Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Highland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
30 issues with high priority
Sidewalk Gaps and Safe Routes to School
A 216-foot missing sidewalk stretch on a 21-foot-wide road with a blind corner forces kids, veterans, and strollers into traffic. Residents packed the meeting asking for it to be prioritized; the fix could run around $80,000 once road work and property issues are included.
Ridgeview privacy fence setbacks
Ridgeview's tiny corner lots (some 0.117 acres) were losing a third to half their side yards to the citywide 14-foot fence setback. The council carved out an exception for the smaller pods so families can fence their yards, while keeping the rule on estate lots.
Sale of trail-adjacent orphan parcels
Three city slivers sold to adjoining homeowners, with the council wrestling with trail buffers, no-build setbacks and whether proceeds should benefit the neighborhoods the parcels came from.
Ridges at Alpine / Angels Gate Agreement
After two years of negotiation, Highland locked in a deal with the Draper developer north of Angels Gate: city ownership of the water tank parcel, a guaranteed Hog Hollow trail connection, emergency access both directions, and $75,000 toward the Dry Creek lift station. It also formally reopens Angels Gate area trail access.
Road maintenance funding and the transportation utility fee
The city is switching to a 'supermod' chip seal (same price, better structural value) and deferring the last stretch near pending utility cuts so fresh pavement doesn't get torn up.
Assisted living facility in Sky Estates
Developers want to replace the 13-year-vacant commercial lot in Sky Estates with a 75-unit, 67,500-square-foot assisted living and memory care facility — 61% bigger than the planned development allows. Neighbors worry about shared parking with the clubhouse, emergency vehicle traffic, construction disruption, and the loss of neighborhood character.
State Mandate to Chlorinate Drinking Water
Highland is the largest city in Utah without chlorination, and the state says recurring coliform hits mean it must disinfect. Council members want cancer-risk research on disinfection byproducts, third-party testing, and possibly a delay until spring 2027 before any vote.
Mitchell Hollow trail wall and fence safety
The trail's extensive retaining walls and boardwalks drove a $15,000 inspection cost increase. Council Member Rice flagged a possible drainage problem near the Bibee property that staff agreed to inspect before pavement goes down.
Firefighter and police officer recruitment and retention
Both departments are losing experienced staff — mostly to Salt Lake County agencies paying $3–4 more per hour. The board wants a pay study to figure out how competitive the district needs to be, and a permanent pay policy so decisions outlive board turnover.
Part-time firefighter program failing
Part-time firefighters are quitting before their first shift or just not showing up, leaving the district to cover gaps with costly overtime. The chief proposes converting one part-time slot to full-time, and will bring financials to the November meeting.
Veterinary urgent care clinic at Highland Mains
Highland's code never addressed vet clinics, so Sploot needed council approval to open in the CR zone at the former ice cream shop. The big debate was Sunday hours — the council settled on urgent care only on Sundays. The clinic opens in about six months.
Country Club Drive golf cart crossing sidewalk and traffic calming
Three Country Club residents pressed for a permanent fix at the narrow golf cart crossing — a sidewalk, better gravel transitions, and traffic calming on Juring Drive. Staff said sidewalk priorities will be re-run through a data model that now weights locations with no sidewalk on either side.
Safe school crossing for Ridgeview students at North County Boulevard
A Ridgeview mom described kindergartners and sixth graders crossing a busy 45-mph intersection near Lone Peak High to reach Cedar Ridge Elementary, with no trail route like Deerfield students have. She asked the city to create a safe crossing plan, pointing to a prior Highland–American Fork agreement for Legacy Elementary.
Detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) rules
The council is finalizing how big a backyard ADU can be: keep the lot-coverage cap, keep the 'no bigger than your house footprint' rule, and cap living area at 1,250 sq ft (some wanted smaller, one wanted 1,500 on big lots). Residents told the council proposed 30-foot setbacks would make ADUs impossible on typical lots.
Alternatives to the tax increase
The council started the formal truth-in-taxation process for a 53.8% increase in the dedicated library tax — about $28.65 more per year on a million-dollar average home. The money would add a second full-time library staffer, fund the Libby e-book service, and keep senior programs going. The final vote isn't until August 11.
Water-wise landscaping and rebate eligibility
New maintenance rules for water-wise landscaping: prune, weed, keep mulch 3 inches deep, fix sprinkler overspray, and follow WUI defensible-space rules if you're in one of the ~120 flagged homes. Enforcement will lean on education, not tickets.
Tiered pressurized irrigation rates
The city is designing a six-tier water rate to match revenue and push conservation — council leaned toward Option 1 with a $15 base, and wants residents to see their projected bills first.
FY 2026-2027 interim budget
The tentative budget includes park improvements, a new police lieutenant, traffic-calming money, and staff additions, funded partly by a one-time $264,000 Lone Peak reimbursement. No fee or utility rate increases this year.
Library staffing and wages
Testimony revealed the library runs on one full-timer and eleven part-timers, with no merit raises in 18 years and wages lower than a teen's fast-food job. Councilmember Cortney flagged that salary growth is outpacing inflation and population combined — a sustainability concern he wants addressed.
Sight triangle regulations cleanup
Nothing over three feet will be allowed in the 40-foot visibility triangles at intersections — a big deal for corner-lot owners with trees and shrubs. Code Officer Brent Wallace warned trees cost owners thousands to remove once they block sight lines.
Well No. 4 motor failure
The city's workhorse drinking water well has been down a month with a burned-out motor; it's being rewound for about $28,500 since the warranty expired years ago.
Class 2 e-bike restrictions
Residents asked the city to allow throttle-equipped class 2 e-bikes, saying the city's rules go beyond state law. The council will revisit the rules in a future communication item.
Trail and park maintenance funding
Council Member Rice pressed for real maintenance — gravel, barriers, rock — rather than just weed cutting, and council members offered their discretionary funds. The council leaned toward a mid-year budget adjustment and a small volunteer pilot project this summer.
Detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs)
A new ordinance would let homeowners build detached accessory dwellings on large lots — required by state law by October. The council wants a workshop first over concerns about utilities, mailboxes, and 're-zoning the city' through ADU proliferation.
Wildland-Urban Interface code and map
About 175 homes in Beacon Hills, Twin Bridges, Sky Estates and Viewpoint fall in state-designated wildfire risk zones. New builds and additions must meet the 2024 WUI code, but existing homes aren't forced to retrofits — defensible-space landscaping is the big focus.
Mayor and council compensation
Council pay raises now have to go through the same public hearing and notice process as executive raises — a 3-2 vote rejected a $3,000 citywide mailer but adopted the core ordinance.
10400 North pedestrian safety
The city will reimburse Ivory Homes up to $145,673 for fixing a road that doesn't drain properly, with leftover county funds possibly going to the Highland Glen entrance road.
Adult baseball leagues hitting balls into neighboring homes
Adult league players using metal bats have hit home runs over the Family Park fence into neighbors' yards, including Paul Adams' property. The council directed staff to stop scheduling adult leagues on the field and revisit taller netting if problems continue.
Wildfire cost protection
The state cooperative agreement means Utah — not Highland taxpayers — covers most costs of a major wildfire, even one starting inside city limits. Fire officials stress residents should understand they live in wildfire country.
2026 Road Maintenance Program
The city's annual street repair package covers reconstruction and surface treatments across several neighborhoods, with newer subdivisions' work already paid by developer bonds. Crews will also start a formal road evaluation program to build a fact-based annual project list.