Town Council Meeting

Approved Meeting Minutes Fairfield Town Council Special City Council Meeting and Joint Work Session April 29, 2024 1307 North Commerce Drive, Suite 200, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045 Special City Council Meeting and Joint Work Session Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2024 Location: 1307 N. Commerce Dr., Suite 200, Saratoga Springs, UT 84045 Time: 6:00 P.M. Minutes By: Nicolette Fike Call to Order Mayor Jim Miller called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Roll Call. Saratoga Springs: Mayor Jim Miller, Council Members Christopher Carn, Audrey Barton, Michael McOmber, Lance Wadman, and Stephen Willden. Eagle Mountain: Mayor Tom Westmoreland, Council Members Donna Burnham, Melissa Clark, Jared Gray, Rich Wood, and Brett Wright. Fairfield: Mayor Hollie McKinney, Council Members Michael Weber, Tyler Thomas, R.L. Panek, and Richard Cameron. Cedar Fort: Mayor Wyatt Cook Staff Present: Saratoga Springs City Manager Mark Christensen, Saratoga Springs Assistant City Manager Owen Jackson, Saratoga Springs City Attorney Kevin Thurman, Saratoga Springs Public Information Officer AnnElise Harrison, Saratoga Springs City Recorder Nicolette Fike, Fairfield Town Recorder Stephanie Shelley, Eagle Mountain Interim City Manager Steve Mumford, Eagle Mountain City Attorney Marcus Draper, Eagle Mountain City Recorder Fionnuala Kofoed. Alpine School Board Members Julie King and Joylin Lincoln. Invocation / Reverence. Tom Westmoreland, Mayor of Eagle Mountain Pledge of Allegiance. RL Panek, Fairfield Town Councilman Joint Work Session Mayor Miller (Saratoga Springs Mayor) advised that there are several other cities meeting this evening to discuss similar things. He spoke with Mayor Johnson from Lehi City and he is thinking long term by not joining the west district. He feels like if he were to join the central 1 of 5  Approved Meeting Minutes Fairfield Town Council Special City Council Meeting and Joint Work Session April 29, 2024 1307 North Commerce Drive, Suite 200, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045 district it would have to split again too soon because that would include three of the fastest growing cities in Utah. Mayor Miller supports Lehi in that decision. 1. Discussion of Alpine School District Split Status and MGT Education Feasibility study. - ASD Board Member Julie King. Alpine School District Board Member Julie King presented this study by MGT to the City Council Members and Mayors. Option 4 is what the Interlocal Agreements being passed tonight would support. The East District would include Orem, Vineyard, Lindon and Pleasant Grove. The West District would include Cedar Fort, Fairfield, Eagle Mountain, and Saratoga Springs. Lastly the Central District would include Lehi, Alpine, Highland, Draper, American Fork, and Cedar Hills. The presentation shown included projected revenue and expenses for each district. The west is estimated to have a $27 million surplus. Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain are both expected to need additional high schools in the next ten years. The West is going to be dealing with growth over the next 40-50 years. She has been impressed with the level of collaboration amongst the cities. The main point of conversation has been how we can best meet the needs of the students and teachers and how to strengthen the communities. She thinks this is commendable, to look at the big picture instead of the lens of individual cities. Alpine School District Board Member Joylin Lincoln agreed with everything Ms. King mentioned. Council Member Carn mentioned that the $200 million bond doesn't take into account that the debt will be divided if the districts are split. Ms. King advised that any of the buildings and assets that sit in the area stays in that area. The West would carry about 19% of the debt. There is an $8 million capital levy that the district would get every year for repairs and maintenance that are needed. How things will be divided up is outlined in code and will follow that when or if things happen. Mayor Miller asked how employees will be affected if this split happens. He wants to make sure employees are not hurt during this transition. Ms. King advised that they have had communication with Canyons School District and Jordan District to do things differently and learn from problems they had. They have a couple of ideas on how to curb any issues. They have a fund for post-employment for Tier 1 employees that they may be able to transfer to all teachers regardless of what district they end up in. They are trying to not penalize teachers due to a district split. 2 of 5  Approved Meeting Minutes Fairfield Town Council Special City Council Meeting and Joint Work Session April 29, 2024 1307 North Commerce Drive, Suite 200, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045 Public Input – Time for Public Input is limited to no more than 15 minutes total. This time has been set aside for the public to express ideas, concerns, and comments for subject matter not listed as a public hearing on this agenda. Colby Curtis, Eagle Mountain, expressed his support of the cities to go forward with the Interlocal Agreements. He is pleasantly surprised at the collaborative effort made by the cities. He understands there may be some struggles at the beginning but he thinks the long term benefits outweigh the possible bad. He does want to make sure teachers have the opportunity to end up in the district that is best for them without affecting their benefits and pay as much as possible. Heather Lambert, Saratoga Springs, is here as a parent of Alpine School District. She is also in support of this Interlocal Agreement. She thanked them for putting the children's future and needs first. She feels they are outvoted on the school board and this part of the district does not have adequate representation. She thinks this split would allow the district to meet the needs of the children here in the best possible way. Brian King, Saratoga Springs, these were his opinions and not his wife Julie's. He has watched and notice that the area here has three distinct problems. He thinks this would allow them to divide the problems and address them accordingly. He is in support of this. Eileen Strong, Eagle Mountain, retired a year ago as an Alpine School District administrator. She is in strong support of this initiative. She thinks this move will be able to meet the needs of the students in the area. Public input was closed. Policy Session 1. Interlocal Agreement for The Creation of a School District Between the City of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain City, and Fairfield Town. Resolution R24-28 (4-29-24). Mayor Westmoreland of Eagle Mountain City expressed his appreciation to all of the people of Alpine School District. This is in no way in opposition or a vote of no confidence to Alpine School District. It is more of an inevitability due to all of the growth this area has seen. He appreciates all of their efforts and he looks forward to keep working with them through possible transition. 3 of 5  Approved Meeting Minutes Fairfield Town Council Special City Council Meeting and Joint Work Session April 29, 2024 1307 North Commerce Drive, Suite 200, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045 Eagle Mountain Council Member Gray thinks that their staff has done a marvelous job with all of this. The Council has lead this push to get the Interlocal Agreement done. Mayor Jim Miller mentioned he went to Lehi High School when they had just become a 3A school. He thinks Alpine District has done a great job, but it is no longer an era of 3A schools in this area. The growth has been tremendous and they navigated it the best they could. Mayor Miller mentioned that this agreement shows that this is all about the children and what is the best decision for them. Council Member Jared Gray (Eagle Mountain), Council Member Chris Carn (Saratoga Springs), Mayor Westmoreland (Eagle Mountain), Mayor McKinney (Fairfield Town), and Mayor Miller (Saratoga Springs) are the sponsors of this Interlocal Agreement. Mayor Hollie McKinney thanked Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain for allowing them to participate in this Interlocal Agreement. Motion by Council Member Carn to approve the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain City, and Fairfield Town Creation of a School District, Resolution R24-29 (4-29- 2024) he also acknowledge the interlocal agreements happening in other cities and is in full support of those seconded by Council Member Barton. Vote: Council Member Chris Carn - Yes Council Member Lance Wadman - Yes Council Member Audrey Barton - Yes Council Member Stephen Willden - Yes Council Member Michael McOmber - Yes Motion carried 5-0. Eagle Mountain Motion by Council Member Wood to approve the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain City, and Fairfield Town Creation of a School District, Resolution R24-28 (4-29-2024) and also that they support the interlocal agreements of the central cities Lehi West to Cedar Hills and acknowledge those seconded by Council Member Clark. Vote: Council Member Donna Burnham - Yes Council Member Melissa Clark - Yes Council Member Jared Gray - Yes 4 of 5  Approved Meeting Minutes Fairfield Town Council Special City Council Meeting and Joint Work Session April 29, 2024 1307 North Commerce Drive, Suite 200, Saratoga Springs, Utah 84045 Council Member Rich Wood - Yes Council Member Brett Wright - Yes Motion carried 5-0. Fairfield Town Motion by Council Member Thomas to approve the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain City, and Fairfield Town Creation of a School District, Resolution 2024-12 and make a note that they approve of the other cities interlocal and their creation of a central district seconded by Council Member Panek. Vote: Council Member Michael Weber -Yes Council Member Tyler Thomas - Yes Council Member R.L. Panek - Yes Council Member Richard Cameron - Yes Motion carried 4-0. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Miller adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m. June 12, 2024 Stephanie Shelley Minutes Approval Date Stephanie Shelley Town Recorder 5 of 5