Orem council holds CDBG hearing on $710,247 in recommended grants; station area plan work begins
April 11, 2023, 3:00 p.m. · Orem City Center, 56 North State Street, Orem
The council heard a public hearing on $710,247.35 in recommended Community Development Block Grant spending for 2023-24, with no vote recorded. In the work session it kicked off station area planning around Orem's FrontRunner station, heard a legislative update from the Utah League of Cities and Towns, reviewed five city flag designs and was briefed on an opioid settlement opt-in due April 18. Council Member Debby Lauret attended by Zoom.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Presentation
2023 Utah legislative session update (work session)
Discussed
Cameron Diehl of the Utah League of Cities and Towns reported that 575 bills passed, of which 244 were tracked by the league and 152 of those passed. He said bills that would have cost cities about $118 million were turned into a net revenue increase and noted transportation funding for cities. He reviewed bills including HB 301 (transportation taxes, including a $7 annual vehicle registration increase and an electric vehicle charging tax), SB 174 and HB 364 on land use and moderate income housing plans, SB 185 on the Utah Trail Network, SB 260 on the local option transportation sales tax and HB 499 on homeless policy. Members discussed housing and transportation.
General plan
Orem station area plan kickoff (work session)
Discussed
Planners Grant Allen and Matt Taylor introduced consultant Christie Oostema Brown of People+Place, hired to help prepare Orem's station area plan around its FrontRunner station as required by state law (HB 462). The plan needs a vision, a map, a five-year implementation plan, a statement on shared objectives and public involvement. The proposed process includes a stakeholder committee, a UVU and UTA partnership and public engagement. Council Members David Spencer, Terry Peterson and Tom Macdonald will serve on the committee, which first meets April 27 at 6 p.m.
Other
Formal city flag design options (work session)
Discussed
Peter and Jacob Brooks of Brooks Advertising showed five flag designs, ranging from a logo with no words to versions with 'Orem' and 'Family City' over a mountain image. The council discussed them and made no decision.
Roads and utilities
Municipal Wastewater Planning Program annual report (work session)
Discussed
Assistant Public Works Director Reed Price presented the annual survey evaluating the city's finances, collection system and treatment facility, and updated the council on wastewater projects. Council Member Terry Peterson asked about spring flooding plans, and Public Works Director Chris Tschirki gave an update.
Other
Opioid class action settlement (work session)
Discussed
Deputy City Attorney Jacob Summers said Orem joined a 2021 settlement with pharmaceutical companies and that Utah is part of another class action; to maximize funds, local governments need to opt in, with paperwork due April 18, 2023. He asked whether the council had concerns about joining; the minutes record none.
Appointment
Consent: Recreation and Heritage advisory commission appointments
Approved · 6-0
The council approved reappointing Alan Rex and Deborah Shuman to the Recreation Advisory Commission and appointing Rodney Gardner to the Heritage Advisory Commission, along with meeting minutes.
Public hearing
Community Development Block Grant projected use of funds for 2023-24 (public hearing)
Discussed
Advisory commission chair Ken Ransom and Community Services Manager Kena Matthews presented recommended allocations totaling $710,247.35, with priorities of housing, services for special-needs populations and public infrastructure. Public service recommendations include police victim services and homeless services and several joint programs; other recommendations include grant administration, Section 108, code enforcement, critical home repair, neighborhood preservation, target park signage and senior housing from Mountain Country Home Solutions. Representatives of Mountain Country Home Solutions and Family Haven spoke in support. The minutes record no vote at this meeting.
- Grant$710,247
What residents said
HousingTransportation funding
Two people spoke at the CDBG hearing: a representative of Mountain Country Home Solutions, which serves low-income seniors and is seeking funding for its first Orem project, and a representative of Family Haven, which treats families and children affected by trauma or abuse and thanked the city for past support.