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Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Blanding

Public Body

City Council

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Notice Title

City Council Minutes 3.24.2026

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

March 24, 2026 07:00 PM

Description/Agenda

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Mayor Trevor Olsen Mayor Pro-Tempore Charlie Taylor Council Member Chris Ewald Council Member Kellen Nielson Council Member Chad Moses Council Member Jesse Grover March 24, 2026 7:00 PM City Council Meeting 50 West 100 South Street, Blanding Utah 84511 Meetings live streamed when available at: https://meet.google.com/xxg-uefm-yut POLICY MEETING Call to Order Roll Call A Prayer was offered by Jessie Grover The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Consent Agenda & City Council Minutes Approval - 03.10.2026 Meeting Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve the consent agenda and minutes from March 10, 2026. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest - Councilmember Nielson stated that he lives on the block where there are lots possibly being rezoned and it will be voted on tonight Public Input - Kenydi Kane was present at the meeting. Kane provided public comment, focusing on section 10.1.2 of the zoning ordinance and section 2.6 of the future land use map. Kane argued that the proposed rezoning contradicts the ordinance's purpose by creating overcrowding, scattered housing growth, and changing the district's character. She requested the council use Utah code section 10-2-902(1)(a)(ii) to deny the rezoning appeal, as it contradicts the general plan which designates the area as R1. Reports Mayor The mayor stated that he and Mr. Redd had the opportunity to meet with representatives in DC. They discussed public lands, economic opportunities, specifically advocating for the city to be included in a federal opportunity zone, which is currently not the case. The mayor opened the time for the national honor society to make a presentation, they did so and stated the event is scheduled for Saturday, April 4th, at 1:00 p.m. at White Rocks, which is a new location. They requested $900 from the city council to purchase pre-filled eggs for the event, which the National Honor Society (NHS) has helped fund for the last 15 years. David Palmer mentioned a commitment from a company to donate 500 'wiglets' (small, Easter-oriented items) to be used in the Easter egg hunt. Council members expressed thanks for the presentation and the work of the NHS, noting that the White Rocks location would be a beneficial change. The proposal is slated for a vote later in the meeting under the advice and consent agenda. City Council Nothing from the city council. City Manager Report - Pratt Redd Mr. Redd stated that the ULCT training will be held in Monticello on April 13th at the hideout golf course. They were able to meet with the Division of Water Resources, and things are looking good regarding water shares and the progress on raising the spillway recapture to potentially yield 1,000 extra acre-feet. Mr. Redd stated that there were some soil samples taken at the pit on center and 100 east, and if they come back clear, they will be able to continue to fill it in. The land owners are anxious to get that taken care of. Mr. Redd stated that Ben was able to make a post online about the city internship program. It is open and applications are being accepted, having already received three or four candidates. The six-month internship will focus heavily on city leadership, events, and economic development, offering $10,000, and is open to applicants aged 18 to 25, preferably someone local. Mr. Redd stated that he sent an email and he would like them to review it, it is concerning storage at the wellness center. Water & Public Works - Patrick Parsons Mr. Parsons reported on reservoir levels indicating that Starvation Reservoir is at 28% volume, Fourth Reservoir is at 68%, Third Reservoir is at 54%, and Recapture is at 29%. Although snow depth at Camp Jackson is low compared to the average, precipitation accumulation remains over 100% of the average. It was noted that Trevor Palmer has been pumping water from Recapture into Third Reservoir to maintain adequate water supply. The new deep well project is nearing completion, with the fence and gate being installed, the building interior almost finished, and plumbing scheduled to start this week or next. The UDOT curb and gutter project, which is fully funded by UDOT, has completed four of its six identified locations. The final two locations are at Wells Fargo and the steakhouse. The crack seal project, which has seen some material loosen due to the snowstorm and snow plows, is covered by a one-year warranty. The contractor is planning to return in late March or April to touch up the affected areas. The city's street sweeper has been effective at picking up the loose crack sealant material. Airport & Building Reports - Taylor Francom Fuel Farm Funding request sent to the state for upgrading the fuel card reader. Currently under review AWOS Old AWOS removal- State followed up giving us the go ahead to remove and salvage the system. Apron Rehabilitation Grant under review with the FAA Notes: Terminal Building HVAC being fixed Accurate spray foamed insulation in 1 hanger New permits issued 2 Permits 1 Remodel 1 Outbuilding Inspections Completed 22 Inspections completed 13 Residential 9 Commercial Notes: Active issued permits- 21 Quarterly Parks & Rec Report - David Palmer The Parks & Recreation Department experienced a highly productive first quarter in 2026, delivering expanded programming and achieving significant operational milestones. Key departmental accomplishments are detailed below: Youth Sports Programming: Successfully completed the Boys Basketball league, running from January through early February. This included the second consecutive year of the specialized 1st & 2nd grade league, emphasizing our commitment to early youth engagement. Economic & Community Impact: Launched the youth volleyball season and hosted a major tournament featuring 59 teams. This represents an increase over last year's 56 teams, successfully driving increased community visitation and local economic activity. Staffing: Strengthened departmental capacity with the hiring of Trevor Hawkins as a new full-time Parks & Recreation staff member. Mr. Hawkins has already demonstrated significant value to the team. Infrastructure & Facility Upgrades: The Centennial Park concession stand remodel is completed and fully operational. We are waiting for a few items to arrive. The clubhouse above the concession stand is also finished, pending the acquisition of furnishings (chairs, etc.) to allow for full utilization by coaches, umpires, and announcers. Grant Submission: Submitted a grant application for funding to construct permanent restroom facilities at Central Park, a critical step in enhancing park amenities. Wellness Center Growth: Compared to this time last year, The Wellness Center saw a significant year-over-year increase of a couple thousand visits for facility use (excluding basketball and volleyball spectators). This growth is likely attributed to the popular new equipment installed at the end of 2025. Professional Development: Departmental leadership, including the Parks & Recreation Director and the Wellness Center manager/assistant recreation director, attended the URPA (Utah Recreation & Parks Association) annual conference. This opportunity ensures staff are prepared and motivated for the upcoming busy season. Asset Management Initiative: The department has initiated a comprehensive, systematic inspection of all city-owned buildings and park infrastructure to proactively identify and document necessary maintenance and repair needs, ensuring the long-term stewardship of public assets. Events & Upcoming Initiatives - Youth City Council The Youth City Council, which involves about 20 members, meets monthly at the high school and offers scholarships at the end of the year. Chloe Francom reported on a previous activity where members wrote thank you notes to various community organizations to earn service hours and show appreciation. Lachlan Lacy announced that the Youth City Council will hold a pickleball tournament on April 18th as a fundraiser for their scholarship funds. Discussion Items San Juan County EMS Tax Discussion - Jeremy Hoggard Mr. Hoggard, the San Juan County EMS director and colleagues provided some materials to the council. Hoggard presented information on a proposed sales tax increase to support emergency medical services. He noted that Senate Bill 215, passed in 2024, requires municipalities and counties to ensure a minimum level of ground ambulance services, which was not previously deemed an essential service. The 2026 total budget for San Juan County EMS is just over $1 million, with projected income around $707,000, leading to a projected general fund supplement of about $294,000. The service covers approximately 5,000 square miles, with an average response time of about 5.7 minutes. In 2025, the service handled 591 calls, transporting 449 patients; the 142 non-transport calls are not billed, even though they can be highly expensive in terms of supplies used and replaced. Major challenges for EMS include low call volume relative to fixed costs, which are estimated at $1,671 per call, and low Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement rates, which cover 64% of calls but only provide 30-40% of the billed amount. The three options discussed for addressing funding are cutting services, implementing a property tax increase that burdens property owners, or implementing a sales tax option to spread the burden to visitors. The EMS Director is recommending a 1% sales tax, which would exclude non-prepared food, fuel, and prescription medications to protect lower-income residents. They estimate this sales tax would generate about $1.2 million annually, funding additional full-time staff, reducing turnover, establishing ambulance and equipment replacement schedules, and funding training and station improvements. The council's support is sought to educate voters, as the measure will go on the November ballot. The sales tax is a San Juan County tax initiative that will be placed on the ballot, not a city-level tax. The city council's role is to act as champions for the measure within the community to help educate voters and increase the likelihood of its passing, as Blanding City utilizes the service more than any other area in the county. Currently, the EMS shortfall of approximately $294,000 is covered by the county's general fund. It was confirmed that the financial difficulties facing EMS are a nationwide issue, particularly in rural areas, which struggles to transition from volunteer to full-time services. Commissioner Maughan expressed favor for the proposed sales tax increase as a stable solution to the recurring problem of subsidizing EMS from the general fund. She suggested that a letter of support from the council would be helpful for the initiative. The consensus was that taxes are a difficult topic and would require careful consideration and communication before any final decision was made. Water Rates / Tiers for 2026 Mr. Redd discussed setting water rates and tiers for the year, considering the low snowpack and projected water shortages. The primary decision was whether to start at the 'yellow' tier and potentially move to 'orange,' or to start immediately at the more restrictive 'orange' tier to proactively curb water usage. The recommendation, supported by Trevor Palmer, was to start at the orange rate to encourage early conservation and prevent a more severe 'red' tier next year, which would involve heavily restricted use.The council discussed maintaining the city's main properties, specifically Centennial and Pioneer, agreeing to keep them maintained through the 4th of July celebration. It was acknowledged that although conservation would be encouraged, people might be willing to pay higher rates to continue heavy watering. The additional revenue from the higher tiers would also help cover the increased cost of running the wells due to the water shortage. Advice & Consent Community Easter Egg Event - Annual Funding Request The council gave advice and consent to award the NHS the $900 for the annual easter egg hunt. City Cleanup Voucher Regarding the city cleanup voucher, the proposal was to increase its value to $30 from $20 for one-time use, and extend the window of use from April 15 through the end of August. The city currently has $5,600 left in the cleanup fund, which translates to about 187 vouchers. The council gave advice and consent to move forward with this. Business Items Resolution 03-24-2026-1 Approval of Water Rate Tier Pricing WHEREAS, Blanding City owns and operates a municipal water system and is responsible for providing safe, reliable water service to its residents and businesses; And WHEREAS, Blanding City has implemented a tiered water rate structure to promote responsible water use and ensure the financial sustainability of the water utility; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed current water consumption data, financial projections, and water resource availability and has determined that an adjustment from the Green Tier to the Orange Tier is necessary to support the long-term viability of the water system; and WHEREAS, the adjustment of water rates is consistent with the City's goal of maintaining a sustainable and efficient water utility while encouraging conservation and ensuring sufficient revenue for infrastructure maintenance and improvements. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Resolution 03-24-2026-1 approving of water rate orange tier pricing. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. Ordinance 2026-4 - Approval of Zone Change - Hughes & Hunt WHEREAS, Blanding City has adopted zoning regulations to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community, including orderly growth, appropriate land use, and compatibility between uses; and WHEREAS, an application has been submitted requesting a zone change from R-1 (Single-Family Residential) to R-2 (Multi-Family / Institutional Residential) for certain real property located within Blanding City; and WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission has reviewed the application and recommended approval based on findings that: 1. The existing lot sizes and development pattern are consistent with R-2 characteristics; 2. The proposed rezone is adjacent to existing R-2 zoning and does not create an isolated zoning district; and 3. Similar zone changes have been approved in the area, establishing precedent; WHEREAS, the City Council has considered public input both in support of and in opposition to the request, including concerns regarding density, permitted uses, and neighborhood character; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that zoning decisions are to be based on long-term land use compatibility and consistency with the purposes of the City's zoning code, rather than solely on potential future uses of a property; and WHEREAS, the R-2 Residential District is intended to accommodate higher density residential, office, and institutional uses that provide services to the broader community, which is consistent with the proposed use of the property; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the requested zone change represents an appropriate transition of land use and is consistent with the surrounding area and future development patterns. Concerns were raised that the R1 designation in this specific block was already dense, with many lots being non-conforming or grandfathered in due to small size. While the planning commission felt the request met the requirements, the council was not particularly in favor of creating an island or peninsula. Councilmember Taylor made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-4 approving the Carrie Hughes zone change request from R1 to R2. Councilmember Ewald seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting Nay: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting aye: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion failed. Ordinance 2026-5 - Approval of MHC Zone Change & Code WHEREAS, the City of Blanding previously enacted a temporary moratorium on new or expanded mobile home development to allow for review and modernization of applicable land use regulations; and WHEREAS, the Blanding City Council, Planning Commission, and City Staff have completed a review of the City's Mobile Home zoning regulations and determined that updates are necessary to reflect modern housing standards, improve public safety, and ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses; and WHEREAS, the existing Mobile Home (MH) zoning district contains outdated terminology and standards that no longer align with current federal housing definitions or development expectations; and WHEREAS, the proposed ordinance eliminates the MH zoning district, establishes a modern regulatory framework for Manufactured Home Communities, and provides clear transition provisions for existing properties; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed and recommended approval of the proposed updates following public discussion and consideration; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that terminating the moratorium and adopting updated regulations promotes the health, safety, and welfare of the community while providing clarity and fairness for property owners. The critical clarification was that manufactured homes not on a permanent foundation will become non-conforming buildings, and the city needs to establish better standards to ensure non-conforming code does not prevent residents from repairing or replacing their homes without installing a permanent foundation. It was explained that existing trailer parks are considered a 'use,' not just a 'building,' which means they cannot expand by adding new spots but can replace manufactured homes within their current boundaries. The confusion between pre-1976 mobile homes and manufactured homes was acknowledged, and the need for further work to refine the non-conforming code was stated. Councilmember Ewald made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-5 - approving the MHC (manufactured home community) zone change and code. Councilmember Moses seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Grover Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. Closed Session Councilmember Nielson made a motion to go into closed session to discuss pending litigation. Councilmember Grover seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion. He asked for discussion or questions. Hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Grover Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. Adjournment Councilmember Ewald made a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Nielson seconded the motion. Mayor Olsen repeated the motion and asked for discussion or questions, hearing none, he called for a vote. Those voting aye: Councilmember Taylor Councilmember Grover Councilmember Nielson Councilmember Ewald Councilmember Moses Those voting nay: None Constituting all members thereof, Mayor Olsen declared the motion carried. The meeting adjourned.

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the ADA, individuals needing special accommodations during this meeting may call the City Offices at (435) 678-2791 at least twenty-four hours in advance. Every effort will be made to provide the appropriate services.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

One or more Council Members may partcipate electronically.

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

50 W 100 S
Blanding, UT 84511
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Contact Name

Pratt Redd

Contact Email

predd@blanding-ut.gov

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

April 15, 2026 11:47 AM

Notice Last Edited On

April 15, 2026 11:47 AM

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