Council approves pickleball facility MOU and $122,550 senior center design; Bonanza Park rezoning continued
August 26, 2025, 2:15 p.m.
With Council Member Ryan Dickey excused, the council voted 4-0 on an MOU with Wadsworth Development Group for an indoor pickleball facility on city land, a $122,550 senior center design agreement, and certification of the primary election. It continued the Bonanza Park rezoning to a date uncertain. Work sessions covered building fees, water impact fees and water rate results.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item WS A · Taxes and fees
Building, planning and engineering fee study (work session)
Discussed
Consultants TeamZac proposed cost-of-service fees; the last study was in 2010 and most fees fall below full cost recovery. The change would reduce annual revenue by about $1.7 million. Options were immediate full adoption or a three-year phase-in for 29 planning fees. The mayor summarized a majority preference for phasing in planning fees. Council Member Rubell wanted full fees now; Council Member Ciraco supported phasing. No vote.
Item WS B · Taxes and fees
Water impact fee discussion (work session)
Discussed
Staff proposed raising the maximum water impact fee per gallon per minute from $16,579 to $25,784 in 2025, rising to $28,691 by 2029 (51.6% higher), with 71% going to the 3 Kings Water Treatment Plant. Examples: $12,128 for a three-bedroom home and $68,671 for an 86-seat restaurant. Council members discussed deferred payment options; Council Member Toly worried about small businesses; Council Member Ciraco wanted fees and rates solved together. No vote.
- Fee$25,784
Item WS C · Taxes and fees
Initial results of FY2026 water rate changes (work session)
Discussed
Usage rose 9% and revenue 12% from mid-May to mid-July. Penalty tier use was 4% (July) and 9% (August) of single-family customers and 14% and 30% of irrigation customers. Staff proposed lowering the $75 per 1,000 gallons penalty to $38, costing about $1 million a year. Council members including Rubell, Toly and Ciraco favored raising water budgets, a half-acre or 1.25-acre tier and retroactive relief; Council Member Parigian opposed lowering the penalty tier. Council agreed to hold billing changes until the next discussion. No vote.
Item WS D · Budget
Economic development grants (work session)
Discussed
Staff discussed reactivating the suspended $50,000-a-year economic development grant policy. Council Member Parigian said 37% of grants went to businesses that failed and did not think grants a good use of money; Council Members Toly, Ciraco, Rubell and the mayor supported exploring the program. No vote.
- Grant$50,000
Item IV · Contract
Consent: state lobbying contract and Arbor Day
Approved · 4-0
Approved a five-year state lobbying services contract with Consult-LEC, LLC (up to $120,000 a year through December 31, 2030) and Resolution 16-2025 proclaiming Arbor Day.
- Contract$120,000 to Consult-LEC, LLC
Item V.1 · Zoning
Bonanza Park rezoning, about 70 acres (Ordinance 2025-19)
Continued · 4-0
Planning staff proposed rezoning land between Park Avenue, Kearns Boulevard, Bonanza Drive and Deer Valley Drive to a Bonanza Park Mixed-Use District, adding LMC chapter 15-2.27. Provisions: open space reduced from 30% to 20% (35% for an enhancement), commercial limited to 15,000 square feet per building, a 100-foot frontage protection zone with 30 to 100 feet by conditional use permit, and existing hotels grandfathered. Council Member Toly asked the Planning Commission to review the commercial component, tour the site with owners and consider approving in pieces; Rubell opposed the open space reduction and was concerned traffic would fail; Parigian wanted a height versus open space tradeoff; Ciraco said open space should exceed 20%. Property owners and a condo representative spoke on short-term rental rights and requirements. The council continued the item to a date uncertain.
- Area: about 70 acres
- Open space: 30% reduced to 20%
- Commercial cap: 15,000 sq. ft. per building
Item V.2 · Contract
Senior center design services agreement
Approved · 4-0
The council approved an agreement with Sparano + Mooney Architecture, Inc., not to exceed $122,550, for concept and schematic design (10 months), design development and construction documents. Council Member Parigian asked for three parking alternatives and does not believe the Mawhinney lot is the right location; Council Member Rubell cited community center cost overruns and wants a budget set in a couple of months.
- Contract$122,550 to Sparano + Mooney Architecture, Inc.
Item VI.1 · Development
Memorandum of understanding for an indoor pickleball facility with Wadsworth Development Group
Approved · 4-0
The council approved an MOU for a public-private partnership: Wadsworth Development Group would design and build a roughly 35,000 square foot, 12-court facility with 152 parking spaces on about 3.6 acres of city-owned land (Lot 5, north of the Ice Rink) under a ground lease, with The Picklr operating it and a target opening of June 2027. A public benefits analysis and the ground lease return to council. A tennis player asked that it be open to all and that pickleball be removed from the MARC once it opens.
Item VI.2 · Development
JF EngineHouse Partners reimbursement request
Discussed
The EngineHouse developer asked the city to reimburse environmental remediation costs, citing a $754,000 deficit after the county granted a 50% concession on dump fees; clean soil was sent to the 3-Mile Landfill because a 2024 ordinance change required it. Staff estimated remediation at $40 a ton for the top four feet of soil. The council showed majority support for a public benefits analysis; staff will return with that or a budget adjustment. No vote.
- Payment$754,000 to JF EngineHouse Partners
Item VI.3 · Other
Certifying the August 12 municipal primary (Resolution 17-2025)
Approved · 4-0
The council certified the canvassers' report. Advancing to the general election are Tana Toly, Diego Zegarra, Jeremy Rubell and John "J.K." Kenworthy.
Item II · Other
Staff reports: wildlife crossing grant and city manager recruitment
Discussed
All members agreed to proceed with an SR-224 wildlife crossing with or without a federal grant. Human resources will use an external agency to recruit a city manager, with a 60-day posting and interviews starting in January; Council Members Rubell and Ciraco wanted it faster.
What residents said
Bonanza Park open space and trafficWater bills and impact feesPickleball access
Property owners and condo representatives spoke on the Bonanza Park rezoning; a resident asked for an inclusive pickleball facility; Douglas Duditch spoke on the Rail Trail.