Garden City Ordinance Officer Report

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  August 13, 2015. Bob Peterson, the city ordinance officer, reported that in the last month he had 18 calls.  Eight were ATVs racing on the beach, 5 were noise problems (1 at the Harbor, 2 in downtown, 1 at Buttercup, and 1 at Sweetwater).  There was one complaint at a short term rental where there were too many people camping on the lot. 

There were four parking infractions, three of these in Buttercup and one at Cherimoya.  There were four calls after hours (after 10:30 at night and before 10:30 in the morning).  Out of all of the calls, four were dealing with short-term rentals.  Apparently people are just putting up with things and/or the owners are handling most of the complaints.

Peterson locks the park each evening.  He then drives around the downtown area checking how many people are out and about. 

He noted that he had given out 16 tickets, and 13 warnings.  Several were for garbage cans that are not taken off the roadside.  Off premise signs advertising businesses were also a problem.  The sign ordinance needs to be worked on to make sure everyone understand what can and cannot be done.  Also, it must be written in such a way that enforcement can be done in a proper and understandable way.   

Lately, there have been quite a few fireworks on the beach.  Also, ATVs are driving out onto the sandbars, and he has to explain that they are not allowed out there.  Visitors need to unload their items and then move their vehicles back away from the water.  There have also been several cars that have had to be moved back from the water’s edge.  Launching boats from the lakeshore is okay as long as the boats have all of the necessary permits.

This fall, Peterson will be auditing for sales tax.  Many of the businesses in town have not been adding the tax onto their sales slips.  The City is losing potential revenue that could be used to enhance the City.   Not all the businesses are paying sales tax.