Riverton City Council Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Riverton City Council met on October 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM at City Hall, with Mayor Trent Staggs excused and Mayor Pro Tempore Tish Buroker presiding. The meeting covered citizen comments, council reports, a consent agenda, three public hearings, and a discussion on the America 250 logo. Key actions included approving two ordinances related to auto dealerships, tabling a site plan landscaping amendment, and selecting a logo for the 2026 celebration.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of October 7, 2025.
• Adopted Resolution No. 25-50 declaring city equipment as surplus and authorizing the City Manager to dispose of it. (Passed unanimously)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carlos Moreno, Salt Lake County Councilmember, expressed strong opposition to a proposed county tax increase, citing its impact on working families and calling for new county leadership.
• Rusty Lance, Riverton resident, expressed frustration with late notice of county actions, called for more public hearings, transparency, and accountability from county leaders.
• Mike Parker, Riverton resident, encouraged the Council to consider ranked-choice voting, arguing it reduces polarization and empowers voters over parties.

Discussion Items

• Mayor/Council Reports: Councilmembers reported on a Unified Fire lower-acuity response vehicle ($13/hr vs. $80/hr for a fire engine), meals on wheels volunteer needs, transportation master plan survey (over 500 responses), a 10% year-to-date drop in Riverton's trash volume (attributed to less construction and remodeling), and concerns about Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs) — noting over $3.8 billion in PID debt placed on new homeowners since 2019, often without their awareness.
• Ordinance No. 25-23 – Auto Dealership Conditional Use in Commercial Gateway Zone: Jason Lethbridge, Development Services Director, presented a text amendment to allow auto dealerships as a conditional use on finished commercial sites with a permanent building, limited to one per 1.5 miles and properties fronting 12600 South or Bangerter Highway (minimum 1 acre). The Planning Commission recommended denial, but staff added protective standards. Public comment: Adam Jones (Utah Automotive Alliance) supported, citing community benefits and sales tax revenue. Council approved unanimously.
• Ordinance No. 25-25 – Walker Property Rezone: A rezone of 1.16 acres near 2630 W. 12600 S. from C-N to C-G to allow an auto dealership (Benefactor Two LLC). Public support from Josiah Teschner and Tim Hansen praised the applicant's reputation. Councilmembers expressed excitement after visiting the applicant's existing business. The applicant, Marco Hermosillo, presented plans for a modern showroom, limited hours (M-F 9-6, Sat 10-5), and annual car donations to the high school. Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance No. 25-24 – Site Plan Development Standards Amendments: Proposed changes to shift from rigid landscaping lists to staff expertise. Councilmember concerns about tree placement under power lines and water-wise alignment led to tabling the item to allow further refinement, including consistency with Jordan Valley Water Conservancy standards. Approved to table unanimously.
• America 250 Logo Discussion: Josh Lee, Communications Director, presented two logo concepts (A and C). Staff recommended Concept A for versatility. Councilmembers voted 4-1 in favor of Concept A (Councilmember Haymond dissented, preferring Concept C for its educational value about the constitutional republic).

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance No. 25-23 adopted unanimously (5-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-25 adopted unanimously (5-0).
• Ordinance No. 25-24 tabled unanimously (5-0) for further staff review and alignment with water-wise standards.
• America 250 Logo – Concept A selected for use in 2026; Councilmember Haymond's preference for Concept C was noted.
• Upcoming meetings scheduled for November 18, December 2, December 16, 2025, and January 6, 2026.