Pre-Council discussion includes mink farm, Joe Adams scholarship

An agenda of diverse topics occupied most of the Lehi City Pre-Council during the Tuesday, July 10, City Council meeting held in City Council Chambers.

Mayor Mark Johnson met with Council Members, Paige Albrecht, Paul Hancock, Chris Condie, Mike Southwick in a 3.5-hour meeting. Councilmember Johnny Revill was excused. The agenda included a Pre-Council meeting report on the Joe Adams Scholarship.

Thad Adams, father of fallen police officer, Joe Adams, addressed the Council reporting on the status of the scholarship awarded each year to a deserving student majoring in law enforcement. The scholarship was founded in 2001 after the death of Joe Adams, a Lehi Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty. Adams’ wife wanted her husband’s memory to live on by awarding a scholarship each year. Lehi City contributes $2500 each year to the scholarship fund.

Thad Adams expressed appreciation to the City for the support they have received over the years but added because Utah Valley University has mandated all scholarships be endowed with a $30,000 minimum endowment, additional funds are needed. The family has $14,000 in the fund currently and has three years to fully fund the endowment. Adams added, “There is no other scholarship like this in the state of Utah and as a city you have helped make this happen. It has made the difference in the lives of those who have received the scholarship.”

Lehi Police Chief Darren Paul commented, “We have hired several of the graduates who received scholarship help from the Joe Adams Scholarship program.”

Councilmember Hancock asked, “Should the city accelerate its contribution?” The Council Members were supportive of continuing the scholarship donation and plan to meet with the family to decide on the amount to contribute to the fund.

An emotional Adams said, “We know our son is remembered in this community.”

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Lehi citizen, Jim Lamph brought an unusual request to the council. He wanted to change the city code in relation to domesticated foxes. The code was not clear on whether domesticated foxes were allowed within the city. Lamph wanted to buy a red fox as a pet for his daughter.

Lehi City Police officer Jed Peterson spoke to the council in opposition to the request. He said, “There is no DNA difference between a wild and domesticated fox. Behaviors are the same. Foxes do not like to be handled. They have sharp teeth and they bite.” Peterson also said there is a risk of rabies. “Bites require immediate euthanasia of the animal.” A veterinary clinic spokesman said, “Foxes do not make good pets.”

There was also a discussion about the re-naming the public street between 1200 west and Digital Drive. It was suggested to name the street, “Quantum Way.”

The longest discussion during pre-council was the discussion concerning the purchase of the Keith Jonsson mink farm located across the street from the 700 South Sports Complex. Mayor Johnson said he had been approached about the city buying the farm. The price suggested by Johnson was $5.3 million for the five-acre parcel. Another proposal was for the city to pay to relocate the farm to Cedar Valley at the cost of $3.7 million and buy the land for $1.6 million.

Councilmembers felt the amount was “unreasonable.”

Regarding the old iron bridge, the location of a tragic teen death on July 7, City Manager Jason Walker said, “We are working to find out who owns the bridge. We are looking for a long-term solution.”

The final agenda item in the Pre-Council was setting the tax rate for property taxes in Lehi this year. A power point presentation was offered. Dean Lundell, Lehi City Finance Director, pointed out that every year the county re-evaluates property and adjusts the tax rate accordingly. This year Lehi City received $7,745,521 with the tax rate at .001830. Next year’s rate will be lowered to .001678 with an anticipated revenue increase to $8,363.814 because of additional growth.

In regular City Council meeting during the citizen input session, Kent Loosle, CEO of Mountain Point Medical Center, spoke to the Council concerning road accessibility to the hospital.

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The next eighteen items were unanimously approved.

• Taylor Legal Holdings annexation, approximately 5.43 acres of property located at approximately 850 West 1250 South with a proposed R-1-15 zoning
• Consideration of Concept Plan approval of Taylor Cove, an 11- lot residential development located at approximately 850 west 1250 South in a proposed R-1-15 zone.
• Consideration of a plat amendment for the Terrace Retail Center Plat #2 located at 1750 West Traverse Parkway. (Fuel center at Harmons)
• Consideration of Resolution #2018-38, a resolution of intent to annex the Innovation Pointe Addition annexation, approximately 7.85 acres of property located at 1445 West Innovation Way with proposed Business Park zone.
• Consideration of Ordinance #56-2018, a zone change of approximately 1.5 acres of property located at 205 North 1100 West changing the zoning from A-1 to R-1-22.
• Consideration of Ordinance #67-2018, a zone change of approximately 2.72 acres located at 333 South Millpond Road changing the zoning from Commercial to Heavy Commercial. (Moji Life)
• Consideration of Ordinance #58-2018, a General Plan Amendment on approximately 85.85 acres of property located generally at 3600 West 1500 North changing the land use designation from MDR and HDR to LDR, MDR and HDR.
• Consideration of Resolution #2018-39, a resolution of intent to annex the Aberle Acres annexation, 2.37 acres of property located at approximately 300 East 470 South with a proposed R.1.Flex zoning.
• Consideration of Final Subdivision approval of Northridge Plat B, an 18-lot development located at approximately 2200 West Fox Canyon Road in a Planned Community Zone. (There are some critical issues yet to be resolved.)
• Consideration of Final Subdivision approval of Canyon Trail Phase 2, a 49-unit residential development located at approximately 5053 North Canyon Road in a Planned Community zone.
• Consideration of Final Subdivision approval of The Meadows at Lakeside, a 47-lot residential development located at 1625 South 1700 West in an R-1-8 zone.
• Consideration of Ordinance #59-2018, a zone change on 2.16 acres of property located at 247 South Millpond Road changing the zoning from Commercial to Heavy Commercial. (Enzo Rings)
• Consideration of Ordinance #63-2018, an amendment to the Lehi City Development Code Chapter 1, Title, Authority, and Purpose and Chapter 30, Vested Rights, to clarify the City’s policy on vested right and pending legislation. (This was suggested by Ryan Wood, Lehi City attorney.)
• Consideration of Ordinance #60-2019, amending the Lehi City Development code, Chapter 37, Residential Design Standards. (According to Christy Hutchings, Lehi City planner, the amendment is more definitive in the scope of materials used in town homes and multiple family housing. There is also included a thumbnail of definitions of architectural terms.
• Consideration of Ordinance #61-2018, amending the Lehi City Development Code Chapters 13-15. (This is an on-going effort to “clean-up” language.”)
• Consideration of Resolution #2018-37 expressing official intent regarding certain capital expenditures to be reimbursed from proceeds of the City’s bonds. (This is money to begin the new police station.
• Consideration of Resolution #2018-36 adopting a Certified Tax Rate for the City of Lehi FY 2019.

Consideration of Resolution #2018-41 granting MCImetro Transmission Services Corp, DBA Verizon a Nonexclusive Franchise to operate a Telecommunications Network in Lehi City.