Lehi City Council Work Session - April 13, 2026

On April 13, 2026, the Lehi City Council held a work session beginning at 4:00 PM. The meeting focused on two main items: the allocation of park tax funds to various cultural and recreational organizations, and potential amendments to zoning regulations for auto sales in commercial zones. The council also voted to enter a closed session for permitted purposes. No public comment was taken, as this was a work session.

Discussion Items

Park Tax Allocation (Item 2A)

• Council reviewed a spreadsheet of recommendations from the park tax committee and previous council discussions. Organizations discussed included:

  • Chabata of Utah County: $10,000 (unanimous)
  • Frituro Foodsol Academy Foundation: no recommendation
  • Grassroots Shakespeare Company: no majority
  • Harrington Center for the Arts: $20,000 (four recommended)
  • Hutchings Museum (storage security): $4,500 (unanimous)
  • Lehigh Arts Council (show rights): $48,650 (unanimous)
  • Lehigh Historical Society and Archives: initially $98,748, but after discussion council agreed to $102,498 to include trading cards for fourth graders
  • Lehigh Roundup Rodeo: $90,000 (four recommended)
  • Nashville and the Rockies (music fest): $6,000 (three recommended)
  • Thanksgiving Point Institute (GrowTech Gardens): some council members supported $87,000, but no majority; discussion about making facilities more accessible to residents
  • United Angels (sensory-friendly lunar new year): $0 (no majority)
  • United Angels (adaptive spring break minicamp): $1,215 (four recommended)
  • United Angels (special needs teens social activities): $828 (three recommended)
  • Several other organizations received no council recommendation.

• Hutchings Museum operating expenses: The museum requested $260,000. Initially some council members proposed $200,000, citing a board member's statement that the museum could survive on that. However, after further discussion, most council members agreed to fund the full $260,000 for this year, with the understanding that the museum needs to become more self-sufficient in the future. Council members expressed desire for an operational review, increased visitor traffic, and reduced reliance on city funds. A motion to fund $260,000 was supported by the majority.

• Transition from general fund to park tax: Several organizations historically funded from the general fund were moved to the park tax, including: Lehigh Area Music Association ($2,500), Lehigh Arts Council ($78,000), Lehigh Historical Society ($33,000), and Thanksgiving Point ($50,000 each for butterfly and natural curiosity exhibits). These transfers were supported by the majority.

• Policy discussion: Council members noted that the total requests from qualifying organizations exceed the projected annual park tax revenue of $600,000 (plus reserves). They agreed to revisit the park tax policy and state code definitions in a future work session (likely November) to provide clearer guidelines for applicants.

Auto Sales in Commercial Zones (Item 2B)

• Staff presented proposed amendments to allow auto sales as a permitted use in commercial zones, removing the current 1-acre minimum site requirement. The draft included new standards:
  • Safe access and fire/police access
  • Removal of the requirement for a specific number of inventory stalls per parking space
  • Office on site required
  • Lighting standards referenced to a separate section
  • Removal of landscaping requirement between public right-of-way and car display (some council members objected, preferring to keep at least a minimal buffer)
  • Hard surfacing requirement for parking areas (some council members suggested allowing gravel with a deadline to pave, e.g., 1-2 years)
  • Proposed new restrictions: direct frontage on an arterial road (Section 7) and prohibition within 500 feet of mixed-use or TOD zones (Section 8).

Council direction on auto sales amendments:

• Remove Section 7 (arterial frontage requirement) and Section 8 (TOD/mixed-use proximity restriction) – majority supported removal, but some wanted to keep Section 8 for future consideration and to seek public comment.
• Keep hard surfacing requirement but possibly with a timing provision; however, enforcement limitations were noted.
• Remove the landscaping requirement for auto sales (some council members disagreed, but the majority was okay with removal).
• Revise parking standards: remove the current paragraph tying parking to inventory stalls; instead, adopt one space per employee and research a better ratio based on inventory display capacity.
• Staff will produce GIS maps showing parcels affected by the proposed changes and bring the item back for further discussion before sending to DRC and planning commission.

Key Outcomes

Park Tax Allocation:

• Council reached consensus on the funding amounts for most organizations, as detailed above. The Hutchings Museum will receive $260,000 for this year, with an expectation of increased self-sufficiency and a future report on progress.
• Staff will prepare a resolution for a future council meeting to award the contracts based on this discussion.

Auto Sales Regulations:

• Council directed staff to remove Sections 7 and 8 from the draft amendments, but to keep Section 8 in the draft for public and planning commission input.
• Staff will revise parking standards and provide a map of arterial roads and TOD areas.
• The proposed amendments will proceed to the Development Review Committee and Planning Commission for formal consideration.

Closed Session:

• Council voted unanimously to enter a closed session for purposes allowed under the Open and Public Meetings Act, including discussion of real property, litigation, and personnel matters. The meeting moved to closed session at approximately 5:30 PM.