City council approves a package of ordinances and resolutions including new health advisory committee and short‑term rental fines

Cottonwood Heights City Council approved eight legislative items at its Dec. 17 business meeting, voting to add a city health advisory committee, adopt higher short‑term rental penalties and approve interlocal and event agreements. Most items passed unanimously.

The council approved Ordinance 419 to add the Health in the Heights advisory committee to city code. The motion was made by Council member Sean Newell and seconded by Council member Matt Holton; all recorded votes were in favor.

The council also approved Ordinance 428 to increase penalties for short‑term rental violations. Council member Suzanne Hyland moved the ordinance with a second from Council member Ellen Burrell. Council members emphasized the need to deter noncompliance and noted that state statutory limits on evidence of listings currently hamper enforcement. The measure passed on a recorded roll call with all recorded votes in favor.

Resolutions approved at the meeting included: - Resolution 2024‑72: an interlocal agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for converted Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds; moved by Council member Ellen Burrell and seconded by Council member Matt Holton; recorded votes in favor. - Resolution 2024‑73: an event agreement for the 2025 Butlerville Days Carnival; moved by Council member Matt Holton and seconded by Council member Ellen Burrell; recorded votes in favor. - Resolution 2024‑74: a grant agreement with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums for FY 2024–25; moved by Council member Ellen Burrell and seconded by Council member Sean Newell; recorded votes in favor. - Resolution 2024‑75: consenting to an Arts Council appointment (Brinley Wallace) and reappointment (Lara Garcia); moved by Council member Matt Holton and seconded by Council member Ellen Burrell; recorded votes in favor. - Resolution 2024‑706: approving members of the new Health in the Heights advisory committee; moved by Council member Sean Newell and seconded by Council member Ellen Burrell; recorded votes in favor.

The council also approved the consent calendar for prior meeting minutes (Nov. 12, Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, 2024) and adjourned. Most measures were adopted unanimously at the meeting; staff and council members indicated follow‑up implementation steps for the health committee and related programming, and noted that changes to short‑term rental enforcement may depend on state legislative changes to evidentiary rules.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in meeting): - Ordinance 419 (add Health in the Heights advisory committee): motion Newell; second Holton; yes — Council members Hyland, Newell, Burrell, Holton; Mayor yes. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 427 (Tabatchi annexation): motion Holton; second Hyland; yes — Newell, Holton, Hyland; no — Burrell; Mayor yes. Outcome: approved. (Also covered in separate article.) - Ordinance 428 (short‑term rental violation penalties): motion Hyland; second Burrell; recorded yes votes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2024‑72 (UDOT TAP funds interlocal): motion Burrell; second Holton; recorded yes votes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2024‑73 (Butlerville Days Carnival event agreement): motion Holton; second Burrell; recorded yes votes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2024‑74 (Utah Division of Arts and Museums grant FY24–25): motion Burrell; second Newell; recorded yes votes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2024‑75 (Arts Council appointments): motion Holton; second Burrell; recorded yes votes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2024‑706 (Health in the Heights advisory committee members): motion Newell; second Burrell; recorded yes votes. Outcome: approved.

Council members and staff noted the short‑term rental work will continue through a council‑led study committee; they also said implementing some enforcement steps depends on state action to allow certain types of listing evidence. The health advisory committee and arts grant will proceed under staff direction and specified reporting timelines.