Sandy City Council Meeting Summary - January 13, 2026

The Sandy City Council convened on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, for a meeting featuring updates from the Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District, public comments on housing and tax referendums, a detailed presentation on office space needs and the Arbor Plaza acquisition, and a vote to appoint a new Parks and Recreation Director. The meeting concluded with an RDA session regarding an interlocal agreement for affordable housing and various administrative reports.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the August 5, 2025, and November 18, 2025, RDA meetings.
• Approved the consent calendar items without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Erin Dixon (Resident): Expressed full support for dense development and increased housing supply in Sandy, specifically advocating for the overturned development on Sega Lilly and 13th. She argued that growth is inevitable and that more housing is a necessity for working families.
• Rebecca Collie (Tax Referendum Volunteer): Expressed strong opposition to the Sandy City government's denial of a reasonable accommodation request for a paraplegic to gather signatures for a county tax referendum. She characterized the city's action as an obstacle put up to discourage citizens from informed consent regarding a near 15% property tax increase.
• Mr. Butters (Resident/Truck Driver): Expressed concern regarding parking enforcement for semi-truck drivers on side roads, requesting a 48-hour grace period. He also voiced concern regarding the prohibition of camper parking on side roads for individuals experiencing homelessness and expressed frustration over the lack of a scheduled appointment with the Mayor.
• Charlotte Jordan (Sister City Director): Provided an update on the RESA Sister City program, announcing that a conductor and principal trombone player from the Risa Symphony will visit Sandy in late June. She requested that the city council support rescheduling the Pops concert date to accommodate these visiting musicians.
• Doug Wismer (Resident): Expressed support for increased housing density, aligning with Erin Dixon's comments. He voiced opposition to protectionism and disinformation regarding the gondola project, specifically disputing claims of a $1,200 line item bill for taxes. He expressed concern that Sandy's ongoing legal status with the gondola might negatively impact UDOT's decision to discontinue bus service to the Big Cottonwood Canyon base.

Discussion Items

Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District Update

• Evan Tyrrell (Executive Director) presented a robust report on district operations, highlighting a district-wide waste diversion rate of 18.8% with the Sandy service area performing above average at 19%.
• Marcy Houseman (Councilmember): Expressed strong approval for the district's strategic emphasis on efficiency and the intentional reallocation of human resources.
• Chris Nickel (Councilmember): Asked about new measures regarding recycling contamination. Evan Tyrrell explained that while the district is currently using "oops" tags for education, they are preparing to implement a recycling contamination fee and the potential removal of containers for repeat offenders in 2026. He stated this approach is designed to influence behavior without the immediate high cost of physically removing and returning containers, which can cost upwards of $70 each.
• Cost Recovery Initiatives: The district outlined new 2026 fee structures, including a $25 late set-out return pickup fee, potential fines for repeat contamination offenders, and incentives for ACH payments to reduce credit card transaction fees.

Office Space Needs: Arbor Plaza Proposal

• Dan Nelson & Brian (City Staff) presented a analysis of the city's 41,000 square foot office space deficit, comparing four alternatives: a Post Office building, Crescent View Middle School, Justice Building expansion, and the Arbor Plaza Office Building.
• Financial Analysis: Staff presented scenarios showing that purchasing the Arbor Plaza for $12 million would be self-financing through existing and future tenant leases over a 20-year bond term, avoiding immediate impacts to the General Fund.
• Flexibility vs. Occupancy: Council debated the trade-off between the Arbor Plaza's flexibility and the reality that the city would only be able to occupy approximately 34% to 40% of the building in the short-to-medium term while debt is serviced.
• Brooke D'Souza (Councilmember): Expressed significant concern that placing the Police Department in a building with mixed office tenants could negatively impact the ability to lease space or renew leases with other tenants, potentially jeopardizing the financial model. She sought assurance regarding departmental placement strategies.
• Consensus Strategy: The Council agreed that the Arbor Plaza offers the greatest flexibility compared to the other options. Council decided to move forward with a bond parameters resolution to allow staff to proceed with financing, while retaining the ability to cancel the process up to the due diligence deadline (February 19) or closing date (March 2) if terms are not satisfactory.

Parks and Recreation Director Appointment

• Ben Hill was introduced as the candidate for the Parks and Recreation Director position.
• General Sentiment: Various speakers, including Alison Stroud, expressed high praise for the Parks and Recreation Department, stating they are "unsung heroes" who are essential to the community's quality of life and deserve more recognition.

Key Outcomes

• Motion Passed: The Council voted 7-0 to adopt Resolution 26-02C, giving advice and consent to the appointment of Ben Hill as the new Sandy City Parks and Recreation Director.
• Budget/Space Action: The Council voted in favor of a parameters resolution for the Arbor Plaza building to initiate bond financing. This allows the city to move forward with the acquisition while retaining the right to terminate the process before the due diligence period ends on February 19. The Council acknowledged the risk of limited immediate occupancy but prioritized the flexibility and financial structure of the deal.
• RDA Meeting: The Council recessed to convene an RDA meeting. During this session, the RDA discussed an interlocal agreement to sell a 1.1-acre parcel adjacent to America First Field to the RDA for $20.37 per square foot (approx. $978,000). The intent is for the RDA to subsequently develop this property into an affordable housing project (specifically a proposal for 18 town homes by the Gardner Group/Boyer Group), though the RDA retains the flexibility to adjust the sale price to make the development viable.
• RDA Approval: The RDA voted to approve the minutes from their August and November meetings.
• Administrative Updates: City staff noted upcoming legislative sessions, local officials day, and a public safety fair for the Historic Sandy community on January 22, 2026. Mayor Zeltanski highlighted the UDOT announcement for enhanced canyon bus service and praised the police department's community policing efforts.