TL;DR
A work session is a meeting where the council talks through items but does not vote. Council members did not want to move forward with a Planning Commission proposal that would require plant coverage in commercial landscaping. Several items are headed to the next business meeting: an updated ambulance bill hardship policy, a fire agreement that adds Hill Air Force Base, budget carryovers, wage scale corrections, and an agreement with Davis County to pass along Costco sales tax money.
5 sections
What was discussed
10 items
- Item c.1: Landscaping standards (SMC 10.28). Staff said the current rules could let a commercial site fill landscaped areas with gravel or mulch and no plants. The proposal would require at least 60% plant coverage in each landscaped area, measured at the plants’ mature size. Council members who favored it said it adds value and avoids bare rock. Others said it could force costly irrigation in odd or unseen spots, and that it could push businesses to other cities. They also said existing rules already cover most cases and that 60% seemed high. One member suggested a lower figure such as 50%. One member said they would take it to a vote. Several others said they did not want to move forward. The chair concluded the item will not go to a vote.
- Item d.1: Ambulance billing financial hardship policy. This would replace policy R19-06, which lets people with limited means get a reduced ambulance bill. Applications would move from paper to a secure online form run by the city’s billing company, which stores the personal information. The Fire Chief said the city would not have to download or keep that information. Eligibility would end at 195% of the Federal Poverty Guideline, down from 250%. A discount table based on household size and income would replace hand calculation. The minimum amount accepted would change from $100 to 5% of the bill left after insurance. Council members raised no objections, and the item was set for the consent agenda at the next meeting. The consent agenda is a group of routine items approved together in one vote.
- Item d.2: Surplus of the 2011 Kenworth fire water tender. Declaring it surplus lets the city sell it. The agenda says the truck was still in service, with a replacement expected within 45 days. In the meeting it was described as already replaced. Staff said only real property needs a hearing, and the item was placed on the consent agenda.
- Item d.3: Intercounty Automatic Aid Fire Agreement. This renews a 2020 agreement that predefines how fire units respond across the Weber and Davis County line. The agreement is for five years. The main change is adding Hill Air Force Base Fire Protection. Under the draft, the base’s response is on a mutual aid basis and the base keeps the right to decline or recall units. No concerns were raised, and the item was set for the consent agenda.
- Item e.1: ACH fraud prevention and monitoring policy. ACH is the electronic bank payment system used for payroll, vendor payments and utility billing. The policy responds to updated NACHA rules, which require formal fraud-monitoring procedures. It covers transaction reviews, verification of banking changes, separation of duties, staff training and a response plan. Staff said it writes down practices already in use. The item was moved forward to a vote.
- Item e.2: Wage scale for the year ending June 30, 2027. The changes correct errors from the June approval. The top of the Police Officer I scale becomes $35.67 instead of $37.87. Site Supervisor becomes $18.18 to $25.24 instead of $18.78 to $26.10. The three Recreation Assistant scales were updated because they were missed in June. Staff also proposed a wording change, dropping “Parks” from the title “Assistant Parks Operations Manager.” The item is set for discussion and approval at the next meeting, not the consent agenda.
- Item e.3: Budget amendments for the year ending June 30, 2026. Most of this is carryover, meaning money for projects that were underway on June 30 and not finished. Staff said this happens every year because the fiscal year ends mid-construction season. Council members had no questions, and the item was placed on the next meeting for discussion and a vote.
- Item f: Park-and-ride lots (SMC 11.20.075). The code the council recently adopted limits parking to 48 consecutive hours. The change would exempt Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Vanpool vehicles. It would also exempt other vehicles that the city manager has approved in advance in writing. Council members said this clarifies the intent of the lots. They discussed that city-owned vehicles, such as a snow plow, could be covered by the city manager’s approval. The draft ordinance is dated for adoption October 13, 2026.
- Item g: Memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Davis County on Costco sales tax. The agenda says the Tax Commission was not directly notified of the annexation until August 5, 2026. As a result, it says Costco sales tax for June 24, 2026 through December 31, 2026 goes to Davis County first. Under the MOU, the county forwards the city’s share, and the city holds the county harmless for Tax Commission errors. The MOU does not cover the city’s 0.10% RAP tax, which the agenda says will be handled another way. Per the video, payments would come monthly as the county receives them. Council members voiced no objections. They also said a related issue with the state is not yet resolved and that an appeal is planned.
- Other remarks. The mayor said a community event for recycling hazardous and hard-to-recycle items is being promoted, with other North Davis County mayors helping. The event’s name is unclear in the transcript. The mayor also said a sculpture lighting ceremony was set for Thursday at 8 o’clock.
Money
5 items
- Ambulance hardship policy: minimum accepted amount changes from $100 to 5% of the bill remaining after insurance. Eligibility cutoff changes from 250% to 195% of the Federal Poverty Guideline.
- Wage scale: Police Officer I top is $35.67 (was $37.87). Site Supervisor is $18.18 to $25.24 (was $18.78 to $26.10).
- Budget carryovers listed in the agenda:
- Costco infrastructure reimbursement, $2,315,935.
- 2026 Utility Project, $1,564,000.
- 3000 West road improvements including the roundabout and Fremont Park, $1,176,000.
- 2500 West / SR-193 intersection, $1,120,000.
- BMX course land acquisition, $1,065,000.
- Regional Park Phase 1, $759,700.
- New secondary reservoir land purchase, $670,000.
- Other carryovers range from $30,000 to $400,000.
- Budget revisions and operating changes:
- Harmony Bluff Overlay revised by $100,000.
- South Canterbury project removed and moved to a future year.
- General Fund: $9,900 for an employee retirement payout.
- Park Maintenance Fund: $86,500 in carryover.
- IT Fund: $24,000 for added licensing.
- CDA Fund: $333,000 for design and installation of artwork at the 3000 West roundabout.
- RDA Fund: $10,310 for payment to financers.
- Capital Projects Fund: $40,000 for the brush truck carryover and blackout scene control.
- Costco sales tax MOU: covers Costco sales from June 24, 2026 to December 31, 2026. Dollar amounts are not stated.
Public comment
The transcript starts partway through this part of the meeting, so who spoke and what they raised is not clear from the sources. In a response, the chair said public comment is always open at city meetings and has no deadline. The agenda listed a deadline for emailed comments of 4:00 p.m. on September 22, 2026. During the landscaping item, it was said that no one appeared at the Planning Commission’s public hearing on the proposal.
Coming up
5 items
- The next business meeting is expected October 13, 2026, at City Hall, 1979 W 1900 S. The agenda materials point to that date for the budget amendments and the park-and-ride ordinance.
- Expected consent agenda items: the ambulance hardship policy, the surplus water tender, and the intercounty aid agreement.
- Expected for a vote or discussion and approval: the ACH policy, the wage scale corrections, and the budget amendments.
- The park-and-ride ordinance and the Costco MOU are expected at a business meeting. The sources do not say the council formally forwarded them.
- Public comment can be emailed to City Recorder Cassie Brown at [email protected]. For the September 22 meeting the deadline was 4:00 p.m. that day. Check the next agenda for its deadline.
Sources
5 items
- Agenda packet: 09-22-26 Work Session Packet.pdf
- Official minutes: not posted yet
- Video: 09-22-2026 City Council Work Session
- Notice: Utah Public Notice Website
- This summary was drafted from: the agenda packet, a machine transcript of the meeting video
Unofficial summary. The city’s documents and video are the record.
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