May 15 Update
Ellen's Updates. Ellen suggests that you review ch.utah.gov and https://www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2234/115#!/ for full information. Her intention within her "Updates" is to give you a short list that constituents have asked she highlight:
WHAT HAS HAPPENED
In recent Council meetings:
Ranked Choice Voting. Just before Councilman Petersen's death on April 20th, the council came to consensus around the 2023 Election Process in order to meet a deadline to notify Salt Lake County Elections Division. In 2021, Cottonwood Heights entered into a Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Pilot Program scheduled to run through 2025. At the council meeting, the mayor indicated that himself and Councilman Petersen (absent due to health problem) favored curtailing RCV in Cottonwood Heights for the 2023 election cycle. Councilman Bracken supported this position. Council Members Newell and Birrell advocated to continue within the RCV Pilot Program as they have for months, but lost to the council majority who favor returning to a primary/general election process. June 1-7 is the registration period for filing to run for either Cottonwood Heights District 1 or District 2 council races.
Tree Utah. At the April 18th council meeting, the council put their support behind the City of Cottonwood Heights becoming a “Tree City”, presumably under the existing “Tree Utah” program. Staff will be formulating how we can meet that criteria and implement it in 2024. (This is particularly gratifying because I have been advocating for preservation of trees along Wasatch Blvd, within Golden Hills Park, better management within the Ferguson Dog Park still under construction, for CH to become a Tree City, etc. for many months.)
WHAT ELLEN IS DOING
Sustainability. A year ago, I pressed city staff for updates on what the staff had accomplished within the years since the Sustainability Ordinance passed. Other than participation in a Rocky Mountain Power sustainability program and installation of solar panels to city hall rooftop, not much else had occurred. Soon, staff reported that the council would be updating the Sustainability Plan. Throughout several work sessions over the last six months, specific measures have been identified and supported by council majority.
Communications and Public Engagement. I have worked hard over my first sixteen months in office to get better use of the city’s communication tools — the website and monthly newsletter. This is an ongoing process. Regarding public engagement, when I asserted the findings within the 2021 CH Tomorrow Survey of a strong desire by our residents for walkability, transportation alternatives, traffic calming and “less overbuilding”, the council majority indicated “that was not a scientific study” and “the survey was answered by a bunch of activists” and “we must use a scientific method like Y2Analytics offers”. So, the city spent $14,000 for a 2022 Y2A Survey which bore out that residents want walkability, transportation alternatives, traffic calming and “less overbuilding”. An additional 2023 Y2A Survey put protection of views as the residents’ number one concern followed by walkability.
Walkability. Working with CH Public Works and PTOS Committee to advance a "walkability" Active Transportation plan for our city. Currently, what appears in all approved master plans for the city is based on an "Active Transportation Backbone". his "backbone" is schedule to take 25 years to complete. It is based on creating multi-use pathways built away from roadways AND building bike paths along existing arterials and collectors. What Ellen's initiative advocates is for "Neighborhood Byways". This structure will give our city immediate walkability by focusing on utilizing what we already have -- streets that provide quiet, aesthetically pleasing, slow and much safer "walking and rolling" experiences. By focusing grant applications and city funds to make for safe crossings across collectors and arterials, residents can access their neighbors, grocers, churches, parks, trails, open spaces and shopping malls principally using "Neighborhood Byways".
Hillside Plaza acquisition and Affordable Housing. Now is our time. In Ellen's opinion, the new 10 acres Hillside Plaza acquisition by the city council on March 31st should serve to be a economic development catalyst for all businesses along Ft. Union Blvd as well as be planned to include much needed affordable housing for seniors and others through deed-restricted mandates, lesser parking to unit ratio and other incentives. Right now, the city manager and mayor have indicated that the grant we have with the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) is affording the city to have WFRC cover the expenses of the consulting firm which will lead CH in the development strategy for the ten acres. I have expressed my desire to analyze the prospective firms but have not been able to get the current council majority to disclose the process.
Form Based Code. A year ago, I opened the conversation for a way forward within Cottonwood Heights code and zoning that would make more clear to prospective developers what our residents want within the remaining developable spaces and for redevelopment areas. According to my research, Form Based Code, which is currently being used in places like Salt Lake City and Park City, could help to make our processes more efficient and effective for city staff, developers, planning commission and council. After several months of advocating for this, enough council members got on board for staff to put attention toward it. Staff has made a presentation to the council and will soon present FBC to the planning commission. This is all part of my process to put residents first.
WHAT IS COMING UP
Appointment of new District 1 council member to fill Doug Petersen's seat:
Applicant interviews: 4 - approximately 7 or 8pm, May 15
Additional interviews and council deliberation: 4pm, May 16
Business meeting including public comments: 7pm, May 16
All of this is open to the public.
Cottonwood Canyon Multi-use Trail. The western portion (west of the strip mall east of 3000 east) will be closed for re-surfacing beginning May 31st.
Mark your calendar for the city "Block Party" for August 31st. Time TBA but likely late afternoon. Last year, the Block Party featured fun, sustainability, children's bicycle course in the city hall parking lot, etc. I hope to engage staff with the idea of empowering citizens to include their sustainability interests with tables and events related to things like Flipping Your Strip, waterwise landscaping, regenerative agriculture, continuing my "Intro to e-Biking", etc.