Logan council extends police residency radius to 20 miles; mixed-use code vote continued

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Other

   Nuclear power question

   Discussed

   JoAnn Bennett asked why the city did not pursue nuclear power. Chair Jeannie Simmonds said the nuclear project the city had looked at has not been built; Mayor Daines said she wants nuclear baseload power but the project has financing problems and unsecured water rights, and the city will keep watching. No action.

2. Item 7 · City code

   Police and fire residency, Ordinance 22-18 (public hearing)

   Approved · 5-0

   The council adopted a change that extends the residency radius for police officers from 17 to 20 miles, with fire unchanged at 17. Police Chief Gary Jensen said the sheriff's office uses a similar radius and the change widens housing options; the radius reaches slightly into Idaho and does not extend through Sardine Canyon. No one spoke.

   Moved by Council Member Tom Jensen, seconded by Council Member Amy Anderson. Vote: 5-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 5 council members present

3. Item 8 · Budget

   Budget adjustments, Resolution 22-40 (public hearing)

   Approved · 5-0

   The council appropriated a $390,000 after-school grant, a $25,000 state library grant for online cataloging, $2,617 in a state EMS grant and $712 in a federal reimbursement. Larry Williams of the Logan City School Board thanked the council and said recruiting program staff is hard.

   • Grant$390,000 Parks and Recreation after-school programs. Paid from Grant
   • Grant$25,000 to State of Utah Library online cataloging and integrated systems. Paid from State grant
   • Grant$2,617 to State of Utah Communication Center EMS training. Paid from State EMS grant

   Moved by Council Member Mark Anderson, seconded by Council Member Tom Jensen. Vote: 5-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 5 council members present

4. Item 9 · City code

   Mixed-use code amendment, Ordinance 22-19 (public hearing)

   Continued · 4-0

   Community Development Director Mike DeSimone presented the rewrite of the mixed-use zone, recommended 7-0 by the Planning Commission, with a base of 20 units an acre, bonuses up to 30 more and a 50-unit cap, commercial on at least half the ground floor along arterials and collectors, and a proximity exception cutting the commercial requirement by up to half if commercial lies within 1,000 feet. Keegan Garrity asked how commercial commitments are enforced, questioned the proximity provision and storage units counting as commercial; Gail Yost wanted affordable housing to carry more weight; Calvin Loveland said supply is the core issue; Michael Jewell, a proponent, said the proposal is better than current zoning; the Ellis Neighborhood Council's concerns about up to 600 units and an overloaded west side were relayed. Chair Simmonds and Council Members Amy Anderson and Mark Anderson objected to the proximity provision. A motion to adopt as presented failed with all four voting members opposed; a motion to adopt without proximity failed for lack of a second. DeSimone asked for time to add an exemption for institutional uses, and the council continued the item to October 4 with no new hearing.

   • Planning Commission: recommended approval 7-0, August 25, 2022
   • First motion to adopt as presented failed: Council Members Amy Anderson, Mark Anderson, Ernesto López and Jeannie Simmonds voted no, Jensen absent

   Moved by Council Member Mark Anderson, seconded by Council Member Ernesto López. Vote: 4-0 to continue; the minutes report '4-1' but the roll call shows four ayes and Council Member Tom Jensen absent after being excused at 6:26 p.m.

   Follow Mixed-use zone code amendment (Ordinance 22-19) in the development tracker →

5. Item 10 · Budget

   Budget adjustments, Resolution 22-41 (workshop)

   Discussed

   Staff proposed $22,521 from the U.S. Treasury for evidence equipment, a $10,000 state internet crimes task force grant, $6,250 for a Public Works equipment event and $9,600 for a K9 training seminar. Action was set for October 4.

   • Grant$22,521 to U.S. Department of the Treasury Law enforcement evidence equipment. Paid from Federal funds
   • Grant$10,000 to Utah ICAC Task Force Child exploitation investigations. Paid from Task force grant

What residents said

Mixed-use density and commercial requirementsOverloaded west side multifamily housingNuclear power

Gail Yost announced a golf tournament supporting dementia caregivers; JoAnn Bennett asked about nuclear power. Several residents spoke on mixed-use zoning.