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Council approves My Hometown partnership with Church to support neighborhood revitalization
Summary
Layton City Council unanimously approved Resolution 25-44 adopting the My Hometown initiative and a cooperation agreement with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to provide days of service and a weekday community resource center.
The Layton City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 25-44 on Sept. 8 to approve a cooperation agreement with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to implement the My Hometown initiative in Layton.
Morgan Cloward, presenting the item, described the initiative as a long-term, volunteer-driven neighborhood-revitalization program that combines city equipment, church meetinghouse space and volunteer labor for “days of service” projects—painting, yard cleanup and minor repairs—and for weekday classes at a community resource center offering services such as English-language classes and basic computer instruction. Cloward said volunteers would include service missionaries who will not proselytize during events.
Councilmembers asked how the program might complement existing community development work, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) spending and the city’s Communities That Care offerings. Cloward and others said My Hometown could extend volunteer capacity, free up CDBG funds for larger projects and provide meeting space for recurring classes linked to existing prevention and family-support programming.
Council members asked about specifics such as whether popular classes (for example, piano lessons) could compete with local providers; council discussion noted the program intends to serve residents who otherwise lack access rather than replace existing businesses. Cloward said the program is a “work in progress” and staff will work with diverse community partners; councilmembers recommended an inclusive neighborhood committee and flexibility in which classes are offered over time.
The council moved, seconded and approved the resolution as part of the consent agenda; staff noted local missionaries Steve and Kathy Bridal were present and recognized. The resolution authorizes the mayor to execute the cooperation agreement immediately upon adoption.
Staff recommended the city partner operationally—providing trucks and dumpsters for service days and identifying a meetinghouse for weekday classes—and to use the initiative to bolster Communities That Care programming and volunteer capacity. No financial appropriation beyond staff coordination was discussed at the meeting.
