Garden City Council Reports

Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times


GARDEN CITY, Utah. July 11, 2013.  There was a short discussion and approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Garden City Fire District that Garden City will collect the short term rental fire  inspection fees.

Hodges Irrigation Company has a Water Conveyance Facility Safety Management Plan in place.  It is important that all canal companies have such a plan.  Swan Creek Canal Irrigation Company should also get such a plan in place as soon as they can.

Several individuals were in the audience because the City is attempting to open several beach access points that have been closed for many years.  It is becoming more and more difficult to accommodate the numbers of individuals coming into the City who want to get to the beach.  Mayor Spuhler welcomed those individuals who own properties next to theses access areas.  He asked that these individuals give their input in coming up with a plan that will allow more people access to the beach.  There was a discussion.  The decision was made to create a committee made up of individuals being affected by opening these beach walkways and some City Council members.   Their mission will be to come up with a plan that is acceptable to all concerned. 

Signs are in place informing people that there is still not enough beaches for cars to drive down to the lake.  However, people are still trying to drive down.  It was suggested that perhaps signs saying park and walk or some other explanation could be placed on the existing signs to catch people’s attention. 

It was suggested and a motion made and passed to give all full and part time employees of Garden City a 3 percent pay raise. 

Council members gave their reports.  Bess Huefner reported that plans for Raspberry Days are doing well.  Perhaps more signage is needed in advertising this activity.   Darrin Pugmire informed the group that zoning for short term rentals does need to be considered.  He noted that the fish pond has been stocked, but that the fish were quite small.  He said he would contact Scott Tolentino concerning this matter.   

It was pointed out that the gate on the road just north of the City Park needs to remain closed.  That road below the gate is on private property and not available for public use.

 Andy Stokes, Garden City’s Law Enforcement Officer, requested that the individual at JUB who has been so very helpful in getting the GIS system working in the City be given a thank you gift as he is being transferred to another location.  The Council told Stokes to go ahead and take care of this request. 

Stokes noted that the lake is still high enough that there is not much beach yet.  There have not been any issues with the short term rentals so far this summer.  Illegal fireworks were confiscated over the 4^th of July weekend and will need to be destroyed.  

The City is doing better with its signage.  It looks much better than last year.  Most of the businesses have been very cooperative in working on this item.  The time limit is being observed and applications are being made at the City Offices so that enforcement is possible.  Dustin Hansen will have his sign finished by the 1^st of August.  Hansen, however, is encroaching upon his neighbor’s property and needs to be warned about this issue.  The Bennion property is looking better than in the past.  Stokes will continue to work with him in getting his area looking nicer.