Town Council

MINUTES ALTA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 4:00 PM Alta Community Center (virtual), 10351 E. Highway 210, Alta, Utah PRESENT: Mayor Roger Bourke Council Member Carolyn Anctil Council Member John Byrne Council Member Sheridan Davis Council Member Elise Morgan STAFF PRESENT: John Guldner, Town Administrator Piper Lever, Town Clerk Jen Clancy, Deputy Town Clerk Mike Morey, Town Marshal Chris Cawley, Assistant Town Administrator 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DECLARATION 00:00:01 Roger Bourke called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm without an anchor location per a February 17, 2022 determination letter. He then asked Dr Carolyn Anctil to update the group on the appropriate way to protect ourselves and our community. Carolyn said the numbers have dropped significantly and hospital volumes have decreased to a manageable position. She feels the ski area and the Town continue to do the right things and is hopeful that the more extreme measures of masks and social distancing may be nearing the end. 2. CITIZEN INPUT 00:03:04 No citizen input. 3. SKI AREA UPDATE 00:04:05 Mike Maughan asked to come back to the Council after he dealt with a pressing situation. Report below. 4. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA 00:05:00 MOTION: Sheridan Davis moved to approve the Consent Agenda and John Byrne seconded the motion. No discussion. VOTE: All in favor. The consent agenda was approved. Alta Town Council Meeting March 9, 2022 1  5. QUESTIONS REGARDING DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 00:06:00 There were no questions on the departmental reports. 6. MAYORS REPORT 00:07:00 • Roger Bourke welcomed a new citizen of Alta, Ella Morgan, who is the daughter of Jonathan and Elise Morgan. • Announced that Jen Clancy would be filling the Town Clerk position when Piper retires. Roger asked that if anyone knew of a qualified candidate, to encourage them to apply for the posted job opening of Deputy Town Clerk. • The Utah Legislature session has ended and it appears the Town has remained unscathed. There was one bill specifically that could have usurped the Town’s authority to supply water to properties that would have had a significant adverse effect on us. It did not pass. Roger complimented our lobbyist, Shelly Tsuesher and the Utah League of Cities and Towns for looking out for our interests. • Roger reported that he requested the UFA Station #113 be renamed the Little Cottonwood Canyon Fire Station and Captain Jay Torgersen said the UFA was supportive of the change. There will be a sign mounted on the building to state the new name. • Roger met with Bekee Hotze from the USFS for the second time. They discussed a land exchange between Alta and the USFS to help facilitate the Town installing a trailhead toilet in the area near the beginning of the summer road. • The Town renewed a special use permit for water and sewer pipe easements. This is the first year that these SUP fees were not waived, but going forward the SUP will cost the Town about $1,800 annually. • Council of Mayors meeting focused on the problem of homelessness and finding solutions. • Former mayor Harris Sondak has agreed to volunteer for the SLCo’s Mountainous Planning Commission. He is familiar with Alta’s issues will carry that expertise over to the County. • The budget committee held a meeting on March 1st and will meet again prior to April’s Council meeting; probably holding a work session to discuss budgets with the Council. Roger Bourke asked Mike Maughan to present his update to the Council. SKI AREA UPDATE 00:19:00 Mike stated that the ski area parking lots were full or close to full most days. A challenge the ski area is dealing with is the short staffing at the USFS that is slowing down their approval process for summer projects. Projects still on the schedule are replacement of the Sunnyside lift requiring removal of 140+ trees, proceeding with work in the Supreme erosion gully area that involves more tree removal, also installing five Wissen towers on Mt. Baldy this summer and four next summer to accomplish avalanche Alta Town Council Meeting March 9, 2022 2 control without the 105 Howitzer that is being phased out. IKON pass products are coming out and Alta Ski Area will be part of their Premier product, which is expected to reduce the amount of IKON pass skiers. Alta will remain a partner with the Mountain Collective. Business levels are above the past 3 years, and if that trend continues, this could be one of Alta’s biggest, or the biggest year ever, in terms of visitation. Overall, public sentiment is overwhelmingly positive regarding the new parking reservation system. 7. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TO APPROVE A LICENSING AGREEMENT TO ADOPT A TOWN FLAG 00:33:00 Roger stated that in order for the Town to fly the new community flag on Town buildings, the Town needed a licensing agreement with A.C.E. MOTION: Carolyn Anctil moved to approve. Sheridan Davis seconded. Discussion centered around why the agreement was needed. Counsel Cameron Platt explained the free speech issue. VOTE: All voted in favor and the motion carried. 8. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REFARDING 2022-R-4 RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A TOWN FLAG 00:39:00 MOTION: Sheridan Davis motioned and John Byrne seconded. There was no discussion. VOTE: All voted in favor and the motion passed. 9. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2022-O-2 AMENDING THE DOG LICENSE ORDINANCE 00:41:00 Roger explained the issue connecting the latest census population to the number of dog licenses. Jen Clancy pointed out there was also a change in language to reflect the procedural practice in administering temporary licenses. MOTION: Elise Morgan moved to amend the ordinance and Carolyn Anctil seconded. Discussion ensued related to the structure of the license categories and trying to get more utilization out of the numbers. It was suggested and agreed that a deeper dive into the licensing procedures should be taken at a later date. Jen Clancy clarified that the total number of licenses would be decreased by one. VOTE: All voted in favor and the motion passed. 10. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING 2022-R-5 RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING DOG LICENSE CLASS NUMBERS Alta Town Council Meeting March 9, 2022 3 00:55:00 MOTION: John Byrne motioned to pass the resolution as drafted and Sheridan seconded. Discussion involved the temporary license fees, the amount of staff time to administer them, and the amount of revenue received from them. Additional comments were made related to the quantity and prioritization of classification numbers. VOTE: All voted in favor and the motion passed. 11. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON 2022-R-6 TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE TOWN'S FEE SCHEDULE 01:07:00 MOTION: Elise Morgan motioned and John Byrne seconded. No further discussion. VOTE: All voted in favor and the motion passed. 12. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON 2022-R-7 A RESOLUTION CANCELLING THE HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT 01:09:00 MOTION: Roger Bourke motioned to approve and Sheridan Davis seconded. Roger pointed out that we were eliminating an employee benefit that was not needed and Piper pointed out that it was also costing the Town to have the plan in effect. No further discussion. VOTE: All in favor and the motion passed. 13. NEW BUSINESS 01:11:00 It was suggested to invite lobbyist Shelly Tseucher to next month’s meeting to speak to the Council and possibly offer her impression of the legislative session. Roger suggested asking Representative GayLynn Bennion to address the Council as well, but not necessarily at the April meeting. John Byrne noted the Deputy Town Clerk job opening was posted. 14. MOTION TO ADJOURN 01:20:00 MOTION: Elise Morgan moved to adjourn and Sheridan Davis seconded. VOTE: All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 5:22 pm Alta Town Council Meeting March 9, 2022 4 Passed this 13th day of April, 2022 _____________________ Piper Lever, Town Clerk Alta Town Council Meeting March 9, 2022 5