City Council - Regular Meeting

We're thankful, Father, for the wonderful residents that we have and for the for the positive leadership and residents that we have in this city. We're thankful, Father, in heaven, for thy guidance. And we pray that thou would watch watch over us as we make the decisions that we have that are so important to our city, that we might be directed to to make the proper choices for for our city. And we say this in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. States to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you everyone. Can I get a motion to adopt the rest of the agenda as uh formatted? Motion to adopt the agenda. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The first item on our agenda tonight is public comment. This is an opportunity for any of our citizens to come forward and uh comment on an item that could be on our agenda or is not. Uh we can't respond to items that are not on our agenda tonight, but we can certainly look for a future opportunity to talk about them. Uh we give you up to three minutes. Is there anyone here who would like to speak? Come forward. We'll need you to state your name and address for the record.

I'm Lorine To. I live uh 1595 South Bluff Road. Okay.

Um I just wanted to uh kind of get a pulse check for how the council feels about flag pole lots. I live on uh one of the properties that are kind of one of the remnants from the farm. So they have an odd shape. It's a long deep lot and so it's technically two parcels, but the one of the parcels is landlocked. So the only way I could build on it uh as a separate lot would be uh if there were some zoning changes for flag pole lot. So, just wanted to do just bring it up in the council and see what everyone's thoughts are on um possibly amending the code to allow for flagpole lots for some of these long deeper lots.

Yeah, we can't respond to items that are not on our agenda because we haven't made the public aware that it would be a discussion. Um I can tell you as seems you're aware that they are not allowed in our code today. So, it would have to be taken up with the future agenda. I will pull the council to see if they want to take it up, but it has been taken up in the last two years. So, it's not that uh it's not that far back that it was discussed and it was denied. So, Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Is there anyone else that would like to make a comment? Seeing none, I will close public comment. The next item is proposed resolution R26-13 appointing Dylan Marshant and uh Gage Thomas to the Syracuse City Planning Commission. Uh just by way of notification, council, both of those uh candidates are here. Um but this is just a straight up a recommendation to appoint to open positions that would fill the remainder of the terms. I'd like to make a motion to appoint Dylan and Gage as outlined to the city planning commission.

Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I I Any opposed? Welcome. Uh you'll get more information from the economic development department and planning commission next week. You'll be sworn in. Thank you. Uh the next is we have approval of minutes from February 10th. uh those as our city council business meeting. Did anyone have any amendments to make on those? If not, I'll take a motion to approve. I move that we approve the minutes from February 20th 10th, 2026 council business meeting. Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor?

I.

Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. The next item number five is uh items of common consent. Uh we have a these are items that we talked about in our work session and everyone seemed to be agreed so we won't have to rehash that conversation but it is item A proposed ordinance 26-05 amending title two to the Syracuse Municipal Code pertaining to government records retention. Item B is proposed ordinance 26-06 amending title 2 of the Syracuse Municipal Code pertaining to appointments of local districts. Item C is proposed resolution 26-11 amending the Syracuse city personnel policies and procedures manual. And item D is proposed ordinance 26-07 zone change for property located at approximately 2600 West BL or Quail Bluff Drive, residential R1 to professional office. Are there any of those that any would like to pull for discussion? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to approve those items of common consent. I move that we approve the common consent items 5A, B, C, and D on the agenda.

Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. The next item is authorize administration to execute the lease agreement with Analopee BMX. Now this would be leasing of city property for a commercial use as a public private partnership where we would uh lease the land and get money back for that. So uh as this is an item this was discussed in a work session but as this is an item of uh financial um means we will need to uh have this as a separate vote. Is there any further discussion we need to have on this since our last meeting? Seeing none, I'll take a motion.

I move that we authorize the administration to execute uh the lease agreement with Analopee BMX as referenced in agenda item number six. Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I

I. Any opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Item number seven is proposed resolution R26-12 authorizing submittal of the 2025 municipal wastewater planning program annual report to the Utah Division of Water Quality. And I'm going to call up Robert, our city public works director, in case there's any questions on this report. Again, this is something we do annually. Robert, if you give us the highlights.

Yes. So uh every year the uh state law requires that we submit a annual report on our sewer uh the health of our sewer system. This report describes um uh checklist of items that we check over. Uh overall in summary we and the good news and the most important part of this in my opinion is whether we've had any sewer overflows backups and we have none. So we actually have a really well uh running flowing sewer system. Um and that's that's that doesn't just happen on its own. That's all from the maintenance that we do regularly. So uh this is before you just as a resolution that we can send back to the state of Utah department of water quality indicating that you have had a chance to review it. I think this just ensures that it isn't just a report that goes blind that nobody knows about. So

yeah. All right. As a person who has studied our wastewater in the northern end of this county for 10 years, let me tell you that this is one of those issues that as long as everything runs perfectly, everyone's happy. It's when it doesn't work that uh things come up. So uh we're very happy that nothing has happened in Syracuse and everything is gone fine. Is there any questions anyone has for Robert about this report before we submit to the state? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to approve resolution R26-12 authorizing the submittal of the 2025 report. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. All in favor?

I.

Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Item number eight, authorize administration to issue letter of support for congressional community funding projects for federal grant monies. Now, I'm going to take ownership of this one because this is uh coming in an unusual way. Generally, we go through a work session, but we just learned uh less than a week ago that if we were to submit an application for a community funding grant that they would like to see a motion or letter of support from the council for the projects that we are submitting for. Now, we have the opportunity to submit for more than one thing and we are considering a couple of uh proposals. one that has not yet come forward, but there is a um the the primary one is that we are looking at using federal money to accelerate the expansion and widening of Analopee Drive. This is a project that's been on our master plan for uh 30 or more years. The trail that goes alongside it that would make it safer for bikers to traverse Anlope out to Analopee Island has been on the state master plan as well as the city's master plan for at least four years now and they're well aware of it and have already uh agreed to submit a letter of rep of support for the trail portion of it. U and that would come from the Wasatch Front Regional Council. We have reached out to UD do and UD do has told us uh this this grant let me just back up and say that this grant uh provides 80% of the funding 20% would be the match portion that somebody has to come up with as this is a state road logically that would come from UD do UD do is telling us that they would be several years uh forward before they could do that

however I would remind the council that there are several other uh assets that we can go to to get the match money. One would be uh Davis County's third quarter funding grant, which is almost assured that we would be able to get that one if there are matching monies because I have never seen them deny a matching money support because it makes those dollars go forward or go further. The other option is we can apply to the Wash Front Regional uh council transportation fund, a committee that I sit on. And I can tell you that when there are matching federal dollars, those have also gone forward for the same reason because that is a chance to maximize the use of public funds here in Utah um and collect some of those federal dollars. the uh UD do has said that they probably would not have funding until 2040 which would not work for this at all. So uh that wouldn't work. However, I would comment that it is a state road and there would we would be notified um the the projected outcome of notification would we would be notified in the fall next year or this year for funds that would be released in the spring which would give us time to go to the legislature and ask for additional funds for a state project that would be an 8020 match. match them only having to come up with the 20. I think there's a legitimate case that that's possibly an option. So, at this point, we do not have uh the solid backing for where the matching funds would come from. I do not expect that that would be a city source, but it is an opportunity to uh bolster our application to get um supporting funds from one of the sources that I

listed or there are others. So, what we're asking for tonight is the council support to apply uh for congressional community funds. Um, these are projects that are supposed to affect the greater community. Analopee Drive certainly qualifies because it serves over a million people that go to the island every year and that traffic is getting more and more congested. Um, so it's again a very large savings if we're awarded, but it the congressional supporting uh member has asked that we do have full support, not partial support, from our own council. Okay, I've said a lot, so I'm going to leave it open for discussion. I hope that I've addressed all of the things that are possible questions. And I would also say this when I advised you all that this was coming up and gave you the basic background. I appreciate very much that many of you came with questions of how would we fund the rest of the project and being considerate of the fact that we don't have funds for something like this or that if we were forced to fund it, it could possibly push something. I agree with you all. I actually come from the exact same position and asked those exact same questions when I first heard about this and said, "Oh, what would this do to us and all of the things?" So, I appreciate those questions um because they are important. They're very good questions. Uh but we don't have all of the answers and I hope that I've addressed them at least in general and I'm willing to take any other questions or further inquiries that you have. council.

So on this Dave, if if we're awarded the funds and we're able to find the the 20% matching where it's a state road, who oversees that? Does UD do still have to oversee that project? It's a very good question. So we would work with U DOT to determine who would oversee it.

Okay. I think the worst case scenario is that we run the permits and we make sure that everybody gets done because we could possibly be the awardee, but I think that again if UD do owns the road, they would probably want to own the engineering and the uh project management. That's been their typical reaction, but I have Syracuse has never had a congressional community funding project grant before. this would be our first uh again it's a great opportunity for us to find alternative funding and that's why I bring it forward to the council and how so obviously the the positive impact for us is accelerates the expansion of that

correct that road and and increases capacity and and makes it a much nicer safer drive for everybody everybody visiting the island. How long do we have if awarded, how long do we have to um to move the project forward or or to have bids and and get acceptance of that? So, um I'm not 100% sure, but I think they plan on you using it in the next fiscal year. So, this would probably be a 2027 project if we were awarded. Okay. So if awarded and we we get the the 80% funding and we're unable to find matching funds is our worst case scenario. We just wasted time applying for the the grant.

Yeah. I mean penalty.

The worst case is we say we can't find the matching funds and nothing happens. Um we also have the ability for us to try and pay for it ourselves. I don't see that as a real option, but that is an other option. I I mean I believe that given we would have six to eight months to find a match and I believe that this could carry into the following year if we found matching funds and had it engineered because that's happened on state funded projects. So worst case, we spend a year trying to get a match and then we have a decision to make. But we don't have to make that decision today. We just have to say that yes, we want to apply and we want to try to get these funds. Other questions?

So you're saying fiscal year 2027 is the likely time frame?

Yeah. as our fiscal well I guess I better rephrase that because our fiscal years would start this would definitely go into fiscal year 2028 because we start in July of 2027. So at best this would not complete until 2028 because we would not find out about the the the funds would not become available until uh likely between April and June of 2027 and then we would have to be able to start after that date. So depending on when we get notified, we may or may not be able to pull it off in the summer of 27, which could run into the fiscal 2028.

And if if there are matching funds that are required from the city, that would be to the tune of between half million and a million dollars. Did I understand that right? That is correct. So, we're anticipating that this could be between a half a million and a million is the matching funds, but I think that we would find someone. I mean, again, yes, that's the worst case scenario. We would have to come up with the 20% match on the project. And I would say that UD do has already run these numbers for inflation. And if they let this project go to 2043, which is what it's on their calendar, this project would triple in size.

And so I think that's also an argument that we can take to WFRC, Davis County third quarter committee, all of these people that we could say, look, we are cutting this by twothirds if we can accelerate the timeline. So the probability of needing this for the upcoming budget is not very high. No, not uh very low. Are we allowed to get funds from multiple sources to match? We are. Okay.

So they could we could get I mean there's a good possibility that WFRC could say we'll take half and county could take half or the state could take half and WFRC takes the other half or there's possibilities there. We don't know fully, but they tend to get it done when there's a 80% savings. Part part of my thinking too is is just thinking about the infrastructure that we are going to need for the commercial development that we have along Analopee Drive as well.

The longer we wait to do it, the more impact we're going to have. We we see what happened up in Clinton, our neighboring city, with their upgrades to 2000 and all the all of their main thoroughares. several businesses went out because they couldn't they couldn't survive. And so I I'm I'm definitely in favor because I think that time is of the essence and right now the impact is minimal. The sooner it gets done. The longer it waits, the larger impact it will be to our city. I agree. Those are very good points.

Well, my concern was about affecting the upcoming budget with that not being there. Uh, so long as the council is aware of the potential risk that may not be that heavy, I would be in favor. I think Yeah, I do think in all honesty, I think we're at least another fiscal year out before we would have to I really appreciate that, too, because I was thinking the same things that Councilman It should not affect this year's budget.

I like the idea of this, and I realize there's a 20% match. Um, I think we're going to be hardressed um in the next year or two to pull that out of Syracuse funds. So, I like the idea, but I think we'd have to press hard to find the other 20% matching funds. Agreed. Because it's it's it's unlikely that I think I would be able to find and vote for additional expenditures for that type of a project. Agreed.

And I appreciate that. And keep in mind that that's why the WFRC transportation grants and the third quarter grants are there is for regional impact roads. They specify it has to be that and this absolutely qualifies. I think there's minimal downside for trying. Yes.

Seeing if we can't pull it off. Well, one concern that is a concern to me is is that if we say we're going to go ahead with this and we accept it and then down the road we say no, we're not going to take it, there's a likelihood that um this won't come again in the future. So, I I do think that if we are going to move forward with it, which and I'm I'm fine with that, there needs to be a commitment that we're going to have to find funds to see this through city hopefully somewhere else. But if not through the city somehow, otherwise I think that we're

we're tripping ourselves up for potential future. That's my my concern is if it does get to the point that the city uh needs to come up with something that there's a consensus that somehow we're going to find a way to do this. Otherwise, I don't think we should do it at all. That's fair.

I I mean, if we're awarded a congressional community community funding federal grant and we do our best to to to meet it and we just can't pull it off, I mean, is that typically how the the grant programs work? Do they they look negatively on that or we wouldn't be eligible for future grants or or are there other scenarios in the city that this would apply or is this like this is really the only road and project this would uh you know work with work for

yeah so we do have to apply for a specific product or project this is the second year of this program so we don't have a lot of history but the history with federal projects in general is they will tell you that if you get the project and you turn it down

that um they don't hold that against you, but we've said seen every indication that if you get a grant and you don't use it, that does get held against you. So, I would think we'd have to be prepared that that would be the case. Um the good news is is I do think that there's enough opportunities here even at the worst case. I just thought of one more option of where the money might come from if in if we absolutely had no other way. Um we do have a significant bond that ends that year. So we would probably have that available as well. But again I would not this is a state managed road. I would believe that we if we push and we could find somebody else to pay for the state managed road, but the benefit is to the community.

I think it's a good idea, mayor. I think that just what you said because it's a state road, I I think that that would motivate people to to want to help us because it's saving them. They have to pay for it. It's going to and and if they wait till 2040 and have to come up with $17 million instead of one or less than one, I honestly think they're going to find a way.

Yeah, I I I would agree. I've had conversations with some people down at UD do and they've made it very clear to me that if if our city is actively helping to make projects that they have an interest in move forward that they will cut the list and move us up to the top with with some other projects that I've talked with some UD do people about. So, I I do think that the state would absolutely if they're already planning to do it that they would they would be incentivized to at least come up with 50% of that match and then if we can find 25 someplace else and 25 someplace else. But I I agree with the other councilman that that we need to do a full court press to do our best interest if we get awarded to make sure that we are not turning down

federal money that was and mayor didn't you say that this was kind of a new program this and I think that works to our advantage too. It does very much so and it also works to our advantage that one of the people on the re local region is familiar with this road and the traffic problems that it has. So we we do have somebody in the office that's helping decide which program or which grants Utah puts forward or the program that actually has lived out here. So I like it. That helps us a lot. You have my support, mayor. Okay. So uh since this is an authorization, we would need uh a motion to authorize the administration to issue a letter of support.

I authorize that we issue a letter of support. I second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed? That passes unanimously. Thank you all. And again, I think I look at these programs is whenever we can uncover something that may offset our budget, we have to look into it and do the best we can. I mean, we're not going to get everything, but every opportunity that we have to defer uh our tax bill, we we want to do that. At this time we have um mayor and council reports. Uh we will start down at this end. Abe, do you have anything to report?

Nothing really big outstanding from the planning commission. Just uh good meeting. Everything that we've talked about in our in our meetings as well. Paul was there as well. So correct me if I'm wrong, but not really anything to report. Okay,

I do have an announcement from the Miss Syracuse pageant. Our royalty is planning a March event. So, put this on your calendars. March 20th from 5 to 7:00 p.m. at the Syracuse Community Center. The whole community is invited to come and write letters to first responders and teachers, and they'll have all the supplies there provided. So, you just need to come on over to the community center on March 20th from 5 to 7 and get involved in that letter writing. Great. Paul, um I don't have any announcements. Nothing for me,

Andrea.

Okay. Um we I would uh report that from the sewer board we have uh gone through the first round of uh applicants for the plant director position and we are uh getting ready to do interviews not this week but the next week uh and hopefully that will move forward. Um and that's it for me. Item number 10 is public comment. We are one of the only cities that allows people in our business meetings to make a public comment both before and after the meeting. But is there anyone else that would like to make a public comment? Seeing none, I will close public comment. And then we do have a real estate matter. According to Utah state code, uh we uh are allowed to move into close session to discuss a real estate matter so that we don't divulge uh conditions that we are negotiating with on a property. So I would take a motion from the council to move into close session.

I move that we move into close session pursuant to the statutory authority set forth in agenda item number seven or 11, excuse me. Second. All in favor? I any opposed? Thank you all for coming.