Syracuse City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026
Syracuse City Council Meeting - September 8, 2026
The Syracuse City Council convened on September 8, 2026, to address a range of items including public comments, a presentation, and several resolutions. A major discussion centered on a proposed rezoning ordinance, which was ultimately rejected after council deliberation.
Recognition
- The Just Serve Group presented a community service award to the city, recognizing Syracuse as a "community that cares." Mayor and council accepted the award, with refreshments provided afterward.
Consent Calendar
- Proposed Ordinance 2026-22, amending the zoning map for a 0.684-acre property at 2961 South, 1515 West from R2 to A1, was initially on the consent agenda but was removed for individual discussion. No other consent items were approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Danny Hammond (Young Automotive Group, Bothwell) thanked the city for its partnership and highlighted their expanded services: collision repair on state contract (lowest price in Davis County), vehicle upfitting for public works and public safety, and dealership for Toyo fire apparatuses (with leasing options). He encouraged the city to consider competitive bids.
- Ann Hansen (3025 South Bluff Road) opposed Agenda Item 5 (rezoning from R2 to A1), stating that most backyard neighbors were not notified and are not in favor. She noted planning commission's mention of adjacent A1 properties but argued that those are a canal, a church, and one small property not used agriculturally. She raised concerns about the point system allowing up to 23 goats, noise, and the property's poor maintenance.
- Caleb Hansen (3025 South Bluff Road) opposed the rezoning, detailing ongoing issues: the adjacent owner removed a shared chain-link fence without consent, goats entered his yard leading to one being euthanized, and the property has accumulated dead vehicles and goats (currently 8–9). He fears approval would worsen conditions.
- Grant Hansen (3017 South Bluff Road) opposed the rezoning, citing rodent problems (12–15 rats killed) from the property, removal of common fencing, and concern that approval could lead to more animals (cows, horses).
- Kami Hansen (3017 South Bluff Road) opposed the change, stating the area is suburban not rural, noise from goats is constant, and she incurred pest control expenses due to rodents from the property.
Discussion Items
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Proposed Ordinance 2026-22 – Rezoning from R2 to A1 The council removed this item from the consent agenda for discussion. City staff confirmed that noticing followed state law (postcards sent) and a public hearing was held at the planning commission. Councilmembers voiced concerns: the property is surrounded by residential development, not agriculture; a spot rezone sets a dangerous precedent; neighbors moved in expecting residential use; and the planning commission might have recommended denial if they had all information. After deliberation, a motion was made to not adopt the ordinance. The motion passed unanimously.
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Resolution R2633 – Appointment to Arts Council The council discussed and voted to appoint Brandy Burke to fill a vacancy on the Arts Council. The motion passed unanimously.
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Resolution R2634 – Co-Sponsorship of Integrated Waste Management District Event The mayor proposed co-sponsoring a "hard-to-recycle" items event with Wasatch Integrated Waste on October 17, 2026. There is no financial obligation for the city; Wasatch pays the fee and handles major advertising. The city provides a space and promotes the event. Councilmembers expressed support, and the resolution passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Rezoning denied: Proposed Ordinance 2026-22 (R2 to A1 for 0.684 acres at 2961 South, 1515 West) was not adopted; all councilmembers voted against it.
- Arts Council appointment approved: Brandy Burke was appointed by unanimous vote.
- Waste event co-sponsorship approved: Resolution R2634 was passed unanimously, with no financial cost to the city.
- Meeting minutes approved: Minutes from the August 11 regular meeting and work session were approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna call this meeting to order tonight. I will begin with an invocation and then Abe, would you lead us in a pledge of allegiance? We'll go that far. Yeah. Our father in heaven, we're grateful to come before thee this night as a city council and consider the issues of the city. We're grateful for the opportunity to review the needs of the city and make uh our best decisions going forward. We pray for thy spirit to guide us in those things that we debate this evening. And I say these things humbly in the name of thy son, Jesus the Christ. Amen. All right. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for our okay. Can I get a motion to adopt the agenda? Seconded. Moved and seconded. All in favor? Aye, aye. Any opposed. Our first item tonight is public comment. This is a chance for citizens to come forward and comment on items that we may be debating later on the agenda. It is uh we need to have your name and address for the record, and we also allow up to three minutes um to be fair to everybody. You can also bring forward ideas that you would like to see on a future agenda, but we wouldn't be able to discuss those tonight. Is there anyone here for public comment? I am come forward. So Danny Hammond, addresses 10545 West, 1160 North in Bothwell, Utah. So first off, I'll just give you fair warning. I'm not here to redevelop anything. I'm not asking for any rezone requests or anything like that. Uh I'm here as a map on behalf of the Young Automotive Group. First to say thank you for Syracuse City being a great private partner or public private partner with us in our automobile sales. Second thing that I'm here to talk to you about is you know, you think about the Young Automotive Group and everybody thinks about the car sales. And that is definitely part of our uh big part of our business. But there's a few other things that we offer at the municipal level that I like to come around and talk to cities about so that they make sure they know all the options that are on the table. So I know with Syracuse City, not everyone buys from the Young Automotive, not all the different groups do, and those that don't, we'd love to have your business and sit down and at least give you some bids and make sure that people are being competitive and giving you the prices that you should be getting. Not all state contract pricing is the same. Uh second thing to talk to you about there, uh, outside of automobile sales, is we are now in the collision repair business on the state contract. So in my previous job, I was a fleet manager, and that was one of my biggest headaches with getting cars in and out of the autobody shop. We have a state contract price. It's actually the lowest in Davis County. And when it comes to our public safety vehicles, anything you can't rent at her at Enterprise, we'll have first available bay, get you in, get you fixed and back on the road so that you're not having to wait for that vehicle and your services. Um the next thing that we have is we have an upfitting service. So we can do everything from upfitting your public works trucks, putting boom trucks, uh, boug um everything you need to do that. We can uh uh upfit your brush truck and your paramedic truck and your capture trucks, all of your police vehicles, and we do all that just down the road in Kaysville. Um and we've got a very successful company there that does a great job. And then the last thing to talk to you about is we are now a dealer for toying fire apparatuses. And I saw in your last meeting you were talking about the fire department, rotating ambulances and that, and that with us being a toying dealer where we can help you the next time you come up with a fire apparatus and you need to replace that, and then you'll have the service technicians just down the road in Kaysville. Also along that lines, we're working with other municipalities to do a lease with them of their fire apparatuses because they're so big and cost so much money. And that also may be a great option for you uh going forward as you look at options with those ambulances to Go with a lease option. So once again, on behalf of the Young Automotive Group, thank you for being a good public private partner with us. We look forward to helping you out any way we can and anything we can do to help uh spent help you spend your tax dollars the best and most fiscal way pop is possible. We're happy to do it.
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