[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-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",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6534806,"mediaKeyId","3480318-86a5c3fe42acf9064c58f17bd489e8be","parentId",3480318,"title","Council resists selling city land to Humanitarian Center; asks staff to explore lease options","audioSeconds",603,"startMs",999000,"endMs",1602000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3480318-86a5c3fe42acf9064c58f17bd489e8be&start=999&end=1602","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6534806/Utah/Council-resists-selling-city-land-to-Humanitarian-Center-asks-staff-to-explore-lease-options","mediaUrl","author","River Heights City Council","date","2025-05-20T18:30:00Z","article","River Heights City Councilors discussed, but did not approve, a proposal to sell a small city-owned parcel that a nonprofit humanitarian organization wants to use for office and program space.

Dwight Whitaker, representing the humanitarian organization, presented the group’s need for consolidated space and told the council the organization currently pays about $4,800 a month in rent. Whitaker said the organization would seek roughly 5,000 to 6,000 square feet and estimated it might need about one-third to one-fourth of an acre for building and required off-street parking.

Why it matters: Council members said the parcel is the last undeveloped city-owned land near the municipal core and expressed reluctance to sell it because the city might need the property for municipal uses in the future, such as a maintenance shop or equipment storage. Several councilors said they favored exploring lease options that would preserve city ownership while allowing the organization to build and reduce its monthly lease burden.

Discussion highlights: Council members and the mayor raised several options:
- A long-term ground lease (speakers noted such leases can be 40 years under some grant/land-lease programs), which would allow the nonprofit to build on city land while the city retained ownership of the ground.
- A shorter or partial lease that would convey only a portion of the parcel for the nonprofit’s use, reserving land for future city needs.
- Continuing the organization’s existing lease arrangement for an additional year while both sides studied site plans and usage.

Council members also noted regulatory constraints: the parcel is currently zoned R-18, so any new building intended for nonprofit program space would likely require a zoning amendment or conditional-use process. Council members asked the humanitarian group to provide a site plan; Whitaker said the organization’s board offered to pay for one.

Outcome and next steps: The council did not vote to sell the property and directed staff to gather more information, including possible lease models and the legal implications of a long-term ground lease. Several councilors said they would consult the city attorney about lease terms and about structuring an agreement that preserves city options for future municipal needs. Whitaker said his group is open to either purchase or long-term lease arrangements; he asked to be considered for a portion of the site rather than the entire parcel.

Ending: Councilors said they appreciate the humanitarian group’s local work but are not prepared to relinquish city-owned land at this time. The council asked staff to report back with lease options, legal review and any zoning steps that would be required for the group to build on the site.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","River Heights City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","River Heights council discussed a proposal from a humanitarian organization to buy the city’s former church property but generally opposed selling the land outright. Council members suggested alternatives including a long-term ground lease or partial lease so the city retains ownership while the group builds and operates a facility.","taxTitle","River Heights, Cache County, Utah","taxId",80041,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534811,"River Heights to carry one more year of library funding while pressing county for equitable arrangement",293,1912000,2205000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3480318-86a5c3fe42acf9064c58f17bd489e8be&start=1912&end=2205","/articles/6534811/Utah/River-Heights-to-carry-one-more-year-of-library-funding-while-pressing-county-for-equitable-arrangement","River Heights officials told residents on May 20 they will continue the city’s current contribution to the Providence branch of the Cache County Library system for one year while the city and Providence press the county to clarify funding and lease responsibilities.

Mayor Blake Wright and council members who attended a recent joint meeting with Providence and county library staff described a decades-old agreement signed in 1997 that no longer reflects current operations. The old agreement was written when a county bookmobile was in service; the bookmobile has since ceased and the Providence site is now the only physical branch in that area of the county.

Why it matters: Council members said Providence City currently bears the majority of building and operating costs for the physical facility, while River Heights residents — who already pay county taxes that support library services — represent a relatively small share of active accounts at the Providence branch. Council members and board representatives argued the county should contract directly with Providence for the building lease and proportion library operating costs more equitably across the county.

What the council heard: Council members reviewed a packet of usage and financial statistics (posted to the city’s SharePoint). Mayor Wright noted River Heights represents about 10% of active library accounts yet earlier draft allocation proposals would have raised the city’s share of facility costs to roughly 28 percent. The mayor said the original 1997 agreement lists an effective date of July 1, 1997, and an expiration of June 30, 1998, and that no signed written extensions were found.

Public comment and board input: Noel Cooley, who spoke during public comment, asked whether the city’s draft resolution opposing a transportation alignment should reference the city’s general plan; Mayor Wright said the attorney could add such language when the council considers that resolution. Library board representatives who attended the earlier meeting told the council they support the library and offered to help with site plans if Providence and River Heights pursue changes to the facility.

Decision and next steps: The mayor said River Heights will continue its current contribution for one year (the packet listed the city's share as about $4,700) while the county and Providence negotiate a lease between the county and Providence for use of the building. Council members asked the city attorney to review the historical agreement and to confirm that River Heights’ future contributions should be pro rata, aligned to active account use. Council members also said they expect to maintain River Heights’ representation on the library board.

Ending: Councilors said they want a more transparent, county-wide funding approach instead of a city–city cost split for a facility the county library system owns.","Councilors said River Heights will keep paying its current contribution for one year to the Providence branch of the Cache County Library system while they press the county to take primary responsibility for building expenses and to clarify representation on the library board.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534816,"River Heights council adopts resolution opposing extension of 200 East across Logan River",1320,3266000,4586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3480318-86a5c3fe42acf9064c58f17bd489e8be&start=3266&end=4586","/articles/6534816/Utah/River-Heights-council-adopts-resolution-opposing-extension-of-200-East-across-Logan-River","River Heights Mayor Blake Wright and the city council voted to adopt a resolution opposing a proposed extension of 200 East across the Logan River and through the Riverdale area.

The council framed the resolution as a formal stance against a proposed alignment that appears in a draft transportation map tied to a regional study. Mayor Blake Wright said he asked the city attorney to draft the resolution and agreed to seek a clause stating that the city will remove the 200 East alignment from its general plan as the plan is updated.

Why it matters: Council members said the proposed alignment could affect private property and the city’s long-term use of land; several residents and council members said the alignment should not be included in the city’s plan and that River Heights should assert control over local roads. Council members also said they want the update to the general plan to explicitly remove the proposed alignment to avoid future legal or planning challenges.

Council discussion centered on process and timing. Councilors and members of the public noted the city is in the middle of a general-plan update and a regional transportation study, and they debated whether the city should merely state its opposition or explicitly direct staff to remove the alignment from the general plan now. Mayor Wright said the council can direct the planning process: \"I can add that I can have John add that to the list,\" referring to the city attorney, about inserting language that the city will remove 200 East from the general plan.

Several residents addressed the council during public comment. Mary Barris asked for more geographic specificity in the resolution and raised concerns about which properties would be affected; the council responded that the attorney had left the language broad intentionally so the statement would cover any future alignment labeled \"Second East.\"

Next steps: Council members instructed the mayor to have the city attorney add a whereas clause reflecting that River Heights is updating the general plan and will remove 200 East from it, then circulate the revised resolution to the council. The council also asked staff to share the revision with regional partners who are conducting the transportation study so the city’s position is recorded.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to adopt the resolution opposing extension of 200 East across the Logan River and through River Heights in the Riverdale area (motion made and seconded during the May 20 meeting). Outcome: approved. The transcript records vocal assent but does not list a roll-call vote; exact tally is not specified in the meeting record.

Ending: Council members said they want to finalize the wording with the city attorney and circulate the final resolution quickly so River Heights’ position is on record as regional bodies and consultants continue work on the transportation study.","River Heights City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing a proposed extension of 200 East (\"Second East\") across the Logan River and through the Riverdale area, and asked the city attorney to add language stating the city will remove the alignment from its general plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council resists selling city land to Humanitarian Center; asks staff to explore lease options

River Heights to carry one more year of library funding while pressing county for equitable arrangement

River Heights council adopts resolution opposing extension of 200 East across Logan River