Provo approves rental contract law in 5-2 vote
After a few months of discussion and taking public comment — much of which was against the proposal — the Provo council voted 5–2 to require landlords to have signed contracts with all adult tenants. Councilmen Dave Harding and David Sewell voted against the measure. The new law goes into effect Jan. 1. It will […]
Provo City Council and Provo retail experts council together on Provo’s retail problem
In a collaborative effort, the Provo City Council met with operators representing four of Provo’s largest retail centers to discuss how they can get new retail companies in the city. And the operators gave the council a lot to think about. “I think this city can do better at reviewing development applications,” said Provo city […]
Duncan Aviation on track for Provo Airport expansion
Last year, Duncan Aviation announced plans to expand its facility at the Provo Airport. Though it’s hit a bump, the company is moving ahead. David Walter, director of the Provo Redevelopment Agency, told the city council and Provo School Board on Thursday that the company had hit a regulatory snag. But the project, which would […]
Provo School District giving one-time bonus to employees in November
Provo School District is giving its employees a one-time bonus at the end of November, Provo School District President McKay Jensen announced in a joint meeting with the Provo City Council on Thursday. Following Thanksgiving break, district employees will receive a bonus that is worth 2.5 percent of their salary. “We wanted to make the […]
Provo City Council considering new system for their raises
Imagine this: It’s your job to determine how much you should be paid. You’ve got to publicly discuss and defend that amount, then vote on it. That process may be one of the reasons the Provo City Council hasn’t changed its pay in more than 10 years. To make things more predictable, independent and less […]
Provo will survey residents about RAP tax, how money should be spent
Provo residents: Next week you could get an email asking for your opinion on whether the city should have a new sales tax to support recreation and arts, and how that money should be spent. Before Provo’s city council decides whether the Recreation Arts and Parks tax will be on the ballot in November, it […]
Provo council honors Stephen Hales
At the first meeting since his death, the Provo Municipal Council spent some time on Tuesday to honor Councilman Stephen Hales. Hales, 55, died Jan. 21. “We’re a better council, a better community, a better people because of Stephen and his influence,” said Councilwoman Kim Santiago. Hales, who had cancer, last attended a city council […]
Provo may look to state for ethics investigations
A few years ago Provo was the epicenter of ethics complaints against elected officials. Because of that problem the state Legislature passed laws creating a state commission to hear such complaints and an option for cities to create their own. Now Provo is trying to decide whether it wants to create its own commission for ethics complaints against city […]
No new law for Provo food trucks, at least for now
Even though Provo has a thriving weekly food truck roundup, the city doesn’t have any specific laws regulating food trucks. And it will stay that way for at least a few more weeks. On Tuesday the city council decided to keep discussing a proposal to regulate the mobile food businesses for a few more weeks, […]
Plans for Provo city center redo moving ahead
Moving Provo’s public safety operations away from Center Street, demolishing and rebuilding the city offices along with other buildings with storefronts to match the rest of Center Street, reopening 400 West — but probably not as a through street, and making 100 South a linear park and more pedestrian friendly. The recommendations for downtown renovations […]
Provo denies request for 210 acres to join city
The Provo council quickly turned down an annexation request this week, after its attorneys decided approving it would violate state law. A group of property owners in the area between 5000 and 5500 North and east of Canyon Road petitioned the city to annex several months ago. The problem with the 210-acre annexation was that […]
Provo won’t allow MMA fights
Earlier this year, the general manager of the Utah Valley Convention Center and a fight promoter asked the Provo City Council to change the law so they could host mixed-martial arts fights at the downtown events center. But instead of voting to allow the fights — estimated to bring $15,000 to $30,000 in economic activity […]
Independent report backs 900 East BRT route
Several weeks and up to $95,000 later, a consortium of independent consulting firms has concluded that UTA’s preferred route for bus rapid transit is, indeed, the best route. The preferred route, known as Route 4, would take buses from the Frontrunner station, up 700 North and across 700 East over to 900 North and then […]
Provo council supports 900 East BRT, spends $70K to find an alternate route
In four weeks, Civil Science will tell the Provo Municipal Council if it can find a better route for bus rapid transit through Provo than 900 East. In the meantime, the Provo council voted 5-2, reversing an earlier decision, to tell UTA that it supports the 900 East route — for now — so that […]
Support growing for BRT referendum
A few weeks ago when the Provo Municipal Council voted 3-4 against supporting UTA’s preferred route for bus rapid transit, five Provo residents started working on a plan to show that Provo residents really do support the route. The group — Ryan Frandsen, a former Provo council candidate; Laura Cabanilla, a former Provo councilwoman; Courtney Clark […]
To tow or not to tow: Provo council to vote on changes
In October last year Provo Mayor John Curtis announced on his blog that he was considering changes to the city’s towing law. That post ended up with 539 comments, most of which recounted booting and towing horror stories. More than a year in, and nearly a semester into a towing pilot program, the Provo Municipal […]