Logan council hears school district update and State of the City; sets 2023 fees

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 5a · Presentation

   Logan City School District update

   Discussed

   Superintendent Frank Schofield reported enrollment of 5,244, an 89.9 percent graduation rate, Adams Elementary named a National Blue Ribbon School and the completion of Ellis Elementary. He said the district is in talks about taking over the Recreation Center, will plan demolition of Hillcrest after leaving around June, and that a new elementary school costs about $15 million. Council Member Tom Jensen asked about teacher retention and campus security. No action.

2. Item 5b · Presentation

   State of the City

   Discussed

   Mayor Holly Daines reported fire and EMS calls up 10 percent, with a likely record 5,668 incidents as of December 27; a possible memorandum with the county to keep garbage collection until June 2025; $2,360,000 in private donations for Center Block Plaza and $1.5 million for the library, which she expected to open in early fall; a new fire station funded by $10 million in ARPA money; an $11 million bridge at 100 West and 600 South; a Main Street pedestrian underpass funded by a $4.1 million UDOT grant, delayed to 2024; Campbell Scientific's $40 million expansion with 268 jobs and Frulact's $75 million expansion with 131 jobs; two new substations and about 18,000 meters replaced for $3.3 million; and that the city is considering about 10 megawatts of natural gas turbines. No action.

   Follow Center Block downtown redevelopment in the development tracker →

   Follow Logan library rebuild in the development tracker →

   Follow Fire Station 70 relocation in the development tracker →

   Follow 100 West reconstruction and Logan River bridge in the development tracker →

3. Item 6a · Other

   Planning Commission update

   Discussed

   Council Member Jeannie Simmonds reported the commission conditionally approved a Raising Cane's at the former Sizzler site, the 109-unit Rivergate subdivision at 1900 West 1600 South and Campus Academy, an adolescent treatment home for up to 48 girls at 675 East 400 North, and continued a four-lot addition to the Mountain Estates development to January 26 because of engineering and soil stability concerns. Mayor Daines noted residential treatment facilities must be permitted in any zone, though conditions can be imposed. No action.

   Follow Rivergate annexation in the development tracker →

4. Item 6b · Other

   2023 council committee assignments and rules

   Discussed

   Chair Ernesto López proposed 2023 board and committee assignments; Jensen objected to more than one member on the Cache Arts Committee and the council agreed to adjust them. City Attorney Craig Carlston presented proposed changes to the council's rules and procedures. The minutes record no vote.

5. Item 7 · Budget

   Budget adjustments, Resolution 22-49 (public hearing)

   Approved · 4-0

   With no comment, the council appropriated $6,877,447 in anticipated surcharge revenue and higher power purchase costs through March 2023, $162,000 from a developer for the Meadowbrook lift station, an $8,508 state fire grant and $70,440 for a replacement water dump truck.

   • Budget$6.88 million Higher power purchase expenses, offset by anticipated surcharge revenue through March 2023. Paid from Light and Power surcharge revenue
   • Payment$162,000 to Developer (unnamed) Meadowbrook lift station work. Paid from Developer payment
   • Grant$70,440 to State of Utah Replacement dump truck for Water Department. Paid from State funds
   • Grant$8,508 to State of Utah Fire EMS equipment and training. Paid from State grant

   Moved by Council Member Tom Jensen, seconded by Council Member Jeannie Simmonds. Vote: 4-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 4 council members present

6. Item 8 · Taxes and fees

   Parks and Recreation fee increases, Resolution 22-50 (public hearing)

   Approved · 4-0

   The council approved the fee increases with the large range bucket set at $11 rather than the proposed $12, after Jensen questioned the effect on people on fixed incomes. Director Russ Akina said four youth programs exist, after-school participants pay no fee and no program targets low-income children, as Gail Yost asked. Akina said golf fees are in line with projections and can be changed.

   Moved by Council Member Tom Jensen, seconded by Council Member Amy Anderson (as amended to $11 for the large bucket). Vote: 4-0; the minutes say the motion carried unanimously, counted here as the 4 council members present

7. Item 9 · Budget

   Budget adjustments, Resolution 23-01 (workshop)

   Discussed

   Staff proposed $20,000 in EMS reserves for inventory equipment, $14,179 in state funds for police body cameras, $151,800 in state funds for first responder mental health support, $145,001 for Willow Park Sports Complex improvements, $53,433 from a county trails grant for a 1400 North pedestrian crossing to the Middle Canal Trail, $21,418 in police overtime reimbursements and $185,525 in wildland fire reimbursements. Action was set for January 17.

   • Grant$151,800 to State of Utah First responder mental health support. Paid from State funds
   • Grant$145,001 to State of Utah Willow Park Sports Complex improvements. Paid from State grant
   • Grant$53,433 to Cache County 1400 North pedestrian crossing to Middle Canal Trail. Paid from County trails grant

8. Item 10 · City code

   Council regular meetings, Ordinance 23-01 (workshop)

   Discussed

   Carlston presented an amendment to Section 2.02.390 on council regular meetings, needed because the rules and procedures were changed to match. Action was set for January 17.

What residents said

Fees for low-income childrenCampus securityRising power costs

No non-agenda public comment; Gail Yost asked about youth fees at the fee hearing.