Orem council begins Provo boundary changes, adopts park late-hours ordinance and recertifies justice court
November 14, 2023, 3:00 p.m. · City Council Chambers, 56 North State Street, Orem
The Orem City Council voted 7-0 on all of its actions: three notices of intent to adjust the Orem-Provo boundary, an ordinance allowing permitted late use of some parks, and recertification of the Orem Municipal Justice Court. Windsor Park was removed from the park-hours ordinance at council request. Council Members Jeff Lambson and Tom Macdonald 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
8 items came up for a decision or discussion: 4 approved and 4 discussed.
The agenda records 2 dollar amounts, the largest $1.89 million.
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 speed and crosswalk on 600 west and irrigation water rights.
The previous City Council meeting was on October 24, 2023: Orem council amends budget, allows agritainment at Wilkerson Farms and adopts 'In God We Trust' resolution
The next one was on December 5, 2023: Orem council certifies 2023 general election results, with turnout at 36.9 percent
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Consent: minutes and board appointments | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| Notices of intent: Orem-Provo boundary adjustments (three resolutions) | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| Park lighting and closure ordinance | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| Recertification of the Orem Municipal Justice Court | Approved · 7-0 with the mayor |
| Metropolitan Water District of Orem annual report | Discussed |
| Emergency management and city drill report | Discussed |
| Historic markers and memorial resolution (work session) | Discussed |
| Hillcrest Park phase 1 opening | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item Consent · Appointment
Consent: minutes and board appointments
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Approved minutes and appointments to the Metropolitan Water District of Orem board (KC Shaw, Alex Lott, Chris Tschirki), the Beautification Advisory Commission (Britton Runolfson, Robert McFadden) and the Oremfest Advisory Commission (Katrina Bleyl).
Item Sched. · Annexation
Notices of intent: Orem-Provo boundary adjustments (three resolutions)
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Assistant City Attorney Gary McGinn explained three resolutions that start a 60-day process ending in a council vote after a public hearing. The first would put about 3.18 acres at approximately 700 North 1550 East, the Canyon River District, entirely in Provo so a townhome phase can be built there while two commercial phases stay in Orem; attorneys were drafting a development agreement to address council concerns about the commercial phases. The second would place about 77,410 square feet near 2000 South and Columbia Lane entirely in Orem. The third would set a common boundary near 1030 East and 1630 South as a clean-up, not a transfer of property. Council Member LaNae Millett asked for a list of pros and cons for the public hearing. The council passed all three notices with the same 7-0 vote.
Item Sched. · City code
Park lighting and closure ordinance
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers said the ordinance, proposed by the recreation department to attract tournaments, lets parks stay open past closing hours under a permit, for limited weather-related delays. At the council's request Windsor Park was removed. Permits require an application and fee, can be denied for specific concerns, require city staff on site and can be revoked. Council Member Debby Lauret asked about an end time; Summers said the recreation director would decide. Council Member Terry Peterson encouraged making the Hillcrest Park pickleball courts available around the clock.
Item Sched. · Other
Recertification of the Orem Municipal Justice Court
Approved · 7-0 with the mayor
Summers said the justice court, opened Sept. 1, 2010, handles Class B and C misdemeanors, ordinance violations and infractions, and must be recertified every four years; its certification expires in January 2024. Recertification requires a judge's affidavit, a city attorney opinion letter and a council resolution.
Roads and utilities
Metropolitan Water District of Orem annual report
Discussed
Public Works Director Chris Tschirki said Orem pays $1.89 million a year to the Central Utah Water Conservancy District under a contract running through 2047, at a fixed per-acre-foot price. He said the $98 million Deer Creek intake replacement is under construction and Orem's share is about $400,000. Assistant Public Works Director Reed Price said the city is replacing all meters with smart meters.
- Payment$1.89 million to Central Utah Water Conservancy District
- Payment$400,000
Public safety
Emergency management and city drill report
Discussed
Emergency Manager Heath Stevenson reported on the updated emergency plan, neighborhood preparedness and HAM radio classes, and an annual citywide drill in which about 45,000 residents took part and the report reached the city within 2.5 hours.
Parks
Historic markers and memorial resolution (work session)
Discussed
Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers outlined a resolution directing the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission to develop criteria for historic markers, inventory existing markers and report, and asking staff to plan other memorial monuments including the proposed Women's and Children's Memorial. Staff counted about 20 original markers. Members suggested a common design, a design firm, benches at sites, a tie to the SCERA heritage museum, and a location for a Women's and Children's park. It was adopted Dec. 12.
Parks
Hillcrest Park phase 1 opening
Discussed
Mayor Young and the Recreation Advisory Commission marked the opening of phase 1 of Hillcrest Park, the city's first new park from scratch in 20 years, with three playgrounds, pavilions and nearly a mile of paths. Phase 2, planned for spring 2024, includes 12 pickleball courts.
What residents said
Speed and crosswalk on 600 WestIrrigation water rights
A resident asked for a lower speed limit, speed bumps and a crosswalk on 600 West between 800 North and 400 North, and the city manager said the traffic team would study it. Another resident asked about irrigation water for about 100 residents who own water shares. A resident asked about a political flier, and another asked questions about a council member attending a rally and about campaign contributions; the minutes record no answers.