Orem council finalizes three Provo boundary changes and continues Lakeview street-connection vote after resident opposition

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item Sched. · Annexation

   Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary near 1030 East and 1630 South

   Approved · 5-0 · near 1030 East and 1630 South

   Assistant Development Services Director Jason Bench said the change makes the boundary match how residents are taxed. A resident said neighbors wanted the road to stay a dead end rather than connect to Provo and asked for a speed bump; City Attorney Steve Earl noted one council cannot bind a future council. The council approved the change with a statement that its desire is for the road to stay closed.

   Moved by Council Member David Spencer, seconded by Council Member David Young. Vote: 5-0 among council members; Mayor Young also voted yes

   Follow Orem-Provo boundary: 1030 East 1630 South in the development tracker →

2. Item Sched. · Annexation

   Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary at 2000 South and Columbia Lane

   Approved · 5-0 · 2000 South and Columbia Lane

   The change places about 77,410 square feet, including a street and a detention basin Orem uses, entirely in Orem along the property line; no residential properties move. No one spoke at the hearing.

   Moved by Council Member LaNae Millett, seconded by Council Member Jenn Gale. Vote: 5-0 among council members; Mayor Young also voted yes

   Follow Orem-Provo boundary: 2000 South and Columbia Lane in the development tracker →

3. Item Sched. · Annexation

   Ordinance: Orem-Provo boundary at 700 North 1550 East (River District)

   Approved · 5-0 · approximately 700 North 1550 East

   The ordinance places about 3.18 acres entirely in Provo so a residential phase can be built there; phases 2 and 3a are commercial and stay in Orem. A development agreement requires bridge improvements, public utility easements for the city and a future dedication for vehicle and pedestrian access between 1550 East and University Avenue. Staff recommended approval; no one spoke at the hearing.

   • Acres moved to Provo: about 3.18
   • Applicants: developers Jamie Chapman and Jim Ivory

   Moved by Council Member David Spencer, seconded by Council Member Jeff Lambson. Vote: 5-0 among council members; Mayor Young also voted yes

   Follow Orem-Provo boundary: River District (700 North 1550 East) in the development tracker →

4. Item Sched. · General plan

   Resolution to remove street connections between 1430 South and 400 West (Lakeview Area Street Connection Master Plan)

   Continued · 5-1 · 1430 South to 400 West, Lakeview area

   Bench said the master plan requires the streets to connect if the land is developed. The applicant, Mr. Leichty, wanted them removed to pursue a development of cabin-style units operated as one hotel; staff was comfortable removing the 1430 South connection but not 400 West. Pros of removal: no required public connection and many neighbors do not want it. Cons: uneven traffic and less emergency access and utility connection. Eight residents spoke, most opposed, asking that roads stay and the area remain residential, and a few supported no road. The applicant's engineer said the gate would be for emergency access only. Council Member David Spencer asked whether there was a compelling reason to change the plan and said he believed there was not. Council Member LaNae Millett was concerned about voting without seeing what would be proposed; Council Members Jeff Lambson and Jenn Gale said the testimony affected their thinking. The council continued the item to Feb. 13.

   Moved by Council Member LaNae Millett, seconded by Council Member Jenn Gale. Vote: 5-1; Council Member David Spencer voted no. Voting no: Council Member David Spencer

   Follow Lakeview street connections (1430 South to 400 West) in the development tracker →

5. Item Consent · Appointment

   Consent: minutes and Transportation Advisory Commission reappointments

   Approved · 5-0

   Approved minutes and reappointed Russ Verhoef and Becky Buxton.

   Moved by Council Member LaNae Millett, seconded by Council Member Jeff Lambson. Vote: 5-0 among council members; Mayor Young also voted yes

6. Budget

   MGT efficiency study: police and finance purchasing (work session)

   Discussed

   MGT Consulting found no serious problems. For police, it did not recommend 24/7 lobby service and found supervisory structure consistent with peers, recommending a formal policy on investigations span of control. For purchasing, it recommended raising the approval threshold from $25,000 to $50,000 and keeping the city's in-house system rather than buying commercial software. Mayor Young asked for spot checks.

7. Public safety

   Victims' advocate division and domestic violence (work session)

   Discussed

   Police Chief Josh Adams said victim advocates handled 570 new domestic-violence victims in 2023 (up from 287 in 2017) and proposed a domestic violence investigator. The federal VOCA grant has fallen from over $160,000 to $56,000 in 2023 and consumes about half an advocate's time, and staff suggested dropping it.

   • Grant$56,000 2023 VOCA grant for victim services. Paid from Federal VOCA

8. Taxes and fees

   Impact fee study and CDBG priorities (work session)

   Discussed

   Consultant Fred Philpot said impact fees for water, wastewater, storm water, roads, parks and public safety were last updated in 2018, with results to come to a later work session. Mountainland Association of Governments staff said Orem's anticipated FY24 CDBG funding is $625,000, with 22 applications from current grantees and three new.

   • Grant$625,000 to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Anticipated FY24 CDBG funding. Paid from Federal CDBG

What residents said

Road connection at 1630 SouthLakeview traffic and densityEmergency access gate

Residents' comments on the boundary and Lakeview street items appear in those items; one resident thanked the council for the Christmas lights.