Monticello addresses speeding on city streets

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Monticello City Council approved regulations for electric vehicle charging stations, approved a reduction in parking spot requirements for a new business, and discussed speed shifts at their latest meeting.
Members of the Monticello City Council discussed the “speed shifts” for local law enforcement officers from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Department.
The offering of overtime shifts for deputies to focus solely on speed enforcement in the town of Monticello has been in effect since the beginning of the year.
Council member Ron Skinner clarified that the shifts do not have a quota of tickets to be issued by deputies but are intended to increase safety in town.
“Please understand me, we’re not doing it for the money. We’re doing it for public safety.”
Members of the council also shared that anecdotally they feel they’ve seen less speeding in town since the shifts have been implemented with Mayor Bayley Hedglin sharing once again that she has no problem with Monticello earning the title of a ‘speed-trap town’.
Members of the Monticello city council once again revisited the topic of the city landfill with an emphasis placed once again on providing training to city employees related to standardization of sanitation operations.
Monticello City Council also heard one public comment from city residents concerned about the supervision of state inmates working outside of the Monticello jail.
A neighbor to the public safety building shared her concern about the level of supervision of inmates with families and residents within a block from the jail.
The public commenter did say they knew the city was not responsible for the issue but brought it to the council to raise awareness, city council members said they’d help relay the message to county staff.
Members of the Monticello City Council also received a briefing on the 76-page audit report, with the verbal report sharing that the audit went well.
As part of the report it was highlighted that city revenues exceeded expenses of around $2.2 million in the general revenue., leaving an excess of around $260,000. That was described as excellent by the representatives at Aycock, Miles & Associates.
Members of the city council also went into closed session to discuss possible imminent litigation as well as an update on the city airport fixed base operator.

In other matters of business, the council held a public hearing for and approved code updates outlining electric vehicle charging station regulations in the city at their April 23 meeting.
While the update included state requirements, the majority of it was written by the planning commission and city staff.
Staff shared as far as they were aware the adoption is the first of its kind by a city in Utah regulating how and where electronic vehicle charging stations are regulated in the city.
Monticello City council also approved a request for a reduction in parking space requirement for a new business.
Members of the council heard a request from Mike Francom to allow for a reduction in the number of parking spaces required for the new business.
Francom explained under current code one parking spot is required for every 250 square feet of a building, with an additional requirement that those spots be on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. Under code, the building would require 12 parking spots.
Francom explained his new structure at 448 South Main Street has eight concrete parking spots available, as well as four spots on six inches of road base which do not meet the hard surface requirement in the code.
However, Francom said that base won’t rut or leave tracks and is the closest thing to a hard surface.
Francom also argued that the 24-hour nature of the gym and the encouragement for people to walk should mean the parking spots should suffice for the opening. 
The issue was also reviewed by the planning commission with a recommendation to approve the request. Members of the Monticello City Council also unanimously approved the request.
Francom shared an estimated soft-opening day in June, with a grand opening later in the summer.
Members of the council also approved an ordinance adopting landscape standards for new developments.
The standards are aimed at making new developments in the city follow water-efficient landscape practices.
Required ordinances include no lawn or parking strip areas less than eight feet in width in new residential development, and no more than 50-percent of front and side yard landscaped areas in new residential areas as lawns.
Adopting the standards will qualify Monticello residents to participate in the state of Utah’s Landscape Conservation Incentive Program.
The program allows property owners in qualified cities to receive a cash incentive bonus,($1.50 per square foot) from the state to replace lawns with water-efficient landscaping. 
The program allows for up to $50,000 in incentives a year for projects.
Among the 12 program requirements include a minimum project area of 200 square feet, prior approval, and drought-resistant perennials and/or shrubs must cover (canopy cover) at least 50% of the converted project area at maturity.
The same required ordinances were adopted by the Blanding City Council in summer 2023.
Members of the Monticello city council also received a report from Planning Commission Chair Lee Bennett regarding the work of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The report included the commission’s work in 2023 including updates to zoning and variance requests throughout the year.
Bennett shared four items the commission plans to look at during the coming year, including tiny home parks, county housing assessment, a general plan revision, and revising landscaping ordinance.
Members of the council thanked Bennett and the rest of the planning commission for their volunteer labor in the city.