Sandy City Council Meeting – June 24, 2025: Budget Adoption and Stormwater Rate Debate
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Sandy City Council Meeting – June 24, 2025
The Sandy City Council met on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 5:15 PM in City Hall and via Zoom. The main focus was the final adoption of the FY 2025-26 budget, which included heated debate on stormwater rate increases and a one-time public art fund. The council also approved consent items and later convened as the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) to adopt its budget and review economic development.
Consent Calendar
- Trans Jordan Landfill Agreement (Item 25-202): Approved an amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement allowing Herriman City to join as a Trans Jordan Member City. Unanimous voice vote.
- General Plan Letter of Recommendation (Item 25-204): Authorized the Chair to sign a letter supporting Sandy City's General Plan for the APA Daniel Burnham Award. Unanimous voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Citizen Comment: Cathy Spuck, representing the Sandy Amateur Radio Club, invited the community to a Ham Radio Field Day on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from Noon to 5:00 PM at the Sandy Senior Center.
- Public Hearing on Budget: No public comments were offered either in person or virtually during the budget hearing.
Discussion Items
- Stormwater Rate Increase (Sharkey Amendment): Council Member Cyndi Sharkey proposed lengthening the stormwater rate hike from 10 years to 15 or 20 years. After debate, Council Member Marci Houseman moved to set the rate at $7.67/month (a 15-year plan). Council Member Robinson offered a friendly amendment for a 12-year timeline ($8.08/month), which was declined. The motion passed 4-3 (Yes: Robinson, Houseman, Sharkey, D'Sousa; No: Stroud, Mecham, Dekeyzer).
- Public Art Program (Dekeyzer Amendment): Council Member Aaron Dekeyzer proposed a one-time $25,000 appropriation for a public art program, addressing prior concerns about ongoing funding. The motion passed 4-3 (Yes: Robinson, Stroud, Mecham, Dekeyzer; No: Houseman, Sharkey, D'Sousa). Several council members expressed support for future guidelines and a citizen committee.
- Budget Adoption (FY 2025-26): The council adopted Resolution 25-23C for the Sandy City budget and Resolution 25-24C for the Alta Canyon Recreation District budget, both unanimously (7-0). The budget had been tentatively approved on June 17, 2025, with amendments incorporated.
- RDA Budget and Presentation: After the council meeting, the RDA board adopted its FY 2025-26 budget (Resolution RD 25-02) unanimously. Economic Development Director Casey Dunlavy presented the annual report, highlighting over 700 new businesses, a 3.3% unemployment rate, and a business survey net promoter score of 11. Discussion emphasized simplifying licensing and permitting processes and potential grant/loan programs.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (voice vote).
- Stormwater Rate: Set at $7.67/month under a 15-year plan, directing staff to adjust appropriations to meet projected revenues. Vote: 4-3.
- Public Art Funding: $25,000 one-time allocation from Central Wasatch Commission and citizen scholarship line items. Vote: 4-3.
- FY 2025-26 Budget: Resolution 25-23C (Sandy City) and 25-24C (Alta Canyon) adopted unanimously (7-0).
- FY 2024-25 Budget Adjustment (Item 25-205): Resolution 25-26C transferring appropriations for community events to Parks and Recreation and reducing a $427,000 federal grant (Raise Trails) was adopted unanimously.
- RDA Budget (RD 25-02): Adopted unanimously. RDA meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.
- Upcoming: Next week’s council meeting will include a housing workshop and election of council officers.
Meeting Transcript
Hey, everybody, we've still got a couple of minutes, but I'm going to go ahead and start the recording now so that our virtual participants can log in. Mr. Chair, that clock in the back of the room is a little slow, so I think we're at 5.15 whenever you're ready to get going. Okay, thank you, Mr. Fratto. Uh welcome to tonight's city council meeting. Uh today is June 24th, 2025. My name is Aaron DeKaiser, current chair and council member at large. We'll begin our meeting with the prayer pledge of allegiance and introductions. Um would someone like to offer tonight's prayer. Go ahead, Mr. Pace, please. Our Father Haven, we come before thee this evening grateful for the opportunity to live in this um this country and be members of this community. We're grateful for our elected officials for their efforts on our behalf. We're grateful for the opportunity to consider um next year's budget tonight. We pray that that will be with uh this body that they will make uh the right decisions about our community, and we say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you. If you all please rise, we'll recite the Pledge of Allegiance together. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which is one nation. Thank you. So now we'll have our introduction starting with Mr. Fratto, please. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, my name is Dustin Fratto. I'm with the council office. Uh Chris Edwards, our meeting clerk, is clerking the meeting virtually this evening, so she is online, but virtual or she is online. And then there are two other council staff members in the back of the room, Justin Sorensen and Liz Terriel. I'm Tracy, I'm counsel for the council. I'm Zach Robinson from District 3. Ryan Meekham, District 1. Marcy Housman, District 4. Alison Stroud, District 2. Brooke de Souza at large. Cindy Sharkey at large. I'm your mayor Monica Zeltanski. Shane Pace, City Administrator. Lynn Pace, City Attorney. Very good. Thank you. Uh if you're here tonight to make a cup public comment, we'll have that uh no earlier than 6 o'clock p.m. There's blue cards. You can get those from the staff in the back and deliver those up front as was just done. And if you're wishing to make a comment online, we will address you at the appropriate time. Uh also we do have two public hearings on tonight's agenda. So if you'd like to comment on those, please wait till the time and you will be recognized. Tonight is interesting. We have no informational items. So the first two items on our agenda tonight are our consent calendar.
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