Planning commission approves RCOG grant progress report and letter of attestation for downtown amenities

The Moab City Planning Commission on July 10 approved a progress report and a letter of attestation for the Rural Community Opportunity Grant (RCOG) that funded downtown dispersed-parking amenities, landscaping, benches and shade structures.

Planning staff reported the total grant award was $590,319 and that the city has completed most work and expects to submit final reimbursement this summer to close out the grant. Alexi Lamb, planning staff, summarized the grant expenditures and said the final payment application is being prepared.

Staff noted elements funded by the grant include lit bollards, landscaping (plants, mulch and irrigation), benches and shade structures; the project also included match funding from the city. Alexi Lamb said the governor’s office of economic opportunity requests evaluation metrics such as jobs created; staff will include measurable impacts to the extent they can be tied to the amenity work and business activity.

The commission moved and voted to approve the progress report and the letter of attestation. Commissioner Carolyn Conant moved to approve the letter of attestation; Commissioner Miles Lofton seconded. The motion passed 4‑0.

Why it matters: approving the attestation permits staff to finalize the grant’s annual report and submit final reimbursement paperwork to the grantor, enabling financial closeout of the RCOG award for the downtown amenities.

Quotations - Alexi Lamb, city planning staff: "The total grant award was $590,319, and the final reimbursement is getting ready to be submitted this summer."

Details and next steps - Funded items called out in staff materials: lit bollards, benches, shade structures, landscaping components (plants, mulch, irrigation) and other site amenities in the dispersed‑parking area. - Staff will prepare the final report with available evaluation data requested by the governor’s office of economic opportunity and submit the letter of attestation signed by the planning commission chair.

Speakers and action - Motion to approve: Carolyn Conant (mover). Second: Miles Lofton. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no. Outcome: approved.

Speakers quoted or referenced in the item included Alexi Lamb (planning staff), Savannah Thomas Arrigo (new staff introduced), and planning commissioners Carolyn Conant, Miles Lofton, Jill Tatton and Kai Marenfeld.