Happy November, Eagle Mountain! Colten here.

I hope everyone had a lovely Halloween weekend. I was so happy that the weather cooperated Halloween night. My family and I had a blast. And now we have so much candy. I’m still not sure how to encourage my kids to ration them wisely, but we’re gonna try.

Now that Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I’m not sure how it is at your house, or your relatives’ homes, but plenty of folks kick on their favorite Christmas albums and put up their beloved Christmas decorations almost right away. I personally prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving, but I’m super curious what you all think. Let me know below!

The City Council meets Wednesday, November 4 at City Hall, a day later than usual because of Tuesday’s election. The afternoon meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. and the evening meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. General public comment takes place during the evening meeting (7:00 p.m.), with 3 minutes allowed per person.

There's also a City Council special meeting Tuesday, November 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. No agenda had been posted as of Sunday, November 1, so I can't tell you what it's about. If an agenda is posted, it will show up on the meeting page.

The City Council holds a public hearing and votes Wednesday on rules that would allow artificial turf in front yards and side yards that face a street. Under the proposed rules, you would have to apply to the city for approval before putting it in, and show that the turf meets ten standards. The standards cover the turf’s warranty, height, drainage and infill, and how close it can go to a tree. Turf wouldn’t count toward the city’s minimum for living plants, so at least half of a front yard would still need to be living plants.

City staff and the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the rules. The public hearing is during the 7:00 p.m. meeting.

The city would trade a golf course’s debt for land to widen Ranches Parkway. The city would take 3.47 acres from the Ranches Golf Course for the wider road. In exchange, the city would forgive about $896,000 the course’s owner still owes the city and pay to move the course’s cart paths, fencing and irrigation. City staff put the cost to the city at about $1.05 million. It’s on the consent agenda, so it passes with other routine items in one vote, without discussion, unless a councilmember pulls it.

The city is considering tax incentives to bring large employers here. In the afternoon meeting, Economic Development Director Abby Ivory presents a plan with the goal to “reduce the percentage of residents who must commute outside the city for employment.” Depending on how a project scores, the city would give a company back up to half of the new tax revenue it brings in, for up to 25 years. Companies would be paid only after they deliver the promised jobs and investment, unless the City Council approves paying sooner. The city could take money back if a company falls short. The Council is only discussing the plan, and there’s no vote.

You can read the full agenda and packet on the meeting page.

The City Council's special meeting on the speed study results is Tuesday, November 10 at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Works Building (meeting page). The City Council's next regular meeting is Tuesday, November 17.

I know you've been getting bombarded with election-related ads and marketing, but I think it's really important that we vote. But to make our votes actually count, I believe we've got to take the time to understand what's on the ballot. Here's what I understand about two items that show up on every Eagle Mountain ballot.

Amendment A changes how future changes to Utah's constitution are communicated to Utahns.

We've all heard of the United States Constitution, but did you know that Utah has one too? Whenever you see an "Amendment" on the ballot, it means the Legislature wants to change Utah's constitution. I don't know about you, but I don't have Utah's constitution memorized. But if someone is proposing we change it, then that's something we should probably know about.

Right now, Utah’s constitution says a proposed amendment has to be printed in full in a newspaper in every county for two months before the election. The Utah Supreme Court has said that rule exists so voters understand a change before they vote on it. Amendment A would still require publication for 60 days before the election, but let state law decide how. The Legislature has already passed a law that would post proposed amendments on two state websites instead of in newspapers. And because that method would live in regular state law, a future Legislature could change it again without asking voters.

Why is this on the ballot now? In 2024, two proposed amendments were thrown out because the newspaper rule wasn’t followed. Supporters of the amendment say most Utahns get their news online now anyway, and the state estimates the change could save up to $1.4 million every two years. But others, like Mary Weaver Bennett of Southern Utah University’s Leavitt Center, point out that many rural communities still rely on their local paper to stay informed.

Here’s my take: That newspaper rule was put in our constitution to increase the chances that every Utahn would hear about a proposed change before voting on it. If a new amendment does that, then I support it. However, in my opinion, Amendment A is written too broadly. It lets the Legislature pick any method by regular law, including just posting it on a state website, and count that as a good-faith effort to tell us. That’s not good enough for me. Our government should be making a truly honest, good-faith effort to make sure we know about changes to our constitution before we vote on them. Amendment A, as far as I can tell, does not encourage that.

So, in summary: A yes vote means constitutional amendments aren’t required to be published in local newspapers in each county. A no vote keeps the newspaper requirement in the constitution. To learn more, read the Amendment A voter pamphlet.

Amendment B would require 60% to pass citizen initiatives that raise taxes.

A citizen initiative is when regular citizens write a law, gather enough signatures to put it on the ballot, and let voters decide. Right now, most statewide initiatives pass with a simple majority, which is more than half the votes. Amendment B would raise that to 60% for any statewide initiative that creates, expands or raises a tax. It doesn’t change anything for the Legislature, which can still raise taxes with a simple majority, and it doesn’t affect city or county ballot measures.

Supporters of Amendment B say tax increases affect everyone, so laws that increase taxes should get broad support. Opponents of the amendment call it “an attack on ballot initiatives” and say voters should be held to the same standard as the Legislature.

In summary: A yes vote means citizen initiatives that raise taxes need at least 60% of the vote. A no vote keeps a simple majority. Learn more about Amendment B in the voter pamphlet.

A friendly reminder: if your ballot is still sitting at home, drop it in the box on the north end of City Hall by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, or vote in person at the Overland Barn (1713 Erickson Knoll Lane) from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To see everything on your ballot, enter your address on the state’s candidates and issues page.

Late registration for Junior Jazz, the city's youth basketball program, runs November 2 to 9. Junior Jazz is open to kindergarten through 8th grade. It's $72 for kindergarten through 2nd grade and $75 for 3rd through 8th grade, plus a $5 late fee. After November 9, players go on a waiting list and are contacted if a spot opens. Register on the city's recreation site under "Youth Sports / Programs Registration."

Registration for 2027 Spring Soccer opens Monday, November 2. Registration runs through February 8 and costs $50. New players also need a $15 jersey, and returning players can wear their fall jersey. Spring Soccer is for Pre-K through 9th grade, and games start April 17 at Cory B. Wride Memorial Park. The program needs volunteer coaches, and you can sign up to coach when you register. Register on the recreation site under "Youth Sports / Programs Registration."

The city's EM30 Challenge runs through November. To celebrate Eagle Mountain's 30th anniversary, the city is challenging residents to pick a goal and finish it. When you do, send in the city's form with a photo and a short description. Finishers get an EM30 sticker while supplies last and an entry in a prize drawing in December. (City page)

The library is collecting new toys for local kids and teens. Drop off new, unwrapped toys at the library, 1650 E. Stagecoach Run, through Friday, December 11. Questions: 801-789-6623. (City post)

Your child's middle or high school could change in a few years. Lake Mountain School District has proposed new middle and high school boundaries that would take effect in the 2028–29 school year if approved. The district is taking feedback through an online survey. (Proposal, maps and survey)

Have a wonderful rest of your day!

See you around,

— Colten

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