Pleasant Grove council approves employee 401(k) match, lease purchase and roadway reimbursement; grants local liquor consent for December event

Pleasant Grove — The Pleasant Grove City Council on Aug. 19 approved several measures affecting city employees, fleet and equipment purchases, a developer-funded roadway improvement and a local consent request for a December special event.

The council unanimously approved a resolution amending the city's personnel policies to add an employer match for employee 401(k) retirement contributions and set a wait period tied to employee probation. The council also adopted a reimbursement resolution to allow the city to reimburse itself from tax-exempt lease proceeds if closing delays occur; later the council authorized a lease-purchase agreement with US Bancorp Government Leasing & Finance to acquire public safety vehicles, computers and fitness equipment. Separately the council approved a reimbursement agreement with Blossom Hill LLC for roadway infrastructure tied to a subdivision near 200 South and 1150 East. The council also granted local consent for Lunar Galas to apply for a single-event liquor license for a Dec. 13 event at the Stonegate event center.

Why it matters: the personnel-policy change creates a new recurring benefit for employees and strengthens retention tools; the financing approvals let the city acquire vehicles and technology now while preserving the option to treat those costs as tax-exempt lease proceeds; the Blossom Hills agreement commits city funds for roadway and sidewalk work adjacent to a new subdivision; and the special-event consent clears the way for a private event that will include alcohol service at a city venue.

401(k) match: the council adopted Resolution 2025-030 to add a subsection to the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual that establishes an employer match for employee 401(k) plans. General counsel told the council the change was continued from a prior meeting and clarified a technical point about vesting: "They have told us that there's no way that that can happen in the URS system," meaning the city cannot impose a separate URS-administered vesting schedule in that system. The council set the city match to be unavailable until employees complete probation: six months for regular employees and one year for public-safety employees, per the staff explanation. Council Member Jensen moved the resolution; Council Member Anderson seconded. The roll-call vote recorded Council Members Anderson, Jensen, Lamone, Rogers and Williams as voting yes.

Lease financing and purchase: the council adopted a reimbursement resolution (Resolution 2025-032) to permit the city to reimburse capital expenditures from tax-exempt lease proceeds if closing on the master lease takes longer than equipment delivery. Director Roy told the council the resolution includes a 60-day "look-back" period to cover items that arrive before closing. Council members asked for more detailed line-item lists for the $404,000 cap referenced in the packet. Roy described the anticipated acquisitions verbally: eight vehicles (five Ford F-150s and three Chevrolet Tahoes), roughly $60,000 of computer equipment (30+ devices plus rotation servers), and about $60,000 in cardio equipment for the recreation center. Roy said he would provide a written breakdown to the council. The reimbursement resolution passed on a voice/roll-call vote; Council Member Anderson moved and Council Member Jensen seconded.

Immediately afterward the council authorized the city to enter a lease-purchase agreement with US Bancorp (Resolution 2025-033). Director Roy said he solicited bids and received two offers; US Bank provided the lowest rate at 3.995 percent for the proposed term. The council moved and approved the authorization to execute and deliver the lease-purchase documents; Council Member Williams moved and Council Member Anderson seconded. Council members discussed the $7,000 estimated savings versus the other bidder and confirmed the term and interest were the basis for award.

Blossom Hills roadway reimbursement: the council approved Resolution 2025-025 authorizing the mayor to execute a reimbursement agreement with Blossom Hill LLC for roadway infrastructure improvements near 200 South and 1150 East. Public Works Director Neil Winterton explained the work covers city property adjacent to the developer's phase 2 and will include straightening a short segment of roadway, sidewalk, landscaping, asphalt rehabilitation and driveway improvements for an affected property owner. Winterton described a city share of cost in the packet of about $93,000 and said the work will be done by the developer's contractor while they are on site. Council Member Ramon moved the resolution and Council Member Johnson seconded; the motion passed on roll call with the council voting yes.

Local consent for Lunar Galas winter ball: the council granted local consent so Lunar Galas can apply to the state for a single-event liquor license for a Dec. 13 "Winter Court" ball at the Stonegate event center, 886 W. 2600 North. The city's general counsel explained local consent indicates the mayor and council do not object to alcohol service at the specified event. Representatives from Lunar Galas described the event as an adults-only (18+) themed ball with workshops and a ballroom reception. Council Member Anderson moved approval of the local-consent form, Council Member Williams seconded, and the council voted all in favor.

Other business and director reports: Public Works Director Winterton delivered a broad report covering utility policy and capital projects. He flagged a newly released proposal from the Utah Division of Drinking Water that would assess proposed fees to water suppliers and said, quoting him, "3.3¢ per thousand gallons of water used." Winterton said it is not yet clear how the fee will be applied (culinary vs. secondary) or its ultimate impact on the city, and urged outreach to the Legislature and involvement of the Utah Municipal League.

Winterton also outlined the city's utility rate study work with Bowen Collins & Associates (and potentially Lewis Young as a subcontractor). He said the study team is gathering data for a 10-year capital plan and expects deliverables in December or January to inform next year's budget. Winterton described staff plans to present multiple rate distribution options (base versus volume charges), comparisons to other cities with context, and a public education component and said the city will not recommend implementing new charges until resident-facing data and systems are ready.

Public-works project updates included pavement work on several streets, a planned one-week closure of Cook Family Park for warranty and maintenance (splash pad closes after Labor Day), and a pilot electronic speed-feedback sign pilot to address speeding on recently rehabilitated roadways. Winterton said the city has spent significant sums on pavement programs and suggested portable electronic signs and a public-awareness campaign as tools to slow traffic.

Irrigation shares and Pleasant Grove Irrigation Company: Winterton reviewed questions around irrigation shares held by some property owners and a previously proposed ordinance the city declined to adopt. He described the city's practice of buying shares from willing sellers but said a broad ordinance or subsidy was not recommended. He advised affected residents to engage with the Pleasant Grove Irrigation Company's public meetings for details.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2025-030 (personnel policy: employer 401(k) match; probationary vesting): mover Jensen; second Anderson; outcome: approved (yes: Anderson, Jensen, Lamone, Rogers, Williams). - Resolution 2025-032 (reimbursement intent for tax-exempt financing, cap referenced ~$404,000): mover Anderson; second Jensen; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Resolution 2025-033 (authorize lease-purchase agreement with US Bancorp for vehicles/computers/fitness equipment): mover Williams; second Anderson; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Resolution 2025-025 (reimbursement agreement with Blossom Hill LLC for roadway improvements, area near 200 S / 1150 E): mover Ramon; second Johnson; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Local consent for Lunar Galas single-event liquor license (Dec. 13, Stonegate event center): mover Anderson; second Williams; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote).

What to watch next: staff will provide a written equipment and computer list tied to the master lease and share more detailed capital-plan materials as the rate study progresses toward a December/January deliverable. The city and residents may also track the Division of Drinking Water 's fee proposal and any League or legislative responses. Winterton said he will forward details of the proposed DDW fees to city leadership for follow-up.

Meeting context: the meeting included multiple unanimous votes on routine and budget-authorizing items and a lengthy public-works discussion that produced requests from council members for more granular lists, public education materials, and potential future open houses on utility rates. The council adjourned after director reports and council comments.