[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6543335,"mediaKeyId","3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4","parentId",3633677,"title","Public works and fire updates: Maple Canyon well testing, pavement push to August, new brush crew and chipping progress","audioSeconds",77,"startMs",1372328,"endMs",1450065,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4&start=1372&end=1450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4/thumbnail_1372328.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6543335/Woodland-Hills/Utah-County/Utah/Public-works-and-fire-updates-Maple-Canyon-well-testing-pavement-push-to-August-new-brush-crew-and-chipping-progress","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543335-d93161d83dce59c41f87bfccdbf27406/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183131&Signature=Nv-sBi6S21YpGFB7FnTm3E2ydnpYkxPgHPBQtsnOyR6sk30C~dUoneHIGgc-UewNBvrfNrj~-NTh6hp~QfyjPJB~g873-5rXUxDpw030X0OC0gNi2OXAEShi13aF~9nhO8baUB6hIb19He0F9VL2aXK~aiSzO01DorO5dc1wr92kTkWtPBq2qoaCem~xgB0Ql4meWtssxH91FiNN5pgD7tQscUvZ8KAvrBip03wutcwg3ZKNdaPeNRJfmzlcHAjwgBnfvWDaX6WWjd8Qm8r82Z28tuabym5NTqGZMxPJxtKf5~vyHTkJJ8wOYYiW0XNI~KHzteyep8A3dYZojfeWXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Woodland Hills","date","2025-05-29T20:47:47Z","article","Public works and fire staff updated the council on several operational items during the Woodland Hills work session.

Maple Canyon well: Ted (public works) reported the Maple Canyon well construction is complete and the system is undergoing pump and water-quality testing. Ted said valve actuators for remaining valves were expected to arrive around June 7 to complete the project.

Pavement preservation: Staff said the pavement preservation contractor rescheduled this summer’s work to August due to scheduling conflicts. Ted said about $500,000 is under contract for this year, with another $500,000 planned for 2026; additional pavement needs beyond 2027 totalled roughly $2.8 million, staff said. Council and staff discussed staging projects and matching pavement work with water-line work when possible.

Brush/Fire staffing: The city’s full-time fire crew (three positions including two full-time hires and one part-time expected to work as backup) began full-time service last week and is completing additional training. Ted said the brush truck (Brush 192) should be repaired and back in service “by tomorrow” and that crews expect red-card training to finish next week, which will make the crews available for wildfire response.

Chipping and clean-up: Chipping crews have focused on lower-elevation streets and planned to finish much of the work by week’s end; staff said they would return with a crew if needed to finish remaining areas.

Burn permits and coordinated response: Staff described recent county-issued burn permits in the Dream Mine area and a nearby property; agencies (Salem and Utah County Fire) were notified and permit-holders were subject to strict restrictions. Staff said they received advance notice from property owners when burning was scheduled and that no uncontrolled incidents were reported.

Sweeper and equipment: Public works said a vacuum-style street sweeper is now functioning; staff noted logistics for disposing collected sweepings (salt shed was suggested as an option) and that routing from higher elevations to disposal sites affects operational time.

Helicopter and landing concerns: Council members raised repeated questions about private helicopters and landings. Staff said state and federal rules (FAA) limit the city’s ability to regulate flight operations at elevation and that one local property owner had agreed not to land on a driveway that is not an approved helipad. Councilmembers asked staff to research what other cities do and whether a local helipad permitting process is appropriate.

Development and Summit Creek: Staff noted Summit Creek plans to gate part of its private roads and that the developer for the \"3 Bridges\" project has been in limited contact; council members suggested inviting the developer for periodic updates to reduce rumor and increase transparency.

Why this matters: The updates cover multiple city services—water supply, road maintenance, fire readiness and code enforcement—where timing, equipment availability and interagency coordination affect public-safety and infrastructure outcomes.

Ending: Staff will continue testing the Maple Canyon well, complete scheduled training and chipping work, and return to council with updates and any ordinance or permit recommendations regarding helicopter landings or community gates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting May 27 2025 1 of 2","oneSentenceSummary","Public works reported that the Maple Canyon well is testing, pavement preservation work was rescheduled to August, a small full-time fire crew began training, chipping crews remain active and the city is tracking private development and burn permits.","taxTitle","Woodland Hills, Utah County, Utah","taxId",4717,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543340,"Staff accommodation proposed after employee requests flexibility on health insurance",65,942779,1008290,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4&start=942&end=1008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4/thumbnail_942779.jpg","/articles/6543340/Woodland-Hills/Utah-County/Utah/Staff-accommodation-proposed-after-employee-requests-flexibility-on-health-insurance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543340-ea440280b0bd4a27f431194ae8ce8218/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183131&Signature=NiMRGFTzHuvlmJVsagK-y1Es0lZ~7dA~eCZrp8irSM5vCzgMnXk2REWusM9En3yOnm1kcDay~XWkGSrRunp7XhocYxavUWRVaY~laWgTXlO3mfKiVOhAiO8KSEkNH2Vw2jJRU4w8F-yK5aQ3xo~77-UtWdaXV4xkrbVUcIPCLxPB0TPrLFqhsn9Bo~BoerEq2ncUdFYn9omMZCqwvA7BhYJbmWF5jOrfNE6xY97pFck3ICZl68yPlpiB-NEBsYiOc74WlUquSVitU5bCdxrWm9kNh2MTLvWgasyeMnaLPmtfj-ntx09kW7QHvZZD5BcTtY2ofqX9Sos6~pGdK7hg5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Woodland Hills staff member asked the council to allow the city’s standard employer contribution to be paid as a reimbursement so the employee could obtain private coverage outside the city plan. The request arose during a work session discussion of the tentative FY2026 budget and other personnel topics.

The staff member, identified in the meeting as Chris, said his current location and the available plan network made the city-provided plan impractical and asked that the city reimburse the employer portion so he could “go obtain my own health insurance.” Chris said the city currently pays about $1,872.44 per employee toward health insurance and asked for that amount as a reimbursement if he purchases an outside policy. He also referenced the city’s $3,000 contribution to an HSA under the current arrangement.

Mayor (online) indicated he believed the matter could be handled administratively and asked that the employee submit proof of purchase for reimbursement: “I do think that your recommendation that you, provide proof of purchase, is a good call, and I think that we should do that,” he said. Council members raised questions about precedent, asking whether other employees could request the same accommodation and whether withdrawing from the group plan could have contractual consequences for the city under the insurer’s rules.

Staff agreed to check the city’s insurance contract for penalties or other contractual issues that might arise if an employee leaves the group plan outside open enrollment. Chris said the change would not increase the city’s budgeted cost because the city’s $1,872.44 employer share would be paid as a reimbursement instead of through the group plan; he asked only that the city continue to pay that employer share amount.

Why this matters: The request implicates city administrative policy, employee benefits, and potential contractual obligations to insurers. Council members expressed support for flexibility but asked staff to confirm there would be no contractual penalty and whether the employee handbook or the council resolution governing benefits needs revision to preserve consistency and fairness.

Ending: Staff will review the insurance contract and the city’s benefit resolutions and return with recommended administrative language or policy amendments. The council signaled openness to reimbursing the employer share provided proper documentation is submitted and no contract penalties exist.

","A city staff member asked to be reimbursed for the city’s employer portion of health insurance after moving out of the plan area; the mayor and council discussed administrative accommodation and documentation requirements but raised questions about precedent and contract obligations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543345,"Council reviews ordinance change to allow external accessory dwellings and proposes driveway-gate standards",982,2198715,3181115,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4&start=2198&end=3181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4/thumbnail_2198715.jpg","/articles/6543345/Woodland-Hills/Utah-County/Utah/Council-reviews-ordinance-change-to-allow-external-accessory-dwellings-and-proposes-driveway-gate-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543345-a62d3e41c1a6f68da1ce5acc6af45ffa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183131&Signature=kwDtNb6YeeE3faf3drXebor3bph72Zy7H6mqhS4t9DHs7tdSxI2ihc8~gjIURPQeEKnGSptNyeSWEl8zLp-bVMsyNTJnyfJlomQbXsuiaIXGzYqffzV-m9a2TrfQbgBa4dWiRPiiTT6iNM1RTYjgTNyR79UZTEkFWzm7-E~gthnvzAPPp7seqrBip8e8fsrkHEoxkmkWCHN8G5xfR4WRoJ3imAUmzV5rHyfqdngBjm4DWVYiKcmBrd29tHHkI9MlbT3OUCEOgJBrxdbJmpvyJ0nhNdaWfo3WqBKvagOZX6EJPem5iQ7~Z23TbDLAI~ZwpQ02CJkMYXaDp26uLQ0piw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Woodland Hills planning staff presented proposed changes to city code that would allow external accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and would add a new set of requirements for driveway gates.

Wayne (planning staff) reviewed Ordinance 2025-22, described in the meeting packet as an amendment to portions of city code 10.18.1 on accessory dwelling units. Wayne said the change clarifies that ADUs may be internal or external (accessory buildings) to comply with state code allowing external ADUs.

On driveway gates, staff presented a detailed set of standards intended to ensure emergency access and functional maintenance. Wayne said the city’s closest existing reference point was the wildland fire ordinance and that staff had proposed specific dimensional and operational criteria. Among items discussed were minimum unobstructed driveway widths tied to fire access (staff referenced a prior standard of 12 feet wide and 13.5 feet high in wildfire access guidance), a recommended 19-foot clearance from the street in some examples discussed, requirements for manual unlock capability, an annual or post-repair operational check and a possible $500 fine for a nonworking gate.

Council members and staff discussed how gates interact with homeowners associations. Wayne noted Summit Creek intends to gate part of its private roads and that homeowners behind any HOA gate may still seek their own driveway gates, but those private installations would need to meet city minimums. Council members pressed on emergency and wildfire access: firefighters and others noted gates must be openable manually and have remote overrides (yelp/knox or equivalent) and that testing and maintenance provisions are meant to avoid gates being chained closed.

Wayne said he had reviewed the proposal with the fire chief, who “can live with it” if the council adopts the ordinance with the proposed criteria. Staff said the planning commission discussed adding a provision that the city may test a repaired gate to ensure it opens with a yelp siren; that provision was drafted with a discretionary “may.”

Why this matters: The ADU change updates local code to align with state allowances for exterior accessory dwelling units; the gate standards are intended to balance property owners’ desires for decorative or restricted access gates with public-safety needs for unobstructed emergency access.

The work session included questions but no final vote. The council was warned that adopting a gate allowance will require a building permit and coordination with other codes and that some existing HOA gates will also need to meet city standards where public access or emergency response could be affected.

Ending: The ordinance and gate standards will remain in the council’s packet for the upcoming meeting cycle; council members asked staff to confirm final draft language and to include fire-department input in the ordinance text.

","Council and planning staff reviewed Ordinance 2025-22 to permit accessory dwelling units that are external structures and discussed a proposed citywide driveway-gate standard addressing width, clearance, emergency access, inspections and fines.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6543350,"Woodland Hills council weighs holding truth-in-taxation hearing as FY2026 budget eyed",973,3267000,4240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4&start=3267&end=4240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3633677-898eeaaf482c5d0f520d8f1c0230dbc4/thumbnail_3267000.jpg","/articles/6543350/Woodland-Hills/Utah-County/Utah/Woodland-Hills-council-weighs-holding-truth-in-taxation-hearing-as-FY2026-budget-eyed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543350-a402d250061d526d2479e60c583c3503/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183131&Signature=MaApwtuGpd5P3ldaa4IglYS7QqFn1WUIirVJPJPon1pr1h-d~ab6zj75y6dX2uByaaAB9HydvwY14kqfAsNodZFPkoM2bdb~St81mKiP3hlhKiUdn0WjrrxfRt0Ug9HjVS6akGvUTBgSiUOE4QEFNLbYcDpKsUIoAqjAH9k8ijIVNqastnvEo66I~AJPBhWpLNrY3ssGG4Hfdzc-jS8QE-byBb4pRwFsv3ibUkXrBZY95jGFjl1FbZEzuMcU6CQKhPA24pBbBK67E4-yzs0pldttFtkBYVryg-xlv1lMRgH6laLbLABXXSSmkoKbMtFryrjhmNWMR5-guh1S~95TUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodland Hills City Council discussed the tentative fiscal year 2026 budget at a work session, including whether to hold a truth-in-taxation hearing, after staff presented beginning fund balances and multi-year road and utility needs.

City staff said several capital needs would outpace current savings unless the council either stages projects, borrows, or increases revenue. Chris (city finance staff) told the council that the public works fund balance stood at $925,006.77 and that pavement-management needs beyond 2027 totaled about $2,800,000.0, with roughly $500,000 under contract this year and another $500,000 planned for 2026.

The council spent most of the discussion on balancing three priorities: (1) avoid a large single tax increase later, (2) preserve reserves for emergencies, and (3) fund an accelerated pavement-management plan. Carrie (emergency management/council liaison) and several council members emphasized maintaining a healthy emergency/reserve balance even while addressing roads and water projects.

Chris summarized next steps and timing: “Within the next 3 weeks, I should have the numbers from the state of Utah through Utah County,” he said, meaning the office would be able to model revenue under either keeping the current tax rate or proposing a modest increase. Council members asked staff to prepare scenarios that show (a) keeping the current rate (which typically raises revenue because property valuations rose) and (b) modest rate increases, with multi-year projections for reserves and pavement spending.

Council members also discussed alternatives to drawing savings for capital work, including borrowing to spread project costs across current and future beneficiaries. One councilor noted that borrowing can lower long-term construction costs by allowing work to proceed sooner rather than paying higher future construction prices.

Procedural timing was discussed: staff indicated the June 24 public hearing on the FY2026 budget remains on the calendar and that, if the council decides to hold a truth-in-taxation hearing, August dates were likely candidates. Council members signaled a preference for August 20 (their second meeting that month) if the county calendar allows.

Why this matters: Woodland Hills relies heavily on property tax and has limited alternative revenue. The pavement-management plan is a multi-year program that the council and staff said requires balancing tax policy, use of savings, and possible debt financing to avoid a sudden large rate increase later.

Clarifying details pulled from the session: the city reported a public-works-related balance of $925,006.77; pavement-management needs beyond 2027 were cited at about $2,800,000.0; $500,000 is under contract this year and $500,000 was planned for 2026. The fire fund balance of about $144,008.50 had been used to offset the general account in the previous year and is expected to be nearly zero except for new savings going forward. Staff reported they will receive property valuation figures from Utah County within roughly three weeks and will prepare revenue/impact scenarios for the council to review.

The work session did not include a final vote on the budget or a truth-in-taxation resolution; council members asked staff for numbers and for the finance committee to review scenarios before the council sets a final rate or schedules a hearing.

Ending: Staff will return with county valuation figures and revenue scenarios; the council can then choose whether to proceed with a truth-in-taxation hearing and which mix of savings, borrowing, or rate change best meets Woodland Hills’ multi-year capital plan.","Council members reviewed the tentative fiscal 2026 budget and discussed whether to hold a truth-in-taxation hearing after staff outlined beginning balances and multi-year road needs; staff said state valuation figures will be available in about three weeks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public works and fire updates: Maple Canyon well testing, pavement push to August, new brush crew and chipping progress

Staff accommodation proposed after employee requests flexibility on health insurance

Council reviews ordinance change to allow external accessory dwellings and proposes driveway-gate standards

Woodland Hills council weighs holding truth-in-taxation hearing as FY2026 budget eyed