Ogden council renames its Diversity Commission to comply with state law and hears a $10 million Lester Park proposal

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Parks

   Lester Park and Lorin Farr Pool improvements (council member initiative)

   Discussed · Lester Park and Lorin Farr Pool

   Council Member Graf proposed using $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for Lester Park and Lorin Farr Pool, describing the park as underused because residents see it as unsafe and outdated. Council Member Choberka agreed investment is needed. Mayor Nadolski asked to be involved in presenting the project, wanted the pool kept as a separate project and stressed prioritizing other citywide needs. Council Member Blair asked for information on capital plan funds already set aside for the two sites. No action was taken.

   • Grant$10.0 million Proposed improvements to Lester Park and Lorin Farr Pool. Paid from American Rescue Plan Act funds

   Follow Lester Park redesign in the development tracker →

2. Contract

   Adams CRA: Nine Rails arts programming pilot with Ogden Contemporary Arts and $120,000 budget amendment

   Discussed

   The administration proposed an 18-month pilot agreement for Ogden Contemporary Arts to run arts programming in the Nine Rails District, paid from the Adams Community Reinvestment Area fund balance via a $120,000 budget amendment. Board members had earlier questioned using tax increment for arts programming, how other taxing entities would view it and whether the contract should be sole-sourced rather than bid through a request for proposals. Discussion covered other funding options and an RFP. Chair Richey said council leadership would decide when to bring an action item; a budget hearing was requested for October 1.

   • Budget$120,000 to Ogden Contemporary Arts 18-month arts programming pilot in the Nine Rails Creative District. Proposed sole-source pilot; board asked about an RFP. Paid from Adams Community Reinvestment Area fund balance

   Follow Nine Rails arts programming pilot in the development tracker →

3. Development

   WonderBlock land transfer agreement amendment and $4 million bond interest budget amendment

   Discussed

   Community and Economic Development Executive Director Jared Johnson described a first amendment to the Amended and Restated Land Transfer and Development Agreement for WonderBlock, updating phasing and phase names, financial commitments, invoicing and payment procedures, and ownership and representation. Finance Director Justin Sorensen said a separate budget amendment would recognize $4,000,000 in interest income on the $64,220,000 Series 2023 Sales Tax and Tax Increment Revenue Bonds, to fund project development costs, with any excess going to debt service. Both were slated for the October 1 RDA meeting.

   • Budget$4.00 million Interest income on Series 2023 bonds recognized for WonderBlock development costs. Paid from Interest on $64,220,000 Series 2023 Sales Tax and Tax Increment Revenue Bonds

   Follow WonderBlock downtown development and parking in the development tracker →

4. Other

   2026-2030 Five-Year Consolidated Plan

   Discussed

   Community Development staff presented the process for the federal housing and community development plan that governs HUD entitlement funds, including the Citizen Participation Plan, fair housing analysis and priority needs assessment. The discussion was meant to let the council shape the plan before it is drafted.

5. Appointment

   Appointment to the Ogden Diversity Commission

   Approved · 7-0

   The council approved the mayor's appointment of Aracely Warner to the commission.

   Moved by Council Member Richard Hyer, seconded by Council Member Angela Choberka. Vote: 7-0 (all voting aye)

6. City code

   Rename Diversity Commission and revise advisory board rules (Ordinance 2024-27) and adopt Community Engagement Charter (Joint Resolution 2024-3)

   Approved · 7-0

   The ordinance removes diversity requirements tied to personal identity characteristics from board membership rules, limits service past a term's expiration to six months, renames the commission the Ogden Community Engagement and Opportunity Commission and adds a bar on promoting prohibited discriminatory practices. The city said the changes follow H.B. 261 from the 2024 legislative session. The joint resolution renames the Diversity Charter the Community Engagement Charter and reaffirms its values. Vice Chair White said she was initially bothered by H.B. 261 but sees the commission's role possibly broadening. Council Member Hyer said he helped write the original charter, believes its values remain, and sees the changes as a positive way forward. Council Member Choberka said it is unfortunate the legislature had to ban certain words. Both measures passed 7-0 on separate roll calls and the Chair signed the charter.

   Ordinance: Moved by Council Member Richard Hyer, seconded by Council Member Shaun Myers. Resolution: Moved by Council Member Richard Hyer, seconded by Council Member Bart Blair. Vote: 7-0 on each measure

7. Other

   Closed session

   Approved · 7-0

   The council voted 7-0 to go into closed session under the Open and Public Meetings Law; no action was reported on return.

   Moved by Council Member Richard Hyer, seconded by Council Member Bart Blair. Vote: 7-0

What residents said

Lester Park safety and useCivic engagementProperty tax increaseUse of tax increment for arts programming

Tea Nutonga thanked officials for renewed attention to Lester Park and asked how residents can get more involved in city business. Emily Beeli praised the online citizen information packet and asked for a town hall on the budget and the benefits of the recent property tax increase. Marcus Carr spoke in favor of unity and better communication.