Council Meetings - 7 January 2020

Today is the big day! Four new Provo City Councilors will be sworn-in. All are invited to attend. Details can be found here.

With a majority of new faces, the complexion of the Council has changed. It'll be interesting to see how our approach to issues changes. I've been thoroughly impressed with each new member as I've gotten to know them a little better since the election. I am excited to get to work with them over the next two years.

Tomorrow's meetings are relatively mild. There is one contentious topic on the evening agenda, and it'll be fun to see how the new Council deliberates on it. We'll also be selecting our leadership for the coming year and beginning the discussion about goals, priorities, and our "list of things we want to get done".

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda

1:00 pm, Tuesday, January 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 training on the Open and Public Meetings Act and on Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) requests. (20-006)
   Utah State law requires Council members to receive annual training on the Open and Public Meetings Act. State Law 52-4-104 says, “The presiding officer of the public body shall ensure that the members of the public body are provided with annual training on the requirements of this chapter." This training will fulfill that requirement. We have a government of, for, and by the people. When we are taking official actions on behalf of the people, it must be done in meetings open to the public. If the people are paying for records to be kept, the default should be that those records are accessible to the public. Presentation only. It was helpful to review where the lines are.
2. A presentation regarding updates on new City Center Building design. (20-013)
   Scott Henderson will update the Council about the designs for the new City Center Building, especially the Council Office and Chambers. The design of the new City Hall and Offices is coming along. There is a lot to like about the design as well as a few things I think should be tweaked. Presentation only. It is a very different design and feel compared to our current city hall.
3. A presentation regarding Wastewater plans. (20-014)
   Dave Decker, Director of Public Works, will present to the Council about plans for wastewater infrastructure and management. Proper wastewater management will be a key piece in preparing for anticipated population growth, especially on the west side of Provo. The wastewater treatment facility will also be rebuilt on the current site. This item is the first in a series to bring the new Council up to speed on critical, on-going issues facing the City. Presentation only. This was a good review and reminder of all that has been happening in wastewater over the last 5 years. It has been eventful and stressful as we've tried to dig ourselves out of the hole.
4. A discussion regarding past Council goals and objectives. (20-016)
   The Council had identified several goals and objectives for 2019. Councilor Harding will discuss these past goals and objectives in order to frame the new goals for 2020. It's a new year and a new Council with four new faces. It is a great time to look back a past efforts and discuss what we want to accomplish in the future. Presentation only. I hope this background information will be helpful as we organize ourselves and decide on which issues to try to tackle.
5. A presentation regarding the progress of the Council ad hoc Committees. (20-015)
   The Council currently has six active ad hoc committees: Housing, Zoning Compliance, Foothill Protection, Sign, Joaquin Parking, Downtown Parking. Council staff will briefly highlight the progress of each committee so far. It's a new year and a new Council with four new faces. It is a great time to look back a past efforts and discuss what we want to accomplish in the future. Presentation only. Further discussion of committee assignments will take place at the January 21 Work Meeting. Our committee work has stalled while we transition between councils. It'll be good to get moving again on these issues.
6. A presentation regarding the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce's Valley Visioning project. (20-011)
   Rona Rahlf, President and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, will present an overview of their work with the Valley Visioning project. More information about Valley Visioning can be found here: https://www.envisionutah.org/projects/valley-visioning I feel that the Valley Visioning effort is critical in helping the public to make informed decisions about things that will determine what kind of community we live in in the future. Presentation only. One big emphasis is that we need to work collaboratively with other communities in the Valley in order to effectively address our housing needs.
7. A presentation regarding the State Auditor Fraud Risk Assessment. (20-012)
   Our independent auditors recommended that the City complete the fraud risk questionnaire to help assess where the City should focus to strengthen internal controls. I'm grateful for the quick response by the Administration to this request. The questionnaire was designed for counties in Utah, but I feel we will get some good value out of it. Presentation only. Our finance team has completed the assessment and has asked for three months to address some questions that it raised. This is the desired outcome of this exercise.



Policy Items Referred from the Planning Commission

8. Ordinances amending the General Plan designation/ Zone Map classification of approx 0.78 acres of property generally located at 862 E Quail Valley Dr from Public Facilities (PF) to Residential (R). Edgemont Neighborhood. (PLGPA20190009/ PLRZ20180430)
   The subject property is an infill parcel located between the existing office building on Quail Valley Drive and the Timpview High School Seminary. The applicant is proposing to amend the General Plan Land Use Map designation for the property from Public Facilities (PF) to Residential (R) to allow for a six-unit, single-family townhome development project. Planning Commission recommended approval. The current proposal is to build four, not six, townhomes. This proposal conflicts with the neighborhood-specific policies adopted many years ago, but aligns with more recently adopted city policies and objectives. This is an all-around awkward parcel and I'm not sure there are any good options. The presentation for this item was continued to the evening Council Meeting. We ran out of time in this meeting.



Closed Meeting

Closed meetings (aka executive meetings) are held without the public present and must meet one of the conditions listed in Utah State Code (§ 52-4-204 and 52-4-205 et. seq.). If a closed meeting is needed, it will be announced at that time.



Adjournment

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PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Agenda

5:30 PM, Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Opening Ceremony

Items in this category do not involve legislative action.



Presentations, Proclamations, and Awards

1. Introduction of new Chair for the Dixon Neighborhood
   I've been dragging my kids to neighborhood meetings, service projects, and community events their whole lives. My oldest just turned 18 at the beginning of December and was excited to exercise her right to vote for the first time at the December Dixon Neighborhood meeting, where new neighborhood leaders were being selected. The meeting feels on the same night as the last Council meeting, so I found out by text message that my daughter had been selected as a neighborhood vice-chair! Presentation only. I'm looking forward to Elise Taylor's leadership for my neighborhood.
2. A presentation of the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) by the Provo City Finance Division. (20-017)
   This is an easy-to-understand snapshot of Provo finances. We really have enjoyed a stretch of prosperity. Presentation only. Here is a link to the report.
   

   Public Comment

   • This public comment period is intended to allow comment on matters that do not appear on the agenda. Each speaker will generally be limited to two minutes. Fifteen minutes has been set aside for this comment period.
   • For items on the agenda requiring a public hearing, time to comment will be provided, after the item is presented, for all those who wish to speak.
   • For items not requiring a public hearing, public comment will still be taken following presentation of the item, but will be limited to a ten minute total comment period.
   
   
   

   Action Agenda

3. The election of the Municipal Council Chair and Vice-chair. (20-001)
   Per Provo City Code Section 2.50.020, the Council is required to elect a Chair and Vice-chair at the first meeting of the calendar year. It's been an honor to serve as chair this past year. A nomination for George Handley as Chair was approved 7:0. A nomination for David Harding as Vice-chair was approved 7:0. I expect great things this year with a new Council being lead by Chair Handley. I grateful to be able to serve with them.
4. A resolution acknowledging the election of the Chair and Vice-chair of the Provo Municipal Council for calendar year 2020. (20-001)
   This is the resolution that confirms the election. Approved 7:0.



Redevelopment Agency of Provo

5. The election of the Redevelopment Agency Chair and Vice-chair. (20-001)
   The same process conducting the election of Chair and Vice-chair is followed for the election of the Redevelopment Agency Chair and Vice-chair. A nomination for David Sewell as RDA Chair was approved 7:0. A nomination for Shannon Ellsworth as RDA Vice-chair was approved 7:0. The RDA is in good hands.
6. A resolution acknowledging the appointment of the Chair and Vice-chair of the Redevelopment Agency of Provo City for calendar year 2020. (20-001)
   This is the resolution that confirms the election. Approved 7:0.



Action Agenda

7. An ordinance changing the General Plan designation from Public Facilities (PF) to Residential (R) for approximately 0.78 acres of real property generally located at 862 East Quail Valley Drive. Edgemont Neighborhood. (PLGPA20190009)
   This was item 8 on the work meeting agenda. The current proposal is to build four, not six, townhomes. This proposal conflicts with the neighborhood-specific policies adopted many years ago, but aligns with more recently adopted city policies and objectives. This is an all-around awkward parcel and I'm not sure there are any good options. Failed 0:7, with David Sewell, David Harding, George Handley, Shannon Ellsworth, William Fillmore, Travis Hoban, and David Shipley opposed. For me, this came down to two problems. 1) The proposal didn't align with the adopted plans for this area, and (2), it is an awkward site for four townhomes, or as a resident-commenter put it, "its a square peg in a round hole". The applicant went above and beyond to try to address the concerns of the neighbors.
8. An ordinance amending the Zone Map classification of approximately 0.78 acres of real property, generally located at 862 East Quail Valley Drive, from Public Facilities (PF) Low Density Residential (LDR). Edgemont Neighborhood. (PLRZ20180430)
   This was item 8 on the work meeting agenda. Failed 0:7, with David Sewell, David Harding, George Handley, Shannon Ellsworth, William Fillmore, Travis Hoban, and David Shipley opposed.



Adjournment