City Council Regular Meeting

MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -1- THE WEST VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR ELECTRONIC SESSION ON TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2024 AT 6:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WEST VALLEY CITY HALL, 3600 CONSTITUTION BOULEVARD, WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH. THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AND CONDUCTED BY MAYOR KAREN LANG. THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: Karen Lang, Mayor Don Christensen, Councilmember At-Large Lars Nordfelt, Councilmember At-Large Tom Huynh, Councilmember District 1 Scott Harmon, Councilmember District 2 William Whetstone, Councilmember District 3 Jake Fitisemanu, Councilmember District 4 STAFF PRESENT: John Flores, Assistant City Manager Nichole Camac, City Recorder Eric Bunderson, City Attorney Colleen Jacobs, Police Chief (electronically) John Evans, Fire Chief Scott Freckleton, Acting Finance Director Steve Pastorik, CED Director Layne Morris, CPD Director Dan Johnson, Public Works Director Jamie Young, Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Springmeyer, RDA Director Sam Johnson, Strategic Communications Director Ken Cushing, IT (electronically) Travis Crosby, IT OPENING CEREMONY- COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAM WHETSTONE Councilmember Whetstone provided a brief history on June 11 and compared a political dispute that was handled poorly due to an inability to find common ground with the positive civil discourse that has occurred among the Council and the community wishing to preserve the West Valley Performing Arts Theater. He asked members of the Council, staff, and audience to rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING HELD JUNE 4, 2024  MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -2- The Council considered the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held June 4, 2024. There were no changes, corrections or deletions. Councilmember Fitisemanu moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held June 4, 2024. Councilmember Harmon seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken and all members voted in favor of the motion. COMMENT PERIOD A. PUBLIC COMMENTS Scott Bohn expressed his frustration about speeding on his street. The latest speed test results showed that 85% of cars were traveling at 27 mph, slightly over the speed limit. He noted some improvements over time but shared that neighbors had a similar negative reaction to the report. Scott explained that the city used an 85th percentile report from the Department of Transportation to set speed limits, which didn't accurately reflect the number of speeders. The report had discrepancies, including incorrect addresses and date ranges, and failed to account for 176 to 244 cars exceeding the speed limit daily, with 40 cars traveling over 30 mph. He found several errors in the report, making it unreliable. He recounted an incident from a week prior, where a speeding car caused a girl on a bike to crash into a parked car, illustrating the dangers of speeding. Scott pleaded with city officials to change the Public Works department's reporting method, emphasizing that current reports only showed average speeds and not individual speeders. Jim Vesock first thanked the Mayor and city council for attending Spring Fest, which had a great turnout. He acknowledged issues with vendor parking that would be fixed for next year to provide more guest parking. Jim mentioned the My Hometown Youth Council hold monthly meetings, often in churches. When those aren’t available, the city has graciously provided the multi-use building, thanks to Craig's help. He appreciated the city's support. Jim then discussed the success of a six-week skateboarding program at the skate park, organized by two community resource centers and other groups. Jim shared feedback from kids using the skate park with their bikes who indicated that they avoided the new bike pad because falling on the asphalt caused injuries. He also pointed out that the bike track had two large holes, posing a hazard for kids on scooters, and suggested it should be an easy fix for maintenance. He noted the skate park had weeds growing taller than him, indicating neglect, and suggested it needed better maintenance. Jim expressed disappointment that the city did not hold a Memorial Day event, unlike neighboring cities. MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -3- Morgan Golightly thanked everyone for their support in keeping West Valley Performing Arts open, highlighting their collective achievements in problem- solving and collaboration over the past month. As a freelance set designer and scenic painter, Morgan emphasized the importance of accessible theater in the community, noting that theaters tell unique stories and share culture with audiences. Morgan shared her personal connection to the theater, describing it as a supportive family and a vital space for creating connections. She recounted her childhood dream of designing sets at this theater and working in various theaters across Utah. The theater provided a safe haven during a rough childhood and later, as Morgan left abusive situations. The community and employment at the theater greatly aided her recovery, supported her career, and helped her as a single parent. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to work at the theater, Morgan stressed the theater's role in saving lives and supporting dreams. She looked forward to continuing to serve the community and thanked everyone for their ongoing support in making a positive impact on people's lives. Liz Christensen thanked everyone for their support in ensuring a future for West Valley Performing Arts. As a Davis County resident and regular audience member, Liz emphasized that she drives past six other theater companies to attend shows at West Valley, which she finds uniquely valuable. Liz shared insights from her mother, a consultant, who highlighted that most industries merely redistribute wealth, whereas sectors like agriculture, mining, and manufacturing create new wealth. Liz likened the support for West Valley Performing Arts to an "artistic mining and manufacturing operation." This theater, according to Liz, taps into community talent that other venues overlook and produces high-quality shows, thereby increasing the artistic, cultural, social, and reputational capital of the community. Liz stressed the importance of entertainment to city life, highlighting the theater’s unique role in nurturing and combining talent along the Wasatch Front. She argued that not all wealth is monetary; artistic and cultural investments yield significant human returns. Liz concluded by urging the city to make a consistent, ongoing commitment to West Valley Performing Arts. She suggested a 1% subsidy in perpetuity as a means to support the city's mission of fostering a diverse, creative, and vibrant community, providing tangible evidence of this commitment. Mary Flitton began by thanking everyone who attended the opening night of "Lightning Thief," expressing her gratitude for their presence and support. She then shared a personal story about her granddaughter, Nora, who, at two years old, got her head stuck between the rails of their staircase. Despite Mary's best efforts, she couldn't free her. Her husband came to the rescue, carefully sawing through the balusters to release Ella. Overjoyed, Ella thanked her grandpa with heartfelt gratitude. Mary drew a parallel between this incident and her feelings MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -4- about the theater. When she heard that the theater might close, she felt as trapped and helpless as Nora did. However, thanks to the collective efforts and support of the community, the theater was saved, bringing her immense relief and joy. She acknowledged that people often don't realize how much hard work goes into maintaining such valuable community resources. She thanked everyone for their efforts in communicating, working together, and ultimately preserving the theater. Mary emphasized the importance of expressing gratitude and shared that her tears were now tears of happiness. Morgan Fenner addressed the council with gratitude and a sense of pride as a lifelong resident of West Valley. She began by acknowledging the partnership and collaboration that had strengthened the community and enriched the cultural landscape through the power of performance. Despite her appreciation, she stressed that their work was not complete until the future of the venue was secured. Morgan highlighted her experiences performing at various venues along the Wasatch Front and worldwide, specifically mentioning her time with Sandy Arts and West Valley Performing Arts. She recounted how she initially sought out city community theaters in Sandy, Murray, Harriman, and Taylorsville, all known for their strong commitment to the arts. Her collaboration with Sandy Arts revealed their dedication to fostering community performing arts, treating it as a cherished tradition and legacy. City officials there regularly expressed their gratitude for contributions to their cultural landscape. She contrasted this with the reopening of the West Valley Performing Arts Center in 2020 with their production of "Footloose," which filled her with immense pride. Since then, she had been involved in several productions, witnessing the theater's growing reputation as a premier destination for both audiences and performers. West Valley Arts was becoming synonymous with visionary cultural development throughout the region. Morgan concluded with a straightforward request: she sought reassurance that the performing arts in West Valley City would receive a 1% subsidy in perpetuity. She emphasized that this commitment was not just about financial support but represented a long-term investment in the cultural richness and vitality of the community. She thanked the council for their partnership, noting it made her prouder to be a member of the community and urged them to set this legacy in perpetuity. Elizabeth Weight began her statement by noting that the theater was once closely associated with a particular organization but now reflects the broader West Valley City, its population, and its culture. She emphasized that the theater is elevating the community, making West Valley City one of the most desirable places to live and visit in Utah. The theater is a point of pride for the neighborhoods, showcasing the city to friends in Salt Lake County and to people across the state. She thanked the council for taking steps to listen and learn more about the MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -5- extraordinary theater in their city, highlighting the magic that occurs in their performance space through the collaboration of talented writers, character creators, directors, musicians, designers, dancers, and audiences. These collaborations result in stories that allow people to imagine, wonder, worry, and hope, providing them with thoughts, ideas, and feelings that remind them of their shared humanity. Elizabeth pointed out that the theater allows audiences to escape the commercial competition and spectacle prevalent in many aspects of life, instead offering topics and characters that resonate with their experiences. She expressed gratitude for the council’s leadership in listening and learning more about the theater. She concluded by calling for the council's ongoing commitment to the talent, professional expertise, collaboration, and meaningfulness the theater brings to West Valley City. Elizabeth underscored that this commitment would demonstrate the value of the theater to residents and others watching the city's progress. She urged the council to invest in the humanity of the city as well as its economy, emphasizing how the theater reflects and nurtures both. Rebecca Cook began her statement by introducing herself as a resident of West Valley for the past two years and thanking the Council for passing the resolution to find a path forward for the West Valley Performing Arts Center. She mentioned that she was present with her nearly three-year-old daughter, Diana, and noted the challenge of attending the meeting due to her current phase of life, including caring for her eight-month-old at home. Rebecca emphasized that one of the reasons her family chose to live in the West Valley area was because of its vibrant theater scene. She shared her personal background, growing up in rural Wyoming as a theater enthusiast but without easy access to theater, which contributed to her struggles with depression and anxiety. She explained how theater has helped her immensely and expressed how having access to an organization like West Valley Performing Arts during her youth would have vastly improved her life. As a parent, Rebecca expressed a strong desire to provide her children with opportunities she did not have, wanting them to feel like their city was a place that helped them blossom rather than a place they wanted to leave. She highlighted the role of West Valley Performing Arts in providing valuable opportunities for the youth of the area and stressed the importance of continuing this for many years to come. Rebecca expressed her excitement about taking her children to shows at West Valley Performing Arts when they are older and looked forward to telling Diana, when she is old enough to participate in youth programs, that she was present when the city took the first steps to ensure continued access to theater and the arts. She concluded by thanking the Council again for passing the resolution and for their time. Walt Sorensen began by expressing gratitude for the Council's work in finding a compromise to support the Performing Arts Center and the theater group. He MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -6- highlighted that this work is just beginning and encouraged the city to collaborate further. He suggested placing "place of interest" signs on the freeway exits for both the Performing Arts Center and the Utah Cultural Celebration Center as a form of passive marketing to attract more people to the city and raise awareness of these important cultural institutions. Walt then drew attention to the tile murals adorning the city entrance, noting the tile representing the former Hale Center Theater, now the Performing Arts Center. He proposed commissioning a new tile to reflect the current vibrancy of the Performing Arts Center. Regarding the Redwood Theater Drive-In, Walt acknowledged the need for housing but urged the city to consider preserving historical businesses and open spaces rather than solely focusing on high-density housing and storage units. He advocated for a balanced approach to development that includes facilities, community centers, businesses, entertainment venues, cultural institutions, education centers, and open spaces. He further urged the city to reject proposed zoning changes that would replace the Redwood Drive-In with housing, suggesting that the community find a way to save the existing drive-in and revitalize the area. Lastly, Walt highlighted the loss of trees in various parts of the city and urged the city to prioritize replanting trees that were originally planned for those areas. Caroline Drake, a local high school student and proud theater enthusiast, expressed her excitement for theater and the impact it has had on her life. She has participated in many community theater productions and will be taking an advanced theater class in the upcoming school year. Caroline shared her positive experiences attending West Valley productions, noting the high quality of their shows. She mentioned seeing the production of "Puffs" and expressed her anticipation for seeing "The Lightning Thief," expecting nothing but excellence from West Valley Theater. Although Caroline hasn't been able to perform in a production at West Valley, her mother, Katie Drake, has, and Caroline attested to her mother's love for the community and the theater. She emphasized the importance of West Valley Theater as a creative and inspirational space for many individuals, including herself. Caroline highlighted the transformative power of live theater, noting its ability to ignite excitement and inspiration in viewers and performers alike. She stressed the significance of supporting the arts for future generations, expressing gratitude to the Council for their continued support of West Valley arts and the unique experiences it provides for theater lovers of all ages. Kate Reufner expressed her pride in being present at the meeting and standing by the side of Mayor Lang and others who worked to save the theater. She highlighted the significance of the theater for future generations, sharing a scenario of a young boy finding solace and community in the theater instead of potentially engaging in delinquent behavior. Kate emphasized the importance of  MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -7- providing spaces like the theater for young people to express themselves and cultivate empathy, suggesting that such experiences could shape them into future leaders capable of making a positive impact on the world. She thanked the Council for ensuring that the theater remains a place for nurturing the potential of young individuals, expressing her gratitude for contributing to a future she wants to be a part of in West Valley City. RESOLUTION 24-97: APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES Mayor Lang presented proposed Resolution 24-97 that would approve Amendment No. 1 to an Agreement With the Department of Workforce Services Written documentation previously provided to the City Council included information as follows: A temporary overflow homeless shelter managed by Switchpoint opened in November of 2023 and was anticipated to close on April 30, 2024. However, the State has decided to keep the shelter open until at least the end of September of this year with the possibility of the shelter being open until April 30, 2025. Since the shelter opened, the City has seen a significant increase in the demand for public safety services. As a result, both the Police and Fire Departments are staffing overtime shifts to meet the increased demand for services. The Utah Department of Workforce Services offers cities with homeless shelters within their borders mitigation funding to help offset the increased costs resulting from the additional public safety service demands from the shelter and surrounding areas. The original contract amount for the mitigation funding was $408,776.26. This amendment would add $345,622.59 of additional mitigation funds to the contract to be used by September 30, 2024. Upon inquiry by Mayor Lang there were no further questions from members of the City Council, and she called for a motion. Councilmember Nordfelt moved to approve Resolution 24-97. Councilmember Harmon seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Councilman Fitisemanu Yes  MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -8- Councilman Whetstone Yes Councilman Harmon Yes Councilman Huynh Yes Councilman Christensen Yes Councilman Nordfelt Yes Mayor Lang Yes Unanimous. RESOLUTION 24-98: APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A MOBILE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TRAILER Mayor Lang presented proposed Resolution 24-98 that would approve the Purchase of a Mobile Emergency Operations Center Trailer Written documentation previously provided to the City Council included information as follows: In 2020 West Valley City was affected by an earthquake. At that time the fixed emergency operations center in city hall was rendered unusable. We at this time had a few smaller units which we patched together to run the city operations. In 2022 we applied for a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which we were granted 1,066,000.00 for a new mobile emergency operations center. We went out to gather information on a unit which would be suitable for a city our size and found that EVI trailers would be able to manufacture the unit. Attached are drawings and outlines for the unit we are going to purchase. The agreement attached is from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, who is the dealer for the unit and will be the local representative we will be working through. The delivery time for this unit will be about 19-20 months. Upon inquiry by Mayor Lang there were no further questions from members of the City Council, and she called for a motion. Councilmember Huynh moved to approve Resolution 24-98. Councilmember Christensen seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken:  MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -9- Councilman Fitisemanu Yes Councilman Whetstone Yes Councilman Harmon Yes Councilman Huynh Yes Councilman Christensen Yes Councilman Nordfelt Yes Mayor Lang Yes Unanimous. RESOLUTION 24-99: AWARD A CONTRACT TO STAPP CONSTRUCTION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE WEST VIEW PARK EXPANSION Mayor Lang presented proposed Resolution 24-99 that would award a Contract to Stapp Construction for Construction of the West View Park Expansion. Written documentation previously provided to the City Council included information as follows: West View Park Expansion is 2.54 acres of land located at 4059 S 6000 W. It is currently a mostly vacant lot. This land is situated between West View Park and the Mountain View Corridor Sports Field. This land used to have two homes that were purchased by the city for the combination of these two areas, both homes have been removed. This project will construct phase one of a two phase park. It will include a challenge course, parking lot and landscaping. Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant monies are also being utilized to help with the installation of the Challenge Course which was approved by City Council last year. We will also be reimbursed from Public Works for the street improvements in the amount of $68,629.00, so the total used from impact fees will be $601,371.00. Bids for construction were solicited and four bidders responded: Stapp Construction $670,000.00 Wasatch West Contracting $849,738.00 S & L Inc $988,020.00 Stapp Construction was selected as the lowest responsible bidder. Construction will begin as soon as possible. Upon inquiry by Mayor Lang there were no further questions from members of the City Council, and she called for a motion. Councilmember Christensen moved to approve Resolution 24-99.  MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -10- Councilmember Fitisemanu seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Councilman Fitisemanu Yes Councilman Whetstone Yes Councilman Harmon Yes Councilman Huynh Yes Councilman Christensen Yes Councilman Nordfelt Yes Mayor Lang Yes Unanimous. RESOLUTION 24-100: AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THREE STATION AREA PLANS Mayor Lang presented proposed Resolution 24-100 that would authorize the Mayor to Sign a Local Government Understanding and Agreement for Consulting Services for Three Station Area Plans. Written documentation previously provided to the City Council included information as follows: The State of Utah requires West Valley City to have a Station Area Plan for the one-half mile radius area surrounding each light rail station. For reference, the State’s Station Area Plan requirements are found in Section 10-9a-403.1 of Utah Code. These plans are intended to promote the availability and affordability of housing, promote sustainable environmental conditions, enhance access to opportunities and increase transportation choices and connections. Funding for these plans has been made available by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. These funds have been allocated to Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) to assist communities who are in need of preparing these plans. To comply with State Law, West Valley City applied for and received funding from WFRC for the three Station Area Plans noted above. To assist West Valley City and WFRC with these Station Area Plans, WFRC engaged a consultant selected by West Valley City. WSP USA Inc. (WSP) has been selected to provide assistance to complete the work required in the time frame allotted.  MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -11- West Valley City staff has reviewed the consultant’s qualifications, scope of work, schedule, budget and deliverables and is committed to working with both WFRC and WSP to make this effort a success. The Local Government Understanding and Agreement form indicates that West Valley City will in earnest consider the final products for formal adoption. Upon inquiry by Mayor Lang there were no further questions from members of the City Council, and she called for a motion. Councilmember Huynh moved to approve Resolution 24-100. Councilmember Whetstone seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Councilman Fitisemanu Yes Councilman Whetstone Yes Councilman Harmon Yes Councilman Huynh Yes Councilman Christensen Yes Councilman Nordfelt Yes Mayor Lang Yes Unanimous. MOTION TO ADJOURN Upon motion by Councilmember Huynh all voted in favor to adjourn. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS OF THE WEST VALLEY COUNCIL THE REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2024 WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:08 P.M. BY MAYOR LANG. I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true, accurate and complete record of the proceedings of the Regular Meeting of the West Valley City Council held Tuesday, June 11, 2024. _______________________________ Nichole Camac, CMC City Recorder MINUTES OF COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JUNE 11, 2024 -12-