Orem council allocates COVID relief CDBG funds to water stations, financial counseling and Meals on Wheels
March 22, 2022, 6:00 p.m. · Council Chambers, 56 North State Street, Orem
The council voted unanimously to approve a substantial amendment to its 2019-2020 action plan allocating CDBG-CV COVID relief funds to United Way of Utah County, Community Action Services and Food Bank, and MAG Aging Services. Six residents asked the council to remove the Palisade Drive choker islands or speed tables. Work session discussion focused on sewer rates for accessory dwelling units, where the council favored charging only the 311 registered units.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Orem's mayor is a voting member of the seven-member council. The minutes count the six council members in each tally and record the mayor's vote beside it, so a council vote of 6-0 with the mayor voting yes is 7-0 with the mayor.
In brief
7 items came up for a decision or discussion: 3 discussed, 3 approved, and 1 continued.
The agenda records 3 dollar amounts, the largest $25,000.
2 items here are tracked in the city's development tracker.
This write-up links 3 source documents and the meeting video.
7 members were present.
Residents raised palisade drive choker islands, alpine school district split, and sewer rates for adus.
The previous City Council meeting was on March 9, 2022: Orem council hears plan to combine green and regular waste pickup and backs Hillcrest Park master plan direction
The next one was on April 12, 2022: Orem council votes 6-0 to remove Palisade Drive choker islands; residents split over school district split study contractor
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Budget: operational, fleet and IT (work session) | Discussed |
| Sewer rate philosophy and ADU sewer fees (work session) | Discussed |
| Water fee abatement program (work session) | Continued |
| Consent: voter participation areas resolution | Approved · 6-0 among council members |
| CDBG-CV COVID relief funding and 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan amendment (public hearing) | Approved · 6-0 among council members |
| Appointments: Beautification Committee and Orem Neighborhood Commission | Approved · 6-0 among council members |
| City manager update: Hillcrest Park bids, Palisade survey | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Budget
Budget: operational, fleet and IT (work session)
Discussed
Finance Director Brandon Nelson presented general fund revenue adjustments and proposed expansions, including three new firefighter positions. IT and fleet staff presented updates, with fleet expansions and replacements for fire, development services, police, street lighting and water. Ambulance costs and vehicle leasing were discussed.
Taxes and fees
Sewer rate philosophy and ADU sewer fees (work session)
Discussed
Public Works Director Chris Tschirki reviewed current and proposed sewer rates. City Manager Jamie Davidson said that keeping the current approach would raise all residents' rates about 30 cents a month, while charging only the 311 registered accessory dwelling units would add about $11 a month for them. Council Member Tom Macdonald opposed raising rates on ADUs, saying it could push rentals to go unregistered. The council expressed support for charging only registered ADUs and asked staff to explore letting owners declare themselves non-renting to avoid the charge. Council Member David Spencer suggested discussing it privately; Davidson said it should be public.
Taxes and fees
Water fee abatement program (work session)
Continued
The council agreed to continue the item to the next work session.
Other
Consent: voter participation areas resolution
Approved · 6-0 among council members
The consent agenda included a resolution adopting the city's voter participation areas.
Budget
CDBG-CV COVID relief funding and 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan amendment (public hearing)
Approved · 6-0 among council members
The city received a second CDBG allocation of $287,940 for COVID-19 response. The CDBG Advisory Commission recommended allocating $7,000 to United Way of Utah County for seven water filling stations, $3,253 to Community Action Services and Food Bank for financial counseling and resources, and $25,000 to MAG Aging Services for Meals on Wheels, from the previously allocated $106,181.68 in CDBG-CV public services funds. Speakers from the three organizations thanked the council; the MAG representative said the money covers about 8,000 meals and that Meals on Wheels use roughly doubled during COVID.
- Grant$7,000 to United Way of Utah County
- Grant$3,253 to Community Action Services and Food Bank
- Grant$25,000 to MAG Aging Services
Appointment
Appointments: Beautification Committee and Orem Neighborhood Commission
Approved · 6-0 among council members
The council appointed Joshua Daughetee to the Beautification Committee and Cinzia Noble to the Orem Neighborhood Commission.
Other
City manager update: Hillcrest Park bids, Palisade survey
Discussed
Davidson reported on water meter replacement, general contractor bids for Hillcrest Park, purchase of a bus for the Senior Friendship Center, and the survey on Palisade Drive speed tables and choker islands.
What residents said
Palisade Drive choker islandsAlpine School District splitSewer rates for ADUs
Vanessa Rucker, Benjamin Brooks and Andrea Driggs asked the council to remove the Palisade Drive choker islands, saying they are unsightly, hard to see in snow and push cyclists into the lane; Abby Farrows said the neighborhood survey was biased, with 11 of 13 questions about pedestrian safety generally; Dave Johnston asked why Palisade is the only north-south street with many traffic calming devices. Cissy Rasmussen and Jenna Hyatt asked for parent and teacher input before any school district split study decision.