Lehi council keeps ranked choice voting pilot and rejects a primary election
April 13, 2021, 5:30 p.m. · Council Chamber, 153 N. 100 E., Lehi
The Lehi City Council voted 4-1 to stay in the state's ranked choice voting pilot and then 3-2 to reject holding a primary election, so the fall 2021 city election will use ranked choice voting without a primary. It also adopted a tentative fiscal 2022 budget, approved three subdivisions and a zone change, and signaled a 3 percent sewer rate increase.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 2.1 · Presentation
Ranked choice voting presentation by the Utah County Clerk's office (pre-council)
Discussed
Utah County Clerk Amelia Powers Gardner and Josh Daniels said the clerk's office supports the state pilot, that tabulation equipment is certified, that courts have found it constitutional, and that the two cities that used it held no primary. Council Member Katie Koivisto worried that without a primary a large field would confuse voters, and that a primary would leave only two mayoral candidates for the general election. Gardner said more people vote in general elections and a shorter election season has benefits.
Item 2.2 · Presentation
North Pointe Solid Waste district recycling programs (pre-council)
Discussed
District manager Neil Schwendiman described programs to help residents with recycling materials and schedules costing about $34,000 a year, to be split among service cities, with the district possibly contributing. The council was interested and asked him to follow up with City Administrator Jason Walker.
Item 2.3 · Taxes and fees
Sewer rates and Jordan River sewer line (pre-council)
Discussed
Finance Director Dean Lundell said the sewer fund is running at a loss covered by reserves, mostly because of charges from the Timpanogos Special Service District. The council agreed to propose a 3 percent rate increase and start public noticing. City Engineer Lorin Powell said the city must build a Jordan River sewer line costing $5 million, payable with impact fees.
- Budget$5.00 million
Item 2.5 · Presentation
Transit-oriented development presentation (pre-council)
Discussed
Planner Mike West said well-designed transit-oriented development can reduce vehicle traffic through pedestrian safety, easy transit access, less convenient parking and a mix of uses, and showed examples from other places.
Item 4.1 · Roads and utilities
Trees and concrete along 1900 South (administrative report)
Discussed
Public Works plans to remove the concrete and aging trees along 1900 South, which are lifting sidewalk and creating liability, and give residents vouchers to plant trees on their property. Resident Trent Pippen preferred keeping the trees and repairing concrete as needed. Mayor Mark Johnson said a committee would be formed.
Item 2 · Other
Citizen input: climbing gym site plan, ranked choice voting, speeding on 200 South
Discussed
Andrew Bybee of Stack Real Estate asked to submit a site plan for a climbing gym in the Thanksgiving Point area despite a hold on applications until the new area plan is approved; the council will allow it after a concept of the new area plan has been presented. Kristy Henshaw and Wendy Hart opposed ranked choice voting and wanted to keep a primary. Ian Palmer asked for solutions to speeding on 200 South beyond police presence; the mayor asked staff to work with him.
Item 4 · Contract
Resolution 2021-24: amendment 1 to Dry Creek Reservoir waterfront recreation area design agreement
Approved · 5-0
Approved the first amendment to the design agreement. The minutes give no amount.
- Change orderAmount not given
Item 5 · Budget
Resolution 2021-21: tentative fiscal 2022 city budget
Approved · 5-0
Finance Director Dean Lundell called this the first step in the budget process and noted unexpected pandemic-era growth: sales tax up 8.8 percent and property tax revenue up 7.89 percent.
Item 6 · Zoning
Gerber zone change, 1.56 acres at 2295 N. Center Street (Ordinance 15-2021)
Approved · 5-0
Rezoned 1.56 acres from A-1 to R-1-15. Andrew Spencer represented the applicant.
- Acres: 1.56
- Zone: A-1 to R-1-15
Item 7 · Subdivision
Mendenhall Place preliminary subdivision, 11 lots, 230 W. 400 South
Approved · 5-0
A neighbor with agricultural property raised concerns about a temporary turnaround and a fence. Community Development Director Kim Struthers said the developer must install a no-climb fence and the owner must provide a turnaround on the owner's own property.
- Lots: 11
Item 8 · Subdivision
Bridal Creek Estates B preliminary subdivision, five lots, 385 S. 1100 West
Approved · 5-0
Preliminary approval for a five-lot residential subdivision.
- Lots: 5
Item 9 · Subdivision
Taylor Meadows A preliminary subdivision, 41 lots, 500 W. 1620 South
Approved · 5-0
Preliminary approval for a 41-lot residential development by Arive Homes.
- Applicant: Arive Homes
- Lots: 41
Item 10 · City code
Ordinance 16-2021: trail considerations in Chapter 12 of the development code
Approved · 5-0
Code amendment adding considerations for trails.
Item 11 · City code
Ordinance 17-2021: connectivity standards with a trail option (Chapter 37)
Approved · 5-0
Code amendment updating connectivity standards, adding a trail connectivity option and updating connectivity indices.
Item 12 · Taxes and fees
Resolution 2021-20: notice to the county of a RAP tax opinion question
Approved · 5-0
Notified the Utah County Commission that Lehi intends to put an opinion question to residents on a citywide tax for cultural, recreational and zoological facilities and organizations.
- FeeAmount not given
Item 13 · Contract
Resolution 2021-22: Instrument Control Company agreement for the Ashton Substation building
Approved · 5-0
Approved an agreement for the Ashton Substation building. The minutes give no amount.
- ContractAmount not given to Instrument Control Company
Item 14 · Other
Resolution 2021-19: opting out of the state ranked choice voting pilot
Denied · 4-1
Mayor Johnson said Lehi was already in the program, so leaving required action. Assistant City Administrator Cameron Boyle presented ways to inform residents about candidates if no primary is held. Council Members Koivisto and Paige Albrecht discussed fairness for non-incumbents, with Koivisto saying savings from skipping a primary should fund a fair campaign for all; Council Member Chris Condie said incumbents' advantage is overstated, and Council Member Paul Hancock said ranked choice should be judged on its merits. Residents split: Michelle Stallings questioned constitutionality in a multi-seat race and said voters would struggle to know candidates; Wayne Woodfield said it makes campaigns more civil and ends bullet voting and vote splitting. Albrecht was willing to try it if the city can opt out later. Koivisto's motion to opt out died for lack of a second; Condie's motion to deny the opt-out resolution passed 4-1, keeping Lehi in the pilot.
Item 15 · Other
Resolution 2021-23: holding a primary election using instant runoff voting
Denied · 3-2
Hancock said he was now comfortable without a primary because the communications plan Boyle described replaces it. Koivisto said skipping a primary favors incumbents and a primary narrows choices. Albrecht favored a primary to avoid a crowded general-election field, though she was concerned about cost. Condie said if the city adopts ranked choice it should do so fully, including no primary. A motion to approve the primary failed 2-3, then Hancock's motion to deny passed 3-2, so Lehi will not hold a primary.
What residents said
Ranked choice votingSpeeding on 200 SouthTree removal on 1900 SouthSewer rates
Residents spoke against ranked choice voting (Kristy Henshaw, Wendy Hart, Michelle Stallings) and for it (Wayne Woodfield), and on speeding on 200 South, tree removal on 1900 South and a climbing gym application.