What's Up? - 4 June 2016

What's Coming Up?

COUNCIL WORK MEETING

2:30 PM, Tuesday, June 7, City Conference Room, 351 West Center

1. A presentation on findings for sanitation, including curbside recycling and garbage collection, in Provo City. (15-045)
   There are no supporting documents in the packet for this item, so I am not sure what the findings will be. Our sanitation efforts have been in tumult for the last year or so. Our waste district decided that it would no longer run the green waste program, and the cost of recycling has gone way up because the market is so weak right now for recyclable materials. Provo decided to continue to offer some of the green waste recycling services and the associated mulch production, we also brought the curbside recycling pickup in-house and moved it from a bi-weekly schedule to weekly. I'm interested to get the update on the current status of sanitation.
2. A presentation on Utility Rate Increases (7-year plan vs. 5-year plan) (16-070)
   No documents on this one either. I believe this was requested by one of the Councilors to see what the consequences would be if we spread out the proposed utility rate increases over a longer period. I believe there will be both positive and negative consequences.
3. A discussion regarding the use of certain technology to gather data on smart devices in and out of Provo City boundaries for large events, traffic, tourism and economic development. (16-071)
   Based on the documents, this looks like a sales pitch for a service that a new company is offering. Basically their technology collects data on smart phones as they are used throughout our community. They tout it as a way to study anything from traffic flow, to how long customers stayed in the area.
4. Open Meetings Training (16-043)
   All elected officials are required to have this training each year. (I think this will be the third time I've had it so far this year.)
5. A discussion on a resolution approving the selection of an audit firm to provide audit services and authorizing the Council Chair to execute a contract with the audit firm. (16-049)
   This will help the Council in our role of budgetary oversight.
6. A discussion on citizen access to and participation in the policy-making process. (16-042)
   This is a follow up to the presentation at our last meeting (17 May) on software platforms for citizen engagement.
7. Closed Meeting

COUNCIL MEETING

5:30 PM, Tuesday, June 7, City Conference Room, 351 West Center

1. A presentation by C-SPAN
   This should be interesting. I wonder what it's about.
2. A presentation by Paul Warner regarding Freedom Festival 2016
   The Festival is such an important part of Provo and the broader community.
3. Public Comment
4. A public hearing on an ordinance adopting a Tentative Budget for Provo City Corporation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017, in the amount of $200,614,858, setting a public hearing to consider a proposed change in the Certified Tax Rate, and amending the Consolidated Fee Schedule and Provo City Code Section 4.04.060. (16-054)
   I believe that we will have the option to adopt a budget with no property tax increase, or schedule some Truth-in-Taxation meetings and plan to adopt the budget in a couple months. I still have some questions on the budget. I need to find out if I'll need to raise them on Tuesday or if we will be discussing it more later.
5. A public hearing on a resolution appropriating $150,000 in the General Fund to repair the roof on the building that houses the Community Development Department and Fire Station #1, applying to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. (16-062)
   We discussed this item at our last Work Meeting. Here is what I wrote then: "The City has been reluctant to put any significant money into the current City Center building because it is nearing the end of its useful life. But with no plans in the works for replacing it, some investments need to be made to keep it functional."
6. A public hearing on a resolution appropriating $307,500 in the General Fund to make purchases related to necessary capital projects in the Recreation Center, applying to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. (16-064)
   This item was also discussed previously. Here is what I wrote: "The Rec Center has been wildly popular. The level of usage has exceeded all expectations. The revenue from passes (including day-passes) have exceeded yearly projections and more than cover the operating budget. Rec Center management are requesting the use of some of that surplus revenue to be reinvested into the operation to improve efficiency and to improve patron experience at the higher usage levels. For an efficiency example, mobile computing (tablets) are requested for some staff members so that they can better respond to customer needs throughout the facility without needing to return to desks to look up or record information. For a user experience example, more pool-side furniture is requested to accommodate the greater number of people using the outdoor pools."
7. A public hearing on a resolution approving the reprogramming of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to fund the Sidewalk Improvement Project on 400 West Street. (16-065)
   This $55k is the final component for this $400k project. This is the last street in Downtown Provo with the old irrigation gutters, and unimproved parking.
8. A public hearing on a resolution to reprogram Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to provide for the relocation of a transformer to finalize the remodel of the Startup Building. (16-073)
   From last time, "Rather than operate a City-run tech/start-up incubator, the City previously decided to support 'other groups who are working directly with early stage and start up groups like – 1 Million Cups, Startup Dojo, Startup Building, Braid, Startfest, etc.' The results of the tech-space provided at the Startup Building are impressive. This request would be part of our ongoing support in this area."
9. A public hearing on a resolution adopting a budget for the Redevelopment Agency of Provo City Corporation in the amount of $4,292,168, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017. (16-055)
   This is basically the RDA portion of the budget.
10. A public hearing on a resolution adopting a budget for the Provo City Storm Water Special Service District in the amount of $4,196,915 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017. (16-056)
    This is basically the Storm Water portion of the budget.
11. A public hearing on a resolution approving the Provo City Moderate Income Housing Plan for 2014-2015. City-wide Impact. (16-0003GPA)
    This biennial plan is required by the State. The intent is to ensure that communities are providing enough median income housing. In reading the plan, it seems to be more of a report of our actions over the past two years than a plan for how we will proceed over the next couple. Maybe I'm missing something. Also, there are some inconsistencies in the report. I appreciate Councilor Knecht for really diving into the plan.
12. A public hearing on an ordinance amending Provo City Code Sections 14.32.020 and 14.32.140 to allow for reuse of an existing commercial building in the Residential Conservation (RC) Zone, specifically for the building generally located at 389 East 200 North. Joaquin Neighborhood and City-Wide Impact. (15-0020OA)
    What I wrote after discussing this issue at the Work Meeting: "The Zone Text Amendment would allow small, neighborhood grocery stores, and bike repair/sales shops in existing commercial buildings inside of the RC zone. There are only two properties which fit this description. The applicant owns one of these properties and was looking to put in a neighborhood grocery store, but is now working with the Provo Bicycle Collective to allow them to move to a larger location. Though this affects only two properties, I hope it is the start of a trend to allow useful, neighborhood-scale commercial offerings in our neighborhoods, in a way to minimizes conflicts and serves our residents."What I wrote before discussing this issue at the Work Meeting: "There are two instances in Provo where a "non-conforming" commercial building is attached to a residence in the Residential Conservation (RC) zone. The owner of the one property in Joaquin Neighborhood is requesting a code change that would allow either a grocery or bicycle repair and sales use in these existing building. In addition to the City Staff, I have reached out to Joaquin Neighbors and have found them to be supportive and excited for this change. My only concern is the fact that there is no off-street parking associated with this commercial building. This concern is addressed in the Staff report, "However, in this case, the property is ideally located within walking or biking distance to the residents who will be utilizing the commercial use, thus greatly reducing the need for automobile dependence." I believe the current plan is for the Provo Bicycle Collective to move into this space. The Collective is currently in my home Neighborhood. Our neighbors have been very happy with having the collective nearby. But there is a parking lot at the current location, and it is used by Collective patrons. I have heard for years about problems with parking in Joaquin, I just want to make sure we don't regret this decision in the future if it compounds the parking problem."
13. A public hearing on an ordinance amending the Zone Map Classification of approximately 0.34 acres of real property, generally located at 177 South 1000 West, from Residential Conservation (RC) Zone to Del Coronado PRO (PRO-20) Zone. Franklin Neighborhood. (15-0013R)
14. A public hearing on an ordinance amending Provo City Code Section 14.50(20).040 to reduce the minimum project area size from 0.9 acre to 0.34 acre in order to build a new duplex on the property generally located at 177 South 1000 West, in the Residential Conservation (RC) Zone. Franklin Neighborhood. (15-0014OA)
    From before: "I remember this item from last year when a four-plex was proposed and denied. The proposal this time around is for the dilapidated single-family detached home be replaced by a duplex. "
15. A public hearing on an ordinance amending the Zone Map Classification of approximately 0.46 acres of real property, generally located between 800 North and 880 North and between 250 West and 440 West, from One-Family Residential (R1.6A) to Health Care Facilities Zone (HCF). North Park Neighborhood. (16-0006R)
16. A public hearing on an ordinance vacating the public streets 250 West (between 800 North and 940 North) and 880 North (between 300 West and Freedom), adjacent to property owned by IHC Health Services for future hospital expansion located in the R1.6A (One-Family Residential) and HCF (Health Care Facilities Zones. North Park Neighborhood. (16-0001SV)
    This is part of the project by Intermountain Healthcare to acquire property to the south of their Utah Valley Hospital campus.
17. A resolution approving an amendment to a Development Agreement regarding property generally located at 660 East 300 North in order to amend the covenants, conditions, and restrictions required by the Agreement. (16-072)
    Based on the supporting documents, it appears that the developer is asking for a reduction in the owner-occupied requirement from 15 years to 3 years, and from both units needing to be owner-occupied, only one unit must be owner occupied. I'm curious to learn more about what she found out by talking with different lenders. From last time: "My impression was that the Council is supportive of the proposed twin home, but is reluctant to completely waive the owner-occupation requirement unless it is completely necessary. The reasons for my reluctance are that I don't want to set the precedence of changing agreements without a really good reason, and I'm cautious to change something that I don't fully understand. Why did the Council at that time and the developer at that time decide to enter into that agreement? Maybe there was a really good reason that I am unaware of. What has changed that necessitates a change to the agreement?"
18. A public hearing on an ordinance amending the Zone Map Classification of approximately 4.18 acres of real property, generally located at 1040 South 1000 East, from Heavy Commercial (CM) and Residential Conservation (RC) to Low Density Residential (LDR). Spring Creek Neighborhood. (13-0003R)
    This is the property that the last Council rezoned to Medium Density Residential (MDR) (with a whole bunch of restrictions) at their last Council Meeting, and the current Council rescinded the rezone at our first Council Meeting. The developer has submitted a revised project plan and development agreement that is similar to the previous plan but has less units so that it conforms to the LDR zone.
19. A resolution approving the selection of an audit firm to provide audit services and authorizing the Council Chair to execute a contract with the audit firm. (16-049)
    This is the same item as item 5 in the earlier Work Meeting.