Kaysville City leaders are taking a broad look at the city’s future, weighing major infrastructure needs, public-safety investments, and long-term staffing and compensation planning. Following an earlier budget work session, the City Council met for a strategic planning retreat to discuss four major priorities: maintaining long-lasting and reliable infrastructure, improving data-driven decision making and analysis, enhancing the downtown area, and development of a long-term employee compensation plan.

Fire Chief Paul Erickson reviewed national response-time standards and showed how current west-side fire responses –averaging 12 minutes. – fall short of recommendations. A west-side station, he said, could raise compliance with national benchmarks from about 40% to roughly 80%. New construction cost is steep; early estimates put the station at about $16 million, with another $2 million annually to staff it. Construction inflation has driven fire station costs sharply upward in recent years, and Kaysville already faces a pending bond for its gymnasium partnership with Davis School District.

Council members expressed concern that voters might reject a fire station bond if it appears on the ballot too soon after other tax increases. Some argued the need is immediate; others urged a longer public-information effort and possibly waiting until 2027. City Manager Jaysen Christensen acknowledged the concern but noted “that many cities experience initial bond failures, only to see subsequent attempts succeed once residents become more familiar with the issue.” He recommended presenting long-term needs comprehensively – such as the fire station, library building, and operations center – may help residents understand the broader picture. Mayor Tamara Tran agreed that residents benefit from transparency about long-term needs and said that community education and honest discussion are essential even if the Council elects not to place a bond question on the next ballot.

City staff also outlined long-needed improvements to the Operations Center, a 1991 facility that no longer meets the needs of a city that has grown from approximately 14,000 to 34,000 residents. It now houses employees in converted storage rooms and out-of-compliance fueling equipment. A previous full rebuild was estimated at nearly $40 million, but staff have developed a scaled-down $5.4 million renovation adding office space, covered vehicle storage, and a relocated fuel island. 

 “This approach would address immediate operational needs while preserving space on the site for a larger facility in the future if required,” Recreation Director Cole Stephens said.

Most of the cost could be funded through enterprise fees rather than a general obligation bond or tax increase. Several Council members suggested this project may need to move forward sooner due to operational and regulatory pressures. Staff will return during upcoming budget work sessions with more detailed cost and rate analysis.

The future of the former library building – vacant for almost a decade – remains unresolved. Past public-private partnership proposals have failed, and preserving the structure in its current form is estimated at about $3 million with no clear long-term use. Several Council members acknowledged that the building carries heritage value for some residents and that although concepts such as a city museum have been discussed, no consensus or direction has emerged. Some Council members said the city has exhausted realistic preservation options and should consider demolition. Others argued the building’s fate should be decided by voters. Concepts for the site range from open space or a plaza to private redevelopment, with possibilities for retaining salvaged architectural stone as a historic tribute. 

The Council also began work on a long-term employee compensation framework (like the city’s vehicle replacement plan) to reduce annual debates over COLA, merit, and market adjustments. Staff emphasized that predictable, competitive pay is essential to retaining employees and reducing turnover costs. Christensen reiterated that “attracting and retaining high-quality employees is essential to delivering city services and fulfilling the mission to enhance quality of life for Kaysville residents.”

Council members discussed hybrid models that balance predictable step increases with some performance-based flexibility.  

“The Council wants to avoid politicizing compensation while preserving legislative oversight to prevent unchecked salary growth,” Tran said.

Staff will bring back a draft plan for future review. Christensen emphasized that the plan would function as a guiding framework rather than a binding rule, allowing future councils to adjust when fiscal conditions require. He thanked the Council for their input and reiterated that the objective is to streamline the annual process, support recruitment and retention, and provide clarity for both employees and elected officials. 

No final decisions were made. The Council agreed that extensive public outreaches, especially on major capital projects such as the fire station and library – will be critical before determining ballot timing or financing strategies. Additional analysis and budget work sessions are planned in the coming months.