Partnerships That Benefit Draper
As you know, so much of our lives are about relationships. Trust and understanding are the currency of government. People have to be able to take you at your word and have faith and trust that you will stand up and do the right thing even when the press is not good. In local government, good relationships are essential. We work with the county, the state, UTA, UDOT, and other government entities all of the time.
One of my skills is my ability to forge and maintain good working relationships with other leaders. I know how to work with people no matter their political ideology. I know how to build consensus on issues that matter to us.
Throughout my service, I have utilized my experience on these commissions and boards and my time on Utah’s Capitol Hill to secure Draper’s future. For example:
Road Improvements: I secured over $23 million in state and county road money for our city. That took time on Capitol Hill, and it took many years of building good relationships.
Conservation easement to protect our open space: I have negotiated a conservation easement with the Salt Lake County Mayor and County Council to protect our open space (the Suncrest Purchase most of the land is located in Utah County) held in Salt Lake County conservation easement.
I helped secure a brand new 23 million dollar, state-of-the-art aquatics center for our city as an appointed member of the Zoo Arts and Parks (ZAP) Board. I worked with the school district and our city council to put together our bid. That achievement took negotiation, advocacy, and good relationships with everyone involved. It was a highly competitive process, and we were one of the largest projects to gain approval from the board. To win the bid, it required me to convey our project's merits and persuade my fellow board members to vote for Draper City. I know how to negotiate and deal effectively with other leaders.
Prison Site Development: The prison site is our economic future. It will be the single most valuable project developed in our city – ever. It must be planned correctly, and we must be able to benefit from the tax revenues it will generate. From my position on the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, Draper has a front-row seat in the planning of Silicon Slopes. I have us at the table working with the state looking to be their partner and securing our future. This area will also bring considerable tax revenue to help fund our children’s education. The population in our valley is growing and is projected to continue doing so. We are a gateway city, and we need to be proactive to ensure our city isn’t left behind and unable to meet this growth.
I am able to form relationships by serving on the following Boards and Commissions:
Point of the Mountain State Land Authority
UTA Local Advisory Council – Board Member
Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission (Chairman)
Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council
Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC)
WFRC Active Transportation Committee