Voting in Provo

Election season is underway and we've had a few people asking for more information on voting dates, poll locations, and who the candidates are.

Provo City has a website with the information you need as well as links to the Utah County Election Office where you can request an absentee ballot. Several neighborhoods are hosting "Meet the Candidate" nights. Watch the calendar for one in your area.

The Mayor's blog has also provided videotaped interviews of candidates.

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Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Town Hall Meeting

The Council Office has been hosting a series of budget information booths to help Provo citizens better understand the recently approved Provo City Budget. A Town Hall Meeting is being held on Wednesday, July 29, at the Bullock Room of the Provo Library. The event will begin at 6:00 pm and discussion with City Council members, including a question and answer session, will begin at 7:00 pm.


UPDATE: There were some technical issues at the beginning of the broadcast and viewers were unable to see the initial budget presentation. Here is the presentation (without audio commentary):

Summary of the July 21 Council Meetings

In the Work Session

Joint Meeting with the Airport Board:
The Council met with the Airport Board to discuss the Airport Master Plan, how the airport is doing, and visions for the future. Council Members also wanted to know how they could be supportive of the Board's efforts.

Covey Center for the Arts:
Paul Duerden, Covey Center Manager, was asked to offer the opening prayer for the meeting. Afterward, he presented some information on how the Covey Center is doing and the variety of activities happening there. Over 160 performances were staged in the last fiscal year. The building hosts performing groups, concerts, theatrical productions, art displays, classes, and workshops. Community partnerships are being developed that are mutually beneficial to local performing groups and to Provo City. The Covey Center is also able to attract acts and shows that would normally be at large arenas like the Maverik Center or Energy Solutions Arena.

How Will the Utility Rate Increase Impact Me?

As the City Council has reviewed the Fiscal Year 2016 budget over the past few months, Provo residents have had questions about the utility rate increases that were part of the budget.  Although the budget submitted by the Mayor included a five-year plan for rate increases in several utilities, the Council approved only the first year's increase when passing the budget.

To help Provo residents understand these rate increases, we are providing this calculator to help you estimate your future utility bills using the rates approved in the FY2016 budget. The new rates take effect beginning July 1, 2015, and appear beginning on your July 2015 utility bill. In addition, this calculator estimates your FY2020 monthly utility bill, using the rates proposed for the fiscal year 2020.

Joint Meeting with the Airport Board - July 21, 2015

PROVO MUNICIPAL COUNCIL/ AIRPORT BOARD Work Meeting

11:30 AM, Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Room 310, City Conference Room

351 West Center Street, Provo, Utah

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Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Provo City Council Work Session - July 21, 2015

Agenda  (Times have been added to the ends of the individual agenda items to help you find them in the video.)

Wasatch Neighborhood Parking Permit Program

During the May 19th Work Session, Council Member Kim Santiago presented a proposal for a Wasatch Neighborhood Parking Program to stem some of the issues related with on-street parking in the Wasatch Neighborhood. As required by City Code, that plan proposal was submitted to the Provo City Parking Committee for review.

At the July 7^th Work Session, the Provo City Parking Committee returned to the Council to provide their analysis of the plan and proposed recommendations. After hearing the proposed details of the Wasatch Neighborhood Parking Plan, the Municipal Council passed Resolution 2015-39 indicating their intent to create a permit parking program in the Wasatch Neighborhood at the July 7^th Council Meeting. A final action creating an ordinance will be required to complete the action to implement a parking plan. A public hearing to provide public comment at a hearing held on Tuesday, August 4, 2015, beginning at 5:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers at the City Center Building, 351 W Center St.

A mailing detailing the specifics of the plan was sent to all residents and property owners within the area. Those materials, which outline the specific details of the proposal, can be found below:

More details on the parking permit program

Resolution of intent to create the Wasatch Neighborhood parking permit program

5/19/2015 Work Meeting discussion on the parking permit request

7/7/2015 Work Meeting discussion of the Parking Committee's recommendations

7/7/2015 Council Meeting discussion of the parking permit request (item 7)

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Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Update on the Recreation, Arts, and Parks Tax

The City Council approved the tentative Provo City Budget without including the RAP Tax. Council Members are still studying the options and will make a decision soon on whether or not to have the RAP Tax move forward and be placed on the November ballot. Discussions between the Council and the City Administration are continuing as they consider how the revenues would be spent. Projects pictured here are examples of the types of projects being considered.  Let us know how you would prioritize these projects.

Provo/Orem City Council Joint Meeting - July 16, 2015

Agenda

12:00 PM, Thursday, July 16, 2015

1. Urban Deer Control Program
2. 2000 North Street Annexation/Disconnection
3. RAP Tax and Property Tax
4. People's Lobby

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Comment below (requires Google+ account), on our Facebook page, through our online comment form, or by contacting Council Members directly. Comments/input on items appearing on an upcoming meeting agenda will be compiled and provided to Council Members the day before the meeting. **Note - your comments will be part of the public record.

Ask Us About the Budget

Although the tentative Provo City budget for Fiscal Year 2016 has been approved, we know that people still have questions about it. Several items attracted extra attention during the review process - utility rate increases, a property tax increase, and a proposed recreation, arts, and parks (RAP) tax.

We are hosting several "Council Budget Booths" in the coming weeks at places around Provo and hope you'll stop by to ask questions or just to see more information about what is in the budget. On July 29, we will have a Town Hall Meeting at the Bullock Room in the Provo Library. This will include a panel discussion with Council Members and will be broadcast live via Google Hangouts. Questions for the panel discussion can be submitted in advance on the Council's Facebook page, on Twitter, or through the online form below.

Summary of the July 7 Council Meetings

In the Work Session

Provo People's Lobby:
The inaugural session of the Provo People's Lobby has concluded and Jeff Swift, creator of the project, reported about the process to the Council. One of the student moderators joined Jeff to explain the ups and downs of this first attempt and outlined modifications that will be made to the process in the future. After submitting ideas and deliberating their merits, participants final proposal focused on three ideas aimed toward protecting agriculture and increasing green space in Provo. Council Member Hal Miller has been asked to work with the Sustainability Committee to determine the next steps for the Lobby's recommendations. Another session of the Provo People's Lobby will begin around September and they will be looking for a new group of participants from across Provo.

Provo City Council Work Session - July 7, 2015

Agenda  (After the meeting, times will be added to the ends of the individual agenda items to help you find them in the video.)

Council Members on Parade

While it gets a lot of attention around July 4th for all the Independence Day celebrations, the Freedom Festival holds many events throughout the year. The Grand Parade, of course, pulls in the most people and watching it is a family tradition for many.

We look forward to the opportunity to participate in the parade each year. It's nice to be able to ride through the heart of Provo and see your smiling faces. Thank you for your encouragement and for allowing us to serve you.

Walk the Block - Edgemont

This week we had the opportunity to "Walk the Block" in the Edgemont Neighborhood. Marian Monnahan, Neighborhood Chair, and Sharon Memmott, Vice-Chair, took several Council Members and Council staff around the area to identify opportunities for neighborhood projects and possibilities for neighborhood matching grants. Louise Jorgensen in the Council Office organized this event.