Council reviews five-year road plan, says funding falls short
January 19, 2021, 4:00 p.m. · Electronic meeting
In a nearly four-hour electronic work session, the American Fork City Council reviewed a five-year street plan built on about $2.5 million a year, which staff said would not improve the city's overall road condition, and discussed a possible property tax increase or road fee. Alpine School District officials gave their annual update, and council members urged the district to join a proposed CRA to fund infrastructure in the TOD area. The council also reviewed new rules of procedure.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Five-year street improvement plan | Discussed |
| Council rules and procedures | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Presentation
Alpine School District update
Discussed
District officials Rob Smith, Shane Farnsworth and board member Sarah Beeson reported about 81,000 students, 534 new teachers hired, roughly $35 million spent on American Fork schools over five years with more needed at American Fork High and possibly Barratt Elementary, and slightly declining local elementary enrollment. Councilmembers Shelton, Taylor and Carroll pressed for district partnership in a proposed CRA for the TOD area, with Carroll saying south-side water, sewer and road infrastructure could not be built without it; Shelton raised traffic at the Shelley Elementary drop-off.
Item 2 · Roads and utilities
Five-year street improvement plan
Discussed
Public Works Director Scott Sensanbaugher presented a five-year road plan assuming about $2.5 million a year for major projects plus $250,000 for pavement maintenance, with water line replacement done alongside roads. The city has spent $16.9 million on roads over eight years (about $2.1 million a year); 700 North was 98% complete. City Administrator David Bunker said the city gets about $1 million a year in Class B&C funds and uses about $1 million from the general fund; reaching a remaining service life goal of 12 would require $4 million to $5 million a year. Councilmember Shelton said the city plans to budget, not need, and raised a property tax increase; Highland charges an $18.50 monthly road fee, and Pleasant Grove's fee is under legal challenge. Only $100,000 is budgeted for water line replacement against a $500,000 request.
- Budget$2.50 million
- Budget$250,000
- Annual sewer lining about $300,000; semi-annual sewer bursting $500,000
- Culinary water fund balance about $5 million
Item 3 · Other
Council rules and procedures
Discussed
The council reviewed a draft rules and procedures policy replacing 2009 rules. Discussion covered roll-call voting order, substitute motions, council pay (Bunker said it lags peers), changing meeting locations, informal straw polls in work sessions, letting two members add agenda items, public comment time limits, not requiring speakers' street addresses, conflict-of-interest training and abstention, and dropping verbal warnings from the sanctions list. Adopted Jan. 26.