Sunday, September 18, 2016

What's Up? - 17 September 2016

This installment addresses both the meetings on the 6th as well as the upcoming meetings on the 20th.

What Was 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
    Council Member David Sewell moved that a Committee on West Side Planning be formed consisting of four members; David Harding, David Knecht, Kay Van Buren, Gary Winterton and that David Harding chair the committee. Seconded by Kay Van Buren. Approved 7:0.
    There has not been a lot of progress on this priority so far this year. Three weeks ago the Council felt like we needed to deny a development that, for the most part, complied with the plans that were put in place a while ago. This committee will met with many stakeholders and will recommend a policy direction for future development on our westside.
    An update on zoning enforcement
    The Administration will bring a list of changes in enforcement in a couple of months. Brian Jones will also bring suggestions back from a zoning conference he is attending.
    During our follow up we learned that Community Development was under the impression that the funding for two new zoning officers would not be in place until the start of the new calendar year. The intent of the Council was for the officers to be hired at the start of the fiscal year. Community Development has committed to move on this as quickly as prudent.
  2. A presentation from the Utah Division of Water Quality on the State of Utah's Integrated Report and Utah Lake Nutrient Study (16-091)
    Report Only.
    A lot of time was taken for the report, but they did not get to the point where they would talk about whether the changes will have a meaningful impact on the health of the lake. Perhaps another meeting will need to be held.
  3. A presentation on the Metropolitan Water Board of Provo (16-044)
    David Decker will bring this forward to the September 20th or October 1st Council Meeting.
  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)
    Council Member George Stewart moved to hear this item on the September 20th Work and Council Meetings. Seconded by Council Member. Council Member David Sewell made a motion to amend Mr. Stewarts motion to hear this item on the September 20th Work Meeting and the October 4th Council Meeting. Seconded by Council Member David Harding. Approved 4:2. Council Members George Stewart and Gary Winterton opposed. Council Member Kay Van Buren excused. Council Member David Sewell made a motion to approve the amended motion. Seconded by Council member David Harding. Approved 6:0. Council Member Kay Van Buren excused.
    My recollection was that the final motion that we approved foresaw hearing this item in both meetings on September 20th. Here is what I wrote last time, "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.)"
    As we discussed the options, I have become very interested in having a minimum fee that is sufficient for each user to pay their share toward the fixed costs of the grid. This change would only affect users with extremely low energy use, like vacant buildings or solar users who generate almost all of their energy needs (but still use the grid).
  5. A discussion on an amendment to the Provo City/Utah County Interlocal Agreement for Provo Westside Connector Project (16-104)
    This item will be heard at tonight’s Council Meeting.
    From before, "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 item will be heard at tonight’s Council Meeting.
    Community Development is ready to move forward with a portion of the changes that they recommend making. We discussed whether we should wait until the whole package is ready to vote on.
  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 is continued.

COUNCIL MEETING

5:30 PM, Tuesday, September 6th, Council Chambers, 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)
    Approved 7:0
    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)
    Approved 4:3. Council Member Kay Van Buren, George Stewart and Kim Santiago opposed.
    From before: "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."
    Some Councilors expressed discomfort with the portion of the program which includes electrical generation (solar, wind, etc) while we are still deciding how to proceed with our electrical rate structure. So even though I wanted to pass the whole program, I supported the exclusion of this part of the program, for the time being in order to generate more consensus. In the end some of these Councilors voted against the motion anyway.
  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)
    Denied 7:0
    The Council upheld the previously created vision for the corridor. See past posts if you are interested in more details about this item.
  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)
    Approved 6:0. Council David Knecht excused.
    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)
    Approved 6:0. Council David Knecht excused.
    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)
    Continued until Community Development is ready to bring this item back to Council. Approved 7:0
    We decided to wait until the whole package is ready.

COUNCIL WORK MEETING

2:00 PM, Tuesday, September 20th, City Conference Room, 351 West Center


  1. A discussion on Trampoline Gyms (16-105)
    A stakeholders group (including gym owners and physicians) has been meeting for some time regarding appropriate regulations for trampoline gyms. It appears that they have a draft ready to be reviewed. You can review it here.
  2. A discussion regarding progress on Council Priorities (16-015)
    A discussing on Budgeting to Priorities
    No material for this item is in our packet. I believe it will be a status update on progress made on this priority.
    A discussion on a Budget Committee recommendation regarding property tax policy
    The Budget Committee has made three recommendations regarding property tax policy.
  3. A discussion on private solar energy generation, consumption, and net metering alternatives (16-093)
    Mr. Sewell has indicated that this discussion will focus on the net metering from the perspective of residents and companies who are encouraging the broader use of solar energy production.
  4. Nathan Chappell, agent for Aspen Development, requests approval of a Zoning Map Amendment of 2.44 acres generally located at 1290 North Geneva Road from A1.5 (Agricultural) Zone to R1.10 (One-Family Residential) Zone in order to subdivide the property into seven building lots. Lakeview North Neighborhood. (14-0013R)
    Wow, this requests comes with a lot of baggage. Community Development Staff recommends denial. The Planning Commission recommends approval.

COUNCIL MEETING

5:30 PM, Tuesday, September 20th, City Conference Room, 351 West Center


  1. A presentation by the Covey Center 
  2. A presentation on the Employee of the Month, Kelly Kloser, Library 
  3. Introduction of Kelsey Kerr, Policy Analyst, in the Council Office. 
  4. A presentation of congratulations to Janene Weiss on the Certified Municipal Clerk program completion.

    Public Comment
  5. A resolution approving an Interlocal Agreement with several Utah County public entities authorizing Provo City to enter into a Major Crimes Task Force. (16-106)
    This agreement would allow Provo to participate in a Major Crimes Task Force with other entities in the County.

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