Council approves $7.1 million power line undergrounding and $12 million electric bus purchase
August 15, 2024
With Council Member Bill Ciraco excused, the council voted 4-0 to approve a $7,077,547 agreement with Rocky Mountain Power to bury transmission lines in Bonanza Park, a purchase of nine electric buses up to $12,074,294, and a diesel bus lease. It continued the Studio Crossing fee waiver request on a 3-1 vote. A work session covered a failing Marsac Avenue retaining wall and a proposed 51% water impact fee increase.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Marsac Avenue retaining wall replacement (work session) | Discussed |
| Water impact fee update (work session) | Discussed |
| Approve minutes of June 28, July 11 and August 5, 2024 | Approved · 4-0 |
| Consent agenda: easement, HNTB, Silver King headframe, MKSK, Zions, MC Contractors | Approved · 4-0 |
| Rocky Mountain Power transmission line undergrounding agreement | Approved · 4-0 |
| Electric buses through the Gillig/UTA contract | Approved · 4-0 |
| 24-month lease of eight diesel buses | Approved · 4-0 |
| Studio Crossing impact and permit fee waiver | Continued · 3-1 |
Agenda, item by item
Item II · Roads and utilities
Marsac Avenue retaining wall replacement (work session)
Discussed
Engineering staff said the wall supporting City Hall parking is deflecting and its joints are separating; it is not expected to collapse but needs reconstruction. Replacement costs about the same as reinforcement, which would last about five years. Budget staff estimated $1.5 million, split among Parking, the Redevelopment Agency and the Municipal Building Authority. The council supported replacement and the recommended funding source; no formal vote.
- Budget$1.50 million
Item II · Taxes and fees
Water impact fee update (work session)
Discussed
Consultants recommended raising the maximum water impact fee about 51%, from $16,579 to $25,142 per GPM, because the 3Kings Water Treatment Plant is operating and the master plan is about 10 years old. About $13 million in future projects remains. Council Member Jeremy Rubell asked for a payment plan or reduction program so small local businesses are not deterred; Council Member Ryan Dickey wanted payments spread over a few years; Council Member Tana Toly asked whether growth assumptions distinguish primary residences from nightly rentals. Next steps are a public hearing with 10 days notice and a 90-day wait after adoption.
Item IV · Other
Approve minutes of June 28, July 11 and August 5, 2024
Approved · 4-0
Minutes were approved.
Item V · Contract
Consent agenda: easement, HNTB, Silver King headframe, MKSK, Zions, MC Contractors
Approved · 4-0
The consent agenda included a Rocky Mountain Power easement along the bike path near Deer Valley Drive and Main Street, and five contract actions listed below.
- Change order$700,000 to HNTB Corporation
- Contract$200,000 to Park City Historical Society and Museum
- Change order$18,400 to MKSK
- Change order$126,000 to Zions Public Finance
- Change order$350,700 to MC Contractors Inc.
Item VI.1 · Roads and utilities
Rocky Mountain Power transmission line undergrounding agreement
Approved · 4-0
The council approved a $7,077,547 construction agreement with Rocky Mountain Power to bury transmission lines in Bonanza Park, removing an aerial easement, adding cemetery plots and removing towers at Boot Hill. $3.5 million had been budgeted. Staff recommended using FY24 accrued interest; Council Member Jeremy Rubell first moved that, then withdrew and moved to authorize transient room tax (TRT) funds, which passed. Mark Fischer said undergrounding unlocks Bonanza Park and that approval of the Yarrow project is critical to its development.
- Contract$7.08 million to Rocky Mountain Power
Item VII.1 · Contract
Electric buses through the Gillig/UTA contract
Approved · 4-0
The council approved purchase of nine 35-foot battery-electric buses, three depot chargers with nine dispensers and training, not to exceed $12,074,294. Funding is from the Federal Transit Administration with a city match of about $2.4 million. Staff cited a 26-month industry backlog for delivery. The minutes note the presentation deck shows slightly different totals.
- Purchase$12.1 million to Gillig (via UTA contract)
Item VII.2 · Contract
24-month lease of eight diesel buses
Approved · 4-0
The council approved a 24-month pilot lease of eight 2008 35-foot low-floor diesel Gillig buses to cover the wait for new buses and test event service. Cost is up to $1,024,187.20, with lease pricing of $5,500 a month per bus for eight months a year, funded from the microtransit program. Wraps cost $2,300 per bus.
- Contract$1.02 million
Item VII.3 · Taxes and fees
Studio Crossing impact and permit fee waiver
Continued · 3-1
The developer asked the council to waive $1,666,116.45 in impact and development permit fees under Municipal Code 11-12-15 for the affordable portion of Studio Crossing, which includes 208 affordable units, 23 added since the original plan. Staff said the gap between requested and recommended amounts reflects removing 65 required units. Council Member Ed Parigian supported the recommendation and proposed a sliding scale tied to area median income; Council Member Ryan Dickey said the request does not meet the code standard; Council Member Tana Toly backed the staff recommendation; Council Member Jeremy Rubell supported it plus a waiver for the 23 added units. The council continued the item, recalculated for 143 units, to August 22 on the consent agenda.
- Fee$1.67 million
What residents said
Marsac retaining wallWater impact feesAffordable housing fee waivers
No public input on non-agenda items; Mark Fischer spoke on the undergrounding item.