Orem council approves severance for resigning City Manager Jamie Davidson, adopts water conservation plan
December 13, 2022, 3:00 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street
The Orem City Council approved a severance agreement for City Manager Jamie Davidson, who submitted a letter resigning effective Jan. 1, 2023 after more than nine and a half years as city manager. It also adopted the 2022 Water Conservation Plan, approved Planning Commission appointments on a split vote and acted on River District and Business Park zoning ordinances. In the work session, staff outlined the Orem-Provo dispatch service agreement and a fifth housing strategy needed to answer a state non-compliance letter.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Public safety
Orem-Provo dispatch service agreement (work session)
Discussed
Police Capt. Paraskeva said the agreement covers a two-to-three-year term while the cities finalize a longer interlocal agreement. Orem dispatchers become Provo employees on Dec. 25, 2022 so they can begin Provo insurance Jan. 1, 2023. An advisory board of both cities' chief administrators and fire and police chiefs will make recommendations, operating costs will be shared half by service population and half by 911 call volume, and capital costs by population. Provo pledged support for Orem keeping its PSAP license. A final draft is due for council adoption at the first January meeting. A Provo fire chief said operations are going well, that Provo hired five new dispatchers and that call transfers have dropped.
- ContractAmount not given to Provo City
- Orem dispatchers become Provo employees Dec. 25, 2022
General plan
Moderate income housing strategies update (work session)
Discussed
Staff said 66 cities received state letters of non-compliance. Orem must correct state code language, adopt a fifth strategy and correct implementation plans within a 90-day period ending Feb. 16, 2023, adopting changes at the Jan. 24 council meeting. The proposed fifth strategy (L) is reducing, waiving or eliminating impact fees for moderate income housing; the plan notes Orem eliminated impact fees for internal accessory dwelling units in 2022 and will study fee relief for the Affordable Senior Housing overlay in 2023.
- Compliance deadline: Feb. 16, 2023
- Schedule: possible work session Jan. 10; Planning Commission hearing Jan. 18; council hearing Jan. 24
Presentation
Arts Council annual report
Discussed
The Arts Council chair reviewed 2022 events, including a February sing-in, Summerfest performances with a 75-musician BYU alumni band, and summer concerts by six local groups. The council is wrapping utility boxes with local art; staff hope to do 20 to 30 depending on vinyl pricing and artist stipends, and more than 50 artists submitted work.
Other
Consent: mayor pro tem, 2023 meeting schedule, Campus Drive parking district, minutes
Approved · 6-0
The council appointed Council Member Jeff Lambson mayor pro tem for January through July 2023, approved the 2023 meeting schedule, and approved a resolution dissolving the Campus Drive neighborhood parking district, which police recommended after a traffic study, survey and a resident petition; new fencing around the high school football field and driver education course cut off access from Campus Drive. It also approved minutes.
Appointment
Appointments: Natural Resource Committee, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Advisory Commission
Approved · 3-3
The council reappointed Darren Hawkins to the Natural Resource Committee (6-0), appointed all five members of the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, Lon Bowen, Devin Peirce, Amber Laursen, Olivia Johnson and Britni Laidler (6-0), and appointed Helena Kleinlein and Mike Carpenter to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission vote was 3-3 among council members with Mayor Young voting yes: Council Members Terry Peterson, David Spencer and LaNae Millett voted yes and Council Members Debby Lauret, Jeff Lambson and Tom Macdonald voted no. The minutes do not give reasons for the no votes.
- Planning Commission appointees: Helena Kleinlein, Mike Carpenter
Budget
Fiscal year 2021-22 audit report
Discussed
Auditor John Hadley said Orem's financial statements were among the best he had reviewed. State compliance findings noted a deficit fund balance that must be increased by 5 percent by next year, and cash management because some accounts were omitted from Utah Money Management Council reports; he recommended moving money to capital projects funds. Finance Director Brandon Nelson said he already plans to move funds to capital projects because sales tax exceeded expectations. The minutes record no vote.
- Findings: deficit fund balance; cash management
Zoning
River District PD51 ordinance, about 720 North 1550 East
Approved · 6-0
The minutes record a motion to approve the ordinance enacting the PD51 (River District) zone and rezoning 3.15 acres from Business Park to PD51, which the council had also approved on Nov. 9. Council Member Tom Macdonald moved and Council Member Debby Lauret seconded; the recorded vote was unanimous among those named.
- Acres: 3.15
- Current zone → proposed: BP → PD51
City code
Fast food drive-thrus in the Business Park zone near 800 North and University Avenue
Approved · 6-0
The minutes record the council again approving the Business Park code amendment allowing fast food restaurants with drive-thrus and consistent architecture within each project area west of the Provo River, following the Planning Commission's Sept. 21 recommendation. The minutes also mention a requested amendment to Map 6 of the parks, recreation, trails and open space master plan to include multi-use path alignments, and council discussion of timing, Utah Lake Commission involvement and cost. No one spoke at the hearing, which opened at 7:19 p.m.
- Code: Appendix A, SLU 5811; Section 22-9-8(1)
Roads and utilities
2022 Water Conservation Plan
Approved · 6-0
The council adopted the plan required by Utah Code 73-10-32. Its six goals: meet 2030 regional conservation goals, keep a conservation-oriented pricing structure, finish meter replacement (expected by spring 2023), build tertiary treatment at the Water Reclamation Facility to produce irrigation water by 2025, continue public education, and replace city sprinkler controllers by 2025. Public Works said every customer is billed under the same tiers. Residents raised concerns about water use by businesses and about smart meters; staff said the meters monitor and cannot shut off water, and that there is no opt-out.
- Public hearing 7:39 p.m. to 7:56 p.m.
Appointment
Severance agreement for City Manager Jamie Davidson
Approved · 6-0
Mayor Young said City Manager Jamie Davidson had submitted a letter resigning effective Jan. 1, 2023. Mr. Davidson had worked for the city 11 years and been city manager for more than nine and a half. The council authorized a severance agreement on terms preliminarily agreed with Mr. Davidson and city legal counsel, directed the city attorney to prepare it and authorized the mayor to sign it. The amount is not stated in the minutes.
- PaymentAmount not given to Jamie Davidson
- Effective date of resignation: Jan. 1, 2023
What residents said
Smart water metersBasement apartment rulesBusiness water use
A landlord asked for relief so tenants in a basement apartment could stay, and was referred to the deputy city manager. Several residents thanked the mayor and council, speaking in support of Mayor Young and referring to recent news reports; one thanked the council for putting Proposition 2 on the ballot. During the water conservation hearing, residents asked whether businesses pay the same rates as homes, raised concerns about smart meters and government control, and asked about opting out.