Council weighs fitness center locker room and pool overhaul, sets direction on backyard ADU rules
August 18, 2026, 4:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
Staff proposed converting the Fitness Center locker rooms to private, gender-neutral changing and shower rooms and a package of pool repairs targeted for spring 2027, and laid out options for reallocating gym, weight room and racquetball space; the council asked for more usage data and an on-site tour before choosing. Council members also gave direction on a required ordinance allowing detached accessory dwelling units on lots of 11,000 square feet or more, and the bond adviser reported the city's AA-1 rating and well-timed public works bond sale.
From the draft minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Bond update from Stifel | Discussed |
| Fitness Center programs, locker rooms and pool upgrades | Discussed |
| Detached accessory dwelling unit ordinance | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Budget
Bond update from Stifel
Discussed
Matt Dugdale of Stifel said American Fork holds an AA-1 general obligation rating and outperforms national medians on debt and reserve measures. Because the public works facility bonds were sold in January before interest rates rose, he estimated the city avoided about $2.5 million in extra cost over the bonds' life, nearly $89,000 a year in higher payments, and about $1.5 million less in proceeds.
- BondAmount not given to Stifel (adviser)
- Rating: AA-1
- Estimated savings from January sale: ~$2.5 million over term
Item 2 · Parks
Fitness Center programs, locker rooms and pool upgrades
Discussed
Community Services Director Derric Rykert and Fitness Center Superintendent Joey Byington proposed gender-neutral locker rooms with private lockable changing/shower/toilet rooms (about $465 per square foot), replacing competition-pool plaster, coping and 2007 sand filters, refurbishing the pool bubble liner, replacing 2006 leisure-pool pumps and repairing the leisure-pool liner at about $40,000 a year over five years rather than $400,000+ at once. Work would mostly happen in spring 2027 with a roughly six-week locker room closure. Three options to move the weight room into the gym or racquetball courts were presented; gymnastics revenue fell from about $240,000 in 2022 to $196,000 in 2025. Council members asked for racquetball and gym usage data, cost-per-option figures and a work session at the Fitness Center; staff will try to grow gym programming through December.
- Locker room estimate: ~$465/sq. ft.
- Leisure pool liner: ~$40,000/year for 5 years
- Target: spring 2027
Item 3 · City code
Detached accessory dwelling unit ordinance
Discussed
Development Services Director Patrick O'Brien walked through a draft ordinance required by state law permitting detached ADUs on single-family lots of at least 11,000 square feet. The city may regulate height, setbacks, lot coverage, size, owner occupancy, short-term rentals and fees, and may require only one parking space for units of 650 square feet or less and two for larger units. Council members discussed limiting one ADU per lot (internal or detached), owner occupancy, height and story limits, requiring materials 'compatible' with the main home, front-yard placement, fire access and impact fees. Consensus was to send a revised draft to the Planning Commission before the Oct. 1 state deadline.
- State deadline: Oct. 1, 2026
- Minimum lot: 11,000 sq. ft.