Orem council adopts tentative 2021-22 budget with no property tax rate increase as residents press on North Village development

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Zoning

   Work session: North Village District traffic study, parking and height

   Discussed · North Village District, 1600 North and 400 West

   A city staff member said recent traffic impact studies for the district show resident concerns the city agrees with, that some pre-COVID numbers look low, that more intersections will be added, and that a new submittal will include accident data. If numbers come back worse than expected, staff would look at mitigation such as deceleration lanes. Council Member Terry Peterson said he was concerned about inadequate parking at other apartment complexes. Council Member David Spencer said the proposed zone was becoming too compartmentalized and did not match the State Street Master Plan, and asked how to pause development of the district until parking, zoning and height are resolved. He moved to hold a special council meeting to reopen the zone and Peterson seconded, but the City Manager said motions cannot be made in a work session. The mayor asked Spencer and Peterson to write up their proposed changes and how they would be made.

   • Council Member Macdonald was excused

   Moved by Council Member David Spencer, seconded by Council Member Terry Peterson (not a valid vote in work session)

   Follow OBOK Condominiums, 1600 North and 400 West in the development tracker →

   Follow State Street districts rezone and master plan in the development tracker →

2. Budget

   Work session: CARE major grant applications

   Discussed

   Staff reviewed major cultural grant requests from SCERA, the Hale Center Theatre and Utah Metropolitan Ballet, all of which lost attendance during the pandemic. SCERA and Hale representatives described upcoming goals and events. Amounts were not recorded in the minutes.

   • Applicants: SCERA, Hale Center Theatre, Utah Metropolitan Ballet

3. Other

   Work session: Water code update, wastewater planning and innovation teams

   Discussed

   Staff described small water code changes making meters more accessible, adding a mixed-use development section and clarifying language; smart water meter installation should reach over half the city by next spring. The annual municipal wastewater planning report needed no action; the mayor asked about odors and Utah Lake algae blooms. The innovation team reported on credit card fees, including a $3.95 convenience fee, utility website and recreation app improvements and other projects.

4. Item Presentation · Presentation

   Heritage Advisory Commission: POW/MIA flag at Orem cemetery

   Discussed · Orem City Cemetery

   A commission representative reviewed the number of veterans buried in the Orem cemetery and proposed buying a new flagpole to fly a POW/MIA flag near the memorial.

5. Item Consent · Other

   Consent items: loan fund defederalization, utility master plans and Planning Commission appointment

   Approved · 5-0

   The council approved resolutions releasing the federal interest in the Economic Development Administration revolving loan fund and adopting the water, sewer and storm water master plans, and appointed Shawna Mecham to the Planning Commission to replace Camille Jensen, who moved.

   Moved by Mayor Richard Brunst, seconded by Council Member Debby Lauret. Vote: 5-0 of council members present; the mayor also voted yes

6. Item Public hearing · Budget

   CDBG projected use of funds for fiscal year 2021-22

   Approved · 5-0

   At the second of two hearings no one spoke, and the council adopted the final statement of projected uses: PERC $6,000; TURN Community Services $33,000; Kids on the Move $10,000; Centro Hispano $55,000; Mountainland Community Health Center $2,481; city CDBG administration $134,960; Section 108 loan repayment $91,000; code enforcement $125,000; critical home repair and rehabilitation $110,000; neighborhood preservation $5,043; and a new Sharon Park playground $186,323.

   • Grant$55,000 to Centro Hispano CDBG public service. CDBG Advisory Commission recommendation. Paid from CDBG
   • Grant$33,000 to TURN Community Services CDBG public service. CDBG Advisory Commission recommendation. Paid from CDBG
   • Grant$10,000 to Kids on the Move CDBG public service. CDBG Advisory Commission recommendation. Paid from CDBG
   • Grant$6,000 to PERC CDBG public service. CDBG Advisory Commission recommendation. Paid from CDBG
   • Grant$2,481 to Mountainland Community Health Center CDBG public service. CDBG Advisory Commission recommendation. Paid from CDBG
   • Budget$186,323 to City of Orem Sharon Park new playground. Paid from CDBG
   • Budget$125,000 to City of Orem Code enforcement. Paid from CDBG
   • Budget$110,000 to City of Orem Critical home repair and home rehabilitation. Paid from CDBG
   • Budget$134,960 to City of Orem CDBG administration. Paid from CDBG
   • Payment$91,000 to City of Orem Section 108 loan repayment. Paid from CDBG
   • Budget$5,043 to City of Orem Neighborhood preservation. Paid from CDBG

   Moved by Mayor Richard Brunst, seconded by Council Member David Spencer. Vote: 5-0 of council members present; the mayor also voted yes

7. Item Resolution · Budget

   Fiscal year 2021-22 tentative budget

   Approved · 5-0

   The finance director said the council received the tentative budget after a series of public meetings on the enterprise funds, general fund and fee changes, and that it contains no request to increase the property tax rate. Council Member David Spencer asked about Library Hall fees and how groups using the hall for rehearsal are classified, and the library director answered. The council adopted the tentative budget and set a hearing to adopt the final budget on June 15, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.

   • BudgetAmount not given Fiscal year 2021-22 tentative city budget; no property tax rate increase
   • Final budget hearing: June 15, 2021, 6:00 p.m.

   Moved by Mayor Richard Brunst, seconded by Council Member Debby Lauret. Vote: 5-0 of council members present; the mayor also voted yes

What residents said

Traffic on 1600 North and 400 WestNorth Village District zoning and heightParkingTraffic study validityAnimal shelter euthanasia methodIn-person meetings

Comment was limited to 45 minutes. A representative of the Utah Animal Rights Coalition asked the council to require that the North Utah Valley Animal Shelter, which Orem contracts with, euthanize animals only by lethal injection rather than a gas chamber. Most other speakers and many written comments opposed the proposed six- or seven-story high-density project at 1600 North and 400 West, citing traffic on 1600 North and 400 West, a traffic study done during COVID and school breaks, parking at 1.7 or 1.75 stalls per unit, access points, property values and neighborhood character; some also asked for in-person meetings and a rezone of the North Village District. One resident spoke of the lack of affordable housing and one wrote in support of the development as a growth opportunity for North Orem. A landowner said her family's farm property was affected by the district rezoning. One resident objected to a request to rezone a lot near 650 South from R8 to R7.5.