JUNE – JULY 2020 I N T HI S I S S UE: Bradburn Brief .............................1 Alta Canyon Sports Center .............4 Sandy City Justice Court ...............1 Public Works Quick Tips ...............4 Park Safety. .................................2 I Am Sandy: Arts Guild Volunteers ..5 Sandy City Fireworks ....................2 Signal Synchronization Project.......5 Parks & Recreation.......................3 Dogs in the Watershed .................5 River Oaks Golf Course .................4
Connect With Us! sandy.utah.gov/citizen-connect
BRAD BUR N BRIEF Dear Sandy Resident, The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on all of our lives and budgets. While we don’t know the full effect as of yet, the FY 2020-2021 Sandy City budget contains forecasts on tax revenue based on historical and future modeling data. It is the expectation of economists that the economy will rebound but it is prudent for the city to budget conservatively during this time. The $117-million proposed budget projects a 1.9% decline in tax revenue from last year. You will find the proposed budget scaled down with emphasis on cost savings while maintaining the high level of services upon which Sandy residents rely. You can read the budget in its entirety at sandy.utah.gov/budget. Projects that do not have additional funding sources will be delayed until next year and each department will look for ways to spend below their budgeted amount. Two of the city’s bonds were paid off this year which will provide some relief. Sandy City has consistently dedicated a portion of ongoing revenue to a rainy-day fund. It is the goal of the city to maintain the balance of the rainy-day fund by delaying projects and using cost-saving measures. Economic downturns, while difficult, provide government the opportunity to focus on essential services and find ways to streamline and innovate. Sandy City has weathered hard times in the past and I am certain we will emerge from this current situation even better than before. Sandy City’s investment in technology over the last few years has enabled the city and staff to continue to operate at a high level during the pandemic shut down. Remote meetings, electronic processes, and online training have ensured that essential services will continue normally. Throughout this year, Sandy staff members will find new ways to innovate to help the city navigate these tough times. This proposed budget was presented to City Council on May 5, 2020. The council will hold multiple budget hearings during council meetings that will include public comment. The city budget should reflect the priorities of its citizens. If you would like to advocate for the inclusion of other priorities, please participate in council meetings on Tuesday nights and let us know where you think the budget should be improved. The final vote on the FY 2020-2021 budget must be held by June 30, 2020. For updates on changes to city services or event cancellations, visit sandy.utah.gov/coronavirus. Also, don’t forget you can always engage with us at sandy.utah.gov and SandyNow.com and by accessing our social media channels Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @sandycityutah and on YouTube as @sandycityut for regularly updated information. Additionally, please sign up for city alerts at sandy.utah.gov/citizen-connect. You can also send me a direct email at mayor@sandy.utah.gov. It is an honor to serve as your Mayor! Mayor Kurt Bradburn I S S U E # 70
JUNE – JULY 2020
What We Do: Sandy City Justice Court The Sandy City Justice Court is one of three branches of the Sandy City government and presided over by Judge Paul C. Farr. The role of the city’s justice court is to hear cases within its jurisdiction as set forth in the Utah Constitution and Utah Code. Justice Courts have limited Jurisdiction, as opposed to a District Court, which can hear cases from throughout the state. The Sandy City Justice Court is limited to criminal and traffic cases that arose from within the city boundaries and civil cases where either the defendant resides, or the incident occurred within the city. The Justice Court is also limited in the type and severity of the case. For cases classified as criminal or traffic, the Sandy Justice Court can only hear cases that are charged as infractions or Class C or B Misdemeanors. For Civil cases, the justice court is limited to hearing cases considered “Small Claims”, which are money claims where the amount in dispute is under $11,000. Under the direction of the presiding judge, the court’s day-to-day activities are run by 15 court clerks and an administrator. The Court Clerk’s role within the court is to ensure cases are processed and moved according to the rules, laws, and procedures set by the State of Utah and the Sandy City Presiding Judge. One of the main duties of the court clerks is to communicate with parties involved in cases filed at the Sandy City Justice Court, both in-person and over the phone. Clerks at the Sandy Justice Court strive to ensure that all who enter or call the Sandy Justice Court are given the information they need and without delay. The Sandy City Justice Court receives on average 3,000 calls per month and clerks, on average, answer 80% of those calls within 15 seconds. The Sandy City Justice Court works to serve the citizens of Sandy by ensuring that the court’s proceedings are open, impartial, and timely. The justice court processes between 16 to 20 thousand cases per year and works within state-imposed timelines to ensure all cases are processed quickly. In the last five years, clerks have significantly reduced the number of pending cases allowing cases to resolve sooner and trials to be heard without delay. Here at the Justice Court we understand that we serve our community and ensure those who are accused are afforded the full rights under the U.S. and Utah Constitutions. P A G E
1