Boise Mayor Dave Bieter stood in one of the city's landmark buildings Tuesday night and vowed to serve the city's residents for the next four years.
Bieter and City Council members Elaine Clegg, David Eberle and Alan Shealy took their oaths of office during a council meeting at the Boise Depot.
"Today is our moment and today is our story, so let's all get to work," Bieter said, quoting from his mother's favorite song. He was sworn in by his brother, Christopher Bieter, a magistrate judge.
Councilman Jim Tibbs, who also ran for mayor, thanked Bieter and the council for their service. "I want to make sure you understand, I just wish you the very best," Tibbs said.
In an interview this week, the Idaho Statesman asked Bieter to outline his priorities for his next term in office.
NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIESBieter wants to complete four neighborhood libraries and begin construction on a new main branch Downtown.
The city plans to sell surplus property to pay for part of the cost of the libraries, but most is already accounted for in city budgets.
A new $15 million to $20 million Downtown branch likely will be funded by a combination of private development dollars, donations, public funds and some sort of bond, Bieter said.
"Even if it's not completed, I'd like to begin construction in the next four years," Bieter said.
Developers including BoDo mastermind Mark Rivers have shown interest in a multiuse development along the river that that would include a new main library.
MAKE BOISE GREENERBieter wants to continue expanding the city's geothermal heating system, which is soon to cross the Boise River to the university, thanks to a $175,000 federal boost.
The Mayor's Climate Protection Program Advisory Committee has laid out a laundry list of recommendations to improve the Valley's air quality and address global warming. Bieter said he'd like to check many items off that list in the next four years. The ideas range from requiring energy efficient homes to planting new trees.
Bieter said he'd like city ordinances and city incentives to preserve space in the Foothills and encourage new urban development south and east of town.
EASIER BOND APPROVAL As the city continues to grow, Bieter said, the importance of the Boise Airport also will increase.
Bieter wants the state to make it easier to gain voter approval to borrow money for expensive parking structures and facilities.
"That needs to be addressed in the next four years," Bieter said. "We are the most remote city of our size in the country. Economically, it will always be a lifeline."
BOISE'S CHILDRENBieter wants to expand the city's after-school programs so that "every child has a safe and productive place to go."
The city recently partnered with the Boise School District to create recreation centers at two elementary schools.
BETTER BUILDING DESIGNRecently, Councilman Alan Shealy took the development community to task over unattractive buildings in the city's core. Bieter said he supports giving more discretion to design review committee members, planning and zoning commission members and the City Council.
"It's a situation of 'we know it when we see it,' " Bieter said.
Kathleen Kreller: 377-6418
