Riverton City Council Work Session and Meeting – February 17, 2026
Riverton City Council Work Session and Meeting – February 17, 2026
The City Council held a work session starting at 4:03 PM and a regular meeting at 7:00 PM at City Hall. The work session included presentations on a new park, audit results, personnel requests for the upcoming budget, and feedback on EV charging stations. The regular meeting featured public comments, departmental reports, presentations on communications and public safety, and discussions on grant management, a road project, and the city’s capital facilities plan.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved (5-0) the minutes of February 3, 2026, and Resolution 26-10 declaring city equipment as surplus and authorizing disposal.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dave Mobley expressed strong appreciation for the Council’s support of law enforcement in response to recent protests, described the demonstrations as organized efforts to undermine local authority, and urged the Council to remain vigilant, continue supporting police and intergovernmental partnerships, and avoid policies that could weaken public safety.
- Megan Mitchell voiced concern about the City’s collaboration with federal immigration authorities (ICE), stating she does not support the partnership and questioned whether it was established without Council approval or public input. She urged the Council to review the matter and ensure future actions follow proper procedures and transparency.
Work Session: Park Design, Audit, Personnel Requests, EV Stations
- Edge Homes Park Design: Brandon Watson (Edge Homes) presented plans for a 10-acre park in the Mountain Ridge development, featuring eight pickleball courts, a splash pad, inclusive playground (rated 5–12 years), shade structures, and trails. Dan Egan (Big T Recreation) described the playground’s durability, inclusive design, and 15–20 year life expectancy. The splash pad will be a freshwater system using 150 gallons per minute when fully active. No formal action taken; discussion only.
- FY25 Audit & Financial Reporting: Jeff Miles (HBME) reported issuing an unmodified (clean) opinion on financial statements, confirming they fairly present the City’s position under GAAP. No deficiencies in internal controls, no state compliance issues, and federal funds (including COVID-19 SLFRF) were used properly. The City remains within required fund balance limits and is expected to qualify again for the GFOA certificate. Councilmember Alexander Johnson, who served on the audit subcommittee, expressed confidence in the City’s financial condition.
- Budget Study Session on Personnel Requests: Nick Geer (Administrative Services Director) presented proposed personnel additions: IT technician, animal shelter technician, partial FTE for facilities, and two water distribution operators. He also outlined police salary step adjustments, including adding a 12th step for officers, adjusting sergeant steps, and reclassifying six officers as corporals. Council discussed the need for retention, competitive pay, and long-term costs. No votes were taken; staff will refine proposals for future budget discussions.
- EV Stations Feedback: Matt Cassel (City Engineer) reported grant funding from Wasatch Regional Council’s carbon reduction program for 3–4 EV charging stations (estimated cost $425,000 with $40,000 city match). The majority of Council recommended Level 2 chargers offered free initially, with usage monitoring and potential future fees or limits.
Council Meeting: Reports and Presentations
- Mayor/Council/Manager Reports: Mayor Buroker reported involvement in Unified Fire Authority budget discussions and monitoring over 900 legislative bills. Councilmember Pierucci highlighted Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District policy discussions on revenue stabilization and requiring large developments to pay for water. Councilmember Smith reported attending ribbon cuttings, visiting a student art exhibit, and joining the Mosquito Abatement Board. Councilmember Haymond noted the Sewer District’s progress and a $2 fee increase. Councilmember Johnson spoke at a Seventh-day Adventist Church about civic service and attended the first skate park subcommittee meeting.
- Communications Department Presentation: Brook Bowen and Nate Slack introduced the department’s goals for consistent, professional messaging. They highlighted the redesigned newsletter (“Riverton Insider”), a 60% email open rate (double industry average), and plans to improve digital engagement through fewer but more strategic social media posts, a recognizable blue stripe, and tailored content.
- Transportation Master Plan Update: Jason Lethbridge (Development Services Director) presented survey results and a video summary. Council supported a hybrid spring engagement approach combining an in-person open house (preferably west of City Hall) with an interactive online map. The land use strategic priorities update will follow in March.
- Riverton Police Department Presentation: Chief Shane Taylor reported overall activity trends: calls for service peaked in 2023 and declined through 2025; property crimes decreased 37.8% from 2022 to 2025 due to targeted patrols. Arrests, citations, and traffic stops fluctuated based on state funding for enforcement programs. Proactive enforcement is expected to increase as funding improves.
Discussion/Action Items
- Grant Discussion: Cary Necaise (Public Works Director) explained the city’s grant process, including research, applications, matching funds, and reporting. Over the past three years, the City applied for about $8 million in grants and received nearly $2 million (approximately 50% success rate). Staff will provide regular updates on active and potential grants.
- Jordan Basin Improvement District 13400 South Project: Mr. Necaise reported that JBID is approaching the 2700 West intersection. Two options were considered: a partial closure over four weeks (with daily openings during school hours) or a full closure during spring break (one week). A majority of Council supported the full one-week closure, citing reduced overall cost and shorter disruption. They emphasized requiring JBID to complete the work within the week and to prepare materials in advance.
- Capital Facilities Plan: Kevin Hicks (City Manager) presented the plan to consolidate impact fee facilities plans, long-range planning, and master-planned projects into a single 10-year framework covering transportation, parks, stormwater, and facilities. Council requested chronological sorting and inclusion of grant match amounts. The plan will be refined and updated as studies and funding opportunities arise.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved 5-0.
- Work Session adjourned at 6:08 PM (motion by Councilmember McDougal, second by Pierucci, unanimous).
- Council Meeting adjourned at 8:58 PM (motion by Johnson, second by Smith, unanimous).
- Council consensus on the following actions (no formal votes taken):
- Support for a hybrid public engagement approach for the Transportation Master Plan (in-person event west of City Hall combined with online map).
- Preference for full one-week closure of 13400 South/2700 West during spring break, with a requirement that JBID complete work within that period.
- Recommendation to offer Level 2 EV charging stations free initially, with monitoring and potential future fees.
- Direction to move animal control operations into the police operations fund (fund 120).
- Expressed general support for adding an IT technician, animal shelter technician, two water distribution operators, and a partial FTE for facilities, pending budget refinement.
- Support for adding a 12th step to the police officer pay scale and creating corporal positions, to be finalized in future budget discussions.
- Next meetings: March 3, 2026 (Work Session & Council Meeting); March 17, 2026 (Work Session only, due to caucus night); April 7 and April 21, 2026 (Work Sessions & Council Meetings).
Meeting Transcript
Don't need that. All right. I think we're ready to start. I apologize for the brief delay here getting set up. Let's start with our work session for o'clock. We have looks like we have all department heads and all council members in attendance. So thank you all very much. And let's start with a presentation from Edge Homes. Jump right into this. I like it. So just so you know, it is supposed to be a work meeting, so a little informal meaning everyone's lights are on so they can ask questions throughout. Great. Yeah, feel free to stop me as I dive into this a little bit more. Uh happy to pause and have a discussion on it. So uh but my name is Brandon Watson with Edge Homes, uh civil engineer slash uh land developer, I guess. That's kind of the best of two evils there, I guess. Um, but uh we uh what what I'm gonna show you here this afternoon has been uh months and months of planning uh between not only edge homes but uh with all uh departments on on Riverton City staff. So planning, engineering, uh parks, parks committee, um, public works, engineering. We've all been involved uh over the past several months on getting this to where it's at today. So um we're excited to present to you uh this playground. So and uh in general, just what we're called, we're gonna call the Riverton 10 Acre Park. I know the name is to be determined, but um for those that aren't familiar with where this area is. So this is would be um south of 134 south and east of Mountain View Corridor, uh the mountain ridge development. Um and this borders Harriman to the south and Bluffdale City to the well kind of south and east. Um and so we're north of 138 south. Um, and this is a 10-acre park that um is strategically placed uh to be in a location that serves both the development's needs as well as Riverton City's needs uh when it comes to to parks and and uh uh infrastructure goes. So what I'm gonna show you here right now is just an overview of the the the meat of this park. Um and like I said, we've had a lot of collaboration with with the parks committee on making sure we lay this out in a way that makes complete sense. So um I'll just start on the north end, uh, which is north is to the left of this picture where those pickleball courts are. So uh just from an orientation standpoint, but we've got eight pickleball courts and been working closely with the parks department to make sure we get fencing and lighting and benches and all those accessory amenities in the right place and the way we'd like it. Um obviously these are artist renderings and our best renderings uh of of what we envision this to look like. Um and we've got a couple of shade structures with some picnic tables underneath it. Um just to the north is a detention pond that uh can also serve as you know a play field or something along those lines. It will be graded and designed in a way that will have multi-function ability to it. Um and then we've got uh parking lot on this north end for you know the pickleball and the playground area. Um it's about 25 parking stalls. Then as we jump to the south end of the field of the of the park, we've got the play field and a much larger parking lot. Now, when I say a play field, so on the right hand side of the picture here, recording in progress. Oh, on the right hand side of the picture here is another very large play field uh that's gonna be a size more for uh soccer fields and more of a programmable uh space as far as use goes. Um and then uh I don't know if you can see my cursor or not, but anyway, I guess towards the top of the picture you can kind of see a blue and green area. There'll be some swing sets there. We'll have a very large splash pad that we've worked closely with your parts department to make sure that it's designed and functions the way that uh works for the public as well as works for them from a maintenance and and uh yeah, a maintenance standpoint. So um I'm gonna kind of jump right into the playground. Um and I brought Dane with Big T Recreation, so he's the one that's designed this. Him and his team have done a fabulous job on getting this design. They've done a lot of work in your city. I'm sure you guys are aware of other parks that they've helped design and create and facilitate. So I'm gonna turn the time to him to have him uh just kind of run through real quick the playground and and splash pad items. Thank you for your time, Mayor and City Council. As Brandon said, my name is Dane Egan.
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