Ogden council adopts Marshall White center fees and Dinosaur Park increase; mayor proposes budget with no tax increase; residents protest golf course trail closure

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Other

   Closed session

   No action · 6-0

   The council voted 6-0 to go into a closed session under Utah's Open and Public Meetings Law. Vice Chair Hyer was not present for the vote. The meeting reconvened at 5:59 p.m.; the minutes record no action from the closed session.

   Moved by Council Member Richey, seconded by Council Member Myers. Vote: 6-0; Vice Chair Hyer was not present for the vote

2. Item 1 · Taxes and fees

   Marshall N. White Community Center fees and budget amendment (Ordinances 2025-10 and 2025-11)

   Approved · 7-0 · Marshall N. White Community Center

   The council repealed and readopted fees for the rebuilt community center, replacing a 2015 schedule, and raised the fiscal 2024-25 budget by $161,625 to reflect expected fee revenue. For most fees the non-resident rate is 30 percent above the resident rate; residents can apply for up to a 50 percent reduction, and groups can get team rates. Laura Lewis said Ogden would be the only nearby city charging for outdoor pickleball and asked about guaranteed access; Betty Sawyer said the many fees could be costly for seniors and families and asked for more time; Travis Pate said the fee-reduction application would widen access. Assistant Recreation Director Ginger Myers said the court rental fee applies only to groups running events and at least one court will stay open to the public with paid admission. The center opens to the public May 23 after a May 22 open house.

   • Budget$161,625 Expected fee revenue appropriated to Public Services for the rest of FY2024-25. Paid from New Marshall N. White Community Center fees
   • Admission cited at public hearing: $7 entry fee
   • Ordinance 2025-10: fees; Ordinance 2025-11: budget amendment

   Ordinance 2025-10: moved by Council Member Dave Graf, seconded by Council Member Bart Blair. Ordinance 2025-11: moved by Council Member Dave Graf, seconded by Council Member Ken Richey. Vote: 7-0 on each ordinance

   Follow Marshall N. White Community Center in the development tracker →

3. Item 2 · Taxes and fees

   Eccles Dinosaur Park admission fees (Ordinance 2025-9)

   Approved · 7-0

   The council raised regular daily admission at the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park from $8 to $12 at the request of the Ogden Dinosaur Park and Museum Foundation, citing rising costs and comparisons with similar attractions. The fee had last changed in 2008 and 2023, and the city's revenue does not rise. Director Mejeur told Council Member Choberka that phase one of an all-abilities playground will be inside the park and phase two outside the gates will be free. No one spoke at the public hearing.

   • Fee$12 Regular daily admission at the Eccles Dinosaur Park, up from $8

   Moved by Council Member Richey, seconded by Council Member Graf. Vote: 7-0

4. Item 3 · Budget

   Mayor presents proposed fiscal 2025-26 budget

   Discussed · 7-0

   Mayor Nadolski presented a budget with no property tax increase, saying households are under financial pressure. He said the General Fund grows about $4.8 million and the total budget, including the Redevelopment Agency, Municipal Building Authority and Strike Force, grows $17.2 million. It includes a 2.97 percent cost-of-living raise for general and sworn employees, a 1.5 percent merit increase for general employees and step increases for public safety. The council voted to accept it for review; adoption of a tentative budget and public hearings follow.

   • Budget$4.80 million Proposed General Fund increase in the FY2025-26 budget
   • Budget$17.2 million Proposed increase in total budget including RDA, MBA and Strike Force

   Moved by Council Member Richey, seconded by Council Member Myers. Vote: 7-0 to accept the proposed budget for review

5. Parks

   Residents protest closure of trail crossing at Mount Ogden Golf Course

   Discussed · Mount Ogden Golf Course trail crossing

   Dozens of people spoke, most against the city's recent closure of a trail crossing over the Mount Ogden Golf Course. They cited a petition they said had about 2,000 signatures and decades of use, and suggested alternatives or liability-waiver signs. Others, including golf course workers, supported the closure because golfers on the tee box are hard to see from the crossing. Mayor Nadolski said, after consulting internal and outside legal counsel, he believes closing the crossing was correct, that revenue did not drive the decision, and that it will stay closed until a safer alternative is found; he committed staff to a collaborative solution. Council Member Blair questioned whether the risk to trail users exceeds that to golfers, Vice Chair Hyer cited the speed of golf balls, and members broadly supported looking for a solution.

   Follow Mount Ogden Golf Course trail in the development tracker →

6. Budget

   Work session: fiscal 2024-25 budget amendments for the city and Redevelopment Agency

   Discussed

   Finance Director Justin Sorensen outlined a city budget amendment of $118,395,800, funded by $77 million in bond proceeds, $21.3 million in state and federal grants, $4 million of excess fund balance, $3 million of interest and $13.1 million of other sources. Uses include $87.5 million for the canyon waterline, $11.4 million for the Airport, $3.5 million for Union Station, $750,000 for golf capital improvements and $4.9 million for refuse trucks and equipment. A separate $1,033,000 Redevelopment Agency amendment would add $480,000 for the Airport area, $63,000 for Kiesel, $140,000 for Adams and $350,000 for the RDA housing fund. Public hearings were planned for May 20.

   • Budget$118.4 million FY2024-25 city budget amendment. Paid from Bond proceeds $77,000,000; grants $21,317,075; excess fund balance $4,000,000; interest $3,000,000; other $13,078,725
   • Budget$1.03 million FY2024-25 RDA budget amendment: Airport $480,000, Kiesel $63,000, Adams $140,000, housing fund $350,000

   Follow Ogden Canyon waterline and Pineview crossing in the development tracker →

7. Budget

   Work session: COVID-relief grant reallocation in HUD plans

   Discussed

   Community Development Director Jeremy Smith proposed amending the 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2020-21 Annual Action Plan to reallocate $500,000 in unused CDBG-CV (COVID) funds to Target Areas Public Improvements, which administration said would pay for recreation and park projects, so the city can keep the money. Members asked how much has been spent and how the rest will be used.

   • Grant$500,000 Reallocated CDBG-CV funds for target-area public improvements. Paid from Federal CDBG-CV

8. Roads and utilities

   Work session: fiscal 2026-2030 capital improvement plan

   Discussed · 1100 North and Monroe Boulevard (signal project)

   Senior Policy Analyst Steve Burton said the plan has 92 projects, 27 of them new, totaling $249,362,741, with $13,620,300 from the General Fund and $29,722,450 from other funds proposed for FY26. The Planning Commission found two projects inconsistent with the General Plan: a traffic signal at 1100 North and Monroe Boulevard (the Mt. Lewis plan calls for a roundabout) and a community field house with no site chosen. Adoption was tentatively set for June 17 after a public hearing.

   • Budget$249.4 million Total proposed five-year capital improvement plan, 92 projects

What residents said

Mount Ogden Golf Course trail closureCommunity center fee structurePickleball court accessProperty tax

Speakers including Heath Satow, Kurt Ward, Kevin Lundell and many others opposed the trail closure; Maurice Barnes, Laura Lewis, Oliver Del Carlo and Travis Pate supported safety measures or the closure. Travis Pate also urged a city communications department.