Council backs tunnel design near Snow Creek, directs RFP for $43 million recreation projects and continues Rocky Mountain Power easements to March 9

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item Work · Roads and utilities

   Transportation planning update: Snow Creek crossing, SR 248 and disruptive ideas

   Discussed · SR 248 near Snow Creek

   Staff said UDOT declined to help fund the SR 248 and SR 224 intersection and a public-private tunnel with an adjacent site was dropped; an RFP for design services is being prepared. Staff recommended an eastbound SR 248 shoulder bus lane in the short term and a corridor transit plan long term, plus a UDOT-funded grant, led by Summit County, to study parking, park-and-ride sites and technology. Rubell said he would not support tunnel design before the Bonanza Park Small Area Plan sets the location; Doilney said the tunnel should not be put on hold. The minutes state a majority supported moving forward with tunnel design.

   Follow Snow Creek pedestrian crossing at SR 248 in the development tracker →

2. Item V.1 · Contract

   Avail Technologies addendum for transit bus stop digital signs

   Approved · 5-0

   First addendum raising the contract by $14,328 to a new total of $394,744.

   • Change order$14,328 to Avail Technologies First addendum, bus stop digital signs (new total $394,744)

   Moved by Council Member Max Doilney, seconded by Council Member Becca Gerber. Vote: 5-0

3. Item VI.1 · Parks

   Potential expansion of recreational capital facilities

   Discussed · City Park, MARC, Quinn's Junction

   Staff presented about $43 million of projects: a City Park summer camp building (about $13 million), MARC aquatics replacement ($6 million), MARC fitness expansion ($8 million), Sports Complex phase one with indoor and outdoor pickleball ($9 million) and a later phase with covered ice and field lights ($7 million). A $35 million bond would cost a median home about $148.88 a year in primary and $270.69 in secondary tax; a $50 million bond about $212.69 and $386.70. Gerber questioned bonding for ice and the sports complex because residents would pay for regional users; Rubell prioritized the summer camp building and a general obligation bond on the November ballot but did not support MARC expansion for traffic reasons; Dickey, Doilney and Toly supported an RFP. Ice users asked for a second sheet; National Ability Center supporters raised noise concerns about outdoor pickleball; pickleball players asked for more courts. No vote; staff will pursue a design-through-construction RFP.

   • Budget$43.0 million Total estimated cost of recreation capital facilities. Paid from Possible general obligation bond or Additional Resort Sales Tax

   Follow Recreation capital facilities expansion in the development tracker →

4. Item VI.2 · Roads and utilities

   Lower Park Avenue improvement project public engagement

   Discussed · Park Avenue from Empire to Heber

   The project covers Park Avenue from Empire to Heber with utility upgrades and road reconstruction. A survey drew 378 responses; residents valued access, pedestrian and cyclist safety and neighborhood character and liked pilot planter boxes. Design is in 2023 with construction beginning next year. No action.

   Follow Lower Park Avenue improvement project in the development tracker →

5. Item VII.1 · Contract

   Three easements to Rocky Mountain Power

   Continued · 5-0

   Easements for transmission and underground distribution lines across city property, including the Holiday Ranch Loop Road, the Munchkin alignment and a cemetery route to Boot Hill replacing five poles. A property owner whose route was not secured said the lines would devalue the property by $2 to $4 million and that the utility offered $46,000; he asked for mediation. Rubell had concerns about sandwiching a property owner; Dickey asked for estimates of burying lines and building a new substation. Rubell will represent council in a meeting with the utility.

   Moved by Council Member Jeremy Rubell, seconded by Council Member Max Doilney. Vote: 5-0

6. Item VII.2 · Other

   2023 legislative session update

   Discussed

   Staff reviewed bills on subdivision sidewalk and road width, xeriscaping, golf courses, public meeting noticing, the Kimball Junction housing and transit district and short-term rental amnesty, where the city took a neutral position.

7. Item WSD III.1 · Contract

   Surplus water lease to Weber Basin (Water Service District)

   Approved · 5-0

   Authorizes the mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement to continue leasing surplus water, extending the lease one year to a five-year total. Surplus water is about 20 percent of water revenue; take-or-pay amounts rise from $1,417,568 in 2023 to $5,335,497 in 2026.

   • Contract$1.42 million to Weber Basin Water Conservancy District 2023 take-or-pay amount for surplus water lease
   • Contract$5.34 million to Weber Basin Water Conservancy District 2026 take-or-pay amount for surplus water lease

   Moved by Council Member Becca Gerber, seconded by Council Member Tana Toly. Vote: 5-0

What residents said

Outdoor pickleball noise near National Ability CenterIce timeTransmission lines and property values

One resident asked for a pedestrian crossing signal at Snow Creek and the Richardson Flat park-and-ride report. On recreation, ice skaters asked for another ice sheet, National Ability Center supporters raised noise and neurodiversity concerns about outdoor pickleball, and pickleball players asked for more courts.