City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
Mayor’s Message
801-567-7235
Rocky Mountain Power 877-508-5088
By Mayor Dustin Gettel
Diary of a Midvale Mayor – A (Snowy) Day in the Life
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
6:30 AM – The alarm goes o . Snooze button expertly deployed. Somewhere o in the distance, a rooster crows … wait, do we even allow roosters in Midvale?
6:55 AM – I actually wake up this time. Breakfast is burnt toast and lukewarm co ee, consumed while responding to a urry of city emails. Brie y daydream about becoming mayor of a city where breakfast makes itself.
7:00 AM – Head out on a snowy morning to the Uni ed Fire Authority Board of Directors meeting. With budget season looming, these meetings are crucial to ensure we keep costs down without compromising service. Time to settle in for a solid three hours of scal strategy!
10:30 AM – Arrive at City Hall. Kaitlin, my invaluable executive assistant, has my daily schedule perfectly organized. I check in with City Manager Dahl for any key updates I missed during the senior sta meeting earlier that morning. He promises to brief me later.
11:30 AM – Prep for a press conference with fellow county mayors to announce Midvale’s participation in the Utah Rivers Council subsidized rain barrel program. This initiative will o er discounted rain barrels to the rst 100 residents who sign up. Excited to share this eco-friendly project with the community!
12:30 PM – Time for some important phone calls. I touch base with the mayors of Millcreek and Holladay to coordinate ahead of our upcoming Uni ed Police Department (UPD) budget meeting. As a UPD board member, it’s vital that Midvale holds a scally sound position. We all agree to cap any potential budget increase at 5% for scal year 2026.
2:00 PM – We gather to bid farewell to our RDA Director, Cody Hill, as he embarks on a new job in Provo. I crack a few jokes about the terrible mistake he’s making and remind him that if things don’t pan out down south, there will always be a spot for him in Midvale. Cody’s work has left an indelible mark on Main Street’s recent successes.
3:00 PM – Finally, a quick break at home for lunch. I attempt to enjoy a sandwich, but Nova, my mischievous shih tzu (Midvale’s uno cial mascot and chaos agent), has other ideas. She swipes a bite. I let her have it. She’s earned it.
Salt Lake County Animal Services
3:30 PM – Back to City Hall for a quick check-in with senior sta on the UPD budget. We’re feeling more optimistic than we did a few weeks ago, but we all agree—5% is the absolute maximum increase the city can absorb for Fiscal Year 2026.
4:00 PM – Head to Beans & Brews for a quick co ee catch-up with a good friend. Life’s been so hectic we haven’t seen each other in months, and we make the most of an hour-long chat. A ca einated mayor is a productive mayor!
5:00 PM – One last check-in with city sta before the evening’s city council meeting. No new crises to report—a welcome win this Tuesday!
6:00 PM – Dinner with the city council and sta , followed by an exciting presentation from Torus, a group developing a renewable energy project on the CHG Healthcare campus. More details on that soon!
6:30 PM – The city council meeting kicks o , as always, with the Pledge of Allegiance. We hear from UPD Chief April Morse, get an update from the Arts Council, honor our brave re ghters who helped battle the California wild res, and surprise Councilmember Billings with a Cameo birthday message from her favorite Broadway actor. (Nailed it.)
The 4-hour meeting itself is lively, covering everything from a new townhome project on State Street to changes in our bulky waste program. We end with a closed session to discuss a potential real estate transaction. Stay tuned—big things are on the horizon!
10:45 PM – I nally leave City Hall and head home, just as the snowstorm kicks into high gear. Luckily, I’m driving tonight—too cold, too late, and way too windy for walking.
11:30 PM – Bedtime at last. As I’m dozing o , I feel Nova’s eyes boring into me. She’s standing on the bed, silently communicating her message: “One last bathroom break before bed, Dad!” With a sigh, I layer up and head back out into the blizzard. It’s clear who runs this household.
12:00 AM – 6:30 AM – Dreaming of a peaceful Midvale, where the streets are pothole-free, the sidewalks clear of snow, the budget expertly balanced, and everyone feels safe and supported. Even on the busiest, craziest days, this is still the best job in the world. I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again … hopefully without Nova stealing my lunch!
Adopt a Shelter Pet
In 2024, Salt Lake County Animal Services welcomed 6,926 animals into the shelter, with 2,449 nding new homes through adoption. If you’re considering adding a pet to your loving family, please consider adoption as your rst choice. The most compelling reason to adopt is the opportunity to save a pet’s life. Choosing a shelter pet gives them a second chance and contributes to breaking the cycle of pet overpopulation.
We need families and individuals to adopt a pet and help free up some of our kennel space for the stray pets that come in every day. Visit our website at AdoptUtahPets.org to explore our adoptable pets or come see us Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm to meet your new furry best friend. Our friendly Adoption Team is here to help nd the perfect pet match for you! The adoption pro-
cess includes low-cost adoption fees, all pets available for adoption will already be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and will even go home with a new leash and collar.
Salt Lake County Animal Services provides a diverse range of highly adoptable pets, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles, and birds. Our collection includes various cat and dog breeds, covering di erent ages, genders, and personalities. The diverse selection ensures there’s a perfect match for every potential adopter.
Questions about adoptions? Email: Adoptions@slco.org
In The Middle of Everything
Everything You Need to Know About Midvale City Government Spending & Redevelopment
Want to know how Midvale City carefully manages its funds to serve the community? Here’s a simple guide to where our funding comes from and how we put every dollar to work for you!
GENERAL FUND
Our General Fund is supplied through property and sales tax. It covers the costs of rst responders, street maintenance, park upkeep, and general government activities. We manage around $25 million in revenue and spending, and almost half of that goes to our police o cers.
The state and federal governments closely monitor our budget. We are accountable for every penny that comes in and goes out of our bank account. We also have third-party nancial auditors double-check our nances every year.
Midvale City is home to 36,000 people. Your government is run by 90 people. Many of our sta do the work of two or three positions because we want to make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely.
PROPERTY TAXES
Businesses and homeowners pay a small percentage of their property’s worth each year to taxing agencies. Sever-
al agencies collect taxes through the payments you make, including the county, school district, mosquito abatement, library, and, of course, the city. (For a complete list of where your property tax money goes, consult your property tax bill, which is typically distributed in July each year.) Midvale City only collects a small portion of the property tax you pay.
REDEVELOPMENT AREAS - RDA
A Redevelopment Area, also known as an RDA, operates with a separate budget from the city’s General Fund. Funding often comes from partner taxing agencies through a method called Tax Increment Financing (TIF). These other agencies pledge a small percentage of their increased revenue from the project area. Money is bonded upfront, and the increased tax revenue from partners pays back the bond. RDA money can only be spent on RDA projects and cannot be used in the General Fund.
MAIN STREET COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT AREA
You may have noticed improvements on Main Street. Several years ago, the Main Street area was declared “blighted,” meaning it was deteriorating and wouldn’t improve on its own.
In 2015, the Main Street Project was designated as a Community Development Project Area (CDA) by the City Council. Since then, Midvale sta and Council have been planning an “ecosystem” of complementary businesses, residential areas, parking, and lighting to make Main Street a destination that could be active all hours of the day. This includes beautifying the environment with murals, transforming the old museum into an art house, keeping the theater space active, and encouraging small businesses and low-income housing investments.
HOW WE WORK TO SERVE YOU
Midvale’s city government works hard to balance spending and improvements. Through careful planning, CDAs, and partnerships with developers, the city is able to improve areas like Main Street without taking money away from important city services. The goal is to create a thriving community with businesses that support your hometown and make Midvale a great place to live.
All of our nancial records are available to the public and we encourage you to review them. As always, if you have any questions please contact Midvale City Hall or your council representative.
Reviving Main Street: e Transformation of Midvale’s Arts & Culture District
Main Street, Midvale – Once a lively and vibrant destination, it slowly faded into neglect, crumbling with each passing year. The government word for this is “blight,” and Midvale’s Main Street t the de nition perfectly.
Then came Nate Rockwood. Rockwood, now the Assistant City Manager of Midvale, was hired in 2020 to help revitalize Main Street. His Master’s Thesis focused on Main Streets, and his early career took him across the U.S. to study thriving and drowning examples alike. When he saw Midvale’s Main Street, Rockwood thought, “Someday, somebody is going to come tell them how to make that work. It was such a rough, uncut gem that needed the right polish.” That person ended up being himself.
But, the only credit he wants is “to see people sitting and enjoying the space, and people taking pictures with the murals.”
The revitalization started with an investment in public art. Since 2021, Midvale has hosted a Mural Festival, which by the end of June this year will bring over 50 murals within six blocks.
Small business loans and restoration grants boost businesses that work together for a cohesive, comfortable, and exciting environment. “There is no one ‘anchor,’ but The Pearl on Main is close,” Rockwood said. “It’s a historic theatre that has a mix of movie nights, events, local band performances, and more.” The Pearl boasts a sel e-worthy facade, with Edison bulbs and sparkle in the concrete sidewalk.
The variety of local shops, cozy cafes, and delicious dining options o er entertainment, opportunity, and memories for hours on end. Cactus and Tropicals, housed in the former
Vincent Drug (famously featured in The Sandlot), opens into a lush greenhouse o ering a wide variety of plants, oral arrangements, and home décor. It’s also a beautiful venue for weddings and special events. Next door, The Bambino features artisanal wood- red pizza, known for its delicious pies and cozy ambiance. Tres Gatos Co ee o ers a perfectly brewed cup of co ee at this charming café. Stop by El Potrero for some groceries, then head to Señor Pollo for avorful, mouthwatering chicken plates and more. If you’re in the market for a tattoo, the street o ers a few options with skilled artists to help create custom designs that last a lifetime.
Adding to the vibrancy of Main Street is The Midvale Main Art House, which aims to amplify the cultural richness of Midvale by nurturing local talent and celebrating artists. By repurposing an existing City building for a ordable art
studios and community events, the Art House has become a unique community asset not readily provided by the market. Six studio artists currently reside in the Art House, and they welcome you to visit during open hours to view their artwork, witness the creative process, and participate in various events and workshops.
Another local gem is Rebel Paw, a small business dedicated to creating stylish bandanas and handcrafted culinary delights for four-legged companions. This unique pet brand brings a touch of charm and creativity to Main Street, catering to pet owners looking for high-quality, locally made accessories and treats.
“All the little elements add up to make something special,” Rockwood explains. “The businesses complement each other. On their own, they might struggle, but in the context of all the other elements, it works.”
Main Street is crafted intentionally to be a place that attracts people with di erent interests during all hours of the day. The future will continue to bring improvements, spurred by Midvale City’s Redevelopment Project. We are encouraging one-of-a-kind establishments, assisting property owners in renovating historic buildings, creating a unique destination space for Salt Lake Valley visitors, but most importantly, Midvale residents. We want to strengthen the connection between Main Street and the surrounding areas by expanding housing and employment opportunities.
Main Street is governed by a ‘form-based code’ that en-
APRIL 2025 CITY NEWSLETTER
MIDVALE. UTAH. GOV
Opening this summer, Midvale’s new Food Truck Plaza will breathe life into an underused space, transforming it into a vibrant gathering hub. Eachweek, food trucks will line the north end of City Hall on Main Street, o ering diverse cuisines from wood- red pizza to freshly brewed co ee, and everything in between.
“We’re adding some pizazz to City Hall,” said Mayor Dustin Gettel.
Not only will it add life to the north end of Main Street, it is also a strategic piece in the overall Main Street puzzle.
“It’s something to separate Main Street from Holden,” said Nate Rockwood, Assistant City Manager. “It’s also a vibrant pop of color to draw from the rest of Main Street.”
Nine hook-up stations will eliminate the usual noise and heat from generators that usually accompany food trucks. Seating is available on the north and south side of City Hall allowing ample space for diners. Both areas feature shade for the summer heat and ambient lighting for late-night dining. It will be a perfect place to relax, enjoy a meal, and socialize with neighbors.
The Food Truck Plaza will be more than just a place to eat—it’s a community destination designed to bring people together. With its lively atmosphere, diverse food o erings, and welcoming envi-
New Food Truck Plaza in Midvale to Add Flavor to Main Street I I DON'T BE THE
ronment, it will be a central hub for locals and visitors alike. On days when food trucks aren’t present, the plaza o ers a peaceful retreat for Main Street visitors to take a break, enjoy a cup of co ee, or simply unwind while appreciating the surrounding art.
As the Midvale Main Street project continues to unfold, this new addition plays a key role in attracting visitors to the whole street and adding a touch of excitement to the heart of the city.
MAIN STREET CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
courages housing intermixed with retail on the top oors. Midvale is determined to make this housing inclusive and truly a ordable for those who meet low-income housing qualications.
Mayor Dustin Gettel has been on the City Council since the shift on Main Street began.
“We want to make Main Street and The Pearl a destination where you can go and spend a few hours,” Gettel said. “I grew up in a small town where we got dressed up and drove to Main Street. We’re getting to that point now.”
Gettel keeps a close ear to public opinion and talks to residents regularly. “Some have been here 60-70 years. It’s exciting to them too, for the most part. They’re very excited about the changes even with growing pains with construction.”
The next phase to open is the food truck plaza on the north end of City Hall, with electricity hookups for the trucks and shaded seating for the guests. Parking garages are going up – an incredible feat for a place that once barely had foot tra c now requires a ve-story parking garage to accommodate visitors.
We are excited for the continued growth of this destination Main Street. With festivals, food truck nights, new businesses, homes, art, and improvements, Main Street will become a vibrant place for visitors and, most importantly, the Midvale community.
