G O OD NE IG HBOR
NEWS
APRIL 2021
Paid for by the City of West Jordan
M AYO R ’S M E S S AG E April showers usually bring May flowers, but this year may be a bit different. Utah experienced its driest year on record in 2020. The Governor recently declared a state of emergency due to extreme drought conditions. A dry season means we’re likely to feel pressure to start watering our lawns sooner and use more water. Higher use will result in an increased bill. I am concerned about the financial impact these larger water bills have on our residents. Over the last year, the Council and I have worked diligently to manage residential water rates and restructure the existing rate system to better serve residents. I’d like to share some of the things we accomplished: • Rolled back an 8% water increase planned for implementation this fiscal year. • Restructured the water rate tiers to remove subsidies and ensure that residents are paying for actual use, moving to greater equity between commercial and residential users. • Reduced the financial burden on lower water users, decreasing water bills. We’re going to remain focused on ensuring that rate planning is based on sound financial practices and do our best to keep increases at bay, but we need your help. You control how much water is used by your home – the more water you use, the higher the bill. To help keep bills in check, this year we are encouraging residents to be more ‘water wise’ and conserve where they can. You can maintain a fantastic looking yard and keep your bill from skyrocketing during the drought, all while using less water. In this edition of the West Jordan Journal, you will find many resources on saving money, time and water. You can start small and simply adjust your sprinklers to ensure that water isn’t spraying sidewalks and driveways, you can take it another step up and harvest any rain that may fall using a rain barrel, or you can ‘flip your strip’ and remove some of the grass from your yard to save you money for years to come. Investing in these water wise practices will not only save you money in the long run, but it will help the City manage rates overall. Please consider taking advantage of some of the resources and rebates available to residents in our city and do your part to be more water wise. Working together on water wise initiatives will keep our City looking fantastic. We can do this West Jordan! Sincerely,
Mayor Dirk Burton
Save Money by Saving on Water Spring is here, which means it’s almost time to start watering our lawns again. With that extra water use, many residents notice a dramatic change in their utility bill. But having a green lawn doesn’t have to impact your bank account. Using water efficiently is easier than you think, just a few simple modifications can save you time and money. • Adjust your sprinklers so they are not spraying sidewalks, gutters and driveways. • Water your lawn before 10 AM or after 6 PM to ensure less water will evaporate. • Flip your strip! Remove some of that grass with native plants and drought- tolerant grass. Conservation Garden Park offers classes, and even giveaways, for creating waterwise park strips. For more information, visit conservationgardenpark.org • Harvest your rain – Salt Lake County offers rain barrels to residents for a low price. Water collected by roofs and ran gutters can be used to water your gardens, bushes, and other plants. • Use a ‘Smart Controller’ which can help you save water by automatically adjusting watering schedules based on local weather reports. Utahwatersavers.com is offering rebates to residents throughout the state. Be sure to keep an eye on the City’s Facebook page for more water saving techniques!
West Jordan Activity Guide Coming to your Mailbox soon! West Jordan’s Events Department is finishing up the final touches on a city activity guide. The guide will be sent to all West Jordan residents and will contain information about all the upcoming events within West Jordan. It will feature monthly calendars with activities, council meetings, public meetings, and holiday information. The city has a lot of new events scheduled this year such as a monster truck rally, as well as traditional events such as the Western Stampede! We’re excited to get this information out to our residents and look forward to seeing you at all of our city events!
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
Kitten Season is Here – Tips from the West Jordan Animal Shelter As the weather begins to warm up, we start seeing an influx of pregnant cats. Those cats can have litters that range between one to twelve kittens. The West Jordan Animal Shelter asks that you keep these tips in mind over the next few months. SPAY/NEUTER • Get cats spayed/neutered before kitten season • Trap community cats for TNR (trap neuter return) FIND KITTENS? • Mom is probably out hunting for food and will return • Leave the kittens where you found them and watch from a distance • Unsure if you should intervene? Call the West Jordan Animal Shelter at 801-282-3951.
Trail Expansion: Teton Estates Park If you’ve driven or walked past Teton Estates Park (9380 Targhee Drive) you may have noticed a few construction vehicles and city staff on site. The West Jordan Streets Department is putting in a new sidewalk to connect with 4000 West. This is a welcoming sight for families, bikers, rollerbladers and others who utilize this trail!
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
Local Election in 2021 – Important Information & Dates to Keep in Mind
THE SEATS UP FOR ELECTION ARE: • City Council At-Large • City Council At-Large • City Council At-Large
ELECTION DATES: • The Municipal Primary Election will be held on August 10, 2021 • The Municipal General Election will be held on November 2, 2021
DECLARATION AND NOMINATION DATES: • An individual seeking to become a candidate for a municipal office shall file a declaration of candidacy, between June 1 and June 7 of any odd-numbered year and pay the filing fee, if one is required by municipal ordinance. Be sure to check for updates at: westjordan.utah.gov/election-overview You can also visit vote.utah.gov for more information on elections in 2021.
COUNCIL CORNER The council continues to watch Utah’s water usage. In a typical year, Salt Lake City and the surrounding area receives about 16.1” of precipitation. However, the 2020 water year (October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020) was the 16th driest ever recorded since 1874 when records first started being kept. The 2020 water year produced just 10.96” of precipitation. (Source: National Weather Service Water Records) This measurement is used to help the state and area water providers determine how much the reservoirs will retain for summer consumption needs. Adding to this concern, the soil is very dry, so the water won’t ‘run off ’ as it typically does. The soil will first absorb the water until it has absorbed what it needs, then run off occurs. Governor Cox issued a drought Emergency Order on March 17, 2021 which offers the following suggestions: (Source: governor.utah.gov) Gov. Cox asks Utahns to use water wisely yearround. Find water-saving tips at SlowTheFlow.org. • Fix leaks • Run full loads (dishwashers and washing machines) • Turn off the water while brushing teeth, shaving, soaping up, doing dishes, or rinsing vegetables • Reduce showers by at least one minute • Wait to water
The City Council is supportive of the governor’s declaration and encourages water conservation for residents of West Jordan. As the Council has looked at water rates and consumption patterns of the water department, they have noticed in hot, dry years like 2020, water consumption increases and they have also noticed in wet, cooler years like 2019, water consumption decreases. Fun Fact: in West Jordan, the average daily consumption is 19.62 million gallons per day. (That’s about 147 gallons per West Jordan resident per day!) Council Member Kayleen Whitelock stated, “The Council is keenly aware of city water rates and consumption and strongly encourages residents to slow the flow and find ways to conserve.” Council Member Melissa Worthen added, “The Council will be hearing a proposed amendment updating the city landscape ordinance to include water wise elements on April 14th; and a report from Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District is planned to be presented on April 28th.”
West Jordan Passport Office – You Can Now Make an Appointment Online! The City of West Jordan’s Passport Office has dozens of appointments every day. It recently updated its hours to be open Monday – Friday from 11 AM-5:30 PM as well as Saturday’s from 9 AM-1 PM. It’s now easier than ever to make an appointment to get your passport. Visit westjordan.utah.gov/passport-office, then click ‘schedule appointment’. The page also has important information on pricing and must-have document checklist to ensure you come prepared for your appointment. Renew or get a new passport today!
GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER
PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF WEST JORDAN
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
City of West Jordan Ranks High on “safest Cities in US” Study
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WEST JORDAN EASTER EGG HUNT Utah Youth Soccer Complex (7965 S. 4000 W.) 9 a.m.
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PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TAX DAY
Join virtually on YouTube 6 p.m.
Join virtually on YouTube 7 p.m.
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Newly released data from “MoneyGeek” ranks the City of West Jordan 48th safest in the United States. Researchers looked at more than 300 US cities and compared the crime and safety data. To rank the safest cities “MoneyGeek” compared standardized crime statistics reported to the FBI. They also took population into account to determine crime rates per 100,000 people. THE TOP 5 SAFEST CITIES INCLUDE: 1. Arlington, Virginia 2. Thousand Oaks, California
22 EARTH DAY
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The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 Join the conversation! (801) 569-5100 West Jordan – City Hall www.wjordan.com
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING Join virtually on YouTube 7 p.m.
West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch
3. Allen, Tecas 4. Cary, North Carolina 5. Irvine, California. West Jordan wasn’t the only Utah city to make the cut. Provo ranked 21st, Salt Lake City ranked 216th, and West Valley ranked 227th. To read the full article visit moneygeek.com/living/safest-cities/