What's Up? - 3 Sep 2016

What's Coming Up?

COUNCIL WORK MEETING

12:00 PM, Tuesday, September 6th, City Conference Room, 351 West Center

1. A discussion regarding progress on Council Priorities (16-015)
   
   A discussion on planning for the West Side, and the possible creation of a Council Committee
   I hope that last meeting’s denial of a development has lit a fire under the City to get the South West Master Plan complete.
   An update on zoning enforcement
2. A presentatiSon from the Utah Division of Water Quality on the State of Utah's Integrated Report and Utah Lake Nutrient Study (16-091)
   The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is proposing limits on nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen) allowed in waste water treatment plant discharge. The goal is to reduce the frequency of future algae booms in Utah Lake. These limits would be expensive and would increase sewer costs to residents. Some experts have questioned whether reducing the nutrients would have any practical impact on water quality or future algae blooms. They request that the DEQ hold off on the regulations and work with local authorities to find more effective ways to spend the money to improve water quality. In this Work Meeting, DEQ will be responding to the concerns. 
3. A presentation on the Metropolitan Water Board of Provo (16-044) 
4. A discussion on private solar energy generation and the effects on revenue for maintaining and upgrading capital facilities of the overall electric utility system (16-093)
   In order to encourage conservation, and to reduce the burden on our lower energy users (who are assumed to also be lower income), we have previously set base fees low and charged higher usage rates. The base fees aren’t enough to cover the fixed costs of servicing homes, but the gap is made up by the higher usage rates. This system has worked well, but can be exploited by solar roof top and other “distributive” generators, who get the full benefit of being on the “grid” (like having their lights come on whether the sun is shining or not) but may not be paying toward the grid at all. During this discussion we will be looking into changes to our electrical fee structure in order to better meet our goals (conservation, reliability, low cost, fair costs, etc.) 
5. A discussion on an amendment to the Provo City/Utah County Interlocal Agreement for Provo Westside Connector Project (16-104)
   The costs of building the Westside collector (from the interstate to the airport) have been higher than estimated, in both construction and land aquisition. This agreement is with the County for them to pay the increased costs. ($1.45M) 
6. Provo City Community Development Department requests an Ordinance Amendment to Section 14.34.140 Flag Lots, revising the policy, process, and other aspects related to the development of flag lots. City-Wide Impact. (16-0015OA)
   This amendment is designed to encourage "flag lots" as a means of creating quality “in-fill” development (where homes are added to an neighborhood in areas that are already developed, by developing on land that was previously unused or large lots that can be split). The amendment aims to keep/modify regulations which mitigate potential negative impacts of flag lot development on adjacent residents. 
7. An ordinance amending Provo City Code to modify yard definitions and the requirements for minimum lot widths and require yards for corner lots. (16-0008OA)
   This item to be continued to a later meeting. I'm not certain that this will actually be continued. In some ways this is similar to the amendment for the flag lots. It is an amendment that adjusts the way we define rear yards, side yards and potential front yards of corner lots, as well as our regulations of these lots. The idea is to have smarter regulations to allow for flexibility, but still ensure quality development of these unique lots.

COUNCIL MEETING

5:30 PM, Tuesday, September 6th, City Conference Room, 351 West Center

1. Annual Justice Court Report
2. Introduction of the new Water Resource Director, Gary Calder
   
   Public Comment
   
3. A resolution approving the Amended Interlocal Agreement between Provo City and Utah County regarding construction costs for the Westside Connector. (16-104)
   See Work Meeting Item #5 above. 
4. A resolution approving the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Agreement with the Governor's Office of Energy Development. (16-092)
   What I wrote after we heard it at a previous Work Meeting: "This is a national program, implemented by the states, and administered by municipalities. It provides capital to companies to build or retrofit more sustainable buildings. These improvements should provide more savings each year than the payments on the loans."
   I think this is a great way to encourage more efficient buildings in our valley/city, buy helping companies with the upfront costs, to be repaid by the energy savings. 
5. An ordinance amending Provo City Code to allow for larger electronic signs between 3000 and 3300 North University Avenue for providers of Emergency Healthcare Services. Riverside Neighborhood. (16-0013OA)
   What I wrote previously: "Blue Rock Medical Center is requesting an amendment that would allow them to install a large electronic sign at their business on North University Avenue. Two other businesses have similar signs, but they were put in before the Council specifically restricted such signs in 2013. For myself, I do not believe that such signs are desirable in most areas of the city, and I agree with the Council's action in 2013. I (fortunately) don't frequent University Parkway, west of Provo, very often, but when I do I'm struck by how intrusive these signs can be." There is no question about the value of this company to the community. But that doesn't mean we should throw out our community standards. 
6. A resolution amending the General Plan Land Use Map Designation from Public Facilities (PF) to Residential (R) for property located at approximately 4600 North Windsor Drive. Sherwood Hills Neighborhood. (16-0002GPA)
   From before, "The developer donated some land to Provo City to be developed into a city park. A portion of this land was not used for the park and was given back to the developer. The developer plans to use it for landscaped access to another part of the development. The general plan amendment and the zoning change will allow for this. I support this."
7. An ordinance amending the Zone Map Classification of approximately 0.4 acres of real property, generally located at 4600 North Windsor Drive, from Public Facilities (PF) to Residential (R1.10). Sherwood Hills Neighborhood. (16-0004R)
   Related to the previous item. 
8. An ordinance amending Provo City Code to revise the policy, process, and other aspects related to the development of flag lots. City-wide Impact. (16-0015OA)
   See Work Meeting Item #6 above.