NORTH OGDEN CITY GENERAL PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES. January 8, 2015

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1 NORTH OGDEN CITY GENERAL PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES January 8, 2015 The North Ogden City General Plan Steering Committee convened in an open meeting on January 8, 2015 at 6:04 p.m. in the North Ogden City Council Chambers at 505 East 2600 North. Notice of time, place and agenda of the meeting was delivered to each member of the Committee, posted on the bulletin board at the municipal office, posted to the Utah State Website and sent to the Ogden Standard Examiner on November 10, Present: Brent R. Taylor Mayor Kent Bailey Council Member Phil Swanson Council Member Jake Young Civil Solutions Group, Project Manager John Janson Civil Solutions Group Don Waite Eric Thomas Mark Brown Parks & Trails Committee Dan Nixon Charlotte Bailey Susannah Burt Steven Prisbrey Ann Warner Christian George Mike St. James Grant Protzman Excused: David Gordon Robert Bolar Staff: Bryan Steele City Administrator/Finance Director Rob Scott City Planner Stacie Cain Deputy City Recorder Mayor Taylor welcomed those in attendance and asked each committee member to introduce themselves. He then briefly reviewed the meeting schedule for the General Plan Steering Committee. Council Member Phil Swanson offered the invocation and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. General Plan Steering Committee January 8, 2015 Page 1

2 CONSENT AGENDA 1. CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 13, 2014 GENERAL PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES Council Member Swanson moved to approve the consent agenda. Prisbrey seconded the motion; all voted in favor. ACTIVE AGENDA 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. 2. REVIEW UTILITY BILL SURVEY RESULTS Mayor Taylor reported a survey was sent to all residents in their utility bill; this survey differs from the online survey as it was less detailed. He asked Jake Young, Project Manager from Civil Solutions Group, to review the results of the survey this far. Mr. Young stated he is unaware of the number of hard copy surveys that have been returned to date, but nearly 200 online surveys have been completed. Mayor Taylor stated the City will continue to promote the availability of the survey to try to increase the response from residents. Mayor Taylor reported that during past General Plan Steering Committee (GPSC) meetings there have been discussions regarding conducting a logo contest to enlist the citizenry in participating in creating a new logo for the City; four finalists have been selected and he reviewed them for the GPSC, after which they voted by secret ballot for the top two logos they preferred. 3. REVIEW ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS PROGRESS (IT WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE JAN. 17 TH ) Mr. Young briefly reviewed the survey results his firm has received thus far, reiterating the survey does not officially close until January 17. He reminded the GPSC of the questions that were included in the survey and noted that for questions that referenced specific developments in the City a photograph of the buildings in the development was included. Council Member Bailey stated that he did not feel the intent of the survey was effectively communicated to those taking it. Mr. Young stated the survey takers were essentially being asked to communicate what type of development they would prefer to see in North Ogden. He stated people do not want big box stores or congestion similar to Riverdale Road in North Ogden. More modern designs were not favored by the responders, neither were larger office buildings. Council Member Bailey reiterated that he felt the questions were too ambiguous and responders did not understand what they were being asked. John Janson of Civil Solutions General Plan Steering Committee January 8, 2015 Page 2

3 Group noted he read the comments submitted by people that have taken the survey and they do not favor larger buildings, specifically four story office buildings, in North Ogden. He then reviewed a chart that tracks data received in the survey and he feels it tells a better story. Mayor Taylor asked Mr. Janson to provide the chart to each member of the GPSC once the survey has officially closed. Mr. Janson added he will also present the data at the upcoming charrette meeting. Mr. Young then continued his review of the survey questions and reviewed photographs of developments located in other cities; he noted similar developments may be a good fit in the downtown setting of North Ogden based on the survey responses so far. He stated restaurants, festivals, and special events were favored by responders as well. There was a brief general discussion about the possibility of providing a summary of the demographics of those that responded to the survey, with a focus on the age of the people that have responded. Mr. Young stated the current survey does not ask responders to provide their age, but such a question can be built into future surveys for the General Plan update project. Mr. Young continued his review of the results of the survey, noting that he was surprised by the fact that most people indicated they would prefer walkability over the ability to bike to, from, and throughout the downtown area. The GPSC discussed optional special events or festivals that could be held in the downtown area of the City, with a focus on farmers markets or events associated with holidays. Mayor Taylor provided a high level summary of some of the development ideas for the downtown area of North Ogden. Mr. Janson assisted by providing a rendering of the potential for commercial development on the four corners of the intersection of Washington Boulevard and 2600 North. Mayor Taylor stated these ideas will be discussed during the charrette open house. The Committee had a discussion about redevelopment opportunities at the old Smith s site, with a focus on traffic congestion and road configuration in the area. Mayor Taylor noted he has been approached by Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and they informed him they have considered proposing a bus rapid transit (BRT) lane on Washington Boulevard into North Ogden into the future; this would be a dedicated lane that would transport riders to the transit hubs in Ogden. Grant Protzman stated he feels there is a strong traffic conflict in the downtown area of the City and as development continues north and west traffic problems will only worsen; the City must find some way to accommodate traffic and if it is possible to also create a central hub of development, that would be great. Otherwise, people will hate living in North Ogden at build out. This led to a discussion during which Mayor Taylor reviewed the future transportation projects to take place in North Ogden as listed in the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) regional transportation plan; one of those projects includes widening Washington Boulevard to two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane. Susannah Burt inquired as to whether the road improvement projects include the addition of bike lanes or walking paths, to which Mayor Taylor answered yes and noted there will be a meeting next Monday at Pleasant View City Hall to discuss the regional transportation plan. Grant Protzman asked if the Planning Commission is working on planning the development along the Skyline Drive project to avoid single houses lining both sides of the street. Mayor Taylor noted that will be contemplated throughout the General Plan update project. General Plan Steering Committee January 8, 2015 Page 3

4 CHARRETTE OUTLINE AND PROCESS a. CHARRETTE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND INVITATION b. CHARRETTE SCHEDULE c. CHARRETTE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT d. CHARRETTE DELIVERABLE AND FOLLOW UP MEETINGS Mr. Young and Mr. Janson provided the GPSC with an overview of the format of the charrette meeting, with a focus on the role committee members will play in the event. They also explained the method by which each business owner in the City will be invited to the event. The Committee brainstormed a list of key businesses that should be invited. Mayor Taylor then provided the GPSC with an update regarding the library renovation project, with a focus on recent discussions among the City Council to relocate the skate park to provide for the footprint of the library to be increased. He indicated the project will play into the redevelopment of the old Smith s plaza, which could potentially become a very walkable commercial development. This led to a discussion regarding the most practical location for a town square in the downtown area of the City, with many members of the committee suggesting potential locations using the aid of a map provided by Mr. Janson. Discussion then shifted to the work the City s Economic Development Committee (EDC) is doing to bring to fruition the redevelopment of the old North Ogden Plaza (Kings), with a focus on ensuring that redevelopment of that area does not conflict with development of the downtown area of the City. Council Member Swanson noted the City and the surrounding area will only continue to grow and of utmost importance is developing the downtown area and other commercial districts in a way that tax dollars will be kept in North Ogden in order to avoid the need to increase property taxes. 5. NEIGHBORHOODS MAP 6. NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING MEETINGS AND TOPICS a. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING LOCATIONS AND SCHEDULE 7. GENERAL PLAN SAMPLE CHAPTER - BROADBAND 8. GENERAL PLAN 9. SCHEDULE FOR OPEN HOUSE AND SC MEETINGS Mayor Taylor led a discussion regarding the meeting schedule for the GPSC; they determined Thursday evenings work best for everyone and decided to hold the next meeting on January 29 at 6:00 p.m. General Plan Steering Committee January 8, 2015 Page 4

5 PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. 11. COMMITTEE/STAFF/MAYOR COMMENTS Acting City Manager Steele then reported the results of the voting on the logo contest, declaring logo two as the winner among the group. 12. ADJOURNMENT Council Member Bailey moved to adjourn. Susannah Burt seconded the motion; all voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Brent Taylor, Mayor Stacie Cain Deputy City Recorder Date Approved General Plan Steering Committee January 8, 2015 Page 5