City Council - Regular Meeting

We would like to welcome everyone and call to order the regular meeting of the West Valley City Council. It is August 12th, 2025 and we're beginning our meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers of West Valley City Hall. We have all members of the council present. We have Councilman Wood, Councilwoman Wetstone, Councilman Harmon is online, Councilman Hune, myself, Councilman Christensen, Councilman Norfelt, and we're joined at the dis with our city manager, Mr. Peely, and our city recorder, Miss Kamik. Our opening ceremony this evening is going to be presented by Councilman Norfeld, and we'll turn the time to him.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, we have the amazing opportunity now to hear from American Preparatory Academyy's systemma strings to present the uh national anthem. So, in a moment we will stand and give the proper salute. When someone's performing the national anthem, it's appropriate to face either the flag or the performers. I'm going to be watching the performers. So, I invite you to do the same. So, if they'll come forward and uh and we will stand and uh and have the national anthem

Thank you so much. Yes. Thank you. Okay. We'll go to our approval of minutes from July 22nd, 2025 to the council for discussion and a motion. I'll move to approve the minutes of July 22nd, 2025. Second. Thank you. I have a motion and a second. All in favor, please say I. I. I. And any opposed? Okay. And those pass unanimously.

All right, we now have our awards and ceremonies and we'll turn the time again over to Council Member Northfeld. Thank you. This is a a proclamation declaring August 20th, 2025 as Lights On after school day in West Valley City in support of American Preparatory Academyy's afterchool programs and other afterchool programs in the city. Whereas highquality afterchool programs not only keep young people healthy and safe, but help foster meaningful relationships, inspire learning and career pathways, promote civic engagement and community service, provide worthwhile and challenging activities, develop talents and strengths, and increase overall success in school and life. And research indicates highquality afterchool programs that provide expanded learning opportunities for young people outside the school day helps to improve academic achievement, increase attendance and social behavior and support working families. And in Utah, 14% about 91,000 of kindergarten through 12th grade youth are responsible for taking care of themselves after school. And of all Utah children not currently enrolled in after school, 50%, about 320,000 would be likely to participate if an afterchool program were available in their community. And 97% of parents are satisfied with the after-school program their child attends. And for every child in an afterchool program in Utah, eight more children are waiting to get in. And 3.3% of Utah's

K12 children participate in afterchool programs. And American Preparatory Academy has an average of 400 students attending afterchool programs each day between two sites in over 30 different afterchool programs, including 10 study hall sessions each day, 1st through 12th grade, including um special education tutoring and the following clubs: American football, art, backyard games, balloon and button art, chess, cup stacking, Dance, Dream It, Build It, Paint It, Dungeons and Dragons, Eagle Soccer, Elementarybook, Games, Harry Potter, Reading, Latin, Lego, Meditation, Musical, Improv, Musical Theater, Pokemon, Portuguese, Science Fair, Secondary Band, Secondary Orchestra, Secret Ciphers, Sheet, Story Writing, theater, ukulele, video game design, and weightlifting. Also included are systemma Utah music programs which include strings, band, piano, guitar, tao drums, as well as choir, general music, homework support, and elementary string ensemble. Also included in their afterchool programs are four performing groups featuring advanced students. systemma strings and secondary systemma strings with violin, viola, cello and and bass students. Secondary band featuring their most advanced band students and a systemma Utah quartet who toured the community giving free service concerts. This past year their students completed over 40,000

homework assignments. And whereas Lights On after school is a celebration of afterchool programs promoting the critical importance of quality programs for youth by ensuring lights stay on and doors remain open for all youth during the out of school time hours. Now therefore, we, Mayor Karen Lang, and the city council of West Valley City do hereby declare August 20th, 2025 as Lights On after school day in West Valley City in honor of American Preparatory Academyy's afterchool programs.

Thank you. if we could have uh um students

students and and staff come up to receive this proclamation and and get their picture taken. Let's do that now. Shake the hands of the council. Yep. right here and we'll take a picture in here.

Might have to do two rows. So, you tall boys to the back. If you're taller than me, which one or two of you are, why don't you go in the back? That would be great. And let's scoot in tight like we enjoy being with each other a lot. That'll be fantastic. Okay, ready? One, two, three. I know we have some more. Do you want to get in there, too? I do not. You guys look great. Thank you. Thank you.

The news photographer always stays out of the picture. Okay, we'll now um accept public comment. Comment period is limited to 30 minutes. Any person wishing to comment shall limit their comments to three minutes each. Upon recognition by the mayor, you will approach the microphone. If you did not sign up, please give us your name and address. All comment shall be directed to the mayor. No person addressing the city council during the comment period will be allowed to speak more than once. Comment shall be limited to city business and matters within the purview of the city council. Speakers should not expect a debate with the mayor, city council or city staff. The mayor, city council, and city staff may respond after the comment period has concluded. Speakers shall refrain from personal attacks against fellow citizens, city staff, or members of the council. We have five public comment or five public hearings tonight that are separate from our open public comment period and they will each have their own public hearing. If you are here to speak on these items, it would be best to hold your comments until that time. And those are the GP3 2025 to update the Fairborne Station Vision, Z2 2025 for the reszone of property at 5173 West 3500 South, Z3 2025 to reszone property at 3930 West Parkway Boulevard and ZT3 and ZT4 4 2025 that are changes to our land use ordinances. So we'll begin with speaker one.

Good evening, mayor and council. First I want to say wow American Preparatory Academy, all the things that they do. Uh if you remember was it three weeks ago um I talked about going to the gang conference and one thing that the gang conference said when kids are in afterchool programs it doesn't give the opportunity of gangs to recruit them and so um having that opportunity I I think is great and props to American Preparatory Academy that like I said wow um I've been out to several out campaigning but out to several different um events throughout the city and the one thing that keeps coming up is road conditions. Um I I tell them that you know 4,000 um down there by 47 it will be fixed. They're complaining about a lot of complaints about 3500. I explained to him that's a county road and stuff, but there's a lot of complaints 72 out there, the condition um how it's all tore up and um I'm assuring them it's going to be fixed, but people are not happy about that right now. Um the other thing with going out um with the Clean and Beautiful Committee, and I've talked about this in the past, and um talking to residents, is code enforcement, the inconsistency of what they're doing. They're not consistent on hitting every single house in a neighborhood. This is something we've been talking about for years. It seemed to be getting better, but there there's not a consistency and I don't believe there's still a standard operating procedure that has been talked about a couple years ago been put together where they know exactly what they're supposed to be doing. And so that's a big concern when you got some of these big beautiful um houses and you go down three and it's a mess, you know, and and so the neighborhoods don't like that. Um the bike park condition has

dropped right back down. They cleaned it up right before Westfest and now it's um turning into a mess again. And then if you want to hear an impassionate speech, I was at the county council um last week and BWF was there. Um Lori Stringham gave a impassionate speech of of why um we should be supporting this program and it's not you know you know they're talking about uplifting of women um girls and all the different things but it's not at the expense of boys or anything else. It's everybody working together and if you have um one spoke on the wheel that you're passionate about come and be part of the program um in that part of it instead of you know fighting against it. And so it's a great opportunity um for the city, you know, to put out something like that to join. And um like I said, if you want to hear a very impassionate speech, listen to her speech from last week at county council.

Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone else that wished to speak that did not have an opportunity to sign in? Okay, we Nope. There you go. Yep. Come on up.

Thank you so much, Danzel. tutor uh 2567 West Eastern Street in Taylor'sville. I just wanted to share two really amazing um experiences that uh I enjoyed last week. the uh theater, West Valley Arts Theater opened their Hunchback of Notream show and uh I was able to attend the preview that uh last week Thursday evening and there was a moment I was there with my children and I've told you about my children before and how um I'm just so proud that they get to experience theater and West Valley Arts allows that to happen. Um, but I'm sitting next to my two children and there's a moment in um the show where Quasimoto, who's an outcast, um the whole story takes place and it's very heart-wrenching. It's really beautiful. You should all go see it. But um there's a moment as an outcast he experiences real crazy pain. Two people that were closest to him are now gone. and um the town's people who have just um mocked him and made fun of him and didn't didn't appreciate this outcast end up embracing him and it's this beautiful moment and one by one town's people come and embrace and embrace him and my oldest child who has gone through so much mental illness and doesn't like touch and um they're embracing this seemingly as an outcast themsel who doesn't have a lot of friends Um, they leaned over to me and they took my hand. And in that moment, I knew what that hand squeeze meant. It meant, "Mom, do you see this? People are embracing this outcast and they can embrace me." And I was just so excited that this theater and this show and this moment was able to express that to them to help them carry on. That's one moment. The other moment was that um, former council member Jake Pismanu, his daughter is in the show Moana. and Moana born I I don't know if she was actually born in West Valley but right raised in West Valley City still resides in West Valley City is in that show as well and

um she's so excited to be able to do this show but she realized that this main character Esmeralda is from Brazil or is part Brazilian and she she is also from her mom is from Brazil and she they got to connect and they got to speak Portuguese together and this woman is a woman of color this woman is a plus-sized woman and Wana gets to see this representation and make this connection with this this actor, this beautiful actor and um see the talent that she possesses and that one day that will be her and sees that uh excitement and that joy in Wana's eyes that this is my future. She even changed her school to go to a school to learn theater to make that her her life and passion. So here are two children who have been able to experience this and West Valley Arts has made it happen and I really hope that you all can see that beauty and that joy. Thank you so much. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? Okay, we'll close the public comment period. Is there any comments from the council? Okay, thank you. We'll now start on our public hearings. We'll begin with our first item of business is application GP32025 which is a request to update the city's general plan for the Fairbor Station vision. So this is initiated by the city and it's to include the mall into the plan and also show the progress already completed. The current version of the plan was adopted in 2012 and addresses the area between 3500 South and Lancer Way, which is 3650 and between 2700 West and 3200 West. I will now open the public hearing. Is there anyone wishing to speak on this matter? And I will close the public hearing and turn the time to the council for discussion or a motion.

I would motion to approve application GP3-2025. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Miss Kamik. Council member Wood. Yes. Council member Wetstone. Yes. Council member Harmon. Yes. Council member Hume. Yes. Council member Christensen. Yes. Council member Nordfelt. Yes. And Mayor Link. Yes. Motion passes unanimously.

Okay, thank you. Um, our next application is Z2205 filed by Carl and Jennifer Nuland who are requesting a zone change from agriculture to R17 uh minimum lot lot size 7,000 square ft. The applicants would like to remain or to retain the existing house on the property and would like to reszone or to have it reszoned and leave the remaining property um as is agriculture and build a new house. So I will now open the public hearing if there's anyone here that wishes to speak on that matter. So, I'm Carl Nuland. Um, we live at the 5173 West, 3500 South. Um, just wanted to address the council. We've lived here for 31 years now. Um, we're just are trying to help families, our family, um, as it's growing. Um, housing's incredibly expensive nowadays and kids are having a hard time getting through school. Um, so that's this is our request to basically try to help keep our family and we we love the area. My wife works at Hunter High School. Um, I'm 15 minutes from my my work. So, we'd love to stay here um to accommodate our our children and their needs. Um, so that's why we're performing this request.

Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? Okay, seeing none, I will close the public hearing and turn the time over to the council for discussion on a motion. We do have two different action items. Ordinance 25-9 for the reszone and a second resolution 25-105 for the development agreement to the council. Motion to approve resolution I'm sorry, ordinance uh 25-9. Second. Thank you. Do we have a motion and a second? Miss Kamik, Council Member Nordfelt, yes. Council member Christensen, yes. Council member Hune, yes. Council member Harmon, yes. Council member Wetstone, yes. Council member Wood, yes.

And Mayor Link, yes. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Move to approve resolution 25-105. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Miss Kamik. Council member Wood. Yes. Council member Wetstone. Yes. Council member Harmon. Yes. Council member Hune. Yes. Council member Christensen. Yes. Council member Nordfelt. Yes. And Mayor Link. Yes. Motion passes unanimously.

Thank you. Next is application Z32025 filed by Tyler Jones with IHC Select Services Incorporated requesting a zone change from Business Research Park to General Commercial for property at 3930 West Parkway V Boulevard boulevard. If this application is approved, Salt Lake Behavioral Health intends to purchase the property for use for a mental health hospital. I will now open the public hearing for anyone that would like to speak.

Thank you. Dustin, 272 West, 160 North in Clearfield. I'm the CEO of Solid Beaver Health. Um, so I appreciate the the time and consideration. Um, yeah, I'm very passionate about what we do. Um, I sorry I can get emotional, but um, hearing also too what's been happening here, this is a needed service, mental health and and psych. It's only growing and um, the resources that we have around it is is important. Um, and we're a little unique. I don't think probably many have heard of us probably locally. Um, we have a but nationally really kind of renowned. Um we have um uh state-of-the-art military program uh that services our our active duty military veterans as well but mostly active duty um flying from all across the world work with over 100 installations um just last year. Um I think most people would say the hub of military medicine is Walter Reed and um we're their number one referral source. They're our number one referral source and has been for many years. Um so um you know I'm the lucky one that gets to take the credit and get him and and try to represent them. um I don't do the work as much as they do. Um but our staff are amazing. Um you know, the the patients that come in the facility, it's it's amazing transformation and it's something that's needed. I kind of got shivers a little bit when we did the the national that was really cool. Um I'm a patriot of heart and so um obviously we service our community as well. Um we have about 30 to 40 uh acute local patients as well. Um but really we kind of have that national draw. Um so it makes us a little unique. I would say it's a higher functioning unit. We do a lot of therapy. Um and um yeah, I think there's been some other stuff about like transportation impact. Um it really wouldn't wouldn't be any there. They are in the facility. We do pick them up from the airport, bring them right back to our facility. Um and they stay there for 30 days. It is a voluntary program. We work with their commands and their clinical teams back at the duty station. Um but you know, it doesn't do any good to hold people, right? They got to want the help. And so and and a lot of these

folks they do they choose to and this this building this location is important. We did a lot of homework and a lot of studying around it and it's kind of perfect for us um as far as the the layout, the look of it, the grassy area. Right now our building is is nice where we're at, but it's a it's an office building. We don't have a lot of space to kind of go out and and get people some fresh air and some recreational space. And that's important when you're when you're dealing with mental health stuff. So, um, really that's kind of the, um, the main reason for the for the switch and what we're trying to achieve. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak to this item?

Okay, seeing none, I will close the public hearing and turn the time to the council for discussion or a motion. Um, I did want to confirm that uh, the planning commission proposed to just reszone the area with the building and that's what we'd be considering tonight. Is that correct? Yep. Okay. Then I'll move for approval for ordinance 2520 to amend the zoning map. Second. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Miss Kamik. Council member Wood. Yes. Council member Wetstone. Yes. Council member Harmon. Yes. Council member Hune. Yes. Council member Christensen. Yes. Council member Nordfelt. Yes. And Mayor Link. Yes.

Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Next is application ZT32025 filed by Emanuel Schulen who is requesting a change to our zoning ordinance to permit medical and dental services offices in manufacturing zone on properties that are partially or entirely within 500 ft of a residential use or zone. The applicant is proposing this change to provide more tenant options for his office buildings. Is uh I will now open the public hearing. And is there anyone wishing to speak on this matter?

Hello. Um I'm Chris Row. I'm with uh Scratch. We're doing the asset management for manual shallot. So u and we'll talk through this project a little bit. kind of give a little bit of background. Um I'm sure some of you are familiar with it over on Decker Lake. It's faced some challenges with the office vacancies um that we've run into uh with certain tenants moving out, facing bankruptcy has forced us into a tough situation with uh a few buildings being completely vacant and we're trying to kind of jump start that and get it back in on track. Um kind of talk through some of the specific office challenges we've faced and segue that into why I think this change makes sense and why it will be helpful. Um, a lot of the the companies that were with us and that had had to leave and vacate were your call center type office spaces and uh large groups that have since changed their operations and they're now going to be, you know, remote and and from home. And so we don't necessarily see some of that picking back up. Um, and we've we've reached out, we've exhausted a few options, try to get everything. We've, you know, for pushed that avenue, but we just it's a it's an uphill battle. And so we started exploring a few conversations with uh medical and off you know medical office potential tenants both private and then some with uh universities to see what their interest might be in some of this space. And the the the the response that we got was that they were interested in um some medical space that would allow them to have a mix and also some industrial space. And so they're kind of looking to have some space that will match that and give them flexibility u moving forward. And um that would allow us and our property to um fill space that we are struggling to fill um while also giving us you know a jump start towards bringing some office space back towards in and revitalizing the area. Um and I think part of this too is a narrow scope um uh to allow us to to do this within 500 ft of a residential. So, we're we're pitching, you know, office medical

office spaces that will be uh your orthodontists, your dentists, um things that will benefit the community. Um and and allow them to have the flexible space they need as things change in the future. Um and it will be supplemental to the property as a whole. Um, and it's not the main focus of the property, but it will allow it to gain the momentum that it so desperately needs to get back into filling that space and and um, you know, making it better and making that portion of the city better. Um, and I think apologize. I just want to make sure that uh covering everything, but I think we view this as as a situation that will just be beneficial. um all around in in helping some of these struggling areas while being limiting enough that it uh uh addresses areas that really need you know this and and not your more heavy industrial areas that might not be well suited for this kind of product. That's all. Thanks.

Thank you. All right. Was there anyone else that wished to speak for this item? Okay, we will I will close the public hearing and turn the time over to the council for discussion and or a motion. Motion to approve uh ordinance 25-21. Second. Thank you. I have a motion and a second. Miss Kemick. Council member Wood. Yes. Council member Wetstone. Yes. Council member Harmon. Yes. Council member Hune. Yes. Council member Christensen, yes. Council member Nordfelt, yes. And Mayor Link, yes. Motion passes unanimously.

Thank you. Our final public hearing tonight is application ZT4205, which would amend the zoning ordinance to comply with changes made to the state code during the 25 2025 legislative session. I will now open the public hearing. Is there anyone that wishes to speak on this matter? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing and turn the time over to the council for discussion or a motion. Move for approval of ordinance 25-22. Second. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Miss Kamik. Council member Northfelt. Yes. Council member Christensen. Yes.

Council member Hune. Yes. Council member Harmon. Yes. Council member Wetstone. Yes. Council member Wood. Yes. and Mayor Lang. Yes. Motion passes unanimously.

Okay. Thank you. We'll now go to our resolutions. And this is our last matter of matter of business. Resolution 25-106, which would authorize the city to enter into a contract with Meridian Engineering Incorporated to perform an ALTA survey on property owned on city-owned and city used property to the council for discussion or a motion. Um motion to approve resolution 25-106. Second. Thank you. I have a motion and a second. Miss Kamik. Council member Wood. Yes. Council member Wetstone. Yes.

Council member Harmon. Yes. Council member Hume. Yes. Council member Christensen. Yes. Council member Nordfelt. Yes. And Mayor Ling? Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you. We do not have a need for a close session this evening. So, we have one more action item. Mayor, just a quick question. Yes. On the first public hearing, I motion to approve the application rather than the ordinance. Is is that was that okay? That's okay. Okay. Office. Yeah. And with that, I'll motion to adjourn. Okay. All in favor say I. I. And we stand adjourned. Thank you.