Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Heber City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
39 issues with critical priority
Communications Policy
The council restricted elected officials from writing individual op-eds for the city newsletter without majority approval, sparking debate over free speech.
North Fields Agricultural Protection MOU
Heber City and Wasatch County partnered to update their MOU, cementing protections to keep the North Fields agricultural and zoned at Ag-20.
Mill Road and 1200 South Intersection Safety
Despite emotional testimony from long-time residents and business owners about land loss and business disruption, the council voted to move forward with engineering designs for a new roundabout at 1200 South and Mill Road.
Riverhawk Road Annexation
The city is considering annexing 3.38 acres of roadway around the new Deer Creek High School to ensure police and maintenance jurisdiction falls fully within Heber City. This clean-up annexation brings the street in front of the school under unified city management.
Main Street Park Development
Residents and council members debated what to include in the Phase 2 redesign of Main Street Park, balancing the desire for open green space and trees against proposed amenities like a skate ribbon, splash pad, and commercial buildings.
Justice Court Consolidation
With the local judge stepping down, the city explored whether to recruit a new judge or combine operations with Wasatch County, ultimately deciding to pursue consolidation.
Cell Tower Height and Location Standards
The council reviewed proposed zoning code changes to allow taller cell towers up to 80 feet with stricter setbacks to encourage shared infrastructure and improve coverage.
Wildland Urban Interface Map Amendment
Updating the WUI map impacts building requirements and safety standards in fire-prone areas around Heber City.
Carl Malone Group Zoning Amendment
Heber City is debating whether to let a 65-foot cell tower go up in a residential area. Neighbors are worried it’ll be a total eyesore and tank their property values, while the city tries to balance that against the need for better reception.
Property Tax Increase
The city council tentatively adopted a $72 million budget that includes an option for a 5.2% property tax increase to cover rising operational and inflationary costs. Residents heavily criticized the proposed tax hike during public comment, pointing to cumulative tax increases and cost-of-living pressures.
Mayflower Views Residential Development
Heber City is getting a new luxury development called 'The Slope,' which is set to shake up the local housing market and change the town's vibe. It’s a major project that could put a serious strain on our current roads and infrastructure as the area grows.
Animal Shelter Expansion
The shelter is looking to expand its facilities to better serve the community. They are currently working on a design plan and figuring out how to pay for it.
Proposed Property Tax Increase
The city is considering a 5.2% tax hike to cover rising costs for city services like police, roads, and parks. This would add about $19 a year to the tax bill for an $850,000 home.
Affordable Housing Development
UVU students and housing consultants presented survey data and proposals to address Heber's housing affordability gap, focusing on single-family starter homes and regional collaboration.
Fireworks Safety Restrictions
Battalion Chief Troy Morgan presented extended Stage 1 firework restrictions due to extremely dry conditions, and the council emphasized public outreach and signage.
Water Restrictions Rescinded
In response to severe drought conditions and low snowpack, the council adopted Level 2 of the water shortage plan. The city will increase public outreach and encourage voluntary conservation across agricultural, municipal, and residential sectors.
North Village Stormwater Master Plan & Dam Safety
City engineers revealed that proposed upstream retention and debris basins for North Village stormwater management may be classified by the state as high hazard dams. This classification significantly increases engineering requirements, construction costs, and municipal liability.
Airport Ground Lease Standardization
The city is reviewing airport lease terms, fees, and potential capital improvement acceleration for the 2034 Olympics to ensure the airport remains entirely self-sustaining without relying on general fund subsidies.
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Priorities
Staff reviewed the upcoming fiscal year's operating and capital budgets, including ongoing runway and infrastructure projects.
Tax Increment Financing
Heber City is considering a $20 million tax break for a new mixed-use development. It’s a big deal because that’s money that won't be going toward our roads, schools, or other city services for a while.
Public Works Salt Shed Failure and Replacement
The municipal salt storage shed suffered a severe structural failure, prompting the city to file a lawsuit against the builders and pursue a replacement. The council authorized up to $50,000 for initial design work to ensure a new shed is built before winter.
Jordanelle Ridge Open Space Conservation Easement
The city approved a conservation and open space easement covering 1,967 acres, ensuring public trail access while establishing county enforcement oversight.
Heber Valley Corridor EIS and Western Bypass Planning
UDOT updated the community on the environmental impact statement for the bypass, narrowing options down to two free-flow routes and raising property impact concerns.
Airport Tax Overlay
The Board is considering a new 1% tax on gross receipts for properties within the airport boundary. This could impact business owners and tenants operating at the airport.
Urban Planning and Growth
Heber City is about to get a lot more crowded, which means we're looking at major traffic jams and a serious housing crunch. The city is scrambling to update infrastructure to keep up with all the new people moving in.
Flood Plain Mapping
Heber and Midway are updating their flood maps with better tech, which might land your property in a high-risk zone. This could mean tougher building rules for new projects and a surprise hike in your insurance premiums.
Adoption of Facilities Master Plan and Impact Fees
The city adopted an updated Facilities Master Plan and new impact fees for culinary water, sewer, streets, and parks to ensure new development funds its share of infrastructure needs over the next 20 years.
Central Heber Overlay Zone (CHOZ) Adoption
City planners and the commission reviewed presentation slides for an upcoming open house on the Central Heber Overlay, discussing ways to explain infill options like flag lots, duplexes, and historic home conversions to residents.
Ranked Choice Voting Survey
Residents and officials debated whether to continue using Ranked Choice Voting for municipal elections, with critics citing ballot confusion and exhausted votes, while supporters highlighted cost savings and majority support outcomes.
Buys Property Acquisition for Downtown Redevelopment
City leaders reviewed new financial projections for downtown tax increment revenue and agreed to restart talks with the county and school district to fund revitalization projects.
Muirfield Area Basement Flooding and Groundwater Investigation
Residents in the Muirfield area shared distressing accounts of unexpected basement flooding, prompting public works officials to report on groundwater levels and storm drain capacity investigations.
Wasatch County Administration Building Annexation
Wasatch County is proceeding with annexing its new administration building site into Heber City, opening doors for future municipal cooperation and potential reuse of existing county facilities downtown.
Fiscal Year 2026 Tentative Budget Adoption
Residents expressed frustration over proposed utility rate increases for water, sewer, and stormwater to support infrastructure, while staff defended the zero-based budgeting process and fiscal restraint.
North Village Crossing and Harvest Village Master Development Agreements
The council reviewed and ultimately approved PID agreements for Harvest Village, balancing developer financing mechanisms with added resident disclosures and strict timelines for public amenity completion.
Affordable Housing Fee-In-Lieu Code Amendment
The council adopted an ordinance giving Heber City the flexibility to retain and utilize affordable housing fees-in-lieu locally rather than automatically channeling them exclusively through the county housing authority.
FY 2025 Budget Amendments
The city council approved updates to this year's budget to fund public safety upgrades, trail bridges, and downtown property purchases.
Wasatch Highlands Annexation and Regional Growth Management
A major proposal to annex over 4,000 acres of SITLA lands east of Red Ledges sparked fierce community debate over infrastructure capacity, water rights, and traffic, leading the council to halt the annexation.
Acquisition of Heber Light and Power Administration Building
The city is transferring $876,000 to the Community Reinvestment Agency to purchase the HL&P administration building at 31 South and 100 West for downtown redevelopment.
Rapid Growth and Infrastructure Capacity
Residents expressed widespread frustration over aggressive development, traffic congestion, and infrastructure strain, repeatedly calling for a development moratorium until city services and roads catch up.