Logan council holds long Center Block public hearing, continues it to March 17, and approves $287,433 budget adjustment

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Appointment

   Board appointments: Golf Course Advisory Board

   Approved · 4-0

   The council ratified Mayor Daines' new appointments of Carol Denniston and Lee Samsel to the Golf Course Advisory Board.

   Moved by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds, seconded by Council Member Tom Jensen. Vote: Carried unanimously (Council Member Jess Bradfield arrived at 5:55 p.m., after the start)

2. Other

   Voter districts subcommittee

   No action

   The council created a subcommittee to review the city's election process, including at-large, district, mixed or other options. Council Member Tom Jensen chairs it with Council Member Mark Anderson, City Recorder Teresa Harris and Assistant City Attorney Craig Carlston, plus representatives from neighborhood councils. No motion was recorded.

3. Item A1 · Budget

   Public hearing: FY 2019-2020 budget adjustment (Resolution 20-05)

   Approved · 5-0 · Main Street corridor

   The council appropriated $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 business-requested event enforcement; a $60,000 UDOT grant and a $102,253 Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization grant for the Main Street Corridor study; and $40,000 from Cigna for employee wellness. No one spoke at the hearing.

   • 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 grant
   • Grant$11,200 to State of Utah Library collections, technology and outreach. Paid from Community Library Enhancement Funds
   • Payment$980 Police reimbursement for business-requested event enforcement
   • 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

   Moved by Council Member Jess Bradfield, seconded by Council Member Tom Jensen. Vote: Carried unanimously

4. Other

   Workshop: $2,000 donation for range balls (Resolution 20-08) and Logan/North Logan fire and EMS interlocal agreement (Resolution 20-07)

   Discussed

   Finance Director Richard Anderson previewed accepting $2,000 in donated funds for range balls. Fire Chief Brad Hannig presented an interlocal agreement to combine Logan and North Logan fire and EMS services. Both were set to return as action items on March 17.

   • Grant$2,000 Donated funds for range balls. Paid from Donation
   • Resolutions 20-08 and 20-07

5. Presentation

   Homelessness in Cache Valley presentation

   Discussed

   Jess Lucero of the Local Homeless Coordinating Committee said about 1 in 5 local renters pay more than half their income on housing. The 2020 Bear River Association of Governments point-in-time count found 43 heads of household and 16 minor children; 42% were homeless for the first time, with an average duration of about 7.5 months and a median of 3 months. Common locations were cars, storage units, park-and-rides and 24-hour businesses. Next steps include finalizing a regional plan and seeking a seat on the State Homeless Coordinating Committee.

6. Item RDA · Public hearing

   Redevelopment Agency public hearing: Center Block and Emporium Block proposals

   Continued · 5-0 · Downtown Logan, Center Block and Emporium Block, Main Street

   The hearing took input on three proposals: Gene Needham's scattered-site alternatives including a library or museum concept; business owners' plan for a multistory parking garage, plaza and transfer of city-owned buildings to private ownership; and the city's Cowboy Partners plan with a plaza, ice rink, affordable housing, retail and parking terrace. Figures cited included a developer incentive of $4.5 million on a $20 million investment, $2.5 million in city equity, a city proposal total of $12.2 million against $10.8 million for the alternative, a parking terrace of 525 stalls and 124 housing units. About two dozen people spoke, including Michael Ballam, Rachael Willis, Keegan Garrity and Gail Yost, and speakers disagreed on property ownership and parking rights. City Attorney Housley said the city holds clear title and litigation might be needed if owner support is insufficient; Mayor Daines said no development agreement is signed. Members reported email support of roughly 60% for the city plan and 40% for the alternative (Anderson and Bradfield) and about two-thirds for the city plan (Simmonds, Jensen). No design or resolution was approved; the discussion was continued to March 17. Council Member Mark Anderson said he is a property owner on Center Block; no recusal is recorded.

   • Grant$4.50 million to Cowboy Partners Developer incentive in the city plan, on a $20 million investment (as cited at the hearing). Selected through a request for qualifications. Paid from Redevelopment Agency
   • Hearing 6:46 p.m. to 9:12 p.m.
   • City plan: 124 units; parking terrace 525 stalls

   Moved by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds, seconded by Council Member Tom Jensen. Vote: Motion to continue to March 17 carried unanimously

   Follow Center Block downtown redevelopment in the development tracker →

What residents said

Off-leash dog park on Meadows CircleUtility work and property damageDowntown Center Block redevelopmentParkingHistoric preservation

Rick Mayer presented a Best of State website award. Robert Heaton, Mike Johnson and Joshua Wright opposed an off-leash dog pilot park on Meadows Circle; Johnson cited 38 homes near the park. Cassie Hill and Tony Nielsen raised concerns about UDOT and Comcast work and property damage on 1400 North. Gail Yost remembered Jennie Christensen.