OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Draper City Council Meeting Summary: June 9, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, June 9, 2026
BodyDraper, Utah
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:14:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

I love the address.

0:03

Thank you.

0:05

That's how they're also.

0:22

Okay, we're gonna go ahead and get started and um the mayor showing.

0:27

So I don't have to.

0:30

So we're gonna start with a presentation from uh members of the Salt Lake County Council on County Budget Services in Key Protey.

0:38

So thank you for coming and we look forward to hearing from you.

0:41

Thank you so much for having us.

0:44

Do you want to start here?

0:45

Is that good?

0:45

Yeah, good.

0:46

So my name is Suzanne Hierston.

0:48

I'm one of the at large members of the Salt Lake County Council.

0:51

And I'm also a very proud Draper resident, so thank you so much for having us.

0:55

Thank you, Councilmember Johnson, for introducing us.

0:57

I'm here with Councilmember Theodore.

0:59

Yes, I'm D.

1:00

Theater.

1:00

I represent this area from the county.

1:02

I actually live in Fancy, a district neighboring city, but River.

1:07

So and then we have Kara Travino, she's one of our council staff and our government uh government relations liaison.

1:15

So we just wanted to take how much time do we have?

1:17

Like we were thinking of 10 to 15.

1:19

Okay, great.

1:20

Okay, that works.

1:21

So last year we had were meeting with some of our legislators, and it became really clear that there's a lot of confusion about what the county does, and so we were hoping to just reach out to our shared municipal elected officials and staff just to let you know what our our core priorities are and where we can collaborate and overlap and um serve our shared constituents better.

1:44

So the history of Zelda County, the first incorporation was in 1850 with Salt Lake City.

1:50

There's been a wave of incorporations since Draper was one of the earlier waves in 1978.

1:56

There were more incorporations in the 90s, and then we've had quite a few recently with several townships becoming towns, and then with the passage of HV 330, any island, um, most of them are in Sandy, must either annex or incorporate by July of 2027.

2:14

So that raises the question of well, in a valley that's walled of all cities, does the county play a role?

2:20

And if so, what?

2:21

And we would argue a very much yes.

2:24

We have we've been focusing on our regional role, especially as there's been more municipal incorporations over the years.

2:30

And the statutory duties that the legislature lays out are different for cities and counties, and like you, we are also um political subdivisions of the state.

2:43

And these are some of the things that we do for our regional services in our role.

2:48

Our number one priority, and it's bipartisan, is public safety.

2:53

We are responsible for the sheriff's uh operations, law enforcement, operations of the jail, uh our district attorney and prosecutions, and then also indigenous defense with our legal defense attorneys that we contract with to provide that constitutional right to an attorney and defending yourself.

3:14

We also are responsible by statute for general elections.

3:18

Um our uh county clerk Lenny Chapman also contracts with every city in the county to do local elections as well, and she sets the bar high.

3:30

She is the gold standard in my opinion of free and fair elections and is so great to answer questions if any of your constituents have questions.

3:38

She's phenomenal at answering them.

3:40

We also have a statutory duty for the health department.

3:44

I serve as a council representative on the board of health.

3:47

We are responsible for general public health.

3:50

We do things like restaurant inspections to make sure people aren't getting sick when they go out.

3:54

You know, if there's an issue with you know a nursing home water issue, they they handle that.

4:00

Um vaccine clinics and so forth.

4:03

And uh we also have statutory duties, both federal and state for adult and aging services.

4:10

There's a federal requirement that counties provide meals on wheels, aging nutrition, and this is a huge problem in our country, but we actually have the highest per capita according to the CBC uh rate of deaths by food insecurity for seniors in our county, and it's not something we want to be number one on, but our meals on wheels is so important.

4:32

We provide over 2,000 meals a day in our senior centers and also delivering to um folks that are at risk of hunger in our county.

4:41

Suzanne can ask why is that so high?

4:44

Is it have we just not identified the CDC the number of seniors?

4:49

The CDC study didn't elaborate on the why, but we are the highest in the country per capita on senior citizens dying from food insecurity.

5:00

I can I'll send you the study, but it's just they did not dig into why, but it's like it is not something that we want to be number one in, and we take this very seriously.

5:09

Our senior centers, in addition to providing that nutrition support, provide very needed like social engagement, you know, that that social connection in an era of increased loneliness and death from despair and loneliness is a is a thing that's really important to us.

5:25

We also are responsible for behavioral health.

5:28

In a lot of states, the state is the behavioral health authority.

5:32

In our state counties are the have the mandate for being the behavioral health authority, and what that means is folks that are on Medicaid, lower income.

5:43

Um we provide those mental and behavioral health services for people in um mental health crisis requiring substance use treatment.

5:52

And this is a pitch for um we recently opened the crisis care center over in South Salt Lake.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Regulation██████████████████18%
Procedural███████████11%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Budget Equity Analysis████████8%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Draper City Council Meeting Summary: June 9, 2026

The Draper City Council met on June 9, 2026, in a session that included presentations, public hearings, and multiple votes. The meeting began with a presentation from Salt Lake County Council members on county services, followed by the swearing-in of fire department promotions, public comment, and consideration of several land-use ordinances, the city budget, and other administrative items.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kathleen Keller (12782 South Hideaway Cove, Draper) – Expressed gratitude that a previous petition regarding Russian thistles along Willow Creek between 300 East and 150 East had been addressed quickly. She noted that the public utilities department made further improvements and thanked the council, stating “the system works.”
  • Michael Sussman (homeless) – Alleged false arrests by Draper police, specifically mentioning an arrest by an officer named Hicks and the refusal to return prescription medications. He claimed that banishments from public accommodations were not legal and that he had been deprived of sleep. He asked the council to take a personal interest in ending his nearly seven years of homelessness.

Presentation: Salt Lake County Council on County Budget and Services

  • Suzanne Hierston (At-large member, Salt Lake County Council, Draper resident) and Councilmember Dee Theodore (district representative) , along with staff member Kara Travino, presented an overview of county operations. They emphasized the county’s regional role, highlighting public safety (sheriff, jail, district attorney, indigent defense), elections (county clerk contracts with cities), health department, behavioral health (mental health crisis care center), senior services (Meals on Wheels, noting that Salt Lake County has the highest per capita rate of senior deaths from food insecurity in the U.S.), arts and culture (Eccles Theater, Abravanel Hall), tourism (estimated to reduce average household tax burden by ~$1,900 per household), parks and recreation (My County Rec Pass for youth 18 and under), library services (funded entirely by a separate property tax line item), and property tax administration (collection and distribution for cities, school districts, etc.).
  • Budget Overview: The county’s budget often appears larger due to pass-through funds (e.g., $455 million to UTA). The general fund is primarily based on property and sales taxes, with nearly 75% going to public safety. The county has a AAA bond rating.
  • Jail and Mental Health: Councilmember Theodore noted the jail is at capacity (main ADC holds ~2,000; Oxbow holds ~350). The jail has become a “mental health landing spot.” A jail bond narrowly failed two years ago; the county is now considering revenue bonds to fund expansion and has set aside $100 million in ARPA funds for this project. They aim to add beds and improve re-entry services to reduce recidivism.
  • County Split Legislation: Councilmember Hierston stated that a bill to split the county would duplicate services (two jails, two health departments) and dramatically increase taxes. The county’s formal position was neutral, but her personal position was opposition.

Discussion Items

  • Fire Department Promotions and Swearing-In:
    • Battalion Chief Brian Garn – Over 23 years of service, prior chief in Fielding, founding member of Draper Fire. Sworn in.
    • Captain Jake Martin – Over 15 years of service. Sworn in.
    • Captain Justin South – Over 20 years in U.S. Army Reserves. Sworn in.
    • Engineer Cole – Founding member, paramedic. Sworn in.
  • Ordinance 1718 – Nielsen Zoning Map Amendment (0.33 acres, RA1 to R3): Public hearing held. No public comment. Approved 5-0.
  • Ordinances 1719/1720 – Veranda West Master Area Plan Amendment (retail, surf park, stacked flats): Staff report and applicant presentation. Key details:
    • Location: 13708 S 600 W, west of 600 West and north of Bangerter Highway.
    • Proposed uses: Retail village, a surf park (semi-private with membership and public hours), stacked flats (reduced density to 26 units/acre), and open space (reduced by 4.4 acres but still meeting 15% minimum).
    • Applicant: Jackson Shepherd (representing Wasatch Residential Group, etc.).
    • Surf Park: Will be the official Olympic training venue for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Surfing Team. Annual water usage estimated at 6-9 million gallons, compared to 28 million gallons for high-density housing or 109 million gallons for commercial development on the same footprint. Noise estimated at 50-60 decibels. Operating hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., aligning with city noise ordinances (quiet hours 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
    • Traffic: A traffic impact study confirmed acceptable levels of service through 2050. The developer will fund a new signal at Hideway and 600 West and a southbound deceleration lane at the project entrance.
    • Fire Safety: Fire Chief confirmed initial concerns about access were resolved with two entrances.
    • Planning Commission Recommendation: Approved with a 4-1 vote; dissenting vote due to concerns about approving the surf park under current conditions.
    • Public hearing held. No public comment. Approved 5-0.
  • Ordinances 1724/1725 – Draper-Highland Boundary Adjustment (0.31 acres at 1637 S Suncrest Drive): Public hearing held. No public comment. Approved 5-0.
  • Budget and Tax Items:
    • 7A/7B/7C – Proposed Property Tax Rate Increase: The budget officer stated the tentative budget includes a proposed increase from 0.000936 to 0.001170, estimated to generate $2,696,000 in additional revenue for operational and compensation costs. For a median-priced home ($807,000), the increase would be ~$103.86/year ($866/month). A public hearing is scheduled for August 12, 2026.
    • 7D – Interim Budget Resolution 2628: Adopted interim budget for FY 2026-2027, including changes from the tentative budget (e.g., $3.3M for Crescent project area, $450K for East Bangerter traffic light, $475K for BNC road fund traffic signal, $50K for sidewalk gap replacement, $30K for park impact fees, and items in water, stormwater, ambulance, and fleet funds). Total budget: $175,711,700. Approved 5-0.
    • 7E – Consolidated Fee Schedule (Resolution 2629): Changes include adding accessory dwelling unit fees and water rate adjustments. Approved 5-0.
    • 7F – URS Retirement Contribution Pickup (Resolution 2630): City will pick up additional retirement contributions for public safety/firefighters above the 14% cap (now at 19.98% total). Approved 5-0.
    • 7G – Traverse Ridge Special Service District Tax Rate (Resolution 2631): Council adopts the certified tax rate, with final signing after receipt from counties. Approved 5-0.
    • 7H – Fraud Risk Assessment (Resolution 2632): Score of 355 out of 395 (very low risk). Approved 5-0.
    • 7I – Statutory Officer Compensation (Ordinance 1722): Adopted compensation ranges for city recorder and treasurer. Approved 5-0.
    • 7J – Water Rate Increase (Ordinance 1723): Passes along a 4.5% increase from the Jordan Valley Water District. Approved 5-0.
  • Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) Meeting: Adopted CRA budget for FY 2026-2027 (Resolution CRA 26-02), including a $3.75 million increase for Crescent and East Bangerter project areas. No tax increase. Approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Fire Department Promotions: Three new officers (Battalion Chief Brian Garn, Captain Jake Martin, Captain Justin South) and one Engineer (Cole) were sworn in.
  • Zoning and Land Use Approvals:
    • Nielsen Zoning Map Amendment (RA1 to R3) – approved unanimously.
    • Veranda West Master Area Plan Amendment (including surf park) – approved unanimously.
    • Draper-Highland Boundary Adjustment – approved unanimously.
  • Budget and Fiscal Actions:
    • Interim budget for FY 2026-2027 adopted.
    • Consolidated fee schedule amended.
    • City will pick up additional URS retirement contributions for public safety/firefighters.
    • Traverse Ridge Special Service District tax rate adopted.
    • Fraud risk assessment adopted.
    • Statutory officer compensation ranges adopted.
    • Water rate increase (4.5%) passed on to customers.
    • CRA budget adopted.
  • Public Hearing Scheduled: August 12, 2026, for the proposed property tax rate increase.

Meeting Transcript

I love the address. Thank you. That's how they're also. Okay, we're gonna go ahead and get started and um the mayor showing. So I don't have to. So we're gonna start with a presentation from uh members of the Salt Lake County Council on County Budget Services in Key Protey. So thank you for coming and we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you so much for having us. Do you want to start here? Is that good? Yeah, good. So my name is Suzanne Hierston. I'm one of the at large members of the Salt Lake County Council. And I'm also a very proud Draper resident, so thank you so much for having us. Thank you, Councilmember Johnson, for introducing us. I'm here with Councilmember Theodore. Yes, I'm D. Theater. I represent this area from the county. I actually live in Fancy, a district neighboring city, but River. So and then we have Kara Travino, she's one of our council staff and our government uh government relations liaison. So we just wanted to take how much time do we have? Like we were thinking of 10 to 15. Okay, great. Okay, that works. So last year we had were meeting with some of our legislators, and it became really clear that there's a lot of confusion about what the county does, and so we were hoping to just reach out to our shared municipal elected officials and staff just to let you know what our our core priorities are and where we can collaborate and overlap and um serve our shared constituents better. So the history of Zelda County, the first incorporation was in 1850 with Salt Lake City. There's been a wave of incorporations since Draper was one of the earlier waves in 1978. There were more incorporations in the 90s, and then we've had quite a few recently with several townships becoming towns, and then with the passage of HV 330, any island, um, most of them are in Sandy, must either annex or incorporate by July of 2027. So that raises the question of well, in a valley that's walled of all cities, does the county play a role? And if so, what? And we would argue a very much yes. We have we've been focusing on our regional role, especially as there's been more municipal incorporations over the years. And the statutory duties that the legislature lays out are different for cities and counties, and like you, we are also um political subdivisions of the state. And these are some of the things that we do for our regional services in our role. Our number one priority, and it's bipartisan, is public safety. We are responsible for the sheriff's uh operations, law enforcement, operations of the jail, uh our district attorney and prosecutions, and then also indigenous defense with our legal defense attorneys that we contract with to provide that constitutional right to an attorney and defending yourself. We also are responsible by statute for general elections. Um our uh county clerk Lenny Chapman also contracts with every city in the county to do local elections as well, and she sets the bar high. She is the gold standard in my opinion of free and fair elections and is so great to answer questions if any of your constituents have questions. She's phenomenal at answering them. We also have a statutory duty for the health department. I serve as a council representative on the board of health. We are responsible for general public health. We do things like restaurant inspections to make sure people aren't getting sick when they go out. You know, if there's an issue with you know a nursing home water issue, they they handle that. Um vaccine clinics and so forth. And uh we also have statutory duties, both federal and state for adult and aging services. There's a federal requirement that counties provide meals on wheels, aging nutrition, and this is a huge problem in our country, but we actually have the highest per capita according to the CBC uh rate of deaths by food insecurity for seniors in our county, and it's not something we want to be number one on, but our meals on wheels is so important. We provide over 2,000 meals a day in our senior centers and also delivering to um folks that are at risk of hunger in our county.

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