Brigham City council tables $500,000 gym-design funding for 60 days and more public discussion
September 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
The Brigham City Council voted 3-1 on Sept. 17 to table a proposed budget amendment of about $500,000 for architectural and engineering work on a possible city-owned gymnasium, and to hold at least two work sessions first. The money would pay for plans only, not construction. Source note: the minutes' running dates and the order of earlier motions are inconsistent; this account follows the final tabling roll call, which the Oct. 1 minutes corroborate.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 22, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Budget amendment for gymnasium architectural and engineering design | Tabled · 3-1 |
Agenda, item by item
Item Public hearing 1 · Budget
Budget amendment for gymnasium architectural and engineering design
Tabled · 3-1
City Administrator Derek Oyler said the amendment would provide about $500,000 from appropriated fund balance for complete architectural and engineering plans for a potential city-owned indoor recreation facility, so contractors could give reliable construction bids. He emphasized that approval would not authorize construction; he estimated four to six months for the design work and said a decision on building would likely come in the FY 2027-28 budget process. Recreation Director Chris Horsley described a revised concept: an addition to the Recreation offices at Pioneer Park of about 26,500 square feet with three multi-use courts, retractable bleachers and an indoor walking path, which VCBO Architecture estimated could cost about $10 million to $12 million. Staff said Box Elder High School and the Boys and Girls Club could offer limited court time but not full reliability. Several residents spoke at the hearing, with some opposing city spending on a gym and others urging partnerships, grants and use of existing space. The minutes record a roll call on a motion by Councilmember Jeffries to deny the amendment (Jeffries and Smith aye; Troxell, Jensen and Mayor Bott nay) alongside the statement that the amendment was denied; the minutes do not reconcile that, and this record does not resolve the earlier motion. The final motion, by Councilmember Jensen, tabled the amendment for 60 days and called for at least two work sessions to review the need, partnerships, funding and public information.
- Budget$500,000
- Presented by City Administrator Derek Oyler and Recreation Director Chris Horsley
- Estimated construction cost from VCBO Architecture: about $10 million to $12 million
What residents said
Gym-design spendingPartnerships and donationsExisting gym space
Residents including Sheila Hassett, Malone Molgard, Brett Reeder, Julianne Larson, Glen Wright and Wendy Kano spoke on the gym proposal. Some questioned spending about $500,000 on design while the city has other infrastructure needs or called a gym a want rather than a need. Others said they were not opposed to more gym space and urged partnerships, grants and private contributions, or a broader community center. Layne Christensen submitted written support for more city-owned gym space.