Council approves $777,000 in DEI and mental health service contracts 4-1 and a North Norfolk four-lot plat; continues Deer Valley right-of-way petition
November 16, 2023, 3:15 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 445 Marsac Avenue
On November 16, 2023 the council voted 4-1 (Council Member Jeremy Rubell opposed) to approve staff recommendations for FY24-25 special service contracts for diversity, equity and inclusion ($500,000 total) and mental health ($277,000 total), called PC Tots funding double dipping, and approved the North Norfolk plat amendment creating four single-family lots and a landscape incentive code change, both 5-0. The consent agenda, approved 5-0 as amended, included state and federal lobbying contracts and a childcare benefit for full-time city employees. The Deer Valley right-of-way petition was continued to November 30. Work sessions covered the emerging transportation disruptors study and the childcare scholarship program.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item Closed · Other
Motion to close the meeting to discuss litigation and property
Approved · 5-0
Closed session ran from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m.
Item Work1 · Presentation
Emerging disruptors study update
Discussed
A stakeholder committee that met July to October favored dedicated bus lanes if right-of-way is not expanded, a pilot and more study of a one-way loop, regional passenger rail, an airport connection, reversible flex lanes and a permanently vehicle-free Main Street; it did not recommend a gondola as a primary mode. Rubell questioned spending on the lower-ranked one-way loop contract; Gerber opposed flex lanes because they could invite more cars; the mayor said a tunnel should not be city-funded. Next steps: airport connection, bus rapid transit and vehicle-free options. No vote.
Item Work2 · Budget
Childcare scholarship program
Discussed
Direction: move the age limit to kindergarten start and lower the area median income threshold for the first three months (100 percent of area median income for a four-person household is $148,600 and 150 percent is $222,900). Rubell proposed starting at 100 percent and rising to 120 percent at the administrator's discretion; Gerber called 150 percent the Park City middle class. The item returns for a vote on November 30. No vote.
Item V · Contract
Consent agenda: childcare benefit for city employees, state and federal lobbying contracts, Small Business Saturday
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Approved as amended for the childcare employee benefit, which matches the work session direction on kindergarten eligibility. Includes a state lobbying contract with Consult-LEC, LLC through December 31, 2025, a federal lobbying contract with Barker Leavitt through November 1, 2026 and Resolution 20-2023 declaring November 25, 2023 as Small Business Saturday.
- Contract$100,800 to Consult-LEC, LLC
- Contract$109,478 to Barker Leavitt
Item VI.1 · Development
Deer Valley Development Company petition: right-of-way vacation and Doe Pass Road dedication (Snow Park Village Base Area)
Continued · 5-0
The mayor said discussions continue and the public hearing was set for December 5. Speakers from the Protect the Loop group and neighborhoods cited traffic, lights and dark skies and opposed vacation; a resort representative hoped for a good outcome. The mayor ended virtual public input after inappropriate comments. Continued to November 30.
Item VII.1 · Contract
FY24-25 DEI and mental health special service contracts
Approved · 4-1
Budgets: diversity, equity and inclusion special service contracts $500,000 total ($250,000 in each of FY24 and FY25) and mental health $277,000 total ($157,000 in FY24 and $120,000 in FY25). Staff recommended awards to 19 DEI and 10 mental health applicants, in some cases below the amount requested, and moving to an interview process; the Arts Council's application did not meet criteria. Rubell called PC Tots funding double dipping since it also has a regular contract and raised concerns about Mountainlands and KPCW funding; he proposed carving out operational items and reallocating the rest. Gerber said a process revamp would take at least 18 months. The city attorney explained that public funds must serve a corporate purpose and charitable giving is limited to 1 percent of the budget.
- Grant$500,000
- Grant$277,000
Item VII.2 · Subdivision
Ordinance 2023-52: 902 Woodside Avenue plat amendment
Approved · 5-0
Combines two substandard lots so the existing dwelling can be removed and a new single-family home built; requires a 10-foot public snow storage easement on Woodside Avenue.
Item VII.3 · City code
Ordinance 2023-53: Land Management Code landscaping and definitions
Approved · 5-0
Brings the code into compliance with state requirements for the landscape incentive program, a partnership with the state and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, which increased to $3 per square foot of turf removed from $2. Adds a definition of landscaped area.
Item VII.4 · Subdivision
Ordinance 2023-54: North Norfolk plat amendment
Approved · 5-0
Amends the Knudson Subdivision and Parcel SA-200 and re-subdivides vacant land into four single-family lots (A through D) with a shared driveway on Norfolk Avenue, a privately maintained public right-of-way. The fire district requires private emergency access stairs; the Planning Commission reviewed the plat four times. Speakers asked for a continuance and said the street is too narrow with no room to turn around or store snow. Doilney and Dickey deferred to the Planning Commission.
What residents said
Deer Valley Drive trafficNorth Norfolk road widthNonprofit funding process
One speaker asked for the Treasure Hill conservation easement to be discussed; the Chamber thanked council for the Small Business Saturday resolution; speakers in the nonprofit funding hearing supported funding for mediation and the LGBTQ taskforce.