Summary of the May 16 Meetings

In the Work Session

City Center and Public Safety Building

Provo City has been exploring the feasibility of a new city center and public safety facility. The current City Center building was dedicated in 1972 and has become increasingly inadequate as the home of city services due to structural and systems problems and the lack of necessary space. A firm was hired to explore several options and those options were presented to Council. Administration will continue with the review and will return with more information and a discussion on how the Council would like to proceed.

Joint Meeting with Utah County Commission
Council routinely holds joint meetings with various boards and commissions, Orem City Council, and the Provo Board of Education. This was the first joint meeting held with the Utah County Commission, with the anticipation of meeting annually to become better acquainted and discuss mutual items of interest. Council members and Commissioners took time to strengthen their relationships, share goals and priorities, and find common ground in those goals. Council shared its priorities and Mayor Curtis followed with a list that included golf course redevelopment and the airport. County Commissioners listed their priorities as economic development, agriculture, addressing domestic violence, tackling intergenerational poverty, renovation of the historic courthouse, and the low-income housing crisis.

One area the Commission hoped to address together was the parking issue downtown. They felt an impact to the convention center due to a perceived lack of parking. They were encouraged by Provo City's decision to hire a parking coordinator. Council expressed their support in finding a common solution to the parking issue that would make the convention center a better economic engine. Commissioner Ivie gave a detailed explanation of the County's decision to discontinue diesel emissions testing and Council Member Harding gave a recap of the presentation on homelessness from the May 2 work session. Council members expressed their hope that this meeting would build good faith between the two entities and look forward to meeting jointly again in the future.


The Council also:

• Heard a presentation from Council staff on a preliminary review of the proposed FY2018 Provo City Budget and the creation of a "Citizens Budget."
• Discussed an ordinance amending Provo City Code to change yard setback requirements in the one-family residential zone.
• Heard another in a series of presentations from Provo City's Water Division. This presentation focused on water pressure.
• Discussed sanitation rate increase options and composting fees. Council indicated their preference to set composting fees at $3 per load for residents and $6 for nonresidents and to implement a straight 10% increase on sanitation rates (black, blue, and green cans) beginning July 1. Council will discuss options for long-term rate structures at a future work meeting.
• Discussed a zone change from heavy commercial to low density residential for a property at 801 West 500 South in the Franklin Neighborhood in order to develop four town homes. This will be formally heard at the June 6 Council meeting.
• Discussed a request for a street vacation of 1780 South running west from Industrial Parkway to facilitate development of self-storage units on land in the East Bay Neighborhood. This will be formally heard at the June 6 Council meeting.

In the Formal Meeting

Elected Officials Compensation
Council heard the recommendations of the Elected Officials’ Compensation Commission in April to increase Council members’ annual salaries to $18,000 and the Mayor's salary to $120,000. These recommendations were based on an evaluation of the annual salaries in comparable Utah cities and consideration of the scope of duties for each position. After taking time to review the information, Council approved the change in compensation for the Mayor and Council members, effective January 2018. The goal of regularly (every four years) reviewing the compensation for elected officials is to ensure that quality candidates for these positions aren't discouraged from running based on inadequate pay for the duties required of them.

The Council also:

• Honored Stan Andreasen of the Provo Fire Department as Employee of the Month for April
• Heard a presentation on resources for helping residents connect to their neighborhoods
• Passed a resolution approving the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
• Passed a resolution approving the HOME Investment and Partnerships program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
• Passed an ordinance to allow low density, medium density, and high density residential zones for the Special Development Plan Overlay Zone (Riverbottoms Neighborhood).
• Passed an ordinance amending the General Plan regarding land use for the northeast corner of 3700 North University Avenue to allow retail commercial, professional office, and residential land uses in the Riverbottoms Neighborhood.
• Approved a zone change request from A1.5 to Specialty Support Commercial, Professional Office, and Low Density Residential with a Specific Development Plan Overlay for a property in the Riverbottoms Neighborhood. This and the previous two items were to facilitate a development that includes a Jiffy Lube, office space, and town homes.
• Passed an ordinance amending Provo City Code to allow apartment units and change various requirements in the PRO-R22 zone in the Riverbottoms Neighborhood. 
• Held a public hearing to gauge interest in a proposed expansion of the Foothill Park parking permit area. This will now be sent to the Parking Committee.
• Passed an ordinance amending Provo City Code to change yard requirements in the one-family residential zone.
• Passed resolutions tentatively adopting the proposed FY2018 budgets for Provo City, the Redevelopment Agency, and Stormwater Special Service District. Budget hearings are set for June 6 and 20, 2017, during the regular Council meetings. Public comments are also being accepted on Open City Hall.

This is a general summary of the Council's meetings. For a more detailed agenda and minutes, please visit our public documents site: http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx
Video recordings: Work Meeting part 1, part 2, and part 3 and Council Meeting.

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