Developer Ardero pitches Utah's first public improvement district for roads south of I-15
January 21, 2020, 4:00 p.m. · City Administration Office conference room, 51 E. Main St.
With Kevin Barnes and Clark Taylor absent, the council heard developer Shaun Johnson of Ardero propose a public improvement district (PID) to borrow about $7 million against a new property tax levy to build master-plan roads such as 900 West, 700 West and Lakeshore Drive south of the freeway, with city impact fees repaying the upsizing share. Carroll worried about shifting the cost to future homeowners and Shelton about more than $50 million in impact-fee-backed infrastructure debt. The council also reviewed rebranding logos, the victim advocate's annual report and the neighborhood collector street section.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
City rebranding
Discussed
Jibe Communications presented nine logo concepts built around Americana and natural themes and revised them based on survey feedback; the discussion continued Feb. 4.
- ContractAmount not given to Jibe Media
Item 2 · Public safety
Domestic violence victim advocate annual report
Discussed
Victim Advocate Dawna Whiting described post-crisis support, safety planning, referrals, help applying for crime victim reparations and liaison work with police and prosecutors.
Item 3 · Development
Public improvement district memorandum of understanding with Ardero
Discussed
Bunker explained that a PID becomes a separate local district governed by the property owners, with debt repaid by a levy on property in the district. The proposal covered 700 West, 900 West, 1000 South and Lakeshore Drive; staff recommended leaving out 1000 South because it is not a master-plan road, while Ardero asked that 1000 South be reimbursed and that 900 West be reimbursed at 50% before upsizing. Developer Shaun Johnson said statute would allow a $25 million PID but he planned about $7 million, adding under $50 a month in tax per home, and that lenders D.A. Davidson and Wells Fargo were involved; no PID yet existed in Utah. Carroll objected that the burden would fall on the development's residents alone; Shelton said infrastructure bonds repaid by impact fees could top $50 million and asked for an overall plan. Ardero sought only an MOU for now.
- Bond$7.00 million to Ardero (public improvement district)
Item 4 · Roads and utilities
Neighborhood collector street cross section
Discussed
Fire Chief Aaron Brems and Captain Leif Nelson said raised or mountable medians do not meet fire code for ladder trucks, so staff proposed a flush stamped-concrete median with parking on both sides and left turn lanes. Members debated parking versus a flush median; Mayor Frost favored keeping parking. The proposal was to go to the Planning Commission.