What's Up? - 2 June 2017

It looks like another full Tuesday. Here is my run down of the agenda items. I hope it helps you to understand the items before the Council.

Black text comes from the agenda
Blue text are my current comments
Purple text are from my former comments
Brown text comes from the support documents. 

What's Coming Up?

COUNCIL WORK MEETING

1:00 PM, Tuesday, Jun 6th, City Conference Room, 351 West Center

1. A discussion regarding the feasibility of a new city center and public safety complex
   We had an in-depth discussion during the 16th May Work Meeting regarding the work that has been completed so far on this issue. The Council indicated an interest in the City digging deeper. Wayne Parker, the City's Chief Administrative Officer, will be proposing some next steps including refining the cost model and beginning public outreach.
2. A discussion on recommendations from the DAPR Committee regarding land use agenda noticing
   Under current practice, it usually takes at least five weeks for a Planning Commission item to get on a council meeting agenda...After evaluating the process, the DAPR (Development Approval Process Review) Committee has determined that one of the best ways to improve the flow of land use items is to adjust the current noticing practices...Besides amending the City’s 14-day noticing requirement to 10 days, most of the proposed changes would mainly involve staff coordination and scheduling logistics. Take a look at the full proposal.
3. An overview of the Economic Development Department and a discussion regarding tools/programs available for incentives
   After the in-depth presentations on the Water Division, certain Council members have expressed interest in learning more about some of the other departments—in this case, about Economic Development. Staff from Economic Development will spend 30 minutes providing an overview of their department and answering questions. 
4. A discussion on 2017 Council Assignments for Boards, Committees, and Liaisons
   The Budget & Audit Committee mission statement has been prepared and is ready for Council ratification.
5. A discussion on minimum dwelling unit sizes
   On April 11th the Council passed new regulations governing minimum unit sizes. There was a feeling of urgency to pass the ordinance before the protections on pending legislation expired. There was some discussion about refining the regulations, but it was decided to just move forward with the broad regulations and then we would have time to more fully deliberate the intricacies. I asked to begin this discussion at this Work Meeting. The main goal of this first discussion is to explore what Councilors are hoping to achieve with this regulation.
6. A discussion on a request for an ordinance amending Provo City Code to allow a new PRO Zone for property generally located at 691 East 600 North from property currently zoned Residential Conservation. Joaquin Neighborhood.
7. A discussion on a request for a Zone Change from Residential Conservation (RC) to a PRO Zone to allow 10 residential apartments on 0.19 acres located at 691 East 600 North. Joaquin Neighborhood.
   
   
   Items 6 and 7 address the same proposal. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. Community Development Staff is supportive. Key points from their presentation: • The current zone doesn’t allow for new development other than one, single-family unit. • The Joaquin Neighborhood Plan calls for higher density development in this area. • The property is surrounded by other residential dwellings leaving this parcel to be developed separately. • The Campus Mixed Use (CMU) zone allows for baching singles and this is not something that the applicant would like to pursue, they would like to provide one bedroom units that would attract married students. • The proposed project for this site would require a rezone. • A PRO Zone has been drafted to accommodate the development of this property.
   Concerns raised by the public: The front façade doesn’t conform to the character of the neighborhood and that it seems like too many units are trying to fit on this site. • That there could be a shortage of parking if every unit had more than an average of 1.5 vehicles.
8. A discussion regarding the Provo City Parks & Recreation Department's request for a Zone Change from Light Manufacturing (M-1) to Public Facilities (PF) for Construction of the Spring Creek Park located at 1140 South State Street. Spring Creek Neighborhood.
   The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. Community Development Staff is supportive. Key points from their presentation: • The need for a neighborhood-scale park has been identified in both the General Plan and the Parks Master Plan. • The standard practice in Provo is to have parks zoned PF • The associated Project Plan has been reviewed by the CRC and found compliant with all ordinance requirements.
   Concerns raised by the public: None.
   
   
9. A discussion regarding a request for the rezone of 5 properties, totaling approximately 22 acres, from the RA (Residential Agricultural) and A1.5 (Agricultural 5-acre minimum) zones to the R1.8 (Single-Family Residential) zone, located approximately 831 and 1041 West 1560 South to facilitate the development of a residential subdivision with an 8,000 square foot lot size minimum. Lakewood Neighborhood.
   
   The Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial. Community Development Staff is not supportive. Key points from their presentation: • The General Plan and draft Westside Planning Committee policies identify this area as one that could be served by residential development, however, infrastructure and sequencing is a critical factor. • Provo City Code requires rezone requests to be accompanied by a preliminary subdivision demonstrating code compliance, including equitable development potential for remnant parcels or adjacent properties. • Applicant’s preliminary subdivision has failed to meet numerous code requirements in Title 14 and Title 15. • Concerns raised by the neighborhood and staff have been unresolved by the applicant. • Staff has provided some possible solutions to the applicant, but it would reduce the overall lot count. • The applicant has requested to pursue Planning Commission and Council approval, regardless of staff’s negative recommendations.
   
   This is the first new proposal to come to the Council since we adopted the West Side Planning Committee's policy recommendations. I'm interested to see how those policies come into play during the discussion and deliberation.
10. A discussion regarding a Provo City Community Development Department request for a Zone Change of approximately 58.6 acres of property generally located at 1500 South State Street from Light Manufacturing (M-1) Zone to Low Density Residential (LDR) Zone. Spring Creek Neighborhood.
    
    
    This is a Community Development initiated proposal. The neighborhood plan calls for this area to develop into Medium Density Residential/Mixed Use with a baching overlay. I believe the target demographic is young professionals. The land is currently zoned for light manufacturing. Our current practice is not to pre-zone land, particularly for residential, so that development proposals still have to be approved by the Council. The problem here is that new light manufacturing development could take place which would set back the vision and neighborhood plan. Community Development suggested zoning it as Low Density Residential. That way a developer would still need to apply for a rezone in order to develop MDR. The Planning Commission worried that some developer might just move forward with an LDR development which could also thwart the vision. The Planning Commission recommended that we rezone the land to R1.10, which would give developers even more incentive to seek a rezone. I'm wondering if A1.10 might be even more effective, or if it would be overkill.
11. Closed Meeting

COUNCIL MEETING

5:30 PM, Tuesday, June 6th, Council Chambers, 351 West Center

1. Earthquake Safety Public Service Announcement
   
   Public Comment
2. A public hearing on a resolution approving the 2017-2018 Annual Action Plan, including the third year update to the 2015 Five-Year Consolidated Plan, as amended.
   Every year, as Lead Entity for the Utah Valley HOME Consortium, Provo City submits an Annual Action Plan (an update to the Five-Year Consolidated Plan submitted to HUD) outlining the goals, objectives and the proposed use of federal CDBG and HOME resources to address housing, economic development, and community development projects to be undertaken.
   I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in homelessness in the County read the Action Plan. I wish we had discussed this plan in a Work Meeting beforehand.
3. A resolution of intent to create a permit parking area in the Foothills Neighborhood.
   This public hearing will be the second in regards to this particular proposal. Under City Code, 9.80.70 (5), the purpose of this public hearing is for the Council to “consider a resolution of intent to create a permit parking area. The Municipal Council may adopt, reject, or adopt with modifications the terms and conditions of the proposed permit parking area.”
   Provo just hired a Parking Manager. I believe he will be starting later this month. I think we should consider bringing him into the discussion before we create any new parking programs.
4. An ordinance amending the Zone Map Classification of approximately 0.279 acres of real property, generally located at 801 West 500 South, from the Heavy Commercial (CM) Zone to the Low Density Residential (LDR) Zone. Franklin Neighborhood.
   
   
   The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. Community Development Staff is supportive. Key points from their presentation: The subject property is a vacated portion of former 800 West right-of-way between the Southern Pacific Railroad and 500 South. Mr. Sweetwood has previously received approval for the development of a used car sales lot and office. When he became aware that the neighborhood plan recommended the LDR Zone as the future zoning for the property and surrounding area he made the decision to pursue the development of townhomes on the property. The property is bordered to the east and west by single family homes and to the south across the railroad by former commercial manufacturing facilities.
   
   
   I have not heard any opposition, and the Neighborhood Chair is supportive.
5. Consideration of a motion to amend or rescind Ordinance 2017-18, previously approved on May 16, 2017, regarding the rezoning of property generally located at 3700 North University Avenue.
   
   
   There is not much in the meeting packet about why we might consider amending or rescinding the ordinance. From email exchanges, I understand it is a concern that the Council passed a higher height restriction than it had intended, and perhaps something about the setbacks. Based solely on the applicant's responses in our last Council Meeting, I believe we will be able to make the amendments without any opposition.
6. A public hearing on transferring utility revenues to the General Fund and other funds.
   During this year’s session, the State Legislature passed a bill requiring municipalities to hold a public hearing regarding the transfer of utility revenues to other funds. This public hearing will satisfy the State requirement.
   If you are curious about why we transfer some of our utility revenues into our General Fund, I invite you to read this open letter to our state legislature delegation. 
7. A public hearing on an ordinance adopting a budget for Provo City Corporation for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018 in the amount of $207.8 million, and amending the Consolidated Fee Schedule.
   This is our $208,000,000 budget. We won't actually be voting on it until 20 June.
8. A public hearing on a resolution adopting a budget for the Redevelopment Agency of Provo City Corporation for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018 in the amount of $5.238 million.
   This is the RDA (which is technically a separate entity) portion of our budget. We will be voting on this on 20 June.
9. A public hearing on transferring Stormwater fund revenues to the General Fund and other funds
   See the description of item #6.
10. A public hearing on a resolution adopting a budget for the Provo City Stormwater Service District for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018.
    This is the Stormwater Service District (which is technically a separate entity) portion of our budget. We will be voting on this on 20 June.