The Lindon City Council on Oct. 20 voted unanimously to approve three formal items on the agenda: a multi-vehicle equipment lease for the police department, an update to the city storm drainage ordinance to comply with recent state code changes, and a fiscal-year 2025–26 budget amendment that includes a staffing reallocation. The council also appointed Boyd Walker as the city’s honorary tree lighter for the 2025 tree-lighting ceremony, with Diane Paige named as an alternate.

The vehicle lease was presented by a city staff member as a routine financing step. Staff said the paperwork lists the total equipment obligation as "a million $33,817 dollars and 15¢" and that the city will show that full amount for accounting purposes while paying the lease payments over two years. Staff said the two annual lease payments are expected to be about $199,000 each and that the lease includes a guaranteed buyback of roughly $47,000 after two years. Councilmember Steve Stewart moved to approve the resolution (identified in the meeting as 20 25-23-R); Councilmember Cole Hooley seconded, and the motion carried unanimously among those present.

Council members described the lease as a routine fleet-management practice. Staff and council said the city has used a similar two-year swap schedule for about 15 vehicles to minimize higher third-year payments and to avoid higher maintenance costs.

On stormwater, the council opened and closed a public hearing and then approved ordinance 20 25-14-O to update Lindon City Code 13.23. A staff presenter described the changes as "really just a housekeeping matter" required by changes in state law. The amendments do three things: limit the prior practice of using stop-work orders unless there is evidence of immediate harm to a waterway, add civil fines for certain violations the state now allows, and allow electronic inspections (photos or video) submitted by developers except where reliability is in question. The presenter said the fee schedule referenced in the ordinance is set by the state. Councilmember Hooley moved to adopt the ordinance; Councilmember Stewart seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

During a public hearing on the first budget amendment of the fiscal year, Finance Director Kristen Harris reviewed a set of carryovers and increases. The amendment included changing the city’s HR generalist position from part time to full time, funded in part by shifting police staffing and by reclassifying the departing emergency management coordinator position from three-quarter time with benefits to part time without benefits. Harris told the council the city hires seasonal staff—"we're pushing 240 people" for pool season—which contributes to recurring workload for HR. Councilmember Stewart moved to approve the budget amendment (identified during the meeting as resolution 20 25-24-R); Councilmember Hooley seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Finally, the council unanimously approved naming longtime resident Boyd Walker as the honorary tree lighter for Lindon’s 2025 tree-lighting ceremony, with Diane Paige as a designated alternate. Councilmember Stewart made the motion and Councilmember Lincoln Jacobs seconded.

Votes at a glance
- Vehicle lease (resolution noted in meeting as 20 25-23-R): Motion to approve equipment purchase/lease for 15 police vehicles. Moved: Councilmember Steve Stewart. Second: Councilmember Cole Hooley. Outcome: Approved unanimously by those present. Key details: staff listed total equipment obligation in the lease as "a million $33,817 dollars and 15¢;" staff said annual lease payments will be about $199,000 for each of two years; guaranteed buyback quoted at roughly $47,000 after two years.

- Storm drainage ordinance (ordinance noted in meeting as 20 25-14-O; Lindon City Code 13.23): Motion to adopt ordinance updating city code to comply with changes in state law, including limits on stop-work orders, addition of fines, and allowance for electronic inspections. Moved: Councilmember Cole Hooley. Second: Councilmember Steve Stewart. Outcome: Approved unanimously by those present.

- Budget amendment (resolution noted in meeting as 20 25-24-R amending FY2025–26 budget): Motion to approve a series of budget carryovers and adjustments, including shifting an HR generalist position from part time to full time and changing the emergency management coordinator position from 3/4 time with benefits to part time without benefits. Moved: Councilmember Steve Stewart. Second: Councilmember Cole Hooley. Outcome: Approved unanimously by those present.

- Honorary tree lighter: Motion to appoint Boyd Walker as the 2025 honorary tree lighter, with Diane Paige as alternate. Moved: Councilmember Steve Stewart. Second: Councilmember Lincoln Jacobs. Outcome: Approved unanimously by those present.

Why this matters: The vehicle-lease action updates the city’s police fleet strategy and carries accounting implications because the full equipment obligation is recorded on the city’s books even though lease payments are spread across two years. The storm drainage ordinance change implements state-mandated inspection and enforcement rules that alter local enforcement tools (notably restricting stop-work orders) and introduces new penalty mechanisms. The budget amendment reallocates personnel funding and formally acknowledges recurring seasonal HR workload; it also changes the emergency management position’s time and benefits status. The tree-lighting appointment is ceremonial but reflects the council’s traditional community recognition.

Details and next steps: Staff said vehicle deliveries and swaps have already begun. For the stormwater ordinance, staff fielded questions about potential abuses of electronic inspection (for example, doctored photos) and said the city can require on-site inspections if concerns arise. For the budget changes, staff said the HR expansion is being absorbed within current funds and that police staffing remains a future budgeting consideration as growth and crime patterns evolve. The city will notify Boyd Walker and the Historic Commission will prepare background materials for the ceremony.

Ending: All formal votes held that evening passed unanimously among council members present. Several agenda items were continued to future meetings for fuller presentations or because key staff or council members were absent.