City staff told the Santaquin City Council on Sept. 2 that calendar-year building permits show 199 residential dwelling units so far, compared with 182 at the same point last year. Staff said the previous fiscal year total was 280 dwelling units and that the city is slightly ahead of last fiscal year's pace with 39 units in the current fiscal year so far.

Business licenses: Staff reported two new business licenses: a home-occupation electrician and a new commercial business license for Lehi Schwab (a commercial tire and service business). Norm said Les Schwab will have a soft opening the day after the council meeting and tentatively plans a grand-opening ribbon cutting on Sept. 19, pending confirmation with the chamber.

How permits are counted: Staff clarified that the city reports "residential dwelling units," counting each dwelling door as one unit. That means a 60-unit apartment building would be reported as 60 dwelling units even if building permits are processed at the building level for construction purposes. Jason, the staff presenter, explained the reporting distinction: building permits reflect actual builds pulled; multifamily reporting counts individual dwelling units for the city statistics.

Consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes and expenditure review and the previously discussed out-of-state training request for city staff to attend the International City Managers Association conference in Tampa; the consent agenda passed on a recorded vote of council members present.