Summary of Action | Meetings on July 21, 2020

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

Work Meeting
2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Electronic Meeting

Summary of Action

Approval of Minutes
- April 7, 2020 Budget Retreat
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business

1.  A discussion regarding a WaterSMART Grant application. (20-105) Presentation only. This item will be scheduled for the Council Meeting on August 4, 2020.

2.  A motion to add an additional committee member to the Public Gatherings Committee. (20-103) A motion adding Councilor Shannon Ellsworth as a member of the Public Gatherings Committee was approved 6:0, with George Handley excused.

3.  An update regarding Provo City's policies for COVID-19. (20-106) Presentation only.

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on July 21, 2020

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
Due to the risks of public gathering associated with the spread of COVID-19, these meetings will be conducted entirely via electronic means. For information on how to view the meetings and how to contribute public comments, visit our blog: http://www.provocitycouncil.com/2020/03/virtual-provo-city-council-meetings.html

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
2:00 pm, Tuesday, July 21, 2020

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 a WaterSMART Grant application. 20-105
   
   • Public Works has been working to identify ways to artificially recharge the aquifers that supply water to the City. A WaterSMART drought resiliency grant has been identified as a potential funding source for these aquifer storage and recovery projects. One of the requirements of the grant application is a resolution indicating the Council's support and commitment to meeting the requirements of the grant program.
2. A motion to add an additional committee member to the Public Gatherings Committee. (20-103)
   
   • The committee was formed during the Work Meeting on July 7, 2020. Since it was created, Councilor Shannon Ellsworth has expressed interest in being a part of that committee. The committee members were amenable to the request and it has been brought to the full Council to formalize the action. 
   •  
3. An update regarding Provo City's policies for COVID-19 (20-106)
   
   • Members of the City Council requested an update on how the City is managing and evaluating the COVID-19 pandemic. The broader issue is city policy that would best protect employees and citizens. The spread of the virus is accelerating - with new records recently being set for new cases in Utah, in the U.S. and globally. More businesses are starting to require mask use by employees and customers. We should encourage this trend. We would like to discuss the possibility of doing so at all city facilities to set an example and encourage more movement in this direction. This would increase safety for employees and citizens alike.

Policy Items Referred from the Planning Commission

4. An ordinance amending the zone map classification of approx 1.92 acres of property generally located at 442 and 490 S State St from General Commercial to High Density Residential and authorizing a related development agreement. Maeser Neighborhood. (17-0010R)
   
   • The applicant is requesting a zone change from General Commercial (CG) to High Density Residential (HDR) at this location to allow for a four-story, 32-unit apartment, a three-story, 24-unit apartment and a two-story, 4-unit townhomes on the corner of 500 South and State Street. These proposed sixty units would be on commercial property that is to be rezoned to High Density Residential (HDR). The HDR zone would allow for more units and additional building height than is being requested, therefore, a development agreement would be advisable to ensure that only what has been proposed would be developed. The City Council continued the zone change request and instructed the applicant to go back and work with the neighborhood and address their concerns. The applicant has now done that and made changes to their original proposal of 64 units in 2 four-story buildings.
     

Summary of Action | Meetings on July 7, 2020

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting
3:00 PM, Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Electronic Meeting

Summary of Action

Approval of Minutes
- February 4, 2020 Work Meeting
- February 18, 2020 Work Meeting
Approved by unanimous consent.

Business

1.  A discussion regarding proposed amendments from the Sign Committee to Provo City Code regarding electronic sign hold times and permitted locations. (20-101) Presentation only.

2.  A discussion regarding Provo City’s permitting process for demonstrations and protest. (20-103) A motion to establish a committee to review the permitting process for public gatherings, to review the related ordinance, and recommend changes, with Bill Fillmore as Chair and George Handley as a committee member, was approved 7:0.

Policy Items Referred from the Planning Commission

3.  A discussion regarding rezoning all R2.5, R3, R4 properties to Low Density Res., Medium Density Res., or High Density Res. and the removal of the R2.5, R3, R4, R5, and Campus High Density zones from City Code. (PLRZ20190427 and PLOTA20190428) Presentation only. These two items were already scheduled for the Council Meeting on July 7, 2020.

Citizens Agenda for Meetings on July 7, 2020

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

Due to the risks of public gathering associated with the spread of COVID-19, these meetings will be conducted entirely via electronic means. For information on how to view the meetings and how to contribute public comments, visit our blog: http://www.provocitycouncil.com/2020/03/virtual-provo-city-council-meetings.html

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda
3:00 pm, Tuesday, July 7, 2020

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 proposed amendments from the Sign Committee to Provo City Code regarding electronic sign hold times and permitted locations. (20-101)
   
   • The Sign Committee has spent the last year reviewing Provo City's policy regarding electronic signs. At the suggestion of the committee, the Council approved an ordinance prohibiting electronic signs in residential and agricultural zones in October 2019. The committee is now bringing a second proposal to the Council for consideration. The committee proposes that Provo be divided into three areas: 1. areas where digital signs are prohibited 2. areas where long hold times no shorter than one hour are permitted 3. areas where short hold times no shorter than one minute are permitted (unless the sign is in an SC3 zone and represents 20 or more tenants, in which case the shortest permitted hold time would be 15 seconds) Digital Sign Hold Time Principles v5 gives more details and outlines where each would be applied. After reviewing the available academic literature and visiting with local business owners, the committee believes that this is the best compromise between Provo's commitment to public safety and the need to create an environment where local businesses can thrive. A more thorough explanation of the rationale behind this proposal, including a short list of studies consulted, is available in the Digital Sign Ordinance Preamble. In Provo City Code, the current long hold time is that a sign may change up to three times per day. The short hold time is eight seconds, which is the most common hold time in neighboring cities.
2. A discussion regarding Provo City’s permitting process for demonstrations and protest. (20-103)
   
   • Councilors wanted to learn more about Provo City’s process for issuing permits for events.

Policy Items Referred from the Planning Commission

3. A discussion regarding rezoning all R2.5, R3, R4 properties to Low Density Res., Medium Density Res., or High Density Res. and the removal of the R2.5, R3, R4, R5, and Campus High Density zones from City Code. (PLRZ20190427 and PLOTA20190428)
   
   • In order to streamline the different zones in Provo, the Community and Neighborhood Services is proposing to eliminate five different residential zones and replace them with three new zones. This will create more flexibility and clarity. Planning Commission recommended approval for PLRZ20190427 and PLOTA20190428.