[{"_1":2,"_134":-5,"_135":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110,122],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6627158,"mediaKeyId","2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0","parentId",2730050,"title","Cedar City council adjourns special council–staff retreat","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4638000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0&start=4638&end=4638","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0/thumbnail_4638000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627158/Utah/Cedar-City-council-adjourns-special-councilstaff-retreat","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627158-d29860f22805cae6fc7ded2843d1f242/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170727&Signature=cmRNy2OJ0QHRj-6Fd9DHASyW7i5GCeX5P-J0Hwln7wmYhDSWGrLB26QNUisOQdC6qzXrBhEUU1Pp31Um4vfq7iRs2rVPatSRxMJSq4kidZySSWPf~QsSYsFyL0qoFQ0H73Id9XHf356gSmAb4lbnpxMvHdpOnZ--HkZMYVO9Od0cwoNCSg38Vops7FYe5VpkFkS31GLO3B3K1DLugbHJE5hmpojUI9eR8aHcUCLyV2psVEBdClEpqPt07ZWIP6~xpEzQCWVSN3ECn2QgcBJe~huE7l~QdBRu-XfeMXKIfRPhYhNEtvXXaHcciYyZ5I-Hcitta5jCfvir3N7BUP64tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-21T17:59:18Z","article","After presentations and discussion of budgets, parks, public safety and planning matters, a motion was made to adjourn the special council–staff retreat. The motion was called and the retreat concluded.

No roll-call vote or named mover/second is recorded in the transcript excerpt; staff proceeded to schedule departmental budget meetings beginning the following Monday and the tentative budget presentation for early May.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Retreat - Part 3 - March 21, 2025.","oneSentenceSummary","Council concluded the special council–staff retreat and adjourned after departmental presentations and discussions about budget priorities.","taxTitle","Cedar City Council, Cedar City , Iron County, Utah","taxId",23578,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6627163,"Council discusses airport expansion, potential SUU aviation campus and control-tower need",66,1941000,2007000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0&start=1941&end=2007","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0/thumbnail_1941000.jpg","/articles/6627163/Utah/Council-discusses-airport-expansion-potential-SUU-aviation-campus-and-control-tower-need","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627163-547c50cc98d020287c3613d73f393df1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170727&Signature=d1lVIH427sQruV07T8dWtvB4H~20M8AuH2bpcryTZtOu4ZxKoFvUfBQFomrK4B1sem9FEb0zyarKlRyYHLDivlvBKEd6uK8rFrz~n5XK3X6UFI8K-Oz7AAdaDIibyCczQhCcMUeas708MwgRQhT0lDXWKcCARuJK77QSDOslMcNcdCBBXEmp2oJEO6vDOwde-YAoe2Q76LV8nGaMOc2xMro6WG7Q07jg4m~NnVUybGF7E3~Qh7Vpufn9TDaG~hB41DUs~3NovczYDdmI104NDgHqgtFrwWzKDLUPuxPT7GFoZ58Lt2X9S60Y3Im6AZMec6dxrs-dRv2QuNsyadigUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Green outlined planning priorities for the regional airport, including a possible property purchase south of the terminal to expand parking and rental-car operations, coordination on an SUU aviation campus and support for a proposed air-traffic control tower.

“I believe our meeting with SkyWest leadership last year was key in building commercial flights to stability with our existing carrier,” the mayor said, and he urged continued dialogue with carriers and state and federal partners. He noted a parcel directly south of the terminal is available for sale and said securing it would permit future parking and rental-car expansion.

The mayor also said the city is the third-busiest airport in Utah and that a proposed control tower would improve safety; nearby cities have secured funding for towers. Officials recommended continued intergovernmental coordination to secure state, federal and private funding for terminal, parking and campus expansion. The council asked staff to include airport planning items in capital discussions and to continue talks with SUU, the lodging association and tourism personnel on potential convention and transportation hub synergies.","Officials raised a potential acquisition south of the terminal, a proposed control tower, and a planned SUU aviation campus as priorities for long-term airport planning and economic development.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6627166,"Mayor asks council to add $1 million to Heritage Theatre remodel fund",86,2126000,2212000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0&start=2126&end=2212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0/thumbnail_2126000.jpg","/articles/6627166/Utah/Mayor-asks-council-to-add-1-million-to-Heritage-Theatre-remodel-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627166-f4a894d831c5902f15f2bf25bc85a9d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170727&Signature=WgAnw7zE~dWfnQNCuDTBszb4ebWwC9mp1wEP9K71Ia-xhRsQvhikfLfiuIhus9oaZv~a3E7gQY-LFa5DYYWowhBSkyp0cJvpvTLLwK~9xgIESucURX-FyTGpHv703gFVuFuofy5Gq9jH3~SOC48tErvHVe2oLirVFgNbJm8lOZTH8X1yZ3Ra1yIjizIg6kkVdn67bWMlWD9PYM-LARupQkrBFmJGOtwKahPNsWTDucZBSVLJGcIjtAjSic~l8T1ejEjUCkS5rQVDynh3SMTAuKQMs9ZVXei-Yn5tJBN-wWWpOsxmTBkp~LgtlGaqetjoLLafkxWyOEUS8ahJevGySw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Green asked the council to consider increasing the Heritage Theatre remodel fund by $1,000,000 in the coming fiscal year, building on a $500,000 allocation the city set aside previously.

“I'm asking that we consider adding 1,000,000 to the remodel fund this fiscal year,” the mayor said, noting the city hired a theater consultant to develop cost estimates and a January 2028 temporary closure of about six months is tentatively planned. “In January of 2028, we plan to close the theater for an approximate 6 month period for this remodel.”

Why it matters: The Heritage Theatre hosts more than 200 events annually, city officials said, and council members earlier approved a consultant and a $500,000 seed allocation. The mayor said several budget cycles will likely be needed to fund the full scope of the work and asked the council to place $1,000,000 in the FY25–26 budget and consider additional funds in subsequent years.

Mindy Benson from Southern Utah University (SUU) was cited as coordinating facility use during the temporary closure; the mayor said SUU’s music-building completion is anticipated to allow programming to continue while the theater is closed. Staff and council members agreed to review consultant estimates and work the remodel funding into the upcoming budget deliberations.","Mayor requested the council add $1 million to the Heritage Theatre remodel fund this fiscal year, noting $500,000 was already set aside and proposing a January 2028 closure for roughly six months for renovations.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6627170,"Council advances leisure projects: Iron West, Fiddler’s Canyon, Main Street Park and Diamond arena add-ons",275,3386000,3661000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0&start=3386&end=3661","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0/thumbnail_3386000.jpg","/articles/6627170/Utah/Council-advances-leisure-projects-Iron-West-Fiddlers-Canyon-Main-Street-Park-and-Diamond-arena-add-ons","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627170-e30673acffa175e6afac7f248aa03d0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170727&Signature=e3kyfgxrfFHbewYOZSeGNVhDIInIwJC8po8JK3izqxCMSJHjsUs0Skt2hQAw8mjAn4GbN4QIOfVTx-F6wvnMa8ECVq4KzYOcfTlninIQjFcy~KyES-hQSm2NeLydLj-aut~xZTsl1dv48qwM0ShokmxJKPAHyYzIMiNcjsrn6iJMI2r6AHHZx4XHe2Zh6GMGdzIGgSGb4ZAGshno3BXZN1ucBDhDzPiT4UTKApwVfGKtEbnqySw-TU53Tcysh9vAAZ5dfL2kjnzk8E~NRqhKTIaYPYkNGMbdR~XLnX9jjh0o8zPRL1M4xrMAsZ2kS7LKpj3-304niQ24rqX9iWOW1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leisure and parks projects—including completion of Iron West fields, amenities at Fiddler's Canyon and upgrades to Main Street Park—were a focus at the Cedar City retreat, with council members asking staff for clearer timelines and budget requests.

Councilman Wilkie reiterated support for finishing the banquet-room addition at the city arena, saying county and private donors expected that feature when they invested. “If we're gonna do it, let's just do it right,” Wilkie said, asking that funding discussions continue in the coming budget cycle.

Ken Nielsen of Leisure Services described the condition of Iron West’s seeded playing surfaces and the work needed to make fields playable: reseeding or sodding, rolling, aeration and adding organic matter. Nielsen said staff seeded last spring and that the site may need 18 months to two years for the seed-established turf to be reliably playable. He also said the department will include restroom and parking amenities in its upcoming budget request: “The budget ask that you folks will see in a few weeks will have a restroom and a parking lot amenity. We need those in place before we think about holding activities.”

Fiddler’s Canyon park work is moving forward, and council members said they expect upcoming designs and budget items. On Main Street Park, council members suggested additional lighting, a permanent performance staging area, and a small winter skating feature as ways to activate downtown. Officials noted that some amenities—pump track, restrooms, lighting and public art—remain unfunded along a newly named trail (working names under consideration).

Why it matters: Leisure projects affect quality of life, tourism and downtown economic vitality. Staff emphasized construction sequencing: large seeded fields are sensitive to weather and use, and premature play can damage turf and prolong recovery. The council directed staff to include required amenities and realistic timelines when presenting budget requests in April and the tentative budget in May.","Council members and parks staff discussed timelines and funding for Iron West fields, Fiddler's Canyon park, Main Street Park upgrades and completing a banquet room at the arena; staff warned seeding timelines may delay playability.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6627175,"Council members push value engineering and centralized storage to rein in costs",3366,97000,3463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0&start=97&end=3463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0/thumbnail_97000.jpg","/articles/6627175/Utah/Council-members-push-value-engineering-and-centralized-storage-to-rein-in-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627175-2407111bac3dc5ec558e686f2101c970/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170727&Signature=O47gCtQZpX3pvOlhlHfRyUOnruVLkneE3bCRYGSjuJhWKElY6Ev4LOi1mzHWR1Q4gLEMu7-QwMKsYRaFa1UHtyyq5j5XPmue-RPZ2-Q9xf5sfIdAF-dGJpkdcycevWlxbdg4diVjowWdOJFPk7ZLhm64viVPkB6MvMROiVK4h~EL3QUhlX-vhd25~72RtTuTD7lZvS~jhsbw59FgsBVTp-fENWiy9pUfXu-aLqO-OeAEyrfyn0oPd9-q7PWcRL9CTs4eXZtXDXsMEs0E6gK6Aynugg7ZPoVEqLCkftR~uNldGttfwS9vF9obWR86NyLZOl9DyCyLwG3UFgiN5EylhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the retreat, several council members urged the city to seek cost-saving measures, ranging from more in-house engineering to a centralized municipal storage facility and greater reliance on public–private partnerships for discretionary amenities.

Councilman Cox said needs come first and wants second: “We need to water, public safety, infrastructure,” he said, then urged the council to encourage citizen and private fundraising for nonessential projects. Cox pointed to a recent city crew installation at a sewer treatment facility that he said saved “literally, I think, a million dollars” versus outsourcing the work.

Councilman Wilkie proposed that the city study options for a centralized storage complex on surplus land near the old wastewater treatment plant to consolidate equipment and supplies. “We have stuff scattered in every corner of every spot around the city and I would like to see us try and use that land to its abilities,” Wilkie said. He asked staff to gather department needs and produce initial plans to scope square footage and formats (shared building vs. modular units).

Why it matters: Officials said streamlining design and construction work performed by city staff or vetted contractors could reduce upfront consultant and engineering costs, freeing budget dollars for core services. Cox and others also suggested encouraging community groups to fund park or amenity projects—Cox noted a past arena project where “Dollars 2,200,000.0 was raised from bridal, citizens and and grants and organizations” to illustrate citizens partnering to deliver amenities.

Council members and staff cautioned that some projects require outside expertise and that savings should not come at the expense of compliance or long-term maintainability. The council asked staff to include options and cost estimates for a centralized storage solution during departmental budget presentations next week.","Council members suggested using in-house expertise, private partnerships and a centralized storage plan to reduce capital and operational expenditures.",{"_33":123,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":124,"_41":125,"_43":126,"_45":127,"_46":128,"_48":129,"_50":130,"_52":131,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":132,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":133,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6627181,"Cedar City leaders press for fire-station funding as insurance gaps rise",541,3723000,4264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0&start=3723&end=4264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730050-dd70084d0e8717f98a7576f58239faa0/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","/articles/6627181/Utah/Cedar-City-leaders-press-for-fire-station-funding-as-insurance-gaps-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627181-4ca25d61f29ea99d90abbc410f329485/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170727&Signature=ocfOVFglQ-DBUk0CFMHZJf-LL1z05c9zFAIXgQN-xuU67Ro2N4dHx9TCUJIuEA5xo6ospsNL~iIToDyGFu6OLaI5d-v1QeEKZ8IG925U6uzz7v9boPZA-62-wIFxHju0lgTXLIYJ-mlnMR1ROpknvgood~Zwyxik1ZkEgwJlKb08~tTABxLiFmU3u3lUAhwHUYjDCHdkRb6V0fSjnow99i0Y5LoynyMNN5I3WHUmDnA1vSu-OCeIbzndvMX1raf0-84ZtmkJaR81ik-FRtc-f5mX6zwC5biubsE9V~wVNu-Xd93hpNZmS0w4u5N8iIpDHDGyEnGlHxNvGnnRqbDqIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members and public safety leaders at a Cedar City Council retreat on an unspecific date urged the council to prioritize funding for fire infrastructure and staffing, citing rising call volume and growing insurance problems for properties located farther from stations.

The discussion centered on completing a South Fire Station and beginning planning for a North Fire Station, pursuing a voter-approved local option sales tax to help pay for stations and exploring state and federal grant sources. “We should continue to work with our state leaders to secure legislation that will support the use of option sales tax voter approved to assist in the construction of fire stations,” Councilman Melling said.

Why it matters: Chief Mike Phillips said the department’s call volume has climbed steadily—“it's been like a 58% increase” over the last 10 years—and volunteers and staffing constraints make additional stations and staffing more urgent. Council members warned that development outside existing service-area radii is prompting insurance companies to classify some houses as higher risk or uninsurable because they fall beyond typical response-distance thresholds used in ISO calculations.

Chief Mike Phillips, who identified himself as representing the fire department, said wildland deployments have generated revenue that offsets costs but do not solve local capacity problems: “Last year, we made just shy of, well, little over a half a million dollars from January to January on the wildland program.” He also said deployed assets “continue to pay for themselves” and estimated a roughly 60% net return after expenses on those responses.

Police and fire leaders described how ISO and distance-based insurance assessments are affecting home sales and subdivision development. Chief Adams described complaints from residents and developers who could not secure insurance in areas outside the roughly five-road-mile measure used by insurers for some ratings. “They come in to try to get insurance on their home. They can't get insurance, so then they can't get the loan,” a council member summarized of the developers’ reports.

Council members debated funding mechanisms. Wilkie and Melling urged continued legislative outreach to pass an option sales tax next session and encouraged working with Iron County and developers on one-time contributions or impact-fee arrangements to fund stations, while staff cautioned that impact-fee revenue is unlikely to cover multi-million-dollar stations and ongoing staffing costs.

Discussion also covered a county-funded fire-district study that is underway; Chief Phillips said the city has not been given a clear timeline from the study managers. Council members suggested exploring lower-cost station options—metal buildings used elsewhere—and emphasized that personnel, not just buildings, are the long-term expense.

The council directed staff to factor fire facilities and staffing into the coming budget review weeks and to continue coordination with county officials and legislators on funding options.","Council members and public safety chiefs discussed the need to fund a south fire station, plan for a north station and address rising insurance problems tied to ISO distance rules and development outside existing service areas.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cedar City council adjourns special council–staff retreat

Council discusses airport expansion, potential SUU aviation campus and control-tower need

Mayor asks council to add $1 million to Heritage Theatre remodel fund

Council advances leisure projects: Iron West, Fiddler’s Canyon, Main Street Park and Diamond arena add-ons

Council members push value engineering and centralized storage to rein in costs

Cedar City leaders press for fire-station funding as insurance gaps rise