Highland City Council Preview for 9 Nov 2021

As of Friday, Nov 5th there were 127 ballots left to be counted out of 4,752 that had been received by the county. Below are the results as of Friday:

Thanks to those who participated in the political process and voted! Our turnout was nearly 40%, which is above average for municipal elections in Highland. Click here to view recent municipal election turnout info and  click here to view the latest election results.

For Tuesday’s council meeting there are a number of interesting items on the agenda including:

Meet with the Mayors – September 2021

Below is a video recording of a discussion on current and future issues facing Highland City with the current mayor, Rod Mann, and next year’s mayor, council member Kurt Ostler.

Highland City Council Preview for 7 Sept 2021

Forrest Gump fans will appreciate the “2-Minute Tuesday” video summary of the  the Aug 17th council meeting. Don’t forget to watch the trailer at the end. As usual, it is entertaining.

Here are what I believe are the more interesting agenda items on the city council agenda:

• Staff will share an update on pressurized irrigation water use.
• Council member Kurt Ostler will give an update on Dry Creek Lake.
• Boyer will provide an update on their development south of Lone Peak High School (Ridgeview). Those interested in the project will find it interesting. Costa Vida and Arby’s fans will be happy to know these two restaurants will be included in the commercial area.
• Staff will discuss the process for bidding out Mountain Ridge Park.

Highland City Council Preview for 17 August 2021: Mitchell Hollow Trail, Run Club …

Below is the most recent “2-Minute Tuesday” video from Utah’s Highlander summarizing the Aug 3rd council meeting. The City Council and Mayor let down their hair a did a little celebrating for Fling Week. This video is fun and includes some highlights from the Fling! Note, decorations were courtesy of Suzanne Mann and the Highland Fling Baby Celebration - which was held in the council room earlier in the day.

Here are what I believe are the interesting agenda items:

• Final plat approval for Sunrise Farms. 10 homes on the north end of the Long Horn field. This is an administrative decision and is on the consent item list because it meets all requirements.
• Mitch Hollow Trail extension funding. The final design was about $218,000 more than the original estimate. The discussion will center around how to fund the increase. There are several options.
• A discussion on the Run Club which is an organized group of youth who run for about 30 minutes in the morning during the summer in Canterbury Circle Park. Can they continue to run there next year? There have been a couple of complaints by residents near the park. Do they need to go elsewhere?

Highland City Council Preview for 3 August 2021

Below is the most recent “2-Minute Tuesday” video from Utah’s Highlander summarizing the July 20th council meeting. The Lions, Tigers, and Bears theme is appropriate.

There are several interesting agenda items including:

• Approval of an additional office building on Sunset Drive and Highland Blvd
• Resolution to put a RAP tax on the ballot this fall.
• Discussion of how ARPA funds may be used.
• Discussion on garbage cans and doggie bags in city parks.

2021 Highland City Survey Overview and Responses to Comments

This year we had the highest number of survey respondents since we started the surveys. Thank you to those who participated. Your responses really do impact decisions. Nearly half of those who submitted a survey provided written comments (631 out of 1270).

 

The top three issues based on the % of comments made were:

Highland City Council Preview for 20 July 2021: Finalize Orphan Property Sale Resolution, Urban Deer Program Renewal

Below is the most recent “2-Minute Tuesday” video from Utah’s Highlander summarizing the July 6th council meeting. Fireworks were definitely on display and I guess that goes with the season..

There are several interesting agenda items including:

• PI Usage report
• Open Space maintenance update
• Urban Deer Program Renewal
• Review and approve initial orphan property sales
• Discussion of RAP tax which is 0.1% sales tax that can be used to fund Recreation, Arts, and Parks. In Highland’s case this money would be used to fund parks and trails.

Highland City Council Preview: July 6, 2021

I love the ending of the 2-Minute Tuesday summary of our last council meeting. We nearly had another highly qualified candidate for mayor

The most interesting items on the evenings agenda from my point of view are:

• the work session discussion with DR Horton regarding the development of their property on the NE side of Micron (now Texas Instruments).
• the discussion of options for the all-abilities playground to be constructed as part of Mountain Ridge Park.

Commemorating the Birth of our Nation and State

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; … And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” —Declaration of Independence by the thirteen united States of America, July 4, 1776

Highland City Council Preview: June 15, 2021 – 2021/22 Budget, Designation of Disposable Properties

Are you a Footloose fan? Then you’ll enjoy this 2-Minute Tuesday review of our June 1st, 2021 meeting. I didn’t know Kurt and Tim were such skilled dancers :)

This council meeting includes the following agenda items:

• Recognition of Scott Sumner (outgoing LPHS principal), Rhonda Bromley (former LPHS principal), and Larry Mendenhall (former member of the Planning Commission and City Council).
• Adoption of the 2021-22 Budget.
• Designation of disposable properties.

Highland City Council Preview: 1-Jun-2021

Below is the most recent “2-Minute Tuesday” video from Utah’s Highlander summarizing the May 18th council meeting. It features scenes from the Lord of the Rings and Guardians of the Galaxy. This one got a good chuckle out of me.

This council meeting includes the following agenda items:

• A pressurized irrigation water update from staff.
• A legislative update from our state representative Brady Brammer.
• Approval of the final road maintenance contracts for this year.
• Formalization of the rules and processes relative to disposing of orphan property. Note, the specific parcels to be disposed of this year will be discussed and approved at a future council meeting.

Highland City Council Preview: 18-May-2021

Below is the most recent “2-Minute Tuesday” video from Utah’s Highlander summarizing the May 4th council meeting. Fans of the movie Caddyshack will especially appreciate this edition.

There are several interesting agenda items including:

• A proposed increase to the culinary water fee.
• Proposed changes to the city fence code.
• A resolution to start the process for putting a RAP tax on the ballot this fall.
• Approval of this year’s road rehabilitation contract

Highland East-West Connector History

This post was originally developed to support a May 26, 2016 with Representative Kennedy and Senator Dayton, where the East-West Connector road was be discussed. As the road was opened on May 15th I’ve updated the document to reflect the important milestones since 2016 that led to the completion of the project. 

For over 40 years an East-West Corridor road has been a part of Highland’s Master Plan. The 1980 Master Street Plan below shows two alternate routes (highlighted in yellow).

Civility in Politics

I wrote the following regarding civility in politics nearly eleven years ago (July 19, 2010). It is probably more relevant today than it was then. The lessons I learned apply not only to elections but also to the day in day out battles over issues. Civility does not mean compromising on principles but does mean listening, being willing to see things from another’s point of view, looking for common ground, and often taking the high road when opponents don’t.

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It has been about a month since the primary election, and I feel settled enough to have a good mental review of my experience. Even though the candidate I worked to support lost I would do it all again. Of course, there are things I would do differently. It would be sad if this were not the case because that would mean I learned nothing. Let me share with you some of the positives.

Highland City Council Preview: 4-May-2021

Here's the most recent two-minute Tuesday video from our council meeting on 4/20. For those of us who are not “hip” 420 is a noun which is used to refer to marijuana or to the act of smoking marijuana (eg. "a 420-friendly hotel").

For Tuesday’s meeting there are several interesting agenda items including:

• Tentative budget approvals for the city and Lone Peak Public Safety District. The final budget is generally on the agenda on the first meeting in June.
• A preliminary plat for Sunrise Farms - 13.57 acres located on the north side of the “long horn” property which is across the street from the city cemetery.
• A change in nuisance ordinances relative to noise. The change will make our code more consistent and more enforceable.

Highland City Council Preview: 20-Apr-2020

For tonight’s meeting there are a number of interesting agenda items including:

• 2021 Highland City Survey results
• Review of open space and orphan property disposal parcels
• RAP Tax discussion
• Park maintenance building status update

Highland City Council Agenda Preview for 30-Mar-2021

Here’s a link to the video overview of our previous council meeting by Utah’s Highlander. For tonight’s meeting there are a number of interesting agenda items including:

• Millhaven Development Agreement
• Mountain Ridge Park
• Equestrian Center Park cost estimates
• 2021-22 Budget Initial Presentation

2020 Highland City Newsletter Mayor’s Messages

Below are my city newsletter messages from 2020. Let me know if there are items you’d like me to cover in 2021 or if you have any suggestions for other content in our monthly newsletter. You can find city newsletters on our website by clicking here.

2020 Highland Living Magazine Mayor’s Messages

The following are my messages in the Highland Living magazine for 2020. This magazine is delivered free to all single family residences in Highland and is published by Best Version Media. These messages tend to be less newsy than my messages in the newsletter.

January 2020 Highland Living Magazine

“What are the sources, then, of that state of mind which supports civilization? There are but two sources, education and religion. From them are derived the teachings of science necessary to give the requisite technical skill and moral ideals sufficient to support and advance civilization.”—Governor Calvin Coolidge, Amherst College Alumni Dinner, New York City, November 27, 1920

Governor Coolidge, who later served as President of the United States (1923-1929), also commented in his speech at the Amherst College Alumni Dinner, “What virtue would there be in choosing the good unless thereby the evil was rejected? There are evil forces at work now. … They can always be recognized by a direct appeal to selfishness and nothing else.”

Highland City Council Agenda Preview for 16-Mar-2021

Once again Utah’s Highlander put together an excellent summary of our previous meeting.The title of the video is “Pooh Minute Tuesday.” It is worth watching. If you missed last weeks “Meet with the Mayor” you can watch below. I review the results of the January Community Center feasibility survey and begin responding to comments in completed city surveys. The video lasts over an hour. The Utah’s Highlander video is definitely more enjoyable and only lasts a few minutes.