South-side residents decry dust, speeding and fenced 'swamp' near new homes
May 23, 2023, 7:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
About a dozen residents of new south-side neighborhoods near 800 South and 620 South told the council construction crews are dumping debris, kicking up dust and speeding on pothole-ridden roads, and that a fenced, man-made pond behind their homes endangers children; the mayor directed staff to follow up. The council approved Bridges at Fox Hollow plats 4-1 after Council Member Clark Taylor disclosed the developers are his clients, accepted the Skidmore annexation petition, retained Larsen & Co. as auditor and adopted a new emergency operations plan.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Administrator's report: spring runoff monitoring | No action |
| Release of guarantees: Mott Estates Plat B, Rockwell Ranch Block 3 Ph 1 and Block 5, Willow Glen Phase 1; payments | Approved · 5-0 |
| Skidmore Annexation petition accepted, 7.552 acres at about 100 East 1500 South | Approved · 5-0 |
| Zone change, 1.26 acres at about 400 S. 860 East, PC to GC-2 | Approved · 5-0 |
| Land use amendment, about 18 acres at 5969 W. 6800 N., residential to design industrial | Approved · 5-0 |
| Bridges at Fox Hollow Plat A final plat with reduced setbacks, about 1040 N. 350 East | Approved with conditions · 4-1 |
| Bridges at Fox Hollow Plat B final plat, about 1040 N. 390 East | Approved with conditions · 5-0 |
| Audit services contract: Larsen & Co. retained | Approved · 5-0 |
| FY2022-23 PARC tax disbursement | Withdrawn |
| American Fork Emergency Operations Plan | Approved · 5-0 |
| Surplus property at 960 S. 300 West | Approved · 5-0 |
| Updated personnel policies | Approved with conditions · 5-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 3 · Public safety
Administrator's report: spring runoff monitoring
No action
Staff watching the river around the clock; Timp Marina and river levels rising but flows consistent. Taylor credited crews for overnight repair of a Fox Hollow golf course sinkhole and raising a sinking pedestrian bridge 4 feet.
Item CC 3-7 · Development
Release of guarantees: Mott Estates Plat B, Rockwell Ranch Block 3 Ph 1 and Block 5, Willow Glen Phase 1; payments
Approved · 5-0
Released a $35,651.36 construction guarantee for Mott Estates Plat B (393 E. 500 South) and durability retainers of $104,763.48 for Rockwell Ranch Block 3 Phase 1 (1100 W. 480 South), $81,283.86 for Rockwell Ranch Block 5 (1050 W. 600 South) and $130,871.48 for Willow Glen Phase 1 (400 S. 700 West); ratified May 3-16 payments.
- Payment$35,651 to Mott Estates Plat B
- Payment$104,763 to Rockwell Ranch Block 3 Phase 1
- Payment$81,284 to Rockwell Ranch Block 5
- Payment$130,871 to Willow Glen Phase 1
Item A1 · Annexation
Skidmore Annexation petition accepted, 7.552 acres at about 100 East 1500 South
Approved · 5-0
Resolution 2023-05-24R. Carroll asked about a planning commission road dedication; O'Brien said it comes later in the process.
- Acres: 7.552
Item A2 · Zoning
Zone change, 1.26 acres at about 400 S. 860 East, PC to GC-2
Approved · 5-0
Ordinance 2023-05-17, subject to May 3 planning commission conditions.
- Acres: 1.26
- Zone: PC → GC-2
Item A3 · Zoning
Land use amendment, about 18 acres at 5969 W. 6800 N., residential to design industrial
Approved · 5-0
Resolution 2023-05-25R changes residential low and very-low density designations to design industrial.
- Acres: about 18
Item A4a · Subdivision
Bridges at Fox Hollow Plat A final plat with reduced setbacks, about 1040 N. 350 East
Approved with conditions · 4-1
PR-3.0 zone. Taylor disclosed he has done work for the developers, who are his clients, and voted. Carroll voted no, saying a 5-foot setback was more of a reduction than she was comfortable with.
- Zone: PR-3.0
- Disclosure: Council Member Taylor said the developers are his clients
Item A4b · Subdivision
Bridges at Fox Hollow Plat B final plat, about 1040 N. 390 East
Approved with conditions · 5-0
PR-3.0 zone, subject to May 3 planning commission conditions.
Item A5 · Contract
Audit services contract: Larsen & Co. retained
Approved · 5-0
Three firms responded to a March request for proposals: Larsen & Co., HBME and Keddington & Christensen. The audit committee interviewed all three and recommended keeping Larsen, the city's auditor for six years and the largest firm, for FY2023-2025 with an optional two-year extension; Finance Officer Anna Montoya said nearby cities keep auditors 5-20 years. Fee not stated in minutes.
- ContractAmount not given to Larsen & Company, PC
- Proposals: Larsen & Co., HBME, Keddington & Christensen
Item A6 · Parks
FY2022-23 PARC tax disbursement
Withdrawn
Pulled from the agenda by the mayor (adopted June 20).
Item A7 · Public safety
American Fork Emergency Operations Plan
Approved · 5-0
Fire Chief Aaron Brems said the plan, aligned with Utah County's format, replaces the old plan and adds emergency declaration and continuity-of-government sections. Shelton and Carroll urged public outreach on triage and 72-hour kits.
Item A8 · Other
Surplus property at 960 S. 300 West
Approved · 5-0
Resolution 2023-05-26R declares the property surplus.
Item A9 · Other
Updated personnel policies
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Ordinance 2023-05-18. Holiday pay changes were requested by employees to match other cities; Bunker said budget impact depends on holiday overtime. Fitness Center employee passes will be set by HR and listed as a benefit; advance resignation notice remains not required.
What residents said
Construction dust and debris dumpingSpeeding and potholes on 620 South, 800 South and 7300 NorthFenced pond ('swamp') safety for childrenStreetlightsMosquitoes
Audrey Honaker, Marie Worthington, Adam Della-Piana, Gabby Curtis, Rio Honaker, Eduardo Fermano, Martin Jensen, Scott Warren and Shirley Grover, living near 800 South, 620 South and county road 7300 North/700 West, complained of construction dust and debris dumped on open space (Jensen's 2-year-old was cut on hidden debris), speeding and potholes, construction trucks sideswiping cars, missing streetlights, and a fenced 'swamp' with gaps under the fence that they fear a child could drown in; Rio Honaker said it was dug without notice and dammed a water line his animals used. Honaker asked for speed bumps. Nicole of Century Communities, the main builder, said crews were told about debris and speeding and asked about the open space under the power lines and mosquito abatement. No one spoke at the surplus property hearing.