Meet the Candidates

DISCLAIMER: I am not a very good camera person. I apologize for the periodic bouncing of the camera.

Candidate Introductions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilRdMDorIw0&feature=youtu.be

Q1 for Mayor candidates - What is the present debt level and how should it be reduced? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNkYDUCsC_U&feature=youtu.be

Q2 for CC candidates - Would you vote to approve a 5-story high density building in Cedar Hills? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji3TQP3tF7c&feature=youtu.be

Q3 Part 1 - What are your views of the golf course and golf course debt? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFZ0JJ5Xjek&feature=youtu.be

Q3 Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7inEKvUdkqQ&feature=youtu.be

Q4 Part 1 - What do you see as identifying characteristics of Cedar Hills? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vypa2gGgieU&feature=youtu.be

Q4 Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c61XQ5OAiyA&feature=youtu.be

Q5 - What is the proper role of local government? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQT0dTdbubo&feature=youtu.be

Q6 - What is the proper role of the City Council? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp60Vv43H0g&feature=youtu.be

Q7 - What is your position on spending more than $400,000 for capital projects? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LITp_zpuTtE&feature=youtu.be

Closing Statements Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8fL2crnnCA&feature=youtu.be

Closing Statements Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvAY1K1qIsg&feature=youtu.be

City Council Meeting - October 15, 2013

October 15, 2013

Work Session

Discussing Utah Leagues of Cities and Towns trainings.

Mayor Gygi - Attended tourism meeting. Meeting with County on ways to make AF Canyon accessibility better and safer as population in North Utah County continues to expand. Tourism dollars are available for cities who may be able to draw people to their areas so he will look into that. Attended a meeting on healthcare and how implementing Obamacare will impact cities. At some point we need to make sure that we are implementing in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

CM Martinez - Spring conference focused on communication. One class was on mediation and how to find middle ground. Talked about guidelines for handling conflict creatively and constructively. Another class focused on personality tests and how it helps you work with other people. This was implemented with YCC to get to know each other better and helped them to form groups. Another class in the fall was called Unplugged. Magazine went out to all residents and kids can earn tags for doing certain activities within the community. Encourages kids to get  out and do things outside during the summer months. Went to a class about safety in parks and  trails.

CM Augustus - Key points he took out of it was communication, conflict management, and how we work together. Would like to find a copy of the personality assessments to provide to the rest of the Council. Went to a class on time management. Two things that stood out are get a watch for effective time management. One employer said he would only hire people who wore a watch. Second item was that we all need to be like children and try to get as much as we can out of each day. Communication of staff should be fact based and not biased. Talked about ways Council Members can vote. Having a silent vote can help prevent bias. We should have copy of Council procedures at every meeting. Being curious, active, and engaged is one of the most powerful things we own. Went to a class that talked about random acts of kindness where members of communities do kind things for each other.

CM Rees - My notes from the conference:

Parks and Recreation
Find other resources of revenue, such as donations or bartering with other cities.
Provide programs of human service, beyond traditional activities.
Act as a community organizer in matching community resources to citizen need.
Plan activities with the community and local businesses, not just city staff.
Evaluate services in terms of financial outcomes and require financial accountability.
Create senior citizen programs.
Include activities such as flu shot clinics, walking groups, 5k runs, bike safety clinics, money mgmt classes, health fairs to increase health of community.
Create achievement awards and give to local schools and pediatricians to hand out to kids – award is for free rec class.
Have a Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee to help meet these goals and to work on applying for grants.
Have online ability for park and event registrations.
Need more free-range kids, not so many organized activities. Communities should be working on walkable areas and green space so kids can go outside and play.

Communication
Send press releases on Friday for weekend release as many media outlets are looking for filler stories.
Ask people to like and share Facebook posts.
Social media is your voice and must always be professional.
Relationships on social media are key.
Don’t ignore those talking to you
Don’t be a mannequin and give cookie cutter answers
Make it knowledgeable and friendly
Transparency isn’t a nice to have, it’s expected.

David Church
Consensus is not always a virtue. Compromise generally means some are giving up on their principles. This doesn’t lead to good working relationships.
Being elected doesn’t guarantee you get your way, just that you get your say.
Let wounds heal, don’t keep picking at past issues.
Do things, not just plan to do things. It isn’t an accomplishment to plan to do things.
Make people more aware of the powers and duties that Mayor & Council have so potential candidates know their parameters and don’t expect to have more power or influence than they should.
Accept the limitations of your position.
Don’t try a coups as a council member.
Mayors:
Elected to implement the direction of the Council
More administrative in nature
Need to improve public meetings
They are too long
They are too unfocused
Rules of order aren’t being followed
Mayors aren’t appropriately chairing meetings
Make sure everyone at the table respects each other and the public
Enforce the rules
Don’t argue with the public
Put time limits on discussions. Arguing for extended periods of time only causes frustration and rarely changes the final outcome of the vote
Mayor/Chair needs to determine when discussion needs to end and ask for a vote. If it’s not going to pass, it’s not going to pass.
Dress the part at all city events. Residents aren’t going to take the Council seriously if the Council doesn’t act and dress like it’s serious.
Don’t try to filibuster. No good comes of it.
All elected officials and everyone who runs for public office deserve respect. It’s not easy to run or be an elected official.
Take a different view of the public. Don’t expect them to know what you know. They don’t get the data that the Council gets. Don’t fight or be rude. Work to inform, not to confront.

CM Zappala - Went to Mark Fenton's class and talked about making communities livable. Need to help people have ways to bike and walk to nearby locations instead of driving. Need to put in place planning standards for the area. Instead of focusing on the look of the building (colonial, brick, etc.) focus on layout of area. Have trees, bike racks, walking spaces, awnings, make it more comfortable to be a walkable area. Be proactive with developers on what we expect before the developers start the planning process. There are websites that are rating communities on walkability and it's having an impact on property values. Recommended bike and pedestrian advisory committee. Make sure all trails connect. Do a walk audit to identify walking challenges for your community. We could have some biking challenges in our areas.

David Bunker - Need to revamp website every 3-5 years to keep people engaged. Be consistent on social media. We need to be better at telling stories. Went to class on conflict management.

Chandler Goodwin - Duties for Planning Commission are in State Code, but city can give additional duties. Went to class on land use training.

Council Meeting

Public Comment
Nobody signed up for public comment.

Public Hearing Regarding Sale of Cottonwood Lots and 9 acres of Commerical Area
Nobody signed up for public hearing.

Consent Agenda
Minutes from the August 6th, August 27th, September 17th, and October 1st City Council meetings were unanimously approved.

City Reports
David Bunker - Timpanogos Special Service District has pending litigation and will start deposing board members. Tomorrow there is a commercial video shoot for the Vista Room and also for Sammy's. Sorenson Communications is doing this as a sign language commercial. Social media sites are getting a lot of activity.

CM Zappala - Attended Utah Valley Dispatch meeting regarding contract with Lone Peak Public Safety. Waiting to finalize until after receiving consultants report on study done with regards to dispatch center. Gave a talk at local developers meeting regarding writing applications for cities. It was well received and he will continue to work on that.

Mayor Gygi - Made a proposal to Utah County mayors to have meeting with Utah Valley Homebuilders Assoc regarding their excessive litigation and that will proceed. Discussing GRAMA with legislators and unintended consequences of what comes of abuse.

CM Martinez - YCC has pumpkin walk and haunted creek this month. Sammy's will offer food for sale at this event. Prince & Princess Day is in November at the Vista Room. Superhero day will be in the spring. National Family Week will be November 25th and YCC will have family games. Jr. Jazz signups happening now. Need volunteers for Lego League qualifier in January. Story time is every Wednesday in the basement of the recreation center.

CM Augustus - North Pointe was supposed to present to the Council but he hasn't heard anything yet.

Discussion on Blu Line Designs
Blu Line has meet with the Planning Commission and obtained conceptual approval of the plan for a congregate care facility located at approximately 4600 W and Cedar Hills Dr. The group has solicited feedback from the Commission, Council, staff and residents, and has implemented many of the suggestions into the current proposal. Blu Line has had further discussions with Dave Jardine (Hart’s property) as well as Amsource about the current proposal. Blu Line has requested that they have a discussion with the Council in order to update all on the progress of the project. Additionally, there will be the first public hearing with the Planning Commission on October 24, at 7:00 in the Vista Room, as Blu Line begins the preliminary approval process.

Public Hearing for this area is being advertised. Blu Line presented new concept with housing unit turned towards Cedar Hills Drive. Met with Amsource and the meeting was positive. They liked the concept and talked about having a pad in that corner instead of a strip mall. Met with Harts and they are excited about having more residents in that area. Proposal is to have a main type street going through the commercial area and behind Harts for easier access to all commercial buildings. Met with a company that works with movie theaters and had them put together proposal for helping Cedar Hills obtain these types of businesses. New plans show potential for sit down restaurants and also retail stores. Just started initiating advertising for commercial businesses to come to this area. Working with the city on an agreement regarding the purchase of city-owned commercial property. Once an agreement is made with the City they will put out to market immediately for commercial owners. Would start with the assisted living facility, then the movie theater as the theater will draw restaurants and other businesses.

Review/Action on Putting City-Owned Cottonwood Lots Up for Sale
Based on State and City code, it is proposed that the City declare the following parcels of real
property as surplus and declare its intent to dispose of said parcels: Nine (9) acres of real property located at approximately 4800 West 9950 North in the SC-1 zone and seven (7) residential building lots located at approximately 10443 – 10481 Cottonwood Drive in the R-1-11,000 zone. This allows the city to put these properties up for sale. This was unanimously approved.

Review/Action on Resolution Declaring November 25th – 29th as National Family Week
The week of the Thanksgiving holiday, November 25-29 will be recognized by a number of
organizations as National Family Week. As a show of support to this cause, the City would like to adopt a resolution recognizing this week as National Family Week. In addition, we have asked the Youth City Council to assist in providing activities for families in the City Recreation Center on Monday November 25th. Also, Sammy’s Grill has indicated they would like to offer families a special offer of 25% off at their Cedar Hills location to assist the City with its commitment to Utah’s families. Item was unanimously passed

City Council Meeting - October 1, 2013

Work Session

Discussion on Blu Line Design for commercial area
Have been working with Planning Commission on design. Last Thursday they presented updated plans to Planning Commission and received approval of concept plan with Planning Commission recommendations. One suggestion made by residents who live in that area was to consider rotating the senior living structure clockwise 90 degrees. Blu Line is working on this and will work with Planning Commission. Other suggestions were to add more brick to the facade, lower height, and different setback. Conceptual drawings also include a movie theater, restaurants, a splash area, and gathering places. Current elevation of the senior living center is four stories on the outer wings and five stories on the middle main portion of the building. CM Zappala would like to see some renderings showing walkways for all residents of the city so we can be sure the areas are safe and work as a walkable area. Blu Line has had several conversations with Amsource, who owns the corner lot, but so far they are not willing to sell this property. Blu Line has started to receive questions from commercial businesses who have heard of this project and are interested in locating to Cedar Hills. CM Augustus would prefer to not rotate the main building. Likes that it faces 4800 West like the other businesses in that area do.

Discussion regarding PG sewer connection on Cedar Hills line
Because this involved price negotiations the discussion occurred in executive session.

Council Meeting

Public Comment
Nobody signed up.

City Reports
Chandler Goodwin - Audit is starting next week. Results should be ready in early December. Submitting documents to GFOA as well. Working with Zions Bank on impact fee study. David is signing a letter of understanding with Siemens to have the free analysis performed.

CM Jackman - LPPSD Board met but many board members were missing so nothing detailed was discussed.

CM Martinez - YCC met today. They've done two fundraisers this past month. October 28th is the pumpkin walk and haunted creek. Cost is 25 cents for each activity. Bake sale and hot chocolate will also be available for 25 cents. Princess Days is coming up soon. Superhero day will be in the spring. Celebrating Family week in November, the week of Thanksgiving. Parks and Trails Committee met and talked about adopt a trail program and lighting up the roundabout during Christmas.

CM Augustus - North Point had a meeting and was unhappy that we are against the buy-in and long term contract. Attorney for North Point and District Manager want to meet with us during a work session to discuss this item. Trent encouraged them to work with David on this.

Mayor Gygi - Planning Commission met. 12 or so residents that live near the commercial area were there and gave their feedback and concerns. Planning Commission did grant a conceptual approval.

CM Rees - City Connection for September went out and we received good feedback. Will work with Daniel on October video.

CM Zappala - Doing next City Connection video on budget application. Meeting with local development group to pitch to them to pitch a Code for America brigade in Utah County. This encourages developers to work together to create applications that help with city transparency.

Review/Action on Ordinance Defining Significant Parcel of Real Property
The City currently holds several parcels of real property. In reviewing the city code, there is no provision or section of city code that deals with the disposal of parcels of real property. In addition, State code requires the city to comply with Utah Code Ann. 10-8-2(4) before disposing of a significant parcel of real property. State code requires a public notice and public hearing be held for the disposal of all significant parcels of real property. The definition of “significant parcel” and the associated value is left to the City to establish.

It is proposed by staff that the City adopt appropriate language and set reasonable values for the disposal of parcels of real property. Many cities we reviewed have set the reasonable value for significant parcels at $100,000. However, to be consistent with the city procurement policy regarding public bid of items greater than $50,000, it may be advisable to set the value for disposal of significant parcels also at $50,000.

Section B of the ordinance needs to be updated to state a public hearing will be held and there will be a notice period. Right now it says public comment. Unanimously approved.

Review/Action on Proposed Parks Curfew
Based on feedback from the September 17, 2013 City Council meeting, staff has drafted a proposed ordinance amending the Parks and Public Properties ordinance 6-8-6: Park Curfew. The proposed ordinance sets a curfew in City parks at 11:00pm, AFPD will enforce this ordinance, and it matches the curfew in American Fork parks, making enforcement consistent for AFPD. In addition there is a proposed amplified noise and sound curfew that has school year hours and summer hours. This states that amplified sound shall be prohibited after 8:30pm, Sunday through Thursday, and 9:30pm Friday and Saturday from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Amplified sound shall be prohibited after 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday and after 10:30pm Friday and Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Summer exceptions may be granted through the city with a special events permit.

CM Augustus asked for a definition of what amplified sound means. CM Zappala meant it to refer to music through our sound system in the amphitheater. Suggestion is to define it as electrically amplified sound. Unanimously approved.

Discussion on Recreation Fees
Alpine School District recently began to impose a new fee structure for the use of their facilities for any outside entity. Currently, we only use their facilities for Jr. Jazz because we don’t have the facilities. This is a new policy that will dramatically impact our fee structure for each of our participants. As such, we will need to increase our fees to cover the costs we now have to pay each school. In the past, we have not had to pay for the use of an elementary school, as long as there was a janitor there; however beginning this year we do have to pay $10.00/hour for a sweeper while we use the facility. The high school we have always paid $45/hour for the facility, however beginning this year the district is charging each city $45 per gym, which will double what we’ve paid in the past. In addition, this year we also received a minimal increase from the Utah Jazz for each participant. New fees would be as follows: Ski Bus from $175.00 to $190.00 (to cover expenses associated with ski bus) and Jr. Jazz from $40-$60 to $45-$65. All other recreation fees would stay the same. Our anticipated cost for Jr Jazz gym rentals would go from $13,723 to $18,670. We have worked with American Fork to make sure we aren't fighting for gym space and created a schedule that works for both cities. The $5 per participant increase for Jr. Jazz will cover the overall increase to utilize these gyms.

Discussion on Resident Fees for Use of Vista Room and Golf
Based on feedback from residents, it is proposed that council have a discussion regarding resident discounts for rental of the Vista Room and discounts for golf. Currently residents receive $50 off for season pass. Also a discount of $3 per 9 holes or $6 per 18 holes is given to residents. Current prices at the Vista Room are $1400 per weekday and $1600 per weekend. The current annual revenue projections of $135,000 are based on the fees established. I would like to see a substantial discount for residents to utilize the Vista Room as they are already paying for the building with property taxes. It isn't fair that non-residents get about the same fee and don't pay the property taxes as well. Greg will look at some options and get back with the Council.

Discussion on Reimbursement for Little Free Library
Mayor Gygi has requested that the City Council consider reimbursement to resident sponsors who participate in the Little Free Library program. Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” program where sponsors create a local location for communities to enjoy this program. This discussion is to consider reimbursing sponsors for their fee to receive a charter from “Little Free Library.” It would come from the library reimbursement account and would only be paid to residents who build a Little Free Library and haven't yet received a library reimbursement for the year.