Orem council amends budget, allows agritainment at Wilkerson Farms and adopts 'In God We Trust' resolution
October 24, 2023, 4:30 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street, Orem
The Orem City Council voted 7-0 on each of three items: a fiscal year 2023-24 budget amendment adding grants, a new agritainment land use that lets Wilkerson Farms operate in the open-space zone, and a resolution adopting 'In God We Trust' as a motto to display in the new council chambers. In the work session the council also reviewed a plan to extend park hours for permitted events and three proposed city boundary adjustments with Provo. Council Member Jeff Lambson attended by Zoom.
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: 4 approved, 2 discussed, and 1 no action.
The agenda records 1 dollar amount, the largest $4,000.
4 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 pedestrian safety on 400 south, cottages of the fields completion, and election complaints.
The previous City Council meeting was on October 10, 2023: Orem council rezones Hillcrest Ridge site for office use and adopts updated Transportation Master Plan
The next one was on November 14, 2023: Orem council begins Provo boundary changes, adopts park late-hours ordinance and recertifies justice court
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Amend the fiscal year 2023-24 budget | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| Agritainment as a permitted use in the OS5/ROS zone (Wilkerson Farms) | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| Resolution adopting 'In God We Trust' as a displayed motto | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| American Legion donation for the Freedom Tree | No action |
| Park lighting and closure ordinance, 13-1-11 (work session) | Discussed |
| Proposed Orem-Provo boundary adjustments (work session) | Discussed |
| Closed session | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
Agenda, item by item
Item Sched. · Budget
Amend the fiscal year 2023-24 budget
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Finance Director Brandon Nelson said the budget amendment adds multiple grants, including police grants and federal funds, replaces a parks vehicle, and adds interest income. Council Member Debby Lauret asked about Freedom Plaza donations; City Manager Brenn Bybee said the city had a few commitments but had collected nothing except that evening's $4,000 donation. No one spoke at the public hearing.
- BudgetAmount not given
Item Sched. · City code
Agritainment as a permitted use in the OS5/ROS zone (Wilkerson Farms)
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Assistant Development Services Director Jason Bench presented an amendment to the zoning definitions and Appendix A adding Standard Land Use Code 7313, Agritainment, as a permitted use in the OS5/ROS zone, so Wilkerson Farms could operate its farm with agritainment. A farm representative said agritainment funds the farm's growing, and that the farm donates to local food pantries. Council members Debby Lauret, Terry Peterson, LaNae Millett and Mayor Young spoke in support. A nearby resident also spoke in support at the hearing.
Item Sched. · Other
Resolution adopting 'In God We Trust' as a displayed motto
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers asked the council to adopt the national motto 'In God We Trust' for display in the new council chambers and in Freedom Plaza. Council Members LaNae Millett, Debby Lauret and Tom Macdonald spoke in support and noted the council was united. Mayor Young said he had learned only one other city in Utah had joined the movement.
Parks
American Legion donation for the Freedom Tree
No action
Post 72 of the American Legion presented a $4,000 check toward purchasing the Freedom Tree for the new Freedom Plaza.
- Grant$4,000 to American Legion Post 72
City code
Park lighting and closure ordinance, 13-1-11 (work session)
Discussed
Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers proposed a permit process, run by the recreation department, to let City Center, Community, Hillcrest, Lakeside and Windsor parks stay open past the 11 p.m. closing for events such as regional tournaments. Permits would require an application and fees, could be denied for conflicts or neighborhood disturbance, would require city staff on site and could be revoked. Council Member Terry Peterson suggested later hours at Hillcrest Park because it has no close neighbors; Council Member Tom Macdonald worried about neighborhood impact, especially at Windsor Park.
Annexation
Proposed Orem-Provo boundary adjustments (work session)
Discussed
Assistant Development Services Director Jason Bench and Assistant City Attorney Gary McGinn described three boundary changes with Provo: moving the boundary on 2000 South from Columbia Lane to about 400 East to the south curb line; a clean-up near 1030 East and 1700 South; and an applicant-requested change near 1550 East and 700 North so a residential phase could be built in Provo while commercial phases stay in Orem. The mayor and council members said they wanted a timeline or commitment for the commercial phases, and McGinn suggested a development agreement. The developers said about 90 percent of the residential area is in Provo and that sewer lines drain more easily there.
Other
Closed session
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
The council voted 7-0 to adjourn into a closed session; the minutes do not give the topic clearly.
What residents said
Pedestrian safety on 400 SouthCottages of the Fields completionElection complaints
A resident said she believed the Stronger Together committee was still active and asked for the status of the complaint; legislative counsel Jesse Riddle said the lieutenant governor's office had received the complaint, referred it to the county attorney and an investigation was open. A representative of the Cottages of the Fields development off Geneva Road said it was not completed as originally submitted and asked the city to press the developer. Two Vineyard residents asked for pedestrian safety changes after a fatality on 400 South.