March 9, 2026 Lehi City Council Meeting Summary

The Lehi City Council met on March 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations and discussions on several key topics: a community development block grant (CDBG) program overview and funding recommendations for multiple applicants, options to improve access and parking at Ozier Park, a safer systems approach and the 700 South cycle track, and an update on the UAMPS extended day-ahead market and pooling appendix. The council also received an update on the pedestrian bridge funding. No public comments were heard.

Invocation

Councilmember Stallings offered an invocation, asking for guidance and blessing on the city's residents and first responders.

Discussion Items

Ozier Park Access and Parking Options

Steve from the parks department presented three options to increase access to the pond at the north end of Ozier Park for fishing and to improve mobility for all users. The options were: (1) a full paved road and 65 parking stalls (cost ~$285,000–$300,000), (2) a 10-foot paved trail around the pond with 8–10 parking stalls (~$186,000), (3) a paved trail only (~$40,000), and (4) a small road with trail and parking (~$200,000). Council members expressed support for the trail-only option as a first step, citing cost, safety concerns about mixing vehicles and pedestrians, and the availability of existing parking (128 stalls). Council directed staff to include the paved trail in the budget request. A potential dock from Tibble Fork was also discussed as a low-cost addition to improve fishing access.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and Funding Decisions

Claudia Saldana from the Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) presented the CDBG program overview. The city receives approximately $300,000 annually, with a 15% cap on public services. Five applicants presented:

• Tabitha's Way Local Food Pantry: requested $20,000–$35,000 to support food assistance, serving 17,000 Lehi individuals in 2025.
• Lehi City Engineering (sidewalk project): requested $292,000 to add curb, gutter, and sidewalk on 600 North between 100 East and 400 East, addressing safety near schools and high pedestrian traffic.
• Family Haven: requested funds for therapy and child care services for families in crisis.
• My Story Matters: requested $12,500 for re-entry stabilization case management for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Definity Media: requested $25,000 for workshops and one-on-one support for deaf residents.

Council discussed the difficulty of funding multiple applicants given the 15% cap on public services. Staff recommended funding the sidewalk project in full. Council voted to approve the staff recommendation, directing that the preliminary funding decision allocate the full $292,000 to the sidewalk project. The council noted that other applicants could seek funding from regional CDBG sources or city budget.

Safer Systems Approach and 700 South Cycle Track

Mike West presented a detailed overview of the Safe System approach, emphasizing the need to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries. He then discussed the existing two-way cycle track on 700 South, noting its design trade-offs and costs. Options for improvement included leaving it as-is, adding concrete protection (~$740,000), converting to one-way protected bike lanes on each side (~$750,000), or a buffered bike lane. Council members expressed mixed views, with some favoring one-way protected lanes for intuitive use and others noting the high cost and the fact that the track was recently completed with MAG funding. No decision was made, but the council agreed to revisit the issue when restriping is needed in about five years. An update on phase two of the cycle track (westward from 2300 West) was provided: funding is from MAG, likely available in 2028, and the design will be a two-way trail behind the curb.

UAMPS Extended Day-Ahead Market and Pooling Appendix

Joel from Lehi Power explained the upcoming changes due to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) extended day-ahead market. The new market rules will require earlier scheduling and tighter resource adequacy requirements. The pooling appendix, governing UAMPS energy purchases, is being updated after 45 years. The council was skeptical about potential cost increases but acknowledged the need to participate. The matter will be brought back for approval on March 24, 2026.

Pedestrian Bridge Update

Brad reported that the MAG funding for the pedestrian bridge over SR-92 ranked highly and is expected to be funded. The city is also pursuing federal funding through Representative Mike Kennedy’s office with a $1.5 million request.

Key Outcomes

• The council directed staff to include a paved trail around the Ozier Park pond (~$40,000) in the budget request.
• The council made a preliminary CDBG funding decision to allocate $292,000 to Lehi City Engineering for the sidewalk project on 600 North.
• No action was taken on the 700 South cycle track; future redesign will be considered when road restriping is needed.
• The UAMPS pooling appendix will be considered for approval at the March 24, 2026 council meeting.
• The pedestrian bridge funding is on track for MAG support, with additional federal funding pursued.