Council Report

By Brian McNary

There were a few interesting items that came up during this council meeting.

Staff reports

Staff gave an update on the projects they were doing. City Manager Afton Moore, talked a bit about grants and then later she spoke about the temporary hiring of a code enforcement officer until a permanent code enforcement officer could be hired.

I found that somewhat odd since we have been operating without code enforcement for so long. Perhaps there are issues that need to be addressed with some sense of urgency and hiring someone could not wait any longer. At any rate, we should have code enforcement very soon.

City attorney Heath Snow spoke about our general plan which is generalized by area. He compared Toquerville’s plan to the Washington city plan which identifies every single parcel of land within the city and what could be built there. A plan with that level of specificity would eliminate guesswork and reduce the need for zoning changes.

Mayor and Council Salary Increases

I found this item very interesting. Council and the Mayor have run unopposed during this election cycle. With no challengers for seats, the City Council decided not to even bother with an election this fall and mentioned something about savings when they voted to cancel the city election (I suppose) for lack of interest. They did this during the last meeting in September.

With the deadline for filing long gone, the council then ushered in salary increases on this agenda. There would be a 500 dollar increase per month for the Mayor to 1000.00. Council members would receive an additional 100 dollars to 300 dollars per month. The planning commission chair will receive 200 a month while commission members will receive 100 per month.

The City Manager stated that these increases were authorized back in June. I do not recall that happening but in all fairness- it may have. Had potential challengers been aware of those pending increases, it may very well have incentivized them enough to run.

With the item open for discussion, nobody spoke for or against the increases. The measure passed.

Parcel lockers

Council approved up to 5000 dollars for the placement of additional parcel lockers for online retailers. The lockers were donated but the city will have to pour the concrete pads. They will be placed in various locations and provide secure safekeeping. I thought about loss prevention (porch pirates) as I mulled over the reasons for corporate America donating parcel lockers.

Various fee modifications and a nightly rental permit which passed rounded out the agenda until the big item, Bob Lichfield’s proposed zone change for the RV resort.

Zone change for the RV resort Denied

Jake Peart once again presented on behalf of Mr. Lichfield which included a letter Lichfield had written to the council which spoke of all the tax revenue and other benefits the city might receive from the RV resort. He also mentioned property rights.

His property is zoned R-1-20 and he was asking for Planned Commercial zoning, a request that was detailed in this Sentinel post.

Councilman Chaves spoke to the effect that the RV resort had garnered widespread attention and yet not one citizen beyond Peart himself had spoken up on behalf of the zone change. Everyone it seemed, did not want it.

Council made a motion, voted, and the application was denied by a 3 to 1 vote. Councilman Ty Bringhurst was absent. Councilman Chuck Williams voted in favor of the zone change to Planned Commercial. Councilmen Gary Chaves, Joey Cambell, and Todd Sands voted against it.

Calendar Items

Trunk or treat is scheduled for October 28, from 6 to 8 PM in the LDS church parking lot. The Toquerville Turkey Trot Trails Run will be November 23. Wreaths across America will be Saturday, December 16, at 10:00 A.M at the Toquerville Cemetery.

Council adjourned for two items on the closed session.