Orem council adopts HUD plan, neighborhood notice rules and street naming policy; declares intent to buy Hillcrest school site
May 26, 2020 · Held electronically (56 North State Street, Orem)
The council adopted its 2020-24 CDBG Consolidated Plan and 2020-21 action plan, expanded neighborhood meeting and notice requirements for rezones, adopted a facility and street naming policy, and, with Mayor Richard Brunst voting no, declared its intent to purchase the former Hillcrest Elementary property from Alpine School District. The resolution does not commit the city to buy. Council Member Debby Lauret was excused beginning at 4:10 p.m. and did not take part in the votes.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Development
Declaring intent to purchase the Hillcrest Elementary property
Approved · 5-0
Alpine School District declared the former Hillcrest Elementary property surplus and asked the city to state its intent under state law. The district's appraisal put the value at $6 million as is or $8.5 million if rezoned commercial; the price would be the average of the district's and the city's appraisals, and the city has ordered its own appraisal. The city could use the land only for listed public purposes such as a park or city hall and must offer it back to the district before any resale. City Manager Jamie Davidson said the resolution only preserves the option; the city already leases part of the site for a park. Mayor Brunst voted no, saying he did not want the city to buy land for development or high-density housing, was concerned about intersection costs on University Parkway and about the price, and did not think it the right time. Council Member Terry Peterson said the district's appraisal looked high and that a park would benefit the neighborhood. Council Members Tom Macdonald and Jeff Lambson said the step is due diligence and that without it the option is forfeited.
- Land deal$6.00 million to Alpine School District
Item Public hearing · Budget
CDBG 2020-21 uses of funds, 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan
Approved · 5-0
At the second required hearing, the council heard the CDBG Commission's recommendations. Public services: Orem Police Mental Health Response Team $5,000, Kids on the Move $5,000, Rocky Mountain University Foundation $20,000 and RAH $45,000. Other: Neighborhood Housing Services of Provo $100,000, Orem Critical Home Repair and Home Rehab $100,000, CDBG administration $130,000, Section 8 loan repayment $88,000, neighborhood revitalization $15,950, code enforcement $155,000, an eligible park project $40,813, United Way of Utah County $43,867 and Wasatch Mental Health $51,670. A NeighborWorks director spoke in support, citing a low-income senior 4-plex the city helped fund.
- Grant$100,000 to Neighborhood Housing Services of Provo
- Grant$45,000 to RAH
- Grant$20,000 to Rocky Mountain University Foundation
- Grant$51,670 to Wasatch Mental Health
- Grant$43,867 to United Way of Utah County
Item Public hearing · City code
Neighborhood meeting and notice requirements for rezones
Approved · 5-0
The ordinance amends Sections 22-1-5(G) and 22-14-20(I) to require a neighborhood meeting before any rezone, not only commercial rezones next to residential property. Notice distance rises from 300 feet to 1,000 feet for sites with attached residential units and to 500 feet for others, with notices at least one week before the meeting. Staff said this codifies current practice. No one spoke.
City code
Facility and Street Naming Policy
Approved · 5-0
The resolution sets criteria and an application process for naming city facilities and streets after an individual or entity, and directs that new streets be named by coordinate addressing, with descriptive names only for diagonal or curving streets and limited to topographic or historical features.
Item Work session · General plan
Southwest area general plan review (work session)
Discussed
Planning Division Manager Jason Bench said 2,600 notices went out for an online neighborhood meeting attended by 34 residents, and a follow-up survey favored Option 2. The council discussed density, PRD requirements, UDOT plans, trails and lift station needs. Bench said not everyone favored Option 2. Mayor Brunst said he liked it with some adjustments.
Item Work session · Budget
CARE award recommendations (work session)
Discussed
Deputy City Manager Steven Downs said sales tax revenue for CARE may fall about 12 percent; the recommendation cuts mini and mid-major grants 10.5 percent and major grants about 2.4 percent. Awards would be paid 75 percent upfront and 25 percent when final data is in. Council Member Terry Peterson said SCERA deserved a larger award given its participation growth; the mayor said SCERA already receives about 50 percent more than Hale.
Item Work session · Other
Risk management interlocal agreement; recycling market; records retention (work session)
Discussed
Staff described an amended agreement renaming the Utah Risk Management Mutual Association as the Utah Risk Management Agency with weighted votes, an update on recycling markets from the Recycling Coalition of Utah, and a plan for an Orem-specific records retention schedule.
Item City Manager items · Other
Utah County handling of federal COVID-19 relief funds
Discussed
Davidson said Utah County held the funds and had not provided clear reimbursement criteria, and that all Utah County mayors signed a letter seeking action. Mayor Brunst said small businesses had gone ten weeks without aid and criticized the county's pace.
What residents said
Sharlene Wilde of NeighborWorks spoke in support of CDBG funding during the public hearing. No other comments were received.