Sandy City Council Meeting – October 20, 2026

The Sandy City Council met on October 20, 2026. The council received presentations on a proposed state lease of the Justice Court building and on opening preparations for the Sandy Recreation Center, approved the consent calendar, and voted to reconsider the Canyon Gate project after the developer added rental restrictions. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the meeting transcript.

Consent Calendar

• Approved by voice vote: the Sandy Water Conservation Plan, an Extra Mile Day proclamation, a Religious Freedom Day proclamation, and the minutes of the October 13, 2026 meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Henry Butters, speaking online, thanked the council and raised concerns about Councilmember DeKaiser and about the mayor, asking whether Sandy was “sweeping this under the rug.”
• No public comment cards or online comments were submitted for the Canyon Gate voting items.

Justice Court Lease Presentation

• CAO Martin Jensen and staff presented a state judiciary proposal to lease all or most of the Justice Court building for a new district court. The building is two levels, approximately 34,000 square feet, on a 2.5-acre parcel, and was built in 1995. The state is reportedly adding roughly eight Third District judgeships.
• Tentative lease terms include $25 per square foot full-service rent, a July 1 start date, 2.5% annual escalations, a five-year adjustment if operating costs rise faster than 2.5%, and a 20-30 year term. The state would handle security and its own build-out; the city would continue maintenance and pay to relocate existing tenants.
• Administration projected about $650,000 net to the city before capital expenses and a 20-year pro forma of roughly $20 million in gross revenue with more than $9 million net after assumed expenses. Several council members asked for more detail on relocation costs, space utilization, and possible state assistance with front-loaded costs.
• Council members raised different positions: some supported the lease as a strong use of an underutilized courthouse; others worried it could block a future public safety building or that the Think architecture assessment should not carry much weight without an RFP-based study. Some wanted to explore right-sizing the Justice Court instead.
• The closure of Sandy’s Justice Court would be a separate, later decision and would take a two-to-three-year process. If it closed, residents would likely have to use the West Jordan district court. Judge Farr said the court currently uses courtrooms about three days a week and could potentially consolidate to two full days. Most current court staff could probably find state employment, though higher-level positions are less certain.
• No vote was taken; administration indicated a target council vote on the lease around November 17 or the first December meeting.

Sandy Recreation Center Opening Update

• Parks and Recreation Director Ben Hill, Assistant Director Heidi Summers, and Center Manager Lois Stillian presented. The grand opening will be Monday, December 14, 2026, with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting, followed by a community preview through January 3, 2027, and the full launch on Monday, January 4, 2027. Annual membership sales begin November 2.
• Membership will use three pricing tiers: Sandy residents, special tax district residents, and non-residents. An interactive address map is available online to help buyers determine eligibility.
• The project is on time and on budget. Recent milestones include the Sandy sign being completed and scaffolding removed, permanent power connected on October 9, gas meter connection, HVAC startup, parking lot striping, and installation of a new playground.
• Council members and staff praised the project as debt-free, funded in part by a $3 million Salt Lake County grant and a $2 million contribution from the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, plus seven years of city savings. Staff said the gas line easement was the biggest schedule risk and that there has been little rework; any budget savings may be used later for additional pool improvements.

Canyon Gate Reconsideration and Votes

• The council reconsidered its September 15, 2026 decision on the Canyon Gate project after the developer, the Boyer Company, agreed to add rental restrictions to the HOA’s CC&Rs. The restrictions limit rentals to no more than 20% of total units for five years after sale, allow the developer to lease up to 17 units during the sales/build-out period, run with the land, and include limited family exceptions.
• Councilmember Stroud supported the revised proposal because it provides for-sale units and homeownership opportunities. Boyer representatives said they had gone further than they originally wanted but wanted to work in Sandy and agreed that homeownership is important.
• Councilmember Nickel opposed the reconsideration, citing concerns about the legal process, public notice, and pressure from administration. Councilmember Sharkey questioned density language in Ordinance 26-52, saying the ordinance says up to 12 units per acre while portions of the site could reach 16 units per acre. Staff explained that 12 units per acre is the average across the 7.2-acre project and that PUD-style density is calculated on the whole site.
• Votes were taken separately on the three reconsideration items:
  • Ordinance 26-52, the rezone: passed 5-2, with Councilmembers Nickel and Sharkey opposed.
  • Resolution 26-84C, approving the development agreement: passed 5-2, with Councilmembers Nickel and Sharkey opposed.
  • Ordinance 26-51, the general plan amendment: passed 6-1, with Councilmember Nickel opposed.

Standing Reports

• The next two weeks of council and agenda planning meetings are canceled; council staff will calendar any new items.
• A legislative policy committee preview indicated expected new legislative efforts on property tax limits, city fund balances, and water retention basins in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
• Councilmember Nickel took exception to the mayor’s comments and interruption during the voting item, saying the comments made the item more controversial. Mayor Zoltanski responded that she is not limited to mayor’s reports when weighing in on voting items.
• Mayor Zoltanski wished the city’s sister city in Ukraine a happy 125th birthday, invited the public to a Public Safety Open House at Sandy City Hall from 7 to 8 p.m. the following evening, and reminded residents about vote-by-mail security, ballot drop boxes at City Hall and the Sandy Senior Center, and in-person voting.