Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Highland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Stormwater Compliance Update
The state-required stormwater plan update mostly means paperwork — revised inspection minimums, enforcement escalation, and salt/snowmelt procedures. No behavior changes needed since the city already meets water quality standards.
Special Event Fees at Highland Glen Park
A popular run club wants to grow from 100 to 150 participants at Highland Glen Park. Councilmember Campbell wants higher fees to cover cleanup costs; the council agreed the fee schedule should reflect actual impacts.
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.
Angels Gate Reopening Appreciation
A resident thanked the council for the negotiated agreement reopening Angels Gate, calling it a major safety relief for the mountain biking community heading into next season.
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.
Highland Hollow Park cyclocross idea
A Lehi mountain biker pitched using Highland Hollow Park as a cyclocross racing venue while keeping it natural — a way to activate the park and deter misuse. Just an idea floated in public comment; no action.
Rix subdivision on 6800 West
A six-lot subdivision is moving forward after the developer reworked the plan to satisfy the city's rounding rules. It also includes road widening and a parkway along 6800 West.
City facilities security fencing
Chain-link fencing around the fire station, two wells, and a lift station aims to prevent vandalism, trespassing, and any attempt to tamper with the drinking water supply.
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.
North Point tipping fee increase
Council Member Smith warned that the North Point transfer station plans a $3.50-per-ton tipping fee hike starting July 2027 as part of a $38 million rebuild — costs that could flow into garbage rates.
Beacon Hills drainline relocation
The city will spend up to $96,683.95 to stop its tank overflow from trespassing onto a developer's property, rerouting the water into the irrigation pond instead. The council skipped $30,000 in pipe encasement after the developer declined to help pay.
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.
Building height measurement on sloped lots
Highland currently measures height from finished grade at the foundation, letting builders pile up dirt and build taller homes. The proposed fix measures from top back of curb or existing grade, closing a loophole neighbors have noticed.
Twin Bridges entrance project
Residents raised $65,000 themselves to restore their subdivision's damaged entry features; the city is chipping in up to $27,000, with insurance money credited back.
Christmas lights event location
Staff asked for $10,000 from fund balance to start building a holiday light collection at Heritage Park and light 38 poles leading to the Town Center — council liked it but Cortney wants to make sure it doesn't look cheesy.
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.
Highland Glen Park care and maintenance
The city's most-visited park (30,000 monthly visits, 75% non-residents) has a long project list. Council wants maintenance and safety first, more volunteer collaboration, and cost-ranked lists plus a survey before spending.
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.
Right-of-way work notification requirement
A Comcast fiber contractor dug up driveways in the mayor's neighborhood with zero notice to homeowners. The council wants a code change requiring utilities to notify residents before digging in rights-of-way.
E-bike and scooter rules on trails and sidewalks
New city rules align with state law: Class 1 and 2 e-bikes allowed on trails and sidewalks, faster Class 3 banned, no motor vehicles in parks. Council members still worry about kids under 14 riding unsupervised and scooters zipping past pedestrians and dog walkers.
Traffic monitoring software purchase
Urban SDK would give the city real-time speed and volume data for every road using anonymized vehicle GPS data — no cameras, no personal info. It's about $25,000 a year for three years and could save staff days of manual traffic counts, though some council members questioned whether the council will actually follow the data.
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.
Legislative consultant contract vs. in-house grant administration
The council split 3-2 on renewing David Stewart's $100,000-a-year contract, which has helped land ~$4 million in grants. Opponents want a front-door alternative — possibly a part-time grant administration coordinator as a two-year pilot — and staff will research it for the FY2028 budget.
Town Center Boulevard parking
New rules crack down on long-term and inoperable vehicles in city parking spots near the splash pad and Toscana, with 24-hour signage coming to Town Center Boulevard. Enforcement will be mostly complaint-driven — officers can't chalk tires anymore, so they document and return after 48 hours.
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.
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.
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.
Vehicle nuisance enforcement on private property
Until now the city couldn't touch unregistered but functional cars parked on private property. The new ordinance creates three categories of violations with a 30-day grace period, giving code compliance real tools — and a new full-time officer starts in September.
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.
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.
Aging sewer lines slip-lining
Sewer lines 40-50 years old in some of the city's oldest neighborhoods are being relined, including a stretch along busy 10400.
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.
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.
Highland Glen Park maintenance
A resident who walks the park daily pleaded with the council to address trash, damaged docks, and deteriorating conditions, and volunteered to organize fundraising and volunteer upkeep.
Flock camera privacy concerns
A resident urged the council to abandon its Flock Safety camera contract, citing privacy and investor controversies — no council action resulted.
Fireworks restrictions for Pioneer Day
July 4 calls dropped from 10-15 to four this year — council's fireworks restrictions appear to be working, with discussion about the Highland Fling professional show and perchlorate pollution concerns raised by a resident.
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.
Investment portfolio performance
The $15 million Meeder laddered investment is trailing the state PTIF by about half a percent — some councilmembers want closer scrutiny while others call it a long-term play.
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.
Canterbury Run Club
After a mom-led plea citing 90,000 collective kid-miles and charity fundraising, council members said loud and clear: the Run Club can stay at Canterbury Park.
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.