Council authorizes work release with Sunrise Engineering after $30,000 private donation for zoning update

Milford City Council on July 15 authorized Mayor Davis to sign Work Release 2025-1 with Sunrise Engineering to perform zoning-code updates, after a private company offered $30,000 toward the cost.

City staff told the council the work release covers a full update of the municipal zoning code, will be performed on a time-and-materials basis and will be reviewed to ensure compatibility with state law and the city’s general plan. Council action authorizing the mayor to sign the work release passed by voice vote after a motion by Ian and a second by Scott.

Council members and staff said the city has sought state grant funding for code work in prior rounds but had not received awards for the Southern Utah region. A local employer identified in the meeting as Fervo (transcribed elsewhere as Vervoe/Fervoe) offered $30,000 to help fund the update; staff reported Fervo would pay half of that amount up front and the remainder midproject.

Staff advised that Sunrise Engineering had prepared the work release and that the consultant will ensure the revised zoning regulations align with state code and the city’s updated general plan. City staff described the zoning code as “outdated” and noted there are conflicts and provisions that do not reflect current development patterns.

No dollar figure for the total cost of the Sunrise work release was presented at the meeting; council discussion focused on accepting the work release and acknowledging the private donation as an enabling resource. The council approved authorization for the mayor to execute the work release so staff may proceed with the contract process.

The council’s approval included direction to coordinate payment milestones with the private donor and to ensure the consultant’s deliverables address code conflicts and general-plan alignment.