In three Holladay ordinance votes since 2023, the member who moved approval voted no

The Holladay City Council has voted down three ordinances since October 2023 without a single vote in favor. In each case the minutes record the council member who moved to approve voting nay on that motion. ^[1][2][3]

Oct. 5, 2023: fuel price signs

Council Member Paul Fotheringham moved to approve Ordinance 2023-11, which would have allowed internally illuminated fuel price signs in the Holladay Village zone. Council Member Drew Quinn seconded. Council Members Ty Brewer, Matt Durham, Fotheringham, Quinn and Dan Gibbons and Mayor Rob Dahle all voted nay, and the minutes record the ordinance as denied. ^[1]

Before the vote, Gibbons said he was not comfortable with a regulation aimed at one industry. Durham said it would be difficult to explain a carve-out for a gas station in the zone. Dahle said that, as written, the ordinance was difficult to support. ^[1]

Oct. 24, 2024: short-term rentals in the PO zone

Council Member Emily Gray moved to approve Ordinance 2024-16, which would have allowed short-term rentals as a conditional use in the Professional Office zone, and Quinn seconded. Gray, Quinn, Fotheringham, Durham and Dahle voted nay, and the minutes record the motion as failing 5-0. ^[2]

Planning staff told the council that staff and the Planning Commission had forwarded a negative recommendation and was generally supportive of exploring the matter during the General Plan update. Dahle said 38 properties could be affected. Gray, Quinn and Dahle each said the General Plan process was the place to take up short-term rentals. Legal counsel Jayme Blakesley told the council it had to act on the application and that a motion should either approve or deny it. ^[2]

March 6, 2025: roadway classifications

Brewer moved to approve Ordinance 2025-01, amending Title 13.02.030 on roadway classifications, and Quinn seconded. Brewer, Durham, Fotheringham, Quinn, Council Member Emily Gray and Dahle voted nay, and the minutes record the motion as failing on a unanimous vote. ^[3]

Dahle noted before the vote that the Planning Commission had denied the proposal and that the council had discussed the language in earlier meetings. The minutes record no discussion by council members on the motion. ^[3]

How it compares

The Ledger's index holds approved Holladay council minutes for 141 meetings from Jan. 9, 2020 through Sept. 17, 2026, with 329 recorded votes on items. Eleven of those items ended in a denial or a failed motion to approve. Seven were decided on motions to deny or reject, by votes of 6-0, 5-0 or 5-1, and one ended in a tie. ^[1][2][3]

The tie came on Ordinance 2022-23, on lot and density standards in the FCOZ overlay zone, on Dec. 8, 2022. Brewer's motion to adopt it failed 3-3 on a roll call. Gibbons, who seconded the motion, Durham and Fotheringham voted nay, and Brewer, Quinn and Dahle voted aye. ^[4]