PARC tax groups report; consultant says downtown revival needs $100,000-$150,000 a year
February 18, 2020, 4:00 p.m. · City Administration Office conference room, 51 E. Main St.
PARC tax grant recipients gave mid-year reports, and the council agreed to let the library use set-aside PARC money for architect design of a children's space and to let the Harrington Center seek extra concert funding. Consultant Randy Sant presented a downtown economic development plan he said would need a project manager and $100,000 to $150,000 a year for five to seven years. Cody Hill presented a long-range financial model projecting a $5 million gap by 2040 even with a pegged property tax rate, and the council leaned toward phasing sewer rates to cost of service over 10 years, with schools billed as commercial users.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Long-range financial forecast model | Discussed |
| Sewer rate study, continued | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Mid-year reports from PARC tax recipients
Discussed
New Friends Quilt Group spent $5,440 of a $6,050 table budget and asked to use leftover money for two folding cutting tables. Timpanogos Symphony reported school assembly concerts. The Harrington Center for the Arts reported three grants (a $7,300 summer concert series, Fork Fest and Chalk It Up, which returned $500 of its $4,000) and asked for more 2020 concerts at about $2,600 each; Shelton saw the roughly $25,000 cost as minor, while Taylor warned about bypassing the PARC committee process. Alpine Community Theater reported a sound board purchase and using $14,500 of a $20,500 grant. Timpanogos Arts Foundation reported new youth groups and marketing. Library Director Cassandria Crane presented a community assessment, and the council gave the go-ahead to spend set-aside PARC money on architect design for a children's space facing Robinson Park. Parks Superintendent Jason Thomson proposed curb and gutter instead of a fence at the Quail Cove entrance, about $3,000 to $4,000 cheaper. Members agreed that groups getting less than $25,000 can report yearly through the PARC committee, while TAF and the city report twice a year.
- Grant$7,300 to Harrington Center for the Arts
- Grant$20,500 to Alpine Community Theater
Item 2 · Presentation
Downtown economic development plan
Discussed
Randy Sant of Advisors Consultant Services summarized his downtown plan: create a CRA, prepare a promotional plan, work with UDOT and UTA, run a hotel feasibility study (about $1,200), acquire available property, use Opportunity Zone incentives, attract "third place" businesses and mixed use with housing over ground-floor commercial, and seek MAG funding for a form-based code. Carroll said the council wanted specific action steps. Sant said the city should commit $100,000 to $150,000 a year for five to seven years for a project manager, studies and marketing, and said a CRA could later become an urban renewal area if eminent domain were needed.
- ContractAmount not given to Advisors Consultant Services
Item 3 · Budget
Long-range financial forecast model
Discussed
Cody Hill presented a comprehensive financial sustainability plan model. A property tax rate pegged to inflation (truth in taxation) would bring about $10 million more over 20 years than a floating rate, but even so the general fund would face about a $5 million gap between revenues and expenses by 2040; a floating rate looked worse. Shelton favored small regular increases tied to a stated plan. Finance will use the model in budget retreats.
Item 4 · Taxes and fees
Sewer rate study, continued
Discussed
Keith Larson of Bowen Collins & Associates showed how meter-based commercial rates would hit businesses such as JCW, an LDS church, Buhler Laundry and Marinda (increases of 30% to 100% in the first year) and how billing schools as commercial users would change American Fork High (now $1,045.12 a month) and Greenwood Elementary ($472.84). Options included phasing six-inch meters from $188 in 2021 to $700 in 2024 and moving to a $27.27 base and $3.22 volume rate. Consensus: reach cost of service over 10 years for residential, phase commercial meter rates over four years and bill the school district as commercial right away.
- ContractAmount not given to Bowen Collins & Associates
What residents said
Library expansion and a second library
Resident Heidi Rodeback, speaking during the library report, supported the library expansion and said the city is not large enough to sustain two libraries; she urged a county library system so that neighboring cities contribute.