30th

Last week was West Valley City's 30th anniversary of incorporation. Still fairly young by City standards and a remarkable amount of accomplishment has occurred in those three short decades. The Utah Symphony performed on an absolutely picture perfect summer evening. I enjoyed some food and the variety of musical selections that were played. Earlier in the evening was City Council meetings were the following proclamation was read and I afterward signed as Mayor Pro Tem:

WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH
PROCLAMATION
A PROCLAMATION DECLARING 2010 AS WEST
VALLEY CITY’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF
INCORPORATION AND CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF
“PROGRESS AS PROMISED.”

WHEREAS, in 1977 a determined Community Council of Granger, Hunter, and
Redwood residents wanted to form a new City Government in Utah, and
WHEREAS, those residents, along with State representatives and local leaders pushed forward, winning an incorporation vote; and
WHEREAS, on July 1st, 1980, Judge David K. Winder administered the oath of office to the leaders of the new City; and
WHEREAS, on July 8th, 1980, a subsequent disincorporation vote was defeated, realizing the dream of forming a new city and moving forward with plans for West Valley City; and
WHEREAS, West Valley City has embraced its first-class status with the addition of parks, new roads, independent public safety services, the Maverik Center entertainment venue, the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, the Family Fitness Center, residential and commercial enhancements, a city center and public plaza, and many more accomplishments too numerous to list;
NOW, THEREFORE, I do hereby commend those individuals with the dream to build a new city, those elected officials, administrators, and employees both past and present who have worked to turn what was once a dream into Utah’s second largest City, and proclaim 2010 as West Valley City’s 30th anniversary of incorporation, celebrating 30 years of “Progress as Promised.”

Also during that evening Council meetings we convened as the City's Redevelopment Agency and Municipal Building Authority to have public hearing is order to sell the City's surplus land at near the Cultural Center to be developed as part of the Jordan River Marketplace.

The other big news coming out of the City is the naming of the Maverik Center. I am very pleased to have Maverik as the naming sponsor of the arena and excited at the potential for numerous partnerships to help promote the quality entertainment district that West Valley City offers. I have been asked by numerous residents and news agencies about the terms of the deal. I am happy to report that the deal is worth millions of dollars over a number of years. Deals like this are lengthy and complicated, but in the spirit of good government and transparency I hope that those that are seeking further information on this partnership get their questions answered sooner rather than later. I have always taken pride that the community owns the Center and that we will all play a big role in the future of that entertainment district. We'll work to establish as many quality partnerships as we can to keep West Valley City moving forward.