Springville council adopts tentative 2025–26 budget, OKs pay ordinance and several land‑use changes

The Springville City Council on Monday adopted a tentative 2025–26 budget, approved a pair of measures setting municipal officer compensation, and approved several land‑use ordinances, including a narrow amendment to creek‑setback standards and a new senior‑housing overlay zone.

The council opened a required public hearing on planned transfers from enterprise funds to the general fund before taking action on the broader budget. Bruce, a city finance staff member, told the council the transfers fall into three categories — administrative fees, a policy transfer equal to 6.5% of operating revenue, and internal utility charges — and that the combined transfers total about $8,000,000.

Why it matters: The tentative budget establishes the city’s spending plan and triggers the state’s “truth in taxation” process because the proposed property‑tax request exceeds the certified tax rate. The budget also contains staffing and rate decisions that affect taxes, utility bills and capital projects across the city.

Council action and key budget details - The council voted to adopt Resolution 2025‑22 to operate under a tentative budget effective July 1 and to set a truth‑in‑taxation hearing for Aug. 19, 2025. The vote was recorded in roll call: Mindy (yes), Logan (yes), Mike (yes) and Craig (yes). - Gabe Roush, a city staff member presenting the budget, said the general fund is balanced at $899,503 (as presented), the total city budget is about $118,000,000, and that the proposed city portion of property tax would increase 2.1% (about $67,000 city‑wide), which for a $500,000 home equates to about $4.40 annually for the city share. Utility rate increases proposed are generally 2.5–3%, which staff estimated would add about $5 per month for the typical residential customer. - The budget continues a long‑standing policy to transfer 6.5% of enterprise operating revenues to the general fund; staff cited approximately $3.5 million in such policy transfers and about $3.5 million in administrative fee transfers (for a combined transfer near $8 million).

Public comment and notification concerns Resident Shauna Fry urged the council to increase public notice and outreach about meetings and budget items, saying, “I had to go look for what this meeting is about, and it's hidden… I would just like to suggest … blast it out there.” The mayor and staff said they would work on clearer public notice ahead of the August hearing.

Pay ordinances and executive compensation - The council held a public hearing and then approved Resolution 2025‑21, which outlines compensation increases for executive municipal officers within a stated range (collectively not to exceed the total amount discussed in the budget). The roll call recorded yes votes by Mike, Logan, Craig and Mindy. - The council also adopted Ordinance 09‑2025 to set compensation for the mayor and council and to adopt the city’s compensation schedule for fiscal 2026. The ordinance states the mayor’s combined salary and allowance will be no more than $20,668 (rounded), and each of the five council members shall be paid a combined annual salary and expense allowance of no more than $16,332.16 each. The ordinance passed on roll call votes recorded in the minutes.

Land‑use and development measures - Creek corridor setback amendment (Ordinance 10‑2025): The council adopted a narrow amendment to Section 11‑6‑130 of the Springville City Code that applies to subdivisions between 1200 East and 1700 East that abut Hobble Creek and have fewer than eight lots. The amendment allows a reduced vehicular frontage park strip from 8 feet to 3 feet on streets serving lots directly abutting the creek, requires replacement trees to be planted on private property 5 feet behind the sidewalk, and requires a vegetated park strip achieving 50% plant cover within three years. Josh, a city planner, described the proposal as a narrowly scoped balance between lot‑depth flexibility and preserving trail easements. The motion passed on roll call: Craig (yes), Logan (yes), Mike (yes); Mindy recorded an abstention for a potential conflict of interest. - Senior housing overlay (Ordinance 11‑2025): The council approved an overlay zone permitting senior independent living within specified neighborhood commercial parcels adjacent to an assisted‑living facility. Carla, a planning staff member, said the overlay requires the independent senior homes remain under single ownership (not condominiums) and must be developed in conjunction with an assisted‑living center; the ordinance passed on a recorded vote. - North Main gateway permitted uses: Councilmembers asked staff to notify nearby property owners before taking final action on a proposed change to the land‑use table that would prohibit certain vehicle‑oriented uses within 500 feet of Highway 89 in a limited corridor. The council continued that item without date to allow outreach after members asked staff to contact property owners who could be affected. - Civic Center Park boundary and gathering‑space definitions (Ordinances 13‑2025, 14‑2025): To clarify proximity calculations for state alcohol licensing and to officially recognize a “community gathering area,” the council approved delineating Civic Center Park’s boundary (moving it slightly so nearby businesses meet Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services proximity standards) and added a definition for “community gathering area.” Those amendments passed on recorded votes.

Redevelopment area (RDA) timing Councilmembers reviewed the frontage‑road redevelopment district history and asked staff to consult the other taxing entities about extending RDA collections so the project could recover more of its original tax‑increment expectations. Staff described the original 1999 plan (which anticipated roughly $11.4 million in tax increment) and noted the project has collected about $3.72 million to date, with roughly 30 acres still undeveloped inside the RDA. The council voted to have staff engage the taxing entities about possible adjustments; the roll call recorded Craig (yes), Logan (yes), Mike (yes) and Mindy (yes).

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025‑21 (executive municipal officers compensation): approved (roll call recorded: Mike yes; Logan yes; Craig yes; Mindy yes). - Ordinance 09‑2025 (sets elected and statutory officer compensation; attaches FY26 compensation schedule): approved (roll call recorded: Logan yes; Mike yes; Craig yes; Mindy yes). - Resolution 2025‑22 (adopt tentative FY26 budget; set Truth‑in‑Taxation hearing Aug. 19, 2025): approved (roll call recorded: Mindy yes; Logan yes; Mike yes; Craig yes). - Ordinance 10‑2025 (amend Section 11‑6‑130, creek corridor / park strip exceptions, limited application along Hobble Creek): approved (roll call recorded: Craig yes; Logan yes; Mike yes; Mindy abstain—potential conflict). - Ordinance 11‑2025 (add senior‑housing overlay zone in Neighborhood Commercial; must be tied to assisted‑living facility, no condominiumization): approved (roll call recorded: Logan yes; Mike yes; Craig yes; Mindy yes). - Ordinances 13‑2025 and 14‑2025 (Civic Center Park boundary delineation; add community‑gathering area definition): both approved (roll calls recorded: Logan yes; Mike yes; Craig yes; Mindy yes). - Direction to staff to consult taxing entities regarding extension/adjustment of the Frontage Road RDA tax‑increment collection: approved (roll call recorded: Craig yes; Logan yes; Mike yes; Mindy yes).

What council emphasized and next steps Councilmembers repeatedly asked staff for clearer public outreach ahead of the August Truth‑in‑Taxation process. Staff will return with final budget documents for adoption after the August public hearing. Staff was directed to notify potentially affected property owners regarding the North Main permitted‑uses item before it returns to council. The city will also pursue discussions with taxing entities on the RDA timing question.

Ending: The meeting concluded after routine administrative items and a motion to enter closed session on property and litigation matters; council recorded a roll call supporting the move and the session followed the business on the published agenda.