Lehi City Council Meeting Book Drop, Piano, Health Care, Parking, and Transportation Discussions - July 13, 2026
Lehi City Council Meeting - July 13, 2026
The Lehi City Council met on July 13, 2026, to discuss several administrative and policy items including a potential exterior book drop for the library, fees for the Steinway piano, continuation of the NICE health care benefit, parking fees at Dry Creek Lake, and northwest transportation options. The meeting also included a closed session.
Administrative Report: Library Book Drop Proposal
- Staff presented a proposal for an exterior drive-up book drop for the library, including staffing costs estimated at $59,576.40 annually based on Provo's model of 90 hours per week at $12.73/hour. The book drop would require two people per trip, five trips per day, six days a week.
- Facilities manager Steve discussed placement options: a ramp with a dedicated sorting room (estimated $750,000 to $1.2 million) or a more cost-effective option using the north door with potential wear and tear. He noted that the building was intentionally designed without an exterior book drop due to cost and security concerns.
- Council members expressed support for the book drop, with some suggesting starting with one additional staff member and adjusting as needed. Councilmember Freeman requested a site walk. Council directed staff to further investigate the ramp option, including costs for a door, motorized carts, and automated book drop technology, and to bring back a more detailed cost estimate.
Discussion Item: Steinway Piano Policy and Fees
- Management analyst Ben Maxfield presented a proposed policy for the Steinway piano in the civic center lobby. The piano would be free for public use during operating hours with a QR code reservation system in 30-minute increments. Recital reservations would cost $25 per hour in the lobby, with an additional $45 moving fee if moved to a community room. Community room rental fees range from $150 to $400 per hour.
- Council discussed the impact on the info center, the number of chairs allowed, and the cost for recitals. Councilmember Stallings noted that recital costs might be too high for community accessibility. Councilmember Harrison emphasized honoring the donation's intent for community enjoyment. No final decision was made; staff will consider feedback and adjust.
Discussion Item: NICE Health Care Benefit
- HR representative David presented options for the NICE health care contract. The current contract ends June 2027. Options: extend for two years at $45/employee/month, extend for one year, or revisit later. The city has realized savings of at least $83,000 from PHP discount and estimated $200,000 in claims avoidance.
- Council discussed the need to inform employees before open enrollment. Councilmember Stallings expressed concern about using work time for telemedicine visits. Council consensus was to not renew for two years now, but to revisit the issue in February or March 2027 before the next budget cycle and open enrollment.
Discussion Item: Dry Creek Lake Paid Parking
- Facilities manager Steve presented a proposal for paid parking at Dry Creek Lake to manage visitor numbers and offset maintenance costs. A parking management company would operate the system with a 70-30 revenue split. Staff suggested a fee of $5-$10 per car, with higher fees on weekends and holidays. Councilmember Freeman noted that Highland Glen is free and American Fork Canyon charges $6, suggesting $5 is appropriate.
- City attorney Ryan discussed liability implications: charging a fee gives up the landowner's liability act protections but retains governmental immunity as long as fees cover costs and not generate profit. Council directed staff to pursue a $5 fee, ensure it covers costs, and explore options for ADA exemptions. Further study on traffic patterns and enforcement was requested.
Discussion Item: Northwest Lehigh Transportation Options
- Transportation planner Brad presented two options for a connector road from I-15 to Redwood Road, avoiding Clubhouse Drive. Option 1 runs north of Camp Williams; Option 2 runs east of Camp Williams. Camp Williams indicated preference for Option 2. The connector would carry 42,000 cars per day and reduce Triumph Boulevard volumes to 47,000 cars/day.
- Council discussed impacts on Holbrook neighborhood, especially the dotted line connection to 3600 West near an elementary school. Councilmember Harrison expressed concern about traffic through neighborhoods. Councilmember Freeman noted Option 2 benefits Holbrook commuters. Brad also presented a proposal to widen Triumph Boulevard to six lanes between 2100 North and Ashton Boulevard, requiring removal of sidewalks and a speed limit reduction to 30 mph. Alternative trail routes exist. Council directed staff to continue exploring Option 2 with neighborhood input and consider the six-lane widening as part of the transportation master plan.
Key Outcomes
- Library Book Drop: Staff to investigate ramp/door option with cost estimate, motorized carts, and automated technology; site walk to be arranged.
- Piano Policy: No decision; staff to refine fee structure and policy based on council feedback.
- NICE Health Care: Council decided to not extend contract now, revisit early 2027.
- Dry Creek Lake Parking: Council directed staff to pursue $5 fee, covering costs, with further study on ADA and traffic.
- Transportation: Council expressed preference for Option 2 (east of Camp Williams) and requested neighborhood meetings; further study on Triumph Boulevard widening to proceed.
- Closed Session: Motion to enter closed session for legal reasons was approved.
Meeting Transcript
And stallings, Freeman and Lockhart. And we will start with an opening comment by Councilmember Harrison. Our dear Father in Heaven, we are grateful to uh gather together today to think about the things of the city and how we can uh work hard and collaborate in order to make the best decisions for the residents. We're grateful for our staff and for public safety officers and ask for a blessing upon them as they take care of the residents and serve um our neighbors. We are grateful for all the blessings we have in this great country and for all the liberties that we have. And we say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you. All right, we'll start with our administrative report. Can you hear me? Can we? Yeah. Got that. So uh I'll invite Steve. I got a connect. Hold on. Oh, Steve is trying to connect. So what we'd like to do today is talk through a potential for a book drop. So we want to have a discussion about some ideas that Steve has brought up or come up with. And then we have Christy here also to talk about the impact as far as staffing goes, what we would expect that would take to do a book drop. So maybe Christy, if you want to come forward first. I am going to just bring my computer up there. So as far as staffing goes, um we looked at other um in trying to find another library that had an exterior book drop that needed to be um cleared. We looked at Provo Library. So we were able to look at their amount. And according to uh what they do, they have said that they empty their book drop five times a day. So and then it takes two people to do it. Sorry. No, please keep going, I'm sorry. So um so five times a day, six days a week is 30 trips. Each trip takes two people. It takes them approximately um an hour and a half to go out, exchange the bins, bring the bins in, clear all that out, get them all checked in and ready as though they had gone through the automatic book drop that we currently have. Um so that added up as 90 hours per week that we would need additional staffing for. Um mid-range for a library page is 1273. And so yearly that would be 4,680 hours times the 1273, it's 59,576.40. So that's kind of the impact staffing-wise for that. Yes. Mayor Pro Tem? Um part-time or full-time? Part-time. Okay, so no benefits. No. Okay. Any other questions with that? My only question would be uh so you're saying this is to get it to the stage, it would be as if they had collected it from inside. So it's not like taking into account the less time that would be used when people doing the drop box inside that would use it outside. Is there any calculation with that? Is there any kind of reduction of hours on an on the other side because they're now using the outside book drop? So my estimate is that if we provide the exterior book drop, a drive up book drop, that probably about 85 to 90 percent of our books will all go through that. In many ways, that um totally wastes our automatic book check-in system that we just got two new, you know, an exterior and an interior.
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