Council presses legislators on FrontRunner station access, copper theft and Utah Lake board
October 17, 2023, 4:00 p.m. · City Administration Conference Room, 51 E. Main St.
Meeting with state Reps. Kay Christofferson, Cory Maloy and Val Peterson and the Mountainland Association of Governments, the council discussed road utility fees, the unfunded environmental study needed to improve access to the American Fork FrontRunner station, a long-discussed Pacific Drive-to-1020 West freeway flyover, and about $100,000 in copper wire stolen from the city. Legislators said state revenue is projected $100 million to $150 million below expectations. Victim advocates reported a doubling of services since 2018.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Discussion with state legislators | Discussed |
| Victim assistance program report | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Other
Discussion with state legislators
Discussed
Topics: road utility fees as a financing tool and possible legislation restricting their use to roads; Santaquin rather than American Fork received state EIS funding, which is needed before FrontRunner station access projects; residents suggested moving the station toward Mill Pond Road but landowners are unwilling; the city is acquiring right-of-way to widen 200 South with funding and engineering done; a possible flyover from Pacific Drive to 1020 West, with the property owner willing to preserve the corridor; housing and transportation reinvestment zone (HTRZ) gap analysis; 5th-quarter-cent sales tax revenue for transportation starting in October; Union Pacific fees and crossing maintenance; ADUs and impact fees; the Utah Lake Authority's $30 million building, with the mayor wanting lakeside cities on its board; and about $100,000 in stolen copper wire, with a request for tougher penalties.
- State revenue projection: $100M-$150M below expectations
- Copper theft cost: about $100,000
Item 2 · Public safety
Victim assistance program report
Discussed
Advocates Dawna Whiting and Suzanne Nordin reported 351 victim contacts and 1,594 services April-June 2023 and 359 contacts and 1,668 services July-September; services have doubled since 2018 while federal VOCA grant funding is shrinking.
- GrantAmount not given to U.S. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant