In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
The Heart of the Matter
MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall Finance/Utilities Court City Attorney’s Office City Recorder/Human Resources Community Development Public Works Ace Disposal/Recycling Midvale Historical Museum Midvale Senior Center SL County Animal Services Police Dispatch Unified Fire Authority Fire Dispatch Communications
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MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Robert Hale Email: Rhale@midvale.com
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CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Quinn Sperry Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Heidi Robinson Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: bbrown@midvale.com District 5 - Dustin Gettel Email: dgettel@midvale.com 801-567-7200 801-567-7202 801-567-7202 801-567-7212 801-567-7207 801-567-7265 801-567-7202 801-567-7213 801-567-7246 801-567-7235 801-256-2575 801-567-7231 801-567-7208 801-567-7228 385-468-9769
EMERGENCY OR DISASTER CONTACT Public Works Fire Dispatch – Unified Fire Authority Midvale Police Precinct or Police Dispatch Unified Police Department EMERGENCY
CITY NEWSLETTER By Mayor Robert Hale
back in a tidal wave. If you are waiting for approvals or plan reviews, please be patient. Thank you, thank you. Later this year data from the US Census 2020 will begin to be shared with the State, Salt Lake County and Midvale. Then in 2022, changes will be made in various levels of government and government funding reflective of that new data. We should all expect government will get incrementally closer to the governed, as a result. Big changes? No. Perhaps a block or two will switch districts in how these are represented in City Council, County Council, State Representative, State Senate, or less so in the House of Representatives. Now, let me address a potential issue we face as a society in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake: Water. If you and your family have lived here for generations, or you just moved into Our Town, you know already that water is an engine that keeps our place habitable. It has never been in excess but a very short time. It has been in shortage F O R E V E R ! No different this year, either. Be conscientious as an individual, a family, a home owner, an apartment renter, a business owner, in short – a water user. We all share the water that is laid down as flakes of snow, as raindrops, or percolates up from a deep well after passing through substrata for perhaps decades. Once it is turned into wastewater, it won’t be back soon as the clean fresh sparkling water we frequently take for granted. The mantra: Use what you need, but need what you use, is never truer than now! Happy Mother’s Day. Happy Memorial Day! Congratulations to our graduates – You did it!
2021 Midvale Harvest Days Confirmed — SAVE THE DATES
WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Reserving the Bowery Permits GRAMA requests Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Property Questions Cemetery Water Line Breaks Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti
Life is frequently three steps forward and one or two in reverse. The net progress is forward, but it takes perseverance and a bit of retrenchment to stay the course. Headwinds often blow harder than expected. Sailors pay little mind – they just adjust the tac so that the destination is not lost to sight – it just takes a little longer to arrive. As a city government, this is a principle that is kept in mind, for it is frequent that goals are set, headwinds increase, goal timing is adjusted until, finally, achievement! As this City grows, it is very easy to visualize an ideal future that includes parks in every neighborhood, bicycle lanes on every street, a police car just around the corner when needed, preservation of every historical amenity, convenient retail stores, convenient bus and transit stops to take us to our desired destinations, etc., etc. The weightier matters come with preparation for such desired features. Sufficient subsurface infrastructure must be planned and built that include sewers, water, storm drain, UTOPIA fiberoptics. Our Community Development Department is very busy these days with plans and inspections of all that has been on the drawing boards of homeowners, business owners, developers, the City itself, and other government entities. The City Council has also been taxed recently with one Council meeting in April in session until 11:58 p.m. The slowdown during the pandemic’s height has not slowed down the growth in our economy – it has all come roaring
MAY 2021
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For more than 80 years, Midvale has come together to celebrate the harvest of friendship and community found in the middle of everything. “While we always cherish this annual celebration, this year is particularly pertinent by the ongoing pandemic, whose dwindling seems finally in sight - though the view is still obscured by hills and coming in a bit foggy,” said Mayor Robert Hale. “Harvest Days is a wonderful opportunity to safely gather to celebrate what makes Midvale such a wonderful and connected community.” The Harvest Days Festival will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2021. The festival will be kicked off by the Midvale Harvest Days Parade that starts at 10:00 a.m. at Copperview Elementary and ends at Midvale City Park. The festival will continue in the park with loads of activities sure to please the entire family. The amphitheater will be busy throughout the day with DJ Cooper Brown who will have fun activities for the entire family, and we have a lineup of local talent who will perform on stage. The vendor market will include businesses who are selling a variety of unique products and showcasing their services; and the incredible food trucks will be sure to tempt you! In addition to the Festival, the Harvest Days celebrations include the annual Neighborhood Block Parties, free Bingo Night and more. Visit www.MidvaleCity.org/HarvestDays to stay up to date on the festivities that are planned.
In The Middle of Everything
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Midvale’s Main Street: A Precious Metal Needing Restoration Very few, if any, historic main streets in Utah are as well preserved as Midvale’s. Several buildings that exist today have changed little since first constructed in the early 1900s. These buildings sprung up to house businesses, banks, and restaurants, which supported the smelter business’ operations and employees. While the smelting industry boomed, so did Midvale’s Main Street. As the industry declined, so did private investment in Main Street. The construction of the two interstates, I-15 and I-215, isolated Main Street and discouraged major redevelopment from occurring. This isolation preserved Main Street’s character, look, feel, and charm. Walking down Main Street, one can see the city’s history preserved in a unique and authentic way. The isolation that preserved Main Street also led to the appearance of neglect. Several buildings have been condemned due to age and lack of reinvestment. The infrastructure needed for growth and expansion is missing. As a result, Midvale has been hiding a precious metal beneath layers of dust and tarnish for several decades. PLANS, STUDIES, AND BUDGETS Over the past seven years, Midvale City and its redevelopment agency have been working to remove that dust and tarnish, restore the area, and allow Midvale’s history, character, and charm to glimmer and shine once again. These efforts began with the creation of a Community Development Area (CDA) and an accompanying CDA plan. The CDA allows the city to raise funds earmarked for development of a specific area. The city then developed a small area plan which outlines how to guide the successful development of Main Street. The adoption of the small area plan was followed up by of a form-based code specific to the Main Street Area. The form-based code ensures that future development along Main Street contributes to the look and feel the city hopes to maintain. Finally, the city’s redevelopment agency adopt-
ed a revised budget for the CDA which highlighted the fiscal and economic impacts redevelopment would have. PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES To remove tarnish from silver, an effective solution includes water, vinegar, and baking soda. Midvale’s City Council has been developing effective solutions with staff to restore Main Street. To address the infrastructure related problems, the solution involves an in-depth infrastructure analysis, public funding, and private partnerships. An engineering firm assisting the city with an in-depth infrastructure analysis is nearly finished. For public funding, the CDA has already received pledges of financial support from Canyons School District, the City, and Unified Fire Service Area. Negotiations are progressing with Salt Lake County and the water districts. The city is in the process of evaluating possible private partnerships. City Council and staff are also developing a solution to address a lack of private investment within the Main Street Area. The solution for this is twofold. One: Develop a program for business owners to obtain low interest revolving loans. Two: Create a program that supports developers willing to build a second or third story within the Main Street Area and dedicate a portion of their development to affordable housing. Finally, a crucial solution required to restore Main Street is developing and enhancing its position as an arts and culture district. Several arts-centric businesses and organizations already exist along Main Street. The city believes that by leveraging what is already there, enhancing it with public art,
Ranked Choice Voting According to the Utah Ranked Choice Voting website, www.UtahRCV.com, Ranked Choice Voting is a nonpartisan electoral reform that gives voters the freedom to rank candidates in order of choice. Instead of choosing ONE candidate, ranked choice voting allows voters to rank all candidates according to their preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). In each round of Ranked Choice Voting, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated. When a voter’s number one choice is eliminated, their second choice is included in the count for the second round. This process continues until the final round. Some think that ranked choice voting sounds complex when first hearing about it, but the process has proven to be both simple and intuitive while at the same time creasing voter and candidate engagement and ensuring “a more fair representation in election outcomes.” Below is a chart that illustrates what ranked choice voting looks like.
creating an arts center, and supporting the development of additional art-centric outlets will secure Midvale’s Main Street as a thriving arts district. A vibrant and attractive arts district will provide Midvale residents with a beautiful amenity and attract visitors from around Salt Lake and Utah counties. REAL GOLD DOES NOT FEAR THE MELTING POT Midvale’s Main Street was once the city’s center of culture, commerce, and activity. Through luck and circumstance, Main Street has been preserved. The city will soon be restoring Main Street through a concerted effort from private developers, nonprofits, the city, and other local taxing entities. The redevelopment efforts aimed at Main Street will restore it in a way that provides Midvale with a sense of place and an arts and culture district, while maintaining its rich historic value. Visit www.MidvaleCity.org/MidvaleMainStreet to stay up to date on the progress!
MAY 2021 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Midvale City 2021 Municipal Election During the May 4, 2021 City Council meeting, the Mayor and City Council will consider using Ranked Choice Voting in the City’s 2021 municipal election. Earlier this year the Utah Legislature approved a bill that allows more cities to try ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates by preference instead of only picking one candidate for a position. Voters submit ballots ranking their first and second choice, and, if there are more candidates, third, fourth, and so on down the line (See Ranked Choice Article for more information about the electoral system.) Ranked Choice Voting will be discussed at the May 4, 2021 City Council meeting which starts at 7:00 p.m. at Midvale City Hall. The Council’s decision will be posted on the City’s website www.MidvaleCity.org/Elections on May 5, 2021. If approved, the City would implement a communications plan to educate residents about the new process. Ranked Choice Voting does not include a primary election. So, the Declaration of Candidacy submission deadline would change. Please review the summary below: OPEN SEATS In accordance with UCA 10-3-301, notice is hereby given that the following elected City positions are to be voted upon in the Midvale City 2021 Municipal Election. The open seats are four-year terms: Mayor – At Large District 4 – Council Member District 5 – Council Member TRADITIONAL VOTING (VOTE BY MAIL) • Declaration of Candidacy Submission Deadline o June 1 through 7, 2021 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) o 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in City Recorder’s Office o Deadline: No later than 5:00 p.m. on June 7, 2021 • Election Dates o Municipal Primary Election Day August 10, 2021 o Municipal General Election November 2, 2021 RANK CHOICE VOTING • Declaration of Candidacy Submission Deadline o August 10 through 17, 2021 (excluding Saturday/Sunday) o 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in City Recorder’s Office o Deadline: No later than 5:00 p.m. on August 17, 2021 • Election Date o No primary election o Municipal General Election November 2, 2021 CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY Interested candidates must be a registered voter, resident of Midvale City for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of the election; and resident of the district candidate is running for 60 days prior to the date of the election. Please direct questions to the City Recorder at randreason@ midvale.com. ELECTION RELATED LINKS: Utah State Site: http://vote.utah.gov S.L. County Clerk: http://clerk.slco.org
Lost & Found Pets: Where to Begin Salt Lake County Animal Services If your dog escapes from your yard, bolts out the front door, or goes missing while you’re on vacation, here’s where to start looking and posting. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS LOST: • Visit your local shelter and surrounding shelters within 24 hours. Keep returning. All lost pets that come into Salt Lake County Animal Services are listed at www. adoptutahpets.org. Email a photo of your pet and where they went missing to animal@slco.org, and/or call Dispatch to report your missing pet: 801-840-4000. • Post your pet’s photo on social media (ex: Facebook, Nextdoor, KSL), flyers on public bulletin boards and around the neighborhood. Call local veterinary clinics as well. • Look for your pet during the day and at night. Call for your pet and stay in one place long enough for your pet to respond to your call. Organize a search party. • DON’T GIVE UP! HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU FIND A LOST PET: • Lost pets must be reported to local animal control within 24 hours. It’s the law, a shelter is the FIRST place most pet owners look for their missing pet. • If you find this pet in Salt Lake County Animal Services jurisdiction, take it directly to the shelter (511 W. 3900 S.) during business hours (10 AM – 6 PM, Mon-Sat.) If it’s outside of business hours, please call animal control dispatch at 801-840-4000. SLCO Animal Control is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • You can take a picture of that pet and post it on social media (ex: Facebook, Next Door App, KSL) with where you found the animal and that you took it to Salt Lake County Animal Services. • Inquire about our Cat Foster Finder Program. PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR PET GETS LOST: • Make sure your pets have current ID tags and their microchip info is current. All pets in Salt Lake County with a current pet license can receive a free microchip at Salt Lake County Animal Services. Throughout 2021, microchipping and licensing clinics will be held the second Thursday of the month from 2-4 PM at 511 W 3900 S. Questions? Email animal@slco.org.
Midvale City Council Appoints New City Manager
Midvale City officials are pleased to announce that Matt Dahl has been appointed as city manager. Former City Manager Kane Loader retired at the end of March after serving Midvale City for 32 years. The appointment was made official by the Midvale City Council on Tuesday, April 20. The City Council’s confirmation of Mayor Robert Hale’s appointment of Matt Dahl as City Manager was unanimous. Mayor Hale and the City Council members agreed that Matt’s experience, professionalism, and leadership are important in ensuring continuity. “My choice for a new city manager was to select someone who could maintain the inertia and direction that this city has.” said Mayor Robert Hale. ‘We have developed a cadre of staff that is second to none. And I am proud to say that Midvale was recently named the 7th best small city in the nation to start a business. Matt Dahl has been one of the reasons why our city is doing so well.” Matt has 16 years of experience in local government. He began his career in Salt Lake City, where he worked for 13 years, raising from project coordinator in the Redevelopment Agency to Deputy Director of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Division. While in Salt Lake City, Matt managed numerous commercial, housing, and infrastructure projects. Since 2007, he has served in the senior leadership of the Utah Redevelopment Association, which provides technical support for redevelopment administrators and works with legislators to improve redevelopment throughout Utah. Matt began working for Midvale City in 2017. During his time with Midvale, he has served as the Redevelopment Agency Director, Community Development Director, and Assistant City Manager. He also represents Midvale City on the Utah Infrastructure Agency Board and served as a Commissioner on the Utah State Commission on Housing Affordability. Matt expressed appreciation to the Mayor, City Council and city staff. “It is the biggest honor of my professional career to be appointed as city manager to serve such a great community,” said Matt Dahl. “We have a very dedicated, hardworking team at Midvale City. That shows every day. The myriad of challenges that come up would be insurmountable without them.”