Toquerville council adopts annexation policy plan with wording change

The Toquerville City Council adopted an updated annexation policy plan at a public hearing and amended one line to remove wording that could be read to require the city to install infrastructure in newly annexed areas.

The policy plan, required by Utah Code 10-2-4115, establishes an expansion-area map, criteria for evaluating annexation petitions and guidance to landowners on petition procedures. Staff said the plan was drafted last year by Sunrise Engineering and has been noticed at the Planning Commission with opportunities for comment from neighboring jurisdictions and special service districts.

Council discussion centered on a phrase in page 3, item 2, that read “capacity to install and provide [required municipal services].” Several council members and staff said the wording could be read to obligate the city to install infrastructure. Councilmembers proposed, and the body approved, removing the two words “to install.” As discussed at the meeting, the policy will state that the city will provide municipal services after infrastructure is installed by developers or otherwise provided as part of an annexation agreement.

Staff told the council there were no current annexation petitions and the city is not proactively pursuing annexations; rather, the plan creates a compliant process for landowners to petition under state law. The map included in the plan shows a broad potential annexation area contiguous to the city; staff noted some overlap with an adjacent municipality’s annexation map in one location.

A motion to approve the plan with the page 3, item 2 edit passed. Meeting minutes show no individual names recorded for the motion and vote on the audio transcript; the mayor called the vote and announced the motion carried.

The plan will be posted on the city website as part of the zoning map layers so residents and landowners can view the proposed expansion-area overlay and related guidance.