Logan council passes impact fee plan and public intoxication ordinance, then hears competing downtown Center Block proposals

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 1 · Budget

   Public hearing: $69,605 state alcohol enforcement budget adjustment (Resolution 20-04)

   Approved · 5-0

   The council accepted $69,605 from the State of Utah for alcohol enforcement. No one spoke at the hearing. The minutes record Council Member Amy Anderson, who joined electronically, voting aye along with the other four members.

   • Grant$69,605 to State of Utah Alcohol enforcement. Paid from State of Utah
   • Resolution 20-04

   Moved by Council Member Jess Bradfield; the minutes' record of the seconder is garbled ('M. Bradfield'). Vote: 5-0 on roll call

2. Item 2 · Taxes and fees

   Impact fee facilities plan (Ordinance 20-03) for water, wastewater, parks, power and transportation

   Approved · 5-0

   The ordinance adopts impact fees for new development within current city boundaries. An amendment to Section 3.36.040(A)(5) removed a clause tied to outstanding debt obligations. Shawn Jordan thanked the council at the hearing and praised online streaming of meetings. It takes effect 90 days after adoption.

   • Ordinance 20-03
   • Effective 90 days from adoption

   Moved by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds, seconded by Council Member Jess Bradfield. Vote: 5-0 on roll call

3. Item 3 · City code

   Public intoxication and public drinking ordinance (Ordinance 20-01, Sections 9.12.290 and 9.12.300)

   Approved · 5-0

   The ordinance replaces 'intoxicating liquor' with 'all alcoholic beverages,' which includes beer. Gail Yost asked at the hearing how common public intoxication is; Police Chief Gary Jensen said police handle it daily and make DUI arrests several times a week.

   • Ordinance 20-01

   Moved by Council Member Jess Bradfield, seconded by Council Member Mark Anderson. Vote: 5-0 on roll call

4. Item 4 · Budget

   Public hearing: PY2020 Annual Action Plan (Community Development Block Grant)

   No action

   Community Development Director Mike DeSimone estimated 2020 CDBG funding at $450,000, subject to Congress passing a budget. The listed priority amounts (infrastructure $225,000, nonprofit services $315,000, administration and planning $90,000) do not add up to $450,000 in the minutes, so a human check is advisable. No one spoke at the hearing and no vote was required; adoption is scheduled for May 5, 2020.

   • Grant$450,000 Estimated 2020 CDBG funding. Paid from Federal CDBG
   • Application period Feb 19 - Mar 19; adoption May 5, 2020

5. Budget

   Workshop: FY 2019-2020 budget adjustments totaling about $287,433 (Resolution 20-05)

   Discussed · Main Street corridor

   Finance Director Richard Anderson previewed $70,000 from Community Development rolling stock reserves for two vehicles; a $3,000 state census outreach grant and an $11,200 state library enhancement grant for the library; $980 in police reimbursement for enforcement at business-requested events; a $60,000 UDOT grant and a $102,253 Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization grant for a Main Street Corridor study; and $40,000 from Cigna for employee wellness. The listed amounts total $287,433. Action was set for March 3.

   • Budget$70,000 Two Community Development vehicles. Paid from Rolling stock reserves
   • Grant$3,000 to State of Utah Library census outreach equipment. Paid from State census outreach grant
   • Grant$11,200 to State of Utah Library collections, public technology and outreach. Paid from Community Library Enhancement Funds
   • Payment$980 Police reimbursement for enforcement at business-requested events
   • Grant$60,000 to UDOT Main Street Corridor study. Paid from UDOT grant
   • Grant$102,253 to Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization Main Street Corridor study. Paid from CMPO grant
   • Grant$40,000 to Cigna Employee wellness programs. Paid from Cigna
   • Resolution 20-05

6. Development

   Redevelopment Agency workshop: downtown Center Block and Emporium Block alternatives

   Discussed · Downtown Logan, Center Block and Emporium Block, Main Street and Center Street

   Each presenter had 15 minutes. Mayor Daines presented the city's Cowboy Partners plan, chosen through a request for qualifications: 124 housing units (20% affordable) above Main Street retail, a plaza with a winter ice rink and summer water feature, about $2.4 million in acquisition, $1.2 million in demolition and a $2 million plaza, RDA incentives of $1.5 to $1.95 million from general reserves and $2.5 million from restricted housing funds, $2.5 million in city equity, $19 million in private investment and roughly 10 net new parking stalls. James Clawson, speaking for Center Block owners, proposed a Center Street alternative with a public plaza, a Theatre Block parking terrace of about 425 stalls (city funding about 70%), demolition of two buildings for about 80 public stalls and a revised Emporium and Plaza plan. Gene Needham III criticized the Emporium demolition and the Cowboy Partners selection and proposed ten alternatives. Finance Director Anderson put the comparison at about $10.1 million versus about $8.6 million after credits; Mayor Daines disputed the difference and said the figures were not vetted. City Attorney Housley said the city owns the property and the question is what owner consent is needed, and that litigation was possible. Questions were deferred to a March 3 hearing.

   • Land deal$19.0 million to Cowboy Partners Private investment in the Center Block project (city plan). Selected through a request for qualifications. Paid from Private
   • Land deal$2.40 million Property acquisition in the city plan. Paid from RDA
   • Contract$1.20 million Demolition in the city plan. Paid from RDA
   • Budget$2.00 million Plaza estimate. Paid from RDA
   • City plan: 124 housing units, 20% affordable
   • Estimated annual new tax revenue: $150,000 (mayor's figure)
   • Center Block approvals proposed by May 1, 2020 and Theatre Block by July 1, 2020 (alternative)

   Follow Center Block downtown redevelopment in the development tracker →

What residents said

Downtown demolition and parkingPublic intoxicationHistoric preservation of the Emporium

Shawn Jordan thanked the council on the impact fee ordinance and praised online streaming. Gail Yost asked about public intoxication. No comment on the other hearings or at the RDA meeting.