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Residents urge fiscal scrutiny, a gun-range feasibility study and net-zero consideration during Cottonwood Heights public comment
Summary
At the Feb. 17 meeting residents urged the council to exhaust internal budget efficiencies before raising taxes, requested a fresh feasibility study for a proposed gun range and urged participation in a city renewable program aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Public comment at Cottonwood Heights City Hall on Feb. 17 featured three main themes: fiscal scrutiny, requests for more feasibility work on a proposed gun range, and climate/renewables advocacy.
Mike Hanson, speaking during the public-comment period, told the council he supports the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee but urged it and the council to pursue a thorough review of internal efficiencies — pauses on hiring, temporary wage freezes and structural reviews — before pushing a tax increase. Hanson also asked that committee meetings, minutes and correspondence be posted publicly and that committee contact information be made available to the public.
Dennis Magaru, a six-year Army veteran, praised training and de-escalation but asked the city to conduct a new feasibility study for the proposed gun range. "What's it really gonna cost? What are the expenses? Are we really gonna get the revenue?" he asked, saying he supports rigorous cost and revenue analysis before the project proceeds.
Chester France urged the council to remain in the Utah renewable community program and encouraged the city to pursue low-cost household subscription options that can reduce carbon at modest monthly expense. France framed the request in the context of international net-zero-by-2050 goals and argued the city should pursue "low-hanging fruit" steps to reduce local emissions.
Council members acknowledged the comments during the budget hearing and later approved the amended budget; they also ratified appointments to the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee and emphasized the committee's public, advisory role.
Quoted in meeting: "Let's exhaust internal efficiencies... and then only then, if absolutely necessary, consider making residents pay more," said Mike Hanson. "What's it really gonna cost?" asked Dennis Magaru about the gun-range proposal.
What’s next: The council approved the budget amendments and the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee will begin public advisory meetings; the council and staff did not adopt any immediate policy to change the gun-range process at the Feb. 17 meeting.
