Heber City Council approves 100 West pedestrian safety work, 5-0

The Heber City Council voted 5-0 on Oct. 20 to approve traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety improvements along 100 West, with the concrete work capped at $150,000, according to the meeting agenda and the OpenUtah record of the recording. The item was presented by City Engineer Russ Funk. ^[1][2]

Funk recommended striping improvements on 100 West between 600 South and 1000 South, plus an ADA-compliant school crossing with concrete islands at 910 South. The concrete ceiling covers the 910 South crossing and sidewalk infill; striping is a separate, smaller item. The approval also covers filling sidewalk gaps on the east side of 100 West, about 1,100 linear feet. Funk corrected a typo in his staff report, which said west side. He said the city's standard calls for an 8-foot planter strip and 5-foot sidewalk but the right-of-way is too narrow, so he recommended a 5-foot sidewalk, and members discussed whether narrower four-foot sidewalk would be acceptable. ^[2]

Funk said the city could start the sidewalk work quickly by using a contractor it already works with under existing contract pricing. He said the city's traffic-calming budget is $200,000 and asked whether the council was comfortable using it for sidewalk work that is related to safety, though not strictly traffic calming. A council member said sidewalks should be the top priority, a member raised snow plowing and clearing near the sidewalk, and Mayor Franco asked whether the 910 South crossing fits the routes to the elementary and secondary schools. ^[2]

In a separate item the council voted 3-2 to amend the city's communications policy. The agenda lists the amendment under Council Member Mike Johnston. It says elected officials may submit ideas and comments for official city publications but will not individually contribute articles or other content to the city newsletter or other official city communications unless directed by a majority vote of the council. Council Member Yvonne Barney voted no, and the OpenUtah record lists Council Member Murdock as the other no vote. Mayor Heidi Franco, who did not vote, spoke against the change, saying it limits an elected official's chance to speak to constituents; the record says she wore black in protest. ^[1][2]

In the discussion, supporters said the newsletter is meant to share city news and information rather than opinion pieces, and that elected officials keep other ways to speak, including social media, letters to the editor and their own flyers. Another member said the change still lets the council ask an individual member to write on a topic by majority vote. Council Member Yvonne Barney spoke against changing the policy, suggesting instead that personal opinions carry a disclaimer that they do not represent the city, and said she wanted to see other Utah cities' policies; members discussed bringing the topic back in January. A resident who joined remotely told the council that limiting speech could carry legal ramifications. ^[2]

The council also voted 5-0 earlier in the meeting to accept Wasatch County's amended language protecting the North Fields in the Heber City expansion area memorandum, which a separate Ledger story covers. As the Community Reinvestment Agency board, it discussed options for the former Wasatch Wave buildings and the fire station block without a decision. ^[2]