#EM2019 – Colby Curtis (incumbent) – City Council Answers

Colby Curtis – City Council Candidate

Give us a brief biographical sketch of yourself and your family. I was born and raised in West Valley City, UT. At a young age I discovered a love for technology and media. I enjoyed playing Volleyball in junior high and high school, and worked part-time throughout high school while still remaining accomplished in school. After high school, I served as a missionary for my church in Milwaukee, WI where my wife, Adelle, and I met. We dated once we returned home and were married in 2008. I studied both Information Technology and Digital Media, culminating in graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media from Utah Valley University. While working for a small IT company for nearly a decade, I transitioned from implementations into software development. I‘m a .NET developer working for a start-up that handles inventory management for Ford and Lincoln dealers. My wife, Adelle, and I have lived in Logan, West Valley, and Kearns, before settling in Eagle Mountain in July of 2014. We have one little boy, Levi, who is nearly 4 years old. I currently serve on the Eagle Mountain City Council and have been for nearly 4 years (one term). I would love the opportunity to continue for another term. How long have you resided in Eagle Mountain, and why do you call Eagle Mountain your home? Adelle and I moved to Eagle Mountain in July of 2014. We were drawn here because of the tight-knit community feel as well as the suburban/rural balance which offers both the conveniences of everyday life while still being somewhat removed from the big city. I love the open spaces, outdoor recreation, variety of lifestyle options, and low taxes. Decisions are made by the city council that you may or may not have knowledge of the ecology of the area and the possible repercussions of those decisions. What resources would you use to complete your due diligence regarding habitat and wildlife impacts? One of best resources are the people of Eagle Mountain, we have some very knowledgeable residents that have dedicated their time both professionally and privately to protect our wildlife, our heritage, and our open spaces. One such example is the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project. I have a relationship with multiple volunteers for the project and have even volunteered myself on occasion. Their knowledge of local wildlife and habitat is expansive. There have been multiple occasions I have met with this group to understand concerns and work wo mitigate issues while still doing everything I can to protect the rights of the landowners. Knowing who to speak with and building coalitions of people with varying knowledge is a helpful tool in achieving better outcomes on city council decisions. I do that regularly and will continue to do so going forward. In addition, for each item on the City Council agenda, our professional city staff of engineers, planners, arborists, and other specialists prepare a staff report with engineering, drainage, and other important information regarding impact development may have on the community. In those cases it is important to study and become well-versed in the information. I always read and study the council packet, generally twice, in order to be prepared for council meeting. Other times, not enough information is given and I will need to request additional information from staff and/or developers prior to the meeting. If I get that info, I need to study it as well, but if I don’t have the information, I need to be prepared to ask thorough questions of staff and developers during our Council Work Session, and table the item if that information is not readily available or if I haven’t been given adequate time to review it. I follow that process regularly and am certain it has helped in achieving better outcomes in the decisions that my fellow councilmembers and I have made. What do you think is the role of non-disclosure agreements and economic growth? And how does it affect government transparency? As I have been involved in bringing both Facebook and Tyson to Eagle Mountain, I have been in the thick of this NDA issue. The transparency in these cases was something that I struggled with as I always want as much information in the public as possible. I don’t like the way the state creates code names and has set up its process on economic development, but we really have two options: refuse to play and allow economic development to go elsewhere, or play within the system and work to be as transparent as possible. I have elected to use the second method because the reality is without it, we don’t get economic development to aid the city in keeping resident’s taxes low. While it is a difficult issue, please keep in mind the following: 1) The type of business and all financial information relating to an economic development project is released to the public before voting occurs. The only thing not available to the public in the packet is the company’s name itself. 2) We have a Republic form of government. There are and will always be issues (such as economic development, land sales, and litigation, etc.) that can never be completely open publicly for legitimate reasons. We elect individuals to represent us, not because they are better or smarter, but in order for them to delve into the details of issues for us. While I am serving on city council, that will be my role. Once I am not, that role will pass to another individual and I will not be privy to some of the information that I would be privy to now. We can and should expect those we elect to do the research and make informed decisions, then account for those decisions. With both Facebook and Tyson, I have tried to account in every aspect to the public where I am allowed. I have worked to answer every question or concern raised in order to help share with the public as much of the information as I can from the information I gathered and was given that came into play while making those decisions. 3) Your tax dollars are never given away as incentive. The incentive comes by virtue of the investment by the company. If the company did not relocate to Eagle Mountain, there would be no tax money from the company’s operation coming in. The idea is that the incentive helps to cover the large capital cost a company is faced with when relocating. In order to remove that barrier so they can create jobs and tax revenue, the future tax revenues (that they generate by virtue of them being in the city) are shared with them. Not every project gives everything back, and most projects only give some back. Ultimately, my belief is that when it comes to economic incentives the two most important questions are: would it come without the incentive? and is the incentive commensurate with the value they bring? In the cases of Tyson and Facebook, the ROI for Eagle Mountain and her residents is much better than any incentive given. It’s really an investment in our community. What specific things do you feel that the city is doing exceptionally well? Budget and proper role of government – Eagle Mountain City runs an extremely lean operation. It is a philosophy our Mayor, Council, and City Administrator all have adopted. We have worked at all getting on the same page, and it has been a successful endeavor. We focus on the needs of the community first, and consider the wants and desires secondarily to those needs. As a result, EM has some of the lowest taxes in the county and in the state. In addition, each year I have made it one of my budget priorities to maintain the highest rainy-day balance allowed by state law (up to 25% of general fund balance). We have been at or near that every year I have been on the council. Infrastructure – I state this with a caveat: no matter how much money is spent on roads and other infrastructure, there will never be enough. For example, the Pony Express expansion we worked with the Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) on cost ~9 million dollars, and for comparison our entire General Fund budget at the time was ~12 million. Infrastructure is expensive, and it takes not just prioritizing it, but making conscious decisions to find ways to fund it…because without funding, any promise to improve roads is hollow. Here’s what I’ve been involved in doing to improve the infrastructure situation: 5 new stoplights funded this previous budget year alone. FB and Tyson both include significant water and road infrastructure improvements that will improve life for residents (yes, I know the interim is a bit rough, but we will all get through). I worked first to remove government barriers to large tax providers and job-creators (as well as small businesses), and then to secure, negotiate, and vote to bring them to our city. This budget year, I supported and voted to team up with Saratoga Springs to hire a lobbyist to work on getting Pony Express upgraded to a state road, which opens up additional funding sources. Supported, voted for, and encouraged our city’s road maintenance program, which aims to improve every road at least every five years. It’s a lofty goal and takes financial investment (which I have backed), but is one of the most important basic needs our government must be providing. What specific things in the city do you feel need substantial improvements? 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. Is the rural culture and feel of Eagle Mountain important to you? Eagle Mountain has a rural culture and feel, how do you think we can have growth and keep that feeling? It is extremely important to me, and my voting record shows it has been. One of the driving motivators for me is the desire to guarantee Eagle Mountain remains a robust community that continues to value open space, a variety of unique lifestyle options, and follows a feasible, but unparalleled way of life; we are and should be a vibrant self-sustaining community with a small-town feel. Eagle Mountain is not West Valley, Provo, or any other city in Utah, it begs to differ. Eagle Mountain is unlike any other community in Utah and I want it to remain that way as the city transitions through the inevitable growth and change we are experiencing. The key is to draw lines and stand your ground. Development, especially in the higher densities, tends to encroach on open spaces and on lower density homes. Strategically, this means having specific focus on protecting the feel of the larger lot areas of EM: North Ranch/Meadow Ranch areas, Cedar Pass Ranch, Lake Mountain. One of my greatest accomplishments was to pitch the Lot Size Buffering code, which buffers lower and higher densities from each other so you don’t end up with ½ acre next to apartment buildings. That code has helped protect many residents from encroachment and allows them to continue to live their more rural lifestyle, while still allowing for the more suburban lifestyle of other developments, just with a reasonable buffer between. Are there things city government should not provide for the people that it currently is? Why or why not? In general, I feel we have a good balance of services, events, and opportunities. However, I do not like government to focus on entertaining people. The best way to provide these services and opportunities is to either a) outsource, or b) create public/private partnerships that add value to Eagle Mountain residents without the use of tax dollars. Over the course of my term, I have supported outsourcing multiple programs and services. Some of those include: sporting programs, programs and events to sponsored non-profits within the city and other partner organizations outside the city to provide the Limitless Car Show, a Lantern Festival, and now a Farmer’s Market. This model provides great value to Eagle Mountain Residents with little to no cost to the city. If you’ve been in office and are seeking election, is there a topic you wished you had championed better, if so, what is it? 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 to make come to fruition was 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. If you are running but are not currently elected, what specific agenda’s would you like to champion though the office of city council and why? Tell us something that sets you apart from the rest of the group of candidates? As the only sitting councilmember in this race, I bring experience, knowledge of the process and how to effectively work within the confines and climate of the Eagle Mountain City government to the table. I also bring a proven track-record. I’m certainly not perfect and the past few years has brought with it more humbling and fish-out-of-water experiences than I can count, but I think I have adapted and grown into those difficult situations. I have a strong record of attendance at city council and ancillary meetings, for voting in line with the principles I said I possessed, for holding developers accountable, and for being fiscally responsible with your money. While I will continue to promise to do the same, I can say I have already done it and will proudly stand on my record. You can see more about the specifics of what I have done at https://colbycurtis.org/#colby-stances What are your personal, political, and professional long term goals in regards to Eagle Mountain? Personal – The two aspects of my life that hold the most meaning to me are my family and lifelong learning. I will continue to focus on those two things while in office and after. Political – Serve Eagle Mountain and then go back to my family. I have no aspirations for higher office. Professional – I previously transitioned from media to a role in Software Development. My goal is to become development management. I have also been exploring the idea of creating a document management software for municipalities that helps serve documents to the public but wouldn’t do so as long as I am in office. What founding father (signer of the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution) has impacted your political philosophy the most and why? Do you have a favorite quote from a founding father? Thomas Jefferson. His strong fiscal positions and stances on individual freedom have been a guiding influence on me. Some of his quotes that illustrate why I revere him are: Small government and fiscal responsibility – “I am for a government rigorously frugal & simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national debt; and not for a multiplication of officers & salaries merely to make partisans, & for increasing, by every device, the public debt, on the principle of it’s being a public blessing.” Pragmatically working to achieve goals – “The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches, that we must be contented to secure what we can get from time to time, and eternally press forward for what is yet to get”. Importance of having rural areas – “I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.” Being able to disagree and advocate for your principles with civility – “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” Those are a few, I also very much respect Washington and his concern of the two-party system, which has certainly created difficultly for our country. The city has numerous boards and commissions that it uses to help the City Council with decision making and to assist City Staff. What is your impression of these boards their effectiveness? Some of our boards, like the Seniors Board and Library Board, have a very clear focus and regular effective meetings, but we still have work to do to improve the focus and the effectiveness of some of our boards. I have been working with the Mayor and fellow councilmembers to revitalize the Parks and Rec board. This includes staffing the board, as well as revisiting the code and making adjustments to the roles and responsibilities of board members. What service have you given to the residents of Eagle Mountain? Before being elected, I engaged, years ago, in the fight against the prison coming to Eagle Mountain. Volunteer regularly in neighborhood clean-up. Have helped multiple residents take advantage of the municipal match grant program to get projects finished in their neighborhoods. As a council liaison, I have served and attended Planning Commission, Youth Council, Library Board, MAG (county roads board), Cemetery Board, Senior Council. I am currently serving as Mayor Pro Tempore. I regularly visit and speak with Scouts and Cub Scouts on their rank advancement and badge requirements. I regularly visit with and speak with residents on the phone, electronically, and in-person, working to help solve city problems. I have participated each year (except one) in the community cleanup. I cook residents pancakes and bacon each year. ? I have also served as a both a state and county delegate and precinct chair for EM08. I have helped the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project multiple times with Kestrel bandings. I have regularly served in various volunteer capacities for my church, both formally and informally. I regularly give more than the 20 hours expected for councilmembers studying packets, agreements, and other historical records, speaking with residents and developers, solving issues, and otherwise serving in the community. What is density vesting and how do you plan on dealing with it when it grants higher density than you are comfortable with? At its most basic, vesting a developer means granting them rights to build that cannot be revoked later. What this means is that if a developer has the agricultural zone on their land, if they put in an application to build on that land, as long as they meet the code and requirements for the zone, they are entitled to be approved. What this also means is that a developer with agricultural land, who seeks a rezone to residential would be asking for additional development rights. City councils have wide latitude on legislative rezone applications but far less latitude on administrative applications on land that is already vested. As far as how I plan on dealing with density that is higher than I’m comfortable with, it depends on the circumstances of the proposal. 1) If the proposal is already vested, a developer is entitled to a certain density, but they still have to abide by code. I have negotiated, and will continue to negotiate, removing units in exchange for other minor exceptions or variances. 2) If the property is not vested, and is seeking rezone, I have and will continue to push back against proposals that contain multi-family and high-rise housing, especially in single family neighborhoods. What city code do you problematic, and how do you plan on addressing it? The zoning code as I outlined in Question 6. I’d also like to spend time in the code for boards and commissions in order to revisit what roles and expectations each have and how to make them more effective in aiding initiatives in the city. The more involvement we have in city matters from active and engaged citizens, the better the outcomes we achieve are.