By Megan Sonderegger

February 22, 2006 | LEWISTON -- A resolution was enthusiastically approved during Tuesday's City Council meeting in which members declared their opposition to Utah Senate Bill 170, a land use amendment which strips power from city authorities to regulate planning and zoning within city borders.

Mayor Kelly Field said he feels this bill will deny citizens their right to control their own boundaries and their land use within those boundaries.

"That one floored me!" Field said.

Members of the city council said they hope this resolution will influence legislation to veto SB 170 in order to protect the rights of citizens and to motivate planning and zoning committee's to further fulfill their duties.

Another topic discussed was the expense of new sidewalks throughout Lewiston. Blaine Allen, a member of the sidewalk committee, said expenses for concrete have increased and will continue to increase throughout the summer.

"It's expensive," he said. "Concrete is really high." Allen said a block of sidewalk will cost $7,600, an amount he said he feels cannot be afforded within the city budget.

"It makes it pretty easy to live with sidewalks that aren't perfect," Allen said, referring to the high cost of concrete. He said he feels landowners who want their sidewalks fixed should have to pay 50 percent of all costs, an amount which council members say can be forced upon residents but may not get a good response.

Mayor Field said in research results residents of Lewiston agreed they wanted new sidewalks but said they were only willing to pay a small amount for them.

Allen said trees in close perimeter to the sidewalks need to be removed in order to maintain good concrete.

City Councilwoman Karen Jackson suggested a reassessment of city sidewalks and for the committee to prioritize blocks based on sidewalk conditions.

"If we're going to do this, we might as well do it right," Jackson said.

NW
MS