‘Future for Downtown Logan’ guide adopted
Wednesday, the “Future of Downtown Logan,” the planning guide for the proposition of changing Logan’s downtown, was adopted.
The Logan City Municipal Council’s decision was unanimous with a few minor changes being required to the acceptance of the guide’s documentation. Council member Tami Pyfer said tweaking a word here or there is what should be done to the document. Council member Tom Kerr said having a word change would make the proposal no problem to approve.
The motion to adopt was done by Pyfer, with the wording change of “mid-block crossing” to “pedestrian crossing” in the document, and other minor changes. Alan Allred seconded the motion.
Mark Nielson presented Logan’s water revenue report and water rate alternatives were discussed. The report showed that the price of water in Logan consumption has gone down from last October 260 gallons per household and an average water bill is $27.23. Nielson said the report came in at about what was expected for revenue.
Nielson and the council discussed different water rate alternatives. Nielson said they need to find a way to get over the hump they are on now. Nielson said having the same water rate for 10 consecutive years will make the profits go negative. Increasing water rates temporarily was one way Nielson said the problem could be solved.
Council member Randy Watts said he is concerned that Logan’s situation now may lead into what happened to citizens of Salt Lake City, regarding their water shortage. Watts said he liked the idea of pushing water conservation.
Mayor Doug Thompson said citizens should not be penalized for conserving water, by having higher rates. Thompson said they need to do a better job educating the public about water use and conservation.
Some options include either using the current meters, or using tax dollars to update the system for better and more frequently checked water usage. Discussions of the water rates and alternatives will be brought up again at the next meeting.
Accessory Dwelling Unit 03-95, a temporary ordinance repealing land development was heavily discussed. Many citizens were complaining of misuse of building rules, having college students move into neighborhoods without parking availability and concern for others in family neighborhoods.
“Items that are stipulated [in the ordinance] are being violated by what has been allowed to [happen],” Bonnie Hath said, explaining her concern of the laws being disregarded.
Hath lives in the area and expressed her support of the moratorium.
Marjorie Simard, a citizen in the area where building codes are allegedly being broken, said “I feel very strongly if there is a law, it should be enforced.”
Simard said fines need to be severe enough to get the people to quit changing their neighborhood for the worse.
The moratorium was passed by the council and the laws should from now on be greatly enforced.
The municipal council meeting thoroughly discussed many important issues on their agenda. The next meeting will be open to the public and will be held on Dec. 3 at 6:15 p.m.
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu