Riverton Review Print Newsletter - September 2025

RIVERTON REVIEW

Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025

Your Mayor is Your City’s Chief Executive Officer

By Mayor Trent Staggs

Both Utah State Code (10-3b-104) and Riverton City Code (2.10.030) make it clear: the mayor is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the city. That definition is more than a title; it carries the responsibility to lead with vision, enforce the laws, and ensure the well-being of our community.

When I took office in 2018, my first act as mayor was to work with our council to create Riverton’s first vision and mission statements, and strategic plan, highlighting five pillars that continue to guide our city today.

Law Enforcement Comes First

As your chief law enforcement officer, I have always placed public safety first. Serving on the Unified Police Department board made clear that Riverton needed its own police force and to separate from the county police tax district. The creation of Riverton Police and tax district has saved taxpayers more than $20 million while giving us a department with 14 more officers than what we had under UPD. Our department is community-focused and fully accountable to residents. That investment ensures our families remain safe today and in the future.

Building a Strong Economy

Before my administration, Riverton lacked any meaningful sales tax revenue, leading to higher taxes and fees. By attracting high-value projects such as Mountain View Village and Costco, and by eliminating the business license fee, we created one of the most business-friendly environments in Utah. Sales tax revenues have grown from $5 million to more than $13 million annually

during my administration, giving us the resources to fund vital services without overburdening residents.

Innovation in Local Government

Innovation is not just a buzzword; it is governing with efficiency and creativity. From identifying how to re-engage a dormant water well asset with the latest drinking water technology, saving millions for our water payers and the County golf course, to shifting away from costly county services in animal control, policing, and police and fire tax districts, Riverton has proven that local government can be more efficient and effective. These efforts have helped us cut property taxes and maintain the lowest utility fees in the Salt Lake Valley.

Infrastructure and Sense of Community

A mayor must ensure the city’s backbone— its infrastructure—is strong and reliable. Under my leadership, Riverton has improved both culinary and secondary water systems. We prioritized roads, working with surrounding cities and state leaders to move Bangerter Highway interchanges to the top of the funding list. The result: hundreds of millions of dollars in roadway improvements that will ease congestion for decades to come.

I also led efforts to beautify city hall, our community center, entrances with new monument signage, created new parks and trails, and developed a new logo to enhance our sense of community. These improvements, along with the establishment of several resident volunteer committees, and building upon our revered Town Days and other traditions, created a more welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike while inspiring civic pride and volunteer efforts to keep our city attractive.

Fiscal Discipline

Fiscal discipline has been the foundation of everything we do. During my tenure,

Riverton’s general fund expenditures have grown at or below the rate of inflation; an extraordinary achievement in government. We’ve always maintained a AAA bond rating, with debt levels at record lows. By innovating and practicing restraint, we have delivered more services while keeping Riverton one of the most affordable cities in the valley.

Looking Ahead

By self-imposing a term limit, my tenure is set to expire by January, and Riverton will have a new mayor. My advice after having served both in the legislative side as a city councilmember for four years, and in the executive branch as your mayor these past eight, is to ensure we continue to instill an entrepreneurial, business-minded approach to our city government. We also need to clarify city code, ensuring that the mayor is uniquely charged with the hiring and firing of the city manager and all department heads, thereby creating stronger alignment within the executive branch. This ensures that the mayor we all elect, as the only citywide elected official and CEO, is actually the one running the city government. Lastly, I can honestly say that after managing a nearly $80 million budget, overseeing 170 employees, and serving nearly 50,000 residents, it is time to make the mayor a full-time paid position. This will NOT require any change in our form of government. Riverton is entering a new era where this is necessary to ensure citizens’ voices are prioritized in all our projects, and in all the boards in which a mayor is asked to serve across the state.

As I conclude my time as your mayor, I am proud of what we have achieved together. Riverton is safer, stronger, more innovative, and more financially sound than it has ever been. That kind of vision and results is what we should expect from our mayor and city’s Chief Executive Officer.

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Trent Staggs - Mayor

Andy Pierucci - District 1

Troy McDougal - District 2

Tawnee McCay - District 3

Tish Buroker - District 4

Spencer Haymond - District 5

UPCOMING

CITY MEETINGS

CITY COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER 16, 7 p.m.

PLANNING COMMISSION

SEPTEMBER 11 & 25, 6:30 p.m.

CONTACT US rivertonutah.gov 801-254-0704

Report a problem at rivertonutah.gov/report

FIND US ONLINE!

Demand vs. Govt. Manipulation

By Councilmember Spencer Haymond

For years, Utah has been touted as facing a massive housing shortage, blamed for the state’s affordability crisis. The proposed solution—high-density housing like apartment buildings or multiunit designs (e.g., four- or six-plex’s)—is sold as a way to keep families, especially our children, living nearby. However, I see several flaws in this narrative. Let’s explore them. First, consider my grandparents’ home in Sugarhouse. My grandfather bought it in 1955 for about $16,000—a premium price then due to its rare detached two-car garage, uncommon compared to single-car or carport homes. After his passing in 2006, I purchased it for $265,000, a steep rise attributed to a supposed 50-year housing shortage. I invested $40,000 in renovations and sold it in 2016 for $360,000, likely boosted by the “great housing shortage” of that time. Today, it’s valued at over $800,000, again linked to this “shortage”. But is that the full story? Two words suggest otherwise: Federal Reserve. While I can’t delve into its influence here—though it should be the topic of all topics if we value living indoors and having food—its monetary policies likely play a larger role than acknowledged but this cannot be directly impacted by the Utah legislature alone.

“Utah Housing Policy: Some Inconvenient Truths” (https://x.com/MikeCarey4CC/ status/1894317971482579342), reveals that state data cherry-picks years 2020-2022, with one report stretching to July 2023 but ignoring later trends. Including 2023 and 2024 data shows a significant housing correction, with prices aligning with traditional, painful growth patterns, as seen in my grandparents’ home. (Refer to Einstein’s Eight Wonder of the World philosophy for a better understanding of those traditional growth patterns.) Moreover, state “support” for homeownership often subsidizes developers. In 2023, the legislature allocated $50 million for first-time buyers with the $20K down payment assistance, but only for new, never-lived-in homes, leaving existing homebuyers unsupported.

“I’m not opposed to apartments or high-density development..., but communities should decide what suits them best.”

Second, historical data challenges the idea that higher density sustains lower housing prices. Despite decades of urban densification in cities nationwide, affordability hasn’t consistently improved. I’d welcome data proving otherwise, showing where increased density has reliably lowered and maintained costs over time. Without it, the push for high-density housing feels more ideological and opportunistic than evidence based.

Third, I question the data driving Utah’s housing policies. An investigation by Mike Carey (@MikeCarey4CC) on X.com, titled

Adding to this, a realtor and elected officials—many with ties to development— formed the Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy, a non-profit “think tank.” Backed by $1 million in 2024 and $1 million in 2025 from taxpayer funds, it runs DemandMoreSupply. com, pushing highdensity housing via TV, digital billboards, and online ads. This raises concerns about conflicts of interest. Encouragingly, Utah’s housing market is stabilizing. Reports indicate the highest home listings inventory since 2016, per St. Louis Fed data, benefiting buyers. Over the next 10-15 years, the Boomer generation’s downsizing or passing will flood the market, depressing prices. Coupled with a declining birth rate, the peak of Utah’s housing shortage may be behind us.

I’m not opposed to apartments or highdensity development in appropriate locations such as major corridors, but communities should decide what suits them best. Subsidizing it with taxpayer money and legislative mandates is unnecessary. Let market demand, not government intervention, guide growth.

Lithium Battery Fire Safety

By Chief Wade Watkins

Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of devices including smartphones, laptops, escooters, e-bikes, e-cigarettes, vehicles, smoke detectors, and even toys. When mishandled or damaged, these batteries may overheat, ignite, or in some cases, explode.

The Problem: Understanding Battery Hazards

Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. Fires can be caused by thermal runaway—a rapid chain reaction triggered by overheating, overcharging, physical damage, or internal defects.

Warning Signs: How to Spot Danger Early

Discontinue use of the battery if you detect any of the following: odor, discoloration, excessive heat, deformation, leakage, or strange sounds. If it’s safe, place the device away from flammable materials and call 9-1-1.

Utah VW Classic Car Show

Come enjoy Utah’s largest classic VW and early Porsche car show at Riverton City Park! Featuring classic Volkswagens from all years and models. This free event is Saturday, September 20 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Riverton City Park at 1452 W 12600 S in Riverton, Utah.

Street Hockey Clinic for Youth

Be a part of this one-hour instructional clinic that teaches kids the basics of hockey. Participants will learn basic hockey skills. In partnership with the Utah Mammoth, includes a hockey stick and T-shirt. Register at rivertonutah.gov/hockey

I Teach Art Exhibit

Step into the world of creativity and education with ‘I Teach Art’ -- an extraordinary exhibit celebrating the talent and passion of our community’s art educators. View artwork created by our local teachers. Sept.. 15 - Oct. 25. at The Old Dome Meeting Hall. Visit rivertonutah.gov/exhibits.

Sign Up: Riverton Christmas Choir

Join the community choir to sing at this year’s Christmas Night of Music Concert on Monday, December 8, 2025. Practices held weekly in November. Sign up online: rivertonutah.gov/ night-of-music

Fall Classic Tournament

Pickleball players love Riverton’s Fall Classic Pickleball Tournament! The tournament features a pool bracket with various divisions. Join us on September 19-20 at Riverton City Park. Register online at rivertonutah.gov/ pickleball.

Monster Dash 5K and Mini-Monsters Triathalon

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at Riverton’s first-ever Halloween 5K and Mini Monster Triathlon! Dress up, hit the Jordan River Parkway Trail, and celebrate the season with festive fitness for all ages. Visit rivertonutah.gov/monster-dash