Hooper City Council tables leasing ordinance after conflict-of-interest concerns

Hooper City Council members voted on Dec. 18 to table a proposed ordinance that would change how the city leases real property, after several council members raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the proposal’s alignment with state law.

Council Member Hill told colleagues that legal counsel had advised tabling a motion at a prior meeting and said the council “was not given an opportunity to make a motion” at that time, arguing the council should have a clear role in leasing decisions. Another council member said some residents had been denied access to leases and urged a bidding process so “other members of the community have an opportunity” to apply.

Speakers repeatedly referenced the Hooper City Code and the Utah state code on surplus property, and several council members suggested reviewing Clearfield and other city codes as models. City Attorney Darren cautioned that appointment-and-removal language carries legal implications and noted the council is the ultimate decisionmaker on appointments, saying the interview panel would only be recommending nominees to the council.

Council Member Hill moved to table the ordinance and directed staff to review relevant language from the Utah code and other city codes; Council Member Fowers seconded. The motion to table passed on a voice vote.

Next steps: staff and the city attorney will review Clearfield’s code and state statutes and return proposed language to the council; no further action on the ordinance was taken at the Dec. 18 meeting.