ISSUES
A Vision for West Jordan
For years developers and stakeholders have approached the city with ideas for a “downtown” on the parcel across Redwood Rd. from City Hall. These have consistently been rejected by the council because they “didn’t fit the vision” for our downtown. I’ve come to realize that the problem is a lack of cohesive vision, and thinking way too small.
Our downtown needs to be larger than just one parcel or one corner. We have to think larger, from Veteran’s Memorial Park all the way to the river. And we have to have big goals. I’m shooting for a downtown that’s going to put West Jordan on the map for good.
Imagine opportunities for urban living, shopping, dining, and entertainment right here in West Jordan. Maybe a year-round farmers market in a town square. Maybe even a huge ferris wheel with enclosed gondolas that operates year round. We can do it, if we get the vision right.
Housing Density
I have fought and will continue to fight to keep density in its place—near high-capacity highways and transportation corridors, and where there’s infrastructure to support it.
Does a thriving downtown district mean more high density zoning? Yes, the downtown vision plan includes density in housing, whether it’s apartments-over-shops, or a residential tower like at City Creek. Downtown is where density makes sense. Dense apartment complexes on the western edge of the city don’t make sense, and there hasn’t been a new one approved in over 5 years.
Budget & Taxes
From 2016-2019, double-digit tax increases and fee increases were becoming normal. It seemed like unforeseen circumstances were always necessitating “emergency action” by the council. This didn’t seem right to me, so I pushed for, and we now have, five year projections for every fund in the budget. This ensures that big emergency rate adjustments are a thing of the past.
I’m proud to say that West Jordan city government is now the third leanest in Salt Lake County, behind only Taylorsville and Millcreek in revenue per capita.
Community Development
It’s crucial that West Jordan plan well for the future. Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and that’s no surprise to the residents of the west side of West Jordan. We need to properly plan for the growth that’s coming, and work today to mitigate the impacts that an increased population will have on the state.
I’ve been working to properly identify the areas of the city that can handle increased growth, and align the definitions and permitted uses in the code with the conditions in the marketplace so that developers, neighbors, and community planners are all speaking the same language.
Parks and Open Space
As residential density increases, it’s crucial that we preserve and protect open spaces for our residents to enjoy. Parks, trails, and fields all play a part in a healthy, vibrant city. I have a track record of preserving and fighting for our open lands, and I led the fight to keep Maple Hills Park from being sold to a developer. Today, the west side of the city has a beautiful, new, 10-acre park that will be a benefit to residents for generations to come. I’ll keep fighting to ensure that our children and grandchildren have a place to play in West Jordan.
Public Safety
The past four years has seen an unprecedented investment in our public safety. For the first time in my 10 years of being involved in city government, we had a fully-staffed police and fire department in 2022. We’ve made the investments now that will help ensure a safe, welcoming city for decades to come.
The work is never finished, however. We have to grow our public safety departments with our population, so that those who would do our residents and visitors harm know that West Jordan is committed to a safe, secure, and free city.
Transportation
I worked hard to secure the funding and approval to install a stop light at 6700 W on 7800 S, improving safety for kids walking to school and for drivers entering and exiting the Maples and Oaks neighborhoods. Today, that intersection is significantly safer with these added improvements.
I also advocated for the additional right turn lane from 7800 S to Mountain View Corridor, helping to ease the congestion on 7800 S during evening rush hour. 7800 S will also be getting its much-needed second travel lane in both directions between 5600 W and U-111 in the next year or so.
Infrastructure
This winter showed us how important it is to plan for a “rainy” (okay, “snowy”) day. During my tenure on the city council, we’ve increased our snow removal budget and routinely have the clearest, safest streets in the county during and after snow storms. We’ve also made generational investments in water tanks, storm drain systems, and sewer to ensure that our city is ready for the population to come.
Additionally, I represent West Jordan on the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, where I advocate for keeping your taxes and water rates low while providing the necessary infrastructure to make sure you get clean, safe water to drink, shower, and cook with.