Provo council unanimously approves rezoning, wastewater funding, fire-truck financing and retail incentive payment

The Provo City Council on Tuesday approved a package of routine and substantive measures by unanimous votes that included two zone-map changes, a multiyear wastewater project appropriation, an incentive payment to a shopping center and financing for two new fire engines.

Key actions at the meeting included: the rezoning of approximately 0.29 acres at 4150 North Canyon Road to R1-10; a resolution appropriating $30,780,907 in the wastewater fund for water reclamation plant improvements; a $65,057 post-performance sales tax reimbursement to the East Bay Shopping Center (year five of a 10-year agreement); approval of lease-purchase financing for two Rosenbauer Type 1 fire engines and a related vehicle-replacement-fund appropriation to cover the first payment and legal fees. All items passed by a 7-0 vote.

Planning staffer Jessica Donneke presented the Canyon Road rezoning and said the application reduced the request from two parcels to one and “it still meet[s] the designation and design of the neighborhood.” The council approved the ordinance with no additional conditions and the vote was recorded as yes from Councilor Bogdan, Councilor Christiansen, Councilor Garrett, Councilor Hanley, Councilor Hoban, Councilor Katrice McKay and Councilor Rachel Whipple.

Public Works Administration Division Director Jimmy McKnight summarized the wastewater appropriation request and the financing approach. “We got a $7,000,000 loan from the state of Utah, low interest, loan from the State Revolving Loan Bank,” McKnight said, and the remaining amount came from a bond sale in January where “the lowest interest rate that was received for this $29,000,000 loan was 3.75%.” The council appropriated $30,780,907 to start construction ahead of the July budget appropriation so work can begin sooner.

Redevelopment Agency Director Melissa McNally asked the council to approve a $65,057 reimbursement tied to a 2018 agreement intended to help bring the Ross retail store to East Bay Shopping Center; she said the payment represents year five in a 10-year agreement and that the five-year total so far is $306,155.

Administrative Services Director John Borgett and Fire Chief Jeremy Hedman outlined the lease-purchase financing for two Rosenbauer fire engines. Borgett said the city issued a competitive solicitation and selected Webster Bank as the low bidder at an effective interest rate of 4.12%. The loan amount discussed in the staff presentation was $2,700,000 but staff later moved to amend the resolution to match exhibits showing $2,707,500; Councilor Bogdan made the motion to amend, Councilor Rachel Whipple seconded, and the amendment passed 7-0. The council then approved the lease-purchase financing by the same vote.

Borgett also asked the council to appropriate the first payment and legal fees from the vehicle replacement fund; that item — recorded in the meeting as an appropriation of $351,655 for the initial payment and fees — passed 7-0.

Votes and procedures of note - Amendment to fire engines financing: motion to change the loan amount to $2,707,500, moved by Councilor Bogdan, seconded by Councilor Rachel Whipple — passed 7-0. - Rezoning at 4150 North Canyon Road: ordinance adopted — passed 7-0. - Resolution appropriating $30,780,907 for wastewater treatment plant improvements: passed 7-0; funding scheme referenced a $7,000,000 State Revolving Loan and a bond sale that produced financing at about 3.75% on the $29,000,000 portion. - Resolution approving $65,057 for East Bay Shopping Center post-performance sales tax reimbursement (year 5 of 10): passed 7-0. - Resolution approving lease-purchase financing with Webster Bank for two fire engines: approved with amended principal $2,707,500 at about 4.12% and final maturity 04/01/2033 — passed 7-0. - Appropriation from vehicle replacement fund of $351,655 for the first payment and legal fees for two fire trucks: passed 7-0.

All votes recorded in the transcript show the same seven council members voting in favor: Councilor Bogdan, Councilor Christiansen, Councilor Garrett (chair), Councilor Hanley, Councilor Hoban, Councilor Katrice McKay and Councilor Rachel Whipple.

The council did not receive substantive public opposition to these items during the meeting. Several agenda items, including a separate proposed text amendment to allow a data center in airport zones, were continued and not heard at this session.