Orem council names Brenn Bybee city manager and adopts $152.3 million budget

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Other

   Motion to go into closed session (work session)

   Approved · 5-0

   The council voted to go into a closed session to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation, the character or professional competence of an individual, or the purchase or lease of real property. The minutes list five council members and the mayor voting yes; Council Member Debby Lauret joined the closed session by phone and her vote is not listed.

   Moved by Council Member Tom Macdonald, seconded by Council Member David Spencer. Vote: 5-0 among council members listed in the roll; Mayor David A. Young also voted yes; Council Member Debby Lauret's vote is not listed

2. City code

   Update to 2021 building and fire codes (work session)

   Discussed

   Chief Building Official Paul Ashton said the city's building and fire codes need to move from the 2018 to the 2021 state codes, and the city code will be revised to refer to the state codes. In answer to Council Member LaNae Millett he named the energy code as one to watch in future legislative sessions.

3. Public safety

   Year-end school safety report (work session)

   Discussed

   Police Chief Josh Adams recapped police programs in schools, including reading visits to 325 third graders, Cookies with Cops and Donuts with Police events, and help with a mobile school pantry. He said all officers are NASRO certified, another school resource officer was added, and rapid response plans were run at each school.

4. City code

   Orem Neighborhood Commission expanded to two members per district (work session)

   Discussed

   Community Services Manager Kena Mathews said the code would change to allow two representatives from each of the city's nine neighborhood districts, raising the commission to 18 members. The commission meets about quarterly and was consulted on the Neighborhood Refresh and Business Safety and Security grants. The ordinance was set for June 27.

5. Appointment

   Council Member Debby Lauret named Mayor Pro Tem for July-December 2023 (work session)

   Discussed

   City Recorder Teresa McKitrick said Council Member Debby Lauret would serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the second half of 2023. The mayor and council supported it, and it was to go on the June 27 consent agenda.

6. Appointment

   Brenn Bybee appointed Orem City Manager

   Approved · 6-0

   Mayor Young proposed making Acting City Manager Brenn Bybee the permanent city manager. All six council members and the mayor spoke in support, and the council approved a resolution appointing him. Bybee said he was humbled and promised to continue a spirit of collaboration. The minutes give no salary or contract terms.

   Moved by Council Member David Spencer, seconded by Council Member Tom Macdonald. Vote: 6-0; Mayor David A. Young also voted yes

7. Public hearing

   Community Development Block Grant projected use of funds for 2023-24 (public hearing)

   Approved · 5-0-1

   The council adopted the projected uses of 2023-24 CDBG funds recommended by the advisory commission: Orem police victim services and homeless services, Community Health Connect, Kids on the Move, Rocky Mountain University and Family Haven, plus MAG, Section 108, code enforcement, critical home repair and rehabilitation, neighborhood preservation, target park signage and Mountain Country Home Solutions. Members asked about MAG taking over day-to-day CDBG management, which Ms. Mathews supported. Mountain Country Home Solutions thanked the council for a proposed $30,000 contribution to infrastructure for its senior housing project, which it said is the amount needed to start the project. Council Member Debby Lauret recused herself; the minutes do not say why.

   • Grant$30,000 to Mountain Country Home Solutions Infrastructure for a low-to-moderate-income senior housing project. CDBG Advisory Commission recommendation. Paid from Community Development Block Grant

   Moved by Council Member LaNae Millett, seconded by Council Member Jeff Lambson. Vote: 5-0; Lauret recused

8. Taxes and fees

   Enterprise fund transfers to the General Fund for 2023-24 (public hearing)

   Discussed

   Finance Director Brandon Nelson explained that the State Auditor requires cities to charge themselves retail rates for utility services, and the city chose to transfer funds from utilities rather than raise taxes or cut services. The General Fund would pay the utility funds $900,000 for water used for parks, the cemetery and buildings, $16,000 for water reclamation, $141,000 for storm water and $15,000 for street lighting. One resident worried about water prices; Nelson and the mayor said the state allows the transfer. No vote is recorded on this item.

   • Budget$900,000 General Fund payment to the water fund for parks, cemetery and building use. Paid from General Fund
   • Budget$16,000 General Fund payment to water reclamation. Paid from General Fund
   • Budget$141,000 General Fund payment to storm water. Paid from General Fund
   • Budget$15,000 General Fund payment for street lighting. Paid from General Fund

9. Budget

   Fiscal 2023-24 budget of $152,344,861 and tax and fee rates (public hearing)

   Approved · 6-0

   The council approved the final 2023-24 budget of $152,344,861, along with compensation programs, the fees and charges schedule and the property tax, franchise tax, municipal energy sales and use tax, telecommunications license tax, transient room tax and E-911 fee rates. Council Member Terry Peterson asked for a study comparing city departments with other cities; Mr. Nelson said a management efficiency study is planned but comparisons are hard because cities differ. One resident asked that the slides be posted and asked about recycling problems; the city said they would be on the finance page and that Waste Management had upgraded its recycling program.

   • Budget$152.3 million Fiscal 2023-24 city budget. Paid from Sales tax, property tax, franchise tax, utility fees and other revenues

   Moved by Council Member David Spencer, seconded by Council Member Tom Macdonald. Vote: 6-0; Mayor David A. Young also voted yes

What residents said

Water ratesRecycling

Representatives of Rocky Mountain University Foundation and Mountain Country Home Solutions thanked the city for CDBG support. A resident worried about rising water bills; the mayor suggested she meet with the public works director about assistance programs. Another resident raised water prices at the enterprise fund hearing, and one asked for the budget slides and about recycling at the budget hearing.