Council reviews water-exchange, trails and staffing; planning to review nightly rentals

Midway — City staff and councilors used the Feb. 7 strategic planning meeting to review several infrastructure and operational items including a proposed water-exchange program, two trail projects and staffing for events and code enforcement.

Planning Director Michael Henke described a water exchange program that would allow culinary water to be used for pressurized irrigation, and he presented the Warm Springs Trail and Pine Canyon Trail as upcoming projects. Council members recommended involving the Parks, Trails and Trees Advisory Committee in planning and project delivery.

Council discussed asset management and public-safety tools, including installing location trackers and exterior cameras on city vehicles and adding cameras to city buildings; staff also noted the need to upgrade the council chambers’ audiovisual system to meet ADA requirements.

Staff and council discussed the souvenir shop and ice-rink operations (see budget review). Mayor Simons reviewed plans to hire a part-time event coordinator and a code enforcement officer. The council agreed the Human Resources Manual will be combined with the City’s Policies and Procedures.

Planning Director Henke said the planning department will review nightly rentals and estimated there are fewer than 30 nightly rentals in commercial zones; he suggested adding a nightly-rental layer to the City’s GIS. Council Member Andy Garland expressed concern that not all infrastructure information should be made public. The minutes record follow-up assignments but no formal policy changes or votes on hiring or nightly-rental rules were taken at the meeting.