Council adopts $307.6 million budget for fiscal 2027 and confirms Taylor Nielsen as chief administrative officer; Lotus artist-loft change sent back for another work session
June 16, 2026, 6:00 p.m. · Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Boulevard
The Ogden City Council confirmed Taylor Nielsen as chief administrative officer 6-0, adopted the final fiscal 2027 budget 5-0 with a certified property tax rate and no rate increase, and approved the five-year capital plan 6-0. The salary schedules passed 4-1 with Council Member Alicia Washington opposed, and two members recused from the arts grants. Council Members Shaun Myers and Ken Richey were absent for part of the voting.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 4a · Appointment
Appointment of Taylor Nielsen as Chief Administrative Officer
Approved · 6-0
Mayor Benjamin Nadolski recommended Taylor Nielsen, now Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and City Engineer with 14 years of city service, after a nationwide search of 48 candidates and 10 finalists; a panel recommended him unanimously. Nielsen has overseen more than $100 million in infrastructure projects and a capital program over $350 million. Residents and department heads spoke in support, and the Council thanked outgoing Chief Administrative Officer Mara Brown for three years of service. Council Member Myers was not present for the vote.
Item 5a · Budget
Ordinance 2026-13: FY2025-2026 year-end budget amendment, $616,700
Approved · 6-0
The amendment recognizes grants and donations: UDOT funding for the D Avenue project and a manhole project at 20th Street and Harrison, three RAMP awards totaling just over $500,000 (Casteel Field dugouts, Lester Park, Serge Simmons outfield landscaping), $18,875 from golf retained earnings for fiber at the Mount Ogden clubhouse, about $52,000 in miscellaneous grants and $30,000 in state forfeiture funds for the narcotics strike force. Council Member Washington asked whether voting on a grant from a giving circle could be a conflict; the deputy city attorney said conflict rules focus on personal financial gain and members may abstain if they feel conflicted.
- Grant$616,700
Item 5b-5c · Budget
Public hearings: executive officer compensation and utility enterprise fund transfers
No action
No action was required. Council Executive Director Glenn Symes reported the 2.18 percent cost-of-living increase and up to 4 percent merit for executive officers, and utility transfers of two 6 percent components (property tax and franchise tax equivalents) totaling about $7.5 million, plus a 5 percent administrative charge of about $3.1 million. Speakers asked that transfers go toward early debt paydown or stay in enterprise funds; one supported the pay increase and suggested added salary tiers.
- Fee$7.54 million
Item 5d · Roads and utilities
Ordinance 2026-9: FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan
Approved · 6-0
The plan has 61 projects, down from 92 after consolidation, totaling $245 million over five years and $41 million in FY2027 ($22 million general fund sources, $19 million enterprise funds). A $335,000 traffic signal at 1100 North and Monroe was removed pending an updated general plan because the community plan calls for a roundabout there. One resident asked for a more readable project list.
- Budget$245.0 million
Item 5e · Budget
Ordinance 2026-14: final FY2026-2027 budget, with goals, financial principles and salary schedules
Approved · 5-0
The final budget is about $307.6 million, up about $17.7 million or 6.12 percent, including about $6.5 million in Schedule A-1 additions: $700,000 held for the Taylor Canyon property, $70,000 more for trails, $195,000 of fund balance for the homeless mitigation shortfall, $3.5 million of water fund balance for pipe replacement, and $280,000 held in airport contingency. The certified rate is 0.002086, producing about $21.5 million plus about $345,000 in new growth; no property tax increase was proposed. Votes: Resolution 2026-6 (goals and guidelines) 5-0, Joint Resolution 2026-2 (financial principles) 5-0, Ordinance 2026-10 (salary schedules, 698 positions) 4-1 and Ordinance 2026-14 (budget) 5-0. Council Member Washington voted no on the salary schedules and declined to explain; in the work session she had asked whether three eliminated positions could go to Cultural Services. Members Myers and Richey were not present for these votes.
- Budget$307.6 million
- Resolution 2026-6 and Joint Resolution 2026-2 adopted 5-0
- Marshall White Center special purpose entity budgeted at $172,000
Item 5f · Budget
Resolution 2026-5: FY2026-2027 arts grants, $158,300
Approved · 4-0-2
The resolution awards $158,300 to 23 of 30 applications: nine general support grants totaling $78,500 and 14 project grants totaling $79,800. Council Members Lopez and Washington recused before the presentation: Lopez because she serves on a board with the presenting parties, Washington because she is co-director of Good Company Theatre, which has received city arts grants.
- Grant$158,300
Development
Thorstensen Building land transfer amendments, Lotus artist lofts (work session)
Discussed
Economic Development Director Eric Gibson said the 2015 agreement with Lotus Development covering the Thorstensen and other downtown buildings left many of about 25 commitments unmet by both sides. Lotus asked to change the residential requirement from 30 market-rate lofts to 25 income-targeted artist lofts at 60 percent of area median income (about $40,000), using federal and state historic tax credits. Chair Hyer questioned demand and Ogden's roughly 80 percent share of Weber County affordable housing; Council Member Lundell asked for data on where tenants of similar projects come from; Washington cited the arts master plan. Lotus said the tax-credit structure is the only viable option and fair housing law bars limiting units to artists. The Council asked for another work session with housing-need data, tenant origin data and other options. Residents later argued affordable downtown housing supports workers; Vice Chair Graf said the 25 units are a small part of a larger housing strategy.
- Land deal$1.90 million to Lotus Development
- Units: 25 income-targeted artist lofts replacing 30 market-rate lofts
- Income limit: 60 percent of area median income
Development
Color Sky Homes participation and incentive agreement, Adams CRA (work session)
Discussed
Staff presented a proposal for 10 for-sale townhomes in three buildings on a narrow vacant parcel near 30th Street, priced $310,000 to $440,000, with a total investment over $4 million. The developer first sought about $620,000 in tax increment support; after staff estimated about $290,000 was available after set-asides, the developer said the project could proceed at $29,000 per unit. A three-year owner-occupancy requirement is proposed. Vice Chair Graf questioned whether subsidy is needed since comparable townhomes sold without it and the gap fell by more than half; Lundell welcomed for-sale housing but shared the concern. No action was taken.
- Grant$290,000 to Color Sky Homes
- Units: 10 three-bedroom townhomes of about 1,048 to 1,500 square feet
Other
PATH to Citizenship program guideline amendments (work session)
Discussed
Staff proposed adding a commitment of up to $20,000 a year as a backstop if grants fall short, to support at least one cohort of about 20 applicants. The family preparedness part of the March initiative was withdrawn after outside funding was found. Outreach staff reported 44 applicants in FY2026 and 18 naturalizations in 2024 and 26 in 2025. Council Member Lundell asked whether codifying the amount changes anything; staff said it provides an institutional record.
- Budget$20,000
Budget
Special RDA meeting: year-end budget amendments, Resolution 2026-5
Approved · 5-0
Per the city's results report, the Redevelopment Agency board adopted 5-0 a resolution recognizing new Airport CRA tax increment, setting housing and administrative transfers, and reallocating residual balances in expired areas, including Hinckley Drive funds for a water line associated with Williams International and South Wall funds for lighting and sidewalks. No RDA minutes were provided.
- Budget$3.20 million
Other
Public comment: immigration facility permit, Pineview crossing and mayor's response
Discussed
Speakers cited a reported instance of nine detainees at once against a permitted capacity of three and asked for a timeline for enforcement. Mayor Nadolski said a full-building fire inspection found only minor violations, corrected within days; that the chief found overnight-stay records appear to be data entry errors, to be confirmed with receiving jails; and that he would request a tour of the facility. On Pineview, the mayor said the plan is to time work with natural drawdown, not drain the reservoir, and a cofferdam could cost up to $6 million. The restored Merci Car arrives for the July 4 events.
What residents said
Federal hold room permit capacityAffordable housing concentration downtownPineview Reservoir drawdownWater conservation and growth
David Belnap, Kayla Henriksen, Emily Fox and Kim Haslam pressed the Council on the federal hold room permit. Thor Dorosh, Heath Satow and Emily Fox spoke for affordable downtown housing in response to the Lotus discussion. Joseph Bauman raised the Pineview drawdown and suggested a double-walled coffer system. Larry Rentmeister asked about water conservation and growth. Others spoke on bicycle safety and county jail capacity.