Council adopts ordinance allowing city to follow state fire restrictions; variances require public meeting

Bryce Canyon City Council voted to adopt a fire-restriction ordinance designed to align local restrictions with Utah State fire restrictions without requiring a separate local public meeting for each state action.

Under the ordinance (recorded as 2026- in the minutes; ordinance number not specified), the city will automatically adopt state-imposed fire restrictions. The council clarified that if a variance from state restrictions is requested, the ordinance requires the city to hold a public meeting to consider that variance. Councilor Mike Stevens made the motion to adopt the ordinance; Kam Roundy seconded it and recorded yes votes included Cherrie Tebbs, Bryce Syrett and Gary Syrett.

Why it matters: adopting the ordinance shortens the local administrative process for applying statewide fire restrictions, allowing the city to follow state determinations promptly during fire season while preserving local public input for variance requests.

Next steps: The ordinance was adopted at the March 5 meeting; staff should post the ordinance text and the procedures for requesting a variance so the public understands how state restrictions will be applied locally.