Skip to main content

New SWAT vests, golf fee increases voted on by city council

Feb 27, 2017 05:18PM ● By Travis Barton

City council approved the purchase of 30 new tactical bulletproof vests for the police department’s SWAT team. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

By Travis Barton | [email protected]
 
West Valley City Council voted to raise certain golf fees and purchase new bulletproof vests for the city’s SWAT team during their Feb. 14 city council meeting.
 
West Valley City’s Parks and Recreation department requested to amend the city code to raise rates 20 percent for senior players and for range ball buckets at The Ridge and Stonebridge golf courses.
 
Rates for seniors would rise from $10 to $12 for nine holes and $20 to $24 for 18 holes; while rates for a bucket of range balls would go from $2.50 to $3 for a small bucket and $5 to $6 for a large bucket.
 
“Costs are continually going up so we need to do something,” Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Astill told the city council in a study meeting on Feb. 7.
 
The department charges fees to recover the costs of services and activities. Astill said the senior fees are comparable to other courses in the county.
 
“They’re kind of in the middle, some courses in the county charge less, some charge more,” Astill said. “We call around to see what everyone else is charging and then we weigh it against what’s happening at the course, how many seniors we’re getting or how many golfers to see if we can justify a raise or not.”
 
SWAT Team
 
City council also approved the purchase of 30 new bulletproof vests for the West Valley City Police Department’s SWAT team. The $48,600 cost will replace the current tactical vests which either have or will shortly surpass the manufacturer’s warranty.
 
Police Chief Lee Russo said after five years the manufacturer, a Safariland product, will no longer guarantee the efficacy of the vest meaning they would no longer be liable.
 
The vests are certified by the National Institute of Justice and Standards that vests’ rating will be a level three tactical vest.
 
Russo said these vests are designed to deal with a rifle round in addition to a typical handgun. 
 
“These are the much more military looking, heavy duty vest that our SWAT team will use,” Russo said.
 
Other item of note
 
City council voted to enter a development agreement with Zions First National Bank for property located at 2956 W. 3500 S. where they will consolidate two locations into one.
 
Zions Bank will replace the Apollo Burger that is currently located on the property.
 
Part of the agreement includes reducing setbacks along the property, which will allow the building to be built to the property line.
 
Steve Pastorik, planning director, said city staff and the planning commission recommended approval. Zoning in the property to the east and south allows buildings to be built at the property line. He said there are other buildings nearby that are very close to the property line as a result of the road widening on 3500 South.