Ogden Canyon waterline and Pineview crossing
Replacement of the aging water line from the well field to the 23rd Street Reservoir, including the 36-inch line under Pineview Reservoir. The mayor said June 16 that work would be timed to natural drawdowns rather than draining the reservoir; a cofferdam could cost up to $6 million.
- Where it stands
- Under construction
- Type
- Public project
- Location
- Ogden Canyon well field to 23rd Street Reservoir, including crossing under Pineview Reservoir
- Applicant
- Ogden City Public Services
Every hearing and vote
May 14, 2024 · City Council
Water rate increase for 36-inch Ogden Canyon waterline
Discussed
Eller-Smith said the proposal would raise water rates for all users 4% a year for five years, on top of the annual inflation adjustment, to pay debt service on about $77 million in federal and state loans for the 36-inch canyon waterline. Fred Philpot of Lewis Robertson Burningham, the city's financial advisor, presented options showing the long-term effect of different rate structures. Council members discussed what action to take.
May 21, 2024 · City Council
Ordinance 2024-14: tentative fiscal 2024-25 budget
Continued · 5-0
A council staff memo said the mayor's proposal includes an estimated 1% property tax increase, about $183,000, which requires a Truth in Taxation hearing set for August 6. It would also transfer $1.8 million from Business Depot Ogden lease revenue to the general fund for wages and benefits, add 16 positions, and raise water rates 4% a year for five years for the canyon waterline. Compensation changes of $4,657,950 are held back pending a compensation study. It funds 42 capital projects, with $4,347,850 from BDO lease revenue and $20,938,550 from other sources. The council set a public hearing for June 4 at 6:00 p.m.
May 28, 2024 · City Council work session
Public Services budget and utility rate increases
Discussed
Public Services Director Justin Anderson and City Engineer Taylor Nielsen proposed increases of 7.18% for water, 3.18% for sanitary and storm sewer and 3.30% for refuse. The water increase includes funding for debt service on an estimated $77 million for the 36-inch canyon waterline. The presentation also covered the 24th Street and Interstate 15 interchange study, the 50/50 sidewalk program, golf and recycling fee changes and capital projects such as pickleball courts and the second street water main.
June 4, 2024 · City Council
Ordinance 2024-16: utility rates and billing
Continued · 6-0
The ordinance would raise water rates 4% a year for five years, beyond the inflation adjustment, to pay debt service on about $77 million in loans for the Ogden Canyon waterline, and expand the water and refuse discount to people who are blind, disabled veterans and deployed service members at $15.50 a month. The council set a June 18 public hearing.
June 11, 2024 · City Council
Resolution 2024-5: bond parameters for the Ogden Canyon 36-inch waterline
Approved · 7-0
The council delegated final terms for up to $82,100,000 in subordinated sewer, water and storm sewer revenue bonds. The waterline project (CIP WU003), built in 1935, is estimated at about $100 million and includes the pipe under Pineview Reservoir. Funding is $34.3 million from the State Revolving Loan Fund, $42.6 million from a federal WIFIA loan, $10 million from the state and $12 million in city American Rescue Plan Act money. Parameters: 40-year term, rates not above 6% (state loan about 1%, WIFIA about 5%, zero interest for five years), 3% discount; estimated debt service of $39,965,000 for the state loan and $75,060,000 for WIFIA. The financial advisor said the plan includes 4% general water rate increases for five years plus an annual inflation adjustment. At the hearing, a resident asked how the debt would affect her bill and whether the roughly $3 million annual utility transfer to the general fund could help. Another asked why work did not start in 2009 and about the unknown interest rate. Pineview Water Systems General Manager Jeff Humphrey said he had been left in the dark and asked to be involved in reservoir drawdown planning. A fourth resident raised concerns about water for new business park users and rate impacts on older residents. Public Services Director Justin Anderson said earlier tank and line projects had to come first, drawdowns would be planned for winter, and a food manufacturer at the business park pays consumptive rates. Financial advisor Fred Philpot said keeping transfers in the water fund would raise property taxes. The council asked for a model of resident bills over five to 10 years.
June 18, 2024 · City Council
Ordinance 2024-16: water rates and utility discounts
Approved · 7-0
The council approved water rate increases of 4% a year for five years, on top of the annual inflation adjustment, to pay the canyon waterline debt, and expanded the utility discount to people who are blind, disabled veterans and deployed service members at a flat $15.50 a month. Treasurer Brandee Johnson said about 400 accounts get the current discount and about 1,000 are expected under the expansion. A resident asked why the city uses a blended inflation index; Stout said a construction index and western-region CPI are used and others could be considered. An Ogden Canyon property owner asked whether canyon homes could connect to the 36-inch line; Anderson said no service laterals will connect to it and the city no longer issues will-serve letters for canyon homes.
February 4, 2025 · City Council
Canyon waterline replacement update (work session)
Discussed
Nielsen gave an overview of the 36-inch Canyon Water Line replacement, its construction schedule and the project website. Discussion centered on the pipeline alignment.
April 1, 2025 · City Council
Work session: downtown parking, river safety and Ogden Canyon waterline update
Discussed
In the work session before the meeting, Mayor Nadolski and Parking and Mobility Operations Coordinator Emil Vargason updated the council on the downtown parking program, safety near open waterways such as the Weber River in the coming months, and the status of the Ogden Canyon waterline project. No votes were taken.
May 6, 2025 · City Council
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.
May 13, 2025 · City Council
Discolored water in Ogden neighborhoods
Discussed
Water Utility Director Brady Herd attributed recent discolored water to the Canyon Pipeline Replacement project and other factors that raised flow and velocity in the system, said crews are testing and flushing, and advised residents to run cold water and avoid hot water until it clears. Public Services Executive Director Justin Anderson said decades of deferred pipe replacement led to a $1.5 billion replacement need. Joseph Bauman questioned building a 42-inch line in winter; Laura Lewis and Linda Sanchez criticized notification and raised sediment and E. coli worries.
May 20, 2025 · City Council
Fiscal 2024-25 budget amendment of $118,395,800 (Ordinance 2025-12)
Approved · 6-0
The council recognized $118,395,800 in new revenue and appropriations: $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 from other sources. Uses include $87.5 million for the canyon waterline, $11.4 million for Airport projects, $3.5 million for Union Station, $750,000 for golf and $4.9 million for refuse trucks and equipment. Chair White asked whether more large police pay increases are coming; Finance Director Justin Sorensen said 95 percent of the $30 million police budget is payroll. Council Member Graf said a past $1 million Airport allocation returned about $10.5 million. Council Member Choberka said the funds arrived after the original budget was adopted. Linda Sanchez, the only speaker, raised police training and use of force.
June 17, 2025 · City Council
Work session: partial vacation of Stewart Drive and turf limits for new homes
Discussed
Assistant Planning Director Joe Simpson described a request by The Boyer Company to vacate a strip about 440 feet long and up to 8 feet wide (2,475 square feet) of Stewart Drive in Business Depot Ogden so a new industrial building at 398 Stewart Drive can meet a 20-foot front setback. Planning Director Barton Brierley proposed limiting turf to 35 percent of front and side yard landscaping for new single-family homes, requiring at least 50 percent living plants facing the street and barriers to keep rock and mulch from being used for parking. The change satisfies a condition of a $10 million state Department of Natural Resources grant for the Ogden Canyon waterline. Also discussed was an expected property-tax shortfall of about $900,000 and missing funding for Lester Park and a splash pad.
June 9, 2026 · City Council work session
Pineview Reservoir water line crossing
Discussed
Public Services Executive Director Justin Anderson said the 36-inch steel line under Pineview Reservoir, installed in the early 1970s and never inspected since, carries about 50 percent of Ogden's culinary water. The project was planned for fall 2027 but low snowpack may draw the reservoir down enough to move it to this fall. The base option is an open-cut trench with the reservoir drawn down, which releases about 10,000 acre-feet that could be stored in Willard Bay; a temporary dike to isolate the north arm would add about $5.5 million to $6 million to a project estimated near $6 million, of which Anderson said the city could absorb about $1.5 million. Partners including the Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service, Ogden River Water Users Association and Weber Basin raised fish, wildlife and diversion concerns. Chair Hyer asked why not let the reservoir fall naturally; Anderson said that analysis is under way. Staff are designing for both options.
- Alternatives ruled out: routing around the reservoir (about double the length) and boring under it (risk to the well field)
June 16, 2026 · City Council
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.