Logan council approves $509,822 federal block grant plan and hears police chief on protests; no vote on utility transfers

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 1 · Appointment

   Board appointment: Logan Light & Power Advisory Board

   Approved · 5-0

   The council ratified Mayor Daines' appointment of Daniel Ferris, P.E., to the Logan Light & Power Advisory Board.

   Moved by Council Member Tom Jensen, seconded by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds. Vote: Unanimous

2. Item 2 · Public safety

   Police chief report on recent events

   No action

   Chief Gary Jensen described a visit with protesters at the Cache County building, use-of-force review practices, crisis intervention training and cooperation with other valley agencies. Council members discussed police-community relations and a possible Citizens Academy. No action.

3. Item 4 · Budget

   Public hearing: FY 2019-2021 budget adjustments (Resolution 20-21)

   Approved · 5-0

   The council appropriated $100 and $1,000 in state library grants, $5,932 in reimbursable state police overtime and $10,892 in fireworks program funds. Mayor Daines said the July 24 parade and Willow Park events were canceled and fireworks remained undecided. No one spoke.

   • Grant$100 Library Wi-Fi. Paid from State grant
   • Grant$1,000 Library online summer reading. Paid from State grant
   • Grant$5,932 Police overtime. Paid from State reimbursement
   • Budget$10,892 Fireworks program funds
   • Resolution 20-21

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

4. Item 5 · Budget

   Public hearing: PY2020 Community Development Block Grant annual action plan, $509,822 (Resolution 20-14)

   Approved · 4-0-1 · 600 North 200 West; 500 West 400 South; 1200 North 200 West; 750 North 600 East; 500 North 500 East

   Community Development Director Mike DeSimone's plan allocates $45,000 for a 600 North 200 West sidewalk, $61,058 for a 500 West 400 South sidewalk, $66,000 for a 1200 North 200 West intersection alignment, $46,000 for a 750 North 600 East sidewalk and retaining wall, $35,000 for 500 North 500 East ADA ramps, $9,800 and $40,000 for Cache County Senior Center parking lot repair and asbestos removal, $14,500 for a Sunshine Terrace memory care courtyard, $32,000 for a Family Place shed, $13,000 for Cache Humane Society spay and neuter vouchers, $16,000 for CAPSA technology, $29,500 for English Language Center technology and $101,964 for administration and planning. Chair Amy Anderson recused because her employer requested funding, and Vice Chair Jensen presided. Jensen asked that 700 North between 200 East and 300 East be first on next year's sidewalk list, and DeSimone agreed. Gordon Yonker of The Family Place thanked the council. The minutes give the tally as 4-1 with Anderson abstaining, which does not add up with four voting members.

   • Grant$509,822 PY2020 CDBG projects and administration. Application period Feb 19-Mar 19; steering committee April 28. Paid from HUD CDBG
   • Grant$16,000 to CAPSA Technology improvement. Paid from CDBG
   • Grant$32,000 to The Family Place Post frame shed. Paid from CDBG
   • Resolution 20-14
   • Administration and planning: $101,964

   Moved by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds, seconded by Council Member Jess Bradfield. Vote: Minutes record 4-1 with Amy Anderson abstaining and recused; tally unclear

5. Item 6 · Budget

   Public hearing: FY2021 enterprise fund transfers and administrative fees

   No action

   Finance Director Richard Anderson presented transfers to the general fund: $1,009,750 from water and sewer (7.0%), $501,875 from sewer treatment (5.5%), $2,849,120 from electric (7.1%), $1,225,760 from environmental health (7.6%), plus $825,000 from environmental health to the 911 fund. Administrative fees include $1,371,201 from water and sewer and $1,468,448 from electric. He said eliminating transfers would require major service cuts or raising property taxes about $2.50 for every $1 cut. Brent Hale questioned how the transfers defray costs for residents and said the budget grew faster than median income. Council Member Bradfield urged less reliance on transfers; Vice Chair Jensen said voters would likely keep them. No motion was recorded.

   • Budget$1.01 million Water and sewer transfer to general fund. Paid from Water and sewer fund
   • Budget$501,875 Sewer treatment transfer to general fund. Paid from Sewer treatment fund
   • Budget$2.85 million Electric transfer to general fund. Paid from Electric fund
   • Budget$1.23 million Environmental health transfer to general fund. Paid from Environmental health fund
   • Budget$825,000 Environmental health transfer to 911 fund. Paid from Environmental health fund

6. Item 7 · Parks

   Workshop: Public Arts Master Plan (Resolution 20-22)

   Discussed

   DeSimone and consultant Jake McEntire presented the plan, shaped by a steering committee that included Council Member Simmonds, Chair Anderson and Mayor Daines. Open houses and roundtables reached over 500 people and identified 12 priority sites, with recommendations on guidelines, funding and maintenance in three implementation phases.

   • Resolution 20-22

7. Item 8 · Budget

   Workshop: budget adjustments of $6,157 and $2,226 for standby and police overtime (Resolution 20-23)

   Discussed

   Finance Director Anderson previewed $6,157 from CCEMS standby overtime and $2,226 in state-reimbursable police overtime, set for June 16.

   • Budget$6,157 CCEMS standby overtime. Paid from CCEMS
   • Grant$2,226 Police overtime. Paid from State reimbursement
   • Resolution 20-23

8. Item 9 · Budget

   Workshop: elected officials' wages for FY2020-21 (Resolution 20-16)

   Discussed

   HR Director Greg Cox presented no change to elected pay: mayor $99,468 plus a $6,000 car allowance, council members $15,606 plus $300. Benefited employees receive 2.5% in July while the city stops matching 401(k) contributions. Council Member Bradfield said he would not vote for a raise for himself while employees are not getting one.

   • Mayor: $99,468 + $6,000 car allowance
   • Council: $15,606 + $300 car allowance

9. Item 10 · Budget

   Workshop: Utah Retirement Systems member contributions (Resolution 20-17)

   Discussed

   Cox proposed that the city pay 100% of required employee contributions for eligible Tier 1 members from July 1, 2020; Tier 2 members pay their own.

   • Resolution 20-17

10. Item 11 · Roads and utilities

    Workshop: vacation of public right of way near 1465 West 200 North (Ordinance 20-14)

    Discussed · Near 1465 West 200 North

    City Engineer Sam Odd said the Division of Wildlife Resources would transfer land for a future road alignment at no cost to the city if the right of way is vacated. DWR and UDOT sent letters supporting the 1400 West realignment.

    • Ordinance 20-14

11. Item 12 · City code

    Workshop: private club liquor license ordinance (Ordinance 20-13)

    Discussed

    Chair Amy Anderson presented a rewrite of Chapter 5.10, Article IV replacing 'private club liquor license' with 'bar establishment license' and tying the license cap to population; the current cap of three could rise to six. City Attorney Housley said the ordinance need not mirror state law. Council Member Bradfield raised concerns about the number of bars in a low-income city.

    • Ordinance 20-13

What residents said

Police use of forceEnterprise fund transfersOff-leash dogs at Jens Johansen ParkMountain Road speeding700 North parkingWater and sewer rates

Gordon Yonker of The Family Place thanked the council for block grant funding. Brent Hale questioned the enterprise fund transfers, a decades-old curb and gutter project on Three Point Avenue, and budget growth compared with median income. Residents' emails on crosswalks, off-leash dogs, 700 North parking, cats, Mountain Road speeding, trail access and a water rate variance were answered under other considerations.