#EM2019 – CC Question – Substantial Improvements

I want to say roads, as the popular answer, but really I think we are doing what we can with roads right now. We need them, and we are doing what we can within our ability to build them, but it takes time and money, so we are doing the best we can within our ability. Like the previous question on what we’re doing well, (development) I think we have a long ways to go to get where I would like to see it.

We really have a great city. I believe there is always room for improvement, but I do not believe there is currently anything in Eagle Mountain which is in dire or substantial need of improvement. However, as a matter of safety, we need to continue building new roads in and out of town. I do not believe two roads connecting us to the North, East and South is ultimately acceptable for a city of 40,000 (and growing) residents. We need to build new roads in and out of town to safely handle our growing population.

I believe that Eagle Mountain can improve the transparency with its citizens, and living within the city’s means. We need to maintain our current growth before taking on too much. Eagle Mountain needs to avoid debt and raising taxes.

Zoning code changes – These are currently underway, and have been worked on for years, but there is still much left to do to get them across the finish line. I pitched a zoning system to our Community Development Director previously when the general plan was updated. It was held pending the general plan changes. As the general plan is now complete, we’ve moved on to the details of the residential zoning code. My zoning proposal and other councilmember’s and planning commissioner’s proposals have been taken by staff and have resulted in an amalgamation that will give more certainty to the people of Eagle Mountain, and less flexibility to developers. Currently developers can basically buy additional density, which is being removed completely. Additionally, once the residential zoning code is complete, it will be time to address the commercial zoning code and update it as well. It’s a lot of work, but I’m up for the continued challenge. One of the reasons I am seeking re-election is I want to see the general plan and zoning code changes I have been working on for years now, through to the end. I want to make sure the philosophy I have represented throughout this term is carried out; tightening up the zones, allowing less flexibility in density for developers while still allowing for various options for land use, and buffering incompatible uses from one another. Finishing parks – This is another issue that I have worked on for years but still has a long way to go. We have many unfinished parks in the city going back years. This past four years, significant improvements in those parks have been made with utility sale funds. This year, each of the councilmembers pitched projects to be completed and many of my proposals and suggestions for improvements made the list. The list includes improvements across the city, from the Ranches, to SilverLake, to City Center, White Hills, and the North Ranch area. The funding for those is remaining utility sale funds, fees-in-lieu, and likely even park impact fees. These improvement make another needed incremental push toward completing all parks. I will it could all be done faster, but ultimately, it all comes down to funds and priorities. Parks are important to me, but infrastructure comes first, so the park improvements may take some time, but I am confident we will get them done.

With few retail establishments in Eagle Mountain, many residents make their purchases in Saratoga Springs and other nearby cities. I would like to see Eagle Mountain be able to attract and sustain more retail establishments. We need grocery stores, restaurants, and other shopping. We also spend our money on entertainment elsewhere and that money should be brought back to Eagle Mountain as well. I like how Eagle Mountain designates communities within the city – -Silverlake, Cedar Pass Ranch City Center, etc. It is easy to know where these communities are by the welcome signs. Currently there is a sign designating the entrance to Eagle Mountain at Eagle Mountain Blvd and SR-73. Most people enter the city at the eastern border with Saratoga Springs on SR-73 or Pony Express Parkway. I would like to see welcome signs for Eagle Mountain in those locations that are equivalent to or more prominent than the signs marking our communities. I would hope that these signs would be a physical reminder that we are a part of Eagle Mountain as a whole first and then our individual communities second.

I’m not sure anything needs “substantial” improvement, but there are certainly things to do. We definitely need to address our growing traffic/congestion problems, and we need to continue bringing a diverse array of businesses to the city. Expanding our roadways and optimizing them is a high priority for me. Businesses can really help with infrastructure by putting the investment to build it out up front for construction. This can really help us get things done. For existing roadways that need expansion, I want to consider different proposals, including the possibility of bonding to get it done.

We have many infrastructure needs particularly with connecting our major arterial roads with collector roads to improve the ingress and egress of our city. Unfortunately, that will come at a cost. Tax revenue has to improve. That will come from economical expansion or property taxes increases. I am not in favor of increasing property taxes as a primary solution. We have to accelerate our economic footprint in Eagle Mountain or our infrastructure maintenance and expansion will suffer greatly.

One of my areas of concern has to do with future infrastructure and the planning for homes and businesses. Most of us have seen the backlog of traffic due to the construction and growth. The city needs to have revenue in order to provide services. Two of the biggest sources of revenue come from the housing and businesses that establish in those communities. Property tax and sales tax help add to the budget. As a commuter community we have been giving a large portion of those business revenues to the surrounding cities. From groceries to home improvement we have to go to neighboring cities when looking for choices. I believe we are at a critical juncture in deciding what the makeup of our city will be in the future and the resources we will have in the future. We need to start looking at what we need to bring back into our own pockets.