Council Meetings - 24 August 2021

Well, we are about halfway between when I first posted my "Final Year Dashboard" and when I leave office.

No new "final actions" have taken place since I first posted this, so I'm still 0 for 1, with Ranked Choice Voting being my one and only strike-out. I can't think of a good way to graphically show progress on the "pending" items. By far, the most work has gone into the parking issues. In Tuesday's meeting we'll be presenting the latest updates and changes to the working proposal. With the backing of the rest of the Council, we will push the proposal forward to get feed back from the rest of the community and lay out a game plan for how it should be implemented, if the Council decides to support it after we hear from the community. The Committee is pushing for dynamic tools to be a part of the program, and these tools will also be very valuable in the management of Downtown parking. I think main hold up of Downtown parking progress is the hiring of a new Parking Coordinator. I thought this position should be filled by now. I need to ask how that is coming.

The effort to ensure mixed housing types has made waves recently, but it looks like there is a good path forward. I think item 3 in the Work meeting should give that effort a shot in the arm. I'm worried that the Occupancy and Rental Regulation Reform may not be finished before I have to bow out, but hopefully I can sow some seeds that will bear fruit after I'm gone.

Finally, we had some good discussions during the budget season on the financial oversight practices. We caught our breath once the budget passed. Now is a good time to work out these details to be baked into next year's budget cycle.

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Work Meeting Agenda

12:00 pm, Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Business

1. A presentation regarding the Administration's proposal for a COVID-19 vaccine campaign. (21-089)
   COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates have steadily increased in Provo and Utah County. Administrators and doctors from Utah Valley Hospital recommend higher vaccination rates among Provo's population to help reduce COVID's impact on the community and hospital, especially ICU beds that are being filled with non-vaccinated COVID patients. As such, Provo City Council asked the city's Administration team to develop a vaccine campaign in partnership with local community and health partners in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines and encourage citizens to get the shot. We requested this proposal three weeks ago at our last Work Meeting. There are no documents in our meeting packet so there isn't much to preview. Presentation only. I was very impressed by the Administration's effort on this request and the quality of the resulting rough plan.
2. A presentation regarding the allocation of Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) tax funds. (21-091)
   A summary of Recreation/Arts/Parks Tax revenues, expenditures and related projects. This update was also requested by the Council and no documents are in the packet. Presentation only. RAP funding has made a huge difference for our parks. For our arts? Not so much.
3. A presentation regarding the Development Process: "Context: How design, density, and aesthetics interact" (21-080)
   The Council has indicated that it would like to receive presentations on a variety of development issues. Staff has invited speakers on a variety of topics relevant to community development. The discussion today centers on the interconnection of design and density. This item has been continued a couple of times. I previously preview this item this way: "I'm excited about this presentation. I think that a significant portion of the public's resistance to density has been because so much of our higher-density developments have been so poorly designed. The poor outcomes are due to poor design, but people chalk it up to the increase in density." Presentation only. This was an excellent presentation.
4. Presentation on the General Plan. (21-061)
   Planning staff and Design Workshop staff will update the Council on the progress of the revised General Plan. I'm a little worried about the drafts and outlines so far. It feels very generic. I don't see a strong vision, but an amalgam of everything anyone said in a focus group. Presentation only. I was blunt with my concerns over the proposed vision statement and the buzz phrases used.
5. Presentation from Parking Committee. (21-028)
   The Parking Committee is working on a comprehensive parking plan and coming forward with a presentation on a proposed phased-in approach for a new parking program in neighborhoods surrounding BYU campus. I've been working with this committee for at least two and half years. We've refined the proposed program through several rounds of public input and stake holder discussions. I'm hopeful that we can get the ball rolling before I leave office. Presentation only. Things are going in a good direction. Managing on-street parking in areas with excess demand and charging demand-based rates will align interests and allow the market to optimize the use of on-street parking and will solve a major, decades-long frustration of residents, both long-term and short-term.
6. Presentation on return of Winter Olympics to Utah. (21-090)
   Review of the bidding process to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games in Utah. Discussion of current bid status and next steps. Special highlight on the importance of the Peaks Ice Arena and what is needed in the near future to help aid in the bidding process. The Peaks Ice Arena has been a shining example of a well managed facility that was originally built for hosting the Olympics. Presentation only. It was fun to help host the Olympics in 2002. Efforts are underway to bring the Winter Olympics back to SLC, and Provo may have another opportunity to help host.
7. Presentation on Provo Delta Restoration Project and possible impact on Provo Airport. (21-083)
   The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission is coordinating its Provo River Delta Restoration Project with the Provo Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, and wildlife services to reduce the risk of bird strike for airplanes using the Provo Airport. This is likely an area where there are competing public interests. Finding the right balance will be critical. Presentation only. The concern is that certain features are being designed into the project that will reduce the risk of bird strikes with planes using our airport. But who will maintain these features once the project is complete and is handed off to the State and becomes one of many properties managed by the State, most of which do not have the same kind of maintenance requirements?



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
Board of Canvassers
Agenda

5:30 pm, Tuesday, August 24, 2021

1. A resolution of the Mayor and the Municipal Council sitting as the Board of Canvassers accepting the election returns and declaring and certifying the results of the vote for Primary Elections held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. (21-092)
   This is a presentation of the final vote tallies in the municipal primary election.Approved 6:0, with Councilors George Handley and Travis Hoban excused.It was a 6:0 vote, even with two councilors excused, because the Mayor also votes on this board. During the meeting I spoke on the confidence I have with the system implemented by the County ensuring the integrity of our elections. We looked very closely at the system before we tranitioned to vote-by-mail. I really feel that Utah is a great example in striking the right balance between election integrity and ease-of-voter-use.

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PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Agenda

5:45 PM, Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Opening Ceremony

Items in this category do not involve legislative action.



Presentations, Proclamations, and Awards

Items in this category do not involve legislative action.
1. A presentation from the Provo Mayor and City Council to Karl Snow and Glee Zumbrunnen in appreciation for their work and service in changing Provo’s form of government to what it is today and for presenting a written history of those events. (21-088)
   Presentation only. I'm grateful for the effort of these two individuals in changing the form of Provo's government. I believe we are well served by having a separate administrative branch and legislative branch. I wish we could have likewise changed our county government. Maybe I'm a bit biased, but I feel that we've had far less drama with our elected city officials than our elected county officials.
   
   

   Public Comment

   Instructions for making public comments at this electronic meeting can be found on the officially published agenda: agendas.provo.org.
   
   Dial 346 248 7799. Enter Meeting ID 830 4699 1746 and press #. When asked for a participant ID, press #. To join via computer, use the same meeting ID and enter passcode: 678920.
   
   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.
   
   

   Action Agenda

2. An ordinance amending Titles 14 and 15 of the Provo City Code to remove gendered references and to make stylistic and grammatical corrections. (21-073)
   There is a lot more to this than just the replacement of gendered language. For the most part, I understand and agree with the changes proposed. Approved 5:0 with George Handley and Travis Hoban excused. Most of the discussion revolved around whether the changes should be classified as "stylistic and grammatical corrections." We were assured in the meeting that they were nonsubstantive, and therefore I voted in favor. After further digging, I'm not so sure anymore. We will be bringing this item back to take a closer look.
3. An ordinance amending the Zone Map classification of approximately 1.07 acres of real property located at 50 E 3900 N from Residential (R1.10) to Low Density Residential (LDR) and Two Family Residential (R2) and authorizing a related development agreement. Riverbottoms Neighborhood (PLZR20190265)
   On November 10, 2019, after several hearings by the Planning Commission, the Council voted 6:1 to reject a proposed rezone from Single-Family Residential (R1.10) to Low Density Residential (LDR) in order to build 10 townhomes. The Council indicated that they would be open to hearing a proposal for rezoning to Very Low Density Residential (VLDR) with fewer units at a future Work Meeting. The developer has returned with a new VLDR proposal for 6 units.
   On February 2, 2021, the Council declined the rezone to VLDR and invited the applicant to make changes to address the concerns of the Council and come back before them. A new site plan and concept photos have been submitted and the developer has proffered a development agreement holding the development at ten units. I hope we'll be able to get this passed this time. Approved 5:0 with George Handley and Travis Hoban excused. I'm glad that this finally got done. I think that some of the earlier iterations were just as good, if not better, but I think we ended at a good place.




Adjournment