Council Meetings - Regular Meeting

It is 6 o'clock on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 and we do a public forum quarterly. And uh at the council's request, we have moved that public forum to the beginning of our regular meeting rather than the beginning of our workshop session. So before we open our regular meeting, we will have a a public forum and there should be a list that has gone around. By raise of hand, who has put their name on on the list to uh to speak at the public forum? Oh, there hasn't been. Okay, we'll just we'll we'll go old school pre-tech. So, I won't have a list on my iPad. Um, just by raise of hands, who is here to speak at the public forum? Wonderful. And leave your hands raised if you're a Washington city resident. Wonderful. We're going to go here, here, and here. So, um, Mrs. Caldwell, um, I'll give you I'll give you all three the speech, okay? Although I know you'll be wonderful, but I I'll just kind of preface the public comment by, uh, this uh, statement that this is an opportunity for the council to listen and to consider public comments and feedback. Um, after the after you've each had a chance to speak, um, I've tasked the city manager with taking notes and we will address, um, anything that that you may have brought up as as we feel appropriate. But what we won't do in the public forum is we won't have a back and forth. We will listen to everything that you have to say. Um I think most uh public comments um can be said within about two to three

minutes and then typically we don't allow for just you know clapping or public clam or anything like that. So anyway that said my dear friend and neighbor Bonnie Caldwell if you'll come up and kick us off for the public forum and if you'll just state your name again even though I said it twice within the last minute or two.

Okay. Bonnie Caldwell. I'm 78. Uh we purchased a home in Washington in 2006. We've kept our home there, but we've lived for seven years in Kuwait and two years in Netherlands, Belgium. And since 2017, I've been an active participant in the Washington Community Center, taking classes and playing pickle ball. Pickle ball has experienced meteoric growth over the last 20 years, shifting from a niche pastime to America's favorite fastest growing sport. In the past three to five years alone, participation has exploded by over 300%. Reaching an estimated 24.3 million US players by 2025, up from 5 million just a few years prior. While the community center was not designed with pickle ball in mind, the staff have gone the extra mile to accommodate the 50 to 60 regular pickle ball players who come here. The staff have had pickle ball markings installed on the floor and one gymnasium with two courts. The staff also acquired high quality portable pickle ball nets and have scheduled both open play and league play. They raise basketball hoops and lower the separating curtain when we are scheduled to play. We appreciate these efforts very much. Pickle ball at the center serves a range of age groups, but the most active group is 60 to 80, maybe even 90. We have become a very cohesive group, welcoming all levels and encouraging each other as we work to improve our skills. I have never seen anyone turned away, even if they have never played before. And we willingly lend them a racket if they don't have one. The pickle ball community who play here appreciate greatly the high quality adaptation of the community center. There are now three days scheduled for

pickle ball open play. Tuesday and Thursdays from 8 to 11 a.m. and Friday from 8 to noon. Our first request is that one more court be added for pickle ball. During the winter, we have as many as 20 people waiting for the games to finish on the two courts. four players on each court and that can be quite a long wait. What adds to the frustration of those waiting is that the gym across the hall rarely has anyone using those two courts or those that court. For this reason, we've asked that one more court be lined for pickle ball and one more portable net purchased so that we would have access to three total courts. We would gladly pay the cost of this. were very happy to pay for the lining and the nets. I've bought them before and there's already a separation netting in that gym. So, if someone was going to play basketball, they could still play on one side. Those who come to play basketball have no restrictions on when they can come and play, but pickle ball players are limited to the scheduled hours, no matter the fact that the gyms are not being used. Our second issue has to do with school year vacations. When there's a school holiday, fall break, Christmas vacation, and spring break, the pickle ball players are not allowed to play our regular or any schedule. This is also the case during the entire summer. And I'm not sure what the summer schedule is because I'm not here in the summer, but many people who want to play are here. The reason we've been given for not allowing us to play during vacation days is that families may want to come and play basketball or another game in the gyms. During the recent spring break, we monitored the gyms during our regular

pickup time and not one person, well, two two young men entered the gym on Friday of that week and played for 10 minutes. On Tuesday, some of the regular players did not know we were not allowed to play. And since the gym was empty and the nets were in the gym, six of them played about for a half hour from 8:15 to 8:45 at which time the staff came in, took both nets from the gym and ended the games that they were playing. Not one person came in during the ne the rest of the scheduled time, but they wouldn't let them play pickle ball. They could have played in any of uh on Okay. The two boys came in and they could have played in other gyms, but they came in in that one for a few minutes. So the entire week, this gym was empty. And the ones across the hall had one player for 20 minutes on Monday, one player for 15 minutes on Wednesday, and on Thursday, two players played in one half for a half an hour. That was in the opposite gym across the hall. That wasn't in the one we used for pickle ball. Many of us prefer to play indoors at our and having some availability during the summer would be welcome also to those who prefer to play indoor. I have not inquired about summer use, but even a few hours in the morning or evening would be great for those who remain during the summer. I know that the director must consider many factors. I realize that and there are many demands that I have no idea about. But having the building well utilized would seem to me to be a priority and serving all the ages of the community should surely be important. Are we being unfairly treated because of our age? Third issue we'd like to raise is revisiting the plan that was proposed a few years ago about putting four pickle ball courts on the outside of the

community center. There's land. It's it it has been analyzed and it would be a wonderful addition and I think the wrap tax could be applied for for that and we would also love to help raise money for it. There's still a need for outdoor courts in spite of the many that are in currently in use. And I I know the city just did one. Um and the wheel wheel park was just just in put in use. Um this would also limit the people who use the courts outside to those with memberships, which is a good idea. We love coming to the community center and feel like this is where we would like to play. the outside courts would be welcome for those who come for many classes and opportunities to work out. Pickle ball has been such an incredible health benefit to so many people including myself. Thank you for considering these suggestions.

Wonderful. Thank you very much, Jeremy. You got those three points and we'll circle back at the end. Yeah, please do. Please do. And um Jeremy will be take that. uh this gentleman in the black, if you could come forward and and and state your name and she's a good example of how to do it. My name is Kent Stokes and I live on High Noon Circle in Washington. Welcome, Kent.

Thank you. Um I have been kind of maybe at odds with you guys for a while. I have some emails here that I to Mayor Neielsen when he was the mayor and I don't know if you guys would like these in a picture and I I would have made more copies but

I sometimes feel like that too. Well, I do too. I'm not trying to make light of it. I just No, I I I understand your position. I I was a school superintendent and so I know how this can be and and I know you can't make everybody happy, but I I where I live and I have this on my phone, but I Can you pull the map up, Elden? And pull up high noon. I think you're down I think you live in my neighborhood, actually. So I I I have it on my phone and made a little video, but I don't know that that's going to work. So I'll paint you a little picture here. Yeah, we can pull up the map, too, and get an idea where

when I moved in, if if you're looking at the culdesac that ends there, my house was there and there was another house on the other side and nothing above us. And and the rock wall in my backyard, it goes up probably 12, 13 feet and then it goes in maybe four or five feet and then up. I I stood on it today and it's taller than I am and I'm 6'2.

Okay. And uh before they started building up there, I I wrote to Mayor Neielsson. I said, "This is a problem. It's made out of gypsum." And and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why they would have given a building permit for that without fixing. Now, they've got a house there, but they made them put the house be on peers. And so, there's six houses above me. And I told him, I says, "What you're going to do is you're going to put a house there, and then you're going to pit me against the neighbor because this rock wall is a problem. My basement is flooded three times. The neighbor his foundation has eroded away and then they brought dirt in and filled it in. And now their solution is to put concrete there so it runs back down. And that's not even the biggest problem. If if you drive up the damn road, you can see what kind of rocks they're using. And rocks that are as big as this table will fall off and I haul them away and then they do it again. And so on the on the six houses that were built, to my knowledge, five of them were built by the developer. Can you guess what one wasn't built by the developer? Yeah, the one that is right next to me. And so we've got a problem. And and the bad part is the problem now is a lot bigger. I don't know what to do. I'm asking for some help. I I don't even know how to fix it now.

And I have been to one, two, three. They they finally sent the code enforcement guy out there for what I have no idea. And I've been to four different offices and finally I found somebody that could help me get to you guys. So this is somebody dropped the ball and and so I guess I'm I don't know what to do and I'm asking for your guys's help. I'll maybe just describe the administrative process for

sad. So, what we'll do is we'll let him finish up and then at the end we'll watch us. Like I said, I don't know what to do. I I'm I'm here at your mercy and and hoping that you can help me. So, this is this is what you do, right? And and during the public forum, we're listening. You have you have this city of staff that's listening, too. And so Jeremy will choose to address some of these on a high level, but it's it's often that what he'll do is connect you with the right person to to to work through it based on

the one thing I am asking you to do is not pit me against the neighbor and say it's a civil because this happened long before they ever started building a house. understand and we we appreciate your comments and we're a lot of us live in that neighborhood so we're familiar with the elevations and and those things. So, um I I know you you want us to give you a solution right now. No, I know that you're listening. I know you're going to have to talk. I I just hope I can tell you as a school superintendent, if id have had this problem, I would not have let it get outside. It would have been taken care of because it's it would have been my fault

and I'm just hoping you'll do the same thing. Well, I appreciate that. We Jeremy, you've got the notes on that. Thank you very much. Thank you. Appreciate it.

I want to see Miss Hannig. Is that right? Or related to the Hanigs? I'm trying to remember your name in the pink. I know you Peterson. Mary Kay, right? Kayn Peterson. Kayn Peterson. I might have said Mary Kay because of that pink shirt. I don't know. Kayn Peterson, but I know you tie into the Hanig family somewhere. So that's maybe you don't. Okay. My niece married a Hanig. There it is. your niece. Pull that down just a little bit so we can hear you. Kaylin, go ahead.

Um, I have some major concerns. Um, with school almost getting out and kids in the neighborhood. I would like to challenge everyone to encourage their children to wear helmets and safety vests. because I live over on Yuri East Drive and I've seen so many close calls. And I also think that the east side of the chapel parking lot, that sidewalk needs to be red because too many people come zooming around and it scares me and I'm just really concerned for the kids. I never had of my own. But it worries me that one day there's going to be a major fiasco. And I think we should have some kind of I can't think of the word um gathering or whatever to teach the kids about safety on their bikes or scooters or whatever.

We've had a few of those at the community center even. But yes,

those are good. And then those safe school routes. And I I know that Lieutenant Fenon is here tonight. Chief Williams always talking about helmets. In fact, I got in trouble riding in a parade on a scooter one time without one, and he gave me a hard time. So, we're with you, Kaylin, on that. What else is on your mind? Um, when Doug Ward was on the high C or city council, he told me that the state legislature made it a rule that you cannot have age reference housing like apartments and town homes. And I wanted to ask what the deal is on that. I don't know, but I know my city manager is taking a note on it, and I know I know Doug, and you might have to circle back to him on that one.

Okay. Because in all honesty, seniors and families in the same complex can be complicated. Seniors have their needs and their lifestyle, and families have their needs and lifestyle. And I'd like to see a complex just for seniors. Um I was telling Troy about the Hurricane Hills. Those would be an ideal type of neighborhood. Council Bellist is really good at that stuff.

And in that case, I don't mind having neighbors or whatever from the younger group. And it's hard to find senior housing. There's not very many here in Washington County. Yeah. Thank you, Kaylin. Is there anything else before we wrap it up?

Yes. Um, a lot of seniors don't feel like having to travel all the way over to Sun River to do senior type athletic stuff. One of my favorite sports is um botchi ball. It's um low impact and it gives us a chance as seniors or disabled to do something together instead of having to travel all the way over there.

Yeah. And then um one other thing. Oh, last night I went over to the Maverick up on Green Springs and Bella. Yeah,

sorry. Um, I pulled in there and some kids were riding in a pickup truck and I was just getting ready to pull in the handicapped stall and they just cut me off. And I think there needs to be better communication with them, not just act so irritical. Yeah, I hear you. Thank you, Kayn. Appreciate the updates. Oh, I remember what it was. Um, is there any possibility of getting like a senior citizen center here in Washington?

We haven't had that discussion yet, but city manager is taking doing very well with his task of taking notes. Okay. Thank you. I'm thinking of seniors that don't drive. They have a community center. Yeah. Yeah. Just like some kind of gathering place. And I think the county provides me mills, but I think the only one I'm aware of is is in St. George. Thank you, Kaylin. Appreciate you. Okay. Uh I don't see anyone else that was here when we started that wanted to be part of the public forum. So I will close the public forum and uh Jeremy, if you can uh just give us a recap and and give some response back to the three individuals.

Thanks, mayor. As the mayor mentioned, because this is our first time hearing hearing it, we can't always give a lot of answers, but we really appreciate hearing your comments and and we'll take some of those and and and look at them. So, u Mrs. Caldwell, um you you did a really good job of explaining all of the different sides so you understand all the different pressures and the things that they're looking at at the community center, but we'll certainly take your your comments and and discuss that with the management up there and see if there's any adjustments that can be made. So, thank you. Um, I think we understand that really well and the council has looked at the wrap tax and that's something that we can look at for for subsequent years to see if that's if that's something we can add those outdoor pickle ball courts. Pickle ball is one of those sports that as much as we build you know she's correct there's there's the need is exploding and and uh feels like the more we build the more people play and then the more courts they want. So it's

Jeremy is it appropriate maybe to share what kind of gave gave the council hesitation last time with the outdoor courts. I don't know. Do you remember? I don't know if I remember. I do. I was the one that couned them.

So, and and I just didn't think it was appropriate spot to put it was my recollection. And um I'm glad we can provide a space indoor, but we do a lot of pickle pickle ball courts all over town. It's one of our main things we do in every park um is build those. and just concerned about the noise back there with the residences and then we're already I'm not a fan of charging the public to also play pickle ball. I mean I think think I don't know those are things that I'm that I was against and I'm still not for it back there. I'm glad that we provide them space we should just look into if there's additional space that our staff feels they can. If there's not then we need to I mean we need to build more other places too. So

I think that's where we and And we always say, now I know it's a joke, so don't get mad at me. You can play Midsummer at noon. All the courts are open, but nowhere else. But no, that's just a little joke because I know they they get used in the morning and that's when they get used. But I'm it's such a popular sport. It's it's hard. But that's why we decided not to use rap tax and thought there was better places we could put our money into courts other places. Just remember that's Councilman Coat's joke. That was not my joke. Just remember that. But we we will take all of that into consideration and take care of that. Uh Mr. Stokes, I I would I'll let Thaad give his comments now about the administrative process. He's here still.

Maybe maybe even just for the record, you could give a quick I don't know if he I wish he would have stayed minutes or are you okay just to move on?

No, I think I think legal counsel should for you know it was on a public meeting. I think we should give a public response. My my intent when I uh spoke up was simply to describe the city's codified process for regulating the construction of retaining walls. Um Washington City does have a robust code that requires permits and requires engineering, but they don't require colors or shapes or sizes or the type of wall material. um those would be details that are up to the applicant and the applicant's engineers and experts. And so in the case of the wall that the the commenter mentioned, um it would not be if that were to come through again today, there would be no process for the city to have someone that is qualified to say this is a proper stone or this is not a proper stone. Um because that's not part of our current our current inspecting regime.

Thank you. and and we do have I I can't speak to his specific situation because we haven't looked at it and and I can't speak to that, but we we do have a lot of situations where especially walls between two neighbors do end up in a civil process because they you know it's it's I I recognize that that often we want the city to get involved and help mitigate that issue, but it's a lot of times it does not end up being something that the city has any any control over. and we'll certainly we've got his uh his information and we'll we'll take a look at it with the appropriate people and get him some information. Thank you. Did you have something to add, Councilman Nelson?

Oh, I was just going to say in the situation I I understand those issues, but there is still an obligation for runoff to be pushed to the street, right? And um I think there might be a question on some of the runoff on the adjacent property. So, um we'll look at it that we'll look at it. we have that information. And then uh I wish you would have stayed to hear that.

Mrs. Peterson, we appreciate you. She she comes often and and shares a lot of good information and and as far as uh I know our police department and others always encourage kids to wear helmets. We'll we'll try to put that in a in a newsletter that's coming up. Um as far as a lot of the senior things that that she addressed, a lot of that does happen at the county level. So, we'll we'll kind of address that with the county. Usually, they take care of aging and and senior type issues and that's one of the things that the county does, not as much cities in Utah. And so, we'll pass that information along to the county as well.

Wonderful. Thank you, Councilman Casperson. to um in our committee, the active transportation committee, we've had scheduled events where the health department will show up at schools and actually give out free helmets and do safety, you know, education for the the kids. So, that has happened, you know, a few times a year. So, that so we appreciate your input on that.

Okay. Thank you. That concludes our public forum. At this time, we will move into our regular meeting. And we appreciate our uh partnership and our our relationship is better with the interfaith council and we have uh Marina Anderson with the center for spiritual living. She is the core president and thank you for starting off our our meeting.

It's my pleasure to be here. Thank you. So I'm Marina Anderson and I am a member of the center for spiritual living in St. George and a member of the interfaith council and it's my joy to be here and I am also a Washington city resident. Um, so I just encourage everyone to take a nice deep breath and be present in your body and close your eyes if you're comfortable doing that or soften your gaze and know that we are here today in divine um camaraderie and community and collaboration. and know that the God of our understanding cares for us and guides us and um gives us many beautiful um skills and talents uh in in integrity, com compassion, love, laughter, joy and I wish and I pray that we all use those divine skills to be good stewards of our community, good stewards of our land and water, and um remember each other with great love and joy and take good care of each other in these amazing challenging times with which we live. I'm grateful for all the blessings that we are all afforded by the God of our understanding. And so it is. Amen.

Amen. Thank you for that beautiful prayer and thank you for mentioning water which is such a critical part of of living here in the desert. Um I've asked Councilman Bellis to lead us in the pledge of allegiance this evening. Please stand and repeat the pledge after me. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Council, we do have need to go to close session for one item in regards to pending or potential litigation. That said, I will look to you for a motion to approve the agenda as outlined. So move, mayor, have a motion by Councilman Coats. Third. Second by Councilman Ivy. All in favor? I.

The agenda is approved. We'll start off with announcements. Uh there will be a ribbon cutting and America's Birthday celebration on Friday, April 10th from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Legacy Park. This is in conjunction with the upcoming Washington County Fair. The Washington City Concert Band will be in action on Tuesday, April 14th at 7 PM at Crimson Cliffs High School. And the Utah League of Cities and Towns Midyear Conference is coming up April 22nd to the 24th at the Dixie Convention Center. Is there anything I may have missed, council? Just make note of those and the recorder will have them on your calendars. Next item, declarations of abstensions and conflicts. Is there anything to declare or any conflicts this evening? Seeing none, we'll move to the consent agenda which consists of approval of minutes from the city council meeting of March 25th, 2026 and the board audit report from March 2026. Is there a motion on the consent agenda?

Mayor, I'll make that motion. We approve the consent agenda as outlined. You've heard the motion by Councilman Coats. Is there a second? Second by Councilman Henderson. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? That is approved unanimously. We will move into um the next section of the agenda, which is a public hearing. This is a public hearing to allow comment regarding Washington City's proposed disposition and sale of real property owned by Washington City. The parcel of real property is significant under applicable Utah code or Washington city code. The property is approximately7 acres at lot 4 of the Buen a Vista Triangle located at approximately 405 East Buista Boulevard. I believe Elden Gibb, our our community development director will Okay. Um, do you want to just pull that up on the map, Elden? And council, you're aware of this. Do you do you need to see it? This is probably just for for reference of anyone in attendance this evening. You just point on the map where that is Elden right there. It's that that.17 U acres. Uh you're familiar with this uh parcel to be surplused. Um part of that process is to have a a public uh public hearing. So at this time I am going to open up the public hearing on anybody who would like to speak uh with regards to the disposition of this.17 acres as described as shown on the map. And you're welcome to come forward if if you'd like to make any comments on that item. Seeing no public comment, um I will go ahead and close the public hearing and I will turn to the council for a motion unless there's further discussion on this particular item.

Mayor, I'll make a motion that we approve the disposition of the 178 or the Buon Vista Triangle. You've heard the motion on item 5A. um as described and as made by Councilman Coats. Is there a second? Second by Councilman Bellist. Let's go roll call on this item beginning with council member Belliston. Hi. Henderson. Hi. Coats. Hi. Ivy. Hi. Casterson. Hi.

That is approved with the vote of five to zero. We'll move along in the um agenda. Item 6A. This is consideration to approve a letter acknowledging the implementation of Washington County Water Conservancy District's ultra water efficiency standards. You've seen the letter in your packet. City manager will explain that with your permission. I'm happy to sign it. Jeremy, go ahead.

Thanks, Mayor. Um, the genesis of this is the the impact fee study that the water district just went through. They identified a new class of impact fee called the ultra water efficiency standard and it it qualifies for a reduced rate. They asked the cities each of the cities to choose whether we wanted to participate in this voluntary uh program with this new water efficiency standard. There are a few things that we're acknowledging and I I think they're all relatively straightforward and they are you know that we give municipal pro approval and implementation. We bill for this particular new fee, which essentially is you have to pay a fee if you go over 8,000 gallons per month. And um our billing people have worked with them and and that shouldn't be an issue. And then we also do collect a small administrative fee out of that sir charge that helps us cover those costs. The other thing is permitting and development compliance. So we we agree that we'll make good faith effort to ensure compliance and essentially that means that we make that people do not put in any grass and we we don't allow pools on homes that have voluntarily chosen to to take this standard. Those are the two big things. And then we'll continue to coordinate with the district and developers when they choose this standard. I thought all of the requests are fairly straightforward and and things that we're we're okay to do. So I would letter can I ask a question mayor? Um so this is on new construction, right? And it it's regarding the the impact fee from the water district. So what about like the second or third owner if they come in and hey we want to build a swimming pool. Is there something on you know recorded against that or do they have to come in and pay the additional fees if they want to build a pool or how does that work?

They actually yes they record a deed restriction against that property that goes with the properties. Every subsequent owner cannot in lawn, irrigated lawn or a or a swimming pool. And they're all tied to that that rate 8,000 gall. Um I am not sure and I'm not sure mayor might be able to to answer this as a board member for the district. There was some discussion on whether or not somebody would be able to change their change their status. Um I don't I don't know where they ended up with that, but that's not covered by this.

I don't I don't believe that's the case. And um typically this would be subdivisionwide. So the um there may be a few cases here and there where it's an individual parcel, but I think your your point is well taken. But I think if they choose to buy a property that has this, then they're choosing the the standard that because the level of service that they're allocating for water is is reduced. But

so my I mean I'm for this. I I like the idea. Um my only concern is though just from my background from my background in in what I do lot of times the residential side of real estate is not as sophisticated the titling process and stuff and so I can see a lot of um I could envision a lot of circumstances where somebody buys a house isn't aware of you know this issue and then they go to build a pool and you know they're out of luck. So my recommendation would be maybe to take back to the water district, but I would like to see a provision in this where if somebody purchases a house purchases a house that's been built, you know, with with this uh you know, with this in in place that maybe they could build a pool, willing to pay the extra fees or something down the road. I can just see it being a little bit of an issue, you know, not all the time, but enough times that to me it's a concern. So,

I'm happy to take that back to the board, Councilman.

So, Mayor, I know that uh that's a good point, but if you go to the Washington County Water Conservancy District website, you'll find this there and it's a list of rules and standards that will kind of explain a little bit what those more in detail. So, if someone's considering it, I think that you need to We would hate to restrict someone that to do something with it at home, but I would hope that they're closing documents that would be very clear, but sometimes those things are you might know not know about that until you close. Um, I think it's something we can take back to the water district because it, you're right, third, fourth owner with the house, but you don't know about the water restrictions for that house and and the neighbor across the street in the next subdivision might have completely different restrictions than you. So,

I would never cast dispersion upon real estate agents. One of my very favorite people is a real estate agent. related related to Councilman Henderson. Mayor, can I ask for clarification? Go ahead, Councilman. Where you've uh indicated that you're going to take Councilman Henderson's concern back. Is this a Are you looking for a motion to approve with that condition, or do you want to wait approve it after? Um I'm looking for an approval tonight, but I'm telling the councilman that I will in good faith take that back to the to the board and to the staff there and and report back on how that is. Then I'm ready to make a motion when you want. Before you do that, you bet.

So, are the the charges the same as they the current ones for the excess water use? Do you know it is it the current charges the $10 per 10,00 gallons or is it has it changed for this one? Um, I believe it I believe it has different charges, but I'm not 100% sure. I all the details on that. Okay. really does. But

I have a concern is I feel like the 8,000 gallons is good for smaller families, but I feel like it's really hard to meet that if you have a bigger family and not very many people know about the the charge like you guys were just mentioning. And uh but I know very well about the charge because I get it, you know, a charge almost every month for our family. And so I don't know how realistic this is to do this because this will be implemented all year. Is that correct? We don't have any grass and we did. So I feel like that's one of my concerns. I don't know how doable this is for families. I

agree with you. I think it's not doable because I use 8,000 in the winter with no landscaping with my my five five to six person family. I think it's too low. But and we conserve water. We really try to conserve water because I know all the data, right? We hear all this stuff, we talk about it and and I just think it's a for a a house, it's different than an apartment. And a lot of times those numbers get mixed up. But I but what we already approved was the 8,000. I mean, my water bill doubled this year because of the implements we already implemented on our side, let alone now the district's adding more on top of that. I I guess my my answer to that would be looking for us that number. They've already picked that in their impact fee. Our our choice is whether in our city or not. Those are the the choice. But I think if if somebody can go in and say, "Look, I have, you know, I've got six kids or eight. I need I need to buy, you know, covered by Mayor Staley would would not only are they just saying, "Hey, I want to put in a pool or I want to put in grass." I'd be saying instead of a 33 acre feet, I need that my that my neighbors have can't be able to have a buyou.

This doesn't say that they're I mean they're going to be shut off at 8,000. It just means that once they hit 8,000, they're going to That's correct. They go I mean the tap will never turn off if they needed to use all the water they can. They just can't. They're just hitting that different structure. Councilwoman Caspersonson now times all of her daughter's showers. Become a real issue. That's $10 per gallon. What a good mom.

Well, I appreciate I I know these are difficult. Water is can be tough policy and it affects each of us differently. I I can tell you and and you know with some of the communication I've sent to you recently, we are in the most severe drought in terms of snowpack um locally and maybe throughout the state, you know, on record. Um thankfully our reservoirs are in good shape, but I don't know how many more years like this we could we could uh absorb. Um, so I I know we we're all asked to make some sacrifices and I think I think this is one of those that u if if a development developer chooses to enact this type of impact fee and have the kind of desert scape and have most of the water used on the inside of the home, it it might be close, but maybe it's close to reasonable. That's my recommendation that we approve it. I I had a conversation with Don Bean earlier today and mo most of his development is is uh is meeting this this new ordinance. So I mean I think it it needs to be an option in our city and after that it's not up to us collecting the rate.

And you you know what I might do as I'm listening to some of the feedback from the what I'll do is I'll invite and I've done this periodically. I'll get the water district over um and then you can ask the questions directly. I'll I'll get um a couple of representatives over and we can discuss more fully the ultra water efficient standards that that would do. Okay. In fact, probably should have them already here for this, but I've historically brought them over to have those conversations with us. I if you're okay with that, I'll I'll do that and let you have the audience with with them directly. I don't you're not suggesting that we hold off on approval? No, I'm saying approve it tonight, but I'll still bring them over. I mean, yeah. This

mayor, I'm happy to make the motion to approve the letter acknowledging the impleation implementation of Washington County Water Conservancy District's ultra water efficiency state. I have a motion by Councilman Bellison. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Coats. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Nay. That is approved on a vote of 4 to one. Uh let's go to item 7A. This is a site plan review. This is consideration to approve a landscape plan for a not to be confused with Ara. And there's another one down there that starts with an A. What's there's a third one then just right there.

Amara. Alia. Ara and Amara. This is Alia. Um located on Washington Fields Road. Community Development Director Elden Gibb will present and I I see the applicant and the applicant's representative here as well. Council, go ahead, Elden. Thank you, Mayor, Council. Um, on March 25th, 2026, council asked the applicant to return with an updated landscape plan that's been included in the packet. Hopefully, you reviewed that and uh we're here to address any questions you may have at this time.

I wouldn't mind the applicant just kind of running through their phasing and They got a couple minutes to just kind of understand that because clear on when it's starting because it says contractor start date with installation based on availability. I don't know what that means. Maybe you want to pull up. You have slides pulled up. Britney Sean would rock paper scissors on that. Sean we know you but just for the record. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and council members. My name is Sean Karuso and I represent Alia Development Corporation, the developer of Ala, formerly known as Sticky Farms and I'm also part of the ownership team. So the question is

I think the council phasing if you could go through that. Sure.

All right. So, as you can see, phase one starts at the corner of Sticky Farms Parkway and Washington Fields Road with a detention basin and then it runs south along Washington Fields Road behind crossroads phase one and phase two. Um, one point that I would like to make, I put it in the general landscape plan. When we purchased this project in February of 2024, we did not have budget allocated for the landscaping of this particular area. So anytime we develop a parcel, we always calculate and assign a budget, one of those line items is landscaping. And so that area in my mind should have been landscaped by the previous ownership group years before he purchased the project. They should have been that the requirement should have been attached to the plat. So Southland Development generated revenue from the sale of those homes and did not invest in the landscaping. So that fell on us. And so as we've developed the project, we've set funds aside specifically for this area. We know it's a hot topic. And so coming back to the phase one plan, it's in the in the uh packet. Um we are finalizing approval of the landscape design which is also in the packet. We're making a couple of minor changes to the landscaping around the detention basin just because of grade issues with Land Works, our contracted landscape design company. So we're going to finish that up this month. We're also sending the plan set out for bid to five to six contractors just like we did recently on the open space between Lakeside and Crossroads. Again, another open space area that we inherited. We did not develop Lakeside or Crossroads phase phases one, two, and three, but we inherited the obligation to landscape that area. I also put that in our description. You know, that landscaping obligation is almost completed. We're probably two to three weeks away from our landscape

installation company finishing that area up and that obligation is running us pretty close to about a half a million dollars. So, back to the corner of Stoie Farms Parkway and Washington Fields and that open space down Washington Fields Road as well as the two medians. Um, we will have bids by the end of the month, beginning of May. What we've experienced as we've gone through this bidding process is we generally get feedback from these installation contractors about some changes that we ought to consider. So that usually requires us to make some quick changes. Then they revise their bids and then we select a contractor and we will have a contractor selected by the end of May. Now whether or not that contractor can start immediately, we don't have any control over their schedule. the contractor, for example, that's installing that open space between Lakeside and Crossroads phases one, two, and three. You know, we were hoping that he was going to be able to start a month sooner, but he already had projects on his schedule. And so, we had to wait until we could get on his calendar. But that's the commitment that that we're willing to make is we'll select a contractor during the month of May. And as soon as we're on his his his contract, his calendar or his schedule, then we'll begin.

So, Mayish, end of May. end of May, we'll have a contractor selected. We'll have a calendared start date. So, and just for the record, phase three doesn't I mean there's no point to phase three is the is the corner that still needs to be developed. So, that's just get ripped apart. Yeah, that that's when that gets developed, you'll do that, right? Makes total sense. I think our biggest concern has been phase one. Yeah. And and is it Phase two, that's the east side. No, phase two is picking up at the end of phase one

down past Farmhouse Drive um to Primrose and then down developed yet, right? What's that? That's not developed yet, right? There's a lot of construction activity on that dirt right now. And that's you guys, right? No, it's not us. No, it's vertical activity. And then there's also some dirt that still needs to be developed, which will be us in the future. Yeah. So that's why in my in my explanation I said we don't have budget for that just yet. We'll calculate a budget. It'll be a line item and we'll do the landscaping as soon as we develop that area. Okay. But what about the medians? You'll get the medians in phase one from farmhouse drive north.

The two medians that are north of farmhouse drive that are adjacent to phase one, those will be uh included in the phase one landscaping. Okay.

I appreciate you taking attention. appreciate you listening to us. I'm just by the end of summer, we should have no problem. It should all be landscaped is what it sounds like, give or take, right? Yeah, that's what we want. We know it's a we know it's a hot topic and it's an area that needs to be addressed. But I think everyone can understand, you know, we purchased the project. We didn't develop those phases and the revenue from those phases um did not come our direction. So, we had to create funds to landscape that area. I think everybody that I think is like phase three down there. You're going to do that that section of the frontage on on either side. Correct. I think the only

the thing that I'd like to see is when the weeds are there, we go down, right?

Um I get it. The landscaping will be going in at eight, but just got to keep up maintenance on some of that. Totally totally agree. So, we've had meetings with our landscape maintenance group. In fact, we replaced our previous landscape maintenance group in December hoping that we were going to upgrade and we actually took a step or two back because of some communication issues with our HOA management company and some turnover at that level. So, we've been meeting directly with them ourselves. In fact, today I was at the Meadows Park on site during the Meadows Park with our landscape maintenance company and then I drove through the property again today with our HOA management company. We took photos of areas that need to be addressed. So, we understand, you know, the challenge is we're also right at the edge of the development on that side of town, right? And so, we have tumble weeds rolling into our project on a regular basis, receding areas. So, it's a struggle, but we can do better and we will.

It's like my yard. My house been like that for was like that for years. My house is like that. Council Henderson. Sorry. I have one one council. Council just to finish up. It's more of a question across from the senior living that median that's part of the master a's responsibility to maintain that landscape. Right. You're talking about the median in front of Primrose and the landscaping. Yeah. So, I actually have a meeting with Primrose tomorrow to discuss the situation because we don't know. Currently, Primrose is doing their own landscape maintenance and it's not great. Yeah. So, that would be my only question is I would assume that's all part of the the frontage of the roadway that's part of the master development.

It should be, but they've been doing their own. And so, Carl had some Well, let me back up. previous development group, previous developer, Southland development, they had some quirky relationship with Primrose that I don't fully understand. And so tomorrow I'm meeting with them to understand what the relationship is. I'd love to see them fold into the master HOA and I'd love to see us take that take that frontage over. Thank you for this. I appreciate it and I'm looking forward to the great landscaping you're going to be putting in. Oh, you're very welcome.

I think You made a good point. I think a lot of us recognize that the previous developer appreciate you coming tonight with the plan. The mayor, I'm ready to make a motion if you're ready for one. Just say Councilman Henderson had a comment. I was just going to say thanks for coming in. So appreciate you showing us this and I'm excited to see it landscaped. It's going to be awesome. It'll be a game changer down there. So if it's anything like these pictures, I mean these pictures down at the bottom are fantastic. So, I mean, it's it's going to be great. So, thanks.

Well, we'd love to have you come out and tour the landscaping that's going in because we do believe that landscaping isn't just a check the box requirement, but it really enhances the development and it creates cohesion and can really elevate the property. And so, that's that's the direction we're going. Thank you. And I like the na native plants. We are doing some native plants which is good. We're also doing low water use plants. a lot of low water use plants. I don't know if palm trees necessarily constitute low water use, but we will have um a lot of rock mulch and we are not putting grass in the uh park strips.

We call that nonfunctional turf, meaning it only gets walked on when you mow it 100%. And then I also appreciated in the packet, as I know my peers on the council here do, that saw you put a lot you had a pre-emergent application down there, too. And on doing more of that. So, in fact, a good good part of the report with the recent rains, so it kind of wiped out the postemergence. So, our landscape meetings group came back out on Saturday and reapplied. So, we're doing our best to keep the weeds down. Excellent. Councilman Ivy's is chomping the bit here, so I better I better let the horses run. I'm actually pretty relaxed tonight for some reason. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve a landscape plan for a Leia located

actually. It's just a review. I didn't know it was an approval. That's why I asked. Let's see here. It says a consideration to approve a landscape plan. So, well, I guess approve it. Uh, would you mind restating your motion? Sure, mayor. I make a motion to approve a landscape plan for a Leia located on Washington Fields Road to meet the Oh, the conditions that we discussed in the in the phasing and uh timeline. That's good, isn't it? Can I just ask for was the um The agenda item, how was the item read? Tabled. It wasn't

tabled. It was approved on condition that they bring us a landscape plan back to council. So, this this meets that motion. Got a motion by Councilman Ivy. Second by Councilman Belliston. All in favor? I.

Are there any opposed? As approved, five to zero. Enjoy the rest of your night. We're getting close here. Section 8, resolutions. Item 8A. This is consideration to approve a resolution distributing the recreational arts and parks tax to Encore Performing Arts. City Manager Jeremy Red will present to the council.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, it's the time of the year again when we accept wrap tax applications. Just as a reminder, uh, the council approved a maximum of $50,000 in the 2526 budget. We haven't spent anywhere near that in the last couple of years. The council also added this language as a guide for the approval of grants. The language is due to the limited amount of wrap tax revenue that will be allotted to Washington City, the funds awarded by Washington City Council shall be limited to entities located within Washington City or which provide significant tax revenue to Washington City. All other projects outside of Washington City have the ability to petition Washington County or other cities for funding. So today we have two applications and the one in front of you right now is is for Encore Performing Arts. They have u turned in the application as you had in your packet for $10,000 for a senior series and senior productions. Um, as far as history on this applicant, uh, they received, uh, $15,000 in 2023. They applied last year for $7,000 and and were denied. And they are asking for $10,000 in this round of funding. Okay. Council, uh, questions for the city manager, discussion amongst yourself. Um, a desire to hear from the applicant. Is the applicant here? Andor desire to hear from the applicant. Yeah, I'd like to hear mayor if we could

from the applicant. Sure. If you'll just introduce yourself and then uh couple of two to three minutes would be great. If you get longwinded, I push a button. There's actually a trap door. I'm kidding. There's not a trap door.

Give me a wink and I'll stop. Uh Adam Record is my name. Uh also a resident of Washington City. Uh I'm a co-founder and the executive director of Encore Performing Arts. We've been in business since 2021. Uh we serve um all of our community throughout Washington County and beyond. And we um what we primarily do is we provide educational opportunities through the uh the art of theater. And so our I was a sports kid growing up and have learned that I got not enough out of that. And I think I think it was good for me. It would have been good for me to learn from the theater programs that were available to me. And now that I've done it and been an executive director of an organization that provides these opportunities, I see the value and the blessing that it is to the lives of those we serve. So, we serve um at this point thousands of young artists who have come through our program. We do uh performances for seniors, juniors ages 7 to 18. We have an emphasis on education. So, when we do a show, we don't just say we're doing a show. What we do is for example, we're doing Matilda right now. In the instead of just doing the show, we're inviting professionals from all over the country to come participate and offer workshops where they can learn um leadership skills um we're doing a workshop where we're offering the um the education on um speaking in a British dialect and accents.

Can you can you just give us an example of that as you're going along? Nope. I'm teasing. I could try, but I just embarrassed everybody. And so we all we like to bring in educational mentors and yeah smile

and with that the purpose of these performances are to give them life experiences through stage experiences. That's our mission. So we have a youth leadership program that where we use young artists who have been with us for a few years now where they become the director, the music director, the choreographer and we have camps that um take place here at the St. George Academy just right across from Stanley Farms where we will have their uh a week to two week long weekl long camps where the senior mentors will help the juniors put on a performance in the show and they're learning youth leadership uh skills and how to direct, how to take feedback, how to give feedback, how to lead out, how to plan, and all the while providing an opportunity for young artists at the younger age to dip their toe in the water of theater to see if it's something they like. So, we've have um a number of performances that we do every year that do take place in St. George at the Electric Theater, but we have

Do you do any here in um Washington? In terms of performances, we've had camp performances that take place at St. George Academy. We have classes here in town that have take place at we have a budding partnership with St. George Academy. So, we've had classes and workshops we've held there. And we hold 50% of our rehearsal time is taking place there at St. where we do pay a rental fee to them to use that space. Our our offices are here as well. And I say offices, it's our home office is my home, but we do have our offices here. So, we're and half of our young artists that participate in our programming uh do live here in Washington County. Uh and so do half of our mentors and teachers that we employ. So, did I cover those? Can I ask Councilman Henderson?

So, I appreciate what you're doing. All three of my kids were in performing arts and music. So, I love what you're doing. Um, can you talk just a little bit about like how much it costs uh for a to participate and also tell us a little bit about your scholarship program.

Thank you. So, it ranges from 175 to 375 depending on the size of the program. Some of our senior programs, we've pulled in directors that have come right off Broadway to participate. So, in order to afford them, we do have to raise the price. Um, and then as small as our camps that are $175 to $195. And uh, same thing, we we try to employ the best of the best that we can afford, we do offer scholarships. We average, we have a minimum of nine scholarships that we give out for everything that we do. So, um, it's it's never been below that and it's always been above that. So the 2025 alone, we gave out about $25,000 worth of scholarships to make it available to those in our community that just otherwise can't afford it. So accessibility is a big thing. We offer um these classes, workshops, and registration participation fees are all scholarship. So we we make sure they keep those doors wide open. And those are done upon review. We review those with our board, but we're I like to think we're very generous with our scholarship to make sure they're available to those who need it. Further questions for the applicant?

Yeah. Do you know off the top of your head, do you know how much St. George has charged you for rental there for this space? Not off the top of my head. I could provide a more accurate number, but I don't know. When you do a sponsorship, what's the typical amount? Um, so they there's an application process and they we usually ask them to to declare what their needs are. Um, but most often we give out 100%. So depending on the program, I'd say on average we're at $250 because some of our programs on a higher level and then the lower. So $250 is about the average of what we do offer. Like I said, and it usually ends up being nine to 15 young artists that come and apply.

Do you ever earmark those uh scholarships? And I mean, do they ever I mean, what's the criteria, right? Yeah. Is it just is it just needs based or are there other

Yeah, it's needs based. Um we don't get into too many details as to the reasons why they need it, but we do ask what they're willing to share as to why they need it. And often times they'll give their reasons and then we try to put them to work as as much as possible if they're able to. So to come volunteer or participate and they can come be like a a wrangler, a child wrangler. They can help volunteer backstage and we try to make sure they get free tickets to the performances as well so they can they can participate. don't feel like they're just taking the they're given that opportunity. It's not required, but we give them the opportunity invitation to come and help participate. So, they're they're earning their keep questions, comments on this side. Anything else on this side? Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks for your time. All right, council. Uh now's the opportunity for you to uh have further discussion and or a motion on consideration to approve a resolution distributing recreational arts and parks tax to Encore Performing Arts. The uh as Jeremy explained, they are asking for $10,000. Mayor, I wouldn't mind making a comment.

Go ahead. Um, I would uh I would be in favor myself of Is there a way if we were to um you know give you some money tonight that it could be used specifically only for Washington City kids for scholarships? Is that a possible thing or Sure.

Um uh I' I'd be willing to I mean we like to keep the as wide open as possible for anyone who needs to participate. Um, if we needed to put like a stipulation there's a unique scholarship opportunity for those who live within the city boundaries of Washington City, I would be totally open to that. Um, we we do try to raise money elsewhere and use our revenue to offer these scholarships. So, it wouldn't shut the door to everyone else, but you'd be good. But I'd be open to the You could earmark a portion of it to people in Washington. Certainly. Look, you know, at a bare minimum, this goes here.

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. We we have record of every scholarship recipient, so we know who's getting them and where they live. We at least ask for their zip code so we know where they live. We don't get their address, but for sure.

Thank you. With that in mind, you know, I know our stipulations are that this money is spent for Washington City residents and, you know, businesses that operate in Washington City, which I I really agree with that uh you know, that direction that we've gone. I really wouldn't mind if they can guarantee and document that uh the scholarships went to Washington City um kids. I wouldn't mind uh giving them some money out of a wrap tax. So, pick a number and I'll support you.

Anybody have a comment?

Do you know how many Washington or how many participants are from Washington? Exact number. No, just approximately. But I can find out like I can find out the exact number or at least bas you talking like within a year or just overall since just like overall do you think how many? Yeah, we we I can dig through our records and find out how many are and you said you how many times you do camps at the academy St. six planned this year coming up and we've had two behind us. So, but we like I said, we have our our rehearsals and classes and workshops there as well.

And do you have an do you have kind of an idea of what do you have a good guess of what you're charged or to do that there? I I don't have an exact number. Um and a good guess I'd have to go back and look at yeah what we paid. So, I can ask our our bookkeeper what we've paid in the past. Thank you. Yeah,

Mayor, can I just clarify the language on this a little bit? Because of the state uh restrictions on w tax funds, if the motion well while it's I think the intent is to have the applicant receive and pay a scholarship fund to certain students. The motion would indicate that the wrap tax would be distributed to the applicant. Then the applicant would then distribute those to Washington City residents. I think the city's able to distribute the scholarship. Oh, directly to Yeah, they would need the encore would need to administer that. Correct. I'm trying to just avoid that that possibility where a motion sounds like we're sending it to the students because I'm not sure that we can do that. Can I make a motion, mayor?

Of course. Okay. I'm going to make a motion. Part of wrap tax is arts. That's the A in wrap. And so I think important that we recognize that. So I'm going to make a motion. mayor that we grant $5,000 of wrap tax money to Encore with the stipulation that that $5,000 goes as scholarships to Washington City Kids and that Encore would um administer those and take care of those scholarships. Wonderful. You've heard the motion by Councilman Henderson and the second by Councilman Bellison. It's a resolution, so let's go roll call beginning with Council Member Henderson. I

coats nay. Right now Ivy nay Caspersonson. Nay Bellston. All right. So it was not denied but it did not pass on a vote of two to three. Is there more discussion or uh I'll make another motion. Okay. I'll make me I'll make a motion that we approve the contribution of $2,500 to the Encore performing performing arts with the condition that it goes to Washington City Kids as a scholarship.

Scholarship. Okay, you've heard the motion by Councilman Coats. Is there a second? I got a motion by Councilman Coats, a second by Councilman Henderson. We'll go roll call vote beginning with Council Member Coats. I Ivy. Nay Caspersonson. Bellison. Hi Henderson.

I you have been Encore Performing Arts has been approved for $2,500. Thank you for making a difference in the arts. My son switched from basketball to theater his senior year. We had more fun after those performances than any basketball game and he still plays basketball. um please at some point give us some feedback on the individuals and the impact it has on their lives and we hope that uh you recognize that this council appreciates what you do for the character of this community and thank you for taking the time to be here tonight. Um I would recommend coordinating with Brian Brown in finance or Tara the city recorder. All right. Thank you. The next item, item 8B, is consideration to approve a resolution distributing the recreational arts and parks tax to Washington Washington City Arts Council. City Manager Jeremy Red will present on this.

Thank you, Mayor. The same uh stipulations apply to this one, the same comments. The Washington Arts Council has requested $15,000 to go towards their arts art education and artisan holiday market. Uh previous requests they received $23,500 in 2023, $28,650 in 2024, and again their request is for $15,000 this round of funding.

Wonderful. And um you know I'm just looking back through this uh email that I get. I don't know if it's monthly or quarterly, but you are doing amazing thing. I see the applicant here. If you would come forward and just state your name for the record and give us an update on some of these events that you're doing and and what the uh what you would use the the funds for and also tell us a little bit about I've seen you at Heritage Hall a few times. So that's a lot but you know tie it all together. Yes. So Todd Prince, president of Washington City Arts Council, I'm trying to remember everything you requested. Just just speak from the heart. I gave you too much.

Yeah. Well, a couple things. Um, first is thank you for considering our request. We do appreciate the opportunity opportunity to apply for the funds. Uh second, the since those other awards were made, the treasurer and I went through our financials very closely to look at um our real expenses uh over the past several years. And so the numbers I presented this time around are probably more realistic to our programming needs. I think when the uh arts council first uh organized they had pie in the sky dreams and and big ideas some of those came to fruition others not maybe not so much. So I tried to take a very realistic look at our expenses for these programs. Um one of the questions in the application is about expanding our programming. So this year a couple things we're doing is one we are um organizing a gallery exhibit. It's going to be at the uh Sears Museum in the foyer there just because there's not a gallery venue here in the city. Um so we were able to work with uh the director there, James Peek, uh to arrange for an exhibit, but it will feature Washington City artists

uh specifically. So that is in September. And then a second thing we're expanding this year is our artisan holiday market. Last year it was our first time trying it. It was relatively successful. I was pleased with the uh foot traffic through um the hall that day. Um so this year we're expanding it to two days right after Thanksgiving. And in our minds, we're thinking this is a leadin to the city treelighting on that Monday as well as the uh the wagon rides up to the Cington home.

So, we're hoping that leads into that and we can kind of feather into that as well. Um besides those two expanded programs, we have almost monthly workshops. Those are held either at the relief society hall or at the rec center. Um, so they are most for the most part kept here in Washington City. Um, we just had our spring gala last weekend. Uhhuh. What are the costs for the workshops?

It depends on the type of workshop, the instructor that we have. So, we're paying rental for the facilities, whether it's the rec center or the relief society hall. And then our instructor fee. Yeah. And what are the rental Sorry to interrupt, but what are the rental facility costs at the Relief Society? Hell, it's $50 an hour. The rec center, depending on which room we use, is anywhere from $75 an hour to 150, I think. Um I forget the exact cost, but some of the rooms are more expensive. Okay, thank you.

And then our our uh instructors, we usually pay if it's more of an introductory course, like $35 an hour for the instructor fee. If it's an advanced course, they usually get like $50 an hour. So, if it's a three or four hour uh event, we're, you know, typically $500 a workshop. Um, some are a little less expensive than that, but typically you can plan on three hours, would you say?

Three to four hours is typically around $400 or $500 total expense. Some of that is offset by the um registration fee that we collect, but part of having the wrap tax uh helps us offset some of those fees to keep it low for the community members that want to come to them because it's more an educational experience than like a retreat or something like that. You also do an event in Veterans Park.

Uh that was all about art. We have pivoted and now we're doing the artisan holiday market and the spring gala. Okay. Which features artists. Yeah. The all about art brought in a lot of artists from outside and it just I don't know if it was a viable event in terms of turnout and sales for the artists. So we pivoted to more localized events that will feature more Washington city artists and some from St. George area, Hurricane area. Um, and those events are now smaller, but we think it fits the venue better and better serves the community. Yeah, I really like the idea of the um, what did you call the holiday

artisan holiday market? I saw you at that. Yeah, that was really fun last year. And two days is a great idea and lead into Christmas in Dixie. Yeah. and and with for those families that have visitors in town, I think having it right after Thanksgiving will be a good option for us. Yeah. Council, what other questions or interaction do you want to have with Todd Prince? Love what you guys are doing. Every event that I go to is is great. So, appreciate you. Are all of you getting our newsletter? I think so.

You should be. I I I have you on there, so I hope you're getting it. So, hope you're reading it. So, that provides a good preview of upcoming events and a summary of past events to to let you know what we're doing in the community. Nice work on this stuff. So, thank you. So, RAP Tax Funds did pay for our website which produces the newsletter. Wonderful. additional questions, comments, discussion with Todd. Thank you. All right. Thank you. I'll hang around.

Council, you've you've heard uh um you're familiar with Washington City Arts Council and you're familiar with the with the ask there. Um happy to entertain further discussion and or a motion on on this application. Just a quick clerical thing on the resolution. It's listed as organization being Washington City Youth Council and it's not uh Washington. Mine says Washington City Arts Council down at the bottom

right over the signature block. Oh, on the resolution itself. Oh, okay. Good catch. I haven't signed it yet. I'm glad the agenda is correct, but the resolution that's a good catch. All right. No, just on the on the resolution. Someone like takes stab at a motion on on this one. I I do see value in the Washington City Arts Council. I I I appreciated their support with the Heritage Hall and and the things that they're doing for the local art community.

Yeah, Mayor, I agree. You know, the Arts Council does a great job. We have a nice reputation here because of that and those events are really nice. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve a resolution distributing the recreational arts and parks tax to Washington City Arts Council in the amount of $10,000. Okay, you've heard the motion to approve for $10,000. Is there a second? Second. A second by Councilman Coats. We'll go roll call beginning with Council Member Coats. First, did you go first? We're gonna end with you, Council Member Ivy. Hi,

Casperson. more a little bit less but I'll go with I Belliston Henderson and the grand finale coats I'm kidding I

well you got twothirds of what you asked for with unanimous vote keep doing great things and um I think if you twisted some of these guys' arm here that that buy some art from. We appreciate this beautiful art at the back of the council chambers, too. So, keep working them. Don't don't don't let them get off without buying some some paintings or some gourds or whatever they like best. Thanks, Todd. Next section is uh section nine, report of officers from a signed committee committee. Uh we'll go with Councilman Bellson to start with. I don't have anything today, Mayor. Thank you. No problem. Councilman Henderson, I don't have anything.

Councilman Coats, I don't have anything. We had powerboard last night, but there was just standard business. Nothing nothing to report. So, and I have my solid waste meeting next Monday. So, so after our last meeting, uh, we ended up going down to San Diego to tour the water treatment facilities down there, the reuse facilities, and tour around and, uh, pretty amazing what they're doing with it. And I understand that's uh kind of the direction the county is going to be heading to to be able to reutilize water as many times as possible. So um you know initially it'll go into a reuse system and then may go through advanced filtration in the future. So did we not report on

see didn't we? I don't know. I felt like we did but maybe I told so many people about it I felt like I did on It's worth twice I guess. I don't know. Well, I thought I thought I I thought I went down there on that the day after council last time. You're probably right. I just um Oh, it's it was it was exceptionally cool to see it in action. And I I mean even even besides the trip, it kind of was nice to just get to know even more community members that do the same thing we do that we don't always get to see them in these functions,

but to do a personal stuff and go out to, you know, I mean go to dinner with some of them and it's just and to meet different people and you just learn more about people. So I like that aspect, too. So, I thought it was a good uh community building exercise as well as just learning about the the reuse facility. And I know that if we did it, we would be closer on budget and not behind schedule like they are on their project because it is California by the way. They have some pretty high standards though that they meet. They have high standards and lots of regulations that are probably necessary. But thank you, council members. Councilman I I don't have anything tonight. Mayor Councilwoman Coats or Casperson

CC close letters to share that cotton days will come in under budget even with the added activities that we have like the hot air balloon the musical which our very own Jordan Hess will be in. So you guys got to go see him perform and sing and dance. And then um we'll also have um hot air balloon rides and a drone show and Mayor Sale recorded a radio ad that will run for the next three weeks. Member, are you aware of um Mr. Hess will be using a British accent in that performance? Like to show us, please

with a Portuguese German twist.

It's gonna be they've we they've done a really good job. I'm looking forward to it. The cotton days, it's gonna be awesome. Thank you. Uh you've heard me already. This is the driest year on record. Um thankfully our reservoirs are 90% plus full. Um but if we have another few years like this, um even the ultraefficient water standards and some of the sacrifices that we're making won't won't seem like much. So hopefully we keep uh we hopefully we'll have a maybe some more rain a little bit. It already feels like summer, having an early spring, but hopefully we'll get some more water and we'll keep keep working with with policy and processes that we that we do. And then also just kind of more on a personal note, um Larry, it's wonderful to see you here tonight. We've been you've been sitting there for so many meetings for so many years since 2018. And every single one of those meetings, Dick was right there next to you. And we just we love you. We love him. We miss him. um I'm not ready to replace him on the power board just yet, but just know that we miss him and we love you and we care about you and we and we appreciate the invitations to his celebration of life. We'll be there to support you. Next item, uh city manager report.

Mayor, I don't have anything to report. I'm gonna try to talk after that. Hey, mayor, can I mention one thing? Um, I know it's out of term, but I gotta say at Wills Park, I have had so many compliments about the grand opening of the Wills Park. How much fun. Can't keep my kid away now. So, I'm constantly over there. I can't keep Jordan away. And he calls me to go with him. Yeah, we saw some of those pictures.

So, I I'm just saying like I never anticip I knew it'd be busy. I never anticipated that. And I gotta say, I'm just Barry and your crew. I appreciate it. I think it's awesome. I never thought I'd love it as much as I did. And but I got so many compliments just the turnout we received from the grand opening. And and Councilman Ivy, your role was just awesome. And I just I just it just it has blown me away. Everyone's like, "We have never like I invited people from St. George that I work with that are in their parks and they're like, "We've never had a grand opening to this scale." that many people show up to a place and they've opened skatep parks but nobody has come to that. So whatever everyone did that I wasn't involved in besides approving the budget. Good job to all of you because it's amazing and I know we going to have some growing pains because it's never anticipated to be that busy and I know Jeremy and the staff will figure it out but holy cow it's a cool park. And I love that kids are outside getting their exercise, you know, being in the sunshine, getting on whatever screens that they like to engage in.

Phones and having a good time, taking some healthy risks. I think to all the kids out there, they need to wear their protective gear and all the parents out there, they need to dump a little extra money in their HSA accounts. Yeah, it uh is better than we could have ever imagined. Congratul Congratulations and thank you to everyone that made it happen, including you know uh everyone on the council. I think Councilman Ivy would would share that

share that with his peers here. But uh I told Barry that this was his uh what did I call it? Barry, your

your capstone project. You're finally finishing that uh doctorate degree in parks and wreck and this was your your thesis or capstone project. And I mean, it's just it's it's just remarkable. Um TW, you know, I would say 24 hours a day, but dawn till 1000 p.m. is just and just what I like, and I'm so glad you remembered to bring this up, but what I like is just you see families there. They're outside and they're smiling and that splash pad and this ginormous play area and then all of the elements. I mean, it's just people are loving it. Good job. Last item is close session. It's item 11B and it will be uh pending or potential litigation. Do do you need a motion?

Motion on that and a roll call vote. Can we go into close session? How's that? Second motion by Councilman Bellison. Second by Councilman Coats. Roll call. Councilman Caspersonson. Hi. Belliston. Hi. Henderson Coats. Hi. Ivy. And it's approved unanimously.