The fire chief brought three bids for a remodel of the basement living quarters at the fire station. The current station serves four personnel with two showers, one for men and one for women, which makes it difficult for crews returning from a call to clean up when staffing is mixed. The plan expands the space to four showers for men and two for women, enlarges the locker-room-style bathrooms, and adds a sixth bedroom to allow room for growth, paramedic students, and additional firefighters during high-demand periods. Because construction would leave the station without showers for roughly eight weeks, the low bid includes shower trailers on site during the work.

CNK Construction, a local firm, submitted the low bid at about $101,000, with the other two bids near $103,000 and $104,000. Staff cautioned the actual timeline is more likely 10 to 12 weeks. The proposal would draw from the capital projects fund, which carries a balance of roughly $3.1 million. A Council member raised a standing concern about capital stewardship, noting that Council cannot commit to individual projects without a full picture of upcoming capital needs, and that saying yes today may mean saying no to a required project such as a sewer expansion later. The concern was registered as caution, not opposition. With three Council members supportive and the concerns noted, Council directed staff to move forward and return with a budget amendment for discussion at a future meeting.

In a related matter, staff reported the city has been unable to sell two surplus ambulances at an acceptable price. Interested buyers, some of them firefighters seeking project or camper conversions, have offered figures as low as $3,500, and consignment and surplus listings have not produced a stronger offer. Council discussed treating them as straight surplus.

The chief presented a contract with an outside firm to bill for services the department performs on a routine basis, such as vehicle extrication, traffic accident cleanup, and wash-downs. Under the contract, the firm would bill insurers and, in the case of a structure fire, recover a set amount written into many homeowner policies, up to $500 for a private residence and up to $5,000 for a commercial structure. The firm would take 22 percent of amounts collected and would not pursue residents beyond the policy limits.

Council was reluctant to send nearly a quarter of the recovered revenue to an outside firm when the city has performed this billing in house in the past and has capable staff to do so. The department estimated the city has left roughly $25,000 to $27,000 in billable service calls uncollected this year, including about 43 traffic-accident-related calls averaging near $600 each. The main concern raised was ensuring a reliable process, so no billable call is dropped between the department and the front office. Staff discussed whether the department’s reporting software could pass the information needed to the city automatically. Council directed the chief to work over the next two weeks with the front office and treasurer to set up an in-house process, with billing eligible to be applied retroactively to July 1, and to bring the matter back for further discussion.

Council took up the agreement for bailiff services returned from the prior meeting. The city’s current bailiff has resigned, and the proposed service provides its own training, protective vests, and equipment, with the city paying an hourly rate. Staff reported the service is reputable and used by other courts. Council approved Resolution 2646 as part of the consent agenda.

Council recognized Tyona Price for five years with the fire department. She began as an EMT at age 16 as a true volunteer and has since earned her EMT and advanced certifications, Firefighter I and II, and hazmat certifications, become a part-time firefighter, completed nursing school, and is now working through the bridge program to become a paramedic.

Council adopted Ordinance 2611, brought forward by a Council member, which allows the discharge of BB guns, slingshots, airsoft, and similar air-powered devices on private property within the city. The ordinance does not authorize firearms; state and federal law continue to apply. It repeals a provision of the existing code that prohibited items such as slingshots citywide. Under the ordinance, the property owner is responsible for any damage, the activity is limited to private property, and it does not extend to public parks, streets, or other public property.

During the discussion, Council members and residents weighed the balance between personal freedom on one’s own property and safety, acknowledging that air-powered guns can cause serious injury and that parental supervision remains a family responsibility. At the Council meeting a resident raised questions about how the private-property limit, an age provision, and a noise standard would be applied. Council clarified that the ordinance is written to give private property owners a right on their own land and does not cover public property. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Council adopted Ordinance 2613, a code text amendment that simplifies the requirements for a straight rezone application. The changes, largely strikethroughs to portions of the existing code, remove a required applicant narrative that could tie an applicant to stated intentions, remove a requirement that applicants supply their own map when city staff can prepare one, and remove a requirement that applicants produce an engineered concept plan. Staff explained the amendment applies only to strict zoning changes, not to density overlays, and directs applicants toward the general plan, the integrated land use plan, the future land use map, and sound planning principles. The Planning Commission reviewed the amendment on July 14 and recommended approval by a 4-to-0 vote, with two members absent and an alternate seated. Staff agreed to prepare a zoning cheat sheet and, at a resident’s suggestion, a process flowchart for the community development website. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Council reviewed Ordinance 2614, a code text amendment addressing Planning Commission term limits and alternate members. Staff presented two options: one that adjusts term limits and clarifies staggered, cut-and-dry expiration dates, and one that reflects the Planning Commission’s June 23 suggestion of four-year terms along with new language defining alternate members. As drafted, alternate members could participate in Planning Commission deliberations but would not vote unless designated to fill in for an absent or disqualified member.

Council raised a question about whether allowing non-appointed participants to take part in deliberations is consistent with Utah state code, and noted that current alternate members were seated without defined ending dates, which the city attorney has flagged as an issue. Council directed that the ordinance be reviewed by the city attorney, that appointments and expiration dates be made clear and brought to Council, and that staff determine how the change would apply to current members. Council voted to table Ordinance 2614 pending legal review.

Community Development and Parks and Recreation presented the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan for adoption. Staff reviewed the planning history, from a 2013 assessment through the 2017 Main Street plan and the integrated land use plan adopted in 2023, and noted that rapid growth, roughly 300 housing units in each of 2021 and 2022 against a long-run average near 100, left the city ahead of its earlier projections and prompted a dedicated parks plan. The plan has six chapters covering an introduction, parks, park design, trails, open space, and implementation.

Staff described a level of service well below the national standard of 13 acres per 10,000 residents, with the city near 2.4 acres per 10,000, and noted the more meaningful local measure is park access, keeping a park within a half mile of every resident. The city has three current access gaps that planned parks are expected to fill. Staff identified acquiring land for future parks as the most important near-term priority. Trail connectivity ranked among the highest resident priorities in the needs assessment.

The implementation chapter discusses funding, including a Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) tax. In the needs assessment, about 74 percent of more than 500 respondents supported such a tax. The tax is one-tenth of one percent, one cent on every ten dollars, and staff estimated it would generate roughly $300,000 per year dedicated to recreation, arts, and parks. Staff is preparing to ask Box Elder County to consider a countywide RAP tax; the county declined a similar measure in 2015. If the county does not proceed, the city retains the option to place a city RAP tax on the 2027 ballot. Staff also noted many state grants, including trails grants near an 80/20 match, are more competitive when the city has funds allocated to match them.

A suggestion was raised to consider a fenced area at Library Park given its proximity to the street. At the Council meeting a resident questioned the plan’s growth projections as low and asked that the plan clearly supersede the prior parks plan and be kept on a regular update schedule. Staff agreed the forthcoming comprehensive plan will set review dates for each chapter. Council adopted Ordinance 2612 with a provision that the plan supersedes any prior parks plan. The motion carried unanimously.

Council approved a generative artificial intelligence policy that gives city employees, Council members, and contractors direction on how AI may be used. The policy is built around Utah state code, has been vetted with the city attorney, and is accompanied by an employee handbook with specific scenarios. A central requirement is what staff called the human touch: nothing produced with AI may go out without being read and validated by the responsible person, who remains accountable for the accuracy of the information. To allow the attorney time to finalize language related to contractors and procurement, the policy carries an effective date of August 15. Council approved Resolution 2647 as part of the consent agenda.

The fire chief reported that, following a meeting with the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the state, the city returned to the fireworks ordinance adopted in June, which restricts discharge in two mapped areas, Radio Hill and the river bottoms. The ordinance and maps were posted to the city website so residents can see exactly where restrictions apply. Staff is developing an updated ordinance that would set clear criteria and a standing map for any future restriction, giving the fire chief defined parameters based on conditions such as heat, drought, and low humidity rather than requiring an emergency meeting. Council discussed defining the restricted boundary by a road for clarity rather than by the river line. Because the June ordinance is in place, the city is set for the holiday weekend. This item was removed from the Council meeting agenda as no action was needed.

Council continued its strategic planning work under a framework the Mayor has named the Connection Plan, which sets the city’s mission and vision and defines roles as a horizontal partnership: Council sets direction, the city manager and staff carry it forward, and residents provide input. After several sessions of gathering ideas, Council worked to select one to three priority goals under each of four pillars to give staff clear direction for the coming year. Staff will assemble the selections into a final plan with measurable goals for Council’s review and approval.

Council prioritized adopting a citizen-driven general plan for 2026, the downtown and citywide Main Street beautification effort, and a feasibility study for a multi-use sports and recreation complex. Staff reported the scope of work for the general plan was approved by the state and that a request for proposals would be issued, with responses due August 21 and Council selecting the firm. Council also noted parks that need to be brought back to standard, including non-working ball field lights.

Council prioritized launching a public transparency dashboard, adopting the dignity index as the standard for how the city operates, and launching a “share the good” campaign. Council discussed that the new city website, released this week, includes a built-in resident communication platform, and discussed cultural events to help residents of all backgrounds feel more connected, noting a large community event is already being planned.

Council prioritized a deliberate economic development and recruitment strategy and a multi-year public safety scaling plan to keep police, fire, and EMS staffing and equipment ahead of population growth. Improving the appearance of public buildings was folded into the Main Street effort; staff relayed that state Main Street and historic preservation representatives encouraged preserving the civic center’s historic character and offered resources to help improve it. Council also noted resident interest in giving youth more to do downtown.

Council prioritized building a complete financial plan for the city, supported by utility rate studies and asset depreciation schedules now underway, along with support for mental health and substance abuse needs and securing the city’s long-term water future.

Staff reported the city’s new website was released this week, described as a digital front door with a built-in communication platform. Staff also reported the fire department’s social media following has grown from about 1,200 to 3,200 since the spring, supported by regular photos and videos of the department’s work.

Council was informed that the citizen advisory committee will restart soon after a member stepped down, with new volunteers interested in helping. Staff also noted the addition of new personnel and the hiring of a replacement for a departing office secretary.

The Council meeting opened with an invocation from a local pastor whose congregation lost its church building to a fire. Council members noted the community turned out in strength over the weekend to support the congregation and the cleanup effort. The meeting was set for 6:00 p.m. so residents could also attend a community celebration marking 250 years of the United States, held that evening at the county fairgrounds.

A resident offered detailed comments on the discharge of projectiles ordinance, asking how the private-property limit would interact with public property, how an age provision would be verified, and whether a standard that noise not be audible beyond the property line could be met in practice. Council clarified the ordinance applies to private property only and adopted it as written.

The same resident commented on the parks master plan, raising concern that its growth projections were too low, that no language stated it supersedes the prior parks plan, and that a regular update schedule be tracked. Council adopted the plan with a supersession provision and pointed to the coming comprehensive plan for update timing. A second resident spoke in support of the plan and the value of updated and additional parks for families.

On the rezone amendment, a resident asked the city to prepare a process flowchart, in addition to the cheat sheet already discussed, and to post it on the community development website. Staff agreed to prepare it.

Council convened in closed session on July 21, 2026 to discuss pending litigation, as permitted under the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. No action was taken in open session following the closed session.

Residents with questions about utility billing or city services are encouraged to contact City Hall. The city’s ordinances, maps, and the new website are available online for public review.