Council reviews general plan rewrite; public works building bonds total $40 million; drought strains water supply
March 31, 2026, 4:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
Staff walked the council through the first major general plan rewrite in about 15 years, which members said still contains consultant errors. The finance director said lease revenue bonds for the new public works facility, issued in January, raised about $40 million and saved about $1.2 million by selling early, and that Lakeview Park on 620 South carries a preliminary $4 million budget. Water staff warned that early snowmelt will cut Provo River and CUP supplies, forcing heavy reliance on wells.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| General plan, land use map and code rewrite | Discussed |
| Fiscal 2027 Fitness Center, road CIP, impact fee and Local Building Authority funds | Discussed |
| Current water supply | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · General plan
General plan, land use map and code rewrite
Discussed
Development Services Director Patrick O'Brien presented the draft general plan (about 143 pages) with seven focus areas, six of them covered by the polycentric city center plan. The land use map corrects errors left by past consultants and would replace low/medium-density labels with detached vs. attached housing categories. Members questioned commercial designations near the Boat Harbor where a TSSD utility project is planned and along I-15, 500 East and State Street. Councilmember John asked for the full document, citing consultant inaccuracies. O'Brien said MAG treats the funded project as open until adopted, creating urgency; Planning Commission review was set for April 15. Consultant Cherylyn Egner said the city now seems to prefer keeping current setbacks and heights.
- General plan: first major update in about 15 years
- Funded in part by MAG
Item 2 · Budget
Fiscal 2027 Fitness Center, road CIP, impact fee and Local Building Authority funds
Discussed
Finance Director Anna Montoya said there is no plan for a full Fitness Center renovation or bond; the general fund subsidizes about 35% of its operations. Road CIP projects include the 700 North extension (construction FY2027), the 200 South/300 West roundabout (MAG), the Pony Express Corridor (city's 50% MAG match), the 1100 South/100 East intersection and Lakeshore Drive Phase 1. Councilmember Hunter urged a study of a transportation utility fee (about $50,000); Carroll worried about residents' ability to pay. Park impact fees fund the Art Dye Trail (with a MAG grant) and Lakeview Park on 620 South (preliminary $4 million). Police impact fees fund an evidence building and third-floor police building improvements (about $1.8 million). Local Building Authority lease revenue bonds for the public works facility were issued in January rather than March, saving about $1.2 million; proceeds total about $40 million.
- Bond$40.0 million to Local Building Authority lease revenue bonds
- Public works facility LBA lease revenue bonds: about $40 million, issued January 2026; about $1.2 million saved
- Lakeview Park (620 South): preliminary $4 million
- Police evidence building/3rd floor: about $1.8 million
- Transportation utility fee study: about $50,000 (not decided)
Item 3 · Roads and utilities
Current water supply
Discussed
Councilmember John reported from the Provo River Water Users Association that snowpack melted early and much runoff cannot be captured. Water staffer Jay Brems said the American Fork River normally supplies 65-70% of demand; the Provo River (Murdock pipeline) allocation is cut to 50% (about 750 acre-feet), so CUP and Provo River water will be about 28% of supply, with heavy reliance on wells (Country Club and Boley wells in Highland feed the lower zone) and higher pumping costs. Staff are preparing tiered watering guidance.
- Provo River allocation: 50%, about 750 acre-feet