June 2021
RIVERTON REVIEW Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Highlights & Insights: Mayor’s Proposed Budget By Mayor Trent Staggs Despite considerable challenges and headwinds due to the global pandemic, unfunded state requirements for secondary water metering, and commissioned rate studies that recommended substantial rate increases for culinary and secondary water, I am happy to report that our community has demonstrated an incredible resiliency and your government leaders have found innovative ways to restructure the budget to continue to keep costs low for residents. Here are a few highlights from my proposed budget: • Total budgeted expenditures are $51 million, compared to last year’s $59 million. • I am proposing that all stormwater operational costs be rolled into the General Fund, lowering the stormwater fee for residents to about $1, and using the projected $5 per month savings to shore up our water and sanitation funds for years to come. • Sales tax revenues have grown by 56% since 2016, approaching almost $9.2 million.
• Through reorganization efforts and planned retirements, the city’s full-time employee count has dropped to 160, saving about $1 million from last year, which is the lowest number of employees per thousand residents compared to any city in the region. • Riverton City will receive approximately $5 million from the federal government’s America Rescue Plan. Given the legislation considers investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure as allowable uses, I’ve proposed $1.2 million be used this year to secure a city owned fiber backbone infrastructure. This will save the city money, improve connectivity to city assets, and set up the possibility of providing an open access network to all residents and businesses that can improve costs and availability. • Roadway infrastructure continues to be a top priority, with $900,000 budgeted for asphalt maintenance. In addition, Riverton City will receive $700,000 annually for 15 years for roadway improvements due to the passage of HB244. • This budget includes almost $400,000 to improve existing playgrounds, parking lots, trails and our community center. In addition, increased developerpaid park impact fees will support the addition of four new pickleball courts and one tennis court at Riverton City Park,
RIVERTON REVIEW | JUNE 2021
as well as lighting and field improvements at the CR Hamilton Sports Complex. • During the 2021 legislative session, legislators passed SB199 which requires that cities must meter all secondary water connections, and, by January 2022, “…establish a meter installation reserve for metering installation and replacement projects.” I am proposing a $2.50 charge to each residential connection to help fulfill this unfunded mandate. • I am proposing paying off approximately $4 million in water bonds and eliminating $12 million in future debt liability, using newly available resources potentially to pay for the balance of the secondary water meter project. Let’s not have Riverton residents carrying the entire burden of this state mandated project. • Total monthly utility fees for culinary water, secondary water, sanitation and stormwater are $63 for the average household, which is still the lowest in the region, and less than what most pay for internet service! • The move to our own police department and taxing district continues to show huge property tax savings, approaching $180 per year for the average homeowner.
Through smart planning efforts, our city has proven to weather the past year’s unforeseen challenges. We continue to deliver best-in-class services and keep fees low for our residents. I am grateful for the dedicated work of our City Council. Their demonstrated vision and passion for the city has clearly made an impact. The significant contributions of our employees should also be recognized am grateful for their support and dedication in serving our great residents. I am also grateful for you, our residents, which continue to exemplify and set the standard of what it means to be part of a great community. View the budget at rivertonutah.gov/finance.
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COUNCIL MESSAGE
Keeping Our Traditions Alive MAYOR Trent Staggs tstaggs@rivertonutah.gov 801-208-3129
CITY COUNCIL Sheldon Stewart - District 1 sstewart@rivertonutah.gov 801-953-5672 Troy McDougal - District 2 tmcdougal@rivertonutah.gov 801-931-9933 Tawnee McCay - District 3 tmccay@rivertonutah.gov 801-634-7692 Tish Buroker - District 4 tburoker@rivertonutah.gov 801-673-6103 Claude Wells - District 5 cwells@rivertonutah.gov 801-875-0116
CITY MANAGER David R. Brickey dbrickey@rivertonutah.gov 801-208-3129
CITY OFFICES City Hall.............................. 801-254-0704 Administration.................... 801-208-3129 Animal Control................... 801-208-3108 Cemetery............................ 801-208-3128 Code Enforcement.............. 801-208-3108 Development Services ....... 801-208-3138 Fire Dispatch (UFA)............. 801-743-7200 Justice Court....................... 801-208-3131 Recreation & Events........... 801-208-3101 Police.................................. 385-281-2455 Public Works....................... 801-208-3162 Recorder............................. 801-208-3128 Utility Billing....................... 801-208-3133 Water.................................. 801-208-3164
FIND US ONLINE! @rivertonutahgov www.rivertonutah.gov PAGE 2
By Councilmember Tish Buroker When I was a young mother, one of our family’s cherished traditions was placing our chairs on the sidewalk along Redwood Road in anticipation of the annual Riverton Parade. This was in 1980 when the population of Riverton was 7,000 residents and Redwood Road was a twolane highway. Now it is 2021 and Redwood Road is a seven-lane highway, and there are over 44,000 residents in Riverton. Most of that growth has occurred on the west side of Riverton. How do we maintain tradition and yet recognize and accommodate changes that occur due to growth and the needs and desires of our citizens? We must recognize, change and adapt. Two years ago, the Council made the decision that the long-standing tradition of the parade on Redwood Road would remain. Unfortunately, the new seven-lane highway was not very conducive to supporting Riverton’s tradition of candy throwing, and the parade route was confusing to residents and parade entries. In contrast, in 2018 the parade traveled down 2700 W and 13400 S due to
The 2021 Riverton Town Days Parade route will travel down 2700 and 13400 S. This route has more places for people to park, there were more large grassy areas for people to watch the parade, the beginning and stopping points for the parade are easier to manage, and the traffic is easier to manage.
construction on Redwood Road. Although this was not traditional, it worked very well. There were more places for people to park, there were more large grassy areas for people to watch the parade, the beginning and stopping points for the parade were easier to manage, and the traffic was easier to manage. For these reasons, the parade’s new tradition will be similar. Please watch for the annual Riverton Town Days booklet in your mailbox as well as on social media for the exact parade route. In addition, traditional events such as the rodeo, the car show, flag raising, breakfast, children’s activities, fireworks and more will continue.
Do not forget about the free summer events: Friday Fun Nights will be every Friday from July 16 - August 27. These include food trucks, a summer market and movie in the park. And finally, my personal favorite, the Sunday Concert in the Park series on August 1,8,15 and 22 at 6 p.m. at Riverton City Park, a new tradition of three years. I also encourage residents throughout the city to implement small neighborhood gatherings during the summer to allow neighbors to get to know each other and interact in an informal setting. This is one of the best ways to keep the Riverton small town feel that so many of us “old timers” enjoy and treasure.
Riverton City Events
Visit rivertonutah.gov to find the most recent Riverton City event and meeting information.
UPCOMING CITY MEETINGS
CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSION • Tuesday, June 1 & 15 at 7 p.m. • Thursday, June 10 & 24, 6:30 p.m.
RIVERTON REVIEW | JUNE 2021
PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE
Help Is Available When You Need It By Chief Don Hutson There is a feeling of renewal and excitement as the weather warms and the pandemic loses its momentum, and we look forward to resuming more normal activities after limiting our interactions these past months. Unfortunately, there are many in our community who are having a tougher time “bouncing back.” Life seems to keep beating them up and making it difficult for them to reach their potential. Depression, substance abuse, domestic conflict, and other relationship-destroying behaviors have become all too common. It seems the pandemic exacerbated these issues with some in our community. Members of the Riverton Police Department are often exposed to our citizens at their most vulnerable times. We understand the importance of intervening to maintain public peace and protect everyone involved, including those who may be violating the law. When we encounter citizens in crisis, we have an obligation to act
to resolve the situation. That intervention can take many different forms and may include an arrest, diversion to a recognized program, or referral to one of our many partner entities that provide relevant services. We work very hard to ensure our officers receive appropriate training and are equipped with the tools to handle a variety of situations. As part of this ongoing effort, we have provided all our officers with a hardship relief resources card to be distributed to those who may benefit from the information. The card is a small reference guide containing contact information for many of the organizations which can provide critical services to members of our community who are struggling. These organizations include Volunteers of America, YWCA/Family Justice Center, Valley Behavioral Health, and many more.
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TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS Riverton Police officers have been provided with a hardship relief resources card to be distributed to those who may benefit from the information.
We in the Riverton Police Department want all our citizens to know we are here to help, both as an engaged partner with our community and as an advocate to assist those among us who could use a helping hand. Please reach out to us and give us an opportunity to assist you. We are here for you and look forward to continuing to gain your trust through innovative, community-based policing focused on problem solving.
Riverton City Election Notice
UPDATED
2021 ELECTION
INFORMATION
On December 15, 2020, the Riverton City Council voted to participate in the Municipal Alternate Voting Methods pilot project for the 2021 Municipal Elections. This voting method is better known as Ranked Choice Voting. It eliminates the need for a primary election and pushes back the filing period from June to August. GENERAL ELECTION: Tuesday, November 2, 2021 CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD: August 10-17, 2021 OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION: Mayor, City Councilmembers in District 3 and District 4
rivertonutah.gov/government/elections RIVERTON REVIEW | JUNE 2021
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Riverton Town Days July 1 - 3
• Carnival - July 1 - 4 • Car Show - July 2 • Parade - July 2, 6:30 p.m. • Movie in the Park - July 2, 9:30 p.m.
• Activities for Everyone - July 2 & 3, All Day • Country Mile, 1M, 5K & 10K - July 3, 7 a.m. • Fireworks - July 3, 10 p.m. • Learn more at rivertonutah.gov/towndays
RIVERTON REVIEW
Town Days Rodeo Tickets On Sale Now! • Friday, June 25 & Saturday, June 26, 8 p.m., Riverton Rodeo Arena • Get your tickets early so you don’t miss out at rivertonutah.gov/rodeo. • Tickets are only $9 each and must be purchased online. • Tickets will not be sold at the gate.
Register: Town Day Country Mile Races
Town Days Parade Float Entries
3-Man Arena Sorting Competition
Registration for the Town Days Country Mile 5K, 10K and 1-Mile Races has begun. Register at runnercard.com. Saturday, July 3, 7 a.m. (10K), 7:15 a.m. (5K), 8:30 a.m. (1-Mile)
Applications are now available online for floats in the Riverton Town Days Parade. Floats are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Get details at rivertonutah.gov/towndays. Applications Close: June 14
Riverton Town Days kicks off with the annual 3-Man Arena Sorting Competition. Come watch cowboys and cowgirls work to sort calves. Wednesday, June 23, 7 p.m., Riverton Rodeo Arena. Free Event!
Register: Flag Football
Register: Fall Baseball
Tennis Lessons
Flexible Tennis League
Public Safety Night
Registration for Flag Football ends in August. Children in 1st6th Grade are eligible to participate. Season features 7 games. Register online.
Get your kids age 3-8 years old registered for Riverton City’s Fall Baseball league! Season includes 7 games. Registration closes July 11.
Summer outdoor tennis lessons for beginning to intermediate players who are looking to learn stroke development, conditioning and most of all to have FUN.
Riverton City’s flexible tennis league is for all abilities, with one match played per week. Register and get more information online.
Riverton Police Department and Unified Fire Authority have a great family night with food, games and fun planned for Public Safety Night!
• League Begins Tuesday, September 7.
• League Begins Tuesday, August 3
• Offered Monthly, June-August
• Wednesday, August 4, 6-8 p.m., Riverton City Park
• $40 (Four 45 minute lessons) • Ages 5 to adult
For details or registration information, visit rivertonutah.gov/recreation PAGE 4
RIVERTON REVIEW | JUNE 2021