Housing Division of the Building
Department.
Starting as a small
department in the late 1800's and
growing quickly after World War II
with Boise City's adoption of the
Uniform Building Code, the
Building Department has
contributed to the safety and
welfare of Boise residents for over
three-quarters of a century.
The Building Department is
located on the fourth floor of the
new library at 715 S. Capitol Blvd.
Calls may be placed to 342-4621
ext. 322.
Codes
Modern codes provide for a
necessary and reasonable degree of
protection from fire, natural
disasters, blight, deterioration, and
improper construction methods.
Standards for Boise's
construction projects are developed
by the International Conference of
Building Officials headquartered in
Whittier, California. This
independently owned non-profit
corporation's membership includes
building officials from throughout
the United States. Associate
membership provides for
representation from nearly every
segment of the construction
industry. Under this leadership,
Boise has available professional
evaluation of most new materials
and methods of installation
available.
Codes used by Boise City are
performance codes as opposed to
specification codes. There is a
broad spectrum of Boise citizenry
represented on the boards which
review and make recommendations
on these codes to the Mayor and
Council. Ten separate boards work
with the Building Department on
the various code boards and boards
of appeal.
Housing
In sharp contrast to many
U.S. cities, Boise may be unique in
not having a slum area. Slum areas
generally must give way to major
overhauls such as clearing away all
structures and rebuilding new
multi-story residential or
commercial buildings. In the
process, much of the historic
character of a community is cleared
away too.
While Boise has some
neighborhoods with a relative
abundance of substandard
dwellings, virtually none qualify for
a wholesale sweep by the wrecking
ball. Thus Boise is particularly well
suited for a housing rehabilitation
program. By repairing substandard
homes in older neighborhoods, we
revitalize the neighborhoods,
resulting in maintenance of
property values and general
stabilization of the area, making it a
more desirable location in which to
live.
Boise's rehabilitation
program has seen some 80 homes
completed, and projections call for
approximately 200 completions per
year over the next three years with
current pace at 20 homes per
month.
25
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26
- - -
Emergency
Services
The Ada County - Boise
Department of Emergency Services,
previously Ada-Boise Civil Defense,
is responsible for preparation,
testing and implementing the local
emergency plan. The plan provides
detailed check lists to be followed
in the event of natural or
man-caused disasters such as floods,
earthquakes, storms, major
accidents, civil disorders or fires.
Tasks for County
Commissioners, City Councils,
Mayors, fire agencies, law
enforcement, health, welfare,
public information, public works,
rescue, highway and other agencies
are identified.
The purpose of the Ada
County-Boise Emergency Services is
to provide for the maximum
protection of life and property and
to prevent, minimize, repair and
recover from injury and damage
due to any disaster. Offices are
located at 306 Idaho Building and
will relocate to the joint
City-County-State Law
Enforcement Center in 1977.
Public
Works
The Public Works
Department is the engineer for the
City and acts as a service
department to other City functions.
Public Works is responsible for the
operation and maintenance of:
1. The sanitary sewer lines
of the City.
2. Sewage treatment plants.
3. The City Shops, which
maintain all the City
vehicles.
4. The radio and electronics
communication systems
of City Departments.
5. Street lighting.
6. Sanitation inspection
As engineer for the City, the
Department:
1. Maintains maps and air
photos showing streets,
properties, Green Belt,
etc.
2. Assigns house numbers.
3. Maintains maps for the
City.
4. Reviews new subdivisions
and rezone requests.
5. Coordinates with agencies
in engineering aspects
such as ACHD, AGOG,
Green Belt, Ditch Safety,
etc. For new sewers,
sewer stoppages, street
lights, ditch covering,
weeds or other problems
listed above.
Administrative offices are
located on the fourth floor of the
library at 715 Capitol Boulevard.
27
Communications
The City of Boise
Communications Department is a
service organization for the other
city departments, responsible
primarily for the installation and
maintenance of the city's two-way
radio communications system.
Maintenance responsibilities include
such other electronic equipment as
police radars, intercom systems,
sound and P.A. systems, electronic
sirens and video and audio
recording equipment.
This department is also
working on the design for
communications to include 911 for
the new Joint Law Enforcement
facility.
City Shops
One of the least publicized
departments of the City of Boise is
the Repair and Maintenance Shops
located at 825 South 17th Street.
The Shop is fully equipped
for servicing and maintaining some
300 pieces of mobile equipment
ranging from Cushman scooters to
heavy-duty Caterpillar road graders,
from high performance Police cars
to five -ton snow removal
equipment used at Municipal
Airport.
Sewer Division
The duty of this utility of
the City is to collect and treat all
contaminated water within the city
limits of Boise. There are
approximately 165 miles of sewer
collection lines ranging in size from
8" to 42".
28
The biological treatment
plant, a $6 million facility, is
located at 602 Lander Street. It
produces effluent that meets
United States Environmental
Protection Agency and Idaho State
Health Water Quality Standards.
Expansion of the Lander
plant, construction of the new West
Boise Treatment Plant (below) and
a major connector and trunk lines
were approved by voters in a
$4.5-million bond election in May,
1974. Phase I is expected to be
completed in 1976 on $7 -million of
contracts.
Boards And Commissions
Many citizens of Boise give their services on City Boards and
Commissions without pay. The assistance and guidance in city
government by these civic-minded and generous persons is invaluable.
Their reports and recommendations to the Administrative branch help
solve the problems which constantly confront a city of this size.
Membership
Aesthetics Review Board .................................. 19
Airport Commission ....................................... 5
Bicentennial Commission .................................. 20
Board of Adjustment ...................................... 5
Board of Appeals - Uniform Sign Code ........................ 3
Board of Appraisers - Sewer Service Charge .................... 5
Board of Electrical Examiners ............................... 3
Board of Examiners and Appeals ............................. 5
Board of Park Commissioners ................................ 7
Boise Housing Authority ................................... 5
Building Code Committee .................................. 8
Boise Redevelopment Agency ............................... 5
Civil Service Commission ................................... 3
Design Review Board ...................................... 7
Fire Prevention Code ...................................... 5
Fort Boise Community Center Board .......................... 9
Garbage and Refuse Board of Review .......................... 5
Gas Code Examining Board ................................. 3
Greenbelt Commission .................................... 15
Housing Advisory and Appeals Board ......................... .4
Library Board ............................................ 5
License Commission ....................................... 9
Water Study Commission ................................... 8
Parking Commission ....................................... 7
Parking and Transportation Committee .................... · ... 11
Performing Arts Commission ................................ 7
Planning-Zoning Commission ................................ 9
Plumbing Fixture and Materials Board ......................... 5
Recreation Committee .................................... 13
Regional Planning Committee ............................... 3
Safety Committee ....................................... 22
Sewer Commission ........................................ 8
Smoke Abatement Committee ............................... 2
Sign Code Committee ...................................... 3
Transportation Committee .................................. 5
Dia I For Service
Ada Council of Governments
Airport Manager
Art Gallery
Building Department
Housing and Relocation
Inspections
Bus
Cemetery (Morris Hill)
City Attorney
City Auditor
City Clerk
City Finance
City Planner
City Treasurer
Community Development
County Commissioners
Drivers License
Dog Pound
Drug Abuse
Emergency Services
Fire Department: Fire
Other
Garbage Pickup
Golf Course Municipal
Health (County) Dept.
Housing Division
Information & Services
Landscape
Library
Landfill (Hidden Hollow)
Mayor's Office
Marshall's Office
Magistrate Court
Marriage License
Mental Health Center
Emergency
Fort
Orchard
Municipal Systems
Parks Department
Picnic Shelter
Band Shell
Fireplaces and Picnic
Parking Meter Maintenance
Parking Tickets
Personnel Department
Police Department
Emergency
Other
Property Taxes
Public Works
Purchasing Agent
Recreation Department
Safety
Sanitation Inspector
Sewer Engineer
Sewer Billing
Streets
Street Lights Out
Trash Billing
Trash Pickup
Trees
Vital Statistics
Voting Information
Water (Boise Water)
Weeds
Welfare Department
Zoning
Zoo
384-8950
342-4621 ext. 220
345-8330
342-4621 ext. 325
342-4621 ext. 322
336-3300
342-4621 ext. 275
342-4621 ext. 235
342-4621 ext. 296
342-4621 ext. 231
342-4621 ext. 269
384-8950
342-4621 ext. 270
345-9400
384-8700
384-8720
343-3451
336-1630
384-8945
384-8945
343-4623
345-1265
343-5661
375-5211
342-4621 ext. 325
342-4621 ext. 224
342-4621 ext. 200
345-1820
384-8968
342-4621 ext. 221
384-8916
384-8921
384-8980
342-5671
384-3132
375-2113
342-4621 ext. 331
342-4621 ext. 276
342-4621 ext. 217
342-4621 ext. 276
342-4'621 ext. 203
342-4621 ext. 270
342-4621 ext. 299
342-4621 ext. 215
345-8200
342-2617
384-8791
342-4621 ext. 315
342-4621 ext. 270
342-4621 ext. 217
342-4621 ext. 340
384-8967
342-4621 ext. 315
342-4621 ext. 317
345-9711
345-7210
342-4621 ext. 308
345-1265
342-4621 ext. 284
384-2493
384-8980
345-3100
342-4621 ext. 315
384-8926
384-8950
342-4621 ext. 274
I
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A 1975 Dedication · Shoreline Park in the Boise River Greenbelt
Boise is the gateway to the Sawtooth Mountains and
numerous lakes and rivers. Boise's elevation is 2,7 39 feet
above sea level.
AV. DAILY TEMP.
Maximum
Mean
Minimum
BOISE CLIMATE
SUMMER
90.5
74.8
59.1
WINTER
34.6
27.3
19.9
ANNUAL
62.4
50.8
39.1
Annual precipitation averages 11.48 inches. Average summer
humidity at noon 41. Nights cool.
ORIGINAL SEAL- BOISE CITY