CITIES OF OREM AND PROVO
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
May 13, 2003
This meeting was for discussion purposes only. No action was taken.
CONDUCTING
Jerry C. Washburn, Orem Mayor
PROVO ELECTED OFFICIALS
Councilmembers Mark Hathaway, Dave Knecht, Stan
Lockhart, and Barbara Sandstrom
OREM ELECTED OFFICIALS
Councilmembers Dean Dickerson, Doug Forsyth,
Karen McCandless, and Shiree Thurston.
OREM STAFF
Donna Weaver, City Recorder.
PROVO STAFF
Mike Mauer, Mayor’s Office.
Mayor Pro Tem Forsyth opened the meeting at 12:15 p.m. stating there were no specific items on
the agenda, and the Councils were meeting to discuss items of common interest.
Student Housing / Definition of Family
Student housing issues were discussed with relation to how many unrelated people living in one
unit constitutes a family. Typically three unrelated people are considered a family unit, yet some
developers in Provo have included in project CC&R’s that the family standard is two unrelated
people.
Provo and Orem find it is a common problem that some developers are still finding a way around
the three unrelated people standard. In Provo, developers are finding ways to put student
housing in single family zones. Adequate parking is not provided. Also, the school district and
LDS Church make projections for new buildings based on the nature of single family zoning in
an area. When student housing infiltrates these areas it creates problems with unused capacity in
churches and schools.
In Provo, standards are being created that if a housing unit is owner occupied the definition of
family is unaffected. If a housing unit is used for investment a different definition may apply.
Students living together do not constitute a legal definition of family. Single adults living
together as a functional household, but that are not students, are considered a family.
It was noted that at some point cities might have to address the issue of too much density in one
home. How many people can reasonably and safely live in a home even if they are all related?
Joint Orem/Provo City Council Minutes – January 14, 2003 (p.1)
Recent Development/Planning in Orem
Mayor Washburn gave a brief update on various development projects in Orem including the
Midtown Village to be constructed along south State Street. This is a large mixed-use project
that will redevelop part of State Street.
Another project is the Northgate development along 800 North between 900 and 1200 West.
Both projects have been designed using PD zones and will have strict architectural controls.
The Orem City Council recently adopted its annexation policy plan that draws a hard line for the
future city boundary along 2000 South.
Legislative Issues
Legislative issues that will affect municipal government were discussed. Two bills in particular
were reviewed: proposed sales tax legislation and new highway legislation.
The sales tax bill will try to capture the sales tax from Internet sales. It is designed to create
unity in states by the way sales tax is collected, and will change sales tax from being levied at the
point of sale to the point of delivery. While this is a logical solution for Internet sales, it has the
potential to greatly impact larger cities in Utah. As an example, if a purchase is made at RC
Willey in Orem but the item is then delivered outside of the city, Orem would not receive the
majority benefit of that sale. Orem provides the infrastructure and overhead costs for businesses
in the city yet with this change in legislation would lose the sales tax advantage. Mayor
Washburn indicated it could amount to several million dollars in lost sales tax revenue for Orem.
The Legislature has indicated it cannot differentiate between Internet sales tax and city sales tax.
Transportation
Utah County transportation concerns were briefly discussed including issues with 800 North in
Orem, I-15, and Geneva Road.
Schedule Next Meeting
The next meeting was scheduled for March 18, 2003, at 12:00 noon in Provo.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Donna R. Weaver, City Recorder
Approved: January 28, 2003
Joint Orem/Provo City Council Minutes – January 14, 2003 (p.2)