Lehi City Council Special Meeting to Appoint Council Member - January 24, 2026
Lehi City Council Special Meeting to Appoint Council Member – January 24, 2026
Note on Date Discrepancy: The meeting transcript records the date as December 22, 2025, but the instruction provided requires using January 24, 2026. The summary below reflects the content of the December 22, 2025 meeting as transcribed.
This special meeting was convened primarily to fill a vacancy on the Lehi City Council. The meeting began with a prayer led by Council Member Paige, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the minutes from November 18 and December 2, 2025 (unanimous). The council also recognized departing elected officials with commemorative presentations. Seventeen candidates applied; two withdrew before interviews. Each candidate was given two minutes for an opening statement, followed by questions from council members (two minutes per response). After all interviews, the council voted to appoint Emily Lockhart to the vacant seat for a term ending January 2028.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Unanimously approved minutes from November 18, 2025, and December 2, 2025. (Motion by Chris, second by Paul, voice vote: all ayes.)
Candidate Interviews (Discussion Items)
Interviews were conducted in the following order. Each candidate introduced themselves and responded to council questions on topics including transparency, public safety, infrastructure, growth management, economic development, and budget philosophy.
- Jim Bratt: Retired businessman with PR background. Supported continuing the work of the outgoing administration, emphasized listening, and common-sense budgeting. Expressed willingness to serve on councils.
- Larry Banks: PhD, MBA, former provost, small business owner. Advocated for sustainable growth, data-driven problem solving, and listening to residents. Offered to serve in any capacity.
- Doug Clark: Retired software executive. Advocated for improved city-to-resident communication and transparency, especially around tax incentives (e.g., Morning Vista). Supported growing the commercial tax base over increasing residential taxes. Addressed constraints of closed sessions and NDAs.
- Robert Reeder: Education administrator (Canyons School District). Stressed collaboration between city and new school district, balancing priorities with finite budgets, and long-term planning.
- Savannah Johnston: Professor of constitutional government. Emphasized walkability, mixed-use zoning, public transit, and ending stigma against density. Opposed partisan politics in local government. Supported free-market solutions but wary of heavy government subsidies for development.
- Vern Keysler: Traffic manager for Provo City, veteran. Advocated for holding developers to agreements, updating transportation plans in sync with MAG cycles, and ensuring safe transportation choices. Favored proactive infrastructure planning.
- Laurel Stevens: Electrician and business owner. Focused on constitutional principles, public safety funding (perceived understaffing of police), and support for arts and trails. Suggested alternative fundraising for police.
- Stephen Sue: Civil engineer specializing in water. Emphasized water conservation, responsible budgets, and clear zoning. Advocated for state-level changes to allow proactive infrastructure investment.
- Derek Shumway: Former staffer for Senators Romney and Lee. Highlighted ability to collaborate across political divides, clear communication, and providing more value to citizens than taxes collected.
- Jess Green: Real estate agent, downtown resident. Opposed high-density development, favored preservation of small-town character, maximum transparency (questioned use of NDAs), and prioritized public safety and infrastructure. Expressed skepticism about city communication.
- Emily Lockhart: Planning commissioner and MBA graduate. Shared personal story of benefiting from thoughtful city planning (Holbrook Farms, 2100 North). Advocated for infrastructure-first policies (working on a state bill), protecting residents’ rights through zoning mitigations, and leveraging business experience on council assignments.
- Jared Peterson: Former planning commissioner and banker. Advocated for long-term planning (build-out horizon), fiscal discipline, economic diversification beyond tech, and supporting small businesses and volunteerism.
- Derek Phillips: Born and raised in Lehi, global sales company owner. Expressed concerns about public safety and traffic, quick study, fiscally conservative.
- Montana Hamilton: Chair of Lehi Sustainability Committee. Supported smart development with mass transit connection, mixed-use zoning, and changing building codes to allow future commercial conversion. Opposed socializing costs while privatizing gains.
- Tyson Hodges: Healthcare facility manager. Stressed budget forecasting (lifecycle costs), collaboration with department heads to prioritize needs, and integrity in not making promises for support.
- Katie Co Viesta (late arrival, participated in questions): Former city council member (one term). Only candidate who had been elected. Emphasized her experience, commitment to serving full term, and belief that she was most qualified. She did not run for re-election to avoid contention.
Key Outcomes
- Vote to Appoint Emily Lockhart: After all interviews, Council Member Paige nominated Emily Lockhart for the vacant seat, citing her community service, campaign experience, and constitutional focus. Council Members Michelle and Chris also stated support for Lockhart. With three votes in favor (Paige, Michelle, Chris), the vote was concluded per procedure. The remaining council members (Heather and Paul) did not cast a vote, but Heather expressed a preference for Katie Co Viesta based on having been elected by the people.
- Formal Resolution (2025-103): A resolution appointing Emily Lockhart as a Lehi City Council member until January 2028 was moved by Chris, seconded by Paul, and passed by roll call vote: Michelle – yes, Chris – yes, Heather – yes, Hall – yes, Paige – yes.
- Oath of Office: Emily Lockhart was sworn in immediately after the meeting.
- Closing Remarks: The mayor and council thanked all applicants, encouraged continued service, and acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. Several council members highlighted the importance of representative government and urged disappointed candidates to run in future elections.
Meeting Transcript
Mayor, Matt's gonna be keeping time. Oh okay. We have uh we don't have to go back to the letter stop. Okay. And it's two minutes for the transitation. Two minutes page response. Not everyone has to ask a question. Let's go ahead and get started here. We this could be a long meeting. We all kind of hope it won't be, but it may be when if everybody takes all their time that they're allotted today. So we want to get started here briefly. Uh I did we are going to start this meeting with a prayer since typically we do that at a work session and a pledge uh at the regular session, but because this is only one meeting, our last one of the year, I've asked Paige if she'd offer the prayer, and then I will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Do we even have a flag in here? Should have seen that earlier. Hi, Father and Heaven. We are so grateful to be gathered here this day in these chambers in this new building. We recognize Father that we are abundantly blessed to live in this city. Where the pioneering spirit and the spirit of camaraderie exist and thrive. We are grateful, Heavenly Father, for all the hands who have worked to bring us the blessing of these facilities from the staff to the architects to the contractor and all the workers who have sacrificed their time to do so. We ask at this time, Heavenly Father, that there may be a blessing on these chambers in this building that their use might be for good, that there might be a pervasive spirit of civility, productivity, and the pioneering spirit for which Lehi is known. We ask for safety on all who meet here and all who serve our city. That they may do so with thy guidance, that they might always seek out thy spirit and counsel. And now at this time, Heavenly Father, we ask that thy spirit be present in this meeting in this building, and upon each one of us, and we do so in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you very much, Paige. Okay. Uh as a matter of roll call, we'll do it before the pledge, but as a matter of roll call, uh our council members are all seated here today uh for this meeting. It is December 22nd, 2025. Uh the purpose for this special meeting is primarily to uh let uh uh oh I'm gonna I I'm gonna do it. Oh after I just wanted to do the roll call thing. Sorry, I haven't forgotten. Yeah, we won't get to the pledge. I I thought I mentioned that so but uh the purpose is to uh fill a vacancy in the city council seat, and that's gonna take us a while. That being said, uh we are going to have a pledge right now. I'd ask everybody if they'll uh stand and uh follow me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which is one nation under God indivisible justice for all thank you. Okay, we do have uh a couple items on the agenda. Uh first of all, approval approval of the oh, I do have to make an announcement. Thank you. That one I needed a reminder on. Uh since this is a new building, a lot of you aren't acquainted to it. Probably if there is an emergency, uh, you're all welcome to use the stairs just outside this door uh to exit the building. It's probably the fastest way to get out. Of course, you can't use uh if it is an emergency, you you're not going to be able to use the fire or excuse me, the uh elevator. So just keep in mind uh those will take you right out the door. There'll be people who help you if that if that does happen. We certainly hope it won't and don't expect it to. Okay. Uh we do have to approve the minutes from November 18th, 2025 and December 2nd, 2025. Uh council, are there any questions or comments on those meeting minutes?
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