Residents crowd budget hearing to defend Fitness Center gymnastics; council approves PARC tax grants
June 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
About 31 people at the fiscal 2027 budget hearing signaled support for keeping the Fitness Center's gymnastics program, while others urged a new recreation center, a development moratorium until growth pays more, and a second access road for neighborhoods near the FrontRunner station. Residents along 300 North presented a 28-signature petition asking the city to keep a residential buffer from hospital-related commercial zoning and restore a planned 200 North extension. The council approved the fiscal 2027 PARC tax disbursements and a $27,322.50 reimbursement to the High Pointe Apartments developer, and tabled the tax-rate resolution and a pioneering agreement with AFEW LLC.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item PH 1 · Budget
Public hearing on fiscal 2027 interim budget with proposed tax increase
Discussed
Hearing on the fiscal 2027 interim budget, which includes a proposed property tax increase. Speakers addressed developer-funded infrastructure on the southwest side, the $4 million Fitness Center renovation versus a new recreation center, gymnastics program space, police litigation risk and emergency access near the FrontRunner station (see public comment).
- 31 attendees raised hands in support of keeping the gymnastics program
Item PH 2 · Budget
Public hearing on fiscal 2027 executive officer compensation
Discussed
No public comment.
Item Consent 2 · Budget
Ratification of payments May 20-June 2, 2026, and purchases over $50,000
Approved · 5-0
Routine consent ratification; the itemized list is in the packet, not the minutes.
Item 1 · Taxes and fees
Certified tax rate and Truth in Taxation hearing date
Tabled · 5-0
Mayor Frost pulled the item and the council tabled it; it was approved at a June 16 special session.
Item 2 · Budget
Property tax impact schedule review
No action
Re-presented after the hearing with no changes; no action.
Item 3 · Parks
Fiscal 2026-27 PARC tax disbursements
Approved · 5-0
Previously tabled May 26, the council adopted the PARC Tax Advisory Board's recommended disbursements of parks, arts, recreation and culture tax revenue without change and authorized the city administrator to sign disbursement contracts. Recommendations presented May 19 included $350,000 toward the Mary & Art Dye Park bond (about two years left), $80,000 for Monarch Park, $179,000 for Beehive Park Phase 1, $185,000 for Lakeview Park Phase 1, $24,000 for Boat Harbor boating improvements, $65,000 for Fork Fest, $30,000 for a drone/light show (of $43,000 requested), $8,000 for a vocal group, $6,000 for a library author event, and $3,000 for the Sculpture Exhibition. Requests exceeded funds about 2-to-1; the split is about 66% parks and recreation, 34% arts and culture.
- Payment$350,000 to Mary & Art Dye Park bond
- Grant$80,000 to American Fork City (Monarch Park)
- Grant$179,000 to American Fork City (Beehive Park)
- Grant$185,000 to American Fork City (Lakeview Park)
- Grant$24,000 to American Fork City (Boat Harbor)
- Grant$65,000 to Fork Fest
- Ordinance No. 2026-06-09
- Mary & Art Dye Park bond payment: about $350,000
- Monarch Park: $80,000
- Beehive Park Phase 1: $179,000
- Lakeview Park Phase 1: $185,000
- Boat Harbor: $24,000
- Fork Fest: $65,000 (of $66,000 requested)
- Library automated-sorting project (about $1 million) not funded
Item 4 · Other
Vacation of public utility easement, 1032 E. 1060 North (Autumn Crest)
Approved · 5-0
Vacated part of a public utility easement on a lot in the Autumn Crest subdivision after a hearing with no comment.
- Ordinance No. 2026-06-10
Item 5 · Contract
Reimbursement agreement with OZ AF East LLC, High Pointe Apartments right-of-way
Approved · 5-0
Agreement to reimburse developer OZ AF East LLC up to $27,322.50 for system (oversized) public right-of-way improvements built with the High Pointe Apartments.
- Payment$27,323 to OZ AF East LLC
- Cap: $27,322.50
Item 6 · Contract
Pioneering agreement with AFEW LLC for system improvements
Tabled · 5-0
Tabled at the mayor's request; staff expected to return within one or two meetings. (A version for Edgewater North/The Yard 200 South improvements came back in July.)
Item 7 · Other
Closed session: real property, litigation, personnel
Approved · 5-0
Closed session from 8:21 to 9:38 p.m. on the sale, purchase or lease of real property, pending or imminent litigation, and an individual's character or competence.
What residents said
Preserving Fitness Center gymnastics programDevelopers paying for growth infrastructureSingle access road near FrontRunner stationResidential buffer on 300 North near hospital200 North extension removed from plansPublic notice of zoning changesPolice accountability
Budget hearing: Mark Walker said developers should pay for infrastructure and questioned bonded city spending on southwest-side improvements, urging a temporary development moratorium until impact fees or RDA funding catch up. Joseph Call asked that the $4 million Fitness Center renovation money go toward a new recreation center instead and said he would support a bond. Michelle Anderson, Rita Law and Alina DeGroff urged keeping the gymnastics, preschool and youth programs and gym space. Daniel Sroka warned of litigation costs from alleged police misconduct. Brielle Anderson, who lives near the FrontRunner station, said a fire that day showed her neighborhood depends on a single access road and asked for new road connections before any closures. General comment: Joely Manis backed gymnastics. Carol Bell presented a petition from 28 residents asking the city to restore the planned 200 North extension (her family donated an easement in 2008), keep appropriate zoning and preserve a residential buffer on the south side of 300 North; Tom Lemke, John Bell, Felicia Green and Mark Bell echoed buffer concerns about hospital expansion and traffic, and John Bell suggested senior housing or mixed-use options; Cindy Miller said 300 North residents had not received notices or found the open house. Chris Hubbard criticized the police online complaint form; Alex Sabin called for an independent audit of the police department; Greg Hazard described two incidents for which Police Chief Paul apologized; August Hicks alleged police interference in a civil business dispute; Ms. Rodriguez urged officials to review the concerns while supporting police.