Council Meetings - 4 August 2020

The only item in the Work Meeting is COVID-19 related. I like what Councilor Sewell wrote about our need to be vigilant in his last newsletter. After celebrating the first real drop in new cases since the huge surge Utah experienced after Memorial Day, he wrote, "More people have been wearing masks in public lately. We need to continue to improve in following state guidelines and federal guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to protect ourselves and others. The onset of cooler weather in the fall, combined with increased activity at businesses, churches and schools could cause another spike in new cases if we are not vigilant." 

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PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda

3:30 pm, Tuesday, August 4, 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




Administration

1. A discussion regarding an interlocal agreement with Utah County on CARES Act Funding. (20-108)
   The City has received an allocation under the CARES Act from Utah County for expenses and projects related to the impact of COVID-19 on citizens and city operations. The Administration would like to review the proposed agreement with the County and the projects the Administration intends to undertake with the allocated funding (see attachments). List of CARES Act projects. Proposed expenditures. The pandemic has reduced the City's general revenues, reduced the operating income of many of the services we provide, and necessitated many unplanned expenditures. The CARES Act funding can't offset lost revenues, but can be used to reimburse the City for COVID-19-related expenses. These are things like additional PPE for first responders, Plexiglas installations at customer service counters, and additional sanitizing equipment. There are a couple of items on the proposed list that I will need some help feeling comfortable with the COVID-19 link. Presentation only. This item was already scheduled for the Council Meeting on August 4, 2020. See my report for item 3 in the evening 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. A closed meeting was held.



Adjournment

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PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Agenda

5:30 PM, Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Opening Ceremony

Items in this category do not involve legislative action.



Public Comment

Instructions for making public comments at this electronic meeting can be found on the officially published agenda: agendas.provo.org.

Fifteen minutes have been set aside for any person to express ideas, concerns, comments, or issues that are not on the agenda: Please state your name and city of residence into the microphone.

Please limit your comments to two minutes.

State Law prohibits the Council from acting on items that do not appear on the agenda.



Consent Agenda

1. An ordinance granting Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless a nonexclusive franchise to operate a telecommunications network in Provo City, Utah. (20-107)
   Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless is looking to install small cell wireless facilities in the public right of way. This agreement would govern the rights and obligations of any work performed in the public right of way. I found the memo that accompanies the agreement very helpful to focus on aspects that differ from the default contract. I appreciate the competent civil servants that serve throughout the city government.
   
   This is a 5G agreement that many in the City will cheer its arrival. I have also heard from a few residents concerned about adverse health effects related to 5G networks. I have looked into the concerns and found the broad consensus of health and safety experts is that testing has not shown any undue risks. Approved 7:0. With this being on the Consent Agenda, there was no discussion.




Action Agenda

2. A resolution appointing individuals to various boards and commissions. (20-003)
   Mayor Kaufusi has submitted a number of appointments and reappointments of individuals to various boards and commissions. The Council has had an opportunity to review the appointees' qualifications and meet with the appointees. This resolution will formalize their appointments to these respective boards and commissions. Emma Willes is being appointed to the Arts Council. Allyn Jones is being appointed to the Planning Commission. I'm grateful that such high caliber individuals are willing to serve. Approved 7:0. I believe there is still one to go and then we'll be set for a while.
3. A resolution authorizing Provo City to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Utah County for disbursement from the Corona Virus Relief Fund. (20-108)
   This was item 1 in the work meeting. See my preview in the earlier meeting. Approved 7:0. It was good to get my questions answered. The Administration has gone through and continues to go through a careful vetting process, including third-party review, to ensure each project is eligible for this program.
4. A resolution approving the application for grants from the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Drought Response Program for fiscal year 2021 for the Provo Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project. (20-105)
   Public Works has been working to identify ways to artificially recharge the aquifers that supply water to the City. A WaterSMART drought resiliency grant has been identified as a potential funding source for these aquifer storage and recovery projects. One of the requirements of the grant application is a resolution indicating the Council's support and commitment to meeting the requirements of the grant program. We discussed this in our Work Meeting two weeks ago. My report of the discussion said, in part, "I agree with the Public Works Director, Dave Decker, that ASR is the most important project that the department is currently working on. Generations to come will benefit from the foresight driving this project." Approved 6:0, with Bill Fillmore excused. I'm happy to support this grant application and the ASR project in general.
5. A resolution to place the vacant property at 480 West Center on the Surplus Property List and to remove a parcel at the mouth of Provo Canyon therefrom. (20-110)
   In 2013, Provo City acquired the property at 480 West Center, previously known as the "Roasted Artichoke." Provo City became involved in this property when the building condition was considered to be dangerous and needed to be demolished. The property has been sitting vacant since that time, except for a storage shed that is being used by the Parks and Recreation Department. The City has been approached by several individuals who have expressed interest in developing this property into a commercial use. Before pursuing any of those offers, it would be appropriate to first put the property on the Surplus Property List.
   
   On February 28, 2019, the Provo Municipal Council approved the placement of a 39- acre parcel of ground located at the mouth of Provo Canyon on the Surplus Property List (Resolution 2019-12). After further discussion about the possibility of developing the property, it was determined that the property should remain as open space for trails and other recreational purposes and the property should be removed from the Surplus Property List. I'm excited that the old "Roasted Artichoke" property may redevelop. I'm looking forward to the discussion about the property at the mouth of the canyon. It wasn't that long ago that the Council, at the request of the Administration, added the property to the surplus list. Approved 7:0. Hopefully a master plan for the north-east area will bring a more comprehensive and cohesive plan. In the mean time, I wouldn't support selling to a developer.
6. ***CONTINUED*** A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a lease financing for golf course maintenance equipment. (20-109)
   This item was not ready to be heard.
7. ***CONTINUED*** A resolution appropriating $521,093.13 in the Golf Fund for the purchase of Golf Course Maintenance Equipment to be leased. (20-109)
   This item was not ready to be heard.




Adjournment