Ephraim hires Sunrise Engineering for a $129,500 impact fee update
October 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. · Ephraim City Hall, 5 South Main
At its Oct. 7 meeting the Ephraim City Council voted 3-0 to approve a $129,500 contract with Sunrise Engineering to update its impact fee plan and analysis and to amend the fee schedule, raising the bulk water meter deposit to $1,750 and adding short-term rental license fees. In study session it heard an electric vehicle fast charger proposal and discussed zoning changes on density and parking. Councilmembers Nordfelt and Dalene were absent. These minutes were approved Oct. 21.
From the approved minutes. Updated November 5, 2026.
In brief
5 items came up for a decision or discussion: 3 discussed and 2 approved.
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4 members were present and 2 absent (Councilmember Dennis Nordfelt, Councilmember Jack Dalene).
The next one was on October 7, 2026: Ephraim council favors one-time project bonuses but not performance bonuses
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Impact fee plan update contract (ECR 26-20) | Approved · 3-0 |
| Fee schedule: bulk water meter deposit and short-term rental license (ECO 26-12) | Approved · 3-0 |
| Electric vehicle fast charger | Discussed |
| Residential zoning, density and parking changes | Discussed |
| Canyon water line project | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · contracts
Impact fee plan update contract (ECR 26-20)
Approved · 3-0
The council approved a $129,500 contract with Sunrise Engineering to update the city's impact fee capital facilities plan and impact fee analysis, paid from existing impact fee revenue for wastewater, culinary water and streets.
Item 2 · fees
Fee schedule: bulk water meter deposit and short-term rental license (ECO 26-12)
Approved · 3-0
The council raised the bulk water meter deposit to $1,750 to reflect replacement costs and added short-term rental business license fees to the city fee schedule.
Item 3 · utilities
Electric vehicle fast charger
Discussed
The power director presented a proposed 120-kW DC fast charging station costing about $80,000 plus an $8,000 one-time subscription fee and transformer costs, with a $0.22 per kWh margin before other operating costs at a $0.35 rate. A larger grant-funded option under the NEVI program would not be available until 2027 and would need a traffic study. Staff will keep evaluating both.
Item 4 · land-use
Residential zoning, density and parking changes
Discussed
In study session the council discussed amending the R-1B flex-home zone (3,000-square-foot lots), a possible R-1C zone with about 6,500-square-foot lots, limiting apartments to 15 units per acre, a three-story maximum in college overlay and mixed-use areas, parking changes including ending the bicycle-rack and mixed-use parking reductions, and capping townhomes at 60 percent of larger multifamily developments. Staff will bring ordinance language back.
Item 5 · Roads and utilities
Canyon water line project
Discussed
The engineer reported the difficult creek crossing on the Canyon water line is finished, with the pipe about six feet below the creek's flow line, and the project should be completed in two to three weeks. A senator is scheduled to visit Ephraim to discuss federal funding.
What residents said
No public comment.