Clark Taylor voted on five Doug Smith dealership items. The minutes record his client disclosure at two.

The incentive vote

On Aug. 24, 2021, Council member Clark Taylor moved to approve a sales-tax incentive agreement with Doug Smith Auto. Ryan Hunter seconded. It passed 4-1, with Barnes, Carroll, Hunter and Taylor voting yes and Rob Shelton voting no. The minutes record no disclosure by Taylor. ^[1]

The agreement caps the rebates at $2 million or the total cost of qualified improvements, whichever is less. Under the draft in the meeting packet, "the first $775,000.00 in Actual Tax Revenue generated during each year of the Eligibility Period shall be retained by City and is not subject to reimbursement." ^[1][2]

During the debate, Shelton said that although the council had approved National GMC, "they turned down Ken Garff." The minutes then record Taylor saying: "Brings me to Ken Garff and I said I wouldn't do that because of Doug Smith." They also say Taylor "felt that losing Doug Smith would only increase the 0.6% deficit that already existed." ^[1]

Later votes

Jan. 11, 2022: Taylor moved to approve the consent agenda, which included releasing an $830.91 improvements retainer for the Doug Smith Kia addition at 523 W. Main. It passed unanimously. The minutes record no disclosure. ^[3]

Dec. 13, 2022: On a dog park sponsorship and naming rights agreement with Doug Smith Subaru, the minutes say "Council Member Taylor stated on the record that Doug Smith Subaru was his client and he had helped put this deal together, but he still planned on voting." He seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. ^[4]

Jan. 24, 2023: Before a vote on a pylon sign site plan for the Doug Smith Autoplex, "Council Member Taylor put on the record that Doug Smith was his client." The plan passed 5-0. ^[5]

Dec. 12, 2023: Taylor moved to approve the consent agenda, which included "an amended agreement with Doug Smith Subaru for naming rights for Art Dye Dog Park." It passed unanimously. The minutes record no disclosure. ^[6]

Rebates paid

The city's annual financial reports show rebates to Doug Smith under the agreement of $219,047 in fiscal 2022, $274,363 in fiscal 2023 and $226,881 in fiscal 2025. ^[7][8][9]

Taylor's business

Taylor's January 2025 conflict-of-interest form lists his employer as Red Rider Creative, an advertising and marketing agency, where he was president. It does not list clients. His January 2026 form lists SIRQ Construction as his employer and says he owned Red Rider "until sale of the business in 2/27/2025." ^[10][11]

Taylor told the American Fork Citizen "he began working in business development for Backside Branding in mid-June, after a lawsuit that had barred him from Utah's advertising industry was resolved in his favor." His 2026 form does not list Backside Branding. ^[12][11]

Backside Branding's website says: "We continue to help Doug Smith maximize their advertising efforts with digital assets, billboards, TV and radio spots, videos, events, and more." ^[13]

Utah's municipal ethics law requires an officer to disclose a business relationship with a person or business that has matters before the city. It does not bar the officer from voting after disclosing. ^[14]