Representing WVC

Last week I was able to represent West Valley City at the National League of Cities Congress of Cities which was held this year in Denver Colorado. I was pleased at the progress and the input that I was able to provide with my first tier suburbs steering committee. We successfully focused on Economic Development and provided many important solutions and programs. I reported on the Congress in this weeks City Council in both an oral and written report. Below is a copy of the written report given to my colleagues on he City Council:

Councilmember Rushton
Council Report

December 7, 2010

Congress of Cities NLC Conference

Summary

From December 1-4 I attended and represented West Valley City at the National League of Cities Congress of Cities in Denver, Colorado. The conference offered sessions and workshops to learn and share innovative ideas and solutions for their city’s economic development, infrastructure, sustainability and public safety needs. The conference major speakers and presenters included a Senator Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and a Business executive focused on sustainable development. I attended the conference at the Convention Center beginning Wednesday and concluded Saturday. During that time I not only attended general sessions and workshops, but also participated in mobile tours of the Denver regions transit oriented developments. Additionally, the steering committee I was appointed to was able to meet twice to discuss issues and set priorities for next year. Finally it was a good opportunity to attend briefing lunches and associate with many companies and colleagues with West Valley City connections. I gathered materials on numerous best practice solutions and innovations in order to share them with executive staff for informational purposes.

some of the highlights with local interest:

1. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Harvard University political scientist Robert D. Putnam discussed steps that governments can take to form successful relationships between immigrants and their new communities.

2. Spoke with representatives from the Justice Department about participation in the COPS program. Met with Utah regional representative from Health & Human Services about the Get Moving program and WVC trail system.

3. Other delegates from Utah cities gathered for a caucus dinner with representatives from the Utah League of Cities and Towns.

Action Items:

A. Form a staff committee to explore the costs/benefits of launching a WVC app for smartphones. Should also address if solely informational or interactive.

B. Council to formally charge Councilmember Christensen to be liaison with NLC Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration

C. Coordinate formal introduction of WVC staff with Englewood Colorado staff to collaborate on City Center TOD.

Additionally the City released the followed communication to media outlets concerning the Congress:

West Valley City Council Members Attend National Conference

Focusing on New Ideas and Solutions for Cities
West Valley City – West Valley City Council Members Don Christensen and Corey Rushton
recently joined thousands of fellow leaders from across the country for the 2010 National
League of Cities’ (NLC) annual Congress of Cities and Exposition in Denver, Colorado. The conference offered sessions and workshops to learn and share innovative ideas and solutions
for their city’s economic development, infrastructure, sustainability and public safety needs.
More than 2,000 municipal officials heard from nationally-known experts such as L. Hunter Lovins, president and founder of Natural Capitalism. Lovins spoke with delegates about tools and strategies to create more sustainable local governments. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Harvard University political scientist Robert D. Putnam discussed steps that governments can take to form successful relationships between immigrants and their new communities.
Additionally, former US Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) offered his perspective on the current
political climate in Washington, DC, in the wake of the mid-term elections. Department of
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed health and wellness and brought video greetings
from First Lady Michelle Obama.
"The Congress was a great opportunity to represent West Valley City on a national scale and observe innovations that will enhance our local community," says Council Member Corey
Rushton.
Each year at the Congress of Cities, local officials make connections and learn about
resources to help move their communities forward. Delegates meet with thousands of peers and colleagues from around the country to discover cost-saving programs, products and
services; replicate effective programs and create innovative solutions to their community’s
most pressing challenges.

Housing Crisis

As we individually and collectively battle against the economic recession I have become more and more aware of the impacts and hardships placed upon members of our West Valley City community. The housing market continues to a focal point of economic woes and as a City Council we have seen applications for new housing projects almost entirely off of the map. The City has little regulatory control to influence the housing market, but as a City we recognize the importance of having healthy neighborhoods and the impact that that has on numerous other areas of City life and services. I reported some neighborhood trends during one study meeting and the rest of the City Council supported me in asking the executive staff to draft and send a letter to individuals and entities that do have regulatory influence or legislative means to affect the housing foreclosure crisis and subsequent fall out. As every community is experiencing things differently it is also important to provide West Valley City's perspective. The following is the body of that letter that sent:


As you no doubt have been painfully aware over the past many months, stability of the housing markets has continued to be an issue. As part of our efforts to continue the struggle to maintain and strengthen our neighborhoods, we thought a reminder of our ongoing efforts and the importance of the support of our friends at the federal level would be appropriate.

Foreclosures and the negative impact they have on rates of home ownership and strength of communities and neighborhoods continue to be an issue for us. While we have been blessed in the case that our foreclosure numbers are relatively widespread and not concentrated in neighborhoods, they do indeed exist, and properties in foreclosure or close to foreclosure number in the thousands in our city.

There are a number of ways that we have combated the effect of this on our city. We have a very strong police, neighborhood support and legal presence that have done everything we could do to encourage and support quality of life in our neighborhoods. Another component of that effort has been our use and cooperation with federal programs including Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnership, housing assistance programs, etc.

Your continued support of these and other federal programs such as the Home Affordable Modification Program is appreciated. Although we don’t directly participate in programs such as this, the important and positive effect on our community is important nonetheless.

Thanks again for your great support of us in the past, and we implore you to continue and strengthen that support as it is possible.

Memorable Week

This week has kept me very busy. On top of my normal schedule I undertook some mayoral duties as part of my responsibilities as West Valley City's Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor was in Washington attending a conference and so I conducted my first City Council meetings. The regular meeting was eventful as we had a public hearing to discuss the Hunter Town Center general plan update. I was pleased to see so many friendly and familiar faces crowd into the council chambers to express their thoughts, ideas, and frustrations towards this new concept. Before the meeting the lobby of City Hall was filled with various residents representing their neighborhood associations. Once again, West Valley City was nationally recognized this year for their successful neighborhood night out festivities. It was great to be able to greet and address these resident that work in the trenches and have a deep commitment to our community. Later I accepted the national award on behalf of the City.

The next day I attended a celebration luncheon at Firestone building products. They were being recognized by the State for achieving a voluntary safety certification. They are only the fourth business in the state to receive such recognition. The staff includes many West Valley City residents who were pleased that the City was represented and in attendance to celebrate their achievement. I particularly enjoyed talking to the Firestone executives that had traveled from various other cities across the country to share in the recognition. These executives were lodging at one of the E-Center area hotels and talked about how impressed they were with our entertainment district. They also inquired about our various area business parks as I pointed out the advantages to any future expansion in West Valley City.

Last but certainly not least I was able to visit a longtime West Valley resident and friend of mine with a couple of players from the Utah Grizzles. He is one of their biggest fans and has been cheering on the team from their origins, but recently has been very ill. It is good to see that the team cares about West Valley City and the residents. I told the Grizz players that they were great ambassadors for our City and that I needed a win from them tomorrow as I will be bringing some Utah VIPs to their first Hockey game. I am sure that it will be a great game regardless, because the win or lose the Grizzles always play hard and are fun to watch.