Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 1 of 9
The Smithfield City Council met in a regularly scheduled meeting at 96 South Main Street,
Smithfield, Utah on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Aaron Rudie was in the chair.
Opening remarks by Chris Olsen
Council Members in Attendance: John Engler, Chris Olsen, Todd Orme, Jenn Staker
Council Members Excused: Jay Downs
City Staff: Justin Lewis (City Manager), Dana Lazcanotegui (City Recorder), Travis
Allen (Police Chief), Jeremy Hunt (Fire Chief), Clay Bodily (City Engineer)
Visitors: Quinn Dance, James Marshall, Kelly Olsen, Hollie Gregory, Susan Barrus, Ruth
Greene, Myken Briggs, Hanne Sorensen, Debbie Zilles
***Motion made by Councilmember Staker to approve the minutes from the
June 24, 2026 city council meeting as submitted. Councilmember Orme
seconded the motion. The motion was approved 4-0. ***
Yes Vote: Engler, Olsen, Orme, Staker
No Vote: None
Absent: Downs
No comments were received.
Hanne Sorensen, Susan Barrus, and Kelly Olsen addressed the City Council.
Mrs. Sorensen is the current director and head of the board for the Smithfield Youth
Theatre. She began as a parent volunteer 16 years ago and developed a deep love for the
program and the benefits it brings to the community. A recent survey about the program
was sent to the residents, and she shared some positive feedback. The theatre is a
cornerstone of the community and offers accessible, free fine arts experiences for the
youth of Smithfield. The theatre provides core benefits, including building confidence and
offering speaking opportunities. Parents who responded to the survey reported boosts in
self-esteem and social skills. The program promotes accessibility and inclusivity for
Approval of the City Council meeting minutes from June 24, 2026.
Public Comment on items not on the agenda
Discussion on scheduling for future Youth Theatre program performances.
SMITHFIELD CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 8, 2026

Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 2 of 9
children by giving every child a role. The theatre serves families who otherwise cannot
afford valley wide or private fine arts programs. The program serves as a primary
community building anchor, helps children build friendships, and provides mental health
benefits.
The program is in a dilemma because Sky View High School (SVHS) has informed the
board that it will be unable to use the auditorium in May of future years due to scheduling
conflicts. The concerns now center on venue and date. Given the level of participation, a
smaller venue will not work. They would like to keep the program in Smithfield. The Civic
Center has been considered but is not set up for this type of production. Outdoor venues
could be affected by weather. SVHS has suggested the last week of April as an option;
however, this coincides with the high school state drama competition. June and July are
difficult, and she is worried about low participation. One of the greatest problems is
communication with SVHS. She is asking for help and would like the City to advocate with
the school to find a solution.
Mayor Rudie asked about the size of the venue needed. Mrs. Sorensen said the
auditorium is filled every night of performances; therefore, the Civil Center would be too
small. She would like to see a venue built that could be used and rented out to alleviate
the stress of using SVHS. She understands this has been discussed but that it would be
years away.
Susan Barrus currently serves as the assistant director and previously served as the
director. The first production was held in an LDS Stake Center, but the program has grown
substantially over the years. She noted the amount of volunteer time put into this program.
If it must be moved to the summer months, she is concerned that volunteer time will
decrease. They hope to work with SVHS to find a time that works for both and are always
willing to accommodate SVHS’s schedule. As Mrs. Sorensen said, they would like to have
mutual communication and respect with the school. The last few years have felt like a
nuisance, and they would like to repair that connection. They are present to ensure their
voice is heard and would like the City’s help in finding a solution. She said Mrs. Sorensen
deserves an apology for the way she was addressed by an SVHS teacher in a public
setting and in front of students. The situation was not handled professionally or
appropriately. If the theatre is moved under the Arts Council, rather than Health Days, she
would like to ensure that RAPZ tax funds do not decrease. Typically, the east bay of the
Civil Center is used to create the sets. If the date is moved back to spring, the equipment
housed in the bay may not be moved out to allow the theatre’s use. She appreciates the
support and collaboration with the City and SVHS. She is very passionate about the
program and believes it builds a better community.
Councilmember Engler asked about the space required for the program. Mrs. Sorensen
said, as mentioned, that space is needed for production and storage. Rehearsals are held
at Sunrise Elementary; however, the time of year is important because the gyms are also
used for sporting events. Winter would be difficult for set production, and volunteers are
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 3 of 9
less available. Currently, with it held in May and tied in with Health Days, it is very well
attended. Fall would not be optimal because it would then compete with high school
sports.
Councilmember Olsen asked whether using a facility after hours such as after 4:30 p.m.
increases availability to some extent. Mrs. Sorensen said one issue is that setting up the
set for the week of use at SVHS on Monday evening limits the stage's availability for that
week.
Mayor Rudie requested to be included in any communication or correspondence with
SVHS moving forward.
Councilmember Orme asked whether there had been any consideration of extending the
timeframe and holding smaller nightly performances, which would allow the use of a
smaller venue. Mrs. Barrus said this might strain volunteers' time and participation,
especially for families with more than one child involved.
Councilmember Orme noted that the Council has a limited ability to influence the school
and cannot impose mandates on scheduling or availability for a non-city owned facility.
Councilmember Staker supports the program and recognizes its importance, noting that
Health Days includes both mental and physical health. She said it was important to
understand what had happened and asked Mrs. Sorensen to share her experience with
the teacher at SVHS. Mrs. Sorensen explained that the teacher confronted her after she
and another board member went to the school to borrow props. She had made a
lighthearted comment about the theater retreat and its effect on rehearsals, but the
comment was not received that way. The teacher told her that she and the program were
“hated,” described the program as a blight on Smithfield, and said he was actively trying to
have her removed from the school and the program canceled. Mrs. Sorensen said her
interactions with the school had been positive before this incident, and she assumed the
teacher was under stress. She would like better communication and to be informed of any
specific concerns that need to be addressed. She said the tone and intensity of the
conversation were very hurtful and left her deeply upset.
Mayor Rudie thanked Mrs. Sorensen for sharing her experience and asked whether a
rented tent could serve as a backup without disrupting the program. Mrs. Sorensen said
that, at the most recent board meeting, members discussed Dan Sundstrom’s new indoor
arena in Hyde Park as a possible venue. She had not seen the facility and was unsure
whether it would be large enough or have the necessary lighting and sound capabilities.
She noted that purchasing that equipment would be expensive and could increase
production costs.
Councilmember Engler recalled the first play held at the LDS Stake Center. This is a great
program. As the City continues to grow, adjustments may be necessary, such as capping
the program's size or adding more performances.
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 4 of 9
Councilmember Staker said the Health Days Royalty is involved with the Young Musician’s
Cup and the Youth Theatre. If this program is not held during Health Day’s week, the
programming will look quite different because the programs work well together and the
community loves having these events tied together.
Councilmember Orme believes this needs to be addressed with the school administration
rather than the teaching staff. He would like Mayor Rudie to be involved in working toward
a solution. Mayor Rudie agreed. He is supportive and willing to participate in discussions
to find a solution for all parties involved.
Councilmember Olsen is also supportive. His children have been involved in this program,
and it has changed their lives. There have been many conversations about preserving
Smithfield's “small-town feel,” which is often tied to strong, beloved traditions like this.
Quinn Dance of J-U-B Engineers presented an overview of the Transportation Master
Plan (TMP) update. The entire 300+ page document was sent to the City Council before
the meeting for review. He provided the following highlights:
✓ The previous plan was completed in 2017. Depending on growth, plans are reviewed
and updated every 5-10 years. The General Plan was recently adopted, and this
process is similar. This plan is more technical and data-oriented. The main objective
of this plan will be to provide project recommendations.
✓ The City utilized a $90,000 grant from the UDOT Technical Assistance program to
support this update as well as the General Plan update.
✓ The plan was developed in collaboration with City staff, UDOT (Utah Department of
Transportation), regional resources, including the Cache Metropolitan Planning
Organization (CMPO), North Cache Transportation Plan which adopted in July 2023
and more. This information is presented in Section 3.2.
✓ Existing roadways are classified by function in accordance with guidelines prepared
by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Classifications include Interstate,
Major Arterial, Minor Arterial, Collector, and Local Streets. Smithfield’s streets are
shown on Map 2 on page 7 of the report.
✓ Intersection Control is outlined in Section 2.3.
✓ Traffic Counts were conducted in April 2024 and are included in Section 2.4.
✓ Section 2.5 addresses Levels of Service (LOS), which describe congestion levels
from A to F. Level D is the minimum desirable LOS. Levels E-F indicate gridlock.
Presentation of the Transportation Master Plan by representatives of J-U-B
Engineers, Inc.
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 5 of 9
✓ Figure 5 on page 17 outlines the Year 2050 No-Build Daily Traffic Volumes and
LOS.
✓ Staff identified specific areas of concern: East Bench, Northeast Bench, Main Street,
250 East, 400 North, North-South Corridors, and East-West Corridors. These areas
are detailed in Section 3.4.
✓ Table 5 on page 21 summarizes typical roadway cross sections, detailing the size of
the right-of-way, pavement, park strip, sidewalks, and trail.
✓ Section 5, beginning on page 25, outlines potential improvement projects, grouped
by location (1000 East, 800 West, 250 East, 400 North, 680 North, 800 East, 455
East, 400 West, 600 South, 300 South, 200 East, 350 East, 800 North, 100 South,
200 West) and provides corresponding construction cost estimates.
Councilmember Olsen asked how the traffic count locations were selected. Mr. Dance
explained that they selected, in consultation with staff, to identify where the most useful
data could be collected. UDOT-controlled sections were excluded because UDOT can
collect those counts. He recommended conducting periodic traffic counts at various
locations every few years.
Mr. Dance confirmed for Councilmember Staker that 1000 East takes priority over 400
West due to traffic. The 1000 East area also offers a potential connection to Hyde Park
City.
Mr. Lewis said Smithfield is working with Hyde Park and Cache County on 250 East,
1000 East, and 1200 East. Funds have been allocated for studies of those roads and
connecting points. Consideration has been given to how the LDS Temple will affect
roads, future development, and potential buildout. The County has been actively
involved in the 250 East connection to Wolf Pack Way as there are still some parcels
located in the county between Smithfield and Hyde Park. Mr. Bodily continues to
explore funding options. The key takeaway from this report is that roads are extremely
expensive, need to be planned for and need to be installed when areas are developed.
Councilmember Engler noted that many decisions will depend on Hyde Park and Cache
County. He asked whether this plan aligns with those priorities and what the level of
coordination is. Mr. Lewis said Hyde Park is actively working with Smithfield on
connection priorities for 250 East, 1000 East and 1200 East. Mr. Bodily said the Cache
County Council of Governments (COG) allocates funding to regionally significant
transportation projects, and Smithfield will request funding in mid-August. Mayor Rudie
noted that last year’s funding was approximately $17,000,000 and that this year's is
anticipated to be $7,000,000, which is challenging.
Councilmember Engler noted that one of the biggest concerns is how to divert traffic
from Main Street. One obstacle is the airport's location. He does not see any indicators
of this concern in the plan; however, this is a good first step in the process. Mr. Dance
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 6 of 9
agrees this is a struggle, and unfortunately, the City does not have full control. Any land
located outside of the city limits is under the control of a different jurisdiction. The plan is
to continue discussions with Hyde Park and Cache County to make sure the main roads
connect over time.
Councilmember Engler asked about the liaison role with CMPO. Mr. Lewis said that
UDOT, Logan, North Logan, Hyde Park, and Smithfield are preparing to conduct a joint
study of Highway 91. Mr. Bodily said a consultant is being selected for the study and
that funds are being set aside. UDOT is paying the vast majority of the cost with a
smaller contribution from each city.
Mayor Rudie outlined concerns and considerations about moving traffic off Main Street
and about whether the focus should be on the east or the west.
Councilmember Orme asked whether school locations and pedestrian crossings are
under consideration such as at Sky View High School at the intersection of a minor
arterial and a major collector. Mr. Bodily, this will be discussed further at next month’s
meeting as a couple of public hearings will be held on applications the city would like to
submit for funding.
Councilmember Engler asked which roads were considered or designed to
accommodate larger vehicles, given that Light Industrial (LI) is listed on the Future Land
Use Map at the southwest corner of the City. Mr. Dance said the standard sections were
not modified in this plan but can be adjusted as needed.
Fire Chief Jeremy Hunt addressed fire restrictions. Most of the state moved to Stage 2
restrictions; however, the state cannot mandate what the cities do, so Smithfield City
relies on the current City Ordinance, which aligns with Stage 1 restrictions. The previous
ban by Governor Cox applied only to fireworks from July 2nd-5th and has since expired.
Any new changes need to be made through the ordinance process, which takes time
unless the Governor issues another Executive Order.
Councilmember Staker asked about any specific problems. Chief Hunt said they had
issues with residents setting off fireworks in public parks, which were addressed.
Overall, the July 4th holiday was quieter than in previous years.
Mayor Rudie said the conditions for the July 24th holiday are under review. Chief Hunt
said they are monitoring fuel moisture which is currently 1-2% lower than last year. The
dryness is about two weeks ahead of schedule. Fireworks were allowed last July 24th,
but caution is recommended given triple-digit temperatures forecast for this weekend.
Chief Hunt, responding to Councilmember Orme, said he did not observe any influx of
people from other cities/towns which were more restricted areas than Smithfield.
City Manager Report
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 7 of 9
Councilmember Olsen said this is being discussed more this year. He asked how many
fires have been caused by fireworks. Chief Hunt said there have been a few small fires
in the area, but information has not been released about larger fires statewide. Public
feedback on the restrictions seems to be mixed.
Caralee Stokes asked whether the shooting range on the east bench is a concern. Chief
Hunt said it is within the Cache County unincorporated boundary, so any questions or
concerns should be directed to the County about that facility/area.
Mr. Lewis provided the following stats from the Library:
• June 29th – more patrons (417 in one day; average 125-175 per day).
• Fiscal Year 2026 had 45,347 visitors, an increase of 2,038 from the previous year.
• Programming attendance increased by 740 people over the previous year.
• In 2022, the library had just under 30,000 patrons; in FY2026, there were 45,000.
He expressed kudos to Shawn Bliss, Karen Bowling and the entire library staff for their
hard work and dedication as the library is really growing and expanding in what is
offered.
The next Planning Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 15th. Three
Ordinances, with public hearings, will be considered.
Todd Orme
• Thirty new trees were planted at Mack Park with funds from a Tree Utah grant.
• Tree Committee - will begin discussing adjustments to park strip tree choices
based on the width of the park strip.
• The Smithfield City History Museum has had visitors during all the open days
and has received some requests for off-hour visits.
Jenn Staker
• The Health Day Ambassador Royalty will participate in a parade on July 18th at
10:00 a.m. in Hyde Park if anyone is willing to help pull the float.
John Engler
• The growth of the library was previously highlighted.
Chris Olsen
• Smithfield was accepted into Main Street Utah program with Tier 1 status. This is
a great opportunity to help revitalize the area.
Mayor Rudie
• Installation of the canyon waterline started this week.
Council Member and Mayor Reports
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 8 of 9
• The floor for the new water storage tank has been poured, and the walls are
being formed.
• 925 South infrastructure is 95% complete. As soon as the last section of pipe is
installed, the road work will begin.
• With the temperature increasing, he asks everyone to conserve water where
possible so restrictions can be avoided.
• The 250 East 800 South flashing pedestrian lights for the crosswalk have been
installed and will be functional next week.
• He thanked all the volunteers who serve in various organizations throughout the
city as without their help those organizations would not be possible.
***The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.***
SMITHFIELD CITY CORPORATION
Aaron Rudie, Mayor
ATTEST:
Dana Lazcanotegui, City Recorder
Smithfield City Council Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2026 Page 9 of 9
SMITHFIELD CITY CORPORATION
96 South Main
Smithfield, UT 84335
AGENDA
Public Notice is given that the Smithfield City Council will meet in a regularly scheduled
meeting at 96 South Main, Smithfield, Utah, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The
meeting will begin at 6:00 PM.
Welcome/pledge of allegiance and thought/prayer by Chris Olsen
1. Approval of the city council meeting minutes from June 24, 2026.
2. Public comment on items not on the agenda.
3. Discussion on scheduling for future Youth Theatre program performances.
4. Presentation of the Transportation Master Plan by representatives of J-U-B
Engineers, Inc.
5. City Manager Report
6. Council Member and Mayor Reports
Adjournment
***Items on the agenda may be considered earlier than shown on the agenda.***
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodation for
this meeting should contact the City Recorder at (435) 792-7997, at least three (3) days before the date
of the meeting.
The meeting will be streamed at the following link: YouTube Channel
or https://www.youtube.com/@smithfieldutah/streams
***Note: Public input will be accepted on all agenda items. We ask that you keep your comments
concise to ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak. You can also share comments that will
reach the mayor and city council members by emailing info@smithfieldutah.gov***

