“A live observatory is the most effective for cost for the community,” said Jordan Wayment, a North Ogden resident and student at Utah State University. The city council assigned Wayment to find information regarding the urban deer population with City Attorney Jon Call. Wayment volunteered his help in a previous City Council meeting.
Wayment said the District of Wildlife Resources gave him the suggestion to hold a live observatory to count the deer using volunteers. He said volunteers will meet at a rally point at a specified date and time to count the deer they see on set routes throughout the city. He said they would do this preferably in the evening when the deer become more active. He also said they could do it with six, twelve, or a hundred volunteers.
“The key point is everyone has to start at the exact same time and work our way through and count the deer inside [assigned] route boundaries.” He said this will help eliminate double counting deer. Wayment said the volunteers will mark on maps where they are seeing the deer and trail cameras will be put in the main problem areas. Mayor Brent Taylor emphasized this will not be an actual count. “It is a relative count they will use to compare the numbers to in the summer.”
The council approved $1000 for the preliminary deer count. Of that, $600 will be spent to buy four trail cameras and $400 for refreshments to the volunteers who will be counting.
Recycling is on the verge of death
Taylor said improper sorting is killing recycling. “China used to take the recycled materials in bales and too much of it has been contaminated. It’s been harder and harder to sale bales of recycled goods.” The city has been working on an agreement with Recycled Earth and nearby cities are using their service. Call said Recycled Earth will sort at their own expense and take what they can’t use to the dump. Call said, “Right now we are paying 37.80 per ton.” He said they are holding it at $36.80 to get rid of recycling which is close to the cost to dispose of regular garbage. Sara Fawson said she wants to find potentially cheaper options for recycling.
Owners may soon live on business property
Taylor said they want to consider allowing residency in commercial zones for people to live and work. The planning commission found that this amendment is in compliance with the general plan. Swanson said he has real concern with the unintended consequences that might come along with this. “We have made a large point to segregate commercial from residential.” Cheryl Stoker said she doesn’t have a problem with it. Taylor said he thinks it could be a bad outcome if they don’t add specific language to clarify it’s a place for business owners to live, not to rent out to someone else. Swanson pointed out that owners won’t enjoy all the things other residents can do since, at this point, personal recreational vehicle parking is not allowed.
Linda Vanderver said, “My husband and I own All a Flutter. We are looking to build a patio home back there. We are planning on being there’s as long as we can… We would sell the flat along with the building.” Steve Rasmussen wondered, “Why should we care about whether people could live on their business property or have an RV on their business property?” Councilman Carl Turner moved to table this until next year to consider the issue with the new city council members.
An update to the Public Works Standards
Lorrin Gardner is the new city engineer. “I have spent basically my whole career focused in the public realm doing city engineering.” He helped revise the City’s Public Works Standards which is set to be revised every five to seven years.The council approved the updated Public Works Standards and from this point on, subdivisions will be subject to adhere to updated standards. Changes to the standards include decorative lighting, a new PRV vault in the water system, stormwater retention, concrete work requirements, and better planning for steep roads leading into intersections. Gardner said there’s a lot of concrete work going in and much of it is cracking. He proposed to “Increase the amount of base material from 4 inches to 8 inches to hopefully reduce some of the settlement.” For steep roads leading into intersections, he proposed to make a landing to make it easier to manage stopping at intersections on slopes. They also added additional landscaping requirements for detention basins and stormwater retention along with proposed setbacks from property lines.
Other
The council approved the amends to the proposed modifications in the City Zoning Code to simplify the permitting process for business signs.
The council gave final approval to complete phase two and conditional acceptance for phase three for the Cactus Ridge subdivision. The council also granted final approval for the Cove Subdivision.
The council accepted the Annexation petition located on 2521 North mountain road. The village at prominence point needed some amendments to the annexation ordinance.