The city is in the beginning phases of considering adopting Form-Based Code that would change the commercial area on Washington Blvd and neighborhoods behind it into a more walk-able community.

Form-Based Code establishes rules to create a certain look for a particular area.  Associate Planner Brandon Bell said “Green space, building and parking location, building type, maximum block size, sub districts, connected street network, and open space,” are component parts in creating a walk-able main street development.

Julie Anderson said “If we wanted to do this we would have to start over from the beginning.” Dale Anderson said he sees a problem with slowing vehicles down to 25 mph where two highways intersect. He said it is a challenge seeing how this fits our community with how it is laid out.

Rules and procedure of council meetings

The council is considering cutting down on meetings, setting a meeting end time, and trying to find the best way to help citizens to stay within their 5 minute time allotment during public comments.

The council is considering meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month instead of every Tuesday. They canceled the meeting for next week on Sept. 11.

The council is also considering putting a visual aid to keep individual public comments within the allotted 5-minute time limit. Councilman Phillip Swanson said “I think a timer is appropriate… it will help us stay on task.” Councilwoman Cheryl Stoker said she worries this will stress out the people commenting. Julie Anderson suggested having lights on the podium that signal when the person’s time is nearly up.

Swanson also suggested having an ending time for meetings at either 9 or 10 p.m. Councilman Blake Cevering said this could make meetings more efficient. The council decided to put legislative items like public hearings at the beginning and put items that could be postponed towards the end.

The council agreed they want to include individuals who are non-religious in opening the meetings if they wish to participate. Typically, the meeting opens with a prayer, but it could be opened with a quote or a moment of reflection.

Reviewing Major Projects

There are several major projects in the works and the council reviewed them them to stay up to date with the changes. The council reviewed the amphitheater and the anticipated costs to complete it. Construction to widen the intersection at Washington Blvd and 2600 N will begin in 2020. The city is also in the preliminary stages of building a new water storage tank at Wadman Park.

City Attorney Jon Call said they are putting together estimated cost to finish the inside of the Barker Park Amphitheater. This would include improvements such as lights and fire sprinklers and Call said it would be up to the council to determine what improvements are the highest priorities.

An environmental study for the intersection at Washington Blvd and 2600 N must be completed before construction begins. The city will bid for a contractor in fall of 2019, and construction will begin the following year.

A state rule mandates the city must have 400 gallons of culinary water per dwelling unit in storage at all times. Call said the city has plans to make a rectangular basin at Wadman Park to comply with these standards. “We already budgeted for the design, and construction will begin next summer.” Call said they are looking into selling the old public works facility to fund this project. The rectangular design of the tank will make it possible to expand the tank in the future.

The past 2 to 3 years the city has purchased property in preparation for the Monroe Blvd expansion according to Call. He said it will serve as a connecting road but they won’t develop it for the next 10 years or so. Some sections have already gone in and it will connect roads including 1500 N and 1700 N. Call said one property owner isn’t interested in selling to the city.

The debris basin on 3100 will be paid for by a landowner interested in developing property nearby, and the feds according to Call.

In-home Daycare

City planner Rob Scott said the operator of an in-home daycare must be a resident of the home. If they have an additional person working there, he or she must also be a resident of that home. He said policy requires a second worker if the daycare hosts between nine to 16 children.

Gaylene Jepson said her husband is the only one who could be the second caretaker, which, she said, wouldn’t work. She said she would prefer hire another mom or someone who lives in North Ogden.

Public Comments

Julie Anderson said it would be nice to have the North Ogden Junior Posse activity on Jul. 3 advertised in conjunction with Cherry Days every year. She said this event has been going on for fifty years with 100 to 150 children showing up each year.