Staff updates: parks programming, water projects, trails grant and public‑safety staffing ahead of July 4 events

City staff used Wednesday’s work meeting to update the council on several operational items ahead of the July 4 holiday and to report on ongoing capital work.

Police and public safety: The police department has moved a part‑time records specialist, Britney Wright, into a new victim‑advocate role funded by a VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) grant; the grant covers roughly 85% of the position with 15% of the position time retained for city office support, staff said. The department also reported underage‑alcohol compliance checks with no local sales violations and said it will test for new officers on July 15 to fill three open positions; the city is also recruiting for a records clerk.

Parks and recreation: Parks staff reported July 4 event plans—pancake breakfast, parade, flag ceremony, pool activities and fireworks—and said fall program registration opens July 7. Parks staff and the mayor described a change to a resident / nonresident fee schedule: using a resident/nonresident price split to keep resident fees stable while raising nonresident rates by $5 (example given: soccer resident fee remaining $35; nonresident $40). Staff said about 30% of participants in some leagues are nonresidents; the fee change aims to offset program costs, including wages for referees and instructors.

Water and public works: The public works director and utilities staff reported progress on multiple well and tank projects: Dixie Springs well head scheduled for installation, Gold’s Wash well drilling planned, Sky Ranch tank earthwork advancing, and a two‑inch temporary supply line under negotiation with landowners for Sky Ranch well operations. The 100 North road reconstruction project was reported as running behind its original September schedule due to late gas‑company coordination, with a realistic finish projected around Thanksgiving, barring weather or other delays. Crews continue daily leak response work.

Trails and grants: Staff said the city received a state outdoor recreation program grant to fund a 100%‑funded feasibility study for a proposed Paw Tempe / Virgin River Trail linking the main‑street trailhead to the canal diversion and up the Virgin River Gorge; the city said it is coordinating with the conservancy district.

Other operational notes: The streets division reported MS4 outreach completion tasks and an internal promotion: Hayden Roberts named street superintendent (pending formalization). The city also filled a utility‑locator position with an in‑house candidate, Tate Wilkinson. The city manager and department heads raised an internal HR compliance issue: participation rates in an employee training program required by the local government trust are at roughly 22% completion citywide; department leaders were asked to increase completion to maintain insurance premium benefits.

Proclamations and ordinances: The council adopted a proclamation declaring Aug. 3–9, 2025, Hurricane City Farmers Market Week and approved several housekeeping ordinance updates: changes to allowed use tables (Title 10 chapters 12–17) and moving site‑plan approval authority for manufactured home and RV parks from the council to the planning commission (Title 10 chapter 43).