CROSSROADS THE
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Connecting Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs
JOURNAL
Business is booming New restaurants coming to SS By Jennifer Klingonsmith Staff Writer
In the coming months, almost every type of palate will find a local restaurant to satisfy its cravings. By this fall, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain residents will have a much shorter drive to such popular eateries as Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Panda Express. Also in the works, are Popeye’s and Café Rio. The Taco Bell and Wendy’s restaurants will be built next to each other on the southwest corner of Redwood Road and Crossroads
Boulevard (SR 73). Travel north on Redwood Road 1/8 of a mile, and Panda Express will sit conveniently between Top Stop and O’Reilley’s Auto Parts. Another development coming soon to Saratoga Springs is a mixed commercial project called Times Square. It will sit just south of Arctic Circle on 3.5 acres of land. Times Square’s architect, Ken Harris, listed Popeye’s restaurant, Café Rio, a hardware store and additional retail space on the plan. Mayor Mia Love stated that commercial growth and development has been a top priority since
she has been in office. “We want to make sure we’re sustainable. My end goal has always been to make Saratoga Springs financially stable.” She further explained that economic development is what pays for everything above and beyond public safety and utility costs. City projects can then be paid for by sales tax revenue and not put on the backs of taxpayers, she concluded. City Manager Mark Christensen also noted that robust commercial growth in Saratoga Springs adds more jobs and opportunities for its residents.
Local runner’s experience at the Boston Marathon By Emily Fotheringham Staff Writer
As the world watched the unfolding of the Boston Marathon bombings on television, one Eagle Mountain resident was right in the midst of things having just finished running the race 15 minutes before the first bomb exploded. Becky Anderson, a marathon runner who also helps to organize track meets in our area, states, “I had finished the race with my brother and sister-in-law 15 minutes before the first bomb went off. We had left the finish line but we were just a block and a half away. We were close enough that we heard it and felt it; fortunately for us, we did not see it. My family, including three of my children, had been on Boylston Street just minutes before the explosions. “After we finished the race, I called to find out where they were, so that we could meet up. The original plan was that my sister-in-law, my brother and I
would go see the rest of the family on Boylston. But, at the last minute, my family decided to come to us. This decision pulled them away from where the tragedy occurred.” According to Anderson, there was a lot of confusion after the explosions, with some people even assuming that it was a transformer that had blown. She did however, feel a dramatic change in the mood of the area with people feeling an “urgency” to find their loved ones. She mentioned that at the end of most races, there is a feeling of energy and excitement, but that these feelings quickly turned to confusion and fear. Even so, Anderson said there was a very strong sense of unity and although there were obvious feelings of disbelief and sadness, there was never one of defeat. Anderson stated, “Despite the tragedy that occurred at the marathon, there are hundreds of stories connected to the Boston Marathon of triumph, of overcoming trials, of joy; stories that inspire us to be better, to be
stronger and to not give up. “I saw physically challenged and even some blind runners on the course. I met runners who had lost loved ones. I met a 67 year old man who was fulfilling a lifelong dream by running his first Boston Marathon. I saw charity runners who had raised thousands of dollars for a cause that was close to their heart; I ran alongside teachers, firefighters, soldiers, moms and dads, all who have been inspired and who inspire others. “I saw runners who were 70 years old or older on the course, including Dick Hoyt, a 73 year old man who was pushing his 51 year old son, Rick, in a special running stroller. This father and son have been competing in races together for 36 years! Every marathoner has a story of what inspired them to run, and we will continue to run and we will continue to be inspired.” Anderson is running in another marathon this June, and is already planning on running again in the Boston Marathon next year.
1st and 3rd Thursdays
Track and Field for the community By Emily Fotheringham Staff Writer
The Hershey Track and Field Games have been taking place for the last 35 years, and now for the first time, a meet is being held in our area, as part of Eagle Mountain's Pony Express Days. On the official website hersheystrackandfield.com it states, “You don't need to be a star athlete to participate in track & field. You just need to have fun. And you’ll start having fun from day one. Check this out, the fun part isn’t winning (of course, that’s pretty fun too), but it’s running and jumping and throwing. It’s meeting lots of kids just like you. It’s not a video game, it’s a real game. It’s not watching others on a TV show, it’s being the star of your own show. In one word, it’s awesome.” According to the website, all participants need to do in order to qualify for the meet, is to be between the ages of 9 and 14 as of December 31. The local Hershey track meet will take place on Friday, May 17 at Westlake High School. Check-in will begin at 4:45 until 5:15 with events beginning at 5:30. All youth that want to participate will need to register ahead of time at https://www.hersheystracka ndfield.com/track-meet-central/find-a-track-meet.aspx. There will be no same-day registration. Becky Anderson, the woman running the event, stated, “Hershey Track & Field has been going for over 35 years. This is the first time a Hershey Track Meet has been held in our area. Many collegiate, professional and even Olympic athletes started with Her-
shey Track & Field. The Hershey Track Meet is a free event that provides an opportunity for kids to experience track and field in a fun, organized way. Participants can advance to district, regional and an allexpense paid trip to Hershey PA for nationals on August 3. Hershey Track & Field also offers scholarship opportunities.” Another special track meet is also in the works thanks to Zach Bradshaw and Eagle Mountain City, as well as the city’s Exceptional Kids Club. Zach wanted to organize a track meet for people with disabilities as part of his Eagle Scout project. This event will occur on Wednesday, May 22, at Westlake High School. Anyone who wants to participate, needs to register online at http://runnercard.com/e/run ner.Main?meet=4679 by Monday May 20. About this meet, Becky Anderson stated, “Anyone with special needs and their families are encouraged to participate. There is no age limit and the event is free to all participants.” Anderson continued, “This will be a track meet with traditional and modified track & field events. For example, there will be wheelchair races, buddy runs, relays and even a piggyback race. We really want to get the word out about this event, as it is going to be a wonderful event for many members of our community.” Anderson wanted to let everyone know that even if you don't know someone who is participating, to please come and cheer these special athletes on. For more information about this meet, please contact Bradshaw or his father, Jim, at jim@jimbri.com.
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The Crossroads Journal
School Calendar Eagle Valley Elementary Harvest Hills Elementary May 3- PTA Walk-Athon Hidden Hollow May 3 - 3rd Grade field trip to Jack and Jill's Bowling 9:3011:15 a.m. May 7 - 3rd Grade field trip to Living Planet Aquarium/Texas Roadhouse 9:15-2 p.m. May 8 – PTA mtg. 10-11 am. May 10- 1st Grade field trip May 14 – S.T.A.R.S parent meeting 4-5:00 pm., A.L.L parent meeting 5-6:00 pm. May 17 - 4th Grade program (amK, 5th, 6th) 0:30-10:30 a.m.., 4th Grade program (pmK, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) 1-2:00 p.m., 4th Grade Program (parents) 6-7 pm Horizon Elementary Lakeview Academy May 3-4 - Spring Musical: Wizard of Oz May 6 - 9th Grade etiquette dinner, Kindergarten field trip to Thanksgiving Point 11:30 am May 7 - Middle school talent show try-outs 3-4pm, Soccer: LVA @ Lincoln 4-5pm, Love and Logic Training 6:30-8:30 pm. May 9 - 3rd Grade field trip: This is the Place 8:30-2 p.m., 6th grade and middle school talent show try-outs 3-4 p.m., Soccer @ Maeser 4:30-5:30 p.m., Board Meeting 7-9 p.m. May 10 - 5th grade State Fair 10:30-11:30 a.m. May 11 - Spring 5k 8-12:30 p.m. May 13 – Fire crew assembly 2:10-2:45 May 14 – Final Arts Night 6-8 May 15- A.M. Kindergarten Play 10-11 a.m., P.M. Kindergarten Play 1:55-2:55 May 16 - 2nd Grade Opera 8-10 a.m. May 17- 4th Grade Musical 1010:45 a.m, 5th Grade Pet Day 10:30-11 a.m., Talent Show rehearsal 12:45-2:45 p.m. Mountain Trails Elementary May 6 – School-wide Event Talent Show May 10- “CAR”nival Pony Express Elementary May 7 – PTA Board meeting and Thank You Luncheon May 10 – PTA Trading Post Ranches Academy May 14-16 – Book Fair (Buy one get one free) May 18 – Pancake breakfast and auction fundraiser Riverview Elementary May 6-10 – Children's Book Week May 6 – Movie of the month 9:30-10:30 May 7 - 4th Grade County Team, 3rd and 4th Jump Team (also May 14th) 3:40-4:10 p.m., 4th Grade program 6:30-7:15 p.m. May 8 &15th - 5th and 6th Jump Team 3:40-4:10 p.m. May 13 – Ollie Otter Assembly 9:30 a.m. Sage Hills May 8 – SCC Mtg. 4 p.m. Saratoga Shores Elementary
May 6-10 – Teacher Appreciation Week May 7 – School Community Council Mtg. 4-5 p.m. May 10 – School Musical Per-
formance 6:30-7:30 May 13 – Ms. Durfee's Class Play 6:30-7:30 Thunder Ridge Elementary May 10 – Home Reader ends, Spring Parent Choir Concert 7:00 p.m. May 15 – Seussical Jr. Assembly 9:30-10:30 a.m. May 16 - 4th Handcart Trek 88:30 a.m. May 17-20 -Seussical Jr. Shows 6:30 p.m. Vista Heights Middle May 9 &10 – Dance Concert 7-8 May 14 – Orchestra Convert 7 p.m. @ Westlake May 16 – Band Concert 6:30 Rockwell Charter School May 3 – Herriman Twilight track meet 3 p.m. May 6-10 – Teacher Appreciation Week May 6 – Region Golf Tournament @ Stansbury Golf Course 9-2:00 p.m. May 16- Jr. High Etiquette Dinner 5:00 p.m. May 18- Utah State Track and Field Championships, Jr. High Saturday Hike 1:00 p.m. Westlake High School May 3 – Boy's basketball vs. Skyline 3:30-6:30 p.m., Baseball vs. Hillcrest, Dance Company Concert 7-9 p.m., MORP Movie Night 9:00 p.m. May 4 – Track @ BYU Invitational, State Band Festival, MORP 8:00 p.m. May 6 – AP Chemistry test 9:00 a.m., AP Psychology test 12:00 p.m., S & J/VBaseball vs Herriman May 7 – AP Spanish Language 8:00 a.m., Army @ Lunches 10:30 a.m., Top 20 Lunch 12:00 p.m., Boy's Soccer vs Olympus 3:30 p.m., V/Baseball vs. Herriman 3:30-5:30 p.m., FCCLA Closing Banquet 6:00-7:30 p.m. May 8-9 – Region Track Meet 3:00 p.m., AP Calculus AB & BC Tests 8:00 a.m., S/Softball 3:00 p.m., J/V & V/Baseball @ Herriman, AP English Lit 8:00 a.m., SCC/PTSA mtg. 5:00 p.m., Dance Team Usana Training 78:30 p.m. May 9-11 – Region Tennis @ Liberty Park May 10 – AP English Language 8:00 a.m., AP Studio Art Design 8:00 a.m., AP Statistics 12:00 p.m., Boy's soccer @ Herriman, Ballroom Concert 7:00 p.m. May 11 – State Choir, Ballroom Concert 7-9:00 p.m., May 13 – AP Biology & Music Theory 8:00 a.m., AP Mechanics & Physics c 12:00 p.m., Fine Arts Extravaganza 7:00 p.m. May 14 – Baseball 1at rounds, Girl's Golf 1st Rounds State Meet, Softball 1st Rounds @ Home Sites, AP US Govt. & Politics 8:00 a.m., Track State: Non-qualifiers @ WHS 3-6:00 p.m., Student Council Banquet 6:00 p.m., Orchestra Concert 7:00 p.m. May 15 – Sate Track @ BYU (14th & 15th) , Boy's soccer 1at round @ home sites, AP German Language and US History 8:00 a.m., Talent Show 7:00 May 16– MTD Showcase 7:00 May 17 – Boy's tennis tournament @ Liberty park, Track State Championships @ BYU, Keys to Success assembly 7:308:30, AP Human Geography 8:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Pony Express Days Schedule Course Shoot Friday, May 17 5:30 PM - Hershey Track 9:30 AM - ATV and Motorcycle Charity Rides Meet 10:00 AM - ATV and Motorcycle Charity Rides Wednesday, May 22 5:30 PM - Exceptional Kids 5:20 PM - Calf Cash Scramble Olympics 5:50 PM - Calf (prize) Scramble Thursday, May 23 All Day - Subdivision Soft- 6:30 PM - Mutton Bustin' Pony Express Days ball Tournament PRCA Rodeo Friday, May 24 All Day - Subdivision Soft- Monday, May 27 5:20 PM - Calf Cash Scramball Tournament 9:00 AM - Scavenger Hunt ble 5:20 PM - Calf Cash Scram- 5:50 PM - Calf (prize) Scramble ble 5:50 PM - Calf (prize) 6:30 PM - Mutton Bustin' Pony Express Days Scramble PRCA Rodeo 6:30 PM - Mutton Bustin' Pony Express Days PRCA Rodeo Tuesday, May 28 4:00 PM - Family Fun Night 6:00 PM - Sporting Shoot Saturday, May 25 All Day - 3-on-3 Basketball Game Night 7:00 PM - Zumbathon Tournament Skate Tournament Subdivision Softball Wednesday, May 29 1:30 PM - Pony Express Tournament 7:30 AM - Family Bike Ride Days at The Ranches Golf 8:00 AM - Pancake Break- Club fast & Community Yard 3:00 PM - Pony Express Days at The Ranches Golf Sale Pony Express Century Club 4:00 PM - Carnival Ride Carnival Vendor Booths 9:00 AM - Clay Target
Eagle Mountain's Got Talent Geocache Treasure Hunt Thursday, May 30 All Day - Movie in the Park 4:00 PM - Carnival Carnival Vendor Booths Geocache Treasure Hunt Friday, May 31 All Day - Wife Carry 8:00 AM - Pony Express Days Charity Golf Tournament 8:30 AM - Baby Contest and Boutique 4:00 PM - Carnival Carnival Vendor Booths Geocache Treasure Hunt 6:00 PM - Demolition Derby Saturday, June 1 7:00 AM - 5K and Family Fun 1K 9:00 AM - Dutch Oven Cook-Off 10:00 AM - Grand Parade 1:00 PM - Talent Showcase 4:00 PM - Carnival Carnival Vendor Booths 7:00 PM - Chris Cagle Concert and Fireworks Show
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Thursday, May 2, 2013
The Crossroads Journal
EM City Council Notes By Danielle Palmer Staff Writer
On April 16, 2013, City Council Meeting began at 7 pm. Announcements: “A Heart for Baby Austin” Fundraiser, a community yard sale, will be held in conjunction with Pony Express Days pancake breakfast at City Hall on Saturday, May 25, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The breakfast ends at 11 a.m., but the yard sale will continue into the afternoon. More information on city events can be found online. Public Comments: Luke Pannell asked about pothole repairs needed on Ranches Parkway. He also mentioned signs recently posted along SR73 where drivers would enter Eagle Mountain city again after passing Ceder Fort. He also added that improvements were needed along Adams Street. Mayor Heather Jackson said that Ranches Parkway was on the agenda tonight, and that the most significant potholes along Ranches parkway would be repaired soon, as well as fixing the issues along Adams Street. They will follow-up on this and she asked him to let her know if the process seems to be too slow. Sandy White came forward to ask about the purposes in the utility rate changes. She had suggestions about the city’s water usage rights. She wanted all residents to have the same rates for their water, no matter the size of their lots. Residents with larger lots should consider a higher cost for water usage when purchasing the lot. She stated that having consistent rates for everyone would encourage
water conservation. The mayor said they would be addressing water rates in a future City Council meeting, probably the second meeting in May. Council Member Comments: Councilmember Steinkopf thanked those who were participating in the meeting and encouraged everyone’s “work and effort in making the sun shine!” Councilmember Painter apologized for his absences from past City Council meetings. He encouraged everyone to stay involved with the budget process this year. He also stated his embarrassment with the way people have been handling the Spring Cleanup Dumpsters. When the dumpsters are full, please wait patiently until they have been emptied instead of piling up the trash around the dumpsters. It provides extra burdens to our own city when we cannot wait for the appropriate time to dump. Remember, it will be posted online when the dumpsters are empty or full to assist residents in their plans. Councilmember Ochsenhirt said it was nice to see people involved with positive vibes. He encourages more resident communication of needs and wants. Please send emails to your council members. Councilmember Ireland thanked the scout for leading them in the pledge. Councilmember Burnham reiterated what others said about the budget plan and that we need input now rather than alter from the residents. They would like to know your opinions before decisions on the budget have been made. Mayor Jackson reviewed the
timeline for the budget process. There will be a public hearing on the budget and an entire month allotted time for any feedback from the public before the final budget meeting, which is scheduled for the 18th of June. She also mentioned attending the Utah Cities and Towns League where some good information was received in communicating with other town officials. Proclamation: The mayor proposed a proclamation for the National Municipal Clerks Week to be May 5 through 11, 2013 to recognize the accomplishments of the city’s municipal clerks, and extend appreciation to their efforts. Councilmember Steinkopf moved to approve the proclamation and it was seconded and passed unanimously. The City Recorder, Fionnuala Kofoed, came forward to address the council and present bouquets and gifts to her fellow recorders, Melanie Lahman and Johna Rose. Consent Agenda: The mayor removed the item #14b from the consent agenda, which included the Porter’s Crossing Town Center, Ridley’s Market/Ace Hardware item. It’s still in negotiation of final terms and will be included in the consent agenda of a future meeting as soon as possible. Councilmember Ochsenhirt moved to approve the consent agenda and Councilmember Steinkopf seconded the motion which passed unanimously, Councilmember Painter abstaining from the vote. Ordinance and Public Hearing for amending the fiscal year 20122013 budget.
Ifo Pili reviewed the proposed adjustments of costs, including costs of about $11,700 for a new city website design to make it more functional (an increase of over $7000 to general fund), about $14,000 for a compensation survey by a third party to compare city wages to other cities (an increase of about $5,000 to general fund), and a $274,000 increase for road repairs to Ranches Parkway. The compensation survey could take up to four months to complete and so given the time constraints, it was suggested this was in need to be completed as soon as possible. The road repairs are also a big priority for action to be taken as soon as possible. The mayor opened up the subject for public comments for the public hearing and Sandy White came forward with a question. She asked about the compensation survey and wondered if the estimated costs were adjustable or if a company to complete the survey had already been chosen. Ifo Pili said the number was from a particular company recommended by a trusted source. Luke Pannell also came forward to ask about the website design. He asked if the cost would be a one-time fee or if there would be a yearly cost to the maintenance of the site. Pili stated that this particular number is a one-time cost, however there will be a lesser cost for yearly maintenance which would be somewhere around $15,000 annually. The public hearing was closed. Councilmember Ireland wondered if they could make separate motions on the items in the ordinance. It was decided there could be and he moved to approve the road maintenance for Ranches Parkway. It was seconded by Councilmember Burnham and passed by
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4-1 vote, Councilmember Ochsenhirt no. Councilmember Ochsenhirt moved to approve the web design item, and his motion was seconded. He stated that since there are time constraints they should move forward with the items. Councilmember Ireland stated that he was in favor of this to be done last year but it failed to make the cut into the budget. Now there are other priorities in the budget that need to be attended to and he encouraged this item to be included in the 2014 fiscal year budget process. Councilmember Burnham expressed concerns about where the funds were being taken to pay for the web design. She didn’t think it was appropriate for over half of the money to be from utility funds, and suggested having it all come from the general fund because the changes being made are not only to improve the online payments of utilities, but for other things. Councilmember Ochsenhirt agreed, but stated that at least a portion would be appropriate because so much traffic on the site is from utilities. However, he thought it would be appropriate to lower the percentage. He added that he had hoped for extra funds to cover this cost. He used a personal example of needing extra funds for a tire replacement cost and when he received the money he was able to use it toward that cost, and compared that experience with this city cost. He thought now is the right time to do this. Councilmember Burnham asked how quickly they could get a contract once this was approved and the mayor stated it could be by their next council meeting. Linda Peterson came forward to talk about the needs in the website Please see EMCC NOTES on page 6
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The Crossroads Journal
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The Crossroads Journal
SS City Council Notes By Jennifer Klingonsmith Staff Writer
April 16, 2013 The City Council meeting began at 6:15 pm. Those present included Jim Miller, Shellie Baertsch, Rebecca Call, Michael McOmber, Bud Poduska, Mayor Mia Love, and city staff. Public Comment Harvest Hills resident Julie King stated that a second crossing guard was needed for Riverview Elementary students crossing Aspen Hills Boulevard. She thanked the city for installing the nearby irrigation canal crossing but said that students were now crossing Aspen Hills Boulevard at that location. Hawks Landing resident Ryan Poduska thanked the City Council for effective code enforcement officers. He noted that they had been working with residents to be compliant with landscaping requirements. He also asked about a pending nearby master development agreement. Poduska noted that Hawk’s Landing Neighborhood Four was slated for housing densities as high as R-14, he asked that the density be capped at R-10. His last request was that a nearby planned regional park be put on next year’s budget for completion. Mayor Love thanked residents for their participation in the meetings. She said how much it helped guide the city’s priorities and direction. Love also responded publicly to a letter recently circulated amongst some residents. The letter (written by a Harvest Hills resident) implied that citizens should be concerned about the pensions and benefits City Council members receive. Mayor Love clarified that Saratoga Springs elected officials do not receive benefits or pensions of any kind. The only compensation they receive is a modest stipend. She also noted that council members use their own cars and cell phones to carry out their duties. The Civic Events Committee then presented the 2013 Saratoga Springs Royalty. They included Queen Nicole Carter, First Attendant Annalece Weber, and Second Attendant Taylor Cornwell. The City Council congratulated the young women. City Manager Mark Christensen also introduced Owen Jackson, the city’s new public relations and economic development director. Fire Chief Jess Campbell announced that he will be teaming up with the local Kiwanis club and starting a baseball league. He said that the league would be for children ages 5 to 18 and would include baseball and fast-pitch softball. He was working on fundraising to build a baseball/softball complex. Policy Items Consent Calendar The consent calendar was unanimously approved. Resolution R13-8 (4-16-13): A resolution appointing a member to the Library Advisory Board and establishing an effective date. Matt Barney was unanimously approved as the newest member of the Library Advisory Board. Approval of Law Enforcement Services Agreement between City of Saratoga Springs and Bluffdale. City staff reported that this was a three-year agreement. Christensen noted that there were no major changes and that Bluffdale City was happy with the services being provided. The agreement was unanimously approved.
Public Hearing: Proposed Budget Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and establishing an effective date. City staff reported that the current budget surplus stood at an estimated $208,000. Much of the excess revenue came from engineering inspections and building permits. As the budget was being discussed, Councilwoman Rebecca Call raised the issue of spending $7,000 on a fireworks show. She didn’t see the fireworks as an absolute necessity. Councilman Michael McOmber disagreed. He stated that almost every city in the surrounding area held a fireworks celebration. He felt it was part of the role of municipalities. Mayor Love noted that property tax revenue had increased. She said that this was not because rates had been raised but because the city was growing. The proposed budget amendment was passed four to one, with an amendment to remove the $7,000 fireworks show. McOmber opposed the change. Public hearing: Rezone and General Plan Amendment for Times Square at Saratoga Springs located at approximately 1186 North Redwood Road, Dan Carey, applicant. City staff reported that the applicant was requesting the zoning be changed from mixed-use and agricultural to regional commercial. He noted the development would sit on 3.5 acres and contain two restaurants (Café Rio and Popeye’s), some retail space, and a home improvement store. The plan provided for extra parking, although additional pedestrian access was encouraged. McOmber appreciated the hidden parking lot and the layout of the development. Miller liked the fact that the entire development would be built at once. Councilwoman Shellie Baertsch asked for more direct access to Redwood Road, she thought residents who lived behind the stores needed a direct route. Staff replied that UDOT would not likely grant such an access. Baertsch also asked for additional landscaping to buffer a delivery area from nearby townhome residents. The rezone was tabled until a master development agreement could be signed. Public Hearing: Revisions to the Land Development Code (Section 1:9.04.240, Public School Bus Lot Zone). City staff reported that the City Council would be adding an additional land use in the city code. Alpine School District was proposing a bus storage yard near West Lake High School. The lot would store 120 school buses. McOmber wanted the public to know that the proposed land use zone would only allow for bus storage for the school district. It would not open up the opportunity, for example, for UTA to store buses within the city. He also noted that the city had worked with Alpine School District (ASD) extensively to find the right location and to make the lot as attractive as possible. He also noted that the bus lot would allow for overflow parking for high school events. The bus lot would also have a natural gas station available for residents to fill their natural gas vehicles. Baertsch was concerned about the phasing outlined in the plan. She did not want ASD to wait a year before bus shelters were built. Call echoed Baertsch’s concerns and
thought it reasonable that all the improvements be done within a year’s time. The revisions were tabled until phasing requirements were addressed. Public Hearing: Regarding the issuance and sale of not more than $6.5 million aggregate principal amount of water revenue bonds, series 2013, and to allow public input regarding the potential economic impact that the improvement to be financed with the proceeds of the series 2013 bonds will have on the private sector. City Manager Mark Christensen explained that this bond was a refinance of existing bonds at a lower rate as well as money for water improvements including booster stations, construction of a new pond in Harvest Hills, and secondary water meters for the entire city. Christensen continued saying approximately $4.5 million was being refinanced and the remaining $2 million was for new projects. Mayor Love stated that the refinance made sense but that she did not like bonding for additional projects. It was her opinion that “bonds” were the “b” word in government. She was proud of the low debt level of Saratoga Springs. Miller agreed with the refinance and thought the projects listed seemed detrimental to the city. Poduska asked how the bond would be paid for. Christensen replied that payments would be made through existing water utility funds. McOmber was nervous about the new debt. He thought the north pond
was a necessary improvement but wanted water meters to be phased in over time. He wanted to try to pay the bond down early. Christensen noted that if the city installed meters over time, some people would be charged for the secondary water used while others would be charged a blanket rate according to lot size. He didn’t think that would be fair. He really hoped to install the meters sooner than later so that residents could see how much secondary water they were actually using. He thought the water meters would go a long way in reducing the amount of secondary water used. Call asked if the city was really saving money on the refinance once fees were accounted for. She also urged Christensen to charge residents for the secondary water used. If the city is undercharging, Call said, we should correct that. We don’t need meters to tell us we’re using more water than we’re paying for, Call concluded. Baertsch noted the importance of the proposed water line from Harvest Hills to Redwood Road. She said that if the water issue was not remedied, it would force a commercial development moratorium because of a lack of water in the area. Mayor Love urged the City Council to use her familiar mantra when deciding on issues such as bonds: “Is it affordable, is it sustainable, and is it our job?” No vote was taken on the bond. Preliminary and Final Plat and Development Agreement for Talons Cove Townhomes located at 45 East Fairway Boulevard, Tig Brown, applicant. City staff reported that the development included townhomes and stacked condos. Much of the infra-
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structure for the project had been installed in 2007. Amenities would include a splash pad, picnic areas, a playground, and walking paths. The project was unanimously approved. Resolution R13-13-10 (4-1613): Approving addendum to resolution of the City of Saratoga Springs creating street lighting special improvement district to include additional subdivision lots (Talons Cove Townhomes). The lighting district was unanimously approved. The Villages at Saratoga Springs Master Development Plan and Agreement located on the west side of Redwood Road from 2800 South to 3600 South, Mike Stewart, applicant. City staff reported that this large development contained 829 acres of residential development and 20 acres of commercial. In the end, the development would contain some 2500 residential units. The site would contain 30 percent open space and 75 percent of the commercial would be zoned neighborhood commercial. Baertsch suggested the developer consider adding a clubhouse to the amenities to serve such a large HOA. Christensen responded that HOA’s could manage themselves in a way they see fit. We should be cautious about imposing requirements, he surmised. Call expressed concern about the density jump in the southeastern corner of the development. She stated that it jumped from R-3 to R-12. Poduska asked if a large existing mound of dirt could possibly carved into an amphitheater. He thought it would be a useful addition to the city. No vote was taken on this issue. The meeting then entered into closed session.
The
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The Crossroads Journal
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Green Thumb by Jennifer Klingonsmith
Three ways to kill plants and trees In the Saratoga Springs/Eagle Mountain area, plants must adapt to our drying winds and poor soil. These are things we cannot change, but too often we unknowingly give plants additional hurdles to overcome. The three most common ways we kill our plants or trees, are planting the wrong kind of material, overwatering and placing plants in the wrong location. The most common mistake local residents make, is buying plants and trees not adaptable to our natural environment. Not all plants that thrive in more protected and established areas like Provo and Orem will grow out here. There are two reasons for this: first, soil in established cities has been cultivated and gardened in, for decades. Second, mature trees and an abundance of buildings provide a buffer against winds and extremes in temperature. Big box stores often sell plants ill-suited for our area. Some of the plants to avoid include azaleas, rhododendrons, pieris and most maple trees. These shrubs and trees prefer
EMCC NOTES Continued from page 3
design. Many of the issues are because the back end of the site isn’t keeping up with the technology and the maintenance would be needed yearly to ensure the site keeps up with technology to make and keep it user friendly. She stated that you get what you pay for. Councilmember Ochsenhirt amended his motion to include a reduction of the utilities contribution to the web design cost to 25% of the cost. Councilmember Painter seconded and vote was taken. The motion carried 4-1, Councilmember Ireland no. Councilmember Painter expressed curiosity about choosing to do nothing about the compensation survey and wondered why no one wanted to include it in the motions. Councilmember Ireland stated what he’s said earlier about making priorities for the budget. He asked if they should put it in with the upcoming fiscal year budget. Councilmember Steinkopf said he’d like to make a motion so something could be done about it. He moved to approve the compensation survey for the 2013 budget and Councilmember Burnham seconded. Councilmember Ireland asked if three quarters of all employees are of the enterprise, why isn’t three quarters of the study connected to it? Currently it is stated that roughly $9,000 is coming from the general fund with about $5,000 from the enterprise. He stated it seemed it ought to be
acidic soils, better drainage and/or less wind and more moderate temperatures. These are all very attractive plants but trying to coddle and baby them along will most likely result in disappointment and dead plants. A second leading cause of death is over-watering. When we plant new trees and shrubs, we want them to succeed. After a week or two, we often notice leaves turning brown around the edges; some even shrivel and fall off. This often sends people running for the garden hose. The shrub or tree is most likely suffering from transplant shock, a common adjustment period where they adjust from life in a pot to life in the ground. Watering every day will not help and will probably kill what you are trying to save. Instead, deeply water shrubs and trees two to three times a week, make sure the area around the plant is covered with rock or bark, and be patient. Within a month, you should see improvement. Lastly, we plant shrubs and
trees in the wrong places. Read tags carefully, noting the sun/shade requirements of the plant. If you plant a shade-loving plant in a mostly sunny location, it will not do well. If a shrub or tree has delicate foliage and you plant it where the wind whips around your house, it too, will probably not do well. North sides of houses are generally the shadiest, but get the most wind; east sides are nice part-shade locations, as they only get morning sun and south areas are often more protected from wind. These are just general guidelines, the topography around your house could make the micro-climate much different. Also note that the taller your house, the more pronounced the shade conditions will be. Jennifer Klingonsmith is a landscape consultant and coach in the Saratoga Springs/Eagle Mountain area. She specializes in landscape plans and teaching gardening success. Find more information on her blog: saratogablooms.blogspot.com.
reversed. The mayor asked Councilmember Steinkopf if they would like to amend the motion to include these changes and they did. Councilmember Burnham seconded the amended motion and the vote carried 4-1, Councilmember Ireland no. Resolution to approve the Clearview Estates Master Development Agreement. The plan was approved by the council in September 2012 and this agreement specifically itemizes all obligations of the city and developer, finalizing the zoning by resolution. Councilmember Painter clarified discussion around the park and Cook noted the amendment of a specified section needed to be improved. Councilmember Burnham moved to adopt as changed and Councilmember Ochsenhirt seconded. Vote passed unanimously. Resolution to amend the city consolidated fee schedule. The amendment would decrease the utility gas rate and increase the electric utility rate, removing fees for the fire department. The residential gas rate decrease will be effective immediately and residential electric rate will be effective in October 2012. All commercial rate changes would be immediately in effect. As presented, the decrease in gas rate is from 8 to 6.75 and from 16 to 9.47. The mayor stated the new budget is proposing a difference of about $1.2 million less. She stated they are listening. The net effect becomes a complete reduction to
utilities, as the gas decrease is greater than the electric increase. However, residents who only use electric will see an increase. Because the summer months’ use of electric utilities is greater, they chose to delay the implementation of the increase in electric until the end of the season. Councilmember Ochsenhirt stated he didn’t think these changes were going to make the public happy. However he sees it as their best option and stated that debts need to be paid. The mayor said that overall, the customer charge will be going down. Ifo Pili pointed out that the utilities are tied together. They were combined years ago, so when any adjustment is made it becomes more complex. Any change immediately affects the others. He stated that he may be biased but their analyst department could have done the utility rates study and saved the city money, however no one would have believed them. The gas and electric rates had to be combined, as the water and sewer rates have also been combined. Some residents may see an increase, but all you have to do is look at the net amounts and you can see it is a decrease overall unless you don’t use gas at all in your household. If they had gotten the rate study before January, they could have saved the residents a lot of money with this change. We are waiting to implement the changes in electric rates until November so by the time people get the higher electric usage next year they will be able to see the savings. This is a big
decrease. Councilmember Ireland asked why they have to have the electric rate change now and not wait until the fall to approve it. Why not wait until after the rider rate changes done in the fall? The mayor stated that they are trying to be as transparent as possible and so this is why they are talking about it now so people can see what is going on, especially since this is an election year. Councilmember Ireland stated that he appreciated the transparency but that the confusion seems to be centered around that item but it won’t be taking effect until later anyway. Mayor Jackson said that the big key is that the commercial rate changes are implemented immediately. She added that if she were just worried about being re-elected she wouldn’t have put it in the agenda at all, but she wanted to be transparent. Councilmember Ireland moved to approve the resolution, Councilmember Burnham 2nd, and it was voted in unanimously. Resolution to approve an interlocal agreement with Utah County. Utah County is construction a new communications tower north of the Lone Tree subdivision for the purpose of improving communications for the Unified Fire Authority and Utah Sheriff’s Office in the city center. The energy department will provide power to the site at a reduced cost and in exchange the county will allow the city to install several radios on the tower. The mayor stated the county had approved this already.
Councilmember Ireland moved to adopt the resolution and after it was seconded his motion carried by unanimous vote. Agreement between the city and Personnel Systems and Services for a salary survey The city’s personnel policies and procedures manual requires a salary survey to be completed every 3 years in order to ensure that salaries are in line with the market. The survey will address ay discrepancies between employees’ job functions and their official job description and provide an analysis to assess where each employee’s pay rate is in relation to the market. Councilmember Ochsenhirt motioned to approve and Councilmember Steinkopf seconded it. The motion passed 4-1, Councilmember Ireland no. Bid Award to Staker Parson Companies for the Ranches Parkway Rotomill and Overlay Project The FY 2013 budget includes funds for a microsurface treatment on the northbound lanes of Ranches Parkway. The road surface has deteriorated to the point that a more intense restoration, such as a rotomill and overlay, is recommended. Councilmember Burnham moved to approve and Councilmember Ochsenhirt seconded it. Vote passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm. Video and audio recordings of all City Council meetings can now be found online at the city website! Be sure to check it out, as the volume of comments may not be fully included in these Crossroads articles.
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4/18/13 ANSWER: The start of something big
whatdoesitsay? Congratulations to Justyce Jensen of Saratoga Springs for emailing the first correct answer to last issue’s puzzle! She won 1 free medium pizza from Tenney’s Pizza in Saratoga Springs. The Crossroads Journal wants you to tell us “what does it say?” The first person to email the correct answer to this week’s puzzle NO SOONER THAN MAY 3RD will win 1 free medium pizza from Tenney’s Pizza in Saratoga Springs. Email your guess to thecrossroads@digis.net along with your name, address and phone number. Good Luck!
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Thursday, May 2, 2013