Cottage Meeting

I had a great time visiting the Riverside Neighborhood last night.  Special thanks to Kim Scoville for hosting and Jeff Rust and Gary Winterton for being the co-hosts.

From left to right: Jeff Rust, Ryan Frandsen, Councilman Gary Winterton.

Coming Together

Me with former Neighborhood Chair Kristi Jensen

Over the weekend my family and I helped clean up some of the flood damage in Lion's Park.  The huge storm Provo experienced several weeks ago left the west-side stair case covered in rocks, mud, and dirt.

It was tough work for sure!  When we arrived at 9am, there were just a handful of volunteers and the task looked daunting.  We were met at the bottom of the hill by a volunteer coordinator from Parks and Recreation.  She directed us to some 5 gallon buckets that people were already starting to fill half full with rocks and dirt that had eroded from the hillside to the bottom of the hill and steps. We then had to carry those buckets up the steps and deposit the dirt and rocks into the different trenches that the water had carved out of the hill.

With just a handful of early arrivals we started carrying the buckets up the hill.  It was heavy and hard work.  My kids together with some other children, would take the buckets that had been carried up the steps, dump them in the trenches then run them back down the hill to be refilled and carried back up the hill.  We did that for about 20 - 30 minutes, until the cavalry arrived.  More and more volunteers started trickling in from the neighborhood and then a large group of BYU students arrived and the machine really got rolling!

With the BYU crew now helping we could form a sort of fire bucket brigade.  The buckets were still heavy but many hands made for quick work.  By the time we left the huge dirt pile at the bottom of the hill was removed and the crews started working up the hill shoveling off the dirt that had piled up further up the steps.

It was great to see so many people from the community come together and help.  Lion's park is a beautiful place. My children have played soccer games there and we've had a number of church and other activities in the pavilion.  It felt wonderful to be able to help with a project so close to home.

Thank you to all the neighbors who helped and thank you to all those BYU student's with the strong backs and shoulders!

Below are few more photos of the the crew in action.

Brent Hall filling buckets

Frandsen kids running buckets back down the hill.

Bucket brigade starting to take shape

The full machine in motion!

Is Provo in Danger of Losing our Billion Dollar Row?

About a month or so ago, the online magazine PandoDaily published an article regarding Provo's "Billion Dollar Row" - the series of businesses (Ancestry.com, Vivint, and Qualitrics) all located in the Riverwoods business complex.  It was exciting for Provo to have these businesses highlighted.  It showed that Provo does have a legitimate big-business community.

In the last week I've spoken to representatives from two of the three businesses mentioned in the article.  Each indicated how difficult it is for them as primarily technology-based companies to attract and retain talent.  One of the three is actively looking to relocate.  As I spoke with them, two common themes emerged:

1) Provo has a perception problem
2) The Riverwoods is a difficult place to get to


The Perception Problem

Even with two major universities churning out new graduates every year, these companies are still looking for talent.  And it's not that BYU and UVU don't generate talent, it's that these companies value and need diversity of experience and ideas in order to develop new products and stay competitive in the global marketplace. To see a recent example see this article on the state of technology companies in Utah County.

Provo is seen as boring, unwelcoming, and lacking in diversity.  This is something that I don't necessarily agree with entirely, but perception is reality.  I don't think Provo can change overnight, but I believe it is happening.  We are starting to see a more diverse downtown with a bustling nightlife starting to take hold.  For the regular family this may not be a big deal, but for a company wanting to recruit experienced workers from throughout the country we need to continue to see these types of things happen.

I remember LDS President Hinckley during the 2002 Olympics welcoming the world to Utah and promising them they could get a drink here.  Now I don't drink, myself, but I agree with President Hinckley's thinking.  We are unique in Provo and that is okay, but folks need to know we really are a welcoming city and they can still have a good time here.

We have a wonderful quality of life here and we need to do a better job selling Provo.  If Rock Canyon were in southern Utah it would be a state park or national monument.  It is a city treasure.  Sundance is 20 minutes away.  Utah Lake makes up our western border, BYU and all it has to offer make Provo truly a destination place if we want it to be.  But for companies looking to attract talent we need to highlight these great amenities and toot our own horn!


The Access Problem

To the second concern; the problem with the Riverwoods (I work there) is that it is in the farthest north east corner of the city.  It is outside our commercial business area and traffic is slow getting there.  It takes me about 20 minutes to drive from 8th North in Provo to the Riverwoods on most days.  Many workers commuting there from other cities, exit I-15 then drive through Orem Center Street or 8th North in Orem to get to work.  They shop in Orem on their way to work and shop in Orem on their way home.  Provo should be capturing those retail sales!

I believe I have a relatively bold idea.  We need to take a serious look at the East Bay/Southern Provo Corridor.  Specifically, we need to consider expanding the Novell campus area for both professional office and retail space.  In my plan that includes developing on the golf course property.  If we want a golf course in the city there are a number of other areas we could look at (such as by the lake near the airport, or in Provo Canyon).  But I believe the current property could be put to better use.

East Bay and the golf course property is near the Frontrunner intermodal hub, I-15, and the Provo Airport.  That location would allow employees easy access via I-15 and bring in additional traffic to help bouy our stores in that part of town - namely the Provo Towne Center which has a number of empty stores right now (we almost lost Sears a year ago!).


Vision

I believe we need this type of vision and forward thinking if our city is to remain relevant economically.  These are strong wonderful companies that create jobs for our local economy and provide opportunites for our local talent to further develop their skills.  New spin off businesses are often generated from companies like these.  We are losing too many good businesses that once started in Provo to Lehi (Property Solutions and Omniture now Adobe are two examples) where they have easy access via I-15 and their employees can live in Salt Lake where the perception is that Salt Lake County has a better quality of life.  Provo can and we must do better. 

Joint School Board and City Council Meeting

Dixon Middle School

The Provo City Council held a joint meeting with the Provo School District several weeks ago week in the City Council conference room.  I was present at the meeting and enjoyed the discussion.  The Council staff posted a summary of the meeting on their blog that you can find here.

A couple of takeaways for me:

1) This needs to happen regularly and with this level of detailed discussion.  I understand these meetings are scheduled on a quarterly basis. The two bodies need to be communicating regularly and in detail.  While each serves a different purpose they still represent the same people - the citizens of Provo.

2) The current safety and condition of our public schools is the most important issue facing Provo as a whole right now (and few people even realize it).  The Council and the Mayor have been diligently working on a solution for road maintenance and construction.  This is clearly in their sphere of responsibility and I believe they are on the right track with the Utility Transportation Fund proposal.  But those dollars pale in comparison to the $132,000,000 need the School District has for school repair and replacement.

That's right over $130,000,000 in need! To put things in perspective the Rec Center bond was for $39,000,000.

Part of me is shocked that we're at this level of need.  But if you've been in several of our city's schools you will know they are in serious disrepair. Just as part of the campaign process I've been in three of our schools that left me bewildered at their condition - Rock Canyon Elementary, Wasatch Elementary, and Dixon Middle School (where my children are likely to attend) are old and in need of serious work.  Our children need a safe environment to learn and safety when it comes to our children is one thing I AM NOT willing to compromise on. 

The District is finalizing their numbers but they believe they need $90m to bring our city's schools up to par.  The gap between the $130m and $90m as I understand it will be made up in money already budgeted for maintenance and partly from money that would be saved by doing the repairs and updates now.

3) This is a game changer for the future of Provo.  If the City's residents approve the $90m bond (it would require a public vote in 2014) that adds a significant burden on us as taxpayers.  The City Council and Administration need to recognize this and that will have a real impact on the City's options for future plans.  Including projects such as rebuilding the fire station on North Canyon Road and future plans for the city center - both projects discussed at this meeting. 

As someone with a young family this is very important to me. I believe this is a classic "need vs wants" situation and this clearly falls within the "need" category.  We all need to start paying attention and get both informed and involved. I've had several conversations with various members of the School Board who are sincere, informed, and passionate about our children's eduction. Seeing the need that the District faces and given the data that's been presented so far I am inclined to support the District's bond efforts.   Certainly, the District will be coming forward with their formal plans and the details need to be discussed, but this is a big deal and we need to start paying attention and getting informed. Visit Provo.edu for the latest information.

A Thank You Zucchini

A prize zucchini and thank you note

One of the best parts of the campaign is meeting so many wonderful people.  I've had a number of people who have been gracious enough throughout the campaign to let me borrow a corner of their yard for a yard sign. 

This afternoon I dropped off a short thank you note to one of those families.  As I approached the housee I happened to catch the wife while she was out watering her garden. As we visited for a little while she said they had had a bit of a bumper crop (my word not hers) when it came to zucchini and she offered me two to take home! 

So not only did I get a great sign location but I walked away with two zucchinis. Zucchini bread here we come!

District 5 Debate

Franklin Elementary School Gym

I attended the District 5 candidate forum last night at Franklin Elementary. The Forum was sponsored by the Franklin and Dixon Neighborhood Chairs.

It was a nice chance to visit for a few minutes with the folks from southwest Provo.

The organizers indicated they would like to sponsor a similar event for the City-Wide candidates next month.

I'm very much looking forward to it!

Provo as a Model for the New GOP

Provo's own Jamie Littlefield wrote a thoughtful article in the Desert News this week featured in the "My View" section.  In the article titled "There's a good model city in Utah for the (New) Republican Party" Jamie outlines a number of things Provo has done to maintain its identity as a conservative town.

I'm not sure I've ever heard someone so succinctly and correctly describe Provo's style of conservatism as this:

"Provo has a unique brand of socially conscious conservatism: back-to-the-basics values that are practiced with people and practicality in mind.

For the past several years, Provo has succeed by ignoring extremist antics and staying focused on pared-down conservative ideals: practicing fiscal responsibility, focusing on individual freedoms, encouraging the private market and approaching social issues with reasonable solutions. Meanwhile, they're gaining traction with millennials by using social media and encouraging citizen engagement."

Back-to-the-basics values...and practicality in mind.  Amen!

In Provo we've been able to set ourselves apart from the rest of the country by following those basic principles. Jamie, goes on to list a number of examples of these principles in action - from back yard chickens to Google Fiber.

I was also encouraged to see Jamie comment that the younger generation, students, recent grads, and young families are really contributing to so many positive things happening in Provo.  If I'm elected I believe (I'll need to double check) I would be the only one on the Council with kids in elementary school - maybe even Jr. High.  I really feel we need that perspective represented on the Council.

I'm pleased to see this sort of article appear in the paper and do truly hope that those leaders in both of our nation's national parties do look to the good things we are doing here in Provo as a model for their own platforms and ideals.

Let's keep these good things happening in Provo and not roadblock progress.

Former Candidate Endorses Me!

John Breeding

The following letter to the editor was published in the Provo Daily Herald over the weekend.  John Breeding former city-wide City Council candidate endorsed my campaign!

I don't think I've ever seen a candidate work as hard as John Breeding did in the Primary.  We didn't and don't agree on all the issues but I believe we agree on the ones that count and I'm honored to have his endorsement and support.  

John garnered 666 votes.  And 16% of the overall vote. 

 

August 25, 2013

Last Tuesday the City of Provo held its' municipal primary election. Few people other than the candidates understand the extent of the sacrifice that is made by candidates and their families. I calculated that I personally spent roughly $15 and an hour and 15 minutes of my time for each and every vote that was cast for me Tuesday. There were campaigns that spent even more. I congratulate David Sewell and Ryan Frandsen for making it through the primary.

Both the Frandsen and Sewell campaigns have been in contact with me seeking my endorsement. In politics there are people who are rooting for you to fail and it can be unpleasant after the loss to then be asked to support their candidate. The decision to make an endorsement isn't as easy as it would seem to some. During the campaign I never considered David Sewell my opponent; he is in fact my friend.

Henry David Thoreau in his essay "Civil Disobedience" says: "What is the price current of an honest man and patriot today? They hesitate, they regret, and sometimes they petition; but they do nothing in earnest and with effect. They will wait, well disposed, for others to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to regret. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a feeble countenance and God-speed to the right, as it goes by them...Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence."

So today I am letting go of whatever bitterness that may have been sent my way during the campaign and I am casting my whole vote. I am endorsing the candidacy of Ryan Frandsen without reservation. I will do whatever is necessary to see to it that Ryan is elected to Provo City Council. Between the two candidates, Ryan believes the government should play a more limited role. We need people who believe that vision comes from business owners and individuals making choices rather than from government.

John Breeding, Provo

Provo's Retail Base is Growing!

One of the primary reasons I am running is because I want to promote Provo's retail economy.  A strong retail base and the sales taxes associated with retail can help ease the pressure on property taxes.

In Provo right now there is no better place to see our retail economic growth than right along Bulldog Boulevard.  When I was on the Planning Commission last year we approved the project to allow the CVS Pharmacy to locate on the corner of Bulldog and University where the old Flower Patch business was located.

That corner was tired looking and the surrounding medical offices were only partially filled.  I think the new CVS will be a great addition to that corner.  Also, a Firehouse Subs will be located there as well.  But just as exciting and encouraging to me is to see the two businesses that are being displaced by CVS have ALREADY relocated to nearby locations within Provo.

El Azteca just moved a half block east in the Fat Cat's area, and the Flower Patch (where my kids remember going with me to buy my wife flowers after the birth of our youngest son) has just relocated to the old @12 Chinese restaurant in the Macy's parking lot.  The medical offices as you can see in the picture have relocated to 5th West.

I love to see businesses that are truly committed to Provo thrive here.

But the action on Bulldog doesn't stop there.  A new Chick-fil-A is being built on the corner of Bulldog and 5th West!  That is going to be a hot spot during lunch time. The area has also seen the new food truck buisness - Sweeto Burrito locate near Provo High and in the Macy's lot at different times.

All of this is so exciting.  We really have some real economic momentum happening in Provo.  Let's keep it going and not take a step back with this election!


*UPDATE

Just a day after I posted this article the Herald published an article about the City's growing sales tax revenue.  The City is up $600,000 over last year!  The article highlights the growth we are seeing in Downtown.  From Bulldog to Downtown - so many good things happening in Provo right now!

THANK YOU!

I just wanted to post a quick thank you to everyone who supported me. We survived the Primary and now on to the General Election in November.

Here is a link to the Primary results:
http://electionmap.provo.org/

Breeding:  16% (666 votes)
Frandsen: 24% (1014)
Sewell: 31% (1340)
Wright: 19% (793)
Lines" 11% (465)