Riverton City Council Meeting – August 5, 2025

The Riverton City Council met on August 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM at City Hall. Mayor Trent Staggs presided. Councilmembers Tish Buroker, Spencer Haymond, Tawnee McCay, Troy McDougal, and Andy Pierucci (via Zoom) were present. City staff and department heads also attended. The meeting included presentations, a consent agenda, a public hearing, and discussions on fencing ordinances and the city's Day of Service. A closed session was held to discuss litigation and real property.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of July 15, 2025, and Resolution No. 25-42 (amending a water purchase agreement with Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District). The vote was unanimous (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the citizen comment period or the public hearing on the water conservation plan.

Presentations

• Emergency Preparedness Committee: Jason Jones reported on the past year's activities, including collaboration with regional agencies, participation in the Great Utah Shakeout earthquake exercise, ham radio testing, setup of the emergency operations center with Starlink, and updates to the hazard mitigation plan. He also mentioned purchasing three new AEDs. The committee received a $15,000 annual budget. Councilmember Buroker suggested reviewing Taylorsville's model for clarifying city vs. community roles and inquired about reverse 911 sign-up tracking—staff noted that VEC manages the system and that discussions are ongoing to improve messaging.
• Unified Fire Authority: Fire Marshal Wade Watkins presented Q1 and Q2 2025 data. Q1 had 541 incidents (227 emergent), up from 480 in 2023 and 448 in 2024. Q2 had 552 incidents (246 emergent), down from 586 in 2024. Most incidents were EMS-related. Unit response times averaged 5 minutes 26 seconds at the 50th percentile and 7 minutes 33 seconds at the 90th percentile, meeting performance goals. Watkins noted the positive impact of the new Liberty Way corridor on response times. He also announced a fourth battalion, a recruit camp with 24 new firefighters, and a September 18 fuels crew day dedicated to Riverton under the CWPP grant. Councilmember Buroker commended the upcoming wildfire risk reduction work.

Discussion Items

• Resolution No. 25-41 – Water Conservation and Management Plan: Public Works Director Cary Necaise explained the five-year update, which includes displaying secondary water usage on bills, setting conservation goals, and addressing water loss. The city currently has a 20% water loss rate, with a goal to reduce it below 10% by the end of next year. Councilmember McCay asked about low-flow fixtures in new construction—Necaise confirmed they meet current plumbing standards. The public hearing was opened and closed with no comments. The resolution was approved unanimously (5-0).
• Code Requiring Cast Walls Along Canals: Development Services Director Jason Lethbridge reviewed the 2015 fencing ordinance requiring six-foot-high decorative solid-core precast concrete fences along ditches, canals, and irrigation lines. The ordinance excludes alternatives like hollow foam core or fiberglass. Council discussion revealed divergent views: Councilmember McCay favored more flexibility, citing cost savings and aesthetics; Councilmember McDougal opposed changes, citing fairness to existing residents, weed control, fire safety, and visual uniformity along paved canal trails. Councilmember Haymond requested strength comparisons between solid-core and foam-core fences. Councilmember Pierucci asked for cost comparisons per linear foot and practices in other cities. City Attorney Ryan Carter noted that canal companies have no liability or regulatory interest in fencing. The council directed staff to gather information on alternative materials, cost, and impacts on approved developments, and to bring back options for a future meeting. Any change would apply only to future projects.
• Day of Service Discussion: Events Director Sheril Garn requested direction. She noted that large city-organized events are labor-intensive and sometimes inefficient, while volunteer turnout can be insufficient. Councilmembers expressed support for shifting to localized, organic service efforts led by neighborhoods, churches, or community groups, with the city providing support (e.g., dump passes, bags, and oversight on safety). Suggestions included promoting the JustServe website, tracking volunteer hours and participation, and possibly gamifying service to encourage engagement. The consensus was to empower residents to take initiative, with city coordination and improved publicity, rather than focusing on a single large annual event.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Resolution No. 25-41 (Water Conservation and Management Plan) approved unanimously.
• Staff will research and present options for modifying the canal fencing ordinance, including material comparisons, cost data, and a review of other cities' practices. Any future changes will apply only to projects approved after the ordinance change.
• The Day of Service will shift to a localized, neighborhood-driven model with city support; staff will improve communication of service opportunities and track volunteer hours.
• The council unanimously voted to enter a closed session at 8:07 PM to discuss pending litigation and the sale, purchase, exchange, or lease of real property, including water rights. The closed session ended at 8:56 PM, and the meeting adjourned.