Riverton City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting – May 19, 2026

The Riverton City Council held a work session at 4:30 PM and a regular meeting at 7:00 PM on May 19, 2026, at City Hall. Key topics included stormwater management, a presentation from Salt Lake County Council, park entrance improvements, water conservation strategies for parks and splash pads, a legislative update, and an amendment to the tentatively adopted budget for police compensation. A boil water order was announced during the work session due to an illegal cross-connection discovered earlier that day.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from May 5, 2026, by unanimous vote (4‑0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the citizen comment period at the regular meeting.

Presentations/Discussions

• Stormwater Discharge 12600 South CRA Project: City Manager Kevin Hicks presented a preliminary proposal to allow a developer to direct stormwater from a future development into an existing city retention pond with excess capacity. The developer would pay all associated infrastructure costs. Council unanimously supported the concept, viewing it as an efficient use of existing infrastructure.

• Salt Lake County Council Presentation: Council Chair Amy Winder Newton and Councilmember Suzanne Harrison presented an overview of county services, governance, and budgeting. They noted that nearly 75% of the general fund supports criminal justice and public safety, that the county maintains an AAA bond rating, and that tourism revenue funds cultural/community programs. They discussed jail capacity challenges, behavioral health initiatives, and partnerships for treatment and reentry services. Riverton councilmembers asked about golf course funding, law enforcement, homelessness, and regional cooperation.

• Main Park Entrance Discussion: Public Works Director Cary Necaise presented eight conceptual options for the vacant area at the entrance after skate park removal. Options ranged from simple sod replacement ($35,000) to decorative landscaping, pathways, parking, recreational courts, community gardens, and a conservation garden ($150,000). Council generally favored Option 1 (sod and trees) as a temporary beautification measure that could be completed before Town Days, reserving the possibility of future amenities like futsal or street hockey if outside funding becomes available.

• Park Water Use and Service Level Discussion: Mr. Necaise outlined a drought mitigation plan that categorizes parks into four service levels with irrigation reductions from 10% (athletic/civic areas) to 25% (low‑priority open spaces). He noted that recent upgrades (weather‑based controls, moisture monitoring) are already improving efficiency. For splash pads – which use non‑recycled culinary water – staff proposed reducing hours to noon‑8 PM and potentially alternating days for the least‑used Old Farm location. Council supported the reductions and emphasized clear communication to residents.

• Boil Water Order: During the work session, Mr. Necaise reported that a city monitoring system detected reverse flow, leading to discovery of an illegal cross‑connection between a property’s irrigation system and the culinary water supply. The connection was shut off immediately. In coordination with the Division of Water Quality, a precautionary 48‑hour boil order was issued while water samples are tested (results expected Thursday afternoon). Council discussed future prevention through dual‑check valve installations.

• Tentatively Adopted Budget Amendment: Nick Geer presented a revised police compensation proposal: a 1.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment plus a 4% step increase, for a total 5.5% adjustment. The increase would be funded through the RLESA fund, reducing its fund balance from 5% to 1.5% for the year. Councilmembers supported the change as a retention and competitiveness measure. The amendment was approved unanimously (4‑0). The public hearing on the budget was opened, no comments were received, and it was left open until the June 2, 2026 meeting.

Presentations/Recognitions

• Former Miss Riverton, Olivia Dibble: Announced her upcoming participation in Miss Utah and described her “Show Me Your Shoes” entry – stained‑glass shoes inspired by Riverton City Hall’s dome, which shares a designer with the Utah State Capitol. She thanked the council for the Miss Riverton program.
• Riverton Library Presentation: Library Director Joey McNamee and Branch Manager Steph Tilt reported that in 2025 the Riverton Branch circulated over 600,000 items (58% from the branch itself), hosted 539 programs attended by more than 36,000 people, and is a registered Monarch Waystation. Over 225,000 digital materials were checked out by Riverton patrons. Councilmembers thanked them for their service.
• Legislative Report: Rob Jolley provided an update on state policy items: a proposed water user fee bill (HB 501) did not pass but may return; transportation funding changes redirect quarter‑of‑a‑quarter monies to a grant program for infrastructure benefiting affordable housing; and upcoming discussions on property tax limits, homestead exemptions, and cash‑carryforward caps were noted. Council asked about opportunities for retroactive infrastructure funding.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Consent Agenda (minutes from May 5, 2026) unanimously.
• Directed staff to proceed with Option 1 (sod and trees) for the Main City Park entrance, aiming for completion before the July 4 celebration.
• Directed staff to implement splash pad hours from noon to 8 PM and explore alternate‑day scheduling for the Old Farm location.
• Amended the tentatively adopted budget to include a 5.5% police compensation increase (1.5% COLA + 4% step), financed from the RLESA fund; motion passed 4‑0.
• Held public hearing on the budget; no public comments; hearing remains open until June 2, 2026.
• Convened a closed session at 8:02 PM to discuss the sale, purchase, exchange, or lease of real property including water rights; closed session adjourned at 8:25 PM; the regular meeting then adjourned at 8:26 PM.