As 2010 comes to a close . . .

I have taken a lot flack for some decisions made by the City Council during the past year.  I’ve also received many emails and calls from individuals thanking me for voting against spending taxpayer dollars for anything other than essential services during this economic climate. 

The most devisive of these decisions came with the closure of the Sugar Factory Playhouse and the eventual decision to demolish the Sugar Factory buildings and silo.  I’m hoping enough people know me well enough to know I don’t vote on issues without doing my homework and research. On my own, I asked for a tour of the Sugar Factory after the Building Official closed it as being unsafe.  I read the reports, saw the problems first-hand, and agreed with the closure based on those findings.

The more I looked at the issue, the more convinced I became that the proposed use of the buildings would become a drain on public funds – a “black hole” as someone called.  The estimates from several years ago was $2.88 million just ot make them siezmically safe.  The silos alone would require $1.66 million based on the study.  The conservative estimate to complete the propsoed Arts Complex would be somewhere in the $20 million range.  The council continued to hear that the city would need to put forth “first money” before private funds could be obtained.  The economy being what it is, and the need to lay off city workers due to the reduced revenues coming in, I just couldn’t commit the taxpayers to fund the effort.  

That does NOT mean I’m against the arts or that I’m not actively working to find a solution that can accomodate ALL the arts needs, and not just the theater arts group (which has been the most vocal).  We have a symphony, chorus, band, visual arts and many other cultural arts which need to be heard and provided for when it is possible to do it. 

But the fact remains that we are still in a down economy and revenues we have need to provide for essential services and programs that benefit the entire city.  If we can do that without too much pain financially, that is what I promise to do for those who elected me.

We just had a utility rate increase for water, sewer, trash collection, etc.  While I knew an increase would be necessary, I didn’t think it warranted a 20% increase, and I voted against it.  The City Budget Committee felt the increase in this climate should cover only the increases we incurred as a city.  That figure was 7.5%.  But the council voted for the 20%.  Thankfully, reason prevailed in maintaining the current tier structure so that water users weren’t gouged if they used over 40,000 gallons a month. 

We haven’t seen sales tax revenues for November or December yet, and hope they will reflect an upward trend.  In the meantime, I will do all I can to be fiscally responsible to those who elected me.  I hope the New Year brings a brighter future for our city and those who work and live here.

Closure of the West Jordan Sugar Factory.

As most of you have no doubt heard,  the City Building Official has tagged the Sugar Factory as “Unsafe” and locked the doors. The unfortunate timing with the planned opening of “See How They Run,” at the Sugar Factory Playhouse understandably has many residents upset and emotional.

I am cognizant of your feelings, and share many of them. I have tickets to the performance scheduled for this Friday, and was  looking forward to a wonderful evening with my wife and friends.

Speaking only for myself as one of your elected representatives, after reading copies of the inspection findings based on the seismic study performed by BHB Consulting Engineers, PC, a walk-through inspection by the city’s third party liability carrier (insurance) Utah Risk Management Mutual Association, and findings and recommendations by the City Building Official, I have to concur with the decision to tag the Sugar Factory as “Unsafe”. I want to share two comments made in the reports:

The Building Official began his report as saying “I have an obligation to protect life and limb through the enforcement of building codes as it pertains to the building and structures.With this new study in hand, I have no choice but to tag this building “Unsafe” and keep people out of it.”  He ended by saying “I write this letter with empathy towards the arts council and the many volunteers who dedicate themselves to the benefit of the city. I, too, and a performing artist. I hope that a different suitable safe site can be found quickly to allow this community and all those who have put in countless hours towards this “playhouse” event to continue.”

The URMMA report, which covered all areas of the Sugar Factory, concluded by saying “I feel the facility poses a significant risk to the general public in its current condition and the risk of injury to employees, volunteers and the public is great. The financial exposure to the city cannot be understated.”

I have concerns that demands are being made that the City Council reverse the decision made by city staff in accordance with state and local statues designed to protect the public. I am not prepared to reverse a decision where there is compelling evidence that safety of the residents would be compromised by doing so.

I’ve been told that the existing conditions have been around for the past five years since the Playhouse occupied its current location. I’ve been told that I have a greater risk of injury or death just driving home from work than any seismic activity taking place that would put patrons at risk.  All that may be so. But IF I were to sanction overturning the ruling by city staff and such an event SHOULD happen, I can guarantee that the families of those who were injured or killed would be the first in line to say that the city was negligent in permitting the building to be used KNOWING the safety issues involved.

I will join forces with other members of the council and Mayor to attempt to find another venue for the Arts Council to perform this play. I am under no illusions as to the difficulty this has created. I AM a supporter of the arts, and want our community to enjoy the benefits the Arts Council provides. But I’m not willing to sacrifice the artists and patrons safety as part of that support.

PS:  As of this posting, the Arts Council has secured a venue to perform the play at the Midvale Performing Arts Center.  I applaud their quick work to save this production.

Busy week…

Wednesday through Friday of this week are going to be very busy and hectic.  It starts with Elected Officials Day at the legislature on Wednesday, followed by City Council meeting that night.  Thurday and Friday will the Strategic Plan session with the council and staff at city hall.

With the economy being what it is, there will be some difficult decisions to make as to what will be funded in the near future.  One item that has been brought to me by a number of constituents has to do with the Trax crossing at 4000 W and Old Bingham Highway.  Since it was modified by adding another set of tracks, UTA has changed an existing bus route so it no longer services riders who accessed it on 4000 W.

I’ve recieved several requests from constituents to look at finding a solution to the problem.  Many of them rely on the bus to get to work.  Since there will be no Trax station at 4000 W it is a long walk to get to bus service.

I have several ideas that could help, but don’t know that it will happen until we have more money to deal with the situation.  If you have any ideas, please pass them on.  The same goes for anything you would like discussed during the SP session.

Studies -vs- Available Funds…

Okay, so one of my pet peeves is that everything has be “studied” by an outside entity before our city fathers will take any action.  I’m trying to understand why.  I’m not naive enough to think that many things have to have “studies” performed to cover all the bases for environmental impact, legality and cost effectiveness.  But I have a problem with “studies” that are being commissioned when there is little or no chance, given our economic climate, that the results of the study can be implemented with available monies. 

As I purused the first agenda that I will be participating on as member of the city council, consent item 5c caught my attention with a request to fund a study on “best use” of our soccer complex and 50+ acres of designated open space that has not been designated for the type of open space the city will develop.

I’m new to the ways things happen on the council, so I made a few calls to other members and shared my concerns about funding something that we don’t have money to go forward with in the near future.  It was brought to my attention that items on the “consent” calendar are items which have already been discussed by the council.  This item has NOT. 

There are a lot of questions I want answered before voting to approve this item.  Some have sent me emails, others have posted ot the Residents group, and everyone seems to have questions as to why this item is there. 

If you have questions or comments, please email them to me or post them here for me to consider before Wednesday’s meeting.

New Year, New Challenges.

Today, January 4, 2010, Melissa Johnson was sworn in as mayor along with Chad Nichols and myself taking our places on the City Council. In the coming weeks we will be working on the 2010 Strategic Plan to identify the areas that need to be addressed in this present economy. Although you, the residents and stakeholder of the city, have shared many of the concerns you have, I would welcome any comments or concerns you feel need to be addressed during these planning sessions.

I am excited to be a part of the process that will move our city forward in the years to come.

Here we go . . .

The past few months have been very time-intensive from my normal lifestyle. I’ve attended numerous meetings, walked a majority of the neighborhoods in the city, and have enjoyed meeting and discussing issues with the residents of West Jordan.  Beginning in January 2010 I will be one of your representatives on the City Council.

While issues differ depending on whether residents were young, old, single or married, the main concern expressed by nearly everyone I met had to do with taxes – all types of taxes whether they are called a tax or a fee.  But their biggest concern has to do with property taxes.

With the Jordan School District and Salt Lake County raising taxes this past year (both are indicating they will do the same in 2010), the concern is that the city will follow suit. 

I have promised to do all I can to find alternatives to raising property taxes in the city.  I will keep that promise.  There are a myriad of ways for us to cut costs during these economic upheavals.  I hope we as a City Council can find those ways to meet the essential needs and services which the city has a responsibility to provide before considering anything else.

The public saftey needs are my primary concern.  Those needs include police, fire, emergency medical, water, sewer, storm drains and roads.  All other programs and services would need to be prioritized and funded as we have money.  When the money is allocated, we stop – unless the people approve additional items through a referendum. 

I have to live within my budget – and I am confident the city can do the same.