council report
by Kathy Bence
A quick, overall observation from this meeting: if you’re a city, there are grants for everything! Grants were mentioned in almost every item covered. As residents, we’re happy to not pay (although we’re no doubt paying somewhere else), but cities like ours are certainly beholden to higher government powers.
Department Reports
During this part of the meeting, they talked about completed projects, projects in the works, and future projects.
The state requires that the city determine where there are lead service lines and where there are copper service lines in the city. Sunrise Engineering is doing the inventory through a grant. The results will be posted on a map on the city’s website.
The state is also requiring backflow prevention devices on homes. Older homes that use culinary water for irrigation will need to install these devices if they don’t have them.
Related to this, Michelle Peot shared information about cross-connections preventing backflows that might be helpful. Springdale published material explaining that the “Plumbing Code and the Utah Public Drinking Water Rules require that all cross connections be eliminated or protected against backflow by installing an approved backflow device or assembly that will ensure that no impurities or contaminants are introduced to the public drinking water supply.” The state may also mandate annual testing for backflow prevention assemblies (BPAs), which are less common.
The Westfield Park is being updated, including pickleball courts being resurfaced and painted.
The cemetery has a new walkway and is getting a stem wall that will hold flag poles. The wall will display all the branches of the military.
City manager Afton Moore talked about the River Walk Trail.
The city’s Capital Facilities Plan shows a network of trails that are not necessarily in place yet, but they are anticipated. This helps developers to know what is planned.
Afton sits on the Dixie Transportation Advisory Committee which is aware of grants. The city is currently in the research phase which includes looking for funding. Eventually, this trail will be completed and connected to other trails.
Public Hearing and discussion on creating a New PID
There was a public hearing on a resolution to create the Boulder Ridge Public Infrastructure District (PID). This is the same PID that was covered in this council meeting report. In the simplest terms, a PID is a way to finance the necessary infrastructure for development. There were no comments in this hearing.
Later in the meeting, Matthew Ence answered questions related to this topic. He is the attorney who represents the majority of the PIDS in Washington County and is representing the Boulder Ridge PID.
Based on my limited understanding of PIDS, questions that would concern residents, or at least this resident, are: who pays for PIDS? Who picks up the bill if the developer falls through? And if the developer falls through, who pays to put everything back the way it was?
From the discussion and the Resolution on PIDs they’re considering, it appears these concerns are being addressed. If PIDS are paid for through property taxes, it’s by the property owners within the PID. The resolution says there are currently six PIDS in Toquerville and the city will generally discourage more.
The council tabled a decision on whether to take action on this resolution.
Planned Comercial Zone parameters: Tattoos and Taverns
The council discussed and passed the Planned Commercial Zone ordinance. This amends and restates the code related to this zone.
The Planning Commission had removed liquor stores, tattoo parlors, and taverns from the allowed-use table. Liquor stores are run by the state of Utah, so it was decided not to add them back.
In a surprise move, tattoo parlors and taverns were added back by the council as allowable under Planned Commercial in Toquerville. It was pointed out by Todd Sands that if the city wants to attract younger residents, many of whom have tattoos, then perhaps tattoo parlors should be allowed. They agreed that the definition of a tavern needs to be clarified and will likely be a restaurant that has a liquor license.
As I look at the list of what is allowed under this zoning, none of it looks like things most residents are anxious to bring to Toquerville.
General Plan Applicability
There was involved discussion about how to apply the General Plan to zone changes. The Washington City General Plan was used as a template during this discussion. The council discussed whether Toquerville should have maps like the Washington City maps that show zone changes and, if so, how the maps would be funded. The council decided that a pending ordinance about applying the General Plan would be drafted.