[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6513908,"mediaKeyId","5065821-b223f241a77afa960745e36d6aac0f14","parentId",5065821,"title","Economic development report: Sandy sees business growth but firms flag permitting and licensing as top hurdles","audioSeconds",244,"startMs",5640000,"endMs",5884000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065821-b223f241a77afa960745e36d6aac0f14&start=5640&end=5884","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065821-b223f241a77afa960745e36d6aac0f14/thumbnail_5640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513908/Sandy/Salt-Lake-County/Utah/Economic-development-report-Sandy-sees-business-growth-but-firms-flag-permitting-and-licensing-as-top-hurdles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513908-d03a3bf12b8ef4e5e3fa661d59bd8b4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775166942&Signature=JTYZYeopTMyf87uHh21kY0XGEtzgoWjOeKggn7pzmp8NRU8huVW8Y4JxaVDr~TCeHgZhOZTWVd3k7V4J5siMimrAptofbJugl31szNdfmtDtoRqy1PLDbU1Q4GkcZ6jmwscGbFCVfkX961fLaGuolrWVAP-gmEp4C3oHd4j3N~yJFlfh2J24KPPCucMMasjOtzGHHxn3jbQnp6kC5P62bPOX8kzkQAEo4DD6XInnn1WNVxV1MsVlP6~hshAjeg~UBzJHUJun7vkYQCgz~xoFF2X9ExMkgfO0HJ67Tfc9iaA-qmu24viAvKmVnYpl4e~DVlLQFUo9x96Wxbo2LMb~9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sandy","date","2025-06-24T00:00:00Z","article","Sandy — Economic development staff told the Sandy Redevelopment Agency and City Council on June 24 that the city recorded robust business activity over the past year but that local firms consistently cite licensing, permitting and sign rules as barriers to growth.

The presentation, led by Economic Development Director Casey Dunleavy, summarized the department’s business survey, a business-visitation/highlight program, and RDA project-area performance.

Key findings

- Business growth: The city has more than 5,400 business licenses on file and recorded roughly 793 new business openings during the most recent reporting period. Taxable sales in the city were about $3.3 billion, and the local unemployment rate held near 3%.

- Business sentiment: Staff reported about 130 survey responses and a rising “net promoter” score for businesses — a metric that tracks whether businesses would recommend Sandy as a place to locate. Dunleavy said the score improved substantially from the prior survey cycle.

- Reported hurdles: When asked “How can Sandy help my business?,” respondents prioritized business promotion and grant/loan support, but licensing and permitting processes and signage rules were the most frequently cited operational obstacles.

City actions and programs

Economic development staff described efforts to respond: the department has increased business outreach through a “highlight” visitation program (40 businesses visited in the past year), sponsored business‑training sessions with the South Valley Chamber, and expanded Shop & Stroll and other promotion events to drive foot traffic to neighborhood businesses.

Dunleavy said the department will pursue a more formal economic development strategic plan in the coming year and is working to align city processes to reduce permitting friction. He and staff said they will coordinate with Community Development and licensing staff to identify specific procedural improvements and to offer clearer pre‑application information for prospective business owners.

RDA project areas and office-parcel concern

The presentation reviewed six active RDA project areas and current tax‑increment balances. Civic Center North (the area around Southtowne and nearby development) and the Sandy TOD were singled out as high-growth areas; Civic Center South is nearing project-area expiration and staff warned the board to expect reduced future tax increment from that area.

Dunleavy and RDA staff also noted one parcel in the TOD that Hamilton Partners must start as an office project within the agreement’s remaining timeframe (two years) to retain full county tax-increment participation. Staff said they are in ongoing conversations with the parcel owner and exploring whether alternative uses could be negotiated with the county if office development proves infeasible.

Why it matters

Business counts and taxable sales underpin the city’s revenue base and redevelopment funding. At the same time, the survey and visitation feedback point to operational steps the city can take to help small businesses: clearer pre-application guidance, possible grant/loan programs targeted to early-stage firms, and streamlined sign and permitting processes.

Next steps

Economic development staff plan to:
- Bring options for a small-business grant/loan program and describe eligibility and potential partnership criteria (for example, preferential consideration for businesses that complete training or business-assistance programs);
- Continue business visitations and return with specific procedural recommendations to streamline licensing and permitting; and
- Proceed with the HTRZ (High Transit Route Zone) application submission to state agencies to enable additional financing tools for targeted redevelopment.

Ending

Board members encouraged staff to prioritize cross-departmental workshops that include licensing and community development so the council and RDA can evaluate policy changes to reduce barriers for local businesses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sandy - City Council on 2025-06-24 5:15 PM - Jun 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sandy City’s economic-development team reported record new-business counts and strong taxable sales, while its business survey and visitation program identified permitting, licensing and signage rules as the most frequent obstacles to local business expansion.","taxTitle","Sandy, Salt Lake County, Utah","taxId",2944,"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},6513911,"Sandy City Council adopts 2025–26 budget after narrow vote to set stormwater fee at $7.67",3024,486000,3510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065821-b223f241a77afa960745e36d6aac0f14&start=486&end=3510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065821-b223f241a77afa960745e36d6aac0f14/thumbnail_486000.jpg","/articles/6513911/Sandy/Salt-Lake-County/Utah/Sandy-City-Council-adopts-202526-budget-after-narrow-vote-to-set-stormwater-fee-at-767","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513911-5b95a428024b9c81904ae502be141d0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775166942&Signature=lqFH14XXW4DBUPb3IfwZzq94F0YIiQh~45H-0Km63Q7ZdOCOxWL9V1GQP2KuIev5gLENcxVXRKRKPMbrN-1pvANNcWBaYrrMJ41Kk-1UYhYanqm~0yAcziCFIpf8mdUTVD0~ZEmTeSA~65R6iENJd2cXW4ogO1WZxvx-m8Zc4Uwo9fhBxlERFz5SB4Q8khA-ig5Gb~VFCarBzFqx5TfmwUVvE30Yyj~MC1wtewErZgXGnNobvJxcHjRdADkJ3pSqIUkyLC60sFUeyGVsVkgz6Pq5QxvPx5zXyRvWlgWRSt0KV3l8pI4TKQ61pqd1De29jtWj1-74e7DNkx--kC-JWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sandy — The Sandy City Council adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget on June 24 after a daylong public hearing and a narrow vote on the stormwater fee, the council’s most contested budget item.

The council voted 4–3 to amend the tentative budget and set the stormwater fee at $7.67 per month under a 15-year plan. The motion to set the $7.67 rate was made by Councilmember Hausman and seconded by Councilmember DeSouza; Councilmembers Hausman, DeSouza, Sharkey and Robinson voted in favor, while Councilmembers Stroud, DeKeyser and Meacom voted no. Later the council adopted the final budget resolution (Resolution 25-23C) by unanimous roll call.

Why it matters: The stormwater fee pays for both operations and capital projects such as flood mitigation and system repairs. Council debate centered on balancing long-term capital needs with the near-term cost burden on residents, particularly people on fixed incomes.

Council debate and reasoning

Councilmembers described a split between pushing for the full administration request and adopting a more gradual increase. Councilmember DeSouza said she supported a smaller increase because she did not have “the right information or data to speak to supporting this $2.50 increase to constituents.” She added the smaller amendment “gives me time to study this a little bit more while still understanding that there is need there.”

Councilmember Stroud pressed for more outreach and earlier work sessions, saying the topic “needs more than just the 30 minutes that was committed to it last week” and that incremental annual increases might avoid “sticker shock.” Councilmember Robinson urged a middle approach, proposing a friendly suggestion that would have equated to about a 12‑year plan at roughly $8.08 per month; he ultimately voted with the majority for $7.67.

Administration and advisory input

Public utilities staff and administration referenced prior studies and advisory recommendations. Tom Ward summarized the 2023 Zion’s Bank analysis, which had projected a $7.80 monthly rate in 2023 and an increase to $9.75 in 2026; Ward said inflation and not having recent rate increases left the utility behind in revenue. He noted the city previously adopted a policy that historically allocated stormwater fees 60% to capital and 40% to operations; staff recommended keeping that split but acknowledged the council can revisit it.

Budget adoption and related actions

After the stormwater vote the council approved the final FY2025–26 budget. The mayor and council highlighted employee compensation and preserving services as priorities in a constrained fiscal year. Mayor Monica Zoltanski also announced a private donation to support Alta Canyon: she said the Larry H. Miller Family Foundation increased a prior pledge and will contribute $2,000,000 toward the Alta Canyon rebuild.

Votes at a glance (items acted on June 24)

- Motion: Set stormwater fee at $7.67/month (15-year plan). Mover: Councilmember Hausman; Second: Councilmember DeSouza. Vote: 4 yes (Hausman, DeSouza, Sharkey, Robinson), 3 no (Stroud, DeKeyser, Meacom). Outcome: Approved. (This amended the tentative budget.)

- Motion: Include Councilmember Sharkey and Chair Aaron de Kiser budget amendments (amendments approved June 17 and June 24) and adopt final budget (Resolution 25-23C). Mover: Chair Aaron de Kiser; Second: Councilmember Meekum. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved — FY2025–26 budget adopted.

- Motion: Allocate one-time funds for a public art initiative per the attached budget amendment from Chair Aaron de Kiser. Mover: Chair Aaron de Kiser; Second: Councilmember Meekum. Vote: passed (roll call recorded: DeKeyser yes, Meacom yes, Robinson yes, Stroud yes; Hausman no, DeSouza no, Sharkey no). Outcome: Approved as a one-time allocation; council directed that guidelines be developed and brought back for implementation.

- Motion: Adopt Resolution 205–26C to transfer and reduce appropriations for the fiscal year commencing 07/01/2024 and ending 06/30/2025 (cleanup items including moving community events from administration to parks and recognizing the loss of a race trails grant). Mover: Councilmember Meekum; Second: Councilmember Stroud. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

- Motion: Adopt Alta Canyon Recreation District budget (Resolution 205–24C) for the fiscal year commencing 07/01/2025 and ending 06/30/2026 and establish fees and charges. Mover: Chair Aaron de Kiser; Second: Councilmember Robinson. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: Approved.

What’s next

Councilmembers asked for more public engagement and additional work sessions on stormwater policy and utility rate timing so future increases might be phased more gradually. Administration said it will return with additional public outreach and proposed operational/capital plans tied to the adopted fee schedule. The mayor and staff said the Alta Canyon rebuild will proceed with the city’s set‑aside funds and the Miller Family Foundation gift; staff said they will pursue grants and private funding to help close remaining gaps.

Ending

Council members emphasized the difficulty of budget tradeoffs in a tight fiscal environment and asked administration to return quickly with implementation details and any needed adjustments during the fiscal year.","After hours of debate over a proposed stormwater rate increase, the Sandy City Council voted 4–3 to set the stormwater fee at $7.67 per month and then unanimously adopted the FY2025–26 municipal budget. Mayor announces a $2 million donation toward the Alta Canyon rebuild.","actionData","errors"]

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Economic development report: Sandy sees business growth but firms flag permitting and licensing as top hurdles

Sandy City Council adopts 2025–26 budget after narrow vote to set stormwater fee at $7.67