Neighborhood Districts

Neighborhood District 5 Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2024 Attendance • Utah House of Representatives: Norm Thurston. • Provo City Council: Gary Garrett, Rachel Whipple, Becky Bogdin. • Neighborhood District 5 Executive Board Members: Michael Roberts, Julie Hatchett, Erik Davis, Shannon Bingham (Zoom), Laura Leavitt, Leo Lines (Zoom), Jason Ream, Daniel Friend. • Total number: 42 (38 in person, 4 on Zoom). Conducted by: Daniel Friend, Neighborhood District 5 Vice Chair Emergency Communications – Provo City Emergency Coordinator Chris Blinzinger discussed the emergency communications system, registration process, and the importance of being prepared for emergencies. He gave a reminder about river safety during runoff season, the need for ham radio operators for emergency communication, and the importance of community preparedness and outreach. Memorial Park restroom addition – Neighborhood District Program Coordinator Rachel Breen announced a restroom at Memorial Park. Residents voiced opinions for and against the restrooms, including: • Safety (restrooms will attract transient individuals making it unsafe for children to play in the park, questions about lighting, cameras, and what time the restrooms will close). • Congestion (restrooms will bring people from outside the immediate area, increasing traffic and parking in the neighborhood). • Aesthetics (nearby residents don’t want their view to be of a restroom, concern for odors, preserve the park’s peaceful and reflective atmosphere). • Suggested moving the restroom to another area of the park (southwest corner by Center Street). • Need for restroom facilities for families with small children (currently children are urinating and defecating in the park). • Importance of having restrooms near playgrounds for children's use. Traffic Reports by Provo City Traffic Manager Vern Keeslar • 560 North 900 East Pedestrian Crosswalk – Proposal to move a crosswalk in the area to enhance pedestrian safety, including raised medians, prohibiting left turns, and installing flashing beacons for visibility (like the one by the Rec Center on 500 North). Residents expressed concerns about traffic speed and safety on various streets, such as 9th East and the need for medians to replace left turn lanes for increased safety. • 200 East 200 South Speed Study – Analysis of traffic speed and volume, with a focus on average speeds, directional distribution, and crash data. • 500 South between 400 East & 500 East Speed Study – Examination of traffic patterns and speed limits, noting concerns about speeding vehicles and the need for enforcement measures. • 500 West by Tracks Speed Study – Review of crash data and traffic speed, highlighting high speeds recorded and the need for interventions like speed signs to address speeding issues, discussion about train routes and decision-making based on train types. 820 North Provo River Bridge & Trail Project – Engineer Dave Michelsen gave details about the current state and challenges of the 820 North bridge, plans for upgrading the bridge, including safety improvements and funding details, consideration of different cross-section options for the bridge, emphasis on planning for current and future needs, including safety aspects and public involvement, safety measures to close access points to 820 North from 900 West and 850 West. Public involvement efforts and upcoming public meeting for project awareness, website, email, and hotline for information. Residents voiced concerns about increased traffic, impact on active transportation, safety for pedestrians. Michelsen stated they’re looking to improve safety and connectivity, address blind spots, and increase visibility for drivers. Provo School District update – Provo School Board Member Meg VanWagenen gave updates on school district facilities, school boundaries adjustments, Camp Big Springs district-wide cell phone policy, policies from the current legislative session, micro-mobility devices, and active transportation rules on school campuses. Drugs & crime at Maeser Park – Neighborhood District 5 C.O.P. Officer Kauo encouraged community involvement in reporting suspicious activities. There is a Brats with Cops event on Tuesday, June 11th at 12 noon, which is an opportunity for the community to meet and interact with police officers to understand their role in ensuring safety for kids. Q & A with the City Council at Maeser Park on Thursday, July 11th at 6:00 PM. There will be food, music, and an opportunity to speak to your Councilors directly. 210 S 500 W zone change for short term rentals – Provo City Code Compliance Officer Abinadi Borja spoke about a proposal to change zoning for short-term rentals in a property on 210 South 500 West for Airbnb purposes, with details on the homeowner's intentions and compliance efforts. This item will be heard by the Planning Commission and City Council, and public input is encouraged. Residents raised concerns about the quality of life and impact of short-term rentals on the property. Election of Neighborhood District 5 Secretary – continued to the next Neighborhood District 5 Meeting on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Public Comment • Expression of gratitude for Dylan Cindrich, past Neighborhood District 5 Secretary. • Asked who to talk to about closing 800 East at Memorial Park. • Asked about information on a UVX stop on 9th East near the BYU Creamery. Adjournment The next Neighborhood District 5 meeting will be Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Community Room and over Zoom.