Clearfield council approves consolidated fee schedule, including cemetery and utility changes

The Clearfield City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026‑07 on a motion and second, approving changes to the city's consolidated fee schedule that update utility rates, business license penalties, planning and building fees, recreation and cemetery charges.

City staff had outlined several changes during the public hearing and staff presentations. Rich, a utilities staff member, said the city intends to implement recommended utility rate changes on Jan. 1, 2028, including a 6% adjustment to water base fees and increases to sewer and storm charges (staff cited a storm figure of $10.29), changes to the delinquency/shutoff process (raising the third‑notice shutoff fee from $35 to $40), a new after‑hours reconnect fee of $60 and a new meter‑damage charge equal to meter cost plus $250.

Stacy, a planning and licensing staff member, described code updates: raising the penalty for engaging in business without a license to 50% of the total license amount, clarifying accessory‑dwelling wording to include attached and detached units, and aligning sign‑related fines into a consolidated schedule. Staff also proposed changing the identical‑plans review fee from a flat $47 to either the actual plan‑review cost or 30% of the building plan fee.

Park and cemetery operations staff presented a range of adjustments they said had not been updated since 2014. Proposals included increasing pavilion rental fees (resident $20→$40; nonresident $40→$80), eliminating some scoreboard operator fees, and several cemetery changes: keeping the resident adult plot purchase at $450 while proposing a nonresident plot price of $1,500 (staff noted Kaysville’s nonresident rate of $6,400 as a comparison but recommended a lower figure), raising full‑size internment fees for residents from $300 to $500 and for nonresidents from $600 to $1,000, increasing after‑hours/weekend internment overtime charges (weeknights $300/hour; Saturdays/holidays up to $800/$1,500), and raising disinterment fees from $500 to $1,000. Staff also proposed a higher first‑year certificate transfer fee to address transfers that shift a resident purchase to a nonresident rate.

Council members asked staff clarifying questions about the scope and implementation of the fee changes; staff acknowledged several drafting errors in the printed packet and said corrections would be made. After discussion, a council member moved to approve the ordinance; the motion carried and the ordinance was adopted.

The ordinance also formalizes the previously announced citizen participation change to publish notices on the public notice website and the Clearfield website rather than paying the Standard‑Examiner for notice publication. Staff opened a 30‑day public comment period for related CDBG amendments and the consolidated plan reallocation of $26,000 for elevator work at city hall.

The ordinance takes effect as specified in the document adopted by council; specific effective dates for the utility changes were described by staff as Jan. 1, 2028.