OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lehi City Council Meeting - October 14, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, October 14, 2025
BodyLehi, Utah
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, October 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:22:17

Transcript — Verbatim
0:27

Well I would never think my place.

0:31

That's right.

0:32

That's true.

0:32

That's why I'm every day.

0:37

What would you stop?

0:38

I could tell me.

0:43

I can do this one.

0:45

I think it's called the slides.

0:46

Oh, it's kind of a dichotomy question then.

0:49

Um, do it once, so we're uh grateful for all the moisture that we had uh several weeks as uh it helps to fill their fill our reservoirs and uh keep our uh state uh beautiful and productive.

2:08

Uh we're grateful for the opportunity we have to gather together as a city council and for uh the items that we have to discuss uh and decide on this evening.

2:16

We'd ask though please bless that.

2:18

We'll be able to have the uh wisdom as we uh decide how to move forward on the various items.

2:24

Uh Heavenly Father, we're grateful for all the people that serve in our community, our first responders, and uh others that serve in various capacities on various committees that help uh make our city great and pray that that will bless them for their service.

2:37

And we say these things say may thy son Jesus Christ, amen.

2:40

Amen.

2:40

Thank you very much, Paul.

2:45

Okay.

2:46

Uh I think I mentioned this is our pre-council meeting.

2:49

Our regular council meeting starts at seven.

2:52

So if somebody came here thinking they were here for the regular council and was waiting for items on that agenda, you're early, but that's okay.

2:59

You can stay.

3:00

But just by looking at the crowd, man, it looks like we must have a lot of uh youth council members here tonight or something.

3:07

So uh we're gonna go to item two point one, which is a Lehigh City Youth Council oath of office.

3:14

This is an important one.

3:19

Hey.

3:20

Um, good evening.

3:21

My name is Tisha Wilson, and I have the privilege of serving as the Lehigh City Recorder.

3:26

Uh part of my role is to help make sure that the actions of our city government are done properly, transparency, and in accordance with the law.

3:35

And one of my favorite duties is to administer the oath of office to those who serve our community.

3:40

Today I have the auditor the honor of administering this oath to members of the Lehigh City Youth Council.

3:47

So, members of the youth council, if you could come up and state your name into the mic, Sherry and Melanie will give you your certificate of the oath of office.

3:56

And then if you could stand in front of the mayor and council, I'll then administer the old in alphabetical order, just caught up.

4:14

Nobody wants to be first.

4:20

Oh, that's so many.

4:21

I took all of them.

4:23

Sorry, awkward.

4:28

Sadie Wilson.

4:30

Do I feel it today?

4:33

Yeah.

4:34

Just come stand here.

4:37

They're gonna find your certificate and give it to you.

4:40

It'll be easier when they get to the end of all the names.

4:45

It just stands right up to the case.

4:46

Sophie's all wiggle and face that way, yep.

4:51

Callie Riddell.

5:02

Carly Green.

5:18

Lily Condy.

5:20

Miles Thurlow.

5:25

Serenko.

5:26

Claire Meetis.

5:29

Clive Burroughs.

5:32

Camden Botkin.

5:36

I on guard.

5:43

Keegan Deban.

5:48

Lila Jackson.

5:51

Eden Lovettao.

5:55

Do we love a tow?

6:00

Onica Cook.

6:05

Stephen Dixon.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing███████████████████19%
Zoning Regulations████████████████16%
Transportation Safety████████████12%
Procedural███████████11%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Planning and Zoning█████████9%
Public Transportation████4%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Lehi City Council Meeting - October 14, 2025

The Lehi City Council met on October 14, 2025, for a pre-council session at 5:30 PM and a regular session at 7:00 PM. The pre-council included the Youth Council oath of office, a presentation on the Transit Fresh Look Study, discussion of a shift differential pay policy for police, and the quarterly financial report. The regular session featured public comments, consent agenda approvals, and consideration of several ordinances, including general plan amendments and a new affordable housing overlay. Key decisions included approval of connectivity standards, annexation, and a general plan amendment, while a high-density housing amendment and a starter home ordinance were denied.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved purchase orders (PO Index, PO 8162 Power, PO 8172 Truvac, PO 8173 Premier Truck).
  • Approved city council meeting minutes from August 26, 2025, and September 9, 2025.
  • Re-approved Ordinance #54-2025 (dissolving Thanksgiving Park Economic Development Project) and Ordinance #55-2025 (dissolving SR-92 Digital Drive Community Reinvestment Project Area).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pedestrian Safety at Ascent Academy: Multiple residents, including Jessica Willardson and Michael Ray (whose child was struck by a car), urged the city to install a crosswalk, sidewalk, and crossing guard on 900 North. Luke, the city traffic engineer, presented options and committed to installing a school crosswalk, a 20 mph school zone, and a crossing guard. He also noted that a sidewalk gap would be filled in spring 2025.
  • Bull River Road General Plan Amendment: Several residents (Shannon Totham, Jonathan Madsen, Alan Hawley, Casey Barrett, and others) spoke in opposition to changing the land use from Low Density Residential (LDR) to High Density Residential (HDR), citing incompatibility with the surrounding neighborhood, traffic, and safety concerns. No residents spoke in favor.
  • SHAR Ordinance: Multiple residents (Laura Stevens, Kaylin Osborne, James Harrison, Rachel Freeman, Shannon Totham, Emily Stembridge, and others) opposed the Starter Home Attainable Residential (SHAR) ordinance, raising concerns about deed restriction enforcement, lack of transparency, parking, and infrastructure strain. No residents spoke in favor.
  • Other Public Comments: Spencer Fife asked about congressional redistricting; the council deferred to state legislators. A question about cell phone policies in schools was directed to the state.

Discussion Items

  • Transit Fresh Look Study (Pre-Council): Kendall Willardson (Mountainland Association of Governments) presented a regional transit vision for northwest Utah County, focusing on bus rapid transit and light rail corridors. Councilmembers expressed concerns about the proposed Pony Express/Bull River alignment, advocating for a route using 2300 West and Pioneer Crossing to capture more ridership in Lehi. The study is expected to finalize in November 2025.
  • Shift Differential Pay Policy (Pre-Council): Police Chief Paul proposed a 5% pay differential for graveyard shifts and 2.5% for evening shifts to improve officer retention and wellness. The council gave informal support to develop a draft for a future vote.
  • Quarterly Financial Report (Pre-Council): Finance Director Dean Lundell reported sales tax revenue of $25.2 million (budget $23.7M), property tax of $16 million (budget $16.1M), and total general fund revenue of $65.7 million. The ending fund balance was $24.5 million (just over 30% of one year's revenue), with allocations for reserves, rainy day fund, and risk management. Enterprise fund reserves were also reviewed.
  • Development Code Amendment - Connectivity Standards (Item 5): Councilmember Kim Struthers explained the amendment to Chapter 37, adding flexibility for vehicular connectivity when traffic volumes are high. Approved 4-0.
  • JDH Olson Annexation (Item 6): Public hearing held; no comments. Approved: Resolution #2025-74 (annexation agreement) and Ordinance #63-2025 (R-1-22 zoning). Both passed 4-0.
  • Lee General Plan Amendment (Item 7): Robert Lee requested changing 0.5 acres at 1035 West Main from MDR to Commercial for a real estate office. Approved 3-1 (Councilmember Newell voted no).
  • Bull River Road General Plan Amendment (Item 8): Perry Homes requested changing 1.48 acres from LDR to HDR for a townhome development. After extensive public opposition and council discussion citing incompatibility with the neighborhood and lack of justification, the motion to deny passed 4-0. The applicant can develop under existing R-1-22 zoning.
  • SHAR Ordinance (Item 9): A lengthy discussion centered on deed restriction enforcement, infrastructure needs, and potential state mandates. Council voted 4-0 to deny the ordinance without prejudice, directing staff to research similar ordinances in other cities (e.g., Heber, Ephraim) and address enforcement concerns.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved (all items).
  • Ordinance #59-2025 (Chapter 37 Connectivity Standards) approved 4-0.
  • Resolution #2025-74 and Ordinance #63-2025 (JDH Olson Annexation) approved 4-0.
  • Ordinance #62-2025 (Lee General Plan Amendment) approved 3-1.
  • Ordinance #60-2025 (Bull River Road General Plan Amendment) denied 4-0.
  • Ordinance #61-2025 (SHAR Ordinance) denied 4-0 without prejudice.
  • Ascent Academy Safety: Luke (Traffic Engineer) committed to installing a school crosswalk, a 20 mph school zone, and a crossing guard; a sidewalk gap will be completed in spring 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Well I would never think my place. That's right. That's true. That's why I'm every day. What would you stop? I could tell me. I can do this one. I think it's called the slides. Oh, it's kind of a dichotomy question then. Um, do it once, so we're uh grateful for all the moisture that we had uh several weeks as uh it helps to fill their fill our reservoirs and uh keep our uh state uh beautiful and productive. Uh we're grateful for the opportunity we have to gather together as a city council and for uh the items that we have to discuss uh and decide on this evening. We'd ask though please bless that. We'll be able to have the uh wisdom as we uh decide how to move forward on the various items. Uh Heavenly Father, we're grateful for all the people that serve in our community, our first responders, and uh others that serve in various capacities on various committees that help uh make our city great and pray that that will bless them for their service. And we say these things say may thy son Jesus Christ, amen. Amen. Thank you very much, Paul. Okay. Uh I think I mentioned this is our pre-council meeting. Our regular council meeting starts at seven. So if somebody came here thinking they were here for the regular council and was waiting for items on that agenda, you're early, but that's okay. You can stay. But just by looking at the crowd, man, it looks like we must have a lot of uh youth council members here tonight or something. So uh we're gonna go to item two point one, which is a Lehigh City Youth Council oath of office. This is an important one. Hey. Um, good evening. My name is Tisha Wilson, and I have the privilege of serving as the Lehigh City Recorder. Uh part of my role is to help make sure that the actions of our city government are done properly, transparency, and in accordance with the law. And one of my favorite duties is to administer the oath of office to those who serve our community. Today I have the auditor the honor of administering this oath to members of the Lehigh City Youth Council. So, members of the youth council, if you could come up and state your name into the mic, Sherry and Melanie will give you your certificate of the oath of office. And then if you could stand in front of the mayor and council, I'll then administer the old in alphabetical order, just caught up. Nobody wants to be first. Oh, that's so many. I took all of them. Sorry, awkward. Sadie Wilson. Do I feel it today? Yeah. Just come stand here. They're gonna find your certificate and give it to you. It'll be easier when they get to the end of all the names. It just stands right up to the case. Sophie's all wiggle and face that way, yep. Callie Riddell. Carly Green. Lily Condy. Miles Thurlow. Serenko.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com