Sandy City Council Meeting October 28, 2025

The Sandy City Council convened on October 28, 2025, to review land development code amendments regarding state-mandated boundary adjustments, discuss a comprehensive traffic solutions study for SR 209, address public safety concerns following a recent homicide in Historic Sandy, and review standing reports on legislative updates and tourism funding. The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to enter a closed session to discuss pending litigation before adjourning.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the consent calendar, which included a proclamation recognizing November 1st as "Extra Mile Day" and the approval of the October 14, 2025 draft meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sharon Jensen (resident of Historic Sandy) expressed concern over a recent murder at Main Street Park and the area's reputation as a "black eye" for the city. She advocated for increased police patrols and deterrence strategies in the Historic Sandy corridor, specifically near the liquor store and the park, to improve resident safety.
• Henry Butters (commercial trucking industry representative) expressed strong opposition to the proposed roundabouts on the SR 209 corridor, particularly near Little Cottonwood Canyon. He argued that roundabouts are dangerous and impractical for wide-load trucks and long-haul vehicles, citing specific incidents where brake failures on the canyon roads would result in catastrophic disasters if a roundabout were present.
• Don Sidwell (resident of Historic Sandy) voiced deep concern regarding safety, alleging recurring suspicious activity and homelessness issues at Main Street Park that he felt were ignored by authorities. He expressed frustration with the city's perceived lack of support for the Historic Sandy community compared to other districts, specifically calling out at-large council members for not participating in or funding improvements in the area.

Discussion Items

Title One Amendments: Boundary Adjustments

• Melissa Anderson (Zoning Administrator) presented amendments to the Land Development Code to align with Senate Bill 140, simplifying the process for boundary adjustments. The proposal distinguishes between "simple boundary adjustments" (no public meeting required) and "full boundary adjustments" (requiring subdivision procedures). The Planning Commission unanimously approved this recommendation.
• Councilmember Sharkey questioned the authority of the City Director, seeking clarification that the Director would indeed approve both simple and full boundary adjustments after a public meeting for the latter.
• Councilmember Robinson asked about the frequency of these adjustments. Anderson noted that while usage varies (e.g., four in one month previously), they generally occur between neighboring landowners seeking minor property line changes for mutual accommodation.

SR 209 Solutions Development Study

• Brittany Ward (Assistant Director/City Engineer) presented a study by UDOT and the city identifying long-term traffic solutions for the SR 209 corridor (9400 South) from 1300 East to Wasatch Boulevard. The study highlighted high crash rates (76% concentrated between 1300 East and Highland Drive) and proposed solutions including roundabouts, raised medians, signal timing adjustments, and bike lane expansions.
• Councilmember Sharkey questioned the logic of proposed solutions, specifically the installation of roundabouts at high-volume intersections and the potential displacement of traffic into residential areas if left turns are restricted. She requested further analysis on traffic cut-through routes.
• Councilmember Stroud expressed concern that the proposed changes, particularly roundabouts with average speeds of 15-25 mph, would create bottlenecks on a freeway-capable arterial road and noted the lack of a phased implementation plan for the entire three-mile stretch.
• Councilmember De Kaiser advocated for a safety-first philosophy, suggesting speed limit reductions as a primary strategy and expressing skepticism about adding roadway access to commercial centers that currently protect parking lots.
• Councilmember Robinson questioned the study's methodology, specifically the lack of new traffic counts and whether city development codes were a limiting factor in proposing alternatives like code changes instead of infrastructure hardening. Ward clarified that existing data was used to avoid redundant costs and that development codes serve as a framework for managing access points.
• Mayor Zoltanski (via report) and Councilmembers expressed apprehension about the volume of change proposed along the corridor, noting potential issues with roundabouts at high-traffic intersections like Wasatch and Cottonwood. Councilmember Turkey emphasized enthusiasm for the proposed interim projects (signal timing improvements) while remaining skeptical of the long-term roundabout implementation without deeper study.
• Staff and Council Consensus: The team agreed that the current study serves as a guide for future developments and that specific solutions require further detailed analysis, traffic modeling, and funding justification before implementation. UDOT and the City will collaborate on grant applications for specific projects.

Historic Sandy Safety & Community Outreach

• Mayor Zoltanski and Chief Sieberson addressed the recent homicide in Main Street Park. They reported an immediate increase in patrols, the installation of a new surveillance camera at the park, and the scheduling of "Coffee with a Cop" and "Pastry with a PUP" events for community engagement. The police department is actively seeking a Neighborhood Watch coordinator for the area.
• Mayor Zoltanski also reported receiving a $460,000 reimbursement from the State Homeless Mitigation Fund to support the Mayor's Village and other services, including funding for new police and paramedic positions.

Standing Reports & Good News

• Councilmember Sharkey reported on legislative updates, including potential motor fuel tax reductions and discussions on property tax caps.
• Councilmember Houseman thanked the parks and recreation team for their responsiveness regarding trail connectivity and shared positive feedback from a recent housing workshop.
• Mayor Zoltanski shared significant news: the Salt Lake County Recreation, Tourism, and Arts Council (TRACK) board recommended a record $3 million grant for the Alta Canyon Recreation Center reconstruction, subject to final County Council approval. This award is contingent on a one-year project window and a potential expansion of the county's free rec program.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Adopted unanimously (Motion carried).
• Boundary Adjustments: Council accepted the information item regarding amendments to Title 21, Chapter 3 and Chapter 37; a formal decision on adoption is scheduled for November 11, 2025.
• SR 209 Study: The study was received as an informational item. The Council directed staff to perform further detailed analysis on specific intersections (particularly roundabouts and left-turn restrictions) and traffic volumes before initiating construction, with implementation dependent on future funding and UDOT partnership.
• Historic Sandy: Police department committed to increased patrols, camera installation, and community events "Coffee with a Cop" (Nov 15) to address safety concerns.
• TRACK Funding: Mayor Zoltanski announced a recommended $3 million grant for the Alta Canyon Recreation Center, which requires Council deliberation and County Council final approval.
• Closed Session: The Council voted 7-0 to close the meeting to discuss pending litigation (Vote carried: Yes=7, No=0). Attendees: Mayor Zoltanski, Lynn Pace, Martin Jensen, and James Sorensen.