PANGUITCH CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
PANGUITCH CITY OFFICE
CONFERENCE ROOM, 25 S 200 E
PANGUITCH, UTAH 84759
MARCH 24, 2026, 5:30 PM
Those present at the City Council meeting were Mayor Kim Soper, City Manager Mat Houston, City Recorder Tyrissa Howell, and Council Members Cindy Stewart, Tracy Wright, Mike Sarles, and James Kinsey. Council Member David Dodds was in attendance via ZOOM. City Attorney Barry Huntington was absent.
Others in attendance were Kaden Figgins, Brandi Dickinson, Jane Excell, Cheryl Berry, Holly Frandsen, Becky Henrie, David Henrie, Becky Dalton, Callie Howell, Falon Owens, Stuart Clason, Linda Miller, Amy Dodds, Brandin Hatch, Brian Shanueal, Kelly Anderson, Shannon Liebbrant, Kim Barton, Scott Thomas, and Benjamin Chase.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
OPENING CEREMONY
City Manager Mat Houston conducted the opening ceremony.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Tracy Wright moved, seconded by Cindy Stewart, to adopt the agenda. The motion passed with all in favor.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Cindy Stewart moved, seconded by James Kinsey, to approve the minutes. The motion passed with all in favor.
PANGUITCH CITY BUDGET REVIEW AND PAYMENT APPROVAL
Tracy Wright moved, seconded by Cindy Stewart, to approve the budget review and approve payments. The motion passed with all in favor.
STUART CLASON -- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Stuart Clason showed a slide show about tax incremental financing. Panguitch City will need to pass an ordinance creating a reinvestment agency and dedicate an area where the reinvestment would be allowed.
PUBLIC HEARING - PANGUITCH CITY MUNICIPAL CODE UPDATE
Mayor Kim Soper opened the meeting for a public hearing at 5:52 PM.
Becky Henrie stated that there are multiple roosters in her neighborhood. She has spoken with her neighbors about the noise, but they have responded with anger. The City Council asked her to make an official complaint.
Holly Frandsen stated that she loves our small town and doesn't want anything taken away from what Panguitch is; she doesn't want to see any rights taken away.
Benjamin Chase said that roosters are noisy. Only one rooster is needed for 40 hens. Maybe a limit could be placed, allowing only one rooster.
Brandi Dickinson said she lived next to peacocks for years, and they were as noisy or noisier than roosters. She also acknowledged that being in a small town with limited staff makes enforcement hard.
Linda Miller stated that the dog catcher can't pick up dogs if he is not notified that there is an issue. She then stated that if people are having issues with dogs, they need to call the sheriff's office, who will then call the dog catcher to take care of it.
Brandin Hatch asked if the square feet per animals will change and was told their will be no change on that.
Linda Miller stated that in Arizona, 4H and FFA had signs they would place in front of homes that were raising project animals.
Callie Howell stated that the public should have had more than 24 hours' notice to read the municipal code update. It was confirmed that the municipal code update has been on the city website and the public notice website for over a month, and advertised at the post office. She also asked the city council to please allow junior livestock animals to continue the agricultural culture that Panguitch has.
Makel Clark asked why enforce roosters and pigs and leave dogs alone. She stated her son has been bitten, and the same dog is still out terrorizing.
Thorton Alice asked about dairy goats in agriculture. There are no restrictions on farm animals in agriculture.
Callie McFadden said she is the FFA leader for Panguitch and asked for a 120-day permit to allow kids to raise project animals. She also stated that roosters help hens get along, but only one rooster is needed.
Becky Dalton said she wants to defend the way we live and hold on to the freedom to have animals.
James Kinsey thanked everyone for their input and asked that everyone read the entire document. He would like to see a permit for project animals.
David Dodds stated that pigs smell more than other animals, and he doesn't want neighbors fighting. If pigs are allowed, he would like to see it for only 4H and FFA.
Callie Howell said a requirement of the permit could be inspections of the pens.
Brandi Dickinsen asked if the 4H and FFA leaders could be the ones required to inspect.
Cheryl Berry asked how she can call the sheriff's office about the dogs in her neighborhood when they are the deputies' dogs? She asked if the non-working vehicles would be taken care of on the rights-of-way.
Linda Miller stated that in Arizona, home visits are conducted every month for project animals.
Kim Barton made sure that chickens would still be allowed and stated she will move her roosters out of town.
Jane Excell asked if her conditional use permit would still be in effect.
Shannon Liebbrandt stated that she bought a family home that was supposed to be grandfathered in with animals, but has had to remove pigs, and feels like more and more is being taken away.
Tracy Wright stated that billy goats and pigs have not been allowed.
Mayor Kim Soper closed the public hearing at 6:46 PM.
PANGUITCH CITY MUNICIPAL CODE UPDATE
Tabled
LOCAL CONSENT - AKO SPIRITS
Mike Sarles moved, seconded by Tracy Wright, to approve the local consent for AKO Spirits. James Kinsey abstained. The motion passed.
BUSINESS LICENSE - AKO SPIRITS
Tabled
LOCAL CONSENT - BOOTS AND LIQUOR
Cindy Stewart moved, seconded by Mike Sarles, to approve the local consent for Boots and Liquor. James Kinsey abstained. The motion passed.
BUSINESS LICENSE - ASHLEY HUGHES FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
Mike Sarles moved, seconded by Mike Sarles, to approve the business license for Ashley Hughes Festival Foundation. The motion passed with all in favor.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mike Sarles moved, seconded by Tracy Wright, to enter an executive session at 6:52 pm to discuss property acquisition with Jim Kinsey, Tyrissa Howell, Kim Soper, Mat Houston, Cindy Stewart, Tracy Wright, Mike Sarles, and David Dodds in attendance. The motion passed with all in favor.
James Kinsey moved, seconded by Cindy Stewart, to exit the executive session at 7:03 PM. The motion passed with all in favor.
PANGUITCH CITY/ SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTIES
James Kinsey moved, seconded by Cindy Stewart, to trade the BIC building and the city yard to the school district for $100,000. If that is not acceptable, the school district may buy the back 50 feet of the city yard for $30,000. Mike Sarles voted against. The motion passed.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Abandoned cars - The abandoned vehicles on Center and Main have been towed, and Panguitch City is being charged $100 per car. A decision will have to be made on how much the city is willing to pay to tow vehicles.
Panguitch Lake Dam - The dam at Panguitch Lake is finished. Demolition of the old dam still needs to be completed.
City Website - The Panguitch City website has been experiencing some technical problems.
ADJOURNMANT
Cindy Stewart moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 PM.
__________________________________ ________________________________
Kim Soper, Mayor Tyrissa Howell, City Recorder
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: The City of Panguitch will make efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled members of the public in accessing City programs. Please contact Mat Houston Panguitch City office at least 24 hours in advance if you have special needs.
Anyone who wishes to offer a prayer or thought in the opening ceremony at City Council is welcome to do so by calling City Manager Mat Houston at 435-676-8585 to schedule an appointment.
**Items may not be covered in order listed. Panguitch City is an equal opportunity employer.**