Council approves Code Services move to Fire Department and five-year county paramedic agreement; clean energy ordinance and Wildcat Square district discussed

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. City code

   Ordinance 2026-4: move Code Services to Fire Department as Community Risk Reduction team

   Approved · 5-0-1

   The ordinance transfers the Code Services Division from Community and Economic Development to the Fire Department with no net change to the general fund ($0 gross increase). Three code service officers and an administrative assistant move over, two firefighters are added in the general fund through reallocation and one in the medical fund, covered by existing budget this year and budgeted in FY2027. Fire Chief Mike Slater said the reorganization came from a mayoral directive to find efficiencies; it would favor life-safety hazards, and combine a 14-day notice and 15-day citation process into a single 15-day process. Finance Director Justin Sorensen said only two or three of seven positions were filled, so no employee would lose a job. Council Member Richey recused himself, citing a family member in the firefighter hiring pool. Speakers supported the merger; others asked about hardship for residents who cannot afford repairs and about fairness when third parties cause the problem.

   • Budget$0 Budget transfer between Community and Economic Development and Fire Departments; gross increase $0. Paid from General fund reallocation; one medical-fund firefighter covered by savings
   • Staffing: 7 Code Services positions removed from CED; 3 officers and 1 administrative assistant transferred; 2 general-fund and 1 medical-fund firefighters added
   • Station 3: Chief Slater said four-person crews are 25 percent faster on tasks and have 46 percent fewer injuries

   Moved by Council Member Kevin Lundell, seconded by Council Member Flor Lopez. Vote: 5-0; Council Member Ken Richey recused; Vice Chair Graf absent

2. Contract

   Resolution 2026-2: paramedic services interlocal agreement with Weber County, 2026-2030

   Approved · 6-0

   The resolution renews the agreement under which Ogden Fire Department provides paramedic service using three medic units, with Weber County contributing funding and equipment. Fire Chief Slater said the agreement covers 22 county-funded paramedic positions, each paid about 40 percent by the county, and includes a 7 percent increase, about $123,000, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026. He said Ogden runs roughly 22,000 calls a year, more than three times the next busiest county department. At the work session he said the city has sought 70 percent subsidization and now receives about 60 percent.

   • Contract$123,000 to Weber County 7 percent annual increase in county payments toward Ogden paramedic personnel costs under 2026-2030 agreement. Renewal of agreement in place since 1986. Paid from Countywide property tax
   • Term: January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030

   Moved by Council Member Ken Richey, seconded by Council Member Shaun Myers. Vote: 6-0; Vice Chair Graf absent

3. Presentation

   Weber County RAMP grant presentation (work session)

   Discussed

   RAMP Board Chair Kevin Burns and Director Shelly Halacy said the sales-tax-funded program has distributed just under $79 million in 20 years and began the current cycle with $6.65 million and 189 applications. Requests exceeded funds by about $3 million in Major grants and $2.3 million in Arts & Museums. Vice Chair Graf asked whether distribution matched each city's tax contribution; staff said grants are awarded by score. Council Member Washington disclosed that her theater company receives RAMP funding.

   • Grant$6.65 million Weber County RAMP budget for the current grant cycle. 189 applications scored by board. Paid from Countywide sales tax

4. Other

   Community Clean Energy Program participation ordinance (work session)

   Discussed

   Sustainability Coordinator Lorenzo Long and board member Emily Quinton said adopting the ordinance by June 2 would automatically enroll Rocky Mountain Power customers in Ogden, who could opt out; the city's cost is limited to about $51,000 for two opt-out notices, prior consultant costs and optional enrollment of city facilities. Questions covered the $4 rate, startup costs, nuclear and geothermal eligibility and alternatives. A FlashVote panel survey found about 58 percent willing to pay $4 and about 25 percent saying they would opt out; a 70-person open sample leaned opposed. Council Member Richey said the opt-out structure was the most challenging part for him; the ordinance was set for May 5 consideration.

   • Payment$51,000 to Rocky Mountain Power One-time reimbursement for two opt-out notices to all customers (estimate). Paid from City

5. Development

   Wildcat Square Community Reinvestment survey area (work session)

   Discussed · Weber State University campus practice field, near Harrison Boulevard OGX station

   Staff proposed a survey area on Weber State University land to study a community reinvestment area for Wildcat Square, a four-story, about 513-bed student housing building proposed by Keller Development Group on a practice field. Weber State said it has over 33,000 students and about 1,000 on-campus beds. Because the land is state-owned, staff proposed a privilege tax that would enable tax increment financing, as at Business Depot Ogden; the developer would hold a 99-year ground lease. Council Member Washington noted an existing developer agreement seemed to precede the RDA process and cited the Harrison Boulevard OGX station plan; staff offered to follow up. Survey-area designation was scheduled for the May 12 RDA meeting.

   • Developer: Keller Development Group with Weber State University
   • Size: about 513 beds, four stories

   Follow Wildcat Square student housing and CRA survey area in the development tracker →

6. Presentation

   Ethics, conflict of interest and open meetings training; communications and accessibility update (work session)

   Discussed

   City Attorney Gary Williams reviewed Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act, closed-session rules, the $50 limit on non-cash gifts and a new annual household and financial disclosure filed with the City Recorder in January. Communications Director Brandon Garside described translated live captions, assistive listening devices and interpreter services available with 48 hours' notice.

7. Other

   Public comment: clean energy program, immigration facility and Institute construction

   Discussed

   Several residents spoke for the clean energy program, citing renters' access and low-income credits, while others asked about solar panel life and the utility's record. One resident raised the lack of a traffic control plan for the Institute construction project at Weber State University. Council Member Richey said the opt-out structure was his main concern and that broad communication would be essential if the program is adopted. Mayor Nadolski said he would follow up on the construction concerns.

What residents said

Fairness of shortened citation timelineOpt-out structure of clean energy programTraffic control for Institute construction projectAbandoned properties

On Ordinance 2026-4, Joseph Bauman, Laura Lewis and Travis Pate supported the merger or a shorter timeline; Julian Snyder and Teresa Bramwell asked how vulnerable property owners would be treated. Clean energy: Kim James, Jen Bodine, Monica Hansen, Dan Kylie, Linda Devos, Heath Satow and others supported; Annie Dunaway was skeptical of the company; Laura Lewis asked technical questions. Alex Johnson of the Kingston neighborhood and Travis Pate raised Institute construction traffic planning.