Council rezones seminary site to public facilities zone, denies electronic school signs and tentatively adopts $112.5 million budget
May 7, 2024, 4:00 p.m. · Eagle Mountain City Council Chambers, 1650 E Stagecoach Run, Eagle Mountain, Utah
With Council Member Rich Wood excused, the council voted 4-0 to rezone 0.62 acre on Harmony Way to a Public Facilities Zone for a church seminary building instead of the requested R1, and 4-0 to deny an ordinance allowing electronic message signs at schools. It tentatively adopted a fiscal 2024-25 budget of $112,517,744 and set the final hearing for June 4, and approved updates to the building and construction standards in Title 15. Council Member Brett Wright said he would step aside from the public art line of the budget if his company bids.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Tentative fiscal 2024-25 budget | Approved · 4-0 |
| Rezone of 0.62 acre at 1215 East Harmony Way for a seminary building | Approved with conditions · 4-0 |
| Electronic school signs, EMMC 17.80 | Denied · 4-0 |
| Compensation schedule for statutory officers, new EMMC Chapter 2.20 | Approved · 4-0 |
| Building and construction standards, EMMC Title 15 | Approved · 4-0 |
| Consent: Oquirrh Mountain Ranch church plat and site plan, right-of-way purchase, fireworks, Monarch City proclamation, policy manual, Timpanogos district | Approved with conditions · 4-0 |
| 2024 water rate study (work session) | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 13.A · Budget
Tentative fiscal 2024-25 budget
Approved · 4-0
Finance Director Kimberly Ruesch presented a tentative budget of $112,517,744, a 15 percent drop from the prior year-end estimate mainly because of lower capital funding. Assumptions include 8 percent sales tax growth, no property tax increase, 805 single-family permits, 9 percent utility user growth, 3 percent market pay adjustments and health premiums about 2.77 percent lower. Council Member Jared Gray opposed a flat percentage raise across pay bands, Wright favored bringing employees to the midpoint, Council Member Melissa Clark supported paying for experience and Council Member Donna Burnham said raises apply only to employees meeting goals. Clark asked for better explanations of budget lines such as public art and rebranding. Wright said he would vote on the budget as a whole but recuse himself from any future discussion and vote on public art if his company submits a proposal. No one spoke at the hearing.
- Budget$112.5 million
Item 13.B · Zoning
Rezone of 0.62 acre at 1215 East Harmony Way for a seminary building
Approved with conditions · 4-0
Senior Planner David Stroud presented a request to rezone 0.62 acre in Clearview Estates, next to a new middle school, from Tier 1 Residential to R1 for a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seminary building; staff recommended approval. Gray suggested a Public Facilities Zone to prevent residential subdivision and Wright agreed; applicant representative Mike Davey of BHD Architects was amenable if setbacks work. The council rezoned the land to the Public Facilities Zone for the purpose of locating a seminary building. No one spoke at the hearing.
- Acres: 0.62
- Requested: Tier 1 Residential to R1; approved: Public Facilities Zone
Item 13.C · City code
Electronic school signs, EMMC 17.80
Denied · 4-0
Planner Steven Lehmitz presented changes allowing electronic message centers on school wall signs, adjusting monument sign height and size and allowing signs at athletic facilities. Burnham cited past schools failing to turn off electronic signs near homes and enforceability concerns; Clark worried about precedent and existing noncompliance; Gray raised an illuminated-sign provision for residential zones. Wright moved to deny and the ordinance was denied. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item 13.D · City code
Compensation schedule for statutory officers, new EMMC Chapter 2.20
Approved · 4-0
City Attorney Marcus Draper said a 2024 state law requires compensation schedules for statutory officers by ordinance, with the recorder's range reflecting the combined recorder and assistant city manager role. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item 13.E · City code
Building and construction standards, EMMC Title 15
Approved · 4-0
City Engineer Chris Trusty presented standards for hydrants spaced no more than 500 feet apart, PVC or HDPE sewer pipe, manholes no more than 400 feet apart, street lights 250 to 350 feet apart on local streets and 150 to 250 feet on arterials and collectors, and adoption of APWA construction standards. Septic waste would not be accepted at the wastewater facility. Gray asked that PVC types be specified. No one spoke at the hearing.
Item 9-12 · Other
Consent: Oquirrh Mountain Ranch church plat and site plan, right-of-way purchase, fireworks, Monarch City proclamation, policy manual, Timpanogos district
Approved with conditions · 4-0
The consent agenda approved the Oquirrh Mountain Ranch LDS church preliminary plat and site plan (Gray had raised left-turn safety concerns and asked about right-in/right-out access, with Trusty noting the plans already include a median), an amended purchase agreement with D&B Cedar LLC for Old Airport Road right-of-way, a fireworks agreement with Dragon Dynamite Displays, the Monarch City USA proclamation with an annual review added, a policy manual amendment listing dishonesty as a cause for discipline, consent to the Timpanogos Special Service District reorganization and authority over state investment fund accounts for the finance director. The brand and marketing plan amendment was removed for future consideration.
- Land dealAmount not given to D&B Cedar LLC
- ContractAmount not given to Dragon Dynamite Displays
Item 1.A · Presentation
Community Development Block Grant consolidated plan (work session)
Discussed
Mountainland Association of Governments staff said the plan goes to HUD by May 18 and anticipates about $250,000 for a new senior center bus (about $120,000 budgeted), a senior center addition and a utility assistance program (about $44,000). Discussion covered whether the bus funding is adequate and how many residents utility assistance would reach.
- Grant$250,000
- Purchase$120,000
- Budget$44,000
Item 1.B-1.C · Presentation
Downtown and civic facilities; local building authority (work session)
Discussed
Economic Development Director Evan Berrett presented a family-oriented main-street downtown that integrates civic facilities, noting city hall is at capacity and the library is undersized; staff plans a request for proposals for a downtown master plan estimated at about $50,000. Staff also described a local building authority that could issue lease revenue bonds; Draper said cities cannot jointly create one unless they form a special service district.
- Contract$50,000
Item 1.D · Taxes and fees
2024 water rate study (work session)
Discussed
A consultant said a 14 percent consumption increase took effect in October 2023 and water use is down 6 percent year over year. The fiscal 2025 proposal is a 7 percent total increase with a further 12 percent consumption rate adjustment, keeping the $25.50 base rate; monthly bills would rise from $1.05 at 7,000 gallons to $15.35 at 100,000 gallons. Approval was planned for June 4, effective July 1.
- Budget$1.39 million
- Budget$7.27 million
What residents said
Sewage backups from a lift stationRodeo grounds maintenanceTrail and road maintenanceElectronic school signs
Residents asked for swings at a neighborhood park, reported recurring sewage backups from a lift station, supported Monarch City USA status (a representative of the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance), reported rodeo grounds maintenance that blocks 4-H use, proposed a children's entrepreneur marketplace, and asked for consistent vegetation management on trails and roads.