Draper City Council Meeting Summary - February 3, 2026
Draper City Council Meeting Summary - February 3, 2026
The Draper City Council met on February 3, 2026, to discuss safety concerns regarding electric scooters, a proposed communications policy, and plans for the city's annual celebration. The meeting also included a public hearing, a consent calendar, and several reports.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sarah Brinkerhoff from the Draper Library announced winter reading programs (February) offering a free book and a $5 fine waiver, the upcoming America 250 celebration, and a planned three-month construction closure (likely September–November 2026) for HVAC upgrades, which will impact parking and services.
Discussion Items
- Electric Scooters & Safety: The council reviewed data from Draper PD Crime Analyst Lee Chaplin, who reported 29 electric vehicle accidents from January 2023 to December 2025, 25 of which involved electric scooters. Of the 25 scooter accidents, 17 involved juveniles (15 or younger – 12; ages 16–17 – 5). At least 12 accidents were due to reckless driving at excess speed. Sixteen accidents occurred in crosswalks. Fourteen scooter accidents resulted in injuries, 7 requiring hospital transport (broken bones, teeth, etc.). No fatalities occurred. Accidents were distributed evenly across the city, with a concentration near 123rd and State Street (7 incidents). Chief Ferguson noted that scooters are currently allowed in crosswalks if operated safely, but observed unsafe behavior. The council discussed potential regulations: age limits (debating 14 vs. 12 vs. under 16), helmet requirements, sidewalk speed limits, and requiring riders to dismount in crosswalks. Tracy reviewed state law (HB 381, second substitute) allowing children 8–15 to operate scooters/e-bikes with adult supervision or a safety certificate; 16+ without. Council expressed interest in stricter local regulations, including a minimum age of 14 and mandatory helmets.
- Communications Policy: Linda Chapman presented a proposed comprehensive communications policy covering social media, employee use, public records, accessibility (April 2026 federal deadline), and crisis communication. Council members expressed discomfort with the section on elected officials, finding it too prescriptive and potentially infringing on First Amendment rights. Consensus was to remove that section from the policy and instead use it as a training document with recommendations for newly elected officials.
- City Branding & Signage: Linda Chapman discussed updating city signage (welcome monuments, park signs) with the new logo, noting costs associated with logo changes. Options included major landmark signs, wayfinding signs, and digital signage. Riverton’s project cost $350,000 five years ago; two digital signs quoted at $400–$500,000. Council expressed interest in wayfinding signs and digital signage for emergencies but acknowledged cost and priority.
- Draper Days Celebration Reorganization: David and Mike proposed moving the fireworks launch site to city-owned property west of Draper Park to improve safety and free up the west side for events. This would allow moving the stage west, relocating the children’s area east, and improving vendor layout. Fire and police approved the safety changes. The plan also includes a drone show on Friday (cost $15,000–$17,000) to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, with Saturday fireworks. The car show Thursday would occupy the entire park. Pros include better viewing, vendor satisfaction (away from loud band), and improved safety. Cons include additional work for staff, potential food vendor income loss if disconnected from concert audience, and shade concerns. The council generally supported the concept, with discussion about food vendor placement (e.g., near the BMX area where parking was previously unused). The parade will prohibit throwing candy from vehicles (insurance recommendation) but allow walkers to hand out candy.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar Approved (4-0): Approved minutes of January 20, 2026; Resolution 2607 (appointing members to Draper City Committee Engagement and Events Committee); Resolution 2608 (disposing of surplus personal property).
- Item 5A (Public Hearing) – Full Service Restaurant License for Fitoy Roll Sushi: Approved unanimously (4-0), providing local consent. The restaurant is located at 1442 East Draper Parkway, more than 300 feet from any community location.
- Item 5B (Public Hearing) – Ordinance 1699 & 1700 (Land Use and Zoning Map Amendments for Bell Peterson Guston properties): Approved unanimously (4-0). Changes involve three lots (approximately 1.87 acres) at 693 East 13800 South, 703 East 13800 South, and 1377 South Shadow Mountain Lane. The proposal reconfigures lot lines without adding new homes; one lot will be rezoned from RA1 to RA2, and land use designations will be aligned with existing zoning.
- Item 5C – Resolution 2609 (Common Municipal Boundary Adjustment with Alpine City): Approved unanimously (4-0). Sets a public hearing for April 7, 2026, to adjust a 14-foot boundary segment.
- Legislative Update (Mayor): Mike reported on the legislative session (week 3). Key bills: UTA transit reorganization, property tax bills, and a potential land use bill (Ludma) affecting local authority. HB 48 (wildfire high-risk areas) continues to raise questions; the city plans an open house to inform residents about impacts. HB 41 aims to update the WUI code; another bill would allow homeowners in WUI areas to remove vegetation without HOA restrictions, though clear-cutting is discouraged.
- Water & Development Update (Mayor): Regarding the “shoebox” property in Suncrest (commercially zoned, CR), only 70 ERUs of water remain. A 2024 concept plan for 172 units (which would require a rezone) has no active application, and the water supply is insufficient.
- Grant Awards: The city received a $2 million federal community project funding grant for a redundant water line and system upgrade in the Suncrest area. Additionally, a $200,000 WUI PPM grant (no city match) was awarded for a chipper and a pull-and-catch truck to support wildfire mitigation efforts.
- Cell Tower Leases: The council directed staff to negotiate longer-term extensions (up to 25–40 years) with two cell providers, aiming for the highest reasonable rent increases, given statutory limitations.
Meeting Transcript
We do close to around a development. Yes. And I was standing on the case. Right, ladies and gentlemen. Um we do have a need for a closed meeting for two items, one um land acquisition and development during the discussion real estate. Is there a motion to close the meeting? So the motion by Fred Second. Second. By Catherine. Catherine? Yes. Joshua. Yes. All right. We have three to go in the phone to go into an overview here. As you know, as city council members, you've gotten some complaints from parents and neighbors in Draper about scooters. So it's an issue that we seem to be running into heavily. And it's kind of a sticky point between like parents who want the kids to be able to use it, and then we've got a lot of safety like concerns around the use. So we wanted to have our crime analyst trends start off and just give you a sense for what's been going on just in the past two years between 2023 and 2025. Um so that that way you can see, you know, what the numbers are, what the injuries, you know, kind of statistics are where they're happening in the cities as well. Um I don't want to do his presentation for him. Is he here? Oh, okay, great, come on up. You're kind of just filling down here. Uh hello, my name's Lee Chaplin, I'm the crime analyst for paper PD. Um, so Chief Ferguson asked me if you want to go to look into this topic of electric vehicle accidents. Um primarily looking at scooters. Um so for context, we looked at uh January 2023 through December 2025, just a month and a half ago at this point almost. Um we had twenty-nine accidents involving electric vehicles, obviously not including parts. Um twenty-five of the twenty-nine, which is obviously the vast majority were electric scooters. Um these accidents were distributed evenly throughout this city. Um there was no concentration in school zones or residential neighborhoods, uh, which is kind of surprising given that they are primarily German by adolescents. Um the ages of the individuals involved in all these accidents was nine to fifty-eight years old. Um so wide range, however, mostly written again by juveniles. Um twelve of the accidents involved, children fifteen years old or younger. An additional five were between sixteen and seventeen years old. So that's 17 of the uh twenty-five that were driven by juveniles total. In terms of fault, um, reading the reports and looking at the uh body cams, at least 12 of the accidents in uh looking at the evidence were due to the scooter occupant driving recklessly uh with access speed. And I say at least flow because I think it's more than that, but that's how many were it was obvious. Similar to car accidents, it's very difficult for a police officer to determine that after the fact, uh, unless you have witnesses or um traffic cameras. Uh sixteen accidents occurred in the crosswalks. Again, that's the vast majority. Um most of the time the vehicle or the car drivers were saying that the scooter darted out and was not visible to them at any time. Um in terms of uh sorry, personal map. As you can see, our primary campuses in Draper are Corner Canyon, only three in that area. Um the vast majority happened actually at one twenty-third in State Street. Um there's another dot hidden behind that one to the left. There's actually seven in that area alone of one twenty-third in State Street. Um so seven again of the twenty-nine. All those in red had injuries, which was sixteen total.
openpublica.com