Sandy council authorizes eminent domain for a signal at 9400 South and refers Fire Station 31 general obligation bond language

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 2 · Presentation

   Healthy Sandy Champion recognition of Greg Shaw

   Discussed

   Healthy Sandy Committee members presented the quarterly award to Shaw.

2. Item 3 · City code

   Title 21 amendments on major sports venue sign theme

   Discussed

   Zoning Administrator Melissa Anderson presented the amendments and council members asked questions. Community Development Director James Sorenson responded about scoreboard signage at America First Field and other provisions. No vote was taken.

   Follow Major sports venue sign theme (Title 21 amendments) in the development tracker →

3. Item 4 · Other

   Ten-year schedule for administrative department management studies

   Discussed

   Council Director Dustin Fratto introduced the topic. Council Member Zach Robinson asked for a random order; Mecham asked for the mayor's and CAO's views; Marci Houseman saw merit in targeted and random approaches; Cyndi Sharkey suggested starting with Fire; Brooke D'Sousa suggested prioritizing by share of the budget; Alison Stroud asked what current funding would cover; Scott Earl raised concerns about covering department diversity and proposed a citizen survey. The mayor suggested Police and/or Fire first, the CAO recommended sequencing by need, and the fire chief recommended studying the whole Fire Department as one unit. Fratto suggested a resolution covering Fire, Police and two other large departments over eight years. No vote was taken.

4. Item 5 · City code

   First reading: proposed no-solicitors ordinance

   Discussed

   Robinson presented the proposal, saying legal staff had weighed in. Council members discussed how to define a solicitor and what penalties might apply. Sorenson described the business-licensing process and urged considering enforceability. The mayor cautioned against a definition so broad that it limits non-commercial solicitation. Pat Jones asked whether it would block door-to-door campaigning or city information sharing. No vote was taken.

5. Item 6 · Appointment

   Consent: CDBG committee reappointments

   Approved

   Approved by unanimous voice vote with the consent calendar.

   Moved by Council Member Ryan Mecham, seconded by Council Member Cyndi Sharkey

6. Item 7 · Roads and utilities

   Public hearing: eminent domain for traffic signal installation at 9400 South and 500 West (Resolution 23-35C)

   Approved · 9400 South near 500 West (commercial property for new traffic signal)

   Staff Engineer Kevin Riddle presented and outside counsel explained the condemnation process for a commercial property owned by Bowen Investments, LLC. Steve Van Maren did not object to proceeding but raised design concerns; Pat Jones opposed eminent domain and asked that the owner get one last chance to respond; Jacob Wiedrich questioned the reasoning. Sharkey asked for more justification, and City Engineer Ryan Kump said 4 of 9 traffic signal warrants were met. Robinson noted the seriousness of the action, Earl asked about a city-owned property to be demolished, Mecham asked about urgency (Kump said the project must be completed now) and D'Sousa weighed private property rights against the public good. The resolution was adopted; the notes give no tally.

   Moved by Council Member Ryan Mecham, seconded by Council Member Cyndi Sharkey

   Follow Traffic signal at 9400 South and 500 West in the development tracker →

7. Item 8 · Public safety

   Fire Station 31 general obligation bond (Resolution 23-38C)

   Approved with conditions

   Finance Director Brian Kelley presented the resolution with financial adviser Jason Burningham. D'Sousa moved, seconded by Houseman, to adopt it with the second sentence of the underlined ballot language removed. Robinson and Stroud supported the resolution as written; Houseman raised concerns about the ballot language; Sharkey supported Scenario One with amendments to the language; Earl wanted a $20.6 million cap and a 20-year bond; D'Sousa supported a 20-year term but had concerns about total cost and the language; Mecham supported Scenario Two and later opposed the motion. Robinson worried about cutting square footage. Kelley noted the council must still approve the final bond amount. Steve Van Maren supported the full amount and a 15-year bond and opposed the underlined language; Pat Jones asked the council to explore paying cash and supported Scenario Two. The resolution was adopted; the notes give no tally.

   • BondAmount not given General obligation bond for the Fire Station 31 rebuild; final amount to be approved later (one member sought a $20.6 million cap). Paid from General obligation bond subject to voter approval

   Moved by Council Member Brooke D'Sousa, seconded by Council Member Marci Houseman

   Follow Fire Station 31 rebuild and general obligation bond in the development tracker →

What residents said

Eminent domain at 9400 SouthFire Station 31 bondNo-solicitors ordinanceDepartment management studies

Patricia Jones asked about the no-soliciting ordinance; Cathy Spuck asked that code enforcement be included in the first round of management studies. Hearing and bond speakers are noted in the items.