Orem council hears plan to combine green and regular waste pickup and backs Hillcrest Park master plan direction

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Contract

   Combining green waste and regular waste collection (work session)

   Discussed

   Waste Management's Mr. Leonelli said the company wants to combine green and regular waste pickup because demand for compost from the North Pointe plant is low, green waste in landfills produces methane that can be captured for energy, and mixing saves truck space, labor and road wear. Assistant City Manager Brenn Bybee reviewed green waste options for residents. Pricing was discussed.

2. Budget

   Budget: revenue and compensation (work session)

   Discussed

   Finance Director Brandon Nelson presented fiscal 2022 revenues to date and proposed fee changes compared with other cities. Council Member Tom Macdonald asked whether a 16.7 percent drop in water revenue came from lower rates or drought-driven lower use; Nelson said it could be both. The HR Director presented employee compensation, turnover and recruitment data.

3. City code

   Public noticing (work session)

   Discussed

   Planning Division Manager Jason Bench reviewed state noticing rules and said the city wants to print notices on half sheets instead of quarter sheets, at higher cost. Online noticing was discussed.

4. Parks

   Hillcrest Park conceptual master plan (work session)

   Discussed · Hillcrest Park

   Cory Shupe of Blue Line Designs presented the conceptual master plan. The council supported the direction, discussed a ridable train, and asked staff to design a robust water park feature and a walking path around the whole park rather than a quarter-mile track.

   Follow Hillcrest Park rebuild in the development tracker →

5. Other

   Voter participation areas (work session)

   Discussed

   City Recorder JoD'Ann Bates said state law requires cities of Orem's size to divide into eight contiguous voter participation areas of nearly equal population after each census. The Utah County Clerk provided a new map, and the council supported it. A resolution followed on the March 22 consent agenda.

6. Presentation

   Giving Machine presentation

   Discussed

   Presenters said the Orem Giving Machines raised $1.23 million, with half staying in Utah County, and thanked University Place and the Woodbury family. Mayor Young presented checks to three charities.

7. Presentation

   Sleepy Ridge Golf Course annual report

   Discussed

   Recreation Director Bryce Merrill described services and activities at Sleepy Ridge.

8. Presentation

   Walter C. Orem Awards

   Discussed

   The council presented Walter C. Orem Awards to relatives of Postmaster Clyde E. Weeks and to the Orem office of the U.S. Postal Service.

9. Appointment

   Board and commission appointments

   Approved · 6-0

   The council approved Ott Dameron to the Board of Adjustments, reappointed Denee Tyler and Stacy Goulding and appointed Shiona MacKay to the CARE Advisory Board, appointed Christie Ekins to the Summerfest Advisory Committee, and reappointed four members to the Beautification Advisory Commission. A Library Advisory Commission item in the minutes lists the same four names as the Beautification item, which looks like a copy error.

   Several motions, each approved 6-0 with Mayor Young voting aye. Vote: 6-0

What residents said

Alpine School District splitWater conservationCommunity eventsGreen waste collection

Jim Hadlock asked for uniform water conservation policy among the largest water users, more Latino police officers, and more help for low-income and homeless residents. John Barrick thanked the council for studying a split from Alpine School District. Scott Swain proposed a weekly community event at the SCERA Shell; Council Member Debby Lauret noted the Monday summer concert series.