Tuesday, June 3, 2014

June 3, 2014 City Council Meeting

DISCLAIMER: My notes for work session are all over the place as I was transcribing for the city minutes. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Work Session

Discussion will be on City’s irrigation system. One aspect of water system is water rights. City has well rights and rights from water coming out of American Fork Canyon. Spread these out so we don’t get all of our water from one source. We also get water from CUP pipeline. The ability to produce water comes from pumps, pipes, etc. to get water throughout the city. In 2002 the City went to a pressurized irrigation system to utilize all water resources. American Fork Canyon delivers water to Pump 10 on the Golf Course. Water from the Canyon is utilized by Lehi, Pleasant Grove Irrigation System, Cedar Hills, American Fork and Highland. From Pond 10 a series of boosters takes water to Pond #12. From Pond #12 water is pumped into the PI storage tank. Pond 12 can also gravity flow down to Pond #17, which provides water to the lower zone of the City. The issue with this water is it’s all based on the amount of water coming out of the canyon. We aren’t guaranteed to get any water from this source and it will always be divided amongst the above mentioned cities.  

Canyon Well is owned by the City but is not a culinary grade well. This gives us 600-700 gallons per minute and puts water into Pond 10. We also have the North Central Utah Project Turnout, which provides water from CUP. We also have a South CUP Project Turnout at the south end of the City. Canyon Well is our least producing well. South CUP pushes into Pond #17, typically without being pumped. If users in other cities downstream from pull more water from CUP then this has a major impact on water pressure for our residents. When this happens there is a booster station at the south end of the city that can be used to improve water pressure.

On Pond 10 we have 5 pumps that boost water to Pond 12. This pipe is used at full capacity during summer months so we cannot push any more water through the system than we already are.

Pond 18 is used to water the golf course. Water from Pond 17 gravity flows into Pond 18.

Cottonwood Well can go directly to Pond #17 when it’s in irrigation mode. It can also be turned to push water into the culinary water system and fills the lower culinary water tank, located at the south end of the city. During summer months, this well is used exclusively for irrigation water.

Harvey Well only pumps into the culinary system and fills lower culinary tank. There is a booster station on Bayhill that takes culinary water from the lower zone to the upper culinary water tank.

Cottonwood Well is 1,000 feet deep. Harvey Well is 800 feet deep. There are no guarantees that the aquifer will supply the same amount of water forever. Other wells built in other cities can have an impact on how much water is in our aquifers.

CUP allows us 710 acre feet of water.  Some years we use less and others we use more. Last year we used over 800 acre feet of water. CUP allows us to use based on a 5 year running average. If we continue to go over, CUP can cap us and stop sending any additional water for the season. It’s expensive water but it’s very reliable. We can only get more shares if there are shares available for sale. It’s difficult right now as it is split between cities and a city would have to give up shares for it to be available to others.

In 2008 we ran out of water in the PI system. We added a few wet wells near Pond 12 to boost water right into the system instead of sending it to the PI tank first.

We have the potential to add about 2,500 residents before the city is built out. A few years ago, Manila Water went out of business and the City took about 100 homes that were on the Manila system. Many of these lots are larger than the average lot in Cedar Hills and use more PI water, which impacted the system.

In the summer months we do borrow culinary water from American Fork as Lone Peak uses our culinary water to water outdoor fields.  The booster really “kept CH alive” before the Harvey Well was completely functional.  We are supposed to be balancing what we take with what we supply.  What we take out of the booster should balance out – we don’t need this and don’t have to take this during the winter.  In the last few years, we have sent much more water to the high school than we have taken.  AF City owns the shares although Cedar Hills delivers the water.  During the winter months, we have the cottonwood and Harvey well to supply all culinary.  In the summer months, we have high consumption and we utilize Cottonwood Well to feed further to the PI system.  If one of the wells went down, could we fully manage the PI system? 

American Fork has the water rights for Lone Peak, though we supply the water. We also supply water to Warinski Funeral home and the 9 AF homes in that area. Highland doesn’t want to supply the water to Lone Peak since AF owns the rights.

In the summer months, Harvey Well is the only one providing culinary water to our system. If that well went down, we’d have to have all water from the Cottonwood Well go into the culinary system, which means that we would not have enough water for our PI system. We would run out of water for the PI system.

Council Meeting

Public Comment
Anne Perkins – Lots of talk around the neighborhood about an LED sign for the rec center. Moved out of Lehi for this atmosphere. Didn’t like that LED and commercial signage was right out of their neighborhood. Like the canyon, trees, dark at night of Cedar Hills. Likes the brand of the city, but feels this signage is the antithesis of the brand we are trying to create. LED sign doesn’t fit. Talked to many residents in the area and nobody she talks to wants it. Wants to know how to make their voices heard.

Jared Perkins – Echo what his wife stated. Doesn’t want LED sign. Doesn’t feel it’s necessary if it’s for the purpose of announcements. In our day and age of social media, that is much more effective than catching a glimpse of a message on an LED sign. The LED sign has the appearance of commercial. Likes having community that is quiet and dark at night so what you notice is the canyon and trees, not commercial siganage.

Ken Cromar – Received email from Utah Taxpayers Association regarding UTOPIA and what a mess it’s been. Reminds him of our golf course and that residents aren’t informed. Feels State of the City doesn’t show year by year losses of golf course and additional burden of this new building that is a wedding reception center and golf course clubhouse. He can’t afford to use the facility for his own kids’ weddings and he’s already paying for it. Brought Daily Herald article from 2011. Says CM Rees, Augustus, and Mayor Gygi were elected based on false information of golf course being profitable. Knows there is talk of a $300,000 shed expenditure for the golf course. Feels a cemetery and parks would be a better use of golf course space.

Review/Action Recognizing CH Champions Lois Moessinger and RaLynn Hansen
As part of the Cedar Hills Champions Program, the city would like to recognize Lois Moessinger and RaLynn Hansen. Lois and RaLynn have been serving our community as crossing guards for the past decade. They have rarely missed a day of work, and have provided an invaluable service in helping safeguard the elementary school students in our community. A resolution was passed declaring June 4th as Lois Moessinger and RaLynn Hansen Day.

Consent Agenda
Minutes from the May 20, 2014 City Council meeting were approved.

City Reports
CM Rees – Issued a press release for our Cedar Hills Champions and the Family Festival. Family Festival Committee continues to work hard. Jerianne (chair) is concerned that revenues will be down this year as some wards are at Girls Camp and one stake has a camp for all males 12 and older. This could have a big impact on our attendance numbers for this year. YCC interviews started this week.

David Bunker – Vista Room had a great year and last month was a good month for revenue. Golf Course also had good month. We exceeded revenues from year over last. Tball season starts tonight and Lacrosse starts in two weeks. Family Festival is coming up and everyone is ready.

CM Zappala – LPPSD board met. Adopted budget for FY2015. There are small increases in the budget, which increases what the city pays. Will be hiring an additional officer. Current cost to our residents is about $250 per resident per year for fire and EMS services. Had PI meter installed at his house and will start getting feedback on how they are working.

Mayor Gygi – Met with County, UDOT, and PG regarding Canyon Road. Money has been requested from Mountainland Association of Governments for Canyon Road. Currently negotiating with the County as we feel it should be a County owned road since the State is not taking care of it. Need about $10 million to make all needed fixes. Also met with Utah State Developmental Center regarding proposed master plan south of Lone Peak in Highland boundaries. It is a very preliminary plan and nothing has been approved or even yet presented to the Highland City Council. Presented to Highland City Council about the possibility of annexing all of golf course into Cedar Hills. They stated they need a few months to research.

CM Crawley – Will be having a city breakfast in August, put together by Beautification Committee. Did an analysis on PI usage and recommends water restrictions to be put in place immediately. Important to note that we listen and take seriously comments given in public comment.

CM Augustus – North Pointe hasn’t met and Finance Committee hasn’t met recently.

Review/Action on Pressurized Irrigation System Study Proposal
See notes from work session.

As part of the ongoing efforts to analyze the pressurized irrigation system to ensure the ongoing operation and proper delivery of irrigation, the City has reached out to Richard Noble of Hansen Allen and Luce. Hansen Allen and Luce (HAL) have expertise in water studies and related projects. They are currently working on several pressurized irrigation projects for communities in northern Utah County.
The analysis that would be done by HAL would look at capacity, look at production capability, and to review scenarios, such as a pump failure, a well going down, increased usage from growth, etc. This would require modeling of the system and David feels HAL is capable of doing this to make sure our system is being utilized effectively and to determine what improvements may be needed. Cost would be $10,800 and would come out of Capital Improvements Fund or Water & Sewer Fund.

We are working on implementing the education suggestions provided by the resident driven Water Conservation Committee to align with the goal of reducing our outdoor water consumption by 50%. We are currently using 3x more water than we should be per state watering guidelines.

Richard Noble presented on his proposal. This proposal would provide the city with a tool to analyze the PI system to figure out what, if anything, isn’t working. Will also review various scenarios, such as what would the operation of the system would look like if the City was using the state recommended amount of water. Will also identify if there are ways with the current system to reduce pumping costs, which is a big portion of the expense of the system. Software used is public domain so the City could do additional scenarios, if desired. Was unanimously approved.

Discussion on FY 2015 Budget
We still have not yet received the certified tax rate from the County.

Enterprise Fund Updates:
New State Auditor guidance May 9, 2014 on enterprise fund transfers, reimbursements, loans, and services. We are required to estimate value of goods or services provided to another fund based on rate charged to other similar customers, if they are material, and required to estimate value of overhead provided to the enterprise fund. Going forward we will need to add cost of water for city parks and buildings. Impact to General Fund’s parks & open spaces water usage, Capital Project’s fund-Public Works building debt service, Golf fund’s water usage.

Tentative Revenue Updates:
·         10-31-100 New growth property tax $5,000, or $7,200 overall
·         10-31-350 CARE tax $1,000 increase, or $3,000 overall
·         10-31-400 Franchise tax $5,000 increase, or $40,000 overall
·         10-31-500 Telecom tax $5,000 decrease, or $15,000 overall
·         10-34-110 Garbage fees $15,000 increase, or $23,000 overall
·         10-34-120 Recycling $1,000 decrease, $5,000 overall increase
·         10-35-110 Recreation $5,000 increase, $10,000 decrease overall
·         10-35-111 Fitness classes $7,000 decrease, $5,000 increase overall
·         20-35-100 Green Fees $20,000 decrease, no change overall
·         20-30-400 Pro Shop Revenue $10,000 decrease
·         20-35-300 Transfer/Operating Subsidy $25,000 increase, $1,853 decrease overall
·         40-30-801 CARE Tax Transfer In $1,000 increase

Tentative Expenditure Updates:
·         10-40-200 Materials & Supplies $750 increase for additional paper signage
·         10-40-260 Office Equipment $300 increase for contingencies
·         XX-XX-150 Benefit adjustments—actual bids vs. estimates approximately $5,000 decrease for all funds
·         10-50-290 Communications/Telephone $500 increase for Finance
·         10-65-300 Fitness Classes $7,000 decrease
·         10-69-910 $1,000 increase CARE tax transfer to Capital Projects Fund, $40,000 overall
·         10-69-913 $25,000 increase to Golf subsidy
·         20-43-290 Communications/Telephone $500 increase for Golf
·         20-50-200 $500 increase for Golf utilities
·         20-50-700 $5,000 decrease pro shop purchases

Significant Budget Changes:
·         Sales and franchise taxes continue increasing
·         Sales tax revenues 3.3% growth over 2013 actual #’s
·         Franchise tax revenues 2.4% growth related to Questar Gas and Rocky Mountain Power price increases
·         Certified property tax rate 1.1% new growth estimated
·         Telecom taxes 13.5% decrease shift to data plans and less main home phone lines
·         Garbage fees 6.4% increase from 2nd garbage can fees
·         $7,500 new emergency management grant
·         Approximately $50,000 of Motor vehicle fees, Delinquent taxes, and Interest were allocated to the Golf Debt Service fund from the General fund based on property tax rates
·         $100,000 of fund balance set aside for Golf maintenance shed
·         Event center/Vista room rentals budgeted growth 3.7% or $5,000, though we anticipate a higher number
·         Golf debt service property taxes reduced $50,000
·         Overall utility bill rates increase 3.7%-4.3% through 2022 per BC&A utility study in 2012
·         Water fees increase 6.4% or $35,641
·         Pressurized irrigation fees are flat
·         Storm drain fees increase 6.5% or $15,426
·         Sewer fees are flat, instead of 5.5%, despite a 13.8% increase from the Timpanogos Special Service District in 2014, because current year costs are lower than anticipated, and the Canyon road sewer project was postponed
·         Permanent full-time and part-time employees 3% merit increase
·         Health insurance costs 6.1% increase
·         Utah Retirement System projected 1.14-1.18% increase
·         Increased one full-time public works staffing position $30,000 increase
·         Fire services $37,745 increase
·         Police services $13,132 increase
·         Increased library reimbursements $3,800 increase
·         Park maintenance $18,100 increase
·         Road maintenance $10,000 increase
·         Events-concerts, cultural arts, quarterly breakfasts $4,200 increase

Discussion on Canyon Road
See Mayor’s report above in City Reports section. One option being discussed is for County to take ownership of the road and pay Cedar Hills a fee each year for snow removal services. This is still in the discussion phase.

Discussion on Commercial Zone/Proposed Highland Development
Mayor Gygi and staff have met with representatives from Alpine School District and the Utah State
Developmental Center regarding the proposed development on North County Boulevard. The proposed development is located in Highland and encompasses 143 acres of USDC land. The conceptual plan calls for approximately 1,072 units/lots as well as 7.69 acres of commercial retail and office space. The proposed development is still in its conceptual phase and has yet to be presented to the Highland Planning Commission and City Council. Cedar Hills has concerns with the current transportation layout, and how it affects our East-West corridor on Harvey Blvd, as well as the Cedar Hills Drive intersection. Also concerned about impact on local schools.

Discussion on Regulating Open Fires and Fireworks
Fire conditions appear to be better this year at this point in the season. However, Chief Freeman feels that if dry weather persists, conditions could rapidly accelerate the potential for fires. The Chief has expressed concerns that restrictions for open fires and aerial fireworks should be in place in some locations.

His suggestion is that restrictions would be limited to areas east of Canyon Road. Utah law now puts the control of restrictions directly with Cities. By resolution, the City can restrict open fires, fireworks, etc. dependent on criteria such as environmental issues (weather conditions, dry fuel loads, and escalating fire conditions), topographical considerations (mountainous terrain, brush covered areas and wild land interface) and public safety concerns (people, structures and property). Suggestion is that aerial fireworks be banned on the east side of Canyon Road.

In addition, it has been proposed that the City identify one location for residents who live in restricted areas to gather to celebrate with legal fireworks. Other cities use open parks for this activity. It would be the suggestion of staff that Mesquite Park be designated as the location to have residents gather to light fireworks if they are restricted at their homes. This way, the fire dept. could monitor one location vs. the entire east bench.
On fire pits, suggestion is west side of Canyon Road can have open fires but east side of Canyon Road there must be a cover over the fire (a screen cover).

This was a discussion item only.

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