Lehi City Council Work Session and General Session, 2026-01-13
Lehi City Council Work Session and General Session, 2026-01-13
The Lehi City Council convened today for a work session followed by a regular general session. The council addressed the review of the noise ordinance, adoption of the 2026 meeting schedule, and procedures for future vacancies. Key discussions included public feedback on bike lane safety, the establishment of a Small Business Council, and strategies for addressing state-level housing and transportation mandates. The session concluded with administrative reports, public commendations, and the appointment of council members to the Utah Lake Authority.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Purchase Orders: The council approved the consent agenda items, including the approval of various purchase orders.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chad Watkins (Strong Towns Lehigh): Expressed full support for extending "curb extension" pilot programs to all schools in Lehigh. Argued that narrowing roadways physically changes driver behavior, reduces vehicle speeds, and increases stopping compliance, which is critical for student safety near schools.
- Leah Jay (Strong Towns Lehigh): Expressed support for redesigning streets to prioritize pedestrian safety over vehicle throughput. Advocated for a shift in infrastructure design philosophy to distinguish between "streets" (people-focused) and "roads" (transit-focused). Supported curb extensions as a tool to naturally slow drivers and prevent fatal accidents.
Discussion Items
- Noise Ordinance Review (2.2):
- Staff presented a draft review proposing to change noise violations from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor to better align penalties with the offense.
- Proposed changing the start time for prohibited noise from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. across all seasons (rejecting seasonal variations).
- Proposed shortening the continuous noise measurement duration from three minutes to 30 seconds.
- Council Positions:
- Councilwoman Newell expressed support for the 7:00 a.m. start time and the overall gentle approach but requested reviewing the original Provo-style simplified draft.
- Councilman Stallings expressed full support for the Class C downgrade but expressed concern that Class B provides necessary "teeth" for enforcement and compliance.
- Councilwoman Freeman requested clarification on whether the ordinance includes warning clauses or a "three-strike" process, noting the city's general preference for voluntary compliance.
- Councilman Lockhart expressed strong support for measuring noise from the "receiving location" (where the complaint originates) rather than just the property line to ensure accurate impact assessment.
- Legal staff clarified that while technical violations occurred in recent resignation appointments, the intent was fulfilled, and the appointments remain valid.
- Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) Training (2.3):
- Councilman Ryan provided detailed training on the Utah Open Public Meetings Act, emphasizing the distinction between public meetings and public hearings.
- Discussed "serial meetings" and the prohibition of a quorum deliberating outside of open meetings, encouraging transparency even in informational gatherings.
- Councilman Freeman strongly discouraged two-at-a-time meetings to ensure all members receive complete information.
- Transportation Impact Fees (2.4):
- Bowen Collins & Associates presented a study recommending a 10% increase in 2026 transportation impact fees (to approx. $134.87/trip) and a 20% increase by 2035, accounting for construction inflation and growth projections.
- Council Positions:
- Councilman Stallings noted that the state legislation prevents charging impact fees for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Expressed concern that cities must act as a "bank" for costs beyond the 10-year window.
- Councilwoman Freeman suggested the need to update fees more frequently (every two years) to account for inflation, noting the current act allows for amendments without a full wholesale update.
- 700 South Bike Lanes (2.6):
- Councilman Stallings initiated a discussion based on resident feedback indicating a preference for modifying the current painted bike lanes to include curbside parking and improved safety.
- Staff presented historical context on MAG funding, noting that $2.9 million was originally allocated but reduced to $1.72 million for this specific project to fund other trail initiatives.
- Council Positions:
- Councilman Stallings expressed support for a configuration similar to the 1700 South bike path (behind the curb) to improve safety perception for children and cyclists.
- Councilwoman Newell expressed concern that changing the current design might jeopardize funding for the Phase 2 expansion project, which was approved specifically as a cycle track.
- Councilwoman Freeman emphasized the need for clear data on public sentiment and a full understanding of the funding implications before making changes.
- Staff proposed options to move the trail behind the curb during future rebuilds or use concrete islands for physical separation.
- 2026 Council Meeting Schedule (5):
- Positions:
- Councilman Stallings proposed adding two weekly work sessions on Tuesdays and moving regular sessions to 6:00 p.m.
- Councilwoman Freeman opposed combining work sessions with regular sessions, advocating for standalone work sessions to allow time for preparation.
- Councilman Harrison expressed preference for Thursday afternoon meetings for work sessions but noted conflicts with Planning Commission meetings.
- Outcome: The council agreed to add a Monday work session (starting at 4:00 p.m.) for the second Monday of each month. They agreed to keep pre-council work sessions on Tuesdays (starting at 4:30 p.m. or adjusted based on agenda needs) but rejected a fixed 6:00 p.m. start for regular sessions.
- Positions:
- Lehi Small Business Council (2.7):
- Councilman Harrison proposed establishing a voluntary advisory council for small businesses (50 employees or fewer) to aggregate feedback and advise the city on regulatory hurdles.
- Council Positions:
- Councilman Stallings supported the concept but emphasized the need for diverse industry representation (manufacturing, retail, food) and suggested the council could collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce on events.
- Councilwoman Freeman expressed interest in using the council to support downtown revitalization and clarify home occupation codes.
- Outcome: Council agreed to have the Economic Development Director (Marlin) research successful board models and prepare a resolution for a future vote, with a staff liaison assigned.
- Resignation and Vacancy Procedures (2.8):
- Councilman Stallings raised concerns regarding the procedural compliance of recent resignations and appointments, specifically regarding notification and voting processes.
- Positions:
- Mayor Bens addressed concerns about the recent vote on Emily Lockhart's appointment, acknowledging it was not conducted with full transparency but affirming her legitimacy as a council member.
- Councilman Stallings maintained that following the code is paramount to maintaining public confidence, regardless of the outcome.
- Councilwoman Freeman and others affirmed that while technical errors occurred, the intent of the law was met, and Lockhart's appointment is valid.
- Councilman Harrison stated he would have voted for Lockhart had he been given the opportunity to vote.
- Outcome: The council agreed the process matters and directed staff to ensure strict compliance with state code and bylaws in all future vacancy scenarios.
- State Legislative Strategy (2.9):
- Councilman Stallings proposed resolutions to address state mandates on housing (zoning preemption) and transportation funding disparities (specifically the lack of UTA funding compared to North Utah County).
- Council Positions:
- Councilwoman Freeman advised against a hostile tone, suggesting the city express gratitude for existing funding (the $1.4 billion) while requesting continued support.
- Councilman Stallings argued for a unified, multi-city coalition to increase leverage against the state legislature and recommended coordinating with the Utah League of Citizen Towns (ULCT).
- Councilman Harrison recommended prioritizing relationship-building with legislators (e.g., Representative Christofferson, Senator Brammer) over drafting isolated resolutions.
- Outcome: Council agreed to coordinate with ULCT and a coalition of cities before finalizing and submitting any resolutions to the state.
- Budget Retreat Scheduling (3):
- Council discussed scheduling a "Budget 101" retreat with the Finance Director.
- Outcome: The council agreed to split the retreat into two half-days: one on Thursday, January 29, at noon, and a second session on Thursday, February 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (to accommodate Councilwoman Lockhart's schedule).
Key Outcomes
- Meeting Schedule Approved: The 2026 schedule was amended to include a standing work session on the second Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m., with pre-council work sessions on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. (flexible start times based on agenda needs).
- Budget Retreat Dates Set: Two half-day sessions scheduled for January 29 (noon-5:30 p.m.) and February 5 (11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.).
- Annexation Approved: Resolution 2026-01 approved the intent to annex 7.24 acres for Kirkcom Estates (approx. 500 East, 700 South) with proposed TH5 zoning.
- Utah Lake Authority Appointment: Resolution 2026-02 approved the appointment of Mayor Bens to the Utah Lake Authority Governing Board.
- Small Business Council: Council authorized staff to research and draft a resolution for a Small Business Advisory Council.
- Procedural Clarification: Council reaffirmed the legitimacy of Councilwoman Lockhart's appointment while committing to strictly follow state law and bylaws for all future vacancies.
- ULCT Appointments: The council appointed Mayor Bens, Councilman Harrison, and Councilwoman Freeman to the Utah League of Citizen Towns (ULCT) Legislative Policy Committee.
- Police Recognition: The Police Department was officially recognized as the "Affiliate Agency of the Year" by the Utah Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for their exceptional partnership and rescues.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned following administrative reports and the announcement of Police Sergeant Ricky Evans' retirement.
Meeting Transcript
Um everybody in my voice is a little dead today. So I do apologize, but we welcome all that here. We have a full council today. Uh, Councilwoman Newell, Councilwoman Harrison, Councilman Harrison, Councilman Freeman, myself, Councilman Stallings, and Councilwoman Lockhart. So welcome. We welcome also all of our staff who's here with us today. And uh glad to have you. I've asked uh Councilman Harrison if you'll open the meeting with a prayer. Uh to determine what's best for the city and to hear um ideas and collaborate and work together. We are grateful for all that you have provided this great city. We're grateful for our um for our department and police department, all those that are in harm's way, and we ask for the special blessing upon them and their families. Uh, we ask that the spirit may be with us that we may uh be guided to do what's best for the city and um be accountable to our residents, and we say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, uh, Councilman Harris. We'll start with that. Uh let me remind the uh audience that today is a work session until our general session tonight at seven, so there won't be any public comment during this portion of our meeting. So we'll start with two point one, the park tax recipient report from the Harrington Center for the Arts. Are they here? Awesome. Come to the podium, tell us who you are and give us a report. What do I need to do to get on here? Um, I'm just gonna get this screenplay technology going. Don't go, yeah. Okay, we'll go to uh two point two, the noise ordinance review. Kim, I think you've got some stuff on that. And by the way, I think Craig is online from our legal department. He's helped work on this as well. So let's see. Well, we so last year, um, I think about mid year, we brought a draft through, we received some input, and then we came back anyways. I think it was in December the last time we presented some draft changes. And at that point, it was the last meeting with uh quite a few of the old council members, and they just said, Let's bring all this back when we have the new council, and we'll just kind of run back through this. So, and like I said, Craig's online, he's helped do some research. And I know Ryan's spent some time kind of looking at it as well. So, between the uh three of us, hopefully, we can answer any questions that you have. So, yeah, if we can go back to the screen. Um so yeah, in this first section with the findings, it's really just explaining why do we want to control noise, and it you know, there's obviously some harmful effects that noise can have, especially in the middle of the night, or if it's super loud, whatever that might be, actual physical harm if you're inside a building and the decibel levels go over a certain level. Um so this findings is really just kind of the the why behind the ordinance. But in this first section, we do propose, and it's in a couple of other sections, you'll see we're changing an offense. Like if somebody is um uh what am I trying to say? Um somebody breaks the law for our noise ordinance. Instead of a class B misdemeanor, we're proposing to change it to a class C. And the different there's pretty, you know, class B is a very serious offense is jail time up to a thousand dollar fine. It just seems really heavy-handed for somebody making too much noise. So class C still, you know, it's not nothing, but it's it's probably fits more to what we felt like for the offense. Um then you know, the next sections that it starts to describe well what kind of noises are we talking about, and it categorizes three different types of noises. Um, and I don't really want to go if you've read this or you can read this. I I don't think we need to spend time going into the different types of noises, but yeah, some of them are just commerce normal, like somebody's putting a roof on their house, or and then there's noises that are caused by machinery or business, and then there's intentionally caused noises that people you know are doing to maybe to annoy people or just ignoring the the it's after the quiet hours, which we'll get to in a second here. So again, that one has the class C instead of class B misdemeanor in it. Okay, and then the intent again just kind of talks about our intent with the noise ordinance, and we're trying to take into account the latest scientific advances, which we'll talk about with the measuring device in a second here. So then probably the first kind of review or the next revision after the class B to C is the hours, and we talked about this was just from our last meeting in December. 6 a.m.
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