December 6, 1965
Orem City Council met in regular session Monday, December 6, 1965, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Present were Mayor G. Milton Jameson, chairman; Councilmen Harley Gillman, Dixon Larson, Lowell Thomson, Paul Washburn, and James Paramore arrived at 7:15 p.m. Also present were City Manager Earl Wengreen, Attorney H. Vern Wentz, Acting Engineer Chester Kocherhans, Mayor-elect James Mangum, Councilman-elect Stanley Leavitt, Treasurer Victor Christensen and Recorder Anne Cooper.
Others present are as listed:
Stanley Leavitt Councilman-elect
James Mangum Mayor-elect
Merlin Manning Chairman, Planning Commission
Robert Evans Member, Planning Commission
Vera Hales Health Department
Jennis Salisbury Health Department
Theodore Salisbury Visitor
Dee Blackley Orem Park Benches
Max Lewis Orem Park Benches
Glen Sagers City-County Health Department
Margaret Harrington City-County Health Department
Thirl Tew City-County Health Department
Jeanne Thayne Obtain report for times
Clyde Weeks News
George Milner Rezoning 1200 South & 800 West
W. M. Crawford Chamber of Commerce
F. Maxwell Chamber of Commerce
Jo Zimmerman News
Carl Clegg Citizen
Bob Dove Citizen
Glen Milner Zoning 1200 South & 800 West
Milt Littlefield Chamber of Commerce
Russell Brown Engineering
Merrill Hermansen Judge
Scott Wilkins Chamber of Commerce
Meeting opened with prayer by Paul Washburn.
Mayor Jameson read a letter from the Planning Commission regarding the status of the Alpine Credit Union and recommended that only one sign 1 ½ square feet parallel to and attached to the dwelling be allowed; also they must not display any external evidence of the business other than one sign, such as excessive traffic. The letter also noted that the average number of auto stops in Orem is nine trips per day. The Planning Commission made a recommendation that after a sworn affidavit has been presented, and then a permit for business could be issued. Lowell Thomson stated that it would take more or less trips to a residence to average nine, so wouldn't it be better to limit trips to a home occupation at the maximum. Why should we impose greater restrictions on home occupations than we do on a residence? The City Attorney advised that the Planning Commission has authority to set conditions on each application as it is reviewed. However, if the people feel the Planning Commission decision is unreasonable, they have a right to take it to court.
A letter was received from the Planning Commission recommending that final Plat "C" of the Southgate Park subdivision at 590 East from 500 South to 600 South be accepted. Motion was made by Harley Gillman to accept final Plat "C" of Southgate Park Subdivision as recommended by the Planning Commission. Motion was seconded by Dixon Larson. Voting aye: Harley Gillman, Lowell Thomson, Dixon Larson and Paul Washburn. James Paramore was absent. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
The Planning Commission's letter reported that they had accepted the preliminary plat of the Royal Oaks subdivision from 200 South to 125 South and from 200 East to 320 East, subject to provision that Wayne Mills provide a temporary "turn around."
Mayor Jameson read a letter from the Utah Water Conservancy District asking that the Mayor and Council from each City adopt and publish next Thursday a resolution supporting the Utah Water Conservancy District in the coming election, to be held December 14. The mayor stated that he would also like for the City to put a separate advertisement in the paper pledging their support and urging all to vote.
City Manager Wengreen reported that he had talked to Max Beesley of the Housing and Home Administration on Redwood Road. Mr. Beesley has received no information on filing for Federal funds to extend the 1200 South sewer line and suggested that the City write to Sam Weinstein in San Francisco for information. James Paramore suggested that a telephone call to one of our senators may speed action on the application.
City Manager Wengreen read a letter from Ronald Adams asking for $150.00 for additional work that he has done to repair alleged damage to his property which was caused by the APW project. Mr. Wengreen reported that the contractor, Leftwich, and Consulting Engineer Russell Brown had gone back and removed rocks that seemed to have been caused by the work on the project. However, Mr. Adams has gone over his property again and additional rocks have been brought to the surface, as there is very little top soil. Consulting Engineer Brown had given his final approval of the work as completed. Motion was made by Lowell Thomson, seconded by Harley Gillman, to reject the claim made by Ronald Adams for the alleged damage to his property on the APW project. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion was made by Dixon Larson to pay the invoice to Olson, Gardner and Squire for auditing the General Funds account in the amount of $980.00 and the Water and Sewer Revenue Funds account in the amount of $745.00. Motion was seconded by James Paramore and passed unanimously.
Motion was made by James Paramore to pay Scera their final payment for City participation in recreation, as budgeted for the year 1965-1966, in the amount of $4,750.00, less $628.59 paid by the City for ball park lights. Motion was seconded by Lowell Thomson and passed unanimously.
Motion was made by James Paramore to approve minutes of November 29, 1965, as read and corrected. Motion was seconded by Paul Washburn and passed unanimously.
Motion was made by Paul Washburn to approve minutes of July 26, 1965, as read and corrected. Motion was seconded by Harley Gillman and passed unanimously.
Dr. Eddington and other members of the Utah County and City Department of Health met with the Council to review services rendered by the Health Department in this area. Dr. Eddington stated that the Health Department greatly appreciates the office space provided for nurses by the cities, as they have no funds to provide this cost. Mayor Jameson stated that he feels their program has worked out very well in Orem, and appreciates the time they spent coming to the Council with this report.
Larry Lunnen, Chief of Police, met with the Council to review operations and make recommendations for the Police Department. Chief Lunnen reported that the use of the teletype system has been dropped by several cities; therefore, the cost is greater to Orem City. The benefits are greater than the cost, however, and have made possible the obtaining of the following information on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis:
1. Vehicle registration files.
2. Criminal record files, including fingerprints.
3. Juvenile criminal records.
4. Stolen property file.
5. Recovered property file.
6. Pawned property file.
7. "Wanted" and "outstanding warrant" files.
8. Index file of all teletype messages.
The proposed tie-in with Phoenix would tie in Utah with all Western States and would also provide services to the rest of the United States with State I.D. Bureau as a relay station.
Police Chief Lunnen reported that the Utah Peace Officers Association has hired an attorney, and that a bill has been written regarding the training of all peace officers. It is a compulsory standards and training bill that will be controlled by a commission that is appointed by the Governor. The bill also calls for a State Academy. Federal funds can be used where this type of movement is being made within the State.
Motion was made by Lowell Thomson to authorize a resolution supporting the legislation as proposed by the Utah Peace Officers Association, the Utah State Chiefs of Police Association, and the Utah State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, setting up minimum peace officer standards and training. Motion was seconded by James Paramore and passed unanimously.
Police Chief Lunnen reported that the Police Departments in Utah County, the Sheriff's office, and the BYU Security Officers have been in training in preparation to control riots, if they should occur. Chief Lunnen stated that no department in the County can handle the situation alone and asked the Council for approval for the Orem Police Department to respond to such a call with all available personnel and equipment they feel is needed. He has asked this permission in case a man is injured or equipment is damaged, as they would not be under Chief Lunnen's jurisdiction.
Motion was made by Lowell Thomson to give Council approval for the Orem City Police Department to use men and equipment in riot situations outside the City limits and to determine the liability insurance to be in force. Motion was seconded by Dixon Larson and passed unanimously.
Police Chief Lunnen read a memo requesting that dispatchers be put on a full time basis, and reported that in two years he has lost thirteen trained dispatchers. The dispatchers must be trained to operate the teletype. If the dispatchers are put on full time, he can get by with the men he has now and leave the salary as it is with hopes of paying more next year. Additional cost would be insurance, and vacation time.
Motion was made by Lowell Thomson to create three full time dispatcher positions immediately, as proposed, to be reviewed at the next budget period. Motion was seconded by James Paramore and passed unanimously.
Police Chief Lunnen reported that last year the City set up a trade-in policy for police cars on the 40,000 mile basis, which had been agreed upon by Givan Ford Company. However, this year Givan Ford could not meet the price and bids have been called for. Only one company has responded, as police cars have to be listed as such and are hard to sell. Dixon Larson inquired if it would not be better to go to a lease agreement or to use a car a second year. Chief Lunnen stated that he would like to buy two new cars now and review the lease agreements, or we may be able to go back to Utah State bidding.
James Paramore suggested that the information on a lease basis and maintenance costs should be prepared before a decision is made. It may be better for the City to go back to two or three year’s use of the automobiles before trading them in. The Police Chief was asked to bring in this information and present it to the Council on January 10.
Police Chief Lunnen reported that he owes "time" to several men and has no way to pay them back. For example, he owes one man eight days. He has not given men time off for holidays and has every car on the road on peak traffic days. Police officer Fred Schwendiman will have worked one year in December. The policy says that when a man works one year he earns one week vacation. However, Chief Lunnen is unable to give Fred Schwendiman one week off in December. Dixon Larson stated that he feels that it is an administration problem and should be handled as such.
Motion was made by Harley Gillman to turn the problem of vacations and overtime back to the City Manager and Police Chief and allow vacations to extend into 1966 until the time is made up. Motion was seconded by Dixon Larson and passed unanimously. Harley Gillman stated that the Council should consider "paid" holidays in the next budget year.
Merlin Manning, chairman of the Planning Commission, reported that George Milner and his son Glen Milner had met with the Planning Commission with an application that the area on 800 West between 1200 South and 1300 South be rezoned from A-1 to C-3 in order to build a motel. The Planning Commission had recommended that since Mr. Milner desires to build a motel, rather than rezone to a C-3 zone, a new zone should be created to accommodate business along the interchange and freeway, such as service stations, warehousing, eating establishments, trucking depots and motels. Mr. Manning stated that the Milners want to go ahead and draw up plans for their motel.
City Manager Wengreen stated that a new ordinance will have to be prepared and ready to be used when Mr. Milner applies for public hearing. Mayor Jameson stated that it appears as if there is no opposition to this new zone.
Russell Brown met with the Council regarding the proposed consulting engineering contract for City engineering work. After discussion, pro and con, James Paramore stated that at this point the Council does not know everything they need to know to make a decision, and stated that he did not feel it would be out of line to hire an expert to make a review and recommendation. Mr. Paramore recommended that action be deferred on Russell Brown's proposal. Mayor Jameson stated that he has never known a group of men who have given more thought to problems of the
City than the Councilmen and feels that they have been very fair and sincere. Lowell Thomson stated that he does not feel the six months trial basis would be detrimental if the consulting engineering firm would retain the City employees and the City records. Harley Gillman recommended that the proposal be amended to six months time and requiring that Chester Kocherhans be retained for this six month period. Russell Brown stated that this proposal would have to be reviewed in light of the new recommendations. Also, there would be a problem of transition; however, the proposal can be revised. Russell Brown further stated that whatever the Council decides is better for Orem is all right with him; but once an engineering concern is involved in a project, it cannot be dropped before completion. Stanley Leavitt stated that he would like to see the City obtain a City Engineer. Lowell Thomson stated that a decision of this magnitude should be reviewed as closely as possible; and he feels that as long as there is as much question in the minds of the Council as there is, he is not ready to make a decision at this time. Mayor Jameson recommended that further study be made.