Thursday, October 15, 2026TheUtah Ledger

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Ogden · City Council

Ogden council elects Dave Graf vice chair 5-2; residents protest Mount Ogden golf course trail closure

January 6, 2026, 6:00 p.m. · Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Boulevard

The reconstituted Ogden City Council, with three new members, elected Council Member Dave Graf vice chair on a 5-2 vote and accepted the FY2025 audit, which carried a clean opinion. More than a dozen residents objected to the mayor's decision to keep the Mount Ogden Golf Course trail closed, and others asked about Flock surveillance cameras in East Central Ogden. It was Council Member Angela Choberka's last meeting after eight years.

From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.

Decisions at a glance

ItemResult
FY2024-25 audit report and Annual Comprehensive Financial ReportApproved · 7-0
Joint proclamation: Brad Mortensen DayApproved · 7-0
Election of Council Vice ChairApproved · 5-2

Agenda, item by item

  1. Presentation

    Administrative update: Taylor Canyon site, Mount Ogden Golf Course trail, Lester Park

    Discussed

    Mayor Benjamin Nadolski said talks with the Ogden School District on the Taylor Canyon Elementary site were productive and the city was in a 60-day statutory phase that might be extended; no appraisal had been ordered yet. He preferred open space, with the decision resting with the Council; Council Member Angela Choberka said she could support a mixed-use area and worried about large fields. On the golf course trail, the mayor said he would keep the original plan of the loop going around the course, citing safety, an evenly split survey, golf participation and vandalism during the closure, and golf finances. Council Member Kevin Lundell questioned the survey's wording and late responses; Council Member Ken Richey suggested off-hours access as a compromise. The city has $2 million set aside of a $4 million need for Lester Park, with work planned for spring.

    • Budget$2.00 million Lester Park improvements (total need $4 million). Paid from City funds set aside; RAMP grant to be resubmitted

    Follow Former Taylor Canyon Elementary site purchase in the development tracker →

    Follow Mount Ogden Golf Course trail in the development tracker →

  2. Budget

    FY2024-25 audit report and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

    Approved · 7-0

    Auditor Jeff Miles of HBME, LLC issued a clean opinion and found no significant internal control deficiencies. One state compliance finding involved the budget of a new special purpose entity that was formed late in the budget year and had some unbudgeted expenditures. Finance Director Justin Sorensen said fund balances rose 3.38 percent, long-term debt rose about $9 million for the Forest Service building purchase and a new markets tax credit entity, and the city invested over $110 million in capital projects including the Canyon Pipeline, Marshall White Center and downtown parking structure. The Council accepted both reports for review.

    • Bond$9.00 million Increase in long-term debt tied to the Forest Service building purchase and the new markets tax credit special purpose entity

    Audit report moved by Council Member Angela Choberka, seconded by Council Member Dave Graf; ACFR moved by Council Member Ken Richey, seconded by Council Member Dave Graf. Vote: 7-0, all voting aye

  3. Other

    Joint proclamation: Brad Mortensen Day

    Approved · 7-0

    The Council approved a joint proclamation declaring Jan. 6, 2026 Brad Mortensen Day in Ogden, honoring the Weber State University president who is leaving to lead Utah State University.

    Moved by Council Member Ken Richey, seconded by Council Member Shaun Myers. Vote: 7-0, all voting aye

  4. Appointment

    Election of Council Vice Chair

    Approved · 5-2

    Council Member Ken Richey nominated Council Member Dave Graf as vice chair for 2026. Council Member Kevin Lundell voted no, saying he saw the November election as a change election and did not think current leadership represented that change, but hoped to work together. Council Member Alicia Washington said she appreciated Graf's commitment to leadership, transparency and accountability.

    Nominated by Council Member Ken Richey, seconded by Council Member Angela Choberka. Vote: 5-2; Council Members Kevin Lundell and Alicia Washington voted no. Voting no: Council Member Kevin Lundell, Council Member Alicia Washington

What residents said

Golf course trail closureSurvey methodologyFlock surveillance camerasEast Central Ogden attention

Fifteen trail users, including Chloe Reynolds, Kim Haslam, Heath Satow and others, objected to the permanent closure of the trail and the survey process: emails went to 25,000 golfer addresses while trail users relied on social media, QR codes were posted at golf courses but not trailheads, data release coincided with the final decision, early support of about 80 percent reversed in the last days, and some 'no' respondents wanted the trail open. They also cited a rejected reroute compromise and a possible Bureau of Reclamation easement. Laura Lewis supported the closure for safety. Residents asked why Flock cameras are concentrated below Harrison Boulevard and who can access the data. Mayor Nadolski said the survey email went out once and the closure reflected a balanced response; he said cameras were placed by crime patterns and traffic, and offered a meeting with the police chief.