City Council Meeting - February 13, 2024

Meeting Summary

The February 13, 2024 meeting combined the annual Budget Retreat with a regular City Council session, stretching across most of the day at the Public Safety Building before moving to Council Chambers in the evening. The retreat opened with a team-building exercise on personal strengths, followed by a discussion about a proposal for Lehi City to begin handling American Fork City's justice court cases — an arrangement that could save Lehi operating costs while expanding the court's efficiency. Representatives from Y2 Analytics presented the results of the annual resident survey, which found that while residents remain generally satisfied with city services and appreciate Lehi's location and amenities, concerns about growth-driven traffic, housing availability, and water quality have intensified. Trust in city staff and elected officials on growth management has declined compared to prior years. Finance Director Dean Lundell presented an economic outlook for the upcoming fiscal year, noting the state was forecasting roughly 3.8% growth in sales tax revenue for 2024 and that unemployment remained low. He highlighted challenges in Lehi's utility funding, discussing the need for rate adjustments to sustain water and sewer infrastructure given the city's rapid growth, and explained how Utah's property tax laws — which do not adjust for inflation — complicate funding long-term city needs. The Alpine School District board presented its annual financial report and outlined the possibility of splitting the district, a proposal that had gained traction following the failure of a recent bond measure. The Council also discussed priorities for sidewalk construction and received an update on plans for the new Family Park all-abilities playground in Lehi, described as one of the largest in Utah County, with an anticipated opening in August 2024. During the evening regular session, the Council approved several items unanimously: a sewer main lining agreement with C&L Water Solutions for aging infrastructure in two parts of the city (Resolution #2024-02); an update to the PARC grant program guidelines (Resolution #2024-03); the Newbold Estates zone change of 7.3 acres from agricultural and residential to R-1-Flex (Ordinance #06-2024); approval of two Lehi Medical Office condo plats near 2150 North; a cooperative agreement with UDOT and D.R. Horton for traffic improvements near Center Street and Timpanogos Highway (Resolution #2024-01); an update to cemetery headstone size rules (Ordinance #05-2024); and a development code change adding athletic instruction as an allowed home occupation use (Ordinance #07-2024). The Council voted unanimously to reject a proposed parking proximity code change (Ordinance #08-2024) and directed staff to return with a revised approach requiring case-by-case parking studies for exceptions.