THE STATE OF UTAH COUNTY OF SEVIER CITY OF RICHFIELD
At the City Council
In and For Said City
April 22, 2025
Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Richfield City office building located at 75 East Center, Richfield, Utah. Mayor Bryan L. Burrows presiding.
- CALL TO ORDER
- OPENING REMARKS
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
- MINUTES APPROVED
- BUSINESS
a. Mario Gonzalez mural.
b. Consider approving Cottonwood Irrigation improvements.
c. Consider approving an application for a street project. - OTHER BUSINESS
- ADJOURNMENT
- CALL TO ORDER
- OPENING REMARKS – Michele Jolley offered the opening remarks.
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Elaine Street led the pledge of alliance.
ROLL CALL – Present: Bryan Burrows (Not voting), Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Tanner Thompson, Michele Jolley (Not voting), Rob Jenson (Not voting). Also, Russ Brightwell, Matthew Lenhart, Kylee Boyter, Carson DeMille, Mario Gonzalez, Amy Myers, Keith Mogan and David Anderson. - MINUTES APPROVED – Consider a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held on April 8, 2025. Motion: Approve the minutes of the meeting held on April 8, 2025, Action: Approve, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5). Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
- Business –
a. Mario Gonzalez to discuss a mural on his building. Gonzalez purchase the Old Radio Shack building. On the north facing wall of the building he felt that there would be an opportunity to have a mural painted on the north side. He had one proposal put together and realized he wouldn’t be able to afford to have a mural painted on his own. He looked for some state funding, but was unable to find any. Then he saw an article detailing a series of wildlife murals that had been painted in the northern part of the state. This led him to Chris Peterson. Peterson, appearing via Zoom, is an artist who has been involved with Utah Wildlife Walls, a public art and engagement project in collaboration with the Utah Wildlife Federation and other partners. Gonzalez said Peterson sees potential in the mural idea, and has some additional funding avenues to explore. Gonzalez said the city could help, as could Sevier County. He said he felt like a bobcat would be a good opportunity for Richfield, due both to the high school’s mascot and the fact he’d had an encounter with one in the hills west of Richfield. Peterson told the council about projects that he has been involved with through the Wildlife Walls project since 2022. The goal is to have at least one mural per county in Utah depicting some type of local wildlife. He has had success in helping fund some of the murals he has completed. In additional to local wildlife, each mural is geared toward including references to unique area history or features. More and more murals are being installed through the state. They tend to draw visitors, who like to have pictures taken near them. Mr. Peterson indicated that murals also tend to deter graffiti. There would also be a QR code placed on the mural as way to help people connect with the project at wildlifewalls.org.
Councilmember Thompson asked about cost. Depending on design time and details is $15,000 to $25,0000. Peterson said likes to zoom in on the animal and have fewer details around it, which can keep costs down.
Councilmember Hansen said he loves the idea of a historic tie and the bobcat. He said the bobcat should be chasing a couple of pheasants, tying back to the old moniker of “Rooster Valley” that Sevier County was marketed as.
Councilmember Thomas said the building is brick, and has some windows and asked how that would affect the mural. Peterson said it would make it more difficult to execute, but that it could still be done.
Thompson said he loves the idea of a mural, but it hurts his sensibilities to see the red brick of the old building being covered up. He wondered if it could be in a different location that would lend themselves better to it.
Councilmember Street said there was at one time a mural on the side of the Little Wonder Café. Councilmember Hansen said when State Bank built its new building, there was talk of placing a mural on the building to the south of it. He suggested perhaps approaching some of the foundations set up for the benefit or certain species.
Councilmember Thompson asked what funding sources have been used in the past. Peterson said in Logan they did a $50,000 project in a tunnel. It included funding from DWR, Trout Unlimited, Western Native Trout Initiative, the Audubon Association, Logan City gave $10,000 from its arts budget and applied for Community Development Block Grant funding for another $20,000. In St. George the transportation division, county tourism, Red Cliffs Reserve and the business it was painted on helped in the cost. In Vernal the city and the Downtown alliance both donated to the project, as examples of what Peterson has seen as funding sources in the past.
Gonzales said he feels this would help with the revitalization of downtown. He said he would be happy to help facilitate the project in whatever form it takes. Councilmember Gardner asked about the durability of the mural. Peterson said it depends on the durability of the substrate, but that it could have a lifetime of decades.
Councilmember Thompson said one of the best murals in the county is in Koosharem, where an advertisement for overalls has been maintained on the side of the mercantile for many years. He likes the idea of something with cultural value for Richfield.
Peterson said another avenue for funding may be local businesses. Councilmember Thomas said he’d like the location better if one of the trees were removed to help make it more visible.
Mayor Burrows said it may be a good idea to incorporate more than just wildlife into.
Councilmember Thompson said there are some issues to overcome, but he is in favor of some level of support from the city.
Peterson asked if it would be good to come back with a sketch to propose to the city.
Councilmember Thomas asked if there is any lighting for them at night.
Councilmember Street told a story about an encounter she had with a bobcat west of town as a child, so it may be a fitting thing to feature on a mural.
b. Consider approving a project to maintain and upgrade the Cottonwood Irrigation Channel from 700 North to 500 North.
Public Works Director Keith Mogan addressed the council talking about a flood channel that runs roughly parallel to 750 East. The City has spent a lot of money over the past couple of years maintaining it, spraying the weeds and keeping it clear. Last year a flood washed out part of the bank, which means it needs to be repaired. There is approximately 400 feet on the north end Mogan said he would like to pipe along the north end. He would also like A&D Jensen to come in and repair the portion of the channel that has been washed out with riprap. If not fixed, it will continue to washout. He said he is only piping a small portion of the ditch with 15-inch pipe so that they can expand the bank and more easily access the channel for maintenance purposes. He asked the council to approve up to $20,000 for the project.
Mayor Burrows asked about the size of the area to be riprapped. It would be approximately 40 feet. There has been no talk about grouting it at this point. The grouting along College Avenue has worked out very well so far.
Councilmember Thompson asked how long the water goes down the ditch. It goes throughout the summer with the irrigation and the storm water, Mogan said. Carson DeMille, Jones & DeMille Engineering suggested that the rock be sourced from a pit that is not just river rock, which tends to tumble down stream. He said a more angular rock would work best in this situation.
Motion: Approve up to $20,000 for Cottonwood Irrigation Channel improvements, Action: Approve, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Brayden Gardner.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
c. Consider approving an application for a street project to be funded through the appropriation fund associated with Representative Celeste Maloy.
Matthew Lenhart, Jones & DeMille Engineering, discussed the project with the council. This is a $3 million street project, which would include several blocks of road reconstruction near Pahvant Elementary School, as well as a two-inch mill and fill of 1080 South, and a reconstruction of Franklin Spencer Street. The pavement near the school and along Franklin Spencer Street is in bad condition. The sidewalk along Franklin Spencer is also severely deteriorating. This project would fix those, as well as include new water and sewer lines.
The funding would be 80 percent grant with a 20 percent match – some $600,000. It would be through the CDBG’s housing and urban development. It would have to be compliant with all federal requirements. Funding would become available during the next fiscal year, with construction commencing in the following year.
City Administrator Jolley said when they found out this funding may be a possibility, her and the Mayor pulled this project out to see if it could move forward. Motion: Approve applying for a street project to be funded through the appropriation fund associated with Celeste Malloy, Action: Approve, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Brayden Gardner. Vote: Motion passed (summary: Yes = 4, No = 0, Abstain = 1). Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson. Abstain: Kendrick Thomas.
- OTHER BUSINESS Councilmember Street said the Visitor’s center needs a point-of-sale system. The Clover system that was in use was moved to the Library. Financial Director Rob Jenson said there is a Clover system in his office that is currently being re-provisioned for the Visitor’s Center.
Councilmember Thomas said he had been contacted by SITLA and he’d been asked if the city is ready to go on the deal that will give Richfield City ownership of some land in the hills west of town where the water tank sits, and where an eventual R is planned to be erected. He said he was move it forward.
Mayor Burrows asked about the Development Standards ordinance. He said he is concerned about removing the mow strip, and having a four or five-foot sidewalk, with the drop of a traditional curb. He said the drop off may be a hazard for those in wheelchairs or a possible trip hazard.
City Administrator Jolley said one of the dangers a traditional curb helps mitigate is keeping traffic off the sidewalks. She said one concern is that the rolled curb design may not be as effective in moving water along the gutters as the traditional curb.
Councilmember Hansen asked what the width of sidewalks is under the standards. The criterion calls for a 6-foot wide sidewalk in the current and proposed development standards. As long as the City doesn’t deviate from that, it won’t be a big issue. Hansen said at some point, someone may take a fall off the curb by not paying attention – perhaps there is a compromise somewhere. The City needs to have an option to deal with water and tripping.
Councilmember Thomas said the places where the rolled curb is of greatest advantage is where the driveways are close together, as it prevents having to do extreme things with the curb in order to make it work.
Mayor Burrows said he would like to have the discussion prior to adopting the standards. He said he is not in favor of park strips, but he also doesn’t want to see someone tumble off of it.
Mayor Burrows also brought up the issue of trees at the high school tennis court. He said he wants them removed before they destroy more sidewalk.
Public Works Director Mogan said some of the trees have caused the sidewalk to raise, and others are doing the same.
City Administrator Jolley said she understands the issues they cause, but at the said time trees are needed – especially in the tennis court area as that’s where spectators sit while watching. It is nice to have those trees there to provide shade. She suggested taking it on a case by case basis.
Councilmember Thompson said the cost is work it to have trees in the City. He said that is what makes downtown Torrey appealing is the trees that form a canopy.
Mayor Burrows said he’d like to see the trees taken out before they break the sidewalk any further.
Councilmember Hansen said the Council needs to schedule a closed session to discuss some potential property purchases.
- ADJOURNMENT Motion: Adjourn the meeting. Action: Adjourn, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Brayden Gardner.
- Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
- Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.