City Council report for September 6, 2023
| Three new police officers were sworn in last night, and with two other officers coming soon (one currently in the academy and another due to start at the end of the month), the Brigham City Police Department is now fully staffed. The bulk of the meeting was spent discussing a proposed amendment to the 2023-24 budget, which would fund a remodel of the parking lot and entrance area to City Hall. Finance Director Tom Kotter showed a proposed rendering with six concrete bollards, five trees, and a large concrete planter box across the north side of City Hall. Public Works Director Tyler Pugsley explained that the City is already doing a project to add another layer of asphalt in the parking lot, but that previous layers have made the height difference between the curb and the parking lot practically non-existent. City staff made the case that it is a good time to do the larger project. Council members were concerned about the cost, an estimated $135,000, and asked to see additional options. The council tabled the amendment until the next regular meeting on September 21. The Council passed a resolution expressing support for the inclusion of Aspire Performing Arts Academy on the Northern Utah Chamber Coalition's (NUCC) list of legislative priorities. Community and Economic Development Director Paul Larsen explained that the NUCC comprises chambers of commerce from Box Elder, Weber, Morgan, Cache, and Rich counties. The group lobbies the Utah State Legislature for funding, and this action by the council essentially endorses a letter of support that Mayor Bott will sign. That letter will be used by NUCC in its attempts to secure funding for the cultural arts center Aspire plans to build in Brigham City. Finance Director Tom Kotter presented the July Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) bill, which came in at just under $2.2 million. It is the highest UAMPS bill the City has ever received, and we anticipate the August bill to be about the same. The high bill means the $1.43 million surplus the City had accumulated has now been cut in half, leaving about $730,000 the City can apply to future high bills without increasing the Power Purchase Adjustment Clause (PPAC) again. Kotter also pointed out some good news. He said because of the short-term contracts the City has purchased in response to volatile rates, the City had to go to market less, and this resulted in approximately $500,000 less in spending than we would have paid without the short-term contracts. He also explained that City staff are developing a policy to create targets around how much should be in the Rate Stabilization Fund. Initial research from other cities shows that their targets vary from a dollar amount, to a number of months reserve, to a percentage of annual operating costs. The next UAMPS bill is due later this month. And finally, Mayor Bott and the Council scheduled a retreat, during which they will socialize and discuss the year so far. NOTE: This is not the official record of the meeting. Official meeting notes will be posted at https://www.bcutah.gov/agendas-and-minutes.htm when they are available. The recording of the meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMMqK-rWH_Q.  |