Message from Mayor Randy Hall


As we embrace the onset of spring weather, I am reminded of the many elements that contribute to the quality of life we enjoy in our community. The City of Ketchum is made great, in part, by the miles of walkable trails, maintained streets and sidewalks, and more than a dozen community parks kept in pristine condition for the enjoyment of residents.

In April, we celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day prompts us to be good stewards of the environment and make sustainable, lifelong choices for the betterment of our community. Whether by recycling and repurposing items, saving energy and cutting costs, I encourage residents and businesses to keep our environment in mind when making daily choices. 

Our hearts go out this week to the families of two dear members of the Ketchum community. On March 22, Rod Sievers passed away. Rod was a dedicated supporter of our community and served on the Planning & Zoning Commission from 1998-2004. On April 16, in the early morning hours, a much-loved, long-time Valley resident and real estate professional, Cindy Kesting, left us all too soon. She had deep ties to Ketchum and her presence will be missed by many.

Green Code: One-Year Anniversary

 
The City of Ketchum is approaching the one-year anniversary of the Green Team’s successful effort to implement Ketchum’s Residential Green Building Code. To recognize the strides made toward responsible, sustainable building practices, the City of Ketchum will be hosting an event to discuss the costs and benefits of green building. Partners in the effort include the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Idaho Chapter and the City of Hailey.
 
“Making $ense of Green Building: Perspectives on Costs and Benefits,” is a free event open to the public and will be held at the Community Library in Ketchum on May 2nd. The panel presentation will include:
  • Introduction by Charlie Woodruff, Executive Director, USGBC Idaho Chapter
  • Gary Christensen, Boise developer of the Banner Bank Building, Idaho’s first and only LEED Platinum building
  • Sharon Patterson Grant, CSBA, LEED AP BD+C and Homes and owner of Eco Edge, a local green building consulting firm
  • Michael Doty, LEED AP Architect and designer of Cold Springs Crossing, the new multi-family NGBS Gold project in McHanville
On May 3rd, the public is invited to the USGBC Idaho Chapter Board Meeting from 9-11 AM in Hailey City Hall and to a Wood River Valley Green Building Tour (details to follow on City website calendar).
 
Following a panel discussion, some local projects will be recognized for their high-quality participation in the valley’s green building endeavors.
 
May marks a number of local green building program anniversaries: two years for Blaine County’s Build Smart, one year for the City of Ketchum’s Green Building Code and the beginning of the City of Hailey’s Build Better Program.  These initiatives are indicative of the commitment to sustainability throughout the Wood River Valley.

Catch-Up
on ​
Ketchum

April 22  
P&Z Meeting
City Hall
(5:30 PM)

April 24   
Field Use Meeting
Atkinson Park
(5:30 PM)

May 2   
Making $ense of Green Building: Perspectives on Costs & Benefits
Community Library
(5:15 PM)

May 3
USGBC Idaho Chapter Board Meeting and Green Building Tour 
Hailey City Hall
(9:00 - 11:00 AM)
       
      May 3       
Arbor Day

     May 6     
City Council Meeting
City Hall
(5:30 PM)

May 9
The Art of Making Places Public
Community Library
(6:00 PM)

May 13
P&Z Meeting
City Hall
(5:30 PM)

May 18
Ketchum Wide Open

May 20
City Council Meeting
City Hall
(5:30 PM)

Visit our website for more information.
ArtPlace Award
ArtPlace announced America’s Top 12 ArtPlaces, of which Ketchum was one. These are vibrant communities identified as being exceptionally successful in combining the arts, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, restaurants and a walkable lifestyle. This award is the result of commitment by City leaders, the Ketchum Arts Commission, the Gallery Association, Sun Valley Center for the Arts and others to the importance of public art and creative experience.
Arbor Day 
Arbor Day encourages better care of community trees.  Benefits to the community include cleaner air, shadier streets and the aesthetics achieved by a well-managed urban forest. Arbor Day will be celebrated in Ketchum on May 3rd at 3:00 PM with Ketchum’s City Arborist, Juerg Stauffacher, at Atkinson Park.
Pesticide-Free Parks 
The Ketchum Parks & Recreation Department takes great care to minimize the impact of noxious weeds on public lands that residents enjoy. Read more about the pest management policy here.
AROUND TOWN
Spring has arrived, snowmelt has started and the rivers are rising.  Every year the City issues an outreach letter pertaining to flooding.  
May 9 â€œThe Art of Making Places Public,” 6:00 PM Community Library
The Ketchum Arts Commission hosts popular Seattle public artist, Jack Mackie, for a free presentation open to the public focusing on public art and ideas for this community.

April 24 Field Use Meeting: 5:30 PM Atkinson Park
To reserve field space during the summer, all organized sports leagues must attend. Contact John via 726-7820 or jkearney@ketchumidaho.org.

River Park at Sun Peak/ Ketchum Recreation & Public Purposes Application
On May 6, an update will be provided to Ketchum City Council on the Recreation & Public Purposes Application for the white water park.  Go here for more information about the project.
Volunteer Highlight: The Green Team 
The Green Team was originally appointed by the Mayor in November 2010 to research and recommend a green building code for the City of Ketchum. Although the team has evolved, their mission has remained the same.
 
The team developed a recommendation for a residential code in 2011, conducted public outreach and education, and Council adopted it effective May 2012. The recommended building code encouraged “green,” high-efficiency, healthy building characteristics apply to residential construction and additions. 
 
The team is currently researching a commercial code and will be conducting upcoming public workshops for feedback from the building community. 
 
According to the Green Team, the Wood River Valley has a unique advantage when it comes to creating buildings that perform beyond minimum code requirements.  Our architects, builders and their clients have traditionally demanded the highest quality in their buildings.  They have proven themselves capable of reaching further and setting the highest standard of building quality in the State of Idaho.
 
Current team members:
  • Rebecca Bundy – Ketchum Associate Planner
  • Michael Doty – Architect & Ketchum Planning & Zoning Commissioner
  • Steve Kearns – Kearns, McGinnis and Vandenberg Inc. 
  • Joe Marx - Idaho Mountain Builders
  • Glen Carsten – American Mechanical Corporation
  • Cedric "Suds" Knehans/Joe Rutledge –Ketchum Building Inspectors
Nonprofit Highlight: ERC
The Environmental Resource Center (ERC) is the catalyst for sustainable living in the Wood River Valley. Through education, leadership and collaboration, the ERC is the community's resource for environmental information and action. The ERC is a nonprofit with a staff of four, who are supported by a Board of Directors. 
Incorporated in 1993, the ERC is celebrating its 20th year. The organization was started by a grassroots effort organized by a group of locals wanting to explore environmental issues and develop a greater understanding of the interdependence of local and global environmental issues.
 
Among their long list of accomplishments, Clean Sweep and the RISE events, environmental education programs in the schools and recycling in Blaine County are considered among their most successful. Clean Sweep is the valley-wide cleanup day that began in 1995.  Since its inception, close to 5,000 volunteers have cleaned up over 18 tons of trash.  RISE provides recycling opportunities at community events.  This program has reduced waste since 2001 by 42% representing more than 80,000 pounds of recyclables. 
 
The ERC is especially grateful for the community, which values the environment and the need to protect it, noting that there are opportunities everywhere to make a difference but one has to have the ability and awareness to take advantage of those opportunities. 
Staff Highlight: Rebecca Bundy 
The City of Ketchum Associate Planner, Rebecca Bundy, relocated her family to Ketchum in 2000 largely because of the abundant recreation in Ketchum and the surrounding area.
 
Rebecca considers the most important part of her job assisting the public. With a wide range of responsibilities, including green building, flood plain management, zoning and development issues, Rebecca strives to simplify City Code for residents and improve application processes to make them predictable and straightforward.
 
Rebecca’s recommendation when approaching work is “Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Generally, a crisis is just a problem to solve.” She considers her greatest success to be her two children, Kim and Tristan, who have grown to be talented, smart, kind and caring young adults.
 
Rebecca lives by the motto to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” which she applies to both the physical environment and those who occupy it.  She avoids commuting by car when possible, produces her own local food, recycles, composts and treats others with respect.  Rebecca says if she achieves all that and helps others do the same, “I would consider that my greatest accomplishment.”
Communication
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