Smithfield City, Utah City Council Meeting, Wed, May 13, 2026

- The council unanimously adopted the updated general plan after a lengthy review process, with staff noting the plan will continue to be refined over time through the planning commission and council. Staff also clarified a website link error in the water conservation plan was corrected before adoption. - The council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted an ordinance regulating dogs in city parks, including leash requirements, restrictions on dogs in sports fields, and enforcement provisions. The ordinance was amended to clarify field definitions, change “city” to “city staff” for designation decisions, and replace the suspension language with escalating fines. - Public comments on the dog ordinance raised concerns about clear boundaries, enforcement, and preserving space for responsible dog owners, while others emphasized problems with dog waste and safety in parks. Staff and police said the focus will be education first, with citations used only after repeated noncompliance, and they discussed possible future off-leash areas. - The council unanimously approved opening cemetery sections D1 and D2 for burial purposes, with D2 reserved for cremation plots. Staff said the cemetery plan already blocks off space around significant trees and that the east-side expansion is engineered and ready for future phases. - The council unanimously approved a revised cemetery fee schedule, increasing plot and burial fees and adding new half-size plot prices and updated cremation burial rates. The new buyback provision will allow the city to repurchase plots at the amount originally paid or $400, whichever is greater. - The council unanimously approved zoning changes requiring right-of-way dedication and curb, gutter, sidewalk, and underground utility installation for new single-family homes on individual lots. Staff said the goal is to create more uniform infrastructure in older parts of the city where one-off development has created inconsistencies. - The council unanimously adopted the updated ordinance language for new residential development standards, reinforcing the requirement for curb, gutter, sidewalk, and underground utility placement on new single-lot homes. Staff said this applies to new construction only and does not affect existing homes. - The council received a major update on the proposed valley-wide recreation center bond, with staff warning Smithfield could pay substantially more while potentially losing control of its current rec program. Council members were generally skeptical of a countywide approach and said Smithfield should only support the effort if the city receives something concrete in return. - Staff and council discussed the museum building at 102 South Main and unanimously agreed to name it the “Smithfield City History Museum.” Public comments and grant-related considerations favored keeping the name simple and aligned with the project’s historical purpose. - During budget discussion, staff said the city is balancing rising insurance and operating costs without proposing a property tax increase this year, while still planning for future infrastructure and park needs. They also noted upcoming work on the Tubison Park vision, the spring line water project, crosswalk improvements, pen testing for city networks, and continued planning for long-term capital needs.