Orem council certifies primary results with six candidates advancing; work session covers Geneva Road widening, arts district plan and short-term rental draft
August 26, 2025, 3:00 p.m. · 56 North State Street, Orem
The Orem City Council certified the 2025 primary election, in which 28.5% of active voters cast ballots and six candidates advanced to the general election. In the work session, UDOT described widening Geneva Road to five lanes south of University Parkway, consultants presented concepts for an arts district around City Center Park including a four-season ice ribbon, and staff reported that the draft short-term rental ordinance now drops the nightly cap and exempts owner-occupied rentals from spacing and license caps. Mayor David Young was absent from the work session, which Mayor Pro Tem Jenn Gale led.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Geneva Road widening from University Parkway to 1450 South | Discussed |
| Heart of Downtown arts district plan, City Center Park | Discussed |
| City Center block plan: pedestrian safety | Discussed |
| Business license revocation process | Discussed |
| Short-term rental update | Discussed |
| Consent: commission appointments and Utah Valley HOME Consortium resolution | Approved · 6-0 |
| Canvass of the 2025 primary election | Approved · 6-0 |
| Motion to adjourn to closed session | Approved · 6-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item W1 · Roads and utilities
Geneva Road widening from University Parkway to 1450 South
Discussed
UDOT representatives said the project will widen Geneva Road to five lanes to the south end of the temple grounds, to prepare for a future connection to Lakeview Parkway. Utility and drainage work is underway and roadway construction begins in spring. Two-way traffic will be maintained, though a dedicated left-turn lane into the temple will not be available during construction. UDOT plans to keep at least one lane each direction at peak hours and hold a "Meet the Contractor" event in mid-September.
Item W2 · General plan
Heart of Downtown arts district plan, City Center Park
Discussed
Consultants from Designing Local presented progress on the City Center Park arts district, which began in January. Public feedback called for expanding the park, consolidating parking, a festival street and a destination open 18 hours a day. Concepts include moving the central parking lot to the park's north edge, a hierarchy of pedestrian routes, improved amphitheater access, relocating pool concessions to a facility that could also serve a proposed four-season ice ribbon, and an arts village with small retail, restaurants and creative spaces. A fuller draft is due in October.
Item W3 · Roads and utilities
City Center block plan: pedestrian safety
Discussed
Senior Planner Matt Taylor said event growth at Oremfest, the farmers market and ballpark games has strained safety and parking. Options include a new signal at 300 East and Center Street, a possible flashing beacon at 100 North and 300 East, formal walkways replacing worn paths, shade and lighting, and a shuttle for large events. The plan is a work in progress.
Item W4 · Presentation
Citizen Connect update
Discussed
Communications Manager Pete Wolfley said the one-stop request service has handled almost 700 tickets and 4,200 text conversations since January, with an average text response of eight minutes in business hours. Members discussed adding a disclaimer that informal advice on topics such as zoning is not official.
Item W5 · City code
Business license revocation process
Discussed
Deputy City Attorney D. Jacob Summers proposed using an outside administrative law judge for license hearings, replacing the vague "any violation" standard with specific grounds such as fraud, unpaid taxes or refusing inspections, a 10-business-day appeal period with the city bearing the burden of proof, and one consistent process across license types. A final ordinance will return for approval.
Item W6 · City code
Short-term rental update
Discussed
Summers reported themes from months of meetings with neighbors (belief that rentals are already banned, parking, noise, lighting and enforcement burdens) and with operators (occupancy limits, license caps, spacing and nightly limits). The draft now exempts owner-occupied rentals from spacing and numerical caps, removes the nightly rental cap and the accessory dwelling unit prohibition, ties off-street parking to bedrooms, sets occupancy at a single family or up to eight unrelated people, requires shielded lighting, makes clear rentals are for overnight lodging not events, and has fines of $500, $750 and revocation plus $1,000 for a third violation in 12 months. Council members considered an impact fee for response costs. City Manager Brenn Bybee suggested using the Neighborhood Advisory Commission as a focus group, and the council agreed. No decisions were made.
Item R1 · Presentation
Citizen's budget, employee awards, and Public Works Advisory Commission report
Discussed
Staff presented a simplified citizen's budget and the peer-nominated Build a Better Orem awards (a record 107 nominations; IT manager Carlo Okolowitz was named employee of the year). The Public Works Advisory Commission reported on master plan and impact fee reviews, Phase 3 of the Timpanogos Park bike skills park (the city is acquiring six acres in exchange for giving the Central Utah Water Conservancy District park access and a sedimentation basin), a cemetery memorial projected at $1.8 million, and a new 10-million-gallon reservoir that needs a booster station, expected to be operating in about 18 months.
- Budget$1.80 million
Item 9 · Appointment
Consent: commission appointments and Utah Valley HOME Consortium resolution
Approved · 6-0
The council approved appointments to the CDBG Advisory Commission and Neighborhood Advisory Commission, reappointments to the Planning Commission, and the Utah Valley HOME Consortium resolution on the consent agenda.
Item 10.1 · Other
Canvass of the 2025 primary election
Approved · 6-0
City Recorder Teresa McKitrick reported turnout of 28.5% (13,074 of 45,934 active voters). Advancing to the general election are Quinn Mecham, Angela Moulton, Doyle Mortimer, LaNae Millett, Crystal Muhlestein and David M. Spencer. Not advancing were Steven White, Truman Van Cott, Tommy Williams and Archie Williams. Staff said 185 ballots were rejected for arriving after the 8 p.m. deadline, which prompted discussion of confusion about postmarks. Orem now has 53 precincts. The council certified the results.
Item Closed · Other
Motion to adjourn to closed session
Approved · 6-0
The council voted to close the meeting to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation, the character or professional competence of an individual, or the purchase or lease of real property.
What residents said
Short-term rentals used as event venuesEnforcement of short-term rental rulesGeneva Road construction traffic
A vacation rental management company owner from outside the city commended the process and offered expertise. Three residents described disruptive large short-term rentals on their streets, including event-style gatherings, many cars, break-ins and noise, and urged stronger enforcement. Another resident asked how many unapproved rentals operate in Orem and who enforces the rules; the mayor referred him to staff.