81McCall Area Comprehensive Plan

M C IIncluded in this chapter is a description of McCall’s public facilities, utilities, and services. Locations, service providers, and current levels of services are presented. Public facilities such as fi re and police stations, libraries and other government buildings, and public utilities, such as water, sewer, natural gas, electricity, and cable television are identifi ed. Future levels of service are compared to population forecasts to identify prospective needs.

Community Conditions & TrendsFireThe McCall Fire Protection District (MFPD) serves a 100 square mile district in which the City of McCall is located in the northern half. The MFPD currently employs ten full-time staff and 30 on-call volunteers, and works to maintain staffi ng adequate to meet the standards set by the National Fire Protection Authority. Trends indicate that as growth continues in Valley County, the MFPD will need to grow in response. This will be evident in its attempts to hire and maintain a competent pool of workers, and to expand its facility at both East Deinhard Lane and elsewhere in the valley to maintain adequate response time. Additionally, the MFPD will need to expand its capabilities as a care provider as well as respond to the increasing requirements of the airport as that use expands and grows to its next level of service.

PoliceThe City of McCall Police Department employs ten sworn offi cers and two administrative staff, and has maintained this staffi ng level for the last nine years. Maintaining and recruiting staff is diffi cult given the cost of living and housing in the area, but the Department has established a dual career ladder and pay scale to address the situation. The Department works with other services and jurisdictions to respond to the volume of calls, but as crime in the area has become increasingly more violent, additional staff is needed. In addition, the Department’s physical location in City Hall is considered to be grossly inadequate now (2,000 square feet while 10,000 square feet is needed), thus trends indicate an immediate need for expansion or relocation.

Chapter Nine - Public Facilities, Utilities, and Services9M

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Figure 25 - Infrastructure

83McCall Area Comprehensive Plan

StormwaterA 1997 Regional Stormwater Plan indicates that there are at least 13 stormwater drainage basins, six with priority needs, in the McCall area. In addition to identifying basins, the plan shows previously existing stormwater conveyance systems and existing ponds; recommends pipes and pipe sizes; and identifi es potential areas for regional stormwater improvement sites. However, area development in the last decade and improvements to technology have created a need for a more in-depth review and update to this document.

Third Street, continuing on to Lake Street, is the main arterial through town, and is also State Highway 55. This right of way bisecting the city is a major trunk that could be used for conveying stormwater. However, a general lack of funding at both the City and the Idaho Transportation Department, the two main right-of-way owners within the city, has prevented the further planning and development of a master stormwater system. The consequence of this is that recommendations from the Plan typically only occur during new development. This results in a system being pieced together over time that focuses on the immediate problem and not a future overall solution.

The City developed and uses the Drainage Management Guidelines (DMG) as the guiding document for handling stormwater in new development. A copy of this document can be found on the City’s website. City staff requires implementation of best management practices (BMPs) identifi ed in the Plan, the DMG, and other sources in new developments.

The Payette Lake Watershed Advisory Group is an advisory group working on a watershed and water quality issues. The Payette Lake Protective League is an advocacy group focused on Payette Lake and water quality. Stormwater runoff is a concern to McCall citizens because of its potential to erode land and carry sediment and other pollutants to natural water systems, thus degrading the quality of those systems. Planning on a city-wide scale, updating and improving the DMG and City Code (as necessary), and implementing system connections and BMPs identifi ed in the updated plan, are all important ways to improve the management of stormwater in the city.

WastewaterThe City of McCall’s wastewater collection system is supported by two different entities: the City of McCall and the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District. The City’s collection system has some defi ciencies, but overall is functioning adequately with a few system repairs defi ned. However, the City is facing an immediate wastewater disposal shortfall (within the next fi ve to ten years at most).

The City is dealing with this issue by metering the release of building permits, allowing for the calculated use of the remaining capacity of the City’s wastewater disposal system. The City’s effl uent disposal system consists of blending treated wastewater with irrigation water and disposing of the mix through agricultural land irrigation. This system is based on landowner agreements that generally extend through the 2016 growing season, and that may be extended or terminated after that time. Additionally, it is land intensive—a quality that may not be feasible as land prices continue to rise. To solve this issue, the City has begun the process of developing a Wastewater Facilities Plan (WWFP) to develop the long term solution for wastewater management for the community.

The WWFP was approved by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in September of 2007. The WWFP supports a schedule showing a new treatment regime in place by 2013. Other work to conduct standard improvements and upgrades within the collection system will be ongoing on a yearly basis as budget allows. Upsizing will occur during new development or redevelopment as determined necessary, generally based on the proposed build-out needs upstream of the developing area.

Information from the development of the WWFP has been used by the team developing the Comprehensive Plan. The updating of the two plans in the future will continue to go forward together in a coordinated manner.

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Figure 26 - Irrigated Areas

85McCall Area Comprehensive Plan

Water SupplyBig Payette Lake provides good quality drinking water for the City of McCall. The city has a six million gallon per day treatment plant with a 750,000 gallon clear well to provide storage. In addition, the City has recently brought online a new one million gallon tank on the east side of town. During the summer of 2007, a new 400,000 gallon storage tank will be brought online on the west side of town. These two tanks, in conjunction with the Treatment Plant, provide adequate storage and pressure for the existing community.

A new tank and possibly a new pressure zone will be required when development begins in the southwestern corner of the city limits. Additionally, based on recent modifi cations to the DEQ’s Rules for drinking water, the City is required to make an immediate improvement to the water system that was previously unanticipated. This improvement will include the increase in pumping capacity to the city’s intake system. To fully understand the impact of the modifi ed rules to the city’s system, the City is evaluating the system and preparing an amendment to the existing Water Master Plan. Based on a preliminary review of these new rules, it appears that several improvements will be required within the next couple of years, assuming a continued growth rate of between three and six percent. Booster pump stations will be developed as needed to provide adequate pressure to developments in higher zones.

Figure 27 shows the location of critical features of the water system and shows the boundaries of the pressure zones.

Health Care FacilitiesLocated at 1000 State Street, the McCall Memorial Hospital is a 15 bed care facility with 24-hour emergency services. The hospital’s service area covers a 75-mile radius that includes the communities of Cascade, Council, Donnelly, Lake Fork, McCall, New Meadows, and Riggins. Visiting staff and surgeons include urologists, gastroenterologists, a neurosurgeon, mental health specialists, and a general surgeon. On-site staff includes an internist, radiologist, physician assistants, CRNAs, and four family physicians. Radiology services at the hospital include a CAT scanner, ultrasound, mammography, 32 multi-slice

CT scanner, and a mobile MRI machine. A 2002 remodel of the Allen-Nokes Center allowed space for a sleep lab, mental health facilities, audiology, and St. Luke’s Homecare and Hospice. The hospital also offers pharmacy services, laboratory services, social services, physical therapy, obstetrical and newborn care, senior programs, educational programs, and various support groups.

Utilities CableCable One provides cable service to the City of McCall. There are three package types offered: cable TV, digital cable, and internet. These can also be bundled together to help cut costs to the consumer.

TelephoneThe basic telephone service in the McCall area is provided by Frontier Communication. Frontier provides both local and long distance services as well as internet access and they currently have over 2.4 million access lines. Several national cellular phone service providers can be used in the McCall area. These include Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T/Cingular. Monthly plans with these providers often depend on a number of options. There is also one local cellular company named Altel Communications, which provides service in the McCall area.

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Figure 27 - Water System

87McCall Area Comprehensive Plan

Natural GasWhile the City of McCall does not have access to natural gas, there are four propane companies that supply residential and business services to the area. Rates depend upon usage levels and thus are contingent upon the size of the dwelling or building. Since business buildings tend to have higher usage levels, corporate rates for propane are generally less than residential rates. Gas is stored in the area and supplied to the citizens and businesses through tanks that exist on site.

Electrical McCall’s electricity is provided by the Idaho Power Company from hydroelectric facilities located at Brownlee, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon reservoirs along the Snake River. Idaho Power has multiple rate categories based on usage: residential, small general use, and large general use.

IrrigationOutside of McCall, the Lake Irrigation District supplies water to just under 7,000 acres for agricultural purposes. Each acre has a stored water right of “one miner’s inch” which is equivalent to 9 gpm. Little Payette Lake and Brown’s Pond supply irrigation water to these agricultural areas.

Currently, there is a 20-year agreement to supply treated effl uent water to farmers for irrigation purposes for 2,100 acres through the J-Ditch Pipeline, located south of McCall. The long-term goal is to supply 2,400 to 2,500 acres with the estimated amount of effl uent water. At present, there is a mixed ratio of irrigation water to effl uent water being distributed. The City plans to acquire land application permits so that full-strength effl uent can be applied at 100 percent during the growing season, rather than the mixed ratio.

Solid Waste ManagementLakeshore Disposal, located at 200 Industrial Loop, contracts with Valley County to provide solid waste disposal service for McCall and Valley County. Subscription for solid waste service is optional, and some residents choose to haul their waste to the Valley County Transfer Station, located at 240 Spink Lane near Donnelly. Annually, approximately 12,480 tons of material is collected throughout Valley County.

Valley County owns and maintains recycling facilities in McCall and the surrounding communities, and Lakeshore Disposal contracts to manage the recycled materials. McCall’s recycling facility is located on Jacob Street. Glass is crushed and used locally in road mix, wood products are chipped and used locally, and other recyclable materials are transferred to recycling centers in Boise. Due to the recent efforts of Lakeshore Disposal and Recycle Partners, a local grass roots group dedicated to expanding recycling facilities and services, more types of materials are able to be recycled. Currently, glass, plastic, cardboard, newspaper, magazines, offi ce paper, tin, and aluminum are collected. Recycle Partners is also working with the Valley County Commissioners and the City of McCall to fi nd a suitable location for a larger collection facility which would include a baler on site.

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Community ConcernsDuring the Plan update process, stakeholders and the community emphasized the following public facilities issues:

• Development projects should contribute appropriate public amenities such as open spaces and parks, public access, and infrastructure.

• Stormwater management is an essential part of managing water quality in the lake.

• Snow removal techniques needs to preserve walking routes.

• The hospital is not only an important community facility, but also an important employer in McCall.

• Increasing opportunities for recycling is important.

• There is strong community support for community gathering spaces in the downtown.

• Civic uses, particularly the library, are highly valued community assets and important uses within the downtown.

• The City’s public works property functions well in its central location in the downtown. However, if a suitable alternative location could be found, it would open up a key property for housing or mixed use that is supportive of downtown objectives.

89McCall Area Comprehensive Plan

Goals and ObjectivesGoals:

I. Ensure that public facilities, utilities, services and municipal buildings are managed to last their intended life, provide for the requirements of the community, implement the Comprehensive Plan vision and be responsive to identifi ed social, physical, economic and environmental constraints.

II. Maintain outstanding public safety facilities and services.

III. Assure growth and development impacts on the community are mitigated and developments share in the responsibility for providing needed infrastructure and public facilities, utilities, housing, and services.

Objectives: a. Ensure that the city’s civic campus is a key anchor

of the downtown.

b. Provide a multi-purpose community center.

c. Advocate development of performing arts center.

d. Furnish adequate and accessible parking to support the economic and pedestrian vitality of the downtown and other key public areas.

e. Manage sewer and water rates.

f. Improve and uphold the water quality of Payette Lake (See Environment Goal for the objective regarding a Lake Management Plan).

g. Ensure effi cient solid waste management, and support enhanced recycling service and opportunities. Coordinate with Valley County in solid waste management.

h. Support fi re, safety, and police services.

i. Update the Design Guidelines and Chapter 14 Outdoor Lighting of Title 3 to incorporate a specifi c street lighting plan for Third Street (Highway 55) and the Central Business District.

j. Evaluate the relocation of the existing city public works facility to a suitable alternative location. Consider the use of the existing property for housing, mixed use and other uses supportive of the downtown.

k. Develop and implement development impact fees and other mitigative measures to assure adequate infrastructure and public services.

l. Provide for the expansion of the public library within the civic campus area, including enlarged children’s and young adult areas, meeting rooms, public restrooms, special collection areas, and expanded areas for computers, leisure reading, work rooms, and general collection development.

m. Revise and update Drainage Management Guidelines (DMG) and improve regional stormwater issues throughout the city, especially along Highway 55.

n. Support continued development of the Central Idaho Historical Museum, including a facility for museum collections.

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