Provo council weighs Epic Sports Park grant, $330,000 Fort Utah Park appropriation and zoning rewrite in work meeting
September 8, 2026, 2:30 p.m. · 445 W. Center Street, Provo
At its Sept. 8 work meeting the Provo council reviewed a resolution supporting an $8,000,000 federal-match Outdoor Recreation Legacy grant application for Epic Regional Sports Park, a $330,000 appropriation for Fort Utah Park, outdoor lighting exemptions, two rezones and the repeal and replacement of Title 14. No votes were taken on the business items. The council closed the meeting 7-0 to discuss security, litigation and an individual's competence. The minutes were approved by unanimous consent on Sept. 22.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 31, 2026.
In brief
7 items came up for a decision or discussion: 7 discussed.
The agenda records 2 dollar amounts, the largest $8.00 million.
5 items here are tracked in the city's development tracker.
This write-up links 2 source documents.
8 members were present.
The previous City Council work session meeting was on September 8, 2026: Council appropriates $330,000 for Fort Utah Park and rejects two rezones; Title 14 rewrite continued
The next one was on September 22, 2026: Council approves two rezones, FY2026 budget carryovers and year-round holiday lighting, all 6-0
Decisions at a glance
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Other
CAPER public hearing preparation for the 2025-26 HUD program year (26-025)
Discussed
Grants coordinator Melissa McNalley said 456 people were served through residual HOME ARP rental assistance, 24,732 people through area-benefit infrastructure such as Safe Routes to Schools, and 46 down payment assistance loans were issued. 37 HOME-funded homes in Salem were not finished by the four-year deadline, so the funds went back to HUD. The consortium paused funding to a Payson affordable-housing developer pending review of an existing $3,000,000 investment and redirected money to down payment help.
Item 2 · Budget
Resolution supporting the 2026 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant application for Epic Regional Sports Park (26-065)
Discussed
Parks Director Brad Raney said the park's costs have been covered by revenue since its first year and that 3,500 to 4,000 Provo youth use it. Explore Utah Valley estimated about $17,000,000 in direct economic impact from tournaments. The 50/50 federal match grant targets an $8,000,000 project: the south five fields, parking, a restroom and two lit synthetic-turf fields. Councilor Bogdin worried about a possible $4,000,000 city match; Whitlock called the resolution a free option and asked for cost and return figures first. The resolution supports submitting the application and does not commit funds.
- Grant$8.00 million
Item 3 · Budget
Resolution appropriating $330,000 for Fort Utah Park improvements (26-066)
Discussed
Raney said bids came in slightly above estimates and city crews are self-performing some work. The money funds the playground, the third of three contracts alongside the skate bowl and pump track design-build and the civil contract. It comes from unassigned Parks Capital Improvement Fund balance. Park Projects Manager John Bunderson said the appropriation does not jeopardize reserves covering more than $4,000,000 in expected grant reimbursements.
- Budget$330,000
Item 4 · City code
Ordinance on outdoor lighting standards exemptions, Code 15.21.040 (26-067)
Discussed
By consensus the council would allow holiday lighting June 15 to July 25 and in October through January and drop the 10 p.m. shut-off. It would allow permanent LED facade lighting year-round without the proposed color-temperature limit, keeping the glare restriction, and allow festoon string lighting without added regulation.
Item 5 · Zoning
Rezone at 113 and 191 N Geneva Road from General Commercial to Mixed-Use, Fort Utah Neighborhood (PLRZ20260264)
Discussed
Planner Megan Van De Graaff described a just-over-one-acre site with four flex commercial units and 18 townhomes. An earlier request for 26 townhomes was denied partly because neighbors wanted retail. Councilor Whitlock asked whether flex office space matched that preference; she said the neighborhood favored retail over warehouse-style uses.
Item 6 · Zoning
Rezone at 2000 N Canyon Road from One-Family Residential (R1.6) to Low Density Residential, Pleasant View Neighborhood (PLRZ20260116)
Discussed
The Planning Commission did not approve the concept and recommended denial. The proposal is 33 townhome and twin-home lots, up from 19 detached homes under current zoning. The commission cited too little amenity space and a street narrower than the new 30-foot minimum. Public Works Director Gordon Haight said the retaining wall is 90 to 99 percent complete and meets city specifications. City Attorney Brian Jones said construction costs were the likely driver, with the developer saying homes would need to sell at $1,500,000 or more.
Item 7 · City code
Ordinance to repeal and replace Provo City Code Title 14 (PLOTA20260414)
Discussed
Planner Dustin Wright said the three-year zoning rewrite cuts code length by 50 percent by removing 68 chapters, adds consolidated development and land-use tables, and rewrites the transit-oriented zone as a form-based code. Councilors asked about bed-and-breakfasts, car-wash standards and the definition of family, flagged two differing versions of Exhibit A, and asked staff to summarize every substantive policy change as the code is reviewed in sections.
What residents said
The minutes record no public comment.