#EM2019 – CC Question – Champion

I would champion welcome signs along the east border of Eagle Mountain on Pony Express Parkway and SR-73. Most people enter the city on these roads and a welcome sign is already in place at Eagle Mountain Blvd and SR-73. I think this would promote pride and unity within the city and let visitors know that Eagle Mountain begins long before city center. I would promote bringing more retail establishments to Eagle Mountain. I would like to see more purchases stay within the city. This would increase city revenue and reduce the distance that residents have to drive for everyday items and entertainment. I would support expansion of Pony Express Days. These activities can promote unity and become family traditions that bring grown children back home and unite generations.

One issue I wish I had better championed was the Regional Technology and Industries Overlay. This overlay helped Eagle Mountain to remove barriers from large companies like Facebook and Tyson. While I have always believed in the intent of the overlay, I initially voted against it because I felt it was too broad and could allow companies we didn’t want. I pushed to make some changes to the overlay before it was approved but I think I could’ve done more. I have since decided to use that overlay for Facebook as well as Tyson, knowing that I would still like it to be more specific in its focus. I don’t think it brings huge risk, but it’s something I need to revisit with staff. I know there are other issues where I felt I could have done better, and I wish I had, but I also feel I have done a very good job at executing my principles and doing so consistently and with integrity. Another issue that I worked on but has not yet come to fruition is a Conservation and Stewardship Board. The goal of the board would be to research and advise council on issues regarding wildlife and conservation efforts, but with a limited scope. It would not be allowed in code to be an environmentalist entity that undermines the public body, the board would have no authority of itself, but would be allowed to make recommendations (within a framework of allowed recommendations) to the council on how to mitigate issues relating to our diverse and beautiful wildlife in the area if issues arise. I wrote the code and pitched it to the Mayor, but I wasn’t able to gain the support I needed for it at the time. It’s something I want to revisit and revive in the next four years, should I have the opportunity.

The specific agendas that I would like to champion are infrastructure, development, and public opinion. I have been to cities and countries that have been planned poorly or not at all. That is not a place I would like to live. Planning where roads and services need to be is important. It could require a lot of undoing if a major mistake occurred. That is a waste of time and money and something that I personally don’t want to see. I am concerned the way that the city develops with housing and the businesses that are coming in and how those will impact our way of life. I am in favor of businesses coming in as they will add to the city revenue and put fewer burdens on property tax to provide what the citizens want and/or need. I care what the citizens have to say. Ultimately it is their government. While the legislative body cannot ever please everyone they should strive to listen and provide for the majority of the residents. I would like to find ways to involve the public more in council meetings and keep everyone informed of issues that may be important to them.

There is not a specific agenda that I have. I am running for a multitude of reasons. Some of the issues I care the most about are affordable housing, traffic management, and government transparency. I certainly intend to work on those issues if I am elected.

I am not an elected official but am an appointed one. I am pretty proud of the accomplishments I have been able to achieve in a role that is largely that of recommendation. I have been able to work with the other planning commissioners, city staff and council to improve our zone, general plan, City code and building codes. If you are running but are not currently elected, what specific agenda’s would you like to champion though the office of the city council and why? I am not a politician, nor do I ever want to be. I believe the efforts to be politically correct impair your ability to do what’s right and what’s best. Those that know me, have worked with me or have opposed me know that I do my homework. I don’t come to meetings unprepared. I feel like it’s my responsibility as a representative of the citizens I serve to come prepared to give our city the best shot at the very best developments we can get, within our code. I will say, that I have worked with other commissioners to convince developers that had vested rights to certain densities and have convinced them to bring a better product to market that has often reduced the density vested and in their preliminary plats.

For me there are many things I’d like to champion. First of all, I wish it wasn’t an election year because I like how things are going. I’d like to stay on course for a while longer. However, I’m driven to run for office simply to offer my knowledge, experience, and background to the issues we face. I’m not a politician. However I’m willing to serve for just that, service. For me there are many things I’d like to champion. I would love to champion economic growth, smart development, including balance in development, good budgets, roads, etc. I think everyone wants those things, and I’m willing to step forward and make sure they happen.

More Transparency and protecting the rights of the people.

In addition to building new roads, I want the city to prepare to have our own police department within the next 5 to 10 years. I believe the current service we are getting is a great value. As the city continues to grow, we will need to eventually transition the police department to the city, hire judges, establish courtrooms, etc. The initial cost for this transition will continue to grow overtime. We need to set goals and determine at what point we will make this transition.