Council agrees to negotiate for 4.2-acre Kester parcel next to boat harbor
October 20, 2020, 4:00 p.m. · Held electronically (COVID-19 emergency)
American Fork council members agreed to pursue negotiations with landowner Joel Kester for a roughly 4.2-acre parcel just north of the boat harbor near 1800 S. 100 West, which he has offered at a discount or partly as a donation. They also weighed whether to accept a roughly $1.44 million county TRCC grant for boat harbor improvements that would need a city match, with Council Member Rob Shelton questioning spending millions at the harbor while algae bloom warnings keep people away.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| 700/740 North connector road | No action |
| Possible purchase of Kester open-space parcel near boat harbor | Discussed |
| County TRCC grant for boat harbor master plan | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Roads and utilities
700/740 North connector road
No action
Pulled from the agenda.
Item 2 · Parks
Possible purchase of Kester open-space parcel near boat harbor
Discussed
City Administrator David Bunker said Joel Kester, a partner in the company owning a 4.2-acre parcel north of the boat harbor on the east side of 100 West, has discussed selling it; an appraisal is weeks away, a nearby industrial parcel appraised at $3.10 a square foot, and Kester suggested part could be donated. Bunker noted Kester knows Council Member Shelton. Part of the land is wet. Shelton supported buying it for trails and as wetland mitigation that could free up Mountain Meadows Park; Christiansen agreed; Barnes asked that price talks go to a closed session and that the Parks and Trails Committee weigh in. Consensus: pursue negotiations.
- Land dealAmount not given to Joel Kester and partners
- Parcel: about 4.2 acres, north of American Fork boat harbor
- Comparable: industrial parcel appraised at $3.10 per square foot
- Bunker said Kester knows Council Member Shelton
Item 2 (cont.) · Parks
County TRCC grant for boat harbor master plan
Discussed
Community Services Director Camden Bird said the county TRCC committee recommended $1.44 million for the boat harbor master plan, which Saratoga Springs and Vineyard have already used for their harbors; with a city match the project would be roughly $3 million, with water and sewer included. Mayor Frost said the money might be frozen after the first of the year. Shelton wanted any money spent on infrastructure and parking rather than a sand beach and cited three county algae-bloom alerts naming the harbor; Barnes wanted committee input. Staff said there is no penalty for unused money and in-kind work counts toward the match.
- Grant$1.44 million to Utah County
- TRCC recommendation: $1.44 million; city match required; 4-5 years to spend
What residents said
Algae bloom warnings at the boat harborUse of park impact fees at the harbor vs. a south-side park