Riverton City Council Meeting – February 4, 2025
Riverton City Council Meeting – February 4, 2025
The Riverton City Council held a work session from 6:02 PM to 6:57 PM and a regular council meeting from 7:03 PM to 9:17 PM on February 4, 2025, at 12830 South Redwood Road. The meeting included presentations from UDOT, the Riverton Baseball President, the annual financial audit, and the Police Department; public comment on a traffic calming feature; discussion of noise ordinance, business license code updates, and water rates; and action on several ordinances and resolutions. The council entered a closed session at 8:19 PM covering personnel, litigation, and property matters, and adjourned at 9:17 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Eric Veenendaal (Riverton resident, Lampton View Drive) expressed concern about a speed dip installed in front of his home, stating that large vehicles crossing it create noise and vibrations that shake his house and wake his children. He requested the dip be filled in and alternative speed‑reduction measures considered.
- Stacy Conologue (Riverton resident, Lampton View Drive) confirmed the shaking from the speed dip and argued that it is ineffective—some drivers ignore it—and advocated for reinstatement of the previous speed bumps.
- Justice Goble (Riverton resident, speaking during the work session) addressed the city’s noise ordinance, specifically a rule prohibiting operation of off‑road machinery, snowmobiles, and snowblowers within 800 feet of any dwelling. He stated that this provision, originally adopted from Salt Lake County, is impractical for Riverton and is being selectively enforced against his children riding dirt bikes. He proposed aligning the ordinance with neighboring cities (Herriman, Bluffdale) that restrict off‑road vehicles only in specific locations such as public parks or protected lands. He provided decibel measurements (67 and 54 dB for his children’s bikes) and noted his neighbors’ support.
Presentations
- UDOT Presentation – Rob Stewart (UDOT Region Two Director) provided updates on the Bangerter Highway grade‑separation projects (9800 South pedestrian overpass installed, 13400 South and 2700 West interchanges under construction, utility closure on 13400 South from mid‑February to early May, 360‑day closure timeframe expected to substantially complete by winter 2025/2026, east‑west delay reduction over 50%). He also discussed the Mountain View Corridor project (design‑bid‑build, estimated $1 billion cost, phase two will add two lanes each direction with grade separations, phase three would add more lanes), the potential jurisdictional transfer of 12600 South from Riverton to UDOT upon connection of U‑111 (requiring a financial contribution from the city), and the Welby Jacob Canal Trail (Riverton handling the northern section, UDOT designing the southern part including a pedestrian bridge over 13400 South; the existing bridge will be removed). He also floated a fallback solution for Western Hills Drive (right‑in/right‑out onto Mountain View Corridor frontage road) if extending Bobcat Drive to Main Street cannot be negotiated with Herriman. Councilmembers asked follow‑up questions about detour signage, dust mitigation, and funding.
- Riverton Baseball Presentation – Randy Smith (President) thanked the council and staff for support, stating that registration is on pace to reach about 1,100 participants in the 2025 season, a 10% increase from previous years. He noted capacity constraints in the 8‑12 age group and said the league is nearly full in that division. Opening day is scheduled for April 12, 2025.
- Annual Financial Report – Nick Geer (Administrative Services Director) and Jeff Miles (CPA, HBME) presented the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). Jeff Miles reported an unmodified (clean) audit opinion, no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal controls, and no instances of non‑compliance with state requirements. A federal single audit of ARPA funds (over $750,000 in federal funds) found no instances of non‑compliance. The audit was filed with the state by the December 31, 2024 deadline, despite challenges from switching accounting systems at the start of FY2024.
- Riverton Police Department Presentation – Chief Shane Taylor presented 2024 statistics: calls for service rose from 7,533 (in a partial 2019 year, July‑December) to 21,416 in 2024 (full year). Citations decreased from 3,771 (2023) to 3,235 (2024). Arrests increased from 106 to 144. Case reports decreased from 23,008 to 21,416, attributed to more complex major‑crime investigations. Use of force occurred in less than 1% of contacts. Major crimes (including two homicides in 2024 – one domestic, one drug‑related) were addressed by a new SET team focusing on gangs, fraud, and immigration‑related crime. Councilmembers complimented the department’s proactive work on vehicle thefts and break‑ins.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (5‑0):
- Minutes of January 7, 2025
- Resolution No. 25‑03 – Appointing Tawnee McCay as city representative to the Jordan River Commission
- Resolution No. 25‑04 – Warranty bond release for Tropical Smoothie Cafe (12833)
- Resolution No. 25‑05 – Declaring surplus city equipment and authorizing disposal
- Resolution No. 25‑06 – Authorizing purchase of FY 25/26 police vehicles
- Resolution No. 25‑07 – Appointing Pam Henderson as Advisor and Brock Still as Co‑Advisor to the Riverton City Youth Council
Discussion Items
- Noise Ordinance Update (Work Session): City Manager Kevin Hicks noted that Justice Goble’s situation would be revisited at a future meeting. City Attorney Ryan Carter observed that regardless of the 800‑foot rule, a general nuisance charge could still apply, and changing the code might not alter the outcome unless the city abandons noise enforcement entirely. Council agreed to place the topic on the next work session agenda.
- Business License Code Updates (Work Session): Ryan Carter summarized a plan to update the 67‑page business license code, removing outdated provisions (e.g., alcohol‑licensing proximity requirements already in state law). He proposed two review methods: a small council committee or bringing chapters one at a time to full council. Councilmembers favored breaking it into sections for review over several work sessions.
- Water Rates (Work Session): Nick Geer deferred a detailed discussion to an email follow‑up and a future meeting, as a follow‑up to the strategic planning session.
- Historic Sites List Amendment (Public Hearing & Action): Council adopted Ordinance No. 25‑04, lowering the age threshold for a historic structure from 75 to 50 years, to align with state recommendations and allow the Historic Commission to create an inventory. The change is recognition only; property owners are not required to participate. Vote: 5‑0.
- Text Amendment for Reception Center (Public Hearing & Action): Council denied Ordinance No. 25‑05 (5‑0), which would have added “reception center” as a conditional use in the Commercial Neighborhood (CN) zone. The Planning Commission had recommended denial but suggested rezoning the applicant’s property to Commercial Gateway (CG). Alice White, representing the applicant (Wasatch Arts Center), described plans to use the former Pet Planet building as a dance‑studio extension and community event space. Councilmembers expressed support for the use and encouraged the applicant to pursue the already‑submitted rezoning application. Mayor Staggs directed staff to reimburse the fee for the second application.
- Support for HB 81 (Eliminating Fluoridation Mandate): Council adopted Resolution No. 25‑08 (5‑0) expressing support for HB 81, which would eliminate Salt Lake County’s requirement to fluoridate culinary water. Mayor Staggs and Councilmember Pierucci cited questionable benefits, cost, and safety risks (e.g., the Sandy over‑fluoridation incident). The resolution notes that the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District would stop adding fluoride if the bill passes.
Key Outcomes
- Consent items approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 25‑04 (Historic Sites List age threshold) adopted 5‑0.
- Ordinance 25‑05 (Reception Center text amendment) denied 5‑0; applicant directed to proceed with rezoning to Commercial Gateway.
- Resolution 25‑08 (Support HB 81) adopted 5‑0.
- Closed Session convened at 8:19 PM for discussion of individual character/professional competence, pending litigation, and real property/water rights; adjourned at 9:17 PM; council meeting adjourned immediately thereafter.
- Upcoming meetings announced: State of the City on February 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM; next regular meeting February 18, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
We have all of our elected officials present. First up on the agenda, we've got presentation from UDOT, Rob Stewart. That is the head of Region Two, our region. Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. Give you a little bit of time here. I'm sure you might have some questions, so we'll absolutely. What could be controversial about transportation? So yeah, I'm I'm Robert Stewart, I'm the region director of Region Two. Region two for UDOT is Towilla County, Saleh County, Summit County. But I always like to start my address with Riverton City with I'm here as a UDOT person, but I'm also a resident of Riverton, so take it easy on me. All right. Um I don't need to give you guys permission to do this, but this this is meant to be a presentation with the back and forth communication. So feel free to inter interrupt me or interject at any time. Maybe just give a little bit of update on a couple of projects you guys may have some questions on. Bangder highway is fully underway. It's no surprise to anybody in the area because it's impactful. Um with 9800 south, the pedestrian overpass was just installed. Traffic has been shifted to the new ramps. Um it's closed down the the cross street with the under configuration. 134th is also been closed. It is also in its uh temporary condition. Uh crews will be uh excavating the the center probably in another month or two to dig it down because this will be a banger goes under interchange. Um maybe one thing to note is that uh we are working with Riverton staff on the utility issue that we've got with the sewer line. It's a little bit further further west of this, but it will be closing down uh the right-hand turn lanes onto Bangater Highway, which I know that will just further the impact that we have with this, but in working working with staff, they're really just this is this is one of those issues that does not have a good solution, right? And I think that I think that the timing of doing it now where it'll be impactful, but it'll be sort of blended in with the other impacts is probably the the best of the the worst solutions. So um you don't certainly support the the closure of that to relocate that utility. Um 27th West is also under construction. It's probably the furthest along all the ramps have been built on that. That will be a interchange where Bangder goes over 2700 West. We've got turning movements impact. So all three of these interchanges are fully impacted right now. We're in kind of the the beginning of the heart of all of the impacts that I I think that we've been trying to warn people of. Any any questions about Banginar? Councilmember Procci. Thanks. Hey, thanks, Robert, and thank you for all that you do. Um so my district's the one that's probably going to be the most impacted, and there are a couple of others that'll be impact to two by the 134th full closure of the right turn on to onto uh Bangater. The question I had for you is uh where so that the the closure onto Banger will not there will still be people can turn left onto 134th or turn west onto 134th from Banger with this utility closure, correct? That's my that's my understanding. Okay. Because I mean this this impact is a little bit further west than our construction. Yeah. Um so I think that it'll be out of the way for that left term. Do you is your understanding that this closure would have like the closure to get onto Bangor from 134th would have to be a complete closure regardless of the timing that this utility project took place? Like if they delayed it, it would still be a full closure to get on to Bangladesh. That's what that's what I'm being told by my project team is that and so you do it now, you do it later. I think that one of those things that we've heard loud and clear from our public whenever we ask them this question is they prefer to be it's this get in, get out, stay out mentality. Yeah, and so it's heavy impact for short duration, but then what will upset the public more than anything is if you immediately turn around and close something back off? And so that's where I think that you know doing it with the impacts that happen right now, it's it's it's a it's the best timing for us.
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