Sandy City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025: Budget Hearings, Rezone, and Tax Analysis
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Sandy City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025: Budget Hearings, Rezone, and Tax Analysis
The Sandy City Council met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 5:15 PM in City Hall and via Zoom. The meeting included informational items on a Jordan Credit Union rezone, a report from City Journals, and a sales and property tax revenue analysis. Public hearings were held on budget amendments, executive compensation, the FY2025-26 budget, and the Redevelopment Agency budget. The council adopted budget amendments, continued the FY2025-26 budget hearing to June 10, and closed the RDA public hearing without adoption. Council members paid tribute to recently deceased community advocate Bruce Blanchard.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tim Gibson expressed dissatisfaction regarding a prior matter and urged council members to reach out to him for resolution.
- Deb Jordan (ARUP Blood Services) invited the public to a first responder blood drive event on June 14, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Sandy donor center, featuring a helicopter landing and fire/police participation.
- Kris Nichol (during budget hearing) called for more detail on Mayor, CAO, and Communications budgets, stating that spending needs to be reined in and that those three budgets made less than one percent cuts compared to other departments.
- Steve Van Maren (Draper resident) questioned why Public Utilities did not raise water rates despite having only a 90-day operating reserve, and asked why the Alta Canyon Recreation District is still being taxed if the city intends to dissolve it.
Discussion Items
- Jordan Credit Union Rezone (File #REZ04182025-006956): Jake Warner (Community Development) presented a request to rezone 0.98 acres at 9260 S 300 E from R-1-8 to PO (Professional Office) to allow improvements to an existing non-conforming use. The Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation. The item was informational and will return for action on June 10.
- City Journals Report (Item 25-159): Brian Scott (publisher) discussed the 20-year relationship with Sandy City, distribution methods, an opt-in/opt-out beta test, and a proposed $150/month price increase (from $3,000 to $3,150). He noted that an RFP for a glossy publication did not align with their business model; Sandy City is a case study where glossy did not increase readership. Council members discussed mission differences (City Journals uses advertising revenue; the city uses taxpayer funds).
- Sales and Property Tax Revenue Analysis (Item 25-161): Brian Kelley (Administrative Services) explained how sales tax (1% to cities, half based on statewide population, half on point of sale) and property tax (certified rate adjusted to keep revenue flat unless new growth or truth-in-taxation) work. Historical growth: sales tax had 1.31% in 2023, a decrease in 2024, projected 0.73% for FY2025-26; property tax grows ~1% annually from new growth, with RDA expirations providing occasional bumps (e.g., 6.49% in 2020). Council discussed population factor and online sales tax attribution.
- FY2025-26 Budget Hearing (Item 25-163): Brian Kelley presented Resolutions 25-23C and 25-24C (tentative budget, no tax increase). Adjustments included CDBG increase of ~$30,000 and breakout of the ALJ budget. After public comment, the council continued the public hearing to June 10 to allow for budget proposals. The motion passed 7-0.
- Redevelopment Agency Budget (Item 25-160): Casey Dunlavy presented the RDA budget. The board closed the public hearing but postponed adoption to align with the city budget adoption date. Minutes from March 11, 2025, were approved.
- Council Member and Mayor Reports: Several council members and the mayor paid tribute to Bruce Blanchard, a respected community budget watchdog who recently passed away. Councilmember Houseman urged moving forward with a code of conduct. Mayor Zoltanski reported on a housing summit with Governor Cox, the retirement of Senior Center Director Charles Otis, movies in the park (June 6, Princess Bride), and completion of Willow Creek bridges (federally funded, avoiding a 20% property tax increase).
- CAO Report: Shane Pace announced implementation of Workday financial software (reimbursement process for travel) and an update on a UDOT traffic light project on State Street at 8680 South—the light relocation is postponed, but additional islands will be installed; a second open house is set for June 25.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted Resolution 25-22C (Budget Amendments for FY2024-25) by a 7-0 roll call vote, increasing appropriations for debt service, Alta Canyon, and Golf funds.
- Continued the FY2025-26 Budget Public Hearing to June 10, 2025, by a 7-0 vote, to allow time for council budget proposals. (The motion was amended from June 17 to June 10 during discussion.)
- Closed the RDA Budget Public Hearing without adoption; the RDA budget will be considered when the city budget is adopted (likely June 17 or later).
- Approved RDA Minutes from March 11, 2025, by voice vote.
- Jordan Credit Union Rezone will be voted on at the June 10 meeting.
- Next Steps: The council will receive additional budget information on June 10 (certified tax rate analysis) and vote on the rezone; a second open house for the State Street project is scheduled for June 25.
Meeting Transcript
Hey everybody, we've still got about two minutes, but I'm gonna start the recording so that our online participants can join the meeting. So are we saying this last year? Recording in progress. But the mere suggestion the street. That's it. So don't feel like we have to discipline. Just give it back to the such people. So if you just want to do like that, just surf it's name. And then that's what they have to do. Just then just give it back to me. So if you just want to go to the thing, it's not a good idea. Okay. I'm just gonna say, yeah, I think just remember something. Well, welcome everyone to tonight's Sandy City Council meeting. My name is Aaron DeKaiser, current chair and at large member. Today is Tuesday, June third, twenty twenty-five. We will uh start our meeting with the printer pledge of allegiance. We'll be led in prayer tonight by Mr. Ellis, please. Dear God, our Father in heaven. We bow our heads in gratitude for this day and the opportunity we have this evening to engage in this public process and then uh live up to our civic duties and we pray for these elected officials and uh that they would be blessed in their hearts and minds that would be open to um solutions for problems that we face as a community. We're so thankful for freedom and opportunity and for again for this opportunity to participate tonight. We're also mindful of the many people around the world who are dealing with political struggles and and civil unrest and war, and we ask that that was blessed there, and the leaders of those nations that their hearts and minds would be open. Again, we're thankful, Father, for this opportunity. We pray for these those who participate tonight, that their messages will be conveyed in a way that has been that they've prepared for and that uh would be pleasing to the we ask this humbly in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you. If you all please rise, we'll recite the Pledge of Allegiance together. I've allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republican stands. One nation or thank you. We do have some public hearings on tonight's agenda. So if you're here wanting to make a comment on those, when you fill out your card in the back and give it to staff in the back or at front, please mark on the card that you're speaking for the public hearing. Otherwise, we'll have the general citizen comment no earlier than six o'clock. Let's go to our uh introductions from the dais, starting with Mr. Fratto, please. Of course, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, my name is Dustin Fratto. I'm with the City Council office. There are two additional council staff members in the back of the room, Justin Sorensen and Liz Terriel. And then Mr. Cadell, I believe. He'll be here. He must just be running a little bit late. Chris Edwards with the council office. Zach Robinson, district three. Ryan Meekham, District 1. Marcy Houseman, District 4. Alison Stroud, District 2. Brooke D'Souza at large.
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