Orem council amends COVID relief CDBG funds for library hotspots and school picnic tables; work session sets parking fine increases and prefers separate new City Hall

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Contract

   Service line warranty program (work session)

   Discussed

   The city described a partnership with Service Line Warranties of America, which offers optional water and sewer line coverage for about $4 to $5 a month. The company said since 2015 Orem residents have saved over $1 million, 788 claims were serviced and 3,224 homes are covered. Council Member Tom Macdonald asked about repairs made by an uncertified contractor.

2. Taxes and fees

   Parking fine schedule (work session)

   Discussed

   Lt. Paraskeva proposed raising handicap violations from $100 to $150, safety violations from $25 to $50 and others from $25 to $40, effective July 1. The council agreed to raise ADA violations to $150; fire lane or hydrant parking, parking within 30 feet of a stop sign and obstructing traffic to $50; and to keep other violations at $25, treating cul-de-sac parking as instructional. A graduated scale for repeat offenders was set aside for now.

3. Other

   City branding: Family City USA logo (work session)

   Discussed

   Brooks Advertising presented an updated city logo incorporating the words Family City USA. The council expressed support.

4. Roads and utilities

   New City Hall design options (work session)

   Discussed · City Hall, 56 North State Street

   Method Studios presented layout options. Staff said relocating operations during construction on the current footprint could cost over $2.4 million. The council said it prefers building the new City Hall separately from the current one and keeping as many trees as possible.

   • Budget$2.40 million Estimated cost to relocate employees and operations if built on current City Hall footprint

   Follow New Orem City Hall in the development tracker →

5. Roads and utilities

   Hillcrest Park and water tank updates (work session)

   Discussed

   Staff said Hillcrest Park is about 30 percent designed, Bud Mahas Construction was selected as general contractor, and well #1 relocation is on hold due to cost. The water tank design is about 60 percent complete, the pump station 50 percent and utility lines 70 percent; Hydro Resources was selected for well drilling. Staff also described an adjacent property owner's request tied to a fence and a right of first offer at the Heritage Park water tank site.

   • ContractAmount not given to Bud Mahas Construction General contractor, Hillcrest Park. Selected as general contractor
   • ContractAmount not given to Hydro Resources Well drilling, water tank project. Selected

   Follow Hillcrest Park rebuild in the development tracker →

6. Public safety

   Consent: adopt 2022 MAG Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan

   Approved · 6-0

   The council adopted the Mountainland Association of Governments 2022 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan by resolution on the consent agenda.

   Moved by Council Member LaNae Millet, seconded by Council Member Tom Macdonald. Vote: 6-0

7. Budget

   Public hearing: CDBG-CV funding and amendment to the 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan

   Approved · 6-0

   The CDBG Advisory Commission recommended allocating $10,000 of previously allocated CDBG-CV public services funds ($70,928.28) to the Orem Library for 25 Wi-Fi hotspots for low- and moderate-income households and $5,500 to Sharon Elementary for five picnic tables to mitigate COVID-19. Library Director Charlene Crozier said the library previously used state grants to subsidize the hotspots and cannot carry the cost alone. No one spoke at the hearing.

   • Grant$10,000 to Orem Public Library 25 mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for low- to moderate-income households. Recommended by CDBG Advisory Commission. Paid from CDBG-CV (federal)
   • Grant$5,500 to Sharon Elementary Five picnic tables. Recommended by CDBG Advisory Commission. Paid from CDBG-CV (federal)

   Moved by Council Member Tom Macdonald, seconded by Council Member Debby Lauret. Vote: 6-0

8. Presentation

   Natural Resources Stewardship Committee annual report

   Discussed

   The committee reported on the Crandall Orchard easement, rain barrels and stewardship awards, and gave an award to Clean Fuels Utah and Tara Bishop.

9. Roads and utilities

   City manager update: Lakeview Parkway, City Attorney departure

   Discussed · Lakeview Parkway

   City Manager Jamie Davidson said Lakeview Parkway was submitted to the Mountainland Association of Governments for the 2025-2026 construction year and scored second only to a UVX bus stop project in Provo. He also announced that City Attorney Heather Schriever would leave the city at the end of the week.

What residents said

City swim programAlpine School District split studyNeighborhood code enforcementParking fines

About eight residents asked the council to partner with the UV Rays swim club rather than start a city swim program after the Orem Timpanogos Aquatic Club dissolved. Others spoke on the Alpine School District split study: Karie Sigua and John Barrick supported it, citing district concerns; Cissy Rasmussen, Jesse Evans and teacher Hailey Hamblin asked about taxes, services and teacher effects. One resident said Neighborhood Improvement Team rules on storing items and parking on private property go too far and should be reviewed.