Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked choice voting (RCV) allows voters to rank candidates in order of choice. If your top candidate can't win, your vote counts for your next choice, until someone wins with a majority. Utah passed legislation earlier this year to allow cities to pilot ranked choice voting. A presentation was given at the September 25 work meeting. Cities can opt into an RCV pilot program. The opt-in is nonbinding, but cities must declare their intent in a letter to the Lieutenant Governor by December 31, 2018.


After discussion in the December 18 work meeting (shown in the video above), Council issued the following statement of intent:

Summary of Action | Meetings on December 11, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

12:00 PM, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action


Agenda

Approval of Minutes


1. November 29, 2018 Joint Zoning & Housing Committee Meeting
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business

2. A discussion on an ordinance amending Provo City Code to clarify requirements regarding
customers that generate electric energy (18-103) Presentation only. This item was already
scheduled for the December 11, 2018 Council Meeting.


3. A discussion on policies regarding impact fee policy (18-099)
A motion that the Council commit to have a discussion at a later point regarding an exemption for low income housing and criteria for the necessary City ordinance and that the Housing Committee prepare a recommendation, but that the discussion not delay a vote on the impact fees at the December 11, 2018, Council Meeting was approved 6:1, with Kay Van Buren opposed.
A motion to change the implied motion to reflect an effective date of July 1, 2019 was approved 5:2, with George Stewart and George Handley opposed.


4. An update on the state loan and financing for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and a discussion on
the Westside map (18-052)
A motion to indicate that the Council is interested in moving forward with the loan offered by the
State as a general method of funding the sewer treatment plant, that the Council invite a proposal
from staff regarding the issue of sewer capacity banking, and that the Council evaluate the net
present value calculation of the State loan vs. traditional revenue bonds was approved 7:0.


Saturday, December 15, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on December 18, 2018

Citizens Agenda

Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://agendas.provo.org

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
12:30 PM, Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business

  1. A discussion on a statement of intent regarding the voting policy in Provo City. (18-088)
    • Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of choice. If your top candidate can’t win, your vote counts for your next choice, until someone wins with a majority. Utah passed legislation earlier this year to allow cities to pilot ranked choice voting. A presentation was given at the September 25 work meeting. Cities have until December 31 to indicate to the State if they would like to utilize ranked choice voting in the 2019 election.
  2. A presentation and discussion on recent updates to Stormwater requirements from the State Division of Water Quality. (18-102)
    • Erica Gaddis from the State Division of Water Quality will be here to present on the recent updates to requirements.
  3. A discussion on an appropriation for the Urban Deer Program. (18-061)
    • In FY 2016, the Municipal Council appropriated $35,000 to fund an urban deer removal program on an interim basis. On May 15, 2018, the council evaluated the program and voted to extend the program for an additional year. In that motion, the council recommended the funding be included in the FY 2019 budget. Through the changes that were made to the budget, that change was not incorporated into the new-year budget. The annual cost for administering the program last year approached $20,000. The request before the council is to appropriate an additional $20,000 to fund the FY2019 portion of the program.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on December 11, 2018

Citizens Agenda

Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.

The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://agendas.provo.org

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
12:00 PM, Tuesday, December, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Approval of Minutes
  1. November 29, 2018 Joint Zoning and Housing Committee Meeting
Business
  1. A discussion on an ordinance amending Provo City Code to clarify that unauthorized energy generation shall not receive any rate or bill credits (18-103)
    • Provo City Code prohibits self-generation of electric energy unless the generation is licensed by the Provo City Energy Department. Additionally, licenses for electric self-generation by industrial and commercial customers have only recently been authorized by the code. Because self-generation without a license it prohibited, such generation would not qualify for any rate or bill credits. However, with rising interest in self-generation by residential, commercial, and industrial customers, the Energy Department believes it would be prudent to add language to the code explicitly stating that entities that engage in unauthorized self-generation shall not receive any rate or bill credits.
  2. A discussion on policies regarding impact fee policy (18-099)
    • There is a clear cost of growth in any community. A city's infrastructure provides a given quality of life in a community, and growth can put strain on that infrastructure. Water, electricity, sewer, street systems, and more must be modified to address the needs resulting from new growth. State law provides a mechanism, called impact fees, to collect funds to offset the City's cost of accommodating that growth. Provo City's ordinance provides that impact fees and capital facilities plans should be reviewed on five year intervals. The Impact Fee Review Committee (comprised of Council members, City staff, developers, and community members) has been meeting since early 2017 and working with a consulting firm to bring forward updated recommendations. The results of their work was presented at an Impact Fee Open House on November 8, 2018. Council will be holding public hearings at the November 27 and December 11 meetings and will then vote on the adoption of updated impact fees. Current impact fees are listed on the consolidated fee schedule.
  3. An update on the state loan and financing for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and a discussion on the Westside map (18-052)
    • The Public Works Department will come to provide an update to the Municipal Council on the discussions that the Public Works has had with the State regarding a loan for a portion of the cost of this project. They will also update the Council on the location issues that they've uncovered as they've started to narrow the location for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Finally, they intend to discuss the financing options available to pay for the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on November 27, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

12:30 PM, Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action



Business

1. A discussion on the proposed Council Meeting schedule for 2019 Presentation only. This item will be scheduled for the December 11, 2018 Council Meeting.

2. A presentation on the option for municipalities to create a local government disaster fund
Presentation only.

3. A discussion on an ordinance amending Provo City Code to clarify that unauthorized energy
generation shall not receive any rate or bill credits Presentation only. This item will be scheduled
for the December 11, 2018 Work and Council Meetings.


4. A presentation about the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Presentation only.

5. A presentation on the Timp Kiwanis Bounous Park (TKP) LWCF Final Environmental Assessment
Review (17-036) Presentation only. This item was already scheduled for the November 27, 2018
Council Meeting.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

What Does the Provo City Council Do?

As the City's legislative body, the City Council plays a crucial role. You may know who is serving on the Council, but what exactly do they do? 

Here's a fun video to give you a better understanding:


Monday, November 26, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on November 13, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

1:00 PM, Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action



Business

1.  Approval of minutes: October 25, 2018 Joint Housing & Zoning Committee Approved by unanimous consent.

2.  A report from Downtown Provo, Inc. (18-027) Presentation only.

3. A presentation on OnBase, the Council's new agenda management software (18-095)
Presentation only.

4. A discussion on a proposal related to Neighborhood Housing Services of Provo and homes
purchased with CDBG/HOME Dollars (18-076)
A motion to request RDA staff to make amendments to the contracts and documents to
implement the changes discussed and to bring to a future Council Meeting was approved 7:0.


5. An update on the Interim Transportation Oriented Development (ITOD) zone as it relates to The
Mix (18-097) A motion to request staff to prepare a rezone from SC3 to SC2 and ITOD and to begin the process of moving this forward for approval was approved 7:0.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on November 27, 2018

Citizens Agenda

Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.

The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://agendas.provo.org

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
12:30 PM, Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A discussion on the proposed Council Meeting schedule for 2019
    • The Council is required to publish a schedule for the next calendar year. A draft has been put together for Council to consider.
  2. A presentation on the option for municipalities to create a local government disaster fund
    • A presenter from the Division of Emergency Management under the Utah Department of Public Safety will speak to the Council about the option in State Code for municipalities to create a local government disaster fund.
  3. A discussion on an ordinance amending Provo City Code to clarify that unauthorized energy generation shall not receive any rate or bill credits
    • Provo City Code prohibits self-generation of electric energy unless the generation is licensed by the Provo City Energy Department. Additionally, licenses for electric self-generation by industrial and commercial customers have only recently been authorized by the code. Because self-generation without a license it prohibited, such generation would not qualify for any rate or bill credits. However, with rising interest in self-generation by residential, commercial, and industrial customers, the Energy Department believes it would be prudent to add language to the code explicitly stating that entities that engage in unauthorized self-generation shall not receive any rate or bill credits.
  4. A presentation about the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce
    • Councilor David Harding asked Rona Rahlf, President of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, to present to the Council about the Chamber's efforts on affordable housing. She will also provide an overview of their Valley Visioning initiative.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Council Certifies Results for Bond

The Provo Municipal Council, meeting today as the Board of Canvassers, certified the results of the 2018 municipal general obligation bond election. Council members were impressed by the voter turnout and grateful to all who participated in this year’s election. The Police, Fire and City Facilities Bond passed, allowing up to $69 million in bonds to be issued to fund the replacement of Fire Station 2, headquarters for the police and fire departments, emergency dispatch (911) facilities, and city hall.

Council Chair Gary Winterton said, “I speak for the entire Council when I say that we don’t take the increased tax burden lightly, but we are grateful that we can now move forward responsibly to replace these failing facilities. I want our Provo residents to know how much we appreciate the time they took to get involved, take tours of the facilities, come to meetings, and to share with us their thoughts and concerns. Thank you!”

With the passage of the bond, Provo City leaders intend to issue general obligation bonds early in 2019 and to issue by the end of this year requests for proposals leading to the selection of architects and construction managers for the Police, Fire and City Facilities project and the Fire Station #2 project. It is anticipated that site improvements for the Police, Fire and City Facilities project would begin in 2019 with construction to continue into 2022. Fire Station #2 has a shorter construction timeline with completion expected in 2020.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on November 13, 2018

Citizens Agenda

Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://agendas.provo.org

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
1:00 PM, Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. Approval of minutes
  2. A report from Downtown Provo, Inc. (18-027)
    • A semiannual update from Downtown Provo Inc. on their current initiatives and successes, as well as updates on any programs or projects.
  3. A presentation on OnBase, the Council's new agenda management software (18-095)
    • As part of the City's Provo360 project, the Council made a transition from SIRE to OnBase Agenda Management as the primary software to manage Council agendas. The system introduces many new features which will help Council staff and other city staff to work more effectively to conduct city and Council business. The presentation will cover how the public and Council will use the available resources to access Council agendas and materials.
  4. A discussion on a proposal related to Neighborhood Housing Services of Provo and homes purchased with CDBG/HOME Dollars (18-076)
    • Several years ago, Neighborhood Housing Services (now known as NeighborWorks) purchased and rehabbed several houses using funds borrowed from the Redevelopment Agency that originally came from the Federal Government.  Based on the type and amount of funding used, the homes were required to remain affordable for specific durations of time. Recently, there has been interest in forgiving some of the loans. The RDA is concerned that should some of these houses no longer remain affordable, the Federal Government (HUD) could demand the funds back from Provo that were originally used to rehab them. The RDA is seeking guidance from the Council about whether to forgive the write-off amounts on all of the loans, the write-off amounts on some of the loans, and/or whether to establish a covenant between NeighborWorks and Provo City that would ensure the houses in question stay affordable.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on October 23, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

3:30 PM, Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action



Business

1.  A discussion regarding public comments received from the Draft Environmental Assessment and an update on the Final  Environmental Assessment preparation for the proposed Land and Water Conversion Fund property conversion (17-036) Presentation only.

2.  A discussion on the proposed language for the resolution supporting housing affordability in Utah County (18-070) A motion to remove “and fees” from line 40 of the draft resolution was approved 6:0, with Councilor Kay Van Buren excused.

Policy Items Referred from the Planning Commission

3.  A discussion for a request to rezone portions of the East Bay Golf Course from Regional Shopping Center (SC3) and Planned Industrial Commercial (PIC) designations to Public Facilities (PF). East Bay Neighborhood. (PLRZ20180323) Presentation only. This item was already scheduled for the October 23, 2018 Council Meeting.

4.  A discussion on a request to amend the General Plan Map regarding land west of the I-15 Freeway and south of the Provo River. Lakewood, Sunset, Provo Bay and Fort Utah neighborhoods. (PLGPA20180225) Presentation only. This item was already scheduled for the October 23, 2018 Council Meeting.

Summary of Action | Meetings on October 9, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action


Business

1.  A discussion on a conservation easement for Rock Canyon (17-085) Presentation only.

2.  A discussion on a Council Intent Statement regarding the City Center location and the use of land in the downtown Provo area (18-093) A motion to approve the intent statement as amended in the meeting was approved 7:0.

3.  A discussion on recommendations regarding a budget committee (18-075) An amended motion to eliminate the budget subcommittee and resort to the Council as a committee of the whole regarding budget issues was approved 7:0.

A motion to break until 3:45 PM was approved 7:0.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Citizens Guide to Information on the Bond

http://www.provo.org/departments/city-recorder/elections First, Some Voter Info

If you are registered to vote, you should have received your ballot in the mail by now. If you have not, please contact the Utah County Clerk's Office to check your voter registration status (801-851-8128 or http://www.utahcounty.gov/Dept/ClerkAud/Elections/). If you are not registered to vote, you can register online at vote.utah.gov or at the Utah County Clerk's Office. Voter registration deadline is Tuesday, October 30. Not sure how to vote by mail? Here's a great video that show you how. Mailing in your ballot requires a first class postage stamp, but you can deliver it in person to the customer service lobby at Provo's City Center Building (351 West Center Street) to save a stamp.

Website for Police, Fire and City Facilities Bond

Provo City has established a website with details about the bond, links to background information and documents, and answers to frequently asked questions. VoteProvo.com also provides links to the voter information guide and informational videos. Additional information is added to the site as it becomes available.


Submit Your Questions

The Council has opened an area on Open City Hall for people to submit questions about the bond. You can also read the answers to questions others have submitted.

Town Hall

The Council held a Town Hall on October 23 to discuss the proposed bond (see video below). It included a presentation on the background of the current facilities and what brought Provo City to where we are now with the bond on the ballot. The presentation also included a timeline for how the project would move forward if the bond passes and what would likely happen if the bond fails. Members of the community were invited to speak for and against the bond and the remaining time was given to a question and answer session.



We have linked to the individual questions/comments in case you want to go directly to that portion of the video:
1. Question about options considered about site selection
2. Question about how median home value was determined.
3. Question on some of the specific bond language.
4. Question about the tax structure and why property tax has to be used. 
5. Question about how the costs of the proposed new facilities were determined.
6. Question about potential redevelopment on current site and whether any proceeds could be used to offset bond costs. 
7. Statement supporting the bond.
8. Could the other sites considered be used without such extensive remodeling? What happens with cost overruns?
9. Mayor and others - additional responses to question about tax base and why property tax has to be used.
10. Architect explains more about how the cost estimates were prepared and amounts included to prevent cost overruns.

 On display at the Town Hall were some timelines:





* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on October 23, 2018

Citizens Agenda


Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
3:30 PM, Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A discussion regarding public comments received from the Draft Environmental Assessment and an update on the Final Environmental Assessment preparation for the proposed Land and Water Conversion Fund property conversion (17-036)
    • The public comment period was reopened for the draft environmental assessment for the Timp-Kiwanis Bounous property conversion. This is an update on the public comments received. It will be formally heard at the November 13 Council meeting.
  2. A discussion on the proposed language for the resolution supporting housing affordability in Utah County (18-070)
    • Council reviewed an affordable housing resolution from the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce at the September 25 work meeting and wanted to consider additional revisions.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Mayor and Council Clarify Details on Bond


In August, the Municipal Council passed a resolution providing for a local special bond election for the purposes of “acquiring, constructing, and equipping in the downtown are a new police and fire headquarters, emergency dispatch center, and city hall.” As Provo residents have sought to understand the reasons for and parameters around the Provo Police, Fire, and City Facilities Bond, the Council and Mayor worked to answer questions particular to the location of the new facilities.

At the work meeting on October 9, Mayor Kaufusi and Council members discussed the options for locating new facilities downtown and issued this statement:

The Mayor and Municipal Council of Provo presently and firmly intend to build the new police, fire, and city building on the same block as the current city building, but at the west end of the block, along 500 West.  

While we’re open to other locations in Provo’s downtown and will take a careful look at meaningful opportunities, only a truly great alternative would entice us away from our present plan. 

We are excited for the opportunity to bring new businesses, attractions, and vitality to Center Street once the current city building is gone. We look forward to exploring these possibilities in the near future.

Monday, October 8, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on October 9, 2018

Citizens Agenda


Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A discussion on a conservation easement for Rock Canyon (17-085)
    • The Rock Canyon Preservation Alliance has presented the idea of placing a conservation easement on Rock Canyon to preserve the property’s natural habitat in the future. Brian Jones from Legal will update the Council on what is included in the current easement draft, and then Doug Robins from Parks and Recreation will present an alternative proposal. Afterwards, Erik Davis and Ginger Woolley from the Rock Canyon Preservation Alliance will respond.
  2. A discussion on a Council Intent Statement regarding the City Center location and the use of land in the downtown Provo area (18-093)
    • This is meant to convey Council’s intent regarding the proposed new facilities.
  3. A presentation on recommendations regarding a budget committee (18-075)
    • Since January 2018, the Council’s Budget and Audit Committee has not met, partially because members of the Council have been satisfied with budget explanations from the Administration, and partially because the Mayor’s Office, as the fulfillment of a campaign promise, put together an ad hoc committee to make recommendations regarding the composition and function of a citizens’ budget committee. In other words, there was a committee in place whose purpose was to research and discuss budget committees. This is a continuation of the discussion from the September 25 Council work meeting.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on September 25, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

12:00 PM, Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action
 

Approval of Minutes
  • August 16, 2018 Joint Meeting with the Provo School Board
  • September 11, 2018 Work Meeting
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business

1.  A presentation on recommendations regarding a budget committee (18-075) Presentation only. Council requested that staff distribute the committee recommendation from the Administration for review. This item will be scheduled for the October 9, 2018 Work Meeting for further Council discussion.

2.  A discussion regarding the Salt Lake Chamber's Affordable Housing Resolution (18-070)
A motion to move the resolution as amended to the October 9, 2018 Council Meeting agenda was approved 7:0.

3.  A discussion regarding public comments received from the Draft Environmental Assessment and an update on the Final Environmental Assessment preparation for the proposed Land and Water Conversion Fund property conversion (17-036) Presentation only.

Friday, September 21, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on September 25, 2018


Citizens Agenda


Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Joint Meeting with Energy Board
12:00 PM, Monday, September 25, 2018
    • Council regularly schedules meetings with key boards and commissions to discuss current issues and ways to improve processes.
Business
  • A discussion on SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for strategic planning
  • A discussion on reliability
  • A discussion on time-of-use rates
  • A discussion on resources and Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA)
Adjournment


PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
1:00 PM, Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A presentation on recommendations regarding a budget committee (18-075)
    • Since January 2018, the Council’s Budget and Audit Committee has not met, partially because members of the Council have been satisfied with budget explanations from the Administration, and partially because the Mayor’s Office, as the fulfillment of a campaign promise, put together an ad hoc committee to make recommendations regarding the composition and function of a citizens’ budget committee. In other words, there was a committee in place whose purpose was to research and discuss budget committees. Administration will present the recommendations regarding the citizens’ budget committee.
  2. A discussion regarding the Salt Lake Chamber's Affordable Housing Resolution (18-089)
    • Brynn Mortensen, Public Policy Analyst with the Salt Lake Chamber, came to the August 7 Work Meeting and presented on issues that Provo City could address, including information on the way we handle land use and housing policy at the local level. She presented the research from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, which included actionable steps that cities, towns and counties can take to examine their housing policies and make a difference.
    • The Affordable Housing Resolution is the next step that the Salt Lake Chamber is asking cities to take. They have indicated there will be a public list of cities that approve the resolution and include those that did not approve the resolution. Thus far, there have been three passed in the state at the local level: Draper City, Farmington City, and Box Elder County.
    • At the September 18 Housing Committee meeting, the Committee discussed the action steps and proposed making slight amendments to the wording and gave general consensus based on this recommendation.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on September 11, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

1:00 PM, Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action
 

Approval of Minutes
  • June 5, 2018 Work Meeting
  • August 6, 2018 Work Meeting
  • August 7, 2018 Work Meeting
  • August 21, 2018 Joint Meeting with the Provo Airport Board
  • August 21, 2018 Work Meeting
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business

1.  An update on the Provo City Bond Election (18-073)
A motion to approve the ‘for’ statement with any minor grammatical adjustments necessary was approved 5:0, with Councilors David Sewell and George Handley excused.

2.  A presentation on Sewer Infrastructure (17-131)
A motion to signal to Public Works that the Council is interested in exploring the possibility of a $120 million loan from the Utah State Division of Water Quality was approved 7:0.

3.  A discussion on equipment for fire station diesel emissions (18-087)(18-081) Presentation only. This item was already scheduled for the September 25, 2018 Council Meeting.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on September 11, 2018



Citizens Agenda



Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
1:00 PM, Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A presentation on Sewer Infrastructure (17-131)
  2. A discussion on Fire Station diesel emissions (18-087)
    • Each of Provo’s Fire Stations is equipped with a mechanical system which removes diesel emissions created by the various fire engines and vehicles. Several stations throughout the City have failing systems, which have resulted in costly repairs over the last two years. Facilities and the Fire Department have explored new systems which would be less expensive and more reliable. Fire Chief Jim Miguel will present and share a request for an appropriation which would come to a future Council meeting for approval.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Invitation to submit argument for or against City Center Bond

Invitation to submit an argument for or against
the Provo Police, Fire & City Facilities Bond
Eligible voters may request to submit an argument for or against the issuance of General Obligation Bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $69,000,000 and to mature in no more than 20 years from the date or dates of issuance of such bonds for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the costs of: acquiring, constructing, and equipping in the downtown area a new police and fire headquarters, emergency dispatch center, and city hall; acquiring, constructing, and equipping a new fire station to replace the fire station on Canyon Road; and providing for related improvements in Provo City; and, to the extent necessary, for providing moneys for the refunding of general obligation bonds.

In accordance with Utah Code §59-1-1604, requests must be received by September 4, 2018.

You may click here to submit your request. Requests may also be filed in person or in writing to the Provo City Election Officer at 351 West Center Street or recorder@provo.org. If you have additional questions, please call 801-852-6524.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on August 21, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

1:00 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action
 


Approval of Minutes
  • July 17, 2018 Work Meeting 
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business
 
1.  A presentation on the Congress for the New Urbanism Conference (18-079) Presentation only.

2.  A discussion on Council priorities (18-004)
An amended motion to keep the General Plan as a Council priority, and to leave control of the process for updating the General Plan to the Planning Commission was approved 7:0.
A motion to keep “develop a holistic approach to evaluating zoning enforcement solutions and progress” in the Desired Outcomes, to refer the topic of short-term rentals policy to the Zoning Committee, and to keep Zoning Compliance as a Council priority was approved 7:0.
A motion to approve Economic Development as a Council priority was approved 7:0.
An amended motion to add “budgets reflect the process and desired outcomes associated with the Council’s and Mayor’s priorities and General Plan goals” and to keep Vision 2050/General Plan as a Council Priority was approved 7:0.
A motion to adopt the changes to the Affordable Housing section as presented and edited and to keep Affordable Housing as a Council Priority was approved 7:0.


3.  A discussion on a Request for Qualifications relating to the creation of a Community Land Trust (18-081) An amended motion that the Redevelopment Agency proceed with putting out a Request for Qualifications and a Request for Proposals for a Community Land Trust was approved 7:0.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on August 21, 2018



Citizens Agenda


Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.
The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Joint Meeting with Airport Board
12:00 PM, Monday, August 21, 2018
    • Council regularly schedules meetings with key boards and commissions to discuss current issues and ways to improve processes.
Business
  • A presentation on current Airport projects.
  • An update on the Airport Master Plan
  • An update on the progress of Duncan Aviation
  • Other discussion or questions
Adjournment


PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
1:00 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A presentation on the Congress for the New Urbanism Conference (18-079)
    • Council members are occasionally invited to attend national conferences on topics related to their duties in order to be aware of and informed on best practices and important issues. David Harding attended the Congress for the New Urbanism Conference earlier this year and will be relaying some of the key points that are most relevant for Provo.
  2. A discussion on Council priorities (18-004)
    • In January, Council held a retreat to discuss their priorities for 2018-19. Some work was done, but these were not formally adopted as priorities at the time. Council will revisit the discussion and decide how to proceed with setting these items as priorities.
  3. A discussion on a Request for Qualifications relating to the creation of a Community Land Trust (18-081)
    • A community land trust (CLT) is a nonprofit corporation that develops and stewards affordable housing, community gardens, civic buildings, commercial spaces and other community assets on behalf of a community. “CLTs” balance the needs of individuals to access land and maintain security of tenure with a community’s need to maintain affordability, economic diversity and local access to essential services. The Redevelopment Agency would like to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to solicit proposals to develop and manage a CLT.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on August 7, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

12:30 PM, Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action
 


Approval of Minutes
  • July 10, 2018 Work Meeting
  • July 17, 2018 Joint Meeting with the Provo Housing Authority
  • July 26, 2018 Joint Meeting with Orem Council
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business

1.  A discussion on the bond election for the Provo City Center. (18-073)  
A motion to strike option 2 from the options to be considered and to vote on either option 1 or 3 at the August 7, 2018 Council Meeting was approved 7:0.
A motion to update the resolution bond language to include the terms “police and fire headquarters and emergency dispatch center” and “city hall” was approved 7:0.


2.  A discussion on a Rules Committee proposal regarding amendments to the Council Handbook and Provo City Code (18-078)  
A motion to place the Code changes on an upcoming Council Meeting agenda and to approve the Handbook changes was approved 7:0.
A motion to place the Code changes on the Consent Agenda for the August 21, 2018 Council Meeting was approved 7:0.


3.  A presentation on the Sewer Metering Study (18-052) Presentation only.

4.  A presentation on Utah's Housing Gap (18-070) Presentation only.

5.  A discussion on a draft of the Environmental Assessment (EA), Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for the Timp-Kiwanis/Bounous property conversion (17-036)  Presentation only.

Policy Items Referred from the Planning Commission

6.  A discussion on an ordinance amending Provo City Code regarding allowances and requirements of home occupations. Citywide impact. (PLOTA20180109)
A motion to send the original [April Work Meeting] draft back to the Planning Commission was approved 7:0.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Council Votes to Place Bond on November Ballot


COUNCIL TO PLACE BOND ON BALLOT FOR FIRE STATION, EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTER, POLICE AND FIRE HEADQUARTERS, AND CITY HALL

PROVO, Utah – August 8, 2018 – The Municipal Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to hold a special bond election asking voters to authorize a $69,000,000 bond, repayable over 20 years, "for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, and equipping in the downtown area a new police and fire headquarters, emergency dispatch center, and city hall; acquiring, constructing, and equipping a new fire station to replace the fire station on Canyon Road; and providing for related improvements in Provo City."

An annual property tax to pay debt service on the proposed bonds will be required over a period of 20 years in the estimated amount of $119.80 per year on a $265,000 primary residence and in the estimated amount of $217.82 per year on a business having the same value. $265,000 is the median home value in Provo.

The bond will be on the ballot for the General Election set for Tuesday, November 6, 2018.  Ballots will be mailed to registered voters on October 16.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on August 6-7, 2018

Citizens Agenda


Council meeting agendas are often difficult for people to navigate. Filled with jargon and legal requirements on how an item must be listed, it can be a challenge to determine what Council members are actually discussing or deciding on.
What follows is a staff interpretation of the agendas.

The official published agendas and supporting materials can be found here:  http://publicdocuments.provo.org/sirepub/meet.aspx

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda

4:00 PM, Monday, August 6, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting. Council is considering several alternatives to address critical needs for Fire Station 2, the Police Department, and the City Center building. This is an extra work meeting called to give Council members additional time for discussion and to receive updated information.

Business
  1. City Center Presentations 
    • Review of Options 
    • Updated Space Analysis 
    • Report on Public Input 
    • Additional Information 
  2. Council Discussion, including Questions and Answers
Adjournment





PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
12:00 PM, Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Work Meetings are designed to be a less formal venue for discussion among Council Members. Generally, no public input is taken during the meeting.

Business
  1. A discussion on the bond election for the Provo City Center. (18-073)
    • Council is considering several alternatives to address critical needs for Fire Station 2, the Police Department, and the City Center building. An option will need to be selected in order to prepare the necessary information to place a bond on the November 2018 ballot.
  2. A discussion on a Rules Committee proposal regarding amendments to the Council Handbook and Provo City Code (18-078)
    • The Rules Committee will be presenting several recommendations pertaining to Council’s policies and procedures, including how the Council defines and establishes “Council Committees.”
  3. A presentation on the Sewer Metering Study (18-052)
    • Public Works will share results of their sewer metering study and how it relates to future growth, and the implications for the timing and location of a new treatment plant.
  4. A presentation on Utah's Housing Gap (18-070)
    • On May 1 of this year, the Salt Lake Chamber officially launched the Housing GAP Coalition. This group includes business and community leaders from throughout the state and is the first of its kind in the nation. The Coalition aims to address Utah’s looming housing affordability problem before it’s too late.  This group was formed as a direct response to a new study, commissioned by the Salt Lake Chamber and conducted by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The study concludes that the rate Utah’s housing prices are increasing threatens our cost of living, economic prosperity and quality of life. You can read the entire study here.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Summary of Action | Meetings on July 17, 2018

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting

1:00 PM, Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Room 310, City Conference Room
351 West Center Street, Provo, UT 84601
Summary of Action


Business

1.  A discussion on citywide tax incentives and retail reinvestment (18-057) Presentation only.

2.  A discussion on the Real Estate Purchase Agreement and Development Agreement for a medical school at the golf course (17-136) and (17-143)
Motion:           George Stewart moved that the resolution for consideration at the July 17, 2018 Council Meeting include language that authorizes the Mayor to sign the agreements as long as there were no material changes. Seconded by David Harding.
Roll call vote: Approved 7:0.
 This item was already scheduled for the July 17, 2018 Council Meeting.

3.  A discussion on amending PCC 14.34.350 regarding Recreational Vehicle Storage and Towing Impound Yards (18-077) Presentation only.

4.  A discussion on a purchase option for property located at Provo Towne Center Mall (18-073)
Amended motion: David Harding moved to direct that staff prepare a joint statement indicating the Council and Mayor’s intent or opinion that it was necessary to address the needs of the city center, public safety (police, fire, and dispatch) buildings, and Fire Station 2 on Canyon Road, and to allow the statement to be issued following approval by the Mayor and Council Leadership. Seconded by George Stewart.
Roll call vote: Approved 7:0.
This item was already scheduled for the July 17, 2018 Council Meeting.

Thursday, July 19, 2018

MAYOR AND COUNCIL JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING NEED FOR A NEW CITY CENTER


PROVO,Utah – July 19, 2018The Mayor and Municipal Council jointly make known their intent to address the critical space needs and deteriorating, unsafe condition of the current Municipal City Center and Fire Station No. 2 by asking residents for approval of a general obligation bond in the upcoming election. Currently, the City Center serves as the headquarters and operations center for numerous city services, including police, fire, and dispatch. 


The amount of the bond proposal remains to be determined, but will likely be between $44.5 million and $60 million, based on the three alternatives currently being reviewed by the Municipal Council and Administration. As elected leaders, we implore residents to get involved and assist us by providing input as we evaluate alternatives, which are: (1) relocate the City Center to the former Sears building in the Provo Towne Centre Mall, (2) upgrade and expand existing City Center facilities to meet necessary safety criteria and space needs, or (3) build a new and expanded City Center on the current block in downtown Provo. Thank you in advance for your input.



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