Budget Award

Last week at City Council meeting we recognized both our outstanding employee of the month and the quarterly division of the month. It just so happens that both of them came from the finance department. This week the finance department was back to receive another award, this time from outside of the City, as the Government Finance Officers Association presented the City with the Distinguished Budget Award. Also this week the West Valley City Audit Review committee, which I am a member of, met to discuss the progress of the annual City audit.

What this means to the average resident of our community is that West Valley City continues to maintain the highest standards of budget and financial work. The work that comes out of this department is crucial for policy making decisions by the City Council and the quality of the work needs to precise. It is relieving to have capable professionals and effective controls at ever corner of the budgeting process. Taxpayer funds are sacred and it is important that we continue to work to use these funds in an efficient and effective way.


Below is the WVC press release regarding the award:


West Valley City Receives 19th Consecutive Budget Award

West Valley City – For the 19th consecutive year West Valley City has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for fiscal year 2009-2010. This award is presented to governmental entities that demonstrate the highest principals of proficiency and excellence in budget preparation and presentment. In order to receive this honor the entity must satisfy nationally recognized standards of effective budget presentation. The award will be presented to the City during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m.
“The budget staff and finance department work very hard to ensure that the highest principals of accuracy and disclosure are maintained,” Jim Welch, finance director for West Valley City, stated. “We are pleased to be recognized for this significant achievement.”
West Valley City is one of only 21 government entities in Utah to receive the Distinguished Budget Award from the GFOA, and one of only 14 municipalities. According the GFOA website (www.gfoa.org), the award is to meant to encourage government entities to prepare high-quality budget documents which increases accountability and can lead to better decision making and transparency.
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New Granger High Groundbreaking

On Friday I was privileged to represent West Valley City at the half-time groundbreaking for the new Granger High School. The game happened to be Granger's homecoming game, so the stands and sidlines were full of past and present students. With me on the field with golden shovels were members of the school and school district and individuals representing the team that will do the construction work. The new school is scheduled to open in three years. In the meantime the old school will stay operational and when when construction is completed on the new building, the old one will be demolished and turned into additional parking and sports fields.

This will be a nice addition to our City, but we will need to replace Granger Park somewhere in the community. The park and school have been cornerstones of the community and we need to make sure that the traditions and institutions are carried on through the new facilities.

Parks and Trails Bond Support

There has been an swell of support for the West Valley City Parks and Trails Proposition. Recreationalists, athletes, and even everyday residents that want to reinvest in our community have begun to organize and tell their neighbors about the benefits of approving the bond this November. Earlier this week the Granite School District Board of Education officially endorsed the proposal by unanimously passing a resolution. A press release including the contents of the resolution, which outlines deserving and various reasons behind the formal support, are below:


**NEWS RELEASE**

Tonight, the Granite School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution of support for West Valley City’s parks and trails bond, a $25 million proposal on the November ballot which would increase taxes $2 a month for an average home, but which would rebuild Granger Park, build 17 new parks, and complete 27 miles of trails. The resolution read:

Whereas, 25% of children in Utah are overweight, and the availability of parks and trails has been shown to reduce obesity rates; and

Whereas, more safe routes to school are needed for children who are walking to school to be kept away from busy roads; and

Whereas, we appreciate West Valley City’s partnership in allowing the new Granger High School to be built on the former Granger Park, and desire to be a good community partner in helping them replace this park; and

Whereas, it is in the financial best interest of the school district to maintain property values, and studies show that neighborhoods adjacent to parks and trails increase value; and

Whereas, we appreciate first hand the benefit of historically low interest rates and construction costs, and recognize the wisdom in acting now to expand trails and parks in West Valley City;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the Granite School Board of Education officially supports West Valley City’s General Obligation bond that is being considered on this November’s ballot, and we encourage families, employees, PTAs, and others in our community to support this bond and vote “YES” for more parks and trails for West Valley City.

Board member Julene Jolley said, “It makes perfect sense for educators to support this bond, because we care about having safe places for kids to play, safe places for them to walk to school, and in reinvesting in West Valley neighborhoods to strengthen property values.”

The Granite School District joins other community groups in encouraging “Yes on Prop 3”, including the Utah Transit Authority, which sees the proposed projects as increasing connectivity to transit and in encouraging more people to bike to work.

Proposition 3 -Parks and Trails

I have been bombarded with questions due in relation to West Valley City's first ever General Obligation bond election which will appear on this November's Ballot. The City Council unanimously approved placing this on the ballot for various and differing reason. However, it will ultimately be up to the voters to decide whether or not we take this opportunity to reinvest in our community and give a kick start to what could be the premier transit oriented development in the State, namely the West Valley City Center. Below is a sheet of frequently asked questions and answers in relation to the bond election including a list of projects that would be funded. When you take a look you will notice that several of these projects are probably close to your home or place of business, thereby immediately increasing the value and attractiveness of that neighborhood. As always if you have any additional questions or comments please feel free to contact me.

Fact Sheet

Proposition 3 “Parks and Trails for West Valley City Families”

Q: What will West Valley City be voting on?

A: On the ballot this November, West Valley registered voters will have the opportunity to vote on the city’s first ever general obligation bond. This bond, which could be up to $25,000,000, would fund a variety of parks and trails throughout the city. The bond would be paid back over 20 years using property tax revenues. General obligation bonds are used because they have the lowest interest rates.

Q: How much will the bond cost an average family?

A: For a homeowner with an average home (valued at $177,000), there would be a property tax
increase of $25.02 per year. This breaks down to less than $2.09 per month, or less than 7 cents per day.

Q: What exactly will the bond go to pay for?

A: The bond will help complete dozens of projects in three major categories:

1) TRAILS. For biking to work, walking to school, or exercising with the family, the bond will be able to complete the city’s Crosstowne Trail. This runs at about 2700 South from the Jordan River, through the Decker Lake area, west through Lake Park and Highbury, and all the way
to Magna at 7200 West. The bond will also complete the Utah & Salt Lake Canal Trail, which
runs from 4000 West and 4700 South along the canal and behind Academy Park, Kennedy
Junior High, Woodledge Park, and West View Park out to 7200 West and 3900 South. These
trails will tie into the future Mountain View Corridor trail along 5800 West, and the existing
Jordan River Parkway.

2) NEW GRANGER PARK/CITY CENTER GREENSPACE. Designed to both replace Granger Park (which is being used for the new Granger High School), and to create a “town square”
or “village green” of sorts, this 4 to 7 acre space will become a gathering place and regional
amenity for the entire city. Located adjacent to the TRAX station by city hall and featuring
water features and picnic areas, this space is intended to spur economic development and
to keep the positive momentum of the new Valley Fair Mall redevelopment flowing west.

3) NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. Seventeen new neighborhood parks will benefit from the bond,
resulting in a city park within 2,000 yards of every family in the city and increasing the city’s
open space inventory by 20%. This will include the city’s first off-leash dog park and skate
park.

Sunset Hills Park (U-111 and 6400 S) 2 acres
Falcon Crest Park (4055 S 7060 W) 1.5 acres
Fox Tail Park completion (6880 W 3045 S) 2 acres
Wetland Park series of trails, walkways and interpretive signs through 40 acres of wetland and
playa (6700 W 2820 S)
5. Vistas East (6356 W 4580 S) 2.9 acres
6. Pleasant Valley Park (6124 W Brud Dr) .5 acres
7. Vistas South (4540 S 6000 W) 2.7 acres
8. Complete West side of Centennial Park, and include a skate park somewhere in the park. (5415
W 3100 S) 3 acres
9. Park in the area of 4800 W 4150 S with off-leash dog park 2 acres
10. Arlington Park open spaces (4700 W 4620 S) .5 to .75 acres
11. Park at (4300 W 4300 S) .5 to 1 acre
12. Trail-Head Park on Utah & Salt Lake Canal. (4050 W 4700 S) .75 acres
13. Firestation Park (2700 W 2900 S) 2 Acres
14. Park at (3641 S 2200 W) 2 or more acres
15. Park in the area of 3800 S Redwood Rd 2 acres
16. Chesterfield Neighborhood Park in an area to be determined 1.5 acres
17. Jordan River Parkway at about 3800 S 1250 W .5 acres


Q: Why did the City Council choose this year to request a bond for parks and trails?

A: Each year the city is losing more potential park sites as the community grows, and there is a need to acquire these sites while the real estate is still available and affordable. With many families vacationing from home during the economic hard times, the demand for recreational amenities close by like parks and trails is the highest it has ever been. Furthermore, many residents are concerned about slumping property values and studies show that one of the best ways to reinvest in neighborhoods and enhance value is through developing nearby parks and trails.

Also, with the completion of TRAX light rail next summer, and the finalizing of plans for the West Valley City Center there, the timing is critical for the new Granger Park/City Center Greenspace to be installed to help jump-start economic development. Finally, the city has long neglected getting caught up on its long range park master plan, and current interest rates and construction costs are at record lows, enabling many more projects to be completed for much less money than it normally would cost.