Summary of the May 2 Meetings

In the Work Session

Homelessness in Provo
Council members expressed interest in understanding why homelessness is on the rise and what that looks like in our community. Constituents reached out to Council members via social media, Open City Hall, and email regarding the recently passed camping ban. Kim Santiago arranged for Council to hear presentations from several in the community who regularly work with individuals who are homeless, including Robert Vernon of the Provo Housing Authority, Brent Crane of the Food and Care Coalition, and Brian Butler of Wasatch Mental Health.

Provo has about 20% of the homeless population in Utah County, but is host to roughly 75% of the housing (emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, etc.) in the County. Housing affordability is a factor for those with housing vouchers due to apartment rents being higher than what the average renter can afford. Council has invited the presenters to give additional information on affordable housing at the June 20 work meeting.

Westside Planning Committee Recommendations
Members of the Westside Planning Committee began meeting in September 2016 to research and discuss issues pertaining to the future of west Provo. Over the course of those meetings, the Committee identified seven policy areas. Planning Commission reviewed the recommendations on March 22, 2017. Council adopted them as Westside Development Policies to guide future land use planning in the southwest Provo neighborhoods and has asked Community Development to make recommendations as to how to incorporate them into the General Plan.


The Council also:

• Discussed an ordinance amending Provo City Code to change yard setback requirements in the one-family residential zone.
• Discussed a proposed amendment to the 2015 Five-Year Consolidated Plan.
• Heard another in a series of presentations from Provo City's Water Division. This presentation focused on water rights.
• Heard an update on the status of the Buckley Draw property.
• Discussed a resolution to place 40 acres at the mouth of Provo Canyon on the Surplus Property List. 
• Heard a presentation from Public Works on sanitation rates and composting. Several alternatives were proposed for the scheduled sanitation rate increases. More on this item will be heard at the May 16 work meeting.
• Discussed an ordinance to allow low density, medium density, and high density residential zones for the Special Development Plan Overlay Zone. This will be formally heard at the May 16 Council meeting.
• Discussed 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. This will be formally heard at the May 16 Council meeting.
• Discussed 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 will be formally heard at the May 16 Council meeting.

In the Formal Meeting

Proposed Budgets
The process and timeline for approving Provo City's budget is set by Utah State Code. Mayor Curtis presented the proposed budgets for Provo City Corporation, the Redevelopment Agency of Provo City Corporation, and the Provo City Storm Water Special Service District at the May 2 Council meeting. These proposed budgets are for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018. Council voted to continue the resolutions to tentatively adopt the three proposed budgets to the May 16 Council meeting to give them sufficient time to review and consider the budgets as stated in State Code. Public hearings for the proposed budgets will be held at the June 6 and June 20 regular Council meetings and the vote to approve the final budget will be held at the June 20 Council meeting.

The Council also:

• Honored graduates of the most recent Provology 101 class.
• Viewed a performance preview of "Anne of Green Gables" from the Covey Center for the Arts.
• Viewed a presentation of "Their Story is Our Story" regarding the refugee crisis.
• Held a public hearing on a substantial amendment to the 2015 Five-Year Consolidated Plan to include the City of Lehi as a member of the Utah Valley HOME for federal fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019. This opens a 30-day comment period. Comments should be directed to Dan Gonzalez in the Redevelopment Agency office.
• Continued to a future work meeting an ordinance amending Provo City Code to change yard requirements in the one-family residential zone, and formed a committee of three Council members to bring a proposal to that work meeting for discussion.

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 and Council Meeting.

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