APRIL – MAY 2024 IN THIS ISSUE:
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Z News.............................................1 Sandy City Council Corner.................2 April HR Job Corner...........................2 Highlight: Tribal West Lacrosse ...........2 Sandy Amphitheater 2024 Season ....2 2024 Statewide Utah ShakeOut .........3 What Causes a Pothole .....................3 New Near You ...................................3 Spring Bulk Waste Program ...............3 Floodwater Vehicle Safety .................3
Alta Canyon Sports Center.................4 River Oaks Golf Course .....................4 Parks & Recreation ...........................5 Youth Suicide Prevention...................5 Understanding Your Water Bill............6 Waterwise Landscaping Rebates .......6 Conservation Quarterly .....................6 Tips for Greener Spring Cleaning .......6 Survey: How is Life in Sandy?.............7 Calendar of Events............................7
Photo contest winner: Tony Huffaker
Z News Hello Sandy Friends, Have you ever seen the Bradford pear trees in bloom each springtime at city hall? It’s a magnificent site! In fact, when I look out my office windows, it reminds me of the children’s tune about popcorn popping on the apricot tree. There are armfuls of blossoms around us. It’s just one thing I love about springtime in Sandy.
Earth Day Celebration
Spring brings rejuvenation and new life which makes it a perfect time to celebrate Earth Day. This year in conjunction with Earth Day, we’ll mark the official opening of a spot near and dear to my heart in Dimple Dell Park. The Wrangler Trailhead just south of Smith's on 1300 East has been closed for many months for major renovations. On April 27th at 8:30 am Salt Lake County Parks will host a ribbon cutting to officially open the new picnic area, improved parking lot, and new year-round restrooms. The Dimple Dell Preservation Community launches its Earth Day celebrations and park cleanup with a scavenger hunt for people to learn about unique features of the park, and there will be volunteer opportunities for invasive weed cleanup, and tree planting. Mark your calendar. “Many hands make light work,” my mother always said. Both Earth Day and Sandy’s Beautification Day on May 18th are two fun ways to make a difference. Volunteer groups are selecting their assignments for Sandy Beautification Day now. Learn more here: sandy.utah.gov/887/Beautification-Day
Bulk Waste Collection
Spring curbside bulk waste collection is underway in Sandy. Twice a year, residents can remove the debris from I S S U E # 113
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their yards and homes, place it streetside, and have it removed by our public works team. This is a service that very few other Utah communities offer and a convenience that we’d like to continue long-term. This is the most popular and valued city service according to every resident surveyed. I’m proud that my administration has ensured it will continue with establishing new rules and enforcement protocols. It’s imperative to make sure you follow the guidelines. Keep your debris in piles no longer than 20 feet, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet tall and keep them at least two feet away from the gutter. This keeps the piles manageable and keeps contaminants out of our storm drain system, thereby keeping the water clean. Gone are the days of “anything goes” and sky-high piles. Don’t get stuck. Know the rules in advance.
Sandy Water
This time last spring, we were heavily focused on the mountains and stream beds with the potential risk of flooding from spring runoff after a record snowfall. This year we are watching snow melt closely, but there is another big water related issue that we face. The majority of our water in Sandy comes from Little Cottonwood Canyon. It is purified and piped through an extensive infrastructure of water lines through our neighborhoods. We must keep that water infrastructure healthy and well-maintained to extend its life. That requires ongoing, incremental investments in pipe upgrades. Just over two months ago, we saw the problem that can result when a water line breaks. A 25-foot sinkhole swallowed a resident’s front yard and a part of a city sidewalk while water and mud poured into a neighboring basement near Dimple Dell Rec Center. It was so big it made the news! A broken line can cause huge property damage and cut the water source to residents while those pipes are fixed. As a mature city, we are wise to fund ongoing replacements of old lines so we can prevent scenarios like this along with the increased costs to taxpayers. That’s why it’s necessary to keep our water rates on a scale that will cover infrastructure maintenance and replacement and not just water consumption. In May you will see a modest increase to your water rates of (an average of $4 a month)
to meet our responsible maintenance needs. Still, water rates in Sandy City are among the lowest in the Salt Lake Valley. Replacing the right pipes at the right time helps avoid massive costs down the road.
Proposed Budget
I am about to present my proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. My commitment to you is to keep services high and taxes low. As you may be aware, property taxes in Sandy, like water rates, are among the lowest of all municipalities in the Salt Lake Valley. I will not seek a property tax increase and we will govern within our means. This year we will explore new funding sources for city services. I am also working closely with my team to determine a workable plan for Alta Canyon Sports Center to provide recreational opportunities that you, our residents, want. We are also finalizing our city’s long-term master plan which will be the culmination of open houses and information gathering with residents for more than a year. The master plan will properly manage growth, find new opportunities for housing at all levels, and enhance economic development in Sandy. Another way we can all make sure we keep services high and taxes low is by shopping at Sandy businesses, keeping our sales tax revenues local. As I mentioned last month in this newsletter, each dollar you spend at a Sandy business for a soda or a gallon of gas means a portion of it will go to fund public safety or road repairs. Remember #SandyBusinessFirst. As each tulip reaches to the sun and every blossom opens on our trees, let’s embrace rejuvenation and new beginnings. I encourage everyone to participate in the seasonal programs our city offers and join the discussions about our budget process, city development, and Sandy’s long-term plan. We’re working together for a vibrant community, one that will grow and develop as a healthy, eclectic urban center for generations to come. Let’s all “spring” into community participation! Yours in Service, Mayor Monica Zoltanski P A G E
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