THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD
At the City Council
In and For Said City
July 8, 2025
Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, July 8, 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 APPROVAL
- APPOINTMENT to the Library Board
- BUSINESS
a. Franchise Agreement with Central Telcom Services, LLC.
b. Funding for new lights at the City softball fields.
c. Purchase of a new digital sign.
d. Ordinance 2025-5
e. Ordinance 2025-6, - OTHER BUSINESS
- EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Discuss Planning Commission appointment - ADJOURNMENT
- CALL TO ORDER
- Opening remarks – offered by David Anderson
- Pledge of allegiance – Kip Hansen led the pledge of allegiance.
- Roll Call. Present: Bryan Burrows (Not voting), Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Tanner Thompson, David Anderson (Not voting), Rob Jenson (Not voting).
- Minutes approval – Motion: Approve the minutes of the meeting hosted June 25, 2025, Action: Approve, Moved by Elaine Street, Seconded by Kendrick Thomas.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson. - Motion: Appoint McKenzie Coombs to the Library board, Action: Approve, Moved by Kendrick Thomas, Seconded by Kip Hansen.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson. - Business –
a. Consider renewing the franchise agreement with Central Telecom Services, LLC.
Councilmember Hansen asked if there are any substantial differences between the new franchise agreement and the previous one. Marnee Winn, representing Central Telecom, said there are no changes. Motion: Approve the renewal of the franchise agreement with Central Telecom Services, 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.
b. New Lights for the Rotary Park – Recreation and Parks director Brady Edwards discussed the need for the new lights for softball fields in the City. Edwards provided a breakdown of the costs to the council. There are currently three sets of drag in portable lights being utilized to help the recreation department get through its adult season. The breakdown provided an estimate for what each field will cost, including the three fields at the Rotary Park and one at the Lions Park. There will be some unknowns as crews dig into the 50-year old lights and electrical work. Edwards asked for $300,000 and a $50,000 contingency.
The project can be broken down into phases or it can all be completed at once.
Councilmember Hansen asked about the priority of each field.
Edwards said half of field three is currently shut down due to concerns with live wires. It would need to be completed as part of the first phase.
Councilmember Thompson asked which field would be the last priority. Edwards said he would like to address the three fields at the Rotary first and then address the Lions Park field later.
Councilmember Gardner asked how the three phases would be spread out.
Edwards said the City would need everything completed by Oct 1, as there is a tournament that includes the Tri-state (Utah, Colorado, Nevada) 16- to 18-year-olds this weekend. There is a second tournament slated for the second week in October. If we could get all of this done by October, it will be huge for the City. He said the tournaments are important sources of revenue for the City.
Councilmember Thompson asked if the work could realistically be completed by October. Edwards said he believes it can and has assurances from the company that it can be. He said these are not the top of the line lights, but a mid-grade to use until the City can construct a new complex.
Councilmember Thomas asked where the money is coming for these repairs and how it would affect the budget for other parts of the recreation department. are other things going to suffer? Funding?
Financial Director Jenson said the funding would come out of the parks and recreation tax.
Edwards said he has been chipping away at the lighting project by buying lights as he has been able to with the goal of gathering enough material to start doing one field at a time. However, he has been pushed by the recent equipment failures. He has already purchased 16 lights.
Councilmember Gardner said it doesn’t make sense to phase it.
Edwards said the polls have about a six-foot sway in the wind, which contributes to the breaking of the old halogen lights.
Councilmember Hansen said Moores has been a good contractor to work with the city’s electrical needs.
Edwards said the company has been very helpful in keeping the City lights on at the parks.
Mayor Burrows will explore the possibility of getting setting the poles donated. If the donation isn’t going to happen, it could wind up costing the City more. He said there should be a contingency in place for the pole setting.
Councilmember Hansen said there is some expediency to this issue. The money is there, there is contractor ready to do it. There is no a reason to postpone it.
Edwards said the rec department has the flexibility to pull funds from other areas if necessary. He said the estimates were intentionally high to create a cushion for the project’s budget.
Motion: Approve the project as presented with a maximum budget of $300,000 with a $50,000 contingency, Action: Approve, Moved by Kip Hansen, Seconded by Tanner Thompson. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
c. Sign at the City Park – Edwards presented an option for the new sign at the City park. The concept Edwards presented was one of the best options available. It’s something the City can pull off. It’s going to cost approximately $28,521 total. Sevier County’s tourism has committed to $15,000 to the project. The City’s portion would be $13,521 He said one option to consider is to raise the sign on a higher concrete pedestal to help protect it.
Councilmember Thompson asked what the primary use of the sign would be. Edwards said it would primarily be for advertising community events. It will also allow the city to clear off all the advertising of community events that currently occurs on the City Park.
Councilmember Street said she likes that it’s not too high so that cars driving by have a difficult time seeing it. The second part of this effort is to remove the big dead trees when the City is ready. This sign is one of the best graphics Edwards has seen. Richfield and the County would utilize it together, with the possibility of selling some advertising on it.
Councilmember Thompson said there may be an advantage to making it higher sot protect it from Vandalism concerns. Also, he asked how expensive the data connection plan would be.
Councilmember Thompson asked which agency would be in control of the sign – Sevier County or the City. Edwards said the City will be in the driver’s seat.
Councilmember Hansen said while it doesn’t need to be decided tonight, the city should adopt some policies to address what can go on the sign, who puts it there, costs and other issues. It should be figured out prior to the sign becoming operational. Edwards said he would present something to the council prior to the sign going live.
Mayor Burrows asked what the cost estimate includes. Edwards said everything in the presentation packet, but not a taller concrete base.
Councilmember Gardner said he would support a concrete base to put it up further and make it harder to vandalize.
Councilmember Thompson said it is generous of the county to commit to working with the city on the sign. However, he said he struggles with the idea of adding more LED lights to the city. They make the community look increasingly more like a casino.
Councilmember Hansen said some type of brick or block should be part of the project to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
Motion: Proceed with the project of placing a new sign at the City Park with the county’s contribution of $15,000 and an additional base, Action: Approve, Moved by Brayden Gardner, Seconded by Kendrick Thomas.
Vote: Motion passed (summary: Yes = 4, No = 1, Abstain = 0).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen.
No: Tanner Thompson.
d. Consider adoption of Ordinance 2025-5, amending the Richfield City Zoning Ordinance, Title 17.13.240 Required Streets, Curb, Gutter, Sidewalks, and Trails, and Title 17.02.010 Land Use Authorities.
The City is proposing various text amendments to Title 17 concerning a modified standard for required development standards for improvements.
Mayor Burrows asked about a section of the standard drawings as it related to transitions for driveways. It shows an option for planter strips, which are supposed to not be part of the standards any more. The standard is likely included because there are still existing lots that may be adjacent to planter strips, so a detailed drawing would be needed for that situation, Councilmember Thomas said.
Councilmember Hansen said when it comes up, it makes sense to have the standard drawing in place.
Mayor Burrows said the City should not be allowing installation of any new planter strips – as long as it is the exception and not the rule.
Councilmember Thompson asked Public Works Director Keith Mogan if there is anything he feels needs to be addressed in the proposed standards. Mogan said he was looking at them for the first time. He said the items he’d reviewed so far looked good.
Councilmember Gardner asked if it would be helpful to table it so Mogan could take a more extensive look at it.
Standards Motion: Table the adoption of the updated standards for two weeks, Action: Table, Moved by Brayden Gardner, Seconded by Tanner Thompson.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
Motion: Approve with the noted adjustments and 180 days, Action: Adjourn, Moved by Kendrick Thomas, Seconded by Kip Hansen.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
e. Consider adoption of Ordinance 2025-6, amending Title 17 of the Richfield Zoning Ordinance relating to street improvements on existing lots.
Deputy Clerk Anderson said this is the ordinance that will allow the waivers for curb, gutter and asphalt shoulders for single family homes to be made into an administrative action if they meet defined specifications.
Councilmember Gardner asked if something should be added concerning elevations and standards. Deputy Clerk Anderson said the city development standards should cover those items. The modified standard also includes guidance for how the gravel should be graded to protect both the roadway and the sidewalk.
Councilmember Gardner said one change he would suggest is to change the required start of construction from the approval date from 90 days to 180 days. This would help as those building homes as they secure financing and building a complete bid. It would prevent them having to bid a project both ways.
Deputy Clerk Anderson said when other projects are approved, they are allowed 365 days to complete the construction, so extending the start date wouldn’t conflict with other parts of the code.
Councilmember Thomas said he had a question on the second paragraph on item D.
The intention is if there are improvements adjacent to the property being developed, that they match the level of improvement the neighboring property has, but that is spelled out in the paragraph above.
Deputy Clerk Anderson asked if striking the paragraph would be a better option since the paragraph above spells out where the exemptions are not allowed.
Councilmembers Hansen and Gardner both said it would clarify the ordinance without the second paragraph.
Councilmember Thomas said the first paragraph of item D could be modified to say “The City shall require the installation of curb, gutter, asphalt[added] and any other appropriate improvements to match existing or required improvements on adjacent lots.”
Motion: Adopt Ordinance 2025-6, amending Title 17 of the Richfield Zoning Ordinance relating to street improvements on existing lots with the noted changes of striking the second paragraph of item D, adding the word asphalt to the second sentence of D and extending the deadline to 180 days, Action: Approve, Moved by Kendrick Thomas, Seconded by Kip Hansen.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.
- Other business:
Police Chief Lloyd said the Fourth of July celebration is over. There were a lot of people in town, but there were no major incidents. However, there was a seizure near Ideal Dairy during the parade – the second time that has happened.
Recreation Director Brady Edwards said he felt like this was the smoothest yet. The City crew worked very hard, while the parks crew on four-hour shifts taking care of things at the parks with the influx of people.
Public Works Director Keith Mogan said the 1300 South closure make extend another week before the sewer project going across it finished up. Curb and gutter at Cottonwood Corner are in, asphalt is being placed. Water project is complete. The City crew will be painting crosswalks in the next couple of weeks. There was an issue with the water a few weeks ago, which resulted in some sand in the water, but it was clear of bacteria.
Financial Director Jenson said he feels strongly that sales tax numbers will at least break even. There is a lot of red on the report through May, which is disappointing after a solid April.
Councilmember Thompson said it looks like the City may finish ahead, which is surprising as the economy doesn’t feel like it would fuel that.
There were a lot of complements on the fireworks show this year, Councilmember Thompson said.
Councilmember Hansen said he appreciated the updating of the Miss Richfield Float. The City should consider doing the same for the Council’s float.
Councilmember Thompson said he was presented the idea of having a tiered parade entry costs – charging more for entries the City wants less of, and letting floats enter for free or for a nominal fee.
Councilmember Hansen said while entries were up, but proper parade floats were pretty slim pickings this year.
Councilmember Street said she was impressed by the Miss Richfield candidates. The talents were spot on, they are so well trained. Any one of them could have got it. The City brought in approximately $400 on the book sale during the parade.
Councilmember Thomas said hats off to everyone who participated in the organization of the Fourth of July festivities. - EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Discuss the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual(s) to serve on the Planning Commission.
Ray Terry selected.
Adjournment: Motion: Adjourn the meeting, Action: Adjourn, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Kendrick Thomas.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 5).
Yes: Brayden Gardner, Elaine Street, Kendrick Thomas, Kip Hansen, Tanner Thompson.