Heber City council caps 100 West safety work at $150,000, limits North Fields development in county agreement and votes 3-2 to restrict elected officials' newsletter articles
October 20, 2026, 6:00 p.m. · Heber City Municipal Building, 75 N. Main St.
At its Oct. 20 meeting the Heber City Council voted 5-0 to move ahead with striping, sidewalk infill and an ADA crossing on 100 West and 910 South with a $150,000 cap, and 5-0 to accept Wasatch County's amendment protecting the North Fields, changing it to say 'east of the Provo River' and 'rural agriculture at the AG 20 density.' By 3-2 the council amended its communications policy so individual elected officials may not write articles for the city newsletter unless directed by a majority vote; Mayor Heidi Franco opposed the change in discussion, and Council Members Yvonne Barney and Morgan Murdock voted no. Council Member Johnston recused himself from the earlier pickleball work-session discussion. These are draft minutes.
From the draft minutes. Updated November 3, 2026.
In brief
7 items came up for a decision or discussion: 3 approved, 3 discussed, and 1 no action.
1 vote was not unanimous: Amendment to the Heber City communications policy (3-2).
The agenda records 1 dollar amount, the largest $150,000.
2 items here are tracked in the city's development tracker.
This write-up links 2 source documents.
6 members were present.
Residents raised traffic calming, north fields protection, newsletter policy, and airport buffer land purchases.
The previous City Council meeting was on October 12, 2026: Heber City council holds emergency closed meeting on security systems with IT contractor staff present
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item IX-1 · Roads and utilities
Traffic calming and pedestrian safety on 100 West
Approved · 5-0
City Engineer Russ Funk recommended striping, bulb-outs at intersections, parking on one side only and completing sidewalks on the east side of 100 West between 600 and 1000 South, with $200,000 in the current budget for traffic calming. The council voted for striping, five-foot sidewalk infill monolithic to the curb along 100 West, and an ADA crossing with striping and concrete islands at 910 South, capped at $150,000. A resident said the traffic is a result of added density; a Wasatch County council member asked about the Mill Road and 1200 South intersection, which Funk said has striping planned; Council Member Barney raised sight lines at 100 South and 100 East. The city attorney said the existing contractor could be used for the work.
- Budget$150,000
Item IX-2 · Annexation
Wasatch County amendment to the Heber City Expansion Area MOU (North Fields)
Approved · 5-0
City Manager Matt Brower said the county council already adopted an amendment to section 6 of the memorandum to protect the North Fields along the proposed Heber Valley Corridor. Council Member Johnston proposed, and a majority agreed, to change 'east of the corridor' to 'east of the Provo River' and to replace 'rural agricultural residences' with 'rural agriculture at the AG 20 density,' meaning 20-acre minimum parcels. A resident at public comment asked that the 20-acre limit be in the agreement. Wasatch County Council Members Erik Rowland and Luke Searle thanked the council and hoped for more joint protections.
Item IX-3 · City code
Amendment to the Heber City communications policy
Approved · 3-2
Council Member Johnston proposed that elected officials may submit ideas and comments for official city publications but not individually contribute articles or content to the city newsletter unless a majority of the council directs it. He said the newsletter should carry city news, not opinion, and said a recent submission disparaged staff and other members and insinuated wrongdoing. Mayor Franco said the change would limit elected officials' ability to speak to constituents, that she supports following state code, and that she wore black in response. Council Member Cheatwood suggested submissions be vetted by a council majority; Council Member Barney asked for a middle ground. The council extended public comment, where a resident objected to the limit. The amendment passed 3-2.
- Yes: Cheatwood, Johnston, Ostergaard
- No: Barney, Murdock
Item VII-2 · Other
Resolution 2026-21 on compensatory time accrual and payout
No action
The Human Resources item was pulled from the consent agenda and not approved at this meeting.
Item II-1 · Parks
Pickleball project road impacts (work session)
Discussed
Pickle Hall representatives presented a conceptual layout and site plan for a project at 790 South and 150 East; the city engineer noted a planned pressurized irrigation line through the site. Council Member Johnston recused himself. A resident told the council at public comment she opposed a through road or more density at the location because children walk there.
Item X-1 · Development
Strategies for city-owned property in the CRA project area
Discussed
Sitting as the Community Reinvestment Agency board, the council heard City Manager Brower review city-acquired properties along a planned pedestrian alley ('C' Street) between Main Street Park and Tabernacle Plaza, including the former Wasatch Wave buildings, and options for their near-term use. No decision was sought. The head of the Community Alliance for Main Street said local businesses want to lease the buildings long term, that $75,000 would not cover remodeling and that leases should run at least five years; another resident raised concerns about demolition and a possible conflict of interest, and Brower said he had not been on the nonprofit's board for over four months. Mayor Franco said some of the nonprofit's board members oppose the city acting as landlord.
Item XII · Other
City manager communications
Discussed
The council agreed to keep its Nov. 3 meeting, which falls on Election Day, if it stays short. Council Member Cheatwood asked staff to find inexpensive software to summarize Planning Commission meetings, and the council asked staff to prepare a Community Development Block Grant application. In public comment the city said it had authorization from the FAA that day to begin negotiating to buy a property affected by the airport expansion.
What residents said
Traffic calmingNorth Fields protectionNewsletter policyAirport buffer land purchases
Residents spoke about airport expansion land purchases, a through road and density at 790 South and 150 East, traffic calming costs, protecting the North Fields, the communications policy and downtown property plans.