Orem council fills three Planning Commission seats and amends budget as about 30 residents speak on short-term rentals and a stalled house project

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Roads and utilities

   Alpine Aqueduct and waterline relocation tour

   Discussed · Alpine Aqueduct / Kubota Pipeline, east Orem

   Council members and staff toured the Alpine Aqueduct tunnel and Kubota Pipeline with Central Utah Water Conservancy District staff. The project moves a critical water line away from an active landslide using a bored tunnel and 90-to-110-inch pipe on the eastern strand of the Wasatch Fault Zone. Members said 60% of Orem's water flows through the line and noted further road disruption on streets such as Floridian this spring.

2. Parks

   Tree canopy initiative

   Discussed

   Natural Resources Advisory Commission members said Orem's tree canopy is 9.3%, the lowest among comparable Intermountain West cities and shrinking. They proposed a three-year planting initiative with Utah Valley University students and business partners, ending with Orem's 110th anniversary. Council Member Mecham raised water use trade-offs; the city manager suggested solid waste fund savings or neighborhood grants; Council Member Millett said city spending should focus on public land. Consensus was a voluntary 'carrot rather than stick' program, possibly 250 trees for America 250.

3. Appointment

   Planning Commission appointment process

   Discussed

   Mayor McCandless said the Planning Commission had three resignations and two health-related absences, risking a quorum. Council members agreed to a shortlist with twice as many candidates as seats and to document the process in a guidebook or memorandum rather than an ordinance. The city attorney said terms are fixed at three years by ordinance.

4. Presentation

   New police sergeants; Justice Court report; Zion Indie Film Festival

   Discussed

   Chief BJ Robinson introduced seven newly promoted sergeants, moving patrol teams from one to two sergeants each. Justice Court Judge Reed Parkin reported 10,408 traffic citations, 1,033 criminal filings and 569 small claims cases in 2025 and $2.5 million collected, $1.6 million retained by the city. SCERA and the festival described its 25th anniversary.

5. Appointment

   Consent: commission appointments

   Approved · 6-0

   The council approved Events Advisory Commission (Suzanne Whitaker), Cultural Arts Advisory Commission (Gina Cavallo, Jeremy Hall, Shelby Killpack) and CARE Advisory Commission (Dawson Richman, Giovanna Alisa) appointments and minutes.

   Moved by Council Member Crystal Muhlestein, seconded by Council Member Chris Killpack. Vote: 6-0; Mayor McCandless also voted yes

6. Appointment

   Planning Commission appointments: Susan Madsen, Darren Hawkins and Karl Radmall

   Approved · 6-0

   The council appointed three residents to the Planning Commission to fill vacancies and restore a quorum. Council Member Mecham, the liaison, said several council members interviewed a strong pool; he said more appointments are expected to fill the remaining two vacancies.

   Moved by Council Member LaNae Millett, seconded by Council Member Jenn Gale. Vote: 6-0; Mayor McCandless also voted yes

7. Other

   Public concern about a large unfinished house under construction

   No action

   About a dozen residents of the neighborhood described a nearly four-year construction project as out of character, unfinished and a safety, parking and property value concern, and presented a letter signed by more than 100 residents asking for compatibility standards, limits on permit timelines and a review of cul-de-sac parking. City Attorney Steve Earl and Community Development Director Gary McGinn said the house met generally applicable rules in its zone, that state law bars cities from regulating architectural style, that the building code requires only minimal progress every six months to keep a permit active, and that the city has cited nuisance violations. Staff are drafting ordinance amendments for an April Planning Commission meeting to address box-like structures. The mayor said broader aesthetic control would require changes in state law.

   • Residents asked to meet with the community development director and mayor

8. Budget

   Public hearing: FY 2025-2026 budget amendments

   Approved · 6-0

   Finance Director Brandon Nelson proposed moving about $3.68 million from the General Fund, which exceeded the state-maximum balance, into the Capital Projects Fund, which also covers an unexpected $455,000 Provo City invoice for consolidated dispatch. Other changes recognize a federal HIDTA grant for the Major Crimes Task Force, donations for the Gold Star Families Memorial and Lights On, an $80,000 reimbursement from the Mountainland Association of Governments, Senior Citizen Center door locks, UVU-reimbursed police overtime and interest on 2024 sales tax revenue bonds. Council Member Millett asked about the dispatch agreement; Nelson said the Provo partnership remains the most efficient option while the contract is reviewed. No one spoke.

   • Payment$455,000 to Provo City Unexpected invoice for consolidated dispatch services. Paid from Capital Projects Fund via General Fund transfer
   • Budget$3.68 million Transfer from General Fund to Capital Projects Fund. Paid from General Fund balance above state cap
   • Grant$80,000 to Mountainland Association of Governments Reimbursement for cross-year project. Paid from MAG

   Moved by Council Member Jeff Lambson, seconded by Council Member Chris Killpack. Vote: 6-0; Mayor McCandless also voted yes

What residents said

Short-term rentalsUnfinished large home and architectural compatibilityConstruction permit timelinesCul-de-sac parking and emergency accessPlanning Commission quorum

About 30 residents spoke about short-term rentals. Opponents cited party houses and events in cul-de-sacs, parking, safety, housing supply and affordability, enforcement difficulty and the city's 'Family City USA' identity; one resident suggested a public vote. Supporters, many of them owner-occupied hosts, said rentals help families afford lodging for reunions and weddings, generate tax revenue, are well maintained, and asked for licensing, occupancy and parking rules rather than a ban, with some asking to distinguish owner-occupied from investor-owned units. One former operator said neighbors filed over 750 complaints against him. A dozen others spoke on an unfinished house under construction in their neighborhood. The mayor said the council is waiting until the state legislative session ends March 6, 2026 before deciding.