Ogden council awards three-year audit contract to HBME; work session weighs 2850 Washington Boulevard rezone and recreation fees
April 15, 2025, 6:00 p.m. · Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Blvd., Ogden
The council voted 7-0 to hire HBME, LLC for the fiscal 2025 through 2027 audits; it was the only firm to answer the city's request for proposals. In an earlier work session, members discussed a rezone of 0.61 acres at 2850 Washington Boulevard from commercial to multiple-family residential and proposed fee increases at the Eccles Dinosaur Park and the new Marshall N. White Community Center. No votes were recorded on those items.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Contract
Financial audit contract with HBME, LLC (Resolution 2025-7)
Approved · 7-0
The council approved a three-year professional services agreement with HBME, LLC for the city's audits for fiscal years 2025 through 2027, with an optional two-year extension covering 2028 and 2029. The council office published a request for proposals in January 2025 on the city website, in the Standard Examiner on January 11 and 18, and to the purchasing division's vendor list. HBME, the city's auditor for the previous five years, was the only respondent. An internal committee of council and administration staff scored the proposal and the Financial Audit Committee recommended approval. Assistant Executive Director Glenn Symes said other cities have also received only HBME proposals, suggesting fewer firms offer the service in the area. Council Member Myers, who sat on the review committee, called HBME highly qualified.
- ContractAmount not given to HBME, LLC
Zoning
Work session: rezone of 0.61 acres at 2850 Washington Boulevard from CP-3 to R-3
Discussed
Planning Director Barton Brierley said Heritage Land Development petitioned to rezone 0.61 acres from CP-3 (Regional Commercial) to R-3 (Multiple-family Residential) for condominiums or townhomes to be sold individually. The Planning Commission recommended approval with a conditional overlay and a development agreement requiring the units to be platted for individual ownership, but not unanimously; two commissioners who opposed it thought the lot should be combined with the property to the north. Council Member Graf relayed an adjacent owner's worry about losing seven parking stalls. Chair White said she wanted to wait for the General Plan update and asked about road width and a possible pause on residential rezones; Vice Chair Hyer leaned toward denial until the plan is done. Council Members Myers and Choberka said the proposal looked appropriate.
- Applicant: Heritage Land Development
- Acres: 0.61
- Current zone → proposed: CP-3 → R-3 with conditional overlay (Planning Commission recommendation)
Taxes and fees
Work session: Eccles Dinosaur Park admission fee increase
Discussed
Dinosaur Park Executive Director Mejeur proposed raising regular daily admission from $8 to $12, the first change since 2023 and before that 2008. She said the increase would not raise city revenue but would help the foundation cover rising costs and match comparable attractions. Council members asked how the money would be used and about daily versus season-pass visitors.
- Fee$12
Taxes and fees
Work session: Marshall N. White Community Center fee schedule and budget amendment
Discussed
Public Services Executive Director Justin Anderson presented a new fee structure for the rebuilt community center to replace the 2015 schedule, based partly on a consultant's financial operations review. Members asked about pool and kitchen rentals, turf field use, reduced-fee applications and when to revisit fees. Finance Director Justin Sorensen said the fees are expected to generate $161,625 in the rest of fiscal 2024-25, which a budget amendment would recognize and appropriate to Public Services.
- Budget$161,625
What residents said
Community center feesPolice accountabilityDowntown paid parking and WonderBlock debtResidential rezones on commercial land
Walt English accused Ogden police officers of misconduct. Laura Lewis said the proposed community center fees are too high and raised police concerns involving a neighbor. Deborah Darrington asked for a payment plan for center memberships and offered to help improve the area around city-acquired property on Madison Avenue. Heath Satow supported the 2850 Washington Boulevard rezone as local infill housing and asked about the downtown paid-parking program and WonderBlock debt.